Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does an index futures split enhance trading activity and hedging effectiveness of the futures contract

Recently, several stock index futures exchanges have experimented with an altered contract design to make the contract more attractive and to increase investor accessibility. In 1998, the Swedish futures exchange (OM) split the OMX‐index futures contract with a factor of 4:1, without altering any other aspect of the futures contract design. This isolated contract redesign enables a ceteris paribus analysis of the effects of a futures split. The purpose is to investigate whether the futures split affects the futures market trading activity, as well as hedging effectiveness and basis risk of the futures contract. A bivariate GARCH framework is used to jointly model stock index returns and changes in the futures basis, and to obtain measures of hedging efficiency and basis risk. Significantly increased hedging efficiency and lower relative basis risk is found following the split. In addition, evidence of an increased trading volume is found after the split, whereas the futures bid‐ask spread appears to be unaffected by the split. The results are consistent with the idea that the futures split has enhanced trading activity and hedging effectiveness of the futures contract, without raising the costs of transacting at the futures market. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 26:1169–1194, 2006
Research and development performance measurement: A case study

The rising costs of Research and Development (RD it also highlights the role of management accounting, especially target costing, when cost is a critical design parameter. The longitudinal view of the specific product development project examined in this case highlights a fusion of management accounting and design techniques as well as the role of accounting as an integrating vernacular that links all project team participants.
Contribution of Hepatic Glycogenolysis to Glucose Production in Humans in Response to a Physiological Increase in Plasma Glucagon Concentration

The contribution of net hepatic glycogenolysis to overall glucose production during a physiological increment in the plasma glucagon concentration was measured in six healthy subjects (18–24 years, 68–105 kg) after an overnight fast. Glucagon (∼3 ng · kg−1 · min−1), somatostatin (0.1 μg · kg−1 · min−1), and insulin (0.9 pmol · kg−1 · min−1) were infused for 3 h. Liver glycogen concentration was measured at 15-min intervals during this period using 13C-labeled nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and liver volume was assessed from magnetic resonance images. The rate of net hepatic glycogenolysis was calculated from the decrease in liver glycogen concentration over time, multiplied by the liver volume. The rate of glucose appearance (Ra) was calculated from [3-3H]glucose turnover data using a two-compartment model of glucose kinetics. Plasma glucagon concentration rose from 136 ± 18 to 304 ± 57 ng/1 and plasma glucose concentration rose from 5.6 ± 0.1 to 10.4 ± 0.9 mmol/1 on initiation of the infusions. Mean baseline Ra was 11.8 ± 0.4 μmol · kg−1 · min−1, increased rapidly after the beginning of the infusions, reaching its highest value after 20–40 min, and returned to baseline by 140 min. Liver glycogen concentration decreased almost linearly (from 300 ± 19 mmol/1 liver at baseline to 192 ± 20 mmol/1 liver at t = 124 min) during 2 h after the beginning of the infusions, and the calculated mean rate of net hepatic glycogenolysis was 21.7 ± 3.6 μmol · kg−1 · min−1. Mean Ra during the same time period was 22.8 ± 2.3 μmol · kg−1 · min−1. Thus, net hepatic glycogenolysis accounted for 93 ± 9% of Ra. In conclusion, during the initial response to a physiological increment in plasma glucagon, 1) net hepatic glycogenolysis accounts for virtually all of the increase in hepatic glucose production, and 2) glucagon's evanescent effect on hepatic glucose production is not caused by depletion of hepatic glycogen stores.
Intrinsic constraint of unlinked total elbow replacements--the ulnotrochlear joint.

BACKGROUND Many unlinked total elbow replacement designs with radically differing articular geometries exist, suggesting that there is no consensus regarding an optimal design. A feature inherent to the articular design is the intrinsic constraint afforded to the joint by the implant. Our aim was to compare the intrinsic constraints of unlinked implants with that of the normal ulnotrochlear joint. METHODS We tested twelve cadaveric ulnotrochlear joints with a custom-made multiple-axis materials testing machine. With compressive loads ranging from 10 to 100 N, the joints were moved in either valgus or varus directions at 90 degrees of flexion. The ulnotrochlear components from a single example of five medium-sized unlinked elbow replacements (Ewald, Kudo, Pritchard ERS, Sorbie-Questor, and Souter-Strathclyde) were also tested. The recorded measurements included the torques and forces, angular displacement, and axial displacement of the humerus relative to the ulna. RESULTS In general, the peak torque and the constraint ratio significantly increased with increasing compressive load for the implants as well as for the normal elbow. In valgus displacement, the Souter-Strathclyde implant had the highest and the Sorbie-Questor had the smallest peak torque and the Souter-Strathclyde had the highest and the Ewald had the smallest constraint ratio. In varus displacement, the Kudo had the highest and the Ewald had the smallest peak torque and constraint ratio. CONCLUSIONS The constraint ratio is a characteristic that is useful for describing elbow joint behavior and for comparing the behavior of implants with that of the human elbow. Of the unlinked implants tested, the Souter-Strathclyde and Kudo prostheses most closely approximated the behavior of the human elbow joint. Implants that resemble the human elbow in appearance do not replicate normal behavior consistently, whereas other implants that do not resemble the human elbow closely do not deviate markedly from human behavior. Thus, much basic information about elbow form and function is needed to improve the performance of total elbow prostheses.
Fast Mode Decision Algorithm Using Optimal Mode Predictions for H.264-based Mobile Devices

This paper proposes a novel scheme to significantly reduce mode decision time by predicting optimal mode candidates. Unlike previous fast mode decision algorithms computing RDcost in a pre-defined mode order, the proposed scheme predicts optimal mode candidates and calculates their RDcosts first, increasing the possibility to satisfy early-exit conditions sooner, resulting in fast mode decision. This H.264 mode decision time reduction enables small computing power mobile devices to handle H.264 encoding effectively. Extensive simulations show that, when compared with JM10.2 and AMD, the proposed scheme boosts H.264 encoding speed by up to 575% with a reasonable image quality degradation.
A novel mode of ecdysozoan growth in Caenorhabditis elegans

SUMMARY Whereas growth in many ecdysozoa is associated with only molting, larval growth in nematodes, specifically Caenorhabditis elegans, is thought to be continuous and exponential. However, this has never been closely investigated. Here we report several detailed studies of growth in wild‐type and dwarf C. elegans strains. We find that apparent exponential growth between hatching and adulthood comprises a series of linear phases, one per larval stage, with the linear growth rate increasing at successive molts. Although most structures grow continuously, the buccal cavity does not; instead, it grows saltationally at molts, like arthropod structures. We speculate that these saltational changes in mouth size permit changes in growth rate and that molting exists in nematodes to facilitate rapid growth. We study the cellular basis of this growth in the hypodermis. At each larval stage, lateral seam cells produce daughters that fuse with hyp7, a syncytium covering most of the worm. We find that seam cells and fusing daughter cells obtain larger sizes in successive molts. The total seam cell volume remains constant relative to the size of the worm. However, fusing daughter cells contributes only a very small amount directly to hypodermal growth, suggesting that most hyp7 growth must be intrinsic. Thus, dwarfism mutations studied principally act via adult syncytial growth, with cell size being near normal in both dbl‐1 and dpy‐2 mutant worms. We speculate that the main function of seam cell proliferation may be to supply the hypodermis with additional genomes for the purpose of growth.
Histopathological breast-image classification with image enhancement by convolutional neural network

Finding malignancy from Histopathological images is always a challenging task. So far research has been carried out to classify Histopathological images using various techniques and methods. Recently, the state-of-the art Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) has largely been utilized for natural image classification. In this paper, using the advancement of CNN techniques, we have classified a set of Histopathological Breast images into Benign and Malignant classes, which can save doctors and physicians time and also allow patients a second opinion about the disease.
Deregulating the local loop: the telecommunications regulation path less chosen as taken by Bangladesh

The latter half of the last decade was witness to significant changes in the regulatory environment in Bangladesh. Various forms of competition have been allowed into the telecommunications landscape, most notably involving wireless technology. Bangladesh has taken a unique road in deregulation of telecommunications. Bangladesh has competition only in the local loop internal and international long distance remains a monopoly. Using the lens of GrameenPhone, we view the regulatory innovations in Bangladesh and conclude that such regulatory experiments are certainly worthwhile, if not always optimal, and thereby implicitly oppose the economic orthodoxy of complete deregulation and immediate privatisation as supported by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In 1996, the wireline network in Bangladesh was in dismal shape. The same year, wireless licensing was expanded. One of the wireless providers to surface soon thereafter was a subsidiary of Grameen Bank, the premier development organisation in the region. This paper will discuss how regulatory changes in Bangladesh enabled GrameenPhone (the cellular provider under Grameen Bank) to offer a development program for the explicit purpose of expanding access to POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service). The GrameenPhone Village Program, Grameen's telecommunications for development initiative, offers a potentially sustainable solution to poor connectivity in rural Bangladesh. The programme achieves this end by combining the use of new technology with a unique entrepreneurial approach to marketing and financing their service. Is that because of or despite the regulation? This is the question we explore. A previous version of this paper was presented at the Internet Society Annual Meeting INET 2000.
Information Technology and Establishment Size in America: Rybczynski Redivivus☆

Abstract The Rybczynski Theorem is one of the staples of international trade theory. In their article in this issue of the journal, J.J. Rosa and J. Hanoteau apply the theorem to a two-by-two world in which the two “industries” are small firms and large firms, and the two inputs are information and all other. The assumption that small firms are more information intensive, coupled with the fact that information has become pervasive in recent decades, allows them to derive the prediction that small firms will account for increasingly larger proportions of total output and employment in the economy. We highlight a couple of issues that we find problematic in the Rosa–Hanoteau study, and then develop two different empirical strategies to probe the connections between IT and the size distribution of establishments. First, we combine County Business Patterns with input–output data to explore whether the share of small plants has grown at a faster pace among industries that demand IT more heavily. Second, we explore, on an industry-by-industry basis and taking into account the potential endogeneity of IT location, whether clustering of IT firms in specific US counties is associated with a relatively large share of small establishments, on average, in those counties.
High occurrence of Pacearchaeota and Woesearchaeota (Archaea superphylum DPANN) in the surface waters of oligotrophic high-altitude lakes.

We carried out a regional survey on the archaea composition from surface waters of > 300 high-altitude Pyrenean lakes (average altitude 2300 m, pH range 4.4-10.1) by 16S rRNA gene tag sequencing. Relative Archaea abundances ranged between 0% and 6.3% of total prokaryotes amplicons in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mixture, and we detected 769 operational taxonomic units (OTUs; grouped at 97% identity) that split into 13 different lineages, with altitude and pH having a significant effect on the community composition. Woesearchaeota and Pacearchaeota (formerly Euryarchaeota DHVEG-6 cluster) dominated the data set (83% of total OTUS), showed a high occurrence (presence in c. 75% of the lakes) and had relative abundances significantly and positively correlated with the phylogenetic diversity of bacterial communities. Micrarchaeota-Diapherotrites (formerly Euryarchaeota MEG cluster), Methanomicrobia, Thermoplasmata and ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeota (AOA) showed relative abundances between 1% and 3% and occurrences between 14% and 26%. Minor lineages were SM1K20, Aenigmarchaeota (formerly Euryarchaeota DSEG cluster), Methanobacteria, Bathyarchaeota and SCG. Environmental preferences substantially differed among lineages, with Aenigmarchaeota and Methanomicrobia having the largest habitat breadth, and Thermoplasmata, AOA and Micrarchaeota having the smallest. Pacearchaeota and Woesearchaeota had been mostly reported from saline habitats and sediments, but surface waters of oligotrophic alpine lakes are suitable environments for such ecologically spread and genetically diverse archaeal lineages.
The Isolated RNase H Domain of Murine Leukemia Virus Reverse Transcriptase

Retroviral RNases H are similar in sequence and structure to Escherichia coli RNase HI and yet have differences in substrate specificities, metal ion requirements, and specific activities. Separation of reverse transcriptase (RT) into polymerase and RNase H domains yields an active RNase H from murine leukemia virus (MuLV) but an inactive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNase H. The “handle region” present in E. coliRNase HI but absent in HIV RNase H contributes to the binding to its substrate and when inserted into HIV RNase H results in an active enzyme retaining some degree of specificity. Here, we show MuLV protein containing the C-terminal 175 amino acids with its own handle region or that of E. coli RNase HI has the same specific activity as the RNase H of RT, retains a preference for Mn2+ as the cation required for activity, and has association rate (K A ) 10% that of E. coli RNase HI. However, with model substrates, specificities for removal of the tRNAPro primer and polypurine tract stability are lost, indicating specificity of RNase H of MuLV requires the remainder of the RT. Differences in K A , while significant, appear insufficient to account for the differences in specific activities of the bacterial and viral RNases H.
A Comparison of the Efficacy of Stimulus Control for Medicated and Nonmedicated Insomniacs

A sample of 21 medicated and 20 nonmedicated insomniacs participated in a sleep medication withdrawal program that provided education about sleep medication and a, gradual medication withdrawal schedule. Ten medicated participants received stimulus control treatment and the withdrawal program, and 11 medicated participants served as a control grouip that received only the withdrawal program. Half of the nonmedicated participants received stimulus control, and the remaining nommedicated participants served as a wait-list control condition. Medicated participants significantly reduced sleep medication use without significant deterioration on sleep, anxiety, or depression measures from baseline to 8-week follow-up. Stimulus control participants, unlike control group participants, showed significant improvement at follow-up for total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleep quality. Stimulus control participants also reported less daytime sleepiness than control participants after treatment. Nonmedicated participants exhibited a more positive response to stimulus control than medicated participants.
Conjoined twins: Historical perspective and report of a case

In this article we review the historically important cases of conjoined twins (Biddenden Maids, Siamese twins, Blazek sisters) and contemporary knowledge regarding incidence, etiopathogenesis, antenatal diagnosis, antenatal management, and outcome of conjoined twins. We also present a case of male cephalothoracoomphalopagus, which is extremely rare.
Spatial Resolution in Atom Probe Tomography

Abstract This article addresses gaps in definitions and a lack of standard measurement techniques to assess the spatial resolution in atom probe tomography. This resolution is known to be anisotropic, being better in-depth than laterally. Generally the presence of atomic planes in the tomographic reconstruction is considered as being a sufficient proof of the quality of the spatial resolution of the instrument. Based on advanced spatial distribution maps, an analysis methodology that interrogates the local neighborhood of the atoms within the tomographic reconstruction, it is shown how both the in-depth and the lateral resolution can be quantified. The influences of the crystallography and the temperature are investigated, and models are proposed to explain the observed results. We demonstrate that the absolute value of resolution is specimen specific.
Foreign capital inflows-growth nexus and role of domestic financial sector: an ARDL cointegration approach for Pakistan

This study explores the roles of foreign capital inflows and domestic financial sector development on economic growth in the case of Pakistan. Using annual data series of World Bank and Economic Survey of Pakistan over the period of 1971-2008, ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration and Error Correction Model (ECM) are employed for long run and short run relationships, respectively. Empirical evidence reveals that foreign capital inflows have positive effect on economic growth. Financial sector’s development and public investment stimulate economic growth. Human capital stock and inflation also contribute to economic growth positively. The present study suggests that Pakistan government should undertake financial reforms to improve the efficiency of the domestic financial sector which will ultimately increase the rate of economic growth in the country.
Water, sanitation and urban children: the need to go beyond “improved” provision

This paper reviews the implications of inadequate provision of water and sanitation for children’s health and general development, especially in urban areas. Research into health differentials shows that child mortality and morbidity rates in poor urban settlements can equal or exceed those in rural areas. This review considers, in particular, the higher vulnerability of children to sanitation-related illness, the links between unsanitary conditions and malnutrition, the impacts for mental and social development, and the practical day-to-day realities of poor provision for children and their caregivers in urban areas. It argues that health education and health care, while essential complements to proper provision, can in no way be considered alternative solutions. The true costs for children of a failure to respond to this ongoing emergency lend another dimension to discussions of the cost-effectiveness of various solutions.
Analyzing the Impact of Public Capital Stock Using the NEG Wage Equation: A Spatial Panel Data Approach

This paper examines the relationship between the level of public infrastructure and the level of productivity using panel data for the Spanish provinces over the period 1984-2004, a period which is particularly relevant due to the substantial changes occurring in the Spanish economy at that time. The underlying model used for the data analysis is based on the wage equation, which is one of a handful of simultaneous equations which when satisfied correspond to the short-run equilibrium of New Economic Geography theory. This is estimated using a spatial panel model with fixed time and province effects, so that unmodelled space and time constant sources of heterogeneity are eliminated. The model assumes that productivity depends on the level of educational attainment and the public capital stock endowment of each province. The results show that although changes in productivity are positively associated with changes in public investment within the same province, there is a negative relationship between productivity changes and changes in public investment in other regions.
EMPLOYMENT EFFECTS OF TWO NORTHWEST MINIMUM WAGE INITIATIVES

"This article exploits a natural experiment initiated by Oregon and Washington voter referendums to show that the minimum wage is a blunt instrument that differentially affects low-wage workers within and across industries. Specifically, employment growth specifications indicate that the minimum wage generates consistently negative employment effects for eating and drinking workers where the minimum is shown to be relatively binding, but not for hotel and lodging workers where the minimum is less binding. Regressions using job-specific want-ad data from Portland and Seattle newspapers also indicate a reduction in hiring solicitation relating to the extent that the minimum wage binds. " ("JEL" J31, J38) Copyright 2006 Western Economic Association International.
Different Subcellular Localization of Muscarinic and Serotonin (S2) Receptors in Human, Dog, and Rat Brain

Abstract: Cortex from rat, dog, and human brain was submitted to subcellular fractionation using an analytical approach consisting of a two‐step procedure. First, fractions were obtained by differential centrifugation and were analyzed for their content of serotonin S2 and muscarinic receptors, serotonin uptake, and marker enzymes. Second, the cytoplasmic extracts were subfractionated by equilibration in sucrose density gradient. In human brain, serotonin and muscarinic receptors were found associated mostly with mitochondrial fractions which contain synaptosomes, whereas in rat brain they were concentrated mainly in the microsomal fractions. Density gradient centrifugation confirmed a more marked synaptosomal localization of receptors in human than in rat brain, the dog displaying an intermediate profile. In human brain, indeed, more receptor sites were found to be associated with the second peak characterized in electron microscopy by the largest number of nerve terminals. In addition, synaptosomes from human brain are denser than those from rat brain and some marker enzymes reveal different subcellular distribution in the three species. These data indicate that more receptors are of synaptosomal nature in human brain than in other species and this finding is compatible with a larger amount of synaptic contacts in human brain.