Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advanced Fixed Income Portfolio Management: The State of the Art

In "Advanced Fixed Income Portfolio Management", Frank J. Fabozzi and Gifford Fong thoroughly explain the latest strategies and techniques for investing in the fixed income market. They discuss valuation techniques, active strategies, indexing strategies, immunization strategies and cash-flow matching strategies. In addition, they discuss how to measure interest rate risk and yield curve risk. Divided into three sections - Sources and Measurement of Risk, Valuation and Portfolio Management Strategies - the book provides answers for portfolio managers seeking to meet the challenge of active management and asset allocation modeling.
The effects of customization on motivation in an extended study with a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game

Customization is a ubiquitous feature of games and can be perceived as a series of choices that may influence players’ experiences. Opportunities for customization may give users decision-making authority over the technology, enabling them to shape and create their own experiences, as well as provide ways to be a part of a group based on their needs and desires. This study aims to shed more light on the effects customization has on players’ motivation, and investigates how customization as a way of user control affects player motivation within an MMO. A mixed method study was designed with two conditions: customization (n = 33) and no customization (n = 33). Adult participants played Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO), a Massively Multiplayer Online game, for about ten hours over four sessions. Data was collected through surveys, interviews and observations. Results showed that players’ desire to replay the game increased over time, and customization affected players’ motivation positively. Findings are discussed through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985).
Transcriptomic Characterization of Temperature Stress Responses in Larval Zebrafish

Temperature influences nearly all biochemical, physiological and life history activities of fish, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the temperature acclimation remains largely unknown. Previous studies have identified many temperature-regulated genes in adult tissues; however, the transcriptional responses of fish larvae to temperature stress are not well understood. In this study, we characterized the transcriptional responses in larval zebrafish exposed to cold or heat stress using microarray analysis. In comparison with genes expressed in the control at 28°C, a total of 2680 genes were found to be affected in 96 hpf larvae exposed to cold (16°C) or heat (34°C) for 2 and 48h and most of these genes were expressed in a temperature-specific and temporally regulated manner. Bioinformatic analysis identified multiple temperature-regulated biological processes and pathways. Biological processes overrepresented among the earliest genes induced by temperature stress include regulation of transcription, nucleosome assembly, chromatin organization and protein folding. However, processes such as RNA processing, cellular metal ion homeostasis and protein transport and were enriched in genes up-regulated under cold exposure for 48 h. Pathways such as mTOR signalling, p53 signalling and circadian rhythm were enriched among cold-induced genes, while adipocytokine signalling, protein export and arginine and praline metabolism were enriched among heat-induced genes. Although most of these biological processes and pathways were specifically regulated by cold or heat, common responses to both cold and heat stresses were also found. Thus, these findings provide new interesting clues for elucidation of mechanisms underlying the temperature acclimation in fish.
A dichotomy theorem for constraint satisfaction problems on a 3-element set

The Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) provides a common framework for many combinatorial problems. The general CSP is known to be NP-complete; however, certain restrictions on a possible form of constraints may affect the complexity and lead to tractable problem classes. There is, therefore, a fundamental research direction, aiming to separate those subclasses of the CSP that are tractable and those which remain NP-complete.Schaefer gave an exhaustive solution of this problem for the CSP on a 2-element domain. In this article, we generalise this result to a classification of the complexity of the CSP on a 3-element domain. The main result states that every subproblem of the CSP is either tractable or NP-complete, and the criterion separating them is that conjectured in Bulatov et al. [2005] and Bulatov and Jeavons [2001b]. We also characterize those subproblems for which standard constraint propagation techniques provide a decision procedure. Finally, we exhibit a polynomial time algorithm which, for a given set of allowed constraints, outputs if this set gives rise to a tractable problem class. To obtain the main result and the algorithm, we extensively use the algebraic technique for the CSP developed in Jeavons [1998b], Bulatov et al.[2005], and Bulatov and Jeavons [2001b].
The Right Hemisphere Planum Temporale Supports Enhanced Visual Motion Detection Ability in Deaf People: Evidence from Cortical Thickness

After sensory loss, the deprived cortex can reorganize to process information from the remaining modalities, a phenomenon known as cross-modal reorganization. In blind people this cross-modal processing supports compensatory behavioural enhancements in the nondeprived modalities. Deaf people also show some compensatory visual enhancements, but a direct relationship between these abilities and cross-modally reorganized auditory cortex has only been established in an animal model, the congenitally deaf cat, and not in humans. Using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, we measured cortical thickness in the planum temporale, Heschl's gyrus and sulcus, the middle temporal area MT+, and the calcarine sulcus, in early-deaf persons. We tested for a correlation between this measure and visual motion detection thresholds, a visual function where deaf people show enhancements as compared to hearing. We found that the cortical thickness of a region in the right hemisphere planum temporale, typically an auditory region, was greater in deaf individuals with better visual motion detection thresholds. This same region has previously been implicated in functional imaging studies as important for functional reorganization. The structure-behaviour correlation observed here demonstrates this area's involvement in compensatory vision and indicates an anatomical correlate, increased cortical thickness, of cross-modal plasticity.
Lipschitz geometry of curves and surfaces definable in o-minimal structures

Metric geometry of singular spaces recently became one of the most important parts of Real Algebraic and Analytic Geometry. The investigations on this direction can be divided into two wide parts. The first one works with invariants under isometries. Investigations of L. Bröcker and A.Bernig (see [6],[7]) are devoted to the different notions of curvature on singular definable spaces. Another part of this direction is to study bi-Lipschitz invariants. Bi-Lipschitz equivalence classes of singular spaces are much more wide than the classes of isometric singular spaces. That is why one can expect to have a complete solution of the problem of Lipschitz classification. This problem appears naturally in Singularity Theory and in classical Differential Geometry. T.Mostowski [15] studied a question of ”tameness” of this problem for complex algebraic sets. He proved that, for any finite dimensional analytic family, the set of equivalence classes (according to a bi-Lipschitz equivalence) is finite. Later this result was generalized by A.Parusinski to semialgebraic and subanalytic sets [17]. However, these finiteness results are ”existence theorems” and do not give any key to resolve a classification problem. For germs of semialgebraic and subanalytic curves (one-dimensional semialgebraic and subanalytic sets), the problem of bi-Lipschitz classification was completely solved in [3]. The main result of [3] is that a Lipschitz equivalence class of a curve is totally determined by orders of contact of all pairs of branches. The paper [1] is devoted to a bi-Lipschitz classification of 2-dimensional semialgebraic or subanalytic sets. The
Equity and inclusion in physical education and sport : contemporary issues for teachers, trainees, and practitioners

Introduction 1. Social Inclusion in Physical Education and Sport: Themes and Perspectives for Practitioners 2. Curriculum Planning for Inclusion in Physical Education 3. 'Other People Matter': Contesting Control and Dominations in Physical Education and Sport 4. Special Educational Needs and National Needs and National Curriculum Physical Education 5. Reflections on the Mixed and Single-Sex PE Debate 6. There's Nothing Queer about Difference: Challenging Heterosexim and Homophobia in Physical Education 7. C'mon PE(TE) it's Time to get Changed for Dance 8. Sport and Social Inclusion Across Religious and Ethnic Divisions: A Case of Football in Israel 9. 'Race', Racism and Education: Racial Stereotypes I Physical Education and School Sport 10. Class, Inequality and the Body in Physical Education 11. Accreditation in Physical Education: Meeting the needs and interests of pupils in Key Stage Four 12. 'Sport Through Education? ' Issues for Schools and Sports Development
High levels of genetic differentiation and selfing in the Brazilian cerrado fruit tree Dipteryx alata Vog. (Fabaceae)

Dipteryx alata is a native fruit tree species of the cerrado (Brazilian savanna) that has great economic potential because of its multiple uses. Knowledge of how the genetic variability of this species is organized within and among populations would be useful for genetic conservation and breeding programs. We used nine simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers developed for Dipteryx odorata to evaluate the genetic structure of three populations of D. alata located in central Brazil based on a leaf sample analysis from 101 adults. The outcrossing rate was evaluated using 300 open-pollinated offspring from 25 seed-trees. Pollen dispersal was measured by parentage analysis. We used spatial genetic structure (SGS) to test the minimal distance for harvesting seeds in conservation and breeding programs. Our data indicate that the populations studied had a high degree of genetic diversity and population structure, as suggested by the high level of divergence among populations . The estimated outcrossing rate suggested a mixed mating system, and the intrapopulation fixation index was influenced by SGS. We conclude that seed harvesting for genetic conservation and breeding programs requires a minimum distance between trees of 196 m to avoid collecting seeds from related seed-trees.
Expression of Protein Kinase C Inhibitor Blocks Cerebellar Long-Term Depression without Affecting Purkinje Cell Excitability in Alert Mice

A longstanding but still controversial hypothesis is that long-term depression (LTD) of parallel fiber–Purkinje cell synapses in the cerebellum embodies part of the neuronal information storage required for associative motor learning. Transgenic mice in which LTD is blocked by Purkinje cell-specific inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) (L7-PKCI mutants) do indeed show impaired adaptation of their vestibulo-ocular reflex, whereas the dynamics of their eye movement performance are unaffected. However, because L7-PKCI mutants have a persistent multiple climbing fiber innervation at least until 35 d of age and because the baseline discharge of the Purkinje cells in the L7-PKCI mutants is unknown, factors other than a blockage of LTD induction itself may underlie their impaired motor learning. We therefore investigated the spontaneous discharge of Purkinje cells in alert adult L7-PKCI mice as well as their multiple climbing fiber innervation beyond the age of 3 months. We found that the simple spike and complex spike-firing properties (such as mean firing rate, interspike interval, and spike count variability), oscillations, and climbing fiber pause in the L7-PKCI mutants were indistinguishable from those in their wild-type littermates. In addition, we found that multiple climbing fiber innervation does not occur in cerebellar slices obtained from 3- to 6-month-old mutants. These data indicate (1) that neither PKC inhibition nor the subsequent blockage of LTD induction disturbs the spontaneous discharge of Purkinje cells in alert mice, (2) that Purkinje cell-specific inhibition of PKC detains rather than prevents the developmental conversion from multiple to mono-innervation of Purkinje cells by climbing fibers, and (3) that as a consequence the impaired motor learning as observed in older adult L7-PKCI mutants cannot be attributable either to a disturbance in the baseline simple spike and complex spike activities of their Purkinje cells or to a persistent multiple climbing fiber innervation. We conclude that cerebellar LTD is probably one of the major mechanisms underlying motor learning, but that deficits in LTD induction and motor learning as observed in the L7-PKCI mutants may only be reflected in differences of the Purkinje cell signals during and/or directly after training.
p-Adic Structure of the Genetic Code

The genetic code is connection between 64 codons, which are building blocks of the genes, and 20 amino acids, which are building blocks of the proteins. In addition to coding amino acids, a few codons code stop signal, which is at the end of genes, i.e. it terminates process of protein synthesis. This article is a review of simple modelling of the genetic code and related subjects by concept of p-adic distance. It also contains some new results. In particular, the article presents appropriate structure of the codon space, degeneration and possible evolution of the genetic code. p-Adic modelling of the genetic code is viewed as the first step in further application of p-adic tools in the information sector of life science.
Impact of Social Influence on Entrepreneurs to Use e-Commerce in Saudi Arabia

The rapid evolution of technology along with the availability of relevant information and knowledge are key drivers for increasing productivity and improving standards of living and economic growth. The Internet revolutionised how organisations operate and perform around the world; it is used in multiple ways, including sharing information, communicating information, providing information, obtaining information, and collaborating with others. One application of the Internet nowadays is electronic commerce (e-commerce). Entrepreneur could benefit from e-commerce technologies to run the business in a cost-effective and efficient way. This paper seeks to study the impact of social influence on entrepreneurs attention to use e-commerce technology in Saudi Arabia context using TAM. Keywords— e-commerce, entrepreneur, TAM, Saudi Arabia, social influence.
A Structured RNA Motif Is Involved in Correct Placement of the tRNA3Lys Primer onto the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Genome

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcription is primed by the cellular tRNA3 Lys molecule that binds with its 3′-terminal 18 nucleotides to the fully complementary primer-binding site (PBS) on the viral RNA genome. Besides this complementarity, annealing of the primer may be stimulated by additional base-pairing interactions between other parts of the tRNA molecule and viral sequences flanking the PBS. According to the RNA secondary structure model of the HIV-1 leader region, part of the PBS sequence is involved in base pairing to form a small stem-loop structure, termed the U5-PBS hairpin. This hairpin may be involved in the process of reverse transcription. To study the role of the U5-PBS hairpin in the viral replication cycle, we introduced mutations in the U5 region that affect the stability of this structured RNA motif. Stabilization and destabilization of the hairpin significantly inhibited virus replication. Upon prolonged culturing of the virus mutant with the stabilized hairpin, revertant viruses were obtained with additional mutations that restore the thermodynamic stability of the U5-PBS hairpin. The thermodynamic stability of the U5-PBS hairpin apparently has to stay within narrow limits for efficient HIV-1 replication. Transient transfection experiments demonstrated that transcription of the proviral genomes, translation of the viral mRNAs, and assembly of the virions with a normal RNA content is not affected by the mutations within the U5-PBS hairpin. We show that stabilization of the hairpin reduced the amount of tRNA primer that is annealed to the PBS. Destabilization of the hairpin did not affect tRNA annealing, but the viral RNA-tRNA complex was less stable. These results suggest that the U5-PBS hairpin is involved in correct placement of the tRNA primer on the viral genome. The analysis of virus mutants and revertants and the RNA structure probing experiments presented in this study are consistent with the existence of the U5-PBS hairpin as predicted in the RNA secondary structure model.
β-elemene inhibited expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 through activation of ERK1/2 and AMPKα signalling pathways in human lung cancer cells: the role of Sp1

β‐elemene, a compound derived from Rhizoma zedoariae, is a promising new plant‐derived drug with broad‐spectrum anticancer activity. However, the underlying mechanism by which this agent inhibits human lung cancer cell growth has not been well elucidated. In this study, we showed that β‐elemene inhibits human non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell growth, and increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt and AMPKα. Moreover, β‐elemene inhibited expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), which was not observed in the presence of the specific inhibitors of ERK (PD98059) or AMPK (compound C). Overexpression of DNMT1 reversed the effect of β‐elemene on cell growth. Interestingly, metformin not only reversed the effect of β‐elemene on phosphorylation of Akt but also strengthened the β‐elemene‐reduced DNMT1. In addition, β‐elemene suppressed Sp1 protein expression, which was eliminated by either ERK1/2 or AMPK inhibitor. Conversely, overexpression of Sp1 antagonized the effect of β‐elemene on DNMT1 protein expression and cell growth. Taken together, our results show that β‐elemene inhibits NSCLC cell growth via ERK1/2‐ and AMPKα‐mediated inhibition of transcription factor Sp1, followed by reduction in DNMT1 protein expression. Metformin augments the effect of β‐elemene by blockade of Akt signalling and additively inhibition of DNMT1 protein expression. The reciprocal ERK1/2 and AMPKα signalling pathways contribute to the overall responses of β‐elemene. This study reveals a potential novel mechanism by which β‐elemene inhibits growth of NSCLC cells.
Lifestyle integration-gender based stereotypes: a study on Schein‟s career anchors within an ODeL HEI

This article is based on research that examined the differences between the aspirations of females and males in the workplace in terms of Schein‟s career anchors and enablers. The stereotype that females only work to ensure enhanced family lifestyles remains evident in the daily life of all (Hoobler, Lemmon & Wyane, 2014, p. 704; Mihail, 2006). Furthermore the stereotype that males‟ focus is much more ambitious in terms of reaching the highest managerial achievement/technical/ functional competence is regarded as a reality within society (Hoobler, Lemmon & Wyane, 2014, p. 704; Mihail, 2006). Insight into the question whether females work to live or live to work was investigated and this article reports on the differences between females and males regarding their work life ambitions. The data resulted from a quantitative research approach and the population consisted of 4 200 employees within an Open Distance electronic Learning (ODeL) Higher Education Institution (HEI) in South Africa. The focus was on the composition of a structured career conversation framework, using the original Schein career anchors (Schein, 1978; 1990; 1996) and the three-factor career-enabler model, developed by Grobler, Bezuidenhout and Rudolph (2014). Descriptive statistics, chi-square statistics as well as independent t-test analysis was used to identify the differences between genders with regard to career anchors and career enablers in different career stages. The results of the analysis illustrated that females focus more on the autonomy/independence- and lifestyle integration career anchors than males in the first 3 years of employment, thereafter their focus remains more on the lifestyle integration career anchor than males. Males however focus more on the general managerial career anchor in the first 3 years of their careers than women; and after 3 years males‟ focus moves more to the entrepreneurial creativity career anchor. The reported differences between females and males bring forth further research questions worthwhile investigating – the difference between academic versus support female staff and the situation in other business environments.
Impact of Partial and Comprehensive Smoke-Free Regulations on Indoor Air Quality in Bars

In Korea, smoke-free regulations have been gradually implemented in bars based on venue size. Smoking bans were implemented in 2013 for bars ≥150 m2, in 2014 for bars ≥100 m2, and in 2015 for bars of all sizes. The purpose of this study was to determine indoor fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations in bars before and after implementation of the smoke-free policies based on venue size. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations were measured with real-time aerosol monitors at four time points: (1) pre-regulation (n = 75); (2) after implementing the ban in bars ≥150 m2 (n = 75); (3) after implementing the ban in bars ≥100 m2 (n = 107); and (4) when all bars were smoke-free (n = 79). Our results showed that the geometric mean of the indoor PM2.5 concentrations of all bars decreased from 98.4 μg/m3 pre-regulation to 79.5, 42.9, and 26.6 μg/m3 after the ban on smoking in bars ≥150 m2, ≥100 m2, and all bars, respectively. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations in bars of each size decreased only after the corresponding regulations were implemented. Although smoking was not observed in Seoul bars after smoking was banned in all bars, smoking was observed in 4 of 21 bars in Changwon. Our study concludes that the greatest decrease in PM2.5 concentrations in bars was observed after the regulation covering all bars was implemented. However, despite the comprehensive ban, smoking was observed in bars in Changwon. Strict compliance with the regulations is needed to improve indoor air quality further.
Optimum Pixel Expansions for Threshold Visual Secret Sharing Schemes

The optimal pixel expansion of an (n, n) visual cryptographic scheme (VCS) was proven as 2n-1 in 1995; and that of a (2, n)-VCS was proposed in 2002. Yet, most existing best pixel expansions of (k, n)-VCSs for k ≥ 3 have not been improved since 1996. Whether they are already optimal, and if not how to find the optimums have never been explored. In this paper, we model the minimization of the pixel expansion in a (k, n)-VCS into an integer linear program to acquire the optimum solution. Computational results demonstrate that our integer linear program is simple, effective to obtain the optimum solution and flexible for coping with various types of (k, n)-VCSs.