Draft Genome Sequence Of The Biosurfactant-producing Bacterium Gordonia Amicalis Strain Ccma-559, Isolated From Petroleum-impacted Sediment.

Gordonia amicalis strain CCMA-559 was isolated from an oil-contaminated mangrove swamp and shown to produce biosurfactants. This strain is a strict aerobe that readily degrades an array of carbon sources, including N-acetylglucosamine, cellobiose, Tween 80, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and, like other G. amicalis strains, likely desulfurizes dibenzothiophene.

CCR5-∆32, CCR2-64I, SDF1-3'A, and IFNλ4 rs12979860 and rs8099917 gene polymorphisms in individuals with HIV-1, HIV/HTLV-1, and HIV/HTLV-2 in São Paulo, Brazil

Background. Chemokine and chemokine-receptor polymorphisms have been associated with protection against HIV infection and delayed progression to AIDS, whereas polymorphisms in IFNλ4 (formerly IL28B) have been associated with human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM) development. Evolutionary selection against ancestral genes differs among human populations, resulting in varying risks of acquiring and developing viral diseases. Methods. DNA samples from 434 patients infected with HIV-1 and/or co-infected with HTLV-1/-2, and samples from 74 HIV and HTLV non-infected individuals from São Paulo, Brazil, were divided into five groups: HIV-naïve, n=160; HIV-ART, n=180; HIV/HTLV-1, n=53; HIV/HTLV-2, n=41; and control, n=74. These samples were analyzed for CCR5-∆32 deletion, CCR2-64I, SDF1-3'A, and IFNλ4 rs12979860 and rs8099917 single nucleotide polymorphisms using PCR and PCR-RFLP techniques. These polymorphisms' genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and compared among groups using logistic regression analysis. Results. All polymorphism profiles described in the literature were detected in this study. The wild-type genotype predominated in all genes analyzed except for IFNλ4 rs12979860. Statistical differences in allele frequencies among groups were detected in the CCR5 and CCR2 genes, with a high frequency of ∆32 in HIV-naïve vs. HIV-ART (OR 2.45, P=0.037) and a minus mutant allele A (CCR2-64I) in HIV-naïve vs. HIV/HTLV-1 (OR 1.90, P=0.048), HIV-ART vs. HIV/HTLV-1 (OR 2.62, P=0.003), and HIV/ART vs. HIV/HTLV-2 (OR 2.42, P=0.016). Conclusions. The polymorphism profiles detected in the study groups corroborate the profiles described in racial admixed populations. High CCR2-64I mutant allele frequencies were detected in HIV/HTLV-1/-2 co-infected individuals, and CCR5-∆32 showed predictive value for ART initiation

Thermal stability and decomposition kinetics of NdNiO3− δ at 1 bar of O2

Despite the interest in rare-earth nickelates for applications, their processing under 1 bar of oxygen pressure is still challenging. In this work, we report the co-precipitation synthesis, thermal stability and thermally driven decomposition of NdNiO3 phase, in order to determine the synthesis parameters towards a pure perovskite phase. We concluded that using a 1% molar excess of Nd during preparation and posterior annealing at around 900 °C at 1 bar of O2 yields an almost pure NdNiO3−δ phase (with a hexagonal Nd2O3 phase below 0.6% molar), with an oxygen deficiency of δ = 0.082 ± 0.001. The decomposition of the NdNiO3−δ phase into Nd4Ni3O10 and NiO was found to start above 900 °C. On further heating, above 1050 °C, the Nd4Ni3O10 decomposes into Nd2NiO4 and NiO phases. Structural parameters and Raman spectra are provided for the NdNiO3, Nd4Ni3O10 and Nd2NiO4 compounds.The authors would like to acknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) through projects NORTE/01/0145/FEDER/028538, CERN/FIS-PAR/0005/2017, CERN/FIS-TEC/0003/2019, PTDC/FIS-MAC/29454/2017 and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under PT2020 Partnership Agreement: CQVR: UIDB/QUI/00616/2020; IFIMUP-IN: Norte-070124-FEDER-000070; NECL: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-022096, UID/NAN/50024/2019. P. Machado and J. Oliveira acknowledge FCT through Ph.D. Grants SFRH/BD/108509/2015 and SFRH/BD/146886/2019 respectively. A special acknowledgment is made to CEMUP for XPS measurements

Mitigation of nitrous oxide emissions in grazing systems through nitrification inhibitors: a meta-analysis

Grasslands are the largest contributor of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in the agriculture sector due to livestock excreta and nitrogen fertilizers applied to the soil. Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) added to N input have reduced N2O emissions, but can show a range of efficiencies depending on climate, soil, and management conditions. A meta-analysis study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence the efficiency of NIs added to fertilizer and excreta in reducing N2O emissions, focused on grazing systems. Data from peer-reviewed studies comprising 2164 N2O emission factors (EFs) of N inputs with and without NIs addition were compared. The N2O EFs varied according to N source (0.0001-8.25%). Overall, NIs reduced the N2O EF from N addition by 56.6% (51.1-61.5%), with no difference between NI types (Dicyandiamide-DCD; 3,4-Dimethylpyrazole phosphate-DMPP; and Nitrapyrin) or N source (urine, dung, slurry, and fertilizer). The NIs were more efficient in situations of high N2O emissions compared with low; the reduction was 66.0% when EF > 1.5% of N applied compared with 51.9% when EF 10 kg ha(-1). NIs were less efficient in urine with lower N content (<= 7 g kg(-1)). NI efficiency was negatively correlated with soil bulk density, and positively correlated with soil moisture and temperature. Better understanding and management of NIs can optimize N2O mitigation in grazing systems, e.g., by mapping N2O risk and applying NI at variable rate, contributing to improved livestock sustainability

Measurements of D0D^{0} and D∗D^{*} Production in pp + pp Collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 200 GeV

We report measurements of charmed-hadron ($D^{0}$, $D^{*}$) production cross sections at mid-rapidity in $p$ + $p$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV by the STAR experiment. Charmed hadrons were reconstructed via the hadronic decays $D^{0}\rightarrow K^{-}\pi^{+}$, $D^{*+}\rightarrow D^{0}\pi^{+}\rightarrow K^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}$ and their charge conjugates, covering the $p_T$ range of 0.6$-$2.0 GeV/$c$ and 2.0$-$6.0 GeV/$c$ for $D^{0}$ and $D^{*+}$, respectively. From this analysis, the charm-pair production cross section at mid-rapidity is $d\sigma/dy|_{y=0}^{c\bar{c}}$ = 170 $\pm$ 45 (stat.) $^{+38}_{-59}$ (sys.) $\mu$b. The extracted charm-pair cross section is compared to perturbative QCD calculations. The transverse momentum differential cross section is found to be consistent with the upper bound of a Fixed-Order Next-to-Leading Logarithm calculation.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figures. Revised version submitted to Phys. Rev.

System size and energy dependence of near-side di-hadron correlations

Two-particle azimuthal ($\Delta\phi$) and pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) correlations using a trigger particle with large transverse momentum ($p_T$) in $d$+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV and 200~GeV from the STAR experiment at RHIC are presented. The \ns correlation is separated into a jet-like component, narrow in both $\Delta\phi$ and $\Delta\eta$, and the ridge, narrow in $\Delta\phi$ but broad in $\Delta\eta$. Both components are studied as a function of collision centrality, and the jet-like correlation is studied as a function of the trigger and associated $p_T$. The behavior of the jet-like component is remarkably consistent for different collision systems, suggesting it is produced by fragmentation. The width of the jet-like correlation is found to increase with the system size. The ridge, previously observed in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV, is also found in Cu+Cu collisions and in collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV, but is found to be substantially smaller at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV than at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV for the same average number of participants ($\langle N_{\mathrm{part}}\rangle$). Measurements of the ridge are compared to models.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Inclusive charged hadron elliptic flow in Au + Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 7.7 - 39 GeV

A systematic study is presented for centrality, transverse momentum ($p_T$) and pseudorapidity ($\eta$) dependence of the inclusive charged hadron elliptic flow ($v_2$) at midrapidity($|\eta| < 1.0$) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV. The results obtained with different methods, including correlations with the event plane reconstructed in a region separated by a large pseudorapidity gap and 4-particle cumulants ($v_2{4}$), are presented in order to investigate non-flow correlations and $v_2$ fluctuations. We observe that the difference between $v_2{2}$ and $v_2{4}$ is smaller at the lower collision energies. Values of $v_2$, scaled by the initial coordinate space eccentricity, $v_{2}/\varepsilon$, as a function of $p_T$ are larger in more central collisions, suggesting stronger collective flow develops in more central collisions, similar to the results at higher collision energies. These results are compared to measurements at higher energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62.4 and 200 GeV) and at the Large Hadron Collider (Pb + Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV). The $v_2(p_T)$ values for fixed $p_T$ rise with increasing collision energy within the $p_T$ range studied ($< 2 {\rm GeV}/c$). A comparison to viscous hydrodynamic simulations is made to potentially help understand the energy dependence of $v_{2}(p_{T})$. We also compare the $v_2$ results to UrQMD and AMPT transport model calculations, and physics implications on the dominance of partonic versus hadronic phases in the system created at Beam Energy Scan (BES) energies are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures. Version accepted by PR

Charge separation relative to the reaction plane in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}= 2.76 TeV

Measurements of charge dependent azimuthal correlations with the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported for Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV. Two- and three-particle charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta| < 0.8$ are presented as a function of the collision centrality, particle separation in pseudo-rapidity, and transverse momentum. A clear signal compatible with a charge-dependent separation relative to the reaction plane is observed, which shows little or no collision energy dependence when compared to measurements at RHIC energies. This provides a new insight for understanding the nature of the charge dependent azimuthal correlations observed at RHIC and LHC energies.Comment: 12 pages, 3 captioned figures, authors from page 2 to 6, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/286

Multi-particle azimuthal correlations in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Measurements of multi-particle azimuthal correlations (cumulants) for charged particles in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions are presented. They help address the question of whether there is evidence for global, flow-like, azimuthal correlations in the p-Pb system. Comparisons are made to measurements from the larger Pb-Pb system, where such evidence is established. In particular, the second harmonic two-particle cumulants are found to decrease with multiplicity, characteristic of a dominance of few-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions. However, when a $|\Delta \eta|$ gap is placed to suppress such correlations, the two-particle cumulants begin to rise at high-multiplicity, indicating the presence of global azimuthal correlations. The Pb-Pb values are higher than the p-Pb values at similar multiplicities. In both systems, the second harmonic four-particle cumulants exhibit a transition from positive to negative values when the multiplicity increases. The negative values allow for a measurement of $v_{2}\{4\}$ to be made, which is found to be higher in Pb-Pb collisions at similar multiplicities. The second harmonic six-particle cumulants are also found to be higher in Pb-Pb collisions. In Pb-Pb collisions, we generally find $v_{2}\{4\} \simeq v_{2}\{6\}\neq 0$ which is indicative of a Bessel-Gaussian function for the $v_{2}$ distribution. For very high-multiplicity Pb-Pb collisions, we observe that the four- and six-particle cumulants become consistent with 0. Finally, third harmonic two-particle cumulants in p-Pb and Pb-Pb are measured. These are found to be similar for overlapping multiplicities, when a $|\Delta\eta| > 1.4$ gap is placed.Comment: 25 pages, 11 captioned figures, 3 tables, authors from page 20, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/87