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W1979400516 | The Professor Position and the Single-Stance Flexion Test May Clarify the Effect of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis or Pseudostenosis on Lower-Extremity Symptoms | The effect of lumbar spinal stenosis on lower-extremity symptoms is often hard to ascertain in patients with multiple possible causes of symptoms. A positive response to two described maneuvers performed by patients in the office involving flexion of the spine can strongly corroborate the contribution of lumbar spinal stenosis to lower-extremity symptoms, although a negative response does not negate it. The professor position involves the patient standing and leaning in a gentle flexion position, with hands held secure behind the lower back. The single-stance flexion test has the patient gently leaning on support, with only a single symptomatic extremity supporting his or her body weight. Reduction or elimination of lower-extremity symptoms otherwise experienced in an erect position suggests that spine position contributes significantly to the overall lower-extremity symptoms, in addition to or instead of weightbearing or dependent positioning. These maneuvers may be effective in either lumbar spinal stenosis or pseudostenosis, a condition in which lower-extremity mechanical dysfunction induces spinal dysfunction mimicking or exacerbating symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis. Success with either maneuver can suggest to both physician and patient the potential value of positional testing with a rolling walker as a therapeutic intervention. Further research is necessary. Clinical use may be indicated. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(2): 156–160, 2013) | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.3762/bjoc.13.67 | Fluorescent carbon dots from mono- and polysaccharides: synthesis, properties and applications | Fluorescent carbon dots (FCDs) are an emerging class of nanomaterials made from carbon sources that have been hailed as potential non-toxic replacements to traditional semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Particularly in the areas of live imaging and drug delivery, due to their water solubility, low toxicity and photo- and chemical stability. Carbohydrates are readily available chiral biomolecules in nature which offer an attractive and cheap starting material from which to synthesise FCDs with distinct features and interesting applications. This mini-review article will cover the progress in the development of FCDs prepared from carbohydrate sources with an emphasis on their synthesis, functionalization and technical applications, including discussions on current challenges. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
185792 | Advanced material for cost effective and high density ultracapacitors for the transport sector | To meet carbon emissions targets, transport must become more energy efficient. Currently only 14%–30% of the energy from the fuel you put in a vehicle is used to move it down the road, depending on the drive cycle. The rest of the energy is lost to engine and driveline inefficiencies or used to power accessories.
There are several innovative technologies that can increase the efficiency of the vehicles and reduce transport emissions such as regenerative braking systems, start-stop systems, KERS, and ERS. However, all these systems require fast electric energy storage.
Existing technologies for energy storage cannot meet the needs of the transport sector. The conventional technology uses batteries, but these are slow to charge and discharge energy, large and heavy. Ultracapacitors have been put forward as the solution, as they can charge and discharge quickly, however they are currently prohibitively expensive to allow them to be universally taken up across the wider transport sector.
We at Xerolutions have developed a new material, called CAPOWER, which reduces the cost of energy stored in ultracapacitors by over 20%. Compared with the conventional material, CAPOWER increases Power density, Energy density, Cyclability and reduces volume per unit of energy stored.
The cost efficiency of our material will allow the widespread adoption of the latest energy recovery systems to be introduced to all vehicles.
The aim of the project is to scale up production of CAPOWER and demonstrate its effectiveness to T2 suppliers to kick start its take up in the market, and to thereby facilitate the widespread introduction of the energy efficient technologies. This will in turn reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
This widespread adoption will generate revenues of 11M€ by 2022 and create 15 new jobs. The project will generate an internal rate of return of 45%, providing a net present value of 6.838.155 € and a return on the total investment of 250%. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevB.95.035416 | Theory of plasmonic effects in nonlinear optics: The case of graphene | We develop a microscopic large-N theory of electron-electron interaction corrections to multilegged Feynman diagrams describing second- and third-order non-linear-response functions. Our theory, which reduces to the well-known random-phase approximation in the linear-response limit, is completely general and is useful to understand all second- and third-order nonlinear effects, including harmonic generation, wave mixing, and photon drag. We apply our theoretical framework to the case of graphene, by carrying out microscopic calculations of the second- and third-order non-linear-response functions of an interacting two-dimensional (2D) gas of massless Dirac fermions. We compare our results with recent measurements, where all-optical launching of graphene plasmons has been achieved by virtue of the finiteness of the quasihomogeneous second-order nonlinear response of this inversion-symmetric 2D material. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
2730985 | New geochemical approach to reconstruct tropical palaeo-atmospheric dynamics | Tropical climates are changing rapidly in the most populated regions of the planet. The changes largely arise from alterations in the Hadley circulation driven by natural and anthropogenic factors, whose relative roles and temporal variability are unclear. These knowledge gaps are in part due to the shortage of methods to study the atmospheric circulation before the advent of instrumental and satellites observations, and compounded by the contradictions between models and palaeo-data.
The aim of the project is to develop an innovative palaeo-proxy approach to investigate the natural range of variability of the Hadley circulation during past episodes of extreme warmth and cold. The approach relies on the exploitation as climate proxy of an untapped but widespread material in marine sediments: windborne pyrogenic carbon (PyC) derived from savannah and grassland fires in the tropics.
Through the geochemical and isotopic spatial characterization of PyC, along with the analysis of mineral dust in the modern tropical deep ocean, and a PyC biogeochemical model, we will build an interpretative framework of PyC deposition in deep-sea sediments. Its application in Pliocene-Pleistocene sequences from the Atlantic and the Pacific will allow the reconstruction of past meridional and zonal shifts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the Southern hemisphere westerlies, and provide new constraints on the natural variability of the Hadley circulation and associated hydroclimates.
PALADYN is possible thanks to the combination of cutting-edge geochemical and satellite data, and GIS methodologies, with in-depth interdisciplinary expertise on the palaeoclimatic study of marine sediments. We will provide new important datasets of windborne deep-sea PyC for testing and refining prediction models of atmospheric circulation, carbon cycle, precipitation and wildfires, issues which are of paramount global importance from scientific as well as societal standpoints. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
682626 | Migrant Life Course and Legal Status Transition | When does citizenship provide a boost to migrant integration? A fast-track to citizenship can maximise the potential for settlement success, though too short a pathway can disincentivise integration. Not all migrants have an equal interest in naturalising and some are discouraged by restrictive policies. Yet little is known about why, how and for whom legal status transition matters and, especially, how policy variation impacts on this relation. Which migrants are most discouraged by stricter requirements for naturalisation? For whom carries citizenship the largest pay-off? Does it still matter if a migrant acquires citizenship after a long waiting period? This project combines for the first time the ideas that a) migrants have different motivations to naturalise; b) legal status transitions are conditioned by the institutional and socioeconomic contexts in origin and destination countries and c) the potential ‘integration premium’ associated with naturalisation is conditioned by the trajectory into citizenship.
The innovative project contributions are:
1. modelling migrants’ legal status transitions as life course events, which are shaped by migrants’ origin, their family context and societal structures and institutions;
2. analysing the relevance of citizenship for work and income, living conditions, health status and out-migration among immigrants and for educational attainment among their descendants;
3. developing novel methodologies to analyse step-to-citizenship trajectories and the impact of policy changes on status transitions and related outcomes among migrant groups and cohorts;
4. testing models on the basis of a unique combination of longitudinal register-based and survey-based micro-data in 8 European and North American countries, which provide the comparative context to analyse the impact of institutional variation;
5. yielding information for targeted citizenship policies to maximise settlement success for immigrants and their children. | [
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1039/c7cp04748g | Interplay between the folding mechanism and binding modes in folding coupled to binding processes | Proteins that fold upon binding to their partners exhibit complex binding behavior such as induced-fit. Using molecular simulations we find that the ability to bind via induced-fit requires the disordered protein to fold downhill. Thus induced-fit appears as a manifestation of a conformational rheostat. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1007/978-1-4939-8820-4_21 | Solubis Optimizing Protein Solubility By Minimal Point Mutations | Protein solubility is adapted to endogeneous protein abundance in the cell where protein folding is also assisted by multiple chaperones. During recombinant protein production, purification and storage proteins are frequently handled at concentrations that are several orders of magnitude above their physiological concentration, often resulting in protein aggregation. Here we describe SolubiS, a method allowing for (1) detection of aggregation prone linear segments within a protein sequence and (2) identification of mutations that abolish the aggregation propensity of these segments without affecting the thermodynamic stability of the protein. Provided the availability of structural information this method is applicable to all globular proteins including antibodies, resulting both in increased in vitro protein solubility and in better protein production yields. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
10.1063/1.4954650 | Optofluidic Distributed Feedback Lasers With Evanescent Pumping Reduced Threshold And Angular Dispersion Analysis | We demonstrate an evanescently pumped water-based optofluidic distributed feedback (DFB) laser with a record low pump threshold of ETH=520 nJ. The low threshold results from an optimized mode shape, which is achieved by a low refractive index substrate, and from the use of a mixed-order DFB grating. Investigating the photonic band structure via angular dispersion analysis both above and below lasing threshold allows us to measure the refractive index of the liquid gain layer and to determine the device parameters such as the waveguide core layer thickness. We show that it is possible to tailor the divergence of the lasing emission by varying the number of second order grating periods used for outcoupling. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1063/1.4927857 | Rayleigh Taylor Instability Under An Inclined Plane | We revisit the canonical Rayleigh-Taylor instability and investigate the case of a thin film of fluid upon the underside of an inclined plane. The presence of a natural flow along the plane competes with the conventional droplet forming instability. In particular, experiments reveal that no drops form for inclinations greater than a critical value. These features are rationalized in the context of the absolute/convective analysis conducted in this article. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.12.031 | Tracking thoughts: Exploring the neural architecture of mental time travel during mind-wandering | The capacity to imagine situations that have already happened or fictitious events that may take place in the future is known as mental time travel (MTT). Studies have shown that MTT is an important aspect of spontaneous thought, yet we lack a clear understanding of how the neurocognitive architecture of the brain constrains this element of human cognition. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that MTT involves the coordination between multiple regions that include mesiotemporal structures such as the hippocampus, as well as prefrontal and parietal regions commonly associated with the default mode network (DMN). The current study used a multimodal neuroimaging approach to identify the structural and functional brain organisation that underlies individual differences in the capacity to spontaneously engage in MTT. Using regionally unconstrained diffusion tractography analysis, we found increased diffusion anisotropy in right lateralised temporo-limbic, corticospinal, inferior fronto-occipital tracts in participants who reported greater MTT. Probabilistic connectivity mapping revealed a significantly higher connection probability of the right hippocampus with these tracts. Resting-state functional MRI connectivity analysis using the right hippocampus as a seed region revealed greater functional coupling to the anterior regions of the DMN with increasing levels of MTT. These findings demonstrate that the interactions between the hippocampus and regions of the cortex underlie the capacity to engage in MTT, and support contemporary theoretical accounts that suggest that the integration of the hippocampus with the DMN provides the neurocognitive landscape that allows us to imagine distant times and places. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1109/GLOCOM.2017.8254901 | Robust Location Aided Beam Alignment In Millimeter Wave Massive Mimo | Location-aided beam alignment has been proposed recently as a potential approach for fast link establishment in millimeter wave (mmWave) massive MIMO (mMIMO) communications. However, due to mobility and other imperfections in the estimation process, the spatial information obtained at the base station (BS) and the user (UE) is likely to be noisy, degrading beam alignment performance. In this paper, we introduce a robust beam alignment framework in order to exhibit resilience with respect to this problem. We first recast beam alignment as a decentralized coordination problem where BS and UE seek coordination on the basis of correlated yet individual position information. We formulate the optimum beam alignment solution as the solution of a Bayesian team decision problem. We then propose a suite of algorithms to approach optimality with reduced complexity. The effectiveness of the robust beam alignment procedure, compared with classical designs, is then verified on simulation settings with varying location information accuracies. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1177/0956797616643924 | Pupillary Contagion In Infancy Evidence For Spontaneous Transfer Of Arousal | Pupillary contagion-responding to pupil size observed in other people with changes in one's own pupil-has been found in adults and suggests that arousal and other internal states could be transferred across individuals using a subtle physiological cue. Examining this phenomenon developmentally gives insight into its origins and underlying mechanisms, such as whether it is an automatic adaptation already present in infancy. In the current study, 6- and 9-month-olds viewed schematic depictions of eyes with smaller and larger pupils-pairs of concentric circles with smaller and larger black centers-while their own pupil sizes were recorded. Control stimuli were comparable squares. For both age groups, infants' pupil size was greater when they viewed large-center circles than when they viewed small-center circles, and no differences were found for large-center compared with small-center squares. The findings suggest that infants are sensitive and responsive to subtle cues to other people's internal states, a mechanism that would be beneficial for early social development. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
771550 | How does the brain organize sounds into auditory scenes? | Real-world listening involves making sense of the numerous competing sound sources that exist around us. The neuro-computational challenge faced by the brain is to reconstruct these sources from the composite waveform that arrives at the ear; a process known as auditory scene analysis. While young normal hearing listeners can parse an auditory scene with ease, the neural mechanisms that allow the brain to do this are unknown – and we are not yet able to recreate them with digital technology. Hearing loss, aging, impairments in central auditory processing, or an inability to appropriately engage attentional mechanisms can negatively impact the ability to listen in complex and noisy situations and an understanding of how the healthy brain organizes a sound mixture into perceptual sources may guide rehabilitative strategies targeting these problems.
While functional imaging studies in humans highlight a network of brain regions that support auditory scene analysis, little is known about the cellular and circuit based mechanisms that operate within these brain networks. A critical barrier to advancing our understanding of how the brain solves the challenge of scene analysis has been a failure to combine behavioural testing, which provides a crucial measure of how any given sound mixture is perceived, with methods to record and manipulate neuronal activity in animal models. Here, I propose to use a novel behavioural paradigm in conjunction with high-channel count electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic manipulation to elucidate how auditory cortex, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus enable scene analysis during active listening. These methods will allow us to record single cell activity from a number of brain regions more typical of functional imaging studies in order to understand how processing within each area, and the interactions between these areas, underpins auditory scene analysis. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
833577 | Resolving Precariousness: Advancing the Theory and Measurement of Precariousness across the paid/unpaid work continuum | The traditional dichotomy of paid (productive or waged) versus unpaid (reproductive or unwaged) work marginalizes unpaid work when conceptualizing precariousness, i.e. the exposure to unpredictability towards an individual’s future. It also neglects several types of unpaid work such as care work, work as a precondition for welfare payments, and newly emerging on- and offline work in the gig economy for which people in paid work are not compensated or where it is used to access paid work. A novel scientific perspective is needed, which breaks the paid/unpaid distinction, and rethinks precariousness on the paid/unpaid work continuum by uncovering the unpaid activities that increasingly underlie paid employment as a source of ‘value’ creation in the labour market. ResPecTMe will generate a new theoretical model of, and a measurement approach and monitoring tools for, precariousness at the paid and unpaid work continuum.
Using my unique experience of studying workers’ subjectivity within their societal contexts, I will achieve this by i) using a sequential mix of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to study precariousness at the paid/unpaid work continuum, and its social effects, in three core areas of work (i.e. care, crowd/gig- and creative), across and within eight European countries; ii) developing a comprehensive theory of precariousness at this continuum; iii) generating a valid, standardized and multi-indicator measurement (i.e. survey module) of precariousness at this continuum; iv) implementing monitoring tools for precariousness at the European level (i.e. rotating module for ESS and EPM). The theoretical knowledge, the measurement and the monitoring tools will address ongoing scientific and social challenges on how to study precariousness by innovating current conceptualisation of work in the scientific and policy community dealing with precarious work. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
EP 17150501 A | ELECTRIC LUMINAIRE | Um eine elektrische Leuchte, zumindest aufweisend ein Leuchtengehäuse mit Boden und Seitenwänden, mit mindestens einem Reflektor, zudem aufweisend eine Leuchteneinheit mit Kühler und mindestens einer lichtemittierenden Diode (LED), die von dem Reflektor umgeben oder zwischen den Reflektoren angeordnet ist, wobei der Lichtaustritt der LED oder der LEDs etwa horizontal in Richtung des Reflektors oder der Reflektoren erfolgt, zu schaffen, bei der auf schnelle und besonders einfache und dabei auch durch einen Laien reproduzierbare Art und Weise der Lichtaustrittswinkel insbesondere zur Ausleuchtung von Objekten wie Regalen einstellbar und somit an das jeweilige Regal anpassbar ist, die dabei kostengünstig und einfach zu fertigen ist und eine hohe Lebensdauer aufweist, wird vorgeschlagen, dass die Leuchteneinheit mit Kühler (5) und LED (6) höhenverstellbar gegenüber dem Boden (2) des Gehäuses und gegenüber dem Reflektor (4) oder den Reflektoren (4) angeordnet ist, wobei je nach Höhe des Lichtaustritts aus der LED (6) ein anderer Bereich des Reflektors (4) oder der Reflektoren (4) angestrahlt und somit der Lichtaustrittswinkel vergrößerbar oder vergrößert beziehungsweise verkleinerbar oder verkleinert ist. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010611-134636 | Chronic pain states: Pharmacological strategies to restore diminished inhibitory Spinal pain control | Potentially noxious stimuli are sensed by specialized nerve cells named nociceptors, which convey nociceptive signals from peripheral tissues to the central nervous system. The spinal dorsal horn and the trigeminal nucleus serve as first relay stations for incoming nociceptive signals. At these sites, nociceptor terminals contact a local neuronal network consisting of excitatory and inhibitory interneurons as well as of projection neurons. Blockade of neuronal inhibition in this network causes an increased sensitivity to noxious stimuli (hyperalgesia), painful sensations occurring after activation of non-nociceptive fibers (allodynia), and spontaneous pain felt in the absence of any sensory stimulation. It thus mimics the major characteristics of chronic pain states. Diminished inhibitory pain control in the spinal dorsal horn occurs naturally, e. g. , through changes in the function of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors or through altered chloride homeo-stasis in the course of inflammation or nerve damage. This review summarizes our current knowledge about endogenous mechanisms leading to diminished spinal pain control and discusses possible ways that could restore proper inhibition through facilitation of fast inhibitory neurotransmission. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1016/j.stem.2011.07.008 | EPO and super-EPO: Erythropoietins direct neoangiogenesis by cardiac progenitor cells | Erythropoietin, the red blood cell-making cytokine, is also a potential cytoprotective agent in heart disease. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Hoch et al. (2011) use two heart failure models, including chemotherapeutic cardiotoxicity, to reveal a mechanistic connection between reduced cardiomyocyte production of erythropoietin and neoangiogenesis by cardiac progenitors. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
W2162497105 | A tale of a tail: Structural insights into the conformational properties of the polyglutamine protein ataxin-3 | Ataxin-3 is the protein responsible for the neurodegenerative polyglutamine disease Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Full structural characterisation of ataxin-3 is required to aid in understanding the mechanism of disease. Despite extensive study, little is known about the conformational properties of the full-length protein, in either its non-expanded healthy or expanded pathogenic forms, particularly since its polyglutamine-containing region has denied structural elucidation. In this work, travelling-wave ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry and limited proteolysis have been used to compare the conformational properties of full-length non-expanded ataxin-3 (14Q) and its isolated N-terminal Josephin domain (JD). Limited proteolysis experiments have confirmed that the JD is stable, being extremely resistant to trypsin digestion, with the exception of the α2/α3 hairpin which is flexible and exposed to protease cleavage in solution. The C-terminal region of ataxin-3 which contains the glutamine-rich sequences is largely unstructured, showing little resistance to limited proteolysis. Using ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry we show that ataxin-3 (14Q) adopts a wide range of conformational states in vitro conferred by the flexibility of its C-terminal tail and the α2/α3 hairpin of the N-terminal JD. This study highlights how the power of MS-based approaches to protein structural characterisation can be particularly useful when the target protein is aggregation-prone and has intrinsically unordered regions. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
3733961 | Negotiating religion: coptic orthodox diaspora communities. shifting identities, needs, and relations from egypt to europe and back | NEGOTIA aims to analyse the Coptic Orthodox diaspora communities in Europe with specific regard to three key aspects: identities, needs, and relations, in order to reconstruct the theoretical-practical framework of religious mediation.Its first goal is to examine the origins and the history of these communities, their cultural heritage and the peculiarities of their religion, but above all the dynamics of deconstruction and reconstitution of the material, emotional and relational dimensions experienced by such communities in the pathways from their homeland to abroad and back. Its final goal is to define the research field of religious mediation through an integrated, methodological approach to Copts, who are a peculiar case study to conceptualise this topic, which has never been systematically studied before. At the core of NEGOTIA stands the Church of S. Giorgio Megalomartire, established in Rome as an independent Diocese in 1996. This community includes, among others: members with a migratory background; youth groups at least partially born in the diaspora; community religious and lay agents. It was a result of the 1960s migratory processes from Egypt and its profile is strongly characterised by continuous exchanges with their homeland.Thus, this Diocese will be analysed in close connection to the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, established in Cairo in 2008 “to preserve the rich Coptic heritage as an important epoch in Egyptian history and Christian tradition worldwide”, that exemplifies one of the most interesting, contemporary Coptic community centres of Egypt.Through a transnational comparative perspective, the data arising from the analysis of the Roman Diocese will be merged with the data collected studying the Coptic Church of St. Petrus, der letzte Märtyrer in Hamburg, the last research focus. This Church, founded in the 1970s, is one of the member churches of the North German Communities. | [
"Studies of Cultures and Arts",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"The Study of the Human Past"
]
|
W1979202774 | Positional accuracy of the Google Earth terrain model derived from stratigraphic unconformities in the Big Bend region, Texas, USA | The Google Earth terrain model could prove beneficial for extraction of positional data in the future. At present, only an aging independent benchmark study (Potere, D., 2008. Horizontal position accuracy of Google Earth's high-resolution imagery archive. Sensors, 8, 7973–7981) provides constraints on positional accuracy for Google Earth imagery. In this investigation, we compared virtually traced positions against high-precision (<1 m) field measurements along three stratigraphic unconformity sub-sections in the Big Bend region to determine current positional accuracy for the Google Earth terrain model. A horizontal position accuracy of 2.64 m RMSEr was determined for the Google Earth terrain model with mean offset distance being 6.95 m. A vertical position accuracy of 1.63 m RMSEz with mean offset distance of 2.66 m was also calculated for the terrain model. Results suggest data extracted from the Google Earth terrain model could plausibly be used in future studies. However, we urge caution in using Goo... | [
"Earth System Science",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevA.96.042326 | Investigating Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering of continuous-variable bipartite states by non-Gaussian pseudospin measurements | Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering is an asymmetric form of correlations which is intermediate between quantum entanglement and Bell nonlocality, and can be exploited as a resource for quantum communication with one untrusted party. In particular, steering of continuous-variable Gaussian states has been extensively studied theoretically and experimentally, as a fundamental manifestation of the EPR paradox. While most of these studies focused on quadrature measurements for steering detection, two recent works revealed that there exist Gaussian states which are only steerable by suitable non-Gaussian measurements. In this paper we perform a systematic investigation of EPR steering of bipartite Gaussian states by pseudospin measurements, complementing and extending previous findings. We first derive the density-matrix elements of two-mode squeezed thermal Gaussian states in the Fock basis, which may be of independent interest. We then use such a representation to investigate steering of these states as detected by a simple nonlinear criterion, based on second moments of the correlation matrix constructed from pseudospin operators. This analysis reveals previously unexplored regimes where non-Gaussian measurements are shown to be more effective than Gaussian ones to witness steering of Gaussian states in the presence of local noise. We further consider an alternative set of pseudospin observables, whose expectation value can be expressed more compactly in terms of Wigner functions for all two-mode Gaussian states. However, according to the adopted criterion, these observables are found to be always less sensitive than conventional Gaussian observables for steering detection. Finally, we investigate continuous-variable Werner states, which are non-Gaussian mixtures of Gaussian states, and find that pseudospin measurements are always more effective than Gaussian ones to reveal their steerability. Our results provide useful insights on the role of non-Gaussian measurements in characterizing quantum correlations of Gaussian and non-Gaussian states of continuous-variable quantum systems. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
10.1016/j.spa.2017.02.013 | Fluctuations of the total number of critical points of random spherical harmonics | We determine the asymptotic law for the fluctuations of the total number of critical points of random Gaussian spherical harmonics in the high degree limit. Our results have implications on the sophistication degree of an appropriate percolation process for modelling nodal domains of eigenfunctions on generic compact surfaces or billiards. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
EP 17848440 A | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEM | The present invention provides a low-cost image processing device that is capable of reducing a processing amount for detecting light spots in comparison to the prior art, and is capable of detecting headlights and tail lamps of vehicles with high precision. The present invention pertains to an image processing device 10 provided with: a light spot detection unit 11 that detects a light spot from a first image; and a specific color detection unit 12 that detects a specific color in a light spot region corresponding to a light spot in a second image having a higher light exposure amount than the first image. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1002/mas.21464 | Copper-catalyzed reactions: Research in the gas phase | Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is becoming an important tool for mechanistic studies in organic and organometallic chemistry. It allows investigation of reaction mixtures including monitoring of reactants, products, and intermediates, studying properties of the intermediates and their reactivity. Studying the reactive species in the gas phase can be advantageously combined with theoretical calculations. This review is focused on ESI-MS studies of copper-catalyzed reactions. Possible effects of the electrospray process on the transfer of the copper complexes to the gas phase are discussed. The plethora of mass spectrometric approaches is demonstrated on copper mediated C-H activations, cross coupling reactions, rearrangements, organocuprate chemistry, and other examples. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
336319 | The Social Life of State Deportation Regimes:
A Comparative Study of the Implementation Interface | The deportation of irregular migrants is a burning issue in public debates all around the world. Most states invest heavily in effective deportation regimes, but when it comes to implementation, deportation regimes are notorious for not achieving their declared goals. Everywhere, marked discrepancies persist between deportation policies and actual practices of deportation.
This project compares the implementation of deportation regimes in four different states – Israel, Greece, Spain and Ecuador – in order to provide a closely researched assessment of implementation practices. It interrogates a core assumption in much of the scholarly literature on the “deportation turn”, namely, that there is a global convergence of state deportation regimes.
The project adds a crucial – yet, so far underexplored – perspective on irregular migration: the interface of street-level state agents and civil-society actors in shaping practices of deportation. Existing studies look either at the “top level” of the state (policies, laws, procedures, etc.), or at the “underground level” of its “victims” (irregular migrants’ survival strategies, trafficking networks, etc.). This project privileges the “meso level” of the deportation regime, bringing to light the agency of those who exercise discretion in interpreting laws and policies at the “implementation interface”. It makes an original contribution to the anthropology of the state, by demonstrating that the territorial sovereignty of states is constantly renegotiated at this level.
The project will produce knowledge on the dilemmas, tactics and occasional alliances of those who carry out and those who obstruct deportation regimes. It will provide new insights into actors’ motivations and worldviews, and explore the dynamics of both “implementation deficits” and “implementation surpluses”. The fine-grained comparative methodology is aimed at producing findings that will be of theoretical significance and of vital importance for policymakers, street-level agents and civil-society actors in dealing with the realities of irregular migration in the 21st century. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
10.1002/anie.201603886 | A Nanoarchitecture Based on Silver and Copper Oxide with an Exceptional Response in the Chlorine-Promoted Epoxidation of Ethylene | The selective oxidation of ethylene to ethylene epoxide is highly challenging as a result of competing reaction pathways leading to the deep oxidation of both ethylene and ethylene oxide. Herein we present a novel catalyst based on silver and copper oxide with an excellent response in the selective oxidation pathway towards ethylene epoxide. The catalyst is composed of different silver nanostructures dispersed on a tubular copper oxide matrix. This type of hybrid nanoarchitecture seems to facilitate the accommodation of chlorine promoters, leading to high yields at low reaction temperatures. The stability after the addition of chlorine promoters implies a substantial improvement over the industrial practice: a single pretreatment step at ambient pressure suffices in contrast with the common practice of continuously feeding organochlorinated precursors during the reaction. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1186/1471-2164-14-853 | Reprogramming Of Lysosomal Gene Expression By Interleukin 4 And Stat6 | Lysosomes play important roles in multiple aspects of physiology, but the problem of how the transcription of lysosomal genes is coordinated remains incompletely understood. The goal of this study was to illuminate the physiological contexts in which lysosomal genes are coordinately regulated and to identify transcription factors involved in this control. As transcription factors and their target genes are often co-regulated, we performed meta-analyses of array-based expression data to identify regulators whose mRNA profiles are highly correlated with those of a core set of lysosomal genes. Among the ~50 transcription factors that rank highest by this measure, 65% are involved in differentiation or development, and 22% have been implicated in interferon signaling. The most strongly correlated candidate was Stat6, a factor commonly activated by interleukin-4 (IL-4) or IL-13. Publicly available chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) data from alternatively activated mouse macrophages show that lysosomal genes are overrepresented among Stat6-bound targets. Quantification of RNA from wild-type and Stat6-deficient cells indicates that Stat6 promotes the expression of over 100 lysosomal genes, including hydrolases, subunits of the vacuolar H+ ATPase and trafficking factors. While IL-4 inhibits and activates different sets of lysosomal genes, Stat6 mediates only the activating effects of IL-4, by promoting increased expression and by neutralizing undefined inhibitory signals induced by IL-4. The current data establish Stat6 as a broadly acting regulator of lysosomal gene expression in mouse macrophages. Other regulators whose expression correlates with lysosomal genes suggest that lysosome function is frequently re-programmed during differentiation, development and interferon signaling. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
interreg_595 | CCAlps. Creative companies in Alpine Space | Creativity is a modern lever to sustainable growth, considered a fundamental asset to enable a behavioural change. To promote a competitive growth in the Alpine area it is important to bet on creative industries, because of their capability to trigger transformation in a territory. The main objective of CCAlps is therefore to create a real and virtual network of hubs in the Alps, that puts creativity and innovation at the center and that is able to focus on specific issues and opportunities for local and transnational development. The project will connect and create collaboration between CCIs (cultural and creative industries), carriers of ideas, producers, policy makers and universities, for promoting and realising innovative pilot projects (Creative Camp) and new policies for their growth. CCAlps aims to push policy makers in thinking out specific regulations that can support CCIs in the Alpine Space. A policy recommendations dossier will define the guidelines to finance services and the start-up phase of new CCIs | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
W2399246222 | Wind energy resources on Phuquoc Island, Vietnam | ABSTRACTThis study analyzes the wind energy resources on Phuquoc Island, Vietnam. Daily wind data are collected from 2005 to 2011 in this study. The annual mean speed and power density are 6 m/s and 355 W/m2, respectively. Results show that more than 35% of the wind energy comes from the northwest. In this study, a 75 MW wind farm with 25 wind turbines is simulated by using the WAsP 10 program. The wind farm can produce over 189.636 GWh annually. In addition, the effects of wind disturbance and three-phase short circuit of the grid are analyzed using the ETAP 7.0 program. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1080/21541264.2016.1203628 | Specialization Versus Conservation How Pol I And Pol Iii Use The Conserved Architecture Of The Pre Initiation Complex For Specialized Transcription | Here, we discuss the overall architecture of the RNA polymerase I (Pol I) and III (Pol III) core enzymes and their associated general transcription factors in the context of models of the Pol I and Pol III pre-initiation complexes, thereby highlighting potential functional adaptations of the Pol I and Pol III enzymes to their respective transcription tasks. Several new insights demonstrate the great degree of specialization of each of the eukaryotic RNA polymerases that is only beginning to be revealed as the structural and functional characterization of all eukaryotic RNA polymerases and their pre-initiation complexes progresses. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1214/EJP.v18-2387 | A simple proof of distance bounds for Gaussian rough paths | We derive explicit distance bounds for Stratonovich iterated integrals along two Gaussian processes (also known as signatures of Gaussian rough paths) based on the regularity assumption of their covariance functions. Similar estimates have been obtained recently in [Friz-Riedel, AIHP, to appear]. One advantage of our argument is that we obtain the bound for the third level iterated integrals merely based on the first two levels, and this reflects the intrinsic nature of rough paths. Our estimates are sharp when both covariance functions have finite 1-variation, which includes a large class of Gaussian processes. Two applications of our estimates are discussed. The first one gives the a. s. convergence rates for approximated solutions to rough differential equations driven by Gaussian processes. In the second example, we show how to recover the optimal time regularity for solutions of some rough SPDEs. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
DE 9702030 W | PIPE FITTING | This invention concerns a pipe fitting which consists of a press fitting of corrosion-resistant material which has at least one section extending outwards or inwards and having a seal ring and a cylindrical area adjacent to it. This cylindrical area has a crease at the end of the extension and has a line pipe out of corrosion-resistant material, the end of which can be pushed into or onto the press fitting up to the mating edge. To that effect, the thin-walled line pipe (5) has a tightly fitting non-metallic jacket (7) shape-mated with it which, together with the line pipe (5), forms a compound pipe and the end area of the line pipe (5) has a supporting bushing (9, 11, 18). | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/s00330-012-2592-1 | Assessment of grating-based X-ray phase-contrast CT for differentiation of invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ in an experimental ex vivo set-up | Objective: Limited contrast between healthy and tumour tissue is a limiting factor in mammography and CT of the breast. Phase-contrast computed tomography (PC-CT) provides improved soft-tissue contrast compared with absorption-based techniques. In this study, we assessed the technical feasibility of grating-based PC-CT imaging of the breast for characterisation of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Methods: Grating-based PC-CT was performed on one breast specimen containing an invasive ductal carcinoma and DCIS using monochromatic radiation of 23 keV. Phase-contrast and absorption-based images were compared qualitatively and quantitatively with histopathology in a blinded fashion. Results: Grating-based PC-CT showed improved differentiation of soft-tissue components. Circular structures of high phase-shift contrast corresponding to the walls of the dilated ductuli of the DCIS were visualised with a contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 9. 6 using PC-CT but were not detectable on absorption-based images (CNR = 0. 27). The high phase-shift structures of the dilated ductuli were identifiable in the PC-CT volume data set al. lowing for 3D characterisation of DCIS. Conclusions: Our results indicate that unlike conventional CT, grating-based PC-CT may allow the differentiation between invasive carcinoma and intraductal carcinoma and healthy breast tissue and provide 3D visualisation of DCIS. Key Points: • Phase-contrast computed tomography (CT) yields improved soft-tissue contrast. • The method can resolve the fine structure of a breast tumour. • Invasive and intraductal carcinoma can be differentiated. • Differentiation is possible by visual inspection and quantification. • The method could improve early breast cancer diagnosis. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
DE 10207162 A | Verwertungseinrichtung von Grauwasser | Bei einer Einrichtung zur Verwertung von Abwasser, insbesondere Abwasser von Bade- und/oder Duschwannen, wobei Abwasser in einem Grauwassertank gesammelt wird, ist vorgeschlagen, dass der Abwasserstrom über eine Trennvorrichtung geführt wird, die klares Abwasser in den Grauwassertank und trübes Abwasser in die Abwasserkanalisation leitet. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
W1982088425 | The integrated landscape of driver genomic alterations in glioblastoma | Glioblastoma is one of the most challenging forms of cancer to treat. Here we describe a computational platform that integrates the analysis of copy number variations and somatic mutations and unravels the landscape of in-frame gene fusions in glioblastoma. We found mutations with loss of heterozygosity in LZTR1, encoding an adaptor of CUL3-containing E3 ligase complexes. Mutations and deletions disrupt LZTR1 function, which restrains the self renewal and growth of glioma spheres that retain stem cell features. Loss-of-function mutations in CTNND2 target a neural-specific gene and are associated with the transformation of glioma cells along the very aggressive mesenchymal phenotype. We also report recurrent translocations that fuse the coding sequence of EGFR to several partners, with EGFR-SEPT14 being the most frequent functional gene fusion in human glioblastoma. EGFR-SEPT14 fusions activate STAT3 signaling and confer mitogen independence and sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. These results provide insights into the pathogenesis of glioblastoma and highlight new targets for therapeutic intervention. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP10(2016)053 | Matched Predictions For The B Overline B H Cross Section At The 13 Tev Lhc | We present up-to-date matched predictions for the $$ b\overline{b}H $$
inclusive cross section at the LHC at $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$
TeV. Using a previously developed method, our predictions consistently combine the complete NLO contributions that are present in the 4-flavor scheme calculation, including finite b-quark mass effects as well as top-loop induced Y
b
Y
t
interference contributions, with the resummation of collinear logarithms of m
b
/m
H
as present in the 5-flavor scheme calculation up to NNLO. We provide a detailed estimate of the perturbative uncertainties of the matched result by examining its dependence on the factorization and renormalization scales, the scale of the Yukawa coupling, and also the low b-quark matching scale in the PDFs. We motivate the use of a central renormalization scale of m
H
/2, which is halfway between the values typically chosen in the 4-flavor and 5-flavor scheme calculations. We evaluate the parametric uncertainties due to the PDFs and the b-quark mass, and in particular discuss how to systematically disentangle the parametric m
b
dependence and the unphysical b-quark matching scale dependence. Our best prediction for the $$ b\overline{b}H $$
production cross section in the Standard Model at 13 TeV and for m
H
= 125 GeV is $$ \sigma \left(b\overline{b}H\right)=0. 52\kern0. 5em \mathrm{p}\mathrm{b}\left[1\pm 9. 6\%{\left(\mathrm{perturbative}\right)}_{-3. 6\%}^{+2. 9\%}\left(\mathrm{parametric}\right)\right] $$
. We also provide predictions for a range of Higgs masses m
H
∈ [50, 750] GeV. Our method to compute the matched prediction and to evaluate its uncertainty can be readily applied to other heavy-quark-initiated processes at the LHC. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
695709 | The origins of dendritic computation within mammalian neural circuits | This proposal aims to address a simple question: what is the fundamental unit of computation in the brain? Answering this question is crucial not only for understanding how the brain works, but also if we are to build accurate models of brain function, which require abstraction based on identification of the essential elements for carrying out computations relevant to behaviour. In this proposal, we will build on recent work demonstrating that dendrites are highly electrically excitable to test the possibility that single dendritic branches may act as individual computational units during behaviour, challenging the classical view that the neuron is the fundamental unit of computation. We will address this question using a combination of electrophysiolgical, anatomical, imaging, molecular, and modeling approaches to probe dendritic integration in pyramidal cells and Purkinje cells in mouse cortex and cerebellum.
We will first define the computational rules for integration of synaptic input in single and multiple dendrites by examining the somatic and dendritic responses to different spatiotemporal patterns of excitatory and inhibitory inputs in brain slices. Next, we will determine how these rules are engaged by patterns of sensory stimulation in vivo, by using various strategies to map the spatiotemporal patterns of synaptic inputs onto single dendrites. To understand how physiological patterns of activity in the circuit engage these dendritic computations, we will use anatomical approaches to map the wiring diagram of synaptic inputs to individual dendrites. Finally, we will perturb the dendritic computational rules by manipulating dendritic function using molecular and optogenetic tools, in order to provide causal links between specific dendritic computations and sensory processing relevant to behaviour.
These experiments will provide us with deeper insights into how single neurons act as computing devices. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.018 | A Unique Microglia Type Associated with Restricting Development of Alzheimer's Disease | Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a detrimental neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatments. Due to cellular heterogeneity, defining the roles of immune cell subsets in AD onset and progression has been challenging. Using transcriptional single-cell sorting, we comprehensively map all immune populations in wild-type and AD-transgenic (Tg-AD) mouse brains. We describe a novel microglia type associated with neurodegenerative diseases (DAM) and identify markers, spatial localization, and pathways associated with these cells. Immunohistochemical staining of mice and human brain slices shows DAM with intracellular/phagocytic Aβ particles. Single-cell analysis of DAM in Tg-AD and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2)−/− Tg-AD reveals that the DAM program is activated in a two-step process. Activation is initiated in a Trem2-independent manner that involves downregulation of microglia checkpoints, followed by activation of a Trem2-dependent program. This unique microglia-type has the potential to restrict neurodegeneration, which may have important implications for future treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Video Abstract | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevE.93.063302 | Entropic lattice Boltzmann model for gas dynamics: Theory, boundary conditions, and implementation | We present in detail the recently introduced entropic lattice Boltzmann model for compressible flows [N. Frapolli, Phys. Rev. E 92, 061301(R) (2015)PLEEE81539-375510. 1103/PhysRevE. 92. 061301]. The model is capable of simulating a wide range of laminar and turbulent flows, from thermal and weakly compressible flows to transonic and supersonic flows. The theory behind the construction of the model is laid out and its thermohydrodynamic limit is discussed. Based on this theory and the hydrodynamic limit thereof, we also construct the boundary conditions necessary for the simulation of solid walls. We present the inlet and outlet boundary conditions as well as no-slip and free-slip boundary conditions. Details necessary for the implementation of the compressible lattice Boltzmann model are also reported. Finally, simulations of compressible flows are presented, including two-dimensional supersonic and transonic flows around a diamond and a NACA airfoil, the simulation of the Schardin problem, and the three-dimensional simulation of the supersonic flow around a conical geometry. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevB.90.100403 | Anomalous and planar Nernst effects in thin films of the half-metallic ferromagnet La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 | We report the planar and anomalous Nernst effects in epitaxial thin films of spin polarized La2/3Sr1/3MnO3. The thermal counterpart of the anomalous Hall effect in this material (i. e. , the anomalous Nernst effect) shows an extreme sensitivity to any parasitic thermal gradient, resulting in large asymmetric voltages under small temperature differences. This should be considered when interpreting the magnitude of the electrical response in nanostructures and devices that operate under high current densities. Finally, none of the observed magnetothermoelectric signals is related to the spin Seebeck effect in this material. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1021/ja4017842 | Mechanochemical synthesis of chemically stable isoreticular covalent organic frameworks | Three thermally and chemically stable isoreticular covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were synthesized via room-temperature solvent-free mechanochemical grinding. These COFs were successfully compared with their solvothermally synthesized counterparts in all aspects. These solvent-free mechanochemically synthesized COFs have moderate crystallinity with remarkable stability in boiling water, acid (9 N HCl), and base [TpBD (MC) in 3 N NaOH and TpPa-2 (MC) in 9 N NaOH]. Exfoliation of COF layers was simultaneously observed with COF formation during mechanochemical synthesis. The structures thus obtained seemed to have a graphene-like layered morphology (exfoliated layers), unlike the parent COFs synthesized solvothermally. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
W1986472843 | Liquidation equilibrium with seniority and hidden CDO | The aim of our paper is to price credit derivatives written on a single name when this name is a bank. Indeed, due to the special structure of the balance sheet of a bank and to the interconnections with other institutions of the financial system, the standard pricing formulas do not apply and their use can imply severe mispricing. The pricing of credit derivatives written on a single bank name requires a joint analysis of the risks of all banks directly or indirectly interconnected with the bank of interest. Each name cannot be priced in isolation, but the banking system must be treated as a whole. It is necessary to analyze the contagion of losses among banks, especially the equilibrium of joint defaults and recovery rates at liquidation time. We show the existence and uniqueness of such an equilibrium. Then the standard pricing formulas are modified by adding a premium to capture the contagion effects. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
interreg_3890 | VIA NOVA – Healthy Mobility and Intelligent Intermodality In Alpine Areas | VIANOVA with partners from all the 7 Alpine countries is a project that aims to reduce car traffic (shift solo car trips) and at the same time to motivate the inhabitants for non-motorised and sustainable modes of transport based on physical activities (cycling & walking). A cross-sectoral approach (land use planning - mobility – health) will combine measures that fit perfectly to the sensible Alpine Space. The model like demonstrations will be implemented on 3 levels. 1) Improvement of objective situation of public space for physical activities (air quality, infrastructure, barriers, organisation, intermodality), 2) Improvement of perception of public space for cycling / walking and 3) User motivation for sustainable model choice. Results will be: well documented case studies, training sessions & materials for planners and policy recommendations. | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
W2914797718 | Landscape-Based Habitat Engineering for Sugarcane Ecosystem: A Green Technological Option for Pest Management | A conceptual model of habitat augmentation for subtropical sugarcane ecosystem has been established to enhance its self-regulatory capacity for pest protection by linking species interrelationships and their trophic interactions. In order to ensure adequate number of predators and parasitoids to deliver the desired level of pest control, strategic approach is needed to support natural enemies. The provisioning of food for their adults, alternate hosts in the vicinity, shelter, etc., through habitat alteration may be the sustainable answer. The innovative design in this model that is integration of lac cultivation in the neighborhood of sugarcane is expected to prolong food availability to adult parasitoids, alternate host and shelter. The lac insect and its host plant are excellent source of honey dew, nectar and is available almost year round. The associated insect fauna of lac is not only potential natural biocontrol agents but also lac cultivation supports honey bee population. It is believed that such a model of habitat augmentation in conjunction with the presently available tools in biological insect management will be more effective with a lower cost of operation. The additional cash income through lac is another benefit to sugarcane farmers. We anticipate that the ecological and economic benefits of the suggested model may add value to the sugarcane ecosystem and will attract attention of all the stakeholders associated with this commercial crop. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
216814 | Antimicrobial flexible polymers for its use in hospital environments | FLEXPOL aims to develop a pilot line for the production of a cost effective antimicrobial (AM) adhesive film for its use in hospitals.
The obtained adhesive film will inhibit growth of a wide range of microbes and will be suitable for high-touch surfaces, providing a durable protection with good resistance. It will assure the highest level of hygiene and patient safety, reducing the use of disinfectants.
These objectives will be achieved, using a multi-functional approach combining prevention of adhesion with killing of microorganisms, by means of essential oil (EO) emulsions embedded in a micro and nanopatterned polypropylene matrix.
FLEXPOL covers the following key aspects:
-It addresses the development, upscaling and demonstration in a relevant industrial environment of the production of films with AM, biocompatible and anti-adhesive properties. Existing extrusion and nanoimprinting pilot lines will act as the starting point in which new additives based on blends of EO will be incorporated.
-Previously validated technologies constitute the basis of the approach. These technologies will be extended to large scale production and demonstrated in a real operational environment. The pilot line will include real time characterization for inspection of the film at the nanoscale.
-Robustness and repeatability of film fabrication and its behavior in a real environment will be studied. The effectiveness of the solution will be compared with standard protocols.
-Materials are chosen according to their cost for large-scale application. Productivity and cost of the fabrication process will be analyzed attending to energetic optimization of the product fabrication and the raw material cost.
-Access to the pilot line for AM films in this or a different application will be ensured to European Industries at a cost that promotes technology transfer.
-Non-technological aspects key for the marketing of the product (such as regulatory issues, HSE aspects, LCA...) are considered. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02349 | Estimating Interprotein Pairwise Interaction Energies in Cell Lysates from a Single Native Mass Spectrum | A powerful method to determine the energetic coupling between amino acids is double mutant cycle analysis. In this method, two residues are mutated separately and in combination and the energetic effects of the mutations are determined. A deviation of the effect of the double mutation from the sum of effects of the single mutations indicates that the two residues are interacting directly or indirectly. Here, we show that double mutant cycle analysis by native mass spectrometry can be carried out for interactions in crude Escherichia coli cell extracts, thereby obviating the need for protein purification and generating binding isotherms. Our results indicate that intermolecular hydrogen bond strengths are not affected by the more crowded conditions in cell lysates. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W1981342765 | An insight into the bread bubble structure: An X-ray microtomography approach | Abstract An insight into bread bubble structure is presented in this study. In particular, different types of bread have been investigated differing both in the yeast and water contents and therefore leading to distinct cellular structures. X-ray microtomography was used in combination with advanced statistical methods in order to find a correlation between the bread bubble size and its shape. Therefore in order to obtain in depth quantitative information the individual object geometrical parameters, OV, OS and SMI as stated above, were calculated using CTAn software (SkyScan) as these parameters provide the quantitative information for every single object (pore) present in the samples. The statistical results confirm that the small air cells incorporated in the dough and that are more or less cylindrical in nature, continue to grow and change shape (more plate like in nature) during baking. The results also highlight that this change in the shape with the increase of pore volume and surface is independent of the yeast or water content. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
interreg_1938 | PEER-to-peer network of INNOvation agencies and business schools developing a novel transnational qualification programme on AdVanced Manufacturing for the needs of Central European SME | Central Europe has a strong industrial tradition which is recently offset by an urgent need for modernisation and re-industrialisation. CE companies, spec. SME, are urgently challenged to adopt innovative advanced manufacturing (AVM) processes in order to enhance their competitiveness and gain access to transnational AVM value chains. While AVM is mainly discussed as a technological issue, innovation managers and SME owners face huge organisational and strategic challenges. There is an urgent need to develop a joint qualification basis across CE with new transnational approaches for AVM-related capacity building in local SME and lead companies.
The InnoPeer AVM partnership of 11 organisations from 5 CE countries is commited to develop and pilot the 1st comprehensive, transnational AVM qualification programme shaped to the needs of CE companies, spec. SME. The multi-level programme will cover 3 knowledge dimensions (AVM technologies, human resource/organisational mgmt., business model dev.) using a mix of well-proven and novel training formats and methods for basic, advanced and practical trainings, like Living Lab webinars, practical test runs at a Model Factory and AVM strategy Camps. As an absolute novelty a compilation of "Teaching Cases" ("Harvard Business School style") based on real CE SME challenges will be developed. Participants attending the complete curriculum will write SME-related thesis to become "InnoPeer-certified AVM managers". Pilot trainings will involve target companies+innovation managers from all PP regions. The piloted programme will be made freely available for sustain. enlargement of peer networks involved in AVM qualification across CE.
PPs will elaborate regional action plans and a Roadmap on AVM capacity building in CE and establish the "InnoPeer AVM Board" of high-ranked industry/academia experts and CE inno. policymakers that will sustainable steer the impl. of project results and promote the AVM agendy of CE at EU level. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
259196 | NEW FRONTIERS IN PLASMON OPTICS: FROM NANOCHEMISTRY TO QUANTUM OPTICS | At this point in time where plasmon optics has become a mature field of research, we propose here to create new bridges with other scientific disciplines in which the optical properties of plasmonic nanostructures could successfully address major roadblocks. The proposed scientific project consists of two independent parts, in which plasmonics is combined with Nanochemistry and Quantum optics, respectively.
First, we will investigate how plasmonics could contribute to control with nanometer accuracy the deposition of a wide range of molecules or other nano-objects at a surface pre-patterned with noble metal nanostructures. Our approach is foreseen to overpass some of the major limitations of existing methods by combining parallel patterning over large areas with a resolution down to 10nm. Beyond demonstrating the feasibility of this novel approach, we propose to exploit it to increase the sensitivity of bio-chemical plasmonic sensing and surface enhanced Raman scattering.
The second part of the project will study the use of the recent concept of plasmon nano-optical tweezers to develop a novel integrated quantum platform. The developed platform will be tested for applications to quantum simulation. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
W1969466261 | Parametric study and optimization of a RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) engine fueled with methanol and diesel | Abstract By integrating an updated multi-dimensional model and the NSGA-II (non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II), the combustion of a RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) engine fueled with methanol/diesel was optimized. Based on the optimization results, parametric study was performed by varying energy fraction of methanol, EGR (exhaust gas recirculation rate, initial in-cylinder pressure at IVC (intake valve closing), initial in-cylinder temperature at IVC, and SOI (start of injection). Furthermore, the sensitivities of these five parameters on fuel efficiency, emissions, ignition timing and RI (ringing intensity) were analyzed. The results indicated that initial temperature and EGR rate exhibited the most significant effect on engine performance and emissions for their obvious effect on combustion temperature. By varying the local fuel-rich and high-temperature regions, methanol fraction and SOI could dramatically affect NOx (nitrogen oxide) emission. Overall, the RCCI combustion with high methanol fraction and advanced SOI exhibited higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Moreover, it was found that both decreasing EGR rate and increasing initial temperature led to the monotonously increased RI. While decreasing methanol fraction and increasing initial pressure demonstrated the negligible effect on RI at CA50 earlier than 4.3 °CA ATDC, which was contributed to their obvious effect on fuel spatial distributions. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1109/MIS.2017.12 | Online Prediction Via Continuous Artificial Prediction Markets | Prediction markets are well-established tools for aggregating information from diverse sources into accurate forecasts. Their success has been demonstrated in a wide range applications, including presidential campaigns, sporting events, and economic outcomes. Recently, they've been introduced to the machine learning community in the form of artificial prediction markets, in which algorithms trade contracts reflecting their levels of confidence. To date, these markets have mostly been studied in the context of offline classification, with promising results. The authors extend them to enable their use in online regression and introduce adaptive trading strategies informed by individual trading history and the ability of participants to revise their predictions by reflecting on the wisdom of the crowd, which is manifested in the collective performance of the market. The authors empirically evaluate their model using multiple datasets and show that it outperforms several well-established techniques from the literature on online regression. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1002/cmmi.1515 | MRI contrast variation of thermosensitive magnetoliposomes triggered by focused ultrasound: A tool for image-guided local drug delivery | Improved drug delivery control during chemotherapy has the potential to increase the therapeutic index. MRI contrast agent such as iron oxide nanoparticles can be co-encapsulated with drugs in nanocarrier liposomes allowing their tracking and/or visualization by MRI. Furthermore, the combination of a thermosensitive liposomal formulation with an external source of heat such as high intensity focused ultrasound guided by MR temperature mapping allows the controlled local release of the content of the liposome. MRI-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), in combination represents a noninvasive technique to generate local hyperthermia for drug release. In this study we used ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIO) encapsulated in thermosensitive liposomes to obtain thermosensitive magnetoliposomes (TSM). The transverse and longitudinal relaxivities of this MRI contrast agent were measured upon TSM membrane phase transition in vitro using a water bath or HIFU. The results showed significant differences for MRI signal enhancement and relaxivities before and after heating, which were absent for nonthermosensitive liposomes and free nanoparticles used as controls. Thus, incorporation of USPIO as MRI contrast agents into thermosensitive liposomes should, besides TSM tumor accumulation monitoring, allow the visualization of TSM membrane phase transition upon temperature elevation. In conclusion, HIFU under MR image guidance in combination with USPIO-loaded thermosensitive liposomes as drug delivery system has the potential for a better control of drug delivery and to increase the drug therapeutic index. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/nn.3729 | Mutations in Eml1 lead to ectopic progenitors and neuronal heterotopia in mouse and human | Neuronal migration disorders such as lissencephaly and subcortical band heterotopia are associated with epilepsy and intellectual disability. DCX, PAFAH1B1 and TUBA1A are mutated in these disorders; however, corresponding mouse mutants do not show heterotopic neurons in the neocortex. In contrast, spontaneously arisen HeCo mice display this phenotype, and our study revealed that misplaced apical progenitors contribute to heterotopia formation. While HeCo neurons migrated at the same speed as wild type, abnormally distributed dividing progenitors were found throughout the cortical wall from embryonic day 13. We identified Eml1, encoding a microtubule-associated protein, as the gene mutated in HeCo mice. Full-length transcripts were lacking as a result of a retrotransposon insertion in an intron. Eml1 knockdown mimicked the HeCo progenitor phenotype and reexpression rescued it. We further found EML1 to be mutated in ribbon-like heterotopia in humans. Our data link abnormal spindle orientations, ectopic progenitors and severe heterotopia in mouse and human. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevD.87.094503 | Thirring model at finite density in 0+1 dimensions with stochastic quantization: Crosscheck with an exact solution | We consider a generalized Thirring model in 0+1 dimensions at finite density. In order to deal with the resulting sign problem we employ stochastic quantization, i. e. , a complex Langevin evolution. We investigate the convergence properties of this approach and check in which parameter regions complex Langevin evolutions are applicable in this setting. To this end we derive numerous analytical results and compare directly with numerical results. In addition we employ indirect indicators to check for correctness. Finally, we interpret and discuss our findings. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.3389/fnmol.2013.00043 | A comprehensive characterization of the nuclear microRNA repertoire of post-mitotic neurons | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs with important functions in the development and plasticity of post-mitotic neurons. In addition to the well-described cytoplasmic function of miRNAs in post-transcriptional gene regulation, recent studies suggested that miRNAs could also be involved in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory processes in the nuclei of proliferating cells. However, whether miRNAs localize to and function within the nucleus of post-mitotic neurons is unknown. Using a combination of microarray hybridization and small RNA deep sequencing, we identified a specific subset of miRNAs which are enriched in the nuclei of neurons. Nuclear enrichment of specific candidate miRNAs (miR-25 and miR-92a) could be independently validated by Northern blot, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). By cross-comparison to published reports, we found that nuclear accumulation of miRNAs might be linked to a down-regulation of miRNA expression during in vitro development of cortical neurons. Importantly, by generating a comprehensive isomiR profile of the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments, we found a significant overrepresentation of guanine nucleotides (nt) at the 3'-terminus of nuclear-enriched isomiRs, suggesting the presence of neuron-specific mechanisms involved in miRNA nuclear localization. In conclusion, our results provide a starting point for future studies addressing the nuclear function of specific miRNAs and the detailed mechanisms underlying subcellular localization of miRNAs in neurons and possibly other polarized cell types. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201630126 | Fragmentation And Disk Formation In High Mass Star Formation The Alma View Of G351 77 0 54 At 0 06 Resolution | Aims: We resolve the small-scale structure around the high-mass hot core region G351. 77-0. 54 to investigate its disk and fragmentation properties. Methods: Using ALMA at 690GHz with baselines exceeding 1. 5km, we study the dense gas, dust and outflow emission at an unprecedented spatial resolution of 0. 06" (130AU@2. 2kpc). Results: Within the inner few 1000AU, G351. 77 fragments into at least four cores (brightness temperatures between 58 and 197K). The central structure around the main submm source #1 with a diameter of ~0. 5" does not show additional fragmentation. While the CO(6-5) line wing emission shows an outflow lobe in the north-western direction emanating from source #1, the dense gas tracer CH3CN shows a velocity gradient perpendicular to the outflow that is indicative of rotational motions. Absorption profile measurements against the submm source #2 indicate infall rates on the order of 10^{-4} to 10^{-3}M_sun/yr which can be considered as an upper limit of the mean accretion rates. The position-velocity diagrams are consistent with a central rotating disk-like structure embedded in an infalling envelope, but they may also be influenced by the outflow. Using the CH_3CN(37_k-36_k) k-ladder with excitation temperatures up to 1300K, we derive a gas temperature map of source #1 exhibiting temperatures often in excess of 1000K. Brightness temperatures of the submm continuum never exceed 200K. This discrepancy between gas temperatures and submm dust brightness temperatures (in the optically thick limit) indicates that the dust may trace the disk mid-plane whereas the gas could be tracing a hotter gaseous disk surface layer. In addition, we conduct a pixel-by-pixel Toomre gravitational stability analysis of the central rotating structure. The derived high Q values throughout the structure confirm that this central region appears stable against gravitational instability. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1016/j.forpol.2017.04.014 | Mapping certified forests for sustainable management - A global tool for information improvement through participatory and collaborative mapping | There are currently no spatially explicit, openly accessible data available on forest certification below national level, so understanding the drivers of certification in the past, examining the scope for further certification and using this information for development of future sustainable forest management strategies is challenging. Hence, this paper presents a methodology for the development of a global map of certified forest areas at 1 km resolution in order to satisfy this information need. Validation of the map with certified areas in Russia showed reasonable results, but the lack of openly accessible data requires broadening the strategy for improving the global certification map in the future. Thus, the second aim of the paper is to present an online tool for visualization and interactive improvement of the global forest certification product through collaborative mapping, aiming at a range of stakeholders including third-party certifiers, green NGOs, forestry organizations, decision-makers, scientists and local experts. Such an approach can help to make more accurate information on forest certification available, promote the sharing of data and encourage more transparent and sustainable forest management, i. e. both producers and users can benefit from this online tool. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2587070108 | Performative contradiction and revolution : reconsidering Romania | This thesis discusses the Romanian Revolution of 1989 through the critiques of its authenticity that have emerged in the field of critical theory over the past twenty-five years. It applies a different theoretical model for interpretation, that of performative contradiction, and reconsiders accusations of inauthenticity through this lens. By introducing this new model, the objective is to liberate this specific political event, and also political events at large, from the burden of authenticity, which amounts to an expectation of adherence to a specific form of identity politics. The end of the Cold War is commemorated and reflected upon alongside, and with as much frequency as, references to the demise of Communism, yet political realities continue to trouble these declarations. For example, the recent annexation of Crimea has once again brought Cold War tensions back into view, and demonstrates that the conflict is perhaps not so easily diagnosable, and its death not quite as finite, as the fall of the Berlin Wall promised. This perpetually returning specter demands further analysis, without which the risk of repetition and escalation increases. In the interrogation of the specific case of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, there is no scholarly work devoted to a thorough reading of the events through a critical lens such as this. All the theoretical work discussing this example is preoccupied with a notion of authenticity, and discusses the revolution exclusively in terms of coups, simulacra, falsifications, and thefts. As the only one of the Easter Bloc nations to violently execute the former head of state, this event remains vexing and resistant to interpretation for many scholars. It is precisely this resistance that calls for a new interpretive model. The application of performative contradiction in this thesis provides a new vocabulary through which to discuss political movements in general, particularly those that appear compromised, at odds with themselves, or otherwise fractured. | [
"Texts and Concepts",
"The Study of the Human Past",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
US 201816195105 A | FULLY ILLUMINATED APPARATUS AND METHOD | Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for illuminating. An exemplary apparatus includes a substrate having a longitudinal axis, and a first plurality of spaced apart fingers extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from a first side of the substrate. The apparatus further includes second plurality of spaced apart fingers extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a second side of the substrate, wherein the first side of the substrate is opposite the second side of the substrate. The apparatus still further includes a first plurality of spaced apart lighting elements located on a third side of the substrate, wherein the first plurality of spaced apart lighting elements are spaced along the longitudinal axis of the substrate, and a second plurality of spaced apart lighting elements located on a fourth side of the substrate. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/978-981-10-4053-5_1 | Introduction Current Challenges Of Global History In East Asian Historiographies | The origins of this book, being the first in the new series on Palgrave Studies in Comparative Global History, date from the early projects and common synergies that Lucio de Sousa and I started respectively in Japan and China. The GECEM project, funded by the ERC, and the Global History Network in China (GHN) has contributed with no doubt to embark on such new project to better understand the disparities between East Asia, mainly China and Japan, and the West. The use of new empirical evidence and cross referencing Western and Eastern sources is a paramount element to reframe the debate of the great divergence and the new directions of global history. New case studies and new questions are crucial to overcome in the West the harsh critics to global history, the so-called Eurocentric exceptionalism, but also to outdo the prevailing Sinocentric focus regarding China studies. This project places a special emphasis on the polycentric economic areas of the world, not only from China, Japan and Europe, but also the Americas. Therefore, the ultimate aim is to analyse economic growth from a local to a global perspective without repeatedly making emphasis in core areas that traditional historiography has done in the past to praise national histories. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.02.001 | Rapid ecosystem change challenges the adaptive capacity of local environmental knowledge | The use of Local Environmental Knowledge has been considered as an important strategy for adaptive management in the face of Global Environmental Change. However, the unprecedented rates at which global change occurs may pose a challenge to the adaptive capacity of local knowledge systems. In this paper, we use the concept of the shifting baseline syndrome to examine the limits in the adaptive capacity of the local knowledge of an indigenous society facing rapid ecosystem change. We conducted semi-structured interviews regarding perceptions of change in wildlife populations and in intergenerational transmission of knowledge amongst the Tsimane', a group of hunter-gatherers of Bolivian Amazonia (. n=. 300 adults in 13 villages). We found that the natural baseline against which the Tsimane' measure ecosystem changes might be shifting with every generation as a result of (a) age-related differences in the perception of change and (b) a decrease in the intergenerational sharing of environmental knowledge. Such findings suggest that local knowledge systems might not change at a rate quick enough to adapt to conditions of rapid ecosystem change, hence potentially compromising the adaptive success of the entire social-ecological system. With the current pace of Global Environmental Change, widening the gap between the temporal rates of on-going ecosystem change and the timescale needed for local knowledge systems to adjust to change, efforts to tackle the shifting baseline syndrome are urgent and critical for those who aim to use Local Environmental Knowledge as a tool for adaptive management. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
219957 | Revitalizing the clinical potential of type i ifns in fighting influenza a virus infections with actaferon. | Based on their antiviral and antitumor effect, type I interferons (IFNs) were believed to be the miracle drug to tackle viruses and cancer. However, clinical IFN applications remained limited due to severe side effects resulting from widespread cellular sensitivity to IFN, which limits the administrable doses. Hence, the drug concentration at the desired infection or tumor site is often too low to be fully therapeutic efficient. AcTaferon (Activated-by-Targeting interferon), co-developed by Prof. Uzé, circumvents these obstacles. By fusing an IFN mutant with strongly reduced receptor binding affinity to a targeting moiety that recognizes a surface marker on specific cells, AcTaferon remains inactive “en route” through the body and unveils its biological activity only on specific target cells. Robust tumor regression without side effects and preliminary antiviral effects underscore the huge clinical potential of AcTaferon to fight cancer and viral diseases. By combining the AcTaferon and influenza expertise of Prof. Uzé and Prof. Saelens, respectively, this interdisciplinary project offers the opportunity to broaden the innovative AcTaferon therapeutic strategy from the cancer to the viral infection field. Influenza A was selected as a pilot target as seasonal influenza A epidemics and occasional pandemics remain a serious health threat causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Influenza A-targeted AcTaferons will be developed and analyzed in relevant in vitro and in vivo models. Eventually, all knowledge will be transferred to Orionis, a company that will implement the AcTaferon technology to develop novel drugs. My background on the intracellular processes that negatively regulate cytokine receptors and hence influence the cellular sensitivity to a (therapeutic) cytokine is an asset to this project. I will be able to extend my fundamental research experience with applied cytokine research, which may extend into a new academic or industrial research pipeline. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
