Recent improvements in direct electron detectors, microscope technology and software provided the stimulus for a `quantum leap' in the application of cryo-electron microscopy in structural biology, and many national and international centres have since been created in order to exploit this. Here, a new facility for cryo-electron microscopy focused on single-particle reconstruction of biological macromolecules that has been commissioned at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) is presented. The facility is operated by a consortium of institutes co-located on the European Photon and Neutron Campus and is managed in a similar fashion to a synchrotron X-ray beamline. It has been open to the ESRF structural biology user community since November 2017 and will remain open during the 2019 ESRF–EBS shutdown.

In recent years, there have been numerous efforts worldwide to develop the synchrotron X-ray scanning tunneling microscopy (SX-STM) technique. Here, the inauguration of XTIP, the world's first beamline fully dedicated to SX-STM, is reported. The XTIP beamline is located at Sector 4 of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. It features an insertion device that can provide left- or right-circular as well as horizontal- and vertical-linear polarization. XTIP delivers monochromatic soft X-rays of between 400 and 1900 eV focused into an environmental enclosure that houses the endstation instrument. This article discusses the beamline system design and its performance.

A lipid droplet (LD) core of a cell consists mainly of neutral lipids, triacylglycerols and/or steryl esters (SEs). The structuration of these lipids inside the core is still under debate. Lipid segregation inside LDs has been observed but is sometimes suggested to be an artefact of LD isolation and chemical fixation. LD imaging in their native state and in unaltered cellular environments appears essential to overcome these possible technical pitfalls. Here, imaging techniques for ultrastructural study of native LDs in cellulo are provided and it is shown that LDs are organized structures. Cryo soft X-ray tomography and deep-ultraviolet (DUV) transmittance imaging are showing a partitioning of SEs at the periphery of the LD core. Furthermore, DUV transmittance and tryptophan/tyrosine auto-fluorescence imaging on living cells are combined to obtain complementary information on cell chemical contents. This multimodal approach paves the way for a new label-free organelle imaging technique in living cells.

This study relates to the INFN project SYRMA-3D for in vivo phase-contrast breast computed tomography using the SYRMEP synchrotron radiation beamline at the ELETTRA facility in Trieste, Italy. This peculiar imaging technique uses a novel dosimetric approach with respect to the standard clinical procedure. In this study, optimization of the acquisition procedure was evaluated in terms of dose delivered to the breast. An offline dose monitoring method was also investigated using radiochromic film dosimetry. Various irradiation geometries have been investigated for scanning the prone patient's pendant breast, simulated by a 14 cm-diameter polymethylmethacrylate cylindrical phantom containing pieces of calibrated radiochromic film type XR-QA2. Films were inserted mid-plane in the phantom, as well as wrapped around its external surface, and irradiated at 38 keV, with an air kerma value that would produce an estimated mean glandular dose of 5 mGy for a 14 cm-diameter 50% glandular breast. Axial scans were performed over a full rotation or over 180°. The results point out that a scheme adopting a stepped rotation irradiation represents the best geometry to optimize the dose distribution to the breast. The feasibility of using a piece of calibrated radiochromic film wrapped around a suitable holder around the breast to monitor the scan dose offline is demonstrated.

Enhancement of X-ray excited optical luminescence in a 100 µm-thick diamond plate by introduction of defect states via electron beam irradiation and subsequent high-temperature annealing is demonstrated. The resulting X-ray transmission-mode scintillator features a linear response to incident photon flux in the range 7.6 × 108 to 1.26 × 1012 photons s−1 mm−2 for hard X-rays (15.9 keV) using exposure times from 0.01 to 5 s. These characteristics enable a real-time transmission-mode imaging of X-ray photon flux density without disruption of X-ray instrument operation.

Quantum beats in fluorescence decay from Zeeman-split magnetic sublevels have been measured for helium Rydberg states excited by synchrotron radiation. The Zeeman quantum beats observed in this prototypical case were fitted with an equation from a theoretical formulation. It is proposed that Zeeman quantum beat measurement can be a useful way to simply evaluate the polarization characteristics of extreme ultraviolet light.

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) measured on the XMaS beamline at the ESRF was used to characterize the alloy composition and crystalline surface corrosion of three copper alloy Tudor artefacts recovered from the undersea wreck of King Henry VIII's warship the Mary Rose. The XRD method adopted has a dynamic range ∼1:105 and allows reflections <0.002% of the height of major reflections in the pattern to be discerned above the background without smoothing. Laboratory XRD, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and X-ray excited optical luminescence–X-ray near-edge absorption structure were used as supporting techniques, and the combination revealed structural and compositional features of importance to both archaeology and conservation. The artefacts were brass links believed to be fragments of chainmail and were excavated from the seabed during 1981 and 1982. Their condition reflects very different treatment just after recovery, viz. complete cleaning and conservation, chemical corrosion inhibition and chloride removal only, and distilled water soaking only (to remove the chlorides). The brass composition has been determined for all three at least in the top 7 µm or so as Cu(73%)Zn(27%) from the lattice constant. Measurement of the peak widths showed significant differences in the crystallite size and microstrain between the three samples. All of the links are found to be almost chloride-free with the main corrosion products being spertiniite, sphalerite, zincite, covellite and chalcocite. The balance of corrosion products between the links reflects the conservation treatment applied to one and points to different corrosion environments for the other two.

Elucidating the structural dynamics of small molecules and proteins in the liquid solution phase is essential to ensure a fundamental understanding of their reaction mechanisms. In this regard, time-resolved X-ray solution scattering (TRXSS), also known as time-resolved X-ray liquidography (TRXL), has been established as a powerful technique for obtaining the structural information of reaction intermediates and products in the liquid solution phase and is expected to be applied to a wider range of molecules in the future. A TRXL experiment is generally performed at the beamline of a synchrotron or an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) to provide intense and short X-ray pulses. Considering the limited opportunities to use these facilities, it is necessary to verify the plausibility of a target experiment prior to the actual experiment. For this purpose, a program has been developed, referred to as S-cube, which is short for a Solution Scattering Simulator. This code allows the routine estimation of the shape and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of TRXL data from known experimental parameters. Specifically, S-cube calculates the difference scattering curve and the associated quantum noise on the basis of the molecular structure of the target reactant and product, the target solvent, the energy of the pump laser pulse and the specifications of the beamline to be used. Employing a simplified form for the pair-distribution function required to calculate the solute–solvent cross term greatly increases the calculation speed as compared with a typical TRXL data analysis. Demonstrative applications of S-cube are presented, including the estimation of the expected TRXL data and SNR level for the future LCLS-II HE beamlines.

A gas- and vapour-pressure control system synchronized with the continuous data acquisition of millisecond high-resolution powder diffraction measurements was developed to study structural change processes in gas storage and reaction materials such as metal organic framework compounds, zeolite and layered double hydroxide. The apparatus, which can be set up on beamline BL02B2 at SPring-8, mainly comprises a pressure control system of gases and vapour, a gas cell for a capillary sample, and six one-dimensional solid-state (MYTHEN) detectors. The pressure control system can be remotely controlled via developed software connected to a diffraction measurement system and can be operated in the closed gas and vapour line system. By using the temperature-control system on the sample, high-resolution powder diffraction data can be obtained under gas and vapour pressures ranging from 1 Pa to 130 kPa in temperatures ranging from 30 to 1473 K. This system enables one to perform automatic and high-throughput in situ X-ray powder diffraction experiments even at extremely low pressures. Furthermore, this developed system is useful for studying crystal structures during the adsorption/desorption processes, as acquired by millisecond and continuous powder diffraction measurements. The acquisition of diffraction data can be synchronized with the control of the pressure with a high frame rate of up to 100 Hz. In situ and time-resolved powder diffraction measurements are demonstrated for nanoporous Cu coordination polymer in various gas and vapour atmospheres.

The diffraction response of a single crystal to electric field measured by X-ray diffraction by angles close to π. Such schemes allow one to determine with high (~ 10–5–10–6) accuracy the relative changes in the lattice constant.

A new study of Chandra data has revealed two nearby galaxies whose supermassive black holes are growing faster than the galaxies themselves.

The post Black hole growth found to be out of synch appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Bipasha Dey and Richa Rikhy

Cell shape morphogenesis from spherical to polygonal occurs in epithelial cell formation in metazoan embryogenesis. In syncytial Drosophila embryos, the plasma membrane incompletely surrounds each nucleus and is organized as a polygonal epithelial-like array. Each cortical syncytial division cycle shows circular to polygonal plasma membrane transition along with furrow extension between adjacent nuclei from interphase to metaphase. In this study, we assess the relative contribution of DE-cadherin and Myosin II at the furrow for polygonal shape transition. We show that polygonality initiates during each cortical syncytial division cycle when the furrow extends from 4.75 to 5.75 µm. Polygon plasma membrane organization correlates with increased junctional tension, increased DE-cadherin and decreased Myosin II mobility. DE-cadherin regulates furrow length and polygonality. Decreased Myosin II activity allows for polygonality to occur at a lower length than controls. Increased Myosin II activity leads to loss of lateral furrow formation and complete disruption of polygonal shape transition. Our studies show that DE-cadherin-Myosin II balance regulates an optimal lateral membrane length during each syncytial cycle for polygonal shape transition.

Aparna Sherlekar, Gayatri Mundhe, Prachi Richa, Bipasha Dey, Swati Sharma, and Richa Rikhy

Branched actin networks driven by Arp2/3 collaborate with actomyosin filaments in processes such as cell migration. The syncytial Drosophila blastoderm embryo also shows expansion of apical caps by Arp2/3 driven actin polymerization in interphase and buckling at contact edges by MyosinII to form furrows in metaphase. Here we study the role of Syndapin (Synd), an F-BAR domain containing protein in apical cap remodelling prior to furrow extension. synd depletion showed larger apical caps. STED super-resolution and TIRF microscopy showed long apical actin protrusions in caps in interphase and short protrusions in metaphase in control embryos. synd depletion led to sustained long protrusions even in metaphase. Loss of Arp2/3 function in synd mutants partly reverted defects in apical cap expansion and protrusion remodelling. MyosinII levels were decreased in synd mutants and MyosinII mutant embryos have been previously reported to have expanded caps. We propose that Syndapin function limits branching activity during cap expansion and affects MyosinII distribution in order to shift actin remodeling from apical cap expansion to favor lateral furrow extension.

Simulink might produce an incorrect sorted order for a model that meets all of the following conditions:

• The model contains blocks from the SoC Blockset
• The Signal logging option is selected in the model configuration set
• Signals using asynchronous sample time are configured for logging

In certain scenarios, a Subsystem Reference block changes its position. It can happen during: 

1. Loading of top model which contains the Subsystem Reference block 
2. Synchronization of Subsystem Reference block's contents
3. Converting a subsystem to Subsystem Reference block 

American Express cardholders can sync their accounts with Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare and receive special savings offers at select merchants. But the whole

New research suggests why we feel so in tune with performers at a concert, and it's called "inter-brain coherence."

A vast unseen force, more expansive than gravity, seems to connect galaxies separated by vast distances.

Every June, the Elkmont Ghost Town in Great Smoky Mountains National Park lights up with the world's largest gathering of synchronous fireflies.

Sharpe's books are riveting inspirational thrillers written in honor of her daughter Kate and her husband Steve.

Patent Covers Ability for Replacing a Portion of Video Broadcast Audio With a Customized, Live-Streaming Alternate Media Stream

Land use and climate change are two key factors with the potential to affect stream conditions and fish habitat. Since the 1950s, Washington and Oregon have required forest practices designed to mitigate the effects of timber harvest on streams and fish.

With the debut of Vert.x, the asynchronous framework is reaching an inflection point, suggests Andrew Cholakian. With Vert.x, the software is packaged together in such a way as to be extremely practical, he states. For some JVM zealots, Vert.x may meet needs recently and apparently addressed by node.js. Vert.x is an asynchronous application server – Read the rest...

This paper deals with an optimal control problem associated to the Kuramoto model describing the dynamical behavior of a network of coupled oscillators. Our aim is to design a suitable control function allowing us to steer the system to a synchronized configuration in which all the oscillators are aligned on the same phase. This control is computed via the minimization of a given cost functional associated with the dynamics considered. For this minimization, we propose a novel approach based on the combination of a standard Gradient Descent (GD) methodology with the recently-developed Random Batch Method (RBM) for the efficient numerical approximation of collective dynamics. Our simulations show that the employment of RBM improves the performances of the GD algorithm, reducing the computational complexity of the minimization process and allowing for a more efficient control calculation.

In this paper, we work on intra-variable handwriting, where the writing samples of an individual can vary significantly. Such within-writer variation throws a challenge for automatic writer inspection, where the state-of-the-art methods do not perform well. To deal with intra-variability, we analyze the idiosyncrasy in individual handwriting. We identify/verify the writer from highly idiosyncratic text-patches. Such patches are detected using a deep recurrent reinforcement learning-based architecture. An idiosyncratic score is assigned to every patch, which is predicted by employing deep regression analysis. For writer identification, we propose a deep neural architecture, which makes the final decision by the idiosyncratic score-induced weighted average of patch-based decisions. For writer verification, we propose two algorithms for patch-fed deep feature aggregation, which assist in authentication using a triplet network. The experiments were performed on two databases, where we obtained encouraging results.

To implement a blockchain, we need a blockchain protocol for all the nodes to follow. To design a blockchain protocol, we need a block publisher selection mechanism and a chain selection rule. In Proof-of-Stake (PoS) based blockchain protocols, block publisher selection mechanism selects the node to publish the next block based on the relative stake held by the node. However, PoS protocols may face vulnerability to fully adaptive corruptions. In literature, researchers address this issue at the cost of performance.

In this paper, we propose a novel PoS-based blockchain protocol, QuickSync, to achieve security against fully adaptive corruptions without compromising on performance. We propose a metric called block power, a value defined for each block, derived from the output of the verifiable random function based on the digital signature of the block publisher. With this metric, we compute chain power, the sum of block powers of all the blocks comprising the chain, for all the valid chains. These metrics are a function of the block publisher's stake to enable the PoS aspect of the protocol. The chain selection rule selects the chain with the highest chain power as the one to extend. This chain selection rule hence determines the selected block publisher of the previous block. When we use metrics to define the chain selection rule, it may lead to vulnerabilities against Sybil attacks. QuickSync uses a Sybil attack resistant function implemented using histogram matching. We prove that QuickSync satisfies common prefix, chain growth, and chain quality properties and hence it is secure. We also show that it is resilient to different types of adversarial attack strategies. Our analysis demonstrates that QuickSync performs better than Bitcoin by an order of magnitude on both transactions per second and time to finality, and better than Ouroboros v1 by a factor of three on time to finality.

In this paper, we present three distributed algorithms to solve a class of generalized Nash equilibrium (GNE) seeking problems in strongly monotone games. The first one (SD-GENO) is based on synchronous updates of the agents, while the second and the third (AD-GEED and AD-GENO) represent asynchronous solutions that are robust to communication delays. AD-GENO can be seen as a refinement of AD-GEED, since it only requires node auxiliary variables, enhancing the scalability of the algorithm. Our main contribution is to prove converge to a variational GNE of the game via an operator-theoretic approach. Finally, we apply the algorithms to network Cournot games and show how different activation sequences and delays affect convergence. We also compare the proposed algorithms to the only other in the literature (ADAGNES), and observe that AD-GENO outperforms the alternative.

Diagnosis of high impedance fault (HIF) is a challenge for nowadays distribution network protections. The fault current of a HIF is much lower than that of a normal load, and fault feature is significantly affected by fault scenarios. A detection and feeder identification algorithm for HIFs is proposed in this paper, based on the high-resolution and synchronous waveform data. In the algorithm, an interval slope is defined to describe the waveform distortions, which guarantees a uniform feature description under various HIF nonlinearities and noise interferences. For three typical types of network neutrals, i.e.,isolated neutral, resonant neutral, and low-resistor-earthed neutral, differences of the distorted components between the zero-sequence currents of healthy and faulty feeders are mathematically deduced, respectively. As a result, the proposed criterion, which is based on the distortion relationships between zero-sequence currents of feeders and the zero-sequence voltage at the substation, is theoretically supported. 28 HIFs grounded to various materials are tested in a 10kV distribution networkwith three neutral types, and are utilized to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Multi-view data capture permits free-viewpoint video (FVV) content creation. To this end, several users must capture video streams, calibrated in both time and pose, framing the same object/scene, from different viewpoints. New-generation network architectures (e.g. 5G) promise lower latency and larger bandwidth connections supported by powerful edge computing, properties that seem ideal for reliable FVV capture. We have explored this possibility, aiming to remove the need for bespoke synchronisation hardware when capturing a scene from multiple viewpoints, making it possible through off-the-shelf mobiles. We propose a novel and scalable data capture architecture that exploits edge resources to synchronise and harvest frame captures. We have designed an edge computing unit that supervises the relaying of timing triggers to and from multiple mobiles, in addition to synchronising frame harvesting. We empirically show the benefits of our edge computing unit by analysing latencies and show the quality of 3D reconstruction outputs against an alternative and popular centralised solution based on Unity3D.

In the Alexa Skills for Node.JS ASK SDK development world, the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) Command-Line Interface (CLI) is one of the most overlooked tools.

Boosting Developer Productivity

With proper use, one could really increase productivity when developing Alexa Skills. This is especially so if you are creating many Alexa Skills, either because you are in the learning process or you are just managing multiple Alexa Skills projects for yourself or your clients.

Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described which may be used for the reception of a wireless broadband signal at a user terminal from a gateway via a satellite. A wireless signal may include a series of physical layer frames, each frame including a physical layer header and payload. The received signal is digitized and processed using various novel physical layer headers and related techniques to synchronize the physical layer frames and recover data from physical layer headers for purposes of demodulation and decoding.

The description generally relates to a system designed to synchronize the rendering of a media file between a master device and a sister device. The system is designed so that a media file is simultaneously rendered on a master device and a sister device beginning from identical temporal starting points.

A method for efficient dispatch/completion of a work element within a multi-node data processing system. The method comprises: selecting specific processing units from among the processing nodes to complete execution of a work element that has multiple individual work items that may be independently executed by different ones of the processing units; generating an allocated processor unit (APU) bit mask that identifies at least one of the processing units that has been selected; placing the work element in a first entry of a global command queue (GCQ); associating the APU mask with the work element in the GCQ; and responsive to receipt at the GCQ of work requests from each of the multiple processing nodes or the processing units, enabling only the selected specific ones of the processing nodes or the processing units to be able to retrieve work from the work element in the GCQ.

A cancelation registry provides a cancelation interface whose implementation registers cancelable items such as synchronous operations, asynchronous operations, type instances, and transactions. Items may be implicitly or explicitly registered with the cancelation registry. A consistent cancelation interface unifies cancelation management for heterogeneous items, and allows cancelation of a group of items with a single invocation of a cancel-registered-items procedure.

A visualization can include a set of swim lanes, each swim lane representing information about an event type. An event type can be specified, e.g., as those events having certain keywords and/or having specified value(s) for specified field(s). The swim lane can plot when (within a time range) events of the associated event type occurred. Specifically, each such event can be assigned to a bucket having a bucket time matching the event time. A swim lane can extend along a timeline axis in the visualization, and the buckets can be positioned at a point along the axis that represents the bucket time. Thus, the visualization may indicate whether events were clustered at a point in time. Because the visualization can include a plurality of swim lanes, the visualization can further indicate how timing of events of a first type compare to timing of events of a second type.

A method and device for synchronizing the time between at least two integrated circuits (201, 202), which receive the same pulse signal. In the integrated circuits (201, 202) a counter (204, 206) is used to count the number of pulses in the received pulse signal to synchronize the common time between said integrated circuits.

An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.

An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.

Disclosed is a tap driver and tap driver system for rigid tapping, which includes a unique flexure system. In some embodiments, an integrated flexure component and housing configuration provides and may provide both a more economical and a universal configuration of the tap driver flexure component that allows the central body to be integrated with and into different types of tap drivers.

One aspect provides an optical communication system. The system includes an optical-to-digital converter, a frequency estimator and a symbol synchronizer. The optical-to-digital converter is configured to receive an optical OFDM bit stream including an OFDM symbol bearing payload data and a symbol header preceding the OFDM payload data. The frequency estimator is configured to determine a carrier frequency offset of the payload data from the symbol header. The symbol synchronizer is configured to determine a starting location of the payload data within the bit stream by cross-correlating a synchronization pattern within the symbol header with a model synchronization pattern stored by the symbol synchronizer.

A controller for a power converter and method of operating the same employable with a bridge rectifier having first and second synchronous rectifier switches. In one embodiment, the controller includes an amplifier configured to enable a turn-on delay for the first synchronous rectifier switch. The controller also includes a discharge switch having first and second switched terminals coupled to gate and source terminals, respectively, of the first synchronous rectifier switch and configured to discharge a gate-to-source capacitance of the first synchronous rectifier switch to enable a turn off thereof.

Techniques are provided for increasing spectral efficiency over data channels in a storage or communication system. In some embodiments, data may be encoded and transmitted over multiple channels. The transmitted data from the multiple channels may be considered together as a channel bundle, thereby increasing the edge transitions of the group of signals to improve clock recovery and reduce coding constraints. In some embodiments, the channel bit size is reduced to maximize data rates based on the reduced coding constraints. Furthermore, the channel bundle has only one channel with timing markers, so that a receiver may receive information from the channel bundle and recover clocking based on the timing markers in the one channel.

A method includes receiving, at a multimedia device, a data stream representing multimedia content, the data stream comprising first timing information for the multimedia content, and metadata representing interactive event information associated with the multimedia content, the metadata comprising second timing information for the interactive event information. During the playback of the multimedia content, a first user interactive event is identified that is associated with a first time point in the playback of the multimedia content based on the interactive event information, and the first user interactive event is performed concurrent with the first time point in the playback of the multimedia content.