State Estimation Filtering using Recent Finite Measurements and Inputs for Active Suspension System with Temporary Uncertainties

In this paper, the finite memory structure(FMS) filter using most recent finite measured outputs and control inputs is applied for the state estimation filtering of automotive suspension systems to verify intrinsic robustness of FMS filter. Firstly, the single-corner model for the automotive suspension system and its state-space model are described. Secondly, FMS as well as infinite memory structure(IMS) filters are briefly introduced and represented by the summation form. Thirdly, a couple of temporary uncertainties, model uncertainty and unknown input, are discussed. Finally, extensive computer simulations are performed for both nominal system and temporarily uncertain system. It is shown that the FMS filter can be better than the IMS filter for both temporary uncertainties. In addition, the FMS filter can be shown to be comparable to the IMS filter after the effects of a couple of temporary uncertainties have completely disappeared

Dimeric configuration of SeqA protein bound to a pair of hemi-methylated GATC sequences

The binding of SeqA protein to hemi-methylated GATC sequences (hemi-sites) regulates chromosome initiation and the segregation of replicated chromosome in Escherichia coli. We have used atomic force microscopy to examine the architecture of SeqA and the mode of binding of one molecule of SeqA to a pair of hemi-sites in aqueous solution. SeqA has a bipartite structure composed of a large and a small lobe. Upon binding of a SeqA molecule to a pair of hemi-sites, the larger lobe becomes visibly separated into two DNA binding domains, each of which binds to one hemi-site. The two DNA binding domains are held together by association between the two multimerization domains that make up the smaller lobe. The binding of each DNA binding domain to a hemi-site leads to bending of the bound DNA inwards toward the bound protein. In this way, SeqA adopts a dimeric configuration when bound to a pair of hemi-sites. Mutational analysis of the multimerization domain indicates that, in addition to multimerization of SeqA polypeptides, this domain contributes to the ability of SeqA to bind to a pair of hemi-sites and to its cooperative behavior

Correction to: Transmission dynamics and control of two epidemic waves of SARS-CoV-2 in South Korea

Background After relaxing social distancing measures, South Korea experienced a resurgent second epidemic wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we aimed to identify the transmission dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and assess the impact of COVID-19 case finding and contact tracing in each epidemic wave. Methods We collected data on COVID-19 cases published by local public health authorities in South Korea and divided the study into two epidemic periods (19 January–19 April 2020 for the first epidemic wave and 20 April–11 August 2020 for the second epidemic wave). To identify changes in the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, the daily effective reproductive number (Rt) was estimated using the illness onset of the cases. Furthermore, to identify the characteristics of each epidemic wave, frequencies of cluster types were measured, and age-specific transmission probability matrices and serial intervals were estimated. The proportion of asymptomatic cases and cases with unknown sources of infection were also estimated to assess the changes of infections identified as cases in each wave. Results In early May 2020, within 2-weeks of a relaxation in strict social distancing measures, Rt increased rapidly from 0.2 to 1.8 within a week and was around 1 until early July 2020. In both epidemic waves, the most frequent cluster types were religious-related activities and transmissions among the same age were more common. Furthermore, children were rarely infectors or infectees, and the mean serial intervals were similar (~ 3 days) in both waves. The proportion of asymptomatic cases at presentation increased from 22% (in the first wave) to 27% (in the second wave), while the cases with unknown sources of infection were similar in both waves (22 and 24%, respectively). Conclusions Our study shows that relaxing social distancing measures was associated with increased SARS-CoV-2 transmission despite rigorous case findings in South Korea. Along with social distancing measures, the enhanced contact tracing including asymptomatic cases could be an efficient approach to control further epidemic waves.This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Korean Ministry of Education (NRF-2020R1I1A3066471). The funder of the study had no role in study design, analysis, interpretation of the data, or writing of the report

ATAD5 restricts R-loop formation through PCNA unloading and RNA helicase maintenance at the replication fork

