Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Essays in financial economics

This thesis consists of three essays in financial economics. The first chapter analyses the fundraising process in the hedge fund industry and the role financial intermediaries play in this process. Using the SEC form D filings, I document that broker-sold funds underperform directly-sold funds by 2% (1.6%) per year on a risk-adjusted basis before (after) fees. Also directly-sold funds, on average, have larger average investor’s size, larger minimum investment size, and charge higher performance fees comparing to broker-sold ones. Empirical results are consistent with a stylized model of fundraising. I estimate the model implied average broker’s compensation to be $1.5 million per year. The second chapter (co-authored with Albert S. Kyle and Anna A. Obizhaeva) introduces a new structural model of stock returns generating process. The model assumes that stock prices change in response to buy and sell bets arriving to the market place as predicted by market microstructure invariance. These bets are shredded by traders into sequences of transactions according to some bet-shredding algorithms. Arbitrageurs take advantage of any noticeable returns predictability, and market makers clear the market. This structural model is calibrated to match empirical time-series and cross-sectional patterns of higher moments of returns. We calibrate hard-to-observe parameters of bet-shredding using the method of simulated moments, analyse its properties, and show how much shredding has increased over time. The third chapter studies cross-sectional and time series variation in the size of repurchase programs. I find that this variation is explained by the variables motivated by market microstructure invariance theory. My results suggest that when determining the size of repurchase programs, managers may target percentage impact costs of these programs or target inventory levels sufficient to allocate their future bets about their companies.
Bacterial osteomyelitis in major sickling haemoglobinopathies: geographic difference in pathogen prevalence.

BACKGROUND Controversy exists about the bacterial pathogen that is most often associated with osteomyelitis in major sickling haemoglobinopathies, that is, HbSS, HbSC, and HbSthalassemia. OBJECTIVE To determine the existence of regional or continental differences in the prevalence of bacterial pathogens associated with osteomyelitis in sickling haemoglobinopathies. METHOD A meta-analysis is done of 11 year hospital data set and published studies in African Journals Online (Ajol) and Pubmed electronic databases on the subject. RESULTS Fifteen studies including two hundred and eighty one bacterial pathogens from SubSaharan Africa, United States, Europe and the Middle East were analysed. There were 129 (45.9%) salmonellae, 82 (29.2%) Staphylococcus aureus, 55 (19.6%) other Gram negative bacilli (GNB) and 15 (5.3%) other Gram positive cocci (GPC). There were 117 isolates in the studies from Africa out of which salmonellae accounted for 21.4%, S. aureus 38.5%, other GNB 34.2% and other GPC 6%. In contrast, out of 110 isolates in the studies from the USA, salmonellae were 70%, S. aureus 16.4%, other GNB 9.1% and other GPC 4.5%. Salmonellae and S. aureus accounted for 37.9% and 62.1%; 64% and 4.9% in isolates from the Middle East and Europe respectively. CONCLUSIONS Salmonellae are the most common bacterial pathogens of osteomyelitis in major sickling haemoglobinopathies in the USA and Europe whereas Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen in SubSaharan Africa and the Middle East. The worldwide prevalence of salmonella may be reducing while that of S. aureus may be increasing. Possible reasons for this observation are suggested.
Blood Flow Visualization of Left Atrial Spontaneous Echo Contrast (SEC) Using gradient based optical flow estimation

Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is a dynamic smoke-like signal caused by an increased ultrasonic backscatter from aggregation of the cellular components of blood in the conditions of blood stases or low-velocity blood flow. SEC can be detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). SEC has been proposed as an important cadioembolic source in patients with nonrheumatic arial fibrillation. Previous clinical investigations have shown that the presence of SEC is associated with a greater incidence of left atrial thrombi. Usually, the blood flow velocity is slower than lower limit of Doppler method in SEC. In order to diagnose SEC quantitatively, blood flow visualization in left atrium was performed using gradient based optical flow estimation. A movie of left atrium (LA) with SEC in a patient with atrial fibrillation was recorded by TEE with the frequency range of 4-7.5 MHz. Serial still frames were made from the movie. The 2-D flow vector map was calculated from consecutive frame images using gradient based optical flow estimation. In the result of 2-D blood flow vector map, the low and swirling flow in LA were successfully visualized.
Efektivitas Program Dana Bergulir Bagi Perkembangan Usaha Koperasi di Kota Semarang

Koperasi sebagai pelaku pembangunan ekonomi Indonesia yang sama pentingnya dengan Negara ( BUMN dan BUMD) dan Swasta. Koperasi merupakan ekonomi mikro yang manfaatnya dapat berdampak langsung bagi masyarakat. Dinas Koperasi dan UMKM Kota Semarang memiliki program untuk membantu perkembangan koperasi berupa bantuan modal yaitu dana bergulir. Sumber dana bergulir ini dari APBD Kota Semarang dengan total Rp 4.700. 000.000,00. Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu: (1) Mengetahui koperasi yang menerima dana bergulir di Kota Semarang. (2) Menganalisis deskripsi dana bergulir bagi perkembangan usaha koperasi di Kota Semarang. (3) Menganalisis mekanisme dana bergulir di Kota Semarang. (4) Menganalisis efektivitas dana bergulir bagi perkembangan usaha koperasi di Kota Semarang. Dalam penelitian ini mengunakan metode deskriptif kuantitatif. Analisis yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis deskriptif dan analisis efektivitas dengan menggunakan LAR, PAR, dan ROI. Hasil dari analisis deskriptif melalui variable dana bergulir, partisipasi anggota, modal, volume usaha, dan SHU menunjukkan hasil yang efektif. Hasil dari analisis efektifitas dengan menggunakan LAR menunjukkan hasil tidak efektif atau ditunda. PAR dan ROI menunjukkan hasil yang efektif. Cooperatives as actors Indonesian economic development are as important as (BUMN and BUMD) and private. Cooperative is a microeconomic benefits can have a direct impact to the community. Department of Cooperatives and SMEs Semarang has a program to assist the development of the cooperative form of financial aid is a revolving fund. Source of the revolving funds from the budget of Semarang with a total of Rp 4,700,000,000.00. The purpose of this study are: (1) Knowing cooperatives that receive a revolving fund in the city of Semarang. (2) Analyzing the description of a revolving fund for the development of cooperative efforts in the city of Semarang. (3) To analyze the mechanism of revolving funds in Semarang. (4) To analyze the effectiveness of a revolving fund for the development of cooperative efforts in the city of Semarang. In this research uses descriptive quantitative method. The analysis used in this research is descriptive analysis and analysis of the effectiveness of using LAR, PAR, and ROI. Results of a descriptive analysis through the variable revolving fund, the participation of members, capital, business volume, and SHU show effective results. Results of the analysis of the effectiveness of using LAR shows the results of ineffective or delayed. PAR and ROI show effective results.
Differences in virulence for mice among strains of Mycoplasma pulmonis

The mouse model of acute murine respiratory mycoplasmosis was used to screen 18 strains of Mycoplasma pulmonis for their ability to establish respiratory infections and produce gross lung lesions in the susceptible C3H/HeN mouse strain. All experiments were designed to minimize host, environmental, and microbial differences to ensure that experimental results would reflect differences in mycoplasmal virulence. There were differences in the 50% infectious dose (range, 3 X 10(2) to greater than 10(7) CFU) and the 50% gross pneumonia dose (range, 10(3) to greater than 10(7) CFU) among the 18 mycoplasmal strains. Only 10 strains (UAB CT, M1, UAB 5782C, UAB 6510, 66, UAB T, UAB 8145D, Nelson C, Peter C, and Negroni) established respiratory infections, and only 2 of the 10 strains (UAB CT and M1) produced gross lung lesions. Strains UAB CT, UAB T, M1, UAB 5782C, and PG34(ASH) were chosen for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of lung lesions in C3H/HeN and C57BL/6N mice. Lesion incidence and severity was dependent on the mycoplasmal strain and the mouse strain. Microscopic lesions varied among mycoplasmal strains and mouse strains in the amount of lymphoid infiltrate, neutrophilic exudate, and consolidation, as well as overall severity. The most virulent strain, UAB CT, produced acute pneumonitis in the 10(7) CFU dosage group and required a threshold dose of 10(3) CFU to consistently produce microscopic lung lesions. These results suggest that M. pulmonis virulence is multifactorial and different strains of mycoplasmas yield disease expressions that differ both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Schwarz-Christoffel transformation for the simulation of two-dimensional capacitance [VLSI circuits]

An inherent problem in the use of simulators for the determination of capacitance in VLSI circuits is the verification of the reliability of the simulation. The problem is due to the numerical approximations made in order to achieve a versatile simulation. The Schwarz-Christoffel transformation provides theoretically exact simulation of a limited class of problems consisting of two odd shaped conductors embedded in a uniform dielectric. It is proposed that the Schwarz-Christoffel technique can be used to calibrate simulators designed for more general problems. >
Orexin‐A projections to the caudal medulla and orexin‐induced c‐Fos expression, food intake, and autonomic function

Orexin‐expressing neurons in the hypothalamus project throughout the neuraxis and are involved in regulation of the sleep/wake cycle, food intake, and autonomic functions. Here we specifically analyze the anatomical organization of orexin projections to the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) and raphé pallidus and effects on ingestive behavior and autonomic functions of local orexin‐A administration in nonanesthetized rats. Retrograde tracing experiments revealed that as many as 20% of hypothalamic orexin neurons project to the DVC, where they form straight varicose axon profiles, some of which are in close anatomical apposition with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐, glucagon‐like peptide‐1‐, γ‐aminobutyric acid‐, and nitric oxide synthase‐immunoreactive neurons in a nonselective manner. Similar contacts were frequently observed with neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract whose activation by gastrointestinal food stimuli was demonstrated by the expression of nuclear c‐Fos immunoreactivity. Orexin‐A administration to the fourth ventricle induced significant Fos‐expression throughout the DVC compared with saline control injections, with about 20–25% of TH‐ir neurons among the stimulated ones. Fourth ventricular orexin injections also significantly stimulated chow and water intake in nonfood‐deprived rats. Direct bilateral injections of orexin into the DVC increased intake of palatable high‐fat pellets. Orexin‐ir fibers also innervated raphé pallidus. Fourth ventricular orexin‐A (1 nmol) activated Fos expression in the raphé pallidus and C1/A1 catecholaminergic neurons in the ventral medulla and increased body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor activity. The results confirm that hypothalamomedullary orexin projections are involved in a variety of physiological functions, including ingestive behavior and sympathetic outflow. J. Comp. Neurol. 485:127–142, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reversible phosphatidylserine expression on blood granulocytes related to membrane perturbation but not DNA strand breaks

Exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the outer leaflet of the cell membrane is recognized as an early indicator of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in plant and mammalian cells. Currently, there is no literature describing that PS expression on the surface of white blood cells is reversible. We found that a hypotonic 0.2% NaCl or NH4Cl lysing solution used to separate white blood cells from red blood cells induced a reversible PS expression on the cell surface of granulocytes and monocytes but not lymphocytes. This reversible PS expression was associated with change of plasma membrane potential but not degranulation‐associated membrane mobilization or DNA fragmentation. In contrast, TNF‐α induced an irreversible PS expression, associated with apoptotic DNA fragmentation shown on gel electrophoresis. The fact that hypotonic shock induced a reversible PS expression on granulocytes, and TNF‐α induced an irreversible PS expression associated with apoptotic DNA fragmentation indicate the new insight that expression of PS on the outer cell surface does not always represent cell apoptosis. Also, the reversible PS expression was associated with altered plasma‐membrane potential but not DNA strand breaks, indicating that early PS expression may be related to the membrane perturbation but not directly related to DNA fragmentation in certain types of cells.
Measurement of Ascorbic Acid and Dehydroascorbic Acid in Biological Samples

Ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid are commonly used biomarkers of oxidative stress in a variety of experimental models. However, the accurate measurement of these labile compounds remains a challenge both in terms of sample collection and analysis. Determination of dehydroascorbic acid most commonly involves indirect measurement. The concentration is calculated by subtraction of the measured ascorbic acid concentration from that of total ascorbic acid analyzed after reduction of the dehydroascorbic acid present; a method referred to as the subtraction method. Consequently, successful determination of dehydroascorbic acid is dependent upon proper sample handling, quantitative reduction of the compound, and accurate quantification of both ascorbic acid and total ascorbic acid. The unit presents a detailed introduction to ascorbate analysis in biological samples and discusses common problems and pitfalls. The analytical method described is based on reversed‐phase HPLC with coloumetric detection. This method includes co‐analysis of isoascorbic acid and uric acid. Where applicable, uric acid can conveniently be used as an endogenous intrasample standard that significantly improves the accuracy of the subsequent dehydroascorbic acid calculation.
An Examination of the California Verbal Learning Test II to Detect Incomplete Effort in a Traumatic Brain-Injury Sample

Clinical neuropsychologists are frequently called on to distinguish people who appear impaired on neuropsychological testing due to putting forth incomplete effort from those who have genuine cognitive deficits. Because traditional measures of effort are becoming accessible over the Internet and within the legal community and their purpose may be obvious to potential malingerers, nontraditional effort measures have been newly investigated. Using discriminant function analysis, this study explores whether five California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II) variables could differentiate between head-injured patients who were putting forth full effort and those who were putting forth incomplete effort. The discriminant function seemed to best predict those who put forth adequate effort while testing (95.6% correct) but not those who failed to put forth adequate effort during testing (only 13.8% correct). Hence, although the overall classification rate was moderately impressive (75.8%), the model's sensitivity in classification of the incomplete effort group was low. Cautious applications for these findings are discussed.
Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Kawasaki Disease

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute multisystem vascular syndrome of unknown etiology that is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children of developed counties. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of KD in children residing in the southwest of Iran. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of all children with KD who had been admitted to the main children’s hospital of Ahvaz, southwest Iran, from March 2000 to March 2010. Data regarding clinical and epidemiological characteristics, management, and the outcome of disease for each patient were obtained. The patients were divided into cardiac and non-cardiac groups based on echocardiographic results. Results: In total, 104 patients with KD (66 boys and 38 girls) were enrolled in this study. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1. The mean ± SD age of the patients was 33.6 ± 24.2 months. Most (87.2%) cases were from urban areas. The disease occurred more frequently during winter and spring. Furthermore, 61.5% of the children had the criteria of classic KD, and 38.5% were labeled as incomplete KD. The mean ± SD of the duration of hospital stay was 6.9 ± 2.4 days. The mean time between illness and admission to the hospital was 6.47 ± 2.6 days. The most common sign was fever, followed by conjunctivitis and oral changes. In total, 20% of the patients had cardiac abnormalities. There was no significant statistical difference between the cardiac and non-cardiac groups according to age, sex, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and cessation of fever. The duration of hospital stay and the time between onset of illness and diagnosis were longer in the cardiac group. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin. Only one patient continued to have cardiac abnormalities after 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Kawasaki disease is not rare in southwest of Iran. The age, gender distribution and clinical findings are similar to that of other reports. Patients with cardiac abnormalities had delayed treatment and prolonged hospital stays.
Temperature-driven flower longevity in a high-alpine species of Oxalis influences reproductive assurance.

How high-alpine plants confront stochastic conditions for animal pollination is a critical question. We investigated the effect of temperature on potential flower longevity (FL) measured in pollinator-excluded flowers and actual FL measured in pollinated flowers in self-incompatible Oxalis compacta and evaluated if plastically prolonged potential FL can ameliorate slow pollination under cool conditions. Pollinator-excluded and hand-pollinated flowers were experimentally warmed with open-top chambers (OTCs) on a site at 3470 m above sea level (asl). Flower-specific temperatures, and pollinator-excluded and open-pollination flower life-spans were measured at six alpine sites between 3100 and 3470 m asl. Fruit set was analyzed in relation to inferred pollination time. Warming reduced potential FL. Variable thermal conditions across the alpine landscape predicted potential and actual FL; flower senescence was pollination-regulated. Actual FL and potential FL were coupled. Prolonged potential FL generally increased fruit set under cooler conditions. Plastic responses permit virgin flowers of O. compacta to remain open longer under cooler temperatures, thereby ameliorating slow pollination, and to close earlier when pollination tends to be faster under warmer conditions. Plastic potential FL provides adaptive advantages in the cold, thermally variable alpine habitat, and has important implications for reproductive success in alpine plants in a warming world.
Arabidopsis Encodes Four tRNase Z Enzymes1[W][OA]

Functional transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules are a prerequisite for protein biosynthesis. Several processing steps are required to generate the mature functional tRNA from precursor molecules. Two of the early processing steps involve cleavage at the tRNA 5′ end and the tRNA 3′ end. While processing at the tRNA 5′ end is performed by RNase P, cleavage at the 3′ end is catalyzed by the endonuclease tRNase Z. In eukaryotes, tRNase Z enzymes are found in two versions: a short form of about 250 to 300 amino acids and a long form of about 700 to 900 amino acids. All eukaryotic genomes analyzed to date encode at least one long tRNase Z protein. Of those, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is the only organism that encodes four tRNase Z proteins, two short forms and two long forms. We show here that the four proteins are distributed to different subcellular compartments in the plant cell: the nucleus, the cytoplasm, the mitochondrion, and the chloroplast. One tRNase Z is present only in the cytoplasm, one protein is found exclusively in mitochondria, while the third one has dual locations: nucleus and mitochondria. None of these three tRNase Z proteins is essential. The fourth tRNase Z protein is present in chloroplasts, and deletion of its gene results in an embryo-lethal phenotype. In vitro analysis with the recombinant proteins showed that all four tRNase Z enzymes have tRNA 3′ processing activity. In addition, the mitochondrial tRNase Z proteins cleave tRNA-like elements that serve as processing signals in mitochondrial mRNA maturation.
Performance of Support Vector Machines and Artificial Neural Network for Mapping Endangered Tree Species Using WorldView-2 Data in Dukuduku Forest, South Africa

Endangered tree species (ETS) play a significant role in ecosystem functioning and services, land use dynamics, and other socio-economic aspects. Such aspects include ecological, economic, livelihood, and security-based and well-being benefits. The development of techniques for mapping and monitoring ETS is thus critical for understanding functioning of ecosystems. The advent of advanced imaging systems and supervised learning algorithms has provided an opportunity to map ETS over fragmenting areas. Recently, vegetation maps have been produced using advanced imaging systems such as WorldView-2 (WV-2) and robust classification algorithms such as support vector machines (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN). However, delineation of ETS in a fragmenting ecosystem using high-resolution imagery has largely remained elusive due to the complexity of the species structure and their distribution. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the utility of the advanced WV-2 data for mapping ETS in the fragmenting Dukuduku indigenous forest of South Africa using SVM and ANN classification algorithms. Specifically, the study looked at testing the advent of the additional WV-2 bands in mapping six ETS. WV-2 image was spectrally resized to separate four standard bands (SB) and four additional bands (AB). WV-2 image (8 bands: 8B) together with the SB and AB subsets was classified using SVM and ANN methods. The results showed the robustness of the two machine learning algorithms with an overall accuracy (OA) of 77.00% for SVM and 75.00% for ANN using 8B. The SB produced OA of 65.00% for SVM and 64.00% for ANN. The AB produced almost the same OA of 70.00% for both SVM and ANN. There were significant differences between the performances of the two algorithms as demonstrated by the results of McNemar's test (${\text Z}\;\text {score} \geq {1}.{96}$). This study concludes that SVM and ANN classification algorithms with WV-2 8B have the potential to map ETS in the Dukuduku indigenous forest. This study offers relatively accurate information that is important for forest managers to make informed decisions regarding management and conservation protocols of ETS.