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Nordic microelectronics conference, NORCHIP 2014
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In the future the number of small sensor-based devices is going to increase. The Internet-of-Everything (IoE) vision brings smart miniature electronic devices to objects surrounding our everyday lives. These devices are going to monitor our environment or ourselves. They are also going to execute small tasks based on their observations. Operations of this kind can be done with small low-performance devices. In this paper we present building blocks for a low-power system for sensor-based applications. Our work is aiming for reliable operation with supply voltage of 0.5 V instead of the nominal of 1.2 V. We describe low-power solutions used in 130 nm CMOS technology microprocessor, memory and clock generator. Depending on the component, we have managed to achieve reliable operation with voltages of 0.5-0.8 V. Power consumption of components reduce significantly when operating voltage is scaled down to near-threshold region.</p
Finnish open university education and students’ transitions into and within higher education
Get PDFThere is a growing number of higher education (HE) students who do not follow the conventional sequential progression from the beginning to the end of their studies. Instead, they may use alternative admission routes, take gap years, delay their studies and transfer from one discipline or institution to another. In particular, students from under-represented social groups tend to follow less linear trajectories. In this article, we are interested in the institutional policies and practices that enable multiple ways for students to navigate into and within HE. As a theoretical lens, we apply Gale and Parker’s typology of student transition and the conceptualisation of transition as ‘becoming,’ which entails rejecting the notion of linearity and normativity. Our empirical case is Finnish open university education (OUE). Using student interviews (N=16) and reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three institutional characteristics: openness of access, flexible mode of studies, and alternative access route to degree studies. These characterisics enabled highly individualised learning trajectories and opportunity to enter, withdraw and return to OUE throughout life. However, the OUE gateway was selective, which limited its potential to reduce social inequality in student transitions. The study advances the policy discussion and development of inclusive universities.</p
Beta carbonic anhydrases: novel targets for pesticides and anti-parasitic agents in agriculture and livestock husbandry
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BACKGROUND:
The genomes of many insect and parasite species contain beta carbonic anhydrase (β-CA) protein coding sequences. The lack of β-CA proteins in mammals makes them interesting target proteins for inhibition in treatment of some infectious diseases and pests. Many insects and parasites represent important pests for agriculture and cause enormous economic damage worldwide. Meanwhile, pollution of the environment by old pesticides, emergence of strains resistant to them, and their off-target effects are major challenges for agriculture and society.
METHODS:
In this study, we analyzed a multiple sequence alignment of 31 β-CAs from insects, some parasites, and selected plant species relevant to agriculture and livestock husbandry. Using bioinformatics tools a phylogenetic tree was generated and the subcellular localizations and antigenic sites of each protein were predicted. Structural models for β-CAs of Ancylostoma caninum, Ascaris suum, Trichinella spiralis, and Entamoeba histolytica, were built using Pisum sativum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis β-CAs as templates.
RESULTS:
Six β-CAs of insects and parasites and six β-CAs of plants are predicted to be mitochondrial and chloroplastic, respectively, and thus may be involved in important metabolic functions. All 31 sequences showed the presence of the highly conserved β-CA active site sequence motifs, CXDXR and HXXC (C: cysteine, D: aspartic acid, R: arginine, H: histidine, X: any residue). We discovered that these two motifs are more antigenic than others. Homology models suggested that these motifs are mostly buried and thus not well accessible for recognition by antibodies.
CONCLUSIONS:
The predicted mitochondrial localization of several β-CAs and hidden antigenic epitopes within the protein molecule, suggest that they may not be considered major targets for vaccines. Instead, they are promising candidate enzymes for small-molecule inhibitors which can easily penetrate the cell membrane. Based on current knowledge, we conclude that β-CAs are potential targets for development of small molecule pesticides or anti-parasitic agents with minimal side effects on vertebrates.</p
Acceptance of the metaverse : a laboratory experiment on augmented and virtual reality shopping
Get PDFPurposeIn recent years, there has been significant interest in adopting XR (extended reality) technologies such as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality), particularly in retail. However, extending activities through reality-mediation is still mostly believed to offer an inferior experience due to their shortcomings in usability, wearability, graphical fidelity, etc. This study aims to address the research gap by experimentally examining the acceptance of metaverse shopping.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a 2 (VR: with vs. without) x 2 (AR: with vs. without) between-subjects laboratory experiment involving 157 participants in simulated daily shopping environments. This study builds a physical brick-and-mortar store at the campus and stocked it with approximately 600 products with accompanying product information and pricing. The XR devices and a 3D laser scanner were used in constructing the three XR shopping conditions.FindingsResults indicate that XR can offer an experience comparable to, or even surpassing, traditional shopping in terms of its instrumental and hedonic aspects, regardless of a slightly reduced perception of usability. AR negatively affected perceived ease of use, while VR significantly increased perceived enjoyment. It is surprising that the lower perceived ease of use appeared to be disconnected from the attitude toward metaverse shopping.Originality/valueThis study provides important experimental evidence on the acceptance of XR shopping, and the finding that low perceived ease of use may not always be detrimental adds to the theory of technology adoption as a whole. Additionally, it provides an important reference point for future randomized controlled studies exploring the effects of technology on adoption
JWST NIRCam Observations of SN 1987A: Spitzer Comparison and Spectral Decomposition
Get PDFJWST Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) observations at 1.5–4.5 μm have provided broadband and narrowband imaging of the evolving remnant of SN 1987A with unparalleled sensitivity and spatial resolution. Comparing with previous marginally spatially resolved Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) observations from 2004 to 2019 confirms that the emission arises from the circumstellar equatorial ring (ER), and the current brightness at 3.6 and 4.5 μm was accurately predicted by extrapolation of the declining brightness tracked by IRAC. Despite the regular light curve, the NIRCam observations clearly reveal that much of this emission is from a newly developing outer portion of the ER. Spots in the outer ER tend to lie at position angles in between the well-known ER hotspots. We show that the bulk of the emission in the field can be represented by five standard spectral energy distributions, each with a distinct origin and spatial distribution. This spectral decomposition provides a powerful technique for distinguishing overlapping emission from the circumstellar medium and the supernova ejecta, excited by the forward and reverse shocks, respectively.</p
War narratives, trust, lifeworld, participation and post-conflict society: The JSSE open issue 2023
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Why do people visit or avoid public green spaces? Insights from an online map-based survey in Bochum, Germany
Get PDFPublic green spaces (PGS) have the capacity to fulfil the needs and interests of diverse groups of urban dwellers and thus contribute to their well-being. However, PGS designers and managers usually lack spatially disaggregated information on how PGS is used, by whom, and for what reasons. This study aims to assess spatial PGS visitation and avoidance patterns and their respective determinants using the city of Bochum, Germany as a case study. The research design consists of the design and application of an online map-based survey (public participation GIS–PPGIS) targeting residents and subsequent statistical and spatial analyses. Survey data include 807 completed surveys with 1084 marked visited points and 329 marked avoided points across the study area. Our results show both spatial clusters and co-occurrence of PGS visitation and avoidance. Respondents visit and avoid PGS for different reasons, which are linked to societal determinants (e.g. exercising or resting and relaxing), physical determinants (e.g. amount of grassy area or presence of trash) and sociodemographic background. Although reasons for PGS visitation and avoidance show limited spatial variation across different PGS, we find variation when disaggregating by gender and age. Insights generated can provide useful guidance for urban planners and policy makers for prioritising design and management actions to address reasons for avoidance of PGS, enhance their perceived quality and benefits, and craft PGS management concepts that better address place-specific conditions and preferences of different sociodemographic groups
Multilingualism across the Lifespan
Get PDFThis chapter constitutes a narrative review on the so-called pathological language mixing and switching, with primary focus on multilingual persons with aphasia. Domain-general cognitive control is assumed to be a central aspect of bilingual language use and is strongly involved in switching between languages. However, this assumed relationship has not received the empirical scrutiny it deserves. In this review, we ask whether and when language switching/mixing in brain-damaged participants should be considered a control deficit and when it can be better characterized as a communicative strategy of the participants. We present opposing views on the legitimacy of using the term pathological switching/mixing and propose a way of reconciling these views. We also ask to what extent possible language control deficits underlying so-called pathological switching/mixing overlap with domain-general cognitive control functions, as measured by tasks of executive functions, and look into the neural correlates of these functions. This question addresses the relationship between language control and domain-general cognitive control. It therefore also touches upon the underlying assumptions behind the idea that frequent language switching/mixing could train cognitive control functions, possibly leading to a bilingual advantage in cognitive abilities, a hotly debated topic.</p
Adults with metabolically healthy overweight or obesity present more brown adipose tissue and higher thermogenesis than their metabolically unhealthy counterparts
Get PDFBackground There is a subset of individuals with overweight/obesity characterized by a lower risk of cardiometabolic complications, the so-called metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO) phenotype. Despite the relatively higher levels of subcutaneous adipose tissue and lower visceral adipose tissue observed in individuals with MHOO than individuals with metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO), little is known about the differences in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Methods This study included 53 young adults (28 women) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 which were classified as MHOO (n = 34) or MUOO (n = 19). BAT was assessed through a static 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan after a 2-h personalized cooling protocol. Energy expenditure, skin temperature, and thermal perception were assessed during a standardized mixed meal test (3.5 h) and a 1-h personalized cold exposure. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, energy intake was determined during an ad libitum meal test and dietary recalls, and physical activity levels were determined by a wrist-worn accelerometer. Findings Participants with MHOO presented higher BAT volume (+124%, P = 0.008), SUVmean (+63%, P = 0.001), and SUVpeak (+133%, P = 0.003) than MUOO, despite having similar BAT mean radiodensity (P = 0.354). In addition, individuals with MHOO exhibited marginally higher meal-induced thermogenesis (P = 0.096) and cold-induced thermogenesis (+158%, P = 0.050). Moreover, MHOO participants showed higher supraclavicular skin temperature than MUOO during the first hour of the postprandial period and during the cold exposure, while no statistically significant differences were observed in other skin temperature parameters. We observed no statistically significant differences between MHOO and MUOO in thermal perception, body composition, outdoor ambient temperature exposure, resting metabolic rate, energy intake, or physical activity levels. Interpretation Adults with MHOO present higher BAT volume and activity than MUOO. The higher meal- and cold-induced thermogenesis and cold-induced supraclavicular skin temperature are compatible with a higher BAT activity. Overall, these results suggest that BAT presence and activity might be linked to a healthier phenotype in young adults with overweight or obesity. Funding See acknowledgments section.</p
Cellular heterogeneity in metabolism and associated microbiome of a non-model phytoflagellate
Get PDFSingle-cell transcriptomics is a key tool for unravelling metabolism and tissue diversity in model organisms. Its potential for elucidating the ecological roles of microeukaryotes, especially non-model ones, remains largely unexplored. This study employed the Smart-seq2 protocol on Ochromonas triangulata, a microeukaryote lacking a reference genome, showcasing how transcriptional states align with two distinct growth phases: a fast-growing phase and a slow-growing phase. Besides the two expected expression clusters, each corresponding to either growth phase, a third transcriptional state was identified across both growth phases. Metabolic mapping revealed a boost of photosynthetic activity in the fast growth over the slow growth stage, as well as downregulation trend in pathways associated with ribosome functioning, CO2 fixation, and carbohydrate catabolism characteristic of the third transcriptional state. In addition, carry-over rRNA reads recapitulated the taxonomic identity of the target while revealing distinct bacterial communities, in co-culture with the eukaryote, each associated with distinct transcriptional states. This study underscores single-cell transcriptomics as a powerful tool for characterizing metabolic states in microeukaryotes without a reference genome, offering insights into unknown physiological states and individual-level interactions with different bacterial taxa. This approach holds broad applicability to describe the ecological roles of environmental microeukaryotes, culture-free, and reference-free, surpassing alternative methods like metagenomics or metatranscriptomics