Quantum information processes in protein microtubules of brain neurons

We study biologically ‘orchestrated’ coherent quantum processes in collections of protein microtubules of brain neurons, which correlate with, and regulate, neuronal synaptic and membrane activity. In this situation the continuous Schrodinger evolution of each such process terminates in accordance with the specific Diosi-Penrose (DP) scheme of ‘objective reduction’ (‘OR’) of the quantum state. This orchestrated OR activity (‘Orch OR’) is taken to result in moments of conscious awareness and/or choice. We analyze Orch OR in light of advances and developments in quantum physics, computational neuroscience and quantum biology. Much attention is also devoted to the ‘beat frequencies’ of faster microtubule vibrations as a possible source of the observed electroencephalographic (‘EEG’) correlates of consciousness

Non-standard errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Ezhednevnye dvukratnye in\"ektsii dvukhfaznogo insulina asparta bolee effektivno uluchshayut kontrol' postprandial'noy glikemii u bol'nykh diabetom tipa 2, chem ezhednevnye dvukratnye in\"ektsii NPKh-insulina, pri nizkom riske gipoglikemii

Цель. Оценить потенциальные преимущества перевода больных СД типа 2 с НПХ инсулина на BlAsp30 для улучшения коррекции гликемии, о результатах которой судили по уменьшению содержания HbAlc и концентрации глюкозы после еды; оценить эффективность применения BIAsp30 для начальной инсулинотерапии СД типа 2 у ранее не получавших ее пациентов. Материалы и методы. Исследование включало 403 больных СД типа 2. Содержание HbAlc составляло 11,0% или меньше, а индекс массы тела (ИМТ) 35 кг/м3 и менее. Данное рандомизированное контролируемое исследование с двойным слепым контролем проводилось в 34 учреждениях 9 стран. Каждый пациент посещал врача 11 раз на протяжении 18 нед. по следующей схеме: скрининговый визит, девять посещений в течение 16 нед. во время проведения терапии и заключительный визит спустя 2 нед. после возобновления режима лечения, предшествовавшего исследованию. Пациенты были произвольно разделены на 2 группы в соотношении 1:1, в одной из которых они подкожно вводили BIAsp30, а в другой НПХ инсулин. Результаты. За время терапии на протяжении 16 нед. содержание HbAl линейно и достоверно уменьшалось у больных обеих групп (на 0,67 и 0,61% при введении соответственно BIAsp30 и НПХ инсулина). Тяжелая гипогликемия имела место менее чем у 2% больных обеих групп. Легкие эпизоды гипогликемии при терапии BIAsp30 отмечались чаще (341 эпизод у 77 больных по сравнению с 285 у 68 больных при терапии НПХ инсулином). В обеих группах зарегистрировано одинаковое количество побочных явлений (141 у 72 пациентов при лечении BIAsp30 по сравнению со 141 у 76 пациентов при лечении НПХ инсулином). Выводы. Пациенты, лечение которых начато BIAsp30, получали такие же преимущества, как больные, переведенные на этот препарат после монотерапии НПХ инсулином. У них значительно уменьшались концентрация ГК после завтрака и ужина, а также среднесуточный уровень постпрандиальной гликемии по сравнению с больными, лечение которых начиналось ежедневными двукратными инъекциями НПХ инсулина. Терапия BIAsp30 позволяет сочетать общий метаболический контроль и контроль концентрации ГК после еды, низкий риск гипогликемии и простоту терапевтического режима. Настоящее исследование показывает, что этот вид терапии значительно улучшает оба аспекта гликемического контроля и хорошо переносится больными, нуждающимися в инсулине для лечения СД типа 2. Она дает особенно хорошие результаты при неудовлетворительной компенсации на фоне терапии ПССП или однократными в течение суток инъекциями НПХ инсулина

Comparison of gas analyzers for eddy covariance: Effects of analyzer type and spectral corrections on fluxes

The eddy covariance technique (EC) is used at hundreds of field sites worldwide to measure trace gas exchange between the surface and the atmosphere. Data quality and correction methods for EC have been studied empirically and theoretically for many years. The recent development of new gas analyzers has led to an increase in technological options for users. Open-path (no inlet tube) and closed-path (long inlet tube) sensors have been used for a long time, whereas enclosed-path (short inlet tube) sensors are relatively new. We tested the comparability of fluxes calculated from five different gas analyzers including two open-path (LI-7500 A from LI-COR, IRGASON from Campbell), two enclosed-path (CPEC200 from Campbell, LI-7200 from LI-COR), and one closed-path (2311-f from Picarro) analyzers, which were all located on a single tower at an irrigated alfalfa field in Davis, CA. To effectively compare sensors with different tube characteristics we used three different spectral correction methods. We found that all sensors, regardless of type, can be used to measure fluxes if appropriate corrections are applied and quality control measures are taken. However, the comparability strongly depended on the gas (CO2 or H2O) and the correction method. Average differences were below 4% for CO2 fluxes using any spectral correction method, but for H2O average differences were between 4% and 13% for the different methods. The magnitude of corrections also varied strongly, especially for water vapor fluxes. This study does not identify the best sensor, but rather weighs the benefits and difficulties of each sensor and sensor type. Our findings show that enclosed and closed-path gas analyzers that measure water vapor with inlet tubes experience large high frequency attenuation and should be corrected with empirical correction methods. This information presented here about different the diverse sensors be considered by investigators when choosing a sensor for a site or when analyzing EC measurements from multiple sites

Addressing a systematic bias in carbon dioxide flux measurements with the EC150 and the IRGASON open-path gas analyzers

Across a global network of eddy covariance flux towers, two relatively new open-path infrared gas analyzers (IRGAs), the IRGASON and the EC150, are increasingly used to measure net carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes (Fc_OP). Differences in net CO2 fluxes derived from open- and closed-path IRGAs in general remain poorly constrained. In particular, the performance of the IRGASON and the EC150 for measuring Fc_OP has not been characterized yet. These IRGAs measure CO2 absorption, which is scaled with air temperature and pressure before converting it to instantaneous CO2 density. This sensor-internal conversion is based on a slow-response thermistor air temperature measurement. Here, we test if the high-frequency temperature attenuation causes selectively systematic Fc_OP errors that scale with kinematic temperature fluxes. First, we examine the relationship between wintertime Fc_OP and kinematic temperature fluxes for eight northern ecosystems. Second, we investigate how residuals between Fc_OP and CO2 fluxes from co-located closed-path IRGAs (FC_CP) are related to kinematic temperature fluxes for three different ecosystem types (i.e., boreal forest, grassland, and irrigated cropland). We find that kinematic temperature fluxes, but not mean ambient air temperatures or CO2 flux regime, consistently determine the absolute magnitude of Fc_OP errors. This selectively systematic bias causes the most pronounced relative Fc_OP errors to occur when “true” CO2 fluxes are low and kinematic temperature fluxes are high (e.g., northern ecosystems during the winter). The smallest relative errors occur during periods with large “true” CO2 fluxes and low kinematic temperature fluxes. To address this bias, we replace the slow-response air temperature in the absorption-to-CO2 density conversion with a fast-response air temperature derived from sonic anemometer measurements. The use of the fast-response air temperature improves the agreement between half-hourly Fc_OP and FC_CP for all open- versus closed-path IRGA comparisons. Additionally, cumulative Fc_OP and Fc_CP sums are more comparable as differences drop from 63 %–13 % to 20 %–8 %. The improved IRGASON and EC150 performance enhances the ability and confidence to synthesize flux measurements across multiple sites including these two relatively new IRGAs

Addressing a systematic bias in carbon dioxide flux measurements with the EC150 and the IRGASON open-path gas analyzers

Across a global network of eddy covariance flux towers, two relatively new open-path infrared gas analyzers (IRGAs), the IRGASON and the EC150, are increasingly used to measure net carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes (Fc_OP). Differences in net CO2 fluxes derived from open- and closed-path IRGAs in general remain poorly constrained. In particular, the performance of the IRGASON and the EC150 for measuring Fc_OP has not been characterized yet. These IRGAs measure CO2 absorption, which is scaled with air temperature and pressure before converting it to instantaneous CO2 density. This sensor-internal conversion is based on a slow-response thermistor air temperature measurement. Here, we test if the high-frequency temperature attenuation causes selectively systematic Fc_OP errors that scale with kinematic temperature fluxes. First, we examine the relationship between wintertime Fc_OP and kinematic temperature fluxes for eight northern ecosystems. Second, we investigate how residuals between Fc_OP and CO2 fluxes from co-located closed-path IRGAs (FC_CP) are related to kinematic temperature fluxes for three different ecosystem types (i.e., boreal forest, grassland, and irrigated cropland). We find that kinematic temperature fluxes, but not mean ambient air temperatures or CO2 flux regime, consistently determine the absolute magnitude of Fc_OP errors. This selectively systematic bias causes the most pronounced relative Fc_OP errors to occur when “true” CO2 fluxes are low and kinematic temperature fluxes are high (e.g., northern ecosystems during the winter). The smallest relative errors occur during periods with large “true” CO2 fluxes and low kinematic temperature fluxes. To address this bias, we replace the slow-response air temperature in the absorption-to-CO2 density conversion with a fast-response air temperature derived from sonic anemometer measurements. The use of the fast-response air temperature improves the agreement between half-hourly Fc_OP and FC_CP for all open- versus closed-path IRGA comparisons. Additionally, cumulative Fc_OP and Fc_CP sums are more comparable as differences drop from 63 %–13 % to 20 %–8 %. The improved IRGASON and EC150 performance enhances the ability and confidence to synthesize flux measurements across multiple sites including these two relatively new IRGAs