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Ointment pseudo‐cheilitis is a recently recognized distinctive type of self‐induced cheilitis. Lesions consist of a variable amount of crusts adhered to the vermilion. These crusts consist of dried saliva and dead cells mixed with applied medications attached to the lip surface. Patients are typically severely anxious or depressed; the condition impacts quality of life. Ointment pseudo‐cheilitis is frequently misdiagnosed as exfoliative cheilitis or cheilitis glandularis. Biopsy reports are often non‐revealing because there are no established histopathological criteria for this disease, and clinicians usually do not formulate the correct diagnostic hypothesis. Here, we present the histopathological findings of four cases of ointment pseudo‐cheilitis. The most consistent finding was the presence of laminated parakeratotic material detached from the epithelium in biopsies that are devoid of other significant diagnostic changes. This material at the lip surface possibly represents physiologic labial desquamation mixed with dried saliva and applied medication. With this report, we intend to alert dermatopathologists to the diagnosis of ointment pseudo‐cheilitis if they receive biopsies from patients who present clinically exuberant labial lesions that show only minimal histopathological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper describes the evolution of the design of a mechanical distractor fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) technology for use in surgical procedures, such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). The functionality of the final device was analysed and the suitability of different materials was determined. Design/methodology/approach: Solid modelling and finite element modelling software were used in the design and validation process to allow the fabrication of the device by AM. Several prototypes were manufactured and tested in this study. Findings: A new design was developed to greatly simplify the existing devices used in TEM surgery. The new design is easy to use, more economical and does not require pneumorectum. Different AM materials were investigated with regard to their mechanical properties, orientation of parts in the three-dimensional (3D) printer and cytotoxicity to select the optimal material for the design. Social implications: The device designed by AM can be printed anywhere in the world, provided that a 3D printer is available; the 3D printer does not have to be a high-performance printer. This makes surgery more accessible, particularly in low-income regions. Moreover, patient recovery is improved and pneumorectum is not required. Originality/value: A suitable mechanical distractor was designed for TEM, and different materials were validated for fabrication by AM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study applies a mathematical optimization method to solve the portfolio selection problem. This is formulated as a semi-infinite programming (SIP) problem and is solved by using a version of the stochastic outer approximation method in MATLAB. This method replaces the original problem with a sequence of optimization finite problems. The results are compared with other portfolio selection strategies such as Markowitz. Numerical experiments are performed using five years of data from eight Colombian companies that trade in the stock market. The results show that the SIP portfolio is similar to the minimum variance portfolio and that both are diversified portfolios. The maximum return portfolio is not diversified and should be discarded. Even though the naive portfolio is diversified, its performance and returns are lower than expected, but its risks are less than that of minimum variance and SIP. It is concluded that the proposed method provides satisfactory solutions when compared to the Markowitz method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to describe the development of an internal waste-collection device for patients who have undergone a colostomy or ileostomy. Its design is based on devices that have been produced by 3D printing with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The aim is to find an alternative to the external bags that these patients currently use and to evaluate the properties of the device produced by additive manufacturing. Design/methodology/approach: Software for solid modelling has been used, and virtual models allow its visualization and animation, for evaluation, in a simple and fast way. Subsequently, functional prototypes have been developed by a multidisciplinary team, which includes surgeons and engineers, and have been tested to verify their mechanical properties and suitability for function. Findings: The project has developed a functional design that has been patented and is in the clinical trials phase. This study demonstrates how 3D printing technologies are the perfect complement to accelerate the design process and build functional prototypes at low costs. The experimental tests regarding cytotoxicity, printing orientation, dynamic and static loads and temperature resistance have demonstrated the validity of the proposed device. Originality/value: A device for internal pouch in colostomized patients has been designed, manufactured by fused deposition modelling and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA methylation (DNAm) is shaped by genetic and environmental factors and modulated by aging. Here, we examine interrelations between epigenetic aging, body weight (BW), and life span in 12 isogenic strains from the BXD family of mice that exhibit over twofold variation in longevity. Genome‐wide DNAm was assayed in 70 liver specimens from predominantly female cases, 6–25 months old, that were maintained on normal chow or high‐fat diet (HFD). We defined subsets of CpG regions associated with age, BW at young adulthood, and strain‐by‐diet‐dependent life span. These age‐associated differentially methylated CpG regions (age‐DMRs) featured distinct genomic characteristics, with DNAm gains over time occurring in sites such as promoters and exons that have high CpG density and low average methylation. CpG regions associated with BW were enriched in introns, tended to have lower methylation in mice with higher BW, and were inversely correlated with gene expression (i.e., higher mRNA levels in mice with higher BW). CpG regions associated with life span were linked to genes involved in life span modulation, including the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene, Tert, which had both lower methylation and higher expression in long‐lived strains. An epigenetic clock defined from age‐DMRs revealed accelerated aging in mice belonging to strains with shorter life spans. Both higher BW and the HFD were associated with accelerated epigenetic aging. Our results highlight the age‐accelerating effect of heavier BW. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the measure of epigenetic aging derived from age‐DMRs can predict genotype and diet‐induced differences in life span among female BXD members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A long-term opioid use has been associated with hypermethylation of the opioid receptor mu 1 (OPRM1) promoter. Very little is currently known about the early epigenetic response to therapeutic opioids. Here, we examine whether we can detect DNA methylation changes associated with a few days' use of prescribed opioids. Genome-wide DNA methylation was assayed in a cohort of 33 opioid-naïve participants who underwent standard dental surgery followed by opioid self-administration. Saliva samples were collected before surgery (visit 1), and at two postsurgery visits at 2.7 ± 1.5 days (visit 2), and 39 ± 10 days (visit 3) after the discontinuation of opioid analgesics. Results: The perioperative methylome underwent significant changes over the three visits that were primarily due to postoperative inflammatory response and cell heterogeneity. To specifically examine the effect of opioids, we started with a candidate gene approach and evaluated 10 CpGs located in the OPRM1 promoter. There was a significant cross-sectional variability in opioid use, and for participants who self-administered the prescribed drugs, the total dosage ranged from 5–210 morphine milligram equivalent (MME). Participants were categorized by cumulative dosage into three groups: < 25 MME, 25–90 MME, and ≥ 90 MME. Using mixed-effects modeling, 4 CpGs had significant positive associations with opioid dose at two-tailed p value < 0.05, and overall, 9 of the 10 OPRM1 promoter CpGs showed the predicted higher methylation in the higher dose groups relative to the lowest dose group. After adjustment for age, cellular heterogeneity, and past tobacco use, the promoter mean methylation also had positive associations with cumulative MME (regression coefficient = 0.0002, one-tailed p value = 0.02) and duration of opioid use (regression coefficient = 0.003, one-tailed p value = 0.001), but this effect was significant only for visit 3. A preliminary epigenome-wide association study identified a significant CpG in the promoter of the RAS-related signaling gene, RASL10A, that may be predictive of opioid dosage. Conclusion: The present study provides evidence that the hypermethylation of the OPRM1 promoter is in response to opioid use and that epigenetic differences in OPRM1 and other sites are associated with a short-term use of therapeutic opioids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secondary cysts of the fish pathogen oomycete Saprolegnia parasitica possess bundles of long hooked hairs that are characteristic to this economically important pathogenic species. Few studies have been carried out on elucidating their specific role in the S. parasitica life cycle and the role they may have in the infection process. We show here their function by employing several strategies that focus on descriptive, developmental and predictive approaches. The strength of attachment of the secondary cysts of this pathogen was compared to other closely related species where bundles of long hooked hairs are absent. We found that the attachment of the S. parasitica cysts was around three times stronger than that of other species. The time sequence and influence of selected factors on morphology and the number of the bundles of long hooked hairs conducted by scanning electron microscopy study revealed that these are dynamic structures. They are deployed early after encystment, i.e., within 30 sec of zoospore encystment, and the length, but not the number, of the bundles steadily increased over the encystment period. We also observed that the number and length of the bundles was influenced by the type of substrate and encystment treatment applied, suggesting that these structures can adapt to different substrates (glass or fish scales) and can be modulated by different signals (i.e., protein media, 50 mM CaCl2 concentrations, carbon particles). Immunolocalization studies evidenced the presence of an adhesive extracellular matrix. The bioinformatic analyses of the S. parasitica secreted proteins showed that there is a high expression of genes encoding domains of putative proteins related to the attachment process and cell adhesion (fibronectin and thrombospondin) coinciding with the deployment stage of the bundles of long hooked hairs formation. This suggests that the bundles are structures that might contribute to the adhesion of the cysts to the host because they are composed of these adhesive proteins and/or by increasing the surface of attachment of this extracellular matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibian populations are declining due to a myriad of abiotic and biotic factors, including invasive species and pathogens. In temperate freshwater ecosystems, for example, amphibian populations are threatened by the predation of introduced salmonids. Salmonids not only directly predate upon amphibian eggs and larvae but may also transport deadly pathogens into freshwater systems. Though most research has focused on temperate systems, much less is known about the effects of introduced species in Neotropical streams. We conducted two experiments to investigate the impacts of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in two Neotropical anurans.First, we assessed the effect of the rainbow trout on tadpole survivorship and morphology inNymphargus grandisonae, a glassfrog species endemic of the Andes. Tadpoles ofN. grandisonaewere subjected to three treatments involving the absence of rainbow trout (control) and its presence with different types of chemical cues – kairomones (from rainbow trout) and cue alarms (from tadpole prey); the results show that the presence of rainbow trout affects the larval morphology of this glassfrog. In the second experiment, to test whether rainbow trout is a vector of the pathogenic freshwater moldSaprolegnia diclina(Oomycetes), eggs ofEngystomops petersiwere placed with infected and uninfected rainbow trout. There was a high mortality rate in the embryos ofE. petersiexposed to trout infected withS. diclina. This represents the first evidence that rainbow trout may have a direct negative effect on Neotropical amphibian populations, and thus should be considered a threat. Management programs should be implemented to eradicate trout from Andean rivers, especially in areas with high number of endangered amphibians. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Most satellites use an on-board attitude estimation system, based on available sensors. In the case of low-cost satellites, which are of increasing interest, it is usual to use magnetometers and Sun sensors. A Kalman filter is commonly recommended for the estimation, to simultaneously exploit the information from sensors and from a mathematical model of the satellite motion. It would be also convenient to adhere to a quaternion representation. This article focuses on some problems linked to this context. The state of the system should be represented in observable form. Singularities due to alignment of measured vectors cause estimation problems. Accommodation of the Kalman filter originates convergence difficulties. The article includes a new proposal that solves these problems, not needing changes in the Kalman filter algorithm. In addition, the article includes assessment of different errors, initialization values for the Kalman filter; and considers the influence of the magnetic dipole moment perturbation, showing how to handle it as part of the Kalman filter framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The description, identification and classification of organisms are the pillar in biodiversity and evolutionary studies. The fungal-like organism Saprolegnia contains important animal pathogens. However, its taxonomy is weak, making it difficult to perform further studies. This problem mainly arises from the unavailability of suitable holotypes. We propose a standardized protocol for describing Saprolegnia spp. that includes good cultural practices and proper holotype preservation. In order to illustrate this new proposal, we describe two species, Saprolegnia aenigmatica sp. nov. and Saprolegnia racemosa sp. nov., based on the recently described molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), phylogenetic relationships, and the analyses of morphological features. We show that they belong to two different MOTUs that are grouped into two sister clades. Morphologically, we find that S. racemosa exhibits a species-specific character, i.e., aggrupation of oogonia in racemes, while S. aenigmatica does not have any specific characters. Analyses of a combined set of characters, i.e., length and breadth of sporangia, length/breadth ratio (l/b) of oogonia, cyst and oospore diameter, and the number of oospores per oogomium, allow distinguishing these two species. To improve Saprolegnia taxonomy, we propose to incorporate into the protologue: (i) several isolates of the new species; (ii) the rDNA sequences to compare them to data-bases of Saprolegnia sequences of reference; (iii) a phylogenetic analysis to check relationships with other species; (iv) to preserve holotypes in absolute ethanol and to include lyophilized material from holotype; and (v) the ex-type as a pure culture from single-spore isolates stored in at least two different collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an approach to manage the collective movement of robot groups, based on virtual fields, situation awareness and basic behaviour blending. Being of reactive nature, the method is intended for local navigation. The robots are anonymous, the navigation system is fully decentralized and there in not need of leader or specific coordination protocol. Robots can simply navigate holding the cohesion of the group or they can also navigate building up some kind of formation. The method can be implemented providing a set of simple suitable rules to the robots. It has been consistently tested both in simulations and experiments carried out on robot formations, proving to be reliable. The main results achieved are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The menace of floating spills is frequently solved using a team of ships towing a boom. This operation involves specific control and coordination aspects. Some automatic advice, on board the ships, could be helpful for the pilots. Moreover, it could be convenient to have the alternative of using unmanned boats, especially if the spill represents a danger for humans. This paper studies the control and coordination needs for automatically towing a boom, and proposes the use of unmanned boats with autonomous control. The research is supported by simulations and experiments with scaled boats towing a boom. Promising results have been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special birational transformations Φ:Pr⇢Z defined by quadric hypersurfaces are studied by means of the variety of lines Lz ⊂ Pr-1 passing through a general point z ∈ Z. Classification results are obtained when Z is either a Grassmannian of lines, or the 10-dimensional spinor variety, or the E6-variety. In the particular case of quadroquadric transformations, we extend the well-known classification of Ein and Shepherd-Barron coming from Zak's classification of Severi varieties to a wider class of prime Fano manifolds Z. Combining both results, we get a classification of special birational transformations Φ:Pr⇢Z defined by quadric hypersurfaces onto (a linear section of) a rational homogeneous variety different from a projective space and a quadric hypersurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase in the aquaculture production of salmonids has been followed by a rise in several diseases. In particular, saprolegniosis can account for at least 10% of the annual economic loss in salmonids. In this study, we investigated the main Saprolegnia species involved in saprolegniosis of salmonids in Chile, and their association with specific developmental stages of the host fish. For this purpose, we studied 244 isolates of Saprolegnia -affected Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ), rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), and king salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) from the salmon farming regions, using a recently developed identification strategy based on molecular taxonomical operational units. We found that the Saprolegnia species associated with diseased salmon were Saprolegnia australis , Saprolegnia delica , Saprolegnia diclina , Saprolegnia ferax , Saprolegnia parasitica and two new Saprolegnia species observed during this study. In order to determine whether there were any specific species