The current study suggested that activity of the Akt signaling pathway may indicate a poor prognosis in patients with breast carcinoma. The results implied that estrogen can activate the PI3K-Akt pathway through ERa and ERβ-independent mechanisms in breast cancer.

In view of the importance of flexible job-shop scheduling problem (FJSP) in actual production, this paper constructs a mathematical model of fuzzy FJSP and then proposes a mixed quantum algorithm based on local optimization strategy and improved optimization rotation angle. For improving the production process, a double chain coding method was designed with two gene chains, which respectively represent the machine selection and the process sequencing. Next, the hybrid quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) was introduced to ensure the scheduling efficiency. Finally, the prototype system of the proposed strategy was simulated by using some actual examples. The results show that the proposed algorithm can quickly form an adjusted plan that has minimal difference from the original plan. INDEX TERMS Flexible job-shop scheduling, quantum particle swarm optimization, quantum gate rotation angle, double chain quantum coding.

The collection and sharing of consumers’ knowledge by retailers can help manufacturers improve the innovation level of products, thereby improving the performance of supply chain. However, due to the cost of collecting consumers’ knowledge, the wholesale price contract can no longer coordinate supply chain members effectively. It is necessary to study the problem how the retailers are encouraged to make more efforts for the cooperative innovation with manufacturers. This paper introduces two dynamic incentive contracts for improving collaborative innovation level in a two-player supply chain, and the impacts of these contracts on supply chain’s performance are investigated, by using a Stackelberg differential game model. The manufacturer, as a Stackelberg leader, determines the R&D investment while the retailer is responsible for the retail price and the efforts in collection of the consumer’s information (or preference) to the products. The model incorporates a wholesale price contract and two incentive contracts to better understand how the manufacturer can facilitate the retailer’s efforts in the collection of consumer’s information and increase the profits of the members of supply chain. Our results suggest that the optimal profit of the supply chain, the retailer’s efforts in the collection of consumer’s knowledge, the retail price, and the innovation level under the reward incentive contract are higher than their counterparts in other contracts. In particular, the retailer’s optimal effort under the reward incentive contract is even higher than the one in the centralized decision scenario. However, if the manufacturer commits an effort target to the retailer, it shows that the retailer’s optimal effort is independent of the target. The manufacturer’s optimal R&D investments are constants in the three contracts under the dynamic setting. Furthermore, numerical simulations show that the effort target has little impact on profits of the supply chain although it affects the decision making of supply chain members to some extent, whereas the retailer’s marginal reward offered by the manufacturer influences the innovation level of product and the supply chain’s profit significantly.

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Aim: The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine (LNG-IUS) system is an effective primary treatment for adenomyosis; however, it has high expulsion rates. We aimed to modify the system-allowing affixion to the myometrium-and evaluate the expulsion rate, effectiveness, and side effects in patients with adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding. Methods: This study included patients with adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding who underwent implantation of: a modified LNG-IUS (experimental group, n = 47); and the original system after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment (control group, n = 47), between January 2014 and April 2016. Results: In the experimental group, two device expulsions occurred 12-18 months postimplantation. In the remaining 45 patients, the system was safely removed after the 60-month validity period, and no extrauterine device movement or infection occurred. In the control group, downward displacement and expulsion of the device occurred in eight (17%) patients within 60 months. The 5-year total expulsion rates were 4.3% and 17.0% in the experimental and control groups, respectively (p = 0.045). There were significant changes in the pretreatment severity of dysmenorrhea, menstrual volume, uterine volume (cm 3 ), and hemoglobin level in each group compared with after 1 year (p < 0.01 in all groups). The severity of dysmenorrhea, menstrual volume, uterine volume, and hemoglobin level after 1 year were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05 in all groups). Conclusions: Use of the modified LNG-IUS is a safe, cost-effective, and simple method for reducing the downward movement and expulsion rate in patients with adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding.