The aim of this study was to assess the effect of bite opening induced by a mandibular advancement splint (MAS) on efficacy and side effects in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. In a randomized crossover fashion, 23 adult patients received either MAS-1 (4 mm of interincisal opening) or MAS-2 (14 mm of interincisal opening) for 2 weeks, followed by the alternate treatment for 2 weeks, wi...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to examine the relationship between contextual factors, management accounting system (MAS) and managerial performance within the health care industry. In particular, it aims to uncover the contextual factors influencing the design of MAS that would enhance managerial performance in Egyptian hospitals. Design/methodology/approach – Th...

We present the first diffraction-limited images of the mass-loss envelope of the red supergiant star VY CMa. The two-dimensional optical and NIR images were reconstructed from 3.6 m telescope speckle data using bispectrum speckle interferometry. At the wavelengths ∼ 0.8 µm (RG 780 filter), 1.28 µm, and 2.17 µm the diffraction-limited resolutions of 46 mas, 73 mas, and 124 mas were achieved. All...

We present the first diffraction-limited images of the mass-loss envelope of the red supergiant star VY CMa. The twodimensional optical and NIR images were reconstructed from 3.6 m telescope speckle data using bispectrum speckle interferometry. At the wavelengths ∼ 0.8 μm (RG 780 filter), 1.28 μm, and 2.17 μm the diffraction-limited resolutions of 46 mas, 73 mas, and 124 mas were achieved. All ...

Insect allatotropin upregulates the biosynthesis of juvenile hormones by the corpus allatum. We raised two rabbit antisera against the allatotropin of Manduca sexta (Mas AT) using a synthetic, multiple-antigenic-peptide that contains a branching heptalysine core and eight Mas AT molecules. Both antisera recognized specifically the same neurons in the larval brain, frontal ganglion and terminal ...

The paired antennal lobes (ALs) of the sphinx moth Manduca sexta serve as a well-established model for studying development of the primary integration centers for odor information in the brain. To further reveal the role of neuropeptides during AL development, we have analyzed cellular distribution, developmental time course, and regulation of the neuropeptide M. sexta allatotropin (Mas-AT). On...

A system is described for the heterologous expression of peptides in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A synthetic gene encoding a precursor of the 41 amino acid Manduca sexta diuretic hormone (Mas-DH) was expressed at 0.8 mg/l purified peptide. A precursor of a mutant peptide of Mas-DH, Mas-DH[K22Q] was also expressed. The peptides were purified, then treated with peptidylglycine alpha-amidating enzym...

Multiagent systems (MAS) are spreading, in the academic world as well as in industry. Nevertheless, MAS design is still a problem. The agent community now has some experience. So, we considered existing techniques allowing formalisation and reuse of the experience. We particularly considered object-oriented techniques, for they are close to the MAS paradigm, for they are widely used to implemen...

In this paper, we propose an MDA-based approach for developing multiagent systems (MAS). MDA specifies a structured software development process divided in modeling stages. In the PIM stage, where platform independent models are specified, we propose to use MAS-ML, a MAS modeling language that does not restrict or specify implementation platforms. In the PSM stage, where platform specific model...