Design aesthetics play a crucial role in product design. Stakeholders expect to develop highly valuable premium products by improving the design aesthetics of products. Nevertheless, the question of ...how to evaluate the value of design aesthetics has not been fully addressed. In this study, the effects of design aesthetics on the evaluation of the value of a product were investigated through a strictly controlled experiment in which the neural responses of the participants were measured. Forty participants completed the design aesthetics experiment in a laboratory setting. Images of products were divided into two categories: those representing high– and low–design-aesthetic stimuli. Both types of images were labeled with the same price. Overall, the images representing high design aesthetics elicited smaller N100 and lower P200 amplitudes than did the images representing low design aesthetics. This finding indicates that low design aesthetics attracted more attention than high design aesthetics did and that high design aesthetics triggered positive emotions. Low–design-aesthetic products elicited a larger N400 amplitude. This finding reveals the inconsistency between labeled and expected prices. The present study indicates that the N400 component can be used as an indicator for measuring the perceived value of a product in a future product design study. Our study provides event-related potential indicators that can be easily applied in decision making for measuring the perceived value of a product’s design.
Mobile devices are becoming an indispensable part of the daily lives and learning habits of older adults with the easy access of the Internet. It enhances the connection between old users and online ...education, which supplies an approach to cultivate them with innovative concepts and entrepreneurship of education. However, the complicated navigation of information systems (IS) confuses older adults, and gets them disoriented in searches of information, in addition, to influencing online activities for older adults. This study aims to investigate what kind of navigation of IS is suitable for older adults. A 2 × 2 (2 factors, 2 levels) mixed experimental design was employed. The two factors were, respectively, cognitive load (CL) and navigation structure (NS). A sample of 40 older participants (mean age = 64.37, SD = 4.03) performed online learning tasks in terms of innovative concept using linear hierarchical or mixed NSs under different time pressures. The results showed that linear hierarchical navigation is more appropriate for the elderly when learning and generating innovative concepts on smartphones, as the interaction between CL and NS exists. Overall, the findings combined suggest that the linear hierarchical NS, compared to mixed hierarchical navigation, obtained better usability in terms of task efficiency, CL, and subjective ratings. The findings can provide theoretical support for designers to design and develop mobile websites for older adults.
In this study, remote sensing analysis of coastal erosion is conducted for three typical regions of Alaska and Eastern Siberia based on remote sensing data collected between 1974 and 2017. The ...comparative studies were made on the difference in coastal erosion at different latitudes and the difference and influencing factors in coastal erosion at similar latitudes. The coastline retreatment is used to indicate coastal erosion. It is found that the most extensive erosion occurred along Alaska’s coast, followed by that of the Eastern Siberian coasts. Based on the analysis of the historical time series of snow and ice as well as climate data, it is found that at similar latitudes, the erosion of the Arctic coasts is closely related to the trend and fluctuations of the sea surface temperature (SST). Specifically, it is found that in Alaska, coastal erosion is closely related to the fluctuation of the SST, while in Eastern Siberia, it is related to the increasing or decreasing trend of the SST. A decreasing trend is associated with low coastal erosion, whereas an increasing trend is associated with accelerated coastal erosion. In the Arctic, the strong fluctuations of the SST, the continuous decline of the sea ice cover, and the consequent increase of the significant wave height are the critical factors that cause changes in coastal permafrost and coastal erosion.
Metabolic engineering is a promising strategy to realize green synthesis of valued chemicals derived from petroleum. According to the literature, cell factories for producing L-aspartate and its ...derivatives (β-alanine, ectoine, 3-hydroxypropionate, D-pantothenic acid and L-homoserine) have been developed. In this review, we firstly introduced the functions, applications and markets of L-aspartate and its derivatives. Then, the current research progress on microbial production of them was elaborated in detail. Finally, we have discussed the limiting factors and given some suggestions for realizing applications of engineered bacteria in the industry, including metabolic engineering of the bacteria to increase the titer, yield and productivity of the target products, fermentation condition optimization and downstream purification. With the development of novel technologies and increased investments in synthetic biology, it is promising to realize sustainable production of L-aspartate and its derivatives at the industrial scale in the future.
Alkaline pectate lyases have great application potential in the bioscouring of textiles. They are isolated predominantly from bacteria and a few fungi. Here, we report the biochemical characteristics ...of a novel alkaline pectate lyase PelA from the basidiomycete Volvariella volvacea. The full-length pelA encodes a 321-amino-acid polypeptide containing a putative 18-residue signal peptide and a pectate lyase family 1 catalytic domain. It contains one conserved and one non-conserved potential N-glycosylation site (N-X-S/T) at the residues N95 and N198, respectively. The enzyme showed optimal activity at 60 °C and pH 10, although it was stable between pH 4 and pH 11. Additional Ca²⁺was not required to measure PelA activity in vitro, but it could significantly enhance its activity and thermal stability. The Vₘₐₓvalues using polygalacturonic acid as substrate were increased from 50.71 to 89.96 IU mg⁻¹by the addition of 0.1 mM Ca²⁺, whereas the Kₘvalues were decreased from 0.681 to 0.514 mg ml⁻¹. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed PelA has only one N-glycan attached to the residue N95. This N-glycan is crucial to its efficient secretion and activity possibly due to its role in maintaining the secondary structure of PelA. Amino acid substitution at the residue N198 had no effect on PelA secretion, but resulted in a slight (5.16 %) to modest (27.37 %) decrease in specific activity and less thermal stability, indicating the amino acid itself is also important for activity due to it being highly conserved and because of its proximity to the catalytic site.
•Remote sensing data from 1962–2018 were used to analyze coastal lagoon–tidal inlet.•Four shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration events were observed.•A conceptual model for cyclic ...periodic evolution of ebb-tidal deltas was proposed.•The crucial factors of long-term and short-term in their evolution were discussed.•Remote sensing can be used for early warning of the evolution of ebb-tidal deltas.
Coastal lagoon–tidal inlet systems occur worldwide, and each has its own unique evolution characteristics in relation to its geographical location, sediment characteristics, and tidal current and ocean wave conditions. However, insufficient observation data means that it is often difficult to fully understand the long-term and short-term evolution of ebb-tidal deltas, and it is even more difficult to monitor and warn against their evolution. This study uses long time-series remote sensing data for the period 1962–2018 to investigate the evolution of an ebb-tidal delta in Xincun Lagoon, Hainan Island, China. Four shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration events were observed, and the corresponding periodic variation characteristics of the ebb-tidal delta were documented. A conceptual model for the periodic evolution of ebb-tidal deltas was also proposed. The results showed that the long-period (15–20 years) evolution was controlled by the effects of seabed friction and tidal-scale lagoon resonance, while the changes in the length of the east sand-spit could be used as a significant early warning indicator for shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration events. In addition, both types of event were jointly triggered by typhoon storm-surges and the accompanying heavy rainfall, strong winds, and strong waves. Thus, the periodic evolution process of the ebb-tidal delta in Xincun Lagoon was determined to be a systematic process that is either controlled or influenced by a series of interconnecting factors. Moreover, we concluded that it is both feasible and valuable to establish a monitoring and early warning framework of ebb-tidal deltas through the use of time-series remote sensing images. The results of this study can improve the existing understanding of the processes and driving factors of periodic shoal-sandbar breaching and tidal-inlet migration, and can also increase safety nourishment for coastal lagoon–tidal inlet systems.
Sea surface roughness (SSR) is a key physical parameter in studies of air-sea interactions and the ocean dynamics process. The SSR quantitative inversion model based on multi-angle sun glitter (SG) ...images has been proposed recently, which will significantly promote SSR observations through multi-angle remote-sensing platforms. However, due to the sensitivity of the sensor view angle (SVA) to SG, it is necessary to determine the optimal imaging angle and their combinations. In this study, considering the design optimization of imaging geometry for multi-angle remote-sensing platforms, we have developed an error transfer simulation model based on the multi-angle SG remote-sensing radiation transmission and SSR estimation models. We simulate SSR estimation errors at different imaging geometry combinations to evaluate the optimal observation geometry combination. The results show that increased SSR inversion accuracy can be obtained with SVA combinations of 0° and 20° for nadir- and backward-looking SVA compared with current combinations of 0° and 27.6°. We found that SSR inversion prediction error using the proposed model and actual SSR inversion error from field buoy data are correlated. These results can provide support for the design optimization of imaging geometry for multi-angle ocean remote-sensing platforms.
Hydrocephalus, the leading indication for childhood neurosurgery worldwide, is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. Hydrocephalus preceded by an infection, or postinfectious ...hydrocephalus, accounts for up to 60% of hydrocephalus in these areas. Since many children with hydrocephalus suffer poor long-term outcomes despite surgical intervention, prevention of hydrocephalus remains paramount. Our previous studies implicated a novel bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus, as a causal agent of neonatal sepsis and postinfectious hydrocephalus in Uganda. Here, we report the isolation of three
strains, Mbale, Mbale2, and Mbale3, from patients with postinfectious hydrocephalus. We constructed complete genome assemblies of the clinical isolates as well as the nonpathogenic
reference strain and performed comparative genomic and proteomic analyses to identify potential virulence factors. All three isolates carry a unique beta-lactamase gene, and two of the three isolates exhibit resistance in culture to the beta-lactam antibiotics penicillin and ampicillin. In addition, a cluster of genes carried on a mobile genetic element that encodes a putative type IV pilus operon is present in all three clinical isolates but absent in the reference strain. CRISPR-mediated deletion of the gene cluster substantially reduced the virulence of the Mbale strain in mice. Comparative proteogenomic analysis identified various additional potential virulence factors likely acquired on mobile genetic elements in the virulent strains. These results provide insight into the emergence of virulence in
and suggest avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of this novel bacterial pathogen.
Postinfectious hydrocephalus, a devastating sequela of neonatal infection, is associated with increased childhood mortality and morbidity. A novel bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus, is highly associated with postinfectious hydrocephalus in an African cohort. Whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and proteomics of clinical isolates and a reference strain in combination with CRISPR editing identified type IV pili as a critical virulence factor for
infection. Acquisition of a type IV pilus-encoding mobile genetic element critically contributed to converting a nonpathogenic strain of
into a pathogen capable of causing devastating diseases. Given the widespread presence of type IV pilus in pathogens, the presence of the type IV pilus operon could serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in
and related bacteria.
Microbial adaptive evolution Shi, Aiqin; Fan, Feiyu; Broach, James R
Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology,
04/2022, Volume:
49, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Bacterial species can adapt to significant changes in their environment by mutation followed by selection, a phenomenon known as "adaptive evolution." With the development of bioinformatics and ...genetic engineering, research on adaptive evolution has progressed rapidly, as have applications of the process. In this review, we summarize various mechanisms of bacterial adaptive evolution, the technologies used for studying it, and successful applications of the method in research and industry. We particularly highlight the contributions of Dr. L. O. Ingram. Microbial adaptive evolution has significant impact on our society not only from its industrial applications, but also in the evolution, emergence, and control of various pathogens.
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