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Hedging risk is an essential section of finance for all investors, especially in the times where uncertainty occurs every time. covid-19 has hit the global market heavily since 2020, promoting the importance of hedging risk significantly. This essay generally introduces 4 fundamental methods of hedging risk, including the Arbitrage strategy, alpha strategy, neutral strategy and event-driven strategy. It mainly focusses on their origins, the economics and finance theory of each format and the reality problems occurred in application. At the same time, the advantages and drawback of each methods have been discussed with full detail. General speaking , in different scenarios there might be different methods that are suitable. Alpha strategy is desirable in stable market and neutral strategy is the most secure one but requires lots of calculation. Event-driven strategy and arbitrary strategy hugely depends on the executive of managers.This essay is fairly helpful for the learner who just started to learn about hedging risks to generally study the fundamental risk hedging.

Consumer testing assays a panel's liking of a food or other sensory stimulus. However, liking can be influenced by mood, with people feeling more uncomfortable, or more unhappy reporting lower liking ratings than those in a higher affect. Though consumer testing typically takes place as a central location test (CLT, usually in a set of standardized sensory booths), the COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in a global pivot to home use tests (HUTs), where panelists can taste and smell samples unmasked more safely while in their own homes. Unfortunately, as this situation differs in many ways to a central location test, this puts the validity of longitudinal comparisons of liking scores under question. Further, as people across the globe report feelings of worry, unease, and stress during the pandemic, this may present a second source of variation in affect with previous years. We tested a set of snack bar samples both at home and in a central location, in repeated measures with the same panel, to test the validity of comparisons across locations. We further compared CLT results to those when testing the same samples in a previous year. Finally, we performed a meta‐analysis of existing data on this subject. While liking behavior in CLTs did not differ between years, panelists rated some samples higher when in their own homes, in line with results from the meta‐analysis of previous reports. Interestingly, panelists in the study also assigned fewer penalties in the HUT, implying a less analytical mindset when in the home. Results suggest that care should be taken when comparing results taken at home during the COVID‐19 pandemic to those taken previously in a central location. Practical Application Consumer testing is applied in the food industry to evaluate a panelist's liking for a food product or stimulus. However, liking is also dependent on factors extrinsic to the samples tested. Thus, with the switch to in‐home testing due to COVID‐19, we compared liking scores from in‐home and central locations testing, with higher scores common in HUTs.

To realize a fast, easy-operation and precise way using fluorescence probes to quantify analytes is a goal to facilitate detection, especially in situ. Herein, we are reporting an approach which can be generally employed for the differentiation and quantitation of analytes through fluorescence chromaticity and luminosity. Seven representative fluorescent probes, targeting pH, cysteine, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen peroxide, palladium and hydrazine, were synthesized and tested. Without utilizing costly instrumentations, portable devices were employed to collect data of photographs from the fluorescence samples in responses to different analytes. Subsequently, the photographic images were digitally processed to generate calibration curves between chromaticity/luminosity verse concentrations after mapping to the CIE 1931 xyY standard color space. Good linear calibration curves and quantitative analysis of unknown samples with low errors through the spectral technology demonstrated the reliability of this method. Thus, we showed the analytical method with a simple and on-site constructible/portable device which is promising for applications in more fluorescence probes

Background Patients with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) who are negative for human immunodeficiency virus and human herpesvirus 8 are considered to have idiopathic MCD (iMCD). The clinical presentation of iMCD varies from mild constitutional symptoms to life-threatening symptoms or death. The treatment strategy varies from “watchful waiting” to high-dose chemotherapy. This diverse clinical presentation calls for a classification stratification system that takes into account the severity of the disease. Subjects, Materials, and Methods We analyzed the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic abnormalities and treatment outcomes of 176 patients with iMCD (median follow-up duration 12 years) from the U.S. and China to better understand the characteristics and prognostic factors of this disease. This discovery set of iMCD results was confirmed from the validation set composed of additional 197 patients with iMCD organized from The International Castleman Disease Consortium. Results Using these data, we proposed and validated the iMCD international prognostic index (iMCD-IPI), which includes parameters related to patient characteristics (age > 40 years), histopathologic features (plasma cell variant), and inflammatory consequences of iMCD (hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, hemoglobin Conclusion This study represents the largest series of studies on patients with iMCD in the field and proposed a novel risk-stratification model for iMCD-IPI that could be used to guide risk-stratified treatment strategies in patients with iMCD. Implications for Practice Patients with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) can benefit from care based on clinical symptoms and disease severity. This study in 176 patients with iMCD constructed an iMCD-IPI score based on five clinical factors, including age >40 years, plasmacytic variant subtype, hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, hemoglobin

Booming graphitic carbon nitride (g-C

Bio-removal of negative charged platinum complex is of great challenge owing to electrostatic repulsions between PtCl

Development of novel activable dual-mode T1/T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents with the same composition for dynamic precision imaging of tumors has been a challenging task. Here, we demonstrated a strategy to prepare clustered Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) with redox-responsiveness to tumor microenvironment to achieve switchable T2/T1-weighted dual-mode MR imaging applications. In this study, we first synthesized ultrasmall Fe3O4 NPs with an average size of 3.3 nm and an r1 relaxivity of 4.3 mM-1 s-1, and then cross-linked the single Fe3O4 NPs using cystamine dihydrochloride (Cys) to form clustered Fe3O4/Cys NPs. The Fe3O4 nanoclusters (NCs) possess desirable colloidal stability, cytocompatibility, high r2 relaxivity (26.4 mM-1 s-1), and improved cellular uptake efficiency. Importantly, with the redox-responsiveness of the disulfide bond of Cys, the Fe3O4 NCs can be dissociated to form single particles under a reducing condition, hence displaying a switchable T2/T1-weighted MR imaging property that can be utilized for dynamic precision imaging of cancer cells in vitro and a subcutaneous tumor model in vivo due to the reductive intracellular environment of cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. With the tumor reductive microenvironment-mediated switching of T2 to T1 MR effect and the ultrasmall size of the single particles that can pass through the kidney filter, the developed Fe3O4 NCs may be used as a promising switchable T2/T1 dual-mode MR contrast agent for precision imaging of different biosystems.

Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3)-modified mitochondrial fission participates in the progression of several types of cancers. However, its role in tongue cancer requires investigation. The aim of our study is to determine whether Sirt3 knockdown regulates the viability of tongue cancer cells via modulating mitochondrial fission. Two types of tongue cancer cells were used in the present study, and siRNA was transfected into the cells to suppress Sirt3 expression. Mitochondrial function and cell apoptosis were determined via immunofluorescence, Western blotting, ELISA, and qPCR assays. A pathway blocker was applied to verify the role of the JNK-Fis1 signaling pathway in regulation of mitochondrial fission. The present study showed that loss of Sirt3 promoted tongue cancer cell death in a manner dependent on mitochondrial apoptosis. Mitochondrial oxidative stress, energy metabolism disorder, mitochondrial cyt-c liberation, and mitochondrial apoptosis activation were observed after Sirt3 silencing. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Sirt3 knockdown activated mitochondrial stress via triggering Fis1-related mitochondrial fission and that inhibition of Fis1-related mitochondrial fission abrogated the pro-apoptotic effect of Sirt3 knockdown on tongue cancer cells. To this end, we found that Sirt3 modulated Fis1 expression via the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) signaling pathway and that blockade of the JNK pathway attenuated mitochondrial stress and repressed apoptosis in Sirt3 knockdown cells. Altogether, our results identified a tumor-suppressive role for Sirt3 deficiency in tongue cancer via activation of the JNK-Fis1 axis and subsequent initiation of fatal mitochondrial fission. Given these findings, strategies to repress Sirt3 activity and enhance the JNK-Fis1-mitochondrial fission cascade have clinical benefits for patients with tongue cancer.

Polydopamine-coated magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been designed by loading ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles within hollow mesoporous silica nanopartricles and then coating polydopamine onto the particle surface. The developed nanoplatform displayed improved colloidal stability, enhanced r1 relaxivity and near infrared absorption feature, affording their use for multimodal cancer theranostics.

An RGD peptide-targeted low-generation dendrimer-based nanoprobe has been developed through the versatile dendrimer nanotechnology. The poly(amidoamine) dendrimers of generation 2 can be modified or loaded with Mn chelates, RGD peptide, and gold nanoparticles to have desired stability, cytocompatibility, cancer cell targeting specificity, and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier for targeted MR/CT imaging of an orthotopic brain glioma.

Disposable face towel derived amorphous carbon prepared by annealing for broad and exacting applications in electromagnetic shielding, electrical heating, etc. This mat with 3D conductive network formed by nonwoven viscose fiber structure gives an outstanding electromagnetic shielding performance of 30 dB and 8161 dB/(g/cm2) at a thickness of 0.168 mm in the frequency range of 0.3–3.0 GHz. In addition, the as prepared mat presents excellent temperature & strain sensing with exceptional sensitivity (BS = 5.5%), and favorable flexibility (1000 bending cycles without fracture). Moreover, the mat provides well Joule heating performance, and the heating temperature can reach over 60°C in 32 seconds under 0.25 A current. More interestingly, the mat shows excellent fire alarm with a fast response (84 ms) and high operating temperature (>500°C). This method provides a simple and low-cost new method for radiation protection, temperature detection, fire alarm and other fields.

Alcohol drinking has been established as a major risk factor for esophageal diseases. Our previous study showed that ethanol exposure inhibited PAX9 expression in human esophageal squamous epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular pathways through which alcohol drinking suppresses PAX9 in esophageal squamous epithelial cells. We first demonstrated the inhibition of NOTCH by ethanol exposure in vitro. NOTCH regulated PAX9 expression in KYSE510 and KYSE410 cells in vitro and in vivo. RBPJ and NOTCH intracellular domain (NIC) D1 ChIP-PCR confirmed Pax9 as a direct downstream target of NOTCH signaling in mouse esophagus. NOTCH inhibition by alcohol drinking was further validated in mouse esophagus and human tissue samples. In conclusion, ethanol exposure inhibited NOTCH signaling and thus suppressed PAX9 expression in esophageal squamous epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Our data support a novel mechanism of alcohol-induced esophageal injury through the inhibition of NOTCH-PAX9 signaling. © 2020 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

ObjectiveTo identify risk factors associated with surgical site infection (SSI) after major oral oncological surgery.MethodsThis retrospective study reviewed data from patients that underwent major surgery for oral cancer at a tertiary referral hospital in China between January 2005 and July 2016. SSI was diagnosed within 30 days. Demographic, cancer-related, preoperative, perioperative and postoperative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate analyses of the risk factors for SSI.ResultsA total of 786 patients were enrolled, of whom 125 had SSI (15.9%), which were all incisional. Independent risk factors for SSI, identified by multivariate analysis, were diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR] 2.147, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.240, 3.642), prior radiotherapy (OR 4.595, 95% CI 1.293, 17.317) and oral–neck communication (OR 2.838, 95% CI 1.263, 7.604); and factors reflecting large extent resections were tracheostomy (OR 2.235, 95% CI 1.435, 3.525), anterolateral thigh flap (OR 1.971, 95% CI 1.103, 3.448) and latissimus dorsi flap (OR 4.178, 95% CI 1.325, 13.189).ConclusionsMultiple risk factors were associated with SSI after major oral oncological surgery. To minimize SSI risk, surgeons managing oral cancer patients should have a better understanding of the risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, prior radiotherapy, tracheostomy, oral–neck communication and flap reconstruction.

Booming graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalyzed water splitting increases crisis of aquatic contamination. However, a controversial understanding regarding effect of g-C3N4 on growth of microalgae still exists. Accordingly, Chlorella vulgaris were cultured in 0–250 mg/L of g-C3N4 with biomass named as C-0, C-50, C-100, C-150, C-200, and C-250, respectively. g-C3N4 below 200 mg/L was beneficial to short-term cultivation of microalgae, while it was harmful to long-time cultivation. Protein factions of C-0, C-100, and C-250 were 41.4, 42.3, and 36.4 wt%, while their lipid factions varied from 21.5, 16.9, to 17.8 wt%, respectively. In short-term cultivation, superoxide dismutase’s activity of C-0, C-150, and C-250 increased dramatically, while accumulated H2O2 led to increased activity of catalase. However, it started to decrease once antioxidant enzymes were per-oxidized, leading to increase of malondialdehyde content. In long-term cultivation, activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and malondialdehyde content decreased dramatically owning to peroxidation of algae. Scavenger tests with tertiary butanol and triethanolamine implied that·OH was dominate parameter affecting growth of microalgae. This work indicates that g-C3N4 below 200 mg/L is propitious to short-term cultivation of microalgae, while it is bad to long-time cultivation of microalgae, revealing dual rules of g-C3N4 in Chlorella vulgaris cultivation.

Gas tungsten arc additive manufacturing (GTA-AM) is a highly promising technology to produce large-scale components. Monitoring and control of process stability are key challenges that hinder the wholesale industrialization of this technology and lack thorough investigation. A vision sensor is employed to directly monitor the arc length which can reflect the forming height stability with little detection hysteresis. Arc images are captured under two different brightnesses, and corresponding image processing algorithms are designed to detect the arc length under strong arc and weak arc. Thin walls are deposited to reveal the effectiveness of both detection methods. The results show that the detected arc length under weak arc fluctuates less than strong arc and is almost the same as the actual value, and the maximum error is less than 0.03 mm. This study will lay a solid foundation for the future control of process stability in GTA-AM.

Bio-removal of negative charged platinum complex is of great challenge owing to electrostatic repulsions between PtCl62- and general extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of microorganism. Galdieria sulphuraria (GS) are thermophilic and acidophilic microalga with specific metabolism, which subsequently lead to their unique cellular compositions such as EPS and phycocyanin, possibly providing a strategy to deal with negative charged metal complex. Accordingly, G. sulphuraria are employed to remove negative charged PtCl62- complex with initial concentrations ranging from 0, 10, 20, 30, to 45 ppm. The growth rates of G. sulphuraria with microalgae named as GS-0, GS-10, GS-20, GS-30, and GS-45, respectively, and simultaneously bio-removal efficiencies of PtCl62- are investigated. G. sulphuraria are independent to PtCl62- within 0-30 ppm, while they are inhibited within 45 ppm of PtCl62-. The PtCl62- removal efficiencies of GS-10, GS-20, and GS-30 increase from 94.58%, 95.52%, to 95.92%, while decrease to 71.81% of GS-45. About 92.39%, 93.77%, 94.29%, and 75.21% of PtCl62- adsorbed are accumulated within GS-10, GS-20, GS-30, GS-45, with few in EPS. The PtCl62- complexes accumulated in EPS and algae cells are possibly decomposed to PtCl4 according to the increasing zeta potentials of EPS and algae cells. The results indicate that PtCl62- is efficiently removed by G. sulphuraria, achieving bio-removal of negative charged PtCl62- complex from wastewater.

The calculation of improper integral is of great importance. In this paper, we consider a kind of real improper integral using the method of complex analysis and prove the equation ∫ 0 ∞ x α ( 1 + x β ) x d x = π β sin α π β . Firstly we give the condition for the convergence of the improper integral ∫ 0 ∞ x α ( 1 + x β ) x d x when 0 < α < β , so we can see the integrand as a complex function. This function is defined on a simply connected set not containing zero to ensure that the function is holomorphic. We use three methods to prove the equation. In the first method, we choose a certain closed path as the boundary of the simply connected set, compute the integral along the path by the Residue Formula according to Cauchy’s Theorem, and obtain the value of the real improper integral. In the second method, we use Mellin transform, while the idea is similar to that of the Residue Formula. In the third method, we find that the path we choose becomes simpler by a variable substitution. The function that is integrated along the new path does not have the problem of multivaluedness, so we do not have to define it on a simply connect set. Moreover, using the method of complex analysis, we prove that the equation holds when α, β are complex numbers, and the condition is about the real parts of α and β, i.e., 0 < ℜ α < ℜ β . The real improper integral is just a particular case where α, β are real numbers. We compute the value of such kind of complex improper integral by some calculation and simplification, which is exactly π β sin α π β . We find the relationship between this integral and gamma function. The equation can prove a property of gamma function. We prove that the equation holds when α, β are complex numbers, and the condition becomes 0 < ℜ α < ℜ β . We hope that this can be used in the research of more properties of the gamma function. The proof of the equation reminds us of a way of calculating such kinds of real improper integrals.

Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3)-modified mitochondrial fission participates in the progression of several types of cancers. However, its role in tongue cancer requires investigation. The aim of our study is to determine whether Sirt3 knockdown regulates the viability of tongue cancer cells via modulating mitochondrial fission. Two types of tongue cancer cells were used in the present study, and siRNA was transfected into the cells to suppress Sirt3 expression. Mitochondrial function and cell apoptosis were determined via immunofluorescence, Western blotting, ELISA, and qPCR assays. A pathway blocker was applied to verify the role of the JNK-Fis1 signaling pathway in regulation of mitochondrial fission. The present study showed that loss of Sirt3 promoted tongue cancer cell death in a manner dependent on mitochondrial apoptosis. Mitochondrial oxidative stress, energy metabolism disorder, mitochondrial cyt-c liberation, and mitochondrial apoptosis activation were observed after Sirt3 silencing. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Sirt3 knockdown activated mitochondrial stress via triggering Fis1-related mitochondrial fission and that inhibition of Fis1-related mitochondrial fission abrogated the pro-apoptotic effect of Sirt3 knockdown on tongue cancer cells. To this end, we found that Sirt3 modulated Fis1 expression via the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) signaling pathway and that blockade of the JNK pathway attenuated mitochondrial stress and repressed apoptosis in Sirt3 knockdown cells. Altogether, our results identified a tumor-suppressive role for Sirt3 deficiency in tongue cancer via activation of the JNK-Fis1 axis and subsequent initiation of fatal mitochondrial fission. Given these findings, strategies to repress Sirt3 activity and enhance the JNK-Fis1-mitochondrial fission cascade have clinical benefits for patients with tongue cancer.

The design of pH-sensitive supramolecular drug delivery systems for efficient antineoplastic drug delivery remains a huge challenge. Herein, we describe the development of pH-responsive core–shell tecto dendrimers (CSTDs) formed using benzimidazole (BM)-modified generation 3 (G3) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers (G3.NHAc-BM) as a shell and β-cyclodextrin (CD)-modified G5 PAMAM dendrimers (G5.NHAc-CD) as a core. By virtue of the host–guest recognition and pH-responsiveness of BM/β-CD assembly, the pH-sensitive supramolecular CSTDs of G5.NHAc-CD/BM-G3.NHAc were formed and adopted to encapsulate the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) via hydrophobic interactions for pH-responsive drug delivery applications. The synthesis of dendrimer derivatives and the loading of the DOX were well characterized via different methods. We show that the encapsulated DOX can be released in a sustained manner with a rapid release speed under a slightly acidic pH condition (pH < 6), which is similar to acidic tumor microenvironment. The enhanced intracellular release of DOX and improved anticancer activity of the drug-loaded pH-responsive CSTDs were demonstrated and compared with the control CSTDs formed without pH-responsiveness through flow cytometry and viability assays of cancer cells. Furthermore, the pH-sensitive CSTDs also showed efficient drug penetration and growth inhibition of three-dimensional tumor spheroids owing to the faster DOX release in an acidic pH environment. The pH-sensitive G5.NHAc-CD/BM-G3.NHAc CSTDs may be employed as a valuable intelligent delivery system for various anticancer drugs.

International audience; The development of a powerful nanoplatform to realize the simultaneous therapy and diagnosis of cancer using a similar element for theranostics remains a critical challenge. Herein, we report such a theranostic nanoplatform based on pyridine (Pyr)-functionalized generation 5 (G5) poly(amidoamine) dendrimers complexed with copper(II) (Cu(II)) for radiotherapy-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and the synergistic radio-chemotherapy of both tumors and tumor metastasis. In this study, amine-terminated G5 dendrimers were covalently linked with 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid, acetylated to neutralize their remaining terminal amines, and complexed with Cu(II) through both the internal tertiary amines and the surface Pyr groups to form the G5.NHAc-Pyr/Cu(II) complexes. We show that the complexes are able to inhibit the proliferation of different cancer cell lines with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4 to 10 μM and induce significant cancer cell apoptosis. Due to the presence of Cu(II), the G5.NHAc-Pyr/Cu(II) complexes display an r1 relaxivity of 0.7024 mM–1 s–1, enabling effective in vivo MR imaging of tumor xenografts and lung metastatic nodules. Further, under radiotherapy (RT) conditions, the tumor MR imaging sensitivity can be significantly enhanced, and the G5.NHAc-Pyr/Cu(II) complexes enable the enhanced chemotherapy of both a xenografted tumor model and a blood-vessel metastasis model. With the demonstrated theranostic potential of the dendrimer-Cu(II) nanocomplexes without additional agents or elements for RT-enhanced MR imaging and chemotherapy of tumor and tumor metastasis, this novel Cu(II)-based nanohybrids may hold great promise for the theranostics of different cancer types and metastases.

Noninvasive physical treatment with relatively low intensity stimulation and the development of highly efficient anticancer medical strategy are still desirable for cancer therapy. Herein a versatile, biodegradable, hollow mesoporous organosilica nanocapsule (HMONs) nanoplatform that is capped by the gemcitabine (Gem) molecule through a pH-sensitive acetal covalent bond is designed. The fabricated nanocapsule exhibits desirable small molecule release at the tumor tissues/cell sites and shows a reduced risk for drug accumulation. After loading indocyanine green (ICG), the heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp 90) inhibitor, and 17AAG and modification with polyethylene glycol (NH2-PEG), the resulting ICG-17AAG@HMONs-Gem-PEG exhibited a precisely controlled release of ICG and 17AAG and low-temperature photothermal therapy (PTT) (∼41 °C) with excellent tumor destruction efficacy. In addition, ICG loading conferred the nanoplatform with near-infrared fluorescence imaging (FL) and photoaccoustic (PA) imaging capability. In short, this work not only presents a smart drug self-controlled nanoplatform with pH-responsive payload release and theranostic performance but also provides an outstanding low-temperature PTT strategy, which is highly valid in the inhibition of cancer cells with minimal damage to the organism. Therefore, this research provides a paradigm that has a chemodrug-gated HMONs-based theranostic nanoplatform with intrinsic biodegradability, multimodal imaging capacity, high low-temperature PTT/chemotherapy efficacy, and reduced systemic toxicity.

As more and more small and micro software developers begin to participate in the development process and gradually become the intermediate force of Internet innovation, people are enjoying their life in scientific and technological progress. As a special kind of software, mobile application has the characteristics of lightweight and simple development, which enhances the difficulty of protecting rights and interests of its copyright owners, especially the small and micro software copyright owners. This paper will explore the particularity of its right protection and its solution, and dig out ways to further motivate social innovation.