Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maximum Likelihood Estimation and Dynamic Asset Allocation with Non-Affine Volatility Processes

In this paper we develop an estimation method for extracting non-affine latent stochastic volatility and risk premia from measures of model-free realized and risk-neutral integrated volatility. We estimate non-affine models with nonlinear drift and constant elasticity of variance and we compare them to the popular square-root stochastic volatility model. Our empirical findings are: (1) the square-root model is misspecified; (2) the inclusion of constant elasticity of variance and nonlinear drift captures stylized facts of volatility dynamics; (3) models with linear drift imply an explosive volatility process under the risk-neutral probability measure. To gauge the economic impact of the empirical findings we also study the implications of non-affine specifications on dynamic asset allocation strategies with stochastic volatility. We show that, in contrast to the affine case, non-affine volatility models induce market timing and can generate volatility dynamics which are volatile enough to produce large intertemporal hedging demands.
Outcomes of myocardial infarction in hospitals with percutaneous coronary intervention facilities.

BACKGROUND Despite evidence on the efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with acute myocardial infarction, it is unclear whether patients admitted to hospitals with on-site PCI facilities (herein after, PCI hospitals) have improved outcomes in routine practice. METHODS We compared processes of care, hospital outcomes, and 1-year mortality rate for 1176 consecutive patients admitted to 126 PCI hospitals and 738 patients admitted to 190 non-PCI hospitals in France from November 1 to November 30, 2000. RESULTS Patients admitted to PCI hospitals were more likely to receive evidence-based acute (within 48 hours of admission) and discharge medications and to undergo PCI within 48 hours of admission than those admitted to non-PCI hospitals (54% vs 6.2%; P<.001). Despite comparable rates of in-hospital stroke (0.9% vs 1.1%; P=.75) and reinfarction (1.7% vs 2.5%; P=.25), patients admitted to PCI vs non-PCI hospitals had lower in-hospital (7.5% vs 12%; P=.001) and 1-year (13% vs 20%; P<.001) mortality rates. Admission to PCI hospitals was associated with decreased hazard ratios of mortality after adjusting for baseline characteristics (0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.98) or propensity score (0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.97). Most of the survival benefit of admission to a PCI hospital was explained by the use of PCI and evidence-based discharge medications. CONCLUSIONS In this prospective observational study, admission of patients with acute myocardial infarction to PCI hospitals was associated with greater use of PCI and evidence-based medications and with improved 1-year survival. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that some unmeasured confounding factors might explain the survival benefit of admission to PCI hospitals, our findings support routine use of PCI and evidence-based medications for these patients.
PLL at 2.4 GHz with reduced reference spurs

This paper presents a frequency synthesizer for the frequency of 2.4 GHz, which were designed to present a reduced level of reference frequency spurs. Parts of the synthesizer were fabricated in a standard 0.18 μm CMOS process, whose architecture is based on a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) with an integer divider in the feedback loop and was designed to work with a voltage supply of only 1.8 V. Some building blocks are reused thus the novelty of this paper is presenting a PLL with two new blocks for reducing the magnitude of spurs of the process, e.g., a sample-and-hold circuit and a quantizer circuit (with N quantizing levels). The PLL behaviour was simulated for a few number of levels — N={32, 64, 128} — and for a variety of loop-filters. As showed by the simulations, the quantizations provide an additional reduction of the reference-frequency spurs into the output of the PLL. Moreover, the locking time is kept low even after including the two new circuit blocks in the loop
Correlation of the BRAF V600E mutation in hairy cell leukaemia with morphology, cytochemistry and immunophenotype

Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) has distinct clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features with no recurrent cytogenetic or molecular abnormalities reported until the recent description of the BRAF V600E mutation in patients with classical HCL. The incidence of this mutation was sought in 27 patients with either classical HCL or HCL variant by an allele‐specific PCR approach and findings related to morphology, cytochemistry and immunophenotype. A high degree of correlation was noted between the presence of BRAF V600E and established diagnostic criteria in 26/27 patients with HCL/HCL variant. Detection of the BRAF V600E mutation is therefore a useful adjunct in the differential diagnosis of HCL and HCL variant and highlights the value of a multifaceted approach to the diagnosis of this malignancy.
The Balancing Act: Exploring Scholarship for the Agricultural Leadership Educator.

Today’s leadership educator is housed in a variety of departments across our colleges and universities. As a result, leadership coursework is taught contextually based in multiple disciplines including, but not limited to, business, education, military studies, student affairs, and agriculture (Pennington, 2005). Within colleges of agriculture, leadership offerings include not only coursework, but also minors, majors, and certificate programs (Brown & Fritz, 1994, Fritz & Brown, 1998, Fritz, Townsend, Hoover, Weeks, Carter, & Nietfeldt, 2003, Pennington, 2005, Pennington & Weeks, 2006). A few academic leadership programs in agriculture have enrollments large enough to employ leadership educators devoted solely to the purpose of teaching and studying leadership. However, it is common for leadership educators teaching in the context of agriculture to be academically prepared as agricultural (teacher or extension) educators and then later assigned to teach agricultural leadership. Typically, leadership educators in agricultural departments are agricultural educators, first, and leadership educators, second (Fritz & Brown, 1998, Pennington Weeks, Weeks, Barbuto, & Langone, 2009). For the purposes of this paper, leadership educators teaching within the context of agriculture will be referred to as agricultural leadership educators.
Return Migration

Abstract Immigration to the United States (U.S.) is made for many different reasons, which may be economic, political, or social or any combination of them, and subsequent reverse migration may occur for any of the same reasons. Discussion of immigration and the variety of circumstances attendant to it are wide-ranging, but usually such discussions rely on figures related to migration into the country and overlook, either purposefully or accidentally the fact that return migration has always been a significant movement in this country. This article raises the issue of limited data gathering by the U.S. on reverse migration despite the sizeable amount and quite reliable demographic information on arrivals. Discussions of social services for immigrants, therefore, cannot be considered complete or even competent if they do not include careful consideration of and attention to return migration.
INFLUENZA A VIRUSES ISOLATED FROM WATERFOWL IN TWO WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS OF PENNSYLVANIA

A survey was conducted at two wildlife management areas of Pennsylvania (USA) to evaluate an antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (AC-ELISA) for the detection of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in cloacal swabs from waterfowl and to determine the influenza A virus subtypes and the distribution of these viruses among waterfowl. We collected 330 cloacal swabs from hunter-killed waterfowl in the fall of 1990 and from cage-captured waterfowl in the summer of 1991. Thirty-one hemagglutinating agents were isolated by chicken embryo inoculation (CEI) of which 27 were influenza A viruses and four Newcastle disease viruses (NDV). The prevalence of AIV infection was 8.2%. Compared to CEI, AC-ELISA was only 15% sensitive and 61% specific. Based on the distribution of AIV by species of waterfowl, mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and American wigeons (Anas americana) were at equal risk of AIV infection even though most of the AIV isolates came from mallards. Although significant crude effects of sampling site and season on AIV recovery could be established, juvenile age was identified as the primary risk factor of AIV recovery. Twelve AIV subtypes were identified by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neuraminidase inhibition (NI) tests. The most prevalent subytpes were H4N8 and H6N8. We concluded that AC-ELISA was not useful for the detection of AIV in cloacal swabs from waterfowl and that CEI, HI, and NI tests remain as the method of choice for AIV screening in waterfowl. Based on the results AIV infected preferentially the young which represent the high risk group in waterfowl populations. The results from the AIV subtyping in our waterfowl survey are consistent with the results from numerous longitudinal studies of waterfowl in North America.
Financial decision making in four New Zealand secondary schools

i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1 Rationale 1 Research Questions 2 School Governance, Management and Funding in New Zealand 2 Organisation of the Thesis 6 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 7 Impact of Education Reforms 7 Strategic Management and Resourcing in Schools. 8 Decision Making 12 School Budget 16 Evaluation of Financial Decisions 18 Issues and Challenges 23 Devolution of Financial Decision Making 23 Alignment of Financial Decisions 25 Striving for equitable outcomes 25 Constraints Around Funding 27 Summary 28 CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY 30 The Research Approach 30 Selection of secondary schools 31 Research Methods 32
Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy and Missed Opportunities for Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background High rates of bacterial vaginosis (BV) have been described in nonpregnant South African women. Studies of BV in South African pregnant women are sparse. Diagnosis and prompt treatment of BV in pregnancy are expected to have a positive impact on pregnancy outcomes and HIV prevention. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of BV in pregnant women in a high HIV burden periurban setting in KwaZulu-Natal and explore how to enhance BV diagnosis in this setting where syndromic management of sexually transmitted diseases is the standard of care. Methods In this cross-sectional study, consenting HIV uninfected pregnant women were examined for abnormal vaginal discharge; nurses determined the vaginal pH and collected a vaginal swab for Gram-stain and Nugent scoring. Findings Among 750 HIV uninfected pregnant women, 280 (37.3%; 95%CI 33.9-40.9) tested positive for BV. Using a vaginal pH > 4.4, 65% of women with BV were correctly identified, while an abnormal vaginal discharge correctly identified a significantly lower proportion (52.9%) of women with BV (p=0.005). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of vaginal pH testing were 65.9% (95%CI 60.0 – 71.5%), 61.4% (95%CI 56.8 – 65.9%), and 50.1% and 75.4%, respectively. The 20-24 year-old pregnant women were twice more likely to test positive for BV than the adolescent pregnant women (43.6% vs 21.1%) (p = 0.037) and BV was not associated with the duration of a sexual relationship, frequency of unprotected sex during pregnancy, number of lifetime sex partners, or the partner's age. Conclusion There is a high burden of primarily asymptomatic BV in HIV uninfected pregnant women in this periurban setting. Both the sensitivity and specificity of vaginal pH testing are superior to the symptomatic diagnosis of BV but not good enough to be used as a screening tool.
Endotoxin-Induced Maturation of MyD88-Deficient Dendritic Cells1

