1,264 research outputs found
Threshold Selection for Iterative Decoding of (v,w)-regular Binary Codes
No full textIterative bit flipping decoders are an efficient and effective choice for decoding codes which admit a sparse parity-check matrix.
Among these, sparse (v,w)-regular codes, which include LDPC and MDPC codes, are of particular interest both for efficient data correction and the design of cryptographic primitives.
Throughout the iterative decoding process, the bit flipping thresholds can be determined either statically or during the decoder execution, by using information coming from the initial syndrome value and its updates.
In this work, we analyze a two-iterations parallel hard decision bit flipping decoder and propose concrete criteria for threshold determination, backed by a closed form model.
In doing so, we introduce a new tightly fitting model for the distribution of the Hamming weight of the syndrome after the first decoder iteration and substantial improvements on the decoding failure rate (DFR) estimation with respect to existing approaches
Pet dogs’ behavior when the owner and an unfamiliar person attend to a faux rival
No full textWhile dog owners ascribe different emotions to their pets, including jealousy, research on secondary emotions in nonhuman animals is very limited and, so far, only one study has investigated jealousy in dogs (Canis familiaris). This work explores jealousy in dogs one step further. We conducted two studies adapting a procedure devised to assess jealousy in human infants. In each study 36 adult dogs were exposed to a situation in which their owner and a stranger ignored them while directing positive attention towards three different objects: a book, a puppet and a fake dog (Study 1: furry; Study 2: plastic). Overall, the results of both studies do not provide evidence that the behavioral responses of our dogs were triggered by jealousy: we did not find a clear indication that the fake dogs were perceived as real social rivals, neither the furry nor the plastic one. Indeed, dogs exhibited a higher interest (i.e. look at, interact with) towards the fake dogs, but differences in the behavior towards the fake dog and the puppet only emerged in Study 2. In addition, many of the behaviors (protest, stress, attention seeking, aggression) that are considered distinctive features of jealousy were not expressed or were expressed to a limited extent, revealing that dogs did not actively try to regain their owner’s attention or interfere with the interaction between the owner and the faux rival. Finally, a differentiated response towards the attachment figure (the owner) and the unfamiliar person (the stranger) did not emerge. Differently from what reported in human infants, dogs’ behavior towards the attachment figure and the stranger interacting with the potential competitor (in this case, the fake dog) did not significantly differ: in both studies dogs paid attention to the owner and the stranger manipulating the fake dog to the same extent. In conclusion, we do not exclude that dogs could possess a rudimentary form of jealousy, but we suggest that research on this topic should require the use of a real social interloper (conspecific or human) and more naturalistic procedures.</div
Tumor deposits are encountered in advanced colorectal cancer and other adenocarcinomas: an expanded classification with implications for colorectal cancer staging system including a unifying concept of in-transit metastases
No full textThe seventh edition of the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors is due to be published soon. In the current version dating back to 2002, tumor deposits, which are metastatic lesions commonly encountered in the routine histopathological examination of advanced colorectal cancer specimens, are classified according to their shape with different implications for staging. So distinguished, these lesions are considered either as metastatic lymph nodes (N category) or as vascular invasions (T category). We recently proposed a more comprehensive classification approach that also includes the M category. Relying on two of our independent recent studies, we aim here to provide suggestions for a novel classification of tumor deposits with diverse implications for TNM staging system of colorectal cancer. Furthermore, we show that tumor deposits are not limited to colorectal cancer, but they are common to different adenocarcinoma types. RI Pelosi, Giuseppe/F-5073-201
The “at-home LLLT” in temporo-mandibular disorders pain control: A pilot study
No full textObjectives: The Temporo-Mandibular Disorders (TMD) are a set of dysfunctional patterns concerning the temporo-mandibular joints (TMJ) and the masticatory muscles; its main symptom is pain, probably caused by inflammatory changes in the synovial membrane, alterations in the bone marrow of the mandibular condyle and impingement and compression. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the effectiveness in the TMD pain reduction of a new laser device recently proposed by the commerce that, due to its reduced dimensions and to be a class I laser according the ANSI classification, may be used at home by the patient himself. Material and methods: Twenty-four patients with TMD were randomly selected: the inclusion criteria for the sample was the diagnosis of mono- or bi-lateral TMD, with acute pain restricted to the joint area, associated with the absence of any muscle tenderness during palpation. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 (12 patients): patients receiving real LLLT (experimental group). Group 2 (12 patients): patients receiving inactive laser (placebo group). The treatment was performed once a day for two weeks with an 808 nm diode laser by the patient himself with irradiation of the cutaneous zone corresponding to the TMJ for 15 minutes each side. Each patient was instructed to express its pain in a visual analogue scale (VAS) making a perpendicular line between the two extremes representing the felt pain level. Statistical analysis was realized with GraphPad Instat Software, where P<0.05 was considered significant and P<0.01 very significant. Results: The patient’s pain evaluation was expressed in the two study groups before the treatment, 1 week and two weeks after the treatment. The differences between the two groups result extremely significant with p<0.0001 for the comparison of VAS value after 1 and 2 weeks. Conclusion: This study, even if it may be considered such a pilot study, investigated a new way to control the pain in the temporo-mandibular diseases by an at home self administered laser device. Results are encouraging but they will have to be confirmed by greater studies
Phenomenological interpretation of low-energy pion-nucleon scattering
No full textExperimental results on pion-nucleon scattering near threshold are analysed in terms of a potential interaction. Radii and depths are presented and discussed in the square-well approximation. It turns out that extrapolation of theP 11-amplitude at negative energies is consistent with a bound state showing the properties of the well-known nucleon state
Post-Traumatic Outcomes among Survivors of the Earthquake in Central Italy of August 24, 2016. A Study on PTSD Risk and Vulnerability Factors
No full textCentral Italy suffered from the earthquake of 2016 resulting in great damage to the community. The purpose of the present study was to determine the long-term traumatic outcomes among the population. A preliminary study aimed at obtaining the Italian translation of the first 16 item of HTQ IV part [1] which was administered, 20 months after the disaster, at 281 survivors. In backward stepwise logistic regressions models, we estimated among the respondent’s characteristics and event-related variables the best predictors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed a HTQ five-factors solution as best model, with satisfactory indexes of fit. HTQ held a positive correlation with both the SQD-P (r =.65, p <.05) and SQD-D subscales (r =.47, p <.05). ROC analysis suggested an area of.951 (95% CI =.917–.985) for the PTSD prediction. Basing on sensibility (.963) and specificity (.189), the best cut-off of 2.0 allowed discriminating for PTSD positive cases. After 20 months of the earthquake, the estimate prevalence of PTSD among the survivors is of 21.71% with a consistent and graded association between exposure variables and vulnerability factors (gender, age, exposure to death and home damage) and PTSD symptoms
Measurement of body surface area in atopic dermatitis using specific PC software (ScoradCard).
No full textIn skin diseases, evaluation of involved surface area is a crucial factor in grading the degree of severity. We examined the reliability of body surface area assessment and relative inter-observer and intra-observer variability using new software (ScoraCard), specifically designed to evaluate automatically the extension of the involved area in the SCORAD index. Twenty pediatricians, untrained in the evaluation of skin disease, estimated the percentage of surface area involved in photo-tests of two children with artificial well-delimited lesions, at first by sight and then through software. As "gold standard" the exact amount of pixels was counted for the whole body surface of the children, for the different body zones and for the painted artificial lesions, expressed as percentage of the respective zone. For photo 1, gold standard was 38.06\% and median percentage was 43.44\% (95\% CI 40.7-46.21) by sight (p = 0.002) and 37.99\% (95\% CI 36.04-39.94) by ScoradCard (p = 0.79). For photo 2, gold standard was 27.84\%, median percentage was 30.44\% (95\% CI 28.25-32.63) by sight (p = 0.047) and 27.8\% (95\% CI 26.55-29.04) by ScoradCard (p = 0.79). The level of agreement (kappa statistic), cumulative for the two photo tests, was 0.38 (fair agreement) by sight method and 0.67 (good agreement) by ScoradCard. Among the 10 pediatricians who repeated the computer aided evaluation 3 months apart, the intra-observer variability was not significantly different: the median percentage was 31.5\% (95\% CI 27.0-49.4) at time 0 and 29.0\% (95\% CI 26.7-47.2) 3 months later (p = 0.76). This new software could be a useful tool in evaluating skin lesions extension, minimizing inter- and intra-observer variability, which is an important goal in multi-centre studies
Lack of Efficacy of Topical Furfuryl Palmitate in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Double-Blind Study
No full textIntroduction: Atopic dermatitis is a common disease in children. It is usually treated with topical steroids and/or calcineurin inhibitors in association with emollients but topical antioxidants have been recently introduced as a therapeutic option for children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of furfuryl palmitate, a new antioxidant molecule, in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study. Patients and Methods: Children with atopic dermatitis were randomized into 2 groups treated for 2 weeks. One group of children (n=60) was treated with a basic emollient cream and the other (n=57) was treated with the same cream enriched with furfuryl palmitate. Results: in both groups, there was a significant reduction (P<.001) in atopic dermatitis-measured using the SCORAD index-after 14 days, The reduction in the per-protocol analysis was higher for the basic cream. Treatment success was defined as a reduction of 20% or more in the SCORAD index from baseline to day 14. Patients who used treatment not permitted by the protocol were also considered treatment failures. The intention-to-treat analysis showed 70% positive results for the basic treatment and 29% for the treatment containing furfuryl palmitate (P<.0001) with a number needed to treat of 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.6-4.6). The emollient cream without furfuryl palmitate was observed to be more efficacious by pediatricians and parents, and no differences were reported between the 2 products in terms of tolerability. Conclusions: Both products proved to be efficacious in treating atopic dermatitis in children, but the emollient cream not containing furfuryl palmitate showed better clinical efficacy
DOCUMENTOS: COVID/ Estados Unidos- Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney Plaintiff, v. speaker Nancy Pelosi, vicepresident Kamala Harris, and others- Demanda por prohibir a reverendo celebrar vigilia en Capitolio : Estados Unidos- Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney Plaintiff, v. speaker Nancy Pelosi, vicepresident Kamala Harris, and others- Demanda por prohibir a reverendo celebrar vigilia en Capitolio
No full textEstados Unidos- Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney Plaintiff, v. speaker Nancy Pelosi, vicepresident Kamala Harris, and others- Demanda por prohibir a reverendo celebrar vigilia en Capitolio
Fuente: www.panampost.com 
Diving into colours: A multi-analytical approach to a 16th century drawing by Gherardo Cibo
No full textThis paper gives account the first physical-chemical investigation of a drawing by Gherardo Cibo, one of the most autonomous and original Italian artists of the 16th century. A dilettante botanist, chemist, and draughtsman, Cibo developed the new visual practice of colour landscape drawing and left a series of notes devoted colour making theory and practices. In this study, one of Cibo's most refined coloured landscapes on paper was analysed with a multi-technique approach involving several non-destructive analyses, such as preliminary macroscopic and microscopic observations, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), μ-Raman, and μ-Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The analysis evidenced the presence of a preparatory layer made of lead white and a colour palette composed of both inorganic and natural organic pigments. Anglesite was identified in different colours, suggesting a generalized alteration process of the artwork associated to lead pigments, while the identification of lead chromate in some of the brown shades can be interpreted as a later retouching. Finally, some organic compounds were identified: Arabic gum, connected to the iron gall ink; collagen, probably adopted as a binder for some pigments; a fatty acid substance, possibly a wax; and a paint varnish mastic, most likely a surface finishing/pigment fixing or a late preservation treatment/retouching. These results, combined with historical and artistic information, allow a new understanding of the artist's drawing practices and techniques
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