Thermodynamic studies on the ferroelectric phase transition in neutron irradiated (LixK1−x)2SO4 crystals at high temperature

Thermodynamic studies of (Li_xK_1?x)₂SO₄, LKS, mixed crystals have been made in the concentration range (x=0.1, 0.2, ...,x=0.5). The thermal behaviour has been investigated by differential thermal analysis, DTA, and differential scanning calorimeter, DSC, in the vicinity of high temperature phases. Also, the effect of the thermal neutron irradiations on the thermal properties of mixed crystals was studied. The results showed a change in the transition temperatureT _c, as well as the value of specific heatC _p at transition temperature, due to the change of stoichiometric ratio and radiation doses. The change of enthalpy and entropy of mixed crystals have been estimated numerically.     

Destabilizing the interplay between miR-1275 and IGF2BPs by Tamarix articulata and quercetin in hepatocellular carcinoma

Insulin-like growth factor-2 binding proteins (IGF2BPs) are oncogenic RNA-binding proteins, highly up-regulated in HCC, and were recently validated as direct targets of the tumour suppressor miR-1275. It is worth noting that around 47% of FDA approved anticancer drugs are derived from plants. Modulation by miRNAs and their cellular signalling cascades could constitute new pathways by which these phytochemicals exert their effects. This study aimed to investigate the potential use of Tamarix articulata, quercetin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in HCC and how these phytochemicals could epigenetically modulate the IGF axis using their impact on miR-1275. T. articulata ethyl acetate fraction significantly reduced the viability of Huh-7 cells compared to control cells. Treatment with T. articulata ethyl acetate fraction, quercetin and EGCG significantly enhanced miR-1275, while suppressed IGF2BP1 and IGF2BP3 mRNA expression levels. In summary, T. articulata, quercetin and EGCG have important implications for HCC molecular-targeted therapy through destabilizing the interplay between miR-1275 and the IGF axis.     

Dual labeling of biomolecules using MeCAT and DOTA derivatives: application to quantitative proteomics

In this study, single and dual labeling of primary amino and thiol groups of target peptides is presented as a proof of concept. The proposed method allows flexible, independent and sequential labeling of the mentioned residues using lanthanides introduced via DOTA-complexes (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid). The efficiency of the method was optimized using cysteine-containing standard peptides and then applied to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) to demonstrate qualitative and quantitative aspects of this strategy. For amino labeling, cysteinyl peptides were immobilized on Sepharose-6B resin and labeled with DOTA-NHS ester followed by metallation with lanthanides. Thiol labeling was carried out using lanthanide-containing metal-coded affinity tags (MeCAT) after elution of peptides from the resin. Complete dual labeling of the standard peptides was demonstrated by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, whereas more than 80% of the detected peptides of BSA and HSA were completely dual-labeled. Parallel detection by LC coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) delivered reliable quantitative information. Thus, the versatile lanthanide choice in both labeling steps allowed estimating primary amino and thiol stoichiometries for the studied samples using different lanthanides. On the other hand, enhancement of ICP-MS signal was achieved as expected when all positions were labeled with the same lanthanide. Finally, linear calibrations of the signal for most of the labeled peptides by standard additions of digested BSA showed a suitable behaviour for quantitative applications and demonstrated the pre-concentration capability of the employed resin.     

The Kinetics of Tenoxicam Photodegradation in Solution

Photodegradation of tenoxicam was investigated under different reaction conditions. After 60 min of exposure to UV light, the photodegradation was extensive, and the maximum and minimum in the UV-visible spectrum were shifted to shorter and longer wavelengths, respectively. Ethanol exerted a photostabilizing effect on tenoxicam. Tenoxicam is more stable in acidic and basic media than in neutral solution. Increasing light intensity or temperature causes an increase in the rate of photodegradation. The photodegradation of tenoxicam was found to follow first-order kinetics under all these conditions.     

Spinel structure of activated carbon supported MFe2O4 composites as an economic and efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in neutral media

For more sustainability and marketing of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in wastewater treatment, the sluggish kinetics of cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and platinum scarcity (with its high cost) should be swept away. So, this work aimed to synthesize metal ferrite (MFe₂O₄; M = Mn, Cu, and Ni) -based activated carbon composites as inexpensive ORR cathode catalysts. The composites were synthesized using a facile modified co-precipitation approach with low-thermal treatment and labeled as MnFe₂O₄/AC, CuFe₂O₄/AC, and NiFe₂O₄/AC. The as-synthesized catalysts are physicochemically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR), Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and electron spin resonance (ESR). The electrochemical catalytic performance toward ORR was studied in a phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at neutral media via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). MnFe₂O₄/AC has the highest onset potential (E_onset) value of − 0.223 V compared to CuFe₂O₄/AC (− 0.280 V) and NiFe₂O₄/AC (− 0.270 V). MnFe₂O₄/AC also has the highest kinetic current density (j_K) and lowest Tafel slope (− 5 mA cm⁻² and − 330 mV dec⁻¹) compared to CuFe₂O₄/AC (− 3.05 mA cm⁻² and − 577 mV dec⁻¹) and NiFe₂O₄/AC (− 2.67 mA cm⁻² and − 414 mV dec⁻¹). The ORR catalyzed by MnFe₂O₄/AC at pH = 7 proceeds via a 4e⁻ -kinetic pathway. The ESR is in good agreement with the electrochemical analysis due to the highest ∆H_ppvalue for MnFe₂O₄/AC compared to CuFe₂O₄/AC and NiFe₂O₄/AC. Thus, MnFe₂O₄/AC is suggested as a promising alternative to Pt- electrocatalyst cathode for MFCs at neutral conditions.

Graphical Abstract

     

Field Measurements of Radon Exhalation and Ra-226 Content in Soil using the Can-Technique

CR-39 and LR-115 plastic nuclear track detectors in the can-technique have been employed in the field measurements of radon exhalation, Ra-226 and U-238 content in dry-soil air at numerous regions in Sudan (the Blue and White Nile and Mogran regions). Measurements gave an average radon exhalation from the soil to the atmosphere and Ra-226 content of (23.4 ± 2.60) kBq · m^?2 and (123 ± 13.65) Bq · kg^?1 respectively. A polyethylene permeable membrane cover was used to eliminate the contribution of thoron activity inside the can. Assuming a radioactive equilibrium between the U-series, the average U-238 content in the soil was found to be (9.92 ± 1.01) ppm. This survey may be used for uranium prospection in soil.     

Reactivity trends in the base hydrolysis of 6-nitro-2H-chromen-2-one and 6-nitro-2H-chromen-2-one-3-carboxylic acid in binary mixtures of water with methanol and acetone at different temperatures

Kinetics of the base hydrolysis of 6-nitro-2H-chromen-2-one (NC) and 6-nitro-2H-chromen-2-one-3-carboxylic acid (NCC) in water-methanol and water-acetone mixtures was studied at temperature range from 283 to 313 K. The activation parameters of the reactions were evaluated and discussed. The change in the activation barrier of the investigated compounds from water to water-methanol and water-acetone mixtures were estimated from the kinetic data. The base hydrolysis of NC and NCC in the water-methanol and water-acetone mixtures follows a rate law with k _obs = k ₂[OH⁻] and k _obs = k ₁ + k ₂[OH⁻], respectively. The decrease in the rate constants of NC and NCC hydrolysis, as the proportion of methanol and acetone increases, is accounted for by the destabilization of the OH⁻ ion. The activation and thermodynamic parameters were determined.     

An approach to evaluate the efficiency of γ-ray detectors to determine the radioactivity in environmental samples

This work provides an approach to determine the efficiency of γ-ray detectors with a good accuracy in order to determine the concentrations of either naturally occurring or artificially prepared radionuclides. This approach is based on the efficiency transfer formula (ET), the effective solid angles, the self- absorptions of the source matrix, the attenuation by the source container and the detector housing materials on the detector efficiency. The experimental calibration process was done using radioactive (Cylindrical & Marinelli) sources, in different dimensions, that contain aqueous ¹⁵²Eu radionuclide. The comparison point to a fine agreement between the experimental measured and calculated efficiencies for the (NaI & HPGe) detectors using volumetric radioactive sources.     

Kinetic study of the hydroxide ion attack on and DNA interaction with high spin iron(II) Schiff base amino acid chelates baering ONO donors

Kinetic study of some novel high spin Fe(II) complexes of Schiff base ligands derived from 5-bromsalicyaldehyde and amino acids with the OH^? ion and DNA has been carried out. Based on the kinetic data, the rate law and a plausible mechanism were proposed. Kinetic data of the base catalyzed hydrolysis imply pseudo first-order double stage process due to the presence of mer- and fac-isomers. The observed rate constants k _obs were correlated with the effect of a substituent R in the structure of ligands. The rate constants and activation parameters are in good agreement with stability constants of the studied complexes. Reactivity of the complexes towards DNA correlated well with the reported binding constants.