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242664 | Chromatin Mediators of Estrogen Receptor Biology | Estrogen Receptor (ER) drives proliferation in breast cancers and drugs such as tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors, that target ER activity, are first line treatments in clinical practice. However drug resistance is a significant clinical problem. My laboratory has reported that chromatin-modifying pioneer factors are required for ER to bind the genome, and may constitute a unique opportunity for treating drug resistant cancer. My proposal consists of two complementary approaches to comprehensively explore how Estrogen Receptor interacts with these factors to direct transcription. (1) We will demonstrate that FoxA1 and the Groucho protein TLE1 are critical mediators of ER-chromatin interactions by mapping TLE1 binding sites on a genome-wide basis, and functionally testing the roles these factors play with ER in genomic remodeling, gene transcription, cell proliferation, and endocrine resistance. (2) More globally, to characterise ER transcriptional partners on a molecular basis, we will identify the complete complement of ER-associated proteins using novel proteomic approaches. Taken together, these approaches will explore how ER employs pioneer factors mechanistically, and will identify other potential players. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1128/JVI.01751-17 | Viperin Targets Flavivirus Virulence By Inducing Assembly Of Noninfectious Capsid Particles | Efficient antiviral immunity requires interference with virus replication at multiple layers targeting diverse steps in the viral life cycle. Here we describe a novel flavivirus inhibition mechanis . . . | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.5194/cp-14-1315-2018 | Relative timing of precipitation and ocean circulation changes in the western equatorial Atlantic over the last 45 kyr | Abstract. Thanks to its optimal location on the northern Brazilian margin,
core MD09-3257 records both ocean circulation and atmospheric changes. The
latter occur locally in the form of increased rainfall on the adjacent
continent during the cold intervals recorded in Greenland ice and northern
North Atlantic sediment cores (i. e. , Greenland stadials). These rainfall
events are recorded in MD09-3257 as peaks in ln(Ti ∕ Ca). New sedimentary
Pa ∕ Th data indicate that mid-depth western equatorial water mass
transport decreased during all of the Greenland stadials of the last 40 kyr. Using cross-wavelet transforms and spectrogram analysis, we assess the
relative phase between the MD09-3257 sedimentary Pa ∕ Th and
ln(Ti ∕ Ca) signals. We show that decreased water mass transport between
a depth of ∼1300 and 2300 m in the western equatorial Atlantic preceded
increased rainfall over the adjacent continent by 120 to 400 yr at
Dansgaard–Oeschger (D–O) frequencies, and by 280 to 980 yr at Heinrich-like
frequencies. We suggest that the large lead of ocean circulation changes with respect to
changes in tropical South American precipitation at Heinrich-like
frequencies is related to the effect of a positive feedback involving
iceberg discharges in the North Atlantic. In contrast, the absence of
widespread ice rafted detrital layers in North Atlantic cores during D–O
stadials supports the hypothesis that a feedback such as this was not triggered in
the case of D–O stadials, with circulation slowdowns and subsequent changes
remaining more limited during D–O stadials than Heinrich stadials. | [
"Earth System Science"
]
|
218520 | Durable, environmentally friendly and high-quality leather alternative | Materiko is an Italian company specialising in the manufacture of revolutionary artificial high quality textiles. Due to the flexibility, and high-quality afforded by genuine leather, compared to conventional textiles, it has been used for centuries as material in several industries. However, leather is prone to scratching, water damage and UV damage which can limit its uses, particularly in external applications. Furthermore, the way in which leather is produced presents a huge environmental problem. The tanning process for genuine leather uses on average 360 L of water per m2 and over 50 L of that needs to be processing by wastewater treatment plants for chromium waste considered to be hugely toxic by the EU. To alleviate these environmental problems as well as consumer movement towards non-animal origin products a range of artificial leathers have been developed such as PVC and polyurethane (PU) based faux leathers and natural plant based options. PVC and PU based artificial leather have their own environmental problems including similarly high water usage, use of toxic chemicals and poor recyclability. Both plastic based and plant based leather alternatives have durability and quality issues when replicating genuine leather. The need for a high-quality, more durable, weather-proof leather like material which eliminates animal cruelty, water usage and toxic wastage associated with the genuine leather industry is clear and one for which Materiko have developed an innovative solution. Our EcoLeather is a novel material manufactured using an innovative semi-automatic manufacturing technique which produces a water and chemical free leather alternative which improves upon the physical properties of genuine, such as durability, scratch and weather resistance. With the high-end leather goods market worth an estimated €45 bn globally there is a huge demand for a leather alternative with improved physical properties. | [
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
185559 | Revolutionizing insect control | EFSA recently prohibited 75% of insecticides to account for their toxicity and ecotoxicity. Moreover, the spread of insecticide resistance and invasion of Europe by new tropical vectors and pests require the development of alternative biological techniques.
Recently, we hypothesized that shifting the vision of the sterile male from a sexual competitor only to a specific transporter of active biocides to the targeted female might boost the impact of the sterile insect technique (SIT). Here we want to demonstrate this concept using three biocides: Pyriproxifen, Bacillus thuringiensis and a Densovirus against the Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Pyriproxifen will also be tested against tsetse and fruit flies.
We will test the technology both in the laboratory and at an operational scale and model the relative impacts of SIT and boosted-SIT on the dynamics of the targeted population. Moreover, we will compare the evolutionary response of the target population to these different control pressures (multiple lethal mutations, multiple lethal mutations + biocides), for three different biocides and three demographic strategies. This will generate breakthrough knowledge on the transmission of biocides and pathogens in insects and the sustainability of genetic control, provide a new control technique for mosquitoes, and improve the cost-effectiveness of SIT in tsetse and fruit flies.
We will have to address technical issues associated to mass rearing, sterilization, sex separation and aerial release of mosquitoes as well as regulatory issues required for releasing sterile males coated with bioicides. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1063/1.4793200 | Different Tips For High Resolution Atomic Force Microscopy And Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Of Single Molecules | We explore different tip functionalizations for atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) of organic molecules on thin insulating films. We describe in detail how tips terminated with single Br and Xe atoms can be created. The performance of these tips in AFM, STM, and KPFM imaging of single molecules is compared to other tip terminations, and the advantages and disadvantages of the different tips are discussed. The Br tip was found to be particularly useful for AFM and lateral manipulation, whereas the Xe tip excelled in STM and KPFM. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
268004 | Microrobotics and Nanomedicine | The introduction of minimally invasive surgery in the 1980’s created a paradigm shift in surgical procedures. Health care is now in a position to make a more dramatic leap by integrating newly developed wireless microrobotic technologies with nanomedicine to perform precisely targeted, localized endoluminal techniques. Devices capable of entering the human body through natural orifices or small incisions to deliver drugs, perform diagnostic procedures, and excise and repair tissue will be used. These new procedures will result in less trauma to the patient and faster recovery times, and will enable new therapies that have not yet been conceived. In order to realize this, many new technologies must be developed and synergistically integrated, and medical therapies for which the technology will prove successful must be aggressively pursued.
This proposed project will result in the realization of animal trials in which wireless microrobotic devices will be used to investigate a variety of extremely delicate ophthalmic therapies. The therapies to be pursued include the delivery of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) to blocked retinal veins, the peeling of epiretinal membranes from the retina, and the development of diagnostic procedures based on mapping oxygen concentration at the vitreous-retina interface. With successful animal trials, a path to human trials and commercialization will follow. Clearly, many systems in the body have the potential to benefit from the endoluminal technologies that this project considers, including the digestive system, the circulatory system, the urinary system, the central nervous system, the respiratory system, the female reproductive system and even the fetus. Microrobotic retinal therapies will greatly illuminate the potential that the integration of microrobotics and nanomedicine holds for society, and greatly accelerate this trend in Europe. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/s12035-017-0737-6 | Cholinergic behavior state-dependent mechanisms of neocortical gain control: A neurocomputational study | The embodied mammalian brain evolved to adapt to an only partially known and knowable world. The adaptive labeling of the world is critically dependent on the neocortex which in turn is modulated by a range of subcortical systems such as the thalamus, ventral striatum, and the amygdala. A particular case in point is the learning paradigm of classical conditioning where acquired representations of states of the world such as sounds and visual features are associated with predefined discrete behavioral responses such as eye blinks and freezing. Learning progresses in a very specific order, where the animal first identifies the features of the task that are predictive of a motivational state and then forms the association of the current sensory state with a particular action and shapes this action to the specific contingency. This adaptive feature selection has both attentional and memory components, i. e. , a behaviorally relevant state must be detected while its representation must be stabilized to allow its interfacing to output systems. Here, we present a computationalmodel of the neocortical systems that underlie this feature detection process and its state-dependent modulation mediated by the amygdala and its downstream target the nucleus basalis of Meynert. In particular, we analyze the role of different populations of inhibitory interneurons in the regulation of cortical activity and their state-dependent gating of sensory signals. In our model, we show that the neuromodulator acetylcholine (ACh), which is in turn under control of the amygdala, plays a distinct role in the dynamics of each population and their associated gating function serving the detection of novel sensory features not captured in the state of the network, facilitating the adjustment of cortical sensory representations and regulating the switching between modes of attention and learning. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.3389/fnana.2010.00136 | What is the degree of segregation between striatonigral and striatopallidal projections? | In contrast to most other brain regions, in the striatum the output neurons (the medium-sized spiny neurons, MSNs) are GABAergic and act by inhibiting their targets. The standard model of the basal ganglia is built on the segregation of information processing in the direct and indirect pathways, which act in opposing directions to control movement. The MSNs participating in these two pathways can be identified according to their projection sites and the proteins they express. The differential expression of two of the five known dopamine receptor subtypes, D1 and D2, in the two populations of MSNs is of particular importance, since it confers to dopamine the ability to exert opposite functional modulation on the direct and indirect pathways. However, beyond this simple view of the striatal output organization, anatomical studies questioned the segregation of direct and indirect projections to the SNr, while other studies disclosed variable degrees of overlapping expression of dopamine receptor subtypes in striatal MSNs. New ways to address these issues have emerged recently, using mouse models in which specific populations of striatal neurons are genetically tagged. Here, we review classical and recent studies supporting the segregation of striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons. We also consider this issue at a functional level by focusing on the regulation of striatal signaling pathways in the two populations of MSNs, which clearly emphasize their profound differences. We discuss the anatomical and functional evidence challenging some aspects of this segregation and outline questions that are still to be addressed. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
W2169668129 | Reliability Analysis of Bridge under Multi Adverse Factors | A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. As critical transportation junction in the transportation network, bridge controls the traffic capacity of the transportation network. In the past decade, collapse of highway bridges caused by natural hazard and human error occur frequently. There are three main reason of collapse: 1) overloading; 2) construction deficiency; 3) imbalance of the system safety. In this paper, a collapsed bridge in Harbin is studied based on probability. A reliability analysis is conducted to investigate the system safety of the case bridge under combined effect of overloading and construction deficiency. Some suggestions for bridge quality control are proposed. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-030-24258-9_1 | Circular Yet Sound Proofs | We introduce a new way of composing proofs in rule-based proof systems that generalizes tree-like and dag-like proofs. In the new definition, proofs are directed graphs of derived formulas, in which cycles are allowed as long as every formula is derived at least as many times as it is required as a premise. We call such proofs circular. We show that, for all sets of standard inference rules, circular proofs are sound. We first focus on the circular version of Resolution, and see that it is stronger than Resolution since, as we show, the pigeonhole principle has circular Resolution proofs of polynomial size. Surprisingly, as proof systems for deriving clauses from clauses, Circular Resolution turns out to be equivalent to Sherali-Adams, a proof system for reasoning through polynomial inequalities that has linear programming at its base. As corollaries we get: (1) polynomial-time (LP-based) algorithms that find circular Resolution proofs of constant width, (2) examples that separate circular from dag-like Resolution, such as the pigeonhole principle and its variants, and (3) exponentially hard cases for circular Resolution. Contrary to the case of circular resolution, for Frege we show that circular proofs can be converted into tree-like ones with at most polynomial overhead. | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
949583 | Foundations of Motivic Real K-Theory | Quadratic forms are ubiquitous throughout mathematics, playing a fundamental role in areas from arithmetic through algebra and geometry. In surgery theory, quadratic forms feature prominently in the classification of smooth manifolds in a given homotopy type, while in arithmetic geometry they can be used to encode Galois and motivic cohomology classes via Milnor's conjecture. The theory of quadratic forms is naturally very sensitive to the prime 2. While in surgery theory this effect is critical, in algebraic geometry it was often set aside by assuming 2 to be invertible in all ground rings. A recent joint work of the PI and collaborators on the foundations of Hermitian K-theory uses state-of-the-art tools from higher category theory to develop a new framework for the subject, bringing a bordism theoretical approach to the algebraic study of quadratic forms, all while accommodating for the subtleties posed by the prime 2.
Building on this recent success, the project MRKT aims to remove the theoretical barrier of the prime 2 from the study of Hermitian K-theory in the domain of algebraic geometry, and set up the foundations of motivic Hermitian K-theory and real algebraic K-theory over the integers. | [
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1016/j.molcel.2017.02.017 | Circ-ZNF609 Is a Circular RNA that Can Be Translated and Functions in Myogenesis | Circular RNAs (circRNAs) constitute a family of transcripts with unique structures and still largely unknown functions. Their biogenesis, which proceeds via a back-splicing reaction, is fairly well characterized, whereas their role in the modulation of physiologically relevant processes is still unclear. Here we performed expression profiling of circRNAs during in vitro differentiation of murine and human myoblasts, and we identified conserved species regulated in myogenesis and altered in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A high-content functional genomic screen allowed the study of their functional role in muscle differentiation. One of them, circ-ZNF609, resulted in specifically controlling myoblast proliferation. Circ-ZNF609 contains an open reading frame spanning from the start codon, in common with the linear transcript, and terminating at an in-frame STOP codon, created upon circularization. Circ-ZNF609 is associated with heavy polysomes, and it is translated into a protein in a splicing-dependent and cap-independent manner, providing an example of a protein-coding circRNA in eukaryotes. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1103/PhysRevE.96.062304 | Scarcity of crossing dependencies: A direct outcome of a specific constraint? | The structure of a sentence can be represented as a network where vertices are words and edges indicate syntactic dependencies. Interestingly, crossing syntactic dependencies have been observed to be infrequent in human languages. This leads to the question of whether the scarcity of crossings in languages arises from an independent and specific constraint on crossings. We provide statistical evidence suggesting that this is not the case, as the proportion of dependency crossings of sentences from a wide range of languages can be accurately estimated by a simple predictor based on a null hypothesis on the local probability that two dependencies cross given their lengths. The relative error of this predictor never exceeds 5% on average, whereas the error of a baseline predictor assuming a random ordering of the words of a sentence is at least six times greater. Our results suggest that the low frequency of crossings in natural languages is neither originated by hidden knowledge of language nor by the undesirability of crossings per se, but as a mere side effect of the principle of dependency length minimization. | [
"Mathematics",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2004554978 | A narrowband optical parametric oscillator tunable over 6.8 THz through degeneracy with a transversely-chirped volume Bragg grating | An efficient nanosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with output energies of 0.75 mJ using a periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystal pumped at 532 nm and generating narrowband output continuously tunable over the range of 6.8 THz, between 1053 nm and 1075 nm, is demonstrated by employing a transversely-chirped volume Bragg grating. The tunable reflectivity spectrum of the chirped volume Bragg grating allowed a smooth transition between singly-resonant and doubly-resonant operation of the OPO without cavity rearrangement. This gave a unique possibility to experimentally verify theoretical predictions regarding the efficiency of type-I and type-0 phase matched degenerate OPOs pumped by multimode Q-switched lasers. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/s41467-019-10068-5 | Bacteroidetes use thousands of enzyme combinations to break down glycans | Unlike proteins, glycan chains are not directly encoded by DNA, but by the specificity of the enzymes that assemble them. Theoretical calculations have proposed an astronomical number of possible isomers (> 10 12 hexasaccharides) but the actual diversity of glycan structures in nature is not known. Bacteria of the Bacteroidetes phylum are considered primary degraders of polysaccharides and they are found in all ecosystems investigated. In Bacteroidetes genomes, carbohydrate-degrading enzymes (CAZymes) are arranged in gene clusters termed polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs). The depolymerization of a given complex glycan by Bacteroidetes PULs requires bespoke enzymes; conversely, the enzyme composition in PULs can provide information on the structure of the targeted glycans. Here we group the 13,537 PULs encoded by 964 Bacteroidetes genomes according to their CAZyme composition. We find that collectively Bacteroidetes have elaborated a few thousand enzyme combinations for glycan breakdown, suggesting a global estimate of diversity of glycan structures much smaller than the theoretical one. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1007/s10237-018-1010-2 | A hybrid computational model for collective cell durotaxis | Collective cell migration is regulated by a complex set of mechanical interactions and cellular mechanisms. Collective migration emerges from mechanisms occurring at single cell level, involving processes like contraction, polymerization and depolymerization, of cell–cell interactions and of cell–substrate adhesion. Here, we present a computational framework which simulates the dynamics of this emergent behavior conditioned by substrates with stiffness gradients. The computational model reproduces the cell’s ability to move toward the stiffer part of the substrate, process known as durotaxis. It combines the continuous formulation of truss elements and a particle-based approach to simulate the dynamics of cell–matrix adhesions and cell–cell interactions. Using this hybrid approach, researchers can quickly create a quantitative model to understand the regulatory role of different mechanical conditions on the dynamics of collective cell migration. Our model shows that durotaxis occurs due to the ability of cells to deform the substrate more in the part of lower stiffness than in the stiffer part. This effect explains why cell collective movement is more effective than single cell movement in stiffness gradient conditions. In addition, we numerically evaluate how gradient stiffness properties, cell monolayer size and force transmission between cells and extracellular matrix are crucial in regulating durotaxis. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
Q4938541 | (16807.19102018.132000767) STUDIO E SVILUPPO DI MODELLI DI GIOIELLI | RAIKA SRL, AZIENDA OPERANTE NEL SETTORE ORAFO VUOLE AUMENTARE LA PROPRIA CAPACIT? DI PENETRAZIONE NEL MERCATO E DI RISPONDERE IN MODO PI? EFFICACE ED EFFICIENTE ALLE ESIGENZE DELLA CLIENTELA.IN PARTICOLARE RAIKA, SRL, VUOLE ACCRESCERE LA PROPRIA OFFERTA ALL?INTERNO DELLA LIBIA, MERCATO CHE NELL?ULTIMO DECENNIO HA RAPPRESENTATO UNO SOCCO IMPORTANTE PER IL DISTRETTO ORAFO ARETINO. PER QUESTO GRAZIE AI CONSULENTI PROGETTER? E REALIZZER? UNA SERIE DI NUOVI MODELLI E PROTOTIPI DI GIOIELLI, PENSATI PER ESSERE OTTENUTI TRAMITE PROCESSO DI ELETTROFORMATURA. SARANNO IDENTIFICATI E PROGETTATI GLI STRUMENTI RIVOLTI ALLA COMUNICAZIONE DELL?AZIENDA, AL FINE TRASFERIRE AL MERCATO L?IDEA E LO STILE CHE L?AZIENDA VUOLE PROPORREIL PROGETTO INTERVERR? ANCHE NEL PROCESSO DI DIGITALIZZAZIONE AZIENDALE GRAZIE ALLA MESSA A PUNTO DI STRUMENTI DI BI, CHE PERMETTANO DI FORNIRE SUPPORTO ALLA DECISIONI DEI RESPONSABILI DI PRODUZIONE, AL FINE DI MIGLIORARE LA PRODUZIONE SULLA BASE DELLE ESIGENZE DELLA CLIENTEL | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1109/ISIT.2013.6620674 | Reconstructing A Graph From Path Traces | This paper considers the problem of inferring the structure of a network from indirect observations. Each observation (a “trace”) is the unordered set of nodes which are activated along a path through the network. Since a trace does not convey information about the order of nodes within the path, there are many feasible orders for each trace observed, and thus the problem of inferring the network from traces is, in general, ill-posed. We propose and analyze an algorithm which inserts edges by ordering each trace into a path according to which pairs of nodes in the path co-occur most frequently in the observations. When all traces involve exactly 3 nodes, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the reconstruction algorithm to exactly recover the graph. Finally, for a family of random graphs, we present expressions for reconstruction error probabilities (false discoveries and missed detections). | [
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W3216652879 | Les représentations sociales des fournisseuses de gamètes en Espagne : derrière le « don » d’ovocyte, un travail invisibilisé et dévalorisé ? | Cadre de la recherche : L’Espagne se classe au premier rang en Europe en matière de « don » d’ovules. Leur production et leur commercialisation constituent aujourd’hui l’un des marchés les plus lucratifs du système économique national. Objectifs : Comment les femmes cédant leurs ovules comprennent-elles ce « don » ? Dans une société où le « don » d’ovocytes est formalisé comme un acte bénévole et altruiste, comment les « donneuses » conçoivent-elles et considèrent-elles la rémunération qu’elles obtiennent pour cet acte ? Méthodologie : Cet article présente l’analyse d’entretiens approfondis menés avec 38 « donneuses » d’ovules, issues de différentes régions d’Espagne, participant actuellement ou ayant participé au processus de « don ». Entre 18 et 49 ans, elles occupent pour la plupart des emplois précaires, elles sont au chômage et/ou elles sont étudiantes non boursières. Résultats : Les « donneuses » d’ovules ne conçoivent pas leur contribution à l’industrie de la reproduction humaine comme un travail salarié. Conclusions : Même si ces femmes jouent un rôle prépondérant dans le processus de « don » d’ovules, leur contribution est bien souvent sous-estimée. Pourtant, leur implication est nécessaire à la concrétisation de projets familiaux de personnes souhaitant devenir parents. Elles contribuent également au bon fonctionnement de l’activité des cliniques d’assistance à la procréation et à l’approvisionnement des banques de gamètes. Contribution : Tout en présentant l’organisation sociale du « don » d’ovules en Espagne, cet article révèle la manière dont le travail reproductif effectué par les femmes produisant et cédant leurs ovocytes est invisibilisé et dévalorisé. De plus, il rend compte de la façon dont les « donneuses » d’ovules sont expropriées de leur matériel biologique, expropriation faiblement rémunérée et dont elles ne tirent qu’une faible part des bénéfices. Cette exploitation des femmes à travers le « mode biomédical de reproduction » et l’invisibilisation de leur travail est rendue possible grâce à l’anonymat des « dons », la coordination phénotypique, les modes de consentement, une compensation économique, et plus largement par une métaphore du « cadeau » et d’une idéologie de l’altruisme. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
10.1073/pnas.1506214112 | Discontinuity of cortical gradients reflects sensory impairment | Topographic maps and their continuity constitute a fundamental principle of brain organization. In the somatosensory system, wholebody sensory impairment may be reflected either in cortical signal reduction or disorganization of the somatotopic map, such as disturbed continuity. Here we investigated the role of continuity in pathological states. We studied whole-body cortical representations in response to continuous sensory stimulation under functional MRI (fMRI) in two unique patient populations-patients with cervical sensory Brown-Séquard syndrome (injury to one side of the spinal cord) and patients before and after surgical repair of cervical disk protrusion-enabling us to compare whole-body representations in the same study subjects. We quantified the spatial gradient of cortical activation and evaluated the divergence from a continuous pattern. Gradient continuity was found to be disturbed at the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and the supplementary motor area (SMA), in both patient populations: contralateral to the disturbed body side in the Brown-Séquard group and before repair in the surgical group, which was further improved after intervention. Results corresponding to the nondisturbed body side and after surgical repair were comparable with control subjects. No difference was found in the fMRI signal power between the different conditions in the two groups, as well as with respect to control subjects. These results suggest that decreased sensation in our patients is related to gradient discontinuity rather than signal reduction. Gradient continuity may be crucial for somatotopic and other topographical organization, and its disruption may characterize pathological processing. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1186/s12936-018-2437-8 | Low and heterogeneous prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in different settings in Ethiopia using phenotyping and genotyping approaches | Background: 8-Aminoquinolines such as primaquine clear mature Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes that are responsible for transmission from human to mosquitoes and bring radical cure in Plasmodium vivax by clearing dormant liver stages. Deployment of primaquine is thus of relevance for malaria elimination efforts but challenged by the widespread prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) in endemic countries since primaquine in G6PDd individuals may lead to acute haemolysis. In this study, the prevalence of G6PDd was investigated in different settings in Ethiopia using phenotyping and genotyping approaches. Methods: Community and school based cross-sectional surveys were conducted from October to December 2016 in four administrative regions (Gambela, Benishangul Gumuz, Oromia, and Amhara) in Ethiopia. Finger prick blood samples were collected for G6PD enzyme activity using the CareStart™ G6PD screening test and genotyping of 36 selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the G6PD gene and its flanking regions. Results: Overall, the prevalence of phenotypic G6PDd was 1. 4% (22/1609). For the first time in the Ethiopian population, the African variant (A-) was detected in 3. 5% (7/199) of the limited set of genotyped samples, which were all phenotypically normal. Interestingly, all of these individuals had a variation at the rs2515904 locus. Strong geographical variation was observed for both phenotypic and genotypic G6PDd; three-quarters of the phenotypically G6PDd individuals were detected in Gambela. Conclusion: A very low prevalence of G6PDd was detected in the present study populations. The presence of the A- variant alongside other G6PD mutants and the patchy distribution of G6PDd indicate that larger studies specifically designed to unravel the distribution of G6PDd at small geographical scale may be needed to tailor malaria elimination efforts in Ethiopia to the local context. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1021/acs.jpca.7b01107 | Multiphase Photochemistry of Pyruvic Acid under Atmospheric Conditions | Aerosol and molecular processing in the atmosphere occurs in a complex and variable environment consisting of multiple phases and interfacial regions. To explore the effects of such conditions on the reactivity of chemical systems, we employ an environmental simulation chamber to investigate the multiphase photolysis of pyruvic acid, which photoreacts in the troposphere in aqueous particles and in the gas phase. Upon irradiation of nebulized pyruvic acid, acetic acid and carbon dioxide are rapidly generated, which is consistent with previous literature on the bulk phase photolysis reactions. Additionally, we identify a new C6 product, zymonic acid, a species that has not previously been reported from pyruvic acid photolysis under any conditions. Its observation here, and corresponding spectroscopic signatures, indicates it could be formed by heterogeneous reactions at the droplet surface. Prior studies of the aqueous photolysis of pyruvic acid have shown that high-molecular-weight compounds are formed via radical reactions; however, they are inhibited by the presence of oxygen, leading to doubt as to whether the chemistry would occur in the atmosphere. Identification of dimethyltartaric acid from the photolysis of multiphase pyruvic acid in air confirms radical polymerization chemistry can compete with oxygen reactions to some extent under aerobic conditions. Evidence of additional polymerization within the particles during irradiation is suggested by the increasing viscosity and organic content of the particles. The implications of multiphase specific processes are then discussed within the broader scope of atmospheric science. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
interreg_3019 | Establishment of a platform and a Tunisian-Italian network for surveillance of emerging diseases transmitted by ticks and Culicidae (mosquitoes) | The project aims to strengthen and improve the control of diseases transmitted by zoonotic vectors (MTVZ) emerging due to bacteria transmitted by ticks or fleas, and viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. This monitoring system requires the creation of a cross-border network for the epidemiological surveillance, which, thanks to a database, will monitor the evolution of this type of MTVZ and will allow to activate health alarms fast. The development of a biotechnology platform will also provide early diagnosis of suspected cases in animals and humans. | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
10.1111/ejn.12645 | Stopping movements: When others slow us down | Previous research has shown that performing joint actions can lead to the representation of both one's own and others' actions. In the present study we explored the influence of co-representation on response stopping. Are joint actions more difficult to stop than solo actions? Using a variation of the stop-signal task, we found that participants needed more time to stop a planned joint action compared with a planned solo action (Experiment 1). This effect was not observed when participants performed the task in the presence of a passive observer (Experiment 2). A third transcranial magnetic stimulation experiment (Experiment 3) demonstrated that joint stopping recruited a more selective suppression mechanism than solo stopping. Taken together, these results suggest that participants used a global inhibition mechanism when acting alone; however, they recruited a more selective and slower suppression mechanism when acting with someone else. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1039/c9cc03903a | Tailoring patches on particles: a modified microcontact printing routine using polymer-functionalised stamps | We present a microcontact printing (μCP) routine suitable to transfer low molecular weight compounds as ink (LMWI) on silica microparticles. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
W2385449572 | On the Innovation Being the Impetus of Formation and Development of Socialism Theory with Chinese Characteristics | Since the reform and opening up,Our Party develops the Marx doctrine to a new stage in China.The party always adheres to the Marx doctrine the innovation spirit,and achieves the innovation Marx theory on the basis practice.The innovation fruit is the socialism theory with Chinese characteristics.It is composed Deng Xiaoping theory,the important thought of Three Represents and the scientific outlook on development and other major strategic ideologies the science theory system.Innovation is the impetus formation and development Deng Xiaoping theory,the important thought of Three Represents is the new achievement Party's theoretical innovation,scientific outlook on development is the party on the development the theoretical innovation the problem.Innovation is the theoretical system socialism with Chinese characteristics and the driving force behind the development.Socialism theory with Chinese characteristics will also have been taken in practice for innovation and development. | [
"Texts and Concepts",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
W2000596347 | Traffic Behaviors Simulation under Congestion Pricing Revenue Redistribution Strategy | On the basis of behavioral model under congestion pricing revenue redistribution, this paper proposes the general idea, process of the simulation and designs the essential simulation module of congestion pricing revenue redistribution based on the Multi-Agent technology and Starlogo. Traffic behaviors are simulated under the situation that congestion pricing revenue is used to raise the level of bus service and extend the road capacity. Also the simulation is compared with other two situations with and without congestion pricing. The results demonstrate that this method overcomes the localization of the traditional micro traffic flow simulation model, and the traffic flow of congesting section can be effectively reduced and distributed more optimal. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1007/s00723-018-1030-1 | Impurities of [1-<sup>13</sup>C]Pyruvic Acid and a Method to Minimize Their Signals for Hyperpolarized Pyruvate Metabolism Studies | Impurities are a necessary evil when working with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate for real-time metabolic studies. We show that the impurities’ spectrum persists throughout the detection window as these signals show a long T1. At the same time, the impurities’ spectrum is unpredictable and partly susceptible to minute pH changes in the microenvironment such that impurities’ signals may overlap with hyperpolarized metabolite signals. We show a method to eliminate the hyperpolarized impurities’ signals while maintaining sufficient hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate signal for metabolic studies. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W1509147166 | Delay-tolerant-networks design and prospect on fishery communication networks | In archipelagic countries, vast maritime monitoring is a though problem. Non proportional comparison of sea patrols number to vast area of the sea is the main reason. This paper will investigate Delay-Tolerant-Networks prospect as communication backbone for fishery based surveillance system. Every fishing ships are capable to send text based report messages to sea patrols or chat message to another fishing ships by utilizing Delay-Tolerant- Networks. In the first step, it will evaluate the performance of DTN design, covering routing algorithms and network models in various node density. In the next step, the DTN prospect is investigated by analyzing scalability aspect. The simulation is done in Kepulauan Riau Province by using the one simulator. The result shows that the best DTN design is achieved by Epidemic Routing with Wimax network model. Its performance successfully deliver 91.22 % of the messages within 48 hour in average. This performance is sufficient for maritime application due to the slow speed of fishing ships and wide area of the sea. This fishery communication network can be scalable into larger area by utilizing DTN’s convergence layer concept. By using secondary network which is installed in each region, DTN performance increase 30.94 % compare to single network interface solution. All in all, DTN's store & forward method and convergence layer concept are suitable for maritime conditions, especially for fishery communication network. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1016/j.aca.2018.04.071 | Controlled Pore Glass-based oligonucleotide affinity support: towards High Throughput Screening methods for the identification of conformation-selective G-quadruplex ligands | Target selectivity is one of the main challenges in the search for small molecules able to act as effective and non-toxic anticancer and/or antiviral drugs. To achieve this goal, handy, rapid and reliable High Throughput Screening methodologies are needed. We here describe a novel functionalization for the solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides on Controlled Pore Glass, including a flexible hexaethylene glycol spacer linking the first nucleoside through the nucleobase via a covalent bond stable to the final deprotection step. This allowed us preparing fully deprotected oligonucleotides still covalently attached to their supports. In detail, on this support we performed both the on-line synthesis of different secondary structure-forming oligonucleotides and the affinity chromatography-based screenings of conformation-selective G-quadruplex ligands. By using a fluorescent core-extended naphthalene diimide with different emitting response upon binding to sequences folding into G-quadruplexes of different topologies, we have been able to discriminate not only G-quadruplex vs. duplex DNA structures, but also different G-quadruplex conformations on the glass beads by confocal microscopy. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
W2046782782 | Ferroelectric domain structure of the BiFeO3 film grown on different substrates | Abstract Domain structure of BiFeO 3 (BFO) films grown on different substrates, with a conductive La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 underlayer, has been experimentally studied. Two oppositely orientated polarizations, along the long body diagonal to the perovskite unit cell of BFO, are detected in the BFO films on the (0 0 1)-oriented NdGaO 3 . Electric pulses applied in the [0 0 1] direction produce a polarization switching, resulting in the domain structure characterized by the 109° domain walls. Contrary to the BFO films on NdGaO 3 , the BFO films on SrTiO 3 (0 0 1) exhibit a much complex domain structure. Both 71° and 109° domain walls are possible with a uniform polarization component pointing to the bottom electrode. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
W2885614850 | Chiral Inductions in Excited State Reactions: Photodimerization of Alkyl 2-Naphthoates as a Model | Enantioselectivity in organic transformations continues to be a topic major interest in organic photochemistry. In the last decade, synergistic combination of photocatalysis and organocatalysis has emerged as a powerful strategy to gain enantioselectivity in photochemical reactions, and remarkable achievements have been obtained. In this strategy, the asymmetric induction is provided in ground state. In contrast, in the conventional enantioselective photochemistry, the chiral induction is controlled in electronic excited state, and to achieve high stereoselectivity is still a formidable challenge. Because the reactions of excited states often yield strained products with unique structures in single step that are difficult to form by thermal reactions, the development of new strategies attempted to achieve enantioselectivity in excited state reactions is still highly desired. Since the short excited state lifetime and low activation energy for reaction in excited state leave little room for manipulating the chiral induction, in order to gain enantioselectivity the substrate molecule has to already reside in a chiral environment during the excitation step. Chiral auxiliaries and chiral supramolecular hosts can provide such environments. In this presentation, we summarize the studies employing chiral auxiliary and chiral microreactor approaches to achieve high asymmetric inductions in excited state reactions performed in our laboratory. We chose the photodimerization of alkyl 2-naphthoates as a reaction model to give deeper insights into the basic factors controlling chiral induction in excited state. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1016/j.foreco.2014.01.028 | The fate of populations of Euterpe oleracea harvested for palm heart in Colombia | Palm heart is an important non-timber forest product obtained from various palm species in tropical forests. We studied the effect of four decades of palm heart extraction from the clonal palm Euterpe oleracea at the southern Pacific coast of Colombia. We monitored populations that had been subject to a range of harvest intensities and used measured vital rates (survival, growth, sexual and clonal reproduction) to construct population matrix models. We then used these models to simulate several harvest scenarios and to project the population dynamics for the next 50. years. Our projections suggest that the currently implemented intensive harvest regimes - which involve up to four harvests per year - result in dramatic demographic changes, primarily affecting seedlings and adults. In addition, current harvest regimes affect the future supply of palm heart, which is projected to drop sharply during the first years following harvest and fails to recover unless a number of stems are spared. Our simulations indicate that the most sustainable scenarios involve annual harvest between 50% and 75% of all harvestable stems, without any removal of small shoots from the clumps. Implementation of this regime must be accompanied by other management practices, including planning harvestable areas, marking the stems to be cut during subsequent harvests, assigning harvesters to specific areas, and leaving harvest residues as mulch around clumps. The degradation of populations of E oleracea directly affects livelihoods of local people, by reducing cash income from palm heart sales and by reducing availability of palm fruits, a locally important food resource. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
10.1177/0309132516664800 | Digital Turn Digital Geographies | Geography is in the midst of a digital turn. This turn is reflected in both geographic scholarship and praxis across sub-disciplines. We advance a threefold categorization of the intensifying relationship between geography and the digital, documenting geographies produced through, produced by, and of the digital. Instead of promoting a single theoretical framework for making sense of the digital or proclaiming the advent of a separate field of ‘digital geography’, we conclude by suggesting conceptual, methodological and empirical questions and possible paths forward for the ‘digital turn’ across geography’s many sub-disciplines. | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
758636 | Country of Words: Reading and Reception of Palestinian Literature from 1948 to the Present | This project proposes a deep and thorough study of Palestinian literature as an early and on-going case of literary displacement. It aims to find new ways to account for and analyse texts, literary production and reading publics that challenge and lie outside conventional conceptions of the nation-state. The proposed methodology will take a novel approach in merging textual analysis with reception theory and reading practices. The project is ambitious in seeking to be the first instance to explore its application on the scale of an entire ‘literature-of-a-nation’. By doing so, the project aims to introduce methodological innovations that can expand horizons beyond textual and national analyses towards interdisciplinary models that contend with the multi-faceted and unconventional dimensions of the Palestinian case, and generate a richer and more nuanced history of its literature.
The proposed project will explore, for the first time under one analytic roof, all the geographic fragments of Palestinian literature together, traditionally studied separately, or limited to certain authors or time periods. The project’s novelty also lies in broadening the horizons of literary analysis towards an interdisciplinary and transmedial approach that embeds literary production into a wider cultural web of intersecting media and genres. A creative approach will be developed to overcome the hurdles of working, in the Palestinian case, with few scholarly precedents, and scattered, lost or damaged primary and secondary sources. The project’s four work packages will trace connections and disconnections and transformations of publics and reading practices across dispersed Palestinian literary communities of writers and readers over time. The focus will be on identifying, tracing and elaborating key and/or turning point moments across the various localities of the Palestinian literary sphere. An online platform will visual, digitalize and make accessible the project’s outputs. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Texts and Concepts"
]
|
AU 2018/202204 A | SOIL TREATMENT COMPOSITION | A synergistic composition, method and kit for controlling, suppressing or preventing plant pathogens in soil is provided. The composition comprises (A) Tagetes (Marigold) essential oil, 5 (B) A/ium sativum (garlic) essential oil, (C) Brassica (mustard) essential oil, and (D) Capsicum (chilli) essential oil, in which thevolume ratioof (A):(B):(C):(D) isfrom 1:1:60:1 to 10:10:80:20. Meloidogyne larvae per 1000 ml soil 14cPr U, z T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 Figure 5 | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
Q4773731 | SMARTWORKING_2020 - INCENTIVI PER L'ATTUAZIONE DI PIANI AZIENDALI DI SMART WORKING | IN OTTEMPERANZA AL DPCM 8 MARZO 2020 E AL DPCM 11 MARZO 2020, L AZIENDA DOC ARCHIVIAZIONE DOCUMENTALE HA ATTIVATO LA MODALIT DI LAVORO AGILE (SMART WORKING) PER I SUOI DIPENDENTI. L ESERCIZIO DEL PROPRIO LAVORO DA REMOTO E IN MODALIT CONDIVISA FRA I DIVERSI DIPENDENTI RENDE NECESSARIA LA PRESENZA DI STRUMENTI DIGITALI E TECNOLOGICI IN GRADO DI GARANTIRE AI N. 5 LAVORATORI LA MASSIMA PRODUTTIVIT INDIVIDUALE E L OTTEMPERANZA AI PROGETTI AZIENDALI. L INVESTIMENTO IN BENI STRUMENTALI MATERIALI RISPONDE ALLE NECESSIT SOPRADESCRITTE E RIGUARDA NELLA FATTISPECIE I SEGUENTI COMPONENTI HARDWARE: N. 1 WORK STATION PROFESSIONALE (PER CONSENTIRE UN MIGLIORE SVOLGIMENTO DELLE ATTIVIT IN MODALIT SMART-WORKING) N. 1 PC ALL IN ONE IMAC 4K (WORK STATION PER GRAFICA PROFESSIONALE PER CONSENTIRE LO SVOLGIMENTO DELLE ATTIVIT DI GRAFICA IN MODALIT SMART-WORKING). N. 1 HDD ELEMENTS DESKTOP (DISCO FISSO ESTERNO PER IL BACKUP DEI DATI)N. 2 SSD SSD EXTREME PORTABLE (DISCO INTERNO A STATO | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1037/xhp0000174 | A familiarity disadvantage for remembering specific images of faces | Familiar faces are remembered better than unfamiliar faces. Furthermore, it is much easier to match images of familiar than unfamiliar faces. These findings could be accounted for by quantitative differences in the ease with which faces are encoded. However, it has been argued that there are also some qualitative differences in familiar and unfamiliar face processing. Unfamiliar faces are held to rely on superficial, pictorial representations, whereas familiar faces invoke more abstract representations. Here we present 2 studies that show, for 1 task, an advantage for unfamiliar faces. In recognition memory, viewers are better able to reject a new picture, if it depicts an unfamiliar face. This rare advantage for unfamiliar faces supports the notion that familiarity brings about some representational changes, and further emphasizes the idea that theoretical accounts of face processing should incorporate familiarity. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
865463 | Cultural diversity in the Middle Nile Valley. Reconstructing biographies in the periphery of urban centres in northern Sudan during the Bronze Age | One of the biggest scientific challenges for archaeology is to move away from established concepts of cultural categories such as static views of culture, which are not suitable to describe realities of ancient lives. Significant work on the complex encounters between Egyptian and Nubian groups in the Middle Nile was conducted by recent projects including my ERC-2012-StG AcrossBorders. They introduced the modern approach of ‘cultural entanglement’ to the main urban sites, but left the peripheries unaddressed.
Based on recent successful results, it is now timely to investigate the actual cultural diversity of Middle Nile groups focusing on the periphery of the main centres. The project will explore a crucial part of northern Sudan as a case study to reconstruct Bronze Age biographies (c 1650–1200 BCE) beyond the present categories ‘Egyptian’ and ‘Nubian’.
The main hypothesis is that cultural diversity becomes archaeologically more visible in the peripheral zones of the central sites. We need to investigate the regional cultural relations within the peripheries in order to catch a more direct cultural footprint than in state built urban centres.
Based on the PI’s excellent knowledge of Bronze Age settlements and material culture in the Nile Valley, she will test with new excavations in a cultural borderscape whether it is feasible to disentangle sites from previous classifications. By applying the new concept of ‘Biography of the landscape’ in conjunction with the ‘contact space’ model, she intends to investigate whether degrees of diversity relate to the peripheral location of sites, which may also be influenced by the geographical topography.
Beyond the impact for archaeology, the project’s innovative theoretical approach together with a large set of interdisciplinary methods such as neutron activation and isotope analysis offers a long-overdue input to general questions of border studies, which are also essential to understand the role and function of main centers. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
]
|
W2064926487 | A Prospective Study of Ideal Cardiovascular Health and Depressive Symptoms | Ideal cardiovascular health is a new construct defined by the American Heart Association as part of its 2020 Impact Goal.The purpose of this study was to examine whether the simultaneous presence of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors could reduce the odds of developing depressive symptoms.Participants from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, who did not have any mental disorder/condition at baseline, were examined between 1987 and 1998, and they were followed up for a mean period of 6.1 years. Ideal cardiovascular health behaviors (never smoking, body mass index <25kg/m(2), physical activity at goal, and appropriate diet consistent with guideline recommendations) and factors (total cholesterol <200mg/dL, blood pressure <120/80mm Hg, and fasting blood glucose <100mg/dL) were measured at baseline. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in 1990, 1995, or 1999.Of the 5110 participants, 641 reported depressive symptoms. Participants meeting 3-4 or 5-7 ideal cardiovascular health components had 28% (odds ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.59-0.87) and 36% (odds ratio = 0.64; confidence interval 0.50-0.82) decreased odds of depressive symptoms, respectively, when compared with those meeting 0-2 ideal components. Ideal behaviors were associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms in participants meeting 2 or 3-4 ideal behaviors, compared with those meeting 0-1 (odds ratio = 0.81; confidence interval 0.67-0.98 and odds ratio = 0.72; confidence interval 0.57-0.91). Ideal factors were not associated with depressive symptoms.Ideal cardiovascular health components, especially health behaviors, present an inverse relationship with depressive symptoms. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
W2002947030 | VIOLENCE, BACKPACKERS, SECURITY AND CRITICAL REALISM | Abstract This article provides a critical realist perspective on the juncture between tourism and crime in a city in Far Northern Queensland, Australia. The results of empirical studies into alcohol-related assault and sexual assault are presented and a micro-level study of the responses of the public safety community to assaults involving backpacker tourists in Cairns is reported. Backpacker motivations and values, the hidden sensitivities of tourism stakeholders to the projection of negative destination images, and the turn to a crime prevention framework are found as enduring tendencies in the data. Retroduction is applied to derive underlying mechanisms that offer an explanation of the public safety network responses in Cairns to assaults involving backpacker tourists. The mechanisms are ‘un-reconciled tensions’, ‘acquiescence of transgression’, and ‘collusion of denial’. We summarize our realist explanations and consider their implications for other backpacker contexts. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space"
]
|
US 2014/0025923 W | METHODS OF INCREASING RESISTANCE OF CROP PLANTS TO HEAT STRESS AND SELECTING CROP PLANTS WITH INCREASED RESISTANCE TO HEAT STRESS | Methods of increasing the resistance of a crop plant to heat stress and in particular methods of improving the grain yield and quality of crop plants grown under heat stress in the form of increased minimal temperatares are provided. The methods include selecting plants with increased expression of HYR and growing these plants in regions expected to experience minimal temperatures above 25°C during the growing season. Methods of screening plants for increased resistance to heat stress and methods of producing grain in regions having minimal temperatures of 25°C or more are also provided. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
]
|
10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L40 | Constraints On Photoionization Feedback From Number Counts Of Ultra Faint High Redshift Galaxies In The Frontier Fields | We exploit a sample of ultra-faint high-redshift galaxies ( demagnified HST H160 magnitude > 30) in the Frontier Fields clusters A2744 and M0416 to constrain a theoretical model for the UV luminosity function (LF) in the presence of photoionization feedback. The objects have been selected on the basis of accurate photometric redshifts computed from multi-band photometry including 7 HST bands and deep Ks and IRAC observations. Magnification is computed on an object-by-ob ject basis from all available lensing models of the two clusters. We take into account source detection completeness as a function of luminosity and size, magnification e ffects and systematics in the lens modeling of the clusters under investigation. We find that our sample of high-z galaxies constrain the cut-off halo circular velocity below which star-formation is suppressed by photo-ionization feedback to v cut < 50 km s −1 . This circular velocity corresponds to a halo mass of ≈ 5. 6×10 9 M⊙ and≈ 2. 3×10 9 M⊙ at z = 5 and 10 respectively: higher mass halos can thus sustain continuous star formation activity without being quenched by external ionizing flux. More stringent constraints are prevented by the uncertainty in the modeling of the cluster lens, as embodied by systematic differences among the lens models available. Subject headings:dark ages, reionization, first stars — galaxies: high-redsh ift | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
Q2688726 | Intensification of export activity of the company Spółdzielnia Invalidów “METAL” on foreign markets in order to promote the brand of the Polish Economy. | SA 42799(2015/X) The object of the project is the participation of the Invalidity Cooperative “METAL” in the Programme for the promotion of the machinery and equipment industry. As a result of its participation in the Programme, the company will significantly increase its export activity on selected foreign markets: the US (non-EU forward market), German and Scandinavian (in particular Finland and Sweden) through the promotion of the SI “METAL” product brand. According to the Programme, in the period 01.06.2020-31.12.2022: 1) Participation in international fairs as an exhibitor: — Hannover MESSE, Hannover 2020, – INNOTRANS, Berlin 2020, – HANNOVER MESSE, Hannover 2021, – EASTEC, USA 2021. — Subcontracting, Poznań 2021, – SUBCONTRACTING Alihankinta, Finland 2021, – ELMIA SUBCONTRACTING, Sweden 2021, – Bautec, Berlin 2022, – BAUMA, Munich 2022. 2) Additional promotional activities. The object of the promotion will be the range of products – finished metal products. The scope of the company’s activities is in line with the Programme for the Promotion of Machines and Devices, and the implementation of the project will have a positive impact on the promotion of the product brand of the Polish economy. Through planned projects, the Applicant will have the opportunity to expand his export activity and gain new foreign markets by attracting a wide group of customers interested in the company’s products. Participation in the Programme will enable effective promotion of the SI “METAL” brand and will contribute to building a positive image of the Polish industrial industry on the international stage. The company has a stable financial situation, allowing for smooth implementation of the tasks planned in the project. Pending reimbursement and/or advance payment from EU funds, the project will be financed from the company’s own resources. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
850405 | Dissecting the chromatin response to DNA damage in silenced heterochromatin regions | Cells are continuously exposed to insults that can break or chemically modify their DNA. To protect the DNA, cells have acquired an arsenal of repair mechanisms. Proper repair of DNA damage is essential for organismal viability and disease prevention. What is often overlooked is the fact that the eukaryotic nucleus contains many different chromatin domains that can each influence the dynamic response to DNA damage. Different chromatin environments are defined by specific molecular and biophysical properties, which could necessitate distinct chromatin responses to ensure safe DNA damage repair.
The aim of this proposal is to understand how diverse chromatin domains, and in particular the dense heterochromatin environment, shape the dynamic chromatin response to DNA damage.
I recently developed locus-specific DNA damage systems that allow for in-depth analysis of chromatin domain-specific repair responses in Drosophila tissue. I will employ these systems and develop new ones to directly observe heterochromatin-specific dynamics and repair responses. I will combine these systems and state-of-the art chromatin analysis with high-resolution live imaging to dissect the DNA damage-associated heterochromatin changes to determine their function in repair -kinetics, -dynamics and -pathway choice.
Deciphering the chromatin dynamics that regulate DNA damage repair in heterochromatin will have broad conceptual implications for understanding the role of these dynamics in other essential nuclear processes, such as replication and transcription. More importantly, understanding how chromatin proteins promote repair will be important in determining how cancer-associated mutations in these chromatin proteins impact genetic instability in tumours in the long run. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1128/AEM.05531-11 | Development Of Phoh As A Novel Signature Gene For Assessing Marine Phage Diversity | Phages play a key role in the marine environment by regulating the transfer of energy between trophic levels and influencing global carbon and nutrient cycles. The diversity of marine phage communities remains difficult to characterize because of the lack of a signature gene common to all phages. Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of host-derived auxiliary metabolic genes in phage genomes, such as those belonging to the Pho regulon, which regulates phosphate uptake and metabolism under low-phosphate conditions. Among the completely sequenced phage genomes in GenBank, this study identified Pho regulon genes in nearly 40% of the marine phage genomes, while only 4% of nonmarine phage genomes contained these genes. While several Pho regulon genes were identified, phoH was the most prevalent, appearing in 42 out of 602 completely sequenced phage genomes. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that phage phoH sequences formed a cluster distinct from those of their bacterial hosts. PCR primers designed to amplify a region of the phoH gene were used to determine the diversity of phage phoH sequences throughout a depth profile in the Sargasso Sea and at six locations worldwide. phoH was present at all sites examined, and a high diversity of phoH sequences was recovered. Most phoH sequences belonged to clusters without any cultured representatives. Each depth and geographic location had a distinct phoH composition, although most phoH clusters were recovered from multiple sites. Overall, phoH is an effective signature gene for examining phage diversity in the marine environment. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1073/pnas.1607497113 | Transcriptome, genetic editing, and microRNA divergence substantiate sympatric speciation of blind mole rat, Spalax | Incipient sympatric speciation in blind mole rat, Spalax galili, in Israel, caused by sharp ecological divergence of abutting chalk-basalt ecologies, has been proposed previously based on mitochondrial and whole-genome nuclear DNA. Here, we present new evidence, including transcriptome, DNA editing, microRNA, and codon usage, substantiating earlier evidence for adaptive divergence in the abutting chalk and basalt populations. Genetic divergence, based on the previous and new evidence, is ongoing despite restricted gene flow between the two populations. The principal component analysis, neighbor-joining tree, and genetic structure analysis of the transcriptome clearly show the clustered divergent two mole rat populations. Gene-expression level analysis indicates that the population transcriptome divergence is displayed not only by soil divergence but also by sex. Gene ontology enrichment of the differentially expressed genes from the two abutting soil populations highlights reproductive isolation. Alternative splicing variation of the two abutting soil populations displays two distinct splicing patterns. L-shaped FST distribution indicates that the two populations have undergone divergence with gene flow. Transcriptome divergent genes highlight neurogenetics and nutrition characterizing the chalk population, and energetics, metabolism, musculature, and sensory perception characterizing the abutting basalt population. Remarkably, microRNAs also display divergence between the two populations. The GC content is significantly higher in chalk than in basalt, and stress-response genes mostly prefer nonoptimal codons. The multiple lines of evidence of ecological-genomic and genetic divergence highlight that natural selection overrules the gene flow between the two abutting populations, substantiating the sharp ecological chalk-basalt divergence driving sympatric speciation. | [
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1080/17441692.2016.1187191 | Relationships Between Poverty And Aids Illness In South Africa An Investigation Of Urban And Rural Households In Kwazulu Natal | ABSTRACTThe association between poverty and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa remains contested. A better understanding of the relationship between the prevalence of poverty and the disease is essential for addressing prevention, treatment, and care. The present study interrogates this relationship, using a cross-sectional survey of 2477 households in urban and rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Structural equation modelling was employed to estimate the correlations between poverty and AIDS illness. The analysis revealed a correlation of rpb = 0. 23, denoting that a higher level of household poverty was associated with a higher likelihood of being AIDS-unwell. Post hoc t-test showed that receipt of a disability grant by AIDS-affected households was associated with significantly lower poverty, compared to AIDS-affected households not receiving the grant, t(654) = 3. 67, p < . 01. Geographic location was found to confound the correlation: the strength of the relationship between poverty and AIDS was decreased to . . . | [
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
]
|
interreg_159 | Action to limit the risk of spread of Invasive Introduced species in the Mediterranean | The issue of invasive alien species is emerging and still poorly circumscribed, although it is acknowledged to be the second leading cause of biodiversity loss. These species know no borders, and current ways of life increase the risk of their introduction. Some pose a threat to the economy and health. Their propagation threatens Mediterranean biodiversity hotspots, sensitive areas and some Natura 2000 sites close to the entry areas (ports, airports, etc.). To respond to this evolving phenomenon, given the problematic context of climate change, we only have limited means that are not entirely environmentally friendly. There is no formalised collaboration tool in the cross-border area, be it the reporting of potential threats or the exchange of information for prevention and control purposes. This project aims to respond to this situation by devising and implementing essential cooperation tools to guarantee that knowledge, experimentation and management initiatives will be adequate. The project proposes a type of governance that involves the local institutional partners. Their decisions will be based on the organisation of a cross-border fauna and flora monitoring centre and the interaction of decision-makers and scientists. This tool will be set up as a web platform with a dedicated communication plan open to the participation of the population at large and their scientific contributions. The cross-border cluster and the tools thus developed are guaranteed by an inter-institutional collaboration agreement signed before the start of the project. This agreement establishes the framework of the common elements at stake, ensures the consistency of the actions and allows feedback on the five regional areas. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
338478 | Authoritarianism2.0: The Internet, Political Discussion, and Authoritarian Rule in China | I suggest that perceptions of diversity and disagreement voiced in the on-line political discussion may play a key role in mobilizing citizens to voice their views and take action in authoritarian regimes. The empirical focus is the Chinese Internet. Subjective perceptions of group discussion among participants can significantly differ from the objective content of the discussion. These perceptions can have an independent effect on political engagement. Novel is also that I will study which technological settings (blogs, Weibo (Twitter), public hearings, etc) facilitate these perceptions.
I will address these novel issues by specifying the conditions and causal mechanisms that facilitate the rise of online public opinion. As an expansion to prior work, I will study passive in addition to active participants in online discussion. This is of particular interest because passive participants outnumber active participants.
My overall aim is to deepen our knowledge of how participants experience online political discussion in stabilizing or destabilizing authoritarian rule. To this end, I propose to work with one post-doc and two PhD research assistants on four objectives: Objective 1 is to explore what kinds of people engage in online discussions and differences between active and passive participants. Objective 2 is to understand how the technological settings that create the conditions for online discussion differ from each other. Objective 3 is to assess how active and passive participants see the diversity and disagreement in the discussion in these settings. Objective 4 is to assess whether citizens take action upon online political discussion depending on how they see it.
I will produce the first nationally representative survey on the experiences of participants in online political discussion in China. In addition to academics, this knowledge is of interest to policy-makers, professionals, and journalists aiming to understand authoritarian politics and media | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
10.1016/j.cma.2019.06.024 | Linear stability analysis of strongly coupled fluid–structure problems with the Arbitrary-Lagrangian–Eulerian method | The stability analysis of elastic structures strongly coupled to incompressible viscous flows is investigated in this paper, based on a linearization of the governing equations formulated with the Arbitrary-Lagrangian–Eulerian method. The exact linearized formulation, previously derived to solve the unsteady non-linear equations with implicit temporal schemes, is used here to determine the physical linear stability of steady states. Once discretized with a standard finite-element method based on Lagrange elements, the leading eigenvalues/eigenmodes of the linearized operator are computed for three configurations representative for classical fluid–structure interaction instabilities: the vortex-induced vibrations of an elastic plate clamped to the rear of a rigid cylinder, the flutter instability of a flag immersed in a channel flow and the vortex shedding behind a three-dimensional plate bent by the steady flow. The results are in good agreement with instability thresholds reported in the literature and obtained with time-marching simulations, at a much lower computational cost. To further decrease this computational cost, the equations governing the solid perturbations are projected onto a reduced basis of free-vibration modes. This projection allows to eliminate the extension perturbation, a non-physical variable introduced in the ALE formalism to propagate the infinitesimal displacement of the fluid–solid interface into the fluid domain. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1109/TSE.2010.98 | Automated Abstractions For Contract Validation | Pre/postcondition-based specifications are commonplace in a variety of software engineering activities that range from requirements through to design and implementation. The fragmented nature of these specifications can hinder validation as it is difficult to understand if the specifications for the various operations fit together well. In this paper, we propose a novel technique for automatically constructing abstractions in the form of behavior models from pre/postcondition-based specifications. Abstraction techniques have been used successfully for addressing the complexity of formal artifacts in software engineering; however, the focus has been, up to now, on abstractions for verification. Our aim is abstraction for validation and hence, different and novel trade-offs between precision and tractability are required. More specifically, in this paper, we define and study enabledness-preserving abstractions, that is, models in which concrete states are grouped according to the set of operations that they enable. The abstraction results in a finite model that is intuitive to validate and which facilitates tracing back to the specification for debugging. The paper also reports on the application of the approach to two industrial strength protocol specifications in which concerns were identified. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W1974145086 | Redox processes in the safety case of deep geological repositories of radioactive wastes. Contribution of the European RECOSY Collaborative Project | Redox processes influence key geochemical characteristics controlling radionuclide behaviour in the near and far field of a nuclear waste repository. A sound understanding of redox related processes is therefore of high importance for developing a Safety Case, the collection of scientific, technical, administrative and managerial arguments and evidence in support of the safety of a disposal facility. This manuscript presents the contribution of the specific research on redox processes achieved within the EURATOM Collaborative Project RECOSY (REdox phenomena COntrolling SYstems) to the Safety Case of nuclear waste disposal facilities. Main objectives of RECOSY were related to the improved understanding of redox phenomena controlling the long-term release or retention of radionuclides in nuclear waste disposal and providing tools to apply the results to Performance Assessment and the Safety Case. The research developed during the project covered aspects of the near-field and the far-field aspects of the repository, including studies relevant for the rock formations considered in Europe as suitable for hosting an underground repository for radioactive wastes. It is the intention of this paper to highlight in which way the results obtained from RECOSY can feed the scientific process understanding needed for the stepwise development of the Safety Case associated with deep geological disposal of radioactive wastes. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1016/j.molcel.2018.11.036 | Efficient Pre-mRNA Cleavage Prevents Replication-Stress-Associated Genome Instability | Cellular mechanisms that safeguard genome integrity are often subverted in cancer. To identify cancer-related genome caretakers, we employed a convergent multi-screening strategy coupled to quantitative image-based cytometry and ranked candidate genes according to multivariate readouts reflecting viability, proliferative capacity, replisome integrity, and DNA damage signaling. This unveiled regulators of replication stress resilience, including components of the pre-mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation complex. We show that deregulation of pre-mRNA cleavage impairs replication fork speed and leads to excessive origin activity, rendering cells highly dependent on ATR function. While excessive formation of RNA:DNA hybrids under these conditions was tightly associated with replication-stress-induced DNA damage, inhibition of transcription rescued fork speed, origin activation, and alleviated replication catastrophe. Uncoupling of pre-mRNA cleavage from co-transcriptional processing and export also protected cells from replication-stress-associated DNA damage, suggesting that pre-mRNA cleavage provides a mechanism to efficiently release nascent transcripts and thereby prevent gene gating-associated genomic instability. Replication stress is a hallmark of many cancers. Teloni et al. identify the pre-mRNA cleavage factor WDR33 as regulator of replication stress resilience and demonstrate that, when WDR33 function is impaired, unreleased nascent transcripts and genomic loci re-localize toward the nuclear periphery, where they cause replication stress and DNA damage. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1093/ajh/hpx114 | Office and Home Blood Pressures as Determinants of Electrocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy among Black Nigerians Compared with White Flemish | BACKGROUND The association of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) with blood pressure (BP) in Blacks living in sub-Saharan Africa remains poorly documented. METHODS In 225 Black Nigerians and 729 White Flemish, we analyzed QRS voltages and voltage-duration products and 12 criteria diagnostic of ECGLVH in relation to office BP (mean of 5 consecutive readings) and home BP (duplicate morning and evening readings averaged over 1 week). RESULTS In multivariable analyses, QRS voltage and voltage-duration indexes were generally higher in Blacks than Whites. By using any of 12 criteria, ECGLVH was more prevalent among Black than White men (54. 4% vs. 36. 0%) with no ethnic difference among women (17. 1%). Precordial voltages and voltage-duration products increased with office and home systolic BP (SBP), and increases were up to 3-fold steeper in Blacks. In Blacks vs. Whites, increases in the Sokolow-Lyon voltage associated with a 10-mm Hg higher SBP were 0. 18 mV (95% confidence interval [CI], 0. 09-0. 26) vs. 0. 06 mV (0. 02-0. 09) and 0. 17 mV (0. 07-0. 28) vs. 0. 11 mV (CI, 0. 07-0. 15) for office and home BP, respectively, with a significant ethnic gradient (P < 0. 05). The risk of ECG-LVH increased more with office and home BP in Blacks than Whites. CONCLUSIONS Associations of ECG voltages and voltage-duration products and risk of ECG-LVH with BP are steeper in Black Nigerians compared with a White reference population. In resource-poor settings of sub-Saharan Africa, the ECG in combination with office and home BP is an essential instrument in risk stratification across the entire BP range. | [
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1063/1.5055622 | High Efficiency Shallow Etched Grating On Gaas Membranes For Quantum Photonic Applications | We have designed and fabricated a shallow-etched grating on gallium arsenide nanomembranes for efficient chip-to-fiber coupling in quantum photonic integrated circuits. Experimental results show that the grating provides a fiber-coupling efficiency of >60%, a greatly suppressed back reflection of 43 nm. Highly efficient single-photon collection from embedded indium arsenide quantum dots to an optical fiber was realized with the designed grating, showing an average six-fold increase in the photon count compared to commonly used circular gratings, offering an efficient interface for on-chip quantum information processing. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
]
|
10.1016/j.dnarep.2009.02.004 | UV-DDB-dependent regulation of nucleotide excision repair kinetics in living cells | Although the basic principle of nucleotide excision repair (NER), which can eliminate various DNA lesions, have been dissected at the genetic, biochemical and cellular levels, the important in vivo regulation of the critical damage recognition step is poorly understood. Here we analyze the in vivo dynamics of the essential NER damage recognition factor XPC fused to the green fluorescence protein (GFP). Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis revealed that the UV-induced transient immobilization of XPC, reflecting its actual engagement in NER, is regulated in a biphasic manner depending on the number of (6-4) photoproducts and titrated by the number of functional UV-DDB molecules. A similar biphasic UV-induced immobilization of TFIIH was observed using XPB-GFP. Surprisingly, subsequent integration of XPA into the NER complex appears to follow only the low UV dose immobilization of XPC. Our results indicate that when only a small number of (6-4) photoproducts are generated, the UV-DDB-dependent damage recognition pathway predominates over direct recognition by XPC, and they also suggest the presence of rate-limiting regulatory steps in NER prior to the assembly of XPA. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
10.1111/nph.16039 | Massive postglacial gene flow between European white oaks uncovered genes underlying species barriers | Oaks are dominant forest tree species widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, where they constitute natural resources of economic, ecological, social and historical value. Hybridisation and adaptive introgression have long been thought to be major drivers of their ecological success. Therefore, the maintenance of species barriers remains a key question, given the extent of interspecific gene flow. In this study, we made use of the tremendous genetic variation among four European white oak species (31 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) to infer the evolutionary history of these species, study patterns of genetic differentiation and identify reproductive barriers. We first analysed the ecological and historical relationships among these species and inferred a long-term strict isolation followed by a recent and extensive postglacial contact using approximate Bayesian computation. Assuming this demographic scenario, we then performed backward simulations to generate the expected distributions of differentiation under neutrality to scan their genomes for reproductive barriers. We finally identified important intrinsic and ecological functions driving the reproductive isolation. We discussed the importance of identifying the genetic basis for the ecological preferences between these oak species and its implications for the renewal of European forests under global warming. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
DE 19931983 A | Bobbin conveyor with vertical and horizontal runs includes turning section with conveyor stabilizing roller to resist transverse forces | A conveyor (24) has a transverse diverting section (38) in the guide slot (36) for the bobbin carriers (32) so that the bobbins (18,18') are clear of each other as they rotate from the vertical to the horizontal section. To resist the transverse forces (F) a passive stabilizing device, e.g. a roller (56) with a high friction surface, is provided. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1017/CHO9781139017831.010 | Becoming Human Archaeology Of The Sub Saharan Middle Stone Age | Introduction The Sub-Saharan Middle Stone Age (MSA) is the place and time where humans evolved into anatomically, genetically and behaviourally modern beings. Whether this was a unique evolutionary trajectory is being debated, but it is now widely accepted as being true for the particular period and region under discussion. It is in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that we increasingly find that multidisciplinary data gained from palaeoanthropology, genetic studies and archaeology converge, hence closing the gap between the evolution of behavioural complexity and the anatomical and genetic origins of our species, estimated at ~100–200 ka (kiloannum, a unit of time equal to one thousand years). Separate chapters in this work discuss the fossil and gene records. It is, however, only through archaeology that we gain glimpses into the cognitive, behavioural and cultural evolution of our species, and this is the theme of our chapter. SSA is here understood as most of the African landmass south of 15° N (Map 1. 8. 1). Between the 1860s and 1920s, the Stone Age archaeology of the region was recorded mostly by amateur collectors, simply comparing the range of found artifacts with those recovered in Europe. European terms such as “Palaeolithic” and “Neolithic” were applied, reflecting the assumption that the stone tools of the region had the same cultural origins as their European counterparts (Breuil 1930; Burkitt 1928). By the late 1920s, it became clear that the SSA archaeological record could not be accommodated within the European model. A separate scheme, comprising the Earlier Stone Age (ESA), MSA and Later Stone Age (LSA), was devised to emphasise its distinctiveness from the European Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. This scheme was originally implemented based on characteristics of stone-tool assemblages from South Africa (Goodwin & van Riet Lowe 1929), but was endorsed for the larger region in 1955 during the Pan African Congress (Clark 1957). | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
184390 | Contextualising psychosocial wellbeing and mental health within sociocultural dynamics | The lack of contextualization of the science and applications of mental health is the source of a large part of its
criticisms. From the lack of research on how social dynamics influence the well-being of citizens, to the gaps in
research and coordinated implementation of different disciplines involved in mental health in a changing
environment, there are still many limitations for a contextualised and integrated view.
This project intends to offer a bottom-up, source-embedded appreciation of the need to effectively seek to
contextualise mental health interventions and the professional and institutional barriers to this process at the
international level, using participatory research methods with practitioners and users of psychological services as
well as the general population trough personal as well as digital contact.
The first milestone of the project will be an empirical study on how sociocultural dynamics impact psychosocial
wellbeing and mental health integrating a website and a mobile application with face to face interviews. The second
will intend to gather information on approaches already used which can be considered contextualised. The results
of both milestones will be used to organise continuing professional development workshops with mental health
professionals, in which focus groups will be used to explore the perceived need and institutional obstacles for
contextualisation. | [
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1016/j.cell.2013.07.017 | XThe yeast ski complex: Crystal structure and rna channeling to the exosome complex | The Ski complex is a conserved multiprotein assembly required for the cytoplasmic functions of the exosome, including RNA turnover, surveillance, and interference. Ski2, Ski3, and Ski8 assemble in a tetramer with 1:1:2 stoichiometry. The crystal structure of an S. cerevisiae 370 kDa core complex shows that Ski3 forms an array of 33 TPR motifs organized in N-terminal and C-terminal arms. The C-terminal arm of Ski3 and the two Ski8 subunits position the helicase core of Ski2 centrally within the complex, enhancing RNA binding. The Ski3 N-terminal arm and the Ski2 insertion domain allosterically modulate the ATPase and helicase activities of the complex. Biochemical data suggest that the Ski complex can thread RNAs directly to the exosome, coupling the helicase and the exoribonuclease through a continuous RNA channel. Finally, we identify a Ski8-binding motif common to Ski3 and Spo11, rationalizing the moonlighting properties of Ski8 in mRNA decay and meiosis. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1167/iovs.16-20448 | Chemogenetic activation of ipRGCs drives changes in dark-adapted (Scotopic) electroretinogram | PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of activating melanopsinexpressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) on dark-adapted (scotopic) electroretinograms (ERG). METHODS. We used mice (Opn4Cre/+) expressing cre recombinase in melanopsin-expressing cells for a targeted gene delivery of a chemogenetic Gq-coupled receptor,hM3Dq,to ipRGCs. Intraperitoneal injection of clozapine N-oxide (CNO) at 5 mg/kg was used for acute activation of hM3Dq and thus excitation of ipRGCs in darkness. Dark-adapted flash ERGs were recorded across a 9-fold range of irradiances from hM3Dq Opn4Cre/+ and control Opn4Cre/+ mice before and after intraperitoneal injection of CNO. A- and b-wave amplitudes and implicit times and oscillatory potentials (OPs) were analyzed. Paired-flash stimuli were used to isolate conedriven responses. RESULTS. Clozapine N-oxide application suppressed a- and b-wave amplitudes of the darkadapted ERG across the flash intensity range in hM3Dq Opn4Cre/+ mice compared to control mice. Examination of the normalized irradiance-response functions revealed a shift in b-wave but not a-wave sensitivity. No changes in a- and b-wave implicit times were detected. Total OP amplitudes were also reduced in hM3Dq Opn4Cre/+ mice compared to controls following CNO administration. The paired-flash method revealed reduction in both the first (rods and cones) and second (cones only) flash response. CONCLUSIONS. Acute and selective activation of ipRGCs modulates the amplitude of both a- and b-waves of the scotopic ERG,indicating that the influence of this ganglion cell class on the retinal physiology extends to the photoreceptors as well as their downstream pathways. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.2138/am-2018-6700CCBY | How geometry and anisotropy affect residual strain in host-inclusion systems: Coupling experimental and numerical approaches | Raman spectroscopy provides information on the residual strain state of host-inclusion systems that, coupled with the elastic geobarometry theory, can be used to retrieve the P-T conditions of inclusion entrapment. In situ Raman measurements of zircon and coesite inclusions in garnet from the ultrahigh-pressure Dora Maira Massif show that rounded inclusions exhibit constant Raman shifts throughout their entire volume. In contrast, we demonstrate that Raman shifts can vary from the center to the edges and corners of faceted inclusions. Step-by-step polishing of the garnet host shows that the strain in both rounded and prismatic inclusions is gradually released as the inclusion approaches the free surface of the host. More importantly, our experimental results coupled with selected numerical simulations demonstrate that the magnitude and the rate of the strain release also depend on the contrast in elastic properties between the host and the inclusion and on the inclusion crystallographic orientation with respect to the external surface. These results allowed us to give new methodological guidelines for determining the residual strain in host inclusion systems. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
724425 | BiogENesis and Degradation of Endoplasmic Reticulum proteins | The Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) membrane in all eukaryotic cells has an intricate protein network that facilitates protein biogene-sis and homeostasis. The molecular complexity and sophisticated regulation of this machinery favours study-ing it in its native microenvironment by novel approaches. Cryo-electron tomography (CET) allows 3D im-aging of membrane-associated complexes in their native surrounding. Computational analysis of many sub-tomograms depicting the same type of macromolecule, a technology I pioneered, provides subnanometer resolution insights into different conformations of native complexes.
I propose to leverage CET of cellular and cell-free systems to reveal the molecular details of ER protein bio-genesis and homeostasis. In detail, I will study: (a) The structure of the ER translocon, the dynamic gateway for import of nascent proteins into the ER and their maturation. The largest component is the oligosaccharyl transferase complex. (b) Cotranslational ER import, N-glycosylation, chaperone-mediated stabilization and folding as well as oligomerization of established model substrate such a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II complexes. (c) The degradation of misfolded ER-residing proteins by the cytosolic 26S proteasome using cytomegalovirus-induced depletion of MHC class I as a model system. (d) The structural changes of the ER-bound translation machinery upon ER stress through IRE1-mediated degradation of mRNA that is specific for ER-targeted proteins. (e) The improved ‘in silico purification’ of different states of native macromolecules by maximum likelihood subtomogram classification and its application to a-d.
This project will be the blueprint for a new approach to structural biology of membrane-associated processes. It will contribute to our mechanistic understanding of viral immune evasion and glycosylation disorders as well as numerous diseases involving chronic ER stress including diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
10.1016/j.cell.2017.07.035 | Aged Stem Cells Reprogram Their Daily Rhythmic Functions to Adapt to Stress | Normal homeostatic functions of adult stem cells have rhythmic daily oscillations that are believed to become arrhythmic during aging. Unexpectedly, we find that aged mice remain behaviorally circadian and that their epidermal and muscle stem cells retain a robustly rhythmic core circadian machinery. However, the oscillating transcriptome is extensively reprogrammed in aged stem cells, switching from genes involved in homeostasis to those involved in tissue-specific stresses, such as DNA damage or inefficient autophagy. Importantly, deletion of circadian clock components did not reproduce the hallmarks of this reprogramming, underscoring that rewiring, rather than arrhythmia, is associated with physiological aging. While age-associated rewiring of the oscillatory diurnal transcriptome is not recapitulated by a high-fat diet in young adult mice, it is significantly prevented by long-term caloric restriction in aged mice. Thus, stem cells rewire their diurnal timed functions to adapt to metabolic cues and to tissue-specific age-related traits. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
]
|
10.1364/OE.23.010444 | Numerical Investigation Of The Flat Band Bloch Modes In A 2D Photonic Crystal With Dirac Cones | A numerical method combining complex-k band calculations and absorbing boundary conditions for Bloch waves is presented. We use this method to study photonic crystals with Dirac cones. We demonstrate that the photonic crystal behaves as a zero-index medium when excited at normal incidence, but that the zero-index behavior is lost at oblique incidence due to excitation of modes on the flat band. We also investigate the formation of monomodal and multimodal cavity resonances inside the photonic crystals, and the physical origins of their different line-shape features. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201629925 | Gaia Data Release 1 Testing Parallaxes With Local Cepheids And Rr Lyrae Stars | Parallaxes for 331 classical Cepheids, 31 Type II Cepheids and 364 RR Lyrae stars in common between Gaia and the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues are published in Gaia Data Release 1 (DR1) as part of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS). In order to test these first parallax measurements of the primary standard candles of the cosmological distance ladder, that involve astrometry collected by Gaia during the initial 14 months of science operation, we compared them with literature estimates and derived new period-luminosity ($PL$), period-Wesenheit ($PW$) relations for classical and Type II Cepheids and infrared $PL$, $PL$-metallicity ($PLZ$) and optical luminosity-metallicity ($M_V$-[Fe/H]) relations for the RR Lyrae stars, with zero points based on TGAS. The new relations were computed using multi-band ($V,I,J,K_{\mathrm{s}},W_{1}$) photometry and spectroscopic metal abundances available in the literature, and applying three alternative approaches: (i) by linear least squares fitting the absolute magnitudes inferred from direct transformation of the TGAS parallaxes, (ii) by adopting astrometric-based luminosities, and (iii) using a Bayesian fitting approach. TGAS parallaxes bring a significant added value to the previous Hipparcos estimates. The relations presented in this paper represent first Gaia-calibrated relations and form a "work-in-progress" milestone report in the wait for Gaia-only parallaxes of which a first solution will become available with Gaia's Data Release 2 (DR2) in 2018. | [
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
10.1016/j.coi.2011.02.001 | MicroRNA control of lymphocyte differentiation and function | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, non-coding regulatory RNAs that control gene regulation by guiding silencing protein complexes to mRNA in a sequence-dependent manner. In this way miRNAs are able to repress gene expression post-transcriptionally by affecting mRNA stability or translation. These ubiquitous molecules play central roles in a wide range of biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Within the context of the immune system, genetic studies have identified distinct roles for specific miRNAs in gene regulation during development, activation and maturation. Conversely, dysregulation of miRNA expression has been specifically correlated with cancer. This review outlines our current understanding of miRNA function in lymphocytes as it impacts expression of protein-coding genes in the context of proper development, as well as oncogenesis. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
]
|
10.1109/PN.2016.7537892 | Packaged Mzis Passively Balanced By Means Of Multimode Grating Couplers | We present a novel Mach-Zehnder Interferometer configuration that can be passively balanced by adjusting the position of the input fiber over a multimode input coupler, thus correcting phase deviations typically arising from fabrication asymmetries. Characterization after permanent fiber array attachment by means of a UV curable epoxy shows high thermal stability resulting in less than 0. 5 dB power imbalance at the output of the interferometer over a temperature range of 20 to 80°C. | [
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1038/ncomms5868 | Duplication of a promiscuous transcription factor drives the emergence of a new regulatory network | The emergence of new genes throughout evolution requires rewiring and extension of regulatory networks. However, the molecular details of how the transcriptional regulation of new gene copies evolves remain largely unexplored. Here we show how duplication of a transcription factor gene allowed the emergence of two independent regulatory circuits. Interestingly, the ancestral transcription factor was promiscuous and could bind different motifs in its target promoters. After duplication, one paralogue evolved increased binding specificity so that it only binds one type of motif, whereas the other copy evolved a decreased activity so that it only activates promoters that contain multiple binding sites. Interestingly, only a few mutations in both the DNA-binding domains and in the promoter binding sites were required to gradually disentangle the two networks. These results reveal how duplication of a promiscuous transcription factor followed by concerted cis and trans mutations allows expansion of a regulatory network. | [
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
]
|
225345 | Energy neutral wireless sensor networks | Urbanisation is a significant worldwide trend that Smart City technologies aim to address through prolific smart sensing and intelligent actuation and control. However, the high battery replacement costs of wireless sensors impede innovation and long-term deployments. This project aims to alleviate this problem through a novel system architecture that is powered by cheap, renewable solar energy and that uses state-of-the-art radio frequency (RF) wireless power transfer (WPT) technologies. More specifically, this project will study the technical, practical, and economic aspects of eNergy nEutral Wireless SEnsor Networks (NEWSENs) that comprise of solar-powered central access points acting as RF-energy and information hubs serving a collection of RF-powered wireless sensor devices. The electromagnetic waves used to wirelessly communicate data information with the small electronic devices and sensors will therefore also be used to power them up through a rectification circuitry. When inter-connected, these wireless devices form networks capable of supporting various Smart City applications. To demonstrate this new system architecture, a proof-of-concept test-bed will be assembled and used to validate the project’s technical results and support further prototyping and commercial exploitation. This interdisciplinary effort will utilise advanced mathematical models, multi-objective optimisation algorithms, and renewable energy economics. The project will coordinate inter-sectoral (telecommunications and renewable energy) R&D at the KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence and the FOSS Research Centre for Sustainable Energy, both of which operate under the University of Cyprus. These efforts will be further accentuated by an industrial secondment at RIO SYSTEMS, a fabless semiconductor company in Israel, thus enhancing EU competitiveness in green Smart City solutions and WPT technologies while expanding research collaboration with SMEs in neighbouring countries. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W2081360555 | Small-Business Employment in 22 Rich Economies | Opponents of health care reform in the United States have often argued that such reform will be detrimental to small and medium-sized enterprises. The authors review the most recent data from a sample of 22 rich countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), all of which, except the United States, have universal health care systems. By every measure of small-business employment, the United States has among the world's smallest small-business sectors (as a proportion of total national employment). These findings hold for self-employed workers and across all industry groups for which the Paris-based OECD publishes internationally comparable data, including manufacturing, computer-related services, and research and development. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
]
|
W319328459 | Alfalfa on Corn-Belt Farms... | Alfalfa, on Corn Belt farms, if introduced in any considerable acreage, requires a great amount of labor at the most critical stage of the cultivation of corn. This bulletin tells how the more successful Corn Belt growers fit alfalfa into their cropping systems without interfering seriously with labor schedules. This is done in the main by speeding up the haying operations and corn cultivation by the use of labor-saving implements and more efficient methods. To some extent, the use of alfalfa for pasture serves to reduce the labor difficulties. The methods of handling the alfalfa crop that have been worked out by some of the more experienced Corn Belt growers are illustrated by several concrete examples of good management. The material for this bulletin was obtained on 235 Corn Belt farms on which alfalfa is grown successfully. -- p. 2 | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
]
|
279579 | Hot and dense QCD in the LHC era | QCD, the theory of strong interactions, has been defined as our most perfect physical theory, in part because its compact and apparently simple Lagrangian hides a plethora of emerging phenomena. The aim of the present project is to make the essential contributions to fully exploit the new possibilities of the Large Hadron Collider to characterise unexplored domains of QCD.
Three main working plans are foreseen: i) The partonic structure of the protons and nuclei at LHC energies, where I plan to unravel the structure at small fraction of momentum of the colliding objects, characterising new regimes of QCD at high parton densities; ii) A new theory of jets in a medium, in which a new way of understanding the phenomenon of parton branching of a quark or gluon in a medium, including new evolution equations is proposed; iii) A Monte Carlo for jet quenching, where the solid theoretical framework developed in the previous point will be implemented into a Monte Carlo code for general use. Along these working plans, two horizontal lines - Talking to the experiment: finding the signatures; and Talking to other fields - will ensure the coherence of the project and the communication of the results as well as the collaboration with external researchers, especially experimentalist.
In order to fulfil these ambitious goals, the research team will need of reinforcement in terms of (wo)manpower and travel and computer resources. The total requested contribution from the ERC-StG to the project is 1.499.376 Euros, which is divided as follows: 39% for postdocs; 18% for PhD students; 12% for visits to CERN; 10% for the PI salary; 8% for travel; 8% for computers and 4% for visitors. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
10.1371/journal.pbio.2004718 | Polarization-resolved microscopy reveals a muscle myosin motor-independent mechanism of molecular actin ordering during sarcomere maturation | Sarcomeres are stereotyped force-producing mini-machines of striated muscles. Each sarcomere contains a pseudocrystalline order of bipolar actin and myosin filaments, which are linked by titin filaments. During muscle development, these three filament types need to assemble into long periodic chains of sarcomeres called myofibrils. Initially, myofibrils contain immature sarcomeres, which gradually mature into their pseudocrystalline order. Despite the general importance, our understanding of myofibril assembly and sarcomere maturation in vivo is limited, in large part because determining the molecular order of protein components during muscle development remains challenging. Here, we applied polarization-resolved microscopy to determine the molecular order of actin during myofibrillogenesis in vivo. This method revealed that, concomitantly with mechanical tension buildup in the myotube, molecular actin order increases, preceding the formation of immature sarcomeres. Mechanistically, both muscle and nonmuscle myosin contribute to this actin order gain during early stages of myofibril assembly. Actin order continues to increase while myofibrils and sarcomeres mature. Muscle myosin motor activity is required for the regular and coordinated assembly of long myofibrils but not for the high actin order buildup during sarcomere maturation. This suggests that, in muscle, other actin-binding proteins are sufficient to locally bundle or cross-link actin into highly regular arrays. | [
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1038/ncomms10646 | Integrating geological archives and climate models for the mid-Pliocene warm period | The mid-Pliocene Warm Period (mPWP) offers an opportunity to understand a warmer-than-present world and assess the predictive ability of numerical climate models. Environmental reconstruction and climate modelling are crucial for understanding the mPWP, and the synergy of these two, often disparate, fields has proven essential in confirming features of the past and in turn building confidence in projections of the future. The continual development of methodologies to better facilitate environmental synthesis and data/model comparison is essential, with recent work demonstrating that time-specific (time-slice) syntheses represent the next logical step in exploring climate change during the mPWP and realizing its potential as a test bed for understanding future climate change. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
W1974406002 | Effects of Single and Combined Administration of Fermented Barley Extract and γ-Aminobutyric Acid on the Development of Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice | We examined the effects single and combined administration of fermented barley extract P (FBEP), prepared from barley-shochu distillery by-products, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. Single administration of FBEP and GABA dose-dependently reduced the development of AD-like skin lesions in mice. GABA reduced the development of AD-like skin lesions by suppressing serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and splenocyte interleukin (IL)-4 production, while FBEP reduced skin lesions without affecting the IgE or cytokine production. However, in mice with induced AD-like skin lesions, combined administration of FBEP and GABA decreased serum IgE levels and splenic cell IL-4 production, and increased splenic cell interferon-gamma production. These results suggest that combined administration of FBEP and GABA alleviated AD-like skin lesions in the NC/Nga mice by adjusting the Th1/Th2 balance to a Th1-predominant immune response. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
]
|
W2085155109 | Barriers, benefits and motivation factors for the implementation of food safety management system in the food sector in Harare Province, Zimbabwe | The food manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe is dominated by small scale companies and most of these companies do not have food safety management systems. The barriers and motivation factors towards the implementation of Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) such as Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and ISO 22000 in the food manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe have not yet been explored. The aim of this survey was to determine factors that influence the implementation of FSMS by food manufacturing companies in Zimbabwe. Fifty five questionnaires were distributed to different food companies in Harare Province in Zimbabwe and thirty were fully completed and returned. The questionnaires elicited information on the barriers hindering implementation of FSMS and factors that motivate food manufacturing companies to implement an FSMS. The survey revealed that the main barriers for the implementation of an FSMS in Harare Province and Zimbabwe at large, include lack of financial resources, size of organisation, inadequate infrastructure and facilities, and lack of top management commitment. Results of the survey also showed that the main motivation factor for the implementation of an FSMS is to improve product quality and safety. Improved product quality and safety was identified as the major benefit of implementing an FSMS. Other benefits highlighted include increased employee skills, improved company image, increased product sales, increased market share, and access to new markets. | [
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
]
|
TW 105138147 A | Photo-imageable thin films with high dielectric constants | A formulation for preparing a photo-imageable film; said formulation comprising: (a) a positive photoresist comprising a cresol novolac resin and a diazonaphthoquinone inhibitor; and (b) functionalized zirconium oxide nanoparticles. | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1038/NNANO.2015.108 | Strain Induced Coupling Of Electrical Polarization And Structural Defects In Srmno3 Films | Local perturbations in complex oxides, such as domain walls, strain and defects, are of interest because they can modify the conduction or the dielectric and magnetic response, and can even promote phase transitions. Here, we show that the interaction between different types of local perturbations in oxide thin films is an additional source of functionality. Taking SrMnO3 as a model system, we use nonlinear optics to verify the theoretical prediction that strain induces a polar phase, and apply density functional theory to show that strain simultaneously increases the concentration of oxygen vacancies. These vacancies couple to the polar domain walls, where they establish an electrostatic barrier to electron migration. The result is a state with locally structured room-temperature conductivity consisting of conducting nanosized polar domains encased by insulating domain boundaries, which we resolve using scanning probe microscopy. Our 'nanocapacitor' domains can be individually charged, suggesting stable capacitance nanobits with a potential for information storage technology. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
US 2007/0080789 W | MODULAR DECK LID HINGE WITH COIL SPRINGS | A vehicle body decklid hinge includes at least one hinge set carried by a bracket that retains a pivot pin and a retainer bar in a cantilevered manner. The pivot pin supports a lever, such as a gooseneck strap, that will be coupled to the hood, while the bracket includes a mount that will be carried by peripheral body structure around the decklid opening. The retainer bar carries a helically wound spring that secures one end of the spring for resistence to rotation about the axis of the bar. The other end of the spring engages an adjustor that variably urges the lever to pivot toward the open position. The method and apparatus reduce specificity of components and improve adaptably to various models and styles by reducing adjustments to tension variability in adjusting the biasing force applied to the decklid strap. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.3389/fnhum.2016.00041 | Alpha-band oscillations reflect altered multisensory processing of the McGurk illusion in Schizophrenia | The formation of coherent multisensory percepts requires integration of stimuli across the multiple senses. Patients with schizophrenia (ScZ) often experience a loss of coherent perception and hence, they might also show dysfunctional multisensory processing. In this high-density electroencephalography study, we investigated the neural signatures of the McGurk illusion, as a phenomenon of speech-specific multisensory processing. In the McGurk illusion lip movements are paired with incongruent auditory syllables, which can induce a fused percept. In ScZ patients and healthy controls we compared neural oscillations and event-related potentials (ERPs) to congruent audiovisual speech stimuli and McGurk illusion trials, where a visual /ga/and an auditory /pa/was often perceived as /ka/. There were no significant group differences in illusion rates. The EEG data analysis revealed larger short latency ERPs to McGurk illusion compared with congruent trials in controls. The reversed effect pattern was found in ScZ patients, indicating an early audiovisual processing deficit. Moreover, we observed stronger suppression of medio-central alpha-band power (810 Hz, 550-700 ms) in response to McGurk illusion compared with control trials in the control group. Again, the reversed pattern was found in SCZ patients. Moreover, within groups, alpha-band suppression was negatively correlated with the McGurk illusion rate in ScZ patients, while the correlation tended to be positive in controls. The topography of alpha-band effects indicated an involvement of auditory and/or frontal structures. Our study suggests that short latency ERPs and long latency alpha-band oscillations reflect abnormal multisensory processing of the McGurk illusion in ScZ. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
10.1016/j.cortex.2018.09.011 | Classical paintings may trigger pain and pleasure in the gendered brain | The human body is the most common object of pictorial representation in western art and its representations trigger a vast range of experiences from pain to pleasure. The goal of this study was to investigate brain activity triggered by paintings of male and female body images exemplifying conditions associated with pleasure or pain. Our findings show participant-general as well as gender specific brain activity for either the pain or the pleasure conditions. Although our participants were fully aware that they were viewing artworks, the inferior parietal lobule – known for its role in the perception of emotional body images – and the somatosensory cortex related to touch were selectively active for female body paintings in all participants in the pleasure conditions. As regards gender we observed that the sight of female bodies activated the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex in males, an area known to subserve autonomic arousal. In contrast, in females the sight of the male body activated reward and control related parts of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. This study supports the notion that some basic evolutionary processes operate when we view body images, also when they are cultural heritage paintings far removed from daily experience. | [
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
W2040495989 | Incident radiation and the allocation of nitrogen within Arctic plant canopies: implications for predicting gross primary productivity | Arctic vegetation is characterized by high spatial variability in plant functional type (PFT) composition and gross primary productivity (P). Despite this variability, the two main drivers of P in sub-Arctic tundra are leaf area index (LT ) and total foliar nitrogen (NT ). LT and NT have been shown to be tightly coupled across PFTs in sub-Arctic tundra vegetation, which simplifies up-scaling by allowing quantification of the main drivers of P from remotely sensed LT . Our objective was to test the LT -NT relationship across multiple Arctic latitudes and to assess LT as a predictor of P for the pan-Arctic. Including PFT-specific parameters in models of LT -NT coupling provided only incremental improvements in model fit, but significant improvements were gained from including site-specific parameters. The degree of curvature in the LT -NT relationship, controlled by a fitted canopy nitrogen extinction co-efficient, was negatively related to average levels of diffuse radiation at a site. This is consistent with theoretical predictions of more uniform vertical canopy N distributions under diffuse light conditions. Higher latitude sites had higher average leaf N content by mass (NM ), and we show for the first time that LT -NT coupling is achieved across latitudes via canopy-scale trade-offs between NM and leaf mass per unit leaf area (LM ). Site-specific parameters provided small but significant improvements in models of P based on LT and moss cover. Our results suggest that differences in LT -NT coupling between sites could be used to improve pan-Arctic models of P and we provide unique evidence that prevailing radiation conditions can significantly affect N allocation over regional scales. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1142/S0218271816410133 | Dimensional Reduction In Numerical Relativity Modified Cartoon Formalism And Regularization | We present in detail the Einstein equations in the Baumgarte–Shapiro–Shibata–Nakamura formulation for the case of D-dimensional spacetimes with SO(D−d) isometry based on a method originally introduced in Ref. 1. Regularized expressions are given for a numerical implementation of this method on a vertex centered grid including the origin of the quasi-radial coordinate that covers the extra dimensions with rotational symmetry. Axisymmetry, corresponding to the value d=D−2, represents a special case with fewer constraints on the vanishing of tensor components and is conveniently implemented in a variation of the general method. The robustness of the scheme is demonstrated for the case of a black-hole head-on collision in D=7 spacetime dimensions with SO(4) symmetry. | [
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
]
|
10.1088/2515-7647/abb0ef | Few-cycle high-harmonic generation in liquids: In-operando thickness measurement of flat microjets | Extreme ultraviolet high-harmonic generation (HHG) from bulk liquids has only recently been demonstrated (T. T. Luu, Z. Yin et al, Nat. Comm. 9, 3724, (2018)). This has opened new prospects for the development of bright high-harmonic sources and the development of liquid-phase high-harmonic spectroscopy (HHS). Here, we report on the first observation of HHG in liquids driven by few-cycle (∼7 fs) pulses. We observe the emission of a broad quasi-continuum in the extreme ultraviolet, which is strongly modulated on a photon-energy scale much finer than the central photon energy of the driver. We show that these modulations arise from an etalon effect inside the flat microjet, which we use to perform an in-operando measurement of the flat-jet's thickness. The possibility to directly characterize flat microjets during HHG will greatly support their optimization for light-source applications and facilitate the development of liquid-phase HHS. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
]
|
10.4161/hv.8.1.18672 | Influenza viruses: From birds to humans | Avian influenza viruses are the precursors of human influenza A viruses. They may be transmitted directly from avian reservoirs, or infect other mammalian species before subsequent transmission to their human host. So far, avian influenza viruses have caused sporadic - yet increasingly more frequently recognized - cases of infection in humans. They have to adapt to and circulate efficiently in human populations, before they may trigger a worldwide human influenza outbreak or pandemic. Cross-species transmission of avian influenza viruses from their reservoir hosts - wild waterbirds - to terrestrial poultry and to humans is based on different modes of transmission and results in distinctive pathogenetic manifestations, which are reviewed in this paper. | [
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
]
|
10.1080/13621025.2012.698514 | The Heterogeneous World Of The Citizen | In response to the broad range of approaches given by this Special Issue, this article offers a critical post-colonial view on the question of citizenship after orientalism. Drawing on the historical trajectory of the emergence of the citizen in India through the era of anti-colonial struggle and beyond into that of the post-colonial nation state, the article exemplifies what can be called a discontinuous way of studying the figure of the citizen – the figure that ended colonialism, that brought about revolution, and that snatched the establishment apparatus called the constitution to turn it against itself. As this article shows, one of the discontinuous ways of studying citizenship is to mark out those moments and dynamics when or whereby power and resources are redistributed and a new definition of the political community emerges. | [
"Texts and Concepts",
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"The Study of the Human Past"
]
|
CA 3058384 A | MULTI-PLY KNIT FABRIC | A multi-ply knit fabric (10) containing a first knit ply (100) and a second knit ply (200). The first knit ply (100) contains a plurality of first yarns and forms the upper surface (10a) of the fabric (10). The second knit ply (200) forms the lower surface (10b) of the fabric (10) and contains a plurality of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) yarns having a density of about 2 to 2.25 g/cm3, a transmission in the IR region of 8-10 um at least about 40%, and a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.2 W/(m.K). The plies (100, 200) are integrated through combined portions formed by at least one of the following methods: interlacing first yarns among the PTFE yarns of the second knit ply (200), interlacing PTFE yarns among the first yarns of the first knit ply (100), and interlacing a plurality of third yarns among the first yarns of the first knit ply (100) and the PTFE yarns of the second knit ply (200). | [
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
]
|
10.1051/0004-6361/201527579 | Reconstructing The History Of Water Ice Formation From Hdo H2O And D2O Hdo Ratios In Protostellar Cores | Recent interferometer observations have found that the D2O/HDO abundance ratio is higher than that of HDO/H2O by about one order of magnitude in the vicinity of low-mass protostar NGC 1333-IRAS 2A, where water ice has sublimated. Previous laboratory and theoretical studies show that the D2O/HDO ice ratio should be lower than the HDO/H2O ice ratio, if HDO and D2O ices are formed simultaneously with H2O ice. In this work, we propose that the observed feature, D2O/HDO > HDO/H2O, is a natural consequence of chemical evolution in the early cold stages of low-mass star formation: 1) majority of oxygen is locked up in water ice and other molecules in molecular clouds, where water deuteration is not efficient, and 2) water ice formation continues with much reduced efficiency in cold prestellar/protostellar cores, where deuteration processes are highly enhanced due to the drop of the ortho-para ratio of H2, the weaker UV radiation field, etc. Using a simple analytical model and gas-ice astrochemical simulations tracing the evolution from the formation of molecular clouds to protostellar cores, we show that the proposed scenario can quantitatively explain the observed HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios. We also find that the majority of HDO and D2O ices are likely formed in cold prestellar/protostellar cores rather than in molecular clouds, where the majority of H2O ice is formed. This work demonstrates the power of the combination of the HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios as a tool to reveal the past history of water ice formation in the early cold stages of star formation and when the enrichment of deuterium in the bulk of water occurred. Further observations are needed to explore if the relation, D2O/HDO > HDO/H2O, is common in low-mass protostellar sources. | [
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Universe Sciences"
]
|
W1996288390 | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers fate in China: A review with an emphasis on environmental contamination levels, human exposure and regulation | Because of their highly effective flame-retardant capability, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been extensively used as flame retardants in consumer goods. However, compelling evidence shows that many congeners of PBDEs have been accumulating in the environment, in biota and in human populations worldwide. In China, although octabrominated diphenyl ether (octaBDE) has never been produced or used, pentabrominated diphenyl ether (pentaBDE) and decabrominated diphenyl ether (decaBDE) have been produced and used in large quantities. In the face of increasing evidence about PBDE pollution and the adoption of international conventions, there is a growing push for China to develop more stringent methods of managing PBDE waste. This paper summarizes the information about PBDE production and application, describes the flame-retarding mechanism, and then reviews the toxicity and levels of PBDEs in China's environmental media and human tissues. Based on international regulations on PBDEs, the paper finally puts forward some suggestions for Chinese policy making and for self-regulation within the flame retardant industry. | [
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
]
|
W1990624991 | Disaggregation of component soil series on an Ohio County soil survey map using possibilistic decision trees | Abstract Data mining from existing County soil surveys can improve the utility of maps for research, management and decision making. Aggregated soil series information in soil survey map units can be disaggregated by following a possibilistic decision tree approach to provide maps at the soil series level. The “overall map unit composition percentage” available in the soil survey tabular data can be treated as a possibility distribution of the prevalence of different soil series within all occurrences of the map unit in the survey area. A case study was conducted in Monroe County in southeastern Ohio. Three different learning approaches including C4.5 decision trees, nonspecificity based possibilistic decision trees and clustering based possibilistic decision trees were applied to the existent County survey, and the efficiency of predicting soils at the series level was assessed using an independent soil series point data set. The results showed an improvement in prediction accuracy by following the clustered possibilistic decision tree approach. The maps were useful in identifying the locations of component soil series within map unit associations, consociations, and complexes. Data mining from existent soil survey maps using the component information available in the tabular data can serve as a guide for disaggregating soil map units to create soil series maps, identifying misplacement of polygon boundaries, identifying presence of inclusions, and correcting mislabeled polygons, when updating soil surveys. | [
"Earth System Science",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
206875 | Regulation and function of non-coding RNAs in epigenetic processes: the paradigm of X-chromosome inactivation | Some 150 years after the emergence of genetics, epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly understood to be fundamental players in phenotype transmission and development. In addition, epigenetic alterations are now linked to several human diseases including cancers. A common feature of many epigenetic phenomena, for which X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is the paradigm, is the implication of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Regulatory ncRNAs belong to 2 major classes: (i) long ncRNAs, which can be transcribed from a single strand as well as in the opposite orientation when they may overlap with either protein-coding or non-coding genes. Both sense (Xist) and antisense (Tsix) ncRNAs control the initiation of XCI; and (ii) short ncRNAs, such as si- or miRNAs, which interfere, through different pathways, with gene function. The aim of this project is to gain insights into the regulation and function of ncRNAs in the control of gene expression program, using XCI as a model system. We propose to combine molecular genetics, embryology and cell biology to (1) decipher the transcriptional control of Xist and the coordinate regulation of the Xist/Tsix sense/antisense tandem in relation to developmental programs; (2) functionally characterise a novel ncRNA on the X chromosome which nests several miRNAs and for which preliminary data suggest a role in XCI and (3) develop a system to extend our knowledge of the regulatory stages of XCI in human through the use of human embryonic stem cells. Our comprehensive analysis of the function and regulation of ncRNAs in XCI has important implications for our understanding of the numerous diseases associated with abnormal patterns of inactivation and is a critical prerequisite to any subsequent therapeutic approaches. This project is in absolute adequacy with the future “Epigenetic and Cell Fate “ host centre co-headed by Prs. Lalande and Viegas-Pequignot, a large-scale initiative expected to strengthen French and European research in Epigenetics. | [
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
]
|
10.1038/nmat4318 | In situ NMR and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance techniques reveal the structure of the electrical double layer in supercapacitors | Supercapacitors store charge through the electrosorption of ions on microporous electrodes. Despite major efforts to understand this phenomenon, a molecular-level picture of the electrical double layer in working devices is still lacking as few techniques can selectively observe the ionic species at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Here, we use in situ NMR to directly quantify the populations of anionic and cationic species within a working microporous carbon supercapacitor electrode. Our results show that charge storage mechanisms are different for positively and negatively polarized electrodes for the electrolyte tetraethylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile; for positive polarization charging proceeds by exchange of the cations for anions, whereas for negative polarization, cation adsorption dominates. In situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements support the NMR results and indicate that adsorbed ions are only partially solvated. These results provide new molecular-level insight, with the methodology offering exciting possibilities for the study of pore/ion size, desolvation and other effects on charge storage in supercapacitors. | [
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
]
|
10.1007/978-3-319-61467-0_10 | Testing A Saturation Based Theorem Prover Experiences And Challenges | This paper attempts to address the question of how best to assure the correctness of saturation-based automated theorem provers using our experience with developing the theorem prover Vampire. We describe the techniques we currently employ to ensure that Vampire is correct and use this to motivate future challenges that need to be addressed to make this process more straightforward and to achieve better correctness guarantees. | [
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
185469 | Glass recovering revolution: high performance optical sorter for glass collection from waste | The amount of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the EU28 reached 245 million tons in 2012. Nowadays, Europe directives for
waste management are more restrictive each year (e.g Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC), but unfortunately, landfill disposal still
represents 34% of total MSW generated. On the other hand, citizen awareness as well as the high fees operators pay for
landfill disposal, have helped to greatly increase the percentage for recycling from 18% in 1995, to 42% in 2012.
However, 40% of all the glass waste ends up in mixed MSW plants (which typically contain 7% of glass). Instead of being
disposed of in selective-waste collection, it ends up in landfills or is composted/incinerated with the remnant waste.
We have developed SEEGLASS, a high performance optical sorter based on computer vision and a pneumatic rejection
system. Our aim is to solve this non-environmentally friendly problem, while also offering our end-users additional revenues
with this recovered material, which is not being exploited now (49€/tn glass). In addition, extracting this glass, will allow the
treatment plants to significantly reduce costs from waste disposal fees (50€/Tonne EU average and rising). Payback for
customers is estimated in only 19 months.
With this project we will (i) construct pre-conditioning process line, (ii) optimise our current SEEGLASS computer vision
system as well as its mechanical and pneumatic design, to reach 80% glass recovery, with 99% purity, (iii) integrate both,
the process line and the glass sorter solution into a demonstrator system, and (iv) validate its feasibility in-house with real
MSW coming from different countries, as well as carry-out an 24/7 end-user validation.
We, PICVISA, will be the first company to recover the glass fraction in refined MSW worldwide (the niche market exists
worldwide) selling Turn-key installations or only SEEGLASS units, contributing to a disruptive change in the sector. | [
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
]
|
818791 | Visual Culture, Piety and Propaganda: Transfer and Reception of Russian Religious Art in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean (16th to early 20th Century) | The Russian religious artefacts (icons and ecclesiastical furnishings) held in museums, church or monastery collections in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean constitute a body of valuable monuments hitherto largely neglected by historians and historians of art. These objects acquire various interrelated religious/ideological, political and aesthetic meanings, value and uses. Their transfer and reception is a significant component of the larger process of transformation of the artistic language and visual culture in the region and its transition from medieval to modern idioms. It is at the same time a process reflecting the changing cultural and political relations between Russia and the Orthodox communities in the Ottoman Empire and its successor states in the Balkans over a long period of time (16th-20th century). In this dynamic transfer, piety, propaganda and visual culture appear intertwined in historically unexplored and theoretically provoking ways.
The aim of RICONTRANS is to investigate, for the first time in a systematic and interdisciplinary way, this transnational phenomenon of artefact transfer and reception. Applying the cultural transfer approach in combination with the recent challenging openings of art history to visual studies, this project aims to: map the phenomenon in its long history by identifying preserved objects in the region; follow the paths and identify the mediums of this transfer; analyse the dynamics and the moving factors (religious, political, ideological) of this process during its various historical phases; study and classify these objects according to their iconographic and artistic particularities; inquire into the aesthetic, ideological, political, and social factors which shaped the context of the reception of Russian religious art objects in various social, cultural and religious environments; investigate the influence of these transferred artefacts on the visual culture of the host societies. | [
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
]
|
W2108104440 | Cambodia's Fertility Transition: The Dynamics of Contemporary Childbearing | Cambodia is undergoing a fertility transition with the total fertility rate falling from 6.7 before 1970 to 3.0 in 2010. This study is the first to examine the contemporary context of childbearing in Cambodia and the drivers of this transition analyzing the articulations of men and women and the rationales behind their fertility intentions and behavior. Findings are derived from 21 months of ethnographic fieldwork in urban and rural settings in Siem Reap. The article explains how patterns of reproduction are shaped by the specific context and social organization the political economy gender relations and kinship system. In Cambodia changes in employment conditions agricultural systems and living arrangements create new motivations that in turn affect fertility decisions. In post-conflict Cambodia rationales related to lineage continuation and the effects of the Khmer Rouge period also emerge as important influences. | [
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
]
|
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