10,244 research outputs found

    Most Complex Non-Returning Regular Languages

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    A regular language LL is non-returning if in the minimal deterministic finite automaton accepting it there are no transitions into the initial state. Eom, Han and Jir\'askov\'a derived upper bounds on the state complexity of boolean operations and Kleene star, and proved that these bounds are tight using two different binary witnesses. They derived upper bounds for concatenation and reversal using three different ternary witnesses. These five witnesses use a total of six different transformations. We show that for each n4n\ge 4 there exists a ternary witness of state complexity nn that meets the bound for reversal and that at least three letters are needed to meet this bound. Moreover, the restrictions of this witness to binary alphabets meet the bounds for product, star, and boolean operations. We also derive tight upper bounds on the state complexity of binary operations that take arguments with different alphabets. We prove that the maximal syntactic semigroup of a non-returning language has (n1)n(n-1)^n elements and requires at least (n2)\binom{n}{2} generators. We find the maximal state complexities of atoms of non-returning languages. Finally, we show that there exists a most complex non-returning language that meets the bounds for all these complexity measures.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

    Decision Making for Inconsistent Expert Judgments Using Negative Probabilities

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    In this paper we provide a simple random-variable example of inconsistent information, and analyze it using three different approaches: Bayesian, quantum-like, and negative probabilities. We then show that, at least for this particular example, both the Bayesian and the quantum-like approaches have less normative power than the negative probabilities one.Comment: 14 pages, revised version to appear in the Proceedings of the QI2013 (Quantum Interactions) conferenc

    Physical Activity and Adiposity Markers at Older Ages: Accelerometer Vs Questionnaire Data

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    Physical activity is critically important for successful aging, but its effect on adiposity markers at older ages is unclear as much of the evidence comes from self-reported data on physical activity. We assessed the associations of questionnaire-assessed and accelerometer-assessed physical activity with adiposity markers in older adults

    Metabolically healthy obesity: Associations with physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and metabolic decline

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    Background: Obesity is a major threat to public health given its strong links with cardiometabolic morbidity and premature mortality. One-third of obese adults are metabolically healthy, but little is known about modifiable determinants of this state or its progression over time. Aims: To determine whether physical activity and sedentary behaviour distinguish healthy from unhealthy obesity, and whether healthy obese adults have increased risk for developing metabolic ill-health and type 2 diabetes. Methods: Data were drawn from up to 5427 men and women participating in the Whitehall II cohort study. Normal-weight, overweight, and obese adults were considered healthy if they had <2 of 5 metabolic risk factors (hypertension, low HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood glucose, and insulin resistance). Associations of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and leisure sitting time with prevalence and 15-year incidence of metabolic risk factor clustering were examined among healthy obese adults. Differences in accelerometer-assessed total physical activity were also examined between healthy and unhealthy obese groups. Metabolic risk factor incidence among initially healthy obese adults was described, and published risk estimates of incident type 2 diabetes were systematically searched and meta-analysed. Results: Neither high self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity nor low self-reported leisure sitting was associated with health among obese adults. Higher total physical activity among healthy versus unhealthy obese adults was evident through accelerometer assessment only (p=0.002). After 20 years, 52% of initially healthy obese adults were unhealthy obese, with insulin resistance being most commonly incident. Meta-analyses of 8 studies indicated that healthy obese adults have 4.03 (95% CI=2.66-6.09) times greater risk of incident type 2 diabetes than healthy normal-weight adults. Conclusions: Higher physical activity rather than lower sedentary behaviour distinguishes healthy from unhealthy obesity. Healthy obesity is strongly linked with future insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that it is not a harmless condition

    Do Triarchic Psychopathy Components of New Zealand High-Risk Parolees Predict Probation Officer Relationship Quality, Quality of Life on Parole, and Recidivism?

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    The Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) is a self-report scale based on the Triarchic Model that has been little used in research in the criminal justice system. We sought to examine associations between pre-release TriPM components, probation officer relationships, and parolee quality of life, both measured after 2 months in the community, and reconviction 12 months after release. Using data from 234 New Zealand male high-risk prisoners, we tested four multivariate models each across three timepoints. Pre-release, we found Boldness was not predictive, but Meanness predicted poorer relationship quality after 2 months, both from probation officer and parolee perspectives, with the former in turn predicting reconviction within 12 months. Disinhibition predicted 12-month recidivism regardless of relationship quality or external life circumstances. This relationship to recidivism was partially explained in the final model which linked Disinhibition and poorer subjective wellbeing, with the latter in turn predicting recidivism

    COVID-19, domestic violence and abuse, and urgent dental and oral and maxillofacial surgery care.

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    Household isolation measures to reduce coronavirus transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in increased risk of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). DVA physical injury most frequently involves the face. Dentists, dental care professionals, oral surgeons and oral and maxillofacial surgeons all have a critical part to play in identifying patients experiencing DVA, who present with dental and facial injury, and in making referrals to specialist agencies. This paper describes how to ask questions about DVA sensitively and how to make an appropriate referral. Early intervention and referral to a DVA advocate can prevent an abusive situation becoming worse with more intense violence. It can save lives

    Dynapenic obesity and the risk of incident Type 2 diabetes: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

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    Aim Obesity is a well‐established risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes. Evidence suggests that sarcopenia, the age‐related decline in muscle mass and strength, may exacerbate diabetes risk in obese individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the combined effect of obesity and low muscle strength, dynapenia, on the risk of incident Type 2 diabetes in older adults. Methods Participants were 5953 (1670 obese) men and women from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing without known Type 2 diabetes at baseline and for whom handgrip strength, biochemical and other clinical data were collected. A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes was recorded from self‐reported physician diagnosis over 6 years. Results For each unit increase in grip strength, there was a reduction in diabetes risk (age‐, sex‐ and BMI adjusted HR; 0.98; 95% CI 0.96–0.99). The risk of Type 2 diabetes was elevated in all obese participants, but was greatest in those with low handgrip strength (HR = 4.93, 95% CI 2.85, 8.53) compared with non‐obese individuals with high handgrip strength. Eleven per cent of the sample met the threshold for weakness (handgrip strength: men < 26 kg; women < 16 kg) that was associated with elevated Type 2 diabetes risk in obese (HR = 3.57, 95% CI 2.04, 6.24) but not in non‐obese (HR = 0.86, 95% CI, 0.44, 1.68) compared with normal/non‐obese participants. Conclusion Dynapenic obesity, determined by high BMI and low handgrip strength, is associated with increased risk of incident Type 2 diabetes in older people

    Underweight as a risk factor for respiratory death in the Whitehall cohort study: exploring reverse causality using a 45-year follow-up

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    Underweight adults have higher rates of respiratory death than the normal weight but it is unclear whether this association is causal or reflects illness-induced weight loss (reverse causality). Evidence from a 45-year follow-up of underweight participants for respiratory mortality in the Whitehall study (N=18 823; 2139 respiratory deaths) suggests that excess risk among the underweight is attributable to reverse causality. The age-adjusted and smoking-adjusted risk was 1.55-fold (95% CI 1.32 to 1.83) higher among underweight compared with normal weight participants, but attenuated in a stepwise manner to 1.14 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.71) after serial exclusions of deaths during the first 5-35 years of follow-up (Ptrend<0.001)
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