Intimate relationships among soil bacteria: actinomycetes and mycolic acid-containing bacteria

Co-culture is an efficient strategy for natural product discovery. We have used mycolic acid-containing bacteria (MACB) Tsukamurella pumonis TP-B0596 to induce secondary metabolism by actinomycetes and have found several natural products. We also observed that MACB attached to the mycelium of Streptomyces lividans forming coaggregates during combined-culture. This stimulated interest in the interactions among actinomycetes and MACB, and we found that soil isolated cultures contained a mixture of actinomycetes and MACB. Our previously observed interactions were the result of selective screening and combination of bacteria in the lab, which warranted investigation of the existence of these interactions in the natural soil environment. Therefore, in this paper, we report the interaction between a co-isolated natural pair of actinomycetes and MACB in terms of morphology and metabolic changes. A natural pair of actinomycetes and MACB co-aggregated in liquid culture and showed metabolic changes. Interestingly, co-aggregated actinomycetes and MACB were re-isolated from soil with no obvious morphological colony differences from the colony of a single strain. The results demonstrate that there is a stochastic chance of picking colonies containing co-aggregated actinomycetes and MACB, which suggests that the pair can exist in co-aggregate form in the soil environment and interact with each other.

Big Data Analysis of the #BringBackOurGirls Cyber-Campaign

We used a web tool to extract Twitter API data on the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. The Twitter hashtag was used for a campaign denouncing the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria on the 14th of April 2014 by the Jihadist group Boko Haram. The data extracted covered the period spanning from the creation of the campaign (19th of May 2014) to the 16th of May 2019. The data were anonymous because they were provided in aggregate form, covering things such as: the number, content, and chronology of tweets; information on geographical area; the relevance of the users making comments; information on followers; the impact of tweets; ‘likes’; re-tweets; demographic profiles (gender); keyword information. These indications were provided in the form of mass, open data by Twitter’s API. The data was ordered and analysed by the research team during the course of the qualitative study to shed light on the cyber-campaign.

Correlation of Aggregate Form Properties with Fourier Frequencies

Aggregate morphology consists of three independent components: form, angularity, and surface texture. As these three components act in different ways in affecting the performance of pavement layer, it is vital to characterize them objectively and accurately. In this study, the coordinates of boundary pixels of aggregate from 2-D images were treated as an equally spaced complex series. The description of the aggregate shape in the frequency domain was obtained by analyzing this complex series with the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). Based on this, the reconstruction of aggregate shape at different frequencies was performed, which validated that the three elements of aggregate shape correspond to different frequencies. In addition, by fitting the relationship between DFT coefficients and form parameters (elongation ratio, sphericity, mean radius, variance of radius), the frequencies contributing to the form properties of aggregate were identified. Moreover, prediction models for the elongation ratio, sphericity, mean, and variance of radius based on the DFT coefficients at the contributing frequencies were developed separately.

INTER-LEVEL BALANCE: INDICATORS OF THE OBJECT’S LEVEL STRUCTURE, ITS CHANGES AND COORDINATION – THE AGGREGATE FORM

Urgency of the research. Indicators of the object's level structure, its changes and coordination, as one of the specific categories of the inter-level balance's indicators, provide a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the managed object's structure, its structural shifts, losses and replenishment based on the attribute measured in its units in the ratio scale. Target setting. The corresponding inter-level balance indicators, presented previously through the unweighted (nonaggregated) components of the latter, do not represent a possible assessment. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The calculation of non-aggregated indicators of the object's level structure, its changes and coordination is carried out through the values of the number of movable and immovable object units. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Evaluation of the effects of a control action on a structured object that is performed in the values of the measured attribute and is explained by the inter-level movement of units of this object. The research objective. To formulate the indicators of the object's level structure, its changes and coordination in the system of inter-level balance's indices by formulating rules for calculating them in aggregate form. The statement of basic materials. The aggregate form of the inter-level balance model is based on such components of the balance as level replenishment (losses) of the object, which explains the effects of the control action on the object at different levels of their systematization in the model. The result of such systematization is the system of aggregated balance indicators, among which the level structure of the object, its changes and coordination determine the level structure, evaluate the structural shifts and compare the components of the level structure of the object through the aggregate values of the attribute measured at its units at one level or another. The investigated indicators are formulated as absolute, relative and average values. Conclusions. The proposed inter-level balance's indicators are important for assessing the impact and effectiveness of the control effect on a structured object.

Intramolecular strong electronic coupling in a discretely H-aggregated phthalocyanine dimer connected with a rigid linker

This is the first example of a discrete dimer of phthalocyanines in an H-aggregate form. Intramolecular strong electronic coupling was observed between the phthalocyanines electrochemically.

INTER-LEVEL SUBSTITUTION – THE CANONICAL FORM OF THE INTER-LEVEL BALANCE

Urgency of the research. Inter-level substitution is the basis for the formation in the aggregate form of a model and sys-tem of indices of the inter-level balance, and the latter comprehensively assess the consequences of the control effect on the structured object and the effectiveness of the impact itself. Target setting. Existing evaluation methods do not take into account the factor of movement of object units from one level of the characteristic to another, which is why the structural analysis of the results of the impact is incomplete.Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. Inter-level substitution is a new concept. Earlier, the author proposed a model and a system of indices of inter-level balance, constructed only in the values of the number of object units at the level. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. The model of inter-level balance and a system of balance indicators, presented in aggregate form. The research objective. Formalization of the concept of “inter-level substitution” as a canonical form of the inter-level balance in the form of paired indicators of aggregated absolute balance of inter-level movement and inter-level turnover ofunits of a structured object. The statement of basic materials. The inter-level substitution of object units leads to level (extra-level) losses or to a level (extra-level) replenishment of the object based on the characteristic measured in these units in the relationship scale at a certain level (outside the level) in the “after” and “before” conditions of external impact. The overall result of the latter can be analytically represented as a generalized balance ratio. In the aggregate form, it is determined through the elemen-tary components of the balance, which are the number of displacements and the level values of the characteristic. Conclusions. The mathematical form of the inter-level substitution is the key in the formation of the inter-level balance model and the system of balance indicators of movement.

Public and narrative selves in Desert Island Discs

The Desert Island Discs interview—ostensibly a private chat—is an entertainment format in which public figures are on public display and able to display themselves as types of public selves through discussion of ‘private’ musical tastes, experiences, values, and connections to others. This chapter examines castaways’ narratives in aggregate form, as patterned practices of display. Castaway narratives reveal six thematic ways of accounting for their musical choices: (1) situation of listening, (2) container for extra-musical matters, (3) link to a person or people, (4) resource for care of self, (5) castaway just loves the work, and (6) described in terms of music pedagogy. Comparing individual castaway narratives with this more general set of narrative patterns, and controlling for occupational group, and within that, gender, offers new, and otherwise undisclosed, information about individual castaways and their public presentation of self.

Women, work and industrial relations in Australia in 2016

The experience of women, work and industrial relations is diverse even though the data relating to that experience are often presented in aggregate form. While such data may offer a general snapshot of key areas such as the overall patterns of women’s participation in the labour market and the average gender pay gap, such high-level analysis obscures the differences among women and consequently does not draw attention to the areas of greatest inequality. Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience particular disadvantage in the labour market, there is a dearth of research examining this experience. This article will provide an overview of general developments for women, work and industrial relations in 2016 and will be supplemented by an overview of the position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women that does not fill the information gap, but rather more clearly delineates it in order to suggest avenues of further urgent research need.