Turbo Warrants under Hybrid Stochastic and Local Volatility

This paper considers the pricing of turbo warrants under a hybrid stochastic and local volatility model. The model consists of the constant elasticity of variance model incorporated by a fast fluctuating Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process for stochastic volatility. The sensitive structure of the turbo warrant price is revealed by asymptotic analysis and numerical computation based on the observation that the elasticity of variance controls leverage effects and plays an important role in characterizing various phases of volatile markets

Preliminary Report on Admission Profiles for Children Under 5 Years Old in Taiwan: Disparities between 2000 and 2009

Background/PurposeData on hospital admissions for children under 5 years old, concerning the admission rate, leading diagnoses, categories of disease, average hospitalization days, costs and between-year differences are scarce. Our study aims to investigate such admission profiles.MethodsFive percent of admission data for children under 5 years old in 2000 and 2009 was collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We calculated the admission rate in regards to total admission, the patients' gender, the ten leading diagnoses, the ten most systemic common categories of disease, and the average hospitalization days and costs. The differences of the rates between 2000 and 2009 were evaluated by incidence rate ratios (IRR).ResultsThe admission rate per thousand children (population) was higher in 2009 (172.9) than 2000 (153.1). The ten most common systemic categories of disease were similar in both years. Furthermore, it was observed that the hospitalization days decreased by 3.7% in 2009, while medical expenditures increased by 10.9%.ConclusionsEfforts should be made to decrease the admission rate and hospitalization days in Taiwan to the levels of well-developed countries. Our data may serve as baseline data for future evaluations of child morbidity

Novel lung imaging biomarkers and skin gene expression subsetting in dasatinib treatment of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

BackgroundThere are no effective treatments or validated clinical response markers in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We assessed imaging biomarkers and performed gene expression profiling in a single-arm open-label clinical trial of tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib in patients with SSc-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).MethodsPrimary objectives were safety and pharmacokinetics. Secondary outcomes included clinical assessments, quantitative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, serum biomarker assays and skin biopsy-based gene expression subset assignments. Clinical response was defined as decrease of >5 or >20% from baseline in the modified Rodnan Skin Score (MRSS). Pulmonary function was assessed at baseline and day 169.ResultsDasatinib was well-tolerated in 31 patients receiving drug for a median of nine months. No significant changes in clinical assessments or serum biomarkers were seen at six months. By quantitative HRCT, 65% of patients showed no progression of lung fibrosis, and 39% showed no progression of total ILD. Among 12 subjects with available baseline and post-treatment skin biopsies, three were improvers and nine were non-improvers. Improvers mapped to the fibroproliferative or normal-like subsets, while seven out of nine non-improvers were in the inflammatory subset (p = 0.0455). Improvers showed stability in forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), while both measures showed a decline in non-improvers (p = 0.1289 and p = 0.0195, respectively). Inflammatory gene expression subset was associated with higher baseline HRCT score (p = 0.0556). Non-improvers showed significant increase in lung fibrosis (p = 0.0313).ConclusionsIn patients with SSc-ILD dasatinib treatment was associated with acceptable safety profile but no significant clinical efficacy. Patients in the inflammatory gene expression subset showed increase in skin fibrosis, decreasing pulmonary function and worsening lung fibrosis during the study. These findings suggest that target tissue-specific gene expression analyses can help match patients and therapeutic interventions in heterogeneous diseases such as SSc, and quantitative HRCT is useful for assessing clinical outcomes.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT00764309

Attentional state-synchronous peripheral electrical stimulation during action observation induced distinct modulation of corticospinal plasticity after stroke

IntroductionBrain computer interface-based action observation (BCI-AO) is a promising technique in detecting the user's cortical state of visual attention and providing feedback to assist rehabilitation. Peripheral nerve electrical stimulation (PES) is a conventional method used to enhance outcomes in upper extremity function by increasing activation in the motor cortex. In this study, we examined the effects of different pairings of peripheral nerve electrical stimulation (PES) during BCI-AO tasks and their impact on corticospinal plasticity.Materials and methodsOur innovative BCI-AO interventions decoded user's attentive watching during task completion. This process involved providing rewarding visual cues while simultaneously activating afferent pathways through PES. Fifteen stroke patients were included in the analysis. All patients underwent a 15 min BCI-AO program under four different experimental conditions: BCI-AO without PES, BCI-AO with continuous PES, BCI-AO with triggered PES, and BCI-AO with reverse PES application. PES was applied at the ulnar nerve of the wrist at an intensity equivalent to 120% of the sensory threshold and a frequency of 50 Hz. The experiment was conducted randomly at least 3 days apart. To assess corticospinal and peripheral nerve excitability, we compared pre and post-task (post 0, post 20 min) parameters of motor evoked potential and F waves under the four conditions in the muscle of the affected hand.ResultsThe findings indicated that corticospinal excitability in the affected hemisphere was higher when PES was synchronously applied with AO training, using BCI during a state of attentive watching. In contrast, there was no effect on corticospinal activation when PES was applied continuously or in the reverse manner. This paradigm promoted corticospinal plasticity for up to 20 min after task completion. Importantly, the effect was more evident in patients over 65 years of age.ConclusionThe results showed that task-driven corticospinal plasticity was higher when PES was applied synchronously with a highly attentive brain state during the action observation task, compared to continuous or asynchronous application. This study provides insight into how optimized BCI technologies dependent on brain state used in conjunction with other rehabilitation training could enhance treatment-induced neural plasticity

Extensive hepatic infarction in severe preeclampsia as part of the HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets): Evolution of CT findings and successful treatment with plasma exchange therapy

AbstractObjectiveWe describe the serial computed tomography (CT) findings of extensive hepatic infarction and successful plasma exchange therapy in a severe preeclamptic woman with postpartum HELLP syndrome.Case ReportA 38 year-old woman presented with elevated blood pressure of 140–180/90–120 mmHg and 3+ proteinuria at 28 weeks of gestation. Two days after admission, the patient suddenly complained of severe epigastric pain and headache. Her blood pressure rose sharply to 195/120 mmHg. A 980 g female was delivered by emergency cesarean section. Following delivery, the patient's clinical condition and laboratory values deteriorated, with progressive liver insufficiency (peak AST level = 4246 IU/L, ALT = 3685 IU/L, LDH = 6237 IU/L, platelets = 72,000/mm3). Two consecutive plasma exchanges (PEX) were undertaken on the 3rd and 4th postpartum day. A contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen performed 8 days postpartum showed geographically wedge-shaped areas of low attenuation, with a mottled appearance in the right hepatic lobe. Shortly thereafter, the patient recovered and all laboratory parameters gradually normalized 3 weeks after delivery. Follow-up CT-scan of the liver 2 months postpartum showed no evidence of infarction, with complete recovery.ConclusionWe recommend that severely ill patients with HELLP syndrome having epigastric pain should undergo CT imaging of the liver. A trial of postpartum PEX therapy should be considered for treatment of the HELLP syndrome complicated with hepatic infarction, which is recalcitrant to conventional medical management, and fails to abate within 72–96 hours of delivery

Analysis of volatile organic compounds in Korean-bred strawberries: insights for improving fruit flavor

IntroductionThe strawberry industry in South Korea has witnessed a significant 65% growth over the past decade, surpassing other fruits and vegetables in production value. While sweetness and acidity are well-recognized flavor determinants, the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in defining the desirable flavor profiles of strawberries is also crucial. However, existing research has predominantly concentrated on a limited range of commercial cultivars, neglecting the broader spectrum of strawberry varieties.MethodsThis study embarked on developing a comprehensive VOC database for a diverse array of strawberry cultivars sourced both domestically and internationally. A total of 61 different strawberry cultivars from Korea (45), the USA (7), Japan (8), and France (1) were analyzed for their VOC content using Tenax TA Thermo Desorption tubes and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition to VOC profiling, heritability was assessed using one-way ANOVA to compare means among multiple groups, providing insights into the genetic basis of flavor differences.Results and discussionThe analysis identified 122 compounds categorized into esters, alcohols, terpenes, and lactones, with esters constituting the majority (46.5%) of total VOCs in Korean cultivars. ‘Arihyang’, ‘Sunnyberry’, and ‘Kingsberry’ exhibited the highest diversity of VOCs detected (97 types), whereas ‘Seolhong’ showed the highest overall concentration (57.5mg·kg-1 FW). Compared to the USA cultivars, which were abundant in γ-decalactone (a peach-like fruity aroma), most domestic cultivars lacked this compound. Notably, ‘Misohyang’ displayed a high γ-decalactone content, highlighting its potential as breeding germplasm to improve flavor in Korean strawberries. The findings underscore the importance of a comprehensive VOC analysis across different strawberry cultivars to understand flavor composition. The significant variation in VOC content among the cultivars examined opens avenues for targeted breeding strategies. By leveraging the distinct VOC profiles, particularly the presence of γ-decalactone, breeders can develop new strawberry varieties with enhanced flavor profiles, catering to consumer preferences for both domestic and international markets

Structural and Biochemical Bases for the Inhibition of Autophagy and Apoptosis by Viral BCL-2 of Murine γ-Herpesvirus 68

All gammaherpesviruses express homologues of antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) to counter the clearance of infected cells by host antiviral defense machineries. To gain insights into the action mechanisms of these viral BCL-2 proteins, we carried out structural and biochemical analyses on the interactions of M11, a viral BCL-2 of murine γ-herpesvirus 68, with a fragment of proautophagic Beclin1 and BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain-containing peptides derived from an array of proapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins. Mainly through hydrophobic interactions, M11 bound the BH3-like domain of Beclin1 with a dissociation constant of 40 nanomole, a markedly tighter affinity compared to the 1.7 micromolar binding affinity between cellular BCL-2 and Beclin1. Consistently, M11 inhibited autophagy more efficiently than BCL-2 in NIH3T3 cells. M11 also interacted tightly with a BH3 domain peptide of BAK and those of the upstream BH3-only proteins BIM, BID, BMF, PUMA, and Noxa, but weakly with that of BAX. These results collectively suggest that M11 potently inhibits Beclin1 in addition to broadly neutralizing the proapoptotic BCL-2 family in a similar but distinctive way from cellular BCL-2, and that the Beclin1-mediated autophagy may be a main target of the virus

Chemical Stability of Conductive Ceramic Anodes in LiCl–Li2O Molten Salt for Electrolytic Reduction in Pyroprocessing

AbstractConductive ceramics are being developed to replace current Pt anodes in the electrolytic reduction of spent oxide fuels in pyroprocessing. While several conductive ceramics have shown promising electrochemical properties in small-scale experiments, their long-term stabilities have not yet been investigated. In this study, the chemical stability of conductive La0.33Sr0.67MnO3 in LiCl–Li2O molten salt at 650°C was investigated to examine its feasibility as an anode material. Dissolution of Sr at the anode surface led to structural collapse, thereby indicating that the lifetime of the La0.33Sr0.67MnO3 anode is limited. The dissolution rate of Sr is likely to be influenced by the local environment around Sr in the perovskite framework

Social Pressure-Induced Craving in Patients with Alcohol Dependence: Application of Virtual Reality to Coping Skill Training

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the interaction between alcohol cues and social pressure in the induction of alcohol craving. METHODS: Fourteen male patients with alcohol dependence and 14 age-matched social drinkers completed a virtual reality coping skill training program composed of four blocks according to the presence of alcohol cues (x2) and social pressure (x2). Before and after each block, the craving levels were measured using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Patients with alcohol dependence reported extremely high levels of craving immediately upon exposure to a virtual environment with alcohol cues, regardless of social pressure. In contrast, the craving levels of social drinkers were influenced by social pressure from virtual avatars. CONCLUSION: Our findings imply that an alcohol cue-laden environment should interfere with the ability to use coping skills against social pressure in real-life situations.ope