Monotonicity Problems of Interval Solutions and the Dutta-Ray Solution for Convex Interval Games

This paper examines several monotonicity properties of value-type interval solutions on the class of convex interval games and focuses on the Dutta-Ray (DR) solution for such games. Well known properties for the classical DR solution are extended to the interval setting. In particular, it is proved that the interval DR solution of a convex interval game belongs to the interval core of that game and Lorenz dominates each other interval core element. Consistency properties of the interval DR solution in the sense of Davis-Maschler and of Hart-Mas-Colell are verified. An axiomatic characterization of the interval DR solution on the class of convex interval games with the help of bilateral Hart-Mas-Colell consistency and the constrained egalitarianism for two-person interval games is given.cooperative interval games;convex games;the constrained egalitarian solution;the equal division core;consistency

Consistency of the Equal Split-Off Set

This paper axiomatically studies the equal split-off set (cf. Branzei et al. (2006)) as a solution for cooperative games with transferable utility. This solution extends the well-known Dutta and Ray (1989) solution for convex games to arbitrary games. By deriving several characterizations, we explore the relation of the equal split-off set with various consistency notions

Spektralna svojstva potresa na dodiru tektonskih ploča

Earthquakes are investigated with epicentres located along divergent and along convergent plate boundaries. Two criteria are applied in order to distinguish between earthquakes featuring anomalous “long-periodic” and “short-periodic” radiation of body-waves: 1) deviation of the corner period Tc of the P-waves from the regression between Tc and the moment magnitude Mw; and 2) the values of stress drop Dsigma. It is found that earthquakes along divergent boundaries radiate the seismic energy mainly at longer periods, and, vice versa, that such along convergent boundaries radiate energy mainly at shorter periods. The average stress drop for the former earthquakes is estimated thereby to be 33 bars and for latter – 89 bars. In a regional scale, for earthquakes in the Japan-Kuril area it is found that the corner periods for strike-slip events are larger than those for thrust events. The results confirm the findings of investigations based on the creepex distribution along divergent and convergent boundaries, as well as the findings related to the dependence of creepex on the source mechanism.Proučavani su potresi na konvergentnim i divergentnim mjestima dodira tektonskih ploča. Potresi karakterizirani anomalno dugoperiodičkom odnosno kratkoperiodičkom radijacijom prostornih valova razlučeni su na osnovi devijacije graničnog perioda Tc P-valova (regresijom Tc i momentne magnitude Mw), te razmatranjem iznosa pada napetosti na rasjedu, Dsigma. Ustanovljeno je da potresi na konvergentnim granicama zrače seizmičku energiju uglavnom na duljim periodima nego oni na divergentnim granicama. Prosječni pad napetosti za potrese duž konvergentnih granica iznosi 33 bara, a za one na divergentnim 89 bara. Na području Japana i Kurilskih otoka »strike-slip« potresi imaju veći granični period od »dip-slip« potresa. Rezultati su u skladu s istraživanjima creepex razdiobe duž konvergentnih i divergentnih granica, kao i ovisnosti creepex-a o žarišnom mehanizmu

A web application prototype for the multiscale modelling of seismic input

A web application prototype is described, aimed at the generation of synthetic seismograms for user-defined earthquake models. The web application graphical user interface hides the complexity of the underlying computational engine, which is the outcome of the continuous evolution of sophisticated computer codes, some of which saw the light back in the middle '80s. With the web application, even the non-experts can produce ground shaking scenarios at the local or regional scale in very short times, depending on the complexity of the adopted source and medium models, without the need of a deep knowledge of the physics of the earthquake phenomenon. Actually, it may even allow neophytes to get some basic education in the field of seismology and seismic engineering, due to the simplified intuitive experimental approach to the matter. One of the most powerful features made available to the users is indeed the capability of executing quick parametric tests in near real-time, to explore the relations between each model's parameter and the resulting ground motion scenario. The synthetic seismograms generated through the web application can be used by civil engineers for the design of new seismo-resistant structures, or to analyse the performance of the existing ones under seismic load.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figure

3-D focused inversion of near-seafloor magnetic data with application to the Brothers volcano hydrothermal system, Southern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2012. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 117 (2012): B10102, doi:10.1029/2012JB009349.We describe and apply a new inversion method for 3-D modeling of magnetic anomalies designed for general application but which is particularly useful for the interpretation of near-seafloor magnetic anomalies. The crust subsurface is modeled by a set of prismatic cells, each with uniform magnetization, that together reproduce the observed magnetic field. This problem is linear with respect to the magnetization, and the number of cells is normally greater than the amount of available data. Thus, the solution is obtained by solving an under-determined linear problem. A focused solution, exhibiting sharp boundaries between different magnetization domains, is obtained by allowing the amplitudes of magnetization to vary between a pre-determined range and by minimizing the region of the 3-D space where the source shows large variations, i.e., large gradients. A regularization functional based on a depth-weighting function is also introduced in order to counter-act the natural decay of the magnetic field intensity with depth. The inversion method has been used to explore the characteristics of the submarine hydrothermal system of Brothers volcano in the Kermadec arc, by inverting near-bottom magnetic data acquired by Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Different surface expressions of the hydrothermal vent fields show specific vertical structures in their underlying demagnetization regions that we interpret to represent hydrothermal upflow zones. For example, at focused vent sites the demagnetized conduits are vertical, pipe-like structures extending to depths of ~1000 m below the seafloor, whereas at diffuse vent sites the demagnetization regions are characterized by thin and inclined conduits.This contribution was made possible through funding by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST contract C05X0406) and by the Royal Society of New Zealand by the Marsden Fund (grant GNS1003).2013-04-1

Demographic approach to the secular clergy in Seventeenth Century Murcia

Artículo de la sección: EstudiosPara numerosos autores del siglo XVII, el excesivo número de clérigos era una de las causas de la crisis de la Monarquía Hispánica. Sin embargo, no se dispone de datos fiables que corroboren estos planteamientos. Existe para la ciudad de Murcia una documentación que utilizándose con mucha cautela puede servir para tener una idea de los efectivos del clero secular, su distribución, el porcentaje que representaba en el conjunto de la población así como su evolución a lo largo de la centuria. A la luz de esta información podremos juzgar si las quejas de los tratadistas estaban justificadas.For many Seventeenth Century authors, the excessive number of clergymen was one of the causes of the crisis of the Hispanic Monarchy. However, it is not possible to get reliable data for correborating these positions. Exists for the city of Murcia a documentation that being used with much caution can serve to have an idea of the number of the secular clergy, its distribution, the percentage that was representing on the whole of the population, as well as its evolution throughout the century. With all this information we shall be able to judge if the writers were right.Departamento de Historia Moderna y de América, Universidad de Granada

Разработка способа получения производного октреотида для диагностики нейроэндокринных опухолей

Currently the development of technologies for labeling somatostatin with technetium-99m for diagnosing radionuclide neuroendocrine tumors is under way. Somatostatin analogues are binded with technetium99m only by the preliminary addition of a chelating agent. Therefore, it is important to develop a method for preparation of an octreotide derivative by modifying octreotide with precursors: ligands with high chelating ability for its tight binding with technetium-99m. ω-Bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)aliphatic acids can be used successfully as such precursors.The purpose of the study was to develop a method for obtaining a new octreotide derivative for diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors.Materials and methods. The somatostatin octreotide analogue was used as the object of the study; succinimid-1-yl 6-(bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)hexanoate was used as a chelating agent. Methods of high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to separate and analyze the synthesized compounds.Results. A method to produce an original octreotide derivative using a succinimid-1-yl 6-(bis(pyridin2-ylmethyl)amino)hexanoate as a chelating agent was proposed. The conditions of analytical and semipreparative HPLC for the analysis and purification of the active octreotide derivative (a monosubstituted derivative of the amino acid residue of D-phenylalanine) were suggested.Conclusion. The synthesized derivative of octreotide has a chelating center for strong binding to technetium-99m in its structure, which can be useful for diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors. Введение. В настоящее время разработка технологии мечения аналогов соматостатина технецием99м (99mTc) для радинуклидной диагностики нейроэндокринных опухолей активно проводится по всему миру. Аналоги соматостатина, к которым относится октреотид, связываются с 99mTc только путем предварительного присоединения к ним хелатирующего агента. Поэтому актуальным является модификация октреотида прекурсорами с высокой хелатирующей способностью для прочного связывания 99mTc. В качестве таких прекурсоров успешно могут применяться ω-бис(пиридин-2- илметил)амино)алифатические кислоты.Цель исследования. Разработка способа получения нового производного октреотида, пригодного для диагностики нейроýндокринных опухолей.Материалы и методы. В качестве объекта исследования использовали октреотид – аналог соматостатина. В качестве бифункционального хелатирующего агента использовали сукцинимид-1-ил 6-(бис(пиридин-2-илметил)амино)гексаноат, синтезированный по модифицированной методике с учетом специфики агента. Для разделения и анализа синтезированных соединений применяли методы высокоýффективной жидкостной хроматографии и масс-спектрометрии.Результаты исследования. Предложен способ получения производного октреотида с применением хелатирующего агента сукцинимид-1-ил 6-(бис(пиридин-2-илметил)амино)гексаноата в среде 10 ммоль PBS (рН = 6,0) с добавлением 20%-го ацетонитрила в течение 24 ч. Разработаны условия для анализа и очистки активного производного октреотида с использованием аналитической и полупрепаративной жидкостной хроматографии.Заключение. Впервые в результате модификации октреотида по остатку D-фенилаланина создан центр хелатирования для технеция-99м на основе ω-бис(пиридин-2-илметил)амино)алифатических кислот. Производное октреотида является перспективным для дальнейшего изучения его функциональной пригодности для диагностики нейроэндокринных опухолей.

A variable resolution surface wave dispersion study of Eurasia, North Africa, and surrounding regions

This paper presents the results of a large-scale study of surface wave dispersion performed across Eurasia and North Africa. Improvements were made to previous surface wave work by enlarging the study region, increasing path density, improving spatial resolution, and expanding the period range. This study expands the coverage area northwards and eastwards relative to a previous dispersion analysis, which covered only North Africa and the Middle East. We have significantly increased the number of seismograms examined and group velocity measurements made. We have now made good quality dispersion measurements for about 30,000 Rayleigh wave and 20,000 Love wave paths, and have incorporated measurements from several other researchers into the study. A conjugate gradient method was employed for the group velocity tomography, which improved the inversion from the previous study by adopting a variable smoothness. This technique allows us to go to higher resolution where the data allow without producing artifacts. The current results include both Love and Rayleigh wave inversions across the region for periods from 7 to 100 seconds at 1{sup o} resolution. Short period group velocities are sensitive to slow velocities associated with large sedimentary features such as the Caspian Sea, West Siberian Platform, Mediterranean Sea, Bay of Bengal, Tarim Basin, and Persian Gulf. Intermediate periods are sensitive to differences in crustal thickness, such as those between oceanic and continental crust or along orogenic zones and continental plateaus. At longer periods, fast velocities are consistently found beneath cratons while slow upper mantle velocities occur along rift systems, subduction zones, and collision zones such as the Tethys Belt. We have compared the group velocities at various periods with features such as sediment thickness, topographic height, crustal thickness, proximity to plate boundaries, lithospheric age and lithospheric thickness, and find significant correlations. We don't find any similar correlation between the longest period surface waves and hot spots

Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate renal impairment (PIONEER 5): a placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3a trial

Background: Oral semaglutide is the first oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is commonly associated with renal impairment, restricting treatment options. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate renal impairment. Methods: This randomised, double-blind, phase 3a trial was undertaken at 88 sites in eight countries. Patients aged 18 years and older, with type 2 diabetes, an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30–59 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and who had been receiving a stable dose of metformin or sulfonylurea, or both, or basal insulin with or without metformin for the past 90 days were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by use of an interactive web-response system, with stratification by glucose-lowering medication and renal function, to receive oral semaglutide (dose escalated to 14 mg once daily) or matching placebo for 26 weeks, in addition to background medication. Participants and site staff were masked to assignment. Two efficacy-related estimands were defined: treatment policy (regardless of treatment discontinuation or rescue medication) and trial product (on treatment without rescue medication) in all participants randomly assigned. Endpoints were change from baseline to week 26 in HbA1c (primary endpoint) and bodyweight (confirmatory secondary endpoint), assessed in all participants with sufficient data. Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02827708, and the European Clinical Trials Registry, number EudraCT 2015-005326-19, and is now complete. Findings: Between Sept 20, 2016, and Sept 29, 2017, of 721 patients screened, 324 were eligible and randomly assigned to oral semaglutide (n=163) or placebo (n=161). Mean age at baseline was 70 years (SD 8), and 168 (52%) of participants were female. 133 (82%) participants in the oral semaglutide group and 141 (88%) in the placebo group completed 26 weeks on treatment. At 26 weeks, oral semaglutide was superior to placebo in decreasing HbA1c (estimated mean change of −1·0 percentage point (SE 0·1; −11 mmol/mol [SE 0·8]) vs −0·2 percentage points (SE 0·1; −2 mmol/mol [SE 0·8]); estimated treatment difference [ETD]: −0·8 percentage points, 95% CI −1·0 to −0·6;