A rule-based functional-structural model of rice considering source and sink functions

As a first step towards a generic genotype-phenotype model of rice, we present here a model of the growth and morphology of rice in combination with ecophysiological processes using the technique of functional-structural plant modelling (FSPM) and the interactive modelling platform GroIMP along with the graph-based Relational Growth Grammar formalism. The model constitutes a simple yet functionally coherent phenotype model of rice, consisting of a set of morphogenetic RGG rules describing an “average” developmental course and final morphology, partially linking yield traits to processes (tiller and grain number, stem length, grain filling rate, grain weight)

Using a Full Spectral Raytracer for Calculating Light Microclimate in Functional-Structural Plant Modelling

Raytracers that allow the spatially explicit calculation of the fate of light beams in a 3D scene allow the consideration of shading, reected and transmitted light in functional-structural plant models (FSPM). However, the spectrum of visible light also has an e ect on cellular and growth processes. This recently created the interest to extend this modelling paradigm allowing the representation of detailed spectra instead of monochromatic or white light and to extend existing FSPM platforms accordingly. In this study a raytracer is presented which supports the full spectrum of light and which can be used to compute spectra from arbitrary light sources and their transformation at the organ level by absorption,reection and transmission in a virtual canopy. The raytracer was implemented as an extension of the FSPM platform GroIMP

DEVELOPMENT OF VIRTUAL EVENT MARKETING

In the last few years the Pichia pastoris expression system has been gaining more and more interest for the expression of recombinant proteins. Many groups have employed fermentation technology in their investigations because the system is fairly easy to scale up and suitable for the production in the milligram to gram range. A large number of heterologous proteins from different sources has been expressed, but the fermentation process technology has been investigated to a lesser extent. A large number of fermentations are carried out in standard bioreactors that may be insufficiently equipped to meet the demands of high-cell-density fermentations of methylotrophic yeasts. In particular, the lack of on-line methanol analysis leads to fermentation protocols that may impair the optimal expression of the desired products. We have used a commercially available methanol sensor to investigate in detail the effects of supplementary glycerol feeding while maintaining a constant methanol concentration during the induction of a Mut+ strain of Pichia pastoris. Specific glycerol feed rates in the range of 38-4.2 mg × g(exp -1) × h(exp -1) (mg glycerol per gram fresh weight per hour) were investigated. Expression of the recombinant scFv antibody fragment was only observed at specific feed rates below 6 mg × g(exp -1) × h(exp -1). At low specific feed rates, growth was even lower than with methanol as the sole carbon source and the harvest expression level of the scFv was only half of that found in the control fermentation. These results show that glycerol inhibits expression driven by the AOX1 promoter even at extremely limited availability and demonstrate the benefits of on-line methanol control in Pichia fermentation research

Sensible introduction of MR-guided radiotherapy: A warm plea for the RCT

Magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) is the newest face of technology within a field long-characterized by continual technologic advance. MRgRT may offer improvement in the therapeutic index of radiation by offering novel planning types, like online adaptation, and improved image guidance, but there is a paucity of randomized data or ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to demonstrate clinical gains. Strong clinical evidence is needed to confirm the theoretical advantages of MRgRT and for the rapid dissemination of (and reimbursement for) appropriate use. Although some future evidence for MRgRT may come from large registries and non-randomized studies, RCTs should make up the core of this future data, and should be undertaken with thoughtful preconception, endpoints that incorporate patient-reported outcomes, and warm collaboration across existing MRgRT platforms. The advance and future success of MRgRT hinges on collaborative pursuit of the RCT

Bank Relationships: Effect on the Availability and Marginal Cost of Credit for Firms in Argentina

This paper provides evidence on what affects the marginal cost and availability of bank credit for firms in Argentina. We study in particular how banks use different pieces of private and public information to screen firms and overcome informational asymmetries in the credit market. While some private information, such as balance sheet data, is transferable, private information generated in relationships is not. To capture the closeness of bank relationships, we resort to the concentration of bank credit and the number of credit lines in a bank. We also consider public information available in the Central de Deudores. The cost of credit is measured using overdrafts, the most expensive line of credit, at the bank that charges the highest rate for overdrafts. We find that the cost of credit is smaller for a firm with a close relationship to the marginal bank. Firms with large assets, a high sales/assets ratio, and a low debt/assets ratio pay a lower interest rate at the margin. A good credit history (no debt arrears and no bounced checks) and collateral also reduce the marginal interest rate. The availability of credit is measured by unused credit lines as a proportion of total liabilities with the main bank. The availability of credit depends positively on a close relationship with the main bank. Large assets, a high return on assets, a high sales/assets ratio, a low debt/assets ratio, a good credit history, and collateral lead to higher credit availability. Our measure of unused credit lines is less ambiguous than traditional measures such as leverage, which may indicate financial distress rather than availability of credit.

FSPM-P: towards a general functional-structural plant model for robust and comprehensive model development

In the last decade, functional-structural plant modelling (FSPM) has become a more widely accepted paradigm in crop and tree production, as 3D models for the most important crops have been proposed. Given the wider portfolio of available models, it is now appropriate to enter the next level in FSPM development, by introducing more efficient methods for model development. This includes the consideration of model reuse (by modularisation), combination and comparison, and the enhancement of existing models. To facilitate this process, standards for design and communication need to be defined and established. We present a first step towards an efficient and general, i.e., not speciesspecific FSPM, presently restricted to annual or bi-annual plants, but with the potential for extension and further generalization. Model structure is hierarchical and object-oriented, with plant organs being the base-level objects and plant individual and canopy the higher-level objects. Modules for the majority of physiological processes are incorporated, more than in other platforms that have a similar aim (e.g., photosynthesis, organ formation and growth). Simulation runs with several general parameter sets adopted from the literature show that the present prototypewas able to reproduce a plausible output range for different crops (rapeseed, barley, etc.) in terms of both the dynamics and final values (at harvest time) of model state variables such as assimilate production, organ biomass, leaf area and architecture

Modified full-face snorkel mask as COVID-19 personal protective equipment: Quantitative results

The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Adapting commercially available full-faced snorkel masks has been proposed as an alternative to narrow the gap in PPE. An advantage of the full-faced snorkel mask design is that it serves two critical purposes: eye and face protection, and high quality air filtration to protect against SARS-CoV-2. We performed quantitative testing on various full-faced snorkel masks with 3D printed adapters that accept commercially available particulate filters, and report on a design that passed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) full-facepiece respirator standards

The Multi-Compartment Vehicle Routing Problem with Flexible Compartment Sizes

   In this paper, a capacitated vehicle routing problem is discussed which occurs in the context of glass waste collection. Supplies of several different product types (glass of different colors) are available at customer locations. The supplies have to be picked up at their locations and moved to a central depot at minimum cost. Different product types may be transported on the same vehicle, however, while being transported they must not be mixed. Technically this is enabled by a specific device, which allows for separating the capacity of each vehicle individually into a limited number of compartments where each compartment can accommodate one or several supplies of the same product type. For this problem, a model formulation and a variable neighborhood search algorithm for its solution are presented. The performance of the proposed heuristic is evaluated by means of extensive numerical experiments. Furthermore, the economic benefits of introducing compartments on the vehicles are investigated