600 research outputs found
Tailoring temporal description logics for reasoning over temporal conceptual models
Temporal data models have been used to describe how data can evolve in the context of temporal databases. Both the Extended Entity-Relationship (EER) model and the Unified Modelling Language (UML) have been temporally extended to design temporal databases. To automatically check quality properties of conceptual schemas various encoding to Description Logics (DLs) have been proposed in the literature. On the other hand, reasoning on temporally extended DLs turn out to be too complex for effective reasoning ranging from 2ExpTime up to undecidable languages. We propose here to temporalize the âlight-weightâ DL-Lite logics obtaining nice computational results while still being able to represent various constraints of temporal conceptual models. In particular, we consider temporal extensions of DL-Lite^N_bool, which was shown to be adequate for capturing non-temporal conceptual models without relationship inclusion, and its fragment DL-Lite^N_core with most primitive concept inclusions, which are nevertheless enough to represent almost all types of atemporal constraints (apart from
covering)
Three-dimensional pattern formation, multiple homogeneous soft modes, and nonlinear dielectric electroconvection
Patterns forming spontaneously in extended, three-dimensional, dissipative
systems are likely to excite several homogeneous soft modes (
hydrodynamic modes) of the underlying physical system, much more than quasi
one- and two-dimensional patterns are. The reason is the lack of damping
boundaries. This paper compares two analytic techniques to derive the patten
dynamics from hydrodynamics, which are usually equivalent but lead to different
results when applied to multiple homogeneous soft modes. Dielectric
electroconvection in nematic liquid crystals is introduced as a model for
three-dimensional pattern formation. The 3D pattern dynamics including soft
modes are derived. For slabs of large but finite thickness the description is
reduced further to a two-dimensional one. It is argued that the range of
validity of 2D descriptions is limited to a very small region above threshold.
The transition from 2D to 3D pattern dynamics is discussed. Experimentally
testable predictions for the stable range of ideal patterns and the electric
Nusselt numbers are made. For most results analytic approximations in terms of
material parameters are given.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figure
Recruitment of young women to a trial of chlamydia screening â as easy as it sounds?
BACKGROUND: Recruiting to trials is complex and difficult. The Prevention of Pelvic Infection (POPI) trial aims to see if screening women for chlamydia and treating those found to be infected reduces the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease in the following twelve months. It focuses on young, sexually active, multiethnic, mainly inner city, female students. The main aim of this paper is to describe our recruitment methods. Secondary aims in two small subgroups, are to compare characteristics of women recruited with those not recruited, and to explore participants' understanding of when their samples would be tested for chlamydia.
METHODS: Women students attending lectures or in common rooms at 22 universities and further education colleges were recruited by female research assistants working in pairs. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on sexual health and to provide self-taken vaginal swabs. In addition, during 3 recruitment sessions, a female medical student asked non-participants to complete a brief anonymous questionnaire on reasons for not taking part. Finally another female medical student contacted 40 consecutive participants within a month of recruitment and asked if they understood that their samples might not be tested for a year.
RESULTS: With enormous effort over 2 years we recruited 2526 women. A survey of 61 non-responders showed only 18 (30%) were eligible to take part (age <28, been sexually active and not been tested for chlamydia in the past 3 months). Eligible non-responders were of similar age to the 35 responders in the same recruitment sessions, but more likely to be from ethnic minority groups (67% 12/18 versus 29% 10/35 p < 0.01). Email and telephone contact with 35/40 (88%) of consecutive participants showed only two (6%) did not understand that their specimen might not be tested for chlamydia for a year. Thirty participants (85%) could name one or more possible consequences of untreated chlamydia infection.
CONCLUSION: As in other studies, a key to attaining recruitment targets was the enthusiasm of the research team. Minority ethnic groups were probably under-represented, but understanding of participants was good
A methodology for the capture and analysis of hybrid data: a case study of program debugging
No description supplie
Stability of vortices in rotating taps: a 3d analysis
We study the stability of vortex-lines in trapped dilute gases subject to
rotation. We solve numerically both the Gross-Pitaevskii and the Bogoliubov
equations for a 3d condensate in spherically and cilyndrically symmetric
stationary traps, from small to very large nonlinearities. In the stationary
case it is found that the vortex states with unit and charge are
energetically unstable. In the rotating trap it is found that this energetic
instability may only be suppressed for the vortex-line, and that the
multicharged vortices are never a local minimum of the energy functional, which
implies that the absolute minimum of the energy is not an eigenstate of the
operator, when the angular speed is above a certain value, .Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures in EPS forma
A dependent nominal type theory
Nominal abstract syntax is an approach to representing names and binding
pioneered by Gabbay and Pitts. So far nominal techniques have mostly been
studied using classical logic or model theory, not type theory. Nominal
extensions to simple, dependent and ML-like polymorphic languages have been
studied, but decidability and normalization results have only been established
for simple nominal type theories. We present a LF-style dependent type theory
extended with name-abstraction types, prove soundness and decidability of
beta-eta-equivalence checking, discuss adequacy and canonical forms via an
example, and discuss extensions such as dependently-typed recursion and
induction principles
Associative memory storing an extensive number of patterns based on a network of oscillators with distributed natural frequencies in the presence of external white noise
We study associative memory based on temporal coding in which successful
retrieval is realized as an entrainment in a network of simple phase
oscillators with distributed natural frequencies under the influence of white
noise. The memory patterns are assumed to be given by uniformly distributed
random numbers on so that the patterns encode the phase differences
of the oscillators. To derive the macroscopic order parameter equations for the
network with an extensive number of stored patterns, we introduce the effective
transfer function by assuming the fixed-point equation of the form of the TAP
equation, which describes the time-averaged output as a function of the
effective time-averaged local field. Properties of the networks associated with
synchronization phenomena for a discrete symmetric natural frequency
distribution with three frequency components are studied based on the order
parameter equations, and are shown to be in good agreement with the results of
numerical simulations. Two types of retrieval states are found to occur with
respect to the degree of synchronization, when the size of the width of the
natural frequency distribution is changed.Comment: published in Phys. Rev.
Syntactic Cut-Elimination for Intuitionistic Fuzzy Logic via Linear Nested Sequents
This paper employs the linear nested sequent framework to design a new
cut-free calculus LNIF for intuitionistic fuzzy logic--the first-order G\"odel
logic characterized by linear relational frames with constant domains. Linear
nested sequents--which are nested sequents restricted to linear
structures--prove to be a well-suited proof-theoretic formalism for
intuitionistic fuzzy logic. We show that the calculus LNIF possesses highly
desirable proof-theoretic properties such as invertibility of all rules,
admissibility of structural rules, and syntactic cut-elimination.Comment: Appended version of the paper "Syntactic Cut-Elimination for
Intuitionistic Fuzzy Logic via Linear Nested Sequents", accepted to the
International Symposium on Logical Foundations of Computer Science (LFCS
2020
Short term effects of exercise training on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Advances in the understanding and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension have enabled earlier diagnosis and improved prognosis. However, despite best available therapy, symptoms of exertional dyspnoea and fatigue are commonly reported and result in a reduced capacity to perform daily activities and impaired quality of life. Exercise training has demonstrated efficacy in individuals with other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Historically, however, exercise training has not been utilised as a form of therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension due to the perceived risk of sudden cardiac death and the theoretical possibility that exercise would lead to worsening pulmonary vascular haemodynamics and deterioration in right heart function. Now, with the advances in pharmaceutical management, determining the safety and benefits of exercise training in this population has become more relevant. Only three studies of supervised exercise training in pulmonary arterial hypertension have been published. These studies demonstrated improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life, in the absence of adverse events or clinical deterioration. However, these studies have not utilised an outpatient-based, whole body exercise training program, the most common format for exercise programs within Australia. It is uncertain whether this form of training is beneficial and capable of producing sustained benefits in exercise capacity and quality of life in this population.</p> <p>Design/Methods</p> <p>This randomised controlled trial will determine whether a 12 week, outpatient-based, supervised, whole body exercise training program, followed by a home-based exercise program, is safe and improves exercise capacity and quality of life in individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension. This study aims to recruit 34 subjects who will be randomly allocated to the exercise group (supervised exercise training 3 times a week for 12 weeks, followed by 3 sessions per week of home exercise for 12 weeks) or the control group (usual medical care). Subjects will be assessed at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will determine whether outpatient-based, whole body exercise training is beneficial and safe in individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Additionally, this study will contribute to clinical practice guidelines for this patient population.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): <a href="http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12609000502235.aspx">ACTRN12609000502235</a></p
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