Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lower‐boundary violations and market efficiency: Evidence from the German DAX‐index options market

The informational efficiency of the market for options on the German stock index DAX is examined using intraday transactions data. Problems of previous studies on options‐market efficiency, arising from dividend estimation and the early‐exercise effect, are avoided, because the DAX is a performance index and DAX options are European options. Ex‐post and ex‐ante tests are carried out to simulate trading strategies that exploit irrational lower‐boundary violations of observed option prices. Because the lower‐boundary conditions are solely based on arbitrage considerations, the test results do not depend on the assumption that investors use a particular option‐pricing model. The investigation shows that ex‐post profits are, in general, dramatically reduced when the execution of arbitrage strategies is delayed and/or transaction costs are accounted for. However, arbitrage restrictions, which rely on short selling of the component stocks of the index, tend to be violated more often and with higher persistence. An analysis of consecutive subsamples suggests that, over time, traders have been subjected to a learning process when pricing this relatively new instrument. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 20: 405–424, 2000
Relatedness, Transversality and Public Policy in Innovative Regions

The aims of this paper are to reflect on policy evolution observed in the EURODITE study regions, to identify the most innovative policy trajectories for delivering growth opportunities to regional firms and to explain this in terms of key theoretical findings about the virtuous policy cycles that arise from geographical proximity, co-evolution, path inter-dependence, relatedness and transversality. Accordingly, the paper involves, first, assessing the role of varieties of “proximity” in the formation of spatial distinctiveness. Second it investigates the appropriateness or otherwise of notions of “path dependence” to understanding spatial co-evolution. This leads to insights about “relatedness” in the interaction of path dependences, or more accurately path inter-dependence in evolving spatial processes, notably interactions between regional innovation paradigms and regimes in explaining regional variety. This allows eventual conjecture regarding the evidence for “regional regime variety” based on appropriately selected EURODITE regions (Bavaria, Midi-Pyrénées, Skåne, Styria) both as an advanced “platform” model of regional evolution and as a fundamental process that blocks regional homogenization. This would explain how regional culture influences policy to maintain regional specificities under forces like globalization and “digital culture” that are purported to be erosive of regional distinctiveness. Strong empirical evidence is adduced for co-evolutionary and multi-level spatial distinctiveness in paradigms and regimes that condition contemporary innovation knowledge flows.
Optimized higher order 3-D (2,4) FDTD scheme for isotropic dispersion in plasma

In this paper, an optimized higher order (2,4) 3-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is applied in plasma. The optimized scheme uses the scaling factors and weighted sum of the standard FDTD method (Yee's scheme) and the standard (2,4) higher order FDTD method (H(2,4)) proposed by Fang. The proposed scheme improves performance of phase and attenuation constant error over propagation angle without additional computational complexity compared with H(2,4). The maximum phase constant error of the proposed scheme is reduced by 99.998% of the H(2,4)'s error.
An empirical study on the handling of crash reports in a large software company: An experience report

In this paper, we report on an empirical study we have conducted at Ericsson to understand the handling of crash reports (CRs). The study was performed on a dataset of CRs spanning over two years of activities on one of Ericsson's largest systems (+4 Million LOC). CRs at Ericsson are divided into two types: Internal and External. Internal CRs are reported within the organization after the integration and system testing phase. External CRs are submitted by customers and caused mainly by field failures. We examine the proportion and severity of internal CRs and that of external CRs. A large number of external (and severe) CRs could indicate flaws in the testing phase. Failing to react quickly to external CRs, on the other hand, may expose Ericsson to fines and penalties due to the Working Level Agreements (WLA) that Ericsson has with its customers. Moreover, we contrast the time it takes to handle each type of CRs with the dual aim to understand the similarities and differences as well as the factors that impact the handling of each type of CRs. Our results show that (a) it takes more time to fix external CRs compared to internal CRs, (b) the severity attribute is used inconsistently through organizational units, (c) assignment time of internal CRs is less than that of external CRs, (d) More than 50% of CRs are not answered within the organization's fixing time requirements defined in WLA.
Digital Learning As Enhanced Learning Processing? Cognitive Evidence for New insight of Smart Learning

Large use of technology improved quality of life across aging and favoring the development of digital skills. Digital skills can be considered an enhancing to human cognitive activities. New research trend is about the impact of the technology in the elaboration information processing of the children. We wanted to analyze the influence of technology in early age evaluating the impact on cognition. We investigated the performance of a sample composed of n. 191 children in school age distributed in two groups as users: high digital users and low digital users. We measured the verbal and visuoperceptual cognitive performance of children by n. 8 standardized psychological tests and ad hoc self-report questionnaire. Results have evidenced the influence of digital exposition on cognitive development: the cognitive performance is looked enhanced and better developed: high digital users performed better in naming, semantic, visual memory and logical reasoning tasks. Our finding confirms the data present in literature and suggests the strong impact of the technology using not only in the social, educational and quality of life of the people, but also it outlines the functionality and the effect of the digital exposition in early age; increased cognitive abilities of the children tailor digital skilled generation with enhanced cognitive processing toward to smart learning.
Managing It All By numbers: A Review of Johnson & Kaplan's ‘Relevance Lost’

This review article sets out the Johnson and Kaplan diagnosis of the ‘problem’ with modern US cost accounting and management control systems (‘MAS’) and challenges both their historical analysis and their proposed remedy. It traces the genesis of the knowledge-based disciplinary power of managerialism from the 1830s in the US and contrasts the development of the US/UK focus of MAS on ‘managing by the numbers’, with the different way that knowledge-power has been used by, and has interacted with, managerialism in Japan. It argues that the problems to be confronted with MAS are inherent in the historical genesis of such systems and that it is the behavioural limitations in the way organisations deploy MAS that most need attention. In addition the interrelationships of control between the accounting measurements that create visibility within and without the organisation require that greater attention be addressed to the technical limitations of financial accounting. In conclusion it is suggested that the differing alignments of knowledge-based expertise and disciplinary practices of management control that have developed in the US/UK and in Japan reflect deeper differences in their cultural history.
Joint hypermobility in keratoconus

There are several reports linking keratoconus and connective tissue disorders, such as Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta and mitral valve prolapse, suggesting that keratoconus may be the result of a localized dysfunction in collagen metabolism. In view of this the incidence of hypermobility of the joints among a group of patients with keratoconus was compared with a normal (matched) control group. Eighty‐four patients were examined using the Beighton modification of the Carter and Wilkinson scoring system. A control group matched for sex, age and ethnic group was also assessed. No statistically significant difference between the groups was found for the trunk or knees; a difference was found for the metacarpo‐phalyngeal and wrist joints. The findings support the theory that keratoconus is a localized manifestation of a mild connective tissue disorder. Also, it can be stated that patients with keratoconus are five times more likely to show hypermobility of the metacarpo‐phalyngeal and wrist joints.
Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Vasostatin-1, the N-terminal Fragment of Chromogranin A*

Vasostatin-1, the natural N-terminal 1–76 chromogranin A (CGA)-derived fragment in bovine sequence, has been purified from chromaffin secretory granules and identified by sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This peptide, which displays antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria at micromolar concentrations, is also able to kill a large variety of filamentous fungi and yeast cells in the 1–10 μm range. We have found that the C-terminal moiety of vasostatin-1 is essential for the antifungal activity, and shorter active peptides have been synthesized. In addition, from the comparison with the activity displayed by related peptides (human recombinant and rat synthetic fragments), we could determine that antibacterial and antifungal activities have different structural requirements. To assess for such activities in vivo, CGA and CGA-derived fragments were identified in secretory material released from human polymorphonuclear neutrophils upon stimulation. Vasostatin-1, which is stored in a large variety of cells (endocrine, neuroendocrine, and neurons) and which is liberated from stimulated chromaffin and immune cells upon stress, may represent a new component active in innate immunity.
The impact of female education on fertility desires in Bangladesh.

The objective of this study is to determine whether in Bangladesh a wife's educational level significantly affects her desire for more children, or whether Bangladesh has not yet reached the threshold of socioeconomic development where education has any effect on the number of additional children desired. The analysis was carried out in a rural-urban context and also at different stages in the woman's life cycle, as defined by parity at time of interview. 2-3 live births were considered early stage, and 4 or more were defined as later stage. The analysis was carried out on 2791 women selected from the Bangladesh Fertility Survey of 1975-76 who at the time of interview met the criteria of being married, fecund, parity of 2 or more, and having a husband present in the household. The method used to perform the analysis was the Maximum Likelihood estimation method for the truncated dependent variable developed by J. Tobin. The method is a hybrid of probit analysis and classical regression and was chosen because the dependent variable, number of additional children desired, had a clustering of values at the lower limit of O. Separate regressions were run by life cycle stage (parity) and rural-urban background. The effect of variables such as the education of the husband, age, age at first marriage, work status of wife, number of living male children, and infant mortality were held constant in order to find the impact of education on desired fertility. The study found that the number of additional children desired by rural wives was greater than that desired by urban wives at all stages of the life cycle. The mean number of additional children desired by a rural wife at the early stage of the life cycle was . 57 and in the later stage . 15. For urban women the corresponding values were . 29 and . 12. The study found that the educational level of both the wife and the husband and the age of the wife at first marriage were not significant. The age of the woman was not significant in urban areas but was negatively significant.in rural areas. The percent of dead children was positively significant in both urban and rural areas for early stage women but for later stage women only in rural areas. In rural areas also the number of living male children was positively significant. The author concludes that Bangladesh is not at the developmental level where education has a significant effect on desire for additional children and that desired fertility is more influenced by antecedent factors such as income, infant mortality, and preference for male children. He recommends that measures be taken to improve socioeconomic levels and provide employment opportunities for women. He also suggests that additional analysis be done to identify the factors important in determining fertility decisions in urban areas and that separate policies be adopted for rural and urban areas.
1.25–1.57 THz Dual-Polarization Receiver Optics Based on Corrugated Horns

High-performance dual-polarization receiver optics is a key component of terahertz applications with stringent requirements, such as radio astronomy or planetary exploration. Usually, such optics use corrugated horns due to their excellent wideband performance. However, this kind of horns is difficult to fabricate for frequencies higher than 1 THz. Traditionally, the performance of optics at frequencies over 1 THz is thus limited by the choice of feed horn, usually a diagonal or smooth-wall horn. This choice limits the effective maximum aperture efficiency or bandwidth achievable, respectively. Recently, we successfully fabricated direct-machined terahertz corrugated horns with good beam characteristics and low cross polarization. Based on these horns, we have designed full receiver optics for a possible future ALMA band 11 (1.25–1.57 THz) receiver. The polarization separation is achieved by means of a wire grid. A prototype has been fabricated and tested on a near-field beam scanner. It shows aperture efficiency above 85% and polarization efficiency above 99.6% at all measured frequencies. This complies with the stringent requirements of the ALMA telescope for frequencies between 35 and 950 GHz. To our knowledge, these are the highest aperture and polarization efficiencies achieved over such a wide bandwidth at around 1.4 THz.
Efficient Randomized Byzantine Fault-Tolerant Replication Based on Special Valued Coin Tossing

SUMMARY We propose a fast and resource-e ﬃ cient agreement protocol on a request set, which is used to realize Byzantine fault tolerant server replication. Although most existing randomized protocols for Byzantine agreement exploit a modular approach, that is, a combination of agreement on a bit value and a reduction of request set values to the bit values, our protocol directly solves the multi-valued agreement problem for request sets. We introduce a novel coin tossing scheme to select a candidate of an agreed request set randomly. This coin toss allows our protocol to reduce resource consumption and to attain faster response time than the existing representative protocols.
Connective Tissue Growth Factor and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Patients with Exfoliative Glaucoma

Purpose: To investigate the aqueous humor levels of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), matrix metalloprotinease-2 (MMP-2), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotinease-2 (TIMP-2) in human eyes with exfoliative glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, and senile cataract patients. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, comparative study. Sixty patients with glaucomas and 25 patients with senile cataract of matched age and gender were enrolled in this study. Patients were classified into three groups: group I comprised 30 patients with exfoliative glaucoma (XFG), group II comprised 30 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and group III comprised 25 patients with senile cataract (controls). Aqueous humor samples were obtained by paracentesis at the time of elective surgery for glaucomatous and cataractous patients. CTGF, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 were measured in aqueous humor by specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and total aqueous humor protein content was assessed by the Lowry method. Results: There were significant increases in aqueous humor levels of CTGF and TIMP-2 in XFG patients compared to the corresponding values of POAG patients or controls. The MMP-2 aqueous humor level was significantly increased in the XFG patients when compared with controls (P < 0.001). Moreover, the total protein level in the aqueous humor of eyes of the XFG patients was significantly higher than in POAG patients or controls (P < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between CTGF and MMP-2 in aqueous humor samples of XFG patients (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Increased levels of aqueous humor of CTGF and TIMP-2 may promote the abnormal extracellular matrix accumulation and may be involved in the pathogenesis of XFG.
Consumer-Based Brand Equity for Destinations

Abstract Destination marketing organizations (DMO) worldwide are increasingly focusing attention on place branding. However, there has been relatively little research on the topic reported in the academic literature. In particular there is a paucity of research regarding performance measures for destination brand campaigns. This paper reports an attempt to operationalize the concept of consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) for an emerging destination. The purpose was to provide benchmarks at the commencement of a new destination brand campaign, for which the DMO will be able to use to track performance over time.
Exploring the Use of Shatter for AllSAT Through Ramsey-Type Problems

In the context of SAT solvers, Shatter is a popular tool for symmetry breaking on CNF formulas. Nevertheless, little has been said about its use in the context of AllSAT problems. AllSAT has gained much popularity in recent years due to its many applications in domains like model checking, data mining, etc. One example of a particularly transparent application of AllSAT to other fields of computer science is computational Ramsey theory. In this paper we study the effect of incorporating Shatter to the workflow of using Boolean formulas to generate all possible edge colorings of a graph avoiding prescribed monochromatic subgraphs. We identify two drawbacks in the naïve use of Shatter to break the symmetries of Boolean formulas encoding Ramsey-type problems for graphs.
Culture and evaluation of service quality — a study of the service quality gaps in a Taiwanese setting

This research is built upon the work of Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (1985) by exploring the service quality gap within a Taiwanese hospitality setting and reports the findings from 164 interviews among hotel managers, service staff, and hotel guests. One motive for the research was whether concepts derived from an American‐Euro‐centric conceptualisation of service relationships was transferable to another cultural setting. It was found that the influence of national, ethnic culture on perception of service is limited, but the factor of kuan‐hsi (personal relationship) and mien‐tsu (face) had some role to play in guest‐staff relationships. However, it is concluded that the globalisation of hotel corporate modes of operation have more influence in shaping expectations and thus the ServQual model has validity in such settings.
Physical and Functional Interaction between Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 Protein (MCL1) and Fortilin

Myeloid cell leukemia 1 protein (MCL1) is an anti-apoptotic protein that is structurally related to Bcl-2. Unlike other Bcl-2 family proteins that are constitutively expressed, MCL1 is inducibly expressed in cells that are recently exposed to growth and differentiation stimuli. Here, we report the identification of fortilin as a novel MCL1-interacting protein by screening of a yeast two-hybrid library with MCL1 as bait. Fortilin specifically interacted with MCL1 both in vitro andin vivo. The intracellular localization of fortilin was predominantly nuclear and identical to that of MCL1, as shown by immunostaining and confocal microscopy analysis. Fortilin, like MCL1, was rapidly inducible in serum-stimulated human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Although the depletion of intracellular fortilin by small interfering RNA (siRNA) against fortilin (siRNA-fortilin) did not affect intracellular MCL1 level, the depletion of intracellular MCL1 by siRNA-MCL1 was associated with the significant reduction of the fortilin protein level, without affecting the fortilin transcript numbers. In addition, a pulse-chase experiment showed that the depletion of MCL1 by siRNA-MCL1 was associated with the rapid degradation of fortilin protein, which was found quite stable in the presence of MCL1. Furthermore, the half-life of fortilinR21A, a point mutant of fortilin lacking the binding to MCL1, was significantly shorter than that of wild-type fortilin as shown by a pulse-chase experiment. These data suggest that MCL1, in addition to being an anti-apoptotic molecule, serves as a chaperone of fortilin, binding and stabilizing fortilin in vivo. Taken together with our previous observation that fortilin overexpression prevents cells from undergoing apoptosis (Li, F., Zhang, D., and Fujise, K. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 47542–47549), it is likely that MCL1, an anti-apoptotic protein inducible by growth and differentiation stimuli, stabilizes another anti-apoptotic protein fortilin maximizing the prosurvival environment in cells.
The financial feasibility of delaying Social Security: evidence from administrative tax data

Abstract Despite the large and growing returns to deferring Social Security benefits, most individuals claim Social Security before the full retirement age. In this paper, we use a panel of administrative tax data on individuals likely to financially benefit from delaying Social Security claiming to explore the relationship between Social Security claiming and distributions from tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts. We find that the majority of our sample claim Social Security prior to taking distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). We also find that a third of our sample have IRA balances equivalent to at least two additional years of Social Security benefits, and a quarter have IRA balances equivalent to at least 4 years of Social Security benefits. We complement our analysis with data from the Health and Retirement Study and find that these percentages are considerably higher when other financial assets are taken into account.