TOSC: an algorithm for the tomography of spotted transit chords

Photometric observations of planetary transits may show localized bumps, called transit anomalies, due to the possible crossing of photospheric starspots. The aim of this work is to analyze the transit anomalies and derive the temperature profile inside the transit belt along the transit direction. We develop the algorithm TOSC, a tomographic inverse-approach tool which, by means of simple algebra, reconstructs the flux distribution along the transit belt. We test TOSC against some simulated scenarios. We find that TOSC provides robust results for light curves with photometric accuracies better than 1~mmag, returning the spot-photosphere temperature contrast with an accuracy better than 100~K. TOSC is also robust against the presence of unocculted spots, provided that the apparent planetary radius given by the fit of the transit light curve is used in place of the true radius. The analysis of real data with TOSC returns results consistent with previous studies

Institutional Confidence in the United States : Attitudes of Secular Americans

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Developing Automated Trading Systems

The purpose of this Interactive Qualifying Project was to design four independent trading systems that operate on different time frames and strategies. After all four systems were developed, they were combined into a system of systems, to which simulated money was allocated based on the quality of each system. The results of these systems will be presented and analyzed individually and together as a system of systems in this report, and the background information needed to understand the work completed in this project will be presented and explaine

miR-146a controls CXCR4 expression in a pathway that involves PLZF and can be used to inhibit HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T lymphocytes

Abstract MicroRNA miR-146a and PLZF are reported as major players in the control of hematopoiesis, immune function and cancer. PLZF is described as a miR-146a repressor, whereas CXCR4 and TRAF6 were identified as miR-146a direct targets in different cell types. CXCR4 is a co-receptor of CD4 molecule that facilitates HIV-1 entry into T lymphocytes and myeloid cells, whereas TRAF6 is involved in immune response. Thus, the role of miR-146a in HIV-1 infection is currently being thoroughly investigated. In this study, we found that PLZF mediates suppression of miR-146a to control increases of CXCR4 and TRAF6 protein levels in human primary CD4 + T lymphocytes. We show that miR-146a upregulation by AMD3100 treatment or PLZF silencing, decreases CXCR4 protein expression and prevents HIV-1 infection of leukemic monocytic cell line and CD4 + T lymphocytes. Our findings improve the prospects of developing new therapeutic strategies to prevent HIV-1 entry via CXCR4 by using the PLZF/miR-146a axis

Bacteriocinas: visión básica y aplicada

Las bacteriocinas, definidas como péptidos antimicrobianos (PAM) son moléculas sintetizadas ribosomalmente, constituidas por 12-100 aminoácidos sintetizados por ciertos microbios y que son liberados extracelularmente para inhibir el crecimiento de otros microbios. Entre las moléculas de PAM, las bacteriocinas son producidas por especies bacterianas Grampositivas y Gramnegativas y se usan para eliminar o inhibir otros procariotas en el medio ambiente. En la actualidad su clasificación se basa en aspectos como mecanismo de acción, localización genética, peso molecular y características químicas y métodos de producción. Las bacteriocinas se han utilizado tradicionalmente como conservantes de alimentos, ya sea agregados o producidos por cultivos iniciadores durante la fermentación. Los estudios en profundidad de unas pocas bacteriocinas seleccionadas han permitido que estas se abran camino y extiendan sus posibilidades de aplicación a nuevos campos de investigación y hayan ampliado sus usos a los campos biomédicos. La capacidad de desarrollar bacteriocinas en antibióticos de próxima generación, junto con el rápido desarrollo en genética y nanotecnología, ha allanado el camino para avances aún más fascinantes, como hacia el desarrollo de nuevas moléculas transportadoras (sistemas de administración) e inclusive el tratamiento del cáncer. Además, se encuentra que algunas bacteriocinas regulan la detección del quórum, lo que sugiere nuevas aplicaciones para este grupo de moléculas

Thyroid markers and body composition predict LDL-cholesterol change in lean healthy women on a ketogenic diet: experimental support for the lipid energy model

Introduction: There is a large heterogeneity in LDL-cholesterol change among individuals adopting ketogenic diets. Interestingly, lean metabolically healthy individuals seem to be particularly susceptible, with an inverse association between body mass index and LDL-cholesterol change. The lipid energy model proposes that, in lean healthy individuals, carbohydrate restriction upregulates systemic lipid trafficking to meet energy demands. To test if anthropometric and energy metabolism markers predict LDL-cholesterol change during carbohydrate restriction. Methods: Ten lean, healthy, premenopausal women who habitually consumed a ketogenic diet for ≥6 months were engaged in a three-phase crossover study consisting of continued nutritional ketosis, suppression of ketosis with carbohydrate reintroduction, and return to nutritional ketosis. Each phase lasted 21 days. The predictive performance of all available relevant variables was evaluated with the linear mixed-effects models. Results: All body composition metrics, free T3 and total T4, were significantly associated with LDL-cholesterol change. In an interaction model with BMI and free T3, both markers were significant independent and interacting predictors of LDL-cholesterol change. Neither saturated fat, HOMA-IR, leptin, adiponectin, TSH, nor rT3 was associated with LDL-cholesterol changes. Discussion: Among lean, healthy women undergoing carbohydrate restriction, body composition and energy metabolism markers are major drivers of LDL-cholesterol change, not saturated fat, consistent with the lipid energy model

Smart Grid Projects in Europe - Lessons Learned and Current Developments

The main goal of this study is to collect a wide inventory of Smart Grid projects in Europe and use project data to support analysis on trends and developments. The report looks into several aspects of the Smart Grids landscape to describe the state of the art of their implementation, the emerging hallmarks of the new electricity system and the foreseeable developments. A key focus of the Report is to describe how Smart Grid projects address and respond to the EU energy policy challenges and to point out the main benefits and beneficiaries. Particular attention is devoted to identifying the most important obstacles to investments and the possible solutions that could help to overcome them. e-book attached. S.N.JRC.F.3-Energy securit