Series which are both max-plus and min-plus rational are unambiguous

Consider partial maps from the free monoid into the field of real numbers with a rational domain. We show that two families of such series are actually the same: the unambiguous rational series on the one hand, and the max-plus and min-plus rational series on the other hand. The decidability of equality was known to hold in both families with different proofs, so the above unifies the picture. We give an effective procedure to build an unambiguous automaton from a max-plus automaton and a min-plus one that recognize the same series

Human oriented performance management: Is there a gap between executives and non-executives?

For organizations it is important to translate the strategy and goals of the organization in tangible targets for the employees. Often, this leads to many Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for the employees. However, the link between their personal KPI’s and the goals of the organization is not always recognised. Therefore, based on previous research into performance management and on theories of organizational behaviour, culture and performance a model was developed to measure human oriented performance management in organizations. Human oriented performance management is all about establishing a direct connection between the objectives and strategy of an organization (or part thereof) and the activities and tasks of the people in the different processes. The research question in this paper is to what extent the dimensions of human oriented performance management do occur within organizations and how these dimensions are perceived by executive and non-executive employees. Using a mixed method approach, survey data was collected among 64 employees of three organizations, and additional eight interviews with executives and eight interviews with non-executives were held to explore and understand the results of the survey. The results show that continues improvement and organizational learning have the highest scores within all of the organizations. The lowest score for all the organizations is Visualization. Executives score slightly higher on most dimensions of human oriented performance management. Especially, the difference between the dimensions Action orientation and Dialogue is notable. The main conclusion is that it\u27s unclear to which extent management and employees really talk about the performance and how to improve it. For many non-executives it is unclear what the organization objectives are and how they perform on these objectives

MP2RAGE provides new clinically-compatible correlates of mild cognitive deficits in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Despite that cognitive impairment is a known early feature present in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the biological substrate of cognitive deficits in MS remains elusive. In this study, we assessed whether T1 relaxometry, as obtained in clinically acceptable scan times by the recent Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echoes (MP2RAGE) sequence, may help identifying the structural correlate of cognitive deficits in relapsing-remitting MS patients (RRMS). Twenty-nine healthy controls (HC) and forty-nine RRMS patients underwent high-resolution 3T magnetic resonance imaging to obtain optimal cortical lesion (CL) and white matter lesion (WML) count/volume and T1 relaxation times. T1 z scores were then obtained between T1 relaxation times in lesion and the corresponding HC tissue. Patient cognitive performance was tested using the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuro-psychological Tests. Multivariate analysis was applied to assess the contribution of MRI variables (T1 z scores, lesion count/volume) to cognition in patients and Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparison. T1 z scores were higher in WML (p<0.001) and CL-I (p<0.01) than in the corresponding normal-appearing tissue in patients, indicating relative microstructural loss. (1) T1 z scores in CL-I (p=0.01) and the number of CL-II (p=0.04) were predictors of long-term memory; (2) T1 z scores in CL-I (β=0.3; p=0.03) were independent determinants of long-term memory storage, and (3) lesion volume did not significantly influenced cognitive performances in patients. Our study supports evidence that T1 relaxometry from MP2RAGE provides information about microstructural properties in CL and WML and improves correlation with cognition in RRMS patients, compared to conventional measures of disease burden

Hypoxia inducible factor 1α gene (HIF-1α) splice variants: potential prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a master transcriptional regulator of genes regulating oxygen homeostasis. The HIF-1 protein is composed of two HIF-1α and HIF-1β/aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) subunits. The prognostic relevance of HIF-1α protein overexpression has been shown in breast cancer. The impact of HIF-1α alternative splice variant expression on breast cancer prognosis in terms of metastasis risk is not well known.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays, we measured mRNA concentrations of total <it>HIF-1α </it>and 4 variants in breast tissue specimens in a series of 29 normal tissues or benign lesions (normal/benign) and 53 primary carcinomas. In breast cancers <it>HIF-1α </it>splice variant levels were compared to clinicopathological parameters including tumour microvessel density and metastasis-free survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>HIF-1α </it>isoforms containing a three base pairs TAG insertion between exon 1 and exon 2 (designated <it>HIF-1α</it>^<it>TAG</it>) and <it>HIF-1α</it>^{<it>736 </it>}mRNAs were found expressed at higher levels in oestrogen receptor (OR)-negative carcinomas compared to normal/benign tissues (<it>P </it>= 0.009 and <it>P </it>= 0.004 respectively). In breast carcinoma specimens, lymph node status was significantly associated with <it>HIF-1α</it>^{<it>TAG </it>}mRNA levels (<it>P </it>= 0.037). Significant statistical association was found between tumour grade and <it>HIF-1α</it>^{<it>TAG </it>}(<it>P </it>= 0.048), and total <it>HIF-1α </it>(<it>P </it>= 0.048) mRNA levels. <it>HIF-1α</it>^{<it>TAG </it>}mRNA levels were also inversely correlated with both oestrogen and progesterone receptor status (<it>P </it>= 0.005 and <it>P </it>= 0.033 respectively). Univariate analysis showed that high <it>HIF-1α</it>^{<it>TAG </it>}mRNA levels correlated with shortened metastasis free survival (<it>P </it>= 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results show for the first time that mRNA expression of a <it>HIF-1α</it>^{<it>TAG </it>}splice variant reflects a stage of breast cancer progression and is associated with a worse prognosis.</p> <p>See commentary: <url>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/8/45</url></p

L'Hydroptère: A story of a dream

In 2009, l’Hydroptère broke the symbolic barrier of 50 knots and became the world fastest sailing boat over both 500 meters and 1 nautical mile. This major achievement relied on the high skills of the sailing team but also on technical advances of the boat, resulting from long years of studies and development. This achievement is also an open window to a new goal: flying around the world. In the present article, we present this long and incredible story, highlighting the different steps, the technology involved, and the background of that project.

Problemes del bosc mediterrani francès

El plantejament franc&egrave;s per a la salvaguarda i l'aprofitament del bosc mediterran

Forest planning in Mediterranean regions

La Région méditerranéenne est une de celles où l'aménagement forestier traditionnel est peu pratiqué. Les milieux y sont caractéristiques et les besoins culturels, sociaux et économiques ne s'expriment pas très clairement. La société, quasi totalement urbanisée, attend plus volontiers l'équipement des terrains que les aménagements des peuplements. Toutefois, lorsqu'il agit, l'aménagiste est très souvent invité à la plus grande discrétion : on lui demande surtout de protéger la forêt de l'incendie, et de conserver un décor. En fait, les espaces naturels forestiers méditerranéens qui sont l'objet d'une certaine gestion ne représentent au mieux que le tiers du total et il serait bon que nos contemporains puissent mieux exprimer ce qu'ils en attendent de manière à mieux orienter la gestion

Témoignage : Pierre Quézel et l’association Forêt méditerranéenne / Testimony: Pierre Quézel and the NGO Forêt méditerranéenne

Bonnier Jean. Témoignage : Pierre Quézel et l’association Forêt méditerranéenne / Testimony: Pierre Quézel and the NGO Forêt méditerranéenne. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 44 n°2, 2018. Hommage scientifique au professeur Pierre Quézel (1926-2015) pp. 119-121