Characterization of Carbon nanotubes Near- Infrared Photoconductive Detector

Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs,F-MWCNTs,SWCNTs) with different structure were fabricated into near-infrared photodetectors. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) was used as a substrate to deposit CNTs by the drop casting method. The CNTs carrier concentrations, conductivity and carrier mobility were measured. Different types CNTs photodetectors exhibit a good photoconductive performance at a wavelength (980-1200nm) especially SWCNTs, responsivity was found to be (0.295 A W-1 ), specific detectivity (D*) 1—109 cm.Hz1/2 .W-1 and response time 0.049ns

The Neuronal EGF-Related Gene Nell2 Interacts with Macf1 and Supports Survival of Retinal Ganglion Cells after Optic Nerve Injury

Nell2 is a neuron-specific protein containing six epidermal growth factor-like domains. We have identified Nell2 as a retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-expressed gene by comparing mRNA profiles of control and RGC-deficient rat retinas. The aim of this study was to analyze Nell2 expression in wild-type and optic nerve axotomized retinas and evaluate its potential role in RGCs. Nell2-positive in situ and immunohistochemical signals were localized to irregularly shaped cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and colocalized with retrogradely-labeled RGCs. No Nell2-positive cells were detected in 2 weeks optic nerve transected (ONT) retinas characterized with approximately 90% RGC loss. RT-PCR analysis showed a dramatic decrease in the Nell2 mRNA level after ONT compared to the controls. Immunoblot analysis of the Nell2 expression in the retina revealed the presence of two proteins with approximate MW of 140 and 90 kDa representing glycosylated and non-glycosylated Nell2, respectively. Both products were almost undetectable in retinal protein extracts two weeks after ONT. Proteome analysis of Nell2-interacting proteins carried out with MALDI-TOF MS (MS) identified microtubule-actin crosslinking factor 1 (Macf1), known to be critical in CNS development. Strong Macf1 expression was observed in the inner plexiform layer and GCL where it was colocalizied with Thy-1 staining. Since Nell2 has been reported to increase neuronal survival of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, we evaluated the effect of Nell2 overexpression on RGC survival. RGCs in the nasal retina were consistently more efficiently transfected than in other areas (49% vs. 13%; n = 5, p<0.05). In non-transfected or pEGFP-transfected ONT retinas, the loss of RGCs was approximately 90% compared to the untreated control. In the nasal region, Nell2 transfection led to the preservation of approximately 58% more cells damaged by axotomy compared to non-transfected (n = 5, p<0.01) or pEGFP-transfected controls (n = 5, p<0.01)

The Effect of Photoperiod on Milk Production, Its Components and Some Blood Parameters in Improved Awassi ewes

This study is carried out to investigate the effect of the light period on milk yield and its components as well as on some blood parameters, in Alrashiedia Animal Farm, Directorate of Agricultural Researches, Ministry of Agriculture on 24 improved Awassi ewes in 2nd and 3rd lactation from 20/11/2011 to 29/1/2012. The ewes are randomly divided into 3 groups; 1st group is 24h:0 h. (light : dark) exposed to light period, the2nd 8h:16 h. of light period , while 3rd group 16h:8 h.. All ewes allocated on the same concentrate and roughages ration in addition to 5 kg / hd / day green alfalfa. Milk yield is recorded every 10 days after separation of suckling lambs from their mothers for 12 hours (9 pm to 9 am). Blood sample are taken three time (at the begging , Middle and end of the study) to calculate : total protein, albumin, globulins, cholesterol, and triglyceride. The results show that there is no significant effect of light period on milk production, the total amount of milk through the recorded periods for the three group are 10652.0,10021.0 and 11986.78gm/hd .There is no significant effect on the milk component. The blood parameters are not affected by the light :dark change . It can be concluded that the change in the light :dark period does not alter milk yield and some blood parameters in this study

Structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of RbPbI 3 perovskites studied using ab-initio calculations

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A deletion in a photoreceptor-specific nuclear receptor mRNA causes retinal degeneration in the rd7 mouse

The rd7 mouse, an animal model for hereditary retinal degeneration, has some characteristics similar to human flecked retinal disorders. Here we report the identification of a deletion in a photoreceptor-specific nuclear receptor (mPNR) mRNA that is responsible for hereditary retinal dysplasia and degeneration in the rd7 mouse. mPNR was isolated from a pool of photoreceptor-specific cDNAs originally created by subtractive hybridization of mRNAs from normal and photoreceptorless rd mouse retinas. Localization of the gene corresponding to mPNR to mouse Chr 9 near the rd7 locus made it a candidate for the site of the rd7 mutation. Northern analysis of total RNA isolated from rd7 mouse retinas revealed no detectable signal after hybridization with the mPNR cDNA probe. However, with reverse transcription–PCR, we were able to amplify different fragments of mPNR from rd7 retinal RNA and to sequence them directly. We found a 380-nt deletion in the coding region of the rd7 mPNR message that creates a frame shift and produces a premature stop codon. This deletion accounts for more than 32% of the normal protein and eliminates a portion of the DNA-binding domain. In addition, it may result in the rapid degradation of the rd7 mPNR message by the nonsense-mediated decay pathway, preventing the synthesis of the corresponding protein. Our findings demonstrate that mPNR expression is critical for the normal development and function of the photoreceptor cells