Search

We describe the structure of the quotient G / H of a formal supergroup G by its formal sub-supergroup H . This is a consequence which arises as a continuation of the authors' work (partly with M. Hoshi) on algebraic/analytic supergoups. The results are presented and proved in terms of super-cocommutative Hopf superalgebras. The notion of co-free super-coalgebras plays a role, in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The periodic sinc function interpolation offers a compelling solution to address the issue of noise in the analysis of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data, thereby enhancing the outcomes of differential techniques such as the Friedman isoconversional method. In this study, we introduce a novel approach that leverages the periodic sinc function interpolation to directly obtain smooth reaction rates from TGA data, eliminating the reliance on numerical differentiation methods. The efficacy of this method has been confirmed through its application to noisy experimental data derived from the thermal decomposition of various polymers, showcasing its robustness. Readers are provided with the corresponding code for Gnu Octave, serving as a free alternative to MATLAB. Additionally, the activation energies calculated from the experimental data using both the Friedman method and periodic sinc function interpolation closely align with those determined by the integral Vyazovkin method, emphasizing the validity and reliability of this new approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptography and steganography are employed to secure digital data transfers. We introduced an efficient region-based steganography pipeline to enhance security by concealing confidential information within an image. Our approach involves isolating the blue channel from the cover image, partitioning it into blocks, identifying smooth blocks, and embedding the message in the Least Significant Bit (LSB). Smooth blocks were determined using the Pixel Value Differencing (PVD) method, which compares a specific pixel value to the block's average pixel value (M) of the particular block. Concealed areas exhibit greater imperceptibility in smooth regions than in rough ones. We performed experiments on a carefully chosen image set and assessed the performance of the region-based steganography method using widely recognized metrics such as PSNR, MSE, and SSIM. These metrics were applied to a widely recognized benchmark dataset for comparison. Results indicate significantly improved PSNR and SSIM levels for selected images, confirming the suitability of smooth, edge-free regions for concealing hidden messages with greater imperceptibility. We compared our method with recently published steganography methods and observed a significant enhancement in its ability to conceal information effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate calculation of reaction rates from experimental data is crucial for understanding and characterizing chemical processes. However, the presence of noise in experimental data can introduce errors in rate calculations. In this study, we introduced a novel approach that utilizes the Legendre series expansion method to directly derive smooth reaction rates from noisy experimental data, eliminating the need for numerical differentiation methods. This approach proves to be highly effective in handling noisy thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data obtained from the thermal decomposition of specific polymers. We demonstrated the robustness and reliability of this method and provided Gnu Octave codes as a free alternative to MATLAB, making the implementation more accessible. Furthermore, the smooth reaction rates obtained were used to evaluate the activation energy using the Friedman isoconversional method. The results showed excellent agreement with those obtained using the Vyazovkin integral method. Additionally, the proposed method can be applied to obtain smooth derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves using noisy TGA data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In genetic mapping studies involving many individuals, genome-wide markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be detected using different methods. However, it comes with some errors. Some SNPs associated with diseases can be in regions encoding long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Therefore, identifying the errors in genotype file and correcting them is crucial for accurate genetic mapping studies. We develop a Python tool called PySmooth, that offers an easy-to-use command line interface for the removal and correction of genotyping errors. PySmooth uses the approach of a previous tool called SMOOTH with some modifications. It inputs a genotype file, detects errors and corrects them. PySmooth provides additional features such as imputing missing data, better user-friendly usage, generates summary and visualization files, has flexible parameters, and handles more genotype codes. Availability and implementation: PySmooth is available at https://github.com/lncRNAAddict/PySmooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of a multibody numerical environment, when aiming at representing the contact interaction between bodies one needs the inclusion of special mathematical formulations. They can be geometrically described as surface‐to‐surface or line‐to‐line contacts, for instance. The last one is usually the natural choice when addressing beam‐to‐beam contact. In the present work, a geometrically nonlinear structural formulation is combined with a beam‐to‐beam C1$$ {C}^1 $$ spline‐based contact formulation with a particular numerical strategy to address challenging contact problems. The numerical strategy consists of introducing criteria to evaluate, characterize and decide about the contact problem solutions. According to these criteria, a contact problem solution may be accepted, rejected, or proceed to a degeneration process (as a simplification of the original tentative for the geometric description). The main advantages of the proposed technique are the lack of special contact formulations for ill‐defined contact problems and the automatic switch between degenerated and nondegenerated scenarios. Therefore, one can naturally handle scenarios of pointwise or conformal contact, even in situations of transition between such categories along the model evolution. The adopted spline‐based formulation includes normal and tangential contact contributions. To test the proposed strategy, several pointwise and conformal contact examples are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For sometime now, there has been a conversation among scholars about male hegemony in African popular music and how some women performers resist the established status quo. In joining the discourse in this article, I focus on the owigiri music of Diepreye Osi, a female bandleader among the Ịjọ of Nigeria's Niger Delta region. With particular attention to the departments in the bands of that premier neo-traditional music in the Ịjọ community, including instrumentation, dancing and singing, I argue that Diepreye contests patriarchy in her musical ensemble. Data for the study was gathered from unstructured interviews of artists and non-artists, and observation of live performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Main Objectives: This research investigates the effect of prepayment contract frames and feedback incentives in mitigating budgetary slack. Background Problems: Clawback is an incentive scheme based on the endowment concept that has recently drawn researchers’ concerns. The literature suggests emphasizing the endowment and loss aversion concepts. This research examines these two concepts with one test model. Novelty: This research presents the preliminary manipulation role of hybrid clawback as one of the prepayment contract frames that are smoother and without penalty provisions. This study also examines the interaction between the concept of endowment and loss aversion in one test model. Research Methods: This research applied a field experiment with a 3 × 2 between-subject design. Finding/Results: This research found that prepayment contract frames require motivation from an adequate formal control system through frequent feedback to mitigate the slack. The findings prove that the capability of prepayment contract frames to minimize slack would be more effective after the frequency of the feedback has been moderated. Conclusion: The hybrid clawback could be a smoother alternative compensation scheme that is just as effective as a simple clawback, but without any penalty provisions. The effectiveness of a low feedback frequency could be increased to equal the efficacy of a high feedback frequency when assisted by prepayment contract frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While arterial tone is generally determined by the phosphorylation of Ser19 in myosin light chain (p-MLC2), Thr18/Ser19 diphosphorylation of MLC2 (pp-MLC2) has been suggested to hinder the relaxation of smooth muscle. In a dual-wire myography of rodent pulmonary artery (PA) and mesenteric artery (MA), we noticed significantly slower relaxation in PA than in MA after 80 mM KCl-induced condition (80K-contraction). Thus, we investigated the MLC2 phosphorylation and the expression levels of its regulatory enzymes; soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), Rho-A dependent kinase (ROCK) and myosin light chain phosphatase target regulatory subunit (MYPT1). Immunoblotting showed higher sGC-a and ROCK2 in PA than MA, while sGC-ß and MYPT1 levels were higher in MA than in PA. Interestingly, the level of pp-MLC2 was higher in PA than in MA without stimulation. In the 80K-contraction state, the levels of p-MLC2 and pp-MLC2 were commonly increased. Treatment with the ROCK inhibitor (Y27632, 10 µM) reversed the higher pp-MLC2 in PA. In the myography study, pharmacological inhibition of sGC (ODQ, 10 µM) slowed relaxation during washout, which was more pronounced in PA than in MA. The simultaneous treatment of Y27632 and ODQ reversed the impaired relaxation in PA and MA. Although treatment of PA with Y27632 alone could increase the rate of relaxation, it was still slower than that of MA without Y27632 treatment. Taken together, we suggest that the higher ROCK and lower MYPT in PA would have induced the higher level of MLC2 phosphorylation, which is responsible for the characteristic slow relaxation in PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the causative agent of seafood-associated gastroenteritis, undergoes wrinkly and smooth colony switching on the plate. The wrinkly spreader grew faster, had stronger motility and biofilm capacity when compared with the smooth one. However, whether the two phenotypes differ in their virulence still needs to be further investigated. In this study, the data showed that the smooth spreader had stronger virulence phenotypes, including the cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, antibacterial activity against E. coli, adhesive capacity toward HeLa cells, and lethality in zebrafish, relative to the wrinkly one. However, the colony morphology variation had no influence on the haemolytic activity. The mRNA levels of major virulence genes including T3SS1, T6SS1, and T6SS2 were significantly enhanced in the smooth colonies relative to those in the wrinkly colonies. Taken together, the presented work highlighted the different virulence profiles of the wrinkly and smooth colony phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to reveal the effects of roughness on the hydrodynamics of the fluid around a grooved cylinder by studying the drag and recirculation length. The main objectives are to reach the maximum reduction of the wind load. This work is carried out to investigate the effect of the number of grooves on the drag reduction of flow around a circular cylinder with triangular grooves. This investigation reports numerically on a laminar steady flow over a cylinder with 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 triangular grooves regularly distributed around the cylinder circumference with wavelength and wave amplitude of 1/10, immersed in two-dimensional unconfined Newtonian fluid over the symmetry regimes. The predicted results showed an excellent agreement with the available data of literature for validation. The obtained results used for our investigations for a Reynolds number up to 40 suggest that the presence of the grooves on the smooth cylinder surface leads to a slight reduction over the drag coefficient and the recirculation length at the same Reynolds number, this trend is more pronounced as the number of grooves increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The l2-norm minimization is a common means for the 3D inversion of gravity data. The unconstrained l2-norm inversion will produce a smooth solution, which contains redundant structures and artifacts. Positivity-constrained l2-norm inversion can eliminate redundant structures and artifacts, resulting in a more reliable solution. However, the positivity constraint restricts the applications of gravity inversion to some extent because the measured gravity data are likely to be caused by both positive and negative sources. To address this issue, we propose a strategy that combines the lp-norm regularization and fine adjustment of the depth weighting function to refine the unconstrained gravity inversion results. Synthetic tests show that the proposed strategy yields an improved smooth solution compared with the unconstrained l2-norm inversion method. The proposed strategy is also applied to the inversion of gravity data collected over a Layikeleke iron–copper skarn deposit, Xinjiang, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast-Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare low-incidence type of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, arising in the capsule around breast implants, and predominantly associated with the use of macro-textured breast implants. The purpose of this study was to use an evidence-based approach to systematically identify clinical studies comparing smooth and textured breast implants in women with regard to the risk of developing BIA-ALCL. Methods: A literature search in PubMed in April 2023 and the article reference list of the French National Agency of Medicine and Health Products decision from 2019 were screened for applicable studies. Only clinical studies where the Jones surface classification could be applied (required information: breast implant manufacturer) for comparison of smooth and textured breast implants were considered. Results: From a total of 224 studies, no articles were included due to the lack of fit to the strict inclusion criteria. Conclusions: Based on the scanned and included literature, implant surface types in relation to the incidence of BIA-ALCL were not evaluated in clinical studies and data from evidence-based clinical sources plays a minor to no role in this context. An international database that combines breast implant-related data from (national, opt-out) medical device registries is, therefore, the best available option to obtain relevant long-term breast implant surveillance data on BIA-ALCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is dedicated to the question of surjectivity of the Cauchy-Riemann operator ∂ ¯ on spaces E V (Ω , E) of C ∞ -smooth vector-valued functions whose growth on strips along the real axis with holes K is induced by a family of continuous weights V . Vector-valued means that these functions have values in a locally convex Hausdorff space E over C . We derive a counterpart of the Grothendieck-Köthe-Silva duality O (C \ K) / O (C) ≅ A (K) with non-empty compact K ⊂ R for weighted holomorphic functions. We use this duality and splitting theory to prove the surjectivity of ∂ ¯ : E V (Ω , E) → E V (Ω , E) for certain E. This solves the smooth (holomorphic, distributional) parameter dependence problem for the Cauchy-Riemann operator on E V (Ω , C) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive sufficient conditions for the surjectivity of the Cauchy–Riemann operator ∂ ¯ between weighted spaces of smooth Fréchet-valued functions. This is done by establishing an analog of Hörmander's theorem on the solvability of the inhomogeneous Cauchy–Riemann equation in a space of smooth C -valued functions whose topology is given by a whole family of weights. Our proof relies on a weakened variant of weak reducibility of the corresponding subspace of holomorphic functions in combination with the Mittag–Leffler procedure. Using tensor products, we deduce the corresponding result on the solvability of the inhomogeneous Cauchy–Riemann equation for Fréchet-valued functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive review of published works dealing with numerical modelling of forced convection heat transfer and hydrodynamics of nanofluids is presented. Due to the extensive literature, the review is limited to straight, smooth, circular tubes, as this is the basic geometry in shell-and-tube exchangers. Works on numerical modelling of forced convection in tubes are presented chronologically in the first part of the article. Particular attention was paid to the method of the solution of governing equations, geometry of the heating section, and boundary conditions assumed. Influence of nanoparticles on heat transfer and flow resistance are discussed. Basic information is summarized in tabular form, separately for single-phase approach and two-phase models. The second part of the article contains the correlation equations proposed in the presented papers for the calculation of the Nusselt (Nu) number or heat transfer coefficient, separately for laminar and turbulent flow. Details of the type of nanofluids, the concentration of nanoparticles, and the Reynolds (Re) number range are also presented. Finally, advantages and disadvantages of individual numerical approaches are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which contributes to the development of occlusive vascular diseases, requires elevated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to meet the increased requirements for energy and anabolic precursors. Therefore, therapeutic strategies based on blockade of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation are considered promising for treatment of occlusive vascular diseases. Here, we investigated whether DN200434, an orally available estrogen receptor-related gamma inverse agonist, inhibits proliferation and migration of VSMCs and neointima formation by suppressing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Methods: VSMCs were isolated from the thoracic aortas of 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Oxidative phosphorylation and the cell cycle were analyzed in fetal bovine serum (FBS)- or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated VSMCs using a Seahorse XF-24 analyzer and flow cytometry, respectively. A model of neointimal hyperplasia was generated by ligating the left common carotid artery in male C57BL/6J mice. Results: DN200434 inhibited mitochondrial respiration and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activity and consequently suppressed FBS- or PDGF-stimulated proliferation and migration of VSMCs and cell cycle progression. Furthermore, DN200434 reduced carotid artery ligation-induced neointima formation in mice. Conclusion: Our data suggest that DN200434 is a therapeutic option to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prominent properties owned by T-spline, such as flexibility, continuity, local refinement, water tightness, make it extensively applied in Computer Aided Design (CAD)- and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)-integrating scenarios. But the local fairness may dissatisfy in damaged areas or even on the entire surface of industry applications. Under these circumstances, local protrusion and sharp features appeared seriously affect the fairness of T-spline surfaces. Derived from the geometric properties of T-spline control points, we propose a smoothing algorithm based on the 1-ring neighborhood space angle to deal with local abruptions of T-spline surfaces.We also demonstrate the availability of the proposed algorithm through several experiments. Results show that this method is suitable for removing sharp features and smoothing unstructured T-spline surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce NC-SARAH for non-convex optimization as a practical modified version of the original SARAH algorithm that was developed for convex optimization. NC-SARAH is the first to achieve two crucial performance properties at the same time—allowing flexible minibatch sizes and large step sizes to achieve fast convergence in practice as verified by experiments. NC-SARAH has a close to optimal asymptotic convergence rate equal to existing prior variants of SARAH called SPIDER and SpiderBoost that either use an order of magnitude smaller step size or a fixed minibatch size. For convex optimization, we propose SARAH++ with sublinear convergence for general convex and linear convergence for strongly convex problems; and we provide a practical version for which numerical experiments on various datasets show an improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that a simple closed curve in C n that is a uniform limit of rectifiable simple closed curves each of which has nontrivial polynomial hull has itself nontrivial polynomial hull. In case the limit curve is rectifiable, the hull of the limit is shown to be the limit of the hulls. It is also shown that every rectifiable simple closed curve in C n , n ≥ 2 , can be approximated in total variation norm by a polynomially convex, rectifiable simple closed curve that coincides with the original curve except on an arbitrarily small segment. As a corollary, it is shown that every rectifiable arc in C n , n ≥ 2 , is contained in a polynomially convex, rectifiable simple closed curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, I summarise the circumstances leading to the collaboration between London and Örebro on the basic research performed to study potential mechanisms underlying the improved patency of saphenous veins harvested by the no-touch technique. Histological studies reveal various forms of vascular damage to saphenous vein grafts harvested in conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) whereas no-touch grafts retain a normal architecture. The perivascular fat that remains intact on no-touch saphenous vein grafts seems to play a particularly important role as the “protector” of all layers of the graft. In addition, the perivascular fat is a source of adipose cell-derived factors that may contribute to the success of the no-touch technique. While a number of trials have compared no-touch with conventional grafts following CABG, these have generally been limited to short follow-up periods, low patient numbers, and inadequate histological data. When handling no-touch saphenous vein at harvesting, there is no direct contact of the vein by surgical instruments, spasm does not occur, and high-pressure intraluminal distension is not required. While damage to both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells are evident at the microscopic and ultrastructural level in conventional saphenous vein grafts, their structure in no-touch grafts is preserved. Also, in no-touch veins, the vasa vasorum remains intact and transmural blood supply is maintained. This microvascular network is disrupted during conventional harvesting, a situation likely to stimulate processes involved in graft occlusion. The use of excess graft material for histology is to be encouraged for the assessment of vascular damage and even surgeon competence. If you don’t look, you don’t find. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various topological properties of the smooth, Lipschitz, convex, quasiconvex, uniform and QED domains in Riemannian n-dimensional manifolds are investigated. It has been established that Riemannian manifolds are weakly flat spaces in the terminology of general metric measure spaces. Moreover, several sufficient conditions on continuous and homeomorphic extensions to the boundary of η -quasisymmetries, weakly H-quasisymmetries and ω -quasimöbius homeomorphisms between domains in Riemannian manifolds are obtained. The relationship between the above mapping classes is provided too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove that every polynomially convex arc is contained in a polynomially convex simple closed curve. We also establish results about polynomial hulls of arcs and curves that are locally rectifiable outside a polynomially convex subset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa) is part of an extremely rare family of mesenchymal tumors. We present a case of Peritoneal Pecomatosis with pulmonary metastases in a 35-year-old woman, with previous multiple myomectomies, uterine artery embolization and severe pos-partum hemorrhage. Given previous medical history, two years after birth a routine transvaginal ultrasound was performed which showed nonspecific, multiple, highly vascularized solid nodules in the uterus, peritoneum and rectus abdominis, confirmed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The nodules were surgically removed and diagnosed as multifocal PEComa with positive expression for estrogen receptors. The disease progressed with pulmonary metastasis and it was decided to start systemic therapy with Tamoxifen (20 mg daily). During the following two-year close surveillance, the patient was clinically and imagiologicaly stable, without disease progression. PEComas are very unusual tumors and the differential diagnosis include fibroids. In estrogen receptor positive tumors, Tamoxifen may be considered as a therapeutic option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines spatiality, exile, and political engagement in the short story "Press Clippings" ("Recortes de prensa") (1980) by Julio Cortázar. Its aim is to contribute to a new understanding of how spatial metaphors operate in Cortázar's oeuvre, a dimension often obscured by a critical focus on temporality. While the question of spatiality in his works has received some scholarly attention, an in-depth analysis of the connections between narrative space, exile, and political critique in this story remains to be undertaken. Drawing on Said's ideas on the spatio-cultural aspects of exile (2000), and Deleuze and Guattari's theories on smooth and striated space (1987), I argue that the spatial metaphors in the narrative, such as the protagonist's "nomadic" movement through Paris, examine political engagement through art from a position in exile and illustrate how an exile's experience of the homeland is predominantly mediated through fragments of cultural texts. The analysis demonstrates how Cortázar uses literary space in the story to critique state terror in Argentina during the "Dirty War". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Capsular contracture is common in breast augmentation and reconstruction surgery. The present systematic review discusses the safety of textured and smooth implants in the submuscular position. Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed and EMBASE from inception until June 2020. The primary outcome was reduction of capsular contracture (Baker grade); others included time of capsular contracture onset, implant position/rupture rate/surface, hematoma/seroma risk, surgeon assessment and patient satisfaction. A total of 7731 patients were included from six publications. Results: The overall risk rate for capsular contracture increased from 7.6 to 25% in 10 years. The capsular contracture rates in textured and smooth implants were 3-14% and 6-20%, respectively, and no significant difference between implants was observed when the implants were placed submuscularly. Submuscular placement and textured implants also reduced the incidence of other complications. Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that appropriate placement reduces capsular contracture rate, irrespective of implant surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the relative roles of α1-adrenoceptors and purinoceptors in contractions to low and high frequency stimulation of the mouse vas deferens, in terms of the time course of responses. In separate experiments, isometric contractile responses were obtained to 10 pulses at 1 Hz and 40 pulses at 10 Hz. Responses to 1 Hz stimulation consisted of a series of discrete peaks. The α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist RS100329 (10-9M-10-7M) significantly reduced the response to the first pulse, the α1D-adrenoceptor antagonist BMY7378 (10-7M-10-6M) significantly reduced the response to the first two pulses, and the non-selective α1- adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (10-8M) reduced the response to the first 4 pulses at 1 Hz. Responses to 10 Hz stimulation consisted of an early peak response and a maintained plateau response. RS100329 significantly reduced the peak response but did not significantly affect the plateau response. Prazosin, significantly reduced both the peak and plateau responses. The α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist RS17053 in high concentrations reduced mainly the plateau response leaving a clear early peak response. The plateau response of contraction was almost abolished by the purinoceptor antagonist suramin. These results suggest that there is a relatively minor early α1D-adrenoceptor and a larger early α1A-adrenoceptor component to stimulationevoked contractions of mouse vas deferens, but the major α1-adrenoceptor component is revealed by prazosin to be α1B-adrenoceptor mediated. α1B-Adrenoceptor activation probably facilitates contractions mediated by other α1-adrenoceptors and by purinoceptors. These results suggest that combined non-selective α1-adrenoceptor blockade, particularly α1B-adrenoceptor blockade, in addition to P2X1-purinoceptor blockade is useful in reducing male fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basalt fiber is more cost-effective than carbon fiber and has superior mechanical and chemical properties than glass fiber. Most existing studies considered the use of micro basalt fibers in concrete matrix to reduce shrinkage and control micro cracks. However, macro fibers are often required to reinforce concrete material when large deformation and macro cracks in structural elements are of concern. Very few studies have been reported for macro Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) fibers to improve mechanical properties of concrete. The geometric characteristics of macro fibers are critical for concrete reinforcement. It is known that macro fibers with smooth surface possess poor bond strength. To enhance the bonding properties between macro BFRP fibers and concrete, in this experimental study, pullout tests on macro BFRP fibers with various geometric forms from different grades of mortar matrix were carried out. Smooth fiber, etched fiber and double-helix fiber were manufactured and evaluated. The effects of embedded length and matrix strength are also investigated through pullout behavior of single BFRP fiber. The variation of etched intervals of etched fibers on bond strength was also taken into account. It was found that the double-helix fiber outperformed other types of fibers in terms of strength utilization ratio and energy absorption capability. An empirical model for interfacial bond-slip relation was proposed based on the test results. Based on results of pullout tests, the outstanding performance of double-helix BFRP fiber was further verified by examining the mechanical properties of normal-strength concrete specimens reinforced with different types of macro BFRP fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play an important role in skeletal muscle development and disease by regulating RNA splicing. In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the RBP MBNL1 (muscleblind-like) is sequestered by toxic CUG repeats, leading to missplicing of MBNL1 targets. Mounting evidence from the literature has implicated other factors in the pathogenesis of DM1. Herein we sought to evaluate the functional role of the splicing factor hnRNP L in normal and DM1 muscle cells.Methods: Co-immunoprecipitation assays using hnRNPL and MBNL1 expression constructs and splicing profiling in normal and DM1 muscle cell lines were performed. Zebrafish morpholinos targeting hnrpl and hnrnpl2 were injected into one-cell zebrafish for developmental and muscle analysis. In human myoblasts downregulation of hnRNP L was achieved with shRNAi. Ascochlorin administration to DM1 myoblasts was performed and expression of the CUG repeats, DM1 splicing biomarkers, and hnRNP L expression levels were evaluated.Results: Using DM1 patient myoblast cell lines we observed the formation of abnormal hnRNP L nuclear foci within and outside the expanded CUG repeats, suggesting a role for this factor in DM1 pathology. We showed that the antiviral and antitumorigenic isoprenoid compound ascochlorin increased MBNL1 and hnRNP L expression levels. Drug treatment of DM1 muscle cells with ascochlorin partially rescued missplicing of established early biomarkers of DM1 and improved the defective myotube formation displayed by DM1 muscle cells.Discussion: Together, these studies revealed that hnRNP L can modulate DM1 pathologies and is a potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on a rich two-year ethnographic study that followed evolutionary biologists in their everyday work, this paper explores the making of scientific knowledge through the spatial conceptual imagery developed by Deleuze and Guattari. In particular, this paper focuses on a field expedition to the South Pacific and investigates how different rhythms, forces and intensities are harmonized and assembled in the production of scientific knowledge. Within this setting, maintaining a balance between striating and smoothing forces is an important yet difficult task. On many occasions, alternative rhythms and 'tropical forces' jeopardized the success of the expedition, despite the scientists' best efforts to formalize the research process and bring the striations of the laboratory into the forest. Paradoxically, these challenges also played a key role in the inquiry as they opened new possibilities and ultimately led to more intense engagements with the tropical forest and its rhythms and spatiality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolotherapy is a proliferation therapy as an alternative medicine. A combination of dextrose solution and lidocaine is usually used in prolotherapy. The concentrations of dextrose and lidocaine used in the clinical field are very high (dextrose 10%-25%, lidocaine 0.075%-1%). Several studies show about 1% dextrose and more than 0.2% lidocaine induced cell death in various cell types. We investigated the effects of low concentrations of dextrose and lidocaine in fibroblasts and suggest the optimal range of concentrations of dextrose and lidocaine in prolotherapy. Methods: Various concentrations of dextrose and lidocaine were treated in NIH-3T3. Viability was examined with trypan blue exclusion assay and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Migration assay was performed for measuring the motile activity. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) activation and protein expression of collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were determined with western blot analysis. Results: The cell viability was decreased in concentrations of more than 5% dextrose and 0.1% lidocaine. However, in the concentrations 1% dextrose (D1) and 0.01% lidocaine (L0.01), fibroblasts proliferated mildly. The ability of migration in fibroblast was increased in the D1, L0.01, and D1 + L0.01 groups sequentially. D1 and L0.01 increased Erk activation and the expression of collagen I and α-SMA and D1 + L0.01 further increased. The inhibition of Erk activation suppressed fibroblast proliferation and the synthesis of collagen I. Conclusions: D1, L0.01, and the combination of D1 and L0.01 induced fibroblast proliferation and increased collagen I synthesis via Erk activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, protein decomposition has become of increasing interest for the use in forensic estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). Especially skeletal muscle tissue has proven to be a prime target tissue, among other reasons, due to its large abundance in the human body. In this regard, it is important to know whether there are any intra- and intermuscular differences in the behavior of protein degradation. Thus, samples from different locations within several skeletal muscles as well as from cardiac and smooth muscle tissue samples were collected from three autopsy cases with varying degree of decomposition. Samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and compared for protein degradation patterns. Intramuscular variations turned out to be minimal and without major influence for the use of the method. Observed intermuscular differences provide possibilities for future improvement of the precision and temporal application range. The results of this study show the strengths and current limitations of protein degradation-based PMI estimation and provide a deeper understanding of intraindividual postmortem protein degradation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2-periodic function, W ∗ ∈ C 2 (R) is constructed in such a way that the sum ∑ k = 1 n (- 1) k + 1 f (k) can be efficiently estimated for any n ∈ N ∪ { ∞ } and for every f ∈ C 4 [ 1 , ∞) having ∫ 1 ∞ | f (4) (x) | d x < ∞ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We simultaneously generalize Silver's perfect set theorem for co-analytic equivalence relations and Harrington-Marker-Shelah's Dilworth-style perfect set theorem for Borel quasi-orders, establish the analogous theorem at the next definable cardinal, and give further generalizations under weaker definability conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of research to provide of the learner by best level of performance skills defensive hand reel through the integration of interoperability exercises with the educational units of an educational curriculum. The study aimed to identify the impact of the educational curriculum for exercises interoperability in the development of some defensive skills reel hand to sample individuals. The study was used in the study of the experimental method of designing the two groups of pre-tribal and post-test to suit the nature of the problem and the objectives of the research. This study was applied to the students of the third stage in the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Maysan for the academic year 2017-2018 of 40 students, Such as the control sample, (19) students such as experimental research sample, two students were dismissed for health reasons. Appropriate method, tools and tests were used, and after the results were obtained from the tests, they were processed statistically by using the statistical bag (SPSS). The study concluded with the most important conclusions: The educational curriculum of the combative exercises has a positive effect on the development of the performance of defense skills (interview, coverage, wall block and handover, receipt) for the students of the research sample. In addition, the educational curriculum for the exercises of compatibility achieved a better effect than the traditional curriculum followed by the teacher on the students of the research sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displays that employ RGBW primaries have demonstrated greater power efficiency than similar displays with only RGB primaries. Unfortunately, RGBW systems with algorithms that use white to augment luminance generally have color layer noise affected the visual effect and need to be solved. Color layer noise visually shows the phenomenon of uneven color transition, showing a banded change. According to the cause of the color layer noise, we propose an algorithm to reduce the brightness difference between adjacent pixels in the location of color layer noise. Firstly, the gradient feature is used to mark the details in RGB space in order to distinguish the color layer from the texture details. Then the color layer is detected in RGBW space and the brightness of the color layer is smoothed to reduce the brightness difference of the adjacent pixels. The experiment on 6.5 inch RGBW TFT‐LCD screen show that the algorithm can effectively remove the color layer, and the details are lossless. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the role of NOTCH signalling in VSMC apoptosis and differentiation in bicuspid aortopathy. Bicuspid aortic valve disease is common and is associated with ascending aortic aneurysms. Vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) apoptosis is characteristic of the ascending aorta of bicuspid patients, and NOTCH1 gene mutations have also been linked to thedisease. NOTCH signalling is a fundamental cell signalling pathway, which dictates cell fate decisions including apoptosis.

We examined vibrotactile stimulation as a form of supplemental limb state feedback to enhance planning and ongoing control of goaldirected movements. Subjects wore a two-dimensional vibrotactile display on their nondominant arm while performing horizontal planar reaching with the dominant arm. The vibrotactile display provided feedback of hand position such that small hand displacements were more easily discriminable using vibrotactile feedback than with intrinsic proprioceptive feedback. When subjects relied solely on proprioception to capture visuospatial targets, performance was degraded by proprioceptive drift and an expansion of task space. By contrast, reach accuracy was enhanced immediately when subjects were provided vibrotactile feedback and further improved over 2 days of training. Improvements reflected resolution of proprioceptive drift, which occurred only when vibrotactile feedback was active, demonstrating that benefits of vibrotactile feedback are due, in part to its integration into the ongoing control of movement. A partial resolution of task space expansion persisted even when vibrotactile feedback was inactive, demonstrating that training with vibrotactile feedback also induced changes in movement planning. However, the benefits of vibrotactile feedback come at a cognitive cost. All subjects adopted a stereotyped strategy wherein they attempted to capture targets by moving first along one axis of the vibrotactile display and then the other. For most subjects, this inefficient approach did not resolve over two bouts of training performed on separate days, suggesting that additional training is needed to integrate vibrotactile feedback into the planning and online control of goal-directed reaching in a way that promotes smooth and efficient movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling of dynamic systems with a variable number of phases is still a challenge, especially for multiple liquid phases. A common approach from literature derives first‐order Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions of the Gibbs free energy minimization and relaxes these if a phase does not exist. It aims at enabling dynamic simulation in all phase regimes of systems in vapor–liquid equilibrium by following a nonphysical continuous solution. In this work, we demonstrate that this continuous solution is not always possible in liquid–liquid equilibrium problems. The demonstration is done both theoretically and for illustrative examples. To overcome the demonstrated issues, we review the use of negative flash approach that allows negative molar amounts of nonexisting phases and propose a hybrid continuous formulation that explicitly assigns phase variables in the single‐phase regime and solves flash equations otherwise. Various dynamic case studies demonstrate the applicability and limitations of all three approaches. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 571–581, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many stitching studies employ improved scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) or speeded up robust features (SURFs) stitching algorithms, owing to their excellent robustness against variations in scale and rotations of input images. Traditional SIFT-based stitching algorithms suffer from the limitation of having insufficient feature points that can be extracted and matched from untextured and smooth objects, resulting in stitching failure. To overcome this issue, we propose a system that uses a proposed laser pattern projection (LASPP)-pasted texture technique before feature point extraction and description. The proposed system can extract and describe feature points based on SIFT feature extraction techniques. The progressive sample consistency (PROSAC) algorithm was used to remove false matching points and enhance the accuracy in matching feature points. The experimental results clearly revealed the effect of the pattern projected using LASPP on the stitching results. Furthermore, the efficiency of the proposed system, which employed the PROSAC algorithm, in matching feature points, was compared with that of the traditional system, which used the random sample consensus algorithm. Additionally, the stitching quality of the proposed system was compared with that of other SIFT- and SURF-based stitching systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hammerhead sharks are among the most intriguing yet imperiled groups of large sharks globally. Until recently, our understanding of their biology, movements, diet, and life histories was challenged by a lack of studies. In recent years there has been a surge of published studies on this group of sharks, incorporating new information on age and growth, behavior, and the threats they face. Here we summarize and compare what is known on the biology and conservation of the three largest species of hammerhead sharks: the great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), and the smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena). We chose these species since they are the most well-studied of the hammerheads, and also because they are commonly captured in target and non-target fisheries worldwide. Thus, we also discuss population trends and the vulnerabilities of each species, and make recommendations for future studies on these fascinating and complex elasmobranch fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the split feasibility problem in Banach spaces. By converting it to an equivalent null-point problem, we propose two iterative algorithms, which are new even in Hilbert spaces. The parameter in one algorithm is chosen in such a way that no priori knowledge of the operator norms is required. It is shown that these two algorithms are strongly convergent provided that the involved Banach spaces are smooth and uniformly convex. Finally, we conduct numerical experiments to support the validity of the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology for optimizing pre-calculated collision-free paths of differential-drive wheeled robots. The main advantage of this methodology is that optimization is done by considering the kinematics and mechanical constraints of the mobile robot. In accordance to this proposal, the optimized path is achieved by applying recursively a local smoothing on an initial path which is originally modeled as a one-dimensional piecewise linear function. By this recursive smoothing, it can be ensured that the original piecewise linear function can be transformed into a smooth one that fulfill the constraints established by the kinematic equations of the wheeled mobile in terms of a minimum radius of curvature. As a result of this, a trajectory which guarantees lower power consumption and lower mechanical wear, is obtained. To show the better performance of the proposed approach, numerical simulation results are contrasted to those obtained from other reported methods with regards to path length, minimum radius of curvature, cross track error, continuity and resulting acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is a common condition and there remains a subset of patients who are poorly controlled on maximal therapy. Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic therapy using radiofrequency energy to reduce airway smooth muscle, which has been shown to improve asthma control although further evidence regarding long-term efficacy and safety is required. Aim: We aimed to demonstrate safety and efficacy of BT on extended follow-up. Our initial experience with this group was previously reported in 2016, where patients were shown to have a significant improvement in asthma control test (ACT) scores 1-year post-treatment. Design: We carried out a retrospective observational study of seven patients who underwent BT between 2012 and 2013 in an Irish severe asthma centre. The primary endpoint was change in ACT scores from baseline to present. Methods: Seven patients underwent BT at a tertiary referral centre in Ireland. ACT scores and data on hospital admissions, exacerbations, maintenance corticosteroid requirements, rescue bronchodilator use and forced expiratory volume for 1 s (FEV1) prior to the procedure and on extended follow-up were collected. Mean follow-up was 49.42 months. Results: A trend towards improvement was seen in median hospitalisations (respective values for median over 12 months 3, 1 P=0.059) and ACT scores, from 9 to 13 (P=0.249). Mean FEV1 was 1.681 prior to treatment and 1.461 4 years post-treatment (P=0.237). There was no mortality among the group. Conclusions: These data support the safety of BT and suggest extended efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how two men with autism spectrum (AS) experience educational spaces having attended public school in Nova Scotia, Canada. Smooth and striated space is mobilised as the main conceptual framework to account for the men's affectivities when experiencing the educational terrain. The central aim when applying smooth and striated space is thinking through variation with attentiveness to the men's situated movements. A discourse focusing on the men's affective relations to school spaces counters over-coded special education frameworks that have largely centred on students with AS functionality in remedial educational settings. The concern when only knowing students with AS through normative functionality discourses is that it produces a homogenous line of thinking with limited attendance to their everyday situated worlds. Here, by attuning to the men's spatial experiences we can begin to think in more open ways rather than AS subjects preconfigured to given positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause persistent pathological alteration of neurons. This may lead to cognitive dysfunction, depression and increased susceptibility to life threatening diseases, such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. To investigate the underlying genetic and molecular basis of TBI, we subjected w1118 Drosophila melanogaster to mild closed head trauma and found that mitochondrial activity is reduced in the brains of these flies 24 h after inflicting trauma. To determine the transcriptomic changes after mild TBI, we collected fly heads 24 h after inflicting trauma, and performed RNA-seq analyses. Classification of alternative splicing changes showed selective retention (RI) of long introns (>81 bps), with a mean size of ~3,000 nucleotides. Some of the genes containing RI showed a significant reduction in transcript abundance and are involved in mitochondrial metabolism such as Isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh), whichmakes α-KG, a co-factor needed for both DNA and histone demethylase enzymes. The long introns are enriched in CA-rich motifs known to bind to Smooth (Sm), a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNP-L) class of splicing factor, which has been shown to interact with the H3K36 histone methyltransferase, SET2, and to be involved in intron retention in human cells. H3K36me3 is a histone mark that demarcates exons in genes by interacting with the mRNA splicing machinery. Mutating sm (sm4/Df) resulted in loss of both basal and induced levels of RI in many of the same long-intron containing genes. Reducing the levels of Kdm4A, the H3K36me3 histone demethylase, also resulted in loss of basal levels of RI in many of the same long-intron containing genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) for H3K36me3 revealed increased levels of this histone modification in retained introns post-trauma at CA-rich motifs. Based on these results, we propose a model in which TBI temporarily decreasesmitochondrial activity in the brain 24 h after inflicting trauma, which decreases α-KG levels, and increases H3K36me3 levels and intron retention of long introns by decreasing Kdm4A activity. The consequent reduction in mature mRNA levels in metabolism genes, such as Idh, further reduces α-KG levels in a negative feedback loop. We further propose that decreasing metabolism after TBI in such a manner is a protective mechanism that gives the brain time to repair cellular damage induced by TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple thermal treatment with the antimony source for the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition of thin GaSb films on GaAs (111) substrates for the first time. The properties of the as-grown GaSb films are systematically analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction, photo-luminescence (PL) and Hall measurement. It is found that the as-grown GaSb films by the proposed method can be as thin as 35 nm and have a very smooth surface with the root mean square roughness as small as 0.777 nm. Meanwhile, the grown GaSb films also have high crystalline quality, of which the full width at half maximum of the rocking-curve is as small as 218 arcsec. Moreover, the good optical quality of the GaSb films has been demonstrated by the low-temperature PL. This work provides a simple and feasible buffer-free strategy for the growth of high-quality GaSb films directly on GaAs substrates and the strategy may also be applicable to the growth on other substrates and the hetero-growth of other materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, in-situ end-point detection (EPD) is an important issue in the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process. In the paper, we chose the motor power signal of the polishing platen as the monitoring object. We then used the moving average method, which was appropriate for in-situ calculation process and made it easy to code for software development, to smooth the signal curve, and then studied the signal variation during the actual CMP process. The results demonstrated that the motor power signal contained the end-point feature of the metal layer removal, and the processed signal curve facilitated the feature extraction and it was relatively steady before and after the layer transition stage. In addition, the motor power signal variation of the polishing head was explored and further analysis of time delay was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]