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Current cancer treatments are not selective in delivering drugs to cancer cells, affecting healthy tissues and especially rapidly dividing cells. This work describes the development of superparamagnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery through green synthesis, mediated by Musa paradisiaca peel extract as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The nanoparticles' structural, morphological, magnetic and chemical properties were evaluated. The XRDs showed a cubic crystal structure with the space group of Fd3m (No. 227), typical of magnetite. Through SEM and TEM, it was determined that the mean size of the nanoparticles was 11.61 nm. FTIR and EDS confirmed the successful synthesis of Fe3O4 nuclei, covered with polyethylene glycol and loaded with doxorubicin. The magnetic properties of the nanocomposites obtained were measured using VSM, evidencing a superparamagnetic behaviour with a Ms = 72.75 emu/g. Finally, MTT assays on the HeLa tumour line showed a 45.5% decrease in cell viability. The determined properties allow the application of the nanocomposite produced as a potential candidate for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pastures are susceptible to attacks from various species of insects, with Cercopidae being one of the main responsible pests. The species Mahanarva fimbriolata has a wide distribution in the Eastern region of Paraguay, leading to pasture damage. The most promising alternatives to chemical use are bioinsecticides, which could offer effective control while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Beauveria and Metarhizium have been documented as biocontrol fungi for Cercopidae insects. Therefore, identifying and isolating virulent native strains presents potential alternatives for controlling the spittlebug M. fimbriolata. Results: Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, native strains of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana were identified in the collected insects. Phylogenetic trees confirmed that the Beauveria sequence (Beauveria seq) obtained in this study aligned with the ARSEF 842 isolate of B. bassiana. The Metarhizium sequence (Metarhizium seq) was in the same clade as ARSEF 7450 and ARSEF 7487, which belong to the Metarhizium anisopliae. Beauveria bassiana displayed conidiophores that were broad at the basal part, forming synnemata or groups of conidiophores closely packed together, with a typical "zig-zag"-shaped rachis. The conidia were hyaline and smooth, ellipsoidal, and globose. On the other hand, M. anisopliae exhibited simple, straight conidiophores with bottle-shaped phialides. The conidia were elongated, ovoid to cylindrical, arranged in chains, and had an olive green color. Conclusions: This is the first report of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana obtained from nymphs and adults of Mahanarva fimbriolata in Paraguay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2020, leaf blight was observed on Arundo donax L. plants in the municipalities of Ahome and El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. Molecular analysis of seven isolates revealed their identity as Bipolaris yamadae. Morphological characteristics were similar to those previously reported for the species. A pathogenicity test with a representative isolate confirmed this fungus as the causal agent of leaf blight on giant reed. Its virulence was also proved on maize and sorghum under controlled conditions. This is the first report worldwide of B. yamadae causing leaf blight on A. donax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A light scattering instrument has been designed to allow an investigation of the spatial intensity distribution profile, due to the cells within, a liquid solution, in the near forward direction. The cells are illuminated by the light source, a collimated LED, and the light scattered is imaging with a SCMOS camera. By filtering the unscattered light due to the light source from the light scattering due to the cells suspension, in a detection angular range from 0° to ∼8°, and the experimental results of the angular distribution of scattered light is statistically averaged in order to obtain a good fit. The forward scattered light provides the information to count the number of cells per illuminated volume and their mean size, as well as the corresponding size distribution. The theoretical comparisons have been made with the experimental profiles using Mie theory, leading to the experimental scattering data to show a good agreement with theoretical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in peritoneal carcinomatosis treatment causes significant hemodynamic, metabolic, and hematological alterations. Studies on the anesthetic intraoperative management are heterogeneous and scarce. There is a great heterogeneity in the anesthetic management of CRS and HIPEC. The aim of this study is to analyze perioperative hemodynamic goal-directed management and to evaluate the complications arisen until the seventh postoperative day.Methods: Prospective, observational study of all CRS and HIPEC patients from March 2014 to May 2017. Hemodynamic and clinical parameters were registered during surgery and the first 3 postoperative days. We correlated intraoperative data with the postoperative course until the seventh day.Results: A total of 92 patients were included in the study (age 58.5 ± 10.9 years, 47% colorectal carcinoma, and 38% ovarian carcinoma). Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index (PCI) (median and ranges) was 10 [0-39]. Cardiac Index (CI) 3.15 l/min−1/m−2 [1.79-5.60]) and Systolic Volume Variation (SVV) (10% [3%-17%]) remained within the values of normality in all surgery phases. A large difference was observed between the minimum and maximum ranges of fluid therapy administered (median 9.8 ml/kg/h [5.3-24.3]), showing a great interindividual variation in the fluids requirement. A direct relationship was observed between PCI and surgery duration, fluid therapy, and intraoperative transfusion percentage (p < 0.02).Conclusions: There is a great variability in the intraoperative fluid therapy needs of the patients. SVV monitoring makes it possible to adjust the fluid therapy needs in each surgery phase. The use of a hemodynamic goal-directed anesthetic protocol in CRS and HIPEC enables to individually adjust the fluid therapy, avoiding over-hydration and ensuring hemodynamic stability in all surgery phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three Beauveria bassiana and two Metarhizium brunneum strains, two of which GFP-transformed, were evaluated for virulence against fourth-instar nymphs of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci ( B. tabaci nymphs, BTN), with the following results. (1) Immersion of infested melon leaves in suspensions ranging from 10 to 10 conidia ml yielded an LC ranging between 3.4 × 10 and 2.2 × 10 conidia ml. (2) Temporal colonization of the leaf tissues infested with BTN 96 h after inoculation was observed in both sprayed leaves (SL) (ranging between 98.0 and 40.0 %) and leaves of the same plant that were not directly exposed to the fungal treatment [i.e., leaves that were not sprayed (LNS)] (62.0-12.0 %). Total nymphal mortality ranged between 83.9 and 100.0 % and between 66.3 and 87.9 % in SL and LNS, respectively. Interestingly, from 0 to 16 % nymph cadavers from LNS showed fungal outgrowth. (3) The adaxial surfaces of infested melon leaves were brushed with 10 conidia ml suspensions to ascertain the translaminar fate of the fungi in the leaves that resulted in nymphal mortality, which ranged from 53.4 to 96.0 %. As before, mortality with fungal outgrowth was detected only in the B. bassiana treatments as a result of the different leaf colonization patterns of the two fungal species revealed by histological examination. Destruxin A was present in 43.0 % of the melanized nymphs on the leaves treated on their adaxial surfaces with the M. brunneum isolate. The effect of transiently colonized leaves must be considered to estimate the true acute impact of field sprays containing entomopathogenic fungi on B. tabaci and other sucking insect pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquifer recharge area that supplies water to Mexico City is being protected with the implementation of land use restrictions and with the use of payment schemes for maintaining environmental services (PES). In order to assess the effects of PES in the conservation soil area, the chemical and isotopic compositions of water from springs were characterized and the water baseline chemistry was established to provide a useful standard to monitor the water resources and to support the decision-making under current water management policies. A total of 32 water samples taken in four field surveys, during the dry and rainy season, and background chemical data from different information sources, were studied. The water salinity increases from southwest to northeast towards the urbanized area. The chemical composition of water is due to the occurrence of natural chemical interactions between water and rocks in aquifers and to the presence of effluents generated by human activities. In the forest area, water chemistry has not changed significantly over the past three decades and there are no major discernible trends in the compiled water chemistry data, suggesting that PES has contributed in part to maintain the initial condition in the aquifer recharge area. The natural reference levels proposed have allowed the current chemical conditions in the system to be understood and can be implemented to monitor water resources in the area of conservation soil in the Sierra de Las Cruces with an acceptable degree of reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiders exhibit many types of maternal care. The females of the hunting spider, Aysha piassaguera, build a nest for their eggs by folding the leaves of plants located on forest edges. Females stay inside the nest until the spiderlings hatch. In this study, we investigated how use of nests and the presence of maternal care by females affect offspring survival. We assigned the egg sacs found in the field to three treatments: control (nest intact and mother present), motherless (nest intact and mother removed), and opened (nest opened and mother removed). Nests were attacked by both predators and parasitoids. After 1 and 2 weeks, we compared egg survival rates among the three treatments. The proportion of egg sacs attacked differed among the three treatments in the 1 week trial [control (20 %), motherless (70 %), opened (96 %)], but after 2 weeks, survival was higher in the control compared to the other two treatments [control (78 %), motherless (11 %), opened (3.7 %)]. Therefore, mother presence was the main factor responsible for egg protection, while the nest had no effect on survival. This result demonstrates the importance of females for egg protection against natural enemies, which are the main cause of death for this species. While nests did not contribute to protection, they may help maintain the appropriate microenvironment for egg development or may facilitate egg sac defense by females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Autologous tumor cell vaccines rely on the concept of preserving an individual's own tumorigenic makeup, expressing its unique set of tumor-associated antigens as well as antigenic elements from the surrounding stroma. These autologous tumor characteristics are usually presented with an immune adjuvant in the hopes of enhancing an immune response. Methods: The autologous vaccine we used was composed of tumor cells combined with BCG and formalin. Animal safety and toxicity were evaluated using mice tumors for the immunotherapy. A small number of patients with advanced stage breast cancer were recruited for an uncontrolled study, using the vaccine solely or combined with chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Results: The immunotherapy had shown to be safe in mice and humans. Upon a 5-year follow-up, the survival rate was 60 % for the combined treatment. Conclusions: The data suggest that the combined treatment could be a feasible and safe therapeutic strategy. However, further controlled studies should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the nutrient exchange that is promoted by the arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis (AMS) between plants and fungi, AMS triggers mycorrhiza-induced protection against plant pathogens. Although the induction of this protection against diverse plant pathogens has been described for several plant species, it is not clear if its onset differs among genotypes within a species. To address this, we have examined if and how this defense response is triggered by AMS in common bean and tomato. Leaflets from three different genotypes of mycorrhizal common beans and two genotypes of tomato were challenged with the pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, respectively, to determine if disease protection induced by mycorrhiza is genotype-specific. We have found that one tomato and two common bean genotypes display this type of protection, although this was not observed in Az Hig common bean and Micro-Tom tomato. These findings indicate that mycorrhiza-induced disease protection is genotype-specific for the species and genotypes included in this study. Previous work has shown that defense induced by mycorrhiza colonization is effective against foliar pathogens, suggesting the existence of a signal that must move from colonized roots to shoots. We examined the possibility that this defense response can be triggered in scions from non-mycorrhizal plants when they were grafted onto mycorrhizal rootstock. Pathogen infection assays were then performed on leaflets of both scions and rootstock, and infection damage was compared to non-grafted plants. Our results indicate that in genotypes displaying mycorrhiza-induced disease protection, scions originating from non-mycorrhizal plants acquired the ability to decrease disease symptoms when grafted onto mycorrhizal rootstocks, indicating that they are responsive to the putative signal that moves from mycorrhizal roots to the upper part of the plant to trigger disease protection. This grafting experimental system may be useful in elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the systemic signaling of mycorrhiza-induced defense response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a family of models for rapid γ-ray variability in blazars based on a two-component jet. Fast variability occurs when relativistic electron-positron pairs interact with small-scale perturbations in the inner jet. These perturbations are produced by Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. We fit the minute-scale strong variability displayed by the blazar PKS 2155−304 and present synthetic light-curves of the kind that might be observed with forthcoming instruments such as the Cherenkov telescope array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predators directly and indirectly affect the density and the behavior of prey. These effects may potentially cascade down to lower trophic levels. In this study, we tested the effects of predator calls (playbacks of bird vocalizations: Tyto alba, Speotyto cunicularia, and Vanellus chilensis), predator visual stimuli (stuffed birds) and interactions of visual and auditory cues, on the behavior of frugivore phyllostomid bats in the field. In addition, we tested if the effects of predation risk cascade down to other trophic levels by measuring rates of seed dispersal of the tree Muntingia calabura. Using video recording, we found that bats significantly decreased the foraging frequency on trees when a visual cue of T. alba was present. However, no stimuli of potential predatory birds, including vocalization of T. alba, affected bat foraging frequency. There was a change in bat behavior during 7 min, but then their frequency of activity gradually increased. Consequently, the presence of T. alba decreased by up to ten times the rate of seed removal. These results indicate that risk sensitivity of frugivorous phyllostomid bats depends on predator identity and presence. Among the predators used in this study, only T. alba is an effective bat predator in the Neotropics. Sound stimuli of T. alba seem not to be a cue of predation risk, possibly because their vocalizations are used only for intraspecific communication. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating different predator stimuli on the behavior of vertebrates, as well as the effects of these stimuli on trait-mediated trophic cascades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-projector displays are commonly used for a wide range of applications such as virtual reality systems, simulators or data visualization where a high resolution image over a large projection surface is required. Such systems are cheap for the resolutions they can provide, can be configured to project images on almost any kind of screen shapes and are easily scalable, but in order to provide a seamless image with no photometric discontinuities they require a precise geometric and colour correction. In this paper, we propose a series of optimization techniques for large projection displays which make the adjustment procedure simpler and faster. Calibration method uses commercial off-the-shelf equipment such as a webcam and an intermediate performance graphics card. Multiple views are used if one camera image can't cover the entire display with enough resolution. The effect of these optimizations in the calibration of a simulated display formed by 48 projectors are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nectarivorous flower mites (Mesostigmata: Melicharidae) live mostly on hummingbird-pollinated plants in the New World. We observed Proctolaelaps sp. living on Neoregelia johannis (Bromeliaceae) in a coastal rain forest site in south-eastern Brazil. Flower anthesis of this bromeliad lasted a single day. We recorded mites moving into, feeding from, presumably mating and reproducing, and exiting bromeliad flowers within just a single day. We observed three ant species predating flower mites on bromeliads. The main visitor was the bumblebee Bombus morio, which always landed on the inflorescence to access nectar inside the bromeliad flowers. We found Proctolaelaps sp. mites on 47% of 38 bumblebees inspected, with each Bombus hosting 2 mites on average; only adults and mostly female mites (93%) usually found on the bumblebees' gula region of the head. This is the first study to document nectarivorous flower mites living on a melittophilous host plant using bumblebees for phoretic dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss on the modelling of blazar jets as emitters of multiwavelength radiation with the implementation of a lepto-hadronic treatment. Assuming that injection of non-thermal electrons and protons can take place at the base of the jet, the stationary particle distributions can be found using an inhomogeneous one-dimensional transport equation with cooling and convection. The goal of this approach is to replace the widely used one-zone purely leptonic approximation by a more realistic model. We argue that the rapid variability observed in emission from blazars can be obtained as a result of interaction of the jet with obstacles, i.e., molecular clouds and stars. Long term variability is likely related to changes in the injection and physical conditions in the acceleration region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Wnt-Frizzled (Fzd) signaling is critical in the pathophysiology of carcinomas, its role in human breast cancer has been difficult to establish. We show here that the adaptor protein Na+/H+ exchange regulatory factor1 (NHERF1), a protein abundantly expressed in normal mammary epithelium, regulates Wnt signaling, maintaining low levels of β-catenin activation. NHERF1's effects are mediated by direct interactions between one of its PSD-95/drosophila discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domains and the C-terminus of a subset of Fzd receptors. Loss of NHERF1 in breast cancer cell lines enhances canonical Wnt signaling and Wnt-dependent cell proliferation. Furthermore, the mammary glands of NHERF1-knockout mice exhibit increased mammary duct density accompanied by increased proliferation and β-catenin activity. Finally, we demonstrate a negative correlation between NHERF1 expression and nuclear β-catenin in human breast carcinomas. Taken together, these results provide a novel insight into the regulation of Wnt signaling in normal and neoplastic breast tissues, and identify NHERF1 as an important regulator of the pathogenesis of breast tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a catalog of cross-correlated radio, infrared and X-ray sources using a very restrictive selection criteria with an IDL-based code developed by us. The significance of the observed coincidences was evaluated through Monte Carlo simulations of synthetic sources following a well-tested protocol. We found 3320 coincident radio/X-ray sources with a high statistical significance characterized by the sum of error-weighted coordinate differences. For 997 of them, 2MASS counterparts were found. The percentage of chance coincidences is less than 1%. X-ray hardness ratios of well-known populations of objects were used to provide a crude representation of their X-ray spectrum and to make a preliminary diagnosis of the possible nature of unidentified X-ray sources. The results support the fact that the X-ray sky is largely dominated by Active Galactic Nuclei at high galactic latitudes (| b|≥10°). At low galactic latitudes (| b|≤10°) most of unidentified X-ray sources (∼94%) lie at | b|≤2°. This result suggests that most of the unidentified sources found toward the Milky Way plane are galactic objects. Well-known and unidentified sources were classified in different tables with their corresponding radio/infrared and X-ray properties. These tables are intended as a useful tool for researchers interested in particular identifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Speckle Interferometry is a non invasive full-field coherent optical technique used in mechanical vibration measurement. In this research, it is used for tuning resonant frequencies of vibrating plates in order to investigate the dynamical behavior of perforated plates. The plate was excited to resonant vibration by a sinusoidal acoustic source. Fringe pattern produced during the time-average recording of the vibrating plate, for several resonant frequencies were registered. Results of plates fixed at one edge having internal holes and attached masses are presented. Experimental natural frequencies and modal shapes are compared to those obtained by an analytical approximate solution based on the Rayleigh–Ritz method with the use of orthogonal polynomials as coordinate function. A high degree of correlation between computational analysis and experimental results was observed, proving the potentiality of the optical technique as experimental validation of the numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major production limiting diseases in coffee is the orange leaf rust caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix (Berkeley and Broome). Little is known about the inheritance and genetic determinism of partial resistance in coffee ( C. arabica L.) to H. vastatrix. This information would be useful to breed durable resistant cultivars efficiently. In this report, a genetic analysis of partial resistance to leaf rust in Coffea arabica was performed using nine segregating progenies from a cross between the susceptible variety Caturra and the resistant introgressed line DI200. Evolution of partial resistance was evaluated under field conditions by measuring rust incidence (RI) and defoliation (DEF) in two separate regions of productive branches per tree and during four successive years (2003–2006). Genetic components of rust resistance were estimated using the Means and Variance Generation Method, under an additive-dominant model. The most important genetic effect was the additive one, while resistance heritability estimates ranged from 73 to 53% for broad and narrow sense heritabilities, respectively. Genetic estimates for the number of segregating genes showed that at least five independent genes or genetic regions are implicated in the partial resistance to rust. We further analyzed the presence of resistance (RGC) and defense (DGC) gene candidates in the resistant and susceptible parents by using a degenerated-primer PCR approach. A total of 40 different genomic coffee sequences were isolated exhibiting strong similarity to known RGC or DGC homologous. Phylogenetic analysis clustered these sequences into nine families. One family exhibited the TIR protein element, representing the first TIR class proteins identified in coffee. While genetic analysis suggest a predictable success in the processes to improve the selection of resistant lines for future varieties with durable resistance, the molecular characterization of candidate genes represent a primary approach towards the identification of mechanisms involved in partial resistance to coffee leaf rust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to identify polymorphic molecular markers associated with partial resistance to coffee leaf rust, Hemileia vastarix. A segregating F2 population derived from a cross between the susceptible Coffea arabica cv. Caturra and a C. canephora-introgressed Arabica line exhibiting high partial resistance was analyzed. Rust resistance measured as rust incidence (RI) and defoliation (DEF) was evaluated in field conditions in three consecutive years (2003–2005). During the 2003 season, which was characterized by favorable conditions for a rust epidemic, the F2 plants exhibited different levels of resistance ranging from very susceptible (50.1% for DEF and 49.5% for RI) to highly partial resistance (9.1% for DEF and 3.7% for RI). Molecular analysis enabled identification of seven polymorphic markers (5 AFLP and 2 SSR) exhibiting significant association with partial resistance. Coexistence of resistance homozygous alleles (RR) at codominant SSR loci was correlated with high resistance. This study is the first attempt to develop PCR-based sequence specific markers linked to partial rust resistance in coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Be/X-ray binaries are systems formed by a massive Be star and a magnetized neutron star, usually in an eccentric orbit. The Be star has strong equatorial winds occasionally forming a circumstellar disk. When the neutron star intersects the disk the accretion rate dramatically increases and a transient accretion disk can be formed around the compact object. This disk can last longer than a single orbit in the case of major outbursts. If the disk rotates faster than the neutron star, the Cheng-Ruderman mechanism can produce a current of relativistic protons that would impact onto the disk surface, producing gamma-rays from neutral pion decays and initiating electromagnetic cascades inside the disk. In this paper we present calculations of the evolution of the disk parameters during both major and minor X-ray events, and we discuss the generation of gamma-ray emission at different energies within a variety of models that include both screened and unscreened disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present preliminary results of a campaign undertaken with different radio interferometers to observe a sample of the most variable unidentified EGRET sources. We expect to detect which of the possible counterparts of the ?-ray sources (any of the radio emitters in the field) varies in time with similar timescales as the ?-ray variation. If the ?-rays are produced in a jet-like source, as we have modelled theoretically, synchrotron emission is also expected at radio wavelengths. Such radio emission should appear variable in time and correlated with the ?-ray variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subset of the unidentified EGRET ?-ray sources with no active galactic nucleus or other conspicuous counterpart appears to be concentrated at medium latitudes. Their long-term variability and their spatial distribution indicate that they are distinct from the more persistent sources associated with the nearby Gould Belt. They exhibit a large scale height of 1.3 ± 0.6 kpc above the Galactic plane. Potential counterparts for these sources include microquasars accreting from a low-mass star and spewing a continuous jet. Detailed calculations have been performed of the jet inverse Compton emission in the radiation fields from the star, the accretion disc, and a hot corona. Different jet Lorentz factors, powers, and aspect angles have been explored. The up-scattered emission from the corona predominates below 100 MeV whereas the disc and stellar contributions are preponderant at higher energies for moderate (~15°) and small (~1°) aspect angles, respectively. Yet, unlike in the high-mass, brighter versions of these systems, the external Compton emission largely fails to produce the luminosities required for 5 to 10 kpc distant EGRET sources. Synchrotron-self-Compton emission appears as a promising alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immediately, after the July 9, 1997 earthquake (Ms = 6.8) in the state of Sucre, Venezuela, we began measuring radon in water to investigate the possible correlations with the seismic activity and to study the meteorological affects. Sampling periods were for 3–5 days with 4–8 weeks in between each. During the first two sampling periods, the seismic activity was high with several minor events (Mb≥4.0) and anomalous radon concentrations were measured and considered as possible precursors for the events. We have also shown that the radon activity was stable except for daily meteorological effects during periods of low seismic activity. The radon activity during the first year after the major event on July 9, 1997, at the beginning of the rainy season increased from about 50 pCi/l to about 350 pCi/l for all sampling points. Then abruptly dropped to 100 pci/l at the beginning of the next rainy season for points #1 and #2 in the Casanay river and stayed relativelystable during the second year. At the start of the third year, the values began to increase again, similarly to the first year. We concluded that this was caused by the heavy rainfall at the beginning of the rainy season. While at the sampling points at Hotel Cristal, thermal spring pool, it decreased slowly during the second year but increased again at the onset of the third year. Finally, we have concluded as other investigators, that monitoring radon activity alone is insufficient to predict minor earthquakes (Mb≥4.0), but in some cases it can be considered as a precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new version of a method (G-Prop, genetic backpropagation) that attempts to solve the problem of finding appropriate initial weights and learning parameters for a single hidden layer Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) by combining an evolutionary algorithm (EA) and backpropagation (BP). The EA selects the MLP initial weights, the learning rate and changes the number of neurons in the hidden layer through the application of specific genetic operators, one of which is BP training. The EA works on the initial weights and structure of the MLP, which is then trained using QuickProp; thus G-Prop combines the advantages of the global search performed by the EA over the MLP parameter space and the local search of the BP algorithm. The application of the G-Prop algorithm to several real-world and benchmark problems shows that MLPs evolved using G-Prop are smaller and achieve a higher level of generalization than other perceptron training algorithms, such as QuickPropagation or RPROP, and other evolutive algorithms. It also shows some improvement over previous versions of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a deductive theory of space-timewhich is realistic, objective, and relational. It isrealistic because it assumes the existence of physicalthings endowed with concrete properties. It is objective because it can be formulated without anyreference to knowing subjects or sensorial fields.Finally, it is relational because it assumes thatspace-time is not a thing, but a complex of relationsamong things. In this way, the original program ofLeibniz is consummated, in the sense that space isultimately an order of coexistents, and time is an orderof successives. In this context, we show that the metric and topological properties ofMinkowskian space-time are reduced to relationalproperties of concrete things. We also sketch how ourtheory can be extended to encompass a Riemannianspace-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tianeptine, an antidepressant drug enhancing 5-HT uptake, was given to pregnant rats in the last 15 days of gestation and different neurotransmitter receptors as well as 5-HT receptor-linked inositol phosphate formation were measured in the brains of the offspring. Prenatal exposure to tianeptine significantly decreased the density ofH-imipramine binding sites in the cerebral cortex of the pups without affecting Β-adrenoceptors, serotonin 5-HT and 5-HT receptors or inositol phosphate formation after a 5-HT challenge. Striatal dopamine D receptors labelled withH-spiroperidol were not changed but an apparent increase in the affinity of dopamine was noticed in the pups prenatally exposed to the drug. The results show that the neurochemical profile of tianeptine markedly differs from that of most antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme electrophoresis was used to compare the isozyme phenotypes of Oryza sativa, IR31917 (AA genome), and two O. minuta accessions ( Om 101089 and Om101141; BBCC genome) for ten enzyme systems. Between the two species, two systems were monomorphic (isocitrate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase) and eight were polymorphic (shikimate dehydrogenase, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucose isomerase, malate dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, esterase, aminopeptidase, and endopeptidase). Polymorphism between O. minuta accessions was detected for shikimate dehydrogenase and glutamate oxaloacetate. As expected, the quaternary structure of the O. minuta isozymes was comparable to that of O. sativa. Possible allelic relationships with known O. sativa alleles and their genomic designation are discussed. Combined with chromosome data, the interspecific variation was exploited to monitor the relative genetic contribution of the two parents in the IR31917/ Om101141 F hybrids and recurrent (IR31917) backcross progenies. The isozyme content of F hybrid reflected its triploid nature (ABC genome composition), while that of the backcross progenies paralleled the duplication of the A genome and the gradual loss of O. minuta chromosomes during the backcrossing process. Evidence is provided for a degree of homoeology between the A, B, and C genomes, and for introgression from O. minuta into O. sativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VA21B7 (3-[2-(4′-piperonylpiperazinyl) indolyl] carboxaldehyde) was synthesized as a potential 5-HT receptor antagonist. Even though VA21B7 showed a higher affinity towards 5-HT receptors as compared to other receptors studied, it was not a potent 5-HT receptor antagonist either in the periphery or in the brain. In a simple animal model of anxiety such as the two-compartment box in mice, a remarkable anxiolytic-like effect was found at doses of 2-500 µg/kg IP and also at low oral doses, in the microgram range. These drug doses did not produce any significant effect on spontaneous motor activity of mice. The anxiolytic profile of VA21B7 was further explored using other models of anxiety in rats such as the elevated plus-maze and punished-drinking. VA21B7 was compared with standard 5-HT receptor antagonists such as ondansetron, tropisetron and granisetron, with the 5-HT agent buspirone and with diazepam. In the plus-maze, VA21B7 showed an anxiolytic-like profile after doses of 0.25-0.5 mg/kg IP or 2-4 mg/kg PO which did not modify the number of total entries into the open and closed arms of the maze. Diazepam, granisetron and tropisetron were also effective in this test but not ondansetron and buspirone. VA21B7 was also able to release suppressed behaviour in the punished-drinking test. The dose-response curve was bell-shaped with a peak at 2-4 mg/kg. At variance with other studies, 5-HT receptor antagonists also increased the number of shocks taken in this test and the dose-response curve was also bell-shaped. VA21B7 was not anticonvulsant like diazepam, its anxiolytic action in the light/dark test was not flumazenil-sensitive and there was no rebound anxiogenic effect on withdrawal from chronic VA21B7 treatment for 15 consecutive days. Moreover, VA21B7 was not amnesic like the benzodiazepines but low doses of 2-4 mg/kg reduced the memory deficits induced in rats by scopolamine. Much higher doses were necessary to decrease spontaneous motor activity in rats. Since VA21B7 appears to be well tolerated in rodents at high doses, we think that it is of potential interest as an anxiolytic in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective, population-based registry was established in the Comunidad of Madrid, Spain (total population: 4,780,572; under age 15: 1,105,243) to investigate the epidemiology of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Included were all cases diagnosed with diabetes between 1985 and 1988, with age onset less than 15 years, and using insulin at discharge from hospital. Using the capture-recapture method employing hospital records as the primary source and membership files of the Spanish Diabetic Association as the secondary source, the ascertainment was 90%. The overall annual incidence was estimated to be 11.3/100,000 (Poisson 95% confidence interval: 10.3-12.4). There was no temporal increase in incidence, nor was there a significant sex difference in incidence rates, either overall or by year. The seasonal onset pattern showed the highest incidence in winter (December-February) and lowest in summer (June-August) ( r=7.36, p<0.05). The age-adjusted (world standard) incidence of 10.9/100,000 was inconsistent with the hypothesis of a north-south gradient in diabetes risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaching the strong coupling regime of light-matter interaction has led to an impressive development in fundamental quantum physics and applications to quantum information processing. Latests advances in different quantum technologies, like superconducting circuits or semiconductor quantum wells, show that the ultrastrong coupling regime (USC) can also be achieved, where novel physical phenomena and potential computational benefits have been predicted. Nevertheless, the lack of effective decoupling mechanism in this regime has so far hindered control and measurement processes. Here, we propose a method based on parity symmetry conservation that allows for the generation and reconstruction of arbitrary states in the ultrastrong coupling regime of light-matter interactions. Our protocol requires minimal external resources by making use of the coupling between the USC system and an ancillary two-level quantum system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circuit quantum electrodynamics, consisting of superconducting artificial atoms coupled to on-chip resonators, represents a prime candidate to implement the scalable quantum computing architecture because of the presence of good tunability and controllability. Furthermore, recent advances have pushed the technology towards the ultrastrong coupling regime of light-matter interaction, where the qubit-resonator coupling strength reaches a considerable fraction of the resonator frequency. Here, we propose a qubit-resonator system operating in that regime, as a quantum memory device and study the storage and retrieval of quantum information in and from the Z2 parity-protected quantum memory, within experimentally feasible schemes. We are also convinced that our proposal might pave a way to realize a scalable quantum random-access memory due to its fast storage and readout performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Vibration Analysis of Perforated Plates Using Time-Average Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry," which appeared online on February 9, 2010 is presented.