Spin-Dependent Quantum Emission in Hexagonal Boron Nitride at Room Temperature

Optically addressable spins associated with defects in wide-bandgap semiconductors are versatile platforms for quantum information processing and nanoscale sensing, where spin-dependent inter-system crossing (ISC) transitions facilitate optical spin initialization and readout. Recently, the van der Waals material hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has emerged as a robust host for quantum emitters (QEs), but spin-related effects have yet to be observed. Here, we report room-temperature observations of strongly anisotropic photoluminescence (PL) patterns as a function of applied magnetic field for select QEs in h-BN. Field-dependent variations in the steady-state PL and photon emission statistics are consistent with an electronic model featuring a spin-dependent ISC between triplet and singlet manifolds, indicating that optically-addressable spin defects are present in h-BN $-$ a versatile two-dimensional material promising efficient photon extraction, atom-scale engineering, and the realization of spin-based quantum technologies using van der Waals heterostructures.Comment: 38 pages, 34 figure

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPARATIVE ANTIPARKINSON ACTIVITY OF FOUR SPECIES OF MUCUNA

Objective: The aim was to study the antiparkinson activity in the seed extracts of four species of Mucuna.Methods: The hydroalcoholic extracts of seeds of four species of Mucuna were evaluated for antiparkinson activity of after a preliminary phytochemical study. The activity was measured in rats by indirectly measuring the decrease in malondialdehyde level, decrease in tongue protrusion frequency, and reduction in vacuous chewing movement after administering reserpine at the dose of 1 mg/kg. The dose levels of four species of Mucuna seed extract were kept at 100, 200, and 300 mg/Kg.Results: Extracts exhibited potent antiparkinson activity and achieved statistically significant p values compared with control group. The study corroborates and compares all four species of Mucuna. Conclusion: Among the extracts, the highest percentage of antiparkinson activity was recorded for Mucuna pruriens

ANTI-ANEMIC ACTIVITY OF SPROUTS OF VIGNA RADIATA L. IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Objective: To evaluate the anti-anemic activity of sprouts of Vigna radiata L. against phenyl hydrazine induced anemic rats.Methods: Rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 each. Group 1 was given normal saline and served as control and all other groups were given 40 mg/kg b. w of phenyl hydrazine for 2 d to induce anemia. Group 3 was treated with Bioferon (230 mg/kg) and served as the standard. Group 4 was treated with sprouted Vigna radiata L. (600 mg/kg bw). All the treatments were given orally. On completion of the experimental period, all the test substance/vehicle-treated rats were sacrificed and the plasma separated was used for estimating various biochemical as well as hematological parameters as per standard procedures. Results: The experimental rats treated with sprouted Vigna radiata L. at the dose level 600 mg/kg bw for 13 d revealed significant changes in biochemical and hematological parameters compared to phenyl hydrazine induced anemic rats.Conclusion: The present study concluded that the sprouted Vigna radiata L. inhibits anemia induced by phenyl hydrazine in male albino rats. Â

Photon emission correlation spectroscopy as an analytical tool for quantum defects

Photon emission correlation spectroscopy has a long history in the study of atoms, molecules, and, more recently, solid-state quantum defects. In solid-state systems, its most common use is as an indicator of single-photon emission, a key property for quantum technology. However, photon correlation data can provide a wealth of information about quantum emitters beyond their single-photon purity$\,-\,$information that can reveal details about an emitter's electronic structure and optical dynamics that are hidden by other spectroscopy techniques. We present a standardized framework for using photon emission correlation spectroscopy to study quantum emitters, including discussion of theory, data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. We highlight nuances and best practices regarding the commonly-used $g^{(2)}(\tau=0)<0.5$ test for single-photon emission. Finally, we illustrate how this experimental technique can be paired with optical dynamics simulations to formulate an electronic model for unknown quantum emitters, enabling the design of quantum control protocols and assessment of their suitability for quantum information science applications.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures. Updates in version 2 include an expanded section VI and the addition of two figures and an appendi

Differing Lectin Binding Profiles among Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Derivatives Aid in the Isolation of Neural Progenitor Cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and their differentiated progeny allow for investigation of important changes/events during normal embryonic development. Currently most of the research is focused on proteinacous changes occurring as a result of differentiation of stem cells and little is known about changes in cell surface glycosylation patterns. Identification of cell lineage specific glycans can help in understanding their role in maintenance, proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, these glycans can serve as markers for isolation of homogenous populations of cells. Using a panel of eight biotinylated lectins, the glycan expression of hESCs, hESCs-derived human neural progenitors (hNP) cells, and hESCs-derived mesenchymal progenitor (hMP) cells was investigated. Our goal was to identify glycans that are unique for hNP cells and use the corresponding lectins for cell isolation. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry were used to determine expression and localization of glycans, respectively, in each cell type. These results show that the glycan expression changes upon differentiation of hESCs and is different for neural and mesenchymal lineage. For example, binding of PHA-L lectin is low in hESCs (14±4.4%) but significantly higher in differentiated hNP cells (99±0.4%) and hMP cells (90±3%). Three lectins: VVA, DBA and LTL have low binding in hESCs and hMP cells, but significantly higher binding in hNP cells. Finally, VVA lectin binding was used to isolate hNP cells from a mixed population of hESCs, hNP cells and hMP cells. This is the first report that compares glycan expression across these human stem cell lineages and identifies significant differences. Also, this is the first study that uses VVA lectin for isolation for human neural progenitor cells

