Control of Discrete Event Systems with Respect to Strict Duration: Supervision of an Industrial Manufacturing Plant

26 pagesInternational audienceIn this paper, we propose a (max,+)-based method for the supervi- sion of discrete event systems subject to tight time constraints. Systems under consideration are those modelled as timed event graphs and repre- sented with linear (max,+) state equations. The supervision is addressed by looking for solutions of constrained state equations associated with timed event graph models. These constrained state equations are derived by reducing duration constraints to elementary constraints whose con- tributions are injected in the system's state equations. An example for supervisor synthesis is given for an industrial manufacturing plant subject to a strict temporal constraint, the thermal treatment of rubber parts for the automotive industries. Supervisors are calculated and classified ac- cording to their performance, considering their impact on the production throughput

Low fruitfulness in local almond orchards could be due to the inbreeding depression effect

Fruitfulness of 26 promising local almond genotypes in four Moroccan localities under two different agro-ecological systems, mountains and oasis ecosystem, was assessed by physiological means including pollen tube growth and fruit set after self- and cross-pollination and open-pollination. All studied genotypes are self-incompatible. The analysis of variance showed significant effects of the genotype, the year and the origin on fruit set in open-pollinated branches. Over two years, fruit set ranged from 5.3 % to 25.7 %,which is lower than the 30% threshold for a commercial crop in almond. The reciprocal cross-pollination test carried out in 6 genotypes from Agdez oasis locality showed that the genotypes Km-3 and Km-4 are cross-incompatible. Fruit set after cross-pollination among genotypes was low, with low to medium number of pollen tube at the style base after the reciprocal crosses, probably due to the inbreeding effect. In some crosses, the number of pollen tubes at the style base was high, whereas the fruit set was low. These results indicate that in traditional almond orchards, based on local cultivars propagated locally by seed, potential yield of the tree is limited by the effect of inbreeding depression. Keywords: Almond, Cross pollination, Fruit set, Self-incompatibility, Inbreeding depressio

Kinase profiling of liposarcomas using RNAi and drug screening assays identified druggable targets.

BackgroundLiposarcoma, the most common soft tissue tumor, is understudied cancer, and limited progress has been made in the treatment of metastatic disease. The Achilles heel of cancer often is their kinases that are excellent therapeutic targets. However, very limited knowledge exists of therapeutic critical kinase targets in liposarcoma that could be potentially used in disease management.MethodsLarge RNAi and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor screens were performed against the proliferative capacity of liposarcoma cell lines of different subtypes. Each small molecule inhibitor was either FDA approved or in a clinical trial.ResultsScreening assays identified several previously unrecognized targets including PTK2 and KIT in liposarcoma. We also observed that ponatinib, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was the most effective drug with anti-growth effects against all cell lines. In vitro assays showed that ponatinib inhibited the clonogenic proliferation of liposarcoma, and this anti-growth effect was associated with apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase as well as a decrease in the KIT signaling pathway. In addition, ponatinib inhibited in vivo growth of liposarcoma in a xenograft model.ConclusionsTwo large-scale kinase screenings identified novel liposarcoma targets and a FDA-approved inhibitor, ponatinib with clear anti-liposarcoma activity highlighting its potential therapy for treatment of this deadly tumor

Teleportation of Accelerated Information

A theoretical quantum teleportation protocal is suggested to teleport accelerated and non-accelerated information over different classes of accelerated quantum channels. For the accelerated information, it is shown that the fidelity of the teleported state increases as the entanglement of the initial quantum channel increases. However as the difference between the accelerated channel and the accelerated information decreases the fidelity increases. The fidelity of the non accelerated information increases as the entanglement of the initial quantum channel increases, while the accelerations of the quantum channel has a little effect. The possibility of sending quantum information over accelerated quantum channels is much better than sending classical information

Identification of e-young chronics through questionnaire

Background and Aims: Transforming the doctor-patient re lationship from analog to digital is no simple task and requires a great deal of courage and visionary leadership. The first step to do so is to identify the digital capabilities that the ultimate re cipient of every health system possesses: the patient. Methods: A scale questionnaire of 5 questions related to digital applications is carried out to patients under follow-up for type 1 diabetes mellitus, between 18?65 years old, who are prescribed the Abbott Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitoring device, which requires their connection to a mobile application (Libreview) by the user, for optimal use and communication of data with the healthcare professional electronically. Results: 62 patients were included.In the classification by predefined subgroups according to the questionnaire score, 35 patients (56.45%) were identified as having advanced training; 16 (25.81%) of basic training and 11 (17.74%) without digital training. 82.86% (29/35) of the patients predefined as highly qualified used the system adequately, compared to 43.75% (7/16) of those with low training and 0% (0/11) of patients without technological capabilities; p < 0.001. Conclusions: The coronavirus-19 pandemic has subjected our health services to a stress test like never before. In the current remote care scenario, we are presented with an opportunity (the great opportunity) to serve people immersed in the digital age. It would be bad news if after this pandemic, we returned to the starting box, the identification of those e-young and e-senior chronics patients is the first essential step to avoid it. Comunicaci?n-p?ster presentada en: ATTD Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes Conference Online del 2 al 5 june 2021

