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Hove Morse posted an update 2 days, 9 hours ago
One of the most ambitious projects in communications in recent years is the development of the so-called satellite mega-constellations. Comprised of hundreds or thousands of small and low-cost satellites, they aim to provide internet services in places without existing broadband access. For the antenna subsystem, reflectarrays have been proposed as a cheap solution due to their low profile and manufacturing costs, while still providing good performance. This paper presents a full design of a reflectarray antenna for mega-constellation satellites with a shaped-beam isoflux pattern for constant power flux in the surface of the Earth. A unit cell consisting of two stacked rectangular microstrip patches backed by a ground plane is employed, providing more than 360° of phase-shift. The generalized intersection approach optimization algorithm is employed to synthesize the required isoflux pattern in a 2 GHz bandwidth in Ku-band. To that purpose, a full-wave electromagnetic analysis is employed for the wideband design. The optimized reflectarray layout complies with the specifications of the isoflux pattern in the frequency band 16 GHz-18 GHz, demonstrating the capabilities of this type of antenna to provide a low-cost, low-profile solution for the user beam segment, including different types of shaped beams.The expression of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes represents a survival strategy of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Aminoglycoside 2′-N-acetyltransferase [AAC(2′)] neutralizes aminoglycoside drugs by acetylation of their 2′ amino groups in an acetyl coenzyme A (CoA)-dependent manner. To understand the structural features and molecular mechanism underlying AAC(2′) activity, we overexpressed, purified, and crystallized AAC(2′) from Mycolicibacterium smegmatis [AAC(2′)-Id] and determined the crystal structures of its apo-form and ternary complexes with CoA and four different aminoglycosides (gentamicin, sisomicin, neomycin, and paromomycin). These AAC(2′)-Id structures unraveled the binding modes of different aminoglycosides, explaining the broad substrate specificity of the enzyme. Comparative structural analysis showed that the α4-helix and β8-β9 loop region undergo major conformational changes upon CoA and substrate binding. Additionally, structural comparison between the present paromomycin-bound AAC(2′)-Id structure and the previously reported paromomycin-bound AAC(6′)-Ib and 30S ribosome structures revealed the structural features of paromomycin that are responsible for its antibiotic activity and AAC binding. Taken together, these results provide useful information for designing AAC(2′) inhibitors and for the chemical modification of aminoglycosides.GPR56, a member of the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor family, is abundantly expressed in cells of the developing cerebral cortex, including neural progenitor cells and developing neurons. The human GPR56 gene has multiple presumptive promoters that drive the expression of the GPR56 protein in distinct patterns. Similar to coding mutations of the human GPR56 gene that may cause GPR56 dysfunction, a 15-bp homozygous deletion in the cis-regulatory element upstream of the noncoding exon 1 of GPR56 (e1m) leads to the cerebral cortex malformation and epilepsy. To clarify the expression profile of the e1m promoter-driven GPR56 in primate brain, we generated a transgenic marmoset line in which EGFP is expressed under the control of the human minimal e1m promoter. In contrast to the endogenous GPR56 protein, which is highly enriched in the ventricular zone of the cerebral cortex, EGFP is mostly expressed in developing neurons in the transgenic fetal brain. Furthermore, EGFP is predominantly expressed in GABAergic neurons, whereas the total GPR56 protein is evenly expressed in both GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons, suggesting the GABAergic neuron-preferential activity of the minimal e1m promoter. These results indicate a possible pathogenic role for GABAergic neuron in the cerebral cortex of patients with GPR56 mutations.Value-based decisions about alternatives we have never experienced can be guided by associations between current choice options and memories of prior reward. A critical question is how similar memories need to be to the current situation to effectively guide decisions. We address this question in the context of associative learning of faces using a sensory preconditioning paradigm. We find that memories of reward spread along established associations between faces to guide decision making. While memory guidance is specific for associated facial identities, it does not only occur for the specific images that were originally encountered. Instead, memory guidance generalizes across different images of the associated identities. Sunitinib mouse This suggests that memory guidance does not rely on a pictorial format of representation but on a higher, view-invariant level of abstraction. Thus, memory guidance operates on a level of representation that neither over- nor underspecifies associative relationships in the context of obtaining reward.Complications of atherosclerosis are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Various genetically modified mouse models are used to investigate disease trajectory with classical histology, currently the preferred methodology to elucidate plaque composition. Here, we show the strength of light-sheet fluorescence microscopy combined with deep learning image analysis for characterising and quantifying plaque burden and composition in whole aorta specimens. 3D imaging is a non-destructive method that requires minimal ex vivo handling and can be up-scaled to large sample sizes. Combined with deep learning, atherosclerotic plaque in mice can be identified without any ex vivo staining due to the autofluorescent nature of the tissue. The aorta and its branches can subsequently be segmented to determine how anatomical position affects plaque composition and progression. Here, we find the highest plaque accumulation in the aortic arch and brachiocephalic artery. Simultaneously, aortas can be stained for markers of interest (for example the pan immune cell marker CD45) and quantified. In ApoE-/- mice we observe that levels of CD45 reach a plateau after which increases in plaque volume no longer correlate to immune cell infiltration. All underlying code is made publicly available to ease adaption of the method.