A Model of Multiproduct Firm Growth

2020 ◽  
pp. 2050012
Author(s):  
Bingchao Huangfu
Keyword(s):  
Firm Growth ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Stochastic Game ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
Monotonicity Condition ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
State Variable ◽  
Markov Perfect ◽  
Multiproduct Firm

This paper studies optimal growth strategies of a multiproduct firm that invests in the qualities of different products, which have persistent effects on future payoffs and are modeled as a state variable of a stochastic game. We derive a unique Markov perfect equilibrium under a monotonicity condition. At the early stage, the firm focuses on the product with higher quality, and may switch its specialization. If the quality of the specialized good is high enough, the firm diversifies to capture demands for all products. However, the firm may lose its focus on either product and get no demand, due to a moral hazard problem.

scholarly journals Quality of Life among Bangladeshi Youth during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-site Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 100157
Author(s):  
Somaresh Kumar Mondal ◽  
Abdul Gaffar Khan ◽  
Md. Mamun Ali ◽  
Mir Kaosar Ahamed ◽  
Kawsar Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Single Site ◽  
Site Survey

scholarly journals Fast Multi-Focus Fusion Based on Deep Learning for Early-Stage Embryo Image Enhancement

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 863
Author(s):  
Vidas Raudonis ◽  
Agne Paulauskaite-Taraseviciene ◽  
Kristina Sutiene
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Image Fusion ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Cell Detection ◽  
Processing Times ◽  
Fused Image ◽  
Stage Embryo ◽  
Early Stage Embryo

Background: Cell detection and counting is of essential importance in evaluating the quality of early-stage embryo. Full automation of this process remains a challenging task due to different cell size, shape, the presence of incomplete cell boundaries, partially or fully overlapping cells. Moreover, the algorithm to be developed should process a large number of image data of different quality in a reasonable amount of time. Methods: Multi-focus image fusion approach based on deep learning U-Net architecture is proposed in the paper, which allows reducing the amount of data up to 7 times without losing spectral information required for embryo enhancement in the microscopic image. Results: The experiment includes the visual and quantitative analysis by estimating the image similarity metrics and processing times, which is compared to the results achieved by two wellknown techniques—Inverse Laplacian Pyramid Transform and Enhanced Correlation Coefficient Maximization. Conclusion: Comparatively, the image fusion time is substantially improved for different image resolutions, whilst ensuring the high quality of the fused image.

Current measures of distress may not account for what's most important in existential care interventions: Results of the outlook trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 648-657
Author(s):  
Karen E. Steinhauser ◽  
Karen M. Stechuchak ◽  
Katherine Ramos ◽  
Joseph Winger ◽  
James A. Tulsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary Analysis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Screening For Distress ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Stage Renal Disease

AbstractObjectiveCompare the efficacy of two interventions addressing emotional and existential well-being in early life-limiting illness.MethodPrimary trial analysis (n = 135) included patients with advanced cancer, congestive heart failure, or end-stage renal disease; Arm 1 received the Outlook intervention, addressing issues of life completion and preparation, and Arm 2 received relaxation meditation (RM). Primary outcomes at five weeks (primary endpoint) and seven weeks (secondary): completion and preparation (QUAL-E); secondary outcomes: anxiety (POMS) quality of life (FACT-G) and spiritual well-being (FACIT-Sp) subscales of faith, meaning, and peace.ResultsAverage age was 62; 56% were post-high school-educated, 54% were married, 52% white, 44% female, and 70% had a cancer diagnosis. At baseline, participants demonstrated low levels of anxiety (<5 on POMS subscale) and depression (<10 on CESD) relative to population norms. Results of the primary analysis revealed no significant differences in mean Preparation by treatment arm at five weeks (14.4 Outlook vs. 14.8 RM; between-group difference −0.4 [95% CI, −1.6, 0.8], p = 0.49) or seven weeks (15.2 vs.15.4; between-group difference −0.2 [95% CI, −1.5, 1.0], p = 0.73). There were also no significant differences in mean Life Completion by treatment arm between five weeks (26.6 Outlook vs. 26.3 RM; between-group difference 0.2 [95% CI, −1.2, 1.7], p = 0.76) or seven weeks (26.5 vs. 27.5; between-group difference −1.0 [95% CI, −2.7, 0.7], p = 0.23). Compared to RM, Outlook participants did not have significant differences over time in the secondary outcomes of overall quality of life, anxiety, depression, FACT-G subscales, and FACIT-Sp subscales.DiscussionIn early-stage life-limiting illness, Outlook did not demonstrate a significant difference in primary or secondary outcomes relative to RM. Results underscore the importance of pre-screening for distress. Qualitatively, Outlook participants were able to express suppressed emotions, place illness context, reflect on adaptations, and strengthen identity. Screening for distress and identifying specified measures of distress, beyond anxiety and depression, is essential in our ability to adequately assess the multi-dimensional mechanisms that decrease existential suffering.

scholarly journals N-acetyl-L-cysteine Improves the Developmental Competence of Bovine Oocytes and Embryos Cultured In Vitro by Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 860
Author(s):  
Wu-Sheng Sun ◽  
Hoon Jang ◽  
Mi-Ryung Park ◽  
Keon Bong Oh ◽  
Haesun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Developmental Rates ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Bovine Oocytes ◽  
Dose Dependent

