Legal Statutes of Arab Refugees

The recently developed particle filter offers a general numerical tool to approximate the state a posteriori density in nonlinear and non-Gaussian filtering problems with arbitrary accuracy. Because the particle filter is fairly easy to implement and tune, it has quickly become a popular tool in signal processing applications. Its main drawback is that it is quite computer intensive. For a given filtering accuracy, the computational complexity increases quickly with the state dimension. One remedy to this problem is what in statistics is called Rao-Blackwellization, where states appearing linearly in the dynamics are marginalized out. This leads to that a Kalman filter is attached to each particle. Our main contribution here is to sort out when marginalization is possible for state space models, and to point out the implications in some typical signal processing applications. The methodology and impact in practice is illustrated on terrain navigation for aircrafts. The marginalized particle filter for a state-space model with nine states is evaluated on real aircraft data, and the result is that very good accuracy is achieved with quite reasonable complexity

The Levelling-Down Objection and the Additive Measure of the Badness of Inequality

The Levelling-Down Objection is a standard objection to monistic egalitarian theories where equality is the only thing that has intrinsic value. Most egalitarians, however, are value pluralists; they hold that, in addition to equality being intrinsically valuable, the egalitarian currency in which we are equal or unequal is also intrinsically valuable. In this paper, I shall argue that the Levelling-Down Objection still minimizes the weight that the intrinsic badness of inequality could have in the overall intrinsic evaluation of outcomes, given a certain way of measuring the badness of inequality, namely, the Additive Individual-Complaints Measure

Utilization of single-cell RNA-Seq and genome-scale modeling for investigating cancer metabolism

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and its dysregulated metabolism is a promising target for therapy. However, metabolism is complex to study – the metabolism of a cell involves the interplay of thousands of chemical reactions that are combined in different ways across tissues and cell types. Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs), where the reaction networks of cells are described using a mathematical formulation, have been developed to help in such studies. In this thesis, methods were developed for determining the active metabolic network (the context-specific model) in individual cell types, followed by studies of cancer metabolism. To enable identification of the active metabolic network per cell type, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) was employed to detect the presence of individual genes. However, the technical and biological variation in scRNA-Seq data poses a major challenge to the identification of the active reaction network in a cell type. The variability of gene expression due to technical and biological factors was therefore examined, concluding that data from thousands of cells is often required to provide enough stability for robust model generation. An improved quantification method for scRNA-Seq data, called BUTTERFLY, was also developed and implemented as part of the kallisto-bustools scRNA-Seq workflow. A new optimized version of tINIT, which enables generation of context-specific models, was also developed. It allowed for generation of models based on bootstrapped cell populations, which were used to acquire the statistical uncertainty of models generated from scRNA-Seq data. Finally, the method was applied to a lung cancer dataset, identifying both known and unknown features of cancer metabolism.To further explore cancer metabolism, a study was conducted to investigate the most optimal metabolic behavior under different degrees of hypoxia. To this end, a diffusion-based model for estimating nutrient availability was developed, as well as a light-weight version of the tool GECKO that enables constraining the total enzyme usage in the model. The model could explain the glutamine addiction phenomenon in cancers and was used to show that metabolic collaboration between cell types in tumors is likely not important for growth

Fracture mechanics studies of non-yielding materials like concrete : modelling of tensile fracture and applied strength analyses

Fracture mechanics studies of non-yielding materials are presented. The studies are based on theoretical models for the macroscopical mechanical behaviour of materials during tensile stress induced fracture. A number of applied numercal analysis are indicated. Fracture models and strength relations are discussed also from a few more general and fundamental points of view. A number of comparisons are made to test results from literature. The applications concern materials such as concrete, reinforced concrete, mortar and wood. Most numerical calculations are carried out by means of finite element methods. The fracture mechanics model called the fictìtious crack model is emphasized. This model gives a.description of gradual and localized fracture-softening in a single discrete tensile fracture process region. 0ther models dealt with: linear elastic fracture mechanics, Weibull-model, un-limited plasticity, conventional maximum stress theory and a few more special models. Specimens dealt with during numerical calculations: beams in bending, fracture mechanics tests specimens, tensile test specimens, pipes in bending and crushing, specimens with a re-entrant corner and longitudinally reinforced concrete beams in shear. According to the results obtained, it seems to be theoretically consistent and often of great practical importance to take into account the gradual and localized fracture-softening during strength analysis of specimens and structural elements

The Unimportance of Being Any Future Person

Derek Parfit’s argument against the platitude that identity is what matters in survival does not work given his intended reading of the platitude, namely, that what matters in survival to some future time is being identical with someone who is alive at that time. I develop Parfit’s argument so that it works against the platitude on the intended reading

Does the Collapsing Principle Rule Out Borderline Cases?

