Search

In the modern digital sphere, graph theory is a significant field of research that has a great deal of significance. It finds widespread application in computer science, robotic directions, and chemistry. Additionally, graph theory is used in robot network localization, computer network problems and the formation of various chemical structures for networks. Moreover, it finds uses in exploring diffusion mechanisms and scheduling aircraft as well. The present research project examines and concentrates on the edge version of metric dimension of the Concealed Non-Kekuléan Benzenoid Hydrocarbon, Polythiophene, Backbone DNA network and Bakelite networks. All the mentioned networks have constant edge metric dimension except Bakelite network, as demonstrated by the results. If we talk about the applications of these networks, Polythiophene are used to treat prion disorders. It is also capable of detecting metal ions. The concept of Bakelite, which finds applications in the jewelry, electrical, cookware, sports, and clock industries, had an impact on the invention of modern polymers. The functions of DNA include information encoding, replication, mutation, and recombination gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex challenge in regenerative medicine, complicated by the low intrinsic capacity of CNS neurons to regenerate their axons and the heterogeneity in size, shape and extent of human injuries. For example, some contusion injuries do not compromise the dura mater and in such cases implantation of preformed scaffolds or drug delivery systems may cause further damage. Injectable in situ thermosensitive scaffolds are therefore a less invasive alternative. In this study, we report the development of a novel, flowable, thermosensitive, injectable drug delivery system comprising bovine collagen (BC) and fibrinogen (FB) that forms a solid BC/FB gel (Gel) immediately upon exposure to physiological conditions and can be used to deliver reparative drugs, such as the naturally occurring anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring agent Decorin, into adult rat spinal cord lesion sites. In dorsal column lesions of adult rats treated with the Gel + Decorin, cavitation was completely suppressed and instead lesion sites became filled with injury-responsive cells and extracellular matrix materials, including collagen and laminin. Decorin increased the intrinsic potential of dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGN) by increasing their expression of regeneration associated genes (RAGs), enhanced local axon regeneration/sprouting, as evidenced both histologically and by improved electrophysiological, locomotor and sensory function recovery. These results suggest that this drug formulated, injectable hydrogel has the potential to be further studied and translated into the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular repeated air blast injuries occur from low overpressure blast wave exposure, which are often repeated and in quick succession. We have shown that caspase-2 caused the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) after blunt ocular trauma. Here, we investigated if caspase-2 also mediates RGC apoptosis in a mouse model of air blast induced indirect traumatic optic neuropathy (b-ITON). C57BL/6 mice were exposed to repeated blasts of overpressure air (3 × 2 × 15 psi) and intravitreal injections of siRNA against caspase-2 (siCASP2) or against a control enhanced green fluorescent protein (siEGFP) at either 5 h after the first 2 × 15 psi ("post-blast") or 48 h before the first blast exposure ("pre-blast") and repeated every 7 days. RGC counts were unaffected by the b-ITON or intravitreal injections, despite increased degenerating ON axons, even in siCASP2 "post-blast" injection groups. Degenerating ON axons remained at sham levels after b-ITON and intravitreal siCASP2 "pre-blast" injections, but with less degenerating axons in siCASP2 compared to siEGFP-treated eyes. Intravitreal injections "post-blast" caused greater vitreous inflammation, potentiated by siCASP2, with less in "pre-blast" injected eyes, which was abrogated by siCASP2. We conclude that intravitreal injection timing after ocular trauma induced variable retinal and ON pathology, undermining our candidate neuroprotective therapy, siCASP2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional semiconducting materials are considered as ideal candidates for ultimate device scaling. However, a systematic study on the performance and variability impact of scaling the different device dimensions is still lacking. Here we investigate the scaling behavior across 1300 devices fabricated on large-area grown MoS2 material with channel length down to 30 nm, contact length down to 13 nm and capacitive effective oxide thickness (CET) down to 1.9 nm. These devices show best-in-class performance with transconductance of 185 μS/μm and a minimum subthreshold swing (SS) of 86 mV/dec. We find that scaling the top-contact length has no impact on the contact resistance and electrostatics of three monolayers MoS2 transistors, because edge injection is