Counting Integer flows in Networks

This paper discusses new analytic algorithms and software for the enumeration of all integer flows inside a network. Concrete applications abound in graph theory \cite{Jaeger}, representation theory \cite{kirillov}, and statistics \cite{persi}. Our methods clearly surpass traditional exhaustive enumeration and other algorithms and can even yield formulas when the input data contains some parameters. These methods are based on the study of rational functions with poles on arrangements of hyperplanes

Allele frequency and selection efficiency in cross populations of Andean x Mesoamerican common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. Fabales, Fabaceae).

Strategies were investigated for improving efficiency in the use of segregating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) populations using crosses between the Andean cultivar BRS-Radiante and the Mesoamerican parent cultivar Carioca-MG by developing populations with 12.5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 87.5% of the allele frequency of one of the parents. For each of the five populations we evaluated for two traits, the number of days to the beginning of flowering and grain yield (g plot -1), in the F2:3 (sown in February 2006) and F2:4 (sown in July 2006) generation progenies using 15 x 15 lattice design experiments, with 44 progenies (n = 220 plants) plus the two parents and three controls being evaluated for each generation. In terms of variability release, the populations with different parental allele frequencies presented no consistent tendency of alteration. In general, genetic variance was stated among progenies in all populations, indicating success with selection. For grain yield, the lowest mean was observed in the populations with 50% of the alleles of both parents. If, for instance, the objective is to develop earlier flowering lines, the best strategy is to perform two, or at least one, backcross with the earliest parent. The most suitable allele frequency is to be determined according to the desired grain type

Evidencia del síndrome neuropático en un estudio neurofisiológico e inmunohistoquímico de las fibras nerviosas en pacientes con síndrome de boca ardiente

espanolIntroduccion: El sindrome de la boca ardiente (SBA) es una enfermedad de frecuente aparicion, caracterizada para un dolor quemante y ardiente en la lengua y en la cavidad oral, en ausencia de alteraciones estructurales macroscopicas de las mucosas. La etiopatogenesis del SBA no es todavia conocida y por lo tanto no presenta un esquema diagnostico claro y bien definido. Material y metodos: Para evaluar la hipotesis que contempla una alteracion de las fibras nerviosas perifericas de pequeno calibre, asociada o no con una alteracion trofica de las mucosas, hemos seleccionados 25 pacientes (7 varones y 18 mujeres, con una edad comprendida entre 36 y 75 anos, una media de 54 anos) afectados por SBA, que llegaron a nuestra clinica para una serie de examenes que suelen realizarse de forma rutinaria en las sindromes de dolor neurologico. En todos los pacientes se ha realizado un cuidadoso examen objetivo y una ortopantomografia, con la finalidad de excluir alteraciones de las mucosas y enfermedades odontologicas. En todos los pacientes se han realizado: examenes hematoquimicos, examenes objetivos neurologicos, teletermografia de la lengua y de la cara, examen cuantitativo de la sensibilidad termica de la lengua, de las manos y de la parte dorsal del pie. Los resultados del examen cuantitativo de la sensibilidad termica de la lengua y de la muneca se confrontaban con una poblacion control homogenea. En una poblacion de 10 pacientes (3 varones y 7 mujeres; de una edad comprendida entre 34 y 53 anos, una media de 49 anos) se ha realizado un biopsia de la parte dorsal de la lengua, la biopsias se han analizado con microscopia optica e inmunofluresencia tras un tratamiento con anticuerpos activos para proteinas neuronales citoplasmaticas (protein gene product 9.5). Resultados: Los datos obtenidos evidenciaban la presencia de una polineuropatia subclinica en el 50% de los pacientes. Especialmente se apreciaban signos de baja funcionalidad de las fibras nerviosas de pequeno calibre de la lengua en casi la mitad de los pacientes examinados. El examen histologico de la mucosa lingual evidenciaba una atrofia discreta en el 70% de los pacientes, mientras que la observacion de las fibras nerviosas de pequeno calibre por medio de la inmunofluoresencia hacia suponer la presencia de alteraciones relacionadas con una polineuropatia de tipo periferico. EnglishAims. Burning pain is considered characteristic of chronic neuropathic pain condition in general, and so me recent data seem to suggest peripheral or central nervous system involvement as possible underlying factor in BMS. This study was designed to determinate if burning mouth symptoms could be originated from a peripheal neuropathy of small diameter nerve fibres. Material and methods. The material of the study consisted of 25 patients (18 female, 7 male, 30-75 years; means 54 years). In all patients there were not: oral muco membranes lesions, oral muco membranes diseases, oral correlated diseases, oral dysfunctions, dental and periodontal diseases. Besides there were: no evidence of central nervous system pathology, no evidence of peripheral nervous system pathology, no presence of organic body disfunctions. AIIpatients didn't show significant alterations of blood investigations. AII patients were undermitted to our protocol including: oral and facial clinical examinations, neurological exam, blood investigations, Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire, VAS (visual analogical scale), biopsy of tongue mucosa with hystological and immunofluorescence exams, quantitative somatosensory thermotest and teletermography examination of tongue mucosa. ResuIts. These examinations have showed subclinical polineurophaty in 50% of patients. In particular were observed a loss of function in small diameter nervous fibres in about 50% of patients. Hystological exam of mucosal tongue revealed a moderate atrophy and alterations of structures. Conclusion. Etiology, pathogenetic processes, clinical and diagnostic approaches, therapeutical resolutions and researches of burning mouth syndrome are not clear yet. The local alterations of small diameter sensitive nerve fibres could cause an increase of oral burning, without muco membranes pathologies. These locallesions could justify the bms clinical symptomatology. The hystological alteration of small diameter sensitive nerve fibres could involve meaningful alterations of thermal reactivity of oral and body surfaces. These clinical reactivities are evident in chronic peripheal neuropathy (diabetes). These conclusions and our study results are still provisory. It will be necessary to estend and to increase our results, comparing our research with other bms etio-pathogenetic hypotesis

THE IMPLANT TREATMENT OF TWO PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME WITH MULTIFACTORIAL REGENERATIVE PROTOCOL

The purpose of the work is to show that it is possible to rehabilitate with Multifatorial Regenerative Protocol (MFRP) also the patients with diseases considered to be absolute contraindications to the implant rehabilitation. For the rehabilitation it has been used the PBR rehabilitation technique, that allows to insert prosthetic roots not excessively traumatizing the bone tissue and to avoid the use of high speed rotary burs. Despite the disease and the poor bone quality, it has been possible to obtain the osteo-connection only in 45 days. Using the MFRP implants, it is possible to rehabilitate with a high percentage of success also patients with poor bone quality and density

Erythrocyte morphology automated analysis: proposal for a new prediction tool of essential hypertension diagnosis

Erythrocyte morphology has already been studied in essential hypertension (EH) and cell membrane alterations have been observed. Relationships among red cell rheological, biochemical, and morphological properties still appear complex and are not clearly understood

How does diet influence our lives? Evaluating the relationship between isotopic signatures and mortality patterns in italian roman imperial and medieval periods

The present research investigates the relationship between dietary habits and mortality patterns in the Roman Imperial and Medieval periods. The reconstructions of population dynamics and subsistence strategies provide a fascinating source of information for understanding our history. This is particularly true given that the changes in social, economic, political, and religious aspects related to the transition from the Roman period to the Middle Ages have been widely discussed. We analyzed the isotopic and mortality patterns of 616 individuals from 18 archeological sites (the Medieval Latium sites of Colonna, Santa Severa, Allumiere, Cencelle, and 14 Medieval and Imperial funerary contexts from Rome) to compile a survivorship analysis. A semi-parametric approach was applied, suggesting variations in mortality patterns between sexes in the Roman period. Nitrogen isotopic signatures influenced mortality in both periods, showing a quadratic and a linear effect for Roman Imperial and Medieval populations, respectively. No influence of carbon isotopic signatures has been detected for Roman Imperial populations. Conversely, increased mortality risk for rising carbon isotopic values was observed in Medieval samples