Classical properties of algebras using a new graph association

We study the relation between algebraic structures and Graph Theory. We have defined five different weighted digraphs associated to a finite dimensional algebra over a field in order to tackle important properties of the associated algebras, mainly the nilpotency and solvability in the case of Leibniz algebras

Injertos osteocondrales congelados en el conejo: Estudio experimental

Con el propósito de analizar un protocolo de congelación de cartílago completo estudiando y la viabilidad del cartílago tas la implantación se ha realizado un estudio experimental en 60 rodillas de 45 conejos de Nueva Zelanda en población no genéticamente pura. Se extrajeron injertos osteocartilaginosos de 4 mm de diámetro y 2-3 mm de espesor, incluyendo cartílago articular y hueso subcondral que fueron sometidos a congelación lenta hasta -196º en Planer Kryo-10, Serie II, Controlled Rate Freezers, siguiendo un descenso de temperatura controlada bajo crioprotección con Dimetilsulfóxido, propanodiol y sacarosa. Posteriormente fueron descongelados e implantados en cóndilos femorales. Los injertos evolucionaron a tejido amorfo acelular y pasados los 2 meses, tras la incorporación del componente óseo se desarrolló tejido ibrocartilaginoso de sustitución. El presente estudio indica que el cartílago articular congelado no mantiene su viabilidad tras la implantación.The purpose of this study was to analyze a protocol for freezing whole cartilage and to study the viability of cartilage after the implant in 60 knees of 45 New Zealand rabbits from a genetically impure population. Osteocartilaginous implants were removed, measuring 4 mm in diameter and 2-3 mm thickness, inclunding the articular cartilage and the suchondral bone, and slow freezing up -196º using Planer Kyro-10, Series II, Controlled Rate Freezers, following a controlled drop in temperature under cyrso-protection with Dimethylsulfoxide, propanediol and sacarose. After thawing grafts were implanted in femoral condyles. The implants evolves into an acellular amorphous tissue and after 2 months, period in which the incorporation of the osseous compound occurs, substitute fibrocartilaginous tiusse develops. This study shows that frozen articular cartilage does not remain viable after implant

Short-Term Evaluation of Left Ventricular Mass and Function in Children With Growth Hormone Deficiency After Replacement Treatment

Background: Our study was designed to assess the effects of GHD on nutritional and metabolic parameters, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and left ventricular mass (LVM) in prepubertal children and after short-term GH replacement therapy.Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 81 children. We compared 40 GHD children (16 males and 24 females) to 41 healthy children (control group) (18 males and 23 females). All subjects were at Tanner Stage I (aged 7–11 years). At the baseline, a blood sample was drawn and echocardiographic images were obtained. These tests were repeated on the GHD subjects after 6 months of GH replacement therapy. Body surface, weight, size, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, QUICKI, cholesterol, HDLc, LDLc, triglycerides, IGF1, and IGFBP3 were measured. Indexed LVM, diastolic and systolic diameter (dD-sD), diastolic and systolic LV function, isovolumic relaxation time, right ventricle function, and BNP levels were obtained through echocardiography. These parameters were correlated to growth factors. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test or U-Mann–Whitney-test and Pearson's correlation, considering p < 0.05 to be significant.Results: Indexed LVM was smaller in GHD patients than in controls, whereas diastolic and systolic functions, BNP, metabolic, and nutritional profiles were similar. After treatment, nutritional and metabolic profiles significantly improved, though diastolic and systolic functions did not seem to have changed. There was a significant increase in LVM. Indexed LVM was similar to that of controls. Significant correlations were obtained between LVM-IGF1 and sD-IGFBP3.Conclusions: GHD in childhood is associated with a lower indexed LVM. In the short-term, GH increases the indexed LVM, while maintaining normal systolic and diastolic functions, BNP, and an improved lipid profile

Método de Aproximación Catenaria en el diseño de estructuras antifuniculares

This paper describes a new methodology for solving a typical problem in the design of antifunicular structures: how a equilibrium configuration can be obtained with initial geometrical constraints. In the seventies the Force Density Method -FDM- was introduced for the research of an equilibrium position. This method is nowadays being used successfully for both tension structures and antifunicular structures. However, in the second ones, the problem of balance turns non-lineal and must be solved in an iterative manner through successive tests. By means of the so-called Catenary Aproximation Method -CAM, conceived as an assistance tool in the application of the FDM to antifuniculars structures, it is possible to obtain in a simple way a equilibrium configuration with some geometric characteristics previously established.Este artículo describe una nueva metodología para resolver un problema típico del diseño de estructuras antifuniculares: cómo obtener una configuración de equilibrio partiendo de condicionantes geométricos iniciales. En los años 70 se introdujo el Método de Densidad de Fuerzas –MDF– para la búsqueda de la configuración de equilibrio, método que hoy en día sigue utilizándose con éxito tanto en estructuras tensadas como en estructuras antifuniculares. Sin embargo, en las segundas, el problema de equilibrio se vuelve no-lineal y debe resolverse de una manera iterativa, mediante pruebas sucesivas. A través del que hemos denominado Método de Aproximación Catenaria –MAC–, concebido como herramienta de ayuda en la aplicación del MDF a estructuras antifuniculares, es posible obtener de manera sencilla una forma de equilibrio con unas características geométricas previamente establecidas

Highly efficient t2 cobalt ferrite nanoparticles vectorized for internalization in cancer cells

Uniform cobalt ferrite nanoparticles have been synthesized using an electrochemical synthesis method in aqueous media. Their colloidal, magnetic, and relaxometric properties have been analyzed. The novelty of this synthesis relies on the use of iron and cobalt foils as precursors, which assures the reproducibility of the iron and cobalt ratio in the structure. A stable and biocompatible targeting conjugate nanoparticle-folic acid (NP-FA) was developed that was capable of targeting FA receptor positivity in HeLa (human cervical cancer) cancer cells. The biocompatibility of NP-FA was assessed in vitro in HeLa cells using the MTT assay, and morphological analysis of the cytoskeleton was performed. A high level of NP-FA binding to HeLa cells was confirmed through qualitative in vitro targeting studies. A value of 479 Fe+Co mM-1s-1 of transverse relaxivity (r2 ) was obtained in colloidal suspension. In addition, in vitro analysis in HeLa cells also showed an important effect in negative T2 contrast. Therefore, the results show that NP-FA can be a potential biomaterial for use in bio medical trials, especially as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Energy aware software evolution for wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are subject to high levels of dynamism arising from changing environmental conditions and application requirements. Reconfiguration allows software functionality to be optimized for current environmental conditions and supports software evolution to meet variable application requirements. Contemporary software modularization approaches for WSNs allow for software evolution at various granularities; from monolithic re-flashing of OS and application functionality, through replacement of complete applications, to the reconfiguration of individual software components. As the nodes that compose a WSN must typically operate for long periods on a single battery charge, estimating the energy cost of software evolution is critical. This paper contributes a generic model for calculating the energy cost of the reconfiguration in WSN. We have embedded this model in the LooCI middleware, resulting in the first energy aware reconfigurable component model for sensor networks. We evaluate our approach using two real-world WSN applications and find that (i.) our model accurately predicts the energy cost of reconfiguration and (ii.) component-based reconfiguration has a high initial cost, but provides energy savings during software evolution

IL-21 restricts T follicular regulatory T cell proliferation through Bcl-6 mediated inhibition of responsiveness to IL-2

T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells control the magnitude and specificity of the germinal centre reaction, but how regulation is contained to ensure generation of high-affinity antibody is unknown. Here we show that this balance is maintained by the reciprocal influence of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-21. The number of IL-2-dependent FoxP3+ regulatory T cells is increased in the peripheral blood of human patients with loss-of-function mutations in the IL-21 receptor (IL-21R). In mice, IL-21:IL-21R interactions influence the phenotype of T follicular cells, reducing the expression of CXCR4 and inhibiting the expansion of Tfr cells after T-cell-dependent immunization. The negative effect of IL-21 on Tfr cells in mice is cell intrinsic and associated with decreased expression of the high affinity IL-2 receptor (CD25). Bcl-6, expressed in abundance in Tfr cells, inhibits CD25 expression and IL-21-mediated inhibition of CD25 is Bcl-6 dependent. These findings identify a mechanism by which IL-21 reinforces humoral immunity by restricting Tfr cell proliferation

Efficacy of a dilemma-focused intervention for unipolar depression : study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly citedDepression is one of the more severe and serious health problems because of its morbidity, disabling effects and for its societal and economic burden. Despite the variety of existing pharmacological and psychological treatments, most of the cases evolve with only partial remission, relapse and recurrence. Cognitive models have contributed significantly to the understanding of unipolar depression and its psychological treatment. However, success is only partial and many authors affirm the need to improve those models and also the treatment programs derived from them. One of the issues that requires further elaboration is the difficulty these patients experience in responding to treatment and in maintaining therapeutic gains across time without relapse or recurrence. Our research group has been working on the notion of cognitive conflict viewed as personal dilemmas according to personal construct theory. We use a novel method for identifying those conflicts using the repertory grid technique (RGT). Preliminary results with depressive patients show that about 90% of them have one or more of those conflicts. This fact might explain the blockage and the difficult progress of these patients, especially the more severe and/or chronic. These results justify the need for specific interventions focused on the resolution of these internal conflicts. This study aims to empirically test the hypothesis that an intervention focused on the dilemma(s) specifically detected for each patient will enhance the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depressionPeer reviewe