Korapuzha is a short river of 40 km with a drainage area of 624 km^2, flowing from dense forest and empties into the Arabian sea. It is formed by the confluence of two streams Agalapuzha and Punnoorpuzha. In this stud...Korapuzha is a short river of 40 km with a drainage area of 624 km^2, flowing from dense forest and empties into the Arabian sea. It is formed by the confluence of two streams Agalapuzha and Punnoorpuzha. In this study the samples were collected from Agalapuzha, Punnoorpuzha and Korappuzha, Korapuzha estuaries. The temperature and pH were monitored on the site and the remaining parameters were analyzed in the laboratory. The physical quality parameters such as color, odor, appearance and chemical quality parameters such as pH, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, total solids, total hardness, and iron have been evaluated. Compare the physical and chemical parameters. The physico-chemical analysis shows that the samples have high level of salinity, sulphate, total solids and total hardness. The results show that the water is affected by the intrusion of sea water into the river by excess excavation of sands from river for the construction of buildings and other anthropogenic activities which leads to environmental destruction.展开更多
A high angular resolution near-infrared image that shows the intensity of polarization for the GG Tau A binary system was obtained with the Subaru Telescope. The image shows a circumbinary disk scattering the light fr...A high angular resolution near-infrared image that shows the intensity of polarization for the GG Tau A binary system was obtained with the Subaru Telescope. The image shows a circumbinary disk scattering the light from the central binary. The azimuthal profile of the intensity of polarization for the circumbinary disk is roughly reproduced by a simple disk model with the Henyey-Greenstein phase function and the Rayleigh function, indicating there are small dust grains at the surface of the disk. Combined with a previous observation of the circumbinary disk, our image indicates that the gap structure in the circumbinary disk orbits counterclockwise, but material in the disk orbits clockwise. We propose that there is a shadow caused by material located between the central binary and the circumbinary disk. The separations and position angles of the stellar components of the binary in the past 20 yr are consistent with the binary orbit with a = 33.4 AU and e = 0.34.展开更多
The result of equal parts serendipity,exploration,creativity,and the enduring persistence of a dedicated team of designers and its university client,Washington University’s Living Learning Center,has quickly become a...The result of equal parts serendipity,exploration,creativity,and the enduring persistence of a dedicated team of designers and its university client,Washington University’s Living Learning Center,has quickly become a locus of sustainability.It is a deep green place fi lled with fresh air and daylight,an ongoing achievement in zero net waste,zero net water,and zero net energy design,a space that inspires higher learning about the natural world.The Center is also well on its way to certifi cation as the fi rst living building in the world.展开更多
Presbyopia corrections traditionally have been approached with attempts to exchange power,either at the cornea or the lens planes,inducing multifocality,or altering asphericity to impact the optical system.Treatments ...Presbyopia corrections traditionally have been approached with attempts to exchange power,either at the cornea or the lens planes,inducing multifocality,or altering asphericity to impact the optical system.Treatments that affect the visual axis,such as spectacle and contact lens correction,refractive surgeries,corneal onlays and inlays,and intraocular lenses are typically unable to restore true accommodation to the presbyopic eye.Their aim is instead to enhance‘pseudoaccommodation’by facilitating an extended depth-of-focus for which vision is sufficient.There is a true lack of technology that approaches presbyopia from a treatment based or therapy based solution,rather than a‘vision correction’solution that compromises other components of the optical system.Scleral surgical procedures seek to restore true accommodation combined with pseudoaccommodation and have several advantages over other more invasive options to treat presbyopia.While the theoretical justification of scleral surgical procedures remains controversial,there has nevertheless been increasing interest and evidence to support scleral surgical and therapeutic approaches to treat presbyopia.Enormous progress in scleral surgery techniques and understanding of the mechanisms of action have been achieved since the 1970s,and this remains an active area of research.In this article,we discuss the historic scleral surgical procedures,the two scleral procedures currently available,as well as an outlook of the future for the scleral surgical space for treating presbyopia.展开更多
A novel triple lines lateral-flow assay （LFA） with enhanced sensitivity for the detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in dog blood samples was designed and successfully applied. The enhanced LFA methodology takes adv...A novel triple lines lateral-flow assay （LFA） with enhanced sensitivity for the detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in dog blood samples was designed and successfully applied. The enhanced LFA methodology takes advantage of the gold nanoparticle tags （AuNPs） conjugated to polyclonal secondary antibodies, which recognize anti-FITC antibodies. The polyclonal nature of the secondary antibodies allows for multiple binding to primary antibodies, leading to enhanced AuNP plasmonics signal. Furthermore, endogenous control consisting of the amplified dog 18S rRNA gene was introduced to avoid false negatives. Using this strategy, 0.038 spiked Leishmania parasites per DNA amplification reaction （1 parasite/100 μL of DNA sample） were detected. Detection limit of LFA was found to be lower than that of the conventional techniques. In summary, our novel LFA design is a universal and simple sensing altemative that can be extended to several other biosensing scenarios.展开更多
Background:To evaluate the effects on near and intermediate visual performance after bilateral Laser Anterior Ciliary Excision(LaserACE)procedure.Methods:LaserACE surgery was performed using the VisioLite 2.94μm erbi...Background:To evaluate the effects on near and intermediate visual performance after bilateral Laser Anterior Ciliary Excision(LaserACE)procedure.Methods:LaserACE surgery was performed using the VisioLite 2.94μm erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet(Er:YAG)ophthalmic laser system in 4 oblique quadrants on the sclera over the ciliary muscle in 3 critical zones of physiological importance(over the ciliary muscles and posterior zonules)with the aim to improve natural dynamic accommodative forces.LaserACE was performed on 26 patients(52 eyes).Outcomes were analyzed using visual acuity testing,Randot stereopsis,and the CatQuest 9SF patient survey.Results:Binocular uncorrected near visual acuity(UNVA)improved from+0.20±0.16 logMAR preoperatively,to+0.12±0.14 logMAR at 24 months postoperatively(p=0.0014).There was no statistically significant loss in distance corrected near visual acuity(DCNVA).Binocular DCNVA improved from+0.21±0.17 logMAR preoperatively,to+0.11±0.12 logMAR at 24 months postoperatively(p=0.00026).Stereoacuity improved from 74.8±30.3 s of arc preoperatively,to 58.8±22.9 s of arc at 24 months postoperatively(p=0.012).There were no complications such as persistent hypotony,cystoid macular edema,or loss of best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA).Patients surveyed indicated reduced difficulty in areas of near vision,and were overall satisfied with the procedure.Conclusions:Preliminary results of the LaserACE procedure show promising results for restoring visual performance for near and intermediate visual tasks without compromising distance vision and without touching the visual axis.The visual function and visual acuity improvements had clinical significance.Patient satisfaction was high postoperatively and sustained over 24 months.展开更多
Modular protein engineering is suited to recruit complex and multiple functionalities in single-chain polypeptides. Although still unexplored in a systematic way, it is anticipated that the positioning of functional d...Modular protein engineering is suited to recruit complex and multiple functionalities in single-chain polypeptides. Although still unexplored in a systematic way, it is anticipated that the positioning of functional domains would impact and refine these activities, including the ability to organize as supramolecular entities and to generate multifunctional protein materials. To explore this concept, we have repositioned functional segments in the modular protein T22-GFP-H6 and characterized the resulting alternative fusions. In T22-GFP-H6, the combination of T22 and H6 promotes selfassembling as regular nanoparticles and selective binding and internalization of this material in CXCR4-overexpressing tumor cells, making them appealing as vehicles for selective drug delivery. The results show that the pleiotropic activities are dramatically affected in module-swapped constructs, proving the need of a carboxy terminal positioning of H6 for protein self-assembling, and the accommodation of T22 at the amino terminus as a requisite for CXCR4^+ cell binding and internalization. Furthermore, the failure of self-assembling as regular oligomers reduces cellular penetrability of the fusions while keeping the specificity of the T22-CXCR4 interaction.All these data instruct how multifunctional nanoscale protein carriers can be designed for smart, protein-driven drug delivery, not only for the treatment of CXCR4^+ human neoplasias, but also for the development of anti-HIV drugs and other pathologies in which CXCR4 is a relevant homing marker.展开更多
The highly condensed chromatin of mammalian spermatozoa is usually considered to be biologically inert before fertilization. However, we have demonstrated that even in this compacted state, sperm chromatin is subject ...The highly condensed chromatin of mammalian spermatozoa is usually considered to be biologically inert before fertilization. However, we have demonstrated that even in this compacted state, sperm chromatin is subject to degradation at open configurations associated with the nuclear matrix through a process we have termed sperm chromatin fragmentation （SCF）. ＂[his suggests that a mechanism exists to monitor the health of spermatozoa during transit through the male reproductive tract and to destroy the genome of defective sperm cells. The site of DNA damage in SCF, the matrix attachment sites, are the same that we hypothesize initiate DNA synthesis in the zygote. When sperm that have damaged DNA are injected into the oocyte, the newly created zygote responds by delaying DNA synthesis in the male pronudeus and, if the damage is severe enough, arresting the embryo＇s development. Here we present a model for paternal DNA regulation by the nuclear matrix that begins during sperm maturation and continues through early embryonic development.展开更多
In this White Paper we present the potential of the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry(eXTP) mission for studies related to Observatory Science targets. These include flaring stars, supernova remnants, accreting wh...In this White Paper we present the potential of the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry(eXTP) mission for studies related to Observatory Science targets. These include flaring stars, supernova remnants, accreting white dwarfs, low and high mass X-ray binaries, radio quiet and radio loud active galactic nuclei, tidal disruption events, and gamma-ray bursts. eXTP will be excellently suited to study one common aspect of these objects: their often transient nature. Developed by an international Consortium led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science, the eXTP mission is expected to be launched in the mid 2020s.展开更多
文摘Korapuzha is a short river of 40 km with a drainage area of 624 km^2, flowing from dense forest and empties into the Arabian sea. It is formed by the confluence of two streams Agalapuzha and Punnoorpuzha. In this study the samples were collected from Agalapuzha, Punnoorpuzha and Korappuzha, Korapuzha estuaries. The temperature and pH were monitored on the site and the remaining parameters were analyzed in the laboratory. The physical quality parameters such as color, odor, appearance and chemical quality parameters such as pH, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, total solids, total hardness, and iron have been evaluated. Compare the physical and chemical parameters. The physico-chemical analysis shows that the samples have high level of salinity, sulphate, total solids and total hardness. The results show that the water is affected by the intrusion of sea water into the river by excess excavation of sands from river for the construction of buildings and other anthropogenic activities which leads to environmental destruction.
基金supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 24540231)supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Award (No. 1009203)
文摘A high angular resolution near-infrared image that shows the intensity of polarization for the GG Tau A binary system was obtained with the Subaru Telescope. The image shows a circumbinary disk scattering the light from the central binary. The azimuthal profile of the intensity of polarization for the circumbinary disk is roughly reproduced by a simple disk model with the Henyey-Greenstein phase function and the Rayleigh function, indicating there are small dust grains at the surface of the disk. Combined with a previous observation of the circumbinary disk, our image indicates that the gap structure in the circumbinary disk orbits counterclockwise, but material in the disk orbits clockwise. We propose that there is a shadow caused by material located between the central binary and the circumbinary disk. The separations and position angles of the stellar components of the binary in the past 20 yr are consistent with the binary orbit with a = 33.4 AU and e = 0.34.
文摘The result of equal parts serendipity,exploration,creativity,and the enduring persistence of a dedicated team of designers and its university client,Washington University’s Living Learning Center,has quickly become a locus of sustainability.It is a deep green place fi lled with fresh air and daylight,an ongoing achievement in zero net waste,zero net water,and zero net energy design,a space that inspires higher learning about the natural world.The Center is also well on its way to certifi cation as the fi rst living building in the world.
文摘Presbyopia corrections traditionally have been approached with attempts to exchange power,either at the cornea or the lens planes,inducing multifocality,or altering asphericity to impact the optical system.Treatments that affect the visual axis,such as spectacle and contact lens correction,refractive surgeries,corneal onlays and inlays,and intraocular lenses are typically unable to restore true accommodation to the presbyopic eye.Their aim is instead to enhance‘pseudoaccommodation’by facilitating an extended depth-of-focus for which vision is sufficient.There is a true lack of technology that approaches presbyopia from a treatment based or therapy based solution,rather than a‘vision correction’solution that compromises other components of the optical system.Scleral surgical procedures seek to restore true accommodation combined with pseudoaccommodation and have several advantages over other more invasive options to treat presbyopia.While the theoretical justification of scleral surgical procedures remains controversial,there has nevertheless been increasing interest and evidence to support scleral surgical and therapeutic approaches to treat presbyopia.Enormous progress in scleral surgery techniques and understanding of the mechanisms of action have been achieved since the 1970s,and this remains an active area of research.In this article,we discuss the historic scleral surgical procedures,the two scleral procedures currently available,as well as an outlook of the future for the scleral surgical space for treating presbyopia.
文摘A novel triple lines lateral-flow assay （LFA） with enhanced sensitivity for the detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in dog blood samples was designed and successfully applied. The enhanced LFA methodology takes advantage of the gold nanoparticle tags （AuNPs） conjugated to polyclonal secondary antibodies, which recognize anti-FITC antibodies. The polyclonal nature of the secondary antibodies allows for multiple binding to primary antibodies, leading to enhanced AuNP plasmonics signal. Furthermore, endogenous control consisting of the amplified dog 18S rRNA gene was introduced to avoid false negatives. Using this strategy, 0.038 spiked Leishmania parasites per DNA amplification reaction （1 parasite/100 μL of DNA sample） were detected. Detection limit of LFA was found to be lower than that of the conventional techniques. In summary, our novel LFA design is a universal and simple sensing altemative that can be extended to several other biosensing scenarios.
基金Ace Vision Group Inc.provided funding for the study.
文摘Background:To evaluate the effects on near and intermediate visual performance after bilateral Laser Anterior Ciliary Excision(LaserACE)procedure.Methods:LaserACE surgery was performed using the VisioLite 2.94μm erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet(Er:YAG)ophthalmic laser system in 4 oblique quadrants on the sclera over the ciliary muscle in 3 critical zones of physiological importance(over the ciliary muscles and posterior zonules)with the aim to improve natural dynamic accommodative forces.LaserACE was performed on 26 patients(52 eyes).Outcomes were analyzed using visual acuity testing,Randot stereopsis,and the CatQuest 9SF patient survey.Results:Binocular uncorrected near visual acuity(UNVA)improved from+0.20±0.16 logMAR preoperatively,to+0.12±0.14 logMAR at 24 months postoperatively(p=0.0014).There was no statistically significant loss in distance corrected near visual acuity(DCNVA).Binocular DCNVA improved from+0.21±0.17 logMAR preoperatively,to+0.11±0.12 logMAR at 24 months postoperatively(p=0.00026).Stereoacuity improved from 74.8±30.3 s of arc preoperatively,to 58.8±22.9 s of arc at 24 months postoperatively(p=0.012).There were no complications such as persistent hypotony,cystoid macular edema,or loss of best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA).Patients surveyed indicated reduced difficulty in areas of near vision,and were overall satisfied with the procedure.Conclusions:Preliminary results of the LaserACE procedure show promising results for restoring visual performance for near and intermediate visual tasks without compromising distance vision and without touching the visual axis.The visual function and visual acuity improvements had clinical significance.Patient satisfaction was high postoperatively and sustained over 24 months.
基金Agencia Estatal de Investigación and to Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (grant BIO2016-76063-R, AEI/FEDER, UE) to Villaverde A, AGAUR (2017SGR-229) to Villaverde A and 2017SGR-865 GRC to Mangues R CIBER-BBN (project NANOPROTHER) +6 种基金granted to Villaverde A and CIBER-BBN project 4Nano Mets to Mangues R ISCIII (PI15/00272 cofounding FEDER) to Vázquez E and ISCIII (Co-founding FEDER) PIE15//00028 and PI18/00650 to Mangues R, and to EU COST Action CA 17140indebted to the Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) that is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&I Plan 2008–2011Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider ProgramCIBER Actions and financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos Ⅲ, with assistance from the European Regional Development FundSánchez-García L and López-Laguna H were supported by a predoctoral fellowship from AGAUR (2018FI_B2_00051 and 2019FI_B_00352) respectivelyUnzueta U by PERIS program from the Health Department of la Generalitat de Catalunya
文摘Modular protein engineering is suited to recruit complex and multiple functionalities in single-chain polypeptides. Although still unexplored in a systematic way, it is anticipated that the positioning of functional domains would impact and refine these activities, including the ability to organize as supramolecular entities and to generate multifunctional protein materials. To explore this concept, we have repositioned functional segments in the modular protein T22-GFP-H6 and characterized the resulting alternative fusions. In T22-GFP-H6, the combination of T22 and H6 promotes selfassembling as regular nanoparticles and selective binding and internalization of this material in CXCR4-overexpressing tumor cells, making them appealing as vehicles for selective drug delivery. The results show that the pleiotropic activities are dramatically affected in module-swapped constructs, proving the need of a carboxy terminal positioning of H6 for protein self-assembling, and the accommodation of T22 at the amino terminus as a requisite for CXCR4^+ cell binding and internalization. Furthermore, the failure of self-assembling as regular oligomers reduces cellular penetrability of the fusions while keeping the specificity of the T22-CXCR4 interaction.All these data instruct how multifunctional nanoscale protein carriers can be designed for smart, protein-driven drug delivery, not only for the treatment of CXCR4^+ human neoplasias, but also for the development of anti-HIV drugs and other pathologies in which CXCR4 is a relevant homing marker.
文摘The highly condensed chromatin of mammalian spermatozoa is usually considered to be biologically inert before fertilization. However, we have demonstrated that even in this compacted state, sperm chromatin is subject to degradation at open configurations associated with the nuclear matrix through a process we have termed sperm chromatin fragmentation （SCF）. ＂[his suggests that a mechanism exists to monitor the health of spermatozoa during transit through the male reproductive tract and to destroy the genome of defective sperm cells. The site of DNA damage in SCF, the matrix attachment sites, are the same that we hypothesize initiate DNA synthesis in the zygote. When sperm that have damaged DNA are injected into the oocyte, the newly created zygote responds by delaying DNA synthesis in the male pronudeus and, if the damage is severe enough, arresting the embryo＇s development. Here we present a model for paternal DNA regulation by the nuclear matrix that begins during sperm maturation and continues through early embryonic development.
基金supported by the Royal Society,ERC Starting(Grant No.639217)he European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Fellowship(Grant No.703916)+10 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11233001,11773014,11633007,11403074,11333005,11503008,and 11590781)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2015CB857100)NASA(Grant No.NNX13AD28A)an ARC Future Fellowship(Grant No.FT120100363)the National Science Foundation(Grant No.PHY-1430152)the Spanish MINECO(Grant No.AYA2016-76012-C3-1-P)the ICCUB(Unidad de Excelencia’Maria de Maeztu’)(Grant No.MDM-2014-0369)EU’s Horizon Programme through a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship(Grant No.702638)the Polish National Science Center(Grant Nos.2015/17/B/ST9/03422,2015/18/M/ST9/00541,2013/10/M/ST9/00729,and 2015/18/A/ST9/00746)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA15020100)the NWO Veni Fellowship(Grant No.639.041.647)
文摘In this White Paper we present the potential of the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry(eXTP) mission for studies related to Observatory Science targets. These include flaring stars, supernova remnants, accreting white dwarfs, low and high mass X-ray binaries, radio quiet and radio loud active galactic nuclei, tidal disruption events, and gamma-ray bursts. eXTP will be excellently suited to study one common aspect of these objects: their often transient nature. Developed by an international Consortium led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science, the eXTP mission is expected to be launched in the mid 2020s.
