Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A unified approach to explicit bond price solutions under a time-dependent affine term structure modelling framework

The richness and simplicity in the econometric specification of interest rate dynamics are the main motivations why affine term structure models (ATSMs) continue to be popular nowadays. Analytic solutions for bond prices are also available for some cases of these models. With explicit bond price formulae, the estimation of parameters using market data can, in principle, be carried out. In addition, with the appropriate choice of functional forms for the drift and volatility components, certain desirable features of interest rate behaviours (e.g., mean reversion, positive rates, etc.) can be captured. The desirable properties of the family of ATSMs also include the capacity to specify the distribution of the rates, their suitability for Monte Carlo simulation, and the fact that interest rate derivatives are computable from the bond prices and interest rate dynamics in a straightforward manner. It is therefore not surprising that the characterization of ATSMs has been the subject of many previous investigations in interest rate theory. Brown and Schaefer (1994) were the first to examine ATSMs as a particular categorization. Dai and Singleton (2000) examined the similarities and differences of term structure models with affine specifications and evaluated their strengths and weaknesses empirically. Necessary and sufficient conditions for an affine representation were given by Duffie and Kan (1996). More precisely, it was demonstrated that if an associated Riccati equation has a solution for a given maturity, then the bond price takes an exponential affine form. Moreover, if the zero-coupon bond price is exponential affine, then the short-rate dynamics must be of linear Gaussian or square root affine form. Elliott and van der Hoek (2001), using stochastic flows and the forward measure, established that if the short-rate dynamics is of linear Gaussian or square root affine form, then the bond price has an exponential affine representation. Mamon (2004) employs three techniques to determine the Vasicek bond price: evaluation of the risk-neutral expectation when the distribution of the short rate is completely characterized, the partial differential equation (PDE) approach, and the use of the forward measure. Cairns (2004) presented a derivation of the bond price for both the Vasicek and Cox–Ingersoll–Ross (CIR) models using the bivariate Laplace transforms of the interest rate process and its integral. These results were obtained under a time-homogeneous setting. For further discussion of ATSMs, including the aspects of parameter *Corresponding author. Email: rmamon@stats.uwo. ca
Lecturers' job satisfaction in a public tertiary institution in Singapore: ambivalent and non-ambivalent relationships between job satisfaction and demographic variables

Increasing lecturer turnover rates and fewer qualified recruits choosing a career in academia threaten the integrity of the tertiary education system in Singapore. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the relationship between lecturers' job satisfaction levels in a public tertiary institution and selected demographic variables. The study showed that most respondents were ambivalent as to their job satisfaction. There were significant differences in satisfaction levels based on age and job position. This study clearly highlights some areas the management and policy makers of the tertiary institution can examine more closely and develop innovative approaches to enhance the job satisfaction of the lecturers.
Network effects with quality change: an empirical analysis of the Japanese mobile telecommunications market, 1995–2001

This study assesses the role of network effects under rapid quality change in the Japanese mobile telecommunications market by utilizing a simple framework based on a discrete choice model of product differentiation. The results indicate the existence of network effects in the Japanese mobile telecommunications market during the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, changes in the value of mobile telecommunications services mainly depend on quality changes; the contribution of network effects is negligible. Additionally, over time, network effects make a diminishing contribution to improving consumers' valuations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular modeling studies and comparative analysis on structurally similar HTLV and HIV protease using HIV-PR inhibitors

Abstract Retroviruses are most perilous viral family, which cause much damage to the Homo sapiens. HTLV-1 mechanism found to more similar with HIV-1 and both retroviruses are causative agents of severe and fatal diseases including adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Both viruses code for a protease (PR) that is essential for replication and therefore represents a key target for drugs interfering with viral infection. In this work, the comparative study of HIV-1 and HTLV-1 PR enzymes through sequence and structural analysis is reported along with approved drugs of HIV-PR. Conformation of each HIV PR drugs have been examined with different parameters of interactions and energy scorings parameters. MD simulations with respect to timescale event of 20 ns favors that, few HIV-PR inhibitors can be more active inside the HTLV-1 PR binding pocket. Overall results suggest that, some of HIV inhibitors like Tipranavir, Indinavir, Darunavir and Amprenavir are having good energy levels with HTLV-1. Due to absence of interactions with MET37, here we report that derivatives of these compounds can be much better inhibitors for targeting HTLV-1 proteolytic activity.
Adjustment Costs and the Theory of Supply

T ills paper contains a re-examination from a dynamic point of view of some familiar problems in the theory of supply. In particular, it is concerned with the response of firms in a competitive industry to once-and-for-all shifts in the industry demand curve, to changes in the rate of shift in this demand curve, and to changes in the prices of factors of production. In most respects, our discussion of these issues will proceed along the lines of the traditional Marshall-Viner theory of supply. The novelty of our treatment will lie in its attempt to introduce the relative "fixity" of capital explicitly into the formulation of the firm's maximum problem and to use this formulation to obtain a precise definition of the industry's "shortrun" and "long-run" equilibrium posi-
Insight into mechanisms of 3′-5′ exonuclease activity and removal of bulky 8,5′-cyclopurine adducts by apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases

Significance Oxidative DNA damage has been postulated to play an important role in human neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. 8,5′-cyclo-2′-deoxyadenosine (cdA) is generated in DNA by hydroxyl radical attack and strongly blocks DNA replication and transcription. Here we demonstrate that cdA adducts at 3′ termini of DNA can be removed by 3′-5′ exonuclease activity of the apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases: Escherichia coli Xth and human APE1. The crystal structure of bacterial AP endonuclease in complex with DNA duplex provides insight into the mechanism of this activity. This new repair function provides an alternative pathway to counteract genotoxic effect of helix-distorting DNA lesions. 8,5′-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine (cdA) and 8,5′-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine generated in DNA by both endogenous oxidative stress and ionizing radiation are helix-distorting lesions and strong blocks for DNA replication and transcription. In duplex DNA, these lesions are repaired in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. However, lesions at DNA strand breaks are most likely poor substrates for NER. Here we report that the apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases—Escherichia coli Xth and human APE1—can remove 5′S cdA (S-cdA) at 3′ termini of duplex DNA. In contrast, E. coli Nfo and yeast Apn1 are unable to carry out this reaction. None of these enzymes can remove S-cdA adduct located at 1 or more nt away from the 3′ end. To understand the structural basis of 3′ repair activity, we determined a high-resolution crystal structure of E. coli Nfo-H69A mutant bound to a duplex DNA containing an α-anomeric 2′-deoxyadenosine:T base pair. Surprisingly, the structure reveals a bound nucleotide incision repair (NIR) product with an abortive 3′-terminal dC close to the scissile position in the enzyme active site, providing insight into the mechanism for Nfo-catalyzed 3′→5′ exonuclease function and its inhibition by 3′-terminal S-cdA residue. This structure was used as a template to model 3′-terminal residues in the APE1 active site and to explain biochemical data on APE1-catalyzed 3′ repair activities. We propose that Xth and APE1 may act as a complementary repair pathway to NER to remove S-cdA adducts from 3′ DNA termini in E. coli and human cells, respectively.
In the Cellular Garden of Forking Paths: How p38 MAPKs Signal for Downstream Assistance

Abstract Mitogenactivated protein kinases (MAPKs) are evolutionarily conserved enzymes which connect cellsurface receptors to regulatory targets within cells and convert receptor signals into various outputs. In mammalian cells, four distinct MAPKs have been identified: the extracellular signalrelated kinases (ERK)-1/2, the cjun Nterminal kinases or stressactivated protein kinases 1 (JNK1/2/3, or SAPK1s), the p38 MAPKs (p38 α/β/γ/δ, or SAPK2s), and the ERK5 or big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1). The p38 MAPK cascade is activated by stress or cytokines and leads to phosphorylation of its central elements, the p38 MAPKs. Downstream of p38 MAPKs there is a diversification and extensive branching of signalling pathways. For that reason, we will focus in this review on the different signalling events that are triggered by p38 activity, and analyse how these events contribute to specific gene expression and cellular responses.
The Impact of Recession on the Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility in Companies

During the last few years, companies have had an increasing interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its implications in economic performance and competitive environment. However, as a result of the recent economic decline, CSR and the overall attitude of companies towards socially responsible activities have been affected. This article discusses the shift in the perception of CSR during the economic recession as well as the current implementation of CSR in the corporate sector, especially in a period when features such as financial stability, innovation and competitiveness are crucial. The research was based on a cross-case analysis in three companies. The analysis resulted in the identification of the impact of recession on CSR and an outline of the trends for future development.
Political Economies of Extractive Industry: From Documenting Complexity to Informing Current Debates

The literature on extractive industries has grown rapidly in recent years both because the empirical significance of resource extraction has increased and because resource extraction necessarily invokes other questions of wider purchase in development studies. This virtual issue brings together articles published in Development and Change on mining, oil and gas extraction since the early 1980s that explore these inter-connections. They focus on certain interfaces: extraction and rural political economy; extraction and policies of economic adjustment; and extraction and development politics. The articles often document the complexity and contextual specificity of these interconnections, but we draw particular attention here to the insights they offer on broader issues such as the relationship between resource extraction, adjustment and neoliberalization.
Energy expenditure and food requirements of children at school

