New early Pliocene owls from Langebaanweg, South Africa, with first evidence of Athene south of the Sahara and a new species of Tyto.

The fossiliferous Upper Varswater Formation at Langebaanweg (South Africa) produced remains of at least five species of owls (Strigiformes). Tyto richae sp. nov. is the first palaeospecies of Tytonidae described from an African fossil site, though indeterminate remains referable to the genus Tyto are known from the Middle Miocene of Morocco, the early Pliocene of Ethiopia, and the Pliocene of Tanzania. Athene inexpectata sp. nov. is not only the earliest documented fossil evidence for the genus worldwide, but also the first record of a species of Athene in Africa south of the Sahara. Proportions of its hind limb indicate that At. inexpectata sp. nov. probably has been as terrestrial as its modern relative At. cunicularia. A few additional remains represent the earliest fossil evidence for the genera Asio and Bubo on the African continent, though the poor preservation of these bones prevents more detailed identifications. A distal tibiotarsus of a small owl about the size of At. inexpectata sp. nov. indicates the presence of a fifth, as yet indeterminate, species of owl at Langebaanweg. Biogeographical and palaeoecological implications of this assemblage of owls are discussed

Computational models of melanoma.

Genes, proteins, or cells influence each other and consequently create patterns, which can be increasingly better observed by experimental biology and medicine. Thereby, descriptive methods of statistics and bioinformatics sharpen and structure our perception. However, additionally considering the interconnectivity between biological elements promises a deeper and more coherent understanding of melanoma. For instance, integrative network-based tools and well-grounded inductive in silico research reveal disease mechanisms, stratify patients, and support treatment individualization. This review gives an overview of different modeling techniques beyond statistics, shows how different strategies align with the respective medical biology, and identifies possible areas of new computational melanoma research

CARS - Configurable automotive research simulator

This paper introduces CARS, an open source driving simulator tool for evaluating driver distraction. We present the map editor, the driving simulation tool and the analysis tool included in CARS. Based on initial results from initial user studies we illustrate the effectiveness of CARS in evaluating different secondary tasks (e.g., compare different UIs for navigation systems) with regard to driver distraction. (author's abstract

High-speed detection of DNA translocation in nanopipettes

We present a high-speed electrical detection scheme based on a custom-designed CMOS amplifier which allows the analysis of DNA translocation in glass nanopipettes on a microsecond timescale. Translocation of different DNA lengths in KCl electrolyte provides a scaling factor of the DNA translocation time equal to p = 1.22, which is different from values observed previously with nanopipettes in LiCl electrolyte or with nanopores. Based on a theoretical model involving electrophoresis, hydrodynamics and surface friction, we show that the experimentally observed range of p-values may be the result of, or at least be affected by DNA adsorption and friction between the DNA and the substrate surface

Over-Stretching Tolerant Conductors on Rubber Films by Inkjet-Printing Silver Nanoparticles for Wearables

The necessity to place sensors far away from the processing unit in smart clothes or artificial skins for robots may require conductive wirings on stretchable materials at very low-cost. In this work, we present an easy method to produce wires using only commercially available materials. A consumer grade inkjet printer was used to print a wire of silver nanoparticles with a sheet resistance below 1 W/sq. on a non-pre-strained sheet of elastic silicone. This wire was stretched more than 10,000 times and was still conductive afterwards. The viscoelastic behavior of the substrate results in a temporarily increased resistance that decreases to almost the original value. After over-stretching, the wire is conductive within less than a second. We analyze the swelling of the silicone due to the ink’s solvent and the nanoparticle film on top by microscope and SEM images. Finally, a 60 mm long stretchable conductor was integrated onto wearables, and showed that it can bear strains of up to 300% and recover to a conductivity that allows the operation of an assembled LED assembled at only 1.8 V. These self-healing wires can serve as wiring and binary strain or pressure sensors in sportswear, compression underwear, and in robotic applications.This work has been partially supported the TUM Graduate School (TUM GS), and the European Union through the fellowship H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 794885-SELFSENS. Additionally, this work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Technical University of Munich within the Open Access Publishing Funding Programme

Mixtures between glyphosate formulations and ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in the control of Chloris elata

Chloris elata is an important weed for grain and sugarcane crops. In addition to its aggressiveness, it may show resistance to glyphosate herbicide. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of glyphosate formulations, isolated or in association with ACCase inhibitors, in controlling C. elata (putatively resistant to glyphosate) at different developmental stages. Four experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of glyphosate application under different formulations with ACCase inhibitors, isolated or in mixtures. Applications were carried out at the stages of four fully expanded leaves in Experiment I, four tillers in Experiment II, and at regrowth of the four-tiller plants in Experiments III and IV. Applications of glyphosate isopropylamine salt associated with sethoxydim or clethodim showed to be among the best treatments in Experiments I, II, and III, presenting control scores equal to or greater than 90%. However, not even these treatments could provide successful control in Experiment IV. Moreover, and regardless of the formulation, isolated glyphosate, showed 85% (Experiment III) and 50% (Experiment IV) maximum controls. Associations between glyphosate and ACCase-inhibiting herbicides showed to be effective in controlling C. elata, especially at early developmental stages. In general, isolated herbicides provided lower percentages of control, as well as higher values of dry matter. Sole herbicide applications were not effective in controlling C. elata (putatively resistant to glyphosate), regardless of the developmental stage. Highlights: Mixtures between glyphosate and ACCase-inhibiting have been shown to be effective in C. elata control, especially in the early development stages. Isolated herbicide applications were not effective in controlling C. elata, regardless of the development stage. Mixtures between glyphosate and ACCase-inhibiting is more important in the control than the glyphosate formulation or ACCase-inhibiting used.Chloris elata is an important weed for grain and sugarcane crops. In addition to its aggressiveness, it may show resistance to glyphosate herbicide. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of glyphosate formulations, isolated or in association with ACCase inhibitors, in controlling C. elata (putatively resistant to glyphosate) at different developmental stages. Four experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of glyphosate application under different formulations with ACCase inhibitors, isolated or in mixtures. Applications were carried out at the stages of four fully expanded leaves in Experiment I, four tillers in Experiment II, and at regrowth of the four-tiller plants in Experiments III and IV. Applications of glyphosate isopropylamine salt associated with sethoxydim or clethodim showed to be among the best treatments in Experiments I, II, and III, presenting control scores equal to or greater than 90%. However, not even these treatments could provide successful control in Experiment IV. Moreover, and regardless of the formulation, isolated glyphosate, showed 85% (Experiment III) and 50% (Experiment IV) maximum controls. Associations between glyphosate and ACCase-inhibiting herbicides showed to be effective in controlling C. elata, especially at early developmental stages. In general, isolated herbicides provided lower percentages of control, as well as higher values of dry matter. Sole herbicide applications were not effective in controlling C. elata (putatively resistant to glyphosate), regardless of the developmental stage. Highlights: Mixtures between glyphosate and ACCase-inhibiting have been shown to be effective in C. elata control, especially in the early development stages. Isolated herbicide applications were not effective in controlling C. elata, regardless of the development stage. Mixtures between glyphosate and ACCase-inhibiting is more important in the control than the glyphosate formulation or ACCase-inhibiting used

Mechanistically Coupled PK (MCPK) Model to Describe Enzyme Induction and Occupancy Dependent DDI of Dabrafenib Metabolism.

Dabrafenib inhibits the cell proliferation of metastatic melanoma with the oncogenic BRAF(V600)-mutation. However, dabrafenib monotherapy is associated with pERK reactivation, drug resistance, and consequential relapse. A clinical drug-dose determination study shows increased pERK levels upon daily administration of more than 300 mg dabrafenib. To clarify whether such elevated drug concentrations could be reached by long-term drug accumulation, we mechanistically coupled the pharmacokinetics (MCPK) of dabrafenib and its metabolites. The MCPK model is qualitatively based on in vitro and quantitatively on clinical data to describe occupancy-dependent CYP3A4 enzyme induction, accumulation, and drug-drug interaction mechanisms. The prediction suggests an eight-fold increase in the steady-state concentration of potent desmethyl-dabrafenib and its inactive precursor carboxy-dabrafenib within four weeks upon 150 mg b.d. dabrafenib. While it is generally assumed that a higher dose is not critical, we found experimentally that a high physiological dabrafenib concentration fails to induce cell death in embedded 451LU melanoma spheroids