A new infinite family of minimally nonideal matrices

Minimally nonideal matrices are a key to understanding when the set covering problem can be solved using linear programming. The complete classification of minimally nonideal matrices is an open problem. One of the most important results on these matrices comes from a theorem of Lehman, which gives a property of the core of a minimally nonideal matrix. Cornuéjols and Novick gave a conjecture on the possible cores of minimally nonideal matrices. This paper disproves their conjecture by constructing a new infinite family of square minimally nonideal matrices. In particular, we show that there exists a minimally nonideal matrix with r ones in each row and column for any r?3.     

外来种喜旱莲子草的克隆生长特性

通过对外来种喜旱莲子草（Alternanthera philoxeroides（Mart．）Griseb）生长指标的测定和分析，研究了它的克隆生长规律，并探讨丁它的觅食行为．在一个生长季节内，喜旱莲子草生物量增加了近30倍，一级葡萄茎分株数增加了近50倍，最长的一级葡萄茎长度增长了近40倍，一级葡萄茎总长度增长了近13倍；一、二、三级葡萄茎上的总分株数增加了近130倍，3个级别匍匍苇总长度增长了近28倍．通过各级葡萄茎个数，葡萄茎总长度和葡萄茎总分株数比较发现，二级葡萄茎比一、二级葡萄苇生长的都要快，而一级葡萄茎的间隔物平均长度远远大于二级和三级葡萄茎．克隆植物的觅食行为与它的克隆生长紧密相连，从觅食行为来看，喜旱莲子草克隆构型随生长季节的变化说明了它对生长季节具有很强的适应性．这种快速克隆生长的特性和对生长季节的适应性有利于喜旱莲子成功入侵新的生境。     

Semi-invariants in surgery

A semi-invariant in surgery is an invariant of a quadratic Poincaré complex which is defined in terms of a null-cobordism. We define five such gadgets: the semicharacteristic, the semitorsion, the cross semitorsion, the torsion semicharacteristic, and the cross torsion semicharacteristic. We describe applications to the evaluation of surgery obstructions, especially in the odd-dimensional case.     

Some insight into characterizations of minimally nonideal matrices

Lehman (Polyhedral combinatorics 1 of DIMACS series in discrete math. and theoretical computer science, pp 101–105, 1990) described some conditions regular minimally nonideal (mni) matrices must satisfy. Although, there are few results on sufficient conditions for mni matrices. In most of these results, the covering polyhedron must have a unique fractional extreme point. This condition corresponds to ask the matrix to be the blocker of a near-ideal matrix, defined by the authors in a previous work (2006). In this paper we prove that, having the blocker of a near-ideal matrix, only a few very easy conditions have to be checked in order to decide if the matrix is regular mni. In doing so, we define the class of quasi mni matrices, containing regular mni matrices, and we find a generalization on the number of integer extreme points adjacent to the fractional extreme point in the covering polyhedron. We also give a relationship between the covering and stability number of regular mni matrices which allows to prove when a regular mni matrix can be a proper minor of a quasi mni. Partially supported by CONICET Grant PIP 2807/2000 (Argentina) and by CNPq/PROSUL Grant 490333/2004-4 (Brasil).     

Nonspecific laryngeal granuloma: A case study of a professional singer

A professional singer with laryngeal granuloma underwent surgery following failed response to conservative treatments. Two primary findings emerged. First, although a sizable lesion was present initially, presurgical voice measures were largely normal or superior. The exception was elevated phonatory effort during singing. Second, postsurgical voice functions were entirely normal or superior (including phonatory effort), despite demanding singing performances a few weeks following surgery. The results add to the limited corpus of quantitative, normative-referenced data on voice in patients with granulomas and are inconsistent with previous reports of voice abnormalities in such patients and poor functional response to surgery.     

Mechanical and dynamic aspects of voice production as related to voice therapy and phonosurgery

Laryngeal framework surgery can change the position and tensionof the vocal folds safely without direct surgical intervention in the vocal fold proper. Some 23 years of experience with phonosurgery have proved its usefulness in treating dysphonia related to unilateral vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold atrophy, and pitch-related dysphonias. Meanwhile, much information about the mechanism of voice production has been obtained through intraoperative findings of voice and fiberscopic examination of the larynx . Based on such knowledge together with information obtained through model experiments, the human vocal organ was reconsidered mainly from the mechanical view point, and the roles of voice therapy and singing pedagogy were discussed in relation to phonosurgery. The vocal organ may not be an ideal musical organ and is rather vulnerable, but its potential is enormous.     

Effects of interactions among wave aberrations on optical image quality after refractive surgery

Research on wave aberrations indicates that interactions and balances among aberrations can provide better visual quality for normal eyes. In this paper, we investigate the aberration compensatory mechanism for eyes after LASIK surgery. Data of Zernike coefficients of wave-front aberrations are collected from 60 post-operative eyes through a Hartmann-Shack wave-front sensor, and then a series of Monte Carlo simulations are performed by manipulating the value of each Zernike coefficient (second order through seventh order). The modulation transfer function (MTF) ratio as a function of spatial frequency is used to evaluate the aberrations’ characteristic of independence. Finally, in a control condition, “synthetic” model eyes are produced through Monte Carlo arithmetic and the aberration independence of the synthetic eyes is analyzed. The results suggest that, for 6 and 3 mm pupil size, aberrations of the eyes after LASIK surgery are still not independent and the adaptive mechanism still exists. However, the adaptive mechanism does not hold for the “synthetic” eyes.     

围长为2的偶数阶本原极小强连通有向图的1一指数集

本文研究了围长为2的n阶本原极小强连通有向图的1-指数集,证明了：当n（≥4）为偶数时,E（1）={4,5,6,7,…,2n-4）,无缺数段。     

Real-Time Tool Detection for Workflow Identification in Open Cranial Vault Remodeling

Deep learning is a recent technology that has shown excellent capabilities for recognition and identification tasks. This study applies these techniques in open cranial vault remodeling surgeries performed to correct craniosynostosis. The objective was to automatically recognize surgical tools in real-time and estimate the surgical phase based on those predictions. For this purpose, we implemented, trained, and tested three algorithms based on previously proposed Convolutional Neural Network architectures (VGG16, MobileNetV2, and InceptionV3) and one new architecture with fewer parameters (CranioNet). A novel 3D Slicer module was specifically developed to implement these networks and recognize surgical tools in real time via video streaming. The training and test data were acquired during a surgical simulation using a 3D printed patient-based realistic phantom of an infant’s head. The results showed that CranioNet presents the lowest accuracy for tool recognition (93.4%), while the highest accuracy is achieved by the MobileNetV2 model (99.6%), followed by VGG16 and InceptionV3 (98.8% and 97.2%, respectively). Regarding phase detection, InceptionV3 and VGG16 obtained the best results (94.5% and 94.4%), whereas MobileNetV2 and CranioNet presented worse values (91.1% and 89.8%). Our results prove the feasibility of applying deep learning architectures for real-time tool detection and phase estimation in craniosynostosis surgeries.