Scarlet Flax Linum grandiflorum (L.) In Vitro Cultures as a New Source of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Lignans

In vitro cultures of scarlet flax (Linum grandiflorum L.), an important ornamental flax, have been established as a new possible valuable resource of lignans and neolignans for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory applications. The callogenic potential at different concentrations of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and thidiazuron (TDZ), alone or in combinations, was evaluated using both L. grandiflorum hypocotyl and cotyledon explants. A higher callus induction frequency was observed on NAA than TDZ, especially for hypocotyl explants, with a maximum frequency (i.e., 95.2%) on 1.0 mg/L of NAA. The presence of NAA (1.0 mg/L) in conjunction with TDZ tended to increase the frequency of callogenesis relative to TDZ alone, but never reached the values observed with NAA alone, thereby indicating the lack of synergy between these two plant growth regulators (PGRs). Similarly, in terms of biomass, NAA was more effective than TDZ, with a maximum accumulation of biomass registered for medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L of NAA using hypocotyls as initial explants (DW: 13.1 g). However, for biomass, a synergy between the two PGRs was observed, particularly for cotyledon-derived explants and for the lowest concentrations of TDZ. The influence of these two PGRs on callogenesis and biomass is discussed. The HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of lignans (secoisolariciresinol (SECO) and lariciresinol (LARI) and neolignan (dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol [DCA]) naturally accumulated in their glycoside forms. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities performed for both hypocotyl- and cotyledon-derived cultures were also found maximal (DPPH: 89.5%, FRAP 866: µM TEAC, ABTS: 456 µM TEAC) in hypocotyl-derived callus cultures as compared with callus obtained from cotyledon explants. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activities revealed high inhibition (COX-1: 47.4% and COX-2: 51.1%) for extract of hypocotyl-derived callus cultures at 2.5 mg/L TDZ. The anti-inflammatory action against COX-1 and COX-2 was supported by the IC₅₀ values. This report provides a viable approach for enhanced biomass accumulation and efficient production of (neo)lignans in L. grandiflorum callus cultures.     

Influence of heat transfer on a peristaltic transport of Herschel–Bulkley fluid in a non-uniform inclined tube

Peristaltic transport in a two-dimensional non-uniform tube filled with Herschel–Bulkley fluid is studied under the assumptions of long wavelength and low Reynold number. The fluid flow is investigated in the wave frame of reference moving with the velocity of the peristaltic wave. Exact solution for the velocity field, the temperature profile, the stream functions and the pressure gradient are obtained. The physical behavior of τ, n, α and on the pressure rise versus flow rate are discussed through graphs. At the end of the article trapping phenomena for Herschel–Bulkley and also for Newtonian, Bingham and power law (which are the special cases of Herschel–Bulkley fluid) fluid are discussed.     

Chemical tuning of positive and negative magnetoresistances, and superconductivity in 1222-type ruthenocuprates

A remarkable variety of conducting states has been found in RuSr2(R2-xCex)Cu2O10-delta ruthenocuprates by tuning the properties of the magnetic CuO2 and RuO2 layers through small changes in the chemistry of the (R,Ce)2O2-delta slab. Both the R3+ cation size and the charge transfer determined by the R/Ce ratio and the oxygen deficiency delta are important controlling parameters that tune ground-state properties from positive magnetoresistive to negative magnetoresistive to superconducting.     

In situ Fluorescence Study of Swelling,Sorption and Desorption Processes in and out of PAAm Gels

Summary: Small molecule sorption and desorption in and out of polyacrylamide (PAAm) gels were studied at various temperatures. Pyranine (P_y) dissolved in water used as a probe. Fluorescence emission intensity, I_p from P_y was monitored for studying sorption and desorption processes. Scattered light intensities, I_sc from PAAm gel was also monitored to observed structural variations during sorption and desorption process. Li-Tanaka model was applied to produce the swelling time constants, τ_c and sorption coefficients, D_c for the swelling processes. On the other hand, sorption and desorption processes were studied and coefficients were produced by using Fickian model. Related activation energies were also calculated from the corresponding physical processes.     

An alytical and numerical study of peristaltic transport of a Johnson-Segalman fluid in an endoscope

In the present study, we discuss the peristaltic flow of a Johnson-Segalman fluid in an endoscope. Perturbation, homotopy, and numerical solutions are found for the non-linear differential equation. The comparative study is also made to check the validity of the solutions. The expressions for pressure rise frictional forces, pressure gradient, and stream lines are presented to interpret the behavior of various physical quantities of the Johnson-Segalman fluid.     

Fission studies of gold induced by (1665 MeV) π- using a CR-39 detector

The fission cross section and fission probability of ¹⁹⁷Au, induced by (1665 MeV) π^-, have been studied using CR-39 track detectors. A 4π-geometry was used to count track statistics. A beam of negative pions of 1665 MeV was produced at AGS of Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA, and allowed to fall normally on the stack. Two detectors from the stack were scanned for fission fragment tracks after etching in 6N NaOH at 70℃. The statistics of fission fragment tracks in both detectors were obtained. It was found that there was a marked asymmetry of registered tracks with respect to the forward and backward hemispheres. This asymmetry could be partly accounted for on the basis of momentum transfer to the struck nucleus. On the basis of counting statistics fission cross section was measured, and fission probability was determined by dividing the fission cross section with the reaction cross section. The fission cross-section and fission probability were compared with the computed values using the cascade-exciton model code CEM95.     

FTIR analysis of natural and synthetic collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in humans and animals, comprising of one third of the total proteins that accounts for three quarters of the dry weight skin in humans. Collagen containing a range of proteins has been reported for tissue engineering applications, but, only a small number of studies related to chemical structure evaluation of collagen are found in the literature. Collagen can be obtained from both the natural and synthetic sources and offers a wide range of biomedical applications due to its excellent biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. Hence, it is important to identify chemical structural properties of collagen and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) appears to be a technique of choice to study their chemical structure. This review aims to highlight the use of FTIR to study collagen-based biomaterials, using it for characterization of collagen extracted from various sources. Characterization of collagen-based materials used in wound healing, skin substitutes, derma fillers, and aging of skin, collagen containing drug delivery agents, collagen-based materials used in tissue engineering, bone regeneration, and osteogenic differentiation is discussed in detail. FTIR analysis of collagen-containing materials used for dental applications, cleft-palate, and in alveolar-ridge preservation has also been highlighted.     

Ab initio prediction of pressure-induced structural phase transition of superconducting FeSe

External pressure driven phase transitions of FeSe are predicted using ab initio calculations. The calculations reveal that α-FeSe makes transitions to NiAs-type, MnP-type, and CsCl-type FeSe. Transitions from NiAs-type to MnP-type and CsCl-type FeSe are also predicted. MnP-type FeSe is also found to be able to transform to CsCl-type FeSe, which is easier from α-FeSe than the transition to MnP-type FeSe, but comparable to the transition from NiAs-type FeSe. The calculated electronic structures show that all phases of FeSe are metallic, but the ionic interaction between Fe-Se bonds becomes stronger and the covalent interaction becomes weaker when the structural phase transition occurs from α-FeSe to the other phases of FeSe. The experimentally observed decrease in T(c) of superconducting α-FeSe at high pressure may be due to a structural/magnetic instability, which exists at high pressure. The results suggest an increase of the T(c) of α-FeSe if such phase transitions are frustrated by suitable methods.     

潜伏期和染病期均具有传染性的媒介传染病模型的全局稳定性分析

讨论潜伏期和染病期均具有传染性的媒介传染病模型.得到模型基本再生数的表达式,证明了当基本再生数小于1时,无病平衡点是全局渐近稳定的,此时疾病消亡;当基本再生数大于1时,无病平衡点是不稳定的,系统存在全局渐近稳定的地方病平衡点,此时,疾病将在人群中持续存在,数值模拟验证了理论结果.     

用光学频谱仪测量几种典型图像的频谱

利用空间频谱分析仪对不同光学图像进行频谱分析。