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W2022659029 | An adaptive packet aggregation algorithm for wireless networks | In order to reduce the protocol overhead of WLANs, packet aggregation is permitted in the IEEE 802.11n standard. Packet aggregation can improve the throughput by reducing the protocol overhead, but it can also increase the delay. In any packet aggregation scheme there is a trade-off between maximizing throughput and minimizing delay. In this paper, we propose an adaptive aggregation algorithm called AAM that allows for an adaptive trade-off between maximizing throughput and minimizing delay. Through simulation we demonstrate the superior performance of the AAM algorithm over the FIFO aggregation scheme in terms of the trade-off between the number of sub-packets and the average delay. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2526957137 | Study of multiferroic properties of Bi2Fe2WO9 ceramic for device application | The Bi 2 Fe 2 WO 9 ceramic was prepared using a standard solid-state reaction technique. Preliminary analysis of X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the formation of single-phase compound with orthorhombic crystal symmetry. The surface morphology of the material captured using scanning electron microscope (SEM) exhibits formation of a densely packed microstructure. Comprehensive study of dielectric properties showed two anomalies at 200[Formula: see text]C and 450[Formula: see text]C: first one may be related to magnetic whereas second one may be related to ferroelectric phase transition. The field dependent magnetic study of the material shows the existence of small remnant magnetization ([Formula: see text]) of 0.052[Formula: see text]em[Formula: see text]/g at room temperature. The existence of magneto-electric (ME) coupling coefficient along with above properties confirms multi-ferroic characteristics of the compound. Selected range temperature and frequency dependent electrical parameters (impedance, modulus, conductivity) of the compound shows that electric properties are correlated to its microstructure. Detailed studies of frequency dependence of ac conductivity suggest that the material obeys Jonscher’s universal power law. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/nature12306 | CGAS produces a 2′-5′-linked cyclic dinucleotide second messenger that activates STING | Detection of cytoplasmic DNA represents one of the most fundamental mechanisms of the innate immune system to sense the presence of microbial pathogens. Moreover, erroneous detection of endogenous DNA by the same sensing mechanisms has an important pathophysiological role in certain sterile inflammatory conditions. The endoplasmic-reticulum-resident protein STING is critically required for the initiation of type I interferon signalling upon detection of cytosolic DNA of both exogenous and endogenous origin. Next to its pivotal role in DNA sensing, STING also serves as a direct receptor for the detection of cyclic dinucleotides, which function as second messenger molecules in bacteria. DNA recognition, however, is triggered in an indirect fashion that depends on a recently characterized cytoplasmic nucleotidyl transferase, termed cGAMP synthase (cGAS), which upon interaction with DNA synthesizes a dinucleotide molecule that in turn binds to and activates STING. We here show in vivo and in vitro that the cGAS-catalysed reaction product is distinct from previously characterized cyclic dinucleotides. Using a combinatorial approach based on mass spectrometry, enzymatic digestion, NMR analysis and chemical synthesis we demonstrate that cGAS produces a cyclic GMP-AMP dinucleotide, which comprises a 2′-5′ and a 3′-5′ phosphodiester linkage >Gp(2′-5′)Ap(3′-5′)>. We found that the presence of this 2′-5′ linkage was required to exert potent activation of human STING. Moreover, we show that cGAS first catalyses the synthesis of a linear 2′-5′-linked dinucleotide, which is then subject to cGAS-dependent cyclization in a second step through a 3′-5′ phosphodiester linkage. This 13-membered ring structure defines a novel class of second messenger molecules, extending the family of 2′-5′-linked antiviral biomolecules. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1214/EJP.v18-2043 | Regularity of affine processes on general state spaces | We consider a stochastically continuous, affine Markov process in the sense of Duffie, Filipovic and Schachermayer [9], with càdlàg paths, on a general state space D, i. e. an arbitrary Borel subset of ℝd. We show that such a process is always regular, meaning that its Fourier-Laplace transform is differentiable in time, with derivatives that are continuous in the transform variable. As a consequence, we show that generalized Riccati equations and Lévy-Khintchine parameters for the process can be derived, as in the case of D = ℝm≥0 × ℝn studied in Duffie et al. [9]. Moreover, we show that when the killing rate is zero, the affine process is a semi-martingale with absolutely continuous characteristics up to its time of explosion. Our results generalize the results of Keller-Ressel, Schachermayer and Teichmann [15] for the state space ℝm≥0 × ℝn and provide a new probabilistic approach to regularity. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
W934837306 | Abstract 11284: Modulation of Transforming Growth Factor-{beta} Signaling and Extracellular Matrix in Myxomatous Mitral Valve Degeneration by Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Losartan | Background: No specific treatment exists for myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve, the pathological hallmark of mitral valve prolapse, associated with symptomatic mitral regurgitation, heart failure and death. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is known to cause mitral valve degeneration and regurgitation in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome. We investigated the role of TGF-β in sporadic myxomatous mitral valve disease in humans. Methods and results: Mitral valve tissue was obtained from patients undergoing mitral valve operation or from organ recipients and donors. We used standard techniques of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, FACS and quantitative real-time PCR. Tissue culture techniques and isolated valve interstitial cells (VIC) were used for in-vitro analysis. Excess extracellular matrix components in diseased tissue correlated with TGF-β up-regulation and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation in-vivo and in-vitro. Both TGF-β ligand and signaling mediators co-localized primarily to VIC suggesting autocrine/paracrine activation. In cultured valve tissue, exogenous TGF-β induced collagen and elastin production, whereas serologic neutralization of TGF-β inhibited the disease-driven, pro-fibrotic process. In cultured VIC, pharmacological inhibitors of TGF-β receptor 1 kinase and SMAD3 decreased TGF-β-mediated production of extracellular matrix molecules. Similar effects were seen for angiotensin receptor blockers with described TGF-β inhibitory activity, including losartan. Remarkably, patients with severe mitral regurgitation who had received losartan for several weeks pre-operatively had less TGF-β activity in resected mitral valves than those who had not. Conclusions: TGF-β signaling pathway is up-regulated and plays an essential role in myxomatous mitral valve degeneration where VIC remains the central source of TGF-β ligand. Attenuation of TGF-β signaling by losartan positively affects the pathological processes involved. Successful modulation of clinical complications of mitral valve propapse with a clinically established agent would be of great significance and could provide new mechanistic specific means affecting clinical outcomes of myxomatous mitral valve disease. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1002/anie.201910955 | A Fluorescent Activatable AND-Gate Chemokine CCL2 Enables In Vivo Detection of Metastasis-Associated Macrophages | We report the novel chemical design of fluorescent activatable chemokines as highly specific functional probes for imaging subpopulations of immune cells in live tumours. Activatable chemokines behave as AND-gates since they emit only after receptor binding and intracellular activation, showing enhanced selectivity over existing agents. We have applied this strategy to produce mCCL2-MAF as the first probe for in vivo detection of metastasis-associated macrophages in a preclinical model of lung metastasis. This strategy will accelerate the preparation of new chemokine-based probes for imaging immune cell function in tumours. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1177/0162243915604723 | Voluntary Participation In Forensic Dna Databases Altruism Resistance And Stigma | The public’s understanding of forensic DNA databases remains undertheorized and few empirical studies have been produced. This article aims to address this omission by exploring the answers to an o. . . | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
W2109851115 | A molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the manakins (Aves: Pipridae) | Phylogenetic relationships among the 14 manakin genera were inferred from DNA sequence data obtained from both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA loci. Phylogenetic analysis resulted in a well-supported hypothesis that corroborates a sister relationship between tyrant-manakins and the “core” manakins ( Antilophia, Chiroxiphia, Corapipo, Dixiphia, Heterocercus , Ilicura , Lepidothrix , Manacus , Masius , Machaeropterus , Pipra , and Xenopipo ). Our data strongly support these core manakin genera as a monophyletic group. Consistent with previous work, we find two major clades within the core manakins, although the placement of the genus Xenopipo with regards to these two clades is ambiguous. Generic relationships within these clades are generally well resolved. Although we find some concordance between our study and a previous manakin phylogeny based on syringeal characters, we note several fundamental differences between the phylogenies. Thus, we offer a new phylogenetic hypothesis for Pipridae. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
281699 | Decoding the ubiquitin code | Ubiquitin (Ub) is a 76 amino acid protein that is commonly found in isopeptide linkage to a lysine residue of a target protein. This post-translational modification controls most cellular processes, including DNA repair, trafficking and protein degradation. Ubiquitin conjugation onto any of its 7 own lysine residues or onto its N-terminus results in a large number of differently linked polymers; the shape, charge and size of which determine how they interact with ubiquitin binding domains (UBDs). Binding to proteins containing such domains triggers further events that determine the fate of a Ub-tagged substrate in subsequent biochemical events in a Ub chain topology dependent manner. Malfunction of these signal transduction events contributes to the pathology of human disease. Although all Ub linkages are found in cells and all likely have specific functions, only few of them have been intensively studied so far as most linkages cannot be generated biochemically.
This project will investigate how Ub linkages are recognized by UBDs to transduce cellular signals in a chain specific manner, including all linkages with all their possible topoisomers. This information will then be used to generate pharmacological modulators aimed at interfering with specific UBD-mediated signal transduction events. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201527108 | Filament Fragmentation In High Mass Star Formation | Context. Filamentary structures in the interstellar medium are crucial ingredients in the star formation process. They fragment to form individual star-forming cores, and at the same time they may also funnel gas toward the central gas cores providing an additional gas reservoir. Aims. We want to resolve the length-scales for filament formation and fragmentation (resolution≤0. 1pc), in particular the Jeans length and cylinder fragmentation scale. Methods. We have observed the prototypical high-mass star-forming filament IRDC18223 with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) in the 3. 2mm continuum and N2H + (1-0) line emission in a ten field mosaic at a spatial resolution of∼ 4 '' (∼14000AU). Results. The dust continuum emission resolves the filament into a chain of at least 12 relatively regularly spaced cores. The mean separation between cores is∼0. 40(±0: 18)pc. While this is approximately consistent with the fragmentation of an infinite, isother- mal, gravitationally bound gas cylinder, a high mass-to-length ratio of M= l ≈ 1000M⊙ pc −1 requires additional turbulent and/or magnetic support against radial collapse of the filament. The N2H + (1− 0) data reveal a velocity gradient perpendicular to the main filament. Although rotation of the filament cannot be excluded, the data are also consistent with the main filament being comprised of several velocity-coherent sub-filaments. Furthermore, this velocity gradient perpendicular to the filament resembles recent results toward Serpens south that are interpreted as signatures of filament formation within magnetized and turbulent sheet-like structures. Lower-density gas tracers ((CI) and C 18 O) reveal a similar red/blueshifted velocity structure on scales around 60 '' east and west of the IRDC18223 filament. This may tentatively be interpreted as a signature of the large-scale cloud and the smaller-scale filament being kinematically coupled. We do not identify a velocity gradient along the axis of the filament. This may either be due to no significant gas flows along the filamentary axis, but it may partly also be caused by a low inclination angle of the filament with respect to the plane of the sky that could minimize such signature. Conclusions. The IRDC18223 3. 2mm continuum data are consistent with thermal fragmentation of a gravitationally bound and compressible gas cylinder. However, the large mass-to-length ratio requires additional support - likely turbulence and/or magnetic fields - against collapse. The N2H + spectral line data indicate a kinematic origin of the filament, but we cannot conclusively differen- tiate whether it has formed out of (pre-existing) velocity-coherent sub-filaments and/or whether magnetized converging gas flows, a larger-scale collapsing cloud or even rotation played a significant role during filament formation. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1093/aje/kwv094 | Who Suffers during Recessions? Economic Downturns, Job Loss, and Cardiovascular Disease in Older Americans | Job loss in the years before retirement has been found to increase risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but some studies suggest that CVD mortality among older workers declines during recessions. We hypothesized that recessionary labor market conditions were associated with reduced CVD risk among persons who did not experience job loss and increased CVD risk among persons who lost their jobs. In our analyses, we used longitudinal, nationally representative data from Americans 50 years of age or older who were enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study and surveyed every 2 years from 1992 to 2010 about their employment status and whether they had experienced a stroke or myocardial infarction. To measure local labor market conditions, Health and Retirement Study data were linked to county unemployment rates. Among workers who experienced job loss, recessionary labor market conditions at the time of job loss were associated with a significantly higher CVD risk (hazard ratio = 2. 54, 95% confidence interval: 1. 39, 4. 65). In contrast, among workers who did not experience job loss, recessionary labor market conditions were associated with a lower CVD risk (hazard ratio = 0. 50, 95% confidence interval: 0. 31, 0. 78). These results suggest that recessions might be protective in the absence of job loss but hazardous in the presence of job loss. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
W2277727921 | Phytochemical Analysis of Andrographis paniculata Leaf Extract | Andrographis paniculata is traditionally used for treating different aliments. In the present investigation was carried out to determine the possible chemical components from A. paniculata by a GC–MS technique. GC–MS analysis of ethanolic extract revealed the presence of 12 different compounds namely, Silane, triethoxy-methoxy) 1-Buten-3 YNYL Benzene 4-phenyl but-3-one-1-yne, 3-butoxy1,1,1,7,7,7, hexamethyl-1-3 tetrasioxane, 2,6-ditert-butyphenol, (trans)-2-nonadecene, (trcus)-2-nomadecene, ester (CAS) ethylallg-I-phthalate)1-2-benzoldicarbon saeure trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dion-2-01, 2,6,8-trimethyl-bicyclo (4,2,0) oct-2-ene-1,8-diol). The present study enhances the traditional usage of A. paniculata which posses the several known and unknown bioactive compounds against the dengue vector Aedes agypti, by isolating and identifying these bioactive compounds ecofriendly insecticide as an alternative to synthetic insecticides. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
W1986619024 | Statistical approach for color image detection | The increased use of color has brought with it new challenges and problems. Recently color image processing has occupied an emerging field of research. Though some of the work has already been done, still there is scope to improve. This paper aims the recognition of the color of the object using a statistical approach. The approach of this paper is first, to find the edge of the image for the region of interest. Region of Interest (ROI) is used for further processing pixel wise. The threshold is determined based on basic statistical method that leads to color recognition of an object. Applying the method of thresholding iteratively over the ROI selected, the recognition of the color of the desired object is performed. The result shows the performance. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.027 | The Impact of Structural Heterogeneity on Excitation-Inhibition Balance in Cortical Networks | Models of cortical dynamics often assume a homogeneous connectivity structure. However, we show that heterogeneous input connectivity can prevent the dynamic balance between excitation and inhibition, a hallmark of cortical dynamics, and yield unrealistically sparse and temporally regular firing. Anatomically based estimates of the connectivity of layer 4 (L4) rat barrel cortex and numerical simulations of this circuit indicate that the local network possesses substantial heterogeneity in input connectivity, sufficient to disrupt excitation-inhibition balance. We show that homeostatic plasticity in inhibitory synapses can align the functional connectivity to compensate for structural heterogeneity. Alternatively, spike-frequency adaptation can give rise to a novel state in which local firing rates adjust dynamically so that adaptation currents and synaptic inputs are balanced. This theory is supported by simulations of L4 barrel cortex during spontaneous and stimulus-evoked conditions. Our study shows how synaptic and cellular mechanisms yield fluctuation-driven dynamics despite structural heterogeneity in cortical circuits. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1093/mnras/stz2945 | Detecting the halo heating from AGN feedback with ALMA | ABSTRACT
The Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (SZ) effect can potentially be used to investigate the heating of the circumgalactic medium and subsequent suppression of cold gas accretion on to the host galaxy caused by quasar feedback. We use a deep ALMA observation of HE0515-4414 in band 4, the most luminous quasar known at the peak of cosmic star formation (z = 1. 7), to search for the SZ signal tracing the heating of the galaxy’s halo. ALMA’s sensitivity to a broad range of spatial scales enables us to disentangle emitting compact sources from the negative, extended SZ signal. We obtain a marginal SZ detection (∼3. 3σ) on scales of about 300 kpc (30–40 arcsec), at the 0. 2 mJy level, 0. 5 mJy after applying a correction factor for primary beam attenuation and flux that is resolved out by the array. We show that our result is consistent with a simulated ALMA observation of a similar quasar in the fable cosmological simulations. We emphasize that detecting an SZ signal is more easily achieved in the visibility plane than in the (inferred) images. We also confirm a marginal detection (3. 2σ) of a potential SZ dip on smaller scales (<100 kpc) already claimed by other authors, possibly highlighting the complex structure of the halo heating. Finally, we use SZ maps from the fable cosmological simulations, convolved with ALMA simulations, to illustrate that band 3 observations are much more effective in detecting the SZ signal with higher significance, and discuss the optimal observing strategy. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201937173 | Studying The Ism At 10 Pc Scale In Ngc 7793 With Muse I Data Description And Properties Of The Ionised Gas | Context. Studies of nearby galaxies reveal that around 50% of the total Hα luminosity in late-type spirals originates from diffuse ionised gas (DIG), which is a warm, diffuse component of the interstellar medium that can be associated with various mechanisms, the most important ones being “leaking” HII regions, evolved field stars, and shocks. Aims. Using MUSE Wide Field Mode adaptive optics-assisted data, we study the condition of the ionised medium in the nearby (D = 3. 4 Mpc) flocculent spiral galaxy NGC 7793 at a spatial resolution of ∼10 pc. We construct a sample of HII regions and investigate the properties and origin of the DIG component. Methods. We obtained stellar and gas kinematics by modelling the stellar continuum and fitting the Hα emission line. We identified the boundaries of resolved HII regions based on their Hα surface brightness. As a way of comparison, we also selected regions according to the Hα/[SII] line ratio; this results in more conservative boundaries. Using characteristic line ratios and the gas velocity dispersion, we excluded potential contaminants, such as supernova remnants (SNRs) and planetary nebulae (PNe). The continuum subtracted HeII map was used to spectroscopically identify Wolf Rayet stars (WR) in our field of view. Finally, we computed electron densities and temperatures using the line ratio [SII]6716/6731 and [SIII]6312/9069, respectively. We studied the properties of the ionised gas through “BPT” emission line diagrams combined with velocity dispersion of the gas. Results. We spectroscopically confirm two previously detected WR and SNR candidates and report the discovery of the other seven WR candidates, one SNR, and two PNe within our field of view. The resulting DIG fraction is between ∼27 and 42% depending on the method used to define the boundaries of the HII regions (flux brightness cut in Hα = 6. 7 × 10−18 erg s−1 cm−2 or Hα/[SII] = 2. 1, respectively). In agreement with previous studies, we find that the DIG exhibits enhanced [SII]/Hα and [NII]/Hα ratios and a median temperature that is ∼3000 K higher than in HII regions. We also observe an apparent inverse correlation between temperature and Hα surface brightness. In the majority of our field of view, the observed [SII]6716/6731 ratio is consistent within 1σ with ne < 30 cm−3, with an almost identical distribution for the DIG and HII regions. The velocity dispersion of the ionised gas indicates that the DIG has a higher degree of turbulence than the HII regions. Comparison with photoionisation and shock models reveals that, overall, the diffuse component can only partially be explained via shocks and that it is most likely consistent with photons leaking from density bounded HII regions or with radiation from evolved field stars. Further investigation will be conducted in a follow-up paper. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.036 | Preschoolers' brains rely on semantic cues prior to the mastery of syntax during sentence comprehension | Sentence comprehension requires the integration of both syntactic and semantic information, the acquisition of which seems to have different trajectories in the developing brain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined the neural correlates underlying syntactic and semantic processing during auditory sentence comprehension as well as its development in preschool children by manipulating case marking and animacy hierarchy cues, respectively. A functional segregation was observed within Broca's area in the left inferior frontal gyrus for adults, where the pars opercularis was involved in syntactic processing and the pars triangularis in semantic processing. By contrast, five-year-old children sensitive to animacy hierarchy cues showed diffuse activation for semantic processing in the left inferior frontal and posterior temporal cortices. While no main effect of case marking was found in the left fronto-temporal language network, children with better syntactic skills showed greater neural responses for syntactically complex sentences, most prominently in the posterior superior temporal cortex. The current study provides both behavioral and neural evidence that five-year-old children compared to adults rely more on semantic information than on syntactic cues during sentence comprehension, but with the development of syntactic abilities, their brain activation in the left fronto-temporal network increases for syntactic processing. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1098/rspb.2016.0520 | Differential remodelling of peroxisome function underpins the environmental and metabolic adaptability of diplonemids and kinetoplastids | The remodelling of organelle function is increasingly appreciated as a central driver of eukaryotic biodiversity and evolution. Kinetoplastids including
Trypanosoma
and
Leishmania
have evolved specialized peroxisomes, called glycosomes. Glycosomes uniquely contain a glycolytic pathway as well as other enzymes, which underpin the physiological flexibility of these major human pathogens. The sister group of kinetoplastids are the diplonemids, which are among the most abundant eukaryotes in marine plankton. Here we demonstrate the compartmentalization of gluconeogenesis, or glycolysis in reverse, in the peroxisomes of the free-living marine diplonemid,
Diplonema papillatum
. Our results suggest that peroxisome modification was already under way in the common ancestor of kinetoplastids and diplonemids, and raise the possibility that the central importance of gluconeogenesis to carbon metabolism in the heterotrophic free-living ancestor may have been an important selective driver. Our data indicate that peroxisome modification is not confined to the kinetoplastid lineage, but has also been a factor in the success of their free-living euglenozoan relatives. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.4209/aaqr.2018.11.0406 | Effect of large-scale biomass burning on aerosol optical properties at the GAW regional station pha din, Vietnam | In 2014, Pha Din (1466 m a. s. l. ) was established as a Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) regional station for aerosol and trace gas measurements in northwestern Vietnam. This study presents a five-year climatology of aerosol optical properties derived from nephelometer and aethalometer measurements and a comparison with ground-based remote sensing measurements at the nearby AERONET station Son La. The annual variations of the aerosol measurements at Pha Din are clearly dominated by annually recurring periods with high biomass burning activity in northern Southeast Asia (February– May). During these periods, the majority of air masses arriving at Pha Din originate from the southwest (northern Thailand, Laos and Myanmar). Both the meteorological conditions and the aerosol optical properties are very similar during the individual high biomass burning periods (increased temperature: > 20°C; moderate ambient relative humidity: 60–70%; decreased single scattering albedo: 0. 8–0. 9; increased absorption Ångström exponent: 1. 6–2. 0; and scattering Ångström exponent significantly larger than 1). Prior to the biomass burning season (October–January), the meteorological conditions at Pha Din are influenced by the SE Asian monsoon, leading to a frequent transport of air masses from SW China with moderate aerosol loadings. The lowest pollution levels are observed from June to September, which represents the wet season. | [
"Earth System Science"
]
|
W1987282967 | Segregation, Immigration, and Latino Participation in Ethnic Politics | This article examines the way in which racial/ethnic context influences Latino support for ethnic political causes. Welch et al. argue that feelings of solidarity within the African American community intensify as the size of the African American population in an individual’s residential environment increases. We extend this hypothesis to Latinos, while also considering how other scholars have hypothesized different structural patterns of residence among Latinos to influence their political behavior. We also consider how higher levels of in-group heterogeneity within the Latino community might complicate this relationship. These hypotheses are tested using data from the 1999 Harvard/ Kaiser/Washington Post National Survey of Latinos.We find that higher levels of segregation between Anglos and Latinos dampen the positive relationship between Latino group size and participation in ethnic political causes. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
184453 | Convergence of electronics and photonics technologies for enabling terahertz applications | CELTA: Convergence of Electronics and Photonics Technologies for Enabling Terahertz Applications aims to produce the next generation of researchers who will enable Europe to take a leading role in the multidisciplinary area of utilizing Terahertz technology for applications involving components and complete systems for sensing, instrumentation, imaging, spectroscopy, and communications. All these technologies are key to tackle important solutions in a large number of focus areas relevant for the societal challenges identified in the Horizon2020 work programme. To achieve this objective, CELTA is comprised of eleven leading research institutions and assembled a comprehensive research training programme for all the fifteen early stage researchers (ESRs). CELTA integrates multidisciplinary scientific expertise, complementary skills, and experience working in academia and industry to empower ESRs to work in interdisciplinary teams, integrate their activities, share expertise, and promote a vision of a converged co-design and common engineering language between electronics and photonics for Terahertz technologies. Therefore, CELTA will introduce the strategy of converged electronics and photonics co-design in its research program and makes a special effort on establishing a common engineering language in its training program across the electronics, photonics and applications disciplines. We believe this common engineering language and converged co-design is mandatory to make the next logical step towards efficient and innovation solutions that can reach the market. The detailed compendium of lectures on state-of-the art technology, soft skills and entrepreneurship is accompanied by a research programme that focuses on THz key technologies. CELTA ESRs will develop three demonstrators: beam steering technology for communication applications, a photonic vector analyser for spectroscopy and materials characterization, and a THz imager for sensing applications. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1039/C5SC04084A | Optical Control Of Neuronal Activity Using A Light Operated Girk Channel Opener Logo | G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are expressed throughout the human body and are an integral part of inhibitory signal transduction pathways. Upon binding of Gβγ subunits released from G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), GIRK channels open and reduce the activity of excitable cells via hyperpolarization. As such, they play a role in cardiac output, the coordination of movement and cognition. Due to their involvement in a multitude of pathways, the precision control of GIRK channels is an important endeavour. Here, we describe the development of the photoswitchable agonist LOGO (the Light-Operated GIRK channel Opener), which activates GIRK channels in the dark and is rapidly deactivated upon exposure to long wavelength UV irradiation. LOGO is the first photochromic K+ channel opener and selectively targets channels that contain the GIRK1 subunit. It can be used to optically silence action potential firing in dissociated hippocampal neurons and LOGO exhibits activity in vivo, controlling the motility of zebrafish larvae in a light-dependent fashion. We envisage that LOGO will be a valuable research tool to dissect the function of GIRK channels from other GPCR dependent signalling pathways. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
W1515752291 | Thermal release of vegetable oils loaded in hydrophobic polymer nanoparticles | The encapsulation of vegetable oils during imidization of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) provides stable aqueous dispersions of oil-filled nanoparticles with 50 wt% oil. The functionality of nanoparticles with soy-, corn-, rapeseed-, sunflower-, castor-, and hydrogenated castor-oil, can be controlled by thermal release upon heating at 120–250°C for 2 min to 6 h. In a first part, the intrinsic thermal properties of the nanoparticles have been determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The differences in calculated imide content illustrate that the transition phenomena depend on complex interactions between the oil and imide phase. The TGA results show that bursting of the particles is not a main release mechanism while the oil is either progressively released below or above the glass transition temperature, which is best monitored by DMA. In a second part, the release profiles are determined from FTIR and Raman spectra following different trends according to the type of encapsulated oil and nanoparticle morphology, i.e., solid, nanoporous, cauliflower-like, or true core-shell. Also the interference with imidization during heating influences the oil release. The kinetics and mechanism of oil release can be systematically described after fitting with mathematical models.
Practical applications: The nanoparticles can be incorporated as coating pigments for packaging paper or used for surface functionalization of natural fibers, where controlled release of the oil provides a required degree of hydrophobicity.
Different types of vegetable oil were incorporated in imidized nanoparticles, resulting in various particle morphologies (e.g., solid, nanoporous, cauliflower-like, or true core-shell) with characteristic release profiles of the oil as a function of temperature and time. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1002/9781119055280.ch22 | The Transition to Agricultural Production in India: South Asian Entanglements of Domestication | This chapter explores patterns in the available evidence for Indian plant domestication, focusing on the southern Deccan and placing the evidence within a broader context of other centers of domestication. It also discusses domestication in western India and the Ganges region. The Neolithic period in the Deccan Plateau of South India appears to have begun near the start of the third millennium BCE, based on radiocarbon dating from Kodekal and Utnur, and continued to about 1000 BCE. The earliest well-documented ashmound sites are Utnur, which was in use from 2600 to 2400 BCE and Budihal, which was slightly later at 2300-1700 BCE. Compared with other types of material culture, pottery seems to reflect cultural changes in South Asian society relatively rapidly, perhaps indicating the central role ceramics played in culinary ideologies and heritage of taste. It is the food preparation traditions that are usually strongly conservative, not the ceramic traditions. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1038/hdy.2013.101 | Coestimation of recombination, substitution and molecular adaptation rates by approximate Bayesian computation | The estimation of parameters in molecular evolution may be biased when some processes are not considered. For example, the estimation of selection at the molecular level using codon-substitution models can have an upward bias when recombination is ignored. Here we address the joint estimation of recombination, molecular adaptation and substitution rates from coding sequences using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). We describe the implementation of a regression-based strategy for choosing subsets of summary statistics for coding data, and show that this approach can accurately infer recombination allowing for intracodon recombination breakpoints, molecular adaptation and codon substitution rates. We demonstrate that our ABC approach can outperform other analytical methods under a variety of evolutionary scenarios. We also show that although the choice of the codon-substitution model is important, our inferences are robust to a moderate degree of model misspecification. In addition, we demonstrate that our approach can accurately choose the evolutionary model that best fits the data, providing an alternative for when the use of full-likelihood methods is impracticable. Finally, we applied our ABC method to co-estimate recombination, substitution and molecular adaptation rates from 24 published human immunodeficiency virus 1 coding data sets. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
950246 | Physics Beyond the Standard Proton | The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is leading the exploration of the high-energy frontier. Its high-luminosity phase is just around the corner and the validity of our current theory of elementary particles, the Standard Model (SM), will be probed to an unprecedented level. The hunt for physics beyond the SM will be pursued via direct searches of new particles that are light enough to be produced at the LHC. At the same time new physics could manifest itself indirectly through deviations from SM theoretical predictions, induced by new particles whose masses are well above the scale probed by the LHC. The success of indirect searches requires the highest possible level of precision in three complementary components: experimental data, theoretical predictions and - crucially - a robust framework to globally interpret all subtle deviations from the SM predictions that might arise.
PBSP will provide such a framework by:
1. quantitatively establishing whether high-scale new physics effects can be mimicked by low-scale non-perturbative physics, and therefore inadvertently absorbed into the parametrisation of the proton structure
2. devising a new framework to deliver a global fit of a model-independent parametrisation of high-scale new physics, including several datasets that provide complementary experimental information
3. expanding such a framework to exploit the precise LHC measurements to constrain simultaneously the structure of the proton and new physics degrees of freedom
PBSP involves several areas of particle physics, ranging from fits to the proton’s structure to effective quantum field theories and a comprehensive study of beyond the SM phenomenology. My ERC-funded project will demonstrate that the interplay between indirect new physics searches and the knowledge of the non-perturbative structure of colliding protons is essential to fully exploit the LHC physics potential. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
205537 | Attosecond Dynamics On Interfaces and Solids | New insight into ever smaller microscopic units of matter as well as in ever faster evolving chemical, physical or atomic processes pushes the frontiers in many fields in science. Pump/probe experiments turned out to be the most direct approach to time-domain investigations of fast-evolving microscopic processes. Accessing atomic and molecular inner-shell processes directly in the time-domain requires a combination of short wavelengths in the few hundred eV range and sub-femtosecond pulse duration. The concept of light-field-controlled XUV photoemission employs an XUV pulse achieved by High-order Harmonic Generation (HHG) as a pump and the light pulse as a probe or vice versa. The basic prerequisite, namely the generation and measurement of isolated sub-femtosecond XUV pulses synchronized to a strong few-cycle light pulse with attosecond precision, opens up a route to time-resolved inner-shell atomic and molecular spectroscopy with present day sources. Studies of attosecond electronic motion (1 as = 10-18 s) in solids and on surfaces and interfaces have until now remained out of reach. The unprecedented time resolution of the aforementioned technique will enable for the first time monitoring of sub-fs dynamics of such systems in the time domain. These dynamics – of electronic excitation, relaxation, and wave packet motion – are of broad scientific interest and pertinent to the development of many modern technologies including semiconductor and molecular electronics, optoelectronics, information processing, photovoltaics, and optical nano-structuring. The purpose of this project is to investigate phenomena like the temporal evolution of direct photoemission, interference effects in resonant photoemission, fast adsorbate-substrate charge transfer, and electronic dynamics in supramolecular assemblies, in a series of experiments in order to overcome the temporal limits of measurements in solid state physics and to better understand processes in microcosm. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
10.1039/C6CS00149A | Thermoelectric Plastics From Design To Synthesis Processing And Structure Property Relationships | Thermoelectric plastics are a class of polymer-based materials that combine the ability to directly convert heat to electricity, and vice versa, with ease of processing. Potential applications include waste heat recovery, spot cooling and miniature power sources for autonomous electronics. Recent progress has led to surging interest in organic thermoelectrics. This tutorial review discusses the current trends in the field with regard to the four main building blocks of thermoelectric plastics: (1) organic semiconductors and in particular conjugated polymers, (2) dopants and counterions, (3) insulating polymers, and (4) conductive fillers. The design and synthesis of conjugated polymers that promise to show good thermoelectric properties are explored, followed by an overview of relevant structure-property relationships. Doping of conjugated polymers is discussed and its interplay with processing as well as structure formation is elucidated. The use of insulating polymers as binders or matrices is proposed, which permit the adjustment of the rheological and mechanical properties of a thermoelectric plastic. Then, nanocomposites of conductive fillers such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and inorganic nanowires in a polymer matrix are introduced. A case study examines poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) based materials, which up to now have shown the most promising thermoelectric performance. Finally, a discussion of the advantages provided by bulk architectures e. g. for wearable applications highlights the unique advantages that thermoelectric plastics promise to offer. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1002/cctc.201902194 | Towards Preparative Chemoenzymatic Oxidative Decarboxylation of Glutamic Acid | The chemoenzymatic oxidative decarboxylation of glutamic acid to the corresponding nitrile using the vanadium chloroperoxidase from Curvularia inaequalis (CiVCPO) as HOBr generation catalysts has been investigated. Product inhibition was identified as major limitation. Nevertheless, 1630000 turnovers and kcat of 75 s−1 were achieved using 100 mM glutamate. The semi-preparative enzymatic oxidative decarboxylation of glutamate was also demonstrated. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
US 2015/0012404 W | KIT FOR TREATING A SUBSTRATE | A kit having a light housing having a source of light; and a container containing a photocatalyzable treatment composition having a photoactivator, wherein the light housing and the container are co-packaged with one another. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.4208/nmtma.2017.m1613 | Total Variation Based Parameter-Free Model for Impulse Noise Removal | We propose a new two-phase method for reconstruction of blurred images corrupted by impulse noise. In the first phase, we use a noise detector to identify the pixels that are contaminated by noise, and then, in the second phase, we reconstruct the noisy pixels by solving an equality constrained total variation minimization problem that preserves the exact values of the noise-free pixels. For images that are only corrupted by impulse noise (i. e. , not blurred) we apply the semismooth Newton's method to a reduced problem, and if the images are also blurred, we solve the equality constrained reconstruction problem using a first-order primal-dual algorithm. The proposed model improves the computational efficiency (in the denoising case) and has the advantage of being regularization parameter-free. Our numerical results suggest that the method is competitive in terms of its restoration capabilities with respect to the other two-phase methods. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1038/s41588-018-0140-x | The transcription factor Grainy head primes epithelial enhancers for spatiotemporal activation by displacing nucleosomes | Transcriptional enhancers function as docking platforms for combinations of transcription factors (TFs) to control gene expression. How enhancer sequences determine nucleosome occupancy, TF recruitment and transcriptional activation in vivo remains unclear. Using ATAC-seq across a panel of Drosophila inbred strains, we found that SNPs affecting binding sites of the TF Grainy head (Grh) causally determine the accessibility of epithelial enhancers. We show that deletion and ectopic expression of Grh cause loss and gain of DNA accessibility, respectively. However, although Grh binding is necessary for enhancer accessibility, it is insufficient to activate enhancers. Finally, we show that human Grh homologs - GRHL1, GRHL2 and GRHL3 - function similarly. We conclude that Grh binding is necessary and sufficient for the opening of epithelial enhancers but not for their activation. Our data support a model positing that complex spatiotemporal expression patterns are controlled by regulatory hierarchies in which pioneer factors, such as Grh, establish tissue-specific accessible chromatin landscapes upon which other factors can act. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1109/SERVICES-I.2009.94 | Model Driven Engineering Of Service Orchestrations | This paper presents a methodology for the Model Driven Engineering of complex, multi-actor business processes, mixing tasks executed by humans and by machines. The idea is to enrich business description languages with a few extra details on task assignment, semantics, and typed dataflows, so as to enable a two-step generative approach: first the Process Model is automatically transformed into an Application Model, which seamlessly express both human- and machine-executable tasks; secondly, the Application Model is fed to a state-of-the-practice Web/Web Service development tool capable of producing the code. The resulting method and generative framework unify Web Service orchestration and Web User Interface design into a coherent Model-Driven Engineering process. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1088/0957-4484/27/7/075706 | The Fingerprint Of Te Rich And Stoichiometric Bi2Te3 Nanowires By Raman Spectroscopy | We unambiguously show that the signature of Te-rich bismuth telluride is the appearance of three new peaks in the Raman spectra of Bi2Te3, located at 88, 117 and 137 cm(-1). For this purpose, we have grown stoichiometric Bi2Te3 nanowires as well as Te-rich nanowires. The absence of these peaks in stoichiometric nanowires, even in those with the smallest diameter, shows that they are not related to confinement effects or the lack of inversion symmetry, as stated in the literature, but to the existence of Te clusters. These Te clusters have been found in non-stoichiometric samples by high resolution electron microscopy, while they are absent in stoichiometric samples. The Raman spectra of the latter corresponds to the one for bulk Bi2Te3. The intensity of these Raman peaks are clearly correlated to the Te content. In order to ensure statistically meaningful results, we have investigated several regions from every sample. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
interreg_1342 | Financial Instruments for Energy Renovation Policies | PROBLEM:
Up-scaling investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy for buildings is a major challenge to meet European Union targets for 2030. Most of ERDF incentives used non-returnable grant systems for promoting energy investment, but due to deficit restriction in EC Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) the investment has been decelerated. Grant method is showing important weakness in relation to other methods such as Financial Instruments (FIs), so regional authorities have a key role to play in creating new policies in this field.
The use of Cohesion Funds, especially ERDF, in the generation of new Financial Instruments (FIs) is a main challenge for the coming period 2014-2020, especially when combined with EC funding initiatives.
OBJECTIVE:
The overall objective is to promote new policies, or improvement of existing policies, aimed to the creation of funding instruments, especially Financial Instruments (FIs) supported by ERDF funds and integrated with EC funding initiatives, such as EFSI (Juncker Plan 06/2015), tools from the European Investment Bank EIB (ELENA, Margarite Funds) or even from public-private partnerships.
OUTPUTS:
The outputs will be the improvement of specific regional policies and ERDF OP in 7 EU regions, involving 5 Managing Authorities with competences in ERDF for EE and RES projects.
The improvement will allow the implementation of FIs and energy investment in the phase 2, thanks to changes of strategic focus in 6 ERDF policies and 2 existing FIs.
Other important outputs are:
>3,8M€ of ERDF and >2,65M€ of FIs funds influenced.
120 people increasing professional capacity attending interregional events.
- 28 stakeholder events, including:
14 interregional events with more than 330 stakeholders attendants.
14 local stakeholder meetings with more than 200 attendants.
