2,801 research outputs found
Emergence and Exploitation of Collective Intelligence of Groups
No full textThis dissertation deals with the emergence and exploitation of the collective intelligence of human groups. The first part of the work (chapter 2) aims to review the mechanisms beyond the swarming behaviors in natural systems, focusing on their properties, potentialities, and limitations, as well as providing the state of the art in the developing field of swarm robotics. In chapter 3, some of the most known biologically inspired optimization algorithms, are introduced, highlighting their variants, merits and drawbacks.
In chapter 4, the author introduces a new decision-making model (DMM), firstly proposed by Carbone and Giannoccaro (Carbone & Giannoccaro, 2015) for solving complex combinatorial problems, showing a detailed analysis of its features and potentialities.
In Chapter 5 an application of the DMM to the simulation of a management problem, easily adaptable to the simulation of any kind of social decision-making problems, is reported.
In chapter 6 the author introduces a novel optimization algorithm belonging to the class of swarm intelligence optimization methods. The proposed algorithm, referred as Human Group Optimization algorithm (HGO), is developed within the previously mentioned DMM (Carbone & Giannoccaro, 2015) and emulates the collective decision making process of human groups. To test the ability of the HGO algorithm, we compare its performance with those of the Simulated Annealing (SA), and Genetic Algorithm (GA) in solving NP-complete problems, consisting in finding the optimum on a fitness landscape, the latter generated within the Kauffman NK model of complexity.
Chapter 8 contains all the mathematical tools and the basic notions, necessary to a complete understanding of the models and procedures mentioned in the work
Response to: The association between hypertension and rotator cuff disease: a spurious result?
No full textResponse to: The association between hypertension and rotator cuff disease: a spurious result?
Dear editor,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer to letter to the Editor JSES-D-12-00464. As mentioned by the author of this letter, it is well known that the incidence of rotator cuff tears increases with age and that a large proportion of tears is completely asymptomatic4,5,6. The population prevalence of full thickness rotator cuff tears is 22.2% in females of age 60-83 years and 47% of these tears are completely asymptomatic3. The author affirms that the failure to consider the presence of asymptomatic cuff tears in the control group could fully account for the authors observation of an association between hypertension and rotator cuff tears. If we hypothetically assume that we had a plausible prevalence in the control group of asymptomatic cuff tears of 22.2%,3 it will not not affect the result that in the cuff tear patient group the prevalence of hypertension is significantly higher, but, on the contrary, it makes it more evident.
In our article, we selected 201 patients negative for shoulder pathologies because shoulder painless2 and because negative to clinical tests for cuff tears. Of course, as the author state, there is no radiological assessment of their rotator cuff.2 On the other side, a patient affected by a cuff tear (symptomatic or asymptomatic) usually does not have normal shoulder external or internal rotation strength or does have a negative external rotation lag sign.1 In addition, the main result of our study is that there is an association between size of cuff tear and hypertension and, thus, this result is not affected by eventual bias of selection of the control group, being this result calculated only in the study group (patients who underwent arthroscopic cuff repair).
Best personal regards,
Prof. Stefano Gumina (MD, PhD)
References
1)Castoldi F, Blonna D, Hertel R. External rotation lag sign revisited: Accuracy for
diagnosis of full thickness supraspinatus tear. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2009; 18: 529-534.
2)Gumina S, Arceri V, Carbone S, Albino P, Passaretti D, Campagna V, Fagnani C, Postacchini F. The association between arterial hypertension and rotator cuff tear: the influence on rotator cuff tear sizes. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012 Jun 27. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2012.05.023
3) Oag HCL, Daines MD, Nichols AS, Arden NK, Carr AJ. The association between rotator cuff tears, shoulder pain and activities of daily living: Normal population data. Presented at BESS (British Shoulder and Elbow Society) 2012 and awaiting publication in Proceedings of BESS.
4) Yamaguchi K, Ditsios K, Middleton WD, Hildebolt CF, Galatz LM, Teefey SA. The demographic and morphological features of rotator cuff disease. A comparison of asymptomatic and symptomatic shoulders. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006; 88: 1699-1704. doi:10.2106/JBJS.E.00835
5) Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Kobayashi T, Shitara H, Osawa T. Factors involved in the presence of symptoms associated with rotator cuff tears: a comparison of asymptomatic and symptomatic rotator cuff tears in the general population. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2011; 20:1133-1137. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2011.01.011
6) Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Osawa T, Yanagawa T, Nakajima D, Shitara H, Kobayashi T. Prevalence and risk factors of a rotator cuff tear in the general population. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2010; 19: 116-20. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2009.04.00
Diritto di famiglia e Unione europea
No full textThe book is edited by Ilaria Queirolo and Sergio Maria Carbone, that collected and co-ordinated the contributions written by many professors and researchers who devoted their studies to the topic of family relationships within the European Union. To this purpose, the book considers all the aspects related to family law that have been touched by European Community and European Union legislation (i.e: Part I: Family in the perspective of the free movement of persons; Part II: Family in the perspective of the protection of fundamental rights; Part III: The dissolution of marriage in the Brussels II (bis) Regulation; Part IV: The discipline of parental responsibility; Part V: Maintenance obligations), giving a critical reconstruction of the legal framework and a complex view to the critical issues arising from it.
In this context Ilaria Queirolo is also the author of two chapters of the book: the first one (Premise), written together with prof. Carbone, underlines the legal basis of the European intervention in the field of family law, therefore giving a solid structure to the book by the identification of a common thread to all other contributions. The second chapter written by the Author (Chapter VIII) is precisely devoted to the critical analysis of the 2006 Commission proposal of amendment of Regulation 2201/2003 and considers the impact and the relapses that such amendments would entail for the Italian discipline. To this purpose, particular attention is given to the impact of introducing the relevance of parties’ autonomy in the field of family law, with reference to both jurisdiction and applicable law
Contrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures
No full textContrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures. 12. Journées d'Etude des Sol
Contrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures
No full textContrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures. 12. Journées d'Etude des Sol
Contrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures
No full textContrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures. 12. Journées d'Etude des Sol
Contrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures
No full textContrôle pédologique des stocks de carbone organique des sols sous forêts et cultures. 12. Journées d'Etude des Sol
Natural bioactive-based polyanhydrides for controlled release applications:
No full textHydrolytically degradable polyanhydrides are of interest for a variety of controlled release applications because of their surface-eroding behavior and tunable degradation rate based on polymer chemical composition. Rather than physical admixtures, bioactives were chemically incorporated either directly into the polymer backbone or as pendant groups via hydrolytically degradable linkages.
A series of poly(anhydride-esters) containing iodinated salicylates were synthesized via both melt-condensation and solution polymerization to generate X-ray opaque polymers. It was found that physical and mechanical properties were affected by polymerization technique, and thermal properties such as glass transition temperature were dependent on the amount of iodine in the polymer.
The degradation rate of salicylic acid (SA)-based polyanhydrides was manipulated to release SA over prolonged periods of time (i.e., months) and over relatively short periods of time (i.e., days). First, a series of copolymers based on a SA-based diacid and highly aromatic comonomers 1,6-bis(o-carboxyphenoxy)hexane (o-CPH) and 1,6-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)hexane (p-CPH) were developed. By changing the molar ratios of SA-based diacid to o-CPH or p-CPH, the thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting copolymers varied, and the degradation rate was decreased. Alternately, two methods were used to form fast-degrading polymers: changing the structure of the diacid’s “linker” molecule and synthesizing a copolymer containing a more hydrophilic comonomer. These polymers completely degraded in one week or less.
Mono-functional antimicrobials were chemically incorporated as pendant groups via ester linkages to a polyanhydride backbone based on ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, resulting in a completely bioactive polymer. The polymers degraded in less than 1 week, and some displayed the ability to completely prevent Salmonella biofilm formation.
Lastly, polymers based on antimicrobial and antioxidant preservatives (i.e., hydroxycinnamates) were synthesized and found to release the preservatives over a prolonged period of time (> 1 month). Polymer degradation products exhibited antioxidant activity, and experiments indicated that free bioactives are responsible for antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the polymers contain double bonds that can be crosslinked to form hydrophobic networks.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Ashley Lauren Carbon
Heterogeneous and tissue-specific regulation of effector T cell responses by IFN-gamma during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.
No full textIFN-γ and T cells are both required for the development of experimental cerebral malaria during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection. Surprisingly, however, the role of IFN-γ in shaping the effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response during this infection has not been examined in detail. To address this, we have compared the effector T cell responses in wild-type and IFN-γ(-/-) mice during P. berghei ANKA infection. The expansion of splenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells during P. berghei ANKA infection was unaffected by the absence of IFN-γ, but the contraction phase of the T cell response was significantly attenuated. Splenic T cell activation and effector function were essentially normal in IFN-γ(-/-) mice; however, the migration to, and accumulation of, effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the lung, liver, and brain was altered in IFN-γ(-/-) mice. Interestingly, activation and accumulation of T cells in various nonlymphoid organs was differently affected by lack of IFN-γ, suggesting that IFN-γ influences T cell effector function to varying levels in different anatomical locations. Importantly, control of splenic T cell numbers during P. berghei ANKA infection depended on active IFN-γ-dependent environmental signals--leading to T cell apoptosis--rather than upon intrinsic alterations in T cell programming. To our knowledge, this is the first study to fully investigate the role of IFN-γ in modulating T cell function during P. berghei ANKA infection and reveals that IFN-γ is required for efficient contraction of the pool of activated T cells
Accuracy Comparison between Techniques for the Establishment of Calibration Intervals: Application to Atomic Clocks
No full textThis paper deals with two different techniques for the establishment of the optimal calibration intervals of Cesium atomic clocks. In particular, the intervals obtained using a mathematical model derived from a metrological analysis are compared with those calculated with an iterative technique referred to as Simple Response Method (SRM). The remarkable consistency between the results achieved with these different calibration strategies not only provides an experimental cross-validation of both techniques, but it also allows the definition of two interchangeable criteria to ensure the metrological confirmation of any atomic clock of this type
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