| 1. |
- Blanton, Michael R., et al.
(author)
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Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV : Mapping the Milky Way, Nearby Galaxies, and the Distant Universe
- 2017
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In: Astronomical Journal. - : IOP Publishing Ltd. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 154:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We describe the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV), a project encompassing three major spectroscopic programs. The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2) is observing hundreds of thousands of Milky Way stars at high resolution and. high signal-to-noise ratios in the near-infrared. The Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey is obtaining spatially resolved spectroscopy for thousands of nearby galaxies (median z similar to 0.03). The extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) is mapping the galaxy, quasar, and neutral gas distributions between z similar to 0.6 and 3.5 to constrain cosmology using baryon acoustic oscillations, redshift space distortions, and the shape of the power spectrum. Within eBOSS, we are conducting two major subprograms: the SPectroscopic IDentification of eROSITA Sources (SPIDERS), investigating X-ray AGNs. and galaxies in X-ray clusters, and the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), obtaining spectra of variable sources. All programs use the 2.5 m Sloan Foundation Telescope at the. Apache Point Observatory; observations there began in Summer 2014. APOGEE-2 also operates a second near-infrared spectrograph at the 2.5 m du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, with observations beginning in early 2017. Observations at both facilities are scheduled to continue through 2020. In keeping with previous SDSS policy, SDSS-IV provides regularly scheduled public data releases; the first one, Data Release 13, was made available in 2016 July.
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| 2. |
- Abolfathi, Bela, et al.
(author)
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The Fourteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey : First Spectroscopic Data from the Extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey and from the Second Phase of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment
- 2018
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In: Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. - : IOP Publishing Ltd. - 0067-0049 .- 1538-4365. ; 235:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) has been in operation since 2014 July. This paper describes the second data release from this phase, and the 14th from SDSS overall (making this Data Release Fourteen or DR14). This release makes the data taken by SDSS-IV in its first two years of operation (2014-2016 July) public. Like all previous SDSS releases, DR14 is cumulative, including the most recent reductions and calibrations of all data taken by SDSS since the first phase began operations in 2000. New in DR14 is the first public release of data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey; the first data from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2), including stellar parameter estimates from an innovative data-driven machine-learning algorithm known as "The Cannon"; and almost twice as many data cubes from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey as were in the previous release (N = 2812 in total). This paper describes the location and format of the publicly available data from the SDSS-IV surveys. We provide references to the important technical papers describing how these data have been taken (both targeting and observation details) and processed for scientific use. The SDSS web site (www.sdss.org) has been updated for this release and provides links to data downloads, as well as tutorials and examples of data use. SDSS-IV is planning to continue to collect astronomical data until 2020 and will be followed by SDSS-V.
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| 3. |
- Cao, Zi-Jun, et al.
(author)
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State-of-the-art review of inherent variability and uncertainty in geotechnical properties and models : Chapter 6: Determining characteristic values of geotechnical parameters and resistance: an overview
- 2021
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- CEN committee TC250 is currently working on an update of the Eurocodes. Subcommittee SC10,in charge of updating EN 1990 (Basis of structural and geotechnical design has installed aworking group to produce a background document with the working title ‘Reliability Backgrounds of the Eurocodes’, with the intention to document and explain the reliability framework underlying all Eurocodes and the implementation of reliability aspects in them. As part of that effort, quantitative information on the inherent variability and uncertainty in loads, material properties and models is compiled. ISSMGE TC304 identified this as an opportunity to provide an overview of the relevant information available in the geotechnical literature such as the statistics of soil/rock properties. The EPRI TR 105000 report (Phoon et al. 1995) provided an overview of the statistics of inherent soil properties and measurement errors, but these statistics have not yet been updated systematically since 1995. Also, rock properties were not covered by the TR 105000 report. Other than soil/rock properties and measurement errors, there are also other important statistics, such as the statistics of transformation uncertainties and model factors.The current technical report has the following features:1. It serves as an update for the TR 105000 report on the statistics of inherent soil properties. Chapter 1 compiles the site specific statistics for univariate soil properties. Chapter 3 compiles the random field parameters (e.g., the scales of fluctuation) for spatial variability of soils. Many of the statistics are new.2. It contains statistics that are not covered by the TR 105000 report. Chapter 1 compiles the site specific statistics for some rock and rock mass properties. Chapter 2 compiles the site specific correlations between soil/rock properties. Chapter 5 compiles the statistics for transformation uncertainties.3. Chapter 4 compiles the statistics of geotechnical design model factors . Chapter 6 reviews methods that determine the characteristic value defined by the Eurocode 7. Chapter 7 reviews some numerical evidences for the worst case scale of fluctuation.
