Controllability of Social Networks and the Strategic Use of Random Information

This work is aimed at studying realistic social control strategies for social networks based on the introduction of random information into the state of selected driver agents. Deliberately exposing selected agents to random information is a technique already experimented in recommender systems or search engines, and represents one of the few options for influencing the behavior of a social context that could be accepted as ethical, could be fully disclosed to members, and does not involve the use of force or of deception. Our research is based on a model of knowledge diffusion applied to a time-varying adaptive network, and considers two well-known strategies for influencing social contexts. One is the selection of few influencers for manipulating their actions in order to drive the whole network to a certain behavior; the other, instead, drives the network behavior acting on the state of a large subset of ordinary, scarcely influencing users. The two approaches have been studied in terms of network and diffusion effects. The network effect is analyzed through the changes induced on network average degree and clustering coefficient, while the diffusion effect is based on two ad-hoc metrics defined to measure the degree of knowledge diffusion and skill level, as well as the polarization of agent interests. The results, obtained through simulations on synthetic networks, show a rich dynamics and strong effects on the communication structure and on the distribution of knowledge and skills, supporting our hypothesis that the strategic use of random information could represent a realistic approach to social network controllability, and that with both strategies, in principle, the control effect could be remarkable

Predictive value of bipolar-spectrum clinical features in a large cohort of fluoxetine treated patients with major depressive disorder

Objective: The presence of unrecognized bipolar disorder or “bipolar spectrum” features has been suggested to contribute to poor treatment response in major depressive disorder. We aimed to investigate the association between putative bipolar spectrum features and clinical outcomes in a cohort of fluoxetine-treated patients with MDD. Method: N= 602 outpatients aged 18-65 years with major depressive disorder recruited at 2 academic medical centers first entered a 12-week phase of open-label treatment with fluoxetine titrated up to 60mg/day. Patients who met the response criteria by week 12 entered the second phase of the study during which they were double-blindly randomized either to continue the same fluoxetine doses to which they had responded or to take placebo, for 52 weeks or until the occurrence of a relapse. The following clinical features suggestive of bipolar illness were selected for analysis: a history of early onset and recurrent depression, baseline atypical depressive features, irritability, psychoticism, suicidality, interpersonal sensitivity, comorbid anxiety disorders, and substance abuse/dependence. These measures were condensed into a summary score of bipolarity ranging from 0 to 10 points. We considered as primary outcomes time to response, remission, and discontinuation during acute treatment and time to relapse in the second phase of the study, utilizing survival analyses. Results: Higher scores on the summary measure of bipolarity were not associated with differential acute treatment outcomes. They were significantly associated with a shorter time to relapse (p = 0.016). The median time until first recurrence was 52.0 weeks in the group with lower scores vs. 12.0 wk in the group with higher scores. Conclusion: Bipolar spectrum features may be associated with shorter time to recurrence in MDD patients after recovery, suggesting some predictive validity for this measure

Uno strumento per la verifica delle subroutine nel bytecode Java per sistemi con risorse limitate

Java è un linguaggio di programmazione interpretato: i sorgenti vengono compilati in file binari che contengono istruzioni codificate in un formato binario indipendente, il bytecode, ed interpretate dalla Java Virtual Machine. La verifica del bytecode Java consiste nell'analizzare la correttezza del codice, questa analisi su sistemi embedded richiede l'utilizzo ottimizzato delle risorse del sistema. In questa tesi è stato affrontato il problema della verifica delle subroutine per lo sviluppo di un verificatore di bytecode ottimizzato. In particolare è stato progettato e sviluppato un componente che effettua una verifica polivariante delle subroutine e minimizza l'occupazione di memoria durante la verifica. Nella tesi vengono riportati i risultati sperimentali ottenuti

Fatigue assessment and deterioration effects on masonry elements: A review of numerical models and their application to a case study

Safety assessment with respect to seismic and vertical loads of existing and very old masonry structures is currently a central topic for the scientific engineering community. In particular, there are many ancient bridges still in service that are subjected to higher and more frequent cyclic loads. For these structures, it is important to determine the actual fatigue strength, rather than the ultimate carrying capacity. In this way the remaining service life, with possible traffic load limitations, may be estimated. This paper reports an updated review of the state-of-the art on recently published fatigue models that account for deterioration effects under cyclic loads. In addition, results related to fatigue performance of a bridge are shown and comments are provided. The numerical comparisons among existing fatigue models reveal that the application of the available fatigue models is particularly problematic for ancient masonry elements, where appropriate stress-life curves are required

Fatigue behaviour and residual service life of existing masonry arch bridges

The conservation and safety assessment of old masonry arch bridges represent nowadays a research field of considerable interest. Most of them are testimonies of the past with a significant historical and cultural value, and represent nowadays a large part of the transport infrastructures serving strategic link for roads and railways networks. In many cases their masonry primary elements are already deteriorated due to weather conditions and to the effects of cyclic traffic loads that are increased in both the frequency and the intensity with respect to the past. Even if the ultimate load is not reached, the cumulated damage along with the localised deterioration can reach levels not acceptable leading the entire structure out of service. This paper is addressed to the fatigue assessment of old masonry arch bridges with particular attention to the residual service life evaluation of the arch elements. Unlike of metals and metallic structures, little informations are available to date on the fatigue behaviour of masonry elements, also confirmed by the fact that there are no specific guidelines for assessing the fatigue limit and the residual life. The paper at first shows a critical review of the damage models for the fatigue performance assessment of masonry arch bridges. Then, an application to a case study is presented, where also the influence of intradosal C-FRP reinforcement on the residual service life and the ultimate capacity is discussed

Evaluation of milk production and some blood parameters in lactating autochthonous goat extensively reared in Molise region

The trial, lasted 7 months and was performed on 60 lactating autochthonous goat populations (Montefalcone and Valfortorina) extensively reared in Molise Region. Goat milk yield and composition, and pasture chemical and floristic composition were recorded monthly. At the beginning (30d), at half (105d) and at the end (210d) of trial body weight and body condition score (BCS) were recorded; besides jugular blood samples were taken at 30, 105 e 210 d to determined the following parameters: glucose, total protein, albumin, urea, triglycerides, total and HDL cholesterol, NEFA, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. The two populations showed a milk yield of 275 kg e 258 kg (Montefalcone e Valfortorina goat, respectively) throughout 180 days of lactation, which was similar or higher than mean milk yield of other goat breeds (Sarda, Ionica, Argentata dell'Etna). BCS increased significantly (P<0.01) during lactation in both populations. Blood parameters displayed significant changes (P<0.01) during the trial in Montefalcone goat for glucose, albumin, urea, triglycerides, total and HDL cholesterol, NEFA, sodium and potassium instead Valfortorina goat showed significant differences in total protein, urea, total and HDL cholesterol, NEFA, magnesium, sodium (P<0.01) and albumin and potassium (P<0.05). In both population, milk yield and quality showed promising results for autochthonous goats preservation

The effect of water-restriction on various physiological variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewes

The effects of water restriction on rectal temperature, respiratory rate and selected blood variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewes were evaluated. The tests were carried out over the course of 28 days in spring on 30 lactating sheep divided into three groups of 10 animals each, matched by lactation status and body weight and allocated into individual boxes. The animal groups were as follows: control group W100 with drinking water for the whole day (24 h/24 h), while the two experimental groups each received 80% (W80 group) and 60% (W60 group) of the water ration of the control group, respectively. The feed, in according with physiological and production needs of the animals, was administered in three daily meals (08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h). Water intake was recorded three times per day (at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h) and the daily feed intake at 08:00 h, while the rectal temperature, respiratory rate were measured and blood samplings were carried out on Day 0, Day 14 and Day 28. In water-restriction groups (W80 and W60) a lower (P &lt; 0.01) feed intake of meadow hay, and a lower ingestion of alfalfa hay pellet in the W60 group compared to W100 group were observed. In addition, the water restriction regimen resulted in a significant decrease of respiratory rate (P &lt; 0.05) and an increase in serum total protein, urea, creatinine, sodium, chlorine, reactive oxygen metabolites, cortisol, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (P &lt; 0.05), red blood cell counts, and haematocrit (P &lt; 0.01). These results show the important role of water, as limiting factor for animal breeding in low-water availability environments. Where possible, the management of low-dairy breeds should be well adapted to support the productive performance