Multidimensional Binary Vector Assignment problem: standard, structural and above guarantee parameterizations

In this article we focus on the parameterized complexity of the Multidimensional Binary Vector Assignment problem (called \BVA). An input of this problem is defined by $m$ disjoint sets $V^1, V^2, \dots, V^m$, each composed of $n$ binary vectors of size $p$. An output is a set of $n$ disjoint $m$-tuples of vectors, where each $m$-tuple is obtained by picking one vector from each set $V^i$. To each $m$-tuple we associate a $p$ dimensional vector by applying the bit-wise AND operation on the $m$ vectors of the tuple. The objective is to minimize the total number of zeros in these $n$ vectors. mBVA can be seen as a variant of multidimensional matching where hyperedges are implicitly locally encoded via labels attached to vertices, but was originally introduced in the context of integrated circuit manufacturing. We provide for this problem FPT algorithms and negative results ($ETH$-based results, $W$[2]-hardness and a kernel lower bound) according to several parameters: the standard parameter $k$ i.e. the total number of zeros), as well as two parameters above some guaranteed values.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

Mixed uncertainty sets for robust combinatorial optimization

In robust optimization, the uncertainty set is used to model all possible outcomes of uncertain parameters. In the classic setting, one assumes that this set is provided by the decision maker based on the data available to her. Only recently it has been recognized that the process of building useful uncertainty sets is in itself a challenging task that requires mathematical support. In this paper, we propose an approach to go beyond the classic setting, by assuming multiple uncertainty sets to be prepared, each with a weight showing the degree of belief that the set is a “true” model of uncertainty. We consider theoretical aspects of this approach and show that it is as easy to model as the classic setting. In an extensive computational study using a shortest path problem based on real-world data, we auto-tune uncertainty sets to the available data, and show that with regard to out-of-sample performance, the combination of multiple sets can give better results than each set on its own

IEA EBC Annex 57 ‘Evaluation of Embodied Energy and CO_2eq for Building Construction'

The current regulations to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from buildings have focused on operational energy consumption. Thus legislation excludes measurement and reduction of the embodied energy and embodied GHG emissions over the building life cycle. Embodied impacts are a significant and growing proportion and it is increasingly recognized that the focus on reducing operational energy consumption needs to be accompanied by a parallel focus on reducing embodied impacts. Over the last six years the Annex 57 has addressed this issue, with researchers from 15 countries working together to develop a detailed understanding of the multiple calculation methods and the interpretation of their results. Based on an analysis of 80 case studies, Annex 57 showed various inconsistencies in current methodological approaches, which inhibit comparisons of results and difficult development of robust reduction strategies. Reinterpreting the studies through an understanding of the methodological differences enabled the cases to be used to demonstrate a number of important strategies for the reduction of embodied impacts. Annex 57 has also produced clear recommendations for uniform definitions and templates which improve the description of system boundaries, completeness of inventory and quality of data, and consequently the transparency of embodied impact assessments

(2R)-4-[(9H-Fluoren-9-ylmeth­oxy)carbon­yl]-2-methyl­piperazin-1-ium chloride

The synthesis of the title salt, C20H23N2O2 +·Cl−, was carried out with a precursor of known absolute configuration (R) and the X-ray analysis confirmed that the product retained the absolute configuration. In the crystal, the dominant packing motif is a chain running along [010] generated by N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonding. C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl inter­actions are also observed

Self versus Environment Motion in Postural Control

To stabilize our position in space we use visual information as well as non-visual physical motion cues. However, visual cues can be ambiguous: visually perceived motion may be caused by self-movement, movement of the environment, or both. The nervous system must combine the ambiguous visual cues with noisy physical motion cues to resolve this ambiguity and control our body posture. Here we have developed a Bayesian model that formalizes how the nervous system could solve this problem. In this model, the nervous system combines the sensory cues to estimate the movement of the body. We analytically demonstrate that, as long as visual stimulation is fast in comparison to the uncertainty in our perception of body movement, the optimal strategy is to weight visually perceived movement velocities proportional to a power law. We find that this model accounts for the nonlinear influence of experimentally induced visual motion on human postural behavior both in our data and in previously published results

Timing of detachment faulting in the Bullfrog Hills and Bare Mountain area, southwest Nevada: Inferences from 40Ar/39Ar, K-Ar, U-Pb and fission track thermochronology

Crustal extension in the Bullfrog Hills and Bare Mountain area of southwest Nevada is associated with movement along a regional detachment fault. Normal faulting in the upper plate and rapid cooling (denudation) of the lower plate were coeval with Miocene silicic volcanism and with west-northwest transport along the detachment fault. A west-northwest progression of tilting along upper plate normal faults is indicated by ages of the volcanic rocks in relation to angular unconformities. Near the breakaway, tilting in the upper plate occurred between 12.7 and 11.6 Ma, continued less strongly past 10.7 Ma, and was over by 8.2 Ma. Ten to 20 km west of the breakaway, tilting occurred between 10.7 and 10.33 Ma, continued less strongly after 10.33 Ma, and was over by 8.1 Ma. The cooling histories of the lower plate metamorphic rocks were determined by thermochronologic dating methods: K-Ar and Ar-40/(39)A on muscovite, biotite, and hornblende, Ar-40/(39)A on K-feldspar, U-Pb on apatite, zircon, and sphene, and fission track on apatite, zircon, and sphene. Lower plate rocks 10 km west of the breakaway cooled slowly from Early Cretaceous lower-amphibolite facies conditions through 350+/-50 degrees to 300+/-50 degrees C between 57 and 38 Ma, then cooled rapidly from 205+/-50 degrees to 120+/-5O degrees C between 12.6+/-1.6 and 11.1+/-1.9 Ma. Lower plate rocks 20 km west of the breakaway cooled slowly from Early Cretaceous upper-amphibolite facies conditions through 500+/-50 degrees C at 78-67 Ma, passed through 350+/-50 degrees to 300+/-50 degrees C between 16.3+/-0.4 and 10.5+/-0.3 Ma, then cooled rapidly from 285+/-50 degrees to 120+/-50 degrees C between 10.2 and 8.6 Ma. Upper plate tilting and rapid cooling (denudation) of the lower plate occurred simultaneously in the respective areas. The early slow-cooling part of the lower plate thermal histories was probably related to erosion at the Earth's surface, which stripped off about 9 km of material in 50 to 100 m.y. The results indicate an initial fault dip greater than or equal to 30 degrees and a 12 mm yr(-1) west-northwest migration of the locus of rapid tilting in the upper plate

The role of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses in silica-induced lung fibrosis

BACKGROUND: It has been generally well accepted that chronic inflammation is a necessary component of lung fibrosis but this concept has recently been challenged. METHODS: Using biochemical, histological, immunohistochemistry, and cellular analyses, we compared the lung responses (inflammation and fibrosis) to fibrogenic silica particles (2.5 and 25 mg/g lung) in Sprague-Dawley rats and NMRI mice. RESULTS: Rats treated with silica particles developed chronic and progressive inflammation accompanied by an overproduction of TNF-α as well as an intense lung fibrosis. Dexamethasone or pioglitazone limited the amplitude of the lung fibrotic reaction to silica in rats, supporting the paradigm that inflammation drives lung fibrosis. In striking contrast, in mice, silica induced only a limited and transient inflammation without TNF-α overproduction. However, mice developed lung fibrosis of a similar intensity than rats. The fibrotic response in mice was accompanied by a high expression of the anti-inflammatory and fibrotic cytokine IL-10 by silica-activated lung macrophages. In mice, IL-10 was induced only by fibrotic particles and significantly expressed in the lung of silica-sensitive but not silica-resistant strains of mice. Anti-inflammatory treatments did not control lung fibrosis in mice. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that, beside chronic lung inflammation, a pronounced anti-inflammatory reaction may also contribute to the extension of silica-induced lung fibrosis and represents an alternative pathway leading to lung fibrosis

Макрофагальная активность в коже больных псориазом при NB-UVB (311 нм) терапии

Досліджено 55 пацієнтів хворих на псоріаз. Пацієнти були розділені на 2 групи. Група 1 – 27 пацієнтів, які отримували тільки стандартне лікування і група 2 – 28 пацієнтів, які отримували стандартну і NB-UVB терапію. NB-UVB призначалась 3 рази в тиждень, при цьому використовували стартову дозу 0,1-0,3 J/cm2 , середня кумулятивна доза від 30 до 60 J/cm2 . Рівень макрофагальної активності в біоптатах шкіри досліджували за допомогою імуногістохімічного методу на 1 і 21 добу. NB-UVB терапія призовдить до зниження рівня експресії CD68 – маркера макрофагів, більшою часткою якої є функціонально-активні клітини, що свідчить про адекватність імуної відповіді і зниження запальної реакції.There were researched 55 psoriasis patients. Patients were divided in two groups. Group 1 – 27 patients who received only standard therapy and Group 2 – 28 patients who received standard and NB-UVB therapy. NB-UVB treatment was applied three times weekly. Starting UVB dose 0.1-0.3 J/cm2 , the mean cumulative UVB dose was 42.0 J/cm2 . The level of macrophage activity in skin biopsy was investigated by an immunohistochemical method on 1 and 21 days. NB-UVB therapy is linked to decline of level of CD68 expression with predominant of functionally active cells which testifies to adequacy of immune reactions and decline of inflammatory reaction