Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liquidity and volatility around large trades: Evidence from the Tunisian market

Whether temporary or permanent, price effects of large trades routed upstairs or downstairs do exist. These price movements have an impact on market liquidity and volatility. If it is admitted that block markets have seen a great expansion, it would be interesting to check if these upstairs markets cream skim the central market by reducing its liquidity. It would be also convenient to check if institutional investors would cause a persistent volatility on asset prices. This paper shows that in the Tunisian Stock Exchange, block trades do not harm market liquidity. The results also show that the volatility that accompanies these trades is not persistent. No more than five trading sessions are needed to offset the temporary increase of the volatility.
Examining Leisure Constraints for Ski Centre Visitors: Implications for Services Marketing

ABSTRACT This study forms a determination research into the existence of constraint factors in the demand of ski centre services. After collecting 1,316 questionnaires from twelve ski centre destinations in Greece, the power efficiency of three important theoretical classifications (intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural constraints) was explored through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings support two out of three theoretical constraint categories, namely, intrapersonal and structural constraints, while the validity of the final measurement tool was explored. Practical implications for services marketing are also discussed.
Ribosomal ITS2 sequence data for Anopheles maculipennis and An. messeae in northern Greece, with a critical assessment of previously published sequences

DNA sequences were generated for eight specimens of the Anopheles maculipennis complex from Florina in NW Greece, and identified to species on the basis of comparison with ITS2 sequences for members of the complex already in GenBank. The sequences revealed the presence of An. maculipennis and An. messeae in Florina. Problems with sequence reliability and accessibility of sequences generated in earlier studies of Palaearctic members of the complex are discussed.
Patterns and correlates of contacting clergy for mental disorders in the United States.

OBJECTIVE To present nationally representative data on the part played by clergy in providing treatment to people with mental disorders in the United States. DATA SOURCES The National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), a nationally representative general population survey of 8,098 respondents ages 15-54. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. DATA COLLECTION A modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess DSM-III-R mental disorders. Reports were obtained on age of onset of disorders, age of first seeking treatment, and treatment in the 12 months before interview with each of six types of professionals (clergy, general medical physicians, psychiatrists, other mental health specialists, human services providers, and alternative treatment providers). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS One-quarter of those who ever sought treatment for mental disorders did so from a clergy member. Although there has been a decline in this proportion between the 1950s (31.3 percent) and the early 1990s (23.5 percent), the clergy continue to be contacted by higher proportions than psychiatrists (16.7 percent) or general medical doctors (16.7 percent). Nearly one-quarter of those seeking help from clergy in a given year have the most seriously impairing mental disorders. The majority of these people are seen exclusively by the clergy, and not by a physician or mental health professional. CONCLUSIONS The clergy continue to play a crucial role in the U.S. mental health care delivery system. However, interventions appear to be needed to ensure that clergy members recognize the presence and severity of disorders, deliver therapies of sufficient intensity and quality, and collaborate appropriately with health care professionals.
Faster P300 Classifier Training Using Spatiotemporal Beamforming

The linearly-constrained minimum-variance (LCMV) beamformer is traditionally used as a spatial filter for source localization, but here we consider its spatiotemporal extension for P300 classification. We compare two variants and show that the spatiotemporal LCMV beamformer is at par with state-of-the-art P300 classifiers, but several orders of magnitude faster in training the classifier.
New Modes of Governance in the Dutch Reintegration Market: Analyzing the Process of Contracting Out

Today many welfare states have undergone a transformation, and the focus of their efforts has shifted towards activating and enabling, where the promotion of labor participation is the principal aim. One of the components of the welfare state that has been subjected to a shift in governance is the provision of activation services, where the use of contracts as a governance tool has gained foothold. In the Dutch context, the contract has become a primary tool for realizing policy goals and safeguarding public interest, on the Dutch employment reintegration market. Moreover, in the Dutch context the tender documents are the cornerstone of the contractual relation that governs the delivery of employment reintegration services through private actors. One of the challenges the use of the market brings with it, relates to conveying preferences about how and which policy goals should be realized and under which conditions.The aim of this paper is to examine, in an exploratory fashion, how contractual relations between municipalities and service providers are shaped through the tender documents and contracts. Examining the service policy goals that are being formulated and under which conditions service should be delivered. In addition, we want to see how the operational responsibility is shaped in the contracts. The results show that while municipalities buy a wide variety of services, they opt to buy them in a modular fashion. Furthermore, much of the responsibility and decision-making prerogatives, in relation to service delivery, is kept in the hands of municipal case managers. Finally, in the specifications drawn up for service delivery there remains a strong focus on stipulating process requirements. Something that is reminiscent of more traditional governance arrangements.
Teaching of the Second Law of Thermodynamics : Evaluation of learners ‟ concept maps

