232 research outputs found
Ocular manifestations in Gorlin-Goltz syndrome
Background: Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder that is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner with complete penetrance and variable expressivity. It is caused in 85% of the cases with a known etiology by pathogenic variants in the PTCH1 gene, and is characterized by a wide range of developmental abnormalities and a predisposition to multiple neoplasms. The manifestations are multiple and systemic and consist of basal cell carcinomas in various regions, odontogenic keratocistic tumors and skeletal anomalies, to name the most frequent. Despite the scarce medical literature on the topic, ocular involvement in this syndrome is frequent and at the level of various ocular structures. Our study focuses on the visual apparatus and its annexes in subjects with this syndrome, in order to better understand how this syndrome affects the ocular system, and to evaluate with greater accuracy and precision the nature of these manifestations in this group of patients. Results: Our study confirms the presence of the commonly cited ocular findings in the general literature regarding the syndrome [hypertelorism (45.5%), congenital cataract (18%), nystagmus (9%), colobomas (9%)] and highlights strabismus (63% of the patients), epiretinal membranes (36%) and myelinated optic nerve fiber layers (36%) as the most frequent ophthalmological findings in this group of patients. Conclusions: The presence of characteristic and frequent ocular signs in the Gorlin- Goltz syndrome could help with the diagnostic process in subjects suspected of having the syndrome who do not yet have a diagnosis. The ophthalmologist has a role as part of a multidisciplinary team in managing these patients. The ophthalmological follow-up that these patients require, can allow, if necessary, a timely therapy that could improve the visual prognosis of such patients
The effective bandwidth problem revisited
The paper studies a single-server queueing system with autonomous service and
priority classes. Arrival and departure processes are governed by marked
point processes. There are buffers corresponding to priority classes,
and upon arrival a unit of the th priority class occupies a place in the
th buffer. Let , denote the quota for the total
th buffer content. The values are assumed to be large, and
queueing systems both with finite and infinite buffers are studied. In the case
of a system with finite buffers, the values characterize buffer
capacities.
The paper discusses a circle of problems related to optimization of
performance measures associated with overflowing the quota of buffer contents
in particular buffers models. Our approach to this problem is new, and the
presentation of our results is simple and clear for real applications.Comment: 29 pages, 11pt, Final version, that will be published as is in
Stochastic Model
The cross-entropy method for continuous multi-extremal optimization
In recent years, the cross-entropy method has been successfully applied to a wide range of discrete optimization tasks. In this paper we consider the cross-entropy method in the context of continuous optimization. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the cross-entropy method for solving difficult continuous multi-extremal optimization problems, including those with non-linear constraints
A Game-Theoretic approach to Fault Diagnosis of Hybrid Systems
Physical systems can fail. For this reason the problem of identifying and
reacting to faults has received a large attention in the control and computer
science communities. In this paper we study the fault diagnosis problem for
hybrid systems from a game-theoretical point of view. A hybrid system is a
system mixing continuous and discrete behaviours that cannot be faithfully
modeled neither by using a formalism with continuous dynamics only nor by a
formalism including only discrete dynamics. We use the well known framework of
hybrid automata for modeling hybrid systems, and we define a Fault Diagnosis
Game on them, using two players: the environment and the diagnoser. The
environment controls the evolution of the system and chooses whether and when a
fault occurs. The diagnoser observes the external behaviour of the system and
announces whether a fault has occurred or not. Existence of a winning strategy
for the diagnoser implies that faults can be detected correctly, while
computing such a winning strategy corresponds to implement a diagnoser for the
system. We will show how to determine the existence of a winning strategy, and
how to compute it, for some decidable classes of hybrid automata like o-minimal
hybrid automata.Comment: In Proceedings GandALF 2011, arXiv:1106.081
Tscale: A new multidimensional scaling procedure based on tversky's contrast model
Tversky's contrast model of proximity was initially formulated to account for the observed violations of the metric axioms often found in empirical proximity data. This set-theoretic approach models the similarity/dissimilarity between any two stimuli as a linear (or ratio) combination of measures of the common and distinctive features of the two stimuli. This paper proposes a new spatial multidimensional scaling (MDS) procedure called TSCALE based on Tversky's linear contrast model for the analysis of generally asymmetric three-way, two-mode proximity data. We first review the basic structure of Tversky's conceptual contrast model. A brief discussion of alternative MDS procedures to accommodate asymmetric proximity data is also provided. The technical details of the TSCALE procedure are given, as well as the program options that allow for the estimation of a number of different model specifications. The nonlinear estimation framework is discussed, as are the results of a modest Monte Carlo analysis. Two consumer psychology applications are provided: one involving perceptions of fast-food restaurants and the other regarding perceptions of various competitive brands of cola soft-drinks. Finally, other applications and directions for future research are mentioned.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45750/1/11336_2005_Article_BF02294658.pd
A stochastic multidimensional scaling procedure for the spatial representation of three-mode, three-way pick any/ J data
This paper presents a new stochastic multidimensional scaling procedure for the analysis of three-mode, three-way pick any/ J data. The method provides either a vector or ideal-point model to represent the structure in such data, as well as “floating” model specifications (e.g., different vectors or ideal points for different choice settings), and various reparameterization options that allow the coordinates of ideal points, vectors, or stimuli to be functions of specified background variables. A maximum likelihood procedure is utilized to estimate a joint space of row and column objects, as well as a set of weights depicting the third mode of the data. An algorithm using a conjugate gradient method with automatic restarts is developed to estimate the parameters of the models. A series of Monte Carlo analyses are carried out to investigate the performance of the algorithm under diverse data and model specification conditions, examine the statistical properties of the associated test statistic, and test the robustness of the procedure to departures from the independence assumptions. Finally, a consumer psychology application assessing the impact of situational influences on consumers' choice behavior is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45749/1/11336_2005_Article_BF02294486.pd
A stochastic multidimensional scaling vector threshold model for the spatial representation of “pick any/ n ” data
This paper presents a new stochastic multidimensional scaling vector threshold model designed to analyze “pick any/ n ” choice data (e.g., consumers rendering buy/no buy decisions concerning a number of actual products). A maximum likelihood procedure is formulated to estimate a joint space of both individuals (represented as vectors) and stimuli (represented as points). The relevant psychometric literature concerning the spatial treatment of such binary choice data is reviewed. The nonlinear probit type model is described, as well as the conjugate gradient procedure used to estimate parameters. Results of Monte Carlo analyses investigating the performance of this methodology with synthetic choice data sets are presented. An application concerning consumer choices for eleven competitive brands of soft drinks is discussed. Finally, directions for future research are presented in terms of further applications and generalizing the model to accommodate three-way choice data.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45743/1/11336_2005_Article_BF02294452.pd
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