Dual-specificity interaction of HIV-1 TAR RNA with Tat peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates

An oligonucleotide-peptide conjugate, having dual binding capability for a designated RNA, was designed. The peptide portion of the conjugate interacts with a folded domain in the RNA, whereas the oligonucleotide portion hybridizes with a nearby single-stranded region in the RNA. The dual specificity was proven in a model HIV-1 TAR RNA system using an RNase H cleavage assay to assess antisense binding to this RNA. The peptide portion of the conjugate was shown to confer increased specificity on the oligonucleotide.     

Design and Implementation of a Reconfigurable Mobile Game Controller on Smartphone

Expansion of games industry came in modern life, accompanied with innovative features in a game controller. Nowadays mobile industry is booming with the expansion of the variety of novel technologies, such as the use of 3D accelerometer sensors, high resolution cameras, the capability of connecting to wireless networks and so on. Therefore, a smartphone can be added with the game control functions to become a mobile game controller. In this paper, we propose the design and implementation of making a mobile phone as a game controller using User Datagram Protocol socket programming. This system is developed by Java 2 Standard Edition and Google Android Software Development Kits which has already provided sensor and multi-touch APIs. We successfully realize a reconfigurable mobile game controller on a mobile smartphone to interact with the existing digital games by mapping control functions on the server. Acceptable performance is shown to validate the effectiveness of our solution.     

Study and fabrication of ZnNb2O6 thin films by sol-gel method

Zinc niobium oxide (ZnNb₂O₆) thin films were grown on ITO/glass substrate by sol-gel process. Microstructure and surface morphology of the ZnNb₂O₆ thin films have been studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Optical properties of the ZnNb₂O₆ thin films were obtained by UV-visible recording spectrophotometer. The dependence of the microstructure, optical transmittance spectra, optical band gap on annealing temperature was also investigated.     

Direct and seamless coupling of TiO2 nanotube photonic crystal to dye-sensitized solar cell: a single-step approach

A TiO(2) nanotube layer with a periodic structure is used as a photonic crystal to greatly enhance light harvesting in TiO(2) nanotube-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Such a tube-on-tube structure fabricated by a single-step approach facilitates good physical contact, easy electrolyte infiltration, and efficient charge transport. An increase of over 50% in power conversion efficiency is obtained in comparison to reference cells without a photonic crystal layer (under similar total thickness and dye loading).     

Performance of a solar dryer using hot air from roof-integrated solar collectors for drying herbs and spices

A solar dryer for drying herbs and spices using hot air from roof-integrated solar collectors was developed. The dryer is a bin type with a rectangular perforated floor. The bin has a dimension of 1.0 m×2.0 m×0.7 m. Hot air is supplied to the dryer from fiberglass-covered solar collectors, which also function as the roof of a farmhouse. The total area of the solar collectors is 72 m². To investigate its performance, the dryer was used to dry four batches of rosella flowers and three batches of lemon-grasses during the year 2002–2003. The dryer can be used to dry 200 kg of rosella flowers and lemon-grasses within 4 and 3 days, respectively. The products being dried in the dryer were completely protected from rains and insects and the dried products are of high quality. The solar air heater has an average daily efficiency of 35% and it performs well both as a solar collector and a roof of a farmhouse.     

Association of Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Progression—Comparative Microarray Gene Expression Analysis

The role of the ligamentum flavum (LF) in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is not well understood. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated the degrees of LF hypertrophy in 18 patients without scoliosis and on the convex and concave sides of the apex of the curvature in 22 patients with AIS. Next, gene expression was compared among neutral vertebral LF and LF on the convex and concave sides of the apex of the curvature in patients with AIS. Histological and microarray analyses of the LF were compared among neutral vertebrae (control) and the LF on the apex of the curvatures. The mean area of LF in the without scoliosis, apical concave, and convex with scoliosis groups was 10.5, 13.5, and 20.3 mm², respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed that the ratio of fibers (Collagen/Elastic) was significantly increased on the convex side compared to the concave side (p < 0.05). Microarray analysis showed that ERC2 and MAFB showed significantly increased gene expression on the convex side compared with those of the concave side and the neutral vertebral LF cells. These genes were significantly associated with increased expression of collagen by LF cells (p < 0.05). LF hypertrophy was identified in scoliosis patients, and the convex side was significantly more hypertrophic than that of the concave side. ERC2 and MAFB genes were associated with LF hypertrophy in patients with AIS. These phenomena are likely to be associated with the progression of scoliosis.     

Alumina‐Supported CoFe Alloy Catalysts Derived from Layered‐Double‐Hydroxide Nanosheets for Efficient Photothermal CO2 Hydrogenation to Hydrocarbons

A series of novel CoFe‐based catalysts are successfully fabricated by hydrogen reduction of CoFeAl layered‐double‐hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets at 300–700 °C. The chemical composition and morphology of the reaction products (denoted herein as CoFe‐x) are highly dependent on the reduction temperature (x). CO₂ hydrogenation experiments are conducted on the CoFe‐x catalysts under UV–vis excitation. With increasing LDH‐nanosheet reduction temperature, the CoFe‐x catalysts show a progressive selectivity shift from CO to CH₄, and eventually to high‐value hydrocarbons (C₂₊). CoFe‐650 shows remarkable selectivity toward hydrocarbons (60% CH₄, 35% C₂₊). X‐ray absorption fine structure, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that alumina‐supported CoFe‐alloy nanoparticles are responsible for the high selectivity of CoFe‐650 for C₂₊ hydrocarbons, also allowing exploitation of photothermal effects. This study demonstrates a vibrant new catalyst platform for harnessing clean, abundant solar‐energy to produce valuable chemicals and fuels from CO₂.