Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Notice of RetractionAn analysis of the efficiency of the stock issuance market in China

The underpricing of IPOs in China stock market has persisted over time. By serial correlation test and runs test of yields, we have found that there's certain serial correlation in the primary market, which does not accord with the characteristics of weak-form efficiency, and even has not yet reached that level. The inefficient phenomenon can be best explained from the angle of special supply and demand of China stock market. However, the incomplete information of China stock market and nonrational behavior of market subjects further reduce the market efficiency and increase the supply-demand imbalance. Thus, the regulators should make the approval process of IPOs to be more market-oriented, the intermediary institutions need to further enhance its reputation, and the investors should pay more attention to the diversification of investment, as well as the rational investment philosophy.
A Comparison of dendritic spine number and type on pyramidal neurons of the visual cortex of old adult rats from social or isolated environments

The present study determined the effect of the housing condition experienced by old adult male rats on the appearance and number of dendritic spines. Specifically, 20‐month‐old rats were killed following 6 months of living in either a social environment (three to a cage) or living alone. The total number of dendritic spines per unit length was examined along segments of oblique, basal, and apical dendritic branches of pyramidal cells from layers II, III, Va, and Vb of the visual cortex. In addition to determining the total spine number, the spines were differentiated into two topographical categories: those with a lollipop configuration (type L) and those with a nubbin configuration (type N). Out results show that neither the total spine density nor the type L spine density were generally influenced by the two housing conditions. However, the density of type N spines was almost always greater on neurons from rats which had been living alone irrespective of the cortical layer or the dendritic segment counted.
TABAGISMO NO AMBIENTE UNIVERSITÁRIO: GRAU DE DEPENDÊNCIA, SINTOMAS RESPIRATÓRIOS E FUNÇÃO PULMONAR

Os objetivos deste estudo foram conhecer as caracteristicas do habito tabagico quanto ao grau de dependencia de nicotina, consumo de cigarros, presenca de sintomas respiratorios e de alteracoes na funcao pulmonar entre funcionarios, docentes e alunos da Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia – FCT/UNESP, Campus de Presidente Prudente. Foram analisados dados de 123 fumantes, sendo 25 funcionarios e professores (media de idade = 44 ± 8 anos) e 98 alunos (media de idade = 22 ± 4 anos) identificados por meio de um questionario que continha informacoes sobre o habito tabagico e sintomas apresentados, alem do teste de Fagerstrom. A funcao pulmonar foi avaliada por meio da espirometria. Dos individuos estudados, 54% consumiam menos de 10 cigarros por dia; 50% apresentaram grau de dependencia muito baixo. Em todos os graus de dependencia houve a presenca de sintomas respiratorios e aqueles individuos com niveis mais elevados relataram mais sintomas, dentre os quais, “falta de ar”, cansaco, dores no peito, tosse e escarro. Verificou-se relacao significante entre o numero de cigarros por dia e o grau de dependencia, porem nao houve relacao entre o consumo e os valores espirometricos. Quatro curvas espirometricas analisadas apresentaram valores reduzidos, principalmente FEF25-75%. Os sintomas respiratorios estavam presentes, mesmo em individuos com baixo grau de dependencia e consumo de cigarros; e quanto maior a dependencia, maior era o numero destes sintomas. A espirometria permitiu identificar tabagistas com risco de desenvolver doenca respiratoria, o que reforca a importância da manutencao de programas de controle do tabagismo no ambiente universitario.
Recessões e recuperações na atividade econômica: mesmo efeito sobre a criminalidade?

Evidencias sobre a economia do crime mostram que o ambiente socioeconomico e um importante determinante das atividades criminosas. Este artigo se baseia na hipotese de que existem assimetrias na criminalidade conforme as fases do ciclo economico segundo Mocan & Bali (2007). Por meio dos dados do Indice Mineiro de Responsabilidade Social (IRMS) foi estimado um painel dinâmico e encontrou-se que, para crimes contra o patrimonio, existem evidencias de assimetria no ciclo economico de forma que aumentos no desemprego municipal geram um aumento no crime municipal menor que as quedas no mesmo quando da reducao do desemprego. Em outras palavras, criminosos envolvidos em crimes contra o patrimonio tem mais facilidade a voltar ao mercado de trabalho legal.
Ultrashort Light Pulses

Experimental techniques are now available for the generation of repetitive and single coherent optical pulses of extremely short time duration and high peak power. These pulses should find extensive application in basic and applied research. Additional shortening of optical pulse durations can be obtained by means of the stimulated Raman effect, second-harmonic generation, or amplification with nonlinear laser amplifiers.
Renal and Nonrenal 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D‐1α‐Hydroxylases and Their Clinical Significance

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the most biologically active metabolite of vitamin D, is synthesized in the proximal renal tubule from 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) by the enzyme 25(OH)D-1a-hydroxylase. Synthesis is enhanced by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and insulin-like growth factor-I and is inhibited by calcium and phosphorus. 25(OH)D-1a-hydroxylase, a member of the cytochrome P450 enzyme family, was recently cloned from kidneys of mice lacking the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and kidneys of rats with vitamin D deficiency and found to contain hemeand sterol-binding domains and to have some homology with rat vitamin D-25-hydroxylase and rat 25(OH)D-24-hydroxylase. 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)D are converted to 24,25(OH)2D and 1,24,25(OH)3D, respectively, by the enzyme 25(OH)D24-hydroxylase, and 1,25(OH)2D is ultimately converted by a degradative pathway to more polar metabolites including calcitroic acid. 1,25(OH)2D3 induces 25(OH)D-24hydroxylase, and studies in 25(OH)D-24-hydroxylase knockout mice indicate that 25(OH)D-24-hydroxylase is the major degrading enzyme for vitamin D metabolites. Animals lacking 25(OH)D-24-hydroxylase develop hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and nephrocalcinosis and die perinatally as a consequence of increased serum 1,25(OH)2D. (16)
Wave-Radio Transceiver in Realistic UWB Fading Channels

The Wave-Radio Interferometer (WRI) circuit has been considered in several test benches previously as a digital modulator/demodulator. However, none of these test benches considered a realistic channel for the aimed application. In this work, the novel design of a Wave-Radio Interferometer (WRI) transceiver is simulated and tested in an impulse-radio ultrawide band (IR-UWB) test bench. To verify the transceiver performance in a realistic UWB fading channel, the IEEE802.15. 3a standard set by task group 3 for high-rate wireless-personal area networks (WPANs) has been adopted. Based upon the standard specifications, a MATLAB code has been used to generate the channel model for simulations and measurements. In order to reflect the effect of the UWB realistic wireless channel, the impulse response obtained from the code has been imported to a radio channel emulator. By comparison, the simulation and measurement bit-error rate (BER) results demonstrate that the considered transceiver may operate in the aimed design frequency range (3.1-4.1GHz) with a small degradation of about 2.8 dB. The aforementioned inferior difference can be easily compensated by employing better synchronization techniques or channel coding.
Estimating software attributes: some unconventional points of view

Permission to copy: General permission is granted to my professional colleagues to copy and spread this article or parts of it, with full crediting. A copy of translations or other typesettings or quotations or references would be appreciated by the author. Scope I believe that the following principles apply to all quality and resource attributes of any system. I will concentrate my attention on the issue of software system estimation. But, I expect many readers to be equally interested in the application of these principles to design organizational change or to hardware product design.
Hippocampal volume deficits in alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome

Objective: To examine whether the amnesic syndrome of alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome (KS) originates from pathology of the hippocampus and not solely the diencephalon. Methods: The authors studied 5 patients with KS and two comparison groups: 20 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with known bilateral hippocampal volume loss and 36 healthy control subjects. The authors used quantitative MRI to characterize the hippocampus and comparison brain structures (temporal cortex, lateral ventricles, temporal horns, and third ventricle). Results: Relative to healthy control subjects, the KS and AD groups had comparable, significant bilateral hippocampal volume deficits. Although both patient groups also had extensive volume abnormalities in temporal lobe cortical gray matter, temporal horns, and lateral and third ventricles, declarative memory test performance was selectively related to hippocampal volumes in KS and not to any of the comparison volumes. Conclusions: The characteristic memory deficit of Korsakoff’s syndrome involves hippocampal and diencephalic pathology.
Direct tissue analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: practical aspects of sample preparation.

Practical guidelines for the preparation of tissue sections for direct analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry are presented. Techniques for proper sample handling including tissue storage, sectioning and mounting are described. Emphasis is placed on optimizing matrix parameters such as the type of matrix molecule used, matrix concentration, and solvent composition. Several different techniques for matrix application are illustrated. Optimal instrument parameters and the necessity for advanced data analysis approaches with regards to direct tissue analysis are also discussed.
Ultrafast 2D IR spectroscopy of the excess proton in liquid water

How well does water share its protons? Chemists have spent centuries trying to understand what acids look like at the molecular level. It's clear now that water molecules in the liquid accommodate extra protons. Less clear is whether the protons piggyback on individual water molecules (Eigen structure) or find shared accommodation between two at a time (Zundel structure). Thämer et al. acquired time-resolved vibrational spectra across an unusually broad span of the mid-infrared, allowing them to monitor stretches and bends at the same time. Their results imply a more prominent role for the Zundel structure than previously anticipated. Science, this issue p. 78 Time-resolved spectra spanning a broad region of the mid-infrared elucidate how water accommodates the protons in acid. Despite decades of study, the structures adopted to accommodate an excess proton in water and the mechanism by which they interconvert remain elusive. We used ultrafast two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy to investigate protons in aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions. By exciting O–H stretching vibrations and detecting the spectral response throughout the mid-IR region, we observed the interaction between the stretching and bending vibrations characteristic of the flanking waters of the Zundel complex, [H(H2O)2]+, at 3200 and 1760 cm−1, respectively. From time-dependent shifts of the stretch-bend cross peak, we determined a lower limit on the lifetime of this complex of 480 femtoseconds. These results suggest a key role for the Zundel complex in aqueous proton transfer.
L'évaluation des politiques publiques en Europe, culture et futurs

Faire de la diversite une richesse et un atout pour le developpement de l'evaluation des politiques et programmes publics, tel est le parti pris de cet ouvrage. Il fait le point sur les dernieres innovations institutionnelles ou de methodes en matiere d'evaluation en Europe. L'ouvrage rassemble trente-huit communications dont vingt-quatre en francais et quatorze en anglais.
The Determinants of the Duration of Postpartum Sexual Abstinence in West Africa: A Multilevel Analysis

The question of how postpartum sexual abstinence responds to social change in West Africa is important because declines in the practice could increase fertility levels and worsen child and maternal health. This study uses data from the late 1970s in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Cameroon to examine effects of modernization and women’s status on the length of abstinence. The results show that modernization and female status should be associated with declines in abstinence, which could lead to an increase in fertility and deterioration in maternal and child health.
DOES CLINICAL INERTIA VARY BY PERSONALIZED A1C GOAL? A STUDY OF PREDICTORS AND PREVALENCE OF CLINICAL INERTIA IN A U.S. MANAGED CARE SETTING.

Submitted for publication December 7, 2015 Accepted for publication December 16, 2015 From the MedStar Health Research and Diabetes Institutes, Washington, DC. Address correspondence to Michelle F. Magee, MedStar Health Research and Diabetes Institutes MDI, 100 Irving Street NW, EB4114, Washington, DC 20010. E-mail: michelle.f. magee@medstar.net DOI:10.4158/EP151162.CO To purchase reprints of this article, please visit: www.aace. com/reprints. Copyright © 2016 AACE. Abbreviations: A1C = glycated hemoglobin A1C; GLP-1 = glucagonlike peptide-1.
Performance Prediction of Carbon Nanotube Bundle Dipole Antennas

A theoretical investigation is carried out for predicting radiation characteristics of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) bundle dipole antennas based on the distributed circuit parameters and the model of an SWCNT, where the cross section of bundles can be in a circular and a rectangular geometry, respectively. The current distributions in such novel antennas are predicted to investigate the effects of bundle cross-sectional size, tube diameter, tube length, and operating frequency. Furthermore, comparative studies are performed to show the geometry- and frequency-dependent radiation resistance, far-field pattern, and radiation efficiency of some typical bundle dipole antennas, which are numerically confirmed to outperform an SWCNT antenna by 30-40 dB in radiation efficiency.
Effect of Fish Oil on Performance and Blood Indices in Broiler Chicks Immunized with Sheep Erythrocytes

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of fish oil (FO) on growing broilers rendered insusceptible to a disease such as sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) after pre-starter diet. The birds were fed a common control diets, in the pre-starter phase (1 to 7 d), and from d 8 on, two hundred and sixteen birds were assigned to 1-4 dietary groups and received the diets supplemented with 0, 1.5, 3, or 6 % FO, throughout a 35-d growth period. The birds were immunized with SRBC at 15 and 36 d of age. The serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels significantly decreased in the groups treated with fish oil at the age of 41 days (p<0.01). In addition, with increasing levels of FO in the broiler diets, the blood glucose (G) level increased, total protein (TP), albumin (A) and globulin (GL) concentrations decreased. Body weight gain (BWG), daily BWG, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed intake were measured. The FCR were improved in the groups treated with fish oil. Highest final BW, highest daily BW gain, and best FCR were recorded for the 1.5% FO dietary group, followed by 3% FO group (P < 0.01). Therefore, in FO groups, despite of infect broiler with a disease, SRBC as a non-infectious antigen, the growth performance was promote.
Alternatives to allogeneic platelet transfusion

Allogeneic platelet transfusions are widely used for the prevention and treatment of bleeding in thrombocytopenia. Recent evidence suggests platelet transfusions have limited efficacy and are associated with uncertain immunomodulatory risks and concerns about viral or bacterial transmission. Alternatives to transfusion are a well‐recognised tenet of Patient Blood Management, but there has been less focus on different strategies to reduce bleeding risk by comparison to platelet transfusion. Direct alternatives to platelet transfusion include agents to stimulate endogenous platelet production (thrombopoietin mimetics), optimising platelet adhesion to endothelium by treating anaemia or increasing von Willebrand factor levels (desmopressin), increasing formation of cross‐linked fibrinogen (activated recombinant factor VII, fibrinogen concentrate or recombinant factor XIII), decreasing fibrinolysis (tranexamic acid or epsilon aminocaproic acid) or using artificial or modified platelets (cryopreserved platelets, lyophilised platelets, haemostatic particles, liposomes, engineered nanoparticles or infusible platelet membranes). The evidence base to support the use of these alternatives is variable, but an area of active research. Much of the current randomised controlled trial focus is on evaluation of the use of thrombopoietin mimetics and anti‐fibrinolytics. It is also recognised that one alternative strategy to platelet transfusion is choosing not to transfuse at all.
UV imaging reveals facial areas that are prone to skin cancer are disproportionately missed during sunscreen application

Application of sunscreen is a widely used mechanism for protecting skin from the harmful effects of UV light. However, protection can only be achieved through effective application, and areas that are routinely missed are likely at increased risk of UV damage. Here we sought to determine if specific areas of the face are missed during routine sunscreen application, and whether provision of public health information is sufficient to improve coverage. To investigate this, 57 participants were imaged with a UV sensitive camera before and after sunscreen application: first visit; minimal pre-instruction, second visit; provided with a public health information statement. Images were scored using a custom automated image analysis process designed to identify areas of high UV reflectance, i.e. missed during sunscreen application, and analysed for 5% significance. Analyses revealed eyelid and periorbital regions to be disproportionately missed during routine sunscreen application (median 14% missed in eyelid region vs 7% in rest of face, p<0.01). Provision of health information caused a significant improvement in coverage to eyelid areas in general however, the medial canthal area was still frequently missed. These data reveal that a public health announcement-type intervention could be effective at improving coverage of high risk areas of the face, however high risk areas are likely to remain unprotected therefore other mechanisms of sun protection should be widely promoted such as UV blocking sunglasses.
The association between surgical complications and the POSSUM score in head and neck reconstruction: a retrospective single-center study

Abstract The Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM) is widely used to predict surgical complications affecting various organs. However, there are few reports about objective evaluation methods for head and neck surgery. In this study, we retrospectively examined the association between POSSUM score and actual surgical complications of head and neck reconstruction surgery. In total, 711 patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction after cancer extirpation between January 2007 and January 2015 were studied. The predicted risk of complications was calculated using the POSSUM score and compared with the actual rate of perioperative complications. Perioperative complications occurred in 178 (25%) patients, comprising systemic complications in 52 (7%) patients, surgical site infection of the head and neck area in 78 (11%) patients and failure of the free flap in 55 (8.8%) patients. When patients were divided into a perioperative complication group and a no-complication group, a significant difference between the two groups was observed in the predicted postoperative rate calculated from the POSSUM score (p < .0001, odds ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 1.02–1.04). Furthermore, the cutoff value of the POSSUM score calculated from the receiver operating characteristic curve using Youden’s index was 43.0%. POSSUM is a useful risk indicator for head and neck reconstruction surgery. It is possible to objectively calculate the prediction level using a standard assessment method without adding burden to any medical facility. Therefore, patients may be considered at high risk for perioperative complications when the POSSUM score is 43.0% or higher.
On the recruitment of smart vehicles for urban sensing

With the abundant on-board resources in intelligent vehicles, they have become major candidates for providing ubiquitous services, including urban sensing. This paper proposes an efficient recruitment scheme for vehicles in urban sensing applications. Our trajectory-based recruitment (TBR) scheme solves the problem of participant selection by considering spatiotemporal availability of participants. The aim of TBR is choosing the minimum number of vehicles that achieve a required level of coverage for the area of interest. TBR utilizes the easy-to-acquire trajectories of the candidate vehicles as indicators of the availability of participants, and applies a minimal-cover greedy algorithm for selection. The basic greedy algorithm is adapted to handle some practical scenarios, including departing vehicles and varying redundancy requirements. The paper also discusses two data acquisition models for retrieving the sensing data (on-demand and unsolicited). Assessment of TBR shows that it achieves high levels of coverage even when vehicles do not stick to their announced trajectories.
How Riskless is 'Riskless' Arbitrage?

In this paper, we challenge the notion that exploiting “riskless” arbitrage is riskless. We show that if rational agents face uncertainty about completing their arbitrage portfolios, then arbitrage is limited even in markets with perfect substitutes and convertibility. We call this phenomenon “execution risk” in arbitrage exploitation. Using a simple model, we demonstrate that this risk arises from the crowding effect of competing arbitrageurs entering the same trade and inﬂicting negative externalities on each other. We argue that the cost of illiquidity and holding inventory are potential negative externalities. Our empirical results provide evidence that support the relevance of execution risk in arbitrage.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging in macaque cortex

THE ability to use fMRI in a monkey model would bridge the gap between the fMRI demonstration of cerebral activation in humans and the cumulative wealth of monkey data on the functional organization of the brain from single electrode mapping, radioisotope and histology studies. We report a new technique for fMRI in an awake co-operative rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) in a conventional clinical 1.5T MR scanner and present the first fMRI images from a macaque. Good resolution, signal-to-noise ratio and BOLD response (2.6–4.6%) have been achieved using the manufacturer's standard volume knee coil. T1 values of macaque gray and white matter (1490 ms, 1010 ms respectively) are higher than human brain, whereas T2 values are lower (55 ms, 48 ms respectively). An MR-compatible design for restraining the monkey is also described, along with a suitable EPI sequence for BOLD images, optimized for monkey T2, with voxel sizes from 29 to 61 μl, and MPRAGE sequence for anatomical studies with 0.8 mm isotropic resolution, optimized for monkey T1.