A Cost-Effective Solid-State Approach to Synthesize g-C3N4 Coated TiO2 Nanocomposites with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity

Novel graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) coated TiO2 nanocomposites were prepared by a facile and cost-effective solid-state method by thermal treatment of the mixture of urea and commercial TiO2. Because the C3N4 was dispersed and coated on the TiO2 nanoparticles, the as-prepared g-C3N4/TiO2 nanocomposites showed enhanced absorption and photocatalytic properties in visible light region. The as-prepared g-C3N4 coated TiO2 nanocomposites under 450°C exhibited efficient visible light photocatalytic activity for degradation of aqueous MB due to the increased visible light absorption and enhanced MB adsorption. The g-C3N4 coated TiO2 nanocomposites would have wide applications in both environmental remediation and solar energy conversion

A Novel Two-Component Response Regulator Links rpfwith Biofilm Formation and Virulence of Xanthomonasaxonopodis pv. Citri

Citrus bacterial canker caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri is a serious disease that impacts citrus productionworldwide, and X. axonopodis pv. citri is listed as a quarantine pest in certain countries. Biofilm formation is important forthe successful development of a pathogenic relationship between various bacteria and their host(s). To understand themechanisms of biofilm formation by X. axonopodis pv. citri strain XW19, the strain was subjected to transposonmutagenesis. One mutant with a mutation in a two-component response regulator gene that was deficient in biofilmformation on a polystyrene microplate was selected for further study. The protein was designated as BfdR for biofilmformation defective regulator. BfdR from strain XW19 shares 100% amino acid sequence identity with XAC1284 of X.axonopodis pv. citri strain 306 and 30–100% identity with two-component response regulators in various pathogens andenvironmental microorganisms. The bfdR mutant strain exhibited significantly decreased biofilm formation on the leafsurfaces of Mexican lime compared with the wild type strain. The bfdR mutant was also compromised in its ability to causecanker lesions. The wild-type phenotype was restored by providing pbfdR in trans in the bfdR mutant. Our data indicatedthat BfdR did not regulate the production of virulence-related extracellular enzymes including amylase, lipase, protease, andlecithinase or the expression of hrpG, rfbC, and katE; however, BfdR controlled the expression of rpfF in XVM2 medium,which mimics cytoplasmic fluids in planta. In conclusion, biofilm formation on leaf surfaces of citrus is important for cankerdevelopment in X. axonopodis pv. citri XW19. The process is controlled by the two-component response regulator BfdR viaregulation of rpfF, which is required for the biosynthesis of a diffusible signal factor

Small molecule-mediated tribbles homolog 3 promotes bone formation induced by bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Although bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) has demonstrated extraordinary potential in bone formation, its clinical applications require supraphysiological milligram-level doses that increase postoperative inflammation and inappropriate adipogenesis, resulting in well-documented life-threatening cervical swelling and cyst-like bone formation. Recent promising alternative biomolecular strategies are toward promoting pro-osteogenic activity of BMP2 while simultaneously suppressing its adverse effects. Here, we demonstrated that small molecular phenamil synergized osteogenesis and bone formation with BMP2 in a rat critical size mandibular defect model. Moreover, we successfully elicited the BMP2 adverse outcomes (i.e. adipogenesis and inflammation) in the mandibular defect by applying high dose BMP2. Phenamil treatment significantly improves the quality of newly formed bone by inhibiting BMP2 induced fatty cyst-like structure and inflammatory soft-tissue swelling. The observed positive phenamil effects were associated with upregulation of tribbles homolog 3 (Trib3) that suppressed adipogenic differentiation and inflammatory responses by negatively regulating PPARγ and NF-κB transcriptional activities. Thus, use of BMP2 along with phenamil stimulation or Trib3 augmentation may be a promising strategy to improve clinical efficacy and safety of current BMP therapeutics

Spin Relaxation in Single Layer Graphene with Tunable Mobility

Graphene is an attractive material for spintronics due to theoretical predictions of long spin lifetimes arising from low spin-orbit and hyperfine couplings. In experiments, however, spin lifetimes in single layer graphene (SLG) measured via Hanle effects are much shorter than expected theoretically. Thus, the origin of spin relaxation in SLG is a major issue for graphene spintronics. Despite extensive theoretical and experimental work addressing this question, there is still little clarity on the microscopic origin of spin relaxation. By using organic ligand-bound nanoparticles as charge reservoirs to tune mobility between 2700 and 12000 cm2/Vs, we successfully isolate the effect of charged impurity scattering on spin relaxation in SLG. Our results demonstrate that while charged impurities can greatly affect mobility, the spin lifetimes are not affected by charged impurity scattering.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

The Decision to Continue Sharing Knowledge in Virtual Communities: The Moderating Role of Knowledge-Sharing Experience and Knowledge Self-Efficacy

Virtual communities have become increasingly popular in recent years. Despite significant growth in the number of virtual communities, few communities have been successful retaining members and motivating members to continue sharing knowledge. This study focuses on how knowledge-contributor characteristics impact the relationship between individuals’ community-involvement motivation and continued knowledge-sharing intention. According to the study’s online survey of 292 knowledge contributors in two professional virtual communities (PVCs), knowledge-sharing experience and knowledge self-efficacy – two contributor characteristics – moderate the relationship between motivational factors and continued knowledge sharing. Specifically, reputation and enjoyment in helping others had a stronger influence on knowledge contributors with high knowledge self-efficacy, whereas reciprocity had a stronger influence on knowledge contributors with low knowledge selfefficacy. Furthermore, reciprocity and moral obligation had a stronger influence on knowledge contributors with high knowledge-sharing experience. The results of this study provide important implications for research and practice

Field measurement, analysis and protection for the vibration of an ancient ruin induced by railway

Increasingly ancient ruins are subjected to higher levels of vibrations induced by rail due to urbanization. In this way, to better understand and preserve ancient ruins against train-induced vibrations, vibration measurements and FE analysis were conducted on the Hangu Pass, Luoyang, China, located adjacent to the Longhai railway line. Firstly, damage descriptions of the Hangu Pass are conducted, and train-induced vibrations were recorded at several points on the ground and the ruin. Then, attenuation characteristics of vibration in the ground and on the ruin were examined. Secondly, based on the FE analysis, the stress distributions of the Hangu Pass are present when the train crossed the nearby railway line. The results showed that the maximum stress distribution from the result of the FE analysis is similar to crack distribution of the Hangu Pass, which confirmed that the train-induced vibration is a significant factor to deteriorate the Hangu Pass. Thirdly, in order to protect the Hangu Pass against train-induced vibrations, an anti-vibration system, isolation trench, is introduced. The FE model of the Hangu Pass with isolation trench is established. The effect of the trench’s width, depth, location and filling materials on decreasing the train-induced vibrations of the Hangu Pass are studied. The results showed that the set isolation trench can protect the ancient ruin against environmental vibration

PATIENTS’ ACCEPTANCE AND RESISTANCE TOWARD THE HEALTH CLOUD: AN INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE AND STATUS QUO BIAS PERSPECTIVES

The latest technological trends such as health cloud provide a strong infrastructure and offer a true enabler for healthcare services over the Internet. Despite its great potential, there are gaps in our understanding of how users evaluate change related to the health cloud and decide to resist it. According to the technology acceptance and status quo bias perspectives, this study develops an integrated model to explain patients’ intention to use and resistance to health cloud services. A field survey was conducted in Taiwan to collect data from patients. The structural equation model was used to examine the data. The results showed that patient resistance to use was caused by inertia, perceived value, and transition costs. Perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) have positive and direct effects on behavioral intention to use, and PEOU appears to have a positive direct effect on PU. The results also indicated that the relationship between intention to use and resistance to use had a significant negative effect. Our study illustrates the importance of incorporating user resistance in technology acceptance studies in general and health technology usage studies in particular, grounds for a resistance model of resistance that can serve as the starting point for future research in this relatively unexplored yet potentially fertile area of research

Physician Acceptance Behavior of the Electronic Medical Records Exchange: An Extended Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior

In this study, we examined physician acceptance behavior of the electronic medical record (EMR) exchange. Although several prior studies have focused on factors that affect the adoption or use of EMRs, empirical study that captures the success factors that encourage physicians to adopt the EMR exchange is limited. Therefore, drawing on institutional trust integrated with the decomposed theory of planned behavior (TPB) model, we propose a theoretical model to examine physician intentions of using the EMR exchange. A field survey was conducted in Taiwan to collect data from physicians. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using the partial least squares (PLS) method was employed to test the research model. The results showed that the usage intention of physicians is significantly influenced by 4 factors (i.e., attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavior control, and institutional trust). These 4 factors were assessed by their perceived usefulness and compatibility, facilitating conditions and self-efficacy, situational normality, and structural assurance, respectively. The results also indicated that institutional trust integrated with the decomposed TPB model provides an improved method for predicting physician intentions to use the EMR exchange. Finally, the implications of this study are discussed

Explaining Physicians’ Acceptance and Resistance to the NHI Pharmacloud: A Theoretical Model and Empirical Test

The PharmaCloud allows physicians to streamline many of their healthcare processes and ensure patient safety in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Despite its great potential, however, there are gaps in our understanding of how physicians evaluate change in relation to the PharmaCloud and why they decide to resist it. Thus, this study develops an integrated model to explain physicians’ intention to use the PharmaCloud and their intention to resist it. A field survey was conducted in Taiwan to collect data from physicians. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using the partial least squares (PLS) method was employed to test the research model. The results show that physicians’ resistance to the use of the PharmaCloud is the result of regret avoidance, inertia, perceived value, transition costs, and perceived threat. Information quality, system quality, and service quality are shown to have positive and direct effects on physicians’ intention to use the PharmaCloud. Our study illustrates the importance of incorporating user resistance in technology acceptance studies in general and health technology usage studies in particular, providing grounds for a model of resistance that can serve as the starting point for future research in this relatively unexplored yet potentially fertile area of research

Review of a partial care program for severely emotionally disturbed youth

The need for research on programs for Emotionally Disturbed (ED) children and adolescents is great. The present study examined a partial care program for ED youth in New Jersey. There were 120 subjects in this study. Several characteristics of these subjects were examined – gender, race, age, diagnosis, and family status. The study also examined the subjects\u27 average length of stay in the program.and reasons for being discharged. In addition, the ratio of clients to staff was studied. The data was collected by examining the files of past and present clients to gather the necessary information. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. The majority of the subjects were African American males between the ages of 12 and 15 years. Most were either diagnosed Conduct Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder and most lived with a single parent. The overall length of stay for the subjects was 8 months. Most of them were discharged due to refusal of service or to another placement. The ratio of clients to staff varied from 6 to 1 to 3 to 1 over the three year period studied