The research here reported was carried out from June, 1919, to June, 1921, at Bedales School in Hampshire. It was fortunate that an opportunity for such an investigation should have arisen at a school perhaps better suited for it than any other in the country. Bedales is known to those interested in educational experiments as a school which for twenty-five years has justified the principle of co-education. For the purpose of this enquiry, it has been a great advantage to be able to study simultaneously boys and girls living the same life, and that under admirable conditions. During the second year, I was also enabled to work at the Junior School, which is distinct and separate. I have been given every opportunity of gaining an intimate knowledge of the working of the school, and of the children themselves, and this has been of incalculable value. Such work attempted hastily from outside would almost necessarily be full of gross errors ; only by identifying oneself with the life of the school, can one hope to study truly the activities of the child and adolescent.
Functional interactions between p53 and the TFIIH complex are affected by tumour‐associated mutations.

The p53 tumour suppressor is mutated in the majority of human tumours. p53′s proposed role as the guardian of the genome is reflected in its multiple effects on transcription genome stability, cell growth and survival. We show that p53 interacts both physically and functionally with the TFIIH complex. There are multiple protein‐protein contacts, involving two regions of p53 and three subunits of TFIIH, ERCC2 (XPD), ERCC3 (XPB) and p62. p53 and its C‐terminus (amino acids 320–393) inhibit both of the TFIIH helicases and in vitro transcription in the absence of TFIIH. Transcription inhibition is overcome by TFIIH. The N‐terminal region of p53 (1–320), lacking the C‐terminus, is inactive on its own, yet apparently affects the activity of the C‐terminus in the native protein. Interestingly, mutant p53s that are frequently found in tumours are less efficient inhibitors of the helicases and transcription. We hypothesize that the interactions provide an immediate and direct link for p53 to the multiple functions of TFIIH in transcription, DNA repair and possibly the cell cycle.
Design and Testing of a Motor-Based Capsule Robot Powered by Wireless Power Transmission

This paper presents a motor-based capsule robot powered by wireless power transmission, a device with a small size of Φ 13 mm × 42 mm for exploring the intestinal tract. The active locomotion of the capsule robot is achieved with an inchworm mechanism, which consists of two expanding devices at both ends and a middle extensor. The expanding device features a large expanding diameter range of 13 to 29.9 mm by adopting a four-bar linkage and it is sealed by two O-rings. Based on the Hertz contact theory, the design parameters of the two O-rings (i.e., wire diameter, hardness, and compression ratio) were optimized, and the optimized O-rings caused 17.6% torque loss at most. To take full advantage of the space in the inchworm mechanism, a novel hollow-cylinder-like 3-D receiving coil was proposed, which employed a combined ferrite core and measured 6 mm in inner diameter, 12.9 mm in outer diameter, and 11.5 mm in length. By selecting appropriate numbers of turns for the 3-D coils, the output power fluctuation of the receiving coil was minimized within a range of 485.7 to 1459.2 mW. Finally, the system performance of the capsule robot was successfully tested in an ex vivo intestine using a fabricated prototype with inspection function.
Household Income and Assets in Rural Mozambique, 2002-2005: Can Pro-Poor Growth Be Sustained?

Mozambique made impressive reductions in poverty from 1996 to 2002. The national poverty rate, as documented by the National Household Consumption Survey Inquerito aos Agregados Familiares(IAF) expenditure surveys in those years, fell from 69.4% in 1996/97 to 54.1% in 2002/03. Consistent with the IAF expenditure survey results, Trabalho de Inquerito Agricola(TIA) rural household income surveys showed that mean and median rural household income per adult equivalent increased by 65% and 30% respectively from 1995/96 to 2001/02, and that all income quintiles shared in the income growth. Yet in spite of these impressive gains in household welfare, the majority of the country’s population remained below the poverty line in 2002/03 (51.5% in urban areas, 55.3% in rural). The first objective of this paper is to determine whether the upward trends in household welfare found from 1996 to 2002 have continued from 2002 to 2005, as measured in terms of TIA income and assets. The second objective of this paper is to use information about the structure of rural household income, asset levels, and access to technology and public goods in TIA 2002 and 2005, to investigate the prospects for continued rural economic growth, as well as the question of whether or not one could expect income growth to continue to be as broad-based as it was from 1996 to 2002. A key insight from the analysis of rural income growth in Mozambique from 1996 to 2002 is that the poorest 80% of rural households derived most of their gains from increases in crop income, which appear to have come primarily from expansion of cultivated area, not improved productivity. To address the first two objectives, we use data from the rural household income survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2005, the TIA, which re-surveyed more than 80% of the households included in the previous TIA rural household income survey conducted in 2002, thus generating the first nationally representative panel household dataset for rural Mozambique. The third objective of this paper is to provide background information on the methods used to construct the income variables for the TIA 2002-2005 panel and the TIA 2002 and TIA 2005 full cross-sectional datasets. This panel household income dataset has already been used in two related papers, one which investigates household income poverty dynamics from 2002-2005 (Cunguara et al. 2008), and another which uses multivariate panel regression analysis to assess the relative impact on household crop income of changes in household asset levels, input choices, and access to crop production technology and public goods(Mather forthcoming.
Competitive Analysis via Regularization

