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10.1186/s40645-017-0119-8
|
Hydrogen mobility in transition zone silicates
|
We study the hydrogen mobility in ringwoodite and wadsleyite considering multiple charge-balanced defects, including Mg < = > 2H, Si < = > Mg + 2H, and the hydrogarnet defect, Si < = > 4H, using molecular dynamics simulations based on the density functional theory at transition zone pressures and temperatures between 1500 and 2500 K. We determine the diffusion coefficients and study in detail the mechanism of hydrogen mobility during lengthy simulations. Our results show that temperature, water concentration, and defect mechanism have a significant effect on mobility. We find that the fastest diffusion is for the Mg < = > 2H defect, while H is more mobile when incorporated as Si < = > Mg + 2H than as hydrogarnet defects. The computed diffusivities for ringwoodite are larger than for wadsleyite: at 2000 K, diffusivity is 1. 13 × 10 −09 m 2 /s for ringwoodite compared to 0. 93 × 10 −09 m 2 /s for wadsleyite. In general, the hydrogen atoms spend on the order of tens of picoseconds or more trapped in or around the vacancy sites with net migration between sites over timescales of tens of femtoseconds. At 2500 K, some of these hydrogen excursions take place over several angstroms, while at 2000 K, they do not always result in net diffusion. At 1500 K, most of the defects fail to make excursions from their defect sites resulting in diffusion.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science"
] |
10.1101/sqb.2010.75.047
|
The Smc5/6 complex: More than repair?
|
Through its functions in chromosome replication, segregation, and repair, the Smc5/6 complex has a central role in the maintenance of genome stability. The complex is part of the family of structural maintenance of chromosome protein complexes that also includes cohesin and condensin. Mutations in any of these complexes disrupt chromosome segregation and render cells hypersensitive to different types of DNA damage. The chromosome mis-segregation phenotypes in cohesin and condensin mutants can be attributed to their functions in sister chromatid cohesion and chromosome condensation, respectively. Cohesin-dependent chromatid cohesion is also needed for DNA double-strand break repair, whereas condensin is required for repair of single-strand breaks. How Smc5/6 promotes chromosome stability is largely unknown. Accumulating data suggest that it prevents accumulation of aberrant DNA links between sister chromatids created during repair by homologous recombination. A long-standing idea is that it also has a role in the maintenance of nondamaged chromosomes. Here, we present an overview of the current knowledge of Smc5/6 and discuss a possible nonrepair role of the complex.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
] |
EP 0203230 W
|
METHOD FOR PREDICTING THE MAXIMUM ROLLING DISTANCE IN DEGRADED MODE OF A MOUNTED ASSEMBLY
|
The invention relates to a method for predicting the maximum rolling distance in degraded mode, without substantial rolling deterioration, of a mounted assembly (9) comprising a rim with a safety support and tyre mounted thereon. The inventive method consists in rolling the mounted assembly (9) at reduced or zero inflation pressure or rolling said rim-mounted support over at least one rolling surface (21) from one instant t0, under a determined load and at a constant speed V, in such a way that the centre (C) of the rim is a more or less invariant point during the rolling, following the variation of variable R, which is representative of the radial deflection of the support as a function of rolling time t. The inventive method also consists in: (i) determining a value R1 that variable R reaches at the end of a predetermined stabilisation time t1 such that the variation direction of variable R is representative of a radial deflection of the support that increases globally after time t1; (ii) determining a critical rolling time t2 (t2 > t1) at the end of which variable R reaches a critical value R2 such as R2=R1+ DELTA R, DELTA R being a representative value of a critical increase in the deflection of the support; and (iii) making a distance d2 correspond to said rolling time t2 with d2=V.(t2-t0), said distance representing a prediction of said maximum rolling distance.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W2884699912
|
Application of different nanocarriers for encapsulation of curcumin
|
Curcumin is the main polyphenol of the curcuminoid class of turmeric, a well-known spice belonging to the ginger family. In addition to its common applications like coloring and antioxidant agent as food additives, it has a broad range of favorable biological functions, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic activities, and anti-cancer potentials against various cancers. However, curcumin suffers from some limitations including short shelf life due to its poor chemical stability, low bioavailability due to its poor absorption, low water solubility, rapid metabolism and rapid systemic elimination. Nanoencapsulaion has been addressed as an innovative and emerging technology for resolving these shortcomings. In this review, the different delivery systems used for loading of curcumin have been considered and explained including lipid-based, chemical polymer and biopolymer-based, nature-inspired, special equipment-based and surfactant-based techniques. Also, implications of nanoencapsulated curcumin in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses are discussed. In this sense, the relevant recent studies in the past few years along with upcoming challenges have been covered. Although incorporation of curcumin into nanocarriers can be a possible solution to overcome its inherent constraints, there are some rational concerns about their toxicological safety once they enter into the biological paths. Therefore, future investigations could focus on assessment of their biological fate during digestion and absorption within human body.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
W292206605
|
The New Logic of Hypertext: Electronic Documents, Literary Theory, and Air Force Publications
|
Abstract : Hypertext systems offer electronic links that can instantly join related documents with the click of a mouse. Some observers predict that in the next few years hypertext will become the predominate technology of communication. Such a revolutionary transformation of our culture's basic system for sharing information is bound to have a profound and wide-ranging impact. At this early stage in hypertext's evolutionary development, no empirical study can be expected to capture the long-term implications of this new technology. An exploratory survey was distributed to 100 large corporations to gather their initial assessment of the revolutionary implications of hypertext. The results suggest that hypertext will lead to dramatic changes in users' experience of text. At this point, the nature of these changes can only be explored philosophically. This thesis examines the potential consequences of moving from a printed text to a hypertext environment in light of the literary theory known as 'deconstructionism'. This theoretical approach to the interpretation of text emphasizes the breakdown of the boundaries that seem to separate documents from one another. The illusion of isolated, self-contained, authoritative meaning gives way to an all-inclusive intertextual conversation. Hypertext provides the physical connections necessary to implement the interactive dialogue central to the deconstructionists' vision. These issues directly concern the Air Force because it is developing a plan to disseminate its operating directives on-line in a system with hypertext features. This study concludes that the Air Force should implement this plan without delay.
|
[
"Texts and Concepts",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1021/jacs.6b11240
|
Spray drying for making covalent chemistry: Postsynthetic modification of metal-organic frameworks
|
Covalent postsynthetic modification (PSM) of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has attracted much attention due to the possibility of tailoring the properties of these porous materials. Schiff-base condensation betwecn an amine and an aldehyde is one of the most common reactions in the PSM of MOFs. Here, we report the use of the spray drying technique to perform this class of organic reactions, either betwecn discrete organic molecules or on the pore surfaces of MOFs, in a very fast (1-2 s) and continuous way. Using spray drying, we show the PSM of two MOFs, the amine-terminated UiO-66-NH2 and the aldehyde-terminated ZIF-90, achieving conversion efficiencies up to 20 and 42%, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrate that it can also be used to postsynthetically cross-link the aldehyde groups of ZIF-90 using a diamine molecule with a conversion efficiency of 70%.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
] |
10.1128/JB.00730-13
|
Diversity Of Cobalamin Riboswitches In The Corrinoid Producing Organohalide Respirer Desulfitobacterium Hafniense
|
The strategic adaptation of prokaryotes in polluted niches involves the efficient regulation of their metabolism. The obligate anaerobe and metabolically versatile Desulfitobacterium hafniense reductively dechlorinates halogenated organic compounds (so-called organohalides). Some D. hafniense strains carry out organohalide respiration (OHR), a process which requires the use of corrinoid as a cofactor in reductive dehalogenases, the key enzymes in OHR. We report here the diversity of the cobalamin riboswitches that possibly regulate the corrinoid metabolism for D. hafniense. The analysis of available D. hafniense genomes indicates the presence of eighteen cobalamin riboswitches located upstream of genes whose products are mainly involved in corrinoid biosynthesis and transport. To get insight into their function, the secondary structures of three of these RNA elements were predicted by Mfold as well as analyzed by in-line probing. These RNA elements display diversity in their structural elements as well as exhibit varying affinities towards adenosylcobalamin that possibly relates to their role in the regulation of corrinoid metabolism. Furthermore, adenosylcobalamin-induced in vivo repression of RNA synthesis of the downstream located genes indicates that the corrinoid transporters and biosynthetic enzymes in D. hafniense strain TCE1 are regulated at the transcriptional level. Taken together, the riboswitch-mediated regulation of the complex corrinoid metabolism in D. hafniense could be of crucial significance in environments polluted with organohalides to monitor their intracellular corrinoid level as well as to co-exist with corrinoid-auxotroph OHR bacteria.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
10.1038/s41467-018-04900-7
|
Systematic discovery of germline cancer predisposition genes through the identification of somatic second hits
|
The genetic causes of cancer include both somatic mutations and inherited germline variants. Large-scale tumor sequencing has revolutionized the identification of somatic driver alterations but has had limited impact on the identification of cancer predisposition genes (CPGs). Here we present a statistical method, ALFRED, that tests Knudson's two-hit hypothesis to systematically identify CPGs from cancer genome data. Applied to ~10,000 tumor exomes the approach identifies known and putative CPGs - including the chromatin modifier NSD1 - that contribute to cancer through a combination of rare germline variants and somatic loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH). Rare germline variants in these genes contribute substantially to cancer risk, including to ~14% of ovarian carcinomas, ~7% of breast tumors, ~4% of uterine corpus endometrial carcinomas, and to a median of 2% of tumors across 17 cancer types.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
W2375277949
|
Power Law Model for Coarse-grained Materials
|
Coarse-grained materials usually show softening and dilatancy properties during triaxial tests,but the practical hyperbolic model can not reflect these proterties.Power law model can describe both strain-hardening and strain-softening behaviors,which can be used effectively to model stress-strain relationship of coarse-grained materials.The advantage of power law model is that it can simulate a hyperbolic shape up to the peak deviator stress and then simulate post peak softening.The stress-strain and volumetric strain properties of coarse-grained materials during shearing process were depicted.Then the theory and property of power law model were introduced.A power law model for coarse-grained materials is proposed based on concept of power law model.The proposed model not only can simulate strain-hardening and strain-softening behaviors but also can reflect dilatancy property.The tangent Young's modulus and tangent bulk modulus are deduced based on the presented model.Finally the rationality of proposed model is validated based on results of an engineering example.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W2506193821
|
Czech National Bank Verbal Interventions: Does the Exchange Rate React to Words from CNB Bank Board?
|
This paper focuses on impact of central bank's oral commentaries on asset prices, i.e. verbal interventions. The paper maps basic preconditions and key channel how central bank's words mirror into asset prices. A significant part of the paper concentrates on the Czech Republic where the exchange rate floor and accompanying frequent comments from the CNB's Bank Board are in operation since 2013. The first hypothesis tests whether there is asset price-making information during the Bank Board decision days. In this sense, the factor analysis confirms at least two factors which influence various asset prices. It is assumed that former factor concerns the surprise in monetary policy decision and the latter following press conference. The second hypothesis endeavours to specify the components of verbal interventions: position in the Bank Board, verbal intervention form and visibility of intervention topic. Only comments made by the CNB's governor proved to be significant, leading to higher volatility of the exchange rate.
|
[
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
] |
10.1007/978-3-319-95972-6_41
|
Challenges Of Machine Learning For Living Machines
|
Machine Learning algorithms (and in particular Reinforcement Learning (RL)) have proved very successful in recent years. These have managed to achieve super-human performance in many different tasks, from video-games to board-games and complex cognitive tasks such as path-planning or Theory of Mind (ToM) on artificial agents. Nonetheless, this super-human performance is also super-artificial. Despite some metrics are better than what a human can achieve (i. e. cumulative reward), in less common metrics (i. e. time to learning asymptote) the performance is significantly worse. Moreover, the means by which those are achieved fail to extend our understanding of the human or mammal brain. Moreover, most approaches used are based on black-box optimization, making any comparison beyond performance (e. g. at the architectural level) difficult. In this position paper, we review the origins of reinforcement learning and propose its extension with models of learning derived from fear and avoidance behaviors. We argue that avoidance-based mechanisms are required when training on embodied, situated systems to ensure fast and safe convergence and potentially overcome some of the current limitations of the RL paradigm.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System"
] |
10.1038/hdy.2016.107
|
The comparative landscape of duplications in Heliconius melpomene and Heliconius cydno
|
Gene duplications can facilitate adaptation and may lead to interpopulation divergence, causing reproductive isolation. We used whole-genome resequencing data from 34 butterflies to detect duplications in two Heliconius species, Heliconius cydno and Heliconius melpomene. Taking advantage of three distinctive signals of duplication in short-read sequencing data, we identified 744 duplicated loci in H. cydno and H. melpomene and evaluated the accuracy of our approach using single-molecule sequencing. We have found that duplications overlap genes significantly less than expected at random in H. melpomene, consistent with the action of background selection against duplicates in functional regions of the genome. Duplicate loci that are highly differentiated between H. melpomene and H. cydno map to four different chromosomes. Four duplications were identified with a strong signal of divergent selection, including an odorant binding protein and another in close proximity with a known wing colour pattern locus that differs between the two species.
|
[
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
W2749351941
|
Agricultural practices to improve nitrogen use efficiency through the use of arbuscular mycorrhizae: Basic and agronomic aspects
|
Nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems is heavily dependent upon arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present in the soil microbiome. These fungi develop obligate symbioses with various host plant species, thus increasing their ability to acquire nutrients. However, AMF are particularly sensitive to physical, chemical and biological disturbances caused by human actions that limit their establishment. For a more sustainable agriculture, it will be necessary to further investigate which agricultural practices could be favorable to maximize the benefits of AMF to improve crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), thus reducing nitrogen (N) fertilizer usage. Direct seeding, mulch-based cropping systems prevent soil mycelium disruption and increase AMF propagule abundance. Such cropping systems lead to more efficient root colonization by AMF and thus a better establishment of the plant/fungal symbiosis. In addition, the use of continuous cover cropping systems can also enhance the formation of more efficient interconnected hyphal networks between mycorrhizae colonized plants. Taking into account both fundamental and agronomic aspects of mineral nutrition by plant/AMF symbioses, we have critically described, how improving fungal colonization through the reduction of soil perturbation and maintenance of an ecological balance could be helpful for increasing crop NUE.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
] |
W2386876729
|
Study of the Correlation between Effective Components Content and Color Values of Lonicera japonicaBased on Chromatometry
|
Objective:To study the correlation between the content of active ingredients and color values of Lonicera japonica.Methods:From the view of traditional Chinese medicine experience,colorimeter was used to measure the color of Lonicera japonica powder.Meanwhile,with the methods of HPLC and UV the amount of effective constituents of Lonicera japonica was determined,the correlation had been analyzed.Result:There was significant correlation between L* and chlorogenic acid,total flavonoids(probability value P=0.015 and P=0.006),but not much more correlation with galuteolin.The color index L* was influenced by those three effective constituents to the extent of 43.1%.And with value of L*,a*,b*,the amount of total flavonoids could be speculated to the extent of 46.7%.Conclusion:It could be feasible to evaluate the quality of Chinese Materia Medica with the application of colorimeter.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1007/978-3-642-04957-6_7
|
Querying Context Aware Databases
|
In this paper, we propose a logical model and an abstract query language as a foundation of context-aware database management systems. The model is a natural extension of the relational model in which contexts are first class citizens and can be described at different levels of granularity. This guarantees a smooth implementation of the approach with current database technology. The query language is an extension of relational algebra where special operators allow the specification of queries over contexts. As it happens in practice, contexts in queries and contexts associated with data can be at different granularities: this is made possible by a partial order relationship defined over contexts. We also study equivalence and rewriting properties of the query language that can be used for the optimization of context-aware queries.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1371/journal.pone.0054739
|
Shifting Evaluation Windows: Predictable Forward Primes with Long SOAs Eliminate the Impact of Backward Primes
|
Recent work suggests that people evaluate target stimuli within short and flexible time periods called evaluation windows. Stimuli that briefly precede a target (forward primes) or briefly succeed a target (backward primes) are often included in the target's evaluation. In this article, the authors propose that predictable forward primes act as "go" signals that prepare target processing, such that earlier forward primes pull the evaluation windows forward in time. Earlier forward primes may thus reduce the impact of backward primes. This shifting evaluation windows hypothesis was tested in two experiments using an evaluative decision task with predictable (vs. unpredictable) forward and backward primes. As expected, a longer time interval between a predictable forward prime and a target eliminated backward priming. In contrast, the time interval between an unpredictable forward primes and a target had no effects on backward priming. These findings suggest that predictable features of dynamic stimuli can shape target extraction by determining which information is included (or excluded) in rapid evaluation processes.
|
[
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
] |
10.1051/0004-6361/201834205
|
The Solar Chromosphere At Millimetre And Ultraviolet Wavelengths I Radiation Temperatures And A Detailed Comparison
|
Solar observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) provide us with direct measurements of the brightness temperature in the solar chromosphere. We study the temperature distributions obtained with ALMA Band 6 (in four sub-bands at 1. 21, 1. 22, 1. 29, and 1. 3 mm) for various areas at, and in the vicinity of, a sunspot, comprising quasi-quiet and active regions with different amounts of underlying magnetic fields. We compare these temperatures with those obtained at near- and far-ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths (and with the line-core intensities of the optically-thin far-UV spectra), co-observed with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) explorer. These include the emission peaks and cores of the Mg II k 279. 6 nm and Mg II h 280. 4 nm lines as well as the line cores of C II 133. 4 nm, O I 135. 6 nm, and Si IV 139. 4 nm, sampling the mid-to-high chromosphere and the low transition region. Splitting the ALMA sub-bands resulted in an slight increase of spatial resolution in individual temperature maps, thus, resolving smaller-scale structures compared to those produced with the standard averaging routines. We find that the radiation temperatures have different, though somewhat overlapping, distributions in different wavelengths and in the various magnetic regions. Comparison of the ALMA temperatures with those of the UV diagnostics should, however, be interpreted with great caution, the former is formed under the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions, the latter under non-LTE. The mean radiation temperature of the ALMA Band 6 is similar to that extracted from the IRIS C II line in all areas with exception of the sunspot and pores where the C II poses higher radiation temperatures. In all magnetic regions, the Mg II lines associate with the lowest mean radiation temperatures in our sample. These will provide constraints for future numerical models.
|
[
"Universe Sciences",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
10.3389/fpls.2015.00771
|
Computational analyses of ancient pathogen DNA from herbarium samples: Challenges and prospects
|
The application of DNA sequencing technology to the study of ancient DNA has enabled the reconstruction of past epidemics from genomes of historically important plant-associated microbes. Recently, the genome sequences of the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans were analyzed from 19th century herbarium specimens. These herbarium samples originated from infected potatoes collected during and after the Irish potato famine. Herbaria have therefore great potential to help elucidate past epidemics of crops, date the emergence of pathogens, and inform about past pathogen population dynamics. DNA preservation in herbarium samples was unexpectedly good, raising the possibility of a whole new research area in plant and microbial genomics. However, the recovered DNA can be extremely fragmented resulting in specific challenges in reconstructing genome sequences. Here we review some of the challenges in computational analyses of ancient DNA from herbarium samples. We also applied the recently developed linkage method to haplotype reconstruction of diploid or polyploid genomes from fragmented ancient DNA.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1215/08992363-6912091
|
A divided conscience: The lost convictions of human rights?
|
The category of conscience has played a key role in the history of human rights. However, since a high point in the decades after the Second World War, much of the human rights movement appears to have become relatively less interested in the issue. Instead, claims of conscience have often become the domain of the religious right. The article asks how this has happened, and whether human rights-widely accused of a retreat into technicalities at the expense of intense conviction-has lost anything along the way. In doing so, the article treats conscience as a historically embedded and contested category, exploring the types of subjects that claims of conscience conjure up, the forms of difference they can reproduce, and the conflicts they both create and mediate. The central argument of the article is that the protection of conscience has been a claim to privilege, and therefore often been discriminatory in terms of the types of person and forms of conviction that it seeks to protect.
|
[
"Texts and Concepts",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
] |
10.1088/0953-8984/25/19/196005
|
Formation Of Two Dimensionally Confined Superparamagnetic Mn Ga As Nanocrystals In High Temperature Annealed Ga Mn As Gaas Superlattices
|
The annealing-induced formation of (Mn, Ga)As nanocrystals in (Ga, Mn)As/GaAs superlattices was studied by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and magnetometry. The superlattice structures with 50 A thick (Ga, Mn)As layers separated by 25, 50 and 100 A thick GaAs spacers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperature (250 ° C), and then annealed at high temperatures of 400, 560 and 630 ° C. The high-temperature annealing causes decomposition to a (Ga, Mn)As ternary alloy and the formation of (Mn, Ga)As nanocrystals inside the GaAs matrix. The nanocrystals are confined in the planes that were formerly occupied by (Ga, Mn)As layers for the up to 560 ° C annealing and diffuse throughout the GaAs spacer layers at 630 ° C annealing. The two-dimensionally confined nanocrystals exhibit a superparamagnetic behavior which becomes high-temperature ferromagnetism (~350 K) upon diffusion. (Less)
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
] |
10.1017/s1743921319001583
|
Spots, flares, accretion, and obscuration in the pre-main sequence binary DQ Tau
|
DQ Tau is a young low-mass spectroscopic binary, consisting of two almost equal-mass stars on a 15. 8 day period surrounded by a circumbinary disk. We analyzed DQ Tau’s light curves obtained by Kepler K2, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and ground-based facilities. We observed variability phenomena, including rotational modulation by stellar spots, energetic stellar flares, brightening events around periastron due to increased accretion, and short dips due to temporary circumstellar obscuration. The study on DQ Tau will help in discovering and understanding the formation and evolution of other real-world examples of “Tatooine-like” systems. This is especially important because more and more evidence points to the possibility that all Sun-like stars were born in binary or multiple systems that broke up later due to dynamical interactions.
|
[
"Universe Sciences"
] |
10.1016/j.aop.2016.05.019
|
Real-time evolution of strongly coupled fermions driven by dissipation
|
We consider the real-time evolution of a strongly coupled system of lattice fermions whose dynamics is driven entirely by dissipative Lindblad processes, with linear or quadratic quantum jump operators. The fermion 2-point functions obey a closed set of differential equations, which can be solved with linear algebra methods. The staggered occupation order parameter of the t- V model decreases exponentially during the dissipative time evolution. The structure factor associated with the various Fourier modes shows the slowing down of low-momentum modes, which is due to particle number conservation. The processes with nearest-neighbor-dependent Lindblad operators have a decay rate that is proportional to the coordination number of the spatial lattice.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
] |
W1970270615
|
Cost‑effectiveness analysis of apixaban versus other NOACs for the prevention of stroke in Italian atrial fibrillation patients
|
OBJECTIVES: The study evaluated the cost‑effectiveness of apixaban in preventing thromboembolic events in non‑valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients, as compared to other three available novel oral anticoagulant agents (NOACs), from the Italian Health System (SSN) perspective.METHODS: A previously published lifetime Markov model was adapted for the Italian context. Baseline clinical risks were assigned based on the demographic and clinical features of the patients; effectiveness and safety parameters derived from adjusted indirect comparison using warfarin as link. The main clinical events considered in the model are ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, systemic thromboembolism, bleeds (both major and clinically relevant minor) and cardiovascular hospitalizations, besides treatment discontinuations. Expected survival was projected beyond trial duration using national mortality data adjusted for clinical risks and weighted by published utilities. Unit costs were collected from published Italian sources and actualized to 2013. Costs and health gains occurring after the first year were discounted at an annual 3.5% rate. The primary outcome measure of the economic evaluation was the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER), where effectiveness is measured in terms of life‑years and quality adjusted life‑years gained. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (DSA&PSA) were carried out.RESULTS: In the short to medium term, apixaban was associated with marginal LYs and QALYs gains and slight savings, as compared to other NOACs. However, as apixaban extended expected survival versus dabigatran (110mg), dabigatran (150mg) and rivaroxaban (0.13, 0.08, and 0.06 LYs or 0.11, 0.07, and 0.05 QALYs), expected total lifetime costs exceeded those of these comparators (€ 319, € 282, and € 16). Corresponding ICERs were estimated in € 2,911, € 3,882 and € 327 per QALY gained. The most influential parameter according to DSA was daily costs of NOACs, but the corresponding ICERs remained well below commonly accepted WTP values. In PSA, the probabilities of apixaban being cost effective with a WTP threshold of 20,000 €/QALY gained were 99%, 92% and 93% for the same comparisons.CONCLUSIONS: Apixaban is expected to be more effective than dabigatran and rivaroxaban in Italian NVAF population, and marginally more costly due to consume healthcare resources for a longer period of time. The ICERs have a high likelihood of being below conventional thresholds of WTP for health benefits of the SSN and suggest that apixaban is cost‑effective compared with other three available NOACs.
|
[
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
] |
10.1109/ICCV.2015.89
|
On Linear Structure From Motion For Light Field Cameras
|
We present a novel approach to relative pose estimation which is tailored to 4D light field cameras. From the relationships between scene geometry and light field structure and an analysis of the light field projection in terms of Pluecker ray coordinates, we deduce a set of linear constraints on ray space correspondences between a light field camera pair. These can be applied to infer relative pose of the light field cameras and thus obtain a point cloud reconstruction of the scene. While the proposed method has interesting relationships to pose estimation for generalized cameras based on ray-to-ray correspondence, our experiments demonstrate that our approach is both more accurate and computationally more efficient. It also compares favourably to direct linear pose estimation based on aligning the 3D point clouds obtained by reconstructing depth for each individual light field. To further validate the method, we employ the pose estimates to merge light fields captured with hand-held consumer light field cameras into refocusable panoramas.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
W2463198621
|
The open XXZ spin chain model and the topological basis realization
|
In this paper, it is shown that the Hamiltonian of the open spin-1 XXZ chain model can be constructed from the generators of the Birman–Murakami–Wenzl (B–M–W) algebra. Without the topological parameter d (describing the unknotted loop [Formula: see text] in topology) reducing to a fixed value, the topological basis states can be connected with the open XXZ spin chain. Then some particular properties of the topological basis states in this system have been investigated. We find that the topological basis states are the three eigenstates of a four-spin-1 XXZ chain model without boundary term. Specifically, all the spin single states of the system fall on the topological basis subspace. And the number of the spin single states of the system is equal to that of the topological basis states.
|
[
"Mathematics",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
] |
10.1145/2956233
|
Interpolations Of Smoke And Liquid Simulations
|
We present a novel method to interpolate smoke and liquid simulations in order to perform data-driven fluid simulations. Our approach calculates a dense space-time deformation using grid-based signed-distance functions of the inputs. A key advantage of this implicit Eulerian representation is that it allows us to use powerful techniques from the optical flow area. We employ a five-dimensional optical flow solve. In combination with a projection algorithm, and residual iterations, we achieve a robust matching of the inputs. Once the match is computed, arbitrary in between variants can be created very efficiently. To concatenate multiple long-range deformations, we propose a novel alignment technique. Our approach has numerous advantages, including automatic matches without user input, volumetric deformations that can be applied to details around the surface, and the inherent handling of topology changes. As a result, we can interpolate swirling smoke clouds, and splashing liquid simulations. We can even match and interpolate phenomena with fundamentally different physics: a drop of liquid, and a blob of heavy smoke.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
10.1126/science.1210214
|
Chromosome segregation errors as a cause of DNA damage and structural chromosome aberrations
|
Various types of chromosomal aberrations, including numerical (aneuploidy) and structural (e. g. , translocations, deletions), are commonly found in human tumors and are linked to tumorigenesis. Aneuploidy is a direct consequence of chromosome segregation errors in mitosis, whereas structural aberrations are caused by improperly repaired DNA breaks. Here, we demonstrate that chromosome segregation errors can also result in structural chromosome aberrations. Chromosomes that missegregate are frequently damaged during cytokinesis, triggering a DNA double-strand break response in the respective daughter cells involving ATM, Chk2, and p53. We show that these double-strand breaks can lead to unbalanced translocations in the daughter cells. Our data show that segregation errors can cause translocations and provide insights into the role of whole-chromosome instability in tumorigenesis.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
W1871911223
|
A Decline in Wnt3a Signaling is Necessary for Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Proceed to Replicative Senescence
|
Umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells are a promising source of cells for regeneration therapy due to their multipotency, high proliferative capacity, relatively noninvasive collection, and ready availability. However, extended cell culture inevitably triggers cellular senescence-the irreversible arrest of cell division-thereby limiting the proliferative lifespan of adult stem cells. Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a functional role as a key regulator of self-renewal and differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and thus Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cellular senescence might be closely connected. Here, we show that the expression levels of canonical Wnt families decrease as MSCs age during subculture. Activation of the Wnt pathway by treatment with Wnt3a-conditioned medium or glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibitors, such as SB-216763 and 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime, delays the progression of cellular senescence as shown by the decrease in the senescence effectors p53 and pRb, lowered senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, and increased telomerase activity. In contrast, suppression of the Wnt pathway by treatment with dickkopf-1 (an antagonist of the Wnt coreceptor) and β-catenin siRNA transfection promotes senescence in MSCs. Interestingly, the magnitude of the response to enhanced Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling appears to depend on the senescent state during extended culture, particularly after multiple passages. These results suggest that Wnt3a signaling might be a predominant factor that could be used to overcome senescence in long-term cultured MSCs by directly intervening in the proliferative capacity and MSC senescence. The functional role of Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling in hedging cellular senescence may allow the development of new approaches for stem cell-based therapies.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1038/s41598-017-06554-9
|
Optoacoustic micro-tomography at 100 volumes per second
|
Optical microscopy remains a fundamental tool for modern biological discovery owing to its excellent spatial resolution and versatile contrast in visualizing cellular and sub-cellular structures. Yet, the time domain is paramount for the observation of biological dynamics in living systems. Commonly, acquisition of microscopy data involves scanning of a spherically- or cylindrically-focused light beam across the imaged volume, which significantly limits temporal resolution in 3D. Additional complications arise from intense light scattering of biological tissues, further restraining the effective penetration depth and field of view of optical microscopy techniques. To overcome these limitations, we devised a fast optoacoustic micro-tomography (OMT) approach based on simultaneous acquisition of 3D image data with a high-density hemispherical ultrasound array having effective detection bandwidth beyond 25 MHz. We demonstrate fast three-dimensional imaging of freely-swimming zebrafish larvae, achieving 3D imaging speed of 100 volumes per second with isotropic spatial resolution approaching the dimensions of large cells across a field of view exceeding 50mm3. As opposed to other microscopy techniques based on optical contrast, OMT resolves optical absorption acoustically using unfocused light excitation. Thus, no penetration barriers are imposed by light scattering in deep tissues, suggesting it as a powerful approach for multi-scale functional and molecular imaging applications.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
W4312718197
|
O apagamento epistêmico da revolução haitiana no ensino de direitos humanos pelas principais universidades brasileiras
|
A Revolução Haitiana (1791-1803) forjou o primeiro Estado-nação fundado a partir da superação radical do colonialismo e da escravidão, e foi pioneira em reconhecer a humanidade plena de todos os seres humanos e em garantir direitos sociais para homens, mulheres e crianças, desafiando as hierarquias raciais e de gênero desenhadas pela modernidade/colonialidade eurocêntrica. Este processo histórico de libertação e reconhecimento foi apagado e silenciado pelas narrativas humanistas hegemônicas, construídas pelo pensamento ocidental, que privilegiam o estudo da afirmação histórica dos direitos humanos a partir da Declaração de Independência dos Estado Unidos e da Declaração de Direitos do Homem e do Cidadão, da França, priorizando a experiência específica de emancipação da burguesia metropolitana, condescendente com o colonialismo, a escravidão e a inferiorização das mulheres. Através de uma abordagem metodológica é quali-quantitativa, de procedimento bibliográfico e documental, inicialmente realizamos uma reflexão teórica acerca da concepção de ser humano desenvolvida a partir da experiência histórica haitiana, em contraste com as predominantes no Ocidente, para demonstrar o seu potencial humanista e decolonial. Em seguida, realizamos uma pesquisa documental das ementas da disciplina Direitos Humanos nas vinte universidades brasileiras e duas sergipanas mais bem colocadas no último Ranking Universitário Folha (2019), que comprovou a existência de um apagamento epistêmico (que também é ético e político) deste processo histórico no ensino dos direitos humanos no Brasil.
|
[
"The Study of the Human Past",
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Texts and Concepts"
] |
10.1155/2011/540987
|
The Largest Bio Silica Structure On Earth The Giant Basal Spicule From The Deep Sea Glass Sponge Monorhaphis Chuni
|
The depth of the ocean is plentifully populated with a highly diverse fauna and flora, from where the Challenger expedition (1873–1876) treasured up a rich collection of vitreous sponges [Hexactinellida]. They have been described by Schulze and represent the phylogenetically oldest class of siliceous sponges [phylum Porifera]; they are eye-catching because of their distinct body plan, which relies on a filigree skeleton. It is constructed by an array of morphologically determined elements, the spicules. Later, during the German Deep Sea Expedition “Valdivia” (1898-1899), Schulze could describe the largest siliceous hexactinellid sponge on Earth, the up to 3 m high Monorhaphis chuni, which develops the equally largest bio-silica structures, the giant basal spicules (3 m × 10 mm). With such spicules as a model, basic knowledge on the morphology, formation, and development of the skeletal elements could be elaborated. Spicules are formed by a proteinaceous scaffold which mediates the formation of siliceous lamellae in which the proteins are encased. Up to eight hundred 5 to 10 μm thick lamellae can be concentrically arranged around an axial canal. The silica matrix is composed of almost pure silicon and oxygen, providing it with unusual optophysical properties that are superior to those of man-made waveguides. Experiments indicated that the spicules function in vivo as a nonocular photoreception system. In addition, the spicules have exceptional mechanical properties, combining mechanical stability with strength and stiffness. Like demosponges the hexactinellids synthesize their silica enzymatically, via the enzyme silicatein. All these basic insights will surely contribute also to a further applied utilization and exploration of bio-silica in material/medical science.
|
[
"Materials Engineering",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
] |
10.1523/ENEURO.0028-16.2016
|
Slc26A11 Kbat In Purkinje Cells Is Critical For Inhibitory Transmission And Contributes To Locomotor Coordination
|
Chloride homeostasis determines the impact of inhibitory synaptic transmission and thereby mediates the excitability of neurons. Even though cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) receive a pronounced inhibitory GABAergic input from stellate and basket cells, the role of chloride homeostasis in these neurons is largely unknown. Here we studied at both the cellular and systems physiological level the function of a recently discovered chloride channel, SLC26A11 or kidney brain anion transporter (KBAT), which is prominently expressed in PCs. Using perforated patch clamp recordings of PCs, we found that a lack of KBAT channel in PC-specific KBAT KO mice (L7-KBAT KOs) induces a negative shift in the reversal potential of chloride as reflected in the GABAA-receptor-evoked currents, indicating a decrease in intracellular chloride concentration. Surprisingly, both in vitro and in vivo PCs in L7-KBAT KOs showed a significantly increased action potential firing frequency of simple spikes, which correlated with impaired motor performance on the Erasmus Ladder. Our findings support an important role for SLC26A11 in moderating chloride homeostasis and neuronal activity in the cerebellum.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
10.1142/S0129183115500552
|
High Order Kinetic Relaxation Schemes As High Accuracy Poisson Solvers
|
We present a new approach to find accurate solutions to the Poisson equation, as obtained from the steady-state limit of a diffusion equation with strong source terms. For this purpose, we start from Boltzmann's kinetic theory and investigate the influence of higher order terms on the resulting macroscopic equations. By performing an appropriate expansion of the equilibrium distribution, we provide a method to remove the unnecessary terms up to a desired order and show that it is possible to find, with high level of accuracy, the steady-state solution of the diffusion equation for sizeable Knudsen numbers. In order to test our kinetic approach, we discretise the Boltzmann equation and solve the Poisson equation, spending up to six order of magnitude less computational time for a given precision than standard lattice Boltzmann methods.
|
[
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
Q4770391
|
PARCO VACANZE DEI FIORI DI FRANCESCO PODESTA' & C. S.A.S.
|
IL PARCO VACANZE DEI FIORI, PRIMA CAMPING DEI FIORI, E' UNA REALTA' LIGURE STORICA, OPERATIVO DA OLTRE 40 ANNI, SI TROVA NEL CUORE DELLA RIVIERA LIGURE, SUL LUNGOMARE DI ALBENGA CUI HA ACCESSO DIRETTO E SPIAGGIA PRIVATA. IL CAMPEGGIO HA UNA METRATURA DI OLTRE 25.000 MT QUADRATI CON UNA RICETTIVITA' DI CIRCA 700 OSPITI/G. CON 160 PIAZZOLE E 13 BUNGALOW PUO' ACCOGLIERE TUTTE LE TIPOLOGIE DI CAMPEGGIATORI: IN ROULOTTE/CAMPER, TENDA O DENTRO I BUNGALOW. OMBREGGIATO E TRANQUILLO E CON UNA GRANDE SPIAGGIA PRIVATA, IL CAMPEGGIO HA ANCHE UN RISTORNATE, BAR, BISTROT DI PERTINENZA.
|
[] |
10.1007/JHEP10(2019)200
|
Kahler Moduli Stabilization From Ten Dimensions
|
We describe the back-reaction of gaugino condensates in supersymmetric AdS$_{4}$ Type II String Theory compactifications with fluxes. We use generalized complex geometry to capture the modification of the ten-dimensional supersymmetry equations and show that the cosmological constant prevents the cycle wrapped by the branes with gaugino condensation from shrinking to zero size. Thus, unlike in ordinary geometric transitions in flat space, the volume of this cycle remains finite. For D7 branes with gaugino condensation, this gives a ten-dimensional account of Kahler moduli stabilization. Furthermore, by matching the ten-dimensional supergravity solutions near and far from the cycle wrapped by the D7 branes, we find a relation between the size of this cycle and the cosmological constant. This relation agrees with the supersymmetric AdS vacuum condition obtained by KKLT using effective field theory.
|
[
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
] |
10.1167/16.15.12
|
Influence Of Optical Material Properties On The Perception Of Liquids
|
In everyday life we encounter a wide range of liquids (e. g. , water, custard, toothpaste) with distinctive optical appearances and viscosities. Optical properties (e. g. , color, translucency) are physically independent of viscosity, but, based on experience with real liquids, we may associate specific appearances (e. g. , water, caramel) with certain viscosities. Conversely, the visual system may discount optical properties, enabling "viscosity constancy" based primarily on the liquid's shape and motion. We investigated whether optical characteristics affect the perception of viscosity and other properties of liquids. We simulated pouring liquids with viscosities ranging from water to molten glass and rendered them with nine different optical characteristics. In Experiment 1, observers (a) adjusted a match stimulus until it had the same perceived viscosity as a test stimulus with different optical properties, and (b) rated six physical properties of the test stimuli (runniness, shininess, sliminess, stickiness, warmth, wetness). We tested moving and static stimuli. In Experiment 2, observers had to associate names with every liquid in the stimulus set. We find that observers' viscosity matches correlated strongly with the true viscosities and that optical properties had almost no effect. However, some ratings of liquid properties did show substantial interactions between viscosity and optical properties. Observers associate liquid names primarily with optical cues, although some materials are associated with a specific viscosity or combination of viscosity and optics. These results suggest viscosity is inferred primarily from shape and motion cues but that optical characteristics influence recognition of specific liquids and inference of other physical properties.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
W2791266718
|
The Matthew effect in childcare use: a matter of policies or preferences?
|
Under the social investment paradigm, formal childcare services are heralded as being the policy instrument par excellence to combat social exclusion. However, it was shown that a Matthew effect (ME) in its use is present in almost all European countries: disadvantaged children are less likely to use childcare than more advantaged children. In this contribution we aim to uncover the cause of the ME by distinguishing between supply-side and demand-side explanations. This refers to constraints in the availability or affordability of childcare and to dominant cultural norms on motherhood. In doing so, we take due account of the role of employment. The results show that the ME in formal childcare cannot be explained by class differences in employment. Moreover, the ME is related to the supply-side and much less to the demand-side. Structural constraints in childcare provision matter everywhere and tend to limit the uptake of childcare, especially for disadvantaged children. In contrast, cultural norms on motherhood are a less important predictor of the ME in childcare use. This means that more investment in the provision of childcare services is necessary in order to achieve its ambitious policy goals.
|
[
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
] |
US 201916630794 A
|
SPECIES OF MRFFT1 CELL
|
The Invention relates to a MRFFT1 cell and a preparation method thereof. The Invention screens out mutant polypeptides with prediction of antigenic determinants, and links and synthesizes the expression gene sequences of mutant polypeptides. Meanwhile, the MVA virus vector is constructed to package MVA virus, and APC cells are transfected to complete the modification of specific MV cells, and PBMCs isolated from peripheral blood are co-cultured in vitro to screen out the effective polypeptide, and ordinary T cells is transformed into RFF cells with more precise killing through the second pulse of precise effective polypeptide stimulation. Then, the principle of TCR-T technology is used to modify the T cells, and gene coding technology is used to knock out the immunosuppressive target of the modified T cells. The specific killing T cells are precisely protected from in vivo inhibition, and the cytotoxicity of T cells to tumor cells is improved.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
10.2138/am-2017-6133
|
<sup>17</sup>O NMR evidence of free ionic clusters M<sup>n+</sup> CO<inf>3</inf><sup>2-</sup> in silicate glasses: Precursors for carbonate-silicate liquids immiscibility
|
Carbon dioxide is a ubiquitous component of low-silica melts such as kimberlites or melilitites. It is currently assumed that CO2 molecules dissolving in low-silica melts as carbonate groups (CO32-) induce a strong polymerization of the silicate network; however, the exact molecular configuration of this dissolution mechanism is still debated. Using 17O MAS NMR spectroscopy, we have investigated the carbonate molecular environment in a series of synthesized low-silica (31-41 wt% SiO2), CO2-bearing (from 2. 9 to 13. 2 wt% CO2) silicate glasses analogous to melilitites and kimberlites. With the selective {13C}-, {27Al}-, and {29Si}-17O J HMQC NMR method, we show that CO2 dissolved in the studied low-silica glasses is totally disconnected from the silicate network, forming free ionic clusters (FIC) Mn+ (CO32-) with Mn+, a charge compensating cation. The Mn+ (CO32-) FIC are considered as precursors to immiscibility in between carbonate and silicate liquids. Observed in all studied compositions, we suggest that this immiscibility can be produced from moderately to strongly depolymerized silicate melt compositions.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering",
"Earth System Science"
] |
US 2018/0047432 W
|
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAPID CURRENT SENSING AND TRANSISTOR TIMING CONTROL
|
A power electronics circuit is disclosed that includes a switching circuit comprising a first solid-state device coupled in series with a second solid-state device, with at least the first sohd-state device comprising a solid-state switch having a gate terminal. The power electronics circuit also includes a cuirent sense transformer positioned between the first and second solid-state devices and configured to sense a current flowing on a conductive trace connecting the first and second solid-state devices, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit and the current sense transformer so as to be in operable communication tiierewith. The controller is programmed to receive a current sense signal from the current sense transformer indicative of the current flowing on the conductive trace and modulate a gate voltage to the gate terminal of the first solid-state device based on the received current sense signal, so as to control switching thereof.
|
[
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
W2029366547
|
Pharmacologic Management of Types 1 and 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Their Complications in Women of Childbearing Age
|
The numbers of women of childbearing age with pregestational diabetes mellitus (diabetes existing before pregnancy) are increasing, primarily because more patients are developing type 2 diabetes at younger ages. The teratogenicity associated with hyperglycemia in early pregnancy is well documented, and tight glucose control minimizes the risk of congenital malformation. Preconception planning is essential; thus contraception that does not worsen complications of diabetes is desirable. In addition, because contraceptives are not 100% effective, the treatment of elevated blood glucose levels, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in these women requires consideration of unplanned pregnancy. We summarized the literature to aid clinicians in choosing individualized treatment that minimizes risk in case pregnancy occurs and maximizes benefit in preventing the complications of diabetes. In women with well-controlled diabetes without vascular disease, all contraceptive methods are safe. Intrauterine devices are recommended due to their minimal effects on risk factors for diabetic complications and their lack of reliance on patient adherence for efficacy. Among insulins, the insulin analogs—insulin lispro, insulin aspart, and insulin detemir—offer patients greater convenience than regular insulin and NPH insulin, and they are safe in case of unplanned pregnancy. Of the noninsulin agents, glyburide and metformin are the safest during pregnancy, but many of the other agents pose minimal risk as long as they are withdrawn during early pregnancy. The risks and benefits of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in women with compelling indications must be weighed individually. In hypertensive patients at a high risk for unplanned pregnancy, nifedipine should be considered due to literature supporting its safety during early pregnancy. Pravastatin is recommended for women with dyslipidemia who are using effective contraception because there have been no reports of birth defects with this statin when used during early pregnancy in humans and animals.
|
[
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
W4220743719
|
What is Next in Anion‐Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers? Bottlenecks, Benefits, and Future
|
Abstract As highlighted by the recent roadmaps from the European Union and the United States, water electrolysis is the most valuable high‐intensity technology for producing green hydrogen. Currently, two commercial low‐temperature water electrolyzer technologies exist: alkaline water electrolyzer (A‐WE) and proton‐exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEM‐WE). However, both have major drawbacks. A‐WE shows low productivity and efficiency, while PEM‐WE uses a significant amount of critical raw materials. Lately, the use of anion‐exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEM‐WE) has been proposed to overcome the limitations of the current commercial systems. AEM‐WE could become the cornerstone to achieve an intense, safe, and resilient green hydrogen production to fulfill the hydrogen targets to achieve the 2050 decarbonization goals. Here, the status of AEM‐WE development is discussed, with a focus on the most critical aspects for research and highlighting the potential routes for overcoming the remaining issues. The Review closes with the future perspective on the AEM‐WE research indicating the targets to be achieved.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
W4285204782
|
Complément d’une Étude Sur L’accord de Nombre Nominal dans la Variété Urbaine du Portugais de São Tomé : Structures Prédicatives/Passives
|
PASSIVESL'accord de nombre (nominal et verbal) est l'un des sujets les plus discutés dans le contexte du Portugais Brésilien (ci-après PB), car non seulement c'est l'un des paramètres les plus emblématiques de la distinction entre les variétés européenne et brésilienne, mais aussi parce que, dans la dernière, il constitue une règle variable dans tous les parlers régionaux et sociaux.De plus, au Brésil, notamment en milieu urbain, le fait de ne pas faire l'accord de nombre est l'objet d'une évaluation négative de la part de certains locuteurs, qui le stigmatisent souvent car il apparaît plus fréquemment dans le discours d'individus de niveau d'éducation inférieur et/ou d'origine rurbaine ou rurale.
|
[
"Texts and Concepts",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
] |
10.1210/me.2016-1036
|
The genomic context and corecruitment of SP1 affect ERRα coactivation by PGC-1α in muscle cells
|
The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) coordinates the transcriptional network response to promote an improved endurance capacity in skeletal muscle, eg, by coactivating the estrogen-related receptor-α (ERRα) in the regulation of oxidative substrate metabolism. Despite a close functional relationship, the interaction between these 2 proteins has not been studied on a genomic level. We now mapped the genome-wide binding of ERRα to DNA in a skeletal muscle cell line with elevated PGC-1α and linked the DNA recruitment to global PGC-1α target gene regulation. We found that, surprisingly, ERRα coactivation by PGC-1α is only observed in the minority of all PGC-1α recruitment sites. Nevertheless, a majority of PGC-1α target gene expression is dependent on ERRα. Intriguingly, the interaction between these 2 proteins is controlled by the genomic context of response elements, in particular the relative GC and CpG content, monomeric and dimeric repeat-binding site configuration for ERRα, and adjacent recruitment of the transcription factor specificity protein 1. These findings thus not only reveal a novel insight into the regulatory network underlying muscle cell plasticity but also strongly link the genomic context of DNA-response elements to control transcription factor-coregulator interactions.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
10.1137/120877374
|
Adaptive Finite Element Method Assisted By Stochastic Simulation Of Chemical Systems
|
Stochastic models of chemical systems are often analyzed by solving the corresponding Fokker--Planck equation, which is a drift-diffusion partial differential equation for the probability distribution function. Efficient numerical solution of the Fokker--Planck equation requires adaptive mesh refinements. In this paper, we present a mesh refinement approach which makes use of a stochastic simulation of the underlying chemical system. By observing the stochastic trajectory for a relatively short amount of time, the areas of the state space with nonnegligible probability density are identified. By refining the finite element mesh in these areas, and coarsening elsewhere, a suitable mesh is constructed and used for the computation of the stationary probability density. Numerical examples demonstrate that the presented method is competitive with existing a posteriori methods.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Mathematics"
] |
10.1109/JLT.2018.2818712
|
Giant Faraday Rotation In Graphene Metamolecules Due To Plasmonic Coupling
|
We designed and numerically investigated a mechanism to enhance the polarization rotation when THz radiation passes through an array of multilayered graphene/insulator disks placed in a static magnetic field. The observed giant Faraday rotation is due to plasmonic coupling in the disks leading to the enhanced dipole oscillation strength of plasmonic antibonding states. With additional electromagnetic coupling between the disks in the array, the Faraday rotation angles nearly 30° are achieved in a relatively small external magnetic field of around 1 T. The operation wavelength can be tuned within the THz spectral range by controlling the Fermi level of graphene, number of graphene layers, and disk size and period. The proposed mechanism opens up a way to design the ultrathin magneto-optical nanophotonic devices and polarization rotators with high transmittance in the mid-infrared range.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
757320
|
Light-controlled synthetic enzyme cascades
|
There is an urgent need for the development of greener syntheses procedures if mankind wants to maintain an environment worth living in but is at the same time unwilling to accept a reduction in material comfort. The establishment of more biocatalytic steps in chemical syntheses is one possible solution, as enzymes and whole cells offer sustainable advantages, such as biodegradability, intoxicity, high selectivity, and many more. As a myriad of enzymatic reactions exist for almost any product, their potential is immense. Great scientific achievements and new techniques recently developed have enabled the design of economically and ecologically feasible multi-step enzyme cascades. However, with these new opportunities, also new challenges arise. The more enzyme steps are combined in one pot, the higher the risk of undesired cross-reactivity is. There is thus an urgent need for a tight control of each biocatalytic step in a cascade in order to obtain the desired product in a high purity and to make use of all advantages that enzyme cascades intrinsically offer. With LightCas, I aim to break new grounds in the area of multi-step (bio)catalysis by enabling an orthogonal, selective and thus flexible on/off tuning of enzymes in a cascade. By entrapping enzymes into light-switchable microgels, using photo-switchable active site lids and light-induced enzyme deactivation, three methods providing the opportunity to control enzyme activity in vitro and in vivo on demand will be (further) developed. The ultimate goal is to set up a one-pot multi-step light-controlled enzyme reactor yielding the desired product in high selectivity and concentration in a technically self-regulated manner.
Beyond the ground-breaking direct impact in the field of enzyme catalysis, huge gains in knowledge are expected from LightCas with respect to the application of intelligent stimuli-responsive materials as well as new, advanced methods for applications in the clinical and research environment.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
] |
10.1007/JHEP06(2016)162
|
All Tree Level Mhv Form Factors In N 4 Sym From Twistor Space
|
We incorporate all gauge-invariant local composite operators into the twistor-space formulation of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 4 SYM theory, detailing and expanding on ideas we presented recently in [1]. The vertices for these operators contain infinitely many terms and we show how they can be constructed by taking suitable derivatives of a light-like Wilson loop in twistor space and shrinking it down to a point. In particular, these vertices directly yield the tree-level MHV super form factors of all composite operators in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
= 4 SYM theory.
|
[
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Mathematics"
] |
10.1038/nmeth.2367
|
Extracting intracellular diffusive states and transition rates from single-molecule tracking data
|
We provide an analytical tool based on a variational Bayesian treatment of hidden Markov models to combine the information from thousands of short single-molecule trajectories of intracellularly diffusing proteins. The method identifies the number of diffusive states and the state transition rates. Using this method we have created an objective interaction map for Hfq, a protein that mediates interactions between small regulatory RNAs and their mRNA targets.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.7554/elife.42930
|
Transitions in cell potency during early mouse development are driven by Notch
|
The Notch signalling pathway plays fundamental roles in diverse developmental processes in metazoans, where it is important in driving cell fate and directing differentiation of various cell types. However, we still have limited knowledge about the role of Notch in early preimplantation stages of mammalian development, or how it interacts with other signalling pathways active at these stages such as Hippo. By using genetic and pharmacological tools in vivo, together with image analysis of single embryos and pluripotent cell culture, we have found that Notch is active from the 4-cell stage. Transcriptomic analysis in single morula identified novel Notch targets, such as early naïve pluripotency markers or transcriptional repressors such as TLE4. Our results reveal a previously undescribed role for Notch in driving transitions during the gradual loss of potency that takes place in the early mouse embryo prior to the first lineage decisions.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
W1842413234
|
Nutritive value of morphological fractions of Sesbania sesban and Desmodium intortum
|
Nutritive value of morphological fractions of Sesbania sesban [15019] and Desmodium intortum was determined based on their chemical composition, in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability, in vitro gas production and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). In sesbania, neutral detergent fiber (NDFom) and acid detergent fiber (ADFom) contents were higher in twigs and green pods (P twigs > whole forage > leaves. The soluble tannins (STs) content was higher (P twigs > green pods.
In the case of desmodium, the twigs had lower CP contents and leaves had lower NDFom, ADFom and ADLsa contents than the other fractions. The STs concentration was highest in leaves and lowest in green pods whereas the CTs concentration was higher in whole forage than in twigs. The washing loss (A) was higher in twigs than the other fractions, while the slowly degradable fraction (B) was higher in green pods than in twigs. In the view of the optimal nutrient contents, supplementation with whole or fractionated forage parts of both sesbania and desmodium can improve the nutritional status of ruminants fed low quality roughages.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
] |
10.1364/AO.55.009022
|
Thin Disk Laser Scaling Limit Due To Thermal Lens Induced Misalignment Instability
|
We present a fundamental obstacle in power scaling of thin-disk lasers related to self-driven growth of misalignment due to thermal lens effects. This self-driven growth arises from the changes of the optical phase difference at the disk caused by the excursion of the laser eigen-mode from the optical axis. We found a criterion based on a simplified model of this phenomenon, which can be applied to design laser resonators insensitive to this effect. Moreover, we propose several resonator architectures that are not affected by this effect.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
950513
|
Modernizing Empires: Enlightenment, Nationalist Vanguards and Non-Western Literary Modernities
|
This project is a comparative study of cultural reforms, linguistic renewal and literary renaissance movements in three imperial traditions, caught between the East-West divide: Russia, Turkey and Japan. It looks at the negotiated cultural models in modernization and westernization processes and argues that their shared historical experience resulted in a common intellectual vocabulary and narrative models shared by otherwise extremely diverse cultures. Despite these unmistakable parallels, literary studies have failed to address this shared history. This project aims to bridge this gap by developing a comparative model, drawing a polycentric and plural map of literary modernity. In three subprojects, this project investigates structural similarities in 1.Questions and concepts in literary criticism; 2.Translational practices and translated works from Europe, and 3.Narrative logic and typologies in fiction. It is the first comparative multilingual study of the non-Western literary modernities to bring these specific traditions together. It contests Eurocentric models of literary history which interprets these cases as failures or late emulations. It challenges an overemphasis on single national traditions or on postcolonial approaches, and limited body of studied texts and analysis techniques in the study of the non-West. The project follows a multi-method research strategy to conduct historical and literary comparisons between the emerging national literary systems, combining qualitative and quantitative methods in order to map transnational networks of narrative strategies, conceptual systems and translation practices. It brings new directions in Digital Humanities, expanding it to non-Western and multilingual comparative research. Finally, it makes a much-needed contribution to the current literary corpus by making unknown and untranslated texts available and accessible.
|
[
"Texts and Concepts",
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1002/2015GL065130
|
Systematic Decomposition Of The Madden Julian Oscillation Into Balanced And Inertio Gravity Components
|
We present a new method for the three-dimensional multivariate decomposition of the MJO into balanced and inertio-gravity (IG) components. The method analyzes global fields with no filtering involved and it provides a quantitative comparison between the contribution of the Rossby, Kelvin and other balanced and IG modes to the MJO circulation and its teleconnections. Results based on the ERA Interim reanalysis data and the multivariate MJO index show that the Rossby mode with the lowest meridional index is the largest contributor to the MJO circulation over the Pacific. A smaller role of the Kelvin mode is diagnosed over the Indian ocean and the maritime continent. The MJO teleconnections in the polar stratosphere appear associated with the leading balanced vertical modes. The presented method shows new ways of evaluating the MJO structure and its global impacts in weather and climate models.
|
[
"Earth System Science",
"Mathematics"
] |
interreg_3774
|
The labour market in Venice and in Slovenia. An analysis of the quality and quantity of Venetian and Slovenian workers, aimed at facilitating contact between labour supply and demand in both territories.
|
The project started an analysis of the qualifications required to work in the area of Venice and the Slovenian statistical regions of Obalno-kraška and Goriška. This research led to the setting up of a statistical database divided by subject allowing for the identification of the economic sectors most markedly characterised by a development component. The objective of this analysis was understanding to what extent the Venetian area can benefit from the professional skills developed in the Slovenian area, with the identification of the territories where production specialisation and therefore working skills exist that are similar to those of the Venetian area. The project also entails an empirical survey of Venetian and Slovenian entrepreneurs, so as to identify educational and training needs to be developed in order to offer new work opportunities not only in the Venice area but also in the Slovenian one, based on the production specialisations that can encourage agreements with Venetian enterprises. The final product consists of a collection of information that allows an outline of existing relations and similarities between the Venetian and Slovenian work markets. The system developed makes it possible to pinpoint those sectors in which it is advisable to invest to ensure an effective economic cooperation.
|
[
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
] |
10.1111/psyp.12439
|
Looking at the hand modulates the brain responses to nociceptive and non-nociceptive somatosensory stimuli but does not necessarily modulate their perception
|
Previous studies have suggested that looking at the hand can reduce the perception of pain and the magnitude of the ERPs elicited by nociceptive stimuli delivered onto the hand. In contrast, other studies have suggested that looking at the hand can increase tactile sensory discrimination performance, and enhance the magnitude of the ERPs elicited by tactile stimulation. These opposite effects could be related to differences in the crossmodal effects between vision, nociception, and touch. However, these differences could also be related to the use of different experimental designs. Importantly, most studies on the effects of vision on pain have relied on a mirror to create the illusion that the reflected hand is a direct view of the stimulated hand. Here, we compared the effects of direct versus mirror vision of the hand versus an object on the perception and ERPs elicited by non-nociceptive and nociceptive stimuli. We did not observe any significant effect of vision on the perceived intensity. However, vision of the hand did reduce the magnitude of the nociceptive N240 wave, and enhanced the magnitude of the non-nociceptive P200. Our results confirm that vision of the body differentially affects nociceptive and non-nociceptive processing, but question the robustness of visual analgesia.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
10.1101/gr.215095.116
|
Combination of short-read, long-read, and optical mapping assemblies reveals large-scale tandem repeat arrays with population genetic implications
|
Accurate and contiguous genome assembly is key to a comprehensive understanding of the processes shaping genomic diversity and evolution. Yet, it is frequently constrained by constitutive heterochromatin, usually characterized by highly repetitive DNA. As a key feature of genome architecture associated with centromeric and subtelomeric regions, it locally influences meiotic recombination. In this study, we assess the impact of large tandem repeat arrays on the recombination rate landscape in an avian speciation model, the Eurasian crow. We assembled two high-quality genome references using single-molecule real-time sequencing (long-read assembly [LR]) and single-molecule optical maps (optical map assembly [OM]). A three-way comparison including the published short-read assembly (SR) constructed for the same individual allowed assessing assembly properties and pinpointing misassemblies. By combining information from all three assemblies, we characterized 36 previously unidentified large repetitive regions in the proximity of sequence assembly breakpoints, the majority of which contained complex arrays of a 14-kb satellite repeat or its 1. 2-kb subunit. Using whole-genome population resequencing data, we estimated the population-scaled recombination rate (ñ) and found it to be significantly reduced in these regions. These findings are consistent with an effect of low recombination in regions adjacent to centromeric or subtelomeric heterochromatin and add to our understanding of the processes generating widespread heterogeneity in genetic diversity and differentiation along the genome. By combining three different technologies, our results highlight the importance of adding a layer of information on genome structure that is inaccessible to each approach independently.
|
[
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
] |
EP 93102517 A
|
Adjusting and locking device for seats, particularly motor vehicle seats.
|
The adjusting and locking device can be set in the case of a joint fitting for adjustment of a backrest and has a fixed joint component and a swivellable joint component which is assigned to the backrest, which joint components are connected to one another by means of a pivot axis. In this arrangement, an adjusting and locking device which is constructed as a gear system and determines the position of the two joint components with respect to one another is provided, the pivot axis which bears the one joint component having a section for a rotationally fixed driver which engages between the narrow sides of two wedge segments which are inclined with respect to one another and engage around the pivot axis in certain areas. Between the broad sides of the wedge segments, an energy accumulator which presses the latter apart in the manner of a radial play-reducing element is arranged. The pivot axis has an eccentric section which is formed by the wedge segments around which the bearing point of the one joint component engages by means of a roller bearing. <??>In order to optimise the ease of movement of the adjustment fitting during the adjustment phase and, in the event of locking, to maintain the freedom from play at the engagement point of the toothings and in the bearing points, the roller bearings of the roller bearing engage around the wedge segments on their external circumference - producing only rolling friction at the external circumference. <IMAGE>
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W80469806
|
Conserved and Divergent Features of Reproductive Neuroendocrinology in Teleost Fishes
|
Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the reproductive neuroendocrinology of teleosts, emphasizing both conserved and divergent features. Despite phylogenetic distance, fishes share with tetrapods a number of common characteristics with respect to neuroendocrine control of the reproductive axis. Fishes synthesize luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which regulate early gametogenesis, steroidogenesis, and ovulation/spermiation. Pituitary gonadotropic secretion is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which is, in turn, controlled by a number of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, including kisspeptins. Gonadal steroids also act at the hypothalamus to regulate secretion of gonadotropins. The chapter outlines that in fishes the role of the environment in sexual differentiation and the diversity of reproductive strategies, leading to multiple variations in a common general mechanism, is of great importance.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
] |
10.21037/qims.2019.11.08
|
Association of thigh and paraspinal muscle composition in young adults using chemical shift encoding-based water-fat MRI
|
Background: Paraspinal and thigh muscles comprise the major muscle groups of the body. We investigated the composition of the psoas, erector spinae, quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscle groups and their association to each other using chemical shift encoding-based water-fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adult volunteers. Our aim was to elucidate fat distribution patterns within these muscle groups. Methods: Thirty volunteers [15 males, age: 30. 5±4. 9 years, body mass index (BMI): 27. 6±2. 8 kg/m2 and 15 females, age: 29. 9±7. 0 years, BMI: 25. 8±1. 4 kg/m2] were recruited for this study. A six-echo 3D spoiled gradient echo sequence was used for chemical shift encoding-based water-fat separation at the lumbar spine and bilateral thigh. Proton density fat fraction (PDFF), cross-sectional area (CSA) and contractile mass index (CMI) of the psoas, erector spinae, quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscle groups were determined bilaterally and averaged over both sides. Results: CSA and CMI values calculated for the erector spinae, psoas, quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups showed significant differences between men and women (P<0. 05). With regard to PDFF measurement only the erector spinae showed significant differences between men and women (9. 5%±2. 4% vs. 11. 7%±2. 8%, P=0. 015). The CMI of the psoas muscle as well as the erector spinae muscle showed significant correlations with the quadriceps muscle (r=0. 691, P<0. 0001 and r=0. 761, P<0. 0001) and the hamstring group (r=0. 588, P=0. 001 and r=0. 603, P<0. 0001). Conclusions: CMI values of the erector spinae and psoas muscles were associated with those of the quadriceps femoris and hamstring musculature. These findings suggest a concordant spatial fat accumulation within the analyzed muscles in young adults and warrants further investigations in ageing and diseased muscle.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
10.1038/ni.3100
|
Feeding immunity: Skepticism, delicacies and delights
|
Immunologists studying the relationship between nutrition and immunological function face many challenges. We discuss here some of the historical skepticism with which nutritional research has often been faced and the complexities that need to be overcome in order to provide meaningful mechanistic insights.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
10.1039/C5GC01203A
|
Producing Hierarchical Porous Carbon Monoliths From Hydrometallurgical Recycling Of Spent Lead Acid Battery For Application In Lithium Ion Batteries
|
In this paper, an environmentally clean process to recycle the paste from a spent lead acid battery (LAB) is further developed in order to produce a porous carbon anode material for a lithium ion battery (LIB) which is currently under increasing focus as the solution for future energy storage and distribution networks. Using lead citrate from hydrometallurgical leaching of lead paste as a precursor, electrochemically active carbon materials were produced as a new product with hierarchical open sponge-like porosity. It was found that anode materials made from porous carbon by pyrolysing lead citrate at 500 °C, with high micropore (<2 nm) volume (0. 0248 cm3 g−1) and BET surface area (138. 5 m2 g−1), showed remarkable reversible capacity values beyond intercalation at both low and high current densities. In particular, at the high current density of 5000 mA g−1 (13. 4 C, according to the theoretical capacity of 372 mA h g−1), a high discharge capacity of 217 mA h g−1 was maintained even after 200 cycles, which is much superior in comparison with other carbon materials.
|
[
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
10.1073/pnas.1606927113
|
Ultrahigh-throughput–directed enzyme evolution by absorbance-activated droplet sorting (AADS)
|
Ultrahigh-throughput screening, in which members of enzyme libraries compartmentalized in water-in-oil emulsion droplets are assayed, has emerged as a powerful format for directed evolution and functional metagenomics but is currently limited to fluorescence readouts. Here we describe a highly efficient microfluidic absorbance-activated droplet sorter (AADS) that extends the range of assays amenable to this approach. Using this module, microdroplets can be sorted based on absorbance readout at rates of up to 300 droplets per second (i. e. , >1 million droplets per hour). To validate this device, we implemented a miniaturized coupled assay for NAD+-dependent amino acid dehydrogenases. The detection limit (10 μM in a coupled assay producing a formazan dye) enables accurate kinetic readouts sensitive enough to detect a minimum of 1,300 turnovers per enzyme molecule, expressed in a single cell, and released by lysis within a droplet. Sorting experiments showed that the AADS successfully enriched active variants up to 2,800-fold from an overwhelming majority of inactive ones at ∼100 Hz. To demonstrate the utility of this module for protein engineering, two rounds of directed evolution were performed to improve the activity of phenylalanine dehydrogenase toward its native substrate. Fourteen hits showed increased activity (improved >4. 5-fold in lysate; kcat increased >2. 7-fold), soluble protein expression levels (up 60%), and thermostability (Tm, 12 °C higher). The AADS module makes the most widely used optical detection format amenable to screens of unprecedented size, paving the way for the implementation of chromogenic assays in droplet microfluidics workflows.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
W783592319
|
Online hotel booking: The effects of brand image, price, trust and value on purchase intentions
|
Abstract Leisure travelers increasingly prefer to book hotel online when considering the convenience and cost/time saving. This research examines the direct and mediating effects of brand image, perceived price, trust, perceived value on consumers' booking intentions and compares the gender differences in online hotel booking. The outcomes confirm most of the direct and indirect path effects and are consistent with findings from previous studies. Consumers in Taiwan tend to believe the hotel price is affordable, the hotel brand is attractive, the hotel is trustworthy, the hotel will offer good value for the price and the likelihood of their booking intentions is high. Brand image, perceived price, and perceived value are the three critical determinants directly influencing purchase intentions. However, the impact of trust on purchase intentions is not significant. The differences between males and females on purchase intentions are not significant as well. Managerial implications of these results are discussed.
|
[
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
] |
10.1016/j.cosust.2012.09.016
|
REDD+ in the context of ecosystem management
|
The design and implementation of REDD+ projects requires understanding the local ecological, economic and social context. This paper analyzes how REDD+ influences the context of ecosystem management, from both a conceptual and an ecosystem-scale perspective. We analyze how REDD+ changes the economic interests in ecosystem management for different stakeholders, and present a case study demonstrating the economic benefits of sustainable forest use versus oil palm plantation in Indonesia. We also analyze the economic costs of carbon emissions from land use conversion, and show that in Kalimantan, Indonesia, net revenues from REDD+ need to be US$ 3/tonCO2 to allow sustainable forest use to compete with oil palm on peat, and US$ 7/tonCO2 for mineral soil. Subsequently we present four insights from our ecosystem analysis relevant for REDD+.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
] |
10.3390/jintelligence2030082
|
Can ge-covariance originating in phenotype to environment transmission account for the flynn effect?
|
The Dickens and Flynn model of the Flynn effect (generational increases in mean IQ) assigns an important role to genotype-environment covariance (GE-cov). We quantify GE-cov in a longitudinal simplex model by modeling it as phenotype to environment (Ph->E) transmission in twin data. The model fits as well as the standard genetic simplex model, which assumes uncorrelated genetic and environmental influences. We use the results to explore numerically the possible role of GE-cov in amplifying increases in environmental means. Given the estimated Ph->E transmission parameters, GE-cov resulted in an amplification (in std units) of a factor 1. 57 (full scale IQ) to 1. 7 (performance IQ). The results lend credence to the role of GE-cov in the Flynn effect.
|
[
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity",
"Mathematics"
] |
10.3390/microorganisms8101557
|
Sphingopyxis sp. Strain OPL5, an Isoprene-Degrading Bacterium from the Sphingomonadaceae Family Isolated from Oil Palm Leaves
|
The volatile secondary metabolite, isoprene, is released by trees to the atmosphere in enormous quantities, where it has important effects on air quality and climate. Oil palm trees, one of the highest isoprene emitters, are increasingly dominating agroforestry over large areas of Asia, with associated uncertainties over their effects on climate. Microbes capable of using isoprene as a source of carbon for growth have been identified in soils and in the tree phyllosphere, and most are members of the Actinobacteria. Here, we used DNA stable isotope probing to identify the isoprene-degrading bacteria associated with oil palm leaves and inhabiting the surrounding soil. Among the most abundant isoprene degraders of the leaf-associated community were members of the Sphingomonadales, although no representatives of this order were previously known to degrade isoprene. Informed by these data, we obtained representatives of the most abundant isoprene degraders in enrichments, including Sphingopyxis strain OPL5 (Sphingomonadales), able to grow on isoprene as the sole source of carbon and energy. Sequencing of the genome of strain OPL5, as well as a novel Gordonia strain, confirmed their pathways of isoprene degradation and broadened our knowledge of the genetic and taxonomic diversity of this important bacterial trait.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
] |
US 2014/0033793 W
|
DIVALENT NUCLEOBASE COMPOUNDS AND USES THEREFOR
|
Described herein are novel divalent nucleobases that each bind two nucleic acid strands, matched or mismatched when incorporated into a nucleic acid or nucleic acid analog backbone (a genetic recognition reagent, or genetic recognition reagent). In one embodiment, the genetic recognition reagent is a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) or gamma PNA (?PNA) oligomer. Uses of the divalent nucleobases and monomers and genetic recognition reagents containing the divalent nucleobases also are provided.
|
[
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
W30609823
|
Fabrication and characterization of a Magnetic Tunnel Transistor with an epitaxial spin valve by the shadow mask technique
|
This work is concerned with the development of a fabrication method for Magnetic Tunnel Transistor (MTT) having an epitaxial spin valve. Over the years, this device has been used for the study of spin polarized hot electron transport in thin films. Further, the high on/off ratio that the use of thin magnetic films enables makes this device interesting for industrial application. One of the main limitations of this device however is the low ratio between the injected current and the collected current. In this work, use of epitaxial layers has been made so as to decrease the scattering probability of hot electrons, thereby increasing the aforementioned ratio. In order to ensure a high fabrication throughput as well as reduce the amount of lithography induced defects, a shadow mask based deposition method has been successfully developed. This thesis first describes the theoretical framework of the spin polarized hot electron transport in the MTT and investigates using a Monte Carlo algorithm the influence of structural defects, bandstructure as well temperature on the different characteristic parameters of the MTT. The fabrication method is subsequently describes and finally the experimental results are discussed in light of the theoretical prediction of the model as well as of the previous experimental reports on MTTs.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W2186688873
|
Non-Carrier based Digital Switching AngleMethod for 81-level Trinary Cascaded HybridMulti-level Inverter using VHDL Coding
|
In this paper, non-carrier based digital switching functions and patterns are developed using VHDL language (DSFPV).Non-Carrier based switching angle method is selected for the reduced distortion characteristics. Different methods of switching angle methods like equal phase method, half equal phase method, half height method and feed forward method are designed and developed using VHDL coding. These generated digital switching pulses are validated by interfacing with the 81-level Trinary Cascaded Hybrid Multi-Level Inverter (TCHMLI) simulink model. The obtained simulation results are analysed by the measure of Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Peak Voltage (Vpeak), Root Mean Square Voltage (Vrms), Average Voltage (Vavg), Form Factor(FF) and Crest Factor(CF).
|
[
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118100
|
The impact of tree canopy structure on understory variation in a boreal forest
|
Information on understory composition and its relationships with the overstory tree canopy, especially leaf area index (LAI), is crucially needed in, e. g. , modeling land-atmosphere interactions and productivity of forests. There are also several global LAI products produced from satellite data which need to be validated with ground reference data. However, to date, only scarce field data on simultaneous structural properties of under- and overstory vegetation, and tree canopy LAI, have been available in boreal forests. This paper shows how understory composition and fractional cover of different species types varies in a boreal forest site, and how it is linked to structural properties of the tree layer. The study is based on 301 understory plots collected in an area of ∼16 km2 around Hyytiälä forestry field station, Finland (61°50′N, 24°17′E) in a southern boreal forest site. Forest understory plot data was accompanied with measurements of both standard forest inventory variables and optically-based canopy light transmittance data. Clear differences in average species composition between different site fertility types were observed, but also large variation within each site fertility type was noted. Forest understory composition was better correlated with structural forest canopy measures (e. g. , tree canopy LAI, canopy cover, canopy openness) than with traditional forest inventory variables such as tree height or diameter. Forest canopy LAI and the fractional cover of understory were strongly related, especially in more fertile sites. Our results highlight the role of tree canopy structural metrics as modifiers of the understory light climate and growing conditions, also, in boreal forests.
|
[
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
] |
W1991446312
|
Emission factors and particulate matter size distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from residential coal combustions in rural Northern China
|
Coal consumption is one important contributor to energy production, and is regarded as one of the most important sources of air pollutants that have considerable impacts on human health and climate change. Emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from coal combustion were studied in a typical stove. Emission factors (EFs) of 16 EPA priority PAHs from tested coals ranged from 6.25 ± 1.16 mg kg-1 (anthracite) to 253 ± 170 mg kg-1 (bituminous), with NAP and PHE dominated in gaseous and particulate phases, respectively. Size distributions of particulate phase PAHs from tested coals showed that they were mostly associated with particulate matter (PM) with size either between 0.7 and 2.1 μm or less than 0.4 μm (PM0.4). In the latter category, not only were more PAHs present in PM0.4, but also contained higher fractions of high molecular weight PAHs. Generally, there were more than 89% of total particulate phase PAHs associated with PM2.5. Gas-particle partitioning of freshly emitted PAHs from residential coal combustions were thought to be mainly controlled by absorption rather than adsorption, which is similar to those from other sources. Besides, the influence of fuel properties and combustion conditions was further investigated by using stepwise regression analysis, which indicated that almost 57 ± 10% of total variations in PAH EFs can be accounted for by moisture and volatile matter content of coal in residential combustion.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science"
] |
W1592894075
|
A novel verifiable secret sharing mechanism using theory of numbers and a method for sharing secrets
|
Verifiable secret sharing VSS has been extensively used as a cryptographic tool in many applications of information security in recent years. A VSS enables a dealer to divide a secret s into n shares and allows shareholders to verify whether their shares are generated by the dealer consistently without revealing the secrecy of both shares and the secret. More specifically, shareholders can verify that i the secret can be recovered by any t or more than t shares and ii the secret cannot be obtained by fewer than t shares. Many VSSs are based on polynomial, and only a few of them are based on the Chinese Remainder Theorem CRT. Recently, Harn et al. proposed a CRT-based VSS in which multiple verification secrets are used during the phase of verification. In this paper, we propose a VSS based on Asmuth-Bloom's t, n SS scheme, which depends on the CRT. Our proposed VSS is simpler and more efficient than the scheme of Harn et al. Our proposed VSS is unconditionally secure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Mathematics"
] |
US 2020/0066793 W
|
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A U-SHAPED PORTION OF AN ELONGATE FLEXIBLE ELEMENT RELATIVE TO A HUMAN BODY TISSUE
|
An apparatus and a method of engaging a U-shaped portion of an elongate flexible element with the apparatus. The apparatus has a body with an anchoring part, a channel extending up to the anchoring part, and an entry opening to the channel. With the U-shaped portion and body in an operative relationship, wherein the U-shaped portion straddles the anchoring part, the elongate flexible element can be tensioned to draw a side of the body against tissue. With the U-shaped portion straddling the anchoring part, the body can be reconfigured to change the size and/or shape of the entry opening and/or channel to avoid separation of part or all of the U- shaped portion from the body.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1039/c7ra04375a
|
Ferromagnetic-like behaviour in bismuth ferrite films prepared by electrodeposition and subsequent heat treatment
|
BiFeO3 films are achieved by electrodeposition followed by heat-treatment in air. The films show ferromagnetic-like behaviour at room temperature.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W2154461234
|
Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Populations Living Near Uranium Milling and Mining Operations in Grants, New Mexico, 1950–2004
|
In a previous cohort study of workers engaged in uranium milling and mining activities near Grants, Cibola County, New Mexico, we found lung cancer mortality to be significantly increased among underground miners. Uranium mining took place from early in the 1950s to 1990, and the Grants Uranium Mill operated from 1958-1990. The present study evaluates cancer mortality during 1950-2004 and cancer incidence during 1982-2004 among county residents. Standardized mortality (SMR) and incidence (SIR) ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed, with observed numbers of cancer deaths and cases compared to expected values based on New Mexico cancer rates. The total numbers of cancer deaths and incident cancers were close to that expected (SMR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07; SIR 0.97, 95% CI 0.92-1.02). Lung cancer mortality and incidence were significantly increased among men (SMR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21; SIR 1.40, 95% CI 1.18-1.64) but not women (SMR 0.97, 95% CI 0.85-1.10; SIR 1.01, 95% CI 0.78-1.29). Similarly, among the population of the three census tracts near the Grants Uranium Mill, lung cancer mortality was significantly elevated among men (SMR 1.57; 95% CI 1.21-1.99) but not women (SMR 1.12; 95% CI 0.75-1.61). Except for an elevation in mortality for stomach cancer among women (SMR 1.30; 95% CI 1.03-1.63), which declined over the 55-year observation period, no significant increases in SMRs or SIRs for 22 other cancers were found. Although etiological inferences cannot be drawn from these ecological data, the excesses of lung cancer among men seem likely to be due to previously reported risks among underground miners from exposure to radon gas and its decay products. Smoking, socioeconomic factors or ethnicity may also have contributed to the lung cancer excesses observed in our study. The stomach cancer increase was highest before the uranium mill began operation and then decreased to normal levels. With the exception of male lung cancer, this study provides no clear or consistent evidence that the operation of uranium mills and mines adversely affected cancer incidence or mortality of county residents.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
10.1126/science.1241359
|
Mitochondrial fusion directs cardiomyocyte differentiation via calcineurin and notch signaling
|
Mitochondrial morphology is crucial for tissue homeostasis, but its role in cell differentiation is unclear. We found that mitochondrial fusion was required for proper cardiomyocyte development. Ablation of mitochondrial fusion proteins Mitofusin 1 and 2 in the embryonic mouse heart, or gene-trapping of Mitofusin 2 or Optic atrophy 1 in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), arrested mouse heart development and impaired differentiation of ESCs into cardiomyocytes. Gene expression profiling revealed decreased levels of transcription factors transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenetic protein, serum response factor, GATA4, and myocyte enhancer factor 2, linked to increased Ca2+-dependent calcineurin activity and Notch1 signaling that impaired ESC differentiation. Orchestration of cardiomyocyte differentiation by mitochondrial morphology reveals how mitochondria, Ca 2+, and calcineurin interact to regulate Notch1 signaling.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1073/pnas.1712450114
|
Structure and dynamics of the RNAPII CTDsome with Rtt103
|
RNA polymerase II contains a long C-terminal domain (CTD) that regulates interactions at the site of transcription. The CTD architecture remains poorly understood due to its low sequence complexity, dynamic phosphorylation patterns, and structural variability. We used integrative structural biology to visualize the architecture of the CTD in complex with Rtt103, a 3′-end RNA-processing and transcription termination factor. Rtt103 forms homodimers via its long coiled-coil domain and associates densely on the repetitive sequence of the phosphorylated CTD via its N-terminal CTD-interacting domain. The CTD–Rtt103 association opens the compact random coil structure of the CTD, leading to a beads-on-a-string topology in which the long rod-shaped Rtt103 dimers define the topological and mobility restraints of the entire assembly. These findings underpin the importance of the structural plasticity of the CTD, which is templated by a particular set of CTD-binding proteins.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1016/j.jup.2017.03.001
|
Access to infrastructure services: Global trends and drivers
|
Infrastructure services are essential to human development. Yet, the drivers of service access at a global scale remain largely unexplored. This paper presents trends and global patterns in access to water, sanitation, electricity, and telephony services. Using a panel data set from 1990 to 2010, we empirically explore plausible determinants of access rates to key infrastructure services. Although per-capita GDP is correlated with access rates, access still varies significantly at comparable income levels. Much of this variation is explained by differences in population density. Access levels are higher for urban areas and highest for water, followed by sanitation, electricity, and telephony.
|
[
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Earth System Science"
] |
887224
|
Innovative and efficient solution, based on modular, versatile, smart process units for energy and resource flexibility in highly energy intensive processes
|
The project aims to design, develop and validate an innovative solution, the CIRMET solution, to provide energy and resource flexibility to Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs)
The CIRMET solution will be validated in an operational environment (TRL7) in an existing process plant (non-ferrous sector) while the replicability of the solution will be assessed in three additional energy intensive sectors (steel, cement and water sector). For this purpose, three new demonstrators will be build up, plus the retrofitting of existing industry process unit. The new demonstrators or modules will be: EFFIMELT furnace, a new concept of flexible and modular process unit for industrial wastes treatment, RECUWASTE heat recovery unit, for flue gas heat recovery and transformation into compressed air to re-used in the same plant, having also the possibility of storing the excess energy and AFF40 (Analytic For Factory 4.0) platform, to improve process plant competitiveness, to increase energy and resource efficiency by controlling and optimizing process units. The retrofitting of an existing process unit (Metallo S.L process furnace) will be done to implement and validate the complete CIRMET solution.
A well-balanced consortium formed by academia, research organization, SMEs and energy intensive industries ensures the whole value chain needed to achieve project objectives and paves the way for future exploitation of the solution. The effective dissemination of project outcomes to the current and next generation of citizen and employees through the development of learning resources with flexible usage to be carried out by education/training experts within the consortium is eventually also an important objective of the consortium.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W2028313299
|
Testing and Analysis on Vibration Isolation Performance of Vehicle Engine Mounting System
|
Aiming at the vibration test of the power train mounting system of certain light truck, a vibration test is performed, and vibration response at each testing point of the system is obtained in different conditions. Data is processed based on Matlab software, to display the time domain and the frequency domain response in an image way in each testing condition. The energy transfer efficiency of each mounting point, the vibration frequency domain response property, and the vibration intensities of the variable-speed joystick and the steering wheel in three directions are analyzed, a parameter design optimize proposal on the mounting system is proposed, and the vibration isolation effect can be improved by reasonably selecting parameters.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
TW 96114799 A
|
Optical semiconductor encapsulating material
|
An optical semiconductor encapsulating material comprising (A) at least one (meth)acrylic compound selected from among a (meth)acrylate modified silicone oil, a long-chain alkyl (meth)acrylate and a polyalkylene glycol (meth)acrylate of 400 or greater number average molecular weight, (B) (meth)acrylate compound having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group with 6 or more carbon atoms ester bonded thereto and (C) radical polymerization initiator; and a photoelectric transducer and photoelectric converter apparatus utilizing the same. This optical semiconductor encapsulating material provides a hardening product that excels in transparency, being stable in ultraviolet rays and heat and suppressing yellowing and also exhibits excellent performance in adherence, and is suitable for use in the encapsulating material for light emitting element, photo acceptance element, etc. of optical semiconductor device (semiconductor light emitting device), especially the transparent encapsulating material for optical semiconductor, such as LED.
|
[
"Materials Engineering",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
W2030164400
|
The role of induction in operant schedule performance
|
Baum and Davison (2014b) showed that Baum's (2012) recasting of reinforcement as induction may be quantified by assuming that induction follows a power function of reinforcer rate. This power-function induction is readily integrated with theory based on the matching law. Herrnstein (1970) originally assumed background activities (BO) and their associated reinforcers ro to be constant, but ro should vary with BO. Further, power-function induction implies that BO should vary with reinforcer rate. Baum (1993) reported performance on a wide range of variable-ratio (VR) and variable-interval (VI) schedules. Pigeons' VR peck rate followed an inverted U-shaped relation, but VI peck rate separated into three ranges of food rate: low-to-moderate, moderate-to-high, and extremely high. As food rate increases, the concave downward relation in the low range reaches an inflection point and gives way to a concave upward relation in the higher range. At the extremes of food rate, VI peck rate decreases. A model based on competition between induced pecking and BO accounted for VI peck rate in the moderate to extreme range of food rates. Further research will account for all three ranges, either by integrating power-function induction with matching theory or with a model based on competition between induced activities.
|
[
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
] |
10.1016/j.matdes.2018.107565
|
Thermomechanical properties of amorphous metallic tungsten-oxygen and tungsten-oxide coatings
|
Metallic amorphous tungsten-oxygen and amorphous tungsten-oxide films, deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition, are characterized. The correlation is investigated between morphology, composition, and structure, measured by various techniques, and the mechanical properties, characterized by Brillouin Spectroscopy and the substrate curvature method. The stiffness of the films is correlated to the oxygen content and the mass density. The elastic moduli decrease as the mass density decreases and the oxygen-tungsten ratio increases. A plateau region is observed around the transition between the metal-like (conductive and opaque) films and the oxide ones (non-conductive and transparent). The compressive residual stresses, moderate stiffness and high local ductility of compact amorphous tungsten-oxide films are interesting for applications involving thermal or mechanical loads. The coefficient of thermal expansion is quite high (8. 9 ⋅ 10 −6 K −1 ), being strictly correlated to the amorphous structure and stoichiometry of the films. Upon thermal treatments the coatings show a quite low relaxation temperature of 450 K. Starting from 670 K, they crystallize into the γ monoclinic phase of WO 3 , the stiffness increasing by about 70%. The measured thermomechanical properties provide a guidance for the design of devices which include a tungsten based layer, in order to assure their mechanical integrity.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W2016588030
|
The Relationship Between Occupational Metal Exposure and Arterial Compliance
|
The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cumulative occupational exposure to various metals and arterial compliance in welders.The observational follow-up study consisted of 25 subjects. Levels of nickel (Ni), lead, cadmium, manganese, and arsenic from toenails were assessed using mass spectrometry. Arterial compliance as reflected by augmentation index (AIx) was measured using SphygmoCor Px Pulse Wave Analysis System. Linear regression models were used to assess the associations.For every 1 unit increase in log-transformed toenail Ni, there was a statistically significant 5.68 (95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 9.98; P = 0.01) unit increase in AIx. No significant associations were found between AIx and lead, cadmium, manganese, and arsenic.Cumulative Ni exposure is associated with increased arterial stiffness in welders and may increase risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
|
[
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
10.1115/1.4044548
|
Infusion Jet Flow Control In Neonatal Double Lumen Cannulae
|
Clinical success of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) depends on the proper venous cannulation. Venovenous (VV) ECMO is the preferred clinical intervention as it provides a single-site access by utilizing a VV double lumen cannula (VVDLC) with a higher level of mobilization and physical rehabilitation. Concurrent venous blood drainage and oxygenated blood infusion in the right atrium at the presence of the cannula makes the flow dynamics complex where potential mixing of venous and oxygenated blood can drastically decrease the overall performance of ECMO. There are no studies focusing on the neonatal and pediatric populations, in which the flow related effects are critical due to the small atrium size. In this study, fluid dynamics of infusion outflow jet for two commercially available neonatal VVDLC is analyzed using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Moreover, six new designs are proposed for the infusion channel geometry and compared. Important flow parameters such as flow turning angle (FTA), velocity decay, potential core, and turbulent intensity are investigated for the proposed models. The experiments showed that the outflow parameters of commercial cannulae such as FTA are strongly dependent on the operating Re number. This may result in a drastic efficiency reduction for cannula operating at off-design flow conditions. Moreover, the infusion outlet tip structure and jet internal guiding pathway (JIGP) was observed to greatly affect the outflow flow features. This is of paramount importance since the anatomical positioning of the cannula and the infusion outlet is strongly dependent on the outflow properties such as FTA.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
624988
|
Medical grade sensor for continuous hydration monitoring and early detection of fluid imbalances.
|
Fluid disorders represent a major problem in healthcare. Especially for patients in risk of dehydration or overhydration, such
as heart and renal disease patients in hospital wards or elderly population with reduced thirst and cognitive problems.
Improper fluid management has important implications for patients, caregivers and economies: increase mortality, increase
risk of suffering co-morbidities (infections, longer hospital stays, acute kidney injuries) and increase costs (e.g. proper hydration
could lead to €1bn savings in UK per year). Current practice for fluid monitoring uses Fluid Balance Charts, which are
inaccurate, incomplete, time-consuming and cumbersome to complete. Mode Sensors developed a revolutionary solution for fluid monitoring, the Re:Balans patch sensor, a non-invasive, connected, disposable and wearable sensor for remote and continuous monitoring of body hydration. Re:Balans is built 1) with robust sensor combination to meet medical level accuracy data, and 2) to be user-friendly and fit into everyday worker and patient procedures. Re:Balans will be a game-changer in the healthcare because: 1) it has better accuracy than the best-practice method in clinical settings; 2) it is cheaper and more efficient to use than current alternatives. Re:Balans will
have a major impact by: 1) reducing unnecessary costs and casualties by preventing dehydration, such as co-morbidities,
readmission to hospital or longer hospital stays; 2) improving doctors and nurses daily activities, substituting time-consuming
measurements by automatic, remote and continuous accurate data, and 3) strengthen healthcare systems with a solution
that directly addresses the EU’s challenges of ageing population, multimorbidity and healthcare worker shortages.
In addition, Re:Balans successful development and commercialization through this project will significantly boost our growth
with accumulated revenues and profits of €107 m and €37 m, respectively, for the 5-year post project.
|
[
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
W2494968998
|
Steady-State Tracking Analysis of Adaptive Filter With Maximum Correntropy Criterion
|
This letter studies the tracking performance of a stochastic gradient-based adaptive algorithm, namely the maximum correntropy criterion algorithm, where a random walk is used to model the non-stationarity. In our analysis, we use the energy conservation argument to derive expressions for the steady-state excess mean square error (EMSE). We consider two different cases for measurement of noise distribution including the Gaussian noise and general non-Gaussian noise. For the Gaussian case, we derive a fixed-point equation that can be solved numerically to find steady-state EMSE value. For the general non-Gaussian case, we derive an approximate closed-form expression for EMSE. For both cases, unlike the stationary environment, the EMSE curves are not increasing functions of step size parameter. We use this observation to find the optimum step size learning parameter for general non-Gaussian case. The validity of the theoretical results are justified via simulation results.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Mathematics"
] |
10.1109/MMUL.2011.22
|
Naming People In News Videos With Label Propagation
|
A face-naming method that learns from labeled and unlabeled examples relies on iterative label propagation in a graph of connected faces or name-face pairs.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
101001052
|
THEATRONOMICS: The Business of Theatres, 1732-1809
|
Eighteenth-century literary studies has taken a ‘theatrical turn’ over the past twenty-five years and the century historically associated with the ‘rise of the novel’ now acknowledges the centrality of the theatre to Georgian cultural and political life. However, we have virtually ignored its remarkable financial archive. Account-books, ledgers, and ephemeral manuscript folios contain rich data on ticket sales, audience members, revenues, actor salaries, repayments to investors, costume, scenery and other costs: this is richly detailed source material that needs to be understood. THEATRONOMICS places money at the heart of eighteenth-century theatrical culture. This project will apply financial and econometric analysis to this data to write a new history of eighteenth-century theatrical culture (1732-1809). Manuscript data for Covent Garden and Drury Lane—the two major theatres of Europe’s biggest city—will be transcribed, digitized, and analysed using econometric methods in order to incorporate the theatres’ underlying commercial operations to our research. Our central goal is the application of economic methodologies so that new perspectives on the careers of managers, playwrights, actors, and plays emerge. When we look at the hard financial data underpinning the performance scheduling decisions; the productivity and profitability of actors; the amounts spent on scenery, costumes, scenery, and candles; and the socioeconomic profiles of the audience, we will have a transformative understanding of the ‘back end’ of the theatre business. By synthesizing this complex data, THEATRONOMICS will further enable us, by interacting with other datasets, to ask new interdisciplinary questions about the place of theatre within the ecology of London. THEATRONOMICS’s insistence on gazing through the financial lens of cultural production gives us an innovative and sustainable basis for the next generation of eighteenth-century theatre studies.
|
[
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts"
] |
10.1021/ac503191v
|
Novel readout method for molecular diagnostic assays based on optical measurements of magnetic nanobead dynamics
|
We demonstrate detection of DNA coils formed from a Vibrio cholerae DNA target at picomolar concentrations using a novel optomagnetic approach exploiting the dynamic behavior and optical anisotropy of magnetic nanobead (MNB) assemblies. We establish that the complex second harmonic optical transmission spectra of MNB suspensions measured upon application of a weak uniaxial AC magnetic field correlate well with the rotation dynamics of the individual MNBs. Adding a target analyte to the solution leads to the formation of permanent MNB clusters, namely, to the suppression of the dynamic MNB behavior. We prove that the optical transmission spectra are highly sensitive to the formation of permanent MNB clusters and, thereby to the target analyte concentration. As a specific clinically relevant diagnostic case, we detect DNA coils formed via padlock probe recognition and isothermal rolling circle amplification and benchmark against a commercial equipment. The results demonstrate the fast optomagnetic readout of rolling circle products from bacterial DNA utilizing the dynamic properties of MNBs in a miniaturized and low-cost platform requiring only a transparent window in the chip.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
] |
10.1186/s13058-015-0600-5
|
Alternative signaling network activation through different insulin receptor family members caused by pro-mitogenic antidiabetic insulin analogues in human mammary epithelial cells
|
Introduction: Insulin analogues are designed to have improved pharmacokinetic parameters compared to regular human insulin. This provides a sustained control of blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. All novel insulin analogues are tested for their mitogenic side effects, however these assays do not take into account the molecular mode of action of different insulin analogues. Insulin analogues can bind the insulin receptor and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor with different affinities and consequently will activate different downstream signaling pathways. Methods: Here we used a panel of MCF7 human breast cancer cell lines that selectively express either one of the isoforms of the INSR or the IGF1R. We applied a transcriptomics approach to assess the differential transcriptional programs activated in these cells by either insulin, IGF1 or X10 treatment. Results: Based on the differentially expressed genes between insulin versus IGF1 and X10 treatment, we retrieved a mitogenic classifier gene set. Validation by RT-qPCR confirmed the robustness of this gene set. The translational potential of these mitogenic classifier genes was examined in primary human mammary cells and in mammary gland tissue of mice in an in vivo model. The predictive power of the classifier genes was evaluated by testing all commercial insulin analogues in the in vitro model and defined X10 and glargine as the most potent mitogenic insulin analogues. Conclusions: We propose that these mitogenic classifier genes can be used to test the mitogenic potential of novel insulin analogues as well as other alternative molecules with an anticipated affinity for the IGF1R.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
] |
IB 9700047 W
|
LUMINAIRE
|
The luminaire for tubular lamps has a housing (1) having a light emission plane (2) and several lighting units (10) accommodated in the housing. Each unit (10) has a pair of opposed side reflectors (12), which are possibly connected to lamellae (15) and which bound the light emission window (11) of the unit. Between two adjacent units (10) a possibly light transmitting, e.g. perforated, plate (20) is present, which fills the light emission plane (2). The plate (20), the side reflectors (12) and the lamellae (15) may constitute an assembly.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.268104
|
Foraging at the edge of chaos: Internal clock versus external forcing
|
Activity rhythms in animal groups arise both from external changes in the environment, as well as from internal group dynamics. These cycles are reminiscent of physical and chemical systems with quasiperiodic and even chaotic behavior resulting from "autocatalytic" mechanisms. We use nonlinear differential equations to model how the coupling between the self-excitatory interactions of individuals and external forcing can produce four different types of activity rhythms: quasiperiodic, chaotic, phase locked, and displaying over or under shooting. At the transition between quasiperiodic and chaotic regimes, activity cycles are asymmetrical, with rapid activity increases and slower decreases and a phase shift between external forcing and activity. We find similar activity patterns in ant colonies in response to varying temperature during the day. Thus foraging ants operate in a region of quasiperiodicity close to a cascade of transitions leading to chaos. The model suggests that a wide range of temporal structures and irregularities seen in the activity of animal and human groups might be accounted for by the coupling between collectively generated internal clocks and external forcings.
|
[
"Mathematics",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
] |
10.1242/dev.110585
|
The vav oncogene antagonises EGFR signalling and regulates adherens junction dynamics during Drosophila eye development
|
Organ shaping and patterning depends on the coordinated regulation of multiple processes. The Drosophila compound eye provides an excellent model to study the coordination of cell fate and cell positioning during morphogenesis. Here, we find that loss of vav oncogene function during eye development is associated with a disorganised retina characterised by the presence of additional cells of all types. We demonstrate that these defects result from two distinct roles of Vav. First, and in contrast to its well-established role as a positive effector of the EGF receptor (EGFR), we show that readouts of the EGFR pathway are upregulated in vav mutant larval eye disc and pupal retina, indicating that Vav antagonises EGFR signalling during eye development. Accordingly, decreasing EGFR signalling in vav mutant eyes restores retinal organisation and rescues most vav mutant phenotypes. Second, using live imaging in the pupal retina, we observe that vav mutant cells do not form stable adherens junctions, causing various defects, such as recruitment of extra primary pigment cells. In agreement with this role in junction dynamics, we observe that these phenotypes can be exacerbated by lowering DE-Cadherin or Cindr levels. Taken together, our findings establish that Vav acts at multiple times during eye development to prevent excessive cell recruitment by limiting EGFR signalling and by regulating junction dynamics to ensure the correct patterning and morphogenesis of the Drosophila eye.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
Q115785
|
Research and Development Centre – Mission White Hill – Podlaska Strategy for the success of R & D & I in agricultural mechanisation
|
The subject of Type 1 is the construction and equipment of the White Hill Research and Development Centre consisting of 5 research laboratories: biological, image analysis, neural networks, mechanics and electronics. The laboratories will be equipped with the research and development equipment indicated in the Annex Investment Cosztorys. The Centre will carry out industrial research and development work from IV to IX level TRL, resulting in the construction of a prototype – a robot with navigation and data collection system. The final product, which is a product innovation, will be dedicated to operators from the agri-food sector engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and vines. Results of development: the standard of mechanical connections of Autonomous Robot Modules and the standard of electronic connections and transmission of autonomic robot modules will be protected by intellectual property rights. The research works will include type 2 and type 3, so the project is a complex project. Researchers will be involved in the implementation of the research – mainly researchers with whom the company has positive relations and experience in conducting R & D projects supported by success in the form of commercialisation of R & D results. The company declares the dissemination of the results of industrial research and dissemination of the results of development. The company also declares the first implementation of the R & D results within 3 years from the completion of the project in the form of implementation into its own business. The project concerns the construction of a new site, a new unit and therefore the character of an initial investment in the form of a new plant. Implementation of the comprehensive project will be completed on 31.12.2019.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
W2368006623
|
Effect of Post-Heat Treatment on Dimensional Stability of Compressed Wood
|
The timber of Pinus armandii and Alnus cremastogyne was experimented to evaluate the dimensional stability by taking thickness swelling(TS) as the major evaluation index after the compressed wood was individually treated under 170℃ and 210℃ for 2 h with the heated air or conductive oil heat transfer media.The results showed that both of the moisture-uptake and water-uptake of the compressed wood could be reduced by post heat-treating,so the dimensional stability of the compressed wood was improved.The conductive oil treatment had better effect than that of the hot air,while the treatment effect under 210℃ was better than that of under 170℃.The best technological condition was conductive oil treatment under 210℃,which could reduce moisture uptake TS index by 50% while reduce TS value after 24 h water uptake by 85%.The results also showed that the effect of heat treatment varied with tree species,The heat treatment effect on Pinus armandii wood was better than that of on Alnus cremastogyne wood.
|
[
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
10.1212/WNL.0000000000003101
|
Zoonotic Bacterial Meningitis In Human Adults
|
Objective: To describe the epidemiology, etiology, clinical characteristics, treatment, outcome, and prevention of zoonotic bacterial meningitis in human adults. Methods: We identified 16 zoonotic bacteria causing meningitis in adults. Results: Zoonotic bacterial meningitis is uncommon compared to bacterial meningitis caused by human pathogens, and the incidence has a strong regional distribution. Zoonotic bacterial meningitis is mainly associated with animal contact, consumption of animal products, and an immunocompromised state of the patient. In a high proportion of zoonotic bacterial meningitis cases, CSF analysis showed only a mildly elevated leukocyte count. The recommended antibiotic therapy differs per pathogen, and the overall mortality is low. Conclusions: Zoonotic bacterial meningitis is uncommon but is associated with specific complications. The suspicion should be raised in patients with bacterial meningitis who have recreational or professional contact with animals and in patients living in regions endemic for specific zoonotic pathogens. An immunocompromised state is associated with a worse prognosis. Identification of risk factors and underlying disease is necessary to improve treatment.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
10.1016/j.stem.2012.06.017
|
The par complex and integrins direct asymmetric cell division in adult intestinal stem cells
|
The adult Drosophila midgut is maintained by intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that generate both self-renewing and differentiating daughter cells. How this asymmetry is generated is currently unclear. Here, we demonstrate that asymmetric ISC division is established by a unique combination of extracellular and intracellular polarity mechanisms. We show that Integrin-dependent adhesion to the basement membrane induces cell-intrinsic polarity and results in the asymmetric segregation of the Par proteins Par-3, Par-6, and aPKC into the apical daughter cell. Cell-specific knockdown and overexpression experiments suggest that increased activity of aPKC enhances Delta/Notch signaling in one of the two daughter cells to induce terminal differentiation. Perturbing this mechanism or altering the orientation of ISC division results in the formation of intestinal tumors. Our data indicate that mechanisms for intrinsically asymmetric cell division can be adapted to allow for the flexibility in lineage decisions that is required in adult stem cells.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
AM 0000004 W
|
CROWN CAP FOR BOTTLES
|
The invention refers to metallic coroniform caps for glass and metallic bottles containing liquid and viscous substances; the caps have cogged lower edges (1). The invention objective is creation of a coroniform cap that can be safely opened without any opening accessory. The essence of the invention is that while cutting the cap plate out of metal sheet a certain section of intermediate waste is not cut and removed, but is left with the plate to form a tab (2) (or 2 tabs). The stamping machine extends the corrugation of the cogged section onto the tabs, thus providing them with rigidity necessary for opening. The bottle is opened by exerting pressure on the tab from underneath with forefinger and removing the cap. The tabs may be arranged at 75 DEG , 90 DEG or 180 DEG angle to each other.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
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