207 research outputs found
Technological agglomeration and the emergence of clusters and networks in nanotechnology
Research and development at the nanoscale requires a large degree of
integration, from convergence of research disciplines in new fields of enquiry
to new linkages between start-ups, regional actors and research facilities.
Based on the analysis of two clusters in nanotechnologies (MESA+ (Twente) and
other centres in The Netherlands and Minatec in Grenoble in France), the paper
discusses the phenomenon of technological agglomeration: co-located scientific
and technological fields associated to coordinated technology platforms to some
extent actively shaped by institutional entrepreneurs. Such co-location and
coordination are probably a prerequisite for the emergence of strong
nanocluster
Undominated Groves Mechanisms
The family of Groves mechanisms, which includes the well-known VCG mechanism (also
known as the Clarke mechanism), is a family of efficient and strategy-proof mechanisms.
Unfortunately, the Groves mechanisms are generally not budget balanced. That is, under
such mechanisms, payments may flow into or out of the system of the agents, resulting
in deficits or reduced utilities for the agents. We consider the following problem: within
the family of Groves mechanisms, we want to identify mechanisms that give the agents the
highest utilities, under the constraint that these mechanisms must never incur deficits.
We adopt a prior-free approach. We introduce two general measures for comparing
mechanisms in prior-free settings. We say that a non-deficit Groves mechanism M in-
dividually dominates another non-deficit Groves mechanism M′ if for every type profile,
every agent’s utility under M is no less than that under M′, and this holds with strict
inequality for at least one type profile and one agent. We say that a non-deficit Groves
mechanism M collectively dominates another non-deficit Groves mechanism M′ if for every
type profile, the agents’ total utility under M is no less than that under M′, and this holds
with strict inequality for at least one type profile. The above definitions induce two partial
orders on non-deficit Groves mechanisms. We study the maximal elements corresponding
to these two partial orders, which we call the individually undominated mechanisms and
the collectively undominated mechanisms, respectively
Probability density function of turbulent velocity fluctuations in rough-wall boundary layer
The probability density function of single-point velocity fluctuations in
turbulence is studied systematically using Fourier coefficients in the
energy-containing range. In ideal turbulence where energy-containing motions
are random and independent, the Fourier coefficients tend to Gaussian and
independent of each other. Velocity fluctuations accordingly tend to Gaussian.
However, if energy-containing motions are intermittent or contaminated with
bounded-amplitude motions such as wavy wakes, the Fourier coefficients tend to
non-Gaussian and dependent of each other. Velocity fluctuations accordingly
tend to non-Gaussian. These situations are found in our experiment of a
rough-wall boundary layer.Comment: 6 pages, to appear in Physical Review
Vortex tubes in velocity fields of laboratory isotropic turbulence: dependence on the Reynolds number
The streamwise and transverse velocities are measured simultaneously in
isotropic grid turbulence at relatively high Reynolds numbers, Re(lambda) =
110-330. Using a conditional averaging technique, we extract typical
intermittency patterns, which are consistent with velocity profiles of a model
for a vortex tube, i.e., Burgers vortex. The radii of the vortex tubes are
several of the Kolmogorov length regardless of the Reynolds number. Using the
distribution of an interval between successive enhancements of a small-scale
velocity increment, we study the spatial distribution of vortex tubes. The
vortex tubes tend to cluster together. This tendency is increasingly
significant with the Reynolds number. Using statistics of velocity increments,
we also study the energetical importance of vortex tubes as a function of the
scale. The vortex tubes are important over the background flow at small scales
especially below the Taylor microscale. At a fixed scale, the importance is
increasingly significant with the Reynolds number.Comment: 8 pages, 3 PS files for 8 figures, to appear in Physical Review
Dynamical equations for high-order structure functions, and a comparison of a mean field theory with experiments in three-dimensional turbulence
Two recent publications [V. Yakhot, Phys. Rev. E {\bf 63}, 026307, (2001) and
R.J. Hill, J. Fluid Mech. {\bf 434}, 379, (2001)] derive, through two different
approaches that have the Navier-Stokes equations as the common starting point,
a set of steady-state dynamic equations for structure functions of arbitrary
order in hydrodynamic turbulence. These equations are not closed. Yakhot
proposed a "mean field theory" to close the equations for locally isotropic
turbulence, and obtained scaling exponents of structure functions and an
expression for the tails of the probability density function of transverse
velocity increments. At high Reynolds numbers, we present some relevant
experimental data on pressure and dissipation terms that are needed to provide
closure, as well as on aspects predicted by the theory. Comparison between the
theory and the data shows varying levels of agreement, and reveals gaps
inherent to the implementation of the theory.Comment: 16 pages, 23 figure
Whole exome sequencing combined with linkage analysis identifies a novel 3 bp deletion in NR5A1
Disorders of sex development (DSDs) encompass a broad spectrum of conditions affecting the development of the gonads and genitalia. The underlying causes for DSDs include gain or loss of function variants in genes responsible for gonad development or steroidogenesis. Most patients with DSD have an unknown genetic etiology and cannot be given an
Aging at Criticality in Model C Dynamics
We study the off-equilibrium two-point critical response and correlation
functions for the relaxational dynamics with a coupling to a conserved density
(Model C) of the O(N) vector model. They are determined in an \epsilon=4-d
expansion for vanishing momentum. We briefly discuss their scaling behaviors
and the associated scaling forms are determined up to first order in epsilon.
The corresponding fluctuation-dissipation ratio has a non trivial large time
limit in the aging regime and, up to one-loop order, it is the same as that of
the Model A for the physically relevant case N=1. The comparison with
predictions of local scale invariance is also discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur
B Cells and T Follicular Helper Cells Mediate Response to Checkpoint Inhibitors in High Mutation Burden Mouse Models of Breast Cancer
This study identifies mechanisms mediating responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors using mouse models of triple-negative breast cancer. By creating new mammary tumor models, we find that tumor mutation burden and specific immune cells are associated with response. Further, we developed a rich resource of single-cell RNA-seq and bulk mRNA-seq data of immunotherapy-treated and non-treated tumors from sensitive and resistant murine models. Using this, we uncover that immune checkpoint therapy induces T follicular helper cell activation of B cells to facilitate the anti-tumor response in these models. We also show that B cell activation of T cells and the generation of antibody are key to immunotherapy response and propose a new biomarker for immune checkpoint therapy. In total, this work presents resources of new preclinical models of breast cancer with large mRNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq datasets annotated for sensitivity to therapy and uncovers new components of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Challenges and Gaps in Clinical Trial Genomic Data Management
To address gaps in clinical trial data management, Alliance Standardized Translational Omics Resource (A-STOR) comprises single shared living repository for multiomics data and associated clinical data to facilitate rapid omics analyses and meta-analyses within and across studies
Optimisations and challenges involved in the creation of various bioluminescent and fluorescent influenza a virus strains for in vitro and in vivo applications
Bioluminescent and fluorescent influenza A viruses offer new opportunities to study influenza virus replication, tropism and pathogenesis. To date, several influenza A reporter viruses have been described. These strategies typically focused on a single reporter gene (either bioluminescent or fluorescent) in a single virus backbone. However, whilst bioluminescence is suited to in vivo imaging, fluorescent viruses are more appropriate for microscopy. Therefore, the idea l reporter virus varies depending on the experiment in question, and it is important that any reporter virus strategy can be adapted accordingly. Herein, a strategy was developed to create five different reporter viruses in a single virus backbone. Specifically, enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), far-red fluorescent protein (fRFP), near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP), Gaussia luciferase (gLUC) and firefly luciferase (fLUC) were inserted into the PA gene segment of A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). This study provides a comprehensive characterisation of the effects of different reporter genes on influenza virus replication and reporter activity. In vivo reporter gene expression, in lung tissues, was only detected for eGFP, fRFP and gLUC expressing viruses. In vitro, the eGFP-expressing virus displayed the best reporter stability and could be used for correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM). This strategy was then used to create eGFP-expressing viruses consisting entirely of pandemic H1N1, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and H7N9. The HPAI H5N1 eGFP-expressing virus infected mice and reporter gene expression was detected, in lung tissues, in vivo. Thus, this study provides new tools and insights for the creation of bioluminescent and fluorescent influenza A reporter viruses. Copyright
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