Modelled cost reductions for the X-rotor offshore wind turbine

The XROTOR project is developing an innovative turbine (X-Rotor Concept - XRC) that is a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)/Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) hybrid. The objective of this paper is to assess the XRC Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE), applying different sensitivity analysis to determine a realistic LCoE range. This will then be compared with LCoE estimates for three traditional HAWT drivetrain configurations to evaluate the potential cost savings for the XRC. The paper considers a hypothetical farm of 100x5MW XRCs on generic monopiles, 100km from shore and commissioned in 2030 with a 30-year project. Analysis uses the University of Strathclyde Operation and Maintenance (O&M) model and an LCoE tool developed by University College Cork to calculate results. Sensitivity analysis varies key cost driving elements and uncertain inputs including the O&M strategy, distance from shore and the financial assumptions to determine an optimised LCoE estimated range. Results for the XRC are then compared with estimates derived using the same methodology for the HAWT configurations. Analysis indicates that the novel design may facilitate cost reductions, reducing OPEX by removing heavy components that would require costly heavy lift vessels to maintain. It also removes the failure modes around the gearbox, multi-pole generator and yaw system. The XRC could also reduce the capital cost of drivetrains through a power take-off approach that does not require a gearbox or a multi-pole generation but achieves comparable levels of power conversion. Ultimately the XRC could achieve LCoE cost reductions of 10-19%, compared with the traditional HAWTs. Further savings are considered possible but require additional design and analysis that are outside the scope of this paper

C9orf72 repeat expansions cause neurodegeneration in Drosophila through arginine-rich proteins

An expanded GGGGCC repeat in C9orf72 is the most common genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A fundamental question is whether toxicity is driven by the repeat RNA itself and/or by dipeptide repeat proteins generated by repeat-associated, non-ATG translation. To address this question we developed in vitro and in vivo models to dissect repeat RNA and dipeptide repeat protein toxicity. Expression of pure repeats in Drosophila caused adult-onset neurodegeneration attributable to poly-(glycine-arginine) proteins. Thus, expanded repeats promoted neurodegeneration through neurotoxic proteins. Expression of individual dipeptide repeat proteins with a non-GGGGCC RNA sequence showed both poly-(glycine-arginine) and poly-(proline-arginine) proteins caused neurodegeneration. These findings are consistent with a dual toxicity mechanism, whereby both arginine-rich proteins and repeat RNA contribute to C9orf72-mediated neurodegeneration

Investigation of an elevated sands unit at Tralispean Bay, South-West Ireland – potential high-energy marine event

A sequence of high elevation sands containing both broken and whole marine shells, as well as many mega-sized, raft-shaped boulders (1-3m across) has been discovered at Tralispean Bay, West Cork, Ireland. Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR), ground surveying and differential GPS (dGPS) show that the sediments cover an area of c.0.75ha, reaching a maximum height of c.+18.5m ODM, with interconnected pockets of sand varying in thickness of up to 1m. Coring, lithostratigraphic study, granulometry, organics loss-on-ignition and carbonate content analyses, together with examination of micro- and macrofossils, indicate that the shelly sands were deposited rapidly, under high energy conditions. Informal interviews with local residents, as well as the extent of the sands, suggest that the deposit is not the result of human actions. Elevations reached by the sediments, the presence of mega-boulders, and other indicators make it unlikely that these sediments arose from storm activity. It is possible that they have been deposited as the result of a tsunami. The radiocarbon (AMS) date obtained places the age of such an event at 1465 AD (Cal BP 485). At present, no clear historical record has been identified of any tsunami impacts affecting the south coast of Ireland other than the Lisbon earthquake of 1755

FUS-ALS mutants alter FMRP phase separation equilibrium and impair protein translation

FUsed in Sarcoma (FUS) is a multifunctional RNA binding protein (RBP). FUS mutations lead to its cytoplasmic mislocalization and cause the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we use mouse and human models with endogenous ALS-associated mutations to study the early consequences of increased cytoplasmic FUS. We show that in axons, mutant FUS condensates sequester and promote the phase separation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), another RBP associated with neurodegeneration. This leads to repression of translation in mouse and human FUS-ALS motor neurons and is corroborated in vitro, where FUS and FMRP copartition and repress translation. Last, we show that translation of FMRP-bound RNAs is reduced in vivo in FUS-ALS motor neurons. Our results unravel new pathomechanisms of FUS-ALS and identify a novel paradigm by which mutations in one RBP favor the formation of condensates sequestering other RBPs, affecting crucial biological functions, such as protein translation

LYL1 Degradation by the Proteasome Is Directed by a N-Terminal PEST Rich Site in a Phosphorylation-Independent Manner

Background: The Lymphoblastic leukemia 1 (LYL1) gene is a proto-oncogenic transcription factor found upregulated in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-cell ALL). Initially, the upregulation was described to be as a result of a translocation. However, further studies revealed that transcriptional upregulation of LYL1could also occur without translocations. In addition, post-translational mechanisms, such as protein degradation could influence LYL1 expression as well. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we considered possible post-translational regulation of Lyl1, and investigated fundamental mechanisms governing LYL1 degradation in cell-based culture assays. We identify a PEST sequence motif located in the N-terminus of LYL1, which determines the efficiency of LYL1 degradation by the proteasome. The absence of the PEST degradation site leads to accumulation or upregulation of LYL1. We also show that LYL1 is phosphorylated by MAPK at S36, and determined that proteasomal degradation of LYL1 occurs in a phosphorylationindependent manner. Conclusions/Significance: Understanding LYL1 degradation is a step forward not only towards deciphering the normal function and regulation of LYL1, but could suggest post-translational mechanisms for upregulation of LYL1 that ma

Profilin1 E117G is a moderate risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Neurogenetics. The final authenticated version is available online at: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2014;85:506–508. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2013-306761Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders that share significant clinical, pathological and genetic overlap and are considered to represent different ends of a common disease spectrum. Mutations in Profilin1 have recently been described as a rare cause of familial ALS. The PFN1 E117G missense variant has been described in familial and sporadic cases, and also found in controls, casting doubt on its pathogenicity. Interpretation of such variants represents a significant clinical-genetics challenge. Objective and results Here, we combine a screen of a new cohort of 383 ALS patients with multiple-sequence datasets to refine estimates of the ALS and FTD risk associated with PFN1 E117G. Together, our cohorts add up to 5118 ALS and FTD cases and 13 089 controls. We estimate a frequency of E117G of 0.11% in controls and 0.25% in cases. Estimated odds after population stratification is 2.44 (95% CI 1.048 to ∞, Mantel-Haenszel test p=0.036). Conclusions Our results show an association between E117G and ALS, with a moderate effect size.PF is funded by MRC/MNDA Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowship. EMCF is funded by the UK Motor Neuron Disease Association. PF and EMCF are funded by the UK Medical Research Council and the Thierry Latran Foundation

Early Ipswichian (last interglacial) sea level rise in the channel region : Stone Point Site of Special Scientific Interest, Hampshire, England

Constraining the speed of sea level rise at the start of an interglacial is important to understanding the size of the ‘window of opportunity’ available for hominin migration. This is particularly important during the last interglacial when there is no evidence for significant hominin occupation anywhere in Britain. There are very few finer grained fossiliferous sequences in the Channel region that can be used to constrain sea level rise and they are preserved only to the north of the Channel, in England. Of these, the sequence at Stone Point SSSI is by far the most complete. Data from this sequence has been previously reported, and discussed at a Quaternary Research Association Field Meeting, where a number of further questions were raised that necessitated further data generation. In this paper, we report new data from this sequence – thin section analysis, isotopic determinations on ostracod shells, new Optical Stimulated Luminescence ages and Amino Acid Recem analyses. These show early sea level rise in this sequence, starting during the pre-temperate vegetation zone IpI, but no early warming. The implications of this almost certainly last interglacial sequence for the human colonisation of Britain and our understanding of the stratigraphic relationship of interglacial estuarine deposits with their related fluvial terrace sequences is explored

Uncovering Enhancer Functions Using the α-Globin Locus

Over the last three decades, studies of the α- and β-globin genes clusters have led to elucidation of the general principles of mammalian gene regulation, such as RNA stability, termination of transcription, and, more importantly, the identification of remote regulatory elements. More recently, detailed studies of α-globin regulation, using both mouse and human loci, allowed the dissection of the sequential order in which transcription factors are recruited to the locus during lineage specification. These studies demonstrated the importance of the remote regulatory elements in the recruitment of RNA polymerase II (PolII) together with their role in the generation of intrachromosomal loops within the locus and the removal of polycomb complexes during differentiation. The multiple roles attributed to remote regulatory elements that have emerged from these studies will be discussed