associations with different stages in the fish life cycle, we applied mosaic plots and correspondence analyses for categorical data. These analyses showed a strong association of S. parasitica with samples from the adult stage of the fish ( χ 2 = 196.29, p < 0.0001), while the species S. australis , S. diclina and Saprolegnia sp. 2 were strongly associated with embryonic stages (eggs or alevins) ( χ 2 = 196.29, p < 0.0001). This work represents the first detailed molecular characterization of Saprolegnia species involved in saprolegniosis in Chile, and the first study showing specific association of different Saprolegnia species with different stages in the salmonid life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of a robust taxonomy in the genus Saprolegnia is leading to the presence of incorrectly named isolates in culture collections and of an increasing number of misassigned sequences in DNA databases. Accurate species delimitation is critical for most biological disciplines. A recently proposed approach to solve species delimitation (taxonomic diagnosis system) of difficult organisms is the definition of molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). We have used 961 sequences of nrDNA ITS from culture collections (461 sequences) and GenBank (500 sequences), to perform phylogenetic and clustering optimization analyses. As result, we have identified 29 DNA-based MOTUs in agreement with phylogenetic studies. The resulting molecular clusters support the validity of 18 species of Saprolegnia and identify 11 potential new ones. We have also listed a number of incorrectly named isolates in culture collections, misassigned species names to GenBank sequences, and reference sequences for the species. We conclude that GenBank represents the main source of errors for identifying Saprolegnia species since it possesses sequences with misassigned names and also sequencing errors. The presented taxonomic diagnosis system might help setting the basis for a suitable identification of species in this economically important genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some species of the genus Saprolegnia , such as Saprolegnia diclina and Saprolegnia ferax are responsible for devastating infections on salmonid eggs. Members of this group cause saprolegniasis, a disease resulting in considerable economic losses in aquaculture. Although both S. diclina and S. ferax have received much attention, the role of other Saprolegnia species in infecting fish eggs is less known. For this purpose, we have investigated the aetiology of chronic egg mortality events occurring in farmed brown trout, Salmo trutta . A total of 48 isolates were obtained from eggs with signs of infection as well as from water samples. A molecular analysis based on nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) operational taxonomic units indicated that the majority of the isolates correspond to Saprolegnia australis . All isolates of S. australis exhibited the same random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) band patterns suggesting that a single strain is implicated in egg infections. The isolates followed Koch postulates using trout eggs and fry. Under standard concentrations of bronopol commonly used in farms, these isolates could grow, but not sporulate. However, both growth and sporulation were recovered when treatment was removed. This study shows that S. australis can infect and kill salmon eggs, and helps in defining oomycetes core pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the preceding paper, a method for mobile robot navigation control based on discrimination of multiple artificial fields was introduced. In this second paper, the method is extended to robot formations. Experimental demonstrations are presented taking examples of four types of formations. The experiments cover formation initialization, maneuvering, obstacle avoidance and formation switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces a method for local navigation of mobile robots based on the discrimination of multiple artificial fields, which correspond to targets, obstacles, robots and, if this is the case, robot collectives. Instead of just adding up all potentials, the robot discerns the pertinent potentials at its location and applies a set of motion decisions at each moment. Satisfactory results are obtained. This is the first paper of a more extensive work dealing with individual robots, unorganized groups of robot and robot formations. Here, the method is introduced, with examples for a single robot and for several independent robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the last years the amount of information being transmitted through communication networks has increased, and this has lead to an increased use of security protocols. The implementations of security protocols do not accurately follow the standards and this causes many malfunctions and security flaws. In this paper we will analyze the different approaches followed by the scientific community to evaluate security protocols'' implementations, and will also analyze the special characteristics of security protocols, in order to deduce which are the key points for such an evaluation, how they can be evaluated and also if existing evaluation techniques can be used. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new distributed control system for fuel management and other avionics applications is introduced. The system consists of a network of smart components such as sensors, valves, and pumps which are connected via a controlled area network bus (CANbus). Thus, no central fuel management computer is required, wiring is simplified, and the weight decreases. The heart of each smart component is a CAN-enabled microcontroller. All smart components share a copy of the same code inside its microcontroller, for easier certification. A distribution methodology has been developed based on a set of automata and on the employment of CANbus (as the communication protocol) for global state broadcasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aircrafts usually have several fuel tanks, and there are fuel transfers among these tanks along a flight. These transfers are controlled with valves, and may follow several alternative paths, since structural fuel system redundancies are provided for evident reasons. An on board program for the management and reconfiguration of the fuel system must be developed and tested. The article introduces an aircraft fuel management system simulation, which provides a platform for the study of the fuel system logic and sequencing that the on board program must implement for normal flights and for malfunction cases. The simulation environment can be easily modified and extended, for instance to consider the use of new components. A specific example is considered: an aircraft with six tanks in the wings and a tail tank. The article presents a two-layer model, the use of the model for simulation experiments, and some illustrative examples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

p300 is a multifunctional transcriptional coactivator that serves as an adapter for several transcription factors including nuclear steroid hormone receptors, p300 possesses an intrinsic histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity that may be critical for promoting steroid-dependent transcriptional activation. In osteoblastic cells, transcription of the bone-specific osteocalcin (OC) gene is principally regulated by the Runx2/Cbfa1 transcription factor and is stimulated in response to vitamin D[sub 3] via the vitamin D[sub 3] receptor complex. Therefore, we addressed p300 control of basal and vitamin D[sub 3]-enhanced activity of the OC promoter. We find that transient overexpression of p300 results in a significant dose-dependent increase of both basal and vitamin D[sub 3]-stimulated OC gene activity. This stimulatory effect requires intact Runx2/Cbfa1 binding sites and the vitamin D-responsive element. In addition, by coimmunoprecipitation, we show that the endogenous Runx2/ Cbfa1 and p300 proteins are components of the same complexes within osteoblastic cells under physiological concentrations. We also demonstrate by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays that p300, Runx2/Cbfa1, and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D[sub 3] receptor interact with the OC promoter in intact osteoblastic cells expressing this gene. The effect of p300 on the OC promoter is independent of its intrinsic HAT activity, as a HAT-deficient p300 mutant protein up-regulates expression and cooperates with P/CAF to the same extent as the wild-type p300. On the basis of these results, we propose that p300 interacts with key transcriptional regulators of the OC gene and bridges distal and proximal OC promoter sequences to facilitate responsiveness to vitamin D[sub 3]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed monitoring and control systems play an important role in our time, with many new applications. The purpose of the research described in this article, is to propose a complete solution for the fast and easy implementation of that type of system. Both hardware and software aspects are covered. The hardware is based on a simple bus, using modem for the communications. The nodes are built around embedded PCs for powerful (smart) features. Circuits are provided for the direct use of standard sensors. Software tools have been developed for all the usual steps to get a running system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on the use of web search engines for computer security. Accounts on the threat of search engines; Use of search engines by hackers; Ways of protecting the system against hackers attack; Localization of confidential files in the computer.

Describes an inverted pendulum system that is useful in illustrating important aspects of nonlinear control system theories. Design principles of the system; Description of the pendulum; Use of the system in a student's project; Importance of nonlinearities in the teaching control system.

Examines the interaction of core binding factor alpha (CBF)/acute myelogenous leukemia/polyoma enhancer binding protein 2alpha transcription factors with nucleosomes containing promoter sequences. Dependence of transcription factor interaction on subunit heterodimerization; Effects of subunit heterodimerization on CBFalpha2 gene binding activity.

Proposes a method for the determination of glucose in blood based on the alteration of the intrinsic fluorescence of glucose oxidase during the enzymatic reaction. Discussion of the enzymatic oxidation of analyte with glucose oxidase; Origin of the analytical signal of glucose oxidase; Parameters used to determine glucose in the blood; Analytical figures of merit.

A porcine deep partial-thickness wound model was used to evaluate the effects of a newly developed topical aqueous oxygen emulsion ( TOE) on wound repair. The wounds were treated with TOE, which contains super-saturated oxygen or vehicle control. Semiquantitative immunofluorescent staining was performed to examine protein production for type I and type III collagen and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF). Immunofluorescent staining revealed higher protein levels of type I and type III collagen and VEGF in the TOE treatment group. Histological analysis also revealed improved angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation with topical TOE treatment and was consistent with the protein expression. In addition, the histology examination demonstrated faster epithelialization in wounds treated with TOE. The study suggests that sustained high levels of oxygen released by TOE may promote the process of wound repair through increasing collagen deposition and angiogenesis as well as stimulating epithelialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratinocyte migration is essential for wound repair. Keratin-based products have recently shown stimulatory effects on wound repair. This study was to test the cellular response to wool-derived oxidized keratin in wound healing to further understand the biological mechanisms underlying observed clinical benefits of keratin-based products as wound treatments. In vitro scratch migration assays examined the effects of oxidized keratin on the migration of human skin keratinocytes. Western blotting analysis determined the effects on the marker protein expression of type IV and type VII collagens and keratin 17. We found wool-derived oxidized keratin promoted keratinocyte migration and induced protein expression of type IV and type VII collagens, but not keratin 17. The data suggest that the beneficial effects of keratin-based treatment in wounds may be related to its positive effects on re-epithelialization via stimulating keratinocyte migration and production of basement membrane proteins of types IV and VII collagens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores possible uses of marine Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) for the fully automatic deployment of containment booms along quayside mooring ships. The task of the USV is to tow the boom along adequate trajectories. The target is the prevention of contaminant spills in harbors or near the coast, for example during crude transfers. Surrounding ships with booms is becoming a common practice. This scenario belongs to the target of our research: to transfer robotic techniques to marine applications. The article experimentally shows that the USV based automatic deployment can be done, in accordance with a suitable planning in terms of waypoints. Actually, the article presents a successful automatic deployment, with a scale USV and a 50 m long experimental light boom. For the purposes of the research a set of models, of the boom, cables, and the USV dynamics, have been established. Based on these models, a simulation platform has been developed. The platform has been employed for analyzing and planning of experiments, and for the simulation of a real scale boom deployment scenario described in the article. Some recommendations are included in the final section. • Automatic boom deployment around quayside moored ships. • Autonomous marine surface vehicles (USV) with waypoint steering. • Model of boom dynamics. • Simulation environment, being used for small and real scale operations • Experimental scaled testing of the proposed automatic operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oomycetes of the genus Saprolegnia are widespread in freshwater environment and are among the main pathogens causing economic losses in salmonid aquaculture. Infections by mycotic agents in fish farming are generally considered to result from chronic stress and poor fish condition associated with water quality problems, adverse environmental conditions, frequent/rough/incorrect handling, concurrent infections, physiological changes associated with reproduction and immunocompromised animals. To identify risk factors for Saprolegnia infections in trout and Atlantic salmon farming, longitudinal studies were carried out in different Italian, Spanish, and Scottish fish farms. Prevalence of saprolegniosis and fish mortality were monitored over time and statistically analysed with respect to husbandry and environmental factors. Overall, statistical results by production cycle (trout vs salmon farming) and by country indicate that the prevalence of Saprolegnia may be influenced by peculiarities of the culture system and farming environment. Nevertheless, a specific set of parameters, including lower water temperature, and handling procedures increased Saprolegnia prevalence in all the considered farms. Particularly, in trout farms Saprolegnia infections represented an important contribution to mortality, and prevalence was influenced by water temperature and pH, and by fish density within the tanks. Similarly, temperature and water quality were the main factors influencing the prevalence of Saprolegnia in Atlantic salmon farms. Moreover, molecular analyses confirmed the role of S. parasitica as the main pathogenic oomycete in trout and salmon farming in the considered countries. The identification of risk factors for introduction and increase of Saprolegnia infection in fish farms will allow the correct design of biosecurity and pathogen control strategies. • Lower water temperatures and handling-related stress represent important risk factors for saprolegniosis in salmonid farms • In trout farms, prevalence of Saprolegnia is influenced by water temperature, pH and fish density within the tanks. • In Atlantic salmon farms, prevalence of Saprolegnia is mainly influenced by temperature and water quality • Saprolegniosis is influenced by different factors according to peculiarities of the culture system / farming environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of plastics in the design and construction of a new generation of vehicles is fundamental for the automotive industry. Typically characterization of these components is done by using techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), and spectrometer in the visible bands (SPM), among others. It is also possible to get spectral information with high resolution using Acousto-optic Tunable Filters (AOTF). Since the characterization of plastic or polymer materials has been studied extensively, one problem is still open in order to be understood - Cosmetic Degradation. Particularly in the automotive industry, this information is fundamental to guarantee the quality and security of components that are used to build vehicles. Considering the above, we propose a new strategy based on an extended hyperspectral characterization of plastics by using transform and juxtaposition operations of reflectance information values gathered from three techniques: FTIR, AOTF, and SPM. Experimental results show that the proposed method contributes significantly to understanding the problem of cosmetic degradation in plastics, and opens a new branch to understanding the phenomenon through modern computational techniques based on artificial intelligence. • Plastic and polymers are fundamental in the construction of a new generation of vehicles. • Spectral Information of plastic parts can be obtained in several bands such as FTIR, AOTF, and SMP. • Characterization of Cosmetic degradation is fundamental to measure, extract, and understand several features of plastic components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes an optimization tool based on genetic algorithms for the inverse design of photonic crystals. Based on target reflectance, the algorithm generates a population of chromosomes where the genes represent the thickness of a layer of a photonic crystal. Each layer is independent of another. Therefore, the sequence obtained is a disordered configuration. In the genetic algorithm, two dielectric materials are first selected to generate the population. Throughout the simulation, the chromosomes are evaluated, crossed over, and mutated to find the best-fitted one based on an error function. The target reflectance was a perfect mirror in the visible region. As a result, it was found that obtaining photonic crystal configurations with a specific stop band with disordered arrangements is possible. The genetic information of the best-fitted individuals (layer sequence, optical response, and error) is stored in an h5 format. This method of generating artificial one-dimensional photonic crystal data can be used to train a neural network for solving the problem of the inverse design of any crystal with a specific optical response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The APC tumor suppressor controls the stability and nuclear export of β-catenin (β-cat), a transcriptional coactivator of LEF-1/TCF HMG proteins in the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway. We show here that -cat and APC have opposing actions at Wnt target genes in vivo. The β-cat C-terminal activation domain associates with TRRAP/TIP60 and mixed-lineage-leukemia (MLL1/MLL2) SET1-type chromatin-modifying complexes in vitro, and we show that β-cat promotes H3K4 trimethylation at the c-Myc gene in vivo. H3K4 trimethylation in vivo requires prior ubiquitination of H2B, and we find that ubiquitin is necessary for transcription initiation on chromatin but not nonchromatin templates in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that β-cat recruits Pygopus, Bcl-9/Legless, and MLL/SET1-type complexes to the c-Myc enhancer together with the negative Wnt regulators, APC, and βTrCP. Interestingly, APC-mediated repression of c-Myc transcription in HT29-APC colorectal cancer cells is initiated by the transient binding of APC, βTrCP, and the CtBP corepressor to the c-Myc enhancer, followed by stable binding of the TLE-1 and HDAC1 corepressors. Moreover, nuclear CtBP physically associates with full-length APC, but not with mutant SW480 or HT29 APC proteins. We conclude that, in addition to regulating the stability of β-cat, APC facilitates CtBP-mediated repression of Wnt target genes in normal, but not in colorectal cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetradesmus is a microalgal genus with biotechnological potential due to its rapid production of biomass, which is plenty in proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and bioactives. However, its morphology and physiology need to be determined to guide better research to optimize the species cultivation and biocompounds processing. Thus, this study describes the biochemistry and morphology of the strain Tetradesmus obliquus BR003, isolated from a sample of freshwater reservoirs in a Brazilian municipality. In the T. obliquus BR003 dry biomass, we identified 61.6% unsaturated fatty acids, and 3.4% saturated fatty acids. Regarding other compounds, 28.50 ± 1.47 g soluble proteins/100 g, 0.14 ± 0.009 g carotenoids/100 g, 0.76 ± 0.013 g chlorophyll a/100 g, and 0.42 ± 0.015 g chlorophyll b/100 g with a chlorophyll a/b ratio of 1.8 were detected. The main chemical elements found were S, Mg, and P. The cells of BR003 were elliptically curved at the ends and without appendages. Histochemical tests showed carbohydrates distributed in the cytoplasm and pyrenoids, some lipid droplets, and proteins. The cytoplasm is rich in vacuoles, rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. The nucleus has a predominance of decondensed chromatin, and the cell wall has three layers. Chloroplasts have many starch granules and may be associated with a spherical central pyrenoid. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first biochemical description combined with ultrastructural morphological characterization of the strain T. obliquus BR003, grown under standard conditions, to demonstrate specific characteristics of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ant Colony Extended (ACE) is a novel algorithm belonging to the general Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO) framework. Two specific features of ACE are: the division of tasks between two kinds of ants, namely patrollers and foragers, and the implementation of a regulation policy to control the number of each kind of ant during the searching process. In addition, ACE does not employ the construction graph usually employed by classical ACO algorithms. Instead, the search is performed using a state space exploration approach. This paper studies the performance of ACE in the context of the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP), a classical combinatorial optimisation problem. The results are compared with the results of two well known ACO algorithms: ACS and MMAS. ACE shows better performance than ACS and MMAS in almost every TSP tested instance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) are linked to aging. Here, we profile highly conserved CpGs in 339 predominantly female mice belonging to the BXD family for which we have deep longevity and genomic data. We use a 'pan-mammalian' microarray that provides a common platform for assaying the methylome across mammalian clades. We computed epigenetic clocks and tested associations with DNAm entropy, diet, weight, metabolic traits, and genetic variation. We describe the multifactorial variance of methylation at these CpGs and show that high-fat diet augments the age-related changes. Entropy increases with age. The progression to disorder, particularly at CpGs that gain methylation over time, was predictive of genotype-dependent life expectancy. The longer-lived BXD strains had comparatively lower entropy at a given age. We identified two genetic loci that modulate epigenetic age acceleration (EAA): one on chromosome (Chr) 11 that encompasses the Erbb2/Her2 oncogenic region, and the other on Chr19 that contains a cytochrome P450 cluster. Both loci harbor genes associated with EAA in humans, including STXBP4, NKX2-3, and CUTC. Transcriptome and proteome analyses revealed correlations with oxidation-reduction, metabolic, and immune response pathways. Our results highlight concordant loci for EAA in humans and mice, and demonstrate a tight coupling between the metabolic state and epigenetic aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper introduces the use of a swarm algorithm, derived from Ant Colony Optimisation, to solve path planning problems for autonomous vehicles. The purpose is to obtain optimal trajectories for manoeuvres of Autonomous Surface Vessels. The algorithm works with a model of the vehicle, and the solutions achieved are always feasible. With enough time, it can also obtain trajectories very close to the optimal. Provided the appropriate modifications the algorithm can be applied to solve other combinatorial optimisations problems with a non restricted number of feasible solutions. The methodology is tested through simulations on open sea manoeuvres and scenarios with the presence of obstacles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A main problem in autonomous vehicles in general, and in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in particular, is the determination of the attitude angles. A novel method to estimate these angles using off-the-shelf components is presented. This paper introduces an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) based on the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) using the three-axis attitude determination (TRIAD) algorithm as the observation model. The performance of the method is assessed through simulations and compared to an AHRS based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF). The paper presents field experiment results using a real fixed-wing UAV. The results show good real-time performance with low computational cost in a microcontroller. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Whey protein isolate (93.84% protein) was hydrolysed using bovine trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) at an enzyme-to-substrate ratio of 1.0% (w w−1) over a range of temperatures and pH. Residual protein was quantified using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Genetic variants A and B of β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) and α-lactalbumin (α-La) showed higher resistance to trypsin hydrolysis at 25°C than at 50°C with higher susceptibility of β-LgA than of β-LgB. Under the conditions trialled, the highest (67.87%) residual pure α-La was at 25°C and pH 8.5 (2h hydrolysis; degree of hydrolysis 7.11%), while the lowest (7.99%) was at 50°C, pH 8.5 (5min). Above pH 7.5 and 40°C, β-Lg dimer–monomer transition occurred resulting in improved trypsin hydrolysis. Trypsin hydrolysis outside the optimum pH and temperature offers potential for selective removal of β-LgAnd production of pure and native α-La. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new distributed electronic on-board system for seakeeping studies is introduced. The system is based on a controller area network bus (CANbus) and includes motion sensors, actuators for submerged moving wings, an embedded personal computer (PC), a miniaturized inertial unit, and a digital radio link. This paper describes the system architecture and the main system operations along seakeeping experimental studies with a scaled ship. The on-board system can be applied to scaled or real ships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteomic technologies based on mass spectrometry (MS) have greatly evolved in the past years, and nowadays it is possible to routinely identify thousands of peptides from complex biological samples in a single LC–MS/MS experiment. Despite the advancements in proteomic technologies, the scientific community still faces important challenges in terms of depth and reproducibility of proteomics analyses. Here, we present a multicenter study designed to evaluate long-term performance of LC–MS/MS platforms within the Spanish Proteomics Facilities Network (ProteoRed-ISCIII). The study was performed under well-established standard operating procedures, and demonstrated that it is possible to attain qualitative and quantitative reproducibility over time. Our study highlights the importance of deploying quality assessment metrics routinely in individual laboratories and in multi-laboratory studies. The mass spectrometry data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium with the data set identifier PXD000205.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: HUPO 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Oxygen is an essential substance for wound healing. Limited studies have shown that topical oxygen can influence healing. This study evaluated the effects of a Topical Oxygen Emulsion (TOE) on burn wound healing. Methods A porcine second-degree burn wound model was used in the study. Burn wounds were randomly assigned to TOE, vehicle control, and no-treatment (air) groups. Effects of TOE on the granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis were studied using hematoxylin and eosin histological analysis. Protein production and gene expression of types I and III collagen and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined using immunofluorescent staining and Reverse Transcription and Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Results The TOE treated wounds exhibited better angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation by histology examination. The immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that protein production and mRNA expression of VEGF and collagen III were significantly higher in TOE treatment group than vehicle alone and air control groups, while there was no significant difference in the level of collagen I. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that TOE enhances burn wound healing via stimulating the expression of VEGF and type III collagen and strongly indicates the potential use of TOE in wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the neurobiological processes that contribute to the establishment and expression of stress-induced regulation of cocaine use in addicted individuals is important for the development of new and better treatment approaches. It has been previously shown that rats self-administering cocaine under long-access conditions (6 h daily) display heightened susceptibility to the reinstatement of extinguished cocaine seeking by a stressor, electric footshock, or i.c.v. administration of the stressor-responsive neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). This study tested the hypothesis that adrenal responsiveness during earlier long-access cocaine self-administration (SA) is necessary for the establishment of later CRF-dependent stress-induced reinstatement. Reinstatement by footshock, but not a cocaine challenge (10 mg/kg, i.p.) following long-access SA, was blocked by i.c.v. administration of the CRF receptor antagonist, α-helical CRF9−41 (10 μg). Elimination of SA-induced adrenal responses through surgical adrenalectomy and diurnal corticosterone replacement (ADX/C) before 14 days of SA under long-access conditions had minimal impact on cocaine SA, but blocked later footshock-induced reinstatement. By contrast, ADX/C after SA, but before extinction and reinstatement testing, failed to reduce footshock-induced reinstatement. Likewise, ADX/C before 14 days long-access SA prevented later reinstatement by i.c.v. CRF (0.5 or 1.0 μg). However, significant CRF-induced reinstatement was observed when rats underwent ADX/C following SA, but before extinction and reinstatement testing, although a modest but statistically nonsignificant reduction in sensitivity to CRF's reinstating effects was observed. Taken together, these findings suggest that adrenal-dependent neuroadaptations in CRF responsiveness underlie the increased susceptibility to stress-induced relapse that emerges with repeated cocaine use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]