1,407 research outputs found
Regular systems of paths and families of convex sets in convex position
In this paper we show that every sufficiently large family of convex bodies
in the plane has a large subfamily in convex position provided that the number
of common tangents of each pair of bodies is bounded and every subfamily of
size five is in convex position. (If each pair of bodies have at most two
common tangents it is enough to assume that every triple is in convex position,
and likewise, if each pair of bodies have at most four common tangents it is
enough to assume that every quadruple is in convex position.) This confirms a
conjecture of Pach and Toth, and generalizes a theorem of Bisztriczky and Fejes
Toth. Our results on families of convex bodies are consequences of more general
Ramsey-type results about the crossing patterns of systems of graphs of
continuous functions . On our way towards proving the
Pach-Toth conjecture we obtain a combinatorial characterization of such systems
of graphs in which all subsystems of equal size induce equivalent crossing
patterns. These highly organized structures are what we call regular systems of
paths and they are natural generalizations of the notions of cups and caps from
the famous theorem of Erdos and Szekeres. The characterization of regular
systems is combinatorial and introduces some auxiliary structures which may be
of independent interest
The Erd\H{o}s-Szekeres problem for non-crossing convex sets
We show an equivalence between a conjecture of Bisztriczky and Fejes T{\'o}th
about arrangements of planar convex bodies and a conjecture of Goodman and
Pollack about point sets in topological affine planes. As a corollary of this
equivalence we improve the upper bound of Pach and T\'{o}th on the
Erd\H{o}s-Szekeres theorem for disjoint convex bodies, as well as the recent
upper bound obtained by Fox, Pach, Sudakov and Suk, on the Erd\H{o}s-Szekeres
theorem for non-crossing convex bodies. Our methods also imply improvements on
the positive fraction Erd\H{os}-Szekeres theorem for disjoint (and
non-crossing) convex bodies, as well as a generalization of the partitioned
Erd\H{o}s-Szekeres theorem of P\'{o}r and Valtr to arrangements of non-crossing
convex bodies
The Shadows of a Cycle Cannot All Be Paths
A "shadow" of a subset of Euclidean space is an orthogonal projection of
into one of the coordinate hyperplanes. In this paper we show that it is
not possible for all three shadows of a cycle (i.e., a simple closed curve) in
to be paths (i.e., simple open curves).
We also show two contrasting results: the three shadows of a path in can all be cycles (although not all convex) and, for every ,
there exists a -sphere embedded in whose shadows
have no holes (i.e., they deformation-retract onto a point).Comment: 6 pages, 10 figure
ARE ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS DRIVING FARMLAND VALUES?
Farmland, Land Value, Agricultural Finance, Land Economics/Use, Q14, Q15,
The epidemiology of the first wave of H1N1 influenza pandemic in Australia : a population-based study
Objectives: Following the recent H1N1 influenza pandemic we were able to describe seropositivity in a repre-sentative sample of adults prior to the availability of a specific vaccine.Methods: This cross-sectional serological study is set in the Barwon Statistical Division, Australia. Blood samples were collected from September 2009 through to May 2010, from 1184 individuals (569 men, 615 women; median age 61.7 years), randomly selected from electoral rolls. Serum was analysed for specific H1N1 immunity using a haemagglutina-tion inhibition test. A self-report provided information about symptoms, demographics and healthcare. Associations be-tween H1N1 infection, gender, households and occupation were determined using logistic regression, adjusting for age.Results: Of 1184 individuals, 129 (58 men, 71 women) were seropositive. Gender-adjusted age-specific prevalence was: 8.3% 20-29 years, 13.5% 30-39, 10.4% 40-49, 6.5% 50-59, 9.7% 60-69, 10.3% 70-79, 18.8% 80+. Standardised preva-lence was 10.3% (95%CI 9.6-11.0). No associations were detected between seropositivity and gender (OR=0.82, 95%CI 0.57-1.19) or being a healthcare worker (OR=1.43, 95%CI 0.62-3.29). Smokers (OR=1.86, 95%CI 1.09-3.15) and those socioeconomically disadvantaged (OR=2.52, 95%CI 1.24-5.13) were at increased risk. Among 129 seropositive individu-als, 31 reported symptoms that were either mild (n = 13) or moderate (time off work, doctor visit, n = 18). For age <60, 39.6% of seropositive individuals reported symptoms, whereas the proportion was 13.2% for age 60+.Conclusions: Following the pandemic, the proportion of seropositive adults was low, but significant subclinical infection was found. Social disadvantage increased the likelihood of infection. The low symptom rate for older ages may relate to pre-existing immunity.<br /
Study of Morphological Changes in MgH2 Destabilized LiBH4 Systems Using Computed X-ray Microtomography
The objective of this study was to apply three-dimensional x-ray microtomographic imaging to understanding morphologies in the diphasic destabilized hydride system: MgH2 and LiBH4. Each of the single phase hydrides as well as two-phase mixtures at LiBH4:MgH2 ratios of 1:3, 1:1, and 2:1 were prepared by high energy ball milling for 5 minutes (with and without 4 mol % TiCl3 catalyst additions). Samples were imaged using computed microtomography in order to (i) establish measurement conditions leading to maximum absorption contrast between the two phases and (ii) determine interfacial volume. The optimal energy for measurement was determined to be 15 keV (having 18% transmission for the MgH2 phase and above 90% transmission for the LiBH4 phase). This work also focused on the determination of interfacial volume. Results showed that interfacial volume for each of the single phase systems, LiBH4 and MgH2, did not change much with catalysis using 4 mol % TiCl3. However, for the mixed composite system, interphase boundary volume was always higher in the catalyzed system; increasing from 15% to 33% in the 1:3 system, from 11% to 20% in the 1:1 system, and 2% to 14% in the 2:1 system. The parameters studied are expected to govern mass transport (i.e., diffusion) and ultimately lead to microstructure-based improvements on H2 desorption and uptake rates
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fMRI Evidence for Separable and Lateralized Prefrontal Memory Monitoring Processes
Source memory research suggests that attempting to remember specific contextual aspects surrounding prior stimulus encounters results in greater left prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity than simple item-based old/new recognition judgments. Here, we tested a complementary hypothesis that predicts increases in the right PFC with tasks requiring close monitoring of item familiarity. More specifically, we compared a judgment of frequency (JOF) task to an item memory task, in which the former required estimating the number of previous picture encounters and the latter required discriminating old from new exemplars of previously seen items. In comparison to standard old/new recognition, both source memory and the JOF task examined here require more precise mnemonic judgments. However, in contrast to source memory, cognitive models suggest the JOF task relies heavily upon item familiarity, not specific contextual recollections. Event-related fMRI demonstrated greater recruitment of right, not left, dorso-lateral and frontopolar PFC regions during the JOF compared to item memory task. These data suggest a role for right PFC in the close monitoring of the familiarity of objects, which becomes critical when contextual recollection is ineffective in satisfying a memory demand.Psycholog
A multi targeting conditionally replicating adenovirus displays enhanced oncolysis while maintaining expression of immunotherapeutic agents
Studies have demonstrated that oncolytic adenoviruses based on a 24 base pair deletion in the viral E1A gene (D24) may be promising therapeutics for treating a number of cancer types. In order to increase the therapeutic potential of these oncolytic viruses, a novel conditionally replicating adenovirus targeting multiple receptors upregulated on tumors was generated by incorporating an Ad5/3 fiber with a carboxyl terminus RGD ligand. The virus displayed full cytopathic effect in all tumor lines assayed at low titers with improved cytotoxicity over Ad5-RGD D24, Ad5/3 D24 and an HSV oncolytic virus. The virus was then engineered to deliver immunotherapeutic agents such as GM-CSF while maintaining enhanced heterogenic oncolysis
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