Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Hedging and Pricing of Options

Kumpulan tiedekirjasto In this thesis we cover some fundamental topics in mathematical finance and construct market models for the option pricing. An option on an asset is a contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to trade the underlying asset for a fixed price at a future date. Our main goal is to find a price for an option that will not allow the existence of an arbitrage, that is, a way to make a riskless profit. We will see that the hedging has an essential role in this pricing. Both the hedging and the pricing are very import tasks for an investor trading at constantly growing derivative markets.
Examining the Associations between Walk Score, Perceived Built Environment, and Physical Activity Behaviors among Women Participating in a Community-Randomized Lifestyle Change Intervention Trial: Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities

Little is known about the relationship between perceived and objective measures of the built environment and physical activity behavior among rural populations. Within the context of a lifestyle-change intervention trial for rural women, Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities (SHHC), we examined: (1) if Walk Score (WS), an objective built environment measure, was associated with perceived built environment (PBE); (2) if WS and PBE were associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); and (3) if MVPA changes were modified by WS and/or PBE. Accelerometers and questionnaires were used to collect MVPA and PBE. Bivariate analyses and linear mixed models were used for statistical analyses. We found that WS was positively associated with perceived proximity to destinations (p < 0.001) and street shoulder availability (p = 0.001). MVPA was generally not associated with WS or PBE. Compared to controls, intervention group participants increased MVPA if they lived in communities with the lowest WS (WS = 0), fewer perceived walkable destinations, or extremely safe perceived traffic (all p < 0.05). Findings suggest that WS appears to be a relevant indicator of walkable amenities in rural towns; results also suggest that the SHHC intervention likely helped rural women with the greatest dearth of built environment assets to improve MVPA.
Dietary Polyphenols Targeting Arterial Stiffness: Interplay of Contributing Mechanisms and Gut Microbiome-Related Metabolism

Increased arterial stiffness is a degenerative vascular process, progressing with age that leads to a reduced capability of arteries to expand and contract in response to pressure changes. This progressive degeneration mainly affects the extracellular matrix of elastic arteries and causes loss of vascular elasticity. Recent studies point to significant interference of dietary polyphenols with mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology and progression of arterial stiffness. This review summarizes data from epidemiological and interventional studies on the effect of polyphenols on vascular stiffness as an illustration of current research and addresses possible etiological factors targeted by polyphenols, including pathways of vascular functionality, oxidative status, inflammation, glycation, and autophagy. Effects can either be inflicted directly by the dietary polyphenols or indirectly by metabolites originated from the host or microbial metabolic processes. The composition of the gut microbiome, therefore, determines the resulting metabolome and, as a consequence, the observed activity. On the other hand, polyphenols also influence the intestinal microbial composition, and therefore the metabolites available for interaction with relevant targets. As such, targeting the gut microbiome is another potential treatment option for arterial stiffness.
MANIS: evading malware detection system on graph structure

Adversarial machine learning has attracted attention because it makes classifiers vulnerable to attacks. Meanwhile, machine learning on graph-structured data makes great achievements in many fields like social networks, recommendation systems, molecular structure prediction, and malware detection. Unfortunately, although the malware graph structure enables effective detection of malicious code and activity, it is still vulnerable to adversarial data manipulation. However, adversarial example crafting for machine learning systems that utilize the graph structure, especially taking the entire graph as an input, is very little noticed. In this paper, we advance the field of adversarial machine learning by designing an approach to evade machine learning-based classification systems, which takes the whole graph structure as input through adversarial example crafting. We derive such an attack and demonstrate it by constructing MANIS, a system that can evade graph-based malware detection with two attacking approaches: the n-strongest nodes and the gradient sign method. We evaluate our adversarial crafting techniques utilizing the Drebin malicious dataset. Under the white-box attack, we get a 72.2% misclassification rate only by injecting 22.7% nodes with the n-strongest node. For the gradient sign method, we obtain a 33.4% misclassification rate with 36.34% node injection. Under the gray-box attack, the performance of our adversarial examples is evenly significant, although attackers may not have the complete knowledge of the classifiers' mechanisms.
Application of the Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) Platform for Detection and Quantification of Vertebrate Host DNA in Engorged Mosquitoes

Abstract Hematophagous arthropod bloodmeal identification has remained a challenge in the field of vector biology, but these studies are important to understand blood feeding patterns of arthropods, spatial, and temporal patterns in arbovirus transmission cycles, and risk of human and veterinary disease. We investigated the use of an existing vertebrate primer set for use on the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) platform, to explore the use of this technology in the identification and quantification of vertebrate DNA in mosquito blood meals. Host DNA was detectable 48-h post-engorgement in some mosquitoes by ddPCR, compared with 24-h post-engorgement using traditional PCR. The capability of ddPCR for absolute quantification of template DNA offers unique potential applications of this new technology to field studies on the ecology of vector-borne diseases, but currently with limited scope.
Attitudes is the most important environmental factor for use of powered mobility devices – users’ perspectives

Abstract Introduction: Different factors in the environment influence the use of powered wheelchairs or powered scooters, i.e. powered mobility devices (PMDs), but there is limited knowledge about how these factors interact and if any factor has a greater impact. According to the ICF the environment consists of five areas. Aim: To describe users’ experiences of how environmental factors from all ICF areas influence the use of PMDs. Methods: Descriptive qualitative design including 14 interviews with PMD users, analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Findings: Use of PMDs means a conditional freedom depending on the interaction of several environmental factors. Regardless of environmental factor the societal attitudes were always present, directly or indirectly, and influenced the participants’ feeling of being included and involved in society. The environmental factors and how they influence PMD use are described in four categories, comprising the following subjects: societal attitudes, the service delivery process, accessibility to the physical environment and financial resources. Conclusion: The findings show that societal attitudes influence all other factors, directly by others people’s attitudes, or indirectly by how legislation and guidelines are formulated, interpreted and applied. Therefore, a change of societal attitudes seems necessary to increase accessibility and participation for PMD users.
Optimization of Paraquat Degradation by Microbial Consortium from Rhizosphere Soil

The optimization of paraquat degradation by microbial consortium from rhizosphere soil was investigated. The ability of paraquat degradations was evaluated under the variation of media compositions, incubation temperature and initial pH levels. The microbial consortium was acclimatized by being cultured in LB (Luria-Bertani) broth and supplemented with 10 mg/L paraquat before used as seed inoculums. In different paraquat mineral salt medium (PMS), paraquat acts as a carbon and nitrogen source (PMS1), as a carbon source (PMS2) and paraquat act as a nitrogen source (PMS3). All three were used in this study. The media that gave the percentage of paraquat degradation was used for examining of temperature (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 °C) and pH (5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) to degrade paraquat by microbial consortium. The maximum percentage of paraquat degradation (91%) was found in PMS3 and it was significantly different from PMS1 and PMS2 (p < 0.005). It indicated that paraquat was used as nitrogen source for culturing. The highest percentage of paraquat degradation (>90%) was found in PMS3 cultivation during 28 days at 30 °C and pH 7. The microbial consortium observed paraquat degrader was performed by serial dilution techniques and spread on PMS3 medium. Three strains of paraquat degrader were obtained as JP1, JP2 and JP3. The morphological characteristic of these strains was investigated under the microscope. JP1 and JP3 were gram positive rod while JP2 was gram negative cocci.
Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Biliary Tract Cancer: ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline.

PURPOSE To develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline to assist in clinical decision making for patients with resected biliary tract cancer. METHODS ASCO convened an Expert Panel to conduct a systematic review of the literature on adjuvant therapy for resected biliary tract cancer and provide recommended care options for this patient population. RESULTS Three phase III randomized controlled trials, one phase II trial, and 16 retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on evidence from a phase III randomized controlled trial, patients with resected biliary tract cancer should be offered adjuvant capecitabine chemotherapy for a duration of 6 months. The dosing used in this trial is described in the qualifying statements, while it should be noted that the dose of capecitabine may also be determined by institutional and regional practices. Patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer and a microscopically positive surgical resection margin (R1 resection) may be offered chemoradiation therapy. A shared decision-making approach is recommended, considering the risk of harm and potential for benefit associated with radiation therapy for patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer. Additional information is available at www.asco. org/gastrointestinal-cancer-guidelines .
Plasmid DNA-Based Alphavirus Vaccines

Alphaviruses have been engineered as vectors for high-level transgene expression. Originally, alphavirus-based vectors were applied as recombinant replication-deficient particles, subjected to expression studies in mammalian and non-mammalian cell lines, primary cell cultures, and in vivo. However, vector engineering has expanded the application range to plasmid DNA-based delivery and expression. Immunization studies with DNA-based alphavirus vectors have demonstrated tumor regression and protection against challenges with infectious agents and tumor cells in animal tumor models. The presence of the RNA replicon genes responsible for extensive RNA replication in the RNA/DNA layered alphavirus vectors provides superior transgene expression in comparison to conventional plasmid DNA-based expression. Immunization with alphavirus DNA vectors revealed that 1000-fold less DNA was required to elicit similar immune responses compared to conventional plasmid DNA. In addition to DNA-based delivery, immunization with recombinant alphavirus particles and RNA replicons has demonstrated efficacy in providing protection against lethal challenges by infectious agents and tumor cells.
Design for Recycling in a Critical Raw Materials Perspective

The European Union (EU) identified a number of raw materials that are strategic for its economy but suffer at the same time from a high supply risk. Such critical raw materials (CRMs) are used in a wide range of commercial and governmental applications: green technology, telecommunications, space exploration, aerial imaging, aviation, medical devices, micro-electronics, transportation, defense, and other high-technology products and services. As a result, the industry, the environment, and our quality and modern way of life are reliant on the access and use of them. In this scenario, recycling may be a strategic mitigating action aimed at reducing the critical raw materials supply risks. In this work, a design strategy is proposed for alloys selection that minimizes the number of CRMs with the lowest end-of-life recycling input rate. The method is illustrated with an example.
Biochemical characterizationofa b-fructofuranosidase from Rhodotorula dairenensiswith transfructosylatingactivity

Biochemical characterizationofa b-fructofuranosidase from Rhodotorula dairenensiswith transfructosylatingactivity Patricia Gutiérrez-Alonso, Lucı́a Fernández-Arrojo, Francisco J. Plou & Marı́a Fernández-Lobato Departamento de Biologı́a Molecular (CSIC-UAM), Centro de Biologı́a Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad AutónomaMadrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain; and Departamento de Biocatálisis, Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquı́mica, CSIC, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
Molecular Carcinogenesis

Division of Biochemistry and Innovative Cancer Therapeutics, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan Division of Molecular Medicine, Life Science Research Institute, Saga Medical Center Koseikan, Saga, Japan Division of Anti‐Tumor Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan Director of Kyushu Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers, Fukuoka, Japan SAGA HIMAT Foundation, Saga, Japan
Preparing trainees for telemedicine: a virtual OSCE pilot

included the benefit of the ‘immersive’, ‘clear’ and ‘step-inside 3D’ experience, the helpfulness of guided exploration and modules, and memorability. Negative themes included the small field of vision, fine motor control problems and desire for a more detailed anatomical model. A student who selfidentified as ‘having more difficulty with special intelligence’ reported that AR was the ‘single most helpful anatomical learning tool I have used’. In this limited and uncontrolled sample, ARenhanced teaching of neuroanatomy increased student knowledge and was highly popular. Major challenges for sustaining the project include identifying dedicated space for AR education, supporting educational and IT staffing for these sessions, and scaling up capacity by identifying capital for the devices and software. Based on these preliminary data, AR could become a useful supplementary resource for neuroanatomy students.
A New Secure and Anonymous Metering Scheme for Smart Grid Communications

The smart meter is one of the most important components of the smart grid, which enables bi-directional communication between electric power providers and in-home appliances. However, the fine-grained metering mechanism that reports real-time electricity usage to the provider may result in some privacy and security issues for the owner of the smart meter. In this paper, we propose a new secure and anonymous smart metering scheme based on the technique of direct anonymous attestation and identity-based signatures. We utilize the trusted platform module to realize the tamper resistance of the smart meter. Moreover, our scheme is able to detect malfunctioning meters in which data is reported more than once in a time period. Finally, the performance and security results show that our proposed scheme is efficient and satisfies the security requirements of the smart grid communication system.
THE DISABLED AND THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE EXPERINCES IN IRANIAN CULTURE

Like the disabled in other cultures, Iranian disabled confront numerous difficulties in their everyday life. They are constantly rejected in different fields of social life by Iranian culture, and as a result Iranian disabled find themselves in an inappropriate cultural /social circumstance. This research is focused on Iranian disabled and host culture in one of northern Iranian provinces, Gilan (Rasht city) to explain living experiences of Iranian disabled as abandoned individuals in Iranian culture. This research’s theoretical approach is Erving Goffman’s “Stigma” theory applied on eight disables. Samples included four men and four women, single and aged from 28 to 45. They were exposed to be stigmatized for their physical disabilities. In this study “Autobiography” method has been used to give samples chance of speaking about themselves and their experiences in their everyday life. The participants have been profoundly interviewed. Results demonstrated that Iranian culture has patriarchal characteristics and that is why the patriarchal culture plays a key role in defining disabled by the society and by themselves. The presence of patriarchal characteristics of host culture shows itself as impassable obstacles concerning work and marriage in host society. These obstacles are constantly constructed through media and social stigmatizing actions (labeling, joshing, gagging, fooling, piteous looking and talking) as well as objective factors (particularly physical obstacles of disabled participation in their social everyday life) which contributes to perceiving “Otherness” by Iranian disabled.
DELIVERABLE D4.2 INITIAL EXTENSIONS FOR KNOWLEDGE-LEVEL PLANNING AND HEURISTIC SEARCH

A robot coexisting with humans must not only be able to successfully perform physical tasks, but must also be able to interact with humans in a socially appropriate manner. In many social settings, this involves the use of social signals like gaze, facial expression, and language. In this paper we discuss preliminary work focusing on the problem of combining social interaction with task-based action in a dynamic, multiagent bartending domain, using an embodied robot. We discuss how social states are inferred from low-level sensors, using vision and speech as input modalities, and present a planning approach that models task, dialogue, and social actions in a simple bartending scenario. This approach allows us to build interesting plans, which have been evaluated in a real-world study with human subjects, using a general purpose, off-the-shelf planner, as an alternative to more mainstream methods of interaction management. This paper combines and extends the results of [5, 6], a draft of which was included as part of deliverable D4.1. R. Petrick. Towards Heuristic Search in the PKS Planner. Technical Report, University of Edinburgh, 2012. Abstract: This report describes part of UEDIN’s contribution to the ongoing work of general-purpose, knowledgelevel planning in the JAMES project. The focus of this document is a description of the current state of proposed heuristic search extensions for the PKS (Planning with Knowledge and Sensing) planner, and its derivative technologies, which will be used and extended throughout the project as part of WP4 (Task 4.3). In this reporting period (M18), we present an overview of the problem of informed search for knowledge-level planning, and describe our current workplan for extending the PKS planner during the next work period of the project. We also highlight other research directions for knowledge-level planning currently in progress which are related to the heuristic search work. 3 This report describes part of UEDIN’s contribution to the ongoing work of general-purpose, knowledgelevel planning in the JAMES project. The focus of this document is a description of the current state of proposed heuristic search extensions for the PKS (Planning with Knowledge and Sensing) planner, and its derivative technologies, which will be used and extended throughout the project as part of WP4 (Task 4.3). In this reporting period (M18), we present an overview of the problem of informed search for knowledge-level planning, and describe our current workplan for extending the PKS planner during the next work period of the project. We also highlight other research directions for knowledge-level planning currently in progress which are related to the heuristic search work. 3 Deliverable D4.2 JAMES Grant No. 270435
Remodeling of epigenome and transcriptome landscapes with aging in mice reveals widespread induction of inflammatory responses

Aging is accompanied by the functional decline of tissues. However, a systematic study of epigenomic and transcriptomic changes across tissues during aging is missing. Here we generated chromatin maps and transcriptomes from 4 tissues and one cell type from young, middle-age, and old mice, yielding 143 high-quality datasets. We focused specifically on chromatin marks linked to gene expression regulation and cell identity: histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 4 (H3K4me3), a mark enriched at promoters, and histone H3 acetylation at lysine 27 (H3K27ac), a mark enriched at active enhancers. Epigenomic and transcriptomic landscapes could easily distinguish between ages, and machine learning analysis showed that specific epigenomic states could predict transcriptional changes during aging. Analysis of datasets from all tissues identified recurrent age-related chromatin and transcriptional changes in key processes, including the upregulation of immune system response pathways such as the interferon signaling pathway. The upregulation of interferon response pathway with age was accompanied by increased transcription of various endogenous retroviral sequences. Pathways deregulated during mouse aging across tissues, notably innate immune pathways, were also deregulated with aging in other vertebrate species – African turquoise killifish, rat, and humans – indicating common signatures of age across species. To date, our dataset represents the largest multi-tissue epigenomic and transcriptomic dataset for vertebrate aging. This resource identifies chromatin and transcriptional states that are characteristic of youthful tissues, which could be leveraged to restore aspects of youthful functionality to old tissues.