A Stackelberg game model for resource allocation in cargo container security

Cataloged from PDF version of article.This paper presents a game theoretic model that analyzes resource allocation strategies against an adaptive adversary to secure cargo container transportation. The defender allocates security resources that could interdict an unauthorized weapon insertion inside a container. The attacker observes the defender’s security strategy and chooses a site to insert the weapon. The attacker’s goal is to maximize the probability that the weapon reaches its target. The basic model includes a single container route. The results in the basic model suggest that in equilibrium the defender should maintain an equal level of physical security at each site on the cargo container’s route. Furthermore, the equilibrium levels of resources to interdict the weapon overseas increase as a function of the attacker’s capability to detonate the weapon remotely at a domestic seaport. Investment in domestic seaport security is highly sensitive to the attacker’s remote detonation capability as well. The general model that includes multiple container routes suggests that there is a trade-off between the security of foreign seaports and the physical security of sites including container transfer facilities, container yards, warehouses and truck rest areas. The defender has the flexibility to shift resources between non-intrusive inspections at foreign seaports and physical security of other sites on the container route. The equilibrium is also sensitive to the cost effectiveness of security investments

Information and preference reversals in lotteries

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Several approaches have been proposed for evaluating information in expected utility theory. Among the most popular approaches are the expected utility increase, the selling price and the buying price. While the expected utility increase and the selling price always agree in ranking information alternatives, Hazen and Sounderpandian [11] have demonstrated that the buying price may not always agree with the other two. That is, in some cases, where the expected utility increase would value information A more highly than information B, the buying price may reverse these preferences. In this paper, we discuss the conditions under which all these approaches agree in a generic decision environment where the decision maker may choose to acquire arbitrary information bundles. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Soft Bottom Molluscan Assemblages of the Bathyal Zone of the Sea of Marmara

The present study deals with the soft bottom molluscan species collected from the bathyal zone of the Sea of Marmara in 2013. Replicated samples were taken by a Box Core, sampling an area of 0.1 m2 at 31 stations at the two depth transects, 500 and 1000 m. A total of 1229 individuals belonging to 4 classes and 28 species were collected. Two species (Akritogyra conspicua and Liostomia hansgei) are new records for the marine molluscan fauna of Turkey and four species (Benthonella tenella, Odostomia silesui, Syrnola minuta and Crenilabium exile) are new records for the molluscan fauna of the Sea of Marmara. A relatively richer fauna was determined in 500 m (25 species) than in 1000 m (17 species). The most dominant species at 500 m and 1000 m depths were Crenilabium exile and Parthenina flexuosa, respectively. Number of species and number of individuals varied significantly only between depths while number of individuals changed significantly among basins (ANOVA test). A significant difference in species assemblages between the Tekirdağ and the Central Basins was detected (ANOSIM test). The multivariate analysis showed that the depth was the main factor influencing the molluscan assemblages in the area

AUGMENTING LANDMARKS: EXTENDING “PLACES” IN THE HYBRID CITY

Several recent technological advancements are substantially altering how we interact with urban spaces. The existing physical space as we know it now encompasses a plethora of emerging realities into which we shift in and out, resulting in what is called Hybrid Spaces. Augmented Reality (AR) today gives way to forms of hybrid realities that are accessible through our handheld devices, and which allow us to engage with our physical reality in a new way. These devices allow us to access and view digital information that is saturating our urban spaces, and yet appear invisible to the naked eye. When this information is localized, it can be used to augment physical space with virtual overlays. These augmentations may become physically linked to the environment, establishing virtual landmarks that could only be accessed via these handheld or wearable digital portals through digital applications. This gives way to new forms of engaging in real-time with our socio-cultural daily activities. The literature shows that urban space is reimagined through augmented reality (AR) which plays a significant role in introducing new augmented “places” supporting our physical ones as hybrid realities. This paper, accordingly, investigates the notion of location-based AR experiences on landmarks in the urban space in accordance with our spatial memory, and how augmented reality through mobile devices, plays an important role as a gateway between our physical space and the virtual one. It also seeks to understand how these augmentations might insert and employ symbolic or personal meanings to the space, based on our different interpretations. In doing so, we conducted an integrative analytical review of the most recent literature, to study the forms of augmentations in multiple cities, and how they are used as agents in our spatial experience. The paper then introduced a framework that could be used to assess users’ satisfaction and the design considerations of the AR spatial experience. Finally, the paper adopts a few recent AR practices to be assessed by the proposed framework

Automatic Selection of Verification Tools for Efficient Analysis of Biochemical Models

YesMotivation: Formal verification is a computational approach that checks system correctness (in relation to a desired functionality). It has been widely used in engineering applications to verify that systems work correctly. Model checking, an algorithmic approach to verification, looks at whether a system model satisfies its requirements specification. This approach has been applied to a large number of models in systems and synthetic biology as well as in systems medicine. Model checking is, however, computationally very expensive, and is not scalable to large models and systems. Consequently, statistical model checking (SMC), which relaxes some of the constraints of model checking, has been introduced to address this drawback. Several SMC tools have been developed; however, the performance of each tool significantly varies according to the system model in question and the type of requirements being verified. This makes it hard to know, a priori, which one to use for a given model and requirement, as choosing the most efficient tool for any biological application requires a significant degree of computational expertise, not usually available in biology labs. The objective of this paper is to introduce a method and provide a tool leading to the automatic selection of the most appropriate model checker for the system of interest. Results: We provide a system that can automatically predict the fastest model checking tool for a given biological model. Our results show that one can make predictions of high confidence, with over 90% accuracy. This implies significant performance gain in verification time and substantially reduces the “usability barrier” enabling biologists to have access to this powerful computational technology.EPSRC, Innovate U

Minimal important difference and patient acceptable symptom state for common outcome instruments in patients with a closed humeral shaft fracture - analysis of the FISH randomised clinical trial data

Background: Two common ways of assessing the clinical relevance of treatment outcomes are the minimal important difference (MID) and the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS). The former represents the smallest change in the given outcome that makes people feel better, while the latter is the symptom level at which patients feel well.Methods: We recruited 124 patients with a humeral shaft fracture to a randomised controlled trial comparing surgery to nonsurgical care. Outcome instruments included the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, the Constant-Murley score, and two numerical rating scales (NRS) for pain (at rest and on activities). A reduction in DASH and pain scores, and increase in the Constant-Murley score represents improvement. We used four methods (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve, the mean difference of change, the mean change, and predictive modelling methods) to determine the MID, and two methods (the ROC and 75th percentile) for the PASS. As an anchor for the analyses, we assessed patients'satisfaction regarding the injured arm using a 7-item Likert-scale.Results: The change in the anchor question was strongly correlated with the change in DASH, moderately correlated with the change of the Constant-Murley score and pain on activities, and poorly correlated with the change in pain at I rest (Spearman's rho 0.51, -0.40, 0.36, and 0.15, respectively).Depending on the method, the MID estimates for DASH ranged from -6.7 to -11.2, pain on activities from -0.5 to -1.3, and the Constant-Murley score from 6.3 to 13.5.The ROC method provided reliable estimates for DASH (-6.7 points, Area Under Curve [AUC] 0.77), the Constant-Murley Score (7.6 points, AUC 0.71), and pain on activities (-0.5 points, AUC 0.68).The PASS estimates were 14 and 10 for DASH, 2.5 and 2 for pain on activities, and 68 and 74 for the Constant-Murley score with the ROC and 75th percentile methods, respectively.Conclusion: Our study provides credible estimates for the MID and PASS values of DASH, pain on activities and the Constant-Murley score, but not for pain at rest. The suggested cut-offs can be used in future studies and for assessing treatment success in patients with humeral shaft fracture.Peer reviewe

Knowledge, attitudes and anxiety towards influenza A/H1N1 vaccination of healthcare workers in Turkey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with knowledge and attitudes about influenza A (H1N1) and vaccination, and possible relations of these factors with anxiety among healthcare workers (HCW).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design, and it was carried out between 23 November and 4 December 2009. A total of 300 HCW from two hospitals completed a questionnaire. Data collection tools comprised a questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Vaccination rate for 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) among HCW was low (12.7%). Most of the respondents believed the vaccine was not safe and protective. Vaccination refusal was mostly related to the vaccine's side effects, disbelief to vaccine's protectiveness, negative news about the vaccine and the perceived negative attitude of the Prime Minister to the vaccine. State anxiety was found to be high in respondents who felt the vaccine was unsafe.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HCW considered the seriousness of the outbreak, their vaccination rate was low. In vaccination campaigns, governments have to aim at providing trust, and media campaigns should be used to reinforce this trust as well. Accurate reporting by the media of the safety and efficacy of influenza vaccines and the importance of vaccines for the public health would likely have a positive influence on vaccine uptake. Uncertain or negative reporting about the vaccine is detrimental to vaccination efforts.</p

