Measurement of isoplanatic angle and turbulence strength profile from H-alpha images of the Sun

Adaptive Optics (AO) systems have become integral for ground-based astronomy. Based on the scientific case, there are various flavours of AO systems. Measuring the turbulence strength profile ($C_N^2(h)$) and other site characteristics is essential before selecting a site or implementing certain types of AO systems. We used an iterative deconvolution procedure on long-exposure H-$\alpha$ images of the Sun to determine the isoplanatic patch size during the daytime. Then, we determined the relationship between turbulence along different directions and also obtained an analytical estimate of the $C_N^2(h)$ profile.Comment: Proceeding for AO4ELT

Dose to pelvic lymph nodes in image based high dose rate brachytherapy of carcinoma cervix

AimThe aim of this study is to analyse the dosimetry to the pelvic lymph nodes and its correlation to point B using CT based high dose rate brachytherapy of carcinoma cervix.BackgroundConventionally, dose to pelvic lymph nodes from intracavitary brachytherapy was reported by point B and by the reference points of the lymphatic trapezoid.Materials and methods30 consecutive CT based high dose rate applications were reviewed between February and March 2016. The high risk clinical target volume and the organs at risk and the pelvic nodal groups were contoured. DVH parameters for the right and left obturator nodal group, right and left external iliac nodal group and right and left internal iliac nodal group were recorded. Right and left point B doses were also recorded.ResultsOn analysis of the combined dose, it was found that all the DVH parameters were significantly different from point B, except the D100 obturator and D2cc internal iliac lymph node. There was a significant correlation between all DVH parameters and point B, except D2cc, D1cc and D0.1cc of external iliac. The obturator group received the highest dose contribution from brachytherapy. The mean D90 dose received per fraction for the obturator, external iliac and internal iliac nodes was 2.7Gy, 1.17Gy and 1.41Gy, respectively.ConclusionsThere is a significant dose contribution to the pelvic lymph nodal groups during intracavitary brachytherapy. There is a low degree of correlation between point B dose and dosimetric parameters of the individual nodal groups. Hence, it is important to analyse the dose delivered to individual nodal groups during intracavitary brachytherapy, at least in patients with enlarged lymph nodes to calculate the cumulative dose delivered

Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Renalase Gene by miR-29 and miR-146 MicroRNAs: Implications for Cardiometabolic Disorders

Renalase, a recently identified oxidoreductase, is emerging as a novel regulator of cardiovascular and metabolic disease states. The mechanism of regulation of renalase gene, especially at the post-transcriptional level, is completely unknown. We set out to investigate the possible role of microRNAs in regulation of renalase gene in this study. Computational predictions using multiple algorithms coupled with systematic functional analysis revealed specific interactions of miR-29a/b/c and miR-146a/b with mouse and human renalase 3'-UTR (untranslated region) in cultured cells. Next, we estimated miR-29b and miR-146a, as well as renalase expression, in genetically hypertensive blood pressure high and genetically hypotensive blood pressure low mice. Kidney tissues from blood pressure high mice showed diminished (~1.6- to 1.8-fold) renalase mRNA/protein levels and elevated (~2.2-fold) miR-29b levels as compared to blood pressure low mice. A common single nucleotide polymorphism in human renalase 3'-UTR (C/T; rs10749571) creates a binding site for miR-146a; consistently, miR-146a down-regulated human renalase 3'-UTR/luciferase activity in case of the T allele suggesting its potential role in regulation of renalase in humans. Indeed, genome-wide association studies revealed directionally concordant association of rs10749571 with diastolic blood pressure, glucose and triglyceride levels in large human populations (n ≈ 58,000-96,000 subjects). This study provides evidence for post-transcriptional regulation of renalase gene by miR-29 and miR-146 and has implications for inter-individual variations on cardiometabolic traits

Evaluation of ferrocenyl phosphines as potent antimalarials targeting the digestive vacuole function of Plasmodium falciparum

Owing to their lipophilic nature and chemical stability, ferrocene and its derivatives have been widely explored as antimicrobial agents, in combination with other active chemical 'war heads'. A prime example is ferroquine, an analogue of chloroquine obtained by covalently bonding ferrocene to 4-aminoquinoline, which possesses superior efficacy against multi-drug resistant malaria parasites. Herein, we explored the possibility of combining the ferrocenyl moiety with a phosphine unit and the subsequent inclusion of gold(i) to derive a molecular framework with demonstrated potential in inhibiting parasitic diseases. A library of 24 compounds consisting of 5 non-functionalized ferrocenyl enones and 19 ferrocenyl phosphine derivatives were synthesized, verified and tested against Plasmodium (P.) falciparum, which allowed us to identify compounds with low micromolar potency against both normal and chloroquine-resistant strains. Through flow cytometry combined with microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thin smears, we observed that most of the active compounds interfered with trophozoite development as well as schizont maturation. The gold complex, namely G3, derived from the hydrophosphination of the terminal furan bearing an enone substrate showed the highest inhibitory potential. We demonstrate that G3 is affecting the parasite's metabolic processes as evident from the swollen digestive vacuole. Furthermore, G3 significantly affected heme de-toxification as determined through the β-hematin assay, which caused apparent oxidative stress on parasites leading to death. Collectively, these results point out the potential of gold-conjugated ferrocenyl phosphine derivatives as antimalarials targeting the digestive vacuole function and metabolism of parasites.Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)Ministry of Education (MOE)Nanyang Technological UniversityGS acknowledges the Ministry of Education (MoE), Singapore for the President's Graduate Fellowship. AS acknowledges Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for the Nanyang Presidents Graduate Scholarship (NPGS). AS, TK, SWT and JHP acknowledge support from IDR-URECA and SAP acknowledges support for this work via the MoE Tier I grant T1-001-175-01 awarded through NTU. Infrastructure support through the SUTD-MIT International Design Centre (IDC) is greatly acknowledged. GS, KM, PT, RN, and RC acknowledge the following grants: RGAST1503 (A*star-India Collaboration Grant) and T1MOE1702 (MoE Tier 1 Grant awarded through SUTD). Technical support on HUVEC cell culture by Dr Leo Chen Huei, Ms Rupambika Das and Ms Hu Yang (SUTD) is greatly acknowledged

Facile green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Ulva lactuca seaweed extract and evaluation of their photocatalytic, antibiofilm and insecticidal activity

The bioactivity of semiconductor nanocomplexes has been poorly studied in the field of pesticide science. In this research, the synthesis of zinc nanoparticles was accomplished through new effortless green chemistry process, using the Ulva lactuca seaweed extract as a reducing and capping agent. The production of U. lactuca-fabricated ZnO nanoparticles (Ul-ZnO Nps) was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The U. lactuca-fabricated ZnO NPs were tested for their photodegradative action against organic dyes, as well as for antibiofilm and larvicidal activities. The UV visible absorbance spectrum of Ul-ZnO NPs exhibited the absorbance band at 325nm and TEM highlighted average crystallite sizes of nanoparticles of 10-50nm. Methylene blue (MB) dye was efficiently corrupted under sunlight in presence of Ul-ZnO NPs. Excellent bactericidal activity was shown by the Ul-ZnO Nps on Gram positive (Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilis) and Gram negative (Escherichia coliand Proteus vulgaris) bacteria. High antibiofilm potential was noted under both dark and sunlight conditions. The impact of a single treatment with Ul-ZnO NPs on biofilm architecture was also analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) on both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Moreover, Ul-ZnO NPs led to 100% mortality of Aedes aegypti fourth instar larvae at the concentration of 50μg/ml within 24h. The effects of ZnO nanoparticle-based treatment on mosquito larval morphology and histology were monitored. Overall, based on our results, we believe that the synthesis of multifunctional Ul-ZnO Nps using widely available seaweed products can be promoted as a potential eco-friendly option to chemical methods currently used for nanosynthesis of antimicrobials and insecticides