Developmental Robustness: The Haltere Case in Drosophila

Developmental processes have to be robust but also flexible enough to respond to genetic and environmental variations. Different mechanisms have been described to explain the apparent antagonistic nature of developmental robustness and plasticity. Here, we present a “self-sufficient” molecular model to explain the development of a particular flight organ that is under the control of the Hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Our model is based on a candidate RNAi screen and additional genetic analyses that all converge to an autonomous and cofactor-independent mode of action for Ubx. We postulate that this self-sufficient molecular mechanism is possible due to an unusually high expression level of the Hox protein. We propose that high dosage could constitute a so far poorly investigated molecular strategy for allowing Hox proteins to both innovate and stabilize new forms during evolution.

Towards Hybrid Multimodal Manual and Non-Manual Arabic Sign Language Recognition: mArSL Database and Pilot Study

Sign languages are the main visual communication medium between hard-hearing people and their societies. Similar to spoken languages, they are not universal and vary from region to region, but they are relatively under-resourced. Arabic sign language (ArSL) is one of these languages that has attracted increasing attention in the research community. However, most of the existing and available works on sign language recognition systems focus on manual gestures, ignoring other non-manual information needed for other language signals such as facial expressions. One of the main challenges of not considering these modalities is the lack of suitable datasets. In this paper, we propose a new multi-modality ArSL dataset that integrates various types of modalities. It consists of 6748 video samples of fifty signs performed by four signers and collected using Kinect V2 sensors. This dataset will be freely available for researchers to develop and benchmark their techniques for further advancement of the field. In addition, we evaluated the fusion of spatial and temporal features of different modalities, manual and non-manual, for sign language recognition using the state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. This fusion boosted the accuracy of the recognition system at the signer-independent mode by 3.6% compared with manual gestures.

A strategy to suppress STAT1 signalling conserved in pathogenic poxviruses and paramyxoviruses

The induction of interferon-stimulated genes by signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins, is a critical host defence to fight virus infections. Here, a highly expressed poxvirus protein 018 is shown to inhibit IFN-induced signalling by binding the SH2 domain of STAT1 to prevent STAT1 association with an activated IFN receptor. Despite the presence of additional inhibitors of IFN-induced signalling, a poxvirus lacking 018 was attenuated in mice. The 2.0-angstrom crystal structure of the 018:STAT1 complex reveals a mechanism for a high-affinity, pTyr-independent mode of binding to an SH2 domain. Furthermore, the STAT1 binding motif of 018 shows sequence similarity to the STAT1-binding proteins from Nipah virus, which like 018, block the association of STAT1 with an IFN receptor. Taken together, these results provide detailed mechanistic insight into a potent mode of STAT1 antagonism, found to exist in genetically diverse virus families.

INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF GRAIN COOLING AFTER DRYING AND HEAT TREATMENT

One of the main requirements for grain dryers is the need for high-quality cooling of grain material after drying. Today, the most widespread are grain coolers built into grain dryers. As the practice of operation has shown, the most widespread in agriculture mine grain dryers with their cooling zones are ineffective: the temperature of the grain after cooling often exceeds the ambient air temperature by 15-30 0C, which is unacceptable. Devices with boxes have such disadvantages as uneven distribution air in the volume of grain mass and the corresponding uneven temperature field of the cooling air, limited opportunities for intensifying heat transfer during grain cooling. More promising for agricultural grain dryers are external coolers, which are installed separately from the dryer and can operate in an independent mode, which has a number of advantages: the quality of cooling improves, the productivity of existing grain dryers increases due to the use of the cooling part as a dryer. The main disadvantages of using the existing external column coolers: the need for an additional vehicle - a bucket elevator for reloading grain from the dryer to the column; vertical arrangement, it is necessary to use transporting means for grain for feeding to a considerable height. But if a pneumatic transport loader with a pulsating air flow is used as a vehicle, then the efficiency of the coolers can be increased due to the removal of a part of the heat accumulated by the grain by the transporting air flow. The paper proposes an analytical rationale for increasing the efficiency of coolers with pneumatic transport in a pulsating air flow.

EFEKTIVITAS DAN EFISIENSI PEMAKAIAN DRONE FIXED WING PADA PEMETAAN KEBUN DAN SENSUS POHON KELAPA SAWIT (Elaeis guineensis Jacq)

Drone is an unmanned aircraft (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), which is an electro-mechanical based system that can perform programmed missions, with the following characteristics: (i) unmanned, (ii) operating in fully or partially independent mode, (iii) ) This system is designed to be used repeatedly. The drone is equipped with a high-resolution camera that allows users to monitor a specific location from a height in real time. The use of mapping photos (Mapping Block) using drones is usually used to calculate the principal amount of oil palm trees. This research was using drone fixed wing tipe and was conducted in Tamiang Hulu District, Aceh Tamiang District Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. This research was conducted from 25-28 August 2020. This study used a descriptive analysis method. The results of this study indicate that the time used to prepare for the use of drones is 30 minutes, for taking aerial photographs and flying time for 25 minutes, combining photos using the Agisoft Photoscane software for 45 minutes, making way points and calculating the number of trees using the Arcgis application for 5 hours, making printout data for 60 minutes, so that the total time for all work is 7 hours 40 minutes for 53.53 hectares, assuming the cost per hectare is Rp.8,583, if with a manual census the time needed is 72 hours, with average costs -average Rp. 56,374, - / ha. Conclution of this research by using drones will be more effective and efficient than manual tree census.

Improved Capacitor Voltage Balancing Algorithm for a Single-phase T-type Inverter

The paper proposes an improved pulse width modulation algorithm to solve the voltage imbalance on DC capacitors for single-phase T-type inverter. By changing the modulation index, the residual states can be applied to the discharge/charge state on the DC capacitors to balance the voltage. The proposed algorithm is validated for application in single-phase T-type inverters in independent mode. The simulation and experimental results have confirmed the effectiveness of the improved pulse width modulation method for single-phase T-type inverter. The paper proposes an improved pulse width modulation algorithm to solve the voltage imbalance on DC capacitors for single-phase T-type inverter. By changing the modulation index, the residual states can be applied to the discharge/charge state on the DC capacitors to balance the voltage. The proposed algorithm is validated for application in single-phase T-type inverters in independent mode. The simulation and experimental results have confirmed the effectiveness of the improved pulse width modulation method for single-phase T-type inverter.

A Platform and Its Applied Modes for Geography Fieldwork in Higher Education Based on Location Services

Fieldwork is an important aspect of geography learning in higher educational institutions. Under the support of mobile technologies, the process and method of fieldwork in geography education have significantly been changed. However, the in-depth combination of Location-Based Services (LBSs) and geography fieldwork is still in the initial exploration stage. This paper designed and implemented a professional geography fieldwork platform based on Lushan, a famous geography fieldwork education station in Jiangxi, China. The platform includes the student-side mobile application, teacher-side mobile application, and a web back-end management system. Three specific technologically-enhanced applied modes were put forward based on the platform, which contains teacher-centered, semi-supervised, and student-independent modes. Students’ views on the three applied modes and usage in the fieldwork platform were collected through a questionnaire. The result shows that the LBS fieldwork platform has significant support for geography fieldwork. It meets the needs of students and reduces the burden for teachers. The teacher-centered is the most popular mode for students. Due to the unguaranteed fieldwork safety, inconvenient dynamic adjustment, and the habit of relying on the teacher’s explanation, the student-independent mode based on the LBS platform has apparent limitations. Nevertheless, students can recognize its potential in improving their practical, cooperative, and autonomous abilities. They are willing to try independent fieldwork supported by the platform in several days.