Functional diversity of Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domains in flowering plants and its translational potential

Across the Tree of Life, innate immunity and cell death mechanisms protect hosts from potential pathogens. In prokaryotes, animals, and flowering plants, these functions are often mediated by Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain proteins. Here, we discuss recent analyses of TIR biology in flowering plants, revealing (i) TIR functions beyond pathogen recognition, e.g. in the spatial control of immunity, and (ii) the existence of at least two pathways for TIR signaling in plants. Also, we discuss TIR-based strategies for crop improvement and argue for a need to better understand TIR functions outside of commonly studied dicot pathways for future translational work. Opinions of experts on emerging topics in basic and translational plant TIR research are presented in supplementary video interviews

Reference Avionics Architecture for Lunar Surface Systems

Developing and delivering infrastructure capable of supporting long-term manned operations to the lunar surface has been a primary objective of the Constellation Program in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Several concepts have been developed related to development and deployment lunar exploration vehicles and assets that provide critical functionality such as transportation, habitation, and communication, to name a few. Together, these systems perform complex safety-critical functions, largely dependent on avionics for control and behavior of system functions. These functions are implemented using interchangeable, modular avionics designed for lunar transit and lunar surface deployment. Systems are optimized towards reuse and commonality of form and interface and can be configured via software or component integration for special purpose applications. There are two core concepts in the reference avionics architecture described in this report. The first concept uses distributed, smart systems to manage complexity, simplify integration, and facilitate commonality. The second core concept is to employ extensive commonality between elements and subsystems. These two concepts are used in the context of developing reference designs for many lunar surface exploration vehicles and elements. These concepts are repeated constantly as architectural patterns in a conceptual architectural framework. This report describes the use of these architectural patterns in a reference avionics architecture for Lunar surface systems elements

Saturation in Liquid/Gas Coalescence

The problem was to construct a mathematical model for a liquid/gas coalescer, in order that the model could be analyzed to find combinations of parameters that would minimize the effects of saturation. The team has developed three complementary models, each with different strengths and weaknesses so that, depending on the information desired, one model may be more useful than another. The three models are: 1. A continuum model giving a macroscopic description of the filter. The governing equations are derived from first-principle consider- ations of conservation of mass and momentum. Constitutive relations for this model are derived by considering the processes going on in the filter at a microscopic level. 2. A stochastic model based on a Markov Decision Process. Each droplet is modelled as a single entity that can merge or move stochastically. This leads to a Markov simulation of the filter and the computation of average quantities. 3. A Lattice-Boltzmann model. The droplets are modelled to interact with each other and with the filter, using a Boltzmann distribution for their speed. This simulates the hydrodynamic behaviour of the droplet inside the filter

Multiscale modelling of vascular tumour growth in 3D: the roles of domain size & boundary condition

We investigate a three-dimensional multiscale model of vascular tumour growth, which couples blood flow, angiogenesis, vascular remodelling, nutrient/growth factor transport, movement of, and interactions between, normal and tumour cells, and nutrient-dependent cell cycle dynamics within each cell. In particular, we determine how the domain size, aspect ratio and initial vascular network influence the tumour's growth dynamics and its long-time composition. We establish whether it is possible to extrapolate simulation results obtained for small domains to larger ones, by constructing a large simulation domain from a number of identical subdomains, each subsystem initially comprising two parallel parent vessels, with associated cells and diffusible substances. We find that the subsystem is not representative of the full domain and conclude that, for this initial vessel geometry, interactions between adjacent subsystems contribute to the overall growth dynamics. We then show that extrapolation of results from a small subdomain to a larger domain can only be made if the subdomain is sufficiently large and is initialised with a sufficiently complex vascular network. Motivated by these results, we perform simulations to investigate the tumour's response to therapy and show that the probability of tumour elimination in a larger domain can be extrapolated from simulation results on a smaller domain. Finally, we demonstrate how our model may be combined with experimental data, to predict the spatio-temporal evolution of a vascular tumour

Fast flowing populations are not well mixed

In evolutionary dynamics, well-mixed populations are almost always associated with all-to-all interactions; mathematical models are based on complete graphs. In most cases, these models do not predict fixation probabilities in groups of individuals mixed by flows. We propose an analytical description in the fast-flow limit. This approach is valid for processes with global and local selection, and accurately predicts the suppression of selection as competition becomes more local. It provides a modelling tool for biological or social systems with individuals in motion.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure