Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parametric Properties of Semi-Nonparametric Distributions, with Applications to Option Valuation

We derive the statistical properties of the semi-nonparametric (SNP) densities of Gallant and Nychka (1987). We show that these densities, which are always positive, are more flexible than truncated Gram–Charlier expansions with positivity restrictions. We use the SNP densities for financial derivatives valuation. We relate real and risk-neutral measures, obtain closed-form prices for European options, and analyze the semiparametric properties of our pricing model. In an empirical application to S&P500 index options, we compare our model to the standard and Practitioner's Black–Scholes formulas, truncated expansions, and the Generalized Beta and Variance Gamma models.
Social interactions and information dynamics in self-employment in Mexico City

Este ensayo propone que las actividades de autoempleo en la ciudad de Mexico estan sujetas a efectos de contagio social. Esto significa que la decision de entrada o salida al autoempleo de un agente esta tambien determinada por el comportamiento de los otros agentes que enfrentan el mismo problema de decision. En particular, la proximidad fisica es un componente significativo para entender como las interacciones sociales influyen en las actividades de autoempleo en la ciudad de Mexico. Este trabajo propone un modelo computacional de interaccion social para entender la dinamica de autoempleo asi como una estrategia de implementacion empirica del modelo.
Explaining Agricultural Personnel's Intrapreneurial Behavior: The Mediating Effects of Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment

This study verified perceived organizational support (POS), psychological empowerment (PE), job satisfaction (JS), organizational commitment (OC) and intrapreneurial behavior (IB) as the research framework. Through a literature review, we examined causal relationships among these variables. The subjects of this study were agricultural personnel of Karaj city, Iran. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and the structural equation modeling. Results showed that agricultural personnel perceived their intrapreneurial behavior (IB) as moderate level (Mean = 3.27). Perceived organizational support (POS) and Job satisfaction (JS) were strong antecedents of organizational commitment (OC) than that of psychological empowerment (PE). Indirect effect of psychological empowerment on organizational commitment via mediating effect of job satisfaction was partially supported. Findings of this study revealed that perceptions of agricultural personnel about their organizational commitment had positive effects on their intrapreneurial behaviors. Overall, results of this study indicated that job satisfaction and organizational commitment were fully mediated the effects of perceived organizational support and psychological empowerment on intrapreneurial behavior. The overarching implication of this study was that capturing the perceptual antecedents could be implemented to foster intrapreneurial behaviors among agricultural personnel. Finally, a number of managerial implications were proposed.
Sensitivity and Variability of Two Plant Water Stress Indicators: Exploring Criteria for Choosing a plant Monitoring Method for Avocado Irrigation Management

El palto (Persea americana Mill.) es una especie frutal altamente sensible al estres hidrico, haciendo el manejo del riego una tarea dificil para los productores. Cuando el riego es inadecuado, los arboles reducen el crecimiento, pierden fruta y sufren dano radical. Este estudio aborda el tema de como evaluar el estres hidrico en palto y las consideraciones para elegir un indicador de estres hidrico de la planta. Este trabajo analizo la sensibilidad y variabilidad de dos indicadores de estres en respuesta al deficit hidrico: potencial hidrico xilematico (SWP) y contraccion maxima diaria del tronco (MDTS). Durante un periodo de alta demanda hidrica, un grupo de arboles de palto establecidos en suelo franco-arcilloso fue sometido a estres hidrico mediante suspension del riego y comparado con arboles control regados segun la evapotranspiracion maxima de cultivo. Durante el estudio, los arboles alcanzaron un SWP minimo de -0.9 MPa y un MDTS maximo de ~ 285 μm. Para entender mejor la respuesta de los arboles al estres hidrico tambien se midio concentracion foliar de acido abscisico, conductancia estomatica, humedad del suelo y deficit de presion de vapor. Los indicadores de estres hidrico mostraron diferencias entre los arboles tratados y control despues de 3 d de tratamiento. Fue posible observar que MDTS fue un indicador mas sensible que SWP, intensidad de la senal de 4.5 vs. 1.2 respectivamente; sin embargo, la mayor variabilidad de MDTS disminuyo su capacidad como indicador de estres, coeficiente de variacion de 32% vs. 9% respectivamente. Este estudio confirma que monitorear el estres hidrico es una herramienta importante para el manejo de riego en palto y que la eleccion del metodo debiera considerar tanto la sensibilidad como la variabilidad del indicador.
OPTIMIZATION OF SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM CINNAMOMUM TAMALA ALONG WITH ITS CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

Essential oil was extracted from leaves of Cinnamomum tamala by four different methods; Traditional hydro distillation (HD), solvent extraction (SE), ultrasonication (US) and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC-CO2). The optimization process was carried out using factorial design and maximum yield (3.64%) of essential oil was obtained at optimum conditions of pressure (200 bar), temperature (55 C) and CO2 flow rate (15 g/min). Essential oil extracted by SC-CO2 was found to be best in quantity and quality. Chemical composition of essential oils obtained from leaves Cinnamomum tamala were analysed by GC/MS and its antioxidant activity was also studied.
Roles and Competencies of Distance Education Tutors in a Public University

This study was conducted to determine the roles and competencies of distance education tutors in public universities. The main objectives of the research were to identify these roles and competencies based on student perceptions, to find out whether there is any significant relationship between selected demographic factors and their roles and competencies as well as to determine whether any gap exists between their required and acquired competencies. The research deployed the survey methodology, where 128 (60.38%) out of 212 respondents completed the distributed questionnaires. The results showed that the “social role” is the most important role for a distance education tutor to perform, while “managerial competencies” are the most important competencies they should possess. The findings indicated that there are significant relationships between the respondents’ gender, the distance between their residences and the learning centre, their level of experience with internet tools, their level of interaction with their tutors outside the tutorial sessions and the roles and competencies of their tutors. The study also found that gaps exist between the required and acquired competencies among distance education tutors, with the biggest gap being in “pedagogical competencies” and the smallest in “social competencies”. Abstrak
Objective: To explore the genotype distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR- HPV) and its attribution to different grades of cervical lesions in rural China, which will contribute to type-specific HPV screening tests and the development of new polyvalent HPV

Objective: To explore the genotype distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus (HRHPV) and its attribution to different grades of cervical lesions in rural China, which will contribute to type-specific HPV screening tests and the development of new polyvalent HPV vaccines among the Chinese population. Methods: One thousand two hundred ninety-two subjects were followed based on the Shanxi Province Cervical Cancer Screening Study I (SPOCCS-I), and screened by HPV DNA testing (hybrid capture® 2 [HC2]), liquid-based cytology (LBC), and if necessary, directed or random colposcopy-guided quadrant biopsies. HPV genotyping with linear inverse probe hybridization (SPF10-PCR-LiPA) was performed in HC2 positive specimens. Attribution of specific HR-HPV type to different grades of cervical lesions was estimated using a fractional contribution approach. Results: After excluding incomplete data, 1,274 women were included in the final statistical analysis. Fifteen point two percent (194/1,274) of women were HR-HPV positive for any of 13 HR-HPV types (HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, and 68) and the most common HR-HPV types were HPV16 (19.1%) and HPV52 (16.5%). The genotypes most frequently detected in HR-HPV-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1) were HPV52 (24.1%), HPV31 (20.7%), HPV16 (13.8%), HPV33 (13.8%), HPV39 (10.3%), and HPV56 (10.3%); in HR-HPV-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+): HPV16 (53.1%), HPV58 (15.6%), HPV33 (12.5%), HPV51 (9.4%), and HPV52 (6.3%). HPV52, 31, 16, 33, 39, and 56 together contributed to 89.7% of HR-HPV-positive CIN1, and HPV16, 33, 58, 51, and 52 together contributed to 87.5% of CIN2+. Conclusion: In summary, we found substantial differences in prevalence and attribution of CINs between different oncogenic HPV types in a rural Chinese population, especially for HPV16, 31, 33, 52, and 58. These differences may be relevant for both clinical management and the design of preventive strategies.
Biotechnology and the Quest for Food Security: Panacea, Panoply or Palliative?

Biotechnology can help confer traits in crops and livestock that enhance yields and quality and reduce costs, often with attendant benefits to the environment. In economic terms biotechnology offers the potential of substantially reducing the research time and costs of genetically enhancing crops and livestock. Biotechnology is viewed as a way of substantially lifting yield potentials in much the same way as conventional breeding did with the dwarfing genes leading to the Green Revolution in rice and wheat in the 1960s. To realise this potential for developing countries will require more explicit attention to their priorities and an array of complementary investments and policies. These include an increased focus on ‘orphan crops’ and traits of particular relevance to the poor and food insecure, and on more marginal environments. In addition these will require enabling policies and enhanced public agricultural R&D investments that will facilitate publicprivate partnerships in developing countries. Substantial increases in other multi-sectoral investments are also required if child malnutrition, the most insidious form of food and nutrition insecurity is to be meaningfully reduced. Increased food production alone, even aided and abetted by biotechnology, will not suffice. Biotechnology alone is not a panacea for achieving food security, or even a panoply. As argued in this paper, at best it is a palliative requiring many complements.
The Jiggly-Signal and Wiggly-Receptor Hypothesis : A Novel Perspective towards Pathogenesis and Aetiology of Metabolic Syndrome

The galloping incidence and alarming prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome has put the human life on the edge of a public health catastrophe. Despite the full-blown epidemic and the daily growing list of clinical and biochemical manifestations of the syndrome, not much has been logically addressed with regard to a comprehensive pathogenesis and an integrated aetiology. What, currently, is discussed about metabolic syndrome is exactly the case of examining a huge elephant in the dark. We would like to shed a faint beam of light onto this perplexing issue, and puzzle out the neglected pieces inside the genuine picture of metabolic syndrome and carry the current concept one big step further. We believe that, the present health tsunamy is not merely a metabolic disorder, but also a real chaos at the level of molecular biology and inter-cellular dialogue; a state of metabolo-proteo-genomic disorder presenting itself as a host of metabolic derangements in addition to a generalized cellular dysapoptosis, causing cell senescence, cell swelling, derailed tissue remodeling and eventually a state of chronic oxidative stress. Opposite to dominant concept of over-feeding and related obesity as the initiating factor of metabolic syndrome, we believe that a worldwide ubiquitous environmental insult has led to a state of profound signal-receptor mal-engagement and misunderstanding with a strange pattern of acquired insulin resistance state, emerging explosively in late 1980s. We would like to suggest that, the centripetal obesity, as the stigma of metabolic syndrome, is the result of this newly emerged insulin resistance and the related compensatory hyperinsulinemia, not rather simplistically the cause of insulin resistance syndrome. In effect, one develops metabolic syndrome first, then becomes centrally obese, not the other way round. As a matter of easily understandable fact, in metabolic syndrome, a powerful lipolytic pairhormone which is GH/IGF-1, is taken over by an obsessed lipogenic substance, that is insulin. Comparable to blowing appearance of metabolic syndrome, we must look for a concurrent, concordant, eruptive and worldwide environmental intruder as the major aetiologic factor, an issue that will be addressed later on. ISSN 2639-9326 Research Article Citation: Tavakolian Arjmand A. The Jiggly-Signal and Wiggly-Receptor Hypothesis: A Novel Perspective towards Pathogenesis and Aetiology of Metabolic Syndrome. Diabetes Complications. 2017; 1(4): 1-7.
Allan variance of time series models for measurement data

The uncertainty of the mean of autocorrelated measurements from a stationary process has been discussed in the literature. However, when the measurements are from a non-stationary process, how to assess their uncertainty remains unresolved. Allan variance or two-sample variance has been used in time and frequency metrology for more than three decades as a substitute for the classical variance to characterize the stability of clocks or frequency standards when the underlying process is a 1/f noise process. However, its applications are related only to the noise models characterized by the power law of the spectral density. In this paper, from the viewpoint of the time domain, we provide a statistical underpinning of the Allan variance for discrete stationary processes, random walk and long-memory processes such as the fractional difference processes including the noise models usually considered in time and frequency metrology. Results show that the Allan variance is a better measure of the process variation than the classical variance of the random walk and the non-stationary fractional difference processes including the 1/f noise.
HYDROMAGNETIC COMBINED CONVECTION FLOW IN A VERTICAL LID-DRIVEN CAVITY WITH INTERNAL HEAT GENERATION OR ABSORPTION

The problem of unsteady, laminar, combined forced-free convection flow in a square cavity in the presence of internal heat generation or absorption and a magnetic field is formulated. Both the top and bottom horizontal walls of the cavity are insulated while the left and right vertical walls are kept at constant and different temperatures. The left vertical wall is moving in its own plane at a constant speed while all other walls are fixed. A uniform magnetic field is applied in the horizontal direction normal to the moving wall. A temperature-dependent heat source or sink is assumed to exist within the cavity. The governing equations and conditions are solved numerically by the finite-volume approach along with the alternating direct implicit (ADI) procedure. Two cases of thermal boundary conditions corresponding to aiding and opposing flows are considered. Comparisons with previously published work are performed and the results are found to be in excellent agreement. A parametric study is conducted and a set of representative graphical results is presented and discussed to illustrate the influence of the physical parameters on the solution.
Isolation and Identification of Filamentous Fungi from Island Livingston, Antarctica

ABSTRACT Over the last decades, the Antarctic regions have been investigated mainly for the presence and exploitation of psychrophilic bacteria and archea, occasionally for algae and more rarely for fungi. The present study reports results concerning the isolation and identification of filamentous fungi from samples of soil taken from Livingston Island, South Shetland Archipelago, West Antarctica. Using conventional media and techniques, all collection sites yielded populations of filamentous fungi, belonging to the phylum Ascomycota (7 genera), Deuteromycota (2), Zygomycota (2) and Basidiomycota (1). Mucor, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium were predominant genera. Lecanicillium, Botrytis, Geomyces, Monodictys and Rhizopus were the most frequently isolated genera. Most of the fungal isolates proved to be cold-tolerant
The effects of the friend networking site MySpace on adolescents' global self esteem

Amanda L. Pietrangelo THE EFFECTS OF THE FRIEND NETWORKING SITE MYSPACE ON ADOLESCENTS' GLOBAL SELF ESTEEM 2007/08 Dr. Frank Epifanio and Dr. Roberta Dihoff Master of Arts in School Psychology The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the popular friend-networking site, MySpace on young adolescents' global self-esteem. The hypothesis of the present study states that adolescents who spend more time on the friend-networking site, MySpace, will experience lower overall self-esteem than their peers who spend either less time on the site, or no time on the site. Further, predictions were made on the basis of gender, suggesting that adolescent girls with adequate access will be more likely to experience these affects than will their male counterparts. Participants in this study were 95 (31 males, 64 females) seventh and eighth grade students from two middle class, suburban communities. The Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (SES) was administered to all participants to measure global self-esteem. A Two-Way between-subjects ANOVA was performed to determine the results of the study. The results revealed that there was no significant relationship between participants' MySpace use and their self-esteem. These results suggest that the amount of time adolescents spend on MySpace does not directly affect their global self-esteem. Results also revealed no differences between genders, suggesting that in the sample population of this study, males and females view themselves in relatively the same way. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures CHAPTER I. The Problem Need Purpose Hypothesis Significance Definitions Assumptions Limitations Overview II. Review of Literature Introduction Psychological Well-Being Self-Disclosure Impression Development Social Interaction III. Methodology Sample Procedures Measures Design iv
From the SelectedWorks of HASSAN MAHDI

The integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into language teaching and learning depends on many factors. Some of these factors are associated with teachers. Teachers play a crucial role in the integration of ICT. This study investigates the impact of teacher's age, experience, and gender on the integration of ICT into language teaching. This study utilized a mixed-method approach of investigation, which applies both qualitative and quantitative methods. The instruments used for data collection were a survey and an interview. The survey was administered to 46 in-service EFL teachers working at Najran University, Saudi Arabia. Ten out of these participants were interviewed. The results indicate that there is no significant difference in using ICT between the two groups of teachers according to their age and experience. However, the results indicate that there is a difference between male and female teachers in using ICT in language teaching. Female teachers reported less use of ICT in their instruction than male teachers. Some suggestions are offered to improve the situation of ICT integration into language learning in EFL contexts.
Improvements and Validation of an Existing LS-DYNA Model of the Knee-Thigh-Hip of a 50 th Percentile Male Including Muscles and Ligaments

A detailed review of an existing LSDYNA finite element (FE) model of the Knee-Thigh-Hip (KTH) of a 50 percentile male was accomplished. The main scope was to refine some aspects of the model for obtaining a more appropriate and biofidelic tool for injury mechanics investigation of the KTH in frontal car crashes. Detailed reviews of this model were performed with regards to material properties of the bone models used for representation of the pelvis, femur and patella. To investigate bone fracture mechanisms due to impact, the erosion material failure method was abandoned in favor of the adoption of a more realistic detection of failure locations using stress contour plots. Qualitative validations of the pelvis and femur bones of the new model were performed against cadaveric specimen tests conducted at University of Michigan Transportation Research Center. In addition, quantitative validations were performed with use of the Roadside Safety Verification and Validation Program (RSVVP), developed to validate numerical models in roadside safety. The approach for these validations was also different. Earlier work had compared the finite element results to the physical test corridors whereas this work used a direct comparison of each finite element validation simulation to a specific corresponding test. Validation of the bone models were based on comparison of the impact forces from contact between the dashboard and knee region of the KTH model. For each case, force simulation results were in good agreement with experiment outcomes, and FE fracture locations matched failure modes from cadaveric tests. Quantitative results indicate that the test and FE time histories can be considered to be the same, and they therefore represent the same impact event. A new validated dynamic representation of ligaments was adopted for prediction of avulsion ligament injuries in high speed frontal automotive collisions when lower extremities are subjected to high strain rates. FE results from ligament avulsion agreed with test data and injury criteria recommended from literature. A different model of the knee patellar tendon was implemented with use of material SEATBELT and the introduction of slip-rings to constrain the patellar tendon to the biomechanically correct line of action. This refined LSDYNA finite element model of the KTH resulted in a more biofidelic representation of the human KTH and represents a suitable and reliable tool for exploration of KTH fracture mechanisms resulting from frontal vehicle crashes.
An Evaluation of the Readability of Drug Trials Snapshots by Sharada Lanka Project

Health outcomes primarily depend on the health literacy of patients. It is important to assess the readability of patient health related materials like prescription information. The objective of this review was to evaluate readability of FDA approved Drug Trials Snapshots in order to determine if they are likely to be useful to consumers and patient advocacy groups. The reading ease and average grade level was measured of 59 currently FDA approved Drug Trials Snapshots and their corresponding Prescription labeling and Medication guides to evaluate the overall readability. The Flesch-Kinkaid Reading Ease test showed that the Snapshots had a higher reading ease than the Prescription labeling (p<0.01), but a lower reading ease than the Medication guides (p<0.01). In terms of the mean average grade level, the Snapshots had a lower grade level than the Prescription labeling (p<0.01) and a higher grade level than the Medication guides (p<0.01). The average grade level of the Snapshots was the 10 grade which does not meet the recommended 6 – 8 grade level. The Drug Trial Snapshots are improvement readability wise in comparison to the Prescription labeling but are not better than the Medication guides. Hence, the Drug Trials Snapshots content may be useful for patients, but it may not be comprehensible for limited literacy patients.