We report on the recent progress and development of research into cellulose-based electro-active paper for bending actuators, bioelectronics devices, and electromechanical transducers. The cellulose electro-active paper is characterized in terms of its biodegradability, chirality, ample chemically modifying capacity, light weight, actuation capability, and ability to form hybrid nanocomposites. The mechanical, electrical, and chemical characterizations of the cellulose-based electro-active paper and its hybrid composites such as blends or coatings with synthetic polymers, biopolymers, carbon nanotubes, chitosan, and metal oxides, are explained. In addition, the integration of cellulose electro-active paper is highlighted to form various functional devices including but not limited to bending actuators, flexible speaker, strain sensors, energy harvesting transducers, biosensors, chemical sensors and transistors for electronic applications. The frontiers in cellulose paper devices are reviewed together with the strategies and perspectives of cellulose electro-active paper and cellulose nanocomposite research and applications.

Recent Progress on Cellulose-Based Electro-Active Paper, Its Hybrid Nanocomposites and Applications

Cellulose acetate-copper oxide (CA-CuO) nano-composite based smart humidity sensors have been fabricated by using instrument-less novel technology, which is being introduced first time by our group. In this technology no major instrument is involved in the fabrication process. The composites are developed by solution and mechanical mixing techniques to fabricate film and pellet type sensors, respectively. The composition and surface morphologies are analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results of investigation show that the sensing range is from 0 to 90% relative humidity (RH) and sensing mechanism is based on change in resistance and capacitance with change in humidity. With change in humidity from 0 to 90% RH the resistance decreases by 1093 times, while the capacitance increases by 127 times. Average change in resistance and capacitance is up to 3.8 MΩ/%RH and 19.2 pF/%RH, respectively. The adsorption-desorption behavior and the consequences of measuring frequency have been discussed in detail. The fabricated sensors are attractive to develop reliable humidity meter for environmental monitoring and industrial applications.

Fabrication and investigation of cellulose acetate-copper oxide nano-composite based humidity sensors

This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of different levels of zinc (Zn) and a probiotic on the growth and intestinal health of broiler chickens. One hundred ninety-two-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 6 groups. The birds were supplemented with Zn (30 and 60 mg/kg) and a probiotic mixture alone or in combination with Zn. The results revealed that the broilers receiving a probiotic mixture alone or in combination with Zn (30 and 60 mg) increased (P < 0.05) final body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and total goblet cell count in duodenum compared with the control group. Morphometry of the duodenum also revealed an increase (P < 0.05) in villus height (VH) and the ratio of VH and crypt depth in all the supplemented groups, whereas ileal VH increased (P < 0.05) only in Zn60 group when compared with control. Based on our results, we concluded that compared to the individual supplementation, the combined effect of Zn and probiotic mixture was superior in improving the growth performance and histomorphology of the intestine; however, the effect of two levels of Zn did not vary when combined with probiotic.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Zinc and Multi-Microbe Probiotic on Growth Traits and Alteration of Intestinal Architecture in Broiler.

The human body has biological redox systems capable of preventing or mitigating the damage caused by increased oxidative stress throughout life. One of them are the paraoxonase (PON) enzymes. The PONs genetic cluster is made up of three members (PON1, PON2, PON3) that share a structural homology, located adjacent to chromosome seven. The most studied enzyme is PON1, which is associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL), having paraoxonase, arylesterase and lactonase activities. Due to these characteristics, the enzyme PON1 has been associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Here we update the knowledge about the association of PON enzymes and their polymorphisms and the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD).

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/1/11/pdf

Paraoxonase Role in Human Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the impact of grape (Vitis vinifera) seed powder and zinc-glycine complex on growth parameters and cecal health of broiler following Eimeria tenella challenge. A total of 250 day-old male broilers (Hubbard) were distributed into five treatments as follows: I-negative control (basal diet); II-positive control (E. tenella challenge); III-group infected + Amprolium; IV-group coccidial infection + organic zinc (OZ) at 50 ppm + grape seed powder (GSP) at 2.5 g/kg; V-coccidial infection + organic zinc (OZ) at 50 ppm + grape seed powder (GSP) at 5.0 g/kg. From findings, a lower (p < 0.05) feed intake was noted for positive control compared to the other treatment groups. Conversely, higher (p < 0.05) body weight, dressing percentage, and feed conversion ratio were observed in infected + Amprolium, GSP2.5 + OZ50, and GSP5 + OZ50 treatments in comparison to the positive control. Moreover, the positive control showed severe cecal lesions of thickness and hemorrhages with mild congestion. The lesion scores decreased (p < 0.05) in GSP and OZ treated groups compared to the positive control. Significant (p < 0.05) lower oocyst per gram of feces was found in infected + Amprolium, GSP2.5 + OZ50, and GSP5 + OZ50 in comparison to positive control. Supplementing diet with GSP and OZ at both levels showed restoration of intense sloughing of villi. From the present findings, it can be concluded that OZ and grape seed powder positively ameliorated the growth performance, lesion score, and oocysts shedding in broilers infected with E. tenella.

Protective Effect of Grape (Vitis vinifera) Seed Powder and Zinc-Glycine Complex on Growth Traits and Gut Health of Broilers Following Eimeria tenella Challenge.

The current experiment was performed to find the potential effect of inorganic and organic forms of zinc (Zn) on growth, intestinal histomorphology, immune response, and paraoxonase (PON1) activity in broiler. In this experiment, a total of 450 broiler chickens were assigned to four experimental and control groups. The birds received organic Zn at the rate of 50 mg/kg (OZ-50) and 60 mg/kg (OZ-60) or inorganic Zn at the rate of 50 mg/kg (IZ-50) and 60 mg/kg (IZ-60) for an experimental period of 30 days. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher feed consumption, body weight, feed conversion ratio, and production efficiency factor (PEF) were recorded in OZ-50. Similarly, antibody titer against infectious bronchitis (IB) and PON1 activity was higher (P < 0.05) in OZ-50 compared with the control group. In addition, significantly (P < 0.05) higher villus dimensions and goblet cell count were recorded for the group OZ-50 compared with other treatments. It was concluded that the organic form of Zn was superior in improving the growth, histological features of intestines, humoral response, and PON1 activity in broiler.

Zinc source modulates zootechnical characteristics, intestinal features, humoral response, and paraoxonase (PON1) activity in broilers

Expression proteomics approaches do not only directly confirm protein coding genes of sequenced genomes but also facilitate resolution of minute qualitative protein differences and improve the quality of genome annotation. Despite development of many tools, use of 2-DE coupled with MS in proteomics is not uncommon. With an accelerated trend of genome sequencing of microorganisms, proteome analysis of animal pathogens with 2-DE has gained more attention in the last decade. Therefore, in this study primarily the protein extraction, sample preparation and loading, IPG strip rehydration, IEF, and SDS-PAGE conditions were improved for high throughput resolution and reproducible 2-DE map of proteins of Mycoplasma bovis HB0801 (M. bovis HB0801- Chinese Strain), a pneumonia pathogen in feedlot cattle, and its attenuated strains. Literally, higher amount of proteins was extracted exploiting the French pressure cell coupled with TCA precipitation when compared to the sonication method. Total protein concentration was determined using a 2D quant Kit. About 330-380 μg TCA treated protein sample, solubilized in calibrated rehydration solution, loaded on 17 cm IPG gel strip (pH 3-10 NL) followed by active rehydration at 50V and isoelectric focusing at final 10 000 Volt (33 uA/gel strip) for 80kVh had revealed well resolved proteins spots on 10% gel stained by CBB R250 (0.15%), representing 83-89% of the total protein coding genes of M. bovis HB0801, estimated by PD Quest (Bio-Rad, USA). Conclusively, this effort attempted to provide more precise 2-DE platform and suitable conditions, after extensive calibration, for future comprehensive proteome and immunoproteome analyses and future research on the elucidation of factors related to pathogenesis of M. bovis in cattle.

/pdf/two-dimensional-gel-electrophoresis-2-de-for-high-throughput-iw5xhuqkgs.pdf

Two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) for high-throughput proteome analyses of Mycoplasma bovis.

In this study an investigation has been made on the electrical properties of Organic Humidity Sensors being fabricated by the use of cellulose and poly-N-epoxypropylcarbazole (PEPC). The 2 wt% of cellulose and 4 wt% of PEPC were blended in Benzol. In the fabrication of Cu/Cellulose/PEPC/Cu sensor, a composite thin film was deposited on copper electrodes by drop casting. The electrodes were deposited by sputtering process in which the gap between the electrodes was kept as 45 µm. The capacitance and dissipation of the sensors were measured under the effect of relative humidity. It was found that the capacitance and dissipation of the sensor increased 21 and 81 times respectively with increase of the Relative Humidity (RH) ranging from 45%-89%. By measured capacitance and dissipation, the resistance and impedance were calculated. The capacitance and resistance-humidity relationships showed significant change in the range of 67%-89% RH and 45%83% RH respectively. The impedance-humidity relationship demonstrated more uniform changes in the range of 45%-89% RH relative to the capacitance and resistance-humidity relationships. Humidity dependent properties of the sensor make it attractive to be used in capacitive, resistive and impedance type humidity sensors, thus it can be used in the humidity meters for environmental monitoring and assessment purposes.

Organic Cu/cellulose/ PEPC/Cu humidity sensor

Hereditary hypertrichosis (HH) is characterized by excessive hair growth on various body areas, which is independent of the individual's age. This rare hair disorder has been classified by its origin (genetic or acquired), age of onset, breadth of hair distribution (universal or localized) and the affected body areas. HH is often linked to several additional congenital abnormalities involving teeth, heart and bones. Human HH is associated with heterozygous genomic duplications and deletions in the chromosomal region 17q24.2–q24.3, containing genes such as ABCA5, ABCA6, ABCA10 and MAP2K6. Recently, a homozygous splice‐site variant in ABCA5 has been reported to cause autosomal recessive congenital generalized hypertrichosis terminalis (CGHT; OMIM 135400).

Exome sequencing reveals the first intragenic deletion in ABCA5 underlying autosomal recessive hypertrichosis

/pdf/exome-sequencing-revealed-a-novel-splice-site-variant-in-the-20n8qq6a.pdf

Muqadar Shah

Papers

Zinc source modulates zootechnical characteristics, intestinal features, humoral response, and paraoxonase (PON1) activity in broilers

Two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) for high-throughput proteome analyses of Mycoplasma bovis.

Organic Cu/cellulose/ PEPC/Cu humidity sensor

Exome sequencing reveals the first intragenic deletion in ABCA5 underlying autosomal recessive hypertrichosis

Exome Sequencing Revealed a Novel Splice Site Variant in the CRB2 Gene Underlying Nephrotic Syndrome