Effect of Static Magnetic Field on Bone Marrow Cellular Density

This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of static magnetic field (SMF) on bone marrow cellular density (BMCD) variation proportionally to bone trabeculae. Female albino Wistar rats exposed with 2.4 ± 0.2 millitesla for 1–4weeks duration continuously versus 1h, 2h, 6h, and 8h/day. Trephine biopsy of femurs bone was examined under optical microscope. Data analyzed with ImageJ software. Results showed that short time exposure per day did not enhance the BMCD compare to high exposure period/day. Six hours/day exposure during 1week increased the marrow cellular density (hypercellularity) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) compares to bone trabeculae. Contrarily, 8h/day exposure reduced the BMCD slightly and significantly (hypocellularity, about 50% reduction) due to 1week and 4weeks exposure duration, respectively. The SMF has associated bone marrow cellularity tendency of rat’s femur

Moderate Range Static Magnetic Field Promoted Variation of Blood Parameters: An In vitro Study

This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of a homogenous and uniform static magnetic field (SMF) on the main blood cell counts in vitro experiment. Fresh blood samples were collected from albino rats and exposed to SMF (2.4, 6, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mT) versus 15–60 min. Results showed a significant change of blood counts under the low field effects. A 2.4 mT was a trend of white blood cells (WBCs) count increase non-linearly. However, a 6 mT exposure reduced WBCs with about 39%. Other variations fluctuated within 30%. The 25 mT decreased red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels with 13% similarly. The lower exposure field, (2.4 and 6) mT, and effects on RBCs were 6% fluctuation. The 6 mT reduced platelet counts with half in comparison to control blood samples. About 20% increase obtained due to 50 mT exposure during all period. None of 75 and 100 mT exposures dominated blood counts alterations. The quiet magnetic field exposure for a certain time can be interesting to control blood cell count-related diseases

On solving fuzzy delay differential equation using bezier curves

In this article, we plan to use Bezier curves method to solve linear fuzzy delay differential equations. A Bezier curves method is presented and modified to solve fuzzy delay problems taking the advantages of the fuzzy set theory properties. The approximate solution with different degrees is compared to the exact solution to confirm that the linear fuzzy delay differential equations process is accurate and efficient. Numerical example is explained and analyzed involved first order linear fuzzy delay differential equations to demonstrate these proper features of this proposed problem

Conductivity landscape of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface containing ribbons and edges

We present an extensive study on electrical spectroscopy of graphene ribbons and edges of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) using atomic force microscope (AFM). We have addressed in the present study two main issues, (1) How does the electrical property of the graphite (graphene) sheet change when the graphite layer is displaced by shear forces? and (2) How does the electrical property of the graphite sheet change across a step edge? While addressing these two issues we observed, (1) variation of conductance among the graphite ribbons on the surface of HOPG. The top layer always exhibits more conductance than the lower layers, (2) two different monolayer ribbons on the same sheet of graphite shows different conductance, (3) certain ribbon/sheet edges show sharp rise in current, (4) certain ribbons/sheets on the same edge shows both presence and absense of the sharp rise in the current, (5) some lower layers at the interface near a step edge shows a strange dip in the current/conductance (depletion of charge). We discuss possible reasons for such rich conducting landscape on the surface of graphite.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. For better quality figures please contact autho

Plasmoelectronic-Based Ultrasensitive Assay of Tumor Suppressor microRNAs Directly in Patient Plasma: Design of Highly Specific Early Cancer Diagnostic Technology

It is becoming understood that microRNAs hold great promise for noninvasive liquid biopsies for screening for different types of cancer, but current state-of-the-art RT-PCR and microarray techniques have sensitivity limitations that currently restrict their use. Herein, we report a new transduction mechanism involving delocalization of photoexcited conduction electrons wave function of gold triangular nanoprism (Au TNP) in the presence of -ssDNA/microRNA duplexes. This plasmoelectronic effect increases the electronic dimension of Au TNPs and substantially affects their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties that together allow us to achieve a sensitivity for microRNA assay as low as 140 zeptomolar concentrations for our nanoplasmonic sensors. We show that the position of a single base-pair mismatch in the -ssDNA/microRNA duplex dramatically alters the LSPR properties and detection sensitivity. The unprecedentedly high sensitivity of nanoplasmonic sensors has allowed us to assay four different microRNAs (microRNA-10b, -182, -143, and -145) from bladder cancer patient plasma (50 μL/sample). For the first time, we demonstrate the utility of a label-free, nanoplasmonic sensor in quantification of tumor suppressor microRNAs, the level of tumor suppressor microRNAs goes down in a cancer patient as compared to normal healthy individuals, in metastatic and nonmetastatic bladder cancer patient plasma. Our statistical analysis of patient samples unequivocally suggests that the tumor suppressor microRNAs are more specific biomarkers (p-value of <0.0001) than oncogenic microRNAs for differentiation between metastatic and nonmetastatic bladder cancer, and nonmetastatic cancer from healthy individuals. This work demonstrating the electron wave functions delocalization dependent ultrasensitive LSPR properties of noble metal nanoparticles has a great potential for fabrication of miniaturized and extremely powerful sensors to investigate microRNA properties in other cancers (for example breast, lung, and pancreatic) through liquid biopsy

