Generalized Systematic Risk

We generalize the concept of .systematic risk to a broad class of risk measures potentially accounting for high distribution moments, downside risk, rare disasters, as well as other risk attributes. We offer two different approaches. First is an equilibrium framework generalizing the Capital Asset Pricing Model, two-fund separation, and the security market line. Second is an axiomatic approach resulting in a systematic risk measure as the unique solution to a risk allocation problem. Both approaches lead to similar results extending the traditional beta to capture multiple dimensions of risk. The results lend themselves naturally to empirical investigation.

Analysis and compensation of RF impairments for next generation multimode GNSS receivers

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers require solutions that are compact, cheap and low-power, in order to enable their widespread proliferation into consumer products. Furthermore, interoperability of GNSS with non-navigation systems, especially communication systems will gain importance in providing the value added services in a variety of sectors, providing seamless quality of service for users. An important step into the market for Galileo is the timely availability of these hybrid multi-mode terminals for consumer applications. However, receiver architectures that are amenable to high-levels of integration will inevitably suffer from RF impairments hindering their easy widespread use in commercial products. This paper studies and presents analytical evaluations of the performance degradation due to the RF impairments and develops algorithms that can compensate for them in the DSP domain at the base band with complexity-reduced hardware overheads, hence, paving the way for low-power, highly integrated multi-mode GNSS receivers.

Associations between Belief in Conspiracy Theories and the Maladaptive Personality Traits of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5

Conspiracy theories can be treated as both rational narratives of the world as well as outcomes of underlying maladaptive traits. Here, we examined associations between belief in conspiracy theories and individual differences in personality disorders. An Internet-based sample (N=259) completed measures of belief in conspiracy theories and the 25 facets of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Preliminary analyses showed no significant differences in belief in conspiracy theories across participant sex, ethnicity, and education. Regression analyses showed that the PID-5 facets of Unusual Beliefs and Experiences and, to a lesser extent, Suspiciousness, significantly predicted belief in conspiracy theories. These findings highlight a role for maladaptive personality traits in understanding belief in conspiracy theories, but require further investigation.

Argonauta Video Database: Projection and Homography matrices. Homography Left Camera

Description of the Annotation files: Annotation files are supplied for each video, for benchmarking. Annotations correspond to ground truths of peoples' positions in the image plane, and also for their feet positions, when they were visible. Annotations were performed manually, with the aid of a code developed by (Silva et al., 2014; see the Thesis for details). Targets (people or feet) are marked at variable frame intervals and then linearly interpolated.

Argonauta Video Database. Data Agregation

This Database was generated during the development of a computer vision-based system for safety purposes in nuclear plants. The system aims at detecting and tracking people within a nuclear plant. Further details may be found in the related thesis. The research was developed through a cooperation between the Graduate Electrical Engineering Program of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (PEE/COPPE, UFRJ) and the Nuclear Engineering Institute of National Commission of Nuclear Energy (IEN, CNEN). The experimental part of this research was carried out in Argonauta, a nuclear research reactor belonging to IEN. The Database is made available in the sequel. All the videos are already rectified. The Projection and Homography matrices are given in the end, for both cameras. Please, acknowledge the use of this Database in any publication.

A Queda de Ícaro, de Brueghel e Schimmernde Inselchen im Meer, de Robert Walser – uma viagem ao mundo da tradução intersemiótica

O tema sobre o qual me proponho escrever insere-se no âmbito da 'tradução intersemiótica', já que se trata de uma análise comparativa da obra Der Sturz des Ikarus, de Pieter Brueghel, e do poema Schimmernde Inselchen im Meer, de Robert Walser, em que estamos perante um exemplo flagrante de transposição de uma obra pictórica para a escrita. No artigo, darei, ainda, especial enfoque à questão de aquele quadro representar, também ele, um exemplo de 'tradução intersemiótica' (neste caso, uma passagem da palavra às artes plásticas), uma vez que Brueghel faz, nele, uma recontextualização do mito de Ícaro, ao transpor para a tela um poema de Ovídio (estamos, assim, mais uma vez, perante um exemplo de mudança de medium). Dado que a questão da 'tradução intersemiótica' se inscreve numa outra, mais vasta ainda, que éa da intertextualidade, tentarei enquadrar uma na outra, tecendo, na introdução do artigo e, sempre que oportuno, ao longo do mesmo, algumas considerações breves sobre a função significante do mitema, as metamorfoses do mito e o papel do mito no 'diálogo intermedial das artes' ao longo dos tempos. Nesta análise comparativa, parto do pressuposto de estarmos, em qualquer tradução, face a um acto de re-escrita, pelo que há que reflectir, particularmente no caso da 'tradução intersemiótica', sobre a (nova) dimensão interpretativa conferida pelo processo de transposição mediática

Geostatistical Prediction of Ocean Outfall Plume Characteristics Based on an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Geostatistics has been successfully used to analyze and characterize the spatial variability of environmental properties. Besides giving estimated values at unsampled locations, it provides a measure of the accuracy of the estimate, which is a significant advantage over traditional methods used to assess pollution. In this work universal block kriging is novelty used to model and map the spatial distribution of salinity measurements gathered by an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in a sea outfall monitoring campaign, with the aim of distinguishing the effluent plume from the receiving waters, characterizing its spatial variability in the vicinity of the discharge and estimating dilution. The results demonstrate that geostatistical methodology can provide good estimates of the dispersion of effluents that are very valuable in assessing the environmental impact and managing sea outfalls. Moreover, since accurate measurements of the plume’s dilution are rare, these studies might be very helpful in the future to validate dispersion models.

Safety and immunogenicity of the M72/AS01 candidate tuberculosis vaccine in HIV-infected adults on combination antiretroviral therapy: a phase I/II, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis (TB) is highly prevalent among HIV-infected people, including those receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), necessitating a well tolerated and efficacious TB vaccine for these populations. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of the candidate TB vaccine M72/AS01 in adults with well controlled HIV infection on cART. DESIGN: A randomized, observer-blind, controlled trial (NCT00707967). METHODS: HIV-infected adults on cART in Switzerland were randomized 3 : 1 : 1 to receive two doses, 1 month apart, of M72/AS01, AS01 or 0.9% physiological saline (N = 22, N = 8 and N = 7, respectively) and were followed up to 6 months postdose 2 (D210). Individuals with CD4⁺ cell counts below 200 cells/μl were excluded. Adverse events (AEs) including HIV-specific and laboratory safety parameters were recorded. Cell-mediated (ICS) and humoral (ELISA) responses were evaluated before vaccination, 1 month after each dose (D30, D60) and D210. RESULTS: Thirty-seven individuals [interquartile range (IQR) CD4⁺ cell counts at screening: 438-872 cells/μl; undetectable HIV-1 viremia] were enrolled; 73% of individuals reported previous BCG vaccination, 97.3% tested negative for the QuantiFERON-TB assay. For M72/AS01 recipients, no vaccine-related serious AEs or cART-regimen adjustments were recorded, and there were no clinically relevant effects on laboratory safety parameters, HIV-1 viral loads or CD4⁺ cell counts. M72/AS01 was immunogenic, inducing persistent and polyfunctional M72-specific CD4⁺ T-cell responses [medians 0.70% (IQR 0.37-1.07) at D60] and 0.42% (0.24-0.61) at D210, predominantly CD40L⁺IL-2⁺TNF-α⁺, CD40L⁺IL-2⁺ and CD40L⁺IL-2⁺TNF-α⁺IFN-γ⁺]. All M72/AS01 vaccines were seropositive for anti-M72 IgG after second vaccination until study end. CONCLUSION: M72/AS01 was clinically well tolerated and immunogenic in this population, supporting further clinical evaluation in HIV-infected individuals in TB-endemic settings.

Outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome in hospitals of different sizes. A report from the AMIS Plus Registry.

To assess the impact of admission to different hospital types on early and 1-year outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Between 1997 and 2009, 31 010 ACS patients from 76 Swiss hospitals were enrolled in the AMIS Plus registry. Large tertiary institutions with continuous (24 hour/7 day) cardiac catheterisation facilities were classified as type A hospitals, and all others as type B. For 1-year outcomes, a subgroup of patients admitted after 2005 were studied. Eleven type A hospitals admitted 15987 (52%) patients and 65 type B hospitals 15023 (48%) patients. Patients admitted into B hospitals were older, more frequently female, diabetic, hypertensive, had more severe comorbidities and more frequent non-ST segment elevation (NSTE)-ACS/unstable angina (UA). STE-ACS patients admitted into B hospitals received more thrombolysis, but less percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Crude in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were higher in patients from B hospitals. Crude 1-year mortality of 3747 ACS patients followed up was higher in patients admitted into B hospitals, but no differences were found for MACE. After adjustment for age, risk factors, type of ACS and comorbidities, hospital type was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality, in-hospital MACE, 1-year MACE or mortality. Admission indicated a crude outcome in favour of hospitalisation during duty-hours while 1-year outcome could not document a significant effect. ACS patients admitted to smaller regional Swiss hospitals were older, had more severe comorbidities, more NSTE-ACS and received less intensive treatment compared with the patients initially admitted to large tertiary institutions. However, hospital type was not an independent predictor of early and mid-term outcomes in these patients. Furthermore, our data suggest that Swiss hospitals have been functioning as an efficient network for the past 12 years.

Suite de la Clef, ou Journal historique sur les matieres du tems

1729/01 (T25)-1729/06.

Suite de la Clef, ou Journal historique sur les matieres du tems

1729/07 (T26)-1729/12.