Influence of porosity on the analysis of sandwich plates FGM using of high order shear-deformation theory.

In this article, the analytical solutions for static of bending analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates using four-variable high order shear-deformation theory is presented. During manufacture of these plates, defects such as porosities can appear. The objective of this paper is to develop a model to employ the new function for analysis the static of functionally graded sandwich plates. However, the material properties of the sandwich plate varies according to a power law P-FGM form through the thickness coordinate depending on the volume fraction of the constituent material. Equilibrium and stability equations are derived based on the present theory. The solution of the problem is derived by using Navier’s technique. The influences of many sandwich plate parameters such of the variation and influences of porosity coefficient, aspect ratio, side-to-thickness ratio and exponent volume fraction will be investigated.           &nbsp

Real-time sleep apnea detection using wavelet packet transform and support vector machines

Sleep apnea events as obstructive, central, mixed, or hypopnea are characterized by frequent breathing cessations or reduction in upper airflow during sleep. An advanced method for analyzing the patterning of biomedical signals to recognize obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea is presented. In the aim to extract characteristic parameters, which will be used for classifying the above-stated (obstructive, central, mixed) sleep apnea and hypopnea, the proposed method is based, first, on the analysis of polysomnopraphy signals such as electrocardiogram signal (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG) and then classification of (obstructive, central, mixed) sleep apnea and hypopnea. The analysis is carried out using the wavelet transform technique in order to extract characteristic parameters, whereas classification is carried out by applying the SVM (support vector machine) technique. The obtained results show good recognition rates using characteristic parameters

La Responsabilité Sociale de l’Entreprise et la bonne gouvernance : Cas des Entreprises Algériennes

La Responsabilité Sociale de l’Entreprise et Gouvernance d’Entreprise : étude exploratoire des Entreprises AlgériennesLa responsabilité sociale de l’entreprise suscite aujourd’hui un intérêt croissant à travers le monde. Pour l’entreprise, la mise en place d’une démarche RSE et de bonne gouvernance prend tout son sens pour favoriser la transparence et le dialogue avec les parties prenantes, tout en renforçant sa crédibilité et sa réputation sur le marché. Cette approche managériale est un mode de pilotage souple et efficace par lequel l’entreprise interagit harmonieusement avec ses parties prenantes.L’objectif de cette recherche est de déterminer les perceptions des dirigeants de l’existence ou non d’une relation entre la RSE et la bonne gouvernance dans le contexte algérien, en adoptant une démarche exploratoire quantitative induite par questionnaire administré à 138 dirigeants d’entreprises algériennes ayant participées à la 45 ème foire internationale d’Alger.Mots-clés : RSE, Bonne gouvernance, Parties prenantes, Valeurs partagées, Codes de conduiteAbstractCorporate Social Responsibility and Good Governance: An exploratory study of Algerian CompaniesToday, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a growing interest worldwide. For the company, introducing CSR policy and good governance makes sense to promote transparency and dialogue with stakeholders, while strengthening its credibility and reputation on the market. This management approach is a way of flexible and efficient control by which the company interacts harmoniously with its stakeholders. The objective of this research is to determine the perceptions of managers of the existence or not of a relationship between CSR and good governance in the Algerian context. By adopting a quantitative study. Analyses based on responses from 138 executives show that they are especially sensitive to environmental and social dimensions of CSR, and confirm a bilateral relationship between CSR and good governanceKeywords: CSR, Corporate Governance, Stakeholders, Shared values, Board guidline

Analytical solution for statif bending analyses of functionally grades plates with porosities

The paper examines a static bending of porous functional plates (FGP) and rectangular plate solutions, based on an underlying high-order shear deformation theory. The proposed high-order shear deformation theory, as opposed to other theories, includes four unknowns. For this reason, a new shear strain function is considered. The technique of Navier is used in closed-form FGP solutions. Results of deflections and stresses are presented for simply supported border conditions. Current figures are contrasted with the non-poreous plate deflecting solutions and the literature's stresses. Effects of different parameters, including thickness, gradient index and porosity of FGM plates, are discussed

Human Muscle Progenitor Cells Displayed Immunosuppressive Effect through Galectin-1 and Semaphorin-3A

In human skeletal muscle, myoblasts represent the main population of myogenic progenitors. We previously showed that, beside their myogenic differentiation capacities, myoblasts also differentiate towards osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages, some properties generally considered being hallmarks of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are also characterized by their immunosuppressive potential, through cell-cell contacts and soluble factors, including prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), interleukine-10, or indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. We and others also reported that Galectin-1 (Gal-1) and Semaphorin-3A (Sema-3A) were involved in MSCs-mediated immunosuppression. Here, we show that human myoblasts induce a significant and dose-dependant proliferation inhibition, independently of PGE-2 and TGF-β1. Our experiments revealed that myoblasts, in culture or in situ in human muscles, expressed and secreted Gal-1 and Sema-3A. Furthermore, myoblasts immunosuppressive functions were reverted by using blocking antibodies against Gal-1 or Sema-3A. Together, these results demonstrate an unsuspected immunosuppressive effect of myoblasts that may open new therapeutic perspectives

Exploiting linked data to create rich human digital memories

Memories are an important aspect of a person's life and experiences. The area of human digital memories focuses on encapsulating this phenomenon, in a digital format, over a lifetime. Through the proliferation of ubiquitous devices, both people and the surrounding environment are generating a phenomenal amount of data. With all of this disjointed information available, successfully searching it and bringing it together, to form a human digital memory, is a challenge. This is especially true when a lifetime of data is being examined. Linked Data provides an ideal, and novel, solution for overcoming this challenge, where a variety of data sources can be drawn upon to capture detailed information surrounding a given event. Memories, created in this way, contain vivid structures and varied data sources, which emerge through the semantic clustering of content and other memories. This paper presents DigMem, a platform for creating human digital memories, based on device-specific services and the user's current environment. In this way, information is semantically structured to create temporal "memory boxes" for human experiences. A working prototype has been successfully developed, which demonstrates the approach. In order to evaluate the applicability of the system a number of experiments have been undertaken. These have been successful in creating human digital memories and illustrating how a user can be monitored in both indoor and outdoor environments. Furthermore, the user's heartbeat information is analysed to determine his or her heart rate. This has been achieved with the development of a QRS Complex detection algorithm and heart rate calculation method. These methods process collected electrocardiography (ECG) information to discern the heart rate of the user

A RasGAP SH3 Peptide Aptamer Inhibits RasGAP-Aurora Interaction and Induces Caspase-Independent Tumor Cell Death

The Ras GTPase-activating protein RasGAP catalyzes the conversion of active GTP-bound Ras into inactive GDP-bound Ras. However, RasGAP also acts as a positive effector of Ras and exerts an anti-apoptotic activity that is independent of its GAP function and that involves its SH3 (Src homology) domain. We used a combinatorial peptide aptamer approach to select a collection of RasGAP SH3 specific ligands. We mapped the peptide aptamer binding sites by performing yeast two-hybrid mating assays against a panel of RasGAP SH3 mutants. We examined the biological activity of a peptide aptamer targeting a pocket delineated by residues D295/7, L313 and W317. This aptamer shows a caspase-independent cytotoxic activity on tumor cell lines. It disrupts the interaction between RasGAP and Aurora B kinase. This work identifies the above-mentioned pocket as an interesting therapeutic target to pursue and points its cognate peptide aptamer as a promising guide to discover RasGAP small-molecule drug candidates

Computational Design of Artificial RNA Molecules For Gene Regulation

This volume provides an overview of RNA bioinformatics methodologies, including basic strategies to predict secondary and tertiary structures, and novel algorithms based on massive RNA sequencing. Interest in RNA bioinformatics has rapidly increased thanks to the recent high-throughput sequencing technologies allowing scientists to investigate complete transcriptomes at single nucleotide resolution. Adopting advanced computational technics, scientists are now able to conduct more in-depth studies and present them to you in this book. Written in the highly successful Methods of Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and equipment, step-by-step, readily reproducible bioinformatics protocols, and key tips to avoid known pitfalls.Authoritative and practical, RNA Bioinformatics seeks to aid scientists in the further study of bioinformatics and computational biology of RNA