LiHe spectra from brown dwarfs to helium clusters

International audienceThe detection of Li I lines is the most decisive spectral indicator of substellarity for young brown dwarfs with masses below about 0.06 solar mass. Due to the weakness of the Li resonance lines, it is important to be able to model precisely both their core widths and their wing profiles. This allows an adequate prediction of the mass at which Li lines reappear in the spectra of brown dwarfs for a given age, or reversely an accurate determination of the age of a cluster. We report improved line profiles and the dependence of line width on temperature suitable for modeling substellar atmospheres that were determined from new LiHe molecular potential energies. Over a limited range of density and temperature, comparison with laboratory measurements was used to validate the potential energies which support the spectral line profile theory

Saamelaisten oikeuksien toteutuminen: kansainvälinen oikeusvertaileva tutkimus

Saamelaisten oikeuksien eteenpäin vieminen Suomessa on kohdannut haasteita. Tämä tutkimus pyrkii vastaamaan valtioneuvoston määrittelemään tietotarpeeseen, joka liittyy erityisesti saamelaisten maa- ja osallistumisoikeuksiin sekä saamelaismääritelmään. Kyseessä on kansainvälinen oikeusvertaileva tutkimus, joka pyrkii tarjoamaan uutta tietoa sekä kansainvälisen alkuperäiskansaoikeuden kehityksestä että siitä, miten muissa aiheen kannalta keskeisissä valtioissa on ratkaistu alkuperäiskansojen oikeuksiin liittyviä kysymyksiä. Tutkimusraportti koostuu neljästä pääosiosta. Ensimmäinen osio tarkastelee saamelaisten oikeusasemaa Suomessa sekä siihen liittyviä ehdotuksia, joita tarkastellaan kansainvälisen oikeuden luomien velvoitteiden näkökulmasta. Toinen kokonaisuus pitää sisällään saamelaismääritelmän problematiikan tarkastelua kansainvälisen oikeuden sekä korkeimman hallinto-oikeuden tapauskäytännön valossa, sisältäen myös kuvauksen saamelaisuuden määrittelyyn liittyvien kiistojen taustoista ja syistä. Kolmas pääosio keskittyy alkuperäiskansojen kansainvälisoikeudellisen aseman ja oikeuksien kehitykseen pääfokuksena ns. ennakkosuostumuksen periaate (FPIC). Tämä osio pitää sisällään myös ILO sopimus 169:n sisältämien maaoikeuksien analyysiin. Neljäs pääkokonaisuus on oikeusvertaileva osio, jossa on mukana Norjaa, Ruotsia, Uutta-Seelantia, Kanadaa ja Latinalaisen Amerikan maita koskevat maaraportit. Tämä kappalekokonaisuus sisältää myös yhteenvedon vertailun piirissä olleiden valtioiden oikeuskäytänteiden keskeisistä elementeistä, joista voidaan löytää parhaita käytänteitä Suomen saamelaisten oikeuksien toteuttamiseksi

Forum: conflict delegation in civil wars

This forum provides an outlet for an assessment of research on the delegation of war to non-state armed groups in civil wars. Given the significant growth of studies concerned with this phenomenon over the last decade, this forum critically engages with the present state of the field. First, we canvass some of the most important theoretical developments to demonstrate the heterogeneity of the debate. Second, we expand on the theme of complexity and investigate its multiple facets as a window into pushing the debate forward. Third, we draw the contours of a future research agenda by highlighting some contemporary problems, puzzles, and challenges to empirical data collection. In essence, we seek to connect two main literatures that have been talking past each other: external support in civil wars and proxy warfare. The forum bridges this gap at a critical juncture in this new and emerging scholarship by offering space for scholarly dialogue across conceptual labels

Effects of ambient temperature in association with photoperiod on phenology and on the expressions of major plant developmental genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract In addition to its role in vernalization, temperature is an important environmental stimulus in determining plant growth and development. We used factorial combinations of two photoperiods (16H, 12H) and three temperature levels (11oC, 18oC, and 25oC) to study the temperature responses of 19 wheat cultivars with established genetic relationships. Temperature produced more significant effects on plant development than photoperiod, with This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. strong genotypic components. Wheat genotypes with PPD-D1 photoperiod sensitive allele were sensitive to temperature; their development was delayed by higher temperature, which intensified under non-inductive conditions. The effect of temperature on plant development was not proportional; it influenced the stem elongation to the largest extent, warmer temperature lengthened the lag phase between the detection of first node and the beginning of intensive stem elongation. The gene expression patterns of VRN1, VRN2 and PPD1 were also significantly modified by temperature, while VRN3 was more chronologically regulated. The associations between VRN1 and VRN3 gene expression with early apex development were significant in all treatments, but was only significant for later plant developmental phases under optimal conditions (16H and 18oC). Under 16H, the magnitude of the transient peak expression of VRN2 observed at 18oC and 25oC associated with the later developmental phases. Key words: wheat, temperature, photoperiod, apex and plant development, VRN1, VRN2, VRN3 and PPD1 gene expression

Multi-Camera Crowd Monitoring: The SAFEST Approach

International audienceThis paper presents the current state of people counting approach created for the SAFEST project. A video based surveillance system for monitoring crowd behaviour is developed. The system detects dangerous situations by analysing the dynamics of the crowd density. Therefore we developed a grid-based people counting algorithm which provides density per cell for the global view on the monitored area. Since multiple cameras may observe same parts of the monitored area, the challenge is not only to count people seen by single cameras , but also to merge the views. Therefore we first detect people seen by each camera separately and then sum the results to a global representation. In order to avoid multiple counting of same objects, the output of cameras in the overlapped regions are weighted

Fusion Learning Conference 2023 - proceedings

Welcome to the 3rd annual Fusion Learning Conference at BU. The event provides a hub for the exchange of knowledge, pedagogical innovations, and cutting-edge research that shape the landscape of our learning and teaching. This year we are hosting the largest number of submissions to the conference and look forward to an exciting line up of guest speaker from IBM presenting on the influence of Artificial Intelligence on higher education; a BU panel of experts sharing their insight about some of the emerging themes in our learning and teaching and preparing our students for future of work; staff presentations and discussions including, student engagement, digital transformation, academic integrity, inclusive and sustainability in the curriculum design. I hope that you find this selection of posters and abstracts to be enlightening

Effects of environmental Bisphenol A exposures on germ cell development and Leydig cell function in the human fetal testis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Using an organotypic culture system termed human Fetal Testis Assay (hFeTA) we previously showed that 0.01 μM BPA decreases basal, but not LH-stimulated, testosterone secreted by the first trimester human fetal testis. The present study was conducted to determine the potential for a long-term antiandrogenic effect of BPA using a xenograft model, and also to study the effect of BPA on germ cell development using both the hFETA and xenograft models.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Using the hFeTA system, first trimester testes were cultured for 3 days with 0.01 to 10 μM BPA. For xenografts, adult castrate male nude mice were injected with hCG and grafted with first trimester testes. Host mice received 10 μM BPA (~ 500 μg/kg/day) in their drinking water for 5 weeks. Plasma levels of total and unconjugated BPA were 0.10 μM and 0.038 μM respectively. Mice grafted with second trimester testes received 0.5 and 50 μg/kg/day BPA by oral gavage for 5 weeks.</p><p>Results</p><p>With first trimester human testes, using the hFeTA model, 10 μM BPA increased germ cell apoptosis. In xenografts, germ cell density was also reduced by BPA exposure. Importantly, BPA exposure significantly decreased the percentage of germ cells expressing the pluripotency marker AP-2γ, whilst the percentage of those expressing the pre-spermatogonial marker MAGE-A4 significantly increased. BPA exposure did not affect hCG-stimulated androgen production in first and second trimester xenografts as evaluated by both plasma testosterone level and seminal vesicle weight in host mice.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Exposure to BPA at environmentally relevant concentrations impairs germ cell development in first trimester human fetal testis, whilst gonadotrophin-stimulated testosterone production was unaffected in both first and second trimester testis. Studies using first trimester human fetal testis demonstrate the complementarity of the FeTA and xenograft models for determining the respective short-term and long term effects of environmental exposures.</p></div

De möjliga effekterna av den blåa ekonomin på jämlikheten mellan könen i Republiken Seychellerna

In order to ensure the Earth’s future prosperity and welfare gender inequalities need to be tackled and our marine environment needs to be safeguarded. In this thesis we therefore evaluate the possible effects of a blue economy on gender equality in the Republic of Seychelles. Using a qualitative methodology, we have conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with a total of 35 respondents. These including people working at grassroots level, in non-governmental organisations and within the governmental bodies in Seychelles. In order to assist the collection and analysis of the data, we developed a theoretical model portraying in what ways the blue economy can affect gender equality in the country via three main components; maritime sustainability, technological innovation and new market and job opportunities. The empirical results demonstrate that the blue economy framework through these three components can affect gender equality, both in the short and long-term. If proven to be inclusive and implemented in the correct way, our findings portray that the blue economy will offer many opportunities. This affecting gender equality in diverse ways, with our main results showing that the concept will (i) help single mothers through factors such as increasing food security, water quality and new job opportunities; (ii) encouraging women to enter into more technological and/or male dominated fields; (iii) motivating boys to remain in school or help dropouts to venture into more practical fields.För att säkerställa jordens framtida välstånd och välfärd måste ojämlikheter mellan könen åtgärdas och vår marina miljö skyddas. I denna uppsats så utvärderar vi därför de möjliga effekterna av en blå ekonomi på jämlikheten mellan könen i Republiken Seychellerna. Via ett kvalitativt tillvägagångssätt genomförde vi 21 semistrukturerade intervjuer med 35 respondenter. Dessa inkluderade individer som arbetar på gräsrotsnivå, i icke-statliga organisationer och inom de statliga organen i Seychellerna. För att förenkla insamlingen och analysen av data utvecklade vi en teoretisk modell som visar på vilka sätt en blå ekonomi kan påverka jämlikheten mellan män och kvinnor i landet via tre huvudkomponenter; marin hållbarhet, teknologisk utveckling och nya marknads- och arbetsmöjligheter. De empiriska resultaten visar på att en blå ekonomi kan, genom dessa tre komponenter, påverka jämlikheten mellan män och kvinnor på både kort och lång sikt. Om konceptet implementeras på rätt sätt samt inkluderar hela befolkningen, tyder våra resultat på att en blå ekonomi kommer erbjuda många möjligheter och påverka jämlikheten mellan könen på olika sätt. Våra huvudsakliga resultat visar att konceptet kan (i) hjälpa ensamstående mödrar genom att öka livsmedelsförsörjningen, kvaliteten på vatten och erbjuda nya arbetsmöjligheter; (ii) uppmuntra kvinnor att gå in i mer tekniska och/eller mansdominerade yrken; (iii) motivera pojkar att stanna kvar i skolan eller hjälpa de utsatta att hitta arbete i mer praktiska områden