pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
An overview of managed futures' performance: 1983 to post-2008 credit crisis

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: TEE, K.-H., 2013. An overview of managed futures' performance: 1983 to post-2008 credit crisis. IN: Baker, H.K. and G. Filbeck, G. (eds.) Alternative Investments: Instruments, Performance, Benchmarks, and Strategies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,  pp. 437 - 452, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118656501.ch22  This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving [© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.]The growth of the managed futures industry increased dramatically in the late 1970s after the introduction of the world's first financial futures contracts (foreign currency futures) by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 1972. The first published academic research on the performance of managed futures appeared in the 1980s. Researchers who adopted similar performance metrics to assess managed futures in different time periods reached similar conclusions as earlier studies about the benefits of managed futures. Some recent studies address the issues of performance persistence and market-timing ability of managed futures traders. Following the onset of the financial crisis of 2007-2008, researchers also reassessed the diversification benefits of managed futures and the low correlations of their returns with those of stocks and bonds. Evidence reaffirmed that the favorable characteristics of managed futures investments were useful for investors looking for a "crisis alpha" for their portfolios in periods with high market volatility. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender psychologies

This is a chapter from The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118663219.Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) psychology is the current term used to refer to what was previously known as the affirmative field of lesbian and gay psychology, which developed from the late 1960s onwards. This field of psychology is closely aligned to the psychology of sexualities, but with a specific focus on non-heterosexual and/or non-gender normative people. The term LGBT psychology signals a more unitary field than LGBT psychologies, the latter highlighting a multiplicity of psychological perspectives and also discrete bodies of psychological knowledge that focus on either lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender identities and topics. The epistemological frameworks and research methods utilized within the field of LGBT psychology differ between countries. In North America (and particularly the United States), positivist empiricism informed by liberal humanism is the dominant framework in this field (as with psychological research more generally). In Europe and in Australasia, by contrast, LGBT psychological research is commonly more aligned with post-positivist and critical psychological traditions such as social constructionism
BCG and Autoimmunity

The bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live, attenuated vaccine from Mycobacterium bovis obtained by Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin through 230 in vitro passages between 1908 and 1921. This chapter presents clinical applications of BCG such as tuberculosis, leprosy, asthma and other hypersensitivity diseases, Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. BCG can be described as a “double-acting tool” because its own immunogenicity produces a preventive effect in a variety of diseases and may trigger a number of autoimmune phenomena. An acute inflammatory polyarthritis with skin maculopapular rash was reported in a healthy woman following intradermal BCG. Side effects such as granulomatous pneumonia and hepatitis are reported without sufficient data to support the possible link with intravesical BCG and the autoimmune mechanism. Even the kidney may be the target of hypersensitivity reaction to intravesical BCG, which can induce an interstitial nephritis with non-necrotizing, sterile granulomas responsive to steroid therapy
Bid-ask Spreads, Commissions, and Other Costs

This chapter examines trading costs associated with buying and selling securities in organized exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange. Costs are categorized as commission charges determined by the exchange and cost components of the bid‐ask spread determined by market participants. The bid‐ask spread consists of three main components: (1) order processing costs associated with the cost of providing liquidity, (2) inventory costs due to short‐term order imbalances, and (3) adverse selection costs related to the cost of trading with informed traders. Spreads and commission charges are currently at very low levels in developed markets and have led to a great expansion in algorithm trading and trading volume. Trading costs for emerging markets are considerably higher than for the more developed markets. Market capitalization and liquidity differences explain some of the variability in trading costs in exchanges around the world. Besides firm‐specific differences, a second element of variability is attributed to differences in market structures
Molecular Breeding for Stay-Green: Progress and Challenges in Sorghum

This chapter focuses on the usage of stay-green as a breeding target under water-limited conditions. It reviews recent progress in different areas of stay-green research, with a particular focus on sorghum, where this trait has been most studied. Given the potential benefit of stay-green, genotypes displaying this trait have been used to identify the genomic regions responsible for this phenotype. Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been identified, using different breeding populations and stay-green QTL donors, and different types of drought stress. The chapter reviews the experimental conditions in which phenotyping for stay-green has taken place and the different ways of assessing this phenotype, either from leaf senescence curves or leaf greenness assessments. It summarizes current work being done at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in Andhra Pradesh, India to introgress several known QTLs for staygreen into various agronomically elite genetic backgrounds
Introduction to Quantum Algorithms for Physics and Chemistry

An enormous number of model chemistries are used in computational chemistry to solve or approximately solve the Schr odinger equation; each with their own drawbacks.  One key limitation is that the hardware used in computational chemistry is based on classical physics, and is often not well suited for simulating models in quantum physics.  In this review, we focus on applications of quantum computation to chemical physics problems.  We describe the algorithms that have been proposed for the electronic-structure problem, the simulation of chemical dynamics, thermal state preparation, density functional theory and adiabatic quantum simulation.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog
Sintering Effects on Microstructure and Electrical Properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 Ceramics

CCTO powders were prepared by solid state reaction and mechanochemically, respectively. Synthesized powders were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM and PSA techniques. The sinterability of CCTO powders was investigated by heating microscopy. Powders were uniaxially pressed into pellets and sintered up to 1100 °C, with heating rates of 2, 5, 10 and 20 °/min. The recorded shrinkage curves were used for choosing conventional and two step sintering (TSS) conditions. By TSS the samples were heated up to 1070 °C and after retention for 10 min cooled down to 1020 °C and kept for 20 h. The microstructure of CCTO ceramics sintered by conventional and TSS techniques was examined by FE-SEM method; the electrical properties were investigated in medium frequency (MF) range (42 Hz-5 MHz) and in the microwave (MW) range of frequencies. Electrical properties of the sintered CCTO ceramics were correlated to the samples microstructure. Finally, we have shown that appropriate choice of sintering conditions is important for preparation of high-quality CCTO ceramics with high dielectric permittivity in the kilohertz range as well as at the resonant frequency
Surface coating of poly-D-L-lactide/nano-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds for dexamethasone-releasing function and wettability enhancement

Biodegradable polymeric nano-composite scaffolds have recently attracted considerable attention in curing bone deficiencies resulting from fractures or traumas. In this article, the latest progress in fabrication and characterization of poly-D-L-lactide/nano-hydroxyapatite (PDLLA/nano-HA) composite scaffolds, with poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coating and dexamethasone (Dex)-releasing for bone tissue engineering is presented. For the design of drug release scaffolds, some aspects related to the choice of polymer matrix, bioactive inclusions, drug release coatings, and fabrication techniques are firstly reviewed. A PEG-based coating method was subsequently developed to modify a biodegradable polymeric nano-composite scaffold in providing a drug release function with improved wettability. The changes of water contact angle of the scaffolds before and after PEG/Dex coating were measured and the drug release function of the PEG/Dex coating was studied. The experimental findings showed that the proposed coating method was effective in enhancing the wettability and in controlling the early stage of drug release of the PDLLA/nano-HA composite scaffold.
Simulation of Bonded Joints Failure using Progressive Mixed-Mode Damage Models

In the most recent years, structural applications of bonded joints haveincreased remarkably owing to their several advantages relative to otherjoining methods. As a consequence, the development of improved modelsto provide design effi ciency and, at the same time, increase the confi denceof designers acquires special relevancy. Recent developments consideringcohesive and continuum mixed-mode damage models have demonstratedthat these methods are able to deal with several details inherent tomechanical behaviour of bonded joints. Both methods allow simulationof damage initiation and propagation by combining classical strength ofmaterials approaches with fracture mechanics concepts.In this work, several different mixed-mode cohesive laws adapted todifferent types of adhesives mechanical behaviour are presented and discussed.Effectively, while mechanical behaviour of brittle or moderately ductileadhesives is well simulated by means of the simple bilinear cohesivelaw, adhesives with pronounced ductile behaviour require more sophisticatedcohesive laws. The aspects regarding determination of some cohesiveparameters are also given special attention in the present paper. A continuummixed-mode damage model is also presented using the bilinear softeningcohesive law. This model is advantageous since properties degradation takesplace inside solid elements used to simulate the adhesive, which allows theevaluation of specifi c issues like the infl uence of asymmetric propagationon joint mechanical behaviour in a more realistic manner. Important conclusionsabout advantages and drawbacks of both methodologies are drawn
Construction of Energy Functions for Lattice Heteropolymer Models: Efficient Encodings for Constraint Satisfaction Programming and Quantum Annealing

Optimization problems associated with the interaction of linked particles are at the heart of polymer science, protein folding and other important problems in the physical sciences. In this review we explain how to recast these problems as constraint satisfaction problems such as linear programming, maximum satisfiability, and pseudo-boolean optimization. By encoding problems this way, one can leverage substantial insight and powerful solvers from the computer science community which studies constraint programming for diverse applications such as logistics, scheduling, artificial intelligence, and circuit design. We demonstrate how to constrain and embed lattice heteropolymer problems using several strategies. Each strikes a unique balance between number of constraints, complexity of constraints, and number of variables. In addition, each strategy has distinct advantages and disadvantages depending on problem size and available resources. Finally, we show how to reduce the locality of couplings in these energy functions so they can be realized as Hamiltonians on existing adiabatic quantum annealing machines.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog
Intercultural communication in the global workplace, critical approaches.

The critical intercultural turn in intercultural communication and cross-cultural management research has begun to question dominating traditional (positivist) approaches. Therefore, preparing people for the global workplace requires understanding of intercultural communication informed by critical scholarship: questioning the theory and practices of the “metropole” (or developed “North”), it also requires complementary research, education, and training that gives voice to those in the “global South” who may be marginalized, disenfranchised, poor, and exploited. Community diversity and interconnectivity, whether through communication technologies or movement of people, have placed new demands on preparing critical intercultural citizens for communication in the global workplace: people who can appreciate similarity and difference; who are capable of taking nonessentialist approaches to cultures, languages, and communities; who understand the role of the intercultural speaker; and who acknowledge the multiple languages and lingua franca Englishes at play, and the translingual, transcultural practices this recognition entails
Feminist Theory and the Media

Media’s relations to gender have been topic of academic inquiry since the 1960s. Feminist scholars soon began to criticize the androcentric character of mainstream sciences addressing these relations. Three epistemologies - feminist empiricism, feminist standpoint theory, and feminist postmodernism - emanated from these criticisms, which still inform feminist theory on media today. Different beliefs in who, what and how to know mark each epistemology. These epistemological values and beliefs have serious consequences for feminist theories generated about media and gender. In this entry, the three epistemologies are described. Next, the three major disciplines in which media and gender are studied (psychoanalysis, social psychology and cultural studies) are discussed and illustrated by one of the major theories within a particular field. Each field is scrutinized for the impact of these epistemological foundations that are simultaneously responsible for each discipline’s merits as well as its limitations
Media Representation: Health and Body Images

The current chapter presents a review on the portrayal of appearance ideals in popular entertainment media. Literature on the components of the ideal appearance in popular media and the nature of portrayals of appearance standards in popular media is examined. First, study findings on the characteristics of appearance ideals presented in the media demonstrate that popular media frequently glamorize curvaceously thin female and mesomorphic male characters with flawless faces and a suntanned White or lighter Black skin tone. Second, younger characters are more likely to adhere to appearance standards in media content than older characters. Moreover, the ideal appearance is considered to be malleable. Characters with an ideal appearance also outperform characters deviating from appearance standards at a sexual, social and professional level. Lastly, appearance standards in the media are inherently related to stereotypes on gender and ethnicity. Several recommendations for future research are provided.status: publishe
In-service training in preparing NESTs and NNESTs

In-service training whether for native English speakers or non-native English speakers has seen a shift beyond a technical approach to greater ownership of the process by teachers. Issues abound in acceptance of so-called non-native speakers as teachers, yet commonalities exist in the profession when building expertise. Research has shown limited success with large-scale transmission techniques as a focus of professional development. This has led to adoption of reflective practice and group approaches. Pedagogy may also be used as a vehicle for teachers’ own language development and it is in this area that differences which exist between non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs) and native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) will be described. However, the core of success could well be in the teacher and teacher educator’s relationship to drive acceptance of what could be novel techniques. Indicators of acceptance of change suggest that a collegial supportive approach through reflection and mentoring may be more beneficial than earlier approaches
Labor market segmentation

Labor market segmentation theories arose as an alternative to neoclassical notions of labor and labor markets in the 1970s. After briefly revisiting the strengths and the weaknesses of this approach, the article discusses more recent developments around the question of difference and diversity in labor markets, directing attention to three key developments associated with the rise of neoliberal capitalism: (i) the formation of entrepreneurial subjectivities and the treatment of labor as a diverse human resource; (ii) the blurring of the boundaries of the business firm and the implications for labor; and (iii) offshoring and “governance at a distance.
Chemically bonded phosphate ceramics reinforced with carbon nanotubes

Presented at the 37th International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC'13), Daytona Beach, Florida.We report herein, a scalable method for the preparation of alumina (Al2O3)-phosphate ceramics reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). All composites were manufactured by direct on-site growth of CNTs on ceramic particles via catalytic chemical vapour deposition. Introduction of catalyst metals to the substrate was achieved through two simple approaches, drip-coating and vacuum filtration, both of which have been reviewed. Transmission electron microscopy was utilised to investigate the interface between the Al2O3 surface and the in-situ CNTs. Resultant ceramics were produced by impregnating phosphoric acid into the Al2O3+CNT nanocomposite powder followed by die-pressing. In order to maintain the integrity of the CNTs, dehydration/curing was performed at 130-150○C. Scanning electron microscopy was elected to comparatively characterise the microstructure of this type of ceramic nanocomposite against its monolithic equivalent. Possible mechanisms by which specific features have formed are discussed
Hardness of alumina/silicon carbide nanocomposites at various silicon carbide volume percentages

Presented at the 37th International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC'13), Daytona Beach, Florida.Vickers indentation was employed to measure the microhardness of monolithic alumina and six alumina-based nanocomposites consisting of variable silicon carbide nanoparticle volume percentages of 0.3% to 20%. Indentation tests were performed over a broad range of loads from 0.5N to 40N. The resultant hardness-load curves exhibit cumulative increases in the apparent hardness based on the silicon carbide content and reveal each sample suffers from a prominent indentation size effect (ISE). Herein, we present a comprehensive analysis of this data using Meyer’s Law, the proportional specimen resistance model (PSR) and the modified proportional specimen resistance model (MPSR) and employ TEM imagery to detail potential mechanisms by which silicon carbide nano-reinforcements influence the “true hardness” and the ISE
Stabilization of irradiated polyethylene by introduction of antioxidants (vitamin E)

The aim of the present chapter is first to recall the general principles of stabilization. Since vitamin E is particularly adapted in the case of biomaterials, because of its low toxicity, its stabilizing mechanism and performances will be detailed, together with some experimental methods aimed at quantifying residual vitamin E after the complex elaboration process of hip. The existing literature will be reviewed so as to extract the kinetic parameters (rate constants for reactions with radicals, diffusion and solubility coefficients) necessary to perform kinetic modeling for a more complex description of the radio-thermal oxidation of PE + vitamin E. Those data will be compared with data for other common hindered phenols in order to highlight the interest of vitamin E for stabilization of hips. We will also present some practical cases of vitamin E stabilized UHMWPE and some experimental methods to detect and quantity Vitamin E in non-degraded or degraded materials
Polyethylene composites with lignocellulosic material

The aim of this chapter is to describe in detail the advances in polyethylene reinforced
with lignocellulosic material. Indeed, the successful employment of natural
based materials to reinforce/improve the properties of polyolefins has been
growing in a wide range of applications. Firstly, basic concepts and terminology
adopted in the lignocellulosic composite materials are reviewed. The objective is to
bring the readerâ  s attention to important issues that must to be taken into account
when working in this subject as well as by providing the most appropriate references
for those with interest to delve into the topic. In the context of polyethylene lignocellulosic
composites, ongoing research is then summarised mainly focussing
on (i) the main aspects related to the selection of the commonly used lignocellulosic
materials and the potential of its main chemical constituents, (ii) the principal
methods used for the improvement of interfacial adhesion and (iii) the main
adopted processing routes and the composite properties. Finally, applications, new
challenges and opportunities of these polyethylene-lignocellulosic composites are
also discussed.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Patterns in Galápagos Magmatism Arising from the Upper Mantle Dynamics of Plume-Ridge Interaction

The origin of various patterns seen in Galápagos magmatism is investigated using numerical simulations of mantle plume-ridge interaction with the realistic geometry and evolution of the Galapágos Spreading Center (GSC). Models predict magma generation and composition from a mantle composed of fusible veins of material enriched in incompatible elements, and a more refractory depleted matrix. Model 1 simulates a low-viscosity plume, owing to a temperature-dependent mantle rheology; Model 2 includes the added dependence on water content, which leads to high viscosities in the dehydrated, shallow upper mantle. Model 1 produces the most favorable results. It shows how a modest crustal thickness anomaly observed along the Western GSC can arise from a plume with large excess temperatures (greater than 100°C). Model 1 also predicts geographic patterns in magma isotopic compositions broadly resembling those observed along the GSC as well as around the Galapágos Archipelago. These patterns are predicted to arise out of the differences in melting depths between the enriched veins and depleted matrix, coupled with spatial variations in the rate of mantle upwelling and decompression melting. The results provide an alternative to traditional explanations involving the plume mixing with or entraining the ambient mantle. The models are still missing some essential factors, as indicated by the predicted increases, rather than the observed decrease in incompatible element concentration away from the hotspot along the GSC. Possible factors include a regional-scale zoning in incompatible element and water content within the plume, or melt migration that delivers a larger flux of incompatible-element-rich melts to the GSC