Long Minority Carrier Diffusion Lengths in Bridged Silicon Nanowires

Nanowires have large surface areas that create new challenges for their optoelectronic applications. Lithographic processes involved in device fabrication and substrate interfaces can lead to surface defects and substantially reduce charge carrier lifetimes and diffusion lengths. Here, we show that using a bridging method to suspend pristine nanowires allows for circumventing detrimental fabrication steps and interfacial effects associated with planar device architectures. We report electron diffusion lengths up to 2.7 μm in bridged silicon nanowire devices, much longer than previously reported values for silicon nanowires with a diameter of 100 nm. Strikingly, electron diffusion lengths are reduced to only 45 nm in planar devices incorporating nanowires grown under the same conditions. The highly scalable silicon nanobridge devices with the demonstrated long diffusion lengths may find exciting applications in photovoltaics, sensing, and photodetectors

J of Applied Microbiology - 2020 - Gut dysbacteriosis and intestinal disease mechanism and treatment-2.pdf

The gut microbiome functions like an endocrine organ, generating bioactive metabolites, enzymes or small molecules that can impact host physiology. Gut dysbacteriosis is associated with many intestinal diseases including (but not limited to) inflammatory bowel disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis-IBD, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, osmotic diarrhoea and colorectal cancer. The potential pathogenic mechanism of gut dysbacteriosis associated with intestinal diseases includes the alteration of composition of gut microbiota as well as the gut microbiota–derived signalling molecules. The many correlations between the latter and the susceptibility for intestinal diseases has placed a spotlight on the gut microbiome as a potential novel target for therapeutics. Currently, faecal microbial transplantation, dietary interventions, use of probiotics, prebiotics and drugs are the major therapeutic tools utilized to impact dysbacteriosis and associated intestinal diseases. In this review, we systematically summarized the role of intestinal microbiome in the occurrence and development of intestinal diseases. The potential mechanism of the complex interplay between gut dysbacteriosis and intestinal diseases, and the treatment methods are also highlighted.</p

J of Applied Microbiology - 2020 - Gut dysbacteriosis and intestinal disease mechanism and treatment-2.pdf

The gut microbiome functions like an endocrine organ, generating bioactive metabolites, enzymes or small molecules that can impact host physiology. Gut dysbacteriosis is associated with many intestinal diseases including (but not limited to) inflammatory bowel disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis-IBD, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, osmotic diarrhoea and colorectal cancer. The potential pathogenic mechanism of gut dysbacteriosis associated with intestinal diseases includes the alteration of composition of gut microbiota as well as the gut microbiota–derived signalling molecules. The many correlations between the latter and the susceptibility for intestinal diseases has placed a spotlight on the gut microbiome as a potential novel target for therapeutics. Currently, faecal microbial transplantation, dietary interventions, use of probiotics, prebiotics and drugs are the major therapeutic tools utilized to impact dysbacteriosis and associated intestinal diseases. In this review, we systematically summarized the role of intestinal microbiome in the occurrence and development of intestinal diseases. The potential mechanism of the complex interplay between gut dysbacteriosis and intestinal diseases, and the treatment methods are also highlighted.</p

Microbial Diversity and Bioactive Substances in Disease Suppressive Composts from India

<p>The present study aimed to investigate microbial communities in seven Indian composts and their potential for biocontrol of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>lycopersici</i>. In addition, identification of bioactive substances in disease suppressive composts was also attempted. Composts were chosen based on disease suppressiveness and subjected to molecular microbial analyses. Total genomic DNA from the composts was extracted and amplified with polymerase chain reaction using primers targeting the 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes of fungi and bacteria, respectively. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting and DNA sequencing were used to identify the fungal and bacterial targets. Phylogenetic analysis of the fungal 18S rRNA ITS gene sequences showed that phylum <i>Ascomycota</i> was dominant in all composts, while in the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences, the phylum <i>Proteobacteria</i> was dominant. Some fungi in disease suppressive composts grouped phylogenetically close to <i>F. oxysporum</i>. Bacterial sequences with close similarity (>95% identity) with <i>Actinobacterium</i> showed a strong presence only in disease suppressive composts. Disease suppressive composts formed a separate group in the cluster analysis of 18S rRNA ITS and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry was performed with compost extracts to determine if bioactive substances were present in disease suppressive composts. The analysis of compost organic matter showed a negative association of disease suppressiveness with phloroglucinol, sitosterol, and monoenoic fatty acid, while cholesterol and certain organic acids were positively associated with suppressiveness.</p