1,972 research outputs found
Coalition Resilient Outcomes in Max k-Cut Games
We investigate strong Nash equilibria in the \emph{max -cut game}, where
we are given an undirected edge-weighted graph together with a set of colors. Nodes represent players and edges capture their mutual
interests. The strategy set of each player consists of the colors. When
players select a color they induce a -coloring or simply a coloring. Given a
coloring, the \emph{utility} (or \emph{payoff}) of a player is the sum of
the weights of the edges incident to , such that the color chosen
by is different from the one chosen by . Such games form some of the
basic payoff structures in game theory, model lots of real-world scenarios with
selfish agents and extend or are related to several fundamental classes of
games.
Very little is known about the existence of strong equilibria in max -cut
games. In this paper we make some steps forward in the comprehension of it. We
first show that improving deviations performed by minimal coalitions can cycle,
and thus answering negatively the open problem proposed in
\cite{DBLP:conf/tamc/GourvesM10}. Next, we turn our attention to unweighted
graphs. We first show that any optimal coloring is a 5-SE in this case. Then,
we introduce -local strong equilibria, namely colorings that are resilient
to deviations by coalitions such that the maximum distance between every pair
of nodes in the coalition is at most . We prove that -local strong
equilibria always exist. Finally, we show the existence of strong Nash
equilibria in several interesting specific scenarios.Comment: A preliminary version of this paper will appear in the proceedings of
the 45th International Conference on Current Trends in Theory and Practice of
Computer Science (SOFSEM'19
Practical Evaluation of Lempel-Ziv-78 and Lempel-Ziv-Welch Tries
We present the first thorough practical study of the Lempel-Ziv-78 and the
Lempel-Ziv-Welch computation based on trie data structures. With a careful
selection of trie representations we can beat well-tuned popular trie data
structures like Judy, m-Bonsai or Cedar
Tertiary hypothyroidism in a dog
<p/> <p>A nine-year-old male entire Labrador was diagnosed with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism. Following seven months of successful mitotane therapy, the dog presented with marked weight gain, seborrhoea and alopecia. Routine clinicopathological analyses revealed marked hypercholesterolaemia. Serum total and free thyroxine (T4) concentrations were below their respective reference ranges. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (cTSH) concentration was within reference range. TSH and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) response tests revealed adequate stimulation of total T4 in both, and cTSH in the latter test. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass arising from the pituitary fossa, with suprasellar extension. A diagnosis of tertiary hypothyroidism was made. Following four weeks of levothyroxine therapy, circulating cholesterol concentration had declined, weight loss had ensued and dermatological abnormalities had improved. Euthanasia was performed four months later due to the development of neurological signs. A highly infiltrative pituitary adenoma, with effacement of the overlying hypothalamus was identified on post mortem examination. Tertiary hypothyroidism has not been previously reported in dogs.</p
Computational Controversy
Climate change, vaccination, abortion, Trump: Many topics are surrounded by
fierce controversies. The nature of such heated debates and their elements have
been studied extensively in the social science literature. More recently,
various computational approaches to controversy analysis have appeared, using
new data sources such as Wikipedia, which help us now better understand these
phenomena. However, compared to what social sciences have discovered about such
debates, the existing computational approaches mostly focus on just a few of
the many important aspects around the concept of controversies. In order to
link the two strands, we provide and evaluate here a controversy model that is
both, rooted in the findings of the social science literature and at the same
time strongly linked to computational methods. We show how this model can lead
to computational controversy analytics that have full coverage over all the
crucial aspects that make up a controversy.Comment: In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Social
Informatics (SocInfo) 201
Introduction: Examined Live â An Epistemological Exchange Between Philosophy and Cultural Psychology on Reflection
Besides the general agreement about the human capability of reflection, there is a large area of disagreement and debate about the nature and value of âreflective scrutinyâ and the role of âsecond-order statesâ in everyday life. This problem has been discussed in a vast and heterogeneous literature about topics such as epistemic injustice, epistemic norms, agency, understanding, meta-cognition etc. However, there is not yet any extensive and interdisciplinary work, specifically focused on the topic of the epistemic value of reflection. This volume is one of the first attempts aimed at providing an innovative contribution, an exchange between philosophy, epistemology and psychology about the place and value of reflection in everyday life.
Our goal in the next sections is not to offer an exhaustive overview of recent work on epistemic reflection, nor to mimic all of the contributions made by the chapters in this volume. We will try to highlight some topics that have motivated a new resumption of this field and, with that, drawing on chapters from this volume where relevant.
Two elements defined the scope and content of this volume, on the one hand, the crucial contribution of Ernest Sosa, whose works provide original and thought-provoking contributions to contemporary epistemology in setting a new direction for old dilemmas about the nature and value of knowledge, giving a central place to reflection. On the other hand, the recent developments of cultural psychology, in the version of the âAalborg approachâ, reconsider the object and scope of psychological sciences, stressing that â[h]uman conduct is purposefulâ
Quantitative trait loci conferring grain mineral nutrient concentrations in durum wheat 3 wild emmer wheat RIL population
Mineral nutrient malnutrition, and particularly
deficiency in zinc and iron, afflicts over 3 billion people
worldwide. Wild emmer wheat, Triticum turgidum ssp.
dicoccoides, genepool harbors a rich allelic repertoire for
mineral nutrients in the grain. The genetic and physiological
basis of grain protein, micronutrients (zinc, iron,
copper and manganese) and macronutrients (calcium,
magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur) concentration
was studied in tetraploid wheat population of 152
recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a cross
between durum wheat (cv. Langdon) and wild emmer
(accession G18-16). Wide genetic variation was found
among the RILs for all grain minerals, with considerable
transgressive effect. A total of 82 QTLs were mapped for
10 minerals with LOD score range of 3.2â16.7. Most QTLs
were in favor of the wild allele (50 QTLs). Fourteen pairs
of QTLs for the same trait were mapped to seemingly
homoeologous positions, reflecting synteny between the A
and B genomes. Significant positive correlation was found
between grain protein concentration (GPC), Zn, Fe and Cu,
which was supported by significant overlap between the
respective QTLs, suggesting common physiological and/or
genetic factors controlling the concentrations of these
mineral nutrients. Few genomic regions (chromosomes 2A,
5A, 6B and 7A) were found to harbor clusters of QTLs for
GPC and other nutrients. These identified QTLs may
facilitate the use of wild alleles for improving grain
nutritional quality of elite wheat cultivars, especially in
terms of protein, Zn and Fe
Latest Results from the Heidelberg-Moscow Double Beta Decay Experiment
New results for the double beta decay of 76Ge are presented. They are
extracted from Data obtained with the HEIDELBERG-MOSCOW, which operates five
enriched 76Ge detectors in an extreme low-level environment in the GRAN SASSO.
The two neutrino accompanied double beta decay is evaluated for the first time
for all five detectors with a statistical significance of 47.7 kg y resulting
in a half life of (T_(1/2))^(2nu) = [1.55 +- 0.01 (stat) (+0.19) (-0.15)
(syst)] x 10^(21) years. The lower limit on the half-life of the 0nu beta-beta
decay obtained with pulse shape analysis is (T_(1/2))^(0_nu) > 1.9 x 10^(25)
[3.1 x 10^(25)] years with 90% C.L. (68% C.L.) (with 35.5 kg y). This results
in an upper limit of the effective Majorana neutrino mass of 0.35 eV (0.27 eV).
No evidence for a Majoron emitting decay mode or for the neutrinoless mode is
observed.Comment: 14 pages, revtex, 6 figures, Talk was presented at third
International Conference ' Dark Matter in Astro and Particle Physics' -
DARK2000, to be publ. in Proc. of DARK2000, Springer (2000). Please look into
our HEIDELBERG Non-Accelerator Particle Physics group home page:
http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/non_acc
A framework and a measurement instrument for sustainability of work practices in long-term care
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In health care, many organizations are working on quality improvement and/or innovation of their care practices. Although the effectiveness of improvement processes has been studied extensively, little attention has been given to sustainability of the changed work practices after implementation. The objective of this study is to develop a theoretical framework and measurement instrument for sustainability. To this end sustainability is conceptualized with two dimensions: routinization and institutionalization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The exploratory methodological design consisted of three phases: a) framework development; b) instrument development; and c) field testing in former improvement teams in a quality improvement program for health care (N <sub>teams </sub>= 63, N <sub>individual </sub>= 112). Data were collected not until at least one year had passed after implementation.</p> <p>Underlying constructs and their interrelations were explored using Structural Equation Modeling and Principal Component Analyses. Internal consistency was computed with Cronbach's alpha coefficient. A long and a short version of the instrument are proposed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The Ï<sup>2</sup>- difference test of the -2 Log Likelihood estimates demonstrated that the hierarchical two factor model with routinization and institutionalization as separate constructs showed a better fit than the one factor model (p < .01). Secondly, construct validity of the instrument was strong as indicated by the high factor loadings of the items. Finally, the internal consistency of the subscales was good.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The theoretical framework offers a valuable starting point for the analysis of sustainability on the level of actual changed work practices. Even though the two dimensions routinization and institutionalization are related, they are clearly distinguishable and each has distinct value in the discussion of sustainability. Finally, the subscales conformed to psychometric properties defined in literature. The instrument can be used in the evaluation of improvement projects.</p
The Triumph and Tragedy of Tobacco Control: A Tale of Nine Nations
The use of law and policy to limit tobacco consumption illustrates one of the greatest triumphs of public health in the late twentieth and early twenty-ïŹrst centuries, as well as one of its most fundamental failures. Overall decreases in tobacco consumption throughout the developed world represent millions of saved lives and unquantiïŹable suffering averted. Yet those beneïŹts have not been equally distributed. The poor and the undereducated have enjoyed fewer of the gains. In this review, we build on existing tobacco control scholarship and expand it both conceptually and comparatively. Our focus is the social gradient of smoking both within and across borders and how policy makers have been most effective in limiting smoking prevalence among the more privileged segments of society. To illustrate that point, we reference a range of literature on tobacco taxation, advertising, and public smoking in ïŹve economically advanced democraciesâFrance, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United Statesâand four less developed nationsâIndia, China, Brazil, and South Africaâthat together comprise 40% of the worldâs population
- âŠ