Search results for "Synthetic"

Estimation of Vegetation Structure Parameters From SMAP Radar Intensity Observations

2021

In this article, we present a multipolarimetric estimation approach for two model-based vegetation structure parameters (shape A and orientation distribution ψ of the main canopy elements). The approach is based on a reduced observation set of three incoherent (no phase information) polarimetric backscatter intensities (|S HH | 2 , |S HV | 2 , and |S VV | 2 ) combined with a two-parameter (A P and ψ) discrete scatterer model of vegetation. The objective is to understand whether this confined set of observations contains enough information to estimate the two vegetation structure parameters from the L-band radar signals. In order to disentangle soil and vegetation scattering influences on th…

Microbial Diversity in the Midguts of Field and Lab-Reared Populations of the European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis

2011

Background: Insects are associated with microorganisms that contribute to the digestion and processing of nutrients. The European Corn Borer (ECB) is a moth present world-wide, causing severe economical damage as a pest on corn and other crops. In the present work, we give a detailed view of the complexity of the microorganisms forming the ECB midgut microbiota with the objective of comparing the biodiversity of the midgut-associated microbiota and explore their potential as a source of genes and enzymes with biotechnological applications. Methodological/Principal Findings: A high-throughput sequencing approach has been used to identify bacterial species, genes and metabolic pathways, parti…

Solar PAR and UVR modify the community composition and photosynthetic activity of sea ice algae

2015

The effects of increased photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on species diversity, biomass and photosynthetic activity were studied in fast ice algal communities. The experimental set-up consisted of nine 1.44 m(2) squares with three treatments: untreated with natural snow cover (UNT), snow-free (PAR + UVR) and snow-free ice covered with a UV screen (PAR). The total algal biomass, dominated by diatoms and dinoflagellates, increased in all treatments during the experiment. However, the smaller biomass growth in the top 10-cm layer of the PAR + UVR treatment compared with the PAR treatment indicated the negative effect of UVR. Scrippsiella complex (mainly…

Effect of linker distribution in the photocatalytic activity of multivariate mesoporous crystals

2021

The use of Metal-Organic Frameworks as crystalline matrices for the synthesis of multiple component or multivariate solids by the combination of different linkers into a single material has emerged as a versatile route to tailor the properties of single-component phases or even access new functions. This approach is particularly relevant for Zr6-MOFs due to the synthetic flexibility of this inorganic node. However, the majority of materials are isolated as polycrystalline solids, which are not ideal to decipher the spatial arrangement of parent and exchanged linkers for the formation of homogeneous structures or heterogeneous domains across the solid. Here we use high-throughput methodologi…

Analysis of a Fast Reserve Unit Behaviour with Additional Modular Synthetic Inertia Control

2021

The paper presents the results of a theoretical study on the behaviour of a battery storage system operated as a Fast Reserve Unit and equipped with additional synthetic inertia control. The Fast Reserve Unit is assumed connected to the transmission system of Sicily, operated as an isolated grid in order to show more clearly the effect of the Fast Reserve Unit intervention during a power imbalance. The unit is controlled also to provide synthetic inertia with a conventional control scheme and with a new scheme proposed by the authors and named “Modular Synthetic Inertia”. The latter has been conceived for offering a modular response as a function of the Rate of Change of Frequency, to avoid…

Synthesis of a New Disulfide Affinity Adsorbent for Purification of Human Uterine Progesterone Receptor

2005

For purification of the human uterine progesterone receptor, an affinity adsorbent was synthesized in which the specific ligand (16 alpha-ethyl-3-oxo-19nor-androst-4-ene 17 beta-carboxylic acid) was bound to derivatized celulose using a disulfide-group-containing spacer. The purified receptor protein, isolated by reductive cleavage of the disulfide bond, bound the synthetic gestagen R5020 with high affinity (Kd 12.2 nmol/l). The affinity gel was highly efficient. A 24000-fold purification of progesterone receptor with a recovery of 40% could be achieved in a single step within 6 h. By means of dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis two main polypeptides with molecular weights o…

Protochlorophyllide reduction - what is new in 2005?

2005

Because the transformation of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) to chlorophyllide (Chlide) is an irradiation-dependent process, it is at the heart of the photosynthetic membrane biogenesis, turnover, and adaptation to changes of the environment. I review here the new data published during the year 2004 on Pchlide reduction to Chlide.

Monitoring barley and corn growth from remote sensing data at field scale

2004

Vegetation indices have been used for operational quantitative monitoring of vegetation. Here, corn and barley cultures have been used to relate meaningful biophysical parameters such as dry biomass and Crop Growth Rate (CGR) to the well-established Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We explain these relationships by means of the use of the Light Use Efficiency (LUE) models, based on the positive relation between primary production and Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (APAR). In these models we introduce NDVI as a linear estimator of f APAR. Experimental data over corn and barley show that dry biomass is linearly related to the Time-Integrated Value of the NDVI (TIND…

iGEM 2.0—refoundations for engineering biology

2014

Synthetic biomolecular condensates to engineer eukaryotic cells

2021

Abstract The compartmentalization of specific functions into specialized organelles is a key feature of eukaryotic life. In particular, dynamic biomolecular condensates that are not membrane enclosed offer exciting opportunities for synthetic biology. In recent years, multiple approaches to generate and control condensates have been reported. Notably, multiple orthogonally translating organelles were designed that enable precise protein engineering inside living cells. Despite being built from only very few components, orthogonal translation can be engineered with subresolution precision at different places inside the same cell to create mammalian cells with multiple expanded genetic codes.…