A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems

Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits

The Path of Carbon in Photosynthesis. XX. The Steady State

The separation of the phenomenon of photosynthesis in green plants into a photochemical reaction and into the light-dependent reduction of carbon dioxide is discussed, The reduction of carbon dioxide and the fate of the assimilated carbon were investigated with the help of the tracer technique (exposure of the planks to the radioactive C{sup 14}O{sub 2}) and of paper chromatography. A reaction cycle is proposed in which phosphoglyceric acid is the first isolable assimilations product. Analyses of the algal extracts which had assimilated radioactive carbon dioxide in a stationary condition ('steady-state' photosynthesis) for a long time provided further information concerning the proposed cycle and permitted the approximate estimation, for a number of compounds of what fraction of each compound was taking part in the cycle. The earlier supposition that light influences the respiration cycle was confirmed. The possibility of the assistance of {alpha}-lipoic acid, or of a related substance, in this influence and in the photosynthesis cycle, is discussed

Antley‐Bixler syndrome in sisters: A term newborn and a prenatally diagnosed fetus

Sisters with the Antley‐Bixler syndrome are reported herein. The first infant died at 14 days of respiratory failure and the following findings characteristic of the syndrome: craniosynostosis of coronal and lambdoid sutures, brachycephaly, frontal bossing, severe midface hypoplasia with proptosis and choanal stenosis/atresia, humero‐radial synostosis, medial bowing of ulnae, long slender fingers with camptodactyly, narrow iliac wings, anterior bowing of femora, cardiac and renal malformations. Unlike two previously published cases, she did not have connatal fractures, but she had vaginal atresia. Ultrasound examination in a subsequent pregnancy showed immobility at the elbows of the fetus, humero‐radial synostosis, medial bowing of ulnae, and long hands and fingers. The fetus also had mild bowing of femora. The pregnancy was terminated in the 21st week and the findings were confirmed by clinical and radiologic examinations. Additional autopsy findings included cardiac and renal malformations. The Antley‐Bixler syndrome is a recognizable malformation syndrome with a probable autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, which can be diagnosed in the fetus by midtrimester ultrasound examination

RobExtremes: Optimally Robust Estimation for Extreme Value Distributions

Optimally robust estimation for extreme value distributions using S4 classes and method

RobAStRDA: Interpolation Grids for Packages of the 'RobASt' - Family of Packages

Includes 'sysdata.rda' file for packages of the 'RobASt' - family of packages; is currently used by package 'RobExtremes' only

Sapientia, 1999, Vol. LIV, nº 206 (número completo)

Contenido: Do aristotelian substances exist? / Ralph McInerny – Santo Tomás de Aquino, la gnoseología y el tomismo contemporáneo / Santiago Gelonch Villarino; Santiago Argüello – Consideraciones ontológicas sobre la ley natural en Tomás de Aquino / Sergio Raúl Castaño – A note on Cajetan’s theological semantics: in response to Timothy L. Smith’s criticisms on Cajetan / Joshua P. Hochschild – La cuestión del comienzo de la filosofía moderna. La posición cartesiana a la luz del pensamiento logotectónico / Martín Zubiría – Newman an science / Peter E. Hodgson – La alteridad en la filosofía de Joseph de Finance / Juan Carlos Pablo Ballesteros – Verdad, libertad y el paradigma ético contemporáneo. Consideraciones a partir de un texto de Joseph Ratzinger / Carlos Ignacio Massini Correas – Philosophie et religión en christianisme / Yves Floucat – Consideraciones sobre las perspectivas actuales del morir humano / Héctor Jorge Padrón – Thinking of creation / Angelo Campodonico – La “esencia” del conocimiento desde la experiencia semántica / Lorenzo Vicente Burgoa – Göttliche paradoxa / Heribert Boeder – La impugnación de la metafísica mediante el recurso al conocimiento apofático de Dios / Mario Enrique Sacchi – Notas y comentarios -- Bibliografí

Variants in EXOSC9 Disrupt the RNA Exosome and Result in Cerebellar Atrophy with Spinal Motor Neuronopathy.

The exosome is a conserved multi-protein complex that is essential for correct RNA processing. Recessive variants in exosome components EXOSC3, EXOSC8, and RBM7 cause various constellations of pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and central nervous system demyelination. Here, we report on four unrelated affected individuals with recessive variants in EXOSC9 and the effect of the variants on the function of the RNA exosome in vitro in affected individuals' fibroblasts and skeletal muscle and in vivo in zebrafish. The clinical presentation was severe, early-onset, progressive SMA-like motor neuronopathy, cerebellar atrophy, and in one affected individual, congenital fractures of the long bones. Three affected individuals of different ethnicity carried the homozygous c.41T>C (p.Leu14Pro) variant, whereas one affected individual was compound heterozygous for c.41T>C (p.Leu14Pro) and c.481C>T (p.Arg161∗). We detected reduced EXOSC9 in fibroblasts and skeletal muscle and observed a reduction of the whole multi-subunit exosome complex on blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RNA sequencing of fibroblasts and skeletal muscle detected significant >2-fold changes in genes involved in neuronal development and cerebellar and motor neuron degeneration, demonstrating the widespread effect of the variants. Morpholino oligonucleotide knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of exosc9 in zebrafish recapitulated aspects of the human phenotype, as they have in other zebrafish models of exosomal disease. Specifically, portions of the cerebellum and hindbrain were absent, and motor neurons failed to develop and migrate properly. In summary, we show that variants in EXOSC9 result in a neurological syndrome combining cerebellar atrophy and spinal motoneuronopathy, thus expanding the list of human exosomopathies