On the generalized bin packing problem

The generalized bin packing problem (GBPP) is a novel packing problem arising in many transportation and logistic settings, characterized by multiple items and bins attributes and the presence of both compulsory and non-compulsory items. In this paper, we study the computational complexity and the approximability of the GBPP. We prove that the GBPP cannot be approximated by any constant, unless P = NP. We also study the particular case of a single bin type and show that when an unlimited number of bins is available, the GBPP can be reduced to the bin packing with rejection (BPR) problem, which is approximable. We also prove that the GBPP satisfies Bellman’s optimality principle and, exploiting this result, we develop a dynamic programming solution approach. Finally, we study the behavior of standard and widespread heuristics such as the first fit, best fit, first fit decreasing, and best fit decreasing.We show that while they successfully approximate previous versions of bin packing problems, they fail to approximate the GBPP

Evaluation of nutrients removed and recycled in a commercial peach orchard over a 14-years-production cycle

Understanding nutrient dynamics within a peach orchard is fundamental to the development of accurate nutrient management practices. The present study investigated the nutrient uptake and redistribution in a 14-years-old commercial orchard in the Po valley. At the end of the experiment, trees were harvested, biomass and organ nutrient concentration were determined. Skeleton and roots accounted for the highest plant biomass, followed by fruits at harvest, pruned wood and abscised leaves; thinned fruits were less than 1 kg tree-1. The difference between the amounts of nutrients in leaves sampled in summer and in autumn (at abscission) was used to estimate the fraction of nutrients remobilized during the vegetative season inside the tree. The decrease of N, P, S, Cu, Mn and Zn concentration in abscised, compared to summer-sampled leaves was the result of the translocation of nutrients into fruits and storage organs. Nutrient circulation in a commercial nectarine orchard was calculated by determination of the fractions of each nutrient recycled (sum of nutrients in abscised leaves, thinned fruits and pruned wood) and remobilized (sum of nutrients in fruits at harvest, roots and skeleton). In our experimental conditions, on average, nectarine Stark RedGold showed an annual request of (in kg ha-1) 100, 17, 73, 129, 16, and 6 of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, respectively. More than half of these quantities were recycled in the orchard and returned back to the soil; consequently, if the nutrient use efficiency is maximized, the fertilization of nectarine requires only small amount of external inputs

A Hardware Implementation for Code-based Post-quantum Asymmetric Cryptography

This paper presents a dedicated hardware implementation of the LEDAcrypt cryptosystem, which uses Quasi-Cyclic Low-Density Parity-Check codes and the Q decoder for the decryption function. The designed architecture is synthesized for both FPGA and ASIC technologies, featuring an intrinsic scalability over a wide range of parallelism degrees, which makes it possible to target multiple application scenarios, with different trade-offs between decryption latency and implementation complexity. The proposed system achieves a large speed-up over both software execution and a previous hardware implementation, with a the decryption latency as low as 3.16 ms for the FPGA version, and 1.2 ms when synthesized for a 65 nm CMOS technology

Compost improves plant and soil macronutrient content in a 14-years orchard

Adequate plant nutritional status and soil fertility preservation can be achieved through sustainable agricultural management techniques. The challenge of intensive orchard cultivation, besides the risk of nutrient decline, is to prevent the loss of soil fertility that could lead to soil degradation with a consequent negative impact on yield and fruit quality. The use of organic amendments could be a sustainable strategy to combine high plant performance with soil fertility improvement. This work aims at shedding light on the effects of compost addition with respect to an unfertilized control and a mineral fertilization treatment on macronutrient (K, Ca, Mg, and S) dynamics in plants and soil of a commercial nectarine orchard planted in 2001. In the first 0.15 m of soil, compost addition resulted in higher values (26–42%) of all the parameters. Both fertilization treatments induced a 28% increase in roots’ S content compared to the control but did not induce macronutrient content variation in plant skeleton, pruned wood, and thinned fruits. In autumn leaves, all the macronutrients resulted in higher values (24–45%) with both mineral and compost fertilization, and the same was observed in fruit at harvest (increases of 15–31%). In our study, the treatment with compost satisfied plants' nutrient demands as much as the mineral fertilizer. In addition, compost treatment also improved soil nutrient content while preserving yield. Our results show that it is possible to reconcile plant nutrient needs with the preservation of soil fertility with the aim of improving sustainability of agriculture

Real-time feedback systems for cardiopulmonary resuscitation training: Time for a paradigm shift

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Competencies based innovative learning solutions for co-development of climate services in West Africa

Abstract. In developing countries, and particularly in West Africa, the role of Climate Services (CS) for sustainable development is growing thanks to wide spreading collaboration among European institutions, including National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) research centers, universities, and homologue local institutions. Operationally, the implementation of CSs in developing countries is mainly pivoted on NMHS, which, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), are dramatically affected by unmet learning demand. The global scale of learning needs for co-development of CSs calls for innovative solutions and a range of flexible modalities to reach learners in a variety of ways, and for sharing resources and successful strategies within the global education and training community. In order to harmonize expected learning outcomes, WMO defined a competency framework (CF) for CSs to be used in the implementation of training initiatives and knowledge sharing tools. This paper presents the strategic and methodological approach adopted in the implementation of the TOPaCS, a new knowledge-based distance learning initiative, aiming to provide a flexible learning environment within the CSs CF of WMO ensuring coherence with other WMO education initiatives (Global Campus, other RTCs, etc.). The methodological approach adopted is based on the competency-based approach to training, where competencies are composed by elements of knowledge and skill. TOPaCS integrates the WMO CF for CSs into a taxonomy co-designed with stakeholders at different levels, and allows the definition of learning paths, which are a further interactive opportunity for co-development of CSs within the TOPaCS learning ecosystem. Indeed, the approach aims also to guide further instructional strategies and assessments and becomes a starting point to build a common language enabling a better cooperation and exchange between the different CSs training initiatives

Effect of spaghetti-meat abnormality on quality and histological traits of broiler breast fillets

During the last few years, the increasing growth rate and meat yield of modern broiler hybrids caused the appearance of several breast muscle abnormalities, such as white striping and wooden breast. Recently, a new myopathy termed spaghetti-meat (SM) characterized by extremely soft and friable pectoralis major when palpated after chilling has emerged. Since the occurrence of SM is often associated with white striping (WS), this study aimed at evaluating the effects of SM and/or WS conditions on meat quality and histological traits in broilers. For this purpose, 96 pectoralis major muscles were selected from homogeneous flocks (47 d of age and 2.8 kg of live weight at slaughter) into two independent trials and classified as follows: 24 Normal (N), 24 WS, 24 SM and 24 WS/SM. Each fillet was cut in order to separate the superficial layer from the deep one and both used to assess proximate composition, histological features, colour, pH and protein profile. Data were analyses by two-way ANOVA using abnormality and sampling position as the main variables. Proximate composition was found to be significantly modified according the type of abnormality, especially in the superficial layer of the fillets. The SM and WS/SM groups had a remarkable decrease in total protein content coupled with an increased moisture level (p<.001), while WS group was associated with higher lipid content. Histological evaluations of abnormal samples evidenced several degenerative aspects that almost completely concern the superficial layer of the fillets. The SM samples showed poor fibres uniformity and a progressive rarefaction of the endo- and peri-mysial connective tissue. The WS fillets exhibited necrosis and lysis of fibres, fibrosis, lipidosis, loss of cross striation and vacuolar degeneration, while WS/SM fillets exhibited intermediate histological features. No relevant effect on meat colour has been detected, however abnormal fillets showed increased yellowness (b) and ultimate pH values (p<.001). Moreover, both WS and SM abnormalities were associated with a more intense proteolytic degradation of muscle tissue (p<.001), which led to the formation of high molecular-weight protein fragments. In conclusion, both muscle myopathies mainly affect the superficial layer of pectoralis major muscle, while deep section is poorly involved. Furthermore, if compared with WS, SM abnormality is associated with a more remarkable alteration of the proximate composition and quality traits of the meat

Prediction of early recurrent thromboembolic event and major bleeding in patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation by a risk stratification schema: the ALESSA score study

Background and Purposes—This study was designed to derive and validate a score to predict early ischemic events and major bleedings after an acute ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods—The derivation cohort consisted of 854 patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation included in prospective series between January 2012 and March 2014. Older age (hazard ratio 1.06 for each additional year; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.11) and severe atrial enlargement (hazard ratio, 2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.87) were predictors for ischemic outcome events (stroke, transient ischemic attack, and systemic embolism) at 90 days from acute stroke. Small lesions (≤1.5 cm) were inversely correlated with both major bleeding (hazard ratio, 0.39; P=0.03) and ischemic outcome events (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.30–1.00). We assigned to age ≥80 years 2 points and between 70 and 79 years 1 point; ischemic index lesion >1.5 cm, 1 point; severe atrial enlargement, 1 point (ALESSA score). A logistic regression with the receiver-operating characteristic graph procedure (C statistic) showed an area under the curve of 0.697 (0.632–0.763; P=0.0001) for ischemic outcome events and 0.585 (0.493–0.678; P=0.10) for major bleedings. Results—The validation cohort consisted of 994 patients included in prospective series between April 2014 and June 2016. Logistic regression with the receiver-operating characteristic graph procedure showed an area under the curve of 0.646 (0.529–0.763; P=0.009) for ischemic outcome events and 0.407 (0.275–0.540; P=0.14) for hemorrhagic outcome events. Conclusions—In acute stroke patients with atrial fibrillation, high ALESSA scores were associated with a high risk of ischemic events but not of major bleedings

Sex-related differences in risk factors, type of treatment received and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute stroke: Results from the RAF-study (Early Recurrence and Cerebral Bleeding in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation)

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor of thromboembolism. Women with atrial fibrillation are at a higher overall risk for stroke compared to men with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to evaluate for sex differences in patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation, regarding risk factors, treatments received and outcomes. Methods Data were analyzed from the “Recurrence and Cerebral Bleeding in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation” (RAF-study), a prospective, multicenter, international study including only patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation. Patients were followed up for 90 days. Disability was measured by the modified Rankin Scale (0–2 favorable outcome, 3–6 unfavorable outcome). Results: Of the 1029 patients enrolled, 561 were women (54.5%) (p < 0.001) and younger (p < 0.001) compared to men. In patients with known atrial fibrillation, women were less likely to receive oral anticoagulants before index stroke (p = 0.026) and were less likely to receive anticoagulants after stroke (71.3% versus 78.4%, p = 0.01). There was no observed sex difference regarding the time of starting anticoagulant therapy between the two groups (6.4 ± 11.7 days for men versus 6.5 ± 12.4 days for women, p = 0.902). Men presented with more severe strokes at onset (mean NIHSS 9.2 ± 6.9 versus 8.1 ± 7.5, p < 0.001). Within 90 days, 46 (8.2%) recurrent ischemic events (stroke/TIA/systemic embolism) and 19 (3.4%) symptomatic cerebral bleedings were found in women compared to 30 (6.4%) and 18 (3.8%) in men (p = 0.28 and p = 0.74). At 90 days, 57.7% of women were disabled or deceased, compared to 41.1% of the men (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis did not confirm this significance. Conclusions: Women with atrial fibrillation were less likely to receive oral anticoagulants prior to and after stroke compared to men with atrial fibrillation, and when stroke occurred, regardless of the fact that in our study women were younger and with less severe stroke, outcomes did not differ between the sexes

Efficacy of Antioxidant Treatment in Reducing Resistin Serum Levels: A Randomized Study

OBJECTIVES: Few in vitro studies have examined the participation of resistin, a recently discovered adipokine, in oxidative processes. We investigated whether in vivo treatment with the antioxidant vitamin C might affect resistin serum levels. DESIGN: Randomized prospective open trial. SETTING: San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty healthy individuals. INTERVENTION: Administration of 2 g of ascorbic acid orally for 2 wk (n = 40; experimental group) or no supplementation (n = 40; control group). OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was the between-group difference in the before–after change in resistin serum level after vitamin C supplementation. Secondary endpoints were the within- and between-group changes in glucose, insulin, lipid parameters, C-reactive protein fasting values, and markers of oxidative stress. RESULTS: In the experimental group, vitamin C supplementation was significantly associated with both resistin concentration reduction (from 4.3 ± 1.5 to 2.9 ± 0.8 ng/ml; 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.87, −1.03) and ascorbic acid level increase (from 9.4 ± 2.9 to 19.0 ± 5.2 mg/l; 95% CI 7.9, 11.2). In the control group, resistin levels did not change significantly (from 4.2 ± 1.0 to 4.3 ± 0.9 ng/ml; 95% CI −0.07, 0.37). The between-group differences were highly significant (p < 0.001). Vitamin C supplementation was also associated with a statistically significant reduction in nitrotyrosine level and incremental increase in reduced glutathione. In a linear regression model, within-individual changes in vitamin C concentrations were inversely correlated with changes in resistin levels in both groups (each unit increase of vitamin C corresponded to a decrease of about 0.10 units of resistin levels (95% CI 0.13, 0.08; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is to our knowledge the first randomized trial in humans that has demonstrated that short-term vitamin C supplementation could significantly reduce resistin levels, independent of changes in inflammatory or metabolic variables. Future investigations of resistin participation in oxidative processes are warranted