Search results for "Combinations"
showing 10 items of 204 documents
An adaptive multimeme algorithm for designing HIV multidrug therapies.
2007
This paper proposes a period representation for modeling the multidrug HIV therapies and an Adaptive Multimeme Algorithm (AMmA) for designing the optimal therapy. The period representation offers benefits in terms of flexibility and reduction in dimensionality compared to the binary representation. The AMmA is a memetic algorithm which employs a list of three local searchers adaptively activated by an evolutionary framework. These local searchers, having different features according to the exploration logic and the pivot rule, have the role of exploring the decision space from different and complementary perspectives and, thus, assisting the standard evolutionary operators in the optimizati…
Hydraulic kinetics of the graft union in different Olea europaea L. scion/rootstock combinations
2007
The hydraulic resistance of young olive trees grafted on rootstocks with contrasting size-controlling potential was measured 30, 90, 360 and 480 days after grafting. Olive (Olea europaea L.) clones inducing plant vigorous growth (Leccino ‘Minerva’, LM) or dwarfing (Leccino ‘Dwarf’, LD) were studied in different scion/rootstock combinations (LD/LD, LD/LM, LM/LD, LM/LM). Plants growing on LD root systems developed lower leaf surface areas (about 50% less) than plants grafted on LM rootstocks. Graft union represented the largest fraction (up to 85%) of whole-plant hydraulic resistance 30 days after grafting, and still represented an important fraction of it 2 months later (40–55%). Four-hundre…
In vitro antibacterial activity of endodontic sealers
2004
Summary Objectives To evaluate the antibacterial activity of four endodontic sealers: one epoxy resin sealer (AH Plus), two zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE)-based sealers (Endomethasone, Pulp Canal Sealer), and one sealer containing both ZOE and orthophenilphenol (Vcanalare). Methods A direct contact test (DCT) was performed. A 10 μl suspension of Enterococcus faecalis was placed on the test material 20 min, 24 h and 7 days after mixing. Bacteria were allowed to directly contact the sealers for 1 h at 37 °C. Bacterial growth was then spectrophotometrically measured every 30 min for 7 h, and again after 24 h as well. Results All freshly mixed sealers showed complete inhibition of bacterial growth. S…
Use of ICS in COPD: From Blockbuster Medicine to Precision Medicine
2017
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide, whose burden is expected to increase in the next decades, because of numerous risk factors, including the aging of the population. COPD is both preventable and treatable by an effective management including risk factor reduction, prevention, assessment, and treatment of acute exacerbations and co-morbidities. The available agents approved for COPD treatment are long-acting or ultra-long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) bronchodilators, as well as inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in combination with LABAs. ICS use has been restricted only to selected COPD patients by th…
The adaptation of mechanically softened gutta-percha to the canal walls in the presence or absence of smear layer: a scanning electron microscopic st…
1995
Summary The objective of this study was to compare the adaptation of mechanically softened gutta-percha to the root canal wall in the presence and absence of smear layer. The root canals of 20 freshly extracted human maxillary incisors were cleaned and shaped. Prior to obturation, 10 root canals were irrigated with 20 ml of 50% citric acid followed by 20 ml of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. All canals were obturated with mechanical compaction of gutta-percha and AH-26 sealer. After 72h, each tooth was fractured in half. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the sealer had formed a continuous layer in contact with the canal walls, becoming progressively thinner towards the apex. The sea…
The Effect of Tiotropium in Symptomatic Asthma Despite Low- to Medium-Dose Inhaled Corticosteroids: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
2014
BackgroundTiotropium, a once-daily long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with asthma who were symptomatic despite treatment with medium- to high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-daily tiotropium Respimat (5 μg or 2.5 μg), compared with placebo Respimat, as add-on therapy to low- to medium-dose ICS for adults with symptomatic asthma.MethodsA phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted (NCT01316380). Adults with symptomatic asthma receiving low- to medium-dose ICS (200-400 μg budesonide or equivalent dose) and a pre-bronchodilator forced expira…
The Use of a Surgical Patch in the Prevention of Lymphoceles After Extraperitoneal Pelvic Lymphadenectomy for Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Prospecti…
2009
Purpose: Pelvic lymphadenectomy is frequently performed simultaneously with radical prostatectomy to determine lymph node status and the most frequently recorded postoperative complication is the development of a symptomatic lymphocele. This study evaluated TachoSil® as an adjunct treatment in preventing lymphoceles after extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 consecutive patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were prospectively enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to a standard technique with the use of clips and electrocoagulation plus TachoSil, or to standard technique on…
Induction of tumor peptide-specific cytotoxic T cells under serum-free conditions by mature human dendritic cells
2000
Tumor vaccination strategies using antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) are currently under development. We established an in vitro system using cultured DC from HLA-typed volunteers for the induction of tumor peptide-specific CD8+ T cells. The strength and specificity of the resulting CTL responses were investigated. For stimulation of syngeneic CD8+ T cells two well-defined DC populations were generated: CD1a+ immature DC cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 and mature CD83+ DC generated by additional stimulation with a cytokine cocktail. Stimulations were performed under serum-free conditions and in the absence of exogenous cytokines. Analysis of T cell responses showed that mature…
Canopy Architecture Appraisal by Fractal Dimension of 'Flordastar' Peach Trees Grafted onto Different Rootstocks
2007
The objective of this research was to evaluate the modification of canopy architecture of ''Flordastar'' peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) grafted onto rootstocks with different vigour, by the use of fractal dimension (D). The hypothesis was that different vigour rootstocks are able to modify the complexity of the branching pattern and that this effect can be assessed by a geometric parameter such as the fractal dimension (D) of the 2D projection of tree branching structure. The observations were carried out in a four-year-old experimental orchard of cv. ''Flordastar'' peach trees grafted onto Ishtara, Barrier, GF677 and MrS 2/5 rootstocks. On digital pictures of leafless, dormant peach tree…
Cytotoxicity and bioactivity of various pulpotomy materials on stem cells from human exfoliated primary teeth.
2017
Aims To investigate the cytotoxicity and bioactivity of several pulpotomy materials: Biodentine (Septodont, Saint-Maur-des-Fosses, France) MTA (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil), Theracal LC (Bisco Inc., Schamburg, IL, USA) and IRM (Dentsply DeTrey GmbH, Konstanz, Germany), after contact with stem cells isolated from human exfoliated primary teeth (SHEDs). Methodology SHEDs were cultured in the presence of the eluates of various pulpotomy materials for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell viability was determined by mitochondrial dehydrogenase enzymatic (MTT) assay. Apoptosis and changes in cell phenotype were evaluated by flow cytometry. Also, an in vitro scratch wound-healing assay was used to determine th…