Manual Therapy as a Management of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review

Background. Cervical radiculopathy is defined as a disorder involving dysfunction of the cervical nerve roots characterised by pain radiating and/or loss of motor and sensory function towards the root affected. There is no consensus on a good definition of the term. In addition, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of manual therapy in radiculopathy is contradictory. Objective. To assess the effectiveness of manual therapy in improving pain, functional capacity, and range of motion in treating cervical radiculopathy with and without confirmation of altered nerve conduction. Methods. Systematic review of randomised clinical trials on cervical radiculopathy and manual therapy, in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, and Cochrane Library Plus databases. The PRISMA checklist was followed. Methodological quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale and RoB 2.0. tool. Results. 17 clinical trials published in the past 10 years were selected. Manual therapy was effective in the treatment of symptoms related to cervical radiculopathy in all studies, regardless of the type of technique and dose applied. Conclusions. This systematic review did not establish which manual therapy techniques are the most effective for cervical radiculopathy with electrophysiological confirmation of altered nerve conduction. Without this confirmation, the application of manual therapy, regardless of the protocol applied and the manual therapy technique selected, appears to be effective in reducing chronic cervical pain and decreasing the index of cervical disability in cervical radiculopathy in the short term. However, it would be necessary to agree on a definition and diagnostic criteria of radiculopathy, as well as the definition and standardisation of manual techniques, to analyse the effectiveness of manual therapy in cervical radiculopathy in depth.

Advances in 3D Sensor Technology by Using Stepper Lithography

3D pixel sensors aimed at the upgrades of the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the High Luminosity LHC have small pixel size and pretty dense layouts. In addition, modified 3D designs with small pixel size and trenched electrodes in place of columnar electrodes are being developed to optimize the pixel timing performance in view of the LHCb upgrade. The fabrication of these advanced 3D pixels is challenging from the lithographical point of view. This motivated the use of stepper lithography at Fondazione Bruno Kessler in place of a standard mask aligner. The small minimum feature size and high alignment accuracy of stepper allow a good definition of the sensor geometries also in the most critical layouts, so that a higher fabrication yield can be obtained. In this paper, we will present the main design and technological issues and discuss their impact on the electrical characteristics of 3D pixel sensors of different geometries.

Lying, speech acts, and commitment

Not every speech act can be a lie. A good definition of lying should be able to draw the right distinctions between speech acts (like promises, assertions, and oaths) that can be lies and speech acts (like commands, suggestions, or assumptions) that under no circumstances are lies. This paper shows that no extant account of lying is able to draw the required distinctions. It argues that a definition of lying based on the notion of ‘assertoric commitment’ can succeed where other accounts have failed. Assertoric commitment is analysed in terms of two normative components: ‘accountability’ and ‘discursive responsibility’. The resulting definition of lying draws all the desired distinctions, providing an intensionally adequate analysis of the concept of lying.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HABITS REGARDING WATCHING VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION THROUGH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN AT MARDIYUANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOGOR

Watching television is activities taking the time and attention to watching one of or some the event which presented in television so that the viewer can understand and enjoy it. A duration required to the viewer so that can regarded as “viewer” basically classified into two type, that is: addict class/heavy viewers is they who watching television more than 4 hours in every day and light viewers is they who watching television less than 4 hours in every day. Aggressive behavior is every act what is the meant for the hurt or the harm to the other people. Causative factor the children aggressively behavior is biological factor, family factor, school factor and cultural factor. The objective of this research is to knowing the corelation of the habit watching violence impressions in television with aggressive behavior in school children at SDN Mardiyuana Bogor on year 2017. The study design used in this study is quantitative with correlative analysis method with approach cross sectional. How to sample this research with total sampling technique with the number of 48 respondents class 1 elementary school. Data collection was obtained through an questionnaire. Data analysis used is univariate and bivariate (Chi Square). From 48 respondents, there were 26 (54,15%) respondents with the habit watching television as heavy audience and 33 (68,75 %) respondents with aggressive active behavior, where p value=0,314. This means Ho accepted and Ha rejected, meaning there was no a significant between variable The Correlation of the habit watching violence impressions in television with aggressive behavior in school children. Expected this research can made as guide to can give a knowledge about aggressive behavior in school children so that can give a good definition for her parents.

