Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selective Publicity and Stock Prices

I examine how media coverage of a company’s good and bad news affects the stock price response, by looking at the effect of investor relations (IR) firms. I find that IR firms ‘spin’ their clients’ news by generating more media coverage of positive press releases than negative press releases. This spin increases announcement returns. Around earnings announcements however, IR firms cannot spin the news, and IR firm clients’ returns are significantly lower. This is consistent with positive media coverage increasing investor expectations, creating disappointment around hard earnings information. Using reporter connections and geographical links to newspapers, I argue that IR firms are causally affecting both media coverage and returns.
A Note on Learning with Integral Operators

A large number of learning algorithms, for example, spectral clustering, kernel Principal Components Analysis and many manifold methods, are based on estimating eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of operators defined by a similarity function or a kernel, given empirical data. Thus for the analysis of algorithms, it is an important problem to be able to assess the quality of such approximations. The contribution of our paper is two-fold: 1. We use a technique based on a concentration inequality for Hilbert spaces to provide new much simplified proofs for a number of results in spectral approximation. 2. Using these methods we provide several new results for estimating spectral properties of the graph Laplacian operator extending and strengthening results from [27].
The relationship implications of rejecting a partner for sex kindly versus having sex reluctantly

Romantic partners often have differing levels of sexual interest. In these situations, lower desire partners may engage in sex for avoidance goals (e.g., to avoid disappointing their partner), which are associated with negative relational outcomes. An alternative strategy to sustain relationship quality may be to decline a partner’s sexual advances in positive ways. In two experimental studies and a dyadic daily experience study with a longitudinal follow-up, we examined the relationship outcomes of positive rejection compared to avoidance-motivated sex. Across studies, when people engaged in positive rejection, both they and their partner did not experience lower levels of relationship satisfaction compared to when they had sex for avoidance goals, although this was not true for sexual satisfaction. Chronic pursuit of sex for avoidance goals did, however, have detrimental consequences over time, whereas positive rejection helped sustain relationship satisfaction. Results suggest positive rejection behaviors may be a viable alternative to avoidance-motivated sex.
Characterizing ICMP rate limitation on routers

In the last decade, path discovery has been extensively covered in the literature. In its simplest form, it generally works by sending probes that expire along the path from a host to a destination. It is also known that network administrators often configure their routers to limit the amount of ICMP replies sent, a common practice typically referred to as ICMP rate limitation. In this paper we attempt to characterize the responsiveness of routers to expiring ICMP echo-request packets. Our contribution is twofold: first, we provide a detailed analysis of how routers are most commonly configured to respond to expiring packets; next, we show that for the vast majority of routers, the measured round-trip time is not affected by the probing rate.
A shrinking algorithm for binary images to preserve topology

The two main factors that determine the quality of images from scaling algorithms are shape preservation and topology preservation. Most of the existing scaling algorithms focus on shape preservation and some pay attention to topology preservation. In this paper we propose a shrinking algorithm for binary images to preserve topology. The proposed algorithm shrinks the image by a factor of powers of 2 through iterative process. It divides the image into disjoint 2×2 rectangle blocks at each iterative step. Each block is in smooth region or in edge region. For smooth region, the block has the same color, so the corresponding pixel takes the same color as the block. For edge region, the block has different colors, so the corresponding pixel is processed according to human visual system and connectivity classification. Experimental results show that the proposed shrinking algorithm has better topology preservation and similar shape preservation in comparison with existing shrinking algorithms.
'When Should Manufacturers Want Fair Trade?': New Insights from Asymmetric Information When Supply Chains Compete

We study a model of competing manufacturer/retailer pairs where adverse selection and moral hazard are coupled with promotional externalities at the downstream level. In contrast to earlier models mainly focusing on a bilateral monopoly setting, we show that with competing brands a ‘laissez‐faire’ approach towards vertical price control might not always promote productive efficiency. Giving manufacturers freedom to control retail prices is more likely to harm consumers when retailers impose positive promotional externalities on each other, and the converse is true otherwise. Our simple model also suggests that, with competing supply chains, consumers and manufacturers might prefer different contractual modes if promotional externalities have substantial effects on demands.
Relative perception system and intelligence

Physical symbol systems, for general intelligent action, take a physical stimulus as one object in the human world, whereas biological intelligent systems may take it as fundamentally different objects. For eliminating this conflict, the relative perception system hypothesis is proposed as a novel position for the nature of intelligence, based on the principle of world's relativity. From the hypothesis, different relative perception systems, artificial or natural, may have very different understandings of the world, because they observe a relative world of physical objects for producing intelligent behavior. Intelligent behavior is a sequence of actions and operations that it can appropriately choose to achieve a task. Intelligence is an ability of a relative perception system to produce such sequences that may be computational or non-computational, and can be measured by the relative perception intelligence quotient, which is the weighted sum of scores in performing a selected set of tasks. Relative AI is advocated as a new paradigm for artificial intelligence, claiming that different kinds of relative perception systems may have very different understandings of the world, and no brain models can implement the human mind without human body.
Parameters of thyroid function throughout and after pregnancy in an iodine-deficient population.

BACKGROUND The thyroid hormone milieu is of crucial importance for the developing fetus. Pregnancy induces physiological changes in thyroid homeostasis that are influenced by the iodine status. However, longitudinal studies addressing thyroid function during pregnancy and after delivery are still lacking in mild-to-moderate iodine-deficient populations. Here we characterize the serum parameters of thyroid function throughout pregnancy, and until 1 year after delivery, in a population of pregnant women whom we have previously reported to be iodine deficient (median urinary iodine levels below 75 microg/L). METHODS One hundred eighteen pregnant women were studied. Clinical data were recorded and serum was collected. Serum total and free thyroxine (T(4)) and triiodothyronine (T(3)), thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine-binding globulin, and thyroglobulin were measured. RESULTS Mean total T(4) ranged from 159 at the start of gestation to 127 nmol/L at 1 year after delivery, free T(4) from 14.2 to 17.8 pmol/L, total T(3) from 2.4 to 2.1 nmol/L, free T(3) from 6.7 pmol/L to 6.4 pmol/L, thyroid-stimulating hormone from 1.2 to 1.4 mIU/L, T(4)-binding globulin from 62.0 to 26.9 mg/L, and thyroglobulin from 11 to 10 microg/L. CONCLUSION The pregnant women in this study had an absence of the usual free T(4) spike and a smaller than expected increment in total T(4), described during pregnancy in iodine-sufficient populations. A greater number of women had subclinical hypothyroidism compared with iodine-sufficient populations. This hormonal profile, most likely due to iodine insufficiency, may result in inadequate thyroid hormone supply to the developing fetus. We conclude that care should be taken when reviewing the results of thyroid hormone tests in iodine-insufficient populations and when no gestation-specific reference values have been established. In addition, we recommend iodine supplementation in our population and populations with similar iodine status, particularly during pregnancy and lactation.
Where are all the Young Stars in Aquila

The high Galactic longitude end of the Aquila Rift comprises the large Aquila molecular cloud complex, however, few young stars are known to be located in the area, and only one is directly associated with the Rift. In contrast, the Serpens star-forming region at the low Galactic longitude end of the Rift contains hundreds of young stars. We review studies of the raw molecular material and describe searches for young objects in the Aquila clouds. The characteristics of the known young stars and associated jets and outflows are also provided. Finally, we suggest some possible explanations for the dearth of star formation in this gas-rich region and propose some future observations to examine this mystery further.
Analog IC Technologies for Future Wireless Systems

The analog IC technology, might sound old-fashioned, is still important for the future wireless systems such as 4G cellular phone systems, broadband wireless networkings, and wireless sensor network-ings. The analog features and issues of the scaled CMOS transistor, the basic issue and the technology trend for the ADC as an important building block of wires systems, and the feature of the digital RF architecture proposed recently are reviewed and discussed. Higher speed and lower power consumption are expected for low SNR systems along with the further technology scaling. However, the high SNR system is not realized easily due to a decrease of signal voltage. One of the important technology trends is the digitalization of RF signal to realize the system flexibility, robustness, area shrinking, and TAT shortening.
Software Architecture as a Combination of Patterns

T he computer science community has introduced design patterns as a means of capturing and documenting solutions to common software problems [1, 2]. An important aspect is the combination of patterns. In " Design Patterns " [1], the authors discuss how patterns dovetail and intertwine in good software. Nevertheless, combining patterns into a good overall architecture has received less attention than the individual patterns. In much of the literature, each pattern is often presented separately along with a discussion of how it fits into a resulting class diagram. This assumes that the class diagram exists when you present your patterns. In this article, we present not only how different patterns are used in software architecture, but also how we evolved the architecture by successively integrating more patterns to deal with particular design problems. We present the individual patterns, their interaction, and the questions that arise when they are combined. The example we use is a software subsystem of a new generation of surveillance radar constructed by Ericsson Microwave Systems (EMW) in Mölndal, Sweden. This subsystem contains the modules that handle tracking, communication with external devices, threat evaluation , etc. A major problem with the software of an earlier radar system was that the modules were too interdependent. If you wanted to use only one part for a new product, you often had to include all modules even though the functionality was not needed. When the new architecture was constructed , one premise was to maximize reuse. The main reason was the business situation for the surveillance radar system. The trend was that each customer bought a small series but still required considerable tailoring to his or her needs. To encourage reuse, the different components had to be made more independent and flexible. A function had to be coupled to as few other components as possible, and direct dependencies had to be eliminated or minimized. An important guideline in the architectural design was the requirement for mod-ifiability. The following sources of modifications were especially considered: 1. Replacement of hardware and operating system. 2. Different customers' functional requirements. In the following, we first discuss how the system was made adaptable to new hardware and software, and then how it was designed to accommodate changes in customer requirements in general and requirements for presentation and control in particular. To facilitate future changes of hardware and operating system, a layered architecture was introduced. The …
Using tablet computers compared to interactive voice response to improve subject recruitment in osteoporosis pragmatic clinical trials: feasibility, satisfaction, and sample size

Introduction Pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) provide large sample sizes and enhanced generalizability to assess therapeutic effectiveness, but efficient patient enrollment procedures are a challenge, especially for community physicians. Advances in technology may improve methods of patient recruitment and screening in PCTs. Our study looked at a tablet computer versus an integrated voice response system (IVRS) for patient recruitment and screening for an osteoporosis PCT in community physician offices. Materials and methods We recruited women ≥ 65 years of age from community physician offices to answer screening questions for a hypothetical osteoporosis active comparator PCT using a tablet computer or IVRS. We assessed the feasibility of these technologies for patient recruitment as well as for patient, physician, and office staff satisfaction with the process. We also evaluated the implications of these novel recruitment processes in determining the number of primary care practices and screened patients needed to conduct the proposed trial. Results A total of 160 women (80% of those approached) agreed to complete the osteoporosis screening questions in ten family physicians’ offices. Women using the tablet computer were able to complete all screening questions consistently and showed a nonsignificant trend towards greater ease of use and willingness to spend more time in their physician’s office compared to those using IVRS. Using the proportion of women found to be eligible in this study (almost 20%) and other eligibility scenarios, we determined that between 240 and 670 community physician offices would be needed to recruit ample patients for our hypothetical study. Conclusion We found good satisfaction and feasibility with a tablet computer interface for the recruitment and screening of patients for a hypothetical osteoporosis PCT in community office settings. In addition, we used this experience to estimate the number of research sites needed for such a study.
Quantum Algorithm Processors to Reveal Hamiltonian Cycles

Quantum computer versus quantum algorithm processor in CMOS are compared to find (in parallel) all Hamiltonian cycles in a graph with m edges and n vertices, each represented by k bits. A quantum computer uses quantum states analogous to CMOS registers. With efficient initialization, number of CMOS registers is proportional to (n-1)! Number of qubits in a quantum computer is approximately proportional to kn+2mn in the approach below. Using CMOS, the bits per register is about proportional to kn, which is less since bits can be irreversibly reset. In either concept, number of gates, or operations to identify Hamiltonian cycles is proportional to kmn. However, a quantum computer needs an additional exponentially large number of operations to accomplish a probabilistic readout. In contrast, CMOS is deterministic and readout is comparable to ordinary memory.
The implementation of mixed method in developing a mobile learners security framework

The aim of this paper is to discuss the significance and potentials of a mixed method approach in distance education and enhancement of technology acceptance of learners towards mobile learning and security framework. Mixed method generally provides choices of options and approaches to be considered in many disciplines and becoming increasingly popular in mobile learning technology acceptance research as the third methodological movement. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches are used in the paper as an important new research community to gather, analysis, interpret and present the findings with proposed framework. There are two major goals in this study; firstly literature study and discover the grounded theory as well as conduct relevant investigation to develop a preliminary framework. Secondly the proposed framework is verified to describe the relationship between the factors involved using the constructs in hypothesis formulation testing. In order to illustrate the benefits and achieve conclusive findings of the study, combining both qualitative and quantitative techniques in a single study is recommended where data are collected and analyzed in two separate phases. By applying the mixed method approach, it improves the research result and able to strengthen the methodologies to provide a workable security framework solution for mobile learners.
Expressed on Cell Surface via Humoral Immune Epitope of Nef Protein Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity

Antibodies against various proteins of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) can be detected in HIV-1-infected individuals. We previously reported that the level of Ab response against one Nef epitope is correlated with HIV-1 disease progression. To elucidate the mechanism for this correlation, we examined Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against target cells expressing Nef. We observed efﬁcient cytotoxicity against Nef-expressing target cells in the presence of patient plasma and PBMCs. This ADCC activity was correlated with the dilution of plasma from HIV-1-infected patients. Addition of a speciﬁc synthetic peptide (peptide 31: FLKEKGGLE) corresponding to the Nef epitope reduced cell lysis to (cid:1) 50%. These results suggest that PBMCs of HIV-1-infected patients may exert ADCC via anti-Nef Abs in the patients’ own plasma and serve as a mechanism used by the immune system to regulate HIV-1 replication. The Journal of Immunology, 2004, 172: 2401–2406.
Ieee Transactions on Affective Computing 1 Detecting Depression Severity from Vocal Prosody

—To investigate the relation between vocal prosody and change in depression severity over time, 57 participants from a clinical trial for treatment of depression were evaluated at seven-week intervals using a semi-structured clinical interview for depression severity (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression: HRSD). All participants met criteria for Major Depressive Disorder at week 1. Using both perceptual judgments by naive listeners and quantitative analyses of vocal timing and fundamental frequency, three hypotheses were tested: 1) Naive listeners can perceive the severity of depression from vocal recordings of depressed participants and interviewers. 2) Quantitative features of vocal prosody in depressed participants reveal change in symptom severity over the course of depression. And 3) Interpersonal effects occur as well; such that vocal prosody in interviewers shows corresponding effects. These hypotheses were strongly supported. Together, participants' and interviewers' vocal prosody accounted for about 60% of variation in depression scores, and detected ordinal range of depression severity (low, mild, and moderate-to-severe) in 69% of cases (kappa = 0.53). These findings suggest that analysis of vocal prosody could be a powerful tool to assist in depression screening and monitoring over the course of depressive disorder and recovery.
Biased Processing of Sleep-Related Stimuli in Children of Parents With Insomnia

Disorder-specific cognitive biases have been observed in children whose parents suffer from psychological disorders. Despite those same biases being observed in individuals with insomnia, they have yet to be explored as an index of vulnerability in children of parents with insomnia. It was hypothesized that potentially vulnerable children would demonstrate cognitive biases to sleep-related cues, relative to controls. Following a “tired-state induction,” a sleep-related Emotional Stroop was completed by 2 groups: 38 children of parents with insomnia and 51 controls. Children also reported their observations about the content of the Stroop words. Results showed an attention bias in children whose parents have insomnia, but no interpretive bias. The results are discussed in terms of a predispositional vulnerability to insomnia.
A Review of: “Merrell, K. W., & Gueldner, B. A. (2010). Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom: Promoting Mental Health and Academic Success.”

est to CBT therapists. In my 2006 review I noted that, aside from reading the text myself, I queried a number of initiate therapists who, upon my suggestion, read their 2005 book. They all found it helpful and had only good things to say about it. I am sure that if repeated, the same positive feedback would ensue. This book would make an excellent contribution to any graduate level psychology, social work program, or psychiatry residency. It is quite true that beginning therapists often are surprisingly thrust into management of difficult cases in a trial by fire. If this book were coupled with their introduction to management of patients within the CBT model, I am certain that there would be less anxiety and improvements in comfort with and use of CBT models and procedures. The price of $40.00 is an excellent value given the sound advice and well-thought-out presentation included in this book.
Cooperative energy exchange for the efficient use of energy and resources in remote communities

Energy poverty at the household level is a serious hindrance to economic and social development, especially in off-grid, remote villages in the developing world. Some initiatives have sought to provide these households with resources such as renewable generation units and electric batteries to enable access to electricity. At present, these resources are operated in isolation, fulfilling individual home needs, which results in an inefficient and costly use of resources, especially in the case of electric batteries which are expensive and have a limited number of charging cycles. To address this problem, we investigate the exchange of energy between homes in a community to reduce the overall battery usage, thus prolonging the life of batteries. We take an agent-based approach to this problem and show that agents (acting on the behalf of households) can coordinate and regulate the exchange of energy between homes which leads to two surpluses: reduction in the overall battery usage and reduction in the energy losses. To ensure a fair distribution of these surpluses among agents, we model this problem as a coalitional game where each agent's contribution to both surpluses is computed using the Shapley value. Using real world data, we empirically evaluate our solution to show that energy exchange (i) can reduce the need for battery charging (by close to 65%) in a community and (ii) can improve the efficient use of energy (by up to 80% under certain conditions). In addition, we show how approximated Shapley values can be used to enable energy exchange in large communities.