Decay scheme of92m Nb

The beta decay of the 2^{+ 92m} Nb was reinvestigated via⁹³Nb(γ, n) reaction. The feeding of the 2⁺ 2,067 keV level of⁹²Zr was determined measuring the intensity of the 1,132 keV gamma-ray transition.     

Beta decay of57Ni

The decay of⁵⁷Ni was studied using both single and coincidence gamma-ray spectroscopy. Four new low-intensity transitions were observed in the single spectra. The energies and intensities of these transitions related to the 1378 keV transition were determined as 304.1 keV, 0.002%; 696.0 keV, 0.001%, 1350.5 keV, 0.002% and 1603.3 keV, 0.005%. Weak transitions at 541.9, 755.3 and 1279.9 keV were confirmed in agreement to earlier works, and their intensities related to 1378 keV were determined as 0.005%, 0.007% and 0.0012%, respectively.     

Admissible sequences and the preprojective component of a quiver

This paper concerns indecomposable preprojective modules over the path algebra of a finite connected quiver without oriented cycles. For each such module, an explicit formula in terms of the geometry of the quiver gives a unique, up to a certain equivalence, shortest (+)-admissible sequence such that the corresponding composition of reflection functors annihilates the module. An efficient way to compute the module is to recover it from its shortest (+)-admissible sequence. The set of equivalence classes of the above sequences has a natural structure of a partially ordered set. For a large class of quivers, the Hasse diagram of the partially ordered set is isomorphic to the preprojective component of the Auslander-Reiten quiver. The techniques of (+)-admissible sequences yield a new result about slices in the preprojective component.     

First interlaboratory exercise on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs analysis in environmental samples

Comparability of monitoring data are essential for any meaningful assessment and for the management of environmental risks of emerging pollutants. The reliability and comparability of data at European level is often limited, because analytical methods for emerging pollutants are often not fully validated, not harmonized or not suitable for all relevant matrices. This paper describes a collaborative interlaboratory exercise for the analysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) residues in freshwater and wastewater, held in the framework of the EU project "Network of reference laboratories for monitoring of emerging environmental pollutants" (NORMAN). The NSAID compounds selected in this study were ketoprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen and diclofenac. Thirteen laboratories distributed along nine European Countries (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland) took part in this exercise, 126 samples were analyzed and a total number of 473 values in duplicate were collected. Samples selected in this study include environmental water (river water and waste water) and artificial water (fortified environmental and distilled water) with different ranges of complexity. Two analytical methods were proposed by the organiser; one is based on the use of solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and the second one is based on SPE followed by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), however, in the first round some different approaches were also admitted. The main goals of this interlaboratory comparison were to evaluate the available analytical schemes for NSAID analysis in natural waters, to evaluate the repeatability (r) and reproducibility (R) between participating laboratories, and to evaluate the influence of the analytical method and sample matrices on the results.     

NMR and theoretical calculations: a unified view of the cis/trans isomerization of 2-substituted thiazolidines containing peptides

The cis/trans isomerization of peptides containing the pseudoproline (4R)-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid Cys(Psi (R1,R2) pro) is investigated from both an experimental and a theoretical point of view by NMR and DFT calculations. A series of Ac-Cys(Psi(R1,R2) pro)-OCH3 and Ac-Cys(Psi(R1,R2) pro)-NHCH3 peptides were prepared to assess the influence of the substitution at the C2 position as well as of the amide following the thiazolidine residue. For each compound, the cis/trans ratio along with free energy, the puckering of the thiazolidine ring and the free rotational energy barrier are reported and discussed. We observe there is a pronounced effect of the C2 substituents and of the chirality upon the cis/trans ratio with the population of the cis content in the order (2R)-Cys(Psi(CH3,H) pro)<(2S)-Cys(Psi(H,CH3) pro)相似文献   

Fast and efficient extraction methods for the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in biological matrices

This paper describes fast and simple extraction methods for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in biological matrices. Four extraction protocols were tested. The first protocol used microwave-assisted extraction combined with two purification steps. The second one was similar, except that microwave-assisted extraction was replaced by accelerated solvent extraction. The third one combined extraction/purification by accelerated solvent extraction with final purification on a silica gel column. The last one combined microwave-assisted extraction with purification on an acidic silica gel column. The protocols were tested on various matrices: a spiked matrix, two certified matrices (SRM 2977, WMF 01), and natural matrices (mysids and fish). All of the protocols produced good performance in terms of recovery and reproducibility. The two last protocols showed promising results in terms of applicability to natural matrices, as they required a minimum of sample handling and minimal amounts of solvent and time. These methods allowed at least 24 samples to be handled per day, and could easily be used for routine analysis. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

3D Bioprinting of Tissue/Organ Models

In vitro tissue/organ models are useful platforms that can facilitate systematic, repetitive, and quantitative investigations of drugs/chemicals. The primary objective when developing tissue/organ models is to reproduce physiologically relevant functions that typically require complex culture systems. Bioprinting offers exciting prospects for constructing 3D tissue/organ models, as it enables the reproducible, automated production of complex living tissues. Bioprinted tissues/organs may prove useful for screening novel compounds or predicting toxicity, as the spatial and chemical complexity inherent to native tissues/organs can be recreated. In this Review, we highlight the importance of developing 3D in vitro tissue/organ models by 3D bioprinting techniques, characterization of these models for evaluating their resemblance to native tissue, and their application in the prioritization of lead candidates, toxicity testing, and as disease/tumor models.     

A microfluidic device for parallel 3-D cell cultures in asymmetric environments

We demonstrate a concept for how a miniaturized 3-D cell culture in biological extracellular matrix (ECM) or synthetic gels bridges the gap between organ-tissue culture and traditional 2-D cultures. A microfluidic device for 3-D cell culture including microgradient environments has been designed, fabricated, and successfully evaluated. In the presented system