3,620 research outputs found
Nanobiopesticides: Silica nanoparticles with spiky surfaces enable dual adhesion and enhanced performance
Biopesticides, such as spinosad, are a new-generation of ecofriendly pesticides in livestock industry. However, spinosad suffers from short duration of effectiveness and low potency in field conditions. Herein we report the development of a new nanospinosad design with dual adhesion and protection functions. Silica nanoparticles with spiky nanotopography loaded with spinosad possess rough surfaces. When applied topically, this nanospinosad formulation exhibited enhanced adhesion to both cattle hair and pest surface. The dual adhesion property led to significantly higher pest mortality toward tick (Rhipicephalus microplus, an ectoparasite) than a nanospinosad formulation using nanoparticles with smooth surface and a benchmark commercial product. The adhesion performance was further quantitatively measured using rainfastness test. Moreover, solar radiation test revealed that the nanospinosad exhibited >10 times higher photostability over the commercial product. This work paves the way toward the development of high performance nanobiopesticides for sustainable agricultural applications
Bounded Verification with On-the-Fly Discrepancy Computation
Simulation-based verification algorithms can provide formal safety guarantees
for nonlinear and hybrid systems. The previous algorithms rely on user provided
model annotations called discrepancy function, which are crucial for computing
reachtubes from simulations. In this paper, we eliminate this requirement by
presenting an algorithm for computing piece-wise exponential discrepancy
functions. The algorithm relies on computing local convergence or divergence
rates of trajectories along a simulation using a coarse over-approximation of
the reach set and bounding the maximal eigenvalue of the Jacobian over this
over-approximation. The resulting discrepancy function preserves the soundness
and the relative completeness of the verification algorithm. We also provide a
coordinate transformation method to improve the local estimates for the
convergence or divergence rates in practical examples. We extend the method to
get the input-to-state discrepancy of nonlinear dynamical systems which can be
used for compositional analysis. Our experiments show that the approach is
effective in terms of running time for several benchmark problems, scales
reasonably to larger dimensional systems, and compares favorably with respect
to available tools for nonlinear models.Comment: 24 page
The role of cardiac troponin T quantity and function in cardiac development and dilated cardiomyopathy
Background: Hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies results from sarcomeric protein mutations, including cardiac troponin T (cTnT, TNNT2). We determined whether TNNT2 mutations cause cardiomyopathies by altering cTnT function or quantity; whether the severity of DCM is related to the ratio of mutant to wildtype cTnT; whether Ca2+ desensitization occurs in DCM; and whether absence of cTnT impairs early embryonic cardiogenesis. Methods and Findings: We ablated Tnnt2 to produce heterozygous Tnnt2+/ mice, and crossbreeding produced homozygous null Tnnt2-/-embryos. We also generated transgenic mice overexpressing wildtype (TGWT) or DCM mutant (TGK210Δ) Tnnt2. Crossbreeding produced mice lacking one allele of Tnnt2, but carrying wildtype (Tnnt2+/-/TGWT) or mutant (Tnnt2+/-/TGK210Δ) transgenes. Tnnt2+/-mice relative to wildtype had significantly reduced transcript (0.82 ± 0.06 [SD] vs. 1.00 ± 0.12 arbitrary units; p = 0.025), but not protein (1.01 ± 0.20 vs. 1.00 ± 0.13 arbitrary units; p = 0.44). Tnnt2+/-mice had normal hearts (histology, mass, left ventricular end diastolic diameter [LVEDD], fractional shortening [FS]). Moreover, whereas Tnnt2+/-/ TGK210Δ mice had severe DCM, TGK210Δ mice had only mild DCM (FS 18 ± 4 vs. 29 ± 7%; p < 0.01). The difference in severity of DCM may be attributable to a greater ratio of mutant to wildtype Tnnt2 transcript in Tnnt2+/-/TGK210Δ relative to TGK210Δ mice (2.42±0.08, p = 0.03). Tnnt2+/-/TGK210Δ muscle showed Ca2+ desensitization (pCa50 = 5.34 ± 0.08 vs. 5.58 ± 0.03 at sarcomere length 1.9 μm. p<0.01), but no difference in maximum force generation. Day 9.5 Tnnt2-/-embryos had normally looped hearts, but thin ventricular walls, large pericardial effusions, noncontractile hearts, and severely disorganized sarcomeres. Conclusions: Absence of one Tnnt2 allele leads to a mild deficit in transcript but not protein, leading to a normal cardiac phenotype. DCM results from abnormal function of a mutant protein, which is associated with myocyte Ca2+ desensitization. The severity of DCM depends on the ratio of mutant to wildtype Tnnt2 transcript. cTnT is essential for sarcomere formation, but normal embryonic heart looping occurs without contractile activity. © 2008 Ahmad et al
Protection by the NDI1 Gene against Neurodegeneration in a Rotenone Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
It is widely recognized that mitochondrial dysfunction, most notably defects in the NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (complex I), is closely related to the etiology of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). In fact, rotenone, a complex I inhibitor, has been used for establishing PD models both in vitro and in vivo. A rat model with chronic rotenone exposure seems to reproduce pathophysiological conditions of PD more closely than acute mouse models as manifested by neuronal cell death in the substantia nigra and Lewy body-like cytosolic aggregations. Using the rotenone rat model, we investigated the protective effects of alternative NADH dehydrogenase (Ndi1) which we previously demonstrated to act as a replacement for complex I both in vitro and in vivo. A single, unilateral injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying the NDI1 gene into the vicinity of the substantia nigra resulted in expression of the Ndi1 protein in the entire substantia nigra of that side. It was clear that the introduction of the Ndi1 protein in the substantia nigra rendered resistance to the deleterious effects caused by rotenone exposure as assessed by the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine. The presence of the Ndi1 protein also prevented cell death and oxidative damage to DNA in dopaminergic neurons observed in rotenone-treated rats. Unilateral protection also led to uni-directional rotation of the rotenone-exposed rats in the behavioral test. The present study shows, for the first time, the powerful neuroprotective effect offered by the Ndi1 enzyme in a rotenone rat model of PD
Transformation Pathways of Silica under High Pressure
Concurrent molecular dynamics simulations and ab initio calculations show
that densification of silica under pressure follows a ubiquitous two-stage
mechanism. First, anions form a close-packed sub-lattice, governed by the
strong repulsion between them. Next, cations redistribute onto the interstices.
In cristobalite silica, the first stage is manifest by the formation of a
metastable phase, which was observed experimentally a decade ago, but never
indexed due to ambiguous diffraction patterns. Our simulations conclusively
reveal its structure and its role in the densification of silica.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Do mutual funds have consistency in their performance?
Using a comprehensive data set of 714 Chinese mutual funds from 2004 to 2015, the study investigates these funds’ performance persistence by using the Capital Asset Pricing model, the Fama-French three-factor model and the Carhart Four-factor model. For persistence analysis, we categorize mutual funds into eight octiles based on their one year lagged performance and then observe their performance for the subsequent
12 months. We also apply Cross-Product Ratio technique to assess the performance
persistence in these Chinese funds. The study finds no significant evidence of persis- tence in the performance of the mutual funds. Winner (loser) funds do not continue to be winner (loser) funds in the subsequent time period. These findings suggest that future performance of funds cannot be predicted based on their past performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Coherent optical wavelength conversion via cavity-optomechanics
We theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate coherent wavelength
conversion of optical photons using photon-phonon translation in a
cavity-optomechanical system. For an engineered silicon optomechanical crystal
nanocavity supporting a 4 GHz localized phonon mode, optical signals in a 1.5
MHz bandwidth are coherently converted over a 11.2 THz frequency span between
one cavity mode at wavelength 1460 nm and a second cavity mode at 1545 nm with
a 93% internal (2% external) peak efficiency. The thermal and quantum limiting
noise involved in the conversion process is also analyzed, and in terms of an
equivalent photon number signal level are found to correspond to an internal
noise level of only 6 and 4x10-3 quanta, respectively.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, appendi
A photonic quantum information interface
Quantum communication is the art of transferring quantum states, or quantum
bits of information (qubits), from one place to another. On the fundamental
side, this allows one to distribute entanglement and demonstrate quantum
nonlocality over significant distances. On the more applied side, quantum
cryptography offers, for the first time in human history, a provably secure way
to establish a confidential key between distant partners. Photons represent the
natural flying qubit carriers for quantum communication, and the presence of
telecom optical fibres makes the wavelengths of 1310 and 1550 nm particulary
suitable for distribution over long distances. However, to store and process
quantum information, qubits could be encoded into alkaline atoms that absorb
and emit at around 800 nm wavelength. Hence, future quantum information
networks made of telecom channels and alkaline memories will demand interfaces
able to achieve qubit transfers between these useful wavelengths while
preserving quantum coherence and entanglement. Here we report on a qubit
transfer between photons at 1310 and 710 nm via a nonlinear up-conversion
process with a success probability greater than 5%. In the event of a
successful qubit transfer, we observe strong two-photon interference between
the 710 nm photon and a third photon at 1550 nm, initially entangled with the
1310 nm photon, although they never directly interacted. The corresponding
fidelity is higher than 98%.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Upregulated sirtuin 1 by miRNA-34a is required for smooth muscle cell differentiation from pluripotent stem cells
© 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. microRNA-34a (miR-34a) and sirtuin 1 (SirT1) have been extensively studied in tumour biology and longevityaging, but little is known about their functional roles in smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation from pluripotent stem cells. Using well-established SMC differentiation models, we have demonstrated that miR-34a has an important role in SMC differentiation from murine and human embryonic stem cells. Surprisingly, deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SirT1), one of the top predicted targets, was positively regulated by miR-34a during SMC differentiation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that miR-34a promoted differentiating stem cells' arrest at G0G1 phase and observed a significantly decreased incorporation of miR-34a and SirT1 RNA into Ago2-RISC complex upon SMC differentiation. Importantly, we have identified SirT1 as a transcriptional activator in the regulation of SMC gene programme. Finally, our data showed that SirT1 modulated the enrichment of H3K9 tri-methylation around the SMC gene-promoter regions. Taken together, our data reveal a specific regulatory pathway that miR-34a positively regulates its target gene SirT1 in a cellular context-dependent and sequence-specific manner and suggest a functional role for this pathway in SMC differentiation from stem cells in vitro and in vivo
Mapping the unconventional orbital texture in topological crystalline insulators
The newly discovered topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) harbor a
complex band structure involving multiple Dirac cones. These materials are
potentially highly tunable by external electric field, temperature or strain
and could find future applications in field-effect transistors, photodetectors,
and nano-mechanical systems. Theoretically, it has been predicted that
different Dirac cones, offset in energy and momentum-space, might harbor vastly
different orbital character, a unique property which if experimentally
realized, would present an ideal platform for accomplishing new spintronic
devices. However, the orbital texture of the Dirac cones, which is of immense
importance in determining a variety of materials properties, still remains
elusive in TCIs. Here, we unveil the orbital texture in a prototypical TCI
PbSnSe. By using Fourier-transform (FT) scanning tunneling
spectroscopy (STS) we measure the interference patterns produced by the
scattering of surface state electrons. We discover that the intensity and
energy dependences of FTs show distinct characteristics, which can directly be
attributed to orbital effects. Our experiments reveal the complex band topology
involving two Lifshitz transitions and establish the orbital nature of the
Dirac bands in this new class of topological materials, which could provide a
different pathway towards future quantum applications
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