AFM Investigation of Epoxy Fracture Surfaces Indicating Nanoplasticity

Noble metal nanoparticles have a great potential for biological study, especially the use of gold nanoparticles is very popular. In this work gold nanoparticles (GNPs), silver nanoparticles (SNPs) and goldsilver hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) synthesized and used as a carrier for electrochemical investigation of redox protein. Optical characterization of these nanoparticles was performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The maximum of the plasmon band for GNPs, SNPs and HNPs (ratio of 1:1) are 524, 392 and 455 nm respectively. The optical absorption spectra of HNPs solution shows only one plasmon absorption, it is concluded that mixing of gold and silver leads to a homogeneous formation of alloy nanoparticles. LCR meter study shows the HNPs is best conductance in compare of GNPs and SNPs. Therefore, the electron transfer of the homogenous GOx, HRP and Hb was investigates by electrochemical method in presence of HNPs. They demonstrated quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms with a formal potential of -479, -178 and -168 mV in 50 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 respectively

AFM Investigation of Epoxy Fracture Surfaces Indicating Nanoplasticity

Noble metal nanoparticles have a great potential for biological study, especially the use of gold nanoparticles is very popular. In this work gold nanoparticles (GNPs), silver nanoparticles (SNPs) and goldsilver hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) synthesized and used as a carrier for electrochemical investigation of redox protein. Optical characterization of these nanoparticles was performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The maximum of the plasmon band for GNPs, SNPs and HNPs (ratio of 1:1) are 524, 392 and 455 nm respectively. The optical absorption spectra of HNPs solution shows only one plasmon absorption, it is concluded that mixing of gold and silver leads to a homogeneous formation of alloy nanoparticles. LCR meter study shows the HNPs is best conductance in compare of GNPs and SNPs. Therefore, the electron transfer of the homogenous GOx, HRP and Hb was investigates by electrochemical method in presence of HNPs. They demonstrated quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms with a formal potential of -479, -178 and -168 mV in 50 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 respectively

Synthesis of 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones (microreview)

[Figure not available: see fulltext.][Figure not available: see fulltext.] 5,6-Dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones constitute an important class of heterocyclic compounds which also may be considered as α,β-unsaturated δ-lactones. These types of heterocycles have shown a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities including human antitumor,1,2 antifungal,3,5 antimicrobial,4 anti-inflammatory,4 antistress,4 antibiotic,5antituberculosis,6 antiparasitic,6 antiviral;7 5,6-dihydro-2Hpyran-2-ones are also known as the inducer of a colony stimulating factor in bone marrow stromal cells.5 All this made 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones more attractive both for chemists and pharmacologists. For example, (R)-rugulactone which was firstly reported in 2009 by Cardellina and coworkers possess interesting anticancer properties.2 In addition, 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones as chemical intermediates have widely been applied to the synthesis of numerous organic compounds including heterocycles.8 Nowadays, there are several synthetic routes to the preparation of these heterocycles including intramolecular cyclization, N-heterocyclic carbeneprecatalyst (NHC-precatalyst) reaction of enals and ketones, dicobaltoctacarbonyl-mediated tandem (5+1)/(4+2) cycloaddition, ring-closing metathesis of dienes containing carboxylate group by Grubbs II catalyst, (3+2) cycloaddition reaction, condensation reaction, and biosynthesis pathway.[Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York

A Novel Nanowire Metal Converter for Improvement the Efficiency of the Gas-filled Radiation Detectors

Metal nanowires, due to their special physical properties and also high surface to volume ratio, can have considerable applications in designing and development of novel nano devices. For the radiation shielding, higher absorption coefficient of nano structures in comparison to bulk ones is an advantage. In gas detectors, designing a proper converter with higher efficiency which absorbs higher energy of gamma and X-rays and convert it to free electrons is one of the major requirements. Since the nano wires have higher surface to volume ratio in comparison to the bulk ones, so it is expected that with the same thickness, the generated electrons have higher chance to escape from the surface. In this work, the random Copper nanowires with diameter of 40 nm are deposited on very thin glass slide. This nano structure with thickness of 30 μm is tested with X-rays energy between 12 to 22 keV. The results clearly show that this nano structure for the energy of 20 keV can release electrons three times more than the bulk ones. This novel nanoconverter with higher quantum efficiency can have many applications in high energy physics, medical imaging, and astronomy

Canola traits and some soil biological parameters in response to fertilization and tillage management

This study describes the effects of fertilization and tillage methods on soil microbial community and canola traits. A field experiment was carried out in 2009 to 2010 growing season. Experiments were arranged in a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Main plots consisted of no tillage (T1), minimum tillage (T2) and conventional tillage (T3). Six strategies for obtaining the basal fertilizer requirement including (N1): farmyard manure; (N2): compost; (N3):chemical fertilizers; (N4): farmyard manure + compost; (N5): farmyard manure + compost + chemical fertilizers and (N6): control, were arranged in sub plots. Results show that the activities of all enzymes were generally higher in the N4 treatment than in the unfertilized and chemical fertilizer treatments. The phosphatase, catalase and urease activities in the N3 treatment were significantly lower than in the farm yard manure (FYM) and compost treatments (CT). The activity of all enzyme activity tended to be higher in the NT treatment. The highest leaf N, P and K containing grain and grain yield was obtained from N5 treatment. Applying CT system caused to a reduction in grain yield as compared with chisel plowing.Key words: Enzyme activity, compost, farmyard manure, tillage

