Hastingsbro0789

We find that transmission chains are superior either when the problem is rather smooth, or when the group is composed of rather unskilled individuals with a low degree of freedom. On the contrary, groups of independent solvers are preferable for rugged problems or for groups of rather skillful individuals with a high degree of freedom. Finally, we deepen the comparison by studying the impact of the group size and diversity. Our research stresses that efficient collective problem-solving requires a good matching between the nature of the problem and the structure of the group.The proteolytic fraction (P1G10) from Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis, displays gastric protective and healing activities in different skin lesions in mice and human. In an excisional model, this fraction accelerates resolution of lesions and modulates inflammatory mediators. Based on these data, we assessed its anti-inflammatory activity in murine colitis model, induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) adopted by its physiopathological similarity with human colitis. Twenty four hours after colitis induction followed by three days of treatment, P1G10 at 0.3 and 3.0 mg/Kg induced 30% increase in body weight (p  less then  0.0001) and ~80% reduction in colon macroscopic damage score (p  less then  0.05) compared to the untreated TNBS-induced colitis group. Histological analyses showed that 0.3 mg/Kg P1G10 reduced the inflammatory profile and tissue damage (47%, p  less then  0.05) when it was proteolytically active. Compared to TNBS group, 0.3 mg/Kg P1G10 reduced MPO activity (80%, p  less then  0.01), MCP-1 (47%, p  less then  0.05) and TNF-α (50%, no significant) and increased IL-10 (330%, p  less then  0.001) levels in the supernatant of colonic tissue homogenate. P1G10 treatment also reduced COX-2 expression (60%, p  less then  0.05) and metalloprotease-2 activity (39%, p  less then  0.05) while increased globet cell density (140%, p  less then  0.01), that contributes to mucus layer protection in colonic tissue. Taken together, these findings suggest that low doses of active P1G10 promotes lesion resolution, at least in part by its anti-inflammatory activity, in TNBS-colitis model.Surface water is the main source of irrigation and drinking water for rural communities by the Hulan River basin, an important grain-producing region in northeastern China. Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of water quality and its driving forces is critical for sustainable development and the protection of water resources in the basin. Following sample collection and testing, the spatial distribution and driving forces of water quality were investigated using cluster analysis, hydrochemical feature partitioning, and Gibbs diagrams. The results demonstrated that the surface waters of the Hulan River Basin tend to be medium-weakly alkaline with a low degree of mineralization and water-rock interaction. 3MA Changes in topography and land use, confluence, application of pesticides and fertilizers, and the development of tourism were found to be important driving forces affecting the water quality of the basin. Non-point source pollution load fluxes of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were simulated using the Soil Water and Assessment Tool. The simulation demonstrated that the non-point source pollution loading is low upstream and increases downstream. The distributions of N and P loading varied throughout the basin. The findings of this study provide information regarding the spatial distribution of water quality in the region and present a scientific basis for future pollution control.The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius, is a highly polyphagous widespread species, playing a major role in the transmission of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca, the agent of the "Olive Quick Decline Syndrome". Essential oils (EOs) are an important source of bio-active volatile compounds that could interfere with basic metabolic, biochemical, physiological, and behavioural functions of insects. Here, we report the electrophysiological and behavioural responses of adult P. spumarius towards some EOs and related plants. Electroantennographic tests demonstrated that the peripheral olfactory system of P. spumarius females and males perceives volatile organic compounds present in the EOs of Pelargonium graveolens, Cymbopogon nardus and Lavandula officinalis in a dose-dependent manner. In behavioral bioassays, evaluating the adult responses towards EOs and related plants, both at close (Y-tube) and long range (wind tunnel), males and females responded differently to the same odorant. Using EOs, a clear attraction was noted only for males towards lavender EO. Conversely, plants elicited responses that varied upon the plant species, testing device and adult sex. Both lavender and geranium repelled females at any distance range. On the contrary, males were attracted by geranium and repelled by citronella. Finally, at close distance, lavender and citronella were repellent for females and males, respectively. Our results contribute to the development of innovative tools and approaches, alternative to the use of synthetic pesticides, for the sustainable control of P. spumarius aiming to contrasting the expansion of X. fastidiosa.A novel mono-surface antisymmetric 16-element transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) coil array was designed, simulated, constructed, and tested for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) in pigs at 7 T. The cardiac array comprised of a mono-surface 16-loops with two central elements arranged anti-symmetrically and flanked by seven elements on either side. The array was configured for parallel transmit (pTx) mode to have an eight channel transmit and 16-channel receive (8Tx/16Rx) coil array. Electromagnetic (EM) simulations, bench-top measurements, phantom, and MRI experiments with two pig cadavers (68 and 46 kg) were performed. Finally, the coil was used in pilot in-vivo measurements with a 60 kg pig. Flip angle (FA), geometry factor (g-factor), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) maps, and high-resolution cardiac images were acquired with an in-plane resolution of 0.6 mm × 0.6 mm (in-vivo) and 0.3 mm × 0.3 mm (ex-vivo). The mean g-factor over the heart was 1.26 (R = 6). Static phase [Formula see text] shimming in a pig body phantom with the optimal phase vectors makes possible to improve the [Formula see text] homogeneity by factor > 2 and transmit efficiency by factor > 3 compared to zero phases (before RF shimming).