ACTS broadband aeronautical experiment

In the last decade, the demand for reliable data, voice, and video satellite communication links between aircraft and ground to improve air traffic control, airline management, and to meet the growing demand for passenger communications has increased significantly. It is expected that in the near future, the spectrum required for aeronautical communication services will grow significantly beyond that currently available at L-band. In anticipation of this, JPL is developing an experimental broadband aeronautical satellite communications system that will utilize NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) as a satellite of opportunity and the technology developed under JPL's ACTS Mobile Terminal (AMT) Task to evaluate the feasibility of using K/Ka-band for these applications. The application of K/Ka-band for aeronautical satellite communications at cruise altitudes is particularly promising for several reasons: (1) the minimal amount of signal attenuation due to rain; (2) the reduced drag due to the smaller K/Ka-band antennas (as compared to the current L-band systems); and (3) the large amount of available bandwidth. The increased bandwidth available at these frequencies is expected to lead to significantly improved passenger communications - including full-duplex compressed video and multiple channel voice. A description of the proposed broadband experimental system will be presented including: (1) applications of K/Ka-band aeronautical satellite technology to U.S. industry; (2) the experiment objectives; (3) the experiment set-up; (4) experimental equipment description; and (5) industrial participation in the experiment and the benefits

CCL3L1-CCR5 genotype influences durability of immune recovery during antiretroviral therapy of HIV-1–infected individuals

The basis for the extensive variability seen in the reconstitution of CD4+ T cell counts in HIV-infected individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is not fully known. Here, we show that variations in CCL3L1 gene dose and CCR5 genotype, but not major histocompatibility complex HLA alleles, influence immune reconstitution, especially when HAART is initiated at <350 CD4+ T cells/mm3. The CCL3L1-CCR5 genotypes favoring CD4+ T cell recovery are similar to those that blunted CD4+ T cell depletion during the time before HAART became available (pre-HAART era), suggesting that a common CCL3L1-CCR5 genetic pathway regulates the balance between pathogenic and reparative processes from early in the disease course. Hence, CCL3L1-CCR5 variations influence HIV pathogenesis even in the presence of HAART and, therefore, may prospectively identify subjects in whom earlier initiation of therapy is more likely to mitigate immunologic failure despite viral suppression by HAART. Furthermore, as reconstitution of CD4+ cells during HAART is more sensitive to CCL3L1 dose than to CCR5 genotypes, CCL3L1 analogs might be efficacious in supporting immunological reconstitution

Role of CCL3L1-CCR5 Genotypes in the Epidemic Spread of HIV-1 and Evaluation of Vaccine Efficacy

Polymorphisms in CCR5, the major coreceptor for HIV, and CCL3L1, a potent CCR5 ligand and HIV-suppressive chemokine, are determinants of HIV-AIDS susceptibility. Here, we mathematically modeled the potential impact of these genetic factors on the epidemic spread of HIV, as well as on its prevention.Ro, the basic reproductive number, is a fundamental concept in explaining the emergence and persistence of epidemics. By modeling sexual transmission among HIV+/HIV- partner pairs, we find that Ro estimates, and concordantly, the temporal and spatial patterns of HIV outgrowth are highly dependent on the infecting partners' CCL3L1-CCR5 genotype. Ro was least and highest when the infected partner possessed protective and detrimental CCL3L1-CCR5 genotypes, respectively. The modeling data indicate that in populations such as Pygmies with a high CCL3L1 gene dose and protective CCR5 genotypes, the spread of HIV might be minimal. Additionally, Pc, the critical vaccination proportion, an estimate of the fraction of the population that must be vaccinated successfully to eradicate an epidemic was <1 only when the infected partner had a protective CCL3L1-CCR5 genotype. Since in practice Pc cannot be >1, to prevent epidemic spread, population groups defined by specific CCL3L1-CCR5 genotypes might require repeated vaccination, or as our models suggest, a vaccine with an efficacy of >70%. Further, failure to account for CCL3L1-CCR5-based genetic risk might confound estimates of vaccine efficacy. For example, in a modeled trial of 500 subjects, misallocation of CCL3L1-CCR5 genotype of only 25 (5%) subjects between placebo and vaccine arms results in a relative error of approximately 12% from the true vaccine efficacy.CCL3L1-CCR5 genotypes may impact on the dynamics of the HIV epidemic and, consequently, the observed heterogeneous global distribution of HIV infection. As Ro is lowest when the infecting partner has beneficial CCL3L1-CCR5 genotypes, we infer that therapeutic vaccines directed towards reducing the infectivity of the host may play a role in halting epidemic spread. Further, CCL3L1-CCR5 genotype may provide critical guidance for optimizing the design and evaluation of HIV-1 vaccine trials and prevention programs

Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi

Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms

Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi

Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms

How Do Employers Use Compensation History?: Evidence from a Field Experiment

We report the results of a field experiment in which treated employers could not observe the compensation history of their job applicants. Treated employers responded by evaluating more applicants, and evaluating those applicants more intensively. They also responded by changing what kind of workers they evaluated: treated employers evaluated workers with 7% lower past average wages and hired workers with 16% lower past average wages. Conditional upon bargaining, workers hired by treated employers struck better wage bargains for themselves. Using a structural model of bidding and hiring, we find that the selection effects we observe would also occur in equilibrium

Connecting the multiple dimensions of global soil fungal diversity

15 páginas.- 5 figuras.- 99 referenciasHow the multiple facets of soil fungal diversity vary worldwide remains virtually unknown, hindering the management of this essential species-rich group. By sequencing high-resolution DNA markers in over 4000 topsoil samples from natural and human-altered ecosystems across all continents, we illustrate the distributions and drivers of different levels of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of fungi and their ecological groups. We show the impact of precipitation and temperature interactions on local fungal species richness (alpha diversity) across different climates. Our findings reveal how temperature drives fungal compositional turnover (beta diversity) and phylogenetic diversity, linking them with regional species richness (gamma diversity). We integrate fungi into the principles of global biodiversity distribution and present detailed maps for biodiversity conservation and modeling of global ecological processes.This work was supported by the Estonian Science Foundation: PRG632 (to L.T.), Estonian Research Council: PRG1615 (to R.D.), Estonian Research Council: PRG1170 (to U.K. and Ka.Po.), Estonian Science Foundation: MOBTP198 (to St.An.), Novo Nordisk Fonden: NNF20OC0059948 (to L.T.), Norway-Baltic financial mechanism: EMP442 (to L.T., K.-A.B., and M.T.), King Saud University: DFSP-2020-2 (to L.T.), King Saud University: Highly Cited Program (to L.T.), European Regional Development Fund: Centre of Excellence EcolChange TK131 (to M.O., M.Z., Ü.M., U.K., and M.E.), Estonian Research Council: PRG1789 (to M.O. and I.H.), British Ecological Society: LRB17\1019 (MUSGONET) (to M.D.-B.), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: PID2020-115813RA-I00 (to M.D.-B.), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: SOIL4GROWTH (to M.D.-B.), Marie Sklodowska-Curie: 702057 (CLIMIFUN) (to M.D.- B.), European Research Council (ERC): grant 647038 [BIODESERT] (to F.T.M.), Generalitat Valenciana: CIDEGENT/2018/041 (to F.T.M.), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: EUR2022-134048 (to F.T.M.), Estonian Research Council: PRG1065 (to M.M. and M.Z.), Swedish Research Council Formas: 2020-00807 (to Mo.Ba.), Swedish Research Council: 2019-05191 (to Al. An.), Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research MISTRA: Project BioPath (to Al. An.), Kew Foundation (to Al.An.), EEA Financial Mechanism Baltic Research Programme in Estonia: EMP442 (to Ke.Ar. and Je.An.), Ghent University Special Research Fund (BOF): Metusalem (to N.S.), Estonian Research Council: PSG825 (to K.R.), European Research Council (ERC): 101096403 (MLTOM23415R) (to Ü.M.), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): 1.1.1.2/VIAA/2/18/298 (to D.K.), Estonian Research Council: PUT1170 (to I.H.), German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): 01DG20015FunTrAf (to K.T.I., M.P., and N.Y.), Proyecto SIA: SA77210019 (ANID—Chile) (to C.M.), Fondecyt: 1190642 (ANID—Chile) (to R.G.), European Research Council (ERC): Synergy Grant 856506—LIFEPLAN (to T.R.), Academy of Finland: grant 322266 (to T.R.), U.S. National Science Foundation: DEB-0918591 (to T.H.), U.S. National Science Foundation: DEB-1556338 (to T.H.), U.S. National Science Foundation: DEB 1737898 (to G.B.), UNAM-PAPIIT: IV200223 (to R.G.-O.), Czech Science Foundation: 21-26883S (to J.D.), Estonian Research Council: PRG352 (to M.E.), NERC core funding: the BAS Biodiversity, Evolution and Adaptation Team (to K.K.N.), NERC-CONICYT: NE/P003079/1 (to E.M.B.), Carlsberg Foundation: CF18-0267 (to E.M.B.), Qatar Petroleum: QUEX-CAS-QP-RD-18/19 (to Ju.Al.), Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education: 075-15-2021-1396 (to V.F. and V.O.), Secretaria de Ciencia y Técnica (SECYT) of Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and CONICET (to E.N.), HighLevel Talent Recruitment Plan of Yunnan Province 2021:“High-End Foreign Experts” (to Pe.Mo.), AUA grant from research council of UAE University: G00003654 (to S.M.), Ghent University: Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (to A.V.), Ghent University: Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF-PDO2017-001201) (to E.D.C.), Ghent University: The Faculty Committee Scientific Research, FCWO (to E.D.C. and A.V.), The King Leopold III Fund for Nature Exploration and Conservation (to A.V. and E.D.C.), The Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) (to E.D.C. and A.V.), The High-Level Talent Recruitment Plan of Yunnan Provinces: “Young Talents” Program (to D.-Q.D.), The HighLevel Talent Recruitment Plan of Yunnan Provinces: “High-End Foreign Experts" Program (to N. N.W.), IRIS scholarship for progressive and ambitious women (to L.H.), Estonian University of Life Sciences: P190250PKKH (to Kr.Pa.), Hungarian Academy of Sciences: Lendület Programme (96049) (to J.G.), Eötvös Loránd Research Network (to J.G.), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (to C.N.), and Higher Education Commision (HEC, Islamabad, Pakistan): Indigenous and International research support initiative program (IRSIP) scholarship (to M.S.)Peer reviewe

Differential predictors for alcohol use in adolescents as a function of familial risk

Abstract: Traditional models of future alcohol use in adolescents have used variable-centered approaches, predicting alcohol use from a set of variables across entire samples or populations. Following the proposition that predictive factors may vary in adolescents as a function of family history, we used a two-pronged approach by first defining clusters of familial risk, followed by prediction analyses within each cluster. Thus, for the first time in adolescents, we tested whether adolescents with a family history of drug abuse exhibit a set of predictors different from adolescents without a family history. We apply this approach to a genetic risk score and individual differences in personality, cognition, behavior (risk-taking and discounting) substance use behavior at age 14, life events, and functional brain imaging, to predict scores on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) at age 14 and 16 in a sample of adolescents (N = 1659 at baseline, N = 1327 at follow-up) from the IMAGEN cohort, a longitudinal community-based cohort of adolescents. In the absence of familial risk (n = 616), individual differences in baseline drinking, personality measures (extraversion, negative thinking), discounting behaviors, life events, and ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, while the overall model explained 22% of the variance in future AUDIT. In the presence of familial risk (n = 711), drinking behavior at age 14, personality measures (extraversion, impulsivity), behavioral risk-taking, and life events were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, explaining 20.1% of the overall variance. Results suggest that individual differences in personality, cognition, life events, brain function, and drinking behavior contribute differentially to the prediction of future alcohol misuse. This approach may inform more individualized preventive interventions

Differential predictors for alcohol use in adolescents as a function of familial risk

Abstract: Traditional models of future alcohol use in adolescents have used variable-centered approaches, predicting alcohol use from a set of variables across entire samples or populations. Following the proposition that predictive factors may vary in adolescents as a function of family history, we used a two-pronged approach by first defining clusters of familial risk, followed by prediction analyses within each cluster. Thus, for the first time in adolescents, we tested whether adolescents with a family history of drug abuse exhibit a set of predictors different from adolescents without a family history. We apply this approach to a genetic risk score and individual differences in personality, cognition, behavior (risk-taking and discounting) substance use behavior at age 14, life events, and functional brain imaging, to predict scores on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) at age 14 and 16 in a sample of adolescents (N = 1659 at baseline, N = 1327 at follow-up) from the IMAGEN cohort, a longitudinal community-based cohort of adolescents. In the absence of familial risk (n = 616), individual differences in baseline drinking, personality measures (extraversion, negative thinking), discounting behaviors, life events, and ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, while the overall model explained 22% of the variance in future AUDIT. In the presence of familial risk (n = 711), drinking behavior at age 14, personality measures (extraversion, impulsivity), behavioral risk-taking, and life events were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, explaining 20.1% of the overall variance. Results suggest that individual differences in personality, cognition, life events, brain function, and drinking behavior contribute differentially to the prediction of future alcohol misuse. This approach may inform more individualized preventive interventions