AIM： To investigate the effects of heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） against oxidant-induced injury caused by bile duct ligation （BDL）.METHODS： Either cobalt protoporphyrin （CoPP）, a HO-1 inducer, or saline were injecte...AIM： To investigate the effects of heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） against oxidant-induced injury caused by bile duct ligation （BDL）.METHODS： Either cobalt protoporphyrin （CoPP）, a HO-1 inducer, or saline were injected intraperitoneally in male SD-rats. Three days later, BDL or sham-operations were performed. Rats were sacrificed 3 wk after BDL and livers were harvested for histology. Fibrosis was evaluated by sirius red staining and image analysis. Alpha-smooth muscular actin, which indicates activation of stellate cells, was detected by immunohistochemical staining, and q/tokine and collagen- Iα （Col- I α） mRNA expression was detected using RNase protection assays.RESULTS： Serum alanine transaminase increased 8-fold above normal levels one day after BDL. Surprisingly, enzyme release was not reduced in rats receiving CoPP. Liver fibrosis was evaluated 3 wk after BDL and the sirius red-positive area was found to be increased to about 7.8%. However, in CoPP pretreated rats sirius redpositive areas were increased to about 11.7% after BDL. Collagen-1 α and TGF-β mRNA increased significantly by BDL. Again, this effect was increased by HO-1 overexpression.CONCLUSION： Hepatic fibrosis due to BDL is not reduced by the HO-1 inducer CoPP. In contrast, HO-1 overexpression increases liver injury in rats under conditions of experimental chronic cholestasis.展开更多
The frequency spectrum of the cosmical Zero Point Energy (ZPE) and its total density are so far unknown in their details. In the present complementary investigation, a revised theory forms the basis for studies of thi...The frequency spectrum of the cosmical Zero Point Energy (ZPE) and its total density are so far unknown in their details. In the present complementary investigation, a revised theory forms the basis for studies of this concept in two respects. It first applies to the observable universe considered as an entity, as well as to included subregions such as the galaxies with supermassive black holes. Second, experiments are proposed on the maximum Casimir force arising between two metal plates of different materials and with a vanishing air gap in their spacing. This serves the purpose of making an indirect determination of the ZPE energy density in the laboratory, i.e. at the Earth’s orbit. The ZPE energy density is interpreted as dark matter density and its pressure gradient as dark energy force density.展开更多
This theory aims beyond the possibilities being available from the Standard Model. Examples are given by the directly obtained rest masses of the elementary particles, the deduced values of the elementary charge and o...This theory aims beyond the possibilities being available from the Standard Model. Examples are given by the directly obtained rest masses of the elementary particles, the deduced values of the elementary charge and of the mass of the boson detected by CERN which are close to their experimental data, and by an incorporated spin of the photon.展开更多
Background: Identifying associations between genetic markers and traits of economic importance will provide practical benefits for the dairy goat industry, enabling genomic prediction of the breeding value of individu...Background: Identifying associations between genetic markers and traits of economic importance will provide practical benefits for the dairy goat industry, enabling genomic prediction of the breeding value of individuals, and facilitating discovery of the underlying genes and mutations. Genome-wide association studies were implemented to detect genetic regions that are significantly associated with effects on lactation yields of milk(MY), fat(FY),protein(PY) and somatic cell score(SCS) in New Zealand dairy goats.Methods: A total of 4,840 goats were genotyped with the Caprine 50 K SNP chip(Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA).After quality filtering, 3,732 animals and 41,989 SNPs were analysed assuming an additive linear model. Four GWAS models were performed, a single-SNP additive linear model and three multi-SNP Bayes C models. For the single-SNP GWAS, SNPs were fitted individually as fixed covariates, while the Bayes C models fit all SNPs simultaneously as random effects. A cluster of significant SNPs were used to define a haplotype block whose alleles were fitted as covariates in a Bayesian model. The corresponding diplotypes of the haplotype block were then fit as class variables in another Bayesian model.Results: Across all four traits, a total of 43 genome-wide significant SNPs were detected from the SNP GWAS. At a genome-wide significance level, the single-SNP analysis identified a cluster of variants on chromosome 19 associated with MY, FY, PY, and another cluster on chromosome 29 associated with SCS. Significant SNPs mapped in introns of candidate genes(45%), in intergenic regions(36%), were 0–5 kb upstream or downstream of the closest gene(14%) or were synonymous substitutions(5%). The most significant genomic window was located on chromosome 19 explaining up to 9.6% of the phenotypic variation for MY, 8.1% for FY, 9.1% for PY and 1% for SCS.Conclusions: The quantitative trait loci for yield traits on chromosome 19 confirms reported findings in other dairy goat populations. There is benefit to be gained from展开更多
