Just do it? When to do what you judge you ought to do

While it is generally believed that justification is a fallible guide to the truth, there might be interesting exceptions to this general rule. In recent work on bridge-principles, an increasing number of authors have argued that truths about what a subject ought to do are truths we stand in some privileged epistemic relation to and that our justified normative beliefs are beliefs that will not lead us astray. If these bridge-principles hold, it suggests that justification might play an interesting role in our normative theories. In turn, this might help us understand the value of justification, a value that's notoriously difficult to understand if we think of justification as but a fallible means to a desired end. We will argue that these bridge-principles will be incredibly difficult to defend. While we do not think that normative facts necessarily stand in any interesting relationship to our justified beliefs about them, there might well be a way of defending the idea that our justified beliefs about what to do won't lead us astray. In turn, this might help us understand the value of justification, but this way of thinking about justification and its value comes with costs few would be willing to pay

P-critical integral quadratic forms and positive unit forms: An algorithmic approach

AbstractWe introduce the class of P-critical integral unit forms q:Zn→Z containing the critical forms in the sense of Ovsienko [13]. Several characterisations of P-critical forms are given. In particular, it is proved that q is P-critical if and only if there is a uniquely determined extended Dynkin diagram Δ∈{A∼n,D∼n,E∼6,E∼7,E∼8} and a special group isomorphism T:Zn→Zn such that q∘T is the quadratic form qΔ:Zn→Z,n=|Δ0|, of the diagram Δ. A correspondence between positive forms p:Zn-1→Z with a sincere root and P-critical forms q:Zn→Z is described and efficient linear algebra algorithms for computing P-critical unit forms and positive forms are constructed

Ocena stężenia IL-10 i TGF-beta oraz mieloidalnych i limfoidalnych komórek dendrytycznych u pacjentek chorych na raka jajnika

Abstract Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate IL-10 and TGF-beta levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma of patients with ovarian cancer (n=104), serous cyst (n=32) or normal controls (n=20). IL-10 and TGF-beta levels were correlated to myeloid (M) and lymphoid (L) dendritic cells (DC). Material and Methods: IL-10 and TGF-beta concentrations were evaluated using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The percentage of DC in mononuclear cells was quantified by using flow cytometry. Results: The PF and plasma IL-10 concentrations were significantly higher in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients when compared to the women with serous cyst (the reference group). Plasma levels of IL-10 were elevated in EOC patients in comparison with the reference and control groups. There were significant differences in the PF and plasma IL-10 levels with respect to tumor stage, grade and histology. Significant negative correlations were found between the plasma IL-10 levels, MDC and LDC in the peripheral blood. TGF-beta levels were detected in PF of all EOC patients and were significantly lower when compared with plasma. Plasma levels of TGF-beta were elevated in EOC patients compared with the control group. No significant differences in the PF and plasma TGF-beta levels were noted between EOC patients and the reference group. The authors did not find a correlation between the plasma and PF TGF-beta levels and the percentage of MDC and LDC. Conclusions: IL-10 production in EOC patients depends on the tumor stage, grade and histological type of the tumor cells. IL-10 may have impact on the percentage of dendritic cells in EOC patients.Streszczenie Cel: Ocena stężenia interleukiny (IL)-10 i transformującego czynnika wzrostu beta (TGF-β) w osoczu i płynie otrzewnowym (PO) chorych na raka jajnika oraz ustalenie czy istnieje zależność pomiędzy ich stężeniem a odsetkiem mieloidalnych (M) i limfoidalnych (L) komórek dendrytycznych (DC). Materiał i metody: Stężenie IL-10 i TGF-β oceniono u chorych na raka jajnika (n=104), z torbielą surowiczą jajnika (grupa referencyjna , n=32) oraz w grupie kontrolnej (n=20) metodą immunoenzymatyczną ELISA. Odsetek MDC i LDC oceniano metodą cytometrii przepływowej. Wyniki: Stężenie IL-10 w PO chorych na raka jajnika było istotnie wyższe niż w grupie referencyjnej. Ponadto stężenie IL-10 w osoczu chorych na raka jajnika było wyższe niż w grupie referencyjnej i kontrolnej. Odnotowano istotne statystycznie różnice stężeń IL-10 w osoczu i PO chorych na raka jajnika w zależności od stopnia zaawansowania nowotworu wg FIGO, stopnia zróżnicowania histologicznego oraz typu histologicznego nowotworu. Stężenie IL-10 w osoczu chorych na raka jajnika istotnie ujemnie korelowało z odsetkiem MDC oraz LDC krwi obwodowej. Stężenie TGF-β w osoczu i PO chorych na raka jajnika nie różniło się istotnie od odnotowanego w grupie referencyjnej. Stężenie TGF-β w osoczu chorych na raka jajnika jak i grupie referencyjnej było wyższe niż w grupie kontrolnej. Nie wykazano istotnej korelacji pomiędzy stężeniem TGF-β w osoczu i PO a odsetkiem MDC i LDC u chorych na raka jajnika. Wnioski: Zaobserwowana w badaniach istotna ujemna korelacja pomiędzy stężeniem IL-10 w osoczu chorych na raka jajnika a MDC oraz LDC krwi obwodowej może sugerować wpływ IL-10 na odsetek Komorek dendrytycznych

On an extremal problem for poset dimension

Let $f(n)$ be the largest integer such that every poset on $n$ elements has a $2$-dimensional subposet on $f(n)$ elements. What is the asymptotics of $f(n)$? It is easy to see that $f(n)\geqslant n^{1/2}$. We improve the best known upper bound and show $f(n)=\mathcal{O}(n^{2/3})$. For higher dimensions, we show $f_d(n)=\mathcal{O}\left(n^\frac{d}{d+1}\right)$, where $f_d(n)$ is the largest integer such that every poset on $n$ elements has a $d$-dimensional subposet on $f_d(n)$ elements.Comment: removed proof of Theorem 3 duplicating previous work; fixed typos and reference

Total oxidative status of peritoneal fluid in women with endometriosis

Abstract Pathophysiology of endometriosis remains enigmatic despite extensive investigations. Accumulating data suggest that oxidative stress in the peritoneal cavity may be implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the oxidative status of peritoneal fluid (PF) in women with and without endometriosis. Material and methods: Sixty-five women participated in the study. 40 women with endometriosis constituted the study group and 25 patients with functional follicle ovarian cysts comprised the reference group. Total oxidative status of PF was determined using a commercially available colorimetric assay kit (Immundiagnostic AG, Cat. nr. KC5100). Results: Women with endometriosis had significantly higher PF oxidative status compared to women with follicle ovarian cysts. No significant difference in the peritoneal oxidative status was found between patients with stage I/II endometriosis, and women with stage III/IV endometriotic disease. Conclusions: Disrupted oxidative status in the peritoneal cavity of women with endometriosis plays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease

Towards treasury 4.0/The evolving role of corporate treasury management for 2020

This paper highlights the importance of treasury management in a corporate world. Treasury management is a dynamic phenomenon, and treasurers need to update treasury activities accordingly. This paper aims to provide a future roadmap for treasury management. In the near future, the most important aspects of treasury management will be new financial regulations, developments in information technology, and global approaches toward whole business operations. In this regard, the concept of business intelligence has become a need of the highest importance for every CFO. Treasury management needs to put aside the traditional practice of setting financial targets for one year and think of medium-term treasury planning as a source of significant motivation. Treasury management is a dynamic profession that evolves continuously, seeks maximum effectiveness, and aims for the highest productivity and simplification of all treasury activities

Peritoneal fluid iron levels in women with endometriosis

Summary Aim: Endometriosis is characterized by a cyclic hemorrhage within the peritoneal cavity. Accumulating data suggests that iron homeostasis in the peritoneal cavity may be disrupted by endometriosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate iron levels in peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with and without endometriosis. Material and Methods: Seventy-five women were studied: 50 women with endometriosis and, as a reference group, 25 patients with functional follicle ovarian cysts. Iron concentrations in the PF were measured using a commercially available colorimetric assay kit. Results: Iron concentrations were significantly higher in PF from women with endometriosis as compared to the reference group. Patients with stages III/IV endometriosis had significantly higher PF iron concentrations than women with stages I/II of the disease. Conclusions: Disrupted iron homeostasis in the peritoneal cavity of women with endometriosis plays a role in the pathogenesis of the disease

Online coloring of short intervals

We study the online graph coloring problem restricted to the intersection graphs of intervals withlengths in[1,σ]. Forσ= 1it is the class of unit interval graphs, and forσ=∞the class of allinterval graphs. Our focus is on intermediary classes. We present a(1 +σ)-competitive algorithm,which beats the state of the art for11, nor better than7/4-competitive for anyσ >2, and that no algorithm beats the5/2asymptotic competitive ratio for all, arbitrarily large,values ofσ. That last result shows that the problem we study can be strictly harder than unitinterval coloring. Our main technical contribution is a recursive composition of strategies, whichseems essential to prove any lower bound higher than2

The influence of thickness of ACL tendon graft on long-term results of treatment

1. INTRODUCTION: Operative treatment is the treatment of choice for the most severe, third-degree ACL sprain. Many operational techniques exist, including technique using a quadruple-folded semitendinosus tendon and the technique of double-folded semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Depending on the technique chosen, we can obtain different thicknesses of the grafts used. 2. AIM OF THE STUDY: To find a relationship between the type of surgical technique used and the thickness of the graft, as well as to assess the effect of the thickness of the applied autograft on the long-term outcome of the treatment. 3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study included a group of 43 patients operated on due to ACL injury. In 21 patients, the procedure was performed using the quadruple-folded semitendinosus tendon, whereas in 22 patients the procedure was performed using double-folded semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. The patients were divided into groups based on the thickness of the transplant. A special questionnaire prepared on the basis of the KOOS scale was used to assess the subjective performance of the knee. The type and thickness of the graft was determined based on the analysis of operational protocols. The statistical analysis of the results of the study was performed. The Chi-square compatibility test or chi-square compatibility test in the Yates modification were used to assess the relationship. 4. RESULTS: A relationship was found between the parameters: "general quality of life" (p = 0.01), "pain" (p = 0.005), "sports activity" (p = 0.05), "everyday activities" (p = 0, 01). There is no dependence for the "other symptoms" parameter (p = 0.1). There is no relationship between the technique used and the graft thickness (p = 0.2).  5. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of the surgical technique does not affect the final thickness of the autograft. Overall quality of life, pain, sports activity; everyday activities are the parameters of the KOOS scale, which are affected by the thickness of the transplant