Expanding Semiflows on Branched Surfaces and One-Parameter Semigroups of Operators

We consider expanding semiflows on branched surfaces. The family of transfer operators associated to the semiflow is a one-parameter semigroup of operators. The transfer operators may also be viewed as an operator-valued function of time and so, in the appropriate norm, we may consider the vector-valued Laplace transform of this function. We obtain a spectral result on these operators and relate this to the spectrum of the generator of this semigroup. Issues of strong continuity of the semigroup are avoided. The main result is the improvement to the machinery associated with studying semiflows as one-parameter semigroups of operators and the study of the smoothness properties of semiflows defined on branched manifolds, without encoding as a suspension semiflow

Soft laser-plasma X-ray source for differential absorption imaging of tracing elements in thin samples

The differential imaging technique is particularly suitable for the detection of small concentrations of contrasts agents for biological and medical applications in samples using X-ray radiography. In this paper, we present an application of this technique using a laser-plasma soft X-ray source combined with a bent crystal. Using a Fresnel plate as a test object, we were able to obtain spatial resolutions of the order of a few tens of microns. The use of our configuration to perform differential imaging of a test-sample at the L2 edge of Br at 1,596 eV is finally demonstrated

Scopolamine and hyoscyamine production by hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida: Influence of calcium chloride, hemicellulase and theophylline

CaCl2 (50 mM) and hemicellulase (0.5 U mg-1) increased the intracellular accumulation (60-250%), release (60-200%) and production (45-200%) of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in hairy roots of Brugmansia candida. Theophylline (0.25 mM), alone or in combination with hemicellulase, was ineffective in increasing hyoscyamine and scopolamine production.Fil: Pitta Alvarez, Sandra Irene. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Spollansky, T. C.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Giulietti, Ana Maria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Real-time optical manipulation of cardiac conduction in intact hearts

Optogenetics has provided new insights in cardiovascular research, leading to new methods for cardiac pacing, resynchronization therapy and cardioversion. Although these interventions have clearly demonstrated the feasibility of cardiac manipulation, current optical stimulation strategies do not take into account cardiac wave dynamics in real time. Here, we developed an all‐optical platform complemented by integrated, newly developed software to monitor and control electrical activity in intact mouse hearts. The system combined a wide‐field mesoscope with a digital projector for optogenetic activation. Cardiac functionality could be manipulated either in free‐run mode with submillisecond temporal resolution or in a closed‐loop fashion: a tailored hardware and software platform allowed real‐time intervention capable of reacting within 2 ms. The methodology was applied to restore normal electrical activity after atrioventricular block, by triggering the ventricle in response to optically mapped atrial activity with appropriate timing. Real‐time intraventricular manipulation of the propagating electrical wavefront was also demonstrated, opening the prospect for real‐time resynchronization therapy and cardiac defibrillation. Furthermore, the closed‐loop approach was applied to simulate a re‐entrant circuit across the ventricle demonstrating the capability of our system to manipulate heart conduction with high versatility even in arrhythmogenic conditions. The development of this innovative optical methodology provides the first proof‐of‐concept that a real‐time optically based stimulation can control cardiac rhythm in normal and abnormal conditions, promising a new approach for the investigation of the (patho)physiology of the heart

DYSPHORIA DIMENSIONAL MODEL FOR FEEDING AND EATING DISORDERS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Background: Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) are severe psychiatric illnesses which represent the main expression of Feeding and Eating Disorders (FED). Clinicians agree that emotional and behavioural dysregulation play a crucial role in FED. Dysphoria could help us to better understand these components. Indeed, we define dysphoria as a generic state of dissatisfaction and emotional instability, without any specific features. Among the multitude of symptoms, we find that irritability, discontent, interpersonal resentment and surrender prevail. These dimensions correspond to the four subscales of Neapean Dysphoria Scale - Italian version (NDS-I). Dysphoria role in FED has not yet been investigated. Using this test, we can characterize dysphoria both in quantitative and qualitative terms. Accordingly, domain evaluation could discriminate these disorders allowing us to assess possible differential phenomenological expressions. Aims: The aim of this paper is to understand in which way the dimensional spectrum that composes dysphoria differs between Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders through an observational comparative study. Subjects and methods: The enrolled sample (30 patients) is represented by patients with a history of FED (AN, BN or BED). Patients were males and females between the ages of 13 and 45 with a good knowledge of Italian language. Patients with severe cognitive impairment (MMSE <19) and civil incapacitation were excluded. Patients were recruited from the Psychiatric Service of the Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital in Perugia (PG), and other residential and semi residential structures specialized in FED treatment (FED specialized center at Palazzo Francisci in Todi (PG), Nido delle Rondini in Todi (PG), BED (Binge Eating Disorders) center in Città della Pieve (PG) and ambulatory services for FED in Umbertide (PG)). We administered them the Neapen Dysphoria Scale – Italian Version (NDS-I), a specific dimensional test for dysphoria. Starting from the dataset, with the aid of the statistical program SPSS 20, we have carried out a comparison between disorders groups selected and NDS-I total score and subscales (irritability, discontent, interpersonal resentment, surrender). For this we have used the Mann-Whitney U test, a nonparametric test with 2 independent samples, by setting a significance level p<0.05. Conclusions: This study allowed us to better understand and characterize the most common Eating Disorders. Beyond that, despite the small sample size, we found in our analysis statistically significant difference in the expression of various dysphoria dimension spectrum inside our 3 groups

DYSPHORIA DIMENSIONAL MODEL FOR FEEDING AND EATING DISORDERS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Background: Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) are severe psychiatric illnesses which represent the main expression of Feeding and Eating Disorders (FED). Clinicians agree that emotional and behavioural dysregulation play a crucial role in FED. Dysphoria could help us to better understand these components. Indeed, we define dysphoria as a generic state of dissatisfaction and emotional instability, without any specific features. Among the multitude of symptoms, we find that irritability, discontent, interpersonal resentment and surrender prevail. These dimensions correspond to the four subscales of Neapean Dysphoria Scale - Italian version (NDS-I). Dysphoria role in FED has not yet been investigated. Using this test, we can characterize dysphoria both in quantitative and qualitative terms. Accordingly, domain evaluation could discriminate these disorders allowing us to assess possible differential phenomenological expressions. Aims: The aim of this paper is to understand in which way the dimensional spectrum that composes dysphoria differs between Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders through an observational comparative study. Subjects and methods: The enrolled sample (30 patients) is represented by patients with a history of FED (AN, BN or BED). Patients were males and females between the ages of 13 and 45 with a good knowledge of Italian language. Patients with severe cognitive impairment (MMSE <19) and civil incapacitation were excluded. Patients were recruited from the Psychiatric Service of the Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital in Perugia (PG), and other residential and semi residential structures specialized in FED treatment (FED specialized center at Palazzo Francisci in Todi (PG), Nido delle Rondini in Todi (PG), BED (Binge Eating Disorders) center in Città della Pieve (PG) and ambulatory services for FED in Umbertide (PG)). We administered them the Neapen Dysphoria Scale – Italian Version (NDS-I), a specific dimensional test for dysphoria. Starting from the dataset, with the aid of the statistical program SPSS 20, we have carried out a comparison between disorders groups selected and NDS-I total score and subscales (irritability, discontent, interpersonal resentment, surrender). For this we have used the Mann-Whitney U test, a nonparametric test with 2 independent samples, by setting a significance level p<0.05. Conclusions: This study allowed us to better understand and characterize the most common Eating Disorders. Beyond that, despite the small sample size, we found in our analysis statistically significant difference in the expression of various dysphoria dimension spectrum inside our 3 groups

Space- and time-resolved observation of extreme laser frequency upshifting during ultrafast-ionization

A 65-fs, 800-nm, 2-TW laser pulse propagating through a nitrogen gas jet has been experimentally studied by 90 Thomson scattering. Time-integrated spectra of scattered light show unprecedented broadening towards the blue which exceeds 300 nm. Images of the scattering region provide for the first time a space- and time-resolved description of the process leading quite regularly to such a large upshift. The mean shifting rate was as high as dk/dt3A ̊/fs, never observed before. Interferometry shows that it occurs after partial laser defocusing. Numerical simulations prove that such an upshift is consistent with a laser-gas late interaction, when laser intensity has decreased well below relativistic values (a0 1) and ionization process involves most of the laser pulse. This kind of interaction makes spectral tuning of ultrashort intense laser pulses possible in a large spectral range. VC 2013 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4818602

Multi-GeV Electron Spectrometer

The advance in laser plasma acceleration techniques pushes the regime of the resulting accelerated particles to higher energies and intensities. In particular the upcoming experiments with the FLAME laser at LNF will enter the GeV regime with almost 1pC of electrons. From the current status of understanding of the acceleration mechanism, relatively large angular and energy spreads are expected. There is therefore the need to develop a device capable to measure the energy of electrons over three orders of magnitude (few MeV to few GeV) under still unknown angular divergences. Within the PlasmonX experiment at LNF a spectrometer is being constructed to perform these measurements. It is made of an electro-magnet and a screen made of scintillating fibers for the measurement of the trajectories of the particles. The large range of operation, the huge number of particles and the need to focus the divergence present unprecedented challenges in the design and construction of such a device. We will present the design considerations for this spectrometer and the first results from a prototype.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, submitted to NIM

The Effect of Learning Organization Environment and Innovative Work Behavior Under the Moderation Role of Employee Engagement in Public Sector Organization

The main objective of the study is to explore the impact of learning organization environment on innovative work behavior. The study results show that learning organization environment explained a significant relation with innovative work behavior also with the mediator variable that is employee engagement. Convenience sampling is used as the sampling strategy. This survey is based on questionnaire and data is collected from 140 managers of Public sector organizations located in Faisalabad. To analyses the data, SPSS version 23.0 is used. To check the relationship between the variables correlation analysis is used and to checks the effect between variables linear regression analysis is used. Thus, all the hypotheses showed significant results. Keywords: Learning Organization environment, innovative work behavior, employee engagemen