Narrow End Research Articles

Self-propelled directed transport of C60 fullerene on the surface of the cone-shaped carbon nanotubes

Directed transportation of materials at molecular scale is important due to its crucial role in the development of nanoelectromechanical devices, particularly the directional movements along the carbon nanotubes (CNTs), due to the applications of CNTs as nano-manipulators, confined reactors, and drug or other materials delivery systems. In the present investigation, we evaluate the movements of C60 fullerenes on the surface of the cone-shaped CNTs. The fullerene molecules indicate directed motion toward the narrower end of CNTs, which is due to the potential energy gradient along the nanotube length. A continuum model is proposed to evaluate the mechanism of the directed motion and the results of the theoretical model are compared with numerical simulations. Directed movements have been examined at various opening angles of CNTs, considering the trajectories of motions, variation of potential energy, and diffusion coefficients. At smaller opening angles, the driving force on the C60 increases and the molecule experiences more directed transport along the nanotube. The motion of fullerene has also been simulated inside the cone-shaped CNTs, with similar opening angle, and different average radius. At lower average radius of the cone-like nanotubes, the motion of C60 is comparatively more rectilinear. Directional transport of fullerene has been observed in the opposite direction, when the molecule moves on the external surface of the cone-like CNTs, which is due to the stronger interaction of C60 with the parts of the external surface with larger radius. The effect of temperature has been evaluated by performing the simulations at the temperature range of 100 to 400 K. The direction of the velocity reveals that the thermal fluctuations at higher temperatures hinder the directed motion of molecule along the cone-shaped CNTs. The results of the present study propose a new method to obtain directed transport of molecules which can be helpful in different applications such as drug delivery systems.

Morphological analysis and lipid composition of the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans salivary glands reinforce important features of feeding behaviour.

Stomoxys calcitrans L. (Diptera: Muscidae), the stable fly, is a hematophagous insect of great veterinary importance, because it is a mechanical vector of diverse pathogens in livestock. The saliva of blood-feeding insects presents important pharmacologically active molecules that impair blood clotting, promote vasodilation and modulate the host immune system response, crucial processes for successful feeding. These properties also enable pathogens' transmission. In the present work, we describe an efficient protocol to dissect S. calcitrans salivary glands, their morphological characteristics and lipid profile. The mean length of the tubular gland is 3.23 mm with a bulbous posterior end and a narrow anterior end. Histological analysis revealed a monolayer of large polygonal epithelial cells with voluminous nuclei and high lipid content in their cytoplasm. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the epithelium is rich in mitochondria, free ribosomes, Golgi complex cisternae, presenting a great extension of rough endoplasmic reticulum that contains an electron-dense material. Lipid analysis by thin-layer chromatography showed that neutral fatty acids and phosphatidylcholine are predominant in the fly salivary glands. Lysophosphatidylcholine, an important signalling biomolecule involved in different metabolic processes, including host's immunomodulation and pathogens proliferation and differentiation, is also present.

Structure of the flotillin complex in a native membrane environment

In this study, we used cryoelectron microscopy to determine the structures of the Flotillin protein complex, part of the Stomatin, Prohibitin, Flotillin, and HflK/C (SPFH) superfamily, from cell-derived vesicles without detergents. It forms a right-handed helical barrel consisting of 22 pairs of Flotillin1 and Flotillin2 subunits, with a diameter of 32 nm at its wider end and 19 nm at its narrower end. Oligomerization is stabilized by the C terminus, which forms two helical layers linked by a β-strand, and coiled-coil domains that enable strong charge-charge intersubunit interactions. Flotillin interacts with membranes at both ends; through its SPFH1 domains at the wide end and the C terminus at the narrow end, facilitated by hydrophobic interactions and lipidation. The inward tilting of the SPFH domain, likely triggered by phosphorylation, suggests its role in membrane curvature induction, which could be connected to its proposed role in clathrin-independent endocytosis. The structure suggests a shared architecture across the family of SPFH proteins and will promote further research into Flotillin's roles in cell biology.

Comprehensive study on scale-induced heterogeneity of (Ni2CrCo)94Nb3V3 high-entropy alloy variable-width thin-walled structure fabricated by additive manufacturing

Laser additive manufacturing (AM) shows excellent advantages in near-net shape of complex parts. In this work, the (Ni2CrCo)94Nb3V3 high-entropy alloy variable-width thin-walled structures were fabricated by directed energy deposition, and its microstructure and mechanical properties at the narrow and wide ends were systematically studied in the printed and different heat treatment states. In the printed state, the 〈001〉 crystallographic orientation along the building direction and the 〈111〉 crystallographic orientation along the scanning direction are formed at the narrow and wide ends of the sample, respectively. The preferred crystallographic orientation is eliminated and numerous annealed twins are occurred at high-temperature annealing, while the original grain morphology and crystallographic orientation is not changed significantly after direct aging. In the printed state, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the wide end are increased by 10.69 % and 11.60 % compared with that of the narrow end, and the elongation is decreased by 18.74 %. The differences in tensile properties at the narrow and wide ends of the sample are mainly related to the crystallographic orientation and dislocation density, without taking the statistically stored dislocations into account. The strength of both narrow and wide ends is significantly increased, but the difference in tensile performance between them is not changed through direct aging. In addition, the strength is slightly decreased and the difference in tensile properties between the narrow and wide ends is eliminated by high-temperature annealing. The results present in the current study provide new insights for the LAM optimizing design of thin-walled parts with complex structures.

STUDY OF THE CONCEPT OF UTERUS IN AYURVEDA WITH APPLIED ASPECTS

The Uterus is the child bearing organ in female, situated in the pelvis between the bladder and rectum. The uterus can be divided into an upper part, consisting of the fundus and the greater part of the body and a lower part consisting of the body, and of the cervix. The upper narrow end is called the internal os and the narrow lower end is called the external os. The cavity of the uterus communicates with that of the vagina through the external os. The study aims to evaluate various terminologies related to the uterus and its parts in Ayurveda. Morphological considerations of various terminologies along with applied aspects with references were studied. The present study is designed to analyze the concept of the uterus from Ayurvedic classics and interpreted. Elucidated terminologies were analyzed from structural anatomy, dimensions, location, and applied aspects. Various terminologies are used to represent the Uterus and its parts which can be correlated as follows- Uterus: Yoni, Phalayoni, Garbhasaya , Garbhakosha, Kukshi, Kshetra. Cervix with External Os: Garbhamarga, Garbhachidra. Fallopian tube /Uterine tubes: Raktavahasrota, Artavahasrotamsi, Artavavahasrotas, Artavavahamarga. Blood Supply: Artavavahasrotamsi, Artavvahinyadhamani.

Translocation of polymers through a wide-open conical pore

The transport of biomolecules across a cell membrane is an important phenomenon that plays a pivotal role in the functioning of biological cells. In this paper, we investigate such processes by modeling the translocation of polymers through a conical channel, directed from the wider opening to the narrow end of the conical channel. We use the molecular dynamics approach to study the problem. The effect of the different conical pore geometry and polymer lengths on translocation dynamics is determined from the behavior of the total translocation time, τ, and the waiting time distributions, w(s). The escape of polymer segments from the narrow end of the conical channel is tracked by studying the escape velocity profile (〈v i 〉). To demonstrate the asymmetric pore effects on the translocation dynamics, we compare the translocation process from both the terminals: the wider-opening and the narrow-end of the conical channel. We find striking differences in the translocation dynamics for both processes, which are in agreement with the experimental study. We have accounted for the effect of various rigidity, and increasing length of a polymer chain, on both types of processes. This computational study can be used to underline the translocation process from different conical pores.

Bone-like microtextures of HA coatings prepared by nanosecond laser and their properties

Although the hydroxyapatite (HA) coating implant prepared by laser cladding exhibits good biological activity due to its chemical composition similar to biological bone, the original surface roughness of the laser-clad coating is high, which is unfavorable for long-term cell adhesion and proliferation. In order to improve the biological activity of HA coating implants and increase the adhesion and proliferation rate of osteoblasts on their surface, microtextures with different length-diameter ratios and depth gradients were prepared on the HA coating surface by nanosecond laser with reference to the microscopic morphology characteristics of the biological bone surface. By investigating the effects of microtexture aspect ratio and depth gradient on osteoblast adhesion characteristics, it was found that bone-like microtextures better controlled and simulated cell-material surface interactions. The geometric morphology of microtextured bone with a wide front end and narrow rear end and a depth gradient from front to back was an important signal for osteoblast proliferation. When the aspect ratio of bone microtexture was 2.5:1 and the maximum depth gradient was 15.7 μm, osteoblasts within the microtexture showed optimal growth, proliferation, and adhesion. Additionally, due to induction by microtexture contour shape and depth gradient morphology, cell morphology showed varying adhesion morphology from the front to the back of the microtexture. The results demonstrated that HA coatings with bone-like microtextures had superior osteoblast proliferation and adhesion properties compared to the original cladded coating surface, beneficial for enhancing the application of HA-coated bone implants in large segment bone repair.

Scrolling in Supramolecular Gels: A Designer's Guide.

Gelation by small molecules is a topic of enormous importance in catalysis, nanomaterials, drug delivery, and pharmaceutical crystallization. The mechanism by which gelators self-organize into a fibrous gel network is poorly understood. Herein, we describe the crystal structures and gelation properties of a library of bis(urea) compounds and show, via molecular dynamics simulations, how gelator aggregation progresses from a continuous pattern of supramolecular motifs to a homogeneous fiber network. Our model suggests that lamellae with asymmetric surfaces scroll into uniform unbranched fibrils, while sheets with symmetric surfaces undergo stacking to form crystals. The self-assembly of asymmetric lamellae is associated with specific molecular features, such as the presence of narrow and flexible end groups with high packing densities, and likely represents a general mechanism for the formation of small-molecule gels.

Fates of a Nonwetting Slug in Tapered Microcapillaries under Gravity and Zero Gravity Conditions: Dynamics, Asymptotic Equilibrium Analysis, and Computational Fluid Dynamics Verifications.

It has been determined experimentally and numerically that a nonwetting slug in a tapered capillary tube, under the sole action of capillary force, self-propels itself toward the wider end of the tube until an equilibrium state is reached. The aim of this work is to highlight the state of the slug at equilibrium in terms of configuration and location. Furthermore, it turns out that gravity adds richness to this phenomenon, and more fates become possible. A modified Bond number is developed that determines the relative importance of gravity and capillarity for this system. According to the magnitude of the Bond number, three more fates are possible. Therefore, in a tapered capillary tube held vertically upward with its wider end at the top, in the absence of gravity or under microgravity conditions, the nonwetting slug moves upward toward the wider end of the tube until it reaches equilibrium with the two menisci part of a single sphere. The location of the slug at equilibrium in this case represents the farthest fate among the other fates. When gravity exists yet capillarity dominates, the slug still moves upward toward the wider end. However, in this case, the two menisci become parts of two different spheres of different curvatures. For this scenario, the slug climbs upward but reaches a lower level compared to the previous scenario. On the other hand, when gravity dominates, the slug experiences a net downward pull toward the narrower end of the tube and starts to move in the direction of gravity until capillary force establishes a balance, then it stops. When gravity sufficiently dominates, it pulls the slug downward until it completely drains off the tube. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is conducted in order to build a framework for verification exercises. Excellent agreements between the results of the developed model and the CFD analysis are obtained. A fate map and a scheme are developed to identify these four fates based on two Bond numbers; namely, the initial Bond number and that associated with the slug when it is at the exit.

Magnetization reversal and domain wall pinning in nanowires with nonlinear modulation of diameter

Micromagnetic simulation of magnetization reversal is studied on cylindrical tapered nanowire with radii 50nm and 10nm at wider and narrower end respectively. The radius decreases from wider end to the narrower end non-linearly as R-βzδ where δ is the degree of non-linearity. Value of δ is either an integer (n) or reciprocal of integer (1/n). At remanence, a vortex and flower state at the wider and narrower extremes respectively are exhibited combined with ferromagnetic ordering in the majority of volume. When δ is below 1/2, pinning and depinning of domain wall drives the hysteresis following a Modified Kondorsky model. Otherwise, the magnetization reversal proceeds with nucleation and propagation of vortex domain wall according to Kondorsky model. The propagation of domain wall is dependent upon the value of δ which suggests tunability of magnetic characteristics with modulation of diameter. For instance, large values of coercivity is observed for wires that have strong domain wall pinning which is considerably reduced when depinning and propagation of domain wall takes over. A large range (20kA/m to 130kA/m) of coercivity can be obtained by changing the modulation.

Aortico right atrial tunnel - Clinical presentation, transcatheter management, and follow-up from a large cohort of patients.

Aortico right atrial tunnel (ARAT) is a rare extracardiac communication between the aorta and the right atrium with two anatomical types. A recent global review identified 59 patients. Patients with ARAT from two centers were analyzed for their demographics, symptoms, morphology, management, and follow-up thromboprophylaxis. Among 21 patients including 8 males with a median age of 3 years (18 days-72 years) diagnosed as ARAT, 12 (57%) had posterior tunnels and 9 had anterior tunnels. Four patients had multiple exits. Eighteen tunnels were closed after arteriovenous circuit formation. Six patients (29%) weighing <10 kg presented early with heart failure. Transcatheter closure normalized the hemodynamics including in one infant after failed surgery. Two elderly patients (10%) above 60 years presented with angina and atrial fibrillation. The rest were asymptomatic. Occluders were positioned in the narrow proximal aortic end of the tunnel in all except two patients, where the distal atrial end was closed. All procedures were successful without complications. There was one late death after 1 year from subarachnoid hemorrhage. At a median follow-up of 96 months, all survivors were asymptomatic. Thromboprophylaxis with dual antiplatelets for 1-2 years followed earlier was recently changed to aspirin with Coumadin. Complete remodeling occurred when the proximal aortic end was closed, but partial persistence of the track was noted after distal closure. This largest cohort of ARAT showed the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure even in neonates. The narrow proximal aortic end should be the target for closure rather than the distal atrial end to achieve complete remodeling.

Thermal rectification induced by phonon hydrodynamics in asymmetric 2D microstructures

A thermal diode/rectifier, where the thermal resistance is direction dependent, has always been highly sought after and may find applications in potential thermal logic devices and thermal management systems. By using a more accurate local spatial linear approximation (LSLA) when numerically solving the phonon Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) under Callaway's dual model, it is shown here for the first time that phonon hydrodynamics combined with geometric asymmetry can lead to thermal rectification (TR). Interestingly, in a T-shaped graphene microribbon heat preferentially flows from the narrow end to the wide end, which is opposite to what is observed in T-shaped graphene nanoribbons. Flexural acoustic (ZA) phonons play the dominant role in the TR effect, due to their prominent hydrodynamic behavior. By analysis of the temperature spatial distribution and the phonon mean free paths (MFP), the reasons for TR are explained. By adjusting geometric parameters, the 16 % TR ratio is reached. Furthermore, the impact of edge roughness, temperature difference and strength of phonon hydrodynamics on the TR effect are investigated. This work points to a new mechanism for enabling thermal rectification and may provide insight into the unique interplay between phonon hydrodynamics and engineered microstructures.

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge regarding Cervical Cancer among women of PHC Dabki Road, Akola District

Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower narrow end of the uterus (Womb). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). The ectocevix is covered with then flat cells called squamous cells. The endo cervix is covered with column shaped glandular cells that make mucus types of cervical cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma – 90% Adenocarcinoma. “A study to study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding cervical cancer among women at PHC, akola district”. Objectives: 1 To assess the knowledge regarding the cervical cancer among womens. To determine the effectiveness of structured teaching programme. To associate the pre - test and post – test knowledge regarding cervical cancer. To correlate the knowledge the pre – test and score on cervical cancer among womens. The research design was selected as group pre – test and post – test design variables – independent variables – structured teaching programme and dependent variables – cervical cancer. Target population womens with age group of 25-50yrs. The purposive sampling technique was used. Sampling criteria inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sample size 60 womens from the age group 45 – 55yrs. The questionnaire consisted 01 – 12 items and knowledge questionnaire on cervical cancer. The tool was reliable the validity of the tools done by experts findings majority of the (88.3%) women respondents were living in Rural (11.7%) being in urban areas. The knowledge level of cervical cancer has been increased from mean value of (3.8) at pre – test to (24.67) at post test. It seems that the attitude of women has changed at higher level mean (41.83) compare to knowledge mean of (15.87). The difference between pre and post test for both knowledge and attitude is significant effect of intervention on improving knowledge and positive attitude that in education of women towards cervical cancer. The obtained factors age, marital status are significant. There was a significant increase in knowledge among + = 27.543 (P = 0.05) Attitude among + = 34.931 (P = 0.05). Recommendations: A true experimental study with experimental and control groups can be conducted. Conclusion: The study promotes the womens knowledge and attitude awareness of cervical cancer.

Numerical Study of Dig Sequence Effects during Large-Scale Excavation

The appropriate excavation sequence can improve the overall stability of a foundation pit. In this study, eight schemes were created using FLAC3D to examine the impact of the excavation sequence on a foundation pit by analyzing a deep foundation pit in Nanjing, which had an irregular large rectangle shape. The results show that different excavation sequence schemes and different phases of the foundation pit can change the displacement values and the horizontal displacement type. The min–max normalization method was used to score the schemes in terms of six parameters and confirm the best excavation sequence scheme. In addition, the irregular shape of the foundation pit also leads to local differences in the stability of a foundation pit; the wide end is only slightly longer than the narrow end, but its displacement is significantly higher than that of the narrow end, so attention should be paid to reinforcing the weak parts when carrying out the support. This study can inform the selection of the excavation sequence for actual construction processes.

Sparse SiPM Pixel Arrangement for a TOF-PET Detector Design that Achieves 100 ps Coincidence Time Resolution

Coupling silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) to the side of a long and narrow scintillation crystal elements offers near-complete light extraction efficiency, independent of 511 keV photon interaction depth, and reduced scintillation light transit time jitter in its path toward the photodetector. With these advantages, significant improvements in PET detector coincidence time resolution (CTR) can be achieved compared to the traditional scintillation light readout configuration where an SiPM is coupled on the narrow end of crystals. Moreover, the arrangement of photosensors along the crystal’s side intrinsically provides a three-dimensional position sensing detector. One consideration for the side readout approach is the increase in the number of SiPMs required to read each crystal element. In this work, we investigate the achievable CTR when the number of SiPM elements coupled to the side of crystals is parametrically varied, including different crystal lengths and reflector configurations. A simulation model for CTR was validated against measurements with 3-20 mm length crystals employing side readout of scintillation light. The validated simulation model was used to parametrically investigate twenty-seven configurations of SiPMs arranged along the side of crystal elements. Reflector and sensor placement was parametrically varied to find configurations that optimize light collection efficiency, energy resolution, and CTR. One configuration achieved 101±1 ps FWHM CTR, while maintaining high light collection efficiency and good energy performance with a 33% reduction in photosensor area.

First report of Phyllosticta capitalensis causing leaf spot of Mahonia fortunei in China.

Mahonia fortunei, belonging to the Berberidaceae family, is widely cultivated in fields, parks, courtyards, and roadsides for its excellent ornamental characteristics and medicinal values in southern China (Yu and Chung 2017). In May 2021, leaf spots were observed on nearly 60~80% of M. fortunei plants growing in Chongqing Normal University campus (29°36'42″N; 106°17'59″E) from Chongqing City, China. The typical symptoms on leaves were irregular spots with gray centers, brown edges, and chlorotic halos, about 1 to 7 mm in diameter, and eventually coalesced forming larger necrotic areas. Twenty symptomatic leaves were randomly sampled from five diseased plants. Tissues were cut from the lesion margins and surface sterilized in 75% ethanol for 1 min, rinsed thrice with sterile water, dried on sterilized paper, plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates, and incubated at 25°C for 7 days in the dark. A total of 20 isolates were obtained from the infected leaves. Pure colonies of all fungal isolates had similar characteristics, and three isolates were randomly selected (SD11, SD18, SD19) for further study. Colonies of this fungus were olivaceous greenish to olivaceous black with a granular surface, and irregular light olive edges, finally turning black on PDA. Pycnidia were black, globose, granular, and in clusters. Conidia (n=30) were hyaline, aseptate, unicellular, obovoid to ellipsoid, narrow end with single apical appendage, and 7.5~11.2 × 4.5 ~6.5 μm. The DNA of three isolates were extracted and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, actin (ACT), and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) genes were amplified and sequenced using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), ACT512F/ACT783R, and ER728F/EF986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), respectively. The sequences of three isolates were 100% identical, and one representative isolate SD18 were deposited in GenBank (ON231754, ITS; ON246259, ACT; and ON246258, TEF1). Sequence analysis revealed that the consensus sequences of ITS, ACT, and TEF1 of isolate SD18 was 99 to 100% identical to each sequence of an Indonesian strain (CBS 117118) of P. capitalensis from Musa acuminate (FJ538339 for ITS, FJ538455 for ACT, FJ538397 for TEF1). Phylogenetic analysis using Maximum Likelihood and concatenated sequences (ITS+ACT+TEF1) with MEGA7 placed isolate SD18 in P. capitalensis with 100% bootstrap support. Based on these morphological and molecular characteristics, the isolates were identified as P. capitalensis (Wikee et al. 2013). To fulfill Koch's postulates, 8 healthy potted plants were inoculated with 106 conidia/ml suspension of isolate SD18 by spraying the leaves, and another 8 plants were sprayed with sterile distilled water as control. All plants were covered with plastic bags for two days and then arranged in a greenhouse with 80% relative humidity at 25°C. The pathogenicity test was repeated thrice. After 18 days inoculation, the similar symptoms were observed on the inoculated plants, whereas control plants remained healthy. The pathogen was reisolated from symptomatic tissue and identified as P. capitalensis by the methods described above. P. capitalensis has been reported causing leaf spot on various host plants around the world (Wikee et al. 2013), recently found on tea plant, castor, and oil palm (Cheng et al. 2019; Tang et al. 2020; Nasehi et al. 2020). This is the first report of P. capitalensis causing leaf spot on M. fortune in China, and will establish a foundation for controlling the disease.

Improving the Efficiency of the Blow-Jet WEC

Establishing a renewable marine energy industry demands the development of high-efficiency devices that capture as much energy as possible. The Blow-Jet is a wave energy converter mainly composed of a sloping conical channel in the shape of a brass tube, which concentrates the waves at its widest part and expels a jet of water at its narrow upper end through an orifice that can be turbined. The device has no moving parts and great flexibility in its placement. This research presents an improvement of its geometry, increasing efficiency by minimizing undesired hydrodynamic interactions. The performance of the Blow-Jet was characterized using 3D numerical modeling and laboratory tests in a wave flume. Sixteen geometric configurations of the Blow-Jet were numerically tested, and that showing the best performance was 3D printed and assessed experimentally. The twofold objective was to evaluate the performance of the new Blow-Jet geometry and to validate a numerical tool for further geometrical improvements of the device. The novel geometry is nearly 20% more efficient than the original.

Ovary micromorphology in hormogastrid earthworms with a particular emphasis on the organization of the germline cysts

There is a gap in our knowledge of microorganization and the functioning of ovaries in earthworms (Crassiclitellata) and allied taxa. Recent analyses of ovaries in microdriles and leech-like taxa revealed that they are composed of syncytial germline cysts accompanied by somatic cells. Although the pattern of cyst organization is conserved across Clitellata – each cell is connected via one intercellular bridge (ring canal) to the central and anuclear cytoplasmic mass termed the cytophore – this system shows high evolutionary plasticity. In Crassiclitellata, only the gross morphology of ovaries and their segmental localization is well known, whereas ultrastructural data are limited to lumbricids like Dendrobaena veneta. Here we present the first report about ovarian histology and ultrastructure in Hormogastridae, a small family of earthworms inhabiting the western parts of the Mediterranean sea basin. We analyzed three species from three different genera and showed that the pattern of ovary organization is the same within this taxon. Ovaries are cone-like, with a broad part connected to the septum and a narrow distal end forming an egg string. Ovaries are composed of numerous cysts uniting a small number of cells, eight in Carpetania matritensis. There is a gradient of cysts development along the long ovary axis, and three zones can be distinguished. In zone I, cysts develop in complete synchrony and unite oogonia and early meiotic cells (till diplotene). Then (zone II), the synchrony is lost, and one cell (prospective oocyte) grows faster than the rest (prospective nurse cells). In zone III, oocytes pass the growth phase and gather nutrients; at this time, their contact with the cytophore is lost. Nurse cells grow slightly, eventually die via apoptosis, and are removed by coelomocytes. The most characteristic feature of hormogastrid germ cysts is the inconspicuous cytophore in the form of thread-like thin cytoplasmic strands (reticular cytophore). We found that the ovary organization in studied hormogastrids is very similar to that described for D. veneta and propose the term "Dendrobaena" type of ovaries. We expect the same microorganization of ovaries will be found in other hormogastrids and lumbricids.

Hollow Octadecameric Self-Assembly of Collagen-like Peptides.

The folding of collagen is a hierarchical process that starts with three peptides associating into the characteristic triple helical fold. Depending on the specific collagen in question, these triple helices then assemble into bundles reminiscent of α-helical coiled-coils. Unlike α-helices, however, the bundling of collagen triple helices is very poorly understood with almost no direct experimental data available. In order to shed light on this critical step of collagen hierarchical assembly, we have examined the collagenous region of complement component 1q. Thirteen synthetic peptides were prepared to dissect the critical regions allowing for its octadecameric self-assembly. We find that short peptides (under 40 amino acids) are able to self-assemble into specific (ABC)6 octadecamers. This requires the ABC heterotrimeric composition as the self-assembly subunit, but does not require disulfide bonds. Self-assembly into this octadecamer is aided by short noncollagenous sequences at the N-terminus, although they are not entirely required. The mechanism of self-assembly appears to begin with the very slow formation of the ABC heterotrimeric helix, followed by rapid bundling of triple helices into progressively larger oligomers, terminating in the formation of the (ABC)6 octadecamer. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals the (ABC)6 assembly as a remarkable, hollow, crown-like structure with an open channel approximately 18 Å at the narrow end and 30 Å at the wide end. This work helps to illuminate the structure and assembly mechanism of a critical protein in the innate immune system and lays the groundwork for the de novo design of higher order collagen mimetic peptide assemblies.

Asymmetric Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments with Progressive Base Width and Thickness for Keratoconus: Evaluation of Efficacy and Analysis of Epithelial Remodeling

Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe visual outcomes and epithelial remodeling following the implantation of asymmetric intracorneal ring segments (ICRSs) of variable thickness and base width for the management of duck-type keratoconus. Methods: A prospective observational study of patients with duck-type keratoconus was conducted. All patients received one ICRS AJL PRO + implant (AJL Ophthalmic). We analyzed demographic and clinical data, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) data and Scheimpflug camera images obtained with a Placido disc MS-39 (CSO, Firenze, Italy) one and six months after surgery to determine keratometric and aberrometric outcomes and epithelial remodeling. Results: We studied 33 keratoconic eyes. ICRS implantation significantly improved both corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and uncorrected distance visual acuity at six months, as assessed with the logMAR (minimum angle of resolution) system, from 0.32 ± 0.19 to 0.12 ± 0.12 (p < 0.001) and from 0.75 ± 0.38 to 0.37 ± 0.24 (p < 0.001), respectively. Overall, 87% of implanted eyes gained ≥ 1 line of CDVA, and 3% of patients (n = 1) lost one line of CDVA; 55% of eyes attained a manifest refraction spherical equivalent between +1.50 and -1.50 D. Epithelial remodeling was greater at the wider and thicker end (+11.33 µm ± 12.95; p < 0.001 relative to the initial value) than at the narrower and thinner end (+2.24 µm ± 5.67; p = 0.01). Coma aberration was significantly reduced from 1.62 ± 0.81 µm to 0.99 ± 0.59 µm (p < 0.001). Conclusions: AJL-PRO + ICRS implantation for duck-type keratoconus improves refractive, topographic, aberrometric and visual parameters and induces progressive epithelial thickening along the segment.