id
stringlengths 6
42
| title
stringlengths 3
499
| abstract
stringlengths 0
6.24k
| label
listlengths 1
6
|
|---|---|---|---|
10.1002/1873-3468.13067 | Regulation Of Primary Microrna Processing | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small regulatory RNAs that participate in the adjustment of many, if not all, fundamental biological processes. Molecular mechanisms involved in miRNA biogenesis and mode of action have been elucidated in the past two decades. Similar to many cellular pathways, miRNA processing and function can be globally or specifically regulated at several levels and by numerous proteins and RNAs. Given their role as fine-tuning molecules, it is essential for miRNA expression to be tightly regulated in order to maintain cellular homeostasis. Here, we review our current knowledge of the first step of their maturation occurring in the nucleus and how it can be specifically and dynamically modulated. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
247208 | Quantum optics with microwave photons building a tool-box based on superconducting technology | The research proposed in this application has grown out of the research on solid-state qubits, where a superconducting circuit including Josephson junctions can be made into a quantum-coherent, two-level system, an artificial atom. It has recently been shown that these artificial atoms can be integrated with microwave cavities in such a way that the states of the "atom" can communicate in a quantum coherent way with individual photons in the cavity. This opens up an opportunity to engineer quantum system utilizing both the atom and the photon degree of freedom. There are three essential features in this proposal, circuit-QED, tunable Josephson elements and the possibility to integrate many qubits and many cavities on the same chip. The overall objective of this proposal is to build a toolbox based on circuit-QED and tunable superconducting elements, to enable on-chip integrated quantum optics. Our vision is to move quantum optics experiments from large optical tables and integrate them on chip, with a substantially increased level of integration. Working in the microwave domain, we have the following specific objectives: " An on-demand single photon source " A number resolving single photon click detector " A single photon router " A single photon sluice " A linear quantum limited parametric amplifier " Demonstration of the dynamical Casimir effect | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-319-00128-9 | Hypoelliptic Laplacian and Bott-Chern cohomology: A theorem of Riemann-Roch-Grothendieck in complex geometry | The book provides the proof of a complex geometric version of a well-known result in algebraic geometry: the theorem of Riemann-Roch-Grothendieck for proper submersions. It gives an equality of cohomology classes in Bott-Chern cohomology, which is a refinement for complex manifolds of de Rham cohomology. When the manifolds are Kähler, our main result is known. A proof can be given using the elliptic Hodge theory of the fibres, its deformation via Quillen's superconnections, and a version in families of the 'fantastic cancellations' of McKean-Singer in local index theory. In the general case, this approach breaks down because the cancellations do not occur any more. One tool used in the book is a deformation of the Hodge theory of the fibres to a hypoelliptic Hodge theory, in such a way that the relevant cohomological information is preserved, and 'fantastic cancellations' do occur for the deformation. The deformed hypoelliptic Laplacian acts on the total space of the relative tangent bundle of the fibres. While the original hypoelliptic Laplacian discovered by the author can be described in terms of the harmonic oscillator along the tangent bundle and of the geodesic flow, here, the harmonic oscillator has to be replaced by a quartic oscillator. Another idea developed in the book is that while classical elliptic Hodge theory is based on the Hermitian product on forms, the hypoelliptic theory involves a Hermitian pairing which is a mild modification of intersection pairing. Probabilistic considerations play an important role, either as a motivation of some constructions, or in the proofs themselves. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
FR 2019052993 W | UNDERWIRED BRA AND GARMENT, IN PARTICULAR LINGERIE ITEM HAVING SUCH A BRA | - Underwired bra and garment, in particular lingerie item having such a bra. - The bra (1) comprises at least two cups (4, 5) and two curved underwires (6, 7), each of the underwires (6, 7) being associated with one of the cups (4, 5), each of the underwires (6, 7) having a so-called joining end (6B, 7B) and a so-called free end (6A, 7A), the two cups being joined by means of their respective joining end (6B, 7B), the joining ends (6B, 7B) of the two cups (6, 7) intersecting at the join. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.cognition.2013.11.013 | Processing inferences at the semantics/pragmatics frontier: Disjunctions and free choice | Linguistic inferences have traditionally been studied and categorized in several categories, such as entailments, implicatures or presuppositions. This typology is mostly based on traditional linguistic means, such as introspective judgments about phrases occurring in different constructions, in different conversational contexts. More recently, the processing properties of these inferences have also been studied (see, e. g. , recent work showing that scalar implicatures is a costly phenomenon). Our focus is on free choice permission, a phenomenon by which conjunctive inferences are unexpectedly added to disjunctive sentences. For instance, a sentence such as "Mary is allowed to eat an ice-cream or a cake" is normally understood as granting permission both for eating an ice-cream and for eating a cake. We provide data from four processing studies, which show that, contrary to arguments coming from the theoretical literature, free choice inferences are different from scalar implicatures. | [
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity",
"Texts and Concepts"
]
|
10.1039/c9mh01020c | The role of traps in the photocurrent generation mechanism in thin InSe photodetectors | Due to the excellent electrical transport properties and optoelectronic performance, thin indium selenide (InSe) has recently attracted attention in the field of 2D semiconducting materials. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1088/1748-9326/ab7397 | Focus on leakage and spillovers: Informing land-use governance in a tele-coupled world | Governing land use to achieve sustainable outcomes is challenging, because land systems manifest complex land use spillovers-i. e. processes by which land use changes or direct interventions in land use (e. g. policy, program, new technologies) in one place have impacts on land use in another place. The ERL issue 'Focus on Leakage: Informing Land-Use Governance in a Tele-coupled World' builds on discussions in an international expert workshop conducted in Berlin in November 2017 to explore innovative ways to improve our understanding of how governance interventions, new technologies and other factors can affect land-use change both directly and indirectly through spillovers. This editorial starts by clarifying the definitions and relationships between land-use spillover, indirect land use change- A form of spillover where land use change in one place is caused by land use change in another place-leakage- A form of land use spillover, which is caused by an environmental policy (e. g. a conservation or restoration intervention), and the spillover reduces the overall benefits and effectiveness of this intervention-, and land use displacement processes. We then use this terminology to summarize the individual contributions of this special issue and conclude with lessons learned as well as directions for future research. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
10.1084/jem.20180628 | Life-threatening influenza pneumonitis in a child with inherited IRF9 deficiency | Life-threatening pulmonary influenza can be caused by inborn errors of type I and III IFN immunity. We report a 5-yr-old child with severe pulmonary influenza at 2 yr. She is homozygous for a loss-of-function IRF9 allele. Her cells activate gamma-activated factor (GAF) STAT1 homodimers but not IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) trimers (STAT1/STAT2/IRF9) in response to IFN-α2b. The transcriptome induced by IFN-α2b in the patient’s cells is much narrower than that of control cells; however, induction of a subset of IFN-stimulated gene transcripts remains detectable. In vitro, the patient’s cells do not control three respiratory viruses, influenza A virus (IAV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These phenotypes are rescued by wild-type IRF9, whereas silencing IRF9 expression in control cells increases viral replication. However, the child has controlled various common viruses in vivo, including respiratory viruses other than IAV. Our findings show that human IRF9- and ISGF3-dependent type I and III IFN responsive pathways are essential for controlling IAV. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
Q3754332 | Vattu — Virtual products of manufacturing industry | The aim of the project is to produce and implement new information for companies to utilise gaming engine technology in their production and operations through research, studies and experiments. In particular, the study will focus on the cost-effective translation of design models, i.e. 3D CADs, with the most automated processes possible for gaming engine platforms, as this is the most costly and burdensome phase made by traditional methods. For example, when involving users in the design and prototype phase, marketing non-finished products or training users in the product, 3D CAD models do not work on different devices or formats, such as mobile devices or AR/VR platforms, and are not visually realistic for the above-mentioned usage needs. The biggest strengths of the game engines are increased functionality, a more realistic visual look and a versatile development for different platforms. These are not offered by any other solution as a whole.The aim of the project is also:- Providing information on the topic to education so that they can renew their education programmes with future needs remarks. In addition, participate in the curriculum reform work on this theme.- Increase the procurement skills of companies in the region in order to obtain solutions in accordance with the themes of the project and lower the threshold for companies to carry out rapid experimentation and provide support.The project measures are divided into the following työpaketteihin:TP1: Production of the latest knowledge through research, studies and experimentsTP2: Identification of needs and opportunitiesTP3: Implementation of pilotsTP4: Dissemination and Stakeholder CooperationTP5: Project management The result of the project is 2 concrete pilots, studies, reports and publications, thesis and new knowledge and expertise in the area, which can be utilised in the network of operators. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP03(2015)149 | Black Rings In Global Anti De Sitter Space | We construct five dimensional black rings in global anti-de Sitter space using numerical methods. These rings satisfy the BPS bound |J| < Ml, but the angular velocity always violates the Hawking-Reall bound |Ω
H
l| ≤ 1, indicating that they should be unstable under superradiance. At high temperatures, the limit |Ω
H
l| ↘ 1 is attained by thin rings with an arbitrarily large radius. However, at sufficiently low temperatures, this limit is saturated by a new kind of rings, whose outer circle can still be arbitrarily long while the hole in the middle does not grow proportionally. This gives rise to a membrane-like horizon geometry, which does not have an asymptotically flat counterpart. We find no evidence for thin AdS black rings whose transverse S
2 is much larger than the radius of AdS, l, and thus these solutions never fall into the hydrodynamic regime of the dual CFT. Thermodynamically, we find that AdS black rings never dominate the grand canonical ensemble. The behaviour of our solutions in the microcanonical ensemble approaches known perturbative results in the thin-ring limit. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1088/0004-637X/788/1/13 | The Light Curve Shapes As A Key To Resolving The Origin Of Long Secondary Periods In Red Giant Stars | We present a study of Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment light curves of red giant stars exhibiting long secondary periods (LSPs)—an enigmatic phenomenon commonly observed in stars on the upper red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch. We show that the light curves of LSP stars are essentially identical to those of the spotted variables with one dark spot on their photospheres. Such behavior can be explained by the presence of a dusty cloud orbiting the red giant together with a low-mass companion in a close, circular orbit. We argue that the binary scenario is in agreement with most of the observational properties of LSP variables, including non-sinusoidal shapes of their radial velocity curves. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1111/eulj.12230 | European crises of legally-constituted public power: From the ‘law of corporatism’ to the ‘law of governance’ | The ‘turn to corporatism’ in the interwar period implied an erosion of the fragile institutionalisation of legallyconstituted public power due to its suspension of the legal infrastructure of society and the concomitant breakdown of the distinction between the public and private realms of society. The dual (trans-)national re-constitution of Western Europe in the years immediately after the Second World War, which the European integration process was an integrated part of, successfully remedied this development. However, over the last decades, Europe has experienced a ‘turn to governance’, which also implies an erosion of the distinction between the public and private realms, and increasingly challenges the normative integrity and functional capacity of law. This development has been further reinforced by the new post-crisis legal and institutional architecture of the EU as it implies the emergence of a ‘dual Union’ partly based upon formality and partly upon informality and an increased suspension of open-ended democratic decision-making. | [
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
10.1039/C6RA26958C | Borophene Hydride A Stiff 2D Material With High Thermal Conductivity And Attractive Optical And Electronic Properties | Two-dimensional (2D) structures of boron atoms so called borophene, have recently attracted remarkable attention. In a latest exciting experimental study, a hydrogenated borophene structure was realized. Motivated by this success, we conducted extensive first-principles calculations to explore the mechanical, thermal conduction, electronic and optical responses of borophene hydride. The mechanical response of borophene hydride was found to be anisotropic in which it can yield an elastic modulus of 131 N/m and a high tensile strength of 19. 9 N/m along the armchair direction. Notably, it was shown that by applying mechanical loading the metallic electronic character of borophene hydride can be altered to direct band-gap semiconducting, very appealing for the application in nanoelectronics. The absorption edge of the imaginary part of the dielectric function was found to occur in the visible range of light for parallel polarization. Finally, it was estimated that this novel 2D structure at the room temperature can exhibit high thermal conductivities of 335 W/mK and 293 W/mK along zigzag and armchair directions, respectively. Our study confirms that borophene hydride benefits an outstanding combination of interesting mechanical, electronic, optical and thermal conduction properties, promising for the design of novel nanodevices. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
176784 | Advanced distributed pilot line for more-than-moore technologies | The “Advanced Distributed Pilot Line for More-than-Moore Technologies” project (ADMONT) is focused on a powerful and versatile More-than-Moore (MtM) pilot line for Europe increasing the diversification of CMOS process technologies. The combination of existing expertise, technological capabilities and the manufacturing capacity of industrial and research partners creates a whole new ecosystem within Europe’s biggest silicon technology cluster “Silicon Saxony”. The distributed pilot line utilizes various MtM platform technologies for sensor and OLED processing in combination with baseline CMOS processes in a unique way and incorporates 2.5D as well as 3D integration of silicon systems into one single production flow. The technology modules, equipment and processes are not located in one single clean room, but are distributed between partners located in Dresden. This local concentration of micro- and nanotechnology facilities has various advantages for potential customer since it enables a short production cycle time and fast delivery. Such distributed MtM pilot line is unique in Europe as well as worldwide and will be implemented as “one-stop-shop” for partners and customer. It is supported by advanced design technologies to address the challenges of modelling and simulation of MtM relevant aspects like reliability, degradation effects, process variability, and IT solution aspects for MtM smart fabrication, fab automation and data processing to generate a smart infrastructure. The distributed pilot line is working as an open platform and is able to integrate future technologies for autonomous and smart system solutions. ADMONT is focused on four main key applications: smart energy, smart mobility, smart health, and smart production and essential capabilities like semiconductor process equipment and materials, design technology and smart system integration. The project consortium is organized and working along the value chain for ECS technologies in Europe. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1109/ICASSP.2017.7951789 | An Em Algorithm For Joint Source Separation And Diarisation Of Multichannel Convolutive Speech Mixtures | We present a probabilistic model for joint source separation and diarisation of multichannel convolutive speech mixtures. We build upon the framework of local Gaussian model (LGM) with non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). The diarisation is introduced as a temporal labeling of each source in the mix as active or inactive at the short-term frame level. We devise an EM algorithm in which the source separation process is aided by the diarisation state, since the latter indicates the sources actually present in the mixture. The diarisation state is tracked with a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) with emission probabilities calculated from the estimated source signals. The proposed EM has separation performance comparable with a state-of-the-art LGM NMF method, while outperforming a state-of-the-art speaker diarisation pipeline. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
W1556051243 | The Effects of the Financial Crisis on the Financial Performance of Malaysian Companies | The 2007/08 financial crisis which began in the United States was not felt in Malaysia until the last quarter of 2008 where GDP stalled and then began to fall. The country has a high export to GDP ratio and in 2009 the contraction in manufacturing exports was steep. This paper investigates the effects of the crisis on the financial performance of 70 companies in the manufacturing sector over a period of 5 years from 2006 to 2010. Using factor analysis, an initial set of 21 financial ratios was reduced to just six significant ratios. Using this smaller set of representative ratios, the sample companies were cluster analyzed into 4 categories of poor, below average, above average and good financial performers. The results showed that there is a direct effect of the financial crisis on the financials of companies in the study where 46 companies categorized as good in 2006 fell to just 6 in 2010 while 7 companies in the poor category increased to 27 during the same period. Of particular concerns would be the 15 companies that fell three clusters down from good to poor performers and 15 out of 17 companies in the average categories that dropped into the poor performing category. A key finding from this study is that when a financial or economic crisis occurs, most companies’ financials would be severely and adversely impacted and if the negative economic conditions do not improve, there would be high probabilities that many companies would face liquidity and solvency issues that could eventually lead to collapse and bankruptcies. Finally, with just 6 key financial ratios, a company’s financial performance can be tracked and analyzed over a period of time resulting in the enhancement of the quality of credit evaluations as well as the minimizing of investor risks. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1002/2015GC006019 | Coupling Changes In Densities And Porosity To Fluid Pressure Variations In Reactive Porous Fluid Flow Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium | Mineralogical reactions which generate or consume fluids play a key role during fluid flow in porous media. Such reactions are linked to changes in density, porosity, permeability, and fluid pressure which influence fluid flow and rock deformation. To understand such a coupled system, equations were derived from mass conservation and local thermodynamic equilibrium. The presented mass conservative modeling approach describes the relationships among evolving fluid pressure, porosity, fluid and solid density, and devolatilization reactions in multicomponent systems with solid solutions. This first step serves as a framework for future models including aqueous speciation and transport. The complexity of univariant and multivariant reactions is treated by calculating lookup tables from thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. Simplified cases were also investigated to understand previously studied formulations. For nondeforming systems or systems divided into phases of constant density, the equations can be reduced to porosity wave equations with addition of a reactive term taking the volume change of reaction into account. For closed systems, an expression for the volume change of reaction and the associated pressure increase can be obtained. The key equations were solved numerically for the case of devolatilization of three different rock types that may enter a subduction zone. Reactions with positive Clapeyron slope lead to an increase in porosity and permeability with decreasing fluid pressure resulting in sharp fluid pressure gradients around a negative pressure anomaly. The opposite trend is obtained for reactions having a negative Clapeyron slope during which sharp fluid pressure gradients were only generated around a positive pressure anomaly. Coupling of reaction with elastic deformation induces a more efficient fluid flow for reactions with negative Clapeyron slope than for reactions with positive Clapeyron slope. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
204979 | Hamiltonian Partial Differential Equations: new connections between dynamical systems and PDEs with small divisors phenomena | The aim of this project of 4 years is to create a research group on Hamiltonian Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) after my new arrival in the University Federico II of Naples as Associate Professor in november 2005. I plan to hire 2 post doc fellows and also to organize advanced research Schools and Workshops. I plan to develop a research group on Hamiltonian PDEs mainly studied by the point of view of ""Dynamical Systems Philosophy"" and of ""Calculus of Variations"". Indeed the analysis of the main structures of an infinite dimensional phase space such as periodic orbits, embedded invariant tori, center manifolds, etc., is an essential change of paradigm in the study of hyperbolic equations which has been recently very fruitful. In the last years the principal investigator has developed a net of high level international collaborations and, also with some of his PhD and Post doc students, has obtained many important results via a mixed combination of Critical Point Theory, Nash-Moser Implicit Function Theorems, Number Theory, Dynamical Systems techniques and Bifurcation Theory. This has allowed to solve open problems in the fields, opening new perspectives. With the ERC-Starting Grant we plan to hire first class experts in the above fields, and to collaborate for long periods of joint research with leading experts in the world. Keywords: Hamiltonian Partial Differential Equations, Small divisors problem, Nash-Moser Implicit function theory Variational methods. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
695646 | Rules of self-organization and reengineering of liver tissue | We want to understand the rules of self-organization underlying tissue structure and function. To address this problem, we have chosen the mouse liver with its complex apico-basal polarity of hepatocytes and its unique 3D tissue organization. We aim at identifying the rules of self-organization of liver tissue and their implementation at the molecular level. Our ultimate goal is to demonstrate that it is possible to reengineer liver tissue structure. The first aim will be to develop a digital geometrical model of liver tissue, i.e. an accurate 3D digital representation of the cells, forming the tissue and their sub-cellular components, in the developing, adult and regenerating liver, and unravel the principles for how the cells are organized to generate liver cell architecture. In aims 2 and 3, we will identify the molecular mechanisms underlying such geometrical rules. In particular, the second aim will be to characterize the molecular mechanisms responsible for hepatocyte cell polarity and predictably modify cell organization in vitro. The third aim will consist of introducing genetic perturbations to alter hepatocyte cell organization (cell polarity) and cell-cell interactions to predictably modify the structure and function of liver tissue. The fourth aim will be to develop a physical model of liver tissue self-assembly and organization. The project is ambitious as it aims to understand the rules of tissue organization in 3D in a mammalian organ to such an extent that it is possible to make predictions of tissue response to genetic perturbations and reengineer it to modify its structural and functional properties. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1088/0004-637X/792/2/84 | From Starburst To Quiescence Testing Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback In Rapidly Quenching Post Starburst Galaxies | Post-starbursts are galaxies in transition from the blue cloud to the red sequence. Although they are rare today, integrated over time they may be an important pathway to the red sequence. This work uses SDSS, GALEX, and WISE observations to identify the evolutionary sequence from starbursts to fully quenched post-starbursts in the narrow mass range logM(M⊙) = 10. 3 − 10. 7, and identifies “transiting” post-starbursts which are intermediate between these two populations. In this mass range, ∼ 0. 3% of galaxies are starbursts, ∼ 0. 1% are quenched post-starbursts, and ∼ 0. 5% are the transiting types in between. The transiting post-starbursts have stellar properties that are predicted for fast-quenching starbursts and morphological characteristics that are already typical of early-type galaxies. The AGN fraction, as estimated from optical line ratios, of these post-starbursts is about 3 times higher (& 36 ± 8%) than that of normal star-forming galaxies of the same mass, but there is a significant delay between the starburst phase and the peak of nuclear optical AGN activity (median age difference of & 200±100Myr), in agreement with previous studies. The time delay is inferred by comparing the broad-band near NUV-to-optical photometry with stellar population synthesis models. We also find that starbursts and post-starbursts are significantly more dust-obscured than normal star-forming galaxies in the same mass range. About 20% of the starbursts and 15% of the transiting post-starbursts can be classified as the “Dust-Obscured Galaxies” (DOGs), with near-UV to mid-IR flux ratio of & 900, while only 0. 8% of normal galaxies are DOGs. The time delay between the starburst phase and AGN activity suggests that AGN do not play a primary role in the original quenching of starbursts but may be responsible for quenching later low-level star formation by removing gas and dust during the post-starburst phase. Subject headings: galaxies: active, galaxies: evolution, galaxies: formation, galaxies: starburst, galaxies: stellar content, galaxies: structure | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1080/15384101.2017.1417707 | Mitochondrial Complex Iii Rieske Fe S Protein Processing And Assembly | Regulation of the mitochondrial respiratory chain biogenesis is a matter of great interest because of its implications for mitochondrial disease. One of the mitochondrial disease genes recently discovered associated to encephalopathy and mitochondrial complex III (cIII) deficiency is TTC19. Our study of TTC19-deficient human and mouse models, has led us to propose a post-assembly quality control role or 'husbandry' function for this factor that is linked to Rieske Fe-S protein (UQCRFS1). UQCRFS1 is the last incorporated cIII subunit, and its presence is essential for enzymatic activity. During UQCRFS1 assembly, the precursor is cleaved and its N-terminal part remains bound to the complex, between the two core subunits (UQCRC1 and UQCRC2). In the absence of TTC19 there is a prominent accumulation of these UQCRFS1-derived N-terminal fragments that proved to be detrimental for cIII function. In this article we will discuss some ideas around the UQCRFS1 processing and assembly and its importance for the regulation of cIII activity and biogenesis. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
240795 | Cause of Death Contribution to Longevity: Modeling Time Trends | Since the mid-nineteen century life expectancy in developed countries has doubled, increasing from levels around 40 years to above 80 years. This research project is motivated by the need to further explore how societies have achieved the current levels of longevity, in terms of life expectancy and modal age at death. To achieve this, age-patterns and time-trends in cause of death contribution to longevity are assessed. This historical analysis is carried out in fifty developed and developing countries/areas. It is expected that the cause of death contribution to the advancement of longevity is country/region specific. However, the hypothesis to be tested is that there are common cause-specific time-trends across countries which can be described by a model of cause of death contribution to longevity. Several purposes for such a model can be listed: it will allow us to study expected future mortality directions in developed nations that are currently still facing high levels of some particular causes of death, e.g. the Netherlands and United States. It could also help investigating the retrocession in mortality observed in some transitional countries/areas, particularly in Eastern Europe. Finally, the accelerated epidemiological transition in developing countries is compared to the slower trend in the developed world at earlier times, model results versus observed cause-contribution. The interest in the latter comparison is to foresee the increase in the prevalence of chronic disease in low-income countries predicted by the WHO and the World Bank. Furthermore, one in every three countries in the world has adequate cause-specific mortality data. The proposed model could facilitate estimating the current cause of death status in developing countries. This project addresses a significant question concerning the mechanisms (age and cause of death) that direct reductions in mortality. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.2217/epi.14.13 | Using epigenomic studies in monozygotic twins to improve our understanding of cancer | Cancer is a set of diseases that exhibit not only genetic mutations but also a profoundly distorted epigenetic landscape. Over the last two decades, great advances have been made in identifying these alterations and their importance in the initiation and progression of cancer. Epigenetic changes can be seen from the very early stages in tumorigenesis and dysregulation of the epigenome has an increasingly acknowledged pathogenic role. Epigenomic twin studies have great potential to contribute to our understanding of complex diseases, such as cancer. This is because the use of monozygotic twins discordant for cancer enables epigenetic variation analysis without the confounding influence of the constitutive genetic background, age or cohort effects. It therefore allows the identification of susceptibility loci that may be sensitive to modification by the environment. These studies into cancer etiology will potentially lead to robust epigenetic markers for the detection and risk assessment of cancer. | [
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1111/jofi.12778 | What Is the Expected Return on a Stock? | We derive a formula for the expected return on a stock in terms of the risk-neutral variance of the market and the stock's excess risk-neutral variance relative to that of the average stock. These quantities can be computed from index and stock option prices; the formula has no free parameters. The theory performs well empirically both in and out of sample. Our results suggest that there is considerably more variation in expected returns, over time and across stocks, than has previously been acknowledged. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1371/journal.pone.0122129 | Toddlers favor communicatively presented information over statistical reliability in learning about artifacts | Observed associations between events can be validated by statistical information of reliability or by testament of communicative sources. We tested whether toddlers learn from their own observation of efficiency, assessed by statistical information on reliability of interventions, or from communicatively presented demonstration, when these two potential types of evidence of validity of interventions on a novel artifact are contrasted with each other. Eighteen-month-old infants observed two adults, one operating the artifact by a method that was more efficient (2/3 probability of success) than that of the other (1/3 probability of success). Compared to the Baseline condition, in which communicative signals were not employed, infants tended to choose the less reliable method to operate the artifact when this method was demonstrated in a communicative manner in the Experimental condition. This finding demonstrates that, in certain circumstances, communicative sanctioning of reliability may override statistical evidence for young learners. Such a bias can serve fast and efficient transmission of knowledge between generations. | [
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.29007/m8ts | The Triguarded Fragment of First-Order Logic | Past research into decidable fragments of first-order logic (FO) has produced two very prominent fragments: the guarded fragment GF, and the two-variable fragment FO2. These fragments are of crucial importance because they provide significant insights into decidabil- ity and expressiveness of other (computational) logics like Modal Logics (MLs) and various Description Logics (DLs), which play a central role in Verification, Knowledge Represen- tation, and other areas. In this paper, we take a closer look at GF and FO2, and present a new fragment that subsumes them both. This fragment, called the triguarded fragment (denoted TGF), is obtained by relaxing the standard definition of GF: quantification is required to be guarded only for subformulae with three or more free variables. We show that, in the absence of equality, satisfiability in TGF is N2ExpTime-complete, but becomes NExpTime-complete if we bound the arity of predicates by a constant (a natural assumption in the context of MLs and DLs). Finally, we observe that many natural extensions of TGF, including the addition of equality, lead to undecidability. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2900367921 | Introduction to the China-Vietnam Cooperation Project: A Comparative Study of the Holocene Sedimentary Evolution of the Yangtze and Red River Deltas | Both China and Vietnam confront the challenges of natural geohazards and environmental changes in their deltas and coastal zones due to rapid urbanization, economic development, and the impacts of global climate change. China and Vietnam initiated a comparative study of the Holocene sedimentary evolution of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Red River Delta (RRD) for the period 2015–2018 in order to improve the understanding of the two delta evolution histories in the Holocene. Previous investigative data of the two rivers, onshore delta plains, and offshore subaqueous deltas have been explored and reinterpreted. New data gleaned from boreholes, piston cores, shallow seismic and hydrodynamic sources have been collected from the offshore YRD and the East China Sea inner shelf, and surface sediments and short cores have been collected from the RRD near-shore areas. Six focal areas of the joint project have been defined for comparative studies of the two deltas, including morphological development, sequential stratigraphy, coastline shifting, sedimentary characteristics, sedimentary dynamics, and correlation with anthropogenic global climate change. The results of these study areas are presented herein. The joint project also includes cooperative capacity building; exchanges of young scientists have been organized during the project period, and hands-on training in laboratory geochemical analysis, numerical modeling, and seismic data processing and interpretation have been provided by China and its Vietnamese geoscientist partners. Joint field excursions were organized to the upstream of the Yangtze and Red Rivers in Yunan Province, China, all the way downstream along the Vietnamese portion of the Red River. These joint studies have, over the past three years, improved understanding of the evolutionary history of these two major rivers and their mechanisms of source to sink. Joint project results of these two major deltas are not limited to the geosciences; the cooperative mechanical and operational experiences have been helpful for future cooperation in the field of marine geoscience between China and Vietnam, as well for cooperative activities with other ASEAN member countries. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
interreg_1275 | A cross-border project of environmental education | The project aims at promoting cooperation among primary education institutes in the field of environmental education. These initiatives are geared towards a fuller understanding of the importance of waste recycling and selective waste collection. It is intended to raise awareness towards environmental issues and at the same time as an opportunity for cooperation among Italian and Slovenian schools to promote European integration. Its educational value lies in the activities identified and proposed by all project partners and translates into the notions that the students acquire to become European citizens. It aims at shaping an eco-friendly conscience: identifying the materials of which most of the things we use are made, understanding that raw materials are depletable, learning the decomposing time of several materials, understanding the importance of recycling and selective waste collection, learning the recycling phases of several materials and getting used to correctly selecting materials for disposal. Envisaged activities include: meetings and opportunities to exchange good practices and experiences among teachers and pupils of participating schools; class workshops on the reuse of materials; participation to the initiative “M’illumino d’immenso”; visit to the salt pits and museums of Pirano; the creation of an eco-symbol to encourage eco-friendly habits; production of informational literature; project closing to be held on May 9-13 2008 at Dolina, in the context of the Festival of Majenca. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
W1514810249 | Implementation of step sectioning in the examination of sentinel lymph nodes to improve the detection of micrometastases in breast cancer patients | The object of this study was to examine whether a new protocol for examination of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) would lead to the detection of more metastases. Sections of 1 mm would identify most SLN macrometastases, and step sections at intervals of 200-250 μm would identify most micrometastases. A total of 111 breast cancer patients who underwent the SLN procedure at St. Olavs University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway in 2008 were included in the study group. Their SLNs were processed according to a new standardized protocol with sections of 2-3 mm being step sectioned at intervals of 200-250 μm. A total of 109 breast cancer patients undergoing the SLN procedure in 2007 were used as a reference group. Metastases were found in 29% of the cases, compared with 26% in the reference group. Step sectioning of SLNs revealed metastases in five cases initially found to be negative. The metastases of the study group were smaller, with a median value of 1.25 mm compared with 4.25 mm in the reference group. Step sectioning led to the detection of metastases in SLNs initially found to be negative. The median size of the metastases was considerably smaller in the study group than in the reference group. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1016/j.cell.2016.06.041 | Human SRMAtlas: A Resource of Targeted Assays to Quantify the Complete Human Proteome | The ability to reliably and reproducibly measure any protein of the human proteome in any tissue or cell type would be transformative for understanding systems-level properties as well as specific pathways in physiology and disease. Here, we describe the generation and verification of a compendium of highly specific assays that enable quantification of 99. 7% of the 20,277 annotated human proteins by the widely accessible, sensitive, and robust targeted mass spectrometric method selected reaction monitoring, SRM. This human SRMAtlas provides definitive coordinates that conclusively identify the respective peptide in biological samples. We report data on 166,174 proteotypic peptides providing multiple, independent assays to quantify any human protein and numerous spliced variants, non-synonymous mutations, and post-translational modifications. The data are freely accessible as a resource at http://www. srmatlas. org/, and we demonstrate its utility by examining the network response to inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in liver cells and to docetaxel in prostate cancer lines. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1109/MWC.2016.7498075 | Large Scale Mimo Is Capable Of Eliminating Power Thirsty Channel Coding For Wireless Transmission Of Hevc H 265 Video | A wireless video transmission architecture relying on the emerging large-scale multiple-input--multiple-output (LS-MIMO) technique is proposed. Upon using the most advanced High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) (also known as H. 265), we demonstrate that the proposed architecture invoking the low-complexity linear zero-forcing (ZF) detector and dispensing with any channel coding is capable of significantly outperforming the conventional small-scale MIMO based architecture, even if the latter employs the high-complexity optimal maximum-likelihood (ML) detector and a rate-$1/3$ recursive systematic convolutional (RSC) channel codec. Specifically, compared to the conventional small-scale MIMO system, the effective system throughput of the proposed LS-MIMO based scheme is increased by a factor of up to three and the quality of reconstructed video quantified in terms of the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) is improved by about $22. 5\, \text{dB}$ at a channel-SNR of $E_b/N_0 \approx 6\,\text{dB}$ for delay-tolerant video-file delivery applications, and about $20\,\text{dB}$ for lip-synchronized real-time interactive video applications. Alternatively, viewing the attainable improvement from a power-saving perspective, a channel-SNR gain as high as $\Delta_{E_b/N_0}\approx 5\,\text{dB}$ is observed at a PSNR of $36\, \text{dB}$ for the scenario of delay-tolerant video applications and again, an even higher gain is achieved in the real-time video application scenario. Therefore, we envisage that LS-MIMO aided wireless multimedia communications is capable of dispensing with power-thirsty channel codec altogether! | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1371/journal.pbio.1001824 | Lowered Insulin Signalling Ameliorates Age-Related Sleep Fragmentation in Drosophila | Sleep fragmentation, particularly reduced and interrupted night sleep, impairs the quality of life of older people. Strikingly similar declines in sleep quality are seen during ageing in laboratory animals, including the fruit fly Drosophila. We investigated whether reduced activity of the nutrient- and stress-sensing insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IIS)/TOR signalling network, which ameliorates ageing in diverse organisms, could rescue the sleep fragmentation of ageing Drosophila. Lowered IIS/TOR network activity improved sleep quality, with increased night sleep and day activity and reduced sleep fragmentation. Reduced TOR activity, even when started for the first time late in life, improved sleep quality. The effects of reduced IIS/TOR network activity on day and night phenotypes were mediated through distinct mechanisms: Day activity was induced by adipokinetic hormone, dFOXO, and enhanced octopaminergic signalling. In contrast, night sleep duration and consolidation were dependent on reduced S6K and dopaminergic signalling. Our findings highlight the importance of different IIS/TOR components as potential therapeutic targets for pharmacological treatment of age-related sleep fragmentation in humans. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
267234 | Green Nanotechnology for the Indoor Environment | The GRINDOOR project aims at developing and implementing new materials that enable huge energy savings in buildings and improve the quality of the indoor environment. About 40% of the primary energy, and 70% of the electricity, is used in buildings, and therefore the outcome of this project can have an impact on the long-term energy demand in the EU and the World. It is a highly focused study on new nanomaterials based on some transition metal oxides, which are used for four interrelated applications related to indoor lighting and indoor air: (i) electrochromic coatings are integrated in devices and used in “smart windows” to regulate the inflow of visible light and solar energy in order to minimize air condition and create indoor comfort, (ii) thermochromic nanoparticulate coatings are used on windows to provide large temperature-dependent control of the inflow of infrared solar radiation (in stand-alone cases as well as in conjunction with electrochromics), (iii) oxide-based gas sensors are used to measure indoor air quality especially with regard to formaldehyde, and (iv) photocatalytic coatings are used for indoor air cleaning. The investigated materials have many things in common and a joint and focused study, such as the one proposed here, will generate important new knowledge that can be transferred between the various sub-projects. The new oxide materials are prepared by advanced reactive gas deposition—using unique equipment—and high-pressure reactive dc magnetron sputtering. The materials are characterized and investigated by a wide range of state-of-the-art techniques. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1097/JCP.0000000000000792 | Hearts And Minds Real Life Cardiotoxicity With Clozapine In Psychosis | AbstractBackgroundSchizophrenia has a 1% prevalence in the population; 30% of these patients are treatment refractory. Clozapine is the only drug licensed to treat treatment refractory psychosis, but concerns about potential adverse effects result in only a proportion of eligible patients being trea | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1088/2041-8205/755/1/L22 | Cyclic Magnetic Activity Due To Turbulent Convection In Spherical Wedge Geometry | We report on simulations of turbulent, rotating, stratified, magnetohydrodynamic convection in spherical wedge geometry. An initially small-scale, random, weak-amplitude magnetic field is amplified by several orders of magnitude in the course of the simulation to form oscillatory large-scale fields in the saturated state of the dynamo. The differential rotation is solar-like (fast equator), but neither coherent meridional poleward circulation nor near-surface shear layer develop in these runs. In addition to a poleward branch of magnetic activity beyond 50° latitude, we find for the first time a pronounced equatorward branch at around 20° latitude, reminiscent of the solar cycle. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.5194/acp-11-4445-2011 | Seasonal cycle, size dependencies, and source analyses of aerosol optical properties at the SMEAR II measurement station in Hyytiälä, Finland | Abstract. Scattering and absorption were measured at the Station for Measuring Ecosystem–Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR II) station in Hyytiälä, Finland, from October 2006 to May 2009. The average scattering coefficient σSP (λ = 550 nm) 18 Mm−1 was about twice as much as at the Pallas Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station in Finnish Lapland. The average absorption coefficient σAP (λ = 550 nm) was 2. 1 Mm−1. The seasonal cycles were analyzed from hourly-averaged data classified according to the measurement month. The ratio of the highest to the lowest average σSP and σAP was ~1. 8 and ~2. 8, respectively. The average single-scattering albedo (ω0) was 0. 86 in winter and 0. 91 in summer. σSP was highly correlated with the volume concentrations calculated from number size distributions in the size range 0. 003–10 μm. Assuming that the particle density was 1. 5 g cm−3, the PM10 mass scattering efficiency was 3. 1 ± 0. 9 g m−2 at λ = 550 nm. Scattering coefficients were also calculated from the number size distributions by using a Mie code and the refractive index of ammonium sulfate. The linear regression yielded σSP(modelled) = 1. 046 × σSP(measured) for the data with the low nephelometer sample volume relative humidity (RHNEPH = 30 ± 9 %) and σSP(modelled) = 0. 985 × σSP(measured) when RHNEPH = 55 ± 4 %. The effective complex refractive index was obtained by an iterative approach, by matching the measured and the modelled σSPand σAP. The average effective complex refractive index was (1. 517 ± 0. 057) + (0. 019 ± 0. 015)i at λ = 550 nm. The iterated imaginary part had a strong seasonal cycle, with smallest values in summer and highest in winter. The contribution of submicron particles to scattering was ~90 %. The Ångström exponent of scattering, σSP, was compared with the following weighted mean diameters: count mean diameter (CMD), surface mean diameter (SMD), scattering mean diameter (ScMD), condensation sink mean diameter (CsMD), and volume mean diameter (VMD). If αSP is to be used for estimating some measure of the size of particles, the best choice would be ScMD, then SMD, and then VMD. In all of these the qualitative relationship is similar: the larger the Ångström exponent, the smaller the weighted mean diameter. Contrary to these, CMD increased with increasing αSP and CsMD did not have any clear relationship with αSP. Source regions were estimated with backtrajectories and trajectory statistics. The geometric mean σSP and σAP associated with the grid cells in Eastern Europe were in the range 20–40 Mm−1 and 4–6 Mm−1, respectively. The respective geometric means of σSP and σAP in the grid cells over Norwegian Sea were in the range 5–10 Mm−1 and <1 Mm−1. The source areas associated with high αSP values were norther than those for σSP and σAP. The trajectory statistical approach and a simple wind sector classification agreed well. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-030-56877-1_26 | Nizk From Lpn And Trapdoor Hash Via Correlation Intractability For Approximable Relations | We present new non-interactive zero-knowledge argument systems (NIZK), based on standard assumptions that were previously not known to imply it. In particular, we rely on the hardness of both the learning parity with noise (LPN) assumption, and the existence of trapdoor hash functions (TDH, defined by Dottling et al. , Crypto 2019). Such TDH can be based on a number of standard assumptions, including DDH, QR, DCR, and LWE. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Mathematics"
]
|
W2110150333 | Theory of the scattering of light and surface plasmon polaritons by finite-size subwavelength metallic defects via field decomposition | A theoretical model is presented for the scattering of light and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) by finite-size subwavelength metallic defects. Based on the decomposition of the scattered fields into SPPs and quasi-cylindrical waves (CWs), an SPP–CW model is developed to depict the multiple scattering of SPPs and CWs in finite-size defects using the elementary scattering processes in a single one. The involved elementary scattering of the CW, as well as the CW-related coefficients, which are difficult or even impossible to define and calculate according to classical scattering theory, is clarified. A close relationship between the scattering coefficients of the SPP and those of the CW has been pointed out and used to simplify the developed model. Compared to the corresponding pure SPP model and the fully vectorial computational data, the SPP–CW model is shown to be versatile and quantitatively accurate for finite-size defects such as grooves, ridges, slits or even hybrid systems of various geometrical parameters, over a broad spectral range from the visible to the thermal infrared regime. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.3847/0004-637X/831/1/91 | Faint Submillimeter Galaxies Identified Through Their Optical Near Infrared Colors I Spatial Clustering And Halo Masses | The properties of submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) that are fainter than the confusion limit of blank-field single-dish surveys (S850 2 mJy) are poorly constrained. Using a newly developed color selection technique, Optical-Infrared Triple Color (OIRTC), that has been shown to successfully select such faint SMGs, we identify a sample of 2938 OIRTC-selected galaxies, dubbed Triple Color Galaxies (TCGs), in the UKIDSS-UDS field. We show that these galaxies have a median 850 μm flux of S850 = 0. 96 +/- 0. 04 mJy (equivalent to a star formation rate SFR ~60–100 M yr−1 based on spectral energy distribution fitting), representing the first large sample of faint SMGs that bridges the gap between bright SMGs and normal star-forming galaxies in S850 and LIR. We assess the basic properties of TCGs and their relationship with other galaxy populations at z ~ 2. We measure the two-point autocorrelation function for this population and derive a typical halo mass of log10(Mhalo) = -12. 9+0. 2-0. 3, 12. 7+0. 1,-0. 2, and 12. 9+0. 2,-0,3 h-1 M at z = 1–2, 2–3, and 3–5, respectively. Together with the bright SMGs (S850 >/~ 2 mJy) and a comparison sample of less far-infrared luminous star-forming galaxies, we find a lack of dependence between spatial clustering and S850 (or SFR), suggesting that the difference between these populations may lie in their local galactic environment. Lastly, on the scale of ~8–17 kpc at 1 < z < 5 we find a tentative enhancement of the clustering of TCGs over the comparison star-forming galaxies, suggesting that some faint SMGs are physically associated pairs, perhaps reflecting a merging origin in their triggering. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1109/ULTSYM.2014.0092 | Non Linear Cavitation Cloud Oscillations In High Intensity Focused Ultrasound | Cavitation driven by high-intensity focused ultrasound is being investigated as a potential mechanism for therapeutic ultrasound. In this role, the mechanical bubble activity could be used for localised tissue disruption, facilitating targeted drug delivery. The cavitation sub-harmonic signal, which is emitted at sub-multiple values of the driving frequency, is often used to discern the onset of cavitation at a level sufficient to elicit a required bio-effect. Despite this, a convincing mechanistic source for the signal has been elusive. In this paper, we report on high-speed observations of non-linear cloud oscillatory response to propagating HIFU insonations, at two intensities typical of those used for therapeutic applications. Single cavitation clouds are reproducibly introduced to the focus of a 254 kHz HIFU field at peak-to-peak pressure amplitudes of 0. 48 and 0. 62 MPa, and the subsequent activity is resolved via high-speed shadowgraphic imaging at 1 × 106 frames per second. Cavitation clouds develop rapidly from nucleation, via component bubble fragmentation, and undergo repetitive oscillations from t ≈ 30 µs following nucleation, periodically emitting shock-waves at moments of concerted cloud collapse. The frequency of cloud collapse, and coincident shock-emission, occurs at one-half (∼127. 0 kHz) of the driving frequency at 0. 48 MPa, and one-third (∼84. 7 kHz) of the driving at 0. 62 MPa. By way of analysis, cloud oscillations are compared to a single bubble Rayleigh-Plesset model, subject to equivalent acoustic conditions. The comparison is favourable for selected values of model quiescent radius, in terms of the period of oscillation - and therefore shock-wave emission frequency - at each of the pressure amplitudes. We conclude that periodic shock emission from acoustically driven cavitation clouds provides a previously unidentified source of the sub-harmonic signal. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
W2070461977 | Leydigia (Neoleydigia) cf. striata Birabén, 1939 (Crustacea: Cladocera: Chydoridae) from Colombia and its differentiation from L. (N.) cf. ipojucae (Brehm, 1938) | This paper concerns the chydorid cladoceran Leydigia (Neoleydigia) cf. striata Birabén, 1939 in plankton samples from Ciénaga El Convento, Colombia. The specimen from Colombia bears the diagnostic features of L (N) cf. striata as redescribed by Kotov and Elías-Gutiérrez (2003), Kotov et al. (2004), and Kotov, (2009). However, this particular specimen shows some subtle differences in the morphology of basal spine of claw, spine-like setules on first and second endopod segments of antenna II, and striation on valve. In the Neotropics, L. (N.) cf. striata Birabén, 1939 most closely resembles L. (N.) cf. ipojucae Brehm, 1938 in the structure of thoracic limb II and postabdominal claw, but can be separated from the latter by differences in setules in lateral fascicles on labrum, postpore distance (PP), shape of postabdomen, preanal margin of the postabdomen, and seta 2 of thoracic limb III. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.3389/fpls.2018.00253 | European forest cover during the past 12,000 years: A palynological reconstruction based on modern analogs and remote sensing | Characterization of land cover change in the past is fundamental to understand the evolution and present state of the Earth system, the amount of carbon and nutrient stocks in terrestrial ecosystems, and the role played by land-atmosphere interactions in influencing climate. The estimation of land cover changes using palynology is a mature field, as thousands of sites in Europe have been investigated over the last century. Nonetheless, a quantitative land cover reconstruction at a continental scale has been largely missing. Here, we present a series of maps detailing the evolution of European forest cover during last 12,000 years. Our reconstructions are based on the Modern Analog Technique (MAT): a calibration dataset is built by coupling modern pollen samples with the corresponding satellite-based forest-cover data. Fossil reconstructions are then performed by assigning to every fossil sample the average forest cover of its closest modern analogs. The occurrence of fossil pollen assemblages with no counterparts in modern vegetation represents a known limit of analog-based methods. To lessen the influence of no-analog situations, pollen taxa were converted into plant functional types prior to running the MAT algorithm. We then interpolate site-specific reconstructions for each timeslice using a four-dimensional gridding procedure to create continuous gridded maps at a continental scale. The performance of the MAT is compared against methodologically independent forest-cover reconstructions produced using the REVEALS method. MAT and REVEALS estimates are most of the time in good agreement at a trend level, yet MAT regularly underestimates the occurrence of densely forested situations, requiring the application of a bias correction procedure. The calibrated MAT-based maps draw a coherent picture of the establishment of forests in Europe in the Early Holocene with the greatest forest-cover fractions reconstructed between ∼8,500 and 6,000 calibrated years BP. This forest maximum is followed by a general decline in all parts of the continent, likely as a result of anthropogenic deforestation. The continuous spatial and temporal nature of our reconstruction, its continental coverage, and gridded format make it suitable for climate, hydrological, and biogeochemical modeling, among other uses. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.18632/oncotarget.3826 | Deregulation of PPARβ/δ target genes in tumor-associated macrophages by fatty acid ligands in the ovarian cancer microenvironment | The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) is a lipid ligand-inducible transcription factor associated with macrophage polarization. However, its function in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) has not been investigated to date. Here, we report the PPARβ/δ-regulated transcriptome and cistrome for TAMs from ovarian carcinoma patients. Comparison with monocytederived macrophages shows that the vast majority of direct PPARβ/δ target genes are upregulated in TAMs and largely refractory to synthetic agonists, but repressible by inverse agonists. Besides genes with metabolic functions, these include cell typeselective genes associated with immune regulation and tumor progression, e. g. , LRP5, CD300A, MAP3K8 and ANGPTL4. This deregulation is not due to increased expression of PPARβ/δ or its enhanced recruitment to target genes. Instead, lipidomic analysis of malignancy-associated ascites revealed high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular linoleic acid, acting as potent PPARβ/δ agonists in macrophages. These fatty acid ligands accumulate in lipid droplets in TAMs, thereby providing a reservoir of PPARβ/δ ligands. These observations suggest that the deregulation of PPARβ/δ target genes by ligands of the tumor microenvironment contributes to the pro-tumorigenic polarization of ovarian carcinoma TAMs. This conclusion is supported by the association of high ANGPTL4 expression with a shorter relapse-free survival in serous ovarian carcinoma. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1111/geb.12326 | Estimating species diversity and distribution in the era of Big Data: To what extent can we trust public databases? | Aim: Massive digitalization of natural history collections is now leading to a steep accumulation of publicly available species distribution data. However, taxonomic errors and geographical uncertainty of species occurrence records are now acknowledged by the scientific community - putting into question to what extent such data can be used to unveil correct patterns of biodiversity and distribution. We explore this question through quantitative and qualitative analyses of uncleaned versus manually verified datasets of species distribution records across different spatial scales. Location: The American tropics. Methods: As test case we used the plant tribe Cinchoneae (Rubiaceae). We compiled four datasets of species occurrences: one created manually and verified through classical taxonomic work, and the rest derived from GBIF under different cleaning and filling schemes. We used new bioinformatic tools to code species into grids, ecoregions, and biomes following WWF's classification. We analysed species richness and altitudinal ranges of the species. Results: Altitudinal ranges for species and genera were correctly inferred even without manual data cleaning and filling. However, erroneous records affected spatial patterns of species richness. They led to an overestimation of species richness in certain areas outside the centres of diversity in the clade. The location of many of these areas comprised the geographical midpoint of countries and political subdivisions, assigned long after the specimens had been collected. Main conclusion: Open databases and integrative bioinformatic tools allow a rapid approximation of large-scale patterns of biodiversity across space and altitudinal ranges. We found that geographic inaccuracy affects diversity patterns more than taxonomic uncertainties, often leading to false positives, i. e. overestimating species richness in relatively species poor regions. Public databases for species distribution are valuable and should be more explored, but under scrutiny and validation by taxonomic experts. We suggest that database managers implement easy ways of community feedback on data quality. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1080/17588928.2014.907256 | Predictive Processing Perceptual Presence And Sensorimotor Theory | AbstractMastery of sensorimotor contingencies can be viewed as attunement to potentialities. In our view, these potentialities have wider application than recognized in Seth’s account of sensory presence, and should pertain to all of sensory experience. Instead of appealing only to a notion of counterfactual richness, we propose that the degree of sensory presence can be further specified in terms of bodiliness, insubordinateness, and grabbiness. While PPSMC can provide a possible implementation of a sensorimotor account of synesthesia, we suggest it should be rid of its representationalist interpretation. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1038/s41375-020-0929-3 | Effective drug treatment identified by in vivo screening in a transplantable patient-derived xenograft model of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia | To establish novel and effective treatment combinations for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) preclinically, we hypothesized that supplementation of CMML cells with the human oncogene Meningioma 1 (MN1) promotes expansion and serial transplantability in mice, while maintaining the functional dependencies of these cells on their original genetic profile. Using lentiviral expression of MN1 for oncogenic supplementation and transplanting transduced primary mononuclear CMML cells into immunocompromised mice, we established three serially transplantable CMML-PDX models with disease-related gene mutations that recapitulate the disease in vivo. Ectopic MN1 expression was confirmed to enhance the proliferation of CMML cells, which otherwise did not engraft upon secondary transplantation. Furthermore, MN1-supplemented CMML cells were serially transplantable into recipient mice up to 5 generations. This robust engraftment enabled an in vivo RNA interference screening targeting CMML-related mutated genes including NRAS, confirming that their functional relevance is preserved in the presence of MN1. The novel combination treatment with azacitidine and the MEK-inhibitor trametinib additively inhibited ERK-phosphorylation and thus depleted the signal from mutated NRAS. The combination treatment significantly prolonged survival of CMML mice compared to single-agent treatment. Thus, we identified the combination of azacitidine and trametinib as an effective treatment in NRAS-mutated CMML and propose its clinical development. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1364/OL.40.000843 | Balancing Of Thermal Lenses In Enhancement Cavities With Transmissive Elements | Thermal lensing poses a serious challenge for the power scaling of enhancement cavities, in particular when these contain transmissive elements. We demonstrate the compensation of the lensing induced by thermal deformations of the cavity mirrors with the thermal lensing in a thin Brewster plate. Using forced convection to fine-tune the lensing in the plate, we achieve average powers of up to 160 kW for 250-MHz-repetition-rate picosecond pulses with a power-independent mode size. Furthermore, we show that the susceptibility of the cavity mode size to thermal lensing allows highly sensitive absorption measurements. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
