The Effect of the Protein Synthesis Entropy Reduction on the Cell Size Regulation and Division Size of Unicellular Organisms

The underlying mechanism determining the size of a particular cell is one of the fundamental unknowns in cell biology. Here, using a new approach that could be used for most of unicellular species, we show that the protein synthesis and cell size are interconnected biophysically and that protein synthesis may be the chief mechanism in establishing size limitations of unicellular organisms. This result is obtained based on the free energy balance equation of protein synthesis and the second law of thermodynamics. Our calculations show that protein synthesis involves a considerable amount of entropy reduction due to polymerization of amino acids depending on the cytoplasmic volume of the cell. The amount of entropy reduction will increase with cell growth and eventually makes the free energy variations of the protein synthesis positive (that is, forbidden thermodynamically). Within the limits of the second law of thermodynamics we propose a framework to estimate the optimal cell size at division.     

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by pepper extracts reduction and its electocatalytic and antibacterial activity

Stable silver nanoparticles were synthesized with the aid of a novel, non-toxic, eco-friendly biological material namely, green pepper extract. The aqueous pepper extract was used for reducing silver nitrate. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were analyzed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). TEM image shows the formation of silver nanoparticles with average particle size of 20 nm which agrees well with the XRD data. The main advantage of using pepper extract as a stabilizing agent is that it provides long-term stability for nanoparticles by preventing particles agglomeration. To investigate the electrocatalytic efficiency of silver nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles modified carbon-paste electrode (AgNPs–CPE) displayed excellent electrochemical catalytic activities towards hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The reduction overpotential of H₂O₂ was decreased significantly compared with those obtained at the bare CPE. An abrupt increase of the cathodic current for HER was observed at modified electrode. Also, the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticle was performed using Escherichia coli and Salmonellae. The approach of plant-mediated synthesis appears to be cost efficient, eco-friendly and easy methods.     

Purification of L-Lysine in Simulated Moving Bed and Fixed-Bed Chromatography

 L-Lysine was produced by a microbial process utilizing a Corynebacterium glutamicum (ATCC 21799) strain. L-Lysine was purified from the cultivated medium by fixed-bed and simulated moving bed （SMB） chromatography. The separation conditions including pH, eluent concentration and Lys+ and Lys2+ adsorption isotherms were studied in batch adsorption. The column capacity, eluent flow rate and eluent concentration have been studied in fixed-bed chromatography. Maximum purification rate of lysine was obtained as 0.066 g/(g·h) (per gram resin and per hour) at an eluent flow rate of 10 mL/min in fixed-bed chromatography. The results obtained from SMB were 0.11 g/(g·h) for L-lysine purification rate and 96% for L-lysine recovery.     

Characterization of Chitosan/Alginate Self-Assembled Nanoparticles as a Protein Carrier

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the polymeric ratios on the characteristics of chitosan/alginate (ch/alg) self-assembled nanoparticles and their potential as protein delivery vehicle. The nanoparticles were prepared using proper mixing of polymers in presence or absence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a protein model. Three formulations of nanoparticles comprising ch/alg ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 were prepared. Size, shape and zeta potential of the formulations were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nanosizer instruments. FTIR, and differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) studies were performed to investigate polymer-polymer or polymer-protein interactions. Release profiles and entrapment efficiencies of the nanoparticles were determined by calorimetric technique using appropriate techniques. Entrapment efficiency was 70% for ch/alg ratio of 1:1, 65% for 1:2, and 60% for 2:1. The z-average size of the nanoparticles were 403, 205, and 318 nm for ch/alg ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2, respectively. Average zeta potentials were ?47, +15, ?25 mV for 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 as well. Considering the favorable features required for protein delivery systems, ch/alg (1:1) due to its smallest size, highest loading, and most homogenous shape was regarded as the best ratio.     

Optimization and sensitivity analysis of magneto-hydrodynamic natural convection nanofluid flow inside a square enclosure using response surface methodology

This article studies buoyancy-driven natural convection of a nanofluid affected by a magnetic field within a square enclosure with an individual conductive pin fin. The effects of electromagnetic forces, thermal conductivity, and inclination angle of pin fin were investigated using non-dimensional parameters. An extensive sensitivity analysis was conducted seeking an optimal heat transfer setting. The novelty of this work lies in including different contributing factors in heat transfer analysis, rigorous analysis of design parameters, and comprehensive mathematical analysis of solution domain for optimization. Results showed that magnetic strength diminished the heat transfer efficacy, while higher relative thermal conductivity of pin fin improved it. Based on the problem settings, we also obtained the relative conductivity value in which the heat transfer is optimal. Higher sensitivity of heat transfer was, though, noticed for both magnetic strength and fin thermal conductivity in comparison to fin inclination angle. Further studies, specifically with realistic geometrical configurations and heat transfer settings, are urged to translate current findings to industrial applications.

     

A Modified Peng–Robinson Equation of State for Heavy Hydrocarbons

Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A - A new simple and accurate functional form for an attractive parameter α is introduced for Peng–Robinson equation of state. The modified...     

Self‐Healing Polyester Urethane Supramolecular Elastomers Reinforced with Cellulose Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications

Stretchable self‐healing urethane‐based biomaterials have always been crucial for biomedical applications; however, the strength is the main constraint of utilization of these healable materials. Here, a series of novel, healable, elastomeric, supramolecular polyester urethane nanocomposites of poly(1,8‐octanediol citrate) and hexamethylene diisocyanate reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are introduced. Nanocomposites with various amounts of CNCs from 10 to 50 wt% are prepared using solvent casting technique followed by the evaluation of their microstructural features, mechanical properties, healability, and biocompatibility. The synthesized nanocomposites indicate significantly higher tensile modulus (approximately 36–500‐fold) in comparison to the supramolecular polymer alone. Upon exposure to heat, the materials can reheal, but nevertheless when the amount of CNC is greater than 10 wt%, the self‐healing ability of nanocomposites is deteriorated. These materials are capable of rebonding ruptured parts and fully restoring their mechanical properties. In vitro cytotoxicity test of the nanocomposites using human dermal fibroblasts confirms their good cytocompatibility. The optimized structure, self‐healing attributes, and noncytotoxicity make these nanocomposites highly promising for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.     

A cost-effective form-stable PCM composite with modified paraffin and expanded perlite for thermal energy storage in concrete

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - High thermal conductivity in phase change materials (PCM) is preferred in thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Carbon additives are considered as...     

Thermodynamic properties of Ga27Si3 cluster using density functional molecular dynamics

Density functional molecular dynamical calculations have been carried out to explore the effect of silicon impurities on thermodynamic properties of Ga(30). We have obtained 500 distinct low energy equilibrium geometries of Ga(27)Si(3) in order to obtain reliable ground state geometry. The specific heat has been calculated using multiple histogram techniques and compared with that of Ga(30). We demonstrate that silicon impurities have a dramatic effect on the thermodynamic properties of the host cluster. In contrast to Ga(30), the specific heat of Ga(27)Si(3) shows a clear melting peak at ≈500 K, changing the character of Ga(30) from a nonmelter to a melter.     

Size Control of FePt Nanoparticles Produced by Seed Mediated Growth Process

Monodisperse FePt nanoparticles with average size of 2.4?nm were successfully synthesized via chemical co-reduction of iron acetylacetonate, Fe(acac)₃, and platinum acetylacetonate, Pt(acac)₂, by 1,2-hexadecanediol as a reducing agent and oleic acid and oleyl amine as surfactant. Then using the seed mediated growth process smaller sized FePt nanoparticles are used as seeds for the growth of larger sized FePt particles and there is no specific limitation to achieve upper size range by this method. In this work, we could synthesize FePt nanoparticles up to 4.0?nm. Monodispersity with relatively narrow size distribution and having the same elemental composition with the atomic percentage of Fe _x Pt_100?x (x?=?63) are the main advantages of this method. As-made FePt nanoparticles have the chemical disordered face centered cubic structure with superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. After annealing these particles become ferromagnetic with high magnetocrystalline anisotropy and their coercivity increases with increasing particle sizes and reaches a maximum value of 5,200?Oe for size of 46.5?nm