Active Air Injection Control to Enhance Performance of Hollow-bladed Axial Fan: A Numerical Study

Nowadays, axial fans participate in the most important areas of industry and research, including aviation, navy, wind tunnels, cooling towers, and even automobiles. Thus, more emphasis has been placed on improving their aerodynamic performances. It is important to notice that the parameters involved in designing a fan are mainly concerned with aeraulic power, torque and efficiency. This study investigates the utilization of flow control techniques to improve performances of an axial fan equipped with hollow blades, shroud, and hub. These features grant the fan crucial characteristics, namely, its lightweight and facilitate the blowing action by taking advantage on its hollow parts. The fan's performance is evaluated using a steady RANS numerical model with a k-ω SST turbulence closure, which was validated with experimental data. An active control air blowing through a slot was introduced with various positions and dimensions. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in the fan's performance, with an up to 56% increase in aeraulic power gain, accompanied by changes in the overall flow topology, noticed by closely analyzing the flow structure near the tip clearance

Prominent crista terminalis mimicking a right atrial mass: case report

The crista terminalis is a normal anatomical structure within the right atrium that is not normally visualised in the standard views obtained while performing a transthoracic echocardiogram. In this case report, transthoracic echocardiography suggested the presence of a right atrial mass in a patient with end stage renal disease. However, subsequent transesophageal echocardiography revealed that the right atrial mass was actually a thick muscular bridge in the right atrium consistent with a prominent crista terminalis. An understanding of the anatomy and the echocardiographic appearance of a prominent crista terminalis will minimize the misdiagnosis of this structure avoiding unnecessary expensive additional tests

Ramadan fasting and changes in thyroid function in hypothyroidism: identifying patients at risk

Background: Ramadan fasting (RF) is associated with major changes in meal times. This can affect thyroxine absorption and thyroid function (TF) in patients with hypothyroidism. We aimed to examine the short- and long-term impact of RF on TF in patients with primary hypothyroidism on levothyroxine. Methods: TF tests in patients with primary hypothyroidism attending an endocrine center in the United Arab Emirates were retrospectively analyzed. The impact of RF on TF, namely serum thyrotropin (TSH) TSH, free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3), was investigated in 481 patients within 3 months before Ramadan (BR), 1–2 weeks (PR1), and 3–6 months (PR2) post-Ramadan. Controlled TF was defined as TSH between 0.45 and 4.5 μIU/mL. Inadequate control was defined as TSH >4.5 μIU/mL. Loss of control was defined as having controlled TF at BR and inadequate control at PR1. Multivariable regression analyses were used to assess the association of baseline TSH, baseline levothyroxine dose, and medication use with loss of thyroid control in Ramadan. Results: TSH increased significantly from a median of 2.0 (0.8–3.7) μIU/mL at BR to 2.9 (1.4–5.6) μIU/mL at PR1 (p < 0.001). This was accompanied by a fall in fT4 and fT3 at PR1 (p < 0.001). 25.5% of patients with previously controlled TF at BR had deterioration in TF at PR1. Sixty-one percent of patients with previously uncontrolled TF at BR remained uncontrolled at PR1. Baseline TSH was significantly associated with loss of thyroid control in Ramadan with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.5 (1.17–1.92) (p < 0.001), whereas other variables, including medications known to affect levothyroxine absorption were not associated with loss of control. TSH, fT4, and fT3 levels returned to normal at PR2. Conclusions: RF can negatively affect TF of patients on levothyroxine replacement. Although this effect is modest and transitory in most patients, a significant minority exhibit more pronounced, and clinically relevant changes. The latter includes those with higher TSH BR, and a smaller group whose thyroid disease appears to be particularly affected by the mealtime and lifestyle changes of Ramadan