Genetic control programs for scrapie in sheep build on solid knowledge of how susceptibility to scrapie is modulated by the prion protein genotype at the level of an individual sheep. In order to satisfactorily analyze the effectivity of control programs at the population level, insight is needed at the flock level, i.e., how the grouping of sheep in flocks affects the population-level transmis...

Hexagrid structural system is an innovated system with structural behavior which is similar to a tubular system. In this paper, a numerical study is conducted to estimate the seismic performance of horizontal hexagrid concerning the combined horizontal and vertical hexagrid, tubular and diagrid structural systems. First 30 and 50 story buildings are modeled using ETABS, then pushover and nonlin...

Cognitive radio (CR) techniques and cognitive networks [1] aim at optimizing the use of the wireless spectrum, by observing the wireless environment and intelligently configuring radio settings and network parameters. The aim of the FP7 CREW project [2] is to establish an open federated test platform in order to facilitate experimental research on advanced spectrum sensing, CR and cognitive net...

In theory, plasmids can only be maintained in a population when the rate of horizontal gene transfer is larger than the combined effect of segregational loss and the decrease of fitness associated with plasmid carriage. Recent advances in genome sequencing have shown, however, that a large fraction of plasmids do not carry the genes necessary for conjugation or mobilization. So, how are so-call...

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae present an ever-growing burden in the hospital and community settings, across all ages and demographics. Infections due to ESBL-containing pathogens continue to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. With widespread empiric broad-spectrum β-lactam use creating selective pressure, and the resultant emerg...

In the framework of image modeling for texture analysis, we propose the combination of the new parametric 2-D spectrum estimation method called HMHV (Harmonic Mean Horizontal Vertical) and the Fourier-Mellin transform. This latter technique allows the calculation of a set of texture descriptors from a 2-D spectrum estimate which is invariant under rotation and scaling. A comparison of the HMHV ...

This paper presents a method for lane boundaries detection which is not affected by the shadows, illumination and uneven road conditions. This method is based upon processing grayscale images using local gradient features, characteristic spectrum of lanes, and linear prediction. Firstly, points on the adjacent right and left lane are recognized using the local gradient descriptors. A simple lin...

We analyze lepton flavor violating τ → μγ and μ → eγ processes in SUSY GUT model in which sfermions have special mass spectrum. It is assumed that only third generation sfermions which are contained in 10(Q,Uc,Ec) of SU(5) can have a different mass from the others. This mass spectrum is led from E6 GUT model with horizontal symmetries. It is shown that branching ratios of τ → μγ and μ → eγ depe...