Synthesis, Characterization and DNA Cleavage of Copper(II) Complex with D,L-Dithiothreitol

Purpose: To study deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) shearing capability of copper(II) complex of dithiothreitol (DTT) and to fevaluate its potential application in cancer therapy.Methods: A parrot green complex was synthesized by grinding copper acetate monohydrate and DTT in 1:2 molar ratio in a mortar until no fumes of acetic acid were observed. The complex was characterized using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infra-red (ATR-FTIR), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Further information was also collected through Karl Fischer titration, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and (magnetic moment. Cleavage of DNA was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. The gel was then stained, analyzed and photographed under ultraviolet (UV) light.Results: ATR-FTIR confirmed the formation of copper(II) complex with DTT by binding through thiol group based on the disappearance of the thiol (-SH) stretching peak at 2545 cm-1. The crystalline structure was elucidated by a sharp intense peak at 38.520 in XRD spectrum while the octahedral geometry of complex was inferred from a magnetic moment of 1.72 B.M. The results for water content obtained by Karl Fischer titration and TGA revealed that water molecules are not part of the coordination sphere of the complex. Cleavage study of DNA showed that the complex completely sheared the circular DNA compared to pure DTT.Conclusion: Solvent free synthesis of Copper(II)-DTT complex has been successfully achieved, and an anhydrous complex with octahedral geometry obtained. The complex has a greater potential to shear DNA molecule than pure DTT.Keywords: DNA shearing, Copper(II) complex, Dithiothreitol, Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infra-red, Karl Fischer titration, Magnetic momen

Developmental research of sustainable technologies to minimise problematic road embankment settlements

Challenging, problematic and non-uniform ground conditions are a night mare to geotechnical engineers tasked with the design and construction of buildings and transport infrastructure. These often suffer undesirable structural settlements. Designing within the current understanding of geotechnics; settlement in peat and organic soils need to be recognised to include the known “primary and secondary consolidation characteristics” and the lesser known “tertiary consolidation phase”. These eventually contribute cumulatively to the consequential uneven and hazardous “bumpy road” surfaces. Undulating flexible road pavements result primarily from the transference of the heavy self-weight of the embankment fill to yielding and non-uniform subgrade. The adoption of conventional design/repair methods such as pile, vertical drain, soil replacement and soil stabilisation are expensive and inappropriate in very soft ground conditions. These then lead to unjustifiably high and repetitive maintenance costs. There being no one quick fix solution for all; pragmatic research must necessarily identify the best/progressively improved practical and sustainable solution. A viable solution is to develop criteria and explore the concept of a “masonry arch bridge structure/lintel-column structure” and adopting sustainable materials through pragmatic searching for appropriate recyclable waste materials. This will lead to the basis for a sustainable, innovative, strong, stiff, permeable composite mat structure that can be used on soft and/or yielding ground conditions. Conceptual lightweight fill technology including the popularly used expanded polystyrene (EPS) and the innovative composite mats recently being developed by the research team are outlined

Big q-Laguerre and q-Meixner polynomials and representations of the algebra U_q(su(1,1))

Diagonalization of a certain operator in irreducible representations of the positive discrete series of the quantum algebra U_q(su(1,1)) is studied. Spectrum and eigenfunctions of this operator are found in an explicit form. These eigenfunctions, when normalized, constitute an orthonormal basis in the representation space. The initial U_q(su(1,1))-basis and the basis of eigenfunctions are interrelated by a matrix with entries, expressed in terms of big q-Laguerre polynomials. The unitarity of this connection matrix leads to an orthogonal system of functions, which are dual with respect to big q-Laguerre polynomials. This system of functions consists of two separate sets of functions, which can be expressed in terms of q-Meixner polynomials M_n(x;b,c;q) either with positive or negative values of the parameter b. The orthogonality property of these two sets of functions follows directly from the unitarity of the connection matrix. As a consequence, one obtains an orthogonality relation for q-Meixner polynomials M_n(x;b,c;q) with b<0. A biorthogonal system of functions (with respect to the scalar product in the representation space) is also derived.Comment: 15 pages, LaTe

Pengaruh Kemampuan Dan Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Pegawai Negeri Sipil Di Balai Diklat Keagamaan Semarang

As the state of apparatus an employee should have an attitude and behavior which characterized the devotion, and should have high work discipline so that they can give a good service to the society. It can assumed that most of State Employee or Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS) in Balai Diklat Keagamaan Semarang or Religion Affairs Training Center Semarang has low quality performance, as we can see from the input performance, system of performance, quality of service for participants and widyaiswara. The research is used explanatory research. Methods of collecting data are observation, questionnaire, interview, and review of literature that has been analyzed quantitatively. To examine the hypothesis is used kendall rank coefficient-correlation, kongkordasi kendall coefficient, F test (simultaneous test), and to find out the relation between variables is used determined coefficient analysis which helped by SPSS program. It found significant relation between capability (X1) with employee performance (Y) and motivation (X2) with employee performance (Y) by using rank kendall correlation. But, there are not significant relation between capability (X1), motivation (X2), and employee performance (Y). With F test technique there are significant relations between capability (X1), motivation (X2), and employee performance (Y). The influence of employee ability (X1) to employee performance (Y) is 43,3%, the influence of motivation (X2) to employee performance is 25,5%, influence of ability (X1) and motivation (X2) to employee performance is 55,9% and the rest 44,1% are other factors which has influence with employee performance such as discipline, appreciation, and type leadership. The result showed that the influence of high ability (X1) and motivation of employee can minimize fault so that employee\u27s performance can be increased and they can do better in any aspects. The author provides recommendations of ability (X1) through training, softskill training, and technical guidance, whereas recommendations of motivation (X2) through giving a compliment, appraisement, and additional intensive

Analysis of Concentric Split Ring Square Element for Broadband Reflectarray Antenna

An investigation of phase variation and phase range of concentric split ring square element for broadband reflectarray antenna is presented in this paper. This is realized by exploiting the physical geometry of three element shapes namely square element, concentric ring square element and concentric split ring square element. Modifying the current distribution of basic concentric ring square element, leads to a less steep phase variation and also the bandwidth performance. An analysis of frequency response is described and analysed. The physical interpretation of the elements is also discussed. The proposed antenna element effectively covers two frequency operations (13.44 GHz and 18.36 GHz) in Ku-band range. Bandwidth broadening is achieved by introducing the ring square combination of element and the practical phase range is achieved through the use of RF 35 (thickness = 1.524 mm) as the substrate. The new concept of split initiates to a wider bandwidth (up to 67.6 %) for the antenna and can applied to any two frequency operations of Ku-band applications

Dual HLA B*42 and B*81-reactive T cell receptors recognize more diverse HIV-1 Gag escape variants

Closely related HLA alleles presenting similar HIV-1 epitopes can be associated with variable clinical outcome. Here the authors report their findings on CD8+ T cell responses to the HIV-1 Gag-p24 TL9 immunodominant epitope in the context of closely related protective and less protective HLA alleles, and their differential effect on viral contro

Integration of SPT (N-value), mackintosh probe (M-value) and resistivity values for soft soil assessment

2-D resistivity method has been used in association with Mackintosh probe and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) to investigate the ground properties at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang. The purpose of this study was to determine the resistivity value of the subsurface material together with N-value and M-value of the particular location. The study also aimed to evaluate whether there is any correlation could be made by the parameters measured. Borehole record revealed that two types of soil exist up to 13 m; loose sand and stiff sandy silt. The loose sand recorded N-value of 8 and M-value of 170 having resistivity value of 790 Ohm.m. On the other hand, stiff sandy silt recorded N-value of 9-11, M-value of 135-170 and showing resistivity value of 415-785 Ohm.m. The results showed no clear relation between those geotechnical strength parameters with the resistivity imaging result. It is due to non-existence of distinctive differences in the electrical conductivity of the mentioned ground material when they are in the low strength bracket. However, the resistivity result suggested the presence of higher resistance material that is dry loose sand. The resistivity result was able to detect the water saturated zone near the ground surface, which showed low N-value and M-value

Birth and death processes and quantum spin chains

This papers underscores the intimate connection between the quantum walks generated by certain spin chain Hamiltonians and classical birth and death processes. It is observed that transition amplitudes between single excitation states of the spin chains have an expression in terms of orthogonal polynomials which is analogous to the Karlin-McGregor representation formula of the transition probability functions for classes of birth and death processes. As an application, we present a characterization of spin systems for which the probability to return to the point of origin at some time is 1 or almost 1.Comment: 14 page

Two-micron Detector Development using Sb-based Material Systems

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), in partnership with the University of Delaware (UD), developed AlGaAsSb/InGaAsSb custom-designed phototransistors in the 0.6-2.5 micron wavelength range for applications to laser remote sensing. The phototransistor s performance greatly exceeds the previously reported results at this wavelength range in the literature. The performances of the custom-designed phototransistor, such as responsivity, detectivity, and gain, are improved significantly as compared to the previously published detectors as well as commercial detectors. Detection in the 0.6- to 2.5- micron broadband with a single phototransistor will result in reduction or elimination of heavy and complex optical components now required for multiple wavelength detection in atmospheric remote sensors resulting in smaller, lighter, simpler instruments with higher performance. This high performance broadband phototransistor will eliminate the need for high power laser for active remote sensing and also the Si (1.0- micron cutoff) and InGaAs (extended 2.3- micron cutoff) detectors. The developed broadband phototransistor will be applicable for the next generation of space-based Earth observations and other planetary instruments for active and passive remote sensing with substantial reduction in size, complexity, and weight to measure water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide in planetary atmospheres as well as aerosol, cloud, water vapor, O2, CO, and CO2 for a broad range of applications to Earth and Space Science Missions under Science Mission Directorate (SMD) research programs