Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SEGMENTAL MARKET RISK APPRAISAL OF EQUITY INVESTMENTS AT THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is one of the most vibrant financial securities markets in Africa. The equity securities of the companies listed at the market have for a long time been subdivided into Agricultural; Commercial and Services; Finance and Investment and Manufacturing and Allied segments. This longitudinal empirical survey investigates the market riskiness of the returns of the various segments of the NSE using Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) of Sharpe (1964) to vis-a-vis the market returns. The study covers the period January 2008 through December 2011, a period over which the NSE All Share Index (NASI) which is used to indicate market returns has been in existence. Ordinary least squares method (OLS) is used to estimate segmental betas which are then used to test two null hypotheses. First that the market segmental betas are statistically insignificant in determining the NSE investment portfolio returns and second there is no significant difference between the inter-segmental market betas (indicators of segmental systematic risk) in the various segments of the market. The study rejects the first null hypothesis for all thefour segments and finds that beta is a statistically significant indicator of market risk for those segments. With regard to the second null hypothesis, the various segments are found to have betas with significant difference in means indicating that each of the segments have unique risk factors relative to the all the companies listed at the NSE. In a nutshell, the agricultural sector is found to be the most risky sector with the highest volatility while the Finance and Investment sector is the least risky for the study period. Industrial and allied as well as the finance and investment sectors generally exhibit less volatile returns than the overall NSE. From the findings it can be concluded that the various equity investment segments of the NSE exhibit unique idiosyncratic factors that influence segmental market risk.
Three-dimensional Bin Packing in Mixed-case Palletization

The Three Dimensional Bin Packing Problem (3DBPP) is within one of the broad categories of the Bin Packing Problem. The other broad categories include the One Dimensional and the Two Dimensional Bin Packing Problem. As we live in a three dimensional world, the 3DBPP can model a variety of real world problems. Some of the popular applications of the 3DBPP include the Container Loading Problem and the Pallet Packing Problem. The objective of the 3DBPP is to minimize the number of containers or pallets used given a certain number of items, while respecting the non-overlapping constraints along all three dimensions. The Open Dimension Problem (ODP), is a special case of the 3DBPP, where a given set of cargo is packed onto a single container, with one or more variable dimensions. The Single Bin Size Bin Packing Problem (SBSBPP) is another special case, where a given set of cargo is packed in bins of the same size, with the objective of minimizing the number of bins used. The SBSBPP is more difficult to solve than the ODP, as items are packed in multiple bins in the SBSBPP and in only one bin in the ODP. In this thesis, we first propose a mixed-integer programming model for the ODP, where the objective is to minimize the highest point within the bin. We then provide a number of enhancements to improve the model. Later, a number of heuristics are proposed to find good feasible solutions within reasonable computational time. Finally the solution of the ODP is used to provide a solution to the SBSBPP. The proposed approach is compared to well-known approaches from the literature on a standard data set. The approach was able to give reasonably good solutions to most instances within a given time frame, especially when the number of items per bin increases.
Pressure dissociation studies provide insight into oligomerization competence of temperature‐sensitive folding mutants of P22 tailspike

Several temperature‐sensitive folding (tsf) mutants of the tailspike protein from bacteriophage P22 have been found to fold with lower efficiency than the wild‐type sequence, even at lowered temperatures. Previous refolding studies initiated from the unfolded monomer have indicated that the tsf mutations decrease the rate of structured monomer formation. We demonstrate that pressure treatment of the tailspike aggregates provides a useful tool to explore the effects of tsf mutants on the assembly pathway of the P22 tailspike trimer. The effects of pressure on two different tsf mutants, G244R and E196K, were explored. Pressure treatment of both G244R and E196K aggregates produced a folded trimer. E196K forms almost no native trimer in in vitro refolding experiments, yet it forms a trimer following pressure in a manner similar to the native tailspike protein. In contrast, trimer formation from pressure‐treated G244R aggregates was not rapid, despite the presence of a G244R dimer after pressure treatment. The center‐of‐mass shifts of the fluorescence spectra under pressure are nearly identical for both tsf aggregates, indicating that pressure generates similar intermediates. Taken together, these results suggest that E196K has a primary defect in formation of the β‐helix during monomer collapse, while G244R is primarily an assembly defect.
Sum Rates and User Scheduling for Multi-User MIMO Vector Perturbation Precoding

