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(1) Describe multimodality imaging of cubonavicular coalition (CNC) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) focus, (2) evaluate CNC associated foot and ankle pathology, (3) examine clinical presentation/symptoms associated with CNC, (4) record CNC treatment. Retrospective Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved study. Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) databases searched for CNC. Final study population: 34 cases in 27 patients. Each CNC was reviewed for: coalition type (osseous versus non-osseous- cartilaginous versus fibrous), tendon and ligament pathology, bone marrow edema at CNC and adjacent joints, presence and severity of degenerative changes at CNC and adjacent joints, fractures, additional coalitions, laterality, and pes planus. MRI planes and radiographic views on which coalitions were best identified were recorded. Each CNC EMR was reviewed for: symptoms, trauma, management, patient demographics. Inter-reader reliability was performed for type of non-osseous coalition. Final cohort included 34 cases in 27 patients (average age: 34.7, range: 10–76; 71% female). No CNC was completely osseous. On MRI, 89.5% of coalitions were non-osseous and 5.3% were partially osseous. 76.5% of patients had referable symptoms including pain, limited motion, inability to bear weight. 23.5% of patients were surgically managed/pathologically proven. On MRI, 36.8% of patients had tendon pathology, 52.6% had ligamentous pathology, 100% had bone marrow edema-like signal abnormality about the CNC, and 88.2% had CNC degenerative changes. There was bone marrow edema-like signal abnormality at bones adjacent to the CNC in 52.6% and adjacent joint degenerative disease present in 50%. CNC was best identified on oblique radiographs and axial MRI. Inter-reader reliability for non-osseous coalition type was poor, Cronbach's alpha 0.554. CNC is subtle and findings of osteoarthritis or bone marrow edema-like about the cubonavicular articulation should raise suspicion for underlying coalition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talocalcaneal coalition is the most common cause of rigid flat foot in adolescents. It presents with recurrent ankle sprains, foot and ankle pain, and foot deformity. Management is still controversial. Multiple options were utilized during the last 40 years, including coalition excision only or coalition excision with hind foot arthrodesis or corrective osteotomies. However, the effect of arthroereisis after coalition excision is still questionable. Thirty feet in 28 patients with rigid flat foot due to talocalcaneal coalition, who presented to our institution between September 2018 and April 2020, were prospectively analyzed. Randomization was performed by random allocation using a computer-based system into two groups: group A for coalition excision and arthroereisis, group B for coalition excision and osteotomies. Functional and radiological outcomes and complications were recorded and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Thirty feet in 28 patients were included in the final analysis (15 feet in each group). One patient in each group had bilateral affection. The mean age was 14.5 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 24 months. At final follow-up, the mean AOFAS was 78.8 ± 4.04 in group A and 76.73 ± 4.66 in group B, while the FAAM scores were 80 ± 5 and 79 ± 3 in groups A and B, respectively. The complication rate was higher in group A, however with no statistical significance. The combination of talocalcaneal coalition resection with either corrective osteotomies or arthroereisis had a significant improvement of functional and radiological outcomes in the management of rigid pes planovalgus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Given workforce and funding constraints, pediatric hospice and palliative care clinicians often find challenges providing services for seriously ill children and families, particularly in low resource and rural/remote areas.Objectives: To describe the services, training, and education needs of pediatric hospice and palliative care programs across the Northwest United States as part of the formation of a new regional coalition.Methods: Electronic surveys were sent to pediatric hospice and palliative care clinicians through state organizations as part of an email invitation to join the Northwest Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition. Data were analyzed descriptively using univariate analysis.Results: Sixty-four participants representing 37 unique programs responded from seven states, including Washington (41%, n=27), Oregon (38%, n=25), Idaho (11%, n=7), Alaska (5%, n=3), Montana (3%, n=2), Colorado (2%, n=1), and Nevada (2%, n=1). Programs provided pediatric hospice care (42%, n=33/78) and palliative care services (30%, n=26/86). Although 26% (n=15/58) had been providing pediatric hospice and palliative care for >20 years, 40% (n=21/53) reported only serving <5 pediatric patients per year. Specific services provided included pediatric bereavement support (16%, n=37/231), telehealth (14%, n=33/231), and respite (10%, n=23/231). Barriers occurring always, often, or sometimes included lack of trained staff (84%), financial support (59%), and access to home infusions (48%). From the coalition, participants prioritized education on parent/caregiver psychosocial support (40%, n=19/48), goals of care communication (44%, n=21/48), and symptom management (45%, n=21/47).Conclusions: Pediatric hospice and palliative care clinicians face numerous barriers and may benefit from a coalition that provides networking and tailored education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals use facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) to infer men's formidability. We hypothesized that fWHR assessments would form a basis for men's coalitional value, with high-fWHR men being valuable in roles requiring physical strength. Five studies (N = 1323) tested how perceptions of formidability influence coalitional decisions. In addition to replicating previous findings indicating a preference for high-fWHR men in tasks requiring strength (Study 1), the formidability inference most associated with this high-fWHR preference was perceived strength and not aggressiveness (Studies 2a, 2b). Two pre-registered studies showed that activating competitive motivations increased preferences for high-fWHR allies (Study 3), though this preference appeared driven by a tolerance for high-fWHR men rather than an interest (Study 4). Findings provide evidence for how inferences of fWHR shape interpersonal preferences based on social contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socioecological systems (SES) are complex and adaptive systems with variables and relationships that interact at different temporal and spatial scales. Identifying and analyzing these variables and interactions, as well as understanding the main leverage points and critical thresholds of the SES, are important to define the strategies and policies aimed at finding a sustainable SES. The Wayfinder Guide is a sustainability analysis and adaptive management planning tool to guide decision-making. The research question addressed in this study was regarding the challenges and opportunities of using the Wayfinder Guide to elucidate the complexity of sustainability trajectories and guide territorial planning in the challenging environmental conditions of the Global South, particularly the strategic mountain SES in the tropical Andes in Colombia. Using the Wayfinder Guide to begin an SES analysis may require a large number of resources and an extended period (years) to consolidate the effective implementation thereof, especially for the first phases of the guide. In this study, we propose methodological changes to apply the guidelines in the context of scarce SES information. • Analyzing Socioecological trajectories is key to design sustainability strategies. • We use Wayfinder Guide to analyze the complexity of socioecological trajectories. • The use of Wayfinder Guide was possible given the existing knowledge of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Student-Project Allocation problem with lecturer preferences over Projects (spa-p). In this context it is known that stable matchings can have different sizes and the problem of finding a maximum size stable matching is NP-hard. There are two known approximation algorithms for max-spa-p , with performance guarantees 2 and 3 2. We show that max-spa-p is polynomial-time solvable if there is only one lecturer involved, and NP-hard to approximate within some constant c > 1 if there are two lecturers involved. We also show that this problem remains NP-hard if each preference list is of length at most 3, with an arbitrary number of lecturers. We then describe an Integer Programming (IP) model to enable max-spa-p to be solved optimally in the general case. Following this, we present results arising from an empirical evaluation that investigates how the solutions produced by the approximation algorithms compare to optimal solutions obtained from the IP model, with respect to the size of the stable matchings constructed, on instances that are both randomly-generated and derived from real datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to report the outcomes of coalition resection in adults with naviculo-medial cuneiform (NC) coalition.Methods: Seventeen adults (20 feet) who underwent NC coalition resection were identified. The location and morphology of coalitions and five angular parameters, including medial arch sag angle (MASA), were assessed on weightbearing radiographs. Pre- and postoperative visual analogue scale and foot function index were evaluated for clinical outcomes.Results: Most feet (19 out of 20) had a coalition at the plantar-medial aspect, and there was no radiographic evidence of residual NC joint space compromise. There was no radiographic evidence of medial arch sag (MASA, p = 0.749) or recurrence at the final follow-up (21.7 months, range 12 to 48). Clinical scores improved significantly in all patients.Conclusions: Resection of NC coalition in adults can be successful and provides an option to arthrodesis when conservative treatments have failed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses a case of mobilisation for 'small tourism' where a coalition of actors in distant rural communities unite to cope with limited possibilities in ways that are meaningful to them. The theoretical bases for the analysis are resilience theory and the concept of geo-social position, the latter of which implies a reorientation to an 'earthly' commitment to the environment where people live 'down to earth' (Latour, 2018). The case study focuses on the coastal hamlet of Lildstrand, a marginal place in Northern Jutland, Denmark, whose permanent population and fisheries are in decline. Since 2017, a coalition of locals and second-home owners have mobilised for several parallel initiatives, including a series of development workshops and other events, a master plan for Lildstrand 2030, plans for the extension of a national park, new small-scale tourist designs, mass-media presence, and various lobbying for development. It is a case of citizen-driven tourism where a coalition of actors enthusiastic about the place seek slow and modest tourism activities, drawing on resources belonging to the area and its natural and cultural heritage. Key findings include how engagements emerged from familiarity with, detailed descriptions of, and plans for the local environment, and how the coalition managed to come about by uniting voluntary work across permanent and temporary residents as well as other actors committed to developing the location. Common to the commitments of this coalition is the relationship and engagement with the local environment as a common good. We suggest that the making of the coalition should be understood as a configuration of a geo-social position that is central in driving the mobilisation. This research illuminates general conditions and possibilities for the development of rural communities in peripheral regions. There is a need to collect knowledge on how different types of tourism can be used to help actors address local needs in such areas. • 'Small tourism' uses existing resources to develop a local community. • Need resilience practices to develop the common good of local environment. • Engagement in 'small tourism' concerns the liveable place. • Locals, 'second-homers', and others need to form a common geo-social position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature has proposed that restriction of joints in the rearfoot secondary to coalitions may lead to increased risk for severe ankle fracture after trauma. There is a paucity of literature regarding the rigidity of the ankle joint after arthrodesis of the subtalar and talonavicular joints. In this study, load-to-failure testing of cadaveric ankle joints with and without fusion of the subtalar and talonavicular joints was performed to determine if clinically relevant fracture patterns could be reproduced. Of the 3 fixation patterns studied, combined subtalar and talonavicular joint fusion resulted in a measurable increase in joint stiffness; however, this was not statistically significant. Clinical and radiographic examination postloading revealed that all tested ankle joints sustained a dislocation type injury rather than a specific bone fracture pattern. It was determined that a pure low-speed bending and compression model does not produce clinically relevant fracture patterns, and that higher energy mechanisms are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coalitional manipulation in voting is considered to be any scenario in which a group of voters decide to misrepresent their votes in order to secure an outcome they all prefer to the outcome of the election when they vote honestly. The present paper is devoted to studying coalitional manipulability within the class of scoring voting rules. For any such rule and any number of alternatives, we introduce a new approach allowing us to characterize all the outcomes that are manipulable by a coalition of voters. This then opens the possibility of determining the probability of manipulable outcomes for some well-studied scoring voting rules in the case of small number of alternatives and large electorates, under a well-known assumption on individual preference profiles. • We study coalitional manipulability within the class of scoring voting rules. • Manipulable profiles are characterized whatever the number of alternatives. • We focus on the limiting case where the number of voters tends to infinity. • A probabilistic analysis is conducted under IAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Incumbents in the UK heat sector are under threat from the potential of heat electrification associated with decarbonisation. • Critical discourse approaches are used to consider a storyline presented by incumbent actors in the UK heat sector. • Regime actors in the UK are promoting a vision for low carbon heat based around 'green' and low carbon gas. • Cost, sustainability and technical characteristics of low carbon gas are deeply uncertain despite being presented otherwise. • Policy should aim to reduce uncertainty while deploying known low carbon energy efficiency and electrification technologies. The power of incumbent actors to affect sustainability transitions is increasingly recognised as a central issue associated with systemic change. However, incumbent's approaches and the outcome of their influence is rarely examined in academic literature. Using a novel approach which combines the lens of 'discourse coalitions' with an explicitly critical discursive stance, in which the coalition's storyline is scrutinised, this interdisciplinary analysis investigates a pro-gas, incumbent led coalition present in the Great Britain (GB) energy system. In response to the threat of electrification, the coalition presents decarbonising the gas grid with replacement gases as the optimal route for heat decarbonisation. However, much analysis suggests a significant need for heat electrification and our review highlights major uncertainties with a decarbonised gas pathway. Incumbents are over-selling 'green-gas' to policy makers in order to protect their interests and detract from the importance and value of electrification. Policy and research recommendations are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Forming coalitions of wind power plants (WPPs) has frequently been studied as a solution for effective renewable energy management [14–22]. Due to the volatility of renewable energy generation, WPPs tend to conservatively bids in a day-ahead market to avoid huge penalties for failure to deliver the appointed amount of energy. Hence, such a coalition among WPPs lessens the risk of delivery failure and motivates WPPs to generate more energy. However, as the size of the coalition increases, the total supply bid grows and therefore the wholesale unit price is decreasing [15]. Hence, WPPs tend to strategically lower their bid to keep market prices from decreasing too much to avoid less profit. It harms the market penetration growth of renewable energy. In our study, we propose an intelligent coalition formation model to deal with the trade-off between the profits of individual WPPs increase and a market penetration growth. Our model is especially applicable to heterogeneous WPPs. We validate that our model achieves more profit of WPPs and higher market penetration than other models under specific conditions. The fairness regarding WPP profits are also improving as the heterogeneity of WPPs is larger, and the number of WPPs is increasing. Highlights • We propose an innovative coalition formation model for Wind Power Plants (WPPs). • The model achieves both market penetration growth and WPPs' profit increase. • The fairness regarding WPP profits is also improved under realistic condition. • It is proved that a unique Nash equilibrium exists in the problem. • The model is applicable for heterogeneous WPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing prosumers participation in energy trading becomes complicated, as the number of prosumers in smart grid is expected to rise. In this situation, it is safe to group active prosumers into groups or coalitions. By utilising analytical tools, like game theory, the method for grouping or coalition formation of prosumers can be carefully studied. After analysing prosumers behaviour in energy profile, we propose a novel dynamic, decentralised prosumer coalition formation method based on game theory that can satisfy utility grid demands. A conceptual framework is developed for coalition formation and energy management among prosumers in a dynamic environment. This approach has the potential to increase the size and number of coalitions without a central controller to better manage renewable energy usage and trading with energy buyers. We validate the performance of adopting a game theoretic approach, assessing the strategy using open and shared data sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The concept of competition has implications for educational contexts, as hormonal and emotional changes under competitive stress can modulate learning and memory processes. This study examined the impact of a competitive learning environment and associated hormonal and emotional responses on skill acquisition and expression in a medical domain. Using a cross-over design, sixteen male medical students participated in a competitive (in pairs facing each other) and non-competitive (alone) learning situation. In each treatment, an instructional video was followed by a timed straight-line suture evaluation with anxiety and competitiveness recorded. Salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) were assessed at rest, before and after evaluation to quantify changes in T (ΔT) and C (ΔC). These procedures were followed by two sessions of self-directed training before retesting. Paired learning produced a larger positive ΔT (5.9–7.8% vs. 2.0–5.3%) and ΔC (7.6% vs. 3.3%), which was accompanied by more anxiety and elevated competitiveness (p <.01). Anxiety declined and suturing abilities improved over time (p <.001), irrespective of the learning approach, with resting C concentrations decreasing when learning alone (p <.05). Some ΔT and ΔC measures correlated (r = 0.40 to 0.65) with anxiety and competitive desire with paired learning only, whereas the ΔC was linked to suturing performance (r = −0.35) when learning alone. In summary, a tacit competition in a natural learning situation promoted more pronounced hormonal and emotional responses. However, skill acquisition and its expression improved to a similar extent in both situations of competitive and non-competitive assessment. Different adaptive pathways for skill expression and development emerged from this work. Highlights • Hormones and emotions under competitive stress can modulate learning and memory. • Paired learning produced larger testosterone and cortisol responses than learning alone. • Learning in pairs also promoted more anxiety and elevated competitiveness. • Anxiety declined and suturing skills improved over time when training in pairs or alone. • Hormonal changes correlated with emotions and/or skills, but were environment specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of rapid urbanization, land has become the most valuable scarce resource, and the regeneration of urban villages is related to urban land supply for urban redevelopment. The redevelopment of urban villages can promote the efficient use of land resources and contribute to the sustainable development of the city. This paper examines the redevelopment of an urban village in Guangzhou from the perspective of territorialization and finds that urban villages ultimately become territories dominated by the coalition formed by the market developers and the rural collective organization of the urban village. When the local government attempts to redevelop the village, the coalition fights against the government and defends the territory, leading to the predicament of urban redevelopment. By exploring the territorialization process and the dynamics of spatial production, this paper argues that territorialization is a means of reifying and reinforcing power in a geographical space and represents a significant attempt to achieve urban redevelopment. Both the local government and the coalition can contribute to the redevelopment of urban villages. Although territorialization is an efficient way to achieve urban redevelopment, it may solidify an area and cause the straitened circumstances of city government to implement the new city strategy. This paper thus calls for a focus on the value of bottom-up territorialization and the ingenious combination of city planning and territorialization to achieve effective urban redevelopment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal Cooperation is emerging as a way to increase competitiveness in logistics and transportation. Its implementation, however, may be hindered by conflicts and opportunist behavior among the members of the coalition. This paper develops an agent-based simulation model studying the evolution of a coalition over time taking into account various trust-related issues. Different degrees of cooperation, rules for enlarging the coalition with new members as well as a Shapley-based methodology for allocating savings are implemented. To calculate such savings, vehicle routing solution procedures are further integrated. This enables an extensive investigation of the effects of Horizontal Cooperation from both an economic and environmental perspective. Experimental results highlight that significant savings can be achieved with the degree of cooperation and trust-related issues indicating the highest importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising sea level is reducing the inter-tidal zone in many mangrove forests. This breaks down the normal species distribution patterns of fiddler crabs, with an increasing number of heterospecifics moving from adjacent zones into an area normally occupied by a single species. Here we examine the interspecific social and sexual interactions that have resulted. We show that male Austruca mjoebergi are just as likely to help their small conspecific neighbor fight off an intruder when the intruder is a conspecific or heterospecific male. It appears that keeping a known neighbor is preferable to having any new neighbor (even a heterospecific neighbor that would not compete for receptive females) since the costs of renegotiating territory boundaries would be the same whatever the species of the new neighbor. We also show that males court females of their own species just as vigorously as those of two heterospecific species. Courtship is costly, so the time and energy spent courting heterospecific females is wasted: a potentially high cost of living among heterospecifics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretty often there is a process visualization in one's mind before the process is implemented in form of a simulation model. The main purpose of this visualization is the certain improvement of an imperfect or ineffective process, or the estimation of the influence of various impacts. Most of the time the simulation systems provide a certain benefit for us, especially when the process develops in a predefined way, no matter how complex it is. But sometimes there are situations when the decision making persons have to interact between each other and make a decision with consideration of the other person's opinion. Moreover, that may have conflicts in case they use the same resources or they are focused on a common goal by using different approaches (and again, same resources). Anyway, this sort of behavior has to be modelled as well. In this work we are presenting the apparatus of the resource conversion processes for the distributed simulation system BPsim.MAS. We will present the advantages of the software, the technologies lying under the hood and some recent additions that were implemented for the definition of agent coalitions. This is something which helps us create the simulation models of the complex systems and behavior scenarios, when multiple agents interact with each other. At the end of the work we suggest a sample implementation of the system on the basis of a network of petrol stations, that relies on presented apparatus. We also compare our results with the ones achieved with the simulation model, based on the networks of requirements and capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel method for computing the strong Lp - Nash equilibrium in case of a metric state space for a class of time-discrete ergodic controllable Markov chains games. We first present a general solution for the Lp - norm for computing the strong Lp - Nash equilibrium and then, we suggest an explicit solution involving the norms L1, L2 and L∞. For solving the problem we use the extraproximal method. We employ the Tikhonov's regularization method to ensure the convergence of the cost-functions to a unique equilibrium point. We prove that the proposed method convergence in exponential time to a unique strong Lp - Nash equilibrium. A game theory example illustrates the main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to rethink intersectional sites of solidarity carried out by coalitions of heterogeneous groups coming up from the margins of society. From this standpoint, I analyse intersectional politics through practices and processes led by feminist and other social justice grassroots activists together with citizen activists, that have helped give rise to political visibility of marginalised communities inside Israel. To address this issue, I critically discuss the interconnection of political intersectionality, coalition building, citizen activism, and its implications not only at the grassroots level, but also in local politics and institutions. This research is based on extensive fieldwork that took place in 2016 and 2018 in the most peripheral neighbourhoods of south Tel Aviv. In detail, I explore the role of one of the most well-known Israeli Mizrahi feminist movements called Ahoti (Sister) — for Women in Israel , in creating intersectional coalitions with other marginalised groups that mainly include long-term Mizrahi residents, non-Jewish African refugees and migrant workers. This cooperation between feminist activists historically engaged in grassroots movements together with citizen activists involved in new local struggles represents an original intersectional approach to multidisciplinary feminist research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work introduces a novel unit, named virtual smart energy hub (VSEH). VSEH consists of a combination of smart energy grids, smart energy hubs (SEHs), and virtual power plants (VPPs) and simultaneously benefits from the advantages of SEHs and VPPs on a smart-energy-grid platform. A comprehensive two-stage model was proposed to solve the VSEH optimal operation problem in order to trading in day-ahead and intraday heat and power market. The proposed stochastic programming model is risk based and the conditional value at risk (CVaR) index was employed to represent the risk in the scheduling model. On the first stage of the proposed model, VSEH schedules transactions amounts by considering energy prices and SEHs constraints in order to maximize profits from participation in day-ahead heat and power markets. In the second stage, VSEH, through the more accurate prediction of uncertainties before operation time and with the aim of maximizing profits and correcting deviations relative to the settled transactions in the first stage, re-schedules the SEHs in intraday heat and power markets. Non-arbitrage constraints were established between day-ahead and intraday energy markets in the proposed model. Moreover, the presented structure was modeled and comprehensively defined in mathematical terms as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model with a minimum number of real variables. The performance of this model was evaluated by implementing it on a coalition with various SEHs, as a result of which the profitability of the coalition and the increase in the risk tolerance level of the SEHs group was confirmed. The results indicate that formation of the VSEH can act as means of risk management in addition to reducing risk-associated costs regardless of the circumstances on the day of operation and the acceptable level risk tolerance of the SEHs. In other words, the integration of SEHs will result in a lower risk aversion cost. • Introducing new concept termed VSEH to improve the performance of energy hubs. • Defining a novel risk-based model for scheduling the VSEH in energy markets. • A two-stage stochastic MILP model is applied to maximize the profit of VSEH. • The proposed model is expressed comprehensively with the least number of variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of multiple agents to perform intruder search or patrolling activities have been widely studied in security Stackelberg games. Although existing methods achieve an efficient way of performing schedules, it is still an open problem that needs substantial further research in developing an algorithmic method of convergence to a Strong Stackelberg/Nash equilibrium, that would positively impact the effectiveness of the patrollers ability to execute their schedules, when acting cooperatively. To address this shortcoming, in this work we present a novel approach for conforming coalitions in multiple agents Stackelberg security games. The concept of coalition coincides in fact with the concept of Strong Stackelberg Equilibrium. Our approach is restricted to a class of a time-discrete ergodic controllable Markov chains. The security model describes a strategic game in which the defenders cooperate and attackers do not cooperate. In case of a metric state space, the coalition of the defenders achieves it synergy by computing the Strong L p -Stackelberg/Nash equilibrium. We employ the extraproximal method for solving the problem. In addition, we consider the control problem that involves defenders and attackers performing a discrete-time random walk. Actions are selected using the max operator, which returns the maximum value of a set of strategies. We prove that the sequences generated by the two synchronized random walks of both defenders and attackers, converge to the product of the individual probabilities. A realization of the method in a numerical example shows the efficiency of the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Liberal Democrats’ performance in the 2015 general election provides an opportunity to examine the only case in the post-war period of a national junior coalition partner in British politics. Comparative research highlights competence, trust and leadership as three key challenges facing junior coalition parties. This article uses British Election Study data to show that the Liberal Democrats failed to convince the electorate on all three counts. The article also uses constituency-level data to examine the continued benefits of incumbency to the party and the impact of constituency campaigning. It finds that while the incumbency advantage remained for the Liberal Democrats, it was ultimately unable to mitigate the much larger national collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the complexity and uncertainty of supply networks (SNs) increase, strategic management for resilient SNs becomes significant. An intelligent contingency plan, rather than a direct and constant back-up plan, is more suitable for flexible and effective management. In this research, we introduce a unique contingent multi-sourcing decision protocol for effective response when disruptions occur. It is called the Intelligent Contingent Sourcing (ICS) protocol. Unlike previous research, which has mostly considered the constant multi-sourcing 1 1 In this paper, constant multi-sourcing means that each manufacturer is supplied from only pre-determined suppliers and the amount of materials supplied from each of them is fixed. Only disrupted supplier cannot supply until recovery is finished. On the other hand, in case of contingent multi-sourcing, the suppliers and the amount of materials supplied can be changed according to the current condition. among internal suppliers, our model is developed for contingent multi-sourcing by collaboration with external suppliers. (When both the supplier and buyer are managed/controlled by the same company, that supplier is considered an internal supplier; in case each supplier is independent in terms of buyers and is self-interested, such supplier is considered an external supplier). Such contingent multi-sourcing requires the theoretical analysis of each participant's economic aspect, because each external supplier is independent and thus self-interested. The ICS protocol forms a contingent collaborative coalition based on a distributed decision making process. To evaluate the performance of the ICS protocol, three sourcing models are compared: (1) Single sourcing, (2) Constant multi-sourcing, and (3) Contingent multi-sourcing by the ICS protocol. Statistical analysis reveals that, with statistical significance, the ICS protocol performs at least equal to or better than single sourcing, in terms of less lost sales and less total costs; ICS protocol also outperforms constant multi-sourcing under specific conditions (stated in the article). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To explore how partnerships among private, nonprofit, and public organizations can be instrumental in addressing 21st century health care challenges. Data Sources Peer-reviewed studies and guidelines, journal articles, books, websites, and personal communication. Conclusion Given the complexity of the health care environment and the need to transform the system, individuals and organizations will need to form partnerships that result in improved quality of care and decreased cost. Some recent initiatives have been successful and are included in this article. Implications for Nursing Practice In many communities and at the national level, there are agencies and organizations that are working independently, yet they have overlapping goals and the same intent. They compete for the same financial and human resources whether in academia, the care delivery sector, or non-profit associations. In the cancer care world, interprofessional teams are essential, yet much care is still delivered in silos. There are redundant patient advocacy organizations even for some of the less common cancers. Partnerships and collaboration will take new forms and require new skill sets in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tarsal coalition is relatively frequent, with an estimated prevalence of 1–2%. Coalitions are most commonly talocalcaneal or calcaneonavicular, accounting for 90% of cases. While it is well known that bilateral tarsal coalitions can occur in up to 50% of cases, the presence of multiple coalitions in the same foot is less well described. In this report, we present a case of talocalcaneal and calcaneonavicular coalitions occurring in the same foot and briefly review the relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the issues related to the process of global decision-making on the basis of knowledge which is stored in several local knowledge bases. The approach considered in this paper is very general because we do not assume any additional conditions on the sets of objects or the sets of conditional attributes of local knowledge bases. The paper proposes a new approach to the organization of the structure of multi-agent decision-making system, which operates on the basis of dispersed knowledge. In the presented system, the local knowledge bases will be combined into groups in a dynamic way. We will seek to designate groups of local bases on which the test object is classified to the decision classes in a similar manner. Then, a process of the elimination inconsistencies in the knowledge will be implemented in the created groups. Global decisions will be made by using one of the methods for analysis of conflicts. The paper includes the definition of a multi-agent decision-making system with dynamically generated clusters and a description of a global decision-making process. In addition, the paper presents the results of experiments carried out on data from the UCI repository. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting formidable male coalitions to navigate intergroup threats and resource acquisition evolved to enhance survival through group living, given men's enhanced ability to extract and protect resources through physical aggression. Though advantageous in certain contexts, formidable men can nonetheless inflict intragroup costs, suggesting preferences for this trait varies with resource availability in local ecologies. This study tasked participants (477 women, 140 men; M Age = 19.98, SD = 4.22) with building coalitions from arrays of physically strong and weak men to acquire resources in hopeful and desperate ecologies before assessing endorsement of several aspects of conservatism. Individuals high in social dominance orientation reported greater aversion to physically strong men in desperate ecologies, although strength was generally preferred independent of ideological differences. Results suggest a tradeoffs framework in coalition-building based on the inferred costs and benefits of physically strong allies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talocalcaneal joint middle facet coalition is the most common tarsal coalition, occurring in ≤2% of the population. Fewer than 50% of involved feet obtain lasting relief of symptoms after nonoperative treatment, and surgical intervention is commonly used to relieve symptoms, increase the range of motion, improve function, reconstruct concomitant pes planovalgus, and prevent future arthrosis from occurring at the surrounding joints. Several approaches to surgical intervention are available for patients with middle facet coalitions, ranging from resection to hindfoot arthrodesis. We present a series of 4 cases, in 3 adolescent patients, of talocalcaneal joint middle facet coalition resection with interposition of a particulate juvenile hyaline cartilaginous allograft (DeNovo ® NT Natural Tissue Graft, Zimmer, Inc., Warsaw, IN). With a mean follow-up period of 42.8 ± 2.9 (range 41 to 47) months, the 3 adolescent patients in the present series were doing well with improved subtalar joint motion and decreased pain, and 1 foot showed no bony regrowth on a follow-up computed tomography scan. The use of a particulate juvenile hyaline cartilaginous allograft as interposition material after talocalcaneal middle facet coalition resection combined with adjunct procedures to address concomitant pes planovalgus resulted in good short-term outcomes in 4 feet in 3 adolescent patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advantages of non-physical contact, high precision, and efficiency, optical tweezers have been increasingly used to manipulate biological cells in various biomedical applications. When trapping a cell with optical tweezers, the cell must be located within the optical trap. The lack of an efficient control technique that can automatically control cell motion while consistently locating such cell within the optical trap causes the trapped cell to escape easily, thus resulting in the failure of the manipulation task. Therefore, the development of a unified controller that can manipulate both cell trapping and cell motion simultaneously while possessing robustness to environmental disturbances is urgently needed. In this paper, we develop a novel unified controller that manipulates cell positioning and cell trapping simultaneously. First, we establish a geometric model to confine the cell within a local region around the optical trap. The connection between the cell and the optical tweezers is formulated by using the concept of cell–tweezers (C–T) coalition. Second, we develop a controller based on a defined potential field function to drive the C–T coalition to the desired state while avoiding collisions with other obstacles in the environment. Finally, we perform experiments of transferring yeast cells to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naviculocuneiform articulation is composed of the navicular proximally and the 3 cuneiforms distally. It is not uncommon to perform surgical interventions at this joint for multiple pathologic foot etiologies. To date, no detailed anatomic measurement is available for each cuneiform articulation on the navicular. The purpose of the present study was to present an anatomic description of this complex joint to aid in better surgical understanding and improve surgical outcomes. Ten fresh, frozen, and thawed below-the-knee cadaveric specimens were used for anatomic dissection of the navicular and associated cuneiforms. The height and width were recorded across the largest span of the entire navicular-cuneiform joint complex and each facet. The mean navicular height and width was 19.9 mm and 34.7 mm, respectively. The medial cuneiform facet mean height and width was 19.9 mm and 15.8 mm, respectively. The intermediate cuneiform facet mean height and width was 20.4 mm and 16.9 mm, respectively. The lateral cuneiform facet mean height and width was 17.5 mm and 14.7 mm, respectively. A detailed description of this joint complex will aid foot and ankle surgeons in screw placement and surgical decision-making when performing complex medial column fusions. Advanced 3-dimensional weightbearing computed tomography would give us a better idea of the motion that occurs within this complex joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing was not a part of the coalition of multiple nursing home stakeholders at the roll out of the Advancing Excellence Campaign (AEC). In January 2007, several nurse organizations proactively approached the AEC leadership, were welcomed and immediately began to volunteer for leadership positions such as committee chairs and conference coordinators. This paper presents an exemplar of how a proactive stance, even when not initially included, allowed nurses to secure chairs at the decision making table of this quality campaign and contribute to improved resident outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE) is a collaborative partnership between community colleges and a multicampus university in Oregon that developed in response to an emerging nursing shortage and changing health needs in the population. OCNE has created a redesigned curriculum with shared agreements for academic standards, admission, and seamless transition from associate to baccalaureate programs. Although the schools share pedagogical resources, curriculum, and standards, each partner school retains autonomy and accountability for its degree program. The creation and continued development of the consortium required the participation of people from multiple organizations with diverse concerns. Through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded evaluation of OCNE, this retrospective analysis was conducted to describe the process of consensus building that resulted in OCNE and to provide an explanatory framework for the benefit of others who are seeking to redesign nursing education in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to compare vertical and horizontal cooperation among freight forwarders. The paper analyses three freight forwarders (‘players’) with two different means of transportation. The first two players are truck-operating freight forwarders. The third player is a freight forwarder with its own ship. For the purposes of analysis, the paper applied a two-stage game. The results revealed that the best form of cooperation is the one in which the large truck-operating company would establish a coalition with the ship-operating company; that is, vertical cooperation. This cooperation would generate better payoffs in the form of profit, not only to the members of this coalition, but also to the player that has not joined the coalition. However, user surplus is negative in all coalitions, which shows that the establishment of these kinds of cooperation is not beneficial (in terms of prices) for the users of these service providers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This Regional Spotlight focuses on recent changes in public sector support for tourism in England since the Coalition Government was elected in 2010. It focuses on some of the early consequences of stripping away the long-established regional layer of tourism administration and its replacement with more flexible sub-regional arrangements of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). Policy extols the importance of reaping the rewards of the 2012 Olympics, but the recent changes in tourism administration challenge this by creating great uncertainty and by putting responsibility for delivery in the hands of multiple quasi-independent, non-government bodies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: Community prevention coalitions are a common strategy to mobilize stakeholders to implement tested and effective prevention programs to promote adolescent health and well-being. This article examines the sustainability of Communities That Care (CTC) coalitions approximately 20 months after study support for the intervention ended. Methods: The Community Youth Development Study is a community-randomized trial of the CTC prevention system. Using data from 2007 and 2009 coalition leader interviews, this study reports changes in coalition activities from a period of study support for CTC (2007) to 20 months following the end of study support for CTC (2009), measured by the extent to which coalitions continued to meet specific benchmarks. Results: Twenty months after study support for CTC implementation ended, 11 of 12 CTC coalitions in the Community Youth Development Study still existed. The 11 remaining coalitions continued to report significantly higher scores on the benchmarks of phases 2 through 5 of the CTC system than did prevention coalitions in the control communities. At the 20-month follow-up, two-thirds of the CTC coalitions reported having a paid staff person. Conclusions: This study found that the CTC coalitions maintained a relatively high level of implementation fidelity to the CTC system 20 months after the study support for the intervention ended. However, the downward trend in some of the measured benchmarks indicates that continued high-quality training and technical assistance may be important to ensure that CTC coalitions maintain a science-based approach to prevention, and continue to achieve public health impacts on adolescent health and behavior outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although previous research has suggested that the opposition’s ability to form pre-electoral coalitions (PECs) in authoritarian elections is crucial for the electoral outcome, little has been written about why and when such coalitions are formed. The aim of this article is to fill this empirical and theoretical gap. A theory that combines oppositional parties’ office- and policy-gaining potential when creating such coalitions is proposed. The article utilizes a unique database of 111 competitive authoritarian elections and provides a representative sample of strategically chosen cases. It is shown that, coalitions are more likely when structural conditions favor oppositional victories and when oppositional parties have a distinctive policy agenda in relation to the incumbent government. These factors are shown to be more important than electoral institutions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report on the fabrication of WO3 nanowires on Si (100) substrate using nickel catalyzed electron beam assisted rapid thermal annealing process. A 7nm thick W layer deposited on the nickel coated substrate was annealed under high vacuum using electron beam (3keV) for 30, 60 and 90s. The nickel activates the growth of tungsten nanowires with a high aspect ratio and subsequently is oxidized due to the high refractory nature of tungsten under exposure to oxygen gas. The resulting changes in surface morphology, oxidization state and elemental composition of WO3 nanowires were investigated systematically. The oxidization of metallic tungsten nanowire was found to depend on the annealing time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper aims to propose a new type of binary relations, called the viability relation, defined on the set of all coalitions in a simple game for a comparison of coalition influence, and to investigate its properties, especially its interrelationships to the desirability relation and the blockability relation. The viability relation is defined to compare coalitions based on their robustness over deviation of their members for complementing the inability of the desirability relation and the blockability relation to make a distinguishable comparison among winning coalitions. It is verified in this paper that the viability relation on a simple game is always transitive and is complete if and only if the simple game is S-unanimous for a coalition S. Examples show that there are no general inclusion relations among the desirability relation, the blockability relation and the viability relation. It is also verified that the viability relation and the blockability relation are complementary to each other. Specifically, the blockability relation between two coalitions is equivalent to the inversed viability relation between the complements of the two coalitions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a multi-agent-based approach for personnel scheduling problems in the context of a paced multi-product assembly center. Our purpose is to elaborate daily assignment of employees to workstations in order to minimize simultaneously the operational costs and personnel dissatisfactions. The proposed approach considers the individual competencies, mobility and preferences of each employee, as well as the personnel and competency requirements associated with each assembly activity given both the current master assembly schedule and the line balancing for each product. To benchmark the performance of the multi-agent approach, we use optimal solutions obtained through a linear programming model resolution using a commercial solver. Experimental results show that our multi-agent approach can produce high-quality and efficient solutions in a short computational time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Intergroup conflict poses a different kind of threat for men and women — a difference that can be expected to have implications for cognitive as well as behavioral processes. Participants were primed with a threat from a rival coalition vs. a control condition. Reaction times were measured on a lexical-decision task in response to ideation consistent with coalitions or with friendship/protective care. When primed for coalitional threat, men showed fast access to positive coalitional ideation (suggesting facilitation). In contrast, women showed exceptionally fast access to positive friendship/protective care ideation. Findings were interpreted as reflecting sexually dimorphic responses to coalitional threat that are consistent with differential advertising of their assets to others. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper shows some elementary facts on simple games with respect to blockability relations. It is verified in this paper that fundamental concepts on simple games as null players, dictators, veto players, and so on can be expressed in terms of blockability relations. More, some new concepts as “conflict-free” and so on, are introduced from the viewpoint of blockability relations into the framework of simple games. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The well known Nash’s pure bargaining solution was generalized by the author [Zhang, X., 1995. The pure bargaining problem among coalitions. Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research 12, 1–15] for the bargaining problem with an exogenous coalition structure. Nash’s axiom set was modified to develop a solution mapping for this new type of pure bargaining problem. Among other things, a similar solution concept for the same bargaining problem was given by [Chae, S., Heidhues, P., 2004. A group bargaining solution. Mathematical Social Sciences 48, 37–53]. Their solution’s mathematical presentation is quite different from Zhang’s solution. In this note, we present a proof to show that the two solutions are equivalent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To determine the incidence of a clinically evident carpal boss (bony prominence on the dorsal aspect of the second and/or third carpometacarpal joint) and by means of dissection to determine the incidence of osseous coalitions and any abnormality or absence of associated ligament anatomy in the second through fifth carpometacarpal joints in a cadaver population. Methods: The area of the second through fifth carpometacarpal joints was dissected in 202 cadaver wrists. Results: Thirty-nine of the wrists had a bony prominence and partial osseous coalition between 2 or more of the capitate, trapezoid, second metacarpal, and third metacarpal bones. When an osseous coalition was present it was incomplete, located at the dorsal aspect of the joint, and there was an absence of the normal dorsal ligaments at that joint. Ten of the 87 pairs of wrists were found to have bilateral carpal bosses with partial dorsal osseous coalition. The most common location of the osseous partial coalition was between the second metacarpal and the trapezoid. There were no osseous coalitions or absence of the normal dorsal ligaments at the fourth and/or fifth carpometacarpal joints. Conclusions: This study showed that there was a high percentage of partial osseous coalitions with an associated prominence of the skeletal anatomy in the general cadaver population. The etiology of the carpal boss remains unclear. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper gives a characterization of completeness of blockability relations on simple games. It is verified in this paper that the blockability relation on a simple game is complete if and only if the simple game is S-unanimous for some coalition S in N. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: This study describes the partner selection process in 15 U.S. communities developing community-researcher partnerships for the Connect to Protect® (C2P): Partnerships for Youth Prevention Interventions, an initiative of the Adolescent Trials Network for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Interventions. Methods: Each site generated an epidemiological profile of urban youth in their community, selected a focus population and geographic area of youth at risk for HIV, conducted a series of successive structured interviews, and engaged in a process of relationship-building efforts culminating in a collaborative network of community agencies. Results: Sites chose as their primary target population young women who have sex with men (n = 8 sites), young men who have sex with men (n = 6), and intravenous drug users (n = 1). Of 1162 agencies initially interviewed, 281 of 335 approached (84%) agreed to join the partnership (average 19/site). A diverse array of community agencies were represented in the final collaborative network; specific characteristics included: 93% served the sites’ target population, 54% were predominantly youth oriented, 59% were located in the geographical area of focus, and 39% reported provision of HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infection) prevention services. Relationship-building activities, development of collaborative relationships, and lessons learned, including barriers and facilitators to partnership, are also described. Conclusions: Study findings address a major gap in the community partner research literature. Health researchers and policymakers need an effective partner selection framework whereby community-researcher partnerships can develop a solid foundation to address public health concerns. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A kernel of a directed graph D is defined as an independent set which is reachable from each outside vertex by an arc. A graph G is called kernel-solvable if an orientation D of G has a kernel whenever each clique of G has a kernel in D. The notion of kernel-solvability has important applications in combinatorics, list coloring, and game theory. It turns out that kernel-solvability is equivalent to perfectness, as it was conjectured by Berge and Duchet in 1983. These and other kernel-related results are the subject of the present survey. Many of these results are independent of the strong perfect graph conjecture, yet, the recent proof of this conjecture and the efficient recognition of perfect graphs have several important implications, in particular in game theory, which are also included here. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The relatively large number of naviculo-cuneiform I cases reported from Japan, and their rarity in American and European clinical literature, suggests that populations may vary in tarsal coalition frequency [Kumai T, Tanaka Y, Takakura Y, Tamai S. Isolated first naviculocuneiform joint coalition. Foot Ankle Int 1996;17:635–40]. Our objective is to test for significant differences in naviculo-cuneiform I coalition frequency between geographically distinct populations. Skeletal remains from one African sample and two samples of European ancestry were analyzed. Fisher''s Exact tests [Uitenbroek DG. Fisher Exact [online]. 2000 [cited 2004 March 10]. Available from: URL: http://home.clara.net/sisa/fisher.htm] were employed to identify sample differences (α =0.05). Six cases of naviculo-cuneiform I coalition were identified in the African sample; no cases were found in the Danish or American samples. Naviculo-cuneiform I coalition was significantly more prevalent in South African Bantu than in medieval Danes (p =0.014; 1− β =0.70) or the combined sample of European ancestry (p =0.003; 1− β =0.83). Given the sample sizes studied, a statistical difference was not found between the American and South African samples (p =0.087; 1− β =0.52). Population differences in naviculo-cuneiform I coalition are clinically relevant since tarsal coalition may be symptomatic and associated with other abnormalities. Carpal coalition and transposition of the maxillary canine and first premolar were each found to be significantly associated with naviculo-cuneiform I coalition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Public relations will be a viable contributor to strategic management if it has knowledge and experience in the mixed motive model of public relations to include contention, avoidance, compromise, accommodation, cooperation, being unconditionally constructive, win/win or no deal, principled, and mediated. Secondly, membership in top management also depends on the experience and ability of the practitioner to do strategic planning and solve problems for the organization. This assertion incorporates the long-term accumulation of expertise and a relationship with the dominant coalition built on sound judgment and trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]