Strong structure recovery for partially observed discrete Markov random fields on graphs

We propose a penalized pseudo-likelihood criterion to estimate the graph of conditional dependencies in a discrete Markov random field that can be partially observed. We prove the convergence of the estimator in the case of a finite or countable infinite set of variables. In the finite case the underlying graph can be recovered with probability one, while in the countable infinite case we can recover any finite sub-graph with probability one, by allowing the candidate neighborhoods to grow with the sample size n and provided the penalizing constant is sufficiently large. Our method requires minimal assumptions on the probability distribution and contrary to other approaches in the literature, the usual positivity condition is not needed. We evaluate the performance of the estimator on simulated data and we apply the methodology to a real dataset of stock index markets in different countries

Numerical tests of AdS/CFT at strong coupling

We study various correlation functions (two and three point functions) in a large $N$ matrix model of six commuting matrices with a numerical Monte Carlo algorithm. This is equivalent to a model of a gas of particles in six dimensions with a confining quadratic potential and logarithmic repulsions at finite temperature, where we are measuring the leading order non-gaussianities in the thermal fluctuations. This is a simplified model of the low energy dynamics of N=4 SYM at strong coupling. We find strong evidence that the simplified matrix model matches with the dual gravitational description of three point functions in the AdS/CFT correspondence.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, revtex. v2: minor correction

The Assessment of the Real-Time Radiative Properties and Productivity of Limnospira platensis in Tubular Photobioreactors

The development of tools to predict the photobioreactors’ (PBRs) productivity is a significant concern in biotechnology. To this end, it is required to know the light availability inside the cultivation unit and combine this information with a suitable kinetic expression that links the distribution of radiant energy with the cell growth rate. In a previous study, we presented and validated a methodology for assessing the radiative properties necessary to address the light distribution inside a PBR for varying illuminating conditions through the cultivation process of a phototrophic microorganism. Here, we sought to utilise this information to construct a predictive tool to estimate the productivity of an autotrophic bioprocess carried out in a 100 [L] tubular photobioreactor (TPBR). Firstly, the time-dependent optical properties over ten batch cultures of L. platensis were calculated. Secondly, the local volumetric rate of photon absorption was assessed based on a physical model of the interaction of the radiant energy with the suspended biomass, together with a Monte Carlo simulation algorithm. Lastly, a kinetic expression valid for low illumination conditions has been utilised to reproduce all the cultures’ experimentally obtained dry weight biomass concentration values. Taken together, time-dependent radiative properties and the kinetic model produced a valuable tool for the study and scaling up of TPBRs.Fil: Ibañez, Manuel Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Leonardi, Rodrigo Jorge. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Krujatz, Felix. University of Applied Sciences Zittau; AlemaniaFil: Heinrich, Josué Miguel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentin

Effect of corticosteroid therapy on influenza-related mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Most studies have reported that corticosteroid therapy adversely influences influenza-related outcomes. Methods: Electronic databases were searched from inception to March 2013 for experimental and observational studies investigating systemic corticosteroid therapy for presumed influenza-associated complications. Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were adopted. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. Results: We identified 16 eligible studies (3039 individuals), all of which were observational; 10 (1497 individuals) were included in the meta-analysis of mortality, of which 9 studied patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1. Risk of bias was greatest in the comparability domain of the Newcastle–Ottawa scale, consistent with potential confounding by indication, and data specific to mortality were of low quality. Meta-analysis found an increased odds of mortality (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.36–3.29) associated with corticosteroid therapy. Subgroup analysis of adjusted estimates from 4 studies with very low statistical heterogeneity found a similar association (OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.39–4.79). Conclusions: No completed clinical trials were identified. Evidence from observational studies, with important limitations, suggests that corticosteroid therapy for presumed influenza-associated complications is associated with increased mortality

A rapid assessment of the radiative properties from a suspension of Chromochloris zofingiensis

Regardless if a kinetic expression of a light-dependent bioprocess is being sought, the parameters of that kinetic function are being adjusted, or a scaling-up process is being carried out to predict the productivity of a reactor, it is necessary to know the light availability in the culture volume. The emission characteristics of the radiation source, the geometry of the reactor as well as the optical properties of the suspension that resides within it must be known to achieve the latter. Here, we present an approach to quantify the optical properties of microalgae suspensions. A simple methodology, consisting in illuminating a suspension of microalgae with a characterised polychromatic radiation source and assessing how the directions are modified, and the amount of energy carried by the light beams after crossing the suspension, was successfully employed. Subsequently, through an optimisation program, the experimental culture data has been used to determine the spectral absorption and scattering coefficients of photons, and the suspension´s scattering phase function. For a given microalgal culture, eight samples corresponding to a cultivation time of one week were analysed, utilising an energy balance, independently of the biomass or pigment concentration. Altogether the results presented here suggest that this methodology could be adapted to other suspensions, allowing accessible ways to evaluate the radiative characteristics of phototrophic microorganisms in the complex context of the evolution through time of the radiant energy field inside a photobioreactor.Fil: Ibañez, Manuel Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Leonardi, Rodrigo Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Heinrich, Josué Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Steingroewer, Juliane. Technische Universität Dresden.; AlemaniaFil: Walther, Thomas. Technische Universität Dresden.; AlemaniaFil: Felix, Krujatz. Technische Universität Dresden.; Alemani

Multi-Response Optimization of Thermochemical Pretreatment of Soybean Hulls for 2G-Bioethanol Production

Soybean is a major crop used in the production of human food. The soybean hull (SH) is also known as the seed coat and it constitutes about 5–8% of the total seed on a dry weight basis, depending on the variety and the seed size. Dilute sulfuric acid was employed for the thermochemical pretreatment of SH prior to enzymatic saccharification and alcoholic fermentation. Empirical modeling of response surface, severity factor and multi-response desirability function methodology, were used to perform the process optimization. Temperature, acid concentration and reaction time were defined as operational variables, while furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and solubilized hemicellulose and cellulose were defined as response variables. Mathematical models satisfactorily described the process and optimal conditions were found at 121 °C; 2.5% w/v H2SO4 and 60 min. More than 80% and 90% of hemicelluloses and celluloses, respectively, were able to solubilize at this point. The fermentation performance of an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was also evaluated. The glucose available in the hydrolysates was completely consumed in less than 12 h, with an average ethanol yield of 0.45 gethanol/gglucose. Thus, the thermochemical conditioning of SH with dilute sulfuric acid is a suitable operation for 2G-bioethanol production.Fil: Gil Rolón, Martín Ezequiel. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hidricas. Departamento de Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Leonardi, Rodrigo Jorge. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hidricas. Departamento de Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Cunha Bolzico, Bruna. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hidricas. Departamento de Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Seluy, Lisandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hidricas. Departamento de Medio Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Benzzo, María Teresita. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hidricas. Departamento de Medio Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Comelli, Raul Nicolas. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hidricas. Departamento de Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hidricas. Departamento de Medio Ambiente; Argentin

Regenerative endodontic treatment of teeth with incomplete root formation: a review

Endodontic treatment of teeth with open apex requires a non-conventional approach and the goals new therapies are to allow root’s complete development differently from what happens with traditional apexification technique. Objective: This study aimed to review the literature on the most recent regenerative endodontic procedures. Literature review: Regenerative endodontics goal is to obtain pulp vitality. Some case reports on donor-obtained dental stem cells show promising results. Other types of laboratory-based dental stem cell therapies are under development. Conclusion: Dentin-pulp complex shows regenerative capacity, but the literature lacks evidence to validate the regenerative therapies in endodontic practic

GERÊNCIA E MONITORAMENTO DE REDES DE COMPUTADORES: UMA INTRODUÇÃO AO NAGIOS

At the present time, one of the most important activities in thecomputer science area is the management of computer networks. The hightraffic of information demands a complexity and an increase in theinfrastructure of the net, being thus essential a tool for manages. As main goal this work has as purpose the implantation and the use of the NAGIOSfor the management of computer networks through the control of the mainservices and schemes that compose the computer network. With theimplantation and the use of the NAGIOS to manage computer networks, theperformance and the agility in the correction of imperfections errors are veryfast e also will be able to be preceded it, notifying and automatically repairingeventual imperfections in services of the defective net or hardware. In sucha way we can conclude that the Nagios is a robust and concise tool enclosingall the necessary points for a management and the administration of acomputer network of small, average and of great transport.Na atualidade, uma das atividades mais importantes na área deinformática é o gerenciamento de redes de computadores. O tráfego de informaçõeselevado exige uma complexidade e um aumento na infra-estruturada rede de computadores, sendo assim imprescindível uma ferramenta parasua gerência. Como meta principal, este trabalho tem como finalidade a implantaçãoe a utilização do NAGIOS para a gerência de redes de computadoresatravés do monitoramento dos principais serviços e máquinas que compõema rede de computadores. Com a implantação e a utilização do NAGIOSpara gerir redes de computadores, o desempenho e a agilidade na correção defalhas é muito rápido e também poderá anteceder-se a erros, notificando eaté reparando automaticamente eventuais falhas em serviços da rede ouhardwares defeituosos. Desta forma, podemos concluir que o Nagios e seusdiversos plugins é uma ferramenta robusta e concisa abrangendo a maioriados pontos necessários para um gerenciamento e a administração de umarede de computadores de pequeno, médio e de grande porte