642 research outputs found
Tractable Pathfinding for the Stochastic On-Time Arrival Problem
We present a new and more efficient technique for computing the route that
maximizes the probability of on-time arrival in stochastic networks, also known
as the path-based stochastic on-time arrival (SOTA) problem. Our primary
contribution is a pathfinding algorithm that uses the solution to the
policy-based SOTA problem---which is of pseudo-polynomial-time complexity in
the time budget of the journey---as a search heuristic for the optimal path. In
particular, we show that this heuristic can be exceptionally efficient in
practice, effectively making it possible to solve the path-based SOTA problem
as quickly as the policy-based SOTA problem. Our secondary contribution is the
extension of policy-based preprocessing to path-based preprocessing for the
SOTA problem. In the process, we also introduce Arc-Potentials, a more
efficient generalization of Stochastic Arc-Flags that can be used for both
policy- and path-based SOTA. After developing the pathfinding and preprocessing
algorithms, we evaluate their performance on two different real-world networks.
To the best of our knowledge, these techniques provide the most efficient
computation strategy for the path-based SOTA problem for general probability
distributions, both with and without preprocessing.Comment: Submission accepted by the International Symposium on Experimental
Algorithms 2016 and published by Springer in the Lecture Notes in Computer
Science series on June 1, 2016. Includes typographical corrections and
modifications to pre-processing made after the initial submission to SODA'15
(July 7, 2014
Reading Articles Online
We study the online problem of reading articles that are listed in an
aggregated form in a dynamic stream, e.g., in news feeds, as abbreviated social
media posts, or in the daily update of new articles on arXiv. In such a
context, the brief information on an article in the listing only hints at its
content. We consider readers who want to maximize their information gain within
a limited time budget, hence either discarding an article right away based on
the hint or accessing it for reading. The reader can decide at any point
whether to continue with the current article or skip the remaining part
irrevocably. In this regard, Reading Articles Online, RAO, does differ
substantially from the Online Knapsack Problem, but also has its similarities.
Under mild assumptions, we show that any -competitive algorithm for the
Online Knapsack Problem in the random order model can be used as a black box to
obtain an -competitive algorithm for RAO, where
measures the accuracy of the hints with respect to the information profiles of
the articles. Specifically, with the current best algorithm for Online
Knapsack, which is -competitive, we obtain an upper bound
of on the competitive ratio of RAO. Furthermore, we study a
natural algorithm that decides whether or not to read an article based on a
single threshold value, which can serve as a model of human readers. We show
that this algorithmic technique is -competitive. Hence, our algorithms
are constant-competitive whenever the accuracy is a constant.Comment: Manuscript of COCOA 2020 pape
New and simple algorithms for stable flow problems
Stable flows generalize the well-known concept of stable matchings to markets
in which transactions may involve several agents, forwarding flow from one to
another. An instance of the problem consists of a capacitated directed network,
in which vertices express their preferences over their incident edges. A
network flow is stable if there is no group of vertices that all could benefit
from rerouting the flow along a walk.
Fleiner established that a stable flow always exists by reducing it to the
stable allocation problem. We present an augmenting-path algorithm for
computing a stable flow, the first algorithm that achieves polynomial running
time for this problem without using stable allocation as a black-box
subroutine. We further consider the problem of finding a stable flow such that
the flow value on every edge is within a given interval. For this problem, we
present an elegant graph transformation and based on this, we devise a simple
and fast algorithm, which also can be used to find a solution to the stable
marriage problem with forced and forbidden edges.
Finally, we study the stable multicommodity flow model introduced by
Kir\'{a}ly and Pap. The original model is highly involved and allows for
commodity-dependent preference lists at the vertices and commodity-specific
edge capacities. We present several graph-based reductions that show
equivalence to a significantly simpler model. We further show that it is
NP-complete to decide whether an integral solution exists
A new approach to treatment of resistant gram-positive infections: potential impact of targeted IV to oral switch on length of stay
BACKGROUND: Patients prescribed intravenous (IV) glycopeptides usually remain in hospital until completion of this treatment. Some of these patients could be discharged earlier if a switch to an oral antibiotic was made. This study was designed to identify the percentage of inpatients currently prescribed IV glycopeptides who could be discharged earlier if a switch to an oral agent was used, and to estimate the number of bed days that could be saved. We also aimed to identify the patient group(s) most likely to benefit, and to estimate the number of days of IV therapy that could be prevented in patients who remained in hospital. METHODS: Patients were included if they were prescribed an IV glycopeptide for 5 days or more. Predetermined IV to oral antibiotic switch criteria and discharge criteria were applied. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify the characteristics of the patients most likely to be suitable for earlier discharge. RESULTS: Of 211 patients, 62 (29%) could have had a reduced length of stay if they were treated with a suitable oral antibiotic. This would have saved a total of 649 inpatient days (median 5 per patient; range 1â54). A further 31 patients (15%) could have switched to oral therapy as an inpatient thus avoiding IV line use. The patients most likely to be suitable for early discharge were those with skin and soft tissue infection, under the cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopaedics, general medical, plastic surgery and vascular specialities, with no high risk comorbidity and less than five other regularly prescribed drugs. CONCLUSION: The need for glycopeptide therapy has a significant impact on length of stay. Effective targeting of oral antimicrobials could reduce the need for IV access, allow outpatient treatment and thus reduce the length of stay in patients with infections caused by antibiotic resistant gram-positive bacteria
Graphene Photonics and Optoelectronics
The richness of optical and electronic properties of graphene attracts
enormous interest. Graphene has high mobility and optical transparency, in
addition to flexibility, robustness and environmental stability. So far, the
main focus has been on fundamental physics and electronic devices. However, we
believe its true potential to be in photonics and optoelectronics, where the
combination of its unique optical and electronic properties can be fully
exploited, even in the absence of a bandgap, and the linear dispersion of the
Dirac electrons enables ultra-wide-band tunability. The rise of graphene in
photonics and optoelectronics is shown by several recent results, ranging from
solar cells and light emitting devices, to touch screens, photodetectors and
ultrafast lasers. Here we review the state of the art in this emerging field.Comment: Review Nature Photonics, in pres
Inhibition of Post-Synaptic Kv7/KCNQ/M Channels Facilitates Long-Term Potentiation in the Hippocampus
Activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) facilitates the induction of synaptic plasticity and enhances cognitive function. In the hippocampus, M1 mAChR on CA1 pyramidal cells inhibit both small conductance Ca2+-activated KCa2 potassium channels and voltage-activated Kv7 potassium channels. Inhibition of KCa2 channels facilitates long-term potentiation (LTP) by enhancing Ca2+calcium influx through postsynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDAR). Inhibition of Kv7 channels is also reported to facilitate LTP but the mechanism of action is unclear. Here, we show that inhibition of Kv7 channels with XE-991 facilitated LTP induced by theta burst pairing at Schaffer collateral commissural synapses in rat hippocampal slices. Similarly, negating Kv7 channel conductance using dynamic clamp methodologies also facilitated LTP. Negation of Kv7 channels by XE-991 or dynamic clamp did not enhance synaptic NMDAR activation in response to theta burst synaptic stimulation. Instead, Kv7 channel inhibition increased the amplitude and duration of the after-depolarisation following a burst of action potentials. Furthermore, the effects of XE-991 were reversed by re-introducing a Kv7-like conductance with dynamic clamp. These data reveal that Kv7 channel inhibition promotes NMDAR opening during LTP induction by enhancing depolarisation during and after bursts of postsynaptic action potentials. Thus, during the induction of LTP M1 mAChRs enhance NMDAR opening by two distinct mechanisms namely inhibition of KCa2 and Kv7 channels
A lightweight, flow-based toolkit for parallel and distributed bioinformatics pipelines
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bioinformatic analyses typically proceed as chains of data-processing tasks. A pipeline, or 'workflow', is a well-defined protocol, with a specific structure defined by the topology of data-flow interdependencies, and a particular functionality arising from the data transformations applied at each step. In computer science, the dataflow programming (DFP) paradigm defines software systems constructed in this manner, as networks of message-passing components. Thus, bioinformatic workflows can be naturally mapped onto DFP concepts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To enable the flexible creation and execution of bioinformatics dataflows, we have written a modular framework for parallel pipelines in Python ('PaPy'). A PaPy workflow is created from re-usable components connected by data-pipes into a directed acyclic graph, which together define nested higher-order map functions. The successive functional transformations of input data are evaluated on flexibly pooled compute resources, either local or remote. Input items are processed in batches of adjustable size, all flowing one to tune the trade-off between parallelism and lazy-evaluation (memory consumption). An add-on module ('NuBio') facilitates the creation of bioinformatics workflows by providing domain specific data-containers (<it>e.g</it>., for biomolecular sequences, alignments, structures) and functionality (<it>e.g</it>., to parse/write standard file formats).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>PaPy offers a modular framework for the creation and deployment of parallel and distributed data-processing workflows. Pipelines derive their functionality from user-written, data-coupled components, so PaPy also can be viewed as a lightweight toolkit for extensible, flow-based bioinformatics data-processing. The simplicity and flexibility of distributed PaPy pipelines may help users bridge the gap between traditional desktop/workstation and grid computing. PaPy is freely distributed as open-source Python code at <url>http://muralab.org/PaPy</url>, and includes extensive documentation and annotated usage examples.</p
Jet energy measurement with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at root s=7 TeV
The jet energy scale and its systematic uncertainty are determined for jets measured with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of âs = 7TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 38 pb-1. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-kt algorithm with distance parameters R=0. 4 or R=0. 6. Jet energy and angle corrections are determined from Monte Carlo simulations to calibrate jets with transverse momenta pTâ„20 GeV and pseudorapidities {pipe}η{pipe}<4. 5. The jet energy systematic uncertainty is estimated using the single isolated hadron response measured in situ and in test-beams, exploiting the transverse momentum balance between central and forward jets in events with dijet topologies and studying systematic variations in Monte Carlo simulations. The jet energy uncertainty is less than 2. 5 % in the central calorimeter region ({pipe}η{pipe}<0. 8) for jets with 60â€pT<800 GeV, and is maximally 14 % for pT<30 GeV in the most forward region 3. 2â€{pipe}η{pipe}<4. 5. The jet energy is validated for jet transverse momenta up to 1 TeV to the level of a few percent using several in situ techniques by comparing a well-known reference such as the recoiling photon pT, the sum of the transverse momenta of tracks associated to the jet, or a system of low-pT jets recoiling against a high-pT jet. More sophisticated jet calibration schemes are presented based on calorimeter cell energy density weighting or hadronic properties of jets, aiming for an improved jet energy resolution and a reduced flavour dependence of the jet response. The systematic uncertainty of the jet energy determined from a combination of in situ techniques is consistent with the one derived from single hadron response measurements over a wide kinematic range. The nominal corrections and uncertainties are derived for isolated jets in an inclusive sample of high-pT jets. Special cases such as event topologies with close-by jets, or selections of samples with an enhanced content of jets originating from light quarks, heavy quarks or gluons are also discussed and the corresponding uncertainties are determined. © 2013 CERN for the benefit of the ATLAS collaboration
Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector
The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets
containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass
energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The
measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1.
The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary
decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from
the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is
used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive
b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the
range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet
cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the
range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets
and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are
compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed
between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG +
Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet
cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive
cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse
momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final
version published in European Physical Journal
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