HIF-1α Is Associated with Resistance to Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis in Ameloblastoma

Background. Ameloblastoma (AMB) is a benign odontogenic tumour, with an aggressive local behaviour and a high rate of recurrence. Previous studies have demonstrated that hypoxia-induced factor alpha 1 (HIF-1α) and activated caspase-3 contribute to tumour invasiveness and cytogenesis in ameloblastoma. Hypoxia increases HIF-1α levels, which triggers a number of signalling pathways. This paper aimed to present data in the study of hypoxia-activated signalling pathways that modulate proapoptotic and antiapoptotic events in AMB. Methods. Twenty cases of AMB and ten cases of dental follicle (DF) were used to analyse the immunoexpression of HIF-1α, p53, BNIP3, Bcl-2, IAP-2, GLUT1, and Bax. To contribute to the study, an analysis of expression and genetic interaction was performed using the cell line AME-1. Results. AMB and DF expressed the studied proteins. These proteins showed significantly greater immunoexpression in AMB compared with the DF ( p < 0.05 ). HIF-1α showed an important association with GLUT1, and a positive correlation was observed among p53, Bcl-2, and IAP-2. Transcriptomic analysis showed the significant expression of the studied proteins, and the network generated showed a direct association of HIF-1αF with GLUT1 (SLC2A1), TP53, and LDHA. Interestingly, GLUT1 also exhibited direct interaction with TP53 and LDHA. Conclusion. In AMB tumorigenesis, hypoxia is possibly related to antiapoptotic events, which suggests an important role for HIF-1α, GLUT1, Bcl-2, IAP-2, and possibly p53.

Local Turnpike Analysis Using Local Dissipativity for Discrete Time Discounted Optimal Control

Recent results in the literature have provided connections between the so-called turnpike property, near optimality of closed-loop solutions, and strict dissipativity. Motivated by applications in economics, optimal control problems with discounted stage cost are of great interest. In contrast to non-discounted optimal control problems, it is more likely that several asymptotically stable optimal equilibria coexist. Due to the discounting and transition cost from a local to the global equilibrium, it may be more favourable staying in a local equilibrium than moving to the global—cheaper—equilibrium. In the literature, strict dissipativity was shown to provide criteria for global asymptotic stability of optimal equilibria and turnpike behaviour. In this paper, we propose a local notion of discounted strict dissipativity and a local turnpike property, both depending on the discount factor. Using these concepts, we investigate the local behaviour of (near-)optimal trajectories and develop conditions on the discount factor to ensure convergence to a local asymptotically stable optimal equilibrium.

Propagation of curved folding: the folded annulus with multiple creases exists

In this paper we consider developable surfaces which are isometric to planar domains and which are piecewise differentiable, exhibiting folds along curves. The paper revolves around the longstanding problem of existence of the so-called folded annulus with multiple creases, which we partially settle by building upon a deeper understanding of how a curved fold propagates to additional prescribed foldlines. After recalling some crucial properties of developables, we describe the local behaviour of curved folding employing normal curvature and relative torsion as parameters and then compute the very general relation between such geometric descriptors at consecutive folds, obtaining novel formulae enjoying a nice degree of symmetry. We make use of these formulae to prove that any proper fold can be propagated to an arbitrary finite number of rescaled copies of the first foldline and to give reasons why problems involving infinitely many foldlines are harder to solve.

Zero-Hopf Bifurcations of 3D Quadratic Jerk System

This paper is devoted to local bifurcations of three-dimensional (3D) quadratic jerk system. First, we start by analysing the saddle-node bifurcation. Then we introduce the concept of canonical system. Next, we study the transcritial bifurcation of canonical system. Finally we study the zero-Hopf bifurcations of canonical system, which constitutes the core contributions of this paper. By averaging theory of first order, we prove that, at most, one limit cycle bifurcates from the zero-Hopf equilibrium. By averaging theory of second order, third order, and fourth order, we show that, at most, two limit cycles bifurcate from the equilibrium. Overall, this paper can help to increase our understanding of local behaviour in the jerk dynamical system with quadratic non-linearity.

Bond Modelling for the Assessment of Transmission Length in Prestressed-Concrete Members

Transmission of the prestressing force to concrete by prestressing tendons is a topic of discussion within the fib Task Group 2.5: Bond and Material Models. Particularly, the extensive use of pretensioned prestressed-concrete (PC) requires adequate knowledge of bond development at the steel–concrete interface after prestress release. The transmission length, representing the distance from the free-end of the beam necessary to transmit the fully effective prestressing-force to the surrounding concrete, is a design parameter of paramount importance for PC members detailing. This contribution presents the analytical modelling of the transmission length based on the thick-walled cylinders (TWC) theory, considering anisotropic behaviour of the concrete. To derive the optimal friction coefficient between steel and concrete, the theoretical model has been calibrated according to an experimental database of transmission lengths collected from the literature, encompassing 130 data points from 7 different campaigns. Additionally, local behaviour has been analysed by assessing radial cracking and bond stress development along the transmission length.

Coupling law enforcement and community-based regulations in support of compliance with biodiversity conservation regulations

SummaryThe scope and scale of wildlife crimes around the world have risen in intensity and complexity, yet current enforcement strategies have often not delivered desired effects on illegal activities, even within protected areas. Tackling the array of illegal activities by emphasizing law enforcement above other options is challenging and potentially unsustainable. We explored the potential for social norms, community regulations and socioeconomic factors to promote compliance with wildlife laws by interviewing 334 respondents in 28 villages that share boundaries with protected areas in Nigeria. Using an anonymous direct questioning approach, we recorded a high prevalence of non-compliance behaviours in all studied communities. Injunctive norms (i.e., perceptions of acceptable behaviour within a social group) significantly predicted compliance, as respondents with no complicit friends or family members were more likely to comply with wildlife regulations. Perceived likelihood of community-level sanctions played a more salient role than the fear of arrest by rangers in influencing compliance. In addition, non-compliance increased with number of dependents, but reduced with average monthly household income. Our study demonstrates that clear knowledge of the social norms that drive local behaviour as well as the authorities that enforce them is integral to understanding the forces that drive community involvement and participation in conservation. Incorporating local communities in planning enforcement interventions may help protect threatened species and landscapes.

The Engel Curves of Non-Cooperative Households

We provide a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for a system of Engel curves to have been generated by a non-cooperative model of family behaviour. These conditions fully characterise the local behaviour of household-level consumption in the cross-section, i.e., as a function of total income and distribution factors. In this setting, any demand system compatible with a non-cooperative model is also compatible with a collective model, but the converse is not true. We describe how these nested conditions may be tested using standard instrumental-variables strategies.