We report the operation of a cold-atom inertial sensor which continuously captures the rotation signal. Using a joint interrogation scheme, where we simultaneously prepare a cold-atom source and ...operate an atom interferometer (AI), enables us to eliminate the dead times. We show that such continuous operation improves the short-term sensitivity of AIs, and demonstrate a rotation sensitivity of 100 nrad/sec/sqrtHz in a cold-atom gyroscope of 11 cm^{2} Sagnac area. We also demonstrate a rotation stability of 1 nrad/sec at 10^{4} sec of integration time, which represents the state of the art for atomic gyroscopes. The continuous operation of cold-atom inertial sensors will lead to large area AIs at their full sensitivity potential, determined by the quantum noise limit.
Abstract Background Filamin C (encoded by the FLNC gene) is essential for sarcomere attachment to the plasmatic membrane. FLNC mutations have been associated with myofibrillar myopathies, and cardiac ...involvement has been reported in some carriers. Accordingly, since 2012, the authors have included FLNC in the genetic screening of patients with inherited cardiomyopathies and sudden death. Objectives The aim of this study was to demonstrate the association between truncating mutations in FLNC and the development of high-risk dilated and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies. Methods FLNC was studied using next-generation sequencing in 2,877 patients with inherited cardiovascular diseases. A characteristic phenotype was identified in probands with truncating mutations in FLNC . Clinical and genetic evaluation of 28 affected families was performed. Localization of filamin C in cardiac tissue was analyzed in patients with truncating FLNC mutations using immunohistochemistry. Results Twenty-three truncating mutations were identified in 28 probands previously diagnosed with dilated, arrhythmogenic, or restrictive cardiomyopathies. Truncating FLNC mutations were absent in patients with other phenotypes, including 1,078 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Fifty-four mutation carriers were identified among 121 screened relatives. The phenotype consisted of left ventricular dilation (68%), systolic dysfunction (46%), and myocardial fibrosis (67%); inferolateral negative T waves and low QRS voltages on electrocardiography (33%); ventricular arrhythmias (82%); and frequent sudden cardiac death (40 cases in 21 of 28 families). Clinical skeletal myopathy was not observed. Penetrance was >97% in carriers older than 40 years. Truncating mutations in FLNC cosegregated with this phenotype with a dominant inheritance pattern (combined logarithm of the odds score: 9.5). Immunohistochemical staining of myocardial tissue showed no abnormal filamin C aggregates in patients with truncating FLNC mutations. Conclusions Truncating mutations in FLNC caused an overlapping phenotype of dilated and left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies complicated by frequent premature sudden death. Prompt implantation of a cardiac defibrillator should be considered in affected patients harboring truncating mutations in FLNC.
In self-report surveys, it is common that some individuals do not pay enough attention and effort to give valid responses. Our aim was to investigate the extent to which careless and insufficient ...effort responding contributes to the biasing of data. We performed analyses of dimensionality, internal structure, and data reliability of four personality scales (extroversion, conscientiousness, stability, and dispositional optimism) in two independent samples. In order to identify careless/insufficient effort (C/IE) respondents, we used a factor mixture model (FMM) designed to detect inconsistencies of response to items with different semantic polarity. The FMM identified between 4.4% and 10% of C/IE cases, depending on the scale and the sample examined. In the complete samples, all the theoretical models obtained an unacceptable fit, forcing the rejection of the starting hypothesis and making additional wording factors necessary. In the clean samples, all the theoretical models fitted satisfactorily, and the wording factors practically disappeared. Trait estimates in the clean samples were between 4.5% and 11.8% more accurate than in the complete samples. These results show that a limited amount of C/IE data can lead to a drastic deterioration in the fit of the theoretical model, produce large amounts of spurious variance, raise serious doubts about the dimensionality and internal structure of the data, and reduce the reliability with which the trait scores of all surveyed are estimated. Identifying and filtering C/IE responses is necessary to ensure the validity of research results.
Most photosynthetic dinoflagellates contain a chloroplast with peridinin as the major carotenoid. Chloroplasts from other algal lineages have been reported, suggesting multiple plastid losses and ...replacements through endosymbiotic events. The pigment composition of 64 dinoflagellate species (122 strains) was analysed by using high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition to chlorophyll (chl)a, both chlc₂ and divinyl protochlorophyllide occurred in chlc-containing species. Chlc₁ co-occurred with chlc₂ in some peridinin-containing (e.g.Gambierdiscusspp.) and fucoxanthin-containing dinoflagellates (e.g.Kryptoperidinium foliaceum). Chlc₃ occurred in dinoflagellates whose plastids contained 19’-acyloxyfucoxanthins (e.g.Karenia mikimotoi). Chlbwas present in green dinoflagellates (Lepidodinium chlorophorum). Based on unique combinations of chlorophylls and carotenoids, 6 pigment-based chloroplast types were defined: Type 1: peridinin/dinoxanthin/chlc₂ (Alexandrium minutum); Type 2: fucoxanthin/19’-acyloxy fucoxanthins/4-keto-19’-acyloxy-fucoxanthins/gyroxanthin diesters/chlc₂,c₃, monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol-chlc₂ (Karenia mikimotoi); Type 3: fucoxanthin/19’-acyloxyfucoxanthins/gyroxanthin diesters/chlc₂,c₃ (Karlodinium veneficum); Type 4: fucoxanthin/chlc₁,c₂ (K. foliaceum); Type 5: alloxanthin/chlc₂/phycobiliproteins (Dinophysis tripos); Type 6: neoxanthin/violaxanthin/a major unknown carotenoid/chlb(Lepidodinium chlorophorum). While plastids with peridinin, and probably those with chlb, originated by secondary endosymbiosis, the other chloroplast types were obtained through tertiary endosymbiosis. Chloroplast types corresponded with evolutionary lineages within dinoflagellates. Caution must be observed when only peridinin is used for tracking photosynthetic dinoflagellates in field samples. The additional marker pigments offer oceanographers greater power for detecting dinophytes in mixed populations.
Summary
Many studies on photoacclimation examine the pigment responses to changes in light intensity, but variations in light climate in the aquatic environment are also related to changes in ...spectral composition. We have employed a high‐performance liquid chromatography method with improved resolution towards chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin‐related xanthophylls to examine the pigment composition of Emiliania huxleyi CCMP 370 under different light intensities and spectral qualities.
To maintain its photosynthetic performance, E. huxleyi CCMP370 promotes drastic pigment changes that can be either the interconversion of pigments in pools with the same basic chromophoric structure (Fucoxanthin type or chlorophyll c type), or the ex novo synthesis (Diatoxanthin). These changes are linked either to variations in light quality (Fucoxanthin related xanthophylls) or in light intensity (chlorophyll c3/Monovinyl chlorophyll c3, Diadinoxanthin/Diatoxanthin, β,ɛ−carotene/ β,β‐carotene). Fucoxanthin and 19′‐hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin proportions were highly dependent on spectral conditions. Whereas Fucoxanthin dominated in green and red light, 19′‐hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin prevailed under blue spectral conditions.
Our results suggest that the huge pigment diversity enhanced the photoacclimative capacities of E. huxleyi to efficiently perform under changing light environments. The ubiquity and success in the global ocean as well as the capacity of E. huxleyi to form large surface blooms might be associated to the plasticity described here.
We describe an experiment where spin squeezing occurs spontaneously within a standard Ramsey sequence driving a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of 87Rb atoms trapped in an elongated ...magnetic trap. The squeezing is generated by state-dependent collisional interactions, despite the near-identical scattering lengths of the spin states in 87Rb. In our proof-of-principle experiment, we observe a metrological spin squeezing that reaches 1.3 0.4 dB for 5000 atoms, with a contrast of 90 1%. The method may be applied to realize spin-squeezed BEC sources for atom interferometry without the need for cavities, state-dependent potentials or Feshbach resonances.
Impairments in social communication are a core feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Because the ability to infer other people's emotions from their facial expressions is critical for many ...aspects of social communication, deficits in expression recognition are a plausible candidate marker for ASD. However, previous studies on facial expression recognition produced mixed results, which may be due to differences in the sensitivity of the many tests used and/or the heterogeneity among individuals with ASD. To ascertain whether expression recognition may serve as a
(which distinguishes people with ASD from a comparison group) or a
(which helps to divide ASD into more homogeneous subgroups), a crucial first step is to move beyond identification of mean group differences and to better understand the frequency and severity of impairments.
This study tested 46 individuals with ASD and 52 age- and IQ-matched typically developing (TD) participants on the Films Expression Task, which combines three key features of real-life expression recognition: naturalistic facial expressions, a broad range of simple and complex emotions, and short presentation time. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 28 individuals who did not participate in the main study and revealed acceptable reliability (ICC
= .74).
Case-control comparisons showed highly significant mean group differences for accuracy (
= 1.1 × 10
), with an effect size (Cohen's
= 1.6), more than twice as large as the mean effect size reported in a previous meta-analysis (Uljarevic and Hamilton, 2012,
). The ASD group also had significantly increased mean reaction times overall (
= .00015,
= .83) and on correct trials (
= .0002,
= .78). However, whereas 63% of people with ASD showed severe deficits (they performed below two standard deviations of the TD mean, a small subgroup (15.3%) performed normally (within one standard deviation of the mean).
These findings indicate that the majority of people with ASD have severe expression recognition deficits and that the Films Expression Test is a sensitive task for biomarker research in ASD. Future work is needed to establish whether ASD subgroups with and without expression recognition deficits differ from one another in terms of their symptom profile or neurobiological underpinnings.
Summary
Because of a lack of contemporary data regarding seizures after cardiac surgery, we undertook a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 11 529 patients in whom ...cardiopulmonary bypass was used from January 2004 to December 2010. A convulsive seizure was defined as a transient episode of disturbed brain function characterised by abnormal involuntary motor movements. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of postoperative seizures. A total of 100 (0.9%) patients developed postoperative convulsive seizures. Generalised and focal seizures were identified in 68 and 32 patients, respectively. The median (IQR range) time after surgery when the seizure occurred was 7 (6–12 1–216) h and 8 (6–11 4–18) h, respectively. Epileptiform findings on electroencephalography were seen in 19 patients. Independent predictors of postoperative seizures included age, female sex, redo cardiac surgery, calcification of ascending aorta, congestive heart failure, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, duration of aortic cross‐clamp and tranexamic acid. When tested in a multivariate regression analysis, tranexamic acid was a strong independent predictor of seizures (OR 14.3, 95% CI 5.5–36.7; p < 0.001). Patients with convulsive seizures had 2.5 times higher in‐hospital mortality rates and twice the length of hospital stay compared with patients without convulsive seizures. Mean (IQR range) length of stay in the intensive care unit was 115 (49–228 32–481) h in patients with convulsive seizures compared with 26 (22–69 14–1080) h in patients without seizures (p < 0.001). Convulsive seizures are a serious postoperative complication after cardiac surgery. As tranexamic acid is the only modifiable factor, its administration, particularly in doses exceeding 80 mg.kg−1, should be weighed against the risk of postoperative seizures.
The Galician Rías (northwestern Spain) are periodically affected by harmful algal blooms (HABs), mostly dinoflagellates, which pose a challenge to aquaculture activities due to the accumulation of ...biotoxins in shellfish. Typically, reddish blooms in the Rías are associated with non-toxic species like Noctiluca scintillans, with a few exceptions such as Alexandrium minutum, a producer of paralytic shellfish toxins (PST). Here, a useful approach is presented for monitoring reddish blooms through satellite imagery based on three case studies, two of them belonged to monospecific blooms of red Noctiluca scintillans, and the third to a bloom of Alexandrium spp. dominated by A. tamarense. In every case, a propulsive index was evaluated using Sentinel-2A/B satellites, which provide high spatial and spectral resolutions, combined with adequate atmospheric and sunglint correction by using the ACOLITE and C2RCC processors. This approach offers a simple and feasible method to accurately and timely map blooms of red N. scintillans and Alexandrium spp. in the study area, useful to detect the distribution of reddish blooms with synoptic observations for monitoring and aquaculture management purposes. Conversely, Sentinel-3A/B satellites with a relatively coarser spatial resolution, lacking adequate visualization and mapping of the extent of small blooms, did not accurately detect bloom footprints in the coastal bay region, although this sensor displays a set of suitable multispectral bands.
Display omitted
•Absence of canthaxanthin and presence of an unknown carotenoid in N. scintillans.•Small and heterogeneous reddish patches are detected by the Sentinel-2 satellites.•The coarser spatial resolution of Sentinel-3 did not detect red N. scintillans blooms.•NDNI discriminates dense blooms of N. scintillans and Alexandrium spp. at 10 m resolution.•First report of bioluminescence associated with A. tamarense in the Iberian Peninsula.
The assembly of biological communities depends on deterministic and stochastic processes whose influence varies across spatial and temporal scales. Although ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi play a key ...role in forest ecosystems, our knowledge on ECM community assembly processes and their dependency on spatial scales is still scarce. We analysed the assembly processes operating on ECM fungal communities associated with
Cistus albidus
L. and
Quercus
spp. in Mediterranean mixed forests (Southern Spain), for which root tip ECM fungi were characterized by high-throughput sequencing. The relative contribution of deterministic and stochastic processes that govern the ECM fungal community assembly was inferred by using phylogenetic and compositional turnover descriptors across spatial scales. Our results revealed that stochastic processes had a significantly higher contribution than selection on root tip ECM fungal community assembly. The strength of selection decreased at the smallest scale and it was linked to the plant host identity and the environment. Dispersal limitation increased at finer scales, whilst drift showed the opposite pattern likely suggesting a main influence of priority effects on ECM fungal community assembly. This study highlights the potential of phylogeny to infer ECM fungal community responses and brings new insights into the ecological processes affecting the structure and dynamics of Mediterranean forests.
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