- 140 best practices produced and displayed in a geo-referenced map (FIener-map tool) and an online database both placed in the website. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
W1496474164 | Platelet Activation Markers Are Associated with Crohn’s Disease Activity in Patients with Low C-Reactive Protein | In assessing Crohn's disease (CD) activity, C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important indicator of inflammation; however, it is not necessarily associated with the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI), particularly in patients with low CRP. Recently, platelet activation factors have been recognized due to their importance in the inflammatory response. In this study, we examined associations between the CDAI and platelet factor 4 (PF-4), β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), and other coagulation and fibrinolysis factors.We aimed to find a new marker for evaluating disease activity in patients with CD and low CRP.Nine markers, including CRP, platelet count, white blood cell count, fibrin and fibrinogen degradation product, fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin complex, prothrombin fragments 1 + 2, PF-4, and β-TG were evaluated in 47 patients with CD and low CRP (<1.0 mg/dl). Patients were assigned to high or low disease activity groups, CDAI-H (CDAI ≥ 150) and CDAI-L (CDAI < 150), respectively.CDAI-H exhibited significantly higher PF-4 and β-TG levels than CDAI-L (P < 0.01). Other markers were not significantly different between groups. CDAI was positively correlated with the levels of PF-4 and β-TG (P = 0.0033 and 0.0024; r = 0.4202 and 0.4321, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses of PF-4 and β-TG showed high sensitivity (61.9 and 81%, respectively) and specificity (84.7 and 69.2%, respectively) for diagnosing active CD.Among eight potential markers, PF-4 and β-TG were the most highly correlated with CDAI in patients with CD and low CRP. PF-4 and β-TG levels showed promise as new markers for assessing CD in patients with low CRP. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
Q4248921 | LIQUIDITY SUPPORT FOR MICRO-ENTERPRISES AFFECTED BY THE COVID EMERGENCY | SUPPORT FOR THE LIQUIDITY OF MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES IN THE RETAIL, SUPPLY AND PERSONAL SERVICES SECTORS WHOSE ACTIVITY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AS A RESULT OF THE PRIME MINISTERIAL DECREE OF 11 MARCH 2020 | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
W1973524749 | Magnetic properties of new compounds RuMn2Sn and RuMn2Si | Abstract New compounds RuMn 2 Z (Z = Si, Sn) have been synthesized. X-ray diffraction measurements have confirmed that RuMn 2 Z (Z = Si, Sn) crystallizes in a Heusler-like cubic structure. The lattice parameters of RuMn 2 Si and RuMn 2 Sn at room temperature are estimated to be 5.8260 A and 6.2195 A, respectively. Magnetization measurements have been carried out in fields up to 50 kOe for RuMn 2 Z (Z = Si, Sn). Furthermore, the temperature dependence of initial permeability of RuMn 2 Sn has been studied. RuMn 2 Sn shows ferrimagnetic behavior. The spontaneous magnetic moment at 5 K and the Curie temperature of RuMn 2 Sn are found to be of 1.68 μ B /f.u. and 272.1 K, respectively. RuMn 2 Si exhibits spin-glass-like behavior with a freezing temperature estimated to be about 50 K. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1007/128_2014_607 | Halogen Bonding In Solution | Because of its expected applicability for modulation of molecular recognition phenomena in chemistry and biology, halogen bonding has lately attracted rapidly increasing interest. As most of these processes proceed in solution, the understanding of the influence of solvents on the interaction is of utmost importance. In addition, solution studies provide fundamental insights into the nature of halogen bonding, including, for example, the relative importance of charge transfer, dispersion, and electrostatics forces. Herein, a selection of halogen bonding literature is reviewed with the discussion focusing on the solvent effect and the electronic characteristics of halogen bonded complexes. Hence, charged and neutral systems together with two- and three-center bonds are presented in separate sub-sections. Solvent polarity is shown to have a slight stabilizing effect on neutral, two-center halogen bonds while strongly destabilizes charged, two-center complexes. It does not greatly influence the geometry of three-center halogen bonds, even though polar solvents facilitate dissociation of the counter-ion of charged three-center bonds. The charged three-center bonds are strengthened by increased environment polarity. Solvents possessing hydrogen bond donor functionalities efficiently destabilize all types of halogen bonds, primarily because of halogen vs hydrogen bond competition. A purely electrostatic model is insufficient for the description of halogen bonds in polar systems whereas it may give reasonable correlation to experimental data obtained in noninteracting, apolar solvents. Whereas dispersion plays a significant role for neutral, two-center halogen bonds, charged halogen bond complexes possess a significant charge transfer characteristic. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
W2015741505 | Study on model compensation of aircraft magnetic interference | The aircraft magnetic field interfered the aeromagnetic precision badly, and a model compensation method is brought forward to compensating the aircraft magnetic interference. Firstly, the model of aircraft magnetic field is built based on Tolles-Lawson equations, and the model calculation is analyzed. The correlation between model parameters results in the difficulty of the precisely estimation of model parameters. Consequently, an algorithm based on FIR model is studied in this paper to estimate the parameter. The simulation and analysis shows that the parameter estimating algorithm based on FIR model is effective to high-step collinear equation, and the model compensating method compensates above 90% of aircraft magnetic interference, improving the ability of the airborne magnetic survey greatly. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/nchembio.1699 | Selective inhibitors of the FK506-binding protein 51 by induced fit | The FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51, encoded by the FKBP5 gene) is an established risk factor for stress-related psychiatric disorders such as major depression. Drug discovery for FKBP51 has been hampered by the inability to pharmacologically differentiate against the structurally similar but functional opposing homolog FKBP52, and all known FKBP ligands are unselective. Here, we report the discovery of the potent and highly selective inhibitors of FKBP51, SAFit1 and SAFit2. This new class of ligands achieves selectivity for FKBP51 by an induced-fit mechanism that is much less favorable for FKBP52. By using these ligands, we demonstrate that selective inhibition of FKBP51 enhances neurite elongation in neuronal cultures and improves neuroendocrine feedback and stress-coping behavior in mice. Our findings provide the structural and functional basis for the development of mechanistically new antidepressants. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
278472 | Quantitative approaches for strongly correlated quantum systems in equilibrium and far from equilibrium | Understanding electronic correlations remains one of the most important challenges in theoretical condensed matter physics. The interaction-induced metal-to-insulator Mott transition plays a major role in many transition metal oxides, f-electron materials and now in quantum optics. Upon doping or application of a strong electric field, strongly correlated Mott metals emerge from the Mott insulators, with fascinating properties. Moreover, the out-of-equilibrium behaviour of these systems is only beginning to be systematically explored experimentally. While these systems strongly challenge the standard concepts and methods of the quantum many-body theory, a new era is progressively unfolding, in which quantitative and detailed comparisons between theory and experiments is becoming possible in strong correlation regimes, even out of equilibrium.
The goal of this proposal is to construct, in close contact with experiments and phenomenology, a new generation of theoretical methods and algorithms in order to i) study the new states of matter induced by non-equilibrium phenomena in strongly correlated quantum systems, first in simple models, and then in realistic computations for real materials; ii) elucidate the mystery of high temperature superconductivity. Open source implementations of the methods and algorithms developed during this project will also be provided for a better knowledge diffusion. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1038/srep44772 | A Nanotechnology-Ready Computing Scheme based on a Weakly Coupled Oscillator Network | With conventional transistor technologies reaching their limits, alternative computing schemes based on novel technologies are currently gaining considerable interest. Notably, promising computing approaches have proposed to leverage the complex dynamics emerging in networks of coupled oscillators based on nanotechnologies. The physical implementation of such architectures remains a true challenge, however, as most proposed ideas are not robust to nanotechnology devices' non-idealities. In this work, we propose and investigate the implementation of an oscillator-based architecture, which can be used to carry out pattern recognition tasks, and which is tailored to the specificities of nanotechnologies. This scheme relies on a weak coupling between oscillators, and does not require a fine tuning of the coupling values. After evaluating its reliability under the severe constraints associated to nanotechnologies, we explore the scalability of such an architecture, suggesting its potential to realize pattern recognition tasks using limited resources. We show that it is robust to issues like noise, variability and oscillator non-linearity. Defining network optimization design rules, we show that nano-oscillator networks could be used for efficient cognitive processing. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
W209302675 | Logistics, Distribution, and Support | Logistics manages the flow of product and information from manufacturing to a customer. Logistics integrates packaging, inventory, transportation, warehousing, delivery, and technical sales support. Every one of these arenas folds into the ultimate management of the development of embedded systems; their operations and parameters directly affect the final cost of the system.
The chapter addresses distribution logistics, support, maintenance and repair, and disposal. Distribution logistics looks at the delivery of the finished products to the customer and focuses on order processing, warehousing, and transportation. Support is the timely distribution of correct information to fix or implement the function of the embedded system. It is also that intangible perception that the supplier knows the situation and is there to help the customer. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-030-11012-3_38 | A Semi Supervised Deep Generative Model For Human Body Analysis | Deep generative modelling for human body analysis is an emerging problem with many interesting applications. However, the latent space learned by such models is typically not interpretable, resulting in less flexible models. In this work, we adopt a structured semi-supervised approach and present a deep generative model for human body analysis where the body pose and the visual appearance are disentangled in the latent space. Such a disentanglement allows independent manipulation of pose and appearance, and hence enables applications such as pose-transfer without being explicitly trained for such a task. In addition, our setting allows for semi-supervised pose estimation, relaxing the need for labelled data. We demonstrate the capabilities of our generative model on the Human3. 6M and on the DeepFashion datasets. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
224593 | Newseye: a digital investigator for historical newspapers | Newspapers collect information about cultural, political and social events in a more detailed way than any other public record. Since their beginnings in the 17th century they are recording billions of events, stories and names, in almost every language, every country and every day. Newspapers were always an important medium for the dissemination of public and political opinions, literary works, essays and art. This thematic wealth sets them at the center stage for anyone interested in European cultural heritage.
In the last decades, tens of millions of newspaper pages from European libraries have been digitized and made available online, while national libraries will intensify their digitization efforts in the coming years. There is large demand for access to historical newspapers. At this very moment, probably thousands of European citizens are accessing digitized versions of historical newspapers utilizing digital library services. Whilst the broad public shows general interest in this historical and cultural resource, it is of crucial importance for many humanities scholars.
The NewsEye project involves national libraries, humanities and social science research groups and computer science research groups. It addresses a number of challenges, which will result in significant scientific advances, in several directions:
* in text recognition, text analysis, natural language processing, computational creativity and natural language generation, with regard to historical newspapers but also more universally,
* in digital newspaper research, addressing a number of editorial issues like OCR and article separation,
* in digital humanities, in respect to huge amounts of text material, availability of useful tools and possibilities of searching and browsing,
* in history, in terms of analyzing historical assets with new methods across different language corpora. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Texts and Concepts"
]
|
758347 | THE AFTERMATH OF THE EAST ASIAN WAR OF 1592-1598. | Aftermath seeks to understand the legacy of the East Asian War of 1592-1598. This conflict involved over 500,000 combatants from Japan, China, and Korea; up to 100,000 Korean civilians were abducted to Japan. The war caused momentous demographic upheaval and widespread destruction, but also had long-lasting cultural impact as a result of the removal to Japan of Korean technology and skilled labourers. The conflict and its aftermath bear striking parallels to events in East Asia during World War 2, and memories of the 16th century war remain deeply resonant in the region. However, the war and its immediate aftermath are also significant because they occurred at the juncture of periods often characterized as “medieval” and “early modern” in the East Asian case. What were the implications for the social, economic, and cultural contours of early modern East Asia? What can this conflict tell us about war “aftermath” across historical periods and about such periodization itself? There is little Western scholarship on the war and few studies in any language cross linguistic, disciplinary, and national boundaries to achieve a regional perspective that reflects the interconnected history of East Asia. Aftermath will radically alter our understanding of the region’s history by providing the first analysis of the state of East Asia as a result of the war. The focus will be on the period up to the middle of the 17th century, but not precluding ongoing effects. The team, with expertise covering Japan, Korea, and China, will investigate three themes: the movement of people and demographic change, the impact on the natural environment, and technological diffusion. The project will be the first large scale investigation to use Japanese, Korean, and Chinese sources to understand the war’s aftermath. It will broaden understandings of the early modern world, and push the boundaries of war legacy studies by exploring the meanings of “aftermath” in the early modern East Asian context. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
]
|
10.1364/ASSP.2012.AT4A.9 | Microwatt Average Power High Harmonic Generation With High Repetition Rate Ultrafast Fiber Lasers | We present high harmonic generation with a fiber laser system and subsequent nonlinear compression. Calibrated measurements reveal an average power as high as 3. 2 µW in a single harmonic at 49 nm. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
EP 2011061704 W | BONE REGENERATION MEMBRANE AND METHOD FOR FORMING A BONE REGENERATION MEMBRANE | Bone regeneration membrane (1) comprising: a dense layer (2) made of resorbable polymer, said dense layer (2) having first and second opposite surfaces and being adapted to form a barrier to cells and soft tissues, a nanofibrillar layer (3) made of resorbable polymer and attached to the first surface of the dense layer (2), said nanofibrillar layer comprising fibers having a diameter of nanometer size, said fibers being interlaced so as to present an average pore size greater than 10 µm to allow cell permeability and bone tissue regeneration, the nanofibrillar layer (3) having a permeability ? between 0.4 * 10-9 m2 and 11 * 10-9 m2, preferably between 1 * 10-9 m2 and 4 * 10-9 m2, in particular substantially of 2 * 10-9 m2.. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.epsl.2017.04.014 | Lithium isotopes in speleothems: Temperature-controlled variation in silicate weathering during glacial cycles | Terrestrial chemical weathering of silicate minerals is a fundamental component of the global cycle of carbon and other elements. Past changes in temperature, rainfall, ice cover, sea-level and physical erosion are thought to affect weathering but the relative impact of these controls through time remains poorly constrained. This problem could be addressed if the nature of past weathering could be constrained at individual sites. In this study, we investigate the use of speleothems as local recorders of the silicate weathering proxy, Li isotopes. We analysed δ7Li and [Li] in speleothems that formed during the past 200 ka in two well-studied Israeli caves (Soreq and Tzavoa), as well as in the overlying soils and rocks. Leaching and mass balance of these soils and rocks show that Li is dominantly sourced from weathering of the overlying aeolian silicate soils. Speleothem δ7Li values are ubiquitously higher during glacials (∼23‰) than during interglacials (∼10‰), implying more congruent silicate weathering during interglacials (where “congruent” means a high ratio of primary mineral dissolution to secondary mineral formation). These records provide information on the processes controlling weathering in Israel. Consideration of possible processes causing this change of weathering congruency indicates a primary role for temperature, with higher temperatures causing more congruent weathering (lower δ7Lispeleo). The strong relationship observed between speleothem δ7Li and climate at these locations suggests that Li isotopes may be a powerful tool with which to understand the local controls on weathering at other sites, and could be used to assess the distribution of weathering changes accompanying climate change, such as that of Pleistocene glacial cycles. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
W2231327593 | Human-Computer Interaction: An Empirical Research Perspective | Human-Computer Interaction: An Empirical Research Perspective is the definitive guide to empirical research in HCI. The book begins with foundational topics including historical context, the human factor, interaction elements, and the fundamentals of science and research. From there, you'll progress to learning about the methods for conducting an experiment to evaluate a new computer interface or interaction technique. There are detailed discussions and how-to analyses on models of interaction, focusing on descriptive models and predictive models. Writing and publishing a research paper is explored with helpful tips for success. Throughout the book, you'll find hands-on exercises, checklists, and real-world examples. This is your must-have, comprehensive guide to empirical and experimental research in HCI-an essential addition to your HCI library. Master empirical and experimental research with this comprehensive, A-to-Z guide in a concise, hands-on reference Discover the practical and theoretical ins-and-outs of user studies Find exercises, takeaway points, and case studies throughout | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
W1652814656 | Grain Cadmium and Zinc Concentrations in Maize Influenced by Genotypic Variations and Zinc Fertilization | Zinc (Zn) fertilization could be a viable approach for minimizing cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the food chain. The present study was carried out to investigate the role of various Zn fertilization treatments (control, foliar application at tasseling stage, foliar application at milky stage, rubber ash application, soil application of ZnSO4) and cultivars (Pop 2004B, Pop 2006, Azam, Sarhad (W), Pahari) on grain yield, grain Zn, and grain Cd concentrations in maize. All Zn fertilization treatments resulted in a significantly higher grain yield, higher grain Zn concentration, and reduced grain Cd concentration. The application of rubber ash remained the best among all Zn fertilization treatments as it resulted in a higher grain yield of 62% and a reduced grain Cd concentration by 57% compared to control. Contradictions were apparent between cultivars, and the cultivars which recorded a higher grain yield had a lower Zn concentration in their grains and vice versa. Regarding Cd accumulation, all cultivars except Azam, retained less Cd with increased grain Zn concentration. Future studies should focus on breeding/selection of high yielding and high quality cultivars. Furthermore, the feasibility of rubber ash maybe tested under different climatic and edaphic conditions against other heavy metals and other crops as well. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
W3095363432 | Application cases of biological transformation in manufacturing technology | Abstract Digitalization and Industry 4.0 are promising developments for solving current technical challenges. However, to fully exploit the potential of digitalization and Industry 4.0, not only manufacturing and information systems must interact, but biological systems too. The interaction of biological, manufacturing and information systems is an emerging research field defined as Biological Transformation in manufacturing or biologicalisation in manufacturing. This publication introduces three different projects that represent the application of Biological Transformation in manufacturing to inspire and initiate further research in this area. The interactions of the three system types are described in detail, and their potential for the manufacturing sector is discussed in reference to the framework Biological Transformation in manufacturing. | [
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.3390/socsci9010001 | Community-Based Responses to Negative Health Impacts of Sexual Humanitarian Anti-Trafficking Policies and the Criminalization of Sex Work and Migration in the US | System-involvement resulting from anti-trafficking interventions and the criminalization of sex work and migration results in negative health impacts on sex workers, migrants, and people with trafficking experiences. Due to their stigmatized status, sex workers and people with trafficking experiences often struggle to access affordable, unbiased, and supportive health care. This paper will use thematic analysis of qualitative data from in-depth interviews and ethnographic fieldwork with 50 migrant sex workers and trafficked persons, as well as 20 key informants from legal and social services, in New York and Los Angeles. It will highlight the work of trans-specific and sex worker–led initiatives that are internally addressing gaps in health care and the negative health consequences that result from sexual humanitarian anti-trafficking interventions that include policing, arrest, court-involvement, court-mandated social services, incarceration, and immigration detention. Our analysis focuses on the impact of criminalization on sex workers and their experiences with sexual humanitarian efforts intended to protect and control them. We argue that these grassroots community-based efforts are a survival-oriented reaction to the harms of criminalization and a response to vulnerabilities left unattended by mainstream sexual humanitarian approaches to protection and service provision that frame sex work itself as the problem. Peer-to-peer interventions such as these create solidarity and resiliency within marginalized communities, which act as protective buffers against institutionalized systemic violence and the resulting negative health outcomes. Our results suggest that broader public health support and funding for community-led health initiatives are needed to reduce barriers to health care resulting from stigma, criminalization, and ineffective anti-trafficking and humanitarian efforts. We conclude that the decriminalization of sex work and the reform of institutional practices in the US are urgently needed to reduce the overall negative health outcomes of system-involvement. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
W2324326539 | Yellowstone's Deep Roots | Geophysics![Figure][1]
CREDIT: THINKSTOCK
Yellowstone National Park in the western United States, renowned for its geothermal features, including geysers and hot springs, rests on a ∼4000-km2 caldera attributed to a series of supervolcano eruptions over the past 2 million years. The volcanic and geothermal activity is caused by the presence of a hot spot currently resting below the park that migrated eastward over the course of millions of years. Conflicting geological evidence implies that the source of this hotspot volcanism is either a deep plume originating hundreds of km below Earth's surface in the lower mantle or more shallow upper mantle melting caused primarily by extension of the continental lithosphere—a process that occurs elsewhere in the western United States. Schmandt et al. , analyzing data collected by the dense USArray seismic network while it was deployed across the region, addressed this debate through seismic imaging of the mantle below Yellowstone. Comparing the temperature-sensitive depth variation of mantle discontinuities at 410 and 660 km to global averages indicates the presence of a high-temperature upwelling that is vertically heterogeneous. The shallowing of the 660-km discontinuity, which marks the boundary between the upper and lower mantle, suggests that this plume-like structure originates in the lower mantle, but just how deep down remains unclear.
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 10.1016/j.epsl.2012.03.025 (2012).
[1]: pending:yes | [
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1093/imrn/rnw330 | Fluctuations of Rectangular Young Diagrams of Interlacing Wigner Eigenvalues | We prove a new central limit theorem (CLT) for the difference of linear eigenvalue statistics of a Wigner random matrix H and its minor H and find that the fluctuation is much smaller than the fluctuations of the individual linear statistics, as a consequence of the strong correlation between the eigenvalues of H and H. In particular, our theorem identifies the fluctuation of Kerov's rectangular Young diagrams, defined by the interlacing eigenvalues ofH and H, around their asymptotic shape, the Vershik'Kerov'Logan'Shepp curve. Young diagrams equipped with the Plancherel measure follow the same limiting shape. For this, algebraically motivated, ensemble a CLT has been obtained in Ivanov and Olshanski [20] which is structurally similar to our result but the variance is different, indicating that the analogy between the two models has its limitations. Moreover, our theorem shows that Borodin's result [7] on the convergence of the spectral distribution of Wigner matrices to a Gaussian free field also holds in derivative sense. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.3389/fbioe.2014.00012 | Genetic instability in cyanobacteria - An elephant in the room? | Many research groups are interested in engineering the metabolism of cyanobacteria with the objective to convert solar energy, CO2, and water (perhaps also N2) into commercially valuable products. Toward this objective, many challenges stand in the way before sustainable production can be realized. One of these challenges, potentially, is genetic instability. Although only a handful of reports of this phenomenon are available in the scientific literature, it does appear to be a real issue that so far has not been studied much in cyanobacteria. With this brief perspective, I wish to raise the awareness of this potential issue and hope to inspire future studies on the topic as I believe it will make an important contribution to enabling sustainable large-scale biotechnology in the future using aquatic photobiological microorganisms. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
W263381775 | Simulation of flocculation in W/O emulsions and experimental study | Abstract The flocculation of aqueous droplets in W/O emulsions has been studied using Langevin dynamics simulation. The range of aqueous phase concentrations and time necessary for the formation of percolation clusters were determined. Percolation clusters are not formed if aqueous phase concentrations in simulated emulsions are less than 0.15. In emulsions with aqueous phase concentrations from 0.15 to 0.3–0.4 the percolation cluster is formed within 2 s, but the rate of the subsequent attaching droplets and small aggregates to this cluster is low. In simulated emulsions with aqueous phase concentrations of above 0.3–0.4, almost all droplets are combined into percolation clusters within a few fractions of a second. Experimental data were compared with the results of computer simulations. In emulsions with aqueous phase concentrations of above 0.15 the droplet flocs form a network structure in the oil phase, and the rate of oil phase release depends on the rate of oil drainage. In less concentrated emulsions, the separation into a more concentrated W/O emulsion and a diluted W/O emulsion containing small flocs of aqueous droplets takes place. The data obtained suggests that the simulation by the Langevin dynamics method makes it possible to predict the stability of W/O emulsions to flocculation and subsequent sedimentation. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
216389 | Social and political economics: theory and evidence | In this project, I will study how individual and social motives interact to drive individual decisions, a question that has fallen between the cracks of different social-science approaches. I will use a common theoretical framework to approach an important, but badly understood, general question: do social motives reinforce or weaken the effect of changes in individual motives? By modifying this common framework to different applications, I will consider its predictions empirically in different large data sets with individual-level information. The planned applications include four subprojects in the social, political, and economic spheres: (i) decisions in China on the ethnicity of children in interethnic marriages and matching into such marriages, (ii) decisions on tax evasion in the U.K. and Sweden, (iii) decisions to give political campaign contributions in the U.S., and (iv) decisions about fertility in Sweden. I may also spell out the common lessons from the results on the interaction between individual and social motives in monograph format intended for a broader audience. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1063/1.3682770 | Structure And Dynamics Of The Electronically Excited C 1 And D 0 States Of Arxe From High Resolution Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectra | Vacuum ultraviolet spectra of the C 1 ← X 0(+) and D 0(+) ← X 0(+) band systems of ArXe have been recorded at high resolution. Analysis of the rotational structure of the spectra of several isotopomers, and in the case of Ar(129)Xe and Ar(131)Xe also of the hyperfine structure, has led to the derivation of a complete set of spectroscopic parameters for the C 1 and D 0(+) states. The rovibrational energy level structure of the C 1 state reveals strong homogeneous perturbations with neighboring Ω = 1 electronic states. The analysis of isotopic shifts led to a reassignment of the vibrational structure of the C 1 state. The observation of electronically excited Xe fragments following excitation to the C state rotational levels of f parity indicates that the C state is predissociated by the electronic state of 0(-) symmetry associated with the Ar((1)S(0)) + Xe(6s(')[1/2](0) (o)) dissociation limit. The observed predissociation dynamics differ both qualitatively and quantitatively from the behavior reported in previous investigations. An adiabatic two-state coupling model has been derived which accounts for the irregularities observed in the rovibronic and hyperfine level structure of the C 1 state. The model predicts the existence of a second state of Ω = 1 symmetry, supporting several tunneling/predissociation resonances located ~200 cm(-1) above the C 1 state. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
173430 | Super-Kamiokande plus | This proposal is a part of ongoing global efforts to understand the most fundamental elements of matter and their interactions. We aim to investigate neutrino interactions using the existing experimental facility in Japan, the Super-Kamiokande (SK) detector located in the Kamioka Observatory (Gifu Prefecture) and owned by the Partner of this
Project: the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research of the University of Tokyo.
Furthermore, we propose a joint work on the design and construction of new neutrino detectors planned at the
Kamioka Observatory. They are Gadzooks! (and its R&D program EGADS), that is an extension to SK, and Hyper-Kamiokande (HK), its next generation detector. These Projects are currently ongoing and in preparation phase, respectively.
We address several fundamental problems in physics. We do it at different stages: by analyzing the data from SK,
by building and commissioning Gadzooks!, and by designing HK:
• Neutrino Oscillations – neutrino mass hierarchy (SK, Gadzooks!, HK), leptonic Charge-Parity violation (HK),
precise measurement of mixing parameters (SK, Gadzooks!, HK),
• Dark Matter – search for neutrinos induced by dark matter annihilation/decay in the cosmic space (SK, HK),
• Nearby Galactic Supernova Physics – measurement of neutrinos emitted in the burst (SK, Gadzooks!, HK),
• Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background – discovery (Gadzooks!) and energy spectrum measurement (HK),
• Grand Unification – search for proton decay (SK, Gadzooks!, HK).
Seconded researchers will work in Japan on those investigations. The collaborative work with the leaders of the field,
the Japanese Groups and Research Facilities, should assure the researches and the Participants Groups the gain of
an invaluable experience from these studies ,covering neutrino physics, cosmology, astrophysics, technical design, construction and operation of water Cherenkov detectors, data analysis techniques, hardware and software development
for the new generation detectors. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
3742967 | Eating patterns in pregnancy: unraveling the underlying neurocircuits and its deleterious metabolic consequences | Pregnancy entails remarkable whole-body biological adaptations. Extensive evidence in humans shows significant alterations in taste perception and nutrient preference throughout pregnancy, resulting in frequent food cravings with a recurrent search for high-caloric, high-palatable foods. However, the underlying neurocircuits implicated in specific pregnancy-related eating disturbances are still unknown. In line with that, the project hypothesizes that pregnancy modifies the neuroconnectome of critical brain regions implicated in taste and ingestive behavior, altering maternal dietary preferences and habits favoring the consumption of high-palatable food. The persistence of abnormal dietary patterns, in the prevailing western life-style, may underlie serious detrimental metabolic and neuropsychological outcomes in both mothers and offspring that often lead to eating disorders and obesity vulnerability. The project aims to use a combination of cutting-edge methodologies in the mouse, including behavioral, whole-brain imaging, chemogenetics, and fiber photometry to establish the genetic and neurocircuits underlying pregnancy-related eating behaviors and its effects on offspring's metabolic health. The present proposal will provide novel insights on the link between specific physiological conditions (gestation), feeding neurocircuits and behavior as well as transgenerational metabolic and neuropsychological impact, unraveling new preventive strategies (nutritional and healthier lifestyle) to control the rising incidences of “food addiction”, disturbed eating patterns, and obesity predisposition. Ultimately, the knowledge generated by NEUROPREG can reduce overall costs in obesity and related disorders, that consumes more than $1.2 trillion of the global health system every year. My outstanding scientific experience in neuroscience and maternal influences on offspring metabolic outcomes make me the ideal candidate to develop this MSCA. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
TR 2020050434 W | A DISINFECTION SYSTEM | Invention relates to a disinfection system (1) which is configured for disinfecting people from the harmful bacteria and viruses that can adhere to the surfaces such as clothes, shoes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a disinfection system (1) which allows efficient usage of the disinfectant fluid by providing maximum effect with the minimum amount of the disinfectant fluid thanks to the spraying unit (20) that can rotate around the human body; can send the particles of disinfection liquid directly to the desired points of the body thus; does not expose the person to excessive disinfectant; moreover, creates hygienic environment for the next disinfection process after each usage by absorbing microorganisms that may be hang in the environment from the previous process thanks to the HERA filter unit (30) placed in the cabin. Mentioned system is a system that is effective not only on clothes, but also on human skin. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.mad.2016.03.011 | Genome instability: Linking ageing and brain degeneration | Ageing is a multifactorial process affected by cumulative physiological changes resulting from stochastic processes combined with genetic factors, which together alter metabolic homeostasis. Genetic variation in maintenance of genome stability is emerging as an important determinant of ageing pace. Genome instability is also closely associated with a broad spectrum of conditions involving brain degeneration. Similarities and differences can be found between ageing-associated decline of brain functionality and the detrimental effect of genome instability on brain functionality and development. This review discusses these similarities and differences and highlights cell classes whose role in these processes might have been underestimated—glia and microglia. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
US 0034749 W | HYDROXY-PHENOXYETHER POLYMER/FIBER COMPOSITES AND FOAMS | Composites and foamed composites comprised of fiber and hydroxy-phenoxyether polymer are effective to provide articles having increased strength, enhanced moisture resistance, gas barrier properties, adhesion, and structural strength. Methods for preparing the composites and foams are disclosed. Materials and articles formed by such methods have utility in several fields and applications, including the packaging industry. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-319-68705-6_6 | Extension Complexity Of Stable Set Polytopes Of Bipartite Graphs | The extension complexity \(\mathsf {xc}(P)\) of a polytope P is the minimum number of facets of a polytope that affinely projects to P. Let G be a bipartite graph with n vertices, m edges, and no isolated vertices. Let \({{\mathrm{\mathsf {STAB}}}}(G)\) be the convex hull of the stable sets of G. It is easy to see that \(n \leqslant \mathsf {xc}({{\mathrm{\mathsf {STAB}}}}(G)) \leqslant n+m\). We improve both of these bounds. For the upper bound, we show that \(\mathsf {xc}({{\mathrm{\mathsf {STAB}}}}(G))\) is \(O(\frac{n^2}{\log n})\), which is an improvement when G has quadratically many edges. For the lower bound, we prove that \(\mathsf {xc}({{\mathrm{\mathsf {STAB}}}}(G))\) is \(\varOmega (n \log n)\) when G is the incidence graph of a finite projective plane. We also provide examples of 3-regular bipartite graphs G such that the edge vs stable set matrix of G has a fooling set of size |E(G)|. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.3791/51241 | Testing Drosophila Olfaction With A Y Maze Assay | Detecting signals from the environment is essential for animals to ensure their survival. To this aim, they use environmental cues such as vision, mechanoreception, hearing, and chemoperception through taste, via direct contact or through olfaction, which represents the response to a volatile molecule acting at longer range. Volatile chemical molecules are very important signals for most animals in the detection of danger, a source of food, or to communicate between individuals. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most common biological models for scientists to explore the cellular and molecular basis of olfaction. In order to highlight olfactory abilities of this small insect, we describe a modified choice protocol based on the Y-maze test classically used with mice. Data obtained with Y-mazes give valuable information to better understand how animals deal with their perpetually changing environment. We introduce a step-by-step protocol to study the impact of odorants on fly exploratory response using this Y-maze assay. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
W2963548916 | Analysis of heterogeneous cardiac pacemaker tissue models and traveling wave dynamics | The sinoatrial-node (SAN) is a complex heterogeneous tissue that generates a stable rhythm in healthy hearts, yet a general mechanistic explanation for when and how this tissue remains stable is lacking. Although computational and theoretical analyses could elucidate these phenomena, such methods have rarely been used in realistic (large-dimensional) gap-junction coupled heterogeneous pacemaker tissue models. In this study, we adapt a recent model of pacemaker cells (Severi et al., 2012), incorporating biophysical representations of ion channel and intracellular calcium dynamics, to capture physiological features of a heterogeneous population of pacemaker cells, in particular "center" and "peripheral" cells with distinct intrinsic frequencies and action potential morphology. Large-scale simulations of the SAN tissue, represented by a heterogeneous tissue structure of pacemaker cells, exhibit a rich repertoire of behaviors, including complete synchrony, traveling waves of activity originating from periphery to center, and transient traveling waves originating from the center. We use phase reduction methods that do not require fully simulating the large-scale model to capture these observations. Moreover, the phase reduced models accurately predict key properties of the tissue electrical dynamics, including wave frequencies when synchronization occurs, and wave propagation direction in a variety of tissue models. With the reduced phase models, we analyze the relationship between cell distributions and coupling strengths and the resulting transient dynamics. Further, the reduced phase model predicts parameter regimes of irregular electrical dynamics. Thus, we demonstrate that phase reduced oscillator models applied to realistic pacemaker tissue is a useful tool for investigating the spatial-temporal dynamics of cardiac pacemaker activity. | [
"Mathematics",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.3847/1538-4357/ab9ff4 | A New Method to Constrain Neutron Star Structure from Quasi-periodic Oscillations | We develop a new method to measure neutron star (NS) parameters and derive constraints on the equation of state (EoS) of dense matter by fitting the frequencies of simultaneous quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) modes observed in the X-ray flux of accreting NSs in low-mass X-ray binaries. To this aim, we calculate the fundamental frequencies of geodesic motion around rotating NSs based on an accurate general-relativistic approximation for their external spacetime. Once the fundamental frequencies are related to the observed frequencies through a QPO model, they can be fit to the data to obtain estimates of the three parameters describing the spacetime, namely the NS mass, angular momentum and quadrupole moment. From these parameters we derive information on the NS structure and EoS. We present a proof of principle of our method applied to pairs of kHz QPO frequencies observed from three systems (4U1608-52, 4U0614+09, and 4U1728-34). We identify the kHz QPOs with the azimuthal and the periastron precession frequencies of matter orbiting the NS, and via our Bayesian inference technique we derive constraints on the neutrons stars' masses and radii. This method is applicable to other geodesic-frequency-based QPO models. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
EP 02012191 A | Bootstrap voltage supply | The device has an active current limiter and a voltage regulator. The driver control voltage corresponds to the voltage applied to a boot capacitor connected on one side to an essentially constant supply voltage via a boot diode and perhaps a boot resistance in series and on the other side to the converter output of the switch element. The active current limiter and/or the voltage regulator is connected between the boot diode and capacitor. The device has an active current limiter and a voltage regulator. The control voltage of the driver (2b) corresponds to the voltage applied to a boot capacitor (6), which is connected on one side to an essentially constant supply voltage (Vcc) via a boot diode (4) and perhaps a boot resistance in series and on the other side to the converter output (U) of the switch element (1b). The active current limiter (7) and/or the voltage regulator (12) is connected between the boot diode and capacitor. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1109/ECCE.2015.7309762 | Analysis Of Harmonic Coupling And Stability In Back To Back Converter Systems For Wind Turbines Using Harmonic State Space Hss | Understanding about harmonic propagation in wind turbine converter is fundamental to research the influence of these on a large network harmonic distortion. Therefore, the analysis of wind turbine converter harmonic spectrum as well as the influence of converter operating point into the network is urgently important issues in harmonic studies on wind farm. However, the conventional modeling procedure and simplified model for controller design are not enough to analyze such complicated systems. Besides, they have many limitations in terms of including a non-linear component, different operating points and harmonic coupling analysis. Hence, it is critically needed to develop the advanced converter model, which can include almost all the possibilities. This paper develops the advanced Back to Back (BtB) converter model for wind farm application by means of Harmonic State Space (HSS) modeling method. The modeling and analysis results are remarkable that this model can include non-linear component and also show different operating points and harmonic coupling point, where this means each wind power converter can show the different impedance characteristics. The developed model can easily connected into the large wind farm model to analyze the overall steady-state harmonic as well as harmonic stability. All theoretical modeling and analysis is verified by means of simulation and experimental results. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/s41577-018-0117-0 | DNA-stimulated cell death: implications for host defence, inflammatory diseases and cancer | The immune system detects disturbances in homeostasis that occur during infection, sterile tissue damage and cancer. This initiates immune responses that seek to eliminate the trigger of immune activation and to re-establish homeostasis. At the same time, these mechanisms can also play a crucial role in the progression of disease. The occurrence of DNA in the cytosol constitutes a potent trigger for the innate immune system, governing the production of key inflammatory cytokines such as type I interferons and IL-1β. More recently, it has become clear that cytosolic DNA also triggers other biological responses, including various forms of programmed cell death. In this article, we review the emerging literature on the pathways governing DNA-stimulated cell death and the current knowledge on how these processes shape immune responses to exogenous and endogenous challenges. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W4223984426 | Educazione e cura dei bambini e delle bambine ai tempi del coronavirus. La risposta dei servizi educativi italiani | L’articolo riflette su come in Italia sia stata affrontata la crisi sanitaria causata dal Covid-19 a livello dei servizi educativi per l’infanzia. Dopo aver ricostruito il quadro politico e normativo nazionale, l’attenzione si concentra sulla realtà toscana. L’obiettivo è quello di illustrare da un lato alcune esperienze nella Regione Toscana durante il lockdown per garantire una continuità nella relazione educativa a distanza e dall’altro mostrare come i servizi educativi toscani hanno reagito alla ripresa dell’anno educativo 2020-21. Il primo aspetto è ricostruito attraverso una ricognizione di materiali collocati in rete, mentre il secondo aspetto è documentato attraverso i risultati di un’indagine condotta da chi scrive e che ha coinvolto i servizi educativi della Cooperativa Arca. Se ne ricava un quadro dinamico che mette in luce gli sforzi del personale educativo sia nella gestione delle routine sia nella ricerca di modalità inedite di relazione con le famiglie. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
335122 | Single cell heterogeneity in the mammalian liver | The mammalian liver performs critical functions for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. It regulates the body’s glucose and lipid stores, detoxifies blood, and produces bile among a host of other functions. The liver achieves this diversity through the collective behaviour of heterogeneous hepatocytes operating in highly structured microenvironments. Understanding the design principles of the liver is an open challenge requiring analysis of single cells within the intact tissue.
Liver heterogeneity appears at two length scales. At the liver lobule level centripetal blood flow creates gradients of oxygen, nutrients and hormones. The consumption of hepatocytes along the lobule axis determines the inputs available for more centrally located hepatocytes. The resulting spatial division of labor, termed ‘liver zonation’ could enable optimal tissue function in face of these long-range constraints. At the cellular level most hepatocytes are polyploid cells, having either one or two nuclei and a corresponding variability in cell sizes. The functional advantage of liver polyploidy remains unclear.
In this proposal we aim to combine single molecule transcript imaging in the intact liver with theory from systems biology to uncover the design principles of liver heterogeneity. We will examine the hypothesis that spatial zonation and hepatocyte polyploidy evolved to enable the liver to optimally operate. We will characterize the spatial co-expression patterns of key liver genes and theoretically compare the ability of these patterns to excel over alternative patterns. We will also characterize the differential resource allocation of hepatocytes of different ploidy classes.
