University of Craiova

Abstract:- The attempts for solving linear inseparable problems have led to different variations on the number of layers of neurons and activation functions used. The backpropagation algorithm is the most known and used supervised learning algorithm. Also called the generalized delta algorithm because it expands the training way of the adaline network, it is based on minimizing the difference between the desired output and the actual output, through the downward gradient method (the gradient tells us how a function varies in different directions). Training a multilayer perceptron is often quite slow, requiring thousands or tens of thousands of epochs for complex problems. The best known methods to accelerate learning are: the momentum method and applying a variable learning rate. The paper presents the possibility to control the induction driving using neural systems. Key-Words:- Backpropagation algorithm, Gradient method, Multilayer perceptron, Induction driving. 1

The convergence of new EO data flows, new methodological developments and cloud computing infrastructure calls for a paradigm shift in operational agriculture monitoring. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission providing a systematic 5-day revisit cycle and free data access opens a completely new avenue for near real-time crop specific monitoring at parcel level over large countries. This research investigated the feasibility to propose methods and to develop an open source system able to generate, at national scale, cloud-free composites, dynamic cropland masks, crop type maps and vegetation status indicators suitable for most cropping systems. The so-called Sen2-Agri system automatically ingests and processes Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 time series in a seamless way to derive these four products, thanks to streamlined processes based on machine learning algorithms and quality controlled in situ data. It embeds a set of key principles proposed to address the new challenges arising from countrywide 10 m resolution agriculture monitoring. The full-scale demonstration of this system for three entire countries (Ukraine, Mali, South Africa) and five local sites distributed across the world was a major challenge met successfully despite the availability of only one Sentinel-2 satellite in orbit. In situ data were collected for calibration and validation in a timely manner allowing the production of the four Sen2-Agri products over all the demonstration sites. The independent validation of the monthly cropland masks provided for most sites overall accuracy values higher than 90%, and already higher than 80% as early as the mid-season. The crop type maps depicting the 5 main crops for the considered study sites were also successfully validated: overall accuracy values higher than 80% and F1 Scores of the different crop type classes were most often higher than 0.65. These respective results pave the way for countrywide crop specific monitoring system at parcel level bridging the gap between parcel visits and national scale assessment. These full-scale demonstration results clearly highlight the operational agriculture monitoring capacity of the Sen2-Agri system to exploit in near real-time the observation acquired by the Sentinel-2 mission over very large areas. Scaling this open source system on cloud computing infrastructure becomes instrumental to support market transparency while building national monitoring capacity as requested by the AMIS and GEOGLAM G-20 initiatives.

This text provides a complete introduction to the theory of variational inequalities with emphasis on contact mechanics. It covers existence, uniqueness and convergence results for variational inequalities, including the modelling and variational analysis of specific frictional contact problems with elastic, viscoelastic and viscoplastic materials. New models of contact are presented, including contact of piezoelectric materials. Particular attention is paid to the study of history-dependent quasivariational inequalities and to their applications in the study of contact problems with unilateral constraints. The book fully illustrates the cross-fertilisation between modelling and applications on the one hand and nonlinear mathematical analysis on the other. Indeed, the reader will gain an understanding of how new and nonstandard models in contact mechanics lead to new types of variational inequalities and, conversely, how abstract results concerning variational inequalities can be applied to prove the unique solvability of the corresponding contact problems.

We study the boundary value problem in , u =0 on , where is a smooth bounded domain in and is a -Laplace type operator, with . We prove that if λ is large enough then there exist at least two non-negative weak solutions. Our approach relies on the variable exponent theory of generalized Lebesgue–Sobolev spaces, combined with adequate variational methods and a variant of the Mountain Pass lemma.

Detecting hazardous substances in the environment is crucial for protecting human wellbeing and ecosystems. As technology continues to advance, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for creating sensors that can effectively detect and analyze these hazardous substances. The increasing advancements in information technology have led to a growing interest in utilizing this technology for environmental pollution detection. AI-driven sensor systems, AI and Internet of Things (IoT) can be efficiently used for environmental monitoring, such as those for detecting air pollutants, water contaminants, and soil toxins. With the increasing concerns about the detrimental impact of legacy and emerging hazardous substances on ecosystems and human health, it is necessary to develop advanced monitoring systems that can efficiently detect, analyze, and respond to potential risks. Therefore, this review aims to explore recent advancements in using AI, sensors and IOTs for environmental pollution monitoring, taking into account the complexities of predicting and tracking pollution changes due to the dynamic nature of the environment. Integrating machine learning (ML) methods has the potential to revolutionize environmental science, but it also poses challenges. Important considerations include balancing model performance and interpretability, understanding ML model requirements, selecting appropriate models, and addressing concerns related to data sharing. Through examining these issues, this study seeks to highlight the latest trends in leveraging AI and IOT for environmental pollution monitoring.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse customer experience (CX) in the fintech sector. Fintech is a dynamic and innovative field that fully benefits from advances in information and communication technology. The concept of customer experience is multidimensional, analysed from various perspectives, and with distinct valences in different industries. Based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) approach, we proposed a model in which customer experience in fintech is the result of customer’s evaluation of the stimuli proposed by fintech companies. Using partial least squares equation modelling (PLS-SEM), we tested a series of hypotheses and validated the proposed model. The results showed that perceived value, customer support, assurance, speed and perceived firm innovativeness are positively related to customer experience in fintech. In turn, customer experience is positively associated with loyalty intentions of the customer. Our paper contributes in identifying the dimensions, the determinants and the outcomes of customer experience in fintech, while from a managerial perspective, we demonstrate how fintech companies must integrate customer experience in their business models.

Population aging and public health expenditure mainly dedicated to older dependent persons present major challenges for the European Union (EU) Member States, with profound implications for their economies and labor markets. Sustainable economic development relies on a well-balanced workforce of young and older people. As this balance shifts in favor of older people, productivity tends to suffer, on the one hand, and the older group demands more from health services, on the other hand. These requisites tend to manifest differently within developed and developing EU countries. This research aimed to assess population aging impacts on labor market coordinates (employment rate, labor productivity), in the framework of several health dimensions (namely, health government expenditure, hospital services, healthy life years, perceived health) and other economic and social factors. The analytical approach consisted of applying structural equation models, Gaussian graphical models, and macroeconometric models (robust regression and panel corrected standard errors) to EU panel data for the years 1995-2017. The results show significant dissimilarities between developed and developing EU countries, suggesting the need for specific policies and strategies for the labor market integration of older people, jointly with public health expenditure, with implications for EU labor market performance.

We consider the nonlinear eigenvalue problem <disp-formula content-type="math/mathml"> \[ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="minus div left-parenthesis StartAbsoluteValue nabla u EndAbsoluteValue Superscript p left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis minus 2 Baseline nabla u right-parenthesis equals lamda StartAbsoluteValue u EndAbsoluteValue Superscript q left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis minus 2 Baseline u"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo> − </mml:mo> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mtext>div</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>(</mml:mo> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mo stretchy="false">|</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal"> ∇ </mml:mi> <mml:mi>u</mml:mi> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mo stretchy="false">|</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:mo stretchy="false">(</mml:mo> <mml:mi>x</mml:mi> <mml:mo stretchy="false">)</mml:mo> <mml:mo> − </mml:mo> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal"> ∇ </mml:mi> <mml:mi>u</mml:mi> <mml:mo>)</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mi> λ </mml:mi> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mo stretchy="false">|</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mi>u</mml:mi> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mo stretchy="false">|</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mi>q</mml:mi> <mml:mo stretchy="false">(</mml:mo> <mml:mi>x</mml:mi> <mml:mo stretchy="false">)</mml:mo> <mml:mo> − </mml:mo> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> <mml:mi>u</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">-\textrm {div}\left (|\nabla u|^{p(x)-2}\nabla u\right )=\lambda |u|^{q(x)-2}u</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> \] </disp-formula> in <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="normal upper Omega"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal"> Ω </mml:mi> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\Omega</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> , <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="u equals 0"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>u</mml:mi> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">u=0</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> on <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="partial-differential normal upper Omega"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal"> ∂ </mml:mi> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal"> Ω </mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\partial \Omega</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> , where <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="normal upper Omega"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal"> Ω </mml:mi> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\Omega</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> is a bounded open set in <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="double-struck upper R Superscript upper N"> <mml:semantics> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mml:mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> </mml:msup> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\mathbb R^N</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> with smooth boundary and <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="p"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mi>p</mml:mi> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">p</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> , <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="q"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mi>q</mml:mi> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">q</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> are continuous functions on <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="normal upper Omega overbar"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mover> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal"> Ω </mml:mi> <mml:mo accent="false"> ¯ </mml:mo> </mml:mover> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\overline \Omega</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> such that <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="1 greater-than inf Underscript normal upper Omega Endscripts q greater-than inf Underscript normal upper Omega Endscripts p greater-than sup Underscript normal upper Omega Endscripts q"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> <mml:mo>&gt;</mml:mo>

We report the development of a robot for radiological percutaneous interventions using uniplanar fluoroscopy, biplanar fluoroscopy, or computed tomography (CT) for needle biopsy, radio frequency ablation, cryotherapy, and other needle procedures. AcuBot is a compact six-degree-of-freedom robot for manipulating a needle or other slender surgical instrument in the confined space of the imager without inducing image artifacts. Its distinctive characteristic is its decoupled motion capability correlated to the positioning, orientation, and instrument insertion steps of the percutaneous intervention. This approach allows each step of the intervention to be performed using a separate mechanism of the robot. One major advantage of this kinematic approach is patient safety. The first feasibility experiment performed with the robot, a cadaver study of perispinal blocks under biplanar fluoroscopy, is presented. The main expected application of this system is to CT-based procedures. AcuBot has received Food and Drug Administration clearance (IDE G010331/S1), and a clinical trial of using the robot for perispinal nerve and facet blocks is presently underway at Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

The introduction of ultrasound into medical student education is well underway in many locations around the world, but is still in its infancy or has yet to begin in others. Proper incorporation of ultrasound education into medical training requires planning and resources, both capital and human. In this article, we discuss the state of the art of ultrasound in medical education throughout the world, as well as various methodologies utilized to improve student education and to incorporate ultrasound into every facet of training. Experiences from various educational systems and available evidence regarding the impact of ultrasound education are summarized. Representing multiple societies and specialties throughout the world, we discuss established modern as well as novel education structures and different successful approaches.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and firm market value for the companies from travel and tourism industry and, in the same time, to investigates the question if the association between good ESG scores for travel and tourism companies and their market value can be used as a performance predictor. The impact of extra-financial ESG performance on market value of the companies was estimated using the modified version of the Ohlson (1995) model, based on a sample of 73 listed companies, worldwide distributed, during the 2010–2015 period. The overall results of this research are consistent with the value enhancing theory (as opposed with the shareholder expense theory). From the ESG factors, the governance factor seems to have the most important influence on the market value of the selected companies, regardless of the geographic region where they are located. Thus, our findings provide new insights into the influence of each ESG factor on the market value of the companies, providing a useful tool for stakeholders to measure economic impact but also for use as a predictor of economic performance.

Let <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>Ω</mml:mi> </mml:math> be a smooth bounded domain in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi>ℝ</mml:mi> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> </mml:msup> </mml:math> . Assume f ∈ C 1 [0,∞) is a non-negative function such that f ( u )/ u is increasing on (0,∞). Let a be a real number and let b ⩾0, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>b</mml:mi> <mml:mspace width="3.30002pt"/> <mml:mo>/</mml:mo> <mml:mo>≡</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> be a continuous function such that b ≡0 on <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>∂</mml:mi> <mml:mi>Ω</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . We study the logistic equation Δu + au = b ( x ) f ( u ) in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>Ω</mml:mi> </mml:math> . The special feature of this work is the uniqueness of positive solutions blowing-up on <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>∂</mml:mi> <mml:mi>Ω</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> , in a general setting that arises in probability theory.

Part 1: finite element technique shape functions and element stiffness matrix brief historical background basic relationships in engineering problems modified variational principles the concept of T-complete solution comparison of T-elements with conventional finite elements comparison of T-elements with boundary elements. Part 2: potential problems - introduction statement of the problem T-complete functions assumed fields generation of element matrix equation rank condition special purpose functions sensitivity to mesh distortion orthotropic case the Helmholtz equation HT-element with boundary traction frame frameless T-elements. Part 3: linear elastostatics - introduction linear theory of elasticity assumed fields in plane elasticity T-complete functions variational formulations element stiffness equation special-purpose elements p-extension approach three-dimensional elasticity numerical examples. Part 4: thin plates - introduction thin plate theory assumed field T-complete functions and particular solutions variational formulations for plate bending generation of element stiffness matrix p-method elements special purpose functions Extension to thin plates on elastic foundation Two alternative plate bending p-elements Numerical examples and assessment. Chapter 5 - Thick Plates - Introduction Basic equations for Reissner-Mindlin plate theory Assumed fields and particular solution Variational formulation for HT thick plate elements Implementation of the new family of HT elements A 12 DOF quadrilateral element free of shear locking Extension to thick plates on elastic foundation Sensitivity to mesh distortion Numerical assessment. Chapter 6 - Transient Heat Conduction - Introduction Elements of heat conduction Time step formula Element matrix formulations T-complete functions and particular solutions Numerical examples. Chapter 7 - Geometrically Nonlinear Analysis of Plate Bending Problems - Introduction Basic equations of nonlinear thin plate bending Assumed fields and Trefftz functions Particular solutions Modified variational principle Element matrix Iterative scheme Extension to post-buckling thin plates on elastic foundation Geometrically nonlinear analysis of thick plates Numerical examples. Chapter 8 - Elastoplasticity - Introduction Time discretization Basic relations Assumed fields Constraints on the approximation functions Finite element equilibrium and compatibility equations Finite element equations Finite element governing system. Chapter 9 - Dynamics of Plate Bending Problems - Introduction Basic equations Time-stepping formulation Numerical examples. Chapter 10 - Trefftz Boundary Element Method - Introduction Potential problems Plane elasticity Thin plate bending Moderately thick plates.

A general report on the use of the Allium test as cytotoxicological and genotoxicological assay is proposed, with particular emphasis about the standardization of the test in several common applications. The intraspecific variation in Allium cepa has been overlooked, as in most investigations no mention is made about origin and denomination of the onion cultivar used. A standardization of the used material would allow a better generalization of the results, since we cannot be sure that all cultivars would give the same response. A more frequent use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation is proposed. Even if relatively time consuming and not available in all laboratories, it may help to better understand the mechanism of cytotoxicity, since many morphological characters may appear similar but be arisen from different processes observable only with TEM. About statistical testing, tests other than chi-squared may be used in case of a lower amount of data. The most commonly used statistical tests are the parametric tests ANOVA and Student’s t, and the non-parametric tests Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U, for analysis of variance. Tests should be used also to assess the minimal sample dimension for obtaining significance, since data collection (microscope observation) appears to be one of the main bottle necks of the test. Also the use of the Allium test for testing liposomes and other nanovectors for drug delivery is proposed, in order to assess the cytotoxicity of these types of medium and the possible increase in cytotoxicity of the associated drug. © 2018, © 2018 Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with gradient elution and diode-array detection was developed to quantify free phenolic acids (gallic, vanillic, chlorogenic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, salycilic, elagic and trans-cinnamic), flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, rutin, myricetin and quercetin) and juglone in walnut leaves. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Hypersil Gold C18 column (5 µm particle size, 250 × 4.6 mm) and detection was conducted at three different wavelengths (254, 278 and 300 nm) according to the absorption maxima of the analyzed compounds. Validation procedures were conducted and the method was proven to be precise, accurate and sensitive. The developed method has been applied to analyze walnut leaves samples from nine different cultivars, with the same agricultural, geographical and climatic conditions. The experimental results revealed high concentrations of myricetin, catechin hydrate and rutin, and low concentrations of quercetin and epicatechin aglycones. Ellagic acid was established as the dominating phenolic acid of walnut leaves, followed by trans-cinnamic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids. Juglone content varied between 44.55 and 205.12 mg/100 g fresh weight. Significant differences were detected among cultivars for the concentration levels of phenolics.

Climate change, inadequate possessions, and land degradation all pose obstacles to modern agriculture. In the current scenario, the agriculture industry is mainly dependent on the use of chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers that impact soil health and crop productivity. Moreover, water scarcity leads farmers in drastically affected regions to use heavy metal-enriched water sources mainly originating from industrial sources for field crops irrigation. Soil pollutants can be carried into the human body via dust and water, creating negative health effects varying from simple symptoms, e.g., nausea and diarrhea and reaching death in critical cases. Thus, to clean soil contaminants, and improve soil fertility and agricultural production, alternatives to chemical fertilizers must be developed. Therefore, using beneficial microbes found in plant-associated soil microorganisms offers an effective strategy to alleviate some of these challenges, improving soil fertility, and crop yield, and protecting plants from stress conditions. Through the use of synergistic interactions, the synthetic consortium strategy seeks to improve the stability of microbial communities. In this review, synthetic consortia and their potential use in agriculture were discussed. Further, engineering new effective synthetic consortia was suggested as an effective approach in the concept of environmental bioremediation of soil pollutants and contaminants.

