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174732 | Precursors of logical reasoning in human infants | There is no other field that is more controversial in psychology than that of human reasoning. This project advances a novel theoretical framework focused on the nature and the origins of rationality and could potentially resolve some of these controversies. Theories targeting the mechanisms that allow rational inferences have defined rationality as a function of how much reasoning adheres to formal rules of probability calculus and logic. Classical research with adults and older children collected a large amount of data both in favor and against human rationality, suggesting that reasoning abilities follow a slow maturation. Recent findings on infants’ probabilistic reasoning, including my own earlier research, however, do not support this view. Already preverbal infants seem to form expectations about probabilistic events in accordance with Bayesian rules of inference (Téglás et al, 2011). Here I argue for a similar paradigm change in a related domain, that of deductive reasoning.
In contrast to earlier accounts, I propose that even preverbal infants may possess a core set of logical operations that empower them with sophisticated inferential abilities. First, I focus on the representational precursors of this competence. I argue that infants recruit specific abilities to exploit the conceptual structure of specific event categories that enable them to form logical representations. Thus, information could be stored in a format that can potentially serve as input for subsequent inferences. Further, I will investigate infants’ core logical operations and test how they integrate multiple steps of inferences. This system - indispensable for integrating different bits of knowledge - helps infants to discover information that was not actually present in the input. Such investigations, informed also by adequate neuropsychological evidence would thus contribute to understand the unique nature of human rationality. | [
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
US 2012/0055964 W | SULFUR CONTAINING SILICA PARTICLE | A silica containing composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a compound having the following formula: (SiO2)x(OH)yMzSaFB: wherein M is at least one of the following metal or metalloid cations: boron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, cadmium, tin, platinum, gold, and bismuth; wherein S is a sulfur-based species selected from at least one of the following: sulfide salts, dithiocarbamates, polymer-based dithiocarbamates, and polysulfide salts;wherein F optionally exists and said F is at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane at a surface area coverage of about 0.01 to about 100 %; wherein the molar ratio of y/x is equal to about 0.01 to about 0.5, the molar ratio of x/z is equal to about 0.5 to about 300 or from about 0.5 to about 100, and the molar ratio of a/z is about 0.5 to about 5; and wherein B is a hygroscopic solid at a water to solid molar ratio of 0.1-6 and preferably comprises at least one alkaline earth oxide or lanthanide oxide. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
990313 | Realization of water permeation kinetics in two-dimensional nanocapillaries to develop desalination and energy harvesting membranes | Exploration of molecular transport in nanometre (nm) and sub-nm capillaries has big implications in the emergence of novel nanofluidic phenomena with interesting applications, including desalination, water purification, energy harvesting and smart membrane technologies. Recent advances in graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials based membranes with interlayer gallery of nanochannels have witnessed high water-ion selectivity and fast water permeation—manifesting their potential for desalination and smart membrane applications. However, a systematic and extensive experimental investigation of water permeation kinetics, including the demonstration of slip effects, in these atomically smooth 2D nanochannels is still lacking. Therefore, the main objective of the current research proposal is to gain a complete mechanistic understanding of water transport in nanochannels made of different 2D materials, which is crucial for the rational design of functional membranes for energy and environmental applications. This will be achieved by employing the state-of-the-art fabrication and experimental techniques based on van der Waals assembly, Landau-Squire flow measurement set-up and ultrasonic force microscopy. In this project, atomically smooth angstrom-scale 2D nanochannel devices will be prepared to investigate the flow dynamics of water using a custom-made ultrasensitive flow measurement technique. Throughout the project, advanced modelling techniques will be utilized to fundamentally understand transport and further optimize the system. Building on these findings, a scale-up methodology will be developed for the large-scale production of membranes for desalination and energy harvesting applications. The proposed research action will address Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges related to water security and resource efficiency while advancing the field of nanofluidics and membrane technology through the development of new fabrication and flow measurement methods. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
185611 | Accessible resources for cultural heritage ecosystems | The popularisation of digitisation techniques has boosted the generation of digital cultural heritage assets in recent years. However, such techniques should not be regarded as an end in and of themselves, but as a means for enabling European citizens to engage with cultural heritage more closely and in different ways.
ARCHES aims to create more inclusive cultural environments particularly for those with differences and difficulties associated with perception, memory, cognition and communication. It will achieve this through in-depth research analysis and the development of innovative applications, functionalities and experiences based on the reuse and redevelopment of the aforementioned digital resources.
Our participatory research methodology situates real user needs at the heart of an iterative design and implementation process, through their active involvement in 3 pilot exercises. This will also facilitate the validation of potential solutions in scenarios at 6 museums, as well as engagement with broader audiences (e.g. children, the elderly, and other potentially marginalised groups) and extension to other sectors, mainly education and tourism.
The online accessible software platform, applications for handheld devices and multisensory activities will form the basis of a technical approach that will exploit state of the art technologies – e.g. augmented reality, avatars, relief printers and models, context-sensitive tactile audio guides, metadata and advanced image processing techniques – to underpin the generation of a dynamic ecosystem. In this framework, museums will play an important role by adapting content and reinterpreting cultural heritage in manners most suitable for target groups.
Our interdisciplinary consortium – involving academia, SMEs, research centres and museums – will focus on ensuring widespread communication and exploitation, stimulating cross-border collaboration to address a challenge common across Europe. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
US 202218090337 A | AUGMENTED ROUTING OF DATA | Disclosed herein are systems and methods for creating an ultra-lightweight multi-tenant network virtualization model by augmenting an OSI layer 4 tuple (protocol, source IP address, destination IP address, source port, destination port) with additional private gateway-specific source and destination augmented addresses. A unique OpenVPN Augmented Address (OAA) may be created and assigned to each device on a network such as a mesh-linked system. This OAA may form part of a packet shim created with routing path information for both the source and the destination resources. Once created, the shim may be inserted into a packet header for transmission. Once the initial packet is transmitted, each hop creates its own resources for managing transmission of subsequent packets in this session. The packet shim operates to establish a communications session on layer 4 (Transport) between the requestor and the target resource which is intermediate-device agnostic. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1039/C3DT51416A | Improving The Photoresponse Of Copper I Dyes In Dye Sensitized Solar Cells By Tuning Ancillary And Anchoring Ligand Modules | The syntheses of five homoleptic copper(I) complexes [CuL2][PF6] are described in which L is a 4,4′-di(4-bromophenyl)-6,6′-dialkyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligand (compounds 1–4 with methyl, nbutyl, isobutyl and hexyl substituents, respectively) or 4,4′-di(4-bromophenyl)-6,6′-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5). The new ligands 2–5 and copper(I) complexes [CuL2][PF6] (L = 1–5) have been fully characterized. The single crystal structures of 2{[Cu(1)2][PF6]}·3Me2CO, [Cu(2)2][PF6], 2{[Cu(3)2][PF6]}·Et2O and [Cu(5)2][PF6]·CH2Cl2 have been determined. The first three structures show similar distorted tetrahedral environments for the Cu+ ions with angles between the least squares planes of the bpy domains of 85. 6, 86. 4 and 82. 9°, respectively; in contrast, the Cu+ ion in [Cu(5)2][PF6]·CH2Cl2 is in a flattened coordinate environment due to intra-cation face-to-face π-interactions. The solution absorption spectra of the complexes with ligands 1–4 are virtually identical with an MLCT band with values of λmax = 481–488 nm. In contrast, the absorption spectrum of [Cu(5)2][PF6] shows two broad bands in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetric data show that oxidation of the copper(I) centre occurs at a more positive potential in [Cu(2)2][PF6], [Cu(3)2][PF6] and [Cu(4)2][PF6] than in [Cu(1)2][PF6] or [Cu(5)2][PF6] with the latter being oxidized at the lowest potential. The complexes have been used to prepare dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) incorporating heteroleptic dyes of type [Cu(L)(Lanchor)]+ where L is 1–5 and Lanchor is a 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine functionalized in the 4- and 4′-positions with phosphonic acid groups with (Lanchor = 7) and without (Lanchor = 6) a spacer between the metal-binding and anchoring domains. The presence of the spacer results in enhanced performances of the dyes, and the highest energy conversion efficiencies are observed for the dyes [Cu(3)(7)]+ (η = 2. 43% compared to 5. 96% for standard dye N719) and [Cu(5)(7)]+ (η = 2. 89% compared to 5. 96% for N719). Measurements taken periodically over the course of a week indicate that the cells undergo a ripening process (most clearly seen for [Cu(5)(6)]+ and [Cu(5)(7)]+) before their optimum performances are achieved. IPCE (EQE) data are presented and confirm that, although the photo-to-current conversions are promising (37–49% for λmax ≈ 480 nm), the copper(I) dyes do not realize the broad spectral response exhibited by N719. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/nchem.2600 | Fusing tetrapyrroles to graphene edges by surface-assisted covalent coupling | Surface-assisted covalent linking of precursor molecules enables the fabrication of low-dimensional nanostructures, which include graphene nanoribbons. One approach to building functional multicomponent systems involves the lateral anchoring of organic heteromolecules to graphene. Here we demonstrate the dehydrogenative coupling of single porphines to graphene edges on the same metal substrate as used for graphene synthesis. The covalent linkages are visualized by scanning probe techniques with submolecular resolution, which directly reveals bonding motifs and electronic features. Distinct configurations are identified that can be steered towards entities predominantly fused to graphene edges through two pyrrole rings by thermal annealing. Furthermore, we succeeded in the concomitant metallation of the macrocycle with substrate atoms and the axial ligation of adducts. Such processes combined with graphene-nanostructure synthesis has the potential to create complex materials systems with tunable functionalities. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1063/1.5123718 | High Frequency Guided Mode Resonances In Mass Loaded Thin Film Gallium Nitride Surface Acoustic Wave Devices | We demonstrate high-frequency (>3 GHz), high quality factor radio frequency (RF) resonators in unreleased thin film gallium nitride (GaN) on sapphire and silicon carbide substrates by exploiting acoustic guided mode (Lamb wave) resonances. The associated energy trapping, due to mass loading from gold electrodes, allows us to efficiently excite these resonances from a 50 Ω input. The higher phase velocity, combined with lower electrode damping, enables high quality factors with moderate electrode pitch and provides a viable route towards high-frequency piezoelectric devices. The GaN platform, with its ability to guide and localize high-frequency sound on the surface of a chip with access to high-performance active devices, will serve as a key building block for monolithically integrated RF front-ends. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1167/12.4.11 | Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Perisaccadic Remapping In Humans Revealed By Classification Images | We actively scan our environment with fast ballistic movements called saccades, which create large and rapid displacements of the image on the retina. At the time of saccades, vision becomes transiently distorted in many ways: Briefly flashed stimuli are displaced in space and in time, and spatial and temporal intervals appear compressed. Here we apply the psychophysical technique of classification images to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of visual mechanisms during saccades. We show that saccades cause gross distortions of the classification images. Before the onset of saccadic eye movements, the positive lobes of the images become enlarged in both space and in time and also shifted in a systematic manner toward the pre-saccadic fixation (in space) and anticipated in time by about 50 ms. The transient reorganization creates a spatiotemporal organization oriented in the direction of saccadic-induced motion at the time of saccades, providing a potential mechanism for integrating stimuli across saccades, facilitating stable and continuous vision in the face of constant eye movements. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199576746.003.0006 | Marketing as Surveillance: Assembling Consumers as Brands | This chapter suggests that surveillance is at the heart of marketing practice - the exemplar par excellence of contemporary surveillance. By drawing in and on a proliferation of personal data, contemporary marketing better discerns the needs, desires, and trends of consumer behavior and shapes these behaviors by subtle and less than subtle means. This is accomplished by a purposeful, routine, systematic, and focused attention to personal details, allowing corporations to manage and/or influence their consumers. By focusing on loyalty marketing, this chapter demonstrates how digitizing consumer information and assembling this into representations of consumers renders these consumers as transparent "brands. " This chapter argues that this practice of making consumers known and placing upon them certain valuations is indicative of how contemporary surveillance operates as a means for analysis and assessment. The surveillance exemplified by marketing is now the basic building block and the defining practice of all modern organizations, regardless of type. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1016/j.copbio.2016.05.001 | RNA-stable isotope probing: From carbon flow within key microbiota to targeted transcriptomes | Stable isotope probing of RNA has enthused researchers right from its first introduction in 2002. The concept of a labelling-based detection of process-targeted microbes independent of cellular replication or growth has allowed for a much more direct handle on functionally relevant microbiota than by labelling of other biomarkers. This has led to a widespread application of the technology, and breakthroughs in our understanding of carbon flow in natural microbiomes, autotrophic and heterotrophic physiologies, microbial food webs, host-microbe interactions and environmental biotechnology. Recent studies detecting labelled mRNA demonstrate that RNA-SIP is not limited to the analysis of rRNA, but is currently developing towards an approach for accessing targeted transcriptomes. In combination with next-generation sequencing and other methodological advances, RNA-SIP will continue to deliver invaluable insights into the functioning of microbial communities. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
217761 | Trust-Enhancing certified solutions for security and protection of citizens’ rights in digital europe | TRUESSEC.EU is a CSA on certification and labelling of trustworthiness properties from a multidisciplinary SSH-ICT perspective and with emphasis on human rights.
The current complexity of ICT products and services makes it difficult to appraise their trustworthiness. Thus, certification becomes a must to restore transparency and trust. TRUESSEC.EU aims at exploring the situation, the barriers, and the benefits of security and privacy labels; engaging stakeholders in the discussions, and issuing recommendations that may foster the adoption and acceptance of labels.
With that aim, TRUESSEC.EU works and results are sustained by three pillars:
1) A StakeHolders' Online Platform (SHOP), where associated cluster projects and stakeholders from industry, academia, governments and civil society will gather, participate in debates, get informed, and provide their opinions and feedback on the topics of the project.
2) A series of Support Analysis and Studies (SUPPA) from multidisciplinary perspectives on issues of trustworthiness certification and assurance, to study the situation of trust-enhancing labels, barriers/incentives to industry adoption and consumer acceptance. Information will be gathered from both public sources and the interactions with stakeholders through SHOP. Four different approaches will be applied:
-Socio-cultural
-Legal & ethical
-Technological
-Business
3) A set of Recommendations on European Trust-Enhancing Labels (ETEL) dealing with: methodological aspects of certification and assurance, a catalogue of criteria for labels and certifications, and regulatory aspects to foster their adoption, plus a strategic agenda. These recommendations reflect the conclusions obtained from the support analysis and from the stakeholders.
The community of stakeholders will nourish, among others, from: (a) members of the consortium partners that are stakeholder networks themselves (DIGICAT, APWG, KTN, AUI), and (b) H2020 RIAs & IAs from the associated cluster. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1038/ncb1862 | SCAI acts as a suppressor of cancer cell invasion through the transcriptional control of β<inf>1</inf>-integrin | Gene expression reprogramming governs cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation and cell migration through the complex and tightly regulated control of transcriptional cofactors that exist in multiprotein complexes. Here we describe SCAI (suppressor of cancer cell invasion), a novel and highly conserved protein that regulates invasive cell migration through three-dimensional matrices. SCAI acts on the RhoA-Dia1 signal transduction pathway and localizes in the nucleus, where it binds and inhibits the myocardin-related transcription factor MAL by forming a ternary complex with serum response factor (SRF). Genome-wide expression analysis surprisingly reveals that one of the strongest upregulated genes after suppression of SCAI is β1-integrin. Decreased levels of SCAI are tightly correlated with increased invasive cell migration, and SCAI is downregulated in several human tumours. Functional analysis of the β1-integrin gene strongly argues that SCAI is a novel transcriptional cofactor that controls gene expression downstream of Dia1 to dictate changes in cell invasive behaviour. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1145/3386569.3392384 | Interferometric Transmission Probing With Coded Mutual Intensity | We introduce a new interferometric imaging methodology that we term interferometry with coded mutual intensity, which allows selectively imaging photon paths based on attributes such as their length and endpoints. At the core of our methodology is a new technical result that shows that manipulating the spatial coherence properties of the light source used in an interferometric system is equivalent, through a Fourier transform, to implementing light path probing patterns. These patterns can be applied to either the coherent transmission matrix, or the incoherent light transport matrix describing the propagation of light in a scene. We test our theory by building a prototype inspired by the Michelson interferometer, extended to allow for programmable phase and amplitude modulation of the illumination injected in the interferometer. We use our prototype to perform experiments such as visualizing complex fields, capturing direct and global transport components, acquiring light transport matrices, and performing anisotropic descattering, both in steady-state imaging and, by combining our technique with optical coherence tomography, in transient imaging. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1039/C6CP02642G | A Computational Study Of The Competing Reaction Mechanisms Of The Photo Catalytic Reduction Of Co2 On Anatase 101 | We perform a computational study of three different reaction mechanisms for the photo-catalytic reduction of CO2 on the TiO2 anatase(101) surface known as (i) the carbene, (ii) the formaldehyde and (iii) the glyoxal pathways. We define a set of approximations that allows testing a number of mechanistic hypotheses and design experiments to validate them. We find that the energetically most favourable reaction mechanism among those proposed in the literature is the formaldehyde path, and the rate-limiting step is likely to be the formation of CH3 radicals from dissociation of CH3OH. We show that an intermediate that supports this mechanism is OCH2OH. We also find that formaldehyde would be an energetically favorable intermediate forming from CO and HCO, intermediates that are proposed in the early stage of the carbene and glyoxal pathways respectively. Some possible variants of mechanisms and methods to ease the formation of CH3 radicals are also discussed. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1093/oxrep/grz022 | The role of networks in antitrust investigations | Antitrust investigations typically focus on the competitive pressures coming from within the defined markets of interest. However, competitive pressures can also come from other markets. Even when individually these markets place only weak constraints on one another, collectively they may matter. A networks approach to modelling competition permits a systemic view of competition that can sometimes paint a more accurate picture. We demonstrate this through some simple examples, and show more generally how tools from the networks literature can be applied to capture competition across a system of interrelated markets. As a leading example, we consider antitrust investigations into supermarkets where local geographic markets have been used as the basis of investigation. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
W4228996769 | The role of educational conditions in defining migratory potential: the case of the young people of the Ivory Coast | The paper is part of the international debate on the theme of human mobility with a transversal and developing educational perspective in the field of Migration Studies. It presents a research work carried out in Ivory Coast on the potential educational dimension of migration related to the search for better living and working opportunities. We discuss the results related to the study of the educational conditions of a potential migrant subjects, considered as variables that affect the conformation of the migration aspiration and allow a better understanding of the situations in which the birth of the desire to leave can occur, regardless of the presence or absence of the ability to migrate. The research followed a qualitative-quantitative approach in line with the methodological framework of Mixed Methods Research, adopting an exploratory-sequential design, arriving at the construction of a transferable model of analysis of the migratory potential which is composed of four main categories: migration project, educational conditions, migratory aspiration and learning potential. The aim of this paper is to present the results to the second category.
 
 Il ruolo delle condizioni educative nella definizione del potenziale migratorio: il caso dei giovani della Costa d’Avorio.
 Il contributo si colloca all’interno del dibattito internazionale sul tema della mobilità umana con una prospettiva educativa trasversale e in divenire nell’ambito dei Migration Studies. Si presenta un lavoro di ricerca realizzato in Costa d’Avorio sulla dimensione formativa potenziale della migrazione legata alla ricerca di migliori opportunità di vita e di lavoro. Nello specifico vengono discussi i risultati relativi allo studio delle condizioni educative di un pubblico potenziale migrante, considerate come variabili che incidono nella conformazione dell’aspirazione migratoria e che permettono una maggiore comprensione delle situazioni in cui può verificarsi la nascita del desiderio di partire, a prescindere dalla presenza o meno della capacità di emigrare. La ricerca ha seguito un approccio quali-quantitativo in linea con l’impianto metodologico dei Mixed Methods Research, adottando un disegno di tipo esplorativo-sequenziale, arrivando alla costruzione di un modello di analisi del potenziale migratorio trasferibile e composto da quattro categorie principali: progetto di migrazione, condizioni educative, aspirazione migratoria e potenziale di conoscenza. Ai fini del presente lavoro, vengono qui presentati i risultati relativi alla seconda delle quattro categorie. | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1038/s41586-018-0241-9 | Cryo-EM structure of the serotonin 5-HT<inf>1B</inf> receptor coupled to heterotrimeric G<inf>o</inf> | G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form the largest family of receptors encoded by the human genome (around 800 genes). They transduce signals by coupling to a small number of heterotrimeric G proteins (16 genes encoding different α-subunits). Each human cell contains several GPCRs and G proteins. The structural determinants of coupling of Gs to four different GPCRs have been elucidated 1-4, but the molecular details of how the other G-protein classes couple to GPCRs are unknown. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the serotonin 5-HT1B receptor (5-HT1BR) bound to the agonist donitriptan and coupled to an engineered Go heterotrimer. In this complex, 5-HT1BR is in an active state; the intracellular domain of the receptor is in a similar conformation to that observed for the β2-adrenoceptor (β2AR) 3 or the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) 1 in complex with Gs. In contrast to the complexes with Gs, the gap between the receptor and the Gβ-subunit in the Go-5-HT1BR complex precludes molecular contacts, and the interface between the Gα-subunit of Go and the receptor is considerably smaller. These differences are likely to be caused by the differences in the interactions with the C terminus of the Go α-subunit. The molecular variations between the interfaces of Go and Gs in complex with GPCRs may contribute substantially to both the specificity of coupling and the kinetics of signalling. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
W1574992505 | Effects of Fishing Activities on the Academic Performance of Teenagers in Riverine Areas of Nigeria: Implications for Educational Development Policy in Nigeria | This study examined the effects of fishing activities and socio-economic characteristics of teenagers who engage in fishing on their academic performance in Ibeno Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two communities were purposively selected and stratified random sampling was used to select fifty six teenage students who participate in fishing industry/activities. Sources of primary data were structured questionnaires and interviews. Analytical techniques used are descriptive statistics and logit regression technique. Results show that academic performance is statistically and inversely related to frequency of fishing per week and family size but directly and significantly related to fishing as a means of supporting academics. Recommendations include a national population policy option aimed at reducing family size and encouraging non-governmental organizations, philanthropists as well as business corporations to work unitedly with different levels of government in providing free education at lower levels and scholarships for higher studies to ease the suffering of teenagers who fish to support/finance their education. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1101/gr.207704.116 | Single-cell transcriptome analysis of fish immune cells provides insight into the evolution of vertebrate immune cell types | The immune system of vertebrate species consists of many different cell types that have distinct functional roles and are subject to different evolutionary pressures. Here, we first analyzed conservation of genes specific for all major immune cell types in human and mouse. Our results revealed higher gene turnover and faster evolution of trans-membrane proteins in NK cells compared with other immune cell types, and especially T cells, but similar conservation of nuclear and cytoplasmic protein coding genes. To validate these findings in a distant vertebrate species, we used single-cell RNA sequencing of lck:GFP cells in zebrafish and obtained the first transcriptome of specific immune cell types in a nonmammalian species. Unsupervised clustering and single-cell TCR locus reconstruction identified three cell populations, T cells, a novel type of NK-like cells, and a smaller population of myeloid-like cells. Differential expression analysis uncovered new immunecell- specific genes, including novel immunoglobulin-like receptors, and neofunctionalization of recently duplicated paralogs. Evolutionary analyses confirmed the higher gene turnover of trans-membrane proteins in NK cells compared with T cells in fish species, suggesting that this is a general property of immune cell types across all vertebrates. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1016/j.cbpb.2016.09.008 | Activation of the Tor/Myc signaling axis in intestinal stem and progenitor cells affects longevity, stress resistance and metabolism in drosophila | The TOR (target of rapamycin) signaling pathway and the transcriptional factor Myc play important roles in growth control. Myc acts, in part, as a downstream target of TOR to regulate the activity and functioning of stem cells. Here we explore the role of TOR-Myc axis in stem and progenitor cells in the regulation of lifespan, stress resistance and metabolism in Drosophila. We found that both overexpression of rheb and myc-rheb in midgut stem and progenitor cells decreased the lifespan and starvation resistance of flies. TOR activation caused higher survival under malnutrition conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate gut-specific activation of JAK/STAT and insulin signaling pathways to control gut integrity. Both genetic manipulations had an impact on carbohydrate metabolism and transcriptional levels of metabolic genes. Our findings indicate that activation of the TOR-Myc axis in midgut stem and progenitor cells influences a variety of traits in Drosophila. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1073/pnas.1525092113 | Multiensemble Markov models of molecular thermodynamics and kinetics | We introduce the general transition-based reweighting analysis method (TRAM), a statistically optimal approach to integrate both unbiased and biased molecular dynamics simulations, such as umbrella sampling or replica exchange. TRAM estimates a multiensemble Markov model (MEMM) with full thermodynamic and kinetic information at all ensembles. The approach combines the benefits of Markov state models—clustering of high-dimensional spaces and modeling of complex many-state systems—with those of the multistate Bennett acceptance ratio of exploiting biased or high-temperature ensembles to accelerate rare-event sampling. TRAM does not depend on any rate model in addition to the widely used Markov state model approximation, but uses only fundamental relations such as detailed balance and binless reweighting of configurations between ensembles. Previous methods, including the multistate Bennett acceptance ratio, discrete TRAM, and Markov state models are special cases and can be derived from the TRAM equations. TRAM is demonstrated by efficiently computing MEMMs in cases where other estimators break down, including the full thermodynamics and rare-event kinetics from high-dimensional simulation data of an all-atom protein–ligand binding model. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1080/01615440.2018.1443863 | Dacura A New Solution To Data Harvesting And Knowledge Extraction For The Historical Sciences | New advances in computer science address problems historical scientists face in gathering and evaluating the now vast data sources available through the Internet. As an example we introduce Dacura,. . . | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1109/TBME.2018.2839713 | Transfer Learning From Simulations On A Reference Anatomy For Ecgi In Personalized Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy | Goal: Noninvasive cardiac electrophysiology (EP) model personalisation has raised interest for instance in the scope of predicting EP cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response. However, the restricted clinical applicability of current methods is due in particular to the limitation to simple situations and the important computational cost. Methods: We propose in this manuscript an approach to tackle these two issues. First, we analyze more complex propagation patterns (multiple onsets and scar tissue) using relevance vector regression and shape dimensionality reduction on a large simulated database. Second, this learning is performed offline on a reference anatomy and transferred onto patient-specific anatomies in order to achieve fast personalized predictions online. Results: We evaluated our method on a dataset composed of 20 dyssynchrony patients with a total of 120 different cardiac cycles. The comparison with a commercially available electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) method shows a good identification of the cardiac activation pattern. From the cardiac parameters estimated in sinus rhythm, we predicted five different paced patterns for each patient. The comparison with the body surface potential mappings (BSPM) measured during pacing and the ECGI method indicates a good predictive power. Conclusion: We showed that learning offline from a large simulated database on a reference anatomy was able to capture the main cardiac EP characteristics from noninvasive measurements for fast patient-specific predictions. Significance: The fast CRT pacing predictions are a step forward to a noninvasive CRT patient selection and therapy optimisation, to help clinicians in these difficult tasks. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1007/s00209-020-02638-x | A sharp stability estimate for tensor tomography in non-positive curvature | AbstractWe consider the geodesic X-ray transform acting on solenoidal tensor fields on a compact simply connected manifold with strictly convex boundary and non-positive curvature. We establish a stability estimate of the form$$L^2\mapsto H^{1/2}_{T}$$L2↦HT1/2, where the$$H^{1/2}_{T}$$HT1/2-space is defined using the natural parametrization of geodesics as initial boundary points and incoming directions (fan-beam geometry); only tangential derivatives at the boundary are used. The proof is based on the Pestov identity with boundary term localized in frequency. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1017/s0956796818000217 | How to evaluate the performance of gradual type systems | A sound gradual type system ensures that untyped components of a program can never break the guarantees of statically typed components. This assurance relies on runtime checks, which in turn impose performance overhead in proportion to the frequency and nature of interaction between typed and untyped components. The literature on gradual typing lacks rigorous descriptions of methods for measuring the performance of gradual type systems. This gap has consequences for the implementors of gradual type systems and developers who use such systems. Without systematic evaluation of mixed-typed programs, implementors cannot precisely determine how improvements to a gradual type system affect performance. Developers cannot predict whether adding types to part of a program will significantly degrade (or improve) its performance. This paper presents the first method for evaluating the performance of sound gradual type systems. The method quantifies both the absolute performance of a gradual type system and the relative performance of two implementations of the same gradual type system. To validate the method, the paper reports on its application to 20 programs and 3 implementations of Typed Racket. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1038/srep02806 | Metabolic characterization of a Sirt5 deficient mouse model | Sirt5, localized in the mitochondria, is a member of sirtuin family of NAD +dependent deacetylases. Sirt5 was shown to deacetylate and activate carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1. Most recently, Sirt5 was reported to be the predominant protein desuccinylase and demalonylase in the mitochondria because the ablation of Sirt5 enhanced the global succinylation and malonylation of mitochondrial proteins, including many metabolic enzymes. In order to determine the physiological role of Sirt5 in metabolic homeostasis, we generated a germline Sirt5 deficient (Sirt5-/-) mouse model and performed a thorough metabolic characterization of this mouse line. Although a global protein hypersuccinylation and elevated serum ammonia during fasting were observed in our Sirt5-/-mouse model, Sirt5 deficiency did not lead to any overt metabolic abnormalities under either chow or high fat diet conditions. These observations suggest that Sirt5 is likely to be dispensable for the metabolic homeostasis under the basal conditions. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W1988546530 | Body Composition and Net Energy Requirements of Brazilian Somali Lambs | The aim of this study was to determine the energy requirements for maintenance (NEm) and growth of 48 Brazilian Somali ram lambs with an average initial body weight of 13.47±1.76 kg. Eight animals were slaughtered at the trials beginning as a reference group to estimate the initial empty body weight (EBW) and body composition. The remaining animals were assigned to a randomised block design with eight replications per block and five diets with increasing metabolisable energy content (4.93, 8.65, 9.41, 10.12 and 11.24 MJ/kg dry matter). The logarithm of heat production was regressed against metabolisable energy intake (MEI), and the NEm (kJ/kg 0.75 EBW/day) were estimated by extrapolation, when MEI was set at zero. The NEm was 239.77 kJ/kg 0.75 EBW/day. The animal’s energy and EBW fat contents increased from 11.20 MJ/kg and 208.54 g/kg to 13.54 MJ/kg and 274.95 g/kg of EBW, respectively, as the BW increased from 13 to 28.70 kg. The net energy requirements for EBW gain increased from 13.79 to 16.72 MJ/kg EBW gain for body weights of 13 and 28.70 kg. Our study indicated the net energy requirements for maintenance in Brazilian Somali lambs were similar to the values commonly recommended by the United States’ nutritional system, but lower than the values recommended by Agricultural Research Council and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Net requirements for weight gain were less compared to the values commonly recommended by nutritional system of the United States. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1063/1.4967956 | Fusing Heterogeneous Data For The Calibration Of Molecular Dynamics Force Fields Using Hierarchical Bayesian Models | We propose a hierarchical Bayesian framework to systematically integrate heterogeneous data for the calibration of force fields in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Our approach enables the fusion of diverse experimental data sets of the physico-chemical properties of a system at different thermodynamic conditions. We demonstrate the value of this framework for the robust calibration of MD force-fields for water using experimental data of its diffusivity, radial distribution function, and density. In order to address the high computational cost associated with the hierarchical Bayesian models, we develop a novel surrogate model based on the empirical interpolation method. Further computational savings are achieved by implementing a highly parallel transitional Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. The present method bypasses possible subjective weightings of the experimental data in identifying MD force-field parameters. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2293542648 | Exploring intelligence of web communities | Web Intelligence is a multidisciplinary area dealing with utilizing data and services over the Web, to create new data and services using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Intelligent techniques. The link to Networking and Web Communities (WCs) is apparent: the Web is a set of nodes, providing and consuming data and services; the permanent or temporary ties and exchanges in-between these nodes build the virtual communities; and the ICT and techniques influence the modeling and the processes, and it automates (or semi-automate) communication and cooperation. In this paper, we will explore one aspect of (Web) intelligence pertinent to the Web Communities. The intelligent features may emerge in a Web community from interactions and knowledge-transmissions between the community members. We will also introduce the WI&C'14 workshop's goal and structure. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1088/1742-6596/635/2/022061 | The Development Of The Antihydrogen Beam Detector And The Detection Of The Antihydrogen Atoms For In Flight Hyperfine Spectroscopy | We have been developing ground-state antihydrogen atomic beams to test CPT symmetry via in-flight hyperfine spectroscopy. A new antihydrogen beam detector has been developed. The overview of the experiment, the detail of the detector and latest results will be presented. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.3389/fgene.2014.00155 | Longevity pathways and memory aging | The aging process has been associated with numerous pathologies at the cellular, tissue, and organ level. Decline or loss of brain functions, including learning and memory, is one of the most devastating and feared aspects of aging. Learning and memory are fundamental processes by which animals adjust to environmental changes, evaluate various sensory signals based on context and experience, and make decisions to generate adaptive behaviors. Age-related memory impairment is an important phenotype of brain aging. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related memory impairment is crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies that may eventually lead to the development of drugs to combat memory loss. Studies in invertebrate animal models have taught us much about the physiology of aging and its effects on learning and memory. In this review we survey recent progress relevant to conserved molecular pathways implicated in both aging and memory formation and consolidation. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1016/j.molcel.2016.02.020 | Structural Plasticity of PAM Recognition by Engineered Variants of the RNA-Guided Endonuclease Cas9 | The RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) forms the core of a powerful genome editing technology. DNA cleavage by SpCas9 is dependent on the presence of a 5'-NGG-3' protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) in the target DNA, restricting the choice of targetable sequences. To address this limitation, artificial SpCas9 variants with altered PAM specificities have recently been developed. Here we report crystal structures of the VQR, EQR, and VRER SpCas9 variants bound to target DNAs containing their preferred PAM sequences. The structures reveal that the non-canonical PAMs are recognized by an induced fit mechanism. Besides mediating sequence-specific base recognition, the amino acid substitutions introduced in the SpCas9 variants facilitate conformational remodeling of the PAM region of the bound DNA. Guided by the structural data, we engineered a SpCas9 variant that specifically recognizes NAAG PAMs. Taken together, these studies inform further development of Cas9-based genome editing tools. The CRISPR-associated endonuclease Cas9 is a genome editing workhorse. Recently reported Cas9 variants can recognize alternative PAM sequences. Anders et al. now report crystal structures of three Cas9 variants, revealing how they recognize alternative PAMs and providing the framework for further structure-based engineering of Cas9 enzymes. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201629165 | Machine Learning Identification Of Galaxies In The Wise Supercosmos All Sky Catalogue | Context. The two currently largest all-sky photometric datasets, WISE and SuperCOSMOS, have been recently cross-matched to construct a novel photometric redshift catalogue on 70% of the sky. Galaxies were separated from stars and quasars through colour cuts, which may leave imperfections because different source types may overlap in colour space. Aims. The aim of the present work is to identify galaxies in the WISE × SuperCOSMOS catalogue through an alternative approach of machine learning. This allows us to define more complex separations in the multi-colour space than is possible with simple colour cuts, and should provide a more reliable source classification. Methods. For the automatised classification we used the support vector machines (SVM) learning algorithm and employed SDSS spectroscopic sources that we cross-matched with WISE × SuperCOSMOS to construct the training and verification set. We performed a number of tests to examine the behaviour of the classifier (completeness, purity, and accuracy) as a function of source apparent magnitude and Galactic latitude. We then applied the classifier to the full-sky data and analysed the resulting catalogue of candidate galaxies. We also compared the resulting dataset with the one obtained through colour cuts. Results. The tests indicate very high accuracy, completeness, and purity (>95%) of the classifier at the bright end; this deteriorates for the faintest sources, but still retains acceptable levels of ~85%. No significant variation in the classification quality with Galactic latitude is observed. When we applied the classifier to all-sky WISE × SuperCOSMOS data, we found 15 million galaxies after masking problematic areas. The resulting sample is purer than the one produced by applying colour cuts, at the price of a lower completeness across the sky. Conclusions. The automatic classification is a successful alternative approach to colour cuts for defining a reliable galaxy sample. The identifications we obtained are included in the public release of the WISE × SuperCOSMOS galaxy catalogue. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1002/syn.21965 | Spread of tau down neural circuits precedes synapse and neuronal loss in the rTgTauEC mouse model of early Alzheimer's disease | Synaptic dysfunction and loss is the strongest pathological correlate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increasing evidence implicating neuropathological tau protein in this process. Despite the knowledge that tau spreads through defined synaptic circuits, it is currently unknown whether synapse loss occurs before the accumulation of tau or as a consequence. To address this, we have used array tomography to examine an rTgTauEC mouse model expressing a P301L human tau transgene and a transgene labeling cytoplasm red (tdTomato) and presynaptic terminals green (Synaptophysin-EGFP). All transgenes are restricted primarily to the entorhinal cortex using the neuropsin promotor to drive tTA expression. It has previously been shown that rTgTauEC mice exhibit neuronal loss in the entorhinal cortex and synapse density loss in the middle molecular layer (MML) of the dentate gyrus at 24 months of age. Here, we observed the density of tau-expressing and total presynapses, and the spread of tau into the postsynapse in the MML of 3–6, 9, and 18 month old red–green-rTgTauEC mice. We observe no loss of synapse density in the MML up to 18 months even in axons expressing tau. Despite the maintenance of synapse density, we see spread of human tau from presynaptic terminals to postsynaptic compartments in the MML at very early ages, indicating that the spread of tau through neural circuits is not due to the degeneration of axon terminals and is an early feature of the disease process. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
US 0317990 W | KIT AND PROCESS FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL FOR ON-SITE EXAMINATION OF A LIQUID SAMPLE | A kit and process are provided for rapidly measuring, on-site, the microbe concentration in a liquid sample. The kit includes a filtration device that includes a filter on to which microbes are captured from the liquid stream. A first reagent is applied to lyse the microbial cells is used and then a second reagent is applied (may be simultaneously) to provide a means for detecting the presence of such cells, such as by luciferine and luciferase, radioactive tags or one or more PNA tags. The signal from the reaction of the second reagent with the lysed cells is then detected by an appropriately selected sensor such as a luminometer. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
