Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Institutional Trading, Allocation Sales, and Private Information in IPOs

We analyze the profitability and informativeness of institutional trading in IPOs, using a large sample of proprietary transaction-level trading data. We analyze the pattern and profitability of institutional IPO allocation sales, the profitability of post-IPO institutional trading, and the predictive power of institutional trading for long-run IPO performance. Our results can be summarized as follows. First, institutions sell most of their IPO allocations within the first year after the IPO. Larger institutions sell their allocations faster than smaller institutions, suggesting that they have greater bargaining power with respect to the investment banking syndicate, giving them the freedom to sell their allocations faster. Second, institutions realize most of the “money left on the table” for IPO allocations sold within the first year (99 percent and 90 percent, respectively, before and after accounting for the market return). Third, post-IPO institutional trading outperforms a buy-and-hold investment strategy in IPOs (but does not outperform or underperform the market in general), suggesting that institutions do possess some private information about IPOs. Institutions outperform more when trading shares in IPOs about which there is higher information asymmetry (younger firms and those underwritten by less reputable investment banks); further, larger institutions outperform by a higher margin than smaller institutions, suggesting that they have a comparative advantage in information production. Fourth, institutional trading has predictive power for subsequent long-run IPO performance, even after controlling for publicly available information, though this predictive power decays over time, becoming insignificant three to four months after the IPO. Overall, our results indicate that institutions do possess private information about IPOs and receive considerable compensation for participating in these IPOs.
Numerical Simulation of the Effects of Nanofluid on a Heat Pipe Thermal Performance

This research aims at modeling and simulating the effects of nanofluids on cylindrical heat pipes thermal performance using the ANSYS-FLUENT CFD commercial software. The heat pipe outer wall temperature distribution, thermal resistance, liquid pressure and axial velocity in presence of suspended nano-scaled solid particle (i.e. Cu, Al2O3 and TiO2) within the fluid (water) were investigated. The effect of particle concentration and size were explored and it is concluded that the thermal performance of the heat pipe is improved when using nanofluid as the system working fluid. Additionally, it was observed that the thermal resistance of the heat pipe drops as the particle concentration level increases and particle radius decreases. Keywords—CFD, Heat Pipe, Nanofluid, Thermal resistance
Extending the concept of shopping: An investigation of browsing activity

In many previous studies of consumer behavior, shopping has been equated with buying. This research examines the concept of browsing—the examination of a retailer’s merchandise without a current intent to buy. Results indicate that for the product classes of clothing and personal computers, browsing is related to perceptions of relevant dimensions of the retail environment. In addition, heavy browsers are more involved with the product, are more knowledgeable, and are more likely to be opinion leaders than are other consumers. Suggestions for future research are also noted.
A Cautionary Note on the Robustness of Latent Class Models for Estimating Diagnostic Error without a Gold Standard

Summary. Modeling diagnostic error without a gold standard has been an active area of biostatistical research. In a majority of the approaches, model‐based estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and prevalence are derived from a latent class model in which the latent variable represents an individual's true unobserved disease status. For simplicity, initial approaches assumed that the diagnostic test results on the same subject were independent given the true disease status (i.e., the conditional independence assumption). More recently, various authors have proposed approaches for modeling the dependence structure between test results given true disease status. This note discusses a potential problem with these approaches. Namely, we show that when the conditional dependence between tests is misspecified, estimators of sensitivity, specificity, and prevalence can be biased. Importantly, we demonstrate that with small numbers of tests, likelihood comparisons and other model diagnostics may not be able to distinguish between models with different dependence structures. We present asymptotic results that show the generality of the problem. Further, data analysis and simulations demonstrate the practical implications of model misspecification. Finally, we present some guidelines about the use of these models for practitioners.
High resolution simultaneous dual-band spectral domain optical coherence tomography

We present a fiber-based spectral-domain optical coherence tomography system, measuring simultaneously at 740 nm and 1300 nm central wavelengths. Real-time imaging is demonstrated with axial resolutions <3 μm and <5 μm, respectively. This technique allows for in vivo functional OCT imaging with high spatial resolution and outstanding spectroscopic imaging contrast.
The allantoic membrane of the rabbit: Evidence of a cholinergic electrical potential

The electrical potential of the rabbit allantoic membrane is sensitive to acetylcholine, a sensitivity which can be altered or abolished by anticholinesterase compounds. Biochemical and histochemical studies indicates that acetylcholinesterase activity is present in the endodermal layer of the membrane. These findings suggest that the allantois may be a valuable model for investigations into the role of acetylcholinesterase in membrane excitability.
Determination of ionized calcium: evaluation of sampling and storage procedures.

Determination of Ionized Calcium: Evaluation of Sampling and Storage Procedures, Marie-Madeleine Couttenye, Angelika Jurgens, Ludwig V. Lamberts, Gert A. Verpooten, Patrick C. D ‘Haese, and Marc E. Dc Broe(Dept. of Nephrology-Hypertension, Univ. of Antwerp, p/a Univ. Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstr. 10, B-2650 Edegem/Antwerpen, Belgium; *author for correspondence: fax 32/3/829.01.00, e-mail debroe@uia.ua.ac.be)
Consumer perceptions of product‐claim versus help‐seeking direct‐to‐consumer advertising

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to better understand the effectiveness of direct‐to‐consumer advertising (DTCA) by examining consumer perceptions of persuasive intent and informativeness associated with product‐claim and help‐seeking advertisements, respectively.Design/methodology/approach – In three behavioral experiments, a total of 413 participants provided data on their behavioral intentions and attitudes towards DTCA.Findings – Consumers perceived help‐seeking DTCA as being highly informative without persuasive intent, whereas they perceived product‐claim DTCA as having high‐persuasive intent with little informativeness. Help‐seeking (versus product‐claim) DTCA was more effective in generating stronger behavioral intention to seek treatment for the ailments advertised (i.e. clinical depression and migraine). Consumer perceptions of persuasive intent and informativeness of DTCA were the underlying mediators for this result.Research limitations/implications – The paper helps to resolve conflicti.
Prevalence and correlates of accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND Although systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with premature myocardial infarction, the prevalence of underlying atherosclerosis and its relation to traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease and lupus-related factors have not been examined in a case-control study. METHODS In 197 patients with lupus and 197 matched controls, we performed carotid ultrasonography, echocardiography, and an assessment for risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The patients were also evaluated with respect to their clinical and serologic features, inflammatory mediators, and disease treatment. RESULTS The risk factors for cardiovascular disease were similar among patients and controls. Atherosclerosis (carotid plaque) was more prevalent among patients than the controls (37.1 percent vs. 15.2 percent, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, only older age, the presence of systemic lupus erythematosus (odds ratio, 4.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.6 to 8.7), and a higher serum cholesterol level were independently related to the presence of plaque. As compared with patients without plaque, patients with plaque were older, had a longer duration of disease and more disease-related damage, and were less likely to have multiple autoantibodies or to have been treated with prednisone, cyclophosphamide, or hydroxychloroquine. In multivariate analyses including patients with lupus, independent predictors of plaque were a longer duration of disease, a higher damage-index score, a lower incidence of the use of cyclophosphamide, and the absence of anti-Smith antibodies. CONCLUSIONS Atherosclerosis occurs prematurely in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and is independent of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The clinical profile of patients with lupus and atherosclerosis suggests a role for disease-related factors in atherogenesis and underscores the need for trials of more focused and effective antiinflammatory therapy.
THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF RESTRICTVE SALES PROMOTION (RSP) ON BRAND ATTITUDES FROM THE PERSECEPTIVE OF PERCEIVED PROMOTION UNFAIRNESS

Restrictive sales promotion (RSP) is a promotional strategy where restrictions in quantity or in time are placed on a promotion. RSP has been shown as an effective tool for increasing perceived values and sales volumes. However, the long-term effectiveness of RSP is questionable. For example, consumers may go to great lengths to acquire the RSP product by waiting for a long time. However, if consumers realize they can still pay the promotional price after the promotion has ended, negative effects may be observed in their attitudes, often transmitted through word-of-mouth (ETV, 2010). It is possible that companies that offer RSPs might frequently be doing so as a type of promotional strategy, rather than to take advantage of the unique value of RSP. The restriction advertised in the RSP may not be the actual restriction in time or volume, which could be regarded as information-behavior inconsistency. Such inconsistency may negatively influence consumer attitudes toward a brand. Equity theory indicates that perceived fairness is based on distribution fairness and procedural fairness (Thibaut and Walker, 1975). Distribution fairness is based on the perceived ratio of what is received relative to what is sacrificed, and procedural fairness pertains to judgments of the fairness of a process, based on societal norms and behavior (Adams, 1965; Thibaut and Walker, 1975). Regarding sales promotions, although consumers may perceive distribution fairness because they make an equivalent monetary sacrifice (i.e., the promotional price) as others, they may still perceive procedural unfairness because they make more non-monetary sacrifices (e.g., time, effort, search cost) than others. Perceived promotion unfairness (PPU), proposed by Xia, Kular-Kinney and Monroe (2010), suggests that consumers evaluate the fairness of the process used to determine the promotional price as specified by the
Impact of culture on supplier selection decision making

Purpose – Source location decision making is a contemporary problem facing many businesses as they globalize their supply chains. This paper seeks to empirically determine the influence of culture on the industrial procurement manager's perception of the different characteristics of potential global sourcing locations, with a view to integrating the influence of culture operating at different levels into a global sourcing location decision framework; thereby enhancing managerial insights to the role played by culture in making decisions.Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies factor analysis and multiple regression on a survey sample of 181 responses gathered from native eastern and western procurement managers. The authors investigate how 12 procurement attributes drawn from the literature relate to each other with respect to low‐cost regions.Findings – The research results show that procurement managers select regions for low‐cost sourcing based on both specific measures and individual and/or gr.
Ethanol exposure enhances apoptosis within the testes.

BACKGROUND Chronic ethanol abuse causes testicular atrophy and male infertility in alcoholic men. It is well known that ethanol exposure disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, adversely affects the secretory function of Sertoli cells, and produces oxidative stress within the testes. It is still not clear what cellular mechanisms are responsible for the morphologic alteration of the testes that results in a reduction of testicular mass as a consequence of ethanol exposure. The hypothesis tested was that ethanol enhances apoptosis of testicular germ cells. METHODS In the experiments of chronic ethanol exposure, male Sprague Dawley rats (Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc., Indianapolis, IN) were fed Liber-Decarlie liquid diet for 9 weeks. In the experiments of acute ethanol exposure, a small volume of 20% ethanol solution was administered by intratesticular injection. Both 3'-end labeling of isolated testicular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and labeling of apoptotic cells in situ by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end-labeling method were used to determine apoptosis rates within the testes. The expression of proteins involved in apoptosis was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and by Western blotting. RESULTS The testes of rats that were fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet had more testicular DNA fragmentation than did those of animals that were fed an isocaloric control diet. Ethanol increased the number of apoptotic spermatogonia as well as spermatocytes. Direct intratesticular injections of ethanol solution enhanced testicular DNA fragmentation, suggesting an increase in apoptosis. Moreover, Fas ligand levels were increased within the testes of rats that were chronically fed ethanol. In vitro, ethanol treatment of cultured Sertoli cells enhanced the production of Fas ligand. In addition, testicular levels of p53 messenger ribonucleic acid were increased in rats that were chronically fed ethanol. CONCLUSIONS All of these observations suggest that ethanol enhances testicular germ cell apoptosis.
Vote with Their Donations: An Explanation About Crowding-In of Government Provision of Public Good

This paper considers a mechanism where providers of public goods reflect donors f preferences for public goods. When asking individuals and private companies to contribute for a certain public good, it is widely known that the total contributions result in under-provision. Among the many countermeasures for this problem, some fundraisers adopt a measure to reflect large donors f preferences for the characteristics of public goods. In such a case, private contribution is enhanced because there is additional incentive to donate. We formalized such a measure theoretically and proved that this measure surely enhances private contributions. Moreover, we find that government direct subsidy may not only crowd-out but also even crowd-in private contribution under this framework. If fundraisers reflect the major donors f preference, the influence of one fs donation is leveraged by government direct provision. This element enhances private contributions. If this effect dominates the innate crowding-out effect, government direct subsidy may enhance private contribution. This mechanism is a novel explanation for both crowding-out and crowding-in under an identical framework.
Analysis of the effect of LUT size on FPGA area and delay using theoretical derivations

Based on architecture analysis of island-style FPGA, area and delay models of LUT FPGA are proposed. The effect of LUT size on FPGA area and performance is studied. Results show optimal LUT size conclusion from computation models is the same as that of experiments. A LUT size of 4 produces the best area results. A LUT size of 5 provides the better performance.
Comments on a recent paper introducing a non-phylogenetic approach to the establishment of relationships between higher taxa in Chlamydiae.

This letter has been written as a reply to an article published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology by Karin D. E. Everett and co-workers [Everett, K. D. E. , Thao, M. , Horn, M. , Dyszynski, G. E. & Baumann, P. (2005). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55, 1581–1587: Novel chlamydiae in whiteflies and scale insects: endosymbionts ‘Candidatus Fritschea bemisiae’ strain Falk and ‘Candidatus Fritschea eriococci’ strain Elm]. In this article the authors made some statements that we feel need to be responded to.
Why IT Fumbles Analytics

As managers seek to exploit the tremendous amounts of data now available from internal and external sources, they're likely to use the approach they use with all their IT projects-that is, they'll focus on building and deploying technology on time, to plan, and within budget. That works for projects designed to improve business processes and increase efficiency, but when it comes to extracting valuable insights from data and using information to make better decisions, managers need a different approach and mind-set. A big data or analytics project is likely to be smaller and shorter than a conventional IT initiative, such as installing an ERP system. It's also more like scientific research. Commissioned to address a problem or opportunity, such a project frames questions, develops hypotheses, and then experiments to gain knowledge and understanding. The authors have identified five guidelines for taking this voyage of discovery: � Place users-the people who will create meaning from the information-at the heart of the initiative. � Unlock value from IT by asking second-order questions and giving teams the freedom to reframe business problems. � Equip teams with cognitive and behavioral scientists, who understand how people perceive problems and analyze data. � Focus on learning by facilitating information sharing, examining assumptions, and striving to understand cause and effect. � Worry more about solving business problems than about deploying technology.
Partial Power Conversion Device Without Large Electrolytic Capacitors for Power Flow Control and Voltage Compensation

A novel partial power conversion device (PPCD) is proposed to realize power flow control and voltage compensation in a three-phase power distribution system in this paper. The PPCD circuit, which is derived from the conventional push-pull forward converter, can achieve arbitrary voltage output without any large electrolytic capacitors. Thus, the system reliability can be enhanced. Furthermore, the converter has no full-rated components, which reduces the cost. In this paper, an injection model for power flow control is derived. A minimum power transfer control strategy is proposed to minimize the power losses during the operation. A closed-loop control method employing the synchronous reference frame theory for voltage compensation is also developed to enable the precise control. The systems with PPCD are simulated by MATLAB/Simulink to verify the functions. The experiments for voltage compensation are carried out based on a 30-kW prototype, which shows the effectiveness.
Alcohol consumption patterns and predictors of use following liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease

For patients who receive a liver transplant (LTX) for alcoholic liver disease (ALD), investigators are focusing beyond survival to determine specific alcohol use outcomes. Studies suggest the use of alcohol ranges from 8 to 22% for the first post‐transplant year with cumulative rates reaching 30 to 40% by 5 years following transplantation. Yet while investigators are interested in determining specific rates of alcohol use and predictors of use, only three studies since 1990 have been prospective. In 1998, we began a prospective study of post‐LTX alcohol consumption in ALD recipients using multiple repeated measures of alcohol use. After 5 years of follow‐up, we found that 22% had used any alcohol by the first year and 42% had a drink by 5 years. By 5 years, 26% drank at a heavier use (binge) pattern and 20% drank in a frequent pattern. In a univariate model, predictors of alcohol use included pre‐transplant length of sobriety, a diagnosis of alcohol dependence, a history of other substance use, and prior alcohol rehabilitation. Liver Transpl 12:813–820, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
Study of a Taylor-Couette-Poiseuille flow in an annular channel with a slotted rotor

This paper investigates a Taylor-Couette-Poiseuille flow in an annular channel of a slotted rotating inner cylinder, corresponding to a salient pole hydrogenerator. The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding of flow and thermal phenomena in electrical machines using a simplified scale model. Some numerical tests are first shown to investigate the influence of certain numerical parameters. Finally, CFD and CHT studies of the flow regimes are presented in the slotted rotor geometry and compared to experimental and literature data.
Long-time electron spin storage via dynamical suppression of hyperfine-induced decoherence in a quantum dot

The coherence time of an electron spin decohered by the nuclear spin environment in a quantum dot can be substantially increased by subjecting the electron to suitable dynamical decoupling sequences. We analyze the performance of high-level decoupling protocols by using a combination of analytical and exact numerical methods, and by paying special attention to the regimes of large inter-pulse delays and long-time dynamics, which are outside the reach of standard average Hamiltonian theory descriptions. We demonstrate that dynamical decoupling can remain efficient far beyond its formal domain of applicability, and find that a protocol exploiting concatenated design provides best performance for this system in the relevant parameter range. In situations where the initial electron state is known, protocols able to completely freeze decoherence at long times are constructed and characterized. The impact of system and control non-idealities is also assessed, including the effect of intra-bath dipolar interaction, magnetic field bias and bath polarization, as well as systematic pulse imperfections. While small bias field and small bath polarization degrade the decoupling fidelity, enhanced performance and temporal modulation result from strong applied fields and high polarizations. Overall, we find that if the relative errors of the control parameters do not exceed 5%, decoupling protocols can still prolong the coherence time by up to two orders of magnitude.
Local Multi Code Pattern Generation for Face Identification

AbstractThe existing LTrP method shows the relationship between the reference pixel and its neighbor’s, based on the four directional code that are computed using the first-order derivatives in both vertical and horizontal directions. It is apparent that the performance of LTrP can be improved by differentiating the edges in more than four directions. This observation has motivated us to propose a nine direction code referred to as Local Multi Code Pattern (LMCP). LMCP extracts supplementary directional information as compared with LTrP. The performance analysis of the aforementioned techniques were done with the help of ORL, Yale, Jaffee databases and also the recital analysis on the same significantly improves the recognition rate of the proposed method.