Science lives: School choices and ‘natural tendencies’

An analysis of 12 semi-structured interviews with university-based scientists and non-scientists illustrates their life journeys towards, or away from, science and the strengths and impact of life occurrences leading them to choose science or non-science professions. We have adopted narrative approaches and used Mezirow's transformative learning theory framework. The areas of discussion from the result have stressed on three main categories that include ‘smooth transition’, ‘incremental wavering transition' and ‘transformative transition’. The article concludes by discussing the key influences that shaped initial attitudes and direction in these people through natural inclination, environmental inspirations and perceptions of science

Intermediate phase, network demixing, boson and floppy modes, and compositional trends in glass transition temperatures of binary AsxS1-x system

The structure of binary As_xS_{1-x} glasses is elucidated using modulated-DSC, Raman scattering, IR reflectance and molar volume experiments over a wide range (8%<x<41%) of compositions. We observe a reversibility window in the calorimetric experiments, which permits fixing the three elastic phases; flexible at x<22.5%, intermediate phase (IP) in the 22.5%<x<29.5% range, and stressed-rigid at x>29.5%. Raman scattering supported by first principles cluster calculations reveal existence of both pyramidal (PYR, As(S1/2)3) and quasi-tetrahedral(QT, S=As(S1/2)3) local structures. The QT unit concentrations show a global maximum in the IP, while the concentration of PYR units becomes comparable to those of QT units in the phase, suggesting that both these local structures contribute to the width of the IP. The IP centroid in the sulfides is significantly shifted to lower As content x than in corresponding selenides, a feature identified with excess chalcogen partially segregating from the backbone in the sulfides, but forming part of the backbone in selenides. These ideas are corroborated by the proportionately larger free volumes of sulfides than selenides, and the absence of chemical bond strength scaling of Tgs between As-sulfides and As-selenides. Low-frequency Raman modes increase in scattering strength linearly as As content x of glasses decreases from x = 20% to 8%, with a slope that is close to the floppy mode fraction in flexible glasses predicted by rigidity theory. These results show that floppy modes contribute to the excess vibrations observed at low frequency. In the intermediate and stressed rigid elastic phases low-frequency Raman modes persist and are identified as boson modes. Some consequences of the present findings on the optoelectronic properties of these glasses is commented upon.Comment: Accepted for PR

Complex Transitions Between C3 and C4 Photosynthesis During the Evolution of Paniceae: A Phylogenetic Case Study Emphasizing the Position of Steinchisma Hians (Poaceae), A C3-C4 Intermediate

A two-tiered, nested molecular phylogenetic study of panicoid grasses to explore character state transitions between the C3 and C4 adaptive syndromes is presented. A broad survey of 92 panicoid species was sampled for the grass-specific insert sequence in the chloroplast RNA polymerase locus (rpoC2), combining published and unpublished sequences. This portion of the study also included an intensive phylogenetic investigation of one clade of seven species that included Steinchisma hians, which is notable for exhibiting intermediacy between the C3 and C4 photosynthetic types. Both rpoC2 data and previously published sequences of the F subunit of an NADH-dependent dehydrogenase were analyzed together for this small group. A rigorous phylogenetic investigation of S. hians and 13 other species of Panicoideae included in the broad survey was then performed with sequences of both rpoC2 and the externally transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal repeat. These 14 species were selected to maximize representation among photosynthetic subtypes. Combined analysis resolved single origins of two photosynthetic subtypes. A reversion of C4 to C3 photosynthesis during the evolution of the lineage that includes S. hians is identified. These and other recent results indicate that repeated reversions from C4 to C3 have occurred. The C3 species Panicum laxum has a strongly supported sister group relationship to S. hians (C3-C4). The most parsimonious interpretation is that S. hians represents an incipient reversal from C3 to C4 photosynthesis, beginning with the capacity to compartmentalize photorespiratory metabolism in the bundle sheath tissue

Performance and Radiation Testing of a Low-Noise Switched Capacitor Array for the CMS Endcap Muon System.

The 16-channel, 96-cell per channel switched capacitor array ( SCA) ASIC developed at UC Davis for the cathode readout of the cathode strip chambers ( CSC) in the CMS endcap muon system is ready for production. For the final full-sized prototype, the Address Decoder was re-designed and LVDS receivers were incorporated into the chip package. Under precision testing, the chip exhibits excellent linearity within the 1V design range and very low cell-to-cell pedestal variation. Monitored samples of the production design were subjected to exposure to a 63.3 MeV proton beam. The performance of chips after exposures up to 100 krad was within tolerances of an unexposed part

A tri-dimensional approach for auditing brand loyalty

Over the past twenty years brand loyalty has been an important topic for both marketing practitioners and academics. While practitioners have produced proprietary brand loyalty audit models, there has been little academic research to make transparent the methodology that underpins these audits and to enable practitioners to understand, develop and conduct their own audits. In this paper, we propose a framework for a brand loyalty audit that uses a tri-dimensional approach to brand loyalty, which includes behavioural loyalty and the two components of attitudinal loyalty: emotional and cognitive loyalty. In allowing for different levels and intensity of brand loyalty, this tri-dimensional approach is important from a managerial perspective. It means that loyalty strategies that arise from a brand audit can be made more effective by targeting the market segments that demonstrate the most appropriate combination of brand loyalty components. We propose a matrix with three dimensions (emotional, cognitive and behavioural loyalty) and two levels (high and low loyalty) to facilitate a brand loyalty audit. To demonstrate this matrix, we use the example of financial services, in particular a rewards-based credit card

The metabolites of the dietary flavonoid quercetin possess potent antithrombotic activity, and interact with aspirin to enhance antiplatelet effects

Quercetin, a dietary flavonoid, has been reported to possess antiplatelet activity. However, its extensive metabolism following ingestion has resulted in difficulty elucidating precise mechanisms of action. In this study, we aimed to characterize the antiplatelet mechanisms of two methylated metabolites of quercetin—isorhamnetin and tamarixetin—and explore potential interactions with aspirin. Isorhamnetin and tamarixetin inhibited human platelet aggregation, and suppressed activatory processes including granule secretion, integrin αIIbβ3 function, calcium mobilization, and spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)/linker for activation of T cells (LAT) phosphorylation downstream of glycoprotein VI with similar potency to quercetin. All three flavonoids attenuated thrombus formation in an in vitro microfluidic model, and isoquercetin, a 3-O-glucoside of quercetin, inhibited thrombosis in a murine laser injury model. Isorhamnetin, tamarixetin, and quercetin enhanced the antiplatelet effects of aspirin more-than-additively in a plate-based aggregometry assay, reducing aspirin IC50 values by an order of magnitude, with this synergy maintained in a whole blood test of platelet function. Our data provide mechanistic evidence for the antiplatelet activity of two quercetin metabolites, isorhamnetin and tamarixetin, and suggest a potential antithrombotic role for these flavonoids. In combination with their interactions with aspirin, this may represent a novel avenue of investigation for the development of new antithrombotic strategies and management of current therapies

Co-patents’ commercialization: evidence from China

Co-patents are outcomes of R&D collaboration, which has been proven with higher-quality. Does this mean that high-quality patents should also extend their advantage to the technology market? Based on the transaction cost theory, we use the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) database and logit model to explore the effect of co-ownership on firms’ patent commercialization and the factors of co-patents that affect their commercialization. Our findings illustrate that co-ownership has a negative impact on patent commercialization. In addition, the co-owner’s nature, country, and co-patent’s industry influence the commercialization of co-patents. Firstly, a company and a university or research institution’s co-owned co-patents are less likely to be commercialization than a company and a company coowned co-patents. Secondly, multi-countries co-owned co-patents are less likely to be commercialization than a single-country coowned co-patents. Thirdly, co-patents in high technology (hightech) industries are less likely to be commercialization than copatents in non-high-tech industries. This paper supports policymakers in implementing policies to promote the co-patents’ commercialization. Meanwhile, our paper suggests that to pursue the economic value of the R&D collaborative intellectual property fruits, R&D collaborative intellectual property fruits are not be encouraged to be applied as the co-patents.European Union (EU) TIN2016-75850-

A humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits platelet-surface ERp72 reveals a role for ERp72 in thrombosis

Background: Within the endoplasmic reticulum, thiol isomerase enzymes modulate the formation and rearrangement of disulphide bonds in newly folded proteins entering the secretory pathway to ensure correct protein folding. In addition to their intracellular importance, thiol isomerases have been recently identified to be present on the surface of a number of cell types where they are important for cell function. Several thiol isomerases are known to be present on the resting platelet surface including PDI, ERp5 and ERp57 and levels are increased following platelet activation. Inhibition of the catalytic activity of these enzymes results in diminished platelet function and thrombosis. Aim: We previously determined that ERp72 is present at the resting platelet surface and levels increase upon platelet activation, however its functional role on the cell surface was unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of ERp72 in platelet function and its role in thrombosis. Methods: Using HuCAL technology, fully humanised Fc-null anti-ERp72 antibodies were generated. Eleven antibodies were screened for their ability to inhibit ERp72 activity and the most potent inhibitory antibody (anti-ERp72) selected for further testing in platelet functional assays. Results and conclusions: Anti-ERp72 inhibited platelet aggregation, granule secretion, calcium mobilisation and integrin activation revealing an important role for extracellular ERp72 in the regulation of platelet activation. Consistent with this, infusion of anti-ERp72 into mice protected against thrombosis

A dramatic isotope effect in the reaction of ClSiH with trimethylsilane-1-d: experimental evidence for intermediate complexes in silylene Si-H(D) insertion reactions

A kinetic isotope effect (kD/kH) of 7.4 has been found for the reaction of chlorosilylene with trimethysilane (Me3SiD vs Me3SiH). Such a value can be accounted for by theoretical modelling, but only if an internal rearrangement of the initially form complex is included in the mechanism. This provides the first concrete evidence for such complexes