Cyclic AMP signalling in pancreatic islets

Cyclic 3'5'AMP (cAMP) is an important physiological amplifier of glucose-induced insulin secretion by the pancreatic islet β-cell, where it is formed by the activity of adenylyl cyclases, which are stimulated by glucose, through elevation in intracellular calcium concentrations, and by the incretin hormones (GLP-1 and GIP). cAMP is rapidly degraded in the pancreatic islet β-cell by various cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes. Many steps involved in glucose-induced insulin secretion are modulated by cAMP, which is also important in regulating pancreatic islet β-cell differentiation, growth and survival. This chapter discusses the formation, destruction and actions of cAMP in the islets with particular emphasis on the β-cell

Utility Maximization for Uplink MU-MIMO: Combining Spectral-Energy Efficiency and Fairness

Driven by green communications, energy efficiency (EE) has become a new important criterion for designing wireless communication systems. However, high EE often leads to low spectral efficiency (SE), which spurs the research on EE-SE tradeoff. In this paper, we focus on how to maximize the utility in physical layer for an uplink multi-user multiple-input multipleoutput (MU-MIMO) system, where we will not only consider EE-SE tradeoff in a unified way, but also ensure user fairness. We first formulate the utility maximization problem, but it turns out to be non-convex. By exploiting the structure of this problem, we find a convexization procedure to convert the original nonconvex problem into an equivalent convex problem, which has the same global optimum with the original problem. Following the convexization procedure, we present a centralized algorithm to solve the utility maximization problem, but it requires the global information of all users. Thus we propose a primal-dual distributed algorithm which does not need global information and just consumes a small amount of overhead. Furthermore, we have proved that the distributed algorithm can converge to the global optimum. Finally, the numerical results show that our approach can both capture user diversity for EE-SE tradeoff and ensure user fairness, and they also validate the effectiveness of our primal-dual distributed algorithm

Can the Forecasts Generated from E/P Ratio and Bond Yield be Used to Beat Stock Markets?

This study tests the performance of stock market forecasts derived from technical analysis by means of a specific indicator. The indicator is computed from E/P ratios and bond yields. Several stock markets are studied over a 20-year period. Two test statistics are introduced to utilize the indicator. The results show that the forecasts generated from the indicator would enable investors to escape most of the crashes and catch most of the bull runs. The trading signals provided by the indicator can generate profits that are significantly better than the buy-and-hold strategy.Yield differential, Standardized yield differential, E/P ratio, bond yield, interest rate

The Hare and the Tortoise Down by the King’s Pond: A Tale of Four Translations

This paper looks at the linguistic situation on the island of Mauritius, as revealed by the analysis of four translations of a folk-tale, originally an oral tale recounted by African slaves. The languages involved are Mauritian Creole, French and English. A brief account of the Mauritian historical and socio-linguistic development is given to contextualize my investigation. I then examine the translations from the conceptual framework of ideology, arguing that not only were they the instruments of the translators’ ideological convictions but that, in the process, they also came to symbolize the asymmetrical linguistic relations in Mauritius.L’analyse de quatre traductions d’un conte folklorique mauricien, autrefois un conte oral raconté par les esclaves africains, me permet de passer en revue la hiérarchie linguistique à l’île Maurice. Les langues en question sont le créole mauricien, le français et l’anglais. Un résumé du développement historique et sociolinguistique est fourni pour mettre cette recherche en contexte. L’utilisation du concept de l’idéologie me permet ensuite de prendre en considération l’influence des convictions idéologiques des traducteurs dont les traductions peuvent être perçues comme symboles des relations linguistiques inégales de l’île

Agenator: An open source computer-controlled dry aging system for beef

Dry aging of beef is a process where beef is exposed to a controlled environment with the ultimate goal of drying the beef to improve its quality and value. Comprehensive investigations into the effects of various environmental conditions on dry aging are crucial for understanding and optimizing the process, but the lack of affordable equipment focused on data collection makes it difficult to do so. The Agenator was thus developed as an open source system with a suite of features for investigating dry aging such as: measuring and recording relative humidity, temperature, mass, air velocity, and fan rotational speed; precise control within 1% for relative humidity and 50 rpm for fan rotational speed; robust signal integrity preservation and data recovery features; modular design for easy addition and removal of individual chamber units; and non-permanent fixtures to allow easy adaptation of the system for other applications such as investigating dehydration of food products. The open source system comes with user-friendly computer software for interfacing with the system and creating sophisticated environmental control programs. The Agenator is available to the public at https://osf.io/87nck/

Distinct cytokine profiles across trajectories of self-perceived cognitive impairment among early-stage breast cancer survivors.

The aim of the current study is to identify distinct cytokine profiles in relation to self-perceived cognitive trajectories. In our study cohort (n = 128), early-stage breast cancer patients were categorized into no impairment reported, acute, delayed, persistent and intermittent cognitive decline respectively. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were elevated compared to baseline; with TNF-α implicated in the acute cognitive trajectory while IL-6 and IL-8 were involved in the persistent cognitive trajectory. Our findings help to further our understanding of cytokine profiles implicated in cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and support the use of cytokine levels as biomarkers of cognitive decline over time

A Training Program for Grief Ministry for Singapore Seventh-day Adventist Pastors

Problem Many Seventh-day Adventist church pastors in Singapore are not trained in grief ministry. This results in some pastors who are insensitive to the grieving. Consequently, theirs and many church members\u27 grief has been unresolved. This study was undertaken to develop a holistic pastoral perspective regarding grief and to compose a training program in grief ministry that will help pastors understand their own grief dynamics and that of their parishioners. Method This project attempts to present the principles of grief ministry through the following dimensions: (1) Singapore\u27s need of grief ministry in the midst of socioeconomic development; (2) the study of the images of God in the theology of creation, death, and resurrection as they relate to grief according to the Bible; (3) the introduction of some training principles of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and other practical resources for pastors in grief ministry; and (4) helping pastors define their roles in personal and corporate grief recovery through reflection and participation in a spiritual retreat. Conclusion The principles in this research will help pastors become more effective and caring in grief ministry

Effects of Wake Turbulence on Aircraft Wing Model Experimental Method

A research on studying the effect of the wake generated by an aircraft wing section on a following aircraft wing section is performed. NACA 2412 is chosen as the airfoil model in this project. The airfoil model is fabricated by using CNC machining. Aluminium is chosen as the material for the airfoil model because it provides a good surface finish. Three experiments are conducted by using the open-circuit wind tunnel in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The wind tunnel tests were carried out at the velocity of 5m/s to 30m/s in a test section of the size 0.30m (W), 0.30m (H) and 0.60m (L), at the Reynolds number of 4.10 x 104 to 2.54 x 105. Experiment 1 is the testing of single airfoil model to define the coefficient of lift, coefficient of drag and Reynolds number at various angles of attack. Experiment 1 is functioning as references for comparison for Experiment 2 and Experiment 3. Experiment 2 and Experiment 3 are the testing of two airfoil models at a separating distance of 1 chord length (13cm) and 2 Chord lengths (26cm) respectively. The main objective of Experiment 2 and Experiment 3 are to study the effects of wake turbulence on the characteristic of coefficient of lift, coefficient of drag and Reynolds number of a following airfoil model when an airfoil model is placed in front of it at a specific distance. The characteristics of the wake generated by an airfoil model on a following airfoil model are observed and studied during the testing in wind tunnel. Further investigations, discussions and conclusions are carried out throughout completing this research project. The results show that the separating distance between the two airfoils affects the coefficient of lift, coefficient of drag and the stall angle of the following airfoil at various angle of attack and free stream velocity

Neptune Orient Lines Ltd.: Sailing Through Uncharted Sea

In the early Monday morning of April 10, 1999, sits Joseph Flemming in front of the classy window of NOL (Neptune Orient Lines Ltd.) air-conditioned penthouse. Joseph was holding a cup of freshly brewed coffee while staring far to appreciate Singapore's natural scenic view of the early sun rising. Below, contradicting to the natural view, a bunch of executives were rushing across the busy traffic just right in front of the NOL Group's landmark building, a high rise of 21 floors building. It was 8:45 am in the morning, and Joseph Flemming, a newly appointed two-month-old CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of NOL Group, was already keen to get down to his job. He likes to work as early as 7:45 am every morning and more often than not on weekends as well. Joseph Flemming, a man in his mid- 60, who believes in getting results through hard work, was commented by a former colleague in Maersk Lines, another world's top ranking shipping lines, as a workaholic, being very hands on, open to suggestions and critiques, impatient to get things done, always on the look for opportunity and way to get thing done better. The enchanting, high rise morning view was really a bonus for Joseph to start off his daily routine early