RNA secondary structured logic gates for profiling the microRNA cancer biomarkers

Deregulation of microRNAs expression is symptomatic of cancer disease and occurs before the awareness of cancer signs. Early detection of cancer disease can improve or drop the disease entirely. DNA computing is an emerging field of detecting microRNAs based on toehold‐mediated strand displacement reactions, which is a more efficient method than the commonly used method like real‐time PCR. Accuracy and cost of diagnostic applications are essential criteria that are achieved by using the DNA logic gates based on the DNA computing method. In this study, the authors proposed the multi‐input liver cancer biosensor with the RNA secondary structure motifs as the computational module and two approaches are suggested.Inspec keywords: cancer, biocomputing, biochemistry, DNA, RNA, biosensors, logic gates, liver, macromolecules, genetics, molecular biophysics, diseasesOther keywords: RNA secondary structured logic gates, microRNA cancer biomarkers, microRNAs expression, cancer disease, cancer signs, detecting microRNAs, toehold‐mediated strand displacement reactions, DNA logic gates, DNA computing method, multiinput liver cancer biosensor, RNA secondary structure motifs     

The effect of quinoa germ on the quality properties of fresh whey-less cheese made by ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract as a coagulant

The effect of ginger extract (GE), as a milk coagulant, was investigated on the physicochemical, proteolysis, textural profiles and sensory properties of whey-less cheese containing quinoa germ powder (QGP; 0, 3, 6 and 9%) during storage. The results showed that with increasing QGP, the dry matter, fat, soluble nitrogen at pH 4.6 and free tryptophan and tryptophan amino acids increased and protein content decreased. Consequently, it is suggested that using 6% quinoa germ in the production of whey-less cheese made by GE as a coagulant can give the most desired product with no adverse effects on the quality and sensory properties.     

An investigation into the properties of ternary and binary cement pastes containing glass powder

The properties of binary and ternary cement pastes containing glass powder (GP) were examined. Hydration at early age was evaluated using semi-adiabatic calorimetry and at late ages using non-evaporable water content and thermogravimetric analysis. The transport characteristic was assessed by measuring electrical resistivity. The binary paste with slag showed the highest hydration activity compared to the binary pastes with GP and fly ash (FA). The results indicated that the pozzolanic behavior of the binary paste with GP was less than that of the binary pastes with slag or FA at late ages. An increase in the electrical resistivity and compressive strength of the binary paste with GP compared to other modified pastes at late ages was observed. It was shown that GP tends to increase the drying shrinkage of the pastes. Ternary pastes containing GP did not exhibit synergistic enhancements compared to the respective binary pastes.     

Inverse emulsion polymerization of triple monomers of acrylamide,maleic anhydride,and styrene to achieve highly hydrophilic–hydrophobic modified polyacrylamide

The purpose of this study was the production of copolymers and terpolymers with highly hydrophilic–hydrophobic properties, using inexpensive and available monomers as potential enhancing oil recovery (EOR) and water production control agents for high-temperature and high-salinity (HTHS) oil reservoirs. For this purpose, several copolymers and terpolymers with different molar percentage of acrylamide/styrene, acrylamide/maleic anhydride, and acrylamide/styrene/maleic anhydride were synthesized by the inverse emulsion polymerization technique. The presence of hydrophobic styrene and hydrophilic maleic anhydride monomers in the copolymer and terpolymer structure, provided some unique properties compared to polyacrylamide, was confirmed by several analyses including HNMR, elemental analysis, FTIR, SEM, TGA, and DSC. Simulating HTHS oil reservoir condition under high salinity, temperature, and shear rate, the rheological studies suggested unlike traditional EOR agents such as polyacrylamide, the viscosity of the copolymer, and terpolymer aqueous solutions showed a considerable increase after a critical polymer concentration and less reduction with the salt increment at both ambient and elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the swelling ratio of the insoluble terpolymers measured versus the time and temperature in salt water increased with the maleic anhydride mole fraction, decreased with the salt concentration, and showed a maximum value at around 57 °C. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47753.     

Effects of L-Cysteine on some characteristics of wheat starch

In this study the effects of L-Cysteine as a food additive on wheat starch characteristics before and after gelatinization were studied. L-Cysteine (63 mg/kg, starch basis) was added to slurry of wheat starch in water (30%, w/w). One set of samples was prepared by mixing it at 40 °C for 45 min. Another set was gelatinized at 100 °C for 45 min. The scanning electro-micrographs of the samples prepared at 40 °C in the presence of L-Cysteine showed some spots on the granules. However, thermal properties, X-ray patterns and the degree of crystallinity of the samples did not obviously change (P > 0.05); while a reduction in intrinsic viscosity, peak and final viscosities of the samples was observed. After gelatinization, intrinsic, peak and final viscosities of the samples were reduced. Some of these changes may indicate degradation of starch molecules in the presence of L-Cysteine, particularly after gelatinization.     

Inserting Different Charge Regions in Power MOSFET for Achieving High Performance of the Electrical Parameters

Silicon - In this paper a new lateral double diffused MOSFET is proposed which has better performance compared to the conventional MOSFET. The idea is applied by inserting two silicon windows in...     

A Silicon on Nothing LDMOS with Two Air Pillars in Gate Insulator for Power Applications

Silicon - This paper proposes a new silicon on nothing lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor with two air gaps in the gate insulator (SON-APG LDMOS). Utilizing air for the buried layer...     

A systematic study on the effects of synthesis conditions of polyamide selective layer on the CO2/N2 separation of thin film composite polyamide membranes

Different top layer fabrication methods (amine-first, acid-first, spin coating), organic phase solvents (hexane, heptane, mixed hexane/heptane), acid acceptors (triethylamine, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide), and surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate concentrations (0, 0.05, and 0.1 wt%) were utilized to fabricate thin film composite polyamide membranes for CO₂/N₂ separation. The results, according to an L9 orthogonal array of Taguchi approach, showed that employing acid-first method increases both CO₂ permeance and CO₂/N₂ selectivity of the membranes at a feed gas pressure of 3 bars. On the other hand, sodium hydroxide, and triethylamine should be used, as acid acceptors, to maximize CO₂ permeance and CO₂/N₂ selectivity, respectively. Moreover, the use of hexane solvent and 0 wt% surfactant led to maximum permeance, while, hexane solvent and 0.1 wt% surfactant were needed to reach the highest selectivity. The above level setting of synthesis parameters also resulted in the minimum sensitivity of the fabrication process to the noise factors effects. As shown by the analysis of variance, acid acceptor, and organic solvent types were the most influential parameters on CO₂ permeance and CO₂/N₂ selectivity, respectively. The effects of fabrication method and surfactant concentration, as single factors, on permeation/selectivity responses were also investigated.     

Hydrogen production employing Cu(BDC) metal–organic framework support in methanol steam reforming process within monolithic micro-reactors

Cu(BDC) metal–organic framework (MOF) was used as a support for the copper (Cu) catalyst applied in the methanol steam reforming (MSR) process at low temperatures (130–250 °C) with a feed WHSV = 9.2 h^?1 within the monolithic reactor. Also, the effects of diverse promoters were examined on the catalytic activities of the Cu/X–Cu(BDC) (X = Ce, Zn, Gd, Sm, La, Y, Pr) catalysts. Results showed that the Ce/Sm–Cu(BDC) supports exhibited highest activities, lowest reduction temperatures and largest specific surface areas, which caused highest distributions of the active copper metal nanoparticles on the supports. The reactor tests displayed that the activities of Cu/X–Cu(BDC) (X = Ce, Zn, Gd, Sm, La, Y, Pr) catalysts followed the order X = Ce > Sm > Y > La > Pr > Cu(BDC) > Zn > Gd. The highest activities of Ce and Sm containing catalysts were attributed to the presence of CeO₂ and Sm₂O₃ caused the oxygen vacancies on the catalyst surface which had positive effects on the methanol reforming process. The time-on-stream stability tests showed the highest resistance of the Cu/Ce–Cu(BDC) catalyst to the carbon formation during 32 h. Consequently, the Cu/Ce–Cu(BDC) with the highest stability, methanol conversion and carbon monoxide selectivity could be used in practical industrial applications.