Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk-Adjusted Performance of Mutual Funds T

T he number of mutual funds has grown dramatically in recent years. The Financial Research Corporation data base, the source of data for this article, lists 7,734 distinct mutual fund portfolios. Mutual funds are now the preferred way for individual investors and many institutions to participate in the capital markets, and their popularity has increased demand for evaluations of fund performance. Business Week, Barron's, Forbes, Money, and many other business publications rank mutual funds according to their performance. Information services, such as Morningstar and Lipper Analytical Services, exist specifically for this purpose. There is no general agreement, however, about how best to measure and compare fund performance and on what information funds should disclose to investors. The two major issues that need to be addressed in any performance ranking are how to choose an appropriate benchmark for comparison and how to adjust a fund's return for risk. In March 1995, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a Request for Comments on " Improving Descriptions of Risk by Mutual Funds and Other Investment Companies. " The request generated a lot of interest, with 3,600 comment letters from investors. However, no consensus has emerged and the SEC has declined for now to mandate a specific risk measure. Risk and performance measurement is an active area for academic research and continues to be of vital interest to investors who need to make informed decisions and to mutual fund managers whose compensation is tied to fund performance. This article describes a number of performance measures. Their common feature is that they all measure funds' returns relative to risk. However, they differ in how they define and measure risk and, consequently, in how they define risk-adjusted performance. The article also compares rankings of a large sample of funds using two popular measures. It finds a surprisingly good agreement between the two measures for both stock and bond funds during the three-year period between 1995 and 1997.
Democratic Decentralization and People’s Participation in West Bengal

After forty years of experiments in democratic decentralization, the constitutional directive was taken seriously and by 73rd (Amendment) Constitution Act of the Indian Constitution, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) were accorded constitutional sanction. In order to ensure effective participation of the people in line with the requirements of local democracy as well as to revitalize and reorient the civil society, new institutions in the form of Gram Sabha were brought into being. The state of West Bengal pushed the idea of local democracy a step further by devising another institution below the Gram Sabha, namely, Gram Sansad to ensure more effective and more functional grassroots democracy. Consequently, people’s participation in democratic processes as well as developmental activities assumed new and challenging dimensions. The present study seeks to identify and measure the level of people’s participation in the grassroots democratic institutions particularly in the newly devised institution of Gram Sabha and Gram Sansads of West Bengal.
Single-phase power-factor-correction AC/DC converters with three PWM control schemes

Three pulse-width modulation (PWM) control schemes for a single-phase power-factor-correction (PFC) AC/DC converter are presented to improve the power quality. A diode bridge with two power switches is employed as a PFC circuit to achieve a high power factor and low line current harmonic distortion. The control schemes are based on look-up tables with hysteresis current controller (HCC) to generate two-level or three-level PWM on the DC side of diode rectifier. Based on the proposed three control schemes, the line current is driven to follow the sinusoidal current command which is in phase with the supply voltage, and two capacitor voltages on the DC bus are controlled to be balanced. The simulation and experimental results of a 1 kW converter with load as well as line voltage variation and shown to verify the proposed control schemes. It is shown that unity PFC is achieved using a simple control circuit and the measured line current harmonics satisfy the IEC 1000-3-2 requirements.
BUDI DARMA’S “CHARLES LEBOURNE” AS REPRESENTATION OF MAN’S DARKSIDE AND WEAKNESS OF THE INNERSIDE: A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

This research is to analyze a short story of Budi Darma’s short story anthology The People of Bloomington (1980). “Charles Lebourne” was chosen because storythemes1 in the text can be clearly analyzed by a structural perspective. A Structural analysis on a literary work thoroughly explains and exposes the linkages of elements and aspects of the work to form a whole meaning. By analyzing six Episodes in the story, this structural approach produces two structures. Structure I as the “Structure of Encounter” between the characters shows the process of how the two finally live together before separated for a long time. While Structure II as the “Structure of Inner-Conflict” reflects the innerconflict of man in opposing pain, misery, the weakness, and the dark sides as a human being by comparing how the characters treat each other showed in the episodes. Finally, “Charles Lebourne” is seen as a model of an anxious man pursuing his identity and interacting with others.
Comparison of therapist implemented and iPad-assisted interventions for children with autism

Abstract Objective: This study compares intervention delivered by a therapist to intervention delivered using an iPad for two children with autism. Further, this study evaluates the influence of choice between the conditions. Methods: Time on-task, challenging behaviour, session duration and correct responses were compared across conditions in an alternating treatment design. The effect of choice was evaluated in an ABAB design. Results: The iPad was associated with shorter intervention sessions, more time on-task and less challenging behaviour for one participant. There was no difference between conditions for the second participant. Both participants selected the iPad when given the choice and, although the effect of choice was modest, choosing was associated with more time on-task and less challenging behaviour. Conclusions: These data suggest that iPad-assisted intervention can be as effective as therapist-implemented intervention. Further, even for children for whom no differences between the interventions exist, offering a choice may be beneficial.
Branch and Bound Algorithm Selection by Performance Prediction

We propose a method called Selection by Performance Prediction (SPP) which allows one, when faced with a particular problem instance, to select a Branch and Bound algorithm from among several promising ones. This method is based on Knuth's sampling method which estimates the efficiency of a backtrack program on a particular instance by iteratively generating random paths in the search tree. We present a simple adaptation of this estimator in the field of combinatorial optimization problems, more precisely for an extension of the maximal constraint satisfaction framework. Experiments both on random and strongly structured instances show that, in most cases, the proposed method is able to select, from a candidate list, the best algorithm for solving a given instance.
CMB temperature bispectrum induced by cosmic strings

The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) bispectrum of the temperature anisotropies induced by a network of cosmic strings is derived for small angular scales, under the assumption that the principal cause of temperature fluctuations is the Gott-Kaiser-Stebbins (GKS) effect. We provide analytical expressions for all isosceles triangle configurations in Fourier space. Their overall amplitude is amplified as the inverse cube of the angle and diverges for flat triangles. The isosceles configurations generically lead to a negative bispectrum with a power law decay l^(-6) for large multipole l. However, collapsed triangles are found to be associated with a positive bispectrum whereas the squeezed triangles still exhibit negative values. We then compare our analytical estimates to a direct computation of the bispectrum from a set of 300 statistically independent temperature maps obtained from Nambu-Goto cosmic string simulations in a Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe. We find good agreement for the overall amplitude, the power law behaviour and angle dependency of the various triangle configurations. At l~500 the cosmic string GKS effect contributes approximately the same equilateral CMB bispectrum amplitude as an inflationary model with |fNL|~10^3, if the strings contribute about 10% of the temperature power spectrum at l=10. Current bounds on fNL are not derived using cosmic string bispectrum templates, and so our fNL estimate cannot be used to derive bounds on strings. However it does suggest that string bispectrum templates should be included in the search of CMB non-Gaussianities. Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, uses RevTex. References and physical discussion added. Matches published version
An energy efficient column-major backend for FPGA SpMV accelerators

FPGAs are promising candidates for energy efficient acceleration of sparse matrix-vector multiplication (SpMV), a kernel with important applications in scientific computing and engineering. SpMV is characterized by matrix-dependent performance and high external memory bandwidth demands, which makes bandwidth utilization an important performance indicator. Existing FPGA SpMV accelerators focus on datapath optimizations instead of memory behavior, and exhibit matrix-dependent bandwidth utilization. In this work, we propose to decouple the SpMV computation and memory behavior, and focus on the backend which handles the latter. We describe a scalable backend architecture that exploits column-major traversal and interleaving to achieve high bandwidth utilization. Our experiments show that a single backend is able to sustain 96% of its assigned memory port bandwidth on average, and scales well with increased bandwidth by instantiating multiple parallel units. Compared to a baseline scheme, our scheme offers up to 1.5× higher DRAM power efficiency and up to 20% higher aggregate bandwidth. The results indicate that our scheme improves the average bandwidth utilization of existing FPGA SpMV accelerators by 15 to 77%.
Interactive degraded document binarization: An example (and case) for interactive computer vision

This paper describes a user-assisted application to perform adaptive thresholding (i.e. binarization) on degraded handwritten documents. While existing adaptive thresholding techniques purport to be automatic, they in fact require the user to perform non-intuitive parameter tuning to obtain satisfactory results. In our work, we recast the problem into one where the user needs only to coarsely markup regions in the thresholded image that have unsatisfactory results. These regions are then segmented and processed locally - no parameter tuning is necessary. Our user study shows that not only do the majority of users prefer our application over parameter tuning, but our final results are better than existing algorithms due to the more targeted processing. While our main contribution is an effective user-assisted application for document binarization, we use this as an example to advocate the need to rethink how many computer vision solutions, notoriously reliant on parameter tuning, can be reworked to exploit meaningful user interaction.
The Mystery of Stop-Outs: Do Commitment and Intentions Predict Reenrollment?

Research on student withdrawals has largely ignored the issue of stop-outs, those students who withdraw from a college or university but subsequently reenroll. As a result, student withdrawals have been seen as an attrition issue. However, this study suggests they should be viewed as a retention possibility rather than an attrition issue. This study, done at a Midwest public university, sought to broaden the scope of previous research by examining the extent to which withdrawing students return to the institution and the extent to which goals, commitments, and experience predict reenrollment. Several important findings resulted from this research. First, many withdrawing students did return to the institution. Second, goals and commitments were significant predictors of reenrollment. Third, intention to return was a significant predictor of reenrollment. Fourth, a student’s previous experience at the institution, rather than previous academic success, was a significant predictor of both reenrollment intentions and reenrollment.
Coping with bullying in Australian schools: how children with disabilities experience support from friends, parents and teachers

Little research has been published investigating the experiences of physical and emotional support for children with disabilities in the Australian school context. The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore how children with disabilities experienced support when they were bullied at school. Qualitative interviews with 10 children, aged 8–10 years, were analysed. The children had a range of disabilities, including physical, visual and hearing impairments. The four themes that emerged were: (1) bullying experiences; (2) coping with bullying; (3) importance of friends; (4) adult responses to bullying. The implications of the contributions to this study for bullying research specific to the lives of children with disabilities are discussed, such as providing educational and health professionals with a knowledge of the support that children with disabilities draw on when they experience bullying.
Reduced expression of the Ca2+ transporter protein PMCA2 slows Ca2+ dynamics in mouse cerebellar Purkinje neurones and alters the precision of motor coordination

Cerebellar Purkinje neurones (PNs) express high levels of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase, PMCA2, a transporter protein critical for the clearance of calcium from excitable cells. Genetic deletion of one PMCA2 encoding gene in heterozygous PMCA2 knock‐out (PMCA2+/−) mice enabled us to determine how PMCA2 influences PN calcium regulation without the complication of the severe morphological changes associated with complete PMCA2 knock‐out (PMCA2−/−) in these cells. The PMCA2+/− cerebellum expressed half the normal levels of PMCA2 and this nearly doubled the time taken for PN dendritic calcium transients to recover (mean fast and slow recovery times increased from 70 ms to 110 ms and from 600 ms to 1100 ms). The slower calcium recovery had distinct consequences for PMCA2+/− PN physiology. The PNs exhibited weaker climbing fibre responses, prolonged outward Ca2+‐dependent K+ current (mean fast and slow recovery times increased from 136 ms to 192 ms and from 595 ms to 1423 ms) and a slower mean frequency of action potential firing (7.4 Hz compared with 15.8 Hz). Our findings were consistent with prolonged calcium accumulation in the cytosol of PMCA2+/− Purkinje neurones. Although PMCA2+/− mice exhibited outwardly normal behaviour and little change in their gait pattern, when challenged to run on a narrow beam they exhibited clear deficits in hindlimb coordination. Training improved the motor performance of both PMCA2+/− and wild‐type mice, although PMCA2+/− mice were always impaired. We conclude that reduced calcium clearance perturbs calcium dynamics in PN dendrites and that this is sufficient to disrupt the accuracy of cerebellar processing and motor coordination.
OFDM Timing and Frequency Offset Estimation Based on Repeated Training Sequence

In this paper, the introduction of several OFDM synchronization algorithm is proposed first, then a new symbol timing and frequency synchronization algorithm using repeated training sequence is presented. This algorithm can improve the performance of the estimation through the multi-path fading channel. At the end, the simulation of this algorithm is given according to multi-path channel, and the performance is proposed.
Possible role of DNA polymerase beta in protecting human bronchial epithelial cells against cytotoxicity of hydroquinone.

OBJECTIVE To explore the toxicological mechanism of hydroquinone in human bronchial epithelial cells and to investigate whether DNA polymerase beta is involved in protecting cells from damage caused by hydroquinone. METHODS DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line was established via RNA interference as an experimental group. Normal human bronchial epithelial cells and cells transfected with the empty vector of pEGFP-C1 were used as controls. Cells were treated with different concentrations of hydroquinone (ranged from 10 micromol/L to 120 micromol/L) for 4 hours. MTT assay and Comet assay [single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)] were performed respectively to detect the toxicity of hydroquinone. RESULTS MTT assay showed that DNA polymerase beta knock-down cells treated with different concentrations of hydroquinone had a lower absorbance value at 490 nm than the control cells in a dose-dependant manner. Comet assay revealed that different concentrations of hydroquinone caused more severe DNA damage in DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line than in control cells and there was no significant difference in the two control groups. CONCLUSIONS Hydroquinone has significant toxicity to human bronchial epithelial cells and causes DNA damage. DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line appears more sensitive to hydroquinone than the control cells. The results suggest that DNA polymerase beta is involved in protecting cells from damage caused by hydroquinone.
Microprocessor-Based Universal Thyristor Switch and its Application to a PWM Inverter for Traction

Digital control of static power converters such as pulsewidth modulated (PWM) inverter realizes the precise waveform control which copes with interference problems by selective elimination of harmful harmonics not only in load voltage but also in source current. Moreover, software control has a great advantage in allowing such a flexible system design or adaptable modification of characteristics by only memory change or program revision with the hardware intact. In this paper, a novel system configuration technique using microprocessors is proposed.
Bit error probability reduction in direct detection optical receivers using RZ coding

We analyze the bit error probability reduction for direct detection ON-OFF keying optical receivers using return-to-zero (RZ) coding instead of the nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) format. For the same average optical power, RZ is shown to outperform NRZ, even when employing the same receiver bandwidth. Results are given for receivers whose noise variance is i) dominated by a signal-independent term (e.g., simple pin diode receivers), ii) dominated by a signal-dependent term (e.g., optically preamplified receivers), and iii) made up of two equally important contributions [e,g,, avalanche photodiode (APD) receivers]. Based on semianalytic simulations including intersymbol interference, we show that the achievable RZ sensitivity gain is typically less for dominating signal-independent noise than for dominating signal-dependent noise, where it amounts to about 3 dB. We also quantitatively discuss the influence of the optical pulse shape on the achievable RZ coding gain, and show that finite extinction ratios can significantly reduce that gain, especially when the RZ signals are produced by direct-modulation methods.
Implementation strategy for real-time kernel (RTDM)

The kernel Real–Time Deadline Multitask (RTDM) defines a way to schedule, manage, and execute periodic and sporadic real–time tasks. This kernel is able to guarantee that all real–time tasks active under this kernel will meet their stated deadlines. Real–time tasks may reserve resources, such as shared memory, data structure, and the kernel will guarantee that the resources are available when needed by the reserving tasks with mutually exclusion. These guarantees were assured by a new scheduling algorithm which was used with the kernel RTDM called earliest resource release and deadline first (ERRDF) algorithm. The purpose of this paper is to show the implementation strategy for RTDM from hardware and software point of view. The work has been evaluated by building a prototype implementation of the kernel and then analysing and testing the implementation by executing real–time tasks.
The DEEP Project - Pursuing Cluster-Computing in the Many-Core Era

Homogeneous cluster architectures dominating high-performance computing (HPC) today are challenged, in particular when thinking about reaching Exascale by the end of the decade, by heterogeneous approaches utilizing accelerator elements. The DEEP (Dynamical Exascale Entry Platform) project aims for implementing a novel architecture for high-performance computing consisting of two components - a standard HPC Cluster and a cluster of many-core processors called Booster. In order to make the adaptation of application codes to this Cluster-Booster architecture as seamless as possible, DEEP provides a complete programming environment. It integrates the offloading functionality given by the MPI standard with an abstraction layer based on the task-based OmpSs programming paradigm. This paper presents the DEEP project with an emphasis on the DEEP programming environment.
A note on Gilbert burst-correcting codes

The codes discussed here, due to E. N. Gilbert, are capable of detecting and correcting certain bursts, i.e., errors which occur in clusters. In particular, it is shown that Gilbert's burst-correcting cedes have capabilities beyond those previously recognized. D. A. Huffman's graph-code formulation is used, which greatly facilitates the appreciation of the results. A cyclic code formulation is also given, and certain Gilbert codes are seen to be Fire codes.
Determining Level of Postural Control in Young Adults Using Force-Sensing Resistors

A force-sensing platform (FSP), sensitive to changes of the postural control system was designed. The platform measured effects of postural perturbations in static and dynamic conditions. This paper describes the implementation of an FSP using force-sensing resistors as sensing elements. Real-time qualitative assessment utilized a rainbow color scale to identify areas with high force concentration. Postprocessing of the logged data provided end-users with quantitative measures of postural control. The objective of this research was to establish the feasibility of using an FSP to test and gauge human postural control. Tests were conducted in eye open and eye close states. Readings obtained were tested for repeatability using a one-way analysis of variance test. The platform gauged postural sway by measuring the area of distribution for the weighted center of applied pressure at the foot. A fuzzy clustering algorithm was applied to identify regions of the foot with repetitive pressure concentration. Potential application of the platform in a clinical setting includes monitoring rehabilitation progress of stability dysfunction. The platform functions as a qualitative tool for initial, on-the-spot assessment, and quantitative measure for postacquisition assessment on balance abilities.
Fathers at Work: A Ghost in the Organizational Machine

This article first provides a review of fatherhood in the gender and organization literature on work and family, and the body and (in)visibility. It observes how organizational assumptions which frame fathers as breadwinners, ignoring their paternal role, remain extraordinarily persistent because policies (no matter how long established) do not necessarily change social attitudes and behaviours. The article then draws upon original qualitative data to demonstrate how while male workers may feel valued as employees, they often feel invisible at work in their paternal role. Fathers perceive that, while family-friendly policies might in theory be available to ‘parents’ these are in practice targeted at working mothers. The article considers why working men's paternity is so often ignored, as though fathers are a ghost in the organizational machine. A recommendation for the establishment of a fatherhood and motherhood passport is made.