Concurrent Lexicalized Dependency Parsing: The ParseTalk Model

A grammar model for concurrent, object-oriented natural language parsing is introduced. Complete lexical distribution of grammatical knowledge is achieved building upon the head-oriented notions of valency and dependency, while inheritance mechanisms are used to capture lexical generalizations. The underlying concurrent computation model relies upon the actor paradigm. We consider message passing protocols for establishing dependency relations and ambiguity handling.Comment: 90kB, 7pages Postscrip

Concurrent Lexicalized Dependency Parsing: A Behavioral View on ParseTalk Events

The behavioral specification of an object-oriented grammar model is considered. The model is based on full lexicalization, head-orientation via valency constraints and dependency relations, inheritance as a means for non-redundant lexicon specification, and concurrency of computation. The computation model relies upon the actor paradigm, with concurrency entering through asynchronous message passing between actors. In particular, we here elaborate on principles of how the global behavior of a lexically distributed grammar and its corresponding parser can be specified in terms of event type networks and event networks, resp.Comment: 68kB, 5pages Postscrip

Diffusion Tensor Imaging: on the assessment of data quality - a preliminary bootstrap analysis

In the field of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has proven an important method for the characterisation of ultrastructural tissue properties. Yet various technical and biological sources of signal uncertainty may prolong into variables derived from diffusion weighted images and thus compromise data validity and reliability. To gain an objective quality rating of real raw data we aimed at implementing the previously described bootstrap methodology (Efron, 1979) and investigating its sensitivity to a selection of extraneous influencing factors. We applied the bootstrap method on real DTI data volumes of six volunteers which were varied by different acquisition conditions, smoothing and artificial noising. In addition a clinical sample group of 46 Multiple Sclerosis patients and 24 healthy controls were investigated. The response variables (RV) extracted from the histogram of the confidence intervals of fractional anisotropy were mean width, peak position and height. The addition of noising showed a significant effect when exceeding about 130% of the original background noise. The application of an edge-preserving smoothing algorithm resulted in an inverse alteration of the RV. Subject motion was also clearly depicted whereas its prevention by use of a vacuum device only resulted in a marginal improvement. We also observed a marked gender-specific effect in a sample of 24 healthy control subjects the causes of which remained unclear. In contrary to this the mere effect of a different signal intensity distribution due to illness (MS) did not alter the response variables

Sewage Polluted Water Treatment via Chitosan: A Review

Due to the increasing scarcity of water, wastewater treatment and water conditioning are one of the major future issues. Together with the need to apply highly accessible abundant materials and the demand to replace fossil-based chemicals with sustainable compounds from renewable resources, chitosan (CS) provides some of the solutions to obtain these goals and combines both, abundance and sustainability. Hence, the focus of this review is on the application of CS in wastewater treatment providing advantages and drawbacks in using CS in contrast to chitin. We herewith present the application of CS for coagulation/flocculation purposes, whether as native compound, as functionalized molecule or as blend, respectively, composite. The heavy metal, respectively, dye removal is an additional theme to be addressed in the body of the text. The third topic of this review contains the application of CS blends or composites in order to prepare membrane materials for water purification or conditioning. Together with a summary of the recent study, we discuss these findings and possible consequences for future works. In addition, we provide some theoretical background of the processes that CS is involved in and state some mechanistic insights

Key feature - Fallerstellung (Master of Medical Education, Modul V)

Die Behandlung des Krankheitsbildes der infizierten Nekrose ist fester Bestandteil der Zahnmedizin, einer der häufigsten Gründe für auftretende akute Zahnschmerzen und gehört somit zu den Lern- und Prüfungszielen der zahnmedizinischen Ausbildung. Die geprüften „Entscheidungskompetenzen“ beinhalteten vier entscheidende Schritte für die erfolgreiche Lösung des Problems. Die Möglichkeit, prozedurales Wissen in den Prüfungen abzufragen, wird sehr hoch eingeschätzt. Alternativen, wie mündliche Prüfungen haben selbst bei gut durchdachten Konstrukten, eine höhere Limitation in der Anwendung. Problematisch für diese Art von KF-Prüfungen könnten Punkte darstellen, wie 1. entsprechend ausgestattete Räume mit dazugehöriger Hard- und Software, 2. organisatorische Abläufe mehrerer Prüfungsgruppen bei großen Kollektiven; 3. das Vorhandensein gut geschulten Personals und 4. die Übung mit dem Prüfungstyp im Vorfeld der Prüfsituation. Im Rahmen der zahnmedizinischen Ausbildung werden viele klinische Entscheidungskompetenzen von den Studierenden abverlangt. KF-Examina könnten hierfür einen sinnvollen Einsatz in der zahnmedizinischen Ausbildung bilden

Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of the microprocessor-controlled knee C-Leg in transfemoral amputees with and without diabetes mellitus

Background: The safe use of a prosthesis in activities of daily living is key for transfemoral amputees. However, the number of falls varies significantly between different prosthetic device types. This study aims to compare medical and economic consequences of falls in transfemoral amputees who use the microprocessor-controlled knee joint C-Leg with patients who use non-microprocessor-controlled (mechanical) knee joints (NMPK). The main objectives of the analysis are to investigate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of C-Legs in transfemoral amputees with diabetes mellitus (DM) and without DM in Germany. Methods: A decision-analytic model was developed that took into account the effects of prosthesis type on the risk of falling and fall-related medical events. Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses were performed separately for transfemoral amputees with and without DM. The study took the perspective of the statutory health insurance (SHI). Input parameters were derived from the published literature. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed to investigate the impact of changes in individual input parameter values on model outcomes and to explore parameter uncertainty. Results: C-Legs reduced the rate of fall-related hospitalizations from 134 to 20 per 1000 person years (PY) in amputees without DM and from 146 to 23 per 1000 PY in amputees with DM. In addition, the C-Leg prevented 15 or 14 fall-related death per 1000 PY. Over a time horizon of 25 years, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was 16,123 Euro per quality-adjusted life years gained (QALY) for amputees without DM and 20,332 Euro per QALY gained for amputees with DM. For the period of 2020–2024, the model predicted an increase in SHI expenditures of 98 Mio Euro (53 Mio Euro in prosthesis users without DM and 45 Mio Euro in prosthesis users with DM) when all new prosthesis users received C-Legs instead of NMPKs and 50% of NMPK user whose prosthesis wore out switched to C-Legs. Results of the PSA showed moderate uncertainty and a probability of 97–99% that C-Legs are cost-effective at an ICER threshold of 40,000 Euro (˜ German GDP per capita in 2018) per QALY gained. Conclusion: Results of the study suggest that the C-Leg provides substantial additional health benefits compared with NMPKs and is likely to be cost-effective in transfemoral amputees with DM as well as in amputees without DM at an ICER threshold of 40,000 Euro per QALY gained. © 2020, The Author(s)

Direct detection of fetal cells in maternal blood: a reappraisal using a combination of two different Y chromosome-specific FISH probes and a single X chromosome-specific probe

Background: We have recently explored the detection of circulatory male fetal cells directly in maternal whole blood samples by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). In order to improve the efficacy of fetal cell detection, we have now examined whether this could be enhanced by the use of two different Y chromosome-specific FISH probes (α-satellite and classical satellite III regions) in combination with an X chromosome-specific FISH probe. Methods: Nineteen maternal blood samples (median gestational age=28weeks, range=12-37weeks) were examined in a blinded manner. No enrichment procedure was performed. Following hypotonic treatment and Carnoy's fixation, total nucleated cells were examined by two color FISH with a single X and two Y chromosome-specific probes. Nine cases were examined in parallel by conventional XY-FISH. Results: Fetal cell detection was superior when using two Y chromosome-specific probes (specificity=75%; sensitivity=91%) when compared to the conventional XY-FISH approach (specificity=50%; sensitivity=60%). Conclusions: Male fetal cells can be detected in most maternal blood samples examined. Specificity and sensitivity is improved when using a combination of single X and two Y chromosome-specific probes when compared to a conventional XY-FISH protoco

