Cyclicity in ℓp\ell^p spaces and zero sets of the Fourier transforms

We study the cyclicity of vectors $u$ in $\ell^p(\mathbb{Z})$. It is known that a vector $u$ is cyclic in $\ell^2(\mathbb{Z})$ if and only if the zero set, $\mathcal{Z}(\widehat{u})$, of its Fourier transform, $\widehat{u}$, has Lebesgue measure zero and $\log |\widehat{u}| \not \in L^1(\mathbb{T})$, where $\mathbb{T}$ is the unit circle. Here we show that, unlike $\ell^2(\mathbb{Z})$, there is no characterization of the cyclicity of $u$ in $\ell^p(\mathbb{Z})$, $1<p<2$, in terms of $\mathcal{Z}(\widehat{u})$ and the divergence of the integral $\int\_\mathbb{T} \log |\widehat{u}|$. Moreover we give both necessary conditions and sufficient conditions for $u$ to be cyclic in $\ell^p(\mathbb{Z})$, $1<p<2$.Comment: Australian Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, Austral Internet Publishing, A Para{\^i}tr

Enaction-Based Artificial Intelligence: Toward Coevolution with Humans in the Loop

This article deals with the links between the enaction paradigm and artificial intelligence. Enaction is considered a metaphor for artificial intelligence, as a number of the notions which it deals with are deemed incompatible with the phenomenal field of the virtual. After explaining this stance, we shall review previous works regarding this issue in terms of artifical life and robotics. We shall focus on the lack of recognition of co-evolution at the heart of these approaches. We propose to explicitly integrate the evolution of the environment into our approach in order to refine the ontogenesis of the artificial system, and to compare it with the enaction paradigm. The growing complexity of the ontogenetic mechanisms to be activated can therefore be compensated by an interactive guidance system emanating from the environment. This proposition does not however resolve that of the relevance of the meaning created by the machine (sense-making). Such reflections lead us to integrate human interaction into this environment in order to construct relevant meaning in terms of participative artificial intelligence. This raises a number of questions with regards to setting up an enactive interaction. The article concludes by exploring a number of issues, thereby enabling us to associate current approaches with the principles of morphogenesis, guidance, the phenomenology of interactions and the use of minimal enactive interfaces in setting up experiments which will deal with the problem of artificial intelligence in a variety of enaction-based ways

Quantifying the impact of different approaches for handling continuous predictors on the performance of a prognostic model

Continuous predictors are routinely encountered when developing a prognostic model. Investigators, who are often non-statisticians, must decide how to handle continuous predictors in their models. Categorising continuous measurements into two or more categories has been widely discredited, yet is still frequently done because of its simplicity, investigator ignorance of the potential impact and of suitable alternatives, or to facilitate model uptake. We examine three broad approaches for handling continuous predictors on the performance of a prognostic model, including various methods of categorising predictors, modelling a linear relationship between the predictor and outcome and modelling a nonlinear relationship using fractional polynomials or restricted cubic splines. We compare the performance (measured by the c-index, calibration and net benefit) of prognostic models built using each approach, evaluating them using separate data from that used to build them. We show that categorising continuous predictors produces models with poor predictive performance and poor clinical usefulness. Categorising continuous predictors is unnecessary, biologically implausible and inefficient and should not be used in prognostic model development

Crystal plasticity and phenomenological approaches for the simulation of deformation behavior in thin copper alloy sheets

In the expanding context of device miniaturization, forming processes of ultra thin sheet metals are gaining importance. Numerical simulation of these processes requires accurate material modeling. In this study, both the phenomenological modeling approach and the crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) are considered. Theoretical definitions of both models, numerical implementation as well as their parameter identification procedures are outlined. Subsequently they are compared on a one to one basis, mainly with regards to their ability to predict mechanical responses for a variety of strain loading paths.Agence Nationale de la Recherche, ANR-12-RMNP-0009-0

Polyphenol levels in human urine after intake of six different polyphenol-rich beverages

Dietary polyphenols are suggested to participate in the prevention of CVD and cancer. It is essential for epidemiological studies to be able to compare intake of the main dietary polyphenols in populations. The present paper describes a fast method suitable for the analysis of polyphenols in urine, selected as potential biomarkers of intake. This method is applied to the estimation of polyphenol recovery after ingestion of six different polyphenol-rich beverages. Fifteen polyphenols including mammalian lignans (enterodiol and enterolactone), several phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic, m-coumaric, gallic, and 4-Omethylgallic acids), phloretin and various flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, hesperetin, and naringenin) were simultaneously quantified in human urine by HPLC coupled with electrospray ionisation mass-MS (HPLC-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry) with a run time of 6 min per sample. The method has been validated with regard to linearity, precision, and accuracy in intra- and inter-day assays. It was applied to urine samples collected from nine volunteers in the 24 h following consumption of either green tea, a grape-skin extract, cocoa beverage, coffee, grapefruit juice or orange juice. Levels of urinary excretion suggest that chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, epicatechin, naringenin or hesperetin could be used as specific biomarkers to evaluate the consumption of coffee, wine, tea or cocoa, and citrus juices respectively

Material parameters identification: Gradient-based, genetic and hybrid optimization algorithms

This paper presents two procedures for the identification of material parameters, a genetic algorithm and a gradient-based algorithm. These algorithms enable both the yield criterion and the work hardening parameters to be identified. A hybrid algorithm is also used, which is a combination of the former two, in such a way that the result of the genetic algorithm is considered as the initial values for the gradient-based algorithm. The objective of this approach is to improve the performance of the gradient-based algorithm, which is strongly dependent on the initial set of results. The constitutive model used to compare the three different optimization schemes uses the Barlat'91 yield criterion, an isotropic Voce type law and a kinematic Lemaitre and Chaboche law, which is suitable for the case of aluminium alloys. In order to analyse the effectiveness of this optimization procedure, numerical and experimental results for an EN AW-5754 aluminium alloy are compared.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TWM-4SJGWMW-1/1/01e8be60ce61e8fc30473d85439fbe3

Rethinking paradigms for studying mechanisms of action of plant bioactives

Many foods in our diets such as berries, tea, chocolate and wine contain flavonoids, which are natural components of plants. A substantial body of evidence supports the role of flavonoids in providing protection against cardio-metabolic diseases and disorders. Despite the nearly exponential growth in flavonoid research in the past 20 years, limited progress has been made in understanding how these dietary components work. Research initially focused on their antioxidant activity without taking into account their metabolism, which now appears extensive. This has provided a new research impetus to understand the biological activity of the flavonoid metabolites. Here, we outline recent research, which suggests a highly complex interplay between metabolism, intestinal microflora, the immune system and various tissues of our body

Numerical analysis on the elastic deformation of the tools in sheet metal forming processes

The forming tools are commonly assumed as rigid in the finite element simulation of sheet metal forming processes. This assumption allows to simplify the numerical model and, subsequently, reduce the required computational cost. Nevertheless, the elastic deformation of the tools can influence considerably the material flow, specifically the distribution of the blank-holder pressure over the flange area. This study presents the finite element analysis of the reverse deep drawing of a cylindrical cup, where the forming tools are modelled either as rigid or as deformable bodies. Additionally, the numerical results are compared with the experimental ones, in order to assess the accuracy of the proposed finite element model. Considering the elastic deformation of the tools, the numerical results are in better agreement with the experimental measurements, namely the cup wall thickness distribution. On the other hand, the computational time of the simulation increases significantly in comparison with the classical approach (rigid tools).The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under projects with reference UID/EMS/00285/2013, P2020- PTDC/EMS-TEC/0702/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016779) and P2020-PTDC/EMS-TEC/6400/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016876) by UE/FEDER through the program COMPETE2020. The first author is also grateful to the FCT for the Postdoctoral grant SFRH/BPD/101334/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and their metabolites in humans

Background and Purpose: Anthocyanins are phytochemicals with reported vasoactive bioactivity. However, given their instability at neutral pH, they are presumed to undergo significant degradation and subsequent biotransformation. The aim of the present study was to establish the pharmacokinetics of the metabolites of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), a widely consumed dietary phytochemical with potential cardioprotective properties. Experimental Approach: A 500 mg oral bolus dose of 6,8,10,3′,5′-13C5-C3G was fed to eight healthy male participants, followed by a 48 h collection (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24, 48 h) of blood, urine and faecal samples. Samples were analysed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS with elimination kinetics established using non-compartmental pharmacokinetic modelling. Key Results: Seventeen 13C-labelled compounds were identified in the serum, including 13C5-C3G, its degradation products, protocatechuic acid (PCA) and phloroglucinaldehyde (PGA), 13 metabolites of PCA and 1 metabolite derived from PGA. The maximal concentrations of the phenolic metabolites (Cmax) ranged from 10 to 2000 nM, between 2 and 30 h (tmax) post-consumption, with half-lives of elimination observed between 0.5 and 96 h. The major phenolic metabolites identified were hippuric acid and ferulic acid, which peaked in the serum at approximately 16 and 8 h respectively. Conclusions and Implications: Anthocyanins are metabolized to a structurally diverse range of metabolites that exhibit dynamic kinetic profiles. Understanding the elimination kinetics of these metabolites is key to the design of future studies examining their utility in dietary interventions or as therapeutics for disease risk reduction

European Union's public fishing access agreements in developing countries

The imperative to increase seafood supply while dealing with its overfished local stocks has pushed the European Union (EU) and its Member States to fish in the Exclusive Economic Zones of other countries through various types of fishing agreements for decades. Although European public fishing agreements are commented on regularly and considered to be transparent, this is the first global and historical study on the fee regime that governs them. We find that the EU has subsidized these agreements at an average of 75% of their cost (financial contribution agreed upon in the agreements), while private European business interests paid the equivalent of 1.5% of the value of the fish that was eventually landed. This raises questions of fisheries benefit-sharing and resource-use equity that the EU has the potential to address during the nearly completed reform of its Common Fisheries Policy