Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rituximab induces remission in refractory HCV associated cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis

Objectives: To report the successful induction of remission with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in a patient with hepatitis C virus (HCV) associated cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis and a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) resistant to previously advocated conventional treatments. Case report: The patient was a 45 year old woman with HCV associated cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis, with purpura, arthralgia, constitutional symptoms, and a polyneuropathy. A malignant NHL was found as underlying lymphoproliferative disease. At this stage the disease was refractory to interferon α2b and ribavirin and to subsequent immunosuppressive treatment with cyclophosphamide. Six rituximab infusions targeting the CD20 antigen on cells of the B cell lineage induced remission of the vasculitis. Bone marrow biopsy disclosed absence of the NHL. Remission has subsequently been maintained and HCV eliminated with the new pegylated interferon α2b and ribavirin for nearly one year. Conclusions: Transition of the underlying “benign” lymphoproliferative disease to a malignant lymphoma may result in difficult to treat HCV associated cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis. Rituximab offers a new possibility for inducing remission in refractory HCV associated cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis and the lymphoproliferative disorder. After remission, HCV may subsequently be eliminated with pegylated interferon α2b and ribavirin.
One Trade at a Time -- Unraveling the Equity Premium Puzzle

Financial markets provide a natural quantitative lab for understanding some of the most advanced human behaviours. Among them is the invention and use of mathematical tools known as financial instruments. Besides money, the two most fundamental financial instruments are bonds and equities. More than 30 years ago Mehra and Prescott found the numerical performance of equities relative to government bonds could not be explained by mainstream economics. This empirical observation, known as the Equity Premium Puzzle, has been defying mainstream economics ever since. The recent financial crisis revealed an even deeper need for understanding financial products. We show how understanding the rational nature of product design resolves the Equity Premium Puzzle. In doing so we obtain an experimentally tested theory of product design.
ASSET PRICES IN AN EXCHANGE ECONOMY

THIS PAPER IS A THEORETICAL examination of the stochastic behavior of equilibrium asset prices in a one-good, pure exchange economy with identical consumers. The single good in this economy is (costlessly) produced in a number of different productive units; an asset is a claim to all or part of the output of one of these units. Productivity in each unit fluctuates stochastically through time, so that equilibrium asset prices will fluctuate as well. Our objective will be to understand the relationship between these exogenously determined productivity changes and market determined movements in asset prices. Most of our attention will be focused on the derivation and application of a functional equation in the vector of equilibrium asset prices, which is solved for price as a function of the physical state of the economy. This equation is a generalization of the Martingale property of stochastic price sequences, which serves in practice as the defining characteristic of market "efficiency," as that term is used by Fama [7] and others. The model thus serves as a simple context for examining the conditions under which a price series' failure to possess the Martingale property can be viewed as evidence of non-competitive or "irrational" behavior. The analysis is conducted under the assumption that, in Fama's terms, prices "fully reflect all available information," an hypothesis which Muth [13] had earlier termed "rationality of expectations. " As Muth made clear, this hypothesis (like utility maximization) is not "behavioral": it does not describe the way agents think about their environment, how they learn, process information, and so forth. It is rather a property likely to be (approximately) possessed by the outcome of this unspecified process of learning and adapting. One would feel more comfortable, then, with rational expectations equilibria if these equilibria were accompanied by some form of "stability theory" which illuminated the forces which move an economy toward equilibrium. The present paper also offers a convenient context for discussing this issue. The conclusions of this paper with respect to the Martingale property precisely replicate those reached earlier by LeRoy (in [10] and [11]), and not surprisingly, since the economic reasoning in [10] and the present paper is the same. The
Muscle fibre capillarization is a critical factor in muscle fibre hypertrophy during resistance exercise training in older men

Adequate muscle fibre perfusion is critical for the maintenance of muscle mass; it is essential in the rapid delivery of oxygen, nutrients and growth factors to the muscle, stimulating muscle fibre growth. Muscle fibre capillarization is known to decrease substantially with advancing age. However, whether (relative) low muscle fibre capillarization negatively impacts the muscle hypertrophic response following resistance exercise training in older adults is unknown.
T cell clones specific for hybrid I-A molecules. Discrimination with monoclonal anti-I-A (k) antibodies

Alloreactive and soluble antigen-reactive, I-A-restricted T cell clones were examined for their ability to recognize hybrid I-A antigens. Several clones that recognized hybrid I-A(b)/I-A(k) molecules on (C57BL/6 x A/J)F(1) [(B6A)F(1)] spleen cells were studied. We were able to distinguish clones that recognized hybrid I-A molecules of the A(b)(a)A(k)(β) type from those that recognized A(k)(a)A(b)(β) molecules. We reached this conclusion by considering data from three independent types of experiments. (a) Monoclonal antibodies were used to inhibit T cell stimulation. Antibodies 10.2.16 and H116.32 distinguished two mutually exclusive “families” of T cell clones. One group of clones was inhibited by 10-2.16 and not H116.32, the other group exhibited reciprocal inhibition. (b) T cell proliferation was assayed using antigen-presenting cells from B6.C-H-2(bml2) (bml2) and [bml2 × B10.A(4R)]F(1) mice. Because the bml2 strain has a mutation that results in an altered A(b)(β) polypeptide chain (A(bm12)(β)), we reasoned that clones that could recognize the [bm12 × B 10.A(4R)]F(1) cells were recognizing A(b)(a)A(k)(β) molecules. Alternatively, clones not recognizing [bml2 × B10.A(4R)]F(1) cells had specificity for A(k)(a)A(b)(β) molecules. (c) I-A molecules immunoprecipitated from radiolabeled (B6A)F(1) splenocyte extracts were analyzed by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These experiments confirmed an earlier report that antibody 10.2.16 recognized determinants on the A(k)(β) chain (12). Antibody H116.32 immunoprecipitated products consistent with recognition of A(k)(a) determinants. Taken together, these three types of results offer conclusive evidence that T cell clones recognizing “hybrid” I-A molecules use either A(b(k)A(k)(β) or A(k)(a)A(b)(β) molecules as recognition or restriction sites. Clones whose proliferation was supported by [bm 12 x B10.A(4R)]F(1) cells and blocked by anti-I-A(k) antibody 10-2.16 recognized A(b)(a)A(k)(β) B molecules. Clones that were blocked by antibody H116.32 and did not recognize [bml2 X B10.A(4R)]F(1) cells use a recognition site(s) on A(b)(a)A(k)(β) molecules. Thus, we can demonstrate both functionally and biochemically that hybrid F(1) I-A molecules of the structure A(k)(a)A(b)(β) and A(b)(a)A(k)(β) both exist on (B6A)F(1) splenocytes and that both configurations are used in immune recognition phenomena.
The Behaviour of Producer Prices: Some Evidence from the French PPI Micro Data

This paper provides some new empirical features on price setting behaviour for French producers using micro data underlying the producer and business-services price indices over the period 1994-2005. Some crucial methodological issues on the collection of producer prices are raised. Then, the main features of producers' price setting are presented: producer prices are modified quite frequently and by small amounts. A high heterogeneity across sectors is also observed: business-services prices change less often than industrial producer prices. The data lend some support to predictions of both time- and state-dependence models: Taylor contracts are not unusual but prices also respond to the changes in the firm's economic conditions. Nevertheless, time-dependent models are shown to be the most relevant theories to explain the producer price rigidity.
First Results of a Detection Sensor for the Monitoring of Laying Hens Reared in a Commercial Organic Egg Production Farm Based on the Use of Infrared Technology

The development of a monitoring system to identify the presence of laying hens, in a closed room of a free-range commercial organic egg production farm, was the aim of this study. This monitoring system was based on the infrared (IR) technology and had, as final target, a possible reduction of atmospheric ammonia levels and bacterial load. Tests were carried out for three weeks and involved 7 ISA (Institut de Sélection Animale) brown laying hens. The first 5 days was used to set up the detection sensor, while the other 15 days were used to evaluate the accuracy of the resulting monitoring system, in terms of sensitivity and specificity. The setup procedure included the evaluation of different color background (CB) thresholds, used to discriminate the information contents of the thermographic images. At the end of this procedure, a CB threshold equal to an increase of 3 °C from the floor temperature was chosen, and a cutoff level of 196 colored pixels was identified as the threshold to use to classify a positive case. The results of field tests showed that the developed monitoring system reached a fine detection accuracy (sensitivity = 97.9% and specificity = 94.9%) and the IR technology proved to be a possible solution for the development of a detection sensor necessary to reach the scope of this study.
Tensor dictionary learning with sparse TUCKER decomposition

Dictionary learning algorithms are typically derived for dealing with one or two dimensional signals using vector-matrix operations. Little attention has been paid to the problem of dictionary learning over high dimensional tensor data. We propose a new algorithm for dictionary learning based on tensor factorization using a TUCKER model. In this algorithm, sparseness constraints are applied to the core tensor, of which the n-mode factors are learned from the input data in an alternate minimization manner using gradient descent. Simulations are provided to show the convergence and the reconstruction performance of the proposed algorithm. We also apply our algorithm to the speaker identification problem and compare the discriminative ability of the dictionaries learned with those of TUCKER and K-SVD algorithms. The results show that the classification performance of the dictionaries learned by our proposed algorithm is considerably better as compared to the two state of the art algorithms.
ON BERGE EQUILIBRIUM

Based on the notion of equilibrium of a coalition P relatively to a coalition K, of Berge, Zhukovskii has introduced Berge equilibrium as an alternative solution to Nash equilibrium for non cooperative games in normal form. The essential advantage of this equilibrium is that it does not require negotiation of any player with the remaining players, which is not the case when a game has more than one Nashequilibrium. The problem of existence of Berge equilibrium is more difficult (compared to that of Nash). This paper is a contribution to the problem of existence and computation of Berge equilibrium of a non cooperative game. Indeed, using the g-maximum equality, we establish the existence of a Berge equilibrium of a non-cooperative game in normal form. In addition, we give sufficient conditions for theexistence of a Berge equilibrium which is also a Nash equilibrium. This allows us to get equilibria enjoying the properties of both concepts of solution. Finally, using these results, we provide two methods for the computation of Berge equilibria: the first one computes Berge equilibria; the second one computes Berge equilibria which are also Nash equilibria.
Relative humidity impact on aerosol parameters in a Paris suburban area

Measurements of relative humidity (RH) and aerosol parameters (scattering cross section, size distribu- tions and chemical composition), performed in ambient at- mospheric conditions, have been used to study the influence of relative humidity on aerosol properties. The data were acquired in a suburban area south of Paris, between 18 and 24 July 2000, in the framework of the "Etude et Simulation de la Qualit´ e de l'air en Ile-de-France" (ESQUIF) program. According to the origin of the air masses arriving over the Paris area, the aerosol hygroscopicity is more or less pro- nounced. The aerosol chemical composition data were used as input of a thermodynamic model to simulate the varia- tion of the aerosol water mass content with ambient RH and to determine the main inorganic salt compounds. The cou- pling of observations and modelling reveals the presence of deliquescence processes with hysteresis phenomenon in the hygroscopic growth cycle. Based on the Hmodel, pa- rameterisations of the scattering cross section, the modal ra- dius of the accumulation mode of the size distribution and the aerosol water mass content, as a function of increasing RH, have been assessed. For the first time, a crosscheck of these parameterisations has been performed and shows that the hygroscopic behaviour of the accumulation mode can be coherently characterized by combined optical, size distribu- tion and chemical measurements.
Robust Downlink Power Control in Wireless Cellular Systems

A serious shortcoming of current downlink power control methods is that their performance may be severely degraded when the downlink channel information is known imprecisely at the transmitter. In this paper, a computationally and implementationally simple centralized downlink power control method is proposed for cellular wireless communication systems using code division multiple access (CDMA) or space division multiple access (SDMA). Our method provides a substantially improved robustness against imperfect knowledge of the wireless channel by means of maintaining the required quality of service for the worst-case channel uncertainty. In the SDMA case, the proposed technique can be straightforwardly combined with any of the existing transmit beamforming methods. Simulation results validate substantial robustness improvements achieved by our approach.
Human Resource Management at Work

Course: FOA 214 Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration 15 ECTs University: Malardalen University School of Business, Society and Engineering, Vasteras Authors: Elnaz Aliyari, Elham Ashrafi, Zeinab Sharafi Examiner: Eva Manninen Olsson Tutor: Magnus Linderstrom Research Question: How do Handelsbanken and TeliaSonera utilize key HRM practices such as, attracting, selecting, training, assessment and rewarding and retaining, in order to benefit these practices in terms of company performance? Purpose of Study: In this cross industrial study, key human resource management practices of Handelsbanken and TeliaSonera have been compared to figure out how human resource management practices differ between these two service companies and what the impact of these practices is on the performance of these two companies. Method: A deductive approach has been applied as research strategy. To accomplish the purpose of the topic to be investigated, primary data (collected in a qualitative approach by means of semi structured interviews) and secondary data have formed our empirical findings. The interviews have been conducted with the branch manager of Handelsbanken in Vasteras and the senior business service and operations of TeliaSonera in Stockholm. Utilizing books, articles and the Web have formed our secondary data. Conclusion: To increase the capability of attracting, training and retaining qualified workforces who are encouraged and capable of fulfilling their tasks, can be introduced as a consequence of effective human resource management. Having right employees that are motivated, results in rare workforce turnover, higher profitability, less service cost, great service quality and also the acceptance and accomplishment of organization strategy would be carried out more promptly.
Can Educational Attainment Explain the Rise in Labor Force Participation at Older Ages

The labor force participation of men age 60-74 has increased in recent years. Since reaching a post-World War-II low point in 1993, the share of such older men either working or looking for work jumped about 11 percentage points, from 33 percent in 1993 to 44 percent in 2010. The increase came at a time when changes in the retirement income system provided incentives for career workers to remain in the labor force longer. The share of earnings that Social Security replaced at any given age was falling due to the rise in the program’s Full Retirement Age. Workers could partly or fully offset the decline by retiring later. Workers were also becoming increasingly dependent on 401(k)s for their workplace retirement savings. Unlike traditional (defined-benefit) pension plans, 401(k) plans do not offer strong financial incentives to retire earlier rather than later. Working longer provides more time to save and earn investment income and shortens the time in retirement that must be financed with 401(k) savings. The rise in labor force participation can thus be seen as a response to changes in the retirement income system that reduce benefits available at any given age and reward working longer. The question addressed in this brief is the extent to which the increased educational attainment of older men helps explain their increased participation in the labor force.Educational attainment is a key determinant of worker productivity. Better educated workers are paid more and have more employment opportunities. At older ages they also tend to have better health. An increase in the educational attainment of older men can thus be expected to increase the willingness and ability of older men to work longer. The discussion proceeds as follows. The first section presents data on the rising educational attainment of older men and the closing of the educational gap between older and prime-age men. The second section examines the wages earned by older and younger workers to see whether these educational gains made older men more attractive to employers. The third section reports the results of an analysis assessing the extent to which the rise in educational attainment can explain the rise in participation. The final section concludes that the rise in educational attainment is a significant factor that makes older men more willing and able to remain in the labor force. But the gains in older men’s schooling attainment, both absolutely and relative to attainment of younger workers, are slowing. Therefore, the gains we have seen in labor force participation among older men will probably slow in the near future.
Correlation in diversity systems with Rayleigh fading, shadowing, and power capture

With the growth of wireless personal communications networks and wireless local area networks (WLAN's), the need for increased reliability of the radio link has become evident. The use of diversity techniques, such as dual receiving antennas, helps mitigate the effect of multipath fading in both the in-building and land mobile radio environments. A significant issue in the design of such systems is the degree to which correlation between the two or more diversity signals can be tolerated. In this paper, we consider the use of diversity techniques in radio systems that are subject to correlation. Rayleigh fading, lognormal shadowing, and the radio capture effect. In the presence of two simultaneously transmitting stations, the throughput, conditioned on the local-mean power, is determined exactly for the case of a dual diversity receiving station. The insight gained from the two-station analysis is used to develop an accurate approximation for cases with more than two stations. The degree to which correlation can be tolerated without significant performance loss relative to the case of independent diversity signals is quantified, as are the effects of different system parameters (i.e., the capture ratio, power roll-off coefficient, and the amount of shadowing). Furthermore, the relationship between the envelope and power correlation coefficients is presented. An application of the capture results to the slotted ALOHA protocol is also included.
Rapid Skill Capture in a First-Person Shooter

Various aspects of computer game design, including adaptive elements of game levels, characteristics of “bot” behavior, and player matching in multiplayer games, would ideally be sensitive to a player’s skill level. Yet, while game difficulty and player learning have been explored in the context of games, there has been little work analyzing skill per se, and how this is related to the interaction of a player with the controls of the game—the player’s input. To this end, we present a data set of 476 game logs from over 40 players of a first-person shooter game (Red Eclipse) as a basis of a case study. We then extract features from the keyboard and mouse input and provide an analysis in relation to skill. Finally, we show that a player’s skill can be predicted using less than a minute of their keyboard presses. We suggest that the techniques used here are useful for adapting games to match players’ skill levels rapidly, arguably more rapidly than solutions based on performance averaging such as TrueSkill.
Dynamics in self-regulation: plan execution self-efficacy and mastery of action plans

This study investigated whether an individual's plan execution self-efficacy precedes mastery of the respective action plan or vice versa. Study participants were 122 cardiac rehabilitation patients. Plan execution self-efficacy and mastery of a personal action plan on physical activity were assessed each week for 6 weeks after discharge from rehabilitation. Physical exercise was assessed 2 months after discharge. Multilevel cross-lagged panel analyses resulted in a positive effect of mastery on subsequent self-efficacy, whereas self-efficacy did not predict subsequent mastery at the within-person level. At the between-person level, however, self-efficacy predicted following physical exercise. Thus, the predictive power of self-efficacy was developed in relation to mastery of personal action plans over time. Implications for behavior change interventions are discussed.