Suizidalität im Nationalsozialismus

Ausgehend von der erhöhten Selbstmordrate auch schon vor 1933, befaßt sich der Beitrag im folgenden mit der politischen Komponente des Suizids im Nationalsozialismus und mit der Frage, wie die nationalsozialistische Führung auf den steigenden Selbstmordtrend vor allem unter den deutschen Juden strategisch und wertend reagierte. Dabei stützen sich die Autorinnen auf die mittels des Runderlasses gewonnenen Statistik, die ab 1. April 1939 zum Zwecke der Begegnung der gegnerischen Propaganda geführt wurde. Sie gibt, wenn vom nationalsozialistischen Denkraster befreit, Aufschlüsse über Selbstmorde und Selbstmordversuche von 1939-1940, darüber hinaus über Geschlechts- und Altersunterschiede, Motivstrukturen und Einzelschicksale. Das Verhältnis Suizidalität und Nationalsozialismus muß, wenn auch der Suizid nicht planbar war, neben der Vernichtung 'lebensunwerten' Lebens und der Tötung auf Verlangen als dritte Säule des Euthanasieprogramms begriffen werden. Allerdings konnte der Widerspruch, daß zwar der Selbstmord bei 'Minderwertigen' gern gesehen wurde, andererseits die recht hohe Suizidrate offen auf menschenunwürdige Lebensbedingungen verwies, nicht angemessen verarbeitet werden. Selbst der Beginn einer wissenschaftlichen Erforschung des Phänomens ging über das Ziel einer statistischen Analyse zur Selbstberuhigung nicht hinaus. Darin zeigt sich nach Meinung der Autorinnen die Unfähigkeit der Nazi-Ideologen, mit menschlichen Dimensionen umzugehen. Zahlreiche Menschen, die von diesem System in den Tod getrieben werden sollten, entzogen sich durch ihre Selbsttötung dieser Menschenfeindlichkeit. (ICH

Lutte contre Gloeosporium (album et perennans) des pommes biologiques Post-Recolte avec des produits oxidants et des eaux électrolytiques,et Pre-Recolte avec differents produits biologiques entre 2001-2004

Dans la production biologiques des pommes les pertes post-récolte causées par Gloeospo-rium album et perennans peuvent atteindre, avec des variétés sensibles comme Pinova, Topaz ou GoldRush jusqu'à 80 %. Il est connue que la thermothérapie (plonger les pommes pendant 2-3 min. dans l’eau chaude de 50-52 deg.) peut supprimer bien le développement du pathogène relativement bien. Les désavantages de la thermothérapie sont sa consommation d’énergie significative, ses hautes coûts d’investissement et finalement que les dégât latentes de G. album prove-nant du champ deviennent visible peu de jours après le traitement ce qui pouvait dévaloriser jusqu’à 30 % de la récolte. Le but de nos études c’est de trouver des méthodes de lutte contre Gloeosporium album et perennans comme alternative à la thermothérapie. Dans nos essays sur plusieurs années avec les variétés Pinova et Topas ni les produits oxi-dants (Jet5, H2O2, Nitrit, thé vert, thé de prèle ) ni l’ozone mis à l’eau (froid, 17 deg.) ont ap-porté des résultats régulièrement satisfaisants (pas de différence comparé avec les pommes non traitées). Les pertes ont atteint 60-80% après conservation et justqu’à 90 % après 10 jours de shelf-life de plus. A partir de 2004 nous avons aussi testé des eaux électrolytiques (Anostel® et Cathostel®), une technique de désinfection qui vient surtout du secteur médicinal. Elle est propre, sans formation des résidus dans les produit ou dans l’environnement. En plongeant les pommes sériellement dans ces solutions pendant 5 min. chaque, l’efficacité n’était pas aussi bonne qu’avec thermothérapie (75 % vendable après conservations) mais beaucoup meilleur (62 % vendable) qu’avec tout les autres oxidants (48 % vendable). C’est pourquoi nous essayons d’optimiser la méthode des eaux électrolytiques avec des essaies en cours de cette année. Car l’attaque des Gloeosporium sur champ peut avoir un effet tellement nocif malgré des traitements post récolte, nous avons aussi testé des stratégie de contrôle pre-récolte à partir du mois de Juillet avec des produits antagoniste (la levure Aureobasidium pullulans), KBV-Lactopéroxidase, Calcium-polysulphurique, cuivre, Calcium-Chloride (pour fortifier la cuti-cule) et Mycosin (argile acidifié). De tout les produits testés pre-récolte seulement le Mycosin donnait des résultat satisfaisant, comparable à la thermothérapie. Aussi nous avons pu prouvé qu’avec Pinova le savon de coco pour lutter contre la maladie de suie (Cocana) à un effet significativement aggravant l’incidence de Gloeosporium. Le but de nos études actuels c’est de développer des stratégies combiné pre- et post récolte (sans thermothérapie) qui n’interfèrent pas avec la lutte contre les autre maladies (suie, ta-velure, oidium) et qui se complémentent d’une façon idéale et écologique