Novel mid-infrared dispersive wave generation in gas-filled PCF by transient ionization-driven changes in dispersion

Gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibre (PCF) is being used to generate ever wider supercontinuum spectra, in particular via dispersive wave (DW) emission in the deep and vacuum ultraviolet, with a multitude of applications. DWs are the result of the resonant transfer of energy from a self-compressed soliton, a process which relies crucially on phase matching. It was recently predicted that, in the strong-field regime, the additional transient anomalous dispersion introduced by gas ionization would allow phase-matched DW generation in the mid-infrared (MIR)-something that is forbidden in the absence of free electrons. Here we report for the first time the experimental observation of such MIR DWs, embedded in a 4.7-octave-wide supercontinuum that uniquely reaches simultaneously to the vacuum ultraviolet, with up to 1.7 W of total average power

Analysing bacterial communities from microbial mats and sediments located in the Atacama desert

The Atacama Desert has more than 100 basins with interior drainage and most of them contain salt flats. These ecosystemshave extreme environmental conditions that allow the development of unique microbial communities. The objetctive of this wasto study the bacterial diversity using independent culture tools of microbial mats and sediments from salt flats in the AtacamaDesert. Some physicochemical conditions of the water surrounding these samples were analysed to discover if anyphysicochemical characteristic could be influencing in its taxonomic composition. Five samples were collected, three of themwere microbial mats and two were sediments. The mat samples were taken from Laguna Llamara (samples named LL1 andLL2) and Laguna Cejar (Cej). Sediments were taken from Laguna Jachucoposa (Cop) and Laguna Pujsa (Puj) where microbialmats are not present. Total metagenomic DNA extraction was performed on each sample and the V4 hypervariable region of thebacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified by pyrosequencing using the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP)-suggested universalprimers. Diversity of the microbial community was assessed using the QIIME software package. Lakes that harbor microbialmats have a higher salinity and a lower dissolved oxygen concentration and proportion of organic matter and total phosphorousthan lakes where mats are absent. All the samples have important concentrations of arsenic, with an extremely high amount inPuj. Proteobacteria and/or Bacteroidetes are the major phyla represented in all samples. Also, other phyla as Spirochaetes,Chloroflexi or Verrucomicrobia are found. However, cyanobacterial sequences are only observed in LL2 and Puj. On the otherhand, we have found a higher diversity in sediment than in mat samples. The sediments samples contain phyla not observed inmat samples. 16S rRNA gene sequences classified within Actinobacteria and Gracilibacteria are only found in Puj and related toTenericutes, Gemmatimonadetes and Acidobacteria are only observed in Cop. Finally, an important fraction of the sequencescould not be classified at phylum level. The high diversity found in sediment samples may be explained by the physicochemicalconditions in the environment. For example, they have a lower conductivity than mat samples. It is known hypersalineenvironments have a low diversity, where halophilic microorganisms are able to survive to these extreme conditions becausethey have specific strategies to balance the osmotic pressure. Besides, we found a low proportion or absence of Cyanobacteriain the ecosystems studied, suggesting the possibility that other groups may be playing an essential role as primary producers inthese extreme environments. Additionally, the large proportion of 16S rRNA gene sequences that could not be affiliated to anyknown bacterial phyla suggesting that in these ecosystems there are potential novel representatives of bacterial phyla not yetdescribed.Fil: Fernández, Ana Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Rasuk, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Kurth, Daniel German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Novoa, F.. No especifíca;Fil: Poire, D.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Farias, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaXI Congreso Argentino de Microbiología GeneralCórdobaArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Microbiología Genera

Distance Approximation for Dynamic Waste Collection Planning

Approximating the solution value of transportation problems has become more relevant in recent years, as these approximations can help to decrease the computational eort required for solving those routing problems. In this paper, we apply several regression methods to predict the total distance of the traveling salesman problem (TSP) and vehicle routing problem (VRP). We show that distance can be estimated fairly accurately using simple regression models and only a limited number of features. We use features found in scientific literature and introduce a new class of geographical features. The model is validated on a dynamic waste collection case in the city of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We introduce a cost function that combines the travel distance and service level, and show that our model can reduce distances up to 17%, while maintaining the same service level, compared to a well-known heuristic approximation. Furthermore, we show the benefits of using approximations for combining oine learning with online or frequent optimization

