Traffic signal settings optimization using fradient descent

We investigate performance of a gradient descent optimization (GR) applied to the traffic signal setting problem and compare it to genetic algorithms. We used neural networks as metamodels evaluating quality of signal settings and discovered that both optimization methods produce similar results, e.g., in both cases the accuracy of neural networks close to local optima depends on an activation function (e.g., TANH activation makes optimization process converge to different minima than ReLU activation)

Intraluminal pulsed dose rate (PDR) brachytherapy and trans-hepatic technique in treatment of locally advanced bile duct cancer – preliminary assessment

BackgroundTreatment options for bile duct cancer remain limited due to the large number of patients with advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Radical surgery is possible in less than 10–15% of these cases. Unresectable bile duct cancers are very difficult to treat with external beam therapy alone due to the proximity of adjacent normal organs and the high doses required to effectively irradiate these neoplasms. Indications for brachytherapy include all malignant strictures of the bile duct which can be cannulated. Patients should be fit enough for the procedure and should have been reviewed to confirm that they are not suitable for resection. Combined treatment is possible in patients who are in good condition; it is usual to combine bile duct brachytherapy (BT) with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).AimTo assess the feasibility of intraluminal palliative pulsed dose rate brachytherapy (PDR-BT) in the treatment of locally advanced bile duct cancer.Materials/MethodsSeventeen patients with advanced inoperable bile duct cancer were treated between May 2002 and December 2005 in Greatpoland Cancer Centre. Patients were disqualified from surgery or radical external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Thirteen patients were treated exclusively with PDR brachytherapy, 4 patients were qualified for combined treatment: PDR brachytherapy and palliative EBRT. Percutaneous trans-hepatic technique was used to implant a catheter into the bile duct. All patients received 25 pulses of 0.8Gy hourly to the total dose of 20Gy. In 4 cases PDR was repeated after one week. Target Volume encompassed tumour visualized at cholangiography and a one or two cm margin taken proximally and distally. Dose was prescribed at 10mm from the source axis. For palliative EBRT 15MV photons were used.ResultsIn all 17 cases trans-hepatic technique allowed insertion of the BT catheter into the bile duct and safe application of PDR-BT. In 13/17 (76.5%) cases improvement in jaundice was noted at the first check-up after 4 weeks. Median overall survival time (OS) was 10 months, longest survival time was 36 months, shortest was 2 months. Acute and late complications were not observed.Conclusions1. It was established that the use of pulsed dose rate brachytherapy was feasible and had a low early complication rate. A new percutaneous trans-hepatic technique allowed whole treatment (insertion of catheter, PDR brachytherapy) to be performed in one day. 2. In most cases a satisfactory palliative effect was achieved

Methods of sampling

With the financial support of Internal Security Fund Police Programme European Commission Directorate General Home Affairs. This project has been founded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Organisation of the biological sampling process

With the financial support of Internal Security Fund Police Programme European Commission Directorate General Home Affairs. This project has been founded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Czas w teorii krytycznej

Poniższy tekst, opierając się na analizie dzieł teorii krytycznej, dowodzi, że nowoczesna koncepcja czasu, tak jak funkcjonuje ona w społecznej świadomości i w myśli filozoficznej, jest historycznie unikalna. Jest także głęboko powiązana ze społecznymi zmianami, które doprowadziły do pojawienia się przemysłowego kapitalizmu. Tezą tekstu jest to, że owe historyczne zjawiska, których analiza będzie jednym z celów niniejszej pracy, są oparte na fundamentalnych elementach kapitalistycznego modelu produkcji, które jednocześnie stanowią podstawowe kategorie krytyki ekonomii politycznej Marksa, takie jak wartość, praca czy towar. W związku z tym niniejszy tekst zaczyna się od analizy poszczególnych pojęć w Kapitale Marksa, co ma służyć dostarczeniu autorowi koniecznych narzędzi do analizy nowoczesnego pojęcia czasu. Te badania będą wyjaśniały współczesny koncept czasu z trzech głównych perspektyw. Po pierwsze, będzie on interpretowany z perspektywy ugruntowanej w kluczowych terminach i pojęciach Marksowskiej krytyki, połączonej z historycznym wywodem na temat tego, jak ów fenomen nowoczesnego, abstrakcyjnego czasu się pojawił; po drugie, z perspektywy egzystencjalnej analizy tego, jak ów fenomen odbija się na codziennym doświadczeniu współczesnego podmiotu; po trzecie, poprzez zbadanie doświadczenia historyczności w ramach ustrukturyzowanych przez kluczowe elementy kapitalistycznego społeczeństwa. Aby osiągnąć wszystkie te cele, autor czerpie z obszernej literatury przedmiotowej, przede wszystkim z nurtu teorii krytycznej, jak również stara się wprowadzić własny wkład do tego dyskursu intelektualnego.This text, basing itself on an analysis of works of critical theory, argues that the modern conception of time as it functions in both social self-consciousness and in philosophical thought is a historically unique one and deeply tied to societal changes that led to the emergence of industrial capitalism. The thesis of the text is that these historical phenomena, analysis of which is one of the goals of the present work, are based on fundamental elements of the capitalist mode of production, which also constitute central categories of Marx's critique of political economy, such as value, labour and commodity. This work thus starts with a textual reconstruction of select concepts in Marx's "Capital" which aims to provide the author with necessary tools for analysis of the modern notion of time. This investigation will explore the modern concept of time from three main perspectives. Firstly, it will be seen from the perspective rooted in the key terms and concepts of Marx's critique, coupled with a historical argument about how the phenomenon of modern, abstract time emerged; secondly, through an existential analysis of how this phenomenon impacts the modern subject's day-to-day experience; and thirdly, through an exploration of the experience of historicity as it is structured by key features of capitalist society. In all these aims, the author draws from the extensive subject literature, principally in the tradition of critical theory, while also attempting to provide his own contribution into this intellectual discourse

Strenghth analysis of hip joint replacement revision implant

The subject of the article is the evaluation of the strength of revision implants made of titanium or tantalum alloy, used during bone reconstruction of a hip joint while potentially using additional stabilizing screws, necessary due to significant bone loss. The article provides a preliminary strength analysis of implants, indispensable for further evaluation of strength limitations due to the risk of implant damage depending on the structure and number of additional screw holes. In the human locomotor system, the hip joint is the joint with the most load, hence the main problem is to establish an adequate load model which ought to be assumed for the needs of implant strength analysis. It is found necessary to perform a short, analytical review of the existing hip joint load models from the point of view of choosing the proper one, considering evaluation of implant strength by means of numerical studies using FEM. Differences in the implant load distribution depending on the used material are shown

Performance of Bee Colonies Headed by Queens Instrumentally Inseminated with Semen of Drones Who Come from a Single Colony or Many Colonies

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of honey bee worker diversity within the colony on: development, honey productivity, and wintering. Two different levels of diversity within the colony were tested. The appropriate levels of diversity within the colony were obtained by selecting drones for inseminating the queens. Lower genetic diversity was obtained in the colonies headed by a queen inseminated with semen collected from drones originating from a single colony. Higher genetic diversity was obtained in the colonies with queens inseminated with semen from drones of 30 different colonies. Colonies with a higher genetic variation of workers in the colonies had greater levels of functional characteristics. However, apart from the number of dead bees in winter, the genetic diversity level of the workers on the colony development and honey production, did not have a significant influence. There was an averaging effect observed concerning that male component in the colonies with a higher genetic variation of workers - on honey yield, when compared to the non-additive effect of the best drones

Influence of the Trochoidal Tool Path on Quality Surface of Groove Walls

The article presents the results of machining materials in hardened state. In the paper, different trochoidal tool paths are compared with each other and with the conventional milling. The results of measurements show the relationship between tool path, roughness and waviness of grooves wall. The paper also presents pictures of grooves which were made. These results provide comparative material useful in the choice of the best milling strategy to the cutting process