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We study the licensing of a cost-reducing innovation in a Cournot oligopoly where an outside innovator uses three part tariffs that are combinations of upfront fees, per unit royalties and ad valorem royalties. Under general demand, the maximum possible licensing revenue under three part tariffs can be always attained by a policy that uses at most two of the three components. For relatively significant innovations, there exists an optimal policy consisting of a per unit royalty and upfront fee and a continuum of other optimal policies that are three part tariffs whose all components are positive. Completely characterizing optimal policies under linear demand, we show that for oligopolies with four or more firms: (i) pure upfront fees are optimal for insignificant innovations; (ii) for intermediate and significant innovations: (a) there is a continuum of optimal policies which always includes a two part tariff with a unit royalty and upfront fee and (b) a two part tariff with an ad valorem royalty and fee or a two part royalty can be optimal for some, but not all parametric configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People often express feeling that time passes quickly or slowly in their daily lives, which is termed passage of time judgment (PoTJ). Past studies have shown that PoTJ is affected by emotional valence and arousal; however, few studies have verified the effects of alertness, attention to time, and time expectation on PoTJ and whether the effects are stable over different time periods. Using the experience sampling method (ESM) and diary method, the present study collected data from 105 participants and examined for the first time whether alertness, attention to time, and time expectation affect PoTJ based on daily life data, as well as whether above factors, emotional valence, and arousal are stable over different time periods. All participants answered a questionnaire five times a day on their in-the-day PoTJ and related factors regarding the last 30 min, and answered the same questionnaire once a day at 23:00 regarding the of-the-day PoTJ. The results showed that alertness and time expectation, as well as emotional valence and arousal, predicted an individual's in-the-day PoTJ over a shorter period (i.e., the last 30 min); in contrast, only time expectation and emotional arousal predicted of-the-day PoTJ over a longer period (i.e., the past day). These results suggest that, alertness and time expectation are important factors influencing PoTJ, in addition to emotional state. Of-the-day PoTJ correlates most strongly with the mean and latest in-the-day PoTJ, implying that overall perception of time passage is influenced by both cumulative temporal experience and recent temporal experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterrence is a generic situation where a "Retaliator" (Player R) threatens to bash an "Underminer" (Player U) should he take a stealth threatening move. A typical Underminer is a potential bomb builder, market invader or computer hacker. The Retaliator's decision whether to bash will depend on a noisy signal her intelligence receives about U's action. U may or may not have the ability to disrupt R's signal (type U + and U - , respectively). U's type is his private information. If U can and does disrupt, the signal to R's intelligence is random, in effect noise. The equilibrium of the game is basically unique. U is better off with the disruption capability than without. More accurate intelligence makes R less likely to bash U. Accordingly, all expected payoffs increase. As R's belief about U's ability to disrupt increases, R is more aggressive and U (whether he is able to disrupt or not) is less aggressive. Yet, greater disruption potentially lowers the payoffs of the all players R, U + and U -. Hence a more transparent information system with no potential disruption helps both sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Amidst the diverse cultural and religious tapestry of Indonesia, Buddhism holds a prominent position as a major faith. Within the context of multiculturalism and generational shifts, this study explores the evolving identification of young Chinese Indonesians with Buddhism. This research addresses the existing knowledge gap by investigating the intricate interplay of historical, cultural, and religious elements that help shape young Chinese Indonesians' identification with Buddhism. By conducting a thorough analysis of quantitative data gathered from young Chinese Indonesians through a survey, this study investigates six dimensions of identification with Buddhism. This examination considers variables such as age, family background, and regional disparities. Furthermore, to obtain deeper insights and support the quantitative findings, the researchers conducted semistructured interviews to gather qualitative data. The findings reveal the characteristics of young Chinese Indonesians' identification with Buddhism. First, there are significant variations in identification levels across regions, with relatively lower levels in Java and higher levels in other archipelagos. Personal factors, such as parents' occupations, also influence individuals' degree of identification with Buddhism. Second, today's Chinese Indonesian youth maintain their identification with Buddhism through family ties despite overall intergenerational decline. The participants also show a keen interest in modern religious symbols, dissemination methods, and content. Third, the Buddhist identity of Chinese Indonesian youth transcends traditional values and cultural content, reflecting characteristics of multiculturalism and cultural blending. They not only appreciate various aspects of local culture but also incorporate Buddhist values and symbols into the mainstream of globally shared culture, creating a more extensive and modern collective cultural identity. Unveiling the factors that shape Buddhist identification among Chinese Indonesian youths has implications for fostering intercultural and intergenerational cohesion. The insights derived from this research can contribute to the design of effective strategies aimed at advancing the broader goal of cultural harmony and social unity in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic insulin resistance is central to the metabolic syndrome. Here we investigate the role of BTB and CNC homology 1 (BACH1) in hepatic insulin signaling. BACH1 is elevated in the hepatocytes of individuals with obesity and patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hepatocyte-specific Bach1 deletion in male mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) ameliorates hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, improves glucose homeostasis, and protects against steatosis, whereas hepatic overexpression of Bach1 in male mice leads to the opposite phenotype. BACH1 directly interacts with the protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and the insulin receptor β (IR-β), and loss of BACH1 reduces the interaction between PTP1B and IR-β upon insulin stimulation and enhances insulin signaling in hepatocytes. Inhibition of PTP1B significantly attenuates BACH1-mediated suppression of insulin signaling in HFD-fed male mice. Hepatic BACH1 knockdown ameliorates hyperglycemia and improves insulin sensitivity in diabetic male mice. These results demonstrate a critical function for hepatic BACH1 in the regulation of insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. Hepatic insulin resistance plays a central role in metabolic syndrome. Here, the authors show that transcription factor BACH1 acts as a negative regulator of insulin signaling and that hepatic BACH1 deficiency ameliorates hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed or diabetic mice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okamejei kenojei is an important economic species widely distributed in shallow coastal waters of the western North Pacific. In this study, the whole-genome survey analysis of O. kenojei was conducted to reveal its genomic characteristics. The genome size was estimated to be 2027.44 Mb, the repeat sequence content was 44.90%, and the heterozygous ratio was 1.04%. The mitochondrial genome excavated from the sequencing data was 16,974 bp, and it can form the closed circular molecule. The phylogenetic tree based on 13 protein-coding gene sequences supported the validity of Okamejei and assisted the conclusion that Raja porosa was the junior synonym of O. kenojei. Plenty of potential microsatellite loci were identified, and the distribution frequency was estimated to be approximately 236.3 SSRs per Mb. Among all motif types of microsatellites, the dinucleotide repeats were dominant (82.59%), followed by the trinucleotide repeats (8.05%), tetranucleotide repeats (5.80%), pentanucleotide repeats (2.83%), and hexanucleotide repeats (0.72%). The results of the present study could not only provide useful information for understanding the genome structure and functional characteristics of O. kenojei, but also lay the foundation for the subsequent mapping of the whole genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the incremental healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and cost burden posed by herpes zoster (HZ) in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the United States. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using an administrative claims database containing commercial and Medicare Advantage with Part D data, between October 2015 and February 2020. Patients with RA and HZ (RA+/HZ+) or RA without HZ (RA+/HZ−) were identified based on diagnosis codes and relevant medications. Outcomes measured included HRU and medical, pharmacy, and total costs at month 1, quarter 1, and year 1 after the index date (HZ diagnosis for RA+/HZ+ cohort, randomly assigned for RA+/HZ− cohort). Generalized linear models incorporating propensity scores and other covariates were used to estimate differences in outcomes between cohorts. Results: A total of 1866 patients from the RA+/HZ+ cohort and 38,846 patients from the RA+/HZ− cohort were included. Hospitalizations and emergency department visits occurred more frequently in the RA+/HZ+ than the RA+/HZ− cohort, especially in the month after HZ diagnosis (adjusted incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] for hospitalizations: 3.4 [2.8; 4.2]; emergency department visits: 3.7 [3.0; 4.4]). Total costs were also higher in the month after HZ diagnosis (mean adjusted cost difference [95% CI]: $3404 [$2089; $4779]), with cost differences driven by increased medical costs ($2677 [$1692; $3670]). Conclusions: These findings highlight the high economic burden of HZ among individuals with RA in the United States. Strategies to reduce the risk of HZ in patients with RA (such as vaccination) may serve to reduce this burden. 5XaYxHPE7TWLkoqv3bZsDY Video abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyptostrobus pensilis, a critically endangered plant species worldwide, exhibits low germination rate and consequently poor regeneration ability under natural conditions. In this study, sequence-related amplified polymorphism analysis shows that sexual propagation of this plant species using seeds culture could improve its genetic diversity. Germination trials of seeds at different developmental stages were performed. Seeds sampled at the immature stage in October showed the highest germination rate (19.2%) in vitro, and produced seedlings when cultured on half-strength DCR basal medium. Subsequently, the hypocotyls of seedlings were excised and incubated on callus and shoot induction medium (CSIM), comprising Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 2 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) and 0.5 mg L−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The hypocotyl-derived callus was then used as starting material for shoot regeneration. On average, 2.4 adventitious shoots could be regenerated from a single hypocotyl-derived callus. Furthermore, more than 15 adventitious shoots were obtained from a regenerated adventitious shoot attached to a part of hypocotyl-derived callus, when sub-cultured on CSIM. After rooting and acclimation for 60 days, the plantlets were reintroduced into the conservation area, forming forests of G. pensilis. Thus, we established a circular and highly efficient adventitious shoot regeneration system of G. pensilis using hypocotyl-derived callus as the starting material. Key Message: This study successfully obtained seedlings of G. pensilis sexual progenies via embryo culture and established a circular and highly efficient adventitious shoot regeneration system using hypocotyl-derived callus as the starting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have determined the effects of exposure to certain heavy metals on cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the association between cadmium exposure and CVD in adults remains unclear. The relationship between serum levels of cadmium and the risk of CVD was studied by analyzing available data from 38,223 different participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2016. After adjusting for all covariates, we found that higher serum cadmium concentrations were positively related to both the overall risk of CVD (odds ratio (OR): 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22, 1.72; p for trend <0.001) and the risks of its subtypes, including congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Elevated cadmium levels were associated with increased levels of lipids and inflammatory factors, including blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, white blood cells (WBCs), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Our study provided epidemiological evidence that cadmium may increase the risk of CVD by elevating blood lipids and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outside innovator invents a new product the viability of which is uncertain. The production technology is licensed to a number (strategic choice) of risk-averse potential Cournot producers by means of: an up-front fee, a per-unit royalty, an ad valorem royalty, or a two-part tariff. The incentive to innovate is maximized with a pure up-front fee if potential producers are (or are close to) risk neutral. Otherwise, it is maximized with a combination of up-front fee and ad valorem royalty. Any scheme that contains a royalty component (per-unit or ad valorem) maximizes the innovation diffusion. Irrespective of the magnitude of licensees' risk aversion, the innovator and consumers are better off, but licensees are worse off with schemes that have an ad valorem royalty component than with a per-unit royalty component. Consumers are best off with pure up-front fee that avoids double marginalization, even though the innovator optimally sells only one license and creates a monopoly. The results remain similar for a risk-averse innovator, but change considerably with a producing innovator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of precipitation in alpine regions with cold climates, such as Upper Reach of Shule River Basin (URSRB), northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, is notoriously difficult to estimate from conventional measurements. Nine precipitation products, including CMFD, CMORPH, ERA-Interim, GPCC, GPCP V2.3, JRA-55, TRMM 3B43, HAR, and CAPD, were evaluated by six alpine ground-based measurement stations from 2001 to 2013 on yearly, seasonal, and monthly scales, respectively. The precipitation gradients of the nine precipitation products in rainy period were calculated by linear regression and then compared with recently observations during 2013–2016 from numerous total precipitation gauges. CMFD has the best overall performance in both yearly, seasonal, and monthly precipitation because it is primarily based on the merged precipitation product from surface measurements and satellite remote sensing data, followed by GPCC and TRMM 3B43. It is also found that CMORPH shows the worst overall performance due to only derived from remote sensing data. Nine precipitation products all showed obvious precipitation gradients. The absolute precipitation gradient of GPCC exhibited the greatest similarity to observations, followed by JRA-55 and CAPD. Although HAR obviously overestimated precipitation, it had an accurate pattern of monthly distribution and relative precipitation gradients in alpine areas, indicating that it has some advantages for applying on Tibetan Plateau. The evaluation suggested that the uncertainty in estimated alpine precipitation has largely decreased in some precipitation products, which will help to comprehensive understanding the climate change and its impact on hydrology of northeastern basins of the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known regarding the effects of environmental mercury (Hg) exposure on liver dysfunction in adolescents. We aimed to explore the association between Hg exposure and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the adolescent population. The cross-sectional associations between blood Hg concentrations and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a surrogate for suspected NAFLD, were evaluated using data from adolescents (aged 12–17 years old) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2014. A final sample of 6389 adolescents was analysed. Elevated ALT was defined as > 25 IU/L and > 22 IU/L for boys and girls ≤ 17 years old, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) of Hg levels in association with serum ALT levels were estimated using a logistic regression after adjusting for gender, age, ethnicity, serum cotinine, body mass index, the poverty income ratio, and NHANES cycles. The median blood Hg level was 0.73 ± 0.91 μg/L amongst US adolescents. In the adjusted model, the ORs of elevated ALT levels of those in the 4th quartile were higher amongst non-Hispanic white adolescents (OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.20, 2.59; P = 0.035) and those who were normal or underweight (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.08, 1.85; P = 0.020). No association was observed for the other variables. Our results indicate that the positive association between blood Hg exposure and the risk of NAFLD in US adolescents is the highest amongst non-Hispanic white and those who are normal or underweight, regardless of ethnicity. More research is necessary to confirm this association and to clarify the potential mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometries of tetraphenylporphyrin which is a kind of important porphyrin derivatives, and its N-protonated diacid are calculated with AM1 MO method under symmetry restriction. The configurational changes and their effects on molecular aggregation are discussed by means of structure analysis, charge population analysis and frontier orbital analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photolysis of acetone has been studied at 6-311G basis set using unrestricted Hartree-Fock method. The results show that ground state acetone (So) cannot easily dissociate. The electrons of acetone undergo n→II transition in laser, and excited acetone (T1) can easily dissociate: $$CH_3 COCH_3 (T_1 )\underrightarrow {hv}CH_3 + CH_3 CO(R_1 )$$ and acetyl can further undergo themolytic dissociation: CH3CO→CH3+CO(R2). The dynamic information (ωk B KF V0(S)) of reaction R2 is obtained and the vibrational state distributions of product CO are calculated. The calculated value consists with the experimental value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]