Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VIX Futures Calendar Spreads

A VIX futures calendar spread involves buying a futures contract maturing in 1 month and selling another one maturing in a different month. VIX futures calendar spreads represent a daily turnover above 500 million dollars, or roughly 20% of the total VIX futures trading volume. Speculation, rather than information about changes in the slope of the volatility term structure, is the main driving force behind calendar spread trades. On average, a calendar spread costs a little less than $100 (about 15 basis points). If settled at the end of the trading day, 43% of the calendar spreads are profitable.
A new species of Microhyla (Anura: Microhylidae) from Sri Lanka: an integrative taxonomic approach.

Species boundaries of Microhyla rubra of India and Sri Lanka were assessed using the following criteria: genetic barcoding, morphology, and vocalization. We use a ca. 500 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene and show that there is an uncorrected pairwise distance of 2.7-3.2% between the Indian and Sri Lankan populations of M. rubra. We show that they are different in several call characteristics such as, dominant frequency, call duration, call rise time and pulse rate. Morphologically, the Sri Lankan population can be distinguished from the typical M. rubra described from southern India, by a combination of characters: body size, skin texture, and feet dimensions. We recognize the population from Sri Lanka as a new species, Microhyla mihintalei sp. nov., a widely distributed lowland species with an elevational distribution of up to 500 m a.s. l.
Corneal Surface and Superficial Cells as Viewed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Impression Cytology Sampling

Purpose: To objectively compare sizes of corneal epithelial surface cells visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or collected by impression cytology (IC). Methods: Corneas of recent postmortem sheep eyes were either glutaraldehyde fixed for SEM or IC samples taken, glutaraldehyde fixed, and then stained with Giemsa. The corneal epithelial surface was examined at ×200, with the borders of all cells marked and dimensions and areas measured. For SEM, the cells were classified as having light, medium, or dark electron reflex and by the number of cell sides. Results: SEM revealed a mosaic of polygonal features with different electron reflexes according to the density of cell surface microplicae. The cell area and longest dimension were predictably dependent on the number of cell sides. Compared with the overall average cell area of 1598 &mgr;m2 (range 200–3900 &mgr;m2), the dark reflex cells were predominantly the largest, with an average area of 2435 &mgr;m2 and having the average longest dimension of 59.9 &mgr;m. Cells collected by IC had a range of areas from 1150 to 4800 &mgr;m2 but were predominantly large and had an average area of 2802 &mgr;m2 with the average cell longest dimension averaging 64.4 &mgr;m. IC-sampled cells had nucleocytoplasmic ratio values consistent with their having a squamous phenotype. Conclusions: Cells sampled by IC from the corneal epithelial surface are predominantly those that are enlarged (and flattened out) in preparation for desquamation, a feature also attributed to the dark reflex cells seen in SEM.
Fundamentals of impedance cardiography

The most widely used impedance method for cardiac stroke volume and cardiac output measurements is described. It uses band electrodes around the ends of the thorax and forward extrapolation of the systolic portion of the impedance waveform. Studies performed to determine the physiological origin of the impedance change and the apparently conflicting results are summarized. Comparative studies with other methods are briefly discussed. It is concluded that for the present technique to be placed on a sound scientific base, it is necessary to determine what regions or organs contribute to the impedance change recorded from the thoracic surface, but that it shows remarkably good correlation with other cardiac output measurement systems if applied to a select relatively healthy population, given all the assumptions involved. <<ETX>>
Rapid In Situ Assay for Indoleacetic Acid Production by Bacteria Immobilized on a Nitrocellulose Membrane

We have developed a new assay that differentiates between indoleacetic acid (IAA)-producing and -nonproducing bacteria on a colony plate lift. Medium supplemented with 5 mM L-tryptophan is inoculated with isolates of interest, overlaid with a nitrocellulose membrane, and then incubated until bacterial colonies reach 1 to 2 mm in diameter. The membrane is removed to a filter paper saturated with Salkowski reagent and incubated until distinct red haloes form around the colonies. The colorimetric reaction to IAA is limited to a region immediately surrounding each colony, is specific to isolates producing IAA, occurs within 1 h after the membrane is placed in the reagent, and is sensitive to as little as 50 pmol of IAA in a 2-mm2 spot. We have used this assay for quantifying epiphytic and endophytic populations of IAA-producing isolates of Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi and for detecting IAA-producing colonies of other pseudomonads and Erwinia herbicola. The assay provides a rapid and convenient method to screen large numbers of bacteria.
Public Debt Expansions and the Dynamics of the Household Borrowing Constraint

Contrary to a well-established view, public debt expansions may tighten the household borrowing constraint over time. Within an incomplete-markets model featuring an endogenous borrowing limit, we show that plausible debt-financed fiscal policies generate such tightening through an increase in the interest rate. The tightening makes constrained agents deleverage and reinforces the precautionary saving motive of the unconstrained. This appetite for assets impacts factor prices which, in some cases, amplify the households' reactions to the policies. For example, the tightening can substantially magnify the government spending multiplier through strengthening the typical negative wealth effect on labor supply induced by the fiscal stimulus. Moreover, the tightening affects the political support to the policies mainly through price effects. (Copyright: Elsevier)
Improvement on Double-EAGLE machine synchronization in both negative and positive modes of operation

Double-EAGLE has been serving as a reliable user radiation facility for the past 15 years. It is primarily a 2-MV, 4-MA, 85-ns pulse generator driving PRS or diode loads. It can be operated in short- and long-pulse modes for both positive and negative polarities to meet the requirements of the radiation front-end load. In the negative, short pulse mode, the generator delivers more than 4 MA current to the PRS load with a pulsewidth of about 85 ns, and in the long pulse mode, the generator delivers the same amount of current with a pulsewidth of 180 ns. In the positive short pulse mode, Double-EAGLE delivers multi-MA currents and 2 MV voltage into reflex diodes for user radiation. We have made substantial improvements in the reliability of Double-EAGLE by improving the operation of the water switches and the triggered gas switches. The machine can now operate consistently with better than 10 ns synchronization between the two EAGLE modules. We present the Double-EAGLE facility operation data and capability.
SEED: Sketch-Based 3D Model Deformation

Traditional techniques for deforming virtual 3D models require the user to explicitly define a set of control points, a region of interest (ROI), and to define precisely how to deform the ROI using the control points. In this paper we present SEED, a sketch-based 3D model deformation approach, which allows the user to perform a deformation using only a single control stroke, eliminating the need to explicitly select control points, the ROI and the deforming operation.
MDM2 enhances the function of estrogen receptor alpha in human breast cancer cells.

Overexpression of the oncoprotein MDM2, a negative feedback regulator of p53, is often observed in breast cancer tissue and cell lines, particularly in those which express estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). In this study, we report a novel function of MDM2, i.e., as a positive regulator of ERalpha. This function does not involve p53. MDM2 overexpressing clones derived from the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells, showed a remarkable growth advantage only in estradiol supplemented conditions, and this profile coincided with increased transcriptional activity of ERalpha in these cells. Though p53 has been reported to be an inhibitor of ERalpha function, p53 protein in MDM2 overexpressing clones was more abundant than in the parental cells. When ERalpha was exogenously expressed in p53-null cells, its activity was enhanced by coexpression of MDM2. Mammalian two-hybrid assays and GST pull-down assays indicated that MDM2 could interact with ERalpha. These results indicate that MDM2 is a direct activator of ERalpha function, and suggest such a role for MDM2 in ERalpha-positive breast cancer.
Surface treatments and coatings to maintain fresh-cut mango quality in storage.

BACKGROUND Edible coatings may extend fresh-cut fruit storage by preventing moisture loss and decreasing gas exchange. This study evaluated the effect of an antibrowning dip (calcium ascorbate, citric acid and N-acetyl-L-cysteine), followed or not with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or carrageenan coatings on quality of fresh-cut mangoes stored at 5 °C for up to 20 days. A fourth treatment, only used in one of four experiments, consisted of chitosan. Treatments were applied on 'Tommy Atkins', 'Kent' and 'Keitt' mangoes harvested from Homestead (FL), and on imported store-bought mangoes. RESULTS The antibrowning dips maintained the best visual quality during storage for all cultivars, as indicated by higher b*, hue and L*. The CMC coating maintained similar visual quality, but carrageenan or chitosan decreased L* and b*. The antibrowning dip containing calcium ascorbate reduced firmness loss on cut pieces of 'Keitt', 'Kent' and store-bought mangoes. The antibrowning treatment maintained higher titratable acidity for 'Kent' and 'Keitt', resulting in lower sensory sweetness. CONCLUSION This study with repeated experiments showed that calcium ascorbate with citric acid and N-acetyl-L-cysteine maintained cut mango slices attractiveness in storage by keeping light color in both varieties. The addition of a polysaccharide coating did not consistently improve quality.
Apathy, not depressive symptoms, as a predictor of semantic and phonemic fluency task performance in stroke and transient ischemic attack

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study examined the relationship between apathy and cognition in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Apathy may result from damage to frontal subcortical circuits causing dysexecutive syndromes, but apathy is also related to depression. We assessed the ability of apathy to predict phonemic fluency and semantic fluency performance after controlling for depressive symptoms in 282 individuals with stroke and/or transient ischemic attack. Method: Participants (N = 282) completed the Phonemic Fluency Test, Semantic Fluency Test, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Apathy Evaluation Scale. A cross-sectional correlational design was utilized. Results: Using hierarchical linear regressions, apathy scores significantly predicted semantic fluency performance (β = –.159, p = .020), but not phonemic fluency performance (β = –.112, p = .129) after scaling scores by age and years of education and controlling for depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms entered into the first step of both hierarchical linear regressions did not predict semantic fluency (β = –.035, p = .554) or phonemic fluency (β = –.081, p = .173). Apathy and depressive symptoms were moderately correlated, r(280) = . 58, p < . 001. Conclusions: The results of this study are consistent with research supporting a differentiation between phonemic and semantic fluency tasks, whereby phonemic fluency tasks primarily involve frontal regions, and semantic fluency tasks involve recruitment of more extended networks. The results also highlight a distinction between apathy and depressive symptoms and suggest that apathy may be a more reliable predictor of cognitive deficits than measures of mood in individuals with cerebrovascular disease. Apathy may also be more related to cognition due to overlapping motivational and cognitive frontal subcortical circuitry. Future research should explore whether treatments for apathy could be a novel target for improving cognitive outcomes after stroke.
A two-stage PV grid-connected inverter with optimized anti-islanding protection method

Anti-islanding protection of power disturbing method for a two-stage photovoltaic grid-connected inverter is designed in this paper. There is little coupling between the input and output power of the inverter as the dc-dc and dc-ac conversion is independent from each other. Step change of voltage across the dc-link filtering capacitor results in a change of stored energy of the capacitor and consequent a disturbance on the current injected into the grid. This algorithm is adopted for the islanding detection of the inverter. When the grid is gone, the disturbing current results in disturbance of the voltage across the ac terminals, and the islanding protection can be triggered. This method has merit of little non-detection zone for islanding detection.
A Longitudinal Study of IPV Victimization Among Sexual Minority Youth