This interdisciplinary project stands at the forefront of research in mammalian biology, addressing fundamental properties of a major organ at unprecedented single-cell resolution. It will open new avenues for extending the field of systems biology to the analysis of complex tissues in mammalian organisms. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1186/s12877-018-0956-3 | The effect of body mass index, lower extremity performance, and use of a private car on incident life-space restriction: A two-year follow-up study | Background: The purpose of the study was to explore the single and combined contributions of body mass index (BMI) and lower extremity performance as modifiable physical factors, and the influence of use of a private car as an environmental factor on prevalent and incident life-space restriction in community-dwelling older people. Methods: Community-dwelling people aged 75-90 years (n = 823) participated in the Life-Space Mobility in Old Age (LISPE) two-year follow-up study. Participants who reported that the largest life-space area they had attained, without aid from any device or another person, was the neighborhood or less were considered to have life-space restriction. Incident life-space restriction was the endpoint of Cox's proportional hazard model. BMI, lower extremity performance (Short Physical Performance Battery, SPPB), and use of a private car were predictors. Results: At baseline, people who had both obesity (BMI ≥30. 0) and impaired lower extremity performance (SPPB 0-9) had a higher prevalence of life-space restriction (prevalence ratio 3. 6, 95% confidence interval, CI, 2. 0-6. 3) compared to those with normal weight (BMI 23. 0-24. 9) and intact physical performance (SPPB 10-12). The 581 people without life-space restriction at the baseline contributed 1033 person-years during the two-year follow-up. Incident life-space restrictions were reported by 28. 3% participants. A higher hazard ratio (HR) for incident life-space restriction was observed in subjects having both obesity and impaired lower extremity performance (HR 3. 6, 95% CI, 1. 7-7. 4), impaired lower extremity performance only (HR 1. 9, 95% CI 0. 9-4. 1), and obesity only (HR 1. 8, 95% CI, 0. 9-3. 5) compared to those with normal weight and intact performance. Private car passengers (HR 2. 0, 95% CI, 1. 3-3. 0) compared to car drivers had a higher risk of life-space restriction. All models were adjusted for age, sex, chronic diseases, and education. Conclusions: Older people with impaired lower extremity performance have an increased risk of incident life-space restriction especially if combined with obesity. Also, not driving a car renders older people vulnerable to life-space restriction. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
10.1098/rspa.2014.0704 | Four-dimensional Fano toric complete intersections | We find at least 527 new four-dimensional Fano manifolds, each of which is a complete intersection in a smooth toric Fano manifold. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.3389/fimmu.2017.00920 | Innate immune activation can trigger experimental spondyloarthritis in HLA-B27/Huβ2m Transgenic Rats | Spondyloarthritis (SpA) does not display the typical features of auto-immune disease. Despite the strong association with MHC class I, CD8+ T cells are not required for disease induction in the HLA-B27/Huβ2m transgenic rats. We used Lewis HLA-B27/Huβ2m transgenic rats [21-3 × 283-2]F1, HLA-B7/Huβ2m transgenic rats [120-4 × 283-2]F1, and wild-type rats to test our hypothesis that SpA may be primarily driven by the innate immune response. In vitro, splenocytes were stimulated with heat-inactivated Mycobacterium tuberculosis and cytokine expression and production was measured. In vivo, male and female rats were immunized with 30, 60, or 90 μg of heat-inactivated M. tuberculosis and clinically monitored for spondylitis and arthritis development. After validation of the model, we tested whether prophylactic and therapeutic TNF targeting affected spondylitis and arthritis. In vitro stimulation with heat-inactivated M. tuberculosis strongly induced gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF, IL-6, IL-1α, and IL-1β, in the HLA-B27 transgenic rats compared with controls. In vivo immunization induced an increased spondylitis and arthritis incidence and an accelerated and synchronized onset of spondylitis and arthritis in HLA-B27 transgenic males and females. Moreover, immunization overcame the protective effect of orchiectomy. Prophylactic TNF targeting resulted in delayed spondylitis and arthritis development and reduced arthritis severity, whereas therapeutic TNF blockade did not affect spondylitis and arthritis severity. Collectively, these data indicate that innate immune activation plays a role in the initiation of HLA-B27-associated disease and allowed to establish a useful in vivo model to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease initiation and progression. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1021/ma402429d | Crystallization-driven self-assembly of block copolymers with a short crystallizable core-forming segment: Controlling micelle morphology through the influence of molar mass and solvent selectivity | Three well-defined asymmetric crystalline-coil poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane-block-2-vinylpyridine) (PFS-b-P2VP) diblock copolymers (PFS44-b-P2VP264, PFS75-b-P2VP 454, and PFS102-b-P2VP625) with similar block ratios (r = NP2VP/NPFS = ca. 6. 0 ± 0. 1) but different overall molar masses (Mn = 38-700, 65-800, and 90-400 g mol-1) were synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization, and their solution self-assembly behavior was explored as a function of (i) molar mass and (ii) the ratio of common to selective solvent. When self-assembly was performed in isopropanol (i-PrOH), a selective solvent for P2VP, a decrease in the rate of the crystallization-driven transition from the initially formed spheres (with amorphous PFS cores) into cylinders (with crystalline cores) was detected with an increase in molecular weight. This trend can be explained by a decrease in the rate of crystallization for the PFS core-forming block as the chain length increased. In contrast, when a mixture of i-PrOH with increasing amounts of THF, a common solvent for both blocks, was used, spheres, cylinders, and also narrow lenticular platelets consisting of crystallized PFS lamellae sandwiched by two glassy coronal P2VP layers were formed from the same PFS x-b-P2VP6x sample. The most likely explanation involves the plasticization of the PFS core-forming block which facilitates crystallization, possibly complemented by contraction of the coils of the P2VP coronal block which otherwise limit of the lateral growth of the crystalline PFS core as THF is a poorer solvent for P2VP than i-PrOH. Selected area electron diffraction studies indicated that the PFS cores of the spherical micelles were amorphous but were consistent with those of the cylindrical micelles existing in a state approximating to that of a monoclinic PFS single crystal. In contrast, in the platelets formed in THF/i-PrOH, the PFS cores were found to be polycrystalline. The formation of narrow lenticular polycrystalline platelets rather than a regular, rectangular single crystalline morphology was attributed to a poisoning effect whereby the interference of the long P2VP coronal blocks in the growth of a rectangular PFS single crystalline core introduces defects at the crystal growth fronts. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1039/C8CP02195C | Effect Of Fullerene Acceptor On The Performance Of Solar Cells Based On Pffbt4T 2Od | We have studied bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells composed of the polymer PffBT4T-2OD as electron donor and three different electron accepting fullerenes, namely PC71BM, PC61BM and indene-C60-bis-adduct (ICBA) in order to understand the impact of different fullerenes on the morphology and efficiency of the corresponding photovoltaic devices. Despite PffBT4T-2OD:ICBA devices being characterised by higher values of Voc, they display the lowest power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to their lower Jsc and FF values. We find that although all blend films have similar morphologies, X-ray scattering indicates a reduced degree of order within the fullerene domains in the ICBA-based film. Due to the high LUMO level of ICBA, the corresponding blends are characterised by a lower initial exciton dissociation and this associated with the reduced ordering within the ICBA domains results in increased geminate recombination of the photogenerated electrons in the fullerene-rich domains and a consequently reduced PCE of the corresponding devices. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1097/RCT.0000000000000518 | Bone Mineral Density Estimations From Routine Multidetector Computed Tomography A Comparative Study Of Contrast And Calibration Effects | INTRODUCTION
Phantom-based (synchronous and asynchronous) and phantomless (internal tissue calibration based) assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) in routine MDCT (multidetector computed tomography) examinations potentially allows for diagnosis of osteoporosis. Although recent studies investigated the effects of contrast-medium application on phantom-calibrated BMD measurements, it remains uncertain to what extent internal tissue-calibrated BMD measurements are also susceptible to contrast-medium associated density variation. The present study is the first to systemically evaluate BMD variations related to contrast application comparing different calibration techniques. PURPOSE
To compare predicative performance of different calibration techniques for BMD measurements obtained from triphasic contrast-enhanced MDCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bone mineral density was measured on nonenhanced (NE), arterial (AR) and portal-venous (PV) contrast phase MDCT images of 46 patients using synchronous (SYNC) and asynchronous (ASYNC) phantom calibration as well as internal calibration (IC). Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) served as criterion standard. Density variations were analyzed for each contrast phase and calibration technique, and respective linear fitting was performed. RESULTS
Both asynchronous calibration-derived BMD values (NE-ASYNC) and values estimated using IC (NE-IC) on NE MDCT images did reasonably well in predicting QCT BMD (root-mean-square deviation, 8. 0% and 7. 8%, respectively). Average NE-IC BMD was 2. 7% lower when compared with QCT (P = 0. 017), whereas no difference could be found for NE-ASYNC (P = 0. 957). All average BMD estimates derived from contrast-enhanced scans differed significantly from QCT BMD (all P 6. 0 mg/mL). All regression fits revealed a consistent linear dependency (R range, 0. 861-0. 963). Overall accuracy and goodness of fit tended to decrease from AR to PV contrast phase. Highest precision and best linear fit could be reached using a synchronously scanned phantom (root-mean-square deviation, 9. 4% for AR and 14. 4% for PV). Both ASYNC and IC estimations performed comparably accurate and precise. CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that internal calibration driven BMD measurements derived from contrast-enhanced MDCT need the same amount of post hoc contrast-effect adjustment as measurements using phantom calibration. Adjustment using linear correction equations can correct for systematic bias of bone density variations related to contrast application, irrespective of the calibration technique used. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
W2018269516 | A VSS Algorithm Based on Multiple Features for Object Tracking | A variable search space (VSS) approach according to the color feature combined with point feature for object tracking is presented. Mean shift is a well-established and fundamental algorithm that works on the basis of color probability distributions, and is robust to given color targets. As it solely depends upon back projected probabilities, it may miss the targets because of illumination and noise. To overcome the flaw, we proposes VSS algorithm based on the color and robust feature of the detected object. The proposed algorithm can solve the problem that the color of the detected object is similar to the background, and achieve better real-time tracking due to change the search window’s size. Experimental work demonstrates that the presented method is robust and computationally effective. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1002/pmic.201500445 | High-sensitivity HLA class I peptidome analysis enables a precise definition of peptide motifs and the identification of peptides from cell lines and patients' sera | The characterization of peptides bound to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I is of fundamental importance for understanding CD8+ T cell-driven immunological processes and for the development of immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies. However, until now, the mass spectrometric analysis of HLA-bound peptides has typically required billions of cells, still resulting in relatively few high-confidence peptide identifications. Capitalizing on the recent developments in mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, we have implemented a methodology for the efficient recovery of acid-eluted HLA peptides after purification with the pan-reactive antibody W6/32 and have identified a total of 27 862 unique peptides with high confidence (1% false discovery rate) from five human cancer cell lines. More than 93% of the identified peptides were eight to 11 amino acids in length and contained signatures that were in excellent agreement with published HLA binding motifs. Furthermore, by purifying soluble HLA class I complexes (sHLA) from sera of melanoma patients, up to 972 high-confidence peptides could be identified, including melanoma-associated antigens already described in the literature. Knowledge of the HLA class I peptidome should facilitate multiplex tetramer technology-based characterization of T cells, and allow the development of patient selection, stratification and immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
215996 | Technology advancement of ocean energy devices through innovative development of electrical systems to increase performance and reliability | Life cycle cost of electricity generated by marine renewable technologies is determined by multiple factors including energy production capability, capital costs, and operating and maintenance (O&M) costs, as well as multiple other logistical, permitting, environmental, and finance cost factors. ORPC’s direct experience has been that operating and maintenance costs are dominant in the cost structure. It is clear that for marine renewable energy systems to be commercially viable they must demonstrate exceptionally high reliability and availability. ORPC is now addressing these cost, efficiency and reliability issues in order to achieve commercial status. This Project is a critical next step in commercialization of ORPC’s hydrokinetic power system technology for the European market. Ultimate Project goals are to develop a complete power transfer system from prime mover to electrical grid with normal maintenance intervals of greater than five years, and availability of greater than 98%. Intermediate goals are to deliver a system with design maintenance intervals of greater than five years, and availability greater than 96%. The projects primary objectives are listed below:
1. Develop wet gap electrical generator design capable of operating in seawater flooded condition
2. Develop advanced bearings and seal designs for hydrokinetic machines
3. Develop and implement control strategies to maximize power output and power quality for multiple prime mover designs
4. Develop and implement advanced health monitoring system
5. Validate the system design work by integrated full scale lab testing of system
6. Integrate these components into a baseline ORPC hydrokinetic turbine and assess associated economic improvements
7. Disseminate Project results and findings | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
184647 | Genetic dissection of a tonically active neural circuit | Understanding how the brain works is a fundamental challenge in biology and a priority of EU research. A subset of brain circuits can signal tonically to encode persistent stimuli. Such circuits are involved in many sensory systems (e.g. vision, hearing) and in homeostatic responses (e.g. temperature, pH, and posture control). How tonic activity is molecularly achieved remains poorly understood. In C. elegans a tonic circuit promotes aggregation behavior and escape from 21% oxygen. At its core this circuit comprises URX oxygen sensors that tonically stimulate RMG interneurons as oxygen approaches 21%, evoking a switch in behavioral state. Each neuron in the circuit can be imaged and selectively modified in vivo - providing a special opportunity to dissect a tonically active circuit. Genetic screens have isolated 74 mutants with behavioral defects linked to URX-RMG tonic activity and that appear to disrupt hitherto unstudied loci. I am currently identifying the genes defective in these mutants, something I expect to achieve by May 2016 when the Fellowship would begin. I propose to combine genetics, neural imaging, optogenetics and biochemistry to characterize these genes’ function. I expect to define groups of gene products that act together. Some will be hitherto uncharacterized in any animal. I propose to collaborate with partners in the host institute and elsewhere to characterize the function of conserved genetic pathways I discover in depth. I will gain added value from learning new approaches (e.g. biochemistry, CLEM, cell-specific RNA Seq) and by extending some of my findings into a vertebrate model. I expect my research to provide general insights into molecular mechanisms by which tonic circuits work, with potential implications for human disease. This project is likely to pioneer new lines of research indispensible to establish an independent research career, will broaden and deepen my technical expertise, and will help me develop new scientific networks. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1073/pnas.1921533117 | Distortion matrix approach for ultrasound imaging of random scattering media | Focusing waves inside inhomogeneous media is a fundamental problem for imaging. Spatial variations of wave velocity can strongly distort propagating wave fronts and degrade image quality. Adaptive focusing can compensate for such aberration but is only effective over a restricted field of view. Here, we introduce a full-field approach to wave imaging based on the concept of the distortion matrix. This operator essentially connects any focal point inside the medium with the distortion that a wave front, emitted from that point, experiences due to heterogeneities. A time-reversal analysis of the distortion matrix enables the estimation of the transmission matrix that links each sensor and image voxel. Phase aberrations can then be unscrambled for any point, providing a full-field image of the medium with diffraction-limited resolution. Importantly, this process is particularly efficient in random scattering media, where traditional approaches such as adaptive focusing fail. Here, we first present an experimental proof of concept on a tissue-mimicking phantom and then, apply the method to in vivo imaging of human soft tissues. While introduced here in the context of acoustics, this approach can also be extended to optical microscopy, radar, or seismic imaging. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
IL 2015051128 W | HORSESHOE WITH METAL CLIPS | A horseshoe includes a blank that is shapeable to substantially conform to a contour of a hoof. The blank includes a plurality of metal clips. Each of the metal clips is shaped to attach to a clip opening that is formed in the blank such that opposite plates of each of the clips sandwich at least a portion of the blank to which that clip is attached. Each of the opposite plates including a hole, the blank being adaptable to enable the attachment of each clip such that, when the horseshoe is aligned to the hoof, the holes on the opposite plates are substantially aligned with one another and with a white line of the hoof. A nail may be driven through the holes and into the hoof at the white line. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1371/journal.pone.0073294 | The AP-1 Transcription Factor c-Jun Prevents Stress-Imposed Maladaptive Remodeling of the Heart | Systemic hypertension increases cardiac workload and subsequently induces signaling networks in heart that underlie myocyte growth (hypertrophic response) through expansion of sarcomeres with the aim to increase contractility. However, conditions of increased workload can induce both adaptive and maladaptive growth of heart muscle. Previous studies implicate two members of the AP-1 transcription factor family, junD and fra-1, in regulation of heart growth during hypertrophic response. In this study, we investigate the function of the AP-1 transcription factors, c-jun and c-fos, in heart growth. Using pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice and targeted deletion of Jun or Fos in cardiomyocytes, we show that c-jun is required for adaptive cardiac hypertrophy, while c-fos is dispensable in this context. c-jun promotes expression of sarcomere proteins and suppresses expression of extracellular matrix proteins. Capacity of cardiac muscle to contract depends on organization of principal thick and thin filaments, myosin and actin, within the sarcomere. In line with decreased expression of sarcomere-associated proteins, Jun-deficient cardiomyocytes present disarrangement of filaments in sarcomeres and actin cytoskeleton disorganization. Moreover, Jun-deficient hearts subjected to pressure overload display pronounced fibrosis and increased myocyte apoptosis finally resulting in dilated cardiomyopathy. In conclusion, c-jun but not c-fos is required to induce a transcriptional program aimed at adapting heart growth upon increased workload. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1038/srep42924 | Image-based adaptive optics for in vivo imaging in the hippocampus | Adaptive optics is a promising technique for the improvement of microscopy in tissues. A large palette of indirect and direct wavefront sensing methods has been proposed for in vivo imaging in experimental animal models. Application of most of these methods to complex samples suffers from either intrinsic and/or practical difficulties. Here we show a theoretically optimized wavefront correction method for inhomogeneously labeled biological samples. We demonstrate its performance at a depth of 200 μm in brain tissue within a sparsely labeled region such as the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus, with cells expressing GCamP6. This method is designed to be sample-independent thanks to an automatic axial locking on objects of interest through the use of an image-based metric that we designed. Using this method, we show an increase of in vivo imaging quality in the hippocampus. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1021/ja2017009 | The use of magnetic dilution to elucidate the slow magnetic relaxation effects of a Dy<inf>2</inf> single-molecule magnet | The magnetic dilution method was employed in order to elucidate the origin of the slow relaxation of the magnetization in a Dy2 single-molecule magnet (SMM). The doping effect was studied using SQUID and micro-SQUID measurements on a Dy2 SMM diluted in a diamagnetic Y2 matrix. The quantum tunneling of the magnetization that can occur was suppressed by applying optimum dc fields. The dominant single-ion relaxation was found to be entangled with the neighboring DyIII ion relaxation within the molecule, greatly influencing the quantum tunneling of the magnetization in this complex. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
247348 | Advanced optoelectronic Devices with Enhanced QUAntum efficiency at THz frEquencies | The aim of this project is the realisation of efficient mid-infrared and THz optoelectronic emitters. This work is motivated by the fact that the spontaneous emission in this frequency range is characterized by an extremely long lifetime when compared to non-radiative processes, giving rise to devices with very low quantum efficiency. To this end we want to develop hybrid light-matter systems, already well known in quantum optics, within optoelectronics devices, that will be driven by electrical injection. With this project we want to extend the field of optoelectronics by introducing some of the concepts of quantum optic, particularly the light-matter strong coupling, into semiconductor devices. More precisely this project aims at the implementation of novel optoelectronic emitters operating in the strong coupling regime between an intersubband excitation of a two-dimensional electron gas and a microcavity photonic mode. The quasiparticles issued from this coupling are called intersubband polaritons. The major difficulties and challenges of this project, do not lay in the observation of these quantum effects, but in their exploitation for a specific function, in particular an efficient electrical to optical conversion. To obtain efficient quantum emitters in the THz frequency range we will follow two different approaches: - In the first case we will try to exploit the additional characteristic time of the system introduced by the light-matter interaction in the strong (or ultra-strong) coupling regime. - The second approach will exploit the fact that, under certain conditions, intersubband polaritons have a bosonic character; as a consequence they can undergo stimulated scattering, giving rise to polaritons lasers as it has been shown for excitonic polaritons. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
174778 | Topological organization of vertebrate regulatory landscapes: the hox genes paradigm | The aim of this grant is to understand how mammalian developmental genes, which are usually pleiotropic, are controlled via long-range regulations and how chromatin partitions into large and discrete regulatory domains, generally matching Topologically Associating Domains (TADs). We want to understand how such domains emerged in evolution, how they are built during development and how they help implement enhancer functions. We will use a large genomic interval in mouse chromosome 2 containing the HoxD cluster as a paradigm, as it is covered by a large allelic series re-organizing the topology of this interval. Since the syntenic human locus (2q31) is affected in numerous genetic syndromes involving CNVs or large DNA re-arrangements, we believe this work will also help understand the mechanistic bases of human regulatory mutations. The approach will capitalize on our knowledge of mouse embryos, the implementation of cutting-edge genomic technologies and the unique collection of engineered mammalian chromosomes kept into living mice, which represent as many targeted re-organizations of both chromatin and regulatory topologies. It will require important technological development, in order to apply to mammalian embryos, methods (HiC) currently used for cell cultures or adult tissues. We think that the feasibility of this novel program is high, due the portfolio of experimental tools recently developed in our laboratory. Also, pilot experiments have been initiated to identify problems and preliminary results including the use of HiC on embryonic tissues suggest that the proposed experiments can be realized within delay. The novelty and originality of this program are in the interdisciplinary and system approach of genomic re-arrangements, as analyzed in vivo using recently developed methodologies, allowing to associate topological variations with regulatory modalities in a physiological context, during normal or genetically impaired embryonic development. | [
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W2088134038 | Mechanical thermal synthesis of in situ Al based hybrid nanocomposites in Al–Ni–Ti–O system | Abstract Al matrix hybrid nanocomposite is synthesized from a powder blend of Al—12% (wt) NiO—15% (wt) TiO 2 by combined mechanical and thermal activation (mechanical thermal synthesis). The powder blends are mechanically activated by high energy ball milling followed by consolidation and thermal treatment. Milled powders are characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy. DTA results show the onset reaction temperature to decrease with increase in the milling time. Series of thermal treatments in a wide range of temperatures are performed on the green compacts. The thermally treated samples are then characterized by XRD and electron microscopy. The superior microhardness (1.86–2.25 GPa) of the nanocomposite may be attributed to ultra fine grain size of the Al matrix, and Orowan strengthening from the nanosized reinforcements. Aluminothermic reduction reaction between Al, NiO and TiO 2 is successfully exploited for the synthesis of in situ hybrid nanocomposite by combined mechanical–thermal activation. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1021/acs.joc.5b00148 | Preparation of tetrasubstituted olefins using mono or double aerobic direct C-H functionalization strategies: Importance of steric effects | A novel protocol for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefins through a biomimetic approach has been explored. Both mono- and diarylations were performed under ambient oxygen pressure, giving a range of highly hindered tetrasubstituted alkenes. For diarylation of disubstituted substrates, it was demonstrated that the second arylation is the rate-limiting step of the overall transformation. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1093/imrn/rnw271 | Non-existence of solutions for the periodic cubic NLS below L<sup>2</sup> | We prove non-existence of solutions for the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS) on the circle if initial data belong to Hs(T)\ L2(T) for some s ∈ (− 18 , 0). The proof is based on establishing an a priori bound on solutions to a renormalized cubic NLS in negative Sobolev spaces via the short-time Fourier restriction norm method. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1186/s40249-018-0450-3 | High prevalence of epilepsy in two rural onchocerciasis endemic villages in the Mahenge area, Tanzania, after 20 years of community directed treatment with ivermectin | Background: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder with a multitude of underlying causes, which may include infection with Onchocerca volvulus, the parasitic worm that causes human onchocerciasis. A survey carried out in 1989 revealed a high prevalence of epilepsy (1. 02% overall, ranging from 0. 51 to 3. 71% in ten villages) in the Mahenge area of Ulanga district, an onchocerciasis endemic region in south eastern Tanzania. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy following 20 years of onchocerciasis control through annual community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI). Methods: The study was conducted in January 2017 in two suburban and two rural villages in the Mahenge area. Door-to-door household visits were carried out by trained community health workers and data assistants to screen for persons suspected of having epilepsy, using a standardised questionnaire. Persons with suspected epilepsy were then interviewed and examined by a neurologist for case verification. Onchocerciasis associated epilepsy was defined as epilepsy without an obvious cause, with an onset of seizures between the ages of 3-18 years in previously healthy children. In each village, fifty males aged ≥20 years were tested for onchocerciasis antibodies using an OV16 rapid test and were examined for presence of onchocerciasis nodules. Children aged 6-10 years were also tested using OV16 tests. Results: 5117 individuals (median age 18. 5 years, 53. 2% female) from 1168 households were screened. 244 (4. 8%) were suspected of having epilepsy and invited for neurological assessment. Prevalence of epilepsy was 2. 5%, with the rural villages having the highest rate (3. 5% vs 1. 5%), P < 0. 001. Overall incidence of epilepsy was 111 cases (95% CI: 73-161) per 100 000 person-years, while that of onchocerciasis associated epilepsy was 131 (95% CI: 70-223). Prevalence of OV16 antibodies in adult males and among children 6-10 years old was higher in rural villages than in suburban villages (76. 5% vs 50. 6, and 42. 6% vs 4. 7% respectively), (P < 0. 001), while overall prevalence of onchocerciasis nodules was 1. 8%. Conclusions: This survey revealed a high prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in two rural onchocerciasis endemic villages in the Mahenge area. Despite 20 years of CDTI, a high prevalence of OV16 antibodies in children aged 6-10 years suggests on-going O. volvulus transmission. Reasons for the persistence of on-going parasite transmission in the Mahenge area need to be investigated. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
W1982881098 | A mathematical model of neuromuscular adaptation to resistance training and its application in a computer simulation of accommodating loads | A large corpus of data obtained by means of empirical study of neuromuscular adaptation is currently of limited use to athletes and their coaches. One of the reasons lies in the unclear direct practical utility of many individual trials. This paper introduces a mathematical model of adaptation to resistance training, which derives its elements from physiological fundamentals on the one side, and empirical findings on the other. The key element of the proposed model is what is here termed the athlete's capability profile. This is a generalization of length and velocity dependent force production characteristics of individual muscles, to an exercise with arbitrary biomechanics. The capability profile, a two-dimensional function over the capability plane, plays the central role in the proposed model of the training-adaptation feedback loop. Together with a dynamic model of resistance the capability profile is used in the model's predictive stage when exercise performance is simulated using a numerical approximation of differential equations of motion. Simulation results are used to infer the adaptational stimulus, which manifests itself through a fed back modification of the capability profile. It is shown how empirical evidence of exercise specificity can be formulated mathematically and integrated in this framework. A detailed description of the proposed model is followed by examples of its application-new insights into the effects of accommodating loading for powerlifting are demonstrated. This is followed by a discussion of the limitations of the proposed model and an overview of avenues for future work. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1126/science.1256985 | Microbial metabolism: Growth of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria by aerobic hydrogen oxidation | The bacterial oxidation of nitrite to nitrate is a key process of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria are considered a highly specialized functional group, which depends on the supply of nitrite from other microorganisms and whose distribution strictly correlates with nitrification in the environment and in wastewater treatment plants. On the basis of genomics, physiological experiments, and single-cell analyses, we show that Nitrospira moscoviensis, which represents a widely distributed lineage of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, has the genetic inventory to utilize hydrogen (H2) as an alternative energy source for aerobic respiration and grows on H2without nitrite. CO2fixation occurred with H2as the sole electron donor. Our results demonstrate a chemolithoautotrophic lifestyle of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria outside the nitrogen cycle, suggesting greater ecological flexibility than previously assumed. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1111/1365-2745.12326 | Grass-woodland transitions: Determinants and consequences for ecosystem functioning and provisioning of services | 1. A large fraction of grasslands world-wide is undergoing a rapid shift from herbaceous to woodyplantdominance, while in other parts of the world, the opposite transition from woodland to grasslandis the dominant phenomenon. These shifts have received increasing attention in the ecological literatureduring the last two decades due to their global extent and their impacts on ecosystem functioning. 2. This Special Feature includes a series of contributions on key topics within the study of grass-woodland transitions, including three articles addressing the drivers of these vegetation shifts andanother three evaluating their ecological consequences. These articles, which include reviews, modellingand empirical studies, highlight the multiplicity of approaches and spatial scales being currentlyused when studying grass-woodland transitions. 3. The first articles focus on the role of fire in driving the dynamics of mesic grasslands in theUSA, on the effects of climate change on the transition zones between treeless vegetation, savannaand forest in tropical and subtropical Americas and on the role of the internal structure of vegetationas a determinant of grassland-woodland transitions. The articles devoted to exploring the consequencesinclude a modelling study on the ecohydrological consequences of shrub removal in westernNorth America and an empirical study aiming at understanding how abiotic and biotic attributesinfluence above-ground net productivity across Patagonian grasslands and shrublands, as well as areview of the consequences of brush management on the provision of ecosystem services. 4. Synthesis. Identifying the best actions to avoid or take advantage of grass-woodland transitionsrequires a mechanistic understanding of both the drivers of these shifts and their ecological consequences. The collection of reviews, empirical and modelling studies included in this Special Featurecontributes to forecasting how ongoing global change will affect grass-woodland transitions andtheir consequences for the provisioning of ecosystem services from drylands, which account for alarge fraction of Earth's surface. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
W2564854166 | Use of active scope camera in the Kumamoto Earthquake to investigate collapsed houses | The Kumamoto Earthquake occurred in April 2016. We conducted an investigation using the active scope camera to examine the interiors of the collapsed houses. The robot video scope can move by itself to probe narrow gaps. We could safely gather information by inserting it inside houses. We further considered the future possible improvements to the robot based on the investigation. We also determined the constraints to be considered for the robot operation in disaster areas. In addition, we created a test field imitating the features of collapsed houses. We used this field to evaluate our robot mobility and related technologies that are being developed for future applications. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-642-54242-8_16 | One Sided Adaptively Secure Two Party Computation | Adaptive security is a strong security notion that captures additional security threats that are not addressed by static corruptions. For instance, it captures real-world scenarios where “hackers” actively break into computers, possibly while they are executing secure protocols. Studying this setting is interesting from both theoretical and practical points of view. A primary building block in designing adaptively secure protocols is a non-committing encryption (NCE) that implements secure communication channels in the presence of adaptive corruptions. Current constructions require a number of public key operations that grows linearly with the length of the message. Furthermore, general two-party protocols require a number of NCE calls that is linear in the circuit size. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
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