Intelligent approach for attracting churning customers in banking industry based on collaborative filtering

During recent years, increased competition among banks has caused many developments in banking experiences and technology, while leading to even more churning customers due to their desire of having the best services. Therefore, it is an extremely significant issue for the banks to identify churning customers and attract them to the banking system again. In order to tackle this issue, this paper proposes a novel personalized collaborating filtering recommendation approach joint with the user clustering technology. In the proposed approach, first a hybrid algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and K-mean cluster the loyal customers. The clusters of loyal customers are used to identify the features of the churning customers. Finally, the list of appropriate banking services are recommended for the churning customers based on a collaborative filtering recommendation system. The recommendation system uses the information of loyal customers to offer appropriate services for the churning customers. We applied successfully the proposed intelligent approach to return the churning customers of an Iranian bank.http://www.jise.ir/article_16171.htm

An Ecology study on artificial reef in Hormozgan (Bandar Lengeh)

Uncontrolled fishing of marine resources in the world, has caused many commercial species to be at risk of destruction and extinction. Along with development of aquaculture, establishment of artificial reefs is considered one of important strategies to compensate loss of resources and overfishing. Accordingly, the project was based. Sampling of fish cary out from winter 2005 to Fall 2006 and for plankton, zooplankton, Iktyoplankton and bentoses from spring 2006 to winter 2006. The structures of Moloo artificial habitat had been arranged in seven rows at three depths (8, 9.5 and 11 m). Two control stations were considered one kilometer each side of the habitat. Sampling of physicochemical parameters and pollutantsand sediment cary out in summer and winter 2006 . CPUE and frequency of species, showed significant differences between seventh row (mixed structures) and six other rows (P0.05). Although mean CPUE showed high seasonal differences, but because analogous variance was also significantly different (P0.05). Observed and identified ichthyoplanktons were pertaining to families Clupeidae, Gobiidae, Callionymidae, Engraulidae, Sciaenidae and Sparidae. The highest density was observed in summer; The highest mean annual density was related to Gobiidae. Benthos groups were including crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes, nematodes, nemertines, foraminiferans, ophiurids and echiurans. There were obtained no significant difference between density of benthic organisms on surfaces of different structures. Despite significant seasonal differences between some physicochemical factors and water pollution (P<0.05), significant differences between stations did not exist; Mean water temperature in establishment area of structures, were obtained 32.9 0.5 °C in summer and 21.4 0.5 °C in winter. Due to the buffering properties of seawater, pH had a limited range of changes (8 - 8.95) with an average of 8.81 0.13. Average amount of transparency was 3.8 2.72 and 5.63 0.78 m. in summer and winter respectively. Annual averages of dissolved oxygen and salinity were 7.11 0.1 ppm and 39.13 0.26 ppt respectively. Annual average of nutrients including nitrate, nitrite and phosphate in the study area, were, 74.9 0.7, 1.44 0.09 and 0.97 0.06 µmol per lit. respectively. The average COD in the summer and winter is estimated 1.53 0.48 and 1.62 0.48 mg per ml, respectively. Mean values of copper, zinc, iron, nickel and lead were obtained 26.5, 54.3, 27.6, 70.85 and 48.15 µg per one gram of dried weight of sediment, respectively; Aliphatic normal hydrocarbons (C10-C30) have been measured in water and sediment samples

Lights, fiber, action! A primer on in vivo fiber photometry

Fiber photometry is a key technique for characterizing brain-behavior relationships in vivo. Initially, it was primarily used to report calcium dynamics as a proxy for neural activity via genetically encoded indicators. This generated new insights into brain functions including movement, memory, and motivation at the level of defined circuits and cell types. Recently, the opportunity for discovery with fiber photometry has exploded with the development of an extensive range of fluorescent sensors for biomolecules including neuromodulators and peptides that were previously inaccessible in vivo. This critical advance, combined with the new availability of affordable “plug-and-play” recording systems, has made monitoring molecules with high spatiotemporal precision during behavior highly accessible. However, while opening exciting new avenues for research, the rapid expansion in fiber photometry applications has occurred without coordination or consensus on best practices. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to help end-users execute, analyze, and suitably interpret fiber photometry studies

Laboratories risks evaluation of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecological Research Center

In this study, to assess and classify risks associated with working in the laboratories of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecological Research Center, the method of "Failure Mode Effects Analysis" (FMEA) as well as some statistical methods were used. The results of the risk assessment in the 11 affiliated laboratories showed that the risk levels in all cases, except for benthos laboratory, could be evaluated as moderate or high and therefore appropriate corrective actions must be implemented. Based on the results of the Kruskal-Wallis tests both before and after the corrective actions, there were significant differences between the laboratories from the viewpoint of risk priority number (RPN). The post hoc tests showed the lowest risk levels for the benthose and histology laboratories, while the highest risks identified in the laboratory of instrumental analysis. The results of the classification of the laboratories using cluster analysis are largely similar to those of the posthoc tests. According to Mann-Whitney U test, only in the case of the samples preparation laboratory, significant differences between the values of the RPN before and after the corrective actions could be observed (p> 0.05), however, the risk levels still remained high. In general it can be concluded that FMEA is an effective method for risk assessment in the research laboratories and appropriate statistical methods can also be used for complementary analysis

Cardiorenal Biomarkers, Canagliflozin, and Outcomes in Diabetic Kidney Disease: The CREDENCE Trial

BACKGROUND: People with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria are at an elevated risk for cardiac and renal events. The optimal biomarkers to aid disease prediction and to understand the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibition remain unclear. METHODS: Among 2627 study participants in the CREDENCE trial (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), concentrations of NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, growth differentiation factor-15, and IGFBP7 (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7) were measured. The effect of canagliflozin on biomarker concentrations was evaluated. The prognostic potential of each biomarker on the primary outcome (a composite of end-stage kidney disease [dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate of <15 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2], doubling of the serum creatinine level, or renal death or cardiovascular death) was assessed. RESULTS: The median (quartiles 1 and 3) concentration of each biomarker was generally elevated: NT-proBNP, 180 ng/L (82, 442 ng/L); high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, 19 ng/L (12, 29 ng/L); growth differentiation factor-15, 2595 ng/L (1852, 3775 ng/L); and IGFBP7, 121.8 ng/mL (105.4, 141.5 ng/mL). At 1 year, the biomarkers all rose by 6% to 29% in the placebo arm but only by 3% to 10% in the canagliflozin arm (all P<0.01 in multivariable linear mixed-effect models). Baseline concentrations of each biomarker were strongly predictive of cardiac and renal outcomes. When the biomarkers were analyzed together in a multimarker panel, individuals with high risk scores (hazard ratio [HR], 4.01 [95% CI, 2.52-6.35]) and moderate risk scores (HR, 2.39 [95% CI, 1.48-3.87]) showed a higher risk for the primary outcome compared with those with low risk scores. By 1 year, a 50% increase in NT-proBNP (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.08-1.15]), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (HR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.64-2.10]), growth differentiation factor-15 (HR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.24-1.70]), and IGFBP7 (HR, 3.76 [95% CI, 2.54-5.56]) was associated with risk of the primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple cardiorenal stress biomarkers are strongly prognostic in people with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria. Canagliflozin modestly reduced the longitudinal trajectory of rise in each biomarker. Change in the biomarker level in addition to the baseline level augments the primary outcome prediction. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02065791

Best approximation by downward sets with applications

We develop a theory of downward sets for a class of normed ordered spaces. We study best approximation in a normed ordered space X by elements of downward sets, and give necessary and sufficient conditions for any element of best approximation by a closed downward subset of X. We also characterize strictly downward subsets of X, and prove that a downward subset of X is strictly downward if and only if each its boundary point is Chebyshev. The results obtained are used for examination of some Chebyshev pairs (W,x), where x E X and W is a closed downward subset of X.C

Benefícios do ômega 3 na prevenção de doença cardiovascular: Revisão integrativa de literatura

Introduction: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a fat found in plant foods, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both found in fish, have been considered relevant substances for the maintenance of health, so that supplementation is being considered relevant for the reduction of cardiovascular risks. Objective: To identify and analyze the scientific evidence available in the literature on the contribution of omega 3 in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Materials and Methods: Integrative literature review, with deference to materials published in the Scielo and PubMed databases, which considered as inclusion criteria articles published in the last 5 years, available in full, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, which addressed the proposed theme; the exclusion criteria were editorials, letters to the editor, review studies, theses, dissertations, and duplicate articles that did not correspond to the theme. Results: Based on the aforementioned scientific evidence, the body's omega-3 indices are relevant to identify possible cardiovascular risk, so it can therefore be used as an objective for treatment when there is a possible risk for these manifestations. This risk factor can be modified by taking EPA and DHA. The standard 1 g/day dose of EPA and DHA recommended by cardiac societies is, however, probably far from ideal for everyone, as not only this standard dose but also diet, individual genetic history, body mass index, calorie intake and disposal, and other factors all together probably determine a person's level of omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, it is suggested that the omega-3 index acts not only as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but that other contexts allied to the patient's lifestyle should be considered. Conclusion: Diet or supplementation of these nutrients may result in cardiovascular and other types of benefits to society as a whole

Polymerase δ replicates both strands after homologous recombination-dependent fork restart

To maintain genetic stability DNA must be replicated only once and replication completed even when individual replication forks are inactivated. Because fork inactivation is common, the passive convergence of an adjacent fork is insufficient to rescue all inactive forks. Thus, eukaryotic cells have evolved homologous recombination-dependent mechanisms to restart persistent inactive forks. Completing DNA synthesis via Homologous Recombination Restarted Replication (HoRReR) ensures cell survival, but at a cost. One such cost is increased mutagenesis caused by HoRReR being more error prone than canonical replication. This increased error rate implies that the HoRReR mechanism is distinct from that of a canonical fork. Here we exploit the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to demonstrate that a DNA sequence duplicated by HoRReR during S phase is replicated semi-conservatively, but that both the leading and lagging strands are synthesised by DNA polymerase delta

Effects of mental health self-efficacy on outcomes of a mobile phone and web intervention for mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety and stress: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Online psychotherapy is clinically effective yet why, how, and for whom the effects are greatest remain largely unknown. In the present study, we examined whether mental health self-efficacy (MHSE), a construct derived from Bandura’s Social Learning Theory (SLT), influenced symptom and functional outcomes of a new mobile phone and web-based psychotherapy intervention for people with mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety and stress. Methods: STUDY I: Data from 49 people with symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or stress in the mild-to-moderate range were used to examine the reliability and construct validity of a new measure of MHSE, the Mental Health Self-efficacy Scale (MHSES). STUDY II: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a recently completed randomised controlled trial (N = 720) to evaluate whether MHSE effected post-intervention outcomes, as measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), for people with symptoms in the mild-to-moderate range. Results: STUDY I: The data established that the MHSES comprised a unitary factor, with acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = .89) and construct validity. STUDY II: The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in MHSE at post-intervention relative to the control conditions (p’s < = .000). MHSE mediated the effects of the intervention on anxiety and stress symptoms. Furthermore, people with low pre-treatment MHSE reported the greatest post-intervention gains in depression, anxiety and overall distress. No effects were found for MHSE on work and social functioning. Conclusion: Mental health self-efficacy influences symptom outcomes of a self-guided mobile phone and web-based psychotherapeutic intervention and may itself be a worthwhile target to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of online treatment programs