Microscopic optical model potential based on a Dirac Brueckner Hartree Fock approach and the relevant uncertainty analysis

A relativistic microscopic optical model potential, named CTOM, for nucleon-nucleus scattering is investigated in the framework of Dirac-Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approach. The microscopic feature of CTOM is guaranteed through rigorously adopting the isospin dependent DBHF calculation within the subtracted T matrix scheme. In order to verify its prediction power, a global study n, p+ A scattering are carried out. The predicted scattering observables coincide with experimental data within a good accuracy over a broad range of targets and a large region of energies only with two free items, namely the free-range factor t in the applied improved local density approximation and minor adjustments of the scalar and vector potentials in the low-density region. In addition, to estimate the uncertainty of the theoretical results, the deterministic simple least square approach is preliminarily employed to derive the covariance of predicted angular distributions, which is also briefly contained in this paper

The rise and demise of the Paleogene Central Tibetan Valley

Reconstructing the Paleogene topography and climate of central Tibet informs understanding of collisional tectonic mechanisms and their links to climate and biodiversity. Radiometric dates of volcanic/sedimentary rocks and paleotemperatures based on clumped isotopes within ancient soil carbonate nodules from the Lunpola Basin, part of an east-west trending band of basins in central Tibet and now at 4.7 km, suggest that the basin rose from 4.0 km by 29 Ma. The height change is quantified using the rates at which wet-bulb temperatures ( ) decline at land surfaces as those surface rise. In this case, fell from ~8°C at ~38 Ma to ~1°C at 29 Ma, suggesting at least ~2.0 km of surface uplift in ~10 Ma under warm Eocene to Oligocene conditions. These results confirm that a Paleogene Central Tibetan Valley transformed to a plateau before the Neogene

Global variation in elevational diversity patterns

While horizontal gradients of biodiversity have been examined extensively in the past, vertical diversity gradients (elevation, water depth) are attracting increasing attention. We compiled data from 443 elevational gradients involving diverse organisms worldwide to investigate how elevational diversity patterns may vary between the Northern and Southern hemispheres and across latitudes. Our results show that most elevational diversity curves are positively skewed (maximum diversity below the middle of the gradient) and the elevation of the peak in diversity increases with the elevation of lower sampling limits and to a lesser extent with upper limit. Mountains with greater elevational extents, and taxonomic groups that are more inclusive, show proportionally more unimodal patterns whereas other ranges and taxa show highly variable gradients. The two hemispheres share some interesting similarities but also remarkable differences, likely reflecting differences in landmass and mountain configurations. Different taxonomic groups exhibit diversity peaks at different elevations, probably reflecting both physical and physiological constraints

ST6Gal-I Regulates Macrophage Apoptosis via α2-6 Sialylation of the TNFR1 Death Receptor

Macrophages play a central role in innate immunity, however mechanisms regulating macrophage survival are not fully understood. Herein we describe a novel apoptotic pathway involving α2-6 sialylation of the TNFR1 death receptor by the ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase. Variant glycosylation of TNFR1 has not previously been implicated in TNFR1 function, and little is known regarding the TNFR1 glycan composition. To study sialylation in macrophages, we treated U937 monocytic cells with PMA, which stimulates both macrophage differentiation and apoptosis. Interestingly, macrophage differentiation induces ST6Gal-I down-regulation, leading to reduced α2-6 sialylation of selected receptors. To prevent loss of α2-6 sialylation, we forced constitutive expression of ST6Gal-I, and found that this strongly inhibited PMA-induced apoptosis. Given that PMA-mediated apoptosis is thought to result from up-regulation of TNFα, which then activates TNFR1, we next evaluated the α2-6 sialylation of TNFR1. U937 cells with forced ST6Gal-I displayed TNFR1 with elevated α2-6 sialylation, and this was associated with diminished TNFα-stimulated apoptosis. Correspondingly, removal of α2-6 sialylation from TNFR1 through either neuraminidase treatment or expression of ST6Gal-I shRNA markedly enhanced TNFα-mediated apoptosis. To confirm the physiologic importance of TNFR1 sialylation, we generated overexpressing ST6Gal-I transgenic mice. Peritoneal macrophages from transgenic lines displayed TNFR1 with elevated α2-6 sialylation, and these cells were significantly protected against TNFα-stimulated apoptosis. Moreover, greater numbers of thioglycollate-induced peritoneal cells were observed in transgenic mice. These collective results highlight a new mechanism of TNFR1 regulation, and further intimate that loss of α2-6 sialylation during macrophage differentiation may limit macrophage lifespan by sensitizing cells to TNFα-stimulated apoptosis

Reproduction of Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) under Different Adult Densities and Light Regimes

The black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) has been recognized as a promising insect species for sustainable management of organic waste and by-products. Indoor breeding of BSF with artificial lighting has been proved successful, but efforts are still needed to optimize BSF reproductive output. Increasing adult density seems an option to exploit space, whereas decreasing artificial lighting duration may reduce unnecessary power consumption. This study aimed at investigating the effects of adult density (10, 25, and 50 pairs per 30 × 30 × 30 cm cage; i.e., 370, 926, and 1852 pairs/m3), light regime (8:16, 12:12, and 16:8 [L:D] h), and their possible interactions, on some BSF life history traits relevant to reproduction. The results show that the overall BSF reproductive output increased with increasing adult density but was not affected by light regimes tested per se. With the highest BSF adult density tested, an average of more than 20,000 neonate larvae were produced from a cage within 10 d. At the highest adult density tested, increasing photoperiod increased neonate production, but also decreased the number of neonates per watt used for artificial illumination. The temporal oviposition patterns, mean individual female reproductive output, mating success, egg hatching rate, and insect survival rate were not affected by adult density or light regime as simple effects. However, the interaction between adult density and light regime was significant for the first oviposition peak, mean individual female reproductive output, and insect survival rate. The possible mechanisms behind our results are discussed

Sensors Hot Paper AP hotonic Crystal Protein Hydrogel Sensor for Candida albicans

Abstract: We report two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal (PC) sensing materials that selectively detect Candida albicans (C.albicans). These sensors utilize Concanavalin A( Con A) protein hydrogels with a2 DP Ce mbedded on the Con A protein hydrogel surface,t hat multivalently and selectively bind to mannan on the C. albicans cell surface to form crosslinks.T he resulting crosslinks shrink the Con Ap rotein hydrogel, reduce the 2D PC particle spacing, and blue-shift the light diffracted from the PC.T he diffraction shifts can be visually monitored, measured with as pectrometer,o rd etermined from the Debye diffraction ring diameter.O ur unoptimized hydrogel sensor has adetection limit of around 32 CFU/ mL for C. albicans.T his sensor distinguishes between C. albicans and those microbes devoid of cell-surface mannan such as the gram-negative bacterium E. coli. This sensor provides aproof-of-concept for utilizing recognition between lectins and microbial cell surface carbohydrates to detect microorganisms in aqueous environments