Risk Assessment of Urban Gas Pipeline Based on Different Unknown Measure Functions

Several risk factors threaten the safety of urban gas pipeline. How to effectively identify various risk factors affecting urban gas pipeline and put forward scientific risk assessment method is the focus in the field of urban safety research. To explore the uncertain factors in the process of gas pipeline risk assessment, and propose a practical assessment method, a three-layer index system for the risk assessment of urban gas pipeline was established using unascertained measure theory, which included 5 first-class evaluation factors and 34 second-class evaluation indexes. Four unascertained measure models (linear, parabolic, exponential and sinusoidal) were constructed, and the unascertained measure values of each evaluation index under four unknown measure function models were calculated. The weight of evaluation factors was determined by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the confidence criterion was used for discriminant evaluation. Results demonstrate that the risk assessment models constructed with different measurement functions can effectively reduce the uncertainty of urban gas pipeline risk assessment, but for the same object, the risk level of the linear measurement model in 4# pipeline is lower than other measurement functions, and the risk level of sinusoidal measurement model in 8# pipeline is higher than other measurement functions. Therefore, considering the evaluation results under different measure functions and focusing on monitoring objects with different results is necessary when using unascertained measure theory for risk assessment. The conclusions obtained from this study clarify the application conditions of unascertained measure theory in urban gas pipeline risk assessment, which helps to reduce the uncertainty in the assessment process and improve the accuracy of the assessment results

Optimization of a Decellularization/Recellularization Strategy for Transplantable Bioengineered Liver

The liver is a complex organ that requires constant perfusion for the delivery of nutrients and oxygen and the removal of waste in order to survive. Efforts to recreate or mimic the liver microstructure via a ground-up approach are essential for liver tissue engineering. A decellularization/recellularization strategy is one of the approaches aiming at the possibility of producing a fully functional organ with in vitro-developed construction for clinical applications to replace failed livers, such as end-stage liver disease (ESLD). However, the complexity of the liver microarchitecture along with the limited suitable hepatic component, such as the optimization of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the biomaterials, the selection of the seed cells, and development of the liver-specific three-dimensional (3D) niche settings, pose numerous challenges. In this chapter, we have provided a comprehensive outlook on how the physiological, pathological, and spatiotemporal aspects of these drawbacks can be turned into the current challenges in the field, and put forward a few techniques with the potential to address these challenges, mainly focusing on a decellularization-based liver regeneration strategy. We hypothesize the primary concepts necessary for constructing tissue-engineered liver organs based on either an intact (from a naïve liver) or a partial (from a pretreated liver) structure via simulating the natural development and regenerative processes

Pose-aware 3D talking face synthesis using geometry-guided audio-vertices attention

Most of the existing 3D talking face synthesis methods suffer from the lack of detailed facial expressions and realistic head poses, resulting in unsatisfactory experiences for users. In this paper, we propose a novel pose-aware 3D talking face synthesis method with a novel geometry-guided audio-vertices attention. To capture more detailed expression, such as the subtle nuances of mouth shape and eye movement, we propose to build hierarchical audio features including a global attribute feature and a series of vertex-wise local latent movement features. Then, in order to fully exploit the topology of facial models, we further propose a novel geometry-guided audio-vertices attention module to predict the displacement of each vertex by using vertex connectivity relations to take full advantage of the corresponding hierarchical audio features. Finally, to accomplish pose-aware animation, we expand the existing database with an additional pose attribute, and a novel pose estimation module is proposed by paying attention to the whole head model. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on realistic expression and head movements against state-of-the-art methods

PP1A-Mediated Dephosphorylation Positively Regulates YAP2 Activity

Background: The Hippo/MST1 signaling pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. As a major downstream target of the Hippo/MST1 pathway, YAP2 (Yes-associated protein 2) functions as a transcriptional cofactor that has been implicated in many biological processes, including organ size control and cancer development. MST1/Lats kinase inhibits YAP2’s nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activity through inducing the phosphorylation at serine 127 and the sequential association with 14-3-3 proteins. However, the dephosphorylation of YAP2 is not fully appreciated. Methodology/Principal Findings: In the present study, we demonstrate that PP1A (catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1) interacts with and dephosphorylates YAP2 in vitro and in vivo, and PP1A-mediated dephosphorylation induces the nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activation of YAP2. Inhibition of PP1 by okadiac acid (OA) increases the phosphorylation at serine 127 and cytoplasmic translocation of YAP2 proteins, thereby mitigating its transcription activity. PP1A expression enhances YAP2’s pro-survival capability and YAP2 knockdown sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin treatment. Conclusions/Significance: Our findings define a novel molecular mechanism that YAP2 is positively regulated by PP1mediate

Transaction-Specific Investments, Relational Norms, and ERP Customer Satisfaction: A Mediation Analysis

Integrating the perspectives of transaction cost economics, the resource-based view, and resource dependency theory, this study analyzes the institutional settings of enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations in China. Specifically, it examines how bilateral transaction-specific investments (TSIs) and relational governance mechanisms influence customer satisfaction with ERP implementations. The model is empirically tested using data from on-site interviews with 208 ERP customers in China. The results demonstrate that the effects of vendors\u27 and customers\u27 TSIs on customer satisfaction are facilitated by multiple-stage micromediational chains. The influence of TSIs on customer satisfaction is mediated by relational norms, and the impact of relational norms on customer satisfaction is bridged by perceived service quality and customer trust. Furthermore, the influence of vendors\u27 TSIs is stronger than the influence of customers\u27 TSIs. The findings contribute to business research and practice by providing valuable insights into how ERP vendors and customers should strategize TSIs to enhance relationship performance. © 2013 Decision Sciences Institute

GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN ONLINE PEER-TO-PEER CREDIT LENDING: EVIDENCE FROM LENDING PLATFORM IN CHINA

Gender discrimination in accessing financial resources is a mounting concern in developing countries, but empirical evidence of such discrimination is limited. Using data collected from PPdai.com, one of the largest P2P lending platforms in China, we investigate potential gender discrimination in online P2P credit lending market in China. The results illustrate that female borrowers are more likely to be funded than male borrowers; but for the funded loans, female borrowers have to pay higher interest rates. Moreover, the default rate of loans from female borrowers is lower than that from male borrowers. The findings imply that statistical discrimination and costly taste-based discrimination co-exist in this online peer-to-peer lending market, but the underlying reasons for the discriminations are different. The implications for research and practice along with the limitations of this study are discussed accordingly

Gender Discrimination In Online Peer-To-Peer Credit Lending: Evidence From a Lending Platform In China

Gender discrimination in accessing financial resources is a mounting concern in developing countries, but empirical evidence of such discrimination is limited. Using data collected from one of the largest peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms in China, we investigate potential gender discrimination in online P2P credit lending market in China. The results illustrate that female borrowers are more likely to be funded than male borrowers; but in exchange for higher funding success, female borrowers are found to pay higher interest rates. Moreover, the default rates of loans from female borrowers are significantly lower than those from male borrowers. Finally, we found that a borrower’s gender moderates the relationships between the borrower’ attributes and lending outcomes. The findings imply that profit-based statistical discrimination and costly taste-based discrimination co-exist in this online peer-to-peer lending market, but the underlying reasons for the discriminations are different. The implications for research and practice along with the limitations of this study are discussed accordingly