R-loops are formed when replicative forks collide with the transcriptional machinery and can cause genomic instability. However, it is unclear how R-loops are regulated at transcription-replication conflict (TRC) sites and how replisome proteins are regulated to prevent R-loop formation or mediate R-loop tolerance. Here, we report that ATAD5, a PCNA unloader, plays dual functions to reduce R-loops both under normal and replication stress conditions. ATAD5 interacts with RNA helicases such as DDX1, DDX5, DDX21 and DHX9 and increases the abundance of these helicases at replication forks to facilitate R-loop resolution. Depletion of ATAD5 or ATAD5-interacting RNA helicases consistently increases R-loops during the S phase and reduces the replication rate, both of which are enhanced by replication stress. In addition to R-loop resolution, ATAD5 prevents the generation of new R-loops behind the replication forks by unloading PCNA which, otherwise, accumulates and persists on DNA, causing a collision with the transcription machinery. Depletion of ATAD5 reduces transcription rates due to PCNA accumulation. Consistent with the role of ATAD5 and RNA helicases in maintaining genomic integrity by regulating R-loops, the corresponding genes were mutated or downregulated in several human tumors

Observation of out-of-plane vibrations in few-layer graphene

We report the observation of layer breathing mode (LBM) vibrations in few-layer graphene (FLG) samples of thickness from 2 to 6 layers, exhibiting both Bernal (AB) and rhombohedral (ABC) stacking order. The LBM vibrations are identified using a Raman combination band lying around 1720 cm-1. From double resonance theory, we identify the feature as the LOZO' combination mode of the out-of-plane LBM (ZO') and the in-plane longitudinal optical mode (LO). The LOZO' Raman band is found to exhibit multiple peaks, with a unique line shape for each layer thickness and stacking order. These complex line shapes of the LOZO'-mode arise both from the material-dependent selection of different phonons in the double-resonance Raman process and from the detailed structure of the different branches of LBM in FLG.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, supplemental material include

L’effet de l’identité du consommateur sur les stratégies marketing

Au sein de cette thèse, j’examine l’influence de l’identité du consommateur (ex. matérialisme, construction de soi) sur les stratégies marketing ciblant les jeunes consommateurs (millénaire).Dans l’Essai 1, j’explore comment les consommateurs matérialistes peuvent être encouragés à agir de manière pro-sociale en actionnant leur motivation de recherche de prestige pendant la consommation de produits de luxe et comment les marques de luxe peuvent maximiser la participation des consommateurs via des campagnes de cause-related marketing centrées sur le produit.Dans l’Essai 2, je déploie la théorie des coûts d’interaction sociale plus bas pour étudier les effets de l’individualisme (vs. collectivisme) sur le choix de répondre à son besoin d’appartenance via l’interaction sociale digitalement-médiée.In this dissertation, I examine the influence of consumer identity (e.g., materialism, self-construal) on marketing strategy targeting young consumers (i.e., millennials).In Essay 1, I explore how materialistic consumers can be nudged to act prosocially by leveraging their status-seeking motivations in the context of luxury consumption, and luxury brands will maximize participation of consumers by utilizing product-linked cause-related marketing (CRM) campaigns.In Essay 2, I investigate the effects of individualism (vs. collectivism) on preferences for meeting belonging needs through digitally mediated social interaction, through the lens of lower social interaction costs

Cause-related marketing of luxury brands: Nudging materialists to act prosocially

© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLCAcross four experiments, we show that materialists' willingness to engage in cause-related marketing (CRM) depends on the type of campaign: product-linked (brand linked to a cause through limited-edition products) or donation-linked (direct donations to a charitable cause). Materialists are more willing to engage in product-linked than donation-linked campaigns, whereas nonmaterialists show the opposite pattern. The effect for materialists is driven by the status-signaling qualities that luxury products convey and is eliminated for value brands and when materialists' need for status is momentarily satiated. This study shows that materialists can be nudged to behave prosocially by leveraging their status-seeking motivations in the context of luxury consumption, and luxury brands will maximize participation by utilizing product-linked CRM campaigns.N