Proteomes of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LBB.B5 Incubated in Milk at Optimal and Low Temperatures.

We identified the proteins synthesized by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain LBB.B5 in laboratory culture medium (MRS) at 37°C and milk at 37 and 4°C. Cell-associated proteins were measured by gel-free, shotgun proteomics using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrophotometry. A total of 635 proteins were recovered from all cultures, among which 72 proteins were milk associated (unique or significantly more abundant in milk). LBB.B5 responded to milk by increasing the production of proteins required for purine biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism (LacZ and ManM), energy metabolism (TpiA, PgK, Eno, SdhA, and GapN), amino acid synthesis (MetE, CysK, LBU0412, and AspC) and transport (GlnM and GlnP), and stress response (Trx, MsrA, MecA, and SmpB). The requirement for purines was confirmed by the significantly improved cell yields of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus when incubated in milk supplemented with adenine and guanine. The L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus-expressed proteome in milk changed upon incubation at 4°C for 5 days and included increased levels of 17 proteins, several of which confer functions in stress tolerance (AddB, UvrC, RecA, and DnaJ). However, even with the activation of stress responses in either milk or MRS, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus did not survive passage through the murine digestive tract. These findings inform efforts to understand how L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus is adapted to the dairy environment and its implications for its health-benefiting properties in the human digestive tract. IMPORTANCELactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus has a long history of use in yogurt production. Although commonly cocultured with Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus in milk, fundamental knowledge of the adaptive responses of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus to the dairy environment and the consequences of those responses on the use of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus as a probiotic remain to be elucidated. In this study, we identified proteins of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LBB.B5 that are synthesized in higher quantities in milk at growth-conducive and non-growth-conductive (refrigeration) temperatures compared to laboratory culture medium and further examined whether those L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus cultures were affected differently in their capacity to survive transit through the murine digestive tract. This work provides novel insight into how a major, food-adapted microbe responds to its primary habitat. Such knowledge can be applied to improve starter culture and yogurt production and to elucidate matrix effects on probiotic performance

Lattice Gas Dynamics; Application to Driven Vortices in Two Dimensional Superconductors

A continuous time Monte Carlo lattice gas dynamics is developed to model driven steady states of vortices in two dimensional superconducting networks. Dramatic differences are found when compared to a simpler Metropolis dynamics. Subtle finite size effects are found at low temperature, with a moving smectic that becomes unstable to an anisotropic liquid on sufficiently large length scales.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Vortex Lattice in Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+\delta} Well Above the First-Order Phase-Transition Boundary

Measurements of non-local in-plane resistance originating from transverse vortex-vortex correlations have been performed on a Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+\delta} high-T_c superconductor in a magnetic field up to 9 T applied along the crystal c-axis. Our results demonstrate that a rigid vortex lattice does exist over a broad portion of the magnetic field -- temperature (H-T) phase diagram, well above the first-order transition boundary H_{FOT}(T). The results also provide evidence for the vortex lattice melting and vortex liquid decoupling phase transitions, occurring above the H_{FOT}(T).Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Continuous Time Monte Carlo and Spatial Ordering in Driven Lattice Gases: Application to Driven Vortices in Periodic Superconducting Networks

We consider the two dimensional (2D) classical lattice Coulomb gas as a model for magnetic field induced vortices in 2D superconducting networks. Two different dynamical rules are introduced to investigate driven diffusive steady states far from equilibrium as a function of temperature and driving force. The resulting steady states differ dramatically depending on which dynamical rule is used. We show that the commonly used driven diffusive Metropolis Monte Carlo dynamics contains unphysical intrinsic randomness that destroys the spatial ordering present in equilibrium (the vortex lattice) over most of the driven phase diagram. A continuous time Monte Carlo (CTMC) is then developed, which results in spatially ordered driven states at low temperature in finite sized systems. We show that CTMC is the natural discretization of continuum Langevin dynamics, and argue that it gives the correct physical behavior when the discrete grid represents the minima of a periodic potential. We use detailed finite size scaling methods to analyze the spatial structure of the steady states. We find that finite size effects can be subtle and that very long simulation times can be needed to arrive at the correct steady state. For particles moving on a triangular grid, we find that the ordered moving state is a transversely pinned smectic that becomes unstable to an anisotropic liquid on sufficiently large length scales. For particles moving on a square grid, the moving state is a similar smectic at large drives, but we find evidence for a possible moving solid at lower drives. We find that the driven liquid on the square grid has long range hexatic order, and we explain this as a specifically non-equilibrium effect. We show that, in the liquid, fluctuations are diffusive in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.Comment: 29 pages, 35 figure

Depinning Transition of a Two Dimensional Vortex Lattice in a Commensurate Periodic Potential

We use Monte Carlo simulations of the 2D one component Coulomb gas on a triangular lattice, to study the depinning transition of a 2D vortex lattice in a commensurate periodic potential. A detailed finite size scaling analysis indicates this transition to be first order. No significant changes in behavior were found as vortex density was varied over a wide range.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures. Revised discussion of correlation length exponent using a more accurate finite size scaling analysis. New figs. 5 and 6. Old figs. 6 and 7 now figs. 7 and

Improving design processes in the nuclear domain–Insights on organisational challenges from safety culture and resilience engineering perspectives

Design flaws have been contributing to major industrial accidents. However, design activities are understudied in human and organisational factors studies. In the nuclear power domain, both pre-operational design and design of modifications depend on a network of organizations, and aim at developing solutions which meet different criteria. Nuclear power companies often outsource the design work to organisations, which might not be hitherto familiar with the safety requirements of nuclear industry. The final phase of SADE project focused on testing and evaluating the results of the first two phases through in depth analysis of case studies conducted in Finland and Sweden. The study aimed at providing insights on the inter-organizational challenges related to design activities, which could potentially affect safety of the Nordic nuclear power plants. In 2013 we carried out 14 semi-structured interviews with representatives of power plant organisations, design organisations and regulators. Interviews of the Finnish case studies were complemented by one group interview each. The study indicated that design-related challenges in the nuclear domain are mainly inter-organizational. This implies that safety management and safety culture approaches should take better into account the inter-organisational nature of work processes. For some of the challenges (e.g. coordination) many coping practices exist throughout the network, whereas for others (e.g. shared understanding) just a few were mentioned. This signifies that design organisations have learned the consequences of insufficient coordination in previous projects, while reaching a shared understanding proves to be challenging. The design process involves both rational and creative approaches to deal with real-life problems. In nuclear industry, designers face the need to balance between fulfilling requirements and doing an extensive amount of paperwork, and creating new, safe and functional solutions. To better manage safety culture in design activities in a networked context, nuclear power companies and design supply chains need to reach a shared understanding on achieving this balance. Finally, the study provides a set of recommendations to support and improve the design process and to help anticipate emerging risks in the nuclear industry

Vortex Pinball Under Crossed AC Drives in Superconductors with Periodic Pinning Arrays

Vortices driven with both a transverse and a longitudinal AC drive which are out of phase are shown to exhibit a novel commensuration-incommensuration effect when interacting with periodic substrates. For different AC driving parameters, the motion of the vortices forms commensurate orbits with the periodicity of the pinning array. When the commensurate orbits are present, there is a finite DC critical depinning threshold, while for the incommensurate phases the vortices are delocalized and the DC depinning threshold is absent.Comment: 4 pages, 4 postscript figure

Rectification and Flux Reversals for Vortices Interacting with Triangular Traps

We simulate vortices in superconductors interacting with two-dimensional arrays of triangular traps. We find that, upon application of an ac drive, a net dc flow can occur which shows current reversals with increasing ac drive amplitude for certain vortex densities, in agreement with recent experiments and theoretical predictions. We identify the vortex dynamics responsible for the different rectification regimes. We also predict the occurrence of a novel transverse rectification effect in which a dc flow appears that is transverse to the direction of the applied ac drive.Comment: 4 pages, 4 postscript figure

Future-oriented AI risk management

Previous research has examined the potential of integrating future-oriented technology analysis with risk management methodologies and tools, with the aim of systematically including risk assessment in future- oriented technology analysis (Koivisto et al., 2009). Integrating foresight and risk assessment traditions have been considered beneficial particularly in studies of new emerging risks because this field is closest to foresight exercises. The identification of new emerging AI risks demands longer timeframe since it could take a while for the implications on society to manifest. Risk-informed decision-making related to AI technologies is challenging because an understanding of both “proximate” risks (direct) and “distal” risks (latent, indirect and sometimes faraway) is needed to capture the full risk landscape. It is unknown if some change is posing a latent risk and what could be the potential magnitude and impact of actualizing the risk. To ensure such comprehensive understanding and competence building, continuous foresight as well as continuous risk analysis, assessment and management are needed in organizations. In this paper we propose a new method for continuous horizon scanning of AI technologies development and societal implications, called Signal post series. The goal is to systematically capture and analyze weak signal and to co-create knowledge on anticipating risks and opportunities related to AI and its various applications in the future. The Signal posts are essentially thematic future-oriented essays or blog texts, containing hyperlinks, which are written regularly, for example monthly, based on weak signals, identified, and interpreted in researchers’ workshops. The method has been developed in ETAIROS project in Finland, “Ethical AI for the Governance of the Society”, funded by Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland. ETAIROS project aims at studying and developing practical processes and frameworks that help public, private, and third-sector organizations enhance the ethical and social sustainability of applying AI technologies. In terms of impact, Signal posts contribute to strengthening future oriented responsibility and resilience of AI systems. To tackle the risks and opportunities we ask: 1) What should happen, 2) What happens, 3) What does not happen and 4) What may happen in the systems applying AI technology? Every Signal post includes an ethical consideration, which covers topics such as humanity, sovereignty, dignity, human rights, data management, safety, property rights, transparency, and sustainability. With this analysis we try to improve the culture of responsibility in AI systems. This also includes resilience, which creates a system able to learn from mistakes and manage future changes in the operating environment. In addition, we try to create acceptability and desirability of the AI systems addressing potential opportunities. There are pressing concerns for a harmonized global approach and regulation for assessing and managing AI-related risks, especially in terms of human values, norms, and overall culture. The advantage of Signal post method for integrating horizon scanning and risk analysis is that it holds strong emphasis on safety, ethics and responsibility while considering risks and opportunities related to AI technologies. This approach has the potential to enhance capacities across sectors and value chains for co-creating sustainable futures.Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finlan