On the orderability problem for PLA folding

AbstractAn interesting graph theoretic problem, called the orderability problem for programmable logic array (PLA) folding, was formulated and shown to be NP-complete. We show that a closely related problem, called the orderability problem for bipartite folding, is solvable in linear time

Adversarial scheduling analysis of Game-Theoretic Models of Norm Diffusion.

In (Istrate et al. SODA 2001) we advocated the investigation of robustness of results in the theory of learning in games under adversarial scheduling models. We provide evidence that such an analysis is feasible and can lead to nontrivial results by investigating, in an adversarial scheduling setting, Peyton Young's model of diffusion of norms . In particular, our main result incorporates contagion into Peyton Young's model.evolutionary games, stochastic stability, adversarial scheduling

Power Quality Improvement Using Series Active Power Filter Based On Gravitational Search Algorithm

This paper proposes a heuristic control of the series active power filter for power quality enhancement. In this context, the series active filter is better utilized as a voltage source controller contrary to its conventional usage as variable impedance. The present-day utility system as a linear model is unsatisfactory and the steps are laid down to discuss utility system as a nonlinear model. This paper deals power quality disturbances like voltage sag/swell, voltage error and THD with robust heuristic algorithms like the gravitational search algorithms (GSA) and it is further compared with firefly (FF) algorithm. The harmonic reduction in the source current and mitigation of sags/swells in the load voltage is carried out with optimal tuning of the PI controller. The series active power filter as a harmonic suppressor with a specific reference controlled strategy is discussed in this paper. The synchronous reference frame (SRF) theory is used to generate the reference voltage signals required for compensation. The hysteresis band current controller (HBCC) is used to perform the switching operation of Voltage Source Inverter. Simulations are carried out in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment

Power Quality Improvement Based On PSO Algorithm Incorporating UPQC

The usage of the term power quality is increasing day by day with extensive usage of large capacity loads and nonlinear loads. The major power quality issues are voltage disturbances and current disturbances in the present-day power systems. Today, with the advent of power semiconductor devices these power quality issues are solved to a great extent. The unified power quality conditioner is one such power semiconductor device which utilizes active filtering methodology to deal with the concerned power quality issues. Here an attempt is made to control and generate the reference currents and voltages for a unified power quality conditioner with the optimal tuned synchronous reference frame theory. The particle swarm optimization is employed to evolve gains of the proportional-integral controller. The unified power quality conditioner is a combination of shunt and series voltage source converters. The hysteresis band current controller for series and the pulse width modulation current controller for the shunt active filter are used for generation of gating pulses required by the switches of the voltage source converters in the unified power quality conditioner. The performance evaluation of multi-objective convergence fitness function (dealing: the voltage sag, the source current variations, and the load voltage variations) with unified power quality conditioner based on particle swarm optimization algorithm is performed. The efficacy of the proposed work is validated by conducting simulations in MATLAB/SIMULINK software environment.

Role of Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Their Disease Progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the third leading and common lethal cancers worldwide. Early detection of tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma is through ultrasonography, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans; however, these methods are not up to the mark, so a search for an efficient biomarker for early diagnosis and treatment of hepatocarcinogenesis is important. Proteomic and genomic approaches aid to develop new promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC at the early stages. These biomarkers not only help in prognosis but also provide better therapeutic intervention against HCC. Among the different biomarker candidates, liquid biopsy [including circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)] has recently emerged as a noninvasive detection technique for the characterization of circulating cells, providing a strong basis and early diagnosis for the individualized treatment of patients. This review provides the current understanding of HCC biomarkers that predict the risk of HCC recurrence

Promoting gender equity as a strategy to reduce HIV risk and gender-based violence among young men in India

