Non-linear photoluminescence from graphene

Graphene is in the focus of research due to its unique electronic and optical properties. Intrinsic graphene is a zero gap semiconductor with a linear dispersion relation for E-k leading to zero-effective-mass electrons and holes described by Fermi-Dirac theory. Since pristine graphene has no bandgap no photoluminescence would be expected. However, recently several groups showed non-linear photoluminescence from pristine graphene putting forward different physical models explaining this remarkable effect [1-3]. © 2011 IEEE.

Comparative evaluation of fish protein concentrate and functional fish protein concentrate from cat fish

Fish protein concentrate and functional fish protein concentrate samples were prepared from eviscerated meat of cat fish (Tachysurus jella Day). Functional fish protein concentrate is found to be lighter, less gritty and rehydrates more rapidly than fish protein concentrate. Functional FPC is seen to have higher PER and biscuits containing it at levels of 5 and 7 percent are less hard compared to FPC.

Use of linear low density polythene film for frozen fish packaging

Physical properties of linear low density polythene film of 60 gauge thickness and its suitability as packaging material in frozen fish industry was studied in comparison with conventional 100 gauge low density polythene film. Both were comparable in water vapor transmission rate both at 38°C and -20°C, overall migration test and :flexibility at low temperatures. ·Even though the tearing strength was inferior to the conventional one, it is of no significance in its use in frozen fish industry. The new film worked out to be more economical than the other one.

Design and formulation of functional pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac microtissues.

Access to robust and information-rich human cardiac tissue models would accelerate drug-based strategies for treating heart disease. Despite significant effort, the generation of high-fidelity adult-like human cardiac tissue analogs remains challenging. We used computational modeling of tissue contraction and assembly mechanics in conjunction with microfabricated constraints to guide the design of aligned and functional 3D human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cardiac microtissues that we term cardiac microwires (CMWs). Miniaturization of the platform circumvented the need for tissue vascularization and enabled higher-throughput image-based analysis of CMW drug responsiveness. CMW tissue properties could be tuned using electromechanical stimuli and cell composition. Specifically, controlling self-assembly of 3D tissues in aligned collagen, and pacing with point stimulation electrodes, were found to promote cardiac maturation-associated gene expression and in vivo-like electrical signal propagation. Furthermore, screening a range of hPSC-derived cardiac cell ratios identified that 75% NKX2 Homeobox 5 (NKX2-5)+ cardiomyocytes and 25% Cluster of Differentiation 90 OR (CD90)+ nonmyocytes optimized tissue remodeling dynamics and yielded enhanced structural and functional properties. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of the optimized platform in a tachycardic model of arrhythmogenesis, an aspect of cardiac electrophysiology not previously recapitulated in 3D in vitro hPSC-derived cardiac microtissue models. The design criteria identified with our CMW platform should accelerate the development of predictive in vitro assays of human heart tissue function.