This study investigates the impact of flows between bond and equity funds on investment factors over the period 1984–2015.It determines contemporaneous mispricing effects and a statistical reversal relation between t...This study investigates the impact of flows between bond and equity funds on investment factors over the period 1984–2015.It determines contemporaneous mispricing effects and a statistical reversal relation between these flows and both legs of the investment factor.The statistical reversal relationship between previous flows and the investment factor is economically significant.A one-standard-deviation shock to flows causes a 0.29%decrease in investment factor returns,which are reversed within 5 months.A trading strategy based on signals from past flows and the investment factor outperforms the market by 0.68%in the months following positive flows and produces significant alphas after accounting for well-known equity risk factors.The findings are interpreted as evidence in favor of a behavioral explanation,in which sentiment influences actual managerial decisions.When retail investors and managers are swept up in market euphoria,retail investors shift their holdings from bond to equity mutual funds,and high-investment firms invest more aggressively.Market-level euphoria has a different impact on high-and low-investment firms,and thus the investment factor can be influenced.Hence,the mispricing occurs during these periods,and the reversal relationship is especially pronounced for a high-investment portfolio versus a low-investment portfolio.As a result,during the months following periods of positive flows,the investment factor outperforms the market factor.Interestingly,this study’s measure of flows,which serves as a proxy for market-level euphoria,outperforms other measures of investor sentiment.展开更多
Assays focusing on emerging biological phenomena in an animal’s life can be performed during embryogenesis.While the embryo of Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively studied,its biomechanical properties are larg...Assays focusing on emerging biological phenomena in an animal’s life can be performed during embryogenesis.While the embryo of Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively studied,its biomechanical properties are largely unknown.Here,we demonstrate that cellular force microscopy(CFM),a recently developed technique that combines micro-indentation with high resolution force sensing approaching that of atomic force microscopy,can be successfully applied to C.elegans embryos.We performed,for the first time,a quantitative study of the mechanical properties of the eggshell of living C.elegans embryos and demonstrate the capability of the system to detect alterations of its mechanical parameters and shell defects upon chemical treatments.In addition to investigating natural eggshells,we applied different eggshell treatments,i.e.,exposure to sodium hypochlorite and chitinase solutions,respectively,that selectively modified the multilayer eggshell structure,in order to evaluate the impact of the different layers on the mechanical integrity of the embryo.Finite element method simulations based on a simple embryo model were used to extract characteristic eggshell parameters from the experimental micro-indentation force-displacement curves.We found a strong correlation between the severity of the chemical treatment and the rigidity of the shell.Furthermore,our results showed,in contrast to previous assumptions,that short bleach treatments not only selectively remove the outermost vitelline layer of the eggshell,but also significantly degenerate the underlying chitin layer,which is primarily responsible for the mechanical stability of the egg.展开更多
Background:Economically important milk production traits including milk volume,milk fat and protein yield vary considerably across dairy goats in New Zealand.A significant portion of the variation is attributable to g...Background:Economically important milk production traits including milk volume,milk fat and protein yield vary considerably across dairy goats in New Zealand.A significant portion of the variation is attributable to genetic variation.Discovery of genetic markers linked to milk production traits can be utilised to drive selection of highperformance animals.A previously reported genome wide association study across dairy goats in New Zealand identified a quantitative trait locus(QTL)located on chromosome 19.The most significantly associated single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)marker for this locus is located at position 26,610,610(SNP marker rs268292132).This locus is associated with multiple milk production traits including fat,protein and volume.The predicted effect of selection for the beneficial haplotype would result in an average production increase of 2.2 kg fat,1.9 kg protein and 73.6 kg milk yield.An outstanding question was whether selection for the beneficial allele would co-select for any negative pleiotropic effects.An adverse relationship between milk production and udder health traits has been reported at this locus.Therefore,a genome wide association study was undertaken looking for loci associated with udder traits.Results:The QTL and production associated marker rs268292132 was identified in this study to also be associated with several goat udder traits including udder depth(UD),fore udder attachment(FUA)and rear udder attachment(RUA).Our study replicates the negative relationship between production and udder traits with the high production allele at position 19:26,610,610(SNP marker rs268292132)associated with an adverse change in UD,FUA and RUA.Conclusions:Our study has confirmed the negative relationship between udder traits and production traits in the NZ goat population.We have found that the frequency of the high production allele is relatively high in the NZ goat population,indicating that its effect on udder conformation is not significantly detrimental on animal health.It will however be 展开更多
A commentarial project commissioned by emperor Ming Taizu （r.1368-1398） in 1377, which was dedicated to the Prajnaparamita-hrdaya-sutra, theVajracchedika-prajfiaparamita-sutra, and the Lankavatara-sutra, defined coh...A commentarial project commissioned by emperor Ming Taizu （r.1368-1398） in 1377, which was dedicated to the Prajnaparamita-hrdaya-sutra, theVajracchedika-prajfiaparamita-sutra, and the Lankavatara-sutra, defined coherent standards of Buddhist learning by reference to early Chinese translations and Indian commentarial literature. In order to provide a clear-cut basis for the education of the clergy, its selective and reductive approach aimed at a standardization of doctrine and homogenization of terminology. Production and purport of the commentarial project are documented in a series of paratexts, prefaces, colophons, production notes and memoranda. They indicate a strong consciousness for the institutional, ideological and political aspects of the production procedure and its benefits for controlling the formation of Buddhist authority. Such decidedly functional under- standing of the institutional aspects of the production of exegesis leads to the conclusion that besides the normativity of doctrinal knowledge the main objective was to establish a basis for institutional integration of those who are in the privileged position to select whom they allow to assume authority, and to define the selection standards as well.展开更多
The problems of long-range interaction and associated questions on entangled states are reconsidered in terms of a recently developed revised quantum electrodynamic theory by the author, as being applied to subatomic ...The problems of long-range interaction and associated questions on entangled states are reconsidered in terms of a recently developed revised quantum electrodynamic theory by the author, as being applied to subatomic systems. There are indications that the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics do not necessarily have to be in conflict. But more investigations are required for a full understanding to be obtained on these problems.展开更多
Phenotypic diversity in bacterial flagella-induced motility leads to complex collective swimming patterns,appearing as traveling bands with transient locally enhanced cell densities.Traveling bands are known to be a b...Phenotypic diversity in bacterial flagella-induced motility leads to complex collective swimming patterns,appearing as traveling bands with transient locally enhanced cell densities.Traveling bands are known to be a bacterial chemotactic response to self-generated nutrient gradients during growth in resource-limited microenvironments.In this work,we studied different parameters of Escherichia coli(E.coli)collective migration,in particular the quantity of bacteria introduced initially in a microfluidic chip(inoculum size)and their exposure to antibiotics(ampicillin,ciprofloxacin,and gentamicin).We developed a hybrid polymer-glass chip with an intermediate optical adhesive layer featuring the microfluidic channel,enabling high-content imaging of the migration dynamics in a single bacterial layer,i.ev bacteria are confined in a quasi-2D space that is fully observable with a high-magnification microscope objective.On-chip bacterial motility and traveling band analysis was performed based on individual bacterial trajectories by means of custom-developed algorithms.Quantifications of swimming speed,tumble bias and effective diffusion properties allowed the assessment of phenotypic heterogeneity,resulting in variations in transient cell density distributions and swimming performance.We found that incubation of isogeneic£coli with different inoculum sizes eventually generated different swimming phenotype distributions.Interestingly,incubation with antimicrobials promoted bacterial chemotaxis in specific cases,despite growth inhibition.Moreover,E.coli filamentation in the presence of antibiotics was assessed,and the impact on motility was evaluated.We propose that the observation of traveling bands can be explored as an alternative for fast antimicrobial susceptibility testing.展开更多
Objectives: Evaluation of radiation efficiency of dual source high-pitch (DSHP) chest CT in comparison to single source technique with special regards to individual patient anatomy. Methods: 150 consecutive patients w...Objectives: Evaluation of radiation efficiency of dual source high-pitch (DSHP) chest CT in comparison to single source technique with special regards to individual patient anatomy. Methods: 150 consecutive patients who underwent chest CT with automated tube current modulation were evaluated retrospectively and divided into three study groups, each with an equal quantity of 50 patients (DSHP vs. single source 128 slices vs. single source 16 slices). By using a dedicated workstation, volumetric analyses of each of the scanned anatomic area were performed and correlated to the individual dose length product (DLP). The calculated result was defined as dose efficiency. Results: DLP was 203 mGycm (DSHP), vs. 269 mGycm (single source) vs. 273 mGycm (16 slice CT). The total patient volume was lowest in the dual source group with 18956.3 cm3 (vs. 22481.2 cm3 vs. 22133.8 cm3). With regards to the DLP, the calculated dose efficiency of dual source CT was better than the 128 slice CT (p = 0.045) and the 16 slice CT (p < 0.01). Conclusions: DSHP CT has considerably better dose efficiency compared to 16 slice CT. Compared to 128 slice single source technique, the high-pitch mode does not cause any dose penalty when performing chest CT.展开更多
The vacuum is not a state of empty space, but is populated by electromagnetic fluctuations at a lowest nonzero level, the Zero Point Energy (ZPE). As distinguished from conventional theories, such as that of the Stand...The vacuum is not a state of empty space, but is populated by electromagnetic fluctuations at a lowest nonzero level, the Zero Point Energy (ZPE). As distinguished from conventional theories, such as that of the Standard Model, the present revised quantum electrodynamic theory (RQED) includes the ZPE in its field equations. This leads to new results far beyond those obtained from conventional theories such as those by Dirac and Higgs. Thus, the present theory results in massive elementary particles from the beginning, being independent of the theory by Higgs. This paper describes the background and results of RQED, summarizing the weak points of conventional theories, the unification of included fundamental concepts, the present basic field equations, new obtained results, and special points of experimental support. In other words, the new points stressed in this paper are in particular the relation between a nonzero electric field divergence in the vacuum and the ZPE, and a number of new experimentally supported results due to a nonzero ZPE energy density in the same state.展开更多
A model of the Z boson is elaborated from a revised quantum electrodynamic theory (RQED) by the author. The electromagnetic steady field is derived from a separable generating function with a convergent radial part, r...A model of the Z boson is elaborated from a revised quantum electrodynamic theory (RQED) by the author. The electromagnetic steady field is derived from a separable generating function with a convergent radial part, resulting in a vanishing net electric charge and a nonzero spin and rest mass. From the superposition of the solutions of two Z bosons with antiparallel spin directions, a model is further formed of a composite boson, the computed mass mC of which becomes connected with the mass of 91 GeV for each Z boson. This results in a composite boson which is likely to become identical with the heavy particle recently detected at CERN. Both these particles are thus lacking of net electric charge, magnetic field and spin, are purely electrostatic and highly unstable, and have masses close to the value of 125 GeV.展开更多
1 Introduction The primary goal of the Deep-time Digital Earth project is to develop an open collaboration and data sharing platform that enables the transition of deep-time geoscientific research to a Big Data driven...1 Introduction The primary goal of the Deep-time Digital Earth project is to develop an open collaboration and data sharing platform that enables the transition of deep-time geoscientific research to a Big Data driven paradigm.Such an open platform will require the ability to effectively and efficiently access and integrate a wide variety of digital Earth data.展开更多
We report a retrosternally displaced epiphysiolysis in a 12- yearold child and discuss options for themost appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach. If a standard anteroposterior view of the shoulder girdle sho...We report a retrosternally displaced epiphysiolysis in a 12- yearold child and discuss options for themost appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach. If a standard anteroposterior view of the shoulder girdle shows abnormalities or if appropriate clinical suspicion is present, we strongly favor an magnetic resonance imaging study for further workup instead of a computed tomographic scan, which is currently the diagnostic method of choice in clinical algorithms. Radiation exposure is thereby limited and maximum information about possible mediastinal soft tissue complications is obtained using a single diagnostic tool. If open reduction is indicated, retention of the joint or approximation of physeal fracture or treatment of ligamentous injury should be performed without metal devices. These suggestions for future management of these patients should further reduce the use of x-rays in children. In addition, applying a suture instead of using metal for stabilization can avoid the extensively described complications in literature that can potentially result frommetal devices. In addition, sutures circumvent the need for a second operation for metal removal.展开更多
The Standard Model of elementary particles, with its associated concept of a vacuum state of empty space, leads to strongly restricted results in subatomic physics. Examples are given by vanishing rest masses and an a...The Standard Model of elementary particles, with its associated concept of a vacuum state of empty space, leads to strongly restricted results in subatomic physics. Examples are given by vanishing rest masses and an associated spinless state of the photon. In a revised quantum electrodynamic theory by the author, new results have been deduced which cannot be obtained from the Standard Model. These are due to a vacuum state populated by Zero Point Energy and a corresponding nonzero electric charge density. This leads to a screw-shaped photon configuration with rest mass, spin and possibilities of needle radiation, to a deduced value of the elementary charge of the electron, muon and tauon being close to its experimental value, to a deduced mass being nearly equal to 125 GeV of the Higgs particle detected at CERN, and to the discovery of large intrinsic charges of both polarities within the volume of a particle. In their turn, these charges give rise to effects of the same magnitude as that of the strong force, and can account for the binding energy of 8 MeV of the neutron and proton. This makes a unification possible of electrodynamics with the strong nuclear force.展开更多
Purpose It is well recognised that injury prevention training can reduce injury incidence,however current coach education pathways do not provide grass-root coaches with the knowledge and confidence to deliver such tr...Purpose It is well recognised that injury prevention training can reduce injury incidence,however current coach education pathways do not provide grass-root coaches with the knowledge and confidence to deliver such training to youth players.The aim of this study was to explore differences in knowledge,understanding,attitude and confidence to deliver such injury prevention training in three European countries.Methods A total of 269 grass-root soccer coaches from 3 European countries(Czech Republic,UK,Spain)were recruited for this study.A validated questionnaire exploring knowledge,understanding,attitude towards and confidence to deliver youth injury prevention training was completed prior to a 2 h workshop on injury prevention training.Differences between countries was examined using Bayesian factors to quantify the evidence for and against the hypothesis of independence(H0)by assuming a Poisson sampling scheme(as there was no a priori restriction on any cell count,nor on the grand total)(BF10 Poisson).Results Current knowledge,attitude and confidence to deliver injury prevention training to youth players was poor across all three European countries.Relatively few coaches were currently using injury prevention training in their coaching sessions(23%).There were some country specific differences for attitude towards injury prevention training and confidence to deliver injury training,with Spanish coaches reporting a more positive attitude and confidence to deliver such training.Significantly fewer coaches in the UK were using injury prevention training compared to coaches in Spain and the Czech Republic.Conclusion As coaches identified a need for coach education and few were delivering injury prevention training,there is a clear need to embed and implement this programme into the grassroots coaching framework of sports governing bodies to improve adoption,implementation and maintenance.展开更多
A theory elaborated by the author on revised quantum electrodynamics (RQED) is elucidated in a condensed form on special important points. The latter concerns the basic electromagnetic field equations in a vacuum stat...A theory elaborated by the author on revised quantum electrodynamics (RQED) is elucidated in a condensed form on special important points. The latter concerns the basic electromagnetic field equations in a vacuum state, the connection of this state with the Zero Point Energy (ZPE), the procedure of quantization, steady states of particle models, the concept of the individual photon, and examples on experimental support of the theory.展开更多
The final state of a black hole and its force balance is considered, in the limit where all available energy is radiated away and all matter remains in the lowest form of Zero Point Energy (ZPE). In conventional theor...The final state of a black hole and its force balance is considered, in the limit where all available energy is radiated away and all matter remains in the lowest form of Zero Point Energy (ZPE). In conventional theory without the concept of ZPE, the gravitational contraction would transfer the system into a mass point, being questionable from the theoretical point of view. But the inclusion of ZPE makes a force balance possible, resulting in a finite characteristic radius of a black hole mass distribution. This radius is of the same order as that of the so-called Schwarzschild radius, but is not related to the physics of the latter, which is due to particle trapping in the gravitational field.展开更多
基金grants from the National Institute of Health and by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, No. FR 1644/4-1
文摘AIM： To investigate the effects of heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） against oxidant-induced injury caused by bile duct ligation （BDL）.METHODS： Either cobalt protoporphyrin （CoPP）, a HO-1 inducer, or saline were injected intraperitoneally in male SD-rats. Three days later, BDL or sham-operations were performed. Rats were sacrificed 3 wk after BDL and livers were harvested for histology. Fibrosis was evaluated by sirius red staining and image analysis. Alpha-smooth muscular actin, which indicates activation of stellate cells, was detected by immunohistochemical staining, and q/tokine and collagen- Iα （Col- I α） mRNA expression was detected using RNase protection assays.RESULTS： Serum alanine transaminase increased 8-fold above normal levels one day after BDL. Surprisingly, enzyme release was not reduced in rats receiving CoPP. Liver fibrosis was evaluated 3 wk after BDL and the sirius red-positive area was found to be increased to about 7.8%. However, in CoPP pretreated rats sirius redpositive areas were increased to about 11.7% after BDL. Collagen-1 α and TGF-β mRNA increased significantly by BDL. Again, this effect was increased by HO-1 overexpression.CONCLUSION： Hepatic fibrosis due to BDL is not reduced by the HO-1 inducer CoPP. In contrast, HO-1 overexpression increases liver injury in rats under conditions of experimental chronic cholestasis.
文摘The frequency spectrum of the cosmical Zero Point Energy (ZPE) and its total density are so far unknown in their details. In the present complementary investigation, a revised theory forms the basis for studies of this concept in two respects. It first applies to the observable universe considered as an entity, as well as to included subregions such as the galaxies with supermassive black holes. Second, experiments are proposed on the maximum Casimir force arising between two metal plates of different materials and with a vanishing air gap in their spacing. This serves the purpose of making an indirect determination of the ZPE energy density in the laboratory, i.e. at the Earth’s orbit. The ZPE energy density is interpreted as dark matter density and its pressure gradient as dark energy force density.
文摘This theory aims beyond the possibilities being available from the Standard Model. Examples are given by the directly obtained rest masses of the elementary particles, the deduced values of the elementary charge and of the mass of the boson detected by CERN which are close to their experimental data, and by an incorporated spin of the photon.
基金funded by the Dairy Goat Co-operative,New Zealand。
文摘Background: Identifying associations between genetic markers and traits of economic importance will provide practical benefits for the dairy goat industry, enabling genomic prediction of the breeding value of individuals, and facilitating discovery of the underlying genes and mutations. Genome-wide association studies were implemented to detect genetic regions that are significantly associated with effects on lactation yields of milk(MY), fat(FY),protein(PY) and somatic cell score(SCS) in New Zealand dairy goats.Methods: A total of 4,840 goats were genotyped with the Caprine 50 K SNP chip(Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA).After quality filtering, 3,732 animals and 41,989 SNPs were analysed assuming an additive linear model. Four GWAS models were performed, a single-SNP additive linear model and three multi-SNP Bayes C models. For the single-SNP GWAS, SNPs were fitted individually as fixed covariates, while the Bayes C models fit all SNPs simultaneously as random effects. A cluster of significant SNPs were used to define a haplotype block whose alleles were fitted as covariates in a Bayesian model. The corresponding diplotypes of the haplotype block were then fit as class variables in another Bayesian model.Results: Across all four traits, a total of 43 genome-wide significant SNPs were detected from the SNP GWAS. At a genome-wide significance level, the single-SNP analysis identified a cluster of variants on chromosome 19 associated with MY, FY, PY, and another cluster on chromosome 29 associated with SCS. Significant SNPs mapped in introns of candidate genes(45%), in intergenic regions(36%), were 0–5 kb upstream or downstream of the closest gene(14%) or were synonymous substitutions(5%). The most significant genomic window was located on chromosome 19 explaining up to 9.6% of the phenotypic variation for MY, 8.1% for FY, 9.1% for PY and 1% for SCS.Conclusions: The quantitative trait loci for yield traits on chromosome 19 confirms reported findings in other dairy goat populations. There is benefit to be gained from
文摘This study investigates the impact of flows between bond and equity funds on investment factors over the period 1984–2015.It determines contemporaneous mispricing effects and a statistical reversal relation between these flows and both legs of the investment factor.The statistical reversal relationship between previous flows and the investment factor is economically significant.A one-standard-deviation shock to flows causes a 0.29%decrease in investment factor returns,which are reversed within 5 months.A trading strategy based on signals from past flows and the investment factor outperforms the market by 0.68%in the months following positive flows and produces significant alphas after accounting for well-known equity risk factors.The findings are interpreted as evidence in favor of a behavioral explanation,in which sentiment influences actual managerial decisions.When retail investors and managers are swept up in market euphoria,retail investors shift their holdings from bond to equity mutual funds,and high-investment firms invest more aggressively.Market-level euphoria has a different impact on high-and low-investment firms,and thus the investment factor can be influenced.Hence,the mispricing occurs during these periods,and the reversal relationship is especially pronounced for a high-investment portfolio versus a low-investment portfolio.As a result,during the months following periods of positive flows,the investment factor outperforms the market factor.Interestingly,this study’s measure of flows,which serves as a proxy for market-level euphoria,outperforms other measures of investor sentiment.
基金This work was supported by the EU Ideas program(ERC-2012-AdG-320404)the Swiss National Science Foundation(SNSF)grant CR32I3_156724the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne.
文摘Assays focusing on emerging biological phenomena in an animal’s life can be performed during embryogenesis.While the embryo of Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively studied,its biomechanical properties are largely unknown.Here,we demonstrate that cellular force microscopy(CFM),a recently developed technique that combines micro-indentation with high resolution force sensing approaching that of atomic force microscopy,can be successfully applied to C.elegans embryos.We performed,for the first time,a quantitative study of the mechanical properties of the eggshell of living C.elegans embryos and demonstrate the capability of the system to detect alterations of its mechanical parameters and shell defects upon chemical treatments.In addition to investigating natural eggshells,we applied different eggshell treatments,i.e.,exposure to sodium hypochlorite and chitinase solutions,respectively,that selectively modified the multilayer eggshell structure,in order to evaluate the impact of the different layers on the mechanical integrity of the embryo.Finite element method simulations based on a simple embryo model were used to extract characteristic eggshell parameters from the experimental micro-indentation force-displacement curves.We found a strong correlation between the severity of the chemical treatment and the rigidity of the shell.Furthermore,our results showed,in contrast to previous assumptions,that short bleach treatments not only selectively remove the outermost vitelline layer of the eggshell,but also significantly degenerate the underlying chitin layer,which is primarily responsible for the mechanical stability of the egg.
基金co-funded by the Dairy Goat Co-operative,Ministry of Business,Innovation&Employment(3709153)the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund(5000835)。
文摘Background:Economically important milk production traits including milk volume,milk fat and protein yield vary considerably across dairy goats in New Zealand.A significant portion of the variation is attributable to genetic variation.Discovery of genetic markers linked to milk production traits can be utilised to drive selection of highperformance animals.A previously reported genome wide association study across dairy goats in New Zealand identified a quantitative trait locus(QTL)located on chromosome 19.The most significantly associated single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)marker for this locus is located at position 26,610,610(SNP marker rs268292132).This locus is associated with multiple milk production traits including fat,protein and volume.The predicted effect of selection for the beneficial haplotype would result in an average production increase of 2.2 kg fat,1.9 kg protein and 73.6 kg milk yield.An outstanding question was whether selection for the beneficial allele would co-select for any negative pleiotropic effects.An adverse relationship between milk production and udder health traits has been reported at this locus.Therefore,a genome wide association study was undertaken looking for loci associated with udder traits.Results:The QTL and production associated marker rs268292132 was identified in this study to also be associated with several goat udder traits including udder depth(UD),fore udder attachment(FUA)and rear udder attachment(RUA).Our study replicates the negative relationship between production and udder traits with the high production allele at position 19:26,610,610(SNP marker rs268292132)associated with an adverse change in UD,FUA and RUA.Conclusions:Our study has confirmed the negative relationship between udder traits and production traits in the NZ goat population.We have found that the frequency of the high production allele is relatively high in the NZ goat population,indicating that its effect on udder conformation is not significantly detrimental on animal health.It will however be
文摘A commentarial project commissioned by emperor Ming Taizu （r.1368-1398） in 1377, which was dedicated to the Prajnaparamita-hrdaya-sutra, theVajracchedika-prajfiaparamita-sutra, and the Lankavatara-sutra, defined coherent standards of Buddhist learning by reference to early Chinese translations and Indian commentarial literature. In order to provide a clear-cut basis for the education of the clergy, its selective and reductive approach aimed at a standardization of doctrine and homogenization of terminology. Production and purport of the commentarial project are documented in a series of paratexts, prefaces, colophons, production notes and memoranda. They indicate a strong consciousness for the institutional, ideological and political aspects of the production procedure and its benefits for controlling the formation of Buddhist authority. Such decidedly functional under- standing of the institutional aspects of the production of exegesis leads to the conclusion that besides the normativity of doctrinal knowledge the main objective was to establish a basis for institutional integration of those who are in the privileged position to select whom they allow to assume authority, and to define the selection standards as well.
文摘The problems of long-range interaction and associated questions on entangled states are reconsidered in terms of a recently developed revised quantum electrodynamic theory by the author, as being applied to subatomic systems. There are indications that the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics do not necessarily have to be in conflict. But more investigations are required for a full understanding to be obtained on these problems.
文摘Phenotypic diversity in bacterial flagella-induced motility leads to complex collective swimming patterns,appearing as traveling bands with transient locally enhanced cell densities.Traveling bands are known to be a bacterial chemotactic response to self-generated nutrient gradients during growth in resource-limited microenvironments.In this work,we studied different parameters of Escherichia coli(E.coli)collective migration,in particular the quantity of bacteria introduced initially in a microfluidic chip(inoculum size)and their exposure to antibiotics(ampicillin,ciprofloxacin,and gentamicin).We developed a hybrid polymer-glass chip with an intermediate optical adhesive layer featuring the microfluidic channel,enabling high-content imaging of the migration dynamics in a single bacterial layer,i.ev bacteria are confined in a quasi-2D space that is fully observable with a high-magnification microscope objective.On-chip bacterial motility and traveling band analysis was performed based on individual bacterial trajectories by means of custom-developed algorithms.Quantifications of swimming speed,tumble bias and effective diffusion properties allowed the assessment of phenotypic heterogeneity,resulting in variations in transient cell density distributions and swimming performance.We found that incubation of isogeneic£coli with different inoculum sizes eventually generated different swimming phenotype distributions.Interestingly,incubation with antimicrobials promoted bacterial chemotaxis in specific cases,despite growth inhibition.Moreover,E.coli filamentation in the presence of antibiotics was assessed,and the impact on motility was evaluated.We propose that the observation of traveling bands can be explored as an alternative for fast antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
文摘Objectives: Evaluation of radiation efficiency of dual source high-pitch (DSHP) chest CT in comparison to single source technique with special regards to individual patient anatomy. Methods: 150 consecutive patients who underwent chest CT with automated tube current modulation were evaluated retrospectively and divided into three study groups, each with an equal quantity of 50 patients (DSHP vs. single source 128 slices vs. single source 16 slices). By using a dedicated workstation, volumetric analyses of each of the scanned anatomic area were performed and correlated to the individual dose length product (DLP). The calculated result was defined as dose efficiency. Results: DLP was 203 mGycm (DSHP), vs. 269 mGycm (single source) vs. 273 mGycm (16 slice CT). The total patient volume was lowest in the dual source group with 18956.3 cm3 (vs. 22481.2 cm3 vs. 22133.8 cm3). With regards to the DLP, the calculated dose efficiency of dual source CT was better than the 128 slice CT (p = 0.045) and the 16 slice CT (p < 0.01). Conclusions: DSHP CT has considerably better dose efficiency compared to 16 slice CT. Compared to 128 slice single source technique, the high-pitch mode does not cause any dose penalty when performing chest CT.
文摘The vacuum is not a state of empty space, but is populated by electromagnetic fluctuations at a lowest nonzero level, the Zero Point Energy (ZPE). As distinguished from conventional theories, such as that of the Standard Model, the present revised quantum electrodynamic theory (RQED) includes the ZPE in its field equations. This leads to new results far beyond those obtained from conventional theories such as those by Dirac and Higgs. Thus, the present theory results in massive elementary particles from the beginning, being independent of the theory by Higgs. This paper describes the background and results of RQED, summarizing the weak points of conventional theories, the unification of included fundamental concepts, the present basic field equations, new obtained results, and special points of experimental support. In other words, the new points stressed in this paper are in particular the relation between a nonzero electric field divergence in the vacuum and the ZPE, and a number of new experimentally supported results due to a nonzero ZPE energy density in the same state.
文摘A model of the Z boson is elaborated from a revised quantum electrodynamic theory (RQED) by the author. The electromagnetic steady field is derived from a separable generating function with a convergent radial part, resulting in a vanishing net electric charge and a nonzero spin and rest mass. From the superposition of the solutions of two Z bosons with antiparallel spin directions, a model is further formed of a composite boson, the computed mass mC of which becomes connected with the mass of 91 GeV for each Z boson. This results in a composite boson which is likely to become identical with the heavy particle recently detected at CERN. Both these particles are thus lacking of net electric charge, magnetic field and spin, are purely electrostatic and highly unstable, and have masses close to the value of 125 GeV.
基金the US National Science Foundation for their long-time support of the development of the IGSN(Grant Nos.NSF-0445178,NSF-0514551,NSF-0552123)the Earth Chem system(Grant No.NSF-0522195)+1 种基金operation of both systems as part of the IEDA Data Facility(Grant Nos.NSF-0950477,NSF-1636653)the Alfred P.Sloan Foundation for a grant to Columbia University to support the development of a global,scalable,and sustainable technical and organizational infrastructure for persistent unique identifiers of physical scientific samples.
文摘1 Introduction The primary goal of the Deep-time Digital Earth project is to develop an open collaboration and data sharing platform that enables the transition of deep-time geoscientific research to a Big Data driven paradigm.Such an open platform will require the ability to effectively and efficiently access and integrate a wide variety of digital Earth data.
文摘We report a retrosternally displaced epiphysiolysis in a 12- yearold child and discuss options for themost appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach. If a standard anteroposterior view of the shoulder girdle shows abnormalities or if appropriate clinical suspicion is present, we strongly favor an magnetic resonance imaging study for further workup instead of a computed tomographic scan, which is currently the diagnostic method of choice in clinical algorithms. Radiation exposure is thereby limited and maximum information about possible mediastinal soft tissue complications is obtained using a single diagnostic tool. If open reduction is indicated, retention of the joint or approximation of physeal fracture or treatment of ligamentous injury should be performed without metal devices. These suggestions for future management of these patients should further reduce the use of x-rays in children. In addition, applying a suture instead of using metal for stabilization can avoid the extensively described complications in literature that can potentially result frommetal devices. In addition, sutures circumvent the need for a second operation for metal removal.
文摘The Standard Model of elementary particles, with its associated concept of a vacuum state of empty space, leads to strongly restricted results in subatomic physics. Examples are given by vanishing rest masses and an associated spinless state of the photon. In a revised quantum electrodynamic theory by the author, new results have been deduced which cannot be obtained from the Standard Model. These are due to a vacuum state populated by Zero Point Energy and a corresponding nonzero electric charge density. This leads to a screw-shaped photon configuration with rest mass, spin and possibilities of needle radiation, to a deduced value of the elementary charge of the electron, muon and tauon being close to its experimental value, to a deduced mass being nearly equal to 125 GeV of the Higgs particle detected at CERN, and to the discovery of large intrinsic charges of both polarities within the volume of a particle. In their turn, these charges give rise to effects of the same magnitude as that of the strong force, and can account for the binding energy of 8 MeV of the neutron and proton. This makes a unification possible of electrodynamics with the strong nuclear force.
文摘Purpose It is well recognised that injury prevention training can reduce injury incidence,however current coach education pathways do not provide grass-root coaches with the knowledge and confidence to deliver such training to youth players.The aim of this study was to explore differences in knowledge,understanding,attitude and confidence to deliver such injury prevention training in three European countries.Methods A total of 269 grass-root soccer coaches from 3 European countries(Czech Republic,UK,Spain)were recruited for this study.A validated questionnaire exploring knowledge,understanding,attitude towards and confidence to deliver youth injury prevention training was completed prior to a 2 h workshop on injury prevention training.Differences between countries was examined using Bayesian factors to quantify the evidence for and against the hypothesis of independence(H0)by assuming a Poisson sampling scheme(as there was no a priori restriction on any cell count,nor on the grand total)(BF10 Poisson).Results Current knowledge,attitude and confidence to deliver injury prevention training to youth players was poor across all three European countries.Relatively few coaches were currently using injury prevention training in their coaching sessions(23%).There were some country specific differences for attitude towards injury prevention training and confidence to deliver injury training,with Spanish coaches reporting a more positive attitude and confidence to deliver such training.Significantly fewer coaches in the UK were using injury prevention training compared to coaches in Spain and the Czech Republic.Conclusion As coaches identified a need for coach education and few were delivering injury prevention training,there is a clear need to embed and implement this programme into the grassroots coaching framework of sports governing bodies to improve adoption,implementation and maintenance.
文摘A theory elaborated by the author on revised quantum electrodynamics (RQED) is elucidated in a condensed form on special important points. The latter concerns the basic electromagnetic field equations in a vacuum state, the connection of this state with the Zero Point Energy (ZPE), the procedure of quantization, steady states of particle models, the concept of the individual photon, and examples on experimental support of the theory.
文摘The final state of a black hole and its force balance is considered, in the limit where all available energy is radiated away and all matter remains in the lowest form of Zero Point Energy (ZPE). In conventional theory without the concept of ZPE, the gravitational contraction would transfer the system into a mass point, being questionable from the theoretical point of view. But the inclusion of ZPE makes a force balance possible, resulting in a finite characteristic radius of a black hole mass distribution. This radius is of the same order as that of the so-called Schwarzschild radius, but is not related to the physics of the latter, which is due to particle trapping in the gravitational field.