The Horizons Program, CORO for Literacy, MAMTA, and Instituto Promundo developed, piloted, and scaled-up a behavior-change intervention in India to examine the effectiveness of interventions to improve young men’s attitudes toward gender roles and sexual relationships, and to reduce HIV risk behaviors and partner violence. The results of this study suggest that young men became less supportive of inequitable gender norms after participating in the interventions. Similarly, there were significant improvements among intervention participants in key outcome indicators, including condom use, partner communication, partner violence, and attitudes toward PLHIV. To maximize the chances of long-term sustainability of these positive changes, there is a need to regularly reinforce the messages related to alternative forms of masculinity and to further facilitate a supportive environment for these changes. While findings suggest that the interventions were successful in a variety of ways, the study showed that change in attitudes and behaviors is a complex process. Promoting gender equity takes ongoing effort, but led to some important changes that resulted in reduced HIV risk for the young men and their partners

Cosmological parameters from SDSS and WMAP

We measure cosmological parameters using the three-dimensional power spectrum P(k) from over 200,000 galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in combination with WMAP and other data. Our results are consistent with a ``vanilla'' flat adiabatic Lambda-CDM model without tilt (n=1), running tilt, tensor modes or massive neutrinos. Adding SDSS information more than halves the WMAP-only error bars on some parameters, tightening 1 sigma constraints on the Hubble parameter from h~0.74+0.18-0.07 to h~0.70+0.04-0.03, on the matter density from Omega_m~0.25+/-0.10 to Omega_m~0.30+/-0.04 (1 sigma) and on neutrino masses from <11 eV to <0.6 eV (95%). SDSS helps even more when dropping prior assumptions about curvature, neutrinos, tensor modes and the equation of state. Our results are in substantial agreement with the joint analysis of WMAP and the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, which is an impressive consistency check with independent redshift survey data and analysis techniques. In this paper, we place particular emphasis on clarifying the physical origin of the constraints, i.e., what we do and do not know when using different data sets and prior assumptions. For instance, dropping the assumption that space is perfectly flat, the WMAP-only constraint on the measured age of the Universe tightens from t0~16.3+2.3-1.8 Gyr to t0~14.1+1.0-0.9 Gyr by adding SDSS and SN Ia data. Including tensors, running tilt, neutrino mass and equation of state in the list of free parameters, many constraints are still quite weak, but future cosmological measurements from SDSS and other sources should allow these to be substantially tightened.Comment: Minor revisions to match accepted PRD version. SDSS data and ppt figures available at http://www.hep.upenn.edu/~max/sdsspars.htm

Loss-of-function mutations in UDP-Glucose 6-Dehydrogenase cause recessive developmental epileptic encephalopathy

Developmental epileptic encephalopathies are devastating disorders characterized by intractable epileptic seizures and developmental delay. Here, we report an allelic series of germline recessive mutations in UGDH in 36 cases from 25 families presenting with epileptic encephalopathy with developmental delay and hypotonia. UGDH encodes an oxidoreductase that converts UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid, a key component of specific proteoglycans and glycolipids. Consistent with being loss-of-function alleles, we show using patients’ primary fibroblasts and biochemical assays, that these mutations either impair UGDH stability, oligomerization, or enzymatic activity. In vitro, patient-derived cerebral organoids are smaller with a reduced number of proliferating neuronal progenitors while mutant ugdh zebrafish do not phenocopy the human disease. Our study defines UGDH as a key player for the production of extracellular matrix components that are essential for human brain development. Based on the incidence of variants observed, UGDH mutations are likely to be a frequent cause of recessive epileptic encephalopathy

Multiethnic meta-analysis identifies ancestry-specific and cross-ancestry loci for pulmonary function

Nearly 100 loci have been identified for pulmonary function, almost exclusively in studies of European ancestry populations. We extend previous research by meta-analyzing genome-wide association studies of 1000 Genomes imputed variants in relation to pulmonary function in a multiethnic population of 90,715 individuals of European (N = 60,552), African (N = 8429), Asian (N = 9959), and Hispanic/Latino (N = 11,775) ethnicities. We identify over 50 additional loci at genome-wide significance in ancestry-specific or multiethnic meta-analyses. Using recent fine-mapping methods incorporating functional annotation, gene expression, and differences in linkage disequilibrium between ethnicities, we further shed light on potential causal variants and genes at known and newly identified loci. Several of the novel genes encode proteins with predicted or established drug targets, including KCNK2 and CDK12. Our study highlights the utility of multiethnic and integrative genomics approaches to extend existing knowledge of the genetics of l