We propose a robust inference method for predictive regression models under heterogeneously persistent volatility as well as endogeneity, persistence, or heavy-tailedness of regressors. This approach relies on two methodologies, nonlinear instrumental variable estimation and volatility correction, which are used to deal with the aforementioned characteristics of regressors and volatility, respectively. Our method is simple to implement and is applicable both in the case of continuous and discrete time models. According to our simulation study, the proposed method performs well compared with widely used alternative inference procedures in terms of its finite sample properties in various dependence and persistence settings observed in real-world financial and economic markets.

The ALMA observations of the high-mass star-forming region G10.34-0.14 reveal the existence of three massive hot cores. The most massive of these cores, core S1, exhibits both high and low-velocity jet/outflow in the CO, SiO, and CH3OH. It is associated with water and Class I methanol masers. The core N shows a low-velocity CO outflow and is associated with an Extended Green Object, along with Class I and II methanol masers. The characteristics of the outflows and masers in these two cores suggest they are in different stage of evolution and varying physical conditions.

In this article, we introduce and analyze a new methodology to estimate the volatility functions of jump diffusion models. Our methodology relies on the standard kernel estimation technique using truncated bipower increments. The relevant asymptotics are fully developed, allowing for the time span to increase as well as the sampling interval to decrease, and accommodate both stationary and nonstationary recurrent processes. We evaluate the performance of our estimators by simulation and provide some illustrative empirical analyses.

Maladaptive perfectionism and controlled motivation are vulnerability factors for burnout. This study examined the relationships between two aspects of perfectionism (high standards, discrepancy), four academic motivational orientations (intrinsic, identified, introjected, extrinsic), and academic burnout. The target population was 12th graders in South Korea, and a total of 950 participants were recruited using cluster sampling. Data were collected from three waves of longitudinal study. In particular, the mediating role of academic motivation (T2) in the link between perfectionism (T1) and academic burnout (T3) was tested using structural equation modelling. The results indicated that introjected motivation mediated the relationship between perfectionism and burnout. Specifically, both high standards and discrepancy were positively associated with introjected motivation, and in turn, introjected motivation was positively associated with burnout. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Genome-editing technologies are considered to be an important tool for generating gene knockout cattle models. Here, we report highly efficient disruption of a chromosomally integrated eGFP gene in bovine somatic cells using RNA-guided endonucleases, a new class of programmable nucleases developed from a bacterial Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system. In the present study, we obtained homogenously eGFP-expressing primary fibroblasts from cloned bovine transgenic embryonic tissues and employed them for further analysis. CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids specifically targeting the eGFP gene were transfected into the eGFP fibroblasts by electroporation. After 10 days of culture, more than 40% of the cells had lost eGFP expression in fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Targeted sequences of the transfected cells were analyzed, and various small indel mutations (6–203 bp deletions) in the target sequence were found. The fibroblasts mutated with the CRISPR/Cas9 system were applied for somatic cell nuclear transfer, and the reconstructed embryos were successfully developed into the blastocyst stage. In conclusion, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was successfully utilized in bovine cells and cloned embryos. This will be a useful technique to develop livestock transgenesis for agricultural science.

This article presents the use of flexible metal foam substrates for the growth of III-nitride nanowire light emitters to tackle the inherent limitations of thin-film light emitting diodes as well as fabrication and application issues of traditional substrates. A dense packing of gallium nitride nanowires were grown on a nickel foam substrate. The nanowires grew predominantly along the a-plane direction, normal to the local surface of the nickel foam. Strong luminescence was observed from undoped GaN and InGaN quantum well light emitting diode nanowires.

A Mn3O4/graphene hybrid material is fabricated using a facile and simple in-situ reduction process and shown to be a promising anode for lithium rechargeable batteries. The hybrid material retains a high capacity with a good cycle life of up to 990 mAh g−1 after 30 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance is attributable to the unique nanostructure of the hybrid material. Highly crystalline Mn3O4 particles (20–30 nm) are uniformly dispersed on graphene whose high electronic conductivity and high surface area provide a conductive percolating network throughout the electrode in the hybrid material. The conductive graphene networks enhance an electron transfer in the electrode and promote the electrochemical activity of the crystalline Mn3O4.

This study explored differences in frontal white-matter (WM) integrity between methamphetamine (MA) abusers and healthy comparison subjects using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fractional anisotropy (FA) values, which indicate WM integrity, were calculated for regions-of-interest in frontal WM on diffusion tensor images of 32 MA abusers and 30 healthy comparison subjects. Frontal executive functions were also assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting test (WCST). MA abusers had significantly lower FA values in bilateral frontal WM at the anterior commissure–posterior commissure (AC–PC) plane and the right frontal WM 5 mm above the AC–PC plane relative to healthy comparison subjects. MA abusers had more total, perseveration and non-perseveration errors in the WCST relative to healthy comparison subjects. FA values of the right frontal WM 5 mm above the AC–PC plane negatively correlated with the number of total and non-perseveration errors in the WCST in MA abusers. In the sub-analysis for gender differences, lower FA values in frontal WM and more errors in the WCST were found only in male MA abusers, not in female MA abusers, relative to comparison subjects of the respective gender. We report that frontal WM integrity of MA abusers is compromised. This finding may also be related to impairment in frontal executive function. In addition, the neurotoxic effect of MA on frontal WM may be less prominent in women than in men, possibly due to oestrogen's neuroprotective effect.