Decision Trees for Applicability of Evolution Rules in Transition P Systems

Transition P Systems are a parallel and distributed computational model based on the notion of the cellular membrane structure. Each membrane determines a region that encloses a multiset of objects and evolution rules. Transition P Systems evolve through transitions between two consecutive configurations that are determined by the membrane structure and multisets present inside membranes. Moreover, transitions between two consecutive configurations are provided by an exhaustive non-deterministic and parallel application of active evolution rules subset inside each membrane of the P system. But, to establish the active evolution rules subset, it is required the previous calculation of useful and applicable rules. Hence, computation of applicable evolution rules subset is critical for the whole evolution process efficiency, because it is performed in parallel inside each membrane in every evolution step. The work presented here shows advantages of incorporating decision trees in the evolution rules applicability algorithm. In order to it, necessary formalizations will be presented to consider this as a classification problem, the method to obtain the necessary decision tree automatically generated and the new algorithm for applicability based on it

Introduction à l'étude expérimentale de la matière hadronique dans les collisions entre ions lourds. Le Plasma de Quarks et de Gluons.

In the last 20 years, heavy ion collisions have been an unique way to study the hadronic matter in the laboratory. The phase diagram of hadronic matter remains unknown, although many experimental and theoretical studies have been done in the last decennia, aiming at studying its phase transitions. After a general introduction, two phases transition of the hadronic matter, liquid-gas and the transition to the Quark Gluon Plasma, are addressed. A general view about the experimental methods to study these phase transitions is presented in chapter three. The most important results of the heavy ion program in the RHIC collider at BNL (Upton, NY, USA) are presented in chapter four. The last three chapters are devoted to the heavy ion program in the future LHC collider at CERN (Geneva, Switzerland). In particular, the unique LHC experiment specially designed for heavy ion physics, ALICE and its muon spectrometer are presented.Depuis 20 ans, les collisions entre ions lourds sont la seule façon d'étudier la matière hadronique dans le laboratoire. Le diagramme de phase de la matière hadronique reste encore méconnu malgré les efforts expérimentaux et théoriques qui ont été entrepris ces dernières décennies afin de mieux connaître ses transitions des phases. Après une introduction générale sur le sujet, nous aborderons plus en détail deux transitions de phases de la matière hadronique: la transition liquide gaz et la transition vers le plasma de quarks et de gluons. Une vue générale sur les méthodes expérimentales pour étudier ces transitions sera ensuite présentée dans le troisième chapitre. Les résultats principaux du programme d'ions lourds mené à bien au collisionneur RHIC à BNL (Upton, NY, Etas-Unis), seront présentés dans le quatrième chapitre. Le derniers 3 chapitres seront dédiés au futur programme d'ions lourds au collisionneur LHC au CERN (Genève, Suisse), en particulier à la seule expérience dédiée à cette physique, ALICE, et à son spectromètre à muons

Tailored two-dimensional finite-element formulations for ad-hoc analysis of waveguiding and mode-matching problems

The analysis of homogeneous closed waveguides is known to be one of the first, if not the very first, problems to be addressed with the finite element method (P. Silvester, “Finite element solution of homogeneous waveguide problems”, Alta Frequenza, vol. 38, pp. 313–317, 1969) in the framework of computational electromagnetics. Since this two-dimensional scalar case, many developments have followed: extension to three-dimensional analysis, derivation of curlconforming edge and higher-order elements, domain decomposition approaches, hybridization with other numerical or analytical methods, etc. This has led the finite element method to be considered one of the most well-established, reliable techniques to address cutting-edge problems in computational electromagnetics, with many reference books (G. Pelosi, R. Coccioli, S. Selleri, Quick Finite Elements for Electromagnetic Waves, Norwood, MA, USA: Artech House, 2009; J. Jin, The Finite Element Method in Electromagnetics, Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley, 2015). Despite these long-known advancements, resorting to solving the afore-mentioned (and, at first glance, simple) problem of computing the modes in any waveguiding cross-section still plays a key role in computer-aided design methodologies that rely on the modal description of the fields, as is the case of the mode-matching method. In this case, not only an accurate calculation of these modal fields is required, but also the capability to compute as many modes (without skipping a single one) as necessary to ensure convergence. If the problem demands for it, it is also imperative to have a straightforward division into different classes or types of modes according to symmetries and possible excitations, as well as a proper identification of degenerate modes. In this work, we will review some strategies and tailored two-dimensional finite-element formulations proposed by the authors to address some of the issues arising when analyzing waveguiding structures, especially focusing on obtaining proper modal decompositions of the fields to be used in further computer-aided design of waveguide devices through mode-matching techniques. Some of these strategies and formulations include the comparison of different types of meshes (structured quadrilateral vs. unstructured triangular) when the waveguide cross-sections have 90º corners, as well as the development of specific boundary conditions to model novel materials enclosing the waveguide (such as graphene) or to account for higher-order symmetries (such as rotational ones) in structures with a high number of degenerate modes. In the latter case, this is especially useful for devices conceived to operate with circular polarization

Altered density of glomerular binding sites for atrial natriuretic factor in bile duct-ligated rats with ascites

The renal response to atrial natriuretic factor is blunted in cirrhosis with ascites. This might be due to alterations of renal receptors for atrial natriuretic factor. Therefore density and affinity of glomerular atrial natriuretic factor binding sites of bile duct-ligated rats with ascites (n = 10) and of sham-operated controls (n = 10) were determined. Glomerular atrial natriuretic factor binding sites were identified to be of the B-(biologically active) and C-(clearance) receptor type. Discrimination and quantitative determination of B and C receptors for atrial natriuretic factor were achieved by displacement experiments with atrial natriuretic factor(99-126) or des(18-22)atrial natriuretic factor(4-23), an analogue binding to C receptors only. Density of total glomerular atrial natriuretic factor binding sites was significantly increased in bile duct-ligated rats (3,518 ± 864 vs. 1,648 ± 358 fmol/mg protein; p < 0.05). This was due to a significant increase of C-receptor density (3,460 ± 866 vs. 1,486 ± 363 fmol/mg protein; p < 0.05), whereas density of B receptors was not significantly different in bile duct-ligated rats (58 ± 11 vs. 162 ± 63 fmol/mg protein). Affinity of atrial natriuretic factor to its glomerular binding sites did not differ significantly between both groups. These data suggest that an altered glomerular atrial natriuretic factor receptor density could be involved in the renal resistance to atrial natriuretic factor in cirrhosis with ascites

Acute-on-chronic liver failure in cirrhosis

The definition of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) remains contested. In Europe and North America, the term is generally applied according to the European Association for the Study of the Liver-Chronic Liver Failure (EASL-CLIF) Consortium guidelines, which defines this condition as a syndrome that develops in patients with cirrhosis and is characterized by acute decompensation, organ failure and high short-term mortality. One-third of patients who are hospitalized for acute decompensation present with ACLF at admission or develop the syndrome during hospitalization. ACLF frequently occurs in a closed temporal relationship to a precipitating event, such as bacterial infection or acute alcoholic, drug-induced or viral hepatitis. However, no precipitating event can be identified in approximately 40% of patients. The mechanisms of ACLF involve systemic inflammation due to infections, acute liver damage and, in cases without precipitating events, probably intestinal translocation of bacteria or bacterial products. ACLF is graded into three stages (ACLF grades 1–3) on the basis of the number of organ failures, with higher grades associated with increased mortality. Liver and renal failures are the most common organ failures, followed by coagulation, brain, circulatory and respiratory failure. The 28-day mortality rate associated with ACLF is 30%. Depending on the grade, ACLF can be reversed using standard therapy in only 16–51% of patients, leaving a considerable proportion of patients with ACLF that remains steady or progresses. Liver transplantation in selected patients with ACLF grade 2 and ACLF grade 3 increases the 6-month survival from 10% to 80%

Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: Definition, Diagnosis, and Clinical Characteristics

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a recently recognized syndrome in cirrhosis characterized by acute decompensation (AD), organ failure(s), and high short-term mortality. Organ failure(s) is defined by the Chronic Liver Failure-Sequential Organ Failure (CLIF-SOFA) score or by its simplified version Chronic Liver Failure-Organ Failure Assessment (CLIF-OF) score. They include six types of organ failure: liver, renal, coagulation, cerebral, respiratory, and circulatory. One third of patients hospitalized with AD present with ACLF at admission or develop ACLF during hospitalization. Acute-on-chronic liver failure frequently occurs in a closed relationship to a precipitating event. According to the number of organ failures, ACLF is graded into three stages: ACLF-1 = single renal failure or single nonrenal organ failure if associated with renal dysfunction and/or cerebral dysfunction; ACLF-2 = two organ failures; and ACLF-3 = three to six organ failures, with increasing 28-day mortality rate (from 23%–74%). Acute-on-chronic liver failure may develop at any phase during the clinical course of the disease. Patients without prior AD develop a severe form of ACLF

Genetic characterization of the Canaria bovine breed using microsatellites: preliminary study

Two sub populations of the Canaria breed of cattle located in the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife were genetically studied. Six microsatellites markers have been analyzed in a total of 35 individuals distributed in different non related herds. All the analyzed markers were polymorphic, the number of alleles varied between two and eleven per locus. The variability, heterozigosity per locus and over all mean were estimated by mean of calculation the allelic frequencies. These results are indicative of the genetic variability present; although it is indispensable to enlarge the number of loci with the purpose of defining with more precision the situation of the breed