Branch-and-bound algorithm for total weighted tardiness minimization on parallel machines under release dates assumptions

This paper deals with the parallel-machine scheduling problem with the aim of minimizing the total (weighted) tardiness under the assumption of different release dates. This problem has been proven to be NP-hard. We introduce some new lower and upper bounds based on different approaches. We propose a branch-and-bound algorithm to solve the weighted and unweighted total tardiness. Computational experiments were performed on a large set of instances and the obtained results showed that our algorithms are efficient

Increased expression and local accumulation of the Prion Protein, Alzheimer Aβ peptides, superoxide dismutase 1, and Nitric oxide synthases 1 & 2 in muscle in a rabbit model of diabetes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Muscle disease associated with different etiologies has been shown to produce localized accumulations of amyloid and oxidative stress-related proteins that are more commonly associated with neurodegeneration in the brain. In this study we examined changes in muscle tissue in a classic model of diabetes and hyperglycemia in rabbits to determine if similar dysregulation of Alzheimer Aβ peptides, the prion protein (PrP), and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), as well as nitric oxide synthases is produced in muscle in diabetic animals. This wild-type rabbit model includes systemic physiological expression of human-like Alzheimer precursor proteins and Aβ peptides that are considered key in Alzheimer protein studies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Diabetes was produced in rabbits by injection of the toxic glucose analogue alloxan, which selectively enters pancreatic beta cells and irreversibly decreases insulin production, similar to streptozotocin. Quadriceps muscle from rabbits 16 wks after onset of diabetes and hyperglycemia were analyzed with biochemical and <it>in situ </it>methods. Immunoblots of whole muscle protein samples demonstrated increased PrP, SOD1, as well as neuronal and inducible Nitric oxide synthases (NOS1 and NOS2) in diabetic muscle. In contrast, we detected little change in Alzheimer Aβ precursor protein expression, or BACE1 and Presenilin 1 levels. However, Aβ peptides measured by ELISA increased several fold in diabetic muscle, suggesting a key role for Aβ cleavage in muscle similar to Alzheimer neurodegeneration in this diabetes model. Histological changes in diabetic muscle included localized accumulations of PrP, Aβ, NOS1 and 2, and SOD1, and evidence of increased central nuclei and cell infiltration.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study provides evidence that several classic amyloid and oxidative stress-related disease proteins coordinately increase in overall expression and form localized accumulations in diabetic muscle. The present study highlights the capacity of this wild-type animal model to produce an array of hallmark pathological features that have also been described in other muscle diseases.</p

Cranial Nerve-VI Palsy as the Main Clinical Manifestation of Neurosarcoidosis.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disorder that is characterized by the formation of noncaseating granulomas. Patients may present with cranial nerve palsy, paresthesia, paresis, pyramidal signs, progressive cognitive decline, urinary retention, seizures, or hypothalamic-pituitary syndrome. Although the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis can be challenging, neurological manifestations of sarcoidosis occur more frequently than previously described. CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old African American man presented to our emergency department with diplopia, which was worsened on left horizontal gaze. On the day of admission, he had a witnessed seizure. Laboratory studies were significant only for mild leukopenia and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 17 mm/h. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse thickening and enhancement of the dura, mild mass effect, and soft tissue enhancement through the foramen rotundum and left orbital apex. The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and discharged on 60 mg oral prednisone daily followed by a taper over a 2-month period. CONCLUSIONS: Our case demonstrates that mild neurological deficits can be the initial presentation of neurosarcoidosis in patients with undiagnosed or proven sarcoidosis

A new best proximity point results in partial metric spaces endowed with a graph

For a given mapping f in the framework of different spaces, the fixed-point equations of the form f x = x can model several problems in different areas, such as differential equations, optimization, and computer science. In this work, the aim is to find the best proximity point and to prove its uniqueness on partial metric spaces where the symmetry condition is preserved for several types of contractive non-self mapping endowed with a graph. Our theorems generalize different results in the literature. In addition, we will illustrate the usability of our outcomes with some examples. The proposed model can be considered as a theoretical foundation for applications to real cases

Serial Heart Rate Variability Testing for the Evaluation of Autonomic Dysfunction After Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Autonomic dysfunction has been described as a frequent complication of stroke that could involve the cardiac, respiratory, sudomotor, and sexual systems. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction after stroke is one of the most recognized and has been described to increase the rate of mortality and morbidity. METHODS: We report two cases of stroke-one hemorrhagic and one ischemic-and describe heart rate variability during the patients\u27 hospitalizations with improvement reported for each patient several days after stroke onset. RESULTS: The first case demonstrated autonomic dysfunction with severe reduction of HRV after a right parietal hemorrhagic stroke. The second case demonstrated similar findings in a patient with acute ischemic stroke. In both cases, normalization of heart rate variability occurred several weeks after stroke symptoms onset and was paralleled by a dramatic improvement of the clinical status. CONCLUSION: Our data established that serial HRV testing is a noninvasive tool that could be utilized as a marker to evaluate the dynamics of acute stroke

Some Fixed Point Results on Rectangular Metric-Like Spaces Endowed with a Graph

The objective of this paper is to establish the existence and uniqueness of fixed points on rectangular metric-like spaces endowed with a graph. We introduce the notion of some generalized G-contractions principle. The usefulness of the considered metric space in real work is highlighted. The obtained results generalize some notes in the literature. Some examples are presented to support the main results

Best Proximity Point Theorems on Rectangular Metric Spaces Endowed with a Graph

In this paper, we ensure the existence and uniqueness of a best proximity point in rectangular metric spaces endowed with a graph structure