University of Adelaide

About: University of Adelaide is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 27251 authors who have published 79167 publications receiving 2671128 citations. The organization is also known as: The University of Adelaide & Adelaide University.

2D phosphorene as a water splitting photocatalyst: fundamentals to applications

Abstract: Hydrogen from direct splitting of water molecules using photons is reckoned to be a sustainable and renewable energy solution for the post fossil-fuel era. Efficient photocatalysts, including metal-free photocatalysts, are key determinants of cost-effective hydrogen generation at a large-scale. The search for new materials that are metal-free is therefore ongoing. Recently, 2D phosphorene, a phosphorus analogue of graphene, has been added as a new semiconductor to the family of monolayer-flatland materials. In this review, we focus on analysing the fundamental electronic, optical and chemical properties of 2D phosphorene and assess its suitability as a metal-free water splitting photocatalyst. We also critically analyse its stability against claims from environmental antagonists and attempt to predict its future as a photocatalyst. This review provides timely information for researchers, scientists and professionals devoted to materials research for photocatalysis.

Design Strategies toward Advanced MOF-Derived Electrocatalysts for Energy-Conversion Reactions

Abstract: The key challenge to developing renewable and clean energy technologies lies in the rational design and synthesis of efficient and earth-abundant catalysts for a wide variety of electrochemical reactions. This review presents materials design strategies for constructing improved electrocatalysts based on MOF precursors/templates, with special emphasis on component manipulation, morphology control, and structure engineering. Guided by these strategies, recently developed MOF-derived materials have exhibited remarkable activity, selectivity, and stability for various energy-conversion processes, manifesting great potential for replacing precious-metal-based catalysts in next-generation energy devices. Existing challenges and opportunities regarding MOF-derived electrocatalysts are also discussed. It is anticipated that by extending current materials design strategies to a wider range of MOF precursors for various energy-related electrocatalytic reactions, significant advances toward achieving highly efficient electrocatalysts can be made.

Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on 8-Week Remission in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract: Importance High-intensity, aerobically prepared fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating active ulcerative colitis (UC). FMT protocols involving anaerobic stool processing methods may enhance microbial viability and allow efficacy with a lower treatment intensity. Objective To assess the efficacy of a short duration of FMT therapy to induce remission in UC using anaerobically prepared stool. Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 73 adults with mild to moderately active UC were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial in 3 Australian tertiary referral centers between June 2013 and June 2016, with 12-month follow-up until June 2017. Interventions Patients were randomized to receive either anaerobically prepared pooled donor FMT (n = 38) or autologous FMT (n = 35) via colonoscopy followed by 2 enemas over 7 days. Open-label therapy was offered to autologous FMT participants at 8 weeks and they were followed up for 12 months. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was steroid-free remission of UC, defined as a total Mayo score of ≤2 with an endoscopic Mayo score of 1 or less at week 8. Total Mayo score ranges from 0 to 12 (0 = no disease and 12 = most severe disease). Steroid-free remission of UC was reassessed at 12 months. Secondary clinical outcomes included adverse events. Results Among 73 patients who were randomized (mean age, 39 years; women, 33 [45%]), 69 (95%) completed the trial. The primary outcome was achieved in 12 of the 38 participants (32%) receiving pooled donor FMT compared with 3 of the 35 (9%) receiving autologous FMT (difference, 23% [95% CI, 4%-42%]; odds ratio, 5.0 [95% CI, 1.2-20.1];P = .03). Five of the 12 participants (42%) who achieved the primary end point at week 8 following donor FMT maintained remission at 12 months. There were 3 serious adverse events in the donor FMT group and 2 in the autologous FMT group. Conclusions and Relevance In this preliminary study of adults with mild to moderate UC, 1-week treatment with anaerobically prepared donor FMT compared with autologous FMT resulted in a higher likelihood of remission at 8 weeks. Further research is needed to assess longer-term maintenance of remission and safety. Trial Registration anzctr.org.au Identifier:ACTRN12613000236796

Meltdown: reading kernel memory from user space

Abstract: The security of computer systems fundamentally relies on memory isolation, e.g., kernel address ranges are marked as non-accessible and are protected from user access. In this paper, we present Meltdown. Meltdown exploits side effects of out-of-order execution on modern processors to read arbitrary kernel-memory locations including personal data and passwords. Out-of-order execution is an indispensable performance feature and present in a wide range of modern processors. The attack is independent of the operating system, and it does not rely on any software vulnerabilities. Meltdown breaks all security guarantees provided by address space isolation as well as paravirtualized environments and, thus, every security mechanism building upon this foundation. On affected systems, Meltdown enables an adversary to read memory of other processes or virtual machines in the cloud without any permissions or privileges, affecting millions of customers and virtually every user of a personal computer. We show that the KAISER defense mechanism for KASLR has the important (but inadvertent) side effect of impeding Meltdown. We stress that KAISER must be deployed immediately to prevent large-scale exploitation of this severe information leakage.