A Hybrid Approach to Explore the Risk Dependency Structure among Agribusiness Firms

Although the risk management of agricultural firms is important, studies on the extreme risk dependence among agribusiness firms are minimal due to the diversity and complexity of the risks faced by agricultural firms. In this study, we developed a hybrid approach to analyse and uncover the potential risk dependence among agricultural firms. We examined thirty-two agricultural companies to study their dependence structure for risk losses. Three primary findings emerged. First, risk dependence is strong with an average value of 0.96. Second, the dependence structure is hierarchical and includes two network communities. Third, some key agricultural firms were identified in the dependence structure. These key firms are critical for the transmission of negative impacts across agricultural firms. Correspondingly, we suggest measures and strategies (such as improving the level of technological innovation and joint risk resistance capability) to reduce the impact of risk dependence

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous implantation of rabbit VX2 carcinoma, using a coaxial technique and gelfoam pellet injection combination to establish a rabbit liver tumor model

PURPOSEWe aimed to investigate the safety and tumor seeding rate of a coaxial implantation technique combined with injection of a gelfoam pellet in establishing a VX2 liver tumor model in rabbits.METHODSA VX2 liver tumor model was established in 60 male New Zealand white rabbits, which were randomly divided into 3 groups (20 in each group) based on implantation technique (all performed under ultrasound guidance): group A, single needle only; group B, single needle with injection of a gelfoam pellet; or group C, coaxial technique with injection of a gelfoam pellet. The rates of liver tumor formation and tumor seeding to extrahepatic tissues were compared 2 weeks after implantation. Data were also collected regarding procedure time, number of punctures, occurrence of complications, and mortality rate.RESULTSA VX2 liver tumor model was established in all 60 rabbits (100%, 60/60). Ectopic implantation rate was 70% (14/20) in group A, 35% (7/20) in group B, and 5% (1/20) in group C, with significant difference among the groups (p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis showed significant difference between group A and group C (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between group B and group A or group C (p = 0.027, p = 0.048, respectively). There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of procedure time (p = 0.405) or number of punctures (p = 0.612). No complications or deaths occurred.CONCLUSIONA coaxial technique with injection of a gelfoam pellet is an effective and safe method for VX2 liver tumor implantation in rabbits, and this technique can reduce the risk of tumor seeding to the abdominal wall and omentum

Size-Dependent Free Vibration of Axially Moving Nanobeams Using Eringen’s Two-Phase Integral Model

In this paper, vibration of axially moving nanobeams is studied using Eringen&#8217;s two-phase nonlocal integral model. Geometric nonlinearity is taken into account for the integral model for the first time. Equations of motion for the beam with simply supported and fixed&#8315;fixed boundary conditions are obtained by Hamilton&#8217;s Principle, which turns out to be nonlinear integro-differential equations. For the free vibration of the nanobeam, the critical velocity and the natural frequencies are obtained numerically. Furthermore, the effects of parameters on critical velocity and natural frequency are analyzed. We have found that, for the two-phase nonlocal integral model, regardless of the boundary conditions considered, both the critical velocity and the natural frequency increase with the nonlocal parameter and the geometric parameter

New-generation Migrant Workers' Urban Adaptation: A Case Study of Jianggan District in Hangzhou City

New-generation migrant workers are the "elite" among migrant workers, and whether they can really adapt to the city is one of the real problems to be urgently solved during China's new urbanization, related to the success of new urbanization construction. From the perspective of livelihood capital, this paper uses the measuring indicators in line with the new-generation migrant workers' livelihood characteristics, to analyze the typical characteristics and causes of new-generation migrant workers' urban adaptation in Jianggan District of Hangzhou City based on field survey data. In the study, it is found that the new-generation migrant workers' urban adaptation characteristics are focused on life adaptation, work adaptation and cultural adaptation, but the adaptation in the three areas is not good and there is a big room for improvement

Nomograms to predict survival outcomes after microwave ablation in elderly patients (>65 years old) with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Objectives To develop and validate the nomograms to predict survival outcomes after microwave ablation (MWA) in elderly patients(>65 years old) with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (EHCC). Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. A total of 265 EHCC patients (76 females, 189 males; average age 71.4 years ± 5.4 [standard deviation]) with 345 nodules subsequently underwent MWA from April 2006 to October 2019. Baseline characteristics were collected to identify the risk factors for the determination of survival outcomes after MWA. The nomograms were based on prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) from the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model and validated in external cohorts from another two institutions (n = 130). The nomograms were assessed for their predictive accuracy using Harrell’s concordance index (C-index). Results After a median follow-up time of 28.6 months, 29.8% (79/265) of the patients died, and 54.3% (144/265) of the patients experienced recurrence in the training set. The OS nomogram was developed based on the hepatitis B virus (HBV) presence, α-fetoprotein (AFP), and albumin, with a C-index of 0.757 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.645, 0.789).The scores of the nomogram ranged from 0 to 24. The RFS nomogram was developed based on tumor number, abutting major vessels and platelets, with a C-index of 0.733 (CI: 0.672, 0.774). The likelihood of 3- and 5-year OS and RFS were consistent between clinical observations and nomogram predictions in external cohorts. Conclusions The nomogram models can be useful in determining the risk of OS and RFS in elderly patients with EHCC after MWA, which can guide individual patient management.Key points MWA is an effective and feasible treatment for elderly patients with EHCC and can improve survival outcomes. A calibrated and objective nomogram model for the prediction of survival outcomes in elderly patients (>65 years old) may guide patient selection and MWA treatment. Older age was not deemed to be a risk factor for survival outcomes when the elderly patients with EHCC underwent MWA

Chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy plus 125I brachytherapy for the second-line treatment of locally recurrent cervical cancer after/with radical treatment: A propensity score analysis

Rationale and objectives: The primary aim of this study was to conduct a retrospective comparative analysis of the survival outcomes in patients with recurrent cervical cancer (CC). Specifically, we aimed to compare the efficacy of chemotherapy alone versus the combined approach of chemotherapy and 125I brachytherapy subsequent to the failure of initial chemotherapy treatment. Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed with recurrent CC subsequent to the failure of initial chemotherapy from January 2007 to December 2016 were enrolled from 2 hospitals. These patients were then divided into two groups: Group A, which underwent second-line chemotherapy alone, and Group B, which received both second-line chemotherapy and 125I brachytherapy. The assessment of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was carried out through propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1), Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazard regression for survival analysis. Results: A matched cohort comprising 88 patients each in Group A and Group B was included in the study. In Group A, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative PFS rates were 40.9 %, 15.9 %, and 5.7 % respectively, while in Group B, these rates were significantly higher at 79.5 %, 48.9 %, and 25.0 % (P = 0.003). Similarly, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative OS rates among Group A were 67.0 %, 27.3 %, and 5.7 % compared to 89.8 %, 63.6 %, and 30.7 % among Group B, suggesting a difference with statistical significance (P < 0.001) between the two groups. Moreover, the incidence of complications was similar between groups (P = 0.698). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the combined approach of chemotherapy and 125I brachytherapy yields superior therapeutic effects but similar complication rates compared to chemotherapy alone in patients experiencing local recurrence of CC following failed initial chemotherapy