Tunable multichannel Fibonacci one-dimensional terahertz photonic crystal filter.

This paper proposes a multichannel terahertz optical filter based on a one-dimensional photonic crystal with a third-order Fibonacci structure, including a bulk Dirac semimetal. The tuning of the optical properties of the proposed structure has been theoretically studied as a function of the Dirac semimetals' Fermi energy. Furthermore, the effects of the Fibonacci structure's periodic number and light's incident angle on optical channels were investigated. The results reveal that changes in the Fermi energy and incident angle remarkably affect the frequency and transmission of the optical channels. Additionally, the number of optical channels increases by increasing the periodic number of the Fibonacci structure.

In Vivo Image-Based 4D Modeling of Competent and Regurgitant Mitral Valve Dynamics.

BACKGROUND: In vivo characterization of mitral valve dynamics relies on image analysis algorithms that accurately reconstruct valve morphology and motion from clinical images. The goal of such algorithms is to provide patient-specific descriptions of both competent and regurgitant mitral valves, which can be used as input to biomechanical analyses and provide insights into the pathophysiology of diseases like ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). OBJECTIVE: The goal is to generate accurate image-based representations of valve dynamics that visually and quantitatively capture normal and pathological valve function. METHODS: We present a novel framework for 4D segmentation and geometric modeling of the mitral valve in real-time 3D echocardiography (rt-3DE), an imaging modality used for pre-operative surgical planning of mitral interventions. The framework integrates groupwise multi-atlas label fusion and template-based medial modeling with Kalman filtering to generate quantitatively descriptive and temporally consistent models of valve dynamics. RESULTS: The algorithm is evaluated on rt-3DE data series from 28 patients: 14 with normal mitral valve morphology and 14 with severe IMR. In these 28 data series that total 613 individual 3DE images, each 3D mitral valve segmentation is validated against manual tracing, and temporal consistency between segmentations is demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Automated 4D image analysis allows for reliable non-invasive modeling of the mitral valve over the cardiac cycle for comparison of annular and leaflet dynamics in pathological and normal mitral valves. Future studies can apply this algorithm to cardiovascular mechanics applications, including patient-specific strain estimation, fluid dynamics simulation, inverse finite element analysis, and risk stratification for surgical treatment.

Fungal endophytes - secret producers of bioactive plant metabolites.

The potential of endophytic fungi as promising sources of bioactive natural products continues to attract broad attention. Endophytic fungi are defined as fungi that live asymptomatically within the tissues of higher plants. This overview will highlight the uniqueness of endophytic fungi as alternative sources of pharmaceutically valuable compounds originally isolated from higher plants, e.g. paclitaxel, camptothecin and podophyllotoxin. In addition, it will shed light on the fungal biosynthesis of plant associated metabolites as well as new approaches developed to improve the production of commercially important plant derived compounds with the involvement of endophytic fungi.

Competitive interaction between larvae of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Rearing of L. sericata and C. albiceps in pure cultures of a variety of densities, at four constant temperature regimes, demonstrated an inverse relationship between egg density and the total development (F(2,6) = 264.35 and F(2,6) = 71.87 For L. sericata and C. albiceps, respectively p < 0.05), survivorship (F(2,9) = 68.41; p < 0.001 forL. sericata and F(2,9) = 12.35; p < 0.05 for C. albiceps) and adult size (For L. sericata: males F(2,9) = 58.94 and females F(2,9) = 140.09. For C. albiceps: males F(2,9) = 43.62 and females F(2,9) = 167.99. In all cases p < 0.001) of both species. Addition of C. albiceps reduced the development time and survivorship of L. sericata at a variety of densities and proportions at 17 and 23 degrees C. While at 29 and 35 degrees C, a complete elimination of L. sericata was recorded. Neither egg density nor temperature has a significant effect on the sex ratio of the resulting adults. It seems that the interaction between these species is a highly asymmetric case of competition.

A review of genus Eumegacetes Looss, 1900 (Eumegacetidae), with description of species from the Egyptian house sparrow: Passer d. niloticus.

Genus Eumegacetes is briefly reviewed E. (Anterovitellum) sp. is described from Passer domesticus niloticus caught from Sharkiya Governorate, North Delta, which represents the first host and new locality. A key is proposed to differentiate the three species of the genus known so far from Egypt.