Interplay of chemical pressure and hydrogen insertion effects in CeRhSn {\bf CeRhSn} from first principles

Investigations within the local spin density functional theory (LSDF) of the intermetallic hydride system ${\rm CeRhSnH_x}$ were carried out for discrete model compositions in the range $0.33 \leq x_H \leq 1.33$. The aim of this study is to assess the change of the cerium valence state in the neighborhood of the experimental hydride composition, ${\rm CeRhSnH_{0.8}}$. In agreement with experiment, the analyses of the electronic and magnetic structures and of the chemical bonding properties point to trivalent cerium for $1 \leq x_H \leq 1.33$. In contrast, for lower hydrogen amounts the hydride system stays in an intermediate-valent state for cerium, like in ${\rm CeRhSn}$. The influence of the insertion of hydrogen is addressed from both the volume expansion and chemical bonding effects. The latter are found to have the main influence on the change of Ce valence character. Spin polarized calculations point to a finite magnetic moment carried by the Ce $4f$ states; its magnitude increases with $x_H$ in the range $1 \leq x_H \leq 1.33$

A comparison of presence and emotion between immersive virtual reality and desktop displays for musical multimedia

Visual and auditory immersion influence sense of presence, and in some cases emotional response. However, these have previously been tested separately and it is unknown whether and how immersion influences experiences combining both, as found in musical multimedia. A within-participants experiment compared participants’ sense of presence (feeling of ‘being there’), and induced and perceived emotions, when experiencing a classical concert performance presented over headphones on a desktop PC (2D video with headlocked sound reproduction) or in virtual reality (VR) (head-mounted display presenting 360° video and reactive spatial sound reproduction). Emotion was measured by self-report questionnaires based on a three-dimensional model (pleasantness, tense arousal and energetic arousal) and presence was measured using four items (Sense of physical space, Engagement, Ecological Validity and Negative Effects). Participants experienced a significant increase in pleasantness and all dimensions of presence in VR compared to the desktop condition. Ratings of felt arousal and perceived emotions did not significantly differ between conditions. The “engagement” component of presence was positively correlated with emotion felt and perceived, whereas “ecological validity” and “sense of physical space” were related to emotions experienced in the desktop condition only. The role of presence should therefore be considered when investigating emotional responses to musical multimedia

Statistical optimization of process parameters for the production of citric acid from oil palm empty fruit bunches

In this study, optimization of process parameters such as moisture content, incubation temperature and initial pH (fixed) for the improvement of citric acid production from oil palm empty fruit bunches through solid state bioconversion was carried out using traditional one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method and response surface methodology (RSM). The possible optimum level of moisture content, incubation temperature, and initial pH were found from the OFAT study to be 70%, 30 - 32oC and 5.5 - 8, respectively. The optimum moisture content of 70.3% (v/w) and incubation temperature of 33.1°C with initial pH of 6.5 gave the maximum production of citric acid (369.16 g/kg of dry EFB). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the statistical optimization using central composite design showed that moisturecontent (p<0.001) and incubation temperature (p<0.0001) as well as the interaction of these two parameters were highly significant for the citric acid production

Cytotoxic evaluation and concurrent analysis of two diterpenes in the chloroform extract of Plectranthus barbatus using a validated HPTLC-UV method

The objective of this study was to develop a validated high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the concurrent analysis of two diterpenes Sugiol (compound 1) and 11,14-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-7-one (compound 2) in Plectranthus barbatus chloroform extract (PBCE) and to investigate cytotoxicity of both compounds. The chromatographic estimations were carried out using toluene : ethyl acetate : formic acid (8.2:1.3:0.5 v/v/v) as mobile phase. The compact spots of biomarkers were scanned at λmax= 275 nm. Cytotoxic evaluation of both compounds was performed using follicular thyroid cancer cells (FRO cells). A well resolved, compact and intense peaks of compound 1 (Rf = 0.550 ± 0.001) and compound 2 (Rf = 0.700 ± 0.002) were recorded. The proposed method for both compounds was recorded as simple, linear, precise (% RSD = 1.02-1.25), accurate (98-100%), robust and sensitive for the analysis of both compounds. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed significant cell cytotoxicity at 100 μg/mL concentration against the FRO cancer cells after 72 h of incubation. Both compounds were recorded as cytotoxic, however compound 1 showed significant cytotoxic effects. The proposed HPTLC method was found to be suitable for routine analysis of these two biomarkers in chloroform extract of P. barbatus. Both compounds were found to be cytotoxic against FRO cancer cells. KEY WORDS: Diterpenes, Sugiol, Plectranthus barbatus, Cytotoxicity, HPTLC Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018, 32(3), 407-419.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i3.

Isolation, biological evaluation and validated HPTLC-quantification of the marker constituent of the edible Saudi plant Sisymbrium irio L.

AbstractPhytochemical investigation and chromatographic purification of the n-hexane fraction of the aerial parts of the edible Saudi plant Sisymbrium irio led to the isolation of β-sitosterol (1), stigmasterol (2) and β-sitosterol-β-d-glucoside (3). The cytotoxic effects of the n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions were tested against three cancer cell lines viz., MCF-7, HCT-116 and HepG2, using the crystal violet staining (CVS) method, while the antibacterial activity against a number of pathogenic bacterial strains, was also estimated using the broth microdilution assay. The n-hexane fraction showed potent cytotoxic activities against all tested human cancer cell lines (IC50: 11.7–13.4μg/mL), while the dichloromethane fraction was particularly potent against HCT-116 cells (IC50: 5.42μg/mL). On the other hand, the n-hexane and EtOAc fractions demonstrated significant inhibitory activities against the Gram positive bacteria S. pyogenes and C. perfringens; and the Gram negative bacterium S. enteritidis. Our results warrant the therapeutic potential of S. irio as nutritional supplement to reduce the risk of contemporary diseases. Additionally, a validated high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed for the quantitative analysis of biomarker β-sitosterol glucoside (isolated in high quantity) from the n-hexane fraction. The system was found to furnish a compact, sharp, symmetrical and high resolution band for β-sitosterol glucoside (Rf=0.43±0.002). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for β-sitosterol glucoside was found to be 21.84 and 66.18ngband−1, respectively. β-sitosterol glucoside was found to be present only in n-hexane fraction (2.10μg/mg of dried fraction) while it was absent in the other fractions of S. irio which validated the high cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of n-hexane fraction of S. irio

Non-factorizable long distance contributions in color suppressed decays of B mesons

$\bar B \to D\pi$, $D^*\pi$, $J/\psi\bar K$ and $J/\psi\pi$ decays are studied. Their amplitude is given by a sum of factorized and non-factorizable ones. The latter which is estimated by using a hard pion approximation is rather small in color favored $\bar B \to D\pi$ and $D^*\pi$ decays but still can efficiently interfere with the main amplitude given by the factorization. In the color suppressed $\bar B \to J/\psi\bar K$ and $J/\psi\pi$ decays, the non-factorizable contribution is very important. The sum of the factorized and non-factorizable amplitudes can reproduce well the existing experimental data on the branching ratios for the color favored $\bar B \to D\pi$ and $D^*\pi$ and the color suppressed $\bar B \to J/\psi \bar K$ and $J/\psi\pi$ decays by taking reasonable values of unknown parameters involved.Comment: 19 pages, Revte

Role of Brans-Dicke Theory with or without self-interacting potential in cosmic acceleration

In this work we have studied the possibility of obtaining cosmic acceleration in Brans-Dicke theory with varying or constant $\omega$ (Brans- Dicke parameter) and with or without self-interacting potential, the background fluid being barotropic fluid or Generalized Chaplygin Gas. Here we take the power law form of the scale factor and the scalar field. We show that accelerated expansion can also be achieved for high values of $\omega$ for closed Universe.Comment: 12 Latex pages, 20 figures, RevTex styl

Assessment of Maximum Bite Force in Oral Submucous Fibrosis Patients: A Preliminary Study

Objective: To determine the maximum bite force (MBF) in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients and to compare them with that of healthy subjects. Material and Methods: Twenty patients who were clinically confirmed, as OSMF and 20 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and number of intact functional teeth were included in this study. For each subject, age, gender, weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. The MBF registration was carried out by the two evaluators, who were previously calibrated. Bite force was measured in the first molar region using a force transducer occlusal force meter for each subject seated at the upright position, with Frankfort's plane nearly parallel to the floor, and no head support. The Student’s independent t-test was used to determine the statistical significance in relation to mean height, weight, BMI and the presence of number of intact teeth and MBF between the healthy subjects and OSMF individuals. A comparison of grades of OSMF with all variables was carried out by one-way ANOVA test. Results: No significant difference was found in mean age, mean height, weight, BMI and the presence of the number of intact teeth between healthy individuals and OSMF patients. The mean MBF in healthy subjects was 628.23 ± 24.39 N and 635.47 ± 31.22 N in OSMF patients. Even though the healthy subjects reported a higher MBF than OSMF patients did, the difference was statistically non-significant. With regards to sides, no significant difference was observed in mean MBF in healthy subjects and OSMF patients on the right (p=0.7818) and left side (p=0.6154). Conclusion: The healthy subjects reported higher MBF values than OSMF patients did and the difference was statistically non-significant