Adsorption of albumin by gold nanoparticles: Equilibrium and thermodynamics studies

AbstractIn this research, bovine serum albumin (BSA) experiment was carried out and then the produced BSA was used to investigate the adsorption behavior of BSA from aqueous solutions through UV–Vis spectroscopy. The changes of parameters such as contact time, pH, BSA initial concentration and temperature were tested and investigated by several adsorption experiments. The equilibrium adsorption data were described as well and fitted better by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm than the four linear Langmuir models at all studied temperatures and pHs. Moreover, surface structural change was studied for the presence of BSA and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) before and after the experiment by FT-IR spectroscopy. The maximum adsorption capacity of BSA adsorbed by GNPs was 109.54mg/g and equilibrium constant was 0.0051 calculated by the Langmuir (four type) model at 298K and pH=8.6. The thermodynamic parameters implied that the adsorption processes were spontaneous and exothermic. The kinetic data indicate that the adsorption fits as well as with the pseudo first-order kinetic model

Pomeron pole plus grey disk model: Real parts, inelastic cross sections and LHC data

AbstractI propose a two component analytic formula F(s,t)=F(1)(s,t)+F(2)(s,t) for (ab→ab)+(ab¯→ab¯) scattering at energies ≥100 GeV, where s,t denote squares of c.m. energy and momentum transfer. It saturates the Froissart–Martin bound and obeys Auberson–Kinoshita–Martin (AKM) [1,2] scaling. I choose ImF(1)(s,0)+ImF(2)(s,0) as given by Particle Data Group (PDG) fits [3,4] to total cross sections, corresponding to simple and triple poles in angular momentum plane. The PDG formula is extended to non-zero momentum transfers using partial waves of ImF(1) and ImF(2) motivated by Pomeron pole and ‘grey disk’ amplitudes and constrained by inelastic unitarity. ReF(s,t) is deduced from real analyticity: I prove that ReF(s,t)/ImF(s,0)→(π/ln⁡s)d/dτ(τImF(s,t)/ImF(s,0)) for s→∞ with τ=t(lns)2 fixed, and apply it to F(2). Using also the forward slope fit by Schegelsky–Ryskin [5], the model gives real parts, differential cross sections for (−t)<.3 GeV2, and inelastic cross sections in good agreement with data at 546 GeV, 1.8 TeV, 7 TeV and 8 TeV. It predicts for inelastic cross sections for pp or p¯p, σinel=72.7±1.0 mb at 7 TeV and 74.2±1.0 mb at 8 TeV in agreement with pp Totem [7–10] experimental values 73.1±1.3 mb and 74.7±1.7 mb respectively, and with Atlas [12–15] values 71.3±0.9 mb and 71.7±0.7 mb respectively. The predictions σinel=48.1±0.7 mb at 546 GeV and 58.5±0.8 mb at 1800 GeV also agree with p¯p experimental results of Abe et al. [47] 48.4±.98 mb at 546 GeV and 60.3±2.4 mb at 1800 GeV. The model yields for s>0.5 TeV, with PDG2013 [4] total cross sections, and Schegelsky–Ryskin slopes [5] as input, σinel(s)=22.6+.034lns+.158(lns)2 mb, and σinel/σtot→0.56, s→∞, where s is in GeV2 units. Continuation to positive t indicates an ‘effective’ t-channel singularity at ∼(1.5 GeV)2, and suggests that usual Froissart–Martin bounds are quantitatively weak as they only assume absence of singularities upto 4mπ2

Development and validation of Ketorolac Tromethamine in eye drop formulation by RP-HPLC method

AbstractA simple, precise and accurate method was developed and validated for analysis of Ketorolac Tromethamine in eye drop formulation. An isocratic HPLC analysis was performed on Kromosil C18 column (150cm×4.6mm×5μm). The compound was separated with the mixture of methanol and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate buffer in the ratio of 55:45V/V, pH 3.0 was adjusted with O-phosphoric acid as the mobile phase at flow of 1.5mLmin−1. UV detection was performed at 314nm using photo diode array detection. The retention time was found to be 6.01min. The system suitability parameters such as theoretical plate count, tailing and percentage RSD between six standard injections were within the limit. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines. Calibrations were linear over the concentration range of 50–150μgmL−1 as indicated by correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999. The robustness of the method was evaluated by deliberately altering the chromatographic conditions. The developed method can be applicable for routine quantitative analysis

Synthesis of some 2, 6-bis (1-coumarin-2-yl)-4-(4-substituted phenyl) pyridine derivatives as potent biological agents

AbstractA convenient one-pot, three-component synthesis of 2, 6-bis (1-coumarin-2-yl)-4-(4-substituted phenyl) pyridine derivatives (3a–k) by Chichibabin reaction has been reported. These compounds were synthesized by the reaction of 3-acetyl coumarin (1a) or 5-bromo 3-acetyl coumarin (1b) with substituted aromatic aldehydes (2a–k) and ammonium acetate under acidic conditions and the structure was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectroscopic methods. The newly synthesized compounds (3a–k) were evaluated for antimicrobial activity, DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ferrous ion-chelating ability. The mode of action of these active compounds was carried out by docking receptor GlcN6P synthase. Compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d have displayed potential antimicrobial activity and some of the compounds have shown promising antioxidant properties

Synthesis and spectral studies on monometallic ruthenium (III) complexes of N-(2-hydroxysalicyliden-1-yl)methylenebenzoylhydrazide

AbstractA novel Schiff base ligand (H2L) derived from the condensation of benzoyl hydrazine and salicylaldehyde and its metal complexes with Ru (III) ion has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, thermal analysis (TGA), conductance measurements, magnetic moments IR, UV–vis spectra. The complexes were given the formulae [Ru(L-H)Cl2(H2O)] (1), [Ru(L-H)Cl2(py)] (2), [Ru(L-H)Cl2(2-pic)] (3), [Ru(L-H)Cl2(3-pic)] (4), [Ru(L-H)Cl2(4-pic)] (5). Molar conductance in DMF (N,N-dimethyl formamide) solution indicates that the complexes are non-electrolytes. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that all the complexes are mononuclear and one-electron paramagnetic. Electronic spectral studies suggest six coordinate metal ions in its complexes. IR spectra reveal that H2L ligand coordinates in keto-form to ruthenium metal ion in its complexes. ESR studies of the complexes are also reported

Effect of novel dietary supplement on metabolism in vitro and in vivo

AbstractObesity is an increasingly prevalent and preventable morbidity with multiple behavioral, surgical and pharmacological interventions currently available. Commercial dietary supplements are often advertised to stimulate metabolism and cause rapid weight and/or fat loss, although few well-controlled studies have demonstrated such effects. We describe a commercially available dietary supplement (purportedly containing caffeine, catechins, and other metabolic stimulators) on resting metabolic rate in humans, and on metabolism, mitochondrial content, and related gene expression in vitro. Human males ingested either a placebo or commercially available supplement (RF) in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over fashion. Metabolic rate, respiratory exchange ratio, and blood pressure were measured hourly for 3 h post-ingestion. To investigate molecular effects, human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD) and mouse myocytes (C2C12) were treated with various doses of RF for various durations. RF enhanced energy expenditure and systolic blood pressure in human males without altering substrate utilization. In myocytes, RF enhanced metabolism, metabolic gene expression, and mitochondrial content suggesting RF may target common energetic pathways which control mitochondrial biogenesis. RF appears to increase metabolism immediately following ingestion, although it is unclear if RF provides benefits beyond those provided by caffeine alone. Additional research is needed to examine safety and efficacy for human weight loss

Surface excess elasticity of gold: Ab initio coefficients and impact on the effective elastic response of nanowires

AbstractPredicting the influence of the surface on the effective elastic properties of nanoscale structures and nanomaterials remains a challenge, which we here address on both levels, continuum and atomic. Density Functional Theory (DFT) computation at the atomic level yields the first reliable surface excess elastic parameters for the (111) and (001) surfaces of gold. At the continuum level, we derive closed-form expressions for the effective elastic behavior that can be combined with the DFT-derived excess elastic parameters to obtain the effective axial, torsion, and bending stiffness of circular nanowires with surface excess elasticity. The two approaches use different reference frames, and we emphasize the need for consistent stress definitions and for conversion between the separate stress measures when transferring results between the approaches. We present excess elastic parameters separately for Cauchy and 2nd Piola-Kirchhoff stresses, demonstrating that the conversion substantially modifies their numerical value and may even invert their sign. The results afford an assessment of the contribution of the surface excess elastic parameters to the effective elastic response of nanoscale beams or wires. This assessment sheds doubt on earlier suggestions relating experimental observations of an effective stiffening or softening at small size to the excess elasticity of clean surfaces

Husband and Wife Perspectives on Farm Household Decision-making Authority and Evidence on Intra-household Accord in Rural Tanzania

SummaryWe use OLS and logistic regression to investigate variation in husband and wife perspectives on the division of authority over agriculture-related decisions within households in rural Tanzania. Using original data from husbands and wives (interviewed separately) in 1,851 Tanzanian households, the analysis examines differences in the wife’s authority over 13 household and farming decisions. The study finds that the level of decision-making authority allocated to wives by their husbands, and the authority allocated by wives to themselves, both vary significantly across households. In addition to commonly considered assets such as women’s age and education, in rural agricultural households women’s health and labor activities also appear to matter for perceptions of authority. We also find husbands and wives interviewed separately frequently disagree with each other over who holds authority over key farming, family, and livelihood decisions. Further, the results of OLS and logistic regression suggest that even after controlling for various individual, household, and regional characteristics, husband and wife claims to decision-making authority continue to vary systematically by decision—suggesting that decision characteristics themselves also matter. The absence of spousal agreement over the allocation of authority (i.e., a lack of “intra-household accord”) over different farm and household decisions is problematic for interventions seeking to use survey data to develop and inform strategies for reducing gender inequalities or empowering women in rural agricultural households. Findings provide policy and program insights into when studies interviewing only a single spouse or considering only a single decision may inaccurately characterize intra-household decision-making dynamics

On the link between martian total ozone and potential vorticity

AbstractWe demonstrate for the first time that total ozone in the martian atmosphere is highly correlated with the dynamical tracer, potential vorticity, under certain conditions. The degree of correlation is investigated using a Mars global circulation model including a photochemical model. Potential vorticity is the quantity of choice to explore the dynamical nature of polar vortices because it contains information on winds and temperature in a single scalar variable. The correlation is found to display a distinct seasonal variation, with a strong positive correlation in both northern and southern winter at poleward latitudes in the northern and southern hemisphere respectively.The identified strong correlation implies variations in polar total ozone during winter are predominantly controlled by dynamical processes in these spatio-temporal regions. The weak correlation in northern and southern summer is due to the dominance of photochemical reactions resulting from extended exposure to sunlight. The total ozone/potential vorticity correlation is slightly weaker in southern winter due to topographical variations and the preference for ozone to accumulate in Hellas basin. In northern winter, total ozone can be used to track the polar vortex edge.The ozone/potential vorticity ratio is calculated for both northern and southern winter on Mars for the first time. Using the strong correlation in total ozone and potential vorticity in northern winter inside the polar vortex, it is shown that potential vorticity can be used as a proxy to deduce the distribution of total ozone where satellites cannot observe for the majority of northern winter. Where total ozone observations are available on the fringes of northern winter at poleward latitudes, the strong relationship of total ozone and potential vorticity implies that total ozone anomalies in the surf zone of the northern polar vortex can potentially be used to determine the origin of potential vorticity filaments

Is trade liberalisation a vector for the spread of sugar-sweetened beverages? A cross-national longitudinal analysis of 44 low- and middle-income countries

AbstractDoes trade and investment liberalisation increase the growth in sales of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)? Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we test this hypothesis using a unique data source on SSB-specific trade flows. We test whether lower tariffs effectively increase imports of SSBs, and whether a higher level of imports increase sales of SSBs. Cross-national fixed effects models were used to evaluate the association between SSBs sales and trade liberalisation. SSBs per capita sales data were taken from EuroMonitor, covering 44 low- and middle-income countries from 2001 to 2014, SSBs import data were from TradeMap, Foreign Direct Investment data were from EuroMonitor, and data on applied tariffs on SSB from the World Trade Organisation tariffs database, all 2015 editions. The results show that higher tariffs on SSBs significantly decreased per capita SSB imports. Each one percent increase in tariffs was associated with a 2.9% (95% CI: 0.9%–5%) decrease in imports of SSBs. In turn, increased imports of SSBs were significantly associated with greater sales of SSBs per capita, with each 10 percent increase in imports (in US$) associated with a rise in sales of 0.36 L per person (95% CI: 0.08–0.68). Between 2001 and 2014, this amounted to 9.1 L greater sales per capita, about 40% of the overall rise seen in this period in LMICs. We observed that tariffs were inversely but not significantly associated with sales of SSBs. In conclusion, lower tariffs substantially increased imports of SSBs in LMICs, which translated into greater sales. These findings suggest that trade policies which lower tariff barriers to SSB imports can be expected to lead to increased imports and then increased sales of SSBs in LMICs, with adverse consequences for obesity and the diseases that result from it