Determining Potassium (K+) Release, Crop Availability and Uptake from Three Red Algal (Rhodophyta) Species.

Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2017

Haemophilus ducreyi Cutaneous Ulcer Strains Diverged from Both Class I and Class II Genital Ulcer Strains: Implications for Epidemiological Studies

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus ducreyi has emerged as a major cause of cutaneous ulcers (CU) in yaws-endemic regions of the tropics in the South Pacific, South East Asia and Africa. H. ducreyi was once thought only to cause the genital ulcer (GU) disease chancroid; GU strains belong to 2 distinct classes, class I and class II. Using whole-genome sequencing of 4 CU strains from Samoa, 1 from Vanuatu and 1 from Papua New Guinea, we showed that CU strains diverged from the class I strain 35000HP and that one CU strain expressed β-lactamase. Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released the genomes of 11 additional CU strains from Vanuatu and Ghana; however, the evolutionary relationship of these CU strains to previously-characterized CU and GU strains is unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed phylogenetic analysis of 17 CU and 10 GU strains. Class I and class II GU strains formed two distinct clades. The class I strains formed two subclades, one containing 35000HP and HD183 and the other containing the remainder of the class I strains. Twelve of the CU strains formed a subclone under the class I 35000HP subclade, while 2 CU strains formed a subclone under the other class I subclade. Unexpectedly, 3 of the CU strains formed a subclone under the class II clade. Phylogenetic analysis of dsrA-hgbA-ncaA sequences yielded a tree similar to that of whole-genome phylogenetic tree. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: CU strains diverged from multiple lineages within both class I and class II GU strains. Multilocus sequence typing of dsrA-hgbA-ncaA could be reliably used for epidemiological investigation of CU and GU strains. As class II strains grow relatively poorly and are relatively more susceptible to vancomycin than class I strains, these findings have implications for methods to recover CU strains. Comparison of contemporary CU and GU isolates would help clarify the relationship between these entities

Insertion study of alkali metal cations into layered vanadium oxide foam

The reaction of inorg. ions (Li+, Na+, and K+) with the lamellar material of compn. (V2O5)​(C16H33NH2)​1.3 under reflux conditions in alc.-​water mixed medium results in the rapid and quant. displacement of the surfactant to form inorg. ions intercalated vanadium oxides. The products were characterized by employing powder X-​ray diffraction (PXRD)​, Fourier transform IR (FTIR)​, thermogravimetric​/DTA (TG​/DTA)​, and SEM (SEM)​. FTIR and thermal studies showed the displacement of surfactants by inorg. ions during ion-​exchange process. The XRD peaks obsd. at lower and wider 2θ angles reflect the interlayer sepn. and crystallinity of the host vanadium oxide framework

The Influence of Thermal Radiation on MHD Tangent Hyperbolic Fluid Flow with Zero Normal Flux of Nanoparticles over an Exponential Stretching Sheet

This article presents the two-dimensional MHD flow of tangent hyperbolic fluid with zero normal flux of nano-particles over an exponentially stretching sheet in presence of thermal radiation. The governing system of non-linear partial differential equations along with boundary conditions for this fluid flow is converted into a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations by using appropriate similarity transformations. The reduced system is numerically solved by Runge-Kutta fourth order method with shooting technique. The effects of emerging non-dimensional parameters on velocity, temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction profiles have been discussed and presented graphically. Furthermore, the impacts of these parameters on skin friction coefficient and local Nusselt number at the sheet are exhibited and discussed. Noticed that the thermal boundary layer thickness enhanced with the increase in Weissenberg number, power-law index and radiation parameter whereas the velocity profiles and the skin friction coefficient decreases with an increase in Weissenberg number and power-law index

MHD Flow of Tangent Hyperbolic Nanofluid over an Inclined Sheet with Effects of Thermal Radiation and Heat Source/Sink

This article presents the effect of thermal radiation on MHD boundary layer flow of tangent hyperbolic fluid with nanoparticles past an inclined stretching sheet with heat source/sink and convective boundary condition. Condition of zero normal flux of nanoparticles at the wall is used for the concentration boundary condition, which is the current topic that have yet to be studied extensively. The partial differential systems are reduced to ordinary differential systems by using appropriate similarity transformations. The reduced systems are solved numerically by Runge-Kutta fourth order method with shooting technique. The velocity, temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction profiles are discussed for different physical parameters. As well as the Skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number and Sherwood numbers have discussed in detail and presented through graphically. It is found that the thermal radiation enhances the effective thermal diffusivity and the temperature rises. It is also observed that the buoyancy parameter strengthens the velocity field, showing a decreasing behavior of temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction profiles

Randomized crossover comparison between the i-gel and the LMA-Unique in anaesthetized, paralysed adults

<b>Background</b>: The i-gel differs from other supraglottic airway devices, in that it has a softer, non-inflatable cuff. This study was designed to compare the performance of the i-gel and the LMA-Unique (LMA-U) when used during anaesthesia in paralysed patients. <b>Methods</b>: Both devices were studied in 39 anaesthetized, paralysed patients in a randomized crossover trial. The primary outcome was airway leak pressure. Secondary outcomes included time to insertion, the number of insertion and reposition attempts, leak volumes, and leak fractions. <b>Results</b>: There was no significant difference between the airway leak pressures of the two devices [median (IQR) leak pressures 25 (22–30) vs 22 (20–28) cm H2O for the i-gel and LMA-U, respectively; P=0.083, 95% CI of the mean difference –0.32 to 4.88 cm H2O]. The median (IQR) insertion time for the i-gel was significantly less than for the LMA-U [12.2 (9.7–14.3) vs 15.2 (13.2–17.3) s; P=0.007]. All the LMA-U devices and 38 of 39 i-gel airways were inserted at the first attempt. The number of manipulations required after insertion to achieve a clear airway was the same in both the groups (four in each). There were no statistically significant differences in leak volumes or leak fractions during controlled ventilation. <b>Conclusions</b>: We found no difference in leak pressures and success rate of first-time insertion between the i-gel and the LMA-U. Time to successful insertion was significantly shorter for the i-gel. We conclude that the i-gel provides a reasonable alternative to the LMA-U for controlled ventilation during anaesthesia

Polyphosphate and associated enzymes as global regulators of stress response and virulence in Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium, is a predominant cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. Despite its importance as a major foodborne pathogen, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying C. jejuni stress survival and pathogenesis is limited. Inorganic polyphosphate (poly P) has been shown to play significant roles in bacterial resistance to stress and virulence in many pathogenic bacteria. C. jejuni contains the complete repertoire of enzymes required for poly P metabolism. Recent work in our laboratory and others have demonstrated that poly P controls a plethora of C. jejuni properties that impact its ability to survive in the environment as well as to colonize/infect mammalian hosts. This review article summarizes the current literature on the role of poly P in C. jejuni stress survival and virulence and discusses on how poly P-related enzymes can be exploited for therapeutic/prevention purposes. Additionally, the review article identifies potential areas for future investigation that would enhance our understanding of the role of poly P in C. jejuni and other bacteria, which ultimately would facilitate design of effective therapeutic/preventive strategies to reduce not only the burden of C. jejuni-caused foodborne infections but also of other bacterial infections in humans

Studies on phase and morphological evolution of silver vanadium oxides as a function of pH: Evaluation of electrochemical behavior towards quantification of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions

The effect of pH on morphological and phase evolution of silver vanadium oxide nanostructures are investigated under hydrothermal process. The results of powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) disclosed that the morphological evolution of nanobelts into nanoring structures occurs at pH in between 4 and 5 with Ag2V4O11 phase and nanobelt morphologies at pH from 6 to 7 with β-AgVO3 phase. The prepared Ag2V4O11 and β-AgVO3 have been evaluated for the simultaneous quantification of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions in aqueous solution using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The results reveal that Ag2V4O11 shows better quantification result compared to β-AgVO3. © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd

Tumor Size Processing using Smart Phone

This paper presents the tumor processing from MRI images using the computational features available on a mobile device (smart phones). The MRI images are pre-processed using dithering and median filtering and then transmitted to the mobile computing device. Dithering which converts gray scale image to black and white image but with gray scale visual rendition leads to the reduction in the size of the image being transmitted. The dithered images are filtered using median filter to improve the PSNR. From these transmitted images the Region of Interest (ROI) is selected using image measurement application present(in built) in mobile device. Tumor size is so computed is compared with that of obtained from existing automated algorithms. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15027

Synthesis of single crystalline (NH4)(2)V6O16 center dot 1.5H(2)O nest-like structures

Novel nest-like (NH4)(2)V6O16 center dot 1.5H(2)O structures made of nanobelts have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal approach. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample reveals the monoclinic crystalline phase of (NH4)(2)V6O16 center dot 1.5H(2)O. The scanning electron microscopy images of the sample obtained at 130 degrees C for 3 days exhibit nest-like morphology. The transmission electron microscopy result reveals that the nanobelts have a smooth surface. The selected area electron diffraction pattern of the nanobelts indicates single crystalline nature. The two major weight losses occur in thermogravimetric analysis which correspond to the removal of water and ammonia molecules. Further, calcination of the (NH4)(2)V6O16 center dot 1.5H(2)O product results in the formation of orthorhombic phase of shcherbianite V2O5. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved