Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lecture notes on FINANCIAL MARKETS

Introduction In 2000, when Bocconi University launched its Master in Quantitative Finance, I was asked to develop a course touching upon the many aspects of decision theory, financial economics, and microstructure that could not otherwise fit in the tight schedule of the program. Reflecting this heterogeneity, the course was dubbed " Topics in Economics " and I was given a fair amount of leeway in its development. My only constraint was that I had to choose what I thought best and then compress it in 15 lectures. These notes detail my choices after two years of teaching " Topics in Economics " at the Master in Quantitative Finance of Bocconi University and a similar class more aptly named " Microeconomics of financial markets " at the Master of Economics and Finance of the Venice International University. The material is arranged into 15 units, upon whose contents I make no claim of originality. Each unit corresponds to a 90-minutes session. Some units (most notably, Unit 5) contain too much stuff, reflecting either the accretion of different choices or my desire to offer a more complete view. Unit 7 requires less time than the standard session: I usually take advantage of the time left to begin exploring Unit 8. I have constantly kept revising my choices (and my notes), and I will most likely do so in the future as well, posting updates on my website at http://helios.unive. it/˜licalzi.
Labour Supply Response of a Retirement Earnings Test Reform

Norwegian administrative data are used to evaluate the impact of a doubling of the threshold in the earnings test on the labour force activity. We find no impact on labour market participation, but positive effects on earnings. The effect increases with exposure to the reform and is stronger for individuals with earnings around the threshold and with high education. Individuals who remain active until retirement age respond more to the reform than those who left labour force earlier. The results indicate both substantial labour supply responsiveness among elderly, and heterogeneity with respect to preferences, labour market options or both.
Measuring the Deviation from the Linear and Deterministic Bias through Cosmic Gravitational Lensing Effects

Since gravitational lensing effects directly probe inhomogeneities of dark matter, lensing-galaxy cross-correlations can provide us important information on the relation between dark matter and galaxy distributions, i.e., the bias. In this paper, we propose a method to measure the stochasticity/nonlinearity of the galaxy bias through correlation studies of the cosmic shear and galaxy number fluctuations. Specifically, we employ the aperture mass statistics Map to describe the cosmic shear. We divide the foreground-galaxy redshift zf < zs into several bins, where zs is the redshift of the source galaxies, and calculate the quantity ⟨MapNg(zf)⟩2/⟨N(zf)⟩ for each redshift bin. Then, the ratio of the summation of ⟨MapNg(zf)⟩2/⟨N(zf)⟩ over the bins to ⟨M⟩ gives a measure of the nonlinear/stochastic bias. Here, Ng(zf) is the projected surface number density fluctuation of foreground galaxies at redshift zf, and Map is the aperture mass from the cosmic-shear analysis. We estimate that for a moderately deep weak-lensing survey with zs = 1, source galaxy surface number density nb = 30 galaxies arcmin-2, and a survey area of 25 deg2, the effective r-parameter that represents the deviation from the linear and deterministic bias is detectable in the angular range of 1'-10' if |r - 1| ≳ 10%. For shallow, wide surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey with zs = 0.5, nb = 5 galaxies arcmin-2, and a survey area of 104 deg2, a 10% detection of r is possible over the angular range 1'-100'.
Effect of mindfulness training on asthma quality of life and lung function: a randomised controlled trial

Background This study evaluated the efficacy of a mindfulness training programme (mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)) in improving asthma-related quality of life and lung function in patients with asthma. Methods A randomised controlled trial compared an 8-week MBSR group-based programme (n=42) with an educational control programme (n=41) in adults with mild, moderate or severe persistent asthma recruited at a university hospital outpatient primary care and pulmonary care clinic. Primary outcomes were quality of life (Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) and lung function (change from baseline in 2-week average morning peak expiratory flow (PEF)). Secondary outcomes were asthma control assessed by 2007 National Institutes of Health/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute guidelines, and stress (Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)). Follow-up assessments were conducted at 10 weeks, 6 and 12 months. Results At 12 months MBSR resulted in clinically significant improvements from baseline in quality of life (differential change in Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score for MBSR vs control: 0.66 (95% CI 0.30 to 1.03; p<0.001)) but not in lung function (morning PEF, PEF variability and forced expiratory volume in 1 s). MBSR also resulted in clinically significant improvements in perceived stress (differential change in PSS score for MBSR vs control: −4.5 (95% CI −7.1 to −1.9; p=0.001)). There was no significant difference (p=0.301) in percentage of patients in MBSR with well controlled asthma (7.3% at baseline to 19.4%) compared with the control condition (7.5% at baseline to 7.9%). Conclusions MBSR produced lasting and clinically significant improvements in asthma-related quality of life and stress in patients with persistent asthma, without improvements in lung function. Clinical Trial Registration Number Asthma and Mindfulness-Based Reduction (MBSR) Identifier: NCT00682669. clinicaltrials.gov.
Depth Camera in Human-Computer Interaction: An Overview

With the continuous development of multimedia technology, simple two-dimensional(2D) scenes have already can't meet the needs of people's requirements because people want a more direct reflection on the real world. As a newly developing distance measuring hardware, the depth camera technology opens a new epoch for three-dimensional(3D) geometric information acquisition. A plenty of applications like geometry reconstruction, mixed reality, gesture reorganization etc. are all depend on accurate and fast analysis of 3D scenes. This paper gives an overview of recent developments in depth camera technology and introduces the depth measurement methods used in reality. And it also presents the ongoing researches and applications on depth cameras used in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), like using depth camera as a touch sensor, using depth camera in 3D reconstruction, hand gesture recognition and tangible interaction.
Predicting 1 year mortality in an outpatient haemodialysis population: a comparison of comorbidity instruments.

BACKGROUND A valid and practical measure of comorbid illness burden in dialysis populations is greatly needed to enable unbiased comparisons of clinical outcomes. We compare the discriminatory accuracy of 1 year mortality predictions derived from four comorbidity instruments in a large representative US dialysis population. METHODS Comorbidity information was collected using the Index of Coexistent Diseases (ICED) in 1779 haemodialysis patients of a national dialysis provider between 1997 and 2000. Comorbidity was also scored according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Wright-Khan and Davies indices. Relationships of instrument scores with 1 year mortality were assessed in separate logistic regression analyses. Discriminatory ability was compared using the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC), based on predictions of each regression model. RESULTS When mortality was predicted using comorbidity and age, the ICED better discriminated between survivors and those who died (AUC 0.72) as compared with the CCI (0.67), Wright-Khan (0.68) and Davies (0.68) indices. Upon addition of race and serum albumin, predictive accuracy of each model improved further (AUCs of the ICED, 0.77; CCI, 0.75; Wright-Khan Index, 0.75; Davies Index, 0.74). CONCLUSIONS The ICED had greater discriminatory ability than the CCI, Davies and Wright-Khan indices, when age and a comorbidity index were used alone to predict 1 year mortality; however, the differences among instruments diminished once serum albumin, race and the cause of ESRD were accounted for. None of the currently available comorbidity instruments tested in this study discriminated mortality outcomes particularly well. Assessing comorbidity using the ICED takes significantly more time. Identifying the key prognostic comorbid conditions and weighting these according to outcomes in a dialysis population should increase accuracy and, with restriction to a finite number of items, provide a practical means for widespread comorbidity assessment.
Top2 and Sgs1-Top3 Act Redundantly to Ensure rDNA Replication Termination

Faithful DNA replication with correct termination is essential for genome stability and transmission of genetic information. Here we have investigated the potential roles of Topoisomerase II (Top2) and the RecQ helicase Sgs1 during late stages of replication. We find that cells lacking Top2 and Sgs1 (or Top3) display two different characteristics during late S/G2 phase, checkpoint activation and accumulation of asymmetric X-structures, which are both independent of homologous recombination. Our data demonstrate that checkpoint activation is caused by a DNA structure formed at the strongest rDNA replication fork barrier (RFB) during replication termination, and consistently, checkpoint activation is dependent on the RFB binding protein, Fob1. In contrast, asymmetric X-structures are formed independent of Fob1 at less strong rDNA replication fork barriers. However, both checkpoint activation and formation of asymmetric X-structures are sensitive to conditions, which facilitate fork merging and progression of replication forks through replication fork barriers. Our data are consistent with a redundant role of Top2 and Sgs1 together with Top3 (Sgs1-Top3) in replication fork merging at rDNA barriers. At RFB either Top2 or Sgs1-Top3 is essential to prevent formation of a checkpoint activating DNA structure during termination, but at less strong rDNA barriers absence of the enzymes merely delays replication fork merging, causing an accumulation of asymmetric termination structures, which are solved over time.
Fast Configuration for Mobile IPTV in IPv6 Networks

This letter proposes a new fast network configuration scheme that realizes an IP interface that allows users to view Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) in IPv6 networks more quickly than is possible with the current configuration procedure. The new scheme, a hybrid combination of IPv6, address information, and non-IP information, especially the Domain Name Service, is newly designed based on a technical analysis. The evaluation results show that the proposed scheme is acceptable for real-time television watching in IPv6 networks, even when in motion. key words: IPTV, Mobile IPTV, IPv6, DHCP
A Simple Local Path Planning Algorithm for Autonomous Mobile Robots

This paper presents an overview of path planning algorithms for autonomous robots. The paper then focuses on the bug algorithm family which is a local path planning algorithm. Bug algorithms use sensors to detect the nearest obstacle as a mobile robot moves towards a target with limited information about the environment. The algorithm uses obstacle border as guidance toward the target as the robot circumnavigates the obstacle till it finds certain condition to fulfill the algorithm criteria to leave the obstacle toward target point. In addition, this paper introduces an approach utilizing a new algorithm called PointBug. This algorithm attempts to minimize the use of outer perimeter of an obstacle (obstacle border) by looking for a few important points on the outer perimeter of obstacle area as a turning point to target and finally generate a complete path from source to target. The less use of outer perimeter of obstacle area produces shorter total path length taken by a mobile robot. Further this approach is then compared with other existing selected local path planning algorithm for total distance and a guarantee to reach the target. Keywords—Path Planning, Bug algorithm, Autonomous robot, Sensor based, Mobile robot.
Scalable Computing: Practice and Experience

Boundary value problems for ordinary differential equations (BVODES) occur in a great many practical situations and they are generally much harder to solve than initial value problems. Traditionally codes for BVODES did not take into account the conditioning of the problem and it was generally assumed that the problem being solved was well conditioned so that small local errors gave rise to correspondingly small global errors. Recently a new generation of codes which take account of conditioning has been developed. However most of these codes are based on a rather ad hoc approach with the need to choose several heuristics without any real guidance on how these choices can be made. In this paper we identify clearly which heuristics need to be chosen and we discuss different choices of monitor functions that are used in our codes. This has the important effect of unifying the various approaches that have recently been proposed. This in turn allows us, in the present paper, to introduce a new technique for computing the conditioning which is ideally suited to BVODES.
Bubbles in Kaluza-Klein theories with spacelike or timelike internal dimensions

Bubbles are pointlike regular solutions of the higher-dimensional Kaluza-Klein equations that appear as naked singularities in four dimensions. We analyze all such possible solutions in five-dimensional ~5D! Kaluza-Klein theory that are static and spherically symmetric. We show that they can be obtained by taking unusual choices of the parameters in the dyonic black hole solutions, and find that regularity can only be achieved if their electric charge is zero. However, they can be neutral or possess magnetic charge. We study some of their properties, both in theories where the internal dimension is spacelike as well as timelike. Since bubbles do not have horizons, they have no entropy, nor do they emit any thermal radiation, but they are, in general, nonextremal objects. In the two-timing case, it is remarkable that nonsingular massless monopoles are possible, probably signaling a new pathology of these theories. These two-timing monopoles connect two asymptotically flat regions, and matter can flow from one region to the other. We also present a C-type solution that describes neutral bubbles in uniform acceleration, and we use it to construct an instanton that mediates the breaking of a cosmic string by forming bubbles at its ends. The rate for this process is also calculated. Finally, we argue that a similar solution can be constructed for magnetic bubbles, and that it can be used to describe a semiclassical instability of the two-timing vacuum against production of massless monopole pairs. @S0556-2821~97! 01702-5#
A Fuzzy Logic-Based System for Indoor Localization Using WiFi in Ambient Intelligent Environments

Ambient intelligence is a new information paradigm, where people are empowered through a digital environment that is “aware” of their presence and context and is sensitive, adaptive, and responsive to their needs. Hence, one of the important requirements for ambient intelligent environments (AIEs) is the ability to localize the whereabouts of the user in the AIE to address her/his needs. In order to protect user privacy, the use of cameras is not desirable in AIEs, and hence, there is a need to rely on nonintrusive sensors. There are various localization means that are available for outdoor spaces such as those which rely on satellite signals triangulation. However, these outdoor localization means cannot be used in indoor environments. The majority of nonintrusive and noncamera-based indoor localization systems require the installation of extra hardware such as ultrasound emitters/antennas, radio-frequency identification (RFID) antennas, etc. In this paper, we propose a novel indoor localization system that is based on WiFi signals which are free to receive, and they are available in abundance in the majority of domestic spaces. However, free WiFi signals are noisy and uncertain, and their strengths and availability are continuously changing. Hence, we present a fuzzy logic-based system which employs free available WiFi signals to localize a given user in AIEs. The proposed system receives WiFi signals from a large number of existing WiFi access points (up to 170 access points), where no prior knowledge of the access points locations and the environment is required. The system employs an incremental lifelong learning approach to adjust its behavior to the varying and changing WiFi signals to provide a zero-cost localization system which can provide high accuracy in real-world living spaces. We have compared our system in both simulated and real environments with other relevant techniques in the literature, and we have found that our system outperforms the other systems in the offline learning process, whereas our system was the only system which is capable of performing online learning and adaptation. The proposed system was tested in real-world spaces from a living lab intelligent apartment (iSpace) to a town center apartment to a block of offices. In all these experiments, our system has been highly accurate in detecting the user in the given AIEs, and the system was able to adapt its behavior to changes in the AIE or the WiFi signals. We envisage that the proposed system will play an important role in AIEs, especially for privacy concerned situations like elderly care scenarios.
The terminal basal mitosis of chicken retinal Lim1 horizontal cells is not sensitive to cisplatin-induced cell cycle arrest

For proper development, cells need to coordinate proliferation and cell cycle-exit. This is mediated by a cascade of proteins making sure that each phase of the cell cycle is controlled before the initiation of the next. Retinal progenitor cells divide during the process of interkinetic nuclear migration, where they undergo S-phase on the basal side, followed by mitoses on the apical side of the neuroepithelium. The final cell cycle of chicken retinal horizontal cells (HCs) is an exception to this general cell cycle behavior. Lim1 expressing (+) horizontal progenitor cells (HPCs) have a heterogenic final cell cycle, with some cells undergoing a terminal mitosis on the basal side of the retina. The results in this study show that this terminal basal mitosis of Lim1+ HPCs is not dependent on Chk1/2 for its regulation compared to retinal cells undergoing interkinetic nuclear migration. Neither activating nor blocking Chk1 had an effect on the basal mitosis of Lim1+ HPCs. Furthermore, the Lim1+ HPCs were not sensitive to cisplatin-induced DNA damage and were able to continue into mitosis in the presence of γ-H2AX without activation of caspase-3. However, Nutlin3a-induced expression of p21 did reduce the mitoses, suggesting the presence of a functional p53/p21 response in HPCs. In contrast, the apical mitoses were blocked upon activation of either Chk1/2 or p21, indicating the importance of these proteins during the process of interkinetic nuclear migration. Inhibiting Cdk1 blocked M-phase transition both for apical and basal mitoses. This confirmed that the cyclin B1-Cdk1 complex was active and functional during the basal mitosis of Lim1+ HPCs. The regulation of the final cell cycle of Lim1+ HPCs is of particular interest since it has been shown that the HCs are able to sustain persistent DNA damage, remain in the cell cycle for an extended period of time and, consequently, survive for months.
You are what you consume: a bayesian method for personalized recommendations

