Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Commonality of Characteristics of Managed Volatility Portfolios

This article investigates the commonality in risk factors and sector biases in managed volatility equity strategies (both active and passive). A unique aspect of this article is that it is written from the perspective of a user of the strategies. Unlike all other past studies it considerers several versions of low volatility strategies—from different managers with different investment approaches and risk models. The findings here are therefore more general and not specific to a particular implementation or risk model. We will explore both actively managed volatility strategies as well as an index strategy.
Surveys in Social Research

Part 1 The scope of survey research: the nature of surveys theory and social research formulating and clarifying research questions. Part 2 Collecting data: developing indicators for concepts finding a sample constructing questionnaires administering questionnaires. Part 3 Analyzing data: overview of analysis univariate analysis bivariate analysis - crosstabulations bivariate analysis - alternative methods elaborating bivariate relationships multivariate analysis. Part 4 The process of analysis: coding building scales initial analysis moving beyond initial analysis putting it into practice - a research example ethics in survey research the potential surveys.
Refinement of gene expression patterns in the early Xenopus embryo

During blastula and gastrula stages of Xenopus development, cells become progressively and asynchronously committed to a particular germ layer. We have analysed the expression of genes normally expressed in ectoderm, mesoderm or endoderm in individual cells from early and late gastrula embryos, by both in situ hybridization and single-cell RT-PCR. We show that at early gastrula stages, individual cells in the same region may express markers of two or more germ layers, and `rogue' cells that express a marker outside its canonical domain are also observed at these stages. However, by the late gastrula stage, individual cells express markers that are more characteristic of their position in the embryo, and `rogue' cells are seen less frequently. These observations exemplify at the gene expression level the observation that cells of the early gastrula are less committed to one germ layer than are cells of the late gastrula embryo. Ectodermal cells induced to form mesendoderm by the addition of Activin respond by activating expression of different mesodermal and endodermal markers in the same cell, recapitulating the response of marginal zone cells in the embryo.
The role of lipid-based drug delivery systems for enhancing solubility of highly selective antiviral agent acyclovir

Abstract The study aimed to improve the aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of acyclovir (ACV) using self-emulsifying lipid formulations (SEDDS/SMEDDS). ACV was formulated in various SEDDS/SMEDDS using wide ranges of oils (mono-/di-/triglycerides), nonionic surfactants and water-soluble cosolvents with the aid of phase behavior studies. The drug solubility was determined in anhydrous, 10% and 99% diluted formulations. Drug precipitation and release profiles of the SEDDS/SMEDDS were also investigated. The ACV was highly soluble in the formulations containing high concentration of hydrophilic materials. The addition of propylene glycol (PG) significantly enhanced the drug solubility. In addition, with only 1% 0.1 M HCl, the drug solubility improved 10-fold higher without any precipitation. In the dissolution studies, the representative SEDDS/SMEDDS showed superior release profiles (>90% ACV released) than marketed Zovirax® suspension (<26% released). Formulations containing water-soluble cosolvent (e.g. PG), were the most suitable systems for ACV due to the extensive drug solubilization and release profile.
Studying of Thai SMES Businesses in Order to Define the Marketing Strategy and Enhance the Competitiveness the Case Study: Bua Bhat Factory

Bua Bhat is an SME that produces and distributes handmade products which is textile type needed by overseas markets. Bua Bhat has the ability to export but Bua Bhat doesnt want to focus on expanding the market into overseas countries due to risk and lack of investment. This article studied about the international business structure; strategy in managing in international marketing by focusing on ecommerce channel, managing in the efficient of the supply chain to match the business alliances suitably in order to develop the competitiveness by using the case study of Bua Bhat which is a small size of SMEs business in Thailand.
Breast cancer and microbial cancer incidence in female populations around the world: A surprising hyperbolic association

Current literature on cancer epidemiology typically discusses etiology of cancer by cancer type. Risks of different cancer types are, however, correlated at population level and may provide etiological clues. We showed previously an unexpected very high positive correlation between breast cancer (BC) and young‐adult Hodgkin disease incidence rates. In a population‐based case–control study of BC, older ages at the first Epstein–Barr virus exposure, indicated by older ages at onset of infectious mononucleosis, were associated with elevated BC risk. Here we examine BC risk in association with microbial cancer (MC) risk in female populations across the world. MC cancers are cervical, liver and stomach cancers with established causal associations with human papillomaviruses, hepatitis viruses, and helicobacter pylori, respectively. We examined age‐adjusted BC and MC incidence rates in 74 female populations around the world with cancer registries. Our analysis suggests that BC and MC rates are inversely associated in a special mathematical form such that the product of BC rate and MC rate is approximately constant across world female populations. A differential equation model with solutions consistent to the observed inverse association was derived. BC and MC rates were modeled as functions of an exposure level to unspecified common factors that influence the 2 rates. In conjunction with previously reported evidence, we submit a hypothesis that BC etiology may have an appreciable link with microbial exposures (and/or immunological responses to them), the lack of which, especially in early life, may elevate BC risk. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of targeted agents on outcomes in patients with brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma treated with Gamma Knife surgery.

OBJECT Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has been reported as an effective modality for treating brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The authors aimed to determine if targeted agents such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, and bevacizumab affect the patterns of failure of RCC after GKS. METHODS Between 1999 and 2010, 61 patients with brain metastases from RCC were treated with GKS. A median dose of 20 Gy (range 13-24 Gy) was prescribed to the margin of each metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine local control, distant failure, and overall survival rates. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to determine the association between disease-related factors and survival. RESULTS Overall survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 38%, 17%, and 9%, respectively. Freedom from local failure at 1, 2, and 3 years was 74%, 61%, and 40%, respectively. The distant failure rate at 1, 2, and 3 years was 51%, 79%, and 89%, respectively. Twenty-seven percent of patients died of neurological disease. The median survival for patients receiving targeted agents (n = 24) was 16.6 months compared with 7.2 months (n = 37) for those not receiving targeted therapy (p = 0.04). Freedom from local failure at 1 year was 93% versus 60% for patients receiving and those not receiving targeted agents, respectively (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that the use of targeted agents (hazard ratio 3.02, p = 0.003) was the only factor that predicted for improved survival. Two patients experienced post-GKS hemorrhage within the treated volume. CONCLUSIONS Targeted agents appear to improve local control and overall survival in patients treated with GKS for metastastic RCC.
RESTORATION-BASED COMPENSATION MEASURES IN NATURAL RESOURCE LIABILITY STATUTES

In the past two decades, the U.S. Congress has passed several major environmental statutes that designate natural resource management agencies as trustees of the resources on behalf of the public and that allow the trustees to recover damages for injuries to public resources from releases of hazardous substances and discharges of oil. Copyright 1997 Western Economic Association International.
Electrically Evoked Amplitude Modulation Following Response in Cochlear Implant Candidates: Comparison With Auditory Nerve Response Telemetry, Subjective Electrical Stimulation, and Speech Perception

Objective To establish the objective, noninvasive recording of the electrically evoked amplitude modulation following response (EAMFR) for the assessment of auditory nerve function in cochlear implant candidates. Study Design Prospective clinical study from 2007 to 2010. Setting Cochlear Implant Programme at the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Germany). Patients Thirty-eight patients with severe-to-total bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment. Intervention Diagnostic. Main Outcome Measures The EAMFR thresholds were correlated with the mean thresholds of the intraoperative electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) derived by auditory nerve response telemetry and with the subjective electrical stimulation test. The intraindividual left-right similarity of the EAMFR and ECAP thresholds was investigated in 9 bilaterally implanted patients. Additionally, the correlation between auditory performance and EAMFR thresholds was investigated. Results The EAMFR auditory nerve function test produced clear responses in all patients. The EAMFR thresholds correlated significantly with the mean ECAP thresholds (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) and the subjective electrical stimulation test (r = 0.32, p < 0.05). In the bilaterally implanted patients, there was either no side difference, or the ear with the lower preoperative EAMFR threshold also was the one with the lower intraoperative mean ECAP threshold. No correlation was found between EAMFR thresholds and postoperative speech recognition scores. Conclusion These novel results support the notion that the EAMFR auditory nerve function test is a useful objective and noninvasive tool to provide information about the responsiveness of the auditory nerve to electrical stimulation in cochlear implant candidates.
Lipopolysaccharide Promotes the Survival of Osteoclasts Via Toll-Like Receptor 4, but Cytokine Production of Osteoclasts in Response to Lipopolysaccharide Is Different from That of Macrophages 1

Lipopolysaccharide is a pathogen that causes inflammatory bone loss. Monocytes and macrophages produce proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in response to LPS. We examined the effects of LPS on the function of osteoclasts formed in vitro in comparison with its effect on bone marrow macrophages, osteoclast precursors. Both osteoclasts and bone marrow macrophages expressed mRNA of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14, components of the LPS receptor system. LPS induced rapid degradation of I-κB in osteoclasts, and stimulated the survival of osteoclasts. LPS failed to support the survival of osteoclasts derived from C3H/HeJ mice, which possess a missense mutation in the TLR4 gene. The LPS-promoted survival of osteoclasts was not mediated by any of the cytokines known to prolong the survival of osteoclasts, such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand. LPS stimulated the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in bone marrow macrophages and peritoneal macrophages, but not in osteoclasts. These results indicate that osteoclasts respond to LPS through TLR4, but the characteristics of osteoclasts are quite different from those of their precursors, macrophages, in terms of proinflammatory cytokine production in response to LPS.
Virtual Reality Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Social Phobia: A Preliminary Controlled Study

Social phobia is one of the most frequent mental disorders and is accessible to two forms of scientifically validated treatments: anti-depressant drugs and cognitive behavior therapies (CBT). In this last case, graded exposure to feared social situations is one of the fundamental therapeutic ingredients. Virtual reality technologies are an interesting alternative to the standard exposure in social phobia, especially since studies have shown its usefulness for the fear of public speaking. This paper reports a preliminary study in which a virtual reality therapy (VRT), based on exposure to virtual environments, was used to treat social phobia. The sample consisted of 36 participants diagnosed with social phobia assigned to either VRT or a group-CBT (control condition). The virtual environments used in the treatment recreate four situations dealing with social anxiety: performance, intimacy, scrutiny, and assertiveness. With the help of the therapist, the patient learns adapted cognitions and behaviors in order to reduce anxiety in the corresponding real situations. Both treatments lasted 12 weeks, and sessions were delivered according to a treatment manual. Results showed statistically and clinically significant improvement in both conditions. The effect-sizes comparing the efficacy of VRT to the control traditional group-CBT revealed that the differences between the two treatments are trivial.
Laser-pulse sputtering of aluminum: Vaporization, boiling, superheating, and gas-dynamic effects.

