Band-edge Bilayer Plasmonic Nanostructure for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Spectroscopic analysis of large biomolecules is critical in a number of applications, including medical diagnostics and label-free biosensing. Recently, it has been shown that Raman spectroscopy of proteins can be used to diagnose some diseases, including a few types of cancer. These experiments have however been performed using traditional Raman spectroscopy and the development of the Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) assays suitable for large biomolecules could lead to a substantial decrease in the amount of specimen necessary for these experiments. We present a new method to achieve high local field enhancement in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy through the simultaneous adjustment of the lattice plasmons and localized surface plasmon polaritons, in a periodic bilayer nanoantenna array resulting in a high enhancement factor over the sensing area, with relatively high uniformity. The proposed plasmonic nanostructure is comprised of two interacting nanoantenna layers, providing a sharp band-edge lattice plasmon mode and a wide-band localized surface plasmon for the separate enhancement of the pump and emitted Raman signals. We demonstrate the application of the proposed nanostructure for the spectral analysis of large biomolecules by binding a protein (streptavidin) selectively on the hot-spots between the two stacked layers, using a low concentration solution (100 nM) and we successfully acquire its SERS spectrum

Distribution and Prevalence Potato virus Y Isolates Obtained from Potatoes Grown in the Iran by RT-PCR

To survey the distribution and prevalence of potato virus Y (PVY) strains in north western Iran, 381 symptomatic infected samples of the main potatoes grown in the said region were collected from the fields between (Hall et al., 1998) 2007 and 2008. The collected samples were first tested for PVY infection via a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) technique. Of the total number of collected samples, 79 (20.73%) tested positive for PVY infection. The highest level of PVY infection was observed in the district of Gilak-Abad in Sarab County, whereas the lowest infection was observed in the district of Oughan in the suburbs of Sarab city. The RT-PCR detection of PVY strains by using specific primers resulted in the amplification of DNA fragments specific to the PVY strains NTN, C, O, and N at 725, 1553, 352, and 616 bp, respectively. The highest strain diversity of PVY was detected in the district of Shirehjin in Sarab city and the lowest in the district of Ghaleh Jugh in Bostan-Abad city. Both single and multiple infection types of the PVY stains were observed in the region. Of the 79 PVY-infected samples, 77.21% were infected with strain O, 62.02% with strain C, 39.24% with strain N, and 8.86% with strain NTN. The highest level of multiple infections was observed in the combinations of the strains C+O (27.84%) and the triple strains O+N+C (15.18%). This paper is the first to report the detection of the PVY strain NTN in Iran. Keywords: RT-PCR, Molecular diagnosis, Potato, ELISA, Potato Virus Y (PVY

Microfluidics for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems.

Considerable efforts have been devoted towards developing effective drug delivery methods. Microfluidic systems, with their capability for precise handling and transport of small liquid quantities, have emerged as a promising platform for designing advanced drug delivery systems. Thus, microfluidic systems have been increasingly used for fabrication of drug carriers or direct drug delivery to a targeted tissue. In this review, the recent advances in these areas are critically reviewed and the shortcomings and opportunities are discussed. In addition, we highlight the efforts towards developing smart drug delivery platforms with integrated sensing and drug delivery components

Optimización de los filtros de flujo lateral de agua de purga en el sistema de agua de enfriamiento

Cooling towers are the main parameters for oil and gas industries. The water that circulates the system will pass through heat exchangers and surface condenser of compressor. Cooling towers operate outside; there is a high chance of debris entering the system and water via wind which therefore could lead to fouling, scaling and corrosion. In order for cooling towers to perform at high efficiency, the water has to be clean. Filtration package are the key for solving this matter. In this thesis, a new filtration package for Marjan petrochemical company has been proposed. In this design the blow down water of the cooling tower will be filtered via first a side stream filtration unit which will decrease the TSS of the water and then enters a Reverse Osmosis package which will reduce the TDS of the water. From the Hysys simulation, it has been proven that this system will produce 63 m3/hr pure water and 37 m3/hr brain water. The compositions of these water are 97% pure water and 3% debris, 96% debris and 4% water respectively. This showed that the filtration package decreased the TDS of the water to 4 ppm which is the specification of the make-up water of cooling tower. Financially, when there is no package installed, Marjan has to send COC and POC waters to Mobin Company for filtrations and then buy the RO water.Cooling towers are the main parameters for oil and gas industries. The water that circulates the system will pass through heat exchangers and surface condenser of compressor. Cooling towers operate outside; there is a high chance of debris entering the system and water via wind which therefore could lead to fouling, scaling and corrosion. In order for cooling towers to perform at high efficiency, the water has to be clean. Filtration package are the key for solving this matter. In this thesis, a new filtration package for Marjan petrochemical company has been proposed. In this design the blow down water of the cooling tower will be filtered via first a side stream filtration unit which will decrease the TSS of the water and then enters a Reverse Osmosis package which will reduce the TDS of the water. From the Hysys simulation, it has been proven that this system will produce 63 m3/hr pure water and 37 m3/hr brain water. The compositions of these water are 97% pure water and 3% debris, 96% debris and 4% water respectively. This showed that the filtration package decreased the TDS of the water to 4 ppm which is the specification of the make-up water of cooling tower. Financially, when there is no package installed, Marjan has to send COC and POC waters to Mobin Company for filtrations and then buy the RO water

Relationship between physical concern and anxiety sensitivity in females with panic disorder: The moderating role of distress tolerance

Background & Aim: Panic disorder showed higher prevalence in female than male. The aim of the present study was to investigate the moderating role of distress tolerance in the relationship between physical concern and anxiety sensitivity of females with panic disorder symptoms in female students. Materials & Methods: The present study conducted through a descriptive cross-sectional method.  The statistical population of this research included all the female students of Islamic Azad University of Ilam branch in 2022(N=2009). Of all students 323 cases were selected using the available sampling method. The data collected through standard questionnaire i.e. severity of panic disorder (SMPD-A) (2013), distress tolerance of Simons and Gehr (2005), anxiety sensitivity of Floyd et al. (2005) and physical concern of Littleton et al. (2005). The statistical method used for data analysis was Baron and Kenny and bootstrap. Results: The results confirmed model of relationship between physical concerns and anxiety sensitivity with panic disorder symptoms with the moderating role of distress tolerance. The correlation coefficient between physical concerns with panic disorder symptoms was 0.468, anxiety sensitivity with panic disorder symptoms was 0.425, and distress tolerance with panic disorder symptoms was -0.462. Conclusion: It is believed that several factors cause vulnerability to panic disorder. Many stressful situations of daily life and the inability to adapt to frequent life stress can disrupt cognitive function in people, which can trigger many psychiatric disorders in susceptible people and aggravate the severity of symptoms in peopl