Necessary conditions for linear noncooperative N-player delta differential games on time scales

We present necessary conditions for linear noncooperative N-player delta dynamic games on a generic time scale. Necessary conditions for an open-loop Nash-equilibrium and for a memoryless perfect state Nash-equilibrium are proved.Comment: Partially presented at the "Fifth Symposium on Nonlinear Analysis" (SNA 2007), Torun, Poland, September 10-14, 200

The (Un)Holy Bible: Slavery, Female Objectification, and Harm

This project further elucidates the ability that the Biblical text has of being used as a justification for immoral actions. By using a textualist approach, we find that analyzing the effects that the literal text could have if used to justify action, allows us to see what Scriptural-based morality is subject to at all times. We approach this matter by classifying Scriptural interpretations under a spectrum that varies by degree. This is useful to see that the lowest bar for an action to be theologically justifiable, is whether it is in accordance with a literal reading of the Biblical text. On this thesis, we investigate three categories of what we contend to be immoral actions that, according to a textualist approach, the Bible deems either permissible, commanded by God, or not condemned in the Biblical text. Our approach comes as a tentative to show what the aggregate of Christian believers can be and are subjected to because of the entailments of Christianity and the Bible being marketed as the sacred word of God. We do not aim to constrain this discussion merely to the standpoint of scholars, academics, and theologians. Rather, our exegetical approach is useful for engaging into a discussion of what the lay person or believer can plausibly derive from the Scriptural text. The standpoint we are concerned with is the standpoint of the masses, as this is the standpoint of the overwhelming aggregate of Christian believers and/or biblical theists. By highlighting the Biblical prescriptions on slavery and racism, women’s status and sexual immorality, and categorical harm, we hope to show the most glaring instances in which the Biblical text can, undeniably, be coherent theological defenses for one’s engagement in certain immoral actions. Via the described means, we wish to expose that Biblical-based morality can be dangerous, and coherently so. With this, our goal is to underscore that it should not be permissible for Scripture to be advertised as an acceptable moral guide for society

A symmetric quantum calculus

We introduce the $\alpha,\beta$-symmetric difference derivative and the $\alpha,\beta$-symmetric N\"orlund sum. The associated symmetric quantum calculus is developed, which can be seen as a generalization of the forward and backward $h$-calculus.Comment: Submitted 26/Sept/2011; accepted in revised form 28/Dec/2011; to Proceedings of International Conference on Differential & Difference Equations and Applications, in honour of Professor Ravi P. Agarwal, to be published by Springer in the series Proceedings in Mathematics (PROM

Historical Perspective and Innovations in Penile Urethroplasty

Penile urethral strictures are common and impact on quality of life and health-care costs. Management of penile urethral strictures is complex and depends on the physical characteristics of the stricture. Contemporary studies show no difference between urethral dilation and internal urethrotomy in terms of long-term outcomes. Overall, long-term success rates range from 20 to 30%. However, their recurrence rate is greater for men with longer strictures, penile urethral strictures, multiple strictures, presence of infection, or history of prior procedures, which make them less cost-effective. Surgical urethroplasty is associated with higher long-term success rates, averaging from 85 to 90%, mostly in virgin or noncomplex cases. Historically, modern urethral reconstruction has evolved from 1950s with the revolutionary introduction of Johanson’s technique for staged urethral reconstruction. Since then, many techniques have been developed and employed for urethroplasty, depending on the location, length, and character of the stricture. Successful management of urethral strictures requires detailed knowledge of anatomy, pathophysiology, proper patient selection, and reconstructive techniques

New results on the stability of quasi-static paths of a single particle system with Coulomb friction and persistent contact

In this paper we announce some new mathematical results on the stability of quasi-static paths of a single particle linearly elastic system with Coulomb friction and persistent normal contact with a flat obstacle.A quasi-static path is said to be stable at some value of the load parameter if, for some finite interval of the load parameter thereafter, the dynamic solutions behave continuously with respect to the size of the initial perturbations (as in Lyapunov stability) and to the smallness of the rate of application of the external forces, $\varepsilon$ (as in singular perturbation problems). In this paper we prove sufficient conditions for stability of quasi-static paths of a single particle linearly elastic system with Coulomb friction and persistent normal contact with a flat obstacle. The present system has the additional difficulty of its non-smoothness: the friction law is a multivalued operator and the dynamic evolutions of this system may have discontinuous accelerations

Dystrophic cardiomyopathy: amplification of cellular damage by Ca2+ signalling and reactive oxygen species-generating pathways

Aims Cardiac myopathies are the second leading cause of death in patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, the two most common and severe forms of a disabling striated muscle disease. Although the genetic defect has been identified as mutations of the dystrophin gene, very little is known about the molecular and cellular events leading to progressive cardiac muscle damage. Dystrophin is a protein linking the cytoskeleton to a complex of transmembrane proteins that interact with the extracellular matrix. The fragility of the cell membrane resulting from the lack of dystrophin is thought to cause an excessive susceptibility to mechanical stress. Here, we examined cellular mechanisms linking the initial membrane damage to the dysfunction of dystrophic heart. Methods and results Cardiac ventricular myocytes were enzymatically isolated from 5- to 9-month-old dystrophic mdx and wild-type (WT) mice. Cells were exposed to mechanical stress, applied as osmotic shock. Stress-induced cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ signals, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential were monitored with confocal microscopy and fluorescent indicators. Pharmacological tools were used to scavenge ROS and to identify their possible sources. Osmotic shock triggered excessive cytosolic Ca2+ signals, often lasting for several minutes, in 82% of mdx cells. In contrast, only 47% of the WT cardiomyocytes responded with transient and moderate intracellular Ca2+ signals. On average, the reaction was 6-fold larger in mdx cells. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ abolished these responses, implicating Ca2+ influx as a trigger for abnormal Ca2+ signalling. Our further experiments revealed that osmotic stress in mdx cells produced an increase in ROS production and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. The latter was followed by collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, an early sign of cell death. Conclusion Overall, our findings reveal that excessive intracellular Ca2+ signals and ROS generation link the initial sarcolemmal injury to mitochondrial dysfunctions. The latter possibly contribute to the loss of functional cardiac myocytes and heart failure in dystrophy. Understanding the sequence of events of dystrophic cell damage and the deleterious amplification systems involved, including several positive feed-back loops, may allow for a rational development of novel therapeutic strategie

Las Tecnologías de la Información Geográfica como posibilitadora del análisis y el estudio del uso real y del uso formal del espacio urbano

La tecnología se presenta como uno de los principales factores de los actuales cambios sociales. El control sobre la naturaleza, las relaciones entre los individuos y la manera de considerar el mundo se han ampliado y han cambiado debido a la tecnología. El acceso a la información ha proporcionado ventajas de acción antes inexistentes, lo que ha producido mejoras en la calidad de vida y productividad en el trabajo de los individuos. Las Tecnologías de la Información Geográfica (TIG) forman parte del grupo que posibilita una gestión más eficaz y ágil de la información espacial, y su uso ayuda a comprender cuestiones acerca del espacio geográfico. Éstas también nos permiten desvelar contradicciones y desigualdades que la actual economía de mercado genera, pudiéndonos ayudar a identificar posibles soluciones. Estas tecnologías surgen para potenciar el trabajo y los estudios geográficos, donde el principal actor que realiza las interpretaciones y los análisis es el conocimiento generado por el individuo. El estudio del uso real y del uso formal del espacio urbano es una cuestión muy compleja que demanda la recopilación, el estudio y el análisis de una gran cantidad de información. Teniendo en cuenta todo lo anterior, se busca entender la importancia de las mismas en el análisis de dichos usos, ya que por medio de las TIG se puede obtener y/o producir información que representa algún aspecto o característica del espacio y de sus usos real o formal. Informaciones que podrán contribuir a una mejor gestión y un mejor planeamiento del territorio. El estudio de estas cuestiones urbanas a través de un formato digital lo hace aún más significativo y permite una mayor eficacia en la adquisición del conocimiento. Además permite revelar formas y patrones del espacio urbano y relaciones entre sus agentes productores, posibilitando simular y comprender unos fenómenos espaciales tan dinámicos. A partir de este contexto del uso de las TIG para el análisis del espacio urbano, especialmente para los casos relativos al uso real y al uso formal y sus aplicaciones, se podrá comprender la importancia de estas tecnologías como posibilitadoras de dichos estudios y análisis.Este trabajo contó con el apoyo de la Fundación de Amparo a la investigación del Estado de São Paulo (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP/Brasil – Procesos 2012/10897-5 y 2013/15786-0)

Temperature responsiveness of gilthead sea bream bone; an in vitro and in vivo approach

This study aimed to characterize the molecules involved in osteogenesis in seabream and establish using in vitro/in vivo approaches the responsiveness of selected key genes to temperature. The impact of a temperature drop from 23 to 13 degrees C was evaluated in juvenile fish thermally imprinted during embryogenesis. Both, in vitro/in vivo, Fib1a, appeared important in the first stages of bone formation, and Col1A1, ON and OP, in regulating matrix production and mineralization. OCN mRNA levels were up-regulated in the final larval stages when mineralization was more intense. Moreover, temperature-dependent differential gene expression was observed, with lower transcript levels in the larvae at 18 degrees C relative to those at 22 degrees C, suggesting bone formation was enhanced in the latter group. Results revealed that thermal imprinting affected the long-term regulation of osteogenesis. Specifically, juveniles under the low and low-to-high-temperature regimes had reduced levels of OCN when challenged, indicative of impaired bone development. In contrast, gene expression in fish from the high and high-to-low-temperature treatments was unchanged, suggesting imprinting may have a protective effect. Overall, the present study revealed that thermal imprinting modulates bone development in seabream larvae, and demonstrated the utility of the in vitro MSC culture as a reliable tool to investigate fish osteogenesis."Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad" (MINECO) [BES-2015-074654]; Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) [SFRH/BPD/111512/2015, SFRH/BD/81625/2011]; MINECO, Spain [AGL2010-17324, AGL2014-57974-R]; "Generalitat de Catalunya" (XRAq); Generalitat de Catalunya [2014SGR-01371]; FCT, Portugal [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]; European Union [LIFECYCLE EU-FP7 222719]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Economias de escala em uma linha de onibus urbano: o enfoque micro-analitico

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro TecnologicoO enfoque deste trabalho é o detalhamento da análise operacional de uma linha de ônibus urbano, englobando conjuntamente o ponto de vista do operador e do usuário. Neste sentido, buscou-se analisar uma situação real, com parâmetros operacionais diferenciados ao longo da linha de ônibus (tempos de parada, velocidade, distância entre pontos de parada, etc.), possibilitando um tratamento prático e mais detalhado da teoria. Por outro lado, com a diferenciação dos vários grupos de usuários em função da sua posição geográfica, avaliou-se os custos e benefícios para cada segmento de demanda de forma distributiva, considerando que o nível de serviço oferecido pelo operador não alcança da mesma forma todas as pessoas. Para ajustar a função custo generalizado dos usuários, foi realizada uma pesquisa de preferência declarada em uma linha de ônibus da cidade de Florianópolis/SC. O estudo apresenta um modelo de avaliação que possibilita a simulação de situações diversas para operador e usuários, buscando otimizar custos e benefícios