This paper considers the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Rayleigh fading broadcast channel. We consider the case where the multiple transmit antennas are used to deliver independent data streams to multiple users via a multi-user technique known as vector perturbation. We derive expressions for the capacity in terms of the average energy of the precoded vector, and use this to derive a closed-form high-SNR upper bound, which we show to be tight via simulation. We then turn to the practical issue of user selection. We propose a low-complexity user selection algorithm that attempts to maximize the high-SNR sum rate upper bound. Simulations show that the algorithm outperforms other user selection algorithms of similar complexity.
An Improved CNF Encoding Scheme for Probabilistic Inference

We present and evaluate a new CNF encoding scheme for reducing probabilistic inference from a graphical model to weighted model counting. This new encoding scheme elaborates on the CNF encoding scheme ENC4 introduced by Chavira and Darwiche, and improves it by taking advantage of log encodings of the elementary variable/value assignments and of the implicit encoding of the most frequent probability value per conditional probability table. From the theory side, we show that our encoding scheme is faithful, and that for each input network, the CNF formula it leads to contains less variables and less clauses than the CNF formula obtained using ENC4. From the practical side, we show that the C2D compiler empowered by our encoding scheme performs in many cases significantly better than when ENC4 is used, or when the state-of-the-art ACE compiler is considered instead.
Expression of AMIDASE1 (AMI1) is suppressed during the first two days after germination

The regulation of cellular auxin levels is a critical factor in determining plant growth and architecture, as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) gradients along the plant axis and local IAA maxima are known to initiate numerous plant growth responses. The regulation of auxin homeostasis is mediated in part by transport, conjugation and deconjugation, as well as by de novo biosynthesis. However, the pathways of IAA biosynthesis are yet not entirely characterized at the molecular and biochemical level. It is suggested that several biosynthetic routes for the formation of IAA have evolved. One such pathway proceeds via the intermediate indole-3-acetamide (IAM), which is converted into IAA by the activity of specific IAM hydrolases, such as Arabidopsis AMIDASE1 (AMI1). In this article we present evidence to support the argument that AMI1-dependent IAA synthesis is likely not to be used during the first two days of seedling development.
Development and initial validation of the Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence Questionnaire

Abstract The development of talent is a complex process mediated by a host of psychological, social, physical, and environmental variables. Unfortunately, the multiple processes involved in talent development are frequently ignored by the systems and protocols employed in sport. Modern approaches to talent development are beginning to stress the initial possession, then subsequent development, of generic psychological characteristics (e.g. psychological characteristics of developing excellence; MacNamara, Button, & Collins, 2010a, 2010b) as the best way to realize latent potential. Accordingly, this paper describes the development and initial validation of the Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence Questionnaire (PCDEQ). In the first phase, an initial list of 160 items was developed. A combination of expert panel reviews, cognitive interviews, and a pilot test was used to assess the relevance, representativeness, and validity of each item. Ninety-six items were retained following these steps. Exploratory factor analysis, with a sample of 363 athletes, revealed an interpretable 59-item, 6-factor solution with good internal consistency (0.870, 0.866, 0.847, 0.741, 0.749, and 0.701 respectively). The Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence Questionnaire would appear to hold promise as a useful tool to provide coaches and athletes with information about the psychological characteristics of developing excellence that are being properly addressed or neglected during different stages of development or in different contexts.
Music identification with KD-tree and melody-line

In this paper, we propose a novel approach for music identification with KD-tree and melody-line. In our method the process has three stages. Firstly, we use the features extracted from training data set to built a KD-tree. Secondly, features extracted from the music in the database, are quantified through the KD-tree into words. Then the words are stored. Meanwhile, the melody-line is also extracted from the music and also stored as a string. Thirdly, when the user gives a fragment song, features are extracted and then quantified the same way in the second stage, so is melody-line. We score the archive according to TF-IDF scheme and get the best matches. String matching of melody line is applied to re-arrange the orders of the best matches. Our contribution also includes a new kind of feature, MFCC Peaks, to acquire an efficient and accurate retrieval. The results of our experiments demonstrate that the accuracy of top1 is 98.54% while the top5 is 99.52%. We also compare our approach with Shazam algorithm and get higher accuracy among all six types of music.
Understanding social network site consumer engagements

Interpreting social network site (SNS) consumer behavior engages motivation, consumption, and planned behavior theory. An expanded consumer attitude and engagement approach combines with consumer expectations and psychology to embed consumer value deliverance intermediaries, and to ultimately deliver SNS business outcomes through satisfaction, trust and loyalty. This SNS ‘consumer engagement’ model is conceptualized to operate across the business’s SNS consumer engagement cycle, and with the SNS consumer measurement framework, adds understanding of pre-event, at-event and post-event consumer behavior when engaging in the business’s SNS. Astutely interpreted, this approach allows business to further understand its SNS consumers (and even its sub-groups of consumers).
Hermite form computation of matrices of differential polynomials

Given a matrix A ∈ F(t)[D; δ]n×n over the ring of di erential polynomials, we rst prove the existence of the Hermite form H of A over this ring. Then we determine degree bounds on U and H such that UA = H. Finally, based on the degree bounds on U and H, we compute the Hermite form H of A by reducing the problem to solving a linear system of equations over F(t). The algorithm requires a polynomial number of operations in F in terms of the input sizes: n, degDA, and degtA. When F = Q it requires time polynomial in the bit-length of the rational coe cients as well.
Fair Disclosure and Open Market Briefings: Evidence from the Australian Stock Exchange

Regulatory change in the USA (Regulation FD, 2000) establishes new requirements for full and fair disclosure by public companies. By contrast, Australia has operated continuous disclosure like that introduced in Regulation FD since 1996. Firms are required by law immediately to disclosure information that has a material effect on the firm’s operating conditions. Refinement of these requirements took place in September 1999 when the Australian Stock Exchange established an “open briefing” to provide greater disclosure to the market on the reasons for the material changes announced by listed firms. This paper examines the first year of the new open briefing process. We find that open briefing firms are larger, have greater growth opportunities and higher debt than other firms. Abnormal trading volume and volatility is significantly highly during open briefings indicating they have information content although abnormal share prices are not significantly different from zero. Firm size and interest coverage are positively associated with the cross-sectional variation in abnormal return to the open briefing firm at the day of the open briefing. JEL Classification Code: G14.
Theory of ultrasound Doppler-spectra velocimetry for arbitrary beam and flow configurations

In conventional ultrasound Doppler systems, the velocity component along the beam axis is derived from the observed frequency shift. Recently, it was verified that by using a pulsed-Doppler system with the beam transversely oriented with respect to the flow, the velocity component transverse to the beam can be derived from the edges of the spectrum. These results are generalized to take into account arbitrary angles of incidence, effects of velocity gradients, arbitrary apertures, and arbitrary source pulses. For uniform apertures and transverse flow, it has been previously shown that the Doppler output spectrum is symmetrical about zero frequency, with its width depending on the Doppler effect due to the transverse velocity and the geometry of the problem. For a beam direction oblique to the velocity, it is shown that the spectrum is now shifted, and is centered about the classical Doppler frequency. For velocity gradients and transverse flows the spectrum remains symmetrical, with the edges corresponding to the maximal velocity; however, the profile becomes peaked at the center. For oblique incidence, an asymmetrical spectrum is obtained and its edges are related to the maximal and minimal velocities within the sampling volume. <<ETX>>
GPSR-L: Greedy perimeter stateless routing with lifetime for VANETS

The modification of the well known GPSR routing protocol, with the concept of lifetime is proposed. The lifetime is calculated between the node and each of its neighbors. A lifetime timer is set to the lifetime value. This timer helps in determining the quality of link and duration of the neighbor¿s existence. During the next hop selection process, the node selects the neighbor which is closest to the destination with good link quality and non-zero lifetime timer value in contrast to GPSR. This results in appropriate selection of the next hop node in a highly mobile and noisy environment, thus reducing the packet loss. The simulation is conducted for two scenarios where the source and destination are travelling in same and opposite directions. The results showed that GPSR with Lifetime achieved 20% to 40% increase in the packet delivery rate and significant improvement in packet delivery ratio for different ¿HELLO¿ message intervals when compared to GPSR.
Breastfeeding in African Americans May Not Depend on Sleep Arrangement

Background. Despite high bedsharing rates, breastfeeding rates are low among African Americans. Objective. Describe the association between breastfeeding and bedsharing; elucidate barriers to breastfeeding in African Americans. Methods. African American mothers with infants <6 months were recruited for this cross-sectional, mixed-methods study and completed an infant care practices survey. A subgroup participated in focus groups or individual interviews. Results. A total of 412 completed the survey; 83 participated in a focus group or interview. Lower socioeconomic status mothers were more likely to breastfeed exclusively or at all if they bedshared (P = .02 and P = .01, respectively). Bedsharing was not associated with breastfeeding among higher socioeconomic status mothers. Breast pain, lack of support, and maternal skepticism about breastfeeding benefits were barriers; the latter was a recurrent theme among nonbreastfeeding mothers. Conclusions. While bedsharing is associated with breastfeeding in lower socioeconomic groups, it is not in higher socioeconomic African American groups. Skepticism about breastfeeding benefits may contribute to low breastfeeding rates in African Americans.
Essays in Optimization of Commodity Procurement, Processing and Trade Operations.

Managing commodity price uncertainty is an integral part of many firms' business process. Firms adopt a variety of operational strategies to manage this uncertainty, subject to operational constraints such as finite procurement and processing capacities. The availability of financial derivative instruments provide firms with additional options to manage the risk from commodity operations. This dissertation explores different aspects of managing the price uncertainty for a commodity processing firm in a series of four related essays. The first three essays consider the integrated procurement, processing and trade decisions for a firm operating a single location with procurement and processing capacity constraints under risk-neutral and risk-averse objective functions. These essays focus on deriving the optimal policy structure and developing computationally tractable heuristics where required. The first essay considers a risk-neutral firm maximizing expected profits from operations over a multi-period horizon and derives the optimal operational policy for the firm. The second essay deals with the issue of time-consistent decision making in risk-averse settings while the third essay looks at the value of operational hedging, such as excess procurement or processing capacity. The fourth essay extends the single location problem to a network setting and considers a `star' network configuration. While solving the network problem optimally is hard, this essay proposes heuristics based on insights from the optimal policy structure for the single node problem to address the computational complexities. In addition, this essay also proposes a myopic heuristic to manage the commodity procurement and processing decisions in a network. Numerical studies indicate that these heuristics provide a significant improvement in expected profits, compared to heuristics used in practice.
A unifying theory of refractive error development

While retinal defocus is believed to be myopigenic in nature, the underlying mechanism has remained elusive. We recently constructed a theory of refractive error development to investigate its fundamental properties. Our Incremental Retinal-Defocus Theory is based on the principle that the change in retinal-defocus magnitude during an increment of genetically-programmed ocular growth provides the requisite sign for the appropriate alteration in subsequent environmentally-induced ocular growth. This theory was tested under five experimental conditions: lenses, diffusers, occlusion, crystalline lens removal, and prolonged nearwork. Predictions of the theory were consistent with previous animal and human experimental findings. In addition, simulations using a MATLAB/SIMULINK model supported our theory by demonstrating quantitatively the appropriate directional changes in ocular growth rate. Thus, our Incremental Retinal-Defocus Theory provides a simple and logical unifying concept underlying the mechanism for the development of refractive error.
Corporate Compliance: New Approaches to Regulatory Enforcement

Contents: Prologue: The President Coolidge 1. Introduction Part I: Major Schools of Thought Regarding Law Enforcement 2. Deterrence-based Regulatory Enforcement 3. Cooperative Enforcement 4. The Reconciliation of Deterrence-based and Cooperative Enforcement Part II: Corporate Liability and the Incentive Apparatus for Corporate Proactive Compliance 5. Corporate Liability and Compliance Management Systems 6. Corporate Liability Regimes: A Law and Economics Analysis Part III: Corporate Monitors: Can 'Swords' Turn Into 'Shields'? 7. Corporate Monitors: The Emerging Framework of Deferred Prosecution Agreements 8. Corporate Monitors: Facilitating an Efficient Targeted Monitoring System 9. Concluding Remarks Bibliography Index
Genome-wide analysis of maltose utilization and regulation in aspergilli.

Maltose utilization and regulation in aspergilli is of great importance for cellular physiology and industrial fermentation processes. In Aspergillus oryzae, maltose utilization requires a functional MAL locus, composed of three genes: MALR encoding a regulatory protein, MALT encoding maltose permease and MALS encoding maltase. Through a comparative genome and transcriptome analysis we show that the MAL regulon system is active in A. oryzae while it is not present in Aspergillus niger. In order to utilize maltose, A. niger requires a different regulatory system that involves the AmyR regulator for glucoamylase (glaA) induction. Analysis of reporter metabolites and subnetworks illustrates the major route of maltose transport and metabolism in A. oryzae. This demonstrates that overall metabolic responses of A. oryzae occur in terms of genes, enzymes and metabolites when the carbon source is altered. Although the knowledge of maltose transport and metabolism is far from being complete in Aspergillus spp. , our study not only helps to understand the sugar preference in industrial fermentation processes, but also indicates how maltose affects gene expression and overall metabolism.
Bank Governance and Bank Capital

This study examines the impact of bank ownership and bank governance on capital. Using Japanese commercial banks as a sample over a Basel II period (2007-2012), we investigate the impact of bank ownership and management structure on the level of bank capital. Our results suggest that institutional and foreign ownership tends toward a higher level of capital for the sake of risk-taking. In contrast though, inside directors are more concerned with their undiversified human capital risk, thus reluctant to increase capital for a higher level of risk-taking. Additionally, board size, independent directors, and outside directors positively affect the level of capital, revealing the conservatism of these directors in maintaining higher capital levels to prepare for unexpected losses.