Evolutionary dynamics in financial markets with heterogeneities in investment strategies and reference points.

In nature and human societies, the effects of homogeneous and heterogeneous characteristics on the evolution of collective behaviors are quite different from each other. By incorporating pair pattern strategies and reference point strategies into an agent-based model, we have investigated the effects of homogeneous and heterogeneous investment strategies and reference points on price movement. In the market flooded with the investors with homogeneous investment strategies or homogeneous reference points, large price fluctuations occur. In the market flooded with the investors with heterogeneous investment strategies or heterogeneous reference points, moderate price fluctuations occur. The coexistence of different kinds of investment strategies can not only refrain from the occurrence of large price fluctuations but also the occurrence of no-trading states. The present model reveals that the coexistence of heterogeneous populations, whether they are the individuals with heterogeneous investment strategies or heterogeneous reference points of stock prices, is an important factor for the stability of the stock market.

The quality of migrant patients' primary healthcare experiences and patient-centered medical home achievement by community health centers: results from the China greater bay area study.

BACKGROUND: In China, Community Health Centers (CHCs) provide primary healthcare (PHC); however, few studies have examined the quality of PHC services experienced by migrant patients. We examined the potential association between the quality of migrant patients' PHC experiences and the achievement of Patient-Centered Medical Home by CHCs in China. METHODS: Between August 2019 and September 2021, 482 migrant patients were recruited from ten CHCs in China's Greater Bay Area. We evaluated CHC service quality using the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home (NCQA-PCMH) questionnaire. We additionally assessed the quality of migrant patients' PHC experiences using the Primary Care Assessment Tools (PCAT). General linear models (GLM) were used to examine the association between the quality of migrant patients' PHC experiences and the achievement of PCMH by CHCs, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: The recruited CHCs performed poorly on PCMH1, Patient-Centered Access (7.2 ± 2.0), and PCMH2, Team-Based Care (7.4 ± 2.5). Similarly, migrant patients assigned low scores to PCAT dimension C-First-contact care-which assesses access (2.98 ± 0.03), and D-Ongoing care (2.89 ± 0.03). On the other hand, higher-quality CHCs were significantly associated with higher total and dimensional PCAT scores, except for dimensions B and J. For example, the total PCAT score increased by 0.11 (95% CI: 0.07-0.16) with each increase of CHC PCMH level. We additionally identified associations between older migrant patients (> 60 years) and total PCAT and dimension scores, except for dimension E. For instance, the average PCAT score for dimension C among older migrant patients increased by 0.42 (95% CI: 0.27-0.57) with each increase of CHC PCMH level. Among younger migrant patients, this dimension only increased by 0.09 (95% CI: 0.03-0.16). CONCLUSION: Migrant patients treated at higher-quality CHCs reported better PHC experiences. All observed associations were stronger for older migrants. Our results may inform future healthcare quality improvement studies that focus on the PHC service needs of migrant patients.

Single-objective selective-volume illumination microscopy enables high-contrast light-field imaging.

The performance of light-field microscopy is improved by selectively illuminating the relevant subvolume of the specimen with a second objective lens. Here we advance this approach to a single-objective geometry, using an oblique one-photon illumination path or two-photon illumination to accomplish selective-volume excitation. The elimination of the second orthogonally oriented objective to selectively excite the volume of interest simplifies specimen mounting; yet, this single-objective approach still reduces the out-of-volume background, resulting in improvements in image contrast, effective resolution, and volume reconstruction quality. We validate our new, to the best of our knowledge, approach through imaging live developing zebrafish, demonstrating the technology's ability to capture imaging data from large volumes synchronously with high contrast while remaining compatible with standard microscope sample mounting.

Coupled effects of local movement and global interaction on contagion.

By incorporating segregated spatial domain and individual-based linkage into the SIS (susceptible-infected-susceptible) model, we propose a generalized epidemic model which can change from the territorial epidemic model to the networked epidemic model. The role of the individual-based linkage between different spatial domains is investigated. As we adjust the timescale parameter τ from 0 to unity, which represents the degree of activation of the individual-based linkage, three regions are found. Within the region of 0 < τ < 0.02 , the epidemic is determined by local movement and is sensitive to the timescale τ . Within the region of 0.02 < τ < 0.5 , the epidemic is insensitive to the timescale τ . Within the region of 0.5 < τ < 1 , the outbreak of the epidemic is determined by the structure of the individual-based linkage. As we keep an eye on the first region, the role of activating the individual-based linkage in the present model is similar to the role of the shortcuts in the two-dimensional small world network. Only activating a small number of the individual-based linkage can prompt the outbreak of the epidemic globally. The role of narrowing segregated spatial domain and reducing mobility in epidemic control is checked. These two measures are found to be conducive to curbing the spread of infectious disease only when the global interaction is suppressed. A log-log relation between the change in the number of infected individuals and the timescale τ is found. By calculating the epidemic threshold and the mean first encounter time, we heuristically analyze the microscopic characteristics of the propagation of the epidemic in the present model.

Effect of doxazosin gastrointestinal therapeutic system 4 mg vs tamsulosin 0.2 mg on nocturia in Chinese men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open, parallel study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of the doxazosin gastrointestinal therapeutic system (doxazosin-GITS) 4 mg and tamsulosin 0.2 mg on nocturia in Chinese men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Data were analyzed from a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open, parallel study of Chinese men aged 50-84 years with LUTS/BPH. Two hundred patients were randomized to receive daily treatment with 4 mg doxazosin-GITS (n=100) or 0.2 mg tamsulosin (n=100) for 8 weeks. Nocturia was assessed by question 7 of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS-question 7) and a frequency-volume chart (FVC) at weeks 4 and 8. Self-reported quality of sleep and quality of life by the last question of the IPSS questionnaire were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 189 patients (94 receiving doxazosin-GITS, 95 tamsulosin) completed the study. The reduction from baseline in mean nocturia was greater with doxazosin-GITS than tamsulosin by the FVC (1.7 vs 1.3 at week 4; 2.1 vs 1.7 at week 8, both P=.001) and by the IPSS-question 7 (1.5 vs 1.1 at 4 weeks, P=.001; 2.0 vs 1.6 at 8 weeks, P<.001). The patients who reported improved quality of sleep was significantly more with doxazosin-GITS than tamsulosin (43.6% vs 27.4% at 4 weeks, P=.020; 81.9% vs 67.4% at 8 weeks, P=.022), and quality of life was better with doxazosin-GITS (2.5 vs 2.8 at 4 weeks, P=.001; 2.1 vs 2.5 at 8 weeks, P<.001). CONCLUSION: In Chinese patients with LUTS/BPH, doxazosin-GITS is slightly better than tamsulosin in reducing the frequency of nocturia.

[Evaluation for clinical staging parameters of prostate neoplasm].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate significance of clinical parameters in prostate cancer staging. METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients of prostate cancer were diagnosed by transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsies. These cases were staged by pathologic diagnosis, MRI and bone scan. Clinical significance of serum PSA, Gleason score of biopsy, percentage of positive biopsy cores in prostate cancer staging were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 112 patients, 30.4% (34/112) underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. The serum PSA, Gleason score of biopsy and percentage of positive biopsy cores, were significant correlation with staging prostate cancer (r = 0.698, r = 0.674, r = 0.671, P < 0.001), and no significant difference between staging B and staging C (chi 2 = 2.675, P = 0.096; chi 2 = 0.704, P = 0.401). PSA in patients with stage D had significant difference with others (chi 2 = 5.135, P = 0.023; chi 2 = 4.593, P = 0.032). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PSA were 76.7%, 50.0% and 71.4% respectively. Those of Gleason score and percentage of positive biopsy cores were 83.3%, 77.3%, 82.1% and 77.8%, 54.5%, 73.2% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The serum PSA, Gleason score of biopsy and percentage of positive biopsy cores had clinical significance in the staging of prostate cancer. Gleason score of biopsy in staging was more accurate than that of the other two parameters and the serum PSA can better predict prostate cancer metastasis.