Ultra-high birefringent low loss suspended elliptical core photonic crystal fiber for terahertz applications.

This paper presents a low loss suspended core microstructured fiber with ultra-high birefringence for terahertz wave guidance. The finite element method (FEM) with a perfectly matched layer is applied to investigate different important properties including effective material loss (EML), birefringence, dispersion, confinement loss, and percentage of power flow through the core. The suspended elliptical core in the design creates asymmetry and results in an unprecedented value of birefringence. The simulated results using FEM at 1 THz show an extremely ultra-high birefringence (the highest, to the best of our knowledge) of 0.1116, a nominal EML of 0.04716cm-1, a negligible confinement loss of 2.65×10-7cm-1, a higher power fraction in the core air of 35%, and an effective modal area of 1.24×105µm. The advancement in technology makes the fabrication possible. The proposed fiber could be used satisfactorily in the terahertz regime for various polarization-preserving applications and coherent communication.

Impact of Subolesin and Cystatin Knockdown by RNA Interference in Adult Female Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) on Blood Engorgement and Reproduction.

Currently, multi-antigenic vaccine use is the method of choice for the strategic control of ticks. Therefore, determining the efficacy of combined antigens is a promising avenue of research in the development of anti-tick vaccines. The antigen responsible for blood intake and reproduction has proven suitable as a vaccine antigen. It has been shown to silence Haemaphysalis longicornis salivary cystatin (HlSC-1) and subolesin by RNA interference. Adult unfed female ticks were injected with double-stranded RNA of (A) subolesin, (B) cystatin, (C) subolesin plus cystatin, and (D) injection buffer, then fed alongside normal unfed males up to spontaneous drop-down. The percentage of knockdowns was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Sixty-three percent and 53% knockdown rates were observed in subolesin and cystatin double-stranded RNA-injected ticks respectively, while 32 and 26% knockdown rates of subolesin and cystatin transcript were observed in subolesin plus cystatin double-stranded RNA-injected ticks. Subolesin and/or cystatin knockdown causes a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in tick engorgement, egg mass weight, and egg conversion ratio. Most importantly, combined silencing did not act synergistically, but caused a similarly significant (p < 0.05) reduction in tick engorgement, egg mass weight, and egg conversion ratio. Therefore, the elucidation of multiple antigens may be helpful in the future of vaccines.