Dynamic LIMIDS

Author(s):  
Francisco J. Díez ◽  
Marcel A. J. van Gerven

One of the objectives of artificial intelligence is to build decision-support models for systems that evolve over time and include several types of uncertainty. Dynamic limited-memory influence diagrams (DLIMIDs) are a new type of model proposed recently for this kind of problems. DLIMIDs are similar to other models in assuming a multi-stage process that satisfies the Markov property, i.e., that the future is independent of the past given the current state. The main difference with those models is the restriction of limited memory, which means that the decision maker must make a choice based only on recent observations, but this limitation can be circumvented by the use of memory variables. We present several algorithms for evaluating DLIMIDs, show a real-world model for a medical problem, and compare DLIMIDs with related formalisms, such as LIMIDs, dynamic influence diagrams, and POMDPs.

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Wańkowicz ◽  
Przemysław Nowacki

Glioblastoma multiforme is a particularly malignant form of primary brain tumor. This cancer represents 12–15% of all brain tumors. Despite advances in neurosurgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the average survival rate is only from 12.1 to 14.6 months. Glioblastoma multiforme is characterized by its diverse histological and cellular features. Like other malignant tumours, it is formed in a multi -stage process of somatic cell transformations, accumulating several genetic disorders. The last decade was a period of particular interest in stem cells. These cells have so far been identified in a variety of primary tumours in the brain. They are probably responsible for the recurrence and progression of cancer. Given the current state of knowledge, it is likely that modifications to the previously used morphological classification of tumours of the CNS will be made by the WHO, as well as the extension of its molecular criteria. In particular, such strategies are awaited for Glioblastoma multiforme – the most malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system, with so far very poor prognosis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn M. Werner ◽  
Brett Quaid Ford

Research on self-control has flourished within the last two decades, with researchers trying to answer one of the most fundamental questions regarding human behaviour – how do we successfully regulate desires in the pursuit of long-term goals? While recent research has focused on different strategies to enhance self-control success, we still know very little about how strategies are implemented or where the need for self-control comes from in the first place. Drawing from parallel fields (e.g., emotion regulation, health) and other theories of self-regulation, we propose a framework that describes self-control as a dynamic, multi-stage process that unfolds over time. In this review, we first provide an overview of this framework, which poses three stages of regulation: the identification of the need for self-control, the selection of strategies to regulate temptations, and the implementation of chosen strategies. These regulatory stages are then flexibly monitored over time. We then propose a series of questions to organize existing literature by highlighting what we already know, what we need to learn, and methodological recommendations for future research. Finally, we conclude by highlighting the need to bridge across disciplines, thereby improving our understanding of how self-control unfolds in everyday life and across different domains.


Author(s):  
G.D. Danilatos

Over recent years a new type of electron microscope - the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) - has been developed for the examination of specimen surfaces in the presence of gases. A detailed series of reports on the system has appeared elsewhere. A review summary of the current state and potential of the system is presented here.The gas composition, temperature and pressure can be varied in the specimen chamber of the ESEM. With air, the pressure can be up to one atmosphere (about 1000 mbar). Environments with fully saturated water vapor only at room temperature (20-30 mbar) can be easily maintained whilst liquid water or other solutions, together with uncoated specimens, can be imaged routinely during various applications.


2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 716-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese F. Triumph ◽  
Penny M. Beile

The primary objective of the study was to describe the number, types and titles, requested qualifications and skills, salary information, and locations of positions advertised in 2011 on the ALA JobLIST and ARL Job Announcements websites and in the print version of the Chronicle of Higher Education for purposes of determining the current state of the academic library job market in the United States. To investigate changes in the academic library job market and identify emerging trends over a 23-year period, results also were compared to studies that analyzed position announcements from 1996 and 1988. Content analysis of 957 unique academic library job advertisements revealed relative stasis in the market regarding the number of positions advertised, presence of administrative duties, geographic distribution of positions, and, to some extent, educational requirements. However, other comparisons were more dynamic. Specifically, there has been a decline in foreign language skills and prior work experience requirements over time while computer skills are increasingly sought. Perhaps most striking is the proliferation of new position titles that have emerged over time, which serves as an indication that library positions are becoming increasingly specialized.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail S. L. Lewis ◽  
Whitney M. Woelmer ◽  
Heather L. Wander ◽  
Dexter W. Howard ◽  
John W. Smith ◽  
...  

Near-term iterative forecasting is a powerful tool for ecological decision support and has the potential to transform our understanding of ecological predictability. However, to this point, there has been no cross-ecosystem analysis of near-term ecological forecasts, making it difficult to synthesize diverse research efforts and prioritize future developments for this emerging field. In this study, we analyzed 178 near-term ecological forecasting papers to understand the development and current state of near-term ecological forecasting literature and compare forecast skill across ecosystems and variables. Our results indicate that near-term ecological forecasting is widespread and growing: forecasts have been produced for sites on all seven continents and the rate of forecast publication is increasing over time. As forecast production has accelerated, a number of best practices have been proposed and application of these best practices is increasing. In particular, data publication, forecast archiving, and workflow automation have all increased significantly over time. However, adoption of proposed best practices remains low overall: for example, despite the fact that uncertainty is often cited as an essential component of an ecological forecast, only 45% of papers included uncertainty in their forecast outputs. As the use of these proposed best practices increases, near-term ecological forecasting has the potential to make significant contributions to our understanding of predictability across scales and variables. In this study, we found that forecast skill decreased in predictable patterns over 1–7 day forecast horizons. Variables that were closely related (i.e., chlorophyll and phytoplankton) displayed very similar trends in predictability, while more distantly related variables (i.e., pollen and evapotranspiration) exhibited significantly different patterns. Increasing use of proposed best practices in ecological forecasting will allow us to examine the forecastability of additional variables and timescales in the future, providing a robust analysis of the fundamental predictability of ecological variables.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Tait ◽  
◽  
Pia Ruisi-Besares ◽  
Matthias Sirch ◽  
Alyx Belisle ◽  
...  

Shifts in disturbance patterns across the Northeast are of increasing concern as the climate continues to change. In particular, changes in patterns of frequency, severity and extent of disturbance event may have detrimental cascading impacts on forest ecosystems and human communities. To explore how changing disturbance regimes might impact future forest health and management it is necessary to understand the historical trends and impacts of disturbance in the region. Although individual types of disturbance have already been analyzed, there is a need for a consolidated overview of the current state of disturbance in northeastern forests. To address this need, the Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative (FEMC) developed the FEMC: Tracking Shifts in Disturbance Regimes web portal for users to explore changes over time of key disturbance drivers, identify important disturbance responses, and discover where monitoring is happening for both drivers and responses. In collaboration with our advisory committee, we identified key disturbance drivers—flood, high winds, fire, drought, pests—and responses—macroinvertebrates, cold-water fisheries, invasive plants—that are of particular concern in the region. For each of the drivers we identified a suitable regional dataset and analyzed changes over time in frequency, severity, and extent. We also created a structured framework to catalogue programs across the region that are monitoring for these disturbance drivers and responses. Version 1.0 of the FEMC: Tracking Shifts in Disturbance Regimes (https://uvm.edu/femc/disturbance) web portal, first released in October 2021, contains 272 data programs, 11 drivers and three responses. Through the web portal users can browse programs by state, driver type or response type, and explore where monitoring is happening across the region. Driver-specific analyses allow users to quickly see the trends in severity, frequency and extent of selected disturbances and compare the impacts in selected states to regional data. We hope that this collection of programs and the analysis of trends provide researchers and land managers with an easy way to understand the current state of disturbance in northeastern forests that enables them to analyze and plan for future impacts.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 632-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Irving ◽  
Mark G. Rae ◽  
Angela A. Coutts

Cannabis has a long history of consumption both for recreational and medicinal uses. Recently there have been significant advances in our understanding of how cannabis and related compounds (cannabinoids) affect the brain and this review addresses the current state of knowledge of these effects. Cannabinoids act primarily via two types of receptor, CB1and CB2, with CB1receptors mediating most of the central actions of cannabinoids. The presence of a new type of brain cannabinoid receptor is also indicated. Important advances have been made in our understanding of cannabinoid receptor signaling pathways, their modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity, the cellular targets of cannabinoids in different central nervous system (CNS) regions and, in particular, the role of the endogenous brain cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) system. Cannabinoids have widespread actions in the brain: in the hippocampus they influence learning and memory; in the basal ganglia they modulate locomotor activity and reward pathways; in the hypothalamus they have a role in the control of appetite. Cannabinoids may also be protective against neurodegeneration and brain damage and exhibit anticonvulsant activity. Some of the analgesic effects of cannabinoids also appear to involve sites within the brain. These advances in our understanding of the actions of cannabinoids and the brain endocannabinoid system have led to important new insights into neuronal function which are likely to result in the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of a number of key CNS disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 3554
Author(s):  
Dionysios J. Papachristou ◽  
Stavros Georgopoulos ◽  
Peter V. Giannoudis ◽  
Elias Panagiotopoulos

Fracture-healing is a complex multi-stage process that usually progresses flawlessly, resulting in restoration of bone architecture and function. Regrettably, however, a considerable number of fractures fail to heal, resulting in delayed unions or non-unions. This may significantly impact several aspects of a patient’s life. Not surprisingly, in the past few years, a substantial amount of research and number of clinical studies have been designed, aiming at shedding light into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate fracture-healing. Herein, we present the current knowledge on the pathobiology of the fracture-healing process. In addition, the role of skeletal cells and the impact of marrow adipose tissue on bone repair is discussed. Unveiling the pathogenetic mechanisms that govern the fracture-healing process may lead to the development of novel, smarter, and more effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of fractures, especially of those with large bone defects.


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