Animal, Plant, Collagen and Blended Dietary Proteins: Effects on Musculoskeletal Outcomes

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record.Dietary protein is critical for the maintenance of musculoskeletal health, whereappropriate intake (i.e., source, dose, timing) can mitigate declines in muscle and bone mass and/orfunction. Animal-derived protein is a potent anabolic source due to rapid digestion and absorptionkinetics stimulating robust increases in muscle protein synthesis and promoting bone accretion andmaintenance. However, global concerns surrounding environmental sustainability has led to anincreasing interest in plant- and collagen-derived protein as alternative or adjunct dietary sources.This is despite the lower anabolic profile of plant and collagen protein due to the inferior essentialamino acid profile (e.g., lower leucine content) and subordinate digestibility (versus animal). Thisreview evaluates the efficacy of animal-, plant- and collagen-derived proteins in isolation, and asprotein blends, for augmenting muscle and bone metabolism and health in the context of ageing,exercise and energy restriction.Medical Research Council (MRC)National Institute for Health Researc

Peromyscus as a Mammalian Epigenetic Model

Deer mice (Peromyscus) offer an opportunity for studying the effects of natural genetic/epigenetic variation with several advantages over other mammalian models. These advantages include the ability to study natural genetic variation and behaviors not present in other models. Moreover, their life histories in diverse habitats are well studied. Peromyscus resources include genome sequencing in progress, a nascent genetic map, and >90,000 ESTs. Here we review epigenetic studies and relevant areas of research involving Peromyscus models. These include differences in epigenetic control between species and substance effects on behavior. We also present new data on the epigenetic effects of diet on coat-color using a Peromyscus model of agouti overexpression. We suggest that in terms of tying natural genetic variants with environmental effects in producing specific epigenetic effects, Peromyscus models have a great potential

Bicontinuous minimal surface nanostructures for polymer blend solar cells

This paper presents the first examination of the potential for bicontinuous structures such as the gyroid structure to produce high efficiency solar cells based on conjugated polymers. The solar cell characteristics are predicted by a simulation model that shows how the morphology influences device performance through integration of all the processes occurring in organic photocells in a specified morphology. In bicontinuous phases, the surface de. ning the interface between the electron and hole transporting phases divides the volume into two disjoint subvolumes. Exciton loss is reduced because the interface at which charge separation occurs permeates the device so excitons have only a short distance to reach the interface. As each of the component phases is connected, charges will be able to reach the electrodes more easily. In simulations of the current-voltage characteristics of organic cells with gyroid, disordered blend and vertical rod (rods normal to the electrodes) morphologies, we find that gyroids have a lower than anticipated performance advantage over disordered blends, and that vertical rods are superior. These results are explored thoroughly, with geminate recombination, i.e. recombination of charges originating from the same exciton, identified as the primary source of loss. Thus, if an appropriate materials choice could reduce geminate recombination, gyroids show great promise for future research and applications

Combined heart-liver transplantation for failing Fontan circulation in a late survivor with single-ventricle physiology

Management of adults with failing Fontan physiology poses many challenges, especially as transplantation offers the only realistic alternative to palliative care. We present the first combined heart and liver transplant performed in Europe, for a late survivor of single ventricle palliation with the Fontan circulation. In addition to the conventional medical and surgical challenges posed, we highlight the management of the associated multi-organ failure with focus on the liver and novel strategies for assessment and optimization

Nanocrystalline silicon oxide interlayer in monolithic perovskite silicon heterojunction tandem solar cells with total current density gt;39 mA cm2

Silicon heterojunction solar cells are implemented as bottom cells in monolithic perovskite silicon tandem solar cells. Commonly they are processed with a smooth front side to facilitate wet processing of the lead halide perovskite cell on top. The inherent drawback of this design, namely, enhanced reflection of the cell, can be significantly reduced by replacing the amorphous or nanocrystalline silicon front side n layer of the silicon cell by a nanocrystalline silicon oxide n layer. It is deposited with the same commonly used plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and can be tuned to feature opto electrical properties for enhanced light coupling into the Si bottom cell, namely, low parasitic absorption and an intermediate refractive index of 2.6. We demonstrate that a 80 100 nm thick layer results in 0.9 mA cm 2 current gain in the bottom cell yielding tandem cells with a top cell bottom cell total current above 39 mA cm 2 . These first nc SiO x H coupled tandem cells reach an efficiency gt;23.

3D semiconducting nanostructures via inverse lipid cubic phases.

Well-ordered and highly interconnected 3D semiconducting nanostructures of bismuth sulphide were prepared from inverse cubic lipid mesophases. This route offers significant advantages in terms of mild conditions, ease of use and electrode architecture over other routes to nanomaterials synthesis for device applications. The resulting 3D bicontinous nanowire network films exhibited a single diamond topology of symmetry Fd3m (Q227) which was verified by Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and holds great promise for potential applications in optoelectronics, photovoltaics and thermoelectrics

Callers’ attitudes and experiences of UK breastfeeding helpline support

Background: Breastfeeding peer support, is considered to be a key intervention for increasing breastfeeding duration rates. Whilst a number of national organisations provide telephone based breastfeeding peer support, to date there have been no published evaluations into callers’ experiences and attitudes of this support. In this study we report on the descriptive and qualitative insights provided by 908 callers as part of an evaluation of UK-based breastfeeding helpline(s). Methods: A structured telephone interview, incorporating Likert scale responses and open-ended questions was undertaken with 908 callers over May to August, 2011 to explore callers’ experiences of the help and support received via the breastfeeding helpline(s). Results: Overall satisfaction with the helpline was high, with the vast majority of callers’ recalling positive experiences of the help and support received. Thematic analysis was undertaken on all qualitative and descriptive data recorded during the evaluation, contextualised within the main areas addressed within the interview schedule in terms of ‘contact with the helplines’; ‘experiences of the helpline service’, ‘perceived effectiveness of support provision’ and ‘impact on caller wellbeing’. Conclusion: Callers valued the opportunity for accessible, targeted, non-judgmental and convenient support. Whilst the telephone support did not necessarily influence women’s breastfeeding decisions, the support they received left them feeling reassured, confident and more determined to continue breastfeeding. We recommend extending the helpline service to ensure support can be accessed when needed, and ongoing training and support for volunteers. Further advertising and promotion of the service within wider demographic groups is warranted

Characterization of carbon nanotube–thermotropic nematic liquid crystal composites

Dispersions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in liquid crystals (LCs) have attracted attention due to their unique properties and possible applications in photonics and electronics. However, these are hard to stabilize, and the loading level in the equilibrium state in LC hosts is small. A practical way to monitor the quality and CNT incorporation in such equilibrium dispersions is required. Here, we compare different methods for characterising equilibrium CNT–LC composite materials

An improved critical plane and cycle counting method to assess damage under variable amplitude multiaxial fatigue loading

The plane with the maximum variance of the resolved shear stress is taken as the critical plane. Two algorithms are used along with the maximum variance method (MVM) to determine the orientation of the critical plane. The maximum variance of the normal stress on the potential critical planes is calculated to determine the one experiencing the maximum extent of fatigue damage. A new multiaxial cycle counting method is proposed to count cycles on the critical plane. The modified Wöhler curve method is used to assess fatigue damage. About 200 experimental results were collected from the technical literature to validate the approaches being proposed. The results show that the improved design technique being proposed is successful in assessing fatigue damage under variable amplitude multiaxial cyclic loading