Review of the Laguerre-Gauss mode technology research program at Birmingham

Gravitational wave detectors from the advanced generation onwards are expected to be limited in sensitivity by thermal noise of the optics, making the reduction of this noise a key factor in the success of such detectors. A proposed method for reducing the impact of this noise is to use higher-order Laguerre-Gauss (LG) modes for the readout beam, as opposed to the currently used fundamental mode. We present here a synopsis of the research program undertaken by the University of Birmingham into the suitability of LG mode technology for future gravitational wave detectors. This will cover our previous and current work on this topic, from initial simulations and table-top LG mode experiments up to implementation in a prototype scale suspended cavity and high-power laser bench

Substratos no desenvolvimento inicial de quatro cultivares de pessegueiro e uma nectarineira.

Entre os fatores que contribuem para melhor desenvolvimento inicial das plantas, estão a qualidade da semente e o substrato utilizado.Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do substrato na formação inicial de pessegueiro e nectarineira. O trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Fitotecnia, da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, de fevereiro a março de 2004. Foram utilizados quatro cultivares de pessegueiro, 'Alô Doçura', 'Campinas 1', 'Relíquia' e 'Ouromel' e uma cultivar de nectarineira 'Josefina'. Sementes retiradas de frutos maturos, foram estratificadas em câmara fria, com temperatura de 5±1ºC e ausência de luz. Após a germinação, no interior da casa-de-vegetação, procedeu-se à semeadura em recipientes plásticos (3 litros), contendo os substratos: Plantmax®; Plantmax® + Areia (1:1 v/v); Plantmax® + Latossolo Vermelho (1:1 v/v); Plantmax® + Latossolo Vermelho + Areia (1:1:1 v/v). Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, num fatorial 5 x 4 (cultivar x substrato), com cinco repetições, considerando-se como unidade experimental cada recipiente plástico. Após 38 dias da semeadura foram analisadas: porcentagem de emergência, número de folhas, comprimento total, altura e comprimento de raiz, diâmetro do caule, massa da matéria seca total, da parte aérea e da raiz e o número de brotações primárias. O substrato teve efeito no desenvolvimento inicial de pessegueiro, obtendo-se os melhores resultados com o substrato comercial Plantmax®. O maior acúmulo de massa de matéria seca total e da parte aérea foi obtido com os cultivares 'Campinas 1' e 'Relíquia', sendo que esse último, também proporcionou maior número de brotações primárias

Antiprotons Annihilation in the Galaxy As A Source of Diffuse Gamma Background

The existence of antimatter domains in baryon asymmetrical Universe can appear as the cosmological consequence of particle theory in inflationary models with non-homogeneous baryosynthesis. Such a domain can survive in the early Universe and form globular cluster of antimatter stars in our Galaxy. The model of antimatter pollution of Galaxy and annihilation with matter gas is developed. The proton-antiproton annihilation gamma flux is shown to reproduce the observed galactic gamma background measured by EGRET. From comparison with observational data the estimation on the maximally allowed amount of antimatter stars, possibly present in our Galaxy, is found.Comment: LaTeX2e, 18 pages, 3 PostScript figures. Submitted to Yad.Fi

Feasibilty of Transcutaneous pCO2 Monitoring During Immediate Transition After Birth\u2014A Prospective Observational Study

Background: According to recommendations, non-invasive monitoring during neonatal resuscitation after birth includes heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2). Continuous transcutaneous monitoring of carbon dioxide partial pressure (tcpCO2) may further offer quantitative information on neonatal respiratory status. Objective: We aimed to investigate feasibility of tcpCO2 measurements in the delivery room during immediate neonatal transition and to compare the course of tcpCO2 between stable term and preterm infants. Methods: Neonates without need for cardio-respiratory intervention during immediate transition after birth were enrolled in a prospective observational study. In these term and preterm neonates, we measured HR and SpO2 by pulse oximetry on the right wrist and tcpCO2 with the sensor applied on the left hemithorax during the first 15 min after birth. Courses of tcpCO2 were analyzed in term and preterm neonates and groups were compared. Results: Fifty-three term (gestational age: 38.8 \ub1 0.9 weeks) and 13 preterm neonates (gestational age: 34.1 \ub1 1.5 weeks) were included. First tcpCO2 values were achieved in both groups at minute 4 after birth, which reached a stable plateau after the equilibration phase at minute 9. Mean tcpCO2 values 15 min after birth were 46.2 (95% CI 34.5\u201357.8) mmHg in term neonates and 48.5 (95%CI 43.0\u201354.1) mmHg in preterm neonates. Preterm and term infants did not show significant differences in the tcpCO2 values at any time point. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that tcpCO2 measurement is feasible during immediate neonatal transition after birth and that tcpCO2 values were comparable in stable term and preterm neonates

Epidermal ADAM17 maintains the skin barrier by regulating EGFR ligand-dependent terminal keratinocyte differentiation

ADAM17 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17) is ubiquitously expressed and cleaves membrane proteins, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligands, l-selectin, and TNF, from the cell surface, thus regulating responses to tissue injury and inflammation. However, little is currently known about its role in skin homeostasis. We show that mice lacking ADAM17 in keratinocytes (A17(ΔKC)) have a normal epidermal barrier and skin architecture at birth but develop pronounced defects in epidermal barrier integrity soon after birth and develop chronic dermatitis as adults. The dysregulated expression of epidermal differentiation proteins becomes evident 2 d after birth, followed by reduced transglutaminase (TGM) activity, transepidermal water loss, up-regulation of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-36α, and inflammatory immune cell infiltration. Activation of the EGFR was strongly reduced in A17(ΔKC) skin, and topical treatment of A17(ΔKC) mice with recombinant TGF-α significantly improved TGM activity and decreased skin inflammation. Finally, we show that mice lacking the EGFR in keratinocytes (Egfr(ΔKC)) closely resembled A17(ΔKC) mice. Collectively, these results identify a previously unappreciated critical role of the ADAM17–EGFR signaling axis in maintaining the homeostasis of the postnatal epidermal barrier and suggest that this pathway could represent a good target for treatment of epidermal barrier defects

Diversidade genética entre progênies de maracujazeiro amarelo baseado em características morfo agronômicas.

O estudo da diversidade genética é básico para subsidiar a escolha de genitores e trabalhos de seleção e melhoramento. Este trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Avaliouse a diversidade genética entre 34 famílias de meios-irmãos e 3 cultivares de maracujazeiro amarelo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com 37 tratamentos, três repetições e quatro plantas por parcela. As características avaliadas foram: altura da planta e diâmetro do caule aos 60 dias após o transplantio, diâmetro do caule no início da produção, vigor, severidade de verrugose e produção por parcela. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo método de Dunnett. Para o estudo da diversidade genética, foram estimadas as distâncias de Mahalanobis (D2) entre progênies, bem como realizadas análises de agrupamento de Tocher e das Variáveis Canônicas. Por meio da análise de variância, verificou-se efeito dos tratamentos em todas as variáveis, evidenciando a existência de variabilidade genética entre as progênies e cultivares avaliados. Houve concordância na formação dos grupos de similaridade por meio dos diferentes métodos de análise multivariada. Os grupos de tratamentos divergentes entre si e superiores foram: Grupo I - 2, 3, 6 e 15; Grupo II - 14; e Grupo III - 25

"Open Innovation" and "Triple Helix" Models of Innovation: Can Synergy in Innovation Systems Be Measured?

The model of "Open Innovations" (OI) can be compared with the "Triple Helix of University-Industry-Government Relations" (TH) as attempts to find surplus value in bringing industrial innovation closer to public R&D. Whereas the firm is central in the model of OI, the TH adds multi-centeredness: in addition to firms, universities and (e.g., regional) governments can take leading roles in innovation eco-systems. In addition to the (transversal) technology transfer at each moment of time, one can focus on the dynamics in the feedback loops. Under specifiable conditions, feedback loops can be turned into feedforward ones that drive innovation eco-systems towards self-organization and the auto-catalytic generation of new options. The generation of options can be more important than historical realizations ("best practices") for the longer-term viability of knowledge-based innovation systems. A system without sufficient options, for example, is locked-in. The generation of redundancy -- the Triple Helix indicator -- can be used as a measure of unrealized but technologically feasible options given a historical configuration. Different coordination mechanisms (markets, policies, knowledge) provide different perspectives on the same information and thus generate redundancy. Increased redundancy not only stimulates innovation in an eco-system by reducing the prevailing uncertainty; it also enhances the synergy in and innovativeness of an innovation system.Comment: Journal of Open Innovations: Technology, Market and Complexity, 2(1) (2016) 1-12; doi:10.1186/s40852-016-0039-

How U.S. Ocean Policy and Market Power Can Reform the Coral Reef Wildlife Trade

As the world’s largest importer of marine ornamental species for the aquaria, curio, home décor, and jewelry industries, the United States has an opportunity to leverage its considerable market power to promote more sustainable trade and reduce the effects of ornamental trade stress on coral reefs worldwide. Evidence indicates that collection of some coral reef animals for these trades has caused virtual elimination of local populations, major changes in age structure, and promotion of collection practices that destroy reef habitats. Management and enforcement of collection activities in major source countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines remain weak. Strengthening US trade laws and enforcement capabilities combined with increasing consumer and industry demand for responsible conservation can create strong incentives for improving management in source countries. This is particularly important in light of the March 2010 failure of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to take action on key groups of corals