A measure theoretic approach to traffic flow optimization on networks

We consider a class of optimal control problems for measure-valued nonlinear transport equations describing traffic flow problems on networks. The objective isto minimise/maximise macroscopic quantities, such as traffic volume or average speed,controlling few agents, for example smart traffic lights and automated cars. The measuretheoretic approach allows to study in a same setting local and nonlocal drivers interactionsand to consider the control variables as additional measures interacting with the driversdistribution. We also propose a gradient descent adjoint-based optimization method, ob-tained by deriving first-order optimality conditions for the control problem, and we providesome numerical experiments in the case of smart traffic lights for a 2-1 junction.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

Las huellas del pasado en el jardín de infantes de la provincia de San Luis. Una experiencia de filosofía con niñxs

En el presente trabajo nos proponemos repensar nuestra experiencia en los talleres de filosofía con niñxs realizados en un jardín de infantes público de la provincia de San Luis, en el marco del PROICO 04-0920 “Filosofía, Educación e Infancia. La importancia de la cuestión del sujeto en la teoría pedagógica”. Nos centraremos en algunas situaciones inesperadas que emergieron durante tales encuentros y que se tornaron significativas a la luz de la historia social del nivel inicial, tanto en nuestro país como en nuestra provincia. Haremos referencia, particularmente, a dos períodos de la historia del nivel inicial provincial: su momento fundacional en los años ’30 y el despliegue de las políticas educativas de la década de los 90

Robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy with vascular resection: technical details and results from a high-volume center

Background: Pancreaticoduodenectomy with vein resection (PD-VR) is widely accepted as a standard procedure to achieve a higher rate of R0 resections in borderline resectable pancreatic tumors. Thanks to the availability of newer technologies, such as the da Vinci Surgical System, several high-volume centers are reporting small series of minimally invasive PD-VR. Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed to identify patients who underwent robot-assisted PD-VR (RAPD-VR) between May 2011 and December 2019. The following factors were specifically analyzed: intraoperative results, post-operative complications, mortality at 90 days, patency of vascular reconstructions, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: During the study period 184 patients underwent RAPD, including 22 who received a RAPDVR (12.0%). The superior mesenteric vein was resected in 9 patients (40.9%), the portal vein in 3 patients (13.6%) and the spleno-mesenteric junction in 10 patients (45.5%). Based on the classification provided by the International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery these procedures were classified as follows: 1 type I (4.5%), 3 type II (13.6%), 10 type III (45.5%) and 8 type IV (36.4%). In no patient the splenic vein was ligated and left behind. The splenic vein was always reimplanted either on the porto-mesenteric axis or in the inferior vena cava. All but one procedure, were completed under robotic assistance (conversion rate 1/22; 4.5%) after a mean operative time of 610.0±83.5 minutes. Median estimated blood loss was 899.7 mL (719.4–1,430.2 mL), with 2 patients (9.1%) receiving intraoperative blood transfusions. Sixteen patients developed post-operative complications (72.7%), graded ≥III (according to Clavien-Dindo) in 5 patients (22.7%). Two patients died within 90 days, accounting for a postoperative mortality of 9.1%. Interestingly, post-operative pancreatic fistula (grade B) occurred in only 1 patient (4.5%). Repeat surgery was required in 4 patients (18.2%) and hospital readmission in 1 patient (4.5%). At the longest available follow-up, vein reconstruction was patent in 19 patients (86.4%). Eighteen patients had a final diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (81.8%). After circumferential study of resection margins, microscopic tumor residual ≤1 mm was found in 11 patients (50.0%). The mean number of examined lymph nodes was 42.2 (±16.3), and vascular infiltration was confirmed in 13 patients (59.1%). Median OS was 39.7 (27.5–not available) and DFS 32.9 (11.5–45.8). Tumor recurrence was identified in 6 patients (27.3%). One patient (4.5%) developed isolated local recurrence. Conclusions: We have shown the feasibility of RAPD-VR. The results reported herein need to be confirmed in larger series and their generalizability remains to be established

Dissection of reverse gyrase activities: insight into the evolution of a thermostable molecular machine†

