Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges in Marketing Quality Food Products

This special double issue of the Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing is based on a selection of papers that were originally presented during the 105th seminar of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) on International Marketing and International Trade of Quality Food Products. This seminar was held at the Faculty of Agriculture in Bologna on March 8–10, 2007. The 105th EAAE seminar was organized by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Engineering in concurrence with the third meeting of the BEAN-QUORUM project (Building a Euro-Asian Network for Quality, Organic, and Unique food Marketing–TH=Asia-Link=006) funded by the European Union’s Asia-Link Programme. The Asia-Link Programme is dedicated to the promotion of regional and multilateral networking between higher education institutions in EU Member States and South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. The BEAN-QUORUM consortium is composed of five Asian and European universities aiming at setting up long-term relationships and enlarging the initial network to other higher education institutions, companies, governmental bodies, or any other participants in the food industry who are interested in the topic of marketing for quality food. The EAAE seminar raised a good deal of interest. Approximately 100 scholars from 25 countries attended the many plenary and concurrent sessions where 60 contributed papers and posters were presented. The main motivation for this initiative was the increasing relevance for agricultural and food products of the keywords Marketing, International Trade, and Quality in the scientific debate among agricultural economists. These three keywords raise many controversial issues. The word Marketing may be interpreted in many ways by which the specific topic of the agricultural and food marketing may be considered. Quality is a controversial word too. It is apparent that an overall improvement of the quality of agrifood products is a strategic task for agriculture and rural economic development and has become a policy priority. Finally, International Trade, the related actions for its development and regulation, and the magnitude of the traded volumes of commodities within and between the main trade blocks are undoubtedly hot issues. In this context, Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing, 22:203–209, 2010 Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 0897-4438 print=1528-6983 online DOI: 10.1080/08974431003641141
Interaction between oligodendroglia and immune cells: Mitogenic effect of an oligodendrocyte precursor cell line on syngeneic T lymphocytes

We analyzed cellular interactions between T lymphocytes and a recently established immortal glial line, L3 that retains several properties of immature oligo‐dendrocytes (Aloisi et al., J Neurosci Res 27:16–24, 1990). L3 oligodendrocytes (L3‐OL) cannot be induced to express class II antigens, nor do they specifically present antigen to syngeneic specific T lymphocyte. However, L3‐OL strongly enhance the proliferation of freshly activated, interleukin‐2(IL‐2)‐dependent T‐line lymphocytes and concanavalin A (ConA)‐activated lymphoblasts, irrespective of their antigen specificity or surface phenotype (CD4+ or CD8+). Resting and some activated T cells were susceptible to the mitogenic effect of L3‐OL only in the presence of exogenous IL‐2, not of other cytokines. The mitogenic effect of L3‐OL did not depend on cell viability. It was observed in paraformaldehyde‐fixed L3‐OL cells and in membrane preparations, but not in culture supernatant. Neither intact L3‐OL cells nor membrane preparations had direct IL‐2 activity. The conclusion that the mitogenic effect of L3‐OL cells is exerted by membrane structures acting as a costimulatory factor(s) of IL‐2 is supported by the finding that it is largely blocked by a monoclonal anti‐IL‐2 receptor antibody. The effect is distinct from membrane‐bound IL‐1, membrane‐bound tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), IL‐3, or IL‐6 and cannot be reconstituted by these cytokines. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How to evaluate risk for Italian real estate funds

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to define an approach useful to evaluate real estate funds on the specific characteristics of the Italian market and on the basis of international best practices.Design/methodology/approach – The first step is to identify specific factors and portfolio construction choices that could impact directly on the variability of inflows and outflows related to real estate fund. The analysis is realised constructing standard measures of financial and downside risk and identifying a panel model that allows to explain risk measure dynamics on the basis of some investments and portfolio characteristics. Results obtained are tested with an out of sample procedure in order to evaluate the type of misclassification risk related to each model. The second step is to evaluate the impact of debt policy on the risk assumed by a real estate funds. After an analysis of debt sustainability for each real estate unit on the basis of deadlines and amount of flows related to each investment, t.
Rectification for cone-beam projection and backprojection

The purpose of this paper is to derive a technique for accelerating the computation of cone-beam forward and backward projections that are the basic steps of tomographic reconstruction. The cone-beam geometry of C-arm systems is commonly described with projection matrices. Such matrices provide a continuous framework for analyzing the flow of operations needed to compute backprojection for analytical reconstruction, as well as the combination of forward and backward projections for iterative reconstruction. The proposed rectification technique resamples the original data to planes that are aligned with two of the reconstructed volume main axes, so that the original cone-beam geometry can be replaced by a simpler geometry, where succession of plane magnifications are involved only. Rectification generalizes previous independent results to the cone-beam backprojection of preprocessed data as well as to cone-beam iterative reconstruction. The memory access pattern of simple magnifications provides superior predictability and is, therefore, easier to optimize, independently of the choice of the interpolation technique. Rectification is also shown to provide control over interpolation errors through oversampling, allowing tradeoffs between computation speed and precision to be set. Experimental results are provided for linear and nearest neighbor interpolations, based on simulations, as well as phantom and patient data acquired on a digital C-arm system
Essays in Asset Pricing

In the first chapter ``Gold, Platinum, and Expected Stock Returns'', I show that the ratio of gold to platinum prices (GP) reveals variation in risk and proxies for an important economic state variable. GP predicts future stock returns in the time-series and explains variation in average stock returns in the cross-section. GP outperforms existing predictors and similar patterns are found in international markets. GP is persistent and significantly correlated with option-implied tail risk measures. An equilibrium model featuring recursive preferences, time-varying tail risk, and shocks to preferences for gold and platinum can account for the asset pricing dynamics of equity, gold, and platinum markets, and quantitatively explain the return predictability. In the second chapter ``Risk Adjustment and the Temporal Resolution of Uncertainty: Evidence from Options Markets'', we examine risk-neutral probabilities, which are observable from option prices and combine objective probabilities and risk adjustments across economic states. We consider a recursive-utility framework to separately identify objective probabilities and risk adjustments using only observed market prices. We find that a preference for early resolution of uncertainty is important in explaining the cross-section of risk-neutral and objective probabilities in the data. Failure to incorporate a preference for the timing of the resolution of uncertainty (e.g., expected utility models) can significantly overstate the implied probability of, and understate risk compensations for, adverse economic states. In the third chapter ``Volatility-of-Volatility Risk'', we show that time-varying volatility of volatility is a significant risk factor which affects the crosssection and time-series of index and VIX option returns, beyond volatility risk itself. Volatility and volatilityof-volatility movements are identified from index and VIX option prices, and correspond to the VIX and VVIX indices in the data. Delta-hedged returns for index and VIX options are negative on average, and more negative for strategies more exposed to volatility and volatility-of-volatility risks. In the time-series, volatility and volatility of volatility significantly predict delta-hedged returns with a negative sign. The evidence is consistent with a no-arbitrage model featuring time-varying volatility and volatility-of-volatility factors which are negatively priced by investors. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Finance First Advisor Amir Yaron Subject Categories Economics | Finance and Financial Management This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/1065 ESSAYS IN ASSET PRICING
Options and Bubbles

The Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation method involves deriving and solving a partial differential equation (PDE). But this method can generate multiple values for an option. We provide new solutions for the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross (CIR) term structure model, the constant elasticity of variance (CEV) model, and the Heston stochastic volatility model. Multiple solutions reflect asset pricing bubbles, dominated investments, and (possibly infeasible) arbitrages. We provide conditions to rule out bubbles on underlying prices. If they are not satisfied, put-call parity might not hold, American calls have no optimal exercise policy, and lookback calls have infinite value. We clarify a longstanding conjecture of Cox, Ingersoll, and Ross.
Feral Cat Predation and Its Effects on Wildlife-Searching For the Truth

One topic that has become intimately intertwined with the question of how to manage feral cat populations is that of feline predation and the effects on wildlife populations. It is a simple fact, cats are obligate carnivores. For cats, predation is a natural part of life; they must eat meat in order to survive. As Ellen Perry Berkeley so eloquently put it, “It is we who bring emotion to this activity of the cat. ” (Berkeley, 2001)
Human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase. II. Kinetics and chemical modification.

Abstract At an optional magnesium sulfate concentration (5 mm), initial velocity analyses of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) purified from human erythrocytes resulted in parallel lines on double reciprocal plots. A nonparallel pattern was observed at 0.05 mm magnesium sulfate, but only at relatively high 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PP-ribose-P) concentrations. Product inhibition by mononucleotides was competitive with PP-ribose-P and noncompetitive with hypoxanthine. GMP, GDP, and GTP were more inhibitory than IMP. PPi was an effective inhibitor at low magnesium sulfate concentrations but an ineffective inhibitor at high levels of this salt. PPi stimulated exchange between IMP and 14C-hypoxanthine. This exchange was slow as compared with the rate of IMP synthesis, and pyrophosphorolysis was slow as compared with the exchange rate. Binding of 14C-GMP to the free enzyme was shown by Sephadex chromatography. The relative elution patterns of the radioactivity and the enzyme activity suggested that the bulk of the binding was noncovalent. The sulfhydryl reactants, p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide, inactivated the enzyme. Preliminary treatment with PP-ribose-P protected the enzyme against inactivation by these reactants. Preliminary treatment of the enzyme with PP-ribose-P also resulted in an initial burst of IMP synthesis when hypoxanthine was added. Since none of the previously considered mechanisms, ordered sequential and "ping-pong," are entirely consistent with the experimental results, a mechanism involving alternate reaction sequences is considered.
CD62L (L-Selectin) Down-Regulation Does Not Affect Memory T Cell Distribution but Failure to Shed Compromises Anti-Viral Immunity1

The down-regulation of CD62L that accompanies T lymphocyte activation is thought to redirect cells away from lymph nodes to sites of infection. In this study, CD62L was maintained on Ag-activated T cells and their distribution, and ability to clear pathogen from peripheral sites determined. CD62L was down-regulated on Ag-specific CD8 T cells in lungs of C57BL/6 mice but maintained in CD62L transgenic mice at day 8 after influenza infection. However, the numbers of influenza-specific CD8 T cells recruited were similar in CD62L transgenic and C57BL/6 mice. Memory CD8 T cell numbers in the lungs and noninvolved organs 100 days after primary infection were similar in CD62L transgenic and C57BL/6 mice, despite differing CD62L expression. Transgenic mice expressing wild-type CD62L cleared a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing an influenza-derived CD8 T cell epitope as efficiently as C57BL/6 mice. However, transgenic mice expressing a protease resistant mutant of CD62L showed significantly delayed viral clearance, despite normal CTL generation and the presence of CD107a and IFN-γ expressing influenza-specific CD8 T cells. These results demonstrate that CD62L down-regulation is not required for CD8 memory cells to home to sites of infection. However, their ability to clear virus is significantly compromised if CD62L shedding is abrogated.
Bankruptcy Litigation and Relationship Banking

This paper analyzes how bankruptcy litigation affects the value of relationship banking. In our model, bankruptcy courts may make type 1 errors, i.e., they may declare that an insolvent firm is solvent; and they may make type 2 errors, i.e., they may declare that a solvent firm is insolvent. Our model provides four results. First, the cost of bank debt decreases when the probability that bankruptcy courts make type 2 errors increases. Second, the value of relationship banking increases when the probability that bankruptcy courts make type 1 errors increases. Third, the cost of credit intermediation decreases when the probability that bankruptcy courts make type 2 errors increases. Fourth, the diversification mechanism does not fully solve the delegated monitoring problem.
Task‐induced ST segment depression, ectopic beats, and autonomic responses in coronary heart disease patients.

&NA; The relationship between psychologically induced autonomic responses, ST segment depression, and ectopy was examined in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and controls. Both groups underwent a battery of performance tasks and interviews. Performance tasks were selected to yield predictable sympathetic and vagal responses. Autonomic activation in response to stimuli was documented using heart rate, blood pressure, and vascular indices. ST segment depression was observed in a significant portion of the sample. In subjects with CAD, ST segment depression, but not ectopy, was specifically associated with mental arithmetic. In this task, autonomic changes occurred, suggesting beta sympathetic activation. The prevalence of ST segment depression during mental arithmetic declined when a task‐inducing brief, phasic vagal activation was combined with the mental arithmetic. Ectopic beats were not associated with a specific task among either patients or controls. The results supported the importance of psychologically induced autonomic response for the precipitation and inhibition of ST segment depression in patients with CAD.
Household Finances, Well-Being and Subjective Financial Situation: An Empirical Analysis of Household Survey Data

This thesis aims to contribute to the existing literature relating to household finances and well-being by considering three related, yet distinct, topics. Recently, household finances and well-being have received increasing academic attention for numerous reasons, including the recent economic downturn. This thesis aims to explore household finances, well-being and the relationship between them. Chapter 2, the first empirical chapter, investigates the determinants of household financial portfolio allocation in the U.S. by exploring the proportion of total financial assets allocated to four distinct asset categories. The chapter employs a variety of econometric techniques to ascertain whether accounting for the proportional nature of the dependent variables influences the estimated coefficients. The analysis shows that it is important to separate decisions over holding different asset types and the proportions held. Chapter 3 explores the relationship between the household’s financial position and well-being in Britain, Australia and Germany. Building on the existing literature by employing panel data techniques, the analysis suggests that subjective financial position is an important determinant of well-being, while monetary levels of the household’s financial situation have a limited direct impact on well-being. Chapter 4 aims to ascertain the determinants of the subjective financial position and further explores the relationship between the head of household’s subjective financial position and overall life satisfaction in Australia and Germany. It is found that assets and net wealth are positively related to the subjective financial position, whereas debt levels are inversely related. In addition, risk attitudes are found to be an important determinant of subjective financial position. For Australia, once a joint modelling approach is implemented, there is no statistical relationship found between the head of household’s subjective financial position and overall life satisfaction. In Germany, the subjective financial position appears to mediate the relationship between monetary financial measures and overall life satisfaction.
Impact of culture on performance management in developing countries

Argues that performance management techniques and practices developed in US organizations cannot be successful in the developing country context to gain competitive advantage unless the issue of culture‐fit is addressed adequately. “Culture‐fit” can be ensured when managers adopt human resource management strategies to overcome the cultural constraints and build on the strengths of the socio‐cultural environment.
Uncertainty in a Model with Credit Frictions

This paper investigates the relationship between uncertainty and economic activity in a DSGE model with sticky prices and credit frictions. We analyse the effect of a mean preserving shock to the variance of aggregate total factor productivity (macro uncertainty) and we compare it to the effect of a mean preserving shock to the dispersion of entrepreneurs' idiosyncratic productivity (micro uncertainty). We find that micro uncertainty has a larger impact on economic activity. While macro uncertainty is transmitted through precautionary savings, micro uncertainty primarily acts through the cost of external debt and capital demand and, therefore, it is greatly magnified by the credit friction. Our findings suggest that uncertainty shocks can generate sizable impact on economic activity only when transmitted through a credit channel.
Early Detection of Interconnect Degradation by Continuous Monitoring of RF Impedance

Traditional methods used to monitor interconnect reliability are based on measurement of dc resistance. DC resistance is well suited for characterizing electrical continuity, such as identifying an open circuit, but is not useful for detecting a partially degraded interconnect. Degradation of interconnects, such as cracking of solder joints due to fatigue or shock loading, usually initiates at an exterior surface and propagates toward the interior. At frequencies above several hundred megahertz, signal propagation is concentrated at the surface of interconnects, a phenomenon known as the skin effect. Due to the skin effect, RF impedance monitoring offers a more sensitive and reproducible means of sensing interconnect degradation than dc resistance. Since the operation of many types of electronic product requires transmission of signals with significant frequency components in the gigahertz range, this has the further implication that even a small crack at the surface of an interconnect may adversely affect the performance of current and future electronics. This paper demonstrates the value of RF impedance measurements as an early indicator of physical degradation of solder joints as compared to dc-resistance measurements. Mechanical fatigue tests have been conducted with an impedance-controlled circuit board on which a surface mount component was soldered. Simultaneous measurements were performed of dc resistance and time domain reflection coefficient as a measure of RF impedance while the solder joints were stressed. The RF impedance was observed to increase in response to the early stages of cracking of the solder joint while the dc resistance remained constant. Failure analysis revealed that the RF impedance increase resulted from a physical crack, which initiated at the surface of the solder joint and propagated only partway across the solder joint. A comparison between RF impedance and event detectors was made to compare their respective sensitivities in detecting interconnect degradation. These test results indicate that RF impedance can serve as a nondestructive early indicator of solder joint degradation and as an improved means for assessing reliability of high-speed electronics.
Looking past the action : a study of the effects of structure on video game communities

This thesis explores the effects of ludic structure—defined as the elements of game play not considered content—on video game communities. Counter to the focus on video game content and its effects by other scholars, this study argues the importance of the study of game structure and its influences on player interactions. Two games, League of Legends and Puzzle Pirates were examined. I played both games for 20 hours, as well as interviewing four players from each game. Using Laura Ellingson’s (2009) crystallization as a guiding approach, I analyzed the games using both a traditional thematic analysis and personal narratives in an attempt to create a richer dataset from which to draw conclusions. I discovered that one game was more competitively structured (League of Legends), which resulted in more aggressive and negative interactions among players in the community. Puzzle Pirates, on the other hand was more cooperatively structured, which resulted in an open and friendly community of people who were wanting to help each other. I argue that ludic structure does have a significant impact on player interactions, and that game companies should strive for more cooperatively structured games to encourage a positive community of gamers.