US 7900050 W | A DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY SECURING ONE UNIT AGAINST A SECOND UNIT | A device (10) is provided for use in releasably securing one unit (e.g., the rear end of a truck vehicle) against a second unit (e.g., a loading dock (D)). The device (10) comprises an elongated member (11) mounted for controlled endwise movement relative to a locking assembly (17), the latter being adjustably mounted on the loading dock (D). Carried by the elongated member (11) and extending from an end thereof towards the truck is an attaching cable (12) which is adapted to be releasably secured to the truck when the elongated member (11) is disposed in a predetermined relative position with respect to the locking assembly (17). A brake (25) is adjustably mounted within the locking assembly (17) for movement between operative and inoperative positions. When the brake (25) is in an operative position, the exterior of the elongated member (11) is frictionally engaged thereby so that the elongated member (11) can be moved endwise in only one direction away from the truck. When the brake (25) is in an inoperative position, the elongated member (11) can be moved in either endwise direction relative to the locking assembly (17). The brake (25) is biased to normally assume an operative position. Manually actuated lever (32) and finger (30) are carried on the locking assembly (17) for moving the brake (25) from an operative position to an inoperative position. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.jue.2012.02.001 | Step tolling with bottleneck queuing congestion | In most dynamic traffic congestion models, congestion tolls must vary continuously over time to achieve the full optimum. This is also the case in . Vickrey (1969) 'bottleneck model'. To date, the closest approximations of this ideal in practice have so-called 'step tolls', in which the toll takes on different values over discrete time intervals, but is constant within each interval. Given the prevalence of step-tolling schemes they have received surprisingly little attention in the literature. This paper compares two step-toll schemes that have been studied using the bottleneck model by . Arnott et al. (1990) and Laih (1994). It also proposes a third scheme in which late in the rush hour drivers slow down or stop just before reaching a tolling point, and wait until the toll is lowered from one step to the next step. Such 'braking' behaviour has been observed in practice. Analytical derivations and numerical modelling show that the three tolling schemes have different optimal toll schedules and reduce total social costs by different percentages. These differences persist even in the limit as the number of steps approaches infinity. Braking lowers the welfare gain from tolling by 14% to 21% in the numerical example. Therefore, preventing or limiting braking seems important in designing step-toll systems. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
IB 2013002650 W | ELECTRICAL STORAGE SYSTEM | An electrical storage system includes: an electrical storage device (10) including serially connected electrical storage blocks; a relay (SMR-B, SMR-G) switching a connection state between the electrical storage device and a load; a controller (30, 34) controlling the relay; and a current interruption circuit (60) interrupting energization of the electrical storage device. The current interruption circuit (60) includes an alarm circuit (63) outputting an alarm signal indicating that any one electrical storage block is overcharged or overdischarged by comparing a voltage value of each electrical storage block with a threshold; a latch circuit (64) retaining the alarm signal; and a transistor (68) causing the relay to switch from an on state to an off state upon reception of a latch circuit output signal. The controller determines an energization state of the electrical storage device after executing control for causing the alarm circuit to output the alarm signal by changing the voltage value or the threshold. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1109/TWC.2016.2645684 | Finite Horizon Opportunistic Multicast Beamforming | Wireless multicasting suffers from the problem that the transmit rate is usually determined by the receiver with the worst channel conditions. Composite or adaptive beamforming allows using beamforming patterns that trade-off antenna gains between receivers, which can be used to overcome this problem. A common solution for wireless multicast with beamforming is to select the pattern that maximizes the minimum rate among all receivers. However, when using opportunistic multicast to transmit a finite number of packets to all receivers—the finite horizon problem—this is no longer optimal. Instead, the optimum beamforming pattern depends on instantaneous channel conditions as well as the number of received packets at each receiver. We formulate the finite horizon multicast beamforming problem as a dynamic programming problem to obtain an optimal solution. We further design a heuristic that has sufficiently low complexity to be implementable in practice. To deal with imperfect feedback, and in particular feedback delay, we extend the algorithm to work with estimated state and channel information. We show through extensive simulations that our algorithms significantly outperform prior solutions. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1353/sls.0.0044 | What does "Informed consent" mean in the internet age?: Publishing sign language corpora as open content | Recent technologies in the area of video and Internet are allowing the creation and online publication of large signed language corpora. Primarily addressing the needs of linguists and other researchers, because of their unique character in history these data collections are also made accessible online for a general audience. This "open access" publication may benefit the language communities from which the recordings stem, yet they also raise some ethical concerns. In particular, informed consent is hard to obtain if, due to future technological developments, the consequences of online publication cannot be foreseen. While this problem cannot be resolved, in this article I propose that the benefits of open access publication outweigh the possible objections. The first-time availability of large-scale language resources to not only researchers but also members of the deaf communities that are involved opens up a new era for sign language studies, and has a potential political effect that should not be underestimated. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201730940 | Lofar Msss The Scaling Relation Between Agn Cavity Power And Radio Luminosity At Low Radio Frequencies | We present a new analysis of the widely used relation between cavity power and radio luminosity in clusters of galaxies with evidence for strong AGN feedback. We study the correlation at low radio frequencies using two new surveys - the First Alternative Data Release of the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS ADR1) at 148 MHz and LOFAR's first all-sky survey, the Multifrequency Snapshot Sky Survey (MSSS) at 140 MHz. We find a scaling relation $P_{\rm cav} \propto L_{148}^{\beta}$, with a logarithmic slope of $\beta = 0. 51 \pm 0. 14$, which is in good agreement with previous results based on data at 327 MHz. The large scatter present in this correlation confirms the conclusion reached at higher frequencies that the total radio luminosity at a single frequency is a poor predictor of the total jet power. We show that including measurements at 148 MHz alone is insufficient to reliably compute the bolometric radio luminosity and reduce the scatter in the correlation. For a subset of four well-resolved sources, we examine the detected extended structures at low frequencies and compare with the morphology known from higher frequency images and Chandra X-ray maps. In Perseus we discuss details in the structures of the radio mini-halo, while in the 2A 0335+096 cluster we observe new diffuse emission associated with multiple X-ray cavities and likely originating from past activity. For A2199 and MS 0735. 6+7421, we confirm that the observed low-frequency radio lobes are confined to the extents known from higher frequencies. This new low-frequency analysis highlights the fact that existing cavity power to radio luminosity relations are based on a relatively narrow range of AGN outburst ages. We discuss how the correlation could be extended using low frequency data from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) in combination with future, complementary deeper X-ray observations. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1088/0953-2048/25/6/065005 | Enhanced Flux Pinning In Mod Yba2Cu3O7 Δ Films By Ion Milling Through Anodic Alumina Templates | A straightforward and reproducible method has been developed for creating < 100 nm wide, 400–600 nm long c-axis columnar defects in fluorine-free MOD YBCO films (∼700 nm thick) using ion milling through free-standing nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide membranes positioned in contact with the films. At 77. 3 K, a moderate Jc increase of ∼50% was achieved in self-field, whereas at 1 T a more than doubling of Jc was observed along ab, part of this enhancement coming from uncorrelated pinning effective over all field directions. X-ray analysis confirmed an additional in-plane microstrain component which can be attributed to oxygen disorder induced during the ion milling process. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
US 2019/0020089 W | TECHNIQUES FOR PREDICTING RECURRENCE OF CANCEROUS CELLS USING IMPEDANCE DETECTION | One embodiment of the present application sets forth a method for predicting recurrence of cancerous cells in a patient that includes measuring, by a first subset of electrodes included in an electrode array operating at a first frequency, a first impedance of a first section of a first sample of tissue excised from the patient, computing a first Cole relaxation frequency for the first section of the first sample based on the first impedance, and generating a first prediction relating to cancerous cells in the patient based at least in part on the first Cole relaxation frequency. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
W1920533934 | Using Ground-Penetrating Radar to Examine Spatial Organization at the Late Classic Maya Site of El Baúl, Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala | The Cotzumalhuapa Nuclear Zone (CNZ) is a Late Classic site consisting of three large architectural compounds linked by a series of stone-paved causeways and bridges. The majority of the site, however, lies beneath layers of recent tephra, leaving the structure of this settlement largely unknown. This study uses ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to map the subsurface near El Baul, one of the main compounds, in order to examine the spatial relationship among urban architectural features. Excavation within areas of the GPR survey provides fine-grain detail of one major architectural feature in the region, the Gavarrete Causeway. The complimentary nature of these data sets characterizes the architectural organization of the settlement at two scales. Spatial patterning between large-scale architectural features supports the hypothesis that the CNZ represents an integrated urban center with evidence of planned community organization characteristic of other Late Classic period centers across Mesoamerica. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
EP 2013060351 W | SUBSTITUTED DIPYRIDYLAMINES AND USES THEREOF | The present invention provides for compounds of Formula I and various embodiments thereof, and compositions comprising compounds of Formula I and various embodiments thereof. In compounds of Formula I, the groups R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, m, n and the C-linked Ring have the meaning as described herein. The present invention also provides for methods of using compounds of Formula I and compositions comprising compounds of Formula I as DLK inhibitors and for treating neurodegeneration diseases and disorders. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
221251 | Compressed natural gas transport system | The GASVESSEL aims to prove the techno-economic feasibility of a new CNG transport concept enabled by a novel patented Pressure Vessel manufacturing technology and a new conceptual ship design including safe on- and offloading solution. It carries out research and innovates different steps in the value chain from a decision support model to simulate and benchmark scenarios until the process of ship design, new Pressure Vessel designs and manufacturing as well as novel high pressure on- and offloading.
The project supports the European Commission’s Maritime Transport Strategy in which maritime transport is considered key to securing Europe’s energy supply. It sets the knowledge base for identifying where the novel CNG concept has added value, develop prototype technologies and related business cases, promote the concept with end-users and foster market introduction, first in Europe, and subsequently beyond.
The GASVESSEL project contributes the Energy Union to become less dependent on energy imports by serving as a flexible interconnector which enables energy to flow freely across the EU. The project will make it possible to supply natural gas to places where natural gas is not yet a part of the energy supply e.g. where large investment in regassifiers are not feasible or done (yet) such as the Mediterranean Islands. The concept offers novel cost effective gas transportation and hence promising prospects to start using and monetising the huge amount of currently wasted (flared), stranded and associated gas which is currently wasted or not used, while contributing to reducing an important environmental side effect of global oil exploitation.
The validation and proof of concept of the GASVESSEL project is performed by a cost-benefit analyses (financial viability), safety assessment, environmental impact analyses and value chain business cases development in relation to real-life geo-logistic scenarios. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1093/mnras/stz3075 | Beyond two-point statistics: using the minimum spanning tree as a tool for cosmology | ABSTRACT
Cosmological studies of large-scale structure have relied on two-point statistics, not fully exploiting the rich structure of the cosmic web. In this paper we show how to capture some of this cosmic web information by using the minimum spanning tree (MST), for the first time using it to estimate cosmological parameters in simulations. Discrete tracers of dark matter such as galaxies, N-body particles or haloes are used as nodes to construct a unique graph, the MST, that traces skeletal structure. We study the dependence of the MST on cosmological parameters using haloes from a suite of COmoving Lagrangian Acceleration (COLA) simulations with a box size of $250\ h^{-1}\, {\rm Mpc}$, varying the amplitude of scalar fluctuations (As), matter density (Ωm), and neutrino mass (∑mν). The power spectrum P and bispectrum B are measured for wavenumbers between 0. 125 and 0. 5 $h\, {\rm Mpc}^{-1}$, while a corresponding lower cut of ∼12. 6 $h^{-1}\, {\rm Mpc}$ is applied to the MST. The constraints from the individual methods are fairly similar but when combined we see improved 1σ constraints of $\sim 17{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ ($\sim 12{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) on Ωm and $\sim 12{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ ($\sim 10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) on As with respect to P (P + B) thus showing the MST is providing additional information. The MST can be applied to current and future spectroscopic surveys (BOSS, DESI, Euclid, PSF, WFIRST, and 4MOST) in 3D and photometric surveys (DES and LSST) in tomographic shells to constrain parameters and/or test systematics. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1088/1367-2630/14/12/125005 | Optomechanical Circuits For Nanomechanical Continuous Variable Quantum State Processing | We propose and analyze a nanomechanical architecture where light is used to perform linear quantum operations on a set of many vibrational modes. Suitable amplitude modulation of a single laser beam is shown to generate squeezing, entanglement and state transfer between modes that are selected according to their mechanical oscillation frequency. Current optomechanical devices based on photonic crystals, as well as other systems with sufficient control over multiple mechanical modes, may provide a platform for realizing this scheme. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
W1975016167 | High isolation dual band dual polarized antenna | A new configuration of the dual-band and dual-polarized antenna is presented, which is fed by aperture coupling for the existing mobile communication systems working over 870–960 MHz (GSM) and 1710–2180 MHz (DCS/UMTS) frequency band. In this paper DU band stands for DCS/UMTS band. Measurement results show that the proposed antenna yields good broadside radiation characteristics including symmetric radiation patterns, low cross-polarization level ( 20 dB) and high isolation (> 30 dB) at both bands. The designed antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 20.4% (790–970 MHz) for VSWR < 1.5 in the lower band and 29.3% for VSWR < 1.6 (1630–2190 MHz) in the upper band. The measured average gains are about 9.3–10.2 and 8.6–10 dBi in the lower and upper band, respectively. It is also promising for array antenna in various wireless systems. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
W920313274 | Changes in groundwater storage, Kamienna drainage basin, southeastern Poland | Water-table levels in the Kamienna River drainage basin, SE Poland, are presently measured at 14 observation points within the groundwater observation-research network of the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, included in the monitoring programme during the period 1979–2007. They exhibit multi-year changes in groundwater storage near the observation points. The best documented cycle is that for the period 1982–2002, observed in the wells monitoring water in fractured-karstic formations, where the amplitude of the water-table level was 45 m at that time. The retention balance in the cycle was negative. At the beginning of the cycle, the water table in the fractured-karstic aquifers was 1.40 to 1.94 m higher than at the end. Further observations of the multi-year changes in retention will be the basis for possible corrections to calculations of groundwater resources in this drainage basin, as well as for model predictions of resources, performed for water management in connection with potential climate change. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1126/science.aav2327 | Discovery of topological Weyl fermion lines and drumhead surface states in a room temperature magnet | Topological matter is known to exhibit unconventional surface states and anomalous transport owing to unusual bulk electronic topology. In this study, we use photoemission spectroscopy and quantum transport to elucidate the topology of the room temperature magnet Co2MnGa. We observe sharp bulk Weyl fermion line dispersions indicative of nontrivial topological invariants present in the magnetic phase. On the surface of the magnet, we observe electronic wave functions that take the form of drumheads, enabling us to directly visualize the crucial components of the bulk-boundary topological correspondence. By considering the Berry curvature field associated with the observed topological Weyl fermion lines, we quantitatively account for the giant anomalous Hall response observed in this magnet. Our experimental results suggest a rich interplay of strongly interacting electrons and topology in quantum matter. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1073/pnas.1318628111 | Gene expression differences underlying genotype-bygenotype specificity in a host-parasite system | In many systems, host-parasite evolutionary dynamics have led to the emergence and maintenance of diverse parasite and host genotypes within the same population. Genotypes vary in key attributes: Parasite genotypes vary in ability to infect, host genotypes vary in susceptibility, and infection outcome is frequently the result of both parties' genotypic identities. These host-parasite genotype-by-genotype (GH × GP) interactions influence evolutionary and ecological dynamics in important ways. Interactions can be produced through genetic variation; however, here,we assess the role of variable gene expression as an additional source of GH × GP interactions. The bumblebee Bombus terrestris and its trypanosome gut parasite Crithidia bombi are a model system for host-parasite matching. Full-transcriptome sequencing of the bumblebee host revealed that different parasite genotypes indeed induce fundamentally different host expression responses and host genotypes vary in their responses to the infecting parasite genotype. It appears that broadly and successfully infecting parasite genotypes lead to reduced host immune gene expression relative to unexposed bees but induce the expression of genes responsible for controlling gene expression. Contrastingly, a poorly infecting parasite genotype induced the expression of immunologically important genes, including antimicrobial peptides. A targeted expression assay confirmed the transcriptome results and also revealed strong host genotype effects. In all, the expression of a number of genes depends on the host genotype and the parasite genotype and the interaction between both host and parasite genotypes. These results suggest that alongside sequence variation in coding immunological genes, variation that controls immune gene expression can also produce patterns of host-parasite specificity. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
US 201514694263 A | Soundproofing system for use with partition walls | A soundproofing system for use with partition walls has at least one elongated upper rail member adapted to be connected to a lower surface of the ceiling; and a plurality of curtain members each adapted to releasably connect at an upper edge thereof to the rail member in side-by-side fashion to one another to thereby form an elongated soundproofing curtain within the space between the ceiling and drop ceiling. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
US 201414482220 A | Lithographic printing press and method for on-press imaging laser sensitive lithographic plate | A lithographic printing press having a plate cylinder in a covered compartment suitable for on-press imaging and developing a laser sensitive plate is described. The plate cylinder as well as certain other press parts is covered by non-transparent and/or safe-light-passing-only covers so that no or only limited amount of unsafe light passes onto the plate mounted on the plate cylinder during on-press imaging and development. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength selected from 200 to 1200 nm. The plate is on-press exposed with the laser, developed with ink and/or fountain solution, and then directly prints inked images to the receiving sheets. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1002/ajhb.22559 | Non-linear associations between stature and mate choice characteristics for American men and their spouses | Objectives: Although male height is positively associated with many aspects of mate quality, average height men attain higher reproductive success in US populations. We hypothesize that this is because the advantages associated with taller stature accrue mainly from not being short, rather than from being taller than average. Lower fertility by short men may be a consequence of their and their partner's lower scores on aspects of mate quality. Taller men, although they score higher on mate quality compared to average height men, may have lower fertility because they are more likely to be paired with taller women, who are potentially less fertile. Methods: We analyzed data from The Integrated Health Interview Series (IHIS) of the United States (N=165,606). Segmented regression was used to examine patterns across the height continuum. Results: On all aspects of own and partner quality, shorter men scored lower than both average height and taller men. Height more strongly predicted these aspects when moving from short to average height, than when moving from average to taller heights. Women of a given height who scored lower on mate quality also had shorter partners. Conclusions: Shorter men faced a double disadvantage with respect to both their own mate quality and that of their spouses. Scores of taller men were only marginally higher than those of average height men, suggesting that being tall is less important than not being short. Although effect sizes were small, our results may partly explain why shorter and taller men have lower fertility than those of average stature. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:530-537, 2014. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1038/s41467-019-11921-3 | Engineering crystalline quasi-two-dimensional polyaniline thin film with enhanced electrical and chemiresistive sensing performances | Engineering conducting polymer thin films with morphological homogeneity and long-range molecular ordering is intriguing to achieve high-performance organic electronics. Polyaniline (PANI) has attracted considerable interest due to its appealing electrical conductivity and diverse chemistry. However, the synthesis of large-area PANI thin film and the control of its crystallinity and thickness remain challenging because of the complex intermolecular interactions of aniline oligomers. Here we report a facile route combining air-water interface and surfactant monolayer as templates to synthesize crystalline quasi-two-dimensional (q2D) PANI with lateral size ~50 cm2 and tunable thickness (2. 6–30 nm). The achieved q2D PANI exhibits anisotropic charge transport and a lateral conductivity up to 160 S cm−1 doped by hydrogen chloride (HCl). Moreover, the q2D PANI displays superior chemiresistive sensing toward ammonia (30 ppb), and volatile organic compounds (10 ppm). Our work highlights the q2D PANI as promising electroactive materials for thin-film organic electronics. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
W1999660514 | Pelvic Exenteration for Recurrent Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Multi-institutional Study About 21 Patients | Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival of patients who underwent pelvic exenteration (PE) with curative intent for recurrence of endometrial adenocarcinoma during a single decade. Methods We defined a cohort of 21 patients who met our inclusion criteria, referred to 4 cooperating gynecologic oncology settings in Germany and Italy between 2000 and 2011. Data regarding surgery, histology, and oncologic outcomes were collected and statistically evaluated. Survival was determined from the day of exenteration until the last follow-up or death. Results The median age was 66 years. A total of 42.9% of the patients had major complications, and a complete resection was achieved in 85.7% of the patients. A total of 71.4% of the patients had negative nodes. No patient died intraoperatively. The perioperative mortality, calculated within 30 days from PE, was 4.8%. The overall 5-year survival rate, evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method, was 40%. For the subgroup with complete resection and negative lymph nodes, overall survival reached 60%. Conclusions Despite a high complication rate, PE for solitary pelvic recurrence of endometrial cancer yields a high rate of long-term survival. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1099/vir.0.038638-0 | Phylogeographical footprint of colonial history in the global dispersal of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 group A | Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) emerged in West Africa and has spread further to countries that share socio-historical ties with this region. However, viral origins and dispersal patterns at a global scale remain poorly understood. Here, we adopt a Bayesian phylogeographic approach to investigate the spatial dynamics of HIV-2 group A (HIV-2A) using a collection of 320 partial pol and 248 partial env sequences sampled throughout 19 countries worldwide. We extend phylogenetic diffusion models that simultaneously draw information from multiple loci to estimate location states throughout distinct phylogenies and explicitly attempt to incorporate human migratory fluxes. Our study highlights that Guinea-Bissau, together with Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, have acted as the main viral sources in the early stages of the epidemic. We show that convenience sampling can obfuscate the estimation of the spatial root of HIV-2A. We explicitly attempt to circumvent this by incorporating rate priors that reflect the ratio of human flow from and toWest Africa. We recover four main routes of HIV-2A dispersal that are laid out along colonial ties: Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde to Portugal, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal to France. Within Europe, we find strong support for epidemiological linkage from Portugal to Luxembourg and to the UK. We demonstrate that probabilistic models can uncover global patterns of HIV-2A dispersal providing sampling bias is taken into account and we provide a scenario for the international spread of this virus. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1038/s41560-019-0407-1 | Considerations for the scaling-up of water splitting catalysts | A wealth of candidates are being investigated to improve the catalysts found in acidic and alkaline electrolysers. However, attention should be focused on developing stable water oxidation catalysts with improved intrinsic activity — not only increased geometric activity — alongside best practice for data collection. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1039/c5ta08109b | Graphene-directed two-dimensional porous carbon frameworks for high-performance lithium–sulfur battery cathodes | 2D nitrogen-doped porous carbon frameworks were constructedviaionothermal polymerization directed by functionalized graphene nanosheets for high performance Li–S battery cathodes. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP12(2017)090 | Diagrammatic Hopf Algebra Of Cut Feynman Integrals The One Loop Case | We construct a diagrammatic coaction acting on one-loop Feynman graphs and their cuts. The graphs are naturally identified with the corresponding (cut) Feynman integrals in dimensional regularization, whose coefficients of the Laurent expansion in the dimensional regulator are multiple polylogarithms (MPLs). Our main result is the conjecture that this diagrammatic coaction reproduces the combinatorics of the coaction on MPLs order by order in the Laurent expansion. We show that our conjecture holds in a broad range of nontrivial one-loop integrals. We then explore its consequences for the study of discontinuities of Feynman integrals, and the differential equations that they satisfy. In particular, using the diagrammatic coaction along with information from cuts, we explicitly derive differential equations for any one-loop Feynman integral. We also explain how to construct the symbol of any one-loop Feynman integral recursively. Finally, we show that our diagrammatic coaction follows, in the special case of one-loop integrals, from a more general coaction proposed recently, which is constructed by pairing master integrands with corresponding master contours. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1073/pnas.1900577117 | Social tipping dynamics for stabilizing Earth’s climate by 2050 | Safely achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement requires a worldwide transformation to carbon-neutral societies within the next 30 y. Accelerated technological progress and policy implementations are required to deliver emissions reductions at rates sufficiently fast to avoid crossing dangerous tipping points in the Earth’s climate system. Here, we discuss and evaluate the potential of social tipping interventions (STIs) that can activate contagious processes of rapidly spreading technologies, behaviors, social norms, and structural reorganization within their functional domains that we refer to as social tipping elements (STEs). STEs are subdomains of the planetary socioeconomic system where the required disruptive change may take place and lead to a sufficiently fast reduction in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The results are based on online expert elicitation, a subsequent expert workshop, and a literature review. The STIs that could trigger the tipping of STE subsystems include 1) removing fossil-fuel subsidies and incentivizing decentralized energy generation (STE1, energy production and storage systems), 2) building carbon-neutral cities (STE2, human settlements), 3) divesting from assets linked to fossil fuels (STE3, financial markets), 4) revealing the moral implications of fossil fuels (STE4, norms and value systems), 5) strengthening climate education and engagement (STE5, education system), and 6) disclosing information on greenhouse gas emissions (STE6, information feedbacks). Our research reveals important areas of focus for larger-scale empirical and modeling efforts to better understand the potentials of harnessing social tipping dynamics for climate change mitigation. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
310932 | Neuroprotection in Multiple Sclerosis: From Molecular Imaging to Screenable Models | Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory CNS disease that affects more than 2.5 million individuals worldwide. Damage to axonal connections determines the functional deficits of MS patients. How axons are damaged in MS is only incompletely understood. Using in vivo multiphoton imaging we have discovered a novel axon loss process that underlies axonal damage in experimental and human neuroinflammatory lesions. We have termed this process Focal Axonal Degeneration (FAD). FAD is characterized by a sequence of morphologically defined stages that ultimately result in axonal fragmentation. Notably, intermediate stages of FAD can persist for several days in vivo and still recover spontaneously. In this proposal I want to explore the biological and medical significance of FAD by addressing its:
1. Functional Characteristics
I want to analyze two key aspects of axonal function, the ability to transport cargoes and the ability to propagate action potentials, in experimental neuroinflammatory lesions to better understand the in vivo relation between structural and functional deficits during axon damage.
2. Molecular Mechanisms
I want to deploy new molecular imaging approaches to directly monitor the redox potential, calcium and ATP levels of axons and their mitochondria in experimental neuroinflammatory lesions. This will allow us to reveal the key effector mechanisms of FAD and the sequence in which they are activated in vivo.
3.Therapeutic Opportunities
I plan to make use of advances in automated imaging and microfluidics to develop new in vivo assays for high-throughput screening of therapeutic interventions. This will help us to identify novel strategies for limiting progression and improving recovery of axon damage.
