An Attempt to Measure the Traffic Impact of Airline Alliances

This paper analyzes the effects of airline alliances on the allied partners output by comparing the traffic change observed between the pre- and the post-alliance period. First, a simple methodology based on traffic passenger modelling is developed, and then an empirical analysis is conducted using time series from four global strategic alliances (Wings, Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam) and 124 alliance routes. The analysis concludes that, all other things being equal, strategic alliances do lead to a 9.4%, on average, improvement in passenger volume

Well-defined homopolypeptides, copolypeptides, and hybrids of Poly(l-proline)

l-Proline is the only, out of 20 essential, amino acid that contains a cyclized substituted α-amino group (is formally an imino acid), which restricts its conformational shape. The synthesis of well-defined homo- and copolymers of l-proline has been plagued either by the low purity of the monomer or the inability of most initiating species to polymerize the corresponding N-carboxy anhydride (NCA) because they require a hydrogen on the 3-N position of the five-member ring of the NCA, which is missing. Herein, highly pure l-proline NCA was synthesized by using the Boc-protected, rather than the free amino acid. The protection of the amine group as well as the efficient purification method utilized resulted in the synthesis of highly pure l-proline NCA. The high purity of the monomer and the use of an amino initiator, which does not require the presence of the 3-N hydrogen, led for the first time to well-defined poly(l-proline) (PLP) homopolymers, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(l-proline), and poly(l-proline)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(l-proline) hybrids, along with poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate)-b-poly(l-proline) and poly(Boc-l-lysine)-b-poly(l-proline) copolypeptides. The combined characterization (NMR, FTIR, and MS) that results for the l-proline NCA revealed its high purity. In addition, all synthesized polymers exhibit high molecular and compositional homogeneity

Perceived Effects of Orthognathic Surgery versus Orthodontic Camouflage Treatment of Convex Facial Profile Patients.

Increased facial profile convexity has a common occurrence in the population and is a primary reason for seeking orthodontic treatment. The present study aimed to compare the perceived changes in facial profile appearance between patients treated with combined orthognathic/orthodontic treatment versus only orthodontic camouflage treatment. For this reason, 18 pairs of before- and after-treatment facial profile photos per treatment group (n = 36 patients) were presented to four types of assessors (surgeons, orthodontists, patients, laypeople). Ratings were recorded on 100 mm visual analogue scales depicted in previously validated questionnaires. All rater groups identified minor positive changes in the facial profile appearance after exclusively orthodontic treatment, in contrast to substantial positive changes (14% to 18%) following combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery. The differences between the two treatment approaches were slightly larger in the lower face and the chin than in the lips. The combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery interventions were efficient in improving the facial appearance of patients with convex profile, whereas orthodontic treatment alone was not. Given the significant influence of facial aesthetics on various life aspects and its pivotal role in treatment demand and patient satisfaction, healthcare providers should take these findings into account when consulting adult patients with a convex facial profile

Ενδαγγειακή αποκατάσταση μεμονωμένων ανευρυσμάτων έσω λαγονίων αρτηριών

Σκοπός: Η βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση ασθενών με μεμονωμένα ανευρύσματα έσω λαγονίων αρτηριών προκειμένου να αναδειχθεί η αποτελεσματικότητα εφαρμογής της ενδαγγειακής μεθόδου σε αυτήν την σπάνια αγγειακή νόσο . Μέθοδοι: Πραγματοποιήθηκε σύνθετη έρευνα στις ηλεκτρονικές βάσεις δεδομένων που περιελάβανε τo PubMed, Medline και EMBASE, για την ανεύρεση όλων των άρθρων που δημοσιεύθηκαν με θέμα τα μεμονωμένα ανευρύσματα έσω λαγονίων αρτηριών. Συνολικά βρέθηκαν 11 άρθρα που καλύπτουν το διάστημα 2006-2017 και περιλαμβάνουν 11 ασθενείς με 15 μεμονωμένα ανευρύσματα έσω λαγονιού αρτηρίας. Αποτελέσματα: Ανευρέθηκαν 11 ασθενείς (15 βλάβες) με εύρος ηλικίας 36 έως 84 έτη. Οι 4 βλάβες αφορούσαν άμφω τις έσω λαγόνιες αρτηρίες , οι 4 αφορούσαν την δεξιά και 3 την αριστερή έσω λαγόνια αρτηρία. Η ενδοαγγειακή αποκατάσταση έγινε με την χρήση IBE ενδομόσχευμα , (coils) σπείρες, (stent) ενδομόσχευμα, μικροσφαιρίδια και (plug) βύσμα. Συμπεράσματα: Η ενδαγγειακή χειρουργική δύναται να αποτελέσει την πρώτη μέθοδο θεραπευτικής αντιμετώπισης στην αντιμετώπιση των μεμονωμένων ανευρυσμάτων έσω λαγονίου αρτηρίας καθώς συνδέεται με υψηλά ποσοστά τεχνικής επιτυχίας και χαμηλά ποσοστά επανεπέμβασης , όπου και αυτά αντιμετωπίσθηκαν ενδαγγειακά. Απαιτείται μεγαλύτερος αριθμός ασθενών προκειμένου να εξαχθούν ασφαλέστερα συμπεράσματα.Aim: To conduct a literature review of the patients with isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm in order to investigate the efficacy of the endovascular techniques. Methods: Medical databases MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify eligible studies referring to the isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm. Results: 11 patients (15 isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm) were included in the study. Age ranged from 36 to 84 years old. The 4 lesions were related to the both internal iliac arteries, 4 were for the right and 3 for the left internal iliac artery. Endovascular treatment was offered using an IBE endograft, stent endoprosthesis, coils, plug, microspheres. Conclusions: Endovascular surgery may be the first method of treatment for the treatment of isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm as it is associated with high rates of technical success and low rates of re-operation, where they were also treated endovascular. A larger number of patients is required to produce safer conclusions

