Sound transmission across a rectangular duct section with a thin micro-perforated wall backed by a sidebranch cavity

An experimental investigation was carried out in the present study for deeper understanding on the sound transmission across a rectangular duct section installed with a thin micro-perforated panel (as a duct wall) backed by a sidebranch cavity. The contributions of the panel configuration and the cavity depth on reducing sound transmission are examined in detail. Results indicate a complicated relationship between sound power transmission, micro-perforation configuration and backing cavity depth. For panels with strong sound absorption capacity, sound power transmission efficiency is reduced as the panels become less absorptive, but there exists a frequency or frequency band above which the opposite is observed. It appears that there is also a certain level of panel sound absorption below which the sound transmission is strengthened over the whole frequency range of present study when the panel becomes less absorptive to sound

AIP1 is a novel Agenet/Tudor domain protein from Arabidopsis that interacts with regulators of DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling

Background: DNA replication and transcription are dynamic processes regulating plant development that are dependent on the chromatin accessibility. Proteins belonging to the Agenet/Tudor domain family are known as histone modification "readers" and classified as chromatin remodeling proteins. Histone modifications and chromatin remodeling have profound effects on gene expression as well as on DNA replication, but how these processes are integrated has not been completely elucidated. It is clear that members of the Agenet/Tudor family are important regulators of development playing roles not well known in plants. Methods: Bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses of the Agenet/Tudor Family domain in the plant kingdom were carried out with sequences from available complete genomes databases. 3D structure predictions of Agenet/Tudor domains were calculated by I-TASSER server. Protein interactions were tested in two-hybrid, GST pulldown, semi-in vivo pulldown and Tandem Affinity Purification assays. Gene function was studied in a T-DNA insertion GABI-line. Results: In the present work we analyzed the family of Agenet/Tudor domain proteins in the plant kingdom and we mapped the organization of this family throughout plant evolution. Furthermore, we characterized a member from Arabidopsis thaliana named AIP1 that harbors Agenet/Tudor and DUF724 domains. AIP1 interacts with ABAP1, a plant regulator of DNA replication licensing and gene transcription, with a plant histone modification "reader" (LHP1) and with non modified histones. AIP1 is expressed in reproductive tissues and its down-regulation delays flower development timing. Also, expression of ABAP1 and LHP1 target genes were repressed in flower buds of plants with reduced levels of AIP1. Conclusions: AIP1 is a novel Agenet/Tudor domain protein in plants that could act as a link between DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling during flower development

How do people perceive carbon capture and storage for industrial processes?: Examining factors underlying public opinion in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

Carbon Capture and Storage at industrial processes (industrial CCS) is expected to play an important role in reducing industrial CO2 emissions in the short term. Industrial CCS involves capturing CO2 from industrial processes, such as steel and cement making, and storing the CO2 underground. This study examined the public opinion of industrial CCS through an informed opinion survey in the Netherlands (N = 987) and the United Kingdom (UK; N = 974). On average, respondents were neutral to slightly positive about the implementation of industrial CCS in their country. UK respondents were slightly more positive (M = 4.66 on a 7-point scale) than Dutch respondents (M = 4.38). Awareness and perceived knowledge levels were somewhat higher in the Netherlands than in the UK. In both countries, perceived outcomes of industrial CCS (e.g. for climate change; safety; employment) were strongly associated with industrial CCS opinion, when compared to socio-demographics, proximity to industry (actual and perceived), and psychological variables. Differences between countries in outcome perceptions occur. For example, the safety of CO2 transport is a larger concern in the Netherlands than in the UK, while cost-control is a larger concern in the UK than in the Netherlands. These findings suggest that the national context for CCS implementation matters. Our research suggests that public engagement strategies will benefit from focusing on the economic and climate impacts of industrial CCS, as well as from building trust in industry and addressing perceived safety concerns surrounding different aspects of industrial CCS.Social decision makin

Prenylated flavonoids as evolutionary indicators in the genus Dahlstedtia.

Abstract: Three chalcones, two beta-hydroxychalcones, four flavanones, six flavones, four flavonols, one rotenoid and one pterocarpan were isolated from the roots of Dahlstedtia pinnata and D. pentaphylla. With the exception of the pterocarpan, all the compounds exhibit prenylation in the A ring, a characteristic of flavonoids produced by species of the Tephrosieae. Of the 21 flavonoids identified, five (2 flavanones and 3 flavones) are new as naturally occurring compounds. A neat distinction in the biosynthetic capability of the two species, leading to the production of flavanones and flavonols in D. pentaphylla, but not in D. pinnata, is observed. In this latter species, biosynthesis is totally oriented toward dehydrogenation, producing flavones. By both criteria-higher oxidation state and suppression of enzyme systems-D. pinnata is the more advanced species

Risk of schizophrenia in relation to parental origin and genome-wide divergence

Background. Second-generation immigrants have an increased risk of schizophrenia, a finding that still lacks a satisfactory explanation. Various operational definitions of second-generation immigrants have been used, including foreign parental country of birth. However, with increasing global migration, it is not clear that parental country of birth necessarily is informative with regard to ethnicity. We compare two independently collected measures of parental foreign ethnicity, parental foreign country of birth versus genetic divergence, based on genome-wide genotypic data, to access which measure most efficiently captures the increased risk of schizophrenia among second-generation immigrants residing in Denmark. Method. A case-control study covering all children born in Denmark since 1981 included 892 cases of schizophrenia and 883 matched controls. Genetic divergence was assessed using principal component analyses of the genotypic data. Independently, parental foreign country of birth was assessed using information recorded prospectively in the Danish Civil Registration System. We compared incidence rate ratios of schizophrenia associated with these two independently collected measures of parental foreign ethnicity. Results. People with foreign-born parents had a significantly increased risk of schizophrenia [relative risk (RR) 1.94 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.41-2.65)]. Genetically divergent persons also had a significant increased risk [RR 2.43 ( 95% CI 1.55-3.82)]. Mutual adjustment of parental foreign country of birth and genetic divergence showed no difference between these measures with regard to their potential impact on the results. Conclusions. In terms of RR of schizophrenia, genetic divergence and parental foreign country of birth are interchangeable entities, and both entities have validity with regard to identifying second-generation immigrants

The Depression Network (DeNT) Study: methodology and sociodemographic characteristics of the first 470 affected sibling pairs from a large multi-site linkage genetic study

Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development