1,563 research outputs found
Towards Energy Consumption Verification via Static Analysis
In this paper we leverage an existing general framework for resource usage
verification and specialize it for verifying energy consumption specifications
of embedded programs. Such specifications can include both lower and upper
bounds on energy usage, and they can express intervals within which energy
usage is to be certified to be within such bounds. The bounds of the intervals
can be given in general as functions on input data sizes. Our verification
system can prove whether such energy usage specifications are met or not. It
can also infer the particular conditions under which the specifications hold.
To this end, these conditions are also expressed as intervals of functions of
input data sizes, such that a given specification can be proved for some
intervals but disproved for others. The specifications themselves can also
include preconditions expressing intervals for input data sizes. We report on a
prototype implementation of our approach within the CiaoPP system for the XC
language and XS1-L architecture, and illustrate with an example how embedded
software developers can use this tool, and in particular for determining values
for program parameters that ensure meeting a given energy budget while
minimizing the loss in quality of service.Comment: Presented at HIP3ES, 2015 (arXiv: 1501.03064
A descriptive study of physico-chemical characteristics of Posidonia oceanica litter accumulation
Elimination of Quotients in Various Localisations of Premodels into Models
The contribution of this article is quadruple. It (1) unifies various schemes of premodels/models including situations such as presheaves/sheaves, sheaves/flabby sheaves, prespectra/Ω-spectra, simplicial topological spaces/(complete) Segal spaces, pre-localised rings/localised rings, functors in categories/strong stacks and, to some extent, functors from a limit sketch to a model category versus the homotopical models for the limit sketch; (2) provides a general construction from the premodels to the models; (3) proposes technics that allow one to assess the nature of the universal properties associated with this construction; (4) shows that the obtained localisation admits a particular presentation, which organises the structural and relational information into bundles of data. This presentation is obtained via a process called an elimination of quotients and its aim is to facilitate the handling of the relational information appearing in the construction of higher dimensional objects such as weak Ï-categories, weak Ï-groupoids and higher moduli stacks
Possible explanations for different surface quality in laser cutting with 1 micron and 10 microns beams
In laserăcuttingăofăthickăsteelăsheets,ăqualityădifferenceăisăobservedăbetweenăcutăsurfacesăobtainedăwith 1 micron and 10 micron laser beams. This paper investigates physical mechanisms for this interesting and important problem of the wavelength dependence. First, striation generation process is described, based on a 3D structure of melt flow on a kerf front, which was revealed for the first time by our recent experimental observations. Two fundamental processes are suggested to explain the difference in the cut surface quality: destabilization of the melt flow in the central part of the kerf front and downward displacement of discrete melt accumulations along the side parts of the front. Then each of the processes is analyzed using a simplified analytical model. The results show that in both processes, different angular dependence of the absorptivity of the laser beam can result in the quality difference. Finally we propose use of radial polarization to improve the quality with the 1 micron wavelength
Physical conditions in the gas phases of the giant HII region LMC-N11 unveiled by Herschel - I. Diffuse [CII] and [OIII] emission in LMC-N11B
(Abridged) The Magellanic Clouds provide a nearby laboratory for metal-poor
dwarf galaxies. The low dust abundance enhances the penetration of UV photons
into the interstellar medium (ISM), resulting in a relatively larger filling
factor of the ionized gas. Furthermore, there is likely a hidden molecular gas
reservoir probed by the [CII]157um line. We present Herschel/PACS maps in
several tracers, [CII], [OI]63um,145um, [NII]122um, [NIII]57um, and [OIII]88um
in the HII region N11B in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Halpha and [OIII]5007A
images were used as complementary data to investigate the effect of dust
extinction. Observations were interpreted with photoionization models to infer
the gas conditions and estimate the ionized gas contribution to the [CII]
emission. Photodissociation regions (PDRs) are probed through polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We first study the distribution and properties of
the ionized gas. We then constrain the origin of [CII]157um by comparing to
tracers of the low-excitation ionized gas and of PDRs. [OIII] is dominated by
extended emission from the high-excitation diffuse ionized gas; it is the
brightest far-infrared line, ~4 times brighter than [CII]. The extent of the
[OIII] emission suggests that the medium is rather fragmented, allowing far-UV
photons to permeate into the ISM to scales of >30pc. Furthermore, by comparing
[CII] with [NII], we find that 95% of [CII] arises in PDRs, except toward the
stellar cluster for which as much as 15% could arise in the ionized gas. We
find a remarkable correlation between [CII]+[OI] and PAH emission, with [CII]
dominating the cooling in diffuse PDRs and [OI] dominating in the densest PDRs.
The combination of [CII] and [OI] provides a proxy for the total gas cooling in
PDRs. Our results suggest that PAH emission describes better the PDR gas
heating as compared to the total infrared emission.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Fixed
inverted line ratio in Sect. 5.
Targeted gene transfer into hepatoma cells with lipopolyamine-condensed DNA particles presenting galactose ligands: a stage toward artificial viruses.
Characterization of an outbreak of equine coronavirus infection in adult horses in Switzerland.
INTRODUCTION
Outbreaks of equine coronavirus (ECoV) infections have been described in different parts of the world including Europe. The aim of this report was to describe clinical signs, diagnostic work-up and outcome of the first documented outbreak of ECoV in Switzerland in order to raise the awareness for the disease and its various clinical presentations. The outbreak occurred on a farm with 26 horses. Of these, seven horses developed clinical disease ranging from mild signs such as fever and anorexia to severe signs of acute colitis. One horse died due to severe endotoxemia and circulatory shock secondary to severe acute necrotizing enteritis and colitis. Out of the 26 horses, five horses tested positive for ECoV, including two ponies without any clinical signs of infection. The low number of positive cases should nevertheless be interpreted with caution as testing was only performed on one occasion, over a month after the onset of clinical signs in the first suspected case. This report highlights the importance of diagnostic testing and early implementation of biosecurity measures on a farm with an ECoV outbreak. It should furthermore raise the awareness for unspecific and mild clinical signs such as fever and anorexia in affected animals that are potentially able to spread the disease
Effective polyethylenimine-mediated gene transfer into human endothelial cells
Background
The major advantage in choosing nonâviral vectors such as cationic polymers for in vitro and in vivo transfection is their higher biosafety than viral ones. Among the cationic polymers, polyethylenimines (PEIs) are promising molecules for gene delivery to a variety of cells. Efficient transfection of primary endothelial cells using PEIs could be regarded as an interesting strategy of treatment in some ischemic cardiovascular diseases.
Methods
Efficacies of a 22âkDa linear PEI (LâPEI) and its glucoseâgrafted derivative (LâPEIâGlc4) were compared for gene transfer into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using the reporter gene luciferase. Cells were incubated for 2, 4 and 24 h with PEI/DNA complexes made in 150 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) or in 5% glucose solution. Luciferase activity was measured 24 h after the onset of transfection. The effects of low (2%) and high (30%) concentrations of serum on transfection efficacy were assessed as well. We then studied the intracellular fate of the PEI/DNA complexes labelled with the DNA intercalator YOYOâ1 using flow cytometry analysis (FACS) and confocal microscopy.
Results
PEI/DNA complexes formed in NaCl led to a higher transfection efficacy than those made in glucose. The optimal formulation, depending on the incubation time and the presence of serum in the medium, was obtained using DNA complexed to LâPEIâGlc4 and incubated for 4 h with the cells. This condition led to 50% fluorescent cells after GFP transfection. A high serum concentration diminished the LâPEI associated toxicity but decreased LâPEIâGlc4 transfection efficiency. FACS analysis using both vectors showed that almost 90% of the cells had internalized the DNA complexes. Confocal microscopic observations showed a fast attachment of the complexes to the cell surface followed by inclusion into vesicles that migrated to the perinuclear region.
Conclusions
In this work, we defined the optimal conditions for gene delivery in HUVEC. These conditions were obtained when using derivatives LâPEI and LâPEIâGlc4 complexed with DNA in 150 mM NaCl and added to cells for 2 and 4 h, respectively. Cellular trafficking of the complexes suggested that cell entry was not a limiting factor for gene delivery using PEI. This study underlined the interest in PEIs as efficient vectors for gene transfer into human endothelial cells
Diet and Anxiety: A Scoping Review.
Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders. There is mounting evidence demonstrating the importance of nutrition in the development and progression of mental disorders such as depression; however, less is known about the role of nutrition in anxiety disorders. This scoping review sought to systematically map the existing literature on anxiety disorders and nutrition in order to identify associations between dietary factors and anxiety symptoms or disorder prevalence as well as identify gaps and opportunities for further research. The review followed established methodological approaches for scoping reviews. Due to the large volume of results, an online program (Abstrackr) with artificial intelligence features was used. Studies reporting an association between a dietary constituent and anxiety symptoms or disorders were counted and presented in figures. A total of 55,914 unique results were identified. After a full-text review, 1541 articles met criteria for inclusion. Analysis revealed an association between less anxiety and more fruits and vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, "healthy" dietary patterns, caloric restriction, breakfast consumption, ketogenic diet, broad-spectrum micronutrient supplementation, zinc, magnesium and selenium, probiotics, and a range of phytochemicals. Analysis revealed an association between higher levels of anxiety and high-fat diet, inadequate tryptophan and dietary protein, high intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, and "unhealthy" dietary patterns. Results are limited by a large percentage of animal and observational studies. Only 10% of intervention studies involved participants with anxiety disorders, limiting the applicability of the findings. High quality intervention studies involving participants with anxiety disorders are warranted
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