W4224218205 | Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The <scp>STEP</scp> 1 trial extension | To explore changes in body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors after treatment withdrawal in the STEP 1 trial extension.STEP 1 (NCT03548935) randomized 1961 adults with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 (or ≥ 27 kg/m2 with ≥ 1 weight-related co-morbidity) without diabetes to 68 weeks of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg (including 16 weeks of dose escalation) or placebo, as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention. At week 68, treatments (including lifestyle intervention) were discontinued. An off-treatment extension assessed for a further year a representative subset of participants who had completed 68 weeks of treatment. This subset comprised all eligible participants from any site in Canada, Germany and the UK, and sites in the United States and Japan with the highest main phase recruitment. All analyses in the extension were exploratory.Extension analyses included 327 participants. From week 0 to week 68, mean weight loss was 17.3% (SD: 9.3%) with semaglutide and 2.0% (SD: 6.1%) with placebo. Following treatment withdrawal, semaglutide and placebo participants regained 11.6 (SD: 7.7) and 1.9 (SD: 4.8) percentage points of lost weight, respectively, by week 120, resulting in net losses of 5.6% (SD: 8.9%) and 0.1% (SD: 5.8%), respectively, from week 0 to week 120. Cardiometabolic improvements seen from week 0 to week 68 with semaglutide reverted towards baseline at week 120 for most variables.One year after withdrawal of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg and lifestyle intervention, participants regained two-thirds of their prior weight loss, with similar changes in cardiometabolic variables. Findings confirm the chronicity of obesity and suggest ongoing treatment is required to maintain improvements in weight and health. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
W4224234887 | Medición funcional en el dominio de la ética empírica | El presente artículo propone un enfoque empírico de la ética derivado de la teoría psicológica del juicio humano propuesta por Norman Anderson. Muestra cómo la metodología de esta teoría —denominada medición funcional— puede utilizarse para caracterizar las diversas posiciones personales que existen en todas las sociedades respecto a los problemas de salud pública. Los principales resultados de tres estudios realizados en tres países diferentes (Guinea, Francia y Colombia) se presentan como ilustración de lo que puede aportar este enfoque. Dichos análisis se centraron en tres problemas deliberadamente muy diferentes: (a) el deber de atender a los pacientes infectados, en caso de una epidemia que ponga en peligro la vida de los cuidadores; (b) la aceptabilidad de la reproducción postmortem, en el caso de los soldados que mueren en combate, y (c) la aceptabilidad del suicidio asistido por un médico. | [
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
980436 | A single-molecule technology for resolving chaperone action in neurodegenerative diseases | A range of debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, arise from the formation of amyloidogenic protein aggregates. Molecular chaperones can counteract aggregate formation, but their molecular action mechanisms remain poorly understood. This is chiefly due to the fundamental challenge of resolving heterogeneous and dynamic aggregating protein species in the presence of chaperones. In order to address this challenge and to advance our knowledge of chaperone action, I propose establishing µSPARK, a novel technology that will allow, for the first time, the unravelling of the detailed microscopic mechanisms by which chaperones target and disassemble amyloidogenic protein species in heterogeneous mixtures at the single-molecule level. These new insights will become possible through the first-time combination and seamless integration of two advanced technologies: (i) Miniaturized fluidic sorting devices and (ii) single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy combined with three-colour coincidence detection. This will enable high-throughput single-particle interrogation of individual chaperone–aggregate complexes providing fundamentally new means for understanding key aspects of chaperone function. To demonstrate the new possibilities, µSPARK will be exploited to unravel the action mechanisms of heat-shock proteins in curtailing amyloid-β peptide and α-synuclein aggregation. This will provide new insights into proteostatic regulatory mechanisms in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The µSPARK technology will then be exploited to dissect—with high throughput and single-particle resolution—the molecular action mechanisms of small-molecule modulators that promote the inhibitory function of chaperones on protein aggregation. This will allow identifying new strategies to ameliorate aggregate toxicity and will pave the way for µSPARK to become a novel screening tool for drug development. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1016/j.immuni.2012.01.016 | Rank Signaling Links the Development of Invariant γδ T Cell Progenitors and Aire <sup>+</sup> Medullary Epithelium | The thymic medulla provides a specialized microenvironment for the negative selection of T cells, with the presence of autoimmune regulator (Aire)-expressing medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) during the embryonic-neonatal period being both necessary and sufficient to establish long-lasting tolerance. Here we showed that emergence of the first cohorts of Aire + mTECs at this key developmental stage, prior to αβ T cell repertoire selection, was jointly directed by Rankl + lymphoid tissue inducer cells and invariant Vγ5 + dendritic epidermal T cell (DETC) progenitors that are the first thymocytes to express the products of gene rearrangement. In turn, generation of Aire + mTECs then fostered Skint-1-dependent, but Aire-independent, DETC progenitor maturation and the emergence of an invariant DETC repertoire. Hence, our data attributed a functional importance to the temporal development of Vγ5 + γδ T cells during thymus medulla formation for αβ T cell tolerance induction and demonstrated a Rank-mediated reciprocal link between DETC and Aire + mTEC maturation. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
246799 | Towards 4D Imaging of Fundamental Processes on the Atomic and Sub-Atomic Scale | State-of-the-art microscopy and diffraction imaging provides insight into the atomic and sub-atomic structure of matter. They permit determination of the positions of atoms in a crystal lattice or in a molecule as well as the distribution of electrons inside atoms. State-of-the-art time-resolved spectroscopy with femtosecond and attosecond resolution provides access to dynamic changes in the atomic and electronic structure of matter. Our proposal aims at combining these two frontier techniques of XXI century science to make a long-standing dream of scientist come true: the direct observation of atoms and electrons in their natural state: in motion. Shifts in the atoms positions by tens to hundreds of picometers can make chemical bonds break apart or newly form, changing the structure and/or chemical composition of matter. Electronic motion on similar scales may result in the emission of light, or the initiation of processes that lead to a change in physical or chemical properties, or biological function. These motions happen within femtoseconds and attoseconds, respectively. To make them observable, we need a 4-dimensional (4D) imaging technique capable of recording freeze-frame snapshots of microscopic systems with picometer spatial resolution and femtosecond to attosecond exposure time. The motion can then be visualized by slow-motion replay of the freeze-frame shots. The goal of this project is to develop a 4D imaging technique that will ultimately offer picometer resolution is space and attosecond resolution in time. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.4049/jimmunol.1001613 | Pandemic H1N1 influenza a viruses are resistant to the antiviral activities of innate immune proteins of the collectin and pentraxin superfamilies | Acquired immune responses elicited to recent strains of seasonal H1N1 influenza viruses provide limited protection against emerging A(H1N1) pandemic viruses. Accordingly, pre-existing or rapidly induced innate immune defenses are of critical importance in limiting early infection. Respiratory secretions contain proteins of the innate immune system, including members of the collectin and pentraxin superfamilies. These mediate potent antiviral activity and act as an initial barrier to influenza infection. In this study, we have examined the sensitivity of H1N1 viruses, including pandemic virus strains, for their sensitivity to collectins (surfactant protein [SP]-D and mannose-binding lectin [MBL]) and to the pentraxin PTX3. Human SP-D and MBL inhibited virus-induced hemagglutinating activity, blocked the enzymatic activity of the viral neuraminidase, and neutralized the ability of H1N1 viruses to infect human respiratory epithelial cells in a manner that correlated with the degree of glycosylation in the globular head of the hemagglutinin. Recent seasonal H1N1 viruses expressed three to four N-glycosylation sequons on the head of hemagglutinin and were very sensitive to inhibition by SP-D or MBL, whereas A(H1N1) pandemic viruses expressed a single N-glycosylation sequon and were resistant to either collectin. Of interest, both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 viruses were resistant to PTX3. Thus, unlike recent seasonal H1N1 strains of influenza virus, A(H1N1) pandemic viruses are resistant to the antiviral activities of innate immune proteins of the collectin superfamily. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1039/C6SC05338F | Selective Uni And Bidirectional Homologation Of Diborylmethane | Diborylmethane can be homologated uni- and bidirectionally by using enantiomerically pure lithium-stabilized carbenoids to give 1,2- and 1,3-bis(boronic esters), respectively, in good yield and with excellent levels of enantio- and diastereoselectivity. The high sensitivity of the transformation to steric hindrance enables the exclusive operation of either manifold, effected through the judicious choice of the type of carbenoid, which can be a sparteine-ligated or a diamine-free lithiated benzoate/carbamate. The scope of the 1,2-bis(boronic esters) so generated is complementary to that encompassed by the asymmetric diboration of alkenes, in that primary–secondary and primary–tertiary 1,2-bis(boronic esters) can be prepared with equally high levels of selectivity and that functional groups, such as terminal alkynes and alkenes, are tolerated. Methods for forming C2-symmetric and non-symmetrical anti and syn 1,3-bis(boronic esters) are also described and represent a powerful route towards 1,3-functionalized synthetic intermediates. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1039/c5ib00070j | The mechanotransduction machinery at work at adherens junctions | The shaping of a multicellular body, and the maintenance and repair of adult tissues require fine-tuning of cell adhesion responses and the transmission of mechanical load between the cell, its neighbors and the underlying extracellular matrix. A growing field of research is focused on how single cells sense mechanical properties of their micro-environment (extracellular matrix, other cells), and on how mechanotransduction pathways affect cell shape, migration, survival as well as differentiation. Within multicellular assemblies, the mechanical load imposed by the physical properties of the environment is transmitted to neighboring cells. Force imbalance at cell-cell contacts induces essential morphogenetic processes such as cell-cell junction remodeling, cell polarization and migration, cell extrusion and cell intercalation. However, how cells respond and adapt to the mechanical properties of neighboring cells, transmit forces, and transform mechanical signals into chemical signals remain open questions. A defining feature of compact tissues is adhesion between cells at the specialized adherens junction (AJ) involving the cadherin super-family of Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion proteins (e. g. , E-cadherin in epithelia). Cadherins bind to the cytoplasmic protein β-catenin, which in turn binds to the filamentous (F)-actin binding adaptor protein α-catenin, which can also recruit vinculin, making the mechanical connection between cell-cell adhesion proteins and the contractile actomyosin cytoskeleton. The cadherin-catenin adhesion complex is a key component of the AJ, and contributes to cell assembly stability and dynamic cell movements. It has also emerged as the main route of propagation of forces within epithelial and non-epithelial tissues. Here, we discuss recent molecular studies that point toward force-dependent conformational changes in α-catenin that regulate protein interactions in the cadherin-catenin adhesion complex, and show that α-catenin is the core mechanosensor that allows cells to locally sense, transduce and adapt to environmental mechanical constrains. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1088/0004-637X/786/1/7 | Does Segue Sdss Indicate A Dual Galactic Halo | We re-examine recent claims of observational evidence for a dual Galactic halo in SEGUE/SDSS data, and trace them back to improper error treatment and neglect of selection effects. In particular, the detection of a vertical abundance gradient in the halo can be explained as a metallicity bias in distance. A similar bias and the impact of disk contamination affect the sample of blue horizontal branch stars. These examples highlight why non-volume complete samples require forward modeling from theoretical models or extensive bias-corrections. We also show how observational uncertainties produce the specific non-Gaussianity in the observed azimuthal velocity distribution of halo stars, which can be erroneously identified as two Gaussian components. A single kinematic component yields an excellent fit to the observed data, when we model the measurement process including distance uncertainties. Furthermore, we show that sample differences in proper motion space are the direct consequence of kinematic cuts and are enhanced when distance estimates are less accurate. Thus, their presence is neither proof of a separate population nor a measure of reliability for the applied distances. We conclude that currently there is no evidence from SEGUE/SDSS that would favor a dual Galactic halo over a single halo that is full of substructure. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1057/jird.2013.1 | Democracy, social welfare and political violence: The case of latin america | The return of democracy in Latin America has been associated with a decline in political violence, but also with a failure to redress welfare troubles or restore social justice. This essay provides an exploration of these problematic relationships. It argues that the impact of democracy on social welfare and internal civil violence is complex, develops unevenly and is mediated by a host of contributing factors. The bearing of democracy on political violence has been especially weak. In some countries democratic elites played a role in reducing or eliminating armed conflicts by offering a series of political concessions to the opposition, in particular communication channels with the government and social and political rewards. However, political violence survived or intensified under democracy elsewhere, while it was eradicated by force and (less frequently) by concessions in a number of authoritarian settings. Democracy has also affected welfare policies, through the appearance and progressive strengthening of social organisations and political parties that favoured channelling benefits towards the less advantaged. Yet, welfare protection also took place under populist and authoritarian governments, and it was influenced by a series of additional economic, political and social factors. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
10.1039/c4ta02022g | Cationic microporous polymer networks by polymerisation of weakly coordinating cations with CO2-storage ability | Microporous organic polymer networks with weakly coordinating cations in their backbone have been synthesised by metal catalysed C–C bond forming reactions. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1039/c6cp06907j | Accidental degeneracy in the spiropyran radical cation: charge transfer between two orthogonal rings inducing ultra-efficient reactivity | We unravel an original photoswitching mechanism in spiropyran radical cation. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1093/qje/qjw010 | Rethinking the effects of financial globalization | During the past three decades, many countries have lifted restrictions on cross-border financial transactions. We present a simple model that can account for the observed effects of financial globalization. The model emphasizes the role of imperfect enforcement of domestic debts and the interactions between domestic and foreign debts. Financial globalization can lead to a variety of outcomes: (i) domestic capital flight and ambiguous effects on net capital flows, investment, and growth; (ii) capital inflows and higher investment and growth; or (iii) volatile capital flows and unstable domestic financial markets. The model shows how the effects of financial globalization depend on the level of development, productivity, domestic savings, and the quality of institutions. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
207667 | Computational Anatomy of Fetal Brain | Studies about brain maturation aim at providing a better understanding of brain development and links between brain changes and cognitive development. Such studies are of great interest for diagnosis help and clinical course of development and treatment of illnesses. Several teams have begun to make 3D maps of developing brain structures from children to young adults. However, working out the development of fetal and neonatal brain remains an open issue. This project aims at jumping over several theoretical and practical barriers and at going beyond the formal description of the brain maturation thanks to the development of a realistic numerical model of brain aging. In this context, Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is a fundamental tool to study structural brain development across age group. We will rely on new image processing tools combining morphological information provided by T2-weighted MR images and diffusion information (degree of myelination and fiber orientation) given by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The joint analysis of these anatomical features will stress the generic maturation of normal fetal brain. We will first rely on mathematical models to allow reconstruction of high resolution 3D MR images in order to extract relevant features of brain maturation. The results issued from this first step will be used to build statistical atlases and to characterize the neuroanatomical differences between a reference group and the population under investigation. From a methodological point of view, our approach relies on an interdisciplinary research framework aiming at combining medical research to neuroimaging, image processing, statistical modelling and computer science. The robust characterization of the anatomical features of fetal brain and the development of a realistic model of brain maturation from biological concepts will come out from the strong interactions between these different research fields. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Mathematics",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1145/3158145 | Proving Expected Sensitivity Of Probabilistic Programs | Program sensitivity, also known as Lipschitz continuity, describes how small changes in a program’s input lead to bounded changes in the output. We propose an average notion of program sensitivity for probabilistic programs—expected sensitivity—that averages a distance function over a probabilistic coupling of two output distributions from two similar inputs. By varying the distance, expected sensitivity recovers useful notions of probabilistic function sensitivity, including stability of machine learning algorithms and convergence of Markov chains. Furthermore, expected sensitivity satisfies clean compositional properties and is amenable to formal verification. We develop a relational program logic called EpRHL for proving expected sensitivity properties. Our logic features two key ideas. First, relational pre-conditions and post-conditions are expressed using distances, a real-valued generalization of typical boolean-valued (relational) assertions. Second, judgments are interpreted in terms of expectation coupling, a novel, quantitative generalization of probabilistic couplings which supports compositional reasoning. We demonstrate our logic on examples beyond the reach of prior relational logics. Our main example formalizes uniform stability of the stochastic gradient method. Furthermore, we prove rapid mixing for a probabilistic model of population dynamics. We also extend our logic with a transitivity principle for expectation couplings to capture the path coupling proof technique by Bubley and Dyer, and formalize rapid mixing of the Glauber dynamics from statistical physics. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1364/AO.55.005025 | Subwavelength Micropolarizer In A Gold Film For Visible Light | We have designed and fabricated a 100 μm×100 μm four-sector binary subwavelength reflecting polarization microconverter in a gold film. Using finite-difference time-domain-aided numerical simulations and experiments, the micropolarizer was shown to convert an incident linearly polarized Gaussian beam of wavelength 532 nm into an azimuthally polarized beam. Conditions for generating on-axis regions of nonzero intensity when using propagating optical vortices with different initial polarization were deduced. By putting a spiral phase plate into an azimuthally polarized beam, the intensity pattern was shown to change from diffraction rings to a central peak. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1007/s13280-011-0218-5 | Ecological implications of changes in the arctic cryosphere | Snow, water, ice, and permafrost are showing evidence of substantial change in the Arctic, with large variations among different geographical areas. As a result of these changes, some habitats and their associated ecosystems are expanding, while others are undergoing rapid contraction. The warming of the Arctic cryosphere is limiting the range for cold-adapted biota, and less specialized taxa including invasive species from the south are likely to become increasingly common. Extreme climate events such as winter thawing are likely to become more frequent, and may accelerate shifts in community structure and processes. Many Arctic ecosystems are interdependent, and changes in the cryosphere are altering physical, biogeochemical, and biological linkages, as well as causing positive feedback effects on atmospheric warming. All of these climate-related effects are compounded by rapid socio-economic development in the North, creating additional challenges for northern communities and indigenous lifestyles that depend on Arctic ecosystem services. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
339231 | Habitability of Martian Environments: Exploring the Physiological and Environmental Limits of Life | The low average temperature and low water activity of the Martian near-surface environment makes it challenging for living organisms to persist and propagate. Nonetheless, recent mission results indicate that environmental conditions exceed locally and temporarily the lower thresholds for life to exist. Furthermore, specific soil minerals, or combinations thereof, appear to provide a suitable habitat for microbial life, especially if associated with low-temperature brines or hygroscopic salts. Thus, a quantitative understanding of the habitability potential of the Martian near-surface environment, past and present, is very much needed and the focus of this proposal. To achieve this objective, we will test different types of soils and some of Earth’s hardiest organisms, using them as models (‘Mars-analogues’), to see if they can survive and perhaps even grow under the various environmental stresses known to exist on Mars. A major tool of our laboratory investigations will be the experimentally proven state-of-the-art Mars Simulation Chamber at the German AeroSpace Center, to which various soils materials and microorganisms will be exposed. The planned experimental investigations and models will be concurrently updated by analyzed mission data, particularly from landers and rovers (e.g., Curiosity Rover), to adjust our work to the newest Martian geochemical and environmental data available. Results from our proposed work will timely provide critical scientific knowledge to interpret incoming data from ESA’s ExoMars mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2016/2018. As one important deliverable of our work we will also construct a Mars Soil Analyzer, an instrument which will be designed for a future mission to Mars with the objective to achieve Technology Readiness Level 6 at the completion of the proposed study. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Earth System Science",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.011 | Immunometabolic Pathways in BCG-Induced Trained Immunity | The protective effects of the tuberculosis vaccine Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on unrelated infections are thought to be mediated by long-term metabolic changes and chromatin remodeling through histone modifications in innate immune cells such as monocytes, a process termed trained immunity. Here, we show that BCG induction of trained immunity in monocytes is accompanied by a strong increase in glycolysis and, to a lesser extent, glutamine metabolism, both in an in-vitro model and after vaccination of mice and humans. Pharmacological and genetic modulation of rate-limiting glycolysis enzymes inhibits trained immunity, changes that are reflected by the effects on the histone marks (H3K4me3 and H3K9me3) underlying BCG-induced trained immunity. These data demonstrate that a shift of the glucose metabolism toward glycolysis is crucial for the induction of the histone modifications and functional changes underlying BCG-induced trained immunity. The identification of these pathways may be a first step toward vaccines that combine immunological and metabolic stimulation. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.3390/su10082881 | Metal mining's environmental pressures: A review and updated estimates on CO<inf>2</inf> emissions, water use, and land requirements | The significant increase in metal mining and the inevitability of the continuation of this trend suggests that environmental pressures, as well as related impacts, have become an issue of global relevance. Yet the scale of the impact remains, to a large extent, unknown. This paper examines the mining sector's demands on CO2 emissions, water use, as well as demands on land use focusing on four principal metals: iron, aluminium (i. e. , bauxite ore), copper, and gold. These materials represent a large proportion of all metallic materials mined in terms of crude tonnage and economic value. This paper examines how the main providers of mining data, the United Nations, government sources of some main metal producing and consuming countries, the scientific literature, and company reports report environmental pressures in these three areas. The authors conclude that, in the global context, the pressure brought about by metal mining is relatively low. The data on this subject are still very limited and there are significant gaps in consistency on criteria such as boundary descriptions, input parameter definitions, and allocation method descriptions as well as a lack of commodity and/or site specific reporting of environmental data at a company level. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
Q3070024 | Année de marque par Raivo Holm Programme de développement | Porter les affaires d’AS au niveau des activités méobury fortes. L’objectif est d’atteindre la reconnaissance et la croissance des marques de l’Année en Suède, en Finlande et dans les pays baltes. L’entrée sur de nouveaux marchés d’exportation potentiels. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1101/2020.02.19.955948 | Full Cell Infiltration And Thick Tissue Formation In Vivo In Tailored Electrospun Scaffolds | Abstract Electrospun (ESP) scaffolds are a promising type of tissue engineering constructs for large defects with limited depth. To form new functional tissue, the scaffolds need to be infiltrated with cells, which will deposit extracellular matrix. However, due to dense fiber packing and small pores, cell and tissue infiltration of ESP scaffolds is limited. Here, we combine two established methods, increasing fiber diameter and co-spinning sacrificial fibers, to create a porous ESP scaffold that allows robust tissue infiltration. Full cell infiltration across 2 mm thick scaffolds is seen 3 weeks after subcutaneous implantation in rats. After 6 weeks, the ESP scaffolds are almost fully filled with de novo tissue. Cell infiltration and tissue formation in vivo in this thickness has not been previously achieved. In addition, we propose a novel method for in vitro cell seeding to improve cell infiltration and a model to study 3D migration through a fibrous mesh. This easy approach to facilitate cell infiltration further improves previous efforts and could greatly aid tissue engineering approaches utilizing ESP scaffolds. Statement of significance Electrospinning creates highly porous scaffolds with nano- to micrometer sized fibers and are a promising candidate for a variety of tissue engineering applications. However, smaller fibers also create small pores which are difficult for cells to penetrate, restricting cells to the top layers of the scaffolds. Here, we have improved the cell infiltration by optimizing fiber diameter and by co-spinning a sacrificial polymer. We developed novel culture technique that can be used to improve cell seeding and to study cytokine driven 3D migration through fibrous meshes. After subcutaneous implantation, infiltration of tissue and cells was observed up to throughout up to 2 mm thick scaffolds. This depth of infiltration in vivo had not yet been reported for electrospun scaffolds. The scaffolds we present here can be used for in vitro studies of migration, and for tissue engineering in defects with a large surface area and limited depth. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.isci.2019.11.027 | Altered Visual Plasticity in Morbidly Obese Subjects | Growing evidence indicates a close link between energy metabolism and neural plasticity as obesity is associated with alterations of cognitive functions, memory, and hippocampal neurogenesis. However, it is still unknown whether obesity can affect low-level sensory plasticity. Here we investigated this issue by probing early visual plasticity induced by short-term (2 h) monocular deprivation in a group of adult volunteers with a wide range of Body Mass Index (BMI), from normal weight to morbid obesity. We found that the effect of monocular deprivation decreased with increasing BMI, and morbidly obese subjects (BMI>40) failed to show the homeostatic plasticity effect seen in normal-weight participants. In addition, morbidly obese subjects exhibited altered binocular rivalry dynamics compared with normal-weight observers. These results show for the first time that the impact of obesity observed at the neural and cognitive level extends to basic sensory processing and plasticity. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1261/rna.052548.115 | The use of duplex-specific nuclease in ribosome profiling and a user-friendly software package for Ribo-seq data analysis | Ribosome profiling is a technique that permits genome-wide, quantitative analysis of translation and has found broad application in recent years. Here we describe a modified profiling protocol and software package designed to benefit more broadly the translation community in terms of simplicity and utility. The protocol, applicable to diverse organisms, including organelles, is based largely on previously published profiling methodologies, but uses duplex-specific nuclease (DSN) as a convenient, species-independent way to reduce rRNA contamination. We show that DSN-based depletion compares favorably with other commonly used rRNA depletion strategies and introduces little bias. The profiling protocol typically produces high levels of triplet periodicity, facilitating the detection of coding sequences, including upstream, downstream, and overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) and an alternative ribosome conformation evident during termination of protein synthesis. In addition, we provide a software package that presents a set of methods for parsing ribosomal profiling data from multiple samples, aligning reads to coding sequences, inferring alternative ORFs, and plotting average and transcript-specific aspects of the data. Methods are also provided for extracting the data in a form suitable for differential analysis of translation and translational efficiency. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
Q11071 | Innovation of the preparation of the moulding mixture and the properties of castings | This project concerns an application of completed development, where we have successfully cooperated with the Technical University of Liberec (TUL) and whose main aim is to increase the quality-technical properties of the moulding mixture itself through the introduction of the preparation of the moulding mixture (modern solution for the preparation of a single bentonite mixture) and thus to increase the qualitative properties of the castings (surface, geometric and shape accuracy of castings, porosity). Customs code of production: 7616 99 10 99. a. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.144502 | Passive Control of Viscous Flow via Elastic Snap-Through | We demonstrate the passive control of viscous flow in a channel by using an elastic arch embedded in the flow. Depending on the fluid flux, the arch may "snap" between two states - constricting and unconstricting - that differ in hydraulic conductivity by up to an order of magnitude. We use a combination of experiments at a macroscopic scale and theory to study the constricting and unconstricting states, and determine the critical flux required to transition between them. We show that such a device may be precisely tuned for use in a range of applications, and, in particular, has potential as a passive microfluidic fuse to prevent excessive fluxes in rigid-walled channels. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1145/3027063.3027073 | Hcitools Strategies And Best Practices For Designing Evaluating And Sharing Technical Hci Toolkits | Over the years, toolkits have been designed to facilitate the rapid prototyping of novel designs for graphical user interfaces, physical computing, fabrication, tangible interfaces and ubiquitous computing. However, although evaluation methods for HCI are widely available, particular techniques and approaches to evaluate technical toolkit research are less well developed. Moreover, it is unclear what kind of contribution and impact technical toolkits can bring to the larger HCI community. In this workshop we aim to bring together leading researchers in the field to discuss challenges and opportunities to develop new methods and approaches to design, evaluate, disseminate and share toolkits. Furthermore, we will discuss the technical, methodological and enabling role of toolkits for HCI research. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1111/nph.16446 | Auxin canalization and vascular tissue formation by TIR1/AFB-mediated auxin signaling in Arabidopsis | Plant survival depends on vascular tissues, which originate in a self-organizing manner as strands of cells co-directionally transporting the plant hormone auxin. The latter phenomenon (also known as auxin canalization) is classically hypothesized to be regulated by auxin itself via the effect of this hormone on the polarity of its own intercellular transport. Correlative observations supported this concept, but molecular insights remain limited. In the current study, we established an experimental system based on the model Arabidopsis thaliana, which exhibits auxin transport channels and formation of vasculature strands in response to local auxin application. Our methodology permits the genetic analysis of auxin canalization under controllable experimental conditions. By utilizing this opportunity, we confirmed the dependence of auxin canalization on a PIN-dependent auxin transport and nuclear, TIR1/AFB-mediated auxin signaling. We also show that leaf venation and auxin-mediated PIN repolarization in the root require TIR1/AFB signaling. Further studies based on this experimental system are likely to yield better understanding of the mechanisms underlying auxin transport polarization in other developmental contexts. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1109/ITA.2013.6502937 | Random access with physical-layer network coding | Leveraging recent progress in compute-and-forward we propose an approach to random access that is based on physical-layer network coding: When packets collide, it is possible to recover a linear combination of the packets at the receiver. Over many rounds of transmission, the receiver can thus obtain many linear combinations and eventually recover all original packets. This is by contrast to slotted ALOHA where packet collisions lead to complete erasures. The throughput of the proposed strategy is derived for a system with two users and shown to be significantly superior to the best known strategies, including multipacket reception. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-319-56614-6_19 | Toward Fine Grained Blackbox Separations Between Semantic And Circular Security Notions | We address the problems of whether t-circular-secure encryption can be based on \((t-1)\)-circular-secure encryption or on semantic (CPA) security, if \(t = 1\). While for \(t = 1\) a folklore construction, based on CPA-secure encryption, can be used to build a 1-circular-secure encryption with the same secret-key and message space, no such constructions are known for the bit-encryption case, which is of particular importance in fully-homomorphic encryption. Also, all constructions of t-circular encryption (bitwise or otherwise) are based on specific assumptions. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1126/science.1233028 | Cellular self-defense: How cell-autonomous immunity protects against pathogens | Our prevailing view of vertebrate host defense is strongly shaped by the notion of a specialized set of immune cells as sole guardians of antimicrobial resistance. Yet this view greatly underestimates a capacity for most cell lineages - the majority of which fall outside the traditional province of the immune system - to defend themselves against infection. This ancient and ubiquitous form of host protection is termed cell-autonomous immunity and operates across all three domains of life. Here, we discuss the organizing principles that govern cellular self-defense and how intracellular compartmentalization has shaped its activities to provide effective protection against a wide variety of microbial pathogens. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
W2014352723 | The Role of Thiopurines in Reducing the Need for Surgical Resection in Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | The thiopurine (TP) analogs azathioprine and mercaptopurine have proven efficacy in inducing and maintaining clinical remission in Crohn's disease (CD). Their impact on the long-term need for surgery is uncertain since studies have reported conflicting results. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and evaluate evidence of the published literature regarding those studies assessing the impact of TPs on the risk of first surgical resection in CD.We searched Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and hand searched reference lists of identified articles, without language restrictions in August 2013.Seventeen retrospective observational studies (eight population based, three multicenter, and six referral center) representing 21,632 participants met our inclusion criteria. Of these 10 studies involving 12,586 participants provided data on the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) evaluating use of TPs and surgical risk. The combined pooled HR of first intestinal resection with TP use was 0.59 (95% CI 0.48-0.73).TP use is associated with a 40% lowered risk of surgical resection in patients with CD. Despite significant reductions in rates of surgical resection in patients with CD over the last 5 decades and increasing use of TPs, a large proportion of patients with CD still require resectional surgery. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
208561 | Probing the relevance of carbene binding motifs in enzyme reactivity | Histidine (His) is an ubiquitous ligand in the active site of metalloenzymes that is assumed by default to bind the metal center through one of its nitrogen atoms. However, protonation of His, which is likely to occur in locally slightly acidic environment, gives imidazolium sites that can bind a metal in a carbene-type structure as found in N-heterocyclic carbene complexes. Such carbene bonding has a dramatic effect on the properties of the metal center and may provide a rational for the mode of action of metalloenzymes that are still lacking a solid understanding. Up to now, the possibility of carbene bonding has been completely overlooked. Hence, any evidence for such His coordination via carbon will induce a shift of paradigm in classical peptide chemistry and will be directly included in basic textbooks. Moreover, this unprecedented bonding mode will provide access to unique and hitherto unknown reactivity patterns for artificial enzyme mimics. Undoubtedly, such a break-through will set a new stage in modern metalloenzyme research. A multicentered approach is proposed to identify for the first time carbene bonding in enzymes. This approach unconventionally combines the current frontiers of organometallic and biochemical knowledge and hence crosses traditional boarders. Specifically, we aim at probing carbene bonding of His by identifying reactivity patterns that are selective for metal-carbenes but not for metal-imine complexes. This will allow for efficient screening of large classes of metalloenzymes. In parallel, active site models will be constructed in which the His ligand is substituted by a heterocyclic carbene as a rigidly C-bonding His analog. For this purpose chemical synthesis will be considered as well as enzyme mutagenesis and subsequent carbene coordination. While such new bioorganometallic entities will be highly attractive to probe the influence of C-bound His on the metal site, they also provide conceputally new types of versatile catalysts. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201833775 | Weak Lensing Shear Measurement With Machine Learning Teaching Artificial Neural Networks About Feature Noise | Cosmic shear is a primary cosmological probe for several present and upcoming surveys investigating dark matter and dark energy, such as Euclid or WFIRST. The probe requires an extremely accurate measurement of the shapes of millions of galaxies based on imaging data. Crucially, the shear measurement must address and compensate for a range of interwoven nuisance effects related to the instrument optics and detector, noise, unknown galaxy morphologies, colors, blending of sources, and selection effects. This paper explores the use of supervised machine learning (ML) as a tool to solve this inverse problem. We present a simple architecture that learns to regress shear point estimates and weights via shallow artificial neural networks. The networks are trained on simulations of the forward observing process, and take combinations of moments of the galaxy images as inputs. A challenging peculiarity of this ML application is the combination of the noisiness of the input features and the requirements on the accuracy of the inverse regression. To address this issue, the proposed training algorithm minimizes bias over multiple realizations of individual source galaxies, reducing the sensitivity to properties of the overall sample of source galaxies. Importantly, an observational selection function of these source galaxies can be straightforwardly taken into account via the weights. We first introduce key aspects of our approach using toy-model simulations, and then demonstrate its potential on images mimicking Euclid data. Finally, we analyze images from the GREAT3 challenge, obtaining competitively low shear biases despite the use of a simple training set. We conclude that the further development of ML approaches is of high interest to meet the stringent requirements on the shear measurement in current and future surveys. A demonstration implementation of our technique is publicly available. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1038/nchem.1860 | State-resolved diffraction oscillations imaged for inelastic collisions of NO radicals with He, Ne and Ar | Just as light scattering from an object results in diffraction patterns, the quantum mechanical nature of molecules can lead to the diffraction of matter waves during molecular collisions. This behaviour manifests itself as rapid oscillatory structures in measured differential cross-sections, and such observable features are sensitive probes of molecular interaction potentials. However, these structures have proved challenging to resolve experimentally. Here, we use a Stark decelerator to form a beam of state-selected and velocity-controlled NO radicals and measure state-to-state differential cross-sections for inelastic collisions of NO with He, Ne and Ar atoms using velocity map imaging. The monochromatic velocity distribution of the NO beam produced scattering images with unprecedented sharpness and angular resolution, thereby fully resolving quantum diffraction oscillations. We found excellent agreement with quantum close-coupling scattering calculations for these benchmark systems. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
10.3390/polym10080913 | Preparation and identification of optimal synthesis conditions for a novel alkaline anion-exchange membrane | The physicochemical and mechanical properties of new alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AAEMs) based on chitosan (CS) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymers doped with unsupported copper nanoparticles (NPs) and copper exchanged over different porous materials were investigated regarding ion-exchange capacity (IEC), OH- conductivity, water uptake (WU), water vapor permeability (WVP), and thermal and mechanical resistance. The influence of the type of filler included in different morphologies and filler loading has been explored using copper exchanged materials such as the layered porous titanosilicate AM-4, layered stannosilicate UZAR-S3, and zeolites Y, MOR, and BEA. Compared to commercially available anion-exchange membranes, the best performing membranes in terms of WU, IEC, OH- conductivity and WVP in this study were those containing 10 wt % of Cu-AM-4 and Cu-UZAR-S3, although 10 wt % Cu-MOR provided better mechanical strength at close values of WVP and anion conductivity. It was also observed that when Cu was exchanged in a porous silicate matrix, its oxidation state was lower than when embedded as unsupported metal NPs. In addition, the statistical analysis of variance determined that the electrochemical properties of the membranes were noticeably affected by both the type and filler loading, and influenced also by the copper oxidation state and content in the membrane, but their hydrophilic properties were more affected by the polymers. The largest significant effects were noticed on the water sorption and transport properties, which gives scope for the design of AAEMs for electrochemical and water treatment applications. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1111/mmi.13981 | Toxoplasma gondii TFP1 is an essential transporter family protein critical for microneme maturation and exocytosis | Invasion and egress are two key steps in the lytic cycle of Apicomplexa that are governed by the sequential discharge of proteins from two apical secretory organelles called micronemes and rhoptries. In Toxoplasma gondii, the biogenesis of these specialized organelles depends on the post Golgi trafficking machinery, forming an endosomal-like compartment (ELC) resembling endomembrane systems found in eukaryotes. In this study, we have characterized four phylogenetically related Transporter Facilitator Proteins (TFPs) conserved among the apicomplexans. TFP1 localises to the micronemes and ELC, TFP2 and TFP3 to the rhoptries and TFP4 to the Golgi. TFP1 crucially contributes to parasite fitness and survival while the other members of this family are dispensable. Conditional depletion of TFP1 impairs microneme biogenesis and leads to a complete block in exocytosis, which hampers gliding motility, attachment, invasion and egress. Morphological investigations revealed that TFP1 participates in the condensation of the microneme content, suggesting the transport of a relevant molecule for maintaining the intraluminal microenvironment necessary for organelle maturation and exocytosis. In absence of TFP2, rhoptries adopt a considerable elongated shape, but the abundance, processing or secretion of the rhoptry content are not affected. These findings establish the relevance of TFPs in organelle maturation of T. gondii. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
Q2032636 | INNOVATION | TRATTASI DI UN PROGETTO DELLA FILIERA SISTEMA CASA . IL PROGETTO Ê IL COMPLETAMENTO DELL'ATTIVITà DI RISTRUTTURAZIONE DELL'AZIENDA AVVIATA NEL 2016 DAL SOCIO LEGNOTECNICA A SEGUITO DELL'ACQUISIZIONE DEL 100% DELLE QUOTE. SE NON CI FOSSE STATA L'ACQUISIZIONE , LA SOCIETà SAREBBE STATA CHIUSA CON CONSEGUENZE PESANTI IN TERMINI OCCUPAZIONALI IN UN'AREA DEPRESSA. IL PROGETTO PREVEDE LA PARTECIPAZIONE A FIERE, LA CONSULENZA DI MARKETING/COMUNICAZIONE E LA CONSULENZA PER LA RICERCA DI NUOVI AGENTI | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
US 2013/0040802 W | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATIVE AUTHORING OF A NEGOTIABLE DOCUMENT | A system and method for enabling coordinated, collaborative, data-driven document negotiation among multiple, divergent parties, either internally or externally, in a virtual environment. A comprehensive, singular, transaction management platform that transforms documents from a manual, text-based and paper-laden business and legal process into a data-driven experience via a negotiable transaction environment. The system streamlines and automates coordination of the life cycle of a binding document from deal origination to collaborative negotiation to executed agreement to archival to system-generated analytics. A term-based engine replaces the manual business and legal processes, and streamlines management of communication, approvals, signatures, commenting, recordkeeping and documentation. It provides a collaborative process for authoring text-based terms, as an alternative to an iterative, sequential drafting process; and an online, real-time searchable history of all changes for later discovery and/or compliance. As the system gathers data from transaction activity and final agreement, it dynamically builds workflow deliverables as well as analyzes resultant data and creates actionable business intelligence. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1021/acsaem.8b01663 | Perylene Polyimide-Polyether Anodes for Aqueous All-Organic Polymer Batteries | Aqueous batteries are a safe, sustainable, and a low cost alternative to store energy. Thus, there is an ongoing search for new battery electrode materials with redox potentials in the voltage range corresponding to the electrochemical stability window of water. Particularly, organic materials are attracting considerable attention due to their environmental friendliness and sustainability. While significant progress has been achieved in developing organic cathode materials, developing anode materials with good electrochemical performance remains a challenge. Here we show that perylene polyimides with oligoether groups are great anode candidates for high power aqueous polymer batteries. Perylene-based polyimide presents a redox reaction at -0. 55 V vs Ag/AgCl and stable cycle life at high current density (600C) for 2000 cycles. An all-organic cell consisting of perylene polyimide-polyether as anode (negative electrode) and PEDOT-lignin biopolymer composite as cathode (positive electrode) has an output voltage of 1. 0 V. The full-cell delivers 40 mAh g-1 discharge capacity at 100C with 85% capacity retention and above 93% Coulombic efficiency for 800 cycles. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1242/jcs.173013 | The lysine demethylase LSD1 is required for nuclear envelope formation at the end of mitosis | The metazoan nucleus breaks down and reassembles during each cell division. Upon mitotic exit, the successful reestablishment of an interphase nucleus requires the coordinated reorganization of chromatin and formation of a functional nuclear envelope. Here we report that the histone demethylase LSD1 plays a crucial role in nuclear assembly at the end of mitosis. Downregulation of LSD1 in cells extends telophase and impairs nuclear pore complex assembly. In vitro, LSD1 demethylase activity is required for the recruitment of MEL28/ELYS and nuclear envelope precursor vesicles to chromatin, crucial steps in nuclear reassembly. Accordingly, the formation of a closed nuclear envelope and nuclear pore complex assembly are impaired upon depletion of LSD1 or inhibition of its activity. Our results identify histone demethylation by LSD1 as a novel regulatory mechanism linking the chromatin state and nuclear envelope formation at the end of mitosis. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
US 86985797 A | Seismic shock absorbing pier | A seismic shock absorbing pier including a cylindrical column having an upper end and a lower end; a slide stop having a load bearing surface, the slide stop being fixedly attached to the cylindrical column so that its load bearing surface is upwardly oriented; a shock absorbing spring having an upper end and a lower end, the shock absorbing spring being mounted upon the pier so that its lower end is in contact with the load bearing surface of the slide stop; and a foundation supporting I-beam having an upper load bearing surface, a lower end, a forward end, and a rearward end, the rearward end of the foundation supporting I-beam being adapted for slidable mounting over the cylindrical column, the foundation supporting I-beam being slidably mounted over the cylindrical column so that its upper load bearing surface is upwardly oriented and so that its lower end is in contact with the upper end of the shock absorbing spring. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W111620743 | Classification of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Based on Structural MRI Using Locally Linear Embedding (LLE) | Several methods have been used to classify patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or its prodromal stage, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from cognitive normal (CN) based on T1-weighted MRI. In this study, we used LLE to discriminate 453 subjects form the ADNI database. We conducted six pair wise classification experiments: CN (cognitive normal) vs. sMCI (MCI who kept stability and had not converted to AD within 18 months, stable MCI — sMCI), CN vs. cMCI (MCI who had converted to AD within 18 months, converters MCI — cMCI), CN vs. AD, sMCI vs. cMCI, sMCI vs. AD, and cMCI vs. AD. Each of them was repeated for 10 times. The proposed method got the average accuracy of 0.67, 0.79, 0.85, 0.72, 0.75 and 0.65, respectively. The outcomes suggested that the LLE method is useful in the clinical diagnosis and the prediction of AD. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.22364/mhd.45.2.11 | Numerical simulation of unsteady mhd flows and applications | We present a robust numerical method for solving the compressible Ideal Magneto-Hydrodynamic equations. It is based on the Residual Distribution (RD) algorithms already successfully tested in many problems [1]. We adapted the scheme to the multi-dimensional unsteady MHD model. The constraint ∇ B=0 is enforced by the use a Generalized Lagrange Multiplier (GLM) technique [2]. First, we present this complete system and the keys to get its eigensystem, as we may need it in the algorithm. Next, we introduce the numerical scheme built in order to get a compressible, unsteady and implicit solver, which has good shock-capturing properties and is second-order accurate at the converged state. To show the efficiency of our method, we will then comment some 2D results. We will end by pointing out some issues and the extensions we plan for this solver. | [
"Mathematics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevB.85.115129 | Role of nonlocal exchange in the electronic structure of correlated oxides | We present a systematic study of the electronic structure of several prototypical correlated transition-metal oxides: VO 2, V 2O 3, Ti 2O 3, LaTiO 3, and YTiO 3. In all these materials, in the low-temperature insulating phases the local and semilocal density approximations (LDA and GGA, respectively) of density-functional theory yield a metallic Kohn-Sham band structure. Here we show that, without invoking strong-correlation effects, the role of nonlocal exchange is essential to cure the LDA/GGA delocalization error and provide a band-structure description of the electronic properties in qualitative agreement with the experimental photoemission results. To this end, we make use of hybrid functionals that mix a portion of nonlocal Fock exchange with the local LDA exchange-correlation potential. Finally, we discuss the advantages and the shortcomings of using hybrid functionals for correlated transition-metal oxides. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1126/scisignal.aaf9126 | Science signaling podcast for 3 May 2016: Innate lymphoid cell plasticity | This Podcast features an interview with Rachel Golub and Eric Vivier, authors of two Research Articles that appear in the 3 May 2016 issue of Science Signaling, about plasticity of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). ILCs are related to the T cells and B cells of the adaptive immune system, and they regulate immune responses by secreting cytokines. ILCs are a heterogeneous population of cells that can be classified into several subtypes. Type 3 ILCs (ILC3s) can be further subdivided into distinct subpopulations. Chea et al. found that Notch signaling controlled the relative proportions of different ILC3 subtypes in the mouse intestine. A related study by Viant et al. reports that the Notch and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathways antagonize one another to control the balance between different subsets of ILC3s. Both studies demonstrate that ILC3 fate is plastic and can be influenced by signals present in the microenvironment of these tissue. resident cells. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1007/s12551-017-0289-z | Monomer-dependent secondary nucleation in amyloid formation | Secondary nucleation of monomers on the surface of an already existing aggregate that is formed from the same kind of monomers may lead to autocatalytic amplification of a self-assembly process. Such monomer-dependent secondary nucleation occurs during the crystallization of small molecules or proteins and self-assembled materials, as well as in protein self-assembly into fibrous structures. Indications of secondary nucleation may come from analyses of kinetic experiments starting from pure monomers or monomers supplemented with a low concentration of pre-formed aggregates (seeds). More firm evidence requires additional experiments, for example those employing isotope labels to distinguish new aggregates arising from the monomer from those resulting from fragmentation of the seed. In cases of amyloid formation, secondary nucleation leads to the formation of toxic oligomers, and inhibitors of secondary nucleation may serve as starting points for therapeutic developments. Secondary nucleation displays a high degree of structural specificity and may be enhanced by mutations or screening of electrostatic repulsion. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
220950 | Responsive results-based management and capacity building for eu sustainable fisheries partnership agreement- and international waters | The objective of FarFish is to improve knowledge on and management of EU fisheries outside Europe, while contributing to sustainability and long term profitability. 21% of EU catches originate from non-EU waters. These fisheries are often poorly regulated, management decisions are sometimes based on limited knowledge and enforcement capabilities, compliance and trust between stakeholders tend to lack.
FarFish will address these shortcomings in a multidisciplinary and innovative way by focusing on six diverse case studies, four in Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) waters and two in international waters. Firstly, FarFish will analyse biological, ecological, technological, economic, political and social impacts of EU fisheries in the case studies to advance knowledge and promote sustainable and profitable exploitation. Secondly, introduce Results-Based Management approaches and new decision support tools into these fisheries and test their applicability in collaboration with stakeholders. Thirdly, build capacities in fisheries management and related disciplines amongst stakeholders. The results of FarFish will both have immediate and long-term application. FarFish includes a diverse groups of stakeholders, EU and third country fleets representatives, scientists, decision makers, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), relevant industries and stakeholders from areas outside the case studies but of importance for the EU fleet, forming a platform for future cooperation between EU and third countries.
FarFish addresses the work programme by improving knowledge within the relevant fisheries, developing management tools and models, improving professional skills and sharing new findings in correspondence to the priorities of SFPAs, RFMOs and the CFP. FarFish will contribute to sustainable management, resilience and efficiency in the seafood value chains, increase European food security, boost long-term profitability and promote jobs. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1002/qj.2039 | Wind-gust parametrizations at heights relevant for wind energy: A study based on mast observations | Wind gusts are traditionally observed and reported at the reference height of 10 m and most gust parametrization methods have been developed only for this height. In many practical applications, e. g. in wind energy, the relevant heights are, however, up to a few hundred metres. In this study, mean gustiness conditions were studied using observations from two coastal/archipelago weather masts in the Gulf of Finland (northern Europe) with observation heights between 30 and 143 m. Only moderate and strong wind cases were addressed. Both masts were located over relatively flat terrain but the local environment, and hence the surface roughness length, differed between the mast locations. The observations showed that above all the gust factor depended on the surface roughness. Stability had a more pronounced effect over the rough forested surface than over the smooth sea surface. At both locations the stability had a larger effect on gusts than the observation height. Two existing parametrization methods, developed for a 10 m reference height, were validated against the observations and a new parametrization was proposed. In the new method, the gust factor depends on the standard deviation of the wind speed, which is parametrized on the basis of the surface friction velocity, the Obukhov length and height and the boundary-layer height. The new gust parametrization method outperformed the two older methods: the effects of surface roughness, stability and the height above the surface were well represented by the new method. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1088/0951-7715/25/12/3487 | Expanding Semiflows On Branched Surfaces And One Parameter Semigroups Of Operators | We consider expanding semiflows on branched surfaces. The family of transfer operators associated with the semiflow is a one-parameter semigroup of operators. The transfer operators may also be viewed as an operator-valued function of time and so, in the appropriate norm, we may consider the vector-valued Laplace transform of this function. We obtain a spectral result on these operators and relate this to the spectrum of the generator of this semigroup. Issues of strong continuity of the semigroup are avoided. The main result is the improvement to the machinery associated with studying semiflows as one-parameter semigroups of operators and the study of the smoothness properties of semiflows defined on branched manifolds, without encoding as a suspension semiflow. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1063/1.5094864 | Analysis And Simulation Of The Multiple Resistive Switching Modes Occurring In Hfox Based Resistive Random Access Memories Using Memdiodes | In this work, analysis and simulation of all experimentally observed switching modes in hafnium oxide based resistive random access memories are carried out using a simplified electrical conduction model. To achieve switching mode variation, two metal-insulator-metal cells with identical stack combination, but varying oxygen stoichiometry of the hafnia layer, namely, stoichiometric vs highly deficient, are considered. To access the individual switching modes, the devices were subjected to a variety of cycling conditions comprising different voltage and current ranges. For modeling the device behavior, a single or two antiserially connected memdiodes (diode with memory) were utilized. In this way, successful compact simulation of unipolar, bipolar, threshold, and complementary resistive switching modes is accomplished confirming the coexistence of two switching mechanisms of opposite polarity as the basis for all observable switching phenomena in this material. We show that only calibration of the outer current–voltage loops with the memdiode model is necessary for predicting the device behavior in the defined region revealing additional information on the switching process. The correspondence of each memdiode device with the conduction characteristics of the individual top and bottom metal-oxide contacts allows one to assess the role played by each interface in the switching process separately. This identification paves the path for a future improvement of the device performance and functionality by means of appropriate interface engineering. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-030-33676-9_38 | Iterative Greedy Matching For 3D Human Pose Tracking From Multiple Views | In this work we propose an approach for estimating 3D human poses of multiple people from a set of calibrated cameras. Estimating 3D human poses from multiple views has several compelling properties: human poses are estimated within a global coordinate space and multiple cameras provide an extended field of view which helps in resolving ambiguities, occlusions and motion blur. Our approach builds upon a real-time 2D multi-person pose estimation system and greedily solves the association problem between multiple views. We utilize bipartite matching to track multiple people over multiple frames. This proofs to be especially efficient as problems associated with greedy matching such as occlusion can be easily resolved in 3D. Our approach achieves state-of-the-art results on popular benchmarks and may serve as a baseline for future work. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
681587 | Engineering of hybrid cells using lab-on-chip technology | The overall aim of the here described projects is to learn fundamental characteristics of cellular organization and compartmentalization, in particular the role of the lipid membrane, and to exploit this knowledge for engineering minimal cells with a great impact in the context of synthetic biology and also for pharmaceutical and medical applications. The first major objective aims at combining natural cell membranes with synthetic membranes to form defined hybrid systems with the size of cells or cell organelles. This approach has the intriguing advantage that the membrane receptors or channels are reconstituted in the hybrid cell and remain functional. In consequence, signaling pathways of a cell can be mimicked and therefore, the vesicles can be addressed similar to a cell or can serve as cell-free sensor. The second major objective addresses the challenge to build multi-compartment systems. In a defined number and formulation, smaller compartments are enclosed in a larger vesicle and carry other constituents than the lumen of the larger host vesicles (catalysts or enzymes, respectively; DNA; buffer systems; other active biomolecules). With the acquired fundamental knowledge on membrane permeability and fusion, multi-step reactions can be conducted, where several compartments are involved, just like in a living cell. The key methods to address these challenges are based on lab-on-chip technology that provide the unique potential to systematically investigate membrane properties by allowing precise formation, positioning, manipulation and analysis of the membranes; together with many more advantages such as the fast and controlled fluid supply, the possibility of tailoring the chemical surface patterns and surface topology and the application of electrical fields. Microfluidic platform will allow going far beyond the existing methods in membrane research, so that controlled bottom-up formation of simple to more and more complex systems becomes possible. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.