On Repairing Reasoning Reversals via Representational Refinements

Representation is a fluent. A mismatch between the real world and an agent’s representation of it can be signalled by unexpected failures (or successes) of the agent’s reasoning. The ‘real world ’ may include the ontologies of other agents. Such mismatches can be repaired by refining or abstracting an agent’s ontology. These refinements or abstractions may not be limited to changes of belief, but may also change the signature of the agent’s ontology. We describe the implementation and successful evaluation of these ideas in the ORS system. ORS diagnoses failures in plan execution and then repairs the faulty ontologies. Our automated approach to dynamic ontology repair has been designed specifically to address real issues in multi-agent systems, for instance, as envisaged in the Semantic Web

“Staged Combat”: A Literature Review on the Potential Advantages of Drama Therapy Over Traditional Talk Therapy With Veterans

There is an ongoing disconnect between military veterans and mental health with a vast majority of veterans either unable or unwilling to seek therapy. This may be a result of traditional talk therapy being ineffective with the veteran population; drama therapy may be a recourse that can better bridge the gap between veterans and therapy. Veterans experience trauma not just through means of combat overseas, but via training and transitioning out of the military as well, all culminating in a psychological regression. With the given population, emerging adulthood would be the period that veterans regress to as it is when most trauma experienced in the military occurs. Additionally, a veteran’s emerging adulthood is truncated by their military service; they are incentivized to leap into adulthood via milestones like marriage and childrearing in exchange for better benefits. In so doing, the veteran, unknown to them, is stuck in a limbo between perpetual adolescence and adulthood. Methods mainly meant for one or the other are insufficient and therefore could benefit from being combined. Drama therapy and its core processes may cater well to the unique needs and cultural stigmas to which veterans adhere. Where traditional therapy falters (e.g., intellectualizing the issue, focusing on the trauma, embracing vulnerability), drama therapy has potential to consistently contribute through distancing, therapeutic expression, exploration of multidimensional relationships, and fun/play

A New Approach to High Reliability UHF Controllers

Many available UHF antenna positioners lack reliability for high-intensity commercial use. Similarly, many UHF antenna controllers lack appropriate interfaces for remote and automated control. We present a number of ways to simplify UHF ground station design and improve reliability. We also describe an improved antenna controller we have designed, with Ethernet connectivity, human- and machine-friendly interfaces, detailed metrics for fault diagnosis, and an improved control algorithm designed to minimise gearbox stresses and improve pointing accuracy

A Policy Recommendation Regarding the National Animal Identification System within the United States

Individual identification of livestock within the U.S. is not a new concept. It has been documented in large animal production industries dating back to the late 1800's and early 1900's (Richey, 2005) Cattle ranchers, to indicate ownership and deter theft, first used hot iron branding. Hot iron branding was also used on horses. Swine were identified through small triangle shaped notches made in their ear. The initial livestock diseases to receive attention within the United States, with a Public Health implication, were Brucellosis and Tuberculosis. A Surveillance Program was established for both diseases. Efforts to eradicate brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus in the United States began in 1934 (Ragan, 2002). In the beginning the program began with routine blood testing of cattle herds. Later, blood was collected at slaughter for testing purposes. Identified herds were quarantined. Producers were given an option of either continued routine testing of animals with removal to slaughter of those testing positive or sell the herd to the government for slaughter. Concurrent vaccination of heifer calves against Brucellosis also contributed to the decline of this disease in the cattle population. At the dawn of the twentieth century, Tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States among humans (Olmstead 2004). The tuberculosis eradication program officially began in the United States in 1917. At that time it was estimated that 1 out of every 20 cattle slaughtered had bovine tuberculosis (Bruning-Fann, 1998). Most human cases were associated with the consumption of unpasteurized milk. The primary method of identification of cattle within these disease programs was via a metal ear tag. Orange colored tags were applied to calves when vaccinated for Brucellosis and metal ear tags were applied at the time animals were blood tested. A critical component of a successful surveillance program is permanent animal identification (Ragan, 2002). Over the years, as these diseases have been brought under control, fewer cattle (livestock) have been permanently identified. Today, less than 10% of cattle are vaccinated for Brucellosis. During this same time period, personnel within individual States Department of Agriculture have decreased as have United States Department of Agriculture personnel. In December 2003, a cow was identified as the first within the United States to be diagnosed with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). After a six week investigation, U.S. authorities announced that they were ending their BSE field investigation after identifying only 28 of 80 cows that had entered the United States from Canada with the BSE cow (Becker, 2006). To address current and future disease concerns, a national animal identification system was proposed. A key goal of this plan was to identify all animals and premises potentially exposed to a foreign animal disease, or a domestic disease of concern within forty eight hours of discovery. Such a program would be valuable to the United States efforts to identify and contain diseases among livestock.Master of Public Healt

Guided self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for depression in primary care : a randomised controlled trial

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Obstetric and long-term kidney outcomes in renal transplant recipients: a 40 year single-centre study

Female renal transplant recipients of childbearing age may ask what the outcomes are for pregnancy and whether pregnancy will affect graft function. We analyzed obstetric and transplant outcomes among renal transplant recipients in our center who have been pregnant between 1973 and 2013. A case−cohort study was performed identifying 83 pairs of pregnant and non-pregnant controls matched for sex, age, transplant vintage, and creatinine. There were 138 pregnancies reported from 89 renal transplant recipients. There were live births in 74% of pregnancies with high prevalence of prematurity (61%), low birth weight (52%), and pre-eclampsia (14%). Lower eGFR (OR 0.98; p = 0.05) and higher uPCR (OR 1.86; p = 0.02) at conception were independent predictors for poor composite obstetric outcome. Lower eGFR (OR 0.98; p = 0.04), higher uPCR (OR 1.50; p = 0.04), and live organ donation (OR 0.35; p = 0.02) were predictors of ≥20% loss of eGFR between immediately pre-pregnancy and one yr after delivery. There was no difference in eGFR at one, five, and 10 yr in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant controls and a pregnancy was not associated with poorer 10-yr transplant or 20-yr patient survival. Despite high rates of obstetric complications, most women had successful pregnancies with good long-term transplant function

Eccentric Force-Velocity Characteristics during a Novel Squat Protocol in Trained Rugby Union Athletes-Pilot Study

Eccentric strength characteristics have been shown to be important factors in physical performance. Many eccentric tests have been performed in isolation or with supramaximal loading. The purpose of this study was to investigate within- and between- session reliability of an incremental eccentric back squat protocol. Force plates and a linear position transducer captured force-time-displacement data across six loading conditions, separated by at least seven days. The reliability of eccentric specific measurements was assessed using coefficient of variation (CV), change in mean, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Eccentric peak force demonstrated good ICC (≥0.82) and TE (≤7.3%) for each load. Variables based on mean data were generally less reliable (e.g., mean rate of force development, mean force, mean velocity). This novel protocol meets acceptable levels of reliability for different eccentric-specific measurements although the extent to which these variables affect dynamic performance requires further research

Extreme asteroids in the Pan-STARRS 1 Survey

Using the first 18 months of the Pan-STARRS 1 survey we have identified 33 candidate high-amplitude objects for follow-up observations and carried out observations of 22 asteroids. 4 of the observed objects were found to have observed amplitude $A_{obs}\geq 1.0$ mag. We find that these high amplitude objects are most simply explained by single rubble pile objects with some density-dependent internal strength, allowing them to resist mass shedding even at their highly elongated shapes. 3 further objects although below the cut-off for 'high-amplitude' had a combination of elongation and rotation period which also may require internal cohesive strength, depending on the density of the body. We find that none of the 'high-amplitude asteroids' identified here require any unusual cohesive strengths to resist rotational fission. 3 asteroids were sufficiently observed to allow for shape and spin pole models to be determined through light curve inversion. 45864 was determined to have retrograde rotation with spin pole axes $\lambda=218\pm 10^{\circ}, \beta=-82\pm 5^{\circ}$ and asteroid 206167 was found to have best fit spin pole axes $\lambda= 57 \pm 5^{\circ}$, $\beta=-67 \pm 5^{\circ}$. An additional object not initially measured with $A_{obs}>1.0$ mag, 49257, was determined to have a shape model which does suggest a high-amplitude object. Its spin pole axes were best fit for values $\lambda=112\pm 6^{\circ}, \beta=6\pm 5^{\circ}$. In the course of this project to date no large super-fast rotators ($P_{rot} < 2.2$ h) have been identified.Comment: 31 pages; accepted by A

The utility of whole body vibration exercise in haemodialysis patients: a pilot study

Background: Exercise improves physical capacity in patients with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis (HD), but few patients engage in it. Whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE) is a novel protocol that has been shown to benefit frail elderly patients’ rehabilitation. We assessed the utility of WBVE before HD sessions and tested methods to inform the design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Methods: Physical condition and quality of life were assessed at enrolment and repeated 2 weeks later in a pilot study of 49 patients undergoing regular HD. All patients then undertook 8 weeks of WBVE, thrice weekly for 3 min, after which the assessments were repeated and results compared (paired t-tests). Further assessments were made after a 4-week layoff. Patients completed a post-study questionnaire about their experiences of using WBVE. The reproducibility of WBVE and effects on measures of functionality, muscle strength, indirect exercise capacity, nutritional status, bone health and quality of life were recorded to undertake a power calculation for an RCT. Results: Of 49 patients enrolled, 25 completed all assessments. The dropout rate was high at 49%, but overall, WBVE was an acceptable form of exercise. Functionality as assessed by the 60-s sit-to-stand test (STS-60) improved significantly by 11% (P = 0.002). Some quality of life domains also improved significantly. All improvements were maintained 4 weeks after discontinuing WBVE. Conclusions: WBVE was acceptable, safe, easily incorporated into the routine of HD and was associated with useful improvements in physical function sufficient to justify a RCT

Effects of PNDIT2 end groups on aggregation, thin film structure, alignment and electron transport in field-effect transistors

To develop greener protocols toward the sustainable production of conjugated polymers, we combine the advantages of atom-economic direct arylation polycondensation (DAP) with those of the green solvent 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF). The n-type copolymer PNDIT2 is synthesized from unsubstituted bithiophene (T2) and 2,6-dibromonapthalene diimide (NDIBr2) under simple DAP conditions in MeTHF. Extensive optimization is required to suppress nucleophilic substitution of NDIBr end groups, which severely limits molar mass. Different carboxylic acids, bases, palladium precursors and ligands are successfully screened to enable quantitative yield and satisfyingly high molar masses up to Mn,SEC ∼ 20 kDa. In contrast to PNDIT2 made via DAP in toluene with tolyl-chain termini, nucleophilic substitution of NDIBr chain ends in MeTHF finally leads to NDI-OH termination. The influence of different chain termini on the optical, thermal, structural and electronic properties of PNDIT2 is investigated. For samples with identical molecular weight, OH-termination leads to slightly reduced aggregation in solution and bulk crystallinity, a decreased degree of alignment in directionally deposited films, and a consequently reduced, but not compromised, electron mobility with promising values still close to 0.9 cm2 V−1 s−1