Estimation of the vertical borehole thermal parameters based on the evolution algorithm using temperature response functions

The vertical borehole ground heat exchange performance is still the issue for the engineers installing vertical borehole ground plants using ground-coupled heat pumps. Besides geological and climate change challenges, they face the extraordinary heat transfer process between the circulating fluid and the ground surrounding the U-tube and interactions of vertical boreholes. This paper describes the technique to evaluate the grout, soil thermal parameters and borehole thermal resistance simultaneously using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The reference thermal response data set from the sandbox laboratory was used for the analysis. A thermal response test (TRT) was made, including the different temperature response functions, for a few time scales. The estimates and errors of the grout, soil thermal conductivity and borehole resistivity were presented and compared with the results of the laboratory experiment and researchers. The target functions, in our case root mean square error values, were less than 0.034 for all analysis cases. The calculation algorithm was written using the Matlab 2016 program and could be easily expanded by increasing the number of target functions and evaluation algorithms. The presented TRT data analysis will increase the knowledge about the vertical borehole ground heat exchange design

Enhancing collaboration and community for the discipline of organizing

The overall purpose of this workshop is to strengthen the existing collaboration and community among instructors and schools using The Discipline of Organizing (Glushko 2015), to promote further innovation in digital publishing, and to enhance iSchool teaching practices through experimentation with new models of collaborative courses. Information about participation, planning materials, presentations, and follow-up artifacts for the workshop are at disciplineoforganizing.org.

Meta-Mass Shift Chemical (MeMSChem) profiling of metabolomes from coral reefs

Untargeted metabolomics of environmental samples routinely detects thousands of small molecules, the vast majority of which cannot be identified. Meta-mass shift chemical (MeMSChem) profiling was developed to identify mass differences between related molecules using molecular networks. This approach illuminates metabolome-wide relationships between molecules and the putative chemical groups that differentiate them (e.g., H2, CH2, COCH2). MeMSChem profiling was used to analyze a publicly available metabolomic dataset of coral, algal, and fungal mat holobionts (i.e., the host and its associated microbes and viruses) sampled from some of Earth's most remote and pristine coral reefs. Each type of holobiont had distinct mass shift profiles, even when the analysis was restricted to molecules found in all samples. This result suggests that holobionts modify the same molecules in different ways and offers insights into the generation of molecular diversity. Three genera of stony corals had distinct patterns of molecular relatedness despite their high degree of taxonomic relatedness. MeMSChem profiles also partially differentiated between individuals, suggesting that every coral reef holobiont is a potential source of novel chemical diversity

Dynamics of Oxidized and Reduced Iron in a Northern Hardwood Forest

Iron (Fe) is ubiquitous in forest ecosystems and its cycle is thought to influence the development of soil, particularly Spodosols (podsolization), and the biogeochemistry of macronutrients such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), as well as many trace metals. The cycle of Fe in northern hardwood forests remains poorly understood. To address some of these uncertainties, we constructed a biogeochemical budget of Fe for a small catchment at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA. Horizonal, temporal, and elevational patterns of concentrations and fluxes of oxidized and reduced Fe species were assessed in leaf litter, soil, soil solution, and stream water. The chemistry of dissolved Fe was evaluated in the context of its relationship with dissolved organic carbon, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Soil solution fluxes of Fe were highest in the organic (Oa, 52.5 mol ha−1 year−1) horizon and decreased with depth in the mineral (Bh, 50.5 mol ha−1 year−1, and Bs, 19.7 mol ha−1 year−1) horizons, consistent with podsolization theories predicting immobilization of Fe following downward transport to mineral soils. The export of Fe in stream water (1.8 mol ha−1 year−1) was lower than precipitation input (3.5 mol ha−1 year−1). The low stream flux indicates most Fe in drainage waters was immobilized in the soil and retained in the watershed. The portion of total Fe as Fe(II) was ~10–60% in soil solutions, seemingly high for soils that are considered to be well-drained, oxidizing environments. Organic complexes likely stabilized Fe(II) in solution under oxidizing conditions that would otherwise promote considerably higher Fe(III)-to-Fe(II) ratios. Our study indicates that there are organic matter-derived sources of dissolved Fe(II) as well as substantial mobilization of Fe(II), possibly the result of the reduction of Fe-bearing soil minerals

Evaluation of SLC11A1 as an inflammatory bowel disease candidate gene

BACKGROUND: Significant evidence suggests that a promoter polymorphism withinthe gene SLC11A1 is involved in susceptibility to both autoimmune and infectious disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether SLC11A1 has a role in the susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by characterizing a promoter polymorphism within the gene and two short tandem repeat (STR) markers in genetic proximity to SLC11A1. METHODS: The studied population consisted of 484 Caucasians with IBD, 144 population controls, and 348 non-IBD-affected first-degree relatives of IBD patients. IBD subjects were re-categorized at the sub-disease phenotypic level to characterize possible SLC11A1 genotype-phenotype correlations. Polymorphic markers were amplified from germline DNA and typed using gel electrophoresis. Genotype-phenotype correlations were defined using case-control, haplotype, and family-based association studies. RESULTS: This study did not provide compelling evidence for SLC11A1 disease association; most significantly, there was no apparent evidence of SLC11A1 promoter allele association in the studied Crohn's disease population. CONCLUSION: Our results therefore refute previous studies that have shown SLC11A1 promoter polymorphisms are involved in susceptibility to this form of IBD

The medical threat of mamba envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa revealed by genus-wide analysis of venom composition, toxicity and antivenomics profiling of available antivenoms

Mambas (genus Dendroaspis) are among the most feared of the medically important elapid snakes found in sub-Saharan Africa, but many facets of their biology, including the diversity of venom composition, remain relatively understudied. Here, we present a reconstruction of mamba phylogeny, alongside genus-wide venom gland transcriptomic and high-resolution top-down venomic analyses. Whereas the green mambas, D. viridis, D. angusticeps, D. j. jamesoni and D. j. kaimosae, express 3FTx-predominant venoms, black mamba (D. polylepis) venom is dominated by dendrotoxins I and K. The divergent terrestrial ecology of D. polylepis compared to the arboreal niche occupied by all other mambas makes it plausible that this major difference in venom composition is due to dietary variation. The pattern of intrageneric venom variability across Dendroaspis represented a valuable opportunity to investigate, in a genus-wide context, the variant toxicity of the venom, and the degree of paraspecific cross-reactivity between antivenoms and mamba venoms. To this end, the immunological profiles of the five mamba venoms were assessed against a panel of commercial antivenoms generated for the sub-Saharan Africa market. This study provides a genus-wide overview of which available antivenoms may be more efficacious in neutralising human envenomings caused by mambas, irrespective of the species responsible. The information gathered in this study lays the foundations for rationalising the notably different potency and pharmacological profiles of Dendroaspis venoms at locus resolution. This understanding will allow selection and design of toxin immunogens with a view to generating a safer and more efficacious pan-specific antivenom against any mamba envenomation

THE IMPACT OF GEL ELECTROPHORESIS UPON OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ESTERASES *

The impact of gel electrophoresis upon our understanding of the esterases has been formidable in that it has provided us with new insights and understanding concerning the number and biochemical characteristics of the many esterase-active proteins found in biological material. The relationships between the esterases within a species and among species still remains largely to be determined. With regard to the function of esterases it is to be expected that there will be several. One promising possibility is suggested by the work of Allen and Hunter, which illustrated a dependent relationship between male sex hormone and the esterases in the mouse epididymis. Supporting this work is the observation by Shaw and Koen (1963) demonstrating the presence of an esterase in the mouse kidney, which also was dependent on male sex hormone. The change observed in the serum esterase of the pregnant rabbit reported here and in women by Friedman and Lapman (1961) may also relate to hormone changes associated with pregnancy, although this relationship remains to be demonstrated. A second area where the esterases are likely to be functioning is in relation to protein synthetic activity of the endoplasmic reticulum. The only evidence supporting this suggestion is the abundant presence of esterases found in this location. The seven experiments described and discussed here along with those included in the references may serve as illustrations of the kind of work that can be accomplished by the use of these methods.*Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75632/1/j.1749-6632.1964.tb14224.x.pd

Siderophore-Mediated Zinc Acquisition Enhances Enterobacterial Colonization of the Inflamed Gut

Zinc is an essential cofactor for bacterial metabolism, and many Enterobacteriaceae express the zinc transporters ZnuABC and ZupT to acquire this metal in the host. However, the probiotic bacterium Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (or “Nissle”) exhibits appreciable growth in zinc-limited media even when these transporters are deleted. Here, we show that Nissle utilizes the siderophore yersiniabactin as a zincophore, enabling Nissle to grow in zinc-limited media, to tolerate calprotectin-mediated zinc sequestration, and to thrive in the inflamed gut. We also show that yersiniabactin’s affinity for iron or zinc changes in a pH-dependent manner, with increased relative zinc binding as the pH increases. Thus, our results indicate that siderophore metal affinity can be influenced by the local environment and reveal a mechanism of zinc acquisition available to commensal and pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae

Globalization, democratization, and the Arab uprising : the international factor in MENA's failed democratization

What explains the almost negative impact of international factors on post-Uprising democratization prospects? This article compares the utility of rival “diffusionist” and neo-Gramscian political economy frames to explain this. Three international factors deter democratization. The failure of Western democracy promotion is rooted in the contradiction between the dominance of global finance capital and the norm of democratic equality; in the periphery, neo-liberalism is most compatible with hybrid regimes and, at best, “low intensity democracy.” In MENA, neo-liberalism generated a crony capitalism incompatible with democratization; while this also sparked the uprisings, these have failed to address class inequalities. Moreover at the normative level, MENA hosts the most credible counter-hegemonic ideologies; the brief peaking of democratic ideology in the region during the early uprisings soon declined amidst regional discourse wars. Non-democrats—coercive regime remnants and radical charismatic movements--were empowered by the competitive interference of rival powers in Uprising states. The collapse of many Uprising states amidst a struggle for power over the region left an environment uncongenial to democratization.PostprintPeer reviewe

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London