An ordered heuristic for the allocation of resources in unrelated parallel-machines

All rights reserved. Global competition pressures have forced manufactures to adapt their productive capabilities. In order to satisfy the ever-changing market demands many organizations adopted flexible resources capable of executing several products with different performance criteria. The unrelated parallel-machines makespan minimization problem (Rm||Cmax) is known to be NP-hard or too complex to be solved exactly. In the heuristics used for this problem, the MCT (Minimum Completion Time), which is the base for several others, allocates tasks in a random like order to the minimum completion time machine. This paper proposes an ordered approach to the MCT heuristic. MOMCT (Modified Ordered Minimum Completion Time) will order tasks in accordance to the MS index, which represents the mean difference of the completion time on each machine and the one on the minimum completion time machine. The computational study demonstrates the improved performance of MOMCT over the MCT heuristic.This work is supported by FEDER Funds through the “Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE” program and by National Funds through FCT “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” under the project: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-PEst-OE/EEI/UI0760/2011 and PEstOE/EEI/UI0760/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Physiological potential of the chlorophyte Caulerpa prolifera for proliferation across the Mediterranean-Atlantic basins in a warmer ocean

Ocean warming is altering the metabolic balances of organisms, favouring the expansion of thermo-tolerant individuals. The fast-growing macroalga Caulerpa prolifera is rapidly expanding in the Ria Formosa lagoon (Portugal), a connection area between Mediterranean and Atlantic basins. We investigated the metabolic capacity of C. prolifera to cope with ocean warming, to elucidate its expansion potential. The photosynthetic and respiratory plasticity of 4 populations of C. prolifera spread along the Mediterranean−Atlantic basins was assessed under a temperature range of 20 to 30°C. In addition, molecular markers were used to investigate the genetic identity of the strain found in Ria Formosa, which confirmed its Mediterranean origin. All examined populations showed large physiological thermo tolerance and metabolic plasticity to warming. The photosynthetic efficiency of C. prolifera improved by 50% with temperature, and the maximum photosynthetic production doubled along the temperature range tested. Respiration did not vary with temperature, whereas the metabolic quotient increased by more than 70%when temperature increased from 20 to 25−30°C. Minor differences in the photosynthetic descriptors were detected among populations, reflecting light- and dark-adapted physiology of Mediterranean and Atlantic populations, respectively. Our results show that all tested populations of C. prolifera have the physiological potential to cope with temperature increases up to 30°C, which indicates that ocean warming may contribute to the expansion of C. prolifera in the Mediterranean− Atlantic basins.PTDC/MAR-EST/3223/2014, PTDC/MAR-EST/4257/2014, UIDB/ 04326/2020, CCMAR/BPD/004/ 2017 , H202-MSCA-IF-EF-ST-752 250, SFRH/BPD/ 109452/2015, DL 57/ 2016/ CP1361/CT0037, SFRH/ BSAB/ 150485/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A low-noise CMOS front-end for TOF-PET

An analogue CMOS front-end for triggering and amplification of signals produced by a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to a LYSO scintillator is proposed. The solution is intended for time-of-flight measurement in compact Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET) medical imaging equipments where excellent timing resolution is required (approximate to 100 ps). A CMOS 0.13 mu m technology was used to implement such front end, and the design includes preamplification, shaping, baseline holder and biasing circuitry, for a total silicon area of 500x90 mu m. Waveform sampling and time-over-threshold (ToT) techniques are under study and the front-end provides fast and shaped outputs for time and energy measurements. Post layout simulation results show that, for the trigger of a single photoelectron, the time jitter due to the pre-amplifier noise can be as low as 15 ps (FWHM), for a photodetector with a total capacitance of 70 pF. The very low input impedance of the pre-amplifier (approximate to 5 Omega) allows 1.8 ns of peaking time, at the cost of 10 mW of power consumption

A low-noise CMOS front-end for TOF-PET

An analogue CMOS front-end for triggering and amplification of signals produced by a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to a LYSO scintillator is proposed. The solution is intended for time-of-flight measurement in compact Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET) medical imaging equipments where excellent timing resolution is required (approximate to 100 ps). A CMOS 0.13 mu m technology was used to implement such front end, and the design includes preamplification, shaping, baseline holder and biasing circuitry, for a total silicon area of 500x90 mu m. Waveform sampling and time-over-threshold (ToT) techniques are under study and the front-end provides fast and shaped outputs for time and energy measurements. Post layout simulation results show that, for the trigger of a single photoelectron, the time jitter due to the pre-amplifier noise can be as low as 15 ps (FWHM), for a photodetector with a total capacitance of 70 pF. The very low input impedance of the pre-amplifier (approximate to 5 Omega) allows 1.8 ns of peaking time, at the cost of 10 mW of power consumption

A low-noise CMOS front-end for TOF-PET

An analogue CMOS front-end for triggering and amplification of signals produced by a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to a LYSO scintillator is proposed. The solution is intended for time-of-flight measurement in compact Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET) medical imaging equipments where excellent timing resolution is required (approximate to 100 ps). A CMOS 0.13 mu m technology was used to implement such front end, and the design includes preamplification, shaping, baseline holder and biasing circuitry, for a total silicon area of 500x90 mu m. Waveform sampling and time-over-threshold (ToT) techniques are under study and the front-end provides fast and shaped outputs for time and energy measurements. Post layout simulation results show that, for the trigger of a single photoelectron, the time jitter due to the pre-amplifier noise can be as low as 15 ps (FWHM), for a photodetector with a total capacitance of 70 pF. The very low input impedance of the pre-amplifier (approximate to 5 Omega) allows 1.8 ns of peaking time, at the cost of 10 mW of power consumption

A low-noise CMOS front-end for TOF-PET

An analogue CMOS front-end for triggering and amplification of signals produced by a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to a LYSO scintillator is proposed. The solution is intended for time-of-flight measurement in compact Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET) medical imaging equipments where excellent timing resolution is required (approximate to 100 ps). A CMOS 0.13 mu m technology was used to implement such front end, and the design includes preamplification, shaping, baseline holder and biasing circuitry, for a total silicon area of 500x90 mu m. Waveform sampling and time-over-threshold (ToT) techniques are under study and the front-end provides fast and shaped outputs for time and energy measurements. Post layout simulation results show that, for the trigger of a single photoelectron, the time jitter due to the pre-amplifier noise can be as low as 15 ps (FWHM), for a photodetector with a total capacitance of 70 pF. The very low input impedance of the pre-amplifier (approximate to 5 Omega) allows 1.8 ns of peaking time, at the cost of 10 mW of power consumption

Terminal 18q deletions are stabilized by neotelomeres

Background: All human chromosomes are capped by tandem repeat (TTAGGG)n sequences that protect them against end-to-end fusion and are essential to chromosomal replication and integrity. Therefore, after a chromosomal breakage, the deleted chromosomes must be stabilized by retaining the telomere or acquiring a new cap, by telomere healing or telomere capture. There are few reports with molecular approaches on the mechanisms involved in stabilization of 18q terminal deletions.Results: in this study we analyzed nine patients with 18q terminal deletion identified by G-banding and genomic array. FISH using PNA probe revealed telomeric signals in all deleted chromosomes tested. We fine-mapped breakpoints with customized arrays and sequenced six terminal deletion junctions. in all six deleted chromosomes sequenced, telomeric sequences were found directly attached to the breakpoints. Little or no microhomology was found at the breakpoints and none of the breaks sequenced were located in low copy repeat (LCR) regions, though repetitive elements were found around the breakpoints in five patients. One patient presented a more complex rearrangement with two deleted segments and an addition of 17 base pairs (bp).Conclusions: We found that all six deleted chromosomes sequenced were probably stabilized by the healing mechanism leading to a neotelomere formation.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol & Genet, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilEmory Univ, Sch Med, Dept Human Genet, Atlanta, GA 30322 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, Lab Citogenom, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol & Genet, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biophys, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, Lab Citogenom, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2012/51150-0FAPESP: 2012/15572-7Web of Scienc

Rules, Standards, and the Internal Point of View

Large scale structure and cosmolog

High Prevalence of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in Patients with Menière's Disease

BACKGROUND: Autoimmunity appears to be associated with the pathophysiology of Meniere's disease (MD), an inner ear disorder characterized by episodes of vertigo associated with hearing loss and tinnitus. However, the prevalence of autoimmune diseases (AD) in patients with MD has not been studied in individuals with uni or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). METHODS AND FINDINGS: We estimated the prevalence of AD in 690 outpatients with MD with uni or bilateral SNHL from otoneurology clinics at six tertiary referral hospitals by using clinica criteria and an immune panel (lymphocyte populations, antinuclear antibodies, C3, C4 and proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, INFγ). The observed prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was higher than expected for the general population (1.39 for RA, 0.87 for SLE and 0.70 for AS, respectively). Systemic AD were more frequently observed in patients with MD and diagnostic criteria for migraine than cases with MD and tension-type headache (p = 0.007). There were clinical differences between patients with uni or bilateral SNHL, but no differences were found in the immune profile. Multiple linear regression showed that changes in lymphocytes subpopulations were associated with hearing loss and persistence of vertigo, suggesting a role for the immune response in MD. CONCLUSIONS: Despite some limitations, MD displays an elevated prevalence of systemic AD such as RA, SLE and AS. This finding, which suggests an autoimmune background in a subset of patients with MD, has important implications for the treatment of MD

Heterotrophic and photoautotrophic media optimization using response surface methodology for the Novel Microalga Chlorococcum amblystomatis

The nutritional requirements of novel microalgal strains are key for their effective cultivation and metabolite content. Therefore, the optimization of heterotrophic and photoautotrophic culture media is crucial for novel Chlorococcum amblystomatis growth. Heterotrophic and photoautotrophic biomass samples were characterized to identify the differences between their heterotrophic and photoautotrophic biomass composition and their biotechnological potential. Media optimization through surface response methodology led to 44.9 and 51.2% increments in C. amblystomatis-specific growth rates under heterotrophic and photoautotrophic growth, respectively. This microalga registered high protein content (61.49–73.45% dry weight), with the highest value being observed in the optimized photoautotrophic growth medium. The lipid fraction mainly constituted polyunsaturated fatty acids, ranging from 44.47 to 51.41% for total fatty acids (TFA) in cells under heterotrophy. However, these contents became significantly higher (70.46–72.82% TFA) in cultures cultivated under photoautotrophy. An interesting carotenoids content was achieved in the cultures grown in optimized photoautotrophic medium: 5.84 mg·g−1 β-carotene, 5.27 mg·g−1 lutein, 3.66 mg·g−1 neoxanthin, and 0.75 mg·g−1 violaxanthin. Therefore, C. amblystomatis demonstrated an interesting growth performance and nutritional profile for food supplements and feed products that might contribute to meeting the world’s nutritional demand.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio