Expression of different traits in beef crossbreeding programs

International audienc

Cork: an historical overview of its use in building construction

This paper is an intimate portrait of cork used as a construction material, in a history that stretches back over millennia. Cork is the outer bark of Quercus suber, the cork oak tree, harvested around once a decade in a process of stripping that does not harm the tree. The unusual combination of physical and chemical properties of cork has led to its exploitation in a broad range of construction materials and components. This paper traces the changing status of cork as a construction material through time and reveals how its use in architecture has evolved. The paper is structured according to three identifiable chronological phases: early uses from Nuragic to pre-industrial times, the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of Modern Architecture, and the mid-twentieth century to the present day. These are illustrated through case studies which are critically appraised and provide a context for addressing the current status of cork as a bio-renewable construction material

Cork Construction Kit

This article reports on the research and development of a radically simple new form of solid, dry-jointed construction made of expanded cork and engineered timber. It has outstanding whole life performance, and the potential to help sustain biodiverse landscapes, and create buildings with exceptionally low whole life carbon emissions. Building blocks made of cork forestry waste interlock for quick and easy assembly, creating buildings that are low-energy to inhabit and simple to disassemble at the end of the building’s life for reuse. The project investigates an architectural language of cork stereotomy as a progressive reimagining of historic dry-stone construction. The research is architect-led and multidisciplinary, undertaken in three steps from 2014 to 2019. Step one was curiosity-driven research, hypothesising and making the Cork Casket. Step two involved detailed design hypotheses, extensive prototyping, and lab testing addressing structure, fire and weathertightness. The Cork Cabin was created and monitored, and the system design established. Step three created Cork House. As the first building of its type, it is permanent, replicable, and designed to fully meet local building codes. Its corbelled profile knits into its site, with sheltering interiors offering a rich sensory living environment. The research confirms the potential for such simple new forms of off-site plant-based construction to help address construction industry challenges relating to whole life environmental sustainability performance, complexity, quality, and productivity

Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal stores

The application of inorganic Phase Change Material thermal stores in sustainable building design in Europe – an on-going research project

COVARIANCE ADJUSTMENT IN STUDIES INVOLVING OBSERVATIONAL FACTORS OR COVARIATES INFLUENCED BY TREATMENTS

We extend the definition of adjusted treatment means in the analysis of covariance to deal with the case where some of the covariates are influenced by treatments or where some of the factors are observational. In these cases, comparison of treatment means adjusted to a common value of the covariate may be inappropriate. Partially adjusted means are defined and it is shown that special cases include the usual adjusted means (adjusted to a common value for each of the covariates) and unadjusted means. In fact, in a multifactorial experiment, one can, by appropriate choice of adjustment, compare adjusted means for one factor but unadjusted means for the second factor. Partially adjusted means can be computed by any linear models software which will estimate linear combinations of the parameters

Correcting the NLRP3 inflammasome deficiency in macrophages from autoimmune NZB mice with exon skipping antisense oligonucleotides

Inflammasomes are molecular complexes activated by infection and cellular stress, leading to caspase-1 activation and subsequent interleukin-1β (IL-1β) processing and cell death. The autoimmune NZB mouse strain does not express NLRP3, a key inflammasome initiator mediating responses to a wide variety of stimuli including endogenous danger signals, environmental irritants and a range of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. We have previously identified an intronic point mutation in the Nlrp3 gene from NZB mice that generates a splice acceptor site. This leads to inclusion of a pseudoexon that introduces an early termination codon and is proposed to be the cause of NLRP3 inflammasome deficiency in NZB cells. Here we have used exon skipping antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) to prevent aberrant splicing of Nlrp3 in NZB macrophages, and this restored both NLRP3 protein expression and NLRP3 inflammasome activity. Thus, the single point mutation leading to aberrant splicing is the sole cause of NLRP3 inflammasome deficiency in NZB macrophages. The NZB mouse provides a model for addressing a splicing defect in macrophages and could be used to further investigate AON design and delivery of AONs to macrophages in vivo

Bifunctional chalcogen linkers for the stepwise generation of multimetallic assemblies and functionalized nanoparticles

The disulfide ligand (SC6H4CO2H-4)2 acts as a simple but versatile linker for a range of group 8 transition metals through reaction of the oxygen donors. This leads to a range of homobimetallic ruthenium and osmium alkenyl compounds, [{M(CH═CHR)(CO)(PPh3)2(O2CC6H4S-4)}2] (M = Ru, Os; R = C6H4Me-4). Additional metal-based functionality can be added through the use of precursors incorporating rhenium bipyridine units (R = (bpy)ReCl(CO)3). The more robust diphosphine ligands in [{Ru(dppm)2(O2CC6H4S-4)}2](2+) (dppm = diphenylphosphinomethane) allow reduction of the disulfide bond with sodium borohydride to yield the thiol complex [Ru(O2CC6H4SH-4)(dppm)2](+). This complex reacts with [AuCl(PPh3)] to afford the bimetallic compound [Ru(dppm)2(O2CC6H4S-4)Au(PPh3)](+). However, an improved route to the same and related heterobimetallic compounds is provided by the reaction of cis-[RuCl2(dppm)2] with [Au(SC6H4CO2H-4)(L)] (L = PPh3, PCy3, PMe3, IDip) in the presence of base and NH4PF6 (IDip = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). The heterotrimetallic compound [Au(SC6H4CO2Ru(dppm)2)2](+) is accessible through the reaction of the homoleptic gold(I) dithiolate [Au(SC6H4CO2H-4)2]PPN (PPN = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium) with cis-[RuCl2(dppm)2]. Without departure from the same methodology, greater complexity can be incorporated into the system to provide the penta- and heptametallic assemblies [(dppf){AuSC6H4CO2Ru(dppm)2}2](2+) and [(dppf){AuSC6H4CO2Os(CH═CH-bpyReCl(CO)3)(CO)(PPh3)2}2]. The same stepwise approach provides the dinuclear organometallic complexes [(L)Au(SC6H4CO2-4)M(CH═CHC6H4Me-4)(CO)(PPh3)2] (M = Ru, Os; L = PPh3, IDip). Complexes containing three metals from different groups of the periodic table [(L)Au(SC6H4CO2-4)M{CH═CH-bpyReCl(CO)3}(CO)(PPh3)2] (M = Ru, Os) can also be prepared, with one ruthenium example (L = PPh3) being structurally characterized. In order to illustrate the versatility of this approach, the synthesis and characterization (IR and NMR spectroscopy, TEM, EDS, and TGA) of the functionalized gold and palladium nanoparticles Au@[SC6H4CO2Ru(dppm)2](+) and Pd@[SC6H4CO2Ru(dppm)2](+) is reported

u-RANIA: a neutron detector based on \mu -RWELL technology

In the framework of the ATTRACT-uRANIA project, funded by the European Community, we are developing an innovative neutron imaging detector based on micro-Resistive WELL ($\mu$ -RWELL) technology. The $\mu$ -RWELL, based on the resistive detector concept, ensuring an efficient spark quenching mechanism, is a highly reliable device. It is composed by two main elements: a readout-PCB and a cathode. The amplification stage for this device is embedded in the readout board through a resistive layer realized by means of an industrial process with DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon). A thin layer of B$_4$C on the copper surface of the cathode allows the thermal neutrons detection through the release of $^7$Li and $\alpha$ particles in the active volume. This technology has been developed to be an efficient and convenient alternative to the $^3$He shortage. The goal of the project is to prove the feasibility of such a novel neutron detector by developing and testing small planar prototypes with readout boards suitably segmented with strip or pad read out, equipped with existing electronics or readout in current mode. Preliminary results from the test with different prototypes, showing a good agreement with the simulation, will be presented together with construction details of the prototypes and the future steps of the project.Comment: Prepared for the INSTR20 Conference Proceeding for JINS

Homogeneous gold catalysis using complexes recovered from waste electronic equipment

Despite the greater awareness of elemental sustainability and the benefits of the circular economy concept, much waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is still destined for landfill. Effective methods for valorizing this waste within our society are therefore imperative. In this contribution, two gold(III) complexes obtained as recovery products from WEEE and their anion metathesis products were investigated as homogenous catalysts. These four recovery products were successfully applied as catalysts for the cyclization of propargylic amides and the condensation of acetylacetone with o-iodoaniline. Impressive activity was also observed in the gold-catalyzed reaction between electron-rich arenes (2-methylfuran, 1,3-dimethoxybenzene, and azulene) and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (methyl vinyl ketone and cyclohexenone). These recovered compounds were also shown to be effective catalysts for the oxidative cross-coupling reaction of aryl silanes and arenes. When employed as Lewis acid catalysts for carbonyl-containing substrates, the WEEE-derived gold complexes could also be recovered at the end of the reaction and reused without loss in catalytic activity, enhancing still further the sustainability of the process. This is the first direct application in homogeneous catalysis of gold recovery products sourced from e-waste