We will prove that when uniformly distributed random numbers are sorted by value, their successive differences are a exponentially distributed random variable Ex(λ). For a set of n random numbers, the parameters of mathematical expectation and standard deviation is λ =n−1. The theorem was verified on four series of 200 sets of 101 random numbers each. The first series was obtained on the basis of decimals of the constant e=2.718281…, the second on the decimals of the constant π =3.141592…, the third on a Pseudo Random Number generated from Excel function RAND, and the fourth series of True Random Number generated from atmospheric noise. The obtained results confirm the application of the derived theorem in practice.

A prominent vein of comparative cognition research asks which cognitive abilities may be ascribed to different species. Here, we argue that the current structure of comparative cognition makes it near impossible to evaluate the accuracy of many of the claims produced by the field’s empirical research. We base this argument on six observations: i) the field is biased towards confirming more exceptional abilities in animals, ii) a likely high rate of false positive discovery, iii) the persistence of the bias towards more exceptional abilities, even in the presence of strong methodological criticism, iv) the absence of a formal method to assess evidence of absence of a cognitive ability, v) the ambiguity in definitions used to make claims, and vi) the small size of the research field. We then highlight how the widespread methodological and conceptual criticism in the comparative cognition literature does not facilitate scientific progress, rather it can impede it by creating an illusion of scientific rigour. Finally, we call for a reform of our research field that draws on recent developments in related fields and the Open Science movement.

Team performance depends on both individual and collaborative skills. This dependence creates increasing education and training demand while striving to improve teams’ efficiency. Consequentially, training and education systems emerge with new capabilities that are changing the learning landscape. With increasingly disperse and mobile teams it can be very inefficient and costly to provide training and education in a centralized instructor-led classes’ manner. Remote solutions are able to reach far more potential users at any moment, and tend to be satisfactory and possibly preferred in many different training and education areas. Computer Aided Design (CAD) requires high quality graphics for positive impact and high satisfaction. Software tools used for hands-on CAD training exercises depend on dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to deal with complex graphics processing needed to visualize virtual models in real-time. It is challenging for the remote training system to offer this high level of experience to remote users. In this paper, synergy of conventional CAD laboratory workstations into cells is proposed in order to create a cost-effective team training remote system. The system utilizes existing capabilities of dedicated GPUs and custom software modules to capture video, perform hardware HEVC encoding, and stream the video at low bitrates and sub-second latency to remote team members.

The ascending trend in retail electricity prices since the first energy package is often blamed on the market reforms and the cost of a low carbon economy. The present study analyzes EU-28 statistical data on retail prices for the medium households and industries, for the years 2008–2017, a period of economic slowdown. We focus especially on six countries, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia and Spain and examine retail prices against the degree of renewable energy sources (RES) penetration and the market liberalization in each country. We also examine the cases of three Western Balkan countries that still have a very low degree of liberalization. The increasing percentage of RES in electricity generation, the number of retailers and the market share of the main retailer are analyzed with respect to the retail electricity price for the period studied. In spite of the different specifics of each country's economy, there are certain common trends. The price increase has been found to be the result of levies and taxes, rather than the energy cost, with the burden carried mostly by households. In the cases studied here, the increase correlates with either the increase in RES or increased competition or both depending on the market structures in place during the examined period and the maturity and performance of the measures towards a liberalized electricity market and a low carbon economy.

Assessing the socio-economic impact of dangerous chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as a specific segment, includes analysis of their impacts on human health, on the environment and on local economic development. Abundant evidence of these effects of dangerous chemicals throughout the world is provided by published research. According to WHO, these chemicals cause around 4.9 million deaths (8.3%) and 86 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (5.7%) globally; according to very conservative estimates, 20% of cancer deaths are the consequence of the cancerous effects of chemicals in the work place. Their impact on economic development is manifested primarily through reduced productivity of society due to health impairment of both the population and natural resources. Specific research, the results of which are presented in this article, has been focused on the impact of POPs on human health. This impact is presented in very general terms through estimation of the monetized cost effects for treating those diseases and cancers assumed to be caused by POPs in Serbia. The cost estimation based on available data amounts to approximately € 68 million for a 5-year period.

Introduction: Color Doppler and CT angiography are diagnostic methods commonly used to determine the degree of carotid stenosis. Aim: To evaluate how the degree of carotid stenosis determined by the Color Doppler correlates with the degree of stenosis determined by the CT angiography. Material and Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective study. It included 42 patients with carotid stenosis. From medical records we collected anamnestic data (gender, age and risk factors - hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking and obesity) and the results regarding the degree of carotid stenosis determined by Color Doppler and CT angiography. Results: Out of the total number of patients (n=42), 73.8% were males and 26.2% were females. Average age of examined patients was 65.24±8.61. Most frequent risk factor of atherosclerosis was hypertension, followed by hyperlipidemia and smoking. NASCET grading distinguishes: first (0-29%), second (30-69%) and third (70-99%) degree of carotid stenosis. According to the Color Doppler evaluation findings, the second degree had 8 patients and 34 patients had the third degree of carotid stenosis. CT angiography have shown that 35 patients had third degree carotid stenosis, while 7 patients had the second degree carotid stenosis. In only one case results of evaluated methods differed regarding assessment of carotid stenosis. We have found that there is a significant positive correlation of the degree of carotid stenosis determined by the Color Doppler with the degree of stenosis determined by CT angiography (p=0.0002). Risk factors of atherosclerosis did not have a significant correlation with the degree of carotid stenosis (p>0.05). Conclusion: The degree of carotid stenosis estimated by the Color Doppler positively correlates with the degree of stenosis estimated by CT angiography.

This letter studies the stabilization of non-linear networked control systems (NCSs) where the information between plant and controller is sent over a lossy wireless multi-hop network under a carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA-CA) scheme. We present a hybrid model for the overall NCS that captures time-varying transmission instants, both inter-and at-transmission behavior, packet dropouts, field device dynamics, and CSMA-CA scheduling. We then use this model to provide sufficient conditions in terms of the intensity of transmission that ensure closed-loop $ \mathcal {L}_{p}$ stability-in-expectation. In doing so, we exploit the mathematical structure of our NCS model to improve previous results in the literature.

Metastatic Leydig cell tumors (LCT) are rare, difficult to treat malignancies without known underlying molecular-genetic events. We profiled 27 LCT cases using NGS and immunohistochemistry. Our study identified TERT gene fusions as a main genetic alteration and a potential therapeutic target in LCT. TOP1 and AR expressions may guide decisions on chemo- and/or hormone therapy for selected individual patients. Objective: Metastatic Leydig cell tumors (LCT) are rare, difficult-to-treat malignancies without known underlying molecular–genetic events. An index case of metastatic LCT showed an LDLR–TERT gene fusion upon routine genetic profiling for detection of therapeutic targets, which was then followed by an investigation into a cohort of additional LCTs. Patients and Methods: Twenty-nine LCT (27 male and 2 female patients) were profiled using next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry. Results: TERT gene fusions were detected only in testicular metastatic LCTs, in 3 of 7 successfully analyzed cases (RMST:TERT,LDLR:TERT, and B4GALT5:TERT). TOP1 and CCND3 amplifications were identified in the case with a B4GALT5:TERT fusion. A TP53 mutation was detected in 1 metastatic tumor without a TERT fusion. Five primary (4 testicular and 1 ovarian) LCTs showed multiple gene amplifications, without a consistent pattern. A single metastatic ovarian LCT showed BAP1 mutation and copy number amplifications affecting the NPM1, PCM1, and SS18 genes. At the protein level, 4 of 7 metastatic and 6 of 10 primary testicular LCTs overexpressed Topo1. Androgen receptor was overexpressed in 10 of 13 primary testicular tumors and 2 of 5 metastatic testicular LCTs (without detectable ARv7 messenger RNA or ARv7 protein). Only 1 metastatic testicular LCT exhibited a high tumor mutational burden; all tested cases were microsatellite instability stable and did not express programmed cell death ligand 1. Conclusions: Our study for the first time identified TERT gene fusions as a main genetic alteration and a potential therapeutic target in metastatic LCTs. Topo1 and androgen receptor may guide decisions on chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy for selected individual patients.

