[Special Issue on SEA Demographics] Response - Community Development

Response to Mark E. Pfeifer\u27s featured article

Modeling non-stationarities in high-frequency financial time series

We study tick-by-tick financial returns for the FTSE MIB index of the Italian Stock Exchange (Borsa Italiana). We confirm previously detected non-stationarities. Scaling properties reported before for other high-frequency financial data are only approximately valid. As a consequence of our empirical analyses, we propose a simple model for non-stationary returns, based on a non-homogeneous normal compound Poisson process. It turns out that our model can approximately reproduce several stylized facts of high-frequency financial time series. Moreover, using Monte Carlo simulations, we analyze order selection for this class of models using three information criteria: Akaike’s information criterion (AIC), the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and the Hannan-Quinn information criterion (HQ). For comparison, we perform a similar Monte Carlo experiment for the ACD (autoregressive conditional duration) model. Our results show that the information criteria work best for small parameter numbers for the compound Poisson type models, whereas for the ACD model the model selection procedure does not work well in certain cases

Condylar degeneration in patients with dental open bite versus skeletal open bite utilizing CBCT

Idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) is a condition in which either one or both condyles undergo degeneration. Bilateral TMJ involvement presents as a clockwise rotation of the mandible in the posterior-inferior direction, resulting in an anterior open bite. The purpose of the study was to assess TMJ condylar degeneration in dental open bites compared to skeletal open bites

Aerobic physical activity and resistance training: an application of the theory of planned behavior among adults with type 2 diabetes in a random, national sample of Canadians

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aerobic physical activity (PA) and resistance training are paramount in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but few studies have examined the determinants of both types of exercise in the same sample.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The primary purpose was to investigate the utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in explaining aerobic PA and resistance training in a population sample of T2D adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 244 individuals were recruited through a random national sample which was created by generating a random list of household phone numbers. The list was proportionate to the actual number of household telephone numbers for each Canadian province (with the exception of Quebec). These individuals completed self-report TPB constructs of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and intention, and a 3-month follow-up that assessed aerobic PA and resistance training.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>TPB explained 10% and 8% of the variance respectively for aerobic PA and resistance training; and accounted for 39% and 45% of the variance respectively for aerobic PA and resistance training intentions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results may guide the development of appropriate PA interventions for aerobic PA and resistance training based on the TPB.</p

196 Non response after cardiac resynchronisation therapy is associated with a more severe cardiomyopathy

BackgroundCardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has been shown to improve clinical status in heart failure patients. Some patients treated by CRT fail to respond to the treatment. Predisposing factors for non-response should be investigated to optimize patient selection.ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to evaluate before device implantation and 3, 6 and 12 month after, echocardiographic and biological parameters with respect to CRT response.MethodsThirty two patients with heart failure (72% of men; age 66±10 years; 59% non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy; NYHA III–IV; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 22.7±6.7%; QRS width 146±26ms) were implanted with CRT device and followed during twelve month. Responders (R) were defined as patients with improvement of one or more NYHA functional class, with a significant improvement in quality of life and without episode nor hospitalization for heart failure during follow-up.Results34% of the patients constitute the non-responder group (NR). No difference between R and NR was observed in LVEF, QRS width, NYHA, cardiovascular risk factors nor drug medication. Non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy was significantly more present in R (71% vs 27%; p=0.03). Before CRT, NR had more important left ventricular end-diatolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and more elevated left pressions. Atrioventricular dyssynchrony was significantly more observed in R (66% vs 9%; p=0.006) so as intraventricular dyssynchrony (95% vs 27%; p=0.001).BNP is significantly more elevated in NR (602±385 vs 320±361; p=0.03) before CRT.After 3 and 6 month, a significant decrease in left ventricular end-diatolic and end-systolic diameters, LVEF and normalisation of left and right pressions occur in R. Likewise, BNP levels were lower in R.ConclusionsNR patients have before implantation a more severe cardiomyopathy. At follow-up, left ventricular remodelling could only be observed in R patients. These data suggest that cardiac CRT should not be proposed too late so that left ventricular remodelling could be expected

A rate-based approach to cleaning-in-place

Fouling is a major problem in the food industry. In cases where allergens are involved, excessive cleaning of food processing equipment often takes place to ensure allergen levels are reduced to acceptable levels. Experimental trials were conducted in a pilot scale cleaning rig to assess the effect of fluid flow rate and temperature on the removal rate of milk paste during cleaning-in-place. Conductivity measurements taken during trials were analysed to produce an equation enabling calculation of the cleaning rate with water temperature, flow rate, initial deposit mass, and time. The rate of cleaning with detergent was also investigated. This methodology produces a rate based expression for cleaning which can be applied to other products, and can be used to determine the time when cleaning is complete, the extent of a cleaning process, or when the pre-rinse should be replaced with a detergent rinse. This prevents over-cleaning and therefore reduces the costs associated with over-cleaning through energy, material and loss of production time

Development of a β-Lactoglobulin sensor based on SPR for milk allergens detection

A sensitive and label-free surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensor was developed in this work for the detection of milk allergens. β-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein was used as the biomarker for cow milk detection. This is to be used directly in final rinse samples of cleaning in-place (CIP) systems of food manufacturers. The affinity assay was optimised and characterised before a standard curve was performed in pure buffer conditions, giving a detection limit of 0.164 µg mL−1 as a direct binding assay. The detection limit can be further enhanced through the use of a sandwich assay and amplification with nanomaterials. However, this was not required here, as the detection limit achieved exceeded the required allergen detection levels of 2 µg mL−1 for β-lactoglobulin. The binding affinities of the polyclonal antibody for BLG, expressed by the dissociation constant (KD), were equal to 2.59 × 10−9 M. The developed SPR-based sensor offers several advantages in terms of label-free detection, real-time measurements, potential on-line system and superior sensitivity when compared to ELISA-based techniques. The method is novel for this application and could be applied to wider food allergen risk management decision(s) in food manufacturing

Synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for α-casein detection using surface plasmon resonance as a milk allergen sensor

Food recalls due to undeclared allergens or contamination are costly to the food manufacturing industry worldwide. As the industry strives for better manufacturing efficiencies over a diverse range of food products, there is a need for the development of new analytical techniques to improve monitoring of the presence of unintended food allergens during the food manufacturing process. In particular, the monitoring of wash samples from cleaning in place systems (CIP), used in the cleaning of food processing equipment, would allow for the effective removal of allergen containing ingredients in between food batches. Casein proteins constitute the biggest group of proteins in milk and hence are the most common milk protein allergen in food ingredients. As such, these proteins could present an ideal analyte for cleaning validation. In this work, molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) with high affinity toward bovine α-casein were synthesized using a solid-phase imprinting method. The nanoMIPs were then characterized and incorporated into label free surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensor. The nanoMIPs demonstrated good binding affinity and selectivity toward α-casein (KD ∼ 10 × 10–9 M). This simple affinity sensor demonstrated the quantitative detection of α-casein achieving a detection limit of 127 ± 97.6 ng mL–1 (0.127 ppm) which is far superior to existing commercially available ELISA kits. Recoveries from spiked CIP wastewater samples were within the acceptable range (87–120%). The reported sensor could allow food manufacturers to adequately monitor and manage food allergen risk in food processing environments while ensuring that the food produced is safe for the consumer