Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Term Structure of Interest Rates under Recursive Preferences in Continuous Time Hisashi

This paper proposes a testable continuous-time term-structure model with recursive utility to investigate structural relationships between the real economy and the term structure of real and nominal interest rates. In a representative-agent model with recursive utility and mean-reverting expectations on real output growth and inflation, this paper shows that, if (1) real short-term interest rates are high during economic booms and (2) the agent is comparatively risk-averse (less risk-averse) relative to time-separable utility, then a real yield curve slopes down (slopes up, respectively). Additionally, for the comparatively risk-averse agent, if (3) expected inflation is negatively correlated with the real output and its expected growth, then a nominal yield curve can slope up, regardless of the slope of the real yield curve. ∗Graduate School of Economics, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Corresponding author: Hisashi Nakamura (email: nakamura@e.u-tokyo.ac.jp). We all are thankful to Marco Cagetti, Lars Hansen, Andy Levin, Monika Piazzesi, Tack Yun, and participants of the seminar at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for their valuable comments.
N ov 2 01 2 Context-Free Groups and Their Structure Trees

Let Γ be a connected, locally finite graph of finite tree width and G be a group acting on it with finitely many orbits and finite node stabilizers. We provide an elementary and direct construction of a tree T on which G acts with finitely many orbits and finite vertex stabilizers. Moreover, the tree is defined directly in terms of the structure tree of optimally nested cuts of Γ. Once the tree is constructed, Bass-Serre theory yields that G is virtually free. This approach simplifies the existing proofs for the fundamental result of Muller and Schupp that characterizes context-free groups as f.g. virtually free groups. Our construction avoids the explicit use of Stallings’ structure theorem and it is self-contained. We also give a simplified proof for an important consequence of the structure tree theory by Dicks and Dunwoody which has been stated by Thomassen and Woess. It says that a f.g. group is accessible if and only if its Cayley graph is accessible.
The Functional Roles of the Amygdala and Prefrontal Cortex in Processing Uncertainty

■ Decisions under uncertainty distinguish between those made under risk (known probabilities) and those made under ambiguity (unknown probabilities). Despite widespread interest in decisions under uncertainty and the successful documentation that these distinct psychological constructs profoundly—and differentially—impact behavior, research has not been able to systematically converge on which brain regions are functionally involved in processing risk and ambiguity. We merge a lesion approach with computational modeling and simultaneous measurement of the arousal response to investigate the impact the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC), and amygdala have on decisions under uncertainty. Results reveal that the lPFC acts as a unitary system for processing uncertainty: Lesions to this region disrupted the relationship between arousal and choice, broadly increasing both risk and ambiguity seeking. In contrast, the mPFC and amygdala appeared to play no role in processing risk, and the mPFC only had a tenuous relationship with ambiguous uncertainty. Together, these findings reveal that only the lPFC plays a global role in processing the highly aversive nature of uncertainty. ■
Axial Force Influence on Bolted Extended EndPlate Beam-to-Column Connection Behavior

This paper presents some numerical studies carried out in order to investigate the performance of a bolted extended end-plate beam-to-column connection subjected to combined bending moment and axial force. This investigation utilizes nonlinear finite element modeling techniques using ABAQUS, considering both geometric and material nonlinearities. The aim of the study is to analyze the influence of various levels of axial force, tension or compression, on connection characteristics: moment-rotation curve, connection strength, connection stiffness, distribution of stresses in the connection components, connection failure mode. This study is based on a sensitivity analysis of this type of connection, subjected to bending and axial force, to the variation of some geometric or structural parameters of joint. The performed investigations have shown that axial forces influences the moment resistance of the connection, but its initial stiffness does not change significantly under an additional axial force in the beam.
Pyrolytic Product of Washed and Unwashed Oil Palm Wastes by Slow Thermal Conversion Process

In Malaysia, there are presently 4.3 million hectares of oil palm plantation, which produce over 100 million tonnes of biomass, such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), kernel shells (oil palm shell or OPS) and pressed fruit fibres (PPF) from mills, as well as oil palm fronds (OPF) and oil palm trunks (OPT) from fields. In this work, proximate, ultimate, hydrolysis and heating value analyses were carried out on EFB, OPS and OPF. The results demonstrated that dried unwashed EFB, OPS and OPF have a moisture content of 7.01 mf wt%, 3.44 mf wt% and 8.01 mf wt%, respectively, with high volatile matter of approximately 75–82 mf wt% and ash content of approximately 4 mf wt%. The higher heating values (HHV) of the samples were determined using a bomb calorimeter technique. A simple water washing pre-treatment was also employed to study ash reduction in EFB, OPS and OPF. A high char yield was obtained by slow pyrolysis while minimising liquid and gas yields. It was determined that the carbon content was high for samples with low ash content. Furthermore, the washed and unwashed samples were analysed by thermogravimetric analysis to determine their thermal degradation behaviour.
Marcinkiewicz integrals on product spaces and extrapolation

In this paper, we prove sharp L estimates of Marcinkiewicz integral operators with rough kernels on product spaces. These estimates are used in an extrapolation arguments to obtain some new improved and extended results in Marcinkiewicz integrals. AMS subject classification: Primary 40B20; Secondary 42B25.
BYOD in Higher Education: A Case Study of Kuwait University

One key trend in the educational application of new technologies involves the integration of the “bring your own device” (BYOD) initiative. This study’s objective was to determine the impact and usefulness of a BYOD program for students’ learning and academic excellence at Kuwait University (KU). A quasiexperimental design was employed that compared classroom assessment scores and final grades for control (i.e., non-BYOD) and experimental (BYOD) student groups. The results showed that BYOD intervention had a statistically significant positive effect on students’ learning and achievement, as measured by improvement in test scores, quality of work on projects, and final grades, along with heightening students’ motivation, attitudes, and involvement in the course.
Indo-Italian Joint Research Programme on Seismic Vulnerability of Historical Centres in South India

The recent earthquakes of Bhuj in India (2001) and Umbria-Marche in Italy (1997) have shown how the two countries, represented by a rich, vulnerable architectural heritage built in seismically active environment, are confronted with a common problem. A project proposal submitted to the Governments of India and Italy jointly by the University of Pavia and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras has been approved as a significant bilateral project in the area of cultural heritage, conservation and restoration technologies. The project aims at implementation of a multidisciplinary methodology integrating aspects of seismic hazard, local site response, vulnerability and exposure of historical building stock and a monument, culminating in the estimation of the seismic risk at urban scale. This paper illustrates the objectives and the details of the components of the research programme as well as an update of the activities currently in progress. The project aims at the implementation of a multidisciplinary methodology integrating aspects of seismic hazard, local site response, vulnerability and exposure of building stock culminating in the estimation of the seismic risk at urban scale. The outcome of such an investigation would also prove useful to local authorities for the development of risk mitigation strategies and interventions for risk reduction in architectural heritage. Reliable predictions of damage scenarios will also be useful for post-earthquake emergency management. The project proposal is being funded within the Indo-Italian Programme of Cooperation 2005-2007. 2 STATE OF THE ART OF RESEARCH 2.1 The Indian Earthquake Scenario Indian seismicity is characterised by relatively high frequency of great earthquakes and low frequency of moderate earthquakes. Due to the infrequent nature of moderate earthquakes, the Indian seismic problem often does not receive the due attention. The catalogue of the Indian Meteorological Department lists 1200 known seismic events that have occurred in the country. Of these, 8 are events of M ≥ 8.0, 43 of M 7.0-7.9, 312 of M 6.06. 9 and the rest of M 5.0-5.9 (Arya, 2000). Recent destructive earthquakes in India such as the Killari 1993 (M 6.4), Jabalpur 1997 (M 6.0) and Bhuj 2001 (Mw 7.7) exposed the vulnerability of architectural heritage apart from inadequacies in the seismic risk reduction programmes (Rai et al., 2002). Seismic hazard (Iyengar and Ghosh, 2004) and seismic microzonation studies (Sharma et al., 2004) have recently been carried out for Delhi demonstrating ground motion amplification near the river Yamuna.
Students’ Geometry Skills Viewed from Van Hiele Thinking Level

The background of this study is geometry as one of the essential topics in mathematics. This study aims to know students’ achievement in understanding geometry based on Van Hiele geometry thinking level, which beginning with level 1 (visualization) is to know the name of geometry shapes, level 2 (analysis) that is able to mention the properties of geometry shapes, level 3 (informal deduction) that is capable states a geometry shapes relationship of its components, and level 4 (deduction) that is able to make a deductive conclusion from a statement, this is in accordance with Van Hiele theory. The descriptive qualitative research was used in this study. Van Hiele geometry test was administered, followed by interviews. The subjects of the study were 40 students grade VII in Bandung. The data analysis technique of this study used three stages, that were reducing, displaying, and getting a conclusion of data. The results showed that 30 students or 75% are at level 1 (visualization), 8 students or 20% are at level 2 (analysis), 2 students or 5% are at level 3 (informal deduction) and no students have been able to reach level 4 (deduction) and level 5 (rigor). The characteristics of geometry skills including visual skills, descriptive skills, drawing skills, and logical skills at each level of Van Hiele thinking are different. Students who are at level 3 also master students’ geometry skill in lower level. Based on the results, we suggest that mathematics teachers need to provide more practice questions that reinforce students’ geometry skills.
ublic health value of universal HPV vaccination

Background: The story of Human Papillomavirus vaccination demands reflection not only for its public health impact on the prophylactic management of HPV disease, but also for its relevant economic and social outcomes. Greater than ever data confirm the efficacy and support the urge for effective vaccination plans for both genders before sexual debut. ∗ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: raudisio@doctors.org. uk (R.A. Audisio), icardi@unige.it (G. Icardi), andrea.isidori@uniroma1.it (A.M. Isidori), dr.carlo. liverani@gmail.com (C.A. Liverani), lberto.lombardi@lorenzinifoundation.org (A. Lombardi), luciorm55@gmail.com (L. Mariani), f.mennini@uniroma2.it (F.S. Mennini), avid.mitchell2@bthft.nhs. uk (D.A. Mitchell), andrea.peracino@lorenzinifoundation.org (A. Peracino), sergiopecos@gmail.com (S. Pecorelli), giovanni.rezza@iss.it (G. Rezza), arlo.signorelli@unipr.it (C. Signorelli), giovannivitalirosati@gmail.com (G.V. Rosati), gianvincenzo.zuccotti@unimi.it (G.V. Zuccotti). ttp://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.critrevonc. 2015.07. 015 040-8428/© 2015 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. ARTICLE IN PRESS G Model ONCH-2017; No. of Pages 11 2 R.A. Audisio et al. / Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology xxx (2015) xxx–xxx
CDC 25 A Protein Stability Represents a Previously Unrecognized Target of HER 2 Signaling in Human Breast Cancer : Implication for a Potential Clinical Relevance in Trastuzumab Treatment 1

The CDC25A-CDK2 pathway has been proposed as critical for the oncogenic action of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in mammary epithelial cells. In particular, transgenic expression of CDC25A cooperates with HER2 in promoting mammary tumors, whereas CDC25A hemizygous loss attenuates the HER2-induced tumorigenesis penetrance. On the basis of this evidence of a synergism between HER2 and the cell cycle regulator CDC25A in a mouse model of mammary tumorigenesis, we investigated the role of CDC25A in human HER2-positive breast cancer and its possible implications in therapeutic response. HER2 status and CDC25A expression were assessed in 313 breast cancer patients and we found statistically significant correlation between HER2 and CDC25A (P = .007). Moreover, an HER2-positive breast cancer subgroup with high levels of CDC25A and very aggressive phenotype was identified (P = .005). Importantly, our in vitro studies on breast cancer cell lines showed that the HER2 inhibitor efficacy on cell growth and viability relied also on CDC25A expression and that such inhibition induces CDC25A down-regulation through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway and DNA damage response activation. In line with this observation, we found a statistical significant association between CDC25A overexpression and trastuzumab-combined therapy response rate in two different HER2-positive cohorts of trastuzumab-treated patients in either metastatic or neoadjuvant setting (P = .018 for the metastatic cohort and P = .021 for the neoadjuvant cohort). Our findings highlight a link between HER2 and CDC25A that positively modulates HER2targeted therapy response, suggesting that, in HER2-positive breast cancer patients, CDC25A overexpression affects trastuzumab sensitivity. Neoplasia (2013) 15, 579–590 Introduction Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene amplification and/or protein overexpression characterize 15% to 25% of invasive breast cancers and define a clinically important group of patients [1,2]. The HER2-positive breast cancer group has traditionally been associated with poor prognosis [1,3], but the advent of HER2targeted therapies has changed the natural course of the disease for Address all correspondence to: Maria Giulia Cangi, PhD or Claudio Doglioni, MD, Pathology Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, Milano 20132, Italy. E-mail: cangi.mariagiulia@hsr.it; doglioni.claudio@hsr.it This study was supported by grants from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC) to C.D. and R.M. (MCO10016) and by the Italian Ministry of Health to C.D. and R.M. The authors declare no conflict of interest. These authors contributed equally to this work. Received 6 December 2012; Revised 13 March 2013; Accepted 18 March 2013 Copyright © 2013 Neoplasia Press, Inc. All rights reserved 1522-8002/13/$25.00 DOI 10.1593/neo.122054 www.neoplasia. com Volume 15 Number 6 June 2013 pp. 579–590 579
Verification of Exercise Addiction Inventory for Chinese College Students Based on SEM Model

The reliability and validity of Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) lacks a systematic evaluation when used in China. The aims of this research are to test the reliability and validity of EAI among Chinese college students. A total of 1,601 college students who have been regularly exercising (at least once a week) for a certain period were selected from three colleges as subjects (participants) in this study, including 984 males and 617 females, with ages between 19 and 22 years. Internal consistency, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), test–retest reliability, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to verify the reliability and validity of EAI. Results show the factor loadings of all items were above 0.7. One eigenvalue, which was more than 1, was extracted. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.917. The test–retest reliability was 0.834. The CFA showed that 2/df was 1.01, GFI was 0.996, RMSEA was 0.035, AGFI was 0.991, and both CFI and IFI were 0.999. The exercise addiction rate of the research subjects is 11.3%; the detection rate of male college students is significantly higher than that of female college students (P = 0.011); the longer the continuous participation duration, the more frequent exercise every week, and longer exercise duration each time, the higher the exercise addiction detection rate will be (P<0.001). We conclude that the Chinese version of EAI has good validity and reliability and, therefore, proves to be a reliable instrument for measuring exercise addiction among the Chinese exercisers.
An effective media model for alternating layers of fluids and solids: A special case of the Biot model

By a comparison of both equations and wave fronts, we show that effective models of stratified fluid-solid media can be considered as special cases of the Biot model. Explicit relationships which transform all Biot parameters to the effective media domain are presented. In the case of isotropic or transversely isotropic elastic layers this is just a special case of the transversely isotropic Biot model. However, for the lower symmetry cases more complex Biot models are necessary, and are presented. A model of alternating layers of solids with fluids can be used as a first approximation in representing fractured and porous media. However, use of traditional long-wave equivalent effective media models is not valid. Although this medium is not a strict porous medium (thus enabling the use of Biot theory formulations based on discontinuous pore space), neither are formulations based on monophase elasticity appropriate; even though normal displacements and stresses are continuous across boundaries for both phase, the constitutive equations representing this model are actually two-phase. The effective media model is a transitional model between a completely two-phase model in which all stresses and displacements are different in both phases, unlike in a monophase model where the stresses and displacements are coincident. This transitional character can be seen in the expression of the wave propagation, in particular as a second longitudinal wave propagating along the layers yet absent across lamination, and generating a triangular-shaped wave front. A relationship established between models confirms the longitudinal nature of this front. Additionally, two new features of wave propagation in the anisotropic Biot model are presented. Double loops on the shear wave front with four cusps in one quadrant are now observed. Additionally, the transition from slow longitudinal to shear mode occurs indicating that at orthogonal directions on the same front polarization changes from pure longitudinal to pure shear. These features can be used as potential indicators for the presence of anisotropic porous reservoirs.
Optimization of Culture Conditions for the Production of Lipase from Gliomastix indicus and its Enzymatic Properties

Gliomastix indicus is a novel filamentous fungus which was isolated from a wasteland soil sample collected from Tamil Nadu, India. The strain was tested for the production of extracellular lipase by a submerged fermentation technique and was found to produce 10.6 U/ml lipase activity. The culture conditions were optimized for maximum enzyme production. Parameters such as temperature, incubation period, pH, carbon and nitrogen source were studied. Maximum growth and lipase production were observed after 72 h of incubation at 30°C in culture medium with an initial pH of 7.5. Among the number of oils tested as a carbon source as well as inducer for lipase production, linseed oil at 1% (v/v) resulted in a marked increase in lipase production. Malt extract at 1% was the best nitrogen source. The optimization of various growth parameters resulted in a 2.62-fold increase in lipase activity (27.8 U/ml). Some properties of lipase which are desirable for its industrial applications were characterized. Crude lipase had broad substrate specificity, exhibiting maximal activity with linseed oil as substrate. The enzyme had an optimum temperature of 45°C, with 80% of the maximum activity retained at 45°C. Lipase from G. indicus also exhibited appreciable stability in different organic solvents except n-butanol, suggesting that it has potential to be used in the oil and detergent industries. Among the additives, Ca stimulated lipase activity whereas Mn and Hg had an inhibitory effect. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pulsed Electron Spin Resonance Studies of Atomic Clock Transitions in a Dimer of Cr 7 Mn

Qubits, or quantum bits, rely on a quantum system that can hold any superposition of two states as opposed to just 0 or 1 as with a classical bit. Various systems have been explored as qubit candidates, including photons, trapped atoms, and both nuclear and electron spins. My work focuses on constructing two-qubit systems using dimers of molecular nanomagnets (MNMs), a class of magnetic material that can be chemically engineered to achieve various desired attributes. The focus of our current work, dimers of the MNM Cr7Mn, features clock transitions between multiple spin states that increase the lifetime of the quantum state. We present pulsed electron-spin resonance (ESR) studies of dilute Cr7Mn dimers in loop-gap resonators, including spectroscopic characterization of the dimer as well as progress on implementing two-tone ESR for two-qubit gates.