Transversal-rotational and zero group velocity modes in tunable magneto-granular phononic crystals

We report on the design and operation of a 1D magneto-granular phononic crystal composed of a chain of steel spherical beads on top of permanent magnets. The magnetic field of the permanent magnets induces forces in the granular structure. By changing its strength, we can tune the dynamic response of the granular structure. We present experimental results with evidence of coupled transversal-rotational modes, and zero group velocities modes. These observations are well supported by a proposed model taking into account the mechanical coupling between the beads and the magnets by linear stiffnesses and including all degrees of freedom in translations and rotations

Entre scrupule éthique et crapule méthodologique

Cet article explore la dynamique qui a traversé les partis-pris méthodologiques et le souci éthique d’un travail mené, par certains aspects, en « contrebande » des organisations en raison de la sensibilité d’un questionnement portant sur le dissensus en entreprises et les dilemmes managériaux. Nous développons une approche réflexive sur les trois dimensions inhérentes à des « manières de faire » scrupuleuses et crapuleuses consistant d’abord à faire place à une recherche d’interstices entre commande et contrebande (1.), puis à faire attention aux dilemmes vécus (2.) et enfin à faire fruit des contraintes et difficultés rencontrées (3.). Cela nous amène à interroger la vertu heuristique de l’inconfort pour appréhender un phénomène composite et une expérience se racontant à bas-bruits

Regulation of the tight junction permeabilities in the TAL

The thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TAL) is a key nephron tubule for the reabsorption of divalent cations. This reabsorption occurs entirely through the cation selective paracellular pathway, driven by a lumen-positive transepithelial voltage created by the active transcellular transport. The discovery of the claudin (Cld) family of proteins and their properties has put into focus the study of the regulation in this paracellular pathway. To functionally study the regulation of the tight junction permeabilities, TALs were dissected and microperfused ex vivo. The recording of transepithelial voltages (Vte) and transepithelial resistances (Rte) allowed the calculation of equivalent short circuit currents (Isc), permeability ratios, and absolute paracellular permeabilities to ions (Px) in the TAL. TALs from mice on high calcium diet reached lower values of Vte, PMg and PCa than TALs from the control group, indicating clearly that a regulatory process has taken place. Low calcium intake for 8 days had no verifiable effects in the TAL of those mice. TALs were studied after challenging mice water homeostasis or by directly stimulating isolated TALs with vasopressin (AVP). TALs from water-restricted mice had lower Rte, with higher Vte, Isc, and PNa than tubules from water-loaded mice. Acute ex vivo stimulation of TALs with AVP, showed that AVP increase the paracellular selectivity for cations. Thus, water restriction and AVP induce regulation in the paracellular pathway in the TAL. Transgenic knock-out mouse models were used to characterize the functionality of the tight-junction in the TAL when Cld10, Cld16, or both claudins simultaneously were absent. The results suggest that both claudins are complementary, and their deficiency largely affects the paracellular permeability to cations. In summary, the data presented here are a further step in characterizing the paracellular pathway in the TAL and its regulation as a physiologically relevant mechanism in ion homeostasis

New host record for \u3ci\u3eEntylia carinata\u3c/i\u3e (Forster) (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Yacon, Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob (Asteraceae), is recorded as a new host plant for Entylia carinata (Forster) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) in Mt. Holly, NC. Adults, nymphs, and attending ants were found on numerous plants

New host record for \u3ci\u3eEntylia carinata\u3c/i\u3e (Forster) (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Yacon, Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob (Asteraceae), is recorded as a new host plant for Entylia carinata (Forster) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) in Mt. Holly, NC. Adults, nymphs, and attending ants were found on numerous plants

Time-Aware Evidence Ranking for Fact-Checking

Truth can vary over time. Fact-checking decisions on claim veracity should therefore take into account temporal information of both the claim and supporting or refuting evidence. In this work, we investigate the hypothesis that the timestamp of a Web page is crucial to how it should be ranked for a given claim. We delineate four temporal ranking methods that constrain evidence ranking differently and simulate hypothesis-specific evidence rankings given the evidence timestamps as gold standard. Evidence ranking in three fact-checking models is ultimately optimized using a learning-to-rank loss function. Our study reveals that time-aware evidence ranking not only surpasses relevance assumptions based purely on semantic similarity or position in a search results list, but also improves veracity predictions of time-sensitive claims in particular.Comment: 16 pages, accepted for publication in Journal of Web Semantics - Special Issue on Content Credibilit