Plasmonically Enhanced Reflectance of Heat Radiation from Low-Bandgap Semiconductor Microinclusions

Increased reflectance from the inclusion of highly scattering particles at low volume fractions in an insulating dielectric offers a promising way to reduce radiative thermal losses at high temperatures. Here, we investigate plasmonic resonance driven enhanced scattering from microinclusions of low-bandgap semiconductors (InP, Si, Ge, PbS, InAs and Te) in an insulating composite to tailor its infrared reflectance for minimizing thermal losses from radiative transfer. To this end, we compute the spectral properties of the microcomposites using Monte Carlo modeling and compare them with results from Fresnel equations. The role of particle size-dependent Mie scattering and absorption efficiencies, and, scattering anisotropy are studied to identify the optimal microinclusion size and material parameters for maximizing the reflectance of the thermal radiation. For composites with Si and Ge microinclusions we obtain reflectance efficiencies of 57 - 65% for the incident blackbody radiation from sources at temperatures in the range 400 - 1600 {\deg}C. Furthermore, we observe a broadbanding of the reflectance spectra from the plasmonic resonances due to charge carriers generated from defect states within the semiconductor bandgap. Our results thus open up the possibility of developing efficient high-temperature thermal insulators through use of the low-bandgap semiconductor microinclusions in insulating dielectrics.Comment: Main article (8 Figures and 2 Tables) + Supporting Information (8 Figures

Comparison of the expression patterns of genes coding for wheat gluten proteins and proteins involved in the secretory pathway in developing caryopses of wheat

The synthesis of gluten proteins in the developing caryopsis of wheat is highly coordinated, with mRNAs for the various groups being detected from 11 days after anthesis, and the proteins from about 14 days. In contrast, the levels of transcripts for BiP, PDI and PPI are highest at earlier stages of development. The levels of transcripts for two small GTP binding proteins involved in the secretory pathway (Rab1 and Rab5) are also highest early in development, which is consistent with the retention of most of the gluten proteins within the ER to form protein bodies

Probing T-cell signal transduction pathways with the immunosuppressive drugs, FK-506 and rapamycin

In addition to their clinical utility in tissue transplantation the immunosuppressive agents FK-506 (Prograf) and rapamycin, have proven to be valuable tools for gaining insight into the biochemistry of T-cell activation. The findings that the protein phosphatase calcineurin and cell cycle control are key elements in T-cell activation and proliferation are the direct result of investigations into the mechanism of action of FK-506 and rapamycin and provide potentially novel therapeutic targets

Caractérisation de la capture du VIH-1 (du récepteur DC-SIGN aux extensions trans-épithéliales des cellules dendritiques)

En tant que sentinelles du système immunitaire, les CD expriment une lectine, le DC-SIGN, présentant une forte affinité pour de nombreux pathogènes, incluant le VIH-1. L objectif premier de cette étude est d utiliser cette lectine comme outil de screening d enveloppes issues d isolats primaires de primo-infection afin d identifier une enveloppe d intérêt comme immunogène bloquant l interaction avec le DC-SIGN. Nous avons ainsi pu identifier deux mutations dans la gp41 susceptibles d amplifier l interaction DC-SIGN /gp120. Enfin, nous avons étudié la capacité de prise en charge locale et spécifique d Aspergillus fumigatus par des extensions trans-épithéliales formées par les CD au niveau des villosités de l iléon terminal murin. Notre étude souligne le rôle primordial du DC-SIGN au niveau des muqueuses monostratifiées que ce soit pour la voie de contamination homosexuelle du VIH-1 ou pour l efficacité de capture de pathogènes par les dendrites trans-épithéliales des CDAs the sentinels of the immune system, DC express a lectin DC-SIGN known to bind with high affinity a wide range of pathogens, including HIV-1. The first aim of this study is to use this lectin as a screening tool for envelopes from acute HIV-1 primary isolates in order to identify an envelope of interest that could be used as an immunogen to block the interaction with DC-SIGN. We have identified two point mutations in the gp41 susceptible to increase the DC-SIGN/gp120 interaction. At last, we have studied the local and specific uptake of Aspergillus fumigatus by trans-epithelial dendrites formed by DC in villi of the murine terminal ileum. Our study highlights the crucial role of DC-SIGN in monolayered mucosa, as suggested by the predominance of HIV-1 homosexual contamination or the efficiency of DC trans-epithelial dendrites to capture pathogensLYON1-BU.Sciences (692662101) / SudocSudocFranceF