Synthesis and properties of nickel-cobalt-boron nanoparticles

morphous cobalt nickel boride nanoparticles were synthesised by chemical reduction synthesis in aqueous solution. Careful control of synthesis conditions and post reaction oxidation enabled the nanoparticles to be converted into a core-shell structure comprising of an amorphous Co–Ni–B core and an outer metal oxide sheet. These particles had interesting magnetic properties including saturation magnetisations and coercivities of the order of 80 emu/g and 170 Oe respectively, making them suitable for a potential use as an exchange-pinned magnetic material

Cultural capital investment interim impact evaluation

This report provides interim impact evaluation evidence on a major initiative to develop the quality and opportunity of cultural provision in the East Midlands. Eight venues across the region have been supported through an investment totalling £120 million, which include a mix of brand new buildings and bringing new life to existing facilities. This report sets out what the investment has achieved so far and how information on the impact of the venues will be collected in the future

A Topological Characterization Of Knots and Links Arising From Site-Specific Recombination

We develop a topological model of knots and links arising from a single (or multiple processive) round(s) of recombination starting with an unknot, unlink, or (2,m)-torus knot or link substrate. We show that all knotted or linked products fall into a single family, and prove that the size of this family grows linearly with the cube of the minimum number of crossings. Additionally, we prove that the only possible products of an unknot substrate are either clasp knots and links or (2,m)-torus knots and links. Finally, in the (common) case of (2,m)-torus knot or link substrates whose products have minimal crossing number m+1, we prove that the types of products are tightly prescribed, and use this to examine previously uncharacterized experimental data.Comment: 18 pages, 3 tables, 18 figures. See also arXiv:0707.3775v1 for biological evidence for and applications of the model developed her

Genealogi Teologi Nahdlatul Ulama

NU, the largest social and religious organization in Indonesia, has undergone many changes since its very inception decades ago. But the essence of the organization remains the same, namely its theological doctrine and ?ideological? inclination toward the Sunna. This paper tries to speak of the struggle of NU in this changing era to remain as it is. It traces the theological genealogy of the organization, and how this theology has been transformed from time to time to meet the demands of Indonesian setting. Here NU is understood as a dynamic religious organization capable of translating certain theology and ideology into a totally different look. Hence, although it was originated in the theology of al-Asy?ariyyah and al-Maturidiyah, NU was not at all representing any of these two Middle Eastern theologies. Unlike the two, NU emphasizes theoretically the idea of justice, moderation, and tolerance while practically upholding the adaptive and adoptive attitude toward local customs and traditions

H-alpha Stacked Images Reveal Large Numbers of PNe in the LMC

Our new, deep, high resolution H-alpha and matching R-band UKST multi-exposure stack of the central 25 sq. degrees of the LMC promises to provide an unprecedented homogeneous sample of >1,000 new PNe. Our preliminary 2dF spectroscopy on the AAT has vindicated our selection process and confirmed 136 new PNe and 57 emission-line stars out of a sample of 263 candidate sources within an initial 2.5 sq. deg. area. To date approximately one third of the entire LMC has been scanned for candidates (~7.5 sq.deg.). More than 750 new emission sources have been catalogued so far along with independent re-identification of all known and possible PNe found from other surveys. Once our image analysis is complete, we plan comprehensive spectroscopic follow-up of the whole sample, not only to confirm our PN candidates but also to derive nebula temperatures and densities which, with the aid of photoionization modeling, will yield stellar parameters which are vital for constructing H-R diagrams for these objects. A prime objective of the survey is to produce a Luminosity Function which will be the most accurate and comprehensive ever derived in terms of numbers, magnitude range and evolutionary state; offering significant new insights into the LMC's evolutionary history. The observation and measurement of our newly discovered AGB halos around 60% of these PN will also assist in determining the initial- to final-mass ratios for this phase of stellar evolution.postprin

Superparamagnetic particles in ZSM-5-type ferrisilicates

As-synthesized, low iron content, ferrisilicates of ZSM-5-type contain well-separated Fe(III) ions in a tetrahedral environment and display paramagnetic behavior. After hydrothermal treatment, the iron ions are partially extracted from the framework, generating nanosize iron oxide or oxyhydroxide ferrimagnetic particles. This process has been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mossbauer spectroscopy, magnetic ac susceptibility (chi(ac)), and field dependent magnetization, on samples containing up to 6.7 wt. % Fe. The experiments evidence the growth of nonaggregated particles, with a typical size around 3 nm, presumably located at the surface of the ferrisilicate crystallites, From a thorough granulometric analysis involving TEM and chi(ac) data, it is concluded that, in the range from 1.5 to 4.6 wt. % Fe, the particle size distributions are significantly independent of the iron content

Hyperthermia treatment of tumors by mesenchymal stem cell-delivered superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Magnetic hyperthermia - a potential cancer treatment in which superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are made to resonantly respond to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and thereby produce heat - is of significant current interest. We have previously shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be labeled with SPIONs with no effect on cell proliferation or survival and that within an hour of systemic administration, they migrate to and integrate into tumors in vivo. Here, we report on some longer term (up to 3 weeks) post-integration characteristics of magnetically labeled human MSCs in an immunocompromized mouse model. We initially assessed how the size and coating of SPIONs dictated the loading capacity and cellular heating of MSCs. Ferucarbotran(®) was the best of those tested, having the best like-for-like heating capability and being the only one to retain that capability after cell internalization. A mouse model was created by subcutaneous flank injection of a combination of 0.5 million Ferucarbotran-loaded MSCs and 1.0 million OVCAR-3 ovarian tumor cells. After 2 weeks, the tumors reached ~100 µL in volume and then entered a rapid growth phase over the third week to reach ~300 µL. In the control mice that received no AMF treatment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data showed that the labeled MSCs were both incorporated into and retained within the tumors over the entire 3-week period. In the AMF-treated mice, heat increases of ~4°C were observed during the first application, after which MRI indicated a loss of negative contrast, suggesting that the MSCs had died and been cleared from the tumor. This post-AMF removal of cells was confirmed by histological examination and also by a reduced level of subsequent magnetic heating effect. Despite this evidence for an AMF-elicited response in the SPION-loaded MSCs, and in contrast to previous reports on tumor remission in immunocompetent mouse models, in this case, no significant differences were measured regarding the overall tumor size or growth characteristics. We discuss the implications of these results on the clinical delivery of hyperthermia therapy to tumors and on the possibility that a preferred therapeutic route may involve AMF as an adjuvant to an autologous immune response

Chemical compositions and mosquito repellency of essential oils from Artabotrys hexapetalus and Artabotrys rupestris

The two Tanzanian Artabotrys species were investigated to establish the chemical composition and mosquito repellent properties of their essential oils. Hydrodistillation of leaves and stem bark of Artabotrys hexapetalus (L.f.) (Annonaceae) and stem bark of Artabotrys rupestris Diels (Annonaceae) gave essential oils which were analyzed by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). While the oil from the stem bark of A. hexapetalus contained high amount of β-caryophyllene oxide, the oil from the leaves had both β- caryophyllene oxide and 11-hexadcyn-1-ol as the main components. The oil from the root barks of A. rupestris contained large amount of 6-(p-tolyl)-2-methyl-2-heptanol and (-)-spathulenol. β-Caryophyllene oxide, cadinol, cubenol, (-)-spathulenol and 7-methyl-4-methylene-1-(1-methylethyl)-naphthalene were identified as common constituents of the essential oils from the two plant species investigated. On evaluation for mosquito repellency, the essential oil from the leaves of A. hexapetalus was found to exhibit strong activity with RC50 = 1.81×10-5 mg/cm2 and 2.79×10-5 mg/cm2 for the first and the second fractions, respectively against female Anopheles gambiae s.s. mosquitoes. The repellency activity of essential oil from leaves were significantly higher than from stem bark, but less than that of the standard citronella oil used (RC50 = 4.1×10-6 mg/cm2). The observed high mosquito repellent activity for the essential oil fractions from A. hexapetalus could be attributed to the presence of β-caryophyllene oxide.Keywords: Essential oils, mosquito repellent properties, Annonaceae, β-caryophyllene oxide, cadinol, cubenol