Optimizing at the end-points the Akima's interpolation method of smooth curve fitting

In this paper we propose an optimized version, at the end-points, of the Akima's interpolation method for experimental data fitting. Comparing with the Akima's procedure, the error estimate, in terms of the modulus of continuity, is improved. Similarly, we optimize at the end points the Catmull–Rom's cubic spline. The properties of the obtained splines are illustrated on a numerical experiment.     

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Activation of Hydroxyapatite to Improve Fluoride Incorporation and Modulate Bacterial Biofilm

Despite the technological progress of the last decade, dental caries is still the most frequent oral health threat in children and adults alike. Such a condition has multiple triggers and is caused mainly by enamel degradation under the acidic attack of microbial cells, which compose the biofilm of the dental plaque. The biofilm of the dental plaque is a multispecific microbial consortium that periodically develops on mammalian teeth. It can be partially removed through mechanical forces by individual brushing or in specialized oral care facilities. Inhibition of microbial attachment and biofilm formation, as well as methods to strengthen dental enamel to microbial attack, represent the key factors in caries prevention. The purpose of this study was to elaborate a cold plasma-based method in order to modulate microbial attachment and biofilm formation and to improve the retention of fluoride (F⁻) in an enamel-like hydroxyapatite (HAP) model sample. Our results showed improved F retention in the HAP model, which correlated with an increased antimicrobial and antibiofilm effect. The obtained cold plasma with a dual effect exhibited through biofilm modulation and enamel strengthening through fluoridation is intended for dental application, such as preventing and treating dental caries and enamel deterioration.     

Hybrid magnetite nanoparticles/Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil nanobiosystem with antibiofilm activity

Biofilms formed by fungal organisms are associated with drastically enhanced resistance against most antimicrobial agents, contributing to the persistence of the fungi despite antifungal therapy. The purpose of this study is to combine the unique properties of nanoparticles with the antimicrobial activity of the Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil in order to obtain a nanobiosystem that could be pelliculised on the surface of catheter pieces, in order to obtain an improved resistance to microbial colonization and biofilm development by Candida albicans and C. tropicalis clinical strains. The R. officinalis essential oils were extracted in a Neo-Clevenger type apparatus, and its chemical composition was settled by GC-MS analysis. Functionalized magnetite nanoparticles of up to 20 nm size had been synthesized by precipitation method adapted for microwave conditions, with oleic acid as surfactant. The catheter pieces were coated with suspended core/shell nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/oleic acid:CHCl₃), by applying a magnetic field on nanofluid, while the CHCl₃ diluted essential oil was applied by adsorption in a secondary covering treatment. The fungal adherence ability was investigated in six multiwell plates, in which there have been placed catheters pieces with and without hybrid nanoparticles/essential oil nanobiosystem pellicle, by using culture-based methods and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The R. officinalis essential oil coated nanoparticles strongly inhibited the adherence ability and biofilm development of the C. albicans and C. tropicalis tested strains to the catheter surface, as shown by viable cell counts and CLSM examination. Due to the important implications of Candida spp. in human pathogenesis, especially in prosthetic devices related infections and the emergence of antifungal tolerance/resistance, using the new core/shell/coated shell based on essential oil of R. officinalis to inhibit the fungal adherence could be of a great interest for the biomedical field, opening new directions for the design of film-coated surfaces with antibiofilm properties.     

IMS10-image-based milling toolpaths with tool engagement control for complex geometry

This paper presents a NC toolpath generation strategy with tool engagement control for arbitrarily complex discrete part geometry, which reduces machining time and tool wear and can be used in high speed machining. The toolpath computation is based on image models for design part, raw stock and cutting tool, and involves pixel-based simulation of the milling process. Simulation results and comparison with existing methods are presented.     

Quantum circuit’s reliability assessment with VHDL-based simulated fault injection

This paper presents a VHDL-based simulated fault injection (SFI) methodology for quantum circuits. The main objective is to attain a high error modeling capability at a technology independent level. For this purpose, gate level simulation models for quantum circuits have been developed using VHDL. The proposed methodology relies on specific techniques inspired from the simulated fault injection techniques developed for classical CMOS circuits: saboteurs and mutants. In order to perform the simulation campaigns, a library of quantum gates and simulated fault injection components has been developed. The simulation results show that a wide range of quantum faults and error models has been addressed. Furthermore, a comparison between the two SFI techniques is presented.     

Distributed phase-shift beamforming power balancing in ad-hoc and sensor networks

Ad-hoc and sensor networks are a well-studied area which gained a lot of attention in the research in the last decades. Two of the problems of battery-powered radio devices are limited transmitter power and finite amount of energy. This paper continues the path opened by the development of a new technology for radio communication which allows cluster communication beyond the horizon of each individual transmitter and the distribution of power need among the modules forming a cluster. This in terms decreases the average power need per device and contributes to a longer lifetime of the entire network.     

A Coalgebraic Semantics for Epistemic Programs

This paper gives a fresh look at my previous work on “epistemic actions” and information updates in distributed systems, from a coalgebraic perspective. I show that the “relational” semantics of epistemic programs, given in [BMS2] in terms of epistemic updates, can be understood in terms of functors on the category of coalgebras and natural transformations associated to them. Then, I introduce a new, alternative, more refined semantics for epistemic programs: programs as “epistemic coalgebras”. I argue for the advantages of this second semantics, from a semantic, heuristic, syntactical and proof-theoretic point of view. Finally, as a step towards a generalization, I show these concepts make sense for other functors, and that apparently unrelated concepts, such as Bayesian belief updates and process transformations, can be seen to arise in the same way as our “epistemic actions”.     

Recirculating immunomagnetic separation and optimal enrichment conditions for enhanced detection and recovery of low levels of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from fresh leafy produce and surface water

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, simple method for enhanced detection and isolation of low levels of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from leafy produce and surface water using recirculating immunomagnetic separation (RIMS) coupled with real-time PCR and a standard culture method. The optimal enrichment conditions for the method also were determined. Analysis of real-time PCR data (C(T) values) suggested that incubation of lettuce and spinach leaves rather than rinsates provides better enrichment of E. coli O157:H7. Enrichment of lettuce or spinach leaves at 42 degrees C for 5 h provided better detection than enrichment at 37 degrees C. Extended incubation of surface water for 20 h at 42 degrees C did not improve the detection. The optimized enrichment conditions were also employed with modified Moore swabs, which were used to sample flowing water sites. Positive isolation rates and real-time PCR results indicated an increased recovery of E. coli O157:H7 from all samples following the application of RIMS. Under these conditions, the method provided detection and/or isolation of E. coli O157:H7 at levels as low as 0.07 CFU/g of lettuce, 0.1 CFU/g of spinach, 6 CFU/100 ml of surface water, and 9 CFU per modified Moore swab. During a 6-month field study, modified Moore swabs yielded high isolation rates when deployed in natural watershed sites. The method used in this study was effective for monitoring E. coli O157:H7 in the farm environment, during postharvest processing, and in foodborne outbreak investigations.     

Promising Therapies for Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia

Sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, account for 15–20% of all deaths. Myocardial infarction increases the burden of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia by structural and electrical remodeling of the heart. The current management of new-onset atrial fibrillation includes electric cardioversion with very high conversion rates and pharmacologic cardioversion, with less a than 50% conversion rate. If atrial fibrillation cannot be converted, the focus becomes the control of the symptoms ensuring a constant rhythm and rate control, without considering other contributory factors such as autonomic imbalance. Recently, a huge success was obtained by developing ablation techniques or addressing the vagal nerve stimulation. On the other hand, ventricular tachycardia is more sensitive to drug therapies. However, in cases of non-responsiveness to drugs, the usual therapeutic choice is represented by stereotactic ablative therapy or catheter ablation. This review focuses on these newly developed strategies for treatment of arrhythmias in clinical practice, specifically on vernakalant and low-level tragus stimulation for atrial fibrillation and stereotactic ablative therapy for drug-refractory ventricular tachycardia. These therapies are important for the significant improvement of the management of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, providing: (1) a safer profile than current therapies, (2) higher success rate than current solutions, (3) low cost of delivery.