Differentiation signals from glia are fine-tuned to set neuronal numbers during development

Precise neuronal numbers are required for circuit formation and function. Known strategies to control neuronal numbers involve regulating either cell proliferation or survival. In the developing Drosophila visual system photoreceptors from the eye-disc induce their target field, the lamina, one column at a time. Although each column initially contains ~6 precursors, only 5 differentiate into neurons of unique identities (L1-L5); the extra precursor undergoes apoptosis. We uncovered that Hedgehog signalling patterns columns, such that the 2 precursors experiencing the lowest signalling activity are specified as L5s; only one differentiates while the other extra precursor dies. We showed that a glial population called the outer chiasm giant glia (xgO), which reside below the lamina, relays differentiation signals from photoreceptors to induce L5 differentiation. The precursors nearest to xgO differentiate into L5s and antagonise inductive signalling to prevent the extra precursors from differentiating, resulting in their death. Thus, tissue architecture and feedback from young neurons fine-tune differentiation signals from glia to limit the number of neurons induced.

Design, Characterisation and Performance of an Improved Portable and Sustainable Low-Field MRI System

Low-field permanent magnet-based MRI systems are finding increasing use in portable, sustainable and point-of-care applications. In order to maximize performance while minimizing cost many components of such a system should ideally be designed specifically for low frequency operation. In this paper we describe recent developments in constructing and characterising a low-field portable MRI system for in vivo imaging at 50 mT. These developments include the design of i) high-linearity gradient coils using a modified volume-based target field approach, ii) phased-array receive coils, and iii) a battery-operated three-axis gradient amplifier for improved portability and sustainability. In addition, we report performance characterisation of the RF amplifier, the gradient amplifier, eddy currents from the gradient coils, and describe a quality control protocol for the overall system.

Kinematic characteristics of the tennis serve from the ad and deuce court service positions in elite junior players

Purpose According to the official rules of the International Tennis Federation, players have to serve alternately from two different positions: the deuce (right, D) and the ad court (left, AD) side. This study aimed to compare body and ball kinematics of flat serves from both service sides. Methods In a controlled, semi-court laboratory setting, 14 elite male junior players served eight flat first serves to a target field directed to the receiver’s body from both service positions in a matched and counterbalanced order. An 8-camera-Vicon-System was used to capture the 3D-landmark trajectories. Results The mean service velocity was found to be similar on both sides (D: 151.4 ± 19.8 vs. AD: 150.5 ± 19.4 km/h), while multiple characteristics of the serve and ball kinematics differed significantly (p < .05). At starting, the front-foot angle relative to the baseline (D: 39.7±17.6° vs. AD: 31.1±17.4°) and lateral distance between the feet (D: 16.3 ± 12.9 cm vs. AD: 26.2 ± 11.9 cm) were significantly different. During the service, upper torso range of motion from maximum clockwise rotation until impact was significantly greater on the deuce court (D: 130.5 ± 19.8° vs. AD: 126.7 ± 21.1°). This was especially pronounced in foot-back technique players. Further, differences in the lateral ball impact location (D: 30.0 ± 24.1 cm vs. AD: 10.3 ± 23.3 cm) were observed. Conclusions Changing the service side affects the serve and ball kinematics in elite junior tennis players. Our results underline biomechanical differences regarding the starting position (feet and upper torso) as well as the movement and ball kinematics which could be relevant for skill acquisition, injury prevention and performance enhancement.

USING THERMAL AND RGB UAV IMAGERY TO MEASURE SURFACE FLOW VELOCITIES OF RIVERS

This study assesses the suitability to use RGB and thermal infrared imagery acquired from an UAV to measure surface flow velocities of rivers. The reach of a medium-scale river in Hungary is investigated. Image sequences with a frame rate of 2 Hz were captured with two sensors, a RGB and an uncooled thermal camera, at a flying height that ensures the visibility of both shores. The interior geometry of both cameras were calibrated with an in-house designed target field. The image sequences were automatically co-registered to account for UAV movements during the image acquisition. The TIR data was processed to keep loss-free image information solely in the water area and to enhance the signal to noise ratio. Image velocimetry with PIV applied to the TIR data and PTV applied to the RGB data was utilised to retrieve surface flow velocities. Comparison between RGB and TIR data reveal an average deviation of about 0.01 m/s. Future studies are needed to evaluate the transferability to other non-regulated river reaches.

Topic analysis of academic disciplines based on prolific and authoritative researchers

PurposeThe paper aims to explore whether topic analysis (identification of the core contents, trends and topic distribution in the target field) can be performed using a more low-cost and easily applicable method that relies on a small dataset, and how we can obtain this small dataset based on the features of the publications.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a topic analysis method based on prolific and authoritative researchers (PARs). First, the authors identify PARs in a specific discipline by considering the number of publications and citations of authors. Based on the research publications of PARs (small dataset), the authors then construct a keyword co-occurrence network and perform a topic analysis. Finally, the authors compare the method with the traditional method.FindingsThe authors found that using a small dataset (only 6.47% of the complete dataset in our experiment) for topic analysis yields relatively high-quality and reliable results. The comparison analysis reveals that the proposed method is quite similar to the results of traditional large dataset analysis in terms of publication time distribution, research areas, core keywords and keyword network density.Research limitations/implicationsExpert opinions are needed in determining the parameters of PARs identification algorithm. The proposed method may neglect the publications of junior researchers and its biases should be discussed.Practical implicationsThis paper gives a practical way on how to implement disciplinary analysis based on a small dataset, and how to identify this dataset by proposing a PARs-based topic analysis method. The proposed method presents a useful view of the data based on PARs that can produce results comparable to traditional method, and thus will improve the effectiveness and cost of interdisciplinary topic analysis.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a PARs-based topic analysis method and verifies that topic analysis can be performed using a small dataset.

Solvability of an Optimization Problem for the Unsteady Plane Flow of a Non-Newtonian Fluid with Memory

This paper deals with an optimization problem for a nonlinear integro-differential system that describes the unsteady plane motion of an incompressible viscoelastic fluid of Jeffreys–Oldroyd type within a fixed bounded region subject to the no-slip boundary condition. Control parameters are included in the initial condition. The objective of control is to match the velocity field at the final time with a prescribed target field. The control model under consideration is interpreted as a continuous evolution system in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. The existence of at least one optimal control is proved under inclusion-type constraints for admissible controls.

Development of a Cryogen-Free Compact 3 T Superconducting Magnet for an Electromagnetic Property Measurement System

A cryogen-free portable 3 T high-temperature superconducting magnet for an electromagnetic property measurement system has been developed to serve as a user facility at the Korea Basic Science Institute. The metallic insulation method was adopted to reduce the charging delay without sacrificing the self-protecting feature. A genetic-algorithm-aided optimized design was carried out to minimize the superconducting tape consumption while satisfying several design constraints. After the design, the compact high-temperature superconducting magnet composed of eight double-pancake coil modules was wound with high-temperature superconducting tape and stainless steel tape, and integrated with a two-stage cryo-cooler. The 3 T magnet was successfully cooled to approximately 20 K with a cryo-cooler and reached the target field of 3 T without any problems. Long-term measurements and a range of other tests were also implemented to verity the performance of the magnet. Test results demonstrated the feasibility of a cryogen-free portable high-temperature superconducting magnet system for electromagnetic property measurement experiments.

On-Axis Resolution of a Circular Aperture

In this paper, the problem to estimate the on-axis resolution in creating a desired field profile by radiation of an aperture A is addressed. The latter applies in both diffractive optics and antenna synthesis. This is because the ‘aperture theory’, A can schematize a source, for example, an antenna or a lens illuminated by an incident field radiating a significant field only on the same aperture. The analysis refers to a customary axicon geometry consisting of a circle aperture transverse to the observation domain. The aim was to find a resolution formula allowing to highlight the impact of aperture geometrical parameters for configurations that are below the Fresnel approximation. The results show that the aperture cannot approximate the target field with the same level of accuracy along with the observation domain. In particular, near the aperture, smaller details can be retrieved and as the distance increases this ability degrades.

Making Things Right in Development and Management of Highly Contaminated Giant Carbonate Gas Field and Returning the CO2 to Subsurface Sequestration

Natural gas is the noble fuel of 21st century. Consumption increased nearly 30% in last decade. Exploitation of conventional, unconventional, and contaminated gas resources are in focus to meet the demand. There are number of giant gas fields discovered worldwide and some of them with higher degree of contaminants viz. CO2, H2S and Hg. Additionally, they have operating challenges of high pressure and temperature. It becomes more complex when discovery is in offshore environment. This study presents the development and production, separation, transportation and identification & evaluation of storage sites and sequestration and MMV plan of a giant carbonate gas field in offshore Malaysia. Geological, Geophysical and petrophysical data used to describe the reservoir architecture, property distribution and spatial variation in more than 1000m thick gas bearing formation. Laboratory studies carried out to generate the rock and fluid representative SCAL (G-W), EOS and Supercritical CO2-brine relative permeability, geomechanics and geochemical data for recovery and storage estimates in simulation model and evaluating the post storage scenario. These data are critical in hydrocarbon gas prediction and firming up the number of development wells and in the simulation of CO2 storage depleted carbonate gas field. Important is to understand the mechanism in the target field for storage capacity, types of storage- structural and stratigraphic trapping, solubility trapping, residual trapping and mineral trapping. Study covers methodologies developed for minimization of hydrocarbon loss during contaminants separation and utilization of CO2 in usable products. Uncertainty and risk analysis have been carried out to have range of solution for production prediction and CO2 storage. Coupled Simulation studies predict the production plateau rate and 5 Tscf recovery separated contaminants profile and volume &gt; one Tscf in order to have suitable geological structure for storage safely forever. Major uncertainties in the dynamic and coupled geomechanical-geochemical dynamic model has been captured and P90, P50, P10 forecast and storage rates and volumes have been calculated. Results includes advance methodologies of separation of hydrocarbon gas and CO2 like membrane and cryogenics for bulk separation of CO2 from raw gas and its transportation in liquid and supercritical form for storage. Study estimates components of sequestration mechanism, effect of heterogeneity on transport in porous media and height of stored CO2 in depleted reservoir and migration of plume vertically and horizontally. Generation of chemical product using separated CO2 for industrial use is highlighted.