Simplified inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy based on low-noise derivatives.

A standard experimental setup for Inelastic Electron Tunneling Spectroscopy (IETS) performs the measurement of the second derivative of the current with respect to the voltage ([Formula: see text]) using a small AC signal and a lock-in based second harmonic detection. This avoids noise arising from direct differentiation of the current-voltage characteristics (I-V) by standard numerical methods. Here we demonstrate a noise-filtering algorithm based on Tikhonov Regularization to obtain IET spectra (i.

Review on long afterglow nanophosphors, their mechanism and its application in round-the-clock working photocatalysis.

Semiconductor assisted photocatalysis is one of the most efficient methods for the degradation of complex organic dyes. A major limiting factor of semiconductor assisted photocatalysis is the requirement of a continuous source of light to perform a redox reaction. One of the upcoming solutions is photon energy-storing long afterglow/persistent phosphors.

Correction in Active Cases Data of COVID-19 for the US States by Analytical Study.

The total coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have reached 139 million worldwide and nearing 3 million deaths on April 16, 2021. The availability of accurate data is crucial as it makes it possible to analyze correctly the infection trends and make better forecasts. The reported recovered cases for many US states are surprisingly low.

Estimation of undetected symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 infection and prediction of its spread in the USA.

The reported COVID-19 cases in the United States of America have crossed over 10 million and a large number of infected cases are undetected whose estimation can be done if country-wide antibody testing is performed. In this study, we estimate this undetected fraction of the population by a modeling and simulation approach. We employ an epidemic model SIPHERD in which three categories of infection carriers, symptomatic, purely asymptomatic, and exposed are considered with different transmission rates that are taken dependent on the social distancing conditions, and the detection rate of the infected carriers is taken dependent on the tests done per day.

An epidemic model SIPHERD and its application for prediction of the spread of COVID-19 infection in India.

Originating from Wuhan, China, in late 2019, and with a gradual spread in the last few months, COVID-19 has become a pandemic crossing 9 million confirmed positive cases and 450 thousand deaths. India is not only an overpopulated country but has a high population density as well, and at present, a high-risk nation where COVID-19 infection can go out of control. In this paper, we employ a compartmental epidemic model SIPHERD for COVID-19 and predict the total number of confirmed, active and death cases, and daily new cases.

Sequential computation of elementary modes and minimal cut sets in genome-scale metabolic networks using alternate integer linear programming.

Motivation: Elementary (flux) modes (EMs) have served as a valuable tool for investigating structural and functional properties of metabolic networks. Identification of the full set of EMs in genome-scale networks remains challenging due to combinatorial explosion of EMs in complex networks. It is often, however, that only a small subset of relevant EMs needs to be known, for which optimization-based sequential computation is a useful alternative.

Endothelial cell transforming growth factor-β receptor activation causes tacrolimus-induced renal arteriolar hyalinosis.

Arteriolar hyalinosis is a common histological finding in renal transplant recipients treated with the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus; however, the pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unknown. In addition to increasing transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels, tacrolimus inhibits calcineurin by binding to FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12). FKBP12 alone also inhibits TGF-β receptor activation.

Daily oral sodium bicarbonate preserves glomerular filtration rate by slowing its decline in early hypertensive nephropathy.

In most patients with hypertensive nephropathy and low glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the kidney function progressively declines despite the adequate control of the hypertension with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. Previously we found that 2 years of oral sodium citrate slowed GFR decline in patients whose estimated GFR (eGFR) was very low (mean 33 ml/min). This treatment also slowed GFR decline in an animal model of surgically reduced nephron mass.

Toll-like receptor 3 activation during pregnancy elicits preeclampsia-like symptoms in rats.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy-specific hypertensive syndrome, is one of the leading causes of premature births as well as fetal and maternal death. There is strong evidence that maternal immune system activation, of which Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a major role, contributes to the development of PE. Viral infections, sensed by TLR3, are associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Immunosuppression improves blood pressure and endothelial function in a rat model of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia (PE), affect approximately 7-10% of pregnancies in the US. Clinical and experimental studies strongly suggest that the maternal immune system plays a role in the development of these disorders; however, few therapeutic options exist aside from delivery.

Methods: Using a deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)/salt-low renin rat model, which exhibits hypertension, proteinuria, endothelial dysfunction, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), we measured serum cytokine levels as an indication of immune system activation.

Hypoparathyroidism associated with severe mineral bone disease postrenal transplantation, treated successfully with recombinant PTH.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly, if not universally, associated with derangements in bone and mineral metabolism, characterized by hyperphosphatemia, low calcitriol levels, and secondary hyperparathyroidism. The spectrum of these disorders is termed renal osteodystrophy or chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disease complex. Aggressive phosphorus control is the cornerstone of management to prevent debilitating complications.