Characterisation of some exotic fruits (Morus nigra, Morus alba, Salvadora persica and Carissa opaca) used as herbal medicines by neutron activation analysis and estimation of their nutritional value

In the under developed countries, the people of far-flung rural areas still depend to a large extent upon herbal medicines. At the foundation of usage of herbal medicine is the experience of thousands of years. The present paper deals with the characterisation of exotic fruits for essential and toxic elements. The samples include Morus nigra, Morus alba, Salvadora persica and Carissa opaca (from low and high altitude). Two standardizations of neutron activation analysis, that is, semi-absolute k ₀-instrumental neutron activation analysis (k ₀-INAA) and epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA) were employed for the quantification of elements. The analysis methodologies were validated by analyzing the IAEA-336 (lichen) and NIST-SRM-1572 (citrus leaves). Sixteen elements including Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Fe, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc Sr, and Zn were determined in all samples. Daily intakes of various elements from the samples were measured and compared with the dietary reference intakes. Additionally, principal component analysis was performed to extract information regarding samples and elements.     

An unexpected and unusual V(5+)10 cluster containing oxygen bridges as well as six bidentate acetylacetonates

Structural Chemistry - A cluster of 10 vanadium (5+) atoms bridged by 22 oxygen atoms and having six of the vanadiums around the periphery each bound to a single bidentate acetylacetone is...     

Preparation and characterization of a novel diatomite-based composite and investigation of its adsorption properties for uranyl ions

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The thiol-functional hydrotalcite (Mg/Al-LDO-SH) composite materials were prepared and characterized by EDS, SEM, FT-IR and XRD. The variables...     

Aqua­di­chloro­(di‐2‐pyridyl­di­azene)copper(II) monohydrate

The crystal structure of the mononuclear title complex, [CuCl₂(C₁₀H₈N₄)(H₂O)]·H₂O, shows an s‐cis/E/s‐trans‐configured di‐2‐pyridyl­diazene ligand, with the square‐pyramidal Cu^II ion coordinated to one pyridyl and one diazene N atom together with two Cl atoms and one aqua ligand. The crystal packing involves both hydrogen‐bonding and π–π interactions. The solvent water mol­ecule links three monomers to one another through hydrogen‐bonding interactions in which two monomers are linked via chloro ligands and the third via the aqua ligand. Face‐to‐face and weak slipped π–π interactions also occur between di‐2‐pyridyl­diazene moieties, and these interactions are responsible for the interchain packing.     

Label-free enrichment of MCF7 breast cancer cells from leukocytes using continuous flow dielectrophoresis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) present in the bloodstream are strongly linked to the invasive behavior of cancer; therefore, their detection holds great significance for monitoring disease progression. Currently available CTC isolation tools are often based on tumor-specific antigen or cell size approaches. However, these techniques are limited due to the lack of a unique and universal marker for CTCs, and the overlapping size between CTCs and regular blood cells. Dielectrophoresis (DEP), governed by the intrinsic dielectric properties of the particles, is a promising marker-free, accurate, fast, and low-cost technique that enables the isolation of CTCs from blood cells. This study presents a continuous flow, antibody-free DEP-based microfluidic device to concentrate MCF7 breast cancer cells, a well-established CTC model, in the presence of leukocytes extracted from human blood samples. The enrichment strategy was determined according to the DEP responses of the corresponding cells, obtained in our previously reported DEP spectrum study. It was based on the positive-DEP integrated with hydrodynamic focusing under continuous flow. In the proposed device, the parylene microchannel with two inlets and outlets was built on top of rectangular and equally spaced isolated planar electrodes rotated certain degree relative to the main flow (13°). The recovery of MCF7 cells mixed with leukocytes was 74%–98% at a frequency of 1 MHz and a magnitude of 10–12 V_pp. Overall, the results revealed that the presented system successfully concentrates MCF7 cancer cells from leukocytes, ultimately verifying our DEP spectrum study, in which the enrichment frequency and separation strategy of the microfluidic system were determined.     

Well parameters of two‐dimensional electron gas in Al0.88In0.12N/AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures grown by MOCVD

Resistivity and Hall effect measurements were carried out as a function of magnetic field (0‐1.5 T) and temperature (30‐300 K) for Al_0.88In_0.12N/AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures grown by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD). Magnetic field dependent Hall data were analyzed by using the quantitative mobility spectrum analysis (QMSA). A two‐dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel located at the Al_0.88In_0.12N/GaN interface with an AlN interlayer and a two‐dimensional hole gas (2DHG) channel located at the GaN/AlN interface were determined for Al_0.88In_0.12N/AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures. The interface parameters, such as quantum well width, the deformation potential constant and correlation length as well as the dominant scattering mechanisms for the Al_0.88In_0.12N/GaN interface with an AlN interlayer were determined from scattering analyses based on the exact 2DEG carrier density and mobility obtained with QMSA. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Novel bioactive vic-dioxime ligand containing piperazine moiety: Synthesis,X-ray crystallographic studies, 2D NMR applications and complexation with Ni(II)

A new vic-dioxime ligand bearing an important pharmacophore substituent, anti-1-(4-benzylpiperazine-1-yl) phenylglyoxime (LH₂) (Scheme 1), has been synthesized and its nickel(II) complex was obtained by the reaction of NiCl₂·6H₂O and the ligand. The characterization of the newly formed compounds was performed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT), 2D NMR (HMBC), ESI mass-spectrometry, TG/DTA, X-ray crystallography. The antibacterial activity was also studied against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans RSHM 676, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Lactobacillus acidophilus RSHM 06029, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ATCC 35218, Pseudomonasaeruginosa ATCC 27853. The antimicrobial test results indicated that all the compounds have mild antibacterial activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial species.