634674 | Lucero - smart optofluidic micromanipulation of biological samples | The goal of Lucero is to create autonomous micromanipulation solutions for biological applications integrating optical manipulation, microfluidics, and machine intelligence. Single-cell analysis is critical in many biomedical applications, such as clinical trials, in-vitro fertilization, forensic analysis, and single-cell omics. In fact, it is an ideal moment to enter the single-cell analysis market, because this market is valued at $1.4 billion globally and expected to keep on growing with a compound annual rate higher than 17%. While some techniques are already commercially available, single-cell approaches still have several limitations. Mechanical tools (e.g., motorised micropipettes and microneedles, centrifugation) are invasive and prone to damage the cells. Labeled-sorting methods (e.g., flow-cytometry) can affect cell viability for subsequent protocols. Non-invasive sorting procedures based on microfluidics require high amounts of cells and numerous repetitions to obtain a significant fraction of target cells. Furthermore, in all cases these methods require expert handling and are labor intensive. With Lucero, we propose a solution that overcomes these problems based on a smart optofluidic platform: contactless thanks to the use of optical tweezers, capable of controlling the local cellular environment thanks to the use of microfluidics, and capable of autonomous and accurate operation thanks to machine intelligence. Lucero will be compatible with standard microscopes already available in biomedical laboratories, permit to completely automatize single-cell protocols, and therefore drastically lower the cost of biomedical research. Lucero already counts with an outstanding core team of scientists and experienced business people, and it will provide ~20 jobs to university-educated individuals in the EU within the next 5 years. Lucero has already received initial funding and support from two different organizations that support and believe in Lucero's venture. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
W584613241 | 1927 and the rise of modern America | When Charles Lindbergh landed at LeBourget Airfield on May 21, 1927, his transatlantic flight symbolized the new era - not only in aviation but also in American culture. The 1920s proved to be a transitional decade for the United States, shifting the nation from a production-driven economy to a consumption-based one, with adventurous citizens breaking new ground even as many others continued clinging to an outmoded status quo. In his new book, Charles Shindo reveals how one year in particular encapsulated the complexity of this transformation in American culture. Shindo's absorbing look at 1927 shatters the stereotypes of the Roaring '20s as a time of frivolity and excess, revealing instead a society torn between holding on to its glorious past while trying to navigate a brave new world. His book is a compelling and entertaining dissection of the year that has come to represent the apex of 1920s culture, combining references from popular films, music, literature, sports, and politics in a captivating look back at change in the making. As Shindo notes, while Lindbergh's flight was a defining event, there were others: The Jazz Singer, for example, brought sound to the movies, and the 15 millionth Model T rolled off of Ford's assembly line. Meanwhile, the era's supposed live-for-today frivolity was clouded by Prohibition, the revival of the Ku Klux Klan, and the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti. Such events, Shindo explains, reflected a fundamental disquiet running beneath the surface of a nation seeking to accommodate and understand a broad array of changes - from new technology to natural disasters, from women's forays into the electorate to African-Americans' migration to the urban north. Shindo, however, also notes that this was an era of celebrity. He not only examines why Lindbergh and Ford were celebrated but also considers the rise and growing popularity of the infamous, like convicted murderers Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray, and he illuminates the explosive growth of professional sports and stars like baseball's Babe Ruth. In addition, he takes a close look at cinematic heroines like Mary Pickford and the 'It' girl Clara Bow to demonstrate the conflicting images of women in popular culture. Distinctive and insightful, Shindo's richly detailed analysis of 1927's key events and personalities reveals the multifaceted ways in which people actually came to grips with change and learned to embrace an increasingly modern America. | [
"Texts and Concepts",
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
]
|
W3039997617 | PREASC | The increasing functionality of electronic systems due to the constant evolution of the market requirements makes the non-functional aspects of such systems (e.g., energy consumption, area overhead, or performance) a major concern in the design process. Approximate computing is a promising way to optimize these criteria by trading accuracy within acceptable limits. Since the cost of applying significant structural changes to a given design increases with the stage of development, the optimization solution needs to be incorporated into the design as early as possible. For the early design entry, modeling hardware at the Electronic System Level (ESL) using the SystemC language is nowadays widely used in the industry. To apply approximation techniques to optimize a given SystemC design, designers need to know which parts of the design can be approximated. However, identifying these parts is a crucial and non-trivial starting point of approximate computing, as the incorrect detection of even one critical part as resilient may result in an unacceptable output. This usually requires a significant programming effort by designers, especially when exploring the design space manually. In this article, we present PREASC, a fully automated framework to identify the resilience portions of a given SystemC design. PREASC is based on a combination of static and dynamic analysis methods along with regression analysis techniques (a fast machine learning method providing an accurate function estimation). Once the resilient portions are identified, an approximation degree analysis is performed to determine the maximum error rate that each resilient portion can tolerate. Subsequently, the maximum number of resilient portions that can be approximated at the same time are reported to designers at different granularity levels. The effectiveness of our approach is evaluated using several standard SystemC benchmarks from various domains. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
interreg_394 | Bernina Terra Glacialis._x000D_
Study and development_x000D_
of a valuable natural and cultural heritage, with innovative approaches | The project takes note of the awareness of the impact that climate change is having on the environment and on the the Alpine communities life. It starts a process of informing people, companies and administrations, studying new strategies and professions related to traditional cultural heritage and the environment. The municipalities support the new model of tourism proposal by building or renovating structures for the knowledge of cultural heritage (historic cross-border road of Muretto and Val Poschiavina, Glacier Garden, Climbing Museum, Museo della Bagnada, Erminio Dioli Museum, Museo del Serpentino), also equipping them with innovative virtual technologies. The agro-food and cultural tradition of the districts finally becomes a development oppportunity, thanks to new gastronomic proposals and the creation of a high altitude botanical garden. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
]
|
10.1145/2897824.2925911 | Synthesis Of Filigrees For Digital Fabrication | Filigrees are thin patterns found in jewelry, ornaments and lace fabrics. They are often formed of repeated base elements manually composed into larger, delicate patterns. Digital fabrication simplifies the process of turning a virtual model of a filigree into a physical object. However, designing a virtual model of a filigree remains a time consuming and challenging task. The difficulty lies in tightly packing together the base elements while covering a target surface. In addition, the filigree has to be well connected and sufficiently robust to be fabricated. We propose a novel approach automating this task. Our technique covers a target surface with a set of input base elements, forming a filigree strong enough to be fabricated. We exploit two properties of filigrees to make this possible. First, as filigrees form delicate traceries they are well captured by their skeleton. This affords for a simpler definition of operators such as matching and deformation. Second, instead of seeking for a perfect packing of the base elements we relax the problem by allowing appearance preserving partial overlaps. We optimize a filigree by a stochastic search, further improved by a novel boosting algorithm that records and reuses good configurations discovered during the process. We illustrate our technique on a number of challenging examples reproducing filigrees on large objects, which we manufacture by 3D printing. Our technique affords for several user controls, such as the scale and orientation of the elements. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W1978519745 | Describing avifaunal richness with functional and structural bioindicators derived from advanced airborne remotely sensed data | We investigate whether the richness of distinct avian guilds species grouped together based on similar exploitation of environmental resources can be described using indicators of ecosystem function and tree species diversity derived from hyperspectral data and/or aspects of vegetation structure derived from lidar. Bird surveys facilitated discriminant analyses to establish which variables best differentiated between guilds. Akaike's Information Criterion AIC and generalized linear models GLMs were then utilized to develop predictive models. Bioindicators representing foliar water content and tree species diversity were the most useful hyperspectrally derived variables for differentiating between guilds p R 2adj of GLMs ranged from 0.32 generalist to 0.58 forest. In contrast, mean under-, mid-, and overstorey cover and mean surface elevation were the most useful structural bioindicators for guild differentiation p R 2adj of GLMs built from structural bioindicators alone ranged from 0.19 generalist to 0.64 forest. Overall, structural bioindicators described more variance for open country and forest guilds, whereas functional bioindicators explained more variance for generalist bird species and all guilds considered concurrently. Simultaneously considering functional and structural bioindicators accounted for the most variance in richness 59% for open country birds; however, combining bioindicator types did not improve upon the best models for generalist and/or forest guilds. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
169421 | Selectively targeting oscillations in parkinson's disease: causal effects of the beta-rhythm on motor control | Parkinson’s disease is a frequent and disabling neurological disorder, which heavily impairs patients’ ability to perform and control movements. Electrical stimulation of a deep-seated brain region, the subthalamic nucleus (STN), has been shown to significantly improve patients’ motor function and quality of life. Recent technological advances in deep brain stimulation (DBS) render it possible to adjust electrical stimulation of the STN to ongoing brain activity, referred to as closed-loop DBS. Here, the implanted electrodes do not only send signals to the brain but also read out neural signals generated by the brain. Closed-loop DBS offers the intriguing possibility to specifically suppress pathological brain activity while leaving physiological activity unaltered.
We propose an innovative and ambitious project, which the researcher will conduct in the Experimental Neurology group headed by Prof. Peter Brown at the University of Oxford, a world-leading laboratory in closed-loop stimulation. In this project we aim to test the hypothesis that closed-loop DBS that selectively targets pathological synchronous firing of neurons at 13 – 30 Hz, the so-called beta-rhythm, will interrupt neural activity related to motor impairment, but not normal functions of the brain. To this end, Parkinson patients with implanted electrodes in the STN will perform two tasks probing different aspects of motor control whilst receiving closed loop stimulation. We will simultaneously record activity from the STN and areas localized on the surface of the brain. This will allow us to assess how suppression of the beta-rhythm affects motor-related activity and connectivity in the human brain revealing it’s causal effects on motor function. Selective suppression of abnormal brain function and preservation of physiological brain mechanisms could be the key to obtain the best possible clinical benefit, whilst avoiding unwanted side effects in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1088/0004-637X/786/2/137 | High Resolution Observations Of The Shock Wave Behavior For Sunspot Oscillations With The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph | We present the first results of sunspot oscillations from observations by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. The strongly nonlinear oscillation is identified in both the slit-jaw images and the spectra of several emission lines formed in the transition region and chromosphere. We first apply a single Gaussian fit to the profiles of the Mgii 2796. 35 A, Cii 1335. 71 A, and Si iv 1393. 76 A lines in the sunspot. The intensity change is about 30%. The Doppler shift oscillation reveals a sawtooth pattern with an amplitude of about 10 km/s in Si iv. In the umbra the Si iv oscillation lags those of Cii and Mgii by about 3 and 12 s, respectively. The line width suddenly increases as the Doppler shift changes from redshift to blueshift. However, we demonstrate that this increase is caused by the superposition of two emission components. We then perform detailed analysis of the line profiles at a few selected locations on the slit. The temporal evolution of the line core is dominated by the following behavior: a rapid excursion to the blue side, accompanied by an intensity increase, followed by a linear decrease of the velocity to the red side. The maximum intensity slightly lags the maximum blueshift in Si iv, whereas the intensity enhancement slightly precedes the maximum blueshift in Mgii. We find a positive correlation between the maximum velocity and deceleration, a result that is consistent with numerical simulations of upward propagating magnetoacoustic shock waves. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1063/1.3614036 | Role Of Heavy Ion Co Implantation And Thermal Spikes On The Development Of Dislocation Loops In Nanoengineered Silicon Light Emitting Diodes | Microstructural and electroluminescence measurements are carried out on boron implanted dislocation engineered silicon light emitting diodes (LEDs) co-implanted with the rare earth thulium to provide wavelength tuning in the infra-red. Silicon LEDs operating in the range from 1. 1–1. 35 μm are fabricated by co-implantation of boron and thulium into n-type Si (100) wafers and subsequently rapid thermally annealed to activate the implants and to engineer the dislocation loop array that is crucial in allowing light emission. Ohmic contacts are applied to the p and n regions to form conventional p-n junction LEDs. Electroluminescence is obtained under normal forward biasing of the devices. The influence of implantation sequence (B or Tm first), ion dose, and the post-implantation annealing on the microstructure and electroluminescence from the devices is studied. A clear role of the heavy-ion Tm co-implant in significantly modifying the boron induced dislocation loop array distribution is demonstrated. We also . . . | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1039/C6CC03031A | Shrink Wrapping Redox Active Crystals Of Polyoxometalate Open Frameworks With Organic Polymers Via Crystal Induced Polymerisation | We report examples of crystal surface modification of polyoxometalate open frameworks whereby the use of pyrrole or aniline as monomers leads to the formation of the corresponding polymers via an oxidative polymerization process initiated by the redox active POM scaffolds. Guest-exchange experiments demonstrate that the polymers can finely tune the guest exchange rate and their structural integrity is retained after the surface modifications. In addition, the formation of polyoxometalate-based self-fabricating tubes by the dissolution of Keggin-based network crystals were also modulated by the polymers, allowing a new type of hybrid inorganic polymer with an organic coating to be fabricated. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1021/acsami.7b13273 | Covalently Attached Antimicrobial Surfaces Using BODIPY: Improving Efficiency and Effectiveness | The development of photoactivated antimicrobial surfaces that kill pathogens through the production of singlet oxygen has proved very effective in recent years, with applications in medical devices and hospital touch surfaces, to improve patient safety and well being. However, many of these surfaces require a swell-encapsulation-shrink strategy to incorporate the photoactive agents in a polymer matrix, and this is resource intensive, given that only the surface fraction of the agent is active against bacteria. Furthermore, there is a risk that the agent will leach from the polymer and thus raises issues of biocompatibility and patient safety. Here, we describe a more efficient method of fabricating a silicone material with a covalently attached monolayer of photoactivating agent that uses heavy-atom triplet sensitization for improved singlet oxygen generation and corresponding antimicrobial activity. We use boron-dipyrromethane with a reactive end group and incorporated Br atoms, covalently attached to poly(dimethylsiloxane). We demonstrate the efficacy of this material in producing singlet oxygen and killing Staphylococcus aureus and suggest how it might be easily modifiable for future antimicrobial surface development. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
W2127757756 | Decoloration and detoxification of effluents by ionizing radiation | Abstract Three distinct textile samples were investigated for color and toxicity (S1–chemical/textile industry; S2–final textile effluent; S3 - standard textile produced effluent–untreated blue). Radiation processing of these samples were carried out at Dynamitron Electron Beam Accelerator and color and toxicity removal were determined: color removal by radiation was 96% (40 kGy, S1); 55% (2.5 kGy, S2) and 90% (2.5 kGy, S3). Concerning toxicity assays, Vibrio fischeri luminescent bacteria demonstrated higher reduction after radiation than the other systems: removal efficiencies were 33% (20 kGy, S1); 55% (2.5 kGy, S2) and 33% (2.5 kGy, S3). Daphnia similis and Brachionus plicatilis fitted well for S3 effluents. Hard toxic volumes into biological treatment plant may be avoided if radiation would be previously applied in a real plant. Results reveled how indispensable is to run toxicity to more than one living-organism. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2816781 | Performance Analysis Of Nanoelectromechanical Relay Based Field Programmable Gate Arrays | The energy consumption of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) is dominated by leakage currents and dynamic energy associated with programmable interconnect. An FPGA built entirely from nanoelectromechanical (NEM) relays can effectively eliminate leakage energy losses, reduce the interconnect dynamic energy, operate at temperatures >225 °C and tolerate radiation doses in excess of 100 Mrad, while hybrid FPGAs comprising both complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistors and NEM relays (NEM-CMOS) have the potential to realize improvements in performance and energy efficiency. Large-scale integration of NEM relays, however, poses a significant engineering challenge due to the presence of moving parts. We discuss the design of FPGAs utilizing NEM relays based on a heterogeneous 3-D integration scheme, and carry out a scaling study to quantify key metrics related to performance and energy efficiency in both NEM-only and NEM-CMOS FPGAs. We show how the integration scheme has a profound effect on these metrics by changing the length of global wires. The scaling regime beyond which net performance and energy benefits is seen in NEM-CMOS over a baseline 90 nm CMOS technology is defined by an effective relay beam length of 0. 5 $\mu \text{m}$ , on-resistance of 200 $\text{k}\Omega$ , and a via pitch of 0. 4 $\mu \text{m}$ , all achievable with existing process technology. For ultra-low energy applications that are not performance critical, NEM-only FPGAs can provide close to $15\times$ improvement in energy efficiency. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-642-31762-0_2 | The Cost Ic0701 Verification Competition 2011 | This paper reports on the experiences with the program verification competition held during the FoVeOOS conference in October 2011. There were 6 teams participating in this competition. We discuss the three different challenges that were posed and the solutions developed by the teams. We conclude with a discussion about the value of such competitions and lessons learned from them. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2060458887 | Learning Situations within an Informal Context: Case Study (Ethnology and Folklore Course) | Abstract The informal framework could be identified as an accompanying tool to be used for the higher-level education, in particular when it comes to specific disciplines that, on account of subject matter and technique, entail a pragmatic side at the same time. One case specific case refers to the discipline Ethnology and Folklore, included in the syllabus of the first-year students in Philology. Handling the pedagogic activity based on proficiencies clearly highlights the practical dimension of study, the usefulness of the benefits of study for individuals and community. This is the reason why it appears helpful to produce/confront/generate the benefits of learning in an informal framework away from the formal context provided by the academic environment and the course proper that would represent additional configurations to provide in order to acquire information on substance and proficiencies. Pragmatic aspects are also underlined for the importance of the practical course, such as possible future work places or extracurricular activities to museums, expositions etc. Against this background, the concept of a partnership between the university and the Association TRADITION GROUP, that was founded in 2005 and deals with durable social, cultural/artistic and tourist advancement of the rustic settlements and horizontal groups in the Alba County appeared to be a manner of enhancing the capacity of students to attain knowledge about the folk culture in substance and intellectually as well. The essay departs from an abstract standpoint represented by the specialized literature and continues with illustrating the practical activities conducted during discussion groups that were organised alongside the lecture on Ethnology and Folklore throughout a six-month term. We detail some examples of activities with a complex character, without underlining the concentric principle of the entire process. | [
"Studies of Cultures and Arts",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1038/s41467-017-01130-1 | Actomyosin pulsation and flows in an active elastomer with turnover and network remodeling | Tissue remodeling requires cell shape changes associated with pulsation and flow of the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Here we describe the hydrodynamics of actomyosin as a confined active elastomer with turnover of its components. Our treatment is adapted to describe the diversity of contractile dynamical regimes observed in vivo. When myosin-induced contractile stresses are low, the deformations of the active elastomer are affine and exhibit spontaneous oscillations, propagating waves, contractile collapse and spatiotemporal chaos. We study the nucleation, growth and coalescence of actomyosin-dense regions that, beyond a threshold, spontaneously move as a spatially localized traveling front. Large myosin-induced contractile stresses lead to nonaffine deformations due to enhanced actin and crosslinker turnover. This results in a transient actin network that is constantly remodeling and naturally accommodates intranetwork flows of the actomyosin-dense regions. We verify many predictions of our study in Drosophila embryonic epithelial cells undergoing neighbor exchange during germband extension. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
W184608981 | 2009 influenza A (H1N1): a clinical review | Since the onset of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, the virus has caused significant morbidity and mortality. Most cases of 2009 H1N1 have presented as mild febrile illnesses with cough, sore throat, and occasional gastrointestinal symptoms. Dyspnea has been more commonly associated with the onset of severe pulmonary disease. Unlike seasonal influenza, the prevalence of 2009 H1N1 is greatest among children and young adults, although older patients and those with comorbidities are more likely to experience worse clinical outcomes. Among the most severely affected, critical illness evolves within 4 to 6 days from symptom onset, and approximately 70% of these patients require mechanical ventilation ranging in duration from days to weeks. Compared with prior influenza seasons, the need for rescue oxygenation therapy with nitric oxide, prone ventilation, high-frequency oscillation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has increased. Specific medical care with neuraminidase inhibitors and antibiotics for secondary bacterial pneumonia are the mainstays of therapy. With optimal care, mortality rates range from 5% to 7% among those hospitalized and reach approximately 20% among those admitted to the intensive care unit. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
336679 | Fundamentals Of Photocatalytic Splitting of Water | Hydrogen produced by sunlight is a very promising, environmentally-friendly energy source as an alternative for increasingly scarce and polluting fossil fuels. Since the discovery of hydrogen production by photocatalytic water dissociation on a titanium dioxide (TiO2) electrode 40 years ago, much research has been aimed at increasing the process efficiency. Remarkably, insights into how water is bound to the catalyst and into the dynamics of the photodissociation reaction, have been scarce up to now, due to the lack of suitable techniques to interrogate water at the interface. The aim of this proposal is to provide these insights by looking at specifically the molecules at the interface, before, during and after their photo-reaction. With the surface sensitive spectroscopic technique sum-frequency generation (SFG) we can determine binding motifs of the ~monolayer of water at the interface, quantify the heterogeneity of the water molecules at the interface and follow changes in water molecular structure and dynamics at the interface during the reaction. The structure of interfacial water will be studied using steady-state SFG; the dynamics of the water photodissociation will be investigated using pump-SFG probe spectroscopy. At variable delay times after the pump pulse the probe pulses will interrogate the interface and detect the reaction intermediates and products. Thanks to recent developments of SFG it should now be possible to determine the structure of water at the TiO2 interface and to unravel the dynamics of the photodissocation process. These insights will allow us to relate the interfacial TiO2-water structure and dynamics to reactivity of the photocatalyst, and to bridge the gap between the fundamentals of the process at the molecular level to the efficiency of the photocatalys. The results will be essential for developing cheaper and more efficient photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP04(2017)157 | An Algebraic Approach To The Analytic Bootstrap | We develop an algebraic approach to the analytic bootstrap in CFTs. By acting with the Casimir operator on the crossing equation we map the problem of doing large spin sums to any desired order to the problem of solving a set of recursion relations. We compute corrections to the anomalous dimension of large spin operators due to the exchange of a primary and its descendants in the crossed channel and show that this leads to a Borel-summable expansion. We analyse higher order corrections to the microscopic CFT data in the direct channel and its matching to infinite towers of operators in the crossed channel. We apply this method to the critical O(N ) model. At large N we reproduce the first few terms in the large spin expansion of the known two-loop anomalous dimensions of higher spin currents in the traceless symmetric representation of O(N ) and make further predictions. At small N we present the results for the truncated large spin expansion series of anomalous dimensions of higher spin currents. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
CA 2015000523 W | IMPROVED MOLD BLOCK RETURN | A two stage mold block transfer station is used the exit of a moving mold tunnel to quickly move mold blocks to a clear position relative to the molded product. Once in the clear position the mold block is rotated and provided to a return drive moving the mold block back to the inlet of the moving mold tunnel. By moving the last mold block of the moving mold tunnel primarily away from the longitudinal axis of the mold tunnel less mold blocks are required. Various arrangements for moving of the mold blocks can be used achieve this advantage. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
W1985335148 | Experiment of Micro-Parts Feeding on Saw-Tooth with the Effect of the Surface Geometry Parameters | In this work, we study experimentally the effect of the geometry parameters of saw-tooth surface and micro-part on the motion of micro-parts. The experiments are performed for a range of saw-tooth pitch, p , micro-part length, l , and exciting frequency applied to the surface, f . By the use of particle tracking velocimetry method, we can achieve time-dependent velocity, and then ensemble-averaged velocity of the micro-parts. The results show that for different l and p but the same relative scale l / p , the profiles of micro-part velocity against the characteristic surface velocity pf are similar. However, they shift along pf axis depending on p . Furthermore, the profiles are the similar for the relative scale l/p of 4 to 100. It seems that the motion of micro-part depends on characteristic surface velocity pf than the relative scale l / p for l / p larger than a certain value. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.11.009 | Soil characteristics determine soil carbon and nitrogen availability during leaf litter decomposition regardless of litter quality | Climate and litter quality have been identified as major drivers of litter decomposition, but our knowledge of how soil characteristics (e. g. microbial community and chemical properties) determine carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) availability derived from the decomposition of litter of different qualities is still scarce. We conducted a microcosm experiment to evaluate how soils with contrasting microbial communities and soil properties (denoted Soils A and B hereafter, where Soil B has higher bacterial and fungal abundance, fungal:bacterial ratio, and organic C than Soil A) determine the availability of soil C (carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and phenols) and N (dissolved organic and inorganic N, microbial biomass N and available N) during the decomposition of litter of contrasting quality (C:N ratios ranging from 20 to 102). We also evaluated the relative importance of soil characteristics and litter quality as drivers of C and N inputs to the soil during this process. Overall, higher soil C and N availability after litter decomposition was found in Soil B than in Soil A. Soil characteristics had a higher positive effect on soil C and N contents than litter quality during litter decomposition. We also found that changes in N availability and organic matter quality registered after litter decomposition, linked to different soil characteristics, were able to promote dissimilarities in the potential mineralization rates. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that soil characteristics (e. g. microbial communities and chemical properties) can be more important than litter quality in determining soil C and equally important for N availability during the decomposition of leaf litter. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
W2019719692 | The Benefits of Learning Social Welfare: Lessons from Student Perspectives | It is widely assumed that most entering MSW students exhibit a primary interest in individual clinical practice but minimal understanding of or interest in welfare policy knowledge. However, this assumption is mostly based on attitudes before and at the beginning of encountering social welfare courses. Using a mixed-methods approach of both qualitative and quantitative methods, we studied the impact of a social welfare history and policy course on MSW students' perspectives and interests. We found that the course impacted students' understanding of and approach to their professional roles as well as to their own lives as citizens. These findings hold implications for social work education curriculum designs as well as for future research in social work teaching and education. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1109/IMW.2014.6849366 | Double Barrier Magnetic Tunnel Junctions With Write Read Mode Select Layer | In this study, special STT-RAM were designed, built and tested, allowing to read and write at similar voltages. This is achieved by maximizing the Spin-Transfer-Torque (STT) efficiency on the storage layer magnetization during write and minimizing it during read. In order to achieve this STT tuning, double barrier magnetic tunnel junctions were prepared wherein the storage layer is sandwiched between two polarizing layers. Each polarizing layer is separated from the storage layer by a tunnel barrier. The magnetization of one of the polarizing layer is always pinned in a fixed direction whereas the other one, called mode select layer, can be switched parallel or antiparallel to the first one depending whether the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is in read or respectively write mode. In the parallel configuration of the polarizing layers, the STT efficiency is minimized allowing to read at relatively high voltage leading to fast readout without risk of write disturb during read. In the antiparallel configuration of the polarizing layer, the STT efficiency is maximized allowing writing at lower current density. In this system, the magnetization of the storage layer is switched by STT whereas the magnetization of the mode select layer is switched by field. Switching from read mode to write mode and vice versa is achieved by sharing a single pulse of magnetic field for all bits of the same word. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/s10680-018-9489-x | Fertility History and Physical and Mental Health Changes in European Older Adults | Previous studies have shown that aspects of reproductive history, such as earlier parenthood and high parity, are associated with poorer health in mid and later life. However, it is unclear which dimensions of health are most affected by reproductive history, and whether the pattern of associations varies for measures of physical, psychological and cognitive health. Such variation might provide more insight into possible underlying mechanisms. We use longitudinal data for men and women aged 50–79 years in ten European countries from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe to analyse associations between completed fertility history and self-reported and observed health indicators measured 2–3 years apart (functional limitations, chronic diseases, grip strength, depression and cognition), adjusting for socio-demographic, and health factors at baseline. Using multiple imputation and pattern mixture modelling, we tested the robustness of estimates to missing data mechanisms. The results are partly consistent with previous studies and show that women who became mothers before age 20 had worse functional health at baseline and were more likely to suffer functional health declines. Parents of 4 or more children had worse physical, psychological and cognitive health at baseline and were more likely to develop circulatory disease over the follow-up period. Men who delayed fatherhood until age 35 or later had better health at baseline but did not experience significantly different health declines. This study improves our understanding of linkages between fertility histories and later life health and possible implications of changes in fertility patterns for population health. However, research ideally using prospective life course data is needed to further elucidate possible mechanisms, considering interactions with partnership histories, health behaviour patterns and socio-economic trajectories. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
10.1088/2041-8205/737/1/L10 | Amplitudes Of Solar Like Oscillations Constraints From Red Giants In Open Clusters Observed By Kepler | Scaling relations that link asteroseismic quantities to global stellar properties are important for gaining understanding of the intricate physics that underpins stellar pulsation. The common notion that all stars in an open cluster have essentially the same distance, age, and initial composition, implies that the stellar parameters can be measured to much higher precision than what is usually achievable for single stars. This makes clusters ideal for exploring the relation between the mode amplitude of solar-like oscillations and the global stellar properties. We have analyzed data obtained with NASA's Kepler space telescope to study solar-like oscillations in 100 red giant stars located in either of the three open clusters, NGC 6791, NGC 6819, and NGC 6811. By fitting the measured amplitudes to predictions from simple scaling relations that depend on luminosity, mass, and effective temperature, we find that the data cannot be described by any power of the luminosity-to-mass ratio as previously assumed. As a result we provide a new improved empirical relation which treats luminosity and mass separately. This relation turns out to also work remarkably well for main-sequence and subgiant stars. In addition, the measured amplitudes reveal the potential presence of a number of previously unknown unresolved binaries in the red clump in NGC 6791 and NGC 6819, pointing to an interesting new application for asteroseismology as a probe into the formation history of open clusters. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP02(2014)091 | Sterile Neutrinos In Leptonic And Semileptonic Decays | We address the impact of a modified $W \ell \nu$ coupling on a wide range of observables, such as $\tau$ leptonic and mesonic decays, leptonic decays of pseudoscalar mesons, as well as semileptonic meson decays. In particular, we concentrate on deviations from lepton flavour universality, focusing on the ratios $R_{P} = \Gamma (P \to \ell \nu) / \Gamma (P \to \ell' \nu)$, with $P=K, \pi, D, D_s$, $R(D)={\Gamma (B^+ \to D \tau^+ \nu)}/{\Gamma (B^+ \to D\ell^+ \nu)}$, $R \tau={\Gamma (\tau\to \mu\nu\nu)}/{\Gamma (\tau\to e\nu\nu)}$, $R^{\ell \tau}_P=\Gamma(\tau\to P\nu)/\Gamma(P\to \ell \nu)$, and $\text{BR}(B \to \tau \nu)$. We further consider leptonic gauge boson decays, such as $W\to \ell \nu $ and $Z \to \nu \nu$. For all the above observables, we provide the corresponding complete analytical expressions, derived for the case of massive neutrinos. Working in the framework of the Standard Model extended by additional sterile fermions, which mix with the active (left-handed) neutrinos, we numerically study the impact of active-sterile mixings on the above mentioned observables. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
714658 | Do early stone tools indicate a hominin ability to accumulate culture? | Cultural – not genetic – adaptations have allowed humans to colonise the planet. While discovering the roots of human culture has been described as one of the 125 most pressing scientific questions of our time (Science, 2005), it remains unclear when such forms of culture first arose in our lineage.
Previous research has argued that similar social learning mechanisms underlie modern human as well as early hominin technology. But the latter shows periods of stasis – suggesting the underlying mechanisms were different. A better model for early hominins might be living non-human great apes. Instead of copying the behaviour from others with high fidelity (as modern humans do), ape approaches seem to be based on socially mediated individual reinventions (latent solutions; Tennie et al. 2009). Unlike high fidelity copying, latent solutions do not lead to 'cumulative cultural change', in which technological changes accrue over generations.
Latent solutions are thus a core candidate to account for early hominin stone tools because, among other things, they provide an explanation for their stasis. Using both a top-down and a bottom-up testing approach, STONECULT will experimentally test whether early stone tools are manifestations of cumulative culture – currently the null hypothesis in the field – or whether they are best accounted for with the latent solutions model. That is, STONECULT will evaluate whether early stone tools were more similar to modern ape or modern human technologies. The outcomes and conclusions of STONECULT will therefore inform several fields at once (e.g. anthropology, archaeology, comparative psychology, ethology and primatology).
This proposal is the first to test the new latent solutions account of early stone tools. If its predictions are confirmed, then cumulative culture will have emerged millions of years later in our lineage than is currently assumed. STONECULT will radically transform our understanding of the evolution of human culture. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1371/journal.ppat.1003473 | A Type IV Pilus Mediates DNA Binding during Natural Transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae | Natural genetic transformation is widely distributed in bacteria and generally occurs during a genetically programmed differentiated state called competence. This process promotes genome plasticity and adaptability in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Transformation requires the binding and internalization of exogenous DNA, the mechanisms of which are unclear. Here, we report the discovery of a transformation pilus at the surface of competent Streptococcus pneumoniae cells. This Type IV-like pilus, which is primarily composed of the ComGC pilin, is required for transformation. We provide evidence that it directly binds DNA and propose that the transformation pilus is the primary DNA receptor on the bacterial cell during transformation in S. pneumoniae. Being a central component of the transformation apparatus, the transformation pilus enables S. pneumoniae, a major Gram-positive human pathogen, to acquire resistance to antibiotics and to escape vaccines through the binding and incorporation of new genetic material. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
US 2020/0026771 W | VOICE-BASED SOCIAL NETWORK | This invention presents a novel voice-based social network, where users can compose, explore, and share voice posts. Each voice post is comprised of audio, text with dictation from speech, and other optional elements such as picture, video, contact, etc. During the composition step, user speaks to the microphone, and system generates text using text-to- speech method. User optionally attach a picture or video and category. Each voice post is visualized as a text on the top of the picture as overlay. Text is highlighted with synced part- of the speech. Users can explore posts using search interface using keyword and categories. Users can also comment using voice posts. This system also provides advance interfaces such as recommendation interface where users can see related posts, connection interface where users can connect each other, message interface where users can communicate each other via voice messages. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1063/1.4926345 | Long Term Laser Frequency Stabilization Using Fiber Interferometers | We report long-term laser frequency stabilization using only the target laser and a pair of 5 m fiber interferometers, one as a frequency reference and the second as a sensitive thermometer to stabilize the frequency reference. When used to stabilize a distributed feedback laser at 795 nm, the frequency Allan deviation at 1000 s drops from 5. 6*10^{-8} to 6. 9*10^{-10}. The performance equals that of an offset lock employing a second, atom-stabilized laser in the temperature control. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
310080 | The Structure and Assembly of Membrane Proteins in Native Membranes studied by AFM | One of the key characteristics of life is the existence of boundaries that delineate the organism from its environment. The boundary membrane structure that defines all cells is called the plasma membrane. Membranes are constituted of a large variety of lipids and membrane proteins, key molecules for plenty vital cellular functions such as transport, energy transduction, signaling, and communication, to name a few. Despite the importance of membrane processes, little is known about the structure of its constituents and less about their supramolecular arrangement. In this project the focus is set on the analysis of membrane proteins, their supramolecular complexes, their structural assembly and mechanism of cooperative function, and thus an integral view of the native membrane.
To achieve this goal, we are performing membrane biochemistry and develop 3 axes of research, all Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) –based, comprising technical developments of high-resolution and high-speed AFM, AFM-hybrid techniques, but also target-focused application research, all, to gain information about the structure and assembly of membrane proteins in native membranes at unprecedented resolution.
1) Technical developments: In this project subaxis, we are performing two major technical developments, a hybrid atomic force microscope (AFM) - tip enhanced raman spectroscopy (AFM-TERS), and a high-speed AFM - Optical Microscopy setup.
2) AFM imaging: Analysis of the supramolecular assembly of membrane complexes in native membranes ex cellula and in cellula, with a particular focus on alterations of membrane structure and membrane protein assembly and conformation due to pathology or addition of drugs.
3) AFM force spectroscopy: Analysis of forces and affinities within and in between membrane complexes on molecules and cells, with a particular focus on the development of small-cantilever HS-AFM -based force spectroscopy (dynamic force spectroscopy and force clamp modes). | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
W2008238605 | Merit of Anisodamine Combined with Opioidδ-Receptor Activation in the Protection against Myocardial Injury during Cardiopulmonary Bypass | Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MIR) injury easily occurrs during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in elderly patients. In an attempt to develop an effective strategy, we employed a pig model of MIR injury to investigate the maximum rate of change of left ventricular pressure, left ventricular enddiastolic pressure, and left intraventricular pressure. Coronary sinus cardiac troponin T (TnT) and adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) content in myocardium were measured. The ultrastructures for MIR injury were visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The role of<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>δ</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:math>-opioid receptor activation using D-Ala2, D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) in both early (D1) and late (D2) phases of cardioprotection was identified. Also, the merit of cardioprotection by DADLE in combination with anisodamine, the muscarinic receptor antagonist (D+M), was evaluated. Glibenclamide was employed at the dose sufficient to block ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Significant higher cardiac indicators, reduced TnT and increased ATP contents, were observed in D1, D2, and D+M groups compared with the control group. DADLE induced protection was better in later phase of ischemia that was attenuated by glibenclamide. DADLE after the ischemia showed no benefit, but combined treatment with anisodamine showed a marked postischemic cardioprotection. Thus, anisodamine is helpful in combination with DADLE for postischemic cardioprotection. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W872959972 | Noncirrhotic portal hypertension in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adolescent | OBJECTIVE: To alert the pediatrician who is following up HIV-infected patients about the possibility of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) in this period of life, in order to avoid the catastrophic consequences of this disease as bleeding esophageal varices. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 13 years old HIV-infected patient by vertical route was receiving didanosine (ddI) for 12 years. Although the HIV viral load had been undetectable for 12 years, this patient showed gradual decrease of CD4+ T cells, prolonged thrombocytopenia and high alkaline phosphatase. Physical examination detected splenomegaly, which triggered the investigation that led to the diagnosis of severe liver fibrosis by transient elastography, probably due to hepatic toxicity by prolonged use of ddI. COMMENTS: This is the first case of NCPH in HIV-infected adolescent described in Brazil. Although, the NCPH is a rare disease entity in seropositive patients in the pediatric age group, it should be investigated in patients on long-term ddI or presenting clinical and laboratories indicators of portal hypertension, as splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and increased alkaline phosphatase. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw6003 | Acute kidney injury promotes development of papillary renal cell adenoma and carcinoma from renal progenitor cells | Acute tissue injury causes DNA damage and repair processes involving increased cell mitosis and polyploidization, leading to cell function alterations that may potentially drive cancer development. Here, we show that acute kidney injury (AKI) increased the risk for papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) development and tumor relapse in humans as confirmed by data collected from several single-center and multicentric studies. Lineage tracing of tubular epithelial cells (TECs) after AKI induction and long-term follow-up in mice showed time-dependent onset of clonal papillary tumors in an adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Among AKI-related pathways, NOTCH1 overexpression in human pRCC associated with worse outcome and was specific for type 2 pRCC. Mice overexpressing NOTCH1 in TECs developed papillary adenomas and type 2 pRCCs, and AKI accelerated this process. Lineage tracing in mice identified single renal progenitors as the cell of origin of papillary tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that human renal progenitor transcriptome showed similarities to PT1, the putative cell of origin of human pRCC. Furthermore, NOTCH1 overexpression in cultured human renal progenitor cells induced tumor-like 3D growth. Thus, AKI can drive tumorigenesis from local tissue progenitor cells. In particular, we find that AKI promotes the development of pRCC from single progenitors through a classical adenoma-carcinoma sequence. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
205660 | Re-conceptualizing party democracy | The aim of this project is to provide an empirical and theoretical re-conceptualization of political parties and party democracy. The challenge of democratic legitimacy faced by political parties in modern democracies derives principally from their deteriorating relationship with society, which has been accentuated by a growing disengagement of citizens from conventional party politics. However, whereas parties are conventionally being understood in terms of their linkages with society, this project proposes to rethink parties in terms of their linkages with the state and party democracy as based on a conception of parties as public utilities rather than private associations. More specifically, it intends to investigate the contours of such a new conception of political parties and party democracy through a particular focus on the management of parties by the state through public law and regulation. The project will thereby bridge the existing gap between the empirical study of parties and normative democratic theory and integrate the disciplines of political science and constitutional and public law through a systematic and comprehensive longitudinal and comparative analysis of party regulation in post-war European democracies. In doing so, it will push the boundaries of conventional empirical research on political parties as well as the normative paradigms of modern democracy and will contribute to a better, and more meaningful, understanding of the future of representative democracy and the role of political parties within it. In doing so, moreover, it will go significantly going beyond conventional – and ultimately unproductive – approaches which, by proposing the revitalization of historically dated organizational linkages between parties and society as the way forward, implausibly suggest that the irreversible process of party transformation can be put to a halt or turned round. | [
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1007/s10519-013-9610-1 | Association between autozygosity and major depression: Stratification due to religious assortment | The effects of inbreeding on the health of offspring can be studied by measuring genome-wide autozygosity as the proportion of the genome in runs of homozygosity (F roh) and relate F roh to outcomes such as psychiatric phenotypes. To successfully conduct these studies, the main patterns of variation for genome-wide autozygosity between and within populations should be well understood and accounted for. Within population variation was investigated in the Dutch population by comparing autozygosity between religious and non-religious groups. The Netherlands have a history of societal segregation and assortment based on religious affiliation, which may have increased parental relatedness within religious groups. Religion has been associated with several psychiatric phenotypes, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). We investigated whether there is an association between autozygosity and MDD, and the extent to which this association can be explained by religious affiliation. All F roh analyses included adjustment for ancestry-informative principal components (PCs) and geographic factors. Religious affiliation was significantly associated with autozygosity, showing that F roh has the ability to capture within population differences that are not captured by ancestry-informative PCs or geographic factors. The non-religious group had significantly lower F roh values and significantly more MDD cases, leading to a nominally significant negative association between autozygosity and depression. After accounting for religious affiliation, MDD was not associated with F roh, indicating that the relation between MDD and inbreeding was due to stratification. This study shows how past religious assortment and recent secularization can have genetic consequences in a relatively small country. This warrants accounting for the historical social context and its effects on genetic variation in association studies on psychiatric and other related traits. | [
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
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