Correlating Carrier Dynamics and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation in Pt Decorated CdSe Tetrapods as a Function of Cocatalyst Size

Karakus, Melike,Sung, Younghun,Wang, Hai I.,Mics, Zoltá,n,Char, Kookheon,Bonn, Mischa,Cá,novas, Enrique American Chemical Society 2017 JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C - Vol.121 No.24

<P>We investigate photoinduced carrier dynamics by time resolved terahertz spectroscopy (TRTS) in Pt nanoparticle decorated CdSe tetrapods as a function of Pt nanoparticles size (and identical areal density). We find that the collection efficiency of electrons photo generated in the tetrapods by the Pt particle increases as a function of Pt nanoparticle size. However, the photocatalytic H-2 generation efficiency is reduced for tetrapods decorated with larger Pt particles. Our results demonstrate a competition between electron capture efficiency at the semiconducting/metal interface, increasing with nanoparticles size, and electron release efficiency at the metal/water interface, decreasing with nanoparticles size. This trade-off defines an optimum for photocatalytic H-2 generation in Pt cocatalyst decorated CdSe tetrapods as a function of Pt size.</P>

Evolution of asexual and sexual reproduction in the aspergilli

Ojeda-Ló,pez, M.,Chen, W.,Eagle, C.E.,Gutié,rrez, G.,Jia, W.L.,Swilaiman, S.S.,Huang, Z.,Park, H.-S.,Yu, J.-H.,Cá,novas, D.,Dyer, P.S. CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre 2018 Studies in mycology Vol.91 No.-

<P><I>Aspergillus nidulans</I> has long-been used as a model organism to gain insights into the genetic basis of asexual and sexual developmental processes both in other members of the genus <I>Aspergillus</I>, and filamentous fungi in general. Paradigms have been established concerning the regulatory mechanisms of conidial development. However, recent studies have shown considerable genome divergence in the fungal kingdom, questioning the general applicability of findings from <I>Aspergillus</I>, and certain longstanding evolutionary theories have been questioned. The phylogenetic distribution of key regulatory elements of asexual reproduction in <I>A. nidulans</I> was investigated in a broad taxonomic range of fungi. This revealed that some proteins were well conserved in the <I>Pezizomycotina</I> (<I>e.g.</I> AbaA, FlbA, FluG, NsdD, MedA, and some velvet proteins), suggesting similar developmental roles. However, other elements (<I>e.g.</I> BrlA) had a more restricted distribution solely in the <I>Eurotiomycetes</I>, and it appears that the genetic control of sporulation seems to be more complex in the aspergilli than in some other taxonomic groups of the <I>Pezizomycotina</I>. The evolution of the velvet protein family is discussed based on the history of expansion and contraction events in the early divergent fungi. Heterologous expression of the <I>A. nidulans abaA</I> gene in <I>Monascus ruber</I> failed to induce development of complete conidiophores as seen in the aspergilli, but did result in increased conidial production. The absence of many components of the asexual developmental pathway from members of the <I>Saccharomycotina</I> supports the hypothesis that differences in the complexity of their spore formation is due in part to the increased diversity of the sporulation machinery evident in the <I>Pezizomycotina</I>. Investigations were also made into the evolution of sex and sexuality in the aspergilli. <I>MAT</I> loci were identified from the heterothallic <I>Aspergillus</I> (<I>Emericella</I>) <I>heterothallicus</I> and <I>Aspergillus</I> (<I>Neosartorya</I>) <I>fennelliae</I> and the homothallic <I>Aspergillus pseudoglaucus</I> (=<I>Eurotium repens</I>). A consistent architecture of the <I>MAT</I> locus was seen in these and other heterothallic aspergilli whereas much variation was seen in the arrangement of <I>MAT</I> loci in homothallic aspergilli. This suggested that it is most likely that the common ancestor of the aspergilli exhibited a heterothallic breeding system. Finally, the supposed prevalence of asexuality in the aspergilli was examined. Investigations were made using <I>A. clavatus</I> as a representative ‘asexual’ species. It was possible to induce a sexual cycle in <I>A. clavatus</I> given the correct <I>MAT1-1</I> and <I>MAT1-2</I> partners and environmental conditions, with recombination confirmed utilising molecular markers. This indicated that sexual reproduction might be possible in many supposedly asexual aspergilli and beyond, providing general insights into the nature of asexuality in fungi.</P>

Validity of the Nielsen-type hanger arrangement in spatial arch bridges with straight decks

Mirian Cánovas-González,Juan M. García-Guerrero,Juan J. Jorquera-Lucerga 국제구조공학회 2023 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.47 No.1

In tied-arch bridges, a properly designed connection between the arch and the deck may become crucial, since the forces in the structure may be significantly reduced. This implies substantial material savings and, consequently, cheaper constructions. The introduction of the Nielsen cable arrangement (composed of V-shaped inclined hangers) in the last century was a milestone because it was able to reduce deflections and bending moments both in the arch and in the deck. So far, the Nielsen cable arrangement has proven to be successful in traditional vertical arch bridges. However, despite its advantages, it has not been widely applied to spatial arch bridges. Thus, this article analyses the difference between the structural behavior of spatial arch bridges with Nielsen-type cable arrangements with respect to those with classical vertical hanger configurations. The main goal is to verify whether the known effectiveness of the Nielsen cable arrangement for classical arch bridges is still preserved when applied to spatial arch bridges. In order to achieve this objective, and as the first part of our study, a set of different all-steel bridges composed of vertical and inclined arches with straight decks have been compared for both cable arrangements. As a major conclusion, for planar vertical arch bridges, the Nielsen-type cable arrangement is always the most effective. In addition, it also seems that, for spatial arch bridges composed of a straight deck and an inclined arch, it still keeps most of its effectiveness as long as the arch is moderately inclined.

PRPF8 increases the aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating FAK/AKT pathway via fibronectin 1 splicing

López-Cánovas Juan L.,Hermán-Sánchez Natalia,del Rio-Moreno Mercedes,Fuentes-Fayos Antonio C.,Lara-López Araceli,Sánchez-Frias Marina E.,Amado Víctor,Ciria Rubén,Briceño Javier,de la Mata Manuel,Casta 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis is associated with alterations in splicing machinery components (spliceosome and splicing factors) and aberrant expression of oncogenic splice variants. We aimed to analyze the expression and potential role of the spliceosome component PRPF8 (pre-mRNA processing factor 8) in HCC. PRPF8 expression (mRNA/protein) was analyzed in a retrospective cohort of HCC patients (n = 172 HCC and nontumor tissues) and validated in two in silico cohorts (TCGA and CPTAC). PRPF8 expression was silenced in liver cancer cell lines and in xenograft tumors to understand the functional and mechanistic consequences. In silico RNAseq and CLIPseq data were also analyzed. Our results indicate that PRPF8 is overexpressed in HCC and associated with increased tumor aggressiveness (patient survival, etc.), expression of HCC-related splice variants, and modulation of critical genes implicated in cancer-related pathways. PRPF8 silencing ameliorated aggressiveness in vitro and decreased tumor growth in vivo. Analysis of in silico CLIPseq data in HepG2 cells demonstrated that PRPF8 binds preferentially to exons of protein-coding genes, and RNAseq analysis showed that PRPF8 silencing alters splicing events in multiple genes. Integrated and in vitro analyses revealed that PRPF8 silencing modulates fibronectin (FN1) splicing, promoting the exclusion of exon 40.2, which is paramount for binding to integrins. Consistent with this finding, PRPF8 silencing reduced FAK/AKT phosphorylation and blunted stress fiber formation. Indeed, HepG2 and Hep3B cells exhibited a lower invasive capacity in membranes treated with conditioned medium from PRPF8-silenced cells compared to medium from scramble-treated cells. This study demonstrates that PRPF8 is overexpressed and associated with aggressiveness in HCC and plays important roles in hepatocarcinogenesis by altering FN1 splicing, FAK/AKT activation and stress fiber formation.

The Influence Factors on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Distribution: An Empirical Study on Sushi Tei Restaurant, Jakarta

Nova ANDRIYANI,Z. HIDAYAT 한국유통과학회 2021 유통과학연구 Vol.19 No.6

Purpose: A restaurant is a business of the physical distribution of food and beverages which includes intercultural interaction. This research paper aims to examine the influence of Japanese taste as a product advantage, determining service quality factor in the restaurant business, the e-CRM that involves technology, social media campaigns to reach the target market of young people, and customer satisfaction on customer loyalty in Sushi Tei restaurant. This study also intends to find direct and indirect influence between the variables. Research design, data and methodology: Quantitative research was conducted using a survey method by distributing 100 questionnaires to Sushi Tei customers in Jakarta, consisting of Gen Z and Millennials. Samples were taken at each outlet in the Jakarta area on weekend and weekdays by purposive sampling. Data was generated by path analysis Results: The results showed that Japanese taste, service quality, and e-CRM significantly influence customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. However, social media campaigns failed to influence customer loyalty. As a result, customer satisfaction has a significant influence on customer loyalty within Sushi Tei restaurant. Conclusion: The study also proposed significant implications to develop and maintain a relationship with the customer to gain satisfaction and loyalty in the food and beverage industry.

Preliminary study of AR navigation-guided core-needle breast biopsy

Nova Eka Diana,Jegyeong Ryu,Hee Ryung Lee,Youngseok O,Deukhee Lee 제어로봇시스템학회 2022 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2022 No.11

Accurate tumor localization has remained to be one of the biggest challenges in core-needle biopsy due to the malleability and texture-heterogeneity of tissues surrounding a tumor. To overcome these limitations, we explored the effectiveness of augmented reality (AR)-guidance to navigate the core-needle insertion in breast biopsy thanks to the enhanced technology of AR. Our proposed framework consists of two independent functions: tumor localization and needle pose tracking in real-time. First, tumor localization was achieved by employing the two-front environmental sensors of HoloLens 2 (HL2) for tracking the passive-reflective markers. Given the geometrical information of the reference markers, the stereo-correspondences and the marker pose can be calculated efficiently for overlaying the corresponding virtual models in HL2. Second, an external RGB camera was used to track the pose of a needle. A You-Only-Look-Once (YOLO) model with a customized training set of 200 images was employed to detect the collinear pinkt-ape points attached to the needle. The interpoint-distance between these points will be utilized to estimate the pose of a needle that will be sent to HL2 using TCP/IP communication. Finally, real-time navigation of needle insertion can be rendered in HL2 using a more accurate transformation to assist the breast biopsy. Overall, the preliminary results demonstrate that the whole process can be executed in a reasonable running time of less than two seconds.

The Burden Experience of Family Caregiver of Older Adults with Chronic Illness

Yustisia Nova,Titin Aprilatutini,Tuti Anggriani Utama,Mahmasoni Masdar 한국지역사회간호학회 2023 지역사회간호학회지 Vol.34 No.2

Purpose: This study aims to find out further about the burden on families in undertaking caregiving for the elderly with chronic illnesses. Methods: A qualitative study was developed using in-depth interviews with 12 family caregivers selected by purposive sampling in July 2022. The thematic analysis was then carried out using the Colaizzi method, and N-Vivo 12 Qualitative Data Analysis Software was used to assist with the content analysis. Results: The result from the experience interview analysis of caregivers participating in this study were 54 codes which were categorized into thirteen categories. Then, they were derived into four themes, as follows: 1) Physical burden of the caregivers for the elderly with chronic illness, 2) Psychological burden of the caregivers for the elderly with chronic illness, 3) Obstacle of caregivers for the elderly with chronic illness, 4) The state of caregivers who perform caregiving for the elderly with chronic illness. Conclusion: The experience of caregivers in undertaking caregiving for the elderly with chronic disease has many obstacles, such as physical, psychological, and economic burdens. Caregivers often find positive aspects of their experiences while caregiving for the elderly, although their burden also constantly increases. Health facilities should pay serious attention to family caregivers and facilitate programs that can help reduce the burden on family caregivers.

Beneficial Effects of a Synbiotic Supplement on Self-Perceived Gastrointestinal Well-Being and Immunoinflammatory Status of Healthy Adults

Esther Nova,Blanca Viadel,Julia Wärnberg,Jose E. Carreres,Ascensión Marcos 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.1

The use of synbiotics as health promoters is still poorly defined, and human intervention studies are scarce. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a commercialized synbiotic product containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei, Streptococcus thermophilus, and fructooligosaccharides on the self-reported gastrointestinal well-being and the immunoinflammatory status of healthy human subjects. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 20 women and 16 men (25–45 years old) received either three tablets per day of the synbiotic product (2.4×109 colony-forming units/day) or placebo during 6 weeks. Gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel habits were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire. In those subjects suffering from any kind of digestive disturbance (mild dyspepsia, flatulence, postprandial bloating, constipation, etc.), improvements in symptoms after product consumption were also evaluated. Blood lymphocyte subsets, phagocytic activity, serum C-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin, and adhesion molecules concentrations were analyzed prior and after treatment. A significant improvement in overall self-reported gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel habit was found in the synbiotic group. A marginal effect of treatment (analysis of variance P=.050) was observed with L-selectin, which showed a significant decrease in the synbiotic group (P=.019). In addition, basal L-selectin levels correlated with final intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 levels (r=0.468; P=.050), and basal ICAM-1 levels tended to correlate negatively with final L-selectin concentration (r=–0.457; P=.056). None of these correlations was found in the placebo group. The rest of the immunological parameters studied were not modified by the intervention. In conclusion, consumption of the synbiotic product improves self-perceived bowel habits and might facilitate a better profile of adhesion molecules in healthy adults.

A Contemporary History of North Korea

Daniel Schwekendiek,Nova Mercier 숙명여자대학교 아시아여성연구원 2016 Asian Women Vol.32 No.4

The Environmental Impact of Tall vs Small: A Comparative Study

Drew, Christopher,Nova, Katrina Fernandez,Fanning, Keara Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat Korea 2015 International journal of high-rise buildings Vol.4 No.2

The concept of vertical living has been hailed as a solution to control fast growth and urbanization of cities worldwide. As super tall residential projects become more common and sustainability considerations become more necessary, their efficiency has been called into question. How do vertical residential developments compare with suburban homes? What are the environmental advantages and disadvantages of vertical communities? Is there a middle ground? We present the results from an AS+GG study that compares the environmental performance of different housing typologies ranging from a 215 supertall building to single family residences, including several scales in between. Our samples comprise 2,000 residential units per type and include the infrastructure needed to support them. We analyzed land use, energy use, and lifecycle carbon emissions for each typology. The results show that different typologies perform better depending on the parameter being assessed. We discuss these findings; assess overall performance, and present conclusions.