Properties of materials greatly differ in nanoparticle form compared to their bulk counterpart. Strain mechanism, elastic properties and cation distribution play a major role as particle size ...decreased to nanoscale level and therefore it is necessary to evaluate these properties precisely through reliable methodology. In the present work, a detailed investigation has been carried out on nanocrystalline particles of Mg–Mn co-substituted CdFe2O4 to estimate intrinsic strain through Williamson-Hall (W–H) analysis. The results were compared with those obtained from Scherrer equation and Rietveld refinement. Bertuat method was used to estimate the cation distribution of spinel ferrite. Elastic properties such as, stiffness constant, Young's modulus, bulk modulus, rigidity modulus, Poisson's ratio and Debye temperature were studied by using the band positions of tetrahedral – A and octahedral – B sites observed through infrared spectra. The obtained results were discussed in the light of strain mechanism, elastic constants and substitution of Mg–Mn ions in the CdFe2O4.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We perform a comprehensive study of Milky Way (MW) satellite galaxies to constrain the fundamental properties of dark matter (DM). This analysis fully incorporates inhomogeneities in the spatial ...distribution and detectability of MW satellites and marginalizes over uncertainties in the mapping between galaxies and DM halos, the properties of the MW system, and the disruption of subhalos by the MW disk. Our results are consistent with the cold, collisionless DM paradigm and yield the strongest cosmological constraints to date on particle models of warm, interacting, and fuzzy dark matter. At 95% confidence, we report limits on (i) the mass of thermal relic warm DM, m_{WDM}>6.5 keV (free-streaming length, λ_{fs}≲10h^{-1} kpc), (ii) the velocity-independent DM-proton scattering cross section, σ_{0}<8.8×10^{-29} cm^{2} for a 100 MeV DM particle mass DM-proton coupling, c_{p}≲(0.3 GeV)^{-2}, and (iii) the mass of fuzzy DM, m_{ϕ}>2.9×10^{-21} eV (de Broglie wavelength, λ_{dB}≲0.5 kpc). These constraints are complementary to other observational and laboratory constraints on DM properties.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Phytophagous insects pose a significant threat to global crop yield and food security. The need for increased agricultural output while reducing dependence on harmful synthetic insecticides ...necessitates the implementation of innovative methods. The utilization of CRISPR-Cas (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology to develop insect pest-resistant plants is believed to be a highly effective approach in reducing production expenses and enhancing the profitability of farms. Insect genome research provides vital insights into gene functions, allowing for a better knowledge of insect biology, adaptability, and the development of targeted pest management and disease prevention measures. The CRISPR-Cas gene editing technique has the capability to modify the DNA of insects, either to trigger a gene drive or to overcome their resistance to specific insecticides. The advancements in CRISPR technology and its various applications have shown potential in developing insect-resistant varieties of plants and other strategies for effective pest management through a sustainable approach. This could have significant consequences for ensuring food security. This approach involves using genome editing to create modified insects or crop plants. The article critically analyzed and discussed the potential and challenges associated with exploring and utilizing CRISPR-Cas technology for reducing insect pest pressure in crop plants.
Objectives
To define the vitamin B12 levels and other micronutrients status in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) children.
Methods
This was a prospective hospital based cross-sectional study. Inclusion ...criteria: Children with severe acute malnutrition as per WHO criteria. Exclusion criteria: (i) Pernicious anemia (ii) Autoimmune gastritis (iii) SAM children on exclusive vitamin B12 supplementation. All enrolled children underwent a detailed clinical history, general physical examination with more emphasis on clinical features of vitamin B12 and other micronutrients deficiencies. Three ml of venous blood was collected to estimate vitamin B12 and other micronutrients. Primary outcome was percentage of deficiency of serum vitamin B12, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, molybdenum and cobalt in SAM children.
Results
Fifty children were included in the study. The mean age of children was 15.60±12.90 mo with male to female ratio 0.85:1. The common clinical presentation in order of frequency were upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms 35 (70%), hepatomegaly 24 (48%), Hyperpigmentation 17 (34%), angular cheilitis 14 (28%), tremors 11 (22%), edema 07 (14%), and hypotonia 05 (10%). Anemia was found in 44 (88%) children. Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 34%. Other micronutrient deficiencies observed were cobalt 24 (100%), copper 05 (12%), zinc 04 (9.5%), and molybdenum 03 (12.5%). No statistical significance was found between clinical symptoms and levels of vitamin B12 with different age and sex.
Conclusions
Prevalence of low vitamin B12 and cobalt were more common than other micronutrients.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Multicellular organisms are constantly subjected to pathogens that might be harmful. Although insects lack an adaptive immune system, they possess highly effective anti-infective mechanisms. ...Bacterial phagocytosis and parasite encapsulation are some forms of cellular responses. Insects often defend themselves against infections through a humoral response. This phenomenon includes the secretion of antimicrobial peptides into the hemolymph. Specific receptors for detecting infection are required for the recognition of foreign pathogens such as the proteins that recognize glucans and peptidoglycans, together referred to as PGRPs and βGRPs. Activation of these receptors leads to the stimulation of signaling pathways which further activates the genes encoding for antimicrobial peptides. Some instances of such pathways are the JAK-STAT, Imd, and Toll. The host immune response that frequently accompanies infections has, however, been circumvented by diseases, which may have assisted insects evolve their own complicated immune systems. The role of ncRNAs in insect immunology has been discussed in several notable studies and reviews. This paper examines the most recent research on the immune regulatory function of ncRNAs during insect-pathogen crosstalk, including insect- and pathogen-encoded miRNAs and lncRNAs, and provides an overview of the important insect signaling pathways and effector mechanisms activated by diverse pathogen invaders.
The mechanisms underlying experience-dependent plasticity and refinement of central circuits are not yet fully understood. A non-Hebbian form of synaptic plasticity, which scales synaptic strengths ...up or down to stabilize firing rates, has recently been discovered in cultured neuronal networks. Here we demonstrate the existence of a similar mechanism in the intact rodent visual cortex. The frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in principal neurons increased steeply between post-natal days 12 and 23. There was a concomitant decrease in mEPSC amplitude, which was prevented by rearing rats in complete darkness from 12 days of age. In addition, as little as two days of monocular deprivation scaled up mEPSC amplitude in a layer- and age-dependent manner. These data indicate that mEPSC amplitudes can be globally scaled up or down as a function of development and sensory experience, and suggest that synaptic scaling may be involved in the activity-dependent refinement of cortical connectivity.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Peatlands are poorly represented in global Earth system modeling frameworks. Here we add a peatland‐specific land surface hydrology module (PEAT‐CLSM) to the Catchment Land Surface Model (CLSM) of ...the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) framework. The amended TOPMODEL approach of the original CLSM that uses topography characteristics to model catchment processes is discarded, and a peatland‐specific model concept is realized in its place. To facilitate its utilization in operational GEOS efforts, PEAT‐CLSM uses the basic structure of CLSM and the same global input data. Parameters used in PEAT‐CLSM are based on literature data. A suite of CLSM and PEAT‐CLSM simulations for peatland areas between 40°N and 75°N is presented and evaluated against a newly compiled data set of groundwater table depth and eddy covariance observations of latent and sensible heat fluxes in natural and seminatural peatlands. CLSM's simulated groundwater tables are too deep and variable, whereas PEAT‐CLSM simulates a mean groundwater table depth of −0.20 m (snow‐free unfrozen period) with moderate temporal fluctuations (standard deviation of 0.10 m), in significantly better agreement with in situ observations. Relative to an operational CLSM version that simply includes peat as a soil class, the temporal correlation coefficient is increased on average by 0.16 and reaches 0.64 for bogs and 0.66 for fens when driven with global atmospheric forcing data. In PEAT‐CLSM, runoff is increased on average by 38% and evapotranspiration is reduced by 19%. The evapotranspiration reduction constitutes a significant improvement relative to eddy covariance measurements.
Plain Language Summary
Peatlands are wetlands in which plant matter has accumulated over thousands of years under almost permanently water‐logged conditions. Alterations in these conditions as a result of global climate change can lead to the release of the huge peatland carbon pool as carbon dioxide over much shorter timescales than were required for accumulation. The additional emissions would amplify global warming. A better representation of the peatland hydrology in global Earth system models can help quantify how peatlands respond to a changing climate. In this paper, we add a peatland‐specific land surface hydrology module to the land surface model used in NASA's GEOS Earth system modeling framework. Comparisons of numerical simulations encompassing northern peatlands against field observations show that the new model version significantly improves our ability to capture the hydrological dynamics of peatlands. The new peatland representation in GEOS offers new opportunities, including the potential for merging model information and remote sensing observations in a way that improves our understanding of the overall role played by peatlands in the global water and carbon cycles.
