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10.1111/conl.12460 | Wicked conflict: Using wicked problem thinking for holistic management of conservation conflict | Conservation conflict is widespread, damaging, and has proved difficult to manage using conventional conservation approaches. Conflicts are often “wicked problems,” lacking clear solutions due to divergent values of stakeholders, and being embedded within wickedly complex environments. Drawing on the concept of wicked environmental problems could lead to management strategies better suited to tackling conflict. However, it is unclear whether managers are embracing ideas from the wicked problems concept. There is currently a lack of guidance for applying strategies to tackle particular wicked problems, such as conservation conflict. We explored the suitability of wicked problems-inspired management, using eight contemporary conflict case studies. Conservation conflict was managed predominantly using conventional approaches suited to tackling single objectives in simple environments, rather than balancing competing objectives in complex environments. To deal with different characteristics of wickedness, we recommend that managers develop strategies combining distributed decision-making, diverse opinions, pattern-based predictions, trade-off-based objectives, and reporting of failures. Recent advances in conservation conflict research have focused on improving interactions among stakeholders. We believe that such stakeholder-focused approaches would dovetail with the whole-system focus of a wicked problems framework, allowing conservationists to move toward a holistic strategy for managing conservation conflict. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
interreg_1111 | Improving Ecological Connectivity in the Alps | ECONNECT aims at the enhancement of ecological connectivity in the Alpine space. Protection of biodiversity and natural heritage – a central necessity to cope with the challenges of climate change – requires an integrated approach which beyond protected areas considers high biodiversity areas and corridors as linking elements of an Alpine ecological network. International umbrella organisations linked to the Alpine Convention, scientific institutions and local implementation partners have joined forces to demonstrate needs and options for action and develop innovative instruments for ecological connectivity. Pilot applications involving different stakeholders result in long-term implementation. To overcome legal and administrative constraints policy recommendations are presented ensuring effective cross-border cooperation and procedural harmonisation. Knowledge transfer and dissemination are guaranteed by the widely ramified structure of partners and the strategic use of networks. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1017/S0030605311001372 | Payments For Ecosystem Services In An African Protected Area Exploring Issues Of Legitimacy Fairness Equity And Effectiveness | We explore the potential for payments for ecosystem services (PES) to reconcile conservation and development goals, using a case study of an experimental PES intervention around the Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. The scheme involves the purchase of biodiversity conservation services from local communities in four selected locations. Although a portion of the payment is awarded at the household level, it is the collective action of the community that determines the level of the payment. Contracts are negotiated annually and include performance indicators within each participating community. We examine the ability of PES to achieve conservation and development objectives, through three sub-questions: Is the PES scheme effective? Is it legitimate and fair? Is it equitable? Our findings indicate that the relationship between these evaluation criteria is complex, with both trade-offs and synergies. In this case study the effectiveness of PES is dependent on the equitable distribution of the payment, participants’ belief and acceptance of the service being paid for, institutional histories that aid in the establishment of legitimacy and fairness, and the complementary nature of PES to more conventional enforcement methods. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
10.1371/journal.pone.0203165 | Food preferences of similarly raised and kept captive dogs and wolves | Food preferences may be driven by a species’ ecology. Closely related species such as dogs and wolves may have evolved preferences for different foods owing to their differing foraging styles. Wolves have been shown to be more persistent in problem-solving experiments and more risk-prone in a foraging task. A possible element affecting these (and other) results is a potential wolf-dog difference in food preferences. To address this possibility, we tested similarly raised and kept dogs and wolves in two different food choice tasks, a classic two-choice task and a multiple-choice paradigm. We predicted that if dogs have adapted to a more opportunistic, scavenging foraging style, they would show a weaker preference for meat over starch rich foods (such as kibble) and be less affected by hunger than wolves. Alternatively, given the recentness of the new niche dogs have created, we predicted no substantial differences between dogs’ and wolves’ food preferences. We found that our subjects did not differ in their preference for meat over kibble in either paradigm. However, wolves’ (but not dogs’) choice patterns were affected by satiation, with wolves being less “selective” when hungry. Furthermore, when fed before testing, wolves were more selective than dogs. These differences were more noticeable in the multiple-choice paradigm than the two-choice task, suggesting that the former, novel paradigm may be more sensitive and better capable of evaluating food preferences in a diverse range of species. Overall, we found that the distinct differences in wolves’ and dogs’ ecology and foraging styles do not appear to have affected their food preferences and thus, differences in food preferences are unlikely to have influenced results of previous experiments demonstrating wolf-dog differences in cognitive skills. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1039/c6cc01693f | Functionalizing the glycocalyx of living cells with supramolecular guest ligands for cucurbit[8]uril-mediated assembly | Metabolically presented naphthol ligands on the glycocalyx to trap cells to non-fouling lipid bilayers by heterocomplexation with cucurbit[8]uril and methylviologen. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.21468/scipostphyscore.2.2.010 | Space-like dynamics in a reversible cellular automaton | In this paper we study the space evolution in the Rule 54 reversible cellular automaton, which is a paradigmatic example of a deterministic interacting lattice gas. We show that the spatial translation of time configurations of the automaton is given in terms of local deterministic maps with the support that is small but bigger than that of the time evolution. The model is thus an example of space-time dual reversible cellular automaton, i. e. its dual is also (in general different) reversible cellular automaton. We provide two equivalent interpretations of the result; the first one relies on the dynamics of quasi-particles and follows from an exhaustive check of all the relevant time configurations, while the second one relies on purely algebraic considerations based on the circuit representation of the dynamics. Additionally, we use the properties of the local space evolution maps to provide an alternative derivation of the matrix product representation of multi-time correlation functions of local observables positioned at the same spatial coordinate. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1016/j.devcel.2017.02.009 | Cell-Cell Contact Area Affects Notch Signaling and Notch-Dependent Patterning | During development, cells undergo dramatic changes in their morphology. By affecting contact geometry, these morphological changes could influence cellular communication. However, it has remained unclear whether and how signaling depends on contact geometry. This question is particularly relevant for Notch signaling, which coordinates neighboring cell fates through direct cell-cell signaling. Using micropatterning with a receptor trans-endocytosis assay, we show that signaling between pairs of cells correlates with their contact area. This relationship extends across contact diameters ranging from micrometers to tens of micrometers. Mathematical modeling predicts that dependence of signaling on contact area can bias cellular differentiation in Notch-mediated lateral inhibition processes, such that smaller cells are more likely to differentiate into signal-producing cells. Consistent with this prediction, analysis of developing chick inner ear revealed that ligand-producing hair cell precursors have smaller apical footprints than non-hair cells. Together, these results highlight the influence of cell morphology on fate determination processes. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1038/nn.3973 | Retrieval induces adaptive forgetting of competing memories via cortical pattern suppression | Remembering a past experience can, surprisingly, cause forgetting. Forgetting arises when other competing traces interfere with retrieval and inhibitory control mechanisms are engaged to suppress the distraction they cause. This form of forgetting is considered to be adaptive because it reduces future interference. The effect of this proposed inhibition process on competing memories has, however, never been observed, as behavioral methods are 'blind' to retrieval dynamics and neuroimaging methods have not isolated retrieval of individual memories. We developed a canonical template tracking method to quantify the activation state of individual target memories and competitors during retrieval. This method revealed that repeatedly retrieving target memories suppressed cortical patterns unique to competitors. Pattern suppression was related to engagement of prefrontal regions that have been implicated in resolving retrieval competition and, critically, predicted later forgetting. Thus, our findings demonstrate a cortical pattern suppression mechanism through which remembering adaptively shapes which aspects of our past remain accessible. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
219665 | A microfluidic chip for automating three-dimensional cell culture for personalized medicine | A paradigm shift in health-care towards personalized medicine is slowly under way to tailor treatments to each unique individual’s needs. A key avenue for developing this field consists in recreating in vitro models of specific body parts with cells. In particular, cells need to be placed in three-dimensions (3D) to truly recapitulate their normal environment in the body; yet current commercial assays only facilitate culture of cells in two-dimensions, which causes cells to behave very differently thus distorting the results. Microfluidic technology is ripe for facilitating this transition, but does not offer any tool to facilitate the first essential step that consists in embedding cells in gels so that they evolve in 3D inside the gel. To address this need, we propose a novel microfluidic platform that automates cell mixing with biological gels, that overcomes the challenge of mixing liquids with such different viscosities (i.e. gel and cells in liquid), and offers precise temperature control to regulate the gel formation process. This novel tool will automate a tedious procedure that is normally done manually in the lab, which will accelerate the protocol and encourage a wider practice of 3D cell culture, and guarantee the reproducibility of the gel formation around the cells. This project will enable both I and a start-up to acquire new skills in a cutting-edge field, thus driving European innovation. I will gain new expertise in becoming an independent entrepreneur and in fabricating microfluidic tools, which will complement my pre-existing deep knowledge of biological microfluidic applications. This will enable me to transition from academia to industry, from the USA to Europe, and commercialize on my own the many ideas I have been developing over my extensive career in academic research, while Elvesys who wants to enter the growing field of microfluidic cell culture, will gain an expert in 3D cell culture trained in a world-renowned academic laboratory. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2736978 | Joint Alphabet Space Time Shift Keying In Mm Wave Non Orthogonal Multiple Access | Flexible modulation schemes and smart multiple-input multiple-output techniques, as well as low-complexity detectors and preprocessors may become essential for efficiently balancing the bit error ratio performance, throughput, and complexity tradeoff for various application scenarios. Millimeter-Wave systems have a high available bandwidth and the potential to accommodate numerous antennas in a small area, which makes them an attractive candidate for future networks employing spatial modulation and space-time shift keying (STSK). Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) systems are capable of achieving an increased throughput, by allowing multiple users to share the same resources at the cost of a higher transmission power, or an increased detection (preprocessing) complexity at the receiver (transmitter) of an uplink (downlink) scenario. In this paper, we propose the new concept of joint-alphabet space time shift keying. As an application scenario, we employ it in the context of the uplink of NOMA mm-Wave systems. We demonstrate with the aid of extrinsic information transfer charts that a higher capacity is achievable when compared with STSK, while retaining the attractive flexibility of STSK in terms of its diversity gain and coding rate. Finally, we conceive quantum-assisted detectors for reducing the detection complexity, while attaining a near-optimal performance, when compared with the optimal iterative maximum A posteriori probability detector. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1093/jxb/ery222 | Exploiting protein modification systems to boost crop productivity: SUMO proteases in focus | In recent years, post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins has emerged as a key process that integrates plant growth and response to a changing environment. During the processes of domestication and breeding, plants were selected for various yield and adaptational characteristics. The post-translational modifier small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein is known to have a role in the regulation of a number of these characteristics. Using bioinformatics, we mined the genomes of cereal and Brassica crops and their non-crop relatives Arabidopsis thaliana and Brachypodium distachyon for ubiquitin-like protease (ULP) SUMO protease sequences. We discovered that the SUMO system in cereal crops is disproportionately elaborate in comparison with that in B. distachyon. We use these data to propose deSUMOylation as a mechanism for specificity in the SUMO system. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1021/acsnano.7b08105 | In Situ Synthetic Functionalization of a Transmembrane Protein Nanopore | Monitoring current flow through a single nanopore has proved to be a powerful technique for the in situ detection of molecular structure, binding, and reactivity. Transmembrane proteins, such as α-hemolysin, provide particularly attractive platforms for nanopore sensing applications due to their atomically precise structures. However, many nanopore applications require the introduction of functional groups to tune selectivity. To date, such modifications have required genetic modification of the protein prior to functionalization. Here we demonstrate the in situ synthetic modification of a wild-type α-hemolysin nanopore embedded in a membrane. We show that reversible dynamic covalent iminoboronate formation and the resulting changes in the ion current flowing through an individual nanopore can be used to map the reactive behavior of lysine residues within the nanopore channel. Crucially, the modification of lysine residues located outside the nanopore channel was found not to affect the stability or utility of the nanopore. Finally, knowledge of the reactivity patterns enabled the irreversible functionalization of a single, assignable lysine residue within the nanopore channel. The approach constitutes a simple, generic tool for the rapid, in situ synthetic modification of protein nanopores that circumvents the need for prior genetic modification. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
interreg_2156 | MANFRED - Management strategies to adapt Alpine Space forests to climate change risks | With the expected Climate Change (CC), the ecological conditions for forests in the Alpine Space will be fundamentally changing – with unknown effects on the forests’ essential protective, ecological, economical and social functions. Under different climate and land-use change scenarios only an adaptive management can provide the conservation of the natural heritage and the multiple functions. MANFRED bridges the gap between research and practical forest management and seeks to a) collect knowledge with regard to CC effects on 4 main topics: forest growth and land use changes (WP4), hazards & stressors (WP5), best practices to face extreme events (WP6) protection forests (WP7); b) identify hot spots with concrete need for action on the regional & local level; c) develop management strategies able to adapt to changing environmental conditions (WP 8); d) contribute to the implementation of suggested adapted management strategies in cooperation with political decision makers in 4 transnational case study regions. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
682291 | Modification and regulation of coding and non-coding RNA pathways | Coding and non-coding RNAs are regulated at numerous levels. For example, microRNA (miRNA) expression can be influenced at various steps of biosynthesis. Furthermore, it has been reported that direct RNA methylation events can also affect gene expression in many different organisms and systems. The aim of this project is to identify and characterize factors that affect the maturation of miRNAs. We will employ biochemical pull down assays to isolate specific binding partners of different miRNA species. We will analyze the physiological role of these factors using molecular or cell biological approaches. Molecular details of pre-miRNA-protein interactions will be investigated by x-ray crystallography. In addition, we will decipher the role of the m6A methylation pathway on the regulation of coding and non-coding RNAs. Writers, readers and erasers of this modification have been identified. However, not much is known about the composition of specific protein complexes as well as the atomic structure of these factors. Thus, we will functionally and structurally characterize known and putative novel factors of the m6A methylation pathway in human cells. Furthermore, using our biochemical pull down approach employed for the identification of pre-miRNA processing factors, we will identify reader proteins of several types of RNA modification that have not been investigated so far. The proposed project will elucidate the regulation of gene expression by small RNAs or direct RNA methylation and will add so far unknown components to these important regulatory pathways. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1007/s00445-015-0962-7 | Exhumed conduit records magma ascent and drain-back during a Strombolian eruption at Tongariro volcano, New Zealand | Field evidence from a basaltic-andesite dyke preserved in the eroded wall of a scoria cone at Red Crater, Tongariro volcano, New Zealand, records a history of up-conduit magma flow during a Strombolian eruption, subsequent drain-back and final cessation of flow. The dyke intrudes pre-Strombolian andesite lavas, and the overlying proximal basaltic-andesite scoria deposits associated with contemporaneous lavas, which are, in turn overlain by laminated lapilli-tuff and large blocks. Textural and kinematic evidence of ductile shear recorded in basaltic andesite at the dyke margins records magma deformation imposed by bypassing movement of magma up the centre of the conduit during the eruption, whereas the basaltic andesite occupying the central part of the lowermost exposures of the dyke preserves ductile flow-folds with the opposite (down-flow) shear sense. The evidence indicates that the downward magma flow followed the eruption, and this draining left the central part of the dyke empty (unfilled) at uppermost levels. We discuss the kinematic constraints in the context of the criteria for up-flow of mafic magma and present the factors most likely to result in a final drain-back event. With reference to experimental and numerical work, we propose a draining model for the end of this eruption, and that magmatic drain-back may feature commonly during closing stages of Strombolian eruptions at mafic volcanoes. Drain-back which leaves large cavities in a volcanic edifice could result in hazardous structural instabilities. | [
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1242/dev.063610 | Notch signaling: Simplicity in design, versatility in function | Notch signaling is evolutionarily conserved and operates in many cell types and at various stages during development. Notch signaling must therefore be able to generate appropriate signaling outputs in a variety of cellular contexts. This need for versatility in Notch signaling is in apparent contrast to the simple molecular design of the core pathway. Here, we review recent studies in nematodes, Drosophila and vertebrate systems that begin to shed light on how versatility in Notch signaling output is generated, how signal strength is modulated, and how cross-talk between the Notch pathway and other intracellular signaling systems, such as the Wnt, hypoxia and BMP pathways, contributes to signaling diversity. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1016/j.optlastec.2015.12.011 | Self-induced polarization tracking, tunneling effect and modal attraction in optical fiber | In this paper, we report the observation and exploitation of the capability of light to self-organize its state-of-polarization, upon propagation in optical fibers, by means of a device called Omnipolarizer. The principle of operation of this system consists in a counter-propagating four-wave mixing interaction between an incident signal and its backward replica generated at the fiber output thanks to a reflective fiber loop. We have exploited this self-induced polarization tracking phenomenon for all-optical data processing and successfully demonstrated the spontaneous repolarization of a 40-Gbit/s On-Off keying optical signal without noticeable impairments. Moreover, the strong local coupling between the two counter-propagating waves has also revealed a fascinating aspect of the Omnipolarizer called polarization-based tunneling effect. This intrinsic property enables us to instantaneously let "jump" a polarization information onto the reflected signal, long before the expected time-of-flight induced by the round-trip along the fiber span. Finally, we discuss how the concept of self-organization could be generalized to multimode fibers, which paves the way to new important applications in the framework of spatial-mode-multiplexing. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
EP 2010007613 W | ADJUSTABLE SAFETY STEERING COLUMN | The invention relates to an adjustable safety steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one clamping device (100), which has a leg spring (130) for fixing the length of the adjustable steering column. The leg spring clamps onto a casing tube (110) for a steering shaft (110) at a position that can be adjusted by releasing the leg spring (130), the casing tube being inserted in the clamping device (100). At least in the vicinity of one end of the leg spring (130), at least one stop element (141, 142, 143) is arranged, against which the leg spring (130) stops in the event of an axial movement (V) of the casing tube (110) toward the accommodating tube, whereby the winding of the leg spring (130) assumes a tilted position that can be limited. Thus, an adjustable crash function is implemented. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1039/c7ta00136c | Ultra-high discharged energy density capacitor using high aspect ratio Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 nanofibers | An ultra-high discharged energy density P(VDF-HFP) capacitor is achieved by introducing a small fraction of Na0. 5Bi0. 5TiO3 nanofibers. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W2065250620 | The Implication of Personal Selling Strategies in Motivation, Approaches and Good Grooming | Abstract This study focuses on the use of strategies in motivation, approaches and good grooming in the personal selling of cosmetic products. The descriptive-purposive method of research was used; One Way Analysis of Variances statistic interpreted the correlates of personal selling strategies on motivation, approaches and good grooming. It showed that the use of strategies in motivation, approaches, and good grooming are significantly correlated. The questionnaire was validated to 12 respondents from consumers and sellers of cosmetics and floated to 140 respondents of four selected retail outlets that sell facial cosmetic products in Santiago City, Philippines. It is expected that the strategic personal selling model plan for effective salesmanship will be proposed. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1186/s40545-016-0065-7 | Drugs for cardiovascular disease in India: Perspectives of pharmaceutical executives and government officials on access and development-a qualitative analysis | Background: India shoulders the greatest global burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Drugs are the bedrock of treatment and prevention of CVD. India's pharmaceutical industry is the third largest, by volume, globally, but access to CVD drugs in India is poor. There is a lack of qualitative data from government and pharmaceutical sectors regarding CVD drug development and access in India. Methods: By purposive sampling, we recruited either Indian government officials, or pharmaceutical company executives. We conducted a stakeholder analysis via semi-structured, face-to-face interviews in India. Topic guides allow for the exploration of key issues across multiple interviews, along with affording the interviewer the flexibility to examine matters arising from the discussions themselves. After transcription, interviews underwent inductive thematic analysis. Results: Ten participants were interviewed (Government Officials: n = 5, and Pharmaceutical Executives: n= 5). Two themes emerged: i) 'Policy-derived Factors'; ii) 'Patient- derived Factors' with three findings. First, both government and pharmaceutical participants felt that the focus of Indian pharma is shifting to more complex, high-quality generics and to new drug development, but production of generic drugs rather than new molecular entities will remain a major activity. Second, current trial regulations in India may restrict India's potential role in the future development of CVD drugs. Third, it is likely that the Indian government will tighten its intellectual property regime in future, with potentially far-reaching implications on CVD drug development and access. Conclusions: Our stakeholder analysis provides some support for present patent regulations, whilst suggesting areas for further research in order to inform future policy decisions regarding CVD drug development and availability. Whilst interviewees suggested government policy plays an important role in shaping the industry, a significant force for change was ascribed to patient-derived factors. This suggests a potential role for Indian initiatives that market the unique advantages of its patient population for drug research in influencing national and multinational pharmaceutical companies to undertake CVD drug development in India, rather than simply IP policy-directed factors. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
HU P0402196 A | HARD SURFACE TREATMENT METHOD, COMPOSITIONS AND POLYMERIC MATERIALS FOR USE THEREIN | A találmány szerinti eljárás során folyékony hordozóban egy nagyonnagymértékben elágazott polimert tartalmazó készítményt alkalmaznak. Atalálmány szerinti polimert legalább egy -NR1R2 végcsoportot, az -NR1R2 csoporttal reagálni képes legalább egy karbonsavszármazékvégcsoportot és az -NR1R2 végcsoportok és a karbonsavszármazékvégcsoportok közül legalább egy további csoportot tartalmazó monomerpolimerizálásával nyerik, ahol a R1 és R2 jelentése azonos vagy eltérőlehet és olyan, hogy a -NR1R2 csoport a karbonsavszármazékkal reagálniképes. A találmány szerinti készítmény felvitelével a fürdőszobai éskonyhai felületekre lerakódott vízkő könnyebben eltávolítható Ó | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W2030243339 | Evaluation of the effect of arterial input function on cerebral blood flow in MR perfusion imaging | Cerebral blood flow (CBF) calculation in perfusion weighted imaging starts with the selection of arterial input function (AIF). CBF indicates the initial value of the tissue residue function found by deconvolving the tissue perfusion curve with the AIF. Conventional approach of CBF calculation by deconvolution is singular value decomposition (SVD) method. This technique is not successful if the problem is ill-posed, which is the case when the singular values of the solution decrease rapidly. The ill-posed nature of the problem is generally resolved through the model independent method based on Tikhonov regularization. In this method, optimum value of the regularization parameter is selected either according to the L-curve criterion, LCC, or by the generalized cross validation method, GCV. In this study, besides Tikhonov regularization, a more deterministic method, state space model fitting was employed as an alternative approach and CBF values were found in well agreement with those found by Tikhonov regularization. AIF is delayed and dispersed during the transition from the major artery to the small arterial branches feeding the tissue. Since delay compensation is possible by time shifting, we focused on dispersion in this study. To be able to analyze the effects of dispersion on CBF computation, time curves of AIF and the tissue response were simulated. Different levels of dispersion were produced resulting in AIFs that simulate the transition from arteries to arterial branches at distant locations of the brain. The results of the simulation studies indicate that, if ignored, dispersion might result in underestimated CBF. | [
"Mathematics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.237402 | Switching reciprocity on and off in a magneto-optical X-ray scattering experiment using nuclear resonance of α-Fe57 foils | Reciprocity is when the scattering amplitude of wave propagation satisfies a symmetry property, connecting a scattering process with an appropriate reversed one. We report on an experiment using nuclear resonance scattering of synchrotron radiation, which demonstrates that magneto-optical materials do not necessarily violate reciprocity. The setting enables us to switch easily between reciprocity and its violation. In the latter case, the exhibited reciprocity violation is orders of magnitude larger than achieved by previous wave scattering experiments. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
10.1016/j.jcat.2013.04.017 | Insight in the activity and diastereoselectivity of various Lewis acid catalysts for the citronellal cyclization | Industrial (-)-menthol production generally relies on the hydrogenation of (-)-isopulegol, which is in turn produced with high selectivity by cyclization of (+)-citronellal. This paper uses a combined theoretical and experimental approach to study the activity and selectivity of three Lewis acid catalysts for this reaction, namely ZnBr2, aluminum tris(2,6-diphenylphenoxide) (ATPH), and the heterogeneous metal-organic framework Cu3BTC 2 (BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate). ATPH is a strong Lewis acid homogeneous catalyst with bulky ligands which provides very high selectivities for the desired stereoisomer (>99%). The performance of the catalysts was evaluated as a function of temperature, which revealed that a higher catalyst activity allows working at lower temperatures and improves the selectivity for isopulegol. The selectivity distribution is kinetically driven for ZnBr 2 and ATPH. The theoretical selectivity distributions rely on the determination of an extensive set of diastereomeric transition states, for which the differences in free energy have been calculated using a complementary set of ab initio techniques. Given the sensitivity of the selectivity to small Gibbs free-energy differences, the agreement between experimental and theoretical selectivities is satisfactory. On basis of the obtained insights, rational design of new catalysts may be obtained. As proof of concept, the hypothetical Cu3(BTC-(NO2)3)2 Lewis catalyst - in which each phenyl hydrogen of the BTC ligand is replaced by a nitro group - is predicted to be very selective. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
312906 | Understanding Intergenerational Transmissions: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach | This project combines the best sociology and economics has to offer to establish a new understanding of intergenerational transmissions. We know that socioeconomic outcomes are correlated across generations, but we have only little understanding of the mechanisms and intergenerational transmissions which generate these correlations.
In this project, we propose to combine formal models of intergenerational transmissions in economics with substantive insights from sociology to develop new and improved models of intergenerational transmissions. Furthermore, we combine longitudinal data with state-of-the-art econometric methods to analyze intergenerational transmissions of cultural endowments and educational expectations, the role of the extended family in intergenerational transmissions, and finally the utility of educational decision making.
The project has the potential to significantly improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of intergenerational transmissions and, in doing so, to contribute new knowledge to inform policies to promote social mobility. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
US 2010/0040250 W | INTEGRATED SAFETY RAIL PROTECTION SYSTEM | A unique safety rail system with integrated ergonomically effective hand-grip projections, structures for affixing said system for the safe and easy egress and ingress through an opening, such as roof or floor access holes. Said safety rail system is designed to reduce the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access hole while providing additional protection and prevention of personnel accidentally falling through an open access. A self-closing gravity gate may be provided acting as additional hand-grip, support, and barrier. This invention may employ cost effective methods of construction and assembly using a unique continuous tubular structure of converging vertical and angular upright post with horizontal upper safety rail, forward protruding ergonomically effecting hand-grip and opposing directionally horizontal lower attachment support means reducing lateral motion and allows efficient installation for new construction or retro fitting of existing openings. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1364/BOE.8.002173 | Three-dimensional OCT based Guinea pig eye model: Relating morphology and optics | Custom Spectral Optical Coherence Tomography (SOCT) provided with automatic quantification and distortion correction algorithms was used to measure the 3-D morphology in guinea pig eyes (n = 8, 30 days; n = 5, 40 days). Animals were measured awake in vivo under cyclopegia. Measurements showed low intraocular variability (<4% in corneal and anterior lens radii and <8% in the posterior lens radii, <1% interocular distances). The repeatability of the surface elevation was less than 2 µm. Surface astigmatism was the individual dominant term in all surfaces. Higher-order RMS surface elevation was largest in the posterior lens. Individual surface elevation Zernike terms correlated significantly across corneal and anterior lens surfaces. Higher-order-aberrations (except spherical aberration) were comparable with those predicted by OCT-based eye models. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
W2402236473 | Efficient Application of Complex Graph Analytics on Very Large Real World RDF Datasets. | RDF [1] Graph modeling is a foundational technology in the whole semantic web (SW) technology stack. Since its debut in 2004, RDF graph has enjoyed many applications in the enterprise domain. Examples of these applications include, but certainly not limited to, integration and federated query of heterogeneous data sources, flexible and extensible representation of enterprise knowledge base, adhoc query and navigation on top of schema-less graph model of enterprise data, social network representation and link analysis, and metadata processing in the context of master data management (MDM). In the past decade, many mature open source and commercial RDF platforms and solutions [6] have been developed to store and index RDF graph data (triples and quads), edit and manage OWL [2] ontologies, perform logical inference, execute pattern matching and graph navigation (SPARQL [3]), visualize RDF graph data and OWL ontologies, and link data in RDF format and also other data types including relational (RDB2RDF [4,5]). As a graph modeling language, RDF provides great flexibility for enterprise applications and it adds precision, through the use of URI and formal semantics, to enterprise data. SPARQL query and OWL inference have been two key functions for semantic web applications. A somewhat less obvious application of RDF is that such a graph model is also a great candidate for graph analytics. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
interreg_1897 | Holy Art and Architecture Routes between Saint-Gervais les Bains and Valgrisenche | Following the first ITINERAS project, the municipalities of Valgrisenche and Saint-Gervais les Bains decided to prolong the fruitful cooperation experienced in previous years.The cultural activities proposed are developed in a natural alpine environment, facilitating distance, a crucial element for the choice of destination by tourists and for health issues. The crisis of COVID-19 has accentuated the search for contact with nature and the development of outdoor activities: this project, through the entire path ITINERAS accessible for hikers and cyclists, actively responds to what has become a real need. | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
]
|
10.1088/1475-7516/2019/02/050 | An Emulator For The Lyman Α Forest | We present methods for interpolating between the 1-D flux power spectrum of the Lyman-alpha forest, as output by cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. Interpolation is necessary for cosmological p . . . | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.3390/ijgi8030149 | Spatial Learning with Orientation Maps: The Influence of Different Environmental Features on Spatial Knowledge Acquisition | The prevalent use of GPS-based navigation systems impairs peoples’ ability to orient themselves. This paper investigates whether wayfinding maps that accentuate different types of environmental features support peoples’ spatial learning. A virtual-reality driving simulator was used to investigate spatial knowledge acquisition in assisted wayfinding tasks. Two main conditions of wayfinding maps were tested against a base condition: (i) highlighting local features, i. e. , landmarks, along the route and at decision points; and (ii) highlighting structural features that provide global orientation. The results show that accentuating local features supports peoples’ acquisition of route knowledge, whereas accentuating global features supports peoples’ acquisition of survey knowledge. The results contribute to the general understanding of spatial knowledge acquisition in assisted wayfinding tasks. Future navigation systems could enhance spatial knowledge by providing visual navigation support incorporating not only landmarks but structural features in wayfinding maps. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
205252 | Molecularly targeted therapy for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia | T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive T cell malignancy that is most common in children and adolescents. Our current understanding of the molecular genetics of T-ALL indicates that leukemic transformation of thymocytes is caused by the cooperation of mutations that affect proliferation, survival, cell cycle, differentiation and self renewal. Molecular analysis has identified a large number of T-ALL specific oncogenes, but the genetic defects that are implicated in the aberrant proliferation and survival of the leukemic cells remain largely unknown. It is the aim of this project to continue the molecular characterization of T-ALL using genome wide analyses, focused RNAi screens, and drug library screens to identify oncogenes that specifically provide proliferation and survival advantages, as well as other targets for therapy in T-ALL. In addition, we will study the cooperation of these oncogenes with other oncogenic events using in vitro and in vivo mouse models, and use those models for the development and characterization of novel therapeutics. This project will generate novel insights in the molecular pathogenesis of T-ALL and aims at translating this information towards novel targeted therapies. | [
"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"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-319-03898-8_22 | Hardness Of R Dominating Set On Graphs Of Diameter R 1 | The dominating set problem has been extensively studied in the realm of parameterized complexity. It is one of the most common sources of reductions while proving the parameterized intractability of problems. In this paper, we look at dominating set and its generalization r-dominating set on graphs of bounded diameter in the realm of parameterized complexity. We show that dominating set remains W[2]-hard on graphs of diameter 2, while r-dominating set remains W[2]-hard on graphs of diameter r + 1. The lower bound on the diameter in our intractability results is the best possible, as r-dominating set is clearly polynomial time solvable on graphs of diameter at most r. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.5194/acp-16-4043-2016 | Chemical and physical influences on aerosol activation in liquid clouds: a study based on observations from the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland | Abstract. A simple statistical model to predict the number of aerosols which activate to form cloud droplets in warm clouds has been established, based on regression analysis of data from four summertime Cloud and Aerosol Characterisation Experiments (CLACE) at the high-altitude site Jungfraujoch (JFJ). It is shown that 79 % of the observed variance in droplet numbers can be represented by a model accounting only for the number of potential cloud condensation nuclei (defined as number of particles larger than 80 nm in diameter), while the mean errors in the model representation may be reduced by the addition of further explanatory variables, such as the mixing ratios of O3, CO, and the height of the measurements above cloud base. The statistical model has a similar ability to represent the observed droplet numbers in each of the individual years, as well as for the two predominant local wind directions at the JFJ (northwest and southeast). Given the central European location of the JFJ, with air masses in summer being representative of the free troposphere with regular boundary layer in-mixing via convection, we expect that this statistical model is generally applicable to warm clouds under conditions where droplet formation is aerosol limited (i. e. at relatively high updraught velocities and/or relatively low aerosol number concentrations). A comparison between the statistical model and an established microphysical parametrization shows good agreement between the two and supports the conclusion that cloud droplet formation at the JFJ is predominantly controlled by the number concentration of aerosol particles. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
W1988504014 | An International Capstone Experience for Pharmacy Students | This report describes the experiences of the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy over 20 years with an international capstone educational experience for students. Although the university provides reciprocal opportunities to international students, this report focuses on the experiences of the college's pharmacy students who have participated in the program. This capstone course is offered as an elective course in the advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) component of the college's experiential program. Goals of the program and a brief description of its organizational structure are provided. Results of a structured student satisfaction survey and a survey covering the most recent 3 years of the program are presented. This program has greatly broadened participants' cultural horizons and expanded their global view and understanding of the contributions of pharmacy to health care. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
W1979269277 | Diagnosing the sexual pattern ofDiplodus cervinus hottentotus(Pisces: Sparidae) from southern Angola | The sexual pattern of Diplodus cervinus hottentotus was investigated in southern Angola. Females were significantly smaller and found in greater numbers, with an adult sex ratio of 1.0:0.7, F:M. Histological observations of preserved gonads indicated that the species is a rudimentary hermaphrodite, possessing a non-functional bisexual ovotestis before maturation. Histological examination of five macroscopically staged ‘bisexual’ individuals revealed that they were functional males with residual ovarian tissue in the gonad, which had persisted from a juvenile bisexual stage. Although empirical population structure and macroscopic observations suggested protogyny, histological evidence suggested otherwise, confirming the need for the use of histology when diagnosing the sexual pattern of sparid fishes. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1111/jomf.12550 | Leaving and Returning Home: A New Approach to Off-Time Transitions | Objective: This study offers a new approach to off-time transitions and applies it to the link between leaving and returning home. Background: It is no longer uncommon for young adults to return after having left the parental home. Previous research has mostly examined returning home in isolation from leaving home, although these two transitions are closely intertwined. Method: Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study, the authors examine the link between leaving and returning home in a two-step model. The model captures home leaving in a selection model and links off-time leaving to the subsequent risk of returning home. This measure of off-time leaving is sensitive to specific individual circumstances. Results: The findings show that the new measure of off-time leaving is a better predictor for returning home than age at leaving home. Young adults who leave home more off-time are more likely to return home. Experiences after leaving home significantly mediate part, but not all of the effect of off-time home leaving on returning home. Conclusion: The processes of leaving and returning home are linked: Off-time time home leavers are more likely to return home than on-time leavers. Implications: The findings contribute to research on returning home and the life course by demonstrating the importance of previous transitions. The new measure of off-time transitions could also be applied to other life course outcomes. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
W3095263535 | Izrada baze podataka o geološkoj baštini | Abstract: This thesis consist of several stages. The first stage in development of appropriate database on protected
geosites on Croatian territory is collecting data and the existing documentation, collecting the appropriate
maps in digital form and creating appropriate database which is filled in with certain data and coordinates.
This was followed by transfering locations of protected geosites on the appropriate maps. Eventually all these
data are interpreted, organized and arranged in a GIS project. The end result after processing all the data on
protected geosites is a GIS system that contains all the information on these sites and other digital
documents. All this is done in order to get a unique database of geological heritage and geodiversity on
Croatian territory, and thus obtain a better basis for all future studies. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2843321051 | Pavlov principle and brain reverse engineering | The general principle of the operation of neural systems is considered, which makes clear the efficiency of information-computational structures consisting of neural-like elements. At the heart of the formulated principle lies the highly anticipated hypothesis of I.P. Pavlov that the correctly organized modifications of the connections between the elements and structures of the nervous system is the basis of higher nervous activity of man (in the terminology proposed by Pavlov). The possibility of a clear formulation of the principle, which is naturally called the Pavlov Principle (PP), arose only recently, as a result of the victorious procession of the family of computer training algorithms such as Deep Learning, which led to extremely efficient schemes for using fine-grained computing devices (GPU, etc.) solving cognitively complex problems. The article briefly outlines the line of development of ideas about the work of the nervous system, starting with the discovery by I.P. Pavlov of systemic conditioned reflexes, then through the neural and synaptic schemes of E. Konorsky and D. Hebb, the perceptron of F. Rosenblatt, the connectionist works of the 1980s, to modern schemes of deep learning. For the proper functioning of PP based neural networks essential is (initial) randomness of the interneuronal connections. A computational example of the solution of the model problem based on the direct application of the Pavlov Principle is given. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1162/opmi_a_00024 | Minimal Cues of Possession Transfer Compel Infants to Ascribe the Goal of Giving | Human infants’ readiness to interpret impoverished object-transfer events as acts of giving suggests the existence of a dedicated action schema for identifying interactions based on active object transfer. Here we investigated the sensitivity of this giving schema by testing whether 15-month-olds would interpret the displacement of an object as an agent’s goal even if it could be dismissed as a side effect of a different goal. Across two looking-time experiments, we showed that, when the displacement only resulted in a change of object location, infants expected the agent to pursue the other goal. However, when the same change of location resulted in a transfer of object possession, infants reliably adopted this outcome as the agent’s goal. The interpretive shift that the mere presence of a potential recipient caused is testament to the infants’ susceptibility to cues of benefit delivery: an action efficiently causing a transfer of object possession appeared sufficient to induce the interpretation of goal-directed giving even if the transfer was carried out without any interaction between Giver and Givee and was embedded in an event affording an alternative goal interpretation. | [
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-642-21640-4_14 | Modeling Design Patterns With Description Logics A Case Study | Design Patterns constitute an effective way to model design knowledge for future reuse. There has been much research on topics such as objectoriented patterns, architectural styles, requirements patterns, security patterns, and more. Typically, such patterns are specified informally in natural language, and it is up to designers to determine if a pattern is applicable to a problem-athand, and what solution that pattern offers. Of course, this activity does not scale well, either with respect to a growing pattern library or a growing problem. In this work, we propose to formalize such patterns in a formal modeling language, thereby automating pattern matching for a given problem. The patterns and the problem are formalized in a description logic. Our proposed framework is evaluated with a case study involving Security & Dependability patterns specified in Tropos SI*. The paper presents the formalization of all concepts in SI* and the modeling of problems using OWL-DL and SWRL. We then encode patterns as SPARQL and SQWRL queries. To evaluate the scalability of our approach, we present experimental results using models inspired by an industrial case study | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2530395559 | Primary hyperparathyroidism and urolithiasis: about a coralliform lithiasis case | The primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is not uncommon. The lithiasic events are the most common complication of the PHPT. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman, with a heavy urological history with several extracorporeal lithotripsy sessions for a right nephrolithiasis and a semirigid ureteroscopy for a right ureteral lithiasis, as well as a bilateral calcium oxalate coralliform lithiasis with right kidney consequences. This nephrolithiasis was due to a parathyroid macroadenoma. Through this observation, we highlight that the coralliform lithiasis etiology is not always an infectious disease and the PHPT may be responsible of this type of lithiasis as well as the nephrocalcinosis. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1371/journal.pone.0177516 | Notch ligands regulate the muscle stem-like state ex vivo but are not sufficient for retaining regenerative capacity | Myogenic stem cells are a promising avenue for the treatment of muscular disorders. Freshly isolated muscle stem cells have a remarkable engraftment ability in vivo, but their cell number is limited. Current conventional culture conditions do not allow muscle stem cells to expand in vitro with their bona fide engraftment efficiency, requiring the improvement of culture procedures for achieving successful cell-therapy for muscle disorders. Here we expanded mouse muscle stem cells and human myoblasts with Notch ligands, DLL1, DLL4, and JAG1 to activate Notch signaling in vitro and to investigate whether these cells could retain their engraftment efficiency. Notch signaling promotes the expansion of Pax7+MyoDmouse muscle stem-like cells and inhibits differentiation even after passage in vitro. Treatment with Notch ligands induced the Notch target genes and generated PAX7+MYODstem- like cells from human myoblasts previously cultured on conventional culture plates. However, cells treated with Notch ligands exhibit a stem cell-like state in culture, yet their regenerative ability was less than that of freshly isolated cells in vivo and was comparable to that of the control. These unexpected findings suggest that artificial maintenance of Notch signaling alone is insufficient for improving regenerative capacity of mouse and human donor-muscle cells and suggest that combinatorial events are critical to achieve muscle stem cell and myoblast engraftment potential. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1038/srep36966 | The molecular bases of floral scent evolution under artificial selection: Insights from a transcriptome analysis in Brassica rapa | In an artificial selection experiment using fast-cycling Brassica rapa plants it was recently shown that floral VOCs respond rapidly to selection for increased amounts. Here we carried out transcriptome analysis in these plants to explore the molecular bases of the augmentation in the artificially selected scent compound, phenylacetaldehyde (PAA), as well as other compounds that increased through pleiotropy. In the transcriptome data, we found up-regulation of genes likely underlying PAA synthesis, but also several genes of the shikimate pathway and the related phenylalanine metabolism. As phenylalanine is the precursor of many aromatic volatiles that showed increased emission, this result could explain some of the pleiotropic evolutionary responses. In addition, we found that ribosomal protein genes were up-regulated in "high" (high PAA amount) selection line plants, a mechanism that might further augment the effect of elevated gene expression at the proteomic level. Our study shows that selection on an individual trait can impose changes in the expression of several different genes, which could explain pleiotropic responses in the biosynthetic network of floral volatiles. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
interreg_669 | Upgraded Health Structures in the Cross Border Area | In recent years there has been a constant movement of patients from rural to urban areas. Within this framework of healthcare disparity within regions, the project aims to:
• Create upgraded secondary care structures for citizens in the cross border area
• Increase the quality of health service provision both to local and moving population (tourists, migrants etc).
• Improve provided services
• Eliminate the conditions excluding sensitive social groups by encouraging cross border healthcare cooperation among structures and their management
| [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
864361 | Unravelling the Cosmic Web with fluorescent emission | Our cosmological model predicts that most of the matter in the universe is distributed in a network of filaments - the Cosmic Web - in which galaxies form and evolve. Because most of this material is too diffuse to form stars, its direct imaging has remained elusive for several decades leaving fundamental questions still open, including: what are the morphological and kinematical properties of the Cosmic Web on both small (kpc) and large (Mpc) scales? How do galaxies get their gas from the Cosmic Web? In this programme, I will tackle these questions with an innovative method and technology that allows us to directly detect in emission the gaseous Cosmic Web before the peak of galaxy formation, when the universe is less than 3 billion years old: using bright quasars and galaxies as “cosmic flashlights” to make the gas “fluorescently” glow. Although challenging, detecting such emission is possible: I have recently demonstrated that some parts of the Cosmic Web illuminated by bright quasars can be detected in both hydrogen Lyman-alpha and H-alpha emission. These pilot studies and new instruments such as VLT/MUSE and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST; available from 2021) are the ideal stepping stones for a revolution in the field, the main goals of this programme: 1) direct imaging of the average Cosmic Web extending on cosmological scales (tens of Mpc) in the young universe, away from quasars; 2) revealing the small-scale distribution (below one kpc) of gas within Cosmic Web filaments. For this aim, I will use the deepest available observations to date, including a 160-hours deep integration that is being obtained through our MUSE Guaranteed Time of Observations, and future ground-based Adaptive-Optics and JWST infrared H-alpha observations. These datasets will be combined with new data analysis methods and numerical models that will be specifically developed in this programme opening up a completely new window to study cosmic structure and galaxy formation. | [
"Universe Sciences",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1038/s41598-017-07522-z | The interplay of social group biases in social threat learning | Learning from other individuals (e. g. social learning) is subjected to biases affecting whom to learn from. Consistent with research in animals, showing similarity-based learning biases and a general tendency to display pro-social responses to in-group individuals, we recently demonstrated that social learning of both fear and safety was enhanced when information was transmitted between same-race individuals. Here, we addressed how two different social group categories jointly affect the transmission of fears by investigating the interplay between racial and supporter group membership. We demonstrate that supporter group membership differentially influenced learning from a racial in-group vs. racial out-group individual. Thus, conditioned skin conductance responses in the same-race condition were significantly higher when fear was transmitted by an in-group (same team) vs. an out-group (rival team) individual, and were related to supporter team identification. However, supporter group membership did not influence learning from a racial out-group demonstrator, suggesting that the presence of an alternative alliance does not necessary reduce the influence of racial biases on social fear learning. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1016/j.egypro.2017.09.151 | Experimental assessment of the open-source SU2 CFD suite for ORC applications | The first-ever experimental assessment of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software for Non-Ideal Compressible-Fluid Dynamics (NICFD) flows of interest for ORC applications is presented here. Numerical results using SU2, the open-source suite for multi-physics simulation and design recently extended to deal with complex thermodynamic models of organic fluids, are compared here to experimental results from the Test-Rig for Organic VApours (TROVA) of the Laboratory of Compressible-fluid dynamics for Renewable Energy Applications (CREA), Politecnico di Milano. Experimental results regard supersonic expanding flows of siloxane fluid MDM (Octamethyltrisiloxane, C8H24O2Si3) in non-ideal conditions representative of ORC applications. Three different geometries are considered for the assessment of the CFD solver. The first is a converging-diverging nozzle, representative of ORC supersonic stators, in which the fluid is accelerated to supersonic speed from highly non-ideal conditions, with inlet compressibility factor Z = Pv/(RT), computed using reference Equations Of State (EOS) for MDM fluid, as low as Z ~ 0. 81. The second geometry is a diamond-shaped airfoil at a neutral angle of attack. The airfoil is plunged into a supersonic flow at Mach 1. 5 and Z ~ 0. 9, in mildly non-ideal conditions. Oblique shock waves are observed at the airfoil leading edge and interact with the wind-tunnel walls and the rarefaction fan from the airfoil. This test case is useful to understand the physics of oblique shock-wall and shock-shock interactions in turbine cascades operating in off-design conditions. The third geometry is a supersonic backward facing step, in which the formation of an oblique shock is observed experimentally at the reattachment point past the step. The Mach number is around 1. 1 and the compressibility factor Z ~ 0. 89. This geometry is representative of the trailing edge of turbine blades and it is useful to study the formation of fish-tail shock waves. These NICFD flows are fairly well captured by the CFD solver, thus confirming the validity of both the thermodynamic models and of the CFD implementation, using both the Euler equations for inviscid flows with negligible thermal conductivity and the full Reynolds-averaged compressible Navier-Stokes equations, for non-ideal compressible turbulent flows. In the considered shocked flows, grid adaptation is found to be key to capture the relevant flow features using a reasonable amount of grid points. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1111/nph.12437 | Defining the selectivity of processes along the auxin response chain: A study using auxin analogues | The mode of action of auxin is based on its non-uniform distribution within tissues and organs. Despite the wide use of several auxin analogues in research and agriculture, little is known about the specificity of different auxin-related transport and signalling processes towards these compounds. Using seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana and suspension-cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum (BY-2), the physiological activity of several auxin analogues was investigated, together with their capacity to induce auxin-dependent gene expression, to inhibit endocytosis and to be transported across the plasma membrane. This study shows that the specificity criteria for different auxin-related processes vary widely. Notably, the special behaviour of some synthetic auxin analogues suggests that they might be useful tools in investigations of the molecular mechanism of auxin action. Thus, due to their differential stimulatory effects on DR5 expression, indole-3-propionic (IPA) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic (2,4,5-T) acids can serve in studies of TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1/AUXIN SIGNALLING F-BOX (TIR1/AFB)-mediated auxin signalling, and 5-fluoroindole-3-acetic acid (5-F-IAA) can help to discriminate between transcriptional and non-transcriptional pathways of auxin signalling. The results demonstrate that the major determinants for the auxin-like physiological potential of a particular compound are very complex and involve its chemical and metabolic stability, its ability to distribute in tissues in a polar manner and its activity towards auxin signalling machinery. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
W3102972704 | Promjene ciljeva Zajedničke poljoprivredne politike s naglaskom na razdoblje nakon 2020. | The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) established in 1962 is the most important public policy to which a large part of the European Union budget goes. After 30 years of stability, the CAP is undergoing its first significant reform in 1992, better known as the MacSharry reform. This is followed by Agenda 2000 (1999), Mid-Term Review (MTR 2003), Health-Check (2008), CAP reform 2013-2020. and CAP post 2020 reform. In the early 1990s, through trade negotiations under the GATT (today's WTO), an agreement was reached at the international level, the Agreement on Agriculture, which set out acceptable and unacceptable agricultural policy measures. With the change in society's attitudes towards agriculture and its financing, over the past 30 years, the goals of agricultural policy have changed, and they now include environmental protection, landscape, animal welfare, quality and food safety. | [
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1021/acsami.9b13357 | Can Metal-Organic Frameworks Be Used for Cannabis Breathalyzers? | δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive component of cannabis, and there is an urgent need to build low-cost and portable devices that can detect its presence from breath. Similarly to alcohol detectors, these tools can be used by law enforcement to determine driver intoxication and enforce safer and more regulated use of cannabis. In this work, we propose to use a class of microporous crystals, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), to selectively adsorb THC that can be later detected using optical, electrochemical, or fluorescence-based sensing methods. We computationally screened more than 5000 MOFs, highlighting the materials that have the largest affinity with THC, as well as the highest selectivity against water, showing that it is thermodynamically feasible for MOFs to adsorb THC from humid breath. We propose and compare different models for THC and different computational protocols to rank the promising materials, also presenting a novel approach to assess the permeability of a porous framework to nonspherical molecules. We identified three adsorption motifs in MOFs with high affinity to THC, which we refer to as "narrow channels", "thick walls", and "parking spots". Therefore, we expect our protocols and our findings to be generalizable for different classes of microporous materials and also for investigating the adsorption properties of other large molecules that, like THC, have a nonspherical shape. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W1972724210 | Globalization and a dual Europe: future alternative growth trajectories | The integration of world markets has increased considerably in the past 15 years. Moreover, the importance of emerging countries for trade flows is now considerably higher. The paper explores the question of what the European territory will look like over the next fifteen years under different assumptions on competitive strategies put in place by the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). In these scenarios Europe is expected to reinforce its present competitive advantages. The intention is not to identify desirable, positive, ideological or most probable scenarios; the aim is instead to combine in a strictly logical way the different trajectories that can be envisaged in the main economic, institutional and social driving forces of change and consequently to build a small number of alternative, consistent and ‘conditional’ scenarios. The approach is as neutral as possible vis-a-vis the results, leaving it to the MASST forecasting model to provide NUTS 2 growth rate patterns up to 2015, under opposite assumptions on the world strategies. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
10.1109/TPDS.2018.2868960 | Constant Time Sliding Window Framework With Reduced Memory Footprint And Efficient Bulk Evictions | The fast evolution of data analytics platforms has resulted in an increasing demand for real-time data stream processing. From Internet of Things applications to the monitoring of telemetry generated in large data centers, a common demand for currently emerging scenarios is the need to process vast amounts of data with low latencies, generally performing the analysis process as close to the data source as possible. Stream processing platforms are required to be malleable and absorb spikes generated by fluctuations of data generation rates. Data is usually produced as time series that have to be aggregated using multiple operators, being sliding windows one of the most common abstractions used to process data in real-time. To satisfy the above-mentioned demands, efficient stream processing techniques that aggregate data with minimal computational cost need to be developed. In this paper we present the Monoid Tree Aggregator general sliding window aggregation framework, which seamlessly combines the following features: amortized $O(1)$ time complexity and a worst-case of $O(\log {n})$ between insertions; it provides both a window aggregation mechanism and a window slide policy that are user programmable; the enforcement of the window sliding policy exhibits amortized $O(1)$ computational cost for single evictions and supports bulk evictions with cost $O(\log {n})$ ; and it requires a local memory space of $O(\log {n})$ . The framework can compute aggregations over multiple data dimensions, and has been designed to support decoupling computation and data storage through the use of distributed Key-Value Stores to keep window elements and partial aggregations. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1145/3276488 | Secure Serverless Computing Using Dynamic Information Flow Control | The rise of serverless computing provides an opportunity to rethink cloud security. We present an approach for securing serverless systems using a novel form of dynamic information flow control (IFC). We show that in serverless applications, the termination channel found in most existing IFC systems can be arbitrarily amplified via multiple concurrent requests, necessitating a stronger termination-sensitive non-interference guarantee, which we achieve using a combination of static labeling of serverless processes and dynamic faceted labeling of persistent data. We describe our implementation of this approach on top of JavaScript for AWS Lambda and OpenWhisk serverless platforms, and present three realistic case studies showing that it can enforce important IFC security properties with modest overhead. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W1548148903 | A selective procedure for absolute paleointensity in lava flows | [1] We present a compilation of experiments of absolute paleointensity using double heating protocols on very recent lava flows from Hawaii, La Reunion, the Canary islands and Santorini. The existence of a sharp distribution of grain sizes carried by a single mineralogical phase always yielded successful determinations of paleointensity that deviate by less than 10% from the actual field value. Thus, a rapid decrease of at least 70% of the initial magnetization over a narrow range of temperatures prior to the Curie point combined with a unique mineralogical phase define an optimal situation for obtaining reliable estimates of absolute paleointensity. Consequently, we suggest that stepwise standard thermal demagnetization of companion specimens should be routinely performed prior to paleointensity experiments. Not only do these measurements provide important information about the characteristic magnetization, but they indicate which samples are appropriate for paleointensity experiments, which increases the success rate to almost 100%. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1145/3357713.3384232 | Qcsp Monsters And The Demise Of The Chen Conjecture | We give a surprising classification for the computational complexity of the Quantified Constraint Satisfaction Problem over a constraint language Γ, QCSP(Γ), where Γ is a finite language over 3 elements which contains all constants. In particular, such problems are either in P, NP-complete, co-NP-complete or PSpace-complete. Our classification refutes the hitherto widely-believed Chen Conjecture. Additionally, we show that already on a 4-element domain there exists a constraint language Γ such that (Γ) is DP-complete (from Boolean Hierarchy), and on a 10-element domain there exists a constraint language giving the complexity class Θ2 P . Meanwhile, we prove the Chen Conjecture for finite conservative languages Γ. If the polymorphism clone of such Γ has the polynomially generated powers (PGP) property then QCSP(Γ) is in NP. Otherwise, the polymorphism clone of Γ has the exponentially generated powers (EGP) property and QCSP(Γ) is PSpace-complete. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1126/scisignal.aar3083 | The costimulatory molecule CD226 signals through VAV1 to amplify TCR signals and promote IL-17 production by CD4+ T cells | The activation of T cells requires the guanine nucleotide exchange factor VAV1. Using mice in which a tag for affinity purification was attached to endogenous VAV1 molecules, we analyzed by quantitative mass spectrometry the signaling complex that assembles around activated VAV1. Fifty VAV1-binding partners were identified, most of which had not been previously reported to participate in VAV1 signaling. Among these was CD226, a costimulatory molecule of immune cells. Engagement of CD226 induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of VAV1 and synergized with T cell receptor (TCR) signals to specifically enhance the production of interleukin-17 (IL-17) by primary human CD4+ T cells. Moreover, co-engagement of the TCR and a risk variant of CD226 that is associated with autoimmunity (rs763361) further enhanced VAV1 activation and IL-17 production. Thus, our study reveals that a VAV1-based, synergistic cross-talk exists between the TCR and CD226 during both physiological and pathological T cell responses and provides a rational basis for targeting CD226 for the management of autoimmune diseases. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1080/09540121.2015.1011073 | Factors Associated With Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Among Adolescents Living With Hiv Aids In Low And Middle Income Countries A Systematic Review | Adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately burdened by the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Maintaining medication adherence is vital to ensuring that adolescents living with HIV/AIDS receive the benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), although this group faces unique challenges to adherence. Knowledge of the factors influencing adherence among people during this unique developmental period is needed to develop more targeted and effective adherence-promoting strategies. This systematic review summarizes the literature on quantitative observational studies examining correlates, including risk and resilience-promoting factors, of ART adherence among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in LMICs. A systematic search of major electronic databases, conference-specific databases, gray literature, and reference lists of relevant reviews and documents was conducted in May 2014. Included studies examined relationships between at least one factor and ART adherence as an outcome and were conducted in primarily an adolescent population (age 10-19) in LMICs. The search identified 7948 unique citations from which 15 studies fit the inclusion criteria. These 15 studies identified 35 factors significantly associated with ART adherence representing a total of 4363 participants across nine different LMICs. Relevant studies revealed few consistent relationships between measured factors and adherence while highlighting potentially important themes for ART adherence including the impact of (1) adolescent factors such as gender and knowledge of serostatus, (2) family structure, (3) the burdensome ART regimens, route of administration, and attitudes about medication, and (4) health care and environmental factors, such as rural versus urban location and missed clinic appointments. Rates of adherence across studies ranged from 16% to 99%. This review identifies unique factors significantly related to ART adherence among adolescents living in LMICs. More research using longitudinal designs and rigorous measures of adherence is required in order to identify the range of factors influencing ART adherence as adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in LMICs grow into adulthood. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1111/1758-2229.12200 | Investigation Of Sporulation In The Desulfotomaculum Genus A Genomic Comparison With The Genera Bacillus And Clostridium | The genus Desulfotomaculum, belonging to the Firmicutes, comprises strictly anaerobic and endospore-forming bacteria capable of dissimilatory sulfate reduction. These microorganisms are metabolically versatile and are widely distributed in the environment. Spore formation allows them to survive prolonged environmental stress. Information on the mechanism of sporulation in Desulfotomaculum species is scarce. Herein, this process was probed from a genomic standpoint, using the Bacillus subtilis model system as a reference and clostridial sporulation for comparison. Desulfotomaculum falls somewhere in between the Bacillus and Clostridium in terms of conservation of sporulation proteins. Furthermore, it showcased the conservation of a core regulatory cascade throughout genera, while uncovering variability in the initiation of sporulation and the structural characteristics of spores from different genera. In particular, while in Clostridium species sporulation is not initiated by a phosphorelay, Desulfotomaculum species harbour homologues of the B. subtilis proteins involved in this process. Conversely, both Clostridium and Desulfotomaculum species conserve very few B. subtilis structural proteins, particularly those found in the outer layers of the spore. Desulfotomaculum species seem to share greater similarity to the outer layers of Clostridium difficile. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1126/sciadv.1701143 | Impaired DNA replication derepresses chromatin and generates a transgenerationally inherited epigenetic memory | Impaired DNA replication is a hallmark of cancer and a cause of genomic instability. We report that, in addition to causing genetic change, impaired DNA replication during embryonic development can have major epigenetic consequences for a genome. In a genome-wide screen, we identified impaired DNA replication as a cause of increased expression from a repressed transgene in Caenorhabditis elegans. The acquired expression state behaved as an "epiallele, " being inherited for multiple generations before fully resetting. Derepression was not restricted to the transgene but was caused by a global reduction in heterochromatin-associated histone modifications due to the impaired retention of modified histones on DNA during replication in the early embryo. Impaired DNA replication during development can therefore globally derepress chromatin, creating new intergenerationally inherited epigenetic expression states. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1016/j.conb.2013.12.009 | Autaptic self-inhibition of cortical GABAergic neurons: Synaptic narcissism or useful introspection? | Fast synaptic inhibition sculpts all forms of cortical activity by means of a specialized connectivity pattern between highly heterogeneous inhibitory interneurons and principal excitatory cells. Importantly, inhibitory neurons connect also to each other extensively, following a detailed blueprint, and, indeed, specific forms of disinhibition affect important behavioral functions. Here we discuss a peculiar form of cortical disinhibition: the massive autaptic self-inhibition of parvalbumin-(PV) positive basket cells. Despite being described long ago, autaptic inhibition onto PV basket cells is rarely included in cortical circuit diagrams, perhaps because of its still elusive function. We propose here a potential dual role of autaptic feedback inhibition in temporally coordinating PV basket cells during cortical network activity. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1038/NPHYS2652 | Fractional Spinon Excitations In The Quantum Heisenberg Antiferromagnetic Chain | One of the simplest quantum many-body systems is the spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain, a linear array of interacting magnetic moments. Its exact ground state is a macroscopic singlet entangling all spins in the chain. Its elementary excitations, called spinons, are fractional spin-1/2 quasiparticles created and detected in pairs by neutron scattering. Theoretical predictions show that two-spinon states exhaust only 71% of the spectral weight and higher-order spinon states, yet to be experimentally located, are predicted to participate in the remaining. Here, by accurate absolute normalization of our inelastic neutron scattering data on a spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain compound, we account for the full spectral weight to within 99(8)%. Our data thus establish and quantify the existence of higher-order spinon states. The observation that, within error bars, the experimental line shape resembles a rescaled two-spinon one with similar boundaries allows us to develop a simple picture for understanding multi-spinon excitations. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
W1990584400 | Newspapers as sources of historical information about lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817) | As part of an attempt to reconstruct the original distribution and relative abundance of lake sturgeon in tributaries to Lake Michigan, old newspapers were surveyed for accounts of sturgeon captured by sport and commercial fishers. The reliability of this process was assessed in several ways. A historical column in a modern newspaper (De Pere journal) proved useful for identifying the time period during which original accounts of sturgeon were first published (late 1800s–early 1900s) and the season when most historical catches occurred (the spring spawning season), but a complete survey of the original newspapers revealed many more records than resurfaced in the historical column and some significant accounts that were published outside of the spawning season. Independent surveys of De Pere newspapers by different searchers revealed that the average searcher found a majority of known records (more than 90%). The seasonal distribution of catches in the Lower Fox River as revealed by historical newspaper accounts was very similar to that based on modern sightings, and the newspaper contained several accounts of sturgeon in other parts of the drainage or other parts of Wisconsin. However, comparison with newspapers published in the neighbouring community of Green Bay revealed that the latter included few of the incidents reported in the De Pere paper, and few additional accounts appeared in the Green Bay papers that were not reported in De Pere. Although the De Pere newspaper accounts taken alone reveal a history of sturgeon exploitation in this microcosm remarkably parallel to patterns of sturgeon exploitation nationwide, our initial focus on the De Pere paper appears to have been fortuitous in that few local newspapers along the Lake Michigan shoreline would have yielded comparable amounts of historical information. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1093/jcsl/krv017 | Justice as a security strategy? International justice and the liberal peace in the Balkans | The establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the midst of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina was seen by many as a radical innovation in security thinking and practice. This article examines the security implications of international justice in the Balkans by situating the analysis within the broader context of international interventions in the region. The article starts by elaborating a distinctive conception of 'security' that emerges from the pursuit of international justice, addressing questions such as security for whom, security from what and security by what means. It then examines the jurisprudence of the ICTY to determine whether judicial practice has tended to promote this distinctive approach to security. The final section explores the interactions of international justice and liberal peace interventions in the Balkans, focusing in particular on peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. The article argues that the revival of international justice, half a century after the Nuremberg Trials can be understood as signalling a shift in security paradigms from statism to human rights, while also giving rise to deep tensions between them. These tensions are most clearly expressed in the interactions of international justice with other security instruments of the liberal peace, which are often employed by the international community in situations where international crimes occur. | [
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
2725357 | Integrated on-farm aquaponics systems for co-production of fish, halophyte vegetables, bioactive compounds, and bioenergy | One of the most important challenges of the 21st century is to meet the world's demand for sustainably produced biomass for both food and the growing bio-products sector. Increased use of fresh water for agriculture and loss of farmland due to salinity are related concerns. Salicornia europaea (S. europaea) is grown commercially in the EU for its fresh tips, which are edible as salad (marsh samphire). It is a halophyte plant and can grow on saline lands without requiring freshwater for irrigation. When grown as a vegetable only the fresh tips are used while the woody part of the plant is considered a residue. Today, European farmers are using part of the fibrous residue for soil amendment and drying the fibers to produce herbal salt. However, the amount of residue to food product is large (approximately 80%) and the salt content of the residue is a problem when used for soil amendment, as it returns the salt to the soil. There is a great wish from Salicornia farmers to increase the value of this fraction in line with the principles of circular economy. The woody residue part of Salicornia has been investigated as a source of pharma- and nutraceutical products due to its high content of phytochemicals e.g. hydroxycinnamic acids (HCA). To help increase Salicornia farming there is a wish to valorize these residues via biochemicals and bioenergy production. The project will also examine the combination of aquaculture and Salicornia farming creating synergies such as formulation and test of phyto-chemicals rich functional fish feed and formulation and test of protein and lipids rich fish feed. The outcomes of this study will enable Salicornia farmers and aquaponics farms to utilize all fractions of the produced biomass and produce value added HCAs, functional fish feed, and bioenergy. This will create new circular industries with co-production of food, pharma, and bioenergy from this new sustainable type of crop with very little or no production of waste streams. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
679183 | Entanglement distribution via Semiconductor-Piezoelectric Quantum-Dot Relays | The development of scalable quantum devices that generate and distribute quantum entanglement over distant parties will bring about a revolution in communication science and technology. Epitaxial quantum dots (QDs) embedded in conventional diodes are arguably the most attractive quantum devices, since they combine the capability of QDs to deliver triggered and high-quality entangled photons with the tools of the mature semiconductor technology. However, it is at present impossible to use remote QDs for the distribution of entangled photons over large distances, mainly due to the lack of control over their electronic structure.
Recently, the PI has grasped that the solution to this problem resides in hybrid technologies. He has conceived and developed a novel class of semiconductor-piezoelectric quantum devices where different external fields are combined to reshape the electronic structure of any arbitrary QD so that single and polarization-entangled photons can be generated with unprecedented quality, efficiency, and speed, a major breakthrough for solid-state-based quantum communication.
In this project the PI will make the next pioneering step and develop the hybrid technology to the limit where advanced quantum communication protocols previously inaccessible to QDs can now be performed. The objective of the proposal is mainly to i) develop the first electrically-controlled wavelength-tunable source of indistinguishable and entangled photons, which can be exploited to ii) teleport entanglement over two distant QD-based qubits (the quantum relay) and to iii) attempt the construction of a quantum network where entangled photons from remote quantum relays are interconnected using warm atomic vapours.
The new hybrid technology that will be developed in this project to achieve i) will open new grounds in research fields well beyond quantum optics and quantum communication, and in particular the whole research area of strain-engineering of semiconductor thin-films. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
269567 | An Inquiry into Modes of Existence | AIME is an inquiry to make more precise what is lumped together into the confusing word ""modernization"". The work done in the field of science studies (STS) on the progress and practice of science and technology has had the consequence of deeply modifying the definition of ""modernity"", resulting into the provocative idea that ""we (meaning the Europeans) have never been modern"". This is, however only a negative definition. To obtain a positive rendering of the European current situation, it is necessary to start an inquiry in the complex and conflicting set of values that have been invented. This inquiry is possible only if there is a clear and shareable way to judge the differences in the set of truth-conditions that make up those conflicting sets of values. AIME offers a grammar of those differences based on the key notion of modes of existence. Then it builds a procedure and an instrument to test this grammar into a selected set of situations where the definitions of the differing modes of existence is redefined and renegotiated. The result is a set of shareable definitions of what modernization has been in practice. This is important just at the moment when Europe has lost its privileged status and needs to be able to present itself in a new ways to the other cultures and civilizations which are making up the world of globalization with very different views on what it is to modernize themselves. | [
"Texts and Concepts",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
10.1016/j.str.2016.06.011 | The Human Centriolar Protein CEP135 Contains a Two-Stranded Coiled-Coil Domain Critical for Microtubule Binding | Centrioles are microtubule-based structures that play important roles notably in cell division and cilium biogenesis. CEP135/Bld10p family members are evolutionarily conserved microtubule-binding proteins important for centriole formation. Here, we analyzed in detail the microtubule-binding activity of human CEP135 (HsCEP135). X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering in combination with molecular modeling revealed that the 158 N-terminal residues of HsCEP135 (HsCEP135-N) form a parallel two-stranded coiled-coil structure. Biochemical, cryo-electron, and fluorescence microscopy analyses revealed that in vitro HsCEP135-N interacts with tubulin, protofilaments, and microtubules and induces the formation of microtubule bundles. We further identified a 13 amino acid segment spanning residues 96–108, which represents a major microtubule-binding site in HsCEP135-N. Within this segment, we identified a cluster of three lysine residues that contribute to the microtubule bundling activity of HsCEP135-N. Our results provide the first structural information on CEP135/Bld10p proteins and offer insights into their microtubule-binding mechanism. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07383.x | A M23B family metallopeptidase of Helicobacter pylori required for cell shape, pole formation and virulence | The molecular basis of the regulation of specific shapes and their role for the bacterial fitness remain largely unknown. We focused in this study on the Gram-negative and spiral-shaped Helicobacter pylori. To colonize its unique niche, H. pylori needs to reach quickly the human gastric mucosa, by swimming to and through the mucus layer. For that reason, the specific shape of H. pylori is predicted to be necessary for optimal motility in vivo, and consequently for its colonization ability. Here, we describe the involvement of a PG-modifying enzyme, HdpA (HP0506), in the mouse colonization ability of this bacterium, by regulating its shape. Indeed, the inactivation of the hp0506 gene led to a stocky and branched phenotype, affecting H. pylori colonization capacity despite a normal motility phenotype in vitro. In contrast, the overexpression of the hp0506 gene induced the transformation of H. pylori from rod to dividing cocci shaped bacteria. Furthermore, we demonstrated by PG analysis and enzymology, that HdpA carried both d,d-carboxypeptidase and d,d-endopeptidase activities. Thus, HdpA is the first enzyme belonging to the M23-peptidase family able to perform the d,d-carboxypeptidation and regulate cell shape. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W2045924294 | Higher Ammoniates of BF3and SiF4: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Theoretical Calculations | We report on the synthesis and crystal structure of a higher ammoniate of BF3NH3, the monammine trifluorido boron(III) ammonia (1/3), [BF3NH3]·3NH3. The neutral compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna21 with a = 11.5062(2), b = 9.9888(2), c = 6.5846(1) A, V = 756.79(2) A3, and Z = 4, forming a complex three-dimensional network through N–H···F and N–H···N hydrogen bonding, including the rare case of a trifurcated N–H···F hydrogen bond. A higher ammoniate of SiF4(NH3)2 was obtained and characterized for the first time. Diammine tetrafluorido silicon(IV) ammonia(1/2), [SiF4(NH3)2]·2NH3, was found to crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmca with a = 7.0595(1), b = 7.9814(1), c = 13.4595(2) A, V = 758.37(2) A3, and Z = 4. Its structure displays discrete SiF4(NH3)2 molecules, which are connected to crystal ammonia molecules via N–H···N hydrogen bonds and interconnected by N–H···F hydrogen bonds to {}^2_\infty[SiF4(NH3)2·2NH3] sheets. These layers are further interconnected by N–H···F hydrogen bonds from the crystal ammonia molecules leading to a three-dimensional network. ELF and AIM calculations and population analyses of the ELF basins were carried out for the BF3NH3 and SiF4(NH3)2 units of the two compounds. The calculations reflect the partially covalent bonding of fluorine to boron and silicon and confirm the expected trend of Lewis acidity. It is shown that ELF charges are a better descriptor for the bond covalency in these compounds than AIM charges. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.4161/epi.20523 | Whole-genome bisulfite DNA sequencing of a DNMT3B mutant patient | The immunodeficiency, centromere instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome is associated to mutations of the DNA methyl-transferase DNMT3B, resulting in a reduction of enzyme activity. Aberrant expression of immune system genes and hypomethylation of pericentromeric regions accompanied by chromosomal instability were determined as alterations driving the disease phenotype. However, so far only technologies capable to analyze single loci were applied to determine epigenetic alterations in ICF patients. In the current study, we performed whole-genome bisulphite sequencing to assess alteration in DNA methylation at base pair resolution. Genome-wide we detected a decrease of methylation level of 42%, with the most profound changes occurring in inactive heterochromatic regions, satellite repeats and transposons. Interestingly, transcriptional active loci and rRNA repeats escaped global hypomethylation. Despite a genome-wide loss of DNA methylation the epigenetic landscape and crucial regulatory structures were conserved. Remarkably, we revealed a mislocated activity of mutant DNMT3B to H3K4me1 loci resulting in hypermethylation of active promoters. Functionally, we could associate alterations in promoter methylation with the ICF syndrome immunodeficient phenotype by detecting changes in genes related to the B-cell receptor mediated maturation pathway. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1097/QAI.0000000000001638 | Brief Report Hiv Assisted Partner Services Among Those With And Without A History Of Intimate Partner Violence In Kenya | BACKGROUND HIV assisted partner services (APS) are a notification and testing strategy for sex partners of HIV-infected index patients. This cluster-randomized controlled trial secondary data analysis investigated whether history of intimate partner violence (IPV) modified APS effectiveness and risk of relationship dissolution. SETTING Eighteen HIV testing and counseling sites in Kenya randomized to provide immediate APS (intervention) or APS delayed for 6 weeks (control). METHODS History of IPV was ascertained at study enrollment and defined as reporting ever experiencing physical or sexual IPV. Those reporting IPV in the month before enrollment were excluded. We tested whether history of IPV modified intervention effectiveness and risk of relationship dissolution using population-averaged Poisson and log-binomial generalized estimating equation models. Exploratory analyses investigated associations between history of IPV and events that occurred after HIV diagnosis using log-binomial generalized estimating equation models. RESULTS The study enrolled 1119 index participants and 1286 partners. Among index participants, 81 (7%) had history of IPV. History of IPV did not modify APS effectiveness in testing, newly diagnosing, or linking partners to care. History of IPV did not modify the association between receiving immediate APS and relationship dissolution during the study. CONCLUSIONS Among participants who had not experienced IPV in the last month but had experienced IPV in their lifetimes, our results suggest that APS is an effective and safe partner notification strategy in Kenya. As APS is scaled up in different contexts, these data support including those reporting past IPV and closely monitoring adverse events. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
174710 | Mechanisms of alternative pre-mrna splicing regulation in cancer and pluripotent cells | Alternative splicing of messenger RNA precursors is a prevalent form of gene regulation that greatly expands the coding capacity and regulatory opportunities of higher eukaryotic genomes. It contributes to cell differentiation and pluripotency and its deregulation promotes cancer progression, as evidenced by the frequent occurrence of cancer-associated mutations in splicing factors, which are also targets of anti-tumor drugs. Despite its prevalence and relevance, the underlying mechanisms of regulation remain poorly understood. This proposal aims to develop and apply systematic approaches that can allow us to carry out the equivalent of genetic analysis of splicing regulation in cancer and pluripotent cells. These technologies can help to unweave the complex network of functional interactions within the spliceosome and of the spliceosome with regulatory factors, exhaustively map the contribution of regulatory sequences and be used to investigate, with unprecedented detail, mechanisms of regulation for essentially any regulator or alternative splicing event operating in a particular cell line. Such approaches can offer a unique opportunity to address key unresolved mechanistic questions, including the molecular basis for positional effects of splicing regulatory factors (RNA Maps), the regulatory potential of the core spliceosome and the integration of alternative splicing with other cell regulatory programs. We will combine these approaches with biochemical and cellular assays to investigate detailed mechanisms of regulation relevant for the control of cell proliferation and/or pluripotency in cancer and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Progress in this area can contribute to reveal the molecular logic governing a key layer of gene regulation and has the potential to discover novel factors and regulatory circuits that trigger or modulate cell growth, differentiation and cancer progression. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
W1907942585 | A case study of evidence for showing ‘no net loss’ of bird biodiversity in a development project | Given the development of global pressures on habitats and biodiversity, it is important that developments are accompanied with a compensation element leading to ‘no net loss’. We show how (using a standardised sampling process) a statistical assessment of the biodiversity quality of the target organisms (birds) in a compensatory provision can be shown to be a compensation or not. We used the example of the Cardiff Bay Barrage (Wales) where a bay was inundated and compensation site at Newport Gwent Levels (Wales) created. Bird data for the Cardiff Bay prior to the inundation and for Newport following inundation of Cardiff Bay were analysed to create a series of biodiversity quality indices and these were compared statistically. The analysis showed the compensation habitat was better than the original. Results were poor for Dunlin and Redshank, already subject to regional decline in the Severn Estuary and estuaries in NW Europe. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
EP 2011054928 W | WATER-FREE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS SUITABLE FOR LOCAL ANAESTHETICS | The present invention relates to a water-free pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more local anaesthetics in base form and which is suitable for topical administration. The composition further comprises a lipid vehicle comprising long-chain triglycerides (LCT) and at least 10 % by weight of medium-chain monoglycerides (MCM) selected so the composition has an at least semi-solid appearance at the body temperature at the site of administration. The invention further relates to methods of producing and sterilizing the compositions. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1186/s12967-019-1934-z | Time-of-day at symptom onset was not associated with infarct size and long-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction | Background: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) displays circadian variability with the highest incidence in the morning hours. Data on whether the time-of-day at symptom onset affects infarct size or patients' long-term prognosis are conflicting. We sought to investigate the association of time-of-day at symptom onset with infarct size or long-term mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods: This study included 1206 STEMI patients undergoing PPCI. All patients underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with 99mTc-sestamibi before and 7-14 days after PPCI. The co-primary endpoints were final infarct size on day 10 after STEMI and all-cause mortality at 5-year follow-up. Time-of-day at symptom onset of STEMI was categorized in 6-h intervals. Results: In patients presenting from 0 to 6 h, 6 to 12 h, 12 to 18 h, and 18 to 24 h, the infarct sizes (median [25th-75th percentiles]) were 10. 0 [3. 0-24. 7], 10. 0 [3. 0-24. 0], 10. 0 [3. 0-22. 0], and 9. 0 [3. 0-21. 0] of the left ventricle, respectively (p = 0. 87); the Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year all-cause mortality were 13. 6%, 8. 7%, 13. 7% and 9. 3%, respectively (log-rank test p = 0. 30). After adjustment, time-of-day was not associated with infarct size (p ≥ 0. 76 for comparisons with infarct size from reference [6-12 h] time interval) or 5-year all-cause mortality (p ≥ 0. 25 for comparisons with mortality from reference [6-12 h] time interval). Time-of-day at symptom onset of STEMI was not associated with differences in the recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction 6 months after STEMI. Conclusions: In patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI, time-of-day at symptom onset was neither associated with scintigraphic infarct size, left ventricular ejection fraction recovery at 6 months nor with 5-year mortality. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
W2168873487 | Does temperature contain a stochastic trend? Evaluating conflicting statistical results | We evaluate the claim by Gay et al. (Clim Change 94:333-349, 2009) that temperature can be better described as a trend stationary process with a one-time permanent than efforts by Kaufmann et al. (Clim Change 77:249-278, 2006) to model surface temperature as a time series that contains a stochastic trend that is imparted by the time series for radiative forcing. We test this claim by comparing the in-sample forecast generated by the trend stationary model with a one-time permanent shock to the in-sample forecast generated by a cointegration/error correction model that is assumed to be stable over the 1870- 2000 sample period. Results indicate that the in-sample forecast generated by the cointegration/error correction model is more accurate than the in-sample forecast generated by the trend stationary model with a one-time permanent shock. Further- more, Monte Carlo simulations of the cointegration/error correction model generate time series for temperature that are consistent with the trend-stationary-with-a-break result generated by Gay et al. (Clim Change 94:333-349, 2009), while the time series for radiative forcing cannot be modeled as trend stationary with a one-time shock. Based on these results, we argue that modeling surface temperature as a time series that shares a stochastic trend with radiative forcing offers the possibility of greater insights regarding the potential causes of climate change and efforts to slow its progression. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1021/acsnano.6b04358 | Reversed Janus Micro/Nanomotors with Internal Chemical Engine | Self-motile Janus colloids are important for enabling a wide variety of microtechnology applications as well as for improving our understanding of the mechanisms of motion of artificial micro- and nanoswimmers. We present here micro/nanomotors which possess a reversed Janus structure of an internal catalytic "chemical engine". The catalytic material (here platinum (Pt)) is embedded within the interior of the mesoporous silica (mSiO2)-based hollow particles and triggers the decomposition of H2O2 when suspended in an aqueous peroxide (H2O2) solution. The pores/gaps at the noncatalytic (Pt) hemisphere allow the exchange of chemical species in solution between the exterior and the interior of the particle. By varying the diameter of the particles, we observed size-dependent motile behavior in the form of enhanced diffusion for 500 nm particles, and self-phoretic motion, toward the nonmetallic part, for 1. 5 and 3 μm ones. The direction of motion was rationalized by a theoretical model based on self-phoresis. For the 3 μm particles, a change in the morphology of the porous part is observed, which is accompanied by a change in the mechanism of propulsion via bubble nucleation and ejection as well as a change in the direction of motion. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
320372 | Polymerisation-induced self-assembly | The efficient, reproducible synthesis of bespoke organic nanoparticles of controlled size, morphology and surface functionality in concentrated solution is widely regarded to be a formidable technical challenge. However, recent advances by the Principal Investigator (PI) suggest that this important problem can be addressed by polymerisation-induced self-assembly (PISA) directly in aqueous solution to form a range of diblock copolymer 'nano-objects'. The proposal combines three synergistic themes within the PI's group: (i) controlled-structure water-soluble polymers, (ii) living radical polymerisation and (iii) novel polymer colloids. More specifically, the PI will work closely with four post-doctoral scientists and a PhD student to design a series of diblock copolymer nanoparticles with either spherical, worm-like or vesicular morphologies under dispersion polymerisation conditions in either water, alcohol or n-alkanes. This exciting and timely fundamental research programme will produce world-leading scientific innovation. Moreover, the targeted nanoparticles will be evaluated for various potential applications, such as (i) intracellular delivery of various biomolecules (e.g. DNA, proteins, antibodies), (ii) readily sterilisable biocompatible hydrogels, (iii) bespoke Pickering emulsiifiers and foam stabilisers, (iv) tough nanocomposite monoliths, (v) new components for next-generation paints, (vi) novel boundary lubricants for high performance engine oils. Informal collaborations with four academic partners and four industrial companies will ensure that maximum scientific value and economic impact is extracted from this ambitious work programme. All research findings will be published in top-quality scientific journals and the PI will provide appropriate mentoring to inspire his research team to become the next generation of creative, productive scientists for the EC. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1088/1367-2630/aa9ed1 | Run-and-tumble-like motion of active colloids in viscoelastic media | Run-and-tumble motion is a prominent locomotion strategy employed by many living microorganisms. It is characterized by straight swimming intervals (runs), which are interrupted by sudden reorientation events (tumbles). In contrast, directional changes of synthetic microswimmers (active particles) are caused by rotational diffusion, which is superimposed with their translational motion and thus leads to rather continuous and slow particle reorientations. Here we demonstrate that active particles can also perform a swimming motion where translational and orientational changes are disentangled, similar to run-and-tumble. In our system, such motion is realized by a viscoelastic solvent and a periodic modulation of the self-propulsion velocity. Experimentally, this is achieved using light-activated Janus colloids, which are illuminated by a time-dependent laser field. We observe a strong enhancement of the effective translational and rotational motion when the modulation time is comparable to the relaxation time of the viscoelastic fluid. Our findings are explained by the relaxation of the elastic stress, which builds up during the self-propulsion, and is suddenly released when the activity is turned off. In addition to a better understanding of active motion in viscoelastic surroundings, our results may suggest novel steering strategies for synthetic microswimmers in complex environments. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1039/C3SM50710F | Preparation Of One To Four Branch Silver Nanostructures Of Various Sizes By Metallization Of Hybrid Dna Protein Assemblies | We exploit the versatility of DNA–protein assemblies to generate branched metal nanostructures, referred to as nanoshurikens, of various sizes and degrees of branching. Branched silver nanostructures are prepared by metallization of star-shaped DNA–protein templates composed of monobiotinylated DNA molecules surrounding a single streptavidin protein core. DNA–protein templates are prepared by direct assembly that results in a mixture of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-branch structures that can be separated by gel electrophoresis. A one-pot, bulk metallization is then performed in situ by successive addition of silver nitrate and sodium borohydride. This results in branched metal nanostructures with one to four branches of a well-defined length that is about 3-fold shorter than that of the template. We show that it is possible to tune two structural parameters: (i) the degree of branching by varying the concentration of streptavidin and (ii) the branch length (from 21 ± 5 nm to 107 ± 22 nm) by using biotinylated DNA molecules of different sizes. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W2097412933 | Use of an interactive video gaming program compared with conventional physiotherapy for hospitalised older adults: a feasibility trial | To assess the feasibility of a physiotherapy intervention using an interactive gaming program compared with conventional physiotherapy for hospitalised older people.Randomised controlled pilot study in a geriatric rehabilitation unit within an acute public hospital. Participants were randomly allocated to physiotherapy using an interactive gaming program (n = 22) or conventional physiotherapy in a ward-based gym (n = 22). Feasibility was assessed by comparing the effects of the intervention on clinical outcome measures (primary outcome: mobility as assessed by the Timed Up and Go test, secondary outcomes: safety, adherence levels, eligibility and consent rates).Participants (n = 44) had a mean age of 85 years (SD 4.5) and the majority (80%) were women. Univariable analyses showed no significant difference between groups following intervention. However, multivariable analyses suggested that participants using the interactive gaming program improved more on the Timed Up and Go test (p = 0.048) than participants receiving conventional physiotherapy. There were no serious adverse events and high levels of adherence to therapy were evident in both groups. Only a small proportion of patients screened were recruited to the study.In this feasibility study, the use of a commercially available interactive gaming program by physiotherapists with older people in a hospital setting was safe and adherence levels were comparable with conventional therapy. Preliminary results suggest that further exploration of approaches using games as therapy for older people could include commonly used measures of balance and function. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1002/1873-3468.12750 | Repair Or Destruction An Intimate Liaison Between Ubiquitin Ligases And Molecular Chaperones In Proteostasis | Cellular differentiation, developmental processes, and environmental factors challenge the integrity of the proteome in every eukaryotic cell. The maintenance of protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, involves folding and degradation of damaged proteins, and is essential for cellular function, organismal growth, and viability . Misfolded proteins that cannot be refolded by chaperone machineries are degraded by specialized proteolytic systems. A major degradation pathway regulating cellular proteostasis is the ubiquitin (Ub)/proteasome system (UPS), which regulates turnover of damaged proteins that accumulate upon stress and during aging. Despite a large number of structurally unrelated substrates, Ub conjugation is remarkably selective. Substrate selectivity is mainly provided by the group of E3 enzymes. Several observations indicate that numerous E3 Ub ligases intimately collaborate with molecular chaperones to maintain the cellular proteome. In this review, we provide an overview of specialized quality control E3 ligases playing a critical role in the degradation of damaged proteins. The process of substrate recognition and turnover, the type of chaperones they team up with, and the potential pathogeneses associated with their malfunction will be further discussed. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
185147 | Human performance neurometrics toolbox for highly automated systems design | Europe ATM system is expected to face challenging situations, with the growth of traffic, the increase of its complexity (e.g. the RPAS introduction), the introduction of innovative concepts (such as 4D trajectories) and increased automation. The roles and tasks of controllers will change in the future and it is vital to enhance the comprehension of human response to changes in role, monitoring of complex situations, unexpected disruptions.
Controllers’ performance is recognised to be impacted by several aspects such as stress, emotions, attentional resources available, and so on. In the recent years the concept of Human Performance Envelope has been introduced in Human Factors. Rather than focusing on one or two individual factors, it considers a range of common factors in accidents and maps how they work alone or in combination to lead to a performance decrement that could affect safety.
To support the evolution of the future ATM system, the STRESS project proposes to address the objectives:
1. To align the HP envelope with the foreseen ATCO role in SESAR, mapping the relevance of HF concepts on the characteristics of the scenarios (e.g. less tactical interventions, high automation support, multi-sector operations, and so on).
2. To monitor in real-time via neurophysiological indexes the controllers’ mental status during monitoring tasks in different automation levels in SESAR step3. Indexes will be defined for the following cognitive and emotional aspects: Stress level, Attentional focus, Workload level, Emotional arousal, Startle effect.
3. To derive guidelines and methods to match the HP envelope status with the highest possible level of automation (keeping KPAs at least at the same level).
4. To monitor the controllers’ mental status during automation failure scenarios using the above indexes
5. To develop guidelines to support human performance during safe transitions from the higher levels of automation to the lower levels of automation, and viceversa. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
W2004535266 | Luminescence properties of CsI crystals grown from the melt treated by metals-getters | The processes of purification of CsI melt from admixtures by metals-getters (Ti, Ta, and Zr) are studied through two ways: investigation of change in concentration of oxide-ion entering from the getter into the melt and investigation of luminescence properties of CsI single crystals grown from the treated melt. The treatment by Ti does not lead to the removal of oxide-ions; however the growth melt is polluted by Ti species (Ti2O3). This causes drastic changes in the luminescence properties of CsI crystals. Their radioluminescence spectra do not contain the band caused by fast 7 and 30 ns components (maximum at 308 nm) and there arises a band (maximum 418 nm) corresponding to slow microsecond component. The enterance of Ta leads to removal of oxide ions, but the interaction products (Ta2O5 or CsTaO3) are partially dissolved in CsI melt that leads to appearance in the radioluminescence spectrum of the intense band (maximum 416 nm) caused by the slow component together with less intense band (maximum at 305 nm) due to the fast components. Only treatment by Zr allows to suppression of the slow component completely. The radioluminescence spectrum of CsI crystals grown from the Zr-treated melt includes only one band (maximum at 306 nm), whereas the luminescence at wavelengths more than 410 nm is absent. For this crystal two parameters describing its performance are determined. The effective time of luminosity of the fast components is equal to 14 ns and the ‘Fast/Total’ ratio is 0.88. So, the treatment of CsI melt by Zr allows obtaining an extremely fast scintillation material. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1007/s10209-009-0175-y | Designing spaces for every listener | Inclusive design aims at objects and environments that are accessible, usable and comfortable for all people throughout their entire lifespan. In architecture, this aim is usually associated with physical accessibility. Yet acoustic qualities may considerably impact usability and comfort as well, especially in spaces for listening. This case study explores the notion of acoustic comfort for all in the context of university education. One auditorium, situated in a historic building and subject to renovation in the near future, is studied in detail: acoustic obstacles are identified in collaboration with user/experts and are measured in situ; specific interventions are proposed in consultation with building professionals, technicians and conservation specialists and are tested using dedicated acoustic simulation software. The study draws attention to the importance of acoustic comfort for all and offers a first view of which solutions are possible and desirable and how these can be obtained. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.1145/2980179.2982421 | Smash Physics Guided Reconstruction Of Collisions From Videos | Collision sequences are commonly used in games and entertainment to add drama and excitement. Authoring even two body collisions in the real world can be difficult, as one has to get timing and the object trajectories to be correctly synchronized. After tedious trial-and-error iterations, when objects can actually be made to collide, then they are difficult to capture in 3D. In contrast, synthetically generating plausible collisions is difficult as it requires adjusting different collision parameters (e. g. , object mass ratio, coefficient of restitution, etc. ) and appropriate initial parameters. We present SMASH to directly read off appropriate collision parameters directly from raw input video recordings. Technically we enable this by utilizing laws of rigid body collision to regularize the problem of lifting 2D trajectories to a physically valid 3D reconstruction of the collision. The reconstructed sequences can then be modified and combined to easily author novel and plausible collisions. We evaluate our system on a range of synthetic scenes and demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by accurately reconstructing several complex real world collision events. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
]
|
10.1038/s41467-018-05420-0 | Targeting myelin lipid metabolism as a potential therapeutic strategy in a model of CMT1A neuropathy | In patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease 1A (CMT1A), peripheral nerves display aberrant myelination during postnatal development, followed by slowly progressive demyelination and axonal loss during adult life. Here, we show that myelinating Schwann cells in a rat model of CMT1A exhibit a developmental defect that includes reduced transcription of genes required for myelin lipid biosynthesis. Consequently, lipid incorporation into myelin is reduced, leading to an overall distorted stoichiometry of myelin proteins and lipids with ultrastructural changes of the myelin sheath. Substitution of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in the diet is sufficient to overcome the myelination deficit of affected Schwann cells in vivo. This treatment rescues the number of myelinated axons in the peripheral nerves of the CMT rats and leads to a marked amelioration of neuropathic symptoms. We propose that lipid supplementation is an easily translatable potential therapeutic approach in CMT1A and possibly other dysmyelinating neuropathies. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1098/rstb.2009.0252 | Evolutionary origins of metabolic compartmentalization in eukaryotes | Many genes in eukaryotes are acquisitions from the free-living antecedents of chloroplasts and mitochondria. But there is no evolutionary 'homing device' that automatically directs the protein product of a transferred gene back to the organelle of its provenance. Instead, the products of genes acquired from endosymbionts can explore all targeting possibilities within the cell. They often replace pre-existing host genes, or even whole pathways. But the transfer of an enzymatic pathway from one compartment to another poses severe problems: over evolutionary time, the enzymes of the pathway acquire their targeting signals for the new compartment individually, not in unison. Until the whole pathway is established in the new compartment, newly routed individual enzymes are useless, and their genes will be lost through mutation. Here it is suggested that pathways attain novel compartmentation variants via a 'minor mistargeting' mechanism. If protein targeting in eukaryotic cells possesses enough imperfection such that small amounts of entire pathways continuously enter novel compartments, selectable units of biochemical function would exist in new compartments, and the genes could become selected. Dual-targeting of proteins is indeed very common within eukaryotic cells, suggesting that targeting variation required for this minor mistargeting mechanism to operate exists in nature. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1007/JHEP11(2019)143 | Halving Iso 7 Supergravity | Half-maximal, $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 4, sectors of D = 4 $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 8 supergravity with a dyonic ISO(7) gauging are investigated. We focus on a half-maximal sector including three vector multiplets, that arises as a certain SO(3)R-invariant sector of the full theory. We discuss the embedding of this sector into the largest half-maximal sector of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 8 supergravity retaining six vector multiplets. We also provide its canonical $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 4 formulation and show that, from this perspective, our model leads in its own right to a new explicit gauging of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 4 supergravity. Finally, expressions for the restricted duality hierarchy are given and the vacuum structure is investigated. Five new non-supersymmetric AdS vacua are found numerically. The previously known $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 2 and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 3 AdS vacua are also contained in our $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 4 model. Unlike when embedded in previously considered sectors with fewer fields, these vacua exhibit their full $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 2 and $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 3 supersymmetry within our $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 4 model. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
W2018734408 | Effects of continuous positive airway pressure on cognitition and neuroimaging data in sleep apnea | Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with a broad range of neurocognitive difficulties. The current view is that the neurocognitive impairment in OSA is due to the adverse effects of sleep fragmentation and/or intermittent hypoxia. The overall picture of cognitive deficits in OSA is complex. On balance, there appears to be negative effects of OSA on cognition, most likely in the domains of attention/vigilance, verbal and visual delayed long-term memory, visuospatial/constructional abilities, and executive dysfunction. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective and widely used treatment of OSA. In the majority of studies of OSA patients treated with CPAP, attention/vigilance improved, but changes in global functioning, executive functioning, and memory improved in about half of the studies. This may be due, in part, to variability in study design and sampling methodology across studies. Structural volume changes have been demonstrated in brain regions of OSA patients including areas that regulate memory and executive function (e.g., frontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and hippocampus). Growing evidence suggests that the OSA-related changes in brain morphology may improve with CPAP treatment. Neuroimaging studies performed during cognitive testing have provided insight into CPAP's effect on function of neuroanatomical circuits in the brain. Although neuroimaging can provide important insights into the structural and functional differences associated with OSA, one of the challenges is to interpret the findings in light of comorbid conditions that also cause neural injury. The purpose of this article is to provide a narrative review of the publications on cognition and neuroimaging in OSA before and after CPAP treatment. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1016/j.spa.2013.01.003 | L<sup>p</sup> and almost sure convergence of a Milstein scheme for stochastic partial differential equations | In this paper, Lp convergence and almost sure convergence of the Milstein approximation of a partial differential equation of advection-diffusion type driven by a multiplicative continuous martingale is proven. The (semidiscrete) approximation in space is a projection onto a finite dimensional function space. The considered space approximation has to have an order of convergence fitting to the order of convergence of the Milstein approximation and the regularity of the solution. The approximation of the driving noise process is realized by the truncation of the Karhunen-Loève expansion of the driving noise according to the overall order of convergence. Convergence results in Lp and almost sure convergence bounds for the semidiscrete approximation as well as for the fully discrete approximation are provided. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1109/TCSI.2017.2698019 | An Iot Endpoint System On Chip For Secure And Energy Efficient Near Sensor Analytics | Near-sensor data analytics is a promising direction for IoT endpoints, as it minimizes energy spent on communication and reduces network load - but it also poses security concerns, as valuable data is stored or sent over the network at various stages of the analytics pipeline. Using encryption to protect sensitive data at the boundary of the on-chip analytics engine is a way to address data security issues. To cope with the combined workload of analytics and encryption in a tight power envelope, we propose Fulmine, a System-on-Chip based on a tightly-coupled multi-core cluster augmented with specialized blocks for compute-intensive data processing and encryption functions, supporting software programmability for regular computing tasks. The Fulmine SoC, fabricated in 65nm technology, consumes less than 20mW on average at 0. 8V achieving an efficiency of up to 70pJ/B in encryption, 50pJ/px in convolution, or up to 25MIPS/mW in software. As a strong argument for real-life flexible application of our platform, we show experimental results for three secure analytics use cases: secure autonomous aerial surveillance with a state-of-the-art deep CNN consuming 3. 16pJ per equivalent RISC op; local CNN-based face detection with secured remote recognition in 5. 74pJ/op; and seizure detection with encrypted data collection from EEG within 12. 7pJ/op. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1557/opl.2011.212 | Thermoplastic Wire Drawing from Bulk Metallic Glass | ABSTRACTThe low loss coefficient and high elastic energy storage of amorphous metals may provide novel opportunities in the design of stringed musical instruments. To produce prototypes for metallic glass music wire, bulk metallic glass pre-forms were reheated into the supercooled liquid region and stretched into wires. Investigations of these wires’ geometrical, mechanical, and physical properties are reported. The process is relatively simple and could be practical for producing continuous wire. A theoretical analysis shows the importance of the interaction between heating power input, radiative and convective cooling, and area reduction in determining the wire’s final properties. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
US 2011/0026839 W | LIVE MONITORING OF CALL SESSIONS OVER AN IP TELEPHONY NETWORK | Systems and methods for monitoring call sessions over an IP telephony network are disclosed. An illustrative system for monitoring call sessions over an IP telephony network includes a number of user telephone stations, a communications manager configured to direct call session data streams to the user telephone stations, and an application configured to receive the call session data streams and direct those streams to one or more monitoring stations for monitoring. The call session data streams can be sent directly to the monitoring stations or can be sent to the monitoring stations via a monitoring server that forwards the call session data streams to a record service or record server. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-319-45648-5_11 | Water Resources Food Security And The Role Of Virtual Water Trade In The Mena Region | Food security, and in particular food availability, depends on environmental resources, climatic conditions and agricultural practices, having water resources as a common denominator. There is major concern about food security in countries having limited water resources, due to the large volumes of water that are required to produce food commodities. Water-deficit countries tend to rely on international trade to close the gap between water (and thus food) demand and supply. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this study is twofold. First, to analyse water resources in the Middle East and North African region also considering the political economy trends and dynamics, which drive the region’s demand for water. Secondly, the study aims to increase understanding on the role that trade of agricultural commodities has played in meeting the requirements of the MENA populations, in terms of food and associated water ‘embedded’ as a factor of production. The study argues that virtual water trade, that is, the virtual transfer of the water used for agricultural production from producing to consuming countries, has provided the region’s economies with water and food security over the past 25 years. The study shows that virtual water imports have more than doubled and the increase has been more than proportional to population growth in the area. Food products account by far for the largest share of virtual water flows, while crops and high value foods are the main categories of agricultural products associated with virtual water imports. The largest share of the MENA imports originate from outside the region, thus determining a marked dependency on water resources available elsewhere, but not always from water-secure countries. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
interreg_3551 | Studies on the activity of TRAIL anticancer protein on human normal and neoplastic cells | The main objective of the project is the assessment of TRAIL biological activity on a panel of human cells from colon and bladder tissues, either normal or neoplastic, and of the molecular mechanisms governing the response to TRAIL. The results of these studies could lead to the development of an alternative or complementary approach to the conventional treatment of bladder and colon carcinomas, by using TRAIL in combination with traditional or new pharmacological compounds, which can increase the average TRAIL-mediated cytotoxicity and thus overcome the resistance to conventional chemotherapy. In particular, the research is focused on the following aspects: characterizing the TRAIL effects on the above-mentioned types of cells; studying TRAIL role in the mutual interaction of NK and LAK cells with their tumor targets and understanding whether and how TRAIL can be upregulated on the surface of normal NK cells; defining the molecular bases of TRAIL biological activity on the cells considered; exploring/developing pharmacological combinations, in order to increase TRAIL cytotoxicity against bladder and colon carcinomas. The tests carried out lead us to believe that recombinant TRAIL and/or anti-TRAIL-R1 and anti-TRAIL-R2 antibodies are very promising biological molecules from the oncological point of view, with regard to their applicability to solid and haematological neoplasias. Together with a direct antineoplastic effect due to TRAIL capacity to induce cellular apoptotic death in several types of cancer cells deriving from solid or haematological neoplasia, the intense research activity carried out by the project groups made it possible to establish that TRAIL could play a significant role even in the osteoclastogenesis modulation, a major process which characterizes bone destruction in several types of solid and haematological neoplasias. The availability of oncologically relevant animal patterns (SCID-human mice) to directly test the potential therapeutic effect of TRAIL or anti-TRAIL-R1/-R2 antibodies is the natural continuation of the studies carried out in this field and represents a major challenge for the near future. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1111/febs.15146 | Cardiac regeneration and remodelling of the cardiomyocyte cytoarchitecture | Adult mammals are unable to regenerate their hearts after cardiac injury, largely due to the incapacity of cardiomyocytes (CMs) to undergo cell division. However, mammalian embryonic and fetal CMs, similar to CMs from fish and amphibians during their entire life, exhibit robust replicative activity, which stops abruptly after birth and never significantly resumes. Converging evidence indicates that formation of the highly ordered and stable cytoarchitecture of mammalian mature CMs is coupled with loss of their proliferative potential. Here, we review the available information on the role of the cardiac cytoskeleton and sarcomere in the regulation of CM proliferation. The actin cytoskeleton, the intercalated disc, the microtubular network and the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex each sense mechanical cues from the surrounding environment. Furthermore, they participate in the regulation of CM proliferation by impinging on the yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif, β-catenin and myocardin-related transcription factor transcriptional co-activators. Mastering the molecular mechanisms regulating CM proliferation would permit the development of innovative strategies to stimulate cardiac regeneration in adult individuals, a hitherto unachieved yet fundamental therapeutic goal. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1038/nrc.2017.5 | Tissue-specific tumorigenesis: Context matters | How can we treat cancer more effectively? Traditionally, tumours from the same anatomical site are treated as one tumour entity. This concept has been challenged by recent breakthroughs in cancer genomics and translational research that have enabled molecular tumour profiling. The identification and validation of cancer drivers that are shared between different tumour types, spurred the new paradigm to target driver pathways across anatomical sites by off-label drug use, or within so-called basket or umbrella trials which are designed to test whether molecular alterations in one tumour entity can be extrapolated to all others. However, recent clinical and preclinical studies suggest that there are tissue-and cell type-specific differences in tumorigenesis and the organization of oncogenic signalling pathways. In this Opinion article, we focus on the molecular, cellular, systemic and environmental determinants of organ-specific tumorigenesis and the mechanisms of context-specific oncogenic signalling outputs. Investigation, recognition and in-depth biological understanding of these differences will be vital for the design of next-generation clinical trials and the implementation of molecularly guided cancer therapies in the future. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
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