bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioremediation of engine-oil contaminated soil using local residual organic matter
Authors: Robichaud Kawina , Lebeau Miriam , Martineau Sylvain , Amyot Marc
Published: April 2019

Soil remediation industries continue to seek technologies to speed-up treatment and reduce operating costs. Some processes are energy intensive and, in some cases, transport can be the main source of carbon emissions. Residual fertilizing matter (RFM), such as organic residues, have the potential to be beneficial bioremediation agents. Following a circular economy framework, we investigated the feasibility of sourcing RFMs locally to reduce transport and assess possible bioremediation efficiency gains. RFMs were recruited within 100 km of the treatment site: ramial chipped wood (RCW), horse manure (MANR) and brewer spent grain (BSG). They were added to the land treatment unit’s baseline fertilizer treatment (FERT, ‘F’) to measure if they improved the remediation efficiency of an engine oil-contaminated soil (7500 ± 100 mg kg-1). Results indicate that MANR-F was the only amendment more effective than FERT for PHC reduction, while emitting the least CO2overall. RCW-F was equivalent to FERT but retained more moisture. Although BSG contributed the most nitrogen to the soil, BSG-F retained excessive moisture, emitted more VOCs, contained less soil O2, and was less effective than the baseline treatment. Significantly more of the C16-C22fraction was removed (63 ± 22%) than all other fractions (C22-C28, C28-C34, C34-C40), which were equally removed. Microbial community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) was conducted with Biolog EcoplatesTM, and catabolic diversity differed between treatments (utilization rates of 31 carbon sources). MANR-F has the potential to increase PHC-remediation speed and efficiency compared to inorganic fertilizer alone. Other RFM promote moisture retention and diverse microbial catabolic activity. A variety of RFM are present across the globe and some can offer low-cost amendments to boost remediation efficiency, while reducing treatment time compared to traditional fertilizer-only methods.
Avaliação acerca do conhecimento sobre a Dengue em jovens em idade escolar
Authors: Silva Brenda Da , Porto Fernando Garcez , Marchionatti Amanda , Machado Ronaldo Dos Santos , Moraes Stêfani De , Schimidt Julio Candido , Oliveira Barbara , Mendes Natália Helena , Ribas Milene Almeida , Carvalho Themis Goretti Moreira Leal de
Published: April 2019

Introdução: A dengue é uma arbovirose, transmitida para o homem através da picada do mosquito Aedes aegypti, e que acomete grande número de indivíduos no mundo. Nos últimos 50 anos, junto com o aumento da expansão geográfica, a incidência de dengue aumentou aproximadamente 30 vezes. Ao longo dos anos, diversas medidas de combate à dengue foram implementadas, a partir daí, no ano de 2004 foi possível evidenciar que houve redução de 290% nos casos de dengue em relação ao ano anterior. Objetivo: Descrever o conhecimento de escolares do Rio Grande do Sul sobre o tema dengue. Métodos: Estudo com abordagem quantitativa do tipo descritiva realizado com jovens alunos da rede pública de educação da cidade de Tupãnciretã, por meio de um questionário estruturado. Resultados: Evidenciou-se que a maioria dos alunos tinha conhecimento sobre como a dengue é transmitida, sendo que 35% acreditavam que a fêmea do mosquito transmite a doença e ainda, 58,8% afirmaram que conseguem reconhecer o mosquito. Uma parcela dos alunos acredita que o mosquito pica preferencialmente durante o dia, onde a principal forma de transmissão selecionada foi “O mosquito pica uma pessoa doente e transmite a doença à outra pessoa” e os principais sintomas assinalados foram febre, dor de cabeça e cansaço. Conclusão: O estudo demonstrou que boa parte dos jovens possuem conhecimentos sobre a dengue, entretanto, ainda há crianças e adolescentes que não conhecem o assunto, trazendo à tona a importância deste tema nas campanhas de saúde.
Percepção da saúde e estado nutricional de pacientes hospitalizados com doenças crônicas
Authors: Tonini Ingrid Gabriela de Oliveira , Luz Francielle Do Rocio da , Menon Paola Doryanne , Zanelatto Carla , Mazur Caryna Eurich
Published: April 2019

Introdução: As doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) podem afetar significativamente a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos aos quais elas acometem. Assim, a autopercepção da saúde torna-se um importante indicador, uma vez que possibilita a compreensão do estado de saúde e a tomada de decisões. Objetivo: Avaliar a autopercepção da saúde, o perfil nutricional e fatores de risco em pacientes hospitalizados com doenças crônicas. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 56 pacientes, adultos e idosos, internados em hospital de Guarapuava-PR entre agosto e outubro de 2017. Para a coleta de dados adaptou-se o instrumento Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ), que avaliou a percepção do indivíduo sobre sua doença, seu estado nutricional e aceitação da dieta hospitalar. Aplicou-se os testes de Shapiro-Wilk para normalidade das variáveis, e correlação de Pearson e T de Student para associação entre essas. Resultados: A média de idade foi 63,8±4,7 anos e o diagnóstico clínico com maior prevalência foi o de doença pulmonar (41,1%), seguido por diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (21,4%) e HAS (17,9%). De acordo com o IMC, 28,6% da amostra encontrava-se em magreza e 21,5% com excesso de peso. Quanto ao Brief IPQ, 73,2% dos pacientes classificaram sua saúde como boa. A minoria dos pacientes (28,6%) se considerava totalmente responsável por sua saúde. Em relação à preocupação com a doença, 33,9% dos pacientes se disseram extremamente preocupados e 14,3% afirmaram não estar preocupados. Conclusão: A maioria dos participantes encontrava-se em desnutrição, considerava sua saúde como boa e acreditava que o tratamento poderia melhorar sua saúde.
Monitoria acadêmica e formação profissional em saúde: uma revisão integrativa
Authors: Botelho Laís Vargas , Lourenço Ana Eliza Port , Lacerda Maria Gouvêa de , Wollz Larissa Escarce Bento
Published: April 2019

A monitoria é uma estratégia que pode auxiliar na formação profissional em saúde, ao proporcionar um canal dialógico entre docentes e discentes e favorecer os processos de ensino-aprendizagem. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi revisar a literatura sobre monitoria e formação profissional em saúde no Brasil, identificando suas potencialidades e dificuldades. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa com busca sistemática de artigos publicados até abril de 2017 nas bibliotecas SciELO e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Foram recuperados 13 artigos, a maioria sobre monitoria em instituições públicas do Sul e Sudeste, sendo sete somente sobre Enfermagem ou Medicina. Identificou-se como potencialidades da monitoria: estreitamento de relações entre alunos, ampliação do aprendizado e da autonomia discente e aproximação do monitor à docência. As dificuldades foram: escassez de tempo para trabalho em equipe e baixa adesão dos alunos às atividades. Observou-se que a maioria dos estudos possui cunho descritivo e não enfatiza os aspectos teórico-pedagógicos relacionados. Ainda assim, o conjunto dos artigos sugere que a monitoria tem potencial de agregar ao aprendizado autonomia, criticidade e humanização, em consonância com os princípios do Sistema Único de Saúde. Conclui-se que o tema da monitoria encontra-se permeável para novos estudos e reflexões acerca do processo de ensino e aprendizagem voltado às especificidades das diferentes profissões da área de saúde. Seria pertinente discutir nas diversas instâncias acadêmicas os proveitos da monitoria a fim de incorporá-la ao currículo formal e favorecer a participação dos graduandos.
Crenças e atitudes de educadores da rede pública de um município mineiro sobre o uso de Substâncias Psicoativas
Authors: Tavares Marcus Luciano de Oliveira , Reinaldo Amanda Márcia Dos Santos , Silveira Belisa Vieira da , Pereira Maria Odete
Published: April 2019

Introdução: O despreparo de educadores para trabalhar com estudantes em uso de Substâncias Psicoativas é uma fragilidade que compromete a abordagem em ambiente escolar. Assim, é necessário que esses profissionais reconheçam a importância do conhecimento e reflitam suas crenças e atitudes acerca dessa temática. Objetivo: Conhecer as crenças e atitudes de educadores de nove escolas municipais de Belo Horizonte sobre o uso de Substâncias Psicoativas. Método: Estudo transversal, descritivo e exploratório realizado com 38 educadores da rede municipal de educação de Belo Horizonte/MG. Foi utilizado um questionário para caracterização dos dados sociodemográficos, a Escala de Tolerância Social e o Questionário sobre Modelo de Percepção de Problemas de Saúde. Resultados: Houve predominância de crenças negativas e estigmatizantes e atribuição do uso de Substâncias Psicoativas ao modelo moralizante. Conclusão: Intervenções focadas na conscientização de educadores sobre o uso e abuso de SPAs previamente à elaboração de programas de enfrentamento para escolares são necessárias para evitar situações conflitantes que estigmatizem o usuário.
Agradecimento aos revisores
Authors: Health Sciences ABCS
Published: April 2019

Não se aplica
AN APPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN PROPAGATION OF RELIGIOUS MESSAGES IN NIGERIA
Authors: Alamu Akiti Glory
Published: April 2019

It is heart-warming to assert that 21st century has witnessed unprecedented breakthroughs in information and communication technology. Thus, this astronomical breakthrough has brought unhindered privileges and accessibilities to virtually all the countries where information technology is entrenched. Evidently, technology has linked societies with global information and it makes it possible for capital to shift instantly across borders. Thus, this technological engagement has reduced the world to one „global village‟. Equally, religion is not indifferent to this global advancement. Within the province of religion, information and communication technology has graciously and tremendously helped to reduce religious messages to a sizeable level whereby human beings do not need to travel many kilometres and distances to deliver religious messages. In the same vein, this information and communication technology has also created a gamut of religious problems like human indignity, un-chastity, terrorism and immorality. Again, it has also brought many miseries at its wake. The result is the emergence of a hedonistic culture, sensuality and promiscuity. This paper adopted historical and analytical approach. However, the paper concludes by advocating that efforts should be made to equally promote morality, spirituality and human development.
THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TRANSNATIONAL JUSTICE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: A CASE STUDY OF CROATIA AND SERBIA
Authors: Mintarsih Adriana Rahajeng , Wijaya Andika , Latifa Inditian , Widiantini Ikhaputri
Published: April 2019

Among the many international bodies and organizations that have made transitional justice a precondition for cooperation is the European Union (EU), The Union‟s strong advocacy for human rights, democracy and transitional justice during reconciliation of the Western Balkans is one of the factors that led to the bestowal of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize ("The Nobel Peace Prize 2012 to the European Union”). This article will address the role of the EU in creating security within Europe in relation to the transitional justice that is taking place within the Western Balkans. The Union‟s involvement in the reconciliation process of the Western Balkans through the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) will be explored and the Union‟s European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) will also be brought into focus regarding the policy‟s means of evasion in creating a secure European neighbourhood. In order to understand the breadth of transitional justice measures taken by the Union within the Western Balkans, the case of Croatia will be taken into account, as the first country from the area to be accessed into the Union in 2012, and to some extent compared to the process that is taking place in Serbia. This article seeks to bear out how although the ENP has to a degree succeeded in establishing constitutional peace within „Wider Europe‟, the cursoriness of its role in executing transitional justice in the Western Balkans has led to the obstruction of sustainable peace within the region.
REVITALIZING AREA STUDIES: BUILDING THEMATIC RESONANCE THROUGH RECONCILIATION
Authors: Utami Nila Ayu
Published: April 2019

Area Studies has garnered a lot of criticisms over the past several decades. This, of course, is to be expected as the initial foundation of the study itself is polemical, and very much colonial. Many have seen area studies as antiquated, unable to rise to the challenges of globalization. Indeed, as a project that relies upon “areas” conventionally demarcated, globalization poses as the threat/potential double-bind that can make or break area studies. Stepping up to the challenge, area studies have been in dialogue with other disciplines such as diaspora studies, postcolonial studies and cultural studies that have become prominent critics of area studies. These flirtations have been fruitful for more alternatives and possibilities come to fore. In the same vein, the nature of this writing is to build a dialogue between area-based knowledge and the travelling ideas spurred by globalization, and in doing so, hoping that such dialogue will produce thematic issue that connects localities, history, and knowledge production. This paper proposes the discourse of reconciliation as a thematic issue to reconnect and re-integrate different “areas” in the larger project of Area Studies.
THE ETHICAL FOUNDATION IN INFORMATION SOCITY: INTERPRETATION OF ARTIFICIAL AGENTS POSITION IN AN ONTOCENTRIC PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Asmiyanto Taufik
Published: April 2019

This article discusses the importance of ethical guidance and regulation on the change of world research climate supported by information and communication technology (ICT). The research has resulted in artificial intelligence and „super‟ human entities which are predicted to potentially cause damage and destruction of humans. In this context, human is placed as an information organism parallel to other information entity. Human is no longer a single entity as a center of reflection on a moral action. This research aimed to reflect on the ontology of Floridian information based on ontocentrism as the axiological footing of its information ethical theory. The method used was hermeneutics. The research findings showed that the reduction of human position creates human nervousness as a knowing subject. Therefore, ethical regulation is required on artificial agent construction effort as moral agent within the constellation of ethical actions in the information ecosystem.
A nanobody-based molecular toolkit provides new mechanistic insight into clathrin-coat initiation
Authors: Traub Linton M
Published: April 2019

Besides AP-2 and clathrin triskelia, clathrin coat inception depends on a group of early-arriving proteins including Fcho1/2 and Eps15/R. Using genome-edited cells, we described the role of the unstructured Fcho linker in stable AP-2 membrane deposition. Here, expanding this strategy in combination with a new set of llama nanobodies against EPS15 shows an FCHO1/2–EPS15/R partnership plays a decisive role in coat initiation. A nanobody containing an Asn-Pro-Phe peptide within the complementarity-determining region 3 loop is a function-blocking pseudoligand for tandem EPS15/R EH domains. Yet, in living cells, EH domains gathered at clathrin-coated structures are poorly accessible, indicating residence by endogenous NPF-bearing partners. Forcibly sequestering cytosolic EPS15 in genome-edited cells with nanobodies tethered to early endosomes or mitochondria changes the subcellular location and availability of EPS15. This combined approach has strong effects on clathrin coat structure and function by dictating the stability of AP-2 assemblies at the plasma membrane.
A multiphase theory for spreading microbial swarms and films
Authors: Srinivasan Siddarth , Kaplan C Nadir , Mahadevan L
Published: April 2019

Bacterial swarming and biofilm formation are collective multicellular phenomena through which diverse microbial species colonize and spread over water-permeable tissue. During both modes of surface translocation, fluid uptake and transport play a key role in shaping the overall morphology and spreading dynamics. Here we develop a generalized two-phase thin-film model that couples bacterial growth, extracellular matrix swelling, fluid flow, and nutrient transport to describe the expansion of both highly motile bacterial swarms, and sessile bacterial biofilms. We show that swarm expansion corresponds to steady-state solutions in a nutrient-rich, capillarity dominated regime. In contrast, biofilm colony growth is described by transient solutions associated with a nutrient-limited, extracellular polymer stress driven limit. We apply our unified framework to explain a range of recent experimental observations of steady and unsteady expansion of microbial swarms and biofilms. Our results demonstrate how the physics of flow and transport in slender geometries serve to constrain biological organization in microbial communities.
Yap1 promotes sprouting and proliferation of lymphatic progenitors downstream of Vegfc in the zebrafish trunk
Authors: Grimm Lin , Nakajima Hiroyuki , Chaudhury Smrita , Bower Neil I , Okuda Kazuhide S , Cox Andrew G , Harvey Natasha L , Koltowska Katarzyna , Mochizuki Naoki , Hogan Benjamin M
Published: April 2019

Lymphatic vascular development involves specification of lymphatic endothelial progenitors that subsequently undergo sprouting, proliferation and tissue growth to form a complex second vasculature. The Hippo pathway and effectors Yap and Taz control organ growth and regulate morphogenesis and cellular proliferation. Yap and Taz control angiogenesis but a role in lymphangiogenesis remains to be fully elucidated. Here we show that YAP displays dynamic changes in lymphatic progenitors and Yap1 is essential for lymphatic vascular development in zebrafish. Maternal and Zygotic (MZ) yap1 mutants show normal specification of lymphatic progenitors, abnormal cellular sprouting and reduced numbers of lymphatic progenitors emerging from the cardinal vein during lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, Yap1 is indispensable for Vegfc-induced proliferation in a transgenic model of Vegfc overexpression. Paracrine Vegfc-signalling ultimately increases nuclear YAP in lymphatic progenitors to control lymphatic development. We thus identify a role for Yap in lymphangiogenesis, acting downstream of Vegfc to promote expansion of this vascular lineage.
Human macular Müller cells rely more on serine biosynthesis to combat oxidative stress than those from the periphery
Authors: Zhang Ting , Zhu Ling , Madigan Michele C , Liu Wei , Shen Weiyong , Cherepanoff Svetlana , Zhou Fanfan , Zeng Shaoxue , Du Jianhai , Gillies Mark C
Published: April 2019

The human macula is more susceptible than the peripheral retina to developing blinding conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy. A key difference between them may be the nature of their Müller cells. We found primary cultured Müller cells from macula and peripheral retina display significant morphological and transcriptomic differences. Macular Müller cells expressed more phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH, a rate-limiting enzyme in serine synthesis) than peripheral Müller cells. The serine synthesis, glycolytic and mitochondrial function were more activated in macular than peripheral Müller cells. Serine biosynthesis is critical in defending against oxidative stress. Intracellular reactive oxygen species and glutathione levels were increased in primary cultured macular Müller cells which were more susceptible to oxidative stress after inhibition of PHGDH. Our findings indicate serine biosynthesis is a critical part of the macular defence against oxidative stress and suggest dysregulation of this pathway as a potential cause of macular pathology.
The C-terminal helix 9 motif in rat cannabinoid receptor type 1 regulates axonal trafficking and surface expression
Authors: Fletcher-Jones Alexandra , Hildick Keri L , Evans Ashley J , Nakamura Yasuko , Wilkinson Kevin A , Henley Jeremy M
Published: April 2019

Cannabinoid type one receptor (CB1R) is only stably surface expressed in axons, where it downregulates neurotransmitter release. How this tightly regulated axonal surface polarity is established and maintained is unclear. To address this question, we used time-resolved imaging to determine the trafficking of CB1R from biosynthesis to mature polarised localisation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. We show that the secretory pathway delivery of CB1R is axonally biased and that surface expressed CB1R is more stable in axons than in dendrites. This dual mechanism is mediated by the CB1R C-terminus and involves the Helix 9 (H9) domain. Removal of the H9 domain increases secretory pathway delivery to dendrites and decreases surface stability. Furthermore, CB1RΔH9 is more sensitive to agonist-induced internalisation and less efficient at downstream signalling than CB1RWT. Together, these results shed new light on how polarity of CB1R is mediated and indicate that the C-terminal H9 domain plays key roles in this process.
Comprehensive mapping of adaptation of the avian influenza polymerase protein PB2 to humans
Authors: Soh YQ Shirleen , Moncla Louise H , Eguia Rachel , Bedford Trevor , Bloom Jesse D
Published: April 2019

Viruses like influenza are infamous for their ability to adapt to new hosts. Retrospective studies of natural zoonoses and passaging in the lab have identified a modest number of host-adaptive mutations. However, it is unclear if these mutations represent all ways that influenza can adapt to a new host. Here we take a prospective approach to this question by completely mapping amino-acid mutations to the avian influenza virus polymerase protein PB2 that enhance growth in human cells. We identify numerous previously uncharacterized human-adaptive mutations. These mutations cluster on PB2’s surface, highlighting potential interfaces with host factors. Some previously uncharacterized adaptive mutations occur in avian-to-human transmission of H7N9 influenza, showing their importance for natural virus evolution. But other adaptive mutations do not occur in nature because they are inaccessible via single-nucleotide mutations. Overall, our work shows how selection at key molecular surfaces combines with evolutionary accessibility to shape viral host adaptation.
Evidence for DNA-mediated nuclear compartmentalization distinct from phase separation
Authors: McSwiggen David Trombley , Hansen Anders S , Teves Sheila S , Marie-Nelly Hervé , Hao Yvonne , Heckert Alec Basil , Umemoto Kayla K , Dugast-Darzacq Claire , Tjian Robert , Darzacq Xavier
Published: April 2019

RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) and transcription factors form concentrated hubs in cells via multivalent protein-protein interactions, often mediated by proteins with intrinsically disordered regions. During Herpes Simplex Virus infection, viral replication compartments (RCs) efficiently enrich host Pol II into membraneless domains, reminiscent of liquid-liquid phase separation. Despite sharing several properties with phase-separated condensates, we show that RCs operate via a distinct mechanism wherein unrestricted nonspecific protein-DNA interactions efficiently outcompete host chromatin, profoundly influencing the way DNA-binding proteins explore RCs. We find that the viral genome remains largely nucleosome-free, and this increase in accessibility allows Pol II and other DNA-binding proteins to repeatedly visit nearby DNA binding sites. This anisotropic behavior creates local accumulations of protein factors despite their unrestricted diffusion across RC boundaries. Our results reveal underappreciated consequences of nonspecific DNA binding in shaping gene activity, and suggest additional roles for chromatin in modulating nuclear function and organization.
Analysis of the spike, ORF3, and nucleocapsid genes of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus circulating on Thai swine farms, 2011–2016
Authors: Tuanthap Supansa , Vongpunsawad Sompong , Phupolphan Cherdpong , Duang-in Ausanee , Wattanaphansak Suphot , Assavacheep Pornchalit , Theamboonlers Apiradee , Luengyosluechakul Supol , Amonsin Alongkorn , Poovorawan Yong
Published: April 2019

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreaks on pig farms have caused significant economic loss in the swine industry since it was first reported in Thailand a decade ago. Anecdotal evidence suggests that PEDV is now endemic in this region, therefore genome information of circulating PEDV is important for molecular surveillance and evaluation of potential benefits of field vaccination. Here, we characterized PEDV infection on commercial Thai swine farms by screening 769 samples of feces and small intestinal contents from pigs with diarrhea between 2011 and 2016. Using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction targeting the spike (S) gene, 153 PEDV-positive samples were further subjected to analysis of the open reading frame 3 and nucleocapsid (N) genes. Comparison of 95 samples in which nucleotide sequencing was successfully obtained for all three genes revealed evolutionary diversity among the Thai PEDV strains. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that although some Thai strains changed little from years past, others resembled more closely to the recent strains reported in China. Interestingly, eight Thai PEDV strains possessed amino acid deletions in the N protein. The PEDV sequence divergence may be responsible for driving periodic outbreaks and continued persistence of PEDV on commercial swine farms. Our findings provide important insight into regional PEDV strains in circulation, which may assist future inclusions of suitable strains for future PEDV vaccines.
Captivity causes taxonomic and functional convergence of gut microbial communities in bats
Authors: Xiao Yanhong , Xiao Guohong , Liu Heng , Zhao Xin , Sun Congnan , Tan Xiao , Sun Keping , Liu Sen , Feng Jiang
Published: April 2019

Background

Diet plays a crucial role in sculpting microbial communities. Similar diets appear to drive convergence of gut microbial communities between host species. Captivity usually provides an identical diet and environment to different animal species that normally have similar diets. Whether different species’ microbial gut communities can be homogenized by a uniform diet in captivity remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we compared gut microbial communities of three insectivorous bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Vespertilio sinensis, and Hipposideros armiger) in captivity and in the wild using 16S rDNA sequencing. In captivity, R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis were fed yellow mealworms, while H. armiger was fed giant mealworms to rule out the impact of an identical environment on the species’ gut microbial communities.

Results

We found that the microbial communities of the bat species we studied clustered by species in the wild, while the microbial communities of R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis in captivity clustered together. All microbial functions found in captive V. sinensis were shared by R. ferrumequinum. Moreover, the relative abundances of all metabolism related KEGG pathways did not significantly differ between captive R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis; however, the relative abundance of “Glycan Biosynthesis and Metabolism” differed significantly between wild R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that consuming identical diets while in captivity tends to homogenize the gut microbial communities among bat species. This study further highlights the importance of diet in shaping animal gut microbiotas.
Exploring the transcriptome ofluxI−andΔainSmutants and the impact of N-3-oxo-hexanoyl-L- and N-3-hydroxy-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactones on biofilm formation inAliivibrio salmonicida
Authors: Khider Miriam , Hansen Hilde , Hjerde Erik , Johansen Jostein A. , Willassen Nils Peder
Published: April 2019

Background

Bacterial communication through quorum sensing (QS) systems has been reported to be important in coordinating several traits such as biofilm formation. InAliivibrio salmonicidatwo QS systems the LuxI/R and AinS/R, have been shown to be responsible for the production of eight acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) in a cell density dependent manner. We have previously demonstrated that inactivation of LitR, the master regulator of the QS system resulted in biofilm formation, similar to the biofilm formed by the AHL deficient mutantΔainSluxI−. In this study, we aimed to investigate the global gene expression patterns ofluxIandainSautoinducer synthases mutants using transcriptomic profiling. In addition, we examined the influence of the different AHLs on biofilm formation.

Results

The transcriptome profiling ofΔainSandluxI−mutants allowed us to identify genes and gene clusters regulated by QS inA. salmonicida. Relative to the wild type, theΔainSandluxI−mutants revealed 29 and 500 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. The functional analysis demonstrated that the most pronounced DEGs were involved in bacterial motility and chemotaxis, exopolysaccharide production, and surface structures related to adhesion. Inactivation ofluxI, but notainSgenes resulted in wrinkled colony morphology. While inactivation of both genes (ΔainSluxI−) resulted in strains able to form wrinkled colonies and mushroom structured biofilm. Moreover, when theΔainSluxI−mutant was supplemented with N-3-oxo-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3OC6-HSL) or N-3-hydroxy-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3OHC10-HSL), the biofilm did not develop. We also show that LuxI is needed for motility and for repression of EPS production, where repression of EPS is likely operated through the RpoQ-sigma factor.

Conclusion

These findings imply that the LuxI and AinS autoinducer synthases play a critical role in the regulation of biofilm formation, EPS production, and motility.
An Assessment of Noise Levels in Sylhet City Corporation, Bangladesh
Authors: Mahmud Md. Sultan , Basak Rony
Published: April 2019

Noise pollution is a silent villain as it’s quite easy for being ignored by us. Urban areas are more exposed to this deadly agenda as the density of population and their belongings are excessive in there. This study differentiated noise levels of Sylhet City Corporation, a growing city of Bangladesh into different types according to the land use purpose of the city like residential, silent etc. One hundred and sixty-eight noise level readings, taken at 14 different positions during the morning, afternoon, evening, and night of selective weekdays which are categorized as busy days, typical days and weekends were utilized for this research. Results put the average noise level readings in the city centers at between 45 dB(A) and 95 dB (A), dissented from the permissible limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as national standardization organization: Department of Environment (DOE) in all the land use types, with the highest noise pollution levels recorded for transportation, commercial and silent typed areas. The result of the one-way ANOVA test completed where the dependent variable was noise and the independent variable was land use types uncovers a factually huge mean noise levels over the study area (F (4,115) = 9.52, p = 1.1079). Tukey’s HSD method also carried away which showed the uneven difference of noise levels between the land types. The study represents noise pollution auditing, and the immediate needs to control urban noise pollution with convenient and effective policies some of which is recommended at the end of the study.
Performance Evaluation of Hot Mixture Asphalt Using Concentrated Rubber Latex, Rubber Compound and Synthetic Polymer as Modifier
Authors: Suaryana Nyoman , Sofyan Tedi Santo
Published: April 2019

Research on the utilization of natural rubber for Hot Mixture Asphalt as modifier has been widely carried out, and more intensively since 2016 due to the declining global natural rubber price. Further research conducted is the utilization of pre-vulcanized concentrated rubber latex and rubber compound added with antioxidants and treated through vulcanization process. This study experimentally evaluates the performance of Asphalt Concrete Wearing Course (ACWC) using natural rubber and synthetic polymer as modifier, compared to ACWC without modifier (only petroleum asphalt).  The results show that the rubberized asphalt has higher index penetration value as well as higher elasticity compared to petroleum asphalt penetration grade 60, but lower than synthetic polymer modified asphalt. Similarly, the level of performance of rubberized asphalt mixtures, particularly resilient modulus, water resistance, deformation, and fatigue cracking, is between that of petroleum asphalt and synthetic polymer modified asphalt
Unraveling Race, Socioeconomic Factors, and Geographical Context in the Heterogeneity of Lupus Mortality in the United States
Authors: Falasinnu Titilola , Chaichian Yashaar , Palaniappan Latha , Simard Julia F.
Published: April 2019

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease disproportionately affecting women and racial/ethnic minorities. We examined SLE‐related mortality over time to assess whether the impact of race is attenuated when social economic status (SES) and geographic context are also considered.

Methods

This study examined whether social environment attenuates racial disparities in SLE‐related mortality using race‐geographical combinations of the US population known as the “Eight Americas.” This framework jointly characterizes race, SES, and geographical location in relation to health disparities in the United States. Using National Vital Statistics and US Census data, we estimated mortality parameters for each of the Eight Americas.

Results

We identified 24 773 SLE deaths (2003‐2014). Average annual mortality rates were highest among blacks in three race‐geographical contexts: average‐income blacks, southern low‐income blacks, and high‐risk urban blacks (14 to 15 deaths per million population) and lowest among nonblacks living in average‐income settings (3 to 4 deaths per million population). Age at death was lowest (~47.5 years) for blacks and Asians and highest among low‐income rural whites (~64.8 years).

Conclusion

Blacks sharing the same social and geographical contexts as whites were disproportionately more likely to die young. Although blacks inhabited three vastly different contexts, SLE‐related mortality parameters did not vary among socially advantaged and disadvantaged blacks. These findings suggest that race may transcend SES and geographical parameters as a key determinant of SLE‐related mortality.
Reversible Conversion Reactions and Small First Cycle Irreversible Capacity Loss in Metal Sulfide‐Based Electrodes Enabled by Solid Electrolytes
Authors: Kim Sanghyeon , Choi Jaewon , Bak Seong‐Min , Sang Lingzi , Li Qun , Patra Arghya , Braun Paul V.
Published: April 2019

Solid‐state batteries can potentially enable new classes of electrode materials which are unstable against liquid electrolytes. Here, SnS nanocrystals, synthesized by a wet chemical method, are used to fabricate a Li‐ion electrode, and the electrochemical properties of this electrode are examined in both solid and liquid electrolyte designs. The SnS‐based solid‐state cell delivers a capacity of 629 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles and exhibits an unprecedentedly small irreversible capacity in the first cycle (8.2%), while the SnS‐based liquid cell shows a rapid capacity decay and large first cycle irreversible capacity (44.6%). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments show significant solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation in the liquid cell during the first discharge while SEI formation by electrolyte reduction in the solid‐state cell appears negligible. Along with CV, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy are used to investigate the differences between the solid‐state and liquid cells. The reaction chemistry of SnS in solid‐state cells is also studied in detail by ex situ X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. The overarching findings are that use of a solid electrolyte suppresses materials degradation and electrolyte reduction which leads to a small first cycle irreversible capacity and stable cycling.
Soft Wearable Pressure Sensors for Beat‐to‐Beat Blood Pressure Monitoring
Authors: Kim Joshua , Chou En‐Fan , Le Jamie , Wong Sabrina , Chu Michael , Khine Michelle
Published: April 2019

Wrinkled gold thin films on elastomeric substrates are used as robust parallel plate electrodes for soft capacitive pressure sensors. The wrinkled structures create a robust integration with the polymer, allowing repeated normal force to deform the thin film without failure. By incorporating microridged structures that support the counter electrodes to create air cavities within the elastomeric dielectric layer, pressure sensitivity is further increased to 0.148 kPa−1 over a wide dynamic range of up to 10 kPa. The wide dynamic range and pressure sensitivity of the pressure sensor allow for consistent measurements of the pressure exerted by the radial artery located on the wrist. The soft capacitive pressure sensor displays comparable results when tested against an FDA approved device (Clearsight, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) measuring beat‐to‐beat blood pressure. These soft pressure sensors using wrinkled thin films, therefore, illustrate considerable potential to continuously monitor beat‐to‐beat blood pressure.
A Room‐Temperature Ferroelectric Ferromagnet in a 1D Tetrahedral Chain Network
Authors: Kang Kyeong Tae , Roh Chang Jae , Lim Jinyoung , Min Taewon , Lee Jun Han , Lee Kyoungjun , Lee Tae Yoon , Kang Seunghun , Seol Daehee , Kim Jiwoong , Ohta Hiromichi , Khare Amit , Park Sungkyun , Kim Yunseok , Chae Seung Chul , Oh Yoon Seok , Lee Jaekwang , Yu Jaejun , Lee Jong Seok , Choi Woo Seok
Published: April 2019

Ferroelectricity occurs in crystals with broken spatial inversion symmetry. In conventional perovskite oxides, concerted ionic displacements within a 3D network of transition‐metal–oxygen polyhedra (MOx) manifest spontaneous polarization. Meanwhile, some 2D networks of MOx foster geometric ferroelectricity with magnetism, owing to the distortion of the polyhedra. Because of the fundamentally different mechanism of ferroelectricity in a 2D network, one can further challenge an uncharted mechanism of ferroelectricity in a 1D channel of MOx and estimate its feasibility. Here, ferroelectricity and coupled ferromagnetism in a 1D FeO4 tetrahedral chain network of a brownmillerite SrFeO2.5 epitaxial thin film are presented. The result provides a new paradigm for designing low‐dimensional MOx networks, which is expected to benefit the realization of macroscopic ferro‐ordering materials including ferroelectric ferromagnets.
Finite Size Effects on the Switching Dynamics of Spin‐Crossover Thin Films Photoexcited by a Femtosecond Laser Pulse
Authors: Ridier Karl , Bas Alin‐Ciprian , Shalabaeva Victoria , Nicolazzi William , Salmon Lionel , Molnár Gábor , Bousseksou Azzedine , Lorenc Maciej , Bertoni Roman , Collet Eric , Cailleau Hervé
Published: April 2019

Using ultrafast optical absorption spectroscopy, the room‐temperature spin‐state switching dynamics induced by a femtosecond laser pulse in high‐quality thin films of the molecular spin‐crossover (SCO) complex [Fe(HB(tz)3)2] (tz = 1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl) are studied. These measurements reveal that the early, sub‐picosecond, low‐spin to high‐spin photoswitching event, with linear response to the laser pulse energy, can be followed under certain conditions by a second switching process occurring on a timescale of tens of nanoseconds, enabling nonlinear amplification. This out‐of‐equilibrium dynamics is discussed in light of the characteristic timescales associated with the different switching mechanisms, i.e., the electronic and structural rearrangements of photoexcited molecules, the propagation of strain waves at the material scale, and the thermal activation above the molecular energy barrier. Importantly, the additional, nonlinear switching step appears to be completely suppressed in the thinnest (50 nm) film due to the efficient heat transfer to the substrate, allowing the system to retrieve the thermal equilibrium state on the 100 ns timescale. These results provide a first milestone toward the assessment of the physical parameters that drive the photoresponse of SCO thin films, opening up appealing perspectives for their use as high‐frequency all‐optical switches working at room temperature.
Origin of Ferroelectric Phase in Undoped HfO2 Films Deposited by Sputtering
Authors: Mittmann Terence , Materano Monica , Lomenzo Patrick D. , Park Min Hyuk , Stolichnov Igor , Cavalieri Matteo , Zhou Chuanzhen , Chung Ching‐Chang , Jones Jacob L. , Szyjka Thomas , Müller Martina , Kersch Alfred , Mikolajick Thomas , Schroeder Uwe
Published: April 2019

Thin film metal–insulator–metal capacitors with undoped HfO2 as the insulator are fabricated by sputtering from ceramic targets and subsequently annealed. The influence of film thickness and annealing temperature is characterized by electrical and structural methods. After annealing, the films show distinct ferroelectric properties. Grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction measurements reveal a dominant ferroelectric orthorhombic phase for thicknesses in the 10–50 nm range and a negligible non‐ferroelectric monoclinic phase fraction. Sputtering HfO2 with additional oxygen during the deposition decreases the remanent polarization. Overall, the impact of oxygen vacancies and interstitials in the HfO2 film during deposition and annealing is correlated to the phase formation process.
Recent Progress in Metal Halide Perovskite Micro‐ and Nanolasers
Authors: Wei Qi , Li Xiaojun , Liang Chao , Zhang Zhipeng , Guo Jia , Hong Guo , Xing Guichuan , Huang Wei
Published: April 2019

Lead halide perovskites are considered as very promising photovoltaic materials due to their tunable direct bandgaps, large absorption coefficients, long carrier diffusion lengths, and ultralow trap state densities, etc. With these unique properties, the lead halide perovskites have also demonstrated great potential for use as semiconductor gain materials. In this review, a snapshot on the recent advances of lead halide perovskite micro‐ and nanolasers is given. The dependence of lasing performance on the perovskite dimensionality, crystal size, and operation temperature is systematically discussed. Furthermore, the development of continuous wave (cw) pumped perovskite lasers and lead‐free perovskite lasers is also summarized. In the final section, the challenges and future prospects of metal halide perovskite lasers are provided. These pieces of knowledge would help advancing the development of perovskite on‐chip coherent light sources.
(De)bonding on Demand with Optically Switchable Adhesives
Authors: Hohl Diana Kay , Weder Christoph
Published: April 2019

Adhesives that enable bonding and especially debonding on demand (DoD) have attracted rapidly growing interest in the last decade, as these capabilities greatly improve the functionality of adhesives, particularly in connection with temporal fixation, repair, and recycling. Indeed, DoD techniques have already entered commercial exploitation in applications such as easily removable wound dressings, temporal fixation in semiconductor manufacturing, and the repair, replacement, or recycling of components. While most approaches to debonding rely on heat to reduce the adhesive strength via physical property changes of the adhesive, optically switchable adhesives have been much less explored. However, light is an attractive stimulus, as it allows an efficient, contactless, remote stimulation that can be temporally and spatially controlled. In this Progress Report, recent developments in the domain of photoswitchable adhesive materials are highlighted. After a discussion of main strategies for the irreversible debonding of various adhesive types, options are presented for reversible (de)bonding enabled by different optical processes. The report emphasizes strategies based on photodegradable groups, photoisomerization, as well as the dissociation of supramolecular and dynamic covalent bonds based on either photochemical or light–heat conversion processes.
Flexible and Stretchable Photonic Sensors Based on Modulation of Light Transmission
Authors: Peng Wang , Wu Hao
Published: April 2019

Emerging technologies, such as soft robotics, electronic skin, wearable devices, and flexible display, demand the practical application of photonic sensors that are bendable and stretchable, as conventional photonic sensors are fabricated with rigid materials and substrates, rendering their applications in deformable state or soft systems infeasible. Thus, the development of flexible and stretchable photonic sensors, which can be wrapped onto curved surfaces and easily deformed into different shapes and sizes, has inspired great research interest. This article presents recent progress in the development of flexible and stretchable photonic sensors, particularly photonic sensors based on the modulation of light transmission, from the aspects of materials synthesis and selection, structure design, fabrication methods, sensing characteristics, and performances. The challenges and future research opportunities related to flexible and stretchable photonic sensors and their potential application prospects are also discussed.
Amplified Spontaneous Emission Realized by Cogrowing Large/Small Grains with Self‐Passivating Defects and Aligning Transition Dipoles
Authors: Bai Yujie , Qin Jiajun , Shi Lei , Zhang Jia , Wang Miaosheng , Zhan Yiqiang , Zou Han , Haacke Stefan , Hou Xiaoyuan , Zi Jian , Hu Bin
Published: April 2019

This paper reports an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) initiated by intrinsically passivating grain boundary defects and aligning transition dipoles in polycrystalline perovskite (MAPbBr3) films. The method is developed by using concurrently occurring fast and slow growths to attach small grains on surfaces of large grains toward low‐threshold ASE. This materials processing utilizes one‐step solution method of mixing two MAPbBr3 precursor (PbBr2‐based and Pb(Ac)2 · 3H2O‐based) solutions to control two subsequent growths: quickly growing large grains followed by slowly growing small grains, leading to unique emitting centers from large grains and self‐doping agents from small grains. With this design, spectral narrowing phenomenon is observed from the large grains with the full width at half maximum decreasing from 21 to 4 nm when the pumping fluence is increased from 2 to 10 µW, generating an efficient ASE. Concurrently, the observed ASE shows a linear polarization reaching 21.1%, indicating that the transition dipoles in large grains are linearly polarized with coherent interaction. Therefore, this processing strategy presents a unique method to intrinsically passivate grain boundary defects and align transition dipoles toward developing ASE by attaching small grains (serving as passivation agent) to the surfaces of large grains (functioning as light‐emitting centers).