Extracellular volume regulation and growth

We have formalized extracellular and intracellular volume interaction with each other and the influence of these processes on the type of cell growth. The linearized model was verified by stereo metric solution and the results were compared with experimental data. Two theoretical solutions were found: Solution 1, extracellular volume (ECV) was calculated to be about 23% of total body volume (TV). Stereo metric solution suggested the cubic cell cluster formed by 8-cells. This hypothesis (Solution l) explains the ECV to be compatible with the widely accepted value (about 23% of TV). In addition, the 8-cell cluster hypothesis explains the existence of ECV oscillation with the period of about seven days. This hypothesis probably describes the dominant type of growth in humans. Solution 2, in this type of growth, ECV fills about 77% per cent of TV. Instead of the 8-cell cube, in this type of proliferation 4-cells could form a tetrahedron. This type of growth could be beneficial in processes where free space in tissue or organ must be filled for example in peptic ulcer healing and namely in repopulating of free space in a bone after high dose chemotherapy

Noise Measurement Setup for Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a high sensitive chemical sensor which has found widespread spectrum of applications. There are several mechanisms that are related to fluctuation phenomena. Since the aim of our research is oriented to study the sensitivity and influence of different kind of noises on sensor resolution, we modified an existing method to measure the small frequency fluctuation of QCM. The paper describes our measurement setup, in which a quartz crystal oscillator with coated active layers and a reference quartz oscillator are driven by two oscillator circuits. Each one regulates a frequency of a crystal at the minimum impedance which corresponds to the series resonance. A data-acquisition card triggers on the rise-edges of the output signal and stores these corresponding times on which the instantaneous frequency is estimated by own-written software. In comparison to other measurement setups, our approach can acquire immediate change of QCM frequency, thus, chemical processes can be even described on the basis of high-order statistics. The experiments were provided on quartz crystals with the sorption layer of polypyrrole, which is suitable for the construction of QCM humidity sensors

Thermoluminescence fading studies: Implications for long-duration space measurements in Low Earth Orbit

Within a 1.5 year comprehensive fading experiment several batches of LiF:Mg,Ti and LiF:Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescence detectors (TLDs) were studied. The TLDs originated from two manufacturers and were processed by three laboratories using different annealing and readout conditions. The TLDs were irradiated with two radiation modalities (gamma-rays and thermal neutrons) and were stored at two temperatures (-17.4C and +18.5C). The goal of the experiment was to verify the stability of TLDs in the context of their application in long-term measurements in space. The results revealed that the response of all TLDs is stable within 10% for the studied temperature range. No influence of the radiation type was found. These results indicate that for the properly oven-annealed LiF TLDs, fading is not a significant problem, even for measuring periods longer than a year

Application of a Cumulative Method for Car Borders Specification in Image

The paper deals with low-level car detection methods in images. The car detection is an integral part of all intelligent car cruise systems. This article describes the method for suppression of the edges produced by classical edge\'s operators, based on application of the cumulative method. The designed method uses the non-stationary property of the picture background in time-realizations of the image signal

Interventions for preventing weight gain after smoking cessation

BACKGROUND: Most people who stop smoking gain weight. There are some interventions that have been designed to reduce weight gain when stopping smoking. Some smoking cessation interventions may also limit weight gain although their effect on weight has not been reviewed. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the effect of: (1) Interventions targeting post-cessation weight gain on weight change and smoking cessation.(2) Interventions designed to aid smoking cessation that may also plausibly affect weight on post-cessation weight change. SEARCH METHODS: Part 1 - We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group's Specialized Register and CENTRAL in September 2011.Part 2 - In addition we searched the included studies in the following "parent" Cochrane reviews: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), antidepressants, nicotine receptor partial agonists, cannabinoid type 1 receptor antagonists and exercise interventions for smoking cessation published in Issue 9, 2011 of the Cochrane Library. SELECTION CRITERIA: Part 1 - We included trials of interventions that were targeted at post-cessation weight gain and had measured weight at any follow up point and/or smoking cessation six or more months after quit day.Part 2 - We included trials that had been included in the selected parent Cochrane reviews if they had reported weight gain at any time point. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted data on baseline characteristics of the study population, intervention, outcome and study quality. Change in weight was expressed as difference in weight change from baseline to follow up between trial arms and was reported in abstinent smokers only. Abstinence from smoking was expressed as a risk ratio (RR). We used the most rigorous definition of abstinence available in each trial. Where appropriate, we performed meta-analysis using the inverse variance method for weight and Mantel-Haenszel method for smoking using a fixed-effect model. MAIN RESULTS: Part 1: Some pharmacological interventions tested for limiting post cessation weight gain (PCWG) resulted in a significant reduction in WG at the end of treatment (dexfenfluramine (Mean difference (MD) -2.50 kg, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.98 to -2.02, 1 study), phenylpropanolamine (MD -0.50 kg, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.20, N=3), naltrexone (MD -0.78 kg, 95% CI -1.52 to -0.05, N=2). There was no evidence that treatment reduced weight at 6 or 12 months (m). No pharmacological intervention significantly affected smoking cessation rates.Weight management education only was associated with no reduction in PCWG at end of treatment (6 or 12m). However these interventions significantly reduced abstinence at 12m (Risk ratio (RR) 0.66, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.90, N=2). Personalised weight management support reduced PCWG at 12m (MD -2.58 kg, 95% CI -5.11 to -0.05, N=2) and was not associated with a significant reduction of abstinence at 12m (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.43, N=2). A very low calorie diet (VLCD) significantly reduced PCWG at end of treatment (MD -3.70 kg, 95% CI -4.82 to -2.58, N=1), but not significantly so at 12m (MD -1.30 kg, 95% CI -3.49 to 0.89, N=1). The VLCD increased chances of abstinence at 12m (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.73, N=1). There was no evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy to allay concern about weight gain (CBT) reduced PCWG, but there was some evidence of increased PCWG at 6m (MD 0.74, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.24). It was associated with improved abstinence at 6m (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.13, N=2) but not at 12m (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.86, N=2). However, there was significant statistical heterogeneity.Part 2: We found no evidence that exercise interventions significantly reduced PCWG at end of treatment (MD -0.25 kg, 95% CI -0.78 to 0.29, N=4) however a significant reduction was found at 12m (MD -2.07 kg, 95% CI -3.78 to -0.36, N=3).Both bupropion and fluoxetine limited PCWG at the end of treatment (bupropion MD -1.12 kg, 95% CI -1.47 to -0.77, N=7) (fluoxetine MD -0.99 kg, 95% CI -1.36 to -0.61, N=2). There was no evidence that the effect persisted at 6m (bupropion MD -0.58 kg, 95% CI -2.16 to 1.00, N=4), (fluoxetine MD -0.01 kg, 95% CI -1.11 to 1.10, N=2) or 12m (bupropion MD -0.38 kg, 95% CI -2.00 to 1.24, N=4). There were no data on WG at 12m for fluoxetine.Overall, treatment with NRT attenuated PCWG at the end of treatment (MD -0.69 kg, 95% CI -0.88 to -0.51, N=19), with no strong evidence that the effect differed for the different forms of NRT. There was evidence of significant statistical heterogeneity caused by one study which reported a 4.3 kg reduction in PCWG due to NRT. With this study removed, the difference in weight change at end of treatment was -0.45 kg (95% CI -0.66 to -0.27, N=18). There was no evidence of an effect on PCWG at 12m (MD -0.42 kg, 95% CI -0.92 to 0.08, N=15).We found evidence that varenicline significantly reduced PCWG at end of treatment (MD -0.41 kg, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.19, N=11), but this effect was not maintained at 6 or 12m. Three studies compared the effect of bupropion to varenicline. Participants taking bupropion gained significantly less weight at the end of treatment (-0.51 kg (95% CI -0.93 to -0.09 kg), N=3). Direct comparison showed no significant difference in PCWG between varenicline and NRT. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Although some pharmacotherapies tested to limit PCWG show evidence of short-term success, other problems with them and the lack of data on long-term efficacy limits their use. Weight management education only, is not effective and may reduce abstinence. Personalised weight management support may be effective and not reduce abstinence, but there are too few data to be sure. One study showed a VLCD increased abstinence but did not prevent WG in the longer term. CBT to accept WG did not limit PCWG and may not promote abstinence in the long term. Exercise interventions significantly reduced weight in the long term, but not the short term. More studies are needed to clarify whether this is an effect of treatment or a chance finding. Bupropion, fluoxetine, NRT and varenicline reduce PCWG while using the medication. Although this effect was not maintained one year after stopping smoking, the evidence is insufficient to exclude a modest long-term effect. The data are not sufficient to make strong clinical recommendations for effective programmes to prevent weight gain after cessation

Schauder bases under uniform renormings

[EN] Let X be a separable superreflexive Banach space with a Schauder basis. We prove the existence of an equivalent uniformly smooth (resp. uniformly rotund) renorming under which the given basis is monotone.First author supported by the grants MTM2005-08379 of MECD (Spain), 00690/PI/04 of Fundación Séneca (CARM, Spain) and AP2003-4453 of MECD (Spain), Second author supported by AV0Z10190503 and A100190502.Guirao Sánchez, AJ.; Hajek, P. (2007). Schauder bases under uniform renormings. Positivity. 11(4):627-638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11117-007-2067-9S627638114R. Deville, G. Godefroy, V. Zizler, Smoothness and renormings in Banach spaces. Pitman Monographs and Surveys 64, Longman Ed (1993).M. Fabian, P. Habala, P. Hájek, V. Montesinos, J. Pelant, V. Zizler, Functional analysis and infinite dimensional geometry. Canadian Math. Soc. Books, Springer Verlag, (2001).M. Fabian, V. Montesinos, V. Zizler, Smoothness in Banach spaces. Selected problems. Rev. R. Acad. Cien. Serie A Mat. 100, (2006), 101–125.T. Figiel, On the moduli of convexity and smoothness. Studia Math. 56, (1976), 121–155.M. Zippin, A remark on bases and reflexivity in Banach spaces. Isr. J. Math. 6, (1968), 74–79.P. Enflo, Banach spaces which can be given an equivalent uniformly convex norm. Isr. J. Math 13, (1972), 281–288

On the moduly of convexity

[EN] It is known that, given a Banach space (X, parallel to center dot parallel to), the modulus of convexity associated to this space delta X is a non-negative function, nondecreasing, bounded above by the modulus of convexity of any Hilbert space and satisfies the equation delta x(epsilon)/epsilon(2) 0 is a constant. We show that, given a function f satisfying these properties then, there exists a Banach space in such a way its modulus of convexity is equivalent to f, in Figiel's sense. Moreover this Banach space can be taken to be two-dimensional.The first author was supported by grants MTM2005-08379 of MECD (Spain), 00690/PI/04 of Fundación Séneca (CARM, Spain), and AP2003-4453 of MECD (Spain).Guirao Sánchez, AJ.; Hajek, P. (2007). On the moduly of convexity. Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society. 135(10):3233-3240. https://doi.org/10.1090/S0002-9939-07-09030-2S323332401351

Is a combination of varenicline and nicotine patch more effective in helping smokers quit than varenicline alone? A randomised controlled trial

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