Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inverse Currency Futures Hedging

We examine the problem of hedging a foreign exchange exposure when a futures contract on the foreign currency does not exist but there is does exist a futures contract on the value of the local currency in terms of the foreign currency. This situation is termed inverse currency futures hedging. A general formula for the inverse currency futures hedge ratio is derived and compared to the corresponding formula for direct currency hedging. Special cases of this formula are obtained for commonly-made assumptions about the joint spot and futures price process. The inverse currency futures hedging formula is also extended to incorporate quantity risk, i.e., cases in which the amount of foreign exchange risk to which a firm will be exposed in the future is not known with certainty. Empirically, the inverse currency futures hedge is found to provide similar risk reduction as what can be achieved under direct hedging. As well, the performance of the inverse hedge does not appear to depend heavily on the choice of inverse hedging model.
Welfare impacts of increasing food prices in Mexico: an application of unrestricted Engel curves and LA/EASI demand system

This paper examines the impacts of rising food prices on welfare of Mexican households by using LA/EASI demand system. Estimated welfare effects from food price increases differ considerably for two reference households. Lower-income reference household’s welfare loss, from a tortilla price increase, is two-fold that on higher-income reference household. This fact may have implications on food poverty.
"Much Ado About Nothing?": Comitology as a Feature of EU Policy Implementation and its Effects on the Democratic Arena

Abstract: The previously neglected phenomenon of governance by committees has recently received increasing attention in the academic literature. This paper focuses on the consequences of the arrangements prevailing in the committees active in the implementing phase of EU-legislation on the practice of democracy and legitimacy. The so-called "comitology committees" can be seen as a good example of the tension between input- and output-based sources of legitimacy. On the one hand the EP has demanded its increased involvement in this system ever since these committees were established. On the other hand (preliminary) studies have shown that Members of the European Parliament seem to be overwhelmed with the scrutiny or even the filing of draftimplementing measures. This gives rise to the question of increasing the legitimacy of committee work and at the same time preserving the "efficiency" of this (presumably) co-operative form of decision making. This phenomenon is illustrated by meansof a case study of committees active in the field of health and consumer protection. ;
Render Onto Hotelling or to Knight: Equilibrium Exhaustible Resource Price Dynamics with Ambiguity Aversion

Most of resource extraction and pricing models assume that risks are known with certain. However, empirical studies show that implausible high degree of risk diversification is needed to rationalize a Hotelling/Capital-Asset-Pricing model of exhaustible resource. Many choice situations feature Knight uncertainty (i.e., ambiguity or uncertainty about risk) rather than the pure risk. We present an exhaustible resource pricing model with recursive multi-priors utility in continuous-time that demonstrates the effect of ambiguity aversion on resource extraction and pricing. To investigate the pricing problem under various market structures, we discuss not only a competitive market with homogeneous producers, but also a competitive market with heterogeneous producers. Results show that other than the famous Hotelling rule the ambiguity aversion also contributes to the exhaustible resource pricing. This explains the relative high excess return that has been empirically observed in the Hotelling/Capital-Asset-Pricing model of exhaustible resource. In other words, render unto Hotelling that which belongs to Hotelling and render unto Knight, that which belongs to Him.
HEVC Deblocking Filter

This paper describes the in-loop deblocking filter used in the upcoming High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard to reduce visible artifacts at block boundaries. The deblocking filter performs detection of the artifacts at the coded block boundaries and attenuates them by applying a selected filter. Compared to the H.264/AVC deblocking filter, the HEVC deblocking filter has lower computational complexity and better parallel processing capabilities while still achieving significant reduction of the visual artifacts.
Micronutrient and anthropometric status indicators are associated with physical fitness in Colombian school children

Poor physical fitness is associated with increased health‐related risks in children. The association of nutritional status indicators and physical fitness in children residing in developing countries is not well characterized. We conducted a cross‐sectional study among 1945 children 5–12 y of age in Bogotá, Colombia, to assess whether anthropometric and micronutrient status indicators were associated with performance in the shuttle run and standing long jump tests. Stunted children scored significantly lower in the run (p=0.0002) and jump (boys only; p=0.003) tests than non‐stunted children. Children who were thin or overweight/obese ran slower than normal weight children (p<0.01). Lower jump scores were associated with overweight/obesity and greater fat arm area in boys only (p<0.0001). Girls with low ferritin concentrations ran slower than children with normal ferritin (p=0.02). Erythrocyte folate concentrations were linearly related with higher run (p<0.0001) and long jump scores (p=0.0001) in both sexes. Boys with marginal or low vitamin B‐12 status had 4 cm lower long jump scores than children with normal status (p=0.01). Sub‐optimal anthropometric and micronutrient status are related to poorer performance in fitness tests. The effects of improving nutritional status on physical fitness of children warrant investigation.
Réseaux de neurones récurrents à fonctions de base radiales: RRFR Application au pronostic

This paper introduces a Recurrent Radial Basis Function network (RRBF) for non- linear system prognosis. The training process is divided in two stages. First, the parameters of the RRBF are determined by the unsupervised k-means algorithm. The ineffectiveness of this algorithm is improved by the FuzzyMinMax technique. In the second stage, a multivariable linear regression supervised learning technique is used to determine the weights of the connections between the hidden and output layer. We test the RRBF on the Box and Jenkins furnace database. This application shows that the RRBF is able to predict the evolution of a non-linear system. The performances of the RRBF are compared with those of the TDRBF. The RRBF gives better results for long run predictions. The FuzzyMinMax technique makes the K-means more stable. MOTS-CLES : Maintenance preventive, Surveillance, Pronostic, Reseaux de neurones temporels, RFR - Reseaux de neurones a fonctions de base radiales.
An investigation of asset write-downs and concurrent abnormal accruals

This study investigates abnormal accruals of firms recognizing permanent asset impairments in their financial statements to assess whether firms systematically manage earnings in the year of the write-down. Anecdotal evidence in the popular press (e.g., Linden [1990], Grover [1992], and Smith and Lipin [1994]) and existing academic research (e.g., Kinney and Trezevant [1995] and Zucca and Campbell [1992]) suggest that firms use their discretion over asset write-downs to manage earnings. Unlike most prior studies, we do not equate earnings management with opportunistic behavior. Instead, we consider the possibility that managers use their discretion to provide value-relevant signals to investors. In addition, our focus is on abnormal accruals taken concurrently with asset write-downs. If the primary motive for an asset write-down is opportunistic earnings management, firms may also exercise their discretion over operating accruals. Although the authoritative accounting literature is specific regarding the appropriate treatment of declines in the value of short-term assets
Children's Critical Thinking When Learning From Others

A key component of critical thinking is the ability to evaluate the statements of other people. Because information that is obtained from others is not always accurate, it is important that children learn to reason about it critically. By as early as age 3, children understand that people sometimes communicate inaccurate information and that some individuals are more reliable sources than others. However, in many contexts, even older children fail to evaluate sources critically. Recent research points to the role of social experience in explaining why children often fail to engage in critical reasoning.
Inappropriate drug prescribing in older adults: the updated 2002 Beers criteria--a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND In 1997, Beers and colleagues developed explicit criteria for potentially inappropriate drug prescribing in ambulatory older adults aged 65 years and over. Several studies have been performed to estimate the prevalence of inappropriate drug prescribing based on these criteria. In 2002, the criteria were updated. AIMS To examine the extent and trend of inappropriate drug prescribing to ambulatory older adults in the Netherlands between 1997 and 2001, according to the 1997 and the updated Beers criteria. METHODS Data were retrieved from the Integrated Primary Care Information (IPCI) project, a general practice research database with data from computer-based patient records of a group of 150 general practitioners in the Netherlands. All subjects aged 65 and over were included. Prescriptions were classified as inappropriate if they fulfilled the Beers criteria of prescriptions that generally should be avoided in older adults because of a high risk of adverse effects, while also considering dose and comorbidity. RESULTS Between 1997 and 2001, the 1-year risk of receiving at least one inappropriate drug prescription for older adults ranged between 16.8% (95% CI: 16.3-17.3%) and 18.5% (18.3-18.7%) according to the 1997 criteria and between 19.1% (18.6-19.6%) and 20.0% (19.5-20.5%) according to the updated Beers criteria. According to the updated criteria, the most frequently prescribed inappropriate drugs were nitrofurantoin, long-acting benzodiazepines, amitriptyline, promethazine and cimetidine. Temazepam and zolpidem were mostly prescribed in supratherapeutic dose. Conventional NSAIDs in persons with a history of gastric/duodenal ulcer were the most frequently prescribed contra-indicated drugs. CONCLUSIONS Prescribing potentially inappropriate prescriptions to ambulatory older people in the Netherlands is substantial. Compared with other studies using the 1997 Beers criteria, inappropriate prescribing to the elderly is lower than in the USA but similar to Finland. Despite a restrictive medication policy and a growing attention for medication surveillance in Europe, inappropriate drug prescribing is still a substantial problem.
MR imaging properties and pharmacokinetics of MnDPDP in healthy volunteers

Purpose: Thirteen male volunteers were studied to evaluate the MR imaging properties and pharmacokinetics of 10 mM mangafodipir trisodium infusion (MnDPDP, Teslascan). Material and Methods: Doses of 5 and 10 μmol/kg b.w. were administered by bolus injection (<1 min) to 5 subjects, and by infusion (20 min) to 8 subjects, with a 3-week wash-out between doses. Infusion subjects underwent MR imaging. Results: At 1 h after infusion, the plasma concentration of Mn was reduced to ∼15% of the maximum value. Fifteen to 20% of Mn was recovered in the urine, and 50–60% was recovered in the faeces. The rapid initial plasma clearance of Mn is consistent with both rapid tissue uptake and rapid renal elimination. Increases in signal intensity were apparent on T1-weighted images of the liver, pancreas, spleen, renal cortex and the renal medulla, but not in regions of the brain protected by an intact blood-brain barrier. Increases were seen in the choroid plexus and pituitary. Contrast-related adverse events, only flushing of moderate intensity, occurred in bolus injection subjects. Conclusion: At 5 and 10 μmol/kg, mangafodipir produces relatively long-lasting enhancement of several abdominal organs, including the liver, pancreas and kidney.
A collection of problems in extremal combinatorics

Extremal combinatorics is concerned with how large or small a combinatorial structure can be if we insist it satisfies certain properties. In this thesis we investigate four different problems in extremal combinatorics, each with its own unique flavour. We begin by examining a graph saturation problem. We say a graph G is H-saturated if G contains no copy of H as a subgraph, but the addition of any new edge to G creates a copy of H. We look at how few edges a Kpsaturated graph can have when we place certain conditions on its minimum degree. We look at a problem in Ramsey Theory. The k-colour Ramsey number Rk(H) of a graph H is defined as the least integer n such that every kcolouring of Kn contains a monochromatic copy of H. For an integer r > 3 let Cr denote the cycle on r vertices. By studying a problem related to colourings without short odd cycles, we prove new lower bounds for Rk(Cr) when r is odd. Bootstrap percolation is a process in graphs that can be used to model how infection spreads through a community. We say a set of vertices in a graph percolates if, when this set of vertices start off as infected, the whole graph ends up infected. We study minimal percolating sets, that is, percolating sets with no proper percolating subsets. In particular, we investigate if there is any relation between the smallest and the largest minimal percolating sets in bounded degree graph sequences. A tournament is a complete graph where every edge has been given an orientation. We look at the maximum number of directed k-cycles a tournament can have and investigate when there exist tournaments with many more k-cycles than expected in a random tournament.
Identifying risk for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: Implications for surveillance studies and new adjuvant therapies

The recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of mortality for patients transplanted with HCC. There currently exists no standard method for identifying those patients with a high risk for recurrence. Identification of factors leading to recurrence is necessary to develop an efficient surveillance protocol and address new potential adjuvant therapies. We conducted a retrospective review of 834 consecutive liver transplants from 1/1/1996 to 12/31/2005 (mean follow‐up 1303 ± 1069 days) at one institution and 352 consecutive transplants from 1/2/2002 to 12/31/2005 (mean follow‐up 836 ± 402 days) at a second institution. The test cohort comprised patients identified with HCC in their explanted livers from 1/1/2001 to 12/31/2005 at the first institution. Explant pathology and donor and recipient characteristics were reviewed to determine factors associated with HCC recurrence. These predictors were validated in the remaining liver transplant recipients. The test cohort had 116 patients with findings of HCC in their explanted livers. Twelve patients developed recurrent HCC. Stepwise logistic regression identified 4 independent significant explant factors predictive of recurrence. Size of one tumor (>4.5 cm), macroinvasion, and bilobar tumor were positive predictors of recurrence, whereas the presence of only well‐differentiated HCC was a negative predictor. Designating each significant factor with points in relation to its odds ratio, a Predicting Cancer Recurrence Score (PCRS) with results ranging from −3 to 6 was developed that accurately determined risk of recurrence. These findings were then applied to the two validation cohorts, which confirmed the high predictive value of this model. In conclusion, patients transplanted for HCC with a PCRS of ≤0 have a low risk of recurrence. Patients with a PCRS of 1 or 2 have a moderate risk of recurrence, and those with a PCRS of ≥3 have a high risk for recurrence. Liver Transpl 14:956–965, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
In Vivo Bioavailability, Absorption, Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics of [14C]Procyanidin B2 in Male Rats

Procyanidins are important biologically active compounds, but the pathway and extent of absorption and metabolism are controversial. We conducted a mass balance study to evaluate the total radioactivity excreted in urine and feces after oral administration of [14C]procyanidin B2 to male rats (n = 5). Urine and feces were collected daily from 0 to 96 h. Absolute bioavailability of 14C from [14C]procyanidin B2 was calculated as ∼82% using the values for total urinary 14C. A pharmacokinetic study measured total radioactivity in the blood (n = 9). Blood samples were collected at designated time intervals (0.5–24 h) after administration. Three treatments were used: 1) intravenous, 2) oral higher dose (21 mg/kg b.wt.), and 3) oral lower dose (10.5 mg/kg). Blood concentration of total 14C reached a maximum at ∼6 h after ingestion of [14C]procyanidin B2 (groups II and III), and area under the curve (AUC) was dependent on oral dose. After intravenous or oral administration the terminal half-lives were similar, whereas 8-fold larger values were obtained after oral dosing for total clearance and the apparent volumes of distribution. These pharmacokinetic differences explain the apparently lower 14C bioavailability (8–11%) for [14C]procyanidin calculated from blood [AUC(0–24)] values. After oral administration of [14C]procyanidin B2, 63% was excreted via urine within 4 days. The data suggest that much of the parent compound administered orally is degraded by the gut microflora before absorption and that these microbial metabolites have a different distribution from the compounds circulating after the intravenous dose.
Manufacturing and Agricultural Production Functions and International Trade: United States and Northern Europe

The usefulness of the production possibility curve for the empirical testing of international trade theory is demonstrated. Agricultural and manufacturing production functions are estimated for the United States and Northern Europe by use of techniques suggested by Griliches. The estimates show decreasing returns to capital and labor in agriculture and approximately constant returns in manufacturing. These estimates of the production function are used to derive production possibility curves for the United States and West Germany. International trade theory leads to the conclusion that the United States has, vis-a-vis West Germany, a comparative advantage in the relatively capital-intensive farming and a comparative disadvantage in the relatively labor-intensive manufacturing.
Psychological Skills of Greek Badminton Athletes

The purpose was to examine age and sex differences in psychological skills among Greek badminton players. 85 badminton players completed a Greek version of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 by Smith, Schutz, Smoll, and Ptacek, during the 2002 Greek Men's and Women's National Badminton Championship Tournament. Analysis yielded differences between age groups on two factors (adversity and coachability) but no statistically significant differences between sexes. Older athletes were better prepared to cope with the psychological distress involved in the game of badminton and reported better emotional self-control. Overall, results could help badminton athletes and coaches become more familiar with the sport-specific psychological skills involved in badminton.
N′-(4-Methoxybenzylidene)-4-methylbenzohydrazide

The title compound, C16H16N2O2, is the product of the reaction of 4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 4-methylbenzohydrazide. The dihedral angle between the substituted benzene rings is 17.6 (3)° and the methoxy C atom is almost coplanar with its attached ring [deviation = 0.019 (4) Å]. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming C(4) chains propagating along the b-axis direction.
Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate: A Review of Clinical Uses

BACKGROUND Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) is Food and Drug Administration approved for treatment of varicose veins, but numerous other off-label applications have been reported. OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical uses of STS, as well as efficacy and adverse effects. METHODS Review of studies searchable on PubMed from 1938 to 2016 describing clinical uses of STS to determine efficacy and adverse effects associated with various applications. RESULTS Sodium tetradecyl sulfate has shown efficacy in the treatment of varicose veins, telangiectasias, hemangioma, pyogenic granuloma, cherry angioma, Kaposi sarcoma, lymphangioma circumscriptum, digital mucous cyst, ganglion cyst, glomangioma, angiokeratoma of Fordyce, pseudocyst of the auricle, and verruca. Commonly reported side effects include pain, erythema, swelling, hyperpigmentation, telangiectatic matting, and ulceration. Serious side effects such as anaphylaxis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and myocardial infarction have also been reported. Most sources were case reports and small prospective studies, as such the strength of data supporting many uses is limited by small sample sizes and lack of controls. CONCLUSION Although not always the most effective method of treatment in off-label usage, use of STS has been frequently selected for a variety of applications for reasons of simplicity, low cost, lack of availability of technologically advanced equipment, and intricacies related to anatomic location.
Spread Spectrum-Based Coordination Design for Multi-Hop Spectrum-Agile Wireless Networks

In this paper, we propose a reliable direct- sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS)-based underlay control channel (CC) design for exchanging control information in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). The proposed design allows both narrow-band data and wide-band control transmissions to simultaneously proceed while protecting the performance of primary radio (PR) users. To achieve this, we derive a closed-form expression for the minimum required transmit power for control transmissions such that predefined CRN connectivity requirements are realized. Given the derived expression, we compute the maximum permissible power for CR data transmissions such that an enforced power mask constrain over the PR channels is not violated. Simulation results indicate that our CC design enables efficient CR communications without relying on a dedicated CC.
Static energy minimization of 3D stacked L2 cache with selective cache compression

Three-dimentional (3D) integration is one of the most promising approaches to increase cache bandwidth and to reduce the wire length and thereby, the delay and transmission power consumption. However, high power density in 3D IC due to dense integration incurs significant leakage current increment which leads to high static energy consumption. The leakage energy consumption of 3D-stacked cache memory is more serious than that of conventional cache memory in 2D ICs. In this paper, we propose a selective cache compression technique coupled with power gating to reduce the static energy consumption of 3D-stacked SRAM cache. Cache blocks are selected to be compressed in runtime according to the cache access pattern, so that the decompression overhead is reduced. The experimental results show that our method reduces energy consumption by up to 40% (22% on average) with negligible performance overhead compared with the conventional cache management policy.