255 research outputs found
Exploring nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses in Tara Oceans microbial metagenomes
Nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) constitute a group of eukaryotic viruses that can have crucial ecological roles in the sea by accelerating the turnover of their unicellular hosts or by causing diseases in animals. To better characterize the diversity, abundance and biogeography of marine NCLDVs, we analyzed 17 metagenomes derived from microbial samples (0.2–1.6 μm size range) collected during the Tara Oceans Expedition. The sample set includes ecosystems under-represented in previous studies, such as the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) and Indian Ocean lagoons. By combining computationally derived relative abundance and direct prokaryote cell counts, the abundance of NCLDVs was found to be in the order of 104–105 genomes ml−1 for the samples from the photic zone and 102–103 genomes ml−1 for the OMZ. The Megaviridae and Phycodnaviridae dominated the NCLDV populations in the metagenomes, although most of the reads classified in these families showed large divergence from known viral genomes. Our taxon co-occurrence analysis revealed a potential association between viruses of the Megaviridae family and eukaryotes related to oomycetes. In support of this predicted association, we identified six cases of lateral gene transfer between Megaviridae and oomycetes. Our results suggest that marine NCLDVs probably outnumber eukaryotic organisms in the photic layer (per given water mass) and that metagenomic sequence analyses promise to shed new light on the biodiversity of marine viruses and their interactions with potential hosts
Isolation, Characterization and Lipid-Binding Properties of the Recalcitrant FtsA Division Protein from Escherichia coli
We have obtained milligram amounts of highly pure Escherichia coli division protein FtsA from inclusion bodies with an optimized purification method that, by overcoming the reluctance of FtsA to be purified, surmounts a bottleneck for the analysis of the molecular basis of FtsA function. Purified FtsA is folded, mostly monomeric and interacts with lipids. The apparent affinity of FtsA binding to the inner membrane is ten-fold higher than to phospholipids, suggesting that inner membrane proteins could modulate FtsA-membrane interactions. Binding of FtsA to lipids and membranes is insensitive to ionic strength, indicating that a net contribution of hydrophobic interactions is involved in the association of FtsA to lipid/membrane structures
Measurement of ϒ production in pp collisions at √s = 2.76 TeV
The production of Ï’(1S), Ï’(2S) and Ï’(3S)
mesons decaying into the dimuon final state is studied with
the LHCb detector using a data sample corresponding to an
integrated luminosity of 3.3 pb−1 collected in proton–proton
collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 2.76 TeV. The
differential production cross-sections times dimuon branching
fractions are measured as functions of the Ï’ transverse
momentum and rapidity, over the ranges pT < 15 GeV/c
and 2.0 < y < 4.5. The total cross-sections in this kinematic
region, assuming unpolarised production, are measured to be
σ (pp → ϒ(1S)X) × B
ϒ(1S)→μ+μ−
= 1.111 ± 0.043 ± 0.044 nb,
σ (pp → ϒ(2S)X) × B
ϒ(2S)→μ+μ−
= 0.264 ± 0.023 ± 0.011 nb,
σ (pp → ϒ(3S)X) × B
ϒ(3S)→μ+μ−
= 0.159 ± 0.020 ± 0.007 nb,
where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic
Study of the doubly charmed tetraquark T+cc
Quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force, describes interactions of coloured quarks and gluons and the formation of hadronic matter. Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. Particles with an alternative quark content are known as exotic states. Here a study is reported of an exotic narrow state in the D0D0π+ mass spectrum just below the D*+D0 mass threshold produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar T+cc tetraquark with a quark content of ccu⎯⎯⎯d⎯⎯⎯ and spin-parity quantum numbers JP = 1+. Study of the DD mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell D*+ mesons is consistent with the observed D0π+ mass distribution. To analyse the mass of the resonance and its coupling to the D*D system, a dedicated model is developed under the assumption of an isoscalar axial-vector T+cc state decaying to the D*D channel. Using this model, resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are determined to reveal important information about the nature of the T+cc state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed
Process simulation and life cycle assessment of converting autoclaved municipal solid waste into butanol and ethanol as transport fuels
In 2015/2016, the total municipal solid waste (MSW) collected by local authority in the U.K. was 26 million tonnes and over 57% is still put into landfill or incinerated. MSW is a promising feedstock for bio-butanol production as it has a high lignocellulosic fibre content such as paper, wood, and food waste, about 50 wt% of a typical MSW stream. The study evaluates acetone, butanol, ethanol and hydrogen production from autoclaved municipal solid waste feedstock. Life cycle assessment is undertaken to evaluate the acetone, butanol, ethanol and hydrogen production process, considering cogeneration of heat and power from residual biogenic waste based on experimental data and process modelling. Acetone, butanol, and ethanol product yield can be achieved at 12.2 kg butanol, 1.5 kg ethanol, 5.7 kg acetone, and 0.9 kg hydrogen per tonne MSW. The product yield is relatively low compared to other lignocellulosic feedstocks primarily because of the lower hydrolysis yield (38% for glucose) achieved in this study; however, hydrolysis yields could be improved in future optimisation work. The conversion shows a net primary energy demand of −1.11 MJ/MJ liquid biofuels (butanol and ethanol) and net greenhouse gas emission of −12.57 g CO 2 eq/MJ liquid biofuels, achieving a greenhouse gas reduction of 115% compared to gasoline comparator
Decentralization and public assistance 1983
Judging the coherence of welfare facilities in the public assistance.
Frequency of contacts with assistance / reason for contact, kind of problems / kind of assisting institution / previously consulted institutions/ why was respondent not adequately helped there / experiences with being sent to other institutions / own initiatives, coping behaviour / evaluation of different kinds of public assistance
Background variables: basic characteristics/ household characteristic
- …