Canonical Description of Group Theory: A Linear Order on All Finite Groups

We provide a construction of natural numbers that is unique with respect to other constructions, and use this construction in the domain of algebra and finite functions to find several results in finite group theory. First, we give a linear order to the set of all finite functions. This gives a linear order in the subset of all finite permutations. To do this, we assign a unique natural number, $N_f$, to every finite function $f$. The sub order on permutations is well defined with respect to cardinality; if $\eta_m,\eta_n$ are permutations on $m<n$ objects, then $N_{\eta_m}<N_{\eta_n}$. This representation also has the characteristic $N_{\textbf{1}_n}<N_{\eta}<N_{\textbf{id}_n}$ where $\textbf{1}_n$ is the one-cycle permutation of $n$ objects, $\textbf{id}_n$ is the identity permutation of $n$ objects, and $\eta$ is any permutation of $n$ objects. This representation provides a good definition of equivalent functions, and equivalent objects on functions. We are able to do this for both concrete functions, and abstract functions. We use this in the main section, on group theory, to number the set of all finite groups. We are able to well represent every finite group as a natural number; two groups are represented by the same natural number if and only if they are in the same isomorphism class. In fact, we are able to give a linear order to the set of finite groups. Specifically, we give a canonical bijective function $\textbf{G}_{Fin}\rightarrow\mathbb N$. This representation, $N_G$, of $G$, is also well behaved with respect to cardinality. Additionally, the cyclic group $\mathbb Z_n$ has smaller representation than any group of $n$ objects, and the group with largest representation is the abelian group $\mathbb Z_{p_1}^{n_1}\oplus\mathbb Z_{p_2}^{n_2}\oplus\cdots\oplus\mathbb Z_{p_k}^{n_k}$, where $n=p_1^{n_1}p_2^{n_2}\cdots p_{k}^{n_k}$ is the prime factorization of $n$. This representation of a finite group as a natural number also provides a linear order to the elements of the group, arranging its Cayley table in a canonical block form. The last section is an introductory description of real numbers as infinite sets of natural numbers. Real functions are represented as sets of real numbers, and sequences of real functions $f_1,f_2,\ldots$ are well represented by sets of real numbers, as well. In the last section we well assign mathematical objects to tree structures and conclude with some brief comments on type theory and future work. In general we are able to represent and manipulate mathematical objects with the smallest possible type, and minimum complexity.

Canonical Description of Group Theory: A Linear Order on All Finite Groups

We provide a construction of natural numbers that is unique with respect to other constructions, and use this construction in the domain of algebra and finite functions to find several results in finite group theory. First, we give a linear order to the set of all finite functions. This gives a linear order in the subset of all finite permutations. To do this, we assign a unique natural number, $N_f$, to every finite function $f$. The sub order on permutations is well defined with respect to cardinality; if $\eta_m,\eta_n$ are permutations on $m<n$ objects, then $N_{\eta_m}<N_{\eta_n}$. This representation also has the characteristic $N_{\textbf{1}_n}<N_{\eta}<N_{\textbf{id}_n}$ where $\textbf{1}_n$ is the one-cycle permutation of $n$ objects, $\textbf{id}_n$ is the identity permutation of $n$ objects, and $\eta$ is any permutation of $n$ objects. This representation provides a good definition of equivalent functions, and equivalent objects on functions. We are able to do this for both concrete functions, and abstract functions. We use this in the main section, on group theory, to number the set of all finite groups. We are able to well represent every finite group as a natural number; two groups are represented by the same natural number if and only if they are in the same isomorphism class. In fact, we are able to give a linear order to the set of finite groups. Specifically, we give a canonical bijective function $\textbf{G}_{Fin}\rightarrow\mathbb N$. This representation, $N_G$, of $G$, is also well behaved with respect to cardinality. Additionally, the cyclic group $\mathbb Z_n$ has smaller representation than any group of $n$ objects, and the group with largest representation is the abelian group $\mathbb Z_{p_1}^{n_1}\oplus\mathbb Z_{p_2}^{n_2}\oplus\cdots\oplus\mathbb Z_{p_k}^{n_k}$, where $n=p_1^{n_1}p_2^{n_2}\cdots p_{k}^{n_k}$ is the prime factorization of $n$. This representation of a finite group as a natural number also provides a linear order to the elements of the group, arranging its Cayley table in a canonical block form. The last section is an introductory description of real numbers as infinite sets of natural numbers. Real functions are represented as sets of real numbers, and sequences of real functions $f_1,f_2,\ldots$ are well represented by sets of real numbers, as well. In the last section we well assign mathematical objects to tree structures and conclude with some brief comments on type theory and future work. In general we are able to represent and manipulate mathematical objects with the smallest possible type, and minimum complexity.

Convolutional neural network MRI segmentation for fast and robust optimization of transcranial electrical current stimulation of the human brain

The segmentation of structural MRI data is an essential step for deriving geometrical information about brain tissues. One important application is in transcranial electrical stimulation (e.g., tDCS), a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique where head modeling is required to determine the electric field (E-field) generated in the cortex to predict and optimize its effects. Here we propose a deep learning-based model (StarNEt) to automatize white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) segmentation and compare its performance with FreeSurfer, an established tool. Since good definition of sulci and gyri in the cortical surface is an important requirement for E-field calculation, StarNEt is specifically designed to output masks at a higher resolution than that of the original input T1w-MRI. StarNEt uses a residual network as the encoder (ResNet) and a fully convolutional neural network with U-net skip connections as the decoder to segment an MRI slice by slice. Slice vertical location is provided as an extra input. The model was trained on scans from 425 patients in the open-access ADNI+IXI datasets, and using FreeSurfer segmentation as ground truth. Model performance was evaluated using the Dice Coefficient (DC) in a separate subset (N=105) of ADNI+IXI and in two extra testing sets not involved in training. In addition, FreeSurfer and StarNEt were compared to manual segmentations of the MRBrainS18 dataset, also unseen by the model. To study performance in real use cases, first, we created electrical head models derived from the FreeSurfer and StarNEt segmentations and used them for montage optimization with a common target region using a standard algorithm (Stimweaver) and second, we used StarNEt to successfully segment the brains of minimally conscious state (MCS) patients having suffered from brain trauma, a scenario where FreeSurfer typically fails. Our results indicate that StarNEt matches FreeSurfer performance on the trained tasks while reducing computation time from several hours to a few seconds, and with the potential to evolve into an effective technique even when patients present large brain abnormalities.

Strategy: restoring the lost meaning

Purpose The concept of strategy has lost its meaning. It is widely inflated and conflated with related notions and the consequences of that are unsettling for both practice and research. The purpose of this paper is to restore the lost meaning of strategy. Design/methodology/approach The paper exposes the inadequacy of the current definitions of strategy. It, then, suggests a more robust one based on a list of necessary dimensions of a good definition derived from an extensive review of the literature and ends with triggers for further reflection. Findings The multidimensionality of the proposed definition better reflects the complex nature of the strategy concept and restores its lost meaning. This makes it more robust than previous definitions in protecting the integrity of the concept of strategy from the creeping of insignificant concerns and “surplus” meaning. Research limitations/implications The new definition offers a new angle from which to reexamine the relationships between a number of usually paired concepts such as intention and action, planning and emergence, control and learning and formulation and execution. Practical implications The newly proposed definition has the potential to trigger creativity and to limit the practice of bad strategy. Originality/value The proposed definition raises the standard of what strategy is, avoids the sources of confusion, and reduces the chances of ascribing surplus meaning to the strategy concept.

Classification of phases for mixed states via fast dissipative evolution

We propose the following definition of topological quantum phases valid for mixed states: two states are in the same phase if there exists a time independent, fast and local Lindbladian evolution driving one state into the other. The underlying idea, motivated by \cite{Konig2014}, is that it takes time to create new topological correlations, even with the use of dissipation.We show that it is a good definition in the following sense: (1) It divides the set of states into equivalent classes and it establishes a partial order between those according to their level of ``topological complexity''. (2) It provides a path between any two states belonging to the same phase where observables behave smoothly.We then focus on pure states to relate the new definition in this particular case with the usual definition for quantum phases of closed systems in terms of the existence of a gapped path of Hamiltonians connecting both states in the corresponding ground state path. We show first that if two pure states are in the same phase in the Hamiltonian sense, they are also in the same phase in the Lindbladian sense considered here.We then turn to analyse the reverse implication, where we point out a very different behaviour in the case of symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases in 1D. Whereas at the Hamiltonian level, phases are known to be classified with the second cohomology group of the symmetry group, we show that symmetry cannot give any protection in 1D in the Lindbladian sense: there is only one SPT phase in 1D independently of the symmetry group.We finish analysing the case of 2D topological quantum systems. There we expect that different topological phases in the Hamiltonian sense remain different in the Lindbladian sense. We show this formally only for the Zn quantum double models D(Zn). Concretely, we prove that, if m is a divisor of n, there cannot exist any fast local Lindbladian connecting a ground state of D(Zm) with one of D(Zn), making rigorous the initial intuition that it takes long time to create those correlations present in the Zn case that do not exist in the Zm case and that, hence, the Zn phase is strictly more complex in the Lindbladian case than the Zm phase. We conjecture that such Lindbladian does exist in the opposite direction since Lindbladians can destroy correlations.

Ethical Deontology

Deontology is usually contrasted with consequentialism (and both with virtue ethics). Whereas consequentialists maintain that the right action is determined solely by its consequences, deontologists deny this and hold that the right action is not determined solely by its consequences. This characterization makes room for the important distinction between moderate deontology (or threshold deontology) and absolutism: Absolutists assert that there are exceptionless moral rules or intrinsically wrong actions that are absolutely wrong and may never be performed, whatever the consequences. Moderate deontologists reject exceptionless moral rules or absolutely wrong actions and regard all moral rules as prima facie rules. A further distinction is between agent-centered deontological theories, which focus upon agents’ duties, and patient-centered (or victim-centered) deontological theories, which focus upon people’s rights. Deontology is associated with the following features which play a more or less significant role in different deontological theories: agent-relativity, especially agent-relative constraints (restrictions), options (prerogatives) and special obligations; priority of the right over the good; definition of the right independently of the good; priority of honoring values over promoting values; intrinsically wrong actions; absolutely wrong actions and exceptionless moral rules; duty for duty’s sake; pluralism of moral rules; respect of persons; non-instrumentalization of persons; human dignity; inviolable rights. Deontologists also maintain the moral relevance of the following distinctions: positive versus negative duties, doing versus allowing (killing versus letting die; see the Oxford Bibliographies article in Philosophy “Doing and Allowing.”), and intention versus foresight and unintended side-effects. Famous deontological moral principles are Kant’s Categorical Imperative, the Pauline Principle (“Evil may not be done for the sake of good”), the principle of double effect (see the bibliography on Bibliographien zu Themen der Ethik) and the principle that the end does not always justify the means. Deontology can take many forms, the most important ones are Kant’s and Kantian ethics (see the Oxford Bibliographies article in Philosophy “Immanuel Kant: Ethics”); Ross’s and Rossian-style moral pluralism, natural law theory, and moral contractualism (see the Oxford Bibliographies article in Philosophy “Moral Contractualism”); libertarianism (in political philosophy); moral particularism (see the bibliography on Bibliographien zu Themen der Ethik); and principlism (in bioethics). Deontology is also often associated with ethical intuitionism (see the Oxford Bibliographies article in Philosophy “Ethical Intuitionism”) although not every deontological theory is grounded in moral intuitions.