Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Term Structure of Volatility in Futures Yield - a Maximum Likelihood Approach

The volatility structure of 90-day bill futures traded on the the Sydney Futures Exchange is analysed within the framework of the Heath-Jarrow-Morton model. The method involves characterisation of the transition probability density function for the forward rate process represented by the stochastic differential equation in the arbitrage-free economy. Maximisation of the likelihood function then results in the estimates of the parameters of the volatility function. The volatility function is also used in a simulation of the preference-free stochastic differential equation for bill prices.
Designing auditory pointers

Sound can be used to give orientation, drag the listener's attention into a certain direction and provide navigational cues in virtual, as well as in physical environments. In analogy to the concept of visual pointers we call such sounds Auditory Pointers. While previous work mainly focused on the spacial localization property of sounds, we would like to complement this by using properties of the sound itself. Properties, like loudness, timbre, and pitch, can be used to sonify distance and direction to a target point. In this paper, we describe an exemplary implementation of respective sound synthesis techniques and investigate the effectiveness of different properties in a user study. The findings reveal big differences between the sound parameters and give clues for functional sound design.
Endothelium 2 Subunit on α Inhibitor Suppressing an Expression of Integrin Sulfonamide Derivative , E 7820 , Is a Unique Angiogenesis

In the process of angiogenesis, endothelial adhesion molecules play a significant role in vascular morphogenesis, in coordination with angiogenic factor signaling. Here we report that a novel angiogenesis inhibitor, E7820 (an aromatic sulfonamide derivative), inhibited in vitro proliferation and tube formation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC). E7820 decreased integrin 2, 3, 5, and 1 in confluent culture of HUVEC, and integrin 2 was initially suppressed in mRNA level, followed by decrement of integrins 3, 5, and 1. The inhibition of integrin 2 expression in HUVEC showed dose dependence but did not alter the level of CD31. Up-regulation of integrin 2 by phorbol 12myristate 13-acetate abrogated the inhibitory effect of E7820 on tube formation within type I collagen gel, whereas addition of antibody against integrin 2 canceled the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate effect. These results suggest that E7820 inhibited tube formation through the suppression of integrin 2. Oral administration of E7820 remarkably resulted in inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis in mouse dorsal air sac model, and tumor growth of human colorectal tumor cell lines (WiDr and LoVo) was inhibited in xenotransplanted model in mice. This is the first time that a small molecule has been shown to modulate integrins, and this finding may provide the basis for a new approach to antiangiogenic therapy through the suppression of integrin 2 on endothelium.
Reprogramming of murine fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells with chemical complementation of Klf4

Ectopic expression of defined transcription factors can reprogram somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, but the utility of iPS cells is hampered by the use of viral delivery systems. Small molecules offer an alternative to replace virally transduced transcription factors with chemical signaling cues responsible for reprogramming. In this report we describe a small-molecule screening platform applied to identify compounds that functionally replace the reprogramming factor Klf4. A series of small-molecule scaffolds were identified that activate Nanog expression in mouse fibroblasts transduced with a subset of reprogramming factors lacking Klf4. Application of one such molecule, kenpaullone, in lieu of Klf4 gave rise to iPS cells that are indistinguishable from murine embryonic stem cells. This experimental platform can be used to screen large chemical libraries in search of novel compounds to replace the reprogramming factors that induce pluripotency. Ultimately, such compounds may provide mechanistic insight into the reprogramming process.
Living in Pasteur’s Quadrant: How Conversational Duets Spark Language at Home and in the Community

ABSTRACT In 1995 scientists, educators, and policymakers were startled by the claim that low-income children in the United States heard 30 million fewer words than their middle-income peers. Because language is the single best predictor of later academic readiness, this gap can have consequences for children in school and beyond. Language researchers know much about the types of interactions that foster a strong foundation in language learning and about the kinds of interactions that can narrow the disparities. This article reviews the growing consensus in the field about how to reduce language gaps and challenges scientists to put the latest research on early language in the hands of parents and teachers who work with children every day. Our work connects the lab, the home, and the community and demonstrates a synergy between basic and applied science noted in the classic, Pasteur’s Quadrant.
Mechanisms of acute renal failure.

Acute renal failure can be defined as an abrupt decline in renal function with a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) resulting in the retention of nitrogenous waste products. Acute renal failure has conventionally been classified as (a) prerenal failure, denoting a disorder in the systemic circulation that causes renal hypoperfusion. Implicit in the prerenal classification is that the correction of the underlying circulatory disturbance (e.g. by improvement in cardiac function or repletion of volume) restores the GFR. However, prerenal failure is often followed by transition to (b) intrinsic renal failure, where correction of the circulatory impairment does not restore the normal GFR. Intrinsic renal failure generally includes tubular necrosis. (c) Postrenal failure (obstructive) is a third possibility. Some patients with acute renal failure have oliguria (conventionally defined as a urine output of less than 400 ml day ), but others do not. In fact, patients with acute renal failure can be divided approximately equally into oliguric and non-oliguric. The pathogenetic factors appear to be identical in both types but in general are less severe in nonoliguric acute renal failure. Three abnormalities of renal function are present in intrinsic acute renal failure. These are (1) intratubular obstruction, (2) backleak of glomerular filtrate through damaged tubular epithelium, and (3) a primary reduction of GFR as a consequence of the release of vasoactive substances, which alter pressure, flow and filtration coefficient (kf) in the glomerular capillaries. The kidneys have an enormous blood supply. They receive 20–25 % of the cardiac output, but account for only 0.5 % of the body weight. The renal blood supply is typically around 400 ml 100 g 1 min 1 compared with about 70 ml 100 g 1 min 1 for heart and liver. The kidneys also have a very high oxygen consumption, but because of the high blood flow, the arteriovenous oxygen difference across the kidney is small. PO2 decreases from 95 mm Hg in the renal artery, to a value of about 70 mm Hg in the renal venous blood. In view of this it may seem surprising that renal ischaemia and acute renal failure are such major problems. In this article we examine those features of the renal physiology which contribute to the (intrinsic)
On fundamental concept of mobility for mobile communications

The tremendous demands from the social market are pushing the booming development of mobile communications faster than ever before, leading to the emergence of many new advanced techniques. Mobile communications are changing life styles in many ways. Behind the scenario, the outstanding characteristic that makes this reality is mobility. The paper studies the basic concepts of mobility for mobile communications, with an attempt to answer the fundamental questions on mobility. A conceptual discussion is made on mobility in the contexts of both computation and communication leading to the illustration of mobile computing. The effects of mobility on both architectures and protocols of networks and communications are analysed. The concept and operations of mobility management for mobile communications are also introduced. New challenges arise in future mobile communications systems with diversity as the key feature, which lead to the classification of mobility according to different granularities.
Differential diagnosis of human retrovirus infections in the laboratory.

Several human retroviruses have been discovered in the past decade, the majority of which have been implicated as etiological agents of severe disease entities. Thus, there is a clear need for accurate identification of human retroviruses in the laboratory. In this review, the classification and general properties of human retroviruses are outlined. Methods for detecting the presence of antibodies are reviewed. In addition, the principles of methods used for isolating and identifying retroviruses are discussed. Finally, techniques which detect the presence of retroviruses directly in clinical specimens without prior amplification in culture are summarized. Clearly, the ability to differentiate and recognize the different types of retrovirus is important for the proper treatment of diseases caused by these viruses. ImagesFIG. 1
Eleven years of experience with online and in-class Quantitative Genetics

An online version was added in parallel to provide a lecture-less format of a course in classic Quantitative Genetics. Eleven years of parallel offerings of the two versions have generated observations on how students approach the online (distance education, DE) version as compared to the in-class (IC) version. Students self-select the version of the course they prefer and the students’ approach to learning differs between the two versions. DE students generally complete the same number of practice quiz attempts as IC students but do not perform quite as well on the graded quiz assessments that follow. DE students are more interested in accessing podcasts for specific topic content rather than reviewing entire lectures. DE students also generally do not perform as well as IC students in the final grade for the course. However, on course evaluations both groups report similar levels of satisfaction with the course format, instruction and delivery.
Dynamic voltage scaling with reduced frequency switching and preemptions

Dynamic Voltage Scaling is an innovative technique for reducing the power consumption of a processor by utilizing its hardware functionality. Dynamic Voltage Scaling processors are mainly focusing on power management. Such processors can be switch between discrete frequency and voltage levels. The main challenges of Dynamic Voltage Scaling are increased number of preemptions and frequency switching. A part of dynamic energy as well as CPU time is lost due to these processes. To limit such processes, an algorithm is proposed which reduces both unwanted frequency switching and preemptions. Keywords-preemption; frequency switches; dynamic voltage scaling; Open Media Application Platform;
Multi-view Video Coding scheme with enhanced view random access

In Multi-view Video Coding scheme, view random access is an important performance to evaluate an encoding scheme's interactivity. An enhanced scheme of Multi-view Video Coding (MVC) was proposed, which based on the analysis and experiments of current MVC coding scheme. The proposed scheme by means of length decrease of hierarchical B pictures GOP (temporal layer) to improve view random access. Experiments show that the enhanced scheme with more performance of view random access under slightly lower of PSNR.
Iterative Image Resolution Enhancement Using MAP Estimator

