892 research outputs found
Driscoll\u27s: The Global BrandJe
With a mission “to continually delight berry consumers”, Driscoll’s is the arguably the world’s largest berry company. They started as strawberry breeders, expanded in raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, and have been leaders in packaging and marketing of berries. They do not grow berries for market, but develop the nursery stock, which they provide to their growers, and market the output. They also provide theirs growers with advice and guidance on issues ranging from sustainable growing practices to labor management
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The TGFβ type I receptor TGFβRI functions as an inhibitor of BMP signaling in cartilage.
The type I TGFβ receptor TGFβRI (encoded by Tgfbr1) was ablated in cartilage. The resulting Tgfbr1 Col2 mice exhibited lethal chondrodysplasia. Similar defects were not seen in mice lacking the type II TGFβ receptor or SMADs 2 and 3, the intracellular mediators of canonical TGFβ signaling. However, we detected elevated BMP activity in Tgfbr1 Col2 mice. As previous studies showed that TGFβRI can physically interact with ACVRL1, a type I BMP receptor, we generated cartilage-specific Acvrl1 (Acvrl1 Col2 ) and Acvrl1/Tgfbr1 (Acvrl1/Tgfbr1 Col2 ) knockouts. Loss of ACVRL1 alone had no effect, but Acvrl1/Tgfbr1 Col2 mice exhibited a striking reversal of the chondrodysplasia seen in Tgfbr1 Col2 mice. Loss of TGFβRI led to a redistribution of the type II receptor ACTRIIB into ACVRL1/ACTRIIB complexes, which have high affinity for BMP9. Although BMP9 is not produced in cartilage, we detected BMP9 in the growth plate, most likely derived from the circulation. These findings demonstrate that the major function of TGFβRI in cartilage is not to transduce TGFβ signaling, but rather to antagonize BMP signaling mediated by ACVRL1
Automatic discovery of photoisomerization mechanisms with nanosecond machine learning photodynamics simulations
Photochemical reactions are widely used by academic and industrial researchers to construct complex molecular architectures via mechanisms that often require harsh reaction conditions. Photodynamics simulations provide time-resolved snapshots of molecular excited-state structures required to understand and predict reactivities and chemoselectivities. Molecular excited-states are often nearly degenerate and require computationally intensive multiconfigurational quantum mechanical methods, especially at conical intersections. Non-adiabatic molecular dynamics require thousands of these computations per trajectory, which limits simulations to ∼1 picosecond for most organic photochemical reactions. Westermayr et al. recently introduced a neural-network-based method to accelerate the predictions of electronic properties and pushed the simulation limit to 1 ns for the model system, methylenimmonium cation (CHNH). We have adapted this methodology to develop the Python-based, Python Rapid Artificial Intelligence Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics (PyRAIMD) software for the cis–trans isomerization of trans-hexafluoro-2-butene and the 4π-electrocyclic ring-closing of a norbornyl hexacyclodiene. We performed a 10 ns simulation for trans-hexafluoro-2-butene in just 2 days. The same simulation would take approximately 58 years with traditional multiconfigurational photodynamics simulations. We generated training data by combining Wigner sampling, geometrical interpolations, and short-time quantum chemical trajectories to adaptively sample sparse data regions along reaction coordinates. The final data set of the cis–trans isomerization and the 4π-electrocyclic ring-closing model has 6207 and 6267 data points, respectively. The training errors in energy using feedforward neural networks achieved chemical accuracy (0.023–0.032 eV). The neural network photodynamics simulations of trans-hexafluoro-2-butene agree with the quantum chemical calculations showing the formation of the cis-product and reactive carbene intermediate. The neural network trajectories of the norbornyl cyclohexadiene corroborate the low-yielding syn-product, which was absent in the quantum chemical trajectories, and revealed subsequent thermal reactions in 1 ns
STP-H7-CASPR: A Transition from Mission Concept to Launch
The Configurable and Autonomous Sensor Processing Research (CASPR) project is a university-led experiment developed by student and faculty researchers at the NSF Center for Space, High-performance, and Resilient Computing (SHREC) at the University of Pittsburgh for the Space Test Program – Houston 7 (STP-H7) mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Autonomous sensor processing, the mission theme of the CASPR experiment, is enabled by combining novel sensor technologies with innovative computing techniques on resilient and high-performance flight hardware in a small satellite (SmallSat) form-factor. CASPR includes the iSIM-90, an innovative, high-resolution optical payload for Earth-observation missions developed by SATLANTIS MICROSATS SL. For the CASPR mission, the opto-mechanics of iSIM-90 will be mounted atop a gimbal-actuated platform for agile, low-GRD (ground-resolved distance), and multispectral Earth-observation imaging. This mission will also feature the Prophesee Sisley neuromorphic, event-driven sensor for space situational awareness applications. The CASPR avionics system consists of the following: three radiation-tolerant, reconfigurable space computers, including one flight-proven CSP and two next-gen SSPs; one μCSP Smart Module; one power card; and one backplane. CASPR also features a sub-experiment with an AMD GPU to evaluate new accelerator technologies for space. CASPR is a highly versatile experiment combining a variety of compute and sensor technologies to demonstrate on-orbit capabilities in onboard data analysis, mission operations, and spacecraft autonomy. As a research sandbox, CASPR enables new software and hardware to be remotely uploaded to further enhance mission capabilities. Finally, as a university-led mission, cost is a limiting constraint, leading to budget-driven design decisions and the use of affordable methods and procedures. Other factors, such as a power budget and limited equipment, facilities, and engineering resources, pose additional challenges to the CASPR mission. To address these challenges, we describe cost-effective procedures and methods used in the assembly, integration, and testing of the CASPR experiment
CXCL10/CXCR3-mediated responses promote immunity to respiratory syncytial virus infection by augmenting dendritic cell and CD8 + T cell efficacy
The induction of inflammatory cytokines during respiratory viral infections contributes to both disease pathogenesis and resolution. The present studies investigated the role of the chemokine CXCL10 and its specific receptor, CXCR3, in the host response to pulmonary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Antibody-mediated neutralization of CXCL10 resulted in a significant increase in disease pathogenesis, including airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), mucus gene expression, and impaired viral clearance. When the pulmonary cytokine levels were examined, only type I IFN and IL-12p70 were significantly reduced. These latter observations were reflected in reduced dendritic cell (DC) numbers and DC maturation in the lungs of RSV-infected mice treated with anti-CXCL10. Neutralization of the only known receptor for CXCL10, CXCR3, resulted in similar increases in pathogenic responses. When bone marrow-derived DC were incubated with CXCL10 and RSV, an up-regulation of type I IFN was observed. In addition, T lymphocytes were also examined and a significant decrease in the number of RSV M2 peptide-specific CD8 + T cells was identified. These findings highlight a previously unappreciated role for the CXCL10:CXCR3 signaling axis in RSV-infected animals by recruiting virus-specific T cells into the lung and promoting viral clearance.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/60446/1/2168_ftp.pd
Light Sterile Neutrinos: A White Paper
This white paper addresses the hypothesis of light sterile neutrinos based on
recent anomalies observed in neutrino experiments and the latest astrophysical
data
Exoplanet Science Priorities from the Perspective of Internal and Surface Processes for Silicate and Ice Dominated Worlds
The geophysics of extrasolar planets is a scientific topic often regarded as
standing largely beyond the reach of near-term observations. This reality in no
way diminishes the central role of geophysical phenomena in shaping planetary
outcomes, from formation, to thermal and chemical evolution, to numerous issues
of surface and near-surface habitability. We emphasize that for a balanced
understanding of extrasolar planets, it is important to look beyond the natural
biases of current observing tools, and actively seek unique pathways to
understand exoplanet interiors as best as possible during the long interim
prior to a time when internal components are more directly accessible. Such
pathways include but are not limited to: (a) enhanced theoretical and numerical
modeling, (b) laboratory research on critical material properties, (c)
measurement of geophysical properties by indirect inference from imprints left
on atmospheric and orbital properties, and (d) the purpose-driven use of Solar
System object exploration expressly for its value in comparative planetology
toward exoplanet-analogs. Breaking down barriers that envision local Solar
System exploration, including the study of Earth's own deep interior, as
separate from and in financial competition with extrasolar planet research, may
greatly improve the rate of needed scientific progress for exoplanet
geophysics. As the number of known rocky and icy exoplanets grows in the years
ahead, we expect demand for expertise in 'exogeoscience' will expand at a
commensurately intense pace. We highlight key topics, including: how water
oceans below ice shells may dominate the total habitability of our galaxy by
volume, how free-floating nomad planets may often attain habitable subsurface
oceans supported by radionuclide decay, and how deep interiors may critically
interact with atmospheric mass loss via dynamo-driven magnetic fields
Highly Volcanic Exoplanets, Lava Worlds, and Magma Ocean Worlds:An Emerging Class of Dynamic Exoplanets of Significant Scientific Priority
Highly volcanic exoplanets, which can be variously characterized as 'lava
worlds', 'magma ocean worlds', or 'super-Ios' are high priority targets for
investigation. The term 'lava world' may refer to any planet with extensive
surface lava lakes, while the term 'magma ocean world' refers to planets with
global or hemispherical magma oceans at their surface. 'Highly volcanic
planets', including super-Ios, may simply have large, or large numbers of,
active explosive or extrusive volcanoes of any form. They are plausibly highly
diverse, with magmatic processes across a wide range of compositions,
temperatures, activity rates, volcanic eruption styles, and background
gravitational force magnitudes. Worlds in all these classes are likely to be
the most characterizable rocky exoplanets in the near future due to
observational advantages that stem from their preferential occurrence in short
orbital periods and their bright day-side flux in the infrared. Transit
techniques should enable a level of characterization of these worlds analogous
to hot Jupiters. Understanding processes on highly volcanic worlds is critical
to interpret imminent observations. The physical states of these worlds are
likely to inform not just geodynamic processes, but also planet formation, and
phenomena crucial to habitability. Volcanic and magmatic activity uniquely
allows chemical investigation of otherwise spectroscopically inaccessible
interior compositions. These worlds will be vital to assess the degree to which
planetary interior element abundances compare to their stellar hosts, and may
also offer pathways to study both the very young Earth, and the very early form
of many silicate planets where magma oceans and surface lava lakes are expected
to be more prevalent. We suggest that highly volcanic worlds may become second
only to habitable worlds in terms of both scientific and public long-term
interest.Comment: A white paper submitted in response to the National Academy of
Sciences 2018 Exoplanet Science Strategy solicitation, from the NASA Sellers
Exoplanet Environments Collaboration (SEEC) of the Goddard Space Flight
Center. 6 pages, 0 figure
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