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A Microfluidic Platform for Sequential Assembly and Separation of Synthetic Cell Models.
Funder: University of CambridgeFunder: Blavatnik Family FoundationCell-sized vesicles like giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are established as a promising biomimetic model for studying cellular phenomena in isolation. However, the presence of residual components and byproducts, generated during vesicles preparation and manipulation, severely limits the utility of GUVs in applications like synthetic cells. Therefore, with the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology, there is an emergent demand for techniques that can continuously purify cell-like vesicles from diverse residues, while GUVs are being simultaneously synthesized and manipulated. We have developed a microfluidic platform capable of purifying GUVs through stream bifurcation, where a vesicles suspension is partitioned into three fractions: purified GUVs, residual components, and a washing solution. Using our purification approach, we show that giant vesicles can be separated from various residuesâwhich range in size and chemical compositionâwith a very high efficiency (e = 0.99), based on size and deformability of the filtered objects. In addition, by incorporating the purification module with a microfluidic-based GUV-formation method, octanol-assisted liposome assembly (OLA), we established an integrated production-purification microfluidic unit that sequentially produces, manipulates, and purifies GUVs. We demonstrate the applicability of the integrated device to synthetic biology through sequentially fusing SUVs with freshly prepared GUVs and separating the fused GUVs from extraneous SUVs and oil droplets at the same time
Adoption Process for the Model Aquatic Health Code: An Example
In 2014 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the first edition of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). This document represented the inaugural introduction of a federal policy guideline with a direct focus in the area of aquatic venue operation and maintenance with the sole purpose of improving the nature of public health in the field. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) began the review and adoption process soon after the policyâs release. The ISDH process is proposed as one method for others to consider. The background and history of the MAHC are presented in this manuscript along with an overview of the adoption process to date that has been employed by the State of Indiana. In addition, information is provided on the Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIT) as a possible method for assessing the long-term adoption of the MAHC on a national level
Cereal root exudates contain highly structurally complex polysaccharides with soilâbinding properties
Rhizosheaths function in plantâsoil interactions, and are proposed to form due to a mix of soil particle entanglement in root hairs and the action of adhesive root exudates. The soilâbinding factors released into rhizospheres to form rhizosheaths have not been characterised. Analysis of the highâmolecularâweight (HMW) root exudates of both wheat and maize plants indicate the presence of complex, highly branched polysaccharide components with a wide range of galactosyl, glucosyl and mannosyl linkages that do not directly reflect cereal root cell wall polysaccharide structures. Periodate oxidation indicates that it is the carbohydrate components of the HMW exudates that have soilâbinding properties. The root exudates contain xyloglucan (LM25), heteroxylan (LM11/LM27) and arabinogalactanâprotein (LM2) epitopes, and sandwichâELISA evidence indicates that, in wheat particularly, these can be interlinked in multiâpolysaccharide complexes. Using wheat as a model, exudateâbinding monoclonal antibodies have enabled the tracking of polysaccharide release along root axes of young seedlings, and their presence at root hair surfaces and in rhizosheaths. The observations indicate that specific root exudate polysaccharides, distinct from cell wall polysaccharides, are adhesive factors secreted by root axes, and that they contribute to the formation and stabilisation of cereal rhizosheaths
Beyond choice architecture: advancing the science of changing behaviour at scale.
Addressing the global threats to population and planetary health requires changing many behaviours at scale. This demands consideration not only of the effect size of an intervention but also its reach - the proportion of the population exposed to the intervention.We propose that a relatively under-researched and generally poorly specified set of interventions involving changes to physical micro-environments - often referred to as Choice Architecture - has the potential to make a significant contribution to meeting this urgent challenge.Realising the potential of Choice Architecture interventions requires integration of basic - i.e. laboratory-based - and applied - i.e. field-based - research, generating interventions that can be delivered at scale alongside advancing theory. We illustrate this with examples to highlight the complementarity of laboratory and field studies informed by and in turn updating the results of evidence synthesis. The examples comprise two sets of interventions - changing the relative availability of products and changing their size - to reduce consumption of meat, energy from food and alcohol across populations
Beyond choice architecture:advancing the science of changing behaviour at scale
Abstract Addressing the global threats to population and planetary health requires changing many behaviours at scale. This demands consideration not only of the effect size of an intervention but also its reach â the proportion of the population exposed to the intervention. We propose that a relatively under-researched and generally poorly specified set of interventions involving changes to physical micro-environments â often referred to as Choice Architecture - has the potential to make a significant contribution to meeting this urgent challenge. Realising the potential of Choice Architecture interventions requires integration of basic â i.e. laboratory-based â and applied â i.e. field-based â research, generating interventions that can be delivered at scale alongside advancing theory. We illustrate this with examples to highlight the complementarity of laboratory and field studies informed by and in turn updating the results of evidence synthesis. The examples comprise two sets of interventions â changing the relative availability of products and changing their size - to reduce consumption of meat, energy from food and alcohol across populations
Model Dependence of Lateral Distribution Functions of High Energy Cosmic Ray Air Showers
The influence of high and low energy hadronic models on lateral distribution
functions of cosmic ray air showers for AUGER energies is explored. A large
variety of presently used high and low energy hadron interaction models are
analysed and the resulting lateral distribution functions are compared. We show
that the slope as well as the signal at 1000 m distance from the shower axis
depend on both the high and low energy hadronic model used. The models are
confronted with available hadron-nucleus data from accelerator experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 18 figures, accepted version, Journal of Astroparticle
Physic
Minimum Information about a Neuroscience Investigation (MINI) Electrophysiology
This module represents the formalized opinion of the authors and the CARMEN consortium, which identifies the minimum information required to report the use of electrophysiology in a neuroscience study, for submission to the CARMEN system (www.carmen.org.uk).

Mechanisms of jet formation on the giant planets
The giant planet atmospheres exhibit alternating prograde (eastward) and
retrograde (westward) jets of different speeds and widths, with an equatorial
jet that is prograde on Jupiter and Saturn and retrograde on Uranus and
Neptune. The jets are variously thought to be driven by differential radiative
heating of the upper atmosphere or by intrinsic heat fluxes emanating from the
deep interior. But existing models cannot account for the different flow
configurations on the giant planets in an energetically consistent manner. Here
a three-dimensional general circulation model is used to show that the
different flow configurations can be reproduced by mechanisms universal across
the giant planets if differences in their radiative heating and intrinsic heat
fluxes are taken into account. Whether the equatorial jet is prograde or
retrograde depends on whether the deep intrinsic heat fluxes are strong enough
that convection penetrates into the upper troposphere and generates strong
equatorial Rossby waves there. Prograde equatorial jets result if convective
Rossby wave generation is strong and low-latitude angular momentum flux
divergence owing to baroclinic eddies generated off the equator is sufficiently
weak (Jupiter and Saturn). Retrograde equatorial jets result if either
convective Rossby wave generation is weak or absent (Uranus) or low-latitude
angular momentum flux divergence owing to baroclinic eddies is sufficiently
strong (Neptune). The different speeds and widths of the off-equatorial jets
depend, among other factors, on the differential radiative heating of the
atmosphere and the altitude of the jets, which are vertically sheared. The
simulations have closed energy and angular momentum balances that are
consistent with observations of the giant planets.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figure
Gravitational Radiation from Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays in Models with Large Extra Dimensions
The effects of classical gravitational radiation in models with large extra
dimensions are investigated for ultra high energy cosmic rays (CRs). The cross
sections are implemented into a simulation package (SENECA) for high energy
hadron induced CR air showers. We predict that gravitational radiation from
quasi-elastic scattering could be observed at incident CR energies above
GeV for a setting with more than two extra dimensions. It is further shown that
this gravitational energy loss can alter the energy reconstruction for CR
energies GeV
Straight-sided beer and cider glasses to reduce alcohol sales for on-site consumption: A randomised crossover trial in bars.
BackgroundStraight-sided glasses can slow the rate of lager consumption in a laboratory setting compared with curved glasses. Slower drinking rates may lower overall alcohol consumption. Glass shape is therefore a potential target for intervention. The aim of this randomised crossover trial was to estimate the impact of serving draught beer and cider in straight-sided glasses, compared with usual, predominantly curved glasses, on alcohol sales for on-site consumption in bars.MethodsTwenty-four bars in England completed two intervention periods (A) and two control periods (B) in a randomised order: 1) BABA; 2) BAAB; 3) ABBA; or 4) ABAB. Each period lasted two weeks and involved serving draught beer and cider in either straight-sided glasses (A) or the venue's usual glasses (â„75% curved; B). The primary outcome was the mean volume (in litres) of draught beer and cider sold weekly, compared between A and B periods using a paired-samples t-test on aggregate data. A regression model adjusted for season, order, special events, and busyness.FindingsMean weekly volume sales of draught beer and cider was 690·9 L (SD 491·3 L) across A periods and 732·5 L (SD 501·0 L) across B periods. The adjusted mean difference (A minus B) was 8·9 L per week (95% CI -45·5 to 63·3; p = 0·737).InterpretationThis study provides no clear evidence that using straight-sided glasses, compared with usual, predominantly curved glasses, reduces the volume of draught beer and cider sold for on-site consumption in bars
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