PHASE TRANSITION IN CuS NANOPARTICLES

Copper sulfide nanoparticles were synthesized by solvothermal method.The assynthesized nanoparticles annealed at 50 0 C temperature was characterized by X ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope to confirm the crystal structure, morphology and size. The DC electrical resistance was measured in the temperature range 310K-485K. Resistance measurements on copper sulfide nanoparticles shows a phase transition around 470 K , not previously reported. Resistance measurements made on copper sulfide nanoparticles prepared by precipitation method confirms this phase transition. A jump in electrical band gap energy was also observed in the two samples after phase transition. The band gap energies calculated from resistance measurements agree with the band gaps obtained from UV-VIS spectra, FTIR spectrum PL spectrum and previously reported values

Comprehensive studies on amino acid based organometallic L-threoninum cobalt (II) sulfate (LTCS) single crystal and its antibacterial and antifungal properties

Highly transparent superior quality nonlinear single crystals of L-Threoninum Cobalt (II) Sulfate Heptahydrate were prepared by simple novel slow evaporation solution growth method. The space group, lattice parameters, crystal structure and crystalline nature of L-Threoninum Cobalt (II) Sulfate (LTCS) materials assessed through diffraction analysis (PXRD and SXRD). The optical behavior of LTCS crystals were checked via UV–Vis analysis and it confirms optical parameters often depend on photon energy with optical band gap Eg = 5.6 eV and LTCS material can be acceptable for optoelectronic devices. The hardness and work hardening coefficient of LTCS crystal were investigated using Vickers microhardness testing and the work hardening value 1.94 point out soft nature of the grown material. By use of Kurtz and Perry technique the nonlinear second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of prepared LTCS crystals was assessed. The LTCS material developed here is used to treat bacterial and fungal infections and is detected by an antimicrobial assay

Nusinersen versus Sham Control in Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy

International audienceBACKGROUND Nusinersen is an antisense oligonucleotide drug that modulates pre-messenger RNA splicing of the survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) gene. It has been developed for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). METHODS We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled, phase 3 trial of nusinersen in 126 children with SMA who had symptom onset after 6 months of age. The children were randomly assigned, in a 2: 1 ratio, to undergo intrathecal administration of nusinersen at a dose of 12 mg (nusinersen group) or a sham procedure (control group) on days 1, 29, 85, and 274. The primary end point was the least-squares mean change from baseline in the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale-Expanded (HFMSE) score at 15 months of treatment; HFMSE scores range from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better motor function. Secondary end points included the percentage of children with a clinically meaningful increase from baseline in the HFMSE score (>= 3 points), an outcome that indicates improvement in at least two motor skills. RESULTS In the prespecified interim analysis, there was a least-squares mean increase from baseline to month 15 in the HFMSE score in the nusinersen group (by 4.0 points) and a least-squares mean decrease in the control group (by -1.9 points), with a significant between-group difference favoring nusinersen (least-squares mean difference in change, 5.9 points; 95% confidence interval, 3.7 to 8.1; P< 0.001). This result prompted early termination of the trial. Results of the final analysis were consistent with results of the interim analysis. In the final analysis, 57% of the children in the nusinersen group as compared with 26% in the control group had an increase from baseline to month 15 in the HFMSE score of at least 3 points (P< 0.001), and the overall incidence of adverse events was similar in the nusinersen group and the control group (93% and 100%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Among children with later-onset SMA, those who received nusinersen had significant and clinically meaningful improvement in motor function as compared with those in the control group. (Funded by Biogen and Ionis Pharmaceuticals; CHERISH ClinicalTrials. gov number, NCT02292537.