Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal reinsurance pricing with ambiguity aversion and relative performance concerns in the principal-agent model

This paper first studies the optimal reinsurance problems for two competitive insurers and then studies the optimal reinsurance premium pricing problem for their common reinsurer by using the dynamic programming technique. The two insurers are subject to common insurance systematic risk. Each purchases proportional or excess-of-loss reinsurance for risk control. They aim to maximize the expected utilities of their relative terminal wealth. With the insurers' optimal reinsurance strategies, the reinsurer decides the reinsurance premiums for each insurer, also aiming to maximize the expected utility of her terminal wealth. Thus, the optimal reinsurance pricing problem is formulated as a Stackelberg game between two competitive insurers and a reinsurer, where the reinsurer is the leader, and the insurers are followers. Besides, all three players take model ambiguity into account. We characterize the optimal strategies for the insurers and the reinsurer and provide some numerical examples to show the impact of competition and model ambiguity on the pricing of reinsurance contracts.
Anatomical and Biochemical Traits Related to Blue Leaf Coloration of Selaginella uncinata

Selaginella uncinata shows particularly rare blue leaves. Previous research has shown that structural interference by the cell wall of adaxial epidermal cells imparts blue coloration in leaves of S. uncinata; the objective of this study was to see whether anthocyanins might additionally contribute to this color, as changes in pH, and conjugation with metals and other flavonoids is also known to result in blue coloration in plants. We compared anatomical and biochemical traits of shade-grown (blue) S. uncinata leaves to high light (red) leaves of the same species and also to a non-blue (green) leaves of a congeneric S. kraussiana. By examining the anatomical structure, we found that the shape of adaxial epidermis of S. uncinata leaves was convex or lens-shaped on the lateral view and irregular circles with smooth embossment on the top view. These features were different from those of the abaxial and adaxial epidermis of S. kraussiana. We suspect that these structures increase the proportion of incident light entering the cell, deepening the leaf color, and therefore may be related to blue leaf color in S. uncinata. By examining biochemical traits, we found little difference in leaf pH value among the leaf types; all leaves contained several metal ions such as Mg, Fe, Mn, and copigments such as flavones. However, because there was no anthocyanin in blue S. uncinata leaves, we concluded that blue coloration in S. uncinata leaves is not caused by the three hypotheses of blue coloration: alkalization of the vacuole pH, metal chelation, or copigmentation with anthocyanins, but it may be related to the shape of the leaf adaxial epidermis.
Identification, Analysis and Gene Cloning of the SWEET Gene Family Provide Insights into Sugar Transport in Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Members of the sugars will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) family regulate the transport of different sugars through the cell membrane and control the distribution of sugars inside and outside the cell. The SWEET gene family also plays important roles in plant growth and development and physiological processes. So far, there are no reports on the SWEET family in pomegranate. Meanwhile, pomegranate is rich in sugar, and three published pomegranate genome sequences provide resources for the study of the SWEET gene family. 20 PgSWEETs from pomegranate and the known Arabidopsis and grape SWEETs were divided into four clades (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ) according to the phylogenetic relationships. PgSWEETs of the same clade share similar gene structures, predicting their similar biological functions. RNA-Seq data suggested that PgSWEET genes have a tissue-specific expression pattern. Foliar application of tripotassium phosphate significantly increased the total soluble sugar content of pomegranate fruits and leaves and significantly affected the expression levels of PgSWEETs. The plant growth hormone regulator assay also significantly affected the PgSWEETs expression both in buds of bisexual and functional male flowers. Among them, we selected PgSWEET17a as a candidate gene that plays a role in fructose transport in leaves. The 798 bp CDS sequence of PgSWEET17a was cloned, which encodes 265 amino acids. The subcellular localization of PgSWEET17a showed that it was localized to the cell membrane, indicating its involvement in sugar transport. Transient expression results showed that tobacco fructose content was significantly increased with the up-regulation of PgSWEET17a, while both sucrose and glucose contents were significantly down-regulated. The integration of the PgSWEET phylogenetic tree, gene structure and RNA-Seq data provide a genome-wide trait and expression pattern. Our findings suggest that tripotassium phosphate and plant exogenous hormone treatments could alter PgSWEET expression patterns. These provide a reference for further functional verification and sugar metabolism pathway regulation of PgSWEETs.
Using viscous resistance system based on machine learning in engineering concrete structures

Through the combination of two approaches to evaluating structure change, a structural model and an unstructured model, a constructed model has been proposed in this article that evaluates structural change through the expansion of a linear model following the Hooke’s Law principle. The study has relied on the pure compression model of a structure’s concrete beam with elastic modulus (E) and has added the coefficient of viscosity resistance (C) to suggest a new evaluation method. By defining the aggregation of values of both coefficients C and E through the experimental model, the input parameters are the amplitude values of the vibration spectra and the values of frequencies based on machine learning, through which Z EC values are generated. The Z EC values determine a regression plane accumulated from the aggregation of values for both C and E. The article has introduced the Z EC concept as a useful parameter for the assessment of the quality of concrete structures by the nonlinear model with the appearance of the coefficient C. The results show that the Z EC values have expressed the distribution validity according to the structure’s differing degrees of change. Depending on the texture type and the structure status, these Z EC values will form different shapes. By implementing the actual surveys from many bridges with two types of beam structures, prestressed concrete and conjugated concrete, the Z EC values show the same development trend. On the contrary, in the case of a change in mechanical structure, the Z EC values tend to increase. This evidence proves, in regard to the process of structural change, that the larger the changes in the structure, the more pronounced the distribution of Z EC values, and the wider the distribution range. This shows that the ratio of the damping coefficient C to the elastic modulus E will become increasingly unstable as the structure becomes weaker and weaker. In the future, the results from this study can be applied in the assessment of many types of actual structures.
Assessing the Meteorological Impacts of Time‐Varying Land Cover in the Intertidal Zone

The meteorological impacts of intertidal land cover variation during summer and winter were simulated using the weather research and forecasting (WRF) meteorological model through two experiments: a TIDE experiment with time‐varying land cover by tidal effects in the intertidal zone using a new modeling method used hourly surface boundary conditions obtained using ocean model and satellite data, and a CNTL experiment with fixed land cover in the intertidal zone using a typical WRF modeling method used to fix the surface boundary conditions. The results of the TIDE experiment were more consistent with the recorded observations, especially during high tides. During summer daytime, the sensible heat flux (SHF) became negative (downward exchanging process) in the intertidal zone due to a low sea surface temperature, which decreased the temperature and increased the water vapor mixing ratio in the intertidal zone and inland areas. The wind speeds in intertidal zones and inland areas increased due to strong sea winds at altitudes from 80 m to 1.5 km, thereby increasing the sea breeze intensity and resulting in meteorological changes in inland areas. During winter, land cover changes in the intertidal zone impacted fog formation. During nighttime high tides, the SHF became positive in the intertidal zone and the latent heat flux increased prior to fog formation. During flood tide, the relative humidity increased and wind speed decreased in the intertidal zone and coastal areas coincident with fog occurrence. Overall, meteorological changes due to tidal effects were more pronounced in the summer.
Segmentation of Glottal Images from High-Speed Videoendoscopy Optimized by Synchronous Acoustic Recordings

Laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (LHSV) is an imaging technique offering novel visualization quality of the vibratory activity of the vocal folds. However, in most image analysis methods, the interaction of the medical personnel and access to ground truth annotations are required to achieve accurate detection of vocal folds edges. In our fully automatic method, we combine video and acoustic data that are synchronously recorded during the laryngeal endoscopy. We show that the image segmentation algorithm of the glottal area can be optimized by matching the Fourier spectra of the pre-processed video and the spectra of the acoustic recording during the phonation of sustained vowel /i:/. We verify our method on a set of LHSV recordings taken from subjects with normophonic voice and patients with voice disorders due to glottal insufficiency. We show that the computed geometric indices of the glottal area make it possible to discriminate between normal and pathologic voices. The median of the Open Quotient and Minimal Relative Glottal Area values for healthy subjects were 0.69 and 0.06, respectively, while for dysphonic subjects were 1 and 0.35, respectively. We also validate these results using independent phoniatrician experts.
Comparison of the effects of coenzyme Q10 and Centrum multivitamins on semen parameters, oxidative stress markers, and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia

Objective Oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) have been linked to idiopathic male infertility (IMI). Various antioxidants have been tried to improve semen parameters and fertility potential in IMI patients, but with inconsistent results. The study aimed to compare the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Centrum multivitamins on semen parameters, seminal antioxidant capacity, and SDF in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (OA). Methods This prospective controlled clinical study involved 130 patients with idiopathic OA and 58 fertile controls. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: the first group received CoQ10 (200 mg/day orally) and the second group received Centrum multivitamins (1 tablet/day) for 3 months. Semen parameters, CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, SDF, and serum hormone levels (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and prolactin) were compared at baseline and after 3 months. Results Both CoQ10 and Centrum improved sperm concentration and motility, but the improvement was greater with Centrum therapy (p<0.05). Similarly, both therapies improved antioxidant capacity, but TAC and catalase improvement was greater (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively) with CoQ10, whereas ROS (p<0.01) and SDF (p<0.001) improvements were greater with Centrum administration. Centrum therapy was associated with reduced serum testosterone (p<0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, both CoQ10 and Centrum were effective in improving semen parameters, antioxidant capacity, and SDF, but the improvement was greater with Centrum than with CoQ10. Therefore, Centrum—as a source of combined antioxidants—may provide more effective results than individual antioxidants such as CoQ10 in the treatment of infertile men with idiopathic OA.
Optimization for Microstrip Antenna using Complementary Split Ring Resonator

Today‟s world of minituration needs more optimizations for effective utilization of patch antenna. The paper proposed technique for optimization of microstrip antenna using Complementary Split Ring Resonator Metamaterials (CSRR). The CSRR exhibits negative refractive index since it had negative permittivity at its plasma frequency. The frequency of optimization for microstrip antenna is same as that of plasma frequency of Metamaterial structure. Simulation of Unit Cell for Metamaterial gives S-parameters for the same. Parameter extraction from those S-parameters gives operating range of frequency. When patch antenna is loaded with Metamaterial structure negative permeability and negative permittivity enhances antenna parameters. This results in optimized patch dimension and similar antenna performance. The same patch simulated at 3.17 GHz with Unit Cell which results in approximately 44% reduction in patch dimensions. In both case antenna gain is 5.6 dB over an impedance band of 200 MHz. Limitation of the suggested technique is that it operates over a limited band of frequencies.
Maternal Nutrient Restriction Disrupts Gene Expression and Metabolites Associated with Urea Cycle, Steroid Synthesis, Glucose Homeostasis, and Glucuronidation in Fetal Calf Liver

This study aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal undernutrition (MUN) on liver growth and metabolism in Japanese Black fetal calves (8.5 months in utero) using an approach that integrates metabolomics and transcriptomics. Dams were fed 60% (low-nutrition; LN) or 120% (high-nutrition; HN) of their overall nutritional requirements during gestation. We found that MUN markedly decreased the body and liver weights of the fetuses; metabolomic analysis revealed that aspartate, glycerol, alanine, gluconate 6-phosphate, and ophthalmate levels were decreased, whereas UDP-glucose, UDP-glucuronate, octanoate, and 2-hydroxybutyrate levels were decreased in the LN fetal liver (p ≤ 0.05). According to metabolite set enrichment analysis, the highly different metabolites were associated with metabolisms including the arginine and proline metabolism, nucleotide and sugar metabolism, propanoate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, porphyrin metabolism, and urea cycle. Transcriptomic and qPCR analyses revealed that MUN upregulated QRFPR and downregulated genes associated with the glucose homeostasis (G6PC, PCK1, DPP4), ketogenesis (HMGCS2), glucuronidation (UGT1A1, UGT1A6, UGT2A1), lipid metabolism (ANGPTL4, APOA5, FADS2), cholesterol and steroid homeostasis (FDPS, HSD11B1, HSD17B6), and urea cycle (CPS1, ASS1, ASL, ARG2). These metabolic pathways were extracted as relevant terms in subsequent gene ontology/pathway analyses. Collectively, these results indicate that the citrate cycle was maintained at the expense of activities of the energy metabolism, glucuronidation, steroid hormone homeostasis, and urea cycle in the liver of MUN fetuses.
Association between Social Support and Physical Activity in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: Multiple Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Autonomous Motivation

Physical inactivity in patients with coronary artery disease is linked to recurrent cardiac events. Given that social support may be an enduring major factor for physical activity, the mechanism underlying the multiple mediating effects of self-efficacy and autonomous motivation on the relationship between social support and physical activity in patients with coronary artery disease has hardly been examined. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the multiple mediating roles of social support and physical activity on the relationship between self-efficacy and autonomous motivation in patients with coronary artery disease. This descriptive cross-sectional study included 190 inpatients who were diagnosed with coronary artery disease and admitted to a cardiology ward university hospital in Korea. Parallel multiple mediated models were tested using the SPSS PROCESS macro. The direct effects of social support on physical activity and the indirect effects of self-efficacy and autonomous motivation on social support and physical activity were statistically significant. Thus, positive social support from health-care providers has an important role to play in promoting physical activity by increasing self-efficacy and autonomous motivation for physical activity in patients with coronary artery disease.
The Cambridge Handbook of Cognitive Development

How does cognition develop in infants, children and adolescents? This handbook presents a cutting-edge overview of the field of cognitive development, spanning basic methodology, key domain-based findings and applications. Part One covers the neurobiological constraints and laws of brain development, while Part Two covers the fundamentals of cognitive development from birth to adulthood: object, number, categorization, reasoning, decision-making and socioemotional cognition. The final Part Three covers educational and school-learning domains, including numeracy, literacy, scientific reasoning skills, working memory and executive skills, metacognition, curiosity-driven active learning and more. Featuring chapters written by the world's leading scholars in experimental and developmental psychology, as well as in basic neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, computational modelling and developmental robotics, this collection is the most comprehensive reference work to date on cognitive development of the twenty-first century. It will be a vital resource for scholars and graduate students in developmental psychology, neuroeducation and the cognitive sciences.
Blocking IbmiR319a Impacts Plant Architecture and Reduces Drought Tolerance in Sweet Potato

MicroRNA319 (miR319) plays a key role in plant growth, development, and multiple resistance by repressing the expression of targeted TEOSINTE BRANCHED/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) genes. Two members, IbmiR319a and IbmiR319c, were discovered in the miR319 gene family in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam). Here, we focused on the biological function and potential molecular mechanism of the response of IbmiR319a to drought stress in sweet potato. Blocking IbmiR319a in transgenic sweet potato (MIM319) resulted in a slim and tender phenotype and greater sensitivity to drought stress. Microscopic observations revealed that blocking IbmiR319a decreased the cell width and increased the stomatal distribution in the adaxial leaf epidermis, and also increased the intercellular space in the leaf and petiole. We also found that the lignin content was reduced, which led to increased brittleness in MIM319. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the expression levels of key genes in the lignin biosynthesis pathway were much lower in the MIM319 lines than in the wild type. Ectopic expression of IbmiR319a-targeted genes IbTCP11 and IbTCP17 in Arabidopsis resulted in similar phenotypes to MIM319. We also showed that the expression of IbTCP11 and IbTCP17 was largely induced by drought stress. Transcriptome analysis indicated that cell growth-related pathways, such as plant hormonal signaling, were significantly downregulated with the blocking of IbmiR319a. Taken together, our findings suggest that IbmiR319a affects plant architecture by targeting IbTCP11/17 to control the response to drought stress in sweet potato.
Utilization of Sake lees as Broiler Feedstuff and its Effects on Growth Performance and Intestinal Immunity

Increasing food loss and waste (FLW) is a global problem, and efforts are being made to use waste food as potential livestock feed material. The amount of self-supplied feed is lower in Japan than in other countries, and the government recommends FLW use for animal feed. Sake (Japanese rice wine) is a traditional alcoholic beverage. During the sake manufacturing process, large amounts of squeezed solids or “lees” (sake lees) are generated. Sake lees are nutritious and functional, but are prone to spoilage. In this study, we investigated whether sake lees should be mixed with animal feed immediately or after drying. To assess the usefulness of sake lees as a poultry feed ingredient and determine the effect of sake lees on intestinal immunity, we performed a feeding trial with three treatments: a raw sake lees (RSL) diet, dried sake lees (DSL) diet, and control diet. Three-week-old broilers were fed these diets (n=8 per group) for two weeks. We then calculated feed efficiency and performed RT-qPCR to assess the effects of diet on intestinal immunity. The growth performance in the RSL diet group was equivalent to that in the control diet group. The DSL diet became difficult for broilers to eat, resulting in decreased growth performance. In the ileum of RSL-diet broilers, the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and avian β-defensin (AvBD)12 were significantly increased compared to those of control diet broilers (p<0.05), and a significant correlation was observed between the two genes (p<0.05). Our results indicated that sake lees should not be dried and should be mixed immediately with feed, and this sake lees when fed to chicken activates the intestinal immunity. However, sake lees have a lower fat content than corn, and it is thus important to combine sake lees with high-energy feed.
Evaluation of a grid‐connected reduced‐component boost multilevel inverter (BMLI) topology

In this paper, a reduced‐component switched‐capacitor boost multilevel inverter (SC‐BMLI) topology is proposed for off‐grid and on‐grid applications. Recently, switched‐capacitor‐based multilevel inverter (MLI) topologies have been employed to avoid the need for multiple isolated direct current (DC) sources when compared with traditional cascaded MLIs. To generate a nine‐level stepped‐up voltage across the load, the SC‐BMLI needs only eight power switches and two capacitors. To get the appropriate nine‐level switching pattern, phase disposition pulse width modulation (PD‐PWM) has been used. An extended 13‐level boost multilevel inverter (BMLI) is also discussed in this paper. The proposed topology is connected to the grid to control the grid current using synchronous reference frame‐based proportional–integral controller. A small‐signal modeling and analysis has been discussed in detail for the phase‐locked‐loop (PLL). Moreover, to prove the superior performance of the SC‐BMLI, comparative analysis with an existing single DC source MLI has also been performed. The feasibility of the 9‐level and 13‐level proposed topologies, with and without the grid‐connection, is evaluated by Matlab/Simulink simulation and verified by an experimental study using the OPAL‐RT 4510 real‐time platform. Further, prototype model of nine‐level BMLI has been developed in the laboratory using DSpace 1103 controller and results are compared with simulation.