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A note on chances and limitations of psychometric AI
Human-level artificial intelligence (HAI) surely is a special research endeavor in more than one way: In the first place, the very nature of intelligence is not entirely clear; there are no criteria commonly agreed upon necessary or sufficient for the ascription of intelligence other than similarity to human performance (and even this criterion is open for a plethora of possible interpretations); there is a lack of clarity concerning how to properly investigate HAI and how to proceed after the very first steps of implementing an HAI system; etc. In this note I assess the ways in which the approach of Psychometric Artificial Intelligence [1] can (and cannot) be taken as a foundation for a scientific approach to HAI
A review of predictive control techniques for matrix converters — Part II
The second part of this paper presents an overview of different control strategies and applications for matrix converters (MCs) where predictive control techniques are applied. It will be shown that predictive control is a promising alternative to control MCs due to its simplicity and flexibility to include different constrains in the con¬trol for different industrial applications such as renewable energies, grid interconnection, multi-drives systems control, among others. In addition, some limitations and weaknesses of predictive control in MCs such as variable switching frequency, high dependence on the predictive model quality and high computational cost, will be discussed as well as some future trends in control strategies and its application to other topologies or loads
Very long optical path-length from a compact multi-pass cell
The multiple-pass optical cell is an important tool for laser absorption
spectroscopy and its many applications. For most practical applications, such
as trace-gas detection, a compact and robust design is essential. Here we
report an investigation into a multi-pass cell design based on a pair of
cylindrical mirrors, with a particular focus on achieving very long optical
paths. We demonstrate a path-length of 50.31 m in a cell with 40 mm diameter
mirrors spaced 88.9 mm apart - a 3-fold increase over the previously reported
longest path-length obtained with this type of cell configuration. We
characterize the mechanical stability of the cell and describe the practical
conditions necessary to achieve very long path-lengths
Association between Reimbursement Incentives and Physician Practice in Oncology: A Systematic Review
Importance: Significant controversy exists regarding whether physicians factor personal financial considerations into their clinical decision making. Within oncology, several reimbursement policies may incentivize physicians to increase health care use. Objective: To evaluate whether the financial incentives presented by oncology reimbursement policies affect physician practice patterns. Evidence Review: Studies evaluating an association between reimbursement incentives and changes in reimbursement policy on oncology care delivery were reviewed. Articles were identified systematically by searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Proquest Health Management, Econlit, and Business Source Premier. English-language articles focused on the US health care system that made empirical estimates of the association between a measurement of physician reimbursement/compensation and a measurement of delivery of cancer treatment services were included. The Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions tool was used to assess risk of bias. There were no date restrictions on the publications, and literature searches were finalized on February 14, 2018. Findings: Eighteen studies were included. All were observational cohort studies, and most had a moderate risk of bias. Heterogeneity of reimbursement policies and outcomes precluded meta-analysis; therefore, a qualitative synthesis was performed. Most studies (15 of 18 [83%]) reported an association between reimbursement and care delivery consistent with physician responsiveness to financial incentives, although such an association was not identified in all studies. Findings consistently suggested that self-referral arrangements may increase use of radiotherapy and that profitability of systemic anticancer agents may affect physicians' choice of drug. Findings were less conclusive as to whether profitability of systemic anticancer therapy affects the decision of whether to use any systemic therapy. Conclusions and Relevance: To date, this study is the first systematic review of reimbursement policy and clinical care delivery in oncology. The findings suggest that some oncologists may, in certain circumstances, alter treatment recommendations based on personal revenue considerations. An implication of this finding is that value-based reimbursement policies may be a useful tool to better align physician incentives with patient need and increase the value of oncology care
Detecting new microRNAs in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes identifies miR-3085 as a human, chondrocyte-selective, microRNA
Objective: To use deep sequencing to identify novel microRNAs in human osteoarthritic cartilage which have a functional role in chondrocyte phenotype or function. Design: A small RNA library was prepared from human osteoarthritic primary chondrocytes using in-house adaptors and analysed by Illumina sequencing. Novel candidate microRNAs were validated by northern blot and qRT-PCR. Expression was measured in cartilage models. Targets of novel candidates were identified by microarray and computational analysis, validated using 3’-UTR-luciferase reporter plasmids. Protein levels were assessed by western blot and functional analysis by cell adhesion. Results: We identified 990 known microRNAs and 1621 potential novel microRNAs in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes, 60 of the latter were expressed in all samples assayed. MicroRNA-140-3p was the most highly expressed microRNA in osteoarthritic cartilage. Sixteen novel candidate microRNAs were analysed further, of which 6 remained after northern blot analysis. Three novel microRNAs were regulated across models of chondrogenesis, chondrocyte differentiation or cartilage injury. One sequence (novel #11), annotated in rodents as microRNA-3085-3p, was preferentially expressed in cartilage, dependent on chondrocyte differentiation and, in man, is located in an intron of the cartilage-expressed gene CRTAC-1. This microRNA was shown to target the ITGA5 gene directly (which encodes integrin alpha5) and inhibited adhesion to fibronectin (dependent on alpha5beta1 integrin). Conclusion: Deep sequencing has uncovered many potential microRNA candidates expressed in human cartilage. At least three of these show potential functional interest in cartilage homeostasis and osteoarthritis. Particularly, novel #11 (microRNA-3085-3p) which has been identified for the first time in man
Plasma Wave Properties of the Schwarzschild Magnetosphere in a Veselago Medium
We re-formulate the 3+1 GRMHD equations for the Schwarzschild black hole in a
Veselago medium. Linear perturbation in rotating (non-magnetized and
magnetized) plasma is introduced and their Fourier analysis is considered. We
discuss wave properties with the help of wave vector, refractive index and
change in refractive index in the form of graphs. It is concluded that some
waves move away from the event horizon in this unusual medium. We conclude that
for the rotating non-magnetized plasma, our results confirm the presence of
Veselago medium while the rotating magnetized plasma does not provide any
evidence for this medium.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophys. Space
Sc
Ab initio Quantum and ab initio Molecular Dynamics of the Dissociative Adsorption of Hydrogen on Pd(100)
The dissociative adsorption of hydrogen on Pd(100) has been studied by ab
initio quantum dynamics and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations. Treating
all hydrogen degrees of freedom as dynamical coordinates implies a high
dimensionality and requires statistical averages over thousands of
trajectories. An efficient and accurate treatment of such extensive statistics
is achieved in two steps: In a first step we evaluate the ab initio potential
energy surface (PES) and determine an analytical representation. Then, in an
independent second step dynamical calculations are performed on the analytical
representation of the PES. Thus the dissociation dynamics is investigated
without any crucial assumption except for the Born-Oppenheimer approximation
which is anyhow employed when density-functional theory calculations are
performed. The ab initio molecular dynamics is compared to detailed quantum
dynamical calculations on exactly the same ab initio PES. The occurence of
quantum oscillations in the sticking probability as a function of kinetic
energy is addressed. They turn out to be very sensitive to the symmetry of the
initial conditions. At low kinetic energies sticking is dominated by the
steering effect which is illustrated using classical trajectories. The steering
effects depends on the kinetic energy, but not on the mass of the molecules.
Zero-point effects lead to strong differences between quantum and classical
calculations of the sticking probability. The dependence of the sticking
probability on the angle of incidence is analysed; it is found to be in good
agreement with experimental data. The results show that the determination of
the potential energy surface combined with high-dimensional dynamical
calculations, in which all relevant degrees of freedon are taken into account,
leads to a detailed understanding of the dissociation dynamics of hydrogen at a
transition metal surface.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, subm. to Phys. Rev.
Linking the trans-Planckian and the information loss problems in black hole physics
The trans-Planckian and information loss problems are usually discussed in
the literature as separate issues concerning the nature of Hawking radiation.
Here we instead argue that they are intimately linked, and can be understood as
"two sides of the same coin" once it is accepted that general relativity is an
effective field theory.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. Replaced with the version to be published in
General Relativity and Gravitatio
Shear-banding in a lyotropic lamellar phase, Part 2: Temporal fluctuations
We analyze the temporal fluctuations of the flow field associated to a
shear-induced transition in a lyotropic lamellar phase: the layering transition
of the onion texture. In the first part of this work [Salmon et al., submitted
to Phys. Rev. E], we have evidenced banded flows at the onset of this
shear-induced transition which are well accounted for by the classical picture
of shear-banding. In the present paper, we focus on the temporal fluctuations
of the flow field recorded in the coexistence domain. These striking dynamics
are very slow (100--1000s) and cannot be due to external mechanical noise.
Using velocimetry coupled to structural measurements, we show that these
fluctuations are due to a motion of the interface separating the two
differently sheared bands. Such a motion seems to be governed by the
fluctuations of , the local stress at the interface between the
two bands. Our results thus provide more evidence for the relevance of the
classical mechanical approach of shear-banding even if the mechanism leading to
the fluctuations of remains unclear
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