Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Prior Return Patterns in Stock Returns: Evidence from Emerging Markets

In this paper, we identify long-term prior return patterns in stock returns for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Korea, and South Africa (BRICKS) markets from January 1993 to February 2008. While Brazil, Russia and South Africa report momentum behavior, India, China and South Korea exhibit contrarian patterns for long-term prior return (24-60 months) as well as company characteristic(s) and prior return based portfolios. The CAPM is a poor descriptor of asset pricing as it doesnâ€™t explain abnormal returns on these trading strategies for India and South Korea. It works well for other markets only for 24 and 36 months portfolio formation windows. The Fama-French (FF) model is able to explain most of the abnormal returns except 24-12-12 strategy for China and South Africa and 36-12-12 strategy for India. We find long-term prior return patterns in sector returns and that our augmented FF model, which contains a prior return sector factor, does a better job than the FF model. The research contributes to asset pricing and behavioral finance literature for emerging markets. Our findings shall be useful for global portfolio managers who analyze emerging markets, to combine them with mature markets for achieving risk diversification benefits.
Empirical Research on Households’ Saving and Retirement Security: First Steps Towards an Innovative Triple�?Linked�?Dataset

There is an increasing interest among social scientists in merging survey data with administrative records from social security institutions. Record linkage represents one way to combine different sources using a unique identifier such as the Social Security number. The informed consent of the respondents however is required, which in turn might induce bias to the consent question and even threaten stability in a panel study. Data from the longitudinal household survey â€œSaving and oldâ€ age Provision in Germanyâ€ (SAVE) are used for analysis of consent rates and patterns. In the latest wave of the study participants have been asked to provide their written consent to link their answers to administrative data from the Federal Employment Agency which also includes information on the respondentsâ€™ employers. The combined data set will open new avenues for research on the link between institutions, saving behavior and oldâ€ age provision: The survey data contains information on private pension and nonâ€ pension wealth which will be complemented by complete employment histories. Moreover, from the administrative data entitlements to public pensions can be derived, while an employer survey will shed more light on the diffusion of occupational pensions. SAVE is mainly conducted as a selfâ€ administered paper and pencil (P&P) questionnaire, while existing research is based on personal interviews. Given a response rate of 81% of the participants and a consent rate of 58%, asking for consent appears feasible in a P&P design. There is evidence for mild consent bias. However, considering correlations between giving the consent and a series of socioâ€ demographic variables, as well as variables capturing respondentsâ€™ motivation and willingness can explain variation in the consent only to a small extent. We conclude that most of the variation is random.
Managerial assessment of Italian airport efficiency: a statistical DEA approach

We estimate the technical efficiency of a sample of Italian airports over the period 2000-2004, using a bias-corrected DEA estimates (Simar and Wilson 1998, 2000 and 2002). Two models “physical” and “revenue” are used to gain managerial insights about the areas of inefficiency. The results show a technology characterized by constant returns to scale, an increase merely in revenue efficiency and different benchmarks according to the model used. The joint analysis of the two models through a scatter plot matrix identifies three groups of airports: two of them are mostly operational inefficient, while one boasts the leadership in managerial efficiency.
Biological and biochemical characterization of tunicamycin-resistant Leishmania mexicana: mechanism of drug resistance and virulence

A parasitic protozoan, Leishmania mexicana amazonensis, was previously made resistant to tunicamycin (J.A. Kink and K.-P. Chang, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:1253-1257, 1987). In the present study, six different tunicamycin-resistant variants were biologically and biochemically compared with their parental wild type to further delineate the mechanism of tunicamycin resistance and that of their virulence observed. In contrast to their parental wild type, all tunicamycin-resistant variants were found to grow and differentiate in tunicamycin-containing medium. The 50% lethal doses of tunicamycin for variants resistant to 10 or 80 micrograms of tunicamycin per ml were 20- and 100-fold higher, respectively, than that of the wild type. Specific activity of the microsomal N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase was 4- to 12-fold higher in the tunicamycin-resistant cells than in their parental wild type and tunicamycin-sensitive revertants. The level of the enzyme activity is proportional to the degree of drug resistance. Inhibition kinetics studies showed that the enzyme from all groups was equally sensitive to the drug, with a 50% effective concentration of 1 to 1.3 micrograms of tunicamycin per ml. Thus, tunicamycin resistance of the variants is caused primarily by an increased level of their enzyme without alteration of its structure. Protein glycosylation determined by the incorporation of 2-D-[3H]mannose was about twofold higher in the tunicamycin-resistant variants than in their parental wild type. The increased glycosyltransferase activity in the latter apparently renders their protein glycosylation insensitive to the inhibition by tunicamycin. A major membrane glycoprotein of 63 kilodaltons (gp63) on the leishmania surface was found to be about threefold higher in the tunicamycin-resistant variants than in the wild type, as determined by immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal antibody specific for this antigen. Tunicamycin treatment of the wild type and tunicamycin-resistant variants caused changes in the electrophoretic mobility of this molecule, indicating a higher degree of its glycosylation in the latter cells. The tunicamycin-resistant variants parasitized macrophages in vitro more effectively than did the wild type, accounting for their virulence seen in mice. Thus, a high level of the glycosyltransferase enables the tunicamycin-resistant cells not only to overcome the inhibitory effect of tunicamycin on protein glycosylation but also to express their virulence, possibly by regulating N glycosylation of leishmanial proteins critical for leishmanias to establish intracellular parasitism.
Comparison of isolated-check visual evoked potential and standard automated perimetry in early glaucoma and high-risk ocular hypertension.

AIM To compare the diagnostic performance of isolated-check visual evoked potential (icVEP) and standard automated perimetry (SAP), for evaluating the application values of icVEP in the detection of early glaucoma. METHODS Totally 144 subjects (288 eyes) were enrolled in this study. icVEP testing was performed with the Neucodia visual electrophysiological diagnostic system. A 15% positive-contrast (bright) condition pattern was used in this device to differentiate between glaucoma patients and healthy control subjects. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) were derived based on a multivariate statistic. The eyes were judged as abnormal if the test yielded an SNR≤1. SAP testing was performed with the Humphrey Field Analyzer II. The visual fields were deemed as abnormality if the glaucoma hemifield test results outside normal limits; or the pattern standard deviation with P<0.05; or the cluster of three or more non-edge points on the pattern deviation plot in a single hemifield with P<0.05, one of which must have a P<0.01. Disc photographs were graded as either glaucomatous optic neuropathy or normal by two experts who were masked to all other patient information. Moorfields regression analysis (MRA) used as a separate diagnostic classification was performed by Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT). RESULTS When the disc photograph grader was used as diagnostic standard, the sensitivity for SAP and icVEP was 32.3% and 38.5% respectively and specificity was 82.3% and 77.8% respectively. When the MRA Classifier was used as the diagnostic standard, the sensitivity for SAP and icVEP was 48.6% and 51.4% respectively and specificity was 84.1% and 78.0% respectively. When the combined structural assessment was used as the diagnostic standard, the sensitivity for SAP and icVEP was 59.2% and 53.1% respectively and specificity was 84.2% and 84.6% respectivlely. There was no statistical significance between the sensitivity or specificity of SAP and icVEP, regardless of which diagnostic standard was based on. CONCLUSION The diagnostic performance of icVEP is not better than that of SAP in the detection of early glaucoma.
An improved modulation strategy for a hybrid multilevel inverter

Multilevel cascaded and hybrid inverter systems conventionally use three level bipolar PWM for each individual inverter, with their carriers phase shifted to achieve maximum harmonic cancellation within each phase leg. This has been shown to give a harmonic performance equivalent to APOD modulation of a NPC multilevel inverter, when the switching frequencies are scaled to achieve the same number of overall switch transitions. In contrast, PD modulation of a NPC inverter is harmonically superior, because it places harmonic energy directly into the carrier harmonic for each phase leg, and relies on cancellation of this harmonic across phase legs as the line-to-line voltage is developed. Using this understanding, a new discontinuous modulation strategy is proposed for a hybrid inverter which achieves a similar level of improvement in line-to-line harmonics compared to conventional three level modulation of this type of inverter.
Energy balance in healthy elderly women

There is a paucity of data on which to base estimates of the energy requirements of the elderly. In general, ageing appears to be associated with a reduction in energy requirement arising from a reduction in physical activity and loss of fat-free mass. The aim of the present study was to measure the total energy expenditure (TEE), basal metabolic rate (BMR), and energy expended on physical activity (calculated as TEE–BMR) in a group of healthy elderly women living in the community in Southampton. Mean rates of TEE (9.21 (SD 1.48) MJd) and energy expended on physical activity (4.12 (SD 1.19) MJ/d) were higher than those observed in some studies of younger adults in the UK, and higher than the factors used to estimate the average energy requirement for the elderly. The results suggest that an age-related reduction in energy requirement is not inevitable and support the hypothesis that the effects of ageing on physical activity, body composition, and hence energy requirements, are variable.
Knowledge, innovation and share value

Knowledge–based enterprises (KBEs) are difficult to value owing to the relatively greater importance of their intangible assets, such as human capital and investment in innovation. Traditional valuation models rely on variables such as earnings, dividends and assets, which, for many KBEs, are either non–existent or are distorted by differing accounting practices. This paper reviews the various attempts by practitioners and academics to overcome these difficulties by such devices as different proxies for the valuation variables or different forms of the valuation equations. We then examine some theoretical approaches that provide novel approaches to valuation. Finally, we discuss the notion of the ‘fuzzy firm’, where traditional corporate boundaries have become amorphous, with the result that the firms require new valuation methodologies.
Polarimetric Characterization of Magnetic Flat Dipole Embedded in Multilayer Structures

The scattering properties of an embedded planar magnetic dipole are addressed in this paper. In order to obtain the scattered fields the method of moments in spectral domain is applied. The dipole scattering is characterized by the radar cross section (RCS), the polarimetric response and the alpha-angle from Cloude-Pottier's target decomposition theorem. The results point out that alpha-angle is the most sensible parameter to variations on incident angles. The RCS is influenced by the incident angles and by the geometrical dipole area. The incident angles have also influence over polarimetric response, showing its use and interpretation must be done with extremely care.
Multimodal Interaction

We have more ways to interact with our computers than ever before, and these get more "human friendly" every day. Guest editors Glinert and Blattner review the potential benefits of multimodal interfaces and the research and design challenges involved. The four articles that follow comprise this special issue on multimodal interaction techniques and the useful new applications they support.
The ntrA gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens: identification, cloning, and phenotype of a site-directed mutant

A 3.6-kb EcoRI fragment containing the ntrA gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens was cloned by using the homologous ntrA gene of Rhizobium meliloti as a probe. Construction of an ntrA mutant of A. tumefaciens by site-directed insertional mutagenesis demonstrated the requirement of the ntrA gene for nitrate utilization and C4-dicarboxylate transport but not for vir gene expression or tumorigenesis.
Expression of type 1 fimbriae may be required for persistence of Escherichia coli in the catheterized urinary tract

Long-term urinary catheterization results in polymicrobial bacteriuria and is complicated by fever, bacteremia, acute pyelonephritis, and death. Escherichia coli is a common urine isolate from catheterized patients and can persist for months. We hypothesized that fimbria-mediated adherence contributes to its persistence. For 1 year, urine specimens were collected from 51 patients greater than or equal to 65 years of age who were catheterized for greater than or equal to 30 days. E. coli was isolated at greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml from 447 (36%) of 1,230 weekly urine specimens from 26 patients. Week 1 isolates from 52 definable episodes were tested for hemagglutination, hybridization with gene sequences from the pil and pap operons, in vitro adherence to catheter material, binding of 125I-labeled Tamm-Horsfall protein, hemolysin and colicin V production, and serum resistance. The proportions of isolates of short (1 week only), medium (2 to 11 weeks) and long (greater than or equal to 12 weeks) episodes of bacteriuria which expressed type 1 fimbriae as assayed by mannose-sensitive hemagglutination were 59, 65, and 92%, respectively. Isolates with the pil operon (the genome for type 1 fimbriae) from episodes lasting greater than 1 week expressed mannose-sensitive hemagglutination more frequently (P = 0.011) than pil-positive isolates from episodes of less than or equal to 1 week. Isolates from episodes of greater than 1 week also bound significantly more Tamm-Horsfall protein than isolates from episodes of less than or equal to 1 week (P = 0.044). Although nearly half of the isolates produced P fimbriae, an important virulence factor for the development of pyelonephritis, no correlation with persistence could be made. Overall, the E. coli isolates expressed traits similar to those of strains that caused cystitis. Type 1 fimbriae appear to be important for the persistence of E. coli in the long-term-catheterized urinary tract.
Water Consumption Analysis System Based on Data Mining

As knowledge discovery in databases, data mining means a process of extraction potentially useful information from data in databases, which can be applied to information management, query processing, decision making, process control etc. Those are urgently needed to improve efficient management in water supply industry, since water has been recognized by governments worldwide as a scarce resource. In response to such demand, this paper proposes a software application, which designed to accessing to database, operating the data mining, and output the results and charts. We analyzed the different prediction models and designed the water consumption system, which has two functions of analysis of possible correlations between the water consumption and nature of the industry and prediction on future water consumption. As the system built, the paper provides samples and produces the results and analysis.
NOD1, a new player in cardiac function and calcium handling.

AIMS Inflammation is a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease and its complications; however, whether the myocardial inflammatory response is harmonized after cardiac injury remains to be determined. Some receptors of the innate immune system, including the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs), play key roles in the host response after cardiac damage. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 1 (NOD1), a member of the NLR family, is expressed in the heart, but its functional role has not been elucidated. We determine whether selective NOD1 activation modulates cardiac function and Ca(2+) signalling. METHODS AND RESULTS Mice were treated for 3 days with the selective NOD1 agonist C12-iE-DAP (iE-DAP), and cardiac function and Ca(2+) cycling were assessed. We found that iE-DAP treatment resulted in cardiac dysfunction, measured as a decrease in ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Cardiomyocytes isolated from iE-DAP-treated mice displayed a decrease in the L-type Ca(2+) current, [Ca(2+)]i transients and Ca(2+) load, and decreased expression of phospho-phospholamban, sarcoplasmic reticulum-ATPase, and Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger. Furthermore, iE-DAP prompted 'diastolic Ca(2+) leak' in cardiomyocytes, resulting from increased Ca(2+) spark frequency and RyR2 over-phosphorylation. Importantly, these iE-DAP-induced changes in Ca(2+) cycling were lost in NOD1(-/-) mice, indicating that iE-DAP exerts its actions through NOD1. Co-treatment of mice with iE-DAP and a selective inhibitor of NF-κB (BAY11-7082) prevented cardiac dysfunction and Ca(2+) handling impairment induced by iE-DAP. CONCLUSION Our data provide the first evidence that NOD1 activation induces cardiac dysfunction associated with excitation-contraction coupling impairment through NF-κB activation and uncover a new pro-inflammatory player in the regulation of cardiovascular function.
The decomposition of housing market variations : a panel data approach

Purpose - This paper develops a new decomposition method of the housing market variations to analyse the housing dynamics of the Australian eight capital cities. Design/methodology/approach - This study reviews the prior research on analysing the housing market variations and classifies the previous methods into four main models. Based on this, the study develops a new decomposition of the variations, which is made up of regional information, home-market information and time information. The panel data regression method, unit root test and Findings - This paper suggests that the Australian home-market information has the same elasticity to the housing market variations across cities and time. In contrast, the elasticities of the regional information are distinguished. However, similarities exit in the west and north of Australia or the south and east of Australia. The time information contributes differently along the observing period, although the similarities are found in certain periods. Originality/value - This paper introduces the housing market variation decomposition into the research of housing market variations and develops a model based on the new method of the housing market variation decomposition.
Financial Conditions Indexes: A Fresh Look after the Financial Crisis

This paper explores the link between financial conditions and economic activity. We first review existing measures, including both single indicators and composite financial conditions indexes (FCIs). We then build a new FCI that features three key innovations. First, besides interest rates and asset prices, it includes a broad range of quantitative and survey-based indicators. Second, our use of unbalanced panel estimation techniques results in a longer time series (back to 1970) than available for other indexes. Third, we control for past GDP growth and inflation and thus focus on the predictive power of financial conditions for future economic activity. During most of the past two decades for which comparisons are possible, including the last five years, our FCI shows a tighter link with future economic activity than existing indexes, although some of this undoubtedly reflects the fact that we selected the variables partly based on our observation of the recent financial crisis. As of the end of 2009, our FCI showed financial conditions at somewhat worse-than-normal levels. The main reason is that various quantitative credit measures (especially issuance of asset backed securities) remained unusually weak for an economy that had resumed expanding. Thus, our analysis is consistent with an ongoing modest drag from financial conditions on economic growth in 2010.
Cultural innovation in software design: the new impact of innovation planning methods

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe innovation planning methods used at Microsoft.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the cultural environment and changes that needed to occur to implement these methods and looks at a selection of product development efforts at Microsoft that used these methods and were successful.Findings – This paper shares the steps taken to enable innovation planning methods to be successful organizationally and describes the specific approaches that were most successful from a product development perspective.Research limitations/implications – The findings demonstrate that innovation in the large enterprise is a repeatable and reproducible process when the right environment and methods are utilized.Practical implications – Because enterprises are increasingly being called on to provide breakthrough and disruptive innovations innovation planning methods are increasingly becoming a necessary core discipline that is required in the enterprise.Originality/valu.
The Czech Academic Corpus 2.0 Guide

The Czech Academic Corpus 2.0 Guide The Czech Academic Corpus version 2.0 is a morphologically and syntactically annotated corpus of 650,000 words. The Czech Academic Corpus (CAC) was created by a team from the Institute of the Czech Language of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic from 1971 to 1985. When the CAC project began there were only two computerized annotated corpora available since the 1960s - the Brown Corpus of American English and the LOB Corpus of British English. Both corpora became well known to corpus linguists, whereas the CAC remained hidden mainly because of the 1980s political regime in the Czech Republic. The idea of transferring the internal format and annotation scheme of the CAC into the Prague Dependency Treebank (PDT) concept emerged during the work on the PDT's second version. The main goal was to make the CAC and the PDT fully compatible and thus enable the integration of the CAC into the PDT. The currently released second version of the CAC presents the complete conversion of the internal format and morphological and syntactical annotation schemes. The Czech Academic Corpus v. 2.0 is being published by the Linguistic Data Consortium.