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In this study, a pilot scale microwave hopper dryer was fabricated and used for drying the plastic pellets. The electromagnetic field analysis was conducted according to the positions of the waveguide and reflector for the highest dissipated energy was determined. The experimental setup was prepared by placing the waveguide in the middle of the cylindrical cavity and the cone for scattered reflection at the position facing the waveguide by the electromagnetic field analysis results. The experiments were carried out at two microwave powers (1 and 2 kW), 5 pulsed microwave (off–on time ratio—0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0). As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that 2 kW of power is required to dry 25 kg of plastic pellets, and the pulsed microwave off–on time ratio is less than 0.4, the pellets are damaged. Therefore as a final concluding result, to prevent breakage plastic pellets, microwave power of 2 kW and 0.6 microwave off–on time ratio was selected as the most appropriate combination for drying plastic pellets using the microwave hopper dryer. Assessment of the specific energy requirement in microwave power and off–on time ratio showed that the value with 278.36 MJ/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher prevalence of suicidality has been reported in individuals with ASD. This study aimed to (1) Estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) in epidemiologically-ascertained, population-based, samples of children with ASD or Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) Screen Positivity (ASP); (2) Determine whether ASD/ASP is an independent risk factor for SI, controlling for known SI risk factors; and, (3) Develop an explanatory model for SI in children with ASD/ASP. Participants came from three epidemiologically-ascertained samples of school-aged Korean children (n = 14,423; 3,702; 4,837). ASSQ ≥ 14 was the cutoff for ASP. A subsample (n = 86) was confirmed to have ASD. SI was based on parents' endorsement of items on the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2-Parent Report Scale-Children. Logistic regressions were used to assess associations between SI and ASD/ASP, controlling for demographics, peer victimization, behavior problems, and depression. To develop an explanatory model for SI within ASD/ASP, the associations between SI and child characteristics (comorbid conditions, ASD symptoms, IQ, adaptive function) were tested. SI was higher in children with ASD (14%) and ASP (16.6–27.4%) than ASSQ Screen Negative (ASN) peers (3.4–6.9%). ASD/ASP was strongly predictive of SI (ORs: 2.87–5.67), after controlling for known SI risk factors compared to ASN. Within the ASD and ASP groups, anxiety was the strongest predictor of SI. SI prevalence was higher in non-clinical samples of children with ASD and ASP, relative to ASN peers. These results underscore the need for routine screening for SI in children with ASD and social difficulties, particularly those with high anxiety. Population-based, epidemiologically-ascertained, school-aged children ASD and ASP are independent risk factors for SI in school-aged children Anxiety is an independent risk factor for SI in children with ASD or ASP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a new time series model with a stochastic exponential tail. This model is constructed based on the Normal Tempered Stable distribution with a time-varying parameter. It captures the stochastic exponential tail, which generates the volatility smile effect and volatility term structure in option pricing. Moreover, the model describes the time-varying volatility of volatility and empirically indicates stochastic skewness and stochastic kurtosis in the S&P 500 index return data. We present a Monte-Carlo simulation technique for parameter calibration of the model for S&P 500 option prices and show that a stochastic exponential tail improves the calibration performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synthetic progestin altrenogest (ALT) is used to synchronize the estrus cycle of swine for fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) and has been shown to improve follicular development and reproductive performances in post-weaning sows. However, the effects of ALT treatment on reproductive tracts, including the ovaries, oviducts and uterus have not been yet clarified. In this study, we examined the expression of genes involved in endometrial responses in ALT-treated sows. ALT did not significantly alter luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol profiles in blood compared to untreated control. Quantitative RT-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of genes encoding galectin-3 (LGALS3) and fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) was upregulated in the reproductive tracts of ALT-treated sows, including the ovaries, oviducts and uteri. Moreover, ALT treatment induced the expression of FGF9 and galectin-3 proteins, and promoted their localization to the luminal epithelium of the oviducts and uterus. Our findings suggest that the enhancement of reproductive performance shown by ALT-treated sows is associated with the upregulation of galectin-3 and FGF9, which are essential for endometrial receptivity, successful implantation, and pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare the backtesting performance of ARMA-GARCH models with the most common types of infinitely divisible innovations, fit with both full maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and quasi maximum likelihood estimation (QMLE). The innovation types considered are the Gaussian, Student’st,α-stable, classical tempered stable (CTS), normal tempered stable (NTS) and generalized hyperbolic (GH) distributions. In calm periods of decreasing volatility, MLE and QMLE produce near identical performance in forecasting value-at-risk (VaR) and conditional value-at-risk (CVaR). In more volatile periods, QMLE can actually produce superior performance for CTS, NTS andα-stable innovations. While thet-ARMA-GARCH model has the fewest number of VaR violations, rejections by the Kupeic and Berkowitz tests suggest excessively large forecasted losses. Theα-stable, CTS and NTS innovations compare favourably, with the latter two also allowing for option pricing under a single market model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop and examine a simple interactive agent‐based model, where the distribution of returns generated from the model takes into account two stylized facts about financial markets： fat tails and volatility clustering. Our results indicate that the risk tolerance of fundamentalists and the relative funding rate of positive‐feedback traders versus fundamentalists are key factors determining the path of price fluctuations. Fundamentalists are more able to dominate the market when they are more willing than positive‐feedback traders to take risks. In addition, more crises occur as positive‐feedback traders face higher funding costs compared to fundamentalists. Our model suggests that fundamentalists cause heavier tails, and positive‐feedback traders cause the formation of speculative bubbles. Our model also indicates that traders’ attitudes toward risk vary across time and market. The generally low level of risk bearing by fundamentalists could explain the frequent occurrence of bubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial genome of Dendronephthya putteri (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) which is an endangered species was completely sequenced. It is 18,853 bp in length and identical to those of Dendronephthya species in its gene arrangement and genome organization. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the mitochondrial genomes of the two D. putteri individuals obtained from this study and the previously reported one (GenBank accession number JQ290079) showed that they are identical perfectly. We found useful candidate for DNA barcode markers for D. putteri species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to develop a model for measuring experimental design ability based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during biological inquiry. More specifically, the researchers developed an experimental design task that measures experimental design ability. Using the developed experimental design task, they measured both the paper experimental design ability and the fMRI experimental design ability of subjects. Subjects’ paper experimental design ability was measured using the quotient equation of experimental design ability, and their fMRI experimental design ability using the brain connectivity coefficient. According to the fMRI results, differences in design ability existed among subjects in terms of brain connectivity coefficient level during the experimental design task. The experimental design ability brain connectivity coefficient level and quotient for each subject were analysed. Statistically significant correlations between subjects’ connectivity strength level among brain activation regions and quotient value guided the establishment of a measuring model. The model measured experimental design ability and could predict an individual’s experimental design ability quotient using his or her brain connectivity coefficient. Hence, the model developed for this study for measuring experimental design ability based on fMRI may serve as a practical measurement of students’ scientific experimental design ability. Furthermore, this study could serve as a founding theory for measuring models of other scientific processing abilities such as observation, question generation, classification, hypothesis generation and hypothesis evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]