Recommending the Most Encompassing Opposing and Endorsing Arguments in Debates

Arguments are essential objects in DirectDemocracyP2P, where they can occur both in association with signatures for petitions, or in association with other debated decisions, such as bug sorting by importance. The arguments of a signer on a given issue are grouped into one single justification, are classified by the type of signature (e.g., supporting or opposing), and can be subject to various types of threading. Given the available inputs, the two addressed problems are: (i) how to recommend the best justification, of a given type, to a new voter, (ii) how to recommend a compact list of justifications subsuming the majority of known arguments for (or against) an issue. We investigate solutions based on weighted bipartite graphs.Comment: 10 pages. This report was reviewed by a committee within Florida Tech during April 2014, and had been written in Summer 2013 by summarizing a set of emails exchanged during Spring 2013, concerning the DirectDemocracyP2P.net syste

Investigating the impact of hyperglycaemia on early embryo environment and development

The development of metabolic conditions has been associated with suboptimal nutrient provision to the embryo during pregnancy. Metabolic disorders have also been linked to subfertility; obese women produce fewer and smaller oocytes that are metabolically distinct from the oocytes of non-obese women. However, the impact of metabolic conditions on the secretions of the oviduct has not been extensively investigated. The work presented in this thesis has used an established in vitro model of the oviduct to determine the extent to which hyperglycaemia in the presence or absence of insulin modified oviduct secretions. These secretions were used to examine whether embryo survival and metabolism were also affected. Bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) were cultured under conditions designed to model acute and chronic hyperglycaemia, and in the presence or absence of physiologically relevant insulin concentrations. The fluid secreted by BOECs was analysed using ultramicrofluorometric assays and high-performance liquid chromatography, and expression of key genes was also assessed. Chronic treatment of BOECs under the above conditions modified cell secretions, since the concentrations of glucose, alanine, glycine and glutamine were significantly altered. The data on concentrations of substrates was then used to inform the composition of embryo culture medium, using 1mM, 3.6mM and 8.9mM glucose for the ‘8.5’, ‘7.3’ / ‘11+’, and ‘11-’ environments respectively, and modifying lactate, pyruvate and amino acid concentrations accordingly. The modified embryo environments did not affect preimplantation embryo cleavage and blastocyst rates; however, they modified the rates of pyruvate and glycine consumption, as well as arginine consumption/production. In summary, hyperglycaemia in the presence or absence of insulin modifies oviduct secretions, which in turn leads to altered embryo metabolism. Further experiments may elucidate whether a combination of molecules implicated in metabolic conditions exert a more pronounced effect on the composition of oviduct-derived fluid, as well as embryo survival and metabolism

Technologies for rapid prototyping (RP) - basic concepts, quality issues and modern trends

The paper describes the basics of the 3D printing technologies for rapid prototyping (RP). It shows the benefits of their utilization in product design and manufacturing of conventional parts and items with medical and other application. The most mature RP principles are presented and compared.Some trends in developing new 3D printers and corresponding materials for micro/nano and biological applications are described.  Some modern budget platforms are suggested for technology users.The paper also provides a summary of the main quality issues in the layering technologies as well as methodologies for studying the process capabilities, accuracy and maturity

STUDY OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHAINS FOR RAPID PROTOTYPING OF ORTHODONTIC DENTAL PRODUCTS

The paper presents results from studying the possibilities of digital layering technologies (DLP SLA - Digital Light Projector Stereolithography) for construction of biomedical orthodontics devices (aligners). Experimental data on the mechanical and aesthetical properties (transparency) of the materials used has been studied in comparison with the conventional technologies for producing the aligners - Vacuum Forming (VF). The paper discuss the influence of the design of the devices (e.g. thickness) and technological parameters (e.g. stirring time) of the processes on the mechanical properties and orthodontics functionality of the materials as well as the quality and accuracy of the devices (models and functional prototypes for dental applications).

Investigating The Impact Of Hyperglycaemia On Early Embryo Environment And Development

The development of metabolic conditions has been associated with suboptimal nutrient provision to the embryo during pregnancy. Metabolic disorders have also been linked to subfertility; obese women produce fewer and smaller oocytes that are metabolically distinct from the oocytes of non-obese women. However, the impact of metabolic conditions on the secretions of the oviduct has not been extensively investigated. The work presented in this thesis has used an established in vitro model of the oviduct to determine the extent to which hyperglycaemia in the presence or absence of insulin modified oviduct secretions. These secretions were used to examine whether embryo survival and metabolism were also affected. Bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) were cultured under conditions designed to model acute and chronic hyperglycaemia, and in the presence or absence of physiologically relevant insulin concentrations. The fluid secreted by BOECs was analysed using ultramicrofluorometric assays and high-performance liquid chromatography, and expression of key genes was also assessed. Chronic treatment of BOECs under the above conditions modified cell secretions, since the concentrations of glucose, alanine, glycine and glutamine were significantly altered. The data on concentrations of substrates was then used to inform the composition of embryo culture medium, using 1mM, 3.6mM and 8.9mM glucose for the ‘8.5’, ‘7.3’ / ‘11+’, and ‘11-’ environments respectively, and modifying lactate, pyruvate and amino acid concentrations accordingly. The modified embryo environments did not affect preimplantation embryo cleavage and blastocyst rates; however, they modified the rates of pyruvate and glycine consumption, as well as arginine consumption/production. In summary, hyperglycaemia in the presence or absence of insulin modifies oviduct secretions, which in turn leads to altered embryo metabolism. Further experiments may elucidate whether a combination of molecules implicated in metabolic conditions exert a more pronounced effect on the composition of oviduct-derived fluid, as well as embryo survival and metabolism

Intrusion detection methods and apparatus that use a building\u27s infrastructure as part of a sensor

Intrusion detection methods and apparatus exploit the infrastructure of the building itself. The preferred embodiments use the existing power line infrastructure to provide power, data, and sensor observables to a monitoring system which is simply connected at one point, namely, the connection of the building to the city power grid. Computer network interfaces may also be used. In terms of sensors, impedance, capacitive, inductive, electric field and Radar modalities may be used.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/patents/1026/thumbnail.jp

Congenital nystagmus and negative electroretinography

Congenital nystagmus is a pathologic oculomotor state appearing at about three to four months of age. The precise diagnosis requires detailed clinical examination and electrophysiological findings. This case report presents two male patients with congenital nystagmus examined longitudinally from the age of six months until 17–18 years of age. Clinical and electrophysiological protocols were detailed. The first results showed electronegative electroretinography in the two cases and examination combined with electroretinographic findings helped us to make the diagnosis of Congenital Night Stationary Blindness (CSNB). This diagnosis was confirmed by genetic studies. CSNB is interesting to study because through electrophysiological findings, it enables a better understanding of the physiology of neural transmission in the outer part of the retina