On quasi-Jacobi and Jacobi-quasi bialgebroids

We study quasi-Jacobi and Jacobi-quasi bialgebroids and their relationships with twisted Jacobi and quasi Jacobi manifolds. We show that we can construct quasi-Lie bialgebroids from quasi-Jacobi bialgebroids, and conversely, and also that the structures induced on their base manifolds are related via a quasi Poissonization

Seismic vulnerability of multi-span continuous girder bridges with steel fibre reinforced concrete columns

The occurrence of earthquakes during the lifetime of bridges can result in the closure or even the failure of the structure. The vulnerability of multi-span continuous girder (MSCG) bridges strongly depends on the seismic performance of its columns. This paper investigates the seismic vulnerability of MSCG bridges with reinforced concrete (RC), steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) and RC-SFRC columns. Quasi-static tests were conducted on eight different columns to obtain the limit-state capacities and validate numerical models. Numerical analyses were performed on MSCG reference bridges with RC, SFRC or RC-SFRC columns to derive probabilistic models of the demands upon critical components. Fragility curves were established as a function of peak ground acceleration by integrating the capacity distributions with correlated component demand distributions. Results indicate that: i) SFRC columns with 1.0% fibre ratio show a better performance-price ratio for improving the structural capacity, compared with those with 1.5%; ii) MSCG bridges with SFRC and RC-SFRC columns are less vulnerable to earthquakes when compared with those constructed using only RC, and these differences increasing with the earthquake intensity; and iii) the seismic vulnerability of MSCG bridges with SFRC placed only at the plastic hinges is similar to the one found SFRC on the whole column. On a broader perspective, the conclusions drawn could offer a new strategy for the seismic enhancement or retrofit of MSCG bridges in earthquake regions, with optimal use of SFRC.National Natural Science Foundation of China 51508276, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (30915011329), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No.2015M570399), the Australian Research Council DE150101703

Neuromorphometric characterization with shape functionals

This work presents a procedure to extract morphological information from neuronal cells based on the variation of shape functionals as the cell geometry undergoes a dilation through a wide interval of spatial scales. The targeted shapes are alpha and beta cat retinal ganglion cells, which are characterized by different ranges of dendritic field diameter. Image functionals are expected to act as descriptors of the shape, gathering relevant geometric and topological features of the complex cell form. We present a comparative study of classification performance of additive shape descriptors, namely, Minkowski functionals, and the nonadditive multiscale fractal. We found that the proposed measures perform efficiently the task of identifying the two main classes alpha and beta based solely on scale invariant information, while also providing intraclass morphological assessment

Jacobi-Nijenhuis algebroids and their modular classes

Jacobi-Nijenhuis algebroids are defined as a natural generalization of Poisson-Nijenhuis algebroids, in the case where there exists a Nijenhuis operator on a Jacobi algebroid which is compatible with it. We study modular classes of Jacobi and Jacobi-Nijenhuis algebroids

Production de Oreochromis niloticus avec des aliments à base de sousproduits agricoles

Des alevins de Oreochromis niloticus (0,7 ± 0,06 g) ont été nourris dans seize étangs avec quatre aliments dont trois aliments tests (A1, A2 et A3) formulés uniquement à base de sous-produits agricoles. La composition de ces aliments tests est la suivante : A1 (tourteaux de soja, de coton, sons de maïs et de mil) ; A2 (tourteaux de soja, de coton, sons de maïs et de riz) et A3 (tourteaux de soja, de coton, sons de mil et de riz). Le quatrième (At), contenant de la farine de poisson, est un produit industriel et a servi de témoin. Deux densités de mise en charge (10 et 13 ind./m2 ) ont été appliquées pour chaque traitement alimentaire. Chaque densité d\'élevage a été répliquée une fois. Après 120 jours d\'élevage, tous les poissons ont atteint au moins 25 g (poids seuil de sexage). Les meilleures performances zootechniques sont obtenues avec l\'aliment A1, suivi de l\'aliment A2. Les poids moyens finaux observés aux densités 10 et 13 ind./m2 sont de 54,69 ± 7,76 et 46,77 ± 5,87 g (A1), 46,32 ± 6,71 et 41,23 ± 5,32 g (A2) ; 40,90 ± 7,64 et 37,31 ± 5,73 g (A3) puis de 41,72 ± 6,57 et 37,45 ± 5,84 g (At). Les quotients nutritifs respectifs correspondants sont de 1,13 ; 1,30 ; 1,87 et 1,72 (10 ind. /m2), puis de 1,40 ; 1,63 ; 1,74 et 1,80 (13 ind. /m2). Les aliments A1 et A2 permettent un niveau de production supérieur à celui du témoin. Comparés au témoin, des taux de réduction respectifs de 30 % et d\'environ 14 à 37% des coûts des aliments tests et de production des fingerling ont été obtenus..Alevins of Oreochromis niloticus (0.7 ± 0,06 g) were fed with three test diets (A1, A2 and A3) formulated using agricultural by-products and a commercial one containing fish meal (control diet = At). The composition of these test diets is: A1 (oilcakes of soy, of cotton, bran of corn and of millet); A2 (oilcakes of soy, of cotton, bran of corn and of rice) and A3 (oilcakes of soy, of cotton, bran of millet and of rice). Two stocking densities (10 and 13 ind. / m2) were applied for each experimental diet. At the end of 120 days of rearing, all experimental fish reached more than 25g (doorstep weight for manual sexing). Diets A1 and A2 displayed the better growth and food utilization performances. Final mean weight of fish at stocking densities 10 and 13 ind. / m2 respectively, ranged from 54.69 ± 7.76 to 46.77 ± 5.87 g (A1), 46.32 ± 6.71 to 41.23 ± 5.32 g (A2); 40.90 ± 7.64 to 37.31 ± 5.73 g (A3) and 41.72 ± 6.57 to 37.45 ± 5.84 g (At). The corresponding food conversion rates were 1.13; 1.30; 1.87 and 1.72 (10 ind. /m2), then 1.40; 1.63; 1.74 and 1.80 (13 ind. /m2). Test diets A1 and A2 produced more yield than the control one. Relatively to the assessment economic aspect, test diets reduce the diet cost and fingerlings production cost, respectively of rate about 30 % and 14 to 37 %, compared to that of the control diet. Keywords: Oreochromis niloticus, feeding, agricultural by-products, production, Côte d\'Ivoire.Sciences & Nature Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 89-9

Análise do comportamento geométrico entre imagens RapidEye adotadas no Inventário Florestal Nacional do Brasil (IFN-BR).

Resumo

Innovative in silico approaches to address avian flu using grid technology

The recent years have seen the emergence of diseases which have spread very quickly all around the world either through human travels like SARS or animal migration like avian flu. Among the biggest challenges raised by infectious emerging diseases, one is related to the constant mutation of the viruses which turns them into continuously moving targets for drug and vaccine discovery. Another challenge is related to the early detection and surveillance of the diseases as new cases can appear just anywhere due to the globalization of exchanges and the circulation of people and animals around the earth, as recently demonstrated by the avian flu epidemics. For 3 years now, a collaboration of teams in Europe and Asia has been exploring some innovative in silico approaches to better tackle avian flu taking advantage of the very large computing resources available on international grid infrastructures. Grids were used to study the impact of mutations on the effectiveness of existing drugs against H5N1 and to find potentially new leads active on mutated strains. Grids allow also the integration of distributed data in a completely secured way. The paper presents how we are currently exploring how to integrate the existing data sources towards a global surveillance network for molecular epidemiology.Comment: 7 pages, submitted to Infectious Disorders - Drug Target

Ear acupressure for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of ear acupressure (EAP) as a stand-alone intervention for smoking cessation and the feasibility of this study design. Adult smokers were randomised to receive EAP specific for smoking cessation (SSEAP) or a nonspecific EAP (NSEAP) intervention which is not typically used for smoking cessation. Participants received 8 weekly treatments and were requested to press the five pellets taped to one ear at least three times daily. Participants were followed up for three months. Primary outcome measures were a 7-day point-prevalence cessation rate confirmed by exhaled carbon monoxide and relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms (NWS). Intention-to-treat analysis was applied. Forty-three adult smokers were randomly assigned to SSEAP (n = 20) or NSEAP (n = 23) groups. The dropout rate was high with 19 participants completing the treatments and 12 remaining at followup. One participant from the SSEAP group had confirmed cessation at week 8 and end of followup (5%), but there was no difference between groups for confirmed cessation or NWS. Adverse events were few and minor

Sulfation degree of glycosaminoglycans triggers distinct cytoskeleton organisation in mesenchymal stem cells

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) comprise the closest cellular environment: they are building elements of the ECM and can be also found on cells surface. Their biological activity depends on several parameters among which the negative charge is of prime importance[1]. This charge is generally associated with the presence of sulfate groups (-OSO3H). Sulfation is a dynamic modification: it can occur at various positions within the glycan and different sulfation patterns have been identified for the same organs and cells during their development. However, the mechanisms of coding and transferring information by these functionalities are not yet complete understood, mainly because of (i)the complex physiological microenvironment in which GAGs interactions occur and (ii)the inability to access homogeneous GAGs[2]. In this work, we propose model surfaces bearing GAGs with different sulfation degree as platform to investigate the pathways by which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) sense and respond to this peculiar functionality: the -OSO3H. We have selected two natural GAGs for this study: hyaluronic acid (HA) because it is the only non-sulfated glycan and heparin (HEP) as it is the GAG with the highest degree of sulfation. To obtain a larger range of sulfation degrees, we have also prepared a synthetic analogue of HA with a sulfation degree of 1.4 (sHA). All these GAGs were covalently bonded to aminothiols deposited on gold surfaces. MSCs, both from bone marrow and adipose tissue, adhered well to all surfaces. Formation of focal adhesions was observed after only 1h of culture for bone marrow derived MSCs regardless the used substrate. The presence of –OSO3H groups induced different morphology and cytoskeleton organisation: formation of longer filopodia and well pronounced actin fibers were visible for the MSCs from both sources. Moreover, cells were more spread after 24h in contact with – OSO3H containing surfaces. Cells behaved similarly on both sulfated surfaces (sHA and HEP) and differences in cell morphology were less obvious: higher sulfation degree induced less lamellipodia formation while filopodia number and length increased. In summary, the present study provides evidence that sulfation degree of GAGs triggers distinct cytoskeleton organisation in mesenchymal stem cells that may be related with the differentiation of those cells. However, further studies at the molecular level about the exact mechanism of these processes need to be carried out

On the geometric quantization of twisted Poisson manifolds

We study the geometric quantization process for twisted Poisson manifolds. First, we introduce the notion of Lichnerowicz-twisted Poisson cohomology for twisted Poisson manifolds and we use it in order to characterize their prequantization bundles and to establish their prequantization condition. Next, we introduce a polarization and we discuss the quantization problem. In each step, several examples are presented