2,776 research outputs found
A Unique Approach to Classify Inflationary Potentials
Inflationary cosmology has made significant strides in understanding the
physics driving the rapid expansion of the early universe. However, many
inflation models with diverse potential shapes present analysis, comparison,
and classification challenges. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to
tackle this issue. We introduce a general potential formula encompassing all
inflationary potentials, whether single-field or multi-field, into a single
mathematical framework. This formula establishes a unified framework for
systematically classifying inflation models based on their potential functions.
We showcase the efficacy of the general potential formula by successfully
reproducing well-known inflation models, such as the Starobinsky potential and
the Valley Hybrid Inflation model. Moreover, we derive general inflationary
parameters, including the slow-roll parameters and power spectra, using the
proposed formula. Our approach provides a versatile tool for classifying and
studying various inflationary scenarios, simplifying the analysis and
comparison of different models in the field of inflationary cosmology
Drug delivery to eye: Special reference to nanoparticles
Controlled and sustained delivery of ophthalmic drugs continues to remain a major focus area in the field of pharmaceutical drug delivery with the emergence of new, more potent drugs and biological response modifiers that may also have very short biological half-lives. The major objective of clinical therapeutics is to provide and maintain adequate concentration of drugs at the site of action. In ocular drug delivery, the physiological constraints imposed by the protective mechanisms of the eye lead to poor absorption of drugs with very small fractions of the instilled dose penetrating the cornea and reaching the intraocular tissues. The anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the eye render this organ highly impervious to foreign substances. A significant challenge to the formulator is to circumvent the protective barriers of the eye without causing permanent tissue damage. Development of newer, more sensitive diagnostic techniques and novel therapeutic agents continue to provide ocular delivery systems with high therapeutic efficacy. Conventional ophthalmic solution, suspension, and ointment dosage forms no longer constitute optimal therapy for these indications. Nanoparticles and nanosuspensions are showing a better application as compare to conventional delivery sysyems. Polymer nanoparticles proposed are reported to be devoid of any irritant effect on cornea, iris, and conjunctiva and thus appear to be a suitable inert carrier for ophthalmic drug delivery. The benefits of having the drug in the form of a nanoparticulate suspension are: reduction in the amount of dose, drug release for a prolonged period of time, higher drug concentrations in the infected tissue, longer residence time of nanoparticles on the cornea surface, reduction systemic toxicity of drug.Keywords: Nanoparticle; polymer; ocular; bioavailabilit
Drug delivery to eye: Special reference to nanoparticles
Controlled and sustained delivery of ophthalmic drugs continues to remain a major focus area in the field of pharmaceutical drug delivery with the emergence of new, more potent drugs and biological response modifiers that may also have very short biological half-lives. The major objective of clinical therapeutics is to provide and maintain adequate concentration of drugs at the site of action. In ocular drug delivery, the physiological constraints imposed by the protective mechanisms of the eye lead to poor absorption of drugs with very small fractions of the instilled dose penetrating the cornea and reaching the intraocular tissues. The anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the eye render this organ highly impervious to foreign substances. A significant challenge to the formulator is to circumvent the protective barriers of the eye without causing permanent tissue damage. Development of newer, more sensitive diagnostic techniques and novel therapeutic agents continue to provide ocular delivery systems with high therapeutic efficacy. Conventional ophthalmic solution, suspension, and ointment dosage forms no longer constitute optimal therapy for these indications. Nanoparticles and nanosuspensions are showing a better application as compare to conventional delivery sysyems. Polymer nanoparticles proposed are reported to be devoid of any irritant effect on cornea, iris, and conjunctiva and thus appear to be a suitable inert carrier for ophthalmic drug delivery. The benefits of having the drug in the form of a nanoparticulate suspension are: reduction in the amount of dose, drug release for a prolonged period of time, higher drug concentrations in the infected tissue, longer residence time of nanoparticles on the cornea surface, reduction systemic toxicity of drug.Keywords: Nanoparticle; polymer; ocular; bioavailabilit
Supernovae as Probes of Extra Dimensions
Since the dawn of the new millennium, there has been a revived interest in
the concept of extra dimensions.In this scenario all the standard model matter
and gauge fields are confined to the 4 dimensions and only gravity can escape
to higher dimensions of the universe.This idea can be tested using table-top
experiments, collider experiments, astrophysical or cosmological observations.
The main astrophysical constraints come from the cooling rate of supernovae,
neutron stars, red giants and the sun. In this article, we consider the energy
loss mechanism of SN1987A and study the constraints it places on the number and
size of extra dimensions and the higher dimensional Planck scale.Comment: 5 pages, no figures, new references are adde
Plasmon Annihilation into Kaluza-Klein Graviton: New Astrophysical Constraints on Large Extra Dimensions
In large extra dimensional Kaluza-Klein (KK) scenario, where the usual
Standard Model (SM) matter is confined to a 3+1-dimensional hypersurface called
the 3-brane and gravity can propagate to the bulk (D=4+d, d being the number of
extra spatial dimensions), the light graviton KK modes can be produced inside
the supernova core due to the usual nucleon-nucleon bremstrahlung,
electron-positron and photon-photon annihilations. This photon inside the
supernova becomes plasmon due to the plasma effect. In this paper, we study the
energy-loss rate of SN 1987A due to the KK gravitons produced from the
plasmon-plasmon annihilation. We find that the SN 1987A cooling rate leads to
the conservative bound > 22.9 TeV and 1.38 TeV for the case of two and
three space-like extra dimensions.Comment: 13 pages, 1 ps figure, text is modified a little bit, conclusion
unchanged, new references are added, version accepted for publication in PR
Targeting RNA by Small Molecules: Comparative Structural and Thermodynamic Aspects of Aristololactam-β-D-glucoside and Daunomycin Binding to tRNAphe
BACKGROUND: Interaction of aristololactam-β-D-glucoside and daunomycin with tRNA(phe) was investigated using various biophysical techniques. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Absorption and fluorescence studies revealed that both the compounds bind tRNA(phe) non-cooperatively. The binding of daunomycin was about one order of magnitude higher than that of aristololactam-β-D-glucoside. Stronger binding of the former was also inferred from fluorescence quenching data, quantum efficiency values and circular dichroic results. Results from isothermal titration calorimetry experiments suggested that the binding of both compounds was predominantly entropy driven with a smaller but favorable enthalpy term that increased with temperature. A large favorable electrostatic contribution to the binding of daunomycin to tRNA(phe) was revealed from salt dependence data and the dissection of the free energy values. The electrostatic component to the free energy change for aristololactam-β-D-glucoside-tRNA(phe) interaction was smaller than that of daunomycin. This was also inferred from the slope of log K versus [Na(+)] plots. Both compounds enhanced the thermal stability of tRNA(phe). The small heat capacity changes of -47 and -99 cal/mol K, respectively, observed for aristololactam-β-D-glucoside and daunomycin, and the observed enthalpy-entropy compensation phenomenon confirmed the involvement of multiple weak noncovalent interactions. Molecular aspects of the interaction have been revealed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study presents the structural and energetic aspects of the binding of aristololactam-β-D-glucoside and daunomycin to tRNA(phe)
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