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, little is known regarding its developmental patterns, risk factors, or health-related consequences. We examined IPV victimization in an ethnically diverse community-based convenience sample of 248 LGBT youth (aged 16-20 at study outset) who provided six waves of data across a 5-year period. Results from multilevel models indicated high, stable rates of IPV victimization across this developmental period (ages 16-25 years) that differed between demographic groups. Overall, 45.2% of LGBT youth were physically abused and 16.9% were sexually victimized by a dating partner during the study. Odds of physical victimization were 76% higher for female than for male LGBT youth, 2.46 times higher for transgender than for cisgender youth, and 2 to 4 times higher for racial-ethnic minorities than for White youth. The prevalence of physical IPV declined with age for White youth but remained stable for racial-ethnic minorities. Odds of sexual victimization were 3.42 times higher for transgender than for cisgender youth, 75% higher for bisexual or questioning than for gay or lesbian youth, and increased more with age for male than female participants. Within-person analyses indicated that odds of physical IPV were higher at times when youth reported more sexual partners, more marijuana use, and lower social support; odds of sexual IPV were higher at times when youth reported more sexual partners and more LGBT-related victimization. In prospective analyses, sexual IPV predicted increased psychological distress; both IPV types marginally predicted increased marijuana use.
Influence of solvent absorption on the migration of Irganox 1076 from LDPE

The effect of solvent absorption on additive migration was studied by relating the diffusion coefficient (D) of Irganox 1076 to the maximum solvent absorption of different solvents in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. Solvents tested were ethanol, isopropanol, isooctane, ethylacetate, cyclohexane, tributyrin, tricaprylin and olive oil. Diffusion and partition coefficients were determined by fitting the migration curves, i.e. the concentration of Irganox 1076 in solvent as a function of time, with Fick's diffusion equation. The results for the low molecular weight solvents show that with increasing maximum solvent absorption, D of Irganox 1076 is increasing as well. This trend is not observed for the two triglycerides and olive oil. In spite of absorption, no increase in D was observed. The obtained result is the basis of an extended predictive migration model that, besides migrant and polymer properties, is also based on the maximum solvent absorption in the polymer.
Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in Bleeding Peptic Ulcer Patients, Evaluation of Urea-Based Tests

Background/Aims: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) has been reported to be lower in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers than in patients with nonbleeding peptic ulcers. This might be due to inaccuracy of the urease-based diagnostic tests when used in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers. The aims of this study were to compare the validity of the rapid urease test (RUT) and 13C-urea breath test in patients with bleeding (group 1) and nonbleeding peptic ulcers (group 2) and to examine whether the presence of blood in the stomach influences the validity of urease-based tests. Methods: 95 consecutive patients with bleeding peptic ulcers (48 with and 47 without blood in the stomach) and 44 with uncomplicated peptic ulcers. Biopsies for RUT and histology were obtained during endoscopy. After endoscopy a 13C-urea breath test was performed. Positive histology was used as ‘gold standard’ defining positive Hp-status. Results: The prevalence of Hp-infection was 44/95 (46%) in group 1 and 29/44 (66%) in group 2 (p = 0.04). The sensitivities and specificities of RUT, 13C-urea breath test and serology (control) were between 0.72 and 0.96; no difference was found between the groups. In group 1 the sensitivity of the RUT decreased from 0.96 when no blood was present to 0.60 when blood was present (p = 0.006). The sensitivity of 13C-urea breath test was not affected by blood in the stomach. Conclusion: When comparing patients with bleeding and nonbleeding peptic ulcers, we did not find any difference in either sensitivity or specificity of the diagnostic tests for Hp. However, the sensitivity of the RUT was lower when blood was present in the stomach, which was the case in only half of the patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the 13C-urea breath test was not affected by the presence of blood in the stomach.
Cloud-POA: A cloud-based map only implementation of PO-MSA on Amazon multi-node EC2 Hadoop Cluster

Sequence alignment in bioinformatics and compu-tational biology has always been a challenging task. With Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques in hand, researchers are now capable of studying biological systems at a level never been possible before. Scientists now have billions of bytes of biological data to work with, trillions of sequences to align. But this comes at a cost of requiring computing machines having a tremendous amount of computational and analytical power. Purchasing this huge amount of hardware and setting up a standalone infrastructure would not only cost an unnecessarily massive amount of money and labor but also would become troublesome to maintain. Moreover, for aligning a huge number of DNA or Protein sequences a scalable multiple sequence alignment (MSA) algorithms is needed with decent accuracy. In such context, this paper presents a novel implementation of Partial Order Alignment (POA) algorithm on a multi-node Hadoop Cluster running on MapReduce framework. The implementation was done in Amazon AWS platform with multiple EC2 instances. It is a map-only implementation with Hadoop Streaming. The result of this implementation shows a drastic reduction in runtime with no accuracy degradation.
Cone-beam computed tomography as advanced diagnostic aid in endodontic treatment of molars with multiple canals: Two case reports

The purpose of these case reports is to emphasize the importance of knowledge regarding the root canal morphology and current diagnostic aids one should have as both of these important factors going to affect the prognosis of the endodontic treatment. These two case reports describe the maxillary and mandibular first molars with multiple canals. After clinical and radiographic diagnosis, additional help of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of mandibular molar has been taken to evaluate the morphology and canal pattern; while maxillary molar was evaluated using CBCT scan to evaluate the canal configuration and obturation. In CBCT evaluation, the mandibular molar was diagnosed with six separated canals with three mesial and three distal canals and with radix paramolaris and radix entomolaris. The maxillary molar had five canals with three mesiobuccal (MB) canals. Both molars were instrumented with conventional hand and rotary file systems and obturated by conventional lateral compaction method. The axial images from CBCT show Vertucci Type VIII canal pattern in both roots of first mandibular molars and in MB root of maxillary first molar Sert and Bayirli Type XVIII canal configuration and no accessory canal in distobuccal and palatal root. With the recent innovations in diagnostic and operating aids, we can come across many variations in the root canal morphology of both mandibular and maxillary teeth, especially multi-rooted one (i.e., molars), and the knowledge of which leads to successful endodontic treatment with an excellent prognosis.
Cell-type-specific role for nucleus accumbens neuroligin-2 in depression and stress susceptibility

Significance Although mutations in the neuroligin-3 and neuroligin-4 genes are implicated in autism syndromes, very little is known about the contribution of neuroligin-2 to neuropsychiatric disease states. We report a decrease in neuroligin-2 gene expression in the postmortem nucleus accumbens (NAc) of depressed patients. Reverse translation of this finding in chronic social defeat stress, an animal model of depression that enables investigation of both susceptibility and resiliency mechanisms, uncovers an important functional role for NAc neuroligin-2 in stress susceptibility. We detail a cell-type-specific role for NAc neuroligin-2 in modulating social avoidance behavior and dominance behaviors important for resiliency. Together, these findings describe a role for NAc neuroligin-2 in depression and chronic stress behaviors. Behavioral coping strategies are critical for active resilience to stress and depression; here we describe a role for neuroligin-2 (NLGN-2) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Neuroligins (NLGN) are a family of neuronal postsynaptic cell adhesion proteins that are constituents of the excitatory and inhibitory synapse. Importantly, NLGN-3 and NLGN-4 mutations are strongly implicated as candidates underlying the development of neuropsychiatric disorders with social disturbances such as autism, but the role of NLGN-2 in neuropsychiatric disease states is unclear. Here we show a reduction in NLGN-2 gene expression in the NAc of patients with major depressive disorder. Chronic social defeat stress in mice also decreases NLGN-2 selectively in dopamine D1-positive cells, but not dopamine D2-positive cells, within the NAc of stress-susceptible mice. Functional NLGN-2 knockdown produces bidirectional, cell-type-specific effects: knockdown in dopamine D1-positive cells promotes subordination and stress susceptibility, whereas knockdown in dopamine D2-positive cells mediates active defensive behavior. These findings establish a behavioral role for NAc NLGN-2 in stress and depression; provide a basis for targeted, cell-type specific therapy; and highlight the role of active behavioral coping mechanisms in stress susceptibility.
SCHEMATIC MODELLING OF PERIPHERAL ASTIGMATISM IN REAL EYES

Abstract— A method is described whereby any schematic eye possessing a two‐surfaced, monoindicial lens can be manipulated to yield the same amounts of peripheral astigmatism as found in real eyes. Its optical performance is discussed and it is demonstrated that schematic eyes of this type cannot simultaneously yield the amounts of peripheral astigmatism and spherical aberration that are observed in real eyes.