Elemental analysis of aluminium based alloys using 14-MeV neutrons

Elemental concentration has been estimated in aluminium based alloy samples, using 14-MeV neutron activation analysis. The results are in agreement with those obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy.     

Working group report: Neutrino physics

This is the report of the neutrino physics working group at WHEPP-X. We summarize the problems selected and discussed at the workshop and the papers which have resulted subsequently.      

Photo-activated cytotoxicity of a pyrenyl-terpyridine copper(II) complex in HeLa cells

Terpyridine copper(II) complexes [Cu(L)₂](NO₃)₂, where L is (4′-phenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (ph-tpy in 1) and [4′-(1-pyrenyl)]-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (py-tpy in 2), are prepared, characterized and their photocytotoxic activity studied. The crystal structure of complex 1 shows distorted octahedral CuN₆ coordination geometry. The 1:2 electrolytic and one-electron paramagnetic complexes show a visible band near 650 nm in DMF–H₂O. The complexes show emission band at 352 nm for 1 and 425 nm for 2 when excited at 283 and 346 nm, respectively. The Cu(II)–Cu(I) redox couple is observed near −0.2 V versus SCE in DMF–0.1 M TBAP. The complexes are avid partial-intercalative binders to calf thymus DNA giving binding constant (K_b) values of ∼10⁶ M⁻¹. Complex 2 with its photoactive pyrenyl moiety exhibits significant photocleavage of pUC19 DNA in red light via singlet oxygen pathway. Complex 2 also exhibits significant photo-activated cytotoxicity in HeLa cancer cells in visible light giving IC₅₀ value of 11.9 μM, while being non-toxic in dark with an IC₅₀ value of 130.5 μM.     

Thyroid nodule classification using ultrasound elastography via linear discriminant analysis

The non-surgical diagnosis of thyroid nodules is currently made via a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. It is estimated that somewhere between 250,000 and 300,000 thyroid FNA biopsies are performed in the United States annually. However, a large percentage (approximately 70%) of these biopsies turn out to be benign. Since the aggressive FNA management of thyroid nodules is costly, quantitative risk assessment and stratification of a nodule’s malignancy is of value in triage and more appropriate healthcare resources utilization. In this paper, we introduce a new method for classifying the thyroid nodules based on the ultrasound (US) elastography features. Unlike approaches to assess the stiffness of a thyroid nodule by visually inspecting the pseudo-color pattern in the strain image, we use a classification algorithm to stratify the nodule by using the power spectrum of strain rate waveform extracted from the US elastography image sequence. Pulsation from the carotid artery was used to compress the thyroid nodules. Ultrasound data previously acquired from 98 thyroid nodules were used in this retrospective study to evaluate our classification algorithm. A classifier was developed based on the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and used to differentiate the thyroid nodules into two types: (I) no FNA (observation-only) and (II) FNA. Using our method, 62 nodules were classified as type I, all of which were benign, while 36 nodules were classified as Type-II, 16 malignant and 20 benign, resulting in a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 75.6% in detecting malignant thyroid nodules. This indicates that our triage method based on US elastography has the potential to substantially reduce the number of FNA biopsies (63.3%) by detecting benign nodules and managing them via follow-up observations rather than an FNA biopsy.     

The effect of data scaling on dual prices and sensitivity analysis in linear programs

In many practical situations scaling the data is necessary to solve linear programs. This note explores the relationships in translating the sensitivity analysis between the original and the scaled problems.     

Structure-activity relationship of photocytotoxic iron(III) complexes of modified dipyridophenazine ligands

Iron(III) complexes [FeL(B)] (1-5) of a tetradentate trianionic phenolate-based ligand (L) and modified dipyridophenazine bases (B), namely, dipyrido-6,7,8,9-tetrahydrophenazine (dpqC in 1), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine-2-carboxylic acid (dppzc in 2), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine-11-sulfonic acid (dppzs in 3), 7-aminodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppza in 4) and benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppn in 5), have been synthesized and their photocytotoxic properties studied along with their dipyridophenazine analogue (6). The complexes have a five electron paramagnetic iron(III) center, and the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple appears at about -0.69 V versus SCE in DMF-0.1 M TBAP. The physicochemical data also suggest that the complexes possess similar structural features as that of its parent complex [FeL(dppz)] with FeO3N3 coordination in a distorted octahedral geometry. The DNA-complex and protein-complex interaction studies have revealed that the complexes interact favorably with the biomolecules, the degree of which depends on the nature of the substituents present on the dipyridophenazine ring. Photocleavage of pUC19 DNA by the complexes has been studied using visible light of 476, 530, and 647 nm wavelengths. Mechanistic investigations with inhibitors show formation of HO(?) radicals via a photoredox pathway. Photocytotoxicity study of the complexes in HeLa cells has shown that the dppn complex (5) is highly active in causing cell death in visible light with sub micromolar IC(50) value. The effect of substitutions and the planarity of the phenazine moiety on the cellular uptake are quantified by determining the total cellular iron content using the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. The cellular uptake increases marginally with an increase in the hydrophobicity of the dipyridophenazine ligands whereas complex 3 with dppzs shows very high uptake. Insights into the cell death mechanism by the dppn complex 5, obtained through DAPI nuclear staining in HeLa cells, reveal a rapid programmed cell death mechanism following photoactivation of complex 5 with visible light. The effect of substituent on the DNA photocleavage activity of the complexes has been rationalized from the theoretical studies.     

Quantitation of Eugenol,Cinnamaldehyde and Isoeugenol from Cinnamomum tamala Nees and Eberm. Leaf Powder and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Breyn Stem Bark Powder by LC

An LC method has been developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and isoeugenol from dried leaf powder of Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm and stem bark powder of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Breyn. Linear responses for eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and isoeugenol were obtained over the concentration ranges of 0.20–2.50, 5.00–100.00 and 0.10–1.00 μg mL⁻¹, respectively.

     

Modulation of humoral immune response to oral BCG vaccination by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro (RDJ) in healthy adults

Background  

Oral administration of BCG was the route initially used by Calmette and Guérin, but was replaced by intradermal administration in virtually all countries after the Lubeck accident. However, Brazil continued to administer oral BCG Moreau RDJ, which was maintained until the mid-1970s when it was substituted by the intradermal route. Although BCG vaccination has been used in humans since 1921, little is known of the induced immune response. The aim of this study was to analyse immunological responses after oral vaccination with M. bovis BCG Moreau RDJ.