The present study describes the effect of concept maps on learners’ achievement and interest for classroom teaching of the second law of thermodynamics to engineering students. Learners are encouraged to develop their individual concept maps of the second law of thermodynamics. The scores of the learners’ concept maps are compared with the score of the expert map developed by the teacher. After teaching the topic, an achievement test about the second law of thermodynamics consisting of 15 questions was administered. Concept map scores and the results of achievement test were compared. Experimental data reveals that concept map scores are moderately co-related with the scores of achievement test. While achievement test measures application knowledge, the concept maps on the other hand measure knowledge about related concepts and degree and quality of relationships constructed between the concepts. As a result, concept maps can be used as an assessment method along with achievement test to measure various aspects of learning. Learners’ perceptions indicate the effectiveness of the use of concept maps in the classroom. An analysis conducted on learning outcomes is also presented. Kewords: Concept maps, The second law of thermodynamics, achievement test, meaningful learning, Cronbach alpha coefficient, K-R 20 coefficient
Assessment of low-carbon policy implications in China's urban residential sector

In this paper, we present a micro-model designed to assess the effectiveness of low-carbon policies in addressing the energy problems faced by the Chinese urban residential sector. This micro-model first evaluates CO2 emissions based on available information for the residential sector, including the number of households, floor area and domestic appliance ownership. Two efficiency scenarios are then combined to form the simulation model: Chinese government policies and the low carbon plans of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. The simulation model estimates future emissions growth and the CO2 reduction potential of two efficiency scenarios. The results indicate that when government policies align with the efforts of residents, there is opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions in Chinese residential buildings for a relatively low price. In the frozen technology scenario, data shows that in all 31 province-level divisions, CO2 emission growth will see a 10-fold increase over .
The Determinants of Anti-trafficking Policies – Evidence from a New Index

We develop a new index measuring governments' anti-trafficking policies for up to 180 countries over the 2000-2010 period. We assess a country's level of compliance in the three main dimensions of anti-trafficking policies - prosecution, protection and prevention. The results show that compliance with prosecution policy is highest, while governmental efforts to protect victims of human trafficking remain weakest. Overall, developed countries perform better than the rest of the world. We employ the new indices to investigate what determines anti-trafficking policies. We find that compliance with anti-trafficking policies significantly decreases with corruption and is higher in countries that also respect the rights of women. We also find some tentative evidence for spatial dependence in anti-trafficking policies.
Randomized Linear Programming Solves the Discounted Markov Decision Problem In Nearly-Linear (Sometimes Sublinear) Running Time

We propose a novel randomized linear programming algorithm for approximating the optimal policy of the discounted Markov decision problem. By leveraging the value-policy duality and binary-tree data structures, the algorithm adaptively samples state-action-state transitions and makes exponentiated primal-dual updates. We show that it finds an $\epsilon$-optimal policy using nearly-linear run time in the worst case. When the Markov decision process is ergodic and specified in some special data formats, the algorithm finds an $\epsilon$-optimal policy using run time linear in the total number of state-action pairs, which is sublinear in the input size. These results provide a new venue and complexity benchmarks for solving stochastic dynamic programs.
The effects of pulp and paper mill effluent on physiological and hematological endpoints in fingerling largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of bleached kraft mill effluent on selected physiological and hematological endpoints in fingerling largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Fish were exposed for 35 days to surface water collected at sites up- and downstream from a pulp and paper mill treatment-effluent discharge. The condition factor, spleen somatic index, and pronephros cellularity were statistically significantly decreased in fish exposed to the downstream site, compared to the upstream site. There was also a shift from lymphocytes to neutrophils in peripheral blood of fish exposed to the downstream site. Hematocrit values and the liver somatic index were statistically significantly increased in fish in the downstream exposure. These results indicate that in-stream exposure to elemental-chlorine-free pulp and paper mill effluents produce a generalized stress response, leading to potential immunosuppression in fish.
Corporate governance and dividend policy

The long-term return behaviour of dividend-changing firms has been investigated in the study and it is estimated that 23 percent only incremental profits are transformed into dividend. The remaining profits are utilized for the additional investment. It is also concluded that concentration of ownership is also an important factor of the dividend payments. The results support the hypothesis that companies start to pay dividends after a certain level of growth. At the earlier stage companies concentrate on retained earnings. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) technique has been applied in the study and the model has been estimated through the pooled data of annual audited accounts of 180 listed companies of the Karachi Stock Exchange.
The Use of Fixed-Term Contracts and the (Adverse) Selection of Public Sector Workers

The paper seeks to investigate the relationship between job (in)security in the public sector and workersi? ½ self-selection between the private and public sector. Using data from the Italian Labour Force Survey for the years 2005-13, I show that a higher incidence of fixed-term contracts in the public sector has significant adverse selection effects in that it lowers the likelihood of workers of higher ability entering the public sector. Moreover, at least in some areas of the country, a lower relative probability of obtaining an open-ended position in the public sector decreases the likelihood that higher-ability, fixed-term workers remain in the public sector.
Design of a building security system in a university campus using RFID technology

One of the most common crimes inside worldwide universities is the theft of electronic equipment, this occurs in many cases without being detected by the security staff. The RFID technology that allows to detect many different tags simultaneously, without the need to be at a line of sight and at distances up to 6 m, making it a great option for tracking equipment within a building. In the present work, a security system was designed to control equipment based on RFID technology. An application was developed in Java technology to serve as a user interface and with a data repository based on MySQL DBMS. A series of simulations of RF behavior using lightning propagation in a building environment was performed using Wireless InSite Software, showing that, even in the presence of some interference sources, proposed system can be effective, because of the frequency hop features of the RFID.
Assessment of Environmental Conditions and Internal Capabilities Affecting University Strategies (IFE, EFE, SWOT & AHP Models)

With the beginning of postindustrial era, organizations environment has become dynamic and full of changes and complexity was proposed as a dominant issue in organizations. Changes were so intensified that the credibility of anticipant function was disappeared and new and unexpected challenges were formed. Therefore, the most important concerns of the majority of organizations are codification and implementation of strategies which ensure their success and survival under the changed and sophisticated environmental conditions. Strategic planning always intends to codify proper and competitive strategies in today? s world by assessing environmental conditions and internal capabilities of organizations. The present research by the aid of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, ranks external and internal factors affecting universities environment to be an appropriate guide for codification of university strategies.
Portfolio Selection with Active Risk Monitoring

The paper proposes a framework for large-scale portfolio optimization which accounts for all the major stylized facts of multivariate financial returns, including volatility clustering, dynamics in the dependency structure, asymmetry, heavy tails, and nonellipticity. It introduces a so-called risk fear portfolio strategy which combines portfolio optimization with active risk monitoring. The former selects optimal portfolio weights. The later, independently, initiates market exit in case of excessive risks. The strategy agrees with the stylized fact of stock market major sell-offs during the initial stage of market downturns. The advantages of the new framework are illustrated with an extensive empirical study. It leads to superior multivariate density and Value-at-Risk forecasting, and better portfolio performance. The proposed risk fear portfolio strategy outperforms various competing types of optimal portfolios, even in the presence of conservative transaction costs and frequent rebalancing. The risk monitoring of the optimal portfolio can serve as an early warning system against large market risks. In particular, the new strategy avoids all the losses during the 2008 financial crisis, and it profits from the subsequent market recovery.
Congruence of domestic and export marketing strategies ‐ An empirical investigation of its performance implications

Discusses the concept of strategic composites, based upon the linkage of domestic and export marketing strategies of small, medium sized manufacturing firms. Four distinct composites are derived empirically for each of two national groups of exporters (Canadian and UK firms). With some minor variations, three particular composites are shown to be common to both Canadian and UK exporters. Concludes by examining the association between the export environment and the selected composite, and the effect that this has upon export performance.
Applications of visual perception to virtual reality rendering

Over the past few years, virtual reality (VR) has transitioned from the realm of expensive research prototypes and military installations into widely available consumer devices. These devices enable experiences that are highly immersive and entertaining, and have the potential to redefine the future of computer graphics. Yet, several challenges limit the practicality and accessibility of modern virtual reality Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), including:
Fructose bisphosphatase of Escherichia coli: cloning of the structural gene (fbp) and preparation of a chromosomal deletion

The fbp locus at 96 min on the Escherichia coli chromosome governs fructose bisphosphatase (fructose-1,6-P2 1-phosphatase). We have cloned and subcloned fbp on vector pBR322 to obtain strains with high levels of the enzyme. In vivo mutagenesis of the clone was used to show that fbp is the structural gene. The gene was deleted on the plasmid in vitro, and the chromosomal wild-type locus was replaced with this deletion by a method involving stabilization of a heterozygous intermediate resulting from plasmid integration, followed by segregation of the wild-type gene.
The Option-iPoD: The Probability of Default Implied by Option Prices Based on Entropy

We present a framework to derive the probability of default implied by the price of equity options. The framework does not require any strong statistical assumption, and provide results that are informative on the expected developments of balance sheet variables, such as assets, equity and leverage, and on the Greek letters (delta, gamma and vega). We show how to extend the framework by using information from the price of a zero-coupon bond and CDS-spreads. In the episode of the collapse of Bear Stearns, option-iPoD was able to early signal market sentiment.
Detecting cortical activations from fMRI data using a recursive STAP algorithm

Space-time adaptive processing (STAP), previously developed in the field of sensor array processing and applied to radar signal processing, has already been shown to exhibit potential when applied on a small scale to multidimensional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In this study, a recursive version of the STAP algorithm, the method of steepest descent, is introduced for application to fMRI data. It is believed to be more suitable for adaptation to larger data sets than is the previous STAP implementation using matrix inversion. Computer simulations incorporating actual MRI noise indicate that it exhibits an improvement over the previous matrix inversion method in detecting activations.
Static and dynamic high-voltage pulse transformers

The Marx generator is commonly used when it is required to produce high-voltage pulses on a high impedance load. There are however applications in which this will be either too costly or not useful for remote applications and the present paper describes two novel techniques to overcoming these difficulties. Theoretical and experimental results show that high-voltage pulses with rise times of a few tens of nanoseconds can be generated using these techniques.
The Dynamics of Long Memory in Return and Volatility for International Real Estate Markets

This study presents an investigation as to whether persistence in international real estate market return and volatility takes the form of long memory using a battery of five econometric tests on total-hedged and public real estate series. For the return series, we find little evidence of long memory, while the empirical results support the hypothesis of long memory for some Asia-Pacific real estate markets. Our additional empirical evidence suggest overall the long memory effect in volatility appears to be real and is less likely to be caused by shifts in variance for some Asia-Pacific real estate markets. Hence these national real estate markets are segmented based on a fractionally integrated structure that is able to provide diversification benefits in international investing.
Type 2 Diabetes Dysregulates Glucose Metabolism in Cardiac Progenitor Cells*

Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased mortality and progression to heart failure. Recent studies suggest that diabetes also impairs reparative responses after cell therapy. In this study, we examined potential mechanisms by which diabetes affects cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). CPCs isolated from the diabetic heart showed diminished proliferation, a propensity for cell death, and a pro-adipogenic phenotype. The diabetic CPCs were insulin-resistant, and they showed higher energetic reliance on glycolysis, which was associated with up-regulation of the pro-glycolytic enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3). In WT CPCs, expression of a mutant form of PFKFB, which mimics PFKFB3 activity and increases glycolytic rate, was sufficient to phenocopy the mitochondrial and proliferative deficiencies found in diabetic cells. Consistent with activation of phosphofructokinase in diabetic cells, stable isotope carbon tracing in diabetic CPCs showed dysregulation of the pentose phosphate and glycero(phospho)lipid synthesis pathways. We describe diabetes-induced dysregulation of carbon partitioning using stable isotope metabolomics-based coupling quotients, which relate relative flux values between metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that diabetes causes an imbalance in glucose carbon allocation by uncoupling biosynthetic pathway activity, which could diminish the efficacy of CPCs for myocardial repair.
Job Attentive Scheduling Algorithm in Hadoop

— In recent years cloud services have gained much attention as a result of their availability, scalability, and low cost. One use of these services has been for the execution of scientific workflows as part of Big Data Analytics, which are employed in a diverse range of fields including astronomy, physics, seismology, and bioinformatics. There has been much research on heuristic scheduling algorithms for these workflows due to the problem’s inherent complexity, however existing work has mainly considered execution in a utility grid environment using a generic distributed framework. For our research, we consider the ever-increasingly popular Apache Hadoop framework for scheduling workflows onto resources rented from cloud service providers. Contrary to other distributed frameworks, the Hadoop MapReduce model imposes a functional style onto application definition, and as such presents an interesting and unapproached challenge for workflow scheduling. Investigated in our work heterogeneous approach scheduling on the Hadoop MapReduce platform, to minimize workflow makespan while satisfying a given budget constraint.