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The possibility of using reduced graphene oxide field effect transistor (rGOFET) on a high resistivity silicon as a photon detector in bottom gate FET architecture has been explored in this work. Highly conductive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is synthesized from graphene oxide (GO) by a hybrid technique using hydroiodic acid (HI) fumes and thermal annealing for 6 h on the substrate itself. The rGOFET device is irradiated from top and bottom at different gate-source voltages ranging between 50 mV and 5 V and a comparison of its performance is done. The fabricated device has shown significant response to photons in the UV range peaking at 256 nm with a responsivity of 0.15 A/W at 5 V when irradiated from top and 0.095 A/W at 5 V when irradiated from bottom. The response time of the device measured is 0.23 s, and recovery time is 0.12 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, dual-port dual-frequency tuneable MIMO planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) is presented for mobile handheld device applications. The proposed MIMO antenna consists of two symmetrical PIFAs with the centre-to-centre distance of 43.0 mm (0.1906λ0). The dual-band tunability is achieved by changing the capacitance (V1 and V2) of 4.15 pF (0 V)-0.72 pF (15 V). The impedance bandwidth of −6 dB is realised from 0.8 to 0.98 GHz for the lower band and 1.65 to 2.2 GHz for the higher band. The proposed antenna provides the independent frequency tunability without disturbing the frequency bands. It shows the good isolation for both the tuneable bands >20 dB without using any coupling element between the antenna structure. It has a peak realised gain of 3.44 dBi, good efficiency of > 75% and envelope correlation coefficient of 0.007. In addition, the proposed PIFA performance is analysed with total active reflection coefficient, channel capacity, diversity gain, multiplexing efficiency, mean effective gain and specific absorption ratio for the tuneable range of frequencies. The good agreement is obtained between simulation and experimental performances to validate the antenna parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hevein-like peptides are a family of cysteine-rich and chitin-binding peptides consisting of 29-45 amino acids. Their chitin-binding property is essential for plant defense against fungi. Based on the number of cysteine residues in their sequences, they are divided into three sub-families: 6C-, 8C- and 10C-hevein-like peptides. All three subfamilies contain a three-domain precursor comprising a signal peptide, a mature hevein-like peptide and a C-terminal domain comprising a hinge region with protein cargo in 8C- and 10C-hevein-like peptides. Results: Here we report the isolation and characterization of two novel 8C-hevein-like peptides, designated morintides (mO1 and mO2), from the drumstick tree Moringa oleifera, a drought-resistant tree belonging to the Moringaceae family. Proteomic analysis revealed that morintides comprise 44 amino acid residues and are rich in cysteine, glycine and hydrophilic amino acid residues such as asparagine and glutamine. Morintides are resistant to thermal and enzymatic degradation, able to bind to chitin and inhibit the growth of phyto-pathogenic fungi. Transcriptomic analysis showed that they contain a three-domain precursor comprising an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signal sequence, a mature peptide domain and a C-terminal domain. A striking feature distinguishing morintides from other 8C-hevein-like peptides is a short and protein-cargo-free C-terminal domain. Previously, a similar protein-cargo-free C-terminal domain has been observed only in ginkgotides, the 8C-hevein-like peptides from a gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba. Thus, morintides, with a cargo-free C-terminal domain, are a stand-alone class of 8C-hevein-like peptides from angiosperms. Conclusions: Our results expand the existing library of hevein-like peptides and shed light on molecular diversity within the hevein-like peptide family. Our work also sheds light on the anti-fungal activity and stability of 8C-hevein-like peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hevein-like peptides make up a family of cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) and play a role in plants in their defense against insects and fungal pathogens. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of six hevein-like peptides, aSG1-G3 and aSR1-R3, collectively named altides from green and red varieties of Alternanthera sessilis, a perennial herb belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. Proteomic analysis of altides revealed they contain six cysteines (6C), seven glycines, four prolines, and a conserved chitin-binding domain (SXYGY/SXFGY). Thus far, only four 6C-hevein-like peptides have been isolated and characterized; hence, our study expands the existing library of these peptides. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of altides showed its three disulfide bonds were arranged in a cystine knot motif. As a consequence of this disulfide arrangement, they are stable against thermal and enzymatic degradation. Gene cloning studies revealed altides contain a three-domain precursor with an endoplasmic reticulum signal peptide followed by a mature CRP domain and a short C-terminal tail. This indicates that the biosynthesis of altides is through the secretory pathway. ¹H NMR titration experiments showed that the 29-30-amino acid altides bind to chitin oligomers with dissociation constants in the micromolar range. Aromatic residues in the chitin-binding domain of altides were involved in the binding interaction. To the best of our knowledge, aSR1 is the smallest hevein-like peptide with a dissociation constant toward chitotriose comparable to those of hevein and other hevein-like peptides. Together, our study expands the existing library of 6C-hevein-like peptides and provides insights into their structure, biosynthesis, and interaction with chitin oligosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is the fourth largest oilseed producing country in the world. The present study was carried on based on the secondary data collected from varies websites and directorate of economics and statistics. The results reveled that the compound growth rate of area and production of groundnut in India shows a negative trend while the productivity was positive over the years. In pre bifurcated Andhra Pradesh the annual average production of groundnut during 2011-12 was 1231 thousand tons and the annual average yield per hectare was 873 kg/ha. The area and production of groundnut was high in Rayalaseema region compared to other regions of the state. The area, production and productivity of groundnut in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana was increase over the study year. The annual average production of groundnut crop during 2013-14 was 220 thousand tonnes and annual average yield per hectare during the same period was 1751 kg/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with supraclavicular nodal failure (SCF) in patients with one to three positive axillary nodes treated with breast conserving surgery and axillary dissection without supraclavicular node radiation (S/C RT) to aid in the selection of patients for S/C RT. Two hundred two breast conservation patients with one to three positive axillary nodes on axillary dissection treated with breast irradiation without S/C RT and 20 patients with S/C RT between August 1985 and May 2002 were identified and retrospectively evaluated. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to determine SCF-free and overall survival curves. Risk factors for SCF were examined. The median follow-up from surgery was 72 months (range: 4–195). Nine of 202 patients (4%) failed in the ipsilateral breast, 4 (2%) in the ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes, 4 (2%) in the ipsilateral axillary and/or internal mammary nodes and 30 (15%) distantly. The 5- and 10-year SCF-free survival was 97.92%. The overall survival at 5, 10, and 15 years was 91.35%, 75.58%, and 67.18%, respectively. SCFs were associated with high grade or ER negative cancers, but not with number of positive nodes. Two of the four SCFs were associated with distant metastases, and two with local failures. One patient with a SCF was salvaged and is disease-free at 134 months. The overall low incidence of SCF in patients with one to three positive nodes treated with breast radiation alone after breast conserving surgery and adequate axillary dissection suggests that additional S/C RT is unnecessary in this cohort. When it occurs, supraclavicular nodal failure is often associated with distant metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out during kharif 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V. C. Farm, Mandya to study the performance of cowpea under organic production system in red sandy loam soil. The results revealed that application of 100% N equivalent compost + recommended FYM (10 t/ha) + beejamrutha (seed treatment) + jeevamrutha (500 liter/ha) recorded significantly higher grain yield during all the years of experimentation (2056, 1987, 2108 and 2365 kg/ha, respectively) and also in their pooled data (grain yield 2129 kg/ha). This increased yield was attributed to more availability of nitrogen (289.5 kg/ha), phosphorus (40.5 kg/ha) and potassium (182.3 kg/ha) in the soil compared to other treatments. The benefit: cost ratio was higher with application of 100% N equivalent compost + jeevamrutha + beejamrutha (2.81). Soil chemical properties, viz. soil pH, organic carbon content and electric conductivity, were not influenced significantly by application of organic manures. However, there was an improvement in the soil chemical properties (289.5, 40.5 and 182.3 N, P2O5 and K2O kg/ha, respectively) compared to initial soil data (229, 19.2 and 135 NPK kg/ha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline zinc oxide nanoparticles are synthesized using salvo-thermal process and its nanofluids are prepared by the dispersion of nanoparticles in PVA solution. The prepared nanoparticles are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV--visible Techniques. The ultrasonic velocities are measured in the synthesized nanofluid at different temperatures and for different concentration of ZnO in PVA using ultrasonic interferometer. Also, the densities of the nanofluid are measured at different concentrations of ZnO in the PVA at room temperature. From the measured values of Ultrasonic velocity and density, acoustical parameters such as adiabatic compressibility, acoustic impedance, intermolecular free length, surface tension were calculated to understand the solute-solvent interaction in a polymer solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 30-year-old man with a 10-year history of asymptomatic red-brown macules scattered symmetrically over the thighs, torso, and upper arms. It says that clinical results and histological tests show final diagnosis of telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP). It discusses TMEP which is a rare form of mastocytosis, a disorder with abnormal mast cell proliferation within various organs particularly in the skin that is either cutaneous or systemic.