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Research Progress Of Bioinspired Smell And Taste Sensors, Wang Ping, Zhuang Liujing, Qin Zhen, Zhang Bin, Gao Keqiang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The mammalian olfactory and gustatory system is recognized as the most effective chemosensing systems due to their extraordinary ability in odor and tastant detection. Detection of odors has been applied to many real applications, such as quality control of food products, safety and security, environmental monitoring, medical diagnosis and so on. Here, we focus on the principle, basic composition, employed technology and application of electronic nose/electronic tongue, molecule and cell based olfactory/gustatory biosensors. We also introduce the research progress of a novel system which we called ' in vivo bioelectronic nose and tongue'. Finally, the further trend in this area …

Biosensors For Water Pollution Monitoring, Xia Shanhong, Bian Chao, Sun Jizhou, Xie Yong, Han Mingjie, Xiong Chenyu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Biosensors have many applications. Biological and chemical samples can be detected by utilizing the specific recognition between biomolecules. This paper investigates and reviews the research and development of biosensors for water environment monitoring. Biosensors with different sensing mechanisms and materials, such as enzyme, immune, DNA, tissue, microorganism biosensors, as well as their applications for detecting various water pollution parameters are described.

Feather Mite Abundance Varies But Symbiotic Nature Of Mite-Host Relationship Does Not Differ Between Two Ecologically Dissimilar Warblers, Alix E. Matthews, Jeffery L. Larkin, Douglas W. Raybuck, Morgan C. Slevin, Scott H. Stoleson, Than J. Boves

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Feather mites are obligatory ectosymbionts of birds that primarily feed on the oily secretions from the uropygial gland. Feather mite abundance varies within and among host species and has various effects on host condition and fitness, but there is little consensus on factors that drive variation of this symbiotic system. We tested hypotheses regarding how within-species and among-species traits explain variation in both (1) mite abundance and (2) relationships between mite abundance and host body condition and components of host fitness (reproductive performance and apparent annual survival). We focused on two closely related (Parulidae), but ecologically distinct, species: Setophaga cerulea …

Midbrain Circuit Regulation Of Individual Alcohol Drinking Behaviors In Mice, Barbara Juarez, Carole Morel, Stacy M. Ku, Yutong Liu, Hongxing Zhang, Sarah Montgomery, Hilledna Gregoire, Efrain Ribeiro, Marshall Crumiller, Ciorana Roman-Ortiz, Jessica J. Walsh, Kelcy Jackson, Denise E. Croote, Yingbo Zhu, Song Zhang, Leandro F. Vendruscolo, Scott Edward, Amanda Roberts, Georgia E. Hodes, Yongke Lu, Erin S. Calipari, Dipesh Chaudhury, Allyson K. Friedman, Ming-Hu Han

Publications and Research

Alcohol-use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent substance-use disorder worldwide. There is substantial individual variability in alcohol drinking behaviors in the population, the neural circuit mechanisms of which remain elusive. Utilizing in vivo electrophysiological techniques, we find that low alcohol drinking (LAD) mice have dramatically higher ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neuron firing and burst activity. Unexpectedly, VTA dopamine neuron activity in high alcohol drinking (HAD) mice does not differ from alcohol naive mice. Optogenetically enhancing VTA dopamine neuron burst activity in HAD mice decreases alcohol drinking behaviors. Circuit-specific recordings reveal that spontaneous activity of nucleus accumbens-projecting VTA (VTA-NAc) neurons …

Histomorphology Of Trauma In Charred And Decomposed Remains, Mariya Bezugly

Student Theses

Decomposition and burning of human remains are frequently encountered in forensic cases, and pose a challenge at determining an accurate cause of death. At autopsy, macroscopic techniques fail to reach beyond superficial layers of degraded tissue to identify wound morphology that characterizes blunt-force gunshot, and sharp-force trauma. The postmortem damage imparted on tissue with pre-existing injuries, obstructs the external features of trauma. Exploring beyond charred and decayed superficial tissue, histo-morphological patterns of injury are still identifiable as shown in this thesis. With detailed observation to the pattern of tissue disruption- an understanding of the type of trauma imposed can be …

Uv-Visible Optical Absorbance Of Graphene Oxide Synthesized From Zinc-Carbon Battery Waste Via A Custom-Made Ultrasound Generator Based On Liquid Sonication Exfoliation Method, Rhyko Irawan Wisnuwijaya, Agus Purwanto, Wipsar Sunu Brams Dwandaru

Makara Journal of Science

The objectives of this study are i) to synthesize graphene oxide (GO) from the waste materials of zinc-carbon (ZnC) batteries via the liquid sonication exfoliation (LSE) method using tweeter piezoelectric probes as speakers, and ii) to study the optical absorbance of the GO produced using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer by varying the mass of the graphite materials obtained from ZnC battery waste. The graphite materials are obtained from the carbon rods of the ZnC batteries, which are ground into powder. The powder is then mixed with distilled water, with powder mass variations of 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 grams. The solutions …

The Abundance Of Nitrogen Fixing, Nitrifying, Denitrifying And Ammonifying Bacteria In The Soil Of Tropical Rainforests And Oil Palm Plantations In Jambi, Zulfarina, Iman Rusmana, Nisa Rachmania Mubarik, Dwi Andreas Santosa

Makara Journal of Science

Alterations in the use of land for oil palm plantations can change the domination and activity of soil bacteria. More specifically, alteration in soil microbial communities can directly affect soil ecosystem functioning, particularly with respect to carbon and nitrogen cycles. Nitrogen can be a limiting nutrient, and the availability of nitrogen in the soil environment becomes a major factor in controlling the production of biomass. This research project aimed at studying the abundance of nitrogen-fixing, nitrogen-oxidizing, nitrogen-reducing, and ammonifying bacteria based on their functional genes in the tropical rain forests of Taman Nasional Bukit Duabelas (TNBD) and the oil palm …

Snail Determines The Therapeutic Response To Mtor Kinase Inhibitors By Transcriptional Repression Of 4e-Bp1, Jun Wang, Qing Ye, Yanan Cao, Yubin Guo, Xiuping Huang, Wenting Mi, Side Liu, Chi Wang, Hsin-Sheng Yang, Binhua P. Zhou, B. Mark Evers, Qing-Bai She

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Loss of 4E-BP1 expression has been linked to cancer progression and resistance to mTOR inhibitors, but the mechanism underlying 4E-BP1 downregulation in tumors remains unclear. Here we identify Snail as a strong transcriptional repressor of 4E-BP1. We find that 4E-BP1 expression inversely correlates with Snail level in cancer cell lines and clinical specimens. Snail binds to three E-boxes present in the human 4E-BP1 promoter to repress transcription of 4E-BP1. Ectopic expression of Snail in cancer cell lines lacking Snail profoundly represses 4E-BP1 expression, promotes cap-dependent translation in polysomes, and reduces the anti-proliferative effect of mTOR kinase inhibitors. Conversely, genetic …

Biosensors: 50 Years Development And Future Perspectives, Zhang Xian-En

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Biosensors are the devices made of biological elements and physical or chemical transducers for fast and specific determination of biological or related substances, of which is a typical convergence technology. Biosensors have broad application prospects in life science research, disease diagnosis and control, bioengineering process control, agriculture and food security, environmental quality monitoring, biosafety and biosecurity, etc. 50 years after its birth, biosensor technology has entered a new phase of vigorous development. The main driving forces are the introduction and implementation of the concepts of One-Health, Internet of Things, and big data. Research hot topics include wearable and portable biosensing …

Human Organs-On-A-Chip, Qin Jianhua, Zhang Min, Yu Hao, Li Zhongyu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Human organs-on-a-chip is a newly emerging and frontier technology involving with different disciplines in recent years. It refers to a biomimetic microphysiological system created on a bioengineered microfluidic device, representing the organ-level functional units. It can recapitulate the physiologically relevant structures and functions of the organs, as well as the interaction between multiple organs as in vivo, thereby offering alternative models for predicting human responses to various drugs and environmental stimulus. Organs-on-a-chip technology has wide application potentials in many fields such as life science, drug discovery, personalized medicine, food/environment monitoring and biological defense et al. The emergence of this …

Molecular Biosensors And Molecular Imaging In Cells, Wang Dianbing, Cui Zongqiang, Zhang Xian-En

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Molecular sensors are the biosensors made of macrobiomolecules. They are significant tools for real-time imaging of the molecular events in living cells and in vivo. Molecular beacons (MB), fluorescence/bioluminescence resonance energy transfer sensors (FRET/BRET) and molecular fluorescence complementation systems (BiFC, TriFC, etc.) are major types of molecular biosensors for live cell imaging applications. In this paper, the principles and characteristics of the molecular biosensors are described. The biosensors show their unique role in study of biomolecular interactions, localization, movement, and kinetics in living cells. The restrains, challenges, and future prospects of the molecular biosensors are also discussed. Because "Seeing …

Theory And Technique Innovation In Soil Science Promoted Sustainable Development Of Agriculture And Local Economy In Huanghuaihai Plain, Ding Weixin, Zhou Lingyun, Zhu Anning, Ma Donghao, Xin Xiuli

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Huanghuaihai Plain is one of the three greatest plains in China, and occupies an irreplaceable strategic position in the national food security and national economic development. Huanghuaihai Plain is mainly alluvial by the Yellow River, Huaihe River, and Haihe River, and was confronted with the problems of drought, flood, salinity, sand drift, and other obstacles in agricultural production. In order to solve above problems, the research team led by academician Xiong Yi in the Institute of Soil Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), set up the research base in Fengqiu County, Henan Province in 1963, and created a core …

Virtual Reality As A Training Tool To Treat Physical Inactivity In Children, Adam W. Kiefer, David Pincus, Michael J. Richardson, Gregory D. Myer

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Lack of adequate physical activity in children is an epidemic that can result in obesity and other poor health outcomes across the lifespan. Physical activity interventions focused on motor skill competence continue to be developed, but some interventions, such as neuromuscular training (NMT), may be limited in how early they can be implemented due to dependence on the child’s level of cognitive and perceptual-motor development. Early implementation of motor-rich activities that support motor skill development in children is critical for the development of healthy levels of physical activity that carry through into adulthood. Virtual reality (VR) training may be beneficial …

First Record Of Sorex Tenellus From Utah, Eric A. Rickart, Shannen L. Robson, Lois F. Alexander, Duke S. Rogers

Western North American Naturalist

A specimen of the Inyo shrew, Sorex tenellus, was collected in piñon-juniper woodland at 2017 m elevation in Granite Creek Canyon, Deep Creek Range, Juab Co., Utah. This is the easternmost record for this species and the first record for Utah.


Un especimen de la musaraña Inyo, Sorex tenellus, fué colleccionado en el bosque de piñón y enebro a una elevación de 2017 m dentro de Granite Creek Canyon, Deep Creek Range, Juab Co., Utah. Este es el registro más oriental de esta especie y el primer registro para Utah.

Range Extension Of The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus Floridanus) In Quintana Roo, Mexico, Mircea G. Hidalgo-Mihart, Rugieri Juárez-López, Alejandro Jesús De La Cruz, Yaribeth Bravata-De La Cruz, Jesús Iglesias-Hernández, Freddy Pérez-Garduza, Christian A. Delfin-Alfonso, Alberto González-Gallina

Western North American Naturalist

The eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus; ECR) is highly adaptable to human activities and widely distributed across the Yucatan Peninsula. However, the eastern part of the peninsula, where the Mexican state of Quintana Roo is located, had only marginal records. Herein, we report the collection of one individual and the observation of 7 different individuals of the ECR in northeastern Quintana Roo. These records increase the range of the species by 66 km into the eastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula. The absence of previous records of the species—even though the mammalian fauna of the region has been surveyed …

Growing Up In Society - A Historical Social Psychology Of Childhood, Nr Gabriel

Plymouth Institute of Education

Abstract: This paper develops a historical social psychology that can be used to understand young children’s social development. It compares the theoretical frameworks of three of the most important relational thinkers in the 20th century – Norbert Elias, Pierre Bourdieu, and Erich Fromm – to shed light on their attempts to integrate the insights of psychoanalysis into their sociological perspectives. I begin by exploring Bourdieu’s “uneasy” relationship with psychoanalysis, arguing that this has led to a less than successful quest by his followers for bridging concepts that can further develop the concept of social habitus. Fromm, one of the foremost …

Polistes Dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Found In Michigan, Timothy M. Judd, James M. Carpenter

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

On 25 May 1995, a single foundress colony of Polistes dominulus (Christ) was discovered on a study site at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan (Oakland County). This is the first record of Polistes dominulus in the state of Michigan.

A New Larval Record Of Perlinella Drymo (Plecoptera: Perlidae) For Michigan, Ethan Bright

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The presence of larvae of Perlinella drymo in Michigan is documented for the first time. A total of 7 individuals were collected from Iron Creek, a tributary of the River Raisin watershed located in southeastern Michigan. Gut analysis of one specimen provided evidence for a carnivorous diet. The location from which larvae were collected indicate a preference during winter for stabilized undercut banks with little or no flow and accumulated organic debris upon sand and gravel substrate.

Callibaetis Pretiosus (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) From Pennsylvania: New Distribution Record, R. D. Waltz, James B. Munro

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Larvae of Callibaetis pretiosus were collected from a wet-weather pool in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. This record represents a significant northward increase in the known distribution of this species which had previously been reported only from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North CarolIna, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

A Migration Study Of Stelidota Geminata (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Roger N. Williams, M. Sean Ellis, Dan S. Fickle, Scott T. Bloom

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The strawberry sap beetle, Stelidota geminata (Say), is a major pest of strawberries in the northeastern United States. Further knowledge of the migratory habits of this insect pest can enhance the effectiveness of pest management strategies. This nitidulid was shown to migrate from its overwintering sites to one of its primary reproductive sites, strawberry fields, in late May. The beetle population peaked in the third week in July, 1993 in the strawberry field and then gradually declined. In 1994, the peak, as well as the total population, was much greater than in 1993. Furthermore, S. geminata was concentrated in the …

Evidence Of Pre-Imaginal Overwintering Of Diamondback Moth, Plutella Xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) In Michigan, A. B. Idris, Edward J. Grafius

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We investigated the possibility of overwintering of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., in central Michigan. In the spring of 1993, counts of immature stages on brassicaceous weeds in a field previously planted to broccoli revealed a small but significant number of late instars that could not be attributed to oviposition of immigrant moths from the southern United States. We suggest that crop debris and snow cover played an important role in sheltering the larvae, which are known to tolerate sub·freezing temperatures. There was no indication of adult survival.

Spread Of Acentria Ephemerella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) In Central North America, B. G. Scholtens, G. J. Balogh

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The aquatic moth, Acentria ephemerella, was first reported from North America in 1927. Recent records from widespread localities in central North America indicate that the range of this European introduction continues to expand. The moth is well established in the western Great Lakes region and is recorded west to the Missouri River valley in Iowa.

Terrestrial Isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) Of Wisconsin, Joan Jass, Barbara Klausmeier

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Eleven species of terrestrial isopods are recorded from Wisconsin. Species treatments include morphological, habitat and life history data. Wisconsin county distribution records are presented.

Ecological And Evolutionary Genomics: Differential Variability Of Gene Expression And Fine-Scale Adaptive Divergence Among Microhabitats Of Large Fundulus Heteroclitus Populations, Dominique Neitzel Wagner

Open Access Dissertations

Adaptive evolution on ecological timescales shapes communities. However, adaptation among environments relies on isolation or large selection coefficients that exceed migration effects. This reliance is tempered if adaptation from standing genetic variation is polygenic – does not depend on one allele completely replacing another but instead requires small allele frequency changes at many loci. Thus, whether individuals can evolve adaptation to fine-scale habitat variation is not resolved. To investigate this process, the gene expression and genetic divergence of a teleost fish, Fundulus heteroclitus, was explored. Among nearby (< 200m) microhabitats in three separate saltmarshes, and over the course of a season (spring to fall), thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed. Among these SNPs, 1.3-2.3% have large and highly significant differences among microhabitats (mean FST = 0.15; false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 1%), and 1.8-5.7% are significantly different between seasons (mean FST = 0.077 to 0.597; FDR ≤ 1%). The divergence among microhabitats and between seasons for these SNPs is larger than that among populations, exceeds neutral expectation, and indicates surprising population structure among microhabitats. These data suggest that polygenic selection is surprisingly effective in altering allele frequencies over very small geographic distances.

Mems Scale Integrated Lab-On-A-Chip System For Detection And Analysis Of Human Tumor Cells, Rajapaksha Waththegedara Randil Lalinda Gajasinghe

Open Access Dissertations

Detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) present in human blood is gaining attention as a reliable technique for obtaining information that are vital for diagnostic and research procedures. Only a limited number of semi-automated commercial tools capable of single cell detection and analysis exist; they are expensive and bulky instruments that require highly trained operators. Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) are ideal for the application due to their inherent advantages. A method for immobilizing target CTCs at MEMS scale regions of interest was developed. Developed MEMS device utilized superparamagnetic micro beads and micro electromagnets to immobilize MCF-7 cells flowing in …

Deposition And Diagenesis Of Subtropical Microbial Carbonates, Chelsea L. Pederson

Open Access Dissertations

The primary objective of this dissertation is to characterize freshwater microbial palustrine deposits, and assess how their textures and geochemical characteristics change over various stages of early burial and diagenesis in order to assess their recognition and preservation in the geologic record. A detailed study of sediments, microbial communities, and chemical environments was carried out for a sequence of cored Holocene deposits, from the modern surficial freshwater environment and seaward to those similar sediments buried during the Holocene transgression in the Florida Everglades (mainly terrestrial) and Florida Bay (full marine). In addition, the early diagenesis of microbial lime mud is …

Ready For A Carbon Tax? An Explorative Analysis Of University Students’ Preferences, Lucia Rotaris

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

Greenhouse gases emissions are inexorably rising worldwide and the frequency and disruptive power of extreme weather phenomena are dramatically increasing. Although command-and-control and regulation policies have been extensively used to mitigate climate change, more effective and potentially efficient policies are needed to curb the negative externalities produced by human activities. A carbon tax could make the case, but is seldom implemented due to its assumed political unpopularity. In order to estimate the acceptability and the willingness to pay (WTP) for a carbon tax, a contingent valuation experiment was administered in USA and in Italy to a sample of 150 university …

To Go Or Not To Go: Migration Alleviates Climate Damages Even For Those Who Stay Behind, Soheil Shayegh, Greg P. Casey

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

We examine the effect of climate change on fertility rates and human capital accumulation in developing countries, focusing on the instrumental role of migration. In particular, we investigate how climate-induced migration in developing countries will affect those who do not migrate. Holding all else constant, climate shocks raise the return to acquiring skills, because skilled individuals compared to unskilled ones have greater opportunity to migrate after the shock. In response to this change in incentives, parents choose to invest more in education and have less children, a process known as the ‘quantity-quality’ trade-off. These effects partially offset the damages of …

Preparing Today’S Middle School Science Students For The Real World Of Science Through Relevant And Inquiry-Based Activities, Hannah F. Walsh

Honors Program Theses and Projects

During the past several decades we have seen an increase in the demand for individuals trained in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines (Rothwell, 2013). While this is this case, according to the Bureau of Labor, the United States will see a shortage of STEM workers over the next decade, with the demand for highly trained STEM workers exceeding the minimal supply (Rothwell, 2013). In a study of bachelor and associate students in the academic year of 2003 and 2004, only 28% of bachelor students and 20% of associate students entered STEM fields (Chen & Soldner, 2013). This study …

Data Descriptor: An Open Resource For Transdiagnostic Research In Pediatric Mental Health And Learning Disorders, Lindsay M. Alexander, Jasmine Escalera, Lei Ai, Charissa Andreotti, Karina Febre, Alexandra Mangone, Natan Vega-Potler, Nicolas Langer, Alexis Alexander, Meagan Kovacs, Shannon Litke, Bridget O'Hagan, Jennifer Andersen, Batya Bronstein, Anastasia Bui, Marijayne Bushey, Henry Butler, Victoria Castagna, Nicolas Camacho, Elisha Chan, Danielle Citera, Jon Clucas, Samantha Cohen, Sarah Dufek, Megan Eaves, Brian Fradera, Judith Gardner, Natalie Grant-Villegas, Gabriella Green, Camille Gregory, Emily Hart, Shana Harris, Megan Horton, Danielle Kahn, Katherine Kabotyanski, Bernard Karmel, Simon P. Kelly, Kayla Kleinman, Bohwang Koo, Eliza Kramer, Elizabeth Lennon, Catherine Lord, Ginny Mantello, Amy Margolis, Kathleen R. Merikangas, Judith Milham, Giuseppe Minniti, Rebecca Neuhaus, Alexandra Levine, Yael Osman, Lucas C. Parra, Ken R. Pugh, Amy Racanello, Anita Restrepo, Tian Saltzman, Batya Septimus, Russell Tobe, Rachel Waltz, Anna Williams, Anna Yeo, Francesco X. Castellanos, Arno Klein, Tomas Paus, Bennett L. Leventhal, R. Cameron Craddock, Harold S. Koplewicz, Michael P. Milham

Publications and Research

Technological and methodological innovations are equipping researchers with unprecedented capabilities for detecting and characterizing pathologic processes in the developing human brain. As a result, ambitions to achieve clinically useful tools to assist in the diagnosis and management of mental health and learning disorders are gaining momentum. To this end, it is critical to accrue large-scale multimodal datasets that capture a broad range of commonly encountered clinical psychopathology. The Child Mind Institute has launched the Healthy Brain Network (HBN), an ongoing initiative focused on creating and sharing a biobank of data from 10,000 New York area participants (ages 5–21). The HBN …