Powering lights with piezoelectric energy harvesting floors

The present work introduces a new technology for converting energy from steps into electricity. It starts with a study of the mechanical energy available from steps in a busy corridor. The subsequent development efforts and devices are presented, with an iterative approach to prototyping. Methods for enhancing the piezoelectric conversion efficiency have been determined as a part of the process and are introduced in the present article. Capitalizing on these findings, we have fabricated energy-harvesting devices for stairs that power embedded emergency lighting. The typical working unit comprises an energy-harvesting stair nosing, a power management circuit, and an embedded light-emitting diode that lights the tread in front of the user with an illuminance corresponding to emergency standards. The stair nosing generates up to 17.7 mJ of useful electrical energy per activation to provide up to 10.6 seconds of light. The corresponding energy density is 0.49 J per meter square and per step, with an 8.5 mm thick active layer

The impacts of feral boar on woodland flora and fauna in Great Britain

Mayle, B., Harmer, R., Kewitt, A., Peace, A., Straw, N., Williams, D., Upson, M

miPIE: NGS-based Prediction of miRNA Using Integrated Evidence

Methods for the de novo identification of microRNA (miRNA) have been developed using a range of sequence-based features. With the increasing availability of next generation sequencing (NGS) transcriptome data, there is a need for miRNA identification that integrates both NGS transcript expression-based patterns as well as advanced genomic sequence-based methods. While miRDeep2 does examine the predicted secondary structure of putative miRNA sequences, it does not leverage many of the sequence-based features used in state-of-the-art de novo methods. Meanwhile, other NGS-based methods, such as miRanalyzer, place an emphasis on sequence-based features without leveraging advanced expression-based features reflecting miRNA biosynthesis. This represents an opportunity to combine the strengths of NGS-based analysis with recent advances in de novo sequence-based miRNA prediction. We here develop a method, microRNA Prediction using Integrated Evidence (miPIE), which integrates both expression-based and sequence-based features to achieve significantly improved miRNA prediction performance. Feature selection identifies the 20 most discriminative features, 3 of which reflect strictly expression-based information. Evaluation using precision-recall curves, for six NGS data sets representing six diverse species, demonstrates substantial improvements in prediction performance compared to three methods: miRDeep2, miRanalyzer, and mirnovo. The individual contributions of expression-based and sequence-based features are also examined and we demonstrate that their combination is more effective than either alone

The level of origin firing inversely affects the rate of replication fork progression

DNA damage slows DNA synthesis at replication forks; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. Cdc7 kinase is required for replication origin activation, is a target of the intra-S checkpoint, and is implicated in the response to replication fork stress. Remarkably, we found that replication forks proceed more rapidly in cells lacking Cdc7 function than in wild-type cells. We traced this effect to reduced origin firing, which results in fewer replication forks and a consequent decrease in Rad53 checkpoint signaling. Depletion of Orc1, which acts in origin firing differently than Cdc7, had similar effects as Cdc7 depletion, consistent with decreased origin firing being the source of these defects. In contrast, mec1-100 cells, which initiate excess origins and also are deficient in checkpoint activation, showed slower fork progression, suggesting the number of active forks influences their rate, perhaps as a result of competition for limiting factors

Design of a Morphing Wing-tip

An initial design of a morphing wing-tip for a Regional Jet aircraft is developed and evaluated. The adaptive wing-tip concept is based upon a chiral type internal structure, enabling controlled cant angle orientation, camber and twist throughout the flight envelope. A baseline Turbo-Fan Aircraft configuration model is used as the benchmark to assess the device. CFD based aerodynamics are used to evaluate the required design configurations for the device at different points across the flight envelope in terms of lift/drag and bending moment distribution along the span, complemented by panel method based gust load computations. Detailed studies are performed to show how the chiral structure can facilitate the required shape changes in twist, camber and cant. Actuator requirements and limitations are assessed, along with an evaluation of the aerodynamic gains from the inclusion of the device versus power and weight penalties. For a typical mission it was found that savings of around 2% in fuel weight are possible using the morphing wing-tip device. A similar reduction in weight due to passive gust loads alleviation is also possible with a slight change of configuration

A Combination of Two Human Monoclonal Antibodies Limits Fetal Damage by Zika Virus in Macaques

Human infection by Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy can lead to vertical transmission and fetal aberrations, including microcephaly. Prophylactic administration of antibodies can diminish or prevent ZIKV infection in animal models, but whether passive immunization can protect nonhuman primates and their fetuses during pregnancy has not been determined. Z004 and Z021 are neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to domain III of the envelope (EDIII) of ZIKV. Together the two antibodies protect nonpregnant macaques against infection even after Fc modifications to prevent antibody-dependent enhancement in vitro (ADE) and extend their half-lives. Here we report on prophylactic co-administration of the Fc-modified antibodies to pregnant rhesus macaques challenged 3 times with ZIKV during first and second trimester. The two antibodies did not entirely eliminate maternal viremia but limited vertical transmission protecting the fetus from neurologic damage. Thus, maternal passive immunization with two antibodies to EDIII can shield primate fetuses from the harmful effects of ZIKV

Slogging and Stumbling Toward Social Justice in a Private Elementary School: The Complicated Case of St. Malachy

This case study examines St. Malachy, an urban Catholic elementary school primarily serving children traditionally marginalized by race, class, linguistic heritage, and disability. As a private school, St. Malachy serves the public good by recruiting and retaining such traditionally marginalized students. As empirical studies involving Catholic schools frequently juxtapose them with public schools, the author presents this examination from a different tack. Neither vilifying nor glorifying Catholic schooling, this study critically examines the pursuit of social justice in this school context. Data gathered through a 1-year study show that formal and informal leaders in St. Malachy adapted their governance, aggressively sought community resources, and focused their professional development to build the capacity to serve their increasingly pluralistic student population. The analysis confirms the deepening realization that striving toward social justice is a messy, contradictory, and complicated pursuit, and that schools in both public and private sectors are allies in this pursuit