Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decision-Theoretic Calibration of Option Pricing Models

We give a decision-theoretic procedure for the calibration of option pricing models. The inspiration behind it comes from the Weighted Monte Carlo (WMC) approach. The procedure incorporates rare-event probability distortion in style of Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) by Kahneman and Tversky. We also propose an intertemporal interpolation scheme to use with the probability distortion when more than one option maturity is present in the calibration. We show how the procedure significantly improves the out-of-sample accuracy for the arbitrage models we calibrate compared to the original WMC procedure. To our knowledge, this is the first instance where CPT is used to improve the performance of option pricing models in a practical way.
Analysis of Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of the PM2.5 Concentrations in Weifang City, China

Air pollution, which accompanies industrial progression and urbanization, has become an urgent issue to address in contemporary society. As a result, our understanding and continued study of the spatial-temporal characteristics of a major pollutant, defined as 2.5-micron or less particulate matter (PM2.5), as well as the development of related approaches to improve the environment, has become vital. This paper studies the characteristics of yearly, quarterly, monthly, daily, and hourly PM2.5 concentrations, and discusses the influencing factors based on the hourly data of nationally controlled and provincially controlled monitoring stations, from 2012 to 2016, in Weifang City. The main conclusion of this study is that the annual PM2.5 concentrations reached a peak in 2013. With efficient aid from the government, this value has decreased annually and has high spatial characteristics in the northwest and low spatial characteristics in the southeast. Second, the seasonal and monthly PM2.5 concentrations form a U-shaped trend, meaning that the concentration is high in the summer and low in the winter. These trends are highly relevant to the factors of plantation, humidity, temperature, and precipitation. Third, within a week, higher PM2.5 concentrations appear on Mondays and Saturdays, whereas the lowest concentration occurs on Wednesdays. It can be inferred that PM2.5 concentrations tend to be highly dependent on human activities and living habits. Lastly, there are hourly discrepancies within the peaks and troughs depending on the month, and the overall daytime PM2.5 concentrations and reductive rates are higher in the daytime than in the nighttime.
Encumbered by vulnerability and temporality - the meanings of trigger situations when learning to live with diabetes.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to illuminate the meanings of trigger situations experienced in everyday life when learning to live with diabetes. BACKGROUND Adults become active learners when faced with situations they do not know how to manage, triggering a need to understand something in a different way than before. Knowing more about experiential learning for persons living with diabetes is important for understanding how learning can be supported by health care. DESIGN A life-world approach with a phenomenological hermeneutical method, inspired by the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur. METHODS This method was used for interpreting transcriptions of interviews and consists of three stages: naïve understanding, structural analysis and a comprehensive understanding. Participants (n = 13), with either type I or type II diabetes, were interviewed on three different occasions over a three-year period after being diagnosed with diabetes. RESULTS When learning to live with diabetes, the meanings of trigger situations were described as 'the unpredictable body heightens insecurity with awareness of one's own dependability', 'losing control in unsustainable situations' and 'encumbered by vulnerability and temporality in earlier familiar situations'. CONCLUSION The meanings of trigger situations were to lose the smooth, unreflected way of managing an everyday life situation, interlaced with feelings of lost control of how to live with new insights of being vulnerable. Trigger situations meant an opportunity for learning, as well as being demanding, unplanned and with limited freedom of choice. Trigger situations presented life and body as unpredictable. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE If healthcare professionals can identify the worries and questions raised in trigger situations, knowledge gaps can be identified and reflected on to stimulate learning.
日本バーチャルリアリティ学会誌 = Journal of the Virtual Reality Society of Japan

今年の IEEE VR 2014は,3月 29日から 4月 2日まで, アメリカのミネソタ州ミネアポリス,ミネソタ大学近く の The Commons Hotelで開催された. 去年と同じく前半 2日間は併催の 3DUIシンポジウムが開催され,31日か ら 3日間が VRの本会議となった. ミネアポリスはカナ ダ国境近くの都市であり,4月ながら朝夜は氷点下 5度 程度となり,雪が降ることもあった. 会議は主に,2件の基調講演,3件のパネルディス カッション,6つのペーパセッション(内ロングペー パー 18件,ショートペーパー 10件,ペーパー採択率計 24.1%),31件のポスター,12件のリサーチデモから構 成され,3DUIを含めた参加者は 374名であった. 初日の 夜はミネソタ大学のデモンストレーションがレセプショ ン時に行われ,2日目の夜にはミネアポリス美術館におい てアート作品を鑑賞しながらのバンケットが開催された. 1人目の基調講演話者は University of North Carolinaの Henry Fuchs氏であった. 氏のトークはエネルギッシュか つユーモアに満ち溢れており,近年VR向けのヘッドマウ ントディスプレイを発売していたOculus VR社が Facebook 社に 20億ドルで買収されたことにふれ,このことがVR の今後の一般認知のための非常に大きなチャンスである と熱弁される姿が印象的であった. 2人目の HIT Labの Hunter Hoffman氏の基調講演は,ひどい火傷を負った患者 等の治療時の耐え難い痛みをVRシステムにより軽減でき るという話であった. 実用的な VRシステムの話に,VR という分野の持つ様々な可能性を再認識させられた. アワードは昨年に引き続き,今回も学会1日目の最初 のセッション時に発表される形式が取られた. ロング ペーパーからは Best paper award 1件,Honorable mention 2件,ショートペーパーからは Best short paper award 1 件,ポスターとリサーチデモからはそれぞれ Best Award 1件,Honorable Mention 2件ずつが選ばれた. ロングペー パーの Best paper awardには University of Georgiaの Kyle Johnsen ら に よ る “Mixed Reality Virtual Pets to Reduce Childhood Obesity”が選出された. 著者らは,子供に持 たせた小型デバイスにより計測された日々の運動量に応 じて,家屋内に設置されたディスプレイ上の仮想的な (肥満気味の)犬型ペットが痩せる,または新たな芸を 覚えるというシステムを提案した. これは子供の自発的 運動を促すことで,その肥満問題の解決を図ろうとした ものである. 取り上げた問題の重要性,60人もの子供 の被験者による入念なユーザスタディによりシステムの 有効性を示したことが評価されたものと思われる. 筆者は今回が初めての参加で,ロングペーパーとリ サーチデモでの発表を行った. ペーパーセッションでは 全体的に質疑の質・量ともに高い水準にあり,大いに刺 激を受けた. ポスター,リサーチデモ,スポンサー企業 の商品デモは 3日間通して常設され,コーヒーブレイク 時には参加者と発表者が熱心に議論する姿が会場中で見 られた. 次回の IEEE VR 2015は , フランスのプロヴァンスで の開催が予定されている. 詳細については http://vr2015. inria.fr/をご覧いただきたい.
When do sell-side analysts switch industries they follow?

ABSTRACT Between 1984 and 2014 over 3400 sell-side analysts changed the primary industry they followed. This article documents that analysts are more likely to change their industries when their absolute and relative forecasting accuracy in that industry is low and when the accuracy in the new industry is high. Analysts are more likely to switch industries at the beginning of their careers, after a recent change of an employing brokerage house, and if they have a history of switching industries before. Analysts are less likely to make a switch when their forecasting activity in the industry is high, when the industry is followed by many analysts and when they are employed by a top brokerage house.
Preferential trade agreements and power asymmetries: the case of technological protection measures in Australia

Abstract Since the 1980s states have sought to harmonise economic standards to aid the flow of goods, services and finance across borders. The founding agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), for example, harmonised standards on services, intellectual property and investment. However, mutlilateral trade negotiations in the WTO have since stalled. In response, the United States (US) has engaged in forum shopping, using preferential trade agreements at the bilateral, regional and multinational level to harmonise international standards. This article argues that through forum shopping the US has been able to export standards that support the commercial interests of US-based industries more than they encourage economic exchange across borders. Furthermore, because power asymmetries are starker in preferential trade negotiations smaller and middle power states should not enter trade agreements, which include regulatory harmonisation. This is illustrated with the case of the US-Australia free trade agreement, looking specifically at a copyright standard known as technological protection measures (TPMs). It was clear before, during and after the agreement was signed that Australia’s existing standard on TPMs was more popular than the US-style standard. Nevertheless, a US-style standard is in effect domestically because of the trade agreement.
Transcriptional reprogramming of dendritic cells by differentiation stimuli

Immature and mature dendritic cells (DC) have been well characterized functionally and phenotypically. Microorganisms or bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammatory molecules, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α), are both believed to activate the DC maturation program which allows DC to initiate and amplify innate and adaptive immune responses. However, there is increasing evidence that the functional state of DC, induced by different stimuli, may be relevant for the immune response outcome. Thus, we compared the transcriptional program of mature, transitional and immature DC, after either LPS or TNF‐α stimulation. GeneChip® oligonucleotide microarrays, representing approximately 6,500 murine genes and ESTs, were used for this analysis. A very diverse modulation of gene expression was observed with the two stimuli. Only LPS‐treated cells showed a pattern of expression of genes compatible with a definitive growth arrest and with a suitable activation and control of the immune response.
Dynamic finite-element simulation on the phased array radar antenna multiplex damage by fragment and shock wave

Based on the nonlinear dynamic explicit finite element software LS-DYNA 3D, the parameters of detonator and Constitutive models of air, fragment and the Phased Array Radar Antenna Equivalent panel were ascertained. Numerical Simulation of target multiplex damage of fragment and shock wave was processed. The simulation results of shock wave overpressure, the board plastic deformation and the camber of the board unit near the perforation are consistent with theoretical analysis and experiments, the simulation method and parameters are proved to be reliable and helpful for researching the equipment structural impact multiplex damage caused by fragment and blast. and the paper put forth a reasonable and convenient method which can analyze the weapon equipment structural impact multiplex damage mechanism caused by fragment and wave.
Targeting reperfusion injury in acute myocardial infarction: a review of reperfusion injury pharmacotherapy

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (secondary to lethal ischemia–reperfusion [IR]) contributes to much of the mortality and morbidity from ischemic heart disease. Currently, the treatment for AMI is early reperfusion; however, this itself contributes to the final myocardial infarct size, in the form of what has been termed ‘lethal reperfusion injury’. Over the last few decades, the discovery of the phenomena of ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning, as well as remote preconditioning and remote postconditioning, along with significant advances in our understanding of the cardioprotective pathways underlying these phenomena, have provided the possibility of successful mechanical and pharmacological interventions against reperfusion injury. Areas covered: This review summarizes the evidence from clinical trials evaluating pharmacological agents as adjuncts to standard reperfusion therapy for ST-elevation AMI. Expert opinion: Reperfusion injury pharmacotherapy has moved from bench to bedside, with clinical evaluation and ongoing clinical trials providing us with valuable insights into the shortcomings of current research in establishing successful treatments for reducing reperfusion injury. There is a need to address some key issues that may be leading to lack of translation of cardioprotection seen in basic models to the clinical setting. These issues are discussed in the Expert opinion section.
Analyzing mixed carbon nanotube bundles: A current density study

Carbon nanotube (CNT) bundle is a promising candidate for future on-chip interconnects and electro-thermal applications due to its superior electrical and thermal properties. A realistic CNT bundle is a mixture of single-wall/multi-wall CNTs due to the nature of bottom-up fabrication process. In order to utilize CNT bundle, its current density performance needs to be analyzed considering both types of CNTs. In this paper, compact current density models are introduced for CNTs and mixed CNT bundles considering the influence of diameter and other structural factors. The current density performance estimation based on these models match the recent measurement results. Considering realistic CNT densities and geometries, the mixed bundle shows various levels of improvement over the copper wire counterpart in terms of current density.
Interactive Behavior in Political Discussions on Twitter: Politicians, Media, and Citizens’ Patterns of Interaction in the 2015 and 2016 Electoral Campaigns in Spain

Twitter has become a privileged data source for analyzing the behavior of users when interacting online. This research aims to explore the interactive behavior of users in political discussions and the changes in their behavior over time. Understanding the interactive functions of Twitter (retweeting, mentioning, and replying) as digital traces of users’ behavior, we analyze the patterns of interaction of politicians, media, and citizens in two political discussions in Spain during the 2015 and 2016 general elections. Our results confirm previous studies that prove the homophilic behavior of politicians and citizens in political discussions. The networks of interaction, in particular, the retweet network, resemble echo chambers. It also shows that media play the role of weak ties of the networks. The analysis also shows that the patterns of interaction remained stable after the repetition of the election, and only a meager part of the users participating in both discussions changed their behavior. This article aims to contribute to the use of Twitter as a source for understanding people’s interactions is political discussions in social media and their dynamics across time.
QoS measurement of File Transfer Protocol services in 3G networks using aggregation method

Mobile devices are often used for upload/download using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). Performance of FTP services on 3G networks need to be measured to meet customer satisfaction. There are various types of performance, such as Network Performance, Network Performance Overall, QoE (Quality of Experience), and end-to-end QoS (Quality of Service). Research is conducted on measurement and analysis of FTP service QoS on 3G cellular networks. Measurement refers to the definition and types of QoS, topology 3G, SLD (Signalling Ladder Diagram) of upload/download on 3G networks based on references from ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) TS (Technical Specification) 102 250-2 V2.2. 1 (2011-4). QoS parameters that can be correlated with the SLD upload/download are: attach failure ratio, attach setup times, PDP context activation failure ratio, PDP context activation times, service non-accessibility, setup times, IP service access failure ratio, dan IP service setup times. QoS measurement of upload/download service in 3G networks can be done using various methods. The method used in this research is the aggregation, active and direct. The measurements were made by first making a measurement simulator. Simulator is built using Microsoft Excel 2010 with the support of VBA (Visual Basic for Application). Measurement results from several carriers and service providers can not be reported in this paper, as it is highly confidential data.
Best Practices for Leading Technology Change in Large Scale School Systems

This is a study of a specific school board’s experience with the transformation to 21st century learning and teaching via technology implementations at the school level. The study looks at successful technology implementations by analyzing interview data from school board administrators and superintendents involved in several effective school implementations. In essence, what practices and underlying philosophies are adopted by school board leadership and school administrators in the successful technology implementations in K-12 schools? The paper builds upon United States based research by examining excellence in technology implementations in schools in Canada. The implications for practice are applicable to all education organizations to create awareness of factors needed for school level change to occur.
How to perform a critically appraised topic: part 2, appraise, evaluate, generate, and recommend.

OBJECTIVE This article continues the discussion of a critically appraised topic started in Part 1. A critically appraised topic is a practical tool for learning and applying critical appraisal skills. This article outlines steps 4-7 involved in performing a critically appraised topic for studies of diagnostic tests: Appraise, Appraise the literature; Evaluate, evaluate the strength of the evidence from the literature; Generate, generate graphs of conditional probability; and Recommend, draw conclusions and make recommendations. CONCLUSION For steps 4-7 of performing a critically appraised topic, the main study results are summarized and translated into clinically useful measures of accuracy, efficacy, or risk.
Role of the mitogen‐activated protein kinases and tyrosine kinases during leukotriene B4‐induced eosinophil activation

Exposure of guinea‐pig eosinophils to leukotriene B4 (LTB4; 1 μM) resulted in a rapid generation of H2O2 (index of NADPH oxidase activation), stimulated [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) release (index of phospholipase A2 activity), and promoted CD18‐dependent homotypic aggregation. Under similar conditions, LTB4 (1 μM) induced a rapid activation of extracellular‐regulated kinases‐1 and 2 (ERK‐1/2) but not c‐jun N‐terminal kinases 46 and 54 (JNK‐46/54) or p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38 MAP kinase). To examine the role of ERK‐1/2 in the mechanism of eosinophil activation, a selective inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase‐1/2 (MEK‐1/2), PD098059, was employed. However, PD 098059 at concentrations that attenuated ERK‐1/2 activation had no significant affect on eosinophil activation. In contrast, a role for tyrosine kinases in LTB4‐induced eosinophil activation was suggested by studies with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A and lavendustin A. However, the results of those experiments implied divergent pathways for the control of eosinophil responses because the inhibitors were more effective at attenuating H2O2 generation than [3H]AA release, and had little effect on homotypic aggregation. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 555–562; 1998.
Novel Escherichia coli K-12 mutants impaired in S-adenosylmethionine synthesis

S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) plays a myriad of roles in cellular metabolism. One of the many roles of AdoMet in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium is as a corepressor of genes encoding enzymes of methionine biosynthesis. To investigate the metabolic effects of large reductions in intracellular AdoMet concentrations in growing cells, we constructed and examined mutants of E. coli which are conditionally defective in AdoMet synthesis. Temperature-sensitive mutants in metK, the structural gene for the S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (AdoMet synthetase) expressed in minimal medium, were constructed by in vitro mutagenesis of a plasmid-borne copy of metK. By homologous recombination, the chromosomal copy was replaced with the mutated metK gene. Both heat- and cold-sensitive mutants were examined. At the nonpermissive temperature, two such mutants had 200-fold-reduced intracellular AdoMet levels and required either methionine or vitamin B12 for growth. In the presence of methionine or vitamin B12, the mutants grew at normal rates even though the AdoMet levels remained 0.5% of wild type. A third mutant when placed at nonpermissive temperature had less than 0.2% of the normal AdoMet level and did not grow on minimal medium even in the presence of methionine or vitamin B12. All of these mutants grew normally on yeast-extract-based medium in which an alternate form of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase was expressed.
Why are pathogenic staphylococci so lysozyme resistant? The peptidoglycan O‐acetyltransferase OatA is the major determinant for lysozyme resistance of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus species belong to one of the few bacterial genera that are completely lysozyme resistant, which greatly contributes to their persistence and success in colonizing the skin and mucosal areas of humans and animals. In an attempt to discover the cause of lysozyme resistance, we identified a gene, oatA, in Staphylococcus aureus. The corresponding oatA deletion mutant had an increased sensitivity to lysozyme. HPLC and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analyses of the cell wall revealed that the muramic acid of peptidoglycan of the wild‐type strain was O‐acetylated at C6‐OH, whereas the muramic acid of the oatA mutant lacked this modification. The complemented oatA mutant was lysozyme resistant. We identified the first bacterial peptidoglycan‐specific O‐acetyltransferase in S. aureus and showed that OatA, an integral membrane protein, is the molecular basis for the high lysozyme resistance in staphylococci.
Real Exchange Rate Misalignments in the Euro Area

Building upon a Behavioural Equilibrium Exchange Rate model, estimated at a quarterly frequency since 1999 on a broad sample of 57 countries, this paper assesses both the size and the persistence of real effective exchange rate misalignments of countries that have adopted the euro and of those outside the euro area. The euro area is indeed a poignant example of a currency union in which the nominal exchange rate is irrevocably fixed; the non-euro area economies considered include countries with either flexible or pegged currencies. While misalignments are found to be smaller in the euro area than in the rest of the world, they are also more persistent; however, the persistence in the euro area has decreased after the global financial crisis. Finally, it is found that improvements in the quality of institutions – observed in particular after 2009 within the euro area – reduce the persistence of misalignments.
Dna2 on the road to Okazaki fragment processing and genome stability in eukaryotes

DNA replication is a primary mechanism for maintaining genome integrity, but it serves this purpose best by cooperating with other proteins involved in DNA repair and recombination. Unlike leading strand synthesis, lagging strand synthesis has a greater risk of faulty replication for several reasons: First, a significant part of DNA is synthesized by polymerase α, which lacks a proofreading function. Second, a great number of Okazaki fragments are synthesized, processed and ligated per cell division. Third, the principal mechanism of Okazaki fragment processing is via generation of flaps, which have the potential to form a variety of structures in their sequence context. Finally, many proteins for the lagging strand interact with factors involved in repair and recombination. Thus, lagging strand DNA synthesis could be the best example of a converging place of both replication and repair proteins. To achieve the risky task with extraordinary fidelity, Okazaki fragment processing may depend on multiple layers of redundant, but connected pathways. An essential Dna2 endonuclease/helicase plays a pivotal role in processing common structural intermediates that occur during diverse DNA metabolisms (e.g. lagging strand synthesis and telomere maintenance). Many roles of Dna2 suggest that the preemptive removal of long or structured flaps ultimately contributes to genome maintenance in eukaryotes. In this review, we describe the function of Dna2 in Okazaki fragment processing, and discuss its role in the maintenance of genome integrity with an emphasis on its functional interactions with other factors required for genome maintenance.