Volumetrical characterization of sheet molding compounds

For a comprehensive study of Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) surfaces, topographical data obtained by chromatic confocal imaging were submitted systematically for the development of a profile model to understand the formation of cavities on the surface. In order to qualify SMC surfaces and to predict their coatability, a characterization of cavities is applied. To quantify the effect of surface modification treatments, a new parameter (Surface Relative Smooth) is presented, applied and probed. The parameter proposed can be used for any surface modification of any solid material. © 2010 by the authors

Определение параметров электрического взрыва проволок для получения однородных смесей микро и наночастиц сплавов 316L и TiAl

В качестве объектов исследования выступали порошки стали 316 L и сплава TiAl на основе смеси микро и наночастиц. Цель работы - определить условия формирования однородных смесей на основе микро - и наночастиц сплавов 316 L и ?-TiAl при электрическом взрыве проволоки сплава 316L и совместном электрическом взрыве проволок Ti и Al. Синтезированные образцы исследовались с помощью современных аналитических методов (рентгенофазовый, электронная микроскопия, распределение частиц по размерам и др.)The subjects of study are powders of 316L steel and TiAl alloy based on a mixture of micro and nanoparticles. The purpose of this study is to determine conditions for the formation of homogeneous mixtures based on micro- and nanoparticles of 316 L and ?-TiAl alloys in the electric explosion of a 316L alloy wire and the joint electric explosion of Ti and Al wires. Produced samples have been studied using modern analytical methods (X-ray diffraction method, electron microscopy, particle size distribution, etc.)

E–N-cadherin heterodimers define novel adherens junctions connecting endoderm-derived cells

Contradicting the “cadherin switch” model, mixed E-cadherin–N-cadherin heterodimeric adherens junctions are prevalent in a variety of endodermal cells and endoderm-derived tumors

Quantification of serotonin and eight of its metabolites in plasma of healthy volunteers by mass spectrometry.

Serotonin is transformed into melatonin under the control of the light/dark cycle, representing a cornerstone of circadian rhythmicity. Serotonin also undergoes extensive metabolism to produce 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of serotonin secreting neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). While serotonin, melatonin and their metabolites are part of an integrated comprehensive system, human observations about their respective plasma concentrations are still limited. We report here for the first time a multiplex UHPLC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of serotonin, 5-HIAA, 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTPL), N-acetyl-serotonin (NAS), Mel, 6-OH-Mel, 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT), 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MTPL), and 5-methoxyindoleacetic acid (5-MIAA) in human plasma. Analytes were extracted by protein precipitation and solid phase extraction. Plasma concentrations for these analytes were determined in 102 healthy volunteers. The LLOQ of the assay ranges from 2.2 nM for serotonin to 1.0 pM for 6-OH-Mel. This sensitivity enables the quantification of circulating serotonin, 5-HIAA, NAS, Mel, and 5-MIAA, even at their lowest diurnal concentrations. This assay will enable specific, precise and accurate measurement of serotonin, Mel and their metabolites to draw a detailed picture of this complex pineal metabolism, allowing a dynamic understanding of these pathways and providing promising biomarkers and a metabolic signature for serotonin-secreting NETs

Leading-effect vs. Risk-taking in Dynamic Tournaments: Evidence from a Real-life Randomized Experiment

Two 'order effects' may emerge in dynamic tournaments with information feedback. First, participants adjust effort across stages, which could advantage the leading participant who faces a larger 'effective prize' after an initial victory (leading-effect). Second, participants lagging behind may increase risk at the final stage as they have 'nothing to lose' (risk-taking). We use a randomized natural experiment in professional two-game soccer tournaments where the treatment (order of a stage-specific advantage) and team characteristics, e.g. ability, are independent. We develop an identification strategy to test for leading-effects controlling for risk-taking. We find no evidence of leading-effects and negligible risk-taking effects

Comparison of surface-derived and ISCCP cloud optical properties

One objective of the FIRE Project is to validate the cloud parameters given on ISCCP tapes. ISCCP first defines whether or not a region is clear or has clouds based on two threshold algorithms. If the region has clouds, then a cloud optical depth is given as well as a cloud height. Special high resolution ISCCP CX tapes were created for the time period of the Wisconsin FIRE experiment. These tapes did not include the cloud height product, however, other parameters used to make up the standard ISCCP Cl products were available. The ISCCP cloud/no cloud and cloud depth parameters are compared with surface derived values for the Wisconsin FIRE region during the October 27 and 28 case study days

Many morphs : parsing gesture signals from the noise

AM was funded by a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship. CH, GB, KEG, CG, and AS were supported by funding from the European Research Council under Gestural Origins Grant No: 802719. KS and CW were supported by funding from the European Research Council under Grant No: ERC_CoG 2016_724608. We thank all the staff of the Budongo Conservation Field Station, its founder Vernon Reynolds, and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland who provide core funding.Parsing signals from noise is a general problem for signallers and recipients, and for researchers studying communicative systems. Substantial efforts have been invested in comparing how other species encode information and meaning, and how signalling is structured. However, research depends on identifying and discriminating signals that represent meaningful units of analysis. Early approaches to defining signal repertoires applied top-down approaches, classifying cases into predefined signal types. Recently, more labour-intensive methods have taken a bottom-up approach describing detailed features of each signal and clustering cases based on patterns of similarity in multi-dimensional feature-space that were previously undetectable. Nevertheless, it remains essential to assess whether the resulting repertoires are composed of relevant units from the perspective of the species using them, and redefining repertoires when additional data become available. In this paper we provide a framework that takes data from the largest set of wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) gestures currently available, splitting gesture types at a fine scale based on modifying features of gesture expression using latent class analysis (a model-based cluster detection algorithm for categorical variables), and then determining whether this splitting process reduces uncertainty about the goal or community of the gesture. Our method allows different features of interest to be incorporated into the splitting process, providing substantial future flexibility across, for example, species, populations, and levels of signal granularity. Doing so, we provide a powerful tool allowing researchers interested in gestural communication to establish repertoires of relevant units for subsequent analyses within and between systems of communication.Peer reviewe

Long-Term Seizure Suppression and Optogenetic Analyses of Synaptic Connectivity in Epileptic Mice with Hippocampal Grafts of GABAergic Interneurons

Studies in rodent epilepsy models suggest that GABAergic interneuron progenitor grafts can reduce hyperexcitability and seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Although integration of the transplanted cells has been proposed as the underlying mechanism for these disease-modifying effects, prior studies have not explicitly examined cell types and synaptic mechanisms for long-term seizure suppression. To address this gap, we transplanted medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) cells from embryonic day 13.5 VGAT-Venus or VGAT-ChR2-EYFP transgenic embryos into the dentate gyrus (DG) of adult mice 2 weeks after induction of TLE with pilocarpine. Beginning 3–4 weeks after status epilepticus, we conducted continuous video-electroencephalographic recording until 90–100 d. TLE mice with bilateral MGE cell grafts in the DG had significantly fewer and milder electrographic seizures, compared with TLE controls. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the transplants contained multiple neuropeptide or calcium-binding protein-expressing interneuron types and these cells established dense terminal arborizations onto the somas, apical dendrites, and axon initial segments of dentate granule cells (GCs). A majority of the synaptic terminals formed by the transplanted cells were apposed to large postsynaptic clusters of gephyrin, indicative of mature inhibitory synaptic complexes. Functionality of these new inhibitory synapses was demonstrated by optogenetically activating VGAT-ChR2-EYFP-expressing transplanted neurons, which generated robust hyperpolarizations in GCs. These findings suggest that fetal GABAergic interneuron grafts may suppress pharmacoresistant seizures by enhancing synaptic inhibition in DG neural circuits