3,612 research outputs found
A New Approximate Min-Max Theorem with Applications in Cryptography
We propose a novel proof technique that can be applied to attack a broad
class of problems in computational complexity, when switching the order of
universal and existential quantifiers is helpful. Our approach combines the
standard min-max theorem and convex approximation techniques, offering
quantitative improvements over the standard way of using min-max theorems as
well as more concise and elegant proofs
Optimal strategies for a game on amenable semigroups
The semigroup game is a two-person zero-sum game defined on a semigroup S as
follows: Players 1 and 2 choose elements x and y in S, respectively, and player
1 receives a payoff f(xy) defined by a function f from S to [-1,1]. If the
semigroup is amenable in the sense of Day and von Neumann, one can extend the
set of classical strategies, namely countably additive probability measures on
S, to include some finitely additive measures in a natural way. This extended
game has a value and the players have optimal strategies. This theorem extends
previous results for the multiplication game on a compact group or on the
positive integers with a specific payoff. We also prove that the procedure of
extending the set of allowed strategies preserves classical solutions: if a
semigroup game has a classical solution, this solution solves also the extended
game.Comment: 17 pages. To appear in International Journal of Game Theor
Information Leakage Games
We consider a game-theoretic setting to model the interplay between attacker
and defender in the context of information flow, and to reason about their
optimal strategies. In contrast with standard game theory, in our games the
utility of a mixed strategy is a convex function of the distribution on the
defender's pure actions, rather than the expected value of their utilities.
Nevertheless, the important properties of game theory, notably the existence of
a Nash equilibrium, still hold for our (zero-sum) leakage games, and we provide
algorithms to compute the corresponding optimal strategies. As typical in
(simultaneous) game theory, the optimal strategy is usually mixed, i.e.,
probabilistic, for both the attacker and the defender. From the point of view
of information flow, this was to be expected in the case of the defender, since
it is well known that randomization at the level of the system design may help
to reduce information leaks. Regarding the attacker, however, this seems the
first work (w.r.t. the literature in information flow) proving formally that in
certain cases the optimal attack strategy is necessarily probabilistic
General entanglement
The paper contains a brief review of an approach to quantum entanglement
based on analysis of dynamic symmetry of systems and quantum uncertainties,
accompanying the measurement of mean value of certain basic observables. The
latter are defined in terms of the orthogonal basis of Lie algebra,
corresponding to the dynamic symmetry group. We discuss the relativity of
entanglement with respect to the choice of basic observables and a way of
stabilization of robust entanglement in physical systems.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure,1 tabe, will be published in special issue of
Journal of Physics (Conference Series) with Proceedings of CEWQO-200
Broad clinical phenotypes associated with TAR-DNA binding protein (TARDBP) mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
The finding of TDP-43 as a major component of ubiquitinated protein inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has led to the identification of 30 mutations in the transactive response-DNA binding protein (TARDBP) gene, encoding TDP-43. All but one are in exon 6, which encodes the glycine-rich domain. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of TARDBP mutations in a large cohort of motor neurone disease patients from Northern England (42 non-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) familial ALS (FALS), nine ALS-frontotemporal dementia, 474 sporadic ALS (SALS), 45 progressive muscular atrophy cases). We identified four mutations, two of which were novel, in two familial (FALS) and two sporadic (SALS) cases, giving a frequency of TARDBP mutations in non-SOD1 FALS of 5% and SALS of 0.4%. Analysis of clinical data identified that patients had typical ALS, with limb or bulbar onset, and showed considerable variation in age of onset and rapidity of disease course. However, all cases had an absence of clinically overt cognitive dysfunction
Consolidated health economic evaluation reporting standards (CHEERS) statement
<p>Economic evaluations of health interventions pose a particular challenge for reporting. There is also a need to consolidate and update existing guidelines and promote their use in a user friendly manner. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance. The primary audiences for the CHEERS statement are researchers reporting economic evaluations and the editors and peer reviewers assessing them for publication.</p>
<p>The need for new reporting guidance was identified by a survey of medical editors. A list of possible items based on a systematic review was created. A two round, modified Delphi panel consisting of representatives from academia, clinical practice, industry, government, and the editorial community was conducted. Out of 44 candidate items, 24 items and accompanying recommendations were developed. The recommendations are contained in a user friendly, 24 item checklist. A copy of the statement, accompanying checklist, and this report can be found on the ISPOR Health Economic Evaluations Publication Guidelines Task Force website (www.ispor.org/TaskForces/EconomicPubGuidelines.asp).</p>
<p>We hope CHEERS will lead to better reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the CHEERS statement is being co-published across 10 health economics and medical journals. We encourage other journals and groups, to endorse CHEERS. The author team plans to review the checklist for an update in five years.</p>
Asymmetrical seeding of MSCs into fibrin–poly(ester‐urethane) scaffolds and its effect on mechanically induced chondrogenesis
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently being investigated as candidate cells for regenerative medicine approaches for the repair of damaged articular cartilage. For these cells to be used clinically, it is important to understand how they will react to the complex loading environment of a joint in vivo. In addition to investigating alternative cell sources, it is also important for the structure of tissue‐engineered constructs and the organization of cells within them to be developed and, if possible, improved. A custom built bioreactor was used to expose human MSCs to a combination of shear and compression loading. The MSCs were either evenly distributed throughout fibrin‐poly(ester‐urethane) scaffolds or asymmetrically seeded with a small proportion seeded on the surface of the scaffold. The effect of cell distribution on the production and deposition of cartilage‐like matrix in response to mechanical load mimicking in vivo joint loading was then investigated. The results show that asymmetrically seeding the scaffold led to markedly improved tissue development based on histologically detectable matrix deposition. Consideration of cell location, therefore, is an important aspect in the development of regenerative medicine approaches for cartilage repair. This is particularly relevant when considering the natural biomechanical environment of the joint in vivo and patient rehabilitation protocols
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