A guide to the ATM and debit card industry - 2006 update

It has been three years since we published A Guide to the ATM and Debit Card Industry. Those three years represent a very dynamic time in the industry with a number of important developments. Some trends and patterns have persisted or accelerated, while others have peaked or reversed. Still others have emerged for the first time. The purpose of this 2006 Update is to document these trends and patterns by updating the data we presented in the original book and to discuss their implications for the current and future state of the industry. ; The most important development is that the two segments of the industry, ATM and debit, are in some sense going in opposite directions. The ATM industry has matured and is relatively stagnant, with major players jockeying for position, searching for and adopting different business strategies, and adjusting to the maturation of the industry. The debit card industry, in contrast, is expanding rapidly, with new players, new partnerships, new products, and new markets. The challenge in the debit card industry is not how to cope with a maturing industry but, rather, how to preserve and enhance position and not be left behind. ; In the first part of this Update, we highlight and discuss some of the most important changes in the ATM and debit card industry. For both the ATM and debit sides of the industry, we recap and analyze changes in activity levels, industry structure, and industry pricing. We then offer some thoughts on what might lie ahead, including a discussion of fraud and data security. In the second part of this Update, we present updated versions of the 23 charts and 11 tables from the original book, adding the three or four years of additional data that have since become available.Automated tellers ; Debit cards ; Point-of-sale-systems ; Payment systems

Shining light on the function of NPH3/RPT2-like proteins in phototropin signalling

No abstract available

Strong convergence rates of probabilistic integrators for ordinary differential equations

Probabilistic integration of a continuous dynamical system is a way of systematically introducing model error, at scales no larger than errors introduced by standard numerical discretisation, in order to enable thorough exploration of possible responses of the system to inputs. It is thus a potentially useful approach in a number of applications such as forward uncertainty quantification, inverse problems, and data assimilation. We extend the convergence analysis of probabilistic integrators for deterministic ordinary differential equations, as proposed by Conrad et al.\ (\textit{Stat.\ Comput.}, 2017), to establish mean-square convergence in the uniform norm on discrete- or continuous-time solutions under relaxed regularity assumptions on the driving vector fields and their induced flows. Specifically, we show that randomised high-order integrators for globally Lipschitz flows and randomised Euler integrators for dissipative vector fields with polynomially-bounded local Lipschitz constants all have the same mean-square convergence rate as their deterministic counterparts, provided that the variance of the integration noise is not of higher order than the corresponding deterministic integrator. These and similar results are proven for probabilistic integrators where the random perturbations may be state-dependent, non-Gaussian, or non-centred random variables.Comment: 25 page

Phytochrome A mediates blue-light enhancement of second-positive phototropism in Arabidopsis

Hypocotyl phototropism of etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings is primarily mediated by the blue-light receptor kinase phototropin 1 (phot1). Phot1-mediated curvature to continuous unilateral blue light irradiation (0.5 µmol m-2 s-1) is enhanced by overhead pre-treatment with red light (20 µmol m-2 s-1 for 15 min) through the action of phytochrome (phyA). Here, we show that pre-treatment with blue light is equally as effective in eliciting phototropic enhancement and is dependent on phyA. Although blue pre-treatment was sufficient to activate early phot1 signalling events, phot1 autophosphorylation in vivo was not found to be saturated, as assessed by subsequently measuring phot1 kinase activity in vitro. However, enhancement effects to red and blue pre-treatment were not observed at higher intensities of phototropic stimulation (10 µmol m-2 s-1). Phototropic enhancement to red and blue pre-treatments to 0.5 µmol m-2 s-1 unilateral blue light irradiation was also lacking in transgenic Arabidopsis where PHOT1 expression was restricted to the epidermis. Together, these findings indicate that phyA-mediated effects on phot1 signalling are restricted to low intensities of phototropic stimulation and originate from tissues other than the epidermis

Clonal analysis of meningococci during a 26 year period prior to the introduction of meningococcal serogroup C vaccines

Meningococcal disease remains a public health burden in the UK and elsewhere. Invasive Neisseria meningitidis, isolated in Scotland between 1972 and 1998, were characterised retrospectively to examine the serogroup and clonal structure of the circulating population. 2607 isolates causing invasive disease were available for serogroup and MLST analysis whilst 2517 were available for multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis only. Serogroup distribution changed from year to year but serogroups B and C were dominant throughout. Serogroup B was dominant throughout the 1970s and early 1980s until serogroup C became dominant during the mid-1980s. The increase in serogroup C was not associated with one particular sequence type (ST) but was associated with a number of STs, including ST-8, ST-11, ST-206 and ST-334. This is in contrast to the increase in serogroup C disease seen in the 1990s that was due to expansion of the ST-11 clonal complex. While there was considerable diversity among the isolates (309 different STs among the 2607 isolates), a large proportion of isolates (59.9%) were associated with only 10 STs. These data highlight meningococcal diversity over time and the need for ongoing surveillance during the introduction of new meningococcal vaccines

