Investigation of ancient gold objects from Artemision at Ephesus using portable µ-XRF

During two measurement campaigns in the Archaeological Museum in Istanbul and the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk, Turkey, more than 80 ancient gold objects (e.g. appliqués, statuettes and coins) from the 8th-6th centuries BC were analyzed using portable XRF instruments in order to obtain information on the chemical composition and homogeneity of the artefacts discovered during excavations in the sanctuary of Artemis at Ephesus. These results and complementary studies on the manufacturing techniques employed for making these objects will contribute to our knowledge of metalworking, trade, as well as the transfer of ideas and technologies at Ephesus and in Western Asia in the Archaic period. The objects can be characterized as homogeneous alloys, mainly consisting of gold (Au), silver (Ag) and copper (Cu). A high compositional variation of Au and Ag between different objects could be determined (Au between 48.7 and 99.9%, Ag between <detection limit (dl) and 50.9%, Cu between <dl and 4.4%). These results demonstrated the range of gold alloys represented within the collection and allowed a discrimination between natural and artificial gold alloys (including the identification of ‘refined’ gold). In some cases, objects which were closely related from a typological, stylistic and/or technological point of view were also similar in composition, differing only in the sub-percent range.Plus de 80 objets anciens en or (p.ex. appliques, statuettes et monnaies) datés du viiie-vie siècle av. J.-C. et trouvés lors des fouilles du sanctuaire d’Artémise à Ephèse, ont été analysés au moyen d’un équipement de FX portable pendant les deux campagnes de mesure réalisées au musée archéologique d’Istanbul et au musée d’Ephèse à Selçuk, Turquie, de façon à obtenir des informations sur leur composition chimique et sur leur homogénéité. Ces résultats, complémentés par des études sur leurs techniques de fabrication, contribuent à la connaissance du travail du métal, de son commerce, ainsi que du transfert d’idées et technologies à Ephèse et dans l’Asie de l’Ouest pendant la période Archaïque. Les objets ont été fabriqués avec des alliages homogènes, se composant en majorité d’or (Au), argent (Ag) et cuivre (Cu). Une forte variation de teneurs a pu être mise en évidence pour l’Au et l’Ag dans le cas de différents objets (Au entre 48,7 and 99,9 %, Ag entre < limite de détection (dl) et 509 %, Cu entre < dl et 4,4 %). Ces résultats montrent la gamme d’alliages d’or de la collection et permettent de discriminer entre alliages d’or naturels et artificiels (en incluant l’identification d’or « affiné »). Dans certains cas d’objets de typologie, style et/or techniques de fabrication proches, leurs compositions sont identiques, la différence n’apparaissant qu’au niveau du sous-pourcent

A comparison of consistent UV treatment versus inconsistent UV treatment in horticultural production of lettuce

UV radiation is an underrated radiation currently missing in many horticultural production systems of vegetables in protected cultivation. It can be added e.g., in LED light sources. Using lettuce as a model plant, this study determined whether the use of UVB LEDs is suitable (1) for use in consistent systems (indoor farming) or (2) inconsistent systems (greenhouse). Blue and red LEDs were selected as additional artificial lighting to UVB LEDs. Both approaches led to a reproducible increase of desired flavonol glycosides, such as quercetin-3-O-(6′′-O-malonyl)-glucoside or quercetin-3-O-glucuronide and the anthocyanin cyanidin-3-O-(6′′-O-malonyl)-glucoside in lettuce. The impact of the consistent UVB treatment is higher with up to tenfold changes than that of the inconsistent UVB treatment in the greenhouse. Varying natural light and temperature conditions in greenhouses might affect the efficiency of the artificial UVB treatment. Here, UVB LEDs have been tested and can be recommended for further development of lighting systems in indoor farming and greenhouse approaches

Clinical and molecular genetic findings in COLQ-mutant congenital myasthenic syndromes

n/

The Lipoxygenase Lox1 Is Involved in Light‐ and Injury-Response, Conidiation, and Volatile Organic Compound Biosynthesis in the Mycoparasitic Fungus Trichoderma atroviride

18 páginas, 10 figuras. -- The first publication by Frontiers Media is avalilable at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.02004/fullThe necrotrophic mycoparasite Trichoderma atroviride is a biological pest control agent frequently applied in agriculture for the protection of plants against fungal phytopathogens. One of the main secondary metabolites produced by this fungus is 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6-PP). 6-PP is an organic compound with antifungal and plant growth-promoting activities, whose biosynthesis was previously proposed to involve a lipoxygenase (Lox). In this study, we investigated the role of the single lipoxygenase-encoding gene lox1 encoded in the T. atroviride genome by targeted gene deletion. We found that light inhibits 6-PP biosynthesis but lox1 is dispensable for 6-PP production as well as for the ability of T. atroviride to parasitize and antagonize host fungi. However, we found Lox1 to be involved in T. atroviride conidiation in darkness, in injury-response, in the production of several metabolites, including oxylipins and volatile organic compounds, as well as in the induction of systemic resistance against the plant-pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Our findings give novel insights into the roles of a fungal Ile-group lipoxygenase and expand the understanding of a light-dependent role of these enzymes.This research was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF; grant P32179-B), Tyrolean Science Fund (TWF; grant number AP718021) and the doctoral program BioApp from the University of InnsbruckPeer reviewe

A dual role for SAMHD1 in regulating HBV cccDNA and RT-dependent particle genesis

Chronic hepatitis B is one of the world's unconquered diseases with more than 240 million infected subjects at risk of developing liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B virus reverse transcribes pre-genomic RNA to relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA) that comprises the infectious particle. To establish infection of a naïve target cell, the newly imported rcDNA is repaired by host enzymes to generate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which forms the transcriptional template for viral replication. SAMHD1 is a component of the innate immune system that regulates deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate levels required for host and viral DNA synthesis. Here, we show a positive role for SAMHD1 in regulating cccDNA formation, where KO of SAMHD1 significantly reduces cccDNA levels that was reversed by expressing wild-type but not a mutated SAMHD1 lacking the nuclear localization signal. The limited pool of cccDNA in infected Samhd1 KO cells is transcriptionally active, and we observed a 10-fold increase in newly synthesized rcDNA-containing particles, demonstrating a dual role for SAMHD1 to both facilitate cccDNA genesis and to restrict reverse transcriptase-dependent particle genesis

Fine-mapping of lipid regions in global populations discovers ethnic-specific signals and refines previously identified lipid loci

Genome-wide association studies have identified over 150 loci associated with lipid traits, however, no large-scale studies exist for Hispanics and other minority populations. Additionally, the genetic architecture of lipid-influencing loci remains largely unknown. We performed one of the most racially/ethnically diverse fine-mapping genetic studies of HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides to-date using SNPs on the MetaboChip array on 54,119 individuals: 21,304 African Americans, 19,829 Hispanic Americans, 12,456 Asians, and 530 American Indians. The majority of signals found in these groups generalize to European Americans. While we uncovered signals unique to racial/ethnic populations, we also observed systematically consistent lipid associations across these groups. In African Americans, we identified three novel signals associated with HDL-C (LPL, APOA5, LCAT) and two associated with LDL-C (ABCG8, DHODH). In addition, using this population, we refined the location for 16 out of the 58 known MetaboChip lipid loci. These results can guide tailored screening efforts, reveal population-specific responses to lipid-lowering medications, and aid in the development of new targeted drug therapies

Die uneingelösten Potenziale von Inklusion. Inklusionstheoretische und religionspädagogische Betrachtungen zum Umgang mit Heterogenität – nicht nur an evangelischen Schulen

Witten U. Die uneingelösten Potenziale von Inklusion. Inklusionstheoretische und religionspädagogische Betrachtungen zum Umgang mit Heterogenität – nicht nur an evangelischen Schulen. In: Martin S, ed. Pluralitätsfähigkeit. Umgang mit Vielfalt. Die Münsteraner Barbara-Schadeberg-Vorlesungen. Schule in evangelischer Trägerschaft. Vol 21. Münster: Waxmann; 2020: 23-40

Reporting Experiences on Group Activities in Cross-Device Settings

Even though mobile devices are ubiquitous and users often own several of them, using them in concert to achieve a common goal is not well supported and remains a challenge for HCI. In this paper, we report on our observations of cross-device usage within groups when they engaged in a dyadic collaborative sensemaking task. Based on our findings, we discuss limitations of a state-of-the-art cross-device setting and present a set of design recommendations. We then propose an alternative design that aims for greater flexibility when using mobile devices to enable a free configuration of workspaces depending on users’ current activity.publishe