2,609 research outputs found
Critical Steps of Plasmodium falciparum Ookinete Maturation
The egress and fertilization of Plasmodium gametes and development of a motile ookinete are the first crucial steps that mediate the successful transmission of the malaria parasites from humans to the Anopheles vector. However, limited information exists about the cell biology and regulation of this process. Technical impediments in the establishment of in vitro conditions for ookinete maturation in Plasmodium falciparum and other human malaria parasites further constrain a detailed characterization of ookinete maturation. Here, using fluorescence microscopy and immunolabeling, we compared P. falciparum ookinete maturation in Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes in vivo and in cell culture in vitro. Our results identified two critical steps in ookinete maturation that are regulated by distinct mosquito factors, thereby highlighting the role of the mosquito environment in the transmission efficiency of malaria parasites
A Quality-Aware Approach to Web Services Procurement
Web services bring programmers a new way to develop advanced applications
able to integrate any group of services on the Internet into a single
solution. Web services procurement (WSP) is focussed on the acquisition of web
services, including some complex tasks such as the specification of demands, the
search for available offers, and the best choice selection. Although the technology
to support them already exists, there are only a few approaches wherein qualityof-
service in demands and offers is taken into account, in addition to functionality.
In this paper, we present some implementation issues on a quality-aware
approach to WSP, whose solution is mainly based on using mathematical constraints
to define quality-of-service in demands and offers.Ministerio de Ciencia y TecnologĂa TIC2000-1106-C02-01Ministerio de Ciencia y TecnologĂa FIT-150100-2001-78Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha PCB-02-00
Integral measurement of the 12C(n, p)12B reaction up to 10 GeV
The integral measurement of the 12C(n, p)12B reaction was performed at the neutron time-offlight facility n TOF at CERN. The total number of 12B nuclei produced per neutron pulse of the n TOF
beam was determined using the activation technique in combination with a time-of-flight technique. The
cross section is integrated over the n TOF neutron energy spectrum from reaction threshold at 13.6 MeV
to 10 GeV. Having been measured up to 1 GeV on basis of the 235U(n, f) reaction, the neutron energy
spectrum above 200 MeV has been re-evaluated due to the recent extension of the cross section reference
for this particular reaction, which is otherwise considered a standard up to 200 MeV. The results from the
dedicated GEANT4 simulations have been used to evaluate the neutron flux from 1 GeV up to 10 GeV. The
experimental results related to the 12C(n, p)12B reaction are compared with the evaluated cross sections
from major libraries and with the predictions of different GEANT4 models, which mostly underestimate
the 12B production. On the contrary, a good reproduction of the integral cross section derived from measurements is obtained with TALYS-1.6 calculations, with optimized parameters.European Atomic Energy Communitys (Euratom) Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2011-CHANDA (No. 605203)Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN)-UMO-2012/04/M/ST2/00700Croatian Science Foundation-No. 168
Non-extremal Black Holes, Harmonic Functions, and Attractor Equations
We present a method which allows to deform extremal black hole solutions into
non-extremal solutions, for a large class of supersymmetric and
non-supersymmetric Einstein-Vector-Scalar type theories. The deformation is
shown to be largely independent of the details of the matter sector. While the
line element is dressed with an additional harmonic function, the attractor
equations for the scalars remain unmodified in suitable coordinates, and the
values of the scalar fields on the outer and inner horizon are obtained from
their fixed point values by making specific substitutions for the charges. For
a subclass of models, which includes the five-dimensional STU-model, we find
explicit solutions.Comment: 33 page
Marginal bone loss around implants placed in maxillary native bone or grafted sinuses: a retrospective cohort study
Objectives To assess differences in marginal bone loss around implants placed in maxillary pristine bone and implants placed following maxillary sinus augmentation over a period of 3Â years after functional loading. Material and methods Two cohorts of subjects (Group 1: Subjects who received sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant placement; Group 2: Subjects who underwent conventional implant placement in posterior maxillary pristine bone) were included in this retrospective study. Radiographic marginal bone loss was measured around one implant per patient on digitized panoramic radiographs that were obtained at the time of prosthesis delivery (baseline) and 12, 24, and 36Â months later. The influence of age, gender, smoking habits, history of periodontal disease, and type of prosthetic connection (internal or external) on marginal bone loss was analyzed in function of the type of osseous support (previously grafted or pristine). Results A total of 105 subjects were included in this study. Cumulative radiographic marginal bone loss ranged from 0Â mm to 3.9Â mm after 36Â months of functional loading. There were statistically significant differences in marginal bone loss between implants placed in grafted and pristine bone at the 12âmonth assessment, but not in the subsequent progression rate. External prosthetic connection, smoking, and history of periodontitis negatively influenced periâimplant bone maintenance, regardless of the type of osseous substrate. Conclusions Implants placed in sites that received maxillary sinus augmentation exhibited more marginal bone loss than implants placed in pristine bone, although marginal bone loss mainly occurred during the first 12Â months after functional loading. Implants with external implant connection were strongly associated with increased marginal bone loss overtime.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102685/1/clr12122.pd
Stellar parameters for stars of the CoRoT exoplanet field
Aims:To support the computation and evolutionary interpretation of periods
associated with the rotational modulation, oscillations, and variability of
stars located in the CoRoT fields, we are conducting a spectroscopic survey for
stars located in the fields already observed by the satellite. These
observations allow us to compute physical and chemical parameters for our
stellar sample. Method: Using spectroscopic observations obtained with UVES/VLT
and Hydra/Blanco, and based on standard analysis techniques, we computed
physical and chemical parameters (, , ,
, , , and ) for a large
sample of CoRoT targets. Results: We provide physical and chemical parameters
for a sample comprised of 138 CoRoT targets. Our analysis shows the stars in
our sample are located in different evolutionary stages, ranging from the main
sequence to the red giant branch, and range in spectral type from F to K. The
physical and chemical properties for the stellar sample are in agreement with
typical values reported for FGK stars. However, we report three stars
presenting abnormal lithium behavior in the CoRoT fields. These parameters
allow us to properly characterize the intrinsic properties of the stars in
these fields. Our results reveal important differences in the distributions of
metallicity, , and evolutionary status for stars belonging to
different CoRoT fields, in agreement with results obtained independently from
ground-based photometric surveys. Conclusions: Our spectroscopic catalog, by
providing much-needed spectroscopic information for a large sample of CoRoT
targets, will be of key importance for the successful accomplishment of several
different programs related to the CoRoT mission, thus it will help further
boost the scientific return associated with this space mission.Comment: 43 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Tourism income and economic growth in Greece: Empirical evidence from their cyclical components
This paper examines the relationship between the cyclical
components of Greek GDP and international tourism income for
Greece for the period 1976â2004. Using spectral analysis the authors
find that cyclical fluctuations of GDP have a length of about nine
years and that international tourism income has a cycle of about
seven years. The volatility of tourism income is more than eight
times the volatility of the Greek GDP cycle. VAR analysis shows that
the cyclical component of tourism income is significantly influencing
the cyclical component of GDP in Greece. The findings support the
tourism-led economic growth hypothesis and are of particular
interest and importance to policy makers, financial analysts and
investors dealing with the Greek tourism industry
Fracturas estallido de columna toracolumbar: Evaluación clinicoradiológica y terapéutica de 90 casos
Presentamos un estudio retrospectivo de 90 fracturas toracolumbares tipo estallido con un seguimiento mĂnimo de 12 meses. Se realizĂł tratamiento ortopĂ©dico en 43 casos y en 47 se indicĂł una artrodesis instrumentada. Realizamos una evaluaciĂłn clĂnico-radiolĂłgica en base al dolor residual y evoluciĂłn del ĂĄngulo de cifosis con el objetivo de valorar el tratamiento ortopĂ©dico como opciĂłn terapĂ©utica y la necesidad de distinguir fracturas estallido con afectaciĂłn de 2 Ăł 3 columnas. No apreciamos diferencias estables significativas en el dolor y la lesiĂłn de las tres columnas. El aumento de cifosis angular media en las fracturas estallido estable no operadas es de 4.7Âș y de 5.2Âș en las fracturas estallido inestables tratadas ortopĂ©dicamente. Observamos una alta incidencia de complicaciones relacionadas con la fijaciĂłn (21%) cuando la fractura asentaba en la charnela y se instrumentaba a un solo nivel. El tratamiento ortopĂ©dico es una opciĂłn aceptable en las fracturas estallido en pacientes neurolĂłgicamente indemnes.Ninety burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine were retrospectively assessed with a minum follow-up of 12 months. Conservative treatment was indicated in 43 cases, and reduction and surgical stabilization in 47. The aim was to compare the two treatment modalities according to fracture stability. Clinical and radiological evaluation included chronic pain and kyphotic angle progression. No statistical differences were found between stable and unstable fractures as to chronic pain. The kyphotic angle average progression for stable burst fractures was 4.7Âș and 5.2Âș for unstable fractures conservatively treated. There was a high rate of complications related to instrumentation (21%) particularly when the fracture was at the thoracolumbar junction and a single level was fixed. The orthopaedic treatment is an acceptable alternative treatment for stable burst fractures without neurological injury
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