dominant. Further, we identify that SS degradation occurs at short channel length and can be mitigated by reducing the CET and lowering the Schottky barrier height. Finally, using a power performance area (PPA) analysis, we present a roadmap of material improvements to make 2D devices competitive with silicon gate-all-around devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is intended to deliver the incidence of heavy metals in the feathers of shorebirds from two important Central Asian Flyway (CAF) migratory shorebirds wintering sites such as the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (PWLS) and Pichavaram Mangrove Forest (PMF), India. Feathers of fifteen species of shorebirds and seven different metals viz., Cu, Cr, Co, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn were analyzed. Zn was highest in Dunlin, Little-ringed Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, and Common sandpiper, Ni showed highest in Little ringed plover, and Common sandpiper, Co, Cr, and Cu were maximum in Little stint, Marsh sandpiper, and Dunlin, respectively. The Hg was higher in Black-winged stilt, Common redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian curlew, Lesser Sand-plover, Temminck's stint, Kentish plover, Spotted redshank, and Wood sandpiper, the Pb found highest in Kentish plover, Painted stork, Spotted redshank, Wood sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, and Lesser sand-plover. The concentration of metals showed significant variations among the species of shorebirds studied (P < 0.001). The mercury negatively correlated with the other metals than the other six metals studied in both the wetlands. The order of metal concentration in the feathers of shorebirds was Zn > Ni > Co > Cr > Cu > Pb > Hg. Nevertheless, the current study revealed that the level of metals in the shorebirds is alarming; since the PWLS and PMF are located along the CAF routes, it needs intensive studies on various pollutions to manage both the resident as well as migratory shorebirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug delivery by topical application has higher patient acceptance and lower morbidity than intraocular injection, but many ophthalmic treatments are unable to enter the eye or reach the posterior segment after topical application. The first stage towards posterior segment delivery after topical application is ocular surface penetration and existing models are in vivo or use large quantities of tissue. We therefore developed a novel ex vivo model using discs of porcine and human cornea and sclera (5 mm diameter) to assess penetration of a candidate neuroprotective siRNA. siRNA against caspase 2 or control solutions of known penetrance were applied to the corneal epithelial surface and trans-corneal penetration and corneal adsorbance measured at fixed time points. To demonstrate that leakage did not occur, we applied dextran blue, which should not penetrate the intact cornea and did not do so in our model. Fluorescein penetration (0.09%) was less than rhodamine B (6.98%) at 60 min. siCASP2 penetration was 0.01% by 60 min. When the applied siCASP2 was washed off after 2 min, (representing lacrimal drainage) 0.071% penetrated porcine cornea by 60 min and 0.0002% penetrated human cornea and 0.001% penetrated human sclera. Our ex vivo model rapidly and cost-effectively assesses transcorneal penetration of candidate topical therapies, allowing rates of trans-corneal penetration for potential therapies such as siRNA to be evaluated with small quantities of human or animal tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonsyndromic oculocutaneous Albinism (nsOCA) is clinically characterized by the loss of pigmentation in the skin, hair, and iris. OCA is amongst the most common causes of vision impairment in children. To date, pathogenic variants in six genes have been identified in individuals with nsOCA. Here, we determined the identities, frequencies, and clinical consequences of OCA alleles in 94 previously unreported Pakistani families. Combination of Sanger and Exome sequencing revealed 38 alleles, including 22 novel variants, segregating with nsOCA phenotype in 80 families. Variants of TYR and OCA2 genes were the most common cause of nsOCA, occurring in 43 and 30 families, respectively. Twenty-two novel variants include nine missense, four splice site, two non-sense, one insertion and six gross deletions. In vitro studies revealed retention of OCA proteins harboring novel missense alleles in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of transfected cells. Exon-trapping assays with constructs containing splice site alleles revealed errors in splicing. As eight alleles account for approximately 56% (95% CI: 46.52-65.24%) of nsOCA cases, primarily enrolled from Punjab province of Pakistan, hierarchical strategies for variant detection would be feasible and cost-efficient genetic tests for OCA in families with similar origin. Thus, we developed Tetra-primer ARMS assays for rapid, reliable, reproducible and economical screening of most of these common alleles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]