A self consistent normalized calibration protocol for three dimensional magnetic resonance gel dosimetry

In a clinical setting, mixed and inconsistent results have been reported using Magnetic Resonance Relaxation imaging of irradiated aqueous polymeric gels as a three-dimensional dosimeter, for dose verification of conformal radiation therapy. The problems are attributed to the difficulty of identifying an accurate dose calibration protocol for each delivered gel at the radiation site in a clinical setting. While careful calibration is done at the gel manufacturing site in a controlled laboratory setting, there is no guarantee that the dose sensitivity of the gels remains invariant upon delivery, irradiation, magnetic resonance imaging and storage at the clinical site. In this study, we have compared three different dose calibration protocols on aqueous polymeric gels for a variety of irradiation scenarios done in a clinical setting. After acquiring the three-dimensional proton relaxation maps of the irradiated gels, the dose distributions were generated using the off-site manufacturer provided calibration curve (Cal-1), the on-site external tube gel calibration (Cal-2) and the new on-site internal normalized gel calibration (Cal-3) protocols. These experimental dose distributions were compared with the theoretical dose distributions generated by treatment-planning systems. We observed that the experimental dose distributions generated from the Cal-1 and Cal-2 protocols were off by 10% to 40% and up to 200% above the predicted maximum dose, respectively. On the other hand, the experimental dose distributions generated from the Cal-3 protocol matched reasonably well with the theoretical dose distributions to within 10% difference. Our result suggests that an independent on-site normalized internal calibration must be performed for each batch of gel dosimeters at the time of MR relaxation imaging in order to account for the variations in dose sensitivity caused by various uncontrollable conditions in a clinical setting such as oxygen contamination, temperature changes and shelf life of the delivered gel between manufacturing and MR acquisitions.     

Structure selective complexation of cyclodextrins with five polyphenols investigated by capillary electrokinetic chromatography

The complexation of five polyphenols, namely trans‐resveratrol, astilbin, taxifolin, ferulic acid, and syringic acid (guest molecules) with α‐, β‐, and γ‐cyclodextrin (host molecules), was investigated by capillary electrokinetic chromatography. The binding constants were calculated based on the effective electrophoretic mobility change of guests with the addition of cyclodextrins into the background electrolyte. Because of cavity size, cyclodextrins showed structure‐selective complexation property to different guest. The stability of the trans‐resveratrol complexes was in the order of β‐ > α‐ > γ‐cyclodextrin. The cavity size of α‐cyclodextrin was too small for astilbin and taxifolin molecules, and thus they could not form complexes. The molecular size of syringic acid was too big for all cyclodextrins cavity, and no cyclodextrin could form complexes with it. Temperature studies showed that the binding constants decreased with the rise of temperature. Enthalpy and entropy values were calculated and the negative values of these parameters indicated that the complexation process was enthalpy‐controlled. Van der Waals force and release of high‐enthalpy water molecules from the cyclodextrins cavity played important roles in the process.     

Wideband subwavelength gratings for coupling between silicon-on-insulator waveguides and optical fibers

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel subwavelength grating coupler on silicon-on-insulator, for coupling to optical fibers with a wide optical bandwidth. Theoretical analysis and design optimization of the coupler are described. About 73?nm 1?dB bandwidth was experimentally demonstrated with -5.6 dB coupling efficiency. Better than -3.4 dB efficiency with 86?nm 1?dB bandwidth is predicted for these structures with optimized buried oxide thickness.     

NMR and FT-IR Investigation of Spinel LiMn2O4 Cathode Prepared by the Tartaric Acid Gel Process

The structure of the lithium manganese tartrate precursor and the synthesis mechanism of LiMn₂O₄ were investigated by FT-IR, NMR, TG/DSC, and XRD in this study. The results of FT-IR and ⁷Li and ¹³C NMR measurements revealed that lithium ions bond with carboxylic acid ligands and the O–H stretching modes of tartaric acid. Manganese ion bonds only with carboxylic acid. Lithium and manganese ions were trapped homogeneously on an atomic scale throughout the precursor. Such a structure eliminates the need for long-range diffusion during the formation of lithium manganese oxides. Therefore, spinel LiMn₂O₄ was synthesized at temperatures as low as 300°C. In this work, the electrochemical properties of Li/Li_xMn₂O₄ were studied. It is clear that the discharge curves exhibit two pseudo plateaus as the LiMn₂O₄ is fired to higher temperatures. The discharge capacity of LiMn₂O₄ increases from 84 to 117 mAh/g as the calcination temperature increases from 300 to 500°C. The LiMn₂O₄ powders calcined at low temperatures with a high specific surface area and an average valence of manganese exhibit a better cycle life.     

