A Label-Free Biosensor for Protein Detection Based on Ring Slots in a Photonic Crystal

Journal of Russian Laser Research - We design a miniaturized and highly-sensitive biosensor based on a photonic-crystal aslant cavity (AC) to detect protein concentrations. The AC has seven ring...     

Landau damping of ion-acoustic waves with simultaneous effects of non-extensivity and non-thermality in the presence of hybrid Cairns-Tsallis distributed electrons

The dispersion properties and Landau damping rate of ion-acoustic waves (IAWs) with the hybrid Cairns-Tsallis distributed (CTD) electrons and Maxwellian ions are investigated using the plasma kinetic model based on Vlasov-Poisson's equations. For both super-extensive (q < 1) and sub-extensive (q > 1) plasmas, the dielectric response function, real frequency, and Landau damping rate of IAWs are derived. By taking the effect of θ_{i, e} (ion-to-electron temperature ratio) into account, it is found that with the increase of ion temperature, the real frequency and wave dispersion effects increase as well (for both super-extensive and sub-extensive cases). Exploring the properties of the Landau damping rate of IAWs with the simultaneous presence of non-thermal parameter α and non-extensive parameter q, a comparison of numerical and analytical results is presented. It is found that in different ranges of θ_{e, i} (electron-to-ion temperature ratio), on decreasing the values of the non-extensive parameter and increasing values of the non-thermal parameter, the weak damping rate is observed (vice versa) in super-extensive or super-thermal plasma, although the trend of the damping rate in sub-thermal plasma is similar (as in the case of super-thermal plasma) but is less weak. It is further revealed that the damping rate of IAWs in thermal plasmas (Maxwellian) is stronger than the damping rate of IAWs in the case of non-thermal plasmas (CTD). The current study is applicable to provide deep insight and further allow the exploration of electrostatic plasma modes in different space and laboratory plasma environments where the hybrid CTD plasma exists.     

On Distance Laplacian Spectra of Certain Finite Groups

Acta Mathematica Sinica, English Series - For a finite group G, the power graph $$\cal{P}(G)$$ is a simple connected graph whose vertex set is the set of elements of G and two distinct vertices x...     

In situ Raman and UV-vis spectroscopic studies of polypyrrole and poly(pyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin)

Polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(pyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) [P(Py-β-DMCD)] films prepared by potential cycling in aqueous acidic solutions on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass and gold electrodes were studied by in situ UV-vis and Raman spectroscopy. Characteristic UV-vis and Raman bands were identified and their dependencies on the electrode potential have been discussed. Spectroelectrochemical results reveal differences both in the position of the spectral bands and their potential dependence for PPy and P(Py-β-DMCD) films indicating interactions between polymer chains and CDs during electropolymerization process. The films were also characterized by cyclic voltammetry and FT-IR spectroscopy.     

How the Physicochemical Properties of the Bulk Material Affect the Ablation Crater Profile,Mass Balance,and Bubble Dynamics During Single-Pulse,Nanosecond Laser Ablation in Water

Understanding the key steps that drive the laser-based synthesis of colloids is a prerequisite for learning how to optimize the ablation process in terms of nanoparticle output and functional design of the nanomaterials. Even though many studies focus on cavitation bubble formation using single-pulse ablation conditions, the ablation efficiency and nanoparticle properties are typically investigated under prolonged ablation conditions with repetition rate lasers. Linking single-pulse and multiple-pulse ablation is difficult due to limitations induced by gas formation cross-effects, which occur on longer timescales and depend on the target materials’ oxidation-sensitivity. Therefore, this study investigates the ablation and cavitation bubble dynamics under nanosecond, single laser pulse conditions for six different bulk materials (Au, Ag, Cu, Fe, Ti, and Al). Also, the effective threshold fluences, ablation volumes, and penetration depths are quantified for these materials. The thermal and chemical properties of the corresponding bulk materials not only favor the formation of larger spot sizes but also lead to the highest molar ablation efficiencies for low melting materials such as aluminum. Furthermore, the concept of the cavitation bubble growth linked with the oxidation sensitivity of the ablated material is discussed. With this, evidence is provided that intensive chemical reactions occurring during the very early timescale of ablation are significantly enhanced by the bubble collapse.     

Virtual Screening of Artemisia annua Phytochemicals as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Enzyme

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a human coronaviruses that emerged in China at Wuhan city, Hubei province during December 2019. Subsequently, SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide and caused millions of deaths around the globe. Several compounds and vaccines have been proposed to tackle this crisis. Novel recommended in silico approaches have been commonly used to screen for specific SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors of different types. Herein, the phytochemicals of Pakistani medicinal plants (especially Artemisia annua) were virtually screened to identify potential inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme. The X-ray crystal structure of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 with an N3 inhibitor was obtained from the protein data bank while A. annua phytochemicals were retrieved from different drug databases. The docking technique was carried out to assess the binding efficacy of the retrieved phytochemicals; the docking results revealed that several phytochemicals have potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme. Among the total docked compounds, the top-10 docked complexes were considered for further study and evaluated for their physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The top-3 docked complexes with the best binding energies were as follows: the top-1 docked complex with a −7 kcal/mol binding energy score, the top-2 docked complex with a −6.9 kcal/mol binding energy score, and the top-3 docked complex with a −6.8 kcal/mol binding energy score. These complexes were subjected to a molecular dynamic simulation analysis for further validation to check the dynamic behavior of the selected top-complexes. During the whole simulation time, no major changes were observed in the docked complexes, which indicated complex stability. Additionally, the free binding energies for the selected docked complexes were also estimated via the MM-GB/PBSA approach, and the results revealed that the total delta energies of MMGBSA were −24.23 kcal/mol, −26.38 kcal/mol, and −25 kcal/mol for top-1, top-2, and top-3, respectively. MMPBSA calculated the delta total energy as −17.23 kcal/mol (top-1 complex), −24.75 kcal/mol (top-2 complex), and −24.86 kcal/mol (top-3 complex). This study explored in silico screened phytochemicals against the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; however, the findings require an experimentally based study to further validate the obtained results.     

Improved Mucoadhesion,Permeation and In Vitro Anticancer Potential of Synthesized Thiolated Acacia and Karaya Gum Combination: A Systematic Study

Thiolation of polymers is one of the most appropriate approaches to impart higher mechanical strength and mucoadhesion. Thiol modification of gum karaya and gum acacia was carried out by esterification with 80% thioglycolic acid. FTIR, DSC and XRD confirmed the completion of thiolation reaction. Anticancer potential of developed thiomer was studied on cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa) and more than 60% of human cervical cell lines (HeLa) were inhibited at concentration of 5 µg/100 µL. Immobilized thiol groups were found to be 0.8511 mmol/g as determined by Ellman’s method. Cytotoxicity studies on L929 fibroblast cell lines indicated thiomers were biocompatible. Bilayered tablets were prepared using Ivabradine hydrochloride as the model drug and synthesized thiolated gums as mucoadhesive polymer. Tablets prepared using thiolated polymers in combination showed more swelling, mucoadhesion and residence time as compared to unmodified gums. Thiol modification controlled the release of the drug for 24 h and enhanced permeation of the drug up to 3 fold through porcine buccal mucosa as compared to tablets with unmodified gums. Thiolated polymer showed increased mucoadhesion and permeation, anticancer potential, controlled release and thus can be utilized as a novel excipient in formulation development.     

On Some Topological Indices Defined via the Modified Sombor Matrix

Let G be a simple graph with the vertex set V={v1,…,vn} and denote by dvi the degree of the vertex vi. The modified Sombor index of G is the addition of the numbers (dvi2+dvj2)−1/2 over all of the edges vivj of G. The modified Sombor matrix AMS(G) of G is the n by n matrix such that its (i,j)-entry is equal to (dvi2+dvj2)−1/2 when vi and vj are adjacent and 0 otherwise. The modified Sombor spectral radius of G is the largest number among all of the eigenvalues of AMS(G). The sum of the absolute eigenvalues of AMS(G) is known as the modified Sombor energy of G. Two graphs with the same modified Sombor energy are referred to as modified Sombor equienergetic graphs. In this article, several bounds for the modified Sombor index, the modified Sombor spectral radius, and the modified Sombor energy are found, and the corresponding extremal graphs are characterized. By using computer programs (Mathematica and AutographiX), it is found that there exists only one pair of the modified Sombor equienergetic chemical graphs of an order of at most seven. It is proven that the modified Sombor energy of every regular, complete multipartite graph is 2; this result gives a large class of the modified Sombor equienergetic graphs. The (linear, logarithmic, and quadratic) regression analyses of the modified Sombor index and the modified Sombor energy together with their classical versions are also performed for the boiling points of the chemical graphs of an order of at most seven.     

Association of hydrofluoric acid in NaCl aqueous media under hydrothermal conditions

The apparent association constant of hydrofluoric acid Q _HF ^' in 1m NaCl aqueous media has been determined potentiometrically at pressures up to 1 kbar and temperatures up to 250°C. A concentration cell employing hydrogen electrodes was used. The association of HF increases with increasing temperature but decreases with increasing pressure.