Well-Defined Homopolypeptides, Copolypeptides, and Hybrids of Poly(l-proline)

l-Proline is the only, out of 20 essential, amino acid that contains a cyclized substituted α-amino group (is formally an imino acid), which restricts its conformational shape. The synthesis of well-defined homo- and copolymers of l-proline has been plagued either by the low purity of the monomer or the inability of most initiating species to polymerize the corresponding N-carboxy anhydride (NCA) because they require a hydrogen on the 3-N position of the five-member ring of the NCA, which is missing. Herein, highly pure l-proline NCA was synthesized by using the Boc-protected, rather than the free amino acid. The protection of the amine group as well as the efficient purification method utilized resulted in the synthesis of highly pure l-proline NCA. The high purity of the monomer and the use of an amino initiator, which does not require the presence of the 3-N hydrogen, led for the first time to well-defined poly(l-proline) (PLP) homopolymers, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(l-proline), and poly(l-proline)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(l-proline) hybrids, along with poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate)-b- poly(l-proline) and poly(Boc-l-lysine)-b-poly(l-proline) copolypeptides. The combined characterization (NMR, FTIR, and MS) that results for the l-proline NCA revealed its high purity. In addition, all synthesized polymers exhibit high molecular and compositional homogeneity. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Prediction of Antioxidant Activity of Cherry Fruits from UAS Multispectral Imagery Using Machine Learning

In this research, a model for the estimation of antioxidant content in cherry fruits from multispectral imagery acquired from drones was developed, based on machine learning methods. For two consecutive cultivation years, the trees were sampled on different dates and then analysed for their fruits’ radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and Folin–Ciocalteu (FCR) reducing capacity. Multispectral images from unmanned aerial vehicles were acquired on the same dates with fruit sampling. Soil samples were collected throughout the study fields at the end of the season. Topographic, hydrographic and weather data also were included in modelling. First-year data were used for model-fitting, whereas second-year data for testing. Spatial autocorrelation tests indicated unbiased sampling and, moreover, allowed restriction of modelling input parameters to a smaller group. The optimum model employs 24 input variables resulting in a 6.74 root mean square error. Provided that soil profiles and other ancillary data are known in advance of the cultivation season, capturing drone images in critical growth phases, together with contemporary weather data, can support site- and time-specific harvesting. It could also support site-specific treatments (precision farming) for improving fruit quality in the long-term, with analogous marketing perspectives

Single-Nucleus Transcriptome Profiling of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex:Mechanistic Roles for Neuronal Gene Expression, Including the 17q21.31 Locus, in PTSD Stress Response

OBJECTIVE: Multidisciplinary studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) implicate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in disease risk and pathophysiology. Postmortem brain studies have relied on bulk-tissue RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), but single-cell RNA-seq is needed to dissect cell-type-specific mechanisms. The authors conducted the first single-nucleus RNA-seq postmortem brain study in PTSD to elucidate disease transcriptomic pathology with cell-type-specific resolution. METHOD: Profiling of 32 DLPFC samples from 11 individuals with PTSD, 10 with MDD, and 11 control subjects was conducted (~415K nuclei; >13K cells per sample). A replication sample included 15 DLPFC samples (~160K nuclei; >11K cells per sample). RESULTS: Differential gene expression analyses identified significant single-nucleus RNA-seq differentially expressed genes (snDEGs) in excitatory (EX) and inhibitory (IN) neurons and astrocytes, but not in other cell types or bulk tissue. MDD samples had more false discovery rate-corrected significant snDEGs, and PTSD samples had a greater replication rate. In EX and IN neurons, biological pathways that were differentially enriched in PTSD compared with MDD included glucocorticoid signaling. Furthermore, glucocorticoid signaling in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical neurons demonstrated greater relevance in PTSD and opposite direction of regulation compared with MDD, especially in EX neurons. Many snDEGs were from the 17q21.31 locus and are particularly interesting given causal roles in disease pathogenesis and DLPFC-based neuroimaging (PTSD: , , and ; MDD: and ), while others were regulated by glucocorticoids in iPSC-derived neurons (PTSD: , ; MDD: ). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings point to cell-type-specific mechanisms of brain stress response in PTSD and MDD, highlighting the importance of examining cell-type-specific gene expression and indicating promising novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets