1,506 research outputs found
Mathematical modeling of reaction mechanism of formation of photochemical smog by applying the semi-implicit method
To simulate the different mechanisms we considered a reactor of constant
temperature and volume, where the only reactions that are carried out are those with reported
kinetic constants [1]. For example, to simulate the formaldehyde kinetic you make a serial of
seven chemical reactions where intervene nine chemical species [2].The change in
concentration with respect to the time of one specie is mathematically represented by means of
an ordinary differential equation. In the studied cases, the mechanism of reaction can be
represented as a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. In the simulation of the
mechanism of reaction, the medullar part is the solution of all the ordinary differential equation
that describe the temporary evolution of the concentration of each the species. The differential
equation that comes from the kinetic present what it is called rigidity, principally due to the
simultaneous presence of radical with called rigidity, principally due to the simultaneous
presence of radicals with a really short life time as the presence of hydroperoxide HO2âą and
species that remain almost constant as the oxygen. The main problem to carry out the precise
integration of the differential equation system that represents the mechanism of reaction of the
atmospheric chemistry, is the wide when variation of the kinetic constant as it appears in the
reactions 2 and 7 which brings as a consequence the instability when applying an explicit
numerical method because for any change in so different scales. When this happens, it is said
that the differential equation system is rigid. In order to solve the problem that the rigidity of a
differential equation system represented we should use special numerical method that ensures
precision and stability in its integration. To achieve this whit a classical explicit method it is
required a lot of computing time, besides the possible instability. When using the semi implicit
method, we developed a computer package using language C++ to solve the system of nonlinear
ordinary differential equation. Solving the matrix system with the method mentioned above, it
is found the numerical value of the concentration of the five chemical species for every time
step, given the initial concentration. The computer program used to solve the system of differential equation was developed in UNAM
On the TGF/lightning ratio asymmetry
Africa is one of the most productive lightning regions on Earth, yet it has a lower TGF-to-lightning ratio especially compared with Central America. In this paper we have analyzed the global distribution of different meteorological parameters in order to explain the TGF/lightning ratio asymmetry. We show here that a drier surface and larger CAPE in Africa may produce thunderstorms with intense electric charge regions but elevated in the atmosphere and closer to each other, which allows for higher flash rates and less energetic, shorter and smaller flashes. The results we present here suggest that continental thunderstorms in Africa more rarely fulfill the lightning and thundercloud requirements for TGF production inferred from observations and models.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Reassessment of genotype 1 hepatitis c virus subtype misclassification by LiPA 2.0: implications for direct-acting antiviral treatment
The accuracy of LiPA 2.0 for hepatitis C virus 1 (HCV-1) subtype classification was analyzed. LiPA 2.0 genotype results from 101 HCV-1-infected patients were compared to genotype findings determined by direct core sequencing. Eleven (11%) samples were misclassified. Given the influence of the HCV-1-subtype in the anti-HCV therapy response, an alternative classification method is warranted.Fil: Guelfo, Javier R.. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Macias, Juan. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Neukam, Karin. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Di Lello, Federico Alejandro. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; España. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mira JosĂ© Antonio. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Merchante, NicolĂĄs. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Mancebo, MarĂa. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Nuñez Torres, RocĂo. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Pineda, Juan A.. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Real. Luis M.. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; Españ
Phosphorus restriction does not prevent the increase in fibroblast growth factor 23 elicited by high fat diet
This
study
was
designed
to evaluate
the
influence
of phosphorus
(P)
restriction
on
the
dele-
terious
effects
of high
fat
diets
on
mineral
metabolism.
Twenty-four
rats
were
allotted
to 3
groups
(n = 8 each)
that
were
fed
different
diets
for
7 months.
Rats
in group
1 were
fed
nor-
mal
fat-normal
P (0.6%)
diet
(NF-NP),
rats
in group
2 were
fed
high
fat-
normal
P diet
(HF-
NP)
and
rats
in group
3 were
fed
high
fat-low
P (0.2%)
diet
(HF-LP).
Blood,
urine
and
tissues
were
collected
at the
end
of the
experiments.
When
compared
with
the
control
group
(NF-
NP),
rats
fed
HF
diets
showed
increases
in body
weight,
and
in plasma
concentrations
of tri-
glycerides
and
leptin,
and
decreased
plasma
calcitriol
concentrations.
In rats
fed
HF-NP
plasma
fibroblast
growth
factor
23
(FGF23)
was
higher
(279.6
±
39.4
pg/ml
vs
160.6
±
25.0
pg/ml,
p = 0.018)
and
renal
klotho
(ratio
klotho/GAPDH)
was
lower
(0.75
±
0.06
vs
1.06
±
0.08,
p
<
0.01)
than
in rats
fed
NF-NP.
Phosphorus
restriction
did
not
normalize
plasma
FGF23
or
renal
klotho;
in fact,
rats
fed
HF-LP,
that
only
ingested
an
average
of 22.9
mg/day
of P,
had
higher
FGF23
(214.7
±
32.4
pg/ml)
concentratio
ns
than
rats
fed
NF-NP
(160.6
±
25.
0 pg/ml),
that
ingested
and
average
of 74.4
mg/day
of P over
a 7 month
period.
In conclusion,
our
results
demonstrate
that
severe
P restriction
over
a prolonged
period
of time
(7 months)
does
not
normalize
the
increase
in circulating
FGF23
induced
by
HF
diets.
These
data
indi-
cate
that
the
deleterious
effects
of high
fat
diet
on
the
FGF23/klotho
axis
are
not
eliminated
by
reduced
P intake
Oral Acid Load Down-Regulates Fibroblast Growth Factor 23
Increased dietary acid load has a negative impact on health, particularly when renal function is compromised. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a bone-derived hormone that is elevated during renal failure. The relationship between metabolic acidosis and FGF23 remains unclear. To investigate the effect of dietary acid load on circulating levels of FGF23, rats with normal renal function and with a graded reduction in renal mass (1/2 Nx and 5/6 Nx) received oral NH4Cl for 1 month. Acid intake resulted in a consistent decrease of plasma FGF23 concentrations in all study groups when compared with their non-acidotic control: 239.3 ± 13.5 vs. 295.0 ± 15.8 pg/mL (intact), 346.4 ± 19.7 vs. 522.6 ± 29.3 pg/mL (1/2 Nx) and 988.0 ± 125.5 vs. 2549.4 ± 469.7 pg/mL (5/6 Nx). Acidosis also decreased plasma PTH in all groups, 96.5 ± 22.3 vs. 107.3 ± 19.1 pg/mL, 113.1 ± 17.3 vs. 185.8 ± 22.2 pg/mL and 504.9 ± 75.7 vs. 1255.4 ± 181.1 pg/mL. FGF23 showed a strong positive correlation with PTH (r = 0.877, p < 0.0001) and further studies demonstrated that acidosis did not influence plasma FGF23 concentrations in parathyroidectomized rats, 190.0 ± 31.6 vs. 215 ± 25.6 pg/mL. In conclusion, plasma concentrations of FGF23 are consistently decreased in rats with metabolic acidosis secondary to increased acid intake, both in animals with intact renal function and with decreased renal function. The in vivo effect of metabolic acidosis on FGF23 appears to be related to the simultaneous decrease in PTH
Objectifying user attention and emotion evoked by relevant perceived product components
[EN] A companyâs aim is to develop products that engage user attention and evoke positive emotions.
Customers base their emotional evaluation on product components that are relevant for their perception. This
paper presents findings of both identifying relevant product components and measuring emotions evoked by
relevant perceived product components. To validate results, the comparison with self-reporting methods identifies
similarities and differences between explicit expressed and implicit recorded customer requirements. On the one
hand, eye tracking is applied to deduce the attention provoked by perceived product components. In order to link
the product strategy with product components, the paper presents results considering the fact that the gaze track
is affected by current thoughts. (Köhler et al., 2013, 2014a, b; Köhler and Schmitt, 2012) On the other hand, since
self-reporting tools are only useful for obtaining information about the conscious part of customersâ emotions,
there is a need for measurement methods that measure the changes in physiological signals (bio-signals). Arousal
is similar to emotional intensity and is related to the galvanic skin response. Positive or negative emotions are
defined by the valence that is measured by facial electromyography. Findings are presented that relate changes in
bio-signals on the aesthetical design to the global product impression as well as to emotions and, subsequently,
linking changes in physiological signals to the evaluation of semantic concepts and design parameters. The
presented approach provides conclusions and valid information about products as well as product components
that provoke certain emotions and about product components linked to a certain product concept, which could
be part of a product strategy. Consequently, hard facts and special design rules for emotional product design can
be deduced.The paper presents results from the cooperative research project CONEMO (Consumer Evaluation Measurement for Objectified Industrial Use â funded by the CORNET program) of the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Germany, together
with the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia (IBV), Spain. The funding agencies are IMPIVA (operational program FEDER of the Comunidad Valenciana, Spain) and AiF (Germany). The CORNET promotion plan 47EN of the Research Community for Quality (FQS), August-Schanz-Str. 21A, 60433 Frankfurt/Main, was funded by the AiF within the program for sponsorship by Industrial Joint Research and Development (IGF) of the German
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technologies based on an enactment of the German parliament. The authors would like to express their gratitude to all parties involved.Schmitt, R.; Köhler, M.; DurĂĄ-Gil, JV.; Diaz Pineda, JA. (2014). Objectifying user attention and emotion evoked by relevant perceived product components. Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems. 3(2):315-324. doi:10.5194/jsss-3-315-2014S31532432Beaujean, P., Grob, R., HĂ€fen, K., Köbler, E., Köhler, M., Quattelbaum, B., Schmitt, R., Seitz, R., Wagner, M., and Willach, A.: Emotionale Produktgestaltung â Wert der wahrgenommenen QualitĂ€t, in: Proceedings: Tagungsband zum AWK, edited by: Brecher, C., Klocke, F., Schmitt, R., and Schuh, G., Shaker, 2011.Berghaus, N.: Eye-Tracking im stationĂ€ren Einzelhandel. Eine empirische Analyse der Wahrnehmung von Kunden am Point of Purchase, dissertation, University Duisburg-Essen, 2005.Cacioppo, J. T., Tassinary, L. G., and Fridlund, A. J.: The skeletomotor system, in: Principles of Psychophysiology: Physical Social, and Inferential elements, edited by: Caccioppo, J. T. Tassinary, L. G., Cambridge University Press, New York, 325â384, 1990.Cacioppo, J. T., Bernston, G. G, Larsen, J. T., Poehlmann, K. M., and Ito, T. A.: The psychophysiology of emotion, in: Handbook of Emotions, edited by: Lewis, M. and Haviland-Jones, J. M., The Guilford Press, New York, 173â191, 2004.Czerwinski, M., Horvitz, E., and Cutrell, E.: Subjective duration assessment: an implicit probe for software usability, in: Proceedings of the IHM-HCI 2001 Conference, Vol. 2, 167â170, 2001.Desmet, P.: Designing Emotions. Delft University of Technology, Department of Industrial Design, 2002.Duchowski, A. T.: Eye Tracking Methodology: Theory and Practice, Vol. 2., Springer, London, 2007.Falk, B., Schmitt, R., and Quattelbaum, B.: Product Quality from the Customers' Perspective â Systematic Elicitation and Deployment of Perceived Quality Information, in: Proceedings of the 6th CIRP-Sponsored International Conference on Digital Enterprise Technology, 216 pp., 2008.Hawlitzky, N.: Integriertes QualitĂ€tscontrolling von Unternehmensprozessen, Gestaltung eines Quality-Gate-Konzeptes, dissertation, Technical University MĂŒnchen, 2002.Heino, A., Van der Molen, H. H., and Wilde, G. J. S.: Risk-homeostatic processes in car following behaviour: electrodermal responses and verbal risk estimates as indicators of the perceived level of risk during a car-driving task, Report VK 90-22, Traffic Research Centre, University of Groningen, Haren, 1990.Hofer, N. and Mayerhofer, W.: Die Blickregistrierung in der Werbewirkungsforschung. Grundlagen und Ergebnisse, in: Der Markt, No. 49, 149 pp., 2010.Jiao, R., Zhang, Y., and Helander, M.: A Kansei mining system for affective design, Journal of Expert Systems with Applications, 30, 658â673, 2006.Köhler, M. and Schmitt, R.: Systematic Consumer Evaluation Measurement for Objectified Integration into the Product Development Process, in: Advances in Affective and Pleasurable Design, edited by: Ji, Y. G., CRC Press, 503â512, 2012.Köhler, M., Falk, B., and Schmitt, R.: Objectifying user attention caused by visually perceived product components, in: Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Metrology, https://doi.org/10.1051/metrology/201314002, 2013.Köhler, M., Falk, B., and Schmitt, R.: Applying Eye-Tracking in Kansei Engineering Methodology for Design Evaluations in Product Development, KEER conference, Linköping, available at: http://dqi.id.tue.nl/keer2014/papers/KEER2014_125 (last access: 30 September 2014), 2014a.Köhler, M., Falk, B., and Schmitt, R.: Integrating User Attention for Design Evaluations in Customer-Orientated Product Development, in: Advances in Affective and Pleasurable Design, edited by: Ji, Y. G. and Choi, S., Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics AHFE 2014, 19â23 July 2014, CRC Press, 428â439, 2014b.Kroeber-Riel, W. and Weinberg, P.: Konsumentenverhalten, Vol. 6, Vahlen, 1996.Lang, P. J., Greenwald, M. K., Bradley, M. M., and Hamm, A. O.: Looking at pictures: affective, facial, visceral, and behavioral reactions, Psychophysiology, 30, 261â273, 1993.Laparra-HernĂĄndez, J., Belda-Lois, J. M., Medina, E., Campos, N., and Poveda, R.: EMG and GSR signals for evaluating user's perception of different types of ceramic flooring, Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 39, 326â332, 2009.Meffert, H.: Marketing. Grundlagen marktorientierter UnternehmensfĂŒhrung, Vol. 9, Gabler, 2000.Nagamachi, M.: Kansei/Affective Engineering, CRC Press, Florida, 2011.Nielsen, J. and Levy, J.: Measuring usability: preference vs. performance, Communications of the ACM 37, No. 4, 66â75, 1994.Regueiro, R. and LeĂłn, O.: EstrĂ©s en desiciones cotidianas, Journal of Psicothema, 15, 533â538, 2003.Sattler, H.: Methoden zur Messung von PrĂ€ferenzen fĂŒr Innovationen, Zeitschrift fĂŒr betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung (zfbf), Vol. 54/06, 154â176, 2006.SchĂŒtte, S.: Designing Feelings into Products. Integrating Kansei Engineering Methodology in Product Development, dissertation, University Linköping, 2002.Tversky, A. and Kahneman, D.: 1 Availability: a heuristic for judging frequency and probability, Cognitive Psychol., 5, 207â232, 1973.Yarbus, A. L.: Eye Movements and Vision, Plenum Press, 1967
Alq mutation increases fruit set rate and allows the maintenance of fruit yield under moderate saline conditions
[EN] Arlequin (Alq) is a gain-of-function mutant whose most relevant feature is that sepals are able to become fruit-like organs due to the ectopic expression of the ALQ-TAGL1 gene. The role of this gene in tomato fruit ripening was previously demonstrated. To discover new functional roles for ALQ-TAGL1, and most particularly its involvement in the fruit set process, a detailed characterization of Alq yield-related traits was performed. Under standard conditions, the Alq mutant showed a much higher fruit set rate than the wild type. A significant percentage of Alq fruits were seedless. The results showed that pollination-independent fruit set in Alq is due to early transition from flower to fruit. Analysis of endogenous hormones in Alq suggests that increased content of cytokinins and decreased level of abscisic acid may account for precocious fruit set. Comparative expression analysis showed relevant changes of several genes involved in cell division, gibberellin metabolism, and the auxin signalling pathway. Since pollination-independent fruit set may be a very useful strategy for maintaining fruit production under adverse conditions, fruit set and yield in Alq plants under moderate salinity were assessed. Interestingly, Alq mutant plants showed a high yield under saline conditions, similar to that of Alq and the wild type under unstressed conditions.This work was supported by the research grants AGL2015-64991-C3-3-R and AGL2015-64991-C3-1-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO/FEDER). The PhD grant to CRA (BES-2013-063778) was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.The authors thank Dr Isabel Lopez-Diaz and Dr Esther Carrera for their help in hormone quantification carried out at the Plant Hormone Quantification Service, IBMCP,Valencia, Spain. The authors thank David Harry Rhead for reviewing the manuscript in the English language.Ribelles Alfonso, C.; GarcĂa Sogo, B.; Yuste-Lisbona, FJ.; AtarĂ©s Huerta, A.; Castañeda, L.; Capel, C.; Lozano, R.... (2019). Alq mutation increases fruit set rate and allows the maintenance of fruit yield under moderate saline conditions. Journal of Experimental Botany. 70(20):5731-5744. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erz342S57315744702
Tomato POLLEN DEFICIENT 2 encodes a G-Type lectin receptor kinase required for viable pollen grain formation
Pollen development is a crucial biological process indispensable for seed set in flowering plants and for successful crop breeding. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating pollen development in crop species. This study reports a novel male-sterile tomato mutant, pollen deficient 2 (pod2), characterized by the production of non-viable pollen grains and resulting in the development of small parthenocarpic fruits. A combined strategy of mapping-by-sequencing and RNA interference-mediated gene silencing was used to prove that the pod2 phenotype is caused by the loss of Solanum lycopersicum G-Type lectin receptor kinase II.9 (SlG-LecRK-II.9) activity. In situ hybridization of floral buds showed that POD2/SlG-LecRK-II.9 is specifically expressed in tapetal cells and microspores at the late tetrad stage. Accordingly, abnormalities in meiosis and tapetum programmed cell death in pod2 occurred during microsporogenesis, resulting in the formation of four dysfunctional microspores leading to an aberrant microgametogenesis process. RNA-seq analyses supported the existence of alterations at the final stage of microsporogenesis, since we found tomato deregulated genes whose counterparts in Arabidopsis are essential for the normal progression of male meiosis and cytokinesis. Collectively, our results revealed the essential role of POD2/SlG-LecRK-II.9 in regulating tomato pollen development.This work was supported by research grants PID2019-110833RB-C31, PID2019-110833RB-C32, and PID2020-113324GB-100 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), and the Research and Innovation Programme of the European Union Horizon 2020 (BRESOV Project, ID 774244). A PhD fellowship to MGA was funded by the FPU Programme of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture (ref. AP2010-4528). RLe was supported by a Junta de AndalucĂa and FEDER research contract (DOC_01129)
Comments on gluon scattering amplitudes via AdS/CFT
In this article we consider n gluon color ordered, planar amplitudes in N=4
super Yang Mills at strong 't Hooft coupling. These amplitudes are approximated
by classical surfaces in AdS_5 space. We compute the value of the amplitude for
a particular kinematic configuration for a large number of gluons and find that
the result disagrees with a recent guess for the exact value of the amplitude.
Our results are still compatible with a possible relation between amplitudes
and Wilson loops.
In addition, we also give a prescription for computing processes involving
local operators and asymptotic states with a fixed number of gluons. As a
byproduct, we also obtain a string theory prescription for computing the dual
of the ordinary Wilson loop, Tr P exp[ i\oint A ], with no couplings to the
scalars. We also evaluate the quark-antiquark potential at two loops.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figures,v3:minor correction
Energy-dense diets increase FGF23, lead to phosphorus retention and promote vascular calcifications in rats
Rats with normal renal function (Experiment 1, n = 12) and uninephrectomized (1/2Nx) rats
(Experiment 2, n = 12) were fed diets with normal P (NP) and either normal (NF) or high fat (HF).
Rats with intact renal function (Experiment 3, n = 12) were also fed NF or HF diets with high P (HP).
Additionally, uremic (5/6Nx) rats (n = 16) were fed HP diets with NF or HF. Feeding the HF diets resulted
in significant elevation of plasma FGF23 vs rats fed NF diets: Experiment 1, 593 ± 126 vs 157 ± 28 pg/
ml (p < 0.01); Experiment 2, 538 ± 105 vs 250 ± 18 pg/ml (p < 0.05); Experiment 3, 971 ± 118 vs
534 ± 40 pg/ml (p < 0.01). Rats fed HF diets showed P retention and decreased renal klotho (ratio
klotho/actin) vs rats fed NF diets: Experiment 1, 0.75 ± 0.06 vs 0.97 ± 0.02 (p < 0.01); Experiment 2,
0.69 ± 0.07 vs 1.12 ± 0.08 (p < 0.01); Experiment 3, 0.57 ± 0.19 vs 1.16 ± 0.15 (p < 0.05). Uremic rats
fed HF diet showed more severe vascular calcification (VC) than rats fed NF diet (aortic Ca = 6.3 ± 1.4
vs 1.4 ± 0.1 mg/g tissue, p < 0.001). In conclusion, energy-rich diets increased plasma levels of
FGF23, a known risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Even though FGF23 has major
phosphaturic actions, feeding HF diets resulted in P retention, likely secondary to decreased renal
klotho, and aggravated uremic V
- âŠ