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT AND ITS DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF CAESALPINIA BONDUC (L) ROXB SEEDS

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the anticancer potential of ethanolic extract and its different fractions of Caesalpinia bonduc seeds against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell lines. Methods: Ethanolic extract and its fractions were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and anticancer activity by using in vitro anticancer assay. Chemical constituents of petroleum ether fraction of C. bonduc seeds were identified by using GC-MS and the active compounds were subjected to in silico studies. Results: In vitro anticancer assay showed that the petroleum ether fraction of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonduc seeds has potential anticancer activity. Conclusions: Petroleum ether fraction of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonduc seeds has significant anticancer activity. Further in-depth studies, could result in the development of a good anticancer agent from the seeds of Caesalpinia bonduc

Are there ethnic and religious variations in uptake of bowel cancer screening?:A retrospective cohort study among 1.7 million people in Scotland

This work was supported by the Chief Scientist’s Office (grant number CZH/4/878), Cancer Research UK (grant number C3743/A16594), and supplementary funding from NHS Health Scotland. ISD and National Records of Scotland both made ‘in-house’ contributions to the work.Objective Cancer screening should be equitably accessed by all populations. Uptake of colorectal cancer screening was examined using the Scottish Health and Ethnicity Linkage Study that links the Scottish Census 2001 to health data by individual-level self-reported ethnicity and religion. Setting Data on 1.7 million individuals in two rounds of the Scottish Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (2007–2013) were linked to the 2001 Census using the Scottish Community Health Index number. Main outcome measure Uptake of colorectal cancer screening, reported as age-adjusted risk ratios (RRs) by ethnic group and religion were calculated for men and women with 95% CI. Results In the first, incidence screening round, compared with white Scottish men, Other White British (RR 109.6, 95% CI 108.8 to 110.3) and Chinese (107.2, 95% CI 102.8 to 111.8) men had higher uptake. In contrast, men of all South Asian groups had lower uptake (Indian RR 80.5, 95% CI 76.1 to 85.1; Pakistani RR 65.9, 95% CI 62.7 to 69.3; Bangladeshi RR 76.6, 95% CI 63.9 to 91.9; Other South Asian RR 88.6, 95% CI 81.8 to 96.1). Comparable patterns were seen among women in all ethnic groups, for example, Pakistani (RR 55.5, 95% CI 52.5 to 58.8). Variation in uptake was also observed by religion, with lower rates among Hindu (RR (95%CI): 78.4 (71.8 to 85.6)), Muslim (69.5 (66.7 to 72.3)) and Sikh (73.4 (67.1 to 80.3)) men compared with the reference population (Church of Scotland), with similar variation among women: lower rates were also seen among those who reported being Jewish, Roman Catholic or with no religion. Conclusions There are important variations in uptake of bowel cancer screening by ethnic group and religion in Scotland, for both sexes, that require further research and targeted interventions.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Apolipoprotein L1 gene variants associate with prevalent kidney but not prevalent cardiovascular disease in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial.

Apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) G1 and G2 coding variants are strongly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in African Americans (AAs). Here APOL1 association was tested with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR), and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 2571 AAs from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), a trial assessing effects of systolic blood pressure reduction on renal and CVD outcomes. Logistic regression models that adjusted for potentially important confounders tested for association between APOL1 risk variants and baseline clinical CVD (myocardial infarction, coronary, or carotid artery revascularization) and CKD (eGFR under 60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) and/or UACR over 30 mg/g). AA SPRINT participants were 45.3% female with a mean (median) age of 64.3 (63) years, mean arterial pressure 100.7 (100) mm Hg, eGFR 76.3 (77.1) ml/min per 1.73 m(2), and UACR 49.9 (9.2) mg/g, and 8.2% had clinical CVD. APOL1 (recessive inheritance) was positively associated with CKD (odds ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.73) and log UACR estimated slope (β) 0.33) and negatively associated with eGFR (β -3.58), all significant. APOL1 risk variants were not significantly associated with prevalent CVD (1.02, 0.82-1.27). Thus, SPRINT data show that APOL1 risk variants are associated with mild CKD but not with prevalent CVD in AAs with a UACR under 1000 mg/g

Dynamical Characterization and Room-Temperature Control of an Optically Addressable Single Spin in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), a wide bandgap, two-dimensional solid-state material, hosts pure single-photon emitters that have shown signatures of optically-addressable electronic spins. Here, we report on a single emitter in h-BN exhibiting optically detected magnetic resonance at room temperature, and we propose a model for its electronic structure and optical dynamics. Using photon emission correlation spectroscopy in conjunction with time-domain optical and microwave experiments, we establish key features of the emitter's electronic structure. Specifically, we propose a model that includes a spinless optical ground and excited state, a metastable spin-1/2 configuration, and an emission modulation mechanism. Using optical and spin dynamics simulations, we constrain and quantify transition rates in the model, and we design protocols that optimize the signal-to-noise ratio for spin readout. This constitutes a necessary step toward quantum control of spin states in h-BN.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2201.0888