Three dimensional complex plasma structures in a combined radio frequency and direct current discharge

We report on the first detailed analysis of large three dimensional (3D) complex plasma structures in experiments performed in pure rf and combined rf+dc discharge modes. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is generated by an rf coil wrapped around the vertically positioned cylindrical glass tube at a pressure of 0.3 mbar. In addition, dc plasma can be generated by applying voltage to the electrodes at the ends of the tube far from the rf coil. The injected monodisperse particles are levitated in the plasma below the coil. A scanning laser sheet and a high resolution camera are used to determine the 3D positions of about $10^5$ particles. The observed bowl-shaped particle clouds reveal coexistence of various structures, including well-distinguished solid-like, less ordered liquid-like, and pronounced string-like phases. New criteria to identify string-like structures are proposed.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Antioxidant Capacities and Phenolic Levels of Different Varieties of Serbian White Wines

The biologically active compounds in wine, especially phenolics, are responsible for reduced risk of developing chronic diseases (cardiovascular disrease, cancer, diabetes, etc.), due to their antioxidant activities. We determined the contents of total phenolics (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) in selected Serbian white wines by colorimetric methods. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) of the white wines was analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity assay. Međaš beli had the highest content of TP, TF and TAA. The radical scavenging capacity (RSC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) of white wines were 15.30% and 1.055 mM Trolox equivalent, respectively. Total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents in white wines ranged from 238.3 to 420.6 mg gallic acid equivalent per L of wines and 42.64 to 81.32 mg catechin equivalent per L of wines, respectively. A high and significant correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content was determined in wines (R2 = 0.968, p < 0.01). For the individual polyphenols determination we used a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection (DAD) technique. The majority of white wine polyphenols was represent by four hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs)

Simultaneous lineage tracing and cell-type identification using CRISPR-Cas9-induced genetic scars

A key goal of developmental biology is to understand how a single cell is transformed into a full-grown organism comprising many different cell types. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is commonly used to identify cell types in a tissue or organ. However, organizing the resulting taxonomy of cell types into lineage trees to understand the developmental origin of cells remains challenging. Here we present LINNAEUS (lineage tracing by nuclease-activated editing of ubiquitous sequences)-a strategy for simultaneous lineage tracing and transcriptome profiling in thousands of single cells. By combining scRNA-seq with computational analysis of lineage barcodes, generated by genome editing of transgenic reporter genes, we reconstruct developmental lineage trees in zebrafish larvae, and in heart, liver, pancreas, and telencephalon of adult fish. LINNAEUS provides a systematic approach for tracing the origin of novel cell types, or known cell types under different conditions

Determination of Base Station Emission Power Change in a Mobile Network Cell with Movable Users

This paper considers base transceiver station (BTS) emission power change in the cell-organized mobile network with dynamic power control, due to users’ moving. Such power adjustment contributes to energy saving and environment pollution reduction. We analyzed mutual influence of user’s moving speed, users’ surface distribution and propagation coefficient γ on BTS power variations. It is proved that users’ concentration near BTS, greater γ (in urban areas), faster user’s moving and greater connection duration contribute to BTS power increase of several tens of percent in real conditions. We present two examples when mean user’s moving distance is 30% of mobile cell radius: 1) power of one movable user is increased more than 50% when distance between user and BTS is uniformly distributed (decreasing users’ surface density); 2) emission power is decreased 2.5% when users are uniformly distributed (there are more users near a cell rim). BTS power has nearly constant value in the second example, because in our model users, crossing the cell rim, are replaced by users from adjacent cells, who are moving towards BTS. The analysis results are verified by Monte Carlo simulation, where user’s starting position, displacement and angle of moving are determined based on randomly generated numbers

A rapid and reliable determination of doxycycline hyclate by HPLC with UV detection in pharmaceutical samples

An accurate, sensitive and reproducible high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantification of doxycycline hyclate in pharmaceutical samples has been developed and validated. The drug and the standard were eluted from a Lichrosorb RP-8 (250 mm´4.6 mm, 10 mm particle size) at 20 °C with a mobile phase consisting of methanol, acetonitrile and 0.010 M aqueous solution of oxalic acid (2:3:5, v/v/v). The flow rate was 1.25 ml min-1. A UV detector set at 350 nm was used to monitor the effluent. Each analysis required no longer than 4 min. The limits of detection and quantification were 1.15 and 3.84 μg ml-1, respectively. Recoveries for different concentrations ranged from 99.58 to 101.93 %

When linearity prevails over hierarchy in syntax

Hierarchical structure has been cherished as a grammatical universal. We use experimental methods to show where linear order is also a relevant syntactic relation. An identical methodology and design were used across six research sites on South Slavic languages. Experimental results show that in certain configurations, grammatical production can in fact favor linear order over hierarchical structure. However, these findings are limited to coordinate structures and distinct from the kind of production errors found with comparable configurations such as “attraction” errors. The results demonstrate that agreement morphology may be computed in a series of steps, one of which is partly independent from syntactic hierarchy

Identification of Nonlinear Systems Using the Hammerstein-Wiener Model with Improved Orthogonal Functions

Hammerstein-Wiener systems present a structure consisting of three serial cascade blocks. Two are static nonlinearities, which can be described with nonlinear functions. The third block represents a linear dynamic component placed between the first two blocks. Some of the common linear model structures include a rational-type transfer function, orthogonal rational functions (ORF), finite impulse response (FIR), autoregressive with extra input (ARX), autoregressive moving average with exogenous inputs model (ARMAX), and output-error (O-E) model structure. This paper presents a new structure, and a new improvement is proposed, which is consisted of the basic structure of Hammerstein-Wiener models with an improved orthogonal function of Müntz-Legendre type. We present an extension of generalised Malmquist polynomials that represent Müntz polynomials. Also, a detailed mathematical background for performing improved almost orthogonal polynomials, in combination with Hammerstein-Wiener models, is proposed. The proposed approach is used to identify the strongly nonlinear hydraulic system via the transfer function. To compare the results obtained, well-known orthogonal functions of the Legendre, Chebyshev, and Laguerre types are exploited

Structural insights into RapZ-mediated regulation of bacterial amino-sugar metabolism

In phylogenetically diverse bacteria, the conserved protein RapZ plays a central role in RNA-mediated regulation of amino-sugar metabolism. RapZ contributes to the control of glucosamine phosphate biogenesis by selectively presenting the regulatory small RNA GlmZ to the essential ribonuclease RNase E for inactivation. Here, we report the crystal structures of full length Escherichia coli RapZ at 3.40 Å and 3.25 Å, and its isolated C-terminal domain at 1.17 Å resolution. The structural data confirm that the N-terminal domain of RapZ possesses a kinase fold, whereas the C-terminal domain bears closest homology to a subdomain of 6-phosphofructokinase, an important enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. RapZ self-associates into a domain swapped dimer of dimers, and in vivo data support the importance of quaternary structure in RNA-mediated regulation of target gene expression. Based on biochemical, structural and genetic data, we suggest a mechanism for binding and presentation by RapZ of GlmZ and the closely related decoy sRNA, GlmY. We discuss a scenario for the molecular evolution of RapZ through re-purpose of enzyme components from central metabolism.This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust [RG84381 to B.F.L]; and the Austrian Science Fund [P 26681-B22 and F4317 to B.G.]. GMG was supported by a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Funding for open access charge: Wellcome Trust