Context-aware hoarding of multimedia content in a largescale tour guide scenario: a case study on scaling issues of a multimedia tour guide

Abstract: This paper discusses scaling issues of a mobile multimedia tour guide. Making tourist-information available in a substantially large geographical area (e.g. a federal state in Austria) raises new questions, compared to providing similar information in a limited area (such as a museum). First, we have to assume a heterogeneous network infrastructure containing high and low bandwidth links and even total network loss. Video streaming is therefore not possible at any place. Secondly, the total amount of data grows linearly to the number of Points of Interest (POIs) which are augmented by the tour guide. Therefore, a preloading of all data onto a device with limited storage is not possible. A possible solution to these problems is hoarding, i.e. preloading an "appropriate" subset of data. The crucial question is to find the proper subset in dependence of the actual context. The paper discusses the questions o

Possible large phase in psi(2S) -> 1-0- Decays

The strong and the electromagnetic amplitudes are analyzed on the basis of the measurements of J/psi, psi(2S) -> 1-0- in e+e- experiments. The currently available experimental information is revised with inclusion of the contribution from e+e- -> gamma * -> 1-0- . The study shows that a large phase around minus 90 degree between the strong and the electromagnetic amplitudes could not be ruled out by the experimental data for psi(2S).Comment: 4 page

Predicting the risk of falling – efficacy of a risk assessment tool compared to nurses' judgement: a cluster-randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN37794278]

BACKGROUND: Older people living in nursing homes are at high risk of falling because of their general frailty and multiple pathologies. Prediction of falls might lead to an efficient allocation of preventive measures. Although several tools to assess the risk of falling have been developed, their impact on clinically relevant endpoints has never been investigated. The present study will evaluate the clinical efficacy and consequences of different fall risk assessment strategies. STUDY DESIGN: Cluster-randomised controlled trial with nursing home clusters randomised either to the use of a standard fall risk assessment tool alongside nurses' clinical judgement or to nurses' clinical judgement alone. Standard care of all clusters will be optimised by structured education on best evidence strategies to prevent falls and fall related injuries. 54 nursing home clusters including 1,080 residents will be recruited. Residents must be ≥ 70 years, not bedridden, and living in the nursing home for more than three months. The primary endpoint is the number of participants with at least one fall at 12 months. Secondary outcome measures are the number of falls, clinical consequences including side effects of the two risk assessment strategies. Other measures are fall related injuries, hospital admissions and consultations with a physician, and costs

Ligamentous rupture of the ACL associated with dislocated fracture of the proximal tibial physis in a 12-year-old boy

BACKGROUND: Dislocated fracture of the proximal physeal plate of the tibia with or without metaphyseal fragment is rare in children. This unusual fracture classically excludes rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament due to the ligament's stability. A combination of both injuries has not been previously published in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors report the case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with a dislocated fracture (Salter-Harris II) of the proximal tibia combined with ligamentous rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament after a sporting accident

Hadroproduction and Polarization of Charmonium

In the limit of heavy quark mass, the production cross section and polarization of quarkonia can be calculated in perturbative QCD. We study the $p_\perp$-averaged production of charmonium states in $\pi N$ collisions at fixed target energies. The data on the relative production rates of \jp and $\chi_J$ is found to disagree with leading twist QCD. The polarization of the \jp indicates that the discrepancy is not due to poorly known parton distributions nor to the size of higher order effects ($K$-factors). Rather, the disagreement suggests important higher twist corrections, as has been surmised earlier from the nuclear target $A$-dependence of the production cross section.Comment: 19 page

A roadmap for gene system development in Clostridium

Clostridium species are both heroes and villains. Some cause serious human and animal diseases, those present in the microbiota contribute to health and wellbeing, while others represent useful industrial chassis for the production of chemicals and fuels. To understand, counter or exploit, there is a fundamental requirement for effective systems that may be used for directed or random genome modifications. We have formulated a simple roadmap whereby the necessary gene systems maybe developed and deployed. At its heart is the use of 'pseudo-suicide' vectors and the creation of a pyrE mutant (a uracil auxotroph), initially aided by ClosTron technology, but ultimately made using a special form of allelic exchange termed ACE (Allele-Coupled Exchange). All mutants, regardless of the mutagen employed, are made in this host. This is because through the use of ACE vectors, mutants can be rapidly complemented concomitant with correction of the pyrE allele and restoration of uracil prototrophy. This avoids the phenotypic effects frequently observed with high copy number plasmids and dispenses with the need to add antibiotic to ensure plasmid retention. Once available, the pyrE host may be used to stably insert all manner of application specific modules. Examples include, a sigma factor to allow deployment of a mariner transposon, hydrolases involved in biomass deconstruction and therapeutic genes in cancer delivery vehicles. To date, provided DNA transfer is obtained, we have not encountered any clostridial species where this technology cannot be applied. These include, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium pasteurianum, Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium autoethanogenum and even Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius

The TNFR1 antagonist Atrosimab reduces neuronal loss, glial activation and memory deficits in an acute mouse model of neurodegeneration

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its key role in modulating immune responses has been widely recognized as a therapeutic target for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Even though inhibition of TNF-α is beneficial for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases, total neutralization of TNF-α largely failed in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. TNF-α exerts distinct functions depending on interaction with its two TNF receptors, whereby TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) is associated with neuroinflammation and apoptosis and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) with neuroprotection and immune regulation. Here, we investigated the effect of administering the TNFR1-specific antagonist Atrosimab, as strategy to block TNFR1 signaling while maintaining TNFR2 signaling unaltered, in an acute mouse model for neurodegeneration. In this model, a NMDA-induced lesion that mimics various hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, such as memory loss and cell death, was created in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis and Atrosimab or control protein was administered centrally. We showed that Atrosimab attenuated cognitive impairments and reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal cell death. Our results demonstrate that Atrosimab is effective in ameliorating disease symptoms in an acute neurodegenerative mouse model. Altogether, our study indicates that Atrosimab may be a promising candidate for the development of a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Ratio of Hadronic Decay Rates of J\psi and \psi(2S) and the \rho\pi Puzzle

The so-called \rho\pi puzzle of J\psi and \psi(2S) decays is examined using the experimental data available to date. Two different approaches were taken to estimate the ratio of J\psi and \psi(2S) hadronic decay rates. While one of the estimates could not yield the exact ratio of \psi(2S) to J\psi inclusive hadronic decay rates, the other, based on a computation of the inclusive ggg decay rate for \psi(2S) (J\psi) by subtracting other decay rates from the total decay rate, differs by two standard deviations from the naive prediction of perturbative QCD, even though its central value is nearly twice as large as what was naively expected. A comparison between this ratio, upon making corrections for specific exclusive two-body decay modes, and the corresponding experimental data confirms the puzzles in J\psi and \psi(2S) decays. We find from our analysis that the exclusively reconstructed hadronic decays of the \psi(2S) account for only a small fraction of its total decays, and a ratio exceeding the above estimate should be expected to occur for a considerable number of the remaining decay channels. We also show that the recent new results from the BES experiment provide crucial tests of various theoretical models proposed to explain the puzzle.Comment: 8 pages, no figure, 4 table

A precision measurement of direct CP violation in the decay of neutral kaons into two pions

The direct CP violation parameter Re(epsilon'/epsilon) has been measured from the decay rates of neutral kaons into two pions using the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS. The 2001 running period was devoted to collecting additional data under varied conditions compared to earlier years (1997-99). The new data yield the result: Re(epsilon'/epsilon) = (13.7 +/- 3.1) times 10^{-4}. Combining this result with that published from the 1997, 98 and 99 data, an overall value of Re(epsilon'/epsilon) = (14.7 +/- 2.2) times 10^{-4} is obtained from the NA48 experiment.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Physics Letters

Measurement of the Ratio Gamma(KL -> pi+ pi-)/Gamma(KL -> pi e nu) and Extraction of the CP Violation Parameter |eta+-|

We present a measurement of the ratio of the decay rates Gamma(KL -> pi+ pi-)/Gamma(KL -> pi e nu), denoted as Gamma(K2pi)/Gamma(Ke3). The analysis is based on data taken during a dedicated run in 1999 by the NA48 experiment at the CERN SPS. Using a sample of 47000 K2pi and five million Ke3 decays, we find Gamma(K2pi)/Gamma(Ke3) = (4.835 +- 0.022(stat) +- 0.016(syst)) x 10^-3. From this we derive the branching ratio of the CP violating decay KL -> pi+ pi- and the CP violation parameter |eta+-|. Excluding the CP conserving direct photon emission component KL -> pi+ pi- gamma, we obtain the results BR(KL -> pi+ pi-) = (1.941 +- 0.019) x 10^-3 and |eta+-| = (2.223 +- 0.012) x 10^-3.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Phys. Lett.