Loss of SDHB Induces a Metabolic Switch in the hPheo1 Cell Line toward Enhanced OXPHOS

Background: Enzymes of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) have recently been recognized as tumor suppressors. Mutations in the SDHB subunit of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) cause pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PCCs/PGLs) and predispose patients to malignant disease with poor prognosis. Methods: Using the human pheochromocytoma cell line (hPheo1), we knocked down SDHB gene expression using CRISPR-cas9 technology. Results: Microarray gene expression analysis showed that >500 differentially expressed gene targets, about 54%, were upregulated in response to SDHB knock down. Notably, genes involved in glycolysis, hypoxia, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation were up regulated, whereas genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were downregulated. In vitro studies show that hPheo1 proliferation is not affected negatively and the cells that survive by shifting their metabolism to the use of glutamine as an alternative energy source and promote OXPHOS activity. Knock down of SDHB expression results in a significant increase in GLUD1 expression in hPheo1 cells cultured as monolayer or as 3D culture. Analysis of TCGA data confirms the enhancement of GLUD1 in SDHB mutated/low expressed PCCs/PGLs. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the downregulation of SDHB in PCCs/PGLs results in increased GLUD1 expression and may represent a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in SDHB mutated tumors and SDHB loss of activity-dependent diseases.     

Effective solar power harnessing using a few novel solar tree designs and their performance assessment

Solar irradiance being considered as one of the most important alternative sources of energy can be harnessed in the form of electrical power using photovoltaic panels erected under the sun. Optimum conversion of power from solar panels can be obtained by using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), which involves continuously adjusting the angle of panels according to the change in the angle of falling irradiance. These trackers, however, use some amount of power for operation of MPPT equipment. Various techniques for arranging the solar panels in three dimensions have been suggested for optimizing the output power from them. The inspiration behind arranging the panels are often drawn from the natural trees where the branches and the leaves follow a particular pattern called phyllotaxy which is directly analogous to the Fibonacci number and Golden ratio. In this research work, the power output from two solar tree models based on 3/8 and 2/5 phyllotaxy pattern and solar conventional panel compared under similar irradiance conditions. There are so many phyllotaxy patterns like 1/3, 2/5, 3/8, etc. When the solar panels aligned in different phyllotaxies, then the orientation direction of solar panels are distinct. Each solar panel connected in solar trees is in a different direction, so that they received the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day as compared to conventional panels which is oriented unidirectional.     

Efficacy of an advanced sewage treatment plant in southeast Queensland, Australia, to remove estrogenic chemicals

The estrogenicity profile of domestic sewage during treatment at a medium-sized (3800 EP) advanced biological nutrient removal plant in Queensland, Australia, was characterized using a sheep estrogen receptor binding assay (ERBA) and the MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation assay (E-Screen). The raw influent was highly estrogenic (20-54 ng/L EEq), and primary treatment resulted in a slight increase in estrogenicity that was detected in one of the assays (6-80 ng/L). Concurrent chemical analysis suggested that most of the estrogenicity in the influent was due to natural hormones (>48%). Secondary activated sludge treatment followed by nitrification/denitrification effectively removed > 95% of the estrogenic activity (to <0.75-2.6 ng/L), and estrogenicity of the final tertiary-treated effluent was below the detection limit of both assays (<0.75 ng/L).     

Quality of mango fruits during storage: effect of synthetic and eco‐friendly films

Mango (Mangifera indica) cv ‘Alphonso’ fruits, harvested 40–50 days after flowering, were stored at 27 ± 1 °C and 65% RH under three conditions of packaging: (1) perforated plastic boxes, (2) wax lined cartons sealed with low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) film, and (3) wax lined cartons sealed with chitosan films. The weight loss, firmness, Hunter colour values and acidity were determined periodically during storage. Sensory analysis was carried out to determine colour, firmness, flavour qualities and also defective spots. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the results indicated that fruits stored in perforated plastic boxes and LDPE film‐sealed cartons differed significantly with respect to mango flavour, firmness and development of defective spots, while those in chitosan film sealed cartons retained the desirable qualities for a longer period (up to 20 days) without developing defective spots. The higher level of carbon dioxide and lower level of oxygen, or lower rate of oxygen transmission, associated with chitosan films delay ripening, and the higher water vapour transmission rate minimizes the rate of transpiration and prevents condensation of water droplets on the film. This helps in establishing equilibrium moisture content of mangoes in the cartons, which, in turn, extends the shelf life of fruits for a longer period. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

A figure of merit for evaluating sustainability of renewable energy systems

For grading different types of renewable energy based electricity generation systems, a figure of merit has been proposed and evaluated. The figure of merit has been obtained by analyzing total energy utilization in constructing and installing the systems and by their respective electricity generation. The gross carbon emission has also been estimated for evaluation of figure of merit. This figure of merit clearly indicates that wind power is the most sustainable source for electricity generation, followed by small hydropower and solar photovoltaics.     

Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis for a Finite Thickness Cylinder in a Hypersonic Flow

Prediction of surface heating rates is of prime importance for the hypersonic flow regime. Experimental and conventional computational efforts overlook the heat transfer phenomenon in the solid due to the rigid assumptions involved in the solution methodologies. In order to address this fact, conjugate heat transfer (CHT) studies are carried out using various coupling techniques to examine their implementation abilities. Three types of solution methodologies are adopted, namely, decoupled, strongly coupled, and loosely coupled analysis. This study is also focused on looking into the effect of a hypersonic flow field on wall heat flux for a finite thickness insulating cylinder at moderately large time scales. Increase in wall temperature and decrease in surface heat flux have been noticed using strong and loose coupling techniques with an increase in simulation time. Decoupled fluid and solid domain analysis is found to be useful for typical shock tunnel test durations (～1 ms) while investigations with loose coupling techniques are advisable for time scales corresponding to flight testing (～1 s). Efforts are also made to reason the discrimination in prediction of stagnation point heat flux using conventional computational and experimental analysis.     

Neuro-nutrients as anti-alzheimer's disease agents: A critical review

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a massive neuronal death causing memory loss, cognitive impairment and behavioral alteration that ultimately lead to dementia and death. AD is a multi-factorial pathology controlled by molecular events such as oxidative stress, protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction and neuro inflammation. Nowadays, there is no efficient disease-modifying treatment for AD and epidemiological studies have suggested that diet and nutrition have a significant impact on the development of this disorder. Indeed, some nutrients can protect all kind of cells, including neurons. As prevention is better than cure, life style improvement, with a special emphasis on diet, should seriously be considered as an anti-AD track and intake of nutrients promoting neuronal health is the need of the hour. Diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols and vitamins have been shown to protect against AD, whereas saturated fatty acids-containing diets deprived of polyphenols promote the development of the disease. Thus, Mediterranean diets, mainly composed of fruits, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids, stand as valuable, mild and preventive anti-AD agents. This review focuses on our current knowledge in the field and how one can fight this devastating neurodegenerative disorder through the simple proper modification of our life style.     

Influence of Experimental Parameters on Friction and Wear Mechanisms of PA66/PTFE Blend Reinforced with Glass Fiber

Polymer blend of composition 80 wt% polyamide 66/20 wt% polytetraflurotheylene (PA66/PTFE) was selected as a matrix and reinforced with different weight percentage of short glass fibers (SGF). These composites were prepared by melt mix method using twin screw extruder followed by injection molding. The tribological behaviors were tested by using pin on disc machine by varying the different experimental parameters. The friction and wear mechanisms were studied as a function of sliding velocity, sliding load, and distance. The effect of fiber loading lowered the wear volume loss of SGF filled PA66/PTFE blend. The least frictional coefficient of 0.24 was obtained for 20 wt% of SGF in the blend. However, the wear resistance was not apparently improved by SGF loading in the experimental range for comparison with unfilled PA66/PTFE blend. The worn surfaces of specimen were examined by scanning electron microscopy photographs. The observations revealed that the frictional behavior was a function of development and formation of transfer film. Matrix wear and fiber wear were the result of frictional mechanism. The critical wear volume of PA66/PTFE/SGF composites was the contribution of both matrix and fiber wear. The abrasive nature of SGF was also one of the important factor for frictional behavior.     

Performance and emission characteristics of diesel engine operated on plastic pyrolysis oil with exhaust gas recirculation

The objective of this research was to study the performance and emission characteristics of using waste plastic pyrolysis oil in diesel engine without any engine modification. The engine used in this study is a four-stroke single-cylinder naturally aspirated diesel engine (compression ignition). In the present work, the engine fuelled with blends of diesel fuel (DF) with plastic oil in the ratio of 90:10 (blend10%), 80:20 (blend20%), 70:30 (blend30%), and 50:50 (blend50%) are experimentally measured the efficiencies and emissions, analysed the performance, and compared results with that of DF.