Online Searching with an Autonomous Robot

We discuss online strategies for visibility-based searching for an object hidden behind a corner, using Kurt3D, a real autonomous mobile robot. This task is closely related to a number of well-studied problems. Our robot uses a three-dimensional laser scanner in a stop, scan, plan, go fashion for building a virtual three-dimensional environment. Besides planning trajectories and avoiding obstacles, Kurt3D is capable of identifying objects like a chair. We derive a practically useful and asymptotically optimal strategy that guarantees a competitive ratio of 2, which differs remarkably from the well-studied scenario without the need of stopping for surveying the environment. Our strategy is used by Kurt3D, documented in a separate video.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 12 photographs, 1 table, Latex, submitted for publicatio

A general formula of the effective potential in 5D SU(N) gauge theory on orbifold

We show a general formula of the one loop effective potential of the 5D SU(N) gauge theory compactified on an orbifold, $S^1/Z_2$. The formula shows the case when there are fundamental, (anti-)symmetric tensor and adjoint representational bulk fields. Our calculation method is also applicable when there are bulk fields belonging to higher dimensional representations. The supersymmetric version of the effective potential with Scherk-Schwarz breaking can be obtained straightforwardly. We also show some examples of effective potentials in SU(3), SU(5) and SU(6) models with various boundary conditions, which are reproduced by our general formula.Comment: 22 pages;minor corrections;references added;typos correcte

Susceptibility of the one-dimensional, dimerized Hubbard model

We show that the zero temperature susceptibility of the one-dimensional, dimerized Hubbard model at quarter-filling can be accurately determined on the basis of exact diagonalization of small clusters. The best procedure is to perform a finite-size scaling of the spin velocity $u_\sigma$, and to calculate the susceptibility from the Luttinger liquid relation $\chi=2/\pi u_\sigma$. We show that these results are reliable by comparing them with the analytical results that can be obtained in the weak and strong coupling limits. We have also used quantum Monte Carlo simulations to calculate the temperature dependence of the susceptibility for parameters that should be relevant to the Bechgaard salts. This shows that, used together, these numerical techniques are able to give precise estimates of the low temperature susceptibility of realistic one-dimensional models of correlated electrons.Comment: 10 pages, latex, figures available from the authors. To appear in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Comm

Additional J/ΨJ/\Psi Suppression from High Density Effects

At high energies the saturation effects associated to the high parton density should modify the behavior of the observables in proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus scattering. In this paper we investigate the saturation effects in the nuclear $J/\Psi$ production and estimate the modifications in the energy dependence of the cross section as well as in the length of the nuclear medium. In particular, we calculate the ratio of $J/\Psi$ to Drell-Yan cross sections and show that it is strongly modified if the high density effects are included. Moreover, our results are compared with the data from the NA50 Collaboration and predictions for the RHIC and LHC kinematic regions are presented. We predict an additional $J/\Psi$ suppression associated to the high density effects.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, version to be published in Eur. Phys. J.

Role of right posterior parietal cortex in maintaining attention to spatial locations over time

Recent models of human posterior parietal cortex (PPC) have variously emphasized its role in spatial perception, visuomotor control or directing attention. However, neuroimaging and lesion studies also suggest that the right PPC might play a special role in maintaining an alert state. Previously, assessments of right-hemisphere patients with hemispatial neglect have revealed significant overall deficits on vigilance tasks, but to date there has been no demonstration of a deterioration of performance over time--a vigilance decrement--considered by some to be a key index of a deficit in maintaining attention. Moreover, sustained attention deficits in neglect have not specifically been related to PPC lesions, and it remains unclear whether they interact with spatial impairments in this syndrome. Here we examined the ability of right-hemisphere patients with neglect to maintain attention, comparing them to stroke controls and healthy individuals. We found evidence of an overall deficit in sustaining attention associated with PPC lesions, even for a simple detection task with stimuli presented centrally. In a second experiment, we demonstrated a vigilance decrement in neglect patients specifically only when they were required to maintain attention to spatial locations, but not verbal material. Lesioned voxels in the right PPC spanning a region between the intraparietal sulcus and inferior parietal lobe were significantly associated with this deficit. Finally, we compared performance on a task that required attention to be maintained either to visual patterns or spatial locations, matched for task difficulty. Again, we found a vigilance decrement but only when attention had to be maintained on spatial information. We conclude that sustaining attention to spatial locations is a critical function of the human right PPC which needs to be incorporated into models of normal parietal function as well as those of the clinical syndrome of hemispatial neglect

Abnormal ECG Findings in Athletes: Clinical Evaluation and Considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation with electrocardiography is normal practice for most sporting bodies. Awareness about sudden cardiac death in athletes and recognizing how screening can help identify vulnerable athletes have empowered different sporting disciplines to invest in the wellbeing of their athletes. RECENT FINDINGS: Discerning physiological electrical alterations due to athletic training from those representing cardiac pathology may be challenging. The mode of investigation of affected athletes is dependent on the electrical anomaly and the disease(s) in question. This review will highlight specific pathological ECG patterns that warrant assessment and surveillance, together with an in-depth review of the recommended algorithm for evaluation

Potential health and economic impacts of dexamethasone treatment for patients with COVID-19

Dexamethasone can reduce mortality in hospitalised COVID-19 patients needing oxygen and ventilation by 18% and 36%, respectively. Here, we estimate the potential number of lives saved and life years gained if this treatment were to be rolled out in the UK and globally, as well as the cost-effectiveness of implementing this intervention. Assuming SARS-CoV-2 exposure levels of 5% to 15%, we estimate that, for the UK, approximately 12,000 (4,250 - 27,000) lives could be saved between July and December 2020. Assuming that dexamethasone has a similar effect size in settings where access to oxygen therapies is limited, this would translate into approximately 650,000 (240,000 - 1,400,000) lives saved globally over the same time period. If dexamethasone acts differently in these settings, the impact could be less than half of this value. To estimate the full potential of dexamethasone in the global fight against COVID-19, it is essential to perform clinical research in settings with limited access to oxygen and/or ventilators, for example in low- and middle-income countries

Cognitive Engineering

Cognitive engineering is the application of cognitive psychology and related disciplines to the design and operation of human–machine systems. Cognitive engineering combines both detailed and close study of the human worker in the actual work context and the study of the worker in more controlled environments. Cognitive engineering combines multiple methods and perspectives to achieve the goal of improved system performance. Given the origins of experimental psychology itself in issues regarding the design of human–machine systems, cognitive engineering is a core, or fundamental, discipline within academic psychology