Polymerase chain reaction cloning of L-type calcium channel sequences from the heart and the brain

AbstractThe sequences of the highly conserved S4 regions of voltage-sensitive ion channels were used to design oligonucleotide primers for the polymerase chain reaction. Specific fragments of the cDNA encoding L-type calcium channels from the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle were amplified and cloned. The nuclcotide sequences of the cardiac and brain calcium channels obtained are identical over this region, and share 78% homology with the skeletal muscle calcium channel. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of our clones with those of other calcium channels reveals unexpected patterns of conservation which suggest alternative exon use

Analysis of an automotive thermoelectric generator on a gasoline engine

This study determined the heat, flow, and electrical power values of and automotive thermoelectric generation system integrated in the exhaust system of an internal combustion gasoline engine. The combustion analyses of the engine integrated with and without automotive thermoelectric generation were carried out. The 20 thermoelectric modules were placed on the rectangular structure which was made of the aluminum 6061 material. The thermoelectric modules were electrically connected to each other in series. The gasoline engine was operated at full load at 1250, 1750, and 2250 rpm, and the electrical energy generated by the automotive thermoelectric generation system was calculated. At the same time, the heat and flow analyses of the automotive thermoelectric generation system were performed using the ANSYS FLUENT commercial software.</jats:p

ANALYSIS OF AN AUTOMOTIVE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR ON A GASOLINE ENGINE

This study determined the heat, flow, and electrical power values of and automotive thermoelectric generation system integrated in the exhaust system of an internal combustion gasoline engine. The combustion analyses of the engine integrated with and without automotive thermoelectric generation were carried out. The 20 thermoelectric modules were placed on the rectangular structure which was made of the aluminum 6061 material. The thermoelectric modules were electrically connected to each other in series. The gasoline engine was operated at full load at 1250, 1750, and 2250 rpm, and the electrical energy generated by the automotive thermoelectric generation system was calculated. At the same time, the heat and flow analyses of the automotive thermoelectric generation system were performed using the ANSYS FLUENT commercial software.Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Fund [TEKNO-004]Authors thank Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Fund for their valuable financial support with the project number TEKNO-004

Hacettepe Health Cohort (HU-CoVaCS): Study Design, Baseline Characteristics and the First 3-Month-Follow Up of COVID-19 Vaccinated Students

Objective: This study included participants from Hacettepe University 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students of Medical School and 4th and 5th-grade students of Dental School; and aimed to evaluate the general health status, COVID-19 history, vaccination status, and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels of the participants to support their physical and social health, during the pandemic period. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with an integrated, matched, nested case-control study. Sociodemographic characteristics, life habits, COVID-19 history, vaccination status, compliance with mask-distance-hygiene rules, and risks (if any) for COVID-19 were inquired via online questionnaires. Physical examinations, complete blood count, biochemistry tests, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody tests were conducted for all consenting participants. All analyses were established using depersonalized data. Results: Of the 778 participants completing the baseline visit in June-July 2021, the percentages of those vaccinated with at least one, two, and three/more doses of COVID-19 vaccine were 99.1%, 98.0%, and 11.7%, respectively; one had four doses. The median (minimum-maximum) time since the last vaccination was 134 (34-166) days for those vaccinated with two doses [CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, Beijing, China)] and 25 (14-56) days for those vaccinated with three doses [two doses of CoronaVac and a last dose of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty®). The third dose was applied at a median of 164 (151-202) days after the second dose, and all were heterologous in type. The median (minimum-maximum) antibody level for the overall group was 53.55(0-5680) BAU/mL: 47.19 BAU/mL in those who received two doses, with a more than 100 times increase after a third dose (4943.64 BAU/mL). Of the 522 participants followed up to October 1, 2021, 6 PCR-positive symptomatic participants were diagnosed with COVID-19: the incidence rate was 4/1000 person-months. Conclusion: A 100-fold neutralizing antibody level following the third dose demonstrated the importance of a booster dose. Given the time lag between doses, antibody measurements of BioNTech recipients should be repeated in the upcoming months. Booster selection should involve antibody level, variant sensitivity of the vaccine, and individual characteristics of the recipient.</jats:p