Binary Beetle Antennae Search Algorithm for Tangency Portfolio Diversification

The tangency portfolio, also known as the market portfolio, is the most efficient portfolio and arises from the intercept point of the Capital Market Line (CML) and the efficient frontier. In this paper, a binary optimal tangency portfolio under cardinality constraint (BOTPCC) problem is defined and studied as a nonlinear programming (NLP) problem. Because such NLP problems are widely approached by heuristic, a binary beetle antennae search algorithm is employed to provide a solution to the BTPSCC problem. Our method proved to be a magnificent substitute to other evolutionary algorithms in real-world datasets, based on numerical applications and computer simulations

THE GENETIC HYPOTHESIS OF THE URANIFERUS MINERALIZATION, EASTERN CHALKIDIKI (NORTHERN GREECE)

This paper presents the genetic hypothesis of αn uranium mineralization observed in Eastern Chalkidiki-Greece. In the area of Stratoni (location Asprochomata) a uranium mineralization is expressing by disseminated primary (orthobrannerite) and secondary (torbernite) U minerals, in the granodioritic body of this area. Genetically it may be the result of uranium redistribution, which occurs in the resisting accecory minerals (e.g monazite) of the granodiorite, by magmatic or meteoric hydrothermal fluids of low temperature. The mineralized granodiorite of Stratoni gives no evidence of a metalliferous pluton, based on the study of hydrothermally altered samples and this ascertainment is a fact that should be confronted with a lot of carefull thought. In the granite of Arnea area, uranium mineralization is in generally absent, excluding some poor one’s, located along the contacts of the granite with small remnants of the hosting rock, expressed in the form of impregnations or veinlets. The possible cause for its formation being the interaction of a secondary low temperature hydrothermal system mainly of meteoric water participation (convective hydrothermal system) with the granite and the hosting wall-rock minerals. The granite of Arnea indicates all the characteristics of a metalliferous granitoid

Optimal Portfolio Insurance under Nonlinear Transaction Costs

The minimization of the costs related to portfolio insurance is a very important investment strategy. In this article, by adding the transaction costs to the classical minimum cost portfolio insurance (MCPI) problem, we define and study the MCPI under transaction costs (MCPITC) problem as a nonlinear programming (NLP) problem. In this way, the MCPI problem becomes more realistic. Since such NLP problems are commonly solved by heuristics, we use the Beetle Antennae Search (BAS) algorithm to provide a solution to the MCPITC problem. Numerical experiments and computer simulations in real-world data sets confirm that our approach is an excellent alternative to other evolutionary computation algorithms

Neutrophil Apoptosis During Viral Infections

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a highly conserved cellular suicide mechanism. Apoptosis is critical to the effective resolution of inflammation, particularly in regulating the lifespan of neutrophils. Neutrophils are key components of the first line of defense against microorganisms. Thus, subversion of this critical host defense mechanism by pathogens can contribute to susceptibility to severe and recurrent infections. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms involved in PMN death in relationship with viral infections

Allele-specific long-distance regulation dictates IL-32 isoform switching and mediates susceptibility to HIV-1

We integrated data obtained from HIV-1 genome-wide association studies with T cell-derived epigenome data and found that the noncoding intergenic variant rs4349147, which is statistically associated with HIV-1 acquisition, is located in a CD4+ T cell-specific deoxyribonuclease I hypersensitive region, suggesting regulatory potential for this variant. Deletion of the rs4349147 element in Jurkat cells strongly reduced expression of interleukin-32 (IL-32), approximately 10-kb upstream, and chromosome conformation capture assays identified a chromatin loop between rs4349147 and the IL-32 promoter validating its function as a long-distance enhancer. We generated single rs4349147-A or rs4349147-G allele clones and demonstrated that IL-32 enhancer activity and interaction with the IL-32 promoter are strongly allele dependent; rs4349147 -/A cells display reduced IL-32 expression and altered chromatin conformation as compared to rs4349147 G/- cells. Moreover, RNA sequencing demonstrated that rs4349147 G/- cells express a lower relative ratio of IL-32α to non-a isoforms than rs4349147 -/A cells and display increased expression of lymphocyte activation factors rendering them more prone to infection with HIV-1. In agreement, in primary CD4+ T cells, both treatment with recombinant IL-32γ (rIL-32γ) but not rIL-32α, and exogenous lentiviral overexpression of IL-32γ or IL-32β but not IL-32α resulted in a proinflammatory T cell cytokine environment concomitant with increased susceptibility to HIV infection. Our data demonstrate that rs4349147-G promotes transcription of non-IL-32α isoforms, generating a proinflammatory e

Blocking TLR7- and TLR9-mediated IFN-α Production by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Does Not Diminish Immune Activation in Early SIV Infection

Persistent production of type I interferon (IFN) by activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) is a leading model to explain chronic immune activation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection but direct evidence for this is lacking. We used a dual antagonist of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9 to selectively inhibit responses of pDC but not other mononuclear phagocytes to viral RNA prior to and for 8 weeks following pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of rhesus macaques. We show that pDC are major but not exclusive producers of IFN-α that rapidly become unresponsive to virus stimulation following SIV infection, whereas myeloid DC gain the capacity to produce IFN-α, albeit at low levels. pDC mediate a marked but transient IFN-α response in lymph nodes during the acute phase that is blocked by administration of TLR7 and TLR9 antagonist without impacting pDC recruitment. TLR7 and TLR9 blockade did not impact virus load or the acute IFN-α response in plasma and had minimal effect on expression of IFN-stimulated genes in both blood and lymph node. TLR7 and TLR9 blockade did not prevent activation of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in blood or lymph node but led to significant increases in proliferation of both subsets in blood following SIV infection. Our findings reveal that virus-mediated activation of pDC through TLR7 and TLR9 contributes to substantial but transient IFN-α production following pathogenic SIV infection. However, the data indicate that pDC activation and IFN-α production are unlikely to be major factors in driving immune activation in early infection. Based on these findings therapeutic strategies aimed at blocking pDC function and IFN-α production may not reduce HIV-associated immunopathology. © 2013 Kader et al

A Zeroing Neural Network Approach for Calculating Time-Varying G-Outer Inverse of Arbitrary Matrix

Abstract Calculation of the time-varying (TV) matrix generalized inverse has grown into an essential tool in many fields, such as computer science, physics, engineering, and mathematics, in order to tackle TV challenges. This work investigates the challenge of finding a TV extension of a subclass of inner inverses on real matrices, known as generalized-outer (G-outer) inverses. More precisely, our goal is to construct TV G-outer inverses (TV-GOIs) by utilizing the zeroing neural network (ZNN) process, which is presently thought to be a state-of-the-art solution to tackling TV matrix challenges. Using known advantages of ZNN dynamic systems, a novel ZNN model, called ZNNGOI, is presented in the literature for the first time in order to compute TV-GOIs. The ZNNGOI performs excellently in performed numerical simulations and an application on addressing localization problems. In terms of solving linear TV matrix equations, its performance is comparable to that of the standard ZNN model for computing the pseudoinverse.Abstract Calculation of the time-varying (TV) matrix generalized inverse has grown into an essential tool in many fields, such as computer science, physics, engineering, and mathematics, in order to tackle TV challenges. This work investigates the challenge of finding a TV extension of a subclass of inner inverses on real matrices, known as generalized-outer (G-outer) inverses. More precisely, our goal is to construct TV G-outer inverses (TV-GOIs) by utilizing the zeroing neural network (ZNN) process, which is presently thought to be a state-of-the-art solution to tackling TV matrix challenges. Using known advantages of ZNN dynamic systems, a novel ZNN model, called ZNNGOI, is presented in the literature for the first time in order to compute TV-GOIs. The ZNNGOI performs excellently in performed numerical simulations and an application on addressing localization problems. In terms of solving linear TV matrix equations, its performance is comparable to that of the standard ZNN model for computing the pseudoinverse