Geometry of lines and degeneracy loci of morphisms of vector bundles

Corrado Segre played a leading role in the foundation of line geometry. We survey some recent results on degeneracy loci of morphisms of vector bundles where he still is of profound inspiration.Comment: 10 pages. To appear in the proceedings of the conference "Homage to Corrado Segre

Efecto de las crecidas sobre las poblaciones de invertebrados que habitan macrofitas emergentes en islas del rio Parana

Les échantillons ont été prélevés de janvier 1982 à janvier 1983 dans les franges à #Panicum grumosum et à #Polygonum acuminatum des îles Palomera et Choui, qui sont situées sur le Parana à 45 km en aval de sa confluence avec le Paraguay. Durant la période d'étude, des périodes de hautes et de basses eaux ont été observées, y compris une crue exceptionnelle au cours des derniers mois. En période de basses eaux, les invertébrés associés à la végétation suivent une distribution d'abondance log-normale, avec une forte densité et une diversité de 3,81 bits. Les Copépodes, Cladocères, Oligochètes, et Ostracodes forment les groupes les plus abondants. Lors des périodes prolongées de forte crue, l'abondance et la diversité diminuent, et la distribution est du type géométrique. Durant les crues de plus faible durée, la distribution d'abondance relative est semblable à celle des basses eaux. (Résumé d'auteur

Aporte de las plantas de Eichhornia crassipes a la acumulacion de materiales organicos e inorganicos

#Eichhornia crassipes est l'une des plantes les plus abondantes de la plaine d'inondation du fleuve Parana. Les détritus formés dans les îles flottantes s'accumulent à l'interface eau-sédiment ou bien dans le système racinaire des plantes. La quantité de matière organique et minérale déposée par #E. crassipes a été mesurée dans un réservoir (10 m x 2 m x 1,5 m de profondeur). Le réservoir a été rempli avec de l'eau d'un bras mort de la plaine d'inondation et #E. crassipes y a été ajoutée. Dans ces conditions la production nette des plantes a été de 1743 g/m2/an. La moyenne annuelle de matière organique sédimentée sous #E. crassipes a été de 5,1 g/m2/jour, avec des variations saisonnières significatives. Le maximum de dépôt de matière minérale et organique a eu lieu en mars et le minimum en août. La teneur en matière organique fine représentait 40 à 69% de ce dépôt. (Résumé d'auteur

Pengembangan Aplikasi Steganografi pada Citra dengan Metode Blowfish dan Sequential Colour Cycle

Perkembangan teknologi yang semakin pesat, membuat sebuah perjalanan data melalui internet menjadi tidak aman. Untuk menjaga keamanan sebuah data tersebut, dibuatlah sebuah teknik pengamanan data menggunakan kriptografi. Namun, pengamanan dengan kriptografi masih membuat pihak ketiga menjadi curiga karena Perubahan data masih terlihat. Untuk itu dilakukanlah kombinasi kriptografi dengan steganografi. Pada penelitian ini, algoritma kriptografi yang digunakan adalah algoritma Blowfish. Informasi yang telah dienkripsi dengan menggunakan algoritma Blowfish tersebut dimasukkan ke dalam media gambar dengan algoritma Steganografi, dalam hal ini algoritma steganografi yang digunakan adalah Sequential Colour Cycle. Kombinasi algoritma Blowfish dan Sequential Colour Cycle ini dapat memberikan peningkatan kualitas pengamanan pada suatu media gambar, sehingga informasi yang terdapat di dalam media gambar tidak diketahui oleh orang yang tidak di inginkan

Fermat hypersurfaces and Subcanonical curves

We extend the classical Enriques-Petri Theorem to $s$-subcanonical projectively normal curves, proving that such a curve is $(s+2)$-gonal if and only if it is contained in a surface of minimal degree. Moreover, we show that any Fermat hypersurface of degree $s+2$ is apolar to an $s$-subcanonical $(s+2)$-gonal projectively normal curve, and vice versa.Comment: 18 pages; AMS-LaTe

Measuring Parvalbumin Levels in Fish Muscle Tissue: Relevance of Muscle Locations and Storage Conditions

Fish is an allergenic food capable of provoking severe anaphylactic reactions. Parvalbumin is the major allergen identified in fish and frog muscles. Antibodies against fish and frog parvalbumin have been used to quantify parvalbumin levels from fish. However, these antibodies react variably with parvalbumin from different fish species. Several factors might be responsible for this variation including instability of parvalbumin in fish muscle as a result of frozen storage and differential parvalbumin expression in muscles from various locations within the whole fish. We aimed to investigate whether these factors contribute to the previously observed variable immunoreactivity of the anti-parvalbumin antibodies. Results showed the detection of parvalbumin by these antibodies was unaffected by frozen storage of muscles for 112 days. However, the parvalbumin content decreased in fish muscles from anterior to posterior positions. This factor may partially explain for the inconsistent reactivity of anti-parvalbumin antibodies to different fish species

Evaluation and Comparison of the Species-Specificity of 3 Antiparvalbumin IgG Antibodies

Parvalbumin is a pan-allergen in fish and frogs that triggers IgE-mediated reactions in fish-allergic individuals. Previous studies demonstrated that antibodies raised against fish and frog parvalbumins displayed varying specificity for different fish species, and thus, the applicability of these antibodies for potential use in immunoassays to detect fish residues were limited. We aimed to determine the specificity of 3 IgG antibodies for various fish species. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgG-immunoblotting were used to compare the reactivity of the polyclonal anticod parvalbumin antibody and the commercially available, monoclonal antifrog and monoclonal anticarp parvalbumin antibodies against raw muscle extracts of 29 fish species. All antibodies demonstrated varying specificities for different fish species. Of the 3 antibodies, the polyclonal anticod parvalbumin antibody is the most suitable for the detection of fish parvalbumins, as it showed reactivity to the widest range of species, including herring, pilchard, carp, pike, cod, pollock, haddock, cusk, hake, bluegill, tilapia, bass, grouper, trout, catfish, and perch, although detection was still limited for several key fish species

Regression of left ventricular mass following conversion from conventional hemodialysis to thrice weekly in-centre nocturnal hemodialysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis. Among patients receiving conventional hemodialysis (CHD, 3×/week, 4 hrs/session), we evaluated whether dialysis intensification with in-centre nocturnal hemodialysis (INHD, 3×/week, 7-8 hrs/session in the dialysis unit) was associated with regression of LVM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of CHD recipients who converted to INHD and received INHD for at least 6 months. LVM on the first echocardiogram performed at least 6 months post-conversion was compared to LVM pre-conversion. In a secondary analysis, we examined echocardiograms performed at least 12 months after starting INHD. The effect of conversion to INHD on LVM over time was also evaluated using a longitudinal analysis that incorporated all LVM data on patients with 2 or more echocardiograms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-seven patients were eligible for the primary analysis. Mean age at conversion was 49 ± 12 yrs and 30% were women. Mean pre-conversion LVM was 219 ± 66 g and following conversion, LVM declined by 32 ± 58 g (p = 0.002). Among patients whose follow-up echocardiogram occurred at least 12 months following conversion, LVM declined by 40 ± 56 g (p = 0.0004). The rate of change of LVM decreased significantly from 0.4 g/yr before conversion, to -11.7 g/yr following conversion to INHD (p < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Conversion to INHD is associated with a significant regression in LVM, which may portend a more favourable cardiovascular outcome. Our preliminary findings support the need for randomized controlled trials to definitively evaluate the cardiovascular effects of INHD.</p

A phase I trial of Flavopiridol in relapsed multiple myeloma

PURPOSE: Flavopiridol is primarily a cyclin-dependent kinase-9 inhibitor, and we performed a dose escalation trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose and safety and generate a pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of relapsed myeloma after at least two prior treatments were included. Flavopiridol was administered as a bolus and then continuous infusion weekly for 4 weeks in a 6-week cycle. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were treated at three dose levels (30 mg/m(2) bolus, 30 mg/m(2) CIV to 50 mg/m(2) bolus, and 50 mg/m(2) CIV). Cytopenias were significant, and elevated transaminases (grade 4 in 3 patients, grade 3 in 4 patients, and grade 2 in 3 patients) were noted but were transient. Diarrhea (grade 3 in 6 patients and grade 2 in 5 patients) did not lead to hospital admission. There were no confirmed partial responses although one patient with t(4;14) had a decrease in his monoclonal protein >50 % that did not persist. PK properties were similar to prior publications, and immunohistochemical staining for cyclin D1 and phospho-retinoblastoma did not predict response. CONCLUSIONS: Flavopiridol as a single agent given by bolus and then infusion caused significant diarrhea, cytopenias, and transaminase elevation but only achieved marginal responses in relapsed myelom