A Unification Free Introduction to Logic Programming

In this paper, we give a new presentation of the fundamental results of the theory of Logic Programming, which differs from classical introductions in at least two ways: the use of predicate algebras to deal with model theoretical aspects and the parameterization of the resolution algorithm with respect to the specific unification algorithm implemented

Intrahepatic persistent fetal right umbilical vein: a retrospective study

Introduction: To appraise the incidence and value of intrahepatic persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV). Methods: This was a single-center study. Records of all women with a prenatal diagnosis of intrahepatic PRUV were reviewed. The inclusion criteria were women with gestational age greater than 13 weeks of gestation. Exclusion criteria were fetuses with situs abnormalities, due to the hepatic venous ambiguity, and extrahepatic PRUV. The primary outcome was the incidence of intrahepatic PRUV in our cohort. The secondary outcomes were associated malformations. Results: 219/57,079 cases (0.38%) of intrahepatic PRUV were recorded. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 21.8 ± 2.9 weeks of gestations. PRUV was isolated in the 76.7%, while in 23.3% was associated with other major or minor abnormalities. The most common associated abnormalities were cardiovascular abnormalities (8.7%), followed by genitourinary abnormalities (6.4%), skeletal abnormalities (4.6%), and central nervous system abnormalities (4.1%). Within the cardiovascular abnormalities, the most common one was ventricular septal defect (six cases). Conclusion: In most cases PRUV is an isolated finding. Associated minor or major malformations are presented in the 23.3% of the cases, so this finding should prompt detailed prenatal assessment of the fetus, with particular regard to cardiovascular system

Minimum time control of heterodirectional linear coupled hyperbolic PDEs

We solve the problem of stabilization of a class of linear first-order hyperbolic systems featuring n rightward convecting transport PDEs and m leftward convecting transport PDEs. Using the backstepping approach yields solutions to stabilization in minimal time and observer based output feedback

Ciencias morales o la confrontación de lenguajes e identidades : Silencios, discursos e identidades en pugna

Ciencias morales de Martín Kohan se inscribe en la serie de narrativa de postdictadura argentina. Como muchas novelas de esta serie, hurga en el pasado reciente, lo reconstruye y lo relee. Ficcionaliza y revisa hechos pero también opera con discursos desplegados en y sobre ese pasado. El tejido textual se conforma a partir de una multiplicidad de discursos: coexisten y se incluyen unos en otros, se excluyen, se interpelan entre sí. Las diferentes voces que ingresan en el tejido polifónico del universo novelesco definen identidades así como las ponen en duda frente a alteridades delimitadas de manera arbitrari

Electrophoretic separation of large DNAs using steric confinement

We report an alternative method for electrophoretic separation of large DNAs using steric confinement between solid walls, without gel or obstacles. The change of electrophoretic mobility vs confinement thickness is investigated using fluorescence video microscopy. We observe separation at small confinement thicknesses followed by a transition to the bulk behaviour (no separation) at a thickness of about 4 μm (a few radii of gyration for the studied DNA chains). We present tentative explanations of our original observations.Comment: to appear in JCI

Control of Homodirectional and General Heterodirectional Linear Coupled Hyperbolic PDEs

Research on stabilization of coupled hyperbolic PDEs has been dominated by the focus on pairs of counter-convecting ("heterodirectional") transport PDEs with distributed local coupling and with controls at one or both boundaries. A recent extension allows stabilization using only one control for a system containing an arbitrary number of coupled transport PDEs that convect at different speeds against the direction of the PDE whose boundary is actuated. In this paper we present a solution to the fully general case, in which the number of PDEs in either direction is arbitrary, and where actuation is applied on only one boundary (to all the PDEs that convect downstream from that boundary). To solve this general problem, we solve, as a special case, the problem of control of coupled "homodirectional" hyperbolic linear PDEs, where multiple transport PDEs convect in the same direction with arbitrary local coupling. Our approach is based on PDE backstepping and yields solutions to stabilization, by both full-state and observer-based output feedback, trajectory planning, and trajectory tracking problems

The four tribunes:. Ideas and political projects of Buenos Aires’ federal leaders during the constituent congress in the River Plate: 1824-1827

Manuel Dorrego, Pedro Sáenz de Cavia, José Ugarteche y Manuel Moreno crearon el Partido Popular de Buenos Aires en 1823 y desde entonces trabajaron políticamente en equipo: redactaron periódicos, fueron candidatos en elecciones provinciales y nacionales, y como diputados en el Congreso Constituyente condujeron el minoritario Partido Federal que se opuso sistemáticamente a las propuestas de los unitarios. Este artículo delinea su trayectoria conjunta y sus posiciones como grupo: el americanismo, el republicanismo, el belicismo, la oposición a la aristocracia, la defensa de un derecho de voto muy amplio y la representación de otros intereses del bajo pueblo. El objetivo principal del trabajo es dilucidar qué tipo de federalismo defendieron en el fallido Congreso de la década de 1820: liberal y de espíritu jeffersoniano, con un Estado central débil sobre las provincias.Manuel Dorrego, Pedro Sáenz de Cavia, José Ugarteche and Manuel Moreno created the Popular Party in Buenos Aires in 1823, and since then they worked politically as a team: they wrote in newspapers, were candidates in provincial and national elections, and as deputies to the constituent Congress led the minority Federal Party that consistently opposed proposals for centralization. This article analyzes their joint career as well as their stand as a group in various themes: Americanism, republicanism, warmongering, opposition to the aristocracy, the defense of a broad right to vote and representation of other interests of the common people. The main objective of this work is to determine what type of federalism they defended in the failed Congress of the 1820s: liberal and with a Jeffersonian spirit, with a weak central government over the provinces.Fil: Di Meglio, Gabriel Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de Historia Argentina y Americana "Dr. Emilio Ravignani". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Historia Argentina y Americana "Dr. Emilio Ravignani"; Argentin

"Os habéis hecho temibles": La milicia de la ciudad de Buenos Aires y la política entre las invasiones inglesas y el fin del proceso revolucionario, 1806-1820

Durante el período independentista, la milicia fue un actor fundamental en la disputa por el poder en diferentes ciudades hispanoamericanas, en muchas de las cuales se constituyó a la vez en un vehículo para la participación política de sectores ajenos a las elites. En esta ponencia se explora la cuestión en Buenos Aires, desde la conformación de un nuevo sistema miliciano tras las Invasiones Inglesas hasta la disolución de lo llamados "tercios cívicos" luego de los conflictos de 1820, pasando por el eclipse miliciano que siguió al motín de los patricios en 1811 y el resurgimiento de su poder en tanto “brazo armado” del Cabildo a partir de 1815. Se revisan las razones por las cuales en el primer cuarto del siglo XIX la milicia porteña fue ordenada de cinco formas diferentes –lo cual se liga con cuestiones militares pero también políticas–, se recorre el derrotero organizacional de los cuerpos milicianos y se analiza de qué manera la institución permitió la intervención en la escena política de miembros de los sectores medios y subalternos de la sociedad porteña.Fil: Di Meglio, Gabriel Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de Historia Argentina y Americana "Dr. Emilio Ravignani". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Historia Argentina y Americana "Dr. Emilio Ravignani"; Argentin

CERN openlab Whitepaper on Future IT Challenges in Scientific Research

This whitepaper describes the major IT challenges in scientific research at CERN and several other European and international research laboratories and projects. Each challenge is exemplified through a set of concrete use cases drawn from the requirements of large-scale scientific programs. The paper is based on contributions from many researchers and IT experts of the participating laboratories and also input from the existing CERN openlab industrial sponsors. The views expressed in this document are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of their organisations and/or affiliates

Different titanium surfaces modulate the bone phenotype of SaOS-2 osteoblast-like cells.

Commercially pure titanium implants presenting a relatively smooth, machined surface or a roughned endosseous surface show a large percentage of clinical successes. Surface properties of dental implants seem to be important with respect to bone cells response. Implant topography appears to modulate cell growth and differentiation of osteoblasts affecting the bone healing around the titanium implant. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of three different titanium surfaces on cell morphology, adhesion and bone phenotypic expression of human osteoblast-like cells, SaOS-2. SaOS-2 cells were cultured on commercially pure titanium disks of 1 cm in diameter with three different surface roughness: smooth (S), sandblasted (SB) and titanium plasma sprayed (TPS). Differences in the cell morphology were found on the three surfaces showing an uniform monolayer of shaped cells on the S surfaces, and clusters of multilayered cells with an irregular shape on the rough surfaces. The adhesion of SaOS-2 cells, as measured after 3h of culture, was not affected by surface roughness. ECM components such as collagen I (CoI), fibronectin (FN), vitronectin (VN) and tenascin (TN) were secreted and organized only on SB and TPS surfaces while on S surfaces they remained in the cytoplasm. Osteopontin and BSP-II were largely detected on SB and TPS surfaces, while only minimal production was observed on S surfaces. These data show that titanium surface roughness affects bone differentiation of osteoblast like-cells, SaOS-2, indicating that surface properties may be able to modulate the osteoblast phenotype. These observations also suggest that the bone healing response around dental implants can be affected by surface topography