Phytochemistry and Ethnopharmacology of Some Medicinal Plants Used in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The majority of Kurds inhabit a region that includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. This review shows that the traditional medicine is still used by Kurdish peoples and underlines the medicinal value of a great number of plants used locally. The medicinal uses include the treatment of a variety of diseases, ranging from simple stomach-ache to highly complicate male and female disorders; even sexual weakness and kidney stones are treated by plants. The majority of the plants that are used are for curing gastro-intestinal disorders and inflammation, followed by urinary tract disorders, skin burns, irritations and liver problems. In the last part of this paper, we also report the first results of our ongoing research project on the constituents of some uninvestigated Kurdish medicinal plants. The C-glycosylflavone embinin, the α-methylene acyl derivative 6-tuliposide A, and the iridoids aucubin and ajugol were isolated for the first time from Iris persica, Tulipa systole and Verbascum calvum, respectively. These plants are traditionally used against inflammation, pain, and skin burns

Discovery of Li2(Pd,Pt)3B superconductors

Critical temperature Tc of the Li2(Pd1-xPtx)3B was reported to be 7-8K for x=0 and 2.2-2.8K for x=1. In this article we present our preliminary results on behavior of magnetization-temperature curves with starting composition of Pd-B precursor, y-Li concentration in LiyPd3B and post-annealing of the Pd-end compound. Results suggest that to maximize Tc ratio Pd:B should be close to 3:1, while y-Li has to be optimum. The lowest Tc for LiyPd3B was 4.4-4.6K, while post-annealings at 560 deg. C allowed enhancement of Tc up to 8.2-8.4K. Compositions Li2Z3B with Z=Ni, Ru, Rh, Re, Ag are not superconducting down to 1.8K. Exception is composition with Re showing superconductivity due to Re3B compound. All samples were prepared by arc melting.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figs. presented at M2S, 200

Iridoids Isolation from a Phytochemical Study of the Medicinal Plant Teucrium parviflorum Collected in Iraqi Kurdistan

Herbal medicines are still widely practiced in Kurdistan Region-Iraq, especially by people living in villages on mountainous regions. Among plants belonging to the genus Teucrium (family Lamiaceae), which are commonly employed in the Kurdish traditional medicine, we have analyzed, for the first time, the methanol and aqueous methanol extracts of T. parviflorum aerial parts. The plant is mainly used by Kurds to treat jaundice, liver disorders and stomachache. We aimed to determine the phytochemical profile of the extracts and the structures of the main components, so to provide a scientific rationale for the ancient use of the plant in the ethno-pharmacological field. TLC analysis of the two extracts on silica gel and reversed phase TLC plates, using different visualization systems, indicated similar contents and the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids and sugars. The chlorophyll-free extracts exhibited weak/no antimicrobial activities against a panel of bacteria (MICs = 800–1600 µg/mL) and fungal strains (MICs ≥ 5 mg/mL). At the concentration of 600 µg/mL, the methanol extract showed moderate antiproliferative effects against A549 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines in the MTS assay. Moreover, both extracts exhibited a significant dose-dependent free radical scavenging action against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (EC50 = 62.11 and 44.25 μg/mL, respectively). In a phytochemical study, a high phenolic content (77.08 and 81.47 mg GAE/g dry extract, respectively) was found in both extracts by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. Medium pressure liquid chromatographic (MPLC) separation of the methanol extract on a reversed phase cartridge eluted with a gradient of MeOH in H2O, afforded two bioactive iridoid glucosides, harpagide (1) and 8-O-acetylharpagide (2). The structures of 1 and 2 were established by spectral data, chemical reactions, and comparison with the literature. Interestingly, significant amounts of hepatotoxic furano neo-clerodane diterpenoids, commonly occurring in Teucrium species, were not detected in the extract. The wide range of biological activities reported in the literature for compounds 1 and 2 and the significant antiradical effects of the extracts give scientific support to the traditional use in Iraqi Kurdistan of T. parviflorum aerial parts for the preparation of herbal remedies

Infrared and upconversion spectroscopic studies of high Er3+content transparent YAG ceramic

In this article, we report the detailed spectroscopic studies of high Er3+content (50%) transparent YAG ceramic co-doped with nominal Cr3+ content (0.1 mol %). Various radiative and non-radiative spectroscopic properties such as radiative decay time, fluorescence branching ratio, emission/absorption cross sections, internal radiative quantum yields of the infrared and the upconverted emission bands are explored using standard experimental and theoretical methods and compared with YAG single crystal. Results show that although the non-radiative losses are high for 50% Er doped ceramic; several radiative spectral properties are almost in agreement with those for the single crystal YAG. Furthermore, because of the low dopant concentration of Cr3+, the sensitizing effect of Cr3+ was not observed. © 2011 Optical Society of America