In this paper, we propose a novel Bayesian approach for personalized recommendations. In our approach, we model both user preferences and items under recommendation as multivariate Gaussian distributions; and make use of Normal-Inverse Wishart priors to model the recommendation agent beliefs about user types. We employ a lightweight agent-user interaction process, during which the user is presented with and asked to rate a small number of items. We then interpret these ratings in an innovative way, using them to guide a Bayesian updating process that helps us both capture a user's current mood, and maintain her overall user type. We produced several variants of our approach, and applied them in the movie recommendations domain, evaluating them on data from the MovieLens dataset. Our algorithms are shown to be competitive against a state-of-the-art method, which nevertheless requires a minimum set of ratings from various users to provide recommendations---unlike our entirely personalized approach.
Network Function Virtualization based on FPGAs: A Framework for all-Programmable network devices

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) refers to the use of commodity hardware resources as the basic platform to perform specialized network functions as opposed to specialized hardware devices. Currently, NFV is mainly implemented based on general purpose processors, or general purpose network processors. In this paper we propose the use of FPGAs as an ideal platform for NFV that can be used to provide both the flexibility of virtualizations and the high performance of the specialized hardware. We present the early attempts of using FPGAs dynamic reconfiguration in network processing applications to provide flexible network functions and we present the opportunities for an FPGA-based NFV platform.
Brief report: trajectories of glycemic control over early to middle adolescence.

OBJECTIVES To identify distinct patterns of glycemic control over early to middle adolescence, and to determine whether psychosocial variables predicted those patterns. METHODS We used trajectory analysis to examine glycemic control over 5 years among adolescents with type 1 diabetes who were of age 12 on average at study start (n = 132). Well-being, relationships, and self-care behavior were assessed with in-person interviews. Blood glucose testing was determined from blood glucose meters, and missed clinic appointments and glycosolated hemoglobin were obtained from medical records. RESULTS We identified two distinct clusters of individuals, a stable good glycemic control group and a poorer deteriorating glycemic control group. Individuals in the deteriorating control group were characterized by higher peer conflict, more negative diabetes emotions, fewer blood glucose tests, and more missed clinic appointments. CONCLUSION Psychosocial variables and behavioral markers of self-care may predict the course of glycemic control over early to middle adolescence.
Biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis: new insights into regulatory strategies and assembly mechanisms

Biofilm formation is a social behaviour that generates favourable conditions for sustained survival in the natural environment. For the Gram‐positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis the process involves the differentiation of cell fate within an isogenic population and the production of communal goods that form the biofilm matrix. Here we review recent progress in understanding the regulatory pathways that control biofilm formation and highlight developments in understanding the composition, function and structure of the biofilm matrix.
CAS-ICT at TREC 2005 SPAM Track: Using Non-Textual Information to Improve Spam Filtering Performance

This paper introduces our work in the TREC2005 SPAM track. Naive Bayes and Littlestone's Winnow are chosen as our basic classifiers. In our investigation, we found that when the structures of Ham and Spam are very different, the feature distributions of them vary a lot. Thus the factor of structure is introduced into our filter. Besides textual word feature, some kind of other features are also considered in our filter. Our experimental results show that Winnow outperforms Naive Bayes and the multi-feature model outperforms structure based model.