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US 2006/0032140 W
|
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED ASSET MANAGEMENT UTILIZING MULTI-LEVEL MODELING OF OIL FIELD ASSETS
|
A method for creating an integrated asset management system for an oilfield, the method including: creating a plurality of models representing asset components each model having more than one levels of detail; connecting the more than one models to communicate with one another to create an integrated asset management system; selecting the levels of detail for the more than one models; and performing an analysis on the integrated asset management system utilizing the selected levels of detail to predict a characteristic of the integrated asset management system.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
2723607
|
Enhancing social cohesion through sharing the cultural heritage of forced migrations
|
The ambition of the project is to contribute to social cohesion and fight refugee marginalization or exclusion by facilitating the encounters between similar life stories, through the mediation of innovative digital and artistic tools. Based on theories of cultural heritage-making, exposing the commonalities of past and present experiences, listening to the target groups’ needs and through the development of a methodology template of co-creative design of replicable digital tools and cultural products, SO-CLOSE will improve social cohesion and promote mutual understanding between refugees and their local communities.
The resulting data and methodology will be used to develop several digital applications, for which purpose we have in our consortium strong technological partners with experience in this field. Working at the intersection of history, sociology, cultural studies, art and computer science, SO-CLOSE will design educational and cultural tools like interactive cookbooks, interactive documentaries based on immersive video recording, AI-powered Chatbots, interactive exhibitions based on personal memories and storytelling or an online platform, named Memory Center, built as a content aggregator and services platform.
SO-CLOSE development will be implemented in four different pilot locations, selected due to their similarities with the present and for the actual existence of memory and intangible cultural heritage:
- VDA, Krakow (Poland)
- Trikeri Island Concentration Camp (Greece)
- MUME de l’Exili (Spain)
- MONTE Marzabotto (Italy
Planned Memory Center interactive platform with its embedded repository of multimedia content and advances services, will be a global instrument transforming old-fashioned museums in Living Labs through designing new cultural experiences based on the cultural heritage of refugees addressing to generate social awareness.
|
[
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Studies of Cultures and Arts",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
W2622514874
|
Revisiting recency abstraction for JavaScript: towards an intuitive, compositional, and efficient heap abstraction
|
JavaScript is one of the most widely used programming languages. To understand the behaviors of JavaScript programs and to detect possible errors in them, researchers have developed several static analyzers based on the abstract interpretation framework. However, JavaScript provides various language features that are difficult to analyze statically and precisely such as dynamic addition and removal of object properties, first-class property names, and higher-order functions. To alleviate the problem, JavaScript static analyzers often use recency abstraction, which refines address abstraction by distinguishing recent objects from summaries of old objects. We observed that while recency abstraction enables more precise analysis results by allowing strong updates on recent objects, it is not monotone in the sense that it does not preserve the precision relationship between the underlying address abstraction techniques: for an address abstraction A and a more precise abstraction B, recency abstraction on B may not be more precise than recency abstraction on A. Such an unintuitive semantics of recency abstraction makes its composition with various analysis sensitivity techniques also unintuitive. In this paper, we propose a new singleton abstraction technique, which distinguishes singleton objects to allow strong updates on them without changing a given address abstraction. We formally define recency and singleton abstractions, and explain the unintuitive behaviors of recency abstraction. Our preliminary experiments show promising results for singleton abstraction.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1126/scitranslmed.3009093
|
TREM2 mutations implicated in neurodegeneration impair cell surface transport and phagocytosis
|
Genetic variants in the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) have been linked to Nasu-Hakola disease, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and FTD-like syndrome without bone involvement. TREM2 is an innate immune receptor preferentially expressed bymicroglia and is involved in inflammation and phagocytosis. Whether and how TREM2 missense mutations affect TREM2 function is unclear. We report that missensemutations associated with FTD and FTD-like syndrome reduce TREM2 maturation, abolish shedding by ADAM proteases, and impair the phagocytic activity of TREM2-expressing cells. As a consequence of reduced shedding, TREM2 is virtually absent in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of a patient with FTD-like syndrome. A decrease in soluble TREM2 was also observed in the CSF of patients with AD and FTD, further suggesting that reduced TREM2 function may contribute to increased risk for two neurodegenerative disorders.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1007/s00062-017-0658-9
|
High Isotropic Resolution T2 Mapping of the Lumbosacral Plexus with T2-Prepared 3D Turbo Spin Echo
|
Purpose: Isotropic high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is increasingly used to depict even small and highly oblique nerves of the lumbosacral plexus (LSP). The present study introduces a T2 mapping sequence (T2-prepared 3D turbo spin echo) that is B1-insensitive and enables quantitative assessment of LSP nerves. Methods: In this study 15 healthy subjects (mean age 28. 5 ± 3. 8 years) underwent 3 T MRN of the LSP area three times. The T2 values were calculated offline on a voxel-by-voxel basis and measured at three segments (preganglionic, ganglionic, postganglionic) of three LSP nerves (S1, L5, L4) by two independent investigators (experienced and novice). Normative data for the different nerves were extracted and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess reproducibility and interobserver reliability of T2 measurements. Results: The T2 mapping showed excellent reproducibility with ICCs ranging between 0. 99 (S1 preganglionic) and 0. 89 (L5 postganglionic). Interobserver reliability was less robust with ICCs ranging between 0. 78 (S1 preganglionic) and 0. 44 (L5 postganglionic) for S1 and L5. A mean T2 value of 74. 6 ± 4. 7 ms was registered for preganglionic segments, 84. 7 ± 4. 1 ms for ganglionic and 65. 4 ± 2. 5 ms for postganglionic segments, respectively. There was a statistically significant variation of T2 values across the nerve (preganglionic vs ganglionic vs postganglionic) for S1, L5, and L4. Conclusion: Our approach enables isotropic high-resolution and B1-insensitive T2 mapping of LSP nerves with excellent reproducibility. It might reflect a robust and clinically useful method for future diagnostics of LSP pathologies.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System"
] |
10.1038/nrn.2016.162
|
Structural plasticity and reorganisation in chronic pain
|
Chronic pain is not simply a temporal continuum of acute pain. Studies on functional plasticity in neural circuits of pain have provided mechanistic insights and linked various modulatory factors to a change in perception and behaviour. However, plasticity also occurs in the context of structural remodelling and reorganisation of synapses, cells and circuits, potentially contributing to the long-term nature of chronic pain. This Review discusses maladaptive structural plasticity in neural circuits of pain, spanning multiple anatomical and spatial scales in animal models and human patients, and addresses key questions on structure-function relationships.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
] |
interreg_2421
|
Mines of Mountains
|
The territory of the project is characterized by an important natural heritage, and is considered as a mountain area. That’s why it’s necessary to bring a particular attention in order to limit the depopulation of these marginal areas and contain climate changes, witch impact it deeply. The main economic activity pass by mountain tourism. These last years, we are assisting, sometimes at eh increasing of a demand linked to a cultural discovery of the territory, during all the year: the mining heritage has, in this context, a fundamental role.
The project aims to the creation of a cross-border territorial network to create a cultural touristic offer linked the mining patrimony, aiming to a sustainable development. This kind of network has as objective, to allow local communities implied to appropriate this architectural, historical, historical, environmental heritage constituted by mines, forgotten and not usable in their state.
Even if Aoste Valley and Savoy have invested in the safeguard, and that local communities asked their valorisation, the management of alpine mine sites are still a common problematic.
The project aims, also, to find a use to this patrimony, transforming this “negative” point in a positive one, at the same level as other heritage elements of the Alpes.
|
[
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"The Study of the Human Past"
] |
10.3791/55221
|
3D Magnetic Stem Cell Aggregation And Bioreactor Maturation For Cartilage Regeneration
|
Cartilage engineering remains a challenge due to the difficulties in creating an in vitro functional implant similar to the native tissue. An approach recently explored for the development of autologous replacements involves the differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes. To initiate this chondrogenesis, a degree of compaction of the stem cells is required; hence, we demonstrated the feasibility of magnetically condensing cells, both within thick scaffolds and scaffold-free, using miniaturized magnetic field sources as cell attractors. This magnetic approach was also used to guide aggregate fusion and to build scaffold-free, organized, three-dimensional (3D) tissues several millimeters in size. In addition to having an enhanced size, the tissue formed by magnetic-driven fusion presented a significant increase in the expression of collagen II, and a similar trend was observed for aggrecan expression. As the native cartilage was subjected to forces that influenced its 3D structure, dynamic maturation was also performed. A bioreactor that provides mechanical stimuli was used to culture the magnetically seeded scaffolds over a 21-day period. Bioreactor maturation largely improved chondrogenesis into the cellularized scaffolds; the extracellular matrix obtained under these conditions was rich in collagen II and aggrecan. This work outlines the innovative potential of magnetic condensation of labeled stem cells and dynamic maturation in a bioreactor for improved chondrogenic differentiation, both scaffold-free and within polysaccharide scaffolds.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Materials Engineering",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
] |
885336
|
Smart ordering plan as a service
|
Knowing how much to order and when is a longstanding industrial problem called order planning. The 2 main approaches are:
1. Upfront ordering. Allows capturing quantity discounts and simplifying operations, but causes high inventory costs (e.g. space, amortisation).
2. Just-in-time ordering. Minimises inventory costs, but requires a higher quality control, increases order fees and reduces discounts on quantities.
However, the right solution lays in the grey area in-between. Sometimes part of the inventory might go bad after a certain time and forces frequent ordering, storage space might be limited, suppliers might impose minimal order amounts, may be some material has long lead times. In summary, a myriad of real-world considerations that current solutions ignore, achieving only partial optimisations.
GenLots’ SOPaaS is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that untapped savings in the ordering plan (OP) elaboration stage of Supply Chain Management (SCM) process thanks to our machine learning based algorithms. In short, SOPaaS optimally answers the question: “When do I need to order and how much raw material?”
Our proprietary machine-learning algorithms unlocks untapped savings of 5-10% of total purchasing cost on average. This translates in millions of euros saved for our clients, a unique value proposition that guarantees their willingness to pay. SOPaaS solves the theoretical problem of obtaining the ordering plan, while also considering real-world factors in various dimensions, e.g. cost (e.g. lots’ shelf life, associated storage cost), sustainability (e.g. prefer eco-friendly shipments) or responsibility (e.g. fair trade considerations) among others.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
185333
|
Novel system for surface inspection and quality control for steel industries.
|
European and global steel industry are facing several challenges, including meeting the high international quality standards.
ISEND is a SME founded in 2006 and a acknowledged worldwide expert in industrial Non Destructive Test (NDT) systems that is participated by the Venture Capital ”Sodical” to support its international growth. ISEND has identified a need from its customers (spread trough Europe, Asia, North&South America) in a specific niche market of the Hot rolling mill industries for metal wire rod to which the current commercial solution have strong weakness.
In this market, the producers are required to fulfil quality standards for surface cracks lower than 1% of diameter. Claims from customers against the lack of these standards can reach 4% of total plant year production. Surface cracks inspection technologies, are difficult to implement due to plants harsh environment (1200 ºC and rolling speeds up to 120 m/s), massive production rates (>10 Mton/year). Those systems must also deal with different alloy grades, applications, and final product sizes (diameters covers from 5 to 90 mm, wire coil lengths range is from 14,000 m to 750 m).
Our proposed system EddyEyes® is a surface quality control system for Non Destructive Testing of metal products in production plants and is able able to detect, locate, display and storage surface cracks as smaller as 50 µm deep at 120 m/s rolling speed and 1200 ºC temperature in continuous operation.
EddyEyes® selling price would be 0,4M€ (50% lower than our main competitors) what will allow the enduser payback period be less than 1 year.
We have estimated that the worldwide market size for this product will be of 2.000 industries, from which we forecast that at least 20% will be interested in an improved quality control system.
We foresee to be able in 5 years to position ourselves as leader in this niche market, reaching around 20% of the worldwide market and a turnover of 24 Million euro and creating 80 employees
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1039/b912997a
|
Zeolitic imidazole frameworks: Structural and energetics trends compared with their zeolite analogues
|
We use periodic DFT calculations to compute the total energy of known zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) together with those of hypothetical porous ZIFs. We show that the total energy of ZIFs decreases with increasing density, in a similar fashion to the alumino-silicate zeolites, but with a more complex energy landscape. The computational evaluation of the stability of hypothetical ZIFs is useful in the search for viable synthesis targets. Our results suggest that a number of hitherto undiscovered nanoporous topologies should be amenable to synthesis (CAN, ATN) and that even the most open framework types might be obtained with appropriately substituted ligands.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1109/APEC.2017.7931161
|
Modulation Strategy For Highly Reliable Cascade H Bridge Inverter Based On Discontinuous Pwm
|
The Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) topology is widely employed in high power and high voltage applications due to advantages of the low dv/dt, the low EMI noise, and the low filter inductance. An issue of this modular system is the possible unequal thermal stress of the power semiconductors in the cells, which is affecting the reliability and leads to maintenance costs and down-times. In this paper, the seven-level CHB topology is considered and the modulation strategy based on the Discontinuous PWM (DPWM) is proposed to improve the reliability by reducing the switching losses of a cell experiencing premature wear-out.
|
[
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
W2040240485
|
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Obese Patients: Comparison Between the Prone and Total Supine Position
|
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) can be performed in the prone or in the supine position. Comparisons between the two techniques in obese patients are rare in the current literature.The records of obese patients (body mass index >30) who underwent PCNL in the prone or complete supine positions were reviewed. All patients had a noncontrast CT before and after the procedure. Stones were graded according to the Guy stone score and complications according to the Clavien grading. The stone-free rates, operative time, surgical complications, and hospital stay were analyzed.A total of 56 PCNL were performed in 42 patients. Twenty-four PCNL were performed in the prone and 32 in the total supine position. Stone-free rate on the first postoperative day was 50% in the prone and 46.9% in the supine position (P=1.0). Final stone-free rates were 83.3% and 78.1%, respectively (P=0.74). Mean operative time was 164.6 minutes in the prone and 120.3 minutes in the supine position (P=0.0017), and hospital stay was 4.38 and 2.68 days (P=0.014), respectively. The transfusion rate was 20.8% in the prone and zero in the supine position patients (P=0.01). Excluding Guy IV stones, transfusion rate was 8.3% in the prone position (P=0.1). Significant surgical complications rate was 12.5% in the prone and 3.1% in the supine position (P=0.302).PCNL performed in the prone or in the complete supine position in obese patients presents similar outcomes. The supine decubitus position has the advantages of a significantly shorter operative time and hospital stay.
|
[
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
10.1007/s00221-011-2578-2
|
Visual experience and blindsight: A methodological review
|
Blindsight is classically defined as residual visual capacity, e. g. , to detect and identify visual stimuli, in the total absence of perceptual awareness following lesions to V1. However, whereas most experiments have investigated what blindsight patients can and cannot do, the literature contains several, often contradictory, remarks about remaining visual experience. This review examines closer these remarks as well as experiments that directly approach the nature of possibly spared visual experiences in blindsight.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System"
] |
10.1038/s41598-017-07497-x
|
Ndrg1 promotes adipocyte differentiation and sustains their function
|
Adipocytes play a central role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis in the body. Differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells requires the transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (Pparγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/Ebps). Transcriptional activity is regulated by signaling modules activated by a plethora of hormones and nutrients. Mechanistic target of rapamacin complexes (mTORC) 1 and 2 are central for the coordination of hormonal and nutritional inputs in cells and are essential for adipogenesis. Serum glucocorticoid kinase 1 (Sgk1)-dependent phosphorylation of N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (Ndrg1) is a hallmark of mTORC2 activation in cells. Moreover, Pparγ activation promotes Ndrg1 expression. However, the impact of Ndrg1 on adipocyte differentiation and function has not yet been defined. Here, we show that Ndrg1 expression and its Sgk1-dependent phosphorylation are induced during adipogenesis. Consistently, we demonstrate that Ndrg1 promotes adipocyte differentiation and function by inducing Pparγ expression. Additionally, our results indicate that Ndrg1 is required for C/Ebpα phosphorylation. Moreover, we found that Ndrg1 phosphorylation by Sgk1 promotes adipocyte formation. Taken together, we show that induction of Ndrg1 expression by Pparγ and its phosphorylation by Sgk1 kinase are required for the acquisition of adipocyte characteristics by precursor cells.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
677623
|
Regulation of lymphocyte biology by ubiquitin and ubiquitin like modifiers
|
T lymphocytes are key cells of the adaptive immune system that protect us against pathogens and malignant cells. T cell activation and differentiation are tightly controlled processes and deregulation can result in lymphomas, autoimmunity and inflammation. Hence, the biochemical events regulating lymphocyte biology have long been a topic of intense research, which has been focussed predominantly on protein phosphorylation. I hypothesize that there are crucial roles undiscovered in T cells for other posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-like proteins (UBLs). The importance of ubiquitylation in adaptive immunity is implied by the severe immunological disorders observed when components of the Ub system are disrupted in lymphocytes. Genetic approaches in mice give a limited understanding about the roles of these modifiers and do not reveal the full extent to which Ub and UBLs regulate lymphocyte biology. Deterred by the complexity of the Ub system, the field has not yet tackled the daunting challenge of systematically investigating these modifiers in vivo. The goal of this proposal is to define how T cell function and immune responses are regulated by Ub and UBL signalling networks. To pioneer substantial progress in this area, we will develop new methods to identify and characterize currently unknown recognition modules for the different modifications. We will elucidate the Ub and UBL modified proteome in lymphocytes and characterize dynamic changes of these PTMs during T cell activation. By focussing on enzymes that remove the modifications we will discover how these PTMs are regulated and define Ub and UBL-dependent signalling nodes. Each phase of the work will deliver fundamentally novel mechanistic insights into these PTMs while rewriting current concepts of signalling in lymphocytes. Ultimately, this work will inform therapies seeking to target lymphocyte activity in disease.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.15252/embj.201899852
|
Bacterial killing by complement requires membrane attack complex formation via surface-bound C5 convertases
|
The immune system kills bacteria by the formation of lytic membrane attack complexes (MACs), triggered when complement enzymes cleave C5. At present, it is not understood how the MAC perturbs the composite cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we show that the role of C5 convertase enzymes in MAC assembly extends beyond the cleavage of C5 into the MAC precursor C5b. Although purified MAC complexes generated from preassembled C5b6 perforate artificial lipid membranes and mammalian cells, these components lack bactericidal activity. In order to permeabilize both the bacterial outer and inner membrane and thus kill a bacterium, MACs need to be assembled locally by the C5 convertase enzymes. Our data indicate that C5b6 rapidly loses the capacity to form bactericidal pores; therefore, bacterial killing requires both in situ conversion of C5 and immediate insertion of C5b67 into the membrane. Using flow cytometry and atomic force microscopy, we show that local assembly of C5b6 at the bacterial surface is required for the efficient insertion of MAC pores into bacterial membranes. These studies provide basic molecular insights into MAC assembly and bacterial killing by the immune system.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1117/12.896471
|
Nanowire Based Heterostructures Fundamental Properties And Applications
|
In this paper the fundamental properties of heterostructures based on semiconductor nanowires synthesized with molecular beam epitaxy are reviewed. Special focus is given on surface passivation mechanisms with radial epitaxial passivation shells. The growth of radial p-i-n junctions in GaAs nanowires is discussed. Characterization of such nanowires on a single nanowire level is presented. The fundamental limits of single nanowire optical device performance are obtained by numerical simulation and discussed.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
3725781
|
Topological quantum gas microsope
|
In this project I will study the properties of interacting topological insulators using ultracold atoms in optical lattices. To this aim, I will build the first bosonic quantum gas microscope that allows single site resolution in combination with excellent control of atomic interactions. This project will be able to detect and manipulate in-situ a wide number of topological Hamiltonians from the weakly to the strongly interacting regime. The first part of the project involves a construction stage. After characterization of the experimental setup, in a first series of experiments I will study the interacting 2D Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model where higher-order symmetry-protected topological phases are expected. In this model, the control of interactions is crucial to observe interaction-induced topological phase transitions.
In a second series of experiments, I will implement a new technique based on Raman-induced tunneling in state dependent potentials to create artificial gauge fields. This scheme will provide full control of the hopping matrix elements and will avoid the typical heating associated to driven-many-body systems in cold atoms experiments. The spatial resolution provided by the quantum gas microscope, the acquired knowledge provided by the interacting SSH model and the implementation of this new driving-scheme will open the possibility to study and prepare adiabatically for the first time a strongly-correlated topological phase.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
] |
10.1051/0004-6361/201116481
|
Planck Early Results Xxii The Submillimetre Properties Of A Sample Of Galactic Cold Clumps
|
We perform a detailed investigation of sources from the Cold Cores Catalogue of Planck Objects (C3PO). Our goal is to probe the reliability of the detections, validate the separation between warm and cold dust emission components, provide the first glimpse at the nature, internal morphology and physical characterictics of the Planck-detected sources. We focus on a sub-sample of ten sources from the C3PO list, selected to sample different environments, from high latitude cirrus to nearby (150pc) and remote (2kpc) molecular complexes. We present Planck surface brightness maps and derive the dust temperature, emissivity spectral index, and column densities of the fields. With the help of higher resolution Herschel and AKARI continuum observations and molecular line data, we investigate the morphology of the sources and the properties of the substructures at scales below the Planck beam size. The cold clumps detected by Planck are found to be located on large-scale filamentary (or cometary) structures that extend up to 20pc in the remote sources. The thickness of these filaments ranges between 0. 3 and 3pc, for column densities N(H2) (~) 0. 1 to 1. 6 × 10(22) cm(-2), and with linear mass density covering a broad range, between 15 and 400 M⊙ pc(-1). The dust temperatures are low (between 10 and 15K) and the Planck cold clumps correspond to local minima of the line-of-sight averaged dust temperature in these fields. These low temperatures are confirmed when AKARI and Herschel data are added to the spectral energy distributions. Herschel data reveal a wealth of substructure within the Planck cold clumps. In all cases (except two sources harbouring young stellar objects), the substructures are found to be colder, with temperatures as low as 7K. Molecular line observations provide gas column densities which are consistent with those inferred from the dust. The linewidths are all supra-thermal, providing large virial linear mass densities in the range 10 to 300 M⊙ pc-1, comparable within factors of a few, to the gas linear mass densities. The analysis of this small set of cold clumps already probes a broad variety of structures in the C3PO sample, probably associated with different evolutionary stages, from cold and starless clumps, to young protostellar objects still embedded in their cold surrounding cloud. Because of the all-sky coverage and its sensitivity, Planck is able to detect and locate the coldest spots in massive elongated structures that may be the long-searched for progenitors of stellar clusters.
|
[
"Universe Sciences"
] |
10.1145/3306346.3322981
|
Volume Aware Design Of Composite Molds
|
We propose a novel technique for the automatic design of molds to cast highly complex shapes. The technique generates composite, two-piece molds. Each mold piece is made up of a hard plastic shell and a flexible silicone part. Thanks to the thin, soft, and smartly shaped silicone part, which is kept in place by a hard plastic shell, we can cast objects of unprecedented complexity. An innovative algorithm based on a volumetric analysis defines the layout of the internal cuts in the silicone mold part. Our approach can robustly handle thin protruding features and intertwined topologies that have caused previous methods to fail. We compare our results with state of the art techniques, and we demonstrate the casting of shapes with extremely complex geometry.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1021/ci400354b
|
Functional motions modulating VanA ligand binding unraveled by self-organizing maps
|
The VanA d-Ala:d-Lac ligase is a key enzyme in the emergence of high level resistance to vancomycin in Enterococcus species and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It catalyzes the formation of d-Ala-d-Lac instead of the vancomycin target, d-Ala-d-Ala, leading to the production of modified, low vancomycin binding affinity peptidoglycan precursors. Therefore, VanA appears as an attractive target for the design of new antibacterials to overcome resistance. The catalytic site of VanA is delimited by three domains and closed by an ω-loop upon enzymatic reaction. The aim of the present work was (i) to investigate the conformational transition of VanA associated with the opening of its ω-loop and of a part of its central domain and (ii) to relate this transition with the substrate or product binding propensities. Molecular dynamics trajectories of the VanA ligase of Enterococcus faecium with or without a disulfide bridge distant from the catalytic site revealed differences in the catalytic site conformations with a slight opening. Conformations were clustered with an original machine learning method, based on self-organizing maps (SOM), which revealed four distinct conformational basins. Several ligands related to substrates, intermediates, or products were docked to SOM representative conformations with the DOCK 6. 5 program. Classification of ligand docking poses, also performed with SOM, clearly distinguished ligand functional classes: substrates, reaction intermediates, and product. This result illustrates the acuity of the SOM classification and supports the quality of the DOCK program poses. The protein-ligand interaction features for the different classes of poses will guide the search and design of novel inhibitors.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
W1972414445
|
Early pregnancy metabolite profiling discovers a potential biomarker for the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus
|
Current early pregnancy screening tools to identify women at risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus lack both specificity and sensitivity. As a result, the foetus and mother are often subjected to insult during disease progression, prior to diagnosis and treatment in later pregnancy. Metabolomics is an analytical approach, which allows for appraisal of small molecular mass compounds in a biofluid. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between the early gestation serum metabolite profile and the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus in the search for early pregnancy biomarkers and potential metabolic mechanisms. Our nested case-control study analysed maternal serum at 20 weeks' gestation, obtained from the New Zealand cohort of the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints study. Metabolomic profiling was performed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and metabolites were identified using R software and an in-house mass spectral library. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0. Forty-eight metabolites were identified in the serum samples. Itaconic acid (P = 0.0003), with a false discovery rate of 0.012, was found to be significantly more abundant in women who subsequently developed gestational diabetes mellitus, when compared to controls with uncomplicated pregnancies. The current pilot study found that itaconic acid may have potential as a novel biomarker in early pregnancy to predict the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus. However, the findings from this pilot study require validation with a larger, diverse population before translation into the clinical setting.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
10.1371/journal.pone.0018901
|
Collective irrationality and positive feedback
|
Recent experiments on ants and slime moulds have assessed the degree to which they make rational decisions when presented with a number of alternative food sources or shelter. Ants and slime moulds are just two examples of a wide range of species and biological processes that use positive feedback mechanisms to reach decisions. Here we use a generic, experimentally validated model of positive feedback between group members to show that the probability of taking the best of n options depends crucially on the strength of feedback. We show how the probability of choosing the best option can be maximized by applying an optimal feedback strength. Importantly, this optimal value depends on the number of options, so that when we change the number of options the preference of the group changes, producing apparent "irrationalities". We thus reinterpret the idea that collectives show "rational" or "irrational" preferences as being a necessary consequence of the use of positive feedback. We argue that positive feedback is a heuristic which often produces fast and accurate group decision-making, but is always susceptible to apparent irrationality when studied under particular experimental conditions.
|
[
"Mathematics",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
] |
10.1109/ICST.2017.43
|
Timed K Tail Automatic Inference Of Timed Automata
|
Accurate and up-to-date models describing the behavior of software systems are seldom available in practice. To address this issue, software engineers may use specification mining techniques, which can automatically derive models that capture the behavior of the system under analysis. So far, most specification mining techniques focused on the functional behavior of the systems, with specific emphasis on models that represent the ordering of operations, such as temporal rules and finite state models. Although useful, these models are inherently partial. For instance, they miss the timing behavior, which is extremely relevant for many classes of systems and components, such as shared libraries and user-driven applications. Mining specifications that include both the functional and the timing aspects can improve the applicability of many testing and analysis solutions. This paper addresses this challenge by presenting the Timed k-Tail (TkT) specification mining technique that can mine timed automata from program traces. Since timed automata can effectively represent the interplay between the functional and the timing behavior of a system, TkT could be exploited in those contexts where time-related information is relevant. Our empirical evaluation shows that TkT can efficiently and effectively mine accurate models. The mined models have been used to identify executions with anomalous timing. The evaluation shows that most of the anomalous executions have been correctly identified while producing few false positives.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
10.1182/bloodadvances.2018023986
|
HMGA2 promotes long-term engraftment and myeloerythroid differentiation of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
|
Identification of determinants of fate choices in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is essential to improve the clinical use of HSCs and to enhance our understanding of the biology of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Here, we show that high-mobility group AT hook 2 (HMGA2), a nonhistone chromosomal-binding protein, is highly and preferentially expressed in HSCs and in the most immature progenitor cell subset of fetal, neonatal, and adult human hematopoiesis. Knockdown of HMGA2 by short hairpin RNA impaired the long-term hematopoietic reconstitution of cord blood (CB)–derived CB CD34+ cells. Conversely, overexpression of HMGA2 in CB CD34+ cells led to overall enhanced reconstitution in serial transplantation assays accompanied by a skewing toward the myeloerythroid lineages. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that enforced HMGA2 expression in CD34+ cells induced gene-expression signatures associated with differentiation toward megakaryocyte-erythroid and myeloid lineages, as well as signatures associated with growth and survival, which at the protein level were coupled with strong activation of AKT. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a key role of HMGA2 in regulation of both proliferation and differentiation of human HSPCs.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
10.1186/s12862-018-1279-x
|
Mosaic mitochondrial-plastid insertions into the nuclear genome show evidence of both non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination
|
Background: Mitochondrial and plastid DNA fragments are continuously transferred into eukaryotic nuclear genomes, giving rise to nuclear copies of mitochondrial DNA (numts) and nuclear copies of plastid DNA (nupts). Numts and nupts are classified as simple if they are composed of a single organelle fragment or as complex if they are composed of multiple fragments. Mosaic insertions are complex insertions composed of fragments of both mitochondrial and plastid DNA. Simple numts and nupts in eukaryotes have been extensively studied, their mechanism of insertion involves non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Mosaic insertions have been less well-studied and their mechanisms of integration are unknown. Results: Here we estimated the number of nuclear mosaic insertions (numins) in nine plant genomes. We show that numins compose up to 10% of the total nuclear insertions of organelle DNA in these plant genomes. The NHEJ hallmarks typical for numts and nupts were also identified in mosaic insertions. However, the number of identified insertions that integrated via NHEJ mechanism is underestimated, as NHEJ signatures are conserved only in recent insertions and mutationally eroded in older ones. A few complex insertions show signatures of long homology that cannot be attributed to NHEJ, a novel observation that implicates gene conversion or single strand annealing mechanisms in organelle nuclear insertions. Conclusions: The common NHEJ signature that was identified here reveals that, in plant cells, mitochondria and plastid fragments in numins must meet during or prior to integration into the nuclear genome.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
175104
|
Open payments eco-system
|
The aim is to enable the widespread development of innovative payment applications with the active involvement of financial institutions (e.g. banks) providing supporting transaction services by creating an Open Payments Eco-system (OPE). The OPE is the critical step in widening access to payment services and to alternative, open, collaborative, lower cost methods of delivering payment applications to end users (particularly SME’s) who want to make use of payment services within their business. The Eco-system enables the SME developer community to provide creative new payment applications to the market and offers a high degree of re-use of common application components.
OPE has the potential to fundamentally disrupt the current creation and delivery mechanisms for payment services, by providing for the low-cost creation of quality assured payment applications and the building and delivery of payment services, in a controlled and regulatory-compliant environment.
Forecasting reports (Visa Europe – 2011 and PSE Consulting – 2013) indicate a potential market for prepaid payment services in corporate and consumer segments in Europe of >€140bn by 2020. The market application will initially be launched in the UK (2017-18) but quickly rolled out into the rest of Europe (2018 onwards) leveraging the expected OPE common coded regulatory compliance, with Italy, Spain, France and Germany being the focus.
Ixaris specialises in the development of innovative global applications based on open-loop prepaid card schemes and the OPE will add a unique infrastructure to its product portfolio. This will be achieved by opening up the established payment infrastructure and in doing so disrupting the traditional way in which innovation in payments takes place within the current established banking eco-system.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
] |
10.4171/JEMS/257
|
Presentations Of Finite Simple Groups A Computational Approach
|
All nonabelian finite simple groups of rank $n$ over a field of size $q$, with the possible exception of the Ree groups $^2G_2(3^{2e+1})$, have presentations with at most $80 $ relations and bit-length $O(\log n +\log q)$. Moreover, $A_n$ and $S_n$ have presentations with 3 generators$,$ 7 relations and bit-length $O(\log n)$, while $\SL(n,q)$ has a presentation with 7 generators, $2 5$ relations and bit-length $O(\log n +\log q)$
|
[
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1016/j.scriptamat.2017.06.016
|
Ultra-low-angle boundary networks within recrystallizing grains
|
We present direct evidence of a network of well-defined ultra-low-angle boundaries in bulk recrystallizing grains of 99. 5% pure aluminium (AA1050) by means of a new, three-dimensional X-ray mapping technique; dark-field X-ray microscopy. These boundaries separate lattice orientation differences on the order of 0. 05° and thus subdivide the recrystallizing grain into 2–7 μm wide domains. During further annealing the orientation differences decrease and the overall structure become more uniform while the network remains. It is observed that the morphology of the grain boundaries surrounding the recrystallizing grains relate to the intragranular network and effects hereof on the boundary migration is discussed.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1101/gad.290924.116
|
Essential role for centromeric factors following p53 loss and oncogenic transformation
|
In mammals, centromere definition involves the histone variant CENP-A (centromere protein A), deposited by its chaperone, HJURP (Holliday junction recognition protein). Alterations in this process impair chromosome segregation and genome stability, which are also compromised by p53 inactivation in cancer. Here we found that CENP-A and HJURP are transcriptionally up-regulated in p53-null human tumors. Using an established mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) model combining p53 inactivation with E1A or HRas-V12 oncogene expression, we reproduced a similar up-regulation of HJURP and CENP-A. We delineate functional CDE/CHR motifs within the Hjurp and Cenpa promoters and demonstrate their roles in p53-mediated repression. To assess the importance of HJURP up-regulation in transformed murine and human cells, we used a CRISPR/Cas9 approach. Remarkably, depletion of HJURP leads to distinct outcomes depending on their p53 status. Functional p53 elicits a cell cycle arrest response, whereas, in p53-null transformed cells, the absence of arrest enables the loss of HJURP to induce severe aneuploidy and, ultimately, apoptotic cell death. We thus tested the impact of HJURP depletion in pre-established allograft tumors in mice and revealed a major block of tumor progression in vivo. We discuss a model in which an “epigenetic addiction” to the HJURP chaperone represents an Achilles’ heel in p53-deficient transformed cells.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
] |
10.1242/dev.112979
|
Wnt/β-catenin and FGF signalling direct the specification and maintenance of a neuromesodermal axial progenitor in ensembles of mouse embryonic stem cells
|
The development of the central nervous system is known to result from two sequential events. First, an inductive event of the mesoderm on the overlying ectoderm that generates a neural plate that, after rolling into a neural tube, acts as the main source of neural progenitors. Second, the axial regionalization of the neural plate that will result in the specification of neurons with different anteroposterior identities. Although this description of the process applies with ease to amphibians and fish, it is more difficult to confirm in amniote embryos. Here, a specialized population of cells emerges at the end of gastrulation that, under the influence of Wnt and FGF signalling, expands and generates the spinal cord and the paraxial mesoderm. This population is known as the long-term neuromesodermal precursor (NMp). Here, we show that controlled increases of Wnt/β-catenin and FGF signalling during adherent culture differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) generates a population with many of the properties of the NMp. A single-cell analysis of gene expression within this population reveals signatures that are characteristic of stem cell populations. Furthermore, when this activation is triggered in three-dimensional aggregates of mESCs, the population self-organizes macroscopically and undergoes growth and axial elongation that mimics some of the features of the embryonic spinal cord and paraxial mesoderm. We use both adherent and three-dimensional cultures of mESCs to probe the establishment and maintenance of NMps and their differentiation.
|
[
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration",
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System"
] |
949730
|
Artificial quantum materials with photons: many-body physics and topology
|
Physical systems featuring strong electronic correlations exhibit fascinating phenomena, as exemplified by high-Tc superconductivity, quantum magnetism or fractional quantum Hall physics. Inspired by these effects, new ideas have emerged to harness strongly correlated phases in artificial quantum materials, and use them as a resource for fundamental science and for quantum technology. Promising approaches for producing quantum devices are found in condensed matter platforms: one can indeed benefit from nanofabrication to engineer systems that are compact, versatile, and which can potentially be integrated in large-scale architectures. The main goal of ARQADIA is to engineer and study quantum correlated and topological phases of light using artificial photonic materials that I will fabricate in a solid-state platform. I will use exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities, which are hybrid quasiparticles resulting from strong coupling between cavity photons and quantum well excitons. Polaritons are particularly attractive since they combine the best of two worlds: (i) through their photon component, they can be confined in microstrucutres and manipulated using optical spectroscopy; (ii) through their matter component, interactions between polaritons can be tuned and reinforced. Moreover, polaritons can be detected through the decay of cavity photons, which means that they naturally implement out-of-equilibrium physics and allow addressing fascinating questions related to the interplay between quantum correlations and dissipation. Within ARQADIA, I will tackle the challenge of engineering quantum correlations between polaritons via a technological breakthrough: I will insert active materials featuring strongly interacting excitons in microcavity lattices. I will use these materials to study out-of-equilibrium strongly correlated phases in vastly different regimes: from 1D to 2D, from weakly to strongly interacting and from topologically trivial to non-trivial.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
714023
|
Cracking the epitranscriptome
|
Over 100 types of distinct modifications are catalyzed on RNA molecules post-transcriptionally. In an analogous manner to well-studied chemical modifications on proteins or DNA, modifications on RNA - and particularly on mRNA - harbor the exciting potential of regulating the complex and interlinked life cycle of these molecules. The most abundant modification in mammalian and yeast mRNA is N6-methyladenosine (m6A). We have pioneered approaches for mapping m6A in a transcriptome wide manner, and we and others have identified factors involved in encoding and decoding m6A. While experimental disruption of these factors is associated with severe phenotypes, the role of m6A remains enigmatic. No single methylated site has been shown to causally underlie any physiological or molecular function. This proposal aims to establish a framework for systematically deciphering the molecular function of a modification and its underlying mechanisms and to uncover the physiological role of the modification in regulation of a cellular response. We will apply this framework to m6A in the context of meiosis in budding yeast, as m6A dynamically accumulates on meiotic mRNAs and as the methyltransferase catalyzing m6A is essential for meiosis. We will (1) aim to elucidate the physiological targets of methylation governing entry into meiosis (2) seek to elucidate the function of m6A at the molecular level, and understand its impact on the various steps of the mRNA life cycle, (3) seek to understand the mechanisms underlying its effects. These aims will provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how the epitranscriptome, an emerging post-transcriptional layer of regulation, fine-tunes gene regulation and impacts cellular decision making in a dynamic response, and will set the stage towards dissecting the roles of m6A and of an expanding set of mRNA modifications in more complex and disease related systems.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
W2072874994
|
Global distribution of Fusarium graminearum, F. asiaticum and F. boothii from wheat in relation to climate
|
Species of Fusarium that have been segregated from F. graminearum have restricted geographic ranges and it has been suggested that this is due to climate, especially for F. asiaticum. Climate envelope modelling with BIOCLIM was used to quantify the differences in climatic range for F. graminearum, F. asiaticum and F. boothii on wheat. A second analysis used eight climate parameters calculated for the month in which anthesis is likely to occur. Published records were used as data, subject to criteria for precise identification and georeferencing. There were significant differences between species in the ranges of most climate parameters used in the modelling. F. graminearum was recorded from all continents except Antarctica and its predicted distribution included most major rainfed wheat-growing regions of the world, except for the hottest areas of south Asia. There appeared to be few climatic limits on the distribution of F. graminearum on wheat. The restricted distribution of F. asiaticum, principally in east Asia, was confirmed. BIOCLIM analysis indicated that F. asiaticum occurred in areas, where the warmest quarter had mean temperatures >22 °C and rainfall >320 mm, rather than areas with high mean annual temperatures as previously had been suggested. F. boothii was recorded from relatively few, widely scattered locations, mostly in Africa and Mexico, which tended to be warm, with lower seasonality of temperature, higher seasonality of precipitation and drier conditions at anthesis than the other two species. Areas of the world predicted to have suitable climate at anthesis for F. asiaticum and F. boothii were more extensive than their recorded distributions or those predicted by BIOCLIM, suggesting that climatic constraints on these species were acting principally at stages of the life cycle other than infection of wheat heads. There is a need for more comparative studies of these species over the whole disease cycle to establish at which stages climate is limiting.
|
[
"Earth System Science",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
] |
290876
|
Ultrafast Quantum Physics in Amplitude and Phase
|
Ultrafast phenomena related to and/or accessible only via the absolute temporal phase of electronic, vibrational and spin coherent excitations in condensed matter are studied via electromagnetic transients in the multi-terahertz regime. The project also includes innovative aspects of quantum optics, femtosecond lasers and terahertz technology. Four central objectives are as follows:
(i) Establishing rapid quantum oscillatory motion as the earliest regime in the dynamics and transport of electrons in solids. Fundamental phenomena like the temporal buildup of effective mass in semiconductors and Zitterbewegung in graphene are accessed directly.
(ii) Studying nonclassical light emission predicted to emerge after non-adiabatic perturbation of ultrastrongly coupled systems of light and matter. The quantum properties of radiation released by such processes are investigated at the uncertainty limit between amplitude and phase of the light field.
(iii) Observation and control of charge and spin electronic properties of solids under extremely high transient electric or magnetic bias provided by a novel source of phase-locked multi-terahertz pulses allowing analysis with a resolution significantly below half a cycle of light.
(iv) Field-resolved photon-echo studies in the mid infrared. Unprecedented insights into complex phenomena like the interplay between low-energy degrees of freedom in high-temperature superconductors and intermolecular motion in liquids are envisioned.
New developments in ultrabroadband terahertz technology will enable the experiments:
(a) Generation of phase-locked electromagnetic transients with precisely controlled shape of the electric field like quasi-monopolar terahertz shock waves or single-cycle pulses with field amplitudes up to 30 MV/cm.
(b) Coherent detection of electric fields with bandwidth up to 200 THz and sensitivity at the uncertainty limit, giving access to the quantum properties of electromagnetic waves in amplitude and phase.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
US 2017/0018861 W
|
NARROW BAND SYNCHRONIZATION SIGNAL
|
In order to address the needs of narrow band communication, eNB-based processing and/or UE-based processing is provided to achieve robust detection of cell ID and SFN timing location using NB-SSS. A base station constructs a NB-SSS signal using a root index of a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, a scrambling code, a cyclic shift or phase ramping sequence, and an interleaving sequence, wherein a combination of the ZC root index, the scrambling code index, the cyclic shift or phase ramping sequence index, and the interleaving sequence index signals information for a cell identifier (e.g., PCID) and frame timing. The ZC sequence used may be a long ZC sequence constructed to span a total number of tones allocated to an SSS sequence or may be a concatenation of multiple ZC sequences, wherein the concatenated ZC sequences span a total number of tones allocated to an SSS sequence.
|
[
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
Q82205
|
Realizzazione di un prodotto innovativo basato sui risultati delle opere di R & S.
|
Sa 42799(2015/X) L'oggetto del progetto è l'attuazione dei risultati dei lavori di R & S sotto forma di una nuova griglia una tantum. L'implementazione del progetto consentirà di ampliare l'offerta di prodotti di Grill-Impex nell'area della griglia una tantum con parametri ad alte prestazioni, ambientali e di promozione della salute. L'innovazione del nuovo prodotto è: a) una significativa riduzione del tempo di fumo di circa il 90 % rispetto alla griglia una tantum attualmente prodotta da Grill-Impex e ai prodotti concorrenti b) una significativa riduzione della percentuale di ceneri dopo aver bruciato la griglia, il che significa un miglioramento di ca. Il 75 % di questo indicatore rispetto alla griglia una tantum attualmente prodotta da Grill-Impex e ai prodotti della concorrenza c) l'eliminazione dell'olio minerale come mezzo per proteggere dalla corrosione attraverso l'uso di olio di colza naturale d) eliminare le emissioni nocive per la salute e l'ambiente degli isomeri ftalati (DINP) e) riducendo l'assorbimento del ferro dalla griglia agli alimenti, il che significa una riduzione della migrazione del ferro verso il cibo di ca. 75 % rispetto alla griglia una tantum attualmente prodotta da Grill-Impex e ai prodotti concorrenti (f) riducendo il contenuto di metalli pesanti di manganese nella griglia, il che significa una riduzione del manganese di circa il 40 % rispetto alla griglia una tantum attualmente prodotta da Grill-Impex e ai prodotti in concorrenza L'ambito di lavoro nel progetto comprende l'acquisto, l'installazione e la messa in servizio di un parco macchine per la produzione di una nuova griglia una tantum. Le attività promozionali e di vendita saranno svolte da Grill-Impex sia in Polonia che sui mercati europei (tra cui Germania, Gran Bretagna, Svezia, Norvegia, Ungheria, Croazia e Italia).
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
986689
|
Mechanism of atp dependent chromatin modelling and editing by ino80 remodellers
|
Nucleosomes, ~147 base pairs of DNA wrapped around an histone protein octamer, package and protect nuclear DNA but also carry important biological information. The position and composition of nucleosomes along chromosomal DNA is a key element of defining the state and identity of a cell. Chromatin remodellers are ATP dependent molecular machines that position, move or edit nucleosomes in a genome wide manner. Collectively, they shape the nucleosome landscape and play central roles in the maintenance and differentiation of cells, but also in pathological transformations. INO80, a megadalton large remodeller consisting of 15 or more subunits, is involved in replication, gene expression and DNA repair. It models chromatin by positioning barrier nucleosomes around nucleosome free regions, editing nucleosomes and generating nucleosome arrays. However, structural mechanisms for INO80 and other remodelling machines are poorly understood due to their complexity. To provide a comprehensive mechanistic framework, to understand how INO80 senses nucleosome free regions to position barrier nucleosomes and how it generates arrays or senses DNA breaks, I propose a challenging but ground-breaking endeavour using a combination of cryo-EM and functional approaches. We address structures of fungal and human INO80 complexes at promoter regions, on di-nucleosomes and at DNA ends and develop quantitative positioning assays to reveal common and distinct features of shaping chromatin in different species. We also explore cryo-EM as tool towards revealing distinct steps the chemo-mechanical remodelling reactions. The proposed research will help derive fundamental molecular principles underlying the modelling of the nucleosome landscape.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Cell Biology, Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration"
] |
754365
|
New Nuclear Medicine Imaging Radiotracer 64Cu(II) for diagnosing Hypoxia Conditions Based on the Cellular Copper Cycle
|
Imaging of hypoxia is important in many disease states in oncology, cardiology, and neurology. Hypoxia is a common condition encountered within the tumour microenvironment that drives proliferation, angiogenesis, and resistance to therapy. Despite on-going efforts to identify hypoxia, until now there is no clinically approved imaging biomarker, due to both low tumour uptake, and a low signal to background (S/B) ratio that affects the imaging quality. Nuclear Medicine is using labelled radio-isotopes for PET/CT and SPECT imaging. These radio-tracers diagnose the metabolic processes in the body. Among these tracers, 18F-FDG is the most routinely used as a marker of glucose metabolism. However, not all tumours consume glucose, and glucose consumption is not specific only for malignant tumours, which limits its application. Copper is a nutritional metal, recently examined as a radiotracer for hypoxia, owing to its to the oxidising environment. Clinical and in-vivo studies on various 64Cu(II)-PET radiotracers resulted in controversial reports on the specificity of the current tracers for hypoxia imaging due to non-selective bio-distribution & low S/B ratio. This multidisciplinary proposal focuses on the discovery of comprehensive signal pathways of the cellular copper cycle using advanced biophysical methods and a proprietary design of 64Cu(II) radiotracer. This radiotracer will be incorporated in the cellular copper cycle, and will enable to selectively target the oxidising environment in tumours. The design of the new radiotracer is based on systematic structural & functional mapping of the copper binding sites to the various copper proteins and the visualisation of the transfer mechanism. This new copper tracer should increase the selectivity of tumour uptake, stability, and improve bio-distribution. This project assimilates cold and hot chemistry and biology, while emphasising the clinical unmet need in metal based radiotracer that form stable complexes.
|
[
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
3729460
|
Readout scheme for solid-state nuclear clock
|
The low-energy excited state of the Thorium-229 (229Th) nucleus has fascinated researchers for decades. With excitation energy of only a few eV, it is the only known nuclear isomeric state accessible to laser manipulation. This system opens up many novel applications, ranging from tests of variations of the fundamental constants to technological implementations as a nuclear clock. While the exact excitation energy of the 229Th isomer remains unknown, significant progress has been made in constraining its energy in recent months. Most importantly, all recent results place the energy between 7.5 eV to 8.5 eV. This is within the transmission band of large-band-gap VUV materials such as single fluoride crystals. It becomes hence possible to embed 229Th inside a solid-state crystal and address a large number of nuclei.
This project aims to develop a readout scheme for a solid-state nuclear clock based on nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy (NQRS). The interaction of the nuclear quadrupole moment with the electric field gradient of the crystal causes the splitting of the nuclear states. NQRS can be used for non-destructive readout of the nuclear state during clock operation. Moreover, the NQRS will provide valuable information about the microscopic structure of 229Th atoms doped into the crystal lattice.
|
[
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
W2588915132
|
InterAKT: A mobile augmented reality browser for geo-social mashups
|
Current Mobile Augmented Reality (AR) browsers do not reflect users' immediate contexts and lack support for contextual interaction. Such limitations turn users away from the experience, even those who are genuinely interested in the technology. Mobile AR needs a serious move towards a better experience driven by user generated content. This paper discusses InterAKT, a mobile augmented reality browser that extends existing crowd sourced geo-tagged data while enabling in-situ content creation. Bringing such capabilities together in a lightweight solution introduces many challenges on the architectural and the user interface level. InterAKT is designed to enhance content display, navigation and interaction for mobile AR users, while enabling them to create their own AR experiences. In this paper, we discuss how InterAKT was designed to overcome the challenges for mobile augmented reality, such as noisy sensor data, limited display and the lack of relevant content. We discuss the results of an initial evaluation conducted remotely with users in different countries. The results show success in engaging users in mobile AR using crowd sourced content.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
W880397381
|
An FPT algorithm for the vertex cover P4 problem
|
A subset F of vertices of a graph G is called a vertex cover P t ( V C P t ) set if every path of order t in G contains at least one vertex from F . The vertex cover P t ( V C P t ) problem is to find a minimum V C P t set in a graph. The V C P t problem is NP-complete for any integer t ≥ 2 . In this paper, we restrict our attention to the V C P 4 problem and present an FPT algorithm with runtime O ∗ ( 3 k ) for the V C P 4 problem. The algorithm constructs a V C P 4 set of size at most k in a given graph G , or reports that no such V C P 4 set exists in G .
|
[
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
890690
|
Harmonised building information speedway for energy-efficient renovation
|
‘BIM for renovation of existing residential building stock’ has been proven viable in innovative pilot projects by the members of BIM-SPEED consortium, among others in H2020 Smart Cities. The mission of BIM-SPEED is to take ‘BIM for renovation’ to a deep renovation level for at least 60% energy saving, and to accelerate the market uptake across the EU. In line with its mission, BIM-SPEED aims to enable all stakeholders to adopt BIM to reduce the time of deep renovation projects by at least 30% by providing them with: 1) an affordable BIM cloud platform, 2) a set of inter-operable BIM tools, and 3) standardised procedures for As-Built data acquisition, modelling, simulation, implementation and maintenance of renovation solutions. BIM-SPEED relies on a trans-disciplinary approach comprising (i) process, (ii) ICT, and (iii) social innovation with a special attention to the stakeholders as a key success factor for BIM adoption. The interoperability of a full range of BIM tools for renovation will be accommodated on an innovative BIM cloud platform, which will be launched and available free-of-charge for all stakeholders immediately from the beginning of the BIM-SPEED project. BIM-SPEED will engineer the seamless integration and quick installation of building and HVAC products for renovation into the existing buildings. Such Plug-and-Play solutions are crucial for the overall time reduction. BIM-SPEED consortium represents all players in the renovation market. Throughout a 4-year project duration, BIM-SPEED will demonstrate the holistic solution in 12 real demonstration cases. An EU-wide BIM Competition will be jointly organised by the European umbrella organisations in all disciplines (architects, HVAC engineers and construction firms) to kick-off the first market replication in more than 200 BIM-based renovation projects. BIM-SPEED will benefit from the membership of buildingSMART standardisation platform and the EU BIM Task Group to harmonize best EU practices.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
10.1002/anie.201502737
|
Synthesis and EPR/UV/Vis-NIR Spectroelectrochemical Investigation of a Persistent Phosphanyl Radical Dication
|
The reaction of the bis(imidazoliumyl)-substituted PIcation [(2-ImDipp)P(4-ImDipp)]+(10+) (2-Im=imidazolium-2-yl; 4-Im=imidazolium-4-yl; Dipp=2,6-di-isopropylphenyl) with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (HOTf) or methyl trifluoromethylsulfonate (MeOTf) yields the corresponding protonated [(2-ImDipp)PH(4-ImDipp)]2+(112+) and methylated [(2-ImDipp)PMe(4-ImDipp)]2+(122+) dications, respectively. EPR/UV/Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical investigation of the low-coordinated PIcation 10+predicted a stable and “bottleable” P-centered radical dication [(2-ImDipp)P(4-ImDipp)]2+. (132+. ). The reaction of 10+with the nitrosyl salt NO[OTf] yields the persistent phosphanyl radical dication 132+. as triflate salt in crystalline form. Quantum chemical investigation revealed an exceptional high spin density at the P atom.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
] |
EP 2006009646 W
|
NON-FLUORESCENT ENERGY TRANSFER
|
The present invention relates generally to the transfer of non-fluorescent energy between donor and acceptor moieties. In certain embodiments, the invention provides biomolecules that include substantially non-fluorescent donor moieties. Processes involving these donor moieties typically entail reduced background fluorescence relative to applications that involve conventional fluorescent donor moieties. In addition to reaction mixtures and methods that include the use of these biomolecules, the invention also provides related kits and systems.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1073/pnas.1818599116
|
Airborne host–plant manipulation by whiteflies via an inducible blend of plant volatiles
|
The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is one of the world’s most important invasive crop pests, possibly because it manipulates plant defense signaling. Upon infestation by whiteflies, plants mobilize salicylic acid (SA)-dependent defenses, which mainly target pathogens. In contrast, jasmonic acid (JA)-dependent defenses are gradually suppressed in whitefly-infested plants. The down-regulation of JA defenses make plants more susceptible to insects, including whiteflies. Here, we report that this host–plant manipulation extends to neighboring plants via airborne signals. Plants respond to insect attack with the release of a blend of inducible volatiles. Perception of these volatiles by neighboring plants usually primes them to prepare for an imminent attack. Here, however, we show that whitefly-induced tomato plant volatiles prime SA-dependent defenses and suppress JA-dependent defenses, thus rendering neighboring tomato plants more susceptible to whiteflies. Experiments with volatiles from caterpillar-damaged and pathogen-infected plants, as well as with synthetic volatiles, confirm that whiteflies modify the quality of neighboring plants for their offspring via whitefly-inducible plant volatiles.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1051/0004-6361/201935603
|
Alma View Of The 12C 13C Isotopic Ratio In Starburst Galaxies
|
We derive molecular-gas-phase C-12/C-13 isotope ratios for the central few hundred parsecs of the three nearby starburst galaxies NGC 253, NGC 1068, and NGC 4945 making use of the lambda similar to 3 mm (CN)-C-12 and (CNN)-C-13= 1-0 lines in the ALMA Band 3. The C-12/C-13 isotopic ratios derived from the ratios of these lines range from 30 to 67 with an average of 41. 6 +/- 0. 2 in NGC 253, from 24 to 62 with an average of 38. 3 +/- 0. 4 in NGC 1068, and from 6 to 44 with an average of 16. 9 +/- 0. 3 in NGC 4945. The highest C-12/C-13 isotopic ratios are determined in some of the outskirts of the nuclear regions of the three starburst galaxies. The lowest ratios are associated with the northeastern and southwestern molecular peaks of NGC 253, the northeastern and southwestern edge of the mapped region in NGC 1068, and the very center of NGC 4945. In the case of NGC 1068, the measured ratios suggest inflow from the outer part of NGC 1068 into the circum-nuclear disk through both the halo and the bar. Low C-12/C-13 isotopic ratios in the central regions of these starburst galaxies indicate the presence of highly processed material.
|
[
"Universe Sciences",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
10.1007/978-3-642-19835-9_11
|
Quantitative Multi Objective Verification For Probabilistic Systems
|
We present a verification framework for analysing multiple quantitative objectives of systems that exhibit both nondeterministic and stochastic behaviour. These systems are modelled as probabilistic automata, enriched with cost or reward structures that capture, for example, energy usage or performance metrics. Quantitative properties of these models are expressed in a specification language that incorporates probabilistic safety and liveness properties, expected total cost or reward, and supports multiple objectives of these types. We propose and implement an efficient verification framework for such properties and then present two distinct applications of it: firstly, controller synthesis subject to multiple quantitative objectives; and, secondly, quantitative compositional verification. The practical applicability of both approaches is illustrated with experimental results from several large case studies.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
10.1038/s41598-018-37233-y
|
Identification of Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase variants with increased mismatch discrimination and reverse transcriptase activity from a smart enzyme mutant library
|
DNA polymerases the key enzymes for several biotechnological applications. Obviously, nature has not evolved these enzymes to be compatible with applications in biotechnology. Thus, engineering of a natural scaffold of DNA polymerases may lead to enzymes improved for several applications. Here, we investigated a two-step approach for the design and construction of a combinatorial library of mutants of KlenTaq DNA polymerase. First, we selected amino acid sites for saturation mutagenesis that interact with the primer/template strands or are evolutionarily conserved. From this library, we identified mutations that little interfere with DNA polymerase activity. Next, these functionally active mutants were combined randomly to construct a second library with enriched sequence diversity. We reasoned that the combination of mutants that have minuscule effect on enzyme activity and thermostability, will result in entities that have an increased mutation load but still retain activity. Besides activity and thermostability, we screened the library for entities with two distinct properties. Indeed, we identified two different KlenTaq DNA polymerase variants that either exhibit increased mismatch extension discrimination or increased reverse transcription PCR activity, respectively.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
] |
10.1016/j.gca.2013.01.005
|
Iron and manganese shuttles control the formation of authigenic phosphorus minerals in the euxinic basins of the Baltic Sea
|
Microanalysis of epoxy resin-embedded sediments is used to demonstrate the presence of authigenic iron (Fe) (II) phosphates and manganese (Mn)-calcium (Ca)-carbonate-phosphates in the deep euxinic basins of the Baltic Sea. These minerals constitute major burial phases of phosphorus (P) in this area, elevating the total P burial rate above that expected for a euxinic depositional environment. Particle shuttles of Fe and Mn oxides into the deep euxinic basins act as drivers for P-bearing mineral authigenesis. While Fe(II) phosphates are formed continuously in the upper sediments following the sulfidization of Fe-oxyhydroxides and release of associated P, Mn-Ca-carbonate-phosphates are formed intermittently following inflow events of oxygenated North Sea water into the deep basins. The mechanism of Fe(II) phosphate formation differs from previously reported occurrences of vivianite formation in marine sediments, by occurring within, rather than below, the sulfate-methane transition zone. The spatial distribution of both authigenic phases in Baltic sediments varies in accordance with the periodic expansion of anoxia on centennial to millennial timescales. The results highlight the potential importance of authigenic P-bearing minerals other than carbonate fluorapatite for total P burial in euxinic basins.
|
[
"Earth System Science",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
10.1038/nrmicro.2016.190
|
Cyclic di-GMP: Second messenger extraordinaire
|
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are highly versatile signalling molecules that control various important biological processes in bacteria. The best-studied example is cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP). Known since the late 1980s, it is now recognized as a near-ubiquitous second messenger that coordinates diverse aspects of bacterial growth and behaviour, including motility, virulence, biofilm formation and cell cycle progression. In this Review, we discuss important new insights that have been gained into the molecular principles of c-di-GMP synthesis and degradation, which are mediated by diguanylate cyclases and c-di-GMP-specific phosphodiesterases, respectively, and the cellular functions that are exerted by c-di-GMP-binding effectors and their diverse targets. Finally, we provide a short overview of the signalling versatility of other CDNs, including c-di-AMP and cGMP-AMP (cGAMP).
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
10.1109/TIE.2019.2908593
|
Sampling Time Harmonic Control For Cascaded H Bridge Converters With Thermal Control
|
Cascaded H-bridge converter (CHB) is a multilevel topology that is a well-suited solution for multiple applications such as flexible ac transmission systems or motor drives. This paper is focused on a CHB where the cells present an aging mismatch. This can be caused by the maintenance operation which forces the replacement of some damaged cells of the converter with new or repaired ones. In this paper, a new improved approach of the active thermal control (ATC) of the CHB using discontinuous pulsewidth modulation (PWM) (D-PWM) is presented. The D-PWM technique is used to reduce the power losses of one cell reducing its average temperature in order to increase its remaining lifetime. However, the combination of D-PWM with traditional phase-shifted PWM (PS-PWM) introduces high harmonic distortion in the output voltage of the CHB converter at twice the carrier frequency. A detailed harmonic distortion analysis of the CHB output voltage when the D-PWM based ATC is active is presented. From this analysis, a modification of the traditional PS-PWM is derived to eliminate the harmonic distortion at twice the carrier frequency. Experimental results show how the ATC using D-PWM is achieved whereas the harmonic distortion around twice the carrier frequency is eliminated.
|
[
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
2720680
|
Knowledge graphs at scale
|
Knowledge graphs (KGs) are a flexible knowledge representation paradigm intended to allow knowledge to be consumed by humans and machines. Hence, they are regarded as a key enabler for a number of technologies including question answering, personal assistants and artificial intelligence across all sectors including Industry 4.0, personalized medicine, legislation, economics and more. While different implementations of the KG paradigm are now used by several large companies (incl. Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Samsung, Ebay and IBM) as a key component of their data products, their use is currently unattainable for the majority of companies and private users. Custom formal representation mechanisms, organisation-specific storage solutions and query languages as well as large dedicated maintenance teams (often 100+ people per graph) are only some of the current challenges faced by organizations aiming to manage KGs at scale. Developing and maintaining a company-specific infrastructure to represent, construct and maintain KGs is only viable for large organisations able to afford the corresponding costs. In addition, a plethora of open questions pertaining to the transfer, applicability and integration of legal rights of knowledge graphs remain completely unsolved. The overall objective of KnowGraphs (summarized in Figure 1.1) is to scale knowledge graphs to be accessible to a wide audience of (1) companies of all sizes and (2) end users across their professional and private life by using a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectorial approach.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
] |
10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.09.018
|
Mutational and network level mechanisms underlying resistance to anti-cancer kinase inhibitors
|
Tyrosine-specific and other protein kinases are embedded in signaling networks critical for progression of tumors of all types. Hence, kinase inhibitors have nucleated a major arm of personalized cancer therapy. Unfortunately, almost all kinase inhibitors evoke resistance within a year or two, due to secondary mutations, and other alterations within the targeted kinase, or due to emergence of feedback regulatory loops that compensate for extinguished kinases. We review clinically approved kinase inhibitors and the emergence of resistance in leukemia, melanoma, lung and breast tumors, and draw parallel lines in terms of secondary mutations and compensatory mechanisms. Currently emerging are pharmacological strategies able to circumvent resistance and re-sensitize patients to therapeutic treatments. They include second and third generation inhibitors that overcome new mutations, novel drug combinations that simultaneously block the primary oncogenic pathway and compensatory routes, as well as monoclonal antibodies. Deeper understanding of biological signaling networks and their responses to perturbations will aid in the development of effective therapies for patients with cancer.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
225219
|
Redtadf
|
Adachis pioneering report in 2012 describing TADF emitters based on CDCBs resulted in a paradigm shift in emitter design within the OLED community. Within just five years, highly efficient blue and green purely organic TADF OLEDs have been developed, achieving maximum EQEs exceeding 30%. This means that performance wise, organic TADF emitters have already surpassed the performance of state-of-the-art phosphorescent molecules. However, to date only a handful of red organic TADF emitters exist, with the best EQE reported to date being just 13%, demonstrating a need for continued improvement. European companies such as CDT, Merck, and Cynora are all investing significantly in organic TADF research. The development of high performance organic redTADF emitters will significantly reduce the cost of OLED production and make the devices more environmentally friendly through replacement of the iridium emitters that are currently employed. We propose to develop new highly efficient redTADF dyes based on the ring-contracted systems of subphthalocyanine and subporphyrin.
|
[
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1162/jocn_a_01109
|
Major thought restructuring: The roles of different prefrontal cortical regions
|
An important question for understanding the neural basis of problem solving is whether the regions of human prefrontal cortices play qualitatively different roles in the major cognitive restructuring required to solve difficult problems. However, investigating this question using neuroimaging faces a major dilemma: either the problems do not require major cognitive restructuring, or if they do, the restructuring typically happens once, rendering repeated measurements of the critical mental process impossible. To circumvent these problems, young adult participants were challenged with a one-dimensional Subtraction (or Nim) problem [Bouton, C. L. Nim, a game with a complete mathematical theory. The Annals of Mathematics, 3, 35-39, 1901] that can be tackled using two possible strategies. One, often used initially, is effortful, slow, and error-prone, whereas the abstract solution, once achieved, is easier, quicker, and more accurate. Behaviorally, success was strongly correlated with sex. Using voxel-based morphometry analysis controlling for sex, we found that participants who found the more abstract strategy (i. e. , Solvers) had more gray matter volume in the anterior medial, ventrolateral prefrontal, and parietal cortices compared with those who never switched from the initial effortful strategy (i. e. , Explorers). Removing the sex covariate showed higher gray matter volume in Solvers (vs. Explorers) in the right ventrolateral prefrontal and left parietal cortex.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
] |
10.1038/pr.2014.204
|
Maternal LC-PUFA status during pregnancy and child problem behavior: The Generation R Study
|
Background:Omega 3 (n-3) and 6 (n-6) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and the n-3:n-6 ratio are important for brain development. Whether maternal LC-PUFA status during pregnancy affects risk of problem behavior in later childhood is unclear. Methods:Within a population-based cohort, we measured maternal plasma docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and arachidonic acid (AA) concentrations and n-3:n-6-ratio in mid-pregnancy. Child emotional and behavioral problems at 6 y of age were assessed by parents (child behavior checklist), teachers (teacher report form), and combined parent/teacher report. Results:Higher maternal DHA and n-3:n-6 ratio were associated with fewer child emotional problems using parent (odds ratio (OR) DHA = 0. 82; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0. 70, 0. 96; P = 0. 02 and OR n-3:n-6 = 0. 83; 95% CI: 0. 71, 0. 96; P = 0. 01; n = 5,307) and combined parent/teacher scores (OR DHA = 0. 79; 95% CI: 0. 66, 0. 95; P = 0. 01 and OR n-3:n-6 = 0. 77; 95% CI: 0. 65, 0. 92; P < 0. 01; n = 2,828). Higher AA was associated with more child behavioral problems using teacher (OR = 1. 10; 95% CI: 1. 00, 1. 20; P = 0. 04; n = 3,365) and combined parent/teacher scores (OR = 1. 12; 95% CI: 1. 02, 1. 22; P = 0. 02; n = 2,827). Maternal EPA was not associated with child problem behavior. Conclusion:Indications of associations of maternal LC-PUFA status with child emotional and behavioral problems were found. Future research is needed to identify LC-PUFA-sensitive periods of fetal brain development by including multiple assessments of prenatal LC-PUFA status.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
10.1057/cep.2014.31
|
Home ownership and support for government redistribution
|
In this article, we investigate the relationship between home ownership and support for redistribution in 24 European countries, integrating research on housing regimes and welfare attitudes. We improve upon earlier research by taking into account within-group heterogeneity of owners and tenants, by elaborating on social mechanisms (self-interest and socio-spatial segregation), by researching a wide range of European (instead of Anglo-Saxon) countries and by recognizing differences in the meaning of tenure and home ownership across countries. We find that, while home owners are less supportive of redistribution, the effect of home ownership varies with age and income position. We furthermore find that housing regime characteristics matter, as owners and tenants have different welfare attitudes in different contexts. In settings where home ownership has become more financialized, support for redistribution is smaller, and more so among home owners. On the other hand, in settings where outright home ownership fills gaps in welfare provision, both owners and tenants prefer more redistribution.
|
[
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
] |
1262366
|
Production and deploying of high purity lignin and affordable platform chemicals through wood-based sugars
|
The objective of the SWEETWOODS project is to demonstrate on an industrial level successful and profitable production of high purity lignin as well as C5 and C6 carbohydrates from hardwood by establishing a biorefinery having throughput capacity 80 bdton/day. Unlike existing biorefinery concepts, SWEETWOODS plant utilizes all the fractions of the biomass feedstock, with min. 95 % of its initial carbon content utilised. The current TRL of the selected fractionation technology is 7, aiming to reach TRL 9 by the end of the project. The efficient fractionation and conversion of biomass is enabled by novel enzymatic solutions. The dried solid lignin and depolymerized lignin are demonstrated in novel applications, namely in elastomer foams for tube insulation, rigid polyurethane foam panels for insulation, and polymer compounds intended for injection moulding. The high purity sugars (at least glucose, xylose and fructose) are demonstrated in novel end use cases, namely in production of bio-IBN, and xylitol production. The environmental and socio-economic performance of the SWEETWOODS plant operation and the developed products are evaluated by performing a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA), as well as a viability analysis.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering",
"Biotechnology and Biosystems Engineering"
] |
US 0027238 W
|
LOCK SYSTEM FOR SHED
|
A lock system for a shed (A) having a crossbar (30) which is inserted through an opening in a side wall of the shed (A) through guides (40) mounted on the rear of the front wall and the doors of the shed (A) secured by a lock. The crossbar (30) is a solid, elongated rod (32) with a first lock plate (34) projecting from one end of the rod (32). A stationary bracket (20) is mounted to the interior of the shed (A) with a second lock plate (24) extending through the opening in the side wall of the shed (A). A base plate (14) having an aperture (16) defined therein is attached to the exterior of the side wall of the shed (A), the first (34) and second (24) lock plates to extend through the aperture (16). The first and second (24) lock plates have apertures (38, 26) defined therein which may be aligned in order to receive a lock (12) securing the crossbar (30) to the shed (A).
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
10.3182/20120711-3-BE-2027.00125
|
How Effective Is The Nuclear Norm Heuristic In Solving Data Approximation Problems
|
Abstract The question in the title is answered empirically by solving instances of three classical problems: fitting a straight line to data, fitting a real exponent to data, and system identification in the errors-in-variables setting. The results show that the nuclear norm heuristic performs worse than alternative problem dependant methods—ordinary and total least squares, Kung's method, and subspace identification. In the line fitting and exponential fitting problems, the globally optimal solution is known analytically, so that the suboptimality of the heuristic methods is quantified.
|
[
"Mathematics",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
3739292
|
From demos to ethnos: popular revolt and elite transformation in montenegro's anti-bureaucratic revolution (1988–1990)
|
With populism, ethnonationalism, and right-wing radicalism on the rise around the globe, the analysis of the Anti-Bureaucratic Revolution in Montenegro (1988–1990) provides unique empirical material to understand how and why an inclusive and tolerant society (demos) can be rapidly transformed into one based on a more exclusive and intolerant ethnic identity (ethnos). DEPRET’s objective is to understand under what conditions civil society turns “uncivil”. It proposes to do so by taking an interdisciplinary approach to investigating two interrelated processes: popular revolt and elite transformation. More specifically, the project aims to: (1) improve understandings of elite transformation through a critical interpretation of elite public discourses, with a particular focus on how they articulated, framed, and legitimized themselves and “the people” to bring about what they saw as “necessary changes to the system”; (2) identify, map, and analyze repertoires of contention and tactics of resistance used by protesting citizens in advancing or resisting right-wing populism, with a particular focus on key grievances, frames, and justifications used to reconstitute themselves from a socialist demos into a nationalist ethnos or to oppose this process; and (3) contribute to theory development by investigating the relationship between grassroots and elite expressions of right-wing populism as a two-way process of elite–mass interaction during turbulent times. To achieve these objectives, DEPRET uses a mixed-method research framework that combines two methods of textual analysis: the qualitative approach of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and the quantitative approach of Protest Event Analysis (PEA) to analyze publicly available textual corpora in Montenegrin libraries and archives. The proposed research conducted within the MSCA-IF framework will significantly contribute to my academic growth from an early-career researcher to an established interdisciplinary scholar.
|
[
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
] |
10.1021/ct3007502
|
Protein field effect on the dark state of 11- cis retinal in rhodopsin by quantum monte carlo/molecular mechanics
|
The accurate determination of the geometrical details of the dark state of 11-cis retinal in rhodopsin represents a fundamental step for the rationalization of the protein role in the optical spectral tuning in the vision mechanism. We have calculated geometries of the full retinal protonated Schiff base chromophore in the gas phase and in the protein environment using the correlated variational Monte Carlo method. The bond length alternation of the conjugated carbon chain of the chromophore in the gas phase shows a significant reduction when moving from the β-ionone ring to the nitrogen, whereas, as expected, the protein environment reduces the electronic conjugation. The proposed dark state structure is fully compatible with solid-state NMR data reported by Carravetta et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 3948-3953]. TDDFT/B3LYP calculations on such geometries show a blue opsin shift of 0. 28 and 0. 24 eV induced by the protein for S1 and S2 states, consistently with literature spectroscopic data. The effect of the geometrical distortion alone is a red shift of 0. 21 and 0. 16 eV with respect to the optimized gas phase chromophore. Our results open new perspectives for the study of the properties of chromophores in their biological environment using correlated methods.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
222674
|
Damping device to solve the pantograph-line capture problems, especially for the eu high-speed railways lines
|
Officina Fratelli Bertolotti S.p.A. was founded in 1901 as a small workshop that was working as blacksmith. From 1920 it specialised in special iron carpentry and in the post-war period it becomes a modern industry thanks to the acquisition of customers in the industry ""Electricity transmission"". Today the company brand is linked to that of the most important Electrical and Transport companies in various countries. The proposed innovation was started in order to respond to the emerging needs of the railway sector for the high-speed trains infrastructure. The goodness of the electric power uptake by the thread of the airline has been a problem since the abandonment of the ""third rail"", but the increase in speed and power demands made it even more difficult to ensure continuous contact between catenary and crawling, with the consequent formation of electrical arcing which can damage fixed installation, pantograph and electrical systems of the train. The ability to maintain a continuous and fluid contact between these two elements is one of the main factors that limit the allowable speed of trains. The most direct solution, that is the stringing of conductors, involves considerable problems related to the substitution of the infrastructure: high costs and rail traffic interruption. Our innovation exploits the non-linear kineto-dynamic made by the specific construction, it is mechanically simple, does not use materials sensitive to temperatures, nor dissipation by Joule effect, works for small and large oscillations, does not use fluids that may be dispersed in the environment, and can be inspected visually. Furthermore, it is much less expensive than the replacement of the conductors and of support structures, allowing to save 90% of replacement costs. From the esploitation of SPEED-EU we expect to create 15 new jobs, enter into the rail sector and increase revenues of €56 million in a 4-years commercialization period.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
10.2136/vzj2018.03.0044
|
Noninvasive imaging of processes in natural porous media: From pore to field scale
|
Noninvasive, high-resolution imaging techniques are important for visualizing water flow and transport processes in soils, which are natural porous media. They are a key to understanding effects such as crop production, water resource restoration, CO2 sequestration, or the transport and fate of pollutants. During the last two decades, the development of three-dimensional imaging techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR and MRI), X-ray computed tomography (CT), and neutron CT has made significant progress possible in the study of soil processes. This special section presents examples of X-ray CT and NMR from the small-column scale to the application of portable NMR equipment in the field, along with some important advances in image processing that make it possible to extract optimal physical information from the original data.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Earth System Science"
] |
311335
|
Next generation sequencing for detection of human primary immunodeficiency syndromes characterized by impaired cytotoxic lymphocyte function
|
Human primary immunodeficiencies affecting cytotoxic lymphocyte function are associated with high morbidity and mortality. They often present as hyperinflammatory syndromes triggered by viral infections, hematological malignancies, or systemic autoimmunity. Although recent advances have provided molecular diagnoses for some of the most severe cases, only a handful of genes have been identified and disease in a majority of patients cannot be explained by current insights. My work has elucidated fundamental mechanisms of lymphocyte cytotoxicity. Furthermore, my group is leading international efforts in developing sensitive assays of human lymphocyte cytotoxicity. Some of our assays have been implemented for clinical diagnostics world-wide. Recently, we have also identified new, widespread mutations that explain many cases of fatal immunodeficiencies early in life. We now seek support for taking such studies to yet a higher level. The outlined interdisciplinary approach presented here aims at evaluating cytotoxic lymphocyte development and function in large numbers of patients, in addition to healthy individuals in a complementary approach, using state-of-the-art methodology. We will employ next-generation sequencing to identify novel genes associated with disease. The significance of putative mutations for lymphocyte cytotoxicity will be assessed using cutting-edge experimental platforms. Together, such genotype-immunotype studies promise to reveal novel genes associated with disease and further provide understanding of human genetic diversity. Thus, these studies can directly benefit patients through improved diagnosis, aiding targeted treatments, and offer new insights into human cytotoxic lymphocyte development and function with relevance to health. Insights will also pave the way for prospective, population-based molecular epidemiology studies required to more accurately assess the panorama of diseases associated with congenital defects in lymphocyte cytotoxicity.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
10.1039/C4RA07304E
|
Acetylene Bridged Dyes With High Open Circuit Potential For Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
|
A series of simple metal-free organic dyes MS1–MS3 have been designed and synthesized, and their optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties were investigated. The molecular structures are based on a push–pull framework with a triphenylamine, naphthyldiphenylamine, or anthracenyl diphenylamine as the donor connected to a carboxyphenyl acceptor via a CC bond. The speciality of this new dye design is to obtain higher device open-circuit potentials. The dye-sensitized solar cells using this new sensitizer in combination with I−/I3− exhibited exceptionally high VOC values of 810, 844, and 866 mV for MS1, MS2, and MS3, respectively. The absorption bands of the anthracene-bridged dye MS3 showed remarkable peak broadening and red shifts due to the strong electronic coupling between the donor and bridge facilitated by the C–C triple bond, significantly promoting the light-harvesting capability. The resulting devices of MS3 showed large IPCE values of 75–80% in the region 370–590 nm, giving JSC/mA cm−2 = 8. 16, VOC/mV = 866, FF = 0. 76, and η = 5. 44% under standard AM 1. 5G one sun irradiation.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1038/nature13322
|
Negative regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by A20 protects against arthritis
|
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoinflammatory disease that affects 1-2% of the world's population and is characterized by widespread joint inflammation. Interleukin-1 is an important mediator of cartilage destruction in rheumatic diseases, but our understanding of the upstream mechanisms leading to production of interleukin-1β in rheumatoid arthritis is limited by the absence of suitable mouse models of the disease in which inflammasomes contribute to pathology. Myeloid-cell-specific deletion of the rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility gene A20/Tnfaip3 in mice (A20myel-KO mice) triggers a spontaneous erosive polyarthritis that resembles rheumatoid arthritis in patients. Rheumatoid arthritis in A20myel-KO mice is not rescued by deletion of tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (ref. 2). Here we show, however, that it crucially relies on the Nlrp3 inflammasome and interleukin-1 receptor signalling. Macrophages lacking A20 have increased basal and lipopolysaccharide-induced expression levels of the inflammasome adaptor Nlrp3 and proIL-1β. As a result, A20-deficiency in macrophages significantly enhances Nlrp3 inflammasome-mediated caspase-1 activation, pyroptosis and interleukin-1β secretion by soluble and crystalline Nlrp3 stimuli. In contrast, activation of the Nlrc4 and AIM2 inflammasomes is not altered. Importantly, increased Nlrp3 inflammasome activation contributes to the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis in vivo, because deletion of Nlrp3, caspase-1 and the interleukin-1 receptor markedly protects against rheumatoid-arthritis- associated inflammation and cartilage destruction in A20myel-KO mice. These results reveal A20 as a novel negative regulator of Nlrp3 inflammasome activation, and describe A20myel-KO mice as the first experimental model to study the role of inflammasomes in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing"
] |
10.1016/j.jas.2013.08.017
|
Tortoise taphonomy and tortoise butchery patterns at Blombos Cave, South Africa
|
Tortoises are one of the most common faunal components at many Palaeolithic archaeological sites across the Old World. They provide protein, fat, and other 'animal' resources in a 'collectable' package. However, for most sites their interpretation as human food debris is based only on association, rather than demonstrated through taphonomic analysis. Because of their very different anatomical configuration compared to mammals, it is difficult to conduct such analyses by directly applying the taphonomic methods used to interpret large mammal assemblages. Tortoise-specific taphonomic analysis is presented here for the Still Bay layers at the important Middle Stone Age (MSA) site of Blombos Cave (BBC), Western Cape, South Africa. Research on MSA subsistence systems at sites such as BBC has almost exclusively relied on analysis of large ungulate remains, in spite of the fact that many of these key sites contain equal or greater numbers of tortoise fragments. In this analysis we show that human modification is common on the BBC tortoises, and that there are consistent patterns of fragmentation and burning that indicate set processing sequences including cooking while in the shell, hammerstone percussion, and human chewing of limbs. The almost exclusive dominance of the angulate tortoise, Chersina angulata, is confirmed by full skeletal element analyses rather than only counts of single elements such as humeri. The sex distribution can be reconstructed for this species, and is female-biased. For all tortoise assemblages, taxonomic and skeletal element abundance data should be calculated from a sample of complete elements, or at minimum the entoplastron and humerus. A sample of shell and limb/girdle elements should also be subjected to microscopic bone surface modification analysis, as modifications are often rare or subtle but highly informative. Using this approach, analysis of breakage patterns, bone surface modification, and burning patterns can be understood together to specifically reconstruct tortoise collection, processing, and human dietary significance across a range of archaeological sites.
|
[
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution"
] |
W2105711374
|
Selective Exposure: New Methods and New Directions
|
This special issue of Communication Methods and Measures tackles difficult questions relating to the empirical study of politically motivated selective exposure. In this brief response, I reflect on the state of the research area and attempt to bring these articles into conversation with one another and with the larger field. My essay is organized in terms of four broad themes: the debate over selective avoidance, the value of big data, the changing technological landscape, and the emphasis on boundary conditions. Collectively, the works in this issue raise important methodological questions and provide theoretical and empirical guidance for how scholars might answer them going forward. Coupled with innovative theorizing, these insights promise to advance our field in important ways.
|
[
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
] |
10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.06.007
|
Mining bicycle sharing data for generating insights into sustainable transport systems
|
Bicycle sharing systems (bike-shares) are becoming increasingly popular in towns and cities around the world. They are viewed as a cheap, efficient, and healthy means of navigating dense urban environments. This paper is the first to take a global view of bike-sharing characteristics by analysing data from 38 systems located in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and the Americas. To achieve this, an extensive database depicting the geographical location and bicycle occupancy of each docking station within a particular system has been created over a number of years to chart the usage in the chosen systems (and others) and provide a consistent basis on which to compare and classify them. Analysis of the variation of occupancy rates over time, and comparison across the system's extent, infers the likely demographics and intentions of user groups. A classification of bike-shares, based on the geographical footprint and diurnal, day-of-week and spatial variations in occupancy rates, is proposed. The knowledge of such patterns and characteristics identifiable from the dataset has a range of applications, including informing operators and policymakers about the maintenance of a suitable balance of bicycles throughout the system area (a nontrivial problem for many bike-shares), the location of new docking stations and cycle lanes, and better targeting of promotional materials to encourage new users. Within the context of transport research, the systems utilised here are part of relatively small, closed environments that can be more easily modelled and validated. Such work lays foundations for the analysis of larger scale transport systems by creating a classification of the different systems and seeks to demonstrate that bike-shares have a lot to offer both as an effective method of transport and a rich source of data.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Products and Processes Engineering"
] |
ES 2018070787 W
|
DOOR FOR RECEIVING AND DELIVERING ORDERS
|
The present invention relates to a door for receiving and delivering orders, characterized in that it comprises a hatch which can be arranged in an open position or in a closed position, and code entering means such that the hatch opens upon entering a predetermined code.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Systems and Communication Engineering"
] |
W4312078965
|
Censimento preliminare della corrispondenza di Ulisse Aldrovandi
|
Il presente contributo intende offrire uno strumento per orientarsi all’interno della vasta e quasi totalmente inedita corrispondenza di Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522–1605). Il corpus di oltre duemila lettere in italiano e in latino copre l’intero arco temporale delle attività intellettuali e istituzionali di Aldrovandi (1534–1604) e rappresenta uno degli esempi più significativi di mediazione tra diversi contesti socio-culturali nel XVI secolo. Oltre alla maggior parte delle lettere conservate presso la Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna, si considerano anche altri nuclei preservati presso altre biblioteche e archivi italiani ed europei. Questo contributo presenta il primo censimento del carteggio di Aldrovandi in ordine cronologico, seguito da un elenco alfabetico dei suoi corrispondenti.
|
[
"The Study of the Human Past",
"Texts and Concepts"
] |
10.1017/S0022050713000302
|
Political Extremism In The 1920S And 1930S Do German Lessons Generalize
|
We examine the impact of the Great Depression on the share of votes for right-wing extremists in elections in the 1920s and 1930s. We confirm the existence of a link between political extremism and economic hard times as captured by growth or contraction of the economy. What mattered was not simply growth at the time of the election, but cumulative growth performance. The impact was greatest in countries with relatively short histories of democracy, with electoral systems that created low hurdles to parliamentary representation, and which had been on the losing side in World War I.
|
[
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
] |
10.1073/pnas.1205414109
|
Small-molecule histone methyltransferase inhibitors display rapid antimalarial activity against all blood stage forms in Plasmodium falciparum
|
Epigenetic factors such as histone methylation control the developmental progression ofmalaria parasites during the complex life cycle in the human host. We investigated Plasmodium falciparum histone lysine methyltransferases as a potential target class for the development of novel antimalarials. We synthesized a compound library based upon a known specific inhibitor (BIX-01294) of the human G9a histone methyltransferase. Two compounds, BIX-01294 and its derivative TM2-115, inhibited P. falciparum 3D7 parasites in culture with IC50 values of ∼100 nM, values at least 22-fold more potent than their apparent IC50 toward two human cell lines and one mouse cell line. These compounds irreversibly arrested parasite growth at all stages of the intraerythrocytic life cycle. Decrease in parasite viability (>40%) was seen after a 3-h incubation with 1 μMBIX-01294 and resulted in complete parasite killing after a 12-h incubation. Additionally, mice with patent Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain infection treated with a single dose (40 mg/kg) of TM2-115 had 18-fold reduced parasitemia the following day. Importantly, treatment of P. falciparum parasites in culture with BIX-01294 or TM2-115 resulted in significant reductions in histone H3K4me3 levels in a concentration-dependent and exposure time-dependent manner. Together, these results suggest that BIX-01294 and TM2-115 inhibit malaria parasite histone methyltransferases, resulting in rapid and irreversible parasite death. Our data position histone lysine methyltransferases as a previously unrecognized target class, and BIX-01294 as a promising lead compound, in a presently unexploited avenue for antimalarial drug discovery targeting multiple life-cycle stages.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
220322
|
Syrian imaginations of europe
|
Refugees’ attempts to flee to a certain country are usually preceded by imaginations about possible destination countries. These imaginations not only contribute to refugees’ decisions where to seek asylum but also have an effect on how refugees experience realities when they eventually arrive in the destination country. The research project ‘SYRMAGINE – Syrian Imaginations of Europe’ focusses on how Europe is imagined by Syrian refugees settling in Syria’s neighbouring countries and examines how refugees’ imaginations affect their attitudes to seek asylum in European countries. SYRMAGINE understands “geographical imaginations” of Europe as subjective human conceptions of a geographical location and stresses the differences between “imagined regions” and reality. The project adopts an interdisciplinary mixed-method approach combining a large sample of individual surveys, semi-directive interviews and an online ethnography in two recipient and transit countries of Syrian refugees in the Middle East, Lebanon and Turkey.
SYRMAGINE contributes to the academic literature on the active role of imaginations in refugees’ decision-making. From a policy perspective, it responds to one of the key priorities of the Horizon 2020 work programme 2016-2017, which is to investigate the governance of migration and asylum. The research is highly time relevant due to the surge of Syrian asylum application in Europe in the last years: Between April 2011 and June 2016, more than one million Syrians have applied for asylum in Europe (UNHCR 2016).
The research project has the following three objectives: 1) to investigate the relation between refugees’ imaginations and decision-making and to study how the present country of residence compares to Europe as a destination choice, 2) to examine how refugees inform themselves about social and political realities in European countries and 3) to use these findings to contribute to the development of evidence-based asylum and integration policies.
|
[
"The Social World and Its Interactions",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
] |
10.1039/C8CC03867H
|
The Impact Of Grafted Surface Defects On The On Surface Schiff Base Chemistry At The Solid Liquid Interface
|
We investigate the effect of covalently modified graphitic surfaces on the formation of single-layer covalent organic frameworks (sCOFs) at the solid–liquid interface. The impact of different densities of grafted aryl species was tested on the on-surface synthesis of three distinct imine-based 2D sCOFs. The grafted aryl species that act as defects provide steric barriers to the progress of the Schiff-base reaction, and can be locally removed to start the 2D polymer healing process. This unique strategy provides a general approach to study in situ this dynamic covalent on-surface chemistry.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
] |
10.1371/journal.pone.0139010
|
The effect of positive and negative feedback on risk-taking across different contexts
|
Preferences for risky choices have often been shown to be unstable and context-dependent. Though people generally avoid gambles with mixed outcomes, a phenomenon often attributed to loss aversion, contextual factors can impact this dramatically. For example, people typically prefer risky options after a financial loss, while generally choosing safer options after a monetary gain. However, it is unclear what exactly contributes to these preference shifts as a function of prior outcomes, as these gain/loss outcomes are usually confounded with participant performance, and therefore it is unclear whether these effects are driven purely by the monetary gains or losses, or rather by success or failure at the actual task. Here, we experimentally separated the effects of monetary gains/losses from performance success/failure prior to a standard risky choice. Participants performed a task in which they experienced contextual effects: 1) monetary gain or loss based directly on performance, 2) monetary gain or loss that was randomly awarded and was, crucially, independent from performance, and 3) success or failure feedback based on performance, but without any monetary incentive. Immediately following these positive/negative contexts, participants were presented with a gain-loss gamble that they had to decide to either play or pass. We found that risk preferences for identical sets of gambles were biased by positive and negative contexts containing monetary gains and losses, but not by contexts containing performance feedback. This data suggests that the observed framing effects are driven by aversion for monetary losses and not simply by the positive or negative valence of the context, or by potential moods resulting from positive or negative contexts. These results highlight the specific context dependence of risk preferences.
|
[
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity",
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
] |
US 9412571 W
|
MICROSTRUCTURE ARRAYS AND METHODS FOR THE FABRICATION THEREOF
|
A method is provided for fabricating smoothly-curved microstructures (12, 14, 16) such as microlenses on a substrate (18) and certain unique microstructures (12, 14, 16) and microstructure arrays (10) obtained through use of such techniques are also provided. The substrate (18) may be smoothly-curved and the bases of the microstructures (12, 14, 16) may have a variety of shapes. The method takes advantage of the surface tension of a liquid to form droplets having a desired shape over high surface energy portions or area of the substrate, which substrate has been previously patterned to have areas with surface energies which are above and below, respectively, the surface tension of a liquid deposited to form the droplets. The formed droplets may then be cured to create the desired microstructures.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
10.1007/978-3-319-19231-4_9
|
Quantum Light Storage In Solid State Atomic Ensembles
|
In this chapter, we will describe the storage and retrieval of quantum light (heralded single photons and entangled photons) in atomic ensembles in a solid state environment. We will consider ensembles of rare-earth ions embedded in dielectric crystals. We will describe the methods used to create quantum light spectrally compatible with the narrow atomic transitions, as well as possible protocols based on dipole rephasing that can be used to reversibly map the quantum light onto collective atomic excitations. We will review the experimental state of the art and describe in more detail quantum light storage experiments in neodymium and praseodymium doped crystals.
|
[
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
335367
|
Biologically individualized, model-based radiotherapy on the basis of multi-parametric molecular tumour profiling
|
High precision radiotherapy (RT) allows extremely flexible tumour treatments achieving highly conformal radiation doses while sparing surrounding organs at risk. Nevertheless, failure rates of up to 50% are reported for head and neck cancer (HNC) due to radiation resistance induced by pathophysiologic factors such as hypoxia and other clinical factors as HPV-status, stage and tumour volume.
This project aims at developing a multi-parametric model for individualized RT (iRT) dose prescriptions in HNC based on biological markers and functional PET/MR imaging. This project goes far beyond current research standards and clinical practice as it aims for establishing hypoxia PET and f-MRI as well as biological markers in HNC as a role model for a novel concept from anatomy-based to biologically iRT.
During this project, a multi-parametric model will be developed on a preclinical basis that combines biological markers such as different oncogenes and hypoxia gene classifier with functional PET/MR imaging, such as FMISO PET in combination with different f-MRI techniques, like DW-, DCE- and BOLD-MRI in addition to MR spectroscopy. The ultimate goal of this project is a multi-parametric model to predict therapy outcome and guide iRT.
In a second part, a clinical study will be carried out to validate the preclinical model in patients. Based on the most informative radiobiological and imaging parameters as identified during the pre-clinical phase, biological markers and advanced PET/MR imaging will be evaluated in terms of their potential for iRT dose prescription.
Successful development of a model for biologically iRT prescription on the basis of multi-parametric molecular profiling would provide a unique basis for personalized cancer treatment. A validated multi-parametric model for RT outcome would represent a paradigm shift from anatomy-based to biologically iRT concepts with the ultimate goal of improving cancer cure rates.
|
[
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physiology in Health, Disease and Ageing",
"Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems"
] |
10.1093/cercor/bhw155
|
Learning a New Selection Rule in Visual and Frontal Cortex
|
How do you make a decision if you do not know the rules of the game? Models of sensory decision-making suggest that choices are slow if evidence is weak, but they may only apply if the subject knows the task rules. Here, we asked how the learning of a new rule influences neuronal activity in the visual (area V1) and frontal cortex (area FEF) of monkeys. We devised a new icon-selection task. On each day, the monkeys saw 2 new icons (small pictures) and learned which one was relevant. We rewarded eye movements to a saccade target connected to the relevant icon with a curve. Neurons in visual and frontal cortex coded the monkey's choice, because the representation of the selected curve was enhanced. Learning delayed the neuronal selection signals and we uncovered the cause of this delay in V1, where learning to select the relevant icon caused an early suppression of surrounding image elements. These results demonstrate that the learning of a new rule causes a transition from fast and random decisions to a more considerate strategy that takes additional time and they reveal the contribution of visual and frontal cortex to the learning process.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"The Human Mind and Its Complexity"
] |
US 0340381 W
|
SURGICAL BITING PUNCH
|
A surgical punch including an upper jaw and lower jaw that are coupled at their proximal ends. The jaws have cutting edges at their distal end configured to cut in a direction from the distal ends of the jaws towards the proximal ends of the jaws. The center of rotation of the cutting trajectory can be located above the initial cutting point of the lower jaw. The upper jaw can include a reversed slope leading edge. The jaws can be slidably coupled to each other. The coupling member can include a pin and slot to couple the movable jaw to an actuating rod.
|
[
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
W1489561631
|
Model of human palm controlled by glove with micromachined accelerometers
|
The aim of the research presented in this paper was to test the possibility of inventing a fully autonomous device to detect the position of the fingers with the use of micromachined accelerometers. An implemented algorithm is based on the measurement of gravity acceleration. Designed microprocessor system analyses that data and controls the model of a human palm made in a 1∶1 scale. The model has a motionless wrist, two fingers and an opposing thumb. Every finger has three joints. An extra joint is made for the thumb. This paper is based on the author's master thesis which is entitled “Data glove controlled by a microprocessor system”.
|
[
"Systems and Communication Engineering",
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
261162
|
Single-Molecule BioAssays at Elevated Concentrations
|
In order to advance single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy to the next level, handling and analysis of single molecules has to become broadly available. A further quantum leap is required to proceed to commercially successful applications such as drug screening and medical diagnostics.
In this project, I suggest a strategy to overcome the fundamental gap between the nanomolar concentration regime of current optical single-molecule spectroscopy and the nano- to millimolar dissociation constants of typical biomolecular interactions. I will use nano-apertures, which confine the detection to sub-attoliter volumes and allow single-molecule studies at elevated concentrations. To overcome unspecific binding and deteriorated fluorescence signals in the nano-apertures, I will use tailor-made DNA nanostructures produced by DNA origami. These nanostructures will match the nano-apertures like a plug in a socket. Inserting molecules at programmed positions in the nanostructures will open up a new realm of applications by the ability to immobilize exactly one molecule per nano-aperture and by obtaining comparable signals from every nano-aperture. I will spectroscopically characterize the nano-apertures creating a fluorescence map of their inside. I will exemplarily use the new abilities for previously impossible applications such as several folds improvement of single-molecule DNA sequencing, direct single-molecule RNA sequencing by reverse transcriptase for cancer screening, for paralleled drug screening of HIV protease inhibitors and for studying the chemomechanical coupling of single helicases.
In summary, I envision a broadly applicable platform that has the potential to become a golden standard by enabling both ground breaking fundamental research and commercial applications.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases"
] |
Q4255555
|
LIQUIDITY SUPPORT FOR MICRO-ENTERPRISES AFFECTED BY THE COVID EMERGENCY
|
SUPPORT FOR THE LIQUIDITY OF MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES IN THE RETAIL, SUPPLY AND PERSONAL SERVICES SECTORS WHOSE ACTIVITY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AS A RESULT OF THE PRIME MINISTERIAL DECREE OF 11 MARCH 2020
|
[
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
] |
US 201715582196 A
|
Digital Content Rendering that Supports Alpha Is Shape (AIS) as part of Knockout Groups
|
Digital content rendering techniques are described that support Alpha Is Shape (AIS) as part of a knockout group. In order to support AIS rendering of an object within a knockout group, an alpha-separated color value is generated by removing an effect of an alpha value of an object of a knockout group on a pixel. A color-blended color value is then generated by the GPU based on the alpha-separated color value and a color value associated with a backdrop of the knockout group for the pixel. A determination is also made as to an amount of spatial coverage for the pixel by comparing the object to the pixel. From this, a rendering color value is generated by the GPU based on the color-blended color value, the alpha value, and the amount of spatial coverage of the pixel by the object.
|
[
"Computer Science and Informatics"
] |
10.1002/pan3.10154
|
Ranger perceptions of, and engagement with, monitoring of elephant poaching
|
Ranger-based monitoring has enormous potential to inform conservation globally, with hundreds of thousands of rangers patrolling extensive areas and recording observations of illegal activities and biodiversity. Much quantitative research has demonstrated the pitfalls and potential of data collection by rangers, but little work has considered its human dimensions. Yet poor engagement with, and ownership of, monitoring by those undertaking it may compromise data quality and thereby limit evidence-based conservation. We interviewed rangers and supervisors involved in a programme for monitoring and managing elephant poaching in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. We assess the importance that rangers ascribed to data collection within their broader occupation, and their level of engagement with data management and use. We found that rangers saw the collection of biodiversity data as a routine duty that helped guide patrol strategy. Reporting these data was perceived as a primary way of demonstrating fulfilled responsibilities to their supervisors. Rangers did not, however, engage actively with data management and use. Ranger sentiment was evenly divided between those who said feedback on how the data they collected were used would motivate more engaged data collection, and those who said they would continue collecting data regardless, out of duty. Three elements of the occupational culture of rangers at our site—a strong sense of duty, deference to authority and knowing their defined responsibilities within the organizational hierarchy—were identified as key drivers of their engagement with monitoring. Building on these findings, we develop a theory of change to develop more meaningful engagement of rangers with monitoring. We argue that more effective and sustainable monitoring can be achieved by building on existing ranger culture while also fostering rangers' appreciation of data collection and utilization. Addressing key challenges around ranger well-being, and resource and capacity needs, is also essential. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"The Social World and Its Interactions"
] |
10.1103/PhysRevD.94.096007
|
Solving the standard model problems in softened gravity
|
The Higgs naturalness problem is solved if the growth of Einstein's gravitational interaction is softened at an energy ≤1011 GeV (softened gravity). We work here within an explicit realization where the Einstein Hilbert Lagrangian is extended to include terms quadratic in the curvature and a nonminimal coupling with the Higgs. We show that this solution is preserved by adding three right-handed neutrinos with masses below the electroweak scale, accounting for neutrino oscillations, dark matter and the baryon asymmetry. The smallness of the right-handed neutrino masses (compared to the Planck scale) and the QCD θ-term are also shown to be natural. We prove that a possible gravitational source of CP violation cannot spoil the model, thanks to the presence of right-handed neutrinos. Inflation is approximately described by the Starobinsky model in this context and can occur even if we live in a metastable vacuum.
|
[
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter",
"Universe Sciences"
] |
10.1128/JVI.00038-09
|
The Tight Junction Associated Protein Occludin Is Required For A Postbinding Step In Hepatitis C Virus Entry And Infection
|
The precise mechanisms regulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into hepatic cells remain unknown. However, several cell surface proteins have been identified as entry factors for this virus. Of these molecules, claudin-1, a tight junction (TJ) component, is considered a coreceptor required for HCV entry. Recently, we have demonstrated that HCV envelope glycoproteins (HCVgp) promote structural and functional TJ alterations. Additionally, we have shown that the intracellular interaction between viral E2 glycoprotein and occludin, another TJ-associated protein, could be the cause of the mislocalization of TJ proteins. Herein we demonstrated, by using cell culture-derived HCV particles (HCVcc), that interference of occludin expression markedly reduced HCV infection. Furthermore, our results with HCV pseudotyped particles indicated that occludin, but not other TJ-associated proteins, such as junctional adhesion molecule A or zonula occludens protein 1, was required for HCV entry. Using HCVcc, we demonstrated that occludin did not play an essential role in the initial attachment of HCV to target cells. Surface protein labeling experiments showed that both expression levels and cell surface localization of HCV (co)receptors CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I, and claudin-1 were not affected upon occludin knockdown. In addition, immunofluorescence confocal analysis showed that occludin interference did not affect subcellular distribution of the HCV (co)receptors analyzed. However, HCVgp fusion-associated events were altered after occludin silencing. In summary, we propose that occludin plays an essential role in HCV infection and probably affects late entry events. This observation may provide new insights into HCV infection and related pathogenesis.
|
[
"Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy",
"Molecules of Life: Biological Mechanisms, Structures and Functions"
] |
Q4248512
|
APOYO A LA LIQUIDEZ PARA LAS MICROEMPRESAS AFECTADAS POR LA EMERGENCIA DE LA COVID
|
APOYO A LA LIQUIDEZ DE LAS MICROEMPRESAS Y LAS PEQUEÑAS EMPRESAS DE LOS SECTORES MINORISTA, DE SUMINISTRO Y DE SERVICIOS PERSONALES CUYA ACTIVIDAD HA SIDO SUSPENDIDA COMO CONSECUENCIA DEL DECRETO DEL PRIMER MINISTRO DE 11 DE MARZO DE 2020
|
[
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
] |
616905
|
Non-Invasive In-Vivo Histology in Health and Disease Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
|
Understanding of the normal and diseased brain crucially depends on reliable knowledge of its microstructure. Important functions are mediated by small cortical units (columns) and even small changes in the microstructure can cause debilitating diseases. So far, this microstructure can only be determined using invasive methods such as, e.g., ex-vivo histology. This limits neuroscience, clinical research and diagnosis.
My research vision is to develop novel methods for high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3T-9.4T to reliably characterize and quantify the detailed microstructure of the human cortex.
This MRI-based histology will be used to investigate the cortical microstructure in health and focal cortical degeneration. Structure-function relationships in visual cortex will be elucidated in-vivo, particularly, ocular dominance columns and stripes. Specific microstructural changes in focal cortical degeneration due to Alzheimer’s disease and monocular blindness will be determined, including amyloid plaque imaging.
To resolve the subtle structures and disease related changes, which have not previously been delineated in-vivo by anatomical MRI, unprecedented isotropic imaging resolution of up to 250 µm is essential. Methods for high-resolution myelin and iron mapping will be developed from novel quantitative MRI approaches that I have previously established. Super-resolution diffusion and susceptibility imaging will be developed to capture the neuropil microstructure. Anatomical imaging will be complemented by advanced high-resolution functional MRI. The multi-modal MRI data will be integrated into a unified model of MRI contrasts, cortical anatomy and tissue microstructure.
My ambitious goal of developing in vivo MRI-based histology can only be achieved by an integrative approach combining innovations in MR physics, modelling and tailored (clinical) neuroscience experiments. If successful, the project will transform research and clinical imaging.
|
[
"Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System",
"Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences"
] |
714581
|
Structure-performance relationships in porous carbons for energy storage
|
Supercapacitors are of great interest as energy storage systems because they exhibit very high rates of charge/discharge, long cycle lifes, and they are made of cheap and light materials. These attractive properties arise from the electrostatic nature of the charge storage which results from ion adsorption in the electrode pores. Recently, it was demonstrated that ions can enter pores of sub-nanometer sizes leading to a huge increase of capacitance. This was an important breakthrough as the energy density of supercapacitors, relatively low compared to batteries, is what currently limits their application.
The progress towards more powerful supercapacitors is limited by our incomplete understanding of the relation between their performance, in particular their capacitance and charging rate, and the complex structure of the porous carbon electrodes. To make progress we need a better fundamental understanding of the ion transport and electrolyte structure in the pores but we are lacking the experimental and theoretical methods to do so.
The aim of SuPERPORES is to carry out a systematic multi-scale simulation study of supercapacitors. The use of combined molecular and mesoscopic simulations will allow us to calculate the capacitive and transport properties of a wide range of systems. Molecular simulations will be used to model ordered three-dimensional porous carbons. This will allow us to vary geometric descriptors, e.g. pore size and ion size, in a systematic way and obtain relevant microscopic information for the subsequent computational screening of porous carbons, achieved through very efficient lattice simulations. We will then be able to formulate design principles for a new, and much improved, generation of supercapacitors. The simulations will also provide other macroscopic properties, e.g. adsorption isotherms and pair distribution functions, which will be used to propose a new method to determine accurately the structure of disordered porous carbons.
|
[
"Condensed Matter Physics",
"Materials Engineering",
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Synthetic Chemistry and Materials"
] |
W1973382642
|
Impact assessment of tritium in an ITER hot cell
|
Abstract Tritium concentration analysis in temporary storage, where large numbers of containers store tritiated metallic waste temporarily, is performed numerically using a time dependent tritium concentration model under an atmosphere detritiation system (ADS) and vent detritiation system (VDS). The tritium concentrations in the temporary storage for both after tritium removal (T-removal) and without T-removal cases are estimated with respect to the capacity of ADS and VDS to find the influence of the tritium removal process. And also a numerical model for estimating tritium behavior in the concrete wall in the temporary storage is developed by using a one-dimensional diffusion model and tritium concentration model. The tritium permeated depths in the wall under the worst conditions are estimated for both after T-removal and without T-removal, respectively.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Products and Processes Engineering",
"Materials Engineering"
] |
Q4249551
|
AIDE DE LIQUIDITÉ AUX MICROENTREPRISES TOUCHÉES PAR L’URGENCE LIÉE À LA COVID-19
|
SOUTIEN À LA LIQUIDITÉ DES MICRO ET PETITES ENTREPRISES DANS LES SECTEURS DU COMMERCE DE DÉTAIL, DE LA FOURNITURE ET DES SERVICES PERSONNELS DONT L’ACTIVITÉ A ÉTÉ SUSPENDUE À LA SUITE DE L’ARRÊTÉ MINISTÉRIEL DU 11 MARS 2020
|
[
"Individuals, Markets and Organisations"
] |
W2103086340
|
Corotational instability, magnetic resonances and global inertial-acoustic oscillations in magnetized black hole accretion discs
|
Low-order, non-axisymmetric p-modes (also referred as inertial-acoustic modes) trapped in the inner-most region of hydrodynamic accretion discs around black holes, are plausible candidates for high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in a number of accreting black-hole systems. These modes are subject to global instabilities due to wave absorption at the corotation resonance (where the wave pattern frequency $\omega/m$ equals the disc rotation rate $\Omega$), when the fluid vortensity, $\zeta=\kappa^2/(2\Omega\Sigma)$ (where $\kappa$ and $\Sigma$ are the radial epicyclic frequency and disc surface density, respectively), has a positive gradient. We investigate the effects of disc magnetic fields on the wave absorption at corotation and the related wave super-reflection of the corotation barrier, and on the overstability of disc p-modes. For discs with a pure toroidal field, the corotation resonance is split into two magnetic resonances, where the wave frequency in the corotating frame of the fluid, $\tomega=\omega-m\Omega$, matches the slow magnetosonic wave frequency. Significant wave energy/angular momentum absorption occurs at both magnetic resonances, but with opposite signs. The combined effect of the two magnetic resonances is to reduce the super-reflection and the growth rate of the overstable p-modes. We show that even a subthermal toroidal field may suppress the overstability of hydrodynamic (B=0) p-modes. For accretion discs with mixed (toroidal and vertical) magnetic fields, two additional Alfven resonances appear, where $\tomega$ matches the local Alfven wave frequency. They further reduce the growth rate of p-modes. Our results suggest that in order for the non-axisymmetric p-modes to be a viable candidate for the observed high-frequency QPOs, the disc magnetic field must be appreciably subthermal, or other mode excitation mechanisms are at work.
|
[
"Universe Sciences",
"Fundamental Constituents of Matter"
] |
10.1093/femsec/fiy145
|
Microbial diversity along a gradient in peatlands treating mining-affected waters
|
Peatlands are used for the purification of mining-affected waters in Northern Finland. In Northern climate, microorganisms in treatment peatlands (TPs) are affected by long and cold winters, but studies about those microorganisms are scarce. Thus, the bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities along gradients of mine water influence in two TPs were investigated. The TPs receive waters rich in contaminants, including arsenic (As), sulfate (SO42-) and nitrate (NO3-). Microbial diversity was high in both TPs, and microbial community composition differed between the studied TPs. Bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria, archaeal communities were dominated by Methanomicrobia and the Candidate phylum Bathyarchaeota, and fungal communities were dominated by Ascomycota (Leotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Sordariomycetes). The functional potential of the bacterial and archaeal communities in TPs was predicted using PICRUSt. Sampling points affected by high concentrations of As showed higher relative abundance of predicted functions related to As resistance. Functions potentially involved in nitrogen and SO42- turnover in TPs were predicted for both TPs. The results obtained in this study indicate that (i) diverse microbial communities exist in Northern TPs, (ii) the functional potential of the peatland microorganisms is beneficial for contaminant removal in TPs and (iii) microorganisms in TPs are likely well-adapted to high contaminant concentrations as well as to the Northern climate.
|
[
"Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution",
"Earth System Science"
] |
10.1063/1.4791569
|
Acks2 Atom Condensed Kohn Sham Dft Approximated To Second Order
|
A new polarizable force field (PFF), namely atom-condensed Kohn-Sham density functional theory approximated to second order (ACKS2), is proposed for the efficient computation of atomic charges and linear response properties of extended molecular systems. It is derived from Kohn-Sham density functional theory (KS-DFT), making use of two novel ingredients in the context of PFFs: (i) constrained atomic populations and (ii) the Legendre transform of the Kohn-Sham kinetic energy. ACKS2 is essentially an extension of the Electronegativity Equalization Method (EEM) [W. J. Mortier, S. K. Ghosh, and S. Shankar, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 4315 (1986)] in which two major EEM shortcomings are fixed: ACKS2 predicts a linear size-dependence of the dipole polarizability in the macroscopic limit and correctly describes the charge distribution when a molecule dissociates. All ACKS2 parameters are defined as atoms-in-molecules expectation values. The implementation of ACKS2 is very similar to that of EEM, with only a small increase in computational cost.
|
[
"Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences",
"Condensed Matter Physics"
] |
W2144887882
|
Floodplain conflicts: regulation and negotiation
|
Abstract. In the continuing shift from engineered solutions towards more holistic methods of managing flood risk, spatial planning has become the primary focus of a conflict between land and water, water and people. In attempting to strike a balance between making space for water and making space for people, compromises are required. Through five case studies in the UK, this paper analyses the effectiveness of Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS 25) and the processes of negotiation that it promotes. This assessment allows us to draw conclusions on the nature of the compromises this kind of negotiation can achieve and the implications of this for flood risk management. What emerges is that the beneficial impacts of decisions to develop floodplain areas are given a proper hearing and sensible conditions imposed, rather than arguments to prevent such development remaining unchallenged.
|
[
"Earth System Science",
"Human Mobility, Environment, and Space",
"Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems"
] |
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