Visual spatial memory is enhanced in female rats (but inhibited in males) by dietary soy phytoestrogens

Background  

In learning and memory tasks, requiring visual spatial memory (VSM), males exhibit superior performance to females (a difference attributed to the hormonal influence of estrogen). This study examined the influence of phytoestrogens (estrogen-like plant compounds) on VSM, utilizing radial arm-maze methods to examine varying aspects of memory. Additionally, brain phytoestrogen, calbindin (CALB), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels were determined.     

Application of possibility theory to investment decisions

Carlson and Fuller (2001, Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 122, 315–326) introduced the concept of possibilistic mean, variance and covariance of fuzzy numbers. In this paper, we extend some of these results to a nonlinear type of fuzzy numbers called adaptive fuzzy numbers (see Bodjanova (2005, Information Science, 172, 73–89) for detail). We then discuss the application of these results to decision making problems in which the parameters may involve uncertainty and vagueness. As an application, we develop expression for fuzzy net present value (FNPV) of future cash flows involving adaptive fuzzy numbers by using their possibilistic moments. An illustrative numerical example is given to illustrate the results.     

Optimizing garbage collection vehicle routing problem with alternative fuel-powered vehicles

Abstract

This paper considers the garbage collection problem in which vehicles with multiple compartments are used to collect the garbage. The vehicles are considered to be Alternative Fuel-powered Vehicles (AFVs). Compared with the traditional fossil fuel powered vehicles, the AFVs have limited fuel tank capacity. In addition, AFVs are allowed to refuel only at the depot. We provide a mathematical formulation and develop two solution approaches to solve the problem. The first approach is based on the saving algorithm, while the second is based on the ant colony system (ACS) metaheuristic. New problem instances have been generated to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms.     

High-resolution Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of the ν6 and Coriolis perturbation allowed ν10 modes of ketenimine

High-resolution FTIR spectra of the short lived species ketenimine have been recorded in the region 700-1300 cm(-1) and over 1500 transitions of the ν(10) and ν(6) modes have been assigned. Effective rotational and centrifugal distortion parameters for the v(10) = 1 and v(6) = 1 (excluding K(a) = 5) states were determined by co-fitting transitions, and treating strong a- and c-axis Coriolis interactions between them. Other perturbations attributed to interactions with the v(8) = 2 and v(12) = 1 + v(8) = 1 dark-states were also observed and treated. The ν(10) transitions are predicted to be inherently very weak, but are enhanced by an intensity stealing effect with the highly IR active ν(6) mode. A mechanism for this intensity stealing in ketenimine is also detailed.     

Infrared and near infrared emission spectra of SbH and SbD

The X³Σ⁻ ground state vibration-rotation spectrum of SbH and the near infrared spectra of the b¹Σ⁺-X³Σ⁻ transitions of SbH and SbD have been measured at high resolution by Fourier transform spectroscopy. The SbH and SbD radicals were generated in a tube furnace with a D.C. discharge of a flowing mixture of argon, hydrogen (or deuterium), and antimony vapor. In the infrared region, the 1-0 and 2-1 bands of the three components (0⁺, 1_e, and 1_f) as well as the 0⁺ component of the 3-2 band were observed for ¹²¹SbH and ¹²³SbH. In the near infrared region, the 0-0, 1-1, and 2-2 bands of the b¹Σ⁺-X³Σ⁻ system of both SbH and SbD as well as the 3-3 band of SbD were observed. Except for a few lines, the antimony isotopic shift was not resolved for these electronic spectra. The present data set was combined with the available ground state data on SbD and a¹Δ data for SbH and SbD from previous work, and a least-squares fit was performed for each of the four isotopologues: ¹²¹SbH, ¹²³SbH, ¹²¹SbD, and ¹²³SbD. Improved spectroscopic constants were obtained for the observed vibrational levels of the X³Σ⁻, a¹Δ, and b¹Σ⁺ states of these four isotopologues. In addition, all the above data were also fitted simultaneously to a multi-isotopologue Dunham model, which yielded Dunham constants and Born-Oppenheimer breakdown parameters for these three electronic states. Interestingly, we found that Born-Oppenheimer breakdown corrections were also required for some of the spin-spin and spin-rotation parameters of the X³Σ⁻ state.     

RCA models with GARCH innovations

Rapid developments of time series models and methods addressing volatility in computational finance and econometrics have been recently reported in the financial literature. The non-linear volatility theory either extends and complements existing time series methodology by introducing more general structures or provides an alternative framework (see Abraham and Thavaneswaran [B. Abraham, A. Thavaneswaran, A nonlinear time series model and estimation of missing observations, Ann. Inst. Statist. Math. 43 (1991) 493–504] and Granger [C.W.J. Granger, Overview of non-linear time series specification in Economics, Berkeley NSF-Symposia, 1998]). In this work, we consider Gaussian first-order linear autoregressive models with time varying volatility. General properties for process mean, variance and kurtosis are derived; examples illustrate the wide range of properties that can appear under the autoregressive assumptions. The results can be used in identifying some volatility models. The kurtosis of the classical RCA model of Nicholls and Quinn [D.F. Nicholls, B.G. Quinn, Random Coefficient Autoregressive Models: An Introduction, in: Lecture Notes in Statistics, vol. 11, Springer, New York, 1982] is shown to be a special case.     

Structural characteristics of olivine Li(Mg0.5Ni0.5)PO4 via TEM analysis

The structural characteristics of olivine-type lithium orthophosphate Li(Mg_0.5Ni_0.5)PO₄ synthesized via solid-state reaction have been studied using X-ray diffraction, ion beam technique, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The parent LiNiPO₄ compound can be synthesized in olivine structure without any evidence of secondary phases as impurities. The structural quality of the parent LiNiPO₄ in the absence of secondary component phases resulted in the formation of hexagonal closed packed structure. The olivine analogue compound containing mixed M (M?=?Mg, Ni) cations, Li(Mg_0.5Ni_0.5)PO₄ contained Li₃PO₄ as a second phase upon synthesis, however a carbothermal reduction method produced a single-phase compound. The redox behaviour of carbon-coated Li(Mg_0.5Ni_0.5)PO₄ cathode in aqueous lithium hydroxide as the electrolyte showed reversible lithium intercalation.     

RCA model with quadratic GARCH innovation distribution

Rapid development of time series models addressing volatility has recently been reported in the financial literature. Often the standardized residuals from an RCA (Random coefficient autoregressive) model still has fat tails, thus suggesting using a fat-tailed error distribution instead. Kurtosis of GARCH model plays an important role in option pricing applications with real data. This paper considers some volatility models with quadratic GARCH innovations and derive the kurtosis of the process.