The proposed project should provide new insights into the functional and molecular underpinnings of axon damage in vivo, establish new tools and models to study it and guide the development of therapeutic strategies that can prevent or reverse it. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W1913797671 | Treating Patients with Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of Available Therapies | Purpose: The availability of newly approved treatment options for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer is not matched with conclusive data on optimal sequencing strategies and resistance patterns. A comprehensive review of efficacy and safety data for new agents and current knowledge regarding treatment sequencing would enable treating physicians to make rational drug selections in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: We searched MEDLINE® and relevant congresses for data on cabazitaxel, docetaxel, 223radium dichloride, abiraterone, enzalutamide and sipuleucel-T, focusing on sequencing strategies, resistance mechanisms and biomarkers of response.Results: Abiraterone and enzalutamide target the androgen axis with different mechanisms of action. Abiraterone blocks cytochrome P450 17, inhibiting androgen synthesis, whereas enzalutamide inhibits androgen receptor, reducing nuclear translocation of the androgen receptor complex and subsequent DNA bindin... | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1111/jeb.12864 | Persistence and resistance as complementary bacterial adaptations to antibiotics | Bacterial persistence represents a simple of phenotypic heterogeneity, whereby a proportion of cells in an isogenic bacterial population can survive exposure to lethal stresses such as antibiotics. In contrast, genetically based antibiotic resistance allows for continued growth in the presence of antibiotics. It is unclear, however, whether resistance and persistence are complementary or alternative evolutionary adaptations to antibiotics. Here, we investigate the co-evolution of resistance and persistence across the genus Pseudomonas using comparative methods that correct for phylogenetic nonindependence. We find that strains of Pseudomonas vary extensively in both their intrinsic resistance to antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and rifampicin) and persistence following exposure to these antibiotics. Crucially, we find that persistence correlates positively to antibiotic resistance across strains. However, we find that different genes control resistance and persistence implying that they are independent traits. Specifically, we find that the number of type II toxin-antitoxin systems (TAs) in the genome of a strain is correlated to persistence, but not resistance. Our study shows that persistence and antibiotic resistance are complementary, but independent, evolutionary adaptations to stress and it highlights the key role played by TAs in the evolution of persistence. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.24908/ss.v15i3/4.6606 | The Value of Transparency: Bulk Data and Authoritarianism | Given recognition of widespread state sponsored surveillance programs, are liberal democracies descending into an Orwellian authoritarian nightmare? The realities of the modern surveillance state instead suggest our worries ought to be about Kafkaesque bureaucratic black holes. In this paper we suggest that authoritarianism can be avoided by liberal democracies if they adhere to processes of ensurance and assurance. Moreover, we argue that both of these attributes are instrumentally enabled by transparency. | [
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.097401 | Exciton Polaritons in a Two-Dimensional Lieb Lattice with Spin-Orbit Coupling | We study exciton polaritons in a two-dimensional Lieb lattice of micropillars. The energy spectrum of the system features two flat bands formed from S and Px,y photonic orbitals, into which we trigger bosonic condensation under high power excitation. The symmetry of the orbital wave functions combined with photonic spin-orbit coupling gives rise to emission patterns with pseudospin texture in the flat band condensates. Our Letter shows the potential of polariton lattices for emulating flat band Hamiltonians with spin-orbit coupling, orbital degrees of freedom, and interactions. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
616233 | Theory of strongly correlated photonic systems | The physics of complex quantum systems with controllable interactions is emerging as a fundamental topic for a broad community, providing an opportunity to test theories of strongly correlated quantum many-body systems and opening interesting applications such as quantum simulators. Recently, in solid-state structures with effective photon-photon interactions the rich physics of quantum fluids of light has been explored, albeit not yet in the regime of strong photonic correlations. Exciting advances in cavity Quantum Electro-Dynamics (QED) and superconducting circuit QED make strong photon-photon interactions now accessible. A growing interest is focusing on lattices of coupled resonators, implementing Hubbard-like Hamiltonians for photons injected by pump driving fields. Similarly to electronic systems, the physics of large two-dimensional (2D) photonic lattices is a fundamental theoretical challenge in the regime of strong correlations. CORPHO has the ambition to develop novel scalable theoretical methods for 2D lattices of cavities, including spatially inhomogeneous driving and dissipation. The proposed methods are based on a hybrid strategy combining cluster mean-field theory and Wave Function Monte Carlo on a physical ‘Corner’ of the Hilbert space in order to calculate the steady-state density matrix and the properties of the non-equilibrium phases. We will study 2D lattices with complex unit cells and ‘fractional’ driving (only a fraction of the sites is pumped), a configuration that, according to recent preliminary studies, is expected to dramatically enhance and enrich quantum correlations. We will also investigate the interplay between driving and geometric frustration in 2D lattices with polarization-dependent interactions. Finally, the quantum control of strongly correlated photonic systems will be explored, including quantum feedback processes, cooling of thermal fluctuations and switching between multi-stable phases. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2052623357 | Articulations of queer resistance on the small screen | Despite the increase of gay characters on the small screen, many contemporary media scholars argue that gay representations in Western television productions are governed by heteronormativity. Yet, a few queer theoretically informed media scholars postulate that popular television is able to articulate queer resistance to the privileged position of the heterosexual matrix. With this article, I contribute to the exploration of the resistant potential of Western television fiction for queer resistance. The article presents a queer theoretically informed comprehension of queer resistance on television and postulates that resistance to heteronormativity can be articulated by queer deconstruction strategies, which exposes how heteronormativity operates, and queer reconstruction strategies, which represents queer and viable alternatives to the heteronormal. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Texts and Concepts"
]
|
10.1038/nature12531 | Transcriptome and genome sequencing uncovers functional variation in humans | Genome sequencing projects are discovering millions of genetic variants in humans, and interpretation of their functional effects is essential for understanding the genetic basis of variation in human traits. Here we report sequencing and deep analysis of messenger RNA and microRNA from lymphoblastoid cell lines of 462 individuals from the 1000 Genomes Project - the first uniformly processed high-throughput RNA-sequencing data from multiple human populations with high-quality genome sequences. We discover extremely widespread genetic variation affecting the regulation of most genes, with transcript structure and expression level variation being equally common but genetically largely independent. Our characterization of causal regulatory variation sheds light on the cellular mechanisms of regulatory and loss-of-function variation, and allows us to infer putative causal variants for dozens of disease-associated loci. Altogether, this study provides a deep understanding of the cellular mechanisms of transcriptome variation and of the landscape of functional variants in the human genome. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
W1554898048 | A study of candidate marine target impact craters in Arabia Terra, Mars | Previous workers have proposed that a northern ocean existed early during
Martian geologic history and the shorelines of that ocean would coincide roughly with the
crustal dichotomy that divides the smooth, northern lowlands with the cratered, southern
highlands. Arabia Terra is a region on Mars that straddles the crustal dichotomy, and
several proposed shorelines are located in the area. Shallow marine impact craters on Mars
likely would exhibit features like those on Earth, including characteristic morphological
features that are distinctly different from that of craters formed on land. Common
attributes of terrestrial marine impact craters include features of wet mass movement such
as gravity slumps and debris flows; radial gullies leading into the crater depression; resurge
deposits and blocks of dislocated materials; crater rim collapse or breaching of the crater
wall; a central peak terrace or peak ring terrace; and subdued topography (an indicator of
both age and possible flood inundation immediately following impact). In this article, these
features have been used to evaluate craters on Mars as to a possible marine origin. This
study used a simple quantification system to approximately judge and rank shallow marine
impact crater candidates based on features observed in terrestrial analogs. Based on the
quantification system, 77 potential shallow marine impact craters were found within an area
bounded by 20 N and 40 N as well as 20 W and 20 E. Nine exemplary candidates were
ranked with total scores of 70% or more. In a second, smaller study area, impact craters of
approximately similar size and age were evaluated as a comparison and average total scores
are 35%, indicating that there is some morphological difference between craters inside and
outside the proposed shorelines. Results of this type of study are useful in helping to
develop a general means of classification and characterization of potential marine craters. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.08.027 | Intra-cortical propagation of EEG alpha oscillations | The most salient feature of spontaneous human brain activity as recorded with electroencephalography (EEG) are rhythmic fluctuations around 10. Hz. These alpha oscillations have been reported to propagate over the scalp with velocities in the range of 5-15 m/s. Since these velocities are in the range of action potential velocities through cortico-cortical axons, it has been hypothesized that the observed scalp waves reflect cortico-cortically mediated propagation of cortical oscillations. The reported scalp velocities however, appear to be inconsistent with those estimated from local field potential recordings in dogs, which are < 1 m/s and agree with the propagation velocity of action potentials in intra-cortical axons. In this study, we resolve these diverging findings using a combination of EEG data-analysis and biophysical modeling. In particular, we demonstrate that the observed scalp velocities can be accounted for by slow traveling oscillations, which provides support for the claim that spatial propagation of alpha oscillations is mediated by intra-cortical axons. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2053668116 | Road Vehicles Identification and Positioning System | Radio frequency identification (RFID) is untouched automatic identification technologies in which information can be transmitted by radio frequency. In this study, an RFID system which can determine the position and place of any desired vehicle is designed and developed. Microprocessor transmitter devices, on which the vehicle information is loaded, are placed on the vehicles. Receiver circuits are located at certain points in order to receive the RF signals sent by these transmitter devices. The communication of all the points with each other is maintained by connecting the receiver circuits via the internet. The functionality of the system is tested by performing receiver-transmitter experiments based on the various speeds and locations of the vehicles. According to the results obtained in the experiments, it is seen that the system designed in the study could be used in place of the GPS system for determining the place and position of vehicles, since it is more economical when compared to the GPS system. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1002/zamm.201600199 | Optimal Control for a Class of Infinite Dimensional Systems Involving an L∞-term in the Cost Functional | An optimal control problem with a time-parameter is considered. The functional to be optimized includes the maximum over time-horizon reached by a function of the state variable, and so an L∞-term. In addition to the classical control function, the time at which this maximum is reached is considered as a free parameter. The problem couples the behavior of the state and the control, with this time-parameter. A change of variable is introduced to derive first and second-order optimality conditions. This allows the implementation of a Newton method. Numerical simulations are developed, for selected ordinary differential equations and a partial differential equation, which illustrate the influence of the additional parameter and the original motivation. | [
"Mathematics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1002/2016GL069887 | Probabilistic Point Source Inversion Of Strong Motion Data In 3 D Media Using Pattern Recognition A Case Study For The 2008 Mw 5 4 Chino Hills Earthquake | Despite the ever increasing availability of computational power, real-time source inversions based on physical modeling of wave propagation in realistic media remain challenging. We investigate how a nonlinear Bayesian approach based on pattern recognition and synthetic 3-D Green's functions can be used to rapidly invert strong-motion data for point source parameters by means of a case study for a fault system in the Los Angeles Basin. The probabilistic inverse mapping is represented in compact form by a neural network which yields probability distributions over source parameters. It can therefore be evaluated rapidly and with very moderate CPU and memory requirements. We present a simulated real-time inversion of data for the 2008 Mw 5. 4 Chino Hills event. Initial estimates of epicentral location and magnitude are available ∼14 s after origin time. The estimate can be refined as more data arrive: by ∼40 s, fault strike and source depth can also be determined with relatively high certainty. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
interreg_1505 | Green Public Procurement and Sustainability Tools for Resource Efficiency Mainstreaming | CONTEXT European regions play a multiple role in the adoption of green public procurement (GPP) policies as they elaborate and adopt GPP plans, can mainstream GPP within all policy instruments that they manage, can purchase eco-innovative and resource efficient goods and services, playing thus also a significant role the promotion of more resource efficient economies. There are still large areas for improvement in the adoption of GPP in relation to EU funded programmes and other policy instruments, in the undertaking of the tool by beneficiaries and in the monitoring of GPP implementation, hence in the evaluation and mainstreaming of its benefits. GPP toolkits, common environmental criteria, training materials and help desks have been developed throughout Europe. Limited experience is yet available on how to include environmental criteria into financing instruments and in the implementation of development strategies. GPP-STREAM builds on the idea that interregional cooperation can help mainstreaming GPP policies within the administrations involved and ensure that resource efficiency measures are spread and benefits acknowledged. GPP-STREAM AIMS The project aims to improve the management, implementation and monitoring of policy instruments that integrate GPP approaches so as to ensure that resource efficiency gains can be maximized and that resource efficiency objectives are institutionalized through GPP. The project is coordinated by Region Friuli and is implemented in partnership with 8 Bulgarian, Spanish, French, Italian and Romanian bodies that have complementary environmental and GPP expertise. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES 5 transnational learning events, at least 300 stakeholders involved, 13 GPP webinars, 4 GPP toolkits, 8 policy instruments from 5 EU countries will integrate GPP approaches, 40 EU policy instrument managing authorities apply GPP-STREAM toolkits | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1021/es400239k | Dynamically adaptive control system for bioanodes in serially stacked bioelectrochemical systems | Microbial bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) use microorganisms as catalysts for electrode reactions. They have emerging applications in bioenergy, bioproduction, and bioremediation. BESs can be scaled up as a linked series of units or cells; however, this may lead to so-called cell reversal. Here, we demonstrate a cell balance system (CBS) that controls individual BES cells connected electrically in series by dynamically adapting the applied potential in the kilohertz frequency range relative to the performance of the bioanode. The CBS maintains the cell voltage of individual BES cells at or below a maximum set point by bypassing a portion of applied current with a high-frequency metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor switch control system. We demonstrate (i) multiple serially connected BES cells started simultaneously and rapidly from a single power source, as the CBS imparts no current limitation, (ii) continuous, stable, and independent performance of each stacked BES cell, and (iii) stable BES cell and stack performance under excessive applied currents. This control system has applications for not only serially stacked BESs in scaled-up stacks but also rapidly starting individual- and/or lab-scale BESs. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
10.3389/fphar.2015.00139 | Redox regulation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase Iα in the cardiovascular system | Elevated levels of oxidants in biological systems have been historically referred to as "oxidative stress", a choice of words that perhaps conveys an imbalanced view of reactive oxygen species in cell and tissues. The term stress suggests a harmful role, whereas a contemporary view is that oxidants are also crucial for the maintenance of homeostasis or adaptive signaling that can actually limit injury. This regulatory role for oxidants is achieved in part by them inducing oxidative post-translational modifications of proteins which may alter their function or interactions. Such mechanisms allow changes in cell oxidant levels to be coupled to regulated alterations in enzymatic function (i. e. signal transduction), which enables "redox signaling". In this review we focus on the role of cGMP-dependent protein kinase Iα (PKG) disulfide dimerisation, an oxidative modification that is induced by oxidants that directly activates the enzyme, discussing how this impacts on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, how this oxidative activation of PKG may coordinate with or differ from classical activation of this kinase by cGMP will also be considered. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W2130606500 | The effect of transportation suit induced heat stress on helicopter underwater escape preparation and task performance | Although essential in an emergency such as a helicopter ditching, mandatory survival suits worn by civilian personnel may lead to heat strain during a normal flight. To explore the possibility that wearing a helicopter transportation suit impairs emergency performance, 11 individuals completed underwater escape procedures immediately following a pre-recorded emergency announcement (randomly played between 50 and 90 min) in two ambient temperature conditions (Thermoneutral = 21 °C and Hot = 34 °C). Mean skin and rectal temperatures were recorded throughout the trials, while situation awareness and thermal sensation/comfort were recorded on completion of trials. Results indicate that although mean skin and rectal temperatures were significantly higher at the end of both trials, escape procedures were not impaired. It can therefore be concluded that although conditions inside an offshore transport helicopter are perceived as being hot and uncomfortable, no deficits in escape performance should be expected in the first 90 min of flight. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1146/annurev-biophys-070816-033602 | How Active Mechanics and Regulatory Biochemistry Combine to Form Patterns in Development | The development of organisms starting from their zygotic state involves a tight integration of the myriad biochemical signaling interactions with the mechanical forces that eventually pattern and shape the resulting embryo. In the past decade, it has become increasingly evident that several important developmental processes involve mechanical forces in an essential manner. In this review, we highlight the multifaceted role of mechanics in pattern formation, from protein and cell sorting to the generation of tissue shape. We then review the ways in which the active cellular cytoskeleton self-organizes to form dynamic patterns. Finally, we focus on mechanochemical feedback, where signaling proteins can establish patterns via coupling to the activity of the cytoskeleton. Throughout the review, we focus on the generic physical principles of the establishment of active mechanochemical patterns and point toward future directions in studying how the principles of mechanics and chemistry combine to drive morphogenetic pattern formation. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
242658 | Biotic community attributes and ecosystem functioning: implications for predicting and mitigating global change impacts | Increases in nutrient availability and temperature, and changes in precipitation patterns and biodiversity are important components of global environmental change. Thus, it is imperative to understand their impacts on the functioning of natural ecosystems. Substantial research efforts are being currently devoted to predict how biodiversity will respond to global change. However, little is known on the relative importance of biodiversity against other attributes of biotic communities, such as species cover and spatial pattern, as a driver of ecosystem processes. Furthermore, the effects of global change on the relationships between these attributes and ecosystem functioning are virtually unknown. This project aims to evaluate the relationships between community attributes (species richness, composition, evenness, cover, and spatial pattern) and key processes related to ecosystem functioning under different global change scenarios. Its specific objectives are to: i) evaluate the relative importance of community attributes as drivers of ecosystem functioning, ii) assess how multiple global change drivers will affect key ecosystem processes, iii) test whether global change drivers modify observed community attributes-ecosystem functioning relationships, iv) develop models to forecast global change effects on ecosystem functioning, and v) set up protocols for the establishment of mitigation actions based on the results obtained. They will be achieved by integrating experimental and modeling approaches conducted with multiple biotic communities at different spatial scales. Such integrated framework has not been tackled before, and constitutes a ground breaking advance over current research efforts on global change. This proposal will also open the door to new research lines exploring the functional role of community attributes and their importance as modulators of ecosystem responses to global change. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
W1998127753 | Afforestation with Norway spruce on a subalpine pasture alters carbon dynamics but only moderately affects soil carbon storage | There is a strong trend toward reforestation of abandoned grasslands in alpine regions which may impact the carbon balance of alpine ecosystems. Here, we studied the effects of afforestation with Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) on an extensively grazed subalpine pasture in Switzerland on soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling and storage. Along a 120-year long chronosequence with spruce stands of 25, 30, 40, 45, and >120 years and adjacent pastures, we measured tree biomass, SOC stocks down to the bedrock, natural 13C abundances, and litter quality. To unravel controls on SOC cycling, we have monitored microclimatic conditions and quantified SOC decomposability under standardized conditions as well as soil respiration in situ. Stocks of SOC were only moderately affected by the afforestation: in the mineral soil, SOC stocks transiently decreased after tree establishment, reaching a minimum 40–45 years after afforestation (−25 %) and increased thereafter. Soils of the mature spruce forest stored the largest amount of SOC, 13 % more than the pasture soils, mainly due to the accumulation of an organic layer (23 t C ha−1). By comparison, C accumulated in the tree biomass exceeded the SOC pool by a factor of three in the old forest. In contrast to the small impact on C storage, afforestation strongly influenced the composition and quality of the soil organic matter (SOM). With increasing stand age, δ13C values of the SOM became consistently more positive, which can be interpreted as a gradual replacement of grass- by spruce-derived C. Fine roots of spruce were enriched in 13C, in lignin and had a higher C/N ratio in comparison to grass roots. As a consequence, SOM quality as indicated by the lower fraction of readily decomposable (labile) SOM and higher C:N ratios declined after the land-use change. Furthermore, spruce plantation induced a less favorable microclimate for microbial activity with the average soil temperature during the growing season being 5 °C lower in the spruce stands than in the pasture. In situ soil respiration was approximately 50 % lower after the land use conversion, which we primarily attribute to the colder conditions and the lower SOM quality, but also to drier soils (−25 %) and to a decreased fine root biomass (−40 %). In summary, afforestation on subalpine pastures only moderately affected SOC storage as compared to the large C sink in tree biomass. In contrast, SOC cycling rates strongly decreased as a result of a less favorable microclimate for decomposition of SOM, a lower C input by roots, and a lower litter quality. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1002/ece3.1503 | Does flower phenology mirror the slowdown of global warming? | Although recent global warming trends in air temperature are not as pronounced as those observed only one decade ago, global mean temperature is still at a very high level. Does plant phenology - which is believed to be a suitable indicator of climate change - respond in a similar way, that is, does it still mirror recent temperature variations? We explored in detail long-term flowering onset dates of snowdrop, cherry, and lime tree and relevant spring temperatures at three sites in Germany (1901-2012) using the Bayesian multiple change-point approach. We investigated whether mean spring temperature changes were amplified or slowed down in the past decade and how plant phenology responded to the most recent temperature changes. Incorporating records with different end points (i. e. , 2002 and 2012), we compared differences in trends and inferred possible differences caused by extrapolating phenological and meteorological data. The new multiple-change point approach is characterized by an enhanced structure and greater flexibility compared to the one change point model. However, the highest model probabilities for phenological (meteorological) records were still obtained for the one change point (linear) model. Marked warming trends in the recent decade were only revealed for mean temperatures of March to May, here better described with one or two change point models. In the majority of cases analyzed, changes in temperatures were well mirrored by phenological changes. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.4049/jimmunol.1501106 | Vitamin A controls the presence of RORγ<sup>+</sup> innate lymphoid cells and lymphoid tissue in the small intestine | Changes in diet and microbiota have determining effects on the function of the mucosal immune system. For example, the active metabolite of vitamin A, retinoic acid (RA), has been described to maintain homeostasis in the intestine by its influence on both lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Additionally, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), important producers of cytokines necessary for intestinal homeostasis, are also influenced by vitamin A in the small intestines. In this study, we show a reduction of both NCR- and NCR+ ILC3 subsets in the small intestine of mice raised on a vitamin A-deficient diet. Additionally, the percentages of IL-22-producing ILCs were reduced in the absence of dietary vitamin A. Conversely, mice receiving additional RA had a specific increase in the NCR- ILC3 subset, which contains the lymphoid tissue inducer cells. The dependence of lymphoid tissue inducer cells on vitamin Awas furthermore illustrated by impaired development of enteric lymphoid tissues in vitamin A-deficient mice. These effects were a direct consequence of ILC-intrinsic RA signaling, because retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt-Cre × RARα-DN mice had reduced numbers of NCR- and NCR+ ILC3 subsets within the small intestine. However, lymphoid tissue inducer cells were not affected in these mice nor was the formation of enteric lymphoid tissue, demonstrating that the onset of RA signaling might take place before retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gt is expressed on lymphoid tissue inducer cells. Taken together, our data show an important role for vitamin A in controlling innate lymphoid cells and, consequently, postnatal formed lymphoid tissues within the small intestines. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
310411 | Brain-gut interactions in Drosophila melanogaster | The gastrointestinal tract is emerging as a key regulator of appetite and metabolism, but studies aimed at identifying the signals involved are faced with daunting neuroanatomical complexity: there are as many as 500 million neurons in the human gut. Drosophila should provide a simple and genetically amenable alternative, but both its autonomic nervous system and the signalling significance of its digestive tract have remained largely unexplored. My research programme will characterize the signals and neurons mediating the interaction between the nervous and digestive systems, and will establish their significance both in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis and in response to nutritional challenges. To achieve these goals, we will capitalize on a multi-disciplinary approach that combines the genetic manipulation of defined neuronal lineages, a cell-biological approach to the study of enterocyte metabolism, and our recently developed physiological and behavioural readouts. Our work will provide new insights into the signals and mechanisms modulating internal metabolism and food intake: processes which, when deregulated, contribute to increasingly prevalent conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Our recent finding of conserved mechanisms of autonomic control in the fruit fly makes us confident that the signals we identify will be relevant to mammalian systems. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
173340 | Mont-Blanc 3, european scalable and power efficient hpc platform based on low-power embedded technology | The main target of the Mont-Blanc 3 project ""European Scalable and power efficient HPC platform based on low-power embedded technology"" is the creation of a new high-end HPC platform (SoC and node) that is able to deliver a new level of performance / energy ratio whilst executing real applications.
The technical objectives are:
1. To design a well-balanced architecture and to deliver the design for an ARM based SoC or SoP (System on Package) capable of providing pre-exascale performance when implemented in the time frame of 2019-2020. The predicted performance target must be measured using real HPC applications.
2. To maximise the benefit for HPC applications with new high-performance ARM processors and throughput-oriented compute accelerators designed to work together within the well-balanced architecture .
3. To develop the necessary software ecosystem for the future SoC. This additional objective is important to maximize the impact of the project and make sure that this ARM architecture path will be successful in the market.
The project shall build upon the previous Mont-Blanc & Mont-Blanc 2 FP7 projects, with ARM, BSC & Bull being involved in Mont-Blanc 1, 2 and 3 projects. It will adopt a co-design approach to make sure that the hardware and system innovations are readily translated into benefits for HPC applications. This approach shall integrate architecture work (WP3 & 4 - on balanced architecture and computing efficiency) together with a simulation work (to feed and validate the architecture studies ) and work on the needed software ecosystem.
| [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W1996264371 | New is not always better: low breeding success and different occupancy patterns in newly built nests of a long-lived species, the white storkCiconia ciconia | Capsule An increase in new nest building in a white stork population revealed that they were built further from human settlement and on non-typical structures; such nests had lower breeding success resulting from later breeding. Aim To determine why some birds build new nests rather than occupy older ones, and how new nests affect breeding performance compared to old nests, in a long-lived bird, the white stork. Methods We compared new nest construction in 2010 with a long-term data set on white stork in Western Poland from 1974 to 2009. For data from 2010, we analysed nest location and breeding biology in detail. Results Since 1974, the proportion of new build nests was ca. 1.6%; in 2010 this was 13.2%. Pairs in new nests bred later than pairs in old, and had smaller clutches and lower breeding success. New nests were located further from settlements and tended to be built on different structures. A significantly lower proportion of new nests were re-occupied in subsequent years. Conclusions Pairs may bu... | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1080/00324728.2019.1584327 | Does Broadband Internet Affect Fertility | The spread of high-speed (broadband) Internet epitomizes the digital revolution. Using German panel data, we test whether the availability of broadband influences fertility choices in a low-fertility setting well known for the difficulty in combining work and family life. We exploit a strategy devised by Falck and colleagues to obtain causal estimates of the impact of broadband on fertility. We find positive effects of broadband availability on the fertility of highly educated women aged 25-45. We further confirm this result using county-level data on total fertility. We show that broadband access significantly increases the share of women reporting home- or part-time working. Furthermore, we find positive effects on time spent with children and overall life satisfaction. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that access to broadband allows highly educated women, but not the less educated, to reconcile career and motherhood, which may promote a 'digital divide' in fertility. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
interreg_1142 | EFFective Planning of schools buildings for Environment and ClimaTe changeS | The buildings sector represents approximately 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption. In this respect, Europe has issued an ad hoc Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings and several actions have been putting in place by each Country to tackle this issue. For this, the CB cooperation between Italy, Albania and Montenegro is important in order to exchange experiences, transfer innovation aimed at reducing the heating demand (in terms of annual energy balance) and minimising the cooling peak power demand. Supporting sector operators to identify cost-effective approaches to renovations relevant to the building type and climatic zone is also considered important. As for other priorities, creating an effective system involving public institutions, sector operators and other relevant stakeholders is strongly supported, and one result expected from this is enhanced capacities of public authorities to plan and implement sustainable energy policies and measures.
EFFECTS project intends to deepen the issues related to Energy Efficiency in School Buildings in the CB Area, evaluating possible strategies of intervention to reduce the negative impact on environment and climate change, and at the same time to have a positive impact on the budget of local bodies, and on the improvement of indoor comfort.
School is the most adequate context to diffuse a culture of Sustainability and Energy saving that can be expressed not only in structural interventions, but also through educative action, participatory and sharing experiences that can and must be adopted referring to the didactical approach within the School System itself.
Through specific pilot actions, students, teachers and families will have the opportunity to closely participate actively at the efficiency planning and renovation process and to experience its impact on the indoor environment for themselves. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1002/art.34414 | Inflammatory regulation of glucocorticoid metabolism in mesenchymal stromal cells | Objective. Tissue glucocorticoid (GC) levels are regulated by the GC-activating enzyme 11β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1). This enzyme is expressed in cells and tissues arising from mesenchymal stromal cells. Proinflammatory cytokines dramatically increase expression of 11β-HSD1 in stromal cells, an effect that has been implicated in inflammatory arthritis, osteoporosis, obesity, and myopathy. Additionally, GCs act synergistically with proinflammatory cytokines to further increase enzyme expression. The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms underlying this regulation. Methods. Gene reporter analysis, rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends (RACE), chemical inhibition experiments, and genetic disruption of intracellular signaling pathways in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were used to define the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of 11β-HSD1 expression. Results. Gene reporter, RACE, and chemical inhibitor studies demonstrated that the increase in 11β- HSD1 expression with tumor necrosis factor α (TNFβ)/ interleukin-1β (IL-1β) occurred via the proximal HSD11B1 gene promoter and depended on NF-κB signaling. These findings were confirmed using MEFs with targeted disruption of NF-κB signaling, in which RelA (p65) deletion prevented TNFα/IL-1β induction of 11β- HSD1. GC treatment did not prevent TNFα-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation. The synergistic enhancement of TNFα-induced 11β-HSD1 expression with GCs was reproduced by specific inhibitors of p38 MAPK. Inhibitor and gene deletion studies indicated that the effects of GCs on p38 MAPK activity occurred primarily through induction of dual-specificity phosphatase 1 expression. Conclusion. The mechanism by which stromal cell expression of 11β-HSD1 is regulated is novel and distinct from that in other tissues. These findings open new opportunities for development of therapeutic interventions aimed at inhibiting or stimulating local GC levels in cells of mesenchymal stromal lineage during inflammation. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
10.1371/journal.ppat.1004445 | Antimicrobials, Stress and Mutagenesis | Cationic antimicrobial peptides are ancient and ubiquitous immune effectors that multicellular organisms use to kill and police microbes whereas antibiotics are mostly employed by microorganisms. As antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) mostly target the cell wall, a microbial ‘Achilles heel’, it has been proposed that bacterial resistance evolution is very unlikely and hence AMPs are ancient ‘weapons’ of multicellular organisms. Here we provide a new hypothesis to explain the widespread distribution of AMPs amongst multicellular organism. Studying five antimicrobial peptides from vertebrates and insects, we show, using a classic Luria-Delbrück fluctuation assay, that cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) do not increase bacterial mutation rates. Moreover, using rtPCR and disc diffusion assays we find that AMPs do not elicit SOS or rpoS bacterial stress pathways. This is in contrast to the main classes of antibiotics that elevate mutagenesis via eliciting the SOS and rpoS pathways. The notion of the ‘Achilles heel’ has been challenged by experimental selection for AMP-resistance, but our findings offer a new perspective on the evolutionary success of AMPs. Employing AMPs seems advantageous for multicellular organisms, as it does not fuel the adaptation of bacteria to their immune defenses. This has important consequences for our understanding of host-microbe interactions, the evolution of innate immune defenses, and also sheds new light on antimicrobial resistance evolution and the use of AMPs as drugs. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1093/mnras/stz3507 | Making bright giants invisible at the Galactic Centre | ABSTRACT
Current observations of the Galactic Centre (GC) seem to display a core-like distribution of bright stars from ∼5 arcsec inwards. On the other hand, we observe young, massive stars at the GC, with roughly 20–50 per cent of them in a disc, mostly in the region where the bright giants appear to be lacking. In a previous publication we put the idea forward that the missing stars are deeply connected to the presence of this disc. The progenitor of the stellar disc is very likely to have been a gaseous disc that at some point fragmented and triggered star formation. This caused the appearance of overdensity regions in the disc that had high enough densities to ensure stripping large giants of their atmospheres and thus rendering them very faint. In this paper, we use a stellar evolution code to derive the properties that a red giant would display in a colour–magnitude diagram, as well as a non-linearity factor required for a correct estimate of the mass loss. We find that in a very short time-scale, the red giants leave their standard evolutionary track. The non-linearity factor has values that not only depend on the properties of the clumps, but also on the physical conditions of the giant stars, as we predicted analytically. According to our results, envelope stripping works, moving stars on a short time-scale from the giant branch to the white dwarf stage, thus rendering them invisible to observations. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-642-22233-7_2 | How The Minotaur Turned Into Ariadne Ontologies In Web Data Extraction | Humans require automated support to profit from the wealth of data nowadays available on the web. To that end, the linked open data initiative and others have been asking data providers to publish structured, semantically annotated data. Small data providers, such as most UK real-estate agencies, however, are overburdened with this task-- often just starting to move from simple, table- or list-like directories to web applications with rich interfaces. We argue that fully automated extraction of structured data can help resolve this dilemma. Ironically, automated data extraction has seen a recent revival thanks to ontologies and linked open data to guide data extraction. First results from the DIADEM project illustrate that high quality, fully automated data extraction at a web scale is possible, if we combine domain ontologies with a phenomenology describing the representation of domain concepts. We briefly summarise the DIADEM project and discuss a few preliminary results. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1088/1748-9326/11/1/014008 | Mapping and analysing cropland use intensity from a NPP perspective | Meeting expected surges in global biomass demand while protecting pristine ecosystems likely requires intensification of current croplands. Yet many uncertainties relate to the potentials for cropland intensification, mainly because conceptualizing and measuring land use intensity is intricate, particularly at the global scale. We present a spatially explicit analysis of global cropland use intensity, following an ecological energy flow perspective. We analyze (a) changes of net primary production (NPP) from the potential system (i. e. assuming undisturbed vegetation) to croplands around 2000 and relate these changes to (b) inputs of (N) fertilizer and irrigation and (c) to biomass outputs, allowing for a three dimensional focus on intensification. Globally the actual NPP of croplands, expressed as per cent of their potential NPP (NPPact%), amounts to 77%. A mix of socio-economic and natural factors explains the high spatial variation which ranges from 22. 6% to 416. 0% within the inner 95 percentiles. NPPact% is well below NPPpot in many developing, (Sub-) Tropical regions, while it massively surpasses NPPpot on irrigated drylands and in many industrialized temperate regions. The interrelations of NPP losses (i. e. the difference between NPPact and NPPpot), agricultural inputs and biomass harvest differ substantially between biogeographical regions. Maintaining NPPpot was particularly N-intensive in forest biomes, as compared to cropland in natural grassland biomes. However, much higher levels of biomass harvest occur in forest biomes. We show that fertilization loads correlate with NPPact% linearly, but the relation gets increasingly blurred beyond a level of 125 kgN ha-1. Thus, large potentials exist to improve N-efficiency at the global scale, as only 10% of global croplands are above this level. Reallocating surplus N could substantially reduce NPP losses by up to 80% below current levels and at the same time increase biomass harvest by almost 30%. However, we also show that eradicating NPP losses globally might not be feasible due to the high input costs and associated sustainability implications. Our analysis emphasizes the necessity to avoid mono-dimensional perspectives with respect to research on sustainable intensification pathways and the potential of integrated socio-ecological approaches for consistently contrasting environmental trade-offs and societal benefits of land use intensification. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
645568 | Connecting cross-condition patterns of brain connectivity towards a common mechanism of mental conditions and prediction connectomics | The brain is one of the most complex living systems we know and has an enormous capacity to regulate our physiology, behaviour and cognition. 30% of the European population however has to deal with a mental challenge, ranging from depression to burnout to psychosis, etcetera. These conditions are traditionally seen as separate disorders, but there is growing evidence that many mental conditions share overlap in terms of their genetics and symptomatology. The brain mechanisms behind this cross-disorder overlap reflecting a common biological factor of mental conditions remains unknown. One of the key problems is that the current field is centralised around ‘single-condition examinations’, lacking specificity and selectivity of macroscale mechanisms, leaving us blind for which brain attributes play a common versus a unique role across and within mental conditions. The goal of CONNECT is to find an underlying shared biological mechanism of mental conditions: I hypothesise that the organizational principles of the healthy brain network form a common network system for shaping relationships across disorders. With CONNECT I want to map the total brain space of cross-disease relationships to disentangle shared and specific mechanisms of cognitive function and disease disfunction. I want to build (WP0) a large multi-disorder MRI database to compare (WP1) brain fingerprints across a wide range of conditions. I will (WP2) develop a mechanistic framework to fundamentally describe cross- condition interactions and model the shared mechanisms of involvement of brain networks in brain function. This model will be leveraged into (WP2/3) a comprehensive connection catalog that systematically maps for all circuitry their common vs unique role in cognitive functions and their subsequent involvement in the spectrum of mental conditions. Disentangling disease-common from disease-specific effects, I will use Machine Learning to pave the way for (WP4) ‘prediction connectomics’. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1007/s10530-012-0228-7 | A comparative analysis of the factors promoting deer invasion | Invasive non-native deer can cause negative impacts at ecosystem, community and population levels. Here we aim to determine which characteristics predict success at two stages of the invasion process, establishment and spread, in introduced deer. We collected historical data on the outcomes of introduction events and compiled a dataset of species traits. Characteristics correlated to the success of invasion were identified using linear modelling methods, which control for the non-independence of the introduction events. A phylogenetic tree of the deer was reconstructed using DNA markers in order to control for the effects of common ancestry in species level analyses. At the species level, we found weaning age, age at sexual maturity and native range size are predictive of establishment, whereas weaning body mass is predictive of spread. At the population level we found that establishment success is primarily determined by the number of introduced individuals whereas breadth of habitat and diet determine which of the established populations will spread. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
interreg_1082 | E.MeD.Cu.N. | E.MED.CU.N aims at enhancing cooperation among historic cities in the East Mediterranean region, with a view to encourage new forms of tourism. It focuses on creating a network of Mediterranean cities to promote innovative cultural tourism as a means to stimulate local sustainable development. It targets at local entrepreneurs and tourism businesses, institutions and public authorities related to culture and tourism (at both the local and national levels), international tour operators, as well as the unemployed (especially women) in the 5 participating Municipalities, through the setting up of Cultural Employment Growth Centres, the development and promotion of new cultural tourism products, the establishment of a collaborative network between historic cities and traditional settlements in rural areas, as well as a series of pilot actions concerning the development of cultural tourism. The broad aim of the action is to enable local stakeholders to plan and manage cultural resources in a way that promotes a sustainable social and economic environment. Furthermore, the project aims at: • The development of historic cities networks responding to common cultural problems, focusing on cultural business development and the growth of individual sectors related to tourism, e.g. agriculture, small-scale manufacture, etc., • The establishment of innovative business-cultural structures that enhance local entrepreneurship and employment, • The exchange of know-how on issues of social economy and tourism growth. The main actions to be undertaken are: • New Approach in Cultural Resources Exploitation: • Creation of a Network of Historic towns and cities for cultural sustainable development. • Pilot Actions • Management and reporting to EC • Dissemination of the results to stakeholders The main project output will be 5 Pilot actions, 5 new structures, exchange of experience and know-how among 5 historic cities, a Collaborative network among 5 historic cities, a Study of spatial cultural development. | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.04.002 | Streams across the Silk Roads? The case of Islamic glass from Ghazni | This paper presents data obtained by a combined chrono-typological and archaeometric study carried out on an assemblage of glassware and bracelets unearthed at the Ghaznavid Palace of Ghazni, Afghanistan. Pulsating trade and cultural centre located along the Silk Roads, the site of Ghazni has yielded evidence of an uninterrupted archaeological sequence, with settlement continuity spanning from pre-Islamic (2nd–9th/10th CE) to Islamic periods (end 10th–19th CE). Both glassware and bracelets were manufactured by using a plant ash-based glass, in line with Central Asian glassmaking technology. Furthermore, several compositional groups were identified, showing close affinities with other assemblages from Central Asia, Uzbekistan and Jordan. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1063/1.4901304 | Quantum, classical, and hybrid QM/MM calculations in solution: General implementation of the ddCOSMO linear scaling strategy | We present the general theory and implementation of the Conductor-like Screening Model according to the recently developed ddCOSMO paradigm. The various quantities needed to apply ddCOSMO at different levels of theory, including quantum mechanical descriptions, are discussed in detail, with a particular focus on how to compute the integrals needed to evaluate the ddCOSMO solvation energy and its derivatives. The overall computational cost of a ddCOSMO computation is then analyzed and decomposed in the various steps: the different relative weights of such contributions are then discussed for both ddCOSMO and the fastest available alternative discretization to the COSMO equations. Finally, the scaling of the cost of the various steps with respect to the size of the solute is analyzed and discussed, showing how ddCOSMO opens significantly new possibilities when cheap or hybrid molecular mechanics/quantum mechanics methods are used to describe the solute. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
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