Reverse gyrase is a peculiar DNA topoisomerase, specific of thermophilic microorganisms, which induces positive supercoiling into DNA molecules in an ATP-dependent reaction. It is a modular enzyme and comprises an N-terminal helicase-like module fused to a C-terminal topoisomerase IA-like domain. The exact molecular mechanism of this unique reaction is not understood, and a fundamental mechanistic question is how its distinct steps are coordinated. We studied the cross-talk between the components of this molecular motor and probed communication between the DNA-binding sites and the different activities (DNA relaxation, ATP hydrolysis and positive supercoiling). We show that the isolated ATPase and topoisomerase domains of reverse gyrase form specific physical interactions, retain their own DNA binding and enzymatic activities, and when combined cooperate to achieve the unique ATP-dependent positive supercoiling activity. Our results indicate a mutual effect of both domains on all individual steps of the reaction. The C-terminal domain shows ATP-independent topoisomerase activity, which is repressed by the N-terminal domain in the full-length enzyme; experiments with the isolated domains showed that the C-terminal domain has stimulatory influence on the ATPase activity of the N-terminal domain. In addition, the two domains showed a striking reciprocal thermostabilization effect

Turismo Rural Seguro: la reactivación de la actividad en Argentina y en España post COVID-19

Presentación en diapositivasEl trabajo presenta el proyecto cuyo objetivo pretende identificar las principales herramientas disponibles para la reactivación del turismo rural 2020 y realizar un aporte académico y orientativo para las gestiones de destinos turísticos de Argentina, así como para los técnicos e instituciones en territorio que acompañan el desarrollo y la reactivación de la actividad post Covid 19.Centro de investigación en Economía y ProspectivaFil.: Gallo, Graciela Inés. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil.: García Guerrero, Javier. Actividad privada; EspañaFil.: Ocho, María Elena. Actividad privada; EspañaFil: Cacace, Silvana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Escuela Argentina de Negocios; ArgentinaFil: Buryaili, Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Escuela Argentina de Negocios; ArgentinaFil: Dellamonica, Javier Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Agencia de Extensión Rural Monte Vera; ArgentinaFil: Dellamonica, Javier Alejandro. Confederación Argentina de la Mediana Empresa (CAME); ArgentinaFil: Walter, Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación en Economía y Prospectiva (CIEP); ArgentinaFil: García, Aldana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Escuela Argentina de Negocios; ArgentinaFil: Bergesio, Lucía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Escuela Argentina de Negocios; ArgentinaFil: García Rico, Sofía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Escuela Argentina de Negocios; ArgentinaFil: Carrón, Lucía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Escuela Argentina de Negocios; Argentin

Active elderly and health-can moderate exercise improve health and wellbeing in older adults? Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background: Aging is marked by a progressive rise in chronic diseases with an impact on social and healthcare costs. Physical activity (PA) may soothe the inconveniences related to chronic diseases, has positive effects on the quality of life and biological rhythms, and can prevent the decline in motor functions and the consequent falls, which are associated with early death and disability in older adults. Methods: We randomized 120 over-65 males and females into groups of similar size and timing and will give each either moderate physical activity or cultural and recreational activities. Being younger than 65 years, inability to participate in physical activity for any medical reason, and involvement in a massive program of physical exercise are the exclusion criteria. The primary outcome measures are quality of life, walking speed, and postural sway. Participants are tested at baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month (24 weeks) and 12-month (48 weeks) follow-ups. Discussion: This study aims at improving the quality of life, wellness, and cognitive functioning in the elderly through a low-cost affordable program of moderate physical activity. Given the growing aging of the world population and the social and economic burden of disability in the elderly, our results might have a major impact on future practices

Auditory Resting-State Network Connectivity in Tinnitus: A Functional MRI Study

The underlying functional neuroanatomy of tinnitus remains poorly understood. Few studies have focused on functional cerebral connectivity changes in tinnitus patients. The aim of this study was to test if functional MRI “resting-state” connectivity patterns in auditory network differ between tinnitus patients and normal controls. Thirteen chronic tinnitus subjects and fifteen age-matched healthy controls were studied on a 3 tesla MRI. Connectivity was investigated using independent component analysis and an automated component selection approach taking into account the spatial and temporal properties of each component. Connectivity in extra-auditory regions such as brainstem, basal ganglia/NAc, cerebellum, parahippocampal, right prefrontal, parietal, and sensorimotor areas was found to be increased in tinnitus subjects. The right primary auditory cortex, left prefrontal, left fusiform gyrus, and bilateral occipital regions showed a decreased connectivity in tinnitus. These results show that there is a modification of cortical and subcortical functional connectivity in tinnitus encompassing attentional, mnemonic, and emotional networks. Our data corroborate the hypothesized implication of non-auditory regions in tinnitus physiopathology and suggest that various regions of the brain seem involved in the persistent awareness of the phenomenon as well as in the development of the associated distress leading to disabling chronic tinnitus

ΔNp63α a key factor of epithelial differentiation controls the activity of YB-1 oncoprotein: potential implications in carcinogenesis

My thesis unveils a novel protein-protein association involving ΔNp63αand YB-1 and a mechanism through which a factor essential for epithelial development and differentiation can control the activity of an oncoprotein