The first string-derived eclectic flavor model with realistic phenomenology

Eclectic flavor groups arising from string compactifications combine the power of modular and traditional flavor symmetries to address the flavor puzzle. This top-down scheme determines the representations and modular weights of all matter fields, imposing strict constraints on the structure of the effective potential, which result in controlled corrections. We study the lepton and quark flavor phenomenology of an explicit, potentially realistic example model based on a T6/Z3xZ3 orbifold compactification of the heterotic string that gives rise to an Omega(2) eclectic flavor symmetry. We find that the interplay of flavon alignment and the localization of the modulus in the vicinity of a symmetry-enhanced point leads to naturally protected fermion mass hierarchies, favoring normal-ordered neutrino masses arising from a see-saw mechanism. We show that our model can reproduce all observables in the lepton sector with a small number of parameters and deliver predictions for so far undetermined neutrino observables. Furthermore, we extend the fit to quarks and find that Kaehler corrections are instrumental in obtaining a successful simultaneous fit to the quark and lepton sectors.Comment: 28 pages + appendices, 7 figures, 7 tables; v2: references added, discussion extended, typos in app. C corrected, results unchanged, matches JHEP versio

Bone Healing Gone Wrong : Pathological Fracture Healing and Non-Unions—Overview of Basic and Clinical Aspects and Systematic Review of Risk Factors

Bone healing is a multifarious process involving mesenchymal stem cells, osteoprogenitor cells, macrophages, osteoblasts and -clasts, and chondrocytes to restore the osseous tissue. Particularly in long bones including the tibia, clavicle, humerus and femur, this process fails in 2–10% of all fractures, with devastating effects for the patient and the healthcare system. Underlying reasons for this failure are manifold, from lack of biomechanical stability to impaired biological host conditions and wound-immanent intricacies. In this review, we describe the cellular components involved in impaired bone healing and how they interfere with the delicately orchestrated processes of bone repair and formation. We subsequently outline and weigh the risk factors for the development of non-unions that have been established in the literature. Therapeutic prospects are illustrated and put into clinical perspective, before the applicability of biomarkers is finally discussed

Heterologous expression of glucose oxidase in the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In spite of its advantageous physiological properties for bioprocess applications, the use of the yeast <it>Kluyveromyces marxianus </it>as a host for heterologous protein production has been very limited, in constrast to its close relative <it>Kluyveromyces </it><it>lactis</it>. In the present work, the model protein glucose oxidase (GOX) from <it>Aspergillus niger </it>was cloned into <it>K. marxianus </it>CBS 6556 and into <it>K. lactis </it>CBS 2359 using three different expression systems. We aimed at verifying how each expression system would affect protein expression, secretion/localization, post-translational modification, and biochemical properties.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The highest GOX expression levels (1552 units of secreted protein per gram dry cell weight) were achieved using an episomal system, in which the <it>INU1 </it>promoter and terminator were used to drive heterologous gene expression, together with the <it>INU1 </it>prepro sequence, which was employed to drive secretion of the enzyme. In all cases, GOX was mainly secreted, remaining either in the periplasmic space or in the culture supernatant. Whereas the use of genetic elements from <it>Saccharomyces cerevisiae </it>to drive heterologous protein expression led to higher expression levels in <it>K. lactis </it>than in <it>K. marxianus</it>, the use of <it>INU1 </it>genetic elements clearly led to the opposite result. The biochemical characterization of GOX confirmed the correct expression of the protein and showed that <it>K. marxianus </it>has a tendency to hyperglycosylate the protein, in a similar way as already observed for other yeasts, although this tendency seems to be smaller than the one of e.g. <it>K. lactis </it>and <it>S. cerevisiae</it>. Hyperglycosylation of GOX does not seem to affect its affinity for the substrate, nor its activity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together, our results indicate that <it>K. marxianus </it>is indeed a good host for the expression of heterologous proteins, not only for its physiological properties, but also because it correctly secretes and folds these proteins.</p

Is Anyone Looking? Mitigating Shoulder Surfing on Public Displays through Awareness and Protection

Displays are growing in size, and are increasingly deployed in semi-public and public areas. When people use these public displays to pursue personal work, they expose their activities and sensitive data to passers-by. In most cases, such shoulder-surfing by others is likely voyeuristic vs. a deliberate attempt to steal information. Even so, safeguards are needed. Our goal is to mitigate shoulder-surfing problems in such settings. Our method leverages notions of territoriality and proxemics, where we sense and take action based on the spatial relationships between the passerby, the user of the display, and the display itself. First, we provide participants with awareness of shoulder-surfing moments, which in turn helps both parties regulate their behaviours and mediate further social interactions. Second, we provide methods that protect information when shoulder-surfing is detected. Here, users can move or hide information through easy to perform explicit actions. Alternately, the system itself can mask information from the passerby’s view when it detects shoulder-surfing moments

MAVEN Deliverable 6.4: Integration Final Report

This document presents the work that has been performed in WP6 after D6.3, and therefore focussing on the integration sprints 3-6. It describes which parts of the system are implemented and how they are put together. To do so, it builds upon the deliverables created so far, esp. D6.3 and all other deliverables of the underlying work packages 3, 4 and 5. Another important aspect for understanding the content of this deliverable is D2.1 [4] for the scenario definition of the whole MAVEN project, and the deliverables D6.1 [5] and D6.2 [6], which give an overview on the existing infrastructure and vehicles used in MAVEN

Ensino da cariologia para estudantes de graduação em odontologia no Brasil

This study sought to provide an overview of current cariology education for undergraduate Brazilian dental students. Data collection was via a Portuguese version of a 12-item questionnaire (Schulte et al., 2011) that was sent to all Brazilian dental schools (n = 219). The response rate was 57.0% (n = 125). Of the schools that returned the questionnaire, 84.8% supported the development of a Brazilian cariology curriculum. The units responsible for teaching cariology were predominantly operative dentistry (49.6%), pediatric dentistry (49.6%), dental public health (44.8%), and cariology (32%). Theoretical teaching of cariology (74.4%) and pre-clinical exercises (63.2%) were cited to occur mainly during the second year of the course, while clinical activities were placed in the third (71.2%) and fourth (64.8%) years. Among respondents, 76.8% of the schools included dental erosion and 86.4% included defects of dental hard tissues, such as abrasion, in teaching cariology. This survey was able to determine the panorama of cariology education in Brazil and to detect some differences among Brazilian geographic areas. The promotion of a workshop to discuss the topics that should be taught to undergraduate dental students and the development of a Brazilian core curriculum in cariology would be likely to reduce the differences in teaching cariology in Brazil.Este estudo teve como objetivo apresentar um panorama do ensino de cariologia nos cursos de graduação em Odontologia no Brasil. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de uma versão em Português Brasileiro de um questionário de 12 itens (Schulte et al., 2011) que foi enviado a todas as faculdades de Odontologia brasileiras (n = 219). A taxa de resposta foi de 57,0% (n = 125). Dentre as faculdades que responderam o questionário, 84,8% apoiam o desenvolvimento de um currículo brasileiro de cariologia. As disciplinas responsáveis por lecionar os conteúdos de cariologia são principalmente dentística (49,6%), odontopediatria (49,6%), saúde bucal coletiva (44,8%), e cariologia (32%). O ensino teórico de cariologia (74,4%) e os exercícios de pré-clínica (63,2%) são abordados principalmente durante o segundo ano do curso, enquanto as atividades clínicas ocorrem, em geral, no terceiro (71,2%) e quarto (64,8%) anos. Dentre os respondentes, 76,8% das faculdades incluem erosão dentária e 86,4% incluem defeitos dos tecidos dentários duros, como abrasão, no ensino da cariologia. Essa pesquisa foi capaz de determinar o panorama do ensino da cariologia no Brasil e detectar algumas diferenças de currículo entre as regiões do país. A promoção de um workshop para discutir os assuntos que devem ser ministrados aos estudantes de graduação em Odontologia e para desenvolver um currículo brasileiro de cariologia seria válida para reduzir as diferenças no ensino de cariologia no Brasil