Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TRADING VOLUME ACTIVITY AND BID-ASK SPREAD BEFORE AND AFTER THE MERGER ANNOUNCEMENT

Jakarta stock exchange (JSX) and Surabaya Stock exchange (SSX) were the organizers of capital market inIndonesia. Thus, to srengthen the capital market in Indonesia SSX merged into JSX on November 30th, 2007.New information coming into market would influence the trading activities, including trading volume activity(TVA), and bid-ask spread. While, merger also influenced the total issuer of listed companies in Indonesiastock exchange (IDX). This research included an event study with quantitative method about the analysis oftotal issuer differences, TVA and bid-ask spread before and after the merger announcement of SSX into JSX. Itused t-test method and autoregressive distribution lag test. The result of research analysis showed the difference,significance and insignificance. Based on t-test, the total issuer, TVA, and bid-ask spread were notsignificant before and after the merger announcement of SSX into JSX shown by the higher value of sig.2 tailedthan level of significance and value of standard deviation before the merger announcement of SSX into JSXfrom each variable. Based on autoregressive distribution lag test, it showed significant response by hightrading volume of TVA and bid-ask spread and also high volume of buy-offer investor did on several days ofwindows period before and after the merger announcement of SSX into JSX.
Effects of Nordic walking training on quality of life, balance and functional mobility in elderly: A randomized clinical trial

Purpose There is physiological and biomechanical evidence suggesting a possible advantage of using poles in walking training programs. The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to test the hypothesis that untrained elderly training Nordic walking for eight weeks will show higher improvements on the functional mobility, quality of life and postural balance than that training without poles; more likely to occur in self-selected walking speed (primary outcome), and the locomotor rehabilitation index than the quality of life, the static balance and the dynamic stability. It was a two-arm randomized sample- and load-controlled study. Methods Thirty-three untrained older people were randomly assigned into Nordic walking (n = 16, age: 64.6±4.1 years old) and free walking (n = 17, age: 68.6±3.9 years old) training groups. Results Improvements in the self-selected walking speed (primary outcome, p = 0.011, ES = 0.42 95%CI -0.31 to 1.16), locomotor rehabilitation index (p = 0.013, ES = 0.36; (95%CI -0.39 to 1.10), quality of life (p<0.05), static balance (p<0.05) and dynamic variability (p<0.05) were found in both groups. Conclusions The hypothesis was not supported, our findings indicated that after 8 weeks, the Nordic walking training did not result in greater improvements than free walking training for the primary outcome (self-selected walking speed) and most of the secondary outcomes (including locomotor rehabilitation index, static balance, dynamic stability, and psychological and social participation domains of quality of life). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03096964.
Computer supported self-managing teams

For several decades investigations in the behavioral sciences have focused on those conditions that promote team effectiveness. These conditions have been applied to the development of self‐managing teams. This article defines requirements for computer support using the conditions that enhance the performance of self‐managing teams. We discuss the fundamentals of team design defining what a self‐managing team is, propose a self‐managing team development model, and introduce three approaches to the design of self‐managing teams: sociotechnical systems, a normative model, and social‐learning theory. We then introduce a team information architecture (TIA) for the support of self‐managing teams and describe computer support requirements for the design, formation, management, and mentoring of self‐managing teams. We conclude by reviewing the conditions required for team effectiveness and compare the TIA against those conditions.
Fusion of Data from Heterogeneous Sensors with Distributed Fields of View and Situation Evaluation for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

In order to develop a driver assistance system for pedestrian protection, pedestrians in the environment of a truck are detected by radars and a camera and are tracked across distributed fields of view using a Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association filter. A robust approach for prediction of the system vehicles trajectory is presented. It serves the computation of a probabilistic collision risk based on reachable sets where different sources of uncertainty are taken into account.
Experimental support for the attached-eddy hypothesis in zero-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers

Turbulent boundary layer experiments have been conducted at various Reynolds numbers on smooth walls and also on ‘k-type’ and ‘d-type’ rough walls. Both the spectral results and the broadband turbulence intensity results strongly support the Townsend (1976) attached eddy hypothesis and the Perry & Chong (1982) model. The spectral results obtained using the ‘flying’ hot-wire technique show the errors involved when using Taylor's (1938) hypothesis for converting the spectra from the frequency domain to the wavenumber domain. If the viscous dissipation spectral region is taken into account, the broadband turbulence intensity results agree well with the attached eddy hypothesis. The inconsistency of the various constants given in Perry, Lim & Henbest (1987) for the smooth and rough walls has been explained and removed. Lack of spatial resolution of the hot wires explains to some extent the scatter in the turbulence intensity of the component normal to the wall. This spatial resolution effect is most pronounced in the near-wall region at high Reynolds number and has been corrected by using the method of Wyngaard (1968).
Molecular evidence for sex reversal in wild populations of green frogs (Rana clamitans)

In vertebrates, sex determination occurs along a continuum from strictly genotypic (GSD), where sex is entirely guided by genes, to strictly environmental (ESD), where rearing conditions, like temperature, determine phenotypic sex. Along this continuum are taxa which have combined genetic and environmental contributions to sex determination (GSD + EE), where some individuals experience environmental effects which cause them to sex reverse and develop their phenotypic sex opposite their genotypic sex. Amphibians are often assumed to be strictly GSD with sex reversal typically considered abnormal. Despite calls to understand the relative natural and anthropogenic causes of amphibian sex reversal, sex reversal has not been closely studied across populations of any wild amphibian, particularly in contrasting environmental conditions. Here, we use sex-linked molecular markers to discover sex reversal in wild populations of green frogs (Rana clamitans) inhabiting ponds in either undeveloped, forested landscapes or in suburban neighborhoods. Our work here begins to suggest that sex reversal may be common within and across green frog populations, occurring in 12 of 16 populations and with frequencies of 2–16% of individuals sampled within populations. Additionally, our results also suggest that intersex phenotypic males and sex reversal are not correlated with each other and are also not correlated with suburban land use. While sex reversal and intersex are often considered aberrant responses to human activities and associated pollution, we found no such associations here. Our data perhaps begin to suggest that, relative to what is often suggested, sex reversal may be a relatively natural process in amphibians. Future research should focus on assessing interactions between genes and the environment to understand the molecular and exogenous basis of sex determination in green frogs and in other amphibians.
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using a modified Tollens’ method in conjunction with phytochemicals and assessment of their antimicrobial activity

Background Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted great attention due to their outstanding electrical, optical, magnetic, catalytic, and antimicrobial properties. However, there is a need for alternative production methods that use less toxic precursors and reduce their undesirable by-products. Phyto-extracts from the leaves of olive and rosemary plants can be used as reducing agents and (in conjunction with Tollens’ reagent) can even enhance AgNP antimicrobial activity. Methods Conditions for the proposed hybrid synthesis method were optimized for olive leaf extracts (OLEs) and rosemary leaf extracts (RLEs). The resultant AgNPs were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, an environmental scanning electron microscope, and Dynamic Light Scattering analysis. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to measure AgNP concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the specific functional groups responsible for the reduction of both silver nitrate and capping agents in the leaf extract. Additionally, the antimicrobial properties of the synthesized AgNPs were assessed against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), by using both the Kirby–Bauer and broth microdilution methods on Mueller–Hinton (MH) agar plates. Results and Discussion A simple, feasible, and rapid method has been successfully developed for silver nanoparticle synthesis by reducing Tollens’ reagent using leaf extracts from olive and rosemary plants (widely available in Jordan). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the method produces AgNPs with a spherical shape and average core sizes of 45 ± 2 and 38 ± 3 nm for OLE and RLE, respectively. A negative zeta potential (ζ) of −43.15 ± 3.65 mV for OLE-AgNPs and −33.65 ± 2.88mV for RLE-AgNPs proved the stability of silver nanoparticles. FTIR spectra for AgNPs and leaf extracts indicated that the compounds present in the leaf extracts play an important role in the coating/capping of synthesized nanoparticles. The manufactured AgNPs exhibited an antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 9.38 and 4.69 μl/ml for OLE-AgNPs and RLE-AgNPs, respectively. The MIC for Salmonella enterica were 18.75 μl/ml for both OLE-AgNPs and RLE-AgNPs. Furthermore, our results indicated that the RLE-AgNPs exhibited a stronger antibacterial effect than OLE-AgNPs against different bacteria species. These results contribute to the body of knowledge on nanoparticle production using plant-mediated synthesis and performance. They also offer insights into the potential for scaling up this production process for commercial implementation.
Association between corporate governance and fraud detection: evidence from Borsa Istanbul

Purpose- Corporate Governance establishes valuable pillars in order to guard shareholders’ interests by the use of firm governance devices. It is evidently a philosophy rather than a palliative solution. However, while there is some evidence to prove that corporate governance enhances corporate performance and fraud detection; such hypotheses has not been tested within Borsa Istanbul. The aim of this paper is to make an attempt to investigate whether there is an association between corporate governance practices and detecting fraud. Methodology- A logistics regression model is constructed with non-financial data. The analysis contains categorical dependent data which needs a binary response model. 134 firms from manufacturing industry of Borsa Istanbul construct the data set. Findings- No evidence found about the impacts on selected corporate governance activities on the risk of financial statement frauds. Conclusion- Although it was assumed that corporate governance applications have an effect to lessen the manipulations on financials at the beginning of the study, test results are not sufficient to prove the relationship. Nevertheless, existence of such practices are good messages of companies about their attitudes toward fraud.
Analysis of Far-UV Data of Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae: Occurrence and Variability of Stellar Winds

The occurrence of stellar wind in the central star of a planetary nebula (CSPN) can be revealed by the presence of P Cygni profiles of high-excitation lines overimposed on its stellar continuum. We examined the entire Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) archive and merged all useful spectroscopic observations of CSPNe to produce the highest quality spectra that can be used to assess the frequency of stellar winds. Furthermore, the individual spectra of each CSPN were compared to search for variability in the P Cygni profile. P Cygni profiles of high-excitation lines have been found in 44 CSPNe, with a clear correlation between the ionization potential of the lines and the effective temperature of the star. We introduce a prescription to derive the terminal wind velocity (v∞) from saturated and unsaturated P Cygni profiles and provide new values of v∞ for these stars. Another 23 CSPNe do not show P Cygni profiles, or else their data in the FUSE archive are not conclusive enough to determine the occurrence of P Cygni profiles. Variability in the P Cygni profile of high-excitation, far-UV lines is found for the first time in six CSPNe, namely Hen 2-131, NGC 40, NGC 1535, NGC 2392, Sp 3, and SwSt 1. This increases up to 13 the number of CSPNe with variable P Cygni profiles in the UV, including those previously reported using IUE or FUSE observations. Variability is seen primarily in the unsaturated P v and Si iv lines, but also in saturated C iii and O vi lines. The CSPNe with variable P Cygni profiles have similar stellar properties (relatively low log (g )a ndTeff) that suggest they are less evolved CSPNe. Some of the CSPNe with variable P Cygni profiles show O vi lines, while their effective temperature is insufficient to produce this ion. We suggest that this ion is produced by Auger ionization from X-rays associated to shocks in their stellar winds, as is the case in massive OB stars of high ionization potential ions that cannot be abundantly produced by photoionizations.
Nanoscale Bacteria‐Enabled Autonomous Drug Delivery System (NanoBEADS) Enhances Intratumoral Transport of Nanomedicine

Cancer drug delivery remains a formidable challenge due to systemic toxicity and inadequate extravascular transport of nanotherapeutics to cells distal from blood vessels. It is hypothesized that, in absence of an external driving force, the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium could be exploited for autonomous targeted delivery of nanotherapeutics to currently unreachable sites. To test the hypothesis, a nanoscale bacteria‐enabled autonomous drug delivery system (NanoBEADS) is developed in which the functional capabilities of the tumor‐targeting S. Typhimurium VNP20009 are interfaced with poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles. The impact of nanoparticle conjugation is evaluated on NanoBEADS' invasion of cancer cells and intratumoral transport in 3D tumor spheroids in vitro, and biodistribution in a mammary tumor model in vivo. It is found that intercellular (between cells) self‐replication and translocation are the dominant mechanisms of bacteria intratumoral penetration and that nanoparticle conjugation does not impede bacteria's intratumoral transport performance. Through the development of new transport metrics, it is demonstrated that NanoBEADS enhance nanoparticle retention and distribution in solid tumors by up to a remarkable 100‐fold without requiring any externally applied driving force or control input. Such autonomous biohybrid systems could unlock a powerful new paradigm in cancer treatment by improving the therapeutic index of chemotherapeutic drugs and minimizing systemic side effects.
Markowitz minimum variance portfolio optimization using new machine learning methods

The use of improved covariance matrix estimators as an alternative to the sample covariance is considered an important approach for enhancing portfolio optimization. In this thesis, we propose the use of sparse inverse covariance estimation for Markowitz minimum variance portfolio optimization, using existing methodology known as Graphical Lasso [16], which is an algorithm used to estimate the inverse covariance matrix from observations from a multivariate Gaussian distribution. We begin by benchmarking Graphical Lasso, showing the importance of regularization to control sparsity. Experimental results show that Graphical Lasso has a tendency to overestimate the diagonal elements of the estimated inverse covariance matrix as the regularization increases. To remedy this, we introduce a new method of setting the optimal regularization which shows performance that is at least as good as the original method by [16]. Next, we show the application of Graphical Lasso in a bioinformatics gene microarray tissue classification problem where we have a large number of genes relative to the number of samples. We perform dimensionality reduction by estimating graphical Gaussian models using Graphical Lasso, and using gene group average expression levels as opposed to individual expression levels to classify samples. We compare classification performance with the sample covariance, and show that the sample covariance performs better. Finally, we use Graphical Lasso in combination with validation techniques that optimize portfolio criteria (risk, return etc.) and Gaussian likelihood to generate new portfolio strategies to be used for portfolio optimization with and without short selling constraints. We compare performance on synthetic and real stock market data with existing covariance estimators in literature, and show that the newly developed portfolio strategies perform well, although performance of all methods depend on the ratio between the estimation period and number of stocks, and on the presence or absence of short selling constraints.
HIGHWAY GUARDRAILS: SAFETY FEATURE OR ROADSIDE HAZARD?

On the basis of reported accident data, from 50 to 60% of guardrail accidents involve an injury or a fatality. From this highway engineers have concluded that guardrail installations are a roadside hazard and should be used only when absolutely necessary. On the other hand, by using a more in-depth study of accident data and estimates of the frequency of unreported accidents, a more positive view of guardrail performance is projected. Specifically, unreported guardrail impacts represent approximately 90% of the total impacts, with the other 10% being reported. Assuming no injuries or fatalities in the unreported drive-away accidents, only 6% of all guardrail impacts involve any injury or fatality. Furthermore, analysis reveals that terminals, as opposed to segments of typical lengths, are overrepresented in the accident data, comprising up to 40% of the guardrail accidents resulting in fatalities or injuries. Also, clinical data indicate that many of the 6 percentile accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities involve (a) guardrail installations that are obsolete, improperly constructed, or inadequately maintained, (b) noncrashworthy ends, or (c) collisions that are outside the practical design range of modern guardrail systems. It is concluded that properly installed and maintained longitudinal barriers may be successfully performing in 97 to 98% of all design range length-of-need impacts, with only 2 to 3% of the impacts causing occupant injuries or fatalities, a stark contrast to the erroneous 50 to 60% based on only reported accidents.
Rice Morphogenesis and Chlorophyll Accumulation Is Regulated by the Protein Encoded by NRL3 and Its Interaction With NAL9

Rice yield is closely related to plant leaf shape and chlorophyll content. In this study, we isolated and identified a narrow and rolled leaf mutant, temporarily named nrl3 with darker green leaves. Histological analysis showed that nrl3 has a reduced number of vascular bundles and undergoes abnormal abaxial sclerenchymatous cell differentiation. The NRL3 mutant phenotype was controlled by a single recessive gene, fine-mapped to a 221 kb interval between Indel3 and RM2322 on Chr3. There are 42 ORF in this interval. Sequencing identified an SNP mutant leading to a premature stop in ORF 18, the candidate gene. Bioinformation analysis indicated that NRL3 encodes a novel protein with unknown function. NRL3 is localized in cytoplasm, membrane and nucleus. Expression analysis of nrl3 showed that genes involved in chlorophyll synthesis were significantly up-regulated while those involved in chlorophyll degradation and programmed cell death (PCD) were significantly down-regulated. The expression levels of photosynthesis genes were also affected. Y2H and BIFC assays indicated that NRL3 interacts directly with NAL9/VYL to regulate leaf morphology in rice. Thus, NRL3 plays an important role in leaf morphogenesis and chlorophyll accumulation, and can be used as a new gene resource for constructing improved rice.
High Spatial Resolution Hyperspectral Mapping for Forest Ecosystem at Tree Species Level

Integrated management of forest ecosystems requires an accurate and all-sided mastery of the forest information, of which forest ecosystem cover especially at tree species level is the most basic and important component. The study investigated and demonstrated the mapping potential of the forest ecosystem at tree species level from high spatial resolution hyperspectral images. The mapping performances of eight conventional classification methods including Maximum Likelihood (ML), Mahalanobis Distance (MaD), Minimum Distance (MD), Parallelepiped (P), Binary Encoding (BE), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), Spectral Information Divergence (SID) and Support Vector Machine (SVM), were verified based on two noise treatments (noise fraction and noise removal) and three leaf growth periods (tender leaf period, young leaf period and adult leaf period). It could be confirmed that noise removal obviously contributed to improving the classification agreement and young leaf period was most suitable for mapping forest ecosystem at tree species level from high spatial resolution hyperspectral images. ML, P, BE and SID were not considered appropriate according to good results with overall accuracy and kappa coefficient exceeding 85% and 0.80 respectively. Though MD also produced a very high classification agreement, it could not cover up its poor potential to identify tree species by spectral features. Even if SVML, SVMP, SVMR and SVMS performed the stablest and could generate good results across three periods, the best result was obtained by SAM. Except that the difference was significant between MD and SVMS at the 5% significance level in tender leaf period, the comparative tests did not provide more proof to show the significant difference between the methods considered appropriate.
A Simulation Algorithm to Approximate the Area of Mapped Forest Inventory Plots

Calculating the area of polygons associated with mapped forest inventory plots can be mathematically cumbersome, especially when computing change between inventories. We developed a simulation technique that utilizes a computer-generated dot grid and geometry to estimate the area of mapped polygons within any size circle. The technique also yields a matrix of change in mapped-plot area between two points in time.