Functional characterization of a constitutively active kinase variant of Arabidopsis phototropin 1

Phototropins (phots) are plasma membrane-associated serine/threonine kinases that coordinate a range of processes linked to optimizing photosynthetic efficiency in plants. These photoreceptors contain two light-, oxygen- or voltage-sensing (LOV) domains within their N-terminus, with each binding one molecule of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) as a UV/blue light absorbing chromophore. Although phots contain two LOV domains, light-induced activation of the C-terminal kinase domain and subsequent receptor autophosphorylation is controlled primarily by the A′α-LOV2-Jα photosensory module. Mutations that disrupt interactions between the LOV2-core and its flanking helical segments can uncouple this mode of light regulation. Yet, the impact of these mutations on phot function in Arabidopsis has not been explored. Here, we report that histidine substitution of Arg-472 located within the A′α-helix of Arabidopsis phot1 to histidine results in constitutively activates kinas activity in vitro without affecting LOV2 photochemistry. Expression analysis of phot1 R472H in the phot-deficient mutant confirmed that it is autophosphorylated in darkness in vivo, but was unable to initiate phot1 signaling in the absence of light. Instead, we found that the phot1 R472H mutant is poorly functional under low-light conditions, but can restore phototropism, chloroplast accumulation, stomatal opening, and leaf positioning and expansion at higher light intensities. Our findings suggest that Arabidopsis can adapt to the elevated phosphorylation status of the phot1 R472H mutant by in part reducing its stability, whereas the activity the mutant under high-light conditions can be attributed to additional increases in LOV2-mediated photoreceptor autophosphorylation

Identification and expression analysis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and PEPC kinase genes in C3 plants

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc) is a cytosolic enzyme that plays a wide range of roles in different tissues of higher plants. A photosynthetic isoform of PEPc catalyses the primary fixation of CO2 in C4 and CAM plants. Other isoforms are thought to be responsible for different functions, including the replenishment of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, pH control, and the provision of malate in guard cells, developing fruit and legume root nodules. PEPc is an allosteric enzyme, inhibited by malate and activate by glucose 6- phosphate. Superimposed on this is control by reversible phosphorylation of a single serine residue close to the N-terminus of the protein. Phosphorylation modulates the allosteric properties of the enzyme, with the phosphorylated form being less sensitive to malate inhibition. The phosphorylation state of PEPc is controlled largely at the level of expression of PEPc kinase (PPCK) genes. The aim of this work was to identify and characterise PEPC and PPCK genes in C3 plants, particularly in the leguminous plant soybean {Glycine max). In legume root nodules, PEPc plays a central role in the metabolism that allows fixation of atmospheric N2 by bacteroids. It provides the C4 dicarboxylates that are required by the bacteroids for energy generation and also the carbon skeletons that are needed for the subsequent assimilation of ammonium into amino acids. In soybean one PEPc gene (GmPEPCT) is highly and relatively specifically expressed in nodules. To test the hypothesis that PEPc kinase expression would show a similar pattern, the expression of both PPCK and PEPC genes were analysed in soybean. Soybean contains at least four PPCK genes. The genomic and cDNA sequences of these genes were determined, and the function of the gene products demonstrated by in vitro expression and enzyme assays. For two of these genes, GmPPCK2 and GmPPCKS, transcript abundance is highest in nodules and is markedly influenced by supply of photosynthate from the shoots. One gene, GmPPCK4, is under robust circadian control in leaves but not in roots. Its transcript abundance peaks in the latter stages of subjective day. This is the first report of a C3 PPCK gene that is controlled in this manner. The expression patterns of five PEPC genes, including one encoding a bacterial-type PEPc lacking the phosphorylation site of the "plant" PEPcs, were also investigated. The PEPC expression patterns do not match those of any of the PPCK genes, arguing against the existence of specific PEPc-PEPc kinase expression partners. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the PEPC and PPCK gene families in soybean are significantly more complex than previously understood. Another role of PEPc is the production of organic acids in developing fruit. Previous work had identified two PPCK genes in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), one of which (LePPCK2) contained a novel second intron that exhibits alternative splicing. The correctly spliced transcript encodes a functional PEPc kinase, whereas unspliced or incorrectly spliced transcripts encode a truncated, inactive protein. The relative abundance of the transcripts varies in different tissues, both in wild-type plants and in the greenflesh tomato mutant. A PPCK2 gene was identified in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), also exhibiting alternative splicing and producing various amounts of the transcript in different tissues. Similar sequences are also present in potato {Solanum tuberosum) and aubergine {Solarium melongena). The data suggest that the alternative splicing of PPCK2 transcripts is functionally significant. The release of the rice {Oryza sativa) genome sequence allowed the identification of three putative PPCK genes. The sequence of one of these genes (OsPPCK2) was unusual in containing three in frame methionine residues at the 5' end, potentially allowing the production of a larger PEPc kinase protein. The functionality of these genes was assessed, but the results were unable to provide unequivocal evidence demonstrating the phosphorylation of PEPc by the Tong' form ofOsPPCK2. Overall the data presented in this thesis reveal a novel picture of the transcriptional control of PEPc kinase in C3 plants

Behavioral Deficits and Axonal Injury Persistence after Rotational Head Injury Are Direction Dependent

Pigs continue to grow in importance as a tool in neuroscience. However, behavioral tests that have been validated in the rodent model do not translate well to pigs because of their very different responses to behavioral stimuli. We refined metrics for assessing porcine open field behavior to detect a wide spectrum of clinically relevant behaviors in the piglet post-traumatic brain injury (TBI). Female neonatal piglets underwent a rapid non-impact head rotation in the sagittal plane (n=8 evaluable) or were instrumented shams (n=7 evaluable). Open field testing was conducted 1 day prior to injury (day −1) in order to establish an individual baseline for analysis, and at days +1 and +4 after injury. Animals were then killed on day +6 after injury for neuropathological assessment of axonal injury. Injured piglets were less interested in interacting with environmental stimuli and had a lower activity level than did shams. These data were compared with previously published data for axial rotational injuries in neonatal piglets. Acute behavioral outcomes post-TBI showed a dependence on the rotational plane of the brain injury, with animals with sagittal injuries demonstrating a greater level of inactivity and less random usage of the open field space than those with axial injuries. The persistence of axonal injury is also dependent on the rotational plane, with sagittal rotations causing more prolonged injuries than axial rotations. These results are consistent with animal studies, finite element models, and studies of concussions in football, which have all demonstrated differences in injury severity depending upon the direction of head impact rotation

Deetiolation enhances phototropism by modulating NON-PHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL3 phosphorylation status

Phototropin (phot) receptor kinases play important roles in promoting plant growth by controlling light-capturing processes, such as phototropism. Phototropism is mediated through the action of NON-PHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL3 (NPH3), which is dephosphorylated following phot activation. However, the functional significance of this early signaling event remains unclear. Here, we show that the onset of phototropism in dark-grown (etiolated) seedlings of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is enhanced by greening (deetiolation). Red and blue light were equally effective in promoting phototropism in Arabidopsis, consistent with our observations that deetiolation by phytochrome or cryptochrome was sufficient to enhance phototropism. Increased responsiveness did not result from an enhanced sensitivity to the phytohormone auxin, nor does it involve the phot-interacting protein, ROOT PHOTOTROPISM2. Instead, deetiolated seedlings showed attenuated levels of NPH3 dephosphorylation and diminished relocalization of NPH3 from the plasma membrane during phototropism. Likewise, etiolated seedlings that lack the PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) PIF1, PIF3, PIF4, and PIF5 displayed reduced NPH3 dephosphorylation and enhanced phototropism, consistent with their constitutive photomorphogenic phenotype in darkness. Phototropic enhancement could also be achieved in etiolated seedlings by lowering the light intensity to diminish NPH3 dephosphorylation. Thus, phototropism is enhanced following deetiolation through the modulation of a phosphorylation rheostat, which in turn sustains the activity of NPH3. We propose that this dynamic mode of regulation enables young seedlings to maximize their establishment under changing light conditions, depending on their photoautotrophic capacity

Mapping banana plants from Orthophotos to facilitate eradication of Banana Bunchy Top Virus in Queensland, Australia

The Banana Bunchy Top Virus results in reduced plant growth and prevents banana production. Because of the very large number of properties with banana plants in South East Queensland, Australia, a mapping approach was developed to delineate individual and clusters of banana plants. This will help finding banana plants and enable prioritisation of plant inspections. The developed mapping approach was based on very high spatial resolution airborne orthophotos. Object‐based image analysis was used to: (1) detect banana plants using edge and line detection approaches; (2) produce neat outlines around classified banana plants; and (3) evaluate the mapping results. The mapping approach was developed based on 10 image tiles of 1 km x 1 km from September 2011. Based on field inspections of the classified maps, a user’s mapping accuracy of 88% (n = 146) was achieved. The results will support the detection and eradiation of Banana Bunchy Top Virus