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10.1007/JHEP06(2017)008 | Instanton Corrections To Twist Two Operators | We present the calculation of the leading instanton contribution to the scaling dimensions of twist-two operators with arbitrary spin and to their structure constants in the OPE of two half-BPS operators in $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$
SYM. For spin-two operators we verify that, in agreement with $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$
superconformal Ward identities, the obtained expressions coincide with those for the Konishi operator. For operators with high spin we find that the leading instanton correction vanishes. This arises as the result of a rather involved calculation and requires a better understanding. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
805074 | Scentsitive nature: Green leaf volatile perception in plants and insects | Plant leaves can emit large amounts of volatiles into the air. When attacked by insects, the composition of these blends changes markedly. It is well known that these changes affect not only the behavior of insects interacting with the plant but also the metabolism of the plant itself as well as its nearby competitors. However, how plants perceive these volatiles and generate a functional response is not known.
My research activities have been dedicated to a group of plant volatiles emitted the earliest upon herbivory, the so-called green leaf volatiles (GLVs). I discovered a class of enzymes, present in plants and insects, that profoundly affect ecological interactions by converting the highly abundant GLV Z-3-hexenal into E-2-hexenal (Science 2010, eLife 2013, Frontiers in Plant Science 2017). These two compounds, as well as their derivatives, among which Z-3- and E-2-hexenyl acetate, have distinct effects on the behavior of herbivorous and predacious insects as well as on the metabolism of plants.
Here I propose to take my program to the next level by elucidating how plants and insects perceive E-2-hexenal and hexenyl acetates. First I will use a classical mutagenesis screen and a cutting-edge technique called chemical yeast 3-hybrid (Y3H) to identify plant proteins involved in signal processing and especially perception of volatiles. With the newly identified genes in hand I will create non-responsive mutant plants to investigate the role of these key volatiles in the plant's self-recognition and its interactions with herbivorous insects and pathogens. Simultaneously, I will use Y3H to also identify insect proteins that directly interact with either E-2-hexenal or E-2-hexenyl acetate and I will create non-responsive insects using CRISPR-Cas9 and assess how this affects their behavior. This interdisciplinary research project will uncover the perception mechanism of key plant volatile signals and the roles these play in the (eco)physiology of plants and insects. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1038/s41569-018-0087-8 | Cardiac lymphatics in health and disease | The lymphatic vasculature, which accompanies the blood vasculature in most organs, is indispensable in the maintenance of tissue fluid homeostasis, immune cell trafficking, and nutritional lipid uptake and transport, as well as in reverse cholesterol transport. In this Review, we discuss the physiological role of the lymphatic system in the heart in the maintenance of cardiac health and describe alterations in lymphatic structure and function that occur in cardiovascular pathology, including atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. We also briefly discuss the role that immune cells might have in the regulation of lymphatic growth (lymphangiogenesis) and function. Finally, we provide examples of how the cardiac lymphatics can be targeted therapeutically to restore lymphatic drainage in the heart to limit myocardial oedema and chronic inflammation. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1084/jem.20122341 | ER stress transcription factor Xbp1 suppresses intestinal tumorigenesis and directs intestinal stem cells | Unresolved endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the epithelium can provoke intestinal inflammation. Hypomorphic variants of ER stress response mediators, such as X-box- binding protein 1 (XBP1), confer genetic risk for inflammatory bowel disease. We report here that hypomorphic Xbp1 function instructs a multilayered regenerative response in the intestinal epithelium. This is characterized by intestinal stem cell (ISC) expansion as shown by an inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (Ire1α)-mediated increase in Lgr5+ and Olfm4+ ISCs and a Stat3-dependent increase in the proliferative output of transit-amplifying celpropensils. These consequences of hypomorphic Xbp1 function are associated with an increased ty to develop colitis-associated and spontaneous adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)- related tumors of the intestinal epithelium, which in the latter case is shown to be dependent on Ire1α. This study reveals an unexpected role for Xbp1 in suppressing tumor formation through restraint of a pathway that involves an Ire1α- and Stat3-mediated regenerative response of the epithelium as a consequence of ER stress. As such, Xbp1 in the intestinal epithelium not only regulates local inflammation but at the same time also determines the propensity of the epithelium to develop tumors. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
175793 | Cerebellar spiking model for real-time closed-loop sensorimotor control | Understanding how the brain processes and represents information is at the core of experimental studies of the Central Nervous System (CNS). A network of brain subsystems mediates information processing through distributed neural computation and dynamic patterns of neural activity. Over the last decades, studying how these patterns are elicited in the CNS under specific behavioural tasks has become a break through research topic in integrative neuroscience. These specific tasks are related to the concept of embodied cognition, according to which the primary goal of the CNS is to solve and facilitate the body-environment interaction.
This project focuses on the cerebellum, a brain region that plays a crucial role in body-environment interaction, with a primary function related to adaptive motor control and coordination. The functional characteristics of the cerebellum make it a perfect candidate to start modelling and building an embodied nervous system. The cerebellar capability of performing adaptive information processing mediating sensorimotor control will be evaluated in specific tasks. Additionally, the emergence of cognitive-like representations will be studied by focusing on how models of the environment/tools can be acquired through a closed-loop sensorimotor interaction.
This project sets forth a multidisciplinary methodology combining neuromimetic models and embodied neurorobotics. Simulated neural models and robotic experiments will guarantee full access to the system properties, which will be assessed through both qualitative and quantitative performance indicators to facilitate a constructive cross-validation against neurophysiological data. This approach will also allow us to predict new functional roles of specific cell/network/topology properties.
The goal of this project lies on moving forward the knowledge frontiers in integrative neuroscience and biological control, thus boosting the candidate position at the cutting-edge of these fields. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/ncomms4882 | A design strategy for the hierarchical fabrication of colloidal hybrid mesostructures | Advances in nanotechnology depend upon expanding the ability to create new and complex materials with well-defined multidimensional mesoscale structures. The creation of hybrid hierarchical structures by combining colloidal organic and inorganic building blocks remains a challenge due to the difficulty in preparing organic structural units of precise size and shape. Here we describe a design strategy to generate controlled hierarchical organic-inorganic hybrid architectures by multistep bottom-up self-assembly. Starting with a suspension of large inorganic nanoparticles, we anchor uniform block copolymer crystallites onto the nanoparticle surface. These colloidally stable multi-component particles can initiate the living growth of uniform cylindrical micelles from their surface, leading to three-dimensional architectures. Structures of greater complexity can be obtained by extending the micelles via addition of a second core-crystalline block copolymer. This controlled growth of polymer micelles from the surface of inorganic particles opens the door to the construction of previously inaccessible colloidal organic-inorganic hybrid structures. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevB.90.075437 | Indirect doping effects from impurities in MoS2/h-BN heterostructures | We performed density functional theory calculations on heterostructures of single layers of hexagonal BN and MoS2 to assess the effect of doping in the BN sheet and of interstitial Na atoms on the electronic properties of the adjacent MoS2 layer. Our calculations predict that n doping of the boron nitride subsystem by oxygen, carbon, and sulfur impurities causes noticeable charge transfer into the conduction band of the MoS2 sheet, while p doping by beryllium and carbon leaves the molybdenum disulphide layer largely unaffected. Intercalated sodium atoms lead to a significant increase of the interlayer distance in the heterostructure and to a metallic ground state of the MoS2 subsystem. The presence of such n dopants leads to a distinct change of valence-band and conduction-band offsets, suggesting that doped h-BN remains a suitable substrate and gate material for applications of n-type MoS2. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1083/jcb.201602046 | An siRNA screen for ATG protein depletion reveals the extent of the unconventional functions of the autophagy proteome in virus replication | Autophagy is a catabolic process regulated by the orchestrated action of the autophagy-related (ATG) proteins. Recent work indicates that some of the ATG proteins also have autophagy-independent roles. Using an unbiased siRNA screen approach, we explored the extent of these unconventional functions of ATG proteins. We determined the effects of the depletion of each ATG proteome component on the replication of six different viruses. Our screen reveals that up to 36% of the ATG proteins significantly alter the replication of at least one virus in an unconventional fashion. Detailed analysis of two candidates revealed an undocumented role for ATG13 and FIP200 in picornavirus replication that is independent of their function in autophagy as part of the ULK complex. The high numbers of unveiled ATG gene-specific and pathogen-specific functions of the ATG proteins calls for caution in the interpretation of data, which rely solely on the depletion of a single ATG protein to specifically ablate autophagy. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP10(2019)067 | Dark Matter From Self Dual Gauge Higgs Dynamics | We show that a new gauge group with one new scalar leads to automatically stable Dark Matter candidates. We consider theories where the Higgs phase is dual to the confined phase: it is known that SU (2) gauge theories with a scalar doublet (like the Standard Model) obey this non-trivial feature. We provide a general criterion, showing that this self-duality holds for SU(N), SO(N), Sp(N) and G2 gauge dynamics with a scalar field in the fundamental representation. The resulting Dark Matter phenomenology has non- trivial features that are characteristic of the group, and that we discuss case by case. Just to mention a few, SU(N) has an accidental conserved dark baryon number, SO (2N + 1) leads to stable glue-balls thanks to a special parity, G2 leads to a Dark Matter system analogous to neutral kaons. The cosmological Dark Matter abundance is often reproduced for masses around 100 TeV: all constraints are satisfied and lighter dark glue-balls can affect Higgs physics. These theories acquire additional interest and predictivity assuming that both the dark and weak scales are dynamically generated. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
671262 | Elucidating the role of ultraviolet radiation in melanoma | Melanoma incidence continues to increase across Europe and compared to other cancers, it disproportionately affects young people, causing a significant loss in life-years in those affected. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the only environmental risk factor in melanoma, but the underlying genetic constitution of the individual also plays an important role. However, our knowledge of the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in melanomagenesis is still very limited and here we will use various cutting-edge technologies to investigate the role of UVR in melanoma initiation and progression. We have developed mouse models of UVR-driven melanoma that closely mimic UVR-driven melanoma in humans and these provide an unprecedented opportunity to dissect how different wavelengths and patterns of UVR exposure affect melanomagenesis. We propose a multidisciplinary programme of work to examine how host genetic susceptibility factors and responses such as DNA damage repair and inflammation affect melanoma development and progression following UVR exposure. We will integrate knowledge from our animal experiments with epidemiological, histopathological, clinical, and genetic features of human tumours to improve stratification of human melanoma and thereby assist clinical management of this deadly disease. Our overarching aim is to develop a validated stratification approach to melanoma patients that will assist in the development of effective public health campaigns for individuals at risk across Europe. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
US 2020/0064419 W | INTERACTIVE STOCHASTIC DESIGN TOOL | An interactive stochastic design tool has an input device, an output device and a digital processor. The digital processor reads in initiation data describing a stochastic process and a threshold boundary. It then computes one or more realizations of the stochastic process. The realizations and the threshold boundary are displayed on the output device. The user may then input an indication to enforce the threshold boundary. The processor then redisplays the realizations that do not cross the enforced threshold boundary. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1080/01694243.2014.974879 | Assessment Of The Sealant Tooth Interface Using Optical Coherence Tomography | Sealant materials are typically employed in dentistry in order to prevent the development of cavities on the teeth. They prevent bacterial adhesion to enamel, thus arresting the development of demineralization and of caries. In this study, the critical zone of the interface between different sealant materials and the results of the dental work for the teeth processed were investigated ex vivo using swept source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT). Optical inspection and X-ray investigation revealed no defects, while SS-OCT proved capable to asses exactly the position, the nature, and the dimensions of each type of these defects. Specifically, different failures were targeted into the structure of pit and fissure sealants, including bubbles, internal cracks, structural defects of sealant material, and structural defects of enamel, with uncovered sealant material and enamel/sealant interface (marginal integrity and marginal adaptation of dental sealant). The investigation of the possible types of defect. . . | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
724519 | Collective Infectious Units and the Social Evolution of Viruses | A widely accepted view in virology is that virions function as independent infectious units. However, recent work by us and others indicates that viruses are often transmitted as more complex structures, such as virion aggregates, lipid vesicles or protein matrices harbouring multiple infectious particles. This demonstrates that viruses can be transmitted as “collective infectious units”, in sharp contrast with the current paradigm. Critically, these recent discoveries now set the stage for the evolution of social interactions, a previously unappreciated facet of viruses. I propose to investigate how collective infectious units drive virus social evolution using state-of-the-art tools from the fields of virology, genetics, structural biology, and nanotechnology. The effects of collective infectivity on viral fitness will be tested directly using experimental evolution and genetic engineering, and confirmed in vivo. Three widely different viruses will be used to achieve generality: human enteroviruses, a vector-borne rhabdovirus, and a baculovirus. Furthermore, the implications of virus social interactions for the maintenance of genetic diversity, evolvability, virulence evolution, and the emergence of drug resistance will be investigated. Radically new processes such as the putative extracellular fusion of viral particles will be also explored. I expect that infectious units constituted by viruses from different species will be uncovered as well, with far-reaching implications for epidemiology. It is becoming increasingly recognized that parasite sociality is a disease determinant, and our results may therefore inspire new antiviral strategies. In sum, this project aims at laying the foundations of virus sociality from a mechanistically-informed, bottom-up approach. Importantly, beyond their practical importance viruses will also provide a simple and tractable system that will help us to establish more general principles of social evolution. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1186/1742-9994-11-5 | Chloroplast Incorporation And Long Term Photosynthetic Performance Through The Life Cycle In Laboratory Cultures Of Elysia Timida Sacoglossa Heterobranchia | Introduction
The Mediterranean sacoglossan Elysia timida is one of the few sea slug species with the ability to sequester chloroplasts from its food algae and to subsequently store them in a functional state in the digestive gland cells for more than a month, during which time the plastids retain high photosynthetic activity (= long-term retention). Adult E. timida have been described to feed on the unicellular alga Acetabularia acetabulum in their natural environment. The suitability of E. timida as a laboratory model culture system including its food source was studied. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
EP 2019051689 W | TUBE SEGMENT AND TUBE FOR EVACUATED TUBE TRANSPORT SYSTEM | Method for producing a tube segment (1) and a tube for an evacuated tube transport system and to a method for producing said tube segment (1). | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W1494849407 | Implementing Welfare Quality<SUP>®</SUP> in UK assurance schemes: evaluating the challenges | This paper presents an account of a Welfare Quality® assessment of 92 dairy farms carried out by seven experienced assessors. The aim was to evaluate the potential of the Welfare Quality® assessment protocol with respect to its uptake by UK farm assurance schemes. Data collection, and measure aggregation were performed according to the Welfare Quality® protocol for dairy cows. This study examined the data itself, by the testing of how hypothetical interventions might be reflected in changes in the aggregated scores, and also investigated human-related aspects, through inter-assessor standardisation sessions to evaluate reliability, and an assessor focus group to collect feedback. Overall, three main ‘challenges’ were identified. The first challenge related to the large amount of missing data. Unexpectedly, this was such that it was only possible to calculate an overall classification for 7% of farms. The second challenge concerned the way in which aggregated scores did not always reflect hypothetical interventions. The final challenge was inter-assessor reliability, where not all assessors were found to achieve acceptable levels of agreement on a number of outcome measures by the third training session. Suggestions for managing these challenges included, follow-up to assessor training, the use of multiple imputation methods to fill in missing data, and, where applicable, not aggregating the scores. The conclusion of the study was that the protocol provided useful information from which to make an informed selection of measures, but that the challenges, combined with the lengthy assessment time, were too great for its use as a certification tool. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1038/nri3884 | Making the case for chromatin profiling: A new tool to investigate the immune-regulatory landscape | Recent technological advances have enabled researchers to accurately and efficiently assay the chromatin dynamics of scarce cell populations. In this Opinion article, we advocate the application of these technologies to central questions in immunology. Unlike changes to other molecular structures in the cell, chromatin features can reveal the past (developmental history), present (current activity) and future (potential response to challenges) of a given immune cell type; chromatin profiling is therefore an important new tool for studying the immune-regulatory networks of health and disease. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1038/cdd.2014.157 | Fra-1/AP-1 induces EMT in mammary epithelial cells by modulating Zeb1/2 and TGFβ expression | Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for embryonic morphogenesis and wound healing and critical for tumour cell invasion and dissemination. The AP-1 transcription factor Fra-1 has been implicated in tumorigenesis and in tumour-associated EMT in human breast cancer. We observed a significant inverse correlation between Fra-1 mRNA expression and distant-metastasis-free survival in a large cohort of breast cancer patients derived from multiple array data sets. This unique correlation among Fos genes prompted us to assess the evolutionary conservation between Fra-1 functions in EMT of human and mouse cells. Ectopic expression of Fra-1 in fully polarized, non-tumourigenic, mouse mammary epithelial EpH4 cells induced a mesenchymal phenotype, characterized by a loss of epithelial and gain of mesenchymal markers. Proliferation, motility and invasiveness were also increased in the resulting EpFra1 cells, and the cells were tumourigenic and efficiently colonized the lung upon transplantation. Molecular analyses revealed increased expression of Tgfβ1 and the EMT-inducing transcription factors Zeb1, Zeb2 and Slug. Mechanistically, Fra-1 binds to the tgfb1 and zeb2 promoters and to an evolutionarily conserved region in the first intron of zeb1. Furthermore, increased activity of a zeb2 promoter reporter was detected in EpFra1 cells and shown to depend on AP-1-binding sites. Inhibiting TGFβ signalling in EpFra1 cells moderately increased the expression of epithelial markers, whereas silencing of zeb1 or zeb2 restored the epithelial phenotype and decreased migration in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Thus Fra-1 induces changes in the expression of genes encoding EMT-related transcription factors leading to the acquisition of mesenchymal, invasive and tumorigenic capacities by epithelial cells. This study defines a novel function of Fra-1/AP-1 in modulating tgfb1, zeb1 and zeb2 expression through direct binding to genomic regulatory regions, which establishes a basis for future in vivo genetic manipulations and preclinical studies using mouse models. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
184891 | Monitoring bone healing around endosseous implants: from multiscale modeling to the patient’s bed | Implants are often employed in orthopaedic and dental surgeries. However, risks of failure, which are difficult to anticipate, are still experienced and may have dramatic consequences. Failures are due to degraded bone remodeling at the bone-implant interface, a multiscale phenomenon of an interdisciplinary nature which remains poorly understood. The objective of BoneImplant is to provide a better understanding of the multiscale and multitime mechanisms at work at the bone-implant interface. To do so, BoneImplant aims at studying the evolution of the biomechanical properties of bone tissue around an implant during the remodeling process. A methodology involving combined in vivo, in vitro and in silico approaches is proposed.
New modeling approaches will be developed in close synergy with the experiments. Molecular dynamic computations will be used to understand fluid flow in nanoscopic cavities, a phenomenon determining bone healing process. Generalized continuum theories will be necessary to model bone tissue due to the important strain field around implants. Isogeometric mortar formulation will allow to simulate the bone-implant interface in a stable and efficient manner.
In vivo experiments realized under standardized conditions will be realized on the basis of feasibility studies. A multimodality and multi-physical experimental approach will be carried out to assess the biomechanical properties of newly formed bone tissue as a function of the implant environment. The experimental approach aims at estimating the effective adhesion energy and the potentiality of quantitative ultrasound imaging to assess different biomechanical properties of the interface.
Results will be used to design effective loading clinical procedures of implants and to optimize implant conception, leading to the development of therapeutic and diagnostic techniques. The development of quantitative ultrasonic techniques to monitor implant stability has a potential for industrial transfer. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
W2364713173 | Effect of Difference Between Day and Night Temperature on Fruit Development and Yield of Tomato | Taking tomato Solanum lycopersicumcv.‘Jinguan 5'as test material,the use of artificial controlled trial designed two average temperature(18℃,25℃),difference between day and night temperature(DIF)to 12℃(day 24℃/night 12℃,day 31℃/night 19℃),6℃(day 21℃/night 15℃,day 28℃/night 22℃),0℃(day 18℃/night 18℃,day 25℃/night 25℃)handled a total of six controlled trials,the number of different research facilities DIF tomato on young fruit setting rate,the size of fruit weight,fruit and grain yield per plant.The results showed that 18℃average temperature processing,fruit setting rate,fruit diameter,fruit weight and yield per plant were the highest under 12℃ diurnal temperature(24℃/12℃),6℃temperature difference followed,0℃temperature difference was the lowest;when the average daily temperature was 25℃,young fruit setting rate,fruit diameter,fruit weight and yield per plant was the highest when temperature difference placed6℃,12℃ temperature difference followed,0℃ temperature difference was the lowest;setting rate,fruit diameter,fruit longitudinal diameter and fruit weight,and DIF positively correlated with the mean temperature and the minimum temperature were not significant,setting rate,fruit length and daily maximum temperature was positively correlated.And it suggested that within the optimum temperature range,the greater the temperature difference,the faster the fruit development,the greater the growth,the higher the yield,it was benefit for setting fruits. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.08.015 | Cross-species effect of separation calls: family dogs’ reactions to pup, baby, kitten and artificial sounds | During separation, infants of various species often produce a special call type, the separation cry, which elicits instant response from the caregiver. Ignoring this stimulus might be costly; hence, adults have evolved a sensitivity to infant cries. As the acoustic structure and function of these vocalizations are conserved across mammals, adults might react similarly to heterospecific and conspecific separation calls. The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, is an excellent model to study reactions to heterospecific vocalizations due to their special niche in the human social environment. Through domestication, they have become especially sensitive to human communicative signals, including baby cries. Furthermore, they can share their natural environment with other species such as other pets and livestock, which could also affect their responsiveness towards heterospecific calls. Taking advantage of this potential cross-species sensitivity, we aimed to examine dogs' reactions to infant separation calls of humans and domestic cats, Felis catus, compared to conspecific calls. To explore the effect of novelty and specific acoustic features we also used synthesized cries, which allowed us to look for general rules behind dogs' reactions to heterospecific calls and general acoustic effects functioning across species. After testing 100 dogs with pup cries in a previous study, here we tested another 118 dogs in three groups based on the presented sounds' origin. All stimuli were analysed acoustically; then we tested the effects of the species and acoustic features on the dogs’ behaviours. Dogs reacted to pup and artificial cries the fastest, and baby cries the slowest, while responses to kitten sounds were intermediate. We also found general acoustic effects: tonality-related parameters extensively affected the reactions. Higher noisiness caused faster speaker and owner orientation, but it seems that species-specific cues might overwrite the general acoustic rules that appear across mammal separation calls. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
W2945384946 | Diversity, Abundance, Richness, and Birds of Conservation Interest in Nyando Sugar Belt, Muhoroni Sub-County, Lake Victoria Basin, Western Kenya | Thus far, no expedition has comprehensively surveyed the composition of bird species in the dilapidated habitats of Nyando sugar belt, Western Kenya. This has made it difficult unearthing equilibrium between agricultural growth and bird species conservation. In response, we conducted bird assessment by stratifying the expedition area into farmlands and shrub-land. We then sampled birds by the standard point count method and opportunistic counts within a 30 m radius parcel of land. We exhaustively observed 1450 birds of 122 species. The farmland recorded a density of 2.065 ± 1.11 birds per hectare whereas the shrub-land had a density of 1.644 ± 0.70 birds per hectare. Nyando sugar belt was a diverse community with a Shannon diversity index value (H’) of 3.225 regardless of the birds being constrained in certain habitats. The magnitude of the disparity in true diversity indicated that the farmland was 4 times more diverse than the shrub-land. The facts promoted by this research validate the incorporation of bird conservation in the farmland and formulation of avian conservation strategies. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1021/es505362x | Variability in and agreement between modeled and personal continuously measured black carbon levels using novel smartphone and sensor technologies | Novel technologies, such as smartphones and small personal continuous air pollution sensors, can now facilitate better personal estimates of air pollution in relation to location. Such information can provide us with a better understanding about whether and how personal exposures relate to residential air pollution estimates, which are normally used in epidemiological studies. The aims of this study were to examine (1) the variability in personal air pollution levels during the day and (2) the relationship between modeled home and school estimates and continuously measured personal air pollution exposure levels in different microenvironments (e. g. , home, school, and commute). We focused on black carbon as an indicator of traffic-related air pollution. We recruited 54 school children (aged 7-11) from 29 different schools around Barcelona as part of the BREATHE study, an epidemiological study of the relation between air pollution and brain development. For 2 typical week days during 2012-2013, the children were given a smartphone with CalFit software to obtain information on their location and physical activity level and a small sensor, the micro-aethalometer model AE51, to measure their black carbon levels simultaneously and continuously. We estimated their home and school exposure to PM2. 5 filter absorbance, which is well-correlated with black carbon, using a temporally adjusted PM2. 5 absorbance land use regression (LUR) model. We found considerable variation in the black carbon levels during the day, with the highest levels measured during commuting periods (geometric mean = 2. 8 μg/m3) and the lowest levels at home (geometric mean = 1. 3 μg/m3). Hourly temporally adjusted LUR model estimates for the home and school showed moderate to good correlation with measured personal black carbon levels at home and school (r = 0. 59 and 0. 68, respectively) and lower correlation with commuting trips (r = 0. 32 and 0. 21, respectively). The correlation between modeled home estimates and overall personal black carbon levels was 0. 62. Personal black carbon levels vary substantially during the day. The correlation between modeled and measured black carbon levels was generally good, with the exception of commuting times. In conclusion, novel technologies, such as smartphones and sensors, provide insights in personal exposure to air pollution. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2083437758 | Robust Computation through Percolation | This paper proposes a probabilistic framework for digital computation with lattices of nanoscale switches based on the mathematical phenomenon of percolation. With random connectivity, percolation gives rise to a sharp non-linearity in the probability of global connectivity as a function of the probability of local connectivity. This phenomenon is exploited to compute Boolean functions robustly in the presence of defects. It is shown that the margins, defined in terms of the steepness of the non-linearity, translate into the degree of defect tolerance. Achieving good margins entails a mapping problem. Given a target Boolean function, the problem is how to assign literals to regions of the lattice such that no diagonal paths of 1’s exist in any assignment that evaluates to 0. Assignments with such paths result in poor error margins due to stray, random connections that can form across the diagonal. A necessary and sufficient condition is formulated for a mapping strategy that preserves good margins: the top-to-bottom and left-to-right connectivity functions across the lattice must be dual functions. Based on lattice duality, an efficient algorithm to perform the mapping is proposed. The algorithm optimizes the lattice area while meeting prescribed worst-case margins. Its effectiveness is demonstrated on benchmark circuits. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1016/j.devcel.2017.06.001 | Tensing Up for Lipid Droplet Formation | Lipid droplets are fat storage organelles in cells that physically resemble stable oil-water emulsion droplets. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Ben M'barek et al. (2017) show that the resemblance is more than superficial: physical principles governing emulsion stability also control lipid droplet nucleation and growth. Lipid droplets are fat storage organelles in cells that physically resemble stable oil-water emulsion droplets. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Ben M'barek et al. (2017) show that the resemblance is more than superficial: physical principles governing emulsion stability also control lipid droplet nucleation and growth. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W2096265033 | Observation of low shear wave velocity at the base of the polar ice sheets: evidence for enhanced anisotropy | SUMMARY
We analyse seismic data from the broad-band stations located on the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets to determine the large-scale seismic parameters of the polar ice sheets. The P-to-S converted waves at the ice/rock interface and inside the ice sheets and their multiples (the P receiver functions) are used to estimate the in situ P velocity Vp and the P-to-S velocity ratio Vp/Vs of the polar ice. The thickness of the whole ice layer is precisely known either from radio echo soundings or from ice core drillings allowing thus an accurate determination of Vp and Vp/Vs. At some places in and near the Wilkes Basin, a sedimentary layer is probably squeezed between the ice and the bedrock. We find that the polar ice caps have a two-layer structure, the upper layer of variable thickness about 2/3 of the total thickness with velocities very close to the ice standard values and the lower layer preserving a standard Vp but with about 25 per cent smaller shear wave velocity and a more or less constant thickness. The shear-velocity drop in the lower layer may be the evidence of a strong anisotropy induced by preferred orientation of ice crystals and by fine layering of soft and hard ice layers. A large variation of ice viscosity with depth is therefore expected and heterogeneous flowing of the polar ice sheet. This heterogeneous flowing may invalidate the use at great depth of the ice dating models based on monotonic layer thinning. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1038/nsmb.2638 | The RNA-binding protein repertoire of embryonic stem cells | RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have essential roles in RNA-mediated gene regulation, and yet annotation of RBPs is limited mainly to those with known RNA-binding domains. To systematically identify the RBPs of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we here employ interactome capture, which combines UV cross-linking of RBP to RNA in living cells, oligo(dT) capture and MS. From mouse ESCs (mESCs), we have defined 555 proteins constituting the mESC mRNA interactome, including 283 proteins not previously annotated as RBPs. Of these, 68 new RBP candidates are highly expressed in ESCs compared to differentiated cells, implicating a role in stem-cell physiology. Two well-known E3 ubiquitin ligases, Trim25 (also called Efp) and Trim71 (also called Lin41), are validated as RBPs, revealing a potential link between RNA biology and protein-modification pathways. Our study confirms and expands the atlas of RBPs, providing a useful resource for the study of the RNA-RBP network in stem cells. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
246918 | Higher Teichmüller-Thurston Theory: Representations of Surface Groups in PSL(n,R) | Higher Teichmüller-Thurston theory is the study of a specific component of representations of a surface group of genus g in PSL(n,R). Teichmüller theory depends on a parameter: the genus g of the surface. Higher Teichmüller-Thurston introduces a new paramater n so that classical theory corresponds to n=2. Teichmüller theory is a crossroad between dynamics, complex analysis, spectral theory, geometry and integrable systems. It has started with the study of Kleinian groups and have received strong impulses from many fields throughout last century. To quote but a few: arithmetic (through the study of automorphic forms), geometry (Thurston's theory of hyperbolic structures), dynamics (the ergodic properties of the geodesic flow) and physics (conformal field theory and representations of the Virasoro algebra). The main objective of the proposal is to develop new connections between dynamics, complex analysis, integrable systems beyond classical Teichmüller Theory in the context of higher Teichmüller-Thurston theory. Among the very concrete and challenging goals of this proposal, we have: A Riemann uniformisation theorem for the Hitchin component, the construction and quantisation of a universal algebra for all Hitchin components, computations of volumes and characteristic numbers of (Higher) Riemann moduli spaces, Higher Laminations. The resources will be essentially used for the hiring of post-doc, graduate students, pre-doc students, visiting scientists, international conferences and summer schools. It will take place at University Paris Sud XI. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-319-33326-7_4 | Beyond Inputs And Outputs Opening The Black Box Of Land Use Intensity | Despite their central role in land-use transitions, changes in land-use intensity are only poorly understood, and databases for systematically analyzing change in land-use intensity are largely missing. This knowledge gap is critical because, due to the anticipated changes in global population numbers and food, fiber and energy demand, the development of strategies that aim to reap the benefits of land-use intensification (e. g. , the reduced land demand for a certain level of production) while simultaneously avoiding detrimental social and ecological effects will become decisive in the near future. In this chapter, we first review existing approaches to analyzing land-use intensity and discuss existing barriers to land-use intensity research. We then elaborate on what the socioecological method inventory contributes to land system research. We argue that the concepts of socioeconomic metabolism and the colonization of nature are apt to significantly contribute to improvements in the analytical capabilities related to land-use intensity research. The strengths of the socioecological method inventory are its strict application of first principles, a sound and meaningful system boundary between society and nature and its applicability to Social and Natural Science approaches. These aspects are prerequisites for guiding the type of data collation and organization that allow investigation into the feedback cycles between social and natural systems that constitute the trade-offs and synergies of the land system. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
10.1093/mnras/stx172 | The kinematics of σ-drop bulges from spectral synthesis modelling of a hydrodynamical simulation | A minimum in stellar velocity dispersion is often observed in the central regions of disc galaxies. To investigate the origin of this feature, known as a σ -drop, we analyse the stellar kinematics of a high-resolution N-body + smooth particle hydrodynamical simulation, which models the secular evolution of an unbarred disc galaxy. We compared the intrinsic mass-weighted kinematics to the recovered luminosity-weighted ones. The latter were obtained by analysing synthetic spectra produced by a new code, SYNTRA, that generates synthetic spectra by assigning a stellar population synthesis model to each star particle based on its age and metallicity. The kinematics were derived from the synthetic spectra as in real spectra to mimic the kinematic analysis of real galaxies. We found that the recovered luminosity-weighted kinematics in the centre of the simulated galaxy are biased to higher rotation velocities and lower velocity dispersions due to the presence of young stars in a thin and kinematically cool disc, and are ultimately responsible for the σ -drop. Our procedure for building mock observations and thus recovering the luminosity-weighted kinematics of the stars in a galaxy simulation is a powerful tool that can be applied to a variety of scientific questions, such as multiple stellar populations in kinematically decoupled cores and counter-rotating components, and galaxies with both thick and thin disc components. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1038/nchembio.1933 | Light-assisted small-molecule screening against protein kinases | High-throughput live-cell screens are intricate elements of systems biology studies and drug discovery pipelines. Here, we demonstrate an optogenetics-assisted method that avoids the need for chemical activators and reporters, reduces the number of operational steps and increases information content in a cell-based small-molecule screen against human protein kinases, including an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase. This blueprint for all-optical screening can be adapted to many drug targets and cellular processes. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1016/j.nonrwa.2014.01.003 | Global dynamics for the spread of ectoparasite-borne diseases | A mathematical model is introduced to simultaneously study the dynamics of ectoparasite infestation and infectious diseases spread by those ectoparasites. The system has four potential equilibria. We identify three reproduction numbers that determine whether the infectious or the non-infectious parasites can invade the population, and whether a population already infested by non-infectious parasites can be invaded by the infection. By using Lyapunov functions and persistence theory, we show that the solutions always converge to one of the equilibria, depending on those three reproduction numbers. Hence the global dynamics is completely characterized by the reproduction numbers. | [
"Mathematics",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
10.1016/j.copbio.2018.09.006 | Analytical epigenetics: single-molecule optical detection of DNA and histone modifications | The field of epigenetics describes the relationship between genotype and phenotype, by regulating gene expression without changing the canonical base sequence of DNA. It deals with molecular genomic information that is encoded by a rich repertoire of chemical modifications and molecular interactions. This regulation involves DNA, RNA and proteins that are enzymatically tagged with small molecular groups that alter their physical and chemical properties. It is now clear that epigenetic alterations are involved in development and disease, and thus, are the focus of intensive research. The ability to record epigenetic changes and quantify them in rare medical samples is critical for next generation diagnostics. Optical detection offers the ultimate single-molecule sensitivity and the potential for spectral multiplexing. Here we review recent progress in ultrasensitive optical detection of DNA and histone modifications. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1039/c8tc04677h | All-optical switching in dye-doped DNA nanofibers | Electrospun fibers made of DNA semi-intercalated with a push–pull, luminescent nonlinear pyrazoline derivative are introduced as novel all-optical switches. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
218442 | Shore connection solution for an efficient, environmentally friendly and safe electric power supply to vessels | Nearly 70% of ship emissions are released within 400 km of land, ships are major contributors to air pollution in coastal communities. In harbor cities ship emissions are often a leading source of urban pollution and, in particular, fine particulate matter (PM). When ships are docked, they use their engines and/or generators to power onboard systems and equipments, generating substantial pollution in port areas. In this context, Shore connection technology is emerging as the most cost-effective means of reducing pollution from ships at berth, as it eliminates ships’ need to run their engines by providing electricity directly from the electric grid. In fact, EU recommendation 2006/336/EC highlights shore connection as the optimal solution in terms of both cost savings and pollution control.
Traditionally, high cost on integrating and operating shore connection service into the harbour, along with frequent overload incidents, causing personal and material damage, have hampered its wide adoption.
eTactica is positioned at this market gap. eTactica is an Iceland based company founded in 2009 with the aim to provide the most accurate control and information over energy consumption.
eTactica’s Shore Connection Solution (SCS) is an energy monitoring, control, and communications system that streamlines the connection and invoicing process.
The SCS utilizes our patented current meter bar. The versatility of our devices and solution enables its integration within current infrastructure. In this way, harbours see the cost of integrating advance shore connection management reduced up to 75%. The high return of investment and short payback period (less than 2 years) is bound to increase penetration of shore connection technologies. eSHORE contributes to a faster realization of EU objectives through the reduction of emissions from vessels docked at the harbour, resulting in a drastic improvement of the air quality in the surrounding areas of the harbour (typically urban areas). | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1063/10.0000872 | Magnon Phonon Interactions In Magnon Spintronics Review Article | Nowadays, the interaction between phonon and magnon subsystems of a magnetic medium is a hot topic of research. The complexity of phonon and magnon spectra, the existence of both bulk and surface modes, the quantization effects, and the dependence of magnon properties on applied magnetic field, make this field very complex and intriguing. Moreover, the recent advances in the fields of spin caloritronics and magnon spintronics as well as the observation of the spin Seebeck effect in magnetic insulators points on the crucial role of magnons in spin-caloric transport processes. In this review, we collect the variety of different studies in which magnon-phonon interaction play important role. The scope of the paper covers the wide range of phenomena starting from the interaction of the coherent magnons with surface acoustic wave and finishing with the formation of magnon supercurrents in the thermal gradients. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
3741706 | Molecular pathology of anti-viral t cell responses in the central nervous system | Immune responses against viruses in the central nervous system (CNS) can result in devastating outcomes. Even non-cytolytic CD8+ T cell interactions, which purge viruses from neurons without triggering cell death, can induce permanent damage. Yet, how this immune response irreversibly disrupts neuronal homeostasis remains unclear.
Here, we will elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie non-cytolytic CD8+ T cell engagement with infected neurons and their consequences on neuron function in vivo. We hypothesize that inflammatory signalling in neurons, induced by non-cytolytic CD8+ T cell interactions, triggers metabolic and epigenetic changes that underpin permanent neuronal dysfunction.
""PATHOCODE"" will test this hypothesis by harnessing a unique animal model of T cell-driven virus encephalitis in the following objectives: 1. Discern neuronal subset-specific vulnerabilities and antigen-dependent versus bystander effects in the inflamed CNS. We will perform single nucleus RNA sequencing to examine whether T cell engagement (a) differentially affects molecularly distinct neurons, and (b) affects non-targeted, uninfected neurons. 2. Uncover the consequences of non-cytolytic T cell engagement on neuronal metabolism. We will use cell-specific mitochondrial reporter mice to investigate immune-driven metabolic adaptation of neurons in vivo. 3. Determine how non-cytolytic T cell engagement affects the neuronal epigenome. We will employ cell-specific nucleus/ribosome reporter mice to elucidate how T cell engagement affects the translatome and epigenome of infected cells. 4. Rescue T cell-mediated neuronal dysfunction by restoring metabolic pathways. We will exploit recent CRISPR/Cas9 technological advances to restore neuronal gene expression and uncover the relevance of immune-driven metabolic and epigenomic changes to disease. Our study will thus provide novel molecular concepts about immune-driven neuronal alterations in CNS inflammatory diseases. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1016/j.celrep.2014.12.042 | The Low-Threshold Calcium Channel Cav3.2 Determines Low-Threshold Mechanoreceptor Function | The T-type calcium channel Cav3. 2 emerges as a key regulator of sensory functions, but its expression pattern within primary afferent neurons and its contribution to modality-specific signaling remain obscure. Here, we elucidate this issue using a unique knockin/flox mouse strain wherein Cav3. 2 is replaced by a functional Cav3. 2-surface-ecliptic GFP fusion. We demonstrate that Cav3. 2 is a selective marker of two major low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs), Aδ- and C-LTMRs, innervating the most abundant skin hair follicles. The presence of Cav3. 2 along LTMR-fiber trajectories is consistent with critical roles at multiple sites, setting their strongexcitability. Strikingly, the C-LTMR-specific knockout uncovers that Cav3. 2 regulates light-touch perception and noxious mechanical cold and chemical sensations and is essential to build up that debilitates allodynic symptoms of neuropathic pain, a mechanism thought to be entirely A-LTMR specific. Collectively, our findings support a fundamental role for Cav3. 2 in touch/pain pathophysiology, validating their critic pharmacological relevance to relieve mechanical and cold allodynia. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
219468 | Closing in on new physics in light-quark flavour transitions: from tau decays to the lhc | This action studies the synergy of the Energy and the Intensity Frontiers, with the focus on non-standard effects involving leptons and light quarks. The project starts with an unprecedented Effective-Field-Theory (EFT) analysis of hadronic tau decays including non-standard effects. Their discovery potential and complementarity with direct LHC searches will be assessed in a model-independent approach. The results will be combined with d(s)→u l nu (l=e,mu) transitions and eq → eq (q=u,d,s) processes in a comprehensive EFT flavour fit that will close in on New Physics involving leptons and light quarks.
The obtained model-independent results will be particularised to specific New Physics scenarios that are of phenomenological or theoretical interest. Special attention will be paid to symmetries, symmetry-breaking patterns and classes of models with well-defined power-counting schemes. The emerging correlations between the studied observables will be analysed in detail. Finally, the EFT matching to a general Leptoquark parametrisation will be carried out, along with a phenomenological analysis. The implications for specific models proposed in the recent literature to accommodate various Standard Model tensions will be studied. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
W244828252 | An evaluation of methods for permanent downhole temperature monitoring for the Valhall Field | Downhole monitoring is valuable to the oil and gas industry due to the advantages knowledge brings when it comes to well optimisation. The more information available about an individual well strengthens the understanding of the total field dynamics, making it possible to maximise a field's productivity. An evaluation of applying one of two types of temperature monitoring systems, Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Wellwatcher Flux to the Valhall field has beenconducted. The two systems have been evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:Instillation complexity, operational reliability after instillation, cost of instillation including rig time, contingency plan, experience and the different features the system provides. DTS consists of either a prefabricated ber optic cable or a hollow steel cable that is clamped to the outside of the liner, where an optical ber is pumped in place after the completion string is installed. Due to the well design on Valhall, only the pumpable system is applicable for implementing to the Valhall eld. The fiber itself serves as the temperature sensors, enabling a continuous thermal prole of the well to be measured.The upper and lower completions are mated by a control line wet mate (CLWM), which allows for the fiber to be pumped from the upper to the lower completions. With the pumpable DTS system, it is currently not possible to incorporate pressure sensors. BP has relatively good experience with DTS in Azerbaijan, where improvements have been made to the system. It has continuous sensors, is more cost effective and is also able to monitor the effect of gas lift valves. However, the system has a slightly higher risk of failure during installation due to the CLWM. Once installed however, DTS has abetter contingency plan in the case of failure. Well watcher Flux is an electric cable that has up to 50 temperature point sensors attached.Pressure sensors are most likely available in 2014 and can be spliced directlyon to the cable. The upper and lower completions are connected through an inductive coupler, which allows communication between the two completions. Wellwatcher Flux is relatively new on the market. The system has only had 6 trialruns in India. The Wellwatcher Flux system has a maximum amount of sensors, is more expensive than DTS, and appears to be slightly less complicated to install due to the simplicity and reliability of the inductive coupler connecting the upper and lower completions. Based on the evaluation of the set criteria for the two systems, Wellwatcher Flux is determined to be a better candidate for implementing permanent temperature monitoring on Valhall. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1117/12.2219855 | Towards Photo Induced Swimming Actuation Of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer In Water | Liquid Crystalline Elastomers (LCEs) are very promising smart materials that can be made sensitive to different external stimuli, such as heat, pH, humidity and light, by changing their chemical composition. In this paper we report the implementation of a nematically aligned LCE actuator able to undergo large light-induced deformations. We prove that this property is still present even when the actuator is submerged in fresh water. Thanks to the presence of azo-dye moieties, capable of going through a reversible trans-cis photo-isomerization, and by applying light with two different wavelengths we managed to control the bending of such actuator in the liquid environment. The reported results represent the first step towards swimming microdevices powered by light. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1371/journal.pone.0030794 | Highly parallel genome-wide expression analysis of single mammalian cells | Background: We have developed a high-throughput amplification method for generating robust gene expression profiles using single cell or low RNA inputs. Methodology/Principal Findings: The method uses tagged priming and template-switching, resulting in the incorporation of universal PCR priming sites at both ends of the synthesized cDNA for global PCR amplification. Coupled with a whole-genome gene expression microarray platform, we routinely obtain expression correlation values of R 2~0. 76-0. 80 between individual cells and R 2~0. 69 between 50 pg total RNA replicates. Expression profiles generated from single cells or 50 pg total RNA correlate well with that generated with higher input (1 ng total RNA) (R 2~0. 80). Also, the assay is sufficiently sensitive to detect, in a single cell, approximately 63% of the number of genes detected with 1 ng input, with approximately 97% of the genes detected in the single-cell input also detected in the higher input. Conclusions/Significance: In summary, our method facilitates whole-genome gene expression profiling in contexts where starting material is extremely limiting, particularly in areas such as the study of progenitor cells in early development and tumor stem cell biology. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
W3108301070 | Porezne oaze: Igre državne suverenosti u globalnoj ekonomiji | The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of globalization and the changes it has
caused throughout history until today and also the connection between the process of
globalization with development and strengthening of tax havens. For multinational
companies, doing business through subsidiaries in tax havens is desirable because it will
reduce their tax liability. From the perspective of states, it is good for those who are tax
havens because of the earnings they make and bad for others who lose their tax revenues
and face unpredictability regarding future tax revenues. In the long run, a consequence
is instability in the tax systems of countries, which can spill over to other countries and
jeopardize global stability. Beside harmful tax practices, globalization and technological
progress have enabled money laundering and easy money transfer around the world,
often through anonymous bank accounts, allowing financing of criminal and illegal
activities. Numerous examples around the world have shown that globalization has made
the rich ones more richer and the poor ones more poorer. Progress has been made in
recent years, but the obstacle remains difficult and slow implementation of changes and
new rules globally. | [
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.7554/elife.56110 | Phosphoinositides regulate force-independent interactions between talin, vinculin, and actin | Focal adhesions (FA) are large macromolecular assemblies which help transmit mechanical forces and regulatory signals between the extracellular matrix and an interacting cell. Two key proteins talin and vinculin connecting integrin to actomyosin networks in the cell. Both proteins bind to F-actin and each other, providing a foundation for network formation within FAs. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating their engagement remain unclear. Here, we report on the results of in vitro reconstitution of talin-vinculin-actin assemblies using synthetic membrane systems. We find that neither talin nor vinculin alone recruit actin filaments to the membrane. In contrast, phosphoinositide-rich membranes recruit and activate talin, and the membrane-bound talin then activates vinculin. Together, the two proteins then link actin to the membrane. Encapsulation of these components within vesicles reorganized actin into higher-order networks. Notably, these observations were made in the absence of applied force, whereby we infer that the initial assembly stage of FAs is force independent. Our findings demonstrate that the local membrane composition plays a key role in controlling the stepwise recruitment, activation, and engagement of proteins within FAs. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W2302289811 | Hedge fund allocation: Evaluating parametric and nonparametric forecasts using alternative portfolio construction techniques | We propose a model for constructing Asian funds of hedge funds. We compare the accuracy of forecasts of hedge fund returns using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model, a nonparametric regression model, and a nonlinear nonparametric model. We backtest to assess these forecasts using three different portfolio construction processes: an “optimized” portfolio, an equally-weighted portfolio, and the Kelly criterion-based portfolio. We find that the Kelly criterion is a reasonable method for constructing a fund of hedge funds, producing better results than a basic optimization or an equally-weighted portfolio construction method. Our backtests also indicate that the nonparametric forecasts and the OLS forecasts produce similar performance at the hedge fund index level. At the individual fund level, our analysis indicates that the OLS forecasts produce higher directional accuracy than the nonparametric methods but the nonparametric methods produce more accurate forecasts than OLS. In backtests, the highest information ratio to predict hedge fund returns is obtained from a combination of the OLS regression with the Fung–Hsieh eight-factor variables as predictors using the Kelly criterion portfolio construction method. Similarly, the highest information ratio using forecasts generated from a combination of the nonparametric regression using the Fung–Hsieh eight-factor model variables is achieved using the Kelly criterion portfolio construction method. Simulations using risk-adjusted total returns indicate that the nonparametric regression model generates superior information ratios than the analogous backtest results using the OLS. However, the benefits of diversification plateau with portfolios of more than 20 hedge funds. These results generally hold with portfolio implementation lags up to 12 months. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1093/jxb/eraa282 | Tidying-up the plant nuclear space: domains, functions, and dynamics | Understanding how the packaging of chromatin in the nucleus is regulated and organized to guide complex cellular and developmental programmes, as well as responses to environmental cues is a major question in biology. Technological advances have allowed remarkable progress within this field over the last years. However, we still know very little about how the 3D genome organization within the cell nucleus contributes to the regulation of gene expression. The nuclear space is compartmentalized in several domains such as the nucleolus, chromocentres, telomeres, protein bodies, and the nuclear periphery without the presence of a membrane around these domains. The role of these domains and their possible impact on nuclear activities is currently under intense investigation. In this review, we discuss new data from research in plants that clarify functional links between the organization of different nuclear domains and plant genome function with an emphasis on the potential of this organization for gene regulation. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.3389/fmicb.2015.01275 | Pathways and bioenergetics of anaerobic carbon monoxide fermentation | Carbon monoxide can act as a substrate for different modes of fermentative anaerobic metabolism. The trait of utilizing CO is spread among a diverse group of microorganisms, including members of bacteria as well as archaea. Over the last decade this metabolism has gained interest due to the potential of converting CO-rich gas, such as synthesis gas, into bio-based products. Three main types of fermentative CO metabolism can be distinguished: hydrogenogenesis, methanogenesis, and acetogenesis, generating hydrogen, methane and acetate, respectively. Here, we review the current knowledge on these three variants of microbial CO metabolism with an emphasis on the potential enzymatic routes and bio-energetics involved. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1039/c6ta01533f | Structure–property relationships for bis-diketopyrrolopyrrole molecules in organic photovoltaics | By comparing the morphology and solar cell performance it is possible to identify structure–property relationships for bis-diketopyrrolopyrrole molecules. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
W2145591883 | Mitigation of voltage sag using DVR under feedback and feedforward control scheme | The paper deals with Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) that aims at the integration of series active filter with minimum VA handling. The DVR not only regulates the voltage at load end but also acts as series active filter. The scheme of DVR is modeled and simulated with MATLAB/Simulink under feedback and feedforward controller. It is also thoroughly analyzed, both from the point of view of the choice of the components and their ratings. The proposed scheme provides stability under varying gains thus eliminating the problem of tuning of conventional proportional and integral controller and improves the speed of response of the device. The results of simulation for the proposed scheme are presented. Keywords: DVR, Minimum VA loading, PWM Technique, Feedback and Feedforward Controller, Matlab/Simulink International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 10, 2010, pp. 44-55 | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
175530 | The values of french language and literature in the european middle ages | Two questions about linguistic identity lie at the heart of this project. What is the relation historically between language and
identity in Europe? How are cognate languages demarcated from each other? Normative models of national languages
helped shape Europe. Yet they did not become hegemonic until the 19th century. Indeed, they were imposed (not always
successfully) on a linguistic map of Europe more fluid and complex than most histories of national languages allow. In the
Middle Ages multilingualism was common, as was the use of non-local languages, notably Latin, but also French. This
project undertakes a revaluation of the nature and value of the use of French in Europe during a crucial period, 1100-1450,
less in terms of its cultural prestige (the traditional focus of scholarship) than of its role as a supralocal, transnational
language, particularly in Western Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The project fosters collaboration between, and
cuts across, different intellectual and national scholarly traditions, drawing on expertise in codicology, critical theory,
linguistics, literature, and philology; it involves scholars from a range of European countries and North America, entailing
empirical research around a complex and widely disseminated textual tradition vital to medieval understandings of
European history and identity, L’Histoire ancienne jusqu’à César. This case study will ground and stimulate broader
speculative reflection on the two core questions concerning linguistic identity. While the project builds on prior critiques of
the construction of, and investment in, national languages and literary traditions, it has a broad historical scope, and will
offer an innovative, genuinely international perspective, in terms of both its object of study and method. Indeed, its final aim,
through and beyond its consideration of French as a lingua franca, is to interrogate that language’s role in the emergence
of a European identity in the Middle Ages. | [
"Texts and Concepts",
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
]
|
173017 | A disruptive innovation in mobile marketing and business intelligence for drastically increasing smes competitiveness | GIGIGO envisions becoming the leading business intelligence and mobile marketing provider for SMEs in the retailing field, through the development of a low cost and highly scalable product that will allow any SME to design, monitor and exploit advanced business intelligence (BI), big data analysis and mobile marketing tools that currently are only affordable by large industrial players. ORCHEXTRA pricing scheme makes the service one hundred times cheaper than current tailor-made solutions.
ORCHEXTRA intends to transform the way in which SMEs drive their marketing strategies and exploit business intelligence tools. ORCHEXTRA will provide comprehensive support to SMEs in:
• Smart Packaging. Enhance the information and services provided within the product packaging through barcode scanning, promotions, engagement & fidelity measures, etc.
• Image recognition. Barcodes (2D codes, datamatrix, EAN…) and also image recognition (brand logo, bottle, can…).
• Intelligence layers. Big Data, Machine Learning, Customer behavioural patterns. Business intelligence, Triggers (demographic info, location, CRM…). Intelligence layers will be based on the analysis of aggregated anonymised data from all the platform customers creating a truly cooperative big data platform for SMEs.
• Consumers’ behaviour. Gain a much deeper knowledge on final customers, their purchasing processes, complementary products, demographic profile.
• Proximity marketing. Geofencing (outdoor), Beacon (indoor & outdoor).
• Personalized actions. Push notifications. Web mobile (content, promo, survey...). User Generation content (likes, comments, retweet…). Purchase/Order. Rewards and coupons.
Granting SMEs access to such high-added value services will enhance their competitiveness and contribute to the creation of growth and jobs in Europe. With this project we will contribute to transmit one fundamental idea: Every organisation is capable of innovating whatever their activity, size or situation. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201526589 | Sub Millimetre Interferometric Imaging Of A Sample Of Cosmos Aztec Submillimetre Galaxies Ii The Spatial Extent Of The Radio Emitting Regions | Radio emission at cm wavelengths from highly star-forming galaxies, such as SMGs, is dominated by synchrotron radiation arising from supernova activity. Using deep, high-resolution ($1\sigma=2. 3$ $\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$; $0. 75^{"}$) cm radio-continuum observations taken by the VLA-COSMOS 3 GHz Large Project, we studied the radio-emitting sizes of a flux-limited sample of SMGs in the COSMOS field. Of the 39 SMGs studied here, 3 GHz emission was detected towards 18 of them ($\sim46\pm11\%$) with S/N ratios in the range of ${\rm S/N=4. 2-37. 4}$. Using 2D elliptical Gaussian fits, we derived a median deconvolved major axis FWHM size of $0. 54^{"}\pm 0. 11^{"}$ for our 18 SMGs detected at 3 GHz. For the 15 SMGs with known redshift we derived a median linear major axis FWHM of $4. 2\pm0. 9$ kpc. No clear correlation was found between the radio-emitting size and the 3 GHz or submm flux density, or the redshift of the SMG. However, there is a hint of larger radio sizes at $z\sim2. 5-5$ compared to lower redshifts. The sizes we derived are consistent with previous SMG sizes measured at 1. 4 GHz and in mid-$J$ CO emission, but significantly larger than those seen in the (sub)mm continuum emission. One possible scenario is that SMGs have i) an extended gas component with a low dust temperature, and which can be traced by low- to mid-$J$ CO line emission and radio continuum emission, and ii) a warmer, compact starburst region giving rise to the high-$J$ line emission of CO, which could dominate the dust continuum size measurements. Because of the rapid cooling of CR electrons in dense starburst galaxies ($\sim10^4-10^5$ yr), the more extended synchrotron radio-emitting size being a result of CR diffusion seems unlikely. Instead, if SMGs are driven by galaxy mergers the radio synchrotron emission might arise from more extended magnetised ISM around the starburst region. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.05.017 | The impact of behavioral interventions on co-infection dynamics: An exploration of the effects of home isolation | Behavioral epidemiology, the field aiming to determine the impact of individual behavior on the spread of an epidemic, has gained increased recognition during the last few decades. Behavioral changes due to the development of symptoms have been studied in mono-infections. However, in reality, multiple infections are circulating within the same time period and behavioral changes resulting from contraction of one of the diseases affect the dynamics of the other. The present study aims at assessing the effect of home isolation on the joint dynamics of two infectious diseases, including co-infection, assuming that the two diseases do not confer cross-immunity. We use an age- and time- structured co-infection model based on partial differential equations. Social contact matrices, describing different mixing patterns of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals are incorporated into the calculation of the age- and time-specific marginal forces of infection. Two scenarios are simulated, assuming that one of the diseases has more severe symptoms than the other. In the first scenario, people stay only at home when having symptoms of the most severe disease. In the second scenario, twice as many people stay at home when having symptoms of the most severe disease than when having symptoms of the other disease. The results show that the impact of home isolation on the joint dynamics of two infectious diseases depends on the epidemiological parameters and properties of the diseases (e. g. , basic reproduction number, symptom severity). In case both diseases have a low to moderate basic reproduction number, and there is no home isolation for the less severe disease, the final size of the less severe disease increases with the proportion of symptomatic cases of the most severe disease staying at home, after an initial decrease. This counterintuitive result could be explained by a shift in the peak time of infection of the disease with the most severe symptoms, resulting in a smaller number of people with less contacts at the peak time of the other infection. When twice as many people stay at home when having symptoms of the most severe disease than when having symptoms of the other disease, increasing the proportion staying at home always reduces the final size of both diseases, and the number of co-infections. In conclusion, when providing advise if people should stay at home in the context of two or more co-circulating diseases, one has to take into account epidemiological parameters and symptom severity. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Mathematics",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1016/j.erss.2017.09.035 | ‘Getting the measure of fuel poverty’: The geography of fuel poverty indicators in England | Recognition of the negative impacts of fuel poverty, a lack of sufficient energy services in the home, has generated considerable interest in how the phenomenon can best be measured. Subsequently, the most well-known indicators deployed in policy-making, the established 10% indicator and the recent Low Income High Cost (LIHC) indicator, have generated considerable discussion and critique. One facet of the debate that remains unexplored is the effect of a change in indicator upon the spatial distribution of fuel poverty. Using spatial analyses we interrogate sub-regional estimates of the two indicators in England, where the LIHC indicator was first conceived. Three principle findings are discussed, enhancing understanding of the geographic features of fuel poverty as understood by each indicator. Firstly, the reduction in fuel poor households has disproportionately affected areas with lower housing costs. Secondly, there is a higher prevalence of fuel poverty in urban areas. Finally, the condition is more spatially heterogeneous with fewer ‘hot-spots’ and ‘cold-spots’. As a result, each indicator captures different notions of what it means to be fuel poor, representing particular vulnerabilities, losses of wellbeing and injustices. This has implications for the targeting of limited alleviation resources and for alternative national contexts where the LIHC indicator might be deployed. | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP04(2018)042 | Resurgence And Hydrodynamic Attractors In Gauss Bonnet Holography | We study the convergence of the hydrodynamic series in the gravity dual of Gauss-Bonnet gravity in five dimensions with negative cosmological constant via holography. By imposing boost invariance symmetry, we find a solution to the Gauss-Bonnet equation of motion in inverse powers of the proper time, from which we can extract high order corrections to Bjorken flow for different values of the Gauss-Bonnet parameter λGB. As in all other known examples the gradient expansion is, at most, an asymptotic series which can be understood through applying the techniques of Borel-Pade summation. As expected from the behaviour of the quasi-normal modes in the theory, we observe that the singularities in the Borel plane of this series show qualitative features that interpolate between the infinitely strong coupling limit of $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$
Super Yang Mills theory and the expectation from kinetic theory. We further perform the Borel resummation to constrain the behaviour of hydrodynamic attractors beyond leading order in the hydrodynamic expansion. We find that for all values of λGB considered, the convergence of different initial conditions to the resummation and its hydrodynamization occur at large and comparable values of the pressure anisotropy. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1038/s41593-017-0054-4 | Studying and modifying brain function with non-invasive brain stimulation | In the past three decades, our understanding of brain-behavior relationships has been significantly shaped by research using non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques. These methods allow non-invasive and safe modulation of neural processes in the healthy brain, enabling researchers to directly study how experimentally altered neural activity causally affects behavior. This unique property of NIBS methods has, on the one hand, led to groundbreaking findings on the brain basis of various aspects of behavior and has raised interest in possible clinical and practical applications of these methods. On the other hand, it has also triggered increasingly critical debates about the properties and possible limitations of these methods. In this review, we discuss these issues, clarify the challenges associated with the use of currently available NIBS techniques for basic research and practical applications, and provide recommendations for studies using NIBS techniques to establish brain-behavior relationships. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1021/ja308676h | Three-dimensional graphene-based macro- and mesoporous frameworks for high-performance electrochemical capacitive energy storage | Three-dimensional graphene-based frameworks (3D-GFs) with hierarchical macro- and meso-porous structures are presented. The interconnected macropores are derived from hydrothermally assembled 3D graphene aerogels (GAs), while the mesopores are generated by the silica networks uniformly grown on the surface of graphene. The resulting 3D-GFs exhibit narrow mesopore size distribution (2-3. 5 nm), high surface area, and low mass density. These intriguing features render 3D-GFs a promising template for creating various 3D porous materials. Specifically, 3D GA-based mesoporous carbons (GA-MC) and metal oxide hybrids (GA-Co3O4, GA-RuO2) can be successfully constructed via a nanocasting technology. Benefiting from the integration of meso- and macroporous structures, 3D GA-MC manifests outstanding specific capacitance (226 F g-1), high rate capability, and excellent cycling stability (no capacitance loss after 5000 cycles) when it is applied in electrochemical capacitors. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1016/j.aim.2017.10.008 | A transversal of full outer measure | We show that for every partition of a set of reals into countable sets there is a transversal of the same outer measure. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1016/j.epsl.2014.08.024 | Strike-slip earthquakes can also be detected in the ionosphere | It is generally assumed that co-seismic ionospheric disturbances are generated by large vertical static displacements of the ground during an earthquake. Consequently, it is expected that co-seismic ionospheric disturbances are only observable after earthquakes with a significant dip-slip component. Therefore, earthquakes dominated by strike-slip motion, i. e. with very little vertical co-seismic component, are not expected to generate ionospheric perturbations. In this work, we use total electron content (TEC) measurements from ground-based GNSS-receivers to study ionospheric response to six recent largest strike-slip earthquakes: the Mw7. 8 Kunlun earthquake of 14 November 2001, the Mw8. 1 Macquarie earthquake of 23 December 2004, the Sumatra earthquake doublet, Mw8. 6 and Mw8. 2, of 11 April 2012, the Mw7. 7 Balochistan earthquake of 24 September 2013 and the Mw 7. 7 Scotia Sea earthquake of 17 November 2013. We show that large strike-slip earthquakes generate large ionospheric perturbations of amplitude comparable with those induced by dip-slip earthquakes of equivalent magnitude. We consider that in the absence of significant vertical static co-seismic displacements of the ground, other seismological parameters (primarily the magnitude of co-seismic horizontal displacements, seismic fault dimensions, seismic slip) may contribute in generation of large-amplitude ionospheric perturbations. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1145/2933575.2935320 | The Definitional Side Of The Forcing | This paper studies forcing translations of proofs in dependent type theory, through the Curry-Howard correspondence. Based on a call-by-push-value decomposition, we synthesize two simply-typed translations: i) one call-by-value, corresponding to the translation derived from the presheaf construction as studied in a previous paper; ii) one call-by-name, whose intuitions already appear in Krivine and Miquel’s work. Focusing on the call-by-name translation, we adapt it to the dependent case and prove that it is compatible with the definitional equality of our system, thus avoiding coherence problems. This allows us to use any category as forcing conditions, which is out of reach with the call-by-value translation. Our construction also exploits the notion of storage operators in order to interpret dependent elimination for inductive types. This is a novel example of a dependent theory with side-effects, clarifying how dependent elimination for inductive types must be restricted in a non-pure setting. Being implemented as a Coq plugin, this work gives the possibility to formalize easily consistency results, for instance the consistency of the negation of Voevodsky’s univalence axiom. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Mathematics"
]
|
670211 | Chemical communication in the rhizosphere of plants | Plants secrete metabolites to communicate with other organisms in their rhizosphere. An exciting example of rhizosphere signalling molecules are the strigolactones. These are used by the friends of plants, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, for host detection but also by their enemies, root parasitic plants. Furthermore, they have an endogenous signalling function, as a plant hormone that regulates shoot branching and root architecture. I postulate that this dual positive and negative signalling role of the strigolactones is the result of a paradigm: enemies of plants recruit molecules that are essential to the plant as cues. This paradigm has two important implications: 1) other plant-produced signalling molecules known to be abused by plant enemies likely have another, beneficial essential function in plants and 2) the involvement of multiple, positive and negative, biological functions exerts a selective pressure on these signalling molecules that results in the evolution of diversity in structure and biological specificity. In the project proposed here I will address implication 1) using an innovative approach in a new area by setting out to discover a new signalling role for plant parasitic cyst nematode hatching stimulants and I will investigate implication 2) by studying how biological specificity in strigolactones and hatching stimulants is mediated by the creation of structural diversity and the concomitant changes in perception, in parasitic plants and nematodes. This work will shed light on the significance of structural diversity in signalling molecules and the co-evolution of perception and may result in the discovery of a new class of signalling molecules in plants. It will also provide the fundamental knowledge enabling biotechnological and agronomical applications to optimise colonisation by AM fungi and plant development, and control parasitation by root parasitic plants and cyst nematodes. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
US 9311212 W | FILLINGS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF FIBERS | Fiberballs for filling uses in pillows, cushions and for like support purposes, from blends of slickened fiberfill of regular denier, to provide support and resilience, mixed with minor amounts of lower denier slickened fibers to provide optimum aesthetics. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
W3123078223 | Partial Deregulation and Competition: Effects on Risky Mortgage Origination | We exploit the preemption of national banks from state laws against predatory lending by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) as a quasi-experiment to study the effect of deregulation and its interaction with competition on the supply of complex mortgages. Following the preemption ruling, national banks significantly increased their origination of loans with prepayment penalties relative to national banks in states without anti-predatory-lending laws. We highlight a competition channel: in counties where OCC-regulated lenders had larger market shares, non-OCC-regulated lenders responded by increasing their supply of contracts with riskier features, such as deferred amortization, which were not restricted by the state anti-predatory-lending law. Non-OCC lenders were able to lure borrowers into these higher-margin contracts by increasing their appeal with teaser rates. This paper was accepted by Tyler Shumway, finance. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
W1979197964 | Confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer for frequency stabilization of laser | The frequency shift of laser source of Doppler lidar is required in the range of a few megahertzs. To satisfy this demand, a confocal Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometer was manufactured as the frequency standard for frequency stabilization. After analyzing and contrasting the center frequency shift of confocal Fabry-Perot interferometers that are made of three different types of material with the change of temperature, the zerodur material was selected to fabricate the interferometer, and the cavity mirrors were optically contacted onto the end of spacer. The confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer was situated within a double-walled chamber, and the change of temperature in the chamber was less than 0.01 K. The experimental results indicate that the free spectral range is 500 MHz, the full-width at half maximum is 3.33 MHz, and the finesse is 150. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
772766 | Computationally Active DNA Nanostructures | During the 20th century computer technology evolved from bulky, slow, special purpose mechanical engines to the now ubiquitous silicon chips and software that are one of the pinnacles of human ingenuity. The goal of the field of molecular programming is to take the next leap and build a new generation of matter-based computers using DNA, RNA and proteins. This will be accomplished by computer scientists, physicists and chemists designing molecules to execute ``wet'' nanoscale programs in test tubes. The workflow includes proposing theoretical models, mathematically proving their computational properties, physical modelling and implementation in the wet-lab.
The past decade has seen remarkable progress at building static 2D and 3D DNA nanostructures. However, unlike biological macromolecules and complexes that are built via specified self-assembly pathways, that execute robotic-like movements, and that undergo evolution, the activity of human-engineered nanostructures is severely limited. We will need sophisticated algorithmic ideas to build structures that rival active living systems. Active-DNA, aims to address this challenge by achieving a number of objectives on computation, DNA-based self-assembly and molecular robotics. Active-DNA research work will range from defining models and proving theorems that characterise the computational and expressive capabilities of such active programmable materials to experimental work implementing active DNA nanostructures in the wet-lab. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1126/science.1241399 | Changing social norm compliance with noninvasive brain stimulation | All known human societies have maintained social order by enforcing compliance with social norms. The biological mechanisms underlying norm compliance are, however, hardly understood. We show that the right lateral prefrontal cortex (rLPFC) is involved in both voluntary and sanction-induced norm compliance. Both types of compliance could be changed by varying the neural excitability of this brain region with transcranial direct current stimulation, but they were affected in opposite ways, suggesting that the stimulated region plays a fundamentally different role in voluntary and sanction-based compliance. Brain stimulation had a particularly strong effect on compliance in the context of socially constituted sanctions, whereas it left beliefs about what the norm prescribes and about subjectively expected sanctions unaffected. Our findings suggest that rLPFC activity is a key biological prerequisite for an evolutionarily and socially important aspect of human behavior. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
101001221 | Micro Structure and Macro Outcomes | MICRO2MACRO proposes a research agenda where macroeconomic outcomes emerge as the equilibrium aggregation of decisions by interlinked micro-units of production operating in narrow, possibly frictional, markets and subject to localized shocks.
Under this broad agenda, the project focuses on three different themes. The first theme of MICRO2MACRO develops novel theory on market power in production networks and explores how this perspective may inform policy makers and academics. It asks the following questions: (i) Where does market power lie? Can models of production networks help identify market power bottlenecks in supply chain data? (ii) How is competition policy affected by production networks? (iii) Can this micro-to-macro approach inform unresolved debates on the cyclicality of markups?
Second, while the literature has mostly focused on how production networks can help in understanding business cycles, the implications for innovation and growth are largely unexplored. The second theme of MICRO2MACRO puts forward a view of the networked nature of innovation and explores its implications for aggregate growth. It asks: (i) Do innovation decisions cascade throughout the supply chain in response to final demand market size effects? (ii) How do firms explore the knowledge space? Do firms shift between exploiting in depth a given technology and exploring in a new technological domain? (iii) What are the asset pricing implications of unbalanced growth at a micro level?
The third theme of MICRO2MACRO explores how naturally occurring transaction-level data can help surmount empirical bottlenecks in the existent literature. We ask: (i) Whether transaction records can be tapped into to provide a substitute for classical national accounts objects such as disaggregated GDP measures and detailed input-output tables (ii) Whether this data can be deployed to understand the propagation of highly localized shocks through final demand linkages. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP12(2013)009 | Left Handed Z And Z Fcnc Quark Couplings Facing New B S Mu Mu Data | In view of the recent improved data on B_{s,d}->mu^+ mu^- and B_d->K^*mu^+mu^- we revisit two simple NP scenarios in which new FCNC currents in b->s mu^+ mu^- transitions are mediated either entirely by a neutral heavy gauge boson Z' with purely LH complex couplings Delta_L^{qb}(Z') (q=d,s) and couplings to muons Delta_A^{mu mu}(Z') and Delta_V^{mu mu}(Z') or the SM Z boson with LH complex couplings Delta_L^{qb}(Z). We demonstrate how these couplings can be determined by future Delta F=2 and b->s mu^+ mu^- observables. The correlations between various observables can test these NP scenarios. We present the results as functions of Delta M_q/Delta M_q^SM, S_{psi phi} and S_{psi K_S} which should be precisely determined in this decade. We calculate the violation of the CMFV relation between BR(B_{s,d}-> mu^+ mu^-) and Delta M_{s,d} in these scenarios. We find that the data on B_{s,d}->mu^+ mu^- from CMS and LHCb can be reproduced in both scenarios but in the case of Z, Delta M_s and S_{psi phi} have to be very close to their SM values. As far as B_d->K^*mu^+mu^- anomalies are concerned the Z' scenario can significantly soften these anomalies while the Z boson fails because of the small vector coupling to muons. We also point out that recent proposals of explaining these anomalies with the help of a real Wilson coefficient C^NP_9 implies uniquely an enhancement of Delta M_s with respect to its SM value, while a complex C^NP_9 allows for both enhancement and suppression of Delta M_s and simultaneously novel CP-violating effects. We also discuss briefly scenarios in which the Z' boson has RH FCNC couplings. In this context we point out a number of correlations between angular observables measured in B_d->K^*mu^+ mu^- that arise in the absence of new CP-violating phases in scenarios with only LH or RH couplings or scenarios in which LH and RH couplings are equal to each other or differ by sign. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
US 2019/0019589 W | CROSSOVER ROPE SPLICE FOR CREATION OF EYE | Disclosed invention is a method to create slings in a rope and the product of the method. The splice in the present invention creates the splice primarily in the eye of the sling as opposed to the body of the sling. By creating the splice in the eye, the amount of rope needed for the splice is reduce, allowing for greater flexibility in the length of the resulting sling, and lower overall weight. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1111/imr.12580 | Interplay of innate lymphoid cells and the microbiota | Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are a recently identified group of innate lymphocytes that are preferentially located at barrier surfaces. Barrier surfaces are in direct contact with complex microbial ecosystems, collectively referred to as the microbiota. It is now believed that the interplay of the microbiota with host components (i. e. epithelial cells and immune cells) promotes host fitness by regulating organ homeostasis, metabolism, and host defense against pathogens. In this review, we will give an overview of this multifaceted interplay between ILC and components of the microbiota. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1021/cb400487f | Murgocil is a highly bioactive staphylococcal-specific inhibitor of the peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase enzyme MurG | Modern medicine is founded on the discovery of penicillin and subsequent small molecules that inhibit bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) and cell wall synthesis. However, the discovery of new chemically and mechanistically distinct classes of PG inhibitors has become exceedingly rare, prompting speculation that intracellular enzymes involved in PG precursor synthesis are not 'druggable' targets. Here, we describe a β-lactam potentiation screen to identify small molecules that augment the activity of β-lactams against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and mechanistically characterize a compound resulting from this screen, which we have named murgocil. We provide extensive genetic, biochemical, and structural modeling data demonstrating both in vitro and in whole cells that murgocil specifically inhibits the intracellular membrane-associated glycosyltransferase, MurG, which synthesizes the lipid II PG substrate that penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) polymerize and cross-link into the cell wall. Further, we demonstrate that the chemical synergy and cidality achieved between murgocil and the β-lactam imipenem is mediated through MurG dependent localization of PBP2 to the division septum. Collectively, these data validate our approach to rationally identify new target-specific bioactive β-lactam potentiation agents and demonstrate that murgocil now serves as a highly selective and potent chemical probe to assist our understanding of PG biosynthesis and cell wall biogenesis across Staphylococcal species. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy"
]
|
EP 2011060466 W | METHOD FOR PRODUCING HYDROPHOBIC SURFACES | The invention relates to a method for producing hydrophobic surfaces and also to a hydrophobic surface of the kind that may be produced by the method of the invention. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
W2371725939 | Application of Cement Cold Regeneration Technology in Highway Maintenance | Cement cold regeneration technology is a kind of environmentally friendly and economical new technology and has been used in the maintenance engineering of beach road.In consideration of the engineering economy,field mixing and construction technology,ratio of cement and regeneration mixture is determined in the mix design to be 4∶100.The controlling of cement cold regeneration quality requires detection of the raw materials,inspection of grading and cement dose,and control of water content in the mixing plant.It is realized by rolling,paving and maintaining.The detection results show that the controlling of cement dose,water content and grading is relatively stable,and can meet the requirements of design and construction;the field compaction effect is good and the compaction degree can meet the construction requirements. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
670390 | Marine phytoplankton as biogeochemical drivers: Scaling from membranes and single cells to populations | SEACELLS addresses fundamental questions in phytoplankton biology from cellular to population scales. Our recent studies of phytoplankton, primitive photosynthetic marine protists that play important roles in ocean biogeochemical cycles, are providing exciting new information on the roles and evolution of membrane transport, cell signalling and metabolic regulation. The research builds on a number of recent findings, including the discovery of cell membrane properties that were thought to be typical of animal cells but now must be considered to be of much more ancient origin. The proposed 5-year programme brings together single cell biophysics, imaging and state of the art molecular biology with in situ studies of natural oceanic phytoplankton populations, focussing principally on two significant groups, the diatoms and coccolithophores. A major aim is to gain critical mechanistic understanding of membrane transport, cellular regulation and key physiological processes at the single cell level along with information on the microenvironment that surrounds cells. This will be used in conjunction with modelling studies to determine how phytoplankton cells regulate their immediate environment and how this in turn interacts with metabolic activity. In order to understand how the physiological properties of single cells in the laboratory translate to behaviour of natural populations we will examine cell physiological properties in natural populations. Knowledge of cell- to-cell variability will provide insights into the plasticity of populations and their responses to changing ocean conditions. Underpinning this is the transfer of single cell technology developed in the laboratory to ship-board platforms. SEACELLS presents a discipline-spanning approach, providing opportunities for cross-fertilization of knowledge and ideas from molecular biology through cell biophysics to in situ oceanography with wide reaching outcomes. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
215603 | Demonstration of solvent and resin production from lignocellulosic biomass via the platform chemical levulinic acid | The GreenSolRes project demonstrates the levulinic acid (LVA) value chain of lignocellulosic feedstocks to high-value products in a 3-step approach on TRL 6. First, a demonstration plant in Biorefinery of RWTH Aachen will be designed and build for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to the platform chemical levulinic acid. Levulinic acid hydrolysate separation enables more efficient and purer levulinic acid production. In a 2nd step the versatile platform chemical levulinic acid is hydrogenated to 2-methyltetrathydrofuran (2-MTHF), gamma-valerolactone (GVL) and 1-methyl-1,4-butanediol (MeBDO) in a direct process developed by RWTH Aachen. These can be produced in the same reactor with a single catalyst by tuning the process conditions. In parallel, BASF will investigate the conversion of LVA esters to MeBDO and GVL. Third, the application of the products as solvents is validated in adhesives and the pharma sector as substitute of their less sustainable C4-analogues. Additionally, HENKEL studies the development of respective new polymers with improved properties. The basic engineering of first commercial plants for these steps supports rapid upscaling and exploitation after the project. This will release these products from the niche markets they are confined to due to ineffective existing production routes. At competitive prices compared to their petrochemical C4-counterparts these chemicals and related products will boost the bio-based market as they have a high greenhouse gas emission avoidance of at least 70% and an additional value to society via better health & safety properties. The whole value chain from e.g. forestry residues to consumer products is assessed for environmental sustainability, risks and health & safety to support business case development and market implementation. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
651046 | Habitable air: urban inequality in the time of climate change | The project examines how the urban poor, living in the shadows of jointly-owned petrochemical companies, manage the cultural and corporeal effects of chemical air pollution. A Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship will allow me to complete the research for my full-length book project, Habitable Air: Urban Inequality in the Time of Climate Change. The project asks: What political life is possible for – and created by – the world’s most environmentally precarious communities in emerging orders of climate governance? Modern democratic theory rests on the foundational principle that all citizens have an equal share in political life. In contemporary South Africa, the United States, and Germany, legacies of colonialism and racial segregation, along with neoliberalism and climate change, test that very foundation. I approach political life as not merely defined by the laws, policies, and decisions of state-sanctioned agents, but by everyday practices among ordinary citizens and their interactions with the environment. Drawing from over a decade of ethnographic research in interconnected petrochemical hubs of South Africa and Louisiana’s “cancer alley,” and expanding to a new field site in Germany, my project offers a critical examination of how the urban poor, living on the precarious margins, come to inhabit political roles and practice climate politics in twenty-first century liberal democracies, especially as climate science becomes increasingly integral to contemporary governance. The project’s innovation is to examine the under-analyzed relationship between three interrelated phenomena: the amplification of political divisions in major democracies; the rapid growth of urban inequality; and the increasing impact of pollution and global warming. By studying in interconnected global petrochemical hotspots, ""Habitable Air"" will contribute new knowledge about U.N. SDG #11 on sustainable cities and #13 on climate action.
| [
"Earth System Science",
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
US 2015/0014944 W | SAFETY HOSE WITH METAL MESH PROTECTION LAYER | Safety hoses protected by wire mesh and an apparatus for manufacturing them are disclosed. The hose assembly has an inner flexible tube, wrapped with two helices made of ribbons of woven, wire mesh. An outer flexible tube is fitted over the helixes. The ribbon is woven from metal fibers having a diameter of less than 0.20 mm and open apertures of less than 0.45 mm. The ribbon is preferably made of bias-cut material and the pitch of the helixes is such that the warp threads of the ribbons overlap at an angle between 15 and 33 degrees. Alternately the hose may be ribbon braided, having two or more ribbons of woven wire mesh braided together over the inner tube. A modified "May pole" braiding machine to accomplish such ribbon braiding is disclosed. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP05(2016)105 | Global Anomalies And Effective Field Theory | We show that matching anomalies under large gauge transformations and large diffeomorphisms can explain the appearance and non-renormalization of couplings in effective field theory. We focus on thermal effective field theory, where we argue that the appearance of certain unusual Chern-Simons couplings is a consequence of global anomalies. As an example, we show that a mixed global anomaly in four dimensions fixes the chiral vortical effect coefficient (up to an overall additive factor). This is an experimentally measurable prediction from a global anomaly. For certain situations, we propose a simpler method for calculating global anomalies which uses correlation functions rather than eta invariants. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109002 | Modelling the control of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes based on sterile males release techniques in a tropical environment | The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), used to control insect populations, consists of releasing males sterilized by ionizing radiations. Wild females that mate with these males can no longer produce viable offspring, which may drives the population decline. Although this method has proved its efficiency, its effect may be more limited for fast-reproducing large-population species, such Aedes albopictus. A novel approach, named ”boosted SIT” has been designed to strengthen the SIT technique: It consists of coating sterile males with a biocide that will be transferred to the mated females, which will then contaminate the oviposition sites. This study is aimed at exploring demographic effects of both techniques (SIT and boosted SIT) through their inclusion in a weather-driven abundance model of the Aedes albopictus population dynamics in the geographical context of La Reunion Island. Sensitivity analysis showed that the date to start the release, as well as the quantity of sterile males released and their competitiveness, are of key importance for both control methods. According to our results, boosted SIT allows 1) Increasing the effectiveness of the SIT when the sterile males released are of medium quality in terms of competitiveness, and 2) extending the optimal window to start the control period. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
interreg_1333 | Female participation in high-tech enterprises | FEMINA partners believe that increased female participation can make high-tech SMEs more competitive. This belief, based on academic studies and practical experience, must become part of mainstream policy.
The gender gap is still visible in high-tech sectors across EU-28: women represented 29% of entrepreneurs in 2014 and 32.5% of employees in high-tech manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services in 2015. This is not a question of social inclusion. It is about economic growth: studies show that the women’s specific skills can help to diversify and consolidate enterprises; that closing the gender gap could generate an EU GDP increase of 13%.
In this context, FEMINA partners cooperate at interregional level to reach their overall aim: to ensure that selected policy instruments are integrated with measures to promote female engagement in their high-tech sectors, with a focus on sectors in their RIS3.
FEMINA considers how to identify, implement, monitor and evaluate policy measures that break down barriers to female high-tech entrepreneurship, to employment and career progression in high-tech SMEs and to the gender dimension of innovation in funding schemes for high-tech start-ups and SMEs.
Policy improvements are foreseen through specific projects funded to address these barriers, through improved policy management (e.g. gender criteria in monitoring) and through strategic focus, whereby partners work to include female participation in high-tech as a fundamental principle of their policies for SME competitiveness.
FEMINA’s main outputs are Action Plans, detailing these desired changes, which partners and selected stakeholders will implement and monitor over a 2-year period. The results of this implementation will benefit SMEs and the territory. An increase in female participation in high-tech entrepreneurship, employment and leadership should establish a culture of gender parity in these sectors, with impact on inclusive growth and regional competitiveness. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.123201 | Laser Cooled YbF Molecules for Measuring the Electron's Electric Dipole Moment | We demonstrate one-dimensional sub-Doppler laser cooling of a beam of YbF molecules to 100 μK. This is a key step towards a measurement of the electron's electric dipole moment using ultracold molecules. We compare the effectiveness of magnetically assisted and polarization-gradient sub-Doppler cooling mechanisms. We model the experiment and find good agreement with our data. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1167/14.6.2 | Crowding Is Reduced By Onset Transients In The Target Object But Not In The Flankers | In peripheral vision, objects that are visible in isolation become difficult to identify in clutter. This crowding effect is typically strong when objects are similar in a given dimension (e. g. , color) and weak when they differ. Here we examine the selectivity of crowding for temporal differences-namely, the transient signals associated with object onsets and offsets. Observers judged the orientation of a peripheral Gabor target surrounded by four flankers. Midway through each trial, selected elements "blinked" off and on again. Performance was poor (crowding was strong) when all Gabors blinked simultaneously or when only the flankers blinked. In contrast, performance improved dramatically when the target alone blinked despite the continued presence of the flankers. This asymmetric release from crowding occurs across a range of blink durations and target-flanker separations. A similar release was found when the target onset was delayed relative to the flanker onsets, though varying the target offset had little effect. This suggests that blinks (composed of offset and onset events) reduce crowding specifically because they separate target and flanker onsets. Finally, with luminance pedestals added to the Gabors, crowding was reduced by blinks in the target pedestal only when the target Gabor was present; pedestal blinks before/after the stimulus Gabors (as precues/postcues) had no effect. That is, transients do not simply cue the target location. The asymmetry of this effect (reduced crowding with target transients, no effect with flanker transients) also precludes explanations based on similarity or grouping. We attribute our findings to the isolation of the target in transient (vs. sustained) visual channels. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System"
]
|
10.1039/C5DT04044B | Assessing The Reactivity Of Sodium Alkyl Magnesiates Towards Quinoxaline Single Electron Transfer Set Vs Nucleophilic Alkylation Processes | By exploring the reactivity of sodium butyl-magnesiate (1) supported by the bulky chelating silyl(bisamido) ligand {Ph2Si(NAr*)2}2− (Ar* = 2,6-iPr2-C6H3) towards Quinoxaline (Qx), the ability of this bimetallic system to effectively promote SET processes has been disclosed. Thus 1 executes the single-electron reduction of Qx affording complex (2) whose structure in the solid state contains two quinaxolyl radical anions Qx˙ stabilised within a dimeric magnesiate framework. Combining multinuclear NMR and EPR measurements with DFT calculations, new insights into the constitution of 2 in solution and its magnetic behaviour have been gained. Further evidence on the SET reactivity of 1 was found when it was reacted with nitroxyl radical TEMPO which furnished contacted ion pair sodium magnesiate [(Ph2Si(NAr*)2)Mg(TEMPO−)Na(THF)3] (4) where both metals are connected by an alkoxide bridge, resulting from reduction of TEMPO. The role that the different ligands present in 1 can play in these new SET reactions has also been assessed. Using an amination approach, the Bu group in 1 can be replaced by the more basic amide TMP allowing the isolation of (3) which was characterised by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography. 1H NMR monitoring of the reaction of 3 with Qx showed its conversion to 2, leaving the hydrogen atoms of the heterocycle untouched. Contrastingly, using sodium homoalkyl magnesiate [NaMg(CH2SiMe3)3] (5) led to the chemoselective C2 alkylation of this heterocycle, suggesting that the presence of the steric stabiliser {Ph2Si(NAr*)2}2− on the mixed-metal reagent is required in order to facilitate the Qx reduction. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1080/17530350.2015.1100132 | You Must Fall Down The Rabbit Hole | Finding oneself in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a possibility Pitluck (2015) warns us against in his helpful assessment of the perils of performativity, is unfortunately unavoidable. It is fir. . . | [
"Texts and Concepts"
]
|
10.1093/cercor/bhw007 | NgR1: A Tunable Sensor Regulating Memory Formation, Synaptic, and Dendritic Plasticity | Nogo receptor 1 (NgR1) is expressed in forebrain neurons and mediates nerve growth inhibition in response to Nogo and other ligands. Neuronal activity downregulates NgR1 and the inability to downregulate NgR1 impairs long-term memory. We investigated behavior in a serial behavioral paradigm in mice that overexpress or lack NgR1, finding impaired locomotor behavior and recognition memory in mice lacking NgR1 and impaired sequential spatial learning in NgR1 overexpressing mice. We also investigated a role for NgR1 in drug-mediated sensitization and found that repeated cocaine exposure caused stronger locomotor responses but limited development of stereotypies in NgR1 overexpressing mice. This suggests that NgR1-regulated synaptic plasticity is needed to develop stereotypies. Ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging analyses of NgR1 overexpressing brains did not reveal any major alterations. NgR1 overexpression resulted in significantly reduced density of mature spines and dendritic complexity. NgR1 overexpression also altered cocaine-induced effects on spine plasticity. Our results show that NgR1 is a negative regulator of both structural synaptic plasticity and dendritic complexity in a brain region-specific manner, and highlight anterior cingulate cortex as a key area for memory-related plasticity. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
171159 | Research infrastructure for circular forest bioeconomy | The ERIFORE will realize the European potential to consolidate its place as a world leader in biomass based research and innovations. ERIFORE builds on a new firm alliance aiming to establish open access distributed forest bioeconomy research infrastructure across Europe enabling scientific discoveries to be transferred to new business models, novel products and services enabling sustainable growth. The research infrastructure will focus on topics supporting Circular Forest Bioeconomy concepts starting from fundamental teaching and knowledge sharing to high level research laboratories and large scale piloting facilities.
This two-year action will be carried out by 11 European research organisations, 2 universities and a SME. The main objective of ERIFORE is to facilitate development the Circular Forest Bioeconomy field towards the following overall targets:
1) Coordinate, complement and update major European research infrastructure to enable the full potential of available forest biomass in balance with diverse use of forests.
2) A new level of co-operation between the major RTD providers.
3) Establish a globally competitive European research infrastructure.
The main deliverables of ERIFORE are the following:
1) To enhance the awareness, utilisation and open access of the complementary research facilities between the major European RTD providers in circular forest biorefinery.
2) To prepare a conceptual design and plan for cooperation arrangements between the main European RTD providers in this field.
3) To prepare Stakeholder analysis for the development needs in the infrastructure network at European level.
4) To upgrade bioeconomy competence base by providing contact interface for facilities for education and training. A plan for implementing is prepared.
The suggested future European research infrastructure will then facilitate the development towards enhanced utilisation of renewable raw materials and renewal of established European process industry. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.trc.2017.05.002 | A real time forecasting tool for dynamic travel time from clustered time series | This paper addresses the problem of dynamic travel time (DTT) forecasting within highway traffic networks using speed measurements. Definitions, computational details and properties in the construction of DTT are provided. DTT is dynamically clustered using a K-means algorithm and then information on the level and the trend of the centroid of the clusters is used to devise a predictor computationally simple to be implemented. To take into account the lack of information in the cluster assignment for the new predicted values, a weighted average fusion based on a similarity measurement is proposed to combine the predictions of each model. The algorithm is deployed in a real time application and the performance is evaluated using real traffic data from the South Ring of the Grenoble city in France. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1021/ct401101u | Fast and accurate electronic excitations in cyanines with the many-body bethe-salpeter approach | The accurate prediction of the optical signatures of cyanine derivatives remains an important challenge in theoretical chemistry. Indeed, up to now, only the most expensive quantum chemical methods (CAS-PT2, CC, DMC, etc. ) yield consistent and accurate data, impeding the applications on real-life molecules. Here, we investigate the lowest lying singlet excitation energies of increasingly long cyanine dyes within the GW and Bethe-Salpeter Green's function many-body perturbation theory. Our results are in remarkable agreement with available coupled-cluster (exCC3) data, bringing these two single-reference perturbation techniques within a 0. 05 eV maximum discrepancy. By comparison, available TD-DFT calculations with various semilocal, global, or range-separated hybrid functionals, overshoot the transition energies by a typical error of 0. 3-0. 6 eV. The obtained accuracy is achieved with a parameter-free formalism that offers similar accuracy for metallic or insulating, finite size or extended systems. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1111/ibi.12191 | The importance of fission-fusion social group dynamics in birds | Almost all animal social groups show some form of fission-fusion dynamics, whereby group membership is not spatio-temporally stable. These dynamics have major implications at both population and individual levels, exerting an important influence on patterns of social behaviour, information transfer and epidemiology. However, fission-fusion dynamics in birds have received relatively little attention. We review the existing evidence for fission-fusion sociality in birds alongside a more general explanation of the social and ecological processes that may drive fission-fusion dynamics. Through a combination of recent methodological developments and novel technologies with well-established areas of ornithological research, avian systems offer great potential to further our understanding of fission-fusion social systems and the consequences they have at an individual and population level. In particular, investigating the interaction between social structure and environmental covariates can promote a deeper understanding of the evolution of social behaviour and the adaptive value of group living, as well as having important consequences for applied research. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
W2449771 | Shading Impact on Qualitative Characteristics and Chlorophyll Content of Cut Rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Avalanche) | Light intensity is considered a limiting factor in greenhouse rose production. The main aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of shading treatments (0, 25, 50, and 65% shading) on quality and chlorophyll content of cut rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Avalanche), under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was planned in randomized completely block design with four replications. All shoots were bent downwards from above the second bud after removing the young flower bud. Shading significantly affected on bud sprouting, flowering stem fresh and dry weight and flowering stem diameter, so that earliest bud sprouting, highest flowering stem, fresh and dry weight and flowering stem diameter were observed in no shading treatment. However, shading had no significant effect on flowering stem length and leaf area, but specific leaf area increased with shading percentage increment at 65% shade. Results of total chlorophyll content as well as chlorophyll a and b showed a decrement with increasing of shading percentage. In general, shading could be a cause of low-quality in cut roses; therefore greenhouse roses growers should consider greenhouse architecture to maximize light deep penetration. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1016/j.cmet.2014.04.002 | Pharmacological inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases improves fitness and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle | We previously demonstrated that the deletion of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (Parp)-1 gene in mice enhances oxidative metabolism, thereby protecting against diet-induced obesity. However, the therapeutic use of PARP inhibitors to enhance mitochondrial function remains to be explored. Here, we show tight negative correlation between Parp-1 expression and energy expenditure in heterogeneous mouse populations, indicating that variations in PARP-1 activity have an impact on metabolic homeostasis. Notably, these genetic correlations can be translated into pharmacological applications. Long-term treatment with PARP inhibitors enhances fitness in mice by increasing the abundance of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and boosting mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Furthermore, PARP inhibitors reverse mitochondrial defects in primary myotubes of obese humans and attenuate genetic defects of mitochondrial metabolism in human fibroblasts and C. elegans. Overall, our work validates in worm, mouse, and human models that PARP inhibition may be used to treat both genetic and acquired muscle dysfunction linked to defective mitochondrial function. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1021/acs.jpca.5b03187 | Visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy of gas phase rhodamine 575 cations | The visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy of gas phase rhodamine 575 cations has been studied experimentally by action-spectroscopy in a modified linear ion trap between 220 and 590 nm and by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. Three bands are observed that can be assigned to the electronic transitions S<inf>0</inf> → S<inf>1</inf>, S<inf>0</inf> → S<inf>3</inf>, and S<inf>0</inf> → (S<inf>8</inf>,S<inf>9</inf>) according to the theoretical prediction. While the agreement between theory and experiment is excellent for the S<inf>3</inf> and S<inf>8</inf>/S<inf>9</inf> transitions, a large shift in the value of the calculated S<inf>1</inf> transition energy is observed. A theoretical analysis of thermochromism, potential vibronic effects, and-qualitatively-electron correlation revealed it is mainly the latter that is responsible for the failure of TDDFT to accurately reproduce the S<inf>1</inf> transition energy, and that a significant thermochromic shift is also present. Finally, we investigated the nature of the excited states by analyzing the excitations and discussed their different fragmentation behavior. We hypothesize that different contributions of local versus charge transfer excitations are responsible for 1-photon versus 2-photon fragmentation observed experimentally. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
W3102288051 | Photospheric Magnetic Evolution in the WHI Active Regions | Sequences of line-of-sight (LOS) magnetograms recorded by the Michelson-Doppler Imager are used to quantitatively characterize photospheric magnetic structure and evolution in three active regions that rotated across the Sun's disk during the Whole Heliosphere Interval (WHI), in an attempt to relate the photospheric magnetic properties of these active regions to flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Several approaches are used in our analysis, on scales ranging from whole active regions, to magnetic features, to supergranular scales, and, finally, to individual pixels. We calculated several parameterizations of magnetic structure and evolution that have previously been associated with flare and CME activity, including total unsigned magnetic flux, magnetic flux near polarity inversion lines, amount of cancelled flux, the "proxy Poynting flux," and helicity flux. To catalog flare events, we used flare lists derived from both GOES and RHESSI observations. By most such measures, AR 10988 should have been the most flare- and CME-productive active region, and AR 10989 the least. Observations, however, were not consistent with this expectation: ARs 10988 and 10989 produced similar numbers of flares, and AR 10989 also produced a few CMEs. These results highlight present limitations of statistics-based flare and CME forecasting tools that rely upon line-of-sight photospheric magnetic data alone. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
641764 | Implications of tissue stiffness in growth contrtissue stiffness and its implications in different growth rates of regenerating limbs amputated at different levels in salamanders (ambystoma mexicanum) | In several regenerating organisms it has been observed that distally amputated structures grow slower than proximally amputated ones, resulting in an overall time of regeneration that is independent of the tissue to be reformed. This observation suggests that cell proliferation or cell size could be adjusted with the plane of amputation along the proximo-distal (PD) axis, leading to an interesting scaling behaviour. It has been proposed that positional identity in the limb may be encoded as a proximal-to-distal gradient of cell surface molecules, that would in turn alter intercellular adhesions. Thus, it is possible that such differential adhesions are associated to the control of cell growth during regeneration. The central aim of this proposal is to address this question by combining cell biology, mathematical and physical tools, with the ultimate goal of understanding how the biomechanical properties of tissues affect regeneration, which may have important implications for the design of biomaterials aimed at being used for regenerative medicine.
We will tackle this question in the highly regenerative salamander species Axolotl mexicanum, in which limb regeneration is initiated regardless of the amputation plane, and the regenerating limb grows until its size matches the contralateral undamaged one. We will evaluate growth rate and cell cycle of regenerating limbs amputated at different levels, and mathematically describe cell proliferation patterns. We will characterize several cell surface and extracellular matrix molecules along the PD axis, and measure tissue mechanics in vivo. Furthermore, we will for the first time, evaluate the Hippo pathway in salamanders, an important modulator of cell growth in response to several physical inputs, as the causal link between increased tissue stiffness and decreased proliferation. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Materials Engineering",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1364/OE.22.030613 | Self Reconstructing Spatiotemporal Light Bullets | We show that spatiotemporal light bullets generated by self-focusing and filamentation of 100 fs, 1. 8 μm pulses in a dielectric medium with anomalous group velocity dispersion (sapphire) are extremely robust to external perturbations. We present the experimental results supported by the numerical simulations that demonstrate complete spatiotemporal self-reconstruction of the light bullet after hitting an obstacle, which blocks its intense core carrying the self-compressed pulse, in nonlinear as well as in linear (free-space) propagation regimes. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
885593 | COupling data and techniques for BReakthroughs in EXoplanetary systems exploration | Exoplanetology has become a major topic in astronomy over the last 30 years. New observing capabilities and
modelling have revolutionised the understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve. Yet, the 5-20 au
region, where the giant planets formed by accretion of gas on to a solid core are supposed to form predominantly,
remains barely explored due to instrumental limitations. GAIA and the E-ELT instruments will be well suited to
explore planetary systems at this scale. However, I believe that exploring this region is possible right now, at a
small cost, with the use of recent innovative signal processing developments applied to current High Contrast
Imaging (HCI) data and/or the use of high-performance, AO-fed medium/high resolution spectrographs.
With COBREX, I want to apply such new data processing techniques on the largest library of SPHERE and GPI
HCI data to gain at least one order of magnitude (hence a gain of ~3 in mass/separation) on current planet and disk
detection limits in the 5-20 au region. This will allow witnessing, for the first time, analogues of our Solar System
Giants at early ages, and constraining the distribution of GPs in the 5-20 au. Combining in different ways various
data (HCI, GAIA, RV) will allow exploring the demography of young giant planets at all separations. Then, I want
to couple HCI with medium/high resolution spectroscopy, to find and study planet properties into exquisite details,
and investigate in an unprecedented way the link between disks and planets. Finally, I wish to explore the possibility
of imaging remote magmatic super-Earths in the near future thanks to such improvements. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W620993060 | Traditional Buildings of the English Countryside: An Illustrated Guide | No other country offers so rich and varied a heritage of traditional buildings as England. From windmills to water mills, cottages to castles, dovecotes to beeboles a wealth of treasures await discovery. Drawing upon forty years' experience of caring for historic structures Geoffrey R. Sharpe provides a simple but informed guide to these delights and curiosities of the English countryside. He explains not just the purpose of these buildings but the part they played in the history of the countryside, showing how the buildings evolved and the ways in which people lived and worked in them. He uses his expert knowledge to explain the differences in materials, how they were worked, and the many regional variations to be enjoyed. The result is an invaluable guide that will enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of England's rich and varied heritage. | [
"The Study of the Human Past"
]
|
NL 2004000625 W | SHOWER SYSTEM, AND A SHOWER HEAD AND A METHOD FOR CLEANING A SHOWER SYSTEM | A shower system provided with at least one shower head (1) wherein the shower head (1) is provided with at least one filter tube (2) with a porous wall (4) for separating at least one filtering space (3) from a collecting space (5) such that water supplied to said filtering space (3) is passed substantially bacteria free, in particular Legionella free, via said tube wall (4) to said collecting space (5) at least during use of the shower, while the system is provided with flushing means (8, 9, 10) for flushing said filtering space (3) for the purpose of removing any bacteria that may have accumulated in that space (3). | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1016/j.carbon.2013.02.044 | Aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition synthesis of multi-wall carbon nanotubes: II. An analytical study | We report the study of different aspects of the aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (ACVD) method for the optimised synthesis of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Fifteen hydrocarbons (alkanes, benzene derivatives, and cyclohexane derivatives) were used in conjunction with catalyst concentrations of 1-15 wt. % in order to investigate their effect on morphology, residual catalyst content, diameter distribution, defect density and oxidation resistance of MWCNTs. The conversion yield of the precursors was measured and their thermocatalytic cracking behaviour was studied in situ using an integrated mass spectrometer. We believe that each hydrocarbon interacts differently with the catalyst and follows a characteristic cracking route involving the creation of certain intermediate hydrocarbon fragments which are responsible for the formation of MWCNTs with different properties. We show that the properties of MWCNTs can be tuned by altering the composition of the precursor and that the synthesis rate and the precursor conversion yield can be improved by 60% and 80%, respectively, compared to the commonly used carbon sources such as toluene or xylene. Moreover, while maintaining MWCNT sample quality, i. e. MWCNTs have similar or fewer defects densities and higher oxidation resistance, the amount of residual catalyst particles in the MWCNT samples could also be reduced by ca. 50%. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W2069704167 | Interpreting the Relationships Among Prosody, Automaticity, Accuracy, and Silent Reading Comprehension in Secondary Students | Although identified as a critical component of proficient reading in the primary grades, reading fluency (word recognition accuracy, automaticity, and prosody) is often viewed as less important beyond the early stages of reading acquisition. In the present study, 108 ninth-grade students were assessed to explore the relationships among word recognition accuracy, automaticity, prosody, and vocabulary with silent reading comprehension. Results found large correlations among the variables while regression analysis revealed that accuracy, prosody, and vocabulary explained from 50.1% to 52.7% of the variance in silent reading comprehension. Of note were the findings that word recognition automaticity did not contribute to silent reading comprehension although prosody was found to act as a partial mediator between automaticity and comprehension. Accuracy, automaticity, and prosody were found to form a highly reliable scale reflecting oral reading fluency. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting that secondary students exhibiting appropriate prosody experience advantages in comprehension processing. The tandem theory of reading is introduced to explain the relationship between automaticity and comprehension. | [
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
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