using advanced techniques of econometrics and a metaheuristic optimization approach, this study attempts to evaluate the potential advantages of international portfolio diversification for east asian international investors when investing in the middle eastern emerging markets. overall, the results of both econometric and the metaheuristic optimization methods are supporting each other. finding...

OBJECTIVE Based on case-control and prospective studies elevated blood total homocysteine (tHcy) has been suggested to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The purpose of the study was to explore the joint effect of increased serum tHcy concentration and other risk factors on the risk of CVD mortality in middle-aged men without a history of heart disease or stroke. ...

During the winter of 2015, there was a strong El Nino (ENSO) event, resulting in significant anomalies for meteorological conditions in China. Analysis shows that the meteorological conditions in December 2015 (compared to December 2014) had several important anomalies, including the following: (1) the surface southeasterly winds were significantly enhanced in the North China Plain (NCP); (2) t...

Conflicts and precarious living conditions resulted in the arrival of large numbers of refugees in Europe and especially in Germany. Evidence suggests that immigrant populations are at elevated risk of psychotic disorders. Considering the traumatic pre- and post-migratory adversities refugees may have encountered, people granted refugee status may even be more susceptible to psychosis than non-...

a blocker of postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors was isolated from venom of the eastern green mamba dendroaspis angusticeps, by gel filtration, ion-exchange and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. the isolated component blocks neuromuscular transmission and responses to exogenously applied acetylcholine in isolated chick biventer cervices preparations. these results suggest t...

Climatic signals were extracted from ring-width chronologies of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) from natural stands of the northern, middle, and southern parts of the boreal forest belt in Finland. The strength of the common growth signals (forcing factors) were quantifi ed as a function of time. This was achieved by mean inter-series correlations, calculated over a moving 30-year window, bot...

â  â  hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) is a major worldwide public health concern. despite recent advances, there has been little success in improving the survival of hcc patients. due to advances in diagnostic modalities and the increasing incidence of chronic viral hepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nafld), both of which are well known risk factors of hcc, the prevalence of hcc is ...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of liver related morbidity and mortality in the world; with more than 180 million infected patients (1). HCV prevalence is very low in Iran. The recent reports from Iran showed that HCV prevalence in general population was about 0.05% 0.2% (2, 3). Due to globalization and traveling worldwide, especially to the neighboring countries, there is a chance...