Controlled Production of Amyloid β Peptide from a Photo‐Triggered,Water‐Soluble Precursor “Click Peptide“

In biological experiments, poor solubility and uncontrolled assembly of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) 1–42 pose significant obstacles to establish an experiment system that clarifies the function of Aβ1–42 in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, as an experimental tool to overcome these problems, we developed a water‐soluble photo‐“click peptide” with a coumarin‐derived photocleavable protective group that is based on an O‐acyl isopeptide method. The click peptide had nearly 100‐fold higher water solubility than Aβ1–42 and did not self‐assemble, as the isomerized structure in its peptide backbone drastically changed the conformation that was derived from Aβ1–42. Moreover, the click peptide afforded Aβ1–42 quickly under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C) by photoirradiation followed by an O–N intramolecular acyl migration. Because the in situ production of intact Aβ1–42 from the click peptide could improve the difficulties in handling Aβ1–42 caused by its poor solubility and highly aggregative nature, this click peptide strategy would provide a reliable experiment system for investigating the pathological function of Aβ1–42 in AD.     

High dynamic range optimal fuzzy color image enhancement using Artificial Ant Colony System

This paper presents a novel approach for the enhancement of high dynamic range color images using fuzzy logic and modified Artificial Ant Colony System techniques. Two thresholds, the lower and the upper are defined to provide an estimate of the underexposed, mixed-exposed and overexposed regions in the image. The red, green and blue (RGB) color space is converted into Hue Saturation and Value (HSV) color space so as to preserve the chromatic information. Gaussian MFs suitable for the underexposed and overexposed regions of the image are used for the fuzzification. Parametric sigmoid functions are used for enhancing the luminance components of under and over-exposed regions. Mixed-exposed regions are left untouched throughout the process. An objective function comprising of Shannon entropy function as the information factor and visual appeal indicator is optimized using Artificial Ant Colony System to ascertain the parameters needed for the enhancement of a particular image. Visual appeal is preferred over the consideration of entropy so as to make the image human-eye-friendly. Separate power law operators are used for the saturation adjustment so as to restore the lost information. On comparison, this approach is found to be better than the bacterial foraging (BF)-based approach [1].     

Survey of heat transfer mechanisms in a slurry bubble column

Heat transfer mechanisms in the bulk and distributor regions of a slurry bubble column are investigated based on the measurements of local heat transfer in a 0.28 m diameter Plexiglas column. The gas, liquid and solid phases used are oil‐free compressed air, tap water and 35 μm glass beads. The slurry concentration and superficial gas velocity are varied from 0 to 40 vol% and 0.05 to 0.30 m/s respectively. Measurements have been made with a fast response heat flux probe which provided local instantaneous heat transfer coefficients. The time‐averaged heat transfer coefficients in the bulk region were on average about 50% higher than the distributor region of the column. The wall region heat transfer coefficients are well predicted by the correlation of Deckwer et al. (1980). Heat transfer mechanism in column centre can be adequately described by the consecutive film and surface renewal model.     

Reactive ion etching of dielectrics and silicon for photovoltaic applications

This paper investigates the reactive ion etching of SiO₂, Si₃N₄, and Si using CHF₃/O₂ plasma. In particular, we have characterized the time and rf power dependence of the carrier lifetimes in n‐ and p‐type FZ Si. The time dependence of reactive ion etching (RIE) at different rf powers provide insight into the two competing processes of damage accumulation and damage removal in the near‐surface region of the Si during plasma etching. The carrier lifetime, measured using the quasi‐steady‐state photoconductance (QSSPC) technique, has a quadratic dependence on the rf power, which can be related to changes in the dc self‐bias generated by the plasma at different rf powers. The change in carrier lifetime is similar in both n‐ and p‐type Si of the same doping concentration. Using this fact, together with the electronic properties of defects obtained by deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), we have modeled the injection‐dependence of the measured carrier lifetimes using the Shockley–Read–Hall model. The isochronal annealing behavior of plasma etched Si has also been studied. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Teaching—Learning-Based Optimization Coupled with Response Surface Methodology for Micro Electrochemical Machining of ALUMINIUM NANOCOMPOSITE

Silicon - In this work, Micro Electro Chemical Machining (μECM) of aluminium alloy (AA) 7075 reinforced with nano silicon carbide particles (1.5 wt.%) has been effectively...     

Impact of dissipative heat and radiative heat on MHD viscous flow through a slandering stretching sheet with temperature-dependent variable viscosity

The purpose of the current investigation is to discuss the varying physical properties, that is, thermal conductivity and viscosity of a viscous time-independent flow past a slandering stretching surface. The heat transfer phenomenon is enhanced by the inclusion of an external heat source under the action of dissipative heat energy and thermal radiation. The implementation of convective boundary conditions affects the heat and solutal transfer phenomena with the inclusion of chemical reactions. The flow characteristic is directed by the system of differential equations that are converted to nonlinear ordinary type by appropriate assumptions of similarity variables and stream function. Furthermore, the “homotopy analysis method” is deployed to simplify the system. The convergence of the methodology is also discussed with their various order of approximations. The conformity of the solution is presented along with validation in tabular form. Moreover, the effect of the parameters on flow profiles is explained graphically, and the major contribution of few important parameters is laid down. The rate of shear stress along with the longitudinal velocity profile augments with the enhanced variable viscosity. Furthermore, the reverse impact is rendered for the augmented values of the variable viscosity.     

Quick and reliable screening of compatible ingredients for the formulation of extended meat cubes using Plackett-Burman design

“Extended meat products” is an important concept which involves judicious utilization of other agricultural/animal produce as well as providing meat-like products. Selection of compatible ingredients from among numerous alternates is a daunting task. Of the several methods available, Plackett-Burman design was used to screen 11 potential ingredients to formulate extended meat cubes. Twelve formulations were evolved and their evaluation as rehydrated and stewed meat cubes were carried out by a sensory panel. The attributes of firmness, juiciness, meaty aroma and overall quality were rated by an intensity ranking test followed by appropriate statistical analysis provided regression coefficients for individual ingredients for each attribute. Based on the direction of change (increase or decrease over control) for each attribute and its relation to the overall acceptability of the ingredients for their compatibility in formulating the product was provided. The overall rank sums for each ingredient and the attributes provided a reliable means to select the most compatible ingredients for further optimization work.     

Hydrogenation of the Exocyclic Olefinic Bond at C-16/C-17 Position of ent-Kaurane Diterpene Glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Using Various Catalysts

Catalytic hydrogenation of the exocyclic double bond present between C16 and C17 carbons of the four ent-kaurane diterpene glycosides namely rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, and rebaudioside D isolated from Stevia rebaudiana has been carried out using Pt/C, Pd(OH)₂, Rh/C, Raney Ni, PtO₂, and 5% Pd/BaCO₃ to their corresponding dihydro derivatives with 17α and 17β methyl group isomers. Reactions were performed using the above-mentioned catalysts with the solvents methanol, water, and ethanol/water (8:2) under various conditions. Synthesis of reduced steviol glycosides was performed using straightforward chemistry and their structures were characterized on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, including a comparison with reported spectral data.     

Near white light emission from K+ ion compensated CaSO4:Dy3+,Eu3+ phosphors

Dy³⁺:Eu³⁺ doped calcium sulfate (CaSO₄:Dy³⁺,Eu³⁺) phosphors co-doped with various K⁺ compensator concentrations were synthesized by recrystallization method. These orthorhombic phased phosphors showed intense multi-color near white light. The multi-color aspect ratios and the emission life times were strongly dependent on K⁺-concentration. These results suggest that the rare-earth (Re³⁺) ions are situated at the sites of Ca²⁺ and the site occupancy was being compensated by K⁺ ions. The near white light emission and large lifetimes suggest that present phosphor could be potentially applied as a blue excited white light-emitting phosphor for light emitting diodes.