This tutorial summarizes the new approach to complex system theory that comes basically from physical information analogies. The information components and gates are defined in a similar way as components in electrical or mechanical engineering. Such approach enables the creation of complex networks through their serial, parallel or feedback ordering. Taking into account wave probabilistic functions in analogy with quantum physics, we can enrich the system theory with features such as entanglement. It is shown that such approach can explain emergencies and self-organization properties of complex systems.
A trial of analogies utilization among electrical, mechanical and information circuits is presented. The concepts of Information Power and significant proximity of the measure of information and knowledge could enable upgrading these analogies for solving important tasks from the area of Systems Engineering. This attempt seems to be attractive, as it could help in using the well-established and proved methodologies from the classical areas of electricity or mechanics.
Jednotlivci mají nesmírně velké systémy modálních znalostí a domněnek - systémy toho, co a je a co není možné, a systémy toho, co je a co není nutné. Takové individualizované systémy modálních znalostí a domněnek se nazývají "modálni světy." V tomto článku se ukazuje, že modalita plyne z kauzace, že modálni "implikace" a "vyplývání" je třeba chápat jako modálni determinovanost, že modálni slovesa nefungují sama o sobě, nýbrž zároveň s jinými prostředky, že modálni znalosti lze pojednat, že existují plochy modálni stability a že některé modálni znalosti jsou explicitní a jiné implicitní. Článek uzavírá návrhem reprezentace modálních znalostí a domněnek.
In this paper, by using a new representation of fuzzy numbers, namely the ecart-representation, we investigate the possibility to consider such multiplication between fuzzy numbers that is fully distributive. The algebraic and topological properties of the obtained semiring are studied making a comparison with the properties of the existing fuzzy multiplication operations. The properties of the generated fuzzy power are investigated.
Ectrichodiinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), the millipede assassin bugs, are a speciose group (>660 species) of assassin bugs that appear to be specialist predators on Diplopoda, or millipedes. Apparently capable of coping with the noxious defensive compounds produced by many millipedes, Ectrichodiinae are engaged in a predator-prey relationship with millipedes realized only by few other arthropods. Unfortunately, feeding behaviors of Ectrichodiinae are inadequately documented, rendering this exciting phenomenon largely inaccessible. We here present a literature review on ectrichodiine prey selection and feeding behaviors, with supplemental original observations on Rhiginia cinctiventris (Stål, 1872) in Costa Rica. Thirteen species in 12 genera have been observed to feed on millipedes. The majority of diplopod prey species were reported from the orders Spirostreptida and Spirobolida, whereas Polydesmida are rarely attacked. Ectrichodiinae insert their stylets at the millipede’s intersegmental membranes on the ventral and ventro-lateral trunk area or between the head and collum. Communal predation was observed among conspecific nymphs, among groups of nymphs with a conspecific adult, and more rarely among adults. Immature ectrichodiines were rarely observed to engage in solitary predation. Observations on R. cinctiventris indicate that this species preys on spirobolid and polydesmid millipedes and are in agreement with behaviors described for other Ectrichodiinae., Michael Forthman, Christiane Weirauch., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Thioacetamide (TAA) is widely used in the production of drugs, pesticides and dyeing auxiliaries. Moreover, it is a chemical that can cause liver damage and cancer. TAA has recently been identified to cause bone damage in animal models. However, the type of bone damage that TAA causes and its potential pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. The toxic effects of TAA on the femurs of New Zealand white rabbits and the underlying toxicity mechanism were investigated in this study. Serum samples, the heart, liver, kidney and femurs were collected from rabbits after intraperitoneal injection of TAA for 5 months (100 and 200 mg/kg). The New Zealand white rabbits treated with TAA showed significant weight loss and femoral shortening. The activities of total bilirubin, total bile acid and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in the serum were increased following treatment with TAA. In addition, the cortical bone became thinner, and the trabecular thickness decreased significantly in TAA-treated rabbits, which was accompanied by significantly decreased mineral density of the cortical and trabecular bone. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in modulus of elasticity and maximum load on bone stress in TAA-treated rabbits. The western blotting results showed that the expression of phosphorylated (p)-p38 and p-ERK in femur tissues of rabbits were increased after TAA administration. Collectively, these results suggested that TAA may lead to femoral damage in rabbits by activating the p38/ERK signaling pathway.
Docetaxel je cytostatikum užívané v adjuvantní, neoadjuvatní i paliativní léčbě karcinomu prsu. Je podáván jako monoterapie či jako součást kombinovaných režimů. Taxany obecně spolu s antracykliny patří mezi nejefektivnější chemoterapeutika využívané v léčbě karcinomu prsu. Zařazení docetaxelu do léčebného schématu karcinomu prsu přineslo zlepšení celkového přežití a prodloužení období bez nemoci u pacientek léčených adjuvantně a větší procento léčebných odpovědí, prodloužení doby do progrese a celkového přežití při léčbě paliativní (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Při využívání docetaxelu v léčbě je potřeba mít na paměti, že se jedná o chemoterapeutikum s nezanedbatelnými nežádoucími účinky. Cílem naší retrospektivní studie bylo vyhodnocení akutní toxicity při léčbě režimy s docetaxelem a zvážení možností léčby akutní toxicity., Docetaxel is a cytostatic drug used in adjuvant, neoadjuvant as well as palliative treatment of breast cancer. It is administered as monotherapy or as part of combination regimens. Taxanes along with anthracyclines are among the most efficacious chemotherapeutic drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer. Inclusion of docetaxel in the therapeutic regimen for breast cancer has resulted in improved overall survival and extended disease-free interval in patients treated with adjuvant therapy and in a greater proportion of therapeutic responses as well as extended time-to-progression and overall survival with palliative therapy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). It must be kept in mind that, when used for treatment, docetaxel is a chemotherapeutic drug with non-negligible adverse effects. The aim of our retrospective study was to evaluate acute toxicity of therapeutic regimens with docetaxel and to consider the options for the treatment of acute toxicity., Kateřina Krošláková, Milan Kohoutek, Markéta Pospíšková, and Literatura
The aim of the study was to examine the potential impacts of bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues BPB, BPF, and BPS on mice TM3 Leydig cells, with respect to basal cell viability parameters such as metabolic activity, cell membrane integrity, and lysosomal activity after 48-h exposure. In addition, monitoring of potential bisphenol´s actions included evaluation of ROS production and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) complemented by determination of testosterone secretion. Obtained results revealed significant inhibition in mitochondrial activity started at 10 µg/ml of bisphenols after 48-h exposure. Cell membrane integrity was significantly decreased at 5 µg/ml of BPA and BPF and 10, 25, and 50 µg/ml of BPA and BPS. The lysosomal activity was significantly affected at 10, 25, and 50 µg/ml of applied bisphenols. A significant overproduction of ROS was recorded mainly at 5 and 10 µg/ml of tested compounds. In addition, significant inhibition of GJIC was observed at 5 µg/ml of BPB followed by a progressive decline at higher applied doses. In the case of testosterone production, a significant decline was confirmed at 10, 25 and 50 µg/ml.
The toxicity of cadmium and zinc at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 µg/l was investigated against the activity of Diplostomum spathaceum (Rudolphi, 1819) cercariae. Over a 24 h exposure period a significant reduction in cercarial activity occurred in solutions of cadmium, zinc, and a mixture of cadmium and zinc at all concentrations. Reduced cercarial activity also occurred in all toxicant solutions compared with controls after only 6 h exposure indicating that cercariae were vulnerable during the period of maximum cercarial infectivity (0-5 h). The mechanisms of metal toxicity and their importance to parasite transmission are discussed.