Signalomics: Diversity and Methods of Analysis of Systemic Signals in Plants

We provide a brief definition and history of signals, pointing out how differences in body plan between plants and animals require fundamentally different signaling mechanisms, and then list the diversity of chemical and physical signals along with their pathways of transmission, providing details on molecular signals and focusing on the phloem and xylem as being the main conduits for (rapid) systemic signaling. The two major electrical (action potentials and variation potentials) as well as hydraulic signals are then described. The latter part of the chapter deals with methods of analysis of molecular signals, including accessing the phloem and identifying the array of gene products transported therein. A description is provided of the modern methods used in metabolomics and phenotyping to analyze the metabolic consequences of signal action. Conventional techniques for analyzing electrical and hydraulic signals and their ionic components using electrodes are then furnished. Finally we describe novel techniques developed recently in the animal field using fluorescence to monitor real-time changes in membrane potential, which could be adapted for plants to open up new vistas in our understanding of electrical signals in plants

Wilson line correlators in two-dimensional noncommutative Yang-Mills theory

We study the correlator of two parallel Wilson lines in two-dimensional noncommutative Yang-Mills theory, following two different approaches. We first consider a perturbative expansion in the large-N limit and resum all planar diagrams. The second approach is non-perturbative: we exploit the Morita equivalence, mapping the two open lines on the noncommutative torus (which eventually gets decompacted) in two closed Wilson loops winding around the dual commutative torus. Planarity allows us to single out a suitable region of the variables involved, where a saddle-point approximation of the general Morita expression for the correlator can be performed. In this region the correlator nicely compares with the perturbative result, exhibiting an exponential increase with respect to the momentum p.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure, typeset in JHEP style; some formulas corrected in Sect.3, one reference added, results unchange

Where has all the message gone?

We provide a brief history of polyribosomes, ergosomes, prosomes, informosomes, maternal mRNA, stored mRNA, and RNP particles. Even though most published research focuses on total mRNA rather than polysomal mRNA and often assumes they are synonymous – i.e., if a functional mRNA is present, it must be translated – results from our laboratories comparing polysomal RNA and total mRNA in a range of “normal” issues show that some transcripts are almost totally absent from polysomes while others are almost entirely associated with polysomes. We describe a recent model from yeast showing various destinies for polysomal mRNA once it has been released from polysomes. The main points we want to emphasize are; a) when mRNA leaves polysomes to go to prosomes, P-bodies, stress granules, etc., it is not necessarily destined for degradation – it can be re-utilized; b) “normal” tissue, not just seeds and stressed tissue, contains functional non-polysomal mRNA; c) association of mRNA with different classes of polysomes affects their sub-cellular location and translatability; and d) drawbacks, misinterpretations, and false hopes arise from analysis of total mRNA rather than polysomal mRNA and from presuming that all polysomes are “created equal”

How do patient characteristics influence informal payments for inpatient and outpatient health care in Albania: Results of logit and OLS models using Albanian LSMS 2005

Abstract Background Informal payments for health care are common in most former communist countries. This paper explores the demand side of these payments in Albania. By using data from the Living Standard Measurement Survey 2005 we control for individual determinants of informal payments in inpatient and outpatient health care. We use these results to explain the main factors contributing to the occurrence and extent of informal payments in Albania. Methods Using multivariate methods (logit and OLS) we test three models to explain informal payments: the cultural, economic and governance model. The results of logit models are presented here as odds ratios (OR) and results from OLS models as regression coefficients (RC). Results Our findings suggest differences in determinants of informal payments in inpatient and outpatient care. Generally our results show that informal payments are dependent on certain characteristics of patients, including age, area of residence, education, health status and health insurance. However, they are less dependent on income, suggesting homogeneity of payments across income categories. Conclusions We have found more evidence for the validity of governance and economic models than for the cultural model.</p

Relações de coordenação na cadeia produtiva dos produtos minimamente processados.

Os produtos minimamente processados (PMP) são alimentos práticos e nutritivos e cada vez mais demandados. Sua cadeia produtiva necessita de monitoramento em todos os elos, principalmente quando à qualidade, sanidade e prazo de validade. Este trabalho analisa as relações de coordenação entre os segmentos de produção agrícola, processamento e distribuição. O texto mostra que os processadores de PMP formam cinco grupos estratégicos, cujas dimensões estratégicas principais são custos, preços, qualidade, liderança tecnológica e canais de distribuição e que compreendem basicamente duas diferentes estruturas de governança (a híbrida e a de mercado); esses processadores têm tamanhos diferentes e atendem a diversos canais de distribuição. Os canais de distribuição, que são o varejo moderno, o mercado institucional (restaurantes, caterings, fast-foods, hospitais e hotéis) e canais alternativos de distribuição de PMP (feiras-livres, "sacolões", CEASAs e lojas de conveniência), comandam a dinâmica da cadeia e estabelecem os padrões exigidos para os PMP. Há cada vez mais uma necessidade de certificação de origem, orgânica, qualidade, etc, para que os vários elos possam ter segurança do que adquirem e dar garantias aos consumidores finais. O texto termina com propostas de diretrizes de políticas que podem auxiliar o desenvolvimento dos negócios desta cadeia produtiva, como o comércio local, certificação participativa, criação de redes de fornecimento e marca própria

Digital Propaganda: The Tyranny of Ignorance

© The Author(s) 2018. The existence of propaganda is inexorably bound to the nature of communication and communications technology. Mass communication by citizens in the digital age has been heralded as a means to counter elite propaganda; however, it also provides a forum for misinformation, aggression and hostility. The extremist group Britain First has used Facebook as a way to propagate hostility towards Muslims, immigrants and social security claimants in the form of memes, leading to a backlash from sites antithetical to their message. This article provides a memetic analysis, which addresses persuasion, organisation, political echo chambers and self-correcting online narratives; arguing that propaganda can be best understood as an evolving set of techniques and mechanisms which facilitate the propagation of ideas and actions. This allows the concept to be adapted to fit a changing political and technological landscape and to encompass both propaganda and counter-propaganda in the context of horizontal communications networks

Cold atom Clocks and Applications

This paper describes advances in microwave frequency standards using laser-cooled atoms at BNM-SYRTE. First, recent improvements of the $^{133}$Cs and $^{87}$Rb atomic fountains are described. Thanks to the routine use of a cryogenic sapphire oscillator as an ultra-stable local frequency reference, a fountain frequency instability of $1.6\times 10^{-14}\tau^{-1/2}$ where $\tau$ is the measurement time in seconds is measured. The second advance is a powerful method to control the frequency shift due to cold collisions. These two advances lead to a frequency stability of $2\times 10^{-16}$ at $50,000s for the first time for primary standards. In addition, these clocks realize the SI second with an accuracy of$7\times 10^{-16}$, one order of magnitude below that of uncooled devices. In a second part, we describe tests of possible variations of fundamental constants using$^{87}$Rb and$^{133}$Cs fountains. Finally we give an update on the cold atom space clock PHARAO developed in collaboration with CNES. This clock is one of the main instruments of the ACES/ESA mission which is scheduled to fly on board the International Space Station in 2008, enabling a new generation of relativity tests.Comment: 30 pages, 11 figure

Seasonal fluctuation of lung function in cystic fibrosis:A national register-based study in two northern European populations

Background Many risk factors for lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) display a seasonal pattern yet it is unclear whether this is reflected in seasonal fluctuations in lung function. Methods We conducted a longitudinal study using CF registries in Denmark and the UK. 485 individuals with a median of 103 FEV1 measurements per person and 7622 individuals with a median of nine FEV1 measures per person were included from Denmark and the UK respectively. We estimated the effect of seasonality on percent predicted FEV1 trajectories using mixed effects models whilst adjusting for clinically important covariates. Results We found no significant cyclical seasonal variation in lung function in either country. The maximum variation in percent predicted FEV1 around the yearly average was estimated to be 0.1 percentage points (95%CI 0 to 0.21) and 0.14 percentage points (95%CI 0 to 0.29) in Denmark and the UK, respectively. When considering possible step-like changes between the four seasons, we found that lung function was higher in spring compared to winter in the UK (0.34 percentage points, 95%CI 0.1 to 0.59) though the difference was not of clinical significance. Conclusion In both the UK and Denmark there may be small seasonal changes in lung function but this effect is not of clinical importance

Certificação de produtos orgânicos: obstáculos à implantação de um sistema participativo de garantia na Andaluzia, Espanha.

O trabalho analisa o processo de organização de produtores orgânicos da Andaluzia que estiveram envolvidos em uma tentativa de implantação de um sistema participativo de garantia. Esta iniciativa foi liderada pela administração dessa comunidade autônoma espanhola entre 2006 e 2008. O estudo baseia-se em entrevistas realizadas com atores sociais que estiveram implicados nesse processo, identificando os obstáculos políticos e organizativos que impediram que essa proposta pudesse avançar

Informal payments and intra-household allocation of resources for health care in Albania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Informal payments for health care services can impose financial hardship on households. Many studies have found that the position within the household can influence the decision on how much is spent on each household member. This study analyses the intra-household differences in spending on informal payments for health care services by comparing the resources allocated between household heads, spouses and children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pooled data from two cross sectional surveys, the Albanian Living Standard Measurement Survey 2002 and 2005, are used to analyse both the probability and the amount paid in inpatient and outpatient health care services. A generalised Hausman specification test is used to compare the coefficients of probit and OLS models for nuclear and extended households.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We find that due to the widespread informal payments there are no significant differences between households in the incidence of informal payments for households' members, but there are more differences in the amount paid informally. Results suggest that households strategically allocate their resources on health care by favouring individuals with higher earning potential who have invested more in human capital. Extended households pay higher amounts for spouses with higher education compared to nuclear households. On the other hand, nuclear households choose to pay higher amounts for children with a higher level of education compared to extended households.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The differences between households should be taken into account by public policies which should compensate this by redistribution mechanisms targeting disadvantaged groups. Governments should implement effective measures to deal with informal patient payments.</p> <p><b>JEL Codes: </b>I10, I19, D10</p