CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles Grown within Porous Al2O3 and Immobilized on Graphene Nanosheets: A Hierarchical Nanocomposite for Broadband Microwave Absorption.

Demands to develop efficient microwave-absorbing materials are increasing with the advancement of information technology and the exponential rise in the usage of electromagnetic devices. To reduce electromagnetic interference and to overcome the adverse effects caused by microwave exposure resulting from the excessive usage of electromagnetic devices, microwave absorbers are very necessary. In addition, radar-absorbing materials are essential for stealth technology in military applications. Herein, we report a nanocomposite in which CoFe2O4 (CF) nanoparticles were grown within the porous structure of Al2O3 (PA), and this CoFe2O4-loaded Al2O3 (PA-CF) nanocomposite was immobilized on the surface of nanometer-thin graphene sheets (Gr). Owing to the hierarchical structure created by the constituents, the (60PA-40CF)90-Gr10 nanocomposite exhibited excellent microwave-absorption properties in the X-band region with a reflection loss (RL) value of ∼-30.68 dB (∼99.9% absorption) at 10.71 and 9.04 GHz when thicknesses were 2.0 and 2.3 mm, respectively. This nanocomposite demonstrated its competence as a lightweight, high-performance microwave absorber in the X-band region, which can be utilized in the applications of pioneering stealth technology.

Polymerase chain reaction confirmed Mycoplasma pneumoniae arthritis: a case report.

We report here a case of polyarthritis caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in a 30 years old male who initially triggered suspicion of tuberculosis. Synovial fluid subjected to AFB smear, culture and PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis along with culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria by standard methods were negative. Synovial fluid was found to be positive by PCR for M. pneumoniae amplifying 543 bp fragment of P1 gene, however it could not be grown in culture. Specific IgG immunoglobulins to M. pneumoniae were also detected in synovial fluid as well as serum by ELISA which were further confirmed by IgG immunoblotting showing response to M. pneumoniae proteins specially immunodominant protein P1. The finding that both M. pneumoniae DNA and specific antibodies to M. pneumoniae are present in synovial fluid of the patient suggests that M. pneumoniae play an important role in arthritis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first PCR confirmed M. pneumoniae infection in synovial fluid from a case of polyarthritis.