Star forming regions of the southern galaxy

A catalog of southern dust cloud properties is being compiled to aid in the planning and analysis of radio spectral line surveys in the southern hemisphere. Ultimately, images of dust temperature and column density will be produced. For the interim, a list of the 60 and 100 micron fluxes was prepared for the cores and adjacent backgrounds of 65 prominent dust clouds. Dust temperatures and column densities were derived

Combinaison de codeurs par algorithme génétique : Application à la vérification du locuteur

Le domaine de la vérification du locuteur regroupe les applications pour lesquelles on désire identifier l'identité d'une personne à partir de sa voix. Le champ d'application couvre de nombreux secteurs tels que l'accès sécurisé, les transactions téléphoniques, la surveillance, l'indexation audio ou encore l'expertise judiciaire. Notre étude porte sur l'étape d'extraction de caractéristiques du système de reconnaissance du locuteur. Ce module a pour fonction d'extraire du signal de parole les informations pertinentes du point de vue de la discrimination inter-locuteur. Nous proposons dans cet article d'utiliser un algorithme génétique pour optimiser un système d'extraction de caractéristiques adapté à la reconnaissance du locuteur. La méthode proposée permet d'obtenir une amélioration significative du taux de reconnaissance sur la base Nist SRE 2005

Lattice diffusion and surface segregation of B during growth of SiGe heterostructures by molecular beam epitaxy: effect of Ge concentration and biaxial stress

Si1-xGex/Si1-yGey/Si(100) heterostructures grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) were used in order to study B surface segregation during growth and B lattice diffusion. Ge concentration and stress effects were separated. Analysis of B segregation during growth shows that: i) for layers in epitaxy on (100)Si), B segregation decreases with increasing Ge concentration, i.e. with increased compressive stress, ii) for unstressed layers, B segregation increases with Ge concentration, iii) at constant Ge concentration, B segregation increases for layers in tension and decreases for layers in compression. The contrasting behaviors observed as a function of Ge concentration in compressively stressed and unstressed layers can be explained by an increase of the equilibrium segregation driving force induced by Ge additions and an increase of near-surface diffusion in compressively stressed layers. Analysis of lattice diffusion shows that: i) in unstressed layers, B lattice diffusion coefficient decreases with increasing Ge concentration, ii) at constant Ge concentration, the diffusion coefficient of B decreases with compressive biaxial stress and increases with tensile biaxial stress, iii) the volume of activation of B diffusion () is positive for biaxial stress while it is negative in the case of hydrostatic pressure. This confirms that under a biaxial stress the activation volume is reduced to the relaxation volume

An application of hybrid life cycle assessment as a decision support framework for green supply chains

In an effort to achieve sustainable operations, green supply chain management has become an important area for firms to concentrate on due to its inherent involvement with all the processes that provide foundations to successful business. Modelling methodologies of product supply chain environmental assessment are usually guided by the principles of life cycle assessment (LCA). However, a review of the extant literature suggests that LCA techniques suffer from a wide range of limitations that prevent a wider application in real-world contexts; hence, they need to be incorporated within decision support frameworks to aid environmental sustainability strategies. Thus, this paper contributes in understanding and overcoming the dichotomy between LCA model development and the emerging practical implementation to inform carbon emissions mitigation strategies within supply chains. Therefore, the paper provides both theoretical insights and a practical application to inform the process of adopting a decision support framework based on a LCA methodology in a real-world scenario. The supply chain of a product from the steel industry is considered to evaluate its environmental impact and carbon ‘hotspots’. The study helps understanding how operational strategies geared towards environmental sustainability can be informed using knowledge and information generated from supply chain environmental assessments, and for highlighting inherent challenges in this process

Optimizing high-flow nasal cannula flow settings in adult hypoxemic patients based on peak inspiratory flow during tidal breathing

Cànula nasal d'alt flux; Hipoxèmia; Flux inspiratori màximCánula nasal de alto flujo; Hipoxemia; Flujo inspiratorio máximoHigh-flow nasal cannula; Hypoxemia; Peak inspiratory flowBackground Optimal flow settings during high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy are unknown. We investigated the optimal flow settings during HFNC therapy based on breathing pattern and tidal inspiratory flows in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). Methods We conducted a prospective clinical study in adult hypoxemic patients treated by HFNC with a fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) ≥ 0.4. Patient’s peak tidal inspiratory flow (PTIF) was measured and HFNC flows were set to match individual PTIF and then increased by 10 L/min every 5–10 min up to 60 L/min. FIO2 was titrated to maintain pulse oximetry (SpO2) of 90–97%. SpO2/FIO2, respiratory rate (RR), ROX index [(SpO2/FIO2)/RR], and patient comfort were recorded after 5–10 min on each setting. We also conducted an in vitro study to explore the relationship between the HFNC flows and the tracheal FIO2, peak inspiratory and expiratory pressures. Results Forty-nine patients aged 58.0 (SD 14.1) years were enrolled. At enrollment, HFNC flow was set at 45 (38, 50) L/min, with an FIO2 at 0.62 (0.16) to obtain an SpO2/FIO2 of 160 (40). Mean PTIF was 34 (9) L/min. An increase in HFNC flows up to two times of the individual patient’s PTIF, incrementally improved oxygenation but the ROX index plateaued with HFNC flows of 1.34–1.67 times the individual PTIF. In the in vitro study, when the HFNC flow was set higher than PTIF, tracheal peak inspiratory and expiratory pressures increased as HFNC flow increased but the FIO2 did not change. Conclusion Mean PTIF values in most patients with AHRF were between 30 and 40 L/min. We observed improvement in oxygenation with HFNC flows set above patient PTIF. Thus, a pragmatic approach to set optimal flows in patients with AHRF would be to initiate HFNC flow at 40 L/min and titrate the flow based on improvement in ROX index and patient tolerance.This study does not have funding/support

The exonuclease Xrn1 activates transcription and translation of mRNAs encoding membrane proteins

The highly conserved 5'-3' exonuclease Xrn1 regulates gene expression in eukaryotes by coupling nuclear DNA transcription to cytosolic mRNA decay. By integrating transcriptome-wide analyses of translation with biochemical and functional studies, we demonstrate an unanticipated regulatory role of Xrn1 in protein synthesis. Xrn1 promotes translation of a specific group of transcripts encoding membrane proteins. Xrnl-dependence for translation is linked to poor structural RNA contexts for translation initiation, is mediated by interactions with components of the translation initiation machinery and correlates with an Xrnl-dependence for mRNA localization at the endoplasmic reticulum, the translation compartment of membrane proteins. Importantly, for this group of mRNAs, Xrn1 stimulates transcription, mRNA translation and decay. Our results uncover a crosstalk between the three major stages of gene expression coordinated by Xrn1 to maintain appropriate levels of membrane proteins

An Investigation into the Mediating Influence of Customer Expertise on the Antecedents and Consequences of Affect within Professional Service Markets

This study examines the mediating influence of consumer expertise on the antecedents and consequences of Affect within a professional services market context. Whilst there is increasing evidence to suggest an empirical link between Affect evoked and satisfaction within such contexts, previous research has largely ignored the role of consumer expertise as a mediating influence. Using a scenario based approach, the objective of the study was to test for multigroup invariance among competing structural models based on the ability of the respondents to form expectation and performance assessments about the service they are receiving. The results indicate that it is important to examine different levels of consumer expertise in detail to better understand how certain characteristics such as experience and qualifications influence the priority and functionality attached to service attributes when making satisfaction judgments within a professional service context. This may in turn have broader implications for our contextual understanding of services