An automated approach for annual layer counting in ice cores

A novel method for automated annual layer counting in seasonally-resolved paleoclimate records has been developed. It relies on algorithms from the statistical framework of hidden Markov models (HMMs), which originally was developed for use in machine speech recognition. The strength of the layer detection algorithm lies in the way it is able to imitate the manual procedures for annual layer counting, while being based on statistical criteria for annual layer identification. The most likely positions of multiple layer boundaries in a section of ice core data are determined simultaneously, and a probabilistic uncertainty estimate of the resulting layer count is provided, ensuring an objective treatment of ambiguous layers in the data. Furthermore, multiple data series can be incorporated and used simultaneously. In this study, the automated layer counting algorithm has been applied to two ice core records from Greenland: one displaying a distinct annual signal and one which is more challenging. The algorithm shows high skill in reproducing the results from manual layer counts, and the resulting timescale compares well to absolute-dated volcanic marker horizons where these exist

Bayesian generalised ensemble Markov chain Monte Carlo

Bayesian generalised ensemble (BayesGE) is a new method that addresses two major drawbacks of standard Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms for inference in high-dimensional probability models: inapplicability to estimate the partition function, and poor mixing properties. BayesGE uses a Bayesian approach to iteratively update the belief about the density of states (distribution of the log likelihood under the prior) for the model, with the dual purpose of enhancing the sampling efficiency and make the estimation of the partition function tractable. We benchmark BayesGE on Ising and Potts systems and show that it compares favourably to existing state-of-the-art methods.JF acknowledge funding from the Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences. ZG acknowledge funding from EPSRC EP/I036575/1 and Google.This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by Microtome Publishing

Multiple formin proteins participate in glioblastoma migration

BackgroundThe prognosis of glioblastoma remains poor, related to its diffuse spread within the brain. There is an ongoing search for molecular regulators of this particularly invasive behavior. One approach is to look for actin regulating proteins that might be targeted by future anti-cancer therapy. The formin family of proteins orchestrates rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton in multiple cellular processes. Recently, the formin proteins mDia1 and mDia2 were shown to be expressed in glioblastoma in vitro, and their function could be modified by small molecule agonists. This finding implies that the formins could be future therapeutic targets in glioblastoma.MethodsIn cell studies, we investigated the changes in expression of the 15 human formins in primary glioblastoma cells and commercially available glioblastoma cell lines during differentiation from spheroids to migrating cells using transcriptomic analysis and qRT-PCR. siRNA mediated knockdown of selected formins was performed to investigate whether their expression affects glioblastoma migration.Using immunohistochemistry, we studied the expression of two formins, FHOD1 and INF2, in tissue samples from 93 IDH-wildtype glioblastomas. Associated clinicopathological parameters and follow-up data were utilized to test whether formin expression correlates with survival or has prognostic value.ResultsWe found that multiple formins were upregulated during migration. Knockdown of individual formins mDia1, mDia2, FHOD1 and INF2 significantly reduced migration in most studied cell lines. Among the studied formins, knockdown of INF2 generated the greatest reduction in motility in vitro. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated expression of formin proteins FHOD1 and INF2 in glioblastoma tissues. Importantly, we found that moderate/high expression of INF2 was associated with significantly impaired prognosis.ConclusionsFormins FHOD1 and INF2 participate in glioblastoma cell migration. Moderate/high expression of INF2 in glioblastoma tissue is associated with worse outcome. Taken together, our in vitro and tissue studies suggest a pivotal role for INF2 in glioblastoma. When specific inhibiting compounds become available, INF2 could be a target in the search for novel glioblastoma therapies.Peer reviewe

Energy performance contracting (EPC): a suitable mechanism for achieving energy savings in housing cooperatives? Results from a Norwegian pilot project

The barriers to energy savings in institutions and private homes are well known and include people’s lack of interest, awareness, knowledge and human and financial capacity. Experiences made in several countries show that EPC—energy performance contracting—may be used for overcoming many of these barriers. A typical EPC project is delivered by an energy service company (ESCO) and the contract is accompanied with a guarantee for energy savings. EPC is increasingly taken in use in the professional market (firms and the public sector), but is less common in the residential sector market. It has been suggested that there are several barriers for using EPC in the domestic sector such as the uncertainty involved in estimating forthcoming reductions in private consumption. In this paper, we present the results from a pilot project on the use of EPC in a housing cooperative in Oslo. The project was initiated and observed by the researchers. The research followed a transdisciplinary methodology in that it was conducted by both researcher and practitioner (co-authors) in close collaboration with members of the housing cooperative and the ESCOs, who also contributed to the interpretation of results. We document the process in terms of why the Board decided to join the EPC pilot, the call for offers from ESCOs who guaranteed that purchased annual energy would be reduced by one third, the responses to and negotiations of the offer from the ESCO who became contracted in the initial phase and up to the moment when the General Assembly finally decided to not invest in the proposed energy saving measures. We find that the residents not only had limited interest in energy savings but also lacked confidence in the EPC process. This contributed to the outcome. We discuss the findings in relation to the barriers to using EPC among housing cooperatives. We highlight the need for more knowledge about the client side for understanding how barriers may be overcome. Three specific recommendations for how EPC may successfully be employed among housing cooperatives are suggested as follows: (i) include refurbishment and not only energy savings in the EPC, (ii) identify the residents’ needs in an early phase and (iii) communicate the EPC principle to the residents throughout the process

Nonlinear Enhancement of the Multiphonon Coulomb Excitation in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

We propose a soluble model to incorporate the nonlinear effects in the transition probabilities of the multiphonon Giant Dipole Resonances based on the SU(1,1) algebra. Analytical expressions for the multi-phonon transition probabilities are derived. Enhancement of the Double Giant Resonance excitation probabilities in relativistic ion collisions scales as $(2 k +1)(2k)^{-1}$ for the degree of nonlinearity $(2k)^{-1}$ and is able to reach values $1.5-2$ compatible with experimental data. The enhancement factor is found to decrease with increasing bombarding energy. [KEYWORDS: Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions,Double Giant Resonance]Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

The systematic study of the influence of neutron excess on the fusion cross sections using different proximity-type potentials

Using different types of proximity potentials, we have examined the trend of variations of barrier characteristics (barrier height and its position) as well as fusion cross sections for 50 isotopic systems including various collisions of C, O, Mg, Si, S, Ca, Ar, Ti and Ni nuclei with $1\leq N/Z < 1.6$ condition for compound systems. The results of our studies reveal that the relationships between increase of barrier positions and decrease of barrier heights are both linear with increase of $N/Z$ ratio. Moreover, fusion cross sections also enhance linearly with increase of this ratio.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures, 5 Table

Konsekvenser for emissioner og luftkvalitet af tiltag på transportområdet i Regeringens klima- og luftudspil

Regeringens klima- og luftudspil (”Sammen om en grønnere fremtid”) indeholder en beskrivelse af 38 initiativer rettet mod at reducere udledningen af drivhusgasser og/eller luftforurening. DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi under Aarhus Universitet har gennemgået de 38 initiativer med henblik på en vurdering af hvilke af disse initiativer, der har indflydelse på luftforureningen i 2030, samt den forventede størrelse af den reducerende effekt. DCE har kvantificeret effekten af følgende initiativer og benævnt det klimascenariet: (1) Stop for salg af nye benzin- og dieselbiler i 2030 og for nye plug-in hybridbiler fra 2035, (2) Slut med udledning af CO2 og luftforurening fra busser i byerne fra 2030, (3) Benzin og diesel skal ud af taxidriften inden 2030, (4) Gamle brændeovne skrottes ved ejerskifte, og (5) Skrotpræmie til gamle brændeovne. Artiklen fokuserer på de tre virkemidler rettet mod vejtransportsektoren og sammenligner med den eksisterende basisemissionsfremskrivning for vejtrafik i Danmark i 2030, og effektvurderer scenarierne mht. til emission og luftkvalitet.&nbsp; Den største emissionsbesparelse opnås i Scenarie 1 (1 mio. elbiler), og emissions-reduktionerne for hele vejtrafikken i 2030 bliver på hhv. 13 %, 17 % og 2,1 % for NOx, PM2,5–udstødning og PM2,5–samlet (udstødning og ikke-udstødning). Hvis alle tre scenarier indføres bliver emissionsreduktionerne for NOx og PM2,5 –udstødning og PM2,5 –samlet (udstødning og ikke-udstødning) hhv. 15 %, 19 % og 2,3 %.&nbsp; Effekten af klimascenariet er vurderet for luftkvaliteten på 98 gader i København i 2030 ved beregninger af ændringer i den regionale baggrund, bybaggrund og gadekoncentrationer. Basisudviklingen fra 2016 til 2030 viser et stort fald i koncentrationerne, og klimascenariet bidrager til et yderligere mindre fald. Effekten af klimascenariet for reduktion af NO2 gadekoncentrationerne er især bestemt af reduktionen i trafikkens emissioner, mens de mindre reduktioner af PM2,5 og PM10 i højere grad er bestemt af reduktioner i emissioner fra brændeovne end fra trafik.&nbsp

Effects of rose hip intake on risk markers of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: a randomized, double-blind, cross-over investigation in obese persons

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:In studies performed in mice, rose hip powder has been shown to both prevent and reverse high-fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance as well as reduce plasma levels of cholesterol. The aim of this study was to investigate whether daily intake of rose hip powder over 6 weeks exerts beneficial metabolic effects in obese individuals.SUBJECTS/METHODS:A total of 31 obese individuals with normal or impaired glucose tolerance were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study in which metabolic effects of daily intake of a rose hip powder drink over 6 weeks was compared with a control drink. Body weight, glucose tolerance, blood pressure, blood lipids and markers of inflammation were assessed in the subjects.RESULTS:In comparison with the control drink, 6 weeks of daily consumption of the rose hip drink resulted in a significant reduction of systolic blood pressure (-3.4%; P=0.021), total plasma cholesterol (-4.9%; P=0.0018), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (-6.0%; P=0.012) and LDL/HDL ratio (-6.5%; P=0.041). The Reynolds risk assessment score for cardiovascular disease was decreased in the rose hip group compared with the control group (-17%; P=0.007). Body weight, diastolic blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, incretins and markers of inflammation did not differ between the two groups.CONCLUSIONS:Daily consumption of 40 g of rose hip powder for 6 weeks can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk in obese people through lowering of systolic blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 14 December 2011; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.203