Manganese pigmented anodized copper as solar selective absorber

The study concerns the optical and structural properties of layers obtained by a new efficient surface treatment totally free of chromium species. The process is made up of an anodic oxidation of copper in an alkaline solution followed by an alkaline potassium permanganate dipping post-treatment. Coatings, obtained at the lab and pilot scales, are stable up to 220 °C in air and vacuum, present low emissivity (0.14 at 70 °C) and high solar absorptivity (0.96), i.e. a suitable thermal efficiency (0.84 at 70 °C)

Autoantibody Profiling of Glioma Serum Samples to Identify Biomarkers Using Human Proteome Arrays

The heterogeneity and poor prognosis associated with gliomas, makes biomarker identification imperative. Here, we report autoantibody signatures across various grades of glioma serum samples and sub-categories of glioblastoma multiforme using Human Proteome chips containing similar to 17000 fulllength human proteins. The deduced sets of classifier proteins helped to distinguish Grade II, III and IV samples from the healthy subjects with 88, 89 and 94% sensitivity and 87, 100 and 73% specificity, respectively. Proteins namely, SNX1, EYA1, PQBP1 and IGHG1 showed dysregulation across various grades. Sub-classes of GBM, based on its proximity to the sub-ventricular zone, have been reported to have different prognostic outcomes. To this end, we identified dysregulation of NEDD9, a protein involved in cell migration, with probable prognostic potential. Another subcategory of patients where the IDH1 gene is mutated, are known to have better prognosis as compared to patients carrying the wild type gene. On a comparison of these two cohorts, we found STUB1 and YWHAH proteins dysregulated in Grade II glioma patients. In addition to common pathways associated with tumourigenesis, we found enrichment of immunoregulatory and cytoskeletal remodelling pathways, emphasizing the need to explore biochemical alterations arising due to autoimmune responses in glioma

Biotechnological Means for Genetic Improvement in Castor Bean as a Crop of the Future

Not AvailableProfitable cultivation of castor bean is beset with problems of vulnerability of cultivars and hybrids to a multitude of insect pests and diseases. The presence of the toxic proteins ricin and hyperallergenic Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA) in the endosperm restricts the use of deoiled seed cake as cattle feed. Due to this crop’s low genetic diversity, genetic engineering can be an efficient approach to introduce resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as seed quality traits. Recently, castor oil gained attention as a sustainable second-generation feedstock for biojet fuel that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Because of a growing interest in castor oil as a biofuel and the presence of the powerful toxin ricin in its seed, metabolic pathways and regulatory genes involved in both oil and ricin production have been analyzed and characterized. Genetic engineering of castor bean offers new possibilities to increase oil yield and oxidative stability, confers stress tolerance, and improves other agronomics traits, such as reduced plant height to facilitate mechanical harvesting. However, difficulties in tissue culture-based regeneration and poor reproducibility of results are major bottlenecks for genetic transformation of castor bean. Despite advances in tissue culture research over the past four decades, direct or callus-mediated adventitious shoot regeneration systems that are genotype-independent remain a much sought-after goal in castor bean. Genetic transformation attempts to develop insect resistant and ricin-free transgenic castor bean lines have been based on shoot proliferation from meristematic tissues. This chapter describes new transformation methods under development and the progress achieved so far in genetic engineering of castor bean for agronomically desirable attributes.Not Availabl