Multi-layered Graphene Silica-Based Tunable Absorber for Infrared Wavelength Based on Circuit Theory Approach

Graphene can be utilized as a tunable material for a wide range of infrared wavelength regions due to its tunable conductivity property. In this paper, we use Y-shaped silver material resonator placed over the top of multiple graphene silica-layered structures to realize the perfect absorption over the infrared wavelength region. We propose four different designs by placing the graphene sheet over silica. The absorption and reflectance performance of the structures have been explored for 1500- to 1600-nm wavelength range. The proposed design also explores the absorption tunability of the structure for the different values of graphene chemical potential. We have reported the negative impedance for the perfect absorption for proposed metamaterial absorber structures. All the metamaterial absorbers have reported 99% of its absorption peaks in the infrared wavelength region. These designs can be used as a tunable absorber for narrowband and wideband applications. The proposed designs will become the basic building block of large photonics design which will be applicable for polariser, sensor, and solar applications.

     

Design of a New Peptide Substrate Probe of the Putative Biomarker Legumain with Potential Application in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Ex Vivo

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The lysosomal endoprotease legumain (asparaginyl endoprotease) has been proposed as a putative biomarker in prostate tumours, in which...     

In-vivo dose measurements with MOSFET dosimeters during MV portal imaging

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of MOSFET dosimeter in measuring eye dose during 2D MV portal imaging for setup verification in radiotherapy.Materials and methodsThe in-vivo dose measurements were performed by placing the dosimeters over the eyes of 30 brain patients during the acquisition of portal images in linear accelerator by delivering 1 MU with the field sizes of 10 × 10 cm² and 15 × 15 cm².ResultsThe mean doses received by the left and right eyes of 10 out of 30 patients when both eyes were completely inside the anterior portal field were found to be 2.56 ± 0.2 cGy and 2.75 ± 0.2, respectively. Similarly, for next 10 patients out of the same 30 patients the mean doses to left and right eyes when both eyes were completely out of the anterior portal fields were found to be 0.13 ± 0.02 cGy and 0.17 ± 0.02 cGy, respectively. The mean doses to ipsilateral and contralateral eye for the last 10 patients when one eye was inside the anterior portal field were found to be 3.28 ± 0.2 cGy and 0.36 ± 0.1 cGy, respectively.ConclusionThe promising results obtained during 2D MV portal imaging using MOSFET have shown that this dosimeter is well suitable for assessing low doses during imaging thereby enabling to optimize the imaging procedure using the dosimetric data obtained. In addition, the documentation of the dose received by the patient during imaging procedure is possible with the help of an in-built software in conjunction with the MOSFET reader module.     

On the macro-micro-morphology of organs of host invasion in hemiparasite Helicanthes elasticus (Desv.) Danser

Loranthaceae family includes hemiparasitic members which are seen invading a wide range of commercial crops. Helicanthes elasticus (Desv.) Danser is very common on mango trees. Though parasitic in nature, this mistletoe is also medicinally important as fetoprotective, against vesicular calculi and kidney infections. This study is an attempt to document macro-microscopical features of parasitic root, fruit and host-mistletoe tissue interaction in the haustorium of H. elasticus growing on mango stems. Collection, preservation, sectioning, staining and photomicrography of the root, fruit and host-mistletoe union were done as per standard methodologies of anatomical studies. Though there is resemblance to the normal roots in morphology as well as anatomy, the microscopic finding of large number of branched stone cells in the roots is interesting. The morpho-anatomical features recorded would help in understanding the infection biology of this mistletoe. The eradication during the earlier stages of its establishment from seed or from the root creeping over the surface of the host can help in controlling this parasite infection on commercially important host plants.     

An efficient pipeline for ancient DNA mapping and recovery of endogenous ancient DNA from whole‐genome sequencing data

Ancient DNA research has developed rapidly over the past few decades due to improvements in PCR and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, but challenges still exist. One major challenge in relation to ancient DNA research is to recover genuine endogenous ancient DNA sequences from raw sequencing data. This is often difficult due to degradation of ancient DNA and high levels of contamination, especially homologous contamination that has extremely similar genetic background with that of the real ancient DNA. In this study, we collected whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) data from 6 ancient samples to compare different mapping algorithms. To further explore more effective methods to separate endogenous DNA from homologous contaminations, we attempted to recover reads based on ancient DNA specific characteristics of deamination, depurination, and DNA fragmentation with different parameters. We propose a quick and improved pipeline for separating endogenous ancient DNA while simultaneously decreasing homologous contaminations to very low proportions. Our goal in this research was to develop useful recommendations for ancient DNA mapping and for separation of endogenous DNA to facilitate future studies of ancient DNA.     

Mercuric chloride-induced Gastrin/Cholecystokinin 8 immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the terrestrial slug Semperula maculata: an immunohistochemical study

We measured the immunoreactivity of the neuropeptide gastrin cholecystokinin 8 (gastrin/CCK 8) in neurons of the terrestrial slug Semperula maculata following acute treatment with mercuric chloride (HgCl₂). The distribution of gastrin/CCK 8 was analyzed in neurons of different regions, specifically from cerebral ganglia (procerebrum (pro-c), mesocerebrum (meso-c) and metacerebrum (meta-c). In the control group, neurons of pedal, pleural, parietal and visceral ganglia showed positive immunoreactivity using vertebrate antiserum against gastrin/CCK 8. Gastrin/CCK 8 immunoreactivity was also seen in the fibers and neuropil region of all ganglia. In the cerebral ganglion, 10, 12 and 8 % of the neurons from pro-c, meso-c and meta-c, respectively, were stained with the antibody. The immunostaining was increased in neurons (giant, large, medium and small) after HgCl₂ treatment. The treatment greatly increased the mucin content within the neurons. Exposure to HgCl₂ enhanced gastrin immunoreactivity in the neurons and this increased with time. Results are discussed in the context of neuropathology in cerebral ganglia associated with the feeding behavior of Semperula maculata.     

Rapid Identification of Sequences for Orphan Enzymes to Power Accurate Protein Annotation

The power of genome sequencing depends on the ability to understand what those genes and their proteins products actually do. The automated methods used to assign functions to putative proteins in newly sequenced organisms are limited by the size of our library of proteins with both known function and sequence. Unfortunately this library grows slowly, lagging well behind the rapid increase in novel protein sequences produced by modern genome sequencing methods. One potential source for rapidly expanding this functional library is the “back catalog” of enzymology – “orphan enzymes,” those enzymes that have been characterized and yet lack any associated sequence. There are hundreds of orphan enzymes in the Enzyme Commission (EC) database alone. In this study, we demonstrate how this orphan enzyme “back catalog” is a fertile source for rapidly advancing the state of protein annotation. Starting from three orphan enzyme samples, we applied mass-spectrometry based analysis and computational methods (including sequence similarity networks, sequence and structural alignments, and operon context analysis) to rapidly identify the specific sequence for each orphan while avoiding the most time- and labor-intensive aspects of typical sequence identifications. We then used these three new sequences to more accurately predict the catalytic function of 385 previously uncharacterized or misannotated proteins. We expect that this kind of rapid sequence identification could be efficiently applied on a larger scale to make enzymology’s “back catalog” another powerful tool to drive accurate genome annotation.     

Absence of Functional Leptin Receptor Isoforms in the POUND (Leprdb/lb) Mouse Is Associated with Muscle Atrophy and Altered Myoblast Proliferation and Differentiation

Objective

Leptin receptors are abundant in human skeletal muscle, but the role of leptin in muscle growth, development and aging is not well understood. Here we utilized a novel mouse model lacking all functional leptin receptor isoforms (POUND mouse, Lepr^db/lb) to determine the role of leptin in skeletal muscle.

Methods and Findings

Skeletal muscle mass and fiber diameters were examined in POUND mice, and primary myoblast cultures were used to determine the effects of altered leptin signaling on myoblast proliferation and differentiation. ELISA assays, integrated pathway analysis of mRNA microarrays, and reverse phase protein analysis were performed to identify signaling pathways impacted by leptin receptor deficiency. Results show that skeletal muscle mass and fiber diameter are reduced 30–40% in POUND mice relative to wild-type controls. Primary myoblast cultures demonstrate decreased proliferation and decreased expression of both MyoD and myogenin in POUND mice compared to normal mice. Leptin treatment increased proliferation in primary myoblasts from muscles of both adult (12 months) and aged (24 months) wild-type mice, and leptin increased expression of MyoD and myogenin in aged primary myoblasts. ELISA assays and protein arrays revealed altered expression of molecules associated with the IGF-1/Akt and MAPK/MEK signaling pathways in muscle from the hindlimbs of mice lacking functional leptin receptors.

Conclusion

These data support the hypothesis that the adipokine leptin is a key factor important for the regulation of skeletal muscle mass, and that leptin can act directly on its receptors in peripheral tissues to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation.