Multicast Network Design Game on a Ring

In this paper we study quality measures of different solution concepts for the multicast network design game on a ring topology. We recall from the literature a lower bound of 4/3 and prove a matching upper bound for the price of stability, which is the ratio of the social costs of a best Nash equilibrium and of a general optimum. Therefore, we answer an open question posed by Fanelli et al. in [12]. We prove an upper bound of 2 for the ratio of the costs of a potential optimizer and of an optimum, provide a construction of a lower bound, and give a computer-assisted argument that it reaches $2$ for any precision. We then turn our attention to players arriving one by one and playing myopically their best response. We provide matching lower and upper bounds of 2 for the myopic sequential price of anarchy (achieved for a worst-case order of the arrival of the players). We then initiate the study of myopic sequential price of stability and for the multicast game on the ring we construct a lower bound of 4/3, and provide an upper bound of 26/19. To the end, we conjecture and argue that the right answer is 4/3.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Biological engineering – an engineering discipline crucial to the future of our civilization

Biological engineering is a new engineering discipline that is paving the way for new products and processes based on findings from biology. These allow for environmentally friendly production, use and disposal while at the same time creating high added value. Like any engineering discipline, biological engineering requires a sound university education, which is already being provided at many North American universities. The aim of the article is to motivate policymakers to take note of this development and to establish comparable departments and degree programs in the EU

Marshall Stability of Porous Asphalt with Oyster Shell Ash Filler Substitution and High Density Polyethylene

Abstrak Aspal porus merupakan campuran beraspal yang memiliki rongga udara yang besar yang menyebabkan aspal porus memiliki nilai stabilitas yang rendah. Untuk meningkatkan nilai stabilitas diperlukan bahan tambah lain yang memiliki potensi seperti limbah Abu Cangkang Tiram (OSA) dan limbah High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). OSA mempunyai sifat kimia yang mengandung kapur dan silika yang berfungsi untuk keawetan dan mengunci antar agregat pada perkerasan jalan. Sedangkan HDPE memiliki kekuatan yang tinggi dan kaku serta perilaku untuk mengikat sehingga dapat memperkuat ikatan antara agregat dan OSA dan menambah perkuatan terhadap campuran aspal porus. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menentukan Kadar Aspal Optimum (OAC) pada campuran aspal porus, dan menganalisis variasi persentase terbaik OSA dan limbah HDPE sebagai substitusi aspal pen 60/70. Pengujian yang dilakukan adalah pemeriksaan terhadap parameter Marshall. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa variasi filler 50% OSA : 50% PC dengan 4%, 6% HDPE dapat meningkatkan nilai stabilitas Marshall pada campuran aspal porus serta memenuhi spesifikasi Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA). Kata kunci: aspal porus, marshall, abu cangkang tiram, HDPE   Abstract Porous Asphalt is the asphalt mix containing large air void resulting low stability of porous asphalt. The improvement of stability requires another potential additive material as Oyster Shell Ash (OSA) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) waste. OSA contains of chemical characteristics consisting of calcium and silica for durability and locking the aggregate and road pavement. While HDPE is rigid, high strength, and binder that it can strengthen the bond of aggregate and OSA as well as strengthen porous asphalt mix. The research aims to determine OAC to porous asphalt mix, and analyze the best percentage variation of OSA filler substitution and HDPE waste as asphalt pen 60/70 substitution. The test was carried out was Marshall Parameter investigation. The output explained that the variation of 50% OSA filler: 50% PC using 4%, 6% HDPE can improve the Marshall stability on porous asphalt mix and meet specification of Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA).   Keywords: Porous asphalt, marshall, oyster shell ash, HDP

Trade unions and precariat in Europe : representative claims

Trade unions have been charged with neglecting labour market ‘outsiders’, while alternative actors have emerged to represent these. In response, unions have stepped up their claim to be representative of all workers, without distinction. We review the theoretical and policy debates on this issue, and argue that representation as such has been under-theorized. We draw on Saward’s concept of ‘representative claims’ to analyse the different grounds for competing assertions of representativeness. We identify four main forms of claims, and illustrate these with empirical examples. We conclude that these different claims are mutually reinforcing in stimulating attention to the outsiders, and in their interaction with institutional settings, they have a performative effect in defining new social actors

A Naturalistic Assessment of the Organization of Children’s Memories Predicts Cognitive Functioning and Reading Ability

To explore the relationship between memory and early school performance, we used graph theory to investigate memory reports from 76 children aged 6–8 years. The reports comprised autobiographical memories of events days to years past, and memories of novel images reported immediately after encoding. We also measured intelligence quotient (IQ) and theory of mind (ToM). Reading and Mathematics were assessed before classes began (December 2013), around the time of report collection (June 2014), and at the end of the academic year (December 2014). IQ and ToM correlated positively with word diversity and word-to-word connectivity, and negatively with word recurrence. Connectivity correlated positively with Reading in June 2014 as well as December 2014, even after adjusting for IQ and ToM. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a link between the structure of children’s memories and their cognitive or academic performance.To explore the relationship between memory and early school performance, we used graph theory to investigate memory reports from 76 children aged 6–8 years. The reports comprised autobiographical memories of events days to years past, and memories of novel images reported immediately after encoding. We also measured intelligence quotient (IQ) and theory of mind (ToM). Reading and Mathematics were assessed before classes began (December 2013), around the time of report collection (June 2014), and at the end of the academic year (December 2014). IQ and ToM correlated positively with word diversity and word-to-word connectivity, and negatively with word recurrence. Connectivity correlated positively with Reading in June 2014 as well as December 2014, even after adjusting for IQ and ToM. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a link between the structure of children’s memories and their cognitive or academic performance

A Naturalistic Assessment of the Organization of Children’s Memories Predicts Cognitive Functioning and Reading Ability

To explore the relationship between memory and early school performance, we used graph theory to investigate memory reports from 76 children aged 6–8 years. The reports comprised autobiographical memories of events days to years past, and memories of novel images reported immediately after encoding. We also measured intelligence quotient (IQ) and theory of mind (ToM). Reading and Mathematics were assessed before classes began (December 2013), around the time of report collection (June 2014), and at the end of the academic year (December 2014). IQ and ToM correlated positively with word diversity and word-to-word connectivity, and negatively with word recurrence. Connectivity correlated positively with Reading in June 2014 as well as December 2014, even after adjusting for IQ and ToM. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a link between the structure of children’s memories and their cognitive or academic performance.To explore the relationship between memory and early school performance, we used graph theory to investigate memory reports from 76 children aged 6–8 years. The reports comprised autobiographical memories of events days to years past, and memories of novel images reported immediately after encoding. We also measured intelligence quotient (IQ) and theory of mind (ToM). Reading and Mathematics were assessed before classes began (December 2013), around the time of report collection (June 2014), and at the end of the academic year (December 2014). IQ and ToM correlated positively with word diversity and word-to-word connectivity, and negatively with word recurrence. Connectivity correlated positively with Reading in June 2014 as well as December 2014, even after adjusting for IQ and ToM. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a link between the structure of children’s memories and their cognitive or academic performance

Bioreducible Liposomes for Gene Delivery: From the Formulation to the Mechanism of Action

BACKGROUND: A promising strategy to create stimuli-responsive gene delivery systems is to exploit the redox gradient between the oxidizing extracellular milieu and the reducing cytoplasm in order to disassemble DNA/cationic lipid complexes (lipoplexes). On these premises, we previously described the synthesis of SS14 redox-sensitive gemini surfactant for gene delivery. Although others have attributed the beneficial effects of intracellular reducing environment to reduced glutathione (GSH), these observations cannot rule out the possible implication of the redox milieu in its whole on transfection efficiency of bioreducible transfectants leaving the determinants of DNA release largely undefined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: With the aim of addressing this issue, SS14 was here formulated into binary and ternary 100 nm-extruded liposomes and the effects of the helper lipid composition and of the SS14/helper lipids molar ratio on chemical-physical and structural parameters defining transfection effectiveness were investigated. Among all formulations tested, DOPC/DOPE/SS14 at 25:50:25 molar ratio was the most effective in transfection studies owing to the presence of dioleoyl chains and phosphatidylethanolamine head groups in co-lipids. The increase in SS14 content up to 50% along DOPC/DOPE/SS14 liposome series yielded enhanced transfection, up to 2.7-fold higher than that of the benchmark Lipofectamine 2000, without altering cytotoxicity of the corresponding lipoplexes at charge ratio 5. Secondly, we specifically investigated the redox-dependent mechanisms of gene delivery into cells through tailored protocols of transfection in GSH-depleted and repleted vs. increased oxidative stress conditions. Importantly, GSH specifically induced DNA release in batch and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The presence of helper lipids carrying unsaturated dioleoyl chains and phosphatidylethanolamine head groups significantly improved transfection efficiencies of DOPC/DOPE/SS14 lipoplexes. Most importantly, this study shows that intracellular GSH levels linearly correlated with transfection efficiency while oxidative stress levels did not, highlighting for the first time the pivotal role of GSH rather than oxidative stress in its whole in transfection of bioreducible vectors