Optical alignment of oval graphene flakes

Patterned graphene, as an atomically thin layer, supports localized surface plasmon-polaritons (LSPPs) at mid-infrared or far-infrared frequencies. This provides a pronounced optical force/torque in addition to large optical cross sections and will make it an ideal candidate for optical manipulation. Here, we study the optical force and torque exerted by a linearly polarized plane wave on circular and oval graphene flakes. Whereas the torque vanishes for circular flakes, the finite torque allows rotating and orienting oval flakes relative to the electric field polarization. Depending on the wavelength, the alignment is either perpendicular or parallel. In our contribution, we rely on full-wave numerical simulation but also on an analytical model that treats the graphene flakes in dipole approximation. The presented results reveal a good level of control on the spatial alignment of graphene flakes subjected to far-infrared illumination.Comment: Copyright 2016 Optical Society of America. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modifications of the content of this paper are prohibited. Online abstract lin

Predictors of curve flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A retrospective study of 100 patients

Curve flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) was one of the major concerns of spinal surgeons since the evolution of surgical correction techniques. In this respect, many tried to identify which criteria denote more rigid curve. In the present study, we aimed toward determining important factors influencing AIS curve flexibility on supine bending films. We assessed radiographs of 100 patients with AIS for direction of curves, number of involved vertebrae, apical vertebral translation and rotation, magnitude of main thoracic curve and T5-T12 kyphosis. Statistical analysis performed via stepwise linear regression model with these variables plus age and sex against flexibility index. According to regression analysis, there was a clear relationship between flexibility indexes (FI) and magnitude of main thoracic curve at all (P50) against rigid curves, apical vertebral rotation was a major determinant of curve flexibility also (P<0.001). Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis curves with larger Cobb�s angle and apical vertebral rotation show less flexibility on supine bending films. © 2015 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Construction of Novel Phytochelatins by Overlap Oligonucleotides

Synthetic phytochelatins are protein analogs of phytochelatin with similar heavy metal binding affinities that can be easily produced from a synthetic DNA template. We design synthetic phytochelatin [(Glu-Cys)n Gly] linked to hexahistidine by viral linker peptide and then followed by gene synthesis and cloning of it. Then peptide coding gene (synthetic phytochelatin with linker and hexahistidine) was designed exactly and constructed with step by step methods by overlapping oligonucleotides using T4 DNA Ligase. Finally, synthesized gene amplified by PCR, cloned in pTZ57R/T and transformed to Escherichia coli (DH5α). The results of sequencing show that some types of synthetic phytochelatin (EC4, EC12, and EC20) with linker and hexahistidine were constructed and cloned in vector

The effect of hand reflexology on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography: A single-blind randomized controlled trial

Background This study aimed to evaluate effects of hand reflexology on anxiety level in coronary angiography patients. Materials and methods This clinical trial recruited 80 eligible patients >6 months. The patients were randomly assigned to receive routine care plus either hand reflexology or a simple hand massage. Data were collected using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Both groups' anxiety levels were measured before (T0) and 30 min (T1) and 1 h after the intervention (T2). Findings The mean anxiety level in the intervention group decreased from 57.54 at baseline to 55.47 after the intervention (P = 0.0001). The values in the control group were 54.27 and 51.4, respectively. The two groups had statistically significant differences in the mean scores of anxiety at T0 and T1 (P = 0.003), T1 and T2, and T0 and T2 (P = 0.0001). Conclusion Hand reflexology could effectively decrease anxiety in coronary angiography patients

Enhanced effects of combined cognitive bias modification and computerised cognitive behaviour therapy on social anxiety

This study examines whether combined cognitive bias modification for interpretative biases (CBM-I) and computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (C-CBT) can produce enhanced positive effects on interpretation biases and social anxiety. Forty socially anxious students were randomly assigned into two conditions, an intervention group (positive CBM-I + C-CBT) or an active control (neutral CBM-I + C-CBT). At pre-test, participants completed measures of social anxiety, interpretative bias, cognitive distortions, and social and work adjustment. They were exposed to 6 × 30 min sessions of web-based interventions including three sessions of either positive or neutral CBM-I and three sessions of C-CBT, one session per day. At post-test and two-week follow-up, participants completed the baseline measures. A combined positive CBM-I + C-CBT produced less negative interpretations of ambiguous situations than neutral CBM-I + C-CBT. The results also showed that both positive CBM-I + C-CBT and neutral CBM-I + C-CBT reduced social anxiety and cognitive distortions as well as improving work and social adjustment. However, greater effect sizes were observed in the positive CBM-I + C-CBT condition than the control. This indicates that adding positive CBM-I to C-CBT enhanced the training effects on social anxiety, cognitive distortions, and social and work adjustment compared to the neutral CBM-I + C-CBT condition

Down-regulation of miR-135b in colon adenocarcinoma induced by a TGF-β receptor i kinase inhibitor (SD-208)

Objective(s): Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is involved in colorectal cancer (CRC). The SD-208 acts as an anti-cancer agent in different malignancies via TGF-β signaling. This work aims to show the effect of manipulation of TGF-β signaling on some miRNAs implicated in CRC. Materials and Methods: We investigated the effects of SD-208 on SW-48, a colon adenocarcinoma cell line. The cell line was treated with 0.5, 1 and 2 μM concentrations of SD-208. Then, the xenograft model of colon cancer was established by subcutaneous inoculation of SW-48 cell line into the nude mice. The animals were treated with SD-208 for three weeks. A quantitative real-time PCR was carried out for expression level analysis of selected oncogenic (miR-21, 31, 20a and 135b) and suppressormiRNAs (let7-g, miR-133b, 145 and 200c). Data were analyzed using the 2-��CT method through student�s t-test via the GraphPad Prism software. Results: Our results revealed that SD-208 could significantly down-regulate the expression of one key onco-miRNA, miR-135b, in either SW-48 colon cells (P=0.006) or tumors orthotopically implanted in nude mice (P=0.018). Our in silico study also predicted that SD-208 could modulate the expression of potential downstream tumor suppressor targets of the miR135b. Conclusion: Our data provide novel evidence that anticancer effects of SD-208 (and likely other TGF-β inhibitors) may be owing to their ability to regulate miRNAs expression. © 2015, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Evaluation of Teratogenic Activity of Antiepileptic Drug Lamotrigine in Mouse Fetuses

BACKGROUND: Use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy can be associated with an increased risk of teratogenicity as well as congenital abnormalities. However, there are numerous discrepancies to determine whether lamotrigine, as an antiepileptic drug, can significantly induce malformation in newborn infants or not. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the teratogenic effects of lamotrigine on mouse fetuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, 21 pregnant mice were assigned to four groups. Groups 1 and 2 (controls) received mock treatment and ethanol 20%, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 (treatment) were intraperitoneally administered with 25 and 75 mg/kg lamotrigine for three days, respectively. The treatment protocol was performed within the gestational days of 9-18 in all groups. On gestational day 18, 117 fetuses were taken out of the fallopian tube of studied mice and then examined for any anomalies (vertebral, limbs and cranial), followed by a measurement of their height and weight. RESULTS: The results revealed that, in the treated groups, the weight and the height had significantly decreased (p<0.01) and also various anomalies were evident. Moreover, as the dose of lamotrigine increased, the decrease in the weight and the height and rising trend in anomalies were intensified. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, lamotrigine (LTG) could be considered as a risk factor for the development of the anomalies examined