Self‐Powered Wireless Sensor Node Enabled by a Duck‐Shaped Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Harvesting Water Wave Energy

This paper presents a fully enclosed duck‐shaped triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for effectively scavenging energy from random and low‐frequency water waves. The design of the TENG incorporates the freestanding rolling mode and the pitch motion of a duck‐shaped structure generated by incident waves. By investigating the material and structural features, a unit of the TENG device is successfully designed. Furthermore, a hybrid system is constructed using three units of the TENG device. The hybrid system achieves an instantaneous peak current of 65.5 µA with an instantaneous output power density of up to 1.366 W m^?2. Following the design, a fluid–solid interaction analysis is carried out on one duck‐shaped TENG to understand the dynamic behavior, mechanical efficiency, and stability of the device under various water wave conditions. In addition, the hybrid system is experimentally tested to enable a commercial wireless temperature sensor node. In summary, the unique duck‐shaped TENG shows a simple, cost‐effective, environmentally friendly, light‐weight, and highly stable system. The newly designed TENG is promising for building a network of generators to harvest existing blue energy in oceans, lakes, and rivers.     

Effects of grape seed extract as a natural antioxidant on growth performance,carcass characteristics and antioxidant status of rabbits during heat stress

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary supplementation of grape seed extract (GSE) on growth performance, carcass traits and antioxidant status of rabbits under heat stress conditions (temperature humidity index 87.5–93.5). Weaned male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits about 6 weeks old (n = 144, mean body weight 705 g) were randomly allotted to four dietary groups. The Control group was fed a basal diet without GSE; the experimental groups received the basal diet with 100, 200 and 300 mg GSE/kg (Groups 100 GSE, 200 GSE and 300 GSE, respectively). The experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. Compared with other groups, rabbits of Group 300 GSE had the best body weight gain and feed conversion ratio and the lowest mortality. Dietary GSE improved carcass weight, percentage of hot carcass, intestine and edible giblets, while total non-edible parts were reduced (p ≤ 0.05) in comparison with the Control group. In Groups 200 GSE and 300 GSE, plasma total protein, albumin and globulin were increased (p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, all supplementation levels of GSE reduced (p ≤ 0.05) the plasma concentrations of total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins. Antioxidant enzymes of rabbits (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase) and total antioxidant capacity in blood were increased (p ≤ 0.05) by adding dietary GSE. However, malondialdehyde was reduced (p ≤ 0.001) with increasing GSE levels. Generally, grape seeds can be considered as rich source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The results of the study revealed that all tested levels of GSE were useful as a natural protection against heat stress to maintain performance, carcass traits and antioxidant status and could reduce the negative effects of heat stress in rabbits.     

Association of spermatogenic failure with the b2/b3 partial AZFc deletion

Infertility affects around 1 in 10 men and in most cases the cause is unknown. The Y chromosome plays an important role in spermatogenesis and specific deletions of this chromosome, the AZF deletions, are associated with spermatogenic failure. Recently partial AZF deletions have been described but their association with spermatogenic failure is unclear. Here we screened a total of 339 men with idiopathic spermatogenic failure, and 256 normozoospermic ancestry-matched men for chromosome microdeletions including AZFa, AZFb, AZFc, and the AZFc partial deletions (gr/gr, b1/b3 and b2/b3).AZFa and AZFc deletions were identified in men with severe spermatogenic failure at similar frequencies to those reported elsewhere. Gr/gr deletions were identified in case and control populations at 5.83% and 6.25% respectively suggesting that these deletions are not associated with spermatogenic failure. However, b2/b3 deletions were detected only in men with spermatogenic failure and not in the normospermic individuals. Combined with our previous data this shows an association of the b2/b3 deletion (p = 0.0318) with spermatogenic failure in some populations. We recommend screening for this deletion in men with unexplained spermatogenic failure.     

Antimicrobial effect of different herbal plant extracts against different microbial population

This study evaluates the antimicrobial effects of ethanolic extract of five herbal plants; Guava (Psidium guajava), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Rhamnus (Ziziphusspina Christi), Mulberry (Morusalba L.), and Olive (Oleaeuropaea L) leaves against several microbial population representing Gram positive, Gram negative and Mollicutes; S. aureus, E. coli, Pasteurella multocida, B. cereus, Salmonella Enteritidis and M. gallisepticum using standard agar disc diffusion technique and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Different extracts reveal variable results against the microorganism under study. All extracts have no antibacterial potency for Mycoplasma gallisepticum except Psidium guajava. The results of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts against the six bacteria ranged from 625 to 5000 μg/ml. The used herbal extract could inhibit the selected microorganism under study with variable minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).     

Oxidative stress‐induced renal telomere shortening as a mechanism of cyclosporine‐induced nephrotoxicity

Due to the association of oxidative stress and telomere shortening, it was aimed in the present study to investigate the possibility whether cyclosporine‐A exerts its nephrotoxic side effects via induction of oxidative stress‐induced renal telomere shortening and senescent phenotype in renal tissues of rats. Renal oxidative stress markers, 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl groups were measured by standard methods. Telomere length and telomerase activity were also evaluated in kidney tissue samples. Results showed that cyclosporine‐A treatment significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced renal malondialdehyde, 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine, and protein carbonyl groups levels, decreased renal telomere length, and deteriorated renal function compared with the controls. Renal telomerase activity was not affected by cyclosporine‐A. Renal telomere length could be considered as an important parameter of both oxidative stress and kidney function. Telomere shortening and accelerated kidney aging may be caused by cyclosporine‐induced oxidative stress, indicating the potential mechanism of cyclosporine‐induced nephrotoxicity.     

Chromosome 4 controls potential water use efficiency ({delta}13C) in barley

By combining the approaches of whole-shoot carbon discriminationand genetic analysis, we found that chromosome 4 controls potentialwater use efficiency (     

T cell epitope definition by differential mass spectrometry: identification of a novel, immunogenic HLA-B8 ligand directly from renal cancer tissue

In this study, we describe a differential mass spectrometric technique for the immuno-proteomic analysis of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) peptides of a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) biopsy compared with the healthy kidney tissue of the same patient after nephrectomy. Using a stable isotope labeling approach, we could directly compare and relatively quantify 43 MHC-peptide pairs, most of which were present in similar proportions on both normal kidney and tumor. Significantly, two dominant peptides of monoisotopic masses ([M+H](+)) 973.43 u and 967.59 u, respectively, were found exclusively in the tumor sample. One of these was identified as originating from heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a protein involved in induction of apoptosis resistance, immuno-suppression and neoangiogenesis and reported to be up-regulated in various cancer types. Moreover, the corresponding synthetic HO-1-derived peptide was shown to be immunogenic in vitro by generation of CD8+ T cell lines with peptide-specific cytolytic activity. Thus, this peptide is an example of a differentially identified T cell epitope that could be considered as a target for immunotherapy.