An iterative image resolution enhancement algorithm is presented based on a Bayesian MAP estimator. In order to speed up convergence and improve stability, additive regularization terms based on a set of exponentially varying weights and a least square criterion are added to the cost functional. Experimental results show that sufficient numbers of low-resolution frames and iterations are needed to produce a high-resolution image. However, excessive frames and iterations do not provide further improvement of the reconstructed image quality
Effects of Ospemifene on Drug Metabolism Mediated by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Humans in Vitro and in Vivo

The objective of these investigations was to determine the possible effects of the novel selective estrogen receptor modulator, ospemifene, on cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated drug metabolism. Ospemifene underwent testing for possible effects on CYP enzyme activity in human liver microsomes and in isolated human hepatocytes. Based on the results obtained in vitro, three Phase 1 crossover pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in healthy postmenopausal women to assess the in vivo effects of ospemifene on CYP-mediated drug metabolism. Ospemifene and its main metabolites 4-hydroxyospemifene and 4′-hydroxyospemifene weakly inhibited a number of CYPs (CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2C8, and CYP2D6) in vitro. However, only CYP2C9 activity was inhibited by 4-hydroxyospemifene at clinically relevant concentrations. Induction of CYPs by ospemifene in cultured human hepatocytes was 2.4-fold or less. The in vivo studies showed that ospemifene did not have significant effects on the areas under the plasma concentration-time curves of the tested CYP substrates warfarin (CYP2C9), bupropion (CYP2B6) and omeprazole (CYP2C19), demonstrating that pretreatment with ospemifene did not alter their metabolism. Therefore, the risk that ospemifene will affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs that are substrates for CYP enzymes is low.
Commercial pressures in Spanish newsrooms

The crisis affecting news organisations, along with their struggle to find a sustainable online business model, have challenged journalists’ professional autonomy, as economic and commercial pressures find their way into journalists’ daily practice. This research explores the perceived influence of commercial pressures on Spanish newsrooms, paying special attention to how journalists resolve and manage those conflicts within the limits of the media organisation. Through 50 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Spanish journalists and editors, the findings emphasise the usual, while normalised prevalence of commercial pressures. The study argues that the newspaper crisis has weakened news organisations’ independence from advertisers, as big corporations that concentrate most of the market share have very significant structural influence. The article identifies the most common typologies of commercial pressures according to the producing source (internal or external), and addresses their main effects for journalism practice, specifically for journalists’ autonomy and newspapers agenda setting. It concludes that in order to decrease advertisers’ bargaining power, a more diverse organisational news media landscape needs to be enhanced and therefore, policymakers should accommodate shifts towards subscription and ensure a viable future for entrepreneurial journalism start-ups.
Radiolabeled Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 for the Detection of Inflammation in Experimental Atherosclerosis

Chemotactic peptides, such as Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 (MCP-1), play a key role in transendothelial migration of mononuclear cells during the development and progression of atherosclerotic disease. Because atherosclerotic plaques that are precursors of acute coronary events harbor abundant macrophage infiltration, we hypothesized that the detection of a high concentration of MCP-1 receptors on inflammatory cells should noninvasively identify vulnerable plaques. Methods: Atherosclerotic lesions were induced by balloon deendothelialization of the abdominal aorta, which was followed by a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 16 wk in 7 New Zealand White rabbits; 5 unmanipulated rabbits, fed normal chow for 16 wk, were used as controls. Radionuclide imaging was performed immediately after intravenous 99mTc-labeled MCP-1 administration and 3 h later. At the end of imaging session, aortas were explanted and submitted for estimation of quantitative MCP-1 uptake (in percentage injected dose per gram, %ID/g) and pathologic characterization. Results: Atherosclerotic lesions were clearly visible in all hyperlipidemic animal γ-imaging. No tracer uptake was seen in the control rabbits. The mean quantitative MCP-1 uptake in atherosclerotic lesions was 4-fold higher than that of the aortic specimens from the control rabbits (0.065 ± 0.005 vs. 0.016 ± 0.006; P < 0.0001). Histology confirmed a strong correlation between MCP-1 uptake and the number of macrophages in American Heart Association type II−IV lesions (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Noninvasive radionuclide imaging of inflammation is feasible by MCP-1 in experimentally induced atherosclerosis. It is proposed that detection of the extent of inflammation in advanced atherosclerotic plaques may allow identification of unstable plaques.
Necessary Constraints for Fusion Algorithms in Meta Search Engine Systems

Fusion is one of the main technical problems of running a meta search engine (MSE). In this paper, we have classfied the potential cases of fusion in MSE systems (MSEs) and the types of MSEs. Based on these classifications, the necessary constraints of fusion methods in different fusion cases are described. This provides a reliable foundation for the construction of good fusion algorithms in MSEs.
Estimating a Banking-Macro Model for Europe Using a Multi-Regime VAR

This paper introduces a Banking-Macro Model and estimates the linkages through a Multi-Regime VAR (MRVAR). We first introduce a dynamic model which is akin to the Brunnermeier and Sannikov (BS) model (2010). The banking sector borrows from capital markets, issues liabilities, accumulates assets, pays bonuses, but its equity value can undergo large fluctuations. The banking sector is exposed to an instability that not only arises from loan losses but also from adverse movements of asset prices and their impact on risk premia and credit spreads. We solve for the model numerically with different determinations of credit spread and different constraints on the banks`s decision variables. In contrast to the standard model of the financial accelerator, exhibiting mean reversion, our model, similarly to BS (2010), exhibits local instability. Whereas the standard model leads, in terms of econometrics, to a one-regime VAR we argue for the use of a MRVAR. We estimate our model for EU countries with a MRVAR using a constructed financial stress index and industrial production for those countries. We undertake impulse-response studies with a MRVAR which allows us to explore regime dependency of shocks. We show that the shocks have asymmetric effects, depending on the growth regime of the economy, and on the size of the shocks. Small financial stress shocks may not matter, but large shocks are likely to have magnifying effects. Stochastic dynamic modeling and Multi Regime VAR State and size dependency of positive and negative stress shocks
Positive emotion processing deficits in schizophrenia

Positive Emotion Processing Deficits in Schizophrenia by Gregory P. Strauss, M.A. Dr. Daniel N. Allen, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of Psychology University of Nevada Las Vegas Affective impairments were examined in patients with and without deficit syndrome schizophrenia. A battery of teste designed to measure emotional experience, emotional Information processing, and emotional perception were administered to deficit (n = 15) and non-defidt syndrome (n = 26) schizophrenia patients classified according to the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome, and matched non-patient control subjects (n = 22). As predicted, in comparison to non-deficit patients and controls, deficit syndrome patients reported less frequent and intense experience of positive emotion, recalled significantly fewer positive words, and displayed an impaired ability to accurately identify and judge the valenœ of pleasant odors. Additionally, deficit patients demonsfi’ated a unique failure to have their attention captured by positive information, as well as less accurate and efficient labeling of positive faœs than non-deficit patients or controls. Abnormalities were also associated with negative emotions, such that deficit syndrome patients demonstrated impairment at identifying fearful faces, were less accurate at judging negative smells, had a bias toward recalling anger words, and displayed an elevated attentional lingering effect for negative information. These findings indicate that the defidt syndrome is assodated with affective disturbances that impact a number of cognitive and sensory domains, and provide support for the notion that abnormalities may be most severe in relation to the experience and processing of positive emotions. These abnormalities may be due to a mood-congruent processing abnormality, and are consistent with the notion that frontal and limbic system dysfunction may be core to deficit syndrome schizophrenia.
SNetGNA communities: A new proposal of web application to online social networking management systems

In the past few years, social networks became extremely popular all over the globe. With more than one billion users worldwide, social networks are considered the new venue of innovation over the Internet. Through social networks, people can start and do business, or simply meet and maintain contact with other persons. However, due to its rapid growth, it has become common that users want to create their own social networks, according to their interests, and build their own communities. This paper proposes a new model of social networking management system, which allows users to create and make a full management of their own social networks, based on a cloud environment. Furthermore, a comparison between the current state-of-the-art on online social networks platforms and the SNetGNA Communities platform proposed in this paper is performed. It was shown that SNetGNA Communities appears as a step ahead regarding the current state-of-the-art and can be used as a promising Web-based solution for online social networks creation and management.
TBK1 Mutation Spectrum in an Extended European Patient Cohort with Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

We investigated the mutation spectrum of the TANK‐Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) gene and its associated phenotypic spectrum by exonic resequencing of TBK1 in a cohort of 2,538 patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or FTD plus ALS, ascertained within the European Early‐Onset Dementia Consortium. We assessed pathogenicity of predicted protein‐truncating mutations by measuring loss of RNA expression. Functional effect of in‐frame amino acid deletions and missense mutations was further explored in vivo on protein level and in vitro by an NFκB‐induced luciferase reporter assay and measuring phosphorylated TBK1. The protein‐truncating mutations led to the loss of transcript through nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay. For the in‐frame amino acid deletions, we demonstrated loss of TBK1 or phosphorylated TBK1 protein. An important fraction of the missense mutations compromised NFκB activation indicating that at least some functions of TBK1 are lost. Although missense mutations were also present in controls, over three times more mutations affecting TBK1 functioning were found in the mutation fraction observed in patients only, suggesting high‐risk alleles (P = 0.03). Total mutation frequency for confirmed TBK1 LoF mutations in the European cohort was 0.7%, with frequencies in the clinical subgroups of 0.4% in FTD, 1.3% in ALS, and 3.6% in FTD‐ALS.