A Hyper-Erlang Jump-Diffusion Process and Applications in Finance

This paper studies the first passage time problem for a reflected two-sided jump-diffusion risk model with the jumps having a hyper-Erlang distribution. The authors give the explicit closed-form expression for the joint Laplace transform of the first passage time and the overshoot for the reflected process. Finally, the formula is applied to the ruin problem under the barrier dividend strategy and the pricing of the Russian option.     

一种基于不确定度的证据冲突识别方法

从高度冲突证据对D-S证据理论的应用约束出发,针对几种常用冲突度量方法存在的问题,定义了描述证据自身特征的不确定度,将证据冲突涵义从证据间不一致扩展到证据内外,给出基于不确定度的证据冲突多元度量,并为增强冲突的识别效果提出最大差异度的冲突处理方法.验证分析得出:本文给出的度量方法能够有效表征证据间的冲突程度,最大冲突差异度的处理实现了证据冲突识别的显著化,在证据冲突度量与识别中具有很好的普适性和有效性.     

The Struggle for Technology: Towards a Realistic Political Theory of Technology

Pieter Lemmens’ neo-Marxist approach to technology urges us to rethink how to do political philosophy of technology. First, Lemmens’ high level of abstraction raises the question of how empirically informed a political theory of technology needs to be. Second, his dialectical focus on a “struggle” between humans and technologies reveals the limits of neo-Marxism. Political philosophy of technology needs to return “to the things themselves”. The political significance of technologies cannot be reduced to its origins in systems of production or social organization, but requires study at the micro-level, where technologies help to shape engagement, interaction, power, and social awareness.     

Dual hesitant fuzzy information aggregation with Einstein t-conorm and t-norm

Dual hesitant fuzzy set (DHFS) is a new generalization of fuzzy set (FS) consisting of two parts (i.e., the membership hesitancy function and the non-membership hesitancy function), which confronts several different possible values indicating the epistemic degrees whether certainty or uncertainty. It encompasses fuzzy set (FS), intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS), and hesitant fuzzy set (HFS) so that it can handle uncertain information more flexibly in the process of decision making. In this paper, we propose some new operations on dual hesitant fuzzy sets based on Einstein t-conorm and t-norm, study their properties and relationships and then give some dual hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators, which can be considered as the generalizations of some existing ones under fuzzy, intuitionistic fuzzy and hesitant fuzzy environments. Finally, a decision making algorithm under dual hesitant fuzzy environment is given based on the proposed aggregation operators and a numerical example is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.     

DanHong Injection inhibits the development of primary abdominal aortic aneurysms in apoE knockout mice

Clinical observations indicate that DanHong Injection （DHI） can increase blood flow and reduce various syndromes in patients with cardiovascular disease. How- ever, it still needs to define the function of DHI and the involved mechanisms in details, such as the protective effect on the development of primary abdominal aortic aneurysms （AAAs）. In this study, we determined whether DHI is able to inhibit AAA in apoE knockout （apoE-/-） mice. Thirty apoE-/- male mice on high-fat diet （0.5 % cholesterol, 21% fat） were randomly divided into two groups and received i.p. injection of saline （100 μL/day） and DHI （100 μL/day）, respectively, for 16 weeks. At the end of experiment, we determined the development of atherosclerosis in en face aorta and aneurysms,pathological morphology of arterial wall, and serum lipid levels. We also determined the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1）, MMP-2, and MMP-9 mRNA in aortic wall using real-time RT-PCR. Our results indicated that high-fat diet induced the development of AAAs in apoE-/- mice, but the induction was totally blocked by DHI （P 〈 0.01）. The result of staining of abdominal aortic cross sections showed that DHI main- tained the collagen content in arterial wall, thereby pre- venting the animals from the development of AAA. Although DHI had little effect on serum total- and LDL- cholesterol levels, it reduced the expression of MCP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 mRNA in aortic wall （P 〈 0.01）. Taken together, our study suggests that DHI can inhibit the high-fat diet-induced AAA formation. The inhibitory effects may be related to the maintenance of the collagen content and inhibition of expression of AAA-related genes. Our study may suggest a new application of DHI in clinics.     

Old drugs with new skills: fenoprofen as an allosteric enhancer at melanocortin receptor 3

The efficiency of drug research and development has paradoxically declined over the last decades despite major scientific and technological advances, promoting new cost-effective strategies such as drug repositioning by systematic screening for new actions of known drugs. Here, we performed a screening for positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) at melanocortin (MC) receptors. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenoprofen, but not the similar compound ibuprofen, presented PAM activity at MC₃, MC₄, and MC₅ receptors. In a model of inflammatory arthritis, fenoprofen afforded potent inhibition while ibuprofen was nearly inactive. Fenoprofen presented anti-arthritic actions on cartilage integrity and synovitis, effects markedly attenuated in Mc3r?/? mice. Fenoprofen displayed pro-resolving properties promoting macrophage phagocytosis and efferocytosis, independently of cyclooxygenase inhibition. In conclusion, combining repositioning with advances in G-protein coupled receptor biology (allosterism) may lead to potential new therapeutics. In addition, MC₃ PAMs emerged as a viable approach to the development of innovative therapeutics for joint diseases.     

箱型截面的齐次广义屈服函数与结构极限承载力

针对目前箱型截面广义屈服函数为非齐次函数,采用弹性模量调整法求解箱型结构极限承载力时易出现计算结果受荷载初始值影响和计算精度受损的问题,建立了箱型截面的齐次广义屈服函数,并通过误差分析确定了齐次多项式的阶次,进而定义了箱型截面构件的单元承载比、承载比均匀度和基准承载比,建立了以单元承载比为基本参数的弹性模量调整策略,据此提出了箱形结构极限承载力分析的弹性模量缩减法;并通过算例对该方法进行验证,算例分析表明,该方法计算箱型截面结构极限承载力时,结果不受荷载初始值的影响,具有良好的计算精度和迭代稳定性.     

Operationalising “Double-Loop” Learning in Service Organisations: A Systems Approach for Creating Knowledge

Learning organisation literature has widely discussed the connections between “double-loop” learning and its significance to organisational performance, but paying little attention to tools and systems that can operationalise “double-loop” learning in organisations. This paper investigates the impact of applying a systems approach for service operations design, expressed as the Vanguard Method (Seddon, Freedom from command and control: a better way to make the work work, 2003), in order to activate “double-loop” learning in service organisations. Two case studies were conducted in the banking mortgage operations and adults’ social care services in the UK, using the dimensions of the learning organisation questionnaire (DLOQ), semi-structured interviews, observations, and documents. The findings of the cross-case analysis support the link of applying the Vanguard Method with operationalising “double-loop” learning through three main factors, namely systematic-operations improvement, organisational capacity development, and outside-in mode of work; that are all embedded into the seven dimensions of the DLOQ. The value of this paper is the introduction of a service operations design tool that can activate “double-loop” learning performance in the fast changing knowledge era. It also provides an impetus for service organisations to creatively influence employees’ competencies to effectively improve internal systems.     

城乡水务一体化管理综合评价与实证分析——以贵州城乡水务一体化为例

城乡水务一体化管理模式是处理涉水事务的行之有效的方式,它实现了由一个部门对地表水与地下水、水量与水质的统一规划与调度.该模式是一种全新的水务管理体制,也是我国管理涉水事务的一种发展趋势.目前我国大部分地区都基本实现了城乡水务一体化管理,但各个地区发展的程度有所不同.以贵州省为例,综合考虑城乡水务一体化管理的基本原则和目标,采用层次分析法对其管理现状进行综合评价研究.     

洁厕液对中华蟾蜍蝌蚪急性毒性及生长发育的影响

依据急性毒理实验方法设计实验,用简化机率单位法计算洁厕液对中华蟾蜍(Bufogargarizans)蝌蚪毒性的半数致死浓度(LC50)。设计亚急性实验(空白、7、14、28、56μL/L),研究低剂量洁厕液对蝌蚪生长发育的影响。急性毒理实验得出24、48、72、96 h的洁厕液对蝌蚪LC50为107.71、74.63、73.74、70.99μL/L。亚急性实验结果显示,实验组随着洁厕液浓度的上升,蝌蚪生长发育受到不同程度的抑制。在第10天,7、14μL/L浓度组和空白对照组中蝌蚪处于27期,28、56μL/L浓度组中蝌蚪处于26期。第20天,对照组的蝌蚪已进入37期,7μL/L浓度组处于36期,14、28μL/L浓度组中蝌蚪处于34期,56μL/L浓度组中蝌蚪处于32期。重复测量方差分析表明,洁厕液浓度和处理时间对蝌蚪体重体长有极显著影响(P<0.01)。因此,洁厕液对中华蟾蜍(Bufogargarizans)蝌蚪具有高毒性,并且抑制其生长发育。