Key Points
A peatland‐specific land surface hydrology was added to an Earth system model and constrained by literature data, without parameter tuning
Simulations were evaluated with a data set of groundwater table depth and evapotranspiration with unprecedented coverage in high latitudes
The peatland model version performs significantly better in terms of hydrological variables over peatlands than the operational model
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Summary
Background
Fungal sensitization is common in severe asthma, but the clinical relevance of this and the relationship with airway colonization by fungi remain unclear. The range of fungi that ...may colonize the airways in asthma is unknown.
Objective
To provide a comprehensive analysis on the range of filamentous fungi isolated in sputum from people with asthma and report the relationship with their clinico‐immunological features of their disease.
Methods
We recruited 126 subjects with a diagnosis of asthma, 94% with moderate‐severe disease, and 18 healthy volunteers. At a single stable visit, subjects underwent spirometry; sputum fungal culture and a sputum cell differential count; skin prick testing to both common aeroallergens and an extended fungal panel; specific IgE to Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungi were identified by morphology and species identity was confirmed by sequencing. Four patients had allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
Results
Forty‐eight percent of asthma subjects were IgE‐sensitized to one fungal allergen and 22% to ≥ 2. Twenty‐seven different taxa of filamentous fungi were isolated from 54% of their sputa, more than one species being detected in 17%. This compared with 3 (17%) healthy controls culturing any fungus (P < 0.01). Aspergillus species were most frequently cultured in isolation followed by Penicillium species. Post‐bronchodilator FEV
1 (% predicted) in the subjects with asthma was 71(± 25) in those with a positive fungal culture vs. 83 (± 25) in those culture‐negative, (P < 0.01).
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
Numerous thermotolerant fungi other than A. fumigatus can be cultured from sputum of people with moderate‐to‐severe asthma; a positive culture is associated with an impaired post‐bronchodilator FEV
1, which might be partly responsible for the development of fixed airflow obstruction in asthma. Sensitization to these fungi is also common.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Sarcoidosis and Crohn's disease are heterogeneous systemic diseases characterised by granulomatous inflammation. Caspase recruitment domain (CARD)15 is a major susceptibility gene for Crohn's ...disease, and specifically for ileal and fibrostenotic subtypes. The C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)5 gene has been associated with both parenchymal pulmonary sarcoidosis and perianal Crohn's disease. This study explored associations between CARD15 polymorphisms, CCR5 haplotype and distinct pulmonary sarcoidosis subtypes. 185 Caucasian sarcoidosis patients were genotyped for CARD15 and CCR5 polymorphisms. The genetic data were compared with 347 healthy controls and were examined for associations with serial pulmonary function tests and chest radiographs. CARD15 genotypes did not differ between the unselected sarcoidosis cohort and controls. However, patients carrying the functional 2104T (702W) polymorphism were more likely to have radiographic stage IV disease at 4-yr follow-up. All patients possessing both CARD15 2104T and CCR5 HHC haplotype had stage IV disease at presentation. Carriage of 2104T was associated with worse forced expiratory volume in 1 s, whereas carriage of the CARD15 1761G (587R) polymorphism was associated with better lung function. For the first time, an association between two CARD15 polymorphisms and specific sarcoidosis phenotypes has been demonstrated, as well as an additive effect of possessing CARD15 2104T and CCR5 HHC haplotype.
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Core - sheath fibers of polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene composites are synthesized by ethylene polymerization with titanium tetrachloride incorporated PVA nanofiber (NF) as catalyst ...precursor in presence of methyl aluminoxane (MAO) as a cocatalyst. The process also involves the initial preparation of PVA nanofiber by electrospinning followed by its reaction with titanium tetrachloride. The obtained titanium incorporated PVA was found to be insoluble in protonic solvent due to the reaction of OH group in PVA with titanium tetrachloride leading to the formation of a cross-linked mat. Thermal analysis of core-sheath fiber composite indicated the presence of polyethylene due to observation of melting peak at 134 °C. PVA-PE fiber composite is characterized by FTIR, SEM, and contact angle data. The results demonstrate that the presented approach is useful for synthesizing incompatible classes of polymer composite fibers such as polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene with core-sheath morphology.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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