Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contingent Credit Default Swaps: Accurate and Approximate Pricing

In this paper, we analyze the pricing of contingent credit default swaps (CCDSs), which provide protection against default losses in derivative transactions. In a framework with both asset and interest rate risk, we obtain a meaningful semi-analytical solution for CCDS prices with an interest rate swap as underlying. Our model yields three major contributions.1. CCDSs have several properties that fundamentally differ from those of CDSs, despite the similar nature of the two instruments.2. We propose simple approximate pricing formulas for CCDSs. While the first one only depends on the prices of observable traded assets, i.e., the CDS quote, the value of a swaption and a zero bond, the second approximation formula additionally requires volatility information.3. We find that the approximate formulas work well in practical situations and converge to the true value for a financial institution with low default risk.
Media Sentiment and IPO Underpricing

During an IPO the issuing firm experiences a dramatic visibility shock caused by a large amount of information released to the public. In this context the media play a pivotal role in conveying information to investors who mostly rely on second-hand and simplified news. We argue that the way in which news is presented may shape retail investors' beliefs and in turn drive the demand for share and first-day returns. Based on over 2800 US IPOs and over 27,000 newspaper articles we show that (a) positive tones are positively associated with IPO underpricing; (b) this effect is stronger when news is reported close to the IPO date or (c) by more reputable newspapers.
Response of the seated human body to whole-body vertical vibration: discomfort caused by mechanical shocks

Abstract The frequency dependence of discomfort caused by vertical mechanical shocks has been investigated with 20 seated males exposed to upward and downward shocks at 13 fundamental frequencies (1–16 Hz) and 18 magnitudes (±0.12 to ±8.3 ms−2). The rate of growth of discomfort with increasing shock magnitude depended on the fundamental frequency of the shocks, so the frequency dependence of equivalent comfort contours (for both vertical acceleration and vertical force measured at the seat) varied with shock magnitude. The rate of growth of discomfort was similar for acceleration and force, upward and downward shocks, and lower and higher magnitude shocks. The frequency dependence of discomfort from shocks differs from that of sinusoidal vibrations having the same fundamental frequencies. This arises in part from the frequency content of the shock. Frequency weighting Wb in BS 6841:1987 and ISO 2631-1:1997 provided reasonable estimates of the discomfort caused by the shocks investigated in this study. Practitioner Summary: No single frequency weighting can accurately predict the discomfort caused by mechanical shocks over wide ranges of shock magnitude, but vibration dose values with frequency weighting Wb provide reasonable estimates of discomfort caused by shocks similar to those investigated in this study with peak accelerations well below 1 g.
Development of a modified Cohen method of standard setting

Background: A new ‘Cohen’ approach to standard setting was recently described where the pass mark is calculated as 60% of the score of the student at the 95th percentile, after correcting for guessing. Aim: This article considers how two potential criticisms of the Cohen method can be addressed and proposes a modified version, with the assumptions tested using local data. Methods: The modified version removes the correction for guessing and uses the score of the 90th, rather than the 95th percentile student as the reference point, based on the cumulative density functions for 32 modules from one medical school; and incorporates an indirect criterion-referenced passing standard by changing the 60% multiplier to the ratio of the cut score to the score of the student at the 90th percentile on exams that have been standard set using modified Angoff. Results: The assumption that the performance of the 90th percentile student is consistent over time holds for multiple choice questions. Applying the modified Cohen method to the 32 modules generally reduced the variation in failure rate across modules, compared to a fixed pass mark of 50%. Conclusion: The results suggest that the modified Cohen method holds much promise as an economical approach to standard setting.
Aortic Valve Involvement in Behçet’s Disease. A Clinical Study of 9 Patients

Objectives To assess the clinical features, pathologic findings, postoperative results and the effects of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with Behçet’s disease (BD). Methods We reviewed the postoperative course of the 9 BD patients who underwent a total of 17 aortic valve replacement procedures with prosthetic valves. Results Histological examination of the aortic valve commonly revealed diffuse myxoid degeneration (75 percent). Of 17 valve replacement surgeries, 13 surgeries resulted in complications, such as detachment of the prosthetic valve with perivalvular leakage and dehiscence of the sternotomy wound, within an average of 5 months (range from 1 month to 14 months). The rate of prosthetic valve detachment was 76 percent (13 of 17 surgeries). Four of the 9 patients (44 percent) who underwent aortic valve replacement procedures died of heart failure or infection associated with the detachment of the prosthetic valve, and perivalvular leakage within an average of 9 months. Aortic insufficiency associated with dehiscence of the prosthetic valve developed in 11 of 12 surgical cases (92 percent) with a mechanical valve and 2 of 5 surgical cases (40 percent) with tissue valves. Thirteen of 15 surgeries (87percent) which were not given postoperative immunosuppressive therapy developed complications, while none of 2 surgeries that used postoperative immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone (1mg/kg/day) and azathioprine (100mg/day) had these complications. Conclusion The rates of prosthetic valve detachment in BD involving aortic valve were higher than those of other diseases. Aortic valve involvement was also one of the poor prognostic factors in BD. Intensive postoperative immunosuppressive therapy and surgical methods may be important factors for postoperative results.
Determinants of persistent or recurrent congestive heart failure after contemporary surgical aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Although one of the goals of surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) is to alleviate congestive heart failure (CHF), the latter often occurs after AVR. Surprisingly, the incidence of CHF after AVR remains unclear, as outcomes are reported according to valve-related complications, each of which may result in CHF. The study aim was to: (i) validate a previously described model predicting persistent or recurrent CHF after AVR in a contemporary cohort; and (ii) apply the model to predict late outcomes following AVR with the Trifecta valve. METHODS A previously described statistical model was validated in a cohort of 1,014 patients who received the St. Jude Trifecta prosthesis between 2007 and 2009. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the influence of risk factors associated with late CHF. Model prediction was verified with a Monte Carlo simulation employing 10,000 iterations. RESULTS The model accurately predicted late CHF events in a contemporary cohort. Sensitivity analysis identified mean transprosthesis gradient (MTG), body surface area (BSA), and preoperative NYHA class as important CHF risk factors. Based on the model, a 5 mmHg decrease in MTG was associated with 2.5% and 10.4% reductions in late CHF at five and 15 years, respectively. A 10% decrease in mean BSA and preoperative NYHA class IV symptoms were associated with a 1% decrease and a 5% increase in CHF events at 15 years after AVR. CONCLUSION The authors' previously described model predicting persistent or recurrent CHF after AVR was validated in a contemporary cohort. This model may be applied to predict outcomes in patients who receive modern prostheses, without long-term follow up.
E-learning as a tool for improving access to academic education in the opinion of University of Gdansk students and teachers

Contemporary higher education faces numerous challenges, such as unfavorable demography, problematic quality management, lack of skilled resources, aging population or unconsolidated delivery of related study programs. Therefore, in the thought Long Life Learning idea it is important to support adults in completing their university education. It is important to make study process as convenient as it possible. In the Institute of Geography of University of Gdansk we found blended learning system useful to fulfil students' needs. The aim of the article was to analyze the results of the survey of students and academic staff on the opinion about introduction to the curriculum the blended learning. Among academics, the idea has found as many supporters as opponents. The advantages of the introduction of this form of teaching, which are shown by both students and teachers include saving time and facilitating learning. To the disadvantages of e-learning students include some technical problems but first and foremost the inconvenient hours of mandatory chats and problems with meeting deadlines for sending tasks. Additionally, teachers pointed the problems with the assessment of the independence of student's work. It seems that the reason is lack of knowledge on e-learning methods and the lack of the ability to use e-learning tools.
Neighborhood preserving Nonnegative Matrix Factorization for spectral mixture analysis

Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) has been successfully employed to address the mixed-pixel problem of hyperspectral remote sensing images. However, minimizing the representation error by NMF is not sufficient for SMA since the unmixing results of NMF are not unique. Therefore, in this paper, a neighborhood preserving regularization, which preserves the local structure of the hyperspectral data on a low-dimensional manifold, is proposed to constrain NMF for unique solution in SMA. As a result, a Neighborhood Preserving constrained NMF (NP-NMF) algorithm is proposed for SMA of highly mixed hyperspectral data. Finally, experimental results on AVIRIS data demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed NP-NMF algorithm for SMA applications.
Targeted therapy with trastuzumab in dysplasia and adenocarcinoma arising in Barrett's esophagus: a translational approach.

AIM Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) protooncogene, overexpressed/ amplified in preneoplastic lesions and in adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the esophagus, can be considered a target for treatment of esophageal dysplasia/ADC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic role of the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab, in the management of ADC originating from HER2-positive Barrett's esophagus (BE). METHODS Two patients with high-grade dysplasia and ADC of the esophagus after esophageal mucosectomy and no metastatic disease were studied. Patients were not eligible for radical surgery or chemo-radiotherapy because of age and comorbidities. HER2 status was assessed by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Additional immunohistochemical analyses were performed. The whole panel was analysed at baseline, after treatment and at follow-up. RESULTS At baseline, the two patients showed HER-2 overexpression/amplification in all areas of dysplasia and ADC but not in BE. Six months after treatment no significant differences in terms of endoscopical and histological patterns of the disease were found. HER-2, EGFR, TOPOII-alpha and anti-ssDNA analysis demonstrated a down-regulation of these markers and increased apoptosis. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that this treatment is feasible. No clear evidence of dysplasia regression was observed. However, HER2 and TopoII-alpha downregulation and induction of apoptosis occurring 6 months after treatment encourages further investigation.
Trimming, weighting, and grouping SNPs in human case-control association studies.

The search for genes underlying complex traits has been difficult and often disappointing. The main reason for these difficulties is that several genes, each with rather small effect, might be interacting to produce the trait. Therefore, we must search the whole genome for a good chance to find these genes. Doing this with tens of thousands of SNP markers, however, greatly increases the overall probability of false-positive results, and current methods limiting such error probabilities to acceptable levels tend to reduce the power of detecting weak genes. Investigating large numbers of SNPs inevitably introduces errors (e.g., in genotyping), which will distort analysis results. Here we propose a simple strategy that circumvents many of these problems. We develop a set-association method to blend relevant sources of information such as allelic association and Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium. Information is combined over multiple markers and genes in the genome, quality control is improved by trimming, and an appropriate testing strategy limits the overall false-positive rate. In contrast to other available methods, our method to detect association to sets of SNP markers in different genes in a real data application has shown remarkable success.
O-glycans direct selectin ligands to lipid rafts on leukocytes

Significance Leukocytes partition certain proteins into cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane regions (lipid rafts) that function as signaling platforms. Inflammatory stimuli cause leukocytes to elongate to form lamellipodia and uropods at opposite ends that facilitate migration. Many raft-associated proteins move to uropods. Proteins are typically thought to use their transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains to associate with rafts. Here, we found that some leukocyte adhesion proteins used carbohydrate modification (glycosylation) of their extracellular domains to associate with lipid rafts. These proteins required preassociation with rafts to transduce signals but, unexpectedly, not to move to uropods. These data define a mechanism for localizing proteins to critical membrane regions of leukocytes. Palmitoylated cysteines typically target transmembrane proteins to domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids (lipid rafts). P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), CD43, and CD44 are O-glycosylated proteins on leukocytes that associate with lipid rafts. During inflammation, they transduce signals by engaging selectins as leukocytes roll in venules, and they move to the raft-enriched uropods of polarized cells upon chemokine stimulation. It is not known how these glycoproteins associate with lipid rafts or whether this association is required for signaling or for translocation to uropods. Here, we found that loss of core 1-derived O-glycans in murine C1galt1−/− neutrophils blocked raft targeting of PSGL-1, CD43, and CD44, but not of other glycosylated proteins, as measured by resistance to solubilization in nonionic detergent and by copatching with a raft-resident sphingolipid on intact cells. Neuraminidase removal of sialic acids from wild-type neutrophils also blocked raft targeting. C1galt1−/− neutrophils or neuraminidase-treated neutrophils failed to activate tyrosine kinases when plated on immobilized anti–PSGL-1 or anti-CD44 F(ab′)2. Furthermore, C1galt1−/− neutrophils incubated with anti–PSGL-1 F(ab′)2 did not generate microparticles. In marked contrast, PSGL-1, CD43, and CD44 moved normally to the uropods of chemokine-stimulated C1galt1−/− neutrophils. These data define a role for core 1-derived O-glycans and terminal sialic acids in targeting glycoprotein ligands for selectins to lipid rafts of leukocytes. Preassociation of these glycoproteins with rafts is required for signaling but not for movement to uropods.
Cost Comparison of Parenteral Estrogen and Conventional Hormonal Treatment in Patients With Prostatic Cancer

Abstract The present study compares the cost of antitumor therapy and adverse cardiovascular effects during the first year of treatment with oral estrogens, nonoral estrogens, or surgical castration in patients with prostatic cancer. We found a much higher cost for patients treated with orchidectomy and oral estrogens than for patients treated with nonoral estrogens. Twenty-five percent of the patients treated with oral estrogen suffered cardiovascular complications, compared to none of the patients treated by orchidectomy or nonoral estrogens. The initial cost of orchidectomy as compared to nonoral estrogen treatment was shown not to be balanced within the expected survival time of patients with advanced prostatic cancer. Furthermore, surgical castration causes psychological trauma to the patient. We recommend parenteral estrogen therapy as a low-cost therapeutic regimen in patients with prostatic cancer.
Performance Bounds for MMSE-Based Signal Detection in LTE Downlink

In this paper, we consider the minimum mean square error (MMSE)-based signal detection in the 3rd generation long term evolution (LTE) downlink systems. An analysis bound of error probability is derived. The diversity order is also obtained and analysed at high signal to noise ratios (SNRs). The analysis is then extended to the case of successive interference cancellation (SIC)-based detection. Simulation results show that the analysis bound is very tight and consistent with numerical bit error rate.
Accelerating Adoption of New Products of Thai Consumers: The Moderating Roles of Self-Brand Concept and Reference Group

ABSTRACT The effect of consumer innovativeness on intention to purchase new products has been considerably investigated, but moderating effects to increase adoption rate of new products have thus far been overlooked. Drawing from the concept of consumer innovativeness, using survey research among Thai consumers, and analyzing data with hierarchical regression analysis, the author reveals that self-brand concept and reference groups can accelerate the adoption rate of new products. Successful firms can redefine marketing strategies to increase the adoption rate by developing new products and using brand strategy to fit with the individual or his/her group.
Involvement of Dihydroceramide Desaturase in Cell Cycle Progression in Human Neuroblastoma Cells*

The role of dihydroceramide desaturase as a key enzyme in the de novo pathway of ceramide generation was investigated in human neuroblastoma cells (SMS-KCNR). A novel assay using water-soluble analogs of dihydroceramide, dihydroceramidoids (d-erythro-dhCCPS analogs), was used to measure desaturase activity in situ. Conversion of d-erythro-2-N-[12′-(1″-pyridinium)-dodecanoyl]-4,5-dihydrosphingosine bromide (C12-dhCCPS) to its 4,5-desaturated counterpart, d-erythro-2-N-[12′-(1″-pyridinium)dodecanoyl]sphingosine bromide (C12-CCPS), was determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. The validity of the assay was confirmed using C8-cyclopropenylceramide, a competitive inhibitor of dihydroceramide desaturase. A human homolog (DEGS-1) of the Drosophila melanogaster des-1 gene was recently identified and reported to have desaturase activity. Transfection of SMS-KCNR cells with small interfering RNA to DEGS-1 significantly blocked the conversion of C12-dhCCPS to C12-CCPS. The associated accumulation of endogenous dihydroceramides confirmed DEGS-1 as the main active dihydroceramide desaturase in these cells. The partial loss of DEGS-1 inhibited cell growth, with cell cycle arrest at G0/G1. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the amount of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein. This hypophosphorylation was inhibited by tautomycin and not by okadaic acid, suggesting the involvement of protein phosphatase 1. Additionally, we found that treatment of SMS-KCNR cells with fenretinide inhibited desaturase activity in a dose-dependent manner. An increase in dihydroceramides (but not ceramides) paralleled this process as measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. There were no effects on the mRNA or protein levels of DEGS-1, suggesting that fenretinide acts at the post-translational level as an inhibitor of this enzyme. Tautomycin was also able to block the hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein observed upon fenretinide treatment. These findings suggest a novel biological function for dihydroceramides.
Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase by trans-4- [4-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-cyclohexyloxy]-benzoic acid Is Protective Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury

Arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, can be metabolized to cardioprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) by cytochrome P450 epoxygenases, which are subsequently hydrolyzed to less bioactive dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). To study the effects of pharmacological inhibitor of sEH (sEHi), C57BL6 mice hearts were perfused in Langendorff mode for 40 minutes of baseline and subjected to 30 minutes of global no-flow ischemia followed by 40 minutes of reperfusion. Hearts were perfused with the sEHi, trans-4-[4-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-cyclohexyloxy]-benzoic acid (t-AUCB; 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 μM). To study the mechanism(s), hearts were perfused with 0.1 μM t-AUCB in the presence or absence of putative EET receptor antagonist 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5(Z)-enoic acid (10 μM) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors wortmannin (200 nM) or LY294002 (5 μM). Infarct size was determined at the end of 2-hour reperfusion by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Inhibition of sEH by t-AUCB significantly improved postischemic left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) recovery and reduced the infarct size after ischemia and reperfusion, as compared with control hearts. Perfusion with 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5(Z)-enoic acid, wortmannin or LY294002 before ischemia abolished the cardioprotective phenotype; however, coperfusion of both t-AUCB and 11,12-EET did not result in an additive effect on improved LVDP recovery. Together, our data suggest that pharmacological inhibition of sEH by t-AUCB is cardioprotective.
Functional Murine Leukemia Virus Vectors Pseudotyped with the Visna Virus Envelope Show Expanded Visna Virus Cell Tropism

ABSTRACT Pseudotype virus vectors serve as a powerful tool for the study of virus receptor usage and entry. We describe the development of murine leukemia virus (MuLV) particles pseudotyped with the visna virus envelope glycoprotein and encoding a green fluorescent protein reporter as a tool to study the expression of the visna virus receptor. Functional MuLV/visna virus pseudotypes were obtained when the cytoplasmic tail of the visna virus envelope TM protein was truncated to 3, 7, or 11 amino acids in length. MuLV/visna virus particles were used to transduce a panel of cell types from various organisms, including sheep, goat, human, hamster, mouse, monkey, and quail. The majority of the cells examined were susceptible to MuLV/visna pseudotype viruses, supporting the notion that the visna virus cellular receptor is a widely expressed protein found in many species. Of 16 different cell types tested, only mouse embryo fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells, hamster ovary CHO cells, and the human promonocyte cell line U937 cells were not susceptible to transduction by the pseudotyped virus. The production of functional MuLV/visna virus pseudotypes has provided a sensitive, biologically relevant system to study visna virus cell entry and envelope-receptor interactions.