Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Microstructure of the TIPS Market 1

he introduction of Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) in the United States in 1997 offered multiple potential benefits. First, the development was intended to offer investors a security that would enable them to hedge inflation. Second, by taking on the risk of inflation, the U.S. Treasury Department would not have to pay an inflation risk premium on its securities, thereby lowering its expected borrowing costs.1 And third, the securities would provide a market-based measure of inflation expectations. It would be possible to gauge market expectations of inflation by comparing the yields on nominal Treasury securities with yields on inflation-protected securities of comparable maturities. These potential benefits have not been fully realized, mainly because TIPS lack market liquidity compared with nominal securities. This lack of liquidity is thought to result in TIPS yields having a liquidity premium relative to nominal securities, which offsets the inflation risk premium.3 Similarly, the presence of a liquidity premium in TIPS yields complicates inferences of inflation expectations, particularly if the
ICASE Report No . 91-26 ICASE UNIFORM HIGH ORDER SPECTRAL METHODS FOR ONE AND TWO DIMENSIONAL EULER EQUATIONS

In this paper we study uniform high order spectral methods to solve multi-dimensional Euler equations for gas dynamics. Uniform high order spectral approximations with spectral accuracy in smooth regions of solutions are constructed by introducing the idea of the Essentially Non-Oscillatory (ENO) polynomial interpolations into the spectral methods. Based on the new approximations, we propose nonoscillatory spectral methods which possess the properties of both upwinding difference schemes and spectral methods. We present numerical results for the inviscid Burgers' equation, and for one dimensional Euler equations including the interactions between a shock wave and density disturbance, Sodas and Lax's shock tube problems, and the blast wave problem. Finally, we simulate the interaction between a Mach 3 two dimensional shock wave and a rotating vortex. IResearchwas supportedby NSF grantASC-9005874,a supercomputinggrantfrom theNorth Carolina Supercomputercenterand a facultyresearchgrantfrom UNC Charlotte. 2Researchwas supportedinpartby the NationalAeronauticsand Space Administration under NASA ContractNo. NASI-18605 whilethe authorwas inresidence attheInstitute forComputer Applications in Scienceand Engineering(ICASE),NASA LangleyResearchCenter,Hampton, VA 23665.Researchwas also supportedby NSF grantDMS-8810150, NASA LangleygrantNAGI-1145, and AFOSR grant90-0093.
Plasminogen Has a Broad Extrahepatic Distribution

Summary Plasmin is the major enzyme that dissolves fibrin in the vasculature and the predominant source of its zymogen, plasminogen, is liver. However, plasmin has a broad substrate spectrum and, if present in other tissues, may perform additional functions. We tested the hypothesis that plasminogen is expressed broadly extrahepatically. A sensitive and specific isotopic quantitative RT-PCR assay was developed to detect plasminogen mRNA from total RNA isolated from C57BL/6J mice tissues. Plasminogen mRNA was detected in adrenal, kidney, brain, testis, heart, lung, uterus, spleen, thymus and gut. Of these tissues, adrenal had the highest plasminogen mRNA content. In situ hybridization was utilized to localize plasminogen mRNA expressing cell types. Besides hepatocytes, positive cells were identified in both adrenal and kidney medullae and cortexes. Plasminogen mRNA expression was detected in cerebral, hippocampal and cerebellar neurons. Plasminogen mRNA was detected in cells in early stages of spermatogenesis in testis, present in the cortex and medulla of the thymus and in splenic white and red pulps. Our results suggest that the plasminogen gene is expressed broadly in extrahepatic tissues. Thus, tissues separated by local anatomic barriers as well as tissues accessible to circulating plasminogen have the capacity to provide local sources of plasminogen.
Image Retrieval using Graphs

Content-Based Image Retrieval has been a fast advancing area since the 1990s decade, with the Internet growth and the technology available that provides an easy access to acquire images. Hence, image data requires to be organized so that image database queries can result as fast as possible, even though the many possible topics are available now a days. In this paper, we introduce a novel technique based on global image features by interest point detection and using graph theory, particularly Delaunay triangulations to obtain a graph that can be measured for comparison. The technique shows promising results and can be regarded as flexible in the sense that parts can be adapted or upgraded to achieve better performance. Keywords—Content-based image retrieval; interest point detection algorithms; graph theory; delaunay triangulations
Towards implementation of bioavailability measurements in the Dutch regulatory framework

A research group composed of RIVM, Alterra, Deltares, IRAS and RWS has selected several methods that can improve the accuracy when used to perform risk assessments of contaminated soils. These methods can be employed to determine which fraction of the contaminants present in the soil is actually biologically available and forms a risk to plants and animals living in the soil. Scientific studies have proven that only the bioavailable fraction of the contaminant is able to exert negative effects on the soil ecosystem. Not all of the contaminants, both in terms of quantity and species, are taken up by plants or animals. The proposed methods can supplement the current approach used to perform risk assessments of soil ecosystems in the Netherlands
Title : Caper : Automatic Verification for Fine-Grained Concurrency

Recent program logics based on separation logic emphasise a modular approach to proving functional correctness for fine-grained concurrent programs. However, these logics have no automation support. In this paper, we present Caper, a prototype tool for automated reasoning in such a logic. Caper is based on symbolic execution, integrating reasoning about interference on shared data and about ghost resources that are used to mediate this interference. This enables Caper to verify the functional correctness of fine-grained concurrent algorithms.
Optimization of the bioprocessing conditions for scale‐up of transient production of a heterologous protein in plants using a chemically inducible viral amplicon expression system

Use of transient expression for the rapid, large‐scale production of recombinant proteins in plants requires optimization of existing methods to facilitate scale‐up of the process. We have demonstrated that the techniques used for agroinfiltration and induction greatly impact transient production levels of heterologous protein. A Cucumber mosaic virus inducible viral amplicon (CMViva) expression system was used to transiently produce recombinant alpha‐1‐antitrypsin (rAAT) by co‐infiltrating harvested Nicotiana benthamiana leaves with two Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains, one containing the CMViva expression cassette carrying the AAT gene and the other containing a binary vector carrying the gene silencing suppressor p19. Harvested leaves were both infiltrated and induced by either pressure or vacuum infiltration. Using the vacuum technique for both processes, maximum levels of functional and total rAAT were elevated by (190 ± 8.7)% and (290 ± 7.5)%, respectively, over levels achieved when using the pressure technique for both processes. The bioprocessing conditions for vacuum infiltration and induction were optimized and resulted in maximum rAAT production when using an A. tumefaciens concentration at OD600 of 0.5 and a 0.25‐min vacuum infiltration, and multiple 1‐min vacuum inductions further increased production 25% and resulted in maximum levels of functional and total rAAT at (2.6 ± 0.09)% and (4.1 ± 0.29)% of the total soluble protein, respectively, or (90 ± 1.7) and (140 ± 10) mg per kg fresh weight leaf tissue at 6 days post‐induction. Use of harvested plant tissue with vacuum infiltration and induction demonstrates a bioprocessing route that is fully amenable to scale‐up. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2009
A Modified Estimation of Distribution Algorithm for Digital Filter Design

Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs) are a class of probabilistic model-building evolutionary algorithms, which are characterized by learning and sampling the probability distribution of the selected individuals. This paper proposes a modified EDA (mEDA) for digital filter design. mEDA uses a novel sampling method, called centro-individual sampling, and a fuzzy Cmeans clustering technique to improve its performance. Extensive experiments conducted on a set of benchmark functions show that mEDA outperforms seven algorithms reported in the literature, in terms of the quality of solutions. Four types of digital infinite impulse response (IIR) filters are designed by using mEDA and the results show that mEDA can obtain better filter performance than four state-of-the-art methods. Key-words: Modified EDA, Centro-individual sampling, Fuzzy C-means clustering, Digital IIR filter, Numeric optimization. A mEDA Algorithm for Digital Filter Design 51
Health care service quality: A comparison of public and private hospitals

The aim of this paper is threefold: to test the dimensionality of the SERVQUAL instrument in the Northern Cyprus health care industry, to assess the service quality provided in public and private hospitals in Northern Cyprus and to identify the service quality dimensions that play important role on patient satisfaction. Data were collected in two phases from the same sample, which consisted of 806 systematically selected people above the age of eighteen. Factor analysis revealed a three factor solution, namely; reliability-confidence, empathy and tangibles. This result does not support the five factor model of the original SERVQUAL. Gap analysis showed that private hospitals have smaller gaps than public hospitals in all three service quality dimensions. Finally, logistic regression findings indicated that while all three dimensions are somewhat influential on patient satisfaction, in public hospitals tangibles dimension seems to exert no significant influence on satisfaction. Findings are important both for public and private hospital managers and for policy makers. Key words: Health care, service quality, SERVQUAL, hospitals, logistic regression.
Dimensional dependencies of optical parameters of nanodimensional metal particles

The results of researches of the investigations of dimensional dependencies of optical parameters of nanodimensional particles of silver, nickel chrome in high-frequency spectral diapason 1.1+3.2 eV are presented. It is shown, that values of high-frequency conductivity of nanodimensional particles of these metals are considerable lesser than in macroscopic samples and with diminishing of particle dimensions the values of high-frequency conductivity diminish by 1-2 orders. Determined is the connection of dimensional changes of high-frequency conductivity of nanoparticles with their specific absorption.
Munich Personal RePEc Archive The Role of Telecommunication Infrastructure in the Regional Economic Growth of Africa

This paper deals with the effects of telecommunications on the economic growth in African countries. The telecommunications sector became a vital sector during the era of the economic reform that has been characterising the continent. We investigate empirically the role of telecommunication infrastructures on long-run economic growth in African countries, for the span of time from 1984 to 2005. We use the panel data approach with a dynamic fixed effect model, which evidences that telecommunications contribute in a major way to the economic development of the continent. It is a crucial determinant, as findings indicate a significant and positive correlation between telecommunication infrastructures and regional growth in Africa, after controlling for a number of other factors. Results also show that investment in telecommunications is subject to diminishing returns. Jel classification: H54, O47, O55
C LASSIFICATION BASED P ARAMETER A SSOCIATION FOR N ON-REDUNDANT A NNOTATION

Semantic annotation of Web Services can facilitate the automated service discovery and composition. At present, however, many solutions suffer from redundant annotations or imprecise derived annotations. To solve the problem, we need to find the parameters that have equivalent semantics in a large number of Web Services. This paper proposes a classification based parameter association, laying the foundation for non-redundant annotation and amendment. Then the paper presents the non-redundant annotation in reduced parameter space. And the annotation results are expanded to the original parameter space. Finally a prototype tool is made to show all Web Services’ information and parameter association information, by which we can manually amend the annotation results. Moreover, the amendment results will be applied to all parameters that are semantically equivalent. To evaluate the final annotation results, the paper gives a method based on service discovery. The experimental results show that the parameter association approach can accurately identify the equivalence between parameters. It also suggest that nonredundant annotation and amendment can greatly reduce the workload, and can augment the semantics of Web Services with adequate accuracy, which can achieve similar performance in service discovery as OWL-S services do.
Gene expression profiling analysis of keloids with and without hydrocortisone treatment

The present study aimed to investigate the genetic effects of hydrocortisone (HC) treatment on keloids and screen medicines to be used in a combination therapy of keloids with HC. The dataset GSE7890 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. It contained data regarding 4 fibroblast samples from normal scar tissue and 5 samples from keloid tissue with HC treatment, as well as 5 samples from normal scar and 5 samples from keloids without HC treatment. Following the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the functions of these DEGs were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses. Furthermore, adverse effects of HC were identified using WebGestalt. Additionally, candidate small molecule drugs associated with keloids were selected from a connectivity map database. A total of 166 and 41 DEGs, with and without HC treatment respectively, were only present in dermal fibroblasts from keloids (termed genesets A and B, respectively). A set of 26 DEGs was present following both treatments (geneset C). A number of DEGs in geneset B (COL18A1 and JAG1) were associated with endothelial cell differentiation. However, in genesets A and C, certain genes (CCNB1 and CCNB2) were involved in the cell cycle and p53 signaling pathways, and a number of genes (IL1R1 and COL1A1) were associated with bone loss. Additionally, numerous small molecule drugs (including acemetacin) were associated with keloids. Thus, it has been determined that HC may treat keloids by targeting genes associated to endothelial cell differentiation (COL18A1 and JAG1). However, HC has a number of adverse effects, including bone loss. Acemetacin may be applied in a combination therapy, along with HC, to treat keloids.
PB2 and Hemagglutinin Mutations Are Major Determinants of Host Range and Virulence in Mouse-Adapted Influenza A Virus

ABSTRACT Serial mouse lung passage of a human influenza A virus, A/Hong Kong/1/68 (H3N2) (HK-wt), produced a mouse-adapted variant, MA, with nine mutations that was >103.8-fold more virulent. In this study, we demonstrate that MA mutations of the PB2 (D701N) and hemagglutinin (HA) (G218W in HA1 and T156N in HA2) genes were the most adaptive genetic determinants for increased growth and virulence in the mouse model. Recombinant viruses expressing each of the mutated MA genome segments on the HK-wt backbone showed significantly increased disease severity, whereas only the mouse-adapted PB2 gene increased virulence, as determined by the 50% lethal dose ([LD50] >101.4-fold). The converse comparisons of recombinant MA viruses expressing each of the HK-wt genome segments showed the greatest decrease in virulence due to the HA gene (102-fold), with lesser decreases due to the M1, NS1, NA, and PB1 genes (100.3- to 100.8-fold), and undetectable effects on the LD50 for the PB2 and NP genes. The HK PB2 gene did, however, attenuate MA infection, as measured by weight loss and time to death. Replication of adaptive mutations in vivo and in vitro showed both viral gene backbone and host range effects. Minigenome transcription assays showed that PB1 and PB2 mutations increased polymerase activity and that the PB2 D701N mutation was comparable in effect to the mammalian adaptive PB2 E627K mutation. Our results demonstrate that host range and virulence are controlled by multiple genes, with major roles for mutations in PB2 and HA.
Zidovudine in Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Abstract Zidovudine (AZT) is a potent inhibitor of the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and it has been shown to improve survival in advanced HIV disease. We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial in adults with asymptomatic HIV infection who had CD4+ cell counts of fewer than 500 per cubic millimeter on entry into the study. The subjects (92 percent male) were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: placebo (428 subjects); zidovudine, 500 mg per day (453); or zidovudine, 1500 mg per day (457). After a mean follow-up of 55 weeks (range, 19 to 107), 33 of the subjects assigned to placebo had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as compared with 11 of those assigned to receive 500 mg of zidovudine (P = 0.002; relative risk, 2.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.4 to 5.6) and 14 of those assigned to receive 1500 mg of zidovudine (P = 0.05; relative risk, 1.9; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.0 to 3.5). In the three treatment groups, the rates of progression (.
Prospective analysis of the relationships between the ovarian follicle cohort and basal FSH concentration, the inhibin response to exogenous FSH and ovarian follicle number at different stages of the normal menstrual cycle and after pituitary down-regulation.

BACKGROUND Analyses of the follicular reserve and activity of the ovary are central to our understanding of the regulation of follicular development. We have carried out a prospective analysis of endocrine and biophysical assessments under three differing basal conditions: the early follicular and mid-luteal phases, and following GnRH analogue down-regulation. METHODS Hormonal analyses were carried out before and after a single dose of FSH on spontaneously ovulating women (n = 58). Ovarian volume and antral follicle count (AFC) were also determined. RESULTS Inhibin B and estradiol concentrations were increased by FSH under all three conditions, and inhibin A in the follicular phase and after down-regulation. Basal hormone concentrations, except inhibin A and B after down-regulation, did not generally correlate with AFC. A close relationship between inhibin B and AFC was evident at all stages after FSH administration (r = 0.70-0.77). AFC and inhibin B after FSH stimulation were well correlated with the number of oocytes recovered after superovulation. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that inhibin B after FSH administration in the down-regulated state showed the closest correlation with oocyte number. In the more clinically useful early follicular and luteal phases, basal FSH was the most significant contributor to the number of oocytes, with a significant contribution from luteal phase AFC. CONCLUSIONS These data extend our understanding of the relationships between follicular number, follicular functional activity, and the recruitable follicular population. Down-regulation and subsequent FSH stimulation was required to clearly demonstrate the close relationship between inhibin B and the ovarian reserve. Without such complex manipulation, early follicular phase FSH (supplemented by AFC in the relatively hypogonadotrophic luteal phase) remains of greater value in predicting the ovarian reserve than the currently known direct products of the ovary.
Mitochondrial physiology in the skeletal and cardiac muscles is altered in torrent ducks, Merganetta armata, from high altitudes in the Andes

ABSTRACT Torrent ducks inhabit fast-flowing rivers in the Andes from sea level to altitudes up to 4500 m. We examined the mitochondrial physiology that facilitates performance over this altitudinal cline by comparing the respiratory capacities of permeabilized fibers, the activities of 16 key metabolic enzymes and the myoglobin content in muscles between high- and low-altitude populations of this species. Mitochondrial respiratory capacities (assessed using substrates of mitochondrial complexes I, II and/or IV) were higher in highland ducks in the gastrocnemius muscle – the primary muscle used to support swimming and diving – but were similar between populations in the pectoralis muscle and the left ventricle. The heightened respiratory capacity in the gastrocnemius of highland ducks was associated with elevated activities of cytochrome oxidase, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Although respiratory capacities were similar between populations in the other muscles, highland ducks had elevated activities of ATP synthase, lactate dehydrogenase, MDH, hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase and creatine kinase in the left ventricle, and elevated MDH activity and myoglobin content in the pectoralis. Thus, although there was a significant increase in the oxidative capacity of the gastrocnemius in highland ducks, which correlates with improved performance at high altitudes, the variation in metabolic enzyme activities in other muscles not correlated to respiratory capacity, such as the consistent upregulation of MDH activity, may serve other functions that contribute to success at high altitudes. Summary: Torrent ducks display markedly different physiological and enzymatic specializations at high altitude, characterized by increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity, increased myoglobin content and reorganized enzymatic capacities.