Boundary Controllability and Observability of a Viscoelastic String

In this paper we consider an integrodifferential system, which governs the vibration of a viscoelastic one-dimensional object. We assume that we can act on the system at the boundary and we prove that it is possible to control both the position and the velocity at every point of the body and at a certain time $T$, large enough. We shall prove this result using moment theory and we shall prove that the solution of this problem leads to identify a Riesz sequence which solves controllability and observability. So, the result as presented here are constructive and can lead to simple numerical algorithms

Preferential expression of the transcription coactivator HTIF1alpha gene in acute myeloid leukemia and MDS-related AML

HTIF1α, a transcription coactivator which is able to mediate RARα activity and functionally interact with PML, is encoded by a gene on chromosome 7q32–34, which is a critical region in acute myeloid leukemias (AML). With the assumption that this gene may be related to AML, we investigated the HTIF1α DNA structure and RNA expression in leukemic cells from 36 M1–M5 AML patients (28 ‘de novo’ and eight ‘secondary’ to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)). Abnormal HTIF1α DNA fragments were never found, whereas loss of HTIF1α DNA was observed in the patients with chromosome 7q32 deletion and translocation, and in one case without detectable chromosome 7 abnormality. HTIF1α RNA was found in acute myelocytic leukemic blasts, and was almost undetectable in normal mononuclear cells. The expression varied among the patients: higher in M1 to M3 subtypes, with the highest values in M1; low levels were constantly observed in M4 and M5 AML. In addition, HTIF1α was significantly overexpressed in MDS-related AML (MDR-AML), but not in MDS. We also found that HTIF1α expression was high in myeloid cell lines. In myeloblastic HL60 and promyelocytic NB4 cells, induced to differentiate along the monocytic–macrophage pathway by TPA or vitamin D3, HTIF1α expression decreased, whereas it was maintained at high levels on induction to granulocytic differentiation by RA or DMSO. In K562 cells, HTIF1α RNA levels did not change after hemin-induced erythroid differentiation. These results suggest that HTIF1α could play a role in myeloid differentiation, being distinctly regulated in hematopoietic lineages

Extrafloral-nectar based partner manipulation in plant-ant relationship

Plant–ant interactions are generally considered as mutualisms, with both parties gaining benefits from the association. It has recently emerged that some of these mutualistic associations have, however, evolved towards other forms of relationships and, in particular, that plants may manipulate their partner ants to make reciprocation more beneficial, thereby stabilizing the mutualism. Focusing on plants bearing extrafloral nectaries, we review recent studies and address three key questions: (i) how can plants attract potential partners and maintain their services; (ii) are there compounds in extrafloral nectar that could mediate partner manipulation; and (iii) are ants susceptible to such compounds? After reviewing the current knowledge on plant–ant associations, we propose a possible scenario where plant-derived chemicals, such as secondary metabolites, known to have an impact on animal brain, could have evolved in plants to attract and manipulate ant behaviour. This new viewpoint would place plant–animal interaction in a different ecological context, opening new ecological and neurobiological perspectives of drug seeking and use

Proof-of-principle of a new geometry for sampling calorimetry using inorganic scintillator plates

A novel geometry for a sampling calorimeter employing inorganic scintillators as an active medium is presented. To overcome the mechanical challenges of construction, an innovative light collection geometry has been pioneered, that minimises the complexity of construction. First test results are presented, demonstrating a successful signal extraction. The geometry consists of a sampling calorimeter with passive absorber layers interleaved with layers of an active medium made of inorganic scintillating crystals. Wavelength-shifting (WLS) fibres run along the four long, chamfered edges of the stack, transporting the light to photodetectors at the rear. To maximise the amount of scintillation light reaching the WLS fibres, the scintillator chamfers are depolished. It is shown herein that this concept is working for cerium fluoride (CeF$_3$) as a scintillator. Coupled to it, several different types of materials have been tested as WLS medium. In particular, materials that might be sufficiently resistant to the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider radiation environment, such as cerium-doped Lutetium-Yttrium Orthosilicate (LYSO) and cerium-doped quartz, are compared to conventional plastic WLS fibres. Finally, an outlook is presented on the possible optimisation of the different components, and the construction and commissioning of a full calorimeter cell prototype is presented.Comment: Submitted to Proceedings CALOR 2014, the 16th International Conference on Calorimetry in High-Energy Physics, Giessen (Germany) 6 - 11 April 2014. To be published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (10 pages, 15 figures

Factor Varieties

The universal algebraic literature is rife with generalisations of discriminator varieties, whereby several investigators have tried to preserve in more general settings as much as possible of their structure theory. Here, we modify the definition of discriminator algebra by having the switching function project onto its third coordinate in case the ordered pair of its first two coordinates belongs to a designated relation (not necessarily the diagonal relation). We call these algebras factor algebras and the varieties they generate factor varieties. Among other things, we provide an equational description of these varieties and match equational conditions involving the factor term with properties of the associated factor relation. Factor varieties include, apart from discriminator varieties, several varieties of algebras from quantum and fuzzy logics

A Newly Developed Tri-Leaflet Polymeric Heart Valve Prosthesis.

The potential of polymeric heart valves (PHV) prostheses is to combine the hemodynamic performances of biological valves with the durability of mechanical valves. The aim of this work is to design and develop a new tri-leaflet prosthetic heart valve (HV) made from styrenic block copolymers. A computational finite element model was implemented to optimize the thickness of the leaflets, to improve PHV mechanical and hydrodynamic performances. Based on the model outcomes, 8 prototypes of the designed valve were produced and tested in vitro under continuous and pulsatile flow conditions, as prescribed by ISO 5840 Standard. A specially designed pulse duplicator allowed testing the PHVs at different flow rates and frequency conditions. All the PHVs met the requirements specified in ISO 5840 Standard in terms of both regurgitation and effective orifice area (EOA), demonstrating their potential as HV prostheses.This work was funded by the British Heart Foundation (New Horizons NH/11/4/29059).This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0219519415400096?src=recsys

Interacting Multiple Try Algorithms with Different Proposal Distributions

We propose a new class of interacting Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms designed for increasing the efficiency of a modified multiple-try Metropolis (MTM) algorithm. The extension with respect to the existing MCMC literature is twofold. The sampler proposed extends the basic MTM algorithm by allowing different proposal distributions in the multiple-try generation step. We exploit the structure of the MTM algorithm with different proposal distributions to naturally introduce an interacting MTM mechanism (IMTM) that expands the class of population Monte Carlo methods. We show the validity of the algorithm and discuss the choice of the selection weights and of the different proposals. We provide numerical studies which show that the new algorithm can perform better than the basic MTM algorithm and that the interaction mechanism allows the IMTM to efficiently explore the state space

Transcriptoma supersage de feijão-caupi sob desidratação radicular.

O feijão-caupi é uma planta de ampla plasticidade fenotípica, podendo produzir mesmo em condições não satisfatória para outras culturas. Assim, identificar genes estresse responsivo nesta cultura é de vital importância, tanto para a espécie quanto para outras leguminosas. Estudos em transcriptômica, proporcionados pela técnica SuperSAGE, origina tags de 26 pb que podem ser quantificadas e estatisticamente analisadas, sendo classificadas em superexpressas ou reprimidas. Unitags (tags diferentes) de raízes de feijao-caupi submetidas a estresse de desidratação radicular (de até 150 min, após exposição ao ar) foram analisadas procurando-se identificar unitags diferencialmente expressas nas respostas dos genótipos analisados, considerados tolerante e sensível a seca. As anotações de gene/ função das unitags, associadas à regulação (induzida ou reprimida nas bibliotecas sob estresse em relação às bibliotecas controle) permitiram identificar alvos moleculares com potencial para desenvolvimento de marcadores moleculares e ou estudos de transgenia, visando uso futuro em programas de melhoramentos da espécie e de leguminosas relacionadas

Modulação transcricional de genes associados à fosforilação oxidativa em genótipos contrastantes de feijão-caupi submetidos à desidratação radicular.

Mitocôndrias são conhecidas como as "estações energéticas" da célula. Elas abrigam o processo de fosforilação oxidativa, através do qual o transporte de elétrons por meio de carreadores é acoplado ao bombeamento de prótons para o espaço intermembranar gerando um gradiente eletroquímico que fornece energia para a síntese de ATP. Tal molécula é de suma importância para os organismos vivos, pois cede energia para os processos celulares. No presente trabalho, foi analisada, via unitags SuperSAGE e de acordo com a base de dados KEGG, a regulação dos genes associados a enzimas participantes da fosforilação oxidativa, em genótipos contrastantes de feijão-caupi cultivados em hidroponia e submetidos à desidratação radicular por até 150 min. Resultados apresentaram um painel de genes diferencialmente regulados, sendo as principais divergências transcricionais entre os genótipos associadas a diferenças na regulação dos genes formadores dos complexos II, IV e V. Entretanto, maiores análises são necessárias para observar como essas diferenças influenciam fisiologicamente a espécie analisada