<p>Shiv Nadar University is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric University offering a full range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, the University comprises of academic wings, sophisticated labs, international standard sports facilities, amphitheaters, auditorium, conference rooms and smart classrooms. The University&rsquo;s goal is to become internationally recognized for the quality of its research and creative endeavors and their applicability to improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity. Committed to excellence in teaching, research and service, the University aims to serve the higher education needs of India and the world beyond.</p>

Shiv Nadar University

(SoNS) School of Natural Sciences

Herein, we report the effect of incorporation of two types of plasmonic nanocomposites, TiO2–Au and TiO2–Ag in different ratios, in the TiO2 photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Electrophoretic deposition technique (EPD) has been utilized for the deposition of these nanocomposite photoanodes. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that the nanocomposites, TiO2–Au and TiO2–Ag, have a wide size distribution of Au (5–60 nm) and Ag (20–130 nm) nanoparticles embedded in the TiO2 matrix. The UV–Visible absorption spectra of these nanocomposite films reveal the enhancement in the optical density due to the plasmonic effect. The DSSC based on photoanode consists of plasmonic nanocomposite TiO2–Au:TiO2–Ag (3:1 ratio) showed power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.9\% which is 187\% higher than that pristine TiO2 counterpart. The enhancement in the PCE has been confirmed by the photoluminescence and electro-impedance spectroscopy indicating that both Au and Ag play an important role in enhancing the PCE of DSSCs due to the plasmonic effect. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

World University root node

Physics

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics

Fabrication of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells with photoanode containing TiO2–Au and TiO2–Ag plasmonic nanocomposites

Co-filled' and 'Fe-filled' multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were grown using microwave-plasma chemical vapour deposition (MPCVD) and thermal chemical vapour deposition (TCVD) methods respectively, and their structural and magnetic properties were studied for magnetic device applications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show the average tube length ≈80-500 μm with outer (inner) diameter ≈20-50 (≈10-20) nm for MWCNTs prepared by both methods. The diffraction peaks of both x-ray diffraction patterns show the interlayer distance, d002 ≈ 3.36 Å, which is comparable to the graphite structure (d002 = 3.35 Å). The graphitic crystallite sizes (La) of MPCVD (TCVD) synthesized MWCNTs are ≈24.78 nm (≈22.13 nm) as obtained from the intensity ratio of (ID/IG) D-peak, the disordered structure of graphite and G-peak, the C−C bond in graphitic structure of Raman spectra. The magnetization of 'Fe-filled' TCVD grown MWCNTs is much higher than 'Co-filled' MPCVD grown MWCNTs due to the formation of higher content of Fe-C and/or Fe-oxides in the MWCNT structures. The higher magnetic coercivity ≈2900 Oe and formation of isolated single-domain Fe-nanoparticles in 'Fe-filled' TCVD grown MWCNTs, as found from SEM / TEM micrographs, makes the ferromagnetic MWCNTs a promising material for the high-density magnetic recording media. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd

Materials Research Express

Magnetic properties of microwave-plasma (thermal) chemical vapour deposited Co-filled (Fe-filled) multiwall carbon nanotubes: Comparative study for magnetic device applications

In [3] Dündar introduced the notion of rough I and obtained two criteria for rough I 2 -convergence. In the present paper we 2 -convergenceintroduce some new rough ideal convergent sequence spaces of Musielak-Orlicz functions and four dimensional bounded-regular matrices. We study some topological and algebraic properties of these spaces. We also establish some inclusion relations between these spaces. Finally, we examine that these spaces are normal as well as monotone and sequence algebras. © 2018, Sciendo. All rights reserved.

Mathematics

Analele Stiintifice ale Universitatii Al I Cuza din Iasi - Matematica

Applications of four dimensional matrices to generating some roughly I 2 -convergent double sequence spaces

In this paper we introduce and study some difference double sequence spaces of fuzzy numbers by using Hausdorff metric associated with sequence of Orlicz functions. We make an effort to study some algebraic, topological properties and inclusion relations between these sequence spaces. We show that the new formed sequence spaces are complete with respect to the metric D M, Δ m, p, u (x, y). Finally, we establish some relation between Δ r -statistically convergent and Δ r -statistically (C, 1, 1) summable double sequences of fuzzy numbers under the slowly oscillating and statistically slowly oscillating conditions in certain sense, respectively. © 2018 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

Journal of Intelligent and Fuzzy Systems

Applications of Tauberian theorem in Orlicz spaces of double difference sequences of fuzzy numbers

In this note we study sub-Hardy Hilbert spaces on which the the action of the operator of multiplication by the coordinate function z is assumed to be weaker than that of an isometry. We identify such operators with a class of weighted shifts. The well known results of de Branges and Beurling are deduced as corollaries. © 2018 University of Houston. All rights reserved.

Houston Journal of Mathematics

A class of sub-hardy hilbert spaces associated with weighted shifts

Purpose: To describe the clinical manifestations of persons with epilepsy (PWE) in onchocerciasis endemic villages in South Sudan. Methods: During a survey in Maridi County in May 2018, PWE were interviewed and examined in their households by a clinical officer or medical doctor. Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) was defined as ≥2 seizures without any obvious cause, starting between the ages of 3–18 years in previously healthy persons who had resided for at least 3 years in the onchocerciasis endemic area. Results: Seven hundred and thirty-six PWE were included in the study; 315 (42.8\%) were females; median age was 18 years. A variety of seizure types were reported: generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 511 PWE (69.4\%), absences in 15 (2.0\%), focal motor seizures with full awareness in 7 (1.0\%), focal motor seizures with impaired awareness in 25 (3.4\%), brief episodes of hallucinations in 316 (43.9\%) and nodding seizures in 335 (45.5\%). The median age of onset of all seizures was 10 years, and 8 years for nodding seizures. PWE with nodding seizures presented with more cognitive disabilities. The diagnostic criteria for OAE were met by 414 (85.2\%) of the 486 PWE with complete information. Eighty (11.0\%) PWE presented with Nakalanga features. Only 378 (51.4\%) PWE were taking anti-epileptic treatment. Conclusion: PWE presented with a wide spectrum of seizures. The high percentage of PWE who met the diagnostic criteria for OAE suggests that better onchocerciasis control could prevent new cases. Urgent action is needed to close the anti-epileptic treatment gap. © 2018 The Authors

Fulltext

Seizure

Clinical characteristics of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy in villages in Maridi County, Republic of South Sudan

Brain metastasis is one of the leading causes of death among cancer patients. Cancer cells migrate to various sites and harbor different niche in the body which help cancer cells in their survival. The brain is one of the safest place where cancer cells are protected from immune cells. Breast, lung, and melanoma cancer cells have high propensity to migrate towards the brain. To enter the brain, cancer cells have to cross the blood brain barrier. Survival and finding new niche in the brain are directed by several mechanisms in which different cellular players take part such as astrocytes, microglia, Schwann cells, satellite cells, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells. Usually, cancer cells highjack the machinery of brain cellular players to survive in the brain environment. It has been shown that co-culture of M2 macrophage with cancer cells leads to increased proliferation and survival of cancer cells. One of the challenges of understanding brain metastasis is appropriate model system to understand dynamic interaction of cancer cells and brain cellular players. To meet this challenge, microfluidic-based devices are employed which can mimic the dynamic conditions as well as can be used for culturing human cells for personalized therapy. In this review, we have systematically reviewed the current status of the role of cellular players in brain metastasis along with explaining how translational approach of microfluidics can be employed for finding new drug target as well as biomarker for brain metastasis. Finally, we have also commented on the mechanism of action of drugs against brain metastasis. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Life Sciences

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews

Perspectives on the role of brain cellular players in cancer-associated brain metastasis: translational approach to understand molecular mechanism of tumor progression

Cancer remains a global health problem and approximately 1.7 million new cancer cases are diagnosed every year worldwide. Although diverse molecules are currently being explored as targets for cancer therapy the tumor treatment and therapy is highly tricky. Secondary messengers are important for hormone-mediated signaling pathway. Cyclic AMP (cAMP), a secondary messenger responsible for various physiological processes regulates cell metabolism by activating Protein kinase A (PKA) and by targeting exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC). EPAC is present in two isoforms EPAC1 and EPAC2, which exhibit different tissue distribution and is involved in GDP/GTP exchange along with activating Rap1- and Rap2-mediated signaling pathways. EPAC is also known for its dual role in cancer as pro- and anti-proliferative in addition to metastasis. Results after perturbing EPAC activity suggests its involvement in cancer cell migration, proliferation, and cytoskeleton remodeling which makes it a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatments. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Insights into exchange factor directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) as potential target for cancer treatment

Conjugates of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) with modified graphene oxide (GO) are attractive nonviral vectors for gene-based cancer therapeutics. GO protects siRNA from enzymatic cleavage and showed reasonable transfection efficiency along with simultaneous benefits of low cost and large scale production. PAMAM is highly effective in siRNA delivery but suffers from high toxicity with poor in vivo efficacy. Co-reaction of GO and PAMAM led to aggregation and more importantly, have detrimental effect on stability of dispersion at physiological pH preventing their exploration at clinical level. In the current work, we have designed, synthesized, characterized and explored a new type of hybrid vector (GPD), using GO synthesized via improved method which was covalently tethered with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and PAMAM. The existence of covalent linkage, relative structural changes and properties of GPD is well supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-visible (UV-vis), Raman, X-ray photoelectron (XPS), elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of GPD showed longitudinally aligned columnar self-assembled ∼10 nm thick polymeric nanoarchitectures onto the GO surface accounting to an average size reduction to ∼20 nm. GPD revealed an outstanding stability in both phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and serum containing cell medium. The binding efficiency of EPAC1 siRNA to GPD was supported by gel retardation assay, DLS, zeta potential and photoluminescence (PL) studies. A lower cytotoxicity with enhanced cellular uptake and homogeneous intracellular distribution of GPD/siRNA complex is confirmed by imaging studies. GPD exhibited a higher transfection efficiency with remarkable inhibition of cell migration and lower invasion than PAMAM and Lipofectamine 2000 suggesting its role in prevention of breast cancer progression and metastasis. A significant reduction in the expression of the specific protein against which siRNA was delivered is revealed by Western blot assay. Furthermore, a pH-triggered release of siRNA from the GPD/siRNA complex was studied to provide a mechanistic insight toward unloading of siRNA from the vector. Current strategy is a way forward for designing effective therapeutic vectors for gene-based antitumor therapy. © 2018 American Chemical Society.

Chemistry

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Stable Dispersions of Covalently Tethered Polymer Improved Graphene Oxide Nanoconjugates as an Effective Vector for siRNA Delivery

Understanding the factors that control the variability of oxygen isotopic ratios (δ18O) of Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) rainfall (δ18Op) is of vital importance for the interpretation of δ18Op derived from climate proxies (e.g., speleothem and tree ring cellulose) of this region. Here we demonstrate the importance of moisture transport pathways on spatiotemporal variations of ISM δ18Op using a new set of daily observations from central and northern India and previously reported data aided by simulations from an isotope-enabled General Circulation Model. 18O-depleted rain events are characterized by a higher number of air parcel back trajectories through the Bay of Bengal branch of moisture transport, while those through the Arabian Sea branch are associated with 18O enriched rain events. This effect is observed on intraseasonal to interannual timescales in the long-term observations at New Delhi as well. Thus, the shift in moisture transport regimes must be considered when interpreting δ 18Op from climate proxies of the ISM region. ©2018. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.