Locating Particles Accurately in Microscope Images Requires Image-Processing Kernels to be Rotationally Symmetric

Computerized image-analysis routines deployed widely to locate and track the positions of particles in microscope images include several steps where images are convolved with kernels to remove noise. In many common implementations, some kernels are rotationally asymmetric. Here we show that the use of these asymmetric kernels creates significant artifacts, distorting apparent particle positions in a way that gives the artificial appearance of orientational crystalline order, even in such fully-disordered isotropic systems as simple fluids of hard-sphere-like colloids. We rectify this problem by replacing all asymmetric kernels with rotationally-symmetric kernels, which does not impact code performance. We show that these corrected codes locate particle positions properly, restoring measured isotropy to colloidal fluids. We also investigate rapidly-formed colloidal sediments, and with the corrected codes show that these sediments, often thought to be amorphous, may exhibit strong orientational correlations among bonds between neighboring colloidal particles.Engineering and Applied Science

Aberrant Epigenomic Modulation of Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene (NR3C1) in Early Life Stress and Major Depressive Disorder Correlation: Systematic Review and Quantitative Evidence Synthesis

Early life stress (ELS) induced by psychological trauma, child maltreatment, maternal separation, and domestic violence predisposes to psycho-behavioral pathologies during adulthood, namely major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, and bipolar affective disorder. While environmental data are available in illustrating this association, data remain to be established on the epigenomic underpinning of the nexus between ELS and MDD predisposition. Specifically, despite the observed aberrant epigenomic modulation of the NR3C1, a glucocorticoid receptor gene, in early social adversity and social threats in animal and human models, reliable scientific data for intervention mapping in reducing social adversity and improving human health is required. We sought to synthesize the findings of studies evaluating (a) epigenomic modulations, mainly DNA methylation resulting in MDDfollowing ELS, (b) epigenomic modifications associated with ELS, and (c) epigenomic alterations associated with MDD. A systematic review and quantitative evidence synthesis (QES) were utilized with the random effect meta-analytic procedure. The search strategy involved both the PubMed and hand search of relevant references. Of the 1534 studies identified through electronic search, 592 studies were screened, 11 met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the QES, and 5 examined ELS and MDD; 4 studies assessed epigenomic modulation and ELS, while 2 studies examined epigenomic modulations and MDD. The dense DNA methylation of the 1F exon of the NR3C1, implying the hypermethylated region of the glucocorticoid receptor gene, was observed in the nexus between ELS andMDD,common effect size (CES) = 14.96, 95%CI, 10.06–19.85. With respect to epigenomic modulation associated with child ELS, hypermethylation was observed, CES = 23.2%, 95%CI, 8.00–38.48. In addition, marginal epigenomic alteration was indicated in MDD, where hypermethylation was associated with increased risk of MDD, CES = 2.12%, 95%CI, −0.63–4.86. Substantial evidence supports the implication of NR3C1 and environmental interaction, mainly DNA methylation, in the predisposition to MDD following ELS. This QES further supports aberrant epigenomic modulation identified in ELS as well as major depressive episodes involving dysfunctional glucocorticoid-mediated negative feedback as a result of allostatic overload. These findings recommend prospective investigation of social adversity and its predisposition to the MDD epidemic via aberrant epigenomic modulation. Such data will facilitate early intervention mapping in reducing MDD in the United States population

Environmental Radicalism in Public Organizations of the FRG at the Present Stage

This article is devoted to the study of public environmental organizations in Germany. The largest of them are “NABU” and “BUND”, which have existed for a long time. They operate at a high scientific level throughout the country, from mass events and environmental education to study of global environmental problems and the development of ways to solve them. Particular attention is paid to radical environmental organizations such as “Robin Wood”, “Earth First!”, “Earth Liberation Front”and” Animal Liberation Front”. Their activities are concentrated locally, and their methods of solving environmental problems are harder. As a rule, eco-radical protests are aimed at attracting public attention and encouraging the ruling authorities to take measures to change the environmental situation in a particular region. The attitude of the population to such methods of struggle is ambiguous, but no one is indifferent. Despite the peak of activity of these organizations has passed, this does not prevent them from existing, conducting educational activities and attracting new supporters to their ranks, since some of their initiatives remain relevant to this day

Main Directions of Environmental Policy of Greenland at Beginning of XXI Century

The individual directions of Greenland’s environmental policy, which have the greatest impact on the modern ecological situation in the autonomy, are considered. The authors of the work referred to these areas as energy, water resources, waste disposal and pollution control. A description of the development of the selected ecological directions is given, an analysis of their current state is carried out. Greenland’s environmental cooperation with Denmark and the European Union is also analyzed. The basis of the source study base of the article is the Greenlandic legislation in the field of ecology. The main documents, programs and cases that influenced the development of the selected environmental directions are considered. The relevance of this article lies in a detailed examination of the environmental policy of Greenland and the construction of general conclusions about the environmental situation of the Danish Autonomous Territory based on the results obtained in the analysis of individual environmental areas. The novelty of the study is seen in an integrated approach to the analysis of the ongoing environmental policy of Greenland. The main positive and negative results in the selected environmental areas are noted. An assumption is made about the ambiguity of the environmental policy of Greenland, and possible outcomes in the implementation of this policy are considered

Crisis in Ukraine 2014-2016 Reporting in the British Press

This work is devoted to studying the issue of how the events of the political crisis of 2014-2016 in Ukraine were reflected in the UK media. The main features of the British print media are highlighted, the characteristic features of the British newspaper and journalistic discourse are revealed. The study was conducted on the basis of journalistic texts of 2014-2016. The appearance and transformation of the prevailing in the UK opinions about the Ukrainian crisis and its assessments in the press are shown. It raises the issue of coverage by the British media of a referendum on the entry of Crimea into the Russian Federation, the armed confrontation in the South-East of Ukraine and the conclusion of the Minsk agreements. The authors infer that over the course of two years there has been a noticeable change in the tone and rhetoric of newspaper publications in British press: if in 2014 the judgments of the journalists were mostly pronounced negative, then over time the estimates became more balanced and restrained. It is noted that by the end of 2015 there was a noticeable decline in interest from large British print media to cover the Ukrainian conflict, which was manifested in a noticeable reduction in publications affecting this topic

On measuring colloidal volume fractions

Hard-sphere colloids are popular as models for testing fundamental theories in condensed matter and statistical physics, from crystal nucleation to the glass transition. A single parameter, the volume fraction (phi), characterizes an ideal, monodisperse hard-sphere suspension. In comparing experiments with theories and simulation, researchers to date have paid little attention to likely uncertainties in experimentally-quoted phi values. We critically review the experimental measurement of phi in hard-sphere colloids, and show that while statistical uncertainties in comparing relative values of phi can be as low as 0.0001, systematic errors of 3-6% are probably unavoidable. The consequences of this are illustrated by way of a case study comparing literature data sets on hard-sphere viscosity and diffusion.Comment: 11 page

Aberrant Epigenomic Modulation of Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene (NR3C1) in Early Life Stress and Major Depressive Disorder Correlation: Systematic Review and Quantitative Evidence Synthesis

Early life stress (ELS) induced by psychological trauma, child maltreatment, maternal separation, and domestic violence predisposes to psycho-behavioral pathologies during adulthood, namely major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, and bipolar affective disorder. While environmental data are available in illustrating this association, data remain to be established on the epigenomic underpinning of the nexus between ELS and MDD predisposition. Specifically, despite the observed aberrant epigenomic modulation of the NR3C1, a glucocorticoid receptor gene, in early social adversity and social threats in animal and human models, reliable scientific data for intervention mapping in reducing social adversity and improving human health is required. We sought to synthesize the findings of studies evaluating (a) epigenomic modulations, mainly DNA methylation resulting in MDD following ELS, (b) epigenomic modifications associated with ELS, and (c) epigenomic alterations associated with MDD. A systematic review and quantitative evidence synthesis (QES) were utilized with the random effect meta-analytic procedure. The search strategy involved both the PubMed and hand search of relevant references. Of the 1534 studies identified through electronic search, 592 studies were screened, 11 met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the QES, and 5 examined ELS and MDD; 4 studies assessed epigenomic modulation and ELS, while 2 studies examined epigenomic modulations and MDD. The dense DNA methylation of the 1F exon of the NR3C1, implying the hypermethylated region of the glucocorticoid receptor gene, was observed in the nexus between ELS and MDD, common effect size (CES) = 14.96, 95%CI, 10.06–19.85. With respect to epigenomic modulation associated with child ELS, hypermethylation was observed, CES = 23.2%, 95%CI, 8.00–38.48. In addition, marginal epigenomic alteration was indicated in MDD, where hypermethylation was associated with increased risk of MDD, CES = 2.12%, 95%CI, −0.63–4.86. Substantial evidence supports the implication of NR3C1 and environmental interaction, mainly DNA methylation, in the predisposition to MDD following ELS. This QES further supports aberrant epigenomic modulation identified in ELS as well as major depressive episodes involving dysfunctional glucocorticoid-mediated negative feedback as a result of allostatic overload. These findings recommend prospective investigation of social adversity and its predisposition to the MDD epidemic via aberrant epigenomic modulation. Such data will facilitate early intervention mapping in reducing MDD in the United States population