Self-similar solutions with fat tails for Smoluchowski's coagulation equation with locally bounded kernels

The existence of self-similar solutions with fat tails for Smoluchowski's coagulation equation has so far only been established for the solvable and the diagonal kernel. In this paper we prove the existence of such self-similar solutions for continuous kernels $K$ that are homogeneous of degree $\gamma \in [0,1)$ and satisfy $K(x,y) \leq C (x^{\gamma} + y^{\gamma})$. More precisely, for any $\rho \in (\gamma,1)$ we establish the existence of a continuous weak self-similar profile with decay $x^{-(1{+}\rho)}$ as $x \to \infty$

Comment l'infirmière peut-elle contribuer au respect des choix et perspectives d'une personne en situation palliative atteinte d'un cancer: travail de Bachelor

But : Ce travail aborde la manière avec laquelle les infirmières1 accompagnent des personnes atteintes d’un cancer avancé, dans un contexte de soins palliatifs en tenant compte du respect de leurs choix et perspectives, afin que ceux-ci soient respectés, en préservant leur dignité et leur liberté de choix. Le cadre théorique s’appuie sur le paradigme de l’humaindevenant de Rosemarie Rizzo Parse. Cette théoricienne insiste sur l’importance de comprendre et de connaître les valeurs et les intentions de chaque personne afin de pouvoir respecter la dignité de chaque être humain. Méthode : La recherche s’est effectuée par l’élaboration du PICOT de la problématique, ainsi que de mots clés permettant le questionnement des bases de données. Suite à cela, les recherches ont permis d’avoir divers articles scientifiques. Ces derniers ont été lus afin de sélectionner ceux répondant pour le mieux aux divers critères, permettant ainsi une analyse d’articles pertinente au sujet du travail. Neufs articles ont été sélectionnés entre avril et juin 2017 à l’aide de deux moteurs de recherche, PubMed et Cinahl

Geometrically-controlled twist transitions in nematic cells

We study geometrically-controlled twist transitions of a nematic confined between a sinusoidal grating and a flat substrate. In these cells the transition to the twisted state is driven by surface effects. We have identified the mechanisms responsible for the transition analytically and used exact numerical calculations to study the range of surface parameters where the twist instability occurs. Close to these values the cell operates under minimal external fields or temperature variations

Toxoplasma gondii: avaliação da reação de imunofluorescência indireta usando anticorpo secundário heterólogo em roedores silvestres experimentalmente infectados

A toxoplasmose é uma zoonose causada pelo Toxoplasma gondii, que afeta uma grande variedade de vertebrados. Os roedores são hospedeiros intermediários e servem de alimento para felinos, os hospedeiros definitivos. No entanto, por causa da elevada variedade de espécies na ordem Rodentia, o diagnóstico serológico é difícil de ser realizado, uma vez que as técnicas mais empregadas requerem a utilização de um anticorpo específico conjugado com fluoresceína ou enzimas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso de um conjugado secundário heterólogo na Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI) para diagnóstico de anticorpos anti-T. gondii em duas espécies de roedores silvestres: Euryoryzomys russatus (WAGNER, 1848) e Calomys callosus (RENGGER, 1830). A espécie Mus musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) foi utilizada como controle do conjugado. As três espécies de roedores foram experimentalmente infectadas com cinco cistos de T. gondii (cepas ME 49) por animal. O Teste de Aglutinação Modificado (MAT), que não requer o uso de conjugados, bem como, a presença de cistos de T. gondii nos roedores foram usados para confirmar a infecção. Para cada espécie de animal, amostras de soro foram coletadas durante cinco semanas e testadas (50 amostras por espécie de roedor, total de 150 amostras). Nenhuma das amostras de C. callosus e E. russatus foram positivas na RIFI, quando foi usado o conjugado heterólogo anti-camundongo. Cistos cerebrais de T. gondii foram microscopicamente observados em todos os animais, exceto em um dos E. russatus. Resultados positivos foram encontrados pelo MAT após 14 dias de inoculação em todas as três espécies estudadas e pela RIFI no grupo controle (M. musculus), também no dia 14 após a infecção utilizando conjugado anti-camundongo. O uso de conjugados secundários heterólogos deve ser empregado com cautela e o MAT apresentou uma boa concordância para o diagnóstico sorológico de T. gondii nas espécies de roedores estudadas.Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii that affects a wide range of vertebrates. Rodents are intermediate hosts and serve as food for felids, the definitive hosts. However, because of the high variety of species in the order Rodentia, the serological diagnosis is difficult to perform, since the most used techniques require the use of specific antibody conjugated to fluorescein or enzymes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a heterologous secondary antibody conjugate in Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) for diagnosis of anti-T. gondii antibodies in two species of wild rodents: Euryoryzomys russatus (WAGNER, 1848) and Calomys callosus (RENGGER, 1830). The specie Mus musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) was used as control conjugate. The animals were experimentally infected with five cysts of T. gondii (strain ME 49) per animal. The Modified Agglutination Test (MAT), which does not require the use of conjugates, and the presence of T. gondii cysts in the rodents were used to confirm the infection. For each animal species, serum samples were collected weekly for five weeks and tested (50 samples per rodent specie, total of 150 samples). None of the samples from C. callosus and E. russatus were positive in the IFAT when anti-mouse heterologous conjugate was used. Brain cysts of T. gondii were microscopically observed in all animals, except in one of the E. russatus. Positive results were found in the MAT 14 days after T. gondii infection in all three species of rodents and IFAT of the control group (M. musculus) was also positive 14 days after infection using anti-mouse (homologous) conjugate. The use of heterologous secondary antibody conjugates should be used with caution and the MAT had a good agreement for serological diagnosis of T. gondii in the studied rodent species

Testosterone and resistance training effects on muscle nitric oxide synthase isoforms in COPD men

SummaryBackgroundSkeletal muscle dysfunction contributes to exercise limitation in COPD. The role of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system in muscle dysfunction is ill defined. Reduced levels of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and elevated levels of inducible NOS (iNOS) in the skeletal muscle of COPD patients have been recently reported. We hypothesized that resistance exercise training (R) and/or testosterone supplementation (T) would alter the transcription and expression of the NOS isoenzymes in COPD skeletal muscle.MethodsVastus lateralis biopsies were obtained before and after a 10-week intervention in 40 men with severe COPD(age 67.7 ± 8.3, FEV1 41.4 ± 12.6% predicted): placebo + no training (P) (n = 11), placebo + resistance training (PR) (n = 8), testosterone + no training (T) (n = 11) and testosterone + resistance training (TR) (n = 10) groups. eNOS, nNOS and iNOS mRNA and protein levels were measured in each sample. mRNA and protein levels were measured using real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, respectively.ResultseNOS mRNA increased in the TR group compared to P and T groups (P < 0.001). eNOS protein was increased in TR and T groups after intervention (P < 0.05) but not in the PR group. nNOS protein increased in the PR, T, and TR groups (P < 0.05). iNOS protein decreased only in the TR group (P = 0.01).ConclusionResistance training and testosterone supplementation increased eNOS and nNOS proteins and decreased iNOS protein in the skeletal muscles of men with COPD. These changes in NO system might explain some of the favorable effects of these therapies

Contribution of lateral gene transfers to the genome composition and parasitic ability of root-knot nematodes.

International audienceLateral gene transfers (LGT), species to species transmission of genes by means other than direct inheritance from a common ancestor, have played significant role in shaping prokaryotic genomes and are involved in gain or transfer of important biological processes. Whether LGT significantly contributed to the composition of an animal genome is currently unclear. In nematodes, multiple LGT are suspected to have favored emergence of plant-parasitism. With the availability of whole genome sequences it is now possible to assess whether LGT have significantly contributed to the composition of an animal genome and to establish a comprehensive list of these events. We generated clusters of homologous genes and automated phylogenetic inference, to detect LGT in the genomes of root-knot nematodes and found that up to 3.34% of the genes originate from LGT of non-metazoan origin. After their acquisition, the majority of genes underwent series of duplications. Compared to the rest of the genes in these species, several predicted functional categories showed a skewed distribution in the set of genes acquired via LGT. Interestingly, functions related to metabolism, degradation or modification of carbohydrates or proteins were substantially more frequent. This suggests that genes involved in these processes, related to a parasitic lifestyle, have been more frequently fixed in these parasites after their acquisition. Genes from soil bacteria, including plant-pathogens were the most frequent closest relatives, suggesting donors were preferentially bacteria from the rhizosphere. Several of these bacterial genes are plasmid-borne, pointing to a possible role of these mobile genetic elements in the transfer mechanism. Our analysis provides the first comprehensive description of the ensemble of genes of non-metazoan origin in an animal genome. Besides being involved in important processes regarding plant-parasitism, genes acquired via LGT now constitute a substantial proportion of protein-coding genes in these nematode genomes

Downregulation of Mcl-1 has anti-inflammatory pro-resolution effects and enhances bacterial clearance from the lung

Phagocytes not only coordinate acute inflammation and host defense at mucosal sites, but also contribute to tissue damage. Respiratory infection causes a globally significant disease burden and frequently progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome, a devastating inflammatory condition characterized by neutrophil recruitment and accumulation of protein-rich edema fluid causing impaired lung function. We hypothesized that targeting the intracellular protein myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) by a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (AT7519) or a flavone (wogonin) would accelerate neutrophil apoptosis and resolution of established inflammation, but without detriment to bacterial clearance. Mcl-1 loss induced human neutrophil apoptosis, but did not induce macrophage apoptosis nor impair phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils. Neutrophil-dominant inflammation was modelled in mice by either endotoxin or bacteria (Escherichia coli). Downregulating inflammatory cell Mcl-1 had anti-inflammatory, pro-resolution effects, shortening the resolution interval (R(i)) from 19 to 7 h and improved organ dysfunction with enhanced alveolar–capillary barrier integrity. Conversely, attenuating drug-induced Mcl-1 downregulation inhibited neutrophil apoptosis and delayed resolution of endotoxin-mediated lung inflammation. Importantly, manipulating lung inflammatory cell Mcl-1 also accelerated resolution of bacterial infection (R(i); 50 to 16 h) concurrent with enhanced bacterial clearance. Therefore, manipulating inflammatory cell Mcl-1 accelerates inflammation resolution without detriment to host defense against bacteria, and represents a target for treating infection-associated inflammation

Culture-negative bivalvular endocarditis with myocardial destruction in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report

Culture-negative endocarditis has long been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, but is usually asymptomatic or involves a single valve. We present a patient with destructive culture-negative endocarditis that remains without a microbial etiology despite an exhaustive workup using advanced diagnostic techniques in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Dispersion and collapse in stochastic velocity fields on a cylinder

The dynamics of fluid particles on cylindrical manifolds is investigated. The velocity field is obtained by generalizing the isotropic Kraichnan ensemble, and is therefore Gaussian and decorrelated in time. The degree of compressibility is such that when the radius of the cylinder tends to infinity the fluid particles separate in an explosive way. Nevertheless, when the radius is finite the transition probability of the two-particle separation converges to an invariant measure. This behavior is due to the large-scale compressibility generated by the compactification of one dimension of the space

Sensitivity enhancement in thermoreflectance microscopy of semiconductor devices using suitable probe wavelengths

In this paper we present an experimental and theoretical study of the thermoreflectance response as a function of the probe wavelength for layered microelectronics structures. The investigated sample consists of a polycrystalline silicon conducting track grown on a SiO2-coated Si substrate. Thermoreflectance measurements were carried out in the wavelength range from 450 to 750 nm with the track biased in modulated regime. An oscillating pattern is observed in the spectral region where the upper layer is transparent. Such oscillations are due to the interference resulting from the multiple reflections at the interfaces. Using a thermo-optical model, we show that the optical constants (n and k) of the materials, which are wavelength dependent, as well as their temperature derivatives (dn/dT and dk/dT), strongly influence the thermoreflectance signal. The optical thicknesses of the layers, mainly determined by the real part of the refractive indices, define the period of oscillation. On the other hand, the imaginary part of the refractive indices establishes the cutoff wavelength of the oscillations. Below this cutoff wavelength, the probe light does not penetrate the material and the upper-surface reflectance dominates the signal. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.98