First Trimester Vaginal Microbiome as Pregnancy Outcome Predictor

• We have developed clinical definiKons of healthy and complicated pregnancies based on pathologies that will be used in future VaHMP studies. • Although one study7 found dysbioKc vagitypes in all three semesters of women who had PPROM, none of our PPROM subjects had a BVAB1 vagitype, and there were equal Gardnerella vaginalis vagitypes in both the controls and subjects who had PPROM (Fig. 2). • While there were more PPROM subjects with Lactobacillus iners vagitypes, this Lactobacillus is less protecKve as it can coexist with pathogenic anaerobic bacteria. • “Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii”, Lactobacillus jensenii, and Ureaplasma were significantly associated with PPROM in the first trimester samples as well as in all samples collected (Fig. 3). “Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii” is strongly linked with Trichomonas vaginalis and elicits a strong pro-inflammatory response8 which could explain the etiology of preterm delivery associated with trichomoniasis

Constraint Aggregation Principle: Application to a Dual Transportation Problem

Constraint aggregation technique is a new method for solving convex optimization problems. This paper focuses on the examination of the efficiency of the aggregation technique. Some properties of the basic version of the algorithm are presented for convex optimization problems with linear constraints. Various parameters and advanced versions of this algorithm are examined on the example of the dual transportation problem. The results obtained allow to formulate some interesting conclusions. Special attention is directed to the advantages achieved by implementation of partial aggregation idea

Membrane adhesion via competing receptor/ligand bonds

The adhesion of biological membranes is controlled by various types of receptor and ligand molecules. In this letter, we present a statistical-mechanical model for membranes that interact via receptor/ligand bonds of two different lengths. We show that the equilibrium phase behavior of the membranes is governed by an effective double-well potential. The depths of the two potential wells depend on the concentrations and binding energies of the receptors and ligands. The membranes are unbound for small, and bound for larger potential depths. In the bound state, the length mismatch of the receptor/ligand bonds can lead to lateral phase separation. We derive explicit scaling laws for the critical points of unbinding and phase separation, and determine the prefactors by comparison with Monte Carlo results.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures; to appear in Europhys. Let

Application of Quantum Physics Assumptions for Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is the result of assumptions of people performing it. Therefore, its use may be limited, because in principle it is difficult to predict events that we are not aware of. A certain solution to this problem seems to be the application of inception theory and quantum physics assumptions to describe future phenomena. The aim of the study will be to demonstrate the experience of risk assessment attempts using quantum physics assumptions. The current application of new assumptions for risk assessment in the case of road infrastructure allows for the thesis that a change in the approach to risk assessment is necessary in all areas related to human activity

A Secured Creditor’s Ability to Have an Automatic Stay Lifted Against a Single Asset Real Estate

(Excerpt) The filing of a petition for relief under title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) results in an automatic stay, which generally enjoins any creditor from taking action against the debtor or its property. Pursuant to section 362(d)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, an automatic stay may be terminated upon a showing of “cause.” Additionally, under section 362(d)(2) a stay may be terminated as to property if the debtor has no equity in the property, and the property is not necessary to an effective reorganization. Further, under section 362(d)(3), an automatic stay may be lifted as to “single asset real estate,” if the debtor has not “filed a plan of reorganization that has a reasonable possibility of being confirmed within a reasonable time,” no later than 90 days after the creditor requests relief from the stay or 30 days after the court determines that the debtor is a SARE. A court will not, however, lift the automatic stay under section 362(d)(3) if the debtor commences monthly payments made from the “rents or other income generated” by the property, and are equal in amount to the agreed upon interest payments. This article examines whether section 362(d)(3) is the exclusive basis for a court to lift the automatic stay as to a SARE. Part I of this article discusses how bankruptcy courts have concluded that section 362(d)(3) is not the exclusive basis to lift the automatic stay as to a SARE. Part II explains how secured creditors may obtain relief from an automatic stay under sections 362(d)(1) and (d)(2) as to a SARE

Chemical Composition of the Eggs of the Freshwater Turtle Phrynops hilarii (Chelidae: Testudines)

At oviposition, amniote eggs contain all the nutrients required for complete neonate tissue development. For reptiles and birds, the egg yolk is the main embryonic energy source and is composed predominantly of proteins and lipids, while also providing essential inorganic ions including calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), and trace elements such as zinc (Z) and iron (Fe). Despite the fact that the Hilaire’s Toadhead Turtle, Phrynops hilarii, is one of the most representative and widely distributed turtle species in Argentina, there are very few studies regarding its reproductive biology. The objectives of this work were to (1) describe the morphological characteristics of Phrynops hilarii eggs, specifically egg and yolk size; (2) determine the relative proportions of egg yolk components (water, ash, lipids, proteins, and minerals); and (3) examine the relationships between egg size, yolk size and yolk components. We collected 171 eggs from 11 individual nests during the 2012 March-April reproductive season. We analyzed one egg per clutch (n = 11) to determine the egg yolk chemical composition. Yolks were composed of 58.3% water, while the dry component was 2.7% ash, 24.9% lipids, and 56.7% protein. The most abundant macromineral detected was K (0.63%) and the most abundant trace mineral was Mg (0.13%). We did not find associations between egg measurements and components, but there were many significant correlations between egg components. Data we collected for this study are important to begin to understand the roles of different nutrients in embryonic development and to further explore maternal investment patterns in Phrynops hilarii.En el momento de la oviposición los huevos amniotas contienen todos los nutrientes necesarios para el desarrollo completo del tejido neonatal. Para reptiles y aves, la yema del huevo es la principal fuente de energía embrionaria y está compuesta predominantemente de proteínas y lípidos y además proporciona iones inorgánicos esenciales que incluyen calcio (Ca), potasio (K) y magnesio (Mg) y trazas de oligoelementos como zinc (Z) y hierro (Fe). A pesar de que Phrynops hilarii es una de las especies de tortugas más representativas y ampliamente distribuidas de Argentina, existen muy pocos estudios sobre su biología reproductiva. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron (1) describir las características morfológicas de los huevos de Phrynops hilarii, específicamente el tamaño del huevo y la yema; (2) determinar las proporciones relativas de los componentes de la yema de huevo (humedad, ceniza, lípidos, proteínas y minerales); y (3) examinar las relaciones entre el tamaño del huevo, el tamaño de la yema y los componentes de la yema. Recolectamos 171 huevos de 11 nidos individuales durante la temporada reproductiva de marzo a abril de 2012. Analizamos un huevo por nidada (n = 11) para determinar la composición química de la yema de huevo. Las yemas presentaron un 58,3% de humedad, mientras que el componente seco fue un 2,7% de ceniza, un 24,9% de lípidos y un 56,7% de proteína. El macromineral más abundante detectado fue K (0,63%) y el oligoelemento más abundante fue Mg (0,13%). No encontramos asociaciones entre las mediciones y los componentes del huevo, pero hubo muchas correlaciones significativas entre los componentes del huevo. Los datos que recopilamos para este estudio son importantes para comenzar a comprender los roles de los diferentes nutrientes en el desarrollo embrionario y para explorar más a fondo los patrones de inversión materna en Phrynops hilarii.Fil: Prieto, Yanina. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Bernardi, Cecilia Gabriela. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Rozycki, Víctor Rodolfo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Manzano, Adriana Silvina. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos; Argentina. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentin