Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF 7 Using Absorption Spectroscopy

We present an analysis of the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) with 3.3 MHz carrier frequency and modulated by audio resonant frequencies on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line in vitro using absorption spectroscopy. This involves a fluorescence dye called PrestoBlue™ Cell Viability Reagent and a spectrophotometry to test the viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells under different PEMF treatment conditions in terms of the cell’s absorption values. The DNA molecule of the MCF-7 breast cancer cells has an electric dipole property that renders it sensitive and reactive to applied electromagnetic fields. Resonant frequencies derived from four genes mutated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells [rapamycin-insensitive companion of mammalian target of rapamycin (RICTOR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARG), Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 (NBN) and checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2)] were applied in generating square pulsed electromagnetic waves. Effects were monitored through measurement of absorption of the samples with PrestoBlue™, and the significance of the treatment was determined using the t-test. There was a significant effect on MCF-7 cells after treatment with PEMF at the resonant frequencies of the following genes for specific durations of exposure: RICTOR for 10 minutes, PPARG for 10 minutes, NBN for 15 minutes, and CHEK2 for 5 minutes

Introduction of exogenous AMF species alters the biological diversity and functionality of AMF communities associated with cowpea

The salinity in arid and semi-arid areas of the world is rapidly expanding due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The use of inoculants containing beneficial microbes (e.g. arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia) is a promising alternative to improve plant production in these regions. Here, we investigated the effect of common agricultural practices such as the use of beneficial microbes as inoculum and crop rotation on cowpea growth and on its association with soil microbes under non- and salt-stressed conditions. Plant experiments were carried out using non-sterilized soil (supplemented or not with NaCl) under greenhouse conditions. Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense BR 3267 strain and a commercial mixture of AMF (Endoplant Riego) were used as inoculants. In parallel, we assessed cowpea growth following succession of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) with or without prior soil disturbance. Plant and symbiotic parameters, nutrient content in leaves and AMF and root nodule communities through DNA metabarcoding were evaluated. Under non-stressed conditions, inoculation with AMF and/or BR 3267 strain led to significant increase of cowpea biomass production and higher N or P content in leaves. The imposed saline condition affected the cowpea growth although without significantly affecting the symbiotic parameters. Moreover, the increase of AMF propagules available in the soil at buffelgrass sowing through the inoculation of commercial AMF was a determining factor to mitigate the effects of soil tillage and salinity on cowpea growth. The bacterial communities in the root nodules were affected by AMF communities rather by rhizobia inoculation. Benefits of commercial AMF could be explained by changes in the biological and functionality of the AMF communities associated with cowpea. This study reveals that microbial inoculation and crop rotation are effective practices for improvement of cowpea growth and on mitigating the harmful effects of salt

Mechanistic Elucidation of the Arylation of Non-Spectator N-Heterocyclic Carbenes at Copper using a Combined Experimental and Computational Approach

CuI(NHC)Br complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) undergo a direct reaction with iodobenzene to give 2-arylated benzimidazolium products. The nature of the Nsubstituent on the NHC ligand influences the reactivity of the CuI(NHC)Br complex towards arylation. N-Benzyl or Nphenyl substituents facilitate arylation, whereas N-mesityl substituents hinder arylation. Density functional theory calculations show that an oxidative addition/reductive elimination pathway, involving CuIII species, is energetically feasible. A less hindered CuI(NHC)Br complex, with N-benzyl groups, is susceptible to oxidation reactions to give 1,3- dibenzylbenzimidazolium cations containing a CuIBrx anion (various polymorphs). The results described herein are of relevance to C-H functionalization of benz(azoles)

A Telemedicine Application: ECG Data from Wireless Body Sensors on a Smartphone

Abstract -The development of information technology and telecommunications has reached a level where its usefulness can be applied for health care needs towards Telemedicine and Telecare. Using the advantages of ICT, in this paper, we propose an application that provides a comfortable option for telemonitoring of the heart activity. We use a wireless bipolar body electrode to record ECG wirelessly coupled with the advantages of existing portable smart devices to display the real-time data from the electrode. Additionally, from three wireless bipolar body electrodes the standard 12-lead ECG can be reconstructed and displayed, and stored for further analyses

International Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2005 Application of FFTBM to Severe Accidents

ABSTRACT In Europe an initiative for the reduction of uncertainties in severe accident safety issues was initiated. Generally, the error made in predicting plant behaviour is called uncertainty, while the discrepancies between measured and calculated trends related to experimental facilities are called the accuracy of the prediction. The purpose of the work is to assess the accuracy of the calculations of the severe accident International Standard Problem ISP-46 (Phebus FPT1), performed with two versions of MELCOR 1.8.5 for validation purposes. For the quantitative assessment of calculations the improved fast Fourier transform based method (FFTBM) was used with the capability to calculate time dependent code accuracy. In addition, a new measure for the indication of the time shift between the experimental and the calculated signal was proposed. The quantitative results obtained with FFTBM confirm the qualitative conclusions made during the Jožef Stefan Institute participation in ISP-46. In general good agreement of thermal-hydraulic variables and satisfactory agreement of total releases for most radionuclide classes was obtained. The quantitative FFTBM results showed that for the Phebus FPT1 severe accident experiment the accuracy of thermal-hydraulic variables calculated with the MELCOR severe accident code is close to the accuracy of thermal-hydraulic variables for design basis accident experiments calculated with bestestimate system codes