The Zero-n Gap Soliton

Periodic structures consisting of alternating layers of positive index and negative index materials possess a novel band gap at the frequency at which the average refractive index is zero. We show that in the presence of a Kerr nonlinearity, this zero-n gap can switch from low transmission to a perfectly transmitting state, forming a nonlinear resonance or gap soliton in the process. This zero-n gap soliton is omnidirectional in contrast to the usual Bragg gap soliton of positive index periodic structure

Cap-and-Trade and Air Quality: Which Communities Benefit the Most?

Air Quality significantly impacts public health, particularly for individuals with respiratory issues. Cap-and-trade (CAT) programs aim to mitigate emissions, focusing on greenhouse gases to improve air quality. This paper evaluated the long-run effectiveness of CAT programs, comparing multi-sector and single-sector initiatives, and their impact on air quality across counties with varying economic statuses. Using a difference-in-difference approach, comprehensive data spanning recent years up to 2023 is analyzed. The dataset includes air quality measures, population, personal income, average temperature, precipitation, and vehicle registrations enabling a thorough examination of the programs’ effects. Results reveal a complex relationship. Both programs’ initiatives create a decrease in good air quality days for poor counties. The multi-sector programs demonstrate a more significant reduction in negative air quality days, such as moderate and very unhealthy, particularly benefiting poor counties. Conversely, poor counties with single-sector programs experience an increase in negative air quality. The results from this work conclude that multi-sector programs are more beneficial for poor counties, yet all program types need to make changes for maximum impact

FGF signalling through RAS/MAPK and PI3K pathways regulates cell movement and gene expression in the chicken primitive streak without affecting E-cadherin expression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>FGF signalling regulates numerous aspects of early embryo development. During gastrulation in amniotes, epiblast cells undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the primitive streak to form the mesoderm and endoderm. In mice lacking FGFR1, epiblast cells in the primitive streak fail to downregulate E-cadherin and undergo EMT, and cell migration is inhibited. This study investigated how FGF signalling regulates cell movement and gene expression in the primitive streak of chicken embryos.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We find that pharmacological inhibition of FGFR activity blocks migration of cells through the primitive streak of chicken embryos without apparent alterations in the level or intracellular localization of E-cadherin. E-cadherin protein is localized to the periphery of epiblast, primitive streak and some mesodermal cells. FGFR inhibition leads to downregulation of a large number of regulatory genes in the preingression epiblast adjacent to the primitive streak, the primitive streak and the newly formed mesoderm. This includes members of the FGF, NOTCH, EPH, PDGF, and canonical and non-canonical WNT pathways, negative modulators of these pathways, and a large number of transcriptional regulatory genes. <it>SNAI2 </it>expression in the primitive streak and mesoderm is not altered by FGFR inhibition, but is downregulated only in the preingression epiblast region with no significant effect on E-cadherin. Furthermore, over expression of SNAIL has no discernable effect on E-cadherin protein levels or localization in epiblast, primitive streak or mesodermal cells. FGFR activity modulates distinct downstream pathways including RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT. Pharmacological inhibition of MEK or AKT indicate that these downstream effectors control discrete and overlapping groups of genes during gastrulation. FGFR activity regulates components of several pathways known to be required for cell migration through the streak or in the mesoderm, including RHOA, the non-canonical WNT pathway, PDGF signalling and the cell adhesion protein N-cadherin.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In chicken embryos, FGF signalling regulates cell movement through the primitive streak by mechanisms that appear to be independent of changes in E-cadherin expression or protein localization. The positive and negative effects on large groups of genes by pharmacological inhibition of FGF signalling, including major signalling pathways and transcription factor families, indicates that the FGF pathway is a focal point of regulation during gastrulation in chicken.</p

Farm, Rural Economy, and Policy Implications of Sustainable Agriculture in South Dakota

South Dakota State University (SDSU) has been conducting research since the mid- 1980s on what has come to be called sustainable agriculture. We have been examining farming systems in which producers adopt management-intensive, holistic system orientations in planning their farms. Such farm managers generally view themselves as allies with nature, rather than as conquerors of nature. In addition to economic survivability, these farmers tend to give high priority to (1) being good stewards of the soil, (2) reducing pollution of ground and surface water, (3) raising chemical residue free, high quality products, and (4) reducing possible harmful effects of farm chemicals on their families\u27 health

FGF Signaling During Gastrulation and Cardiogenesis

An early event in animal development is the formation of the three primary germ layers that define the body plan. During gastrulation, cells migrate through the primitive streak of the embryo and undergo changes in morphology and gene expression, thus creating the mesodermal and endodermal cell layers. Gastrulation requires expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Wnt, and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF). Embryos treated with FGF inhibitors fail to gastrulate, as cell migration is completely halted. During gastrulation, 44 microRNAs are expressed in the primitive streak of G. gallus embryos, and six (microRNAs -let7b, -9, -19b, -107, -130b, and -218) are strongly upregulated when FGF signaling is blocked. The abundance of these six FGF-regulated microRNAs is controlled at various stages of processing: most are regulated transcriptionally, and three of them (let7b, 9, and 130b) are blocked by the presence of Lin28B, an RNA-binding protein upregulated by FGF signaling. These microRNAs target various serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase receptors. We propose a novel pathway by which FGF signaling downregulates several key microRNAs (partially through Lin28B), upregulating gene targets such as PDGFRA, which permits and directs cell migration during gastrulation. These findings add new layers of complexity to the role that FGF signaling plays during embryogenesis. FGF signaling is also required for the formation of the heartfields, and has an overlapping pattern of expression with BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein). A microarray experiment using inhibitors of FGF and BMP found that thousands of genes in pre-cardiac mesoderm are affected by FGF signaling, BMP signaling, or a cooperative effect of the two. The promoter regions of similarly regulated genes were queried for over-represented transcription factor binding sites or novel DNA motifs. Cluster analysis of over-represented sites determined candidate transcriptional modules that were tested in primary cardiac myocyte and fibroblast cultures. About 75% of predicted modules in FGF-upregulated genes proved to be functional enhancers or repressors. Functional enhancers among FGF-upregulated genes contained clusters of CdxA and NFY sites, and increased transcription in the presence of a constitutively active FGF receptor