There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

http://dns2.asia.edu.tw/~ysho/YSHO-English/1000%20WC/PDF/Pro%20Bio34,%20451.pdf

Pseudo-second order model for sorption processes

Peptides or proteins convert under some conditions from their soluble forms into highly ordered fibrillar aggregates. Such transitions can give rise to pathological conditions ranging from neurodegenerative disorders to systemic amyloidoses. In this review, we identify the diseases known to be associated with formation of fibrillar aggregates and the specific peptides and proteins involved in each case. We describe, in addition, that living organisms can take advantage of the inherent ability of proteins to form such structures to generate novel and diverse biological functions. We review recent advances toward the elucidation of the structures of amyloid fibrils and the mechanisms of their formation at a molecular level. Finally, we discuss the relative importance of the common main-chain and side-chain interactions in determining the propensities of proteins to aggregate and describe some of the evidence that the oligomeric fibril precursors are the primary origins of pathological behavior.

/pdf/protein-misfolding-functional-amyloid-and-human-disease-2w386pwb7k.pdf

Protein Misfolding, Functional Amyloid, and Human Disease

Throughout the biological world, a 30 A hydrophobic film typically delimits the environments that serve as the margin between life and death for individual cells. Biochemical and biophysical findings have provided a detailed model of the composition and structure of membranes, which includes levels of dynamic organization both across the lipid bilayer (lipid asymmetry) and in the lateral dimension (lipid domains) of membranes. How do cells apply anabolic and catabolic enzymes, translocases and transporters, plus the intrinsic physical phase behaviour of lipids and their interactions with membrane proteins, to create the unique compositions and multiple functionalities of their individual membranes?

/pdf/membrane-lipids-where-they-are-and-how-they-behave-1rycz1l7v8.pdf

Membrane lipids: where they are and how they behave.

Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction

Densely integrated photonic integrated circuits (PICs) require efficient solutions for monitoring the light intensity on chip in order to implement control and configuration operations to set and stabilize the working point of the circuit. To this end, waveguides supporting the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are good candidates to realize small-footprint light detectors. In this work, we report on the realization of an in-line Surface Plasmon Detector (SPD) that exploits the photothermal effect to monitor the optical power in a titanium dioxide (TiO2) optical waveguide. Detailed design guidelines are provided to maximize the responsivity of the SPD, taking into account the effects of the metal geometry on the coupling between the dielectric and plasmonic modes, the power dissipated in the metal, and the equivalent thermal resistance of the structure. Experimental validation of the proposed device is provided demonstrating an ultra-compact 1.6- $\mu \text{m}$ -long SPD operating at a wavelength of 1550 nm with a sensitivity of–20 dBm and a bandwidth higher than 100 kHz. The proposed device concept can be ported to generic dielectric platforms and to other wavelength ranges where SPP propagation is supported.

Inline Photothermal Surface Plasmon Detector Integrated in Titanium Dioxide Waveguides

Blockchain in Smart Healthcare Management

Abstract This study invested the impact of the operational parameters (pH, Current Density (CD) and Electrode Gap (EG)) on the sludge generated after electrocoagulation treatment of textile dyeing effluent (TDE) by studying sludge settleability and filterability characteristics of EC generated sludge. Electrocoagulation treatment evaluated at laboratory scale with aluminum as electrode material at operating condition of parameters of pH, CD and EG. (pH-5.5, CD-105.12 A/m2 and EG-2.5 cm). Under these operating conditions, maximum COD reduction was achieved 88.45 % and maximum color reduction was about 66.92 %. Settling characteristics of TDE was studied by sludge volume index (SVI) and Centrifugal settleability index (CSI). From disposal point of view, filterability characteristic was also studied by simple gravity filtration method. Specific cake resistance, α (m/kg), filter medium resistance, Rm(m−1) was also studied. The specific cake resistance was found in the order of 38.4 × 1013 >34.13 × 1013 >22.25 × 1013 >11.19 × 1013 >7.30 × 1013 (m/kg) at the pH 9.5, 7.5, 1.5, 5.5 and 3.5 respectively. While filter medium resistance was found to be 111.22 × 109, 92.28 × 109, 82.33 × 109, 41.38 × 109 and 13.87 × 109 m−1 at pH 7.5, 9.5, 3.5, 5.5 and 1.5 respectively.

Effect of operating parameters on the sludge settling characteristics by treatment of the textile dyeing effluent using electrocoagulation

The impact of food on immune functions has been recognized for centuries and is now being increasingly explored for therapeutic applications. Rice, in addition to being the staple food in most developing countries, exhibits diverse complexities of phytochemicals among its wide germplasm repertoire, which supports its development as a functional food. In the present study, we have explored the immunomodulatory properties of Gathuwan rice, a local rice variety grown in Chhattisgarh, India, and traditionally used for the treatment of rheumatism. Methanolic Gathuwan Brown Rice Extract (BRE) inhibits T-cell activation and proliferation and cytokine secretion (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IFN-γ) without inducing cell death. BRE exhibits radical scavenging activity in a cell-free system and decreases intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione levels in lymphocytes. BRE induces nuclear translocation of the immune-regulatory transcription factor Nrf2 via activation of ERK and p-38 MAP kinase and up-regulates the expression of Nrf2-dependent genes (SOD, CAT, HO-1, GPx and TrxR) in lymphocytes. BRE treatment had no effect on cytokine secretion by lymphocytes from Nrf2 knockout mice, confirming the role of Nrf2 in the immunosuppressive effects of BRE. Feeding of Gathuwan brown rice to mice had no effect on the basal haematological parameters, but lymphocytes isolated from these mice were hypo-responsive to mitogenic stimuli. Treatment of allografts with BRE significantly prevented graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-associated mortality and morbidity in mice. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) data revealed a high enrichment ratio of amino acid and vitamin B metabolism pathways, and among metabolite sets, pyridoxamines, phytosphingosines, hydroxybenzaldehydes, hydroxycinnamic acids and indoles were highly enriched bioactive components. In conclusion, Gathuwan BRE suppresses T-cell-mediated immune responses by altering the cellular redox balance and activating the Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Indian traditional rice variety "Gathuwan" suppresses T-cell-mediated immune responses via activation of ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway.

An efficient and regioselective trifluoromethylation method of indole at the C2 position with ecologically-sound Langlois’ reagent (CF3SO2Na) under metal-free conditions is described. K2S2O8 in presence of glucose at room temperature has been utilized for the generation of CF3 radicals from CF3SO2Na. The desired product can be obtained in good to excellent yields with a wide scope of substrate variability and gram scalability. 

Deepak Sharma

Papers

Inline Photothermal Surface Plasmon Detector Integrated in Titanium Dioxide Waveguides

Blockchain in Smart Healthcare Management

Effect of operating parameters on the sludge settling characteristics by treatment of the textile dyeing effluent using electrocoagulation

Indian traditional rice variety "Gathuwan" suppresses T-cell-mediated immune responses via activation of ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway.

K 2 S 2 O 8 ‐Glucose‐Mediated Metal‐Free Oxidative Trifluoromethylation of Indoles with Langlois’ Reagent on the C2 Position