Major Storage Research Articles

Modulation of starch synthesis in Arabidopsis via phytochrome B-mediated light signal transduction.

Starch is a major storage carbohydrate in plants and is critical in crop yield and quality. Starch synthesis is intricately regulated by internal metabolic processes and external environmental cues; however, the precise molecular mechanisms governing this process remain largely unknown. In this study, we revealed that high red to far-red (high R:FR) light significantly induces the synthesis of leaf starch and the expression of synthesis-related genes, whereas low R:FR light suppress these processes. Arabidopsis phytochrome B (phyB), the primary R and FR photoreceptor, was identified as a critical positive regulator in this process. Downstream of phyB, basic leucine zipper transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) was found to enhance starch synthesis, whereas the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIF3, PIF4, and PIF5) inhibit starch synthesis in Arabidopsis leaves. Notably, HY5 and PIFs directly compete for binding to a shared G-box cis-element in the promoter region of genes encoding starch synthases GBSS, SS3, and SS4, which leads to antagonistic regulation of their expression and, consequently, starch synthesis. Our findings highlight the vital role of phyB in enhancing starch synthesis by stabilizing HY5 and facilitating PIFs degradation under high R:FR light conditions. Conversely, under low R:FR light, PIFs predominantly inhibit starch synthesis. This study provides insight into the physiological and molecular functions of phyB and its downstream transcription factors HY5 and PIFs in starch synthesis regulation, shedding light on the regulatory mechanism by which plants synchronize dynamic light signals with metabolic cues to module starch synthesis.

A 3D nanoscale optical disk memory with petabit capacity.

High-capacity storage technologies are needed to meet our ever-growing data demands1,2. However, data centres based on major storage technologies such as semiconductor flash devices and hard disk drives have high energy burdens, high operation costs and short lifespans2,3. Optical data storage (ODS) presents a promising solution for cost-effective long-term archival data storage. Nonetheless, ODS has been limited by its low capacity and the challenge of increasing its areal density4,5. Here, to address these issues, we increase the capacity of ODS to the petabit level by extending the planar recording architecture to three dimensions with hundreds of layers, meanwhile breaking the optical diffraction limit barrier of the recorded spots. We develop an optical recording medium based on a photoresist film doped with aggregation-induced emission dye, which can be optically stimulated by femtosecond laser beams. This film is highly transparent and uniform, and the aggregation-induced emission phenomenon provides the storage mechanism. It can also be inhibited by another deactivating beam, resulting in a recording spot with a super-resolution scale. This technology makes it possible to achieve exabit-level storage by stacking nanoscale disks into arrays, which is essential in big data centres with limited space.

Dysfunction in atox-1 and ceruloplasmin alters labile Cu levels and consequently Cu homeostasis in C. elegans.

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element, however an excess is toxic due to its redox properties. Cu homeostasis therefore needs to be tightly regulated via cellular transporters, storage proteins and exporters. An imbalance in Cu homeostasis has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Wilson's disease, but also Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. In our current study, we explored the utility of using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model of Cu dyshomeostasis. The application of excess Cu dosing and the use of mutants lacking the intracellular Cu chaperone atox-1 and major Cu storage protein ceruloplasmin facilitated the assessment of Cu status, functional markers including total Cu levels, labile Cu levels, Cu distribution and the gene expression of homeostasis-related genes. Our data revealed a decrease in total Cu uptake but an increase in labile Cu levels due to genetic dysfunction, as well as altered gene expression levels of Cu homeostasis-associated genes. In addition, the data uncovered the role ceruloplasmin and atox-1 play in the worm's Cu homeostasis. This study provides insights into suitable functional Cu markers and Cu homeostasis in C. elegans, with a focus on labile Cu levels, a promising marker of Cu dysregulation during disease progression.

BubR1 controls starvation-induced lipolysis via IMD signaling pathway in Drosophila.

Lipolysis, the key process releasing fat acids to generate energy in adipose tissues, correlates with starvation resistance. Nevertheless, its detail mechanisms remain elusive. BubR1, an essential mitotic regulator, ensures proper chromosome alignment and segregation during mitosis, but its physiological functions are largely unknown. Here, we use Drosophila adult fat body, the major lipid storage organ, to study the functions of BubR1 in lipolysis. We show that both whole body- and fat body-specific BubR1 depletions increase lipid degradation and shorten the lifespan under fasting but not feeding. Relish, the conserved regulator of IMD signaling pathway, acts as the downstream target of BubR1 to control the expression level of Bmm and modulate the lipolysis upon fasting. Thus, our study reveals new functions of BubR1 in starvation-induced lipolysis and provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of lipolysis mediated by IMD signaling pathway.

Effects of pH and salt concentration on freeze-thaw fractionation of soymilk protein.

The two major storage proteins of soymilk are the globulins 7S and 11S. Freeze-thaw fractionation is a simple method for separating these proteins in raw soymilk. In this study, we assessed the freeze-thaw fractionation ability of raw soymilk under various pH (4.3-11.6) conditions and added salt (sodium chloride) concentrations (0.00-0.67 mol L-1). We successfully achieved fractionation within a pH range of 5.8-6.7 and when the salt concentration was 0.22 mol L-1 or lower. Analysis of particle size distribution and microscopic examination of soymilk revealed no direct correlation between particle size and freeze-thaw fractionation ability. Interestingly, it was confirmed that the ranges of zeta potential values associated with successful freeze-thaw fractionation in raw soymilk remained consistent across different pH and salt concentration conditions. These ranges were between -23 and -28 mV at pH levels ranging from 5.8 to 6.7 and between -18 and -29 mV at added salt concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.22 mol L-1. The pH and salt concentration in raw soymilk markedly influence the freeze-thaw fractionation process. We confirmed that the range of zeta potential values where fractionation was possible remained consistent under various pH and salt concentration conditions. These findings suggest that the zeta potential value might serve as an indicator for evaluating the freeze-thaw fractionation ability of raw soymilk. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytochemical Characterization of Callistemon lanceolatus Leaf Essential Oils and Their Application as Sustainable Stored Grain Protectants against Major Storage Insect Pests

Food storage has been important since the dawn of agriculture and human settlement. Insect pests cause major losses to food grains during storage and production. Essential oils are good alternatives for chemical insecticides for the management of storage pests. Red bottlebrush, Callistemon lanceolatus, is a flowering plant of the Myrtaceae family. This research work aimed to extract the oil from bottlebrush leaves, and chemically characterize and assess their repellent and insecticidal properties against the cowpea seed beetle, Callasobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), for the first time. The essential oil yielded by hydro-distillation of bottlebrush leaves was 1.02 ± 0.01%. GC-MS analysis determined the chemical composition of the volatile oil comprised 1,8-cineole (19.17%), α-terpineol (11.51%), α-pinene (10.28%), and α-Phellandrene (9.55%). The C. lanceolatus leaf oil showed potent repellence, contact toxicity, and fumigation toxic effects. In the contact toxicity assay, at 24 h, the LC50 values were 1.35, 0.52, and 0.58 mg/cm2 for the red flour beetle, cigarette beetle, and cowpea seed beetle, respectively. Likewise, in the fumigation assay observed after 24 h, LC50 values of 22.60, 5.48, and 1.43 µL/L air were demonstrated for the red flour beetle, cigarette beetle, and cowpea seed beetle, respectively. Additionally, there was no significance found by a phytotoxicity assay when the paddy seeds were exposed to C. lanceolatus oil. The results show that the volatile oils from red bottlebrush leaves have the potential to be applied as a biopesticide. Therefore, C. lanceolatus leaf oil can be utilized as a bio-insecticide to control stored product insects.

Relationships between protein and other chemical composition and texture of tofu made from soybeans grown in different locations.

Understanding quantitative relationships between protein and other chemical components in diverse soybean genotypes (lines) grown in different locations and the firmness of tofu can provide scientific insight for selecting soybean suitable for tofu making. Locations showed significant effects on seed components, including total protein, major storage proteins, subunits and polypeptides of the major storage proteins, and calcium, but not magnesium or phytic acid. Results showed that 11S content, but not 11S/7S ratio, was only correlated with filled tofu firmness when analyzed over all locations. A strong and positive correlation between firmness and A3 polypeptide of the 11S protein content was found for both pressed tofu (r=0.80, p<0.001) and filled tofu (r=0.76, p<0.001) over three locations (overall pooled data) and within most individual locations. The correlation of filled tofu firmness and A3 polypeptide was significant for each of the three individual locations. However, the correlation of pressed tofu firmness and A3 polypeptide content was significant at two of three locations. Mean calcium content was positively correlated with mean pressed and filled tofu firmness over all locations, but calcium was not correlated with pressed tofu firmness at any individual location, and only one location showed a significant correlation of calcium and filled tofu firmness. In addition, pressed tofu firmness was found to be negatively correlated with tofu yield. The findings that A3 polypeptide's strong relationship with tofu firmness within certain locations may be used by the food industry to select proper soybean for manufacturing tofu and to facilitate tofu soybean breeding for tofu making.

Deep learning-based characterization and redesign of major potato tuber storage protein

Potato is one of the most important crops worldwide, to feed a fast-growing population. In addition to providing energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, potato storage proteins are considered as one of the most valuable sources of non-animal proteins due to their high essential amino acid (EAA) index. However, low tuber protein content and limited knowledge about potato storage proteins restrict their widespread utilization in the food industry. Here, we report a proof-of-concept study, using deep learning-based protein design tools, to characterize the biological and chemical characteristics of patatins, the major potato storage proteins. This knowledge was then employed to design multiple cysteines on the patatin surface to build polymers linked by disulfide bonds, which significantly improved viscidity and nutrient of potato flour dough. Our study shows that deep learning-based protein design strategies are efficient to characterize and to create novel proteins for future food sources.

Impact of using cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) essential oil and its pectin-chitosan nano-emulsion on survival of Aspergillus flavus and total aflatoxin inhibition in beef burger patties

Fungal growth is one of the most common and serious problems faced during food storage. Aspergillus flavus is one of the major storage fungi producing aflatoxins, which are highly toxic and carcinogenic and pose a marked hazard to human health. Cinnamon oil is a natural essential oil with no obvious hazard effect on human and animal health. So, the goal of this research was to assess the efficacy of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and cinnamon nanoparticles (CEO-NPs) on Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin inhibition. In this research, CEO components were determined using GC/MS. Moreover, the characterization of nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has also been studied. Initially, the antifungal activity and Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) has been determined by employing agar well-diffusion test and macro-dilution method, respectively. Then, depending on MIC results, the antifungal effects of CEO (3.125 μl/ml) and CEO-NPs (1.56 μl/ml) against A. flavus were studied. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of CEO and CEO-NPs on aflatoxin content was evaluated. Additionally, the sensory evaluation of cinnamon and its nanoparticles in beef burger patties was assessed. The obtained results showed that the A. flavus count in experimentally contaminated beef burger samples was elevated from 4.06 ± 0.06 to 5.65 ± 0.04 (log10 CFU/g) in control samples while decreasing to 2.49 ± 0.15 in the presence of the CEO; however, it was not detected in the presence of CEO-NPs by the 9th day of the chilled storage. Regarding the aflatoxins, the CEO and its nanoparticles exhibited a reduction in aflatoxin levels to 40.9% and 68.2%, respectively, as determined by the ELISA technique. In conclusion, this study confirms the inhibitory role of CEOs and CEO-NPs in controlling A. flavus growth with a potential reduction in aflatoxin levels. The results open a promising avenue for their use as a safe, bioactive natural preservative in the food industry.

Neltuma nigra cotyledon and seed flour: nutritional, phytochemical, and techno-functional characterization and nutraceutic potential of polyphenolic enriched extract.

Neltuma nigra seed and cotyledon flours were prepared and characterized. Both flours showed high protein and fiber content, and low carbohydrate and fat content. The major storage proteins in N. nigra flours were albumin and globulin. In addition, flours contained carotenoids and potassium as the main micronutrients. The free and bound phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids were the major phytochemical components. The phenolic enriched extracts (PEE) of both flours contained apigenin-derived C-glycosyl flavones, including schaftoside, and isoschaftoside as the main components. The PEE from seed flour contained higher antioxidant capacity on ABTS˙+, FRAP, H2O2, O2˙- and higher inhibitory effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase than the cotyledon flour extract. Techno-functional property analyses showed better water retention capacity and emulsifying stability for cotyledon flour and better oil holding capacity and emulsifying activity for seed flour. The results suggest better biological properties and a low-cost accessibility of seed flour, and a better macronutrient balance for cotyledon flour. Therefore, both can be considered as ingredients or functional food for special foods related to the metabolic syndrome and diseases related to oxidative processes.

The OsGAPC3 mutation significantly affects grain quality traits and improves the nutritional quality of rice.

The glycolytic enzyme cytoplasmic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPC3) is involved in multiple biological processes in plants, including transcriptional regulation, and material metabolism. However, the relationship between OsGAPC3 and the quality traits of rice is poorly understood. Here we identify OsGAPC3 mutations that enhance the protein content and grain nutritional quality of rice by regulating the OsAAP6 gene expression. The number and volume of type-II protein bodies in the endosperm of the OsGAPC3 mutants, and GPC increase significantly. We report significant increases in chalkiness area and degree, and decreases for starch content, gel consistency, and taste value. Results of proteomic detection and analysis reveal that OsGAPC3 affects the major storage substances (proteins and starch) metabolism in rice, and the accumulation of proteins and starch in the endosperm. Additionally, the OsGAPC3 mutation significantly decreases the rice-seedling salt tolerance. Therefore, OsGAPC3 affects multiple quality traits of rice, participates in regulating rice-seedling salt-stress response. These data can be used to design better-quality and stronger salt-resistant rice varieties.

Dynamic planning method of evacuation route in dam-break flood scenario based on the ACO-GA hybrid algorithm

As the major water storage infrastructure, the failure of a reservoir dam will cause significant losses to people's lives and property. A scientific and reasonable evacuation route is one of the essential measures to reduce casualties. Thus, it is of great significance to realize the dynamic planning of evacuation routes in dam-break flood scenarios to reduce the risk of dam failure. This study employed a physically based mathematical model (Breach model) and a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model to simulate dam-break flood routing. Further, a road network construction method was proposed based on the graph theory and flood routing information. The ant colony optimization algorithm (ACO) was improved by the backtracking, the improved heuristic function, and the elite ants, and the genetic algorithm (GA) was optimized according to the characteristics of flood avoidance route planning. Accordingly, an improved ant colony-genetic optimization hybrid algorithm (ACO-GA) was proposed. Compared with the basic ACO algorithm, the correct rate of simulation results of the ACO-GA hybrid algorithm was improved by 34 %, the average number of iterations was reduced by 18.3 times, and the optimization ability was markedly enhanced. Based on the constructed dam-break flood scenario and the ACO-GA hybrid algorithm, the novel dynamic planning method for evacuation routes in the dam-break flood scenario was proposed. Moreover, this method was applied to a typical water conservancy engineering project, and the planned optimal evacuation routes accurately avoided the flood influence, and the calculation results were reasonable and accurate. The real-time dynamic planning of flood avoidance routes based on flood routing information was realized. This study provides effective guarantee for the emergency transfer of downstream people, which has valuable implications for the theoretical research and engineering practice of reservoir dam safety and management.

Zinc Slurry Electrodes for Double Flow Zinc-Nickel Batteries

Lithium-based systems are still the major storage technology especially in mobile applications like electromobility and consumer electronics. However, in the field of stationary energy storage devices, redox-flow batteries exhibit significant advantages because energy and power can be scaled independently and the device can be discharged up to 20 h, in contrast to lithium-ion batteries.[1] In the field of redox-flow batteries, the main focus is placed on vanadium-based systems. However, vanadium-based systems have some drawbacks due to the low gravimetric energy densities, the toxicity [2] and the high price of vanadium [3], as well as the short life span of the membrane separating the half-cells.[4]In our research project NiZi-Flow², a new concept of flow cells based on nickel and zinc is investigated, in which slurries of zinc and nickel-hydroxide particles are pumped through the flow battery, respectively. Our part in the project is the examination of the electrodeposition and dissolution of zinc under idealized conditions to obtain the influence of flow and current density parameters on the zinc surface morphology. To study the zinc half-cell, a stirred electrochemical cell was designed and cycling experiments with the zinc slurry were performed. M. Skyllas-Kazacos, M.H. Chakrabarti, S.A. Hajimolana, F.S. Mjalli, M. Saleem, J. Electrochem. Soc., 158 (2011) R55.A. Ciotola, M. Fuss, S. Colombo, W.-R. Poganietz, J. Energy Storage, 33 (2021) 102094.T. Nguyen, R.F. Savinell, Electrochem. Soc. Interface, 19 (2010) 54–56.A.Z. Weber, M.M. Mench, J.P. Meyers, P.N. Ross, J.T. Gostick, Q. Liu, J. Appl. Electrochem., 41 (2011) 1137–1164.

Optimizing chitosan‐enriched salicylic acid coating to extend the shelf‐life of fresh‐cut radishes using response surface methodology

AbstractChitosan coating and salicylic acid are two widely used preserving methods for fruits and vegetables in postharvest storage, but very limited research can be found on the application of chitosan‐enriched salicylic acid (CS–SA) coating for fresh‐cut radishes. In this study, three variables (chitosan, salicylic acid, and immersion time) and two responses (whiteness and total bacterial count) were employed to optimize CS–SA process for fresh‐cut radishes using response surface methodology. The results showed that the optimal coating process for fresh‐cut radishes was 1.0% chitosan and 1.0 mM salicylic acid for 1.8 min. The effects of the optimal CS–SA process on the major storage quality and shelf‐life of fresh‐cut radishes were also investigated. Results indicated that CS–SA effectively delayed the decrease of whiteness, firmness, ascorbic acid, and total phenolic content in fresh‐cut radishes during storage. Meanwhile, CS–SA significantly inhibited the microbial growth and extended the shelf‐life of fresh‐cut radishes up to 12 days, much longer than those of non‐ or NaClO‐treated ones with 6 and 8 days, respectively. This study suggests that CS–SA is an efficient alternative for the preservation of fresh‐cut radish products, and the underlying regulation mechanism of CS–SA on delaying browning and microbial growth is worth further exploration.

Iron derived from NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy causes cellular senescence via the cGAS-STING pathway

Cellular senescence is a hallmark of aging and has been linked to age-related diseases. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common aging-related retinal disease, is prospectively associated with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) senescence. However, the mechanism of RPE cell senescence remains unknown. In this study, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH)-induced ARPE-19 cells and D-galactose-treated C57 mice were used to examine the cause of elevated iron in RPE cell senescence. Ferric ammonium citrate (FAC)-treated ARPE-19 cells and C57 mice were used to elucidated the mechanism of iron overload-induced RPE cell senescence. Molecular biology techniques for the assessment of iron metabolism, cellular senescence, autophagy, and mitochondrial function in vivo and in vitro. We found that iron level was increased during the senescence process. Ferritin, a major iron storage protein, is negatively correlated with intracellular iron levels and cell senescence. NCOA4, a cargo receptor for ferritinophagy, mediates degradation of ferritin and contributes to iron accumulation. Besides, we found that iron overload leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. As a result, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is released from damaged mitochondria to cytoplasm. Cytoplasm mtDNA activates the cGAS-STING pathway and promotes inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and cell senescence. Meanwhile, iron chelator Deferoxamine (DFO) significantly rescues RPE senescence and retinopathy induced by FAC or D-gal in mice. Taken together, these findings imply that iron derived from NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy causes cellular senescence via the cGAS-STING pathway. Inhibiting iron accumulation may represent a promising therapeutic approach for age-related diseases such as AMD.

Investigation of Major Storage Fungal Pathogens Associated with Seeds of Some Crops

The storage fungi damage the grains in several ways; they reduce the germination capacity, produce undesirable odor and kernel discoloration, decrease the food value, and also produce toxins that are injurious to the health of consumers. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the presence, and determine the identity, and incidences of major fungal pathogens associated with crop seeds. Totally fifty-eight seed samples of nine crops were used to investigate the presence and incidence of fungi associated with them in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Results of the study revealed that a total of 9 fungi belonging to 8 genera viz. Penicillium sp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris sp., Botrytis sp., Alternaria sp., Ascochyta sp., Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizopus sp. were isolated from samples. The infection percentage varied from 0-100% in samples of seed multiplication store. Most varieties of crops showed 100% infection followed by 97.5% (HB1307 of barley and Alidoro of wheat), 95% (Kingbird of wheat and RIB13/14 of nug), 90% (Kuncho of teff), 50% (Holetta-1 11/12 of gomenzer), 20% (Ginchi-1 11/12 of nug and Yellow Dodola15/16 of gomenzer), 10% (Shambu 17/18 of oat), and 5% (Shambu 11/12 of oat, S-67 17/18 of gomenzer and Fogera 10/11 of nug) except linseed samples 0%. In general, seed-borne fungi were present in most seed samples of cereals, oils, and legume crops. Some of the identified fungi are potential producers of mycotoxins, thus their presence is important in terms of reduced food safety for humans and animals. In addition, some seed-borne fungi were also the causal agents of diseases of the roots, stems, and leaves of crops. Fungal incidence of seed was highly associated with storage conditions of the independent variables, such as temperature and relative humidity of storage. So, it is suggested that the management of fungal growth, mycotoxin production, and fungal contamination incidence of seed should be investigated and confirmed with additional studies.

Facile Extraction of Natural Hydroxyapatite (HA) from Biowaste and Its Characterizations

Natural Hydroxyapatite (HA) with chemical formula Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 is a major mineral storage form of calcium and phosphorous in bone and it has been applied in many fields. In the present study, HA was extracted from biowaste; namely the buffalo bone by alkaline hydrolysis process followed by calcination at 900°C with holding time 6 hrs. in muffle furnace. The isolated material was analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) etc. The SEM image suggested the isolated material had rod shaped and agglomerated. FTIR study indicated the phosphate and hydroxide were the major functional groups along with carbonate present in it. Further, XRD analysis inferred that the isolated material was only HA phased. The specific surface area of the isolated HA was determined by methylene blue adsorption method and it was found to be 141.12 m2 /g and pH point of zero charge (pHPZC) of the extracted biomaterial was determined to be 6.8 by pH the drift method. Thus the pure HA powder was synthesized by an environmentally friendly, cost effective method and may be applicable in many fields including waste water treatment and biomedicine etc.

Binding of perilipin 3 to membranes containing diacylglycerol is mediated by conserved residues within its PAT domain

Perilipins (PLINs) constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins that specifically associate with the surface of lipid droplets (LDs). These proteins function in LD biogenesis and lipolysis and help to stabilize the surface of LDs. PLINs are typically composed of three different protein domains. They share an N-terminal PAT domain of unknown structure and function, a central region containing 11-mer repeats that form amphipathic helices, and a C-terminal domain that adopts a 4-helix bundle structure. How exactly these three distinct domains contribute to PLIN function remains to be determined. Here, we show that the N-terminal PAT domain of PLIN3 binds diacylglycerol (DAG), the precursor to triacylglycerol, a major storage lipid of LDs. PLIN3 and its PAT domain alone bind liposomes with micromolar affinity and PLIN3 binds artificial LDs containing low concentrations of DAG with nanomolar affinity. The PAT domain of PLIN3 is predicted to adopt an amphipathic triangular shaped structure. In silico ligand docking indicates that DAG binds to one of the highly curved regions within this domain. A conserved aspartic acid residue in the PAT domain, E86, is predicted to interact with DAG, and we found that its substitution abrogates high affinity binding of DAG as well as DAG-stimulated association with liposome and artificial LDs. These results indicate that the PAT domain of PLINs harbor specific lipid-binding properties that are important for targeting these proteins to the surface of LDs and to ER membrane domains enriched in DAG to promote LD formation.

Development of scalable GPU-based direct whole-core depletion calculation methods

GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) acceleration methods are introduced to the depletion solver and the cross section (XS) calculation routines of the direct whole core calculation code, nTRACER, for scalable and superior computing performance. Extensive GPU acceleration besides transport solvers is necessary to resolve the performance degradation in depletion calculations caused by the newly generated nuclides in depleted fuel regions and the poor scalability. A matrix exponential solver employing the Gauss-Seidel-based Chebyshev rational approximate method is implemented to reduce branch divergence and load imbalance in GPU computing in the solution of the Bateman equation. A non-zero element major storage scheme is developed to optimize memory access efficiency on GPUs by exploiting the same sparsity pattern of the depletion matrix in all the depletion regions. XS data are serialized for effective massive parallelization of XS calculation on GPUs. A block decomposition scheme for XS calculation is implemented to reduce the global memory requirement due to the limited memory capacity of commercial GPUs. It is demonstrated that nTRACER can complete a direct whole core depletion calculation for a realistic core in a few hours on a moderate-sized GPU-based heterogeneous computing platform after extensive GPU porting to all the essential routines.

Mites (Acari) infesting stored animal feed products in northern Thailand

Storage mites are serious pests of stored animal feeds and animals that consume mite-infested feed could reduce feed intake and eventually cause weight loss. To understand the mite species and infestation rates of them in animal feeds, we conducted a survey of mite infestations in samples of animal feeds from animal feed shops, feed mills, or chicken farms in eight provinces in northern Thailand. High mite infestation rates were observed in chicken feed (42.9%), followed by pig feed (26.7%). No mites were observed in fish and frog feeds. Mites were common in pelleted feeds (n = 96) or raw materials (n = 3), but was never observed in extruded feeds (n = 33). The mite species identified include three storage mites: Suidasia pontifica, Dermatophagoides farinae, and Aleuroglyphus chinensis, as well as the predatory mites Cheyletus malaccensis, Blattisocius keegani, and B. everti. Among them, A. chinensis and B. everti, are newly recorded in Thailand. Suidasia pontifica was dominant in chicken and pig feeds, and could be the major storage mite pest in northern Thailand. Figures and identification keys are provided.