Increasing productivity of knowledge workers by ontological training

Proceedings of the International Conference «Business Sustainability BS 2008», Minho, Portugal, 2008. pp. 158-163knowledge-driven organizations, productivity of knowledge workers, learning, thinking, analyst training,

Noncommutative Multi-Instantons on R^{2n} x S^2

Generalizing self-duality on R^2 x S^2 to higher dimensions, we consider the Donaldson-Uhlenbeck-Yau equations on R^{2n} x S^2 and their noncommutative deformation for the gauge group U(2). Imposing SO(3) invariance (up to gauge transformations) reduces these equations to vortex-type equations for an abelian gauge field and a complex scalar on R^{2n}_\theta. For a special S^2-radius R depending on the noncommutativity \theta we find explicit solutions in terms of shift operators. These vortex-like configurations on R^{2n}_\theta determine SO(3)-invariant multi-instantons on R^{2n}_\theta x S^2_R for R=R(\theta). The latter may be interpreted as sub-branes of codimension 2n inside a coincident pair of noncommutative Dp-branes with an S^2 factor of suitable size.Comment: 1+8 pages, v2: reference added, version published in PL

Tidal evolution of close-in exoplanets in co-orbital configurations

In this paper, we study the behavior of a pair of co-orbital planets, both orbiting a central star on the same plane and undergoing tidal interactions. Our goal is to investigate final orbital configurations of the planets, initially involved in the 1/1 mean-motion resonance (MMR), after long-lasting tidal evolution. The study is done in the form of purely numerical simulations of the exact equations of motions accounting for gravitational and tidal forces. The results obtained show that, at least for equal mass planets, the combined effects of the resonant and tidal interactions provoke the orbital instability of the system, often resulting in collision between the planets. We first discuss the case of two hot-super-Earth planets, whose orbital dynamics can be easily understood in the frame of our semi-analytical model of the 1/1 MMR. Systems consisting of two hot-Saturn planets are also briefly discussed.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronom

Deficiency of NOX1 or NOX4 Prevents Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mice through Inhibition of Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) play a key role in liver injury and fibrosis. Previous studies demonstrated that GKT137831, a dual NOX1/4 inhibitor, attenuated liver fibrosis in mice as well as pro-fibrotic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as well as hepatocyte apoptosis. The effect of NOX1 and NOX4 deficiency in liver fibrosis is unclear, and has never been directly compared. HSCs are the primary myofibroblasts in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Therefore, we aimed to determine the role of NOX1 and NOX4 in liver fibrosis, and investigated whether NOX1 and NOX4 signaling mediates liver fibrosis by regulating HSC activation. Mice were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) to induce liver fibrosis. Deficiency of either NOX1 or NOX4 attenuates liver injury, inflammation, and fibrosis after CCl4 compared to wild-type mice. NOX1 or NOX4 deficiency reduced lipid peroxidation and ROS production in mice with liver fibrosis. NOX1 and NOX4 deficiency are approximately equally effective in preventing liver injury in the mice. The NOX1/4 dual inhibitor GKT137831 suppressed ROS production as well as inflammatory and proliferative genes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or sonic hedgehog (Shh) in primary mouse HSCs. Furthermore, the mRNAs of proliferative and pro-fibrotic genes were downregulated in NOX1 and NOX4 knock-out activated HSCs (cultured on plastic for 5 days). Finally, NOX1 and NOX4 protein levels were increased in human livers with cirrhosis compared with normal controls. Thus, NOX1 and NOX4 signaling mediates the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, including the direct activation of HSC

Substantiation Of Hot Smoking Parameters Based On Sensory Researches In Hot Fish Marinades Technology In The Jelly Pouring

Modern technologies of food products provide creation of healthy, tasty and safe products, characterized by high organoleptic properties, balance by main food factors and structural-mechanical parameters of a product.The main technological process in the technology of fish marinades and a jelly pouring is the hot smoking. Technological parameters of the hot smoking have been scientifically grounded on the base of the statistical processing of data of sensory studies. Organoleptic assessment of semi-products after the thermal processing was carried out by 5-point system corresponding to the elaborated scale. The quantitative assessment of organoleptic parameters of the quality of experimental samples was determined by the totality of all assessment points, taking into account chosen weight coefficients depending on the importance degree of a given parameter at forming consumer qualities of a product. The generalizing quality parameter was calculated as a sum of assessments of organoleptic parameters – taste, consistence and appearance. Individual assessments of separated quality parameters of products (in points) were put in degustation lists and statistically processed by the averaging method.The smoking process realization, according to scientifically grounded parameters allows to produce the new type of tasty, healthy and presentable culinary products of a perspective object of Ukrainian aquaculture – silver carp of a prolonged storage term