Media Richness, Knowledge Sharing, and Computer Programming by Virtual Software Teams

Software programming is a task with high analyzability. However, knowledge sharing is an intricate part of the software programming process. Today, new media platforms have been adopted to enable knowledge sharing between virtual teams. Taking into consideration the high task analyzability and the task characteristics involved in software development, the question is if the media richness of the current media platform is effective in enabling knowledge sharing among these virtual teams? An exploratory research was conducted on a software company in Denmark. The data was gathered was analyzed qualitatively using narrative analysis. This paper concludes, based on the case being investigated, that rich media does not fit the task characteristics of a software programmer. It further concludes that Media richness does affect knowledge sharing in these virtual teams. This is because the current lean media actually enables knowledge sharing as it fits the core characteristics of the software programming process.

Purine Auxotrophic Starvation Evokes Phenotype Similar to Stationary Phase Cells in Budding Yeast

Purine auxotrophy is an abundant trait among eukaryotic parasites and a typical marker for many budding yeast strains. Supplementation with an additional purine source (such as adenine) is necessary to cultivate these strains. If not supplied in adequate amounts, purine starvation sets in. We explored purine starvation effects in a model organism, a budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ade8 knockout, at the level of cellular morphology, central carbon metabolism, and global transcriptome. We observed that purine-starved cells stopped their cycle in G1/G0 state and accumulated trehalose, and the intracellular concentration of AXP decreased, but adenylate charge remained stable. Cells became tolerant to severe environmental stresses. Intracellular RNA concentration decreased, and massive downregulation of ribosomal biosynthesis genes occurred. We proved that the expression of new proteins during purine starvation is critical for cells to attain stress tolerance phenotype Msn2/4p targets are upregulated in purine-starved cells when compared to cells cultivated in purine-rich media. The overall transcriptomic response to purine starvation resembles that of stationary phase cells. Our results demonstrate that the induction of a strong stress resistance phenotype in budding yeast can be caused not only by natural starvation, but also starvation for metabolic intermediates, such as purines.

Should I Ask Over Zoom, Phone, Email, or In-Person? Communication Channel and Predicted Versus Actual Compliance

Research has found that people are much more likely to agree to help requests made in-person than those made via text-based media, but that help-seekers underestimate the relative advantage of asking for help face-to-face. It remains unknown what help-seekers’ intuitions about the effectiveness of richer media channels incorporating audio and video features might be, or how these intuitions would compare with the actual effectiveness of face-to-face or email versus rich media requests. In two behavioral and two supplemental vignette experiments, participants expected differences in the effectiveness of seeking help through various communication channels to be quite small, or nonexistent. However, when participants actually made requests, the differences were substantial. Ultimately, help-seekers underestimated the relative advantage of asking for help face-to-face compared with asking through any mediated channel. Help-seekers also underestimated the relative advantage of asking through richer media channels compared with email.

Characteristic Observation of Cordyceps Militaris (L) Wild Type Strain from Five Oil Palm Plantation in Muara Wahau East Borneo

Cordycep militaris (L) is known in oil palm plantations as a natural enemy of nettle caterpillars. This fungus infects the caterpillars that descend down to become pupae around the palm circle, so that the pupae do not develop into imago and the pest's life cycle will be interrupted. This fungus is one of the 3 main entomopathogenic fungi used as bioinsecticides to control pests in oil palm plantations. In this study, the characteristics of C. militaris were observed from 5 oil palm plantations cultured in vitro using two types of media and two incubation methods. The results showed that there were mycelium pigmentation in nutrient-rich media Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plus Yeast extract (SDAY) when incubated with lighting. Only one of five mycelium cultures using SDAY media showed pigmentation on the no-light incubation method. Pigmentation did not occur in nutrient-poor media such as agar (WA), either incubated with lighting or with no-light. The growth of isolates was generally higher on SDAY media than on WA media. This study showed that C. militaris is a facultative phagotrophic fungus. The highest growth of isolates cultured on SDAY media incubated with lighting was found in isolates A and C, with colony diameter 90 mm, high mycelium density (+++) and hairy texture like cotton at the end of the 3rd week after inoculation. In the no-light incubation method, the highest growth was found in isolates B and C with colony diameter 90 mm, high mycelium density (+++) and hairy texture like cotton at the end of the 3rd week after inoculation. Isolates A and C showed high virulence potential to be used as bioinsecticides.

Genomic Sequencing of sod1D Yeast That Escape Spore Death

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that impacts nerve cells and the spinal cord, which in some cases are linked to mutations in the Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. Sod1 is an antioxidant within cells that converts reactive oxygen from superoxide into water using a copper and zinc ion to deactivate the oxygen. When the SOD1 gene is deleted, yeast cells are still able to undergo meiotic divisions and generate four spores, but the spores that are produced are inviable. However, we see that randomly, sod1∆ spores can grow on rich media. This leads us to hypothesize that somewhere in the genome, there is a suppressor mutation that allows these cells to grow. We tested this hypothesis by preparing samples for whole genome sequencing. By comparing the genomic sequences from our suppressor mutants to wild-type controls, we’re able to identify a single point mutation within a gene called NCA2, which codes for a protein that regulates expression of Fo-F1 ATP synthase subunits 6 and 8. Given this result, we are now working to try and understand the relationship between the sod1∆ spore death phenotype and the modulation of ATP synthase activity. In summary, the results from our work have the potential to further help us understand what role Sod1 plays in yeast meiosis and may be able to give us a deeper understanding for ALS cases that are linked to Sod1.

Durability of UHPFRC functionalised with nanoadditives due to synergies in the action of sulphate and chloride in cracked and uncracked states

This paper studies the durability of Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) with high Blast Furnace Slag content (BFS) and nanoadditives such as crystalline admixture (CA), alumina nanofibres (ANF) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), exposed to different aggressive environmental conditions: 1) three aggressive media: a) deionized water (dw), b) sulphate rich solution (ss) and c) simulated geothermal water (sgw) containing sulphate and chloride; 2) two water interaction conditions: a) static and b) dynamic (water impact); and 3) with and without the presence of cracks. Durability was analysed over 24 months, measuring several physical and chemical parameters of the system, recording changes in both the aggressive media and the concrete. All UHPFRC types demonstrate good durability, showing high resistance to expansion and deformation in the sulphate-rich media. A leaching process occurs in all water interaction systems, the dynamic interaction in sgw being the most aggressive. The interaction of sgw inside the crack favours the formation of solid phases such as calcium carbonates and ettringite, while the presence of nanoadditives affects the response of both the matrix and the formation of precipitates within the crack.

Effects of Growth Medium Variation on the Nutri-Functional Properties of Microalgae Used for the Enrichment of Ricotta

Research background. Microalgae represent an emergent sustainable source of bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids that can ameliorate the nutritional characteristics of foods. The biochemical composition of microalgae could be modulated by varying the culture conditions to enhance the accumulation of biomolecules of interest. The aim of this work is to optimise the nutri-functional properties of two microalgae with potential utility for food-application. Experimental approach. Nannochloropsis gaditana.L2 and Chlorella sp.SM1 were screened for growth, biochemical composition, and radical scavenging activity employing four different growth media (Algal, BG-11, f/2, and Conway) with different nutrients composition. Additionally, the feasibility of using Chlorella sp.SM1 cultivated in BG-11 medium, in a Mediterranean under-investigated dairy product “ricotta cheese” and its effect on the sensory attributes was investigated. Results and conclusions. Nitrate- and phosphate-rich media (BG-11 and Algal) enhanced the biomass productivity. However, the highest lipid productivity (23.10 mg/(L·day); 11.86 mg/(L·day) for SM1 and L2 respectively) and carbohydrates content (34.79 %; 44.84 % for SM1 and L2 respectively) were obtained with the nitrate-deficient f/2 medium. Regardless of the used medium, the lipidic profile of Chlorella sp.SM1 and Nannochloropsis gaditana.L2 remained adequate for different applications with the presence of C16-18 as main fatty acid (>50 %). Significant increase in oleic acid (C18:1) content was recorded in response to nitrogen deficiency, being the highest in SM1 in f/2 medium (34 %). Nitrogen deficiency was also found to enhance phenolic compounds (48.8 GAE/(mg/g); 35.1 GAE/(mg/g) for SM1 and L2 respectively) and carotenoids contents (2.2 mg/g; 2 mg/g for SM1 and L2 respectively). Due to its interesting antioxidant potential, Chlorella sp.SM1 was used to enrich the ricotta cheese product at different concentrations (0.2 %, 1 % and 1.5 %). The sample with 0.2 % was found to give the most appreciated product. Novelty and scientific contribution. This study permitted the production of an innovative ricotta cheese using Chlorella, as a functional ingredient, without altering the manufacturing diagram while maintaining acceptable sensorial characteristics. The biochemical composition of the used strains varied depending on the culture media’s composition, which permitted the accumulation of phytonutrients of interest.

Physicochemical Parameters Limiting Growth of Debaryomyces hansenii in Solutions of Hygroscopic Compounds and Their Effects on the Habitability of Martian Brines

The availability of liquid water is a prerequisite for all lifeforms on Earth. In hyperarid subzero environments like the Dry Valleys in Antarctica or the near-subsurface of Mars liquid water might be provided temporarily by hygroscopic substances that absorb water from the atmosphere and lower the freezing point of water. To evaluate the potential of hygroscopic compounds to serve as a habitat, it is necessary to explore the microbial tolerances towards these substances and their life-limiting properties. Here we present a study investigating the tolerances of the halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii to various solutes. Growth experiments were conducted via counting colony forming units (CFUs) after inoculation of a liquid growth medium containing a specific solute concentration. The lowest water activities (aw) enabling growth were determined to be ~0.83 in glycerol and fructose-rich media. For all other solutes the growth-enabling aw was higher, due to additional stress factors such as chaotropicity and ionic strength. Additionally, we found that the solute tolerances of D. hansenii correlate with both the eutectic freezing point depressions and the deliquescence relative humidities of the respective solutes. Our findings strongly impact our understanding of the habitability of solute-rich low aw environments on Earth and beyond.

Media Systems and Attention Cycles: Volume and Topics of News Coverage on COVID-19 in the United States and China

We examined initial newspaper coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak (January–May 2020) in the United States and China, countries with contrasting media systems and pandemic experiences. We join the context-rich media systems literature and the longitudinal nature of the issue-attention literature to expand each by providing more system-level context for explaining how media cover an issue over time. U.S. coverage peaked later and stayed consistently high, while Chinese coverage was more variable. The most prominent topics in Chinese coverage were related to domestic outbreak response, while U.S. coverage focused on politics, highlighting how issue-attention cycles differ across countries.

Kinetin stimulates differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts

Kinetin or N6-furfuryladenine (K) belongs to a class of plant hormones called cytokinins, which are biologically active molecules modulating many aspects of plant growth and development. However, biological activities of cytokinins are not only limited to plants; their effects on animals have been widely reported in the literature. Here, we found that Kinetin is a potent small molecule that efficiently stimulates differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts into myotubes in vitro. The highest efficacy was achieved at 1μM and 10μM Kinetin concentrations, in both mitogen-poor and rich media. More importantly, Kinetin was able to strongly stimulate the MyoD-dependent conversion of fibroblasts into myotubes. Kinetin alone did not give rise to fibroblast conversion and required MyoD; this demonstrates that Kinetin augments the molecular repertoire of necessary key regulatory factors to facilitate MyoD-mediated myogenic differentiation. This novel Kinetin pro-myogenic function may be explained by its ability to alter intracellular calcium levels and by its potential to impact on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) signalling. Taken together, our findings unravel the effects of a new class of small molecules with potent pro-myogenic activities. This opens up new therapeutic avenues with potential for treating skeletal muscle diseases related to muscle aging and wasting.