We provide a framework for designing competitive online algorithms using regularization, a widely used technique in online learning, particularly in online convex optimization. An online algorithm that uses regularization serves requests by computing a solution, in each step, to an objective function involving a smooth convex regularization function. Applying the technique of regularization allows us to obtain new results in the domain of competitive analysis. We remark that competitive analysis and online learning are two widely studied frameworks for online decision-making settings. We show that even though there are significant differences in assumptions, goals, and techniques between the two fields, one can still benefit by introducing techniques from one field to the other. In our new framework we exhibit a general O(log m)-competitive deterministic algorithm for generating a fractional solution that satisfies a time-varying set of online covering and precedence constraints, where m is the number of variables. This framework allows to incorporate both service costs (over time) and setup costs into a host of applications. We then provide an O(log m log n)-competitive randomized algorithm for the online set cover problem with service cost, where m is the number of sets and n is the number of elements. This model allows for sets to be both added and deleted over time from a solution.
A new approach for removal of baseline wande in ECG signal using Empirical Mode Decomposition & Hurst Exponent

In this paper, a new method for removal of baseline wander from ECG signals is proposed. This method uses the algorithm of Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) with Hurst Exponent selection. The hurst exponent is used to select those Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMF's), obtained on applying EMD on the signal, which are least corrupted by baseline wander. Using those selected IMF's, the original noisy signal is reconstructed which is free from baseline wander. The algorithm was applied to 10 ECG signals obtained from MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database. The simulation results show that the new method EMDH removes the noise better as compared to the other methods. On an average, −7.734 dB of the noise power was removed by application of EMDH as compared to −10.089 dB & −9.883 dB by application of EMD and Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) respectively.
Using a Lean Six Sigma approach to drive innovation

Purpose – This article describes the five‐year success of a lean Six Sigma approach to improving operations that is also a way of doing better things – innovating in products, services, markets and even a company's underlying business model.Design/methodology/approach – Consultants from IBM's Operations Strategy group and from the Institute for Business Value analyzed the innovation records of several leading companies that have implemented operations strategies based on Lean Six Sigma management techniques.Findings – They found that lean Six Sigma initiatives also led to product innovations, such as Caterpillar's phenomenally successful low‐emissions diesel engine, and also to redesigned processes, including a streamlined supply chain. After five years, by 2005, revenues at Caterpillar had grown by 80 percent.Research limitations/implications – A case study of Caterpillar illustrates the points of the lean sigma six approach.Practical implications – For more than five years, industry leaders have used co.
Willingness to pay for a cyber ecological park

We attempt to value a cyber ecological park on the Internet by applying willingness to pay (WTP) survey techniques. The respondents’ judgements required in the survey were within their abilities and the household's mean WTP for visiting the Woopo wetland cyber ecological park was estimated as 1203 Korean won (GBP 0.653) per connection.
Cognitive deficits in middle‐aged and older adults with bipolar disorder and cognitive complaints: Comparison with mild cognitive impairment

Cognitive impairment has been reported in elderly bipolar disorder (BD) patients, however, few studies have evaluated middle‐aged and older BD patients using standardized cognitive assessments and none (to our knowledge) analysed middle‐aged and older BD patients with recent cognitive complaints. The main objective of this study is to characterize the cognitive deficits of middle‐aged and older patients with BD and compare them with the common age‐related cognitive deficits observed in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Depth-adaptive Sharpness Adjustments for Stereoscopic Perception Improvement and Hardware Implementation

This paper reports a depth-adaptive sharpness adjustment algorithm for stereoscopic perception improvement, and presents its field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation results. The first step of the proposed algorithm was to estimate the depth information of an input stereo video on a block basis. Second, the objects in the input video were segmented according to their depths. Third, the sharpness of the foreground objects was enhanced and that of the background was maintained or weakened. This paper proposes a new sharpness enhancement algorithm to suppress visually annoying artifacts, such as jagging and halos. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can improve stereoscopic perception without intentional depth adjustments. In addition, the hardware architecture of the proposed algorithm was designed and implemented on a general-purpose FPGA board. Real-time processing for full high-definition stereo videos was accomplished using 30,278 look-up tables, 24,553 registers, and1,794, 297 bits of memory at an operating frequency of 200MHz.