The Self-Assembled Behavior of DNA Bases on the Interface

A successful example of self-assembly in a biological system is that DNA can be an excellent agent to self-assemble into desirable two and three-dimensional nanostructures in a well-ordered manner by specific hydrogen bonding interactions between the DNA bases. The self-assembly of DNA bases have played a significant role in constructing the hierarchical nanostructures. In this review article we will introduce the study of nucleic acid base self-assembly by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at vacuum and ambient condition (the liquid/solid interface), respectively. From the ideal condition to a more realistic environment, the self-assembled behaviors of DNA bases are introduced. In a vacuum system, the energetic advantages will dominate the assembly formation of DNA bases, while at ambient condition, more factors such as conformational freedom and the biochemical environment will be considered. Therefore, the assemblies of DNA bases at ambient condition are different from the ones obtained under vacuum. We present the ordered nanostructures formed by DNA bases at both vacuum and ambient condition. To construct and tailor the nanostructure through the interaction between DNA bases, it is important to understand the assembly behavior and features of DNA bases and their derivatives at ambient condition. The utilization of STM offers the advantage of investigating DNA base self-assembly with sub-molecular level resolution at the surface.     

Milk supplemented with dried seaweed affects the systemic innate immune response in preweaning dairy calves

Intact seaweed or seaweed extracts are used as feed supplements to improve the gut microbiome in young animals. Seaweeds provide functional polysaccharides, and they are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds, all of which are relevant for immune system development. However, literature on the effects of dried seaweed supplementation on immune system development is limited, especially in calves. This experiment aimed to study the effect of feeding milk supplemented with Ulva lactuca, Ascophyllum nodosum, or Saccharina latissima on the systemic immune status of preweaning dairy calves. Forty male Holstein calves with birth body weight 41 ± 4 kg and plasma Brix percentage ≥8.7% at d 2 after birth were used in this study. Calves were fed 4 L of cow milk twice a day (total 8 L/d). From d 2 to d 28, calves in the control group (n = 10) received milk without seaweed supplementation. Over the same period, experimental calves received milk supplemented with Ulva lactuca (SW1; n = 10), Ascophyllum nodosum (SW2; n = 10), or Saccharina latissima (SW3, n = 10). Dried and ground seaweeds were offered at a daily allowance of 50 g/8 L of milk (i.e., approximately 5% inclusion rate on a dry matter basis). Blood samples were collected from a jugular vein on d 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after birth. Plasma concentrations of total protein, albumin, immunoglobulins, and acute-phase proteins (i.e., serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, and haptoglobin) were measured. We detected no differences in average daily gain, plasma immunoglobulins, albumin, or total protein. However, the contrast analysis revealed that plasma concentrations of fibrinogen (SW1 and SW2) and serum amyloid A (SW2 and SW3) were significantly higher in the seaweed groups compared with the control group. We also found a tendency for high plasma haptoglobin in the seaweed groups (SW1 and SW2) compared with the control group. Differences in acute-phase protein concentrations could be partially explained by the large differences in micromineral intake between control and seaweed-supplemented calves. Feeding milk supplemented with dried seaweed increased plasma concentrations of variables related to the innate immune response in preweaning dairy calves.     

Heat generation in high power prismatic Li‐ion battery cell with LiMnNiCoO2 cathode material

While in use, battery modules and battery packs generate large amounts of heat, which needs to be accounted for. The main challenge in battery thermal management is the correct estimation of heat generation in the battery cell during charging/discharging. In this paper, a method to calculate accurate heat generation in one individual cell is provided. The heat generation is calculated by measuring the overpotential resistances with four different methods and entropic heat generation in the cell. The effect and contribution of entropic heat generation towards the total heat generation in the cell are also calculated and measured. Finally, calorimeter tests are carried out to compare the calculated and measured heat generation. The results indicate that except for direct current resistance measured by impedance spectroscopy, all the overpotential resistances are very close to each other. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unchanged gene expression of glycogen synthase in muscle from patients with NIDDM following sulphonylurea-induced improvement of glycaemic control

We have previously shown that the mRNA expression of muscle glycogen synthase is decreased in non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients; the objective of the present protocol was to examine whether the gene expression of muscle glycogen synthase in NIDDM is affected by chronic sulphonylurea treatment. Ten obese patients with NIDDM were studied before and after 8 weeks of treatment with a weight-maintaining diet in combination with the sulphonylurea gliclazide. Gliclazide treatment was associated with significant reductions in HbA1C (p=0.001) and fasting plasma glucose (p=0.005) as well as enhanced beta-cell responses to an oral glucose load. During euglycaemic, hyperinsulinaemic clamp (2 mU x kg-1 x min-1) in combination with indirect calorimetry, a 35% (p=0.005) increase in whole-body insulin-stimulated glucose disposal rate, predominantly due to an increased non-oxidative glucose metabolism (p=0.02) was demonstrated in teh gliclazide-treated patients when compared to pre-treatment values. In biopsies obtained from vastus lateralis muscle during insulin infusion, the half-maximal activation of glycogen synthase was achieved at a significantly lower concentration of the allosteric activator glucose 6-phosphate (p=0.01). However, despite significant increases in both insulin-stimulated non-oxidative glucose metabolism and muscle glycogen synthase activation in gliclazide-treated patients no changes were found in levels of glycogen synthase mRNA or immunoreactive protein in muscle. In conclusion, improved blood glucose control in gliclazide-treated obese NIDDM patients has no impact on the gene expression of muscle glycogen synthase.     

Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy investigation of heavily P-doped silicon

Utilizing radioactive ^119mSn probe atoms in isoconcentration P-doped silicon, by ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer emission spectroscopy the formation of probe atom-vacancy complexes is observed as a function of rapid thermal annealing temperature and doping level. The results are discussed within the framework of a previously proposed model.     

A new area-specific bio-optical algorithm for the Bay of Biscay and assessment of its potential for SeaWiFS and MODIS/Aqua data merging

Based on a feed-forward and error-back-propagated neural network (NN), a new bio-optical algorithm is developed for the Bay of Biscay. It is designed as a set of NNs individually dedicated to the retrieval of the phytoplankton chlorophyll (chl), and total suspended matter (tsm) from Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua data. The retrieved versus in situ measured concentrations of chl and tsm correlation coefficients for chl proved to be ～0.8 (SeaWiFS) and 0.72 (MODIS), and for tsm 0.71 (SeaWiFS) and 0.74 (MODIS). The developed NN-based bio-optical algorithms are employed to assess the compatibility of SeaWiFS and MODIS data on chl and tsm in the coastal zone of the Bay of Biscay (case 2 waters). The value of the ratio between the concentration of chl and tsm derived from the same-day SeaWiFS and MODIS data (the overflight time difference, Δt is ≤2.5 hours) has in most cases values of approximately 1, however, in specific cases it varies appreciably. These results indicate that, unlike the reportedly very successful cases of merging of SeaWiFS and MODIS data on chl in open ocean waters (case 1 waters), the merging of chl (and tsm) data from these sensors collected over case 2 waters needs to be supervised at a level of a few pixels. At the same time, when averaged over the entire coastal zone of the Bay of Biscay, the retrieved monthly mean chl and tsm concentrations from SeaWiFS and MODIS practically coincide throughout the years (2002–2004) of contemporaneous operation of these two satellite sensors. Thus, even in the case of such dynamic and optically complex case 2 waters that are inherent in the Bay of Biscay, the potentials for ocean colour data merging are very good. The merging efficiency is assessed and illustrated via documenting the spatio-temporal dynamics of bottom sediment re-suspension in the bay occurring in winter – the season of heaviest cloudiness over the bay.     

The Mechanisation of Barendregt-Style Equational Proofs (the Residual Perspective)

We show how to mechanise equational proofs about higher-order languages by using the primitive proof principles of first-order abstract syntax over one-sorted variable names. We illustrate the method here by proving (in Isabelle/HOL) a technical property which makes the method widely applicable for the λ-calculus: the residual theory of β is renaming-free up-to an initiality condition akin to the so-called Barendregt Variable Convention. We use our results to give a new diagram-based proof of the development part of the strong finite development property for the λ-calculus. The proof has the same equational implications (e.g., confluence) as the proof of the full property but without the need to prove SN. We account for two other uses of the proof method, as presented elsewhere. One has been mechanised in full in Isabelle/HOL.     

Exploitation of electric field in controlling of nanofiber spinning process

Nanofibers can be prepared from a polymer solution utilizing electrospinning, a method exploiting an electrostatic field. In this work the electric field of the electrospinning process was modeled for better understanding and controllability of the fiber deposition in the electrospinning process. The model of the electric field was compared with experimental observations. The model of the electric field explained many phenomena in electrospinning, but did not provide an exclusive control tool for the process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:2065–2074, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of substituting soybean meal and canola cake with grain-based dried distillers grains with solubles as a protein source on feed intake,milk production,and milk quality in dairy cows

The growth of the bioethanol industry is leading to an increase in the production of coproducts such as dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). Both corn-based DDGS and grain-based DDGS (gDDGS; defined as originating from grain sources such as barley, wheat, triticale, or a mix, excluding corn) appear to be relevant sources of feed and protein for dairy cows. To date, most of the studies investigating DDGS have been performed with corn-based DDGS. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of the proportion of gDDGS in the diet on feed intake, milk production, and milk quality. The present experiment involved 48 Holstein cows in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 grass-based dietary treatments consisting of 4, 13.5, and 23% gDDGS on a dry matter (DM) basis (L, M, and H, respectively) as a replacement for a concentrate mix. The concentrate mix consisted of soybean meal, canola cake, and beet pulp. Dry matter intake and energy-corrected milk yield were not affected by the proportion of gDDGS in the diet. Daily milk yield decreased with the H diet compared with the L and M diets. The percentage of fat in milk was higher when cows were fed the H diet compared with the L and M diets, whereas milk fat yield was not affected by dietary treatment. The M diet had a higher percentage of protein in milk compared with the L and H diets. Milk protein yield was similar for the L and M diets; however, it decreased for the H diet. Milk taste was not affected by the proportion of gDDGS in the diet or when milk was stored for 7 d. Linoleic acid and conjugated linoleic acid cis-9,trans-11 in milk increased with increasing proportion of gDDGS. To conclude, gDDGS can replace soybean meal and canola cake as a protein source in the diet of dairy cows. Up to 13.5% of the diet may consist of gDDGS without negatively affecting milk production, milk quality, or milk taste. When gDDGS represents 23% of dietary DM, milk production is reduced by 1.6 kg/d, whereas energy-corrected milk production is numerically reduced by 1 kg.