Advances in human-computer interactions: methods, algorithms, and applications

Editoria

Spontaneous activity in peripheral diaphragmatic lymphatic loops.

The spontaneous contractility of FITC-dextran-filled lymphatics at the periphery of the pleural diaphragm was documented for the first time “in vivo” in anesthetized Wistar rats. We found that lymphatic segments could be divided into four phenotypes: 1) active, displaying rhythmic spontaneous contractions (51.8% of 197 analyzed sites); 2) stretch-activated, whose contraction was triggered by passive distension of the vessel lumen (4.1%); 3) passive, which displayed a completely passive distension (4.5%); and 4) inert, whose diameter never changed over time (39.6%). Smooth muscle actin was detected by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy in the vessel walls of active but also of inert sites, albeit with a very different structure within the vessel wall. Indeed, while in active segments, actin was arranged in a dense mesh completely surrounding the lumen, in inert segments actin decorated the vessels wall in sparse longitudinal strips. When located nearby along the same lymphatic loop, active, stretch-activated, and passive sites were always recruited in temporal sequence starting from the active contraction. The time delay was ∼0.35 s between active and stretch-activated and 0.54 s between stretch-activated and passive segments, promoting a uniform lymph flux of ∼150/200 pl/min. We conclude that, unlike more central diaphragmatic lymphatic vessels, loops located at the extreme diaphragmatic periphery do require an intrinsic pumping mechanism to propel lymph centripetally, and that such an active lymph propulsion is attained by means of a complex interplay among sites whose properties differ but are indeed able to organize lymph flux in an ordered fashion. </jats:p

The milk collection problem with time constraint: An optimization study integrating simulation

Transport management and vehicle routing problems play a strong role on a company's efficiency and competitiveness. In the food sector, the complexity of the problem grows because of strict constraints. This paper addresses the dairy transportation problem and in particular tries to optimize the milk collection process of a real company. A two-step approach has been proposed to test the current system and solve the routing problem. First, starting from the “As is” collection tours, a travel salesman problem has been modelled. Later, the Nearest Neighbor algorithm has been implemented in order to find a global optimal solution. Finally, a stochastic simulation model integrates the solutions of the previous step in order to test the feasibility of the outcomes, primarily in terms of their capability to meet the time constraints of the tours. Results show that the greedy approach allows less vehicles to be involved, with a good potential on annual cost saving. On the other hand, the simulation outcomes highlight a borderline case, which is not always in line with the time constraints of the problem

Interplay between gut lymphatic vessels and microbiota

Lymphatic vessels play a distinctive role in draining fluid, molecules and even cells from interstitial and serosal spaces back to the blood circulation. Lymph vessels of the gut, and especially those located in the villi (called lacteals), not only serve this primary function, but are also responsible for the transport of lipid moieties absorbed by the intestinal mucosa and serve as a second line of defence against possible bacterial infections. Here, we briefly review the current knowledge of the general mechanisms allowing lymph drainage and propulsion and will focus on the most recent findings on the mutual relationship between lacteals and intestinal microbiota

Geometric View of Measurement Errors

The slope of the best fit line from minimizing the sum of the squared oblique errors is the root of a polynomial of degree four. This geometric view of measurement errors is used to give insight into the performance of various slope estimators for the measurement error model including an adjusted fourth moment estimator introduced by Gillard and Iles (2005) to remove the jump discontinuity in the estimator of Copas (1972). The polynomial of degree four is associated with a minimun deviation estimator. A simulation study compares these estimators showing improvement in bias and mean squared error

A novel approach to scaling experimentally produced downburst-like impinging jet outflows

Downbursts are intense thunderstorm winds that can be found in most, if not all, regions around the globe. An accurate experimental investigation of downburst winds requires the proper geometric and kinematic scaling between the model downburst (m) created in a wind simulator and the full scale downburst event (p). This study makes a threefold contribution to further understanding of downburst outflows. First, the article introduces a new scaling methodology for downburst outflows based on the signal decomposition techniques of p and m downburst wind records. Second, the study describes a large set of m downbursts produced in the WindEEE Dome simulator at Western University and critically discusses their similarity with a large set of p events detected in the Mediterranean. Third, using the proposed scaling methodology, this paper attempts to partially reconstruct two p downburst events recorded in Genoa and Livorno, Italy. In total, 17 p and 1400 m downburst outflows are investigated herein, which represents the largest database of p and m downbursts combined. The similarity between p and m downbursts is quantitatively demonstrated for both mean and fluctuating components of the flows. The scaling method is verified by accurately predicting the known anemometer height of p events using m downburst measurements

Plan of Fairmeadow, Main Street and Hedgerow Drive, Cumberland, Maine, 1968

Plan of Fairmeadow, Main Street and Hedgerow Drive, Cumberland, Maine was created by Joseph E. Solari Company in 1968. Scale 1 =40\u27.https://digitalmaine.com/cumberland_plans/1141/thumbnail.jp

Las técnicas de reproducción humana asistida (TRHA) en el código civil y comercial

The new Assisted Human Reproduction Techniques brings the need to accommodate the current legislation in matters of filiation. There are three filiation sources: natural, adoption and those derived from the Assisted Human Reproduction Techniques. The Civil and Commercial Code lacks a comprehensive system that acknowledges these realities. There are two aspects that need specific treatment: surrogacy and multiple parents.Fil: Solari, Néstor E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Derecho. Cátedra Derecho de Familia y Sucesiones. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDossier "Temas de Bioética". Frente a las Técnicas de Reproducción Humana Asistida (TRHA) surge una necesidad de adecuar y contemplar las diversas modalidades que la ciencia médica ha desarrollado en los últimos años. Existen tres fuentes filiales: por naturaleza, por adopción y las derivadas de las TRHA. La nueva legislación adolece de un sistema integral moderno, que dé cuenta de los distintos aspectos derivados de las TRHA, postergando su tratamiento en una futura reforma. Hay dos aspectos que merecen un tratamiento específico por parte del legislador: la gestación por sustitución y la plurifiliación

Insights on Fission Products behaviour in Nuclear Severe Accident Conditions by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

International audienceMany research programs have been carried out aiming to understand the fission products behaviour during a Nuclear Severe Accident. Most of these programs used highly radioactive irradiated nuclear fuel, which requires complex instrumentation. Moreover, the radioactive character of samples hinders an accurate chemical characterisation. In order to overcome these difficulties, SIMFUEL stand out as an alternative to perform complementary tests. A sample made of UO$_2$ doped with 11 fission products was submitted to an annealing test up to 1973 K in reducing atmosphere. The sample was characterized before and after the annealing test using SEM-EDS and XAS at the MARS beam-line, SOLEIL Synchrotron. It was found that the overall behaviour of several fission products (such as Mo, Ba, Pd and Ru) was similar to that observed experimentally in irradiated fuels and consistent with thermodynamic estimations. The experimental approach presented in this work has allowed obtaining information on chemical phases evolution under nuclear severe accident conditions, that are yet difficult to obtain using irradiated nuclear fuel samples