DONA Detector: Further Improvements and Evaluation for Field Applications

The DONA neutron spectrometer concept is based on the measurement of neutron induced activity in a series of small metal disks that have been exposed to a neutron field. The induced activity is measured and the neutron spectrum is calculated using and unfolding technique, based on environmental neutron spectra. The novelty of the approach lies in the concept as such, including usage of carefully selected metal disks arranged in a holder, high performance gamma-ray spectrometry and spectrum unfolding using a library of environmental neutron spectra. This report covers the IRMM exploratory research prolongation project for 2006 and now environmental neutron fields with considerably lower neutron fluence rates are used. The result shows that after further refinement of the detector device and the data evaluation program the detector can very well be used for environmental neutron fluence measurements. Tests were done at PTB, Germany, using their calibrated neutron source and at the MOX fuel fabrication plant Belgonuclearire in Mol, Belgium.JRC.D.4-Isotope measurement

A public transport based crowdshipping concept: Results of a field test in Denmark

Increasing e-commerce and accompanying last mile delivery traffic challenges cities worldwide in terms of congestion, emissions, and road safety. This paper presents the main results of a full-scale field test of a public transport based crowdshipping concept aiming to address these challenges, by utilizing passenger flow to reduce the amount of delivery vehicles entering central city districts. The aim of this work was to assess adoption potential as well as the practical and conceptual aspects that may affect this. The test took place in Denmark's capital region and northern Jutland over a two-month period, in which 28 automated parcel lockers (APLs) were placed at public transport stations/stops. Passengers were rewarded for bringing along empty test parcels on their trips, from APL to APL via an app developed for the purpose. Along with the app data, pre- and post-survey data was captured. The practical viability of the concept was validated from a user perspective, with a high degree of post-measure acceptance. Regression results show that ease of interacting with the service affected acceptance of the tested concept, but not the intention to participate in a future realized concept. Perceived behavioural control was the most important predictor of intention, acceptance and behaviour during the trial. Our results highlight the relevancy of contextualizing and supplementing intention as a practice-based measure for adoption propensity

Circulation and Oxygen Distribution in the Tropical Atlantic Cruise No. 80, Leg 1; October 26 to November 23, 2009 Mindelo (Cape Verde) to Mindelo (Cape Verde)

METEOR cruise 80/1 was a contribution to the SFB 754 “Climate-Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean”. Shipboard, glider and moored observations are used to study the temporal and spatial variability of physical and biogeochemical parameters within the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) of the tropical North Atlantic. As part of the BMBF “Nordatlantik” project, it further focuses on the equatorial current system including the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) and intermediate currents below. During the cruise, hydrographic station observations were performed using a CTD/O2 rosette, including water sampling for salinity, oxygen, nutrients and other biogeochemical tracers. Underway current measurements were successfully carried out with the 75 kHz ADCP borrowed from R/V POSEIDON during the first part of the cruise, and R/V METEOR’s 38 kHz ADCP during the second part. During M80/1, an intensive mooring program was carried out with 8 mooring recoveries and 8 mooring deployments. Right at the beginning of the cruise, a multidisciplinary mooring near the Cape Verde Islands was recovered and redeployed. Within the framework of SFB 754, two moorings with CTD/O2 profilers were recovered and redeployed with other instrumentation in the center and at the southern rim of the OMZ of the tropical North Atlantic. The equatorial mooring array as part of BMBF “North Atlantic” project consists of 5 current meter moorings along 23°W between 2°S and 2°N. It is aimed at quantifying the variability of the thermocline water supply toward the equatorial cold tongue which develops east of 10°W during boreal summer. Several glider missions were performed during the cruise. One glider was recovered that was deployed two months earlier. Another glider was deployed for two short term missions, near the equator for about 8 days and near 8°N for one day. This glider was equipped with a new microstructure probe in addition to standard sensors, i.e. CTD/O2, chlorophyll and turbidity

The consensus molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequently lethal disease with heterogeneous outcomes and drug responses. To resolve inconsistencies among the reported gene expression-based CRC classifications and facilitate clinical translation, we formed an international consortium dedicated to large-scale data sharing and analytics across expert groups. We show marked interconnectivity between six independent classification systems coalescing into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs) with distinguishing features: CMS1 (microsatellite instability immune, 14%), hypermutated, microsatellite unstable and strong immune activation; CMS2 (canonical, 37%), epithelial, marked WNT and MYC signaling activation; CMS3 (metabolic, 13%), epithelial and evident metabolic dysregulation; and CMS4 (mesenchymal, 23%), prominent transforming growth factor-beta activation, stromal invasion and angiogenesis. Samples with mixed features (13%) possibly represent a transition phenotype or intratumoral heterogeneity. We consider the CMS groups the most robust classification system currently available for CRC-with clear biological interpretability-and the basis for future clinical stratification and subtype-based targeted interventions

Muscle Dystroglycan Organizes the Postsynapse and Regulates Presynaptic Neurotransmitter Release at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction

International audienceBACKGROUND: The Dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) comprises dystrophin, dystroglycan, sarcoglycan, dystrobrevin and syntrophin subunits. In muscle fibers, it is thought to provide an essential mechanical link between the intracellular cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix and to protect the sarcolemma during muscle contraction. Mutations affecting the DGC cause muscular dystrophies. Most members of the DGC are also concentrated at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), where their deficiency is often associated with NMJ structural defects. Hence, synaptic dysfunction may also intervene in the pathology of dystrophic muscles. Dystroglycan is a central component of the DGC because it establishes a link between the extracellular matrix and Dystrophin. In this study, we focused on the synaptic role of Dystroglycan (Dg) in Drosophila. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We show that Dg was concentrated postsynaptically at the glutamatergic NMJ, where, like in vertebrates, it controls the concentration of synaptic Laminin and Dystrophin homologues. We also found that synaptic Dg controlled the amount of postsynaptic 4.1 protein Coracle and alpha-Spectrin, as well as the relative subunit composition of glutamate receptors. In addition, both Dystrophin and Coracle were required for normal Dg concentration at the synapse. In electrophysiological recordings, loss of postsynaptic Dg did not affect postsynaptic response, but, surprisingly, led to a decrease in glutamate release from the presynaptic site. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Altogether, our study illustrates a conservation of DGC composition and interactions between Drosophila and vertebrates at the synapse, highlights new proteins associated with this complex and suggests an unsuspected trans-synaptic function of Dg

The D299G/T399I Toll-Like Receptor 4 Variant Associates with Body and Liver Fat: Results from the TULIP and METSIM Studies

BACKGROUND: Toll-like-receptor 4 (TLR) is discussed to provide a molecular link between obesity, inflammation and insulin resistance. Genetic studies with replications in non-diabetic individuals in regard to their fat distribution or insulin resistance according to their carrier status of a common toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) variant (TLR4(D299G/T399I)) are still lacking. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis in individuals phenotyped for prediabetic traits as body fat composition (including magnetic resonance imaging), blood glucose levels and insulin resistance (oral glucose tolerance testing, euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp), according to TLR4 genotype determined by candidate SNP analyses (rs4986790). We analyzed N = 1482 non-diabetic individuals from the TÜF/TULIP cohort (South Germany, aged 39±13 y, BMI 28.5±7.9, mean±SD) and N = 5327 non-diabetic participants of the METSIM study (Finland, males aged 58±6 y, BMI 26.8±3.8) for replication purposes. German TLR4(D299G/T399I) carriers had a significantly increased body fat (XG in rs4986790: +6.98%, p = 0.03, dominant model, adjusted for age, gender) and decreased insulin sensitivity (XG: -15.3%, Matsuda model, p = 0.04; XG: -20.6%, p = 0.016, clamp; both dominant models adjusted for age, gender, body fat). In addition, both liver fat (AG: +49.7%; p = 0.002) and visceral adipose tissue (AG: +8.2%; p = 0.047, both adjusted for age, gender, body fat) were significantly increased in rs4986790 minor allele carriers, and the effect on liver fat remained significant also after additional adjustment for visceral fat (p = 0.014). The analysis in METSIM confirmed increased body fat content in association with the rare G allele in rs4986790 (AG: +1.26%, GG: +11.0%; p = 0.010, additive model, adjusted for age) and showed a non-significant trend towards decreased insulin sensitivity (AG: -0.99%, GG: -10.62%). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: TLR4(D299G/T399I) associates with increased total body fat, visceral fat, liver fat and decreased insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic Caucasians and may contribute to diabetes risk. This finding supports the role of TLR4 as a molecular link between obesity and insulin resistance

The Consensus Molecular Subtypes of Colorectal Cancer

Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use -- https://www.nature.com/authors/policies/license.html#termsColorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequently lethal disease with heterogeneous outcomes and drug responses. To resolve inconsistencies among the reported gene expression-based CRC classifications and facilitate clinical translation, we formed an international consortium dedicated to large-scale data sharing and analytics across expert groups. We show marked interconnectivity between six independent classification systems coalescing into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) with distinguishing features: CMS1 (MSI Immune, 14%), hypermutated, microsatellite unstable, strong immune activation; CMS2 (Canonical, 37%), epithelial, chromosomally unstable, marked WNT and MYC signaling activation; CMS3 (Metabolic, 13%), epithelial, evident metabolic dysregulation; and CMS4 (Mesenchymal, 23%), prominent transforming growth factor β activation, stromal invasion, and angiogenesis. Samples with mixed features (13%) possibly represent a transition phenotype or intra-tumoral heterogeneity. We consider the CMS groups the most robust classification system currently available for CRC - with clear biological interpretability - and the basis for future clinical stratification and subtype-based targeted interventions

Transport Organisation at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in Geel (BE)

The transport organisation of even small quantities of radioactive material is a complex field including many technical (packaging) and administrative (regulations, licensing, fissile material accountancy, notifications) issues. IRMM has introduced a transport organisation system that enhances safety and security. The system is based on the clear definition of responsibilities, the dispatch via a designated packaging and storage room with access control and three independent radiation and contamination checks. This presentation details the transport organisation and quality control measures at IRMM and shares experiences and problems encountered with shipping of small quantities of fissile material due to the numerous applicable regulations.JRC.D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel

Activation cross sections and isomeric cross section ratios in neutron induced reactions on Cr-, Fe-, and Ni-Isotopes in the energy range 9 to 21 MeV

A knowledge of cross sections of neutron induced reactions on the structural materials Cr, Fe and Ni is important for practical applications in fusion reactor technology as well as for testing nuclear models. In the present study excitation functions were measured for the 50Cr(n,pn+np+d)49y, 52Cr(n,2ni1Cr, 52Cr(n,pi2y, 53Cr(n,pi3y 53Cr(n,pn+np+d)52y, 54Cr(n,p)54y 54Cr(n,pn+np+di3y, 54Cr(n,ui1Ti, 54pe(n,2n)53pe, 54pe(n,t)52Mn, 58Ni(n,ui5pe, 58Ni(n,pu+uPi4Mn and 62Ni(n,u)59pe reactions from 9 to 21 MeY. In addition, isomeric cross section ratios were also measured for the isomeric pairs formed in 54pe(n,2n)53m,gPe and 54pe(n,t+dn)52m,gMn processes. Use was made of the activation technique. The radioactivity was measured via highresolution gamma-ray and X-ray spectrometry, the latter in combination with radiochemical separation and preparation of thin samples. Monoenergetic neutrons produced via the 2H(d,niHe reaction at the FZ Julich and the 3H(d,n)4He reaction at the IRMM at Geel, Belgium, were used to irradiate samples of metallic natural chromium, iron and nickel as well as samples of enriched 53Cr203, 54Cr203 and 54Pe203' The neutron flux density was determined via the 27AI(n,p)27Mg, 27AI(n,u)24Na, 56pe(n,p)56Mn and 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb monitor reactions. A pneumatic sample transport system was installed at Geel to enable measurements of short-lived reaction products. This system was successfully applied to the determination of reaction products with half-lives ~ 10 seconds, For all the studied reactions substantial new information was obtained and the present data should contribute appreciably to solving large discrepancies in the major evaluations for most of the reactions. For the (n.p) and (n.np) reactions on the four stable Cr-isotopes, viz, 50Cr, 52Cr, 53Cr and 54Cr, a systematic trend in the excitation functions could be observed which is ascribed to the Q-values of the reactions. The isomeric cross section ratio for the 54pe(n,2n)53m,gPe reaction increases with the increasing neutron energy whereas the ratio for the 54pe(n,t+dn)52m,gMn reaction decreases with the increasing neutron energy. These trends are explained in terms of the involved spins of the respective nuclides. The experimentally determined cross sections and isomeric cross section ratios were compared with the results of nuclear model calculations carried out using the code STAPRE-H, The aim was to test the underlying models. STAPRE-H uses the HauserFeshbach formula for the equilibrium and the Exciton or Geometry Dependent Hybrid (GDH) Model for the pre-equilibrium (PE) contribution. Neutron, proton and alpha emission were taken into account. The influence of the PE contribution on the cross section was investigated with the two PE models and by varying the PM parameter in the Exciton Model. Most of the reactions could be described by the model calculation with deviations of ± 10 % to the experiment. This shows that the underlying models can reproduce the excitation functions satisfactorily, provided the input parameters are well chosen