An Optimal Design of Early Warning Systems: A Bayesian Quickest Change Detection Approach

This paper proposed a new optimal design of Early Warning Systems (EWS) to detect early warning signals of an impending financial crisis. The problem of EWS was formulated from a policy maker's perspective. Hence the probability threshold was obtained by minimizing the policy maker's welfare loss. This paper employed the state-of-the-art Bayesian Quickest Change Detection (BQCD) as the methodology to detect the early warning signals as soon as possible. We showed that the BQCD method outperformed the Logit model used in traditional EWS models based on results of simulation exercise and the out-of-sample predictions of the 1997 Asian financial crises. We found that not only early warning signals were stronger prior to a crisis, but also stronger warning signals appeared more frequently. The BQCD method was sensitive to the increase in frequency, hence out-performed the traditional Logit-EWS model

Identification of rhizome-specific genes by genome-wide differential expression Analysis in Oryza longistaminata

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rhizomatousness is a key component of perenniality of many grasses that contribute to competitiveness and invasiveness of many noxious grass weeds, but can potentially be used to develop perennial cereal crops for sustainable farmers in hilly areas of tropical Asia. <it>Oryza longistaminata</it>, a perennial wild rice with strong rhizomes, has been used as the model species for genetic and molecular dissection of rhizome development and in breeding efforts to transfer rhizome-related traits into annual rice species. In this study, an effort was taken to get insights into the genes and molecular mechanisms underlying the rhizomatous trait in <it>O. longistaminata </it>by comparative analysis of the genome-wide tissue-specific gene expression patterns of five different tissues of <it>O. longistaminata </it>using the Affymetrix GeneChip Rice Genome Array.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 2,566 tissue-specific genes were identified in five different tissues of <it>O. longistaminata</it>, including 58 and 61 unique genes that were specifically expressed in the rhizome tips (RT) and internodes (RI), respectively. In addition, 162 genes were up-regulated and 261 genes were down-regulated in RT compared to the shoot tips. Six distinct <it>cis</it>-regulatory elements (CGACG, GCCGCC, GAGAC, AACGG, CATGCA, and TAAAG) were found to be significantly more abundant in the promoter regions of genes differentially expressed in RT than in the promoter regions of genes uniformly expressed in all other tissues. Many of the RT and/or RI specifically or differentially expressed genes were located in the QTL regions associated with rhizome expression, rhizome abundance and rhizome growth-related traits in <it>O. longistaminata </it>and thus are good candidate genes for these QTLs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The initiation and development of the rhizomatous trait in <it>O. longistaminata </it>are controlled by very complex gene networks involving several plant hormones and regulatory genes, different members of gene families showing tissue specificity and their regulated pathways. Auxin/IAA appears to act as a negative regulator in rhizome development, while GA acts as the activator in rhizome development. Co-localization of the genes specifically expressed in rhizome tips and rhizome internodes with the QTLs for rhizome traits identified a large set of candidate genes for rhizome initiation and development in rice for further confirmation.</p

Susceptibility to glaucoma: differential comparison of the astrocyte transcriptome from glaucomatous African American and Caucasian American donors

Comparison of gene expression in normal and glaucomatous eyes from Caucasian American and African American donors reveals differences that might reflect different susceptibility to glaucoma

Gene Expression and Functional Studies of the Optic Nerve Head Astrocyte Transcriptome from Normal African Americans and Caucasian Americans Donors

To determine whether optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes, a key cellular component of glaucomatous neuropathy, exhibit differential gene expression in primary cultures of astrocytes from normal African American (AA) donors compared to astrocytes from normal Caucasian American (CA) donors.We used oligonucleotide Affymetrix microarray (HG U133A & HG U133A 2.0 chips) to compare gene expression levels in cultured ONH astrocytes from twelve CA and twelve AA normal age matched donor eyes. Chips were normalized with Robust Microarray Analysis (RMA) in R using Bioconductor. Significant differential gene expression levels were detected using mixed effects modeling and Statistical Analysis of Microarray (SAM). Functional analysis and Gene Ontology were used to classify differentially expressed genes. Differential gene expression was validated by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Protein levels were detected by Western blots and ELISA. Cell adhesion and migration assays tested physiological responses. Glutathione (GSH) assay detected levels of intracellular GSH.Multiple analyses selected 87 genes differentially expressed between normal AA and CA (P<0.01). The most relevant genes expressed in AA were categorized by function, including: signal transduction, response to stress, ECM genes, migration and cell adhesion.These data show that normal astrocytes from AA and CA normal donors display distinct expression profiles that impact astrocyte functions in the ONH. Our data suggests that differences in gene expression in ONH astrocytes may be specific to the development and/or progression of glaucoma in AA

Culture clash and cultural confirmation: Swedish – Chinese encounters on a Sustainable building scene

Studies on globalisation often focus on large multinational companies and their strategic options forexpansion. However, statistics show, that also small and mediumsized companies are increasingly ableto internationalise and do so. In a construction setting this is often related to participation or eveninitiation of building projects. In particular, Swedish building companies have a potential competitiveadvantage in the booming market for sustainable building, energy efficiency and energy renovation.This paper studies two cases of Chinese sustainable building projects in the Beijing region where asmall Swedish consultancy company participate. The main aim is to study how culture influence in twoselected energy efficiency building projects involving Swedish and Chinese partners?The frameworkof understanding draws primarily on culture theory, yet also more indirectly on small business,organization and management theories. The method is based on interview and project documents.Interviews is done with representatives from Swedish and Chinese companies collaborating in twoChinese projects. One project is creating new office premises for a Chinese client, the other is a greenhotel project. Both projects are designed, build according to EU green building norms and alsoeventually obtain this certificate. The projects are interrelated and can be seen as first a potential niche,second a (larger) market for the Swedish company in China.Cultural similarities and differencestranscend national distinctions and extend into company cultures related to the companies’ differentroles in the project. The pattern found is thus more of a multiple configuration of cultures than a dualculture clash. Nation, company and sector cultures interact and certain culturally based interpretationsserve to confirm existing understanding of sustainable building projects. It is discussed how smallcompanies are constrained by their cultural ballast, cultural capital. They continually base decisions onsituational judgment within frames posited by their cultures, limited resources and networkdependencies

Soil Magnetic Characteristics of Weakly Magnetic Sandstones in Tropical and Subtropical Yunnan and Their Environmental Significance

As an important surface ecosystem of the earth, the soil records abundant geological and environmental information. During the formation and development of soil, the magnetic minerals it contains will also change. Therefore, soil magnetism is related to the climatic environment information of the soil formation period and can be used to reconstruct the paleoenvironment. Currently, the research on soil magnetism in temperate semi-arid areas and its corresponding climatic and environmental indicators is relatively mature; however, the climatic and environmental indicators of soil magnetism in tropical and subtropical areas remain controversial and need further research. In this study, magnetic and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were used to analyze the weathering crust of sandstone in different climatic zones in Yunnan. The results show that: (1) the three selected ferrimagnetic minerals in weathering crust profiles are magnetite and maghemite; the antiferromagnetic minerals are goethite and hematite. The main magnetic-bearing minerals in the soil of EF, PF, and F samples are magnetite and maghemite. The soil of PF and F samples contains relatively more antiferromagnetic minerals, goethite, and hematite, and the mean χfd% values in the three sections are 16.01%, 14.58%, and 10.06%, respectively. These results indicate that the three profiles all contain a large number of SP particles, and the ferrimagnetic mineral content in EF samples is much higher than that in PF and F samples. (2) From the perspective of the soil developed on the parent material of sandstone, no obvious correlation between the magnetic susceptibility changes of the three profiles and temperature and precipitation was observed. The magnetic susceptibility applicable to the temperate loess area is difficult to use as a climate proxy index in this region. Temperature and precipitation are not the main factors affecting the changes in magnetic susceptibility of soil, and various factors affect these changes. A large-scale and multi-section comparative study is necessary to evaluate the relationship between soil magnetic characteristics and the environment in tropical and subtropical areas. (3) The levels of Hm and Gt are affected by the difference in magnetic minerals in the parent rock, and characterizing the change in temperature or precipitation is difficult. The ratios Hm/Gt and Hm/ (Hm+Gt) have a good correspondence with temperature and have application potential in indicating temperature

Preparation and Evaluation of a Profile Control Agent Base on Waste Drilling Fluid

The waste drilling fluid was treated by a flocculant and a pH regulator. And a novel profile control agent base on waste drilling fluid (PCAWDF) was prepared using polymer, formaldehyde, resorcinol, and thiourea as raw materials under mild conditions. PCAWDF was characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Compared with the profile control agent prepared by the recirculated water (PCARW), PCAWDF exhibited comparable or better stability, salt resistance, and viscoelasticity. The results of parallel core plugging experiments showed that the profile improvement capability of PCAWDF was stronger than that of PCARW (for 3000 mg/L: 84.6% versus 83.1%; for 5000 mg/L: 91.8% versus 90.2%). The main performance indexes of PCAWDF could meet the need of profile control for the water injection wells. The method could solve the problem of waste drilling fluid treatment in an economic and environmental way

Identification and Characterization of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Inhibitory Peptides from Oat Proteins

In this study, flavourzyme, papain, neutrase, and alcalase, as well as gastrointestinal digestion simulated with pepsin and pancreatin, were used to hydrolyze oat protein, and the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activities of the oat protein hydrolysates were investigated. The results indicated that the oat protein hydrolysate by neutrase showed the most potent DPP-IV inhibitory property with an IC50 value of 2.55 &plusmn; 0.38 mg/mL. Using UPLC-MS/MS, ten new DPP-IV inhibitory peptides were identified from the oat protein hydrolysate by neutrase. Among these peptides, IPQHY, VPQHY, VAVVPF, and VPLGGF exhibited the strongest DPP-IV inhibitory activity with IC50 values below 50 &mu;M, and all of them acted as mixed-type inhibitors. Molecular docking indicated that the above four oat-derived peptides were predicted to form hydrogen bonds, attractive charge, and hydrophobic interactions with the residues of the active site of DPP-IV. Therefore, our results suggest that oat is an excellent protein source for food-derived DPP-IV inhibitory peptides and it has the prospect of becoming a dietary supplement for T2DM