Application of Empirical Mode Decomposition with Local Linear Quantile Regression in Financial Time Series Forecasting

This paper mainly forecasts the daily closing price of stockmarkets.We propose a two-stage technique that combines the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) with nonparametric methods of local linear quantile (LLQ).We use the proposed technique, EMDLLQ, to forecast two stock index time series. Detailed experiments are implemented for the proposedmethod, in which EMD-LPQ, EMD, andHolt-Winter methods are compared.The proposed EMD-LPQ model is determined to be superior to the EMDandHolt- Winter methods in predicting the stock closing prices

Robust Wavelet Estimation to Eliminate Simultaneously the Effects of Boundary Problems, Outliers, and Correlated Noise

Classical wavelet thresholding methods suffer from boundary problems caused by the application of the wavelet transformations to a finite signal. As a result, large bias at the edges and artificial wiggles occur when the classical boundary assumptions are not satisfied. Although polynomial wavelet regression and local polynomial wavelet regression effectively reduce the risk of this problem, the estimates from these two methods can be easily affected by the presence of correlated noise and outliers, giving inaccurate estimates. This paper introduces two robust methods in which the effects of boundary problems, outliers, and correlated noise are simultaneously taken into account. The proposed methods combine thresholding estimator with either a local polynomial model or a polynomial model using the generalized least squares method instead of the ordinary one. A primary step that involves removing the outlying observations through a statistical function is considered as well. The practical performance of the proposed methods has been evaluated through simulation experiments and real data examples. The results are strong evidence that the proposed method is extremely effective in terms of correcting the boundary bias and eliminating the effects of outliers and correlated noise

Antioxidant Capacity and Antimicrobial Activity of Commercial Samples of Guava Leaves (\u3cem\u3ePsidium guajava\u3c/em\u3e)

Psidium guajava is a small tree native to South and Central America. Guava leaves have traditionally been used for treating different illnesses. These benefits can be attributed to phenolics and flavonoids produced by guava. The chemical composition of guava leaf extracts was correlated with biological activity. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, ABTS/DPPH, TZM-bl, plaque reduction, XTT, spectrophotometric and Kirby-Bauer assays were used to test phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant properties, antiviral activity, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial activity, respectively. The median cytotoxicity concentration and half-maximal effective concentration values were obtained in order to determine antiviral selectivity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 1. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were evaluated using a spectrophotometric assay and Kirby-Bauer test. The guava leaf extracts had a high phenol (0.8 to 2.1 GAE mg/mL) and flavonoid (62.7 to 182.1 Rutin Eq mg/g DW) content that correlated with high antioxidant capacity and selective antiviral activity (therapeutic index values above 10). Results of antibacterial tests indicated that the extracts have activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria

Asymmetric dimethylarginine blocks nitric oxide-mediated alcohol-stimulated cilia beating.

The airway epithelium is exposed to alcohol during drinking through direct exhalation of volatized ethanol from the bronchial circulation. Alcohol exposure leads to a rapid increase in the cilia beat frequency (CBF) of bronchial epithelial cells followed by a chronic desensitization of cilia stimulatory responses. This effect is governed in part by the nitric oxide regulation of cyclic guanosine and adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinases (PKG and PKA) and is not fully understood. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, is implicated in the pathogenesis of several pulmonary disorders. We hypothesized that the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by ADMA blocks alcohol-stimulated increases in CBF. To test this hypothesis, ciliated primary bovine bronchial epithelial cells (BBEC) were preincubated with ADMA (100  µM) and stimulated with 100 mM ethanol. CBF was measured and PKA assayed. By 1 hr, ethanol activated PKA, resulting in elevated CBF. Both alcohol-induced PKA activation and CBF were inhibited in the presence of ADMA. ADMA alone had no effect on PKA activity or CBF. Using a mouse model overexpressing the ADMA-degrading enzyme, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), we examined PKA and CBF in precision-cut mouse lung slices. Alcohol-stimulated increases in lung slice PKA and CBF were temporally enhanced in the DDAH mice versus control mice

