A Cox model for gradually disappearing events

Innovations in medicine provide us longer and healthier life, leading lower mortality. Sooner rather than later, much greater longevity would be possible for us due to artificial intelligence advances in health care. Similarly, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in highly automated vehicles may reduce or even eventually eliminate accidents by perceiving dangerous situations, which would minimize the number of accidents and lead to fewer loss claims for insurance companies. To model the survivor function capturing greater longevity as well as the number of claims reflecting less accidents in the long run, in this paper, we study a Cox process whose intensity process is piecewise-constant and decreasing. We derive its ultimate distributional properties, such as the Laplace transform of intensity integral process, the probability generating function of point process, their associated moments and cumulants, and the probability of no more claims for a given time point. In general, this simple model may be applicable in many other areas for modeling the evolution of gradually disappearing events, such as corporate defaults, dividend payments, trade arrivals, employment of a certain job type (e.g., typists) in the labor market, and release of particles. In particular, we discuss some potential applications to insurance.

Ionospheric Plasma Flows Associated with the Formation of the Distorted Nightside End of A Transpolar Arc

We investigate ionospheric flow patterns from 28th January 2002 associated with the development of the nightside distorted end of a “J”-shaped Transpolar Arc (nightside distorted TPA). Based on the nightside ionospheric flows near to the TPA, detected by the SuperDARN radars, we discuss how the distortion of the nightside end toward the pre-midnight sector is produced. The “J”-shaped TPA was seen under southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) conditions, in the presence of a dominant dawnward IMF-By component. At the onset time of the nightside distorted TPA, particular equatorward plasma flows at the TPA growth point were observed in the post-midnight sector, flowing out of the polar cap and then turning toward the pre-midnight sector of the main auroral oval along the distorted nightside part of the TPA. We suggest that these plasma flows play a key role in causing the nightside distortion of the TPA. SuperDARN also found ionospheric flows typically associated with “Tail Reconnection during IMF Northward Non-substorm Intervals” (TRINNIs) on the nightside main auroral oval before and during the TPA interval, indicating that nightside magnetic reconnection is an integral process to the formation of the nightside distorted TPA. During the TPA growth, SuperDARN also detected anti-sunward flows across the open-closed field line boundary on the dayside that indicate the occurrence of low-latitude dayside reconnection and ongoing Dungey cycle driving. This suggests that nightside distorted TPA can grow even in Dungey-cycle-driven plasma flow patterns.

The effect of the concept of individual agency on the estimation of health among different agecohorts

The understanding of determinants of health in health policy and health promotion has shifted from a traditional focus on lifestyle (nutrition, exercises, addiction), toward a richer multidimensional approach. This shift has been strongly influenced by a body of research in the human capabilities’ approach, which emphasizes the role of person’s agency, freedom, and opportunities. Using survey data on 18–52 years old Lithuanian representatives, this paper explores the relationship between personal agency and subjective health perception as well as how it varies depending on the age and post-materialistic values. Human agency refers to the capability of an individual to control personal destiny and make choices to fulfill goals set autonomously (A. Giddens). The results show that agency is important factor of subjective health perception in Lithuania. The fact that capabilities that measure agency are aligned with subjective health measures support the view of human development as an integral process.

HF/E Practitioners: Shared Experiences from Industry

There are many challenges that researchers face when adapting from academic backgrounds to industry. How do we train newcomers to this field to focus on goals in context of their business’s needs? How do we ensure impact early in their career? How do we learn to look beyond the process, methods, mindset, and story-telling, to delivering on corporations’ anticipated needs? What are the challenges when mandating practitioners’ research to translate to actionable items? How do practitioners drive impact that brings the desired value to their corporations? How does one encourage user experience (UX) as an integral process within corporations’ development plans? This panel of practitioners will share the trials and tribulations they have encountered while successfully navigating their respective Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) careers. This panel represents peers with diverse experiences from careers in technology, product design, human-computer interfaces (HCI), medical devices, usability testing, and human factors research.

Oiling the gears of memory: quercetin exposure during memory formation, consolidation, and recall enhances memory in Lymnaea stagnalis

Memory formation (short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term) is an integral process of cognition which allows individuals to retain important information and is influenced by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. A major extrinsic factor influencing cognition across taxa is diet, which may contain rich sources of molecular agents with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and memory enhancing properties that potentially enhance cognitive ability. A common and abundant flavonoid present in numerous food substances is quercetin (Q) which is also known to upregulate cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) in several animals including our model system Lymnaea stagnalis. Since CREB is known to be involved in long term memory (LTM) formation, we investigated the role of Q-exposure on memory formation, consolidation, and recall during operant conditioning of aerial respiratory behaviour in Lymnaea. Snails were exposed to Q 3h before or after training to ascertain its effects on LTM. Additionally, we investigated the effect of the combined presentation of a single reinforcing stimulus (at 24h post-training or 24h before training) and Q-exposure on both LTM formation and reconsolidation. Our data indicate that Q-exposure acts on the different phases of memory formation, consolidation, and recall leading to enhanced LTM formation.

On-Chip Fabrication and In-Flow 3D-Printing of Cell-Laden Microgel Constructs: From Chip to Scaffold Materials in One Integral Process

Bioprinting has evolved into a thriving technology for the fabrication of cell-laden scaffolds. Bioinks are the most critical component for bioprinting. Recently, microgels have been introduced as a very promising bioink enabling cell protection and the control of the cellular microenvironment. However, their microfluidic fabrication inherently seemed to be a limitation. Here we introduce a direct coupling of microfluidics and 3D-printing for the microfluidic production of cell-laden microgels with direct in-flow bioprinting into stable scaffolds. The methodology enables the continuous on-chip encapsulation of cells into monodisperse microdroplets with subsequent in-flow cross-linking to produce cell-laden microgels, which after exiting a microtubing are automatically jammed into thin continuous microgel filaments. The integration into a 3D printhead allows direct in-flow printing of the filaments into free-standing three-dimensional scaffolds. The method is demonstrated for different cross-linking methods and cell lines. With this advancement, microfluidics is no longer a bottleneck for biofabrication. <br>

On-Chip Fabrication and In-Flow 3D-Printing of Cell-Laden Microgel Constructs: From Chip to Scaffold Materials in One Integral Process

Bioprinting has evolved into a thriving technology for the fabrication of cell-laden scaffolds. Bioinks are the most critical component for bioprinting. Recently, microgels have been introduced as a very promising bioink enabling cell protection and the control of the cellular microenvironment. However, their microfluidic fabrication inherently seemed to be a limitation. Here we introduce a direct coupling of microfluidics and 3D-printing for the microfluidic production of cell-laden microgels with direct in-flow bioprinting into stable scaffolds. The methodology enables the continuous on-chip encapsulation of cells into monodisperse microdroplets with subsequent in-flow cross-linking to produce cell-laden microgels, which after exiting a microtubing are automatically jammed into thin continuous microgel filaments. The integration into a 3D printhead allows direct in-flow printing of the filaments into free-standing three-dimensional scaffolds. The method is demonstrated for different cross-linking methods and cell lines. With this advancement, microfluidics is no longer a bottleneck for biofabrication. <br>

A Review on Machine Learning for Earth Observation Satellite Mission Planning

: Mission planning is an integral process that enables earth observation missions and defines their success rate. This paper identifies key problems and opportunities on machine learning for earth observation satellite mission planning. Firstly, the description elements, classification methods, solution process and solution difficulties of the mission planning problem of earth observation satellite are described. Secondly, the current research status of machine learning for the earth observation satellite mission planning is summarized and analyzed. Finally, the problems of current research are analyzed, and the prospect of new field research is given in light of the development needs.

Computer literacy as a condition for the formation of future specialists in education

At present information technologies are rapidly developing all over the world, so a man of today should be engaged in self-education and self-improvement. Due to the rapid society informatization and learning conditions during a pandemic, there is an increasing need to improve the computer literacy of current and future teachers, as a computer is the main device in the work of a teacher and in teaching a student in the modern world. In this regard, the formation of computer literacy among students of pedagogical universities and teachers in the current learning environment is an urgent problem in modern society. In accordance with the problem, the main goal of the article is to analyze the works of both domestic and foreign scientists, devoted to the problems of training future teachers in the context of society informatization and the pandemic. For a more detailed analysis and study of the problem of computer literacy formation, the article uses a theoretical research method, which is implemented in considering the fundamental definitions of computer literacy, in highlighting the main levels of computer literacy. The result of the analysis is a listing and description of the basic skills that a pedagogical university student and an employee in the field of education must possess to work with computer information, as well as the use of computer programs in the professional activity of a teacher in the pandemic. Thus, increasing computer literacy is an integral process in the information society, especially during the period of active use of distance learning technologies.