On recent SFR calibrations and the constant SFR approximation

Star Formation Rate (SFR) inferences are based in the so-called constant SFR approximation, where synthesis models are require to provide a calibration; we aims to study the key points of such approximation to produce accurate SFR inferences. We use the intrinsic algebra used in synthesis models, and we explore how SFR can be inferred from the integrated light without any assumption about the underling Star Formation history (SFH). We show that the constant SFR approximation is actually a simplified expression of more deeper characteristics of synthesis models: It is a characterization of the evolution of single stellar populations (SSPs), acting the SSPs as sensitivity curve over different measures of the SFH can be obtained. As results, we find that (1) the best age to calibrate SFR indices is the age of the observed system (i.e. about 13Gyr for z=0 systems); (2) constant SFR and steady-state luminosities are not requirements to calibrate the SFR; (3) it is not possible to define a SFR single time scale over which the recent SFH is averaged, and we suggest to use typical SFR indices (ionizing flux, UV fluxes) together with no typical ones (optical/IR fluxes) to correct the SFR from the contribution of the old component of the SFH, we show how to use galaxy colors to quote age ranges where the recent component of the SFH is stronger/softer than the older component. Particular values of SFR calibrations are (almost) not affect by this work, but the meaning of what is obtained by SFR inferences does. In our framework, results as the correlation of SFR time scales with galaxy colors, or the sensitivity of different SFR indices to sort and long scale variations in the SFH, fit naturally. In addition, the present framework provides a theoretical guide-line to optimize the available information from data/numerical experiments to improve the accuracy of SFR inferences.Comment: A&A accepted, 13 pages, 4 Figure

Seasonal forecasting of snow resources at Alpine sites

Climate warming in mountain regions is resulting in glacier shrinking, seasonal snow cover reduction, and changes in the amount and seasonality of meltwater runoff, with consequences on water availability. Droughts are expected to become more severe in the future with economical and environmental losses both locally and downstream. Effective adaptation strategies involve multiple timescales, and seasonal forecasts can help in the optimization of the available snow and water resources with a lead time of several months. We developed a prototype to generate seasonal forecasts of snow depth and snow water equivalent with a starting date of 1 November and a lead time of 7 months, so up to 31 May of the following year. The prototype has been co-designed with end users in the field of water management, hydropower production and mountain ski tourism, meeting their needs in terms of indicators, time resolution of the forecasts and visualization of the forecast outputs. In this paper we present the modelling chain, based on the seasonal forecasts of the ECMWF and Meteo-France seasonal prediction systems, made available through the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Climate Data Store. Seasonal forecasts of precipitation, near-surface air temperature, radiative fluxes, wind and relative humidity are bias-corrected and downscaled to three sites in the Western Italian Alps and finally used as input for the physically based multi-layer snow model SNOWPACK. Precipitation is bias-corrected with a quantile mapping method using ERA5 reanalysis as a reference and then downscaled with the RainFARM stochastic procedure in order to allow an estimate of uncertainties due to the downscaling method. The impacts of precipitation bias adjustment and downscaling on the forecast skill have been investigated. The skill of the prototype in predicting the deviation of monthly snow depth with respect to the normal conditions from November to May in each season of the hindcast period 1995-2015 is demonstrated using both deterministic and probabilistic metrics. Forecast skills are determined with respect to a simple forecasting method based on the climatology, and station measurements are used as reference data. The prototype shows good skills at predicting the tercile category, i.e. snow depth below and above normal, in the winter (lead times: 2-3-4 months) and spring (lead times: 5-6-7 months) ahead: snow depth is predicted with higher accuracy (Brier skill score) and higher discrimination (area under the relative operating characteristics (ROC) curve skill score) with respect to a simple forecasting method based on the climatology. Ensemble mean monthly snow depth forecasts are significantly correlated with observations not only at short lead times of 1 and 2 months (November and December) but also at lead times of 5 and 6 months (March and April) when employing the ECMWFS5 forcing. Moreover the prototype shows skill at predicting extremely dry seasons, i.e. seasons with snow depth below the 10th percentile, while skills at predicting snow depth above the 90th percentile are model-, station- and score-dependent.The bias correction of precipitation forecasts is essential in the case of large biases in the global seasonal forecast system (MFS6) to reconstruct a realistic snow depth climatology; however, no remarkable differences are found among the skill scores when the precipitation input is bias-corrected, downscaled, or bias-corrected and downscaled, compared to the case in which raw data are employed, suggesting that skill scores are weakly sensitive to the treatment of the precipitation input

Induction of heat shock protein expression in cervical epithelial cells by human semen.

OBJECTIVE: The 70kD heat shock protein (Hsp70), induced when cells are subjected to environmental stress, prevents the denaturation and incorrect folding of polypeptides and may expedite replication and transmission of DNA and RNA viruses. We analyzed whether messenger RNA (mRNA) for Hsp70 was expressed following exposure of a cultured human cervical cell line (HeLa cells) to human semen or in cervical cells from sexually active women. STUDY DESIGN: HeLa cells were co-cultured with a 1:50 dilution of semen from four men or with purified spermatozoa or cell-free seminal fluid. Endocervical swabs were acquired at mid-cycle from 53 women. Heat shock protein 70 mRNA was detected by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction utilizing specific primer pairs and analysis on agarose gels. In cervical cells Hsp70 mRNA was measured identically followed by hybridization with an Hsp70-specific internal probe and detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cervical immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to the human Hsp70 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: HeLa cell-semen co-culture resulted in the induction of Hsp70 mRNA. In addition, cell-free seminal plasma and motile sperm incubated individually with HeLa cells also induced this mRNA. Heat shock protein 70 mRNA was detected in 28 (52.8%) of 53 endocervical samples obtained from women at various time points following intercourse. The percentage of samples expressing this mRNA was 37.5% at less than 10 hours, 64.3% at 10 hours, 70% at 11 hours, and between 36% and 50% at later times after semen exposure. The detection of cervical IgA antibodies to the Hsp70 was highly associated with Hsp70 gene transcription. CONCLUSION: Human semen induces transcription of Hsp70 in cervical epithelial cells

A ceRNA approach may unveil unexpected contributors to deletion syndromes, the model of 5q- syndrome

In genomic deletions, gene haploinsufficiency might directly configure a specific disease phenotype. Nevertheless, in some cases no functional association can be identified between haploinsufficient genes and the deletion-associated phenotype. Transcripts can act as microRNA sponges. The reduction of transcripts from the hemizygous region may increase the availability of specific microRNAs, which in turn may exert in-trans regulation of target genes outside the deleted region, eventually contributing to the phenotype. Here we prospect a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) approach for the identification of candidate genes target of epigenetic regulation in deletion syndromes. As a model, we analyzed the 5q- myelodysplastic syndrome. Genes in haploinsufficiency within the common 5q deleted region in CD34+ blasts were identified in silico. Using the miRWalk 2.0 platform, we predicted microRNAs whose availability, and thus activity, could be enhanced by the deletion, and performed a genomewide analysis of the genes outside the 5q deleted region that could be targeted by the predicted miRNAs. The analysis pointed to two genes with altered expression in 5q- transcriptome, which have never been related with 5q- before. The prospected approach allows investigating the global transcriptional effect of genomic deletions, possibly prompting discovery of unsuspected contributors in the deletion-associated phenotype. Moreover, it may help in functionally characterizing previously reported unexpected interactions

PRECEPT-4-Justice: A bias-neutralising framework for digital forensics investigations

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Software invisibly permeates our everyday lives: operating devices in our physical world (traffic lights and cars), effecting our business transactions and powering the vast World Wide Web. We have come to rely on such software to work correctly and efficiently. The generally accepted narrative is that any software errors that do occur can be traced back to a human operator’s mistakes. Software engineers know that this is merely a comforting illusion. Software sometimes has bugs, which might lead to erratic performance: intermittently generating errors. The software, hardware and communication infrastructure can all introduce errors, which are often challenging to isolate and correct. Anomalies that manifest are certainly not always due to an operator’s actions. When the general public and the courts believe the opposite, that errors are usually attributable to some human operator’s actions, it is entirely possible for some hapless innocent individual to be blamed for anomalies and discrepancies whose actual source is a software malfunction. This is what occurred in the Post Office Horizon IT case, where unquestioning belief in the veracity of software-generated evidence led to a decade of wrongful convictions. We will use this case as a vehicle to demonstrate the way biases can influence investigations, and to inform the development of a framework to guide and inform objective digital forensics investigations. This framework, if used, could go some way towards neutralising biases and preventing similar miscarriages of justice in the future

Does firm environmental performance mitigate the market reaction to COVID-19 uncertainty?

This paper investigates how firms’ environmental performance affected the market reaction caused by the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis focuses on a sample of 3854 non-financial listed companies from 21 advanced economies. We find that high environmentally sustainable practices (ESP) are associated with lower returns during the COVID-19 crisis, especially when the pandemic began to spread globally. Also, our results show that ESP is not significantly related to volatility in the whole COVID-19 period. We find a positive relationship between ESP and volatility only in the early phases of the pandemic. The stronger contraction in earnings and cash flow forecasts for high ESP firms explains the negative effect of ESP on market returns. The cost structure of high ESP firms makes them more exposed to the unexpected global demand shock. Our findings suggest that firm environmental performance did not immunise against market turmoil

A durable coating to prevent stress corrosion effects on the surface strength of annealed glass

The durability of an innovative polymeric coating recently developed by the authors to prevent stress corrosion in annealed glass is herein examined. The coating, having functional graded properties through the thickness, is optimised to provide a very good adhesion with glass and an excellent hydrophobic behavior on the side exposed to the environment, thus creating a good barrier to humidity, which is the triggering agent for stress corrosion. Three scenarios are analysed in terms of ageing: (i) cyclic loading, accomplished by subjecting coated samples to repetitive loading; (ii) natural weathering, performed by exposing coated samples to atmospheric agents; (iii) artificial weathering, carried out by exposing coated specimens to fluorescent UV lamps, heat and water. The durability of the coating is assessed indirectly, on the base of its residual effectiveness in preventing stress corrosion, by comparing the bending strength, obtained with the coaxial double ring test, of aged coated glass specimens with that of un-coated and freshly coated specimens. The obtained results prove that the proposed formulation is almost insensitive to cyclic loading, maintains a very good performance in case of natural weathering, whereas is slightly more sensitive to artificial weathering

Intracameral Chemotherapy (Melphalan) for Aqueous Seeding in Retinoblastoma: Bicameral Injection Technique and Related Toxicity in a Pilot Case Study.

The anterior chamber has been shown by pharmacokinetic studies to represent a sanctuary never achieving a tumoricidal dose with the present administration routes, such as systemic, intra-arterial, or intravitreal injections. A novel intracameral chemotherapy technique is described to control aqueous seeding in a pilot unilateral group E retinoblastoma case with primary aqueous seeding. Anterior segment toxicity was carefully monitored. Control of the retinal tumor and vitreous seeding was achieved by intra-arterial and intravitreal chemotherapies. Sterilization of the aqueous was achieved after a first cycle of 7 melphalan injections in the anterior chamber, but relapse was noted 3.5 months later. This relapse was finally controlled with a second cycle of 6 intracameral injections targeting the posterior chamber. Corneal endothelial cell density remained stable over the injection period. Heterochromia and a progressive cataract developed, which required cataract surgery. At 5 years' follow-up, the patient is tumor free with normal vision (20/20 in both eyes), full binocularity, and no metastasis. The present bicameral injection technique appears to be safe and effective with limited toxicity. Melphalan-induced side effects were noted on the iris and lens but with no impact on the final visual function

Immune Regulation in the Male Genital Tract

Spermatozoa are not produced until puberty, long after the establishment of tolerance to self-antigens. Therefore, sperm-specific antigens are immunogenic in men. Most men, however, do not produce antibodies to their own gametes. Development of mechanisms to prevent or limit autoimmune responses to spermatozoa were essential for preservation of reproductive capacity. Tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells, as part of the blood-testis barrier, prevent sperm-immune cell contact. In some portions of the genital tract this barrier is thin or incomplete. Immune mechanisms have evolved to actively suppress the autoimmune response to spermatozoa within the genital tract. Unlike in the circulation where CD4+ helper T lymphocytes predominate, CD8+ suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes are the most prominant T cells in the epididymis and vas deferens. In addition, spermatozoa suppress pro-inflammatory lymphocyte immune responses, possibly by inducing production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Antisperm antibody production is induced in the male genital tract when a local infection or disruption in the genital tract physical barrier leads to an influx of CD4+ T cells. In response to induction of a productive immune response, two additional mechanisms downregulate humoral immunity within the genital tract. T lymphocytes possessing the γσ form of the antigen receptor (γσ T cells) are concentrated in the male genital tract and in semen. These cells become activated and proliferate in men with evidence of sperm autoimmunity. Activated γσ T cells inhibit production of antibodies by activated B lymphocytes, thereby limiting antisperm antibody production. Heat shock proteins (hsps) are also present in semen in association with infection and antisperm antibody formation. Hsp gene transcription leads to inhibition of transcription of the genes coding for pro-inflammatory cytokines and, conversely, to activation of γσ T cells. Activated γσ T cells also promote hsp synthesis. The mechanisms to inhibit immunity to sperm may hinder effective immune elimination of microoganisms in the male genital tract