Trust in Social Network Games

We consider agents in a social network competing to be selected as partners in collaborative, mutually beneficial activities. We study this through a model in which an agent i can initiate a limited number k_i>0 of games and selects the ideal partners from its one-hop neighborhood. On the flip side it can accept as many games offered from its neighbors. Each game signifies a productive joint economic activity, and players attempt to maximize their individual utilities. Unsurprisingly, more trustworthy agents are more desirable as partners. Trustworthiness is measured by the game theoretic concept of Limited-Trust, which quantifies the maximum cost an agent is willing to incur in order to improve the net utility of all agents. Agents learn about their neighbors' trustworthiness through interactions and their behaviors evolve in response. Empirical trials performed on realistic social networks show that when given the option, many agents become highly trustworthy; most or all become highly trustworthy when knowledge of their neighbors' trustworthiness is based on past interactions rather than known a priori. This trustworthiness is not the result of altruism, instead agents are intrinsically motivated to become trustworthy partners by competition. Two insights are presented: first, trustworthy behavior drives an increase in the utility of all agents, where maintaining a relatively modest level of trustworthiness may easily improve net utility by as much as 14.5%. If only one agent exhibits modest trust among self-centered ones, it can increase its average utility by up to 25% in certain cases! Second, and counter-intuitively, when partnership opportunities are abundant agents become less trustworthy.Comment: Main paper plus e-companio

Diagnostic efficacy of panoramic mandibular index to identify postmenopausal women with low bone mineral densities

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare and assess the accuracy of panoramic mandibular index (PMI) and antegonial index (AI) in the panoramic radiographs of postmenopausal women with normal and low skeletal bone mineral densities( BMD) diagnosed by using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry ( DXA). Study Design: In panoramic radiographs obtained from 40 post menopausal women( 20 normal and 20 osteoporo tic) aged between 50-75 who’s BMD has already been assessed by a DXA, the mean was calculated for PMI and AI index values measured in the right and left mandibles. The PMI and AI index values were evaluated using the student’s t test. The correlation between the observers for indices was calculated by Pearson correlation coefficient test. Results: A statistically difference was shown between the PMI values in the osteoporotic group and normal group (t = 13.280, p < 0.001); however, AI showed no significant difference between the groups. For PMI, the area under the receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis in identifying women with low BMD was 0.821 ( Standard error: SE = 0.0676), 95% confidence interval (Cl) = 0.668 to 0.924) which was moderately accurate. Conclusion: PMI values were found to be smaller among female patients with osteoporosis, compared with normal patients in the present study. Our results suggest that PMI has a better efficacy in identifying postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in comparison with AI

Batch Splitting in an Assembly Scheduling Environment

This paper presents mathematical models and algorithms for a production scheduling problem with batch splitting of assembly operations. The operation precedence is represented in an operations network, and the operations at any particular workcenter are split into suitable batch sizes on the available identical parallel processors for faster completion. The solution methodology comprises of a batch splitting algorithm followed by a batch scheduling algorithm. The batch splitting algorithm is developed based on a preemptive scheduling algorithm after incorporating non-zero setup times. The batch scheduling algorithm is based on a Critical Path algorithm for an operations network. The mathematical model also considers movesizes for batches which determine the threshold for the batch size that needs to be built up before it can be transferred for the successor operation. The computational results for different problem sizes show that the proposed solution scheme can satisfactorily solve this complex scheduling problem for cases where the standard solvers fail to generate solutions within practical time limits. Moreover, there is a significant reduction in makespan due to batch splitting

MAVERICK: A Synthetic Murder Mystery Network Dataset to Support Sensemaking Research

AbstractThe MAVERICK dataset was created to support a series of empirical studies looking at the effectiveness of network visualizations intended to support information foraging and human sensemaking within the domain of counterinsurgency intelligence analysis. This synthetic dataset is structured as a forensic mystery with the central goal of solving a fictional murder. The dataset includes 181 text-based reports, with additional media included with some messages as attachments, collected from various sources of varying reliability. The reports are framed as being collected from the perspective of a reporter investigating the murder through interviews with suspects and observations taken at the site the murder. The dataset includes intentional and unintentional deception along with calculated source reliabilities based on available evidence. The dataset is dynamic in nature, as the information in the dataset evolves and expands over a simulated period of time. This is done to both to simulate a real-world scenario, and to allow for evolutionary tasks and experiments to be performed using the dataset. The dataset is designed to be complex enough to simulate a real-world, while remaining accessible to individuals without experience in a specific domain of interest. This meant that it had to be on a topic that did not require prior domain knowledge to understand available information or to understand what strategies should be applied during analysis of the dataset. The solution to these challenges was the development of a fictional murder mystery. The plot involves a murder that took place over the course of a weekend with several possible suspects at a large private estate. This scenario allowed for a great deal of complexity; however, it was also a subject matter that could be easily understood by participants without prerequisite domain experience

Comparison of Flow field in the proximity of A Single Planar & Wrap-around Fin

Abstract This paper analyses the results of the computational analysis between a single planar and a wrap-around fin mounted on a semi-cylindrical body. A free-stream Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was simulated for both cases in the Mach 0.4-3.0M range at 0°Angle of attack, in which, the behavior of flow around the fin was investigated using a turbulence model of higher order discretization. The post-processing shows all the possible views of the flow dynamics around the fins, as well as the missile body. The aerodynamic drag and the rolling moment characteristics of the planar and the wrap-around fin have been compared and adequate validation has been performed for the current missile model. This work forms a preliminary step in turbulence modelling and comparing the flow aerodynamics around both fin geometries

Efficacy of light based detection systems for early detection of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders: systematic review

Background: Earlier detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) is essential for dental professionals to improve patient survival rates. The aim of this systematic review is to to evaluate the effectiveness of devices that utilise the principles of chemiluminescence and tissue autofluorescence as adjuncts in the detection of OSCC and OPMD. Material and Methods: The electronic retrieval systems and databases searched for relevant articles were PubMed [MEDLINE] and Science direct. The search was for limited articles published in English or with an English abstract and articles published during the period from January 2005 to April 2014. Clinical trials utilized ViziLite, Microlux TM/DL and Visual Enhanced Light scope (VELscope) for early detection of OPMD and OSCC. Results: Twenty primary studies published satisfied our criteria for selection - 10 utilised chemiluminescence and 10 tissue autofluorescence. Senstivity of Vizilite for detecting OSCC nad OPMD ranged from 77.1 % to 100% and specificity was low that ranged from 0% to 27.8%.Most have shown that chemiluminescence increases the brightness and margins of oral mucosal white lesions and thus assist in identification of mucosal lesions not considered under Conventional visual examination. However, it preferentially detects leukoplakia and may fail to spot red patches. Clinical trials demonstrated that sensitivity of VELscope in detecting malignancy and OPMD ranged from 22 % to 100 % and specificity ranged from 16 % to 100%. Most studies concluded that VELscope can help the experienced clinician to find oral precursor malignant lesions. But it couldnot differentiate between dysplasia and benign inflammatory conditions. Conclusions: Both devices are simple, non-invasive test of the oral mucosa but are suited for clinicians with sufficient experience and training. More clinical trials in future should be conducted to establish optical imaging as an efficacious adjunct tool in early diagnosis of OSCC and OPMD

Effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for Sjogren syndrome - A systematic review

Sjogren?s Syndrome (SS) is characterized by xeropthalmia and/or xerostomia. Treating the associated salivary gland hypofunction has been challenging to the clinicians. A variety of topical and systemic therapies have been tried to restore/stimulate the g