Disseminated tuberculosis and hemophagocytic syndrome although TB prophylaxis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with Infliximab

Purpose: We present de case of a 27-year-old woman admitted to ICU after scheduled splenectomy to study her short course of fever, leukopenia and splenic space-occupying lesions and splenomegaly. She has been previously treated with Infliximab due to indeterminate colitis and completed correct tuberculosis prophylaxis. Materials and methods: We reviewed our case in our regional Electronic Health DataBase IANUS and compared it with other case reports in literature, found in PubMed, with keywords tuberculosis, inflammatory disease and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Results: After splenectomy, she needed intensive care due to acute respiratory failure, alveolar-interstitial pulmonary infiltrates, right pleural effusion and fever. Bone marrow aspirate resulted in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Only multidisciplinary management in ICU and combined treatment with chemotherapy for hemophagocytic syndrome and tuberculostatics achieved her curation. Conclusion: Tuberculosis must always be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and acute respiratory failure despite correct prior prophylaxi

Examining Cardiomyocyte Dysfunction Using Acute Chemical Induction of an Ageing Phenotype

Much effort is focussed on understanding the structural and functional changes in the heart that underlie age-dependent deterioration of cardiac performance. Longitudinal studies, using aged animals, have pinpointed changes occurring to the contractile myocytes within the heart. However, whilst longitudinal studies are important, other experimental approaches are being advanced that can recapitulate the phenotypic changes seen during ageing. This study investigated the induction of an ageing cardiomyocyte phenotypic change by incubation of cells with hydroxyurea for several days ex vivo. Hydroxyurea incubation has been demonstrated to phenocopy age- and senescence-induced changes in neurons, but its utility for ageing studies with cardiac cells has not been examined. Incubation of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with hydroxyurea for up to 7 days replicated specific aspects of cardiac ageing including reduced systolic calcium responses, increased alternans and a lesser ability of the cells to follow electrical pacing. Additional functional and structural changes were observed within the myocytes that pointed to ageing-like remodelling, including lipofuscin granule accumulation, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased production of reactive oxygen species, and altered ultrastructure, such as mitochondria with disrupted cristae and disorganised myofibres. These data highlight the utility of alternative approaches for exploring cellular ageing whilst avoiding the costs and co-morbid factors that can affect longitudinal studies

Self-mineralization and assembly of a bis-silylated Phe–Phe pseudodipeptide to a structured bioorganic–inorganic material

International audienceSelf-mineralization of trialkoxysilyl hybrid peptide yield in a single step a nanostructured hybrid material. A bis-silylated pseudodipeptide inspired from the Phe-Phe dipeptide was used to program the assembly by sol-gel polymerization in heterogeneous conditions, in water at pH 1.5 without any structure-directing agent. A mechanism deciphering the hybrid material assembly was proposed thanks to 1H NMR spectroscopy. First, water-insoluble hybrid building blocks were hydrolysed into their soluble silanol counterparts. Then, these transitional species, thanks to hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking, self-assembled in solution. Last, the proximity of silanol moieties favoured their polycondensation into growing siloxane oligomers, which spontaneously precipitated to produce an ordered hybrid material

Total oxidation of VOCs on mesoporous iron oxide catalysts: soft chemistry route versus hard template method

[EN] A comparative study on the total oxidation of volatile organic compounds, VOCs, on mesoporous iron oxide catalysts prepared by soft chemistry route versus those achieved by hard template methodThe authors would like to acknowledge the DGICYT in Spain (CTQ2012-37925-C03-1, CTQ2012-37925-C03-2, CTQ2012-37925-C03-3 and CTQ2012-37984-C02-01) and FEDER for financial support. We also thank the University of Valencia and SCSIE-UV for assistance.Solsona Espriu, BE.; Garcia, T.; Sanchis Martinez, R.; Soriano Rodríguez, MD.; Moreno, M.; Rodríguez-Castellon, E.; Agouram, S.... (2016). Total oxidation of VOCs on mesoporous iron oxide catalysts: soft chemistry route versus hard template method. The Chemical Engineering Journal and the Biochemical Engineering Journal. 290:273-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.12.109S27328129