442 research outputs found
Invariance: a Theoretical Approach for Coding Sets of Words Modulo Literal (Anti)Morphisms
Let be a finite or countable alphabet and let be literal
(anti)morphism onto (by definition, such a correspondence is determinated
by a permutation of the alphabet). This paper deals with sets which are
invariant under (-invariant for short).We establish an
extension of the famous defect theorem. Moreover, we prove that for the
so-called thin -invariant codes, maximality and completeness are two
equivalent notions. We prove that a similar property holds in the framework of
some special families of -invariant codes such as prefix (bifix) codes,
codes with a finite deciphering delay, uniformly synchronized codes and
circular codes. For a special class of involutive antimorphisms, we prove that
any regular -invariant code may be embedded into a complete one.Comment: To appear in Acts of WORDS 201
Association between lumbar disc degeneration and biochemical markers of bone and cartilage remodelling
peer reviewe
Deposition rate controls nucleation and growth during amorphous/nanocrystalline competition in sputtered Zr-Cr thin films
Dual-phase Zr-based thin films synthesized by magnetron co-sputtering and
showing competitive growth between amorphous and crystalline phases have been
reported recently. In such films, the amorphous phase grows as columns, while
the crystalline phase grows as separated cone-shaped crystalline regions made
of smaller crystallites. In this paper, we investigate this phenomenon and
propose a model for the development of the crystalline regions during thin film
growth. We evidence using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), that this competitive
selfseparation also exists in co-sputtered Zr-Cr thin films with Cr contents of
~84-86 at.%, corresponding to the transition between the amorphous and
crystalline compositions, and in the Zr-V system. Then, to assess the
sturdiness of this phenomenon, its existence and geometrical characteristics
are evaluated when varying the film composition and the deposition rate. The
variation of geometrical features, such as the crystalline cone angle, the size
and density of crystallites, is discussed. Is it shown that a variation in the
deposition rate changes the nucleation and growth kinetics of the crystallites.
The surface coverage by the crystalline phase at a given thickness is also
calculated for each deposition rate. Moreover, comparison is made between
Zr-Cr, Zr-V, Zr-Mo and Zr-W dual-phase thin films to compare their nucleation
and growth kinetics
Tailoring functional properties of Zr-V thin films by competitive self-separation of crystalline and amorphous phases during sputtering
Language Emptiness of Continuous-Time Parametric Timed Automata
Parametric timed automata extend the standard timed automata with the
possibility to use parameters in the clock guards. In general, if the
parameters are real-valued, the problem of language emptiness of such automata
is undecidable even for various restricted subclasses. We thus focus on the
case where parameters are assumed to be integer-valued, while the time still
remains continuous. On the one hand, we show that the problem remains
undecidable for parametric timed automata with three clocks and one parameter.
On the other hand, for the case with arbitrary many clocks where only one of
these clocks is compared with (an arbitrary number of) parameters, we show that
the parametric language emptiness is decidable. The undecidability result
tightens the bounds of a previous result which assumed six parameters, while
the decidability result extends the existing approaches that deal with
discrete-time semantics only. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first
positive result in the case of continuous-time and unbounded integer
parameters, except for the rather simple case of single-clock automata
Formation of a metastable nanostructured mullite during Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation of aluminium in “soft” regime condition
International audienceThis paper demonstrates the possibility of producing a lamellar ceramic nanocomposite at the topmost surface of oxide coatings grown with the Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation process (PEO). PEO was conducted on aluminium in a silicate-rich electrolyte under the so-called "soft" regime. Nanoscale characterisation showed that the transition from the "arcs" to the "soft" regime was concomitant with the gradual formation of a 1:1 mullite/alumina lamellar nanocomposite (≈120 nm thick) that filled the cavity of the PEO "pancake" structure. Combined with plasma diagnostic techniques, a three-step growth mechanism was proposed: (i) local melting of alumina under the PEO micro-discharges (≈3200 K at high heating rate ≈3 × 10 8 K·s −1); (ii) progressive silicon enrichment of the melt coming from the electrolyte; and (iii) quenching of the melt at a cooling rate of ≈3.3 × 10 7 K·s −1 as the micro-discharge extinguishes. Under such severe cooling conditions, the solidification process was non-equilibrium as predicted by the metastable SiO 2-Al 2 O 3 binary phase diagram. This resulted in phase separation where pure alumina lamellae alternate periodically with 1:1 mullite lamellae
Enumeration and Decidable Properties of Automatic Sequences
We show that various aspects of k-automatic sequences -- such as having an
unbordered factor of length n -- are both decidable and effectively enumerable.
As a consequence it follows that many related sequences are either k-automatic
or k-regular. These include many sequences previously studied in the
literature, such as the recurrence function, the appearance function, and the
repetitivity index. We also give some new characterizations of the class of
k-regular sequences. Many results extend to other sequences defined in terms of
Pisot numeration systems
Empirical antifungal treatment in the critically ill patients: how does it impact on the outcome?
Recommendations for The Conduct of Economic Evaluations in Osteoporosis: Outcomes of An Experts’ Consensus Meeting Organized by The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) And the US Branch of The International Osteoporosis Foundation
Summary
Economic evaluations are increasingly used to assess the value of health interventions, but variable quality and heterogeneity limit the use of these evaluations by decision-makers. These recommendations provide guidance for the design, conduct, and reporting of economic evaluations in osteoporosis to improve their transparency, comparability, and methodologic standards. Introduction
This paper aims to provide recommendations for the conduct of economic evaluations in osteoporosis in order to improve their transparency, comparability, and methodologic standards. Methods
A working group was convened by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis to make recommendations for the design, conduct, and reporting of economic evaluations in osteoporosis, to define an osteoporosis-specific reference case to serve a minimum standard for all economic analyses in osteoporosis, to discuss methodologic challenges and initiate a call for research. A literature review, a face-to-face meeting in New York City (including 11 experts), and a review/approval by a larger group of experts worldwide (including 23 experts in total) were conducted. Results
Recommendations on the type of economic evaluation, methods for economic evaluation, modeling aspects, base-case analysis and population, excess mortality, fracture costs and disutility, treatment characteristics, and model validation were provided. Recommendations for reporting economic evaluations in osteoporosis were also made and an osteoporosis-specific checklist was designed that includes items to report when performing an economic evaluation in osteoporosis. Further, 12 minimum criteria for economic evaluations in osteoporosis were identified and 12 methodologic challenges and need for further research were discussed. Conclusion
While the working group acknowledges challenges and the need for further research, these recommendations are intended to supplement general and national guidelines for economic evaluations, improve transparency, quality, and comparability of economic evaluations in osteoporosis, and maintain methodologic standards to increase their use by decision-makers
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