Enhanced magnetic anisotropy in cobalt-carbide nanoparticles

An outstanding problem in nano-magnetism is to stabilize the magnetic order in nanoparticles at room temperatures. For ordinary ferromagnetic materials, reduction in size leads to a decrease in the magnetic anisotropy resulting in superparamagnetic relaxations at nanoscopic sizes. In this work, we demonstrate that using wet chemical synthesis, it is possible to stabilize cobalt carbide nanoparticles which have blocking temperatures exceeding 570 K even for particles with magnetic domains of 8 nm. First principles theoretical investigations show that the observed behavior is rooted in the giant magnetocrystalline anisotropies due to controlled mixing between C p- and Co d-states

Statistical optimization of alginate immobilization process of candida stauntonica strain MY1 for bioethanol production

In this study a new yeast strain was isolated from Egyptian sugarcane molasses for its high capability of bioethanol fermentation,under anaerobic conditions.It was identified on the basis of its 18S rDNA to be Candida stauntonica MY1 (Accession No.KM657091). The central composite face centered design CCFD matrix and response surface methodology were applied in designing and optimizing the process of calcium-alginate immobilization of MY1 yeast cells to maximize its bioethanol productivity from glucose and evaluate the influence and interactive effect of three critical immobilization parameters; bead size (diameter,mm),initial inoculum size (g/L) and alginate concentration (g/L) on the bioethanol yield. Three quadratic model equations have been predicted ending out how statistically significant the effects of these variables (factors) and their interactions are in practice. The validity of the predicted models was confirmed. The optimum conditions for cell immobilization were found to be 2.5mm, 2.5 g/L and 5.5g/L,respectively. That produced 4.4 g/L bioethanol,with actual yield of 41.9% i.e. YP/S0.42g ethanol/g glucose, which was about 2.3 fold higher than that produced with free cells batch fermentation operated under the same conditions;48 h, pH5.5, 30oC and 100rpm. The immobilized cells showed good stability, with long storage time 21d and can be used for four successive batches with maximum bioethanol productivity

Morphological and imaging evaluation of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in healthy and lame donkeys

The donkey is of socio-economic value yet imaging techniques in both healthy and abnormal limbs are a limiting factor in research and medicine. The objective was to determine anatomical features of both healthy and clinically abnormal donkey metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints (n=13) using anatomical dissection, casting, x-ray and computed tomography. The joint capsule contained two palmar/plantar and two dorsal recesses. The proximal-palmar or plantar recess was larger than the distodorsal recess and potential sites of approaches to the recesses were determined. Soft tissue structures were distinguished using computed tomography at 300mA which was superior to 120mA. This methodology gave better assessments of the synovial tendon sheath, joint recesses and cruciate, collateral and short sesamoidean ligaments. Computed tomography provided outstanding discrimination between the cortex and medulla of the third metacarpal, the proximal sesamoid bones, the proximal phalanx and excellent details of the osseous structures. Although the joints appeared free from exostosis using x-ray; the position and extension of exostosis in pathologically affected donkeys (a novel finding) was revealed using computed tomography with 300mA in comparison to 120mA. The study also provided an anatomical record of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints using the latest technology which could impact on clinical situations including anesthesia injection sites

Sustainable multifunctional phenolic lipids as potential therapeutics in Dentistry

Phenolic lipids components of the cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) have molecular structures capable of chemical signalling that regulate gene expression, metabolism and inflammation. This study sets out to assess how CNSL derivatives impact oral bacteria, from an antibacterial and anti-collagenolytic perspective, as well as its biocompatibility with dental pulp stem cells. Two hemi-synthetic saturated CNSL derivative compounds were selected (LDT11-Anacardic Acids-derivative and LDT409-cardanol-derivative). Bacteriostatic activity was tested against Streptococcus mutans and Veillonella parvula. Antimicrobial capacity against preformed S. mutans biofilms was investigated using a collagen-coated Calgary Biofilm Device and confocal microscopy. Clostridium histolyticum, P. gingivalis and S. mutans biofilms were used to assess anti-collagenolytic activity. Biocompatibility with human dental pulp stromal cells (HDPSCs) was investigated (MTT for viability proportion, LDH assays for cell death rate). LDTs inhibited the bacterial growth, as well as partially inhibited bacterial collagenases in concentrations higher than 5 μg/mL. Dose–response rates of biofilm cell death was observed (LDT11 at 20, 50, 100 μg/mL = 1.0 ± 0.4, 0.7 ± 0.3, 0.6 ± 0.03, respectively). Maximum cytotoxicity was 30%. After 1 week, LDT409 had no HDPSCs death. HDPSCs viability was decreased after 24 h of treatment with LDT11 and LDT409, but recovered at 72 h and showed a massive increase in viability and proliferation after 1 week. LDTs treatment was associated with odontoblast-like morphology. In conclusion, LDT11 multifunctionality and biocompatibility, stimulating dental pulp stem cells proliferation and differentiation, indicates a potential as a bio-based dental material for regenerative Dentistry. Its potential as a bacterial collagenases inhibitor to reduce collagen degradation in root/dentinal caries can be further explored

Pulmonary delivery of vancomycin dry powder aerosol to intubated rabbits

TGX-221 is a potent, selective, and cell membrane permeable inhibitor of the PI3K p110β catalytic subunit. Recent studies showed that TGX-221 has anti-proliferative activity against PTEN-deficient tumor cell lines including prostate cancers. The objective of this study was to develop an encapsulation system for parenterally delivering TGX-221 to the target tissue through a prostate-specific membrane aptamer (PSMAa10) with little or no side effects. In this study, PEG-PCL micelles were formulated to encapsulate the drug, and a prodrug strategy was pursued to improve the stability of the carrier system. Fluorescence imaging studies demonstrated that the cellular uptake of both drug and nanoparticles were significantly improved by targeted micelles in a PSMA positive cell line. The area under the plasma concentration time curve of the micelle formulation in nude mice was 2.27-fold greater than the naked drug, and the drug clearance rate was 17.5-fold slower. These findings suggest a novel formulation approach for improving site-specific drug delivery of a molecular-targeted prostate cancer treatment

Osjetljiva spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje antagonista H2-receptora uz uporabu N-bromsukcinimida i p-aminofenola

A simple, accurate and sensitive spectrophotometric method for determination of H2-receptor antagonists: cimetidine (CIM), famotidine (FAM), nizatidine (NIZ), and ranitidine hydrochloride (RAN) has been full developed and validated The method was based on the reaction of these drugs with NBS and subsequent measurement of the excess N-bromosuccinimide by its reaction with p-aminophenol to give a violet colored product (max at 552 nm). Decrease in the absorption intensity (A) of the colored product, due to the presence of the drug, was correlated with its concentration in the sample solution. Different variables affecting the reaction were carefully studied and optimized. Under optimal conditions, linear relationships with good correlation coefficients (0.9988-0.9998) were found between A values and the corresponding concentrations of the drugs in a concentration range of 830, 622, 625, and 420 g mL1 for CIM, FAM, NIZ, and RAN, respectively. Limits of detection were 1.22, 1.01, 1.08, and 0.74 g mL1 for CIM, FAM, NIZ, and RAN, respectively. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, ruggedness, and robustness; the results were satisfactory. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of the above mentioned drugs in bulk substance and in pharmaceutical dosage forms; percent recoveries ranged from 98.5 0.9 to 102.4 0.8% without interference from the common excipients. The results obtained by the proposed method were comparable with those obtained by the official methods.Razvijena je i validirana ispravna, jednostavna i osjetljiva spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje antagonista H2-receptora: cimetidina (CIM), famotidina (FAM), nizatidina (NIZ) i ranitidin hidroklorida (RAN). Metoda se temelji na reakciji tih ljekovitih tvari s N-bromsukcinimidom (NBS). Višak N-bromsukcinimida određuje se nakon reakcije s p-aminofenolom s kojim daje ljubičasti produkt (max pri 552 nm). Smanjenje apsorpcijskog intenziteta (A) obojenog produkta, zbog prisutnosti ljekovite tvari korelirano je s njegovom koncentracijom u otopini uzorka. Proučavane su različite varijable koje utječu na reakciju. Linearno koncentracijsko područje za CIM, FAM, NIZ i RAN, s koeficijentom korelacije od 0,9988 do 0,9998, iznosi 830, 622, 625 odnosno 420 g mL1. Granice detekcije bile su 1,23, 1,02, 1,09 i 0,75 g mL1 za CIM, FAM, NIZ, odnosno RAN. Predložena metoda je uspješno primijenjena za analizu navedenih ljekovitih tvari i ljekovitih pripravaka. Nepreciznost od 0,7 do 1,2% i visoka ispravnost (analitički povrat između 98,5 i 102,4%), bez interferencije uobičajenih pomoćnih tvari, ukazuju na dobru analitičku metodu. Rezultati dobiveni predloženom metodom usporedivi su s rezultatima dobivenim službenom metodom

Adjacent thoracic lymph node metastases originating from two separate primary cancers: case report

Reported is an unusual case of adjacent thoracic lymph nodes demonstrating metastases from two different primary malignancies. A 51 year-old woman with a previous history of bilateral breast cancer underwent a radical gastro-oesophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the lower third of the oesophagus. The resection specimen demonstrated breast and oesophageal metastases in adjacent thoracic lymph nodes. Mechanisms for this phenomenon, including the known local immune suppression on lymphoid cells by oesophageal carcinoma cells, are discussed

Synthesis of a New Chelating Iminophosphorane Derivative (Phosphazene) for U(VI) Recovery

A new synthetic chelating N–hydroxy–N–trioctyl iminophosphorane (HTIP) was prepared through the reaction of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) with N–hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of a Lewis acid (AlCl3 ). Specifications for the HTIP chelating ligand were successfully determined using many analytical techniques,13C–NMR,1H–NMR, FTIR, EDX, and GC–MS analyses, which assured a reasonable synthesis of the HTIP ligand. The ability of HTIP to retain U(VI) ions was investigated. The optimum experimental factors, pH value, experimental time, initial U(VI) ion concentration, HTIP dosage, ambient temperature, and eluents, were attained with solvent extraction techniques. The utmost retention capacity of HTIP/CHCl3 was 247.5 mg/g; it was achieved at pH = 3.0, 25◦C, with 30 min of shaking and 0.99 × 10−3 mol/L. From the stoichiometric calculations, approximately 1.5 hydrogen atoms are released during the extraction at pH 3.0, and 4.0 moles of HTIP ligand were responsible for chelation of one mole of uranyl ions. According to kinetic studies, the pseudo–first order model accurately predicted the kinetics of U(VI) extraction by HTIP ligand with a retention power of 245.47 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters ∆S◦, ∆H◦, and ∆G◦ were also calculated; the extraction process was predicted as an exothermic, spontaneous, and advantageous extraction at low temperatures. As the temperature increased, the value of ∆G◦ increased. The elution of uranium ions from the loaded HTIP/CHCl3 was achieved using 2.0 mol of H2SO4 with a 99.0% efficiency rate. Finally, the extended variables were used to obtain a uranium concentrate (Na2U2O7, Y.C) with a uranium grade of 69.93% and purity of 93.24%. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, PNU: PNURSP2022R13The authors express their gratitude for the support from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2022R13), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia