The Card iac Effects of a N ovel A1 -Adenosi ne Receptor Agonist in Guinea Pig Isolated Heart

ABSTRAC

The First Post-Kepler Brightness Dips of KIC 8462852

We present a photometric detection of the first brightness dips of the unique variable star KIC 8462852 since the end of the Kepler space mission in 2013 May. Our regular photometric surveillance started in October 2015, and a sequence of dipping began in 2017 May continuing on through the end of 2017, when the star was no longer visible from Earth. We distinguish four main 1-2.5% dips, named "Elsie," "Celeste," "Skara Brae," and "Angkor", which persist on timescales from several days to weeks. Our main results so far are: (i) there are no apparent changes of the stellar spectrum or polarization during the dips; (ii) the multiband photometry of the dips shows differential reddening favoring non-grey extinction. Therefore, our data are inconsistent with dip models that invoke optically thick material, but rather they are in-line with predictions for an occulter consisting primarily of ordinary dust, where much of the material must be optically thin with a size scale <<1um, and may also be consistent with models invoking variations intrinsic to the stellar photosphere. Notably, our data do not place constraints on the color of the longer-term "secular" dimming, which may be caused by independent processes, or probe different regimes of a single process

Surface modification of silica core-shell nanocapsules: Biomedical implications

In this article we present the synthesis of oil core silica shell nanocapsules with different shell thicknesses. The surface of the nanocapsules was modified with polyethyleoxide (PEO) and succinic anhydride. Two biomedical tests were then used to study the biocompatibility properties of these nanocapsules with different surface treatments, hemolysis and thromboelastography (TEG). PEO surface modification greatly reduced the damaging interactions of nanocapsules with red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets and attenuated particle size effects. It was found that the blood toxicity of charged particles increased with the acid strength on the surface. Experiments toward the assessment of detoxification of these nanocapsules in model drug overdose concentrations are currently underway. © 2006 American Chemical Society

Oil-filled silica nanocapsules for lipophilic drug uptake: Implications for drug detoxification therapy

Oil-filled nanocapsules were synthesized using the oil droplets of an O/W microemulsion as templates. A polysiloxane/silicate shell was formed at the surface of the oil droplet by cross-linking n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysiloxane. The shell imparted stability to the oil droplets against coalescence. The nanocapsules can be used in a number of applications (i.e., biomedical or environmental) where the free concentration of lipophilic compounds must be reduced. As a proof, the nanocapsules (1.4% w/v oil content in saline) were shown to sequester quinoline (8μM) from saline in \u3c15 min. The removal process was followed in real time using the UV absorbance of free quinoline in solution. Our primary goal is to produce a system for drug detoxification therapy. As a proof of concept for sequestering drugs, the nanocapsules were used in the removal of free bupivacaine from normal saline solution. The free bupivacaine concentration was determined in the aqueous phase after contact with such nanocapsules using HPLC. The results showed a rapid removal of bupivacaine. The nanocapsules at a concentration of 0.1% w/v oil content showed a maximum removal capacity of ≈1900 μM bupivacaine