Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A GARCH Option Pricing Model with Filtered Historical Simulation

We propose a new method for pricing options based on GARCH models with filtered historical innovations. In an incomplete market framework, we allow for different distributions of historical and pricing return dynamics, which enhances the model's flexibility to fit market option prices. An extensive empirical analysis based on S&P 500 index options shows that our model outperforms other competing GARCH pricing models and ad hoc Black-Scholes models. We show that the flexible change of measure, the asymmetric GARCH volatility, and the nonparametric innovation distribution induce the accurate pricing performance of our model. Using a nonparametric approach, we obtain decreasing state-price densities per unit probability as suggested by economic theory and corroborating our GARCH pricing model. Implied volatility smiles appear to be explained by asymmetric volatility and negative skewness of filtered historical innovations.
Localization of off-stress-induced damage in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors by means of low frequency 1/f noise measurements

The location of the time dependent degradation in OFF-state stressed AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors is studied using low frequency 1/f noise measurements, with additional electroluminescence analysis. The gate bias dependence of the 1/f noise is shown to be a powerful tool to illustrate that in addition to the gate edge breakdown, progressive time-dependent trap generation occurs underneath the gate area, possibly extending in the gate-drain access region due to the electric field peak associated with the gate field plate.
Requirement of the laying hen for sulfur amino acids.

Two experiments with individually caged laying hens were conducted to determine the requirement for TSAA. In Experiment 1, the corn-soybean basal diet contained . 48% TSAA to which increasing dose levels of DL-methionine were added providing at the highest supplemental level . 645% TSAA. The experimental diets were fed for 12 wk, covering the early stage of laying from 25 to 37 wk of age. In Experiment 2, a corn-soybean basal diet containing of . 51% TSAA was used along with DL-methionine supplements to determine TSAA requirement during the entire laying cycle of 52 wk (25 to 77 wk of age). The highest supplemental level of DL-methionine in this experiment provided . 76% TSAA. The TSAA requirement was found to be higher for maximum efficiency of feed utilization than for obtaining maximum egg production. Based on feed conversion efficiency and at an egg mass yield of 55 g per hen-day, the requirement for TSAA was estimated to be about 740 mg per hen-day, of which about 440 mg was methionine, throughout a laying period of 52 wk. It was calculated that the estimated TSAA requirement was equivalent to approximately 660 mg true digestible SAA per hen-day.
Behavioral indicators of slow growth in nursery pigs

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine how feeder-space allowance affects behaviors of slow- and fast-growing pigs during the nursery period. Nursery pigs (n = 192; initial weight = 7.4 ± 1.6 kg) were housed in 24 pens of 8 pigs, with 12 pens provided with either a two-space feeder or a five-space feeder. Pigs were categorized as slow growers (SG) and fast growers (FG) based on adjusted market weight (SG < 105 kg; FG ≥ 105 kg). Behaviors of pigs were video-recorded during the first four days after entering the nursery and on Day 21. Eating speed was measured on 96 focal pigs when they were nine weeks old. SG spent more time at the drinker than did FG (p < .05). SG spent less time in the standing/walking posture (p < .05) in pens with five-space feeders compared with SG in pens with two-space feeders. These results suggest that providing more feeder space may benefit SG in terms of improving the welfare of these pigs.
Cost and outcome of a community-based paediatric hearing screening programme in rural India with application of tele-audiology for follow-up diagnostic hearing assessment

Abstract Objective: This study evaluated the cost and outcome of a community-based hearing screening programme in which village health workers (VHWs) screened children in their homes using a two-step DPOAE screening protocol. Children referred in a second screening underwent tele diagnostic ABR testing in a mobile tele-van using satellite connectivity or at local centre using broadband internet at the rural location. Design: Economic analysis was carried out to estimate cost incurred and outcome achieved for hearing screening, follow-up diagnostic assessment and identification of hearing loss. Two-way sensitivity analysis determined the most beneficial cost-outcome. Study sample: 1335 children under 5 years of age underwent screening by VHWs. Results: Nineteen of the 22 children referred completed the tele diagnostic evaluation. Five children were identified with hearing loss. The cost-outcomes were better when using broadband internet for tele-diagnostics. The use of least expensive human resources and equipment yielded the lowest cost per child screened (Rs.1526; $23; €21). When follow-up expenses were thus maximised, the cost per child was reduced considerably for diagnostic hearing assessment (Rs.102,065; $1532; €1368) and for the cost per child identified (Rs.388,237; $5826; €5204). Conclusion: Settings with constrained resources can benefit from a community-based programme integrated with tele diagnostics.
rasbhari: Optimizing Spaced Seeds for Database Searching, Read Mapping and Alignment-Free Sequence Comparison

Many algorithms for sequence analysis rely on word matching or word statistics. Often, these approaches can be improved if binary patterns representing match and don’t-care positions are used as a filter, such that only those positions of words are considered that correspond to the match positions of the patterns. The performance of these approaches, however, depends on the underlying patterns. Herein, we show that the overlap complexity of a pattern set that was introduced by Ilie and Ilie is closely related to the variance of the number of matches between two evolutionarily related sequences with respect to this pattern set. We propose a modified hill-climbing algorithm to optimize pattern sets for database searching, read mapping and alignment-free sequence comparison of nucleic-acid sequences; our implementation of this algorithm is called rasbhari. Depending on the application at hand, rasbhari can either minimize the overlap complexity of pattern sets, maximize their sensitivity in database searching or minimize the variance of the number of pattern-based matches in alignment-free sequence comparison. We show that, for database searching, rasbhari generates pattern sets with slightly higher sensitivity than existing approaches. In our Spaced Words approach to alignment-free sequence comparison, pattern sets calculated with rasbhari led to more accurate estimates of phylogenetic distances than the randomly generated pattern sets that we previously used. Finally, we used rasbhari to generate patterns for short read classification with CLARK-S. Here too, the sensitivity of the results could be improved, compared to the default patterns of the program. We integrated rasbhari into Spaced Words; the source code of rasbhari is freely available at http://rasbhari.gobics. de/
Central antinociceptive effect of tapentadol is increased by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors

Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) have been shown to participate in the mechanism of the antinociceptive action of tapentadol. The results obtained in this study indicate that tapentadol administered intrathecally at a range of doses (30–100 µg) increased nociceptive thresholds in the Randall–Selitto and tail-flick tests in rats; however, this effect was significant only for the higher doses. After intracerebroventricular administration of tapentadol at the same dose range, an antinociceptive effect was observed only in response to mechanical stimuli. In coadministration studies, L-NG-nitro arginine (L-NOArg) – a nonselective NOS inhibitor as well as selective inhibitors: 7-Nitroindazole (7-NI), L-N6(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL) or N5-(1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine (L-NIO) for the respective neuronal, inducible, and endothelial NOSs enhanced the antinociceptive activity of intrathecally administered tapentadol in the Randall–Selitto test and to a lesser extent in the tail-flick test. A similar, although less pronounced effect of intracerebroventricular tapentadol was also observed after previous administration of NOS inhibitors in the Randall–Selitto test, but not in the tail-flick test. In conclusion, neuronal NOS, inducible NOS, and endothelial NOS influence the antinociceptive action of tapentadol at the spinal level and to a much lesser extent at the supraspinal level.
Natural rubber grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) as compatibilizer in 50/50 natural rubber/nitrile rubber blend