Oxidative stress has been suggested to negatively affect oocyte and embryo quality and developmental competence, resulting in failure to reach full term. In this study, we investigated the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a cell-permeating antioxidant, on developmental competence and the quality of oocytes and embryos upon supplementation (0.1–10 mM) in maturation and culture medium in vitro using slaughterhouse-derived oocytes and embryos. The results show that treating oocytes with 1.0 mM NAC for 8 h during in vitro maturation attenuated the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.05) and upregulated intracellular glutathione levels (p < 0.01) in oocytes. Interestingly, we found that NAC affects early embryonic development, not only in a dose-dependent, but also in a stage-specific, manner. Significantly (p < 0.05) decreased cleavage rates (90.25% vs. 81.46%) were observed during the early stage (days 0–2), while significantly (p < 0.05) increased developmental rates (38.20% vs. 44.46%) were observed during the later stage (from day 3) of embryonic development. In particular, NAC supplementation decreased the proportion of apoptotic blastomeres significantly (p < 0.05), resulting in enhanced hatching capability and developmental rates during the in vitro culture of embryos. Taken together, our results suggest that NAC supplementation has beneficial effects on bovine oocytes and embryos through the prevention of apoptosis and the elimination of oxygen free radicals during maturation and culture in vitro.

Superabsorbent Wound Dressing for Management of Patients With Moderate-to-Highly Exuding Chronic Leg Ulcers: An Early Stage Model-Based Benefit–Harm Assessment

2021 ◽  
pp. 153473462110093
Author(s):  
Vladica M. Velickovic ◽  
Jean P. Lembelembe ◽  
Francisco Cegri ◽  
Ivana Binic ◽  
Amr B. Abdelaziz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Absolute Risk ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Risk Difference ◽  
Wound Dressings ◽  
Leg Ulcers ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

The aim of the research is to assess the benefit–harm of superabsorbent polymers wound dressings based on polyacrylate polymers (SAPs) compared with standard of care (SoC) dressing mix for patients with moderate-to-highly exuding hard-to-heal leg ulcers. The SoC dressings mix was composed of other superabsorbents in 29% of cases, antimicrobials 26%, foams 20%, alginates 5%, and other dressings 19% weighted according to their frequency. We have used the decision-analytic modeling method, Markov process, as an adequate analytical solution for medical prognosis. We have combined the systematic literature search to identify the most relevant inputs for the analysis, with available patient-level clinical data concerning benefits of superabsorbent to generate a robust prediction of patient-relevant outcomes, including healing rates and health-related quality of life. Besides, we have qualitatively described adverse events associated with those treatments. Our research indicates that SAPs when compared with SoC dressing mix in a patient with moderate-to-highly excluding leg ulcers are leading to an improved healing rate with an absolute risk difference of 2.20% in 6 months and a relative risk of 1.07 in favor of SAP dressings. The attributable fraction among those exposed to SAP dressings of 6.6%, meaning that 6.6% of the healed ulcers could be attributed to having had the SAP dressing treatment instead of the SoC dressing treatment. Besides, SAP dressings lead to improved quality of life measured as incremental quality-adjusted life weeks (QALWs) of 0.13 QALWs.

scholarly journals Effect of Baduanjin exercise intervention on cognitive function and quality of life in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Lin Wei ◽  
Ru-Zhen Yuan ◽  
Yong-Mei Jin ◽  
Shu Li ◽  
Ming-Yue Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Early Stage Breast Cancer ◽  
Pharmacological Intervention ◽  
Control Group

Abstract Background More than 50% cognitive impairment was reported by cancer patients before and after medical treatment. However, there are no effective interventions to manage the cognitive problem in women with breast cancer. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function and cancer-related symptoms in women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Method A single-blinded, randomized control trial was designed. The trial will recruit 70 patients with early-stage breast cancer scheduled to receive chemotherapy from Shanghai in China. All participants will be randomly assigned to (1:1) the supervised Baduanjin group (5 times/week, 30 min each time) or the wait-list control group for 3 months. The effect of Baduanjin exercise intervention will be evaluated by outcome measures including subjective and objective cognitive function, symptoms (fatigue, depression, and anxiety), and health-related quality of life at pre-intervention (T0), 8 weeks (T1), and 12 weeks (T2). The PCI score in the FACT-Cog as the primary cognitive outcome will be reported descriptively, while effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) will be calculated. The collected data will be analyzed by using an intention-to-treat principle and linear mixed-effects modeling. Discussion This is the first randomized clinical trial to investigate whether Baduanjin exercise will have a positive role in improving cognitive function in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. If possible, Baduanjin exercise will be a potential non-pharmacological intervention to manage cognitive dysfunction and promote survivorship care among breast cancer survivors. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2000033152. Registered on 22 May 2020

scholarly journals A COMPARISON OF STRUCTURED LIGHT SCANNING AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR THE DIGITISATION OF PHYSICAL PROTOTYPES

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Owen Freeman Gebler ◽  
Mark Goudswaard ◽  
Ben Hicks ◽  
David Jones ◽  
Aydin Nassehi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Structured Light ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Specific Design ◽  
Model Quality ◽  
Stage Design ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Structured Light Scanning ◽  
Early Stage Design

AbstractPhysical prototyping during early stage design typically represents an iterative process. Commonly, a single prototype will be used throughout the process, with its form being modified as the design evolves. If the form of the prototype is not captured as each iteration occurs understanding how specific design changes impact upon the satisfaction of requirements is challenging, particularly retrospectively.In this paper two different systems for digitising physical artefacts, structured light scanning (SLS) and photogrammetry (PG), are investigated as means for capturing iterations of physical prototypes. First, a series of test artefacts are presented and procedures for operating each system are developed. Next, artefacts are digitised using both SLS and PG and resulting models are compared against a master model of each artefact. Results indicate that both systems are able to reconstruct the majority of each artefact's geometry within 0.1mm of the master, however, overall SLS demonstrated superior performance, both in terms of completion time and model quality. Additionally, the quality of PG models was far more influenced by the effort and expertise of the user compared to SLS.

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