‎in this paper we introduce a numerical approach that solves optimal control problems (ocps)‎‎using collocation methods‎. ‎this approach is based upon b-spline functions‎.‎the derivative matrices between any two families of b-spline functions are utilized to‎‎reduce the solution of ocps to the solution of nonlinear optimization problems‎.‎numerical experiments confirm our theoretical findings‎.

IL-1β is a key mediator of bone resorption in inflammatory settings, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-1β promotes osteoclastogenesis by inducing RANKL expression on stromal cells and synergizing with RANKL to promote later stages of osteoclast differentiation. Because IL-1Rs share a cytosolic Toll-IL-1R domain and common intracellular signaling molecules with TLRs that can directly inhibit...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The available data on low-dose oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use and stroke risk in US women are limited by small numbers. We sought more precise estimates by conducting a pooled analysis of data from 2 US population-based case-control studies. METHODS We analyzed interview data from 175 ischemic stroke cases, 198 hemorrhagic stroke cases, and 1191 control subjects 18 t...

BACKGROUND Although Methanobacteriales in the gut has recently been linked to obesity, no study has examined the hypothesis that waist circumference, a marker of visceral obesity, are positively associated with Methanobacteriales in the general population. Since Methanobacteriales increase in a petroleum-contaminated environment to biodegrade petroleum as one way of autopurification, we also hy...

The Arctic has been contaminated by legacy organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and currently used pesticides (CUPs) through atmospheric transport and oceanic currents. Here we report the time trends and air-water exchange of OCPs and CUPs from research expeditions conducted between 1993 and 2013. Compounds determined in both air and water were trans- and cis-chlordanes (TC, CC), trans- and cis-non...

Five species of macroalgae, namely Sargassum wightii, Padina tetrastromatica, Ulva lactuca, Caulerpa racemosa and Gracilaria edulis collected from three sampling sites, viz. Harbour Beach (site 1), Tharuvaikkulam 2) Hare Island 3), situated along the Thoothukudi region Gulf Mannar were analysed for 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to assess the...

Endogenous and exogenous female hormones regulate sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in animal models, but their impact in humans is controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the ovarian cycle and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on SNA. We hypothesized that the effects of endogenous hormones were baroreflex (BR)-mediated and that these cyclical changes in BR contro...

BACKGROUND Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are neurodevelopmental toxicants, but few studies have examined associations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine whether prenatal exposure to PCBs and OCPs influences offspring risk of ASD and intellectual disability without autism (ID). METHODS We conducted a population-based ...