Incomplete MaxSAT Solving by Linear Programming Relaxation and Rounding

NP-hard optimization problems can be found in various real-world settings such as scheduling, planning and data analysis. Coming up with algorithms that can efficiently solve these problems can save various rescources. Instead of developing problem domain specific algorithms we can encode a problem instance as an instance of maximum satisfiability (MaxSAT), which is an optimization extension of Boolean satisfiability (SAT). We can then solve instances resulting from this encoding using MaxSAT specific algorithms. This way we can solve instances in various different problem domains by focusing on developing algorithms to solve MaxSAT instances. Computing an optimal solution and proving optimality of the found solution can be time-consuming in real-world settings. Finding an optimal solution for problems in these settings is often not feasible. Instead we are only interested in finding a good quality solution fast. Incomplete solvers trade guaranteed optimality for better scalability. In this thesis, we study an incomplete solution approach for solving MaxSAT based on linear programming relaxation and rounding. Linear programming (LP) relaxation and rounding has been used for obtaining approximation algorithms on various NP-hard optimization problems. As such we are interested in investigating the effectiveness of this approach on MaxSAT. We describe multiple rounding heuristics that are empirically evaluated on random, crafted and industrial MaxSAT instances from yearly MaxSAT Evaluations. We compare rounding approaches against each other and to state-of-the-art incomplete solvers SATLike and Loandra. The LP relaxation based rounding approaches are not competitive in general against either SATLike or Loandra However, for some problem domains our approach manages to be competitive against SATLike and Loandra

Anatomic heterogeneity of the rat amygdaloid complex

The amygdala is a nuclear complex composed of 13 nuclei and their subdivisions. Tract-tracing studies performed over the past 20 years demonstrate that each nucleus is uniquely connected with other brain areas. Consistent with anatomic heterogeneity, the functions of the amygdala vary from attention to memory to formation of emotional responses to sensory stimuli. Here, we briefly review the principles of amygdaloid neuronal wiring that underlie the computations necessary to perform such complex behavioural functions

Value of Ga-68-labeled bombesin antagonist (RM2) in the detection of primary prostate cancer comparing with [F-18]fluoromethylcholine PET-CT and multiparametric MRI-a phase I/II study

Objectives The bombesin derivative RM2 is a GRPr antagonist with strong binding affinity to prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, the impact of [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for the detection of primary PCa was compared with that of [F-18]FCH PET-CT and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI).Methods This phase I/II study was conducted in 30 biopsy-positive PCa subjects. The patients were stratified into high (10 patients), intermediate (10 patients), and low risk (10 patients) for extraglandular metastases as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria (NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, 2016). The prostate gland was classified in 12 anatomic segments for data analysis of the imaging modalities as well as histopathologic findings. The segment with the highest radiotracer uptake was defined as the "index lesion." All cases were scheduled to undergo prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection in intermediate- and high-risk patients. Intraprostatic and pelvic nodal [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 and [F-18]FCH PET-CT findings were correlated with mpMRI and histopathologic results.Results Of the 312 analyzed regions, 120 regions (4 to 8 lesions per patient) showed abnormal findings in the prostate gland. In a region-based analysis, overall sensitivity and specificity of [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 PET-CT in the detection of primary tumor were 74% and 90%, respectively, while it was 60% and 80% for [F-18]FCH PET-CT and 72% and 89% for mpMRI. Although the overall sensitivity of [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 PET-CT was higher compared to that of [F-18]FCH PET-CT and mpMRI, the statistical analysis showed only significant difference between [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and [F-18]FCH PET-CT in the intermediate-risk group (p = 0.01) and [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and mpMRT in the high-risk group (p = 0.03). In the lesion-based analysis, there was no significant difference between SUVmax of [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 and [F-18]FCH PET-CT in the intraprostatic malignant lesions ([Ga-68]Ga-RM2: mean SUVmax: 5.98 +/- 4.13, median: 4.75; [F-18]FCH: mean SUVmax: 6.08 +/- 2.74, median: 5.5; p = 0.13).Conclusions [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 showed promising PET tracer for the detection of intraprostatic PCa in a cohort of patients with different risk stratifications. However, significant differences were only found between [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and [F-18]FCH PET-CT in the intermediate-risk group and [Ga-68]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and mpMRT in the high-risk group. In addition, GRP-R-based imaging seems to play a complementary role to choline-based imaging for full characterization of PCa extent and biopsy guidance in low- and intermediate-metastatic-risk PCa patients and has the potential to discriminate them from those at higher risks.</p

InDEx – Industrial Data Excellence

InDEx, the Industrial Data Excellence program, was created to investigate what industrial data can be collected, shared, and utilized for new intelligent services in high-performing, reliable and secure ways, and how to accomplish that in practice in the Finnish manufacturing industry.InDEx produced several insights into data in an industrial environment, collecting data, sharing data in the value chain and in the factory environment, and utilizing and manipulating data with artificial intelligence. Data has an important role in the future in an industrial context, but data sources and utilization mechanisms are more diverse than in cases related to consumer data. Experiences in the InDEx cases showed that there is great potential in data utili zation.Currently, successful business cases built on data sharing are either company-internal or utilize an existing value chain. The data market has not yet matured, and third-party offerings based on public and private data sources are rare. In this program, we tried out a framework that aimed to securely and in a controlled manner share data between organizations. We also worked to improve the contractual framework needed to support new business based on shared data, and we conducted a study of applicable business models. Based on this, we searched for new data-based opportunities within the project consortium. The vision of data as a tradeable good or of sharing with external partners is still to come true, but we believe that we have taken steps in the right direction.The program started in fall 2019 and ended in April 2022. The program faced restrictions caused by COVID-19, which had an effect on the intensity of the work during 2020 and 2021, and the program was extended by one year. Because of meeting restrictions, InDEx collaboration was realized through online meetings. We learned to work and collaborate using digital tools and environments. Despite the mentioned hindrances, and thanks to Business Finland’s flexibility, the extension time made it possible for most of the planned goals to be achieved.This report gives insights in the outcomes of the companies’ work within the InDEx program. DIMECC InDEx is the first finalized program by the members of the Finnish Advanced Manufacturing Network (FAMN, www.famn.fi).</p

TAIVALKOSKEN NUORET JA YRITTÄJYYS

Tutkimuksen keskeisenä teemana on yrittäjyys. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, millainen näkemys taivalkoskelaisilla peruskoulun yläasteen vuosiluokkien 7 – 9 oppilailla on yrittämisestä, yrittäjyydestä sekä yrittäjistä itsestään toimijoina. Lisäksi tavoitteena oli saada tietoutta Taivalkosken peruskoulun yläasteella mahdollisesti tulevaisuudessa toteutettavaa yrittäjyyspainotteista erityisluokkaa varten. Tutkimus suoritettiin kvantitatiivisena kokonaistutkimuksena kaikille peruskoulun yläasteen oppi-laille 16. – 23.3.2005 välisenä aikana. Menetelmäksi valittiin lomakekysely, joka jaettiin oppilaille opinto-ohjaajan tuntien aikana. Tutkimuksessa saatujen tulosten pohjalta voidaan todeta, että nuorten näkemys yrittämisestä, yrittäjyydestä sekä yrittäjästä on positiivinen ja he kokevat yrittäjyyden olevan eräs vaihtoehto työllistyä tulevaisuudessa. Nuorten näkemys on, että yritteliäs ihminen pärjää aina, jotakin kannattaa yrittää. Heidän mielestään niin kotona kuin koulussa puhutaan vähän yrittäjyydestä ja he olisivat halukkaita opiskelemaan lisää niin yrittämisestä, yrittäjyydestä kuin yritteliäisyydestä. Nuorten positiivinen näkemys yrittäjyydestä on sen suuntainen jota kasvattajina, vanhempina ja päättäjinä toivomme nuorissamme, lapsissamme ja oppilaissamme olevan. Positiivisen näkemyksen toivoisi vallitsevan myös nykyisin työelämässä olevien keskuudessa sekä yhteisöjemme kulttuurissa ja työmenetelmissä.The leading theme of this research is entrepreneurship. The purpose of the research was to determine how the pupils of the upper level of the comprehensive school in Taivalkoski view self-employment, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs. Additionally, the study aggregated information for designing a possible future special upper level class of the comprehensive school with the emphasis on entrepreneurship. The research was carried out as a quantitative overall research by using questionnaires which were issued to the pupils during the classes given by their study advisor 16 – 23 March 2005. The results showed that the opinions of the youth on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs are positive. The research also indicated that the youth find entrepreneurship to be one of the ways to employ themselves in future. In their opinion an enterprising person manages in every situation, so it is always worthwhile to go for it. The pupils think that entrepreneurship is a topic which is mentioned and discussed too seldom at school and at home, and they would be very willing to learn more about entrepreneurship and enterprising. The positive attitude which the young people have towards entrepreneurship is similar to the attitude that we as educators, parents and decision-makers would hope our youth, children and pupils to have. This positive attitude will hopefully prevail in working life, in the culture of communities and in working practices

Alternative oxidase confers nutritional limitation on Drosophila development

The mitochondrial alternative oxidase, AOX, present in most eukaryotes apart from vertebrates and insects, catalyzes the direct oxidation of ubiquinol by oxygen, by-passing the terminal proton-motive steps of the respiratory chain. Its physiological role is not fully understood, but it is proposed to buffer stresses in the respiratory chain similar to those encountered in mitochondrial diseases in humans. Previously, we found that the ubiquitous expression of AOX from Ciona intestinalis in Drosophila perturbs the development of flies cultured under low-nutrient conditions (media containing only glucose and yeast). Here we tested the effects of a wide range of nutritional supplements on Drosophila development, to gain insight into the physiological mechanism underlying this developmental failure. On low-nutrient medium, larvae contained decreased amounts of triglycerides, lactate, and pyruvate, irrespective of AOX expression. Complex food supplements, including treacle (molasses), restored normal development to AOX-expressing flies, but many individual additives did not. Inhibition of AOX by treacle extract was excluded as a mechanism, since the supplement did not alter the enzymatic activity of AOX in vitro. Furthermore, antibiotics did not influence the organismal phenotype, indicating that commensal microbes were not involved. Fractionation of treacle identified a water-soluble fraction with low solubility in ethanol, rich in lactate and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, which contained the critical activity. We propose that the partial activation of AOX during metamorphosis impairs the efficient use of stored metabolites, resulting in developmental failure. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer reviewe

Innovatiivisten ratkaisujen hankintamenettelyt Kupittaan kampuksella : Innokampus-hanke

Innokampus-projektin tavoitteena oli kehittää uusi innovatiivisten ratkaisujen hankintamenettely, joka mahdollistaa käyttäjälähtöisen uudishankinnan. Raportissa esitellään keinoja, jotka mahdollistavat edistyksellisten ratkaisuiden hyödyntämisen sekä toimitilojen teknisessä toteutuksessa että toimintojen kehittämisessä, erityisesti uusien pedagogisten ratkaisuiden suhteen. Raportissa tarkastellaan, kuinka uudentyyppiset oppimisympäristöt on mahdollista toteuttaa. Kampuskonseptissa rakennus toimii itseään ja toimintojaan monitoroivana oppimisympäristönä, jota on mahdollista myöhemmin uudistaa niin taloteknisten ratkaisuiden kuin oppimisja tutkimusympäristöjen osalta. Tekesin rahoittaman Innokampushankkeen tuloksena kehitettiin lisäksi menettelytapoja, joiden avulla innovatiivisia menetelmiä voidaan tehokkaammin hyödyntää julkisen rakentamisen hankkeissa

In vivo imaging of prostate cancer using [68Ga]-labeled bombesin analog BAY86-7548

PURPOSE: A novel [(68)Ga]-labeled DOTA-4-amino-1-carboxymethyl-piperidine-D-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Sta-Leu-NH2 peptide (BAY86-7548) having high affinity to bombesin receptor subtype II to detect primary and metastatic prostate carcinoma using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was synthesized and evaluated for prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this first human study with BAY86-7548, 14 men scheduled for radical prostatectomy (n = 11) or with biochemical recurrence after surgery or hormonal therapy (n = 3) were enrolled. The patients received an intravenous injection of BAY86-7548 followed by over 60-minute dynamic imaging of prostate gland (n = 10) and/or subsequent whole-body imaging (n = 14). The visual assessment of PET/CT images included evaluation of intraprostatic (12 subsextants) and pelvic nodal uptake of BAY86-7548 in 11 surgical patients and detection of potential metastatic foci in all patients. In patients with biochemical recurrence, results were compared with those of either [(11)C]-acetate (n = 2) or [(18)F]-fluoromethylcholine (n = 1) PET/CT. RESULTS: We found a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 88%, 81% and 83%, respectively, for detection of primary PCa and sensitivity of 70% for metastatic lymph nodes using histology as gold standard. BAY86-7548 correctly detected local recurrence in prostate bed and showed nodal relapse in accordance with [(11)C]-acetate PET/CT in 2 patients with biochemical relapse. In the third hormone refractory patient, BAY86-7548 failed to show multiple bone metastases evident on [(18)F]-fluoromethylcholine PET/CT. CONCLUSION: BAY86-7548 PET/CT is a promising molecular imaging technique for detecting intraprostatic prostate cancer