Automatic Palaeographic Exploration of Genizah Manuscripts

The Cairo Genizah is a collection of hand-written documents containing approximately 350,000 fragments of mainly Jewish texts discovered in the late 19th century. The fragments are today spread out in some 75 libraries and private collections worldwide, but there is an ongoing effort to document and catalogue all extant fragments. Palaeographic information plays a key role in the study of the Genizah collection. Script style, and–more specifically–handwriting, can be used to identify fragments that might originate from the same original work. Such matched fragments, commonly referred to as “joins”, are currently identified manually by experts, and presumably only a small fraction of existing joins have been discovered to date. In this work, we show that automatic handwriting matching functions, obtained from non-specific features using a corpus of writing samples, can perform this task quite reliably. In addition, we explore the problem of grouping various Genizah documents by script style, without being provided any prior information about the relevant styles. The automatically obtained grouping agrees, for the most part, with the palaeographic taxonomy. In cases where the method fails, it is due to apparent similarities between related scripts

Can Nondeterminism Help Complementation?

Complementation and determinization are two fundamental notions in automata theory. The close relationship between the two has been well observed in the literature. In the case of nondeterministic finite automata on finite words (NFA), complementation and determinization have the same state complexity, namely Theta(2^n) where n is the state size. The same similarity between determinization and complementation was found for Buchi automata, where both operations were shown to have 2^\Theta(n lg n) state complexity. An intriguing question is whether there exists a type of omega-automata whose determinization is considerably harder than its complementation. In this paper, we show that for all common types of omega-automata, the determinization problem has the same state complexity as the corresponding complementation problem at the granularity of 2^\Theta(.).Comment: In Proceedings GandALF 2012, arXiv:1210.202

Propositional Dynamic Logic for Message-Passing Systems

We examine a bidirectional propositional dynamic logic (PDL) for finite and infinite message sequence charts (MSCs) extending LTL and TLC-. By this kind of multi-modal logic we can express properties both in the entire future and in the past of an event. Path expressions strengthen the classical until operator of temporal logic. For every formula defining an MSC language, we construct a communicating finite-state machine (CFM) accepting the same language. The CFM obtained has size exponential in the size of the formula. This synthesis problem is solved in full generality, i.e., also for MSCs with unbounded channels. The model checking problem for CFMs and HMSCs turns out to be in PSPACE for existentially bounded MSCs. Finally, we show that, for PDL with intersection, the semantics of a formula cannot be captured by a CFM anymore

Complementation of Rational Sets on Scattered Linear Orderings of Finite Rank

International audienceIn a preceding paper, automata have been introduced for words indexed by linear orderings. These automata are a generalization of automata for finite, infinite, bi-finite and even transfinite words studied by Buchi Kleene's theorem has been generalized to these words. We show that deterministic automata do not have the same expressive power. Despite this negative result, we prove that rational sets of words of finite ranks are closed under complementation

Biodegradable Polymers in Bone Tissue Engineering

The use ofdegradable polymers in medicine largely started around the mid 20th century with their initial use as in vivo resorbing sutures. Thorough knowledge on this topic as been gained since then and the potential applications for these polymers were, and still are, rapidly expanding. After improving the properties of lactic acid-based polymers, these were no longer studied only from a scientific point of view, but also for their use in bone surgery in the 1990s. Unfortunately, after implanting these polymers, different foreign body reactions ranging from the presence of white blood cells to sterile sinuses with resorption of the original tissue were observed. This led to the misconception that degradable polymers would, in all cases, lead to inflammation and/or osteolysis at the implantation site. Nowadays, we have accumulated substantial knowledge on the issue of biocompatibility of biodegradable polymers and are able to tailor these polymers for specific applications and thereby strongly reduce the occurrence of adverse tissue reactions. However, the major issue of biofunctionality, when mechanical adaptation is taken into account, has hitherto been largely unrecognized. A thorough understanding of how to improve the biofunctionality, comprising biomechanical stability, but also visualization and sterilization of the material, together with the avoidance of fibrotic tissue formation and foreign body reactions, may greatly enhance the applicability and safety of degradable polymers in a wide area of tissue engineering applications. This review will address our current understanding of these biofunctionality factors, and will subsequently discuss the pitfalls remaining and potential solutions to solve these problems

Mechanical, structural and dissolution properties of heat treated thin-film phosphate based glasses

Here we show the deposition of 2.7 μm thick phosphate based glass films produced by magnetron sputtering, followed by post heat treatments at 500 °C. Variations in degradation properties pre and post heat treatment were attributed to the formation of Hematite crystals within a glass matrix, iron oxidation and the depletion of hydrophilic P-O-P bonds within the surface layer. As deposited and heat treated coatings showed interfacial tensile adhesion in excess of 73.6 MPa; which surpassed ISO and FDA requirements for HA coatings. Scratch testing of coatings on polished substrates revealed brittle failure mechanisms, amplified due to heat treatment and interfacial failure occurring from 2.3 to 5.0 N. Coatings that were deposited onto sandblasted substrates to mimic commercial implant surfaces, did not suffer from tensile cracking or trackside delamination showing substantial interfacial improvements to between 8.6 and 11.3 N. An exponential dissolution rate was observed from 0 to 2 h for as deposited coatings, which was eliminated via heat treatment. From 2 to 24 h ion release rates ordered P > Na > Mg > Ca > Fe whilst all coatings exhibited linear degradation rates, which reduced by factors of 2.4–3.0 following heat treatments

Effects of Fe2O3 addition and annealing on the mechanical and dissolution properties of MgO- and CaO-containing phosphate glass fibres for bio-applications

This paper investigated the preparation of phosphate glass fibres (PGFs) in the following systems: i) 45P2O5-5B2O3-5Na2O-(29-x)CaO-16MgO-(x)Fe2O3and ii) 45P2O5-5B2O3-5Na2O-24CaO-(21-x)MgO-(x)Fe2O3(where x = 5, 8 and 11 mol%) for biomedical applications. Continuous fibres of 23 ± 1 μm diameter were prepared via a melt-draw spinning process. Compositions with higher Fe2O3content and higher MgO/CaO ratio required higher melting temperature and longer heating time to achieve glass melts for fibre pulling. The effects of Fe2O3 addition and annealing treatment on mechanical properties and degradation behaviours were also investigated. Adding Fe2O3 was found to increase the tensile strength from 523 ± 63 (Ca-Fe5) to 680 ± 75 MPa (Ca-Fe11), improve the tensile modulus from 72 ± 4 (Ca-Fe5) to 78 ± 3 GPa (Ca-Fe11) and decrease the degradation rate from 4.0 (Mg-Fe5) to 1.9 × 10-6kg m-2s-1(Mg-Fe11). The annealing process reduced the fibre tensile strength by 46% (Ca-Fe5), increased the modulus by 19.6% (Ca-Fe8) and decreased the degradation rate by 89.5% (Mg-Fe11) in comparison to the corresponding as-drawn fibres. Additionally, the annealing process also impeded the formation of precipitate shells and revealed coexistence of the precipitation and the pitting corrosion as fibre degradation behaviours

B\"uchi Complementation and Size-Change Termination

We compare tools for complementing nondeterministic B\"uchi automata with a recent termination-analysis algorithm. Complementation of B\"uchi automata is a key step in program verification. Early constructions using a Ramsey-based argument have been supplanted by rank-based constructions with exponentially better bounds. In 2001 Lee et al. presented the size-change termination (SCT) problem, along with both a reduction to B\"uchi automata and a Ramsey-based algorithm. The Ramsey-based algorithm was presented as a more practical alternative to the automata-theoretic approach, but strongly resembles the initial complementation constructions for B\"uchi automata. We prove that the SCT algorithm is a specialized realization of the Ramsey-based complementation construction. To do so, we extend the Ramsey-based complementation construction to provide a containment-testing algorithm. Surprisingly, empirical analysis suggests that despite the massive gap in worst-case complexity, Ramsey-based approaches are superior over the domain of SCT problems. Upon further analysis we discover an interesting property of the problem space that both explains this result and provides a chance to improve rank-based tools. With these improvements, we show that theoretical gains in efficiency of the rank-based approach are mirrored in empirical performance

Niveles elevados de leptina y adipsina se asocian con la actividad clínica en pacientes con artritis reumatoide temprana con sobrepeso e infección periodontal

Las adipocinas están asociadas a la patogénesis de la artritis reumatoide (AR) y son biomarcadores potenciales de la actividad de la enfermedad, la periodontitis y la obesidad. El objetivo era establecer la asociación entre el perfil de adipocinas, la actividad de la enfermedad de la AR, el índice de masa corporal y la infección periodontal. En este estudio se evaluaron 51 pacientes con AR temprana y 51 controles, incluyendo marcadores reumatológicos séricos, niveles de adipocinas, detección de Porphyromonas gingivalis y anticuerpos séricos anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis, y mediciones clínicas y periodontales. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos con SPSS® V26, con un modelo de regresión logística para confirmar las asociaciones. Los resultados muestran que los niveles elevados de leptina eran más frecuentes en pacientes (p = 0,001) que presentaban simultáneamente una mayor frecuencia de Porphyromonas gingivalis (p = 0,004). Los pacientes con presencia concomitante de Porphyromonas gingivalis, alta puntuación de actividad clínica y sobrepeso se correlacionaron con altos niveles de leptina (OR, 7,20; IC 95%, 2,68-19,33; p = 0,0001) y adipsina (OR, 2,69; IC 95%, 1,00-7,28; p = 0,005). La conclusión es que los niveles elevados de leptina y adipsina se asocian a una mayor actividad clínica en pacientes con AR temprana con sobrepeso e infección periodontal, por lo que el sobrepeso y Porphyromonas gingivalis pueden potenciar la actividad de la AR. Esto puede representar un mecanismo patológico entre estas condiciones, donde las adipokinas parecen tener un papel clave.Adipokines are associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are potential biomarkers of disease activity, periodontitis, and obesity. The aim of this was to establish the association between adipokine profile, RA disease activity, body mass index, and periodontal infection. This study evaluated 51 patients with early-RA and 51 controls including serum rheumatological markers, adipokine levels, detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis and serum anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis antibodies, clinical and periodontal measurements. Statistical analyses were run with SPSS® V26, with a logistic regression model to confirm associations. The results show high levels of leptin were more frequent in patients (p = 0.001) who simultaneously showed a higher frequency of Porphyromonas gingivalis (p = 0.004). Patients with concomitant presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, high clinical activity score, and overweight were correlated with high levels of leptin (OR, 7.20; 95% CI, 2.68–19.33; p = 0.0001) and adipsin (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.00–7.28; p = 0.005). The conclusion is that high levels of leptin and adipsin are associated with greater clinical activity in early-RA patients with overweight and periodontal infection, whereby overweight and Porphyromonas gingivalis may enhance RA activity. This may represent a pathological mechanism between these conditions, where adipokines seem to have a key role

El efecto de interacción de los títulos de anticuerpos anti-RgpA y anti-PPAD: Un indicador para el diagnóstico de la artritis reumatoide

Porphyromonas gingivalis secreta factores de virulencia como Arg-gingipains y peptidil arginina deiminasa (PPAD), que están asociados con la patogénesis de la artritis reumatoide (AR). Sin embargo, no existe información sobre los títulos de anticuerpos frente a estas enzimas bacterianas como indicadores sistémicos o biomarcadores en la AR. En este estudio transversal se evaluó a 255 individuos: 143 con diagnóstico de AR y 112 sin AR. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística ajustados por edad, sexo, índice metabólico basal, tabaquismo y gravedad de la periodontitis para evaluar la asociación de la AR con el factor reumatoide (FR), los anticuerpos antiproteínas citrulinadas (ACPA), la velocidad de sedimentación globular, la proteína C reactiva de alta sensibilidad, los anti-RgpA, los anti-PPAD y los anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD doblemente positivos. Se observó que el FR (odds ratio [OR] 10,6; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 4,4-25), los ACPA (OR 13,7; IC del 95%: 5,1-35) y la doble positividad anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD (OR 6,63; IC del 95%: 1,61-27) se asociaban con el diagnóstico de AR. Los anti-RgpA también se asociaron con la AR (OR 4,09; IC 95%: 1,2-13,9). La combinación de anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD mostró una elevada especificidad del 93,7% y un VPP del 82,5% en la identificación de individuos con AR. Los anticuerpos anti-RgpA se asociaron con el índice inflamatorio periodontal en individuos con AR (p < 0,05). La doble positividad de los anticuerpos anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD mejoró el diagnóstico de AR. Por lo tanto, los anticuerpos RgpA y anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD pueden ser biomarcadores de la AR.Porphyromonas gingivalis secretes virulence factors like Arg-gingipains and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. However, there is no information regarding the antibody titers for these bacterial enzymes as systemic indicators or biomarkers in RA. In this cross-sectional study, 255 individuals were evaluated: 143 were diagnosed with RA, and 112 were without RA. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, basal metabolic index, smoking, and periodontitis severity were used to evaluate the association of RA with rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, anti-RgpA, anti-PPAD, and double positive anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD. It was found that RF (odds ratio [OR] 10.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4–25), ACPAs (OR 13.7; 95% CI 5.1–35), and anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD double positivity (OR 6.63; 95% CI 1.61–27) were associated with RA diagnoses. Anti-RgpA was also associated with RA (OR 4.09; 95% CI 1.2–13.9). The combination of anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD showed a high specificity of 93.7% and 82.5% PPV in identifying individuals with RA. RgpA antibodies were associated with the periodontal inflammatory index in RA individuals (p < 0.05). The double positivity of the anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD antibodies enhanced the diagnosis of RA. Therefore, RgpA antibodies and anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD may be biomarkers for R