Visual DNA as a diagnostic tool

We report on the incorporation of the Visual DNA concept in a genotyping assay as a simple and straightforward detection tool. The principle of trapping streptavidin‐coated superparamagnetic beads of micrometer size for visualization of genetic variances is used for PrASE‐based detection of a panel of mutations in the severe and common genetic disorder of cystic fibrosis. The method allows a final investigation of genotypes by the naked eye and the output is easily documented using a regular hand‐held device with an integrated digital camera. A number of samples were run through the assay, showing rapid and accurate detection using superparamagnetic beads and an off‐the‐shelf neodymium magnet. The assay emphasizes the power of Visual DNA and demonstrates the potential value of the method in future point‐of‐care tests.     

New Model for Polymerization of Oligomeric Alcohol Dehydrogenases into Nanoaggregates

Polymerization and self-assembly of proteins into nanoaggregates of different sizes and morphologies (nanoensembles or nanofilaments) is a phenomenon that involved problems in various neurodegenerative diseases (medicine) and enzyme instability/inactivity (biotechnology). Thermal polymerization of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (dimeric) and yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (tetrameric), as biotechnological ADH representative enzymes, was evaluated for the development of a rational strategy to control aggregation. Constructed ADH nuclei, which grew to larger amorphous nanoaggregates, were prevented via high repulsion strain of the net charge values. Good correlation between the variation in scattering and λ ⁻² was related to the amorphousness of the nanoaggregated ADHs, shown by electron microscopic images. Scattering corrections revealed that ADH polymerization was related to the quaternary structural changes, including delocalization of subunits without unfolding, i.e. lacking the 3D conformational and/or secondary-ordered structural changes. The results demonstrated that electrostatic repulsion was not only responsible for disaggregation but also caused a delay in the onset of aggregation temperature, decreasing maximum values of aggregation and amounts of precipitation. Together, our results demonstrate and propose a new model of self-assembly for ADH enzymes based on the construction of nuclei, which grow to formless nanoaggregates with minimal changes in the tertiary and secondary conformations.     

Hydrodynamic analysis of a heat exchanger with crosscut twisted tapes and filled with thermal oil-based SWCNT nanofluid: applying ANN for prediction of objective parameters

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Present study investigates hydrodynamic analysis of heat exchanger with crosscut twisted tapes and filled with thermal oil-based SWCNT nanofluid (NF)....     

Investigation of antioxidant and electron beam radiation effects on the thermal oxidation stability of low-density polyethylene

Effect of various antioxidants on the thermal oxidation stability of LDPE and X-LDPE has been investigated. To achieve this purpose, miscellaneous commercial grade antioxidants such as Irganox 1010, Irganox1076, Irgafos168, Irganox B225, and Chimassorb 944 were selected. Then, formulations based on different content of antioxidant were prepared. The samples were crosslinked by exposure to electron beam irradiation. To assess the thermal oxidation stability of samples, oxidation induction time (OIT) test was accomplished on both the irradiated and unirradiated specimens. Ageing tests were carried out in order to evaluate the thermal oxidation stability of irradiated X-LDPE. The results indicate that Irganox 1010 is the most effective antioxidant amongst the selected ones, concerning thermal oxidation stability of LDPE, before and after aging test.     

Synthesis of 2‐aryl‐1‐arylmethyl‐1H‐1,3‐benzimidazoles catalysed by ferric ammonium sulfate (NH4Fe(SO4)2) under solvent‐free conditions

NH₄Fe(SO₄)₂ was found to be a mild and effective catalyst for the selective synthesis of 2‐aryl‐1‐arylmethyl‐1H‐1,3‐benzimidazoles under solvent‐free conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of optical detection system ,PVDF detection system, and PVDF needle hydrophone for optoacoustic tomography

Optoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a two-dimensional medical imaging method that has the advantage of optical contrast and resolution of ultrasonic waves. The detection systems with a high sensitivity can be used for detecting small tumors, located deeply in human tissues, such as the breast. In this study, the sensitivity of existing ultrasonic detection systems has been compared experimentally with that by using thermoelastic waves as a broadband ultrasonic source. For the comparison, an optical stress transducer(OST), a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) sheet and a calibrated PVDF needle hydrophone were used.To ensure all of the detection systems interrogated by the same ultrasonic field, a small optical instrument that fixed the generating laser head was constructed. The sensitivity was evaluated by measuring signalto-noise ratios (SNRs) and noise equivalent pressures (NEPs). The PVDF system, with a 4-kPa NEP has a 22 dB better performance than the OST. The OST showed nearly the same sensitivity as the hydrophone for detecting ultrasound waves at a 1-cm distance in water. PVDF detection system provides a useful tool for imaging of soft tissues because of its high sensitivity and broad detection range.     

An efficient and provably secure three-party password-based authenticated key exchange protocol based on Chebyshev chaotic maps

Three-party password-based authenticated key exchange (3PAKE) protocols allow two clients to establish a secure session key through a server over an insecure channel. Recently, the 3PAKE protocols have been developed based on Chebyshev chaotic maps, in which the clients utilize smart cards to login into the server and employ server’s public key to ensure the identity of the server or symmetric cryptosystems to encrypt the messages. However, this paper describes an efficient chaos-based 3PAKE protocol without smart cards, which requires neither server’s public key nor symmetric cryptosystems. The security of the proposed 3PAKE protocol is proved in the random oracle model using the chaos-based decisional Diffie–Hellman assumption. In comparison with the existing chaos-based 3PAKE protocols, our protocol individually provides better performance in terms of communication, computation, and security aspects, and is supported by the formal proof in the random oracle model.     

Investigation of the size effects in Timoshenko beams based on the couple stress theory

In this paper, a size-dependent Timoshenko beam is developed on the basis of the couple stress theory. The couple stress theory is a non-classic continuum theory capable of capturing the small-scale size effects on the mechanical behavior of structures, while the classical continuum theory is unable to predict the mechanical behavior accurately when the characteristic size of structures is close to the material length scale parameter. The governing differential equations of motion are derived for the couple-stress Timoshenko beam using the principles of linear and angular momentum. Then, the general form of boundary conditions and generally valid closed-form analytical solutions are obtained for the axial deformation, bending deflection, and the rotation angle of cross sections in the static cases. As an example, the closed-form analytical results are obtained for the response of a cantilever beam subjected to a static loading with a concentrated force at its free end. The results indicate that modeling on the basis of the couple stress theory causes more stiffness than modeling by the classical beam theory. In addition, the results indicate that the differences between the results of the proposed model and those based on the classical Euler–Bernoulli and classical Timoshenko beam theories are significant when the beam thickness is comparable to its material length scale parameter.     

Minimization of Total Absolute Flow Time Deviation in Single and Multiple Machine Scheduling

In this note, single machine scheduling and minimizing absolute flow time deviation (TAFD) are considered. The relationship between this problem and the mean absolute deviation of job completion times about a common due date (MAD) is discussed. Based on the MAD problem optimal solutions of the TAFD problem are given. Furthermore, the generalization of the problem to the multiple machine case is discussed and an efficient algorithm for generating many optimal solutions of the problem, in the multi-machine case, is given.