Elongation of confined ferrofluid droplets under applied fields

Ferrofluids are strongly paramagnetic liquids. We study the behavior of ferrofluid droplets confined between two parallel plates with a weak applied field parallel to the plates. The droplets elongate under the applied field to reduce their demagnetizing energy and reach an equilibrium shape where the magnetic forces balance against the surface tension. This elongation varies logarithmically with aspect ratio of droplet thickness to its original radius, in contrast to the behavior of unconfined droplets. Experimental studies of a ferrofluid/water/surfactant emulsion confirm this prediction.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Using neural networks and evolutionary information in decoy discrimination for protein tertiary structure prediction

Background: We present a novel method of protein fold decoy discrimination using machine learning, more specifically using neural networks. Here, decoy discrimination is represented as a machine learning problem, where neural networks are used to learn the native-like features of protein structures using a set of positive and negative training examples. A set of native protein structures provides the positive training examples, while negative training examples are simulated decoy structures obtained by reversing the sequences of native structures. Various features are extracted from the training dataset of positive and negative examples and used as inputs to the neural networks.Results: Results have shown that the best performing neural network is the one that uses input information comprising of PSI-BLAST [1] profiles of residue pairs, pairwise distance and the relative solvent accessibilities of the residues. This neural network is the best among all methods tested in discriminating the native structure from a set of decoys for all decoy datasets tested. Conclusion: This method is demonstrated to be viable, and furthermore evolutionary information is successfully used in the neural networks to improve decoy discrimination

Replicating viral vector platform exploits alarmin signals for potent CD8⁺ T cell-mediated tumour immunotherapy.

Viral infections lead to alarmin release and elicit potent cytotoxic effector T lymphocyte (CTL <sup>eff</sup> ) responses. Conversely, the induction of protective tumour-specific CTL <sup>eff</sup> and their recruitment into the tumour remain challenging tasks. Here we show that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can be engineered to serve as a replication competent, stably-attenuated immunotherapy vector (artLCMV). artLCMV delivers tumour-associated antigens to dendritic cells for efficient CTL priming. Unlike replication-deficient vectors, artLCMV targets also lymphoid tissue stroma cells expressing the alarmin interleukin-33. By triggering interleukin-33 signals, artLCMV elicits CTL <sup>eff</sup> responses of higher magnitude and functionality than those induced by replication-deficient vectors. Superior anti-tumour efficacy of artLCMV immunotherapy depends on interleukin-33 signalling, and a massive CTL <sup>eff</sup> influx triggers an inflammatory conversion of the tumour microenvironment. Our observations suggest that replicating viral delivery systems can release alarmins for improved anti-tumour efficacy. These mechanistic insights may outweigh safety concerns around replicating viral vectors in cancer immunotherapy

Spectral Detection of Lithium Uptake in Vegetation for Forensic Locating of Methamphetamine Lab Sites

Abstract Methamphetamine is a controlled substance having a great potential for abuse and addiction. Millions of Americans have tried this stimulant, so the need to stop its production is rapidly increasing. One approach that could assist in this regard is the use of spectral analysis of vegetation growing on land suspected of being a methamphetamine dump site. This could allow law enforcement to use multispectral data to examine the surrounding land under suspicion and obtain probable cause for a warrant for further forensic investigation of the site. As part of its production, lithium metal is introduced with anhydrousammonia to convert pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine. After this process, the remnant lithium is discarded nearby outdoors where weedy plants (such as Arabidopsis thaliana) can uptake the waste. The amount of lithium in Arabidopsis tissue can be ascertained through biochemical analysis and relatively high concentrations have the potential to affect reflected energy in particular spectral wavelengths. An experiment was conducted to determine if lithium uptake into the tissue of Arabidopsis could be discerned spectrally. T-test and linear regression evaluations found that the spectral responses of lithium treated plants were statistically different from those of controls in certain visible and near-infrared regions

Spatial Allocation of Capital: The Role of Risk Preferences

Abstract This paper considers a model of spatial allocation of investment capital under uncertainty. We demonstrate that the spatial concentration of economic activity depends upon properties of risk preferences deeper than risk aversion. The degree of so-called relative prudence unambiguously decides whether or not the diversification of income risk favours the geographic dispersion of economic activity. In our framework we relate risk diversification with economic integration. Then there exists risk preferences so that spatial concentration of industry and capital is not affected by the degree of economic integration or segmentation of the regions. We also study the impact of net return regressibility upon spatial allocation. Affectation spatiale du capital: le r�le des pr�f�rences de risques R�SUM� La pr�sente communication se penche sur un mod�le d'application spatiale du capital-investissement en pr�sence d'incertitudes. Nous d�montrons que la concentration spatiale de l'activit� �conomique est tributaire de propri�t�s de pr�f�rences de risque plus profondes que l'aversion au risque. Le degr� de la soi-disant prudence relative d�cide sans ambigu�t� si la diversification des risques de revenus favorise la dispersion g�ographique de l'activit� �conomique. Dans le cadre de notre �tude, nous examinons la diversification du risque en fonction de l'int�gration �conomique. Il existe �galement des pr�f�rences de risque, qui font en sorte que la concentration spatiale de l'industrie et du capital n'est pas affect�e par le degr� d'int�gration �conomique de la segmentation des r�gions. Asignaci�n espacial de capital: la funci�n de las preferencias de riesgo EXTRACTO Este trabajo considera un modelo de asignaci�n espacial de capital de inversi�n en situaci�n incierta. Demostramos que la concentraci�n espacial de actividad econ�mica depende m�s profundamente de las propiedades de las preferencias de riesgo que de la aversi�n al riesgo. El grado de la llamada prudencia relativa decide sin ambig�edad si la diversificaci�n del riesgo de ingresos favorece, o no, la dispersi�n geogr�fica de la actividad econ�mica. En nuestro marco, relacionamos la diversificaci�n del riesgo con la integraci�n econ�mica. Asimismo, existen preferencias de riesgos para que la concentraci�n espacial de la industria y el capital no sean afectados por el grado de integraci�n o segmentaci�n econ�mica de las regiones.Spatial allocation, inter-regional disparity, risk aversion, prudence, regression, D81, R12, R30, R38,