Sugar-Pucker Force-Induced Transition in Single-Stranded DNA

The accurate knowledge of the elastic properties of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is key to characterize the thermodynamics of molecular reactions that are studied by force spectroscopy methods where DNA is mechanically unfolded. Examples range from DNA hybridization, DNA ligand binding, DNA unwinding by helicases, etc. To date, ssDNA elasticity has been studied with different methods in molecules of varying sequence and contour length. A dispersion of results has been reported and the value of the persistence length has been found to be larger for shorter ssDNA molecules. We carried out pulling experiments with optical tweezers to characterize the elastic response of ssDNA over three orders of magnitude in length (60–14 k bases). By fitting the force-extension curves (FECs) to the Worm-Like Chain model we confirmed the above trend:the persistence length nearly doubles for the shortest molecule (60 b) with respect to the longest one (14 kb). We demonstrate that the observed trend is due to the different force regimes fitted for long and short molecules, which translates into two distinct elastic regimes at low and high forces. We interpret this behavior in terms of a force-induced sugar pucker conformational transition (C3′-endo to C2′-endo) upon pulling ssDNA.     

Investigation on La3+ and Dy3+ co-doped ceria ceramics with an optimized average atomic number of dopants for electrolytes in IT-SOFCs

In the present study, we investigate the fundamental properties of CeO₂ by selecting La³⁺ (57), and Dy³⁺ (66) as dopants with optimized average atomic number of 61.5, which lies in between Pm³⁺ (62) and Sm³⁺ (62) in accordance with the criteria for optimum doping. A system of co-doped ceria ceramics Ce_1–x–yLa_xDy_yO_2-δ ((x, y) = (0.00, 0.00), (0.025, 0.025), (0.05, 0.05), (0.075, 0.075), (0.10, 0.10), (0.00, 0.20) and (0.20, 0.00)) as electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells were successfully prepared by a well-known sol-gel auto-combustion route. In order to obtain dense samples, the prepared pellets were sintered in air at 1300 °C for 4 h using conventional furnace and relative densities of all the samples were found to be higher than 95%. Single phase cubic structure, microstructural density and elemental composition analysis of all the samples were studied by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques, respectively. Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of concentrated O^2-–vacancies in the co-doped ceria system. Impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed the high value of total ionic conductivity and low activation energy for the composition Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ i.e., 2.08 × 10^–2 S cm^–1 and 0.58 eV, respectively. Linear thermal expansion analyses of all the samples revealed the matched thermal expansion coefficients. Finally, these results recommend that the Ce_0.85La_0.075Dy_0.075O_2?δ sample can be useful as a solid electrolyte in IT-SOFC applications.     

The control of paracetamol particle size and surface morphology through crystallisation in a spray dryer

The parameters governing the crystallisation of paracetamol using various conventional techniques has been extensively studied, however the factors influencing the drug crystallisation using spray drying is not as well understood. The aim of this work was to investigate the crystallisation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient through evaporative crystallisation using a spray dryer to study the physicochemical properties of the drug and to use semi-empirical equations to gain insight into the morphology and particle size of the dried powder. Paracetamol solutions were spray dried at various inlet temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 120 °C and also from a series of inlet feed solvent compositions ranging from 50/50% v/v ethanol/water to 100% ethanol and solid-state characterisation was done. The size and morphology of the dried materials were altered with a change in spray drying parameters, with an increase in inlet temperature leading to an increase in particle Sauter mean diameter (from 3.0 to 4.4 µm) and a decrease in the particle size with an increase in ethanol concentration in the feed (from 4.6 to 4.4 µm) as a result of changes in particle density and atomised droplet size. The morphology of the dried particles consisted of agglomerates of individual crystallites bound together into larger semi-spherical agglomerates with a higher tendency for particles having crystalline ridges to form at higher ethanol concentrations of the feed.     

Microanalysis of supersaturated gas release based on wall-attached bubbles

Supersaturation of dissolved gases in natural water, due to spillage from high dams and other factors, may cause fish mortality. In previous experiments, the dissipation coefficient has been used to denote the degassing process of total dissolved gas(TDG) saturation. These experiments mainly analyzed supersaturated TDG dissipation from a macroscopic view. To precisely clarify the mechanism of supersaturated TDG release, this study investigated bubble adsorption at a wall surface from a microscopic view. The experiment was conducted in a Plexiglas-wall container filled with supersaturated TDG water. A model that calculates the adsorption flux of supersaturated TDG by a solid wall, and helps describe construction for a contact angle at a three-phase intersection, was developed according to Young's equation. This model was used to investigate the formation process of bubbles adsorbed on a solid polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) surface in supersaturated TDG water. The adsorption effect of a solid wall on TDG release was analyzed based on the experimental data. The modeling results were compared with observations under different wall area conditions, and it was found that TDG release tended to increase with wall area. This study helps improve our understanding of the mechanisms of supersaturated TDG release and provides an important theoretical method for accurate calculation of the release process. The adsorption flux model of the solid wall provides mitigation measures to combat the adverse effects of TDG supersaturation,which will be beneficial to the protection of aquatic organisms in hydropower-regulated rivers.     

Evaluation of particle recovery from microalgae

Coccoliths are micro-structured biomineral particles found in cell protective covering layers of coccolithophore species. They are mainly composed of CaCO₃ and their individual crystal entities are arranged in such a way that they construct complex and unique structures. This complexity is found down to the individual particle level and appears to have promising properties to offer. This study focuses on the essential step prior to any kind of implementation, which is the recovery of the material. It summarizes cleaning protocols found in literature, compares them for the first time for the same freshly cultivated material and addresses challenges that still need to be overcome. Further, it highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the best cleaning protocols, suggests optimizations with promising results and uses size distribution measurements to analyse the recovery efficiency. To that end, further characterization techniques, new for coccoliths, are introduced and used to improve our current knowledge of the particles behaviour.     

Concise dynamic model to accurately calculate the hydrogen yield during the reaction process

Estimation of hydrogen production rate and the total amount hydrogen during any reaction process require an accurate and concise dynamic model to describe the variation of hydrogen production rate with reaction time. There must be two comprehensive features of such model, the first one is that the hydrogen production rate calculated by this model is zero at the initial time is zero and the second one is that the integration of this model over time result in an explicit function. In this paper, we present a comprehensive model which meets above two requirements via amendments to the shifted logistic model. The model is validated against measured results through comparison of 25 experimental and theoretical hydrogen production rate. The experimentally validated model is used to calculate the total amount hydrogen during each reaction process. The impact of some experimental conditions on the total hydrogen production was mathematically explained for the first time, and this result reveal the excellent predictive ability of framework suggested in this paper. In addition, that is for an experimental condition history, predictions are achieved by developing a set of “secondary models” that describe some experimental conditions dependence of the “primary models” parameters. The method to obtain the parameters in “secondary models” described in this paper indicated that another major departure from the conventional models is the notion that the “secondary models” do not need to follow any preconceived formula and that they can be derived solely from the observed growth patterns. The presented framework can help the hydrogen production industry.     

Using spray-dried sugar beet molasses in ice cream as a novel bulking agent

In this study, it is aimed to investigate and evaluate the use of molasses which is a by-product of sugar production as a novel bulking agent in ice cream as a sugar replacer. Sugar beet molasses (75%) and 12 DE maltodextrin (25%) were converted into powder form by spray drying. Spray-dried sugar beet molasses (SDSM) was then used as a substitute of sugar in different ratios (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0) in the ice cream products. The increased amount of SDSM decreased the overrun, L*, whiteness index (WI) and melting behaviours and increased a*, b*, total phenolic content, consistency and viscosity. Meanwhile, thermal properties have not been affected by the use of SDSM (P < 0.05). The sensory findings have been particularly interesting especially when replacing above 50% sugar with SDSM, aroma, flavour and general acceptability decrease. According to the results of this study, substituting 25% of total sugar with SDSM as a bulking agent can decrease cost of the product and improve total phenolic content and some quality parameters without compromising sensorial properties.     

离子色谱同时测定果汁中22种糖、糖醇和醇

目的建立积分安培-离子色谱法同时测果汁中22种糖、糖醇和醇定的方法。方法在流速为0.40 mL/min, pH值在6.5～8.6,柱温为30℃条件下,在CarboPacTM MA1(4 mm×250 mm)色谱柱中进行分离。结果 22种组分在测定浓度范围内具有良好的线性关系(r~20.999);除了甲醇外,其他21种组分检出限在0.006～0.203 mg/L之间;在0.50、1.00、5.00 mg/L 3个添加浓度水平下,回收率为75.83%～105.89%,相对标准偏差(RSD)在1.03%～10.39%范围内。结论该方法简便、快速、准确、灵敏,完全适于果汁中22种糖、糖醇和醇的分析测定。     

超声提取柿果皮总三萜酸工艺优化

目的采用正交法优化柿果皮中总三萜酸的超声提取工艺。方法以"牛心柿"柿果皮为原料,利用紫外分光光度计法测定柿果皮中总三萜酸的含量,并从提取溶剂选择及其浓度、料液比、超声时间和温度等方面,通过单因素实验和正交试验确定超声提取柿果皮总三萜酸的最佳条件。结果最佳超声提取工艺为:在超声功率240 W的前提下,提取溶剂为75%(V/V)的乙醇、料液比1:15(m/V)、时间45 min、温度50℃。在此条件下,柿果皮总三萜得率最高可达39.33mg/g。结论优化后的方法简单、快速、准确、提取率高,适合提取柿果皮的总三萜酸。