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| 4. |
- Carreno-Quintero, Natalia, et al.
(author)
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Non-targeted discovery of high-value bio-products in Nicotiana glauca L : a potential renewable plant feedstock
- 2024
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In: Bioresources and bioprocessing. - : Springer Nature. - 2197-4365. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The evaluation of plant-based feedstocks is an important aspect of biorefining. Nicotiana glauca is a solanaceous, non-food crop that produces large amounts of biomass and is well adapted to grow in suboptimal conditions. In the present article, compatible sequential solvent extractions were applied to N. glauca leaves to enable the generation of enriched extracts containing higher metabolite content comparing to direct leaf extracts. Typically, between 60 to 100 metabolite components were identified within the fractions. The occurrence of plant fatty acids, fatty acid alcohols, alkanes, sterols and terpenoids was detected by gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and metabolite identification was confirmed by comparison of physico-chemical properties displayed by available authentic standards. Collectively, co-products such waxes, oils, fermentable sugars, and terpenoids were all identified and quantified. The enriched fractions of N. glauca revealed a high level of readily extractable hydrocarbons, oils and high value co-products. In addition, the saccharification yield and cell wall composition analyses in the stems revealed the potential of the residue material as a promising lignocellulosic substrate for the production of fermentable sugars. In conclusion a multifractional cascade for valuable compounds/commodities has been development, that uses N. glauca biomass. These data have enabled the evaluation of N. glauca material as a potential feedstock for biorefining.
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| 5. |
- Chen, Jian, et al.
(author)
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Zika virus infects renal proximal tubular epithelial cells with prolonged persistency and cytopathic effects
- 2017
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In: Emerging Microbes & Infections. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2222-1751. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Zika virus (ZIKV) infection can cause fetal developmental abnormalities and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. Although progress has been made in understanding the link between ZIKV infection and microcephaly, the pathology of ZIKV, particularly the viral reservoirs in human, remains poorly understood. Several studies have shown that compared to serum samples, patients' urine samples often have a longer duration of ZIKV persistency and higher viral load. This finding suggests that an independent viral reservoir may exist in the human urinary system. Despite the clinical observations, the host cells of ZIKV in the human urinary system are poorly characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that ZIKV can infect renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEpiCs) in immunodeficient mice in vivo and in both immortalized and primary human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (hRPTEpiCs) in vitro. Importantly, ZIKV infection in mouse kidneys caused caspase-3-mediated apoptosis of renal cells. Similarly, in vitro infection of immortalized and primary hRPTEpiCs resulted in notable cytopathic effects. Consistent with the clinical observations, we found that ZIKV infection can persist with prolonged duration in hRPTEpiCs. RNA-Seq analyses of infected hRPTEpiCs revealed a large number of transcriptional changes in response to ZIKV infection, including type I interferon signaling genes and anti-viral response genes. Our results suggest that hRPTEpiCs are a potential reservoir of ZIKV in the human urinary system, providing a possible explanation for the prolonged persistency of ZIKV in patients' urine.
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| 6. |
- Dong, Tianyun, et al.
(author)
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Effects of simplifying train bogies on surrounding flow and aerodynamic forces
- 2019
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In: Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-6105. ; 191, s. 170-182
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2019 Elsevier Ltd In this study, the numerical solution of a high-speed train with several simplified bogies is investigated. The time-averaged flow field around the train, the surface pressure, and the aerodynamic forces on the train are discussed. The results reveal that a simpler bogie structure can achieve a higher underbody flow velocity and change fluctuations beneath the train owing to the resulting turbulence level. The simplification of bogies has a smaller effect on the side slipstream velocity and pressure compare to which in underbody, and at 3 m away from the centre of the track, the simplified bogie with wheels and a simple side frame used in this study obtains similar results to cases wherein more complex bogies are used. The surface pressure under the train is affected by bogie simplification, especially in the bogie cabin end area, resulting in aerodynamic drag and lift variations. If underbody flow or aerodynamic drag and lift forces are the focus of study, then the geometry of the centre region of the bogie, i.e. its main structures features, should be maintained in simplified models.
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| 7. |
- Hopper, Thomas R., et al.
(author)
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Control of Donor-Acceptor Photophysics through Structural Modification of a "Twisting" Push-Pull Molecule
- 2019
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In: Chemistry of Materials. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 0897-4756 .- 1520-5002. ; 31:17, s. 6860-6869
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In contemporary organic solar cell (OSC) research, small A-D-A molecules comprising electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) units are increasingly used as a means to control the optoelectronic properties of photovoltaic blends. Slight structural variations to these A-D-A molecules can result in profound changes to the performance of the OSCs. Herein, we study two A-D-A molecules, BTCN-O and BTCN-M, which are identical in structure apart from a subtle difference in the position of alkyl chains, which force the molecules to adopt different equilibrium conformations. These steric effects cause the respective molecules to work better as an electron donor and acceptor when blended with benchmark acceptor and donor materials (PC71BM and PBDB-T). We study the photophysics of these "D:A" blends and devices using a combination of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Time-resolved photoluminescence reveals the impact of the molecular conformation on the quenching of the A-D-A emission when BTCN-O and BTCN-M are blended with PBDB-T or PC71BM. Ultrafast broadband transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrates that the dynamics of charge separation are essentially identical when comparing BTCN-M and BTCN-O based blends, but the recombination dynamics are quite dissimilar. This suggests that the device performance is ultimately determined by the morphology of the blends imposed by the A-D-A conformation. This notion is supported by X-ray scattering measurements on the "D:A" films, electroluminescence data, and pump-push-photocurrent spectroscopy on the "D:A" devices. Our findings provide insight into the remarkable structure-function relationship in A-D-A molecules and emphasize the need for careful morphological and energetic considerations when designing high-performance OSCs.
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| 8. |
- Kanoni, Stavroula, et al.
(author)
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Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.
- 2022
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In: Genome biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-760X .- 1465-6906 .- 1474-7596. ; 23:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N=1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3-5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism.Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.
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| 9. |
- Ma, Li-Jun, et al.
(author)
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Comparative genomics reveals mobile pathogenicity chromosomes in Fusarium.
- 2010
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-4687 .- 0028-0836. ; 464:7287, s. 367-73
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fusarium species are among the most important phytopathogenic and toxigenic fungi. To understand the molecular underpinnings of pathogenicity in the genus Fusarium, we compared the genomes of three phenotypically diverse species: Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Our analysis revealed lineage-specific (LS) genomic regions in F. oxysporum that include four entire chromosomes and account for more than one-quarter of the genome. LS regions are rich in transposons and genes with distinct evolutionary profiles but related to pathogenicity, indicative of horizontal acquisition. Experimentally, we demonstrate the transfer of two LS chromosomes between strains of F. oxysporum, converting a non-pathogenic strain into a pathogen. Transfer of LS chromosomes between otherwise genetically isolated strains explains the polyphyletic origin of host specificity and the emergence of new pathogenic lineages in F. oxysporum. These findings put the evolution of fungal pathogenicity into a new perspective.
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| 10. |
- Postmus, Iris, et al.
(author)
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Pharmacogenetic meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of LDL cholesterol response to statins.
- 2014
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Statins effectively lower LDL cholesterol levels in large studies and the observed interindividual response variability may be partially explained by genetic variation. Here we perform a pharmacogenetic meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in studies addressing the LDL cholesterol response to statins, including up to 18,596 statin-treated subjects. We validate the most promising signals in a further 22,318 statin recipients and identify two loci, SORT1/CELSR2/PSRC1 and SLCO1B1, not previously identified in GWAS. Moreover, we confirm the previously described associations with APOE and LPA. Our findings advance the understanding of the pharmacogenetic architecture of statin response.
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