Regular realizability problems and context-free languages

We investigate regular realizability (RR) problems, which are the problems of verifying whether intersection of a regular language -- the input of the problem -- and fixed language called filter is non-empty. In this paper we focus on the case of context-free filters. Algorithmic complexity of the RR problem is a very coarse measure of context-free languages complexity. This characteristic is compatible with rational dominance. We present examples of P-complete RR problems as well as examples of RR problems in the class NL. Also we discuss RR problems with context-free filters that might have intermediate complexity. Possible candidates are the languages with polynomially bounded rational indices.Comment: conference DCFS 201

Sedimentary record of coseismic subsidence in Hersek coastal lagoon (Izmit Bay, Turkey) and the late Holocene activity of the North Anatolian Fault

This research was funded by the European Union in the framework of the REL.I.E.F. (Reliable Information on Earthquake Faulting) project (EVG1‐CT‐2002‐00069). Copyright @ 2011 American Geophysical Union.The late Holocene activity of a restraining bend of the northern strand of the North Anatolian Fault in Izmit Bay was investigated by a sedimentological, geochemical, and paleoecological analysis of sediment cores from Hersek coastal lagoon, NW Turkey. The sediment cores show a succession of sedimentary sequences composed of three units separated by gradual transitions. The first unit is composed of a thin layer of shell debris-rich sediment in abrupt contact with the underlying organic-rich deposits. This unit is over-lain by a thick foraminifera-rich mud deposit, and the sequences are capped by an organic-rich mud unit. These sequences are interpreted as silting up, shallowing upward deposits, typical of a lagoon becoming isolated from the sea. We suggest that they represent the sedimentary signature of coseismic subsidence, which was caused by reverse slip at the Hersek bend, and tsunamis in Izmit Bay. Our radiocarbon-dated paleoseismological record indicates (1) the atypical collapse of the hanging wall during the 740 earthquake and (2) subsidence of the footwall during the 987, 1509, and 1719 earthquakes. This study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of restraining bends, and it highlights the potential of coastal sediments for reconstructing past earthquakes and tsunamis in regions dominated by strike-slip deformations.This article is available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fun

Cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of the methanol extract of Eremomastax Speciosa in rats

Background: Ethno-botanical information shows that Eremomastax speciosa is used in the traditional management of various stomach complaints including gastro-duodenal ulcers.Materials and Methods: In this study, we tested the cytoprotective potential of the whole plant methanol extract (100-200 mg/kg, p.o), against HCl/ethanol, absolute ethanol, cold/restraint stress rats, and pylorus legated rats pre-treated with indomethacin. The effects of the extract on gastric lesion inhibition, the volume of gastric juice, gastric pH, gastric acid output, mucus production and gastric peptic activity were recorded. Oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood and gastric tissue samples obtained from the animals in all the models tested.Results: The extract significantly (p<0.05), reduced the formation of cold/restraint ulcers by (31-60%, inhibition), completely inhibited (100%) the formation of lesions induced by HCl/ethanol at the highest dose, but was less effective against absolute ethanol (22-46% inhibition). The extract (200 mg/kg), significantly reduced lesion formation (P<0.01), gastric acidity (P<0.01), and volume of gastric secretions (P<0.05), in the indomethacin/pylorus ligation model, and did not affect the activity of pepsin in gastric juice. Blood concentrations of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, SOD and GSH), increased significantly and MDA concentrations decreased in all models tested.Conclusion: Cytoprotection by E. speciosa methanol extract was attributed to its ability to reduce acid secretion, and to enhance mucosal defence and in vivo antioxidant status.Key words: Eremomastax speciosa, cytoprotection, gastric ulcers, antioxidant statu

Self-Organizing Traffic Flow Prediction with an Optimized Deep Belief Network for Internet of Vehicles

To assist in the broadcasting of time-critical traffic information in an Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and vehicular sensor networks (VSN), fast network connectivity is needed. Accurate traffic information prediction can improve traffic congestion and operation efficiency, which helps to reduce commute times, noise and carbon emissions. In this study, we present a novel approach for predicting the traffic flow volume by using traffic data in self-organizing vehicular networks. The proposed method is based on using a probabilistic generative neural network techniques called deep belief network (DBN) that includes multiple layers of restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) auto-encoders. Time series data generated from the roadside units (RSUs) for five highway links are used by a three layer DBN to extract and learn key input features for constructing a model to predict traffic flow. Back-propagation is utilized as a general learning algorithm for fine-tuning the weight parameters among the visible and hidden layers of RBMs. During the training process the firefly algorithm (FFA) is applied for optimizing the DBN topology and learning rate parameter. Monte Carlo simulations are used to assess the accuracy of the prediction model. The results show that the proposed model achieves superior performance accuracy for predicting traffic flow in comparison with other approaches applied in the literature. The proposed approach can help to solve the problem of traffic congestion, and provide guidance and advice for road users and traffic regulators

Hall effect and transmission electron microscopy of epitaxial MnSi thin films

We present Hall effect measurements on MnSi/Si(111) epilayers and find an anomalous Hall contribution that is significantly smaller than in bulk crystals, which enables the observation of an additional contribution to the anomalous signal previously overlooked in MnSi. Our measurements indicate the signal is not due to skyrmions in MnSi thin films, which are absent in out-of-plane fields, but rather are the result of scattering from the cone phase. The absence of magnetic contrast in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements are consistent with this interpretation. We provide a method to model TEM images of skyrmions lattices to determine the conditions necessary for their observation in other B20 epilayers with an anisotropy that is favourable to their formation.T.L.M. and M.N.W. acknowledge support from NSERC and the support of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Atlantic Innovation Fund, and other partners which fund the Facilities for Materials Characterization, managed by the Institute for Research in Materials. Work done by J.C.L. was funded by the Royal Society. The work of F.N.R. was supported by RFBR, research project No. 14-02-31012.This is the accepted manuscript of a paper published in Physical Review B (SA Meynell, MN Wilson, JC Loudon, A Spitzig, FN Rybakov, MB Johnson, TL Monchesky, Physical Review B 2014 90, 224419)

Respiratory effects of propofol-ketamine and propofl-fentanyl combinations for total intravenous anaesthesia

propofol combined with other intravenous analgesic agents has been used as the sole anaesthetic agent to provide hypnosis and analgesia for various minor and major surgeries. However, because it lacks analgesic property, propofol in large doses causes respiratory depression. Combination of propofol with other analgesic agents reduces the dose of propofol necessary for procedural sedation. Objectives: This study evaluated the respiratory effects of two drug combinations: propofol-ketamine and propofol-fentanyl used as the sole anaesthetic agents. Method: one hundred and eight adults aged 18 to 50 years of either gender with ASA physical status I & II, randomly grouped into K and F, comprising of 54 patients each. Group K received propofol-ketamine while group F received propofol-fentanyl for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Respiratory Rate (RR) and Oxygen saturation (SpO were recorded before and one 2) minutes after induction of anaesthesia and thereafter every five minutes till the end of procedure and at recovery till the patient is fully recovered. Results: Demographic and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, weight, duration of surgery, types of surgical procedures and volumes of drugs used were comparable between the two groups. Fall in respiratory rate was greater in propofol-fentanyl group compared to propofol-ketamine group during maintenance and early postoperative period (p<0.05). Conclusion: Both propofol-ketamine and propofolfentanyl combinations produced safe and effective anaesthesia. Propofol-ketamine results in a more stable respiratory profile

Huntington's disease phenocopies are clinically and genetically heterogeneous

Huntington's disease (HD) classically presents with movement disorder, cognitive dysfunction and behavioral problems but is phenotypically variable. One percent of patients with HD-like symptoms lack the causative mutation and are considered HD phenocopies. Genetic diseases known to cause HD phenocopies include HD-like syndromes HDL1, HDL2, and HDL4 (SCA17). HD has phenotypic overlap with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, the spinocerebellar ataxias and neuroferritinopathy. Identifying the genetic basis of HD phenocopies is important for diagnosis and may inform the search for HD genetic modifiers. We sought to identify neurogenetic diagnoses in the largest reported cohort of HD phenocopy patients. Two hundred eighty-five patients with syndromes consistent with HD, who were HD expansion-negative, were screened for mutations in PRNP, JPH3, TBP, DRPLA, SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, FTL and FRDA. Genetic diagnoses were made in 8 subjects: we identified 5 cases of HDL4, 1 of HDL1 and 1 of HDL2. One patient had Friedreich's ataxia. There were no cases of DRPLA, SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, or neuroferritinopathy. HD phenocopies are clinically and genetically diverse and a definitive genetic diagnosis is currently possible in only a minority of cases. When undertaken, it should be clinically directed and patients and clinicians should be prepared for the low probability of reaching a genetic diagnosis in this group of patients. (c) 2008 Movement Disorder Society

Sudden Death and Left Ventricular Involvement in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited heart muscle disorder characterized by myocardial fibrofatty replacement and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Originally described as a right ventricular disease, ACM is increasingly recognized as a biventricular entity. We evaluated pathological, genetic, and clinical associations in a large SCD cohort. METHODS: We investigated 5205 consecutive cases of SCD referred to a national cardiac pathology center between 1994 and 2018. Hearts and tissue blocks were examined by expert cardiac pathologists. After comprehensive histological evaluation, 202 cases (4%) were diagnosed with ACM. Of these, 15 (7%) were diagnosed antemortem with dilated cardiomyopathy (n=8) or ACM (n=7). Previous symptoms, medical history, circumstances of death, and participation in competitive sport were recorded. Postmortem genetic testing was undertaken in 24 of 202 (12%). Rare genetic variants were classified according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria. RESULTS: Of 202 ACM decedents (35.4±13.2 years; 82% male), no previous cardiac symptoms were reported in 157 (78%). Forty-one decedents (41/202; 20%) had been participants in competitive sport. The adjusted odds of dying during physical exertion were higher in men than in women (odds ratio, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.54-13.68; P=0.006) and in competitive athletes in comparison with nonathletes (odds ratio, 16.62; 95% CI, 5.39-51.24; P<0.001). None of the decedents with an antemortem diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy fulfilled definite 2010 Task Force criteria. The macroscopic appearance of the heart was normal in 40 of 202 (20%) cases. There was left ventricular histopathologic involvement in 176 of 202 (87%). Isolated right ventricular disease was seen in 13%, isolated left ventricular disease in 17%, and biventricular involvement in 70%. Among whole hearts, the most common areas of fibrofatty infiltration were the left ventricular posterobasal (68%) and anterolateral walls (58%). Postmortem genetic testing yielded pathogenic variants in ACM-related genes in 6 of 24 (25%) decedents. CONCLUSIONS: SCD attributable to ACM affects men predominantly, most commonly occurring during exertion in athletic individuals in the absence of previous reported cardiac symptoms. Left ventricular involvement is observed in the vast majority of SCD cases diagnosed with ACM at autopsy. Current Task Force criteria may fail to diagnose biventricular ACM before death