A Delayed Black and Scholes Formula I

In this article we develop an explicit formula for pricing European options when the underlying stock price follows a non-linear stochastic differential delay equation (sdde). We believe that the proposed model is sufficiently flexible to fit real market data, and is yet simple enough to allow for a closed-form representation of the option price. Furthermore, the model maintains the no-arbitrage property and the completeness of the market. The derivation of the option-pricing formula is based on an equivalent martingale measure

Advanced Technologies for Oral Controlled Release: Cyclodextrins for oral controlled release

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are used in oral pharmaceutical formulations, by means of inclusion complexes formation, with the following advantages for the drugs: (1) solubility, dissolution rate, stability and bioavailability enhancement; (2) to modify the drug release site and/or time profile; and (3) to reduce or prevent gastrointestinal side effects and unpleasant smell or taste, to prevent drug-drug or drug-additive interactions, or even to convert oil and liquid drugs into microcrystalline or amorphous powders. A more recent trend focuses on the use of CDs as nanocarriers, a strategy that aims to design versatile delivery systems that can encapsulate drugs with better physicochemical properties for oral delivery. Thus, the aim of this work was to review the applications of the CDs and their hydrophilic derivatives on the solubility enhancement of poorly water soluble drugs in order to increase their dissolution rate and get immediate release, as well as their ability to control (to prolong or to delay) the release of drugs from solid dosage forms, either as complexes with the hydrophilic (e.g. as osmotic pumps) and/ or hydrophobic CDs. New controlled delivery systems based on nanotechonology carriers (nanoparticles and conjugates) have also been reviewed

Quantifying the effects of temperature and noise on attention-level using EDA and EEG sensors

Most people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience atypical sensory modality and need help to self-regulate their sensory responses. Results of a pilot study are presented here where temperature, noise types and noise levels are used as independent variables. Attention-based tests (ABTs), Electrodermal Activity (EDA) and Electroencephalography (EEG) sensors are used as dependent variables to quantify the effects of temperature and noise. Based on the outcome of the analyses, it is feasible to use off-the-shelf sensors to recognize physiological changes, indicating a possibility to develop sensory management recommendation interventions to support people with ASD

Experimental investigations of electrodeposited Zn-Ni, Zn-Co, and Ni-Cr-Co-based novel coatings on AA7075 substrate to ameliorate the mechanical, abrasion, morphological, and corrosion properties for automotive applications

The aluminum (Al) alloy AA7075 is widely used in various industries due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, which is comparable and replaceable to steel in many applications. However, it has poor resistance to wear and corrosion compared to other Al alloys. The conventional pressure die coating with Cr and cadmium has led to premature failure while the load is applied. It is indeed to develop a novel coating method to improve the mechanical, wear, and corrosion properties of AA7075 Al alloy. In the present investigation, the binary and ternary metals such as zinc-nickel (Zn-Ni), zinc-cobalt (Zn-Co), and nickel-chromium-cobalt (Ni-Cr-Co) are electroplated on the substrate material (AA7075). In order to ensure optimal coating adhesion, the surface of the substrate material was pre-treated with laser surface treatment (LST). The mechanical and corrosion studies have been carried out on the uncoated and coated materials. It is observed from the findings that the ternary coating has higher wear resistance than the binary-coated material. The ternary coating has 64% higher resistance in the non-heat-treated status and 67% higher resistance in the heat-treated condition compared to the uncoated specimens. The tensile strength (MPa) of Ni-Cr-Co on AA7075 pressure die casting (PDC) is higher than the other deposits (582.24 of Ni-Cr-Co > 566.07 of Zn-Co > 560.05 of Zn-Ni > 553.64 of uncoated condition). The presence of a crystalline structure with the high alignment of Co and Ni atoms could significantly improve the corrosion resistance of Ni-Cr-Co coatings on AA 7075 PDC substrates when compared to binary coatings. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy findings on the coated materials have been corroborated with the analyses on mechanical and corrosion properties. The XRD analysis of the Zn-Ni binary coating has reported that the diffraction peaks of γ-NiZn3 (831), γ-Ni2Zn11 (330), and 631 with 2θ values 38, 43, and 73° are confirming the presence of Zn-Ni binary deposit on AA7075 PDC substrate. The XRD pattern of Zn-Co-coated material has revealed that the presence of three strong peaks such as Zn (110), Co (111), and CoZn (211) and two feeble peaks such as ϵ-CoZn3 (220) and ϵ-CoZn3 (301) are clearly visible. The XRD pattern of Ni-Cr-Co ternary coating has exhibited that the Ni-Cr-Co ternary deposit is a solid solution with a body-centered cubic structure due to the formation peaks at lattice plane such as (110), (220), and (210) with a crystal lattice constant of 2.88 A°. The SEM image for both the binary- and ternary-coated materials has exhibited that the deposited surface has displayed many shallow pits due to hitting by progressive particles. The SEM image has illustrated the presence of Zn-Ni atoms with smaller globular structure. The surface morphology of binary Zn-Co coating on the PDC AA7075 substrate has unveiled the evenly distributed dot-like structure and submerged Co particles in the galaxy of Zn atoms. To understand the effectiveness of bonding by laser texturing, cross-section SEM has been carried out which furthermore revealed the effective adhesion of Ni-Cr-Co on AA7075 PDC; this could also be the reason for the enhancement of microhardness, wear, and corrosion resistance of the said coating. © 2023 the author(s), published by De Gruyter

WHO guideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults in primary and community care settings

The purpose of the guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations on nonsurgical interventions for chronic primary LBP (CPLBP) in adults, including older people, that can be delivered in primary and community care settings to improve CPLBP-related health and well-being outcomes. For this reason, the guideline does not consider interventions typically delivered in secondary or tertiary care settings (e.g. surgical or other invasive procedures) or workplace interventions. The target audience is health workers of all disciplines working in the primary and community care settings. In this context, the guideline is intended to be discipline neutral. The guidelines will be of use to clinical staff including medical doctors, nurses, allied health workers including chiropractors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists and community health workers, as well as public health programme and system managers

Symptomatic Acute Hepatitis C in Egypt: Diagnosis, Spontaneous Viral Clearance, and Delayed Treatment with 12 Weeks of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a

The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of spontaneous viral clearance (SVC) after symptomatic acute hepatitis C and to evaluate the efficacy of 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients who did not clear the virus spontaneously.Patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis C were recruited from two "fever hospitals" in Cairo, Egypt. Patients still viremic three months after the onset of symptoms were considered for treatment with 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (180 microg/week).Between May 2002 and February 2006, 2243 adult patients with acute hepatitis were enrolled in the study. The SVC rate among 117 patients with acute hepatitis C was 33.8% (95%CI [25.9%-43.2%]) at three months and 41.5% (95%CI [33.0%-51.2%]) at six months. The sustained virological response (SVR) rate among the 17 patients who started treatment 4-6 months after onset of symptoms was 15/17 = 88.2% (95%CI [63.6%-98.5%]).Spontaneous viral clearance was high (41.5% six months after the onset of symptoms) in this population with symptomatic acute hepatitis C. Allowing time for spontaneous clearance should be considered before treatment is initiated for symptomatic acute hepatitis C

Alcohol use among amateur sportsmen in Ireland

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objective of this study was to establish baseline data on alcohol consumption patterns, behaviours and harms among amateur sportsmen in the Republic of Ireland.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The study presents findings from the baseline survey for a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a community intervention programme to reduce problem alcohol use among a representative sample of Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs in two counties in the Republic of Ireland. Self reported alcohol use, prevalence of binge drinking, AUDIT scores and alcohol-related harms were assessed in amateur GAA sportsmen aged 16 years and over.</p> <p>Nine hundred and sixty (960) players completed questionnaires (72% response rate). Mean age was 24.0 years (S.D. 5.2). Of those aged 18 years or over, 75% had post-primary education; most (864, 90%) were current drinkers and 8.2% were regular smokers. The self-reported average yearly alcohol consumption was 12.5 litres. Almost one third (31%) of current drinkers reported drinking over the recommended limit of 21 standard drinks per week and just over half (54.3%) reported drinking 6 or more standard drinks in a row at least once a week (regular binge drinking). Of those who (self) completed the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire, three-quarters (74.7%) had a score of 8 or more; 11.5% had a score of 20 or above warranting referral for diagnostic evaluation and treatment. Almost all (87.6%) of the 864 drinkers reported experiencing at least one harm due to their drinking. These alcohol misuse outcomes were higher than those found in a nationally representative sample of males of a similar age. There were strong associations between regular binge drinking and reporting harms such as being in a fight (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.02, p < 0.001), missing time from work or college (adjusted OR 1.39, p = 0.04) or being in an accident (adjusted OR 1.78, p = 0.04).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These male amateur sportsmen reported high rates of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.</p

History of Spinal Neurosurgery and Spine Societies

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How paradata can illuminate technical, social and professional role changes between the Poverty in the UK (1967/1968) and Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK (2012) surveys

© 2016, The Author(s). This article brings together analyses of the micro paradata ‘by-products’ from the 1967/1968 Poverty in the United Kingdom (PinUK) and 2012 Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK (PSE) surveys to explore changes in the conditions of production over this 45year period. We highlight technical, social and professional role continuities and changes, shaped by the institutionalisation of survey researchers, the professionalization of the field interviewer, and economisation. While there are similarities between the surveys in that field interviewers were and are at the bottom of the research hierarchy, we demonstrate an increasing segregation between the core research team and field interviewers. In PinUK the field interviewers are visible in the paper survey booklets; through their handwritten notes on codes and in written marginalia they can ‘talk’ to the central research team. In PSE they are absent from the computer mediated data, and from communication with the central team. We argue that, while there have been other benefits to field interviewers, their relational labour has become less visible in a shift from the exercise of observational judgement to an emphasis on standardisation. Yet, analyses of what field interviewers actually do show that they still need to deploy the same interpersonal skills and resourcefulness to secure and maintain interviews as they did 45years previously