Identification of single-site gold catalysis in acetylene hydrochlorination

There remains considerable debate over the active form of gold under operating conditions of a recently validated gold catalyst for acetylene hydrochlorination. We have performed an in situ x-ray absorption fine structure study of gold/carbon (Au/C) catalysts under acetylene hydrochlorination reaction conditions and show that highly active catalysts comprise single-site cationic Au entities whose activity correlates with the ratio of Au(I):Au(III) present. We demonstrate that these Au/C catalysts are supported analogs of single-site homogeneous Au catalysts and propose a mechanism, supported by computational modeling, based on a redox couple of Au(I)-Au(III) species. View Full Tex

Microradiographic and histological evaluation of the bone-screw and bone-plate interface of orthodontic miniplates in patients

SummaryObjectives: To describe the tissue reactions at the bone-titanium interface of orthodontic miniplates in humans. Materials and methods: Forty-two samples, consisting of tissue fragments attached or not to miniplates or their fixation screws, were collected from 24 orthodontic patients treated with miniplate anchorage, at the time of removal of their miniplates. The samples were embedded in methylmethacrylate and cut into undecalcified sections which were submitted to microradiographic analysis. The sections were also stained and examined under ordinary light. Results: Three types of reactions were observed both on the histological sections and on the microradiographs. 1. The majority of the stable miniplates were easy to remove (34/42). The tissue samples collected consisted mainly in mature lamellar bone with some medullary spaces containing blood vessels, 2. two screws were highly osseointegrated and required the surgeon to remove them by trephining (2/42). They were surrounded by bone tissue which extended to the miniplate. The histological features were similar to the previous group, though the bone-screw contact was higher, and 3. in six samples obtained after unstable miniplate removal during the treatment, we observed either some woven bone trabeculae or loose connective tissue, without any histological sign of inflammation. Limitations and Conclusion: For evident ethical reasons, our data were limited by the size of the tissue fragments and the limited number of patients and variety of clinical presentations. The healing reactions consisted mainly in mature lamellar bone tissue sparsely in contact with the screw or the miniplate, with signs of a moderate remodelling activit

The Blizzard Challenge 2008

The Blizzard Challenge 2008 was the fourth annual Blizzard Challenge. This year, participants were asked to build two voices from a UK English corpus and one voice from a Man- darin Chinese corpus. This is the first time that a language other than English has been included and also the first time that a large UK English corpus has been available. In addi- tion, the English corpus contained somewhat more expressive speech than that found in corpora used in previous Blizzard Challenges. To assist participants with limited resources or limited ex- perience in UK-accented English or Mandarin, unaligned la- bels were provided for both corpora and for the test sentences. Participants could use the provided labels or create their own. An accent-specific pronunciation dictionary was also available for the English speaker. A set of test sentences was released to participants, who were given a limited time in which to synthesise them and submit the synthetic speech. An online listening test was con- ducted, to evaluate naturalness, intelligibility and degree of similarity to the original speaker

Statistical Analysis of the Blizzard Challenge 2007 Listening Test Results

Blizzard 2007 is the third Blizzard Challenge, in which participants build voices from a common dataset. A large listening test is conducted which allows comparison of systems in terms of naturalness and intelligibility. New sections were added to the listening test for 2007 to test the perceived similarity of the speaker’s identity between natural and synthetic speech. In this paper, we present the results of the listening test and the subsequent statistical analysis Index Terms: Blizzard Challenge, speech synthesis, evaluation, listening tes

Cadre d’analyse sur les stratégies de services partagés et d’impartition

More than ever private and public organizations are seeking strategies which would enable them to offer quality products and services to their clients while increasing their effectiveness and efficiency. At CIRANO, a team of researchers defined a framework to analyze strategies which would allow a public organization to integrate and rationalize its administrative support services. Two reorganization strategies were analyzed: shared services and outsourcing. The first approach consists in gathering all the resources required to provide the services within a specialized entity, owned by the organization, whereas the second consists in delegating the services delivery to an external supplier, while transferring all the required resources necessary to provide the services. The report includes three sections. In the first section, the two strategies are defined in order to clarify their main characteristics. Second, key concerns arising when choosing a specific strategy are presented along with their main advantages and disadvantages, their prerequisites, and the specific success factors of each strategy. Finally, a framework based on a list of key criteria is offered as a guide for the identification of the services most likely to be outsourced or offered in a shared services mode. No date is fixed to share the complete version of the document. Plus que jamais les organisations, quelles soient privées ou publiques, cherchent des stratégies permettant d'offrir à leurs clients des produits et services de qualité, qui répondent aux besoins de ces derniers et ce, tout en étant de plus en plus efficaces et efficientes. Un partenaire du CIRANO a mandaté une équipe de chercheurs afin qu’ils élaborent un cadre d’analyse des stratégies permettant l’intégration et la rationalisation des services de soutien administratif au sein d’une grande organisation publique québécoise. Deux stratégies de restructuration ont été analysées, soit : la stratégie de services partagés et la stratégie d’impartition de services. La première approche consiste à regrouper l’ensemble des ressources requises pour la prestation de services au sein d’une entité spécialisée interne à l’organisation, alors que la deuxième consiste à déléguer la gestion des services à un fournisseur externe par le transfert de l’ensemble des ressources nécessaires à la prestation de services à ce dernier. Le rapport comporte de trois volets. D’abord, les deux stratégies faisant l’objet de l’analyse sont définies afin de mettre en lumière leurs principales caractéristiques. Ensuite, un argumentaire concernant le choix d’une stratégie est présenté et articulé autour des avantages et des inconvénients, des prés requis et des facteurs de succès propres à chaque stratégie. Finalement, un cadre de référence, basé sur une liste de critères clés, est présenté pour servir de guide dans l’identification des services les plus susceptibles d’être efficacement regroupés ou impartis. Aucune date n'a été fixée pour rendre disponible la version complète du rapportServices, rationalization, integration, shared-services, outsourcing, Rationalisation des services, intégration des services, services partagés, impartition, regroupement de services

Apoptotic Killing of HIV-1–Infected Macrophages Is Subverted by the Viral Envelope Glycoprotein

Viruses have evolved strategies to protect infected cells from apoptotic clearance. We present evidence that HIV-1 possesses a mechanism to protect infected macrophages from the apoptotic effects of the death ligand TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand). In HIV-1–infected macrophages, the viral envelope protein induced macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). This pro-survival cytokine downregulated the TRAIL receptor TRAIL-R1/DR4 and upregulated the anti-apoptotic genes Bfl-1 and Mcl-1. Inhibition of M-CSF activity or silencing of Bfl-1 and Mcl-1 rendered infected macrophages highly susceptible to TRAIL. The anti-cancer agent Imatinib inhibited M-CSF receptor activation and restored the apoptotic sensitivity of HIV-1–infected macrophages, suggesting a novel strategy to curtail viral persistence in the macrophage reservoir

Dirac quasiparticles in the mixed state

Energies and wave functions are calculated for d-wave quasiparticles in the mixed state using the formalism of Franz and Tesanovic for the low-lying energy levels. The accuracy of the plane-wave expansion is explored by comparing approximate to exact results for a simplified one-dimensional problem, and the convergence of the plane- wave expansion to the two-dimensional case is studied. The results are used to calculate the low-energy tunneling density of states and the low-temperature specific heat, and these theoretical results are compared to semiclassical treatments and to the available data. Implications for the muon spin resonance measurements of vortex core size are also discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, RevTeX. References corrected. A factor of 2 in the results has been corrected, and the conclusions have been update

Sources of Airborne Endotoxins in Ambient Air and Exposure of Nearby Communities—A Review

Endotoxin is a bioaerosol component that is known to cause respiratory effects in exposed populations. To date, most research focused on occupational exposure, whilst much less is known about the impact of emissions from industrial operations on downwind endotoxin concentrations. A review of the literature was undertaken, identifying studies that reported endotoxin concentrations in both ambient environments and around sources with high endotoxin emissions. Ambient endotoxin concentrations in both rural and urban areas are generally below 10 endotoxin units (EU) m−3; however, around significant sources such as compost facilities, farms, and wastewater treatment plants, endotoxin concentrations regularly exceeded 100 EU m−3. However, this is affected by a range of factors including sampling approach, equipment, and duration. Reported downwind measurements of endotoxin demonstrate that endotoxin concentrations can remain above upwind concentrations. The evaluation of reported data is complicated due to a wide range of different parameters including sampling approaches, temperature, and site activity, demonstrating the need for a standardised methodology and improved guidance. Thorough characterisation of ambient endotoxin levels and modelling of endotoxin from pollution sources is needed to help inform future policy and support a robust health-based risk assessment process

"Post-GDM support would be really good for mothers": A qualitative interview study exploring how to support a healthy diet and physical activity after gestational diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). They are therefore recommended to follow a healthy diet and be physically active in order to reduce that risk. However, achieving and maintaining these behaviours in the postpartum period is challenging. This study sought to explore women's views on suggested practical approaches to achieve and maintain a healthy diet and physical activity to reduce T2DM risk. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 20 participants in Cambridgeshire, UK were conducted at three to 48 months after GDM. The participants' current diet and physical activity, intentions for any changes, and views on potential interventions to help manage T2DM risk through these behaviours were discussed. Framework analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. The interview schedule, suggested interventions, and thematic framework were based on a recent systematic review. RESULTS: Most of the participants wanted to eat more healthily and be more active. A third of the participants considered that postpartum support for these behaviours would be transformative, a third thought it would be beneficial, and a third did not want additional support. The majority agreed that more information about the impact of diet and physical activity on diabetes risk, support to exercise with others, and advice about eating healthily, exercising with a busy schedule, monitoring progress and sustaining changes would facilitate a healthy diet and physical activity. Four other suggested interventions received mixed responses. It would be acceptable for this support to be delivered throughout pregnancy and postpartum through a range of formats. Clinicians were seen to have important roles in giving or signposting to support. CONCLUSIONS: Many women would appreciate more support to reduce their T2DM risk after GDM and believe that a variety of interventions to integrate changes into their daily lives would help them to sustain healthier lifestyles.RAD was funded by a PhD studentship from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (SPCR; SPCR-S-S102). This paper presents independent research funded by the NIHR SPCR. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, the NHS or the Department of Health. JAUS was funded by a Cancer Research UK Cancer Prevention Fellowship (C55650/A21464). SJG is supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4). The University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of SJG from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. CEA is supported by an Action Medical Research Grant (GN2778) and a Medical Research Council New Investigator Research Grant (MR/T016701/1). CLM is supported by the Diabetes UK Harry Keen Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (DUK-HKF 17/0005712) and the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes – Novo Nordisk Foundation Future Leaders’ Award (NNF19SA058974). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Generation of mice with a conditional Foxp2 null allele

Disruptions of the human FOXP2 gene cause problems with articulation of complex speech sounds, accompanied by impairment in many aspects of language ability. The FOXP2/Foxp2 transcription factor is highly similar in humans and mice, and shows a complex conserved expression pattern, with high levels in neuronal subpopulations of the cortex, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum. In the present study we generated mice in which loxP sites flank exons 12–14 of Foxp2; these exons encode the DNA-binding motif, a key functional domain. We demonstrate that early global Cre-mediated recombination yields a null allele, as shown by loss of the loxP-flanked exons at the RNA level and an absence of Foxp2 protein. Homozygous null mice display severe motor impairment, cerebellar abnormalities and early postnatal lethality, consistent with other Foxp2 mutants. When crossed to transgenic lines expressing Cre protein in a spatially and/or temporally controlled manner, these conditional mice will provide new insights into the contributions of Foxp2 to distinct neural circuits, and allow dissection of roles during development and in the mature brain. genesis 45:440–446, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc