917 research outputs found
Subchronic dietary exposure of rats to cadmium alters the metabolism of metals essential to bone health
Cadmium (Cd) was recently identified as a risk factor for osteoporosis. Skeletal damage may be the critical effect of low-level long-term exposure to Cd in the general population exposed via food, but the mechanisms behind this are not clearly understood.We investigated the effects of dietary Cd exposure on metals involved in bone turnover. Female rats received a Cd-supplemented diet (0, 10, 50, or 200 CdCl2 mg/kg diet) for 13 weeks. Cd and essential metals stored in the liver were measured by ICP-MS multianalysis. Mineral content of the livers was modified according to Cd level : iron, magnesium and selenium decreased while copper, zinc and manganese increased with increasing Cd levels. Iron was the most strikingly affected metal, falling to one-fifth of control values at high dietary Cd exposure. In this dosage group, selenium decreased to 36% of mean control concentrations while zinc increased to 168%. This mineral imbalance, especially depleted iron stores, can contribute, at least in part, to the Cd-associated risk of osteoporosis. The association between iron metabolism and Cd exposure should be investigated in humans, as Cd and low iron stores could act synergistically as risk factors for osteoporosis
Exact solution of bond percolation on small arbitrary graphs
We introduce a set of iterative equations that exactly solves the size
distribution of components on small arbitrary graphs after the random removal
of edges. We also demonstrate how these equations can be used to predict the
distribution of the node partitions (i.e., the constrained distribution of the
size of each component) in undirected graphs. Besides opening the way to the
theoretical prediction of percolation on arbitrary graphs of large but finite
size, we show how our results find application in graph theory, epidemiology,
percolation and fragmentation theory.Comment: 5 pages and 3 figure
Adaptive networks: coevolution of disease and topology
Adaptive networks have been recently introduced in the context of disease
propagation on complex networks. They account for the mutual interaction
between the network topology and the states of the nodes. Until now, existing
models have been analyzed using low-complexity analytic formalisms, revealing
nevertheless some novel dynamical features. However, current methods have
failed to reproduce with accuracy the simultaneous time evolution of the
disease and the underlying network topology. In the framework of the adaptive
SIS model of Gross et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 208701 (2006)], we introduce an
improved compartmental formalism able to handle this coevolutionary task
successfully. With this approach, we analyze the interplay and outcomes of both
dynamical elements, process and structure, on adaptive networks featuring
different degree distributions at the initial stage.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 1 appendix. To be published in Physical Review
Strategic tradeoffs in competitor dynamics on adaptive networks
Recent empirical work highlights the heterogeneity of social competitions
such as political campaigns: proponents of some ideologies seek debate and
conversation, others create echo chambers. While symmetric and static network
structure is typically used as a substrate to study such competitor dynamics,
network structure can instead be interpreted as a signature of the competitor
strategies, yielding competition dynamics on adaptive networks. Here we
demonstrate that tradeoffs between aggressiveness and defensiveness (i.e.,
targeting adversaries vs. targeting like-minded individuals) creates
paradoxical behaviour such as non-transitive dynamics. And while there is an
optimal strategy in a two competitor system, three competitor systems have no
such solution; the introduction of extreme strategies can easily affect the
outcome of a competition, even if the extreme strategies have no chance of
winning. Not only are these results reminiscent of classic paradoxical results
from evolutionary game theory, but the structure of social networks created by
our model can be mapped to particular forms of payoff matrices. Consequently,
social structure can act as a measurable metric for social games which in turn
allows us to provide a game theoretical perspective on online political
debates.Comment: 20 pages (11 pages for the main text and 9 pages of supplementary
material
Analytical sensitivity analysis using the extended finite element method in shape optimization of bimaterial structures
peer reviewedThe present work investigates the shape optimization of bimaterial structures. The problem is formulated using a level set description of the geometry and the extended finite element method (XFEM) to enable an easy treatment of complex geometries. A key issue comes from the sensitivity analysis of the structural responses with respect to the design parameters ruling the boundaries. Even if the approach does not imply any mesh modification, the study shows that shape modifications lead to difficulties when the perturbation of the level sets modifies the set of extended finite elements. To circumvent the problem, an analytical sensitivity analysis of the structural system is developed. Differences between the sensitivity analysis using FEM or XFEM are put in evidence. To conduct the sensitivity analysis, an efficient approach to evaluate the so-called velocity field is developed within the XFEM domain. The proposed approach determines a continuous velocity field in a boundary layer around the zero level set using a local finite element approximation. The analytical sensitivity analysis is validated against the finite differences and a semi- analytical approach. Finally our shape optimization tool for bimaterial structures is illustrated by revisiting the classical problem of the shape of soft and stiff inclusions in plates
Modeling the dynamical interaction between epidemics on overlay networks
Epidemics seldom occur as isolated phenomena. Typically, two or more viral
agents spread within the same host population and may interact dynamically with
each other. We present a general model where two viral agents interact via an
immunity mechanism as they propagate simultaneously on two networks connecting
the same set of nodes. Exploiting a correspondence between the propagation
dynamics and a dynamical process performing progressive network generation, we
develop an analytic approach that accurately captures the dynamical interaction
between epidemics on overlay networks. The formalism allows for overlay
networks with arbitrary joint degree distribution and overlap. To illustrate
the versatility of our approach, we consider a hypothetical delayed
intervention scenario in which an immunizing agent is disseminated in a host
population to hinder the propagation of an undesirable agent (e.g. the spread
of preventive information in the context of an emerging infectious disease).Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. E. 15 pages, 7 figure
Patient-specific simulation of stent-graft deployment within an abdominal aortic aneurysm
In this study, finite element analysis is used to simulate the surgical
deployment procedure of a bifurcated stent-graft on a real patient's arterial
geometry. The stent-graft is modeled using realistic constitutive properties
for both the stent and most importantly for the graft. The arterial geometry is
obtained from pre-operative imaging exam. The obtained results are in good
agreement with the post-operative imaging data. As the whole computational time
was reduced to less than 2 hours, this study constitutes an essential step
towards predictive planning simulations of aneurysmal endovascular surger
Sensory and physicochemical profiling of traditional and enriched gari in Benin
Gari is a roasted fermented granular product made from cassava in many African countries. It is consumed raw, or added with water, or cooked into a paste. Up to now, gari enriched with palm oil and/or soybean is not available on Beninese markets. To our knowledge, no sensory profiling using appropriate methodology has been conducted on gari in Benin. The sensory studies on gari in Benin and other African countries only included general descriptors (appearance, taste, odor). The aim of our study was to establish a detailed sensory and physicochemical profile of nine traditional and three enriched gari made using different processes in Benin. Fifteen sensory descriptors of raw gari, and gari added with water, were generated and scored using quantitative descriptive analysis. The enriched gari differed from traditional gari mainly in color and odor, while their swelling capacity, texture during chewing, and light sour taste were similar. Marked variability in particle size, particle heterogeneity, water absorption, and sour taste was found among traditional gari. The physicochemical characteristics, such as degree of starch gelatinization, L‐lactic acid, and β‐carotene contents, were highly variable among the 12 gari. Multifactor analysis revealed highly significant correlations between some physicochemical and sensory properties. The addition of soybean and/or palm oil did not affect most of the sensory properties of the traditional gari. The acceptability of these enriched gari with higher nutritive value by Beninese consumers should be tested to develop marketing strategies
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