PURPOSE: In the phase III CheckMate 238 study, adjuvant nivolumab significantly improved recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival versus ipilimumab in patients with resected stage IIIB-C or stage IV melanoma, with benefit sustained at 4 years. We report updated 5-year efficacy and biomarker findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with resected stage IIIB-C/IV melanoma were stratified by stage and baseline programmed death cell ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and received nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or ipilimumab 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks for four doses and then every 12 weeks, both intravenously for 1 year until disease recurrence, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. The primary endpoint was RFS. RESULTS: At a minimum follow-up of 62 months, RFS with nivolumab remained superior to ipilimumab (HR = 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.86; 5-year rates of 50% vs. 39%). Five-year distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates were 58% with nivolumab versus 51% with ipilimumab. Five-year overall survival (OS) rates were 76% with nivolumab and 72% with ipilimumab (75% data maturity: 228 of 302 planned events). Higher levels of tumor mutational burden (TMB), tumor PD-L1, intratumoral CD8+ T cells and IFNγ-associated gene expression signature, and lower levels of peripheral serum C-reactive protein were associated with improved RFS and OS with both nivolumab and ipilimumab, albeit with limited clinically meaningful predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Nivolumab is a proven adjuvant treatment for resected melanoma at high risk of recurrence, with sustained, long-term improvement in RFS and DMFS compared with ipilimumab and high OS rates. Identification of additional biomarkers is needed to better predict treatment outcome. See related commentary by Augustin and Luke, p. 3253.

BACKGROUND: The use of the mechanomyogram (MMG) which detects muscular vibrations generated by fused individual fiber twitches has been refined. The study addresses a comparison of the MMG and surface electromyogram (SEMG) in monitoring muscle fatigue. METHODS: The SEMG and MMG were recorded simultaneously from the same territory of motor units in two muscles (Biceps, Brachioradialis) of the human (n = 18), during sustained contraction at 25 % MVC (maximal voluntary contraction). RESULTS: The RMS (root mean square) of the SEMG and MMG increased with advancing fatigue; MF (median frequency) of the PSD (power density spectra) progressively decreased from the onset of the contraction. These findings (both muscles, all subjects), demonstrate both through the SEMG and MMG a central component of the fatigue. The MF regression slopes of MMG were closer to each other between men and women (Biceps 1.55%; Brachialis 13.2%) than were the SEMG MF slopes (Biceps 25.32%; Brachialis 17.72%), which shows a smaller inter-sex variability for the MMG vs. SEMG. CONCLUSION: The study presents another quantitative comparison (MF, RMS) of MMG and SEMG, showing that MMG signal can be used for indication of the degree of muscle activation and for monitoring the muscle fatigue when the application of SEMG is not feasible (chronical implants, adverse environments contaminated by electrical noise).

The content of this paper is at the interplay between function spaces $L^{p(x)}$ and $W^{k, p(x)}$ with variable exponents and fractional Sobolev spaces $W^{s, p}$. We are concerned with some qualitative properties of the fractional Sobolev space $W^{s, q(x), p(x, y)}$, where $q$ and $p$ are variable exponents and $s∈ (0, 1)$. We also study a related nonlocal operator, which is a fractional version of the nonhomogeneous $p(x)$-Laplace operator. The abstract results established in this paper are applied in the variational analysis of a class of nonlocal fractional problems with several variable exponents.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term (60-d) oral supplementation with calcium fructoborate, resveratrol, and their combination on the clinical and biological statuses of subjects with stable angina pectoris. METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, active-controlled, parallel clinical trial was conducted in three groups of subjects. Of the total number of subjects included in study (n = 166), 87 completed the 60-d test treatment study period and 29 followed in parallel their usual medical care and treatment. The primary outcomes were inflammation biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), left ventricular function markers (N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide), and lipid markers (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerols). Quality of life was assessed by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class and the number of angina attacks per week. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in all groups at the 30-d and 60-d visits. This decrease was greater (39.7% at 60 d) for group 3 (calcium fructoborate), followed by group 2 (resveratrol plus calcium fructoborate, 30.3% at 60 d). The N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide was significantly lowered by resveratrol (group 1, 59.7% at 60 d) and by calcium fructoborate (group 3, 52.6% at 60 d). However, their combination (group 2) was the most effective and induced a decrease of 65.5%. Lipid markers showed slight changes from baseline in all groups. The improvement in the quality of life was best observed for subjects who received the resveratrol and calcium fructoborate mixture (group 2). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the combination of resveratrol and calcium fructoborate has beneficial effects in patients with angina