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In the present study, the microbial diversity of termite nest was studied using bacterial tag encoded amplicon pyrosequencing by both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. A total of 10,793 and 4,777 high-quality reads were obtained in culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches respectively. The former approach revealed dominant phyla Proteobacteria (32%) and Actinobacteria (20%), whereas the latter approach revealed Firmicutes (74%) and Proteobacteria (22%) as the most dominant phyla. The significant variation in the microbial diversity and composition of termitarium assessed by the two approaches could be due to the fact that culture-dependent approach explored only selected groups of microbial population, whereas metagenomic approach explored complete microbial diversity of termitarium, which provides credence to the application of metagenomic strategy to explore novel microbial species.

An association between increasing anaesthetic depth and decreased postoperative survival has been shown in observational studies; however, evidence from randomised controlled trials is lacking. Our aim was to compare all-cause 1-year mortality in older patients having major surgery and randomly assigned to light or deep general anaesthesia. In an international trial, we recruited patients from 73 centres in seven countries who were aged 60 years and older, with significant comorbidity, having surgery with expected duration of more than 2 h, and an anticipated hospital stay of at least 2 days. We randomly assigned patients who had increased risk of complications after major surgery to receive light general anaesthesia (bispectral index [BIS] target 50) or deep general anaesthesia (BIS target 35). Anaesthetists also nominated an appropriate range for mean arterial pressure for each patient during surgery. Patients were randomly assigned in permuted blocks by region immediately before surgery, with the patient and assessors masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12612000632897, and is closed to accrual. Patients were enrolled between Dec 19, 2012, and Dec 12, 2017. Of the 18 026 patients screened as eligible, 6644 were enrolled, randomly assigned to treatment or control, and formed the intention-to-treat population (3316 in the BIS 50 group and 3328 in the BIS 35 group). The median BIS was 47·2 (IQR 43·7 to 50·5) in the BIS 50 group and 38·8 (36·3 to 42·4) in the BIS 35 group. Mean arterial pressure was 3·5 mm Hg (4%) higher (median 84·5 [IQR 78·0 to 91·3] and 81·0 [75·4 to 87·6], respectively) and volatile anaesthetic use was 0·26 minimum alveolar concentration (30%) lower (0·62 [0·52 to 0·73] and 0·88 [0·74 to 1·04], respectively) in the BIS 50 than the BIS 35 group. 1-year mortality was 6·5% (212 patients) in the BIS 50 group and 7·2% (238 patients) in the BIS 35 group (hazard ratio 0·88, 95% CI 0·73 to 1·07, absolute risk reduction 0·8%, 95% CI −0·5 to 2·0). Grade 3 adverse events occurred in 954 (29%) patients in the BIS 50 group and 909 (27%) patients in the BIS 35 group; and grade 4 adverse events in 265 (8%) and 259 (8%) patients, respectively. The most commonly reported adverse events were infections, vascular disorders, cardiac disorders, and neoplasms. Among patients at increased risk of complications after major surgery, light general anaesthesia was not associated with lower 1-year mortality than deep general anaesthesia. Our trial defines a broad range of anaesthetic depth over which anaesthesia may be safely delivered when titrating volatile anaesthetic concentrations using a processed electroencephalographic monitor. Health Research Council of New Zealand; National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia; Research Grant Council of Hong Kong; National Institute for Health and Research, UK; and National Institutes of Health, USA.

In this research, microstructural events and mechanical behaviors in dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium (Al) alloy AA6082-AA7075 joints have been evaluated to apply aerospace, defense, and military sectors. FSW parametric effects have a more significant impact on the mechanical performances and microstructure of produced joints. FSW tool rotational speed, welding speed, and tool plunge speed were chosen to make the weld joints. The rotational tool speeds of 1600 rpm and 2300 rpm, welding speeds of 40 mm/min and 60 mm/min, and tool plunge speeds of 20 mm/min and 30 mm/min were set as the upper and lower limits. A constant axial force of 5 kN was maintained throughout the joint fabrication process. A taper pin-profiled tool was utilized to produce the butt welded joints. Mechanical properties of microhardness, tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and bending strength of the joints were analyzed. The response of the stir zone microstructure to processing parameters was evaluated using optical microscopy (OM) and fractographic analysis of a tensile specimen shown by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The weld joints produced at 2300 rpm, tool traveling rate of 40 mm/min, and tool plunge speed of 30 mm/min showed the greatest tensile strength of the 191 MPa hardness of 145 Hv at the weld center and also the maximum bending strength of 114.23 N/mm2 was achieved. The lowest bending strength of 25.38 N/mm2 was obtained at 1600 rpm with 60 mm/min due to inappropriate mixing of the base metals and poor joint quality. Furthermore, this study revealed that a higher tool plunge speed facilitates the formation of equiaxed grains in the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) on the advancing side (AS). Additionally, the increment in tool rotational speed significantly improved the tensile strength, weld joint quality, and joint efficiency.

The effects of pH value on crystal size and optical property of zinc oxide nanoparticles prepared by chemical precipitation method were investigated.Prepared samples have been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,ultraviolet-visible spectrometer and photoluminescence spectrometer.From X-ray diffraction profile,it is found that the particle size of sample increases from 13.8 to 33 nm when the pH value of the solution was increased from 6 to 13.Microstructural study also shows that the particle size increases with pH value.Hexagonal shape of the zinc oxide nanoparticle has been confirmed by the scanning electron microscopy image.The recorded ultraviolet-visible spectrum shows excitonic absorption peaks around 381 nm.The energy gap of the prepared samples has been determined from the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum,effective mass model equation and Tauc＇s relation.It was found that the energy gap of the prepared samples decreases with increase in pH value.The recorded blue shift confirmed the quantum confinement effect in the prepared zinc oxide samples.Photoluminescence spectrum infers that the increase in pH value shifts the ultraviolet-visible emission but not the violet and green emissions.

Given the pleiotropic nature of coding sequences and that many loci exhibit multiple disease associations, it is within non-coding sequence that disease-specificity likely exists. Here, we focus on joint disorders, finding among replicated loci, that GDF5 exhibits over twenty distinct associations, and we identify causal variants for two of its strongest associations, hip dysplasia and knee osteoarthritis. By mapping regulatory regions in joint chondrocytes, we pinpoint two variants (rs4911178; rs6060369), on the same risk haplotype, which reside in anatomical site-specific enhancers. We show that both variants have clinical relevance, impacting disease by altering morphology. By modeling each variant in humanized mice, we observe joint-specific response, correlating with GDF5 expression. Thus, we uncouple separate regulatory variants on a common risk haplotype that cause joint-specific disease. By broadening our perspective, we finally find that patterns of modularity at GDF5 are also found at over three-quarters of loci with multiple GWAS disease associations. While many genetic loci have been found to be associated with disease, not many have had their causal variants and mechanisms investigated. Here, the authors experimentally dissect two loci near GDF5 which are associated with two different joint disorders and which map to independent regulatory elements.

The cobalt-doped CdS quantum dots that were synthesized using the co-precipitation process is discussed in this article. The x-ray diffraction analysis revealed a reduction in the crystallite size from 5.9 to 2.9 nm upon increasing the cobalt content from 0 to 10%. The energy gap of CdS and Co-doped CdS quantum dots was assessed from Tauc’s plot and it infers that Co-doping widens the bandgap of CdS quantum dots from 3.12 to 3.45 eV. The photoluminescence peak was observed to have a maximum intensity for 10% Co doping. The substitution of Co and the formation of CdS were confirmed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy through the peaks at 654 cm −1 and 426 cm −1 , respectively. The Raman spectra of undoped and Co-doped CdS quantum dots revealed the first longitudinal optical phonon mode at 300.8 cm −1 and the second longitudinal optical phonon mode at 599.3 cm −1 modes, with a decreasing intensity ratio. The presence of nearly spherical particles with a typical size of 7.2–3.9 nm was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, which is a good attribute for several applications. Room temperature magnetization measurement revealed a drop in saturation magnetization as particle size decreases, indicating that the ferromagnetism is caused by defects. Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis confirmed the ferromagnetic property of the CdS sample. Spin-spin relaxation time and spin-lattice relaxation time were calculated. The current study emphasizes the possibility of 10% Co doping in the CdS matrix in a simple co-precipitation method. The developed nearly spherical quantum dots will be studied for biomedical applications including biosensors and bioimaging.

Many studies have sought to describe the relationship between sleep disturbance and cognition in Parkinson's disease (PD). The Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS) and its variants (the Parkinson's disease Sleep Scale-Revised; PDSS-R, and the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2; PDSS-2) quantify a range of symptoms impacting sleep in only 15 items. However, data from these scales may be problematic as included items have considerable conceptual breadth, and there may be overlap in the constructs assessed. Multidimensional measurement models, accounting for the tendency for items to measure multiple constructs, may be useful more accurately to model variance than traditional confirmatory factor analysis. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that a multidimensional model (a bifactor model) is more appropriate than traditional factor analysis for data generated by these types of scales, using data collected using the PDSS-R as an exemplar. 166 participants diagnosed with idiopathic PD participated in this study. Using PDSS-R data, we compared three models: a unidimensional model; a 3-factor model consisting of sub-factors measuring insomnia, motor symptoms and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) symptoms; and, a confirmatory bifactor model with both a general factor and the same three sub-factors. Only the confirmatory bifactor model achieved satisfactory model fit, suggesting that PDSS-R data are multidimensional. There were differential associations between factor scores and patient characteristics, suggesting that some PDSS-R items, but not others, are influenced by mood and personality in addition to sleep symptoms. Multidimensional measurement models may also be a helpful tool in the PDSS and the PDSS-2 scales and may improve the sensitivity of these instruments.

Co-composting of water hyacinth, vegetable waste, and goat dung was performed with a ratio of 5:2:1 for a period of 60 days. Water hyacinth is rich in hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. In the initial co-composting bulking agent, the moisture content was high (71 ± 2%), and it decreased continuously during composting. The compost reached the mesophilic phase (2 to 10 days), the short thermophilic phase (10 to 18 days), the maturing phase (18 to 40 days), and the cooling phase (40 to 60 days). The increased temperature was observed at the thermophilic stage due to microbial activity. The pH of the composting manure ranged from 6.53 ± 0.02 to 7.12 ± 0.01. The mature compost achieved a stable pH after six weeks. The proteolytic, cellulolytic, and ligninolytic bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in the compost digested the lignin and cellulosic substrates and composted the organic matter. The organic matter content decreased during the maturation phase. A field experiment was performed to determine the efficacy of compost materials. Water hyacinth compost improved maize growth in terms of root height, shoot height, and leaf chlorophyll content. The co-composting method is used to produce nutrient-rich nitrogen sources for organic amendment and to improve crop yield.

This article focuses on structural, optical, magnetic, and dielectric behavior of Ni-substituted CeO 2 quantum dots synthesized by efficient chemical precipitation technique. Synthesized nanopowders were analyzed by XRD, FESEM, TEM, FT-IR, UV, PL, dielectric, electrochemical, and magnetic behavior. X-ray diffraction technique stipulated the nanopowders that exhibit FCC structure and don't have any unwanted phases. FESEM and TEM analyses showed that the particles are in the nanometer range and the microstructure alternation evidenced from spherical to the nanorods. The functional group and compositional study confirmed the substitution of Ni within CeO 2 . The UV–Vis absorption spectrum approved the blue shift in absorption and increase in bandgap from 3.39 to 4.20 eV. The photoluminescence study confirmed the strong blue emission with the increase of Ni concentration. VSM analysis demonstrated that the Ni-doped CeO 2 quantum dots are ferromagnetic nature and the magnetization increased. The electrochemical analysis confirmed the increase of supercapacitance property of CeO 2 nanoparticles with Ni at a low scan rate. The dielectric analysis suggested that the CeO 2 : Ni can be utilized for the capacitor application.

A series of Co 1− x Zn x Fe 2 O 4 ( x  = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0) ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical precipitation method and annealed at 800 °C for 5 h to remove the strain. Synthesized samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, ultra-violet spectrometer, fluorescence spectrometer, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, scanning and transmission electron microscope, vibrating sample magnetometer, and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques. The average crystallite size was decreased from 16.2 to 5.6 nm with increasing Zn concentration. UV–Vis absorption spectra indicate that Zn dopant decreased the energy gap of CoFe 2 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles from 3.06 to 3.15 eV. The presence of two main metal oxide bands in FTIR spectra around 456 cm −1 and 553 cm −1 confirmed the octahedral and tetrahedral sites of metal oxide bands. The fluorescence spectra of the synthesized samples show red emission at 681 nm. TEM analysis confirmed the structural transformation from nanorods to nanoparticles as the Zn content increases. The EDAX spectrum confirmed homogeneous mixing of Co, Zn, Fe, and O atoms. VSM analysis shows that increase in Zn concentration decreased the saturation magnetization from 34.2 to 1.6 emu g −1 and the coercivity from 0.111 to 0.015 T. Due to higher coercivity (0.1112 T), synthesized CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles may be useful in the production of data storage devices, permanent magnet, parts of electronic circuits, and also in stealth technology.