Hepatic Δ9, Δ6, and Δ5 desaturations in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus eSS rats

Both diabetes mellitus type 1 and diabetes mellitus type 2 are widespread diseases that alter carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. e Stilmann-Salgado (eSS) rats are experimental animals that spontaneously evolve to a state similar to that of young people affected by non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM; type 2). Using 6-mon-old eSS rats that, according to the literature [Martinez, S.M., Tarrés, M.C., Montenegro, S, Milo, R., Picena, J.C., Figueroa, N., and Rabasa, S.R. (1988) Spontaneous Diabetes in eSS Rats, Acta Diabetol. Lat. 25, 303–313], had already developed insulin resistance, we investigated the changes evoked on Δ9, Δ6, and Δ5 liver desaturases. The abundance of mRNA and enzymatic activities were measured, as well as the FA composition of liver microsomal lipids. Compared to control rats, the mRNA content and activity of SCD-1 (stearoyl CoA-desaturase, isoform of the Δ9 desaturase) were significantly higher, urase, isoform of the Δ9 desaturase) were significantly higher, whereas the mRNA and activities of Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases were not significantly modified. Correspondingly, the proportion of 18∶1n−9 and the ratios of 18∶1n−9/18∶0 and 16∶1/16∶0 in lipids were significantly increased, whereas the proportion of 20∶4n−6 was unaltered. These effects were found while glycemia was constant or increased. The results are completely opposite those described in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1), in which a depression of all the desaturases is found. They suggest that in eSS rats, the activities of the desaturases were not modified by an insulin-resistance effect. Moreover, we suggest that the enhancement of SCD-1 activity might be considered as another typical sign of the NIDDM syndrome, because it has also been found in other animal models of NIDDM, for example, the ones evoked by the sucrose-rich diet and in the Zucker rat.     

Atomic Resource Sharing in Noncooperative Networks

In noncooperative networks, resources are shared among selfish users, which optimize their individual performance measure. We consider the generic and practically important case of atomic resource sharing, in which traffic bifurcation is not implemented, hence each user allocates its whole traffic to one of the network resources. We analyze topologies of parallel resources within a game-theoretic framework and establish several fundamental properties.We prove the existence of and convergence to a Nash equilibrium. For a broad class of residual capacity performance functions, an upper bound on the number of iterations till convergence is derived. An algorithm is presented for testing the uniqueness of the equilibrium. Sufficient conditions for achieving a feasible equilibrium are obtained. We consider extensions to general network topologies. In particular, we show that, for a class of throughput-oriented cost functions, existence of and convergence to a Nash equilibrium is guaranteed in all topologies.     

Agenda-based regulation of study-time allocation: When agendas override item-based monitoring.

Theories of self-regulated study assume that learners monitor item difficulty when making decisions about which items to select for study. To complement such theories, the authors propose an agenda-based regulation (ABR) model in which learners’ study decisions are guided by an agenda that learners develop to prioritize items for study, given their goals and task constraints. Across 4 experiments, the authors orthogonally manipulated 1 task constraint—the reward structure of the task—with objective item difficulty, so that learners could use either item difficulty or potential reward in deciding how to allocate their study time. Learners studied items, were tested, and then selected half the items for restudy. As predicted by the ABR model, reward structure drove item selection more than did item difficulty, which demonstrates learners’ agendas can override the effects of monitoring item difficulty in the allocation of study time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Deactivation of a Fe-ZSM-5 catalyst during the selective catalytic reduction of NO by n-decane: An operando DRIFT study

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by n-decane was investigated on a Fe-ZSM-5 prepared by the FeCl₃ sublimation method. NO conversion profiles versus temperature were followed in both temperature programmed surface reaction (TPSR, 10 °C min⁻¹) and steady state experiments. A higher NO conversion with a maximum of ca. 80% at 400 °C is observed in the course of the TPSR tests. This phenomenon has been attributed to strong adsorption of n-decane which protects the active sites against the poisoning. Indeed, in steady state experiments at 390 °C the strong decrease of activity as a function of time on stream is due to the polymerisation of conjugated nitriles. This study indicates that long chain alkanes are not the most adequate reductants of NO for high temperature SCR applications. Moreover, due to an easier polymerization of conjugated nitriles on iron zeolites (stronger Fe Lewis sites), this type of catalyst seems less attractive than Cu-zeolite catalysts for the SCR of NO by hydrocarbons in this respect.     

Mixing qualitative and quantitative research in developmental science: Uses and methodological choices.

Multiple methods are vital to understanding development as a dynamic, transactional process. This article focuses on the ways in which quantitative and qualitative methodologies can be combined to enrich developmental science and the study of human development, focusing on the practical questions of "when" and "how." Research situations that may be especially suited to mixing qualitative and quantitative approaches are described. The authors also discuss potential choices for using mixed quantitative- qualitative approaches in study design, sampling, construction of measures or interview protocols, collaborations, and data analysis relevant to developmental science. Finally, they discuss some common pitfalls that occur in mixing these methods and include suggestions for surmounting them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Leontief Meets Markov: Sectoral Vulnerabilities Through Circular Connectivity

Economists have been aware of the mapping between an Input-Output (I-O, hereinafter) table and the adjacency matrix of a weighted digraph for several decades (Solow, Econometrica 20(1):29–46, 1952). An I-O table may be interpreted as a network in which edges measure money flows to purchase inputs that go into production, whilst vertices represent economic industries. However, only recently the language and concepts of complex networks (Newman 2010) have been more intensively applied to the study of interindustry relations (McNerney et al. Physica A Stat Mech Appl, 392(24):6427–6441, 2013). The aim of this paper is to study sectoral vulnerabilities in I-O networks, by connecting the formal structure of a closed I-O model (Leontief, Rev Econ Stat, 19(3):109–132, 1937) to the constituent elements of an ergodic, regular Markov chain (Kemeny and Snell 1976) and its chance process specification as a random walk on a graph. We provide an economic interpretation to a local, sector-specific vulnerability index based on mean first passage times, computed by means of the Moore-Penrose inverse of the asymmetric graph Laplacian (Boley et al. Linear Algebra Appl, 435(2):224–242, 2011). Traversing from the most central to the most peripheral sector of the economy in 60 countries between 2005 and 2015, we uncover cross-country salient roles for certain industries, pervasive features of structural change and (dis)similarities between national economies, in terms of their sectoral vulnerabilities.

     

Job Allocation Strategies with User Run Time Estimates for Online Scheduling in Hierarchical Grids

We address non-preemptive non-clairvoyant online scheduling of parallel jobs on a Grid. We consider a Grid scheduling model with two stages. At the first stage, jobs are allocated to a suitable Grid site, while at the second stage, local scheduling is independently applied to each site. We analyze allocation strategies depending on the type and amount of information they require. We conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation study using simulation and demonstrate that our strategies perform well with respect to several metrics that reflect both user- and system-centric goals. Unfortunately, user run time estimates and information on local schedules does not help to significantly improve the outcome of the allocation strategies. When examining the overall Grid performance based on real data, we determined that an appropriate distribution of job processor requirements over the Grid has a higher performance than an allocation of jobs based on user run time estimates and information on local schedules. In general, our experiments showed that rather simple schedulers with minimal information requirements can provide a good performance.     

Techno-environmental and life cycle assessment of ‘oat-milk’ production in Ecuador: A cradle-to-retail life cycle assessment

There is an increase in consumer demand for plant-based alternatives to common food products. A critical segment of the food industry is the dairy market, where milk alternatives are becoming the choice of many people throughout the world. Consumers purchase milk alternatives as they provide an environmentally friendly and healthier option than cow’s milk. The beef and cattle industry's negative impact on the environment has been well reported. The cattle industry accounts for almost 3% of the overall greenhouse gases emitted each year in climate change. This study analyses the life cycle assessment for the cradle-to-retail system in the production of oat-based milk in Ecuador. Importing the oat was considered, and a techno-environmental perspective was applied to the system modelling. It introduces oat milk as a new alternative to plant-based beverages. Soy and almond milk are compared as established options in the market. Results showed better environmental performance from the oat beverage when compared to the traditional cow’s milk (+80% lower GHG emitted). Also, it can be established as a competitor for plant-based alternatives. For instance, it requires significantly less water consumption than almond milk. The oat-milk beverage has a better environmental performance than the traditional cow milk-based options.