LPS, a major component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, can induce a variety of biological responses including cytokine production from macrophages, B cell proliferation, and endotoxin shock. All of them were completely abolished in MyD88-deficient mice, indicating the essential role of MyD88 in LPS signaling. However, MyD88-deficient cells still show activation of NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, although the biological significance of this activation is not clear. In this study, we have examined the effects of LPS on dendritic cells (DCs) from wild-type and several mutant mice. LPS-induced cytokine production from DCs was dependent on MyD88. However, LPS could induce functional maturation of MyD88-deficient DCs, including up-regulation of costimulatory molecules and enhancement of APC activity. MyD88-deficient DCs could not maturate in response to bacterial DNA, the ligand for Toll-like receptor (TLR)9, indicating that MyD88 is differentially required for TLR family signaling. MyD88-dependent and -independent pathways originate at the intracytoplasmic region of TLR4, because both cytokine induction and functional maturation were abolished in DCs from C3H/HeJ mice carrying the point mutation in the region. Finally, in vivo analysis revealed that MyD88-, but not TLR4-, deficient splenic CD11c+ DCs could up-regulate their costimulatory molecule expression in response to LPS. Collectively, the present study provides the first evidence that the MyD88-independent pathway downstrem of TLR4 can lead to functional DC maturation, which is critical for a link between innate and adaptive immunity.
Impact of obesity and the metabolic syndrome on risk factors in African American stroke survivors: a report from the AAASPS.

BACKGROUND The rates of obesity and the metabolic syndrome and the impact on traditional vascular risk factors in African American stroke survivors are unknown. OBJECTIVE To describe the relationships between body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. DESIGN We classified 1711 subjects as underweight (BMI, <18.5), normal (BMI, 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI, 25.0-29.9), or obesity class 1 (BMI, 30.0-34.9), 2 (BMI, 35.0-39.9), or 3 (BMI, >40.0). We compared the proportions with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus and control of these factors by clinical history and results of physical examination and laboratory analysis across BMI groups. SETTING Multicentered clinical trial. PATIENTS African American subjects with previous ischemic stroke. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rates of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, odds ratios (ORs) of associated vascular risk factors at baseline, and relationship to longitudinal risk factor control. RESULTS Overall, 76% were overweight or obese (70% of men and 81% of women). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were all present in 43.3% of men and 29.1% of women with obesity class 3. The ORs for having the metabolic syndrome were 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-3.01) for class 1, 1.92 (95% CI, 1.26-2.91) for class 2, and 1.98 (95% CI, 1.27-3.09) for class 3 obesity. In addition, increasing BMI was negatively associated with systolic (P<.001) and diastolic (P<.001) blood pressure and glycemic control (P<.001). CONCLUSION Our analysis of the data from the African American Antiplatelet Stroke Prevention Study supports the association of increasing risk factor profiles with increasing weight in African American stroke survivors.
Effect of tuber planting depth on yield, quality and profitability of potato (Solanum tuberosum) processing varieties

A field experiment was conducted during 200910 and 201011 at Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Station, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of 3 planting depths (10, 15 and 20 cm) on 2 potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) processing varieties, Kufri Frysona and Kufri Chipsona 1. In both the processing vari- eties, final plant emergence and growth traits (plant height, stem and leaf number/plant) decreased significantly at 20 cm depth of planting. Increase in tuber planting depth increased the depth of tuber setting. Kufri Frysona tu- bers were found little deeper (by 1 cm) than Kufri Chipsona 1. Maximum processing grade (French fry and chip grade) and total tuber number were realized at 10 cm planting depth. The lowest number and yield of green tuber recorded at 20 cm depth of planting. The maximum french fry-grade tuber yield was recorded at 10 cm depth of planting in cv. Kufri Frysona, whereas it was the highest at 15 cm planting depth in Kufri Chipsona 1; however, total tuber yield was the maximum at 10 cm depth of planting in both the varieties. Total tuber yield was signifi- cantly higher in Kufri Frysona than Kufri Chipsona 1 at 10 cm planting depth only. Highest net returns and ben- efit: cost ratio were recorded at 10 cm planting depth and decreased with the increase in planting depth. Similarly, Kufri Frysona recorded higher net returns and benefit: cost ratio than Kufri Chipsona 1, under shallower depths of planting (10 cm and 15 cm). French fry colour was observed best at 10 cm seed tuber depth of planting. Me- dium size (5060 g) seed tuber of processing varieties, Kufri Chipsona 1 and Kufri Frysona may be planted at 10 cm depth of planting for realizing higher processing grade (French fry + chip grade) and total tuber yields, maxi- mum net returns and benefit: cost ratio along with best fry quality.
Oxidant Tone Regulates RANTES Gene Expression in Airway Epithelial Cells Infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) produces intense pulmonary inflammation, in part, through its ability to induce chemokine synthesis in infected airway epithelial cells. RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cells expressed and secreted) is a CC chemokine which recruits and activates monocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, all cell types present in the lung inflammatory infiltrate induced by RSV infection. In this study we investigated the role of reactive oxygen species in the induction of RANTES gene expression in human type II alveolar epithelial cells (A549), following RSV infection. Our results indicate that RSV infection of airway epithelial cells rapidly induces reactive oxygen species production, prior to RANTES expression, as measured by oxidation of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein. Pretreatment of airway epithelial cells with the antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), as well a panel of chemically unrelated antioxidants, blocks RSV-induced RANTES gene expression and protein secretion. This effect is mediated through the ability of BHA to inhibit RSV-induced interferon regulatory factor binding to the RANTES promoter interferon-stimulated responsive element, that is absolutely required for inducible RANTES promoter activation. BHA inhibits de novo interferon regulator factor (IRF)-1 and -7 gene expression and protein synthesis, and IRF-3 nuclear translocation. Together, these data indicates that a redox-sensitive pathway is involved in RSV-induced IRF activation, an event necessary for RANTES gene expression.
Altruism among participants in cancer clinical trials

Background Patients’ motivations for participation in cancer clinical trials are incompletely understood. Even less is known about the factors that influence participants’ motivations for enrolling in trials. Purpose We studied the reasons why adult patients and parents of pediatric patients agree to participate in cancer trials. We focused on the role of altruism across all phases of trial. Methods We surveyed adult patients and parents of pediatric patients participating in phase I, II, or III cancer clinical trials. We asked respondents why they agreed to enroll, and examined correlates of altruistic motivation using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Among 205 adults and 48 parents of children participating in cancer trials, 47% reported that altruistic motivations were ‘very important’ to their decisions to enroll. In multivariate analysis with phase III trial participants as the reference group, phase I trial participants least often identified altruism as a ‘very important’ motivation for enrolling (phase I OR 0.4, 95% CI (confidence interval) 0.2–0.8; phase II OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5–1.5, overall P = 0.017). Thirty-three respondents (13%) reported being motivated primarily by altruism. In multivariate analysis, participants with poor prognoses—defined as an expected 5-year disease-free survival of ≤10%—reported altruism as their primary motivation less often than those with better prognoses (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.5, P = 0.001). Altruistic motivations did not differ between adult patients and parents of pediatric participants. Limitations The data are derived from related academic medical centers in one city, and the study sample reflects limited sociodemographic diversity, thereby limiting generalizability to other settings. Conclusions Although cancer trial participants commonly report that altruism contributed to their decision to enroll, it is rarely their primary motivation for study participation. Participants in early phase trials and those with poor prognoses are least often motivated by altruism.
The emotional distress of asylum seekers in Israel and the characteristics of those seeking psychiatric versus medical help

Israel has become a destination for asylum seekers. Asylum seekers often experience emotional distress, but have limited access to health services and rarely use psychiatric services. This study sought to understand and characterize the use of psychiatric versus medical services by asylum seekers in Israel. We compared the emotional distress, stressful life events and previous treatment consultations of 21 psychiatric service users (PSU) and 55 medical service users (MSU) at the Open Clinic of Physicians for Human Rights in Tel-Aviv. Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Stressful Life Events Scale and the Health Care Utilization Questionnaire. PSU and MSU did not have significantly different levels of emotional distress. PSU reported significantly more stressful life events during the past year than MSU (M = 5.81, SD 3.47 vs. M = 3.8, SD 2.35, p < 0.01). In comparison to MSU, PSU utilized more medical (M = 4.33, SD 2.28) and non-medical (M = 2.38, SD 1.92) services (p < 0.001) than MSU. Asylum seekers who consulted multiple treatment agencies in the last year were 1.55 times more likely to seek psychiatric treatment than those who had consulted only a few treatment agencies. Emotional distress in asylum seekers appears to be under-diagnosed in the Open Clinic and under-treated by mental health professionals. To better detect this distress, a thorough screening is recommended at assessment. Collaboration with mental health professionals and community and religious leaders consulted in the past is important and can contribute to good health care outcomes in this population.