Low Qp Research Articles

Magnitude of Pulse Pressure Variation is Associated with Qp:Qs Imbalance during Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Two-Center Retrospective Study.

Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is based on heart-lung interaction and its association with the imbalance between pulmonary and systemic blood flow (Qp:Qs) has been understudied. We hypothesized that (1) baseline PPV (after induction of anesthesia) is different in a mixed congenital heart disease population with different Qp:Qs, (2) baseline PPV is different between a pooled group with high Qp:Qs and one with low Qp:Qs, and (3) a systemic-pulmonary shunt procedure results in reduced PPV compared to baseline. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of children who presented to the operating room for cardiac surgery between 2010 and 2018. General patient characteristics, PPV, and other hemodynamic parameters following the induction of general anesthesia were retrieved. Patients were grouped according to the type of congenital heart disease, and whether the Qp:Qs ratio was higher or lower than 1. We also identified patients who received a systemic-pulmonary shunt in order to evaluate changes in PPV. A total of 1253 patients were included in the study. Baseline PPV differed significantly according to the type of congenital heart disease, with atrial septal defect showing the lowest PPV (9.5 5.6%) and tricuspid valve malformation the highest (21.8 14.1%). The high Qp:Qs group (n = 932) had significantly lower PPV compared to the low Qp:Qs group (n = 321; 11.8 5.7% vs. 14.9 7.9%, respectively; p 0.001). PPV decreased significantly following systemic-pulmonary shunt. PPV was associated with Qp:Qs imbalance in children undergoing general anesthesia for cardiac surgery. A lower PPV was associated with increased Qp:Qs. Clinicians should take this into account when using PPV to evaluate volume status and when conducting clinical trials in a mixed population of patients with congenital heart disease.

Effects of Lead Pollution on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Parameters of Different Populations of Miscanthus floridulus

This study was conducted in order to study the effect of different concentrations of lead pollution on the photosynthetic characteristics and growth of Miscanthus floridulus, and to reveal its photosynthetic adaptability to lead stress. The differences of gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and photosynthetic pigment of two Miscanthus floridulus populations, one population from Boluo an uncontaminated site, and another population from Dabaoshan, a mine site, were compared and studied through nutrient solution culture experiments treated with heavy metal lead (Pb) in green house. The results showed that (1) under Pb stress, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci), and chlorophyll content (Chl) of the leaves of the two populations decreased in different amplitude. Under moderate and severe Pb stress (80 mg·L−1, 120 mg·L−1, 240 mg·L−1), the plant biomass of non-mining population and mining population plants were 54.5%, 39.7%, 29.4% and 70.4%, 54.7%, 50.9% of the control, respectively. (2) Stomatal restriction was the main factor for the Pn’s decrease in the leaves of the non-mine population under light Pb stress, while the non-stomatal restriction was the main factor for Pn’s decrease in the leaves of the non-mine population under middle and high Pb stresses. (3) Under Pb stress, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and potential activity (Fv/Fo) of PS II reaction centers in the two populations of M. floridulus decreased. However, Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo showed a smaller decrease, but the capability to utilize light and the potential to activate PSII of the mine population remained higher than that of the non-mine population. The changes of photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) and non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) of PSⅡ showed that qP value decreased and NPQ value increased in the two populations under Pb stress. On the whole, the resistance mining area population had a low qP reduction and a large increase in NPQ. Electronic transfer rate (ETR) and PSII actual fluorescence efficiency (ΦPSII) of the mine population changed slightly under Pb stress. These results indicated that when under Pb stress, the electron transport activity and photosynthetic apparatus were damaged less in the mine population with high resistance than in the non-mine population with low resistance. Conclusion: the mining population of M. floridulus has strong tolerance to Pb, which is suitable for the pioneer species of gramineae in vegetation restoration construction in metal mining area.

Effect of preoperative pulmonary hemodynamic and cardiopulmonary bypass on lung function in children with congenital heart disease

In children with congenital heart disease (CHD), pulmonary blood flow (Qp) contributes to alterations of pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange, while cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces lung edema. We aimed to determine the effect of hemodynamics on lung function and lung epithelial lining fluid (ELF) biomarkers in biventricular CHD children undergoing CPB. CHD children were classified as high Qp (n = 43) and low Qp (n = 17), according to preoperative cardiac morphology and arterial oxygen saturation. We measured ELF surfactant protein B (SP-B) and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) as indexes of lung inflammation and ELF albumin as index of alveolar capillary leak in tracheal aspirate (TA) samples collected before surgery and in 6 hourly intervals within 24 h after surgery. At the same time points, we recorded dynamic compliance and oxygenation index (OI). The same biomarkers were measured in TA samples collected from 16 infants with no cardiorespiratory diseases at the time of endotracheal intubation for elective surgery. Preoperative ELF biomarkers in CHD children were significantly increased than those found in controls. In the high Qp, ELF MPO and SP-B peaked 6 h after surgery and tended to decrease afterward, while they tended to increase within the first 24 h in the low Qp. ELF albumin peaked 6 h after surgery and decreased afterwards in both CHD groups. Dynamic compliance/kg and OI significantly improved after surgery only in the High Qp. Conclusion: In CHD children, lung mechanics, OI, and ELF biomarkers were significantly affected by CPB, according to the preoperative pulmonary hemodynamics.What is Known:• Congenital heart disease children, before cardiopulmonary run, exhibit changes in respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and lung inflammatory biomarkers that are related to the preoperative pulmonary hemodynamics.• Cardiopulmonary bypass induces alteration of lung function and epithelial lining fluid biomarkers according to preoperative hemodynamics.What is New:• Our findings can help to identify children with congenital heart disease at high risk of postoperative lung injury who may benefit of tailored intensive care strategies, such as non-invasive ventilation techniques, fluid management, and anti-inflammatory drugs that can improve cardiopulmonary interaction in the perioperative period.

The Influence of Basement Terranes on Tectonic Deformation: Joint Earthquake Travel‐Time and Ambient Noise Tomography of the Southern South Island, New Zealand

AbstractDetermining how the crustal structure developed in previous tectonic regimes influences current deformation is important for understanding seismogenic behavior. Paleozoic‐Mesozoic convergent‐margin tectonics produced the southeastern South Island crust, which is currently involved in late Cenozoic transpressional collision. We examine crustal velocity structure through joint inversion of earthquake travel times and ambient noise derived group velocities to increase the resolution of Vp (P‐wave velocity) and Vp/Vs across the region. This method improves the details of the shallow velocity structure and highlights lithological properties, uplifted regions, and distributed fracture zones. The Otago schist shows thick lower crust while contrasting higher Vp below 15 km depth characterizes the Matai terrane and Median batholith, both backstops during accretion and deformation. The complex velocity structure, integrated with late Cenozoic faults, structural domains, seismicity patterns, and geodynamic modeling, shows how Cenozoic structures relate to deeper properties. Seismicity within the schist is distributed within transition regions rather than along specific faults, and these zones contain low Vp and low Qp (1/attenuation). The most prominent seismicity zone is along the transition from northern Otago ranges to the Southern Alps, where faulting and brittle deformation corresponds to the eastern edge of ductile crustal thickening above the bending of the strong oceanic lower crust. The thick weak crust rheology of Otago, relative to Canterbury, enables broad deformation, with numerous late Cenozoic faults that may not persist to great depth. Along the southern stronger plutonic terranes, there is a band of sparse deeper (15–35 km) seismicity, consistent with strong elastic brittle crust.

Differential Alveolar and Systemic Oxygenation during Preterm Resuscitation with 100% Oxygen during Delayed Cord Clamping.

Delayed cord clamping (DCC) and 21 to 30% O2 resuscitation is recommended for preterm infants but is commonly associated with low pulmonary blood flow (Qp) and hypoxia. 100% O2 supplementation during DCC for 60 seconds followed by 30% O2 may increase Qp and oxygen saturation (SpO2). Preterm lambs (125-127 days of gestation) were resuscitated with 100% O2 with immediate cord clamping (ICC, n = 7) or ICC + 30% O2, and titrated to target SpO2 (n = 7) or DCC + 100% O2 for 60 seconds, which followed by cord clamping and 30% O2 titration (n = 7). Seven preterm (23-27 weeks of gestation) human infants received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) + 100% O2 for 60 seconds during DCC, cord clamping, and 30% O2 supplementation after cord clamping. Preterm lambs in the ICC + 100% O2 group resulted in PaO2 (77 ± 25 mm Hg), SpO2 (77 ± 11%), and Qp (27 ± 9 mL/kg/min) at 60 seconds. ICC + 30% O2 led to low Qp (14 ± 3 mL/kg/min), low SpO2 (43 ± 26%), and PaO2 (19 ± 7 mm Hg). DCC + 100% O2 led to similar Qp (28 ± 6 mL/kg/min) as ICC + 100% O2 with lower PaO2. In human infants, DCC + CPAP with 100% O2 for 60 seconds, which followed by weaning to 30% resulted in SpO2 of 92 ± 11% with all infants >80% at 5 minutes with 100% survival without severe intraventricular hemorrhage. DCC + 100% O2 for 60 seconds increased Qp probably due to transient alveolar hyperoxia with systemic normoxia due to "dilution" by umbilical venous return. Larger translational and clinical studies are warranted to confirm these findings. · Transient alveolar hyperoxia during delayed cord clamping can enhance pulmonary vasodilation.. · Placental transfusion buffers systemic oxygen tension and limits hyperoxia.. · Use of 100% oxygen for 60 seconds during DCC was associated with SpO2 ≥80% by 5 minutes..

Global phosphoproteomic study of high/low specific productivity industrially relevant mAb producing recombinant CHO cell lines

Abstract Understanding the biology of CHO cells at a cellular level is extremely valuable to the pharmaceutical industry, as it presents the opportunity to rationally engineer clonally derived cell lines (CDCLs) with elevated recombinant specific productivity (Qp). To date, relatively little is understood about the intracellular pathways which influence desirable phenotypes in CHO cell lines. In this study we identified phosphoproteins and total proteins which are differentially expressed between high and low Qp IgG4 producing industry CHO cell lines, some of which upon further investigation, could potentially be used as targets to engineer high Qp CDCLs. We highlighted the importance of phosphoproteins and total proteins associated with amino acid sensing in high Qp cell lines. We also identified increased expression of proteins which promote progression through the cell cycle in low Qp cell lines, suggesting that lower Qp CDCLs are focusing their translational machinery on translating cell cycle associated mRNAs.

Fast DST-VII/DCT-VIII With Dual Implementation Support for Versatile Video Coding

The Joint Video Exploration Team (JVET) recently launched the standardization of the next-generation video coding named Versatile Video Coding (VVC) with the inherited technical framework from its predecessor High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). The simplified Enhanced Multiple Transform (EMT) has been adopted as the primary residual coding transform solution, termed Multiple Transform Selection (MTS). In MTS, only the transform set consisting of DST-VII and DCT-VIII remains, excluding the other transform sets and the dependency on intra prediction modes. Significant coding gains are achieved by introducing new DST/DCT transforms, but the full matrix implementation is relatively costly compared to partial butterfly in terms of both software run-time and operation counts. In this work, we exploit the inherent features existing in DST-VII and DCT-VIII. Instead of repeating the element-wise additions and multiplications in full matrix operation, these features can be leveraged to achieve more efficient implementations which only use partial elements to derive the identical results. Existing transform matrices are further tuned to utilize these (anti-)symmetric features. A partial butterfly-type fast algorithm with dual-implementation support is proposed for DST-VII/DCT-VIII transform in VVC. Complexity analysis including operation counts and software run-time are conducted to validate the effectiveness. In addition, we prove the features are perfectly supported by theory. The proposed fast methods achieve noticeable software run-time savings without compromising on coding performance by comparing with the VVC Test Model VTM-3.0. It is shown that under Common Test Condition (CTC) with inter MTS enabled, an average of 9%, 0%, and 3% decoding time savings are achieved for All Intra (AI), Random Access (RA) and Low Delay B (LDB), respectively. Under low QP test condition with inter MTS enabled, the proposed fast methods achieve 1%, 2% and 4% decoding time savings on average for AI, RA, and LDB, respectively.

Elevated Pulmonary Artery Pressure, Not Pulmonary Vascular Resistance, is an Independent Predictor of Short-Term Morbidity Following Bidirectional Cavopulmonary Connection.

Single ventricle palliation relies on the pulmonary vasculature accommodating non-pulsatile systemic venous return. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi) are two measures that impact pulmonary blood flow following bidirectional cavopulmonary connection (BCPC). The purpose of the study was to determine which hemodynamic features are associated with adverse outcomes after BCPC. Pre-operative hemodynamic data and post-operative morbidity and mortality in 250 patients undergoing BCPC at a single center from 2008 to 2014 were reviewed. Patients were then separated into 5 physiologic states based on MPAP, PVRi, and degree of pulmonary to systemic blood flow (Qp:Qs). There were 9 (3.6%) deaths, and 49 patients (20%) sustained major morbidity. An ROC curve identified MPAP > 16mmHg as an inflection point. Pre-BCPC sildenafil and oxygen use, ventricular dysfunction, and MPAP > 16mmHg (OR 4.1 [95% CI 1.8-9.2]) were independently associated with morbidity. MPAP > 16mmHg (OR 6.7 [95% CI 1.6-28]) and pre-BCPC oxygen use were associated with hospital mortality. PVRi was not associated with morbidity or mortality. Of the five physiologic states, patients with high MPAP, low PVRi, and low Qp:Qs fared the worst, with the highest risk of major morbidity (OR 8.6 [3.0-24.9]) and highest risk of mortality (OR 8.0 [1.5-41.3]) when compared to their reference groups (low MPAP, low PVRi). Elevated MPAP, need for pre-operative oxygen support, sildenafil use, and systemic ventricular systolic dysfunction predict morbidity following BCPC. Specifically, patients with elevated MPAP not due to elevated PVRi or pulmonary blood flow had the highest risk of morbidity and mortality.

Variación temporal de la atenuación de ondas sísmicas en la región del volcán puracé, colombia

A seismic wave attenuation study was performed for volcano-tectonic earthquakes at Purace volcano (PV), Colombia, for the period of 2006-2015 by using the inverse of coda Q (Q-1) of coda waves. A total of 310 high-quality earthquakes were used for the analysis. The results showed low Q values for PV suggesting high attenuation in this region. Additionally, Q values were related to Vp/Vs data to calculate Qp −1/Qs −1 ratios. Low Qp −1/Qs −1 ratios were found, and they were associated with fluids predominantly in the liquid phase rather than in the gaseous phase located at shallow parts of the PV, which affected the hydrothermal system producing LP and “Tornillo”-type volcano earthquakes. It is inferred that the recent activity of PV is driven by the hydrothermal system, with a small influence from the magmatic system. The Qp −1/Qs −1 ratio can be used as a marker for changes in gas content in the hydrothermal system, becoming a useful tool for routine monitoring tasks at PV.

Importance of the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway in alleviating photoinhibition in cucumber leaves under chilling injury and subsequent recovery when leaves are subjected to high light intensity

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway on energy metabolism in chloroplast, and evaluate the importance of the AOX pathway in alleviating photoinhibition in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves during chilling and the subsequent recovery period. Chilling (12°C) induced up-regultaion of the AOX pathway, which is important for chilled leaves to avoid overreduction of PSII and maintain photosynthetic electron transport. High light (200–300 µmol m−2 s−1) induced the decreases of maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), which was aggravated by 1 mM salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM; AOX inhibitor), in cucumber leaves during chilling. However, Fv/Fm did not change and NPQ increased significantly in SHAM-treated leaves by chilling under low light. During recovery periods after chilling under low light, Fv/Fm, qP, ΦPSII, NPQ, and Fv’/Fm’ could return to normal degree in chilled leaves with or without SHAM. In contrast, high light induced more decrease of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in chilled leaves during the recovery period, and SHAM treatment further aggravated the decrease. These results implied that up-regulation of AOX pathway in chilled leaves plays a critical role in protection against photoinhibition in leaves under excess light energy condition during chilling and the subsequent recovery period. However, thermal energy dissipation was more important to prevent photoinhibition in leaves exposed to chilling under low light.

Near-Surface Attenuation and Velocity Structures in Taiwan from Wellhead and Borehole Recordings Comparisons

By analyzing the data from 28 seismic borehole stations deployed by the Central Weather Bureau Seismic Network throughout Taiwan from 2007 to 2014, we estimated the near-surface velocity (Vp and Vs) and attenuation (Qp and Qs) structures from surface to depths of approximately 300 m. To ensure that the deeper recordings were on the ray path between the seismic source and upper receiver, only events with an incidence angle of less than 35° were selected. Local magnitudes of analyzed events were between 1.1 and 6.6. The subsurface Qp and Qs were well modeled in the 5 - 40 Hz frequency band using the spectral ratio of direct P- and S-waves, respectively, at each station, under frequency-independent Q and ω^2 source model assumptions. The estimated Vp in the Coastal Plain, the Western Foothills, the Longitudinal Valley, and the Yilan Plain were approximately 1000 - 2000 m s^(-1), which was lower than the Vp of 2500 - 4000 m s^(-1) in the Central Mountain Range. In addition, the Vs in the plain areas were lower than that in the Central Mountain Range. The low Vp and Vs and high Vp/Vs ratio in the Coastal Plain and the Western Foothills can be attributed to the unconsolidated soil and high pore-fluid content of subsurface sediments in the plain areas. In contrast to the velocity distribution, low Qp and Qs were observed in the Central Mountain Range. The low Qp and Qs with low Vp/Vs and low Qs/Qp ratios in the Central Mountain Range was consistent with the high thermal temperature observed in the field investigation. The obtained velocity and attenuation structures near surface could also provide important constraints in validation of the crustal structure of Taiwan.

Geophysics of the Taupo Volcanic Zone: A review of recent developments

Since a previous review in 1995, improved geophysical networks and techniques have substantially improved our understanding of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (henceforth TVZ), and particularly why its central portion has such high outputs of magma and heat, much greater than found in similar arc environments elsewhere. Recent studies of the seismicity under New Zealand have revealed a concentration of intermediate-depth (150–220km) earthquakes immediately under this central portion of the TVZ. A low QP region above these earthquakes is interpreted as a high-temperature region of partial melt, supplying the active area above. The underlying reason for this zone of activity is still a matter of debate.Crustal seismic studies of the TVZ show that from Lake Taupo northwards, the seismicity is largely restricted to the top 8km of the crust, indicating a brittle–ductile transition at about this level. At the southern end of the zone, somewhat deeper seismicity becomes common. Recent detailed seismic studies covering the area from Taupo to Rotorua show that there are significant variations in seismic properties both across and along the strike of the TVZ.Continuous GPS measurements of deformation in the TVZ show that although the total deformation across the TVZ matches the extension expected from modelling of paleomagnetic data, there are large variations between different sites within the TVZ, with individual GPS sites displaying sudden jumps and periods of faster or slower change superimposed on the long-term trend. Some of these local movements may be due to cooling magma bodies.Magnetotelluric methods and 3-D modelling codes have significantly improved the resolution of deep electrical resistivity measurements. It is now possible to see conductivity anomalies to greater depths, to see the underlying feeding zones of the geothermal fields, as well as the conductivity anomalies in and immediately under the fields.Finally, recent modelling studies of the fluid convection under the geothermal fields of the TVZ indicate that they are driven by hot areas at least as deep as the brittle–ductile depth under the fields, rather than by a uniform heat source with the field spacing controlled by the shape of convection cells.

Seismicity and seismic structure at Okmok Volcano, Alaska

Okmok volcano is an active volcanic caldera located on the northeastern portion of Umnak Island in the Aleutian arc, with recent eruptions in 1997 and 2008. The Okmok area had ~900 locatable earthquakes between 2003 and June 2008, and an additional ~600 earthquakes from the beginning of the 2008 eruption to mid 2009, providing an adequate dataset for seismic tomography. To image the seismic velocity structure of Okmok, we apply waveform cross-correlation using bispectrum verification and double-difference tomography to a subset of these earthquakes. We also perform P-wave attenuation tomography using a spectral decay technique. We examine the spatio-temporal characteristics of seismicity in the opening sequence of the 2008 eruption to investigate the path of magma migration during the establishment of a new eruptive vent. We also incorporate the new earthquake relocations and three-dimensional (3D) velocity model with first-motion polarities to compute focal mechanisms for selected events in the 2008 pre-eruptive and eruptive periods.Through these techniques we obtain precise relocations, a well-constrained 3D P-wave velocity model, and a marginally resolved S-wave velocity model. We image a main low Vp and Vs anomaly directly under the caldera consisting of a shallow zone at 0–2km depth connected to a larger deeper zone that extends to about 6km depth. We find that areas of low Qp are concentrated in the central to southwestern portion of the caldera and correspond fairly well with areas of low Vp. We interpret the deeper part of the low velocity anomaly (4–6km depth) beneath the caldera as a magma body. This is consistent with results from ambient noise tomography and suggests that previous estimates of depth to Okmok's magma chamber based only on geodetic data may be too shallow. The distribution of events preceding the 2008 eruption suggest that a combination of overpressure in the zone surrounding the magma chamber and the introduction of new material from below were jointly responsible for the explosive eruption. Magma escaping from the top of the main magma chamber likely reacted with both a smaller shallow pod of magma and groundwater on its way up below the Cone D area. The earthquakes in the 2008 pre-eruptive and eruptive periods are found to have a mixture of strike-slip, oblique normal, and oblique thrust mechanisms, with a dominant P-axis orientation that is nearly perpendicular to the regional tectonic stress. This may indicate that the stresses related to magmatic activity locally dominated regional tectonic forces during this time period.

Three‐dimensional compressional wave attenuation tomography for the crust and uppermost mantle of Northern and central California

AbstractI present a frequency‐independent three‐dimensional (3‐D) compressional wave attenuation model (indicated by quality factor Qp) for the crust and uppermost mantle of Northern and central California. The tomographic inversion used t∗ values measured from amplitude spectra of 80,988 P wave arrivals of 3247 events recorded by 463 network stations through a 3‐D seismic velocity model. The model has a uniform horizontal grid spacing of 15 km, and the vertical node intervals range between 2 and 10 km down to 45 km depth. In general, the resulting Qp values increase with depth and agree with the surface geology at shallow depth layers. The most significant features observed in the Qp model are the high Qp values in the Sierra Nevada mountains and low Qp anomalies in the western fault zones. Low Qp values are also imaged in Owens Valley and Long Valley at shallow depths and the Cape Mendocino region in the lower crust (∼25 km depth). An overall contrast of Qp values across the fault is observed in the creeping, Parkfield and Cholame‐Carrizo sections of the San Andreas Fault. The new 3‐D Qp model provides an important complement to the existing regional‐scale velocity models for interpreting structural heterogeneity and fluid saturation of rocks in the study area.

Pichia pastoris secretes recombinant proteins less efficiently than Chinese hamster ovary cells but allows higher space‐time yields for less complex proteins

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are currently the workhorse of the biopharmaceutical industry. However, yeasts such as Pichia pastoris are about to enter this field. To compare their capability for recombinant protein secretion, P. pastoris strains and CHO cell lines producing human serum albumin (HSA) and the 3D6 single chain Fv-Fc anti-HIV-1 antibody (3D6scFv-Fc) were cultivated in comparable fed batch processes. In P. pastoris, the mean biomass-specific secretion rate (qp) was 40-fold lower for 3D6scFv-Fc compared to HSA. On the contrary, qp was similar for both proteins in CHO cells. When comparing both organisms, the mean qp of the CHO cell lines was 1011-fold higher for 3D6scFv-Fc and 26-fold higher for HSA. Due to the low qp of the 3D6scFv-Fc producing strain, the space-time yield (STY) was 9.6-fold lower for P. pastoris. In contrast, the STY of the HSA producer was 9.2-fold higher compared to CHO cells because of the shorter process time and higher biomass density. The results indicate that the protein secretion machinery of P. pastoris is much less efficient and the secretion rate strongly depends on the complexity of the recombinant protein. However, process efficiency of the yeast system allows higher STYs for less complex proteins.

Along-strike variation in subducting plate seismicity and mantle wedge attenuation related to fluid release beneath the North Island, New Zealand

We analyze seismicity in the subducted slab of the Hikurangi subduction zone, along a 600-km length beneath the North Island, New Zealand. The volcanic character changes along strike with extremely productive rhyolitic volcanism in the central Taupo Volcanic Zone, moderate andesitic volcanism in the northern and south-central zones, and subduction without volcanism in the southernmost Hikurangi zone. We have relocated slab earthquakes with 3-D velocity models. The relocated seismicity shows more detail of the varied distribution and abundance of slab seismicity, which below 50-km depth may be related to embrittlement from high fluid pressure. The depth of the buoyant subducted Hikurangi Plateau ranges from 40 to 140km depth.At depths where the subducting slab interacts with the mantle wedge, along-arc variation in slab seismicity is a fundamental characteristic, with patches of abundant seismicity separated by low seismicity zones. The largest most numerous patch, at 150–220km depth, underlies a pronounced low Qp zone in the mantle wedge, which is associated with the rhyolite-dominant Taupo caldera. Extensive melt in the region of low Qp requires high H2O flux from the underlying slab. The abundant Taupo seismicity suggests a correlation between melt production and regions of earthquake fracture permeability following embrittlement which promote migration of dehydration fluid. The hydration history of the incoming slab may be a key factor in producing variations in dehydration and intraslab fluid migration. Broader, extensive outer-rise yielding and hydration may have occurred near the approach of the re-entrant Hikurangi Plateau, forming the slab section that currently has high seismicity. Slab seismicity deepens from 240 to 330km along-arc as the subduction rate increases from <20 to >40mm/yr. The southwestern slab seismicity is bounded by an unusually narrow zone with 110-km depth extent. This is inferred to be a dehydration front related to heating at a slab edge that is located 70km further southwest.

Subjective preferences and colour quality metrics of LED light sources

To understand people's judgement of the naturalness of object colours and preference for the lit environment, lighting booth experiments were conducted. Seven different LED spectral power distributions, all at correlated colour temperatures of 2700 K, 4000 K and 6500 K, were simulated for high CIE colour rendering index (Ra), high colour quality scale (CQS) colour preference scale (Qp) keeping Ra = 80, high feeling of contrast index (FCI) keeping Ra = 80, high CQS relative gamut area scale (Qg) keeping Ra = 80, low FCI keeping Ra = 80, low Qp keeping Ra = 80, and for a mimic of a fluorescent lamp (FL) in terms of the closest possible value of the Ra, FCI and Qp to the reference FL. Other metrics such as the gamut area index (GAI), memory CRI, and nCRI were also considered in the analysis. Sixty observers evaluated 24 lighting situations. This paper deals with a comparison evaluation, where LED lighting was compared to FL lighting. It was found that Ra does not explain the subjective naturalness of objects and the subjective preference of the lit environment for the different light sources. The results also indicate that people's judgement of naturalness and overall preference were explained better when a reference-based metric (such as Qp) and an area or volume-based metric (such as Qg or GAI) were both considered while maintaining the light source chromaticity difference (Duv) value within the limit ± 0.0054.

Optimized Hardware Implementation for Forward Quantization of H.264/AVC

An efficient implementation for the computation of the forward quantization of H.264/AVC is presented. It uses a modified reformulation of quantization expressions, in full compliance with the standard, combined with an adaptive truncated Booth multiplier to reduce hardware complexity. The JM reference software's C code has been rewritten to analyze the effect of the proposed approach. Simulations carried out on several typical video sequences with different texture characteristics demonstrate the validity of this approach with an improvement in the PSNR at low QP, between a maximum of +0.8 dB and a minimum of 0.3 dB, with a slight increment in the bit-rate of about 0.8 %. However, this improvement is smoothed for typical values of QP and only an insignificant difference is found with respect to the JM results. The proposed architecture synthesized in the AMS 0.35μm technology, which is suitable for VLSI implementation, reduces the area by 26 %, the power by 32 % and the critical path delay by 21 % in comparison with a classic implementation.

Tectonic tremor and deep slow slip on the Alpine Fault

Tectonic tremor is characterized by persistent, low‐frequency seismic energy seen at major plate boundaries. Although predominantly associated with subduction zones, tremor also occurs along the deep extension of the strike‐slip San Andreas Fault. Here we present the first observations of tectonic tremor along New Zealand's Alpine Fault, a major transform boundary that is late in its earthquake cycle. We report tectonic tremor that occurred on the central section of the Alpine Fault on 12 days between March 2009 and October 2011. Tremor hypocenters concentrate in the lower crust at the downdip projection of the Alpine Fault; coincide with a zone of high P‐wave attenuation (low Qp) and bright seismic reflections; occur in the 25–45 km depth range, below the seismogenic zone; and may define the deep plate boundary structure extending through the lower crust and into the upper mantle. We infer this tremor to represent slow slip on the deep extent of the Alpine Fault in a fluid‐rich region marked by high attenuation and reflectivity. These observations provide the first indication of present‐day displacement on the lower crustal portion of the Australia–Pacific transform plate boundary.

Intrusive mechanism of the 2008–2009 Mt. Etna eruption: Constraints by tomographic images and stress tensor analysis

Since January 2008, several geophysical parameters have evidenced a recharging phase at Mt. Etna volcano culminating with an effusive eruption that began on May 13, 2008. Seismic activity recorded at Mt. Etna from January 2007 to May 2008 was analyzed in order to provide seismological constraints to the volcano dynamics leading to the eruption. A total of 336 selected earthquakes, with ML≥1.5, were used as data source for this study. Specifically, we calculated 3D velocity and attenuation tomography, including a 3D relocation of the events, and we computed 53 selected fault plane solutions (FPSs) that were used for stress tensor inversion. The most important result obtained from the joint analysis of VP, VP/VS and P-wave attenuation is an anomalous zone with normal to high VP (values between 3.5 and 4.5km/s) and low VP/VS (values≤1.64), which partially overlaps with a low QP (values≤50) volume located along a NS trending channel beneath the central crater. This can be interpreted as a shallow volume characterized by high temperature where the magma is located with the presence of supercritical fluids. The analysis of seismic stress tensor evidenced an extensional regime in the depth range 3–13km with a vertically oriented σ1. This finding may suggest an extensional stress regime, probably related to the kinematic response of the volcanic edifice to both a deep magmatic intrusion and a condition of decreased regional compressive stress facilitated by sliding processes of the eastern flank of the volcano.