We have developed a numerical method to describe laser-pulse sputtering of Al in a thermal regime. The irradiation consists of a single pulse of triangular form having a duration of 30 ns. The laser light is assumed to be absorbed according to a simple exponential mechanism. Heat transport in the Al is described by the heat flow equation with boundary conditions for vaporization, with or without boiling. Vaporization rates are evaluated by the Clausius-Clapeyron law and the boiling mechanism (when boiling is assumed to be possible) is implemented as soon as the vapor pressure reaches 1 atm. A critical analysis of the time scales necessary for true boiling, as well as for superheating above the boiling temperature, is made in order to understand the relevance of these phenomena with respect to particle emission from the Al surface. Moreover, on the basis of the calculated vaporization rates, it is possible to distinguish between different gas-dynamic regimes. When the rate is less than \ensuremath{\sim}1 ML in 20 ns, the particles emerging from the surface do not achieve local thermal equilibrium, and therefore undergo free flight describable by a modified Maxwellian. When the rate is \ensuremath{\sim}1 ML in 20 ns, a Knudsen layer forms, at the boundary of which, particles achieve local thermal equilibrium and only subsequently undergo free flight. Finally, when the rate is sufficiently greater than \ensuremath{\sim}1 ML in 20 ns, the gas dynamics of the particles leaving the Knudsen layer may be described with the gas-dynamic equations, if the density is high enough, or, otherwise, by the Boltzmann equation. Numerical results concerning the effectiveness of laser sputtering in producing craters in irradiated Al, as well as the main features of the gas dynamics (including recondensation or reflection of the gas at the Al surface), are illustrated.
Genetic Inactivation of ATRX Leads to a Decrease in the Amount of Telomeric Cohesin and Level of Telomere Transcription in Human Glioma Cells

ABSTRACT Mutations in ATRX (alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked), a chromatin-remodeling protein, are associated with the telomerase-independent ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres) pathway of telomere maintenance in several types of cancer, including human gliomas. In telomerase-positive glioma cells, we found by immunofluorescence that ATRX localized not far from the chromosome ends but not exactly at the telomere termini. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments confirmed a subtelomeric localization for ATRX, yet short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated genetic inactivation of ATRX failed to trigger the ALT pathway. Cohesin has been recently shown to be part of telomeric chromatin. Here, using ChIP, we showed that genetic inactivation of ATRX provoked diminution in the amount of cohesin in subtelomeric regions of telomerase-positive glioma cells. Inactivation of ATRX also led to diminution in the amount of TERRAs, noncoding RNAs resulting from transcription of telomeric DNA, as well as to a decrease in RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) levels at the telomeres. Our data suggest that ATRX might establish functional interactions with cohesin on telomeric chromatin in order to control TERRA levels and that one or the other or both of these events might be relevant to the triggering of the ALT pathway in cancer cells that exhibit genetic inactivation of ATRX.
Exploring User Acceptance of Innovative Mobile Payment Service in Emerging Market: the Moderating effect of diffusion stages of WeChat Payment in China

Although perceived risk and usefulness have been identified as two major factors that influence the acceptance of an innovative mobile payment, relatively few researchers have explored the impact of affective factors on user-perceived risk and usefulness. We also do not know whether there is a difference in the acceptance intention among users across different diffusion stages of this innovation. This paper aims to investigate: (1) the relative effects of cognitive (perceived risk and perceived usefulness) and affective (positive emotion) factors on acceptance intention, (2) the role of positive emotion in decreasing perceived risk and increasing perceived usefulness, and (3) the moderating effects of diffusion stages (introduction vs. growth) on the relationships between these three determinants and users’ intentions to accept a WeChat payment, an innovative mobile payment that has various usage scenarios in China. Empirical analysis on two datasets show that users’ acceptance intention is relatively related to perceived risk, perceived usefulness, and positive emotion. Positive emotion has a strong negative impact on perceived risk and a positive impact on perceived usefulness. More importantly, multi-group analyses find that both positive emotion and perceived risk have significant positive and negative impacts on acceptance intention at the stage of market introduction rather than market growth. Rather, the influence of positive usefulness on acceptance intention is significantly higher at the stage of market growth than at market introduction. The findings of this study indicate that exploring the moderating effect of diffusion stages in mobile payment acceptance provides a more comprehensive understanding of how to achieve a greater acceptance rate of an emerging or innovative mobile payment service.
Selenium Is Involved in Regulation of Periplasmic Hydrogenase Gene Expression in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

ABSTRACT Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough is a good model organism to study hydrogen metabolism in sulfate-reducing bacteria. Hydrogen is a key compound for these organisms, since it is one of their major energy sources in natural habitats and also an intermediate in the energy metabolism. The D. vulgaris Hildenborough genome codes for six different hydrogenases, but only three of them, the periplasmic-facing [FeFe], [FeNi]1, and [FeNiSe] hydrogenases, are usually detected. In this work, we studied the synthesis of each of these enzymes in response to different electron donors and acceptors for growth as well as in response to the availability of Ni and Se. The formation of the three hydrogenases was not very strongly affected by the electron donors or acceptors used, but the highest levels were observed after growth with hydrogen as electron donor and lowest with thiosulfate as electron acceptor. The major effect observed was with inclusion of Se in the growth medium, which led to a strong repression of the [FeFe] and [NiFe]1 hydrogenases and a strong increase in the [NiFeSe] hydrogenase that is not detected in the absence of Se. Ni also led to increased formation of the [NiFe]1 hydrogenase, except for growth with H2, where its synthesis is very high even without Ni added to the medium. Growth with H2 results in a strong increase in the soluble forms of the [NiFe]1 and [NiFeSe] hydrogenases. This study is an important contribution to understanding why D. vulgaris Hildenborough has three periplasmic hydrogenases. It supports their similar physiological role in H2 oxidation and reveals that element availability has a strong influence in their relative expression.
A Simple Model of the Gold Standard

This paper presents a model of the gold standard in which technology and preferences are modeled explicitly and account is taken of both the durability of gold and the exhaustibility of gold ore. The authors examine the steady state and its associated dynamics and show how the steady-state price level responds to changes in exogenous factors. Provided they have an interior solution with unmined gold in the steady state, this price level rises with technological progress in gold mining and falls with increases in real income and the discount rate. However, the steady-state price level behaves somewhat differently if the authors have a corner solution. Copyright 1997 by Ohio State University Press.
Diet adherence dynamics and physiological responses to a tomato product whole-food intervention in African–American men

Tomatoes may have beneficial effects on prostate health. Efficacy trials would require long-term adherence to high levels of tomato product (TP) consumption. Therefore, factors that affect adherence in men most at risk and whether increased consumption of TP negatively affects diet and health are important concerns. Cancer-free African–American (AA) men (n 36) with mean serum prostate-specific antigen of 7·4 sd 5·6) ng/ml were randomised to consume one serving of TP/d or a control diet for 3 months. Mean intervention group lycopene intake rose to 464 %, with negligible control group increase. Plasma lycopene levels rose by 53 and 40 % in the intervention group in months 1 and 3, respectively (P< 0·0001), with no control group change. The intervention group's barriers to adherence score was inversely associated with both dietary (r − 0·49, P= 0·02) and plasma lycopene concentration (r − 0·37, P= 0·02). Their TP disadvantage score negatively correlated with the 3-month plasma lycopene concentrations (r − 0·37, P= 0·008) and their weekly incentives and impediments were remarkably stable, ‘concern for prostate health’ being the most consistent over time. ‘Liking tomatoes’ and ‘study participation’ decreased in citation frequency at weeks 6 and 9, respectively. No major shifts occurred in dietary cholesterol or saturated fat, with no adverse effects on gastrointestinal complaints, serum total cholesterol, body weight or blood pressure. Lower socio-economic status AA men at higher prostate cancer risk can successfully achieve a whole food intervention goal with a corresponding rise in plasma lycopene concentrations, with no adverse effects on self-selected diet quality or health parameters.
The preferential trade agreements in U. S. green tea trade

The purposes of this paper are to assess U.S. preferential trade agreements (PTAs) effects especially to 1) analyze the impact of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in U.S. green tea trade, and 2) analyze the impact of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for green tea trade to U.S. The author propose to apply the gravity equation for U.S. green tea imports by focusing PTAs effects. The period from 1989 to 2010 was examined. The gravity equation estimates have revealed that NAFTA has a positive effect on the trade flows. The GSP has a positive impact when model includes zero trade values.