De luxuria propagata romana aetate . Roman luxury in
its many forms focuses on luxonomics, or the economy of luxury
in Roman times, and how its study is an element that is essential
to understanding ...the history of the period. This volume brings
together the contributions of leading experts in the study of
luxury to present the full range of perspectives on the production
and consumption of luxury items and, moreover, from the variety of
approaches offered by Ancient History. The book is organised in
chronological order, and the evolution of the luxury economy is
divided into areas of consumption, production, and criticism. The
analytical focus on the interaction between the notions of need and
desire suggests that the historical development of luxury and
business in Rome can be divided into five categories: houses,
clothing, jewellery, food, and leisure.El libro reúne las
contribuciones de los principales expertos en el estudio del lujo
para presentar toda la gama de perspectivas sobre la producción y
consumo de artículos de lujo y, además, desde la variedad de
enfoques que ofrece la Historia Antigua. El libro está organizado
en orden cronológico, y la evolución de la economía del lujo se
divide en áreas de consumo, producción y crítica. El enfoque
analítico en la interacción entre los nociones de necesidad y deseo
sugiere que el desarrollo histórico del lujo y los negocios en Roma
puede dividirse en cinco categorías: casas, ropa, joyas, comida y
ocio.
Emerging 5G wireless technology will support services and use cases with vastly heterogeneous requirements. Network slicing, which allows composing multiple dedicated logical networks with specific ...functionality running on top of a common infrastructure, is introduced as a solution to cope with this heterogeneity. At the radio access network (RAN), the use of network slicing involves the assignment of radio resources to each slice in accordance with its expected requirements and functionalities. Therefore, RAN slicing will provide the required design flexibility and will be necessary for any network slicing solution. This paper investigates the RAN slicing problem for providing two generic services of 5G, namely enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X). In this respect, we propose an efficient RAN slicing scheme based on an off-line reinforcement learning followed by a low-complexity heuristic algorithm, which allocates radio resources to different slices with the target of maximizing the resource utilization while ensuring the availability of resources to fulfill the requirements of the traffic of each RAN slice. A simulation-based analysis is presented to assess the performance of the proposed solution. The simulation results have shown that the proposed algorithm improves the network performance in terms of resource utilization, the latency of V2X services, achievable data rate, and outage probability.
The COVID-19 pandemic called for drastic changes to expand and rapidly implement telehealth to prevent breach of care for chronic patients. Responding to the challenge of implementing remote care in ...chronic pain services, a specialty highly dependent on doctor-patient rapport, physical examination, and frequent follow-up visits requires extensive adaptation involving administrative processes and clinical routines. We present our experience of a successful rapid adaptation to telemedicine paradigm as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic during a time of marked restriction of access to ambulatory hospital services for pediatric and adult chronic pain patients. This narrative review covers current scientific evidence for the use of telehealth for chronic pain management and describes in detail the challenges to implement telemedicine in ambulatory clinics from different perspectives. Best practices for telehealth use are recommended. A proposal for remote physical examination of pain patients is made, based on available evidence in the fields of musculoskeletal medicine and neurology comparing in-person vs remote physical examination. As an internal quality control process, an informal online survey was conducted to assess thoughts and experiences among patients and caregivers using telemedicine consultation services at the pediatric pain clinic. Providing chronic pain management services through telehealth is a viable option for many patients and health care professionals. This is reliant on the availability of appropriate materials and training, with guidelines for both patients and health care workers. With the rapid pace of technological advancements, even further integration of telehealth into routine health care is possible.
Isoprenoids are a large family of compounds synthesized by all free-living organisms. In most bacteria, the common precursors of all isoprenoids are produced by the MEP (methylerythritol 4-phosphate) ...pathway. The MEP pathway is absent from archaea, fungi and animals (including humans), which synthesize their isoprenoid precursors using the completely unrelated MVA (mevalonate) pathway. Because the MEP pathway is essential in most bacterial pathogens (as well as in the malaria parasites), it has been proposed as a promising new target for the development of novel anti-infective agents. However, bacteria show a remarkable plasticity for isoprenoid biosynthesis that should be taken into account when targeting this metabolic pathway for the development of new antibiotics. For example, a few bacteria use the MVA pathway instead of the MEP pathway, whereas others possess the two full pathways, and some parasitic strains lack both the MVA and the MEP pathways (probably because they obtain their isoprenoids from host cells). Moreover, alternative enzymes and metabolic intermediates to those of the canonical MVA or MEP pathways exist in some organisms. Recent work has also shown that resistance to a block of the first steps of the MEP pathway can easily be developed because several enzymes unrelated to isoprenoid biosynthesis can produce pathway intermediates upon spontaneous mutations. In the present review, we discuss the major advances in our knowledge of the biochemical toolbox exploited by bacteria to synthesize the universal precursors for their essential isoprenoids.
Purpose:
To demonstrate that the augmented reality-assisted puncture technique improves the efficacy of ultrasound-guided puncture to get central venous access (CVA), allows the image to be obtained ...without limitations, freeing the hands and keeping the gaze continuously on the working field, which contributes to improving the safety of the procedure.
Material and methods:
A gelatin mould with a latex surface and a chicken breast with silicone tubes inside were used to simulate vascular punctures. Images were obtained by an ultrasound scanner and post-processed with a specific software. A hologram was obtained and projected onto the previously delimited surface to be punctured. The variables related to image acquisition, the characteristics of the structure to be cannulated and the percentage of successes in the first attempt were analysed. Six operators were involved, using different ultrasound scanners. Efficiency was examined after the application of technical improvements in the process.
Results:
Seventy-six punctures were performed, guided by two different ultrasound scanners, divided into two groups: 37 with 33 successes (sigma = 3.52 with a process efficiency of 97.98%) and after technical improvements, 39 with 38 successes (sigma = 4.07 with a process efficiency of 99.4%). There are no significant differences among the operators (X2 p = 0.47) and between the ultrasound scanners (X2 p = 0.56).
Conclusions:
The augmented reality ultrasound-assisted CVA technique may be the next step in standardising the process of cannulation of vascular structures. This technique provides greater accuracy, greater comfort by freeing the hands and keeping the gaze on the working field, better ultrasound image quality, and eliminates variability between operators and sonographers.
Abstract Background and purpose Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are systemic diseases, characterized by the presence of an inflammatory muscle infiltrate. Although more frequent in women, ...its relationship with pregnancy has not been extensively studied. Our goal was to analyze the interaction between pregnancy and myositis in a cohort of IIM women from a single center. Methods A total of 51 patients from a historical cohort of IIM diagnosed between 1983 and 2013 were interviewed with a specific questionnaire. Comparisons between pregnancies occurring before and after the onset of the disease were performed using generalized mixed-effect models with normal and binomial distributions adjusted for confounding factors and clustering. Results A total of 102 pregnancies from 51 patients (41 with dermatomyositis and 10 with polymyositis) were analyzed. A total of 14 pregnancies from 8 patients occurred after disease onset; statistically significant ( p = 0.02) clinical improvement during gestation was evident in 7 pregnancies (4 patients), 5 of them (from 2 patients) experienced a relapse of IIM symptoms afterwards, while in the rest, there was no influence of pregnancy on the disease. No disease flare associated with pregnancy was observed. Two patients were diagnosed within the first 6 months after delivery and none during pregnancy. No evidence was found to support pregnancy as a trigger for myopathy ( p = 0.71). Conclusions Pregnancy does not seem to carry a worse prognosis for the mother nor for the fetus in patients with IIM; on the contrary, nearly half of the patients in our series improved clinically when they became pregnant, a relapse of IIM symptoms being common afterwards. Pregnancy does not appear to be a trigger for IIM.
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the factors related to the failure of 535 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-Insured United States banks in conjunction with the 2008 financial crisis.
...Design/methodology/approach
The research consists of an analysis of the following three five-year partitions: pre-crisis (2002–2006), crisis (2007–2011) and post-crisis (2012–2016). The main hypothesis is that the factors explaining bank failures vary by period. Using logistic regression analysis, the authors identify the desirable models by period based on three model selection strategies.
Findings
Liquidity and non-risk-based capital ratios are important explanatory factors in all three periods. As the authors can see from the results, when comparing the full period (2002–2016) and the three five-year period partitions (2002–2006, 2007–2011 and 2012–2016), the ratios change from period to period, but they measure the same financial areas of concern in different contexts as follows: liquidity, leverage/risk exposure and capital adequacy. Risk-based capital ratios are not effective predictors of bank failures.
Originality/value
Recent academic studies have analyzed bank failures during periods that cover the years before, during and after the crisis, but most of these studies discuss bank failures in the forecasting context only. This study includes an analysis of failure determinants during pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis subperiods based on the FDIC monitoring system of bank failures and identifies what ratios are more relevant during each period and how they change from period to period.
Background
Small and large preclinical animal models have shown that antagomir‐92a‐based therapy reduces early postischemic loss of function, but its effect on postinfarction remodeling is not known. ...In addition, the reported remote miR‐92a inhibition in noncardiac organs prevents the translation of nonvectorized miR‐targeted therapy to the clinical setting. We investigated whether a single intracoronary administration of antagomir‐92a encapsulated in microspheres could prevent deleterious remodeling of myocardium 1 month after acute myocardial infarction AUTHOR: Should “acute” be added before “myocardial infarction” (since abbreviation is AMI)? Also check at first mention in main text (AMI) without adverse effects.
Methods and Results
In a percutaneous pig model of reperfused AMI, a single intracoronary administration of antagomir‐92a encapsulated in specific microspheres (9 μm poly‐d,‐lactide‐co‐glycolide PLGA) inhibited miR‐92a in a local, selective, and sustained manner (n=3 pigs euthanized 1, 3, and 10 days after treatment; 8×, 2×, and 5×‐fold inhibition at 1, 3, and 10 days). Downregulation of miR‐92a resulted in significant vessel growth (n=27 adult minipigs randomly allocated to blind receive encapsulated antagomir‐92a, encapsulated placebo, or saline n=8, 9, 9; P=0.001), reduced regional wall‐motion dysfunction (P=0.03), and prevented adverse remodeling in the infarct area 1 month after injury (P=0.03). Intracoronary injection of microspheres had no significant adverse effect in downstream myocardium in healthy pigs (n=2), and fluorescein isothiocyanate albumin‐PLGA microspheres were not found in myocardium outside the left anterior descending coronary artery territory (n=4) or in other organs (n=2).
Conclusions
Early single intracoronary administration of encapsulated antagomir‐92a in an adult pig model of reperfused AMI prevents left ventricular remodeling with no local or distant adverse effects, emerging as a promising therapeutic approach to translate to patients who suffer a large AMI.
Abstract The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway is responsible for biosynthesis of the precursors of isoprenoid compounds in eubacteria and plastids. It is a metabolic alternative to the ...well-known mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid production found in archaea and eukaryotes. Recently, a role for the MEP pathway in oxidative stress detection, signalling, and response has been identified. This role is executed in part through the unusual cyclic intermediate, methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcDP). We postulate that this response is triggered through the oxygen sensitivity of the MEP pathway’s terminal iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster enzymes. MEcDP is the substrate of IspG, the first Fe-S cluster enzyme in the pathway; it accumulates under oxidative stress conditions and acts as a signalling molecule. It may also act as an antioxidant. Furthermore, evidence is emerging for a broader and highly nuanced role of the MEP pathway in oxidative stress responses, implemented through a complex system of differential regulation and sensitivity at numerous nodes in the pathway. Here, we explore the evidence for such a role (including the contribution of the Fe-S cluster enzymes and different pathway metabolites, especially MEcDP), the evolutionary implications, and the many questions remaining about the behaviour of the MEP pathway in the presence of oxidative stress.
The widespread use of machine learning has raised the question of quantum supremacy for supervised learning as compared to quantum computational advantage. In fact, a recent work shows that ...computational and learning advantages are, in general, not equivalent, i.e., the additional information provided by a training set can reduce the hardness of some problems. This article investigates under which conditions they are found to be equivalent or, at least, highly related. This relation is analyzed by considering two definitions of learning speed-up: one tied to the distribution and another that is distribution-independent. In both cases, the existence of efficient algorithms to generate training sets emerges as the cornerstone of such conditions, although, for the distribution-independent definition, additional mild conditions must also be met. Finally, these results are applied to prove that there is a quantum speed-up for some learning tasks based on the prime factorization problem, assuming the classical intractability of this problem.
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