Effect of simulating parity-odd observables in high energy heavy ion collisions on Balance Functions of charged particles and elliptic flow of pions

At the early stage of heavy ion collisions, non-trivial topologies of the gauge fields can be created resulting in an imbalance of axial charge density and eventually separation of electric charges along the direction of the magnetic field produced in such collisions. This process is called the chiral magnetic effect (CME). In this work we implement such a charge separation at the partonic level in AMPT for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV to study its consequence on experimental observables. We present the effects on the pion elliptic flow ($v_2$) and the charged particle balance function (BF) for varying strengths of initial charge separation. We find that the shape of the balance function is sensitive to the increasing charge separation. $v_2$ of pion shows a strong decreasing trend at higher transverse momenta ($p_T$) with increasing charge separation. Charge balance functions show a peak at $\Delta\phi \sim 180$ with charge separation implemented in the partonic level as expected for the parity violation. We have also calculated parity observable $\gamma$ in the form of BF's moments. $\gamma$ shows a decreasing trend with charge separation. It has a negative value for charge separation produced by flipping more than 30 $\%$ of quarks in the parton level. We also notice that $<\gamma>$ for the same charge correlation and the opposite charge correlation shows negative and positive values, respectively

Using brain cell-type-specific protein interactomes to interpret neurodevelopmental genetic signals in schizophrenia

Genetics have nominated many schizophrenia risk genes and identified convergent signals between schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, functional interpretation of the nominated genes in the relevant brain cell types is often lacking. We executed interaction proteomics for six schizophrenia risk genes that have also been implicated in neurodevelopment in human induced cortical neurons. The resulting protein network is enriched for common variant risk of schizophrenia in Europeans and East Asians, is down-regulated in layer 5/6 cortical neurons of individuals affected by schizophrenia, and can complement fine-mapping and eQTL data to prioritize additional genes in GWAS loci. A sub-network centered on HCN1 is enriched for common variant risk and contains proteins (HCN4 and AKAP11) enriched for rare protein-truncating mutations in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Our findings showcase brain cell-type-specific interactomes as an organizing framework to facilitate interpretation of genetic and transcriptomic data in schizophrenia and its related disorders.</p

Single-cell transcriptomics of the mouse TRN

Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2017Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 44-49).The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is strategically located at the interface between the cortex and the thalamus, and plays a key role in regulating thalamo-cortical interactions. Current understanding of TRN neurobiology has been limited due to the lack of a comprehensive survey of TRN heterogeneity. In this thesis, I developed an integrative computational framework to analyze the single-nucleus RNA sequencing data of mouse TRN in a data-driven manner. By combining transcriptomic, genetic, and functional proteomic data, I discovered novel insights into the molecular mechanisms through which TRN regulates sensory gating, and suggested targeted follow-up experiments to validate these findings.by Taibo Li.M. Eng.M.Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Scienc

Batch-based traceability for pork: A mobile solution with 2D barcode technology

As an animal-derived food, pork provides Chinese consumers with important nutritional value. The frequent safety incidents related to pork-made food have led the government and public advocate that a traceability system is as an effective means of controlling food quality and safety. This paper thus introduces a mobile pork quality and safety tracing system based on 2D (two-dimensional) barcode (also known as QR code) technology. First, literature search and field observations are used to evaluate the business processes in pork supply chain and key traceability information in the system. Then, a mobile solution based on 2D barcode technology for information collection, transformation, and delivery is designed. Finally, a pilot implementation in Jilin Province’s Meat and Meat Products Safety Traceability and Regulatory Digitization Project is reported. The traceability system was integrated with the government supervision system to achieve the supervision and traceability of pork from source to table. Implementation results reveal that the system can realize batch-based traceability of pork, which greatly decreases traceability system cost. Additionally, the information verification mechanism between upstream and downstream players, as well as the full participation of consumers, enterprises, and the government, significantly improve the credibility of the traced information

Multiple sink location problem in path networks with a combinational objective

© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. In this paper, we consider the k-sink location problem in a path network with the goal of optimizing a combinational function of the maximum completion time and the total completion time. Let P= (V, E) be an undirected path network with n vertices. Each vertex has a positive weight, indicating the initial amount of supplies, and each edge has a positive length and a uniform capacity, which is the maximum amount of supplies that can enter the edge per unit time. Our goal is to identify k sink locations on the path P so that all supplies will be successfully evacuated and the given objective function is optimized. This paper presents two efficient polynomial time algorithms, which achieve O(n) for k= 1 and O(n6) for general k, respectively

Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 7B (RopGEF7B) is involved in floral organ development in Oryza sativa

Abstract Background RAC/ROP GTPase are versatile signaling molecules controlling diverse biological processes including cell polarity establishment, cell growth, morphogenesis, hormone responses and many other cellular processes in plants. The activities of ROPs are positively regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Evidence suggests that RopGEFs regulate polar auxin transport and polar growth in pollen tube in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the biological functions of rice RopGEFs during plant development remain largely unknown. Results We investigated a member of the OsRopGEF family, namely OsRopGEF7B. OsRopGEF7B pro :GUS analysis indicates that OsRopGEF7B is expressed in various tissues, especially in the floral meristem and floral organ primordia. Knock-out and -down of OsRopGEF7B by T-DNA insertion and RNA interference, respectively, predominantly caused an increase in the number of floral organs in the inner whorls (stamen and ovary), as well as abnormal paleae/lemmas and ectopic growth of lodicules, resulting in decline of rice seed setting. Bimolecular fluorescence complement (BiFC) assays as well as yeast two-hybrid assays indicate that OsRopGEF7B interacts with OsRACs. Conclusions OsRopGEF7B plays roles in floral organ development in rice, affecting rice seed setting rate. Manipulation of OsRopGEF7B has potential for application in genetically modified crops

Study on Resourceful Treatment and Carbon Reduction Intensity of Metro Shield Slag: An Example of a Tunnel Interval of Shenzhen Line 13

At present, the scale of subway construction in Chinese cities has reached a new height, and the shield slag produced by it has also surged year by year. Untreated subway shield slag not only occupies the space resources of the country, but also carries CO2, which causes negative impacts on the environment and which, as a result, is not conducive to the realization of the goal of the national “double-carbon” strategy. Therefore, how to effectively manage the shield slag produced by subway construction has become a scientific problem that needs to be solved urgently. In order to scientifically dispose of metro shield slag and quantify the carbon reduction intensity of its disposal, based on the new shield slag integrated recycling technology, and taking a tunnel interval of Shenzhen Line 13 as an example, this study systematically sorted out the shield slag disposal process, clarified the management path of the on-site resource utilization of slag, and quantitatively compared the carbon emissions before and after the treatment as well as carbon reduction intensity. The results show that the on-site disposal process is basically feasible, and that, it is possible to achieve a shield structure slag reduction of resource products and mud cake water content of less than 40% of the target, in the case of 160,000 m3 of shield structure slag resource utilization after a total carbon reduction of about 4240.13 t CO2, of which each preparation of 1 m3 of recycled bricks can bring about a benefit of carbon reduction of 240.09 kg CO2. Compared with the conventional mud head truck slag disposal, shield structure slag resource utilization can save a utilization cost of about 10.4 million yuan, meaning that, in terms of economic and social levels, this method can achieve good benefits. This case verifies the feasibility of the new technology, and the results of the study can provide experience for other metro projects’ shield slag resource utilization, and provide stakeholders with a shield slag recycling management strategy for government departments to scientifically formulate metro shield slag management policy to provide data support

Colonic epithelial adaptation to EGFR-independent growth induces chromosomal instability and is accelerated by prior injury

10.1016/j.neo.2021.03.010Neoplasia (United States)235488-50

Epidemiology of patient monitoring alarms in the neonatal intensive care unit

Objective: To characterize the rate of monitoring alarms by alarm priority, signal type, and developmental age in a Level-IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) population. Study design: Retrospective analysis of 2,294,687 alarm messages from Philips monitors in a convenience sample of 917 NICU patients, covering 12,001 patient-days. We stratified alarm rates by alarm priority, signal type, postmenstrual age (PMA) and birth weight (BW), and reviewed and adjudicated over 21,000 critical alarms. Results: Of all alarms, 3.6% were critical alarms, 55.0% were advisory alarms, and 41.4% were device alerts. Over 60% of alarms related to oxygenation monitoring. The average alarm rate (±SEM) was 177.1 ± 4.9 [median: 135.9; IQR: 89.2–213.3] alarms/patient-day; the medians varied significantly with PMA and BW (p < 0.001) in U-shaped patterns, with higher rates at lower and higher PMA and BW. Based on waveform reviews, over 99% of critical arrhythmia alarms were deemed technically false. Conclusions: The alarm burden in this NICU population is very significant; the average alarm rate significantly underrepresents alarm rates at low and high PMA and BW. Virtually all critical arrhythmia alarms were artifactual.Nihon Kohden CorporationNihon Kohden Innovation CenterMassachusetts Institute of Technology (Peter J. Eloranta Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Wertheimer Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scholar Fund