The environment, social and governance (ESG) activities and profitability under COVID-19: evidence from the global banking sector

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Optimal Data Scheduling and Admission Control for Backscatter Sensor Networks

© 2017 IEEE. This paper studies the data scheduling and admission control problem for a backscatter sensor network (BSN). In the network, instead of initiating their own transmissions, the sensors can send their data to the gateway just by switching their antenna impedance and reflecting the received RF signals. As such, we can reduce remarkably the complexity, the power consumption, and the implementation cost of sensor nodes. Different sensors may have different functions, and data collected from each sensor may also have a different status, e.g., urgent or normal, and thus we need to take these factors into account. Therefore, in this paper, we first introduce a system model together with a mechanism in order to address the data collection and scheduling problem in the BSN. We then propose an optimization solution using the Markov decision process framework and a reinforcement learning algorithm based on the linear function approximation method, with the aim of finding the optimal data collection policy for the gateway. Through simulation results, we not only show the efficiency of the proposed solution compared with other baseline policies, but also present the analysis for data admission control policy under different classes of sensors as well as different types of data

Gravitational Collapse and Fragmentation in Molecular Clouds with Adaptive Mesh Refinement

We describe a powerful methodology for numerical solution of 3-D self-gravitational hydrodynamics problems with extremely high resolution. Our method utilizes the technique of local adaptive mesh refinement (AMR), employing multiple grids at multiple levels of resolution. These grids are automatically and dynamically added and removed as necessary to maintain adequate resolution. This technology allows for the solution of problems in a manner that is both more efficient and more versatile than other fixed and variable resolution methods. The application of AMR to simulate the collapse and fragmentation of a molecular cloud, a key step in star formation, is discussed. Such simulations involve many orders of magnitude of variation in length scale as fragments form. In this paper we briefly describe the methodology and present an illustrative application for nonisothermal cloud collapse. We describe the numerical Jeans condition, a criterion for stability of self-gravitational hydrodynamics problems. We show the first well-resolved nonisothermal evolutionary sequence beginning with a perturbed dense molecular cloud core that leads to the formation of a binary system consisting of protostellar cores surrounded by distinct protostellar disks. The scale of the disks, of order 100 AU, is consistent with observations of gaseous disks surrounding single T-Tauri stars and debris disks surrounding systems such as $\beta$ Pictoris.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures (color postscript). To appear in the proceedings of Numerical Astrophysics 1998, Tokyo, March 10-13, 199

Formulation and acceptability of local nutrient-dense foods for young children: A formative study for the Child Health, Agriculture and Integrated Nutrition (CHAIN) Trial in rural Zimbabwe.

Stunting affects almost one-quarter of children globally, leading to reduced human capacity and increased long-term risk of chronic disease. Despite intensive infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions, many children do not meet their requirements for essential nutrients. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing an IYCF intervention utilizing nutrient-dense powders from egg, biofortified sugar beans and Moringa oleifera leaf in rural Zimbabwe. A mixed-methods formative study was conducted comprising the following: (i) a recipe formulation trial, (ii) trials of improved practices to assess acceptability of the intervention, and (iii) a participatory message formulation process to develop counselling modules for the IYCF-plus intervention. Twenty-seven mother-baby pairs were recruited between November 2019 and April 2020. Key domains affecting IYCF practices that emerged were time, emotional and physical space, cultural and religious beliefs, indigenous knowledge systems and gender dynamics. Household observations and sensory evaluation indicated high acceptability of the new ingredients. Recipe formulation and participatory message formulation by participants instilled community ownership and served to demystify existing misconceptions about the new food products. Families noted the potential for intervention sustainability because the foods could be grown locally. Supplementing complementary foods with nutrient-dense local food ingredients as powders has the potential to sustainably address nutrient-gaps in the diets of young children living in rural lower- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive IYCF counselling utilizing a gender-lens approach, family support and indigenous knowledge systems or resources are key elements to support positive behaviour change in complementary feeding interventions

Leveraging icebreaking tasks to facilitate uptake of voice communication in multiplayer games

Voice Communication (VC) is widely employed by developers as an essential component of online games. Typically, it is assumed that communications through this mechanism will be helpful and enjoyable, but existing literature suggests that the entry into VC can be problematic. In this paper, we present a study that attempts to mitigate player discomfort when first engaging with VC with strangers, through the use of traditional icebreaking tasks. We integrate these into the game RET, an online cooperative first person shooter which requires effective communication for players to succeed. An online user study with 18 participants suggests that icebreaking tasks can contribute to a positive VC experience, but their inclusion also creates further issues to be considered for successful integration

Immunological characterization of chromogranins A and B and secretogranin II in the bovine pancreatic islet

Antisera against chromogranin A and B and secretogranin II were used for analysing the bovine pancreas by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. All three antigens were found in extracts of fetal pancreas by one dimensional immunoblotting. A comparison with the soluble proteins of chromaffin granules revealed that in adrenal medulla and in pancreas antigens which migrated identically in electrophoresis were present. In immunohistochemistry, chromogranin A was found in all pancreatic endocrine cell types with the exception of most pancreatic polypeptide-(PP-) producing cells. For chromogranin B, only a faint immunostaining was obtained. For secretorgranin II, A-and B-cells were faintly positive, whereas the majority of PP-cells exhibited a strong immunostaining for this antigen. These results establish that chromogranins A and B and secretogranin II are present in the endocrine pancreas, but that they exhibit a distinct cellular localization

Colorectal cancer linkage on chromosomes 4q21, 8q13, 12q24, and 15q22

A substantial proportion of familial colorectal cancer (CRC) is not a consequence of known susceptibility loci, such as mismatch repair (MMR) genes, supporting the existence of additional loci. To identify novel CRC loci, we conducted a genome-wide linkage scan in 356 white families with no evidence of defective MMR (i.e., no loss of tumor expression of MMR proteins, no microsatellite instability (MSI)-high tumors, or no evidence of linkage to MMR genes). Families were ascertained via the Colon Cancer Family Registry multi-site NCI-supported consortium (Colon CFR), the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Memorial University of Newfoundland. A total of 1,612 individuals (average 5.0 per family including 2.2 affected) were genotyped using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism linkage arrays; parametric and non-parametric linkage analysis used MERLIN in a priori-defined family groups. Five lod scores greater than 3.0 were observed assuming heterogeneity. The greatest were among families with mean age of diagnosis less than 50 years at 4q21.1 (dominant HLOD = 4.51, α = 0.84, 145.40 cM, rs10518142) and among all families at 12q24.32 (dominant HLOD = 3.60, α = 0.48, 285.15 cM, rs952093). Among families with four or more affected individuals and among clinic-based families, a common peak was observed at 15q22.31 (101.40 cM, rs1477798; dominant HLOD = 3.07, α = 0.29; dominant HLOD = 3.03, α = 0.32, respectively). Analysis of families with only two affected individuals yielded a peak at 8q13.2 (recessive HLOD = 3.02, α = 0.51, 132.52 cM, rs1319036). These previously unreported linkage peaks demonstrate the continued utility of family-based data in complex traits and suggest that new CRC risk alleles remain to be elucidated. © 2012 Cicek et al

The momentum analyticity of two-point correlators from perturbation theory and AdS/CFT

The momentum plane analyticity of two point function of a relativistic thermal field theory at zero chemical potential is explored. A general principle regarding the location of the singularities is extracted. In the case of the N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at large $N_c$, a qualitative change in the nature of the singularity (branch points versus simple poles) from the weak coupling regime to the strong coupling regime is observed with the aid of the AdS/CFT correspondence.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, typos fixed, 1 figure update