473 research outputs found

    Analysis of circadian rhythms from online communities of individuals with affective disorders

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    The circadian system regulates 24 hour rhythms in biological creatures. It impacts mood regulation. The disruptions of circadian rhythms cause destabilization in individuals with affective disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorders. Previous work has examined the role of the circadian system on effects of light interactions on mood-related systems, the effects of light manipulation on brain, the impact of chronic stress on rhythms. However, such studies have been conducted in small, preselected populations. The deluge of data is now changing the landscape of research practice. The unprecedented growth of social media data allows one to study individual behavior across large and diverse populations. In particular, individuals with affective disorders from online communities have not been examined rigorously. In this paper, we aim to use social media as a sensor to identify circadian patterns for individuals with affective disorders in online communities.We use a large scale study cohort of data collecting from online affective disorder communities. We analyze changes in hourly, daily, weekly and seasonal affect of these clinical groups in contrast with control groups of general communities. By comparing the behaviors between the clinical groups and the control groups, our findings show that individuals with affective disorders show a significant distinction in their circadian rhythms across the online activity. The results shed light on the potential of using social media for identifying diurnal individual variation in affective state, providing key indicators and risk factors for noninvasive wellbeing monitoring and prediction

    Impulse voltage distribution and frequency response of intershield windings

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    Impulse voltage distributions in continuous disk windings are nonlinear, due to the small series capacitance of the winding. Consequently, transformer manufacturers often design large power transformers with interleaved windings to increase series capacitance, but in doing so reduce the value of the initial impulse voltage distribution coefficient α given by α = √(Cg/Cs), (1) where Cg is the shunt capacitance and Cs is the series capacitance of the winding. Sometimes fully interleaved windings are employed because they are more reliable, ensuring that the transformer will operate properly under lightning strike

    Bias dependence of spin transfer torque in Co<sub>2</sub>MnSi Heusler alloy based magnetic tunnel junctions

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    Heusler compounds are of interest as electrode materials for use in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) due to their half metallic character, which leads to 100% spin polarization and high tunneling magnetoresistance. Most work to date has focused on the improvements to tunneling magnetoresistance that can stem from the use of Heusler electrodes, while there is much less work investigating the influence of Heusler electrodes on the spin transfer torque properties of MTJs. Here, we investigate the bias dependence of the anti-damping like and field-like spin transfer torque components in both symmetric (Co2MnSi/MgO/Co2MnSi) and asymmetric (Co2MnSi/MgO/CoFe) structure Heusler based MTJs using spin transfer torque ferromagnetic resonance. We find that while the damping like torque is linear with respect to bias for both MTJ structures, the asymmetric MTJ structure has an additional linear component to the ordinarily quadratic field like torque bias dependence and that these results can be accounted for by a free electron tunneling model. Furthermore, our results suggest that the low damping and low saturation magnetization properties of Heusler alloys are more likely to lead significant improvements to spin torque switching efficiency rather than their half metallic character

    Genome-wide association mapping for root traits in a panel of rice accessions from Vietnam

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    Background: Despite recent sequencing efforts, local genetic resources remain underexploited, even though they carry alleles that can bring agronomic benefits. Taking advantage of the recent genotyping with 22,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers of a core collection of 180 Vietnamese rice varieties originating from provinces from North to South Vietnam and from different agrosystems characterized by contrasted water regimes, we have performed a genome-wide association study for different root parameters. Roots contribute to water stress avoidance and are a still underexploited target for breeding purpose due to the difficulty to observe them. Results: The panel of 180 rice varieties was phenotyped under greenhouse conditions for several root traits in an experimental design with 3 replicates. The phenotyping system consisted of long plastic bags that were filled with sand and supplemented with fertilizer. Root length, root mass in different layers, root thickness, and the number of crown roots, as well as several derived root parameters and shoot traits, were recorded. The results were submitted to association mapping using a mixed model involving structure and kinship to enable the identification of significant associations. The analyses were conducted successively on the whole panel and on its indica (115 accessions) and japonica (64 accessions) subcomponents. The two associations with the highest significance were for root thickness on chromosome 2 and for crown root number on chromosome 11. No common associations were detected between the indica and japonica subpanels, probably because of the polymorphism repartition between the subspecies. Based on orthology with Arabidopsis, the possible candidate genes underlying the quantitative trait loci are reviewed. Conclusions: Some of the major quantitative trait loci we detected through this genome-wide association study contain promising candidate genes encoding regulatory elements of known key regulators of root formation and development

    Influence of Hydrodynamic Interactions on Mechanical Unfolding of Proteins

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    We incorporate hydrodynamic interactions in a structure-based model of ubiquitin and demonstrate that the hydrodynamic coupling may reduce the peak force when stretching the protein at constant speed, especially at larger speeds. Hydrodynamic interactions are also shown to facilitate unfolding at constant force and inhibit stretching by fluid flows.Comment: to be published in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte

    Team knowledge sharing: A game-based learning approach

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    Introduction. Business simulation games that have been widely used in teaching in recent years have been proven to help students develop teamwork and problem-solving skills. Aim. The current research aims to assess how team cohesion and knowledge sharing attitudes relate to organisational climate and knowledge sharing (KS) intentions. Methodology and research methods. Through the use of a game-based team learning environment, this study examined the students’ attitudes and intentions regarding KS. As part of the study, questionnaires were also administered to 202 students at business colleges in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Bootstrapping estimation was used to test all hypotheses using a structural equation model (SEM). Results. The research findings showed that (1) organisational climate positively influenced team cohesion, as well as KS attitudes positively influencing KS intentions; (2) organisational climate was positively related to KS attitudes and intentions; (3) team cohesion was positively associated with KS attitudes and intentions; and (4) a significant relationship exists between organisational climate and KS intentions through the mediation of team cohesion and KS attitudes. Scientific novelty. The study helps to examine the relationships between the four variables that have been done before. Practical significance. The research findings suggest that teachers should establish grading standards and encourage students to express their opinions. In addition, it is crucial to create a good atmosphere and enhance cohesion in the class so that they can trigger students’ KS attitudes and intentions.Введение. Было доказано, что игровые бизнес-симуляторы, которые широко используются в преподавании в последние годы, помогают студентам развивать командную работу и навыки решения проблем. Цель исследования – оценить, как сплоченность команды и отношение к обмену знаниями связаны с намерениями создавать организационный климат и обмениваться знаниями. Методология, методы и методики. Используя игровую среду обучения, авторы изучили отношения и намерения студентов, касающиеся обмена знаниями. В рамках исследования анкеты были направлены 202 студентам бизнес-колледжей в Хошимине, Вьетнам. Оценка методом бутстрепа использовалась для проверки всех гипотез с использованием модели структурных уравнений (SEM). Результаты. Результаты исследования показали, что: 1) организационный климат положительно повлиял на сплоченность команды, а также на отношение к обмену знаниями, позитивно воздействующее на намерения обмениваться знаниями; 2) организационный климат был положительно связан с отношением к обмену знаниями и намерениями обмениваться знаниями; 3) сплоченность команды была положительно связана с отношением к обмену знаниями и намерениями обмениваться знаниями; 4) существует значительная связь между организационным климатом и намерениями обмениваться знаниями через посредничество сплоченности команды и отношения к обмену знаниями. Научная новизна. Исследование помогает изучить взаимосвязи между четырьмя переменными, которые были упомянуты выше. Практическая значимость. Результаты исследования показывают, что преподаватели должны устанавливать стандарты оценивания и побуждать учащихся выражать свое мнение. Кроме того, крайне важно создать хорошую атмосферу и повысить сплоченность в классе, для того чтобы формировать положительное отношение к обмену знаниями и намерения студентов использовать эти навыки

    Redox proteomics of the inflammatory secretome identifies a common set of redoxins and other glutathionylated proteins released in inflammation, influenza virus infection and oxidative stress

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    Protein cysteines can form transient disulfides with glutathione (GSH), resulting in the production of glutathionylated proteins, and this process is regarded as a mechanism by which the redox state of the cell can regulate protein function. Most studies on redox regulation of immunity have focused on intracellular proteins. In this study we have used redox proteomics to identify those proteins released in glutathionylated form by macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) after pre-loading the cells with biotinylated GSH. Of the several proteins identified in the redox secretome, we have selected a number for validation. Proteomic analysis indicated that LPS stimulated the release of peroxiredoxin (PRDX) 1, PRDX2, vimentin (VIM), profilin1 (PFN1) and thioredoxin 1 (TXN1). For PRDX1 and TXN1, we were able to confirm that the released protein is glutathionylated. PRDX1, PRDX2 and TXN1 were also released by the human pulmonary epithelial cell line, A549, infected with influenza virus. The release of the proteins identified was inhibited by the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX), which also inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release, and by thiol antioxidants (N-butanoyl GSH derivative, GSH-C4, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which did not affect TNF-α production. The proteins identified could be useful as biomarkers of oxidative stress associated with inflammation, and further studies will be required to investigate if the extracellular forms of these proteins has immunoregulatory functions

    Nonlinear rheology of colloidal dispersions

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    Colloidal dispersions are commonly encountered in everyday life and represent an important class of complex fluid. Of particular significance for many commercial products and industrial processes is the ability to control and manipulate the macroscopic flow response of a dispersion by tuning the microscopic interactions between the constituents. An important step towards attaining this goal is the development of robust theoretical methods for predicting from first-principles the rheology and nonequilibrium microstructure of well defined model systems subject to external flow. In this review we give an overview of some promising theoretical approaches and the phenomena they seek to describe, focusing, for simplicity, on systems for which the colloidal particles interact via strongly repulsive, spherically symmetric interactions. In presenting the various theories, we will consider first low volume fraction systems, for which a number of exact results may be derived, before moving on to consider the intermediate and high volume fraction states which present both the most interesting physics and the most demanding technical challenges. In the high volume fraction regime particular emphasis will be given to the rheology of dynamically arrested states.Comment: Review articl
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