First report of Laternula elliptica in the Antarctic intertidal zone

Many Antarctic marine invertebrates are considered to be highly stenothermal, subjected to loss of functionality at increased temperatures and so at high risk of mortality in a rapidly warming environment. The bivalve Laternula elliptica is often used as a model taxon to test these theories. Here, we report the first instance L. elliptica from an intertidal site. Genetic analysis of the tissue confirms the species identity. A total of seven animals ranging in length from 6 to 85 mm were collected from 3 × 0.25 m2 quadrats of intertidal sediments at St Martha Cove on James Ross Island, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula. Ambient temperatures of 7.5 °C within the sediment and 10 °C (air) were recorded. This raises questions as to the current perception that “many Antarctic marine invertebrates cannot adapt to higher temperatures”

Beyond Unprecedented S3 Ep4: Inflation: Not Dead Yet

Over the past 24 months, inflation has soared in the United States, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Huw Pill, Chief Economist and Executive Director for Monetary Analysis and research for the Bank of England, discusses the factors driving high inflation and efforts to curb rising prices. (This episode was recorded on April 18, 2023.)https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/beyond_unprecedented_3/1004/thumbnail.jp

Initial Conditions for Bubble Universes

The "bubble universes" of Coleman and De Luccia play a crucial role in string cosmology. Since our own Universe is supposed to be of this kind, bubble cosmology should supply definite answers to the long-standing questions regarding cosmological initial conditions. In particular, it must explain how an initial singularity is avoided, and also how the initial conditions for Inflation were established. We argue that the simplest non-anthropic approach to these problems involves a requirement that the spatial sections defined by distinguished bubble observers should not be allowed to have arbitrarily small volumes. Casimir energy is a popular candidate for a quantum effect which can ensure this, but [because it violates energy conditions] there is a danger that it could lead to non-perturbative instabilities in string theory. We make a simple proposal for the initial conditions of a bubble universe, and show that our proposal ensures that the system is non-perturbatively stable. Thus, low-entropy conditions can be established at the beginning of a bubble universe without violating the Second Law of thermodynamics and without leading to instability in string theory. These conditions are inherited from the ambient spacetime.Comment: Further clarifications; 28 pages including three eps files. This is the final [accepted for publication] versio

Total synthesis of the post-translationally modified polyazole peptide antibiotic plantazolicin A

The power of rhodium carbene methodology in chemistry is demonstrated by the synthesis of a structurally complex polyazole antibiotic. Plantazolicin A, a novel soil bacterium metabolite, comprises a linear array of 10 five-membered rings in two pentacyclic regions that derive from ribosomal peptide synthesis followed by extensive post-translational modification. The compound possesses potent antimicrobial activity, and is selectively active against the anthrax causing organism. A conceptually different synthesis of plantazolicin A is reported in which the key steps are the use of rhodium(II)-catalyzed reactions of diazocarbonyl compounds to generate up to six of the seven oxazole rings of the antibiotic. NMR Spectroscopic studies and molecular modeling, reveal a likely dynamic hairpin conformation with a hinge region around the two isoleucine residues.The compound has modest activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research

It was thought that the Southern Ocean was relatively free of microplastic contamination; however, recent studies and citizen science projects in the Southern Ocean have reported microplastics in deep-sea sediments and surface waters. Here we reviewed available information on microplastics (including macroplastics as a source of microplastics) in the Southern Ocean. We estimated primary microplastic concentrations from personal care products and laundry, and identified potential sources and routes of transmission into the region. Estimates showed the levels of microplastic pollution released into the region from ships and scientific research stations were likely to be negligible at the scale of the Southern Ocean, but may be significant on a local scale. This was demonstrated by the detection of the first microplastics in shallow benthic sediments close to a number of research stations on King George Island. Furthermore, our predictions of primary microplastic concentrations from local sources were five orders of magnitude lower than levels reported in published sampling surveys (assuming an even dispersal at the ocean surface). Sea surface transfer from lower latitudes may contribute, at an as yet unknown level, to Southern Ocean plastic concentrations. Acknowledging the lack of data describing microplastic origins, concentrations, distribution and impacts in the Southern Ocean, we highlight the urgent need for research, and call for routine, standardised monitoring in the Antarctic marine system

Forensic Analysis of the Nintendo 3DS NAND

Games consoles present a particular challenge to the forensics investigator due to the nature of the hardware and the inaccessibility of the file system. Many protection measures are put in place to make it deliberately difficult to access raw data in order to protect intellectual property, enhance digital rights management of software and, ultimately, to protect against piracy. History has shown that many such protections on game consoles are circumvented with exploits leading to jailbreaking/rooting and allowing unauthorized software to be launched on the games system. This paper details methods that enable the investigator to extract system activity, deleted images, Internet history items, relevant friends list information, the console\u27s serial number and plaintext WiFi access point passwords. This is all possible with the use of publicly available, open-source security circumvention techniques that perform a non-invasive physical dump of the internal NAND storage of the Nintendo 3DS handheld device. It will also be shown that forensic integrity is maintained and a detailed analysis is possible without altering original evidence

Dynacov: recharging Electric Vehicles while in motion:A collaboration between Coventry University and Coventry City Council

Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) revolutionises Electric Vehicles EVs by enabling on-the-go recharging through electromagnetic induction between a primary coil beneath the road and a secondary coil in the vehicle. Addressing EV limitations like range and recharging time, DWPT could drive EV adoption, especially among high-mileage vehicles, crucial for carbon emission reduction. The Dynacov project, led by Coventry City Council and funded by Western Power Distribution, aimed to develop DWPT and create an ecosystem for secure, automated wireless charging based on ISO 15118 standards . Targeting buses, heavy goods transport, and strategic road networks, this initiative involves Coventry University and Cenex in Systems Modelling activities to assess deployment areas and electrical grid impacts. Kenilworth Road in Coventry was chosen for DWPT feasibility assessment due to its varied traffic conditions and feasibility for infrastructure installation. Surveys confirmed viability and grid capacity to handle peak power demands. The initial project, constrained by the grid’s capability at 150kW, aimed to simultaneously charge two vehicles. This technology could transform transportation and sustainability, but the next steps involve accurately estimating project costs for technology procurement, installation, grid connection, and project management. DWPT, showcased in Dynacov, holds the potential to reshape EV charging dynamics.

Large screen approaches to identify novel malaria vaccine candidates

Until recently, malaria vaccine development efforts have focused almost exclusively on a handful of well characterized Plasmodium falciparum antigens. Despite dedicated work by many researchers on different continents spanning more than half a century, a successful malaria vaccine remains elusive. Sequencing of the P. falciparum genome has revealed more than five thousand genes, providing the foundation for systematic approaches to discover candidate vaccine antigens. We are taking advantage of this wealth of information to discover new antigens that may be more effective vaccine targets. Herein, we describe different approaches to large-scale screening of the P. falciparum genome to identify targets of either antibody responses or T cell responses using human specimens collected in Controlled Human Malaria Infections (CHMI) or under conditions of natural exposure in the field. These genome, proteome and transcriptome based approaches offer enormous potential for the development of an efficacious malaria vaccine