Fractional-order impulse response of the respiratory system

This paper presents the measurement, frequency-response modeling and identification, and the corresponding impulse time response of the human respiratory impedance and admittance. The investigated adult patient groups were healthy, diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kyphoscoliosis, respectively. The investigated children patient groups were healthy, diagnosed with asthma and cystic fibrosis, respectively. Fractional order (FO) models are identified on the measured impedance to quantify the respiratory mechanical properties. Two methods are presented for obtaining and simulating the time-domain impulse response from FO models of the respiratory admittance: (i) the classical pole-zero interpolation proposed by Oustaloup in the early 90s, and (ii) the inverse discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). The results of the identified FO models for the respiratory admittance are presented by means of their average values for each group of patients. Consequently, the impulse time response calculated from the frequency response of the averaged FO models is given by means of the two methods mentioned above. Our results indicate that both methods provide similar impulse response data. However, we suggest that the inverse DFT is a more suitable alternative to the high order transfer functions obtained using the classical Oustaloup filter. Additionally, a power law model is fitted on the impulse response data, emphasizing the intrinsic fractal dynamics of the respiratory system.

Diane Arbus: the wonderful wizard of odds or the poetics of the i (eye)

Diane Arbus‘ photographs are mainly about difference. Most of the time she is trying ‗[…] to suppress, or at least reduce, moral and sensory queasiness‘ (Sontag 1977: 40) in order to represent a world where the subject of the photograph is not merely the ‗other‘ but also the I. Her technique does not coax her subjects into natural poses. Instead she encourages them to be strange and awkward. By posing for her, the revelation of the self is identified with what is odd. This paper aims at understanding the geography of difference that, at the same time, is also of resistance, since Diane Arbus reveals what was forcefully hidden by bringing it into light in such a way that it is impossible to ignore. Her photographs display a poetic beauty that is not only of the ‗I‘ but also of the ‗eye‘. The world that is depicted is one in which we are all the same. She ―atomizes‖ reality by separating each element and ‗Instead of showing identity between things which are different […] everybody is shown to look the same.‘ (Sontag 1977: 47). Furthermore, this paper analyses some of Arbus‘ photographs so as to explain this point of view, by trying to argue that between rejecting and reacting against what is standardized she does not forget the geography of the body which is also a geography of the self. While creating a new imagetic topos, where what is trivial becomes divine, she also presents the frailty of others as our own.

Phenotypic impact of deregulated expression of class I histone deacetylases in urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder

Deregulated expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Herein, we investigated class I HDACs expression in bladder urothelial cell carcinoma (BUCC), its prognostic value and biological significance. Significantly increased transcript levels of all HDACs were found in BUCC compared to 20 normal mucosas, and these were higher in lower grade and stage tumors. Increased HDAC3 levels were associated with improved patient survival. SiRNA experiments showed decrease cell viability and motility, and increased apoptosis. We concluded that class I HDACs play an important role in bladder carcinogenesis through deregulation of proliferation, migration and apoptosis, constituting putative therapeutic targets

Implementation of the i-GAME mechanism in IEEE 802.15.4 WPANs

This technical report describes the implementation details of the Implicit GTS Allocation Mechanism (i-GAME), for the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol. The i-GAME was implemented in nesC/TinyOS for the CrossBow MICAz mote, over our own implementation of the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol stack. This document provides the implementation details, including a description of the i-GAME software interfaces.

Alternative chelating agents: Evaluation of the ready biodegradability and complexation properties

The ready biodegradability of four chelating agents, N,N -(S,S)-bis[1-carboxy-2-(imidazol-4-yl)ethyl]ethylenediamine (BCIEE), N - ethylenedi-L-cysteine (EC), N,N -bis (4-imidazolymethyl)ethylenediamine (EMI) and 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (PDA), was tested according to the OECD guideline for testing of chemicals. PDA proved to be a readily biodegradable substance. However, none of the other three compounds were degraded during the 28 days of the test. Chemical simulations were performed for the four compounds in order to understand their ability to complex with some metal ions (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and discuss possible applications of these chelating agents. Two different conditions were simulated: (i) in the presence of the chelating agent and one metal ion, and (ii) in the simultaneous presence of the chelating agent and all metal ions with an excess of Ca. For those compounds that were revealed not to be readily biodegradable (BCIEE, EC and EMI), applications were evaluated where this property was not fundamental or even not required. Chemical simulations pointed out that possible applications for these chelating agents are: food fortification, food process, fertilizers, biocides, soil remediation and treatment of metal poisoning. Additionally, chemical simulations also predicted that PDA is an efficient chelating agent for Ca incrustations removal, detergents and for pulp metal ions removal process.

Analysis of the mismatch between school furniture and children

The characteristics of school furniture are strongly associated with back and neck pain, referred by school-aged children. In Portugal, about 60% of the adolescents involved in a recent study reported having felt back pain at least once in the last three months. The aim of this study was to compare furniture sizes of the 2 types indicated for primary schools, within 9 schools, with the anthropometric characteristics of Portuguese students, in order to evaluate the mismatch between them. The sample consisted of 432 volunteer students. Regarding the methodology, 5 anthropometric measures were gathered, as well as 5 dimensions from the school furniture. For the evaluation of classroom furniture, a (mis)match criterion equation was defined. Results indicated that there is a significant mismatch between furniture dimensions and the anthropometric characteristics of the students.

Calcium signaling and the novel anti-proliferative effect of the UTP-sensitive P2Y11 receptor in rat cardiac myofibroblasts

During myocardial ischemia and reperfusion both purines and pyrimidines are released into the extracellular milieu, thus creating a signaling wave that propagates to neighboring cells via membrane-bound P2 purinoceptors activation. Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are important players in heart remodeling, electrophysiological changes and hemodynamic alterations following myocardial infarction. Here, we investigated the role UTP on calcium signaling and proliferation of CF cultured from ventricles of adult rats. Co-expression of discoidin domain receptor 2 and -smooth muscle actin indicate that cultured CF are activated myofibroblasts. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) signals were monitored in cells loaded with Fluo-4 NW. CF proliferation was evaluated by the MTT assay. UTP and the selective P2Y4 agonist, MRS4062, caused a fast desensitizing [Ca2+]i rise originated from thapsigargin-sensitive internal stores, which partially declined to a plateau providing the existence of Ca2+ in the extracellular fluid. The biphasic [Ca2+]i response to UTP was attenuated respectively by P2Y4 blockers, like reactive blue-2 and suramin, and by the P2Y11 antagonist, NF340. UTP and the P2Y2 receptor agonist MRS2768 increased, whereas the selective P2Y11 agonist NF546 decreased, CF growth; MRS4062 was ineffective. Blockage of the P2Y11receptor or its coupling to adenylate cyclase boosted UTP-induced CF proliferation. Confocal microscopy and Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of P2Y2, P2Y4 and P2Y11 receptors. Data indicate that besides P2Y4 and P2Y2 receptors which are responsible for UTP-induced [Ca2+]i transients and growth of CF, respectively, synchronous activation of the previously unrecognized P2Y11 receptor may represent an important target for anti-fibrotic intervention in cardiac remodeling.