"Transit Data"-based MST Computation

In this work, we present an innovative image recognition technique which is based on the exploitation of transit-data in images or simple photographs of sites of interest. Our objective is to automatically transform real-world images to graphs and, then, compute Minimum Spanning Trees (MST) in them.We apply this framework and present an application which automatically computes efficient construction plans (for escalator or low-emission hot spots) for connecting all points of interest in cultural sites, i.e., archaeological sites, museums, galleries, etc, aiming to to facilitate global physical access to cultural heritage and artistic work and make it accessible to all groups of population

The tale of the two Greeces: some management practice lessons

Based on an original double‐blind survey on randomly drawn samples of over 10,000 manufacturing firms across a range of different industries and countries, the World Management Survey is one of the first large and internationally comparable management practices data sets. In this paper, I describe and compare the performance of Greek firms to those from other countries around the world with the aim of identifying some lessons for both managers and policy makers in Greece on how to increase management quality, and hence, firms' productivity

Sonic Hedgehog signalling in the regulation of barrier tissue homeostasis and inflammation

Epithelial barrier tissues such as the skin and airway form an essential interface between the mammalian host and its external environment. These physical barriers are crucial to prevent damage and disease from environmental insults and allergens. Failure to maintain barrier function against such risks can lead to severe inflammatory disorders, including atopic dermatitis and asthma. Here, we discuss the role of the morphogen Sonic Hedgehog in postnatal skin and lung and the impact of Shh signalling on repair, inflammation and atopic disease in these tissues

Clec9a-mediated ablation of conventional dendritic cells suggests a lymphoid path to generating dendritic cells In Vivo

Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) are versatile activators of immune responses that develop as part of the myeloid lineage downstream of hematopoietic stem cells. We have recently shown that in mice precursors of cDCs, but not of other leukocytes, are marked by expression of DNGR-1/CLEC9A. To genetically deplete DNGR-1-expressing cDC precursors and their progeny, we crossed Clec9a-Cre mice to Rosa-lox-STOP-lox-diphtheria toxin (DTA) mice. These mice develop signs of age-dependent myeloproliferative disease, as has been observed in other DC-deficient mouse models. However, despite efficient depletion of cDC progenitors in these mice, cells with phenotypic characteristics of cDCs populate the spleen. These cells are functionally and transcriptionally similar to cDCs in wild type control mice but show somatic rearrangements of Ig-heavy chain genes, characteristic of lymphoid origin cells. Our studies reveal a previously unappreciated developmental heterogeneity of cDCs and suggest that the lymphoid lineage can generate cells with features of cDCs when myeloid cDC progenitors are impaired

In the fetal thymus, Gli3 in thymic epithelial cells promotes thymocyte positive selection and differentiation by repression of Shh

Gli3 is a Hedgehog (Hh) responsive transcription factor that can function as a transcriptional repressor or activator. We show that Gli3 activity in thymic epithelial cells (TEC) promotes positive selection and differentiation from CD4+CD8+ to CD4+CD8- single positive (SP4) cell in the fetal thymus and that Gli3 represses Shh Constitutive deletion of Gli3, and conditional deletion of Gli3 from TEC, reduced differentiation to SP4, whereas conditional deletion of Gli3 from thymocytes did not. Conditional deletion of Shh from TEC increased differentiation to SP4, and expression of Shh was upregulated in the Gli3-deficient thymus. Use of a transgenic Hh-reporter showed that the Hh pathway was active in thymocytes, and increased in the Gli3-deficient fetal thymus. Neutralisation of endogenous Hh proteins in the Gli3-/- thymus restored SP4 differentiation, indicating that Gli3 in TEC promotes SP4 differentiation by repression of Shh Transcriptome analysis showed that Hh-mediated transcription was increased but TCR-mediated transcription decreased in Gli3-/- thymocytes compared to WT

Enhanced THz emission from spintronic Fe/Pt emitters through crystal growth optimization

We investigate the THz emission characteristics of ferromagnetic/non-magnetic metallic heterostructures, focusing on thin Fe/Pt bilayers. In particular, we report on the impact of optimized crystal growth of the epitaxial Fe layers on the THz emission amplitude and spectral bandwidth. We demonstrate an enhancement of the emitted intensity along with an expansion of the emission bandwidth. Both are related to reduced spin scattering and higher interface transmission. Our work provides a pathway for devicing optimal spintronic THz emitters based on epitaxial Fe. It also highlights how THz emission measurements can be utilized to characterize the changes in out-of-equilibrium spin current dynamics in metallic heterostructures, driven by subtle structural refinement

Thermodynamic description of Be(II) solubility and hydrolysis in acidic to hyperalkaline NaCl and KCl solutions

The solubility of Be(II) is investigated in carbonate-free dilute to concentrated HCl–NaCl–NaOH, KCl–KOH, NaOH and KOH solutions. Undersaturation experiments were performed under Ar atmosphere at T= (22 ± 2) °C. XRD, XPS, SEM and quantitative chemical analysis confirm that α-Be(OH)$_{2}$(cr) is the solid phase controlling the solubility in all evaluated systems. No transformation of α-Be(OH)$_{2}$(cr) to β-Be(OH)$_{2}$(cr) or ternary solid phases Na/K–Be(II)–OH(s) is observed in the investigated systems within the timeframe of this study (t ≤ 600 days). An amphoteric solubility behaviour of Be(II) is observed with a solubility minimum at pH$_{m}$ ≈ 9.5 (with [Be(II)] ≈ 10$^{-6.8}$M), regardless of the ionic strength. The combination of solubility data determined in acidic pH$_{m}$ conditions and the hydrolysis scheme reported in the literature for cationic hydrolysis species of Be(II) is used for the determination of the solubility constant of α-Be(OH)$_{2}$(cr), log *K°$_{s,0}$ = (6.9 ± 0.4). Slope analysis of the solubility data in alkaline to hyperalkaline conditions and $^{9}$Be NMR support the predominance of the monomeric hydrolysis species Be(OH)$_{2}$(aq), Be(OH)$_{3}$– and Be(OH)$_{4}$$^{2-}$ within the strongly alkaline pH$_{m}$-conditions relevant in cementitious systems. The comprehensive solubility dataset collected within this study in combination with extensive solid and aqueous phase characterization allow the development of a complete chemical, thermodynamic and (SIT) activity model for the system Be$^{2+}$–Na$^{+}$–K$^{+}$–H$^{+}$–Cl$^{-}$–OH$^{-}$–H$_{2}$O(l). This model provides an accurate and robust tool for the evaluation of Be(II) solubility and speciation in a diversity of geochemical conditions, including source term calculations of beryllium in the context of the nuclear waste disposal Safety Case