Enhancement of Dynamic Damping in Eco-Friendly Railway Concrete Sleepers Using Waste-Tyre Crumb Rubber.

There is no doubt that the use of waste rubber in concrete applications is a genius alternative because Styrene is the main component of rubber, which has a strong toxicity and is harmful to humans. Therefore, it will significantly reduce impacts on the environment when waste rubber can be recycled for genuine uses. In this paper, the dynamic properties of high-strength rubberised concrete have been investigated by carrying out various experiments to retain the compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, electrical resistivity, and damping characteristics by replacing fine aggregates with micro-scale crumb rubber.

Glioma-Associated Oncogene Homolog Inhibitors Have the Potential of Suppressing Cancer Stem Cells of Breast Cancer.

Overexpression of Sonic Hedgehog signaling (Shh) pathway molecules is associated with invasiveness and recurrence in breast carcinoma. Therefore, inhibition of the Shh pathway downstream molecule Glioma-associated Oncogene Homolog (Gli) was investigated for its ability to reduce progression and invasiveness of patient-derived breast cancer cells and cell lines. Human primary breast cancer T2 cells with high expression of Shh signaling pathway molecules were compared with breast cancer line MDA-MB-231 cells.

Purification of membrane proteins free from conventional detergents: SMA, new polymers, new opportunities and new insights.

Membrane proteins remain a somewhat enigmatic group of biomolecules. On the one hand they mediate some of the most important processes in biology with molecular mechanisms that are often elegantly complex. On the other hand they are exceptionally challenging to produce, making studies of membrane protein structure and function among the most difficult projects undertaken by biochemists.

Utilisation of water-in-oil-water (W/O/W) double emulsion in a set-type yogurt model for the delivery of probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei.

W/O/W emulsion in set-type yogurt has the potential to segregate probiotics in order to avoid interference with the starter culture as well as protection against harsh processing and digestion conditions. Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei DC 412 probiotic cells in milk-based W/O/W emulsions were incorporated in yogurt, in addition to starter cultures Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, and the effect on the fermentation, bacterial growth kinetics, physicochemical properties, and structural characteristics was investigated.

The Sync/deSync Model: How a Synchronized Hippocampus and a Desynchronized Neocortex Code Memories.

Neural oscillations are important for memory formation in the brain. The desynchronization of alpha (10 Hz) oscillations in the neocortex has been shown to predict successful memory encoding and retrieval. However, when engaging in learning, it has been found that the hippocampus synchronizes in theta (4 Hz) oscillations, and that learning is dependent on the phase of theta.

Modifications in lower leg muscle activation when walking barefoot or in minimalist shoes across different age-groups.

Ageing is associated with a decline in muscle strength and impaired sensory mechanisms which contribute to an increased risk of falls. Walking barefooted has been suggested to promote increased muscle strength and improved proprioceptive sensibility through better activation of foot and ankle musculature. Minimalist footwear has been marketed as a method of reaping the suggested benefits of barefoot walking whilst still providing a protective surface.

Quinolone-resistant gyrase mutants demonstrate decreased susceptibility to triclosan.

Objectives: Cross-resistance between antibiotics and biocides is a potentially important driver of MDR. A relationship between susceptibility of Salmonella to quinolones and triclosan has been observed. This study aimed to: (i) investigate the mechanism underpinning this; (ii) determine whether the phenotype is conserved in Escherichia coli; and (iii) evaluate the potential for triclosan to select for quinolone resistance.

Exercise and high-fat feeding remodel transcript-metabolite interactive networks in mouse skeletal muscle.

Enhanced coverage and sensitivity of next-generation 'omic' platforms has allowed the characterization of gene, metabolite and protein responses in highly metabolic tissues, such as, skeletal muscle. A limitation, however, is the capability to determine interaction between dynamic biological networks. To address this limitation, we applied Weighted Analyte Correlation Network Analysis (WACNA) to RNA-seq and metabolomic datasets to identify correlated subnetworks of transcripts and metabolites in response to a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and/or exercise.

Do oil-in-water (O/W) nano-emulsions have an effect on survival and growth of bacteria?

Nano-emulsions (typically droplet diameter<1μm) are common in foods, and have been extensively reported to present antimicrobial activity, however, the mechanism is not well defined, and some studies reported no effect. A review of the literature was conducted and revealed strongly contradictory reports regarding the antimicrobial effect of nano-emulsions even in reference to similar microbial species and formulations. Following up, this study aimed to investigate the effect of nano-emulsions on four bacterial species (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and five Escherichia coli strains) possessing different surface charge and hydrophobicity.

Incorporation of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion in a set-type yogurt model.

The effect of W/O/W emulsion incorporation in set-type yogurt on the acidification process, physicochemical properties, bacterial growth kinetics and structural characteristics was investigated. The W/O/W emulsion was formed by using a two-step homogenisation process and milk as the W and W phases, and stability was monitored with optical microscopy and cryo-SEM. Adding the W/O/W emulsions reduced the acidification rate, viscosity and water retention capacity.

The proportion of nitrate in leaf nitrogen, but not changes in root growth, are associated with decreased grain protein in wheat under elevated [CO].

The atmospheric CO concentration ([CO]) is increasing and predicted to reach ∼550ppm by 2050. Increasing [CO] typically stimulates crop growth and yield, but decreases concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen ([N]), and therefore protein, in plant tissues and grains. Such changes in grain composition are expected to have negative implications for the nutritional and economic value of grains.

Vehicles as outdoor BFR sources: Evidence from an investigation of BFR occurrence in road dust.

The distribution of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) including ∑PBDEs, DBDPE, BTBPE, EH-TBB, BEH-TEBP and PBEB in road dust (RD) collected in Xinxiang, China was characterized. Analysis of RD samples indicated that the BFR abundance declined as traffic density decreased, with total mean levels of 292, 184, 163, 104 and 70 ng g dust at sites from traffic intersections, main roads, collector streets, bypasses and parks, respectively. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is that the majority of BFRs may be emitted from the interior of vehicles via their ventilation systems.

An In situ TEM study of the surface oxidation of palladium nanocrystals assisted by electron irradiation.

The surface oxidation of palladium nanocrystals plays an important role in changing the active sites and subsequently influencing the catalytic reactivity. Such a microscopy study on surface oxidation, down to the atomic scale, is essential for understanding the structure-property correlations of palladium nanocrystal based catalysts. Herein, we present an in situ atomic scale study on the surface oxidation behavior of palladium nanocrystals, which is induced by electron beam irradiation under low oxygen partial pressure and at room temperature inside an environmental transmission electron microscope.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Strategies for Metabolic Analysis.

NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for metabolomic studies, offering highly reproducible and quantitative analyses. This burgeoning field of NMR metabolomics has been greatly aided by the development of modern spectrometers and software, allowing high-throughput analysis with near real-time feedback. Whilst one-dimensional proton (1D-H) NMR analysis is best described and remains most widely used, a plethora of alternative NMR techniques are now available that offer additional chemical and structural information and resolve many of the limitations of conventional 1D-H NMR such as spectral overlay.

Rapid enzyme regeneration results in the striking catalytic longevity of an engineered, single species, biocatalytic biofilm.

Background: Engineering of single-species biofilms for enzymatic generation of fine chemicals is attractive. We have recently demonstrated the utility of an engineered Escherichia coli biofilm as a platform for synthesis of 5-halotryptophan. E.

Regulation of post-Golgi LH3 trafficking is essential for collagen homeostasis.

Post-translational modifications are necessary for collagen precursor molecules (procollagens) to acquire final shape and function. However, the mechanism and contribution of collagen modifications that occur outside the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi are not understood. We discovered that VIPAR, with its partner proteins, regulate sorting of lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3, also known as PLOD3) into newly identified post-Golgi collagen IV carriers and that VIPAR-dependent sorting is essential for modification of lysines in multiple collagen types.

R-loop induced stress response by second (p)ppGpp synthetase in Mycobacterium smegmatis: functional and domain interdependence.

Persistent R-loops lead to replicative stress due to RNA polymerase stalling and DNA damage. RNase H enzymes facilitate the organisms to survive in the hostile condition by removing these R-loops. MS_RHII-RSD was previously identified to be the second (p)ppGpp synthetase in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Brain Activation during Memory Encoding in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Discordant Twin Pair Study.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the risk of dementia and neuronal dysfunction may occur years before perceptible cognitive decline. We aimed to study the impact of type 2 diabetes on brain activation during memory encoding in middle-aged people, controlling for age, sex, genes, and early-shared environment. Twenty-two twin pairs discordant for type 2 diabetes mellitus (mean age 60.

Effect of Soluble Surfactants on the Kinetics of Thinning of Liquid Bridges during Drops Formation and on Size of Satellite Droplets.

The results of an experimental study on thinning and breakage of liquid bridges during detachment of a drop from the tip of a capillary are presented for a series of surfactant solutions (including cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants) over a broad range of molecular masses, values of critical micelle concentration, and concentrations. The used experimental protocol revealed that the kinetics of the bridge thinning depends much more on the dynamics of adsorption at the surface of the drop before it destabilizes, rather than on the depletion of surfactant from the surface of the thinning bridge due to its stretching as the instability develops. The kinetics of the bridge thinning and the size of satellite droplets formed after the bridge breakage depend considerably on the surfactant concentration and the value of critical micelle concentration.

Modelling component evaporation and composition change of traffic-induced ultrafine particles during travel from street canyon to urban background.

We developed a model (CiTTy-Street-UFP) of traffic-related particle behaviour in a street canyon and in the nearby downwind urban background that accounts for aerosol dynamics and the variable vapour pressure of component organics. The model simulates the evolution and fate of traffic generated multicomponent ultrafine particles (UFP) composed of a non-volatile core and 17 Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC, modelled as n-alkane proxies). A two-stage modelling approach is adopted: (1) a steady state simulation inside the street canyon is achieved, in which there exists a balance between traffic emissions, condensation/evaporation, deposition, coagulation and exchange with the air above roof-level; and (2) a continuing simulation of the above-roof air parcel advected to the nearby urban park during which evaporation is dominant.

Dynamic Gene Regulatory Networks Drive Hematopoietic Specification and Differentiation.

Metazoan development involves the successive activation and silencing of specific gene expression programs and is driven by tissue-specific transcription factors programming the chromatin landscape. To understand how this process executes an entire developmental pathway, we generated global gene expression, chromatin accessibility, histone modification, and transcription factor binding data from purified embryonic stem cell-derived cells representing six sequential stages of hematopoietic specification and differentiation. Our data reveal the nature of regulatory elements driving differential gene expression and inform how transcription factor binding impacts on promoter activity.

Cytomegalovirus viral load within blood increases markedly in healthy people over the age of 70 years.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a highly prevalent herpesvirus, which maintains lifelong latency and places a significant burden on host immunity. Infection is associated with increased rates of vascular disease and overall mortality in the elderly and there is an urgent need for improved understanding of the viral-host balance during ageing. CMV is extremely difficult to detect in healthy donors, however, using droplet digital PCR of DNA from peripheral blood monocytes, we obtained an absolute quantification of viral load in 44 healthy donors across a range of ages.

Oxidative footprinting in the study of structure and function of membrane proteins: current state and perspectives.

Membrane proteins, such as receptors, transporters and ion channels, control the vast majority of cellular signalling and metabolite exchange processes and thus are becoming key pharmacological targets. Obtaining structural information by usage of traditional structural biology techniques is limited by the requirements for the protein samples to be highly pure and stable when handled in high concentrations and in non-native buffer systems, which is often difficult to achieve for membrane targets. Hence, there is a growing requirement for the use of hybrid, integrative approaches to study the dynamic and functional aspects of membrane proteins in physiologically relevant conditions.

Sex differences in gait utilization and energy metabolism during terrestrial locomotion in two varieties of chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) selected for different body size.

In leghorn chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) of standard breed (large) and bantam (small) varieties, artificial selection has led to females being permanently gravid and sexual selection has led to male-biased size dimorphism. Using respirometry, videography and morphological measurements, sex and variety differences in metabolic cost of locomotion, gait utilisation and maximum sustainable speed (Umax) were investigated during treadmill locomotion. Males were capable of greater Umax than females and used a grounded running gait at high speeds, which was only observed in a few bantam females and no standard breed females.