Simulation Analysis for Choice of Binary Lotteries

In this paper, we discuss the development of a simulation system with artificial autonomous adaptive agents that select one out of a given pair of binary lotteries, as represented by probability distributions over two outcomes. The agent’s decisions are made by a learning classifier system, and after classifying the information of a given pair of binary lotteries, the agent chooses one of them. The condition part of a classifier consists of two types of conditions: the conditions identifying probabilities and payoffs of a given pair of binary lotteries, and the conditions identifying characteristics of the lotteries known by several models that describe the behavioral regularities of choices under risk. We compare the result of the simulation with that of the experiment by Selten et al. (Theory Decis 46:211–249, 1999), and demonstrate the similarity between them. From the similarity, we consider a mechanism of human choices under risk. Finally, we examine the possibility of controlling a subject’s preference with respect to risky events using the lottery ticket procedure in laboratory experiments.     

Fluid volume deficit: profile of defining characteristics in patients with burns

The present study aimed at describing the profile of defining characteristics in patients with the nursing diagnosis "Fluid volume deficit" related to active loss of fluid secondary to burns. Data were collected by means of a tool, containing 29 possible defining characteristics of this diagnosis. Seven nurses, that worked at the Burnt Unit for at least five years ago, provided opinions about the degree to which each defining characteristic is indicative of this diagnosis. Nurses rated each defining characteristic of diagnosis being tested on a scale of zero to one. The results confirmed all, except one (increased body temperature) defining characteristics presented by NANDA for this diagnosis and indicated 10 new defining characteristics.     

Emerging Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacotherapy and Cell-Based Therapy for Lymphedema

Secondary lymphedema is a common complication of lymph node dissection or radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Conventional therapies such as compression sleeve therapy, complete decongestive physiotherapy, and surgical therapies decrease edema; however, they are not curative because they cannot modulate the pathophysiology of lymphedema. Recent advances reveal that the activation and accumulation of CD4+ T cells are key in the development of lymphedema. Based on this pathophysiology, the efficacy of pharmacotherapy (tacrolimus, anti-IL-4/IL-13 antibody, or fingolimod) and cell-based therapy for lymphedema has been demonstrated in animal models and pilot studies. In addition, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have attracted attention as candidates for cell-based lymphedema therapy because they improve symptoms and decrease edema volume in the long term with no serious adverse effects in pilot studies. Furthermore, MSC transplantation promotes functional lymphatic regeneration and improves the microenvironment in animal models. In this review, we focus on inflammatory cells involved in the pathogenesis of lymphedema and discuss the efficacy and challenges of pharmacotherapy and cell-based therapies for lymphedema.     

Growth characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dimethyl ether diffusion flame

The growth characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in laminar dimethyl ether (DME) diffusion flame were investigated experimentally, and we assumed that the growth of PAHs within the flame was predominantly due to methyl addition/cyclization (MAC) mechanism. Methane and propane laminar diffusion flames were also investigated for comparison, and their PAHs growth characteristics had been explained by reactions concerning acetylene and propargyl radical. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and laser-induced incandescence (LII) techniques were used to measure the relative concentration of soot and PAHs, respectively. Two-dimensional images of the OH-LIF, PAHs-LIF, and LII from soot were measured in the test flames. Furthermore, to investigate the growth characteristics of the PAHs in the flames, the fluorescence spectra of the PAHs were measured at several heights in the flames, using a spectrograph. The molecular size of the PAHs was estimated based on an emission wavelength region of the PAHs-LIF that varied along with the PAH size. The results show that although the PAHs were widely distributed within the unburned region similar to that of the methane and propane flames, the intensity and detection region of LII were much smaller than that of the methane and propane flames. The PAHs-LIF spectra indicated that the growth of the PAHs within the DME flame was much slower than the methane and propane flames, and thus a large number of small PAHs were discharged into the OH region distributed around the outer edge of the flame.     

Operation and control of coupled nonequilibrium disk MHD generator and inverter system under power line fault condition

Numerical simulations of detailed time‐dependent behavior are performed on a simulation model in which a coupled system of nonequilibrium disk MHD generator and line‐commutated inverter is connected to an infinite bus through the transmission line, showing that continuous operation of the system is usually possible even when a power line fault occurs near the system. Then, time‐dependent swing simulations are carried out on another simulation model in which the MHD/inverter system and a synchronous generator are connected in parallel to an infinite bus through the common transmission line, revealing that the rotor angle swing of the synchronous generator caused by the power line fault can be effectively suppressed by the fast output power control of the MHD/inverter system. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 127(3): 13–24, 1999     

Optimizing service restoration in distribution systems based on scheduling of crews considering priorities of loads

The service restoration to sound sections within a short period as much as possible, performed after the permanent fault occurs in a distribution system, is significant for maintaining power supply reliability. This paper proposes an efficient method to find service restoration procedures based on fault searching and the optimal work scheduling of crews, considering the power supply priorities of loads and the probability of occurrence of faults. The proposed method is composed of two-stage problems to reduce the outage sections efficiently: (i) the problem to find a series of searching procedures for unknown fault locations in the first stage and (ii) the optimization problem of work schedules of crews in the second stage. In the first stage, the order of operation of switches opened for searching for the fault direction is determined, constituting the searching tree. After that, the proposed optimization method can efficiently solve the work scheduling problem by formulating it as a mixed-integer linear programming problem in the second stage. The computational experiments using a large-scale distribution system model with many remote and manual switches show that the proposed method can provide efficient service restoration procedures within a reasonable computational time.     

Current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance in Co/Cu multilayered nanocylinders electrodeposited into anodized aluminum oxide nanochannels with ultra-large aspect ratio

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - An anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) thick film with numerous nanochannels was synthesized by a cathodic exfoliation technique from a metallic...     

Performance analysis of go-back-N ARQ scheme with selective repeatin intra-block

The performances of the go-back-N ARQ scheme with selective repeat in intra-block (GBN-SR) and revised GBN-SR (Rev-GBN-SR) schemes are analyzed. Using the derived generating function of the service time of a packet, the throughputs of the proposed schemes are compared with that of Benelli's (1986) scheme. It is shown that the proposed Rev-GBN-SR scheme shows good performance in a wider range from low to high packet error rate regions     

Establishment of framework P1 clones for map-based cloning and genome sequencing: direct RFLP mapping of large clones

The described case underlines all difficulties which arise in identification procedure of totally burned human remains. The main problem is the fragility of bone and tooth fragments and the radiological screening of structures of high individual specificity. After the fire in an old beekeeping a totally burned corpse has been found. The fragments of the bones and jaws were fixed with sodium silicate immediately. The viscero-cranium was reconstructed and x-rayed in an modified orthopantomography-x-ray-equipment. The comparison of pre- and postmortem radiographs made a positive identification possible.     

Solid phase micro extraction coupled with semi-microcolumn high performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of benzodiazepines in human urine

SPME/semi-microcolumn HPLC (SPME/LC) was investigated to analyze benzodiazepines in human urine samples. SPME conditions such as extraction time, extraction temperature, salt concentration and pH of matrix, flush volume and desorption time were optimized by extracting various drugs from a prepared water matrix. Combination of adding saturated salts to the matrix and controlling pH ranged from neutral to weakly alkaline conditions makes the increase of extraction efficiency. Under optimal condition SPME/LC is more sensitive than direct HPLC analysis without the SPME process. The limits of detection (LODs) was several ppb level and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was < 15% when human urine samples were analyzed by this analytical system. The system is very useful and is enough to assay benzodiazepines in a human urine sample without tedious and complex analytical procedures. In this paper the applicability of SPME/LC to the analysis of benzodiazepines in human urine samples was reported. In addition, the extension to the evaluation of SPME/LC/MS system was also described.