Draft Genome Sequences of Strains TAV3 and TAV4 (Verrucomicrobia: Opitutaceae), Isolated from a Wood-Feeding Termite, and In Silico Analysis of Their Polysaccharide-Degrading Enzymes.

Here, we report the high-quality draft genome sequences of Opitutaceae sp. strains TAV3 and TAV4, which were isolated from the hindgut of the wood-feeding termite Reticulitermes flavipes Using a combination of Illumina and PacBio sequencing, we constructed nearly complete assemblies totaling 5.84 and 5.91 Mbp in length for strains TAV3 and TAV4, respectively. In addition, we report an in silico analysis of potential lignocellulose-digesting enzymes present in these strains

Analysis of Mechano-Electrochemical Coupling in Intercalation Electrodes

Lithium ion batteries (LIB), owing to their high energy and power density, have gained popularity in portable electronics and automotive markets. Diffusion induced stress (DIS), due to intercalation of lithium during lithiation/delithiation process is one of the main causes of mechanical degradation in LIB. The microcracks formed hinder the diffusion of lithium inside the active particle. Also, the microcracks linked to the surface of the particle are exposed to the electrolyte and are electrochemically active. This study investigates the mechano-electrochemical coupling observed in intercalation electrodes. The interdependence between microcrack formation and lithium concentration distribution in the active particle and its effect on the performance of LIB has been analyzed. A microcrack prediction model has been developed that estimates microcrack formation at each time step based on the DIS calculated using the concentration gradients evaluated from the concentration profile. The microcracks affect the transport of lithium within the particle in two opposing ways. On one hand, microcracks decrease the local diffusivity of the active material thereby hindering lithium diffusion. On the other hand, microcracks emanating from the surface of the particle are electrochemically active and enhance lithium diffusion by allowing electrochemical reactions inside the active particle at the microcrack-electrolyte interface, thereby reducing the effective diffusion length. Thus, microcrack formation leads to a change in the electrochemically active surface area of the electrode. Lithium source/sink terms are introduced along the electrochemically active microcracks to simulate the electrochemical reactions. The non-uniform microcrack patterns predicted by the mechano-electrochemically coupled model closely resemble the patterns observed in SEM images of LIB electrodes. The performance curve obtained can help identify the effect of mechanical degradation on the performance of the battery and thereby provide a guideline for optimizing the physicochemical factors to leverage mechanical degradation for better cell performance

The Know Better, Do Better Plan for Self and System Transformation

Educational leadership has roots in neocolonial epistemologies and a functionalist paradigm. While Atman Jnana School Board (a pseudonym) has made a commitment to equity by recognizing the need for communities of belonging, leaders unconsciously lean toward the individual over the collective as imparted by these epistemologies and paradigm. Therefore, the problem of practice under investigation is the development of educational leaders’ capacity to create communities of belonging and purpose. As principals and vice-principals are pivotal to transforming school culture, this organizational improvement plan proposes addressing the problem of practice by creating a community of belonging with school leaders who want to engage in a process of unlearning, learning, relearning, and co-learning educational leadership. The visceral experience of engaging in this personal and systemic metamorphosis can lead to understanding the process of co-creation so it can be scaled and spread. The implementation of the selected solution requires blending servant and authentic leadership styles, with a strong focus on constructive-developmental theory. This plan proposes that leaders’ identity development in places of belonging and connection leads to the district’s identity development in a similar vein. Grassroots methodology as a form of discreet activism and self-determination will free leaders to see systems and contexts through a new lens. The change path model can be overlaid with the plan-do-study-act cycle for ongoing monitoring, assessment, and improvement. The application of a critical worldview, transformative paradigm, and anti-oppression lens will serve as an ongoing reminder to centre the voices of equity-deserving groups, without undue emotional labour, at the design stage and throughout the process

SN 2005 gj: Evidence for LBV supernovae progenitors?

There has been mounting observational evidence in favour of Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs) being the direct progenitors of supernovae. Here we present possibly the most convincing evidence yet for such progenitors. We find multiple absorption component P-Cygni profiles of hydrogen and helium in the spectrum of SN 2005gj, which we interpret as being an imprint of the progenitors mass-loss history. Such profiles have previously only been detected in Luminous Blue Variables. This striking resemblance of the profiles, along with wind velocities and periods consistent with LBV's leads us to connect SN 2005gj to an LBV progenitor.Comment: Accepted as a letter to A&A, 4 pages,3 figure

Detecting the signatures of helium in type Iax supernovae

Recent studies have argued that the progenitor system of type Iax supernovae must consist of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf accreting from a helium star companion. Based on existing explosion models invoking the pure deflagration of carbon-oxygen white dwarfs, we investigate the likelihood of producing spectral features due to helium in type Iax supernovae. From this scenario, we select those explosion models producing ejecta and $^{56}$Ni masses that are broadly consistent with those estimated for type Iax supernovae (0.014 - 0.478~$M_{\odot}$ and $\sim0.003$ - 0.183~$M_{\odot}$, respectively). To this end, we present a series of models of varying luminosities ($-18.4 \lesssim M_{\rm{V}} \lesssim -14.5$~mag) with helium abundances accounting for up to $\sim$36\% of the ejecta mass, and covering a range of epochs beginning a few days before B$-$band maximum to approximately two weeks after maximum. We find that the best opportunity for detecting \ion{He}{i} features is at near-infrared wavelengths, and in the post-maximum spectra of the fainter members of this class. We show that the optical spectrum of SN~2007J is potentially consistent with a large helium content (a few 10$^{-2}~M_{\odot}$), but argue that current models of accretion and material stripping from a companion struggle to produce compatible scenarios. We also investigate the presence of helium in all objects with near-infrared spectra. We show that SNe~2005hk, 2012Z, and 2015H contain either no helium or their helium abundances are constrained to much lower values ($\lesssim$10$^{-3}~M_{\odot}$). Our results demonstrate the differences in helium content among type Iax supernovae, perhaps pointing to different progenitor channels. Either SN~2007J is an outlier in terms of its progenitor system, or it is not a true member of the type Iax supernova class.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Calcium-Rich Gap Transients: Tidal Detonations of White Dwarfs?

We hypothesize that at least some of the recently discovered class of calcium-rich gap transients are tidal detonation events of white dwarfs (WDs) by black holes (BHs) or possibly neutron stars. We show that the properties of the calcium-rich gap transients agree well with the predictions of the tidal detonation model. Under the predictions of this model, we use a follow-up X-ray observation of one of these transients, SN 2012hn, to place weak upper limits on the detonator mass of this system that include all intermediate-mass BHs (IMBHs). As these transients are preferentially in the stellar haloes of galaxies, we discuss the possibility that these transients are tidal detonations of WDs caused by random flyby encounters with IMBHs in dwarf galaxies or globular clusters. This possibility has been already suggested in the literature but without connection to the calcium-rich gap transients. In order for the random flyby cross-section to be high enough, these events would have to be occurring inside these dense stellar associations. However, there is a lack of evidence for IMBHs in these systems, and recent observations have ruled out all but the very faintest dwarf galaxies and globular clusters for a few of these transients. Another possibility is that these are tidal detonations caused by three-body interactions, where a WD is perturbed toward the detonator in isolated multiple star systems. We highlight a number of ways this could occur, even in lower-mass systems with stellar-mass BHs or neutron stars. Finally, we outline several new observational tests of this scenario, which are feasible with current instrumentation.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in MNRA

Efficacy of analgesics in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff at Gujarat Adani institute of medical science, Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat

Background: To evaluate analgesic efficacy when catheters are positioned with assistance of arthroscope to block suprascapular and axillary nerves in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff under general anesthesia.Methods: Present study was performed at department of orthopedics, Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Science, Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat. 24 patients who experienced arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff between July 2015 and October 2015 were catheterized to block suprascapular and axillary nerves through shoulder arthroscopy were incorporated in the study. Clinical outcomes were assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) scores preoperatively and at 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, and postoperative day 2.Results: Preoperative and postoperative 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, and day 2 mean VAS scores were 6.37±0.91, 0.45±0.39, 0.59±0.40, 0.62±0.39, 0.61±0.42, 0.51±0.35, and 1.54±0.50, respectively. No statistical difference was found among 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, and 24 h time points; however, assessment of postoperative day 2 and postoperative 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18h and 24 h VAS scores showed statistically significant difference (P <0.05). All patients were discharged at the end of 24 h with no complication. The mean time (in minutes) required for blocking suprascapular nerve and axillar nerve were 14.38±3.21 and 3.75±0.85, respectively. Conclusions: These results confirmed that blocking two nerves with arthroscopic approach was an excellent pain management method in postoperative period. Accordingly, patients could recover rapidly and patients’ satisfaction could be improved.

Episodic Mass Loss and Pre-SN Circumstellar Envelopes

I discuss observational clues concerning episodic mass-loss properties of massive stars in the time before the final supernova explosion. In particular, I will focus on the mounting evidence that LBVs and related stars are candidates for supernova progenitors, even though current paradigms place them at the end of core-H burning. Namely, conditions in the immediate circumstellar environment within a few 10$^2$ AU of Type IIn supernovae require very high progenitor mass-loss rates. Those rates are so high that the only known stars that come close are LBVs during rare giant eruptions. I will highlight evidence from observations of some recent extraordinary supernovae suggesting that explosive or episodic mass loss (a.k.a. LBV eruptions like the 19th century eruption of Eta Car) occur in the 5-10 years immediately preceding the SN. Finally, I will discuss some implications for stellar evolution from these SNe, the most important of which is the observational fact that the most massive stars can indeed make it to the ends of their lives with substantial H envelopes intact, even at Solar metallicity.Comment: Conference proceedings, Massive Stars as Cosmic Engines, IAU Symp 250, ed. F. Bresolin, P. A. Crowther, & J. Puls (Cambridge Univ. Press