Spin-Hall effect and circular birefringence of a uniaxial crystal plate

The linear birefringence of uniaxial crystal plates is known since the 17th century, and it is widely used in numerous optical setups and devices. Here we demonstrate, both theoretically and experimentally, a fine lateral circular birefringence of such crystal plates. This effect is a novel example of the spin-Hall effect of light, i.e., a transverse spin-dependent shift of the paraxial light beam transmitted through the plate. The well-known linear birefringence and the new circular birefringence form an interesting analogy with the Goos-H\"anchen and Imbert-Fedorov beam shifts that appear in the light reflection at a dielectric interface. We report the experimental observation of the effect in a remarkably simple system of a tilted half-wave plate and polarizers using polarimetric and quantum-weak-measurement techniques for the beam-shift measurements. In view of great recent interest in spin-orbit interaction phenomena, our results could find applications in modern polarization optics and nano-photonics.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Optic

A statistical approach for the production of thermostable and alklophilic alpha-amylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KCP2 under solid-state fermentation

The bacterial strain producing thermostable, alklophilic alpha-amylase was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KCP2 using 16S rDNA gene sequencing data (NCBI Accession No: KF112071). Medium components were optimized through the statistical approach for the synthesis of alpha-amylase by the organism under solid-state fermentation using wheat bran as the substrate. The medium components influencing the enzyme production were identified using a two-level fractional factorial Plackett–Burman design. Among the various variables screened, starch, ammonium sulphate and calcium chloride were found to be most significant medium components. The optimum levels of these significant parameters were determined employing the response surface Central Composite design which significantly increased the enzyme production with the supplementation of starch 0.01 g, ammonium sulphate 0.2 g and 5 mM calcium chloride in the production medium. Temperature and pH stability of the alpha-amylase suggested its wide application in the food and pharmaceutical industries

Human GUCY2C-Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-Expressing T Cells Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Metastases.

One major hurdle to the success of adoptive T-cell therapy is the identification of antigens that permit effective targeting of tumors in the absence of toxicities to essential organs. Previous work has demonstrated that T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T cells) targeting the murine homolog of the colorectal cancer antigen GUCY2C treat established colorectal cancer metastases, without toxicity to the normal GUCY2C-expressing intestinal epithelium, reflecting structural compartmentalization of endogenous GUCY2C to apical membranes comprising the intestinal lumen. Here, we examined the utility of a human-specific, GUCY2C-directed single-chain variable fragment as the basis for a CAR construct targeting human GUCY2C-expressing metastases. Human GUCY2C-targeted murine CAR-T cells promoted antigen-dependent T-cell activation quantified by activation marker upregulation, cytokine production, and killing of GUCY2C-expressing, but not GUCY2C-deficient, cancer cells in vitro. GUCY2C CAR-T cells provided long-term protection against lung metastases of murine colorectal cancer cells engineered to express human GUCY2C in a syngeneic mouse model. GUCY2C murine CAR-T cells recognized and killed human colorectal cancer cells endogenously expressing GUCY2C, providing durable survival in a human xenograft model in immunodeficient mice. Thus, we have identified a human GUCY2C-specific CAR-T cell therapy approach that may be developed for the treatment of GUCY2C-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer

Termoreverzibilni mukoadhezivni in situ hidrogel za oftalmičku primjenu: dizajniranje i optimizacija koristeći kombinaciju polimera

The purpose of the study was to develop an optimized thermoreversible in situ gelling ophthalmic drug delivery system based on Pluronic F 127, containing moxifloxacin hydrochloride as a model drug. A 32 full factorial design was employed with two polymers Pluronic F 68 and Gelrite as independent variables used in combination with Pluronic F 127. Gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force, viscosity and in vitro drug release after 1 and 10 h were selected as dependent variables. Pluronic F 68 loading with Pluronic F 127 was found to have a significant effect on gelation temperature of the formulation and to be of importance for gel formation at temperatures 3336 ºC. Gelrite loading showed a positive effect on bioadhesion force and gel strength and was also found helpful in controling the release rate of the drug. The quadratic mathematical model developed is applicable to predicting formulations with desired gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force and drug release properties.Cilj rada bio je razvoj i optimizacija termoreverzibilnog sustava za isporuku lijekova koji gelira in situ. Sustav je napravljen na bazi Pluronic F 127, a sadrži moksifloksacin hidroklorid kao modelni lijek. U radu je primjenjeno 32 potpuno faktorijsko dizajniranje s dva polimera, Pluronic F 68 i Gelrite kao nezavisnim varijablama koji su kombinirani s Pluronic F 127. Kao zavisne varijable odabrane su temperatura geliranja, čvrstoća gela, jačina bioadhezije, viskoznost i in vitro oslobađanje lijeka nakon 1 i 10 h. Pronađeno je da Pluronic F 68 u kombinaciji s Pluronic F 127 ima značajan učinak na temperaturu geliranja u rasponu od 33 do 36 C. S druge strane, Gelrite ima povoljan učinak na jačinu bioadhezije, čvrstoću gela i oslobađanje lijeka. Razvijen je kvadratni matematički model pomoću kojeg se može predvidjeti temperatura geliranja, čvrstoća gela, jačina bioadhezije i oslobađanje ljekovite tvari

Analysis of Single-Cell RNA-Seq Identifies Cell-Cell Communication Associated with Tumor Characteristics

Tumor ecosystems are composed of multiple cell types that communicate by ligand-receptor interactions. Targeting ligand-receptor interactions (for instance, with immune checkpoint inhibitors) can provide significant benefits for patients. However, our knowledge of which interactions occur in a tumor and how these interactions affect outcome is still limited. We present an approach to characterize communication by ligand-receptor interactions across all cell types in a microenvironment using single-cell RNA sequencing. We apply this approach to identify and compare the ligand-receptor interactions present in six syngeneic mouse tumor models. To identify interactions potentially associated with outcome, we regress interactions against phenotypic measurements of tumor growth rate. In addition, we quantify ligand-receptor interactions between T cell subsets and their relation to immune infiltration using a publicly available human melanoma dataset. Overall, this approach provides a tool for studying cell-cell interactions, their variability across tumors, and their relationship to outcome. Tumors are composed of cancer cells and many non-malignant cell types, such as immune and stromal cells. To better understand how all cell types in a tumor cooperate to facilitate malignant growth, Kumar et al. studied communication between cells via ligand and receptor interactions using single-cell data and computational modeling. Keywords: computational analysis; single-cell RNA sequencing; cell-cell communication; ligand-receptor interaction; tumor microenvironment; syngeneic mouse models; cancer patient samplesNational Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (Grant T32-GM008334)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant U01-CA215798

Band structures and intruder π\pii13/2i_{13/2} state in 197^{197}Tl

The excited states in the odd-$A$ $^{197}$Tl nucleus have been studied by populating them using the $^{197}$Au($\alpha$, 4$n$)$^{197}$Tl reaction at the beam energy of 48 MeV. The $\gamma-\gamma$ coincidence data were taken using a combination of clover, LEPS and single crystal HPGe detectors. Precise spin and parity assignments of the excited states have been done through the polarization and the DCO measurements. A new band structure has been identified and the evidence for a possible intruder $\pi i_{13/2}$ state has been found for the first time. Possible configurations of the observed bands have been discussed. The total Routhian surface calculations have been performed to study the shape of $^{197}$Tl for different configurations.Comment: Accepted for publication in PR

Scheduling of Dependent Tasks Application using Random Search Technique

Since beginning of Grid computing, scheduling of dependent tasks application has attracted attention of researchers due to NP-Complete nature of the problem. In Grid environment, scheduling is deciding about assignment of tasks to available resources. Scheduling in Grid is challenging when the tasks have dependencies and resources are heterogeneous. The main objective in scheduling of dependent tasks is minimizing make-span. Due to NP-complete nature of scheduling problem, exact solutions cannot generate schedule efficiently. Therefore, researchers apply heuristic or random search techniques to get optimal or near to optimal solution of such problems. In this paper, we show how Genetic Algorithm can be used to solve dependent task scheduling problem. We describe how initial population can be generated using random assignment and height based approaches. We also present design of crossover and mutation operators to enable scheduling of dependent tasks application without violating dependency constraints. For implementation of GA based scheduling, we explore and analyze SimGrid and GridSim simulation toolkits. From results, we found that SimGrid is suitable, as it has support of SimDag API for DAG applications. We found that GA based approach can generate schedule for dependent tasks application in reasonable time while trying to minimize make-span

Diagnosis and management of adnexal masses

Background: Adnexal masses are a commonly encountered gynecological problem. Appropriate evaluation to discriminate between benign and malignant masses helps to guide gynecologists for proper evaluation and management. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different histopathologic types of adnexal masses among women presenting to our hospital. We also aimed to describe known risk factors of epithelial ovarian cancer and compare the preoperative evaluation and histopathologic diagnosis of adnexal masses. Aims and objectives were to study the clinical nature of adnexal mass, to study different sites and pathology of adnexal masses, to study radio logical and histopathological nature of adnexal mass managed surgically, to determine clinical, radio logical, and histopathological co-relation of adnexal mass. Methods: This was prospective, observational study of patients having ‘adnexal masses’, conducted from May 2023 to December 2023 at our tertiary care hospital. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography and histopathology. Results: Adnexal masses are more common in nulliparous and common associated risk factors are PID and genital TB. The commonest symptom on patients with adnexal masses was abdominal pain. In present study, most common histopathological diagnosis was ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Conclusions: Adnexal masses are common gynecological problem mostly found in reproductive age group women and in them they were mostly non neoplastic and benign, whereas in peri and post-menopausal age group were malignant. Ectopic pregnancy is the most common presentation of adnexal masses in reproductive age group. Laparoscopic approach is most preferred approach for adnexal masses removal