The effects of graft copolymers applied as compatibilizers for natural rubber/nitrile rubber (NR/NBR) blends at 50/50 (w/w) on cure characteristics, mechanical properties, thermal properties, oil resistance, and morphology were investigated. The graft copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto NR initiated by benzoyl peroxide (NR-g-PMMA) and by potassium persulfate (NR-g-PMMA) under emulsion polymerization were synthesized and used to compatibilize the blends. The structures of the copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. NR was blended with NBR via a two-roll mill at 70°C under the compatibilizer loading ranging from 0 to 10 parts per hundred of rubber (phr). The results showed that the tensile property and tear strength of the blends increased with the increasing amount of NR-g-PMMA as a compatibilizer. Thermal aging determined in terms of tensile properties exhibited the smaller difference between before and after aging in an oven with the increasing compatibilizer loading. The morphology of the compatibilized NR/NBR vulcanizates was investigated by scanning electron microscopy of the tensile fracture surfaces, which exhibited the improvement of interfacial adhesion between the two rubber phases. The thermal properties of compatibilized NR/NBR vulcanizates were reported in terms of a glass transition temperature under differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. The incorporation of an appropriate amount of the compatibilizer into the blends apparently improved the oil resistance of NR. Among them, the blend filled with 7.5 phr of NR-g-PMMA showed the lowest volume change in IRM 903 oil.
Validation of Each Category of Kihon Checklist for Assessing Physical Functioning, Nutrition and Cognitive Status in a Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Cohort

Background: Kihon Checklist is a self-reported comprehensive health checklist used as a screening tool to identify frailty. The Kihon Checklist is a 25-item questionnaire including seven categories: daily life, physical ability, nutrition, oral condition, the extent to which one is housebound, cognitive status, and depression risk. We aimed to clarify the consistency in assessments of three important categories: physical strength, nutritional status, and cognitive function of Kihon Checklist using assessments of actual physical, nutritional, and cognitive statuses. Methods: The study sample consisted of 5341 elderly individuals aged ≥ 65 years who participated in the Japanese Long-Term Care Prevention Project. We evaluated the Kihon Checklist scores except the depression risk. Physical functioning was evaluated using handgrip strength, one-leg standing-balance time, the Timed Up & Go test, and a walking test at usual or maximum speed. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire. Cognitive functioning was evaluated using Sweet 16. Associations between each category of Kihon Checklist and physical, nutritional, and cognitive functioning assessments were analyzed. Results: There were significant differences in all categories of Kihon Checklist between participants with and without functional decline in physical, nutritional, and cognitive functioning. Multivariate analyses showed that the Kihon Checklist physical strength category correlated with physical functioning assessments, the Kihon Checklist nutritional status category correlated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment, and the Kihon Checklist physical strength category correlated with the Sweet 16 scores. Moreover, the analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve exhibited a moderately accurate relationship of the Kihon Checklist physical strength category with overall physical functioning assessments. Conclusions: We found significant associations of the Kihon Checklist physical strength, nutritional status, and cognition categories, with assessments of physical, nutritional, and cognitive functioning, respectively. Especially, the Kihon Checklist physical strength category is a valid tool for predicting physical functioning for general frailty aspects in older adults.
Proteomic profiling of muscle fibre type shifting in neuromuscular diseases

ABSTRACT Introduction: Mature skeletal muscles are composed of a complex assembly of slow-twitching, fast-twitching and hybrid fibres. Since muscle fibres exhibit a high degree of cellular plasticity, changed physiological conditions or pathophysiological disturbances have generally a substantial impact on fibre specification. Areas covered: This article reviews the findings from comparative proteomic profiling studies that have focused on neuromuscular diseases and discusses the identified protein changes of fibre type shifting. The reviewed literature on weight loss, obesity, diabetes, cancer cachexia, disuse atrophy, motor neuron disease, myotonia, inflammatory myopathies, myofibrillar myopathies, muscular dystrophies and sarcopenia of old age suggests that proteome-wide alterations occur in the expression of distinct protein families, encompassing especially contractile and regulatory proteins of the acto-myosin apparatus. Expert commentary: The systematic determination of proteome-wide changes in neuromuscular disorders can now be used to design novel diagnostic and therapy-monitoring tools for evaluating fibre transitions in pathological muscles.
Campylobacter spp. in broilers on the farm and after transport.

Colonization of the ceca and contamination on carcasses of chickens by Campylobacter spp. was investigated. Samples were taken on the farm and after transport and holding. In the first set of experiments, 20 chickens, obtained from each of 10 broiler farms, were collected from houses containing 6- to 7-wk-old birds. Half of the birds were slaughtered at the farm; the other half were transported (10 birds per chicken coop) to a holding facility and killed within 16 to 18 h. The levels of Campylobacter spp. on the carcass and in the ceca were assessed. Ceca from birds in 9 of the 10 farms sampled were positive for Campylobacter spp. Colonization levels ranged from 10(4.11) to 10(7.28) cfu Campylobacter spp. /g cecal matter, except on one farm, where the organism was not isolated. The mean count on the farm was 10(5.44) cfu Campylobacter spp. /g cecal material, and after transport the mean was 10(6.15) cfu/g. Significant increases (P = .0085) in levels of Campylobacter spp. on the chicken carcasses occurred after transport. Levels of Campylobacter spp. enumerated from unprocessed chicken carcasses after transport averaged 10(7.11) per carcass, up from an average of 10(3.66) cfu per carcass of the farm. To further verify this observation, field trials were conducted to assess levels on carcasses before and after commercial transport. Employing five farms and 200 6-wk-old chickens, the above observations were confirmed: prior to transport 12.1% of the chickens harbored an average of 10(2.71) cfu per carcass, but after transport 56.0% of the chicken exteriors harbored an average of 10(5.15) cfu per carcass. The results of this study indicate that transport and holding prior to processing contributes to the Campylobacter spp. of > 10(4) cfu normally found on processed poultry carcasses.
Continuous Estimation of Emotions in Speech by Dynamic Cooperative Speaker Models

Research on automatic emotion recognition from speech has recently focused on the prediction of time-continuous dimensions (e.g., arousal and valence) of spontaneous and realistic expressions of emotion, as found in real-life interactions. However, the automatic prediction of such emotions poses several challenges, such as the subjectivity found in the definition of a gold-standard from a pool of raters and the issue of data scarcity in training models. In this work, we introduce a novel emotion recognition system, based on ensembles of single-speaker-regression-models. The estimation of emotion is provided by combining a subset of the initial pool of single-speaker-regression-models selecting those that are most concordant among them. The proposed approach allows the addition or removal of speakers from the ensemble without the necessity to re-build the entire recognition system. The simplicity of this aggregation strategy, coupled with the flexibility assured by the modular architecture, and the promising results observed on the RECOLA database highlight the potential implications of the proposed method in a real-life scenario and in particular in web-based applications.
Enzymatic Activity in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Pimelodus maculatus (Teleostei, Siluriformes) in Two Neotropical Reservoirs with Different Trophic Conditions

Enzymatic activities for digestion of proteins and carbohydrates were compared among three organs of the digestive system of Pimelodus maculatus in two reservoirs with different trophic conditions during the winter of 2006. The aim was to test the hypothesis that enzymatic activity for the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates differed among organs and that such activities differ between the trophic state of the environment. Enzymatic activities were determined through the assays of specificity for trypsin, chymotrypsin and β-glucosidase enzymes. The intestine had higher trypsin-like enzymatic activities compared to the stomach and liver. The highest β-glucosidase activity was found in the liver compared to the stomach and intestine in the oligotrophic reservoir only. Overall, enzymatic activity did not differ between the eutrophic and oligotrophic reservoirs, although the intestinal chymotrypsin was comparatively higher in the eutrophic reservoir and the hepatic β-glucosidase was higher in the oligotrophic reservoir. These findings indicated that most digestive activity occurred in the intestine for P. maculatus, which was probably related to its omnivorous/carnivorous feeding habits. The highest proteolytic activity in the intestine was expected for most fishes, but the high hepatic β-glucosidase in the oligotrophic reservoir was unexpected. The hepatic β-glucosidase as well as the intestinal chymotrypsin-like activity could be considered as the candidates for biomarkers of environmental quality.
RNA2DMut: a web tool for the design and analysis of RNA structure mutations

With the widespread application of high-throughput sequencing, novel RNA sequences are being discovered at an astonishing rate. The analysis of function, however, lags behind. In both the cis- and trans-regulatory functions of RNA, secondary structure (2D base-pairing) plays essential regulatory roles. In order to test RNA function, it is essential to be able to design and analyze mutations that can affect structure. This was the motivation for the creation of the RNA2DMut web tool. With RNA2DMut, users can enter in RNA sequences to analyze, constrain mutations to specific residues, or limit changes to purines/pyrimidines. The sequence is analyzed at each base to determine the effect of every possible point mutation on 2D structure. The metrics used in RNA2DMut rely on the calculation of the Boltzmann structure ensemble and do not require a robust 2D model of RNA structure for designing mutations. This tool can facilitate a wide array of uses involving RNA: for example, in designing and evaluating mutants for biological assays, interrogating RNA–protein interactions, identifying key regions to alter in SELEX experiments, and improving RNA folding and crystallization properties for structural biology. Additional tools are available to help users introduce other mutations (e.g., indels and substitutions) and evaluate their effects on RNA structure. Example calculations are shown for five RNAs that require 2D structure for their function: the MALAT1 mascRNA, an influenza virus splicing regulatory motif, the EBER2 viral noncoding RNA, the Xist lncRNA repA region, and human Y RNA 5. RNA2DMut can be accessed at https://rna2dmut.bb. iastate.edu/.
In vitro metabolism of radiolabeled carbohydrates by protective cecal anaerobic bacteria.

Cecal anaerobic bacteria from adult broilers were cultured in media containing . 25% glucose or . 25% lactose. Media also contained either [14C]-labeled lactose, glucose, galactose, or lactic acid as metabolic tracers. Cultures were analyzed at 4, 8, and 12 h for pH, radiolabeled and unlabeled volatile fatty acids, and lactic acid. The pH values of cultures containing . 25% lactose were significantly (P < .05) higher than the pH values of cultures containing . 25% glucose. Lactose cultures reached their lowest pH more slowly than glucose cultures. Concentrations of unlabeled volatile fatty acids increased and lactic acid decreased during incubation of the cultures. Radiolabeled sugars and lactic acid were more readily metabolized to volatile fatty acids in media containing lactose than in media containing glucose. The preferred metabolism of [14C]substrates, independent of media carbohydrate, was in the following order: lactic acid > galactose, lactose > glucose. The volatile fatty acids in which radiolabel was most concentrated were acetic acid, propionic acid, or butyric acid.
Simvastatin as a Potential Disease-Modifying Therapy for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Rationale for Clinical Trial, and Current Progress

Many now believe the holy grail for the next stage of therapeutic advance surrounds the development of disease-modifying approaches aimed at intercepting the year-on-year neurodegenerative decline experienced by most patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Based on recommendations of an international committee of experts who are currently bringing multiple, potentially disease-modifying, PD therapeutics into long-term neuroprotective PD trials, a clinical trial involving 198 patients is underway to determine whether Simvastatin provides protection against chronic neurodegeneration. Statins are widely used to reduce cardiovascular risk, and act as competitive inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase. It is also known that statins serve as ligands for PPARα, a known arbiter for mitochondrial size and number. Statins possess multiple cholesterol-independent biochemical mechanisms of action, many of which offer neuroprotective potential (suppression of proinflammatory molecules & microglial activation, stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, inhibition of oxidative stress, attenuation of α-synuclein aggregation, modulation of adaptive immunity, and increased expression of neurotrophic factors). We describe the biochemical, physiological and pharmaceutical credentials that continue to underpin the rationale for taking Simvastatin into a disease-modifying trial in PD patients. While unrelated to the Simvastatin trial (because this conducted in patients who already have PD), we discuss conflicting epidemiological studies which variously suggest that statin use for cardiovascular prophylaxis may increase or decrease risk of developing PD. Finally, since so few disease-modifying PD trials have ever been launched (compared to those of symptomatic therapies), we discuss the rationale of the trial structure we have adopted, decisions made, and lessons learnt so far.