Skyrmion Multi-Walls

Skyrmion walls are topologically-nontrivial solutions of the Skyrme system which are periodic in two spatial directions. We report numerical investigations which show that solutions representing parallel multi-walls exist. The most stable configuration is that of the square $N$-wall, which in the $N\to\infty$ limit becomes the cubically-symmetric Skyrme crystal. There is also a solution resembling parallel hexagonal walls, but this is less stable.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

Tratamento da hipertensão arterial nos doentes com obstrução brônquica

ABSTRACTArterial hypertension and bronchial obstruction are very commun diseases in the population, it is indeed not rare that both conditions exist in the same person. It is fundamental to treat each one of them without aggravating the other. Concerning the treatment of hypertension there are in fact drugs that aggravate or cause bronchial obstruction and should be used with great precaution or even be contra-indicated.In this paper considering bronchial obstruction the indicated anti-hypertensive drugs are calcium channel blockers. serotonin antagonists, diuretics and the alpha 1 antagonist drugs. The contra-indicated anti-hypertensive drugs are the beta blockers. The anti-hypertensive drugs to be used with great precaution are the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and alpha 2 agoinst drugs

Increased SERCA2a sub-cellular heterogeneity in right-ventricular heart failure inhibits excitation-contraction coupling and modulates arrhythmogenic dynamics

The intracellular calcium handling system of cardiomyocytes is responsible for controlling excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) and has been linked to pro-arrhythmogenic cellular phenomena in conditions such as heart failure (HF). SERCA2a, responsible for intracellular uptake, is a primary regulator of calcium homeostasis, and remodelling of its function has been proposed as a causal factor underlying cellular and tissue dysfunction in disease. Whereas adaptations to the global (i.e. whole-cell) expression of SERCA2a have been previously investigated in the context of multiple diseases, the role of its spatial profile in the sub-cellular volume has yet to be elucidated. We present an approach to characterize the sub-cellular heterogeneity of SERCA2a and apply this approach to quantify adaptations to the length-scale of heterogeneity (the distance over which expression is correlated) associated with right-ventricular (RV)-HF. These characterizations informed simulations to predict the functional implications of this heterogeneity, and its remodelling in disease, on ECC, the dynamics of calcium-transient alternans and the emergence of spontaneous triggered activity. Image analysis reveals that RV-HF is associated with an increase in length-scale and its inter-cellular variability; simulations predict that this increase in length-scale can reduce ECC and critically modulate the vulnerability to both alternans and triggered activity

Heterogeneous cyber-physical network coexistence through interference contribution rate and uplink power control algorithm (ICR-UPCA) in 6G edge cells

Optimizing power control for interference mitigation at the network cell edge is pivotal in enhancing capacity within a heterogeneous cyber-physical infrastructure, such as smart cities, manufacturing, healthcare, energy grids, transportation, and agriculture, among others. In this paper, we consider the intricate dynamics of Internet of Things (IoT) 5/6G edge users, with a particular focus on the Interference Contribution Rate (ICR), where macro and femtocells are critical network infrastructures. Existing approaches has drawbacks such as computational complexity, overhead, and co-channel interference, among others. However, to fully address interference challenges from the coexistence of diverse network hierarchies, preserving the Quality of Service for femtocell users is prioritized. The paper concurrently enhances the handoff mechanism of cell edge users in the macro cell network. A two-tier heterogeneous network (HetNet) is utilized to initially assess the contribution of edge user equipment (UE) to interference levels during its active state while quantifying it as ICR. Game theory is used to formulate a cohesive model for the coexistence of macro cell (MUE) and femtocell users (FUE). ICR-based uplink power control and reference signal received quality (RSRQ)-based handoff algorithms are deployed to regulate interference levels and enhance the Signal-to-Interference-Noise Ratio (SINR) of the MUE at the cell edge. This is achieved through coordinated transmit power adjustments by both user types. Results indicate a 6.67 % channel capacity loss (interference tolerance) by the FUE, leading to a 12.5 % improvement, translating to approximately 4 Mbps and 1 Mbps channel enhancements, respectively. The MUE and FUE can effectively coordinate power control with minimal overhead, accepting compromises in network channel quality. This approach facilitates improved MUE data access rates while ensuring the preservation of FUE. We show that interference is successfully mitigated through power control in heterogeneous networks with lower computational complexity

New Forearm Elements Discovered of Holotype Specimen Australovenator wintonensis from Winton, Queensland, Australia

New skeletal elements are reported of the holotype specimen Australovenator wintonensis, from the type locality, near Winton, central western Queensland. New elements include left and right humeri, right radius, right radiale, right distal carpal 1, near complete right metacarpal I, left manual phalanx II-1, left manual phalanx II-2, near complete left manual phalanx II-3 and a left manual phalanx III-3. These new elements combined with those previously described are compared against other neovenatorids

Source Evaluation and Trace Metal Contamination in Benthic Sediments from Equatorial Ecosystems Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques

race metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb) concentrations in benthic sediments were analyzed through multi-step fractionation scheme to assess the levels and sources of contamination in estuarine, riverine and freshwater ecosystems in Niger Delta (Nigeria). The degree of contamination was assessed using the individual contamination factors (ICF) and global contamination factor (GCF). Multivariate statistical approaches including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and correlation test were employed to evaluate the interrelationships and associated sources of contamination. The spatial distribution of metal concentrations followed the pattern Pb>Cu>Cr>Cd>Ni. Ecological risk index by ICF showed significant potential mobility and bioavailability for Cu, Cu and Ni. The ICF contamination trend in the benthic sediments at all studied sites was Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd>Pb. The principal component and agglomerative clustering analyses indicate that trace metals contamination in the ecosystems was influenced by multiple pollution sources

Effectiveness and cost of recruitment strategies for a community-based randomised controlled trial among rainwater drinkers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Community-based recruitment is challenging particularly if the sampling frame is not easily defined as in the case of people who drink rainwater. Strategies for contacting participants must be carefully considered to maximise generalisability and minimise bias of the results. This paper assesses the recruitment strategies for a 1-year double-blinded randomised trial on drinking untreated rainwater. The effectiveness of the recruitment strategies and associated costs are described.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Community recruitment of households from Adelaide, Australia occurred from February to July 2007 using four methods: electoral roll mail-out, approaches to schools and community groups, newspaper advertising, and other media involvement. Word of mouth communication was also assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 810 callers were screened, with 53.5% eligible. Of those who were eligible and sent further information, 76.7% were willing to participate in the study and 75.1% were enrolled. The target for recruitment was 300 households, and this was achieved. The mail-out was the most effective method with respect to number of households randomised, while recruitment via schools had the highest yield (57.3%) and was the most cost effective when considering cost per household randomised (AUD$147.20). Yield and cost effectiveness were lowest for media advertising.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of electoral roll mail-out and advertising via schools were effective in reaching households using untreated rainwater for drinking. Employing multiple strategies enabled success in achieving the recruitment target. In countries where electoral roll extracts are available to researchers, this method is likely to have a high yield for recruitment into community-based epidemiological studies.</p

SHV Lactamase Engineering Database: a reconciliation tool for SHV β-lactamases in public databases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>SHV β-lactamases confer resistance to a broad range of antibiotics by accumulating mutations. The number of SHV variants is steadily increasing. 117 SHV variants have been assigned in the SHV mutation table (<url>http://www.lahey.org/Studies/</url>). Besides, information about SHV β-lactamases can be found in the rapidly growing NCBI protein database. The SHV β-Lactamase Engineering Database (SHVED) has been developed to collect the SHV β-lactamase sequences from the NCBI protein database and the SHV mutation table. It serves as a tool for the detection and reconciliation of inconsistencies, and for the identification of new SHV variants and amino acid substitutions.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>The SHVED contains 200 protein entries with distinct sequences and 20 crystal structures. 83 protein sequences are included in the both the SHV mutation table and the NCBI protein database, while 35 and 82 protein sequences are only in the SHV mutation table and the NCBI protein database, respectively. Of these 82 sequences, 41 originate from microbial sources, and 22 of them are full-length sequences that harbour a mutation profile which has not been classified yet in the SHV mutation table. 27 protein entries from the NCBI protein database were found to have an inconsistency in SHV name identification. These inconsistencies were reconciled using information from the SHV mutation table and stored in the SHVED.</p> <p>The SHVED is accessible at <url>http://www.LacED.uni-stuttgart.de/classA/SHVED/</url>. It provides sequences, structures, and a multisequence alignment of SHV β-lactamases with the corrected annotation. Amino acid substitutions at each position are also provided. The SHVED is updated monthly and supplies all data for download.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The SHV β-Lactamase Engineering Database (SHVED) contains information about SHV variants with reconciled annotation. It serves as a tool for detection of inconsistencies in the NCBI protein database, helps to identify new mutations resulting in new SHV variants, and thus supports the investigation of sequence-function relationships of SHV β-lactamases.</p

Midgut microbiota of the malaria mosquito vector Anopheles gambiae and Interactions with plasmodium falciparum Infection

The susceptibility of Anopheles mosquitoes to Plasmodium infections relies on complex interactions between the insect vector and the malaria parasite. A number of studies have shown that the mosquito innate immune responses play an important role in controlling the malaria infection and that the strength of parasite clearance is under genetic control, but little is known about the influence of environmental factors on the transmission success. We present here evidence that the composition of the vector gut microbiota is one of the major components that determine the outcome of mosquito infections. A. gambiae mosquitoes collected in natural breeding sites from Cameroon were experimentally challenged with a wild P. falciparum isolate, and their gut bacterial content was submitted for pyrosequencing analysis. The meta-taxogenomic approach revealed a broader richness of the midgut bacterial flora than previously described. Unexpectedly, the majority of bacterial species were found in only a small proportion of mosquitoes, and only 20 genera were shared by 80% of individuals. We show that observed differences in gut bacterial flora of adult mosquitoes is a result of breeding in distinct sites, suggesting that the native aquatic source where larvae were grown determines the composition of the midgut microbiota. Importantly, the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in the mosquito midgut correlates significantly with the Plasmodium infection status. This striking relationship highlights the role of natural gut environment in parasite transmission. Deciphering microbe-pathogen interactions offers new perspectives to control disease transmission.Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD); French Agence Nationale pour la Recherche [ANR-11-BSV7-009-01]; European Community [242095, 223601]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio