Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Choice of Interest Rate Models and Its Effect on Bank Capital Requirements Regulation and Financial Stability

According to the Basel regulation banks may use internal risk models to measure interest rate risk and calculate regulatory capital requirements. Under its pillar II the Basel framework grants leeway to banks in their choice of these models. We therefore focus on how well interest rate models describe real interest rate movements empirically and which impact the model choice has on the economic value of bank equity during the financial crisis. Furthermore, we address the question how different choices of interest rate models affect the overall financial stability. To this end we estimate eight different interest rate models for three different currencies (USD, EUR, CHF) using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Then we approximate the balance sheet of a typical Swiss bank during the financial crisis and run Monte Carlo simulations of the balance sheet using the estimated interest rate models. Our results show that the required economic value of equity for a bank varies considerably with the different choices of interest rate models. However, the interest rate models which are empirically best fitting do not imply aggregate financial stability. Thus, banks´ choices of interest rate models to calculate regulatory capital requirements may have a crucial impact on overall financial stability.
Detecting Covert Networks in Multilingual Groups : Evidence within a Virtual World

This paper introduces an approach for the examination and organization of unstructured text to identify relationships between networks of individuals. This approach uses discourse analysis to identify information providers and recipients and determines the structure of covert organizations irrespective of the language that facilitate conversations between members. Then, this method applies social network analytics to determine the arrangement of a covert organization without any a priori knowledge of the network structure. This approach is tested and validated using communication data collected in a virtual world setting. Our analysis indicates that the proposed framework successfully detected the covert structure of three information networks, and their cliques, within an online gaming community during a simulation of a large-scale event. http://jvwresearch.org Detecting Covert Networks in Multilingual Groups: Evidence within a Virtual World 2 Assembled 2016 (2) / Sep. 2016 Journal of Virtual Worlds Research Vol. 9, No. 2
Age and time exposure-related toxicity of fenthion to male and female Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

O efeito da idade, sexo e tempo de exposicao de machos e femeas de Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) a toxicidade do fentiom foi avaliado. A idade das moscas mostrou ser importante para o aparecimento dos primeiros sintomas de intoxicacao; machos e femeas no pico reprodutivo (30 e 60 dias de idade, respectivamente) sao menos susceptiveis ao inseticida que moscas nas demais idades (quatro e 120 dias). Nao foram detectadas diferencas de toxicidade relacionadas com o peso corporal dos insetos. O TL50, que variou de 3-7 min, mostrou serem os machos menos sensiveis que as femeas em todas as idades testadas. Adultos de ambos os sexos, com 30 dias de idade, submetidos a uma exposicao continua e descontinua ao fentiom, nao apresentaram efeito toxicologico cumulativo do inseticida. Analises estatisticas sugerem a possivel ocorrencia de um mecanismo geral de desintoxicacao (quantitativo e/ou qualitativo) relacionado com o sexo, a idade e o tempo de exposicao ao fentiom. Como a especie apresenta alta mobilidade na natureza sugere-se que estas caracteristicas biologicas e comportamentais sejam consideradas para a obtencao de resultados mais realistas.
Identification of polymorphisms of XRCC1 gene in patients with cancer in a city of northern Brazil

Introduction: Cancer is considered a genetic disease. For this reason, identification and characterization of the genes involved in its origin and progression are of fundamental importance in understanding its molecular basis. Objective: Our objective was to determine whether people from Macapa with a diagnosis of cancer have genetic polymorphisms related to the XRCC1 gene. Materials and methods: We analyzed 30 samples of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of cases with cancer and 30 control samples. All samples were amplified and analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) method, with the use of restriction enzyme MspI. Results: Regarding the 194T polymorphism, we found that all samples of the cases presented the polymorphic allele Trp (Arg/Trp). In control samples, 96.6% also identify the polymorphic allele Trp and, among these, one was homozygous for the same allele (Trp/Trp). Regarding the 399A polymorphism, 83.3% of the cases and 23.3% of the controls had the Arg/ Gln genotype, respectively. We found that 73.3% of controls and 16.6% of cases had the Arg/Arg genotype. Among the controls, we found only a sample that was homozygous for the polymorphic allele Trp/Trp. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the allele frequency of 194Trp polymorphism in both sample groups analyzed. We also found a significant number of polymorphic allele 399A in people with cancer. Thus, we can highlight 399Gln polymorphism as a genetic marker of cancer risk in this population.
Generating Theory From Secondary Data: a Variation on Eisenhardt’s Case Study Method.

The use of secondary data in business studies was generally associated to the field of Economics. More recently, organisational psychologists are entering the field profiting from the access to databases from well-known consultants. This paper is based on an example of a hybrid between both fields in that we use the principles of the event study method -used by Financersto assess changes in organisational commitment after certain kinds of organisational change. We follow Kathleen Eisenhardt’s case study approach to generate theory from two sets of secondary data. We attempt to build upon subjectivism and objectivism with a research design that has an established protocol at the onset but is then adapted as the research unfolds. This is an engaged research that has emerged from the collaboration between academia and practitioners. The obvious benefits of using secondary data can be overshadowed by its limitations. The present paper will try to show how to work around data that was originally collected for a different purpose and integrate it into a new model with highly reliable constructs; how to minimise the risk of inaccurate interpretations and how broadening the search for data to less conventional sources can enrich business studies. The main purpose of this paper is to illustrate, following the empirical example of a pharmaceutical company, how secondary data can be creatively combined to build theory around the impact of certain kinds of change on organisational commitment. This study seems opportune at a time of shrinking budgets and economic upheaval that has caused a reduction in both the resources needed to collect primary data and the collaborative spirit of companies that are being forced to concentrate their efforts on survival, in many cases at the expense of academic collaborations.
Image registration procedure used in intrasubject comparison of pelvic configuration

Image registration procedure used in intrasubject comparison of pelvic configuration P. Ruzicka1, P. Bendova1, S. Konvickova1 Summary The objective of the study was to prove magnetic resonance imaging as suitable instrument for exploring the nature and amplitude of displacements within the bony pelvis induced by asymmetrically altered pelvic floor muscle characteristics. Repeated MR imaging of 14 females was performed. Spatial coordinates of 23 pelvic landmarks were localized in each subject and registered by interactive and automatic procedures. Modalities of registration procedure were tested and compared by the precision of registration. The software tool was developed to perform registrations and data analyses including individual registration error evaluation. The automatic registration with vertebra L5 as reference has been found optimal. The study has demonstrated benefits associated with processing of MRI data in terms of high detection reliability of pelvic configuration. The precision of MRI data processing, tested in the study, may contribute to the enhanced accuracy of MRI data registration, easier data manipulation and analysis.
A CETACEAN BIOPSY SYSTEM USING LIGHTWEIGHT PNEUMATIC DARTS, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE BEHAVIOR OF KILLER WHALES

Lightweight untethered pneumatic darts were used to biopsy killer whales, Orcinus orca, for genetic and toxicological analysis. Samples of epidermal, dermal, and hypodermal tissue weighing approximately 0.5 g were obtained by 65% of the 91 darts fired during the study. Sufficient DNA for multiple analyses was extracted from the biopsies, which were also used for fatty acid and toxic contaminant analyses. Reactions such as momentary shakes or accelerations were observed after 81% of the dart hits and 53% of the misses. Aversion to the research vessel was assessed by reapproaching target whales after the sampling attempts. In 6% of the hits and 8% of the misses aversion to the research boat increased immediately following the attempt. No similar increases in aversion were seen when killer whales were reapproached one day to one year after being hit. The darts were also tested successfully on humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae. In view of the simplicity of the system, its effectiveness in acquiring multipurpose samples, and the apparently short-term disturbance it caused, it is recommended for future cetacean biopsy studies.
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF A FOOD GRADE DETERGENT DEVELOPED FROM LOCAL RAW MATERIALS

ii DEDICATION.iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.v TABLE OF CONTENT.vi LIST OF TABLES.x LIST OF FIGURES.xi LIST OF PLATES.xii LIST OF APPENDICES.xiii CHAPTER ONE.
Synthesis and characterization of nanoporous monetite which can be applicable for drug carrier

Wormhole-like mesostructured monetite was successfully synthesized using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C19H42BrN, CTAB), as a porosity agent. X-ray techniques and FTIR reveal that the crystalline grains consist of highly crystalline pure monetite phase. Monetite rods with diameter around 20-40nm and length in the range of 50-200nm were confirmed by FESEM and TEM. Based on N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms investigation, surface area increased up to 31.5m2/g due to the removal of surfactant after calcinations at 400°C. The results indicate that CTAB can not only affect monetite crystallization but also change particles morphology from plate shape to rod-like.
Accuracy of quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) prediction by surrounding SNPs

Information from thousands of markers distributed across the genome can be used for a new selection method in animal breeding and genetics. This method which is called genomic selection estimated the genomic breeding value based on the estimation of marker effects covering the whole genome. For a successful application of genomic selection, accuracy of the prediction is an important factor that should be considered. Because it is important for genetic progress. Quantitative trait nucleotides (QTN) are polymorphisms that give useful information about gene function and QTL architecture. So prediction its effects and estimation its accuracy enhances rates of genetic gain. In this study, we investigated the accuracy of QTN prediction by neighboring markers, using the simulated data. Our dataset consisted of 1040 markers which were assigned to one chromosome of 500 genotyped animals. Method G-BLUP was used to estimate marker effects, and the accuracy of QTN prediction was estimated by using cross validation. As the accuracy can be affected by different number of surrounding SNPs, it was predicted at various number of surrounding markers ranging from 10 to 100 markers. In general, the accuracy of QTN prediction increased by increasing the number of flanking SNPs from 10 to 60 SNPs. Further increase in number of SNPs resulted in a very small increase in accuracy in case of heritability 1 and 0.8 and a very small decrease in case of heritability 0.5. We also investigated the effect of other factors on accuracy such as Minor Allele Frequency cutoff threshold, heritability and number of phenotypes in the training set. We analyzed four data sets; data set with no selection of markers, data sets with different cutoff thresholds for MAF (0.02, 0.05 and 0.1) in order to get the effect of MAF on accuracy. We observed the minimum SNP MAF of 0.02 is more appropriate for genomic selection studies. After filtering the data with the cutoff threshold of 0.02 for MAF, QTN could be predicted with 100 flanking SNPs, with a maximum accuracy of 0.777. This is the maximum accuracy in the absence of any environmental effects. We also observed that there is a relationship between the accuracy of QTN prediction and the heritability of the phenotype. The accuracy of QTN prediction dropped when the heritability of phenotype decreased. In general, when we estimated the accuracy by 100 surrounding SNPs and heritability decreased from 1 to 0.8 and from 0.8 to 0.5, the decrease in accuracy was 4.6 and 11%, respectively. In another analysis, when 50% of animals were masked, it means that the number of phenotypes decreased in training set, the accuracies were lower in comparison to 20% masking. When 50% of animals were masked, with 100 surrounding SNPs, the reduction of 6 and 9.25% was observed, when heritability of phenotype was 1 and 0.5, respectively.
A Power-Efficient Noise Canceling Technique Using Signal-Suppression Feed-Forward for Wideband LNAs

This paper presents a power-efficient noise-canceling technique based on the feed-forward amplifiers, considering a fundamental tradeoff between noise figure (NF) and power consumption in the design of wide-band amplifiers. By suppressing the input signal of the noise cancellation amplifier, the nonlinear effect on the amplifier can be reduced, as well as the power consumption can be smaller. Furthermore, as a lower gain of the noise-canceling sub-amplifier can be achieved simultaneously, further reduction of the power consumption becomes possible. The verification of the proposed technique is conducted with Spectre simulation using 90nm CMOS process.
Source estimating of heavy metals in shallow groundwater based on UNMIX Model: a case study

Heavy metals in the groundwater can threaten the health and life of animals and human beings through food chains. In this study, the concentrations of eight kinds of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Ni) of sixty-two shallow groundwater samples from the urban area of Suzhou, northern Anhui Province, China have been measured, and the data have been analyzed by UNMIX model for quantifying their sources. The results indicate that the concentrations of all of the heavy metals except for Mn and Pb can meet the guidelines for drinking water quality of World Health Organization. Four sources, including both anthropogenic sources (related to transportation/centralization and car industry) and geological sources (related to Fe and Mn hydroxides), have been identified by UMIX model, and their contributions for the total heavy metals are 29.3% and 70.7%, respectively. The study demonstrated that the UNMIX model can be applied for estimating the source of heavy metals in groundwater. Moreover, the study showed that more attention should be paid to the heavy metals (especially Zn and Cr) in the shallow groundwater in the study area because they have been affected by human activities
The Role of Management Accounting in Competition Policy : The Case of the Inverness Route

Although competition policy is an important area for accounting research, contributions from management accountants are lacking. This article aims to show that management accountants can help clarify number of issues in competition policy using diagnostic tools such as analytical constructs and concepts of cost to establish relevant facts and cost. Accordingly, this article demonstrates that the employment of such diagnostic tools can give insights into anti-competitive behavioral issues in competition policy, as illustrated in the Inverness route case.
MOCVD growth and fabrication of high power MUTC photodiodes using InGaAs-InP system

We report charge-compensated modified uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes (MUTC-PDs) with high photocurrent and fast response, grown using liquid group-V precursor, in an AIXTRON MOCVD system. The liquid group-V precursors involve less toxicity with better decomposition characteristics. Device fabrication is completed with standard processing techniques with BCB passivation. DC and RF measurements are carried out using a single mode fiber at 1.55 µm. For a 24-µm-diameter device (with diode ideality factor of 1.34), the dark current is 32.5 nA and the 3-dB bandwidth is ≫20 GHz at a reverse bias of 5V, which are comparable to the theoretical values. High photocurrent of over 150.0mA from larger diameter (>60 µm) devices is obtained. The maximum DC responsivity at 1.55 µm wavelength is 0.51A/W, without antireflection coating. These photodiodes play a key role in the progress of the future THz communication systems.
In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Zanthonitrile isolated from Zanthoxylum alatum

The present study evaluates the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Zanthonitrile isolated from Zanthoxylum alatum leaves. The structure of Zanthonitrile [{4-[(3-Methyl-2-buten-1-yl) oxy] phenyl} acetonitrile] was elucidated form the data obtained from UV, IR, Mass, and NMR. The in vitro antioxidant activity of Zanthonitrile was estimated by standard 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil radical (DPPH) scavenging assay method. In vitro cytotoxicity was determined in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells by MTT assay. The compound exhibited antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. The IC50 value of Zanthonitrile for DPPH was estimated to be 7.86 ± 0.23 μg/mL. Zanthonitrile showed satisfactory cytotoxic potential in MTT assay with the IC50 value 57.28 ± 0.64 μg/mL. Satisfactory results of both the studies correlate each other and further investigations will focus on in vivo models and cell cycle to determine the role on intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways.
The environment of radio galaxies: a signature of AGN feedback at high redshifts

We use the semi-analytical model of galaxy formation GALFORM to characterize an indirect signature of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback in the environment of radio galaxies at high redshifts. The predicted environment of radio galaxies is denser than that of radio-quiet galaxies with the same stellar mass. This is consistent with observational results from the CARLA survey. Our model shows that the differences in environment are due to radio galaxies being hosted by dark matter haloes that are ∼1.5 dex more massive than those hosting radio-quiet galaxies with the same stellar mass. By running a control simulation in which AGN feedback is switched off, we identify AGN feedback as the primary mechanism affecting the build up of the stellar component of radio galaxies, thus explaining the different environment in radio galaxies and their radio-quiet counterparts. The difference in host halo mass between radio-loud and radio-quiet galaxies translates into different galaxies populating each environment. We predict a higher fraction of passive galaxies around radio-loud galaxies compared to their radio-quiet counterparts. Furthermore, such a high fraction of passive galaxies shapes the predicted infrared luminosity function in the environment of radio galaxies in a way that is consistent with observational findings. Our results suggest that the impact of AGN feedback at high redshifts and environmental mechanisms affecting galaxies in high halo masses can be revealed by studying the environment of radio galaxies, thus providing new constraints on galaxy formation physics at high redshifts.
Evening primrose [Oenothera paradoxa] oil cake or groud rape seed supplement to diets for dairy cows

The effect of adding evening primrose oil cake or ground full fat rape seed supplements to the diet on animal performance, hormone and metabolite levels in blood plasma, and milk fatty acid composition was compared in an experiment on 21 Black-and-White Lowland cows divided into 3 groups of 7. The animals were fed control basic diet (group C) or diets supplemented with evening primrose cake (group P) or full fat rape seeds (group R). Daily milk production in cows of group P was 0.9, and of group R 1.8 kg (FCM) higher than in cows of the control group. The milk fat contents were 3.99, 4.02 and 3.97%, and protein contents 2.98, 2.93 and 2.81% in groups C, R and P, respectively. The plasma cholesterol level was 20% lower in group C and 26% lower in group P than in group R. The content of C18-acids, including polyunsaturated acids, in the milk fat of cows of group P and R was similar and higher than in controls.
Power Quality Indices in Liberalized Markets

DESCRIPTION Power Quality (PQ) indices are a powerful tool for quickly quantifying PQ disturbances. They also serve as the basis for illustrating the negative impact of electrical disturbances on components and for assessing compliance with the required standards and recommendations within a regulating framework. Within these pages lies a comprehensive overview of both the traditional PQ indices in use today and new indices likely to be used in the future.