Multicolor optical polarimetry of reddened stars in the small Magellanic cloud

First results of an on-going program to determine the wavelength dependence of the interstellar optical polarization of reddened stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) are presented. IUE observations of reddened stars in the SMC (Bouchet et al. 1985) generally show marked differences in the extinction law as compared to both the Galaxy and the Large Megallanic Cloud. The aim here is to determine the wavelength dependence of the optical linear polarization in the direction of several such stars in the SMC in order to further constrain the dust composition and size distribution in that galaxy

Ab initio data-analytics study of carbon-dioxide activation on semiconductor oxide surfaces

The excessive emissions of carbon dioxide (CO$_2$) into the atmosphere threaten to shift the CO$_2$ cycle planet-wide and induce unpredictable climate changes. Using artificial intelligence (AI) trained on high-throughput first principles based data for a broad family of oxides, we develop a strategy for a rational design of catalytic materials for converting CO$_2$ to fuels and other useful chemicals. We demonstrate that an electron transfer to the $\pi^*$-antibonding orbital of the adsorbed molecule and the associated bending of the initially linear molecule, previously proposed as the indicator of activation, are insufficient to account for the good catalytic performance of experimentally characterized oxide surfaces. Instead, our AI model identifies the common feature of these surfaces in the binding of a molecular O atom to a surface cation, which results in a strong elongation and therefore weakening of one molecular C-O bond. This finding suggests using the C-O bond elongation as an indicator of CO$_2$ activation. Based on these findings, we propose a set of new promising oxide-based catalysts for CO$_2$ conversion, and a recipe to find more

Reacción seudoséptica tras la infiltración de ácido hialurónico en el tratamiento de la artrosis de tobillo: a propósito de un caso

Muchos cirujanos ortopédicos utilizan las infiltraciones de ácido hialurónico como tratamiento sintomático de la artrosis. Generalmente su uso es seguro, pero en ocasiones puede presentar alguna reacción adversa que se debe conocer, como la reacción pseudoséptica. Presentamos un caso de un varón de 48 años que acude a urgencias con fiebre y signos inflamatorios en tobillo tras la segunda infiltración de ácido hialurónico. Se realizó un artrotomía de limpieza y el cultivo de la muestra resultó negativo. Discusión: La importancia de la reacción seudoséptica radica en que es una entidad clínica superponible a una verdadera artritis séptica pero que, a diferencia de la anterior, se resuelve con reposo y antiinflamatorios, y no produce alteraciones en el cartílago.Most of the orthopedists use intraarticular supplementation of hyaluronic acid to relieve osteoarthritis ´pain. Usually this treatment is safe but, sometimes it has some adverse events that should be known, as the pseudoseptic reaction or severe acute inflammatory reaction. We present a 48 years old man that presented fever and inflammatory reaction in his ankle after the second intraarticular injection of hyaluronate. An ankle arthrotomy was performed, but the culture results were negative. Discusion: We may consider the difference between this reaction and a real septic disease, that requires antibioterapy and, in most cases, surgery. Otherwise, the pseudoseptic reaction improves with rest and anti-inflammatory drugs, and does not suppose a damage to the cartilage

High efficacy and low toxicity of weekly docetaxel given as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer

Background: Docetaxel is one of the most effective antitumor agents currently available for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This phase II multicenter study prospectively analyzed the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel given on a weekly schedule as first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Patients and Methods: All patients received docetaxel, 35 mg/m(2) weekly for 6 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of rest. Subsequent cycles ( 3 weeks of treatment, 2 weeks of rest) were given until a maximum of 5 cycles or disease progression. Premedication consisted of 8 mg dexamethasone intravenously 30 min prior to the infusion of docetaxel. Results: Fifty-four patients at a median age of 58 years with previously untreated MBC were included in the study. A median of 10 doses ( median cumulative dose 339 mg/m(2)) was administered ( range: 2 - 18). The overall response rate was 48.1% ( 95% CI: 34 - 61%, intent-to-treat). Median survival was 15.8 months and median time to progression was 5.9 months ( intent-to-treat). Hematological toxicity was mild with absence of neutropenia-related complications. Grade 3 neutropenia was observed in 3.7% of patients and grade 3 and 4 anemia was observed in 5.6 and 1.9% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: The weekly administration of docetaxel is highly efficient and safe as first-line treatment for MBC and may serve as an important treatment option specifically in elderly patients and patients with a reduced performance status. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Fog function virtualization: A flexible solution for IoT applications

The Internet of Things applications must carefully assess certain crucial factors such as the real-time and largely distributed nature of the “things”. Fog Computing provides an architecture to satisfy those requirements through nodes located from near the “things” till the edge. The problem comes with the integration of the Fog nodes into current infrastructures. This process requires the development of complex software solutions and prevents Fog growth. In this paper we propose three innovations to enhance Fog: (i) a new orchestration policy, (ii) the creation of constellations of nodes, and (iii) Fog Function Virtualization (FFV). All together will complement Fog to reach its true potential as a generic scalable platform, running multiple IoT applications simultaneously. Deploying a new service is reduced to the development of the application code, fact that brings the democratization of the Fog Computing paradigm through ease of deployment and cost reduction.The authors thanks Rodolfo Milito for his insightful comments and revisions. Damian Roca work was supported by a Doctoral Scholarship provided by Fundación La Caixa. Josue V. Quiroga work was supported by a Doctoral Scholarship provided by the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT). This work has been supported by the Spanish Government (Severo Ochoa grants SEV2015-0493) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (contracts TIN2015-65316-P).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Математическая модель процесса формирования и сохранения коллективных знаний

На основі запропонованої системи аксіом побудовано та досліджено математичну модель процесу формування та збереження знань у великих освітніх системах. Знайдено умови збереження на деякому часовому проміжку заданого гарантованого рівня колективних знань.Based on the introduced system of axioms, a mathematical model for forming and process of preserving collective knowledge in large educational systems is constructed and investigated. The conditions for preserving a guaranteed level of collective knowledge are defined.На основе предложенной системы аксиом построена и исследована математическая модель процесса формирования и сохранения знаний в больших образовательных системах. Определены условия на некотором временном промежутке заданного гарантированного уровня коллективных знаний

Bioactive properties of commercialised pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice: antioxidant, antiproliferative and enzyme inhibiting activities

Pomegranate juice and related products have long been used either in traditional medicine or as nutritional supplements claiming beneficial effects. Although there are several studies on this food plant, only a few studies have been performed with pomegranate juice or marketed products. The aim of this work is to evaluate the antioxidant effects of pomegranate juice on cellular models using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent or DPPH and superoxide radicals in cell free systems. The antiproliferative effects of the juice were measured on HeLa and PC-3 cells by the MTT assay and pharmacologically relevant enzymes (cyclooxygenases, xanthine oxidase, acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase A) were selected for enzymatic inhibition assays. Pomegranate juice showed significant protective effects against hydrogen peroxide induced toxicity in the Artemia salina and HepG2 models; these effects may be attributed to radical scavenging properties of pomegranate as the juice was able to reduce DPPH and superoxide radicals. Moderate antiproliferative activities in HeLa and PC-3 cancer cells were observed. However, pomegranate juice was also able to inhibit COX-2 and MAO-A enzymes. This study reveals some mechanisms by which pomegranate juice may have interesting and beneficial effects in human health

Comparison between different multidimensional analytical systems for protein identification

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