Modeling of permanent magnet linear generator and state estimation based on sliding mode observer: A wave energy system application

summary:This paper synopsis a new solution for Permanent Magnets Linear Generator (PMLG) state estimation subject to bounded uncertainty. Therefore, a PMLG modeling method is presented based on an equivalent circuit, wherein a mathematical model of the generator adapted to wave energy conversion is established. Then, using the Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) optimization and a Lyapunov function, this system's Sliding Mode Observer (SMO) design method is developed. Consequently, the proposed observer can give a robust state estimation. At last, numerical examples with and without uncertainty are included to exemplify the effectiveness and applicability of the suggested approaches

Awareness of Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms and Breast Self-Examination Among Omani Female Teachers: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aimed to assess knowledge of breast cancer (BC) risk factors, warning signs and symptoms and breast self-examination (BSE) practice among Omani female teachers in Al-Dhahira Governorate. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of female teachers aged 20–50 years was collected from January to December 2018 from three wilayats (provinces) in Al-Dhahira—Ibri, Dhank and Yunqal. A questionnaire that included the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale and demographic characteristics was administered. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis and Pearson’s Chi-square test. Results: A total of 478 female teachers were included in the study (response rate: 72.4%). The majority of participants (60.5%) had good overall knowledge about BC while 19.9% of participants had excellent overall knowledge. Only 9% of participants demonstrating excellent knowledge of BC risk factors. More than half of the participants (56.1%) reported excellent knowledge in screening methods. Unfortunately, only 57% of the female teachers indicated practising BSE. Knowledge of BC symptoms was closely divided between excellent and good levels (45.8 and 42.5%, respectively). BSE practice was significantly (P <0.05) correlated with overall knowledge of BC and its symptoms and screening methods, but not with knowledge of BC risk factors. Conclusion: This study revealed unsatisfactory overall knowledge of BC risk factors, symptoms, screening methods and BSE practice among female Omani teachers in Al-Dhahira Governorate. These findings constitute a challenge to healthcare providers to continue developing awareness of BC and providing health information to the public.Keywords: Breast Cancer; Awareness; Knowledge; Breast Self-Examination; Risk factors; Signs and Symptoms; Oman

Impact of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes on pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer

Description of the subject: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a breast cancer subtype, is characterized by the lack of both estrogen and progesterone hormonal receptors expression and by the absence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression. Patients with a pathological complete response (pCR) have better disease-free and overall survival compared to those with residual disease. The high level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is associated with a higher response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and better prognosis. Objective: Evaluation of TILs and their predictive impact in early TNBC in an Algerian population. Methods: We assessed TILs and correlated them with the pCR rate in 94 early TNBC patients treated from 2015 to 2017 who underwent breast microbiopsy, NAC, and then surgery. Results: Among 94 early TNBC patients, 53 (56.4%) achieved pCR and 41 (43.6%) had a residual disease. While some clinicopathological factors did not affect pCR, stromal TILs showed significant correlation with pCR (P < 0.0001). The presence of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD20+ TILs was also significantly correlated with pCR (P < 0.0001, P = 0.001, P = 0.0003 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: Our data showed that TILs were significantly associated with pCR, suggesting that TILs are a predictive biomarker for pCR in early TNBC patients treated by NAC in our cohort

A novel blue crab chitosan/protein composite hydrogel enriched with carotenoids endowed with distinguished wound healing capability: In vitro characterization and in vivo assessment

International audienceThis work aimed to the development of chitosan and protein isolate composite hydrogels, for carotenoids-controlled delivery and wound healing. By increasing the concentration of the protein isolate, chitosan hydrogels were more elastic at a protein isolate concentration not exceeding 15% (w/w). Chitosan-protein isolate composite hydrogels revealed low cytotoxicity towards MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. Thanks to its appropriate structural, swelling and mechanical resistance properties, chitosan hydrogel (3%; w/v), reinforced with 15% (w/w) of protein isolate, was selected for the carotenoids in vitro release study. Release profiles, show delivery patterns, where carotenoids were more barely released at a pH 7.4 medium (p<0.05), compared to more acidic microenvironments (pH 4.0 and pH 2.0). Thus, developed hydrogels could be applied as pH-sensitive intelligent carriers, for drugs-controlled release, with interesting antioxidant abilities. The in vivo healing potential of hydrogels in rats' models was further studied. Topical application of hydrogel-based patches allowed the acceleration of wound healing and the complete healing, for composite hydrogel enriched with carotenoids

Impact of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes on pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early triple-negative breast cancer

Description of the subject: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a breast cancer subtype, is characterized by the lack of both estrogen and progesterone hormonal receptors expression and by the absence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression. Patients with a pathological complete response (pCR) have better disease-free and overall survival compared to those with residual disease. The high level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is associated with a higher response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and better prognosis. Objective: Evaluation of TILs and their predictive impact in early TNBC in an Algerian population. Methods: We assessed TILs and correlated them with the pCR rate in 94 early TNBC patients treated from 2015 to 2017 who underwent breast microbiopsy, NAC, and then surgery. Results: Among 94 early TNBC patients, 53 (56.4%) achieved pCR and 41 (43.6%) had a residual disease. While some clinicopathological factors did not affect pCR, stromal TILs showed significant correlation with pCR (P < 0.0001). The presence of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD20+ TILs was also significantly correlated with pCR (P < 0.0001, P = 0.001, P = 0.0003 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: Our data showed that TILs were significantly associated with pCR, suggesting that TILs are a predictive biomarker for pCR in early TNBC patients treated by NAC in our cohort

2,4-D induction of somaclonal variations in in vitro grown date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv Barhee)

International audienceKey message: Results demonstrate that the 2,4-D can affect physiological and molecular parameters of vitrocultures when used at high concentrations without hampering their morphogenetic capacities. It was found to be efficient at inducing genetic and epigenetic variations.Abstract: The present study is a part of a program designed at improving the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. Barhee, through induced somaclonal variation. In this work, caulogenic cultures were subcultured on MS media supplemented with 0, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg L-1 2,4-D in order to induce genetic and epigenetic variations. The highest doses of 2,4-D were found to induce severe negative effects on in vitro cultures, although some tissues were able to survive and to produce calli with high morphogenetic capacities. Our analysis showed some significant effect of 2,4-D on several physiological parameters. Indeed, chlorophyll and growth rates were found to drastically decrease while proline content increased from 535 to 2973 nmol g(-1) FW when 40 mg L-1 2,4-D were used. In vitro cultures showed several signs of oxidative stress, such as high levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde; likewise, the specific activity of several antioxidant enzyme was found to increase. Plant regeneration from in vitro cultures treated with 2,4-D was obtained after subculturing explants onto PGR-free media. The ISSR analysis of 2,4-D-treated material showed that this plant growth regulator (PGR) induced measurable genetic variations. The global DNA methylation rates (GMR) as estimated through the HPLC analysis of nucleosides also confirmed the presence of epigenetic changes caused by 2,4-D as GMRs increased from 13.8 to 18.93%

Cardiotoxicity and myocardial infarction-associated DNA damage induced by thiamethoxam in vitro and in vivo Protective role of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed-derived polysaccharide

International audienceThe risk of pesticides on the human health and environment has drawn increasing attention. Today, new tools are developed to reduce pesticide adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity induced by, thiamethoxam (TMX), and the cytoprotective effect of a novel polysaccharide, named fenugreek seed water polysaccharide (FWEP) in vitro using H9c2 cardiomyoblastes and in vivo using Wistar rat model. Animals were assigned into four groups per eight rats each group 1 served as a control group, group 2 received TMX, group 3, and group 4 received both FWEP and TMX tested at two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively). Regarding the in vitro study, our results demonstrated that TMX induced a decrease in H9c2 cell viability up to 70% with the highest concentration. In vivo, TMX injection induced marked heart damage noted by a significant increase in plasma lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, troponin-T, aspartate amino transferase activities, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Concomitant alterations in cardiac antioxidant defense system revealed depletion in the levels of glutathione and non-protein thiol and an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Similarly, a significant increase in heart lipid, malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein product and in protein carbonyls levels was also noted. In addition, heart tissues histo-architecture displayed major presence of apoptosis and necrosis as confirmed by DNA degradation. However, supplementation with FWEP alleviated heart oxidative damage and genotoxicity. In this manner, ABTS radical-scavenging activity, linoleic acid oxidation tests and heart genomic and DNA nicking assay had proved FWEP strong antioxidant potential. In conclusion, FWEP provided significant protection against TMX-induced heart injury, and could be a useful and efficient agent against cardiotoxicity and atherosclerosis

Retroperitoneal desmoid tumor in a patient with familial adenomatous polyposis: A case report

Desmoid tumors are benign fibroblastic neoplasms, with locally invasive features and a tendency of recurrence. They are considered an aggressive non-metastatic fibromatosis. The retroperitoneal location is extremely rare. Their exact mechanism of occurrence is still controversial, but could be related to a genetic predisposition, hormonal factors or traumatic factors, including surgery. This entity faces management difficulties due to its rarity, the variable circumstances of its discovery, and the non-specific clinical manifestations. Their sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is limited and surgery remains the only curative treatment in symptomatic cases, however observational waiting could consist the most appropriate management in selected asymptomatic patients, moreover it could avoid unnecessary morbidity from surgery or radiotherapy, which makes the management of this condition a multidisciplinary decision and should be adapted to fit the patients individually. We report a case of a retroperitoneal desmoid tumor in a 31-year-old woman with a history of familial adenomatous polyposis, through which we will discuss this extremely rare neoplastic entity