Real‐time Amyloid Aggregation Monitoring with a Photonic Crystal‐based Approach

We propose the application of a new label‐free optical technique based on photonic nanostructures to real‐time monitor the amyloid‐beta 1‐42 (Aβ(1‐42)) fibrillization, including the early stages of the aggregation process, which are related to the onset of the Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The aggregation of Aβ peptides into amyloid fibrils has commonly been associated with neuronal death, which culminates in the clinical features of the incurable degenerative AD. Recent studies revealed that cell toxicity is determined by the formation of soluble oligomeric forms of Aβ peptides in the early stages of aggregation. At this phase, classical amyloid detection techniques lack in sensitivity. Upon a chemical passivation of the sensing surface by means of polyethylene glycol, the proposed approach allows an accurate, real‐time monitoring of the refractive index variation of the solution, wherein Aβ(1‐42) peptides are aggregating. This measurement is directly related to the aggregation state of the peptide throughout oligomerization and subsequent fibrillization. Our findings open new perspectives in the understanding of the dynamics of amyloid formation, and validate this approach as a new and powerful method to screen aggregation at early stages.     

β-Hydroxydihydrochalcone and flavonoid glycosides along with triterpene saponin and sesquiterpene from the herbs of Pimpinella rhodantha Boiss.

A new β-hydroxydihydrochalcone glycoside named ziganin (1) and a new acylated flavonol glycoside named isorhamnetin-3-O-α-L-(2″,3″-di-O-trans-coumaroyl)-rhamnopyranoside) (2), along with two known flavonoid glycosides, a β-hydroxydihydrochalcone glycoside, a hydroxybenzoic acid derivative, a trinorguaiane type sesquiterpenoid, a triterpenic saponin and a polyol were isolated from the herbs of Pimpinella rhodantha Boiss. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 1D-and 2D-NMR, UV, IR, CD, ESI-MS, APCI-MS, HR-ESI-MS techniques. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity through the DPPH free-radical scavenging assay and ferrous ion-chelating power test.     

Microtubule‐Binding R3 Fragment from Tau Self‐Assembles into Giant Multistranded Amyloid Ribbons

Tau protein and its fragments self‐assemble into amyloid fibrils in the presence of polyanions, such as heparin. By combining microscopy, scattering, and spectroscopy techniques, we studied the aggregation of the 26‐mer Tau‐derived peptide alone, Tau_306–327, the third repeat fragment (R3) of the microtubule‐binding domain. We show that: i) the sole Tau_306–327 can self‐assemble into amyloid fibrils without the need of aggregation‐promoting polyanions; ii) the resulting structures consist of surprisingly large, well‐ordered 2D laminated flat ribbons, with a log‐normal distribution of the lateral width, reaching the unprecedented lateral size of 350 nm and/or 45 individual protofilaments, that is, the largest amyloid laminated structures ever observed for Tau or any other amyloidogenic sequence. Our results provide insight into the molecular determinants of Tau aggregation and open new perspectives in the understanding of the assembly of amyloid fibrils and β‐sheet‐based biomaterials.     

Optical soliton perturbation with spatio-temporal dispersion in parabolic and dual-power law media by semi-inverse variational principle

This paper studies the perturbed optical solitons with parabolic and dual-power law nonlinearities in presence of spatio-temporal dispersion. The semi-inverse variational principle is applied to extract an analytical 1-soliton solution to the governing equation. There are constraint conditions that naturally fall out for the existence of these solitons.     

Wavelet based spectral analysis of optical solitons

The propagation of solitons or a pulse or a signal through optical fibers has been a major area of research given its potential applicability in all optical communication systems. In a modern optical communication system, the transmission link is composed of optical fibers and amplifiers. This manifests in noise, clutters and distortion when the signal propagates through optical fibers, consequently affecting the capacity and performance of the optical system. The dynamics of solitons has therefore become an active field of research in nonlinear optics for couple of decades. The nonlinear Schrodinger's equation (NLSE) with log law nonlinearity governs the propagation of optical solitons through optical fibers and its dynamics. Most of the studies reveal that the optical solitons have Gaussian wave profile called Gaussons. This entails the use of wavelet techniques for the processing of optical solitons.     

Variable cross-correlation code construction for spectral amplitude coding optical CDMA networks

We present, for the first time, several aspects of incoherent optical code-division multiple access (OCDMA) codes, focusing on the flexible variable cross-correlation code allocation and its potential for future optical networks. We briefly present a new version of the Random Diagonal (RD) codes for Spectral-Amplitude Coding (SAC) OCDMA approaches. We then concentrate on the properties specific to such schemes allowing for its increased scalability and flexibility. The main coding properties are reviewed. The RD codes provide simple matrix constructions compared to the other SAC-OCDMA codes such as Hadamard, MQC and MFH codes. This code possesses such a numerous advantages, including the efficient and easy code construction, simple encoder/decoder design, existence for every natural number n, and variable in-phase cross-correlation and easy to implement using Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs). Finally, a new detection scheme called “NAND” detection is developed for the variable cross-correlation RD code.     

Optimization of free space optics parameters: An optimum solution for bad weather conditions

Free Space Optics Systems (FSO) is one of the most effective solutions, especially for atmospheric turbulence due to the weather and environment structure. Free space optics system suffers from various limitations. A well-known disadvantage of FSO is its sensitivity on local weather conditions-primarily to haze and rain, resulting in substantial loss of optical signal power over the communication path. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the quality of data transmission using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) with highlighting several factors that will affect the quality of data transmission. The results of these analyses are to develop a system of quality-free space optics for a high data rate transmission. From the result analysis, FSO wavelength with 1550 nm produces less effect in atmospheric attenuation. Short link range between the transmitter and receiver can optimize the FSO system transmission parameters or components. Based on the analysis, it is recommended to develop an FSO system of 2.5 Gbps with 1550 nm wavelength and link range up to 150 km at the clear weather condition of bit-error-rate (BER) 10⁻⁹.     

A computational study on the adsorption and ring cleavage of para-chlorophenol on anatase TiO2 surface

In this work, a computational technique based on semiempirical SCF MO method MSINDO, has been used for investigation of the adsorption and photocleavage of para-chlorophenol (p-CP) molecule on the anatase TiO₂ (0 0 1) and (1 0 0) surfaces. The surfaces have been modeled with two saturated clusters Ti₂₁O₅₈H₃₂ and Ti₃₆O₉₀H₃₆. The optimization of the perpendicular conformation of p-CP molecule relative to the anatase TiO₂ (1 0 0) surface, has resulted in a linkage of the molecule to the surface titanium atom via phenolic oxygen atom. We studied the aromatic ring cleavage by singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and superoxide radical anion () and accordingly, relevant mechanisms are suggested. The results reveal that the ring opening path of p-CP molecule on TiO₂ (1 0 0) surface, following the single electron transfer/ mechanism, is energetically more favourable than the ¹O₂/dioxetane mechanism.     

Interaction of a Three-Level Atom and Field in a Squeezed Vacuum State with Added Photons: Quantum Phase and Nonclassical Properties

We present a detail study of the evolution of nonlocal correlations of an interacting quantum system comprising a three-level atom and a field mode initially prepared in a squeezed vacuum state with added photons. We compare the dynamical behavior of the quantum phase and entanglement by varying the number of photons added to the squeezed vacuum state. Furthermore, we examine the influence of the added-photon number and the squeeze parameter on the dynamical behavior of entanglement, quantum phase, and nonclassical properties of the field. Moreover, we explore the link between the quantum phase and the nonlocal correlation. Finally, we introduce an effective method to generate and maintain a high level of entanglement for this quantum system based on precise parameter ranges.