Conversion of squid pens to chitosanases and dye adsorbents via Bacillus cereus

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The purpose of this study was to reclaim squid pens for the production of chitosanases and biosorbents of food colorants and industrial dyes via Bacillus cereus...     

Dibromomethane as one-carbon source in organic synthesis: a versatile methodology to prepare the cyclic and acyclic α-methylene or α-keto acid derivatives from the corresponding terminal alkenes

Ozonolysis of mono-substituted alkenes A-1 followed by reacting with a preheated mixture of CH₂Br₂-Et₂NH affords α-substituted acroleins A-2 in good yields. Under very mild reaction conditions, these α-substituted acroleins A-2 can be easily converted to α-methylene esters A-4, which could be further converted to the corresponding α-keto esters A-5. This methodology can be also applied to the preparation of α-methylene lactones B-4, α-methylene lactams, and α-keto lactones B-5 with various ring sizes.     

Kinetics and Mechanisms of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibition by Cardiovascular Drugs and Benzodiazepines

The goal of this work is to determine enzyme kinetics and mechanisms of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition by five cardiovascular drugs, lovastatin, simvastatin, amlodipine besylate, nifedipine, and hydralazine hydrochloride, and two benzodiazepines, diazepam and chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride. All drugs in this study are reversible mixed‐type inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. The pK_i values for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition by the cardiovascular drugs are linearly correlated with the molecular weights of the drugs with the slopes of 0.005 and 0.0021, respectively. Therefore, van der Waals' interactions between acetylcholinesterase and the cardiovascular drugs are stronger than those between butyrylcholinesterase and the drugs. This is probably due to a smaller active site gorge and a more significant peripheral anionic substrate binding site of acetylcholinesterase than those of butyrylcholinesterase. The fact that the pK_i values for both butyrylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition by the cardiovascular drugs are linearly correlated with each other suggests that both enzyme inhibition reactions proceed via a common mechanism. Furthermore, amlodipine besylate may be useful in Alzheimer's disease treatment similar to donepezil.     

Enthalpy of formation of aqueous tungstate ion and of crystalline tungstic acid (H2WO4)

Calorimetric measurements of the enthalpy of reaction of WO₃(c) with excess OH^?(aq) have been made at 85°C. Similar measurements have been made with MoO₃(c) at both 85 and 25°C, to permit estimation of ΔH°=?13.4 kcal mol^?1 for the reaction WO₃(c)+2OH^?(aq)=WO^2?₄(aq)+H₂O(liq) at 25°C. Combination of this ΔH° with ΔH°_f for WO₃(c) leads to ΔH°_f=?256.5 kcal mol^?1 for WO^2?₄(aq). We also obtain ΔH°_f=?269.5 kcal mol^?1 for H₂WO₄(c). Both of these values are discussed in relation to several earlier investigations.     

Development of capillary zone electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry for the determination of lamotrigine in human plasma

A method of coupling capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) detection has been developed for monitoring an antiepileptic drug, lamotrigine (LTG) in human plasma. The CZE-MS was developed in three stages: (i) CZE separation and ESI-MS detection of LTG and tyramine (TRM, internal standard) were simultaneously optimized by studying the influence of CZE background electrolyte (BGE) pH, BGE ionic strength, and nebulizer pressure of the MS sprayer; (ii) sheath liquid parameters, such as pH, ionic strength, organic modifier content, and flow rate of the sheath liquid, were systematically varied under optimum CZE-MS conditions developed in the first stage; (iii) MS sprayer chamber parameters (drying gas temperature and drying gas flow rate) were varied for the best MS detection of LTG. The developed assay was finally applied for the determination of LTG in plasma samples. The linear range of LTG in plasma sample assay was between 0.1-5.0 microg/mL with a limit of detection as low as 0.05 microg/mL and run time less than 6 min. Finally, the concentration-time profile of LTG in human plasma sample was found to correlate well when CZE-ESI-MS was compared to a more established method of high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.     

Environmentally friendly and efficient: iron-mediated reduction of 3-methyl-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles to benzamidines

A new synthetic method is described for the mild and selective reduction of 3-methyl-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles to amidines employing iron powder in aqueous medium. Its application is demonstrated in the synthesis of 1, a potent and selective urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) inhibitor.