Abstract Background An optimal adjuvant treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer includes the initiation of trastuzumab within 6 months after the surgery. However, due to limited resources and waiting lists, this timeframe is often exceeded in developing countries. We previously reported short-term outcomes of a time-optimal versus delayed postoperative initiation of trastuzumab in women with HER2 positive, non-metastatic, neoadjuvant naive breast cancer. Here, we report an extended follow-up, summarizing outcomes of our cohorts. Methods We included 223 consecutive women with surgically treated, non-metastatic, neoadjuvant naive, HER2 positive breast cancer from 2009 to 2011, from four institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Patients were assigned to a time-optimal group (TOG), or a delayed group 1 (DG1), or a delayed group 2 (DG2), depending on whether their adjuvant trastuzumab was initiated 6 months, or 6-12 months, or more than 12 months after the surgery, respectively. A cut-off point for the follow-up was January 2019. We compared clinical outcomes between the groups, taking into account lymph node status. Results The patient’s median age was 55 (range 27-80) years. Mean follow-up period was 67 (range 4-109) months. Node-negative disease was found in 38.6% patients overall. 37% (TOG) patients received trastuzumab within 6 months, while 41% (DG1) received it within 6-12, and 22% (DG2) more than 12 months after their surgery. A higher number of node negative patients was found in the DG2 group compared to the TOG and DG1 groups (48%, 35%, and 36% respectively). 5-year DFS rate was 70.73% (TOG), 67.03% (DG1), and 62.00% (DG2). The OS rate was 78.05% (TOG), 75.82% (DG1), and 74.00% (DG2). Conclusions From the above, a conclusion can be made that patients with time-optimal initiation of adjuvant trastuzumab therapy had a higher 5-year DFS and OS rate compared to the delayed treatment initiation groups. Results of the DG1 and the DG2 group indicate that trastuzumab therapy shows a persistent benefit even if administered with a delay. Higher DFS and OS rates in the DG2 group could be explained by a higher number of node-negative low-risk, patients in this group. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Roche. Disclosure S. Beslija: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Pfizer. T. Ceric: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis. B. Hasanbegovic: Advisory / Consultancy: Roche. A. Pasic: Advisory / Consultancy: Merck; Advisory / Consultancy: Sanofi. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

The trajectory of a moving object may be extracted from video using image processing algorithms. However, the quality of the extracted information largely depends on the frame rate and exposure time of the camera, thus it is difficult to capture fast movement using slower and less expensive cameras. To this end, we propose to use an active modulated light source for object tracking, interacting with exposure times and subsampling existing frames. A prototype of a multi-functional active visual marker is presented in this paper. The system is based on the ESP-WROOM-32 microcontroller, which is configured to use various communication protocols, namely WiFi 802.11, RF 2.4 GHz GFSK and RS485. The microcontroller controls the RGB LED, which is used as light source. In addition, the system can be synchronized with the external real-time clock. The experimental results have illustrated the advantages and disadvantages of the designed active markers and pointed out the directions for future work and development.

Computer vision systems are frequently used for inspection and classification of products during manufacturing. Image processing and analysis allows non-invasive extraction of object features within an image and the classification of objects based on the extracted data. Shape, texture and color are typical features that can be extracted from an image and used for object recognition. In this paper, a method of detection, segmentation and classification of resistors captured in digital image, based on their nominal values, is presented. The process consists of the following steps: image segmentation, morphological image processing, representation and description of objects, object features extraction, classification of extracted data using support vector machines (SVM). Experimental results show that the proposed method exhibits solid performance and real-time operating capabilities.

Color vision deficiency is a surprisingly frequent vision impairment, but not considered to be a mayor eye disease due to being inherited condition and not progressive condition. However it poses serious restrictions on a visually impaired person because vision deficiency tests are commonly used to disqualify individuals affected by color vision deficiency from certain occupations. Color vision deficiency cannot be cured, thus it is important to develop suitable assistive technology to overcome the restrictions it poses. Virtual reality can project custom and separate images to both eyes in a real-time and thus enabling a new class of assistive technology that can deliver visual information in a highly customized manner. Virtual reality based assistive technology is promising for age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and particularly for color vision deficiency. Virtual reality prototype is created based on a video see-through setup using commercial virtual reality headset and stereo camera. The prototype uses custom image processing to transform visual information from the camera to color vision deficiency friendly form. Time-domain color mapping real-time image processing is proposed to improve scores on standard color vision deficiency tests - Ishihara tests. Experiment is conducted to evaluate a protanope time-domain color mapping with sinusoidal envelope.