Fingerprints Authentication Using Grayscale Fractal Dimension

Characterizing of visual objects is an important role in pattern recognition that can be performed through shape analysis. Several approaches have been introduced to extract relevant information of a shape. The complexity of the shape is the most widely used approach for this purpose where fractal dimension and generalized fractal dimension are methodologies used to estimate the complexity of the shapes. The box counting dimension is one of the methods that used to estimate fractal dimension. It is estimated basically to describe the self-similarity in objects. A lot of objects have the self-similarity; fingerprint is one of those objects where the generalized box counting dimension is used for recognizing of the fingerprints to be utilized for authentication process. A new fractal dimension method is proposed in this paper. It is verified by the experiment on a set of natural texture images to show its efficiency and accuracy, and a satisfactory result is found. It also offers promising performance when it is applied for fingerprint recognition

Ciliotherapy: A Novel Intervention in Polycystic Kidney Disease

Background Ciliopathies are a group of diseases associated with abnormal structure or function of primary cilia. Ciliopathies include polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a pathology associated with vascular hypertension. We previously showed that cilia length regulates cilia function, and cilia function is required for nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis in endothelial cells. Because patients with PKD show abnormal sensory cilia function, the aim of our current study was to search for a targeted therapy focused on primary cilia, which we refer to as ‘cilio-therapy’. Methods and Results In the present studies, our in vitro analyses refined fenoldopam as an equipotent and more specific dopa- minergic agonist to regulate cilia length and function

Antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-SARS-CoV Activity of Commercial Products of \u3cem\u3eXylopia\u3c/em\u3e (\u3cem\u3eXylopia aethiopica\u3c/em\u3e)

Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae) is a spice and medicinal plant that grows wild in many West African countries (from Liberia to Nigeria) and is locally known as Guinea pepper, grains of Selim, hwentia and uda. The dried fruits are used as a flavoring for soups and traditionally in decoctions as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, as well as a treatment for infections. The medicinal properties of the fruits are associated with the presence of phenolics and essential oil constituents. We studied the total phenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity in different X. aethiopica extracts using spectrophotometry. We found variation in total phenolic and flavonoids and antioxidant capacity between different samples and different extraction solvents. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were evaluated using a spectrophotometric assay and Kirby-Bauer test. Additionally, a pseudoviral cell-based assay was used to test the antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2). High total phenolic and flavonoid content was correlated with high antioxidant capacity. Results of antibacterial tests indicated that one Xylopia extract potentially has strong antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria B. subtilis. The pseudoviral assay showed moderate antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2

System support engineering framework: A tool to achieve strategy transformation

Modern refineries are complex, very high in value of production. They are expected to function for years to come, with ability to handle the changes in technology and feed quality. The aging of a refinery and continuous increases of vendors and contractors force the refinery's operation management to design a strategic approach which can capture these changes. Therefore, this paper explores and outlines the nature of the support system design for a refinery in order to comply with strategic transformation. The research work explores the operation support system from a range of perspectives, by interviewing managers from across the refinery organization. The factors contributing to complexity of a support system are described in the context presented, which clusters them into several key areas. It is proposed that SSE framework may then be used as analytical tool for managing and designing support system(s). The paper will conclude with discussion of potential application and strategic views of the framework. Also, it will designate the opportunities for future work

An empirical approach to model formulation for system support engineering

Organizations today face intense competitive pressure to maximize their performance over time as customer expectations increase. The literature suggests that there is a need to develop a tool or techniques that practitioners in the industry can apply to help in support system design for operating assets as a long-term service solution in order to maintain optimized performance and obtain the best return on investments. This technique should integrate the industry domain knowledge to create and deliver support solutions for in service assets. There is no generic architecture for system support engineering available for practitioners to use. This will lead to the following question "Can industrial practitioners have a generic architecture to simplify the development of such a system"? If the answer is yes; then how possible is it? Therefore, this paper will present an empirical approach to model the formulation for a system support engineering (SSE) generic framework. The development of the SSE Framework combines both literature analysis and empirical work. Also, it will provide a possible answer to the research question and suggest further recommendations and opportunities for future research

System support engineering application: a refinery case

Modern refineries are complex, very high in value and production. They are expected to function for years to come, with ability to handle the change in technology and feed quality. The aging of a refinery and continues increase of vendors and contractors numbers forces the refinery's operation management to design a support system which can capture these changes. Furthermore, an accurate performance measurement and risk evaluation processes are highly needed. Therefore, this paper explores the nature of the support system design for a refinery. The research work explores the operation support system from a range of perspectives, interviewing managers from across the refinery organization. The factors contributing to complexity of a support system are described in context is presented which clusters them into several key areas. It is proposed that this framework may then be used as a tool for analysis and management of support system. The paper will conclude with discussion of potential application of the framework and opportunities for future work