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Flood is a perennial problem in the state of Bihar, India with devastating impact on the livelihood of people. In spite of the government’s measures of flood mitigation, households continue to live with sufferings on account of severe damage to their material and non-material assets. In this background,...

In this paper, a method for multi-attribute decision making under uncertainty is proposed, the uncertainty is represented by certitude structure. In fact, there are both quantitative and qualitative attributes with different representation in multi-attribute decision making under uncertainty, so the...

Extending the gauge-invariance principle for functions of the standard bilinear fomalism to the supersymmetric case, we define N = 1 supersymmetric Hirota operators. Using them, we bilinearize SUSY KdV equation. The solution for multiple collisions of super-solitons is given.

We introduce a (2+1)-dimensional extension of the 1-dimensional Toda lattice hierar- chy. The hierarchy is given by two different formulations. For the first formulation, we obtain the bilinear identity for the ? -functions and construct explicit solutions ex- pressed by Wronski determinants. For the...

The traditional actuarial model of catastrophe insurance is too theoretical. In many cases, it is of no avail. In this paper, we suggest a discrete model of catastrophe insurance to calculate the expected losses. We successfully applied it to calculate the premium rate of the typhoon in Fujian Province,...

A non-isospectral linear problem for an integrable 2+1 generalization of the non linear Schrödinger equation, which includes dispersive terms of third and fourth order, is presented. The classical symmetries of the Lax pair and the related reductions are carefully studied. We obtain several reductions...

In this paper we consider a semi-classical variation of the weight related to the q-Laguerre polynomials and study their recurrence coefficients. In particular, we obtain a second degree second order discrete equation which in particular cases can be reduced to either the qPV or the qPIII equation.

Trade in manufacturing through global and regional value chains has played an especially prominent role in global economic growth in recent decades. However, Africa faces severe challenges in growing manufacturing activities in the face of China and Southeast Asia’s competitive dominance of global manufactured...

Background: So far, in the stress calculation of the plaques, the blood has been simulated as a single component, and the role of the mechanical interaction between the red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and plasma with that of the plaque has been neglected. This study was aimed at proposing...

Background: Obesity is considered an important factor contributing to premature arterial stiffening in type 2 diabetes but it is uncertain whether weight loss through dietary modification leads to a reduction in arterial stiffness. Rimonabant is an anti-obesity drug which, through its pharmacological...

This paper presents a new third-order trajectory solution in Lagrangian form for the water particles in a wave-current interaction flow based on an Euler–Lagrange transformation. The explicit parametric solution highlights the trajectory of a water particle and the wave kinematics above the mean water...

In the absence of effective antiviral chemotherapy and still in the context of emerging vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2 infections, passive immunotherapy remains a key treatment and possible prevention strategy. What might initially be conceived as a simplified donor–recipient process,...

Motivated by the work of Kupershmidt (J. Nonlin. Math. Phys. 6 (1998), 222 –245) we discuss the occurrence of left symmetry in a generalized Virasoro algebra. The multiplication rule is defined, which is necessary and sufficient for this algebra to be quasi-associative. Its link to geometry and nonlinear...

Different kinds of reduction for ordinary differential equations, such as λ –symmetry and σ –symmetry reductions, are recovered as particular cases of Frobenius reduction theorem for distribution of vector fields. This general approach provides some hints to tackle the reconstruction problem and to solve...

In recent years, music therapy has been performed with the aim at recovering the cognitive function of elderly people. In the previously reported system, it was necessary to input the subjective evaluation of the user to determine the next recommended song. In this study, variations in fingertip skin...

We aimed at evaluating the anthropometric and hemodynamic factors associated with central pulse pressure (cPP), peripheral pulse pressure (pPP) and central-to-peripheral PP amplification (PPamp) in healthy adolescents. We studied 459 subjects (boys 57%, 16.8 ± 1.5 y) attending the Liceo Donatelli High...

Objectives: Masked hypertension (MH) is associated with hypertension-related markers of organ damage, but is undetectable by clinic (resting) BP. Exaggerated systolic BP response to submaximal exercise reveals MH in adults, but it is unknown whether this is the case during adolescence. We aimed to determine...

Many inflammatory conditions are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. As well as accelerated atherosclerosis, increased plaque instability and endothelial dysfunction; arterial stiffness has been proposed as one of the potential mechanisms underlying the increased...

Background: Central blood pressure (CBP) is a better predictor of cardiovascular burden than peripheral blood pressure (BP). While studies have suggested a reduction in peripheral BP with statins, it remains uncertain to what extent statins reduce CBP and whether this reduction is mediated through a...

In the preclinical setting, Angiotensin-II infusion has been the most popular model for mouse aneurysm research in the last 15 years. Nonetheless, little is known about the ascending aortic aneurysm pathobiology of this model and several lingering questions regarding the abdominal aortic aneurysm pathology...

In this paper we develop a new family of Weibull-gamma model which is obtained by compounding a q-Weibull density with a two parameter gamma density. This class can be considered as a natural extension of the Weibull gamma model which accommodates various other useful statistical models. Properties of...

This paper proposes a novel hybrid algorithm based on quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (QPSO) algorithm and Nelder-Mead (NM) simplex search method for continuous optimization problems, abbreviated as QPSO-NM. This hybrid algorithm is very easy to be implemented since it does not require continuity...

The Control of Genetic Algorithms parameters allows to optimize the search process and improves the performance of the algorithm. Moreover it releases the user to dive into a game process of trial and failure to find the optimal parameters.

Today, comprehending consumer behavior is becoming dynamically challenging with the emergence of social commerce. Business organizations are now striving to convince consumers by exploiting the advantage of social support empowered by online social networks. Importantly, social ties in such online social...

We present a version of the conditional symmetry method in order to obtain multiple wave solutions expressed in terms of Riemann invariants. We construct an abelian distribution of vector fields which are symmetries of the original system of PDEs subjected to certain first order differential constraints....

We review a new method for studying boundary value problems for evolution PDEs. This method yields explicit results for a large class of evolution equations which iclude: (a) Linear equations with constant coefficients, (b) certain classes of linear equations with variable coefficients, and (c) integrable...

In this work we derive potential symmetries for ordinary differential equations. By using these potential symmetries we find that the order of the ODE can be reduced even if this equation does not admit point symmetries. Moreover, in the case for which the ODE admits a group of point symmetries, we find...

Background and Objectives: Europe has experienced a major resurgence of measles in recent years, despite the availability and free access to a safe, effective, and affordable vaccination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). The main driver for this is suboptimal vaccine coverage. The three objectives...

Based on the nongreen impact factors of coal logistics and traditional coal companies, this study aims to understand the role of such factors in coal supply, production, distribution, recycling, and waste logistics. Porter’s five forces model is used to analyze the potential competitors, peer competitors,...

The new coronavirus syndrome (COVID-19) is a multi-organ pathological manifestation that, in severe forms, causes greater damage to the respiratory system, especially in the lung district with severe respiratory failure. In many cases, especially in elderly patients with high comorbidity degree, the...

This paper considers the problem of optimum stratification for a model-based allocation under a superpopulation model. The equations giving optimum points of stratification have been derived and a few methods for finding approximately optimum points of stratification have been obtained from the equations....

In this paper, a web-based Turkish automatic short answer grading system (TASAG) is developed to score exam questions and to generate online exams for automatic scoring of short-answer questions. The novelty of this study is that TASAG is the first software of its kind for the Turkish language. The algorithm...

In this work, Cu–4.9% Al alloy with little Si (the weight percentage is 1.3%) and little Mn (the weight percentage is 0.8%) was deposited by wire arc additive manufacturing. Microstructure and properties of the deposited alloy was investigated. Microstructural characterization was done using optical...

Microvascular and metabolic physiology are inextricably linked. Thus, metabolic dysfunction impairs microvascular function and microvascular dysfunction impairs normal metabolism. The relationship is therefore reciprocal, justifying the concept of a ‘Metabolic-Microvascular Dysregulation Syndrome’. For...

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular (CV) events. Aortic pressures (central) and low testosterone independently predict future CV events and mortality. The relationship between testosterone, central pressures and wave reflection indices in ED patients...

The overall impact of glucose-lowering on vascular complications and major clinical outcomes, including mortality, in type 2 diabetes is still an open issue. While intensive glucose control has undoubted benefit for microvascular endpoints, the relationship between glucose-lowering approaches and reduced...

Take home messages 1.Both ‘Metabolic NAFLD’ and the features of insulin resistance/the metabolic syndrome (MetS) increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), even independent of obesity 2.‘Metabolic NAFLD’ and insulin resistance share common pathophysiology, which may explain their link with...

Because measurement of arterial stiffness is highly dependent on blood pressure (BP), methods independent of BP are required. Ultrafast echography (UFE, Supersonic Imagine, Aix en Provence, France) makes use of very fast sampling rate (up to 10 kHz), so transient events such as pressure wave arrival...

Despite years of research, there are still some contentious aspects of arterial hemodynamics that have remained unresolved. These were discussed during a workshop entitled Arterial hemodynamics: past, present and future held in London on June 14 and 15, 2016, with keynote contributions by Nico Westerhof,...

Aim: In diabetes patients, we explored relationships between markers of diabetic angiopathy, diabetic complications and adverse outcome. Methods: Patients were recruited from 3 observational studies from Steno Diabetes Center, Denmark and one randomized, double-blind, international, multicentre study. We...

Introduction: Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) is highly expressed in cardiomyocytes and is upregulated after acute and chronic pressure overload and in myocardial hypertrophy in mice and humans. However, no study addressed the relation between cardiac function and MGP in humans. Methods and results: In 767...

The non-invasive assessment of aortic (central) pressure evolved as an emerging clinical research area over the last two decades. Several non-invasive methods and devices were developed to support these investigations. A variety of technical approaches and sites of peripheral signal acquisition have...

Vascular dysfunction may be an important pathway through which ageing and other factors, such as diabetes and obesity, can cause diseases of the heart and brain. Vascular dysfunction includes dysfunction of large arteries (due to arterial stiffness), the microcirculation (microvascular dysfunction) and...