Prognostic value of mean platelet volume in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective: We sought to determine the role of mean platelet volume (MPV) for predicting long-term outcomes of elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: On the basis of retrospective cohort study, we collected characteristics of 680 patients undergoing elective PCI from October 2005 to August 2010. The patients who had preoperative MPV were assessed for developing major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during 1-year follow- up. They were categorized into two groups including MPV <9.6 fL (n=89) and MPV �9.6 fL (n=92). Data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square test, Pearson correlation, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression. Results: One-hundred eighty one patients (26.6) met inclusion criteria. The MACE was observed in 29 patients (16); and its rate in low- and high-MPV groups was 11.2 and 20.7, respectively (p=0.084). MPV was significantly higher in the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40 compared with that of �40 (p<0.001). There were a significant and negative correlation between MPV and platelet count (r=-0.305, p<0.001), and significant and positive correlations between MPV and platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR) (r=0.615, p<0.001 and r=0.913, p<0.001; respectively). The best MPV cut-off point was 9.25 fL; the sensitivity and specificity were 79 and 38, respectively. Elevated MPV was the best predictor of MACE at 1-year follow-up (OR=11.359, 95 CI 2.481-51.994, p=0.002). Conclusion: The results indicate that preoperative MPV is an independent predictor of the MACE at 1-year follow-up in the patients undergoing elective PCI. Moreover, it may be useful for risk stratification in such cases. © 2015 by Turkish Society of Cardiology

A functional TGFB1 polymorphism in the donor associates with long-term graft survival after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND: Improvement of long-term outcomes in kidney transplantation remains one of the most pressing challenges, yet drug development is stagnating. Human genetics offers an opportunity for much-needed target validation in transplantation. Conflicting data exist about the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) on kidney transplant survival, since TGF-β1 has pro-fibrotic and protective effects. We investigated the impact of a recently discovered functional TGFB1 polymorphism on kidney graft survival. METHODS: We performed an observational cohort study analysing recipient and donor DNA in 1271 kidney transplant pairs from the University Medical Centre Groningen in The Netherlands, and associated a low-producing TGFB1 polymorphism (rs1800472-C > T) with 5-, 10- and 15-year death-censored kidney graft survival. RESULTS: Donor genotype frequencies of rs1800472 in TGFB1 differed significantly between patients with and without graft loss (P = 0.014). Additionally, the low-producing TGFB1 polymorphism in the donor was associated with an increased risk of graft loss following kidney transplantation (hazard ratio = 2.12 for the T-allele; 95% confidence interval 1.18–3.79; P = 0.012). The incidence of graft loss within 15 years of follow-up was 16.4% in the CC-genotype group and 31.6% in the CT-genotype group. After adjustment for transplant-related covariates, the association between the TGFB1 polymorphism in the donor and graft loss remained significant. In contrast, there was no association between the TGFB1 polymorphism in the recipient and graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney allografts possessing a low-producing TGFB1 polymorphism have a higher risk of late graft loss. Our study adds to a growing body of evidence that TGF-β1 is beneficial, rather than harmful, for kidney transplant survival

One-year outcomes from an international study of the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System for endovascular aneurysm repair

ObjectiveThis study evaluated 1-year safety and effectiveness outcomes of the United States regulatory trial for the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System (TriVascular Inc, Santa Rosa, Calif) for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).MethodsThis prospective, multicenter, single-arm trial was conducted at 36 sites in the United States, Germany, and Chile to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Ovation stent graft. From November 2009 to May 2011, 161 patients (88% males; mean age, 73 ± 8 years) with AAAs (mean diameter, 54 ± 9 mm) were treated with the Ovation stent graft. The main body is a modular two-docking limb device with a 14F outer diameter delivery system, active suprarenal fixation, and polymer-filled proximal rings that accommodate the aortic neck for seal. Main inclusion criteria included proximal aortic neck length ≥7 mm, inner neck diameter between 16 and 30 mm, distal iliac landing zones length ≥10 mm, and diameter between 8 and 20 mm. Patients were treated under a common protocol, including clinical and imaging follow-up at discharge, 30 days, 6 months, and annually through 5 years. A Clinical Events Committee adjudicated adverse events, an independent imaging core laboratory analyzed imaging, and a Data Safety and Monitoring Board provided study oversight. Complete 1-year follow-up data were available for this report.ResultsThe Ovation stent graft was implanted successfully in 161 patients (100%), including 69 (42.9%) by percutaneous access. General anesthesia was used in 106 patients (65.8%). Technical success was 100%, and mean procedure time was 110 minutes. Median procedural blood loss was 150 mL, and median hospital stay was 1 day. The 30-day major adverse event rate was 2.5%. At 1 year, AAA-related and all-cause mortality were 0.6% and 2.5%, respectively. Major adverse event and serious adverse event rates through 1 year were 6.2% and 38.5%, respectively. The 1-year treatment success rate was 99.3%. The imaging core laboratory reported no stent graft migration or type I, III, or IV endoleaks. At 1 year, type II endoleaks were identified in 34% of patients, and AAA enlargement was identified in one patient (0.7%). No AAA rupture or conversion to open surgery was reported. AAA-related secondary procedures were performed in 10 patients (6.2%) for 12 findings, including endoleak (six), aortic main body stenosis (three), and iliac limb stenosis or occlusion (three).ConclusionsThe 1-year results of the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System demonstrate excellent safety and effectiveness in treatment of patients with AAAs, particularly in patients with challenging anatomic characteristics, including short aortic necks and narrow iliac arteries. Longer-term follow-up is needed