Assignment Methods for Incidence Calculus

AbstractIncidence calculus is a mechanism for probabilistic reasoning in which sets of possible worlds, called incidences, are associated with axioms, and probabilities are then associated with these sets. Inference rules are used to deduce bounds on the incidence of formulae which are not axioms, and bounds for the probability of such a formula can then be obtained. In practice an assignment of probabilities directly to axioms may be given, and it is then necessary to find an assignment of incidence which will reproduce these probabilities. We show that this task of assigning incidences can be viewed as a tree searching problem, and two techniques for performing this research are discussed. One of these is a new proposal involving a depth first search, while the other incorporates a random element. A Prolog implementation of these methods has been developed. The two approaches are compared for efficiency and the significance of their results are discussed. Finally we discuss a new proposal for applying techniques from linear programming to incidence calculus

Non-pharmacological interventions for sleep and quality of life: a randomized pilot study

Objetivo: estimar los efectos de intervenciones no farmacológicas para mejoría de la calidad de sueño y de vida de pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca. Método: estudio piloto de un ensayo controlado aleatorizado con 32 individuos asignados a cuatro grupos. El sueño fue evaluado por el Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory y la calidad de vida relacionada a la salud fue evaluada por el Minnessota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, en el inicio y en las semanas 12 y 24 del estudio. Las medias de los resultados por grupo de intervención fueron comparadas con análisis de covariancia y los tamaños de los efectos fueron calculados para cada grupo. Resultados: todos los grupos presentaron mejoría en la calidad de sueño y de vida relacionada a la salud al final del período de intervención (12 semanas) y en el seguimiento de 24 semanas; sin embargo, las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas (p entre 0,22 y 0,40). En 12 semanas, los efectos de las intervenciones variaron entre -2,1 y -3,8 en la calidad de sueño y de -0,8 a -1,7 en la calidad de vida, con valores similares en 24 semanas. Conclusión: los efectos obtenidos en este estudio pueden servir de base para calcular el tamaño de la muestra y del poder estadístico en estudios confirmatorios. Registro Brasileño de Ensayos Clínicos - RBR 7jd2mm.Objective: to estimate the effects of non-pharmacological interventions to improve the quality of sleep and quality of life of patients with heart failure. Method: pilot study of a randomized controlled trial with 32 individuals assigned to four groups. Sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory, while health-related quality of life was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, at the baseline and at the 12th and 24th weeks. The means of the outcomes according to intervention groups were compared using analysis of covariance; effect sizes were calculated per group. Results: all groups experienced improved quality of sleep and health-related quality of life at the end of the intervention (week 12) and at follow-up (week 24), though differences were not statistically significant (p between 0.22 and 0.40). The effects of the interventions at the 12th week ranged between -2.1 and -3.8 for the quality of sleep and between -0.8 and -1.7 for quality of life, with similar values at the 24th week. Conclusion: the effects found in this study provide information for sample size calculations and statistical power for confirmatory studies. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry - RBR 7jd2mmObjetivo: estimar os efeitos de intervenções não farmacológicas para melhora da qualidade de sono e de vida de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca. Método: estudo piloto de um ensaio controlado aleatorizado com 32 indivíduos alocados em quatro grupos. Sono foi avaliado pelo Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde avaliada pelo Minnessota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, no início e nas semanas 12 e 24 do estudo. As médias dos desfechos por grupo de intervenção foram comparadas por análise de covariância, e os tamanhos dos efeitos calculados para cada grupo. Resultados: todos os grupos apresentaram melhora na qualidade de sono e de vida relacionada à saúde no final do período de intervenção (12 semanas) e no seguimento de 24 semanas, mas as diferenças não foram estatisticamente significantes (p entre 0,22 e 0,40). Em 12 semanas, os efeitos das intervenções variaram entre -2,1 e -3,8 na qualidade de sono e de -0,8 e -1,7 na qualidade de vida, com valores similares em 24 semanas. Conclusão: os efeitos obtidos neste estudo podem servir de base para cálculos de tamanho amostral e poder estatístico em estudos confirmatórios. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos - RBR 7jd2m

Regularity of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes driven by a L{\'e}vy white noise

The paper is concerned with spatial and time regularity of solutions to linear stochastic evolution equation perturbed by L\'evy white noise "obtained by subordination of a Gaussian white noise". Sufficient conditions for spatial continuity are derived. It is also shown that solutions do not have in general \cadlag modifications. General results are applied to equations with fractional Laplacian. Applications to Burgers stochastic equations are considered as well.Comment: This is an updated version of the same paper. In fact, it has already been publishe

Rural to Urban Migration and Changes in Cardiovascular risk Factors in Tanzania: A Prospective Cohort Study.

High levels of rural to urban migration are a feature of most African countries. Our aim was to investigate changes, and their determinants, in cardiovascular risk factors on rural to urban migration in Tanzania. Men and women (15 to 59 years) intending to migrate from Morogoro rural region to Dar es Salaam for at least 6 months were identified. Measurements were made at least one week but no more than one month prior to migration, and 1 to 3 monthly after migration. Outcome measures included body mass index, blood pressure, fasting lipids, and self reported physical activity and diet. One hundred and three men, 106 women, mean age 29 years, were recruited and 132 (63.2%) followed to 12 months. All the figures presented here refer to the difference between baseline and 12 months in these 132 individuals. Vigorous physical activity declined (79.4% to 26.5% in men, 37.8% to 15.6% in women, p < 0.001), and weight increased (2.30 kg men, 2.35 kg women, p < 0.001). Intake of red meat increased, but so did the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. HDL cholesterol increased in men and women (0.24, 0.25 mmoll-1 respectively, p < 0.001); and in men, not women, total cholesterol increased (0.42 mmoll-1, p = 0.01), and triglycerides fell (0.31 mmoll-1, p = 0.034). Blood pressure appeared to fall in both men and women. For example, in men systolic blood pressure fell by 5.4 mmHg, p = 0.007, and in women by 8.6 mmHg, p = 0.001. The lower level of physical activity and increasing weight will increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, changes in diet were mixed, and may have contributed to mixed changes in lipid profiles and a lack of rise in blood pressure. A better understanding of the changes occurring on rural to urban migration is needed to guide preventive measures

Safety and efficacy of fluticasone propionate in the topical treatment of skin diseases

Fluticasone propionate - the first carbothioate corticosteroid - has been classified as a potent anti-inflammatory drug for dermatological use. It is available as 0.05% cream and 0.005% ointment formulations for the acute and maintenance treatment of patients with dermatological disorders such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and vitiligo. This glucocorticoid is characterized by high lipophilicity, high glucocorticoid receptor binding and activation, and a rapid metabolic turnover in skin. Although skin blanching following fluticasone propionate exceeds that of corticosteroids of medium strength, several clinical trials demonstrate a low potential for cutaneous and systemic side-effects, even in difficult-to-treat areas like the face, the eyelids and intertriginous areas. Even among paediatric patients with atopic dermatitis, fluticasone propionate proved to be safe and effective. These pharmacological and clinical properties are reflected by the high therapeutic index of this glucocorticoid

The metallicity gradient as a tracer of history and structure : the Magellanic Clouds and M33 galaxies

Original article can be found at: http://www.aanda.org/ Copyright The European Southern Observatory (ESO) DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/200912138Context. The stellar metallicity and its gradient place constraints on the formation and evolution of galaxies. Aims. This is a study of the metallicity gradient of the LMC, SMC and M33 galaxies derived from their asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Methods. The [Fe/H] abundance was derived from the ratio between C- and M-type AGB stars and its variation analysed as a function of galactocentric distance. Galaxy structure parameters were adopted from the literature. Results. The metallicity of the LMC decreases linearly as −0.047±0.003 dex kpc−1 out to ∼8 kpc from the centre. In the SMC, [Fe/H] has a constant value of ∼−1.25 ± 0.01 dex up to ∼12 kpc. The gradient of the M33 disc, until ∼9 kpc, is −0.078 ± 0.003 dex kpc−1 while the outer disc/halo, out to ∼25 kpc, has [Fe/H] ∼ −1.7 dex. Conclusions. The metallicity of the LMC, as traced by different populations, bears the signature of two major star forming episodes: the first one constituting a thick disc/halo population and the second one a thin disc and bar due to a close encounter with the Milky Way and SMC. The [Fe/H] of the recent episode supports an LMC origin for the Stream. The metallicity of the SMC supports star formation, ∼3 Gyr ago, as triggered by LMC interaction and sustained by the bar in the outer region of the galaxy. The SMC [Fe/H] agrees with the present-day abundance in the Bridge and shows no significant gradient. The metallicity of M33 supports an “insideout” disc formation via accretion of metal poor gas from the interstellar medium.Peer reviewe

The inflammatory microenvironment in colorectal neoplasia

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Using technology to deliver cancer follow-up : a systematic review

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