Bicircular Matroids with Circuits of at Most Two Sizes

Young in his paper titled, Matroid Designs in 1973, reports that Murty in his paper titled, Equicardinal Matroids and Finite Geometries in 1968, was the first to study matroids with all hyperplanes having the same size. Murty called such a matroid an ``Equicardinal Matroid\u27\u27. Young renamed such a matroid a ``Matroid Design\u27\u27. Further work on determining properties of these matroids was done by Edmonds, Murty, and Young in their papers published in 1972, 1973, and 1970 respectively. These authors were able to connect the problem of determining the matroid designs with specified parameters with results on balanced incomplete block designs. The dual of a matroid design is one in which all circuits have the same size. In 1971, Murty restricted his attention to binary matroids and was able to characterize all connected binary matroids having circuits of a single size. Lemos, Reid, and Wu in 2010, provided partial information on the class of connected binary matroids having circuits of two different sizes. They also shothat there are many such matroids. In general, there are not many results that specify the matroids with circuits of just a few different sizes. Cordovil, Junior, and Lemos provided such results on matroids with small circumference. Here we determine the connected bicircular matroids with all circuits having the same size. We also provide structural information on the connected bicircular matroids with circuits of two different sizes. The bicircular matroids considered are in general non-binary. Hence these results are a start on extending Murty\u27s characterization of binary matroid designs to non-binary matroids

Lost Spaces as Hidden Assets: A Reflection on a Current Design Issue

University campuses face two common problems: lack of facilities for the expanding enrolment numbers, and inadequate spaces for the changing education and recreational needs. Based on his expertise and research, Amir Hajrasouliha discusses the potential of adapting left-over campus open spaces to respond to these needs, adapting their physical and technological capabilities to encourage multiple academic and non-academic functions

User's manual for the Shuttle Electric Power System analysis computer program (SEPS), volume 2 of program documentation

The Shuttle Electric Power System Analysis SEPS computer program which performs detailed load analysis including predicting energy demands and consumables requirements of the shuttle electric power system along with parameteric and special case studies on the shuttle electric power system is described. The functional flow diagram of the SEPS program is presented along with data base requirements and formats, procedure and activity definitions, and mission timeline input formats. Distribution circuit input and fixed data requirements are included. Run procedures and deck setups are described

A promising new ELISA diagnostic test for cattle babesiosis based on Babesia bigemina Apical Membrane Antigen-1.

Babesiosis due to Babesia bigemina is a relevant tick‑borne disease, affecting cattle worldwide. Many surface proteins of the pathogen including the Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA‑1) ‑ have been analysed for vaccine and diagnostic purposes. This study focused on B. bigemina AMA‑1 and on its use for the assessment of diagnostic tests. After bioinformatic analyses, AMA‑1 codifying region was amplified and cloned into an expression vector used to induce protein synthesis in Escherichia coli cells. AMA‑1 was purified by affinity chromatography and used to set up the best condition for an ELISA protocol. Bovine field sera positive to B. bigemina were used to evaluate the presence of anti‑AMA‑1 antibodies. In order to verify the assay specificity, sera positive to Babesia bovis or to the piroplasm Theileria annulata were also included. Significant differences were obtained between sera negative to both B. bigemina and B. bovis and samples positive to B. bigemina, to B. bovis or to both pathogens. No significant reaction was observed with T. annulata positive sera. The results showed that AMA‑1 protein is suitable to be used as antigen in diagnostic assays for babesiosis diagnosis in cattle, as it does not show any cross reaction with anti-T. annulata antibodies

Noise Properties of Two Mutually Coupled Spin-Transfer Nanooscillators in the Phase Locking Regime

Introduction. Today, many research endeavors are devoted to the miniaturization of microwave sources. One of the promising approaches is the use of magnetic nanostructures (spintronics elements), providing a wide range of frequency tuning and low power consumption. The main disadvantage of spintronics generators (spintransfer nanoscillators ‒ STNO) is a low output power of generated oscillations (tens of nanowatts and less). A possible solution is to sum up the power of many STNOs in a mutual synchronization mode.Aim. The investigation of noise properties of two connected STNOs with identical and non-identical parameters in a phase synchronization mode.Materials and methods. A model was developed of two STNOs interconnected by spin waves taking into account thermal noises. Spectral power densities of the amplitude and phase noise were obtained by the method of effective linearization.Results. Dependencies were obtained in a general form for attenuation coefficients of the amplitude and phase fluctuations of noise sources for each STNO. Three cases of synchronization were considered: completely identical STNOs, two identical STNOs but with different oscillation frequencies, and two non-identical STNOs, differing in an allowance of self-excitation by frequencies and amplitudes of the oscillations. It was possible to obtain a gain in the amplitude and phase noise for two identical STNOs. In this case, an increase in the allowance of self-excitation led to a decrease in the level of phase and amplitude noise.Conclusion. This analysis of the attenuation coefficients for non-identical STNOs demonstrates the possibility of improving the noise properties of each of the generators. In this case, the best noise value is obtained for an STNO with greater stability in a stand-alone mode.Introduction. Today, many research endeavors are devoted to the miniaturization of microwave sources. One of the promising approaches is the use of magnetic nanostructures (spintronics elements), providing a wide range of frequency tuning and low power consumption. The main disadvantage of spintronics generators (spintransfer nanoscillators ‒ STNO) is a low output power of generated oscillations (tens of nanowatts and less). A possible solution is to sum up the power of many STNOs in a mutual synchronization mode.Aim. The investigation of noise properties of two connected STNOs with identical and non-identical parameters in a phase synchronization mode.Materials and methods. A model was developed of two STNOs interconnected by spin waves taking into account thermal noises. Spectral power densities of the amplitude and phase noise were obtained by the method of effective linearization.Results. Dependencies were obtained in a general form for attenuation coefficients of the amplitude and phase fluctuations of noise sources for each STNO. Three cases of synchronization were considered: completely identical STNOs, two identical STNOs but with different oscillation frequencies, and two non-identical STNOs, differing in an allowance of self-excitation by frequencies and amplitudes of the oscillations. It was possible to obtain a gain in the amplitude and phase noise for two identical STNOs. In this case, an increase in the allowance of self-excitation led to a decrease in the level of phase and amplitude noise.Conclusion. This analysis of the attenuation coefficients for non-identical STNOs demonstrates the possibility of improving the noise properties of each of the generators. In this case, the best noise value is obtained for an STNO with greater stability in a stand-alone mode

The diacerein properties on the left ventricle remodeling after acute myocardial infarction : experimental study

Orientador: Orlando Petrucci JuniorTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências MédicasResumo: O remodelamento cardíaco é caracterizado por alterações do miocárdio em resposta a injúria ou sobrecarga de trabalho sofrida pelo coração durante determinadas situações. Após evento do infarto agudo do miocárdio, o RC é considerado um fenômeno deletério e sua gênese esta relacionada a diversos mecanismos inflamatórios. Estudamos a diacereína que é um composto antraquinona com propriedade anti-inflamatória que inibe a síntese e a atividade de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, como o fator de necrose tumoral e interleucinas 1 e 6. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos da diacereína no remodelamento ventricular in vivo após isquemia. A ligadura da artéria interventricular anterior foi feita para induzir infarto do miocárdio em ratos em um modelo experimental. Os ratos foram divididos em quatro grupos: grupo Controle (n=16) e grupo Sham (n=8) que receberam solução salina (n=16) e grupo Diacereína (n=10) e SHAM com Diacereína (n=10) que receberam a diacereína (80 mg/kg/dia). Após 4 semanas, análises moleculares, atividade de caspase 3 e análises hemodinâmicas foram comparados entre os grupos. Os resultados demonstram redução dos volumes sistólico e diastólico final do VE no grupo tratado comparado com o grupo controle (p <0,01 e p <0,01, respectivamente). Em comparação com ratos do grupo controle, os ratos tratados com diacereína exibiram menos fibrose no VE (14,65% ± 7,27% vs 22,57% ± 8,94%, p <0,01), menor atividade caspase 3 e baixos níveis de transcrição NF-kB p65. Concluímos que o tratamento com diacereína uma vez ao dia durante 4 semanas após o IAM promoveu diminuição do remodelamento ventricular, com menor volume diastólico e sistólico final do VE. A diacereína também promoveu uma redução de fibrose no VE. Acreditamos que tais efeitos podem estar associados com obstrução parcial da via NF-kBAbstract: Cardiac remodeling is characterized by myocardial changes in response to injury or work overload suffered by the heart during certain situations. After the acute myocardial infarction event, the RC is considered a deleterious phenomenon and its genesis is related to several inflammatory mechanisms. We studied the diacerein that is an anthraquinone compound with anti-inflammatory properties which inhibit the synthesis and activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 and 6. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diacerein on remodeling ventricular in vivo after ischemia. The ligation of the left anterior descending artery was made to induce myocardial infarction in rats in an experimental model. The rats were divided into four groups: control group (n = 16) and Sham group (n = 8) that received saline (n = 16) and Diacerein group (n = 10) and SHAM with Diacerein (n = 10) received diacerein (80 mg / kg / day). After 4 weeks, molecular analysis, caspase 3 activity and hemodynamic tests were compared between groups. The results show reduction in systolic and end-diastolic LV volumes in the treated group compared with the control group (p <0.01 and p <0.01, respectively). In comparison with control rats, rats treated with diacerhein exhibited less fibrosis in the left ventricle (14.65% vs. 22.57% ± 7.27% ± 8.94%, p <0.01), lower caspase 3 activity and low transcript levels of NF-kB p65. We conclude that treatment with diacerein once a day for 4 weeks after AMI caused a decrease in ventricular remodeling, with lower end systolic and diastolic volume of the left ventricle. Diacerein also promoted a reduction of fibrosis in the left ventricle. We believe that such effects may be associated with partial blockage of the NF-kB pathwayDoutoradoFisiopatologia CirúrgicaDoutora em Ciências01-P-4354-152011/14550-7CAPESFAPES

Reversible switch from hemoglobin A to C in sheep and recovery from anemia following experimental infection with Anaplasma ovis

Anemia causes a change in the type of circulating hemoglobin (Hb) in sheep carrying the βA-globin haplotype, where the Hb A is replaced with Hb C, unlike Hb B. The effect of the substitution of Hb A with Hb C on the recovery from anemia was investigated by comparing the hematological picture of sheep, following experimental infection with Anaplasma ovis. The blood values were obtained from 3 AB and 3 BB Hb sheep after the development of the disease where anemia is a pathognomonic symptom. The expression of the silent gene encoding for Hb C was detected by isoelectric focusing and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Both Hb AB genotype and Hb C occurrence were involved in the lower recovery from anemia in the trial

Ovine Catarrhal fever (bluetongue): Analysis of Culicoides species in seropositive farms

Bluetongue (BT) is an orbiviral disease of wild and domestic ruminants, mainly sheep. In Sicily, the first Bluetongue outbreak occurred in October 2000; there have been 76 recorded outbreaks so far. The National Surveillance Plan, based on European Union Commission Decision 138/2001/CE, establishes serological and entomological surveys. This plan consists of controls of seronegative cattle, called 'sentry' as indicators for the presence and circulation of virus in defined areas. To check the seroconversions, the regional territory has been subdivided in 400 km2 areas including 58 seronegative cattle, periodically checked by serological tests. All positive sera have been tested to detect the specific serotype by the National Reference Centre for Exotic Diseases (CESME) at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise in Teramo (IZS Teramo). Moreover, entomological surveillance has been implemented in seropositive herds, to investigate the presence of insect vectors belonging to Culicoides genus. The goal of the present communication is to report on the different species of Culicoides found in the farms with Bluetongue virus and to investigate on the probable role of new competent vectors. This paper concerns data analysis of 581 light-trap catches collected in 321 farms from 2003 to 2008. We observed that 82% of checked farms were positive for Culicoides spp., and only 10% of the farms were positive for Culicoides imicola. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH