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Measuring contextuality in investment preferences
Get PDFThis study investigates the role of contextuality in investment preference formation, specifically in global investments and major US stocks. Utilizing the "Contextuality by Default" framework (Dzhafarov and Kujala in PLoS ONE 8:e61712, 2013; J Math Psychol 74:11–33, 2016), we measure contextuality within a cyclic system of random variables. Through two experiments, each with four context stimuli, we assess contextuality across various decision-making scenarios. Our results indicate the presence of "true" contextuality in global investment decisions, but not in US stock selections. We investigate the determinants of contextual preference formation, focusing on factors such as future return expectations, risk perception, and familiarity with stock markets and individual US stocks. Employing logistic regression analysis for the first two contexts, we find that preferences in foreign stock markets exhibit instability, indicating context-specific drivers. On the other hand, familiarity with individual companies and future return expectations consistently influence investment preferences in specific US stocks
A Novel Sequential Risk Assessment Model for Analyzing Commercial Aviation Accidents: Soft Computing Perspective
Get PDFDue to the importance of the commercial aviation system and, also, the existence of countless accidents and unfortunate occurrences in this industry, there has been a need for a structured approach to deal with them in recent years. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive and sequential model for analyzing commercial aviation accidents based on historical data and reports. The model first uses the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) technique to determine and score existing risks; then, the risks are prioritized using two multi-attribute decision making (MADM) methods and two novel and innovative techniques, including ranking based on intuitionistic fuzzy risk priority number and ranking based on the vague sets. These techniques are based in an intuitionistic fuzzy environment to handle uncertainties and the FMEA features. A fuzzy cognitive map is utilized to evaluate existing interactions among the risk factors, and additionally, various scenarios are implemented to analyze the role of each risk, group of risks, and behavior of the system in different conditions. Finally, the model is performed for a real case study to clarify its applicability and the two novel risk prioritization techniques. Although this model can be used for other similar complex transportation systems with adequate data, it is mainly employed to illustrate the most critical risks and for analyzing existing relationships among the concepts of the system
Harnessing therapeutic potential of induced pluripotent stem cellderived endothelial cells for remyelination in the central nervous system
Get PDFA telo ‐centric approach to rethink grand challenges:Digital wellbeing as an example
Get PDFHow can grand challenge‐related issues be studied while comprehensively addressing contemporary needs? The literature on grand challenges has been growing, with an abundance of phenomena on which research is undertaken in a piecemeal fashion, without sufficiently offering integrated insights. In this debate essay, we challenge the proposal offered in Seelos, C., Mair, J. & Traeger, C. (2023) The future of grand challenges research: retiring a hopeful concept and endorsing research principles, International Journal of Management Reviews, 25(2), 251–269 on retiring the grand challenge concept. Instead, we advocate for revitalizing, not retiring, so that grand challenges research can be adapted with the ultimate human purpose of achieving wellbeing. We propose that the solution lies in taking a telo‐centric approach to navigate the intersections between various grand challenge issues, offering a novel lens to delve into the ultimate end of human endeavours and to ensure the continued relevance of the grant challenge concept. We exemplify the application of this telo‐centric approach through the prism of digital wellbeing, demonstrating how it can pave the way for innovative theoretical frameworks, rigorous empirical investigations and practical developments. We conclude by forwarding future directions for research, practice and policy
Optimisation of multiple clustering based undersampling using artificial bee colony: Application to improved detection of obfuscated patterns without adversarial training
Get PDFAttack detection is one of the main features required in modern defence systems. Despite the ongoing research, it remains challenging for a typical mechanism like network-based intrusion detection system (NIDS) to catch up with evolving adversarial attacks. They specifically aim to confuse a machine-learning based predictor. Without the knowledge of adversarial patterns, the best approach is generalising signatures learned from a dataset of legitimate connections and known intrusions. This work focuses on analysing non-payload traffics so that the resulting techniques can be exploited to a range of network-based applications. It investigates a novel means to deal with the problem of imbalanced classes. An optimised undersampling method is introduced to select a subset of majority-class representatives initially created through an ensemble clustering procedure. A weighted combination of criteria representing distributions within and between classes is proposed as the objective function for a global optimisation using the artificial bee colony (ABC). This approach usually outperforms its baselines and other state-of-the-art undersampling models, with ABC being more effective using the global best strategy than a random selection of solutions or an iterative greedy search. The paper also details the parameter analysis offering a heuristic guide for potential taking up of the proposed techniques
Two-Dimensional Coupled Wave Theory for Triangular Lattice TM-polarised Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers
Get PDFThis paper presents a coupled-wave analysis of triangular-lattice photonic crystal surface emitting lasers (PCSELs) with transverse magnetic polarization. Six plane waves coupled by Bragg diffraction describe the two-dimensional optical coupling. Resonant mode frequencies are calculated for a lattice of circular holes at various fill factors and compared to the plane-wave expansion method. Analytical equations for coupling constants and mode frequencies are derived, and mode degeneracy as a function of fill factor is examined. Comparision to a square lattice TM mode PCSEL shows improved in-plane 2D coupling. The general equations for arbitrary unit cell dielectric functions are discussed, with predictions of the lasing mode supported by finite device calculations
Cross‐population validation of the PreMO risk indicator for predicting myopia onset in children
Get PDFPURPOSE: The Predicting Myopia Onset and progression (PreMO) risk indicator, developed using data generated from white children in the UK, incorporates age, spherical equivalent refraction (SER), axial length (AL) and parental myopia to stratify the likelihood of developing myopia. This study evaluated the PreMO's predictive accuracy using prospective datasets from independent samples of children in Hong Kong (HK) and an ethnically diverse cohort of children in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Non-myopic children (SER > -0.50 D) aged 6-8 and 9-10 years were scored using the PreMO risk indicator framework, integrating baseline cycloplegic SER, AL and parental myopia data. Scores were assigned risk categories as follows: 0 = no risk, 1-3 = low risk, 4-6 = moderate risk and 7-9 = high risk. SER at ≥15 years of age was used to define refractive outcomes as 'myopic' or 'not myopic'. PreMO's predictive accuracy was analysed via Receiver Operator Characteristic curves, with Youden's J-Index identifying the optimal risk score threshold. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve were determined and compared with those of singular predictors, that is, SER < +0.75 D and AL ≥ 23.07 mm at 6-8 years. RESULTS: In the cohort of children aged 6-8 years, a PreMO risk score ≥ 4 exhibited high sensitivity in predicting myopia onset in UK (0.97) and HK (0.94) children, with high specificity in UK (0.96) and moderate specificity in HK (0.64) children. In UK children aged 6-8 years, the PreMO outperformed singular predictors such as SER and AL. Among HK children aged 9-10 years, the PreMO score maintained high sensitivity (0.90) and moderate specificity (0.72). CONCLUSIONS: A PreMO risk score ≥ 4 is a strong predictive indicator for future myopia onset, particularly in UK children. Despite high sensitivity in both UK and HK cohorts, specificity varied, indicating the need for contextual application of the tool, particularly in pre-myopic Asian children
Successful strategies for expression and purification of ABC transporters
Get PDFATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are proteins responsible for active transport of various compounds, from small ions to macromolecules, across membranes. Proteins from this superfamily also pump drugs out of the cell resulting in multidrug resistance. Based on the cellular functions of ABC-transporters they are commonly associated with diseases like cancer and cystic fibrosis. To understand the molecular mechanism of this critical family of integral membrane proteins, structural characterization is a powerful tool which in turn requires successful recombinant production of stable and functional protein in good yields. In this review we have used high resolution structures of ABC transporters as a measure of successful protein production and summarized strategies for prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins, respectively. In general, Escherichia coli is the most frequently used host for production of prokaryotic ABC transporters while human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells are the preferred host system for eukaryotic proteins. Independent of origin, at least two-steps of purification were required after solubilization in the most used detergent DDM. The purification tag was frequently cleaved off before structural characterization using cryogenic electron microscopy, or crystallization and X-ray analysis for prokaryotic proteins
SOS – Save Our Seaside! The Microbiological Risks to Human Health of Raw Sewage in Our Coastal Waters
Get PDFMost of us enjoy a day at the beach, but we rarely consider that recreational use of our coastal waters could impact our health. This article explores the microbiological threats of sewage discharge to our fun in the sea and proposes a simple way to make sure it’s only sand that you and your family bring home from a visit to the seaside
Challenges and Opportunities for Covenantal Pluralism in Romania
Get PDFThis article examines the concept of covenantal pluralism in Romania, the most religious country in Europe according to a 2018 survey run by the Pew Research Centre. After a short overview of religion-state relations and religious demography, it focuses on three dimensions of covenantal pluralism: freedom of religion and belief, religious literacy and the advancement of virtues. It examines the key challenges and opportunities faced by covenantal pluralism and argues that religious literacy, social inclusion, populism and the politicization of religion are key factors impacting social norms and electoral processes. These challenges are significant for understanding major trends in religion-state relations, the building of a multi-faith society in Romania, and the resurgence of far-right politics in Eastern Europe
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