Dissipative Charged Fluid in a Magnetic Field

We study the collective excitations in a dissipative charged fluid at zero chemical potential when an external magnetic field is present. While in the absence of magnetic field, four collective excitations appear in the fluid, we find five hydrodynamic modes in presence of magnetic field. This implies that the magnetic field splits the degeneracy between the transverse shear modes. Using linear response theory, we then compute the retarded response functions. In particular, it turns out that the correlation between charge and the energy fluctuations will no longer vanish, even at zero chemical potential. By use of the response functions, we also derive the relevant Kubo formulas for the transport coefficients.Comment: 6 page

Biomarkers and type 2 diabetes

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Bioscientifica via http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/EC-15-0087Many biomarkers are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in epidemiological observations. The aim of this study was to identify and summarize current evidence for causal effects of biomarkers on T2D. A systematic literature search in PubMed and EMBASE (until April 2015) was done to identify Mendelian randomization studies that examined potential causal effects of biomarkers on T2D. To replicate the findings of identified studies, data from two large-scale, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were used: DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis (DIAGRAMv3) for T2D and the Meta-Analyses of Glucose and Insulin-related traits Consortium (MAGIC) for glycaemic traits. GWAS summary statistics were extracted for the same genetic variants (or proxy variants), which were used in the original Mendelian randomization studies. Of the 21 biomarkers (from 28 studies), ten have been reported to be causally associated with T2D in Mendelian randomization. Most biomarkers were investigated in a single cohort study or population. Of the ten biomarkers that were identified, nominally significant associations with T2D or glycaemic traits were reached for those genetic variants related to bilirubin, pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, delta-6 desaturase and dimethylglycine based on the summary data from DIAGRAMv3 or MAGIC. Several Mendelian randomization studies investigated the nature of associations of biomarkers with T2D. However, there were only a few biomarkers that may have causal effects on T2D. Further research is needed to broadly evaluate the causal effects of multiple biomarkers on T2D and glycaemic traits using data from large-scale cohorts or GWAS including many different genetic variants.This work was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research project (NWO), and the Medical Research Council UK (grant no. MC_UU_12015/1). AA is supported by a Rubicon grant from the NWO (Project no. 825.13.004)

An algorithm for solving fuzzy relation programming with the max-t composition operator

This paper studies the problem of minimizing a linear objective function subject to max-T fuzzy relation equation constraints where T is a special class of pseudot-norms. Some sufficient conditions are presented for determination of its optimal solutions. Some procedures are also suggested to simplify the original problem. Some sufficient conditions are given for uniqueness of its optimal solution. Finally, an algorithm is proposed to find its optimal solution.Publisher's Versio

CONSUMERS’ RESPONSE TO METAPHORIC COMMUNICATION OF GENETIC MODIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

Controversy regarding the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food production seems to be endless, and both opponents and proponents of the genetic modification (GM) technology have made many efforts to shape the public opinion in favour of their cause. Although metaphoric communications have been one pivotal strategy of the anti-GMO movement, the use of this tactic to promote GM technology has been minimal. In this research, I explored different metaphoric messaging strategies that can improve consumers’ perceptions of genetic modification. I tested the effectiveness of framing GM technology as either progress or contamination protection, with manmade or natural metaphor sources and with different levels of verbal explanation to determine the best consumer response toward advertisements, and toward the use of GM technology in food production. The conceptual framework of this study is based on metaphoric theory, prominent technology representation strategies, persuasion knowledge, and verbal anchoring theory. More specifically, I propose technology representation strategy, metaphor source strategy and level of verbal anchoring impact consumers’ attitude toward the ad, perceived benefits of the GM technology, and perceived risks of the GM technology. By changing these dependent variables, metaphoric communications might be able to improve consumer’s attitude toward the use of GM technology in food production and purchase intention for GMO food. First, I examined whether consumers differentiate between different types of technology representation strategies. Second, I explored whether using manmade objects as metaphor source would better improve consumers' perception of the ads, and finally, I studied whether metaphors with complete verbal anchors are more favourably processed by the audience. My research used 16 ads to manipulate the above variables and then during two experiments, I collected quantitative information. In the first study I focused on the quality of the ads and used attitude toward the ad as the focal dependent variable for a student sample. In the context of this study, audiences preferred metaphors with a manmade construct. Interestingly, although complete verbal anchors generated a more favourable response to the GM technology advertisements (regardless of the representation strategy), the change of verbal anchoring strategy from incomplete to complete improved consumer responses to the ads significantly more when a contamination protection strategy was used. The second experiment was designed based on the results of the first study. In this experiment, I used a general public sample to understand their assessment of the eight selected ads from the first study as well as their perceived risk, perceived benefits, and attitude toward the use of GM technology in food production. The results of this study suggest that the general public prefers pro-GM ads which use contamination protection as their strategy for technology representation. Furthermore, believability of the ad is found to be a critical component in consumers’ decision-making process. The findings of these studies provide useful knowledge for both researchers and food marketers to better understand the impact of metaphoric communications on consumers’ attitude toward GM technology and pro-GM ads. I argue that close attention to specific variables in the design and development of these ads will substantially improve their ability to enhance the image of the technology

Monomial geometric programming with fuzzy relation equation constraints regarding max-bounded difference composition operator

In this paper, an optimization model with an objective function as monomial subject to a system of the fuzzy relation equations with max-bounded difference (maxBD) composition operator is presented. We firstly determine its feasible solution set. Then some special characteristics of its feasible domain and the optimal solutions are studied. Some procedures for reducing and decomposing the problem into several subproblems with smaller dimensions are proposed. Finally, an algorithm is designed to optimize the objective function of each sub-problem.Publisher's Versio