Randomized cluster trial of a parenting program in Chile: Key mediators in the decrease in behavior problems in preschool children

Background: Parenting training is a proven strategy for the promotion of positive parenting practices and for the prevention and treatment of behavior problems in children. The processes that explain this efficacy are less clear. The aim of this study was to assess the mediating role of parenting practice modification, encouraged through the implementation of a universal parenting training program, for the decrease of behavior problems in 3- to 6-year-old children. Method: A cluster randomized trial was carried out in 19 educational centers in low and middle socioeconomic areas. A total of 178 families received the program and 154 of them were the control group. The following parenting practices were assessed: positive reinforcement, involvement, inconsistency, unsuitable treatment behaviors and physical punishment, as well as hostility and humiliation behaviors. Parent–child interaction was also assessed using an observational instrument. A multiple mediation analysis was carried out, identifying the indirect effects. Results: Reduction of harsh discipline and physical punishment, and parental inconsistency mediated the effects observed in the reduction of child behavior problems during the program. Conclusion: Within Chilean families, harsh discipline, physical punishment, and parental inconsistency are important aspects to be considered in the implementation of universal parenting training programs

Digitalized manufacturing logistics in engineer-to-order operations

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Advances in Production Management Systems. Production Management for the Factory of the Future. APMS 2019. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 566. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30000-5_71. The high complexity in Engineer-To-Order (ETO) operations causes major challenges for manufacturing logistics, especially in complex ETO, i.e. one-of-a-kind production. Increased digitalization of manufacturing logistics processes and activities can facilitate more efficient coordination of the material and information flows for manufacturing operations in general. However, it is not clear how to do this in the ETO environment, where products are highly customized and production is non-repetitive. This paper aims to investigate the challenges related to manufacturing logistics in ETO and how digital technologies can be applied to address them. Through a case study of a Norwegian shipyard, four main challenges related to manufacturing logistics are identified. Further, by reviewing recent literature on ETO and digitalization, the paper identifies specific applications of digital technologies in ETO manufacturing. Finally, by linking manufacturing logistics challenges to digitalization, the paper suggests four main features of digitalized manufacturing logistics in ETO: (i) seamless, digitalized information flow, (ii) identification and interconnectivity, (iii) digitalized operator support, and (iv) automated and autonomous material flow. Thus, the paper provides valuable insights into how ETO companies can move towards digitalized manufacturing logistics

Electron affinities of the first- and second- row atoms: benchmark ab initio and density functional calculations

A benchmark ab initio and density functional (DFT) study has been carried out on the electron affinities of the first- and second-row atoms. The ab initio study involves basis sets of $spdfgh$ and $spdfghi$ quality, extrapolations to the 1-particle basis set limit, and a combination of the CCSD(T), CCSDT, and full CI electron correlation methods. Scalar relativistic and spin-orbit coupling effects were taken into account. On average, the best ab initio results agree to better than 0.001 eV with the most recent experimental results. Correcting for imperfections in the CCSD(T) method improves the mean absolute error by an order of magnitude, while for accurate results on the second-row atoms inclusion of relativistic corrections is essential. The latter are significantly overestimated at the SCF level; for accurate spin-orbit splitting constants of second-row atoms inclusion of (2s,2p) correlation is essential. In the DFT calculations it is found that results for the 1st-row atoms are very sensitive to the exchange functional, while those for second-row atoms are rather more sensitive to the correlation functional. While the LYP correlation functional works best for first-row atoms, its PW91 counterpart appears to be preferable for second-row atoms. Among ``pure DFT'' (nonhybrid) functionals, G96PW91 (Gill 1996 exchange combined with Perdew-Wang 1991 correlation) puts in the best overall performance. The best results overall are obtained with the 1-parameter hybrid modified Perdew-Wang (mPW1) exchange functionals of Adamo and Barone [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 108}, 664 (1998)], with mPW1LYP yielding the best results for first-row, and mPW1PW91 for second-row atoms. Indications exist that a hybrid of the type $a$ mPW1LYP + $(1-a)$ mPW1PW91 yields better results than either of the constituent functionals.Comment: Phys. Rev. A, in press (revised version, review of issues concerning DFT and electron affinities added

Does public awareness increase support for invasive species management?:Promising evidence across taxa and landscape types

Management of invasive species often raises substantial conflicts of interest. Since such conflicts can hamper proposed management actions, managers, decision makers and researchers increasingly recognize the need to consider the social dimensions of invasive species management. In this exploratory study, we aimed (1) to explore whether species’ taxonomic position (i.e. animals vs. plants) and type of invaded landscape (i.e. urban vs. nonurban) might influence public perception about the management of invasive species, and (2) to assess the potential of public awareness to increase public support for invasive species management. We reviewed the scientific literature on the conflicts of interest around the management of alien species and administered two-phased questionnaires (before and after providing information on the target species and its management) to members of the public in South Africa and the UK (n = 240). Our review suggests that lack of public support for the management of invasive animals in both urban and non-urban areas derives mainly from moralistic value disagreements, while the management of invasive plants in non-urban areas mostly causes conflicts based on utilitarian value disagreements. Despite these general trends, conflicts are context dependent and can originate from a wide variety of different views. Notably, informing the public about the invasive status and negative impacts of the species targeted for management appeared to increase public support for the management actions. Therefore, our results align with the view that increased public awareness might increase the public support for the management of invasive species, independent of taxonomic position and type of landscape

Colouration in amphibians as a reflection of nutritional status : the case of tree frogs in Costa Rica

Colouration has been considered a cue for mating success in many species; ornaments in males often are related to carotenoid mobilization towards feathers and/or skin and can signal general health and nutrition status. However, there are several factors that can also link with status, such as physiological blood parameters and body condition, but there is not substantial evidence which supports the existence of these relationships and interactions in anurans. This study evaluated how body score and blood values interact with colouration in free-range Agalychnis callidryas and Agalychnis annae males. We found significant associations between body condition and plasmatic proteins and haematocrit, as well as between body condition and colour values from the chromaticity diagram. We also demonstrated that there is a significant relation between the glucose and plasmatic protein values that were reflected in the ventral colours of the animals, and haematocrit inversely affected most of those colour values. Significant differences were found between species as well as between populations of A. callidryas, suggesting that despite colour variation, there are also biochemical differences within animals from the same species located in different regions. These data provide information on underlying factors for colouration of male tree frogs in nature, provide insights about the dynamics of several nutrients in the amphibian model and how this could affect the reproductive output of the animals

Quantitative principles of cis-translational control by general mRNA sequence features in eukaryotes.

BackgroundGeneral translational cis-elements are present in the mRNAs of all genes and affect the recruitment, assembly, and progress of preinitiation complexes and the ribosome under many physiological states. These elements include mRNA folding, upstream open reading frames, specific nucleotides flanking the initiating AUG codon, protein coding sequence length, and codon usage. The quantitative contributions of these sequence features and how and why they coordinate to control translation rates are not well understood.ResultsHere, we show that these sequence features specify 42-81% of the variance in translation rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Arabidopsis thaliana, Mus musculus, and Homo sapiens. We establish that control by RNA secondary structure is chiefly mediated by highly folded 25-60 nucleotide segments within mRNA 5' regions, that changes in tri-nucleotide frequencies between highly and poorly translated 5' regions are correlated between all species, and that control by distinct biochemical processes is extensively correlated as is regulation by a single process acting in different parts of the same mRNA.ConclusionsOur work shows that general features control a much larger fraction of the variance in translation rates than previously realized. We provide a more detailed and accurate understanding of the aspects of RNA structure that directs translation in diverse eukaryotes. In addition, we note that the strongly correlated regulation between and within cis-control features will cause more even densities of translational complexes along each mRNA and therefore more efficient use of the translation machinery by the cell