Compositional nanodomain formation in hybrid formate perovskites

We report the synthesis and structural characterisation of three mixed-metal formate perovskite families [C(NH$_2$)$_3$]M$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$(HCOO)$_3$ (M = Mn, Zn, Mg). Using a combination of infrared spectroscopy, non-negative matrix factorization, and reverse Monte Carlo refinement, we show that the Mn- and Zn-containing compounds support compositional nanodomains resembling the polar nanoregions of conventional relaxor ferroelectrics. The M = Mg family exhibits a miscibility gap that we suggest reflects the limiting behaviour of nanodomain formation.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

A Collaborative Effort to Establish a Convalescent Plasma Program in South Florida

On March 11, 2020, Miami-Dade County had its first diagnosed case of COVID-19 and quickly became the top hotspot of COVID-19 cases in Florida. Hospitals were challenged to find effective treatments to combat the virus. A collaborative effort between Doctors Hospital and Boca Raton Regional Hospital established a robust convalescent plasma program for critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19 within Baptist Health South Florida

Analisis Kelayakan Finansial USAha Agroindustri Pakan Ikan di Kecamatan Kuok Kabupaten Kampar (Studi Kasus USAha Pakan Ikan Bapak Sulaiman)

This research aims to analize the financial feasibility and to analize the level of sensivity of fish feed agroindustry business. This research uses the case study method, the object of the research is a fish feed business in Kuok district Kampar regency. Investment criteria used in analyzing the financial feasibility is Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) dan Net Benefit Cost Ratio (Net B/C). The results of the research showed that fish feed agroindustry business is feasible to run and developed with the value of NPV as Rp. 1.727.012.550 (NPV bigger than zero), Net B/C of 3,08 (Net B/C bigger than one) and IRR stay at DF 55,34% (IRR bigger than DF 12%). The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that if the business have a risk from the increases bran prices by 14%, dried fish price increases of 8%, a decrease in fish feed production 25% and decline of production time to 17 days in 1 month, then business is not sensitive to the risks and the business is worth tobe continued. Resulting risk is not worth the effort, in case sensitivity the increases bran prices by 16,15%, dried fish price increases of 26,96%, increases bran princes and dried fish simultaneously 11%, a decrease in fish feed production 52,46% and decline of production time to 11 days in 1 month

Analisis Kelayakan Finansial USAha Agroindustri Pakan Ikan di Kecamatan Kuok Kabupaten Kampar (Studi Kasus USAha Pakan Ikan Bapak Marin)

This research aims to analize the financial feasibility and to analize the level of sensivity of fish feed agroindustry business.This research uses the case study method, the object of the research is a fish feed business in Kuok district Kampar regency. Investment criteria used in analyzing the financial feasibility is Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) dan Net Benefit Cost Ratio (Net B/C). The results of the research showed that fish feed agroindustry business is feasible to run and developed with the value of NPV as Rp. 3.122.202.366,00(NPV bigger than zero), Net B/C of 2,78 (Net B/C bigger than one) and IRR stay at DF 64% (IRR bigger than DF 12%).The results ofthe sensitivityanalysisshowedthatifthe businesshave a risk from the increases bran prices by 12%, dried fishprice increasesof 12%,a decrease infishfeed production 25% and decline of production time to 23 days in 1 month, then businessisnotsensitive to therisks and the business is worth tobe continued. Resulting risk is not worth the effort, in case sensitivity the increases bran prices by 21,05%, dried fishprice increasesof 26,96%,a decrease infishfeed production34,72% and decline of production time to 13 days in 1 month

Autopodial development is selectively impaired by misexpression of chordin-like 1 in the chick limb

AbstractChordin-like 1 (CHRDL1) is a secreted bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist expressed in mesenchymal tissues whose function in development of the skeleton has not been examined in detail. Here we show Chrdl1 is dynamically expressed in the early distal limb bud mesenchyme, with expression becoming downregulated as development proceeds. Chrdl1 expression is largely excluded from the critical signaling center of the posterior limb bud, the Zone of Polarizing Activity (ZPA), as has been described for the BMP antagonist Gremlin (GREM1) (Scherz et al., 2004, Science, 305, 396–399). Unlike Grem1, Chrdl1 is expressed in the hindlimb by a small subset of ZPA cells and their descendants suggesting divergent regulation and function between the various BMP antagonists. Ectopic expression of Chrdl1 throughout the avian limb bud using viral misexpression resulted in an oligodactyly phenotype with loss of digits from the anterior limb, although the development of more proximal elements of the zeugopod and stylopod were unaffected. Overgrowths of soft tissue and syndactyly were also observed, resulting from impaired apoptosis and failure of the anterior mesenchyme to undergo SOX9-dependent chondrogenesis, instead persisting as an interdigital-like soft tissue phenotype. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling were upregulated and persisted later in development, however these changes were only detected late in limb development at timepoints when endogenous Grem1 would normally be downregulated and increasing BMP signaling would cause termination of Shh and Fgf expression. Our results suggest that the early stages of the GREM1–SHH–FGF signaling network are resistant to Chrdl1-overexpression, leading to normal formation of proximal limb structures, but that later Bmp expression, impaired by ectopic CHRDL1, is essential for formation of the correct complement of digits

Relationship between endocrine disrupting chemicals (phthalate metabolites, triclosan and bisphenols) and vitamin D in female subjects: An exploratory pilot study

Introduction: Evidence suggests that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), commonly used in plastics and personal care products, may be associated with reduced levels of vitamin D. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between phthalate metabolites, 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol (triclosan; TCS) and bisphenols (BPs) with vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), and their relationship to calcium homeostasis. Methods: 57 female participants (age 31.8 ± 4.6 years; BMI 25.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2) were analyzed for urinary levels of phthalate metabolites, TCS and BPs, and serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3, determined by isotope-dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Serum calcium/calmodulin-dependent (CaM) associated proteins were determined by Slow Off-rate Modified Aptamer (SOMA)-scan. Results: In the study cohort, 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were 22.9 ± 11.2 ng/mL and 0.05 ± 0.02 ng/mL, respectively: mono-3-carboxypropyl-phthalate (MCPP) correlated negatively with 25(OH)D3 (ρ = −0.53, p = 0.01). 28 of the 57 women recruited were 25(OH)D3 deficient, <20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L): in this group, mono-iso-butylphthalate (MiBP) and mono-butylphthalate (MBP) negatively correlated with 25(OH)D3; (ρ = −0.47, p = 0.049) and (ρ = −0.64, p = 0.005), respectively. EDCs did not correlate with 1,25(OH)2D3, measures of renal function or CaM proteins. Conclusion: These putative data indicate that MCPP is related to 25(OH)D3, while MiBP and MBP were related to vitamin D deficiency; however, no correlations were observed with TCS and BPs. No phthalate metabolites correlated with 1,25(OH)2D3, CaM associated proteins or renal function, suggesting that effects occur earlier in the vitamin D pathway and not through modulation of cellular calcium flux. The observed correlations are surprisingly strong compared to other predictors of 25(OH)D3, and larger studies adjusting for potential confounders are warranted