Integrated DNA extraction and amplification using electrokinetic pumping in a microfluidic device

An integrated system employing anion exchange for the extraction of DNA from biological samples prior to polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification has been developed, based on microfluidic methodology utilising electrokinetic pumping. In this system, the biological samples were added directly to chitosan-coated silica beads to facilitate DNA immobilisation. The purified, pre-concentrated DNA was then eluted using a combination of electro-osmotic flow enhanced with electrophoretic mobility, which enable DNA to be transported by both mechanisms into the DNA amplification chamber. Through optimisation of the DNA elution conditions, average DNA extraction efficiencies of 69.1% were achievable. Subsequent DNA amplification performed on the microfluidic system demonstrated not only the ability to use electrokinetic movement to integrate the two processes on a single device, but also that the quality and quantity of DNA eluted was suitable for downstream analysis. This work offers an attractive real-world to chip interface and a route to simpler Lab-on-a-Chip technology which eliminates the need for moving parts.

Copper exposure induces trafficking of the Menkes protein in intestinal epithelium of ATP7A transgenic mice

The final steps in the absorption and excretion of copper at the molecular level are accomplished by 2 closely related proteins that catalyze the ATP-dependent transport of copper across the plasma membrane. These proteins, ATP7A and ATP7B, are encoded by the genes affected in human genetic copper-transport disorders, namely, Menkes and Wilson diseases. We studied the effect of copper perfusion of an isolated segment of the jejunum of ATP7A transgenic mice on the intracellular distribution of ATP7A by immunofluorescence of frozen sections. Our results indicate that ATP7A is retained in the trans-Golgi network under copper-limiting conditions, but relocalized to a vesicular compartment adjacent to the basolateral membrane in intestines perfused with copper. The findings support the hypothesis that the basolateral transport of copper from the enterocyte into the portal blood may involve ATP7A pumping copper into a vesicular compartment followed by exocytosis to release the copper, rather than direct pumping of copper across the basolateral membrane.

Hippocampal deformation mapping in MRI-negative PET-positive temporal lobe epilepsy

Objectives: To compare hippocampal surface structure, using large deformation high dimensional mapping (HDM-LD), in subjects with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with (HS+ve) and without (HS−ve) hippocampal sclerosis.

Methods: The study included 30 HS−ve subjects matched with 30 HS+ve subjects from the previously reported epilepsy patient cohort. To control for normal right–left asymmetries of hippocampal surface structure, subjects were regrouped based on laterality of onset of epileptic seizures and presence of HS. Gender ratio, age, duration of epilepsy and seizure frequency were calculated for each of the four groups. Final HDM-LD surface maps of the right and left TLE groups were compared to define differences in subregional hippocampal involvement within the groups.

Results: There were no significant differences in comparisons of the left TLE (left HS−ve compared with HS+ve) or right TLE (right HS−ve compared with HS+ve) groups with respect to age, duration of epilepsy or seizure severity scores. HDM-LD maps showed accentuated surface changes over the lateral hippocampal surface, in the region of the Sommer sector, in the hippocampi affected by HS. However, HS−ve hippocampi showed maximal surface changes in a different pattern, and did not involve the region of Sommer sector.

Conclusion: We conclude that differences in segmental volume loss between the HS−ve and HS+ve groups are suggestive that the underlying pathophysiology of hippocampal changes in the two groups is different, and not related to chronic seizure duration or severity.

Similarity solution of axisymmetric flow in porous media

Applications of the axisymmetric Boussinesq equation to groundwater hydrology and reservoir engineering have long been recognised. An archetypal example is invasion by drilling fluid into a permeable bed where there is initially no such fluid present, a circumstance of some importance in the oil industry. It is well known that the governing Boussinesq model can be reduced to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation using a similarity variable, a transformation that is valid for a certain time-dependent flux at the origin. Here, a new analytical approximation is obtained for this case. The new solution,, which has a simple form, is demonstrated to be highly accurate.

Sewing society? Stitch’nbitch, cyberfeminism & the new materiality (or why cybergrrrls do plain and purls)

A social movement known as Stitch’nBitch has emerged around the globe. This movement, mainly of women, is based in local, third places, such as hotels and clubs, and virtually. Using the Internet, particularly Blogs, the women meet to knit, stitch and talk. These groups use technology as an enabler and resource exchange. In this presentation, we suggest that such groups may be a response to consumerism in the Information Society, which has resulted in profound changes in the way people live, communicate and connect with one another and which has also provided a trigger for new, more community-focused activities using craft production, rather than consumption, as a vehicle. Craft production, or ‘make it yourself’ is consistent with concepts of voluntary simplicity (Etzioni, 1998) and non-materialistic satisfactions (Shaw and Newholm, 2002). We introduce five themes to assist in the development of a research agenda into this new form of material culture, discussing (1) remedial, (2) progressive, (3) resistance, (4) nostalgic, and (5) ironic possibilities.

Effects of comorbid ADHD with learning disabilities on anxiety, depression, and aggression in adults

Objective: ADHD and learning disabilities (LD) frequently coexist and there are indications that comorbidity may increase the risk of psychopathology.

Method: The current study examined the gender distribution and frequency of comorbidity and its impact on the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety,  depression, and aggression in a clinic sample of 80 adults with ADHD, aged 18 to 58 years. More individuals were diagnosed with ADHD+LD than ADHD only, with no difference in this distribution according to gender.

Results: A factorial multivariate analysis of variance indicated that females with ADHD+LD displayed more cognitive depression than females with ADHD only and than males with ADHD+LD and ADHD only. However,individuals with ADHD only and individuals with ADHD+LD did not differ on overall anxiety, depression or aggression. Likewise, males and females did not differ on measures of psychopathology.

Conclusion: This study lays the foundation for continued research into the characteristics and comorbidities of adults with ADHD.

Entropy-based collaborative detection of DDOS attacks on community networks

A community network often operates with the same Internet service provider domain or the virtual network of different entities who are cooperating with each other. In such a federated network environment, routers can work closely to raise early warning of DDoS attacks to void catastrophic damages. However, the attackers simulate the normal network behaviors, e.g. pumping the attack packages as poisson distribution, to disable detection algorithms. It is an open question: how to discriminate DDoS attacks from surge legitimate accessing. We noticed that the attackers use the same mathematical functions to control the speed of attack package pumping to the victim. Based on this observation, the different attack flows of a DDoS attack share the same regularities, which is different from the real surging accessing in a short time period. We apply information theory parameter, entropy rate, to discriminate the DDoS attack from the surge legitimate accessing. We proved the effectiveness of our method in theory, and the simulations are the work in the near future. We also point out the future directions that worth to explore in the future.

Wear in centrifugal slurry pumps

The project improves understanding of wear in slurry pumps. By measuring actual pump wear and microscopically examining worn surfaces, a clearer picture emerged of wear modes and mechanisms for different materials. This enables improved guidelines for material selection and modifications to hydraulic shape that increased pump wear life.

Synthesis of a novel pyrrole oxazole analogue of the insecticide pirate

The pyrrole oxazole 4 is a novel analogue of the broad-spectrum insecticide and miticide pirate 2. The expedient synthesis of pyrrole oxazole 4 in six steps from pyrrole is reported using a synthetic route that could have potential for the solution-phase combinatorial synthesis of analogues. Preliminary biological evaluation of the protected pyrrole oxazole 4 (LD₅₀ 1.13 μg mL^–1) and the deprotected pyrrole oxazole 5 (LD₅₀ 1.06 μg mL^–1) for potential cytotoxicity was carried out.

Suppressive actions of eicosapentaenoic acid on lipid droplet formation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Background : Lipid droplet (LD) formation and size regulation reflects both lipid influx and efflux, and is central in the regulation of adipocyte metabolism, including adipokine secretion. The length and degree of dietary fatty acid (FA) unsaturation is implicated in LD formation and regulation in adipocytes. The aims of this study were to establish the impact of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n-3) in comparison to SFA (STA; stearic acid, C18:0) and MUFA (OLA; oleic acid, C18:1n-9) on 3T3-L1 adipocyte LD formation, regulation of genes central to LD function and adipokine responsiveness. Cells were supplemented with 100 μM FA during 7-day differentiation.

Results : EPA markedly reduced LD size and total lipid accumulation, suppressing PPARγ, Cidea and D9D/SCD1 genes, distinct from other treatments. These changes were independent of alterations of lipolytic genes, as both EPA and STA similarly elevated LPL and HSL gene expressions. In response to acute lipopolysaccharide exposure, EPA-differentiated adipocytes had distinct improvement in inflammatory response shown by reduction in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6 and elevation in adiponectin and leptin gene expressions.

Conclusions : This study demonstrates that EPA differentially modulates adipogenesis and lipid accumulation to suppress LD formation and size. This may be due to suppressed gene expression of key proteins closely associated with LD function. Further analysis is required to determine if EPA exerts a similar influence on LD formation and regulation in-vivo.

The effect of rice variety and parboiling on in vivo glycemic response

Improved and traditional rice varieties grown in Sri Lanka namely, Bg 300, Bg 352, Bg 358, Bg 406, LD 356, Rathkaral, Wedaheenati and Heendikwel were studied for their in vivo glycemic response. Proximate compositions and amylose content of rice were determined according to standard methods and available carbohydrate content was calculated using the difference method. The in vivo glycemic response of selected improved and traditional rice varieties was assessed by determining the glycemic index (GI) using ten healthy subjects. Further, the effect of parboiling of rice on glycemic response was also assessed. The crude protein content was higher in parboiled rice as compared to nonparboiled rice. According to the amylose content, rice varieties studied were classified as intermediate and high amylose rice. The amylose content of Bg 406 was the lowest (20.18% ±0.17) while Rathkaral showed the highest (29%±0.07). The Glycemic index of rice varieties studied ranged from 57±1 to 73± 2. The Wedaheenati variety exhibited the lowest GI while Bg 406 exhibited the highest GI value. Unparboiled Bg 406, LD 356 and parboiled Bg 406 were classified as high GI foods while the rest of the rice varieties studied were categorized as intermediate GI foods. Parboiled rice brought about a reduction in glycemic response in healthy subjects. The maximum reduction of 10% in glycemic index upon parboiling was observed with Bg 352. The traditional rice produced significantly lower (p<0.05) postprandial glycemic effect than did the improved rice. By their low post-prandial glycemic response they could be potentially useful in low GI diets.