Patterning optimization for device realization of patterned GaAsSbN nanowire photodetectors.

Vertically grown nanowires are a research interest in optoelectronics and photovoltaic applications due to their high surface to volume ratio and good light trapping capabilities. This study presents the effects of process and design parameters on self-catalyzed GaAsSbN nanowires (NWs) grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on patterned silicon substrates using electron beam lithography. Vertical alignment of the patterned NWs examined via scanning electron microscopy show the sensitivity of patterned nanowire growth to the parameters of nanowire diameter, pitch, dose time, etching techniques and growth plan. Diameters range from 90 nm to 250 nm. Pitch lengths of 200 nm, 400 nm, 600 nm, 800 nm, 1000 nm, and 1200 nm were examined. Dry etching of the oxide layer of the silicon substrate and PMMA coating is performed using reactive ion etching for 20 s and 120 s respectively. Comparisons of different HF etch durations performed pre and post PMMA removal are presented. Additionally, the report of an observed surfactant effect in dilute nitride GaAsSbN nanowires in comparison to non-nitride GaAsSb is presented. Optimizations to patterning, reactive ion etching, and HF etching are presented to obtain higher vertical yield of patterned GaAsSbN nanowires, achieving ~80% of the expected NW/µm2. Room temperature and 4K photoluminescence results show the effect of nitride incorporation for further bandgap tuning, and patterned pitch on the optical characteristics of the nanowires which gives insights to the compositional homogeneity for nanowires grown at each pitch length.

Host individual and gut location are more important in gut microbiota community composition than temporal variation in the marine herbivorous fish Kyphosus sydneyanus.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota play a key role in the nutrition of many marine herbivorous fishes through hindgut fermentation of seaweed. Gut microbiota composition in the herbivorous fish Kyphosus sydneyanus (family Kyphosidae) varies between individuals and gut sections, raising two questions: (i) is community composition stable over time, especially given seasonal shifts in storage metabolites of dietary brown algae, and (ii) what processes influence community assembly in the hindgut? RESULTS: We examined variation in community composition in gut lumen and mucosa samples from three hindgut sections of K. sydneyanus collected at various time points in 2020 and 2021 from reefs near Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. 16S rRNA gene analysis was used to characterize microbial community composition, diversity and estimated density. Differences in community composition between gut sections remained relatively stable over time, with little evidence of temporal variation. Clostridia dominated the proximal hindgut sections and Bacteroidia the most distal section. Differences were detected in microbial composition between lumen and mucosa, especially at genus level. CONCLUSIONS: High variation in community composition and estimated bacterial density among individual fish combined with low variation in community composition temporally suggests that initial community assembly involved environmental selection and random sampling/neutral effects. Community stability following colonisation could also be influenced by historical contingency, where early colonizing members of the community may have a selective advantage. The impact of temporal changes in the algae may be limited by the dynamics of substrate depletion along the gut following feeding, i.e. the depletion of storage metabolites in the proximal hindgut. Estimated bacterial density, showed that Bacteroidota has the highest density (copies/mL) in distal-most lumen section V, where SCFA concentrations are highest. Bacteroidota genera Alistipes and Rikenella may play important roles in the breakdown of seaweed into useful compounds for the fish host.

Chakrabartyella piscis gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Lachnospiraceae, isolated from the hindgut of the marine herbivorous fish Kyphosus sydneyanus.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, obligately anaerobic bacterium, designated strain BP5GT, was isolated from the hindgut of a silver drummer (Kyphosus sydneyanus) fish collected from the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Lachnospiraceae in the phylum Bacillota and was most closely related to Anaerotignum propionicum with 94.06 % sequence identity. Isolate BP5GT grew on agar medium containing mannitol and fish gut fluid as carbon sources. Clear colonies of approximately 1 mm diameter of the isolate grew within a week at 20-28 °C (optimum, 28 °C) and pH 7.6-8.5 (optimum, pH 8.5). Strain BP5GT was very sensitive to NaCl and the optimal concentration for growth was 0.045 % (w/v). Acetate and propionate were the major fermentation products. The major cellular fatty acids were C12 : 0, C14 : 0, C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The genome sequence of the isolate was determined. Its G+C content was 38.41 mol% and the 71.41 % average nucleotide identity of the BP5GT genome to its closest neighbour with a sequenced genome (A. propionicum DSM 1682T) indicated low genomic relatedness. Based on the phenotypic and taxonomic characteristics observed in this study, a novel genus and species named Chakrabartyella piscis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for isolate BP5GT (=ICMP 24687T=JCM 35769T).

Differences in the detail: Metacognition is better for seen than sensed changes to visual scenes.

Metacognition is the process by which we know what we know. Knowing has both declarative and sensed components. Differences exist in the information that moves to our conscious awareness and how it is synthesised with existing knowledge. The current study measured metacognition by extending a visual change detection paradigm that promoted explicit or implicit detection by either a local or global manipulation of a scene. A within-subjects design was used to investigate how 91 participants detected change and made metacognitive judgements. Cognitive modelling, based on confidence judgements, estimated the relative contributions of discrete and continuous cognitive processes to change detection, and to metacognition. Metacognition was sensitive to both the discrete and continuous processes underlying change detection, but was more sensitive to the discrete process. These results demonstrate that metacognition attunes confidence differentially to explicit and implicit processes, and support direct-access theories for discrete processing and meta-representation theories for continuous processing.

Distinct microbiota composition and fermentation products indicate functional compartmentalization in the hindgut of a marine herbivorous fish.

Many marine herbivorous fishes harbour diverse microbial communities in the hindgut that can play important roles in host health and nutrition. Kyphosus sydneyanus is a temperate marine herbivorous fish that feeds predominantly on brown seaweeds. We employed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and gas chromatography to characterize microbial communities and their metabolites in different hindgut regions of six K. sydneyanus. Measurements were confined to three distal sections of the intestine, labelled III, IV and V from anterior to posterior. A total of 625 operational taxonomic units from 20 phyla and 123 genera were obtained. Bacteroidota, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the major phyla in mean relative abundance, which varied along the gut. Firmicutes (76%) was the most dominant group in section III, whereas Bacteroidota (69.3%) dominated section V. Total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration was highest in sections IV and V, confirming active fermentation in these two most distal sections. The abundance of Bacteroidota correlated with propionate concentration in section V, while Firmicutes positively correlated with formate in sections III and IV. Acetate levels were highest in sections IV and V, which correlated with abundance of Bacteroidota. Despite differences in gut microbial community composition, SCFA profiles were consistent between individual fish in the different hindgut regions of K. sydneyanus, although proportions of SCFAs differed among gut sections. These findings demonstrate functional compartmentalization of the hindgut microbial community, highlighting the need for regional sampling when interpreting overall microbiome function. These results support previous work suggesting that hindgut microbiota in marine herbivorous fish are important to nutrition in some host species by converting dietary carbohydrates into metabolically useful SCFAs.

Tannockella kyphosi gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Erysipelotrichaceae, isolated from the hindgut of the marine herbivorous fish Kyphosus sydneyanus.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, obligately anaerobic bacterium, designated strain BP52GT, was isolated from the hindgut of a Silver Drummer (Kyphosus sydneyanus) fish collected from the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the isolate belonged to the family Erysipelotrichaceae in the phylum Firmicutes and was most closely related to Clostridium saccharogumia with 93.3 % sequence identity. Isolate BP52GT grew on agar medium containing mannitol as the sole carbon source. White, opaque and shiny colonies of the isolate measuring approximately 1 mm diameter grew within a week at 20-28 °C (optimum, 24 °C) and pH 6.9-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.8). BP52GT tolerated the addition of up to 1 % NaCl to the medium. Formate and acetate were the major fermentation products. The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16:1n-7t and C18:1n-7t. The genome sequence of the isolate was determined. Its G+C content was 30.7 mol%, and the 72.65 % average nucleotide identity of the BP52GT genome to its closest neighbour with a completely sequenced genome (Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum JCM 1298T) indicated low genomic relatedness. Based on the phenotypic and taxonomic characteristics observed in this study, a novel genus and species Tannockella kyphosi gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for isolate BP52GT (=NZRM 4757T=JCM 34692T).

High-Field Magnetoelectric and Spin-Phonon Coupling in Multiferroic (NH4)2[FeCl5·(H2O)].

We combine high field polarization, magneto-infrared spectroscopy, and lattice dynamics calculations with prior magnetization to explore the properties of (NH4)2[FeCl5·(H2O)]─a type II molecular multiferroic in which the mixing between charge, structure, and magnetism is controlled by intermolecular hydrogen and halogen bonds. Electric polarization is sensitive to the series of field-induced spin reorientations, increasing linearly with the field and reaching a maximum before collapsing to zero across the quasi-collinear to collinear-sinusoidal reorientation due to the restoration of inversion symmetry. Magnetoelectric coupling is on the order of 1.2 ps/m for the P∥c, H∥c configuration between 5 and 25 T at 1.5 K. In this range, the coupling takes place via an orbital hybridization mechanism. Other forms of mixing are active in (NH4)2[FeCl5·(H2O)] as well. Magneto-infrared spectroscopy reveals that all of the vibrational modes below 600 cm-1 are sensitive to the field-induced transition to the fully saturated magnetic state at 30 T. We analyze these local lattice distortions and use frequency shifts to extract spin-phonon coupling constants for the Fe-O stretch, Fe-OH2 rock, and NH4+ libration. Inspection also reveals subtle symmetry breaking of the ammonium counterions across the ferroelectric transition. The coexistence of such varied mixing processes in a platform with intermolecular hydrogen- and halogen-bonding opens the door to greater understanding of multiferroics and magnetoelectrics governed by through-space interactions.

Abalone under moderate heat stress have elevated metabolic rates and changes to digestive enzyme activities.

Abalone around the world are subject to increasing frequency of marine heatwaves, yet we have a limited understanding of how acute high temperature events impact the physiology of these commercially and ecologically important species. This study examines the impact of a 5 °C temperature increase over ambient conditions for six weeks on the metabolic rates, digestive enzyme activities in the digestive gland, and digestive efficiency of Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and Paua (H. iris) on their natural diets. We test the hypothesis that abalone digestive function can keep pace with this increased metabolic demand in two separate experiments, one for each species. H. iris had higher food intake in the heat treatment. Both species had higher metabolic rates in the heat treatment with Q10 = 1.73 and Q10 = 2.46 for H. rufescens and H. iris, respectively. Apparent organic matter digestibility, protein digestibility, and carbohydrate digestibility did not differ between the heat treatment and the ambient (control) treatment in either experiment. H. rufescens exhibited higher maltase, alanine-aminopeptidase, and leucine-aminopeptidase activities in the heat treatment. Amylase, ß-glucosidase, trypsin, and alkaline phosphatase activities in the digestive gland tissue did not differ between temperature treatments. H. iris exhibited lower amylase and ß-glucosidase activities in the heat treatment, while maltase, trypsin, leucine-aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities did not differ between treatments. We conclude that over six weeks of moderate heat stress both abalone species were able to maintain digestive function, but achieved this maintenance in species-specific ways.

Substrate degradation pathways, conserved functions and community composition of the hindgut microbiota in the herbivorous marine fish Kyphosus sydneyanus.

Symbiotic gut microbiota in the herbivorous marine fish Kyphosus sydneyanus play an important role in digestion by converting refractory algal carbohydrate into short-chain fatty acids. Here we characterised community composition using both 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun-metagenome sequencing. Sequencing was carried out on lumen and mucosa samples (radial sections) from three axial sections taken from the hindgut of wild-caught fish. Both lumen and mucosa communities displayed distinct distributions along the hindgut, likely an effect of the differing selection pressures within these hindgut locations, as well as considerable variation among individual fish. In contrast, metagenomic sequences displayed a high level of functional similarity between individual fish and gut sections in the relative abundance of genes (based on sequencing depth) that encoded enzymes involved in algal-derived substrate degradation. These results suggest that the host gut environment selects for functional capacity in symbionts rather than taxonomic identity. Functional annotation of the enzymes encoded by the gut microbiota was carried out to infer the metabolic pathways used by the gut microbiota for the degradation of important dietary substrates: mannitol, alginate, laminarin, fucoidan and galactan (e.g. agar and carrageenan). This work provides the first evidence of the genomic potential of K. sydneyanus hindgut microbiota to convert highly refractory algal carbohydrates into metabolically useful short-chain fatty acids.

Bacillus licheniformis FA6 Affects Zebrafish Lipid Metabolism through Promoting Acetyl-CoA Synthesis and Inhibiting ß-Oxidation.

The intestinal microbiota contributes to energy metabolism, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain less clear. Bacteria of the genus Bacillus regulate lipid metabolism in the host and are thus commonly used as beneficial probiotic supplements. In the present study, Bacillus licheniformis FA6 was selected to assess its role in modulating lipid metabolism of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Combining 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, micro-CT scan, metabolic parameters measurement, and gene expression analysis, we demonstrated that B. licheniformis FA6 changed the gut microbiota composition of zebrafish and increased both the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and lipid accumulation. In terms of metabolites, B. licheniformis FA6 appeared to promote acetate production, which increased acetyl-CoA levels and promoted lipid synthesis in the liver. In contrast, addition of B. licheniformis lowered carnitine levels, which in turn reduced fatty acid oxidation in the liver. At a molecular level, B. licheniformis FA6 upregulated key genes regulating de novo fatty acid synthesis and downregulated genes encoding key rate-limiting enzymes of fatty acid ß-oxidation, thereby promoting lipid synthesis and reducing fatty acid oxidation. Generally, our results reveal that B. licheniformis FA6 promotes lipid accumulation in zebrafish through improving lipid synthesis and reducing ß-oxidation.

Evolutionary origin of the Atlantic Cabo Verde nibbler (Girella stuebeli), a member of a primarily Pacific Ocean family of antitropical herbivorous reef fishes.

Nibblers (family Girellidae) are reef fishes that are mostly distributed in the Indo-Pacific, with one exception: Girella stuebeli, which is found in the Cabo Verde Archipelago, in the Atlantic Ocean. We capitalized on this unusual distribution to study the evolutionary history of the girellids, and determine the relationship between G. stuebeli and the remaining nibbler taxa. Based on thousands of genomic markers (RAD sequences), we identified the closest relatives of G. stuebeli as being a clade of three species endemic to the northwestern Pacific, restricted to the Sea of Japan and vicinity. This clade diverged from G. stuebeli approximately 2.2 Mya. Two alternative potential routes of migration may explain this affinity: a western route, from the Tropical Eastern Pacific and the Tropical Western Atlantic, and an eastern route via the Indian Ocean and Southern Africa. The geological history and oceanography of the regions combined with molecular data presented here, suggest that the eastern route of invasion (via the Indian Ocean and Southern Africa) is a more likely scenario.

Spectroscopic Analysis of Vibronic Relaxation Pathways in Molecular Spin Qubit [Ho(W5O18)2]9-: Sparse Spectra Are Key.

Vibrations play a prominent role in magnetic relaxation processes of molecular spin qubits as they couple to spin states, leading to the loss of quantum information. Direct experimental determination of vibronic coupling is crucial to understand and control the spin dynamics of these nano-objects, which represent the limit of miniaturization for quantum devices. Herein, we measure the magneto-infrared properties of the molecular spin qubit system Na9[Ho(W5O18)2]·35H2O. Our results place significant constraints on the pattern of crystal field levels and the vibrational excitations allowing us to unravel vibronic decoherence pathways in this system. We observe field-induced spectral changes near 63 and 370 cm-1 that are modeled in terms of odd-symmetry vibrations mixed with f-manifold crystal field excitations. The overall extent of vibronic coupling in Na9[Ho(W5O18)2]·35H2O is limited by a modest coupling constant (on the order of 0.25) and a transparency window in the phonon density of states that acts to keep the intramolecular vibrations and MJ levels apart. These findings advance the understanding of vibronic coupling in a molecular magnet with atomic clock transitions and suggest strategies for designing molecular spin qubits with improved coherence lifetimes.

Confirmation of PNNL Quantitative Infrared Cross-Sections for Isobutane.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) gas-phase database is a compilation of quantitative experimental (5, 25, and 50 °C) infrared spectra of ca. 500 molecules, designed for in situ, standoff or remote sensing of gases and vapors at or near atmospheric pressure. The data are characterized by calibration on both the wavenumber and intensity axes. Recent papers have called into question the PNNL intensity values for isobutane, [2-methylpropane, HC(CH3)3], suggesting discrepancies of 30-40%. In this study, we remeasure and re-examine the intensity values of isobutane using both similar and alternate methods to those used to generate the original PNNL database spectra. Indirect confirmation from literature data of homologous molecules and direct confirmation from new results confirm that for many band integrals across the isobutane spectrum, the original PNNL data are indeed accurate to within the reported 3% experimental uncertainty.

Quantification of admission diagnoses in an employer-based transitions of care program.

BACKGROUND: Transitions of care (TOC) are critical times for patients, and if not conducted effectively, can lead to adverse events, preventable treatment, and costly readmissions. TOC programs are implemented to improve patient care, prevent hospital readmissions, and lower financial penalties associated with readmissions. Medicare's hospital readmission reduction program (HRRP), a value-based care model, targets specific conditions and procedures. Although many TOC programs focus on HRRP conditions, there are few studies looking at prevalence of disease states seen in TOC programs embedded within an employer-based insurance program in which financial ramifications exist for all hospitalizations. There is a need to better understand the potential missed opportunities for employer-based programs solely addressing HRRP conditions. OBJECTIVE: To quantify admission diagnoses in a nontargeted employer-based TOC program. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study of patients enrolled in a TOC program conducted by a self-insured grocery store chain. We included all patients enrolled in this TOC program who experienced a hospital admission between January 1, 2017 and August 31, 2019. Each admission diagnosis was categorized into the appropriate anatomic and physiological groups using the 2020 ICD-10-CM categories. Data were reported using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: We identified 180 eligible patients with 328 hospital admissions. The mean (± SD) age of the study population was 53.6 ± 14.4 years. The most common admission diagnoses were those in the digestive category (n = 61, 18.6% of admissions); elective total hip or knee replacement was the most prevalent HRRP condition (n = 30, 9.1% of admissions). Overall, HRRP conditions accounted for 58 (17.7%) of eligible admissions. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients seen by an employer-based TOC program were for conditions not targeted by the HRRP. By including patients beyond those covered by the HRRP, such TOC programs may realize greater improvements in financial and clinical outcomes. These benefits, however, need to be confirmed in future studies.

Synchronous biological feedbacks in parrotfishes associated with pantropical coral bleaching.

Biological feedbacks generated through patterns of disturbance are vital for sustaining ecosystem states. Recent ocean warming and thermal anomalies have caused pantropical episodes of coral bleaching, which has led to widespread coral mortality and a range of subsequent effects on coral reef communities. Although the response of many reef-associated fishes to major disturbance events on coral reefs is negative (e.g., reduced abundance and condition), parrotfishes show strong feedbacks after disturbance to living reef structure manifesting as increases in abundance. However, the mechanisms underlying this response are poorly understood. Using biochronological reconstructions of annual otolith (ear stone) growth from two ocean basins, we tested whether parrotfish growth was enhanced following bleaching-related coral mortality, thus providing an organismal mechanism for demographic changes in populations. Both major feeding guilds of parrotfishes (scrapers and excavators) exhibited enhanced growth of individuals after bleaching that was decoupled from expected thermal performance, a pattern that was not evident in other reef fish taxa from the same environment. These results provide evidence for a more nuanced ecological feedback system-one where disturbance plays a key role in mediating parrotfish-benthos interactions. By influencing the biology of assemblages, disturbance can thereby stimulate change in parrotfish grazing intensity and ultimately reef geomorphology over time. This feedback cycle operated historically at within-reef scales; however, our results demonstrate that the scale, magnitude, and severity of recent thermal events are entraining the biological responses of disparate communities to respond in synchrony. This may fundamentally alter feedbacks in the relationships between parrotfishes and reef systems.

Hypoglycaemia is reduced with use of inhaled Technosphere® Insulin relative to insulin aspart in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of final HbA1c levels on the incidences of hypoglycaemia in participants with type 1 diabetes treated with inhaled Technosphere® Insulin or subcutaneous insulin aspart, reported in alignment with the International Hypoglycaemia Study Group recommendations. METHODS: In the randomized, phase 3, multicentre AFFINITY-1 study, adults (N = 375) who had type 1 diabetes for ≥ 12 months and an HbA1c level of 58-86 mmol/mol (7.5-10.0%) were randomized to receive basal insulin plus either inhaled Technosphere Insulin or subcutaneous insulin aspart. This was a post-hoc regression analysis on a subset (N = 279) of the randomized AFFINITY-1 cohort for whom baseline and end-of-treatment HbA1c values were reported. Primary outcome measures were incidence and event rates for levels 1, 2 and 3 hypoglycaemia, respectively defined as blood glucose levels of ≤ 3.9 mmol/l, < 3.0 mmol/l or requiring external assistance for recovery. RESULTS: Participants treated with Technosphere Insulin experienced statistically significantly fewer level 1 and 2 hypoglycaemic events and a lower incidence of level 3 hypoglycaemia than participants treated with insulin aspart. The lower rate of hypoglycaemia with Technosphere Insulin was observed across the range of end-of-treatment HbA1c levels. Technosphere Insulin was associated with higher rates of hypoglycaemia 30-60 min after meals, but significantly lower rates 2-6 h after meals. CONCLUSIONS: Participants using Technosphere Insulin experienced clinically non-inferior glycaemic control and lower hypoglycaemia rates across a range of HbA1c levels compared with participants receiving insulin aspart. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01445951.

Spin-Lattice Coupling Across the Magnetic Quantum-Phase Transition in Copper-Containing Coordination Polymers.

We measured the infrared vibrational properties of two copper-containing coordination polymers, [Cu(pyz)2(2-HOpy)2](PF6)2 and [Cu(pyz)1.5(4-HOpy)2](ClO4)2, under different external stimuli in order to explore the microscopic aspects of spin-lattice coupling. While the temperature and pressure control hydrogen bonding, an applied field drives these materials from the antiferromagnetic → fully saturated state. Analysis of the pyrazine (pyz)-related vibrational modes across the magnetic quantum-phase transition provides a superb local probe of magnetoelastic coupling because the pyz ligand functions as the primary exchange pathway and is present in both systems. Strikingly, the PF6- compound employs several pyz-related distortions in support of the magnetically driven transition, whereas the ClO4- system requires only a single out-of-plane pyz bending mode. Bringing these findings together with magnetoinfrared spectra from other copper complexes reveals spin-lattice coupling across the magnetic quantum-phase transition as a function of the structural and magnetic dimensionality. Coupling is maximized in [Cu(pyz)1.5(4-HOpy)2](ClO4)2 because of its ladderlike character. Although spin-lattice interactions can also be explored under compression, differences in the local structure and dimensionality drive these materials to unique high-pressure phases. Symmetry analysis suggests that the high-pressure phase of the ClO4- compound may be ferroelectric.

Absolute Band Intensity of the Iodine Monochloride Fundamental Mode for Infrared Sensing and Quantitative Analysis.

Iodine monochloride (ICl) is a potential off-gas product of molten salt reactors; monitoring this heteronuclear diatomic molecule is of great interest for both environmental and safety purposes. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of infrared monitoring of ICl by measuring the far-infrared absorption cross section of its fundamental band near 381 cm-1. We have performed quantitative studies of the neat gas in a 20 cm cell at 25, 35, 50, and 70 °C at multiple pressures up to ∼9 Torr and investigated the temperature and pressure dependencies of the band's infrared cross section. Quantitative measurements were problematic due to sample adhesion to the cell walls and windows as well as reactions/possible hydrolysis of ICl to form HCl gas. Effects were mitigated by measuring only the neat gas, using short measurement times, and subtracting out the partial pressure of the HCl(g). The integrated band strength is shown to be temperature independent and was found to be equal to 9.1 × 10-19 (cm2/molecule) cm-1. As expected, the temperature dependence of the band profile showed only a small effect over this limited temperature range. We have also investigated using the absorption data along with inverse least squares multivariate methods for the quantitative monitoring of ICl effluent concentrations under different scenarios using infrared (standoff) sensing and compare these results with traditional Beer's law (univariate) techniques.

Antiferroelectric Phase Transition in a Proton-Transfer Salt of Squaric Acid and 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine.

A proton-transfer reaction between squaric acid (H2sq) and 2,3-dimethylpyrazine (2,3-Me2pyz) results in crystallization of a new organic antiferroelectric (AFE), (2,3-Me2pyzH+)(Hsq-)·H2O (1), which possesses a layered structure. The structure of each layer can be described as partitioned into strips lined with methyl groups of the Me2pyzH+ cations and strips featuring extensive hydrogen bonding between the Hsq- anions and water molecules. Variable-temperature dielectric measurements and crystal structures determined through a combination of single-crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction reveal an AFE ordering at 104 K. The phase transition is driven by ordering of protons within the hydrogen-bonded strips. Considering the extent of proton transfer, the paraelectric (PE) state can be formulated as (2,3-Me2pyzH+)2(Hsq23-)(H5O2+), whereas the AFE phase can be described as (2,3-Me2pyzH+)(Hsq-)(H2O). The structural transition caused by the localization of protons results in the change in color from yellow in the PE state to colorless in the AFE state. The occurrence and mechanism of the AFE phase transition have been also confirmed by heat capacity measurements and variable-temperature infrared and Raman spectroscopy. This work demonstrates a potentially promising approach to the design of new electrically ordered materials by engineering molecule-based crystal structures in which hydrogen-bonding interactions are intentionally partitioned into quasi-one-dimensional regions.

Probiotic consumption during puberty mitigates LPS-induced immune responses and protects against stress-induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in adulthood in a sex-specific manner.

Puberty/adolescence is a significant period of development and a time with a high emergence of psychiatric disorders. During this period, there is increased neuroplasticity and heightened vulnerability to stress and inflammation. The gut microbiome regulates stress and inflammatory responses and can alter brain chemistry and behaviour. However, the role of the gut microbiota during pubertal development remains largely uninvestigated. The current study examined gut manipulation with probiotics during puberty in CD1 mice on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune responses and enduring effects on anxiety- and depression-like behaviours and stress-reactivity in adulthood. Probiotics reduced LPS-induced sickness behaviour at 12 h in females and at 48 h following LPS treatment in males. Probiotics also reduced LPS-induced changes in body weight at 48 h post-treatment in females. Probiotic treatment also prevented LPS-induced increases in pro- and anti-inflammatory peripheral cytokines at 8 h following LPS treatment, reduced central cytokine mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and PFC, and prevented LPS-induced changes to in the gut microbiota. A single exposure to LPS during puberty resulted in enduring depression-like behaviour in female mice, and anxiety-like behaviour in male mice in adulthood. However, pubertal exposure to probiotics prevented enduring LPS-induced depression-like behaviour in females and anxiety-like behaviors in males. Moreover, probiotics altered toll-like receptor-4 activity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in males in response to a novel stressor in adulthood. Our results suggest that the gut microbiome plays an important role in pubertal neurodevelopment. These findings indicate that exposure to probiotics during puberty mitigates inflammation and decreases stress-induced vulnerabilities to emotional behaviours later in life, in a sex-specific manner.