Possibilistic Information Fusion Using Maximal Coherent Subsets

When multiple sources provide information about the same unknown quantity, their fusion into a synthetic interpretable message is often a tedious problem, especially when sources are conicting. In this paper, we propose to use possibility theory and the notion of maximal coherent subsets, often used in logic-based representations, to build a fuzzy belief structure that will be instrumental both for extracting useful information about various features of the information conveyed by the sources and for compressing this information into a unique possibility distribution. Extensions and properties of the basic fusion rule are also studied.

Advanced glycation endproduct modified basement membrane attenuates endothelin-1 induced [Ca2+]i signalling and contraction in retinal microvascular pericytes

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) modification of vascular basement membrane (BM) on endothelin-1 (Et-1) induced intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) homeostasis and contraction in retinal microvascular pericytes (RMP). METHODS: RMPs were isolated from bovine retinal capillaries and propagated on AGE modified BM extract (AGE-BM) or non-modified native BM. Cytosolic Ca2+ was estimated using fura-2 microfluorimetry and cellular contraction determined by measurement of planimetric cell surface area. ETA receptor mRNA and protein expression was assessed by real time RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Exogenous endothelin-1 (Et-1) evoked rises in [Ca2+]i and contraction in RMPs were found to be mediated entirely through ETA receptor (ETAR) activation. Both peak and plateau phases of the Et-1 induced [Ca2+]i response and contraction were impaired in RMPs propagated on AGE modified BM. ETAR mRNA expression remained unchanged in RMPs exposed to native or AGE-BM, but protein expression for ETAR (66 kDa) was lower in the AGE exposed cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that substrate derived AGE crosslinks can influence RMP physiology by mechanisms which include disruption of ETA receptor signalling. AGE modification of vascular BMs may contribute to the retinal hemodynamic abnormalities observed during diabetes.

Participatory Action Research with and within community activist groups: capturing the collective experience of Ireland's Community and Voluntary Pillar

The inclusion of community activists in policy planning is increasingly recognized at the highest international level. This article shows how the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR) can present a deeper and more holistic picture of the experiences of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in shaping national-level social policy. By utilizing action-based research, the Community and Voluntary Pillar (CVP) of Ireland’s system of social partnership is shown to be an important agent in deliberating national bargaining outcomes (known as the Towards 2016 national agreement). The key contribution of this research is the reflective methodological considerations in terms of PAR design, execution and participant integration in the research process as a way to enrich and develop a deeper and more informed community of practice.

Commission on the Voluntary Sector and Ageing: a policy review

This article comments on the English Commission on the Voluntary Sector & Ageing, a voluntary sector-led initiative aimed at making proposals for voluntary sector leaders and charitable organisations on how to approach the ageing population. By examining the work of the commission, the review contributes to debates on the implications of population ageing for the voluntary sector.

Healthcare in Ireland and Britain 1850-1970: Voluntary, regional and comparative perspectives

This volume explores developments in health and social care in Ireland and Britain during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The central objectives are to highlight the role of voluntarism in healthcare, to examine healthcare in local and regional contexts, and to provide comparative perspectives. The collection is based on two interconnected and overlapping research themes: voluntarism and healthcare, and regionalism/localism and healthcare. It includes two synoptic overviews by leading authorities in the field, and ten case studies focusing on particular aspects of voluntary and/or regional healthcare in Ireland and Britain.

Ideals of A(G) and bimodules over maximal abelian selfadjoint algebras

This paper is concerned with weak⁎ closed masa-bimodules generated by A(G)-invariant subspaces of VN(G). An annihilator formula is established, which is used to characterise the weak⁎ closed subspaces of B(L2(G)) which are invariant under both Schur multipliers and a canonical action of M(G) on B(L2(G)) via completely bounded maps. We study the special cases of extremal ideals with a given null set and, for a large class of groups, we establish a link between relative spectral synthesis and relative operator synthesis.