Search results for "centric"
showing 10 items of 389 documents
A sharp quantitative version of Alexandrov's theorem via the method of moving planes
2015
We prove the following quantitative version of the celebrated Soap Bubble Theorem of Alexandrov. Let $S$ be a $C^2$ closed embedded hypersurface of $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$, $n\geq1$, and denote by $osc(H)$ the oscillation of its mean curvature. We prove that there exists a positive $\varepsilon$, depending on $n$ and upper bounds on the area and the $C^2$-regularity of $S$, such that if $osc(H) \leq \varepsilon$ then there exist two concentric balls $B_{r_i}$ and $B_{r_e}$ such that $S \subset \overline{B}_{r_e} \setminus B_{r_i}$ and $r_e -r_i \leq C \, osc(H)$, with $C$ depending only on $n$ and upper bounds on the surface area of $S$ and the $C^2$ regularity of $S$. Our approach is based on a…
Past, Present, and Future of Gastrointestinal Microbiota Research in Cats
2020
The relationship between microbial community and host has profound effects on the health of animals. A balanced gastrointestinal (GI) microbial population provides nutritional and metabolic benefits to its host, regulates the immune system and various signaling molecules, protects the intestine from pathogen invasion, and promotes a healthy intestinal structure and an optimal intestinal function. With the fast development of next-generation sequencing, molecular techniques have become standard tools for microbiota research, having been used to demonstrate the complex intestinal ecosystem. Similarly to other mammals, the vast majority of GI microbiota in cats (over 99%) is composed of the pr…
Genomic Changes of Chagas Disease Vector, South America
2004
We analyzed the main karyologic changes that have occurred during the dispersion of Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Chagas disease. We identified two allopatric groups, named Andean and non-Andean. The Andean specimens present C-heterochromatic blocks in most of their 22 chromosomes, whereas non-Andean specimens have only 4-7 autosomes with C-banding. These heterochromatin differences are the likely cause of a striking DNA content variation (approximately 30%) between Andean and non-Andean insects. Our study, together with previous historical and genetic data, suggests that T. infestans was originally a sylvatic species, with large quantities of DNA and heterochromatin, inhabiting th…
Reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) as a user-friendly system to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicentric study
2021
Although reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR remains the gold standard to perform viral detection, reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is already used to perform diagnosis of various infections. This work reports the results of a multicentric study performed in Sicily to evaluate the diagnostic power of an RT-LAMP kit for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection on a total of 551 samples collected in January and February 2021, revealing sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values ≥95%. Our results suggest the potential employment of this kit as a screening test to be used where fast and reliable results are demanded without …
Perception of Biological Motion in Central and Peripheral Visual Fields
2017
Abstract Studies analysing biological motion perception based on reduced number of dots have demonstrated that biological motion can be perceived even when only the lower part of the body is visible or when the number of dots representing the object is reduced. What is the minimal amount of information that enables biological motion to be distinguished from its scrambled version? The results of the current experiment demonstrate that biological motion can be distinguished from its scrambled version when the object is formed of approximately 5 (4.7 ± 0.1) dots. Additionally, we also investigated whether the threshold value for biological motion perception differs in central and peripheral vi…
Demyelination patterns in a mathematical model of multiple sclerosis.
2016
In this paper we derive a reaction-diffusion-chemotaxis model for the dynamics of multiple sclerosis. We focus on the early inflammatory phase of the disease characterized by activated local microglia, with the recruitment of a systemically activated immune response, and by oligodendrocyte apoptosis. The model consists of three equations describing the evolution of macrophages, cytokine and apoptotic oligodendrocytes. The main driving mechanism is the chemotactic motion of macrophages in response to a chemical gradient provided by the cytokines. Our model generalizes the system proposed by Calvez and Khonsari (Math Comput Model 47(7–8):726–742, 2008) and Khonsari and Calvez (PLos ONE 2(1):e…
Does ankle joint power reflect type of muscle action of soleus and gastrocnemius during walking in cats and humans?
2013
The main objective of this paper is to highlight the difficulties of identifying shortening and lengthening contractions based on analysis of power produced by resultant joint moments. For that purpose, we present net ankle joint powers and muscle fascicle/muscle-tendon unit (MTU) velocities for medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus (SO) muscles during walking in species of different size (humans and cats). For the cat, patterns of ankle joint power and MTU velocity of MG and SO during stance were similar: negative power (ankle moment×angular velocity<0), indicating absorption of mechanical energy, was associated with MTU lengthening, and positive power (generation of mechanical energy) w…
Comparison of force-velocity relationships of vastus lateralis muscle in isokinetic and in stretch-shortening cycle exercises
2003
Aim: This study investigated the force–velocity characteristics of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle fascicle and muscle–tendon unit (MTU) in isolated lengthening and shortening actions, and during natural movement. Methods: Four subjects performed maximal eccentric and concentric knee extensions (60, 120 and 180° s−1). Unilateral counter movement jumps and drop jumps in the sledge apparatus served as natural movements. Vastus lateralis fascicle lengths were determined from ultrasonography. In vivo patellar tendon forces (PTF) were measured with an optic fibre technique. Patellar tendon force was derived to VL force according to the cross-sectional area of the muscle. Force in the directio…
Dépendance de la fatigue à la longueur musculaire : approche mécanique et neurophysiologique
2006
The objective of this work is to evaluate the fatigue dependency on the knee extensor muscles length. Exercises varying the type of contraction (isometric and eccentric) and intensity of contraction (maximal and sub-maximal) are performed in order to disrupt the neuromuscular system by different factors of fatigue: central and peripheral. These exercises are performed at two muscular lengths (S and L, corresponding respectively to 40 and 100° of knee flexion). Neuromuscular parameters (maximal torque, muscular twitch, voluntary activation level, electromyographic activity, etc.) are analyzed in pre- and post-fatigue conditions in the type of contraction required by the fatiguing exercise. I…
Intercultural Communicative Competence: Obstacles Faced by NESTs, NNESTs and Learners
2022
This paper looks at three possible actors in the ELT classroom: learners, non-native English speaking teachers (NNEST) and native English speaking teachers (NEST). Each particular group has a need to acquire the skill of intercultural competence. For the learners, it is a necessary element alongside their knowledge of the language to be effective in real-life intercultural communications. For the teachers, it is to be sensitive to their learners from other cultures, to have a neutral bias to whichever of the L1 or L2 cultures is not their own, and also to enable incorporation of intercultural content effectively into the English lesson. The paper examines the obstacles to achieving Intercul…