Industry-finance integration activities is beneficial to the improvement of business performance of fishery companies—Based on DEA-CCR Model and DEA-Malmquist Model

Fisheries are an essential component of the national economy. The evaluation of fishery enterprises' business performance helps reveal the fishery industry's operating efficiency and serve the fishery economy's sustainable and high-quality development. This study used the data of fishery companies with industry-finance integration on the stock market from 2012-2021 and conducted a comparative study on the business performance of fishery companies with industry-finance integration on the stock market based on the DEA-CCR model and DEA- Malmquist index method. Two main results were revealed (i) the integration of industry and finance was an effective means to improve business performance, and the financial gains from the integration of industry and finance by listed fishery companies improve the overall efficiency and total factor productivity (TFP) of enterprises. (ii) The average TFP of listed fishery companies in China is declining, and technological decline is the main reason for the decline in TFP

Nurse-led cognitive screening model for older adults in primary care

Author version made available in accordance with publisher copyright. Under 12 month embargo from date of publication [26 September 2014]. This is the accepted version of the following article: [Yang, Y., Xiao, L. D., Deng, L., Wang, Y., Li, M. and Ullah, S. (2014), Nurse-led cognitive screening model for older adults in primary care. Geriatrics & Gerontology International.], which has been published in final form at [doi: 10.1111/ggi.12339]. In addition, authors may also transmit, print and share copies with colleagues, provided that there is no systematic distribution of the submitted version, e.g. posting on a listserve, network or automated delivery.Aim The present study aimed to establish a nurse-led cognitive screening model for community-dwelling older adults with subjective memory complaints from seven communities in Chongqing, China, and report the findings of this model. Methods Screenings took place from July 2012 to June 2013. Cognitive screening was incorporated into the annual health assessment for older adults with subjective memory complaints in a primary care setting. Two community nurses were trained to implement the screening using the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Results Of 733 older adults, 495 (67.5%) reported having subjective memory complaints. Of the 249 individuals who participated in the cognitive screening, 102 (41%) had mild cognitive impairment, whereas 32 (12.9%) had cognitive impairment. A total of 80 participants (78.4%) with mild cognitive impairment agreed to participate in a memory support program. Participants with cognitive impairment were referred to specialists for further examination and diagnosis; only one reported that he had seen a specialist and had been diagnosed with dementia. Conclusions Incorporating cognitive screening into the annual health assessment for older adults with subjective memory complaints was feasible, though referral rates from primary care providers remained unchanged. The present study highlights the urgent need for simple screenings as well as community-based support services in primary care for older adults with cognitive or mild cognitive impairments

Soil pH, total phosphorus, climate and distance are the major factors influencing microbial activity at a regional spatial scale

Considering the extensive functional redundancy in microbial communities and great difficulty in elucidating it based on taxonomic structure, studies on the biogeography of soil microbial activity at large spatial scale are as important as microbial community structure. Eighty-four soil samples were collected across a region from south to north China (about 1,000 km) to address the questions if microbial activity displays biogeographic patterns and what are driving forces. These samples represented different soil types, land use and climate. Redundancy analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling clearly revealed that soil microbial activities showed distinct differentiation at different sites over a regional spatial scale, which were strongly affected by soil pH, total P, rainfall, temperature, soil type and location. In addition, microbial community structure was greatly influenced by rainfall, location, temperature, soil pH and soil type and was correlated with microbial activity to some extent. Our results suggest that microbial activities display a clear geographic pattern that is greatly altered by geographic distance and reflected by climate, soil pH and total P over large spatial scales. There are common (distance, climate, pH and soil type) but differentiated aspects (TP, SOC and N) in the biogeography of soil microbial community structure and activity

Understanding current instabilities in conductive atomic force microscopy

Conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) is one of the most powerful techniques in studying the electrical properties of various materials at the nanoscale. However, understanding current fluctuations within one study (due to degradation of the probe tips) and from one study to another (due to the use of probe tips with different characteristics), are still two major problems that may drive CAFM researchers to extract wrong conclusions. In this manuscript, these two issues are statistically analyzed by collecting experimental CAFM data and processing them using two different computational models. Our study indicates that: (i) before their complete degradation, CAFM tips show a stable state with degraded conductance, which is difficult to detect and it requires CAFM tip conductivity characterization before and after the CAFM experiments; and (ii) CAFM tips with low spring constants may unavoidably lead to the presence of a ~1.2 nm thick water film at the tip/sample junction, even if the maximum contact force allowed by the setup is applied. These two phenomena can easily drive CAFM users to overestimate the properties of the samples under test (e.g., oxide thickness). Our study can help researchers to better understand the current shifts that were observed during their CAFM experiments, as well as which probe tip to use and how it degrades. Ultimately, this work may contribute to enhancing the reliability of CAFM investigations

Dielectric Breakdown in Chemical Vapor Deposited Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Insulating films are essential in multiple electronic devices because they can provide essential functionalities, such as capacitance effects and electrical fields. Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials have superb electronic, physical, chemical, thermal, and optical properties, and they can be effectively used to provide additional performances, such as flexibility and transparency. 2D layered insulators are called to be essential in future electronic devices, but their reliability, degradation kinetics, and dielectric breakdown (BD) process are still not understood. In this work, the dielectric breakdown process of multilayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is analyzed on the nanoscale and on the device level, and the experimental results are studied via theoretical models. It is found that under electrical stress, local charge accumulation and charge trapping/detrapping are the onset mechanisms for dielectric BD formation. By means of conductive atomic force microscopy, the BD event was triggered at several locations on the surface of different dielectrics (SiO2, HfO2, Al2O3, multilayer h-BN, and monolayer h-BN); BD-induced hillocks rapidly appeared on the surface of all of them when the BD was reached, except in monolayer h-BN. The high thermal conductivity of h-BN combined with the one-atom-thick nature are genuine factors contributing to heat dissipation at the BD spot, which avoids self-accelerated and thermally driven catastrophic BD. These results point to monolayer h-BN as a sublime dielectric in terms of reliability, which may have important implications in future digital electronic devices.Fil: Jiang, Lanlan. Soochow University; ChinaFil: Shi, Yuanyuan. Soochow University; China. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Hui, Fei. Soochow University; China. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Tang, Kechao. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Wu, Qian. Soochow University; ChinaFil: Pan, Chengbin. Soochow University; ChinaFil: Jing, Xu. Soochow University; China. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Uppal, Hasan. University of Manchester; Reino UnidoFil: Palumbo, Félix Roberto Mario. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lu, Guangyuan. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Wu, Tianru. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Wang, Haomin. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Villena, Marco A.. Soochow University; ChinaFil: Xie, Xiaoming. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China. ShanghaiTech University; ChinaFil: McIntyre, Paul C.. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Lanza, Mario. Soochow University; Chin

Pharmacogenetic aspects of the use of tacrolimus in renal transplantation: Recent developments and ethnic considerations

Introduction: Tacrolimus (Tac) is effective in preventing acute rejection but has considerable toxicity and inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Part of this is explained by polymorphisms in genes encoding Tac-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. A better understanding of Tac pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics may help to minimize different outcomes amongst transplant recipients by personalizing immunosuppression.Areas covered: The pharmacogenetic contribution of Tac metabolism will be examined, with a focus on recent discoveries, new developments and ethnic considerations.Expert opinion: The strongest and most consistent association in pharmacogenetics is between the CYP3A5 genotype and Tac dose requirement, with CYP3A5 expressers having a ∼ 40-50% higher dose requirement compared to non-expressers. Two recent randomized-controlled clinical trials using CYP3A5 genotype, however, did not show a decrease in acute rejections nor reduced toxicity. CYP3A4∗22, CYP3A4∗26, and POR∗28 are also associated with Tac dose requirements and may be included to provide the expected improvement of Tac therapy. Studies focusing on the intracellular drug concentrations and on calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity also seem promising. For all studies, however, the ethnic prevalence of genotypes should be taken into account, as this may significantly impact the effect of pre-emptive genotyping

Ambient outdoor air pollutants and sex ratio of singletons born after in vitro fertilization: the effect of single blastocyst transfer.

OBJECTIVE(#br)To evaluate the impact of air pollution on the sex ratio in singletons after IVF treatment and to evaluate the influence of the number of and the developmental stage of transferred embryos on the sex ratio.(#br)DESIGN(#br)Retrospective cohort study.(#br)SETTING(#br)University-affiliated IVF unit.(#br)PATIENT(S)(#br)A total of 7,004 singletons born after fresh transfer or frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) between January 2013 and December 2017.(#br)INTERVENTION(S)(#br)None.(#br)MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)(#br)Male-to-female ratio in live-born singletons.(#br)RESULT(S)(#br)The estimated medians (interquartile range) of particle matter (PM)10, PM2.5, CO, NO2, O3, and SO2 at the IVF site were 51.4 (39.5-64.6), 27.7 (20.7-37.4), 0.62 (0.5-0.72), 32.5 (25.4-40.1), 79.6 (63.3-96.6), and 11.9 (9.3-15.9) μg/m3, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that SO2 was the only pollutant clearly associated with sex ratio. In singletons from single blastocyst transfer (SBT), as indicated by the generalized additive model, the SO2 concentration and sex ratio showed an inverted-U-shape association. In singletons after non-SBT, a monotonic decreasing in the sex ratio was observed with increased SO2 concentration. Compared with the referent category (SO2 < 7.57 μg/m3), the sex ratio at the 5th decile of SO2 (10.81-11.94 μg/m3) was increased by 2.1-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.14) after adjusting covariates. In singletons born from non-SBT, the sex ratio significantly decreased only in the 9th (odds ratio = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53-0.90) and 10th (OR = 0.74, 95% CI, 0.56-0.98) deciles.(#br)CONCLUSION(S)(#br)Low concentrations of SO2 showed an association with increased sex ratio in singletons of SBT, while in singletons born from another ET system the sex ratios did not show an association at low concentrations of SO2

High-fat diets enhance and delay ursodeoxycholic acid absorption but elevate circulating hydrophobic bile salts

Background: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a natural drug essential for the treatment of cholestatic liver diseases. The food effects on the absorption of UDCA and the disposition of circulating bile salts remain unclear despite its widespread global uses. This study aims to investigate the effects of high-fat (HF) diets on the pharmacokinetics of UDCA and disclose how the circulated bile salts were simultaneously perturbed.Methods: After an overnight fast, a cohort of 36 healthy subjects received a single oral dose (500 mg) of UDCA capsules, and another cohort of 31 healthy subjects received the same dose after consuming a 900 kcal HF meal. Blood samples were collected from 48 h pre-dose up to 72 h post-dose for pharmacokinetic assessment and bile acid profiling analysis.Results: The HF diets significantly delayed the absorption of UDCA, with the Tmax of UDCA and its major metabolite, glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), changing from 3.3 h and 8.0 h in the fasting study to 4.5 h and 10.0 h in the fed study, respectively. The HF diets did not alter the Cmax of UDCA and GUDCA but immediately led to a sharp increase in the plasma levels of endogenous bile salts including those hydrophobic ones. The AUC0–72h of UDCA significantly increased from 25.4 μg h/mL in the fasting study to 30.8 μg h/mL in the fed study, while the AUC0–72h of GUDCA showed no difference in both studies. As a result, the Cmax of total UDCA (the sum of UDCA, GUDCA, and TUDCA) showed a significant elevation, while the AUC0–72h of total UDCA showed a slight increase without significance in the fed study compared to the fasting study.Conclusion: The HF diets delay UDCA absorption due to the extension of gastric empty time. Although UDCA absorption was slightly enhanced by the HF diets, the beneficial effect may be limited in consideration of the simultaneous elevation of circulating hydrophobic bile salts

Conventional Treatments plus Acupuncture for Asthma in Adults and Adolescent: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives. The efficacy of conventional treatments plus acupuncture for asthma in adult and adolescent is uncertain. Literature reports are conflicting; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of conventional treatments plus acupuncture versus conventional treatments alone using a meta-analysis of all published randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Methods. Two reviewers independently performed a comprehensive literature search from multiple electronic sources (1990–2018), including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang databases. RCTs in which adult and adolescent patients with asthma (age ≥12 years) were divided into conventional treatments plus acupuncture and conventional treatments alone were included. Results. Nine studies were included. The results showed that conventional treatments plus acupuncture as a complementary therapy could improve the symptom response rate (OR = 7.87, 95% CI = [4.13, 14.99], p < 0.00001) and significantly decrease interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (MD = -11.42; 95% CI = [-15.28, -7.56], p < 0.00001). However, indices of pulmonary function, including the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (MD = 0.22, 95% CI = [-0.11, 0.56], p = 0.19) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (MD = 8.62, 95% CI = [-0.35, 17.59], p = 0.06), failed to be improved with conventional treatments plus acupuncture. Conclusion. Conventional treatments plus acupuncture are associated with significant benefits for adult and adolescent patients with asthma. Therefore, we suggest the use of conventional treatments plus acupuncture for asthma patients

Stability analysis of nonlinear delay differential-algebraic equations and of the implicit euler methods

We consider the stability and asymptotic stability of a class of nonlinear delay differential-algebraic equations and of the implicit Euler methods.Some sufficient conditions for the stability and asymptotic stability of the equations are given.These conditions can be applied conveniently to nonlinear equations.We also show that the implicit Euler methods are stable and asymptotically stable