On the design of dynamic associative neural memories

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We consider the design problem for a class of discrete-time and continuous-time neural networks. We obtain a characterization of all connection weights that store a given set of vectors into the network; that is, each given vector becomes an equilibrium point of the network. We also give sufficient conditions that guarantee the asymptotic stability of these equilibrium points

Modeling of bus transit driver availability for effective emergency evacuation in disaster relief

Potential evacuees without access to personal automobiles are expected to use transit, especially buses, to reach safer regions. For a transit agency, operation problems to be considered include establishing bus launch areas, positioning the minimum number of required buses, and coordinating transit operators, especially determining whether the number of drivers will be sufficient to cover the number of vehicles (i.e., buses) to be used during the evacuation. It is also highly probable that during an emergency, absenteeism rates for bus drivers might increase. In this study, the authors developed two stochastic models to determine the need for extra drivers during an emergency evacuation and to provide optimal solutions using well-established concepts in mathematical programming. First, the authors reviewed the literature to develop an effective methodology for the development of optimal extraboard management strategies. The authors found that although several recent reports clearly mentioned the problem of not having enough bus drivers during emergency evacuation operations, no analytical study incorporated the optimal extraboard size problem into emergency evacuation operations. Second, two mathematical models are presented in this paper. The aim of the developed models is to fill the gap in the literature for determining optimal extraboard size for transit operations during emergency evacuations. The models are specifically designed to capture risk-averse behavior of decision makers. Finally, these models were tested with hypothetical examples from real-world data from New Jersey. Results show that both models give reasonable extraboard size estimates, and under different conditions, these models are responsive to the changes in cost and quality of service preferences. The results are encouraging in terms of the models' usefulness for real-world applications

Relationship of the damage level of cell genetic apparatus with reproductive health disorder degree under conditions of harmful production

Purpose: to determine the relationship of the damage level of cell genetic apparatus with reproductive health disorder degree under conditions of harmful production.Materials and methods: the study involved 36 poultry farm female workers of childbearing age. The first group was made up by 22 workers of the main production. The control group included the other 14 employees who were administrative and managerial personnel. Clinical statistical study of reproductive health was carried out with simultaneous investigation of the cariological indices of buccal epithelium using a fluorescence microscope. At least 1000 cells in a monolayer were analyzed on each micropreparation. Statistical data analysis was made using Statistica 6.0.Results: in workers of the main production, there was a high spread of inflammatory gynecological diseases (90.9 % versus 57.1 % in the control group), uterine fibroids (9.1 %, versus 7.1 %). At the same time a statistically significant increase in the number of cells with micronuclei was revealed in this group by 2.6 times (p < 0.05), with protrusions by 1.8 times (p < 0.05), an increase in the total proliferation index by 2.3 times (p < 0.05), and the two-nuclear cells made the greatest contribution to these differences. The integral indicator of cytogenetic disorders of women of the 1st group was also significantly higher by 2.0 times (p < 0.05). Conclusion: negative influence of factors of poultry house production environment on cell genome stability disturbance was revealed. It has been established that the reproductive health disorder degree has a direct proportional dependence on the damage level of cell genetic apparatus

SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS CHARACTERISTIC OF KEFIR, AS A VALUABLE PROBIOTIC PRODUCT AND ITS BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

We present new data on the on the microbial composition and properties of probiotic kefir fungi fermented milk drink kefir, namely antikancerogenik, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic and radio-protecting, antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, in wound healing, antimicrobial, and preventable and antiallergic biological effects

Possibilities of use of food protectors for prevention of adverse effects of tobacco smoke

The article presents some pathogenetic mechanisms of adverse effects of nicotine as a part of tobacco smoke such as carcinogenesis, atherogenesis, thrombogenesis, the influence on functional activity of internals and also a bone tissue and a mucous membrane of a mouth. For food correction of adverse effects the use of a number of ingredients for development of new technologies of functional products is scientifically grounded and recommended. The expected favorable biological effects at systematic consumption of these products are presented

Integrated Synthesis Methodology for Crossbar Arrays

Nano-crossbar arrays have emerged as area and power efficient structures with an aim of achieving high performance computing beyond the limits of current CMOS. Due to the stochastic nature of nano-fabrication, nano arrays show different properties both in structural and physical device levels compared to conventional technologies. Mentioned factors introduce random characteristics that need to be carefully considered by synthesis process. For instance, a competent synthesis methodology must consider basic technology preference for switching elements, defect or fault rates of the given nano switching array and the variation values as well as their effects on performance metrics including power, delay, and area. Presented synthesis methodology in this study comprehensively covers the all specified factors and provides optimization algorithms for each step of the process.This work is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s H2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 691178, and supported by the TUBITAK-Career project #113E76

Особенности микроэлементного статуса у детей с острой крапивницей

Background: The increase in the occurrence of allergic dermatoses, especially in young children, is one of the urgent problems of pediatrics. The development of allergic reactions may be caused by changes in microelements balance of the body. Objective: Our aim was to study the features of the microelement status in children with acute urticaria.Methods: A comparative study included patients with acute urticaria of varying severity and healthy children (I and IIA groups of health). Study of microelement was carried out in hair samples by X-ray analysis.Results: The study revealed lower content of zinc in hair in patients with urticaria (n = 40) (48 compared to 146 mcg/g in 23 children of control group, p < 0.001). It also revealed lower content of calcium (447 and 2428 mcg/g respectively; p = 0.001) as well as higher content of sulfur (33860 and 26447 mcg/g respectively; p = 0.001) and potassium (537 and 312 mcg/g respectively; p = 0.001). Differences in the iron, nickel, copper, and chlorine content in hair in comparable groups were not detected. There was no association of microelements content with a burdened hereditary allergologic anamnesis.Conclusion: Children with urticaria have dismicroelemntosis, characterized by a decrease in zinc and calcium content, and an increase in the concentration of sulfur and potassium.Увеличение частоты встречаемости аллергических дерматозов, особенно у детей раннего возраста, является одной из актуальных проблем педиатрии. Развитие аллергических реакций может быть следствием изменения баланса микроэлементов в организме.Цель исследования: изучить особенности микроэлементного статуса у детей с острой крапивницей.Методы: в сравнительное исследование включали больных с острой крапивницей различной степени тяжести и здоровых детей (I и IIA группы здоровья). Изучение микроэлементного статуса осуществляли в пробах волос методом рентгенофлуоресцентного анализа.Результаты: у пациентов с крапивницей (n = 40) установлено более низкое содержание в волосах цинка (48 в сравнении со 146 мкг/г у 23 детей контрольной группы; р < 0,001) и кальция (447 и 2428 мкг/г, соответственно; р = 0,001), а также более высокое содержание серы (33 860 и 26 447 мкг/г, соответственно; р = 0,001) и калия (537 и 312 мкг/г, соответственно; р = 0,001). Различий в сравниваемых группах по содержанию в волосах железа, никеля, меди и хлора не обнаружено. Исключена и связь содержания микроэлементов с отягощенным наследственным аллергологическим анамнезом.Заключение: у детей с крапивницей установлено наличие дисмикроэлементоза, характеризующегося снижением содержания цинка и кальция, повышением концентрации серы и калия

Features of the microelement status in children with acute urticaria

Background: The increase in the occurrence of allergic dermatoses, especially in young children, is one of the urgent problems of pediatrics. The development of allergic reactions may be caused by changes in microelements balance of the body. Objective: Our aim was to study the features of the microelement status in children with acute urticaria.Methods: A comparative study included patients with acute urticaria of varying severity and healthy children (I and IIA groups of health). Study of microelement was carried out in hair samples by X-ray analysis.Results: The study revealed lower content of zinc in hair in patients with urticaria (n = 40) (48 compared to 146 mcg/g in 23 children of control group, p < 0.001). It also revealed lower content of calcium (447 and 2428 mcg/g respectively; p = 0.001) as well as higher content of sulfur (33860 and 26447 mcg/g respectively; p = 0.001) and potassium (537 and 312 mcg/g respectively; p = 0.001). Differences in the iron, nickel, copper, and chlorine content in hair in comparable groups were not detected. There was no association of microelements content with a burdened hereditary allergologic anamnesis.Conclusion: Children with urticaria have dismicroelemntosis, characterized by a decrease in zinc and calcium content, and an increase in the concentration of sulfur and potassium