If ‘F’ is a predicate, then ‘Fer than’ or ‘more F than’ is a corresponding comparative relational predicate. Concerning such comparative relations, John Broome's Collapsing Principle states that, for any x and y, if it is false that y is Fer than x and not false that x is Fer than y, then it is true that x is Fer than y. Luke Elson has recently put forward two counter-examples to this principle, allegedly showing that it yields contradictions if there are borderline cases. In this article, I argue that the Collapsing Principle does not rule out borderline cases, but I also argue that the principle is implausible

Degrees of Freedom and Characteristic Modes

The number of degrees of freedom is a crucial parameter in many electromagnetic problems. In for example modern communication systems spatial diversity is often employed through multiple beams to enhance capacity and reliability. However, while the degrees of freedom can be computed, their connection to physical quantities is not as easily understood. To address this issue, this paper proposes a scattering-based formulation of characteristic mode analysis that can estimate the degrees of freedom of arbitrarily-shaped objects. The relation between the number of dominant characteristic modes and physical characteristics differs for electrically large and small objects. Specifically, for large objects, it is linked to the average shadow area, while for small objects, it is linked to their average polarizability through the forward scattering sum rule. Therefore, the average shadow area and polarizability are fundamental parameters that provide insight into the number of degrees of freedom for any object. These basic parameters also provide straightforward estimates of the minimum size of a device region required to support a desired number of electromagnetic degrees of freedom across a given spectral response

Anthelmintic Treatment of Sheep and the Role of Parasites Refugia in a Local Context

Simple Summary The control of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep is often based on the integrated use of anthelmintics and pasture management. As problems with resistance to anthelmintics become more common, it is important to consider the timing of treatment. This is because one way to delay selection for anthelmintic resistance is to take into account that there are susceptible parasites in refugia that are not selected for treatment. In Sweden, stabled ewes are sometimes treated before being let out to pasture with their lambs in the spring. It is thought that this may increase selection for resistance. However, unlike in many other parts of the world, in Sweden, treatment is usually motivated by large numbers of worm eggs detected in faecal samples. In this review, we discuss whether the Swedish model is a risky strategy. In doing so, we consider the experience from several studies conducted in Sweden and abroad. We conclude that the evidence is inconclusive. Moreover, there are gaps in our knowledge, not least regarding the genetic background of resistance formation and how this is influenced by refugia. Further fundamental work is therefore needed on this topic. Gastrointestinal nematodes in grazing livestock are ubiquitous and can cause severe damage, leading to substantial losses in agricultural yields. It is undeniable that the integrated use of anthelmintics is often an essential component of successful intensive livestock management. However, anthelmintic resistance has been a major challenge for several decades, especially in pasture-based lamb production. Measures are therefore needed to reduce the risk and prevent further spread. In many countries with more extensive lamb production and pronounced resistance problems than in Sweden, the importance of keeping parasites in refugia is emphasised. To ensure that treatment is necessary, the Swedish model is based on deworming certain groups of ewes based on the parasitological results of a faecal examination and then releasing them with their lambs to safe pastures. This is intended to reduce the risk of infection, which ultimately reduces the number of subsequent treatments. Whether this preventive strategy in turn means an increased risk of resistance is debatable. In this review, we explain the importance of parasites in refugia and how they can help delay the development of resistance to anthelmintics. We also discuss how likely it is that our model contributes to an increase in resistance risk and whether there is reason to question whether it is a sustainable strategy in the long term

Finger-Joints and Laminated Wood. Final Report for the BFR-project

This report gives an overview and summary of research on wood-adhesive bonds performed during several years in a number of separate studies. These studies concern the mechanical testing, numerical analysis and constitutive modelling of wood-adhesive bonds in timber engineering. Applications such as finger-joints and glued-laminated timber are considered. The experimental studies include the testing of the fracture characteristics of wood-adhesive bonds. The numerical studies relate to the strength of finger-joints and laminated beams.In the experimental studies, the complete stress-displacement response of small specimens, particularly their fracture softening behaviour beyond peak stress, was recorded. A major outcome from the experiments is that wood-adhesive bonds can behave in a fracture-softening manner, and that it is possible to record this under stable conditions.In one of the numerical studies the finite element method was employed to analyse the stress distribution around zones of low stiffness in a laminated beam. A fracture mechanics analysis was also performed of the delamination of a laminated beam. The results show that the often made assumption of a stress redistribution taking place around weak zones is not necessarily true. Another finding is that the delamination of an initially cracked glulam beam tends to be increasingly dominated by mode II failure as the lamination thickness decreases.In another study, also related to finger-joints and laminated beams, the finger-joint failure in a glulam beam was simulated using a nonlinear fictitious crack model with stochastic properties. The results show the proposed approach to be able to account for such phenomena as the size effect and the laminating effect. Another observation is that finger-joint fracture energy, i.e. the ductility, has a major influence on lamination and beam strength. The influence of bondline defects on the tensile strength of a finger-joint was also investigated. It was demonstrated that even a small defect in the form of a glueline void, can have a relatively strong influence on the tensile strength. It was also demonstrated that the strength of finger-joints is largely inuenced by the outermost finger.Finally, an interface model based on damage mechanics is suggested for the modelling of wood-adhesive interfaces. This model accounts for joint dilatation and post-cracking friction. Also, a homogenisation scheme is presented for combining the proposed model with ordinary plasticity models for the adhesive bulk. This homogenisation procedure is based on assumptions regarding the stress and strain gradients typical of thin bondlines