Coalition structure generation in cooperative games with compact representations

This paper presents a new way of formalizing the coalition structure generation problem (CSG) so that we can apply constraint optimization techniques to it. Forming effective coalitions is a major research challenge in AI and multi-agent systems. CSG involves partitioning a set of agents into coalitions to maximize social surplus. Traditionally, the input of the CSG problem is a black-box function called a characteristic function, which takes a coalition as input and returns the value of the coalition. As a result, applying constraint optimization techniques to this problem has been infeasible. However, characteristic functions that appear in practice often can be represented concisely by a set of rules, rather than treating the function as a black box. Then we can solve the CSG problem more efficiently by directly applying constraint optimization techniques to this compact representation. We present new formalizations of the CSG problem by utilizing recently developed compact representation schemes for characteristic functions. We first characterize the complexity of CSG under these representation schemes. In this context, the complexity is driven more by the number of rules than by the number of agents. As an initial step toward developing efficient constraint optimization algorithms for solving the CSG problem, we also develop mixed integer programming formulations and show that an off-the-shelf optimization package can perform reasonably well

The Characteristics of Apathy in University Students and Issues in Education The Effect on Clinical Training of Attitude and Results (GPA) Prior to Clinical Training, and Forecast Training Results

Background: In recent years, the apathetic attitude of students has been a frequent problem in clinical training. Objectives: To consider the effects on students' results for the clinical training element of their course of their attitude and grade point average (GPA) prior to clinical training, and to examine educational issues within the university. Method: The study focused on 43 fourthyear students in this university's Department of Occupational Therapy. In order to survey students' attitudes and results prior to undertaking clinical training, we looked at three criteria: their GPA at the university prior to clinical training, an Apathy scale and a locus of control. Thereafter, using Spearman rank order correlations and multiple logistic regression analysis, we undertook a comparison, at a significance level of 5%, of the relationship between attitude and results prior to the two eight-week periods of clinical training (Clinical Training III) undertaken by the students. Results: With regard to the training results in the field of mental disability, there was a significant correlation between GPA and Apathy. In particular, those with a sense of physical fatigue and those suffering from a disrupted lifestyle tended to have bad results for their training in this field. In the field of geriatric care as well, there was a significant correlation where those with a disrupted lifestyle were concerned. On the other hand, unlike in other fields, results for training in the field of physical disability showed a significant correlation with regard to lack of effort. Looking at the training by period, GPA had an effect on results for the first period of training, but no correlation was seen with regard to results for the second period. On the other hand, the locus of control and Apathy total were related to results for the second period of training. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed us that it was possible to predict the probability that results for training in the field of mental disability would be in the lower two groups from the rise in the total for lifestyle disruption prior to clinical training (odds ratio 2.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.03～5.57, p=0.04). Furthermore, we discovered that it was possibly to predict the probability that results for training in the field of mental disability would be in the top group from the rise in the total for physical fatigue prior to clinical training (odds ratio 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.40～0.95, p=0.03). Conclusions: Items where there was a correlation with clinical training results can generally be said to be expressions of attitude or drive. In other words, even if the low expression of attitude or drive can be covered up in the first period of training by academic work completed prior to the training, it is likely that a apathetic attitude will have an effect on results for clinical training during the second period. The point on which we would particularly like to focus is the fact that, based on the results of multiple logistic regression analysis, we were able to calculate that it was possible to predict results for training in the field of mental disability from the totals for lifestyle disruption and physical fatigue prior to clinical training

Quantum gapped state in a spin-1/2 distorted honeycomb-based lattice with frustration

We successfully synthesized ($p$-Py-V)[Cu(hfac)$_2$], a verdazyl-based complex. Molecular orbital calculations revealed five types of intermolecular interactions between the radical spins and two types of intramolecular interactions between the radical and the Cu spins, resulting in a spin-1/2 distorted honeycomb-based lattice. Additionally, competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic (AF) interactions induce frustration. The magnetization curve displayed a multistage increase, including a zero-field energy gap. Considering the stronger AF interactions that form dimers and tetramers, the magnetic susceptibility and magnetization curves were qualitatively explained. These findings demonstrated that the quantum state, based on the dominant AF interactions, was stabilized due to the effects of frustration in the lattice. Hence, the exchange interactions forming two-dimensional couplings decoupled, reducing energy loss caused by frustration and leading to frustration-induced dimensional reduction.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Opposing role of condensin hinge against replication protein A in mitosis and interphase through promoting DNA annealing

Condensin is required for chromosome dynamics and diverse DNA metabolism. How condensin works, however, is not well understood. Condensin contains two structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) subunits with the terminal globular domains connected to coiled-coil that is interrupted by the central hinge. Heterotrimeric non-SMC subunits regulate SMC. We identified a novel fission yeast SMC hinge mutant, cut14-Y1, which displayed defects in DNA damage repair and chromosome segregation. It contains an amino acid substitution at a conserved hinge residue of Cut14/SMC2, resulting in diminished DNA binding and annealing. A replication protein A mutant, ssb1-418, greatly alleviated the repair and mitotic defects of cut14-Y1. Ssb1 protein formed nucleolar foci in cut14-Y1 cells, but the number of foci was diminished in cut14-Y1 ssb1-418 double mutants. Consistent with the above results, Ssb1 protein bound to single-strand DNA was removed by condensin or the SMC dimer through DNA reannealing in vitro. Similarly, RNA hybridized to DNA may be removed by the SMC dimer. Thus, condensin may wind up DNA strands to unload chromosomal components after DNA repair and prior to mitosis. We show that 16 suppressor mutations of cut14-Y1 were all mapped within the hinge domain, which surrounded the original L543 mutation site

Parental satisfaction and seizure outcome after corpus callosotomy in patients with infantile or early childhood onset epilepsy

AbstractPurposeTo elucidate the benefit of corpus callosotmy in terms of parental satisfaction and seizure outcome.MethodThis study included 16 consecutive patients with infantile or early childhood onset epilepsy who underwent total corpus callosotomy for alleviation of seizures. Questionnaires were sent anonymously to the parents asking about relative changes in seizures and about parental satisfaction for the post-operative outcome.ResultsThe improvements in frequency, intensity, and duration of seizures were correlated with the level of satisfaction (Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient, ρ=0.87, 0.93, and 0.75, respectively). The highest level of satisfaction was only seen in patients who achieved freedom from all seizures or drop attacks.ConclusionComplete seizure freedom and freedom from drop attacks are important goals of corpus callosotomy for parental satisfaction. These factors should be considered in assessing post-operative outcome after corpus callosotomy

Dynamics of cellular immune responses in the acute phase of dengue virus infection.

In this study, we examined the dynamics of cellular immune responses in the acute phase of dengue virus (DENV) infection in a marmoset model. Here, we found that DENV infection in marmosets greatly induced responses of CD4/CD8 central memory T and NKT cells. Interestingly, the strength of the immune response was greater in animals infected with a dengue fever strain than in those infected with a dengue hemorrhagic fever strain of DENV. In contrast, when animals were re-challenged with the same DENV strain used for primary infection, the neutralizing antibody induced appeared to play a critical role in sterilizing inhibition against viral replication, resulting in strong but delayed responses of CD4/CD8 central memory T and NKT cells. The results in this study may help to better understand the dynamics of cellular and humoral immune responses in the control of DENV infection

Field-induced quantum phase in a frustrated zigzag-square lattice

This study presents the experimental realization of a spin-1/2 zigzag-square lattice in a verdazyl-based complex, namely ($m$-Py-V-2,6-F$_2$)$[$Cu(hfac)$_2]$. Molecular orbital calculations suggest the presence of five types of frustrated exchange couplings. Our observations reveal an incremental increase in the magnetization curve beyond a critical field, signifying a phase transition from the antiferromagnetic ordered state to a quantum state characterized by a 1/2 plateau. This intriguing behavior arises from the effective stabilization of a zigzag chain by the external fields. These results provide evidence for field-induced dimensional reduction in a zigzag-square lattice attributed to the effects of frustration.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure