The mammalian circadian clock is driven by a transcriptional–translational feedback loop, which produces robust 24-hr rhythms. Proper oscillation of the clock depends on the complex formation and periodic turnover of the Period and Cryptochrome ...

Birds have a light-dependent magnetic compass that is suggested to be mediated by light-induced, biochemical reactions in specialized magnetoreceptor molecules in the avian retina. Natural skylight reaching these receptors is always directional and to some degree polarized, which has largely been neglected in biophysical models and behavioral experiments on the magnetic compass sense. Training zebra finches in a spatial orientation assay, we show that overhead polarized light modulates radical pair-based magnetic compass orientation. The magnetic compass is only operational when overhead polarized light is aligned parallel, but not perpendicular, to the magnetic field. These findings reveal fundamentally new properties of the light-dependent magnetoreceptor that significantly advance our understanding of how birds, and animals in general, perceive the Earth’s magnetic field.

Evidence is accumulating to support the hypothesis that some animals use light-induced radical pairs to detect the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. Cryptochrome proteins seem to be involved in the sensory pathway but it is not yet clear if they ...

The effects of the bulk and surface modification of nanoparticles on the cure kinetics of low-filled epoxy nanocomposites containing electrochemically synthesized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide (PVP-SPIO), Zn-doped PVP-SPIO (Zn-PVP-SPIO), and Mn-doped PVP-SPIO (Mn-PVP-SPIO) were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cure kinetics analyses. Integral and differential isoconversional methods were used to calculate the activation energies (Eα) and consequently propose the appropriate reaction model for the curing reaction under nonisothermal conditions. According to the alteration of Eα versus the fractional extent of conversion, the Eα trend was changed through the partial replacement of Fe2+ sites by the Zn2+ and Mn2+ cations in the general formula of MxFe3-xO4, due to smaller amounts of energy being required for curing by the incorporation of Zn-PVP-SPIO and Mn-PVP-SPIO nanoparticles into the epoxy resin. A good agreement was observed between the theoretical calculation and the observed calorimetric data for the model validation.

The effects of the bulk and surface modification of nanoparticles on the cure kinetics of low-filled epoxy nanocomposites containing electrochemically synthesized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide (PVP-SPIO), Zn-doped PVP-SPIO (Zn-PVP-SPIO), and Mn-doped PVP-SPIO (Mn-PVP-SPIO) were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cure kinetics analyses. Integral and differential isoconversional methods were used to calculate the activation energies (Eα) and consequently propose the appropriate reaction model for the curing reaction under nonisothermal conditions. According to the alteration of Eα versus the fractional extent of conversion, the Eα trend was changed through the partial replacement of Fe2+ sites by the Zn2+ and Mn2+ cations in the general formula of MxFe3-xO4, due to smaller amounts of energy being required for curing by the incorporation of Zn-PVP-SPIO and Mn-PVP-SPIO nanoparticles into the epoxy resin. A good agreement was observed between the theoretical calculation and the observed calorimetric data for the model validation.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cancer remains as the major cause of death worldwide. The main reason why available therapies fail is that a vicious cycle in established which...

Since brain's microvasculature is compromised in gliomas, intravenous injection of tumor-targeting nanoparticles containing drugs (D-NPs) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO-NPs) can deliver high payloads of drugs while allowing MRI to track

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New Genre... Strip-Hop. ha. Its about strip clubs...reminds me of the vibe... Wrote a similar song that sounds way different... its more Trip-Metal... recording it in a few months....

Magnetic compass orientation in night-migratory songbirds is embedded in the visual system and seems to be based on a light-dependent radical pair mechanism. Recent findings suggest that both broadband electromagnetic fields ranging from ~2 kHz to ~9 MHz and narrow-band fields at the so-called Larmor frequency for a free electron in the Earth’s magnetic field can disrupt this mechanism. However, due to local magnetic fields generated by nuclear spins, effects specific to the Larmor frequency are difficult to understand considering that the primary sensory molecule should be organic and probably a protein. We therefore constructed a purpose-built laboratory and tested the orientation capabilities of European robins in an electromagnetically silent environment, under the specific influence of four different oscillating narrow-band electromagnetic fields, at the Larmor frequency, double the Larmor frequency, 1.315 MHz or 50 Hz, and in the presence of broadband electromagnetic noise covering the range from ~2 kHz to ~9 MHz. Our results indicated that the magnetic compass orientation of European robins could not be disrupted by any of the relatively strong narrow-band electromagnetic fields employed here, but that the weak broadband field very efficiently disrupted their orientation.

The utility model discloses a bird dispeller, relates to the technical field of bird scaring equipment, and in particular to a magnetic induction bird dispelling device applicable to transmission lines. The device comprises a casing and superparamagnetic crystals; the superparamagnetic crystals are arranged in the casing; the magnetic axis of the superparamagnetic crystal can be changed according to the changing of magnetic field on the periphery of the superparamagnetic crystal; the superparamagnetic crystals can form insufficient magnetic field to attract or repel nearby crystals in geomagnetic field, so that certain matrixes can be formed among the superparamagnetic crystals; and by transmitting magnetic signals to bird cells through a certain transmission mechanism, foothold position of birds can be changed, and bird dispelling effect is achieved. The device is simple in structure and manufacture, small in volume, and convenient and flexible to install and use, and low in cost, has good effect and long service life, and is widely used and particularly applicable to bird dispelling for transmission line facilities.

Ferrite nanoparticles (F-NPs) can transform both cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Superparamagnetic F-NPs exhibit high magnetic moment and susceptibility such that in presence of a static magnetic field transverse relaxation rate of water protons for MRI contrast is augmented to locate F-NPs (i.e., diagnostics) and exposed to an alternating magnetic field local temperature is increased to induce tissue necrosis (i.e., thermotherapy). F-NPs are modified by chemical synthesis of mixed spinel ferrites as well as their size, shape, and coating. Purposely designed drug-containing nanoparticles (D-NPs) can slowly deliver drugs (i.e., chemotherapy). Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of D-NPs with MRI guidance improves glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. MRI monitors the location of chemotherapy when D-NPs and F-NPs are coadministered with CED. However superparamagnetic field gradients produced by F-NPs complicate MRI readouts (spatial distortions) and MRS (extensive line broadening). Since extracellular pH (pHe) is a cancer hallmark, pHe imaging is needed to screen cancer treatments. Biosensor imaging of redundant deviation in shifts (BIRDS) extrapolates pHe from paramagnetically shifted signals and the pHe accuracy remains unaffected by F-NPs. Hence effect of both chemotherapy and thermotherapy can be monitored (by BIRDS), whereas location of F-NPs is revealed (by MRI). Smarter tethering of nanoparticles and agents will impact GBM theranostics.

Under the influence of thermal forces, microscopic rod-shaped objects immersed in a fluid exhibit fluctuations: They deform mechanically. The energy provided by the thermal forces being well known, the measure of these fluctuations provides a convenient means of probing the rigidity of many biological filaments (DNA, microtubules, etc.) or synthetic microrods such as carbon nanotubes. However, only relatively flexible items could be studied by this technique: If they are too rigid, the fluctuations are too small to be detected. We substantially improved the method and measured the rigidity of rods 1,000 times stiffer than in previous studies. The method could henceforth be applied to numerous harder microscopic objects.

Birds, fish, sea turtles, and various other animals have been reported to sense the geomagnetic field and to use it for orientation, navigation, and homing. In recent years, exciting progress has been made towards elucidating the physical and structural basis of this remarkable phenomenon. This paper focuses on the two hypotheses that drive current research into magnetoreception. One proposal relies on the presence of molecules that undergo magnetically anisotropic chemical reactions due to transient formation of a radical pair. The proposed mechanism-essentially a chemical compass-is theoretically well-established and specifically designed behavioral experiments may indeed be interpreted that way, which has sparked a hunt for the molecules and structures in question. The ferrimagnetic transduction hypothesis, on the other hand, draws its plausibility from both theoretical considerations and the fact that magnetite has been detected in sensory neurons, with stable single-domain particles in fish and micrometer-scale clusters of superparamagnetic nanocrystals in birds. We discuss the limitations of our current knowledge and suggest future studies.

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPMNPs) have attracted interest for various biomedical applications due to their unique magnetic behavior, excellent biocompatibility, easy surface modification, and low cost. Their unique magnetic properties, superparamagnetism, and magnetophoretic mobility have led to their inclusion in immunoassays to enhance biosensor sensitivity and allow for rapid detection of various analytes. In this review, we describe SPMNP characteristics valuable for incorporation into biosensors, including the use of SPMNPs to increase detection capabilities of surface plasmon resonance and giant magneto-resistive biosensors. The current status of SPMNP-based immunoassays to improve the sensitivity of rapid diagnostic tests is reviewed, and suggested strategies for the successful adoption of SPMNPs for immunoassays are presented.

The T1–T2 dual-mode contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can generate self-complementary confirmed T2 and T1 images, hence greatly improving the reliability. Facilely synthesizing nanoparticles with the ultrasensitive contrast property remains extremely challenging in nanoscience. Moreover, uncovering the mechanism correlating the signal enhancements and chemical constituents is vital for designing novel efficient synergistically enhanced T1–T2 dual-mode MRI nanoprobes. Herein, we report a one-pot facile method to synthesize the superparamagnetic manganese oxide-doped iron oxide (Fe3O4/MnO) nanoparticles for T1–T2 dual-mode MR imaging. Under external magnetic field, the local magnetic field intensities of MnO and Fe3O4 could be simultaneously enhanced through embedding MnO into Fe3O4 nanoparticles and hence can cause synergistic T1 and T2 contrast enhancements. Moreover, a novel and facile cost-effective method for large-scale synthesis of hydroxyl–polyethylene glycol–phosphonic acid-stabilizing ligands is designed. The facile synthetic method and surface coating strategy of superparamagnetic Fe3O4/MnO nanoparticles offer an idea for the chemical design and preparation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles with ultrasensitive MRI contrast abilities for disease evaluation and treatment.