Effects of internal fluctuations on the spreading of Hantavirus

We study the spread of Hantavirus over a host population of deer mice using a population dynamics model. We show that taking into account the internal fluctuations in the mouse population due to its discrete character strongly alters the behaviour of the system. In addition to the familiar transition present in the deterministic model, the inclusion of internal fluctuations leads to the emergence of an additional deterministically hidden transition. We determine parameter values that lead to maximal propagation of the disease, and discuss some implications for disease prevention policies

- A COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH TO THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF ASSET PRICING IN A SINGLE-PERIOD MARKET.

In this paper we provide a new approach to the Fundamental Theorem of As-set Pricing. The proofof this result is usually based on Projection (Separation) Theorems and is far more intuitive. Ourapproach follow the relation between the projection problem an equivalent least squares problem.More precisely, we will use and iterative procedure in order to obtain solutions of a bounded leastsquare problem. This solutions will give, under some conditions, either the state price vector orthe arbitrage opportunity of the problem under consideration.Asset Pricing; Arbitrage; Mathematical Finance

Disorder-specific functional abnormalities during sustained attention in youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and with Autism

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are often comorbid and share behavioural-cognitive abnormalities in sustained attention. A key question is whether this shared cognitive phenotype is based on common or different underlying pathophysiologies. To elucidate this question, we compared 20 boys with ADHD to 20 age and IQ matched ASD and 20 healthy boys using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a parametrically modulated vigilance task with a progressively increasing load of sustained attention. ADHD and ASD boys had significantly reduced activation relative to controls in bilateral striato–thalamic regions, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and superior parietal cortex. Both groups also displayed significantly increased precuneus activation relative to controls. Precuneus was negatively correlated with the DLPFC activation, and progressively more deactivated with increasing attention load in controls, but not patients, suggesting problems with deactivation of a task-related default mode network in both disorders. However, left DLPFC underactivation was significantly more pronounced in ADHD relative to ASD boys, which furthermore was associated with sustained performance measures that were only impaired in ADHD patients. ASD boys, on the other hand, had disorder-specific enhanced cerebellar activation relative to both ADHD and control boys, presumably reflecting compensation. The findings show that ADHD and ASD boys have both shared and disorder-specific abnormalities in brain function during sustained attention. Shared deficits were in fronto–striato–parietal activation and default mode suppression. Differences were a more severe DLPFC dysfunction in ADHD and a disorder-specific fronto–striato–cerebellar dysregulation in ASD

Biodegradation and biological treatments of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin: an overview

In nature, cellulose, lignocellulose and lignin are major sources of plant biomass; therefore, their recycling is indispensable for the carbon cycle. Each polymer is degraded by a variety of microorganisms which produce a battery of enzymes that work synergically. In the near future, processes that use lignocellulolytic enzymes or are based on microorganisms could lead to new, environmentally friendly technologies. This study reviews recent advances in the various biological treatments that can turn these three lignicellulose biopolymers into alternative fuels. In addition, biotechnological innovations based on natural delignification and applied to pulp and paper manufacture are also outlined

Motor timing deficits in community and clinical boys with hyperactive behaviour: The effect of methylphenidate on motor timing.

In a previous paper we showed that community children with hyperactive behavior were more inconsistent than controls in the temporal organization of their motor output. In this study we investigated: (1) various aspects of motor timing processes in 13 clinically diagnosed boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who were compared to 11 community boys with hyperactive behavior and to a control group and (2) the effect of methylphenidate on the motor timing processes in the clinical group with ADHD in a double blind, cross-over, medication-placebo design, including 4 weeks of medication. The clinical group with ADHD, like the community group with hyperactivity, showed greater variability in sensorimotor synchronization and in sensorimotor anticipation relative to controls. The clinical group was also impaired in time perception, which was spared in the community group with hyperactivity. The persistent, but not the acute dose, of methylphenidate reduced the variability of sensorimotor synchronization and anticipation, but had no effect on time perception. This study shows that motor timing functions are impaired in both clinical and community children with hyperactivity. It is the first study to show the effectiveness of persistent administration of methylphenidate on deficits in motor timing in ADHD children and extends the use of methylphenidate from the domain of attentional and inhibitory functions to the domain of executive motor timing

Methylphenidate Normalizes Fronto-Striatal Underactivation During Interference Inhibition in Medication-Naïve Boys with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have deficits in interference inhibition, which can be improved with the indirect catecholamine agonist methylphenidate (MPH). Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to investigate the effects of a single dose of MPH on brain activation during interference inhibition in medication-naïve ADHD boys. Medication-naïve boys with ADHD were scanned twice, in a randomized, double-blind design, under either a single clinical dose of MPH or placebo, while performing a Simon task that measures interference inhibition and controls for the oddball effect of low-frequency appearance of incongruent trials. Brain activation was compared within patients under either drug condition. To test for potential normalization effects of MPH, brain activation in ADHD patients under either drug condition was compared with that of healthy age-matched comparison boys. During incongruent trials compared with congruent–oddball trials, boys with ADHD under placebo relative to controls showed reduced brain activation in typical areas of interference inhibition, including right inferior prefrontal cortex, left striatum and thalamus, mid-cingulate/supplementary motor area, and left superior temporal lobe. MPH relative to placebo upregulated brain activation in right inferior prefrontal and premotor cortices. Under the MPH condition, patients relative to controls no longer showed the reduced activation in right inferior prefrontal and striato-thalamic regions. Effect size comparison, furthermore, showed that these normalization effects were significant. MPH significantly normalized the fronto-striatal underfunctioning in ADHD patients relative to controls during interference inhibition, but did not affect medial frontal or temporal dysfunction. MPH therefore appears to have a region-specific upregulation effect on fronto-striatal activation

Effect of inoculum source and initial concentration on the anaerobic digestion of the liquid fraction from hydrothermal carbonisation of sewage sludge

Hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) is a relatively new alternative for the management of sewage sludge that allows obtaining a HTC char (hydrochar) with a high heating value (≈22 MJ/kg). The aim of this work has been to study the anaerobic digestion of the liquid fraction generated as by-product during HTC (LFHTC) of dewatered sewage sludge, to get more value to the overall process. For this purpose, three different inocula: granular biomass from industrial reactors treating brewery and sugar beet wastewaters and a flocculent biomass from a full-scale digester of municipal sewage sludge, at two initial inoculum concentrations (IC) (10 and 25 g COD/L) were tested. ANOVA test was applied to evaluate the ultimate methane yield for each IC. The effect was different for each inoculum studied: an increase from 10 to 25 g COD/L increased the methane yield by 23% for brewery waste, achieving the highest value obtained (177 ± 5 mL STP CH4/g CODadded), while declining to 99 ± 2 mL STP CH4/g CODadded for sugar beet; it is not affected by the municipal sludge, yielding around 135 mL STP CH4/g CODadded. Therefore, among the inocula tested, brewery waste was the most appropriate for the anaerobic digestion of the LFHTC of dewatered sewage sludge at high ICThe authors wish to express their gratitude to the Spanish MINECO (CTM2016-76564-R) for providing financial support. M.A. de la Rubia acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (RYC-2013-12549

Review on Shadanga Sharira

The study of human body can be done in various ways like system wise study of organs macroscopically and microscopically, as per location of organs, in relation with other organs or the study of body parts inside to outwards and vice versa all together leading to a sum of knowledge. Though the study becomes more interesting as we go in depth. Shadanga Sharira, the human body divided into 6 parts namely four limbs, Head (head and neck) and trunk regionally. These Shadangas are individually called Anga. The Angas further divided into smaller units are Pratyanga. “The different parts or members of the body as mentioned before including the skin cannot be correctly described by one who is not well versed in anatomy. Hence, any one desirous of acquiring a thorough knowledge of anatomy should prepare a dead body and carefully, observe, by dissecting it, and examine its different parts.” Sushruta Samhita provide important surgical and anatomical information of the human body under the description of diseases, surgical procedures and all which are of at most important while dealing with patient. Here we review the Shadanga Sharira in modern anatomy