Wax Ester Rich Oil From The Marine Crustacean,Calanus finmarchicus,is a Bioavailable Source of EPA and DHA for Human Consumption

Oil from the marine copepod, Calanus finmarchicus, which contains >86 % of fatty acids present as wax esters, is a novel source of n‐3 fatty acids for human consumption. In a randomized, two‐period crossover study, 18 healthy adults consumed 8 capsules providing 4 g of Calanus^® Oil supplying a total of 260 mg EPA and 156 mg DHA primarily as wax esters, or 1 capsule of Lovaza^® providing 465 mg EPA and 375 mg DHA as ethyl esters, each with an EPA‐ and DHA‐free breakfast. Plasma EPA and DHA were measured over a 72 h period (t = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h). The positive incremental area under the curve over the 72 h test period (iAUC_{0‐72 h}) for both EPA and DHA was significantly different from zero (p < 0.0001) in both test conditions, with similar findings for the iAUC_{0–24 h} and iAUC_{0–48 h}, indicating the fatty acids were absorbed. There was no difference in the plasma iAUC_{0–72 h} for EPA + DHA, or DHA individually, in response to Calanus Oil vs the ethyl ester condition; however, the iAUC_{0–48 h} and iAUC_{0–72 h} for plasma EPA in response to Calanus Oil were both significantly increased relative to the ethyl ester condition (iAUC_{0–48 h}: 381 ± 31 vs 259 ± 39 μg*h/mL, p = 0.026; iAUC_{0‐72 h}: 514 ± 47 vs 313 ± 49 μg*h/mL, p = 0.009). These data demonstrate a novel wax ester rich marine oil is a suitable alternative source of EPA and DHA for human consumption.     

Field-Assisted Sintering of Nanocrystalline Titanium Nitride

Nanosized TiN powder was densified via field-assisted sintering at temperatures of 1150°–1350°C and a pressure of 66 MPa under vacuum. A maximum relative density of ∼97% and a maximum mean grain size of 150–200 nm were obtained. Densification and microstructural evolution have been discussed, in terms of superplasticity and electric-field effects.     

Body Compositional Changes and Growth Alteration in Chicks from Hens Fed Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Effects of feeding conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to hens on progeny chick development and composition at hatch (NHC) and three weeks of age (TWC) were assessed. CLA (0 or 0.5%, composed of mixed isomers of cis-9,trans-11 or trans-10,cis-12-CLA) was fed to hens with either safflower (SO) or olive oil (OO) (3 or 3.5%) to assure successful hatch for 2 weeks prior to collection for incubation. Maternal CLA feeding had no effect on hatchability, but improved egg fertility (p < 0.05). Maternal feeding of CLA with SO increased 21 day-old progeny growth, while CLA with OO decreased growth (oil*CLA, p < 0.05). In 25 day-old chicks (TWC), but not NHC, maternal CLA decreased the proportion of total body water (p < 0.05) and increased body ash (p < 0.05). While monounsaturated fatty acids were decreased and saturated fatty acids increased in eggs and NHC from hens fed CLA, no differences in fatty acid composition were observed in chicks at 25 days of age from hens fed CLA. Maternal CLA feeding resulted in the presence of c9,t11 and t10,c12-CLA in NHC, but only c9,t11 in the TWC. In conclusion, hens fed CLA led to improved fertility and altered body composition at 3 weeks of age.     

On the role of pre-existing defects and magnetic flux avalanches in the degradation of YBa2Cu3O7–x coated conductors by quenching

YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (YBCO) coated conductors are emerging as an important option for magnets for energy systems and experimental science. One of the remaining challenges for YBCO superconducting magnets is quench protection, i.e. ensuring that the YBCO is not damaged due to a fault condition. One key issue is understanding the underlying causes of degradation during a quench. Here, the microstructure of a quenched, degraded sampled is compared to that of an unquenched control sample. To facilitate microstructural analysis of the YBCO surface, the Cu stabilizer and Ag cap layer were removed by etching. Reactions between the Cu etchant and YBCO proved to be a signature of Ag/YBCO delamination. Two types of pre-existing defects were identified as initiation points of degradation. Defects on the conductor edge resulting in delaminated Ag lead to dendritic flux avalanches and high local heating, which cause further Ag delamination. This self-propagating effect results in dendritic Ag delamination, which is seen through etchant–YBCO reactions. Defects within the YBCO layer result in breaches in the protective Ag layer such that Cu etchant penetrates and reacts with the YBCO. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis showed similar reactions as in the edge degradation but also showed pure Ag particles, which indicates that the local temperature was sufficient to cause localized Ag melting.     

Thermally stable nanocrystallised mesoporous zirconia thin films

A supercritical fluid process method has been developed for fabricating mesoporous zirconia thin films with enhanced thermal stability up to a temperature of 850 °C. Both the supercritical CO₂ and the precursor tetramethoxysilane play an important role in enhancing the thermal stability of these films. Powder X-ray diffraction, Atomic force microscope, spectroscopic ellipsometry and transmission electron microscope analyses show that the thin films fabricated by the supercritical fluid process method have a highly ordered mesoporous structure, a nanocrystalline inorganic framework and a high optical transparency. These zirconia thin films have potential applications as electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells where high thermal stability is essential.     

Sintering Kinetics of a MgAl2O4 Spinel Doped with LiF

The sintering kinetics of a pure magnesium aluminate spinel, MgAl₂O₄, and that doped with LiF were determined through the use of the master sintering curve technique developed by Su and Johnson. ²⁰ Powders with 0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% by mass LiF were densified in a vacuum hot press under a range of unaxial pressures. After the sintering mechanisms in each temperature and pressure regime were determined, an optimized vacuum hot-pressing schedule was formulated for spinel powders doped with 1.0% by mass of LiF. In addition to forming a transient liquid phase, the presence of LiF leads to the formation of oxygen vacancies that promote late-stage sintering in MgAl₂O₄.     

Sn-Ag-Cu solders and solder joints: Alloy development, microstructure, and properties

Slow cooling of Sn-Ag-Cu and Sn-Ag-Cu-X (X = Fe, Co) solder-joint specimens made by hand soldering simulated reflow in surface-mount assembly to achieve similar as-solidified joint microstructures for realistic shearstrength testing, using Sn-3.5Ag (wt.%) as a baseline. Minor substitutions of either cobalt or iron for copper in Sn-3.7Ag-0.9Cu refined the joint matrix microstructure, modified the Cu₆Sn₅ intermetallic phase at the copper substrate/solder interface, and increased the shear strength. At elevated (150°C) temperature, no significant difference in shear strength was found in all of the alloys studied. Ambient temperature shear strength was reduced by largescale tin dendrites in the joint microstructure, especially by the coarse dendrites in solute poor Sn-Ag-Cu.     

Human DDX17 Unwinds Rift Valley Fever Virus Non-Coding RNAs

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-transmitted virus from the Bunyaviridae family that causes high rates of mortality and morbidity in humans and ruminant animals. Previous studies indicated that DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) restricts RVFV replication by recognizing two primary non-coding RNAs in the S-segment of the genome: the intergenic region (IGR) and 5′ non-coding region (NCR). However, we lack molecular insights into the direct binding of DDX17 with RVFV non-coding RNAs and information on the unwinding of both non-coding RNAs by DDX17. Therefore, we performed an extensive biophysical analysis of the DDX17 helicase domain (DDX17_135–555) and RVFV non-coding RNAs, IGR and 5’ NCR. The homogeneity studies using analytical ultracentrifugation indicated that DDX17_135–555, IGR, and 5’ NCR are pure. Next, we performed small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, which suggested that DDX17 and both RNAs are homogenous as well. SAXS analysis also demonstrated that DDX17 is globular to an extent, whereas the RNAs adopt an extended conformation in solution. Subsequently, microscale thermophoresis (MST) experiments were performed to investigate the direct binding of DDX17 to the non-coding RNAs. The MST experiments demonstrated that DDX17 binds with the IGR and 5’ NCR with a dissociation constant of 5.77 ± 0.15 µM and 9.85 ± 0.11 µM, respectively. As DDX17_135–555 is an RNA helicase, we next determined if it could unwind IGR and NCR. We developed a helicase assay using MST and fluorescently-labeled oligos, which suggested DDX17_135–555 can unwind both RNAs. Overall, our study provides direct evidence of DDX17_135–555 interacting with and unwinding RVFV non-coding regions.     

TGFβ-1 Induced Cross-Linking of the Extracellular Matrix of Primary Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Excessive cross-linking is a major factor in the resistance to the remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) during fibrotic progression. The role of TGFβ signalling in impairing ECM remodelling has been demonstrated in various fibrotic models. We hypothesised that increased ECM cross-linking by TGFβ contributes to skin fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Proteomics was used to identify cross-linking enzymes in the ECM of primary human dermal fibroblasts, and to compare their levels following treatment with TGFβ-1. A significant upregulation and enrichment of lysyl-oxidase-like 1, 2 and 4 and transglutaminase 2 were found. Western blotting confirmed the upregulation of lysyl hydroxylase 2 in the ECM. Increased transglutaminase activity in TGFβ-1 treated ECM was revealed from a cell-based assay. We employed a mass spectrometry-based method to identify alterations in the ECM cross-linking pattern caused by TGFβ-1. Cross-linking sites were identified in collagens I and V, fibrinogen and fibronectin. One cross-linking site in fibrinogen alpha was found only in TGFβ-treated samples. In conclusion, we have mapped novel cross-links between ECM proteins and demonstrated that activation of TGFβ signalling in cultured dermal fibroblasts upregulates multiple cross-linking enzymes in the ECM.