Maximum empirical likelihood estimation in U-statistics based general estimating equations

In the first part of this thesis, we study maximum empirical likelihood estimates (MELE\u27s) in U-statistics based general estimating equations (UGEE\u27s). Our technical maneuver is the jackknife empirical likelihood (JEL) approach. We give the local uniform asymptotic normality condition for the log-JEL for UGEE\u27s. We derive the estimating equations for finding MELE\u27s and provide their asymptotic normality. We obtain easy MELE\u27s which have less computational burden than the usual MELE\u27s and can be easily implemented using existing software. We investigate the use of side information of the data to improve efficiency. We exhibit that the MELE\u27s are fully efficient, and the asymptotic variance of a MELE will not increase as the number of UGEE\u27s increases. We give several important examples and demonstrate that efficient estimates of moment based distribution characteristics in the presence of side information can be obtained using JEL for U-statistics. In the second part, we propose several JEL goodness-of-fit tests for spherical symmetry, rotational symmetry, antipodal symmetry, coordinatewise symmetry and exchangeability. We employ the jackknife empirical likelihood for vector U-statistics to incorporate side information. We use estimated constraint functions and allow the number of constraints and the dimension to grow with the sample size so that these tests can be used to test hypotheses for high dimensional symmetries. We demonstrate that these tests are distribution free and asymptotically chisquare distributed. We conduct extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of these tests

Overexpression of the homoterpene synthase gene, OsCYP92C21, increases emissions of volatiles mediating tritrophic interactions in rice

Plant defense homoterpenes can be used to attract pest natural enemies. However, the biosynthetic pathway of homoterpenes is still unknown in rice, and the practical application of such indirect defense systems suffers from inherent limitations due to their low emissions from plants. Here, we demonstrated that the protein OsCYP92C21 is responsible for homoterpene biosynthesis in rice. We also revealed that the ability of rice to produce homoterpenes is dependent on the subcellular precursor pools. By increasing the precursor pools through specifically subcellular targeting expression, genetic transformation and genetic introgression, we significantly enhanced homoterpene biosynthesis in rice. The final introgressed GM rice plants exhibited higher homoterpene emissions than the wild type rice and the highest homoterpene emission reported so far for such GM plants even without the induction of herbivore attack. As a result, these GM rice plants demonstrated strong attractiveness to the parasitic wasp Cotesia chilonis. This study discovered the homoterpene biosynthesis pathway in rice, and lays the foundation for the utilization of plant indirect defense mechanism in the “push‐pull” strategy of integrated pest management through increasing precursor pools in the subcellular compartments and overexpressing homoterpene synthase by genetic transformation

Nitrogen rather than streamflow regulates the growth of riparian trees

In arid and semiarid regions, riparian forests are crucial for maintaining ecological biodiversity and sustainability, and supporting social and economic development. For the typical arid and semiarid ecosystem, streamflow variability is thought to be the dominant factor influencing the vulnerability and evolution of the riparian forests, which often leads to the neglect of other potentially important factors such as nutrient availability and transport. Here, we measured annual stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) and nitrogen concentrations (N%) in the tree rings of Populus euphratica Oliv. (Euphrates poplar) over a 90 year period (1920–2012), collected from the lower researches of the inland Heihe River, northwestern China. Coupling with our previous dual-isotope (δ13C and δ18O) chronologies and estimated intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE), we examined the linkages between tree-ring δ15N and δ18O, iWUE, streamflow, and then explored the contributions of each to tree growth during the study period. Our results show that after 1975, a statistically significant correlation between tree-ring δ15N and river streamflow appears, indicating the river as a potential carrier of nitrogen from the upper and middle reaches to the lower research trees. In addition, the linkage between tree-ring δ15N and iWUE suggests substantial influence of carbon and nitrogen together on photosynthesis and transpiration of trees, although this connection become decoupled since AD 1986. The commonality analysis revealed that the nitrogen impacts indicated by tree-ring δ15N on tree growth cannot be ignored when evaluating riparian forest development. The fertilization effects caused by rising CO2 concentration complicate the nitrogen constraints on tree growth during the later part of the past century. Our results have potentially broad implications for identifying the limited factors for dryland forest ecosystems that are susceptible to natural water resource variations and human activities

A head-to-head comparison of the efficacy and safety of ixekizumab and adalimumab in biological-naive patients with active psoriatic arthritis: 24-week results of a randomised, open-label, blinded-assessor trial

Objectives To compare efficacy and safety of ixekizumab (IXE) to adalimumab (ADA) in biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naive patients with both active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and skin disease and inadequate response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARDs).Methods Patients with active PsA were randomised (1:1) to approved dosing of IXE or ADA in an open-label, head-to-head, blinded assessor clinical trial. The primary objective was to evaluate whether IXE was superior to ADA at week 24 for simultaneous achievement of a >= 50% improvement from baseline in the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR50) and a 100% improvement from baseline in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI100). Major secondary objectives, also at week 24, were to evaluate whether IXE was: (1) non-inferior to ADA for achievement of ACR50 and (2) superior to ADA for PASI100 response. Additional PsA, skin, treat-to-target and quality-of-life outcome measures were assessed at week 24.Results The primary efficacy endpoint was met (IXE: 36%, ADA: 28%; p=0.036). IXE was non-inferior for ACR50 response (IXE: 51%, ADA: 47%; treatment difference: 3.9%) and superior for PASI100 response (IXE: 60%, ADA: 47%; p=0.001). IXE had greater response versus ADA in additional PsA, skin, nail, treat-to-target and quality-of-life outcomes. Serious adverse events were reported in 8.5% (ADA) and 3.5% (IXE) of patients.Conclusions IXE was superior to ADA in achievement of simultaneous improvement of joint and skin disease (ACR50 and PASI100) in patients with PsA and inadequate response to csDMARDs. Safety and tolerability for both biologicals were aligned with established safety profiles.</div

照顧者實用資訊手冊

手冊源起 香港面對人口高齡化，醫療和福利系統無可避免面臨持續的挑戰。照顧者因壓力問題而引發的家庭悲劇時有發生，反映照顧者自身亦極需要社會的重視和支援。 現時照顧者人數眾多，當中不乏配偶、父母、子女、女婿、媳婦，對長者照顧及社會無酬的付出，確實值得社會的認同和肯定。然而，儘管本港為長者及照顧者提供不少支援服務，由於不同的原因，照顧者似乎未有善用現有的服務，常常需要一力承擔所有照顧的責任，這無疑增加了他們的壓力。 照顧者需求多樣性 照顧者有不同種類，所需要的服務或支援亦有所不同。例如：「新手照顧者」剛開始接觸照顧工作，需要盡快提升日常護理和相關的疾病知識，以及獲得合適的離院/復康服務支援。「隱蔽照顧者」一直承擔照顧工作但沒有接受任何支援，因此，他們需要的是服務提供者/鄰里的主動接觸，並被轉介合適的照顧服務，以分擔他們部分照顧工作。「高危照顧者」幾乎長時間被照顧的工作佔據了其生活，他們需要的是喘息空間和暫託服務，甚至可能是情緒支援。即使「資深的照顧者」也可能需要喘息或暫託的支援服務去減輕壓力；而結束了照顧工作的「畢業照顧者」，無論是情緒的支援，還是重新規劃財務與就業的安排，都有非常實際的需求。基於照顧者的不同需要，照顧者的支援和服務也是多樣化，如何讓不同種類的照顧者能夠輕易了解現有的社區支援服務、可考慮甚麼因素選取相關服務、如何獲取所需的支援包括申領經濟支援或預早準備長期護理開支、如何自強增值等，都是這本手冊希望解答的問題。 手冊的目的 編製這本手冊的目的就是要減少照顧者四處尋找資訊的麻煩，提供一個整全且易於瀏覽的資訊來源。本手冊主要有兩大目標：其一，幫助照顧者認識不同的服務和資源，積極尋求援助；其二是一站式提供豐富的資訊服務，提升照顧者的能力和平衡身心健康。 手冊的意義 此手冊的社會意義是期望提高大眾對照顧者需要的關注，並引導更多的行動以支援照顧者。如果您的親友是照顧者，又或您認識的朋友甚至鄰居正面對照顧家人的困難，您可以主動伸出援手，又或利用這本手冊作為啟示，向他們介紹相關的服務。 另外，這本手冊可以視作為支援照顧者的工具，讓照顧者明白在承擔照顧家人的重任時並不需要孤軍奮戰，也可以善用社區提供的各種資源和服務。 手冊架構 本手冊由四個主要部分組成，每部分都專注於特定的主題，旨在提供照顧者的全方位支援和資訊，幫助他們在面對挑戰時能夠有所依賴，並從中獲得力量： 第一部分主要提供基礎知識，其中包括不同種類的照顧者的介紹、四種長者常見疾病（包括認知障礙、中風、老年抑鬱和癌症）的病徵說明、以及照顧者可能面臨的壓力與「喘息服務」的重要性。第二部分專注介紹長者常用的社區及健康服務。我們按照地區將服務機構進行了分類，羅列「認知障礙、中風、老年抑鬱、癌症」常用的服務機構，此外，我們還提供家居安全、樂齡科技租賃服務，以及財務支援等相關建議。第三部分將焦點重新放回照顧者身上，提供了支援照顧者的社福機構介紹、照顧者同路人的心得分享，以及照顧者的培訓資訊，旨在幫助照顧者在面對困難時能自強不息。最後，在本手冊的結尾部分，我們特別邀請了四位專家學者就照顧者政策提出見解和建議，為加強照顧者支援服務提供新思路。 如果按持份者來分類，手冊的四個部分的重點如下： 第一部分：照顧者的基礎知識 ◎ 針對預備照顧者、新手以及隱蔽照顧者，讓他們了解照顧者的角色和需要；照顧體弱長者的基礎知識，並提供應對壓力的建議，包括自我照顧和喘息服務等。 第二部分：照顧者支援 ◎ 針對所有護老者，提供長者常用的社區服務、健康服務和支援計劃，包括暫託、住宿、護送及陪診、善別支援、情緒支援、復康用品津貼及租賃的支援計劃，以及財務策劃師提供的理財貼士。 第三部分：照顧者自強 ◎ 針對照顧者，資訊包括不同的照顧者支援組織、同路人和畢業照顧者的經驗心得、培訓課程，以及實用的電子資訊平台推介。 第四部分：對照顧者支援政策的看法和展望 ◎ 針對服務提供者、政策倡議者及制定者，提供專家學者對照顧者服務及政策的未來發展方向的看法和建議，以期引發更多關於「如何為照顧者提供更好支持」的討論。 給讀者的使用指引 本手冊內容十分豐富，讀者可以先瀏覽目錄，選擇與您相關的部分進行細讀。對於新手照顧者或剛接觸/關注護老服務的人士(例如：學生、社區人士)，我們建議您可以參考手冊第24-33頁「給照顧者的智慧錦囊」的個案，了解不同照顧者可能面對的情境，這可能會給您一點概念，讓您可以考慮尋求哪些支援服務，又或您身邊照顧者朋友有哪些需要，以及如何協助他們獲取所需要的支援。我們深知閱讀本手冊時，您可能會遇到一些不明白的地方，請不必感到困惑。您可以嘗試找身邊的朋友、鄰居或社會服務機構的工作人員一起閱讀，或者向本中心的職員進行查詢。 此外，為方便讀者可以隨時隨地閱讀而不需要攜帶整本手冊，我們為本手冊設立了一個專屬網頁，免費下載整本手冊或某些章節內容。 希望您在閱讀的過程中能找到有用的資訊，並能從中獲得實際的幫助。https://commons.ln.edu.hk/apias_guide/1009/thumbnail.jp

Influence of acute combined physical and cognitive exercise on cognitive function: an NIRS study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different types of acute exercise on cognitive function and cerebral oxygenation. A within-subject design was adopted. In total, 20 healthy older adults were enrolled in the study. They came to the laboratory individually on four separate days and completed four conditions of activity. Four conditions were sedentary reading control (RC), cognitive exercise (CE), physical exercise (PE) and cognitive + physical exercise (CE + PE). During these visits, participants completed the Stroop task before and immediately after the experimental condition, which consisted of 15 min of aerobic exercise, verbal fluency task (VFT), and dual task. The Stroop task included the following two conditions: a naming condition and an executive condition. The fNIRS is an optical method using near-infrared light to measure relative changes of oxygenated (O2Hb) and deoxygenated (HHb) hemoglobin in the cortex. The results indicate that acute exercise facilitates performance for executive tasks, not only combined cognition, but also the different results between combined exercise and single exercise. The fNIRS findings showed that acute single exercise influences oxygenation for executive tasks but not for naming tasks. Greater improvement was observed in the post-exercise session of combined exercise during the modified Stroop. These findings demonstrate that acute single exercise, single cognition exercise, and combined exercise enhanced the performance of the inhibition control task. Only acute combined exercise has a general facilitative effect on inhibition control. Combined exercise was shown to be superior to single exercise for task-efficient cerebral oxygenation and improved oxygen utilization during cortical activation in older individuals. Also, to maximize the performance of cognition it may be important for older adults to take part in more cognitive demand exercise or take more kinds of exercise

The Effects of Berberine on the Gut Microbiota in Apc min/+ Mice Fed with a High Fat Diet

Background: Berberine (BBR) has been extensively reported to inhibit colorectal cancer (CRC) development, though its bioavailability is poor. Nowadays, an increasing number of studies have shown that BBR significantly accumulates in the intestines and could regulate gut microbiota in obesity. The purpose of this study was to further explore the effects of BBR on gut microbiota in Apc min/+ mice receiving a high fat diet (HFD). Methods: Apc min/+ mice received either HFD alone or HFD and BBR for 12 weeks. The intestinal tissues were collected to evaluate the efficiency of BBR on neoplasm development by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry was conducted to investigate the effects of BBR on cyclin D1 and &beta;-catenin in colon tissues. Fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: BBR significantly reduced intestinal tumor development and altered the structure of gut microbiota in Apc min/+ mice fed with an HFD. At the phylum level, it was able to significantly inhibit the increase in Verrucomicrobia. At the genus level, it was able to suppress Akkermansia and elevate some short chain fat acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. Conclusions: BBR significantly alleviated the development of CRC in Apc min/+ mice fed with HFD and restored the enteric microbiome community

Regional and Local Moisture Gradients Drive the Resistance to and Recovery from Drought of Picea crassifolia Kom. in the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China

Increasing evidence suggests that extreme droughts cause more frequent tree growth reduction. To understand the consequences of these droughts better, this study used tree-ring cores from nine sites to investigate how moisture and altitudinal gradients affect the radial growth of Picea crassifolia Kom., a common species in the Qilian Mountains in northwest China. The total annual precipitation and mean annual temperature in the eastern region were higher than those in the western region of the Qilian Mountains. The trees in the eastern region showed stronger resistance to drought than those in the west, as they had a smaller difference in radial growth between drought disturbance and pre-drought disturbance. At the same time, the trees in the east showed weaker ability to recover from drought, as they had a subtle difference in radial growth between post-drought disturbance and drought disturbance. Furthermore, the trees in the east also showed weaker relative resilience to drought, as they had a small difference in radial growth between post-drought and drought disturbance weighted by growth in pre-drought disturbance. For trees below 3000 m a.s.l., trees with high resistance capacity usually had low recovery capacity and low relative resilience capacity. Trees at higher altitudes also showed stronger resistance to drought and weaker ability to recover from drought after a drought event than those at lower altitudes in the middle of the Qilian Mountains. Trees at lower altitudes in the middle of the Qilian Mountains had more difficulties recovering from more severe and longer drought events. In the context of global warming, trees in the western region and at lower altitudes should be given special attention and protection in forest management to enhance their resistance to extreme droughts

PVA enema ameliorates DSS-induced acute colitis in mice

Abstract Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) represents a clinically challenging condition characterized by persistent damage to the colonic epithelial mucosa as the principal pathological feature. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution, primarily composed of glue, is a biodegradable polymer material that has found utility in the medical field. This research endeavors to investigate the therapeutic potential of PVA water solution in ameliorating UC in mice. Methods UC was induced in 48 C57BL/6 mice by administering 2.5% DSS in their diet for 6 days. Mice were treated with different concentrations of PVA (0.1 mg/ml PVA, 0.3 mg/ml PVA, 1 mg/ml PVA, 3 mg/ml PVA, 10 mg/ml PVA) enemas (n = 6). Disease Activity Index (DAI) and histologic score were evaluated for inflammation degree. Furthermore, mouse colon organoids were cultured, which were used to assess the effects of PVA on expansion in vitro. Results PVA aqueous solutions (1 mg/ml and 3 mg/ml) were able to alleviate the DAI in mice. By DAY 6, there was a significant 3/5-fold decrease in DAI within the 1 mg/ml PVA group (p = 0.02). Histopathology scores demonstrated improvements, while the levels of inflammatory factors in the intestinal mucosal tissue were reduced. Additionally, it was confirmed that PVA could promote the expansion of colonic organoids in vitro. Conclusions In summary, our investigation has yielded findings indicating that PVA holds the potential to ameliorate symptoms associated with colitis in murine subjects afflicted by DSS-induced colitis, primarily through its facilitation of intestinal stem cell expansion. This study might provide a new candidate for the clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis

Study on the Catalytic Decomposition Reaction of N2O on MgO (100) in SO2 and CO Environments

To study the role of MgO in the reduction of N2O in circulating fluidized bed boilers, density functional theory was used to evaluate heterogeneous decomposition. The interference of SO2 and CO on N2O was considered. N2O on MgO (100) is a two-step process that includes O transfer and surface recovery processes. The O transfer process is the rate-determining step with barrier energy of 1.601 eV, while for the Langmuir&ndash;Hinshelwood and Eley&ndash;Rideal surface recovery mechanisms, the barrier energies are 0.840 eV and 1.502 eV, respectively. SO2 has a stronger interaction with the surface-active O site than that of N2O. SO2 will occupy the active site and hinder N2O decomposition. CO cannot improve the catalysis of MgO (100) for N2O because O transfer is the rate-determining step. Compared with homogeneous reduction by CO, MgO has a limited catalytic effect on N2O, where the barrier energy decreases from 1.691 eV to 1.601 eV