Equivalent Results in Minimax Theory

In this paper we review known minimax results with applications ingame theory and show that these results are easy consequences of thefirst minimax result for a two person zero sum game with finite strategysets published by von Neumann in 1928: Among these results are thewell known minimax theorems of Wald, Ville and Kneser and their generalizationsdue to Kakutani, Ky-Fan, König, Neumann and Gwinner-Oettli. Actually it is shown that these results form an equivalent chainand this chain includes the strong separation result in finite dimensionalspaces between two disjoint closed convex sets of which one is compact.To show these implications the authors only use simple propertiesof compact sets and the well-known Weierstrass Lebesgue lemma.convex analysis;game theory;finite dimensional separation of convex sets;generalized convexity;minimax theory

Equivalent Results in Minimax Theory

In this paper we review known minimax results with applications in game theory and show that these results are easy consequences of the first minimax result for a two person zero sum game with finite strategy sets published by von Neumann in 1928: Among these results are the well known minimax theorems of Wald, Ville and Kneser and their generalizations due to Kakutani, Ky-Fan, König, Neumann and Gwinner-Oettli. Actually it is shown that these results form an equivalent chain and this chain includes the strong separation result in finite dimensional spaces between two disjoint closed convex sets of which one is compact. To show these implications the authors only use simple properties of compact sets and the well-known Weierstrass Lebesgue lemma

Chaotic Free-Space Laser Communication over Turbulent Channel

The dynamics of errors caused by atmospheric turbulence in a self-synchronizing chaos based communication system that stably transmits information over a $\sim$5 km free-space laser link is studied experimentally. Binary information is transmitted using a chaotic sequence of short-term pulses as carrier. The information signal slightly shifts the chaotic time position of each pulse depending on the information bit. We report the results of an experimental analysis of the atmospheric turbulence in the channel and the impact of turbulence on the Bit-Error-Rate (BER) performance of this chaos based communication system.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Brain death and postmortem organ donation: Report of a questionnaire from the CENTER-TBI study

Background: We aimed to investigate the extent of the agreement on practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation. Methods: Investigators from 67 Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study centers completed several questionnaires (response rate: 99%). Results: Regarding practices around brain death, we found agreement on the clinical evaluation (prerequisites and neurological assessment) for brain death determination (BDD) in 100% of the centers. However, ancillary tests were required for BDD in 64% of the centers. BDD for nondonor patients was deemed mandatory in 18% of the centers before withdrawing life-sustaining measures (LSM). Also, practices around postmortem organ donation varied. Organ donation after circulatory arrest was forbidden in 45% of the centers. When withdrawal of LSM was contemplated, in 67% of centers the patients with a ventricular drain in situ had this removed, either sometimes or all of the time. Conclusions: This study showed both agreement and some regional differences regarding practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation. We hope our results help quantify and understand potential differences, and provide impetus for current dialogs toward further harmonization of practices around brain death and postmortem organ donation

Variation in general supportive and preventive intensive care management of traumatic brain injury: a survey in 66 neurotrauma centers participating in the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study

Abstract Background General supportive and preventive measures in the intensive care management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) aim to prevent or limit secondary brain injury and optimize recovery. The aim of this survey was to assess and quantify variation in perceptions on intensive care unit (ICU) management of patients with TBI in European neurotrauma centers. Methods We performed a survey as part of the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study. We analyzed 23 questions focused on: 1) circulatory and respiratory management; 2) fever control; 3) use of corticosteroids; 4) nutrition and glucose management; and 5) seizure prophylaxis and treatment. Results The survey was completed predominantly by intensivists (n = 33, 50%) and neurosurgeons (n = 23, 35%) from 66 centers (97% response rate). The most common cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) target was > 60 mmHg (n = 39, 60%) and/or an individualized target (n = 25, 38%). To support CPP, crystalloid fluid loading (n = 60, 91%) was generally preferred over albumin (n = 15, 23%), and vasopressors (n = 63, 96%) over inotropes (n = 29, 44%). The most commonly reported target of partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) was 36–40 mmHg (4.8–5.3 kPa) in case of controlled intracranial pressure (ICP) < 20 mmHg (n = 45, 69%) and PaCO2 target of 30–35 mmHg (4–4.7 kPa) in case of raised ICP (n = 40, 62%). Almost all respondents indicated to generally treat fever (n = 65, 98%) with paracetamol (n = 61, 92%) and/or external cooling (n = 49, 74%). Conventional glucose management (n = 43, 66%) was preferred over tight glycemic control (n = 18, 28%). More than half of the respondents indicated to aim for full caloric replacement within 7 days (n = 43, 66%) using enteral nutrition (n = 60, 92%). Indications for and duration of seizure prophylaxis varied, and levetiracetam was mostly reported as the agent of choice for both seizure prophylaxis (n = 32, 49%) and treatment (n = 40, 61%). Conclusions Practice preferences vary substantially regarding general supportive and preventive measures in TBI patients at ICUs of European neurotrauma centers. These results provide an opportunity for future comparative effectiveness research, since a more evidence-based uniformity in good practices in general ICU management could have a major impact on TBI outcome

A variational approach to a micro-structured theory of solid-fluid mixtures

In this paper, we present a micro-structured model for describing global deformations of heterogeneous mixtures. In particular, for a saturated solid-fluid mixture, we regard the solid volume fraction as a microstructural parameter so as to enlarge the space of admissible deformations with respect to the classical theory of mixtures. According to the variational approach, the governing equations are obtained as the stationarity of a suitable action functional. The micro-structured model is then forced to establish a second-gradient mixture theory, by introducing among the considered state parameters a suitable internal constraint. Finally, we determine under which (integrability) conditions the additional balance laws, typically employed to close the theory of porous media endowed with the volume fraction, can fit the variational framework