When a Virus is not a Parasite: The Beneficial Effects of Prophages on Bacterial Fitness

Joseph Bondy-Denomy,Alan R. Davidson 한국미생물학회 2014 The journal of microbiology Vol.52 No.3

Most organisms on the planet have viruses that infect them. Viral infection may lead to cell death, or to a symbiotic relationshipwhere the genomes of both virus and host replicatetogether. In the symbiotic state, both virus and cell potentiallyexperience increased fitness as a result of the other. The viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages (orphages), well exemplify the symbiotic relationships that candevelop between viruses and their host. In this review, wewill discuss the many ways that prophages, which are phagegenomes integrated into the genomes of their hosts, influencebacterial behavior and virulence.

Efficient Type-II Heterojunction Nanorod Sensitized Solar Cells Realized by Controlled Synthesis of Core/Patchy-Shell Structure and CdS Cosensitization

Lee, Sangheon,Flanagan, Joseph C.,Kim, Jaewook,Yun, Alan Jiwan,Lee, Byungho,Shim, Moonsub,Park, Byungwoo American Chemical Society 2019 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.11 No.21

<P>Here, we report the successful application of core/patchy-shell CdSe/CdSe<SUB><I>x</I></SUB>Te<SUB>1-<I>x</I></SUB> type-II heterojunction nanorods (HNRs) to realize efficient sensitized solar cells. The core/patchy-shell structure designed to have a large type-II heterointerface without completely shielding the CdSe core significantly improves photovoltaic performance compared to other HNRs with minimal or full-coverage shells. In addition, cosensitization with CdS grown by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction further improves the power conversion efficiency. One-diode model analysis reveals that the HNRs having exposed CdSe cores and suitably grown CdS result in significant reduction of series resistance. Investigation of the intercorrelation between diode quality parameters, diode saturation current density (<I>J</I><SUB>0</SUB>) and recombination order (β = (ideality factor)<SUP>−1</SUP>) reveals that HNRs with open CdSe cores exhibit reduced recombination. These results confirm that the superior performance of core/patchy-shell HNRs results from their fine-tuned structure: photocurrent is increased by the large type-II heterointerface and recombination is effectively suppressed due to the open CdSe core enabling facile electron extraction. An optimized power conversion efficiency of 5.47% (5.89% with modified electrode configuration) is reported, which is unmatched among photovoltaics utilizing anisotropic colloidal heterostructures as light-harvesting materials.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Z-Source Inverters, Controls, and Motor Drive Applications

Fang Z. Peng,Miaosen Shen,Alan Joseph 대한전기학회 2005 KIEE International Transactions on Electrical Mach Vol.5-B No.1

Spine Fractures of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis: Fracture Severity and Injury-Related Mortality at a Level I Trauma Center

Chen Stephen Ryan,Munsch Maria Amelia,Chen Joseph,Couch Brandon Keith,Wawrose Richard Alan,Oyekan Anthony Abimbade,Adjei Joshua,Donaldson William F.,Lee Joon Yung,Shaw Jeremy DeWitt 대한척추외과학회 2023 Asian Spine Journal Vol.17 No.3

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected cohort.Purpose: To identify differences in treatment and mortality of spine fractures in patients with ankylosing conditions of the spine. Overview of Literature: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) are the two most common etiologies of ankylosing spinal disorder (ASD). However, studies on the treatment and outcomes of spine fractures in AS and DISH patients remain few.Methods: Patients presenting with a spine fracture were diagnosed with AS or DISH at a single tertiary care center between 2010 and 2019. We excluded those who lacked cross-sectional imaging or fractures occurring at spinal segments affected by ankylosis, as well as polytraumatized patients. Patient demographics, injury mechanism, fracture level, neurologic status, treatment, and 1-year mortality were recorded. Computed tomography imaging was reviewed by two independent readers and graded according to the indicated AO Spine Injury Classification System. Differences in fracture severity, treatment method, and mortality were examined using Student t -tests, chi-square tests, and two-proportion Z-tests with significance set to p <0.05.Results: We identified 167 patients with spine fracture diagnosed with AS or DISH. Patients with AS had more severe fractures and more commonly had surgery than patients with DISH (p <0.001). Despite these differences, 1-year mortality did not significantly differ between AS and DISH patients (p =0.14).Conclusions: Although patients with AS suffered more severe fractures compared to DISH and more frequently underwent surgery for these injuries, outcomes and 1-year mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups. For patients with ASDs and fractures, outcomes appear similar regardless of treatment modality. Consequently, there may be an opportunity for critical reappraisal of operative indications in ASD and a larger role for nonoperative management in these challenging patients.

Z-Source Inverters, Controls, and Motor Drive Applications

Peng Fang Z.,Shen Miaosen,Joseph Alan The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2005 KIEE International Transactions on Electrical Mach Vol.b5 No.1

This paper presents Z-source inverters, their controls,, and their systems for motor drives. System configurations, analysis, controls, and unique features of the new Z-source motor drive systems will be summarized and given. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate advantageous features over the traditional voltage- and current-source inverter systems.

Reduction of Inventory Inaccuracy through Process Improvement and Information System Development of Xylem Water System International Inc., Calamba, Laguna, Philippines

Czar Luc E. Matic,Maria Liezel P. Caroche,Alan Marco S. Mercado,Marc Joseph S. Villanueva 아시아무역학회 2021 Journal of Asia Trade and Business Vol.8 No.1

Purpose - The presence of inaccurate inventory records in an inventory system of a manufacturing company can result to production interruptions, stock-out of parts, and unnecessary expediting of components. This study attempted to fill in the gap on detecting the causes of inventory inaccuracy and how each cause can be solved through process improvement and information system development solutions. Design/Methodology/Approach - The study first identified the business processes, along with their key requirements and critical processes, that involved handling inventory through a SIPOC analysis. Root cause analysis was used to pinpoint the different failure modes of each critical process and classify which cause of inventory inaccuracy can be solved within the study scope. The poka-yoke analysis was used to spot the different system requirements for each of the identified cause of inventory inaccuracy while being consistent with their key requirements to ensure failproof solutions. The proposed information system was developed along with the concepts bound within inventory management and control and the obtained system requirements. The proposed information system was tested through feasibility and simulation tests to determine its current quality level and projected improvement in inventory accuracy. Findings - Results from the process and root cause analysis identified the causes of inventory inaccuracy in the company to come from reasons of system incapability, product nature, process restrictions and current process practices. The proposed information system provides data recording and collection capabilities, scheduling capabilities, summary and overview of warehouse locations, monitoring and updates of inventory, and customizable location entities. The proposed information system will be integrated with the current inventory system of the company by replacing and adding some of the current system’s functions. Its overall single usability metric score from 10 participants obtained an average 2.7324 process sigma and an average of 85.97% quality level. From the simulation tests, the projected increase in inventory accuracy is 45%. Research Implications - By replacing some of the current system’s functions, the proposed information system was able to add more critical information in the inventory records and capability for the personnel involved, which is projected to increase inventory accuracy and allow the personnel to manage and monitor inventory at a higher level.

Invited Review Article: A 10 mK scanning probe microscopy facility.

Song, Young Jae,Otte, Alexander F,Shvarts, Vladimir,Zhao, Zuyu,Kuk, Young,Blankenship, Steven R,Band, Alan,Hess, Frank M,Stroscio, Joseph A American Institute of Physics 2010 Review of scientific instruments Vol.81 No.12

<P>We describe the design, development and performance of a scanning probe microscopy (SPM) facility operating at a base temperature of 10 mK in magnetic fields up to 15 T. The microscope is cooled by a custom designed, fully ultra-high vacuum (UHV) compatible dilution refrigerator (DR) and is capable of in situ tip and sample exchange. Subpicometer stability at the tip-sample junction is achieved through three independent vibration isolation stages and careful design of the dilution refrigerator. The system can be connected to, or disconnected from, a network of interconnected auxiliary UHV chambers, which include growth chambers for metal and semiconductor samples, a field-ion microscope for tip characterization, and a fully independent additional quick access low temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) system. To characterize the system, we present the cooling performance of the DR, vibrational, tunneling current, and tip-sample displacement noise measurements. In addition, we show the spectral resolution capabilities with tunneling spectroscopy results obtained on an epitaxial graphene sample resolving the quantum Landau levels in a magnetic field, including the sublevels corresponding to the lifting of the electron spin and valley degeneracies.</P>

Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Increases Pseudarthrosis Rates in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusions

Lambrechts Mark James,D'Antonio Nicholas,Toci Gregory,Karamian Brian,Pezzulo Josuhu,Farronato Dominic,Canseco Jose,Kaye Ian David,Woods Barrett,Rihn Jeffrey,Kurd Mark,Lee Joseph,Hilibrand Alan,Kepler 대한척추외과학회 2023 Asian Spine Journal Vol.17 No.2

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.Purpose: To determine (1) the effects of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pseudarthrosis rates after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) and (2) to identify patient-reported outcome measures in patients taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Overview of Literature: Recent literature suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may inhibit fracture healing via downregulation of osteoblast differentiation. Spinal fusion supplementation with osteoblast-rich substances enhances spinal fusion, thus SSRIs may be detrimental.Methods: Patients with 1-year postoperative dynamic cervical spine radiographs following ACDF were grouped into serotonin reuptake inhibitor prescriptions (SSRI, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor [SNRI], or tricyclic antidepressant [TCA]) and no prescription (atypical antidepressant or no antidepressant). Pseudarthrosis was defined as ≥1 mm interspinous process motion on dynamic radiographs. Logistic regression models were controlled for confounding to analyze pseudarthrosis rates. Alpha was set at p - values of <0.05.Results: Of the 523 patients who meet the inclusion criteria, 137 (26.2%) were prescribed an SSRI, SNRI, or TCA. Patients with these prescriptions were more likely to have pseudarthrosis (p =0.008) but not a revision surgery due to pseudarthrosis (p =0.219). Additionally, these patients had worse 1-year postoperative mental component summary (MCS)-12 (p =0.015) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) (p =0.006). The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified SSRI/SNRI/TCA use (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–2.99; p =0.018) and construct length (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.50–2.44; p <0.001) as pseudarthrosis predictors. A SSRI/SNRI/TCA prescription was a revision surgery predictor due to adjacent segment disease on univariate analysis (OR, 2.51; p =0.035) but not on multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR, 2.24; p =0.10).Conclusions: Patients taking serotonin reuptake-inhibiting antidepressants are at increased risk of worse postoperative outcome scores, including NDI and MCS-12, likely due to their underlying depression. This may contribute to their greater likelihood of having adjacent segment surgery. Additionally, preoperative use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients undergoing an ACDF is a predictor of radiographic pseudarthrosis but not pseudarthrosis revision.