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Abstract Extremely rare topologically protected acoustic energy sink is presented in this article. Acoustic topological phenomena are generally described using quantum anomalous hall effects (QAHE), quantum valley hall effects (QVHE), and quantum spin hall effects (QSHE) where spin orbit coupling is predominant. Topological edge states are demonstrated by bulk-boundary distinction when the bulk is insulated. In this article topological acoustic conductor and its phenomena are theoretically demonstrated where the boundaries are insulated. This is exactly opposite to the behavior of a topological acoustic insulator. Phenomena presented in this article could not be explained by any of the trio Quantum Hall effects. To explain the phenomenon phononic crystals or PnCs were designed to obtain accidental triple degeneracies, resulting a Dirac-like cone at the Γ point ( $$\overrightarrow{k}=0$$ k → = 0 ). The phenomenon is microarchitecture and microrotation field independent. Here time reversal symmetry or the space inversion symmetry is not broken, and the degenerated ‘Deaf band’ dominates the local dispersion with a syncline top band. This scenario results in continuously changing ‘up spin’ and ‘down spin’ of the wave energy in the media and remain trapped without specific preferential direction of wave transport. The spin was found to generate the spin angular momentum, causing the switching in geometric phase from $$0-2\pi$$ 0 - 2 π in cyclic pattern, keeping the energy trapped inside the bulk media.

The ever-changing technology landscape has seen a significant breakthrough with the introduction of edge computing. This innovation has revolutionized various domains, and one of its critical applications is in the domain of accident detection. Edge computing can help enhance road safety and emergency response by enabling real-time processing and analysis of sensory information from onboard sensors, cameras, and other connected devices. By integrating edge computing into accident detection systems, we can overcome the limitations of conventional centralized cloud-based methods and create a safer transportation network. In this article, we have proposed an accident detection framework using Deep Learning (DL) in the edge cloud environment. For accident detection, we have used a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)- based DL model. The DL model detects the accident in the edge node which is near the data source. The proposed framework provides low latency, minimal network usage, and lower execution time as compared to only cloud-based deployment. Additionally, the proposed accident detection model is accurate up to 95.91% with Precision 0.9574, Recall 0.9574 and F1 score 0.9574 in the cloud-edge environment.

Abstract Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a multidimensional class of regulatory molecules that are involved in many aspects of brain function. Emerging evidence indicates that lncRNAs are localized to the synapse; however, a direct role for their activity in this subcellular compartment in memory formation has yet to be demonstrated. Using lncRNA capture-seq, we identified a specific set of lncRNAs that accumulate in the synaptic compartment within the infralimbic prefrontal cortex of adult male C57/Bl6 mice. Among these was a splice variant related to the stress-associated lncRNA, Gas5. RNA immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry and single-molecule imaging revealed that this Gas5 isoform, in association with the RNA binding proteins G3BP2 and CAPRIN1, regulates the activity-dependent trafficking and clustering of RNA granules. In addition, we found that cell-type-specific, activity-dependent, and synapse-specific knockdown of the Gas5 variant led to impaired fear extinction memory. These findings identify a new mechanism of fear extinction that involves the dynamic interaction between local lncRNA activity and RNA condensates in the synaptic compartment.

Abstract Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is currently on critical path for glioblastoma therapeutics. SDT is a non-invasive approach utilising focused ultrasound to activate photosensitisers like 5-ALA to impede tumour growth. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic functions of SDT remain enigmatic. This is primarily due to the lack of intricately optimised instrumentation capable of modulating SDT delivery to glioma cells in vitro. Consequently, very little information is available on the effects of SDT on glioma stem cells which are key drivers of gliomagenesis and recurrence. To address this, the current study has developed and validated an automated in vitro SDT system to allow the application and mapping of focused ultrasound fields under varied exposure conditions and setup configurations. The study optimizes ultrasound frequency, intensity, plate base material, thermal effect, and the integration of live cells. Indeed, in the presence of 5-ALA, focused ultrasound induces apoptotic cell death in primary patient-derived glioma cells with concurrent upregulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Intriguingly, primary glioma stem neurospheres also exhibit remarkably reduced 3D growth upon SDT exposure. Taken together, the study reports an in vitro system for SDT applications on tissue culture-based disease models to potentially benchmark the novel approach to the current standard-of-care.

Abstract Homocysteine (Hcy), produced physiologically in all cells, is an intermediate metabolite of methionine and cysteine metabolism. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) resulting from an in-born error of metabolism that leads to accumulation of high levels of Hcy, is associated with vascular damage, neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Using a HHcy model in neuronal cells, primary cortical neurons and transgenic zebrafish, we demonstrate diminished autophagy and Hcy-induced neurotoxicity associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, fragmentation and apoptosis. We find this mitochondrial dysfunction is due to Hcy-induced proteotoxicity leading to ER stress. We show this sustained proteotoxicity originates from the perturbation of upstream autophagic pathways through an aberrant activation of mTOR and that protetoxic stress act as a feedforward cues to aggravate a sustained ER stress that culminate to mitochondrial apoptosis in HHcy model systems. Using chemical chaperones to mitigate sustained ER stress, Hcy-induced proteotoxicity and consequent neurotoxicity were rescued. We also rescue neuronal lethality by activation of autophagy and thereby reducing proteotoxicity and ER stress. Our findings pave the way to devise new strategies for the treatment of neural and cognitive pathologies reported in HHcy, by either activation of upstream autophagy or by suppression of downstream ER stress. Video Abstract

This study examined the impact of personalizing muscle vibration parameters on trunk control. We assessed how altered trunk extensor muscle (TEM) proprioception affects seated trunk control in healthy controls (HCs). To explore the link between altered TEM proprioception and impaired trunk control in chronic low back pain (cLBP), we performed equivalence testing between HCs undergoing TEM vibration and cLBP without vibration. Twenty HCs performed active joint reposition error (AJRE) testing to determine personalized vibration parameters. Each participant maintained balance on an unstable chair with eyes open and closed, with and without TEM vibration. We compared trunk control between HCs and twenty age- and sex-matched cLBP participants, using mean velocity and 95% confidence ellipse area of center-of-pressure changes to quantify trunk postural control. Equivalence was examined by comparing mean difference scores to minimal detectable change values and calculating between-group effect sizes. Personalized vibration parameters led to larger lumbopelvic repositioning errors (d = 0.89) than any single vibration frequency (d = 0.31–0.36). In healthy adults with no back pain, vision had large effects on postural control (ηp2 = 0.604–0.842), but TEM vibration had no significant effects (p > 0.105) or interactions with vision (p > 0.423). Between-group effect sizes (d = 0.32–0.51) exceeded our threshold for performance equivalence (d < 0.2). Muscle vibration altered position sense during AJRE testing, and personalizing parameters amplified this effect. However, TEM vibration had minimal impact on seated trunk postural control in adults with no back pain and did not lead to performance degradation comparable to that in cLBP.

A series of N-(4-chlorophenyl) substituted pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles was synthesised and screened for their potential to inhibit kinases and exhibit anticancer activity against primary patient-derived glioblastoma 2D cells and 3D neurospheres. A collection of 10 compounds was evaluated against glioma cell lines, with compound 4j exhibiting promising glioma growth inhibitory properties. Compound 4j was screened against 139 purified kinases and exhibited low micromolar activity against kinase AKT2/PKBβ. AKT signalling is one of the main oncogenic pathways in glioma and is often targeted for novel therapeutics. Indeed, AKT2 levels correlated with glioma malignancy and poorer patient survival. Compound 4j inhibited the 3D neurosphere formation in primary patient-derived glioma stem cells and exhibited potent EC50 against glioblastoma cell lines. Although exhibiting potency against glioma cells, 4j exhibited significantly less cytotoxicity against non-cancerous cells even at fourfold–fivefold the concentration. Herein we establish a novel biochemical kinase inhibitory function for N-(4-chlorophenyl) substituted pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles and further report their anti-glioma activity in vitro for the first time.KEY MESSAGEAnti-glioma pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole 4j inhibited the 3D neurosphere formation in primary patient-derived glioma stem cells. 4j also displayed PKBβ/AKT2 inhibitory activity. 4j is nontoxic towards non-cancerous cells.

Regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton is crucial for the development and maintenance of neuronal architecture, and recent studies have highlighted the significance of regulated RNA processing in the establishment and maintenance of neural circuits. In a genetic screen conducted using mechanosensory neurons of C. elegans, we identified a mutation in muscleblind-1/mbl-1 as a suppressor of loss of kinesin-13 family microtubule destabilizing factor klp-7. Muscleblind-1(MBL-1) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates the splicing, localization, and stability of RNA. Our findings demonstrate that mbl-1 is required cell-autonomously for axon growth and proper synapse positioning in the posterior lateral microtubule (PLM) neuron. Loss of mbl-1 leads to increased microtubule dynamics and mixed orientation of microtubules in the anterior neurite of PLM. These defects are also accompanied by abnormal axonal transport of the synaptic protein RAB-3 and reduction of gentle touch sensation in mbl-1 mutant. Our data also revealed that mbl-1 is genetically epistatic to mec-7 (β tubulin) and mec-12 (α tubulin) in regulating axon growth. Furthermore, mbl-1 is epistatic to sad-1, an ortholog of BRSK/Brain specific-serine/threonine kinase and a known regulator of synaptic machinery, for synapse formation at the correct location of the PLM neurite. Notably, the immunoprecipitation of MBL-1 resulted in the co-purification of mec-7, mec-12, and sad-1 mRNAs, suggesting a direct interaction between MBL-1 and these transcripts. Additionally, mbl-1 mutants exhibited reduced levels and stability of mec-7 and mec-12 transcripts. Our study establishes a previously unknown link between RNA-binding proteins and cytoskeletal machinery, highlighting their crucial roles in the development and maintenance of the nervous system.

The article presents the design concept of a surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based lab-on-a-chip sensor with multifrequency and multidirectional sensitivity. The conventional SAW sensors use delay lines that suffer from multiple signal losses such as insertion, reflection, transmission losses, etc. Most delay lines are designed to transmit and receive continuous signal at a fixed frequency. Thus, the delay lines are limited to only a few features, like frequency shift and change in wave velocity, during the signal analysis. These facts lead to limited sensitivity and a lack of opportunity to utilize the multi-directional variability of the sensing platform at different frequencies. Motivated by these facts, a guided wave sensing platform that utilizes simultaneous tone burst-based excitation in multiple directions is proposed in this article. The design incorporates a five-count tone burst signal for the omnidirectional actuation. This helps the acquisition of sensitive long part of the coda wave (CW) signals from multiple directions, which is hypothesized to enhance sensitivity through improved signal analysis. In this article, the design methodology and implementation of unique tone burst interdigitated electrodes (TB-IDT) are presented. Sensing using TB-IDT enables accessing multiple frequencies simultaneously. This results in a wider frequency spectrum and allows better scope for the detection of different target analytes. The novel design process utilized guided wave analysis of the substrate, and selective directional focused interdigitated electrodes (F-IDT) were implemented. The article demonstrates computational simulation along with experimental results with validation of multifrequency and multidirectional sensing capability.

Objectives: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have suffered during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with worsening of both motor and nonmotor symptoms. We conducted this study to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and concerns of PD patients and their caregivers. Methods: The study was conducted in mixed method, where the baseline data was taken by face-to-face interview during the unlock phase of December 2020 to March 2021, when there was no lockdown. This included demography, Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8 (PDQ-8), and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire for Carer (PDQ-Carer). During the second wave of COVID-19 (April–June 2021), telephonic interview was conducted using Depression, Anxiety Stress Scale- 21 Items (DASS-21), PDQ-8, PDQ-Carer, and open-ended questions regarding their concerns. Results: Compared with the baseline data, PDQ-8 and PDQ-Carer scores showed significant worsening during the second wave. DASS-21 scores had significant correlation with PDQ-Carer and PDQ-8 scores. Female patients reported poorer QoL. Caregivers of non-vaccinated patients had worse PDQ-Carer Strain scores. There was no significant association between worsening of motor symptoms and PDQ-8 and PDQ-Carer scores. More than 80% patients and 70% caregivers reported anxiety and depression. Their concerns were regarding difficulties due to social isolation, restriction of activity, and financial constraints. Additionally, there were worries about patient care, vaccination, and recurrence of the wave. Conclusions: The QoL of both patients and their caregivers were affected by the pandemic. A significant proportion had anxiety and depression, and this correlated with QoL. There were some important concerns on various aspects of the pandemic.

Multimedia computing (MC) is rising as a nascent computing paradigm to process multimedia applications and provide efficient multimedia cloud services with optimal Quality of Service (QoS) to the multimedia cloud users. But, the growing popularity of MC is affecting the climate. Because multimedia cloud data centers consume an enormous amount of energy to provide services, it harms the environment due to carbon dioxide emissions. Virtual machine (VM) migration can effectively address this issue; it reduces the energy consumption of multimedia cloud data centers. Due to the reduction of Energy Consumption (EC), the Service Level Agreement violation (SLAV) may increase. An efficient VM selection plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability between EC and SLAV. This work highlights a novel VM selection policy based on identifying the Maximum value among the differences of the Sum of Squares Utilization Rate (MdSSUR) parameter to reduce the EC of multimedia cloud data centers with minimal SLAV. The proposed MdSSUR VM selection policy has been evaluated using real workload traces in CloudSim. The simulation result of the proposed MdSSUR VM selection policy demonstrates the rate of improvements of the EC, the number of VM migrations, and the SLAV by 28.37%, 89.47%, and 79.14%, respectively.

The interaction of a high intensity x-ray pulse with matter causes ionization of the constituent atoms through various atomic processes, and the system eventually goes through a complex structural dynamics. Understanding this whole process is important from the perspective of structure determination of molecules using single particle imaging. XMDYN, which is a classical molecular dynamics-Monte Carlo based hybrid approach, has been successful in simulating the dynamical evolution of various systems under intense irradiation over the past years. The present study aims for extending the XMDYN toolkit to treat chemical bonds using the reactive force field. In order to study its impact, a highly intense x-ray pulse was made to interact with the simplest amino acid, glycine. Different model variants were used to highlight the consequences of charge rearrangement and chemical bonds on the time evolution. The charge-rearrangement-enhanced x-ray ionization of molecules effect is also discussed to address the capability of a classical MD based approach, i.e., XMDYN, to capture such a molecular phenomenon.

The Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) has been shown to regulate neuronal development and synapse formation. Activity-dependent regulation of E3 ligase, a component of the UPS that targets specific proteins for proteasome-mediated degradation, is emerging as a pivotal player for the establishment of functional synapses. Here, we identified TRIM47 as a developmentally regulated E3 ligase that is expressed in rat hippocampus during the temporal window of synapse formation. We have demonstrated that the expression of TRIM47 is regulated by the glutamate-induced synaptic activity of hippocampal neurons in culture. In addition, the activity-dependent enhancement of TRIM47 expression is recapitulated following the object location test, a hippocampus-dependent spatial memory paradigm. We observed that this enhancement of TRIM47 expression requires NMDA receptor activation. The knockdown of TRIM47 leads to an enhancement of spine density without affecting dendritic complexity. Furthermore, we observed an increase in excitatory synapse development upon loss of TRIM47 function. Comprehensively, our study identified an activity-regulated E3 ligase that drives excitatory synapse formation in hippocampal neurons.

It is always challenging to diagnose a disease using a biosensor reliably, and quickly with high sensitivity and selectivity, simultaneosuly. Recently the world experienced a global pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Although the vaccines are available, COVID-19 resulted a huge threat to the entire world with high mortality rates. Irrespective of a specific disease, there is a constant need for a cheaper and faster in-vitro, lab-on-a-chip sensor with high sensitivity and selectivity. Such sensors will not only facilitate the disease detection but will expedite and vaccine development process through detection of its corresponding antibodies when developed. In this article, we present an ultrasonic guided wave sensor using 128° YX lithium niobate piezoelectric wafer, specially designed in a shape of a multi-threaded comb with cantilever beams which is equally selective and sensitive for the detection of corresponding antigen-antibody assays. As a proof of concept in this article, the diagnostic sensor is created and tested for detection of SARS-COV-2 antibodies. Sensors were functionalized with SARS-COV-2 antigens and target antibody for the same was detected. Unique and judicially tuned acoustic features are analyzed for successful detection of the right antibodies. The proposed lab-on-a-chip device utilizes a wide range of diagnostic frequencies resulting into a highly sensitive platform for the diagnostics even to the slightest biophysical changes. The proposed sensor is also believed to extend to the detection of various other antigens/antibodies of different diseases in the future.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is implicated in various inflammatory diseases such as ischemic stroke, heart attack, organ failure, and COVID-19. Recent studies have shown that endothelial dysfunction in the brain is attributed to excessive inflammatory responses caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier and consequently neurological damage. Here, we aim to examine the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19 and its implications for glioblastoma (GBM) progression. Methods: Single-cell transcriptome data GSE131928 and GSE159812 were obtained from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) to analyze the expression profiles of key players in innate immunity and inflammation between brain endothelial dysfunction caused by COVID-19 and GBM progression. Results: Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the brain of COVID-19 patients revealed that endothelial cells had undergone significant transcriptomic changes, with several genes involved in immune responses and inflammation upregulated. Moreover, transcription factors were observed to modulate this inflammation, including interferon-regulated genes. Conclusions: The results indicate a significant overlap between COVID-19 and GBM in the context of endothelial dysfunction, suggesting that there may be an endothelial dysfunction link connecting severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain to GBM progression.

Artificial methods for noise filtering are required for the twenty-first century’s Factory vision 4.0. From various perspectives of physics, noise filtering capabilities could be addressed in multiple ways. In this article, the physics of noise control is first dissected into active and passive control mechanisms and then further different physics are categorized to visualize their respective physics, mechanism, and target of their respective applications. Beyond traditional passive approaches, the comparatively modern concept for sound isolation and acoustic noise filtering is based on artificial metamaterials. These new materials demonstrate unique interaction with acoustic wave propagation exploiting different physics, which is emphasized in this article. A few multi-functional metamaterials were reported to harvest energy while filtering the ambient noise simultaneously. It was found to be extremely useful for next-generation noise applications where simultaneously, green energy could be generated from the energy which is otherwise lost. In this article, both these concepts are brought under one umbrella to evaluate the applicability of the respective methods. An attempt has been made to create groundbreaking transformative and collaborative possibilities. Controlling of acoustic sources and active damping mechanisms are reported under an active mechanism. Whereas Helmholtz resonator, sound absorbing, spring-mass damping, and vibration absorbing approaches together with metamaterial approaches are reported under a passive mechanism. The possible application of metamaterials with ventilation while performing noise filtering is reported to be implemented for future Smart Cities.

In this work, we report the effect of steady-state atmospheric plasma (Corona discharge) in nanofibers and nanocomposite membranes for piezoelectric applications. The investigation was performed in PVDF (Poly vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers, CNT (Carbon Nanotubes)-reinforced PVDF nanocomposites, and PAN (Poly acrylonitrile) nanofiber membranes. Steady-state plasma was generated with a high voltage power source with 1 mA discharge current output and 6 kV discharge voltage, and the gap between tip and the material was maintained to be 1 cm. For the fabrication of nanofibers and nanocomposite membranes, an electrospinning method was used. The electrospinning parameters, such as flow rate and voltage, were optimally tuned for obtaining uniform nanofibers and nanomembranes. Along with the plasma treatment, heat treatment above the glass transition temperature was also conducted on the nanofiber membranes. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the morphology of the nanofibers was observed. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) demonstrated the polycrystallinity of the nanofibers. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the PVDF nanofibers shows a peak at 796 cm−1 representing α-phase (C-H rocking) in the control sample which is absent in the treated samples. Raman spectroscopy of PVDF nanofibers identifies a Raman shift from 873 cm−1 to 877 cm−1 (denoting β-phase) for plasma-treated samples only. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) concludes that the intensity of the free radicals increases from 1.37 to 1.46 (a.u.) after plasma treatment. Then, sensors were fabricated from the PVDF nanofibers, MWCNT-reinforced PVDF nanofibers, and PAN nanofibers to characterize their piezoelectric properties. The impact test results showed that the atmospheric plasma and heat-treated samples had 86%, 277%, and 92% increases of the d33 value (piezoelectric coefficient) in the case of PVDF nanofibers, MWCNT-reinforced nanofibers, and PAN nanofibers, respectively. It was also observed that the capacitance of the nanofiber membranes has increased due to the plasma treatment.

Homeostatic scaling in neurons has been attributed to the individual contribution of either translation or degradation; however, there remains limited insight toward understanding how the interplay between the two processes effectuates synaptic homeostasis. Here, we report that a codependence between protein synthesis and degradation mechanisms drives synaptic homeostasis, whereas abrogation of either prevents it. Coordination between the two processes is achieved through the formation of a tripartite complex between translation regulators, the 26S proteasome, and the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC) components such as Argonaute, MOV10, and Trim32 on actively translating transcripts or polysomes. The components of this ternary complex directly interact with each other in an RNA-dependent manner. Disruption of polysomes abolishes this ternary interaction, suggesting that translating RNAs facilitate the combinatorial action of the proteasome and the translational apparatus. We identify that synaptic downscaling involves miRISC remodeling, which entails the mTORC1-dependent translation of Trim32, an E3 ligase, and the subsequent degradation of its target, MOV10 via the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase. We find that the E3 ligase Trim32 specifically polyubiquitinates MOV10 for its degradation during synaptic downscaling. MOV10 degradation alone is sufficient to invoke downscaling by enhancing Arc translation through its 3' UTR and causing the subsequent removal of postsynaptic AMPA receptors. Synaptic scaling was occluded when we depleted Trim32 and overexpressed MOV10 in neurons, suggesting that the Trim32-MOV10 axis is necessary for synaptic downscaling. We propose a mechanism that exploits a translation-driven protein degradation paradigm to invoke miRISC remodeling and induce homeostatic scaling during chronic network activity.

The present study is devoted to isolate and study the effect of charge migration on the photoionization from the X@C60. The noble gas atoms, Ar, Kr, and Xe, are confined in the C60 to investigate the impact of charge migration from the entrapped atom to the C60 side. The present work concludes that the confinement oscillations in the photoionization features are amplified due to the charge migration. Further, the angle-resolved, spin average time delay is also investigated in the light of confinement. Features in the time delay due to the charge migration are more amplified relative to those in the cross-section or angular distribution.

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are the guided waves that propagate along the top surface of a material with wave vectors orthogonal to the normal direction to the surface. Based on these waves, SAW sensors are conceptualized by employing piezoelectric crystals where the guided elastodynamic waves are generated through an electromechanical coupling. Electromechanical coupling in both active and passive modes is achieved by integrating interdigitated electrode transducers (IDT) with the piezoelectric crystals. Innovative meta-designs of the periodic IDTs define the functionality and application of SAW sensors. This review article presents the physics of guided surface acoustic waves and the piezoelectric materials used for designing SAW sensors. Then, how the piezoelectric materials and cuts could alter the functionality of the sensors is explained. The article summarizes a few key configurations of the electrodes and respective guidelines for generating different guided wave patterns such that new applications can be foreseen. Finally, the article explores the applications of SAW sensors and their progress in the fields of biomedical, microfluidics, chemical, and mechano-biological applications along with their crucial roles and potential plans for improvements in the long-term future in the field of science and technology.

Abstract Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to antibiotics in early‐to‐middle adulthood is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma. However, mechanistic studies in established preclinical cancer to examine these claims are extremely limited. Therefore, we investigated the effect of long‐term exposure of an antibiotic cocktail composed of Vancomycin, Neomycin, and Streptomycin, on tumor development and progression in the ApcMin/+ mouse, an established genetic model for familial adenomatous polyposis. Clinical pathologies related to tumor development as well as intestinal and colon tissue histopathology were studied at ages 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, which correspond to the approximate ages of development of neoplasia, gut inflammation with polyposis, and cancer progression, respectively, in this animal model. We show that the antibiotics significantly increase the severity of clinical symptoms, including effects on intestinal histology and goblet cell numbers. In addition, they promote small intestinal polyposis. Finally, metagenomic analysis of fecal samples demonstrated that antibiotic exposure is associated with a significant but nonuniform depletion of the animal's natural gut flora. Overall, these findings support the premise that long‐term antibiotic exposure mediates the selected depletion of gut microbial communities and the concomitant thinning of the protective mucus layer, resulting in an increase in tumor development.

Philip Neilsen sees that in Malouf’s works ‘nationality’ or ‘Australian-ness’ are the most prominent among other preoccupations and also that his writings show a consistent concern with the exploration of historical influences upon a present consciousness’. In his fictional works Malouf’s Australia takes shape as a nation composed of migrants and also that Malouf’s Australia is a nation on the move, created and then repeatedly transformed by the process of migration. It can also be said that while in his first novel Johnno, Malouf gives us the ‘flesh’ of Australian exile, in An Imaginary Life he gives us the precise ‘bones’ of exile, of psychological descent, and of a form of spiritual reconciliation is the fictionalisation of the late life of the Latin poet Ovid, who spent his final years as a political exile in Tomis (contemporary Constanta). I would like to show through this paper that apparently though An Imaginary Life seems to talk of Ovid and his exile, in reality, through Ovid’s experience; it also retells the Australian myth of exile. It tells of the experience of the Australian settlers, who are in a state of exile from their homeland England. It is a sense of being separated at the edge of the world, away from the centre of things. And in Ovid’s ultimate acceptance of the harsh land and exiled existence, Malouf’s novel evokes for the reader the need for the contemporary Australians to identify with and have a better sense of belonging to Australia, than just belonging to a second-hand Europe.

Simultaneous occurrence of Dirac-like cones at the center of the Brillouin zone (Γ) at two different energy states is termed Dual-Dirac-like cones (DDC) in this article. The occurrence of DDC is a rare phenomenon. Thus, the generation of multiple Dirac-like cones at the center of the Brillouin zone is usually non-manipulative and poses a challenge to achieve through traditional accidental degeneracy. However, if predictively created, DDC will have multiple engineering applications with acoustics and vibration. Thus, the possibilities of creating DDC have been identified herein using a simple square periodic array of tunable square phononic crystals (PnCs) in air media. It was found that antisymmetric deaf bands may play critical roles in tracking the DDC. Hence, pivoting on the deaf bands at two different energy states, an optimized tuning parameter was found to achieve Dirac-like cones at two distinct frequency states, simultaneously. Orthogonal wave transport identified as key Dirac phenomena was achieved at two frequencies, herein. It was identified that beyond the Dirac-like cone, the Dirac phenomena remain dominant when a doubly degenerated state created by a top band with positive curvature and a near-flat deaf band are lifted from a bottom band with negative curvature. Utilizing a mechanism of rotating the PnCs near a fixed deaf band, frequencies are tracked to form the DDC, and orthogonal wave transport is demonstrated. Exploiting the dispersion behavior, unique acoustic phenomena, such as ballistic wave transmission, pseudo diffusion and acoustic cloaking are also demonstrated at the Dirac frequencies using numerical simulation. The proposed tunable acoustic PnCs will have important applications in acoustic and ultrasonic imaging, waveguiding and even acoustic computing.

Cloud computing is one of the most popular and pragmatic topics of research nowadays. The allocation of cloudlet(s) to suitable VM(s) is one of the most challenging areas of research in the domain of cloud computing. This paper highlights a new cloudlet allocation algorithm which improves the performance of a cloud service provider (CSP) in comparison with the other existing cloudlet allocation algorithms. The proposed Range wise Busy-checking 2-way Balanced (RB2B) cloudlet allocation algorithm optimizes few basic parameters associated with the performance analysis. An extensive simulation is done to evaluate the proposed algorithm using Cloudsim to attest its efficacy in comparison to the other existing allocation policies.

The effect of a self-pulsing non-equilibrium plasma discharge on piezoelectric PVDF nanofiber membrane was investigated. The plasma discharge was generated in air with a DC power source, with a discharge current of 0.012 mA, a nominal interelectrode separation of 1 mm, and discharge voltage of ~970 V. In a continuous fabrication process, the electrospinning method was used to generate thin nanofiber membrane with a flow rate of 0.7–1 mL h−1 and 25–27 kV voltage to obtain the nanofiber with high sensitivity and a higher degree of alignment and uniformity over a larger area. Plasma treatment was applied on both single layer and multi-layer (three layers) nanomembranes. In addition, simultaneously, the nanofiber membranes were heat-treated at a glass transition temperature (80–120 °C) and then underwent plasma treatment. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the area under the curve at 840 and 1272 cm−1 (β phase) increased due to the application of plasma and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) indicated an increase in the degree of crystallinity. Finally, PVDF sensors were fabricated from the nanofibers and their piezoelectric properties were characterized. The results suggested that compared to the pristine samples the piezoelectric properties in the plasma and plasma-heat-treated sensors were enhanced by 70% and 85% respectively.

Peridynamic based elastodynamic computation tool named Peri-elastodynamics is proposed herein to simulate the three-dimensional (3D) Lamb wave modes in materials for the first time. Peri-elastodynamics is a nonlocal meshless approach which is a scale-independent generalized technique to visualize the acoustic and ultrasonic waves in plate-like structure, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nanodevices for their respective characterization. In this article, the characteristics of the fundamental Lamb wave modes are simulated in a sample plate-like structure. Lamb wave modes are generated using a surface mounted piezoelectric (PZT) transducer which is actuated from the top surface. The proposed generalized Peri-elastodynamics method is not only capable of simulating two dimensional (2D) in plane wave under plane strain condition formulated previously but also capable of accurately simulating the out of plane Symmetric and Antisymmetric Lamb wave modes in plate like structures in 3D. For structural health monitoring (SHM) of plate-like structures and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of MEMS devices, it is necessary to simulate the 3D wave-damage interaction scenarios and visualize the different wave features due to damages. Hence, in addition, to simulating the guided ultrasonic wave modes in pristine material, Lamb waves were also simulated in a damaged plate. The accuracy of the proposed technique is verified by comparing the modes generated in the plate and the mode shapes across the thickness of the plate with theoretical wave analysis.

Homeobox proteins, a class of well conserved transcription factors, regulate the expression of targeted genes, especially those involved in development. In filamentous fungi, homeobox genes are required for normal conidiogenesis and fruiting body formation. In the present study, we identified eight homeobox (hbx) genes in the aflatoxin-producing ascomycete, Aspergillus flavus, and determined their respective role in growth, conidiation and sclerotial production. Disruption of seven of the eight genes had little to no effect on fungal growth and development. However, disruption of the homeobox gene AFLA_069100, designated as hbx1, in two morphologically different A. flavus strains, CA14 and AF70, resulted in complete loss of production of conidia and sclerotia as well as aflatoxins B1 and B2, cyclopiazonic acid and aflatrem. Microscopic examination showed that the Δhbx1 mutants did not produce conidiophores. The inability of Δhbx1 mutants to produce conidia was related to downregulation of brlA (bristle) and abaA (abacus), regulatory genes for conidiophore development. These mutants also had significant downregulation of the aflatoxin pathway biosynthetic genes aflC, aflD, aflM and the cluster-specific regulatory gene, aflR. Our results demonstrate that hbx1 not only plays a significant role in controlling A. flavus development but is also critical for the production of secondary metabolites, such as aflatoxins.

This letter presents the possibility of energy scavenging (ES) utilizing the physics of acousto-elastic metamaterial (AEMM) at low frequencies (