The Battle Between Influenza and the Innate Immune Response in the Human Respiratory Tract

John M Nicholls 대한감염학회 2013 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.45 No.1

Influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. Infection is normally confined to the upper respiratory tract but certain viral strains have evolved the ability to infect the lower respiratory tract, including the alveoli, leading to inflammation and a disease pattern of diffuse alveolar damage. Factors leading to this sequence of events are novel influenza strains, or strains that have viral proteins, in particular the NS1 protein that allow it to escape the innate immune system. There are three main barriers that prevent infection of pneumocytes – mucin, host defence lectins and cells such as macrophages. Viruses have developed strategies such as neuraminidase and glycosylation patterns that allow this evasion. Though there has been much investment in antiviral drugs, it is proposed that more attention should be directed towards developing or utilizing compounds that enhance the ability of the innate immune system to combat viral infection.

Psychrophilic Extremophiles from Antarctica: Biodiversity and Biotechnological Potential

John P. Bowman,Guy C.J. Abell,Carol A. Mancuso Nichols 한국해양과학기술원 2005 Ocean and Polar Research Vol.27 No.2

Recently there has been a rapid accumulation of knowledge of microbial life in cold and frozen ecosystems. This understanding has revealed the extensive diversity of psychrophilic prokaryotes. Cultivation-based and molecular-based surveys have been performed in Antarctic habitats ranging from glacial ice to continental shelf sediments. Results indicate that psychrophilic taxa permeate throughout the Bacteria while they represent a more mysterious element of diversity in the Archaea owing to a notable lack of cultured strains. In certain cold climate ecosystems the diversity of psychrophilic populations reach levels comparable to the richest temperate equivalents. Within these communities must exist tremendous genetic diversity that is potentially of fundamental and of practical value. So far this genetic pool has been hardly explored. Only recently have genomic data become available for various psychrophilic prokaryotes and more is required. This owes to the fact that psychrophilic microbes possess manifold mechanisms for cold adaptations, which not only provide enhanced survival and persistence but probably also contributes to niche specialisation. These mechanisms, including cold-active and ice-active proteins, polyunsaturated lipids and exopolysaccharides also have a great interest to biotechnologists.

Psychrophilic Extremophiles from Antarctica: Biodiversity and Biotechnological Potential

Bowman John P.,Abell Gyu C.J.,Nichols Carol A. Mancuso Korea Institute of Ocean ScienceTechnology 2005 Ocean and Polar Research Vol.27 No.2

Recently there has been a rapid accumulation of knowledge of microbial life in cold and frozen ecosystems. This understanding has revealed the extensive diversity of psychrophilic prokaryotes. Cultivation-based and molecular-based surveys have been performed in Antarctic habitats ranging from glacial ice to continental shelf sediments. Results indicate that psychrophilic taxa permeate throughout the Bacteria while they represent a more mysterious element of diversity in the Archaea owing to a notable lack of cultured strains. In certain cold climate ecosystems the diversity of psychrophilic populations reach levels comparable to the richest temperate equivalents. Within these communities must exist tremendous genetic diversify that is potentially of fundamental and of practical value. So far this genetic pool has been hardly explored. Only recently have genomic data become available for various psychrophilic prokaryotes and more is required. This owes to the fact that psychrophilic microbes possess manifold mechanisms for cold adaptations, which not only Provide enhanced survival and Persistence but Probably also contributes to niche specialisation. These mechanisms, including cold-active and ice-active proteins, polyunsaturated lipids and exopolysaccharides also have a great interest to biotechnologists.

Charge Transfer in Iridate-Manganite Superlattices

Okamoto, Satoshi,Nichols, John,Sohn, Changhee,Kim, So Yeun,Noh, Tae Won,Lee, Ho Nyung American Chemical Society 2017 NANO LETTERS Vol.17 No.4

<P>Charge transfer in superlattices consisting of SrIrO3 and SrMnO3 is investigated using density functional theory. Despite the nearly identical work function and nonpolar interfaces between SrIrO3 and SrMnO3, rather large charge transfer was experimentally reported at the interface between them. Here, we report a microscopic model that captures the mechanism behind this phenomenon, providing a qualitative understanding of the experimental observation. This leads to unique strain dependence of such charge transfer in iridate-manganite superlattices. The predicted behavior is consistently verified by experiment with soft X-ray and optical spectroscopy. Our work thus demonstrates a new route to control electronic states in nonpolar oxide heterostructures.</P>

Shear modulus and stiffness of brickwork masonry: An experimental perspective

Yuri Z. Totoev,John M. Nichols,Vlatko Z. Bosiljkov 국제구조공학회 2005 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.20 No.1

Masonry is a composite non-homogeneous structural material, whose mechanical properties depend on the properties of and the interaction between the composite components − brick and mortar, their volume ratio, the properties of their bond, and any cracking in the masonry. The mechanical properties of masonry depend on the orientation of the bed joints and the stress state of the joints, and so the values of the shear modulus, as well as the stiffness of masonry structural elements can depend on various factors. An extensive testing programme in several countries addresses the problem of measurement of the stiffness properties of masonry. These testing programs have provided sufficient data to permit a review of the influence of different testing techniques (mono and bi-axial tests), the variations caused by distinct loading conditions (monotonic and cyclic), the impact of the mortar type, as well as influence of the reinforcement. This review considers the impact of the measurement devices used for determining the shear modulus and stiffness of walls on the results. The results clearly indicate a need to re-assess the values stated in almost all national codes for the shear modulus of the masonry, especially for masonry made with lime mortar, where strong anisotropic behaviour is in the stiffness properties.

Performance and carcass characteristics of Australian purebred and crossbred lambs supplemented with Rice Bran

Flakemore, Aaron Ross,Otto, John Roger,Suybeng, Benedicte,Balogun, Razaq Oladimeji,Malau-Aduli, Bunmi Sherifat,Nichols, Peter David,Malau-Aduli, Aduli Enoch Othniel Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology 2015 한국축산학회지 Vol.57 No.10

Background: This study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with rice bran, sire breed and gender on live animal performance and carcass characteristics in Australian crossbred and purebred Merino lambs. Methods: Forty-eight lambs balanced by sire breed (Dorset, White Suffolk, Merino) and gender (ewe, wether) were randomly allocated into three dietary supplementation groups (Control- 24 lambs fed wheat/barley-based pellets, Low- 12 animals fed a 50/50 ratio of wheat-based/rice bran pellets, and High- 12 lambs fed rice bran pellets). The Rice bran pellets replaced 19 % of the barley component of the feed. Animals were group-fed at the rate of 1000 g of the supplement per head per day with ad libitum access to lucerne hay as the basal diet and water. The duration of the feeding trial was 49 days with an initial 21-day adjustment period. Results: Sire breed differences were evident for initial (p < 0.0002) and final (p < 0.0016) liveweights, hot carcass (p < 0.0030) and cold carcass (p < 0.0031) weights, as well as dressing percentage (p < 0.0078), fat thickness (p < 0.0467), yield grade (p < 0.0470) and rib eye area (p < 0.0022) with purebred Merino under-performing compared to the crossbreds. Concentrate feed conversion efficiency, costs per unit of liveweight gain and over the hooks income were comparable between treatments regardless of the observed trend where the high supplementation group tended to show lower feed intake (745.8 g/day) compared to both the control (939.9 g/day) and low supplementation groups (909.6 g/day). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between treatments for live animal performance, carcass characteristics, gender and their second-order interactions. Conclusions: Results indicate that Rice bran can be utilised as a cost-effective supplementary feed source in genetically divergent sheep over a 49-day feeding period without detrimental effects on overall live animal performance or carcass characteristics.

Open Access : Performance and carcass characteristics of Australian purebred and crossbred lambs supplemented with Rice Bran

( Aaron Ross Flakemore ),( John Roger Otto ),( Benedicte Suybeng ),( Razaq Oladimeji Balogun ),( Bunmi Sherifat Malau-aduli ),( Peter David Nichols ),( Aduli Enoch Othniel Malau-aduli ) 한국동물자원과학회(구 한국축산학회) 2015 한국축산학회지 Vol.57 No.36

Background: This study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with rice bran, sire breed and gender on live animal performance and carcass characteristics in Australian crossbred and purebred Merino lambs. Methods: Forty-eight lambs balanced by sire breed (Dorset, White Suffolk, Merino) and gender (ewe, wether) were randomly allocated into three dietary supplementation groups (Control- 24 lambs fed wheat/barley-based pellets, Low- 12 animals fed a 50/50 ratio of wheat-based/rice bran pellets, and High- 12 lambs fed rice bran pellets). The Rice bran pellets replaced 19 % of the barley component of the feed. Animals were group-fed at the rate of 1000 g of the supplement per head per day with ad libitum access to lucerne hay as the basal diet and water. The duration of the feeding trial was 49 days with an initial 21-day adjustment period. Results: Sire breed differences were evident for initial (p < 0.0002) and final (p < 0.0016) liveweights, hot carcass (p < 0.0030) and cold carcass (p < 0.0031) weights, as well as dressing percentage (p < 0.0078), fat thickness (p < 0.0467), yield grade (p < 0.0470) and rib eye area (p < 0.0022) with purebred Merino under-performing compared to the crossbreds. Concentrate feed conversion efficiency, costs per unit of liveweight gain and over the hooks income were comparable between treatments regardless of the observed trend where the high supplementation group tended to show lower feed intake (745.8 g/day) compared to both the control (939.9 g/day) and low supplementation groups (909.6 g/day). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between treatments for live animal performance, carcass characteristics, gender and their second-order interactions. Conclusions: Results indicate that Rice bran can be utilised as a cost-effective supplementary feed source in genetically divergent sheep over a 49-day feeding period without detrimental effects on overall live animal performance or carcass characteristics.

Diversity depends on scale in the forests of the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Ha Thi Thanh Do,John C. Grant,Bon Ngoc Trinh,Heidi C. Zimmer,J. Doland Nichols 국립중앙과학관 2017 Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol.10 No.4

Tropical forests are among the most diverse and threatened ecosystems. The montane forests in the Central Highlands of Vietnam have outstanding biodiversity and unique species, yet we know little about them. This study characterised the natural forest in Dam Rong, Ha Nung and Yok Don. We identified six discrete communities and their indicator species. The Highland Floodplain forest had tree species richness of up to 22 species/400 m2 and 70 species/ha. The lowland forests of Yok Don had three distinct communities, despite having the lowest mean species richness (5 species/400 m2), highlighting that biodiversity should be assessed at multiple scales. This study illustrates the high species richness of the forests of Vietnam, and provides an important record of tree species (including rare and threatened species). Our community determinations can be used in future conservation management planning.

Shear modulus and stiffness of brickwork masonry: An experimental perspective

Bosiljkov, Vlatko Z.,Totoev, Yuri Z.,Nichols, John M. Techno-Press 2005 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.20 No.1

Masonry is a composite non-homogeneous structural material, whose mechanical properties depend on the properties of and the interaction between the composite components - brick and mortar, their volume ratio, the properties of their bond, and any cracking in the masonry. The mechanical properties of masonry depend on the orientation of the bed joints and the stress state of the joints, and so the values of the shear modulus, as well as the stiffness of masonry structural elements can depend on various factors. An extensive testing programme in several countries addresses the problem of measurement of the stiffness properties of masonry. These testing programs have provided sufficient data to permit a review of the influence of different testing techniques (mono and bi-axial tests), the variations caused by distinct loading conditions (monotonic and cyclic), the impact of the mortar type, as well as influence of the reinforcement. This review considers the impact of the measurement devices used for determining the shear modulus and stiffness of walls on the results. The results clearly indicate a need to re-assess the values stated in almost all national codes for the shear modulus of the masonry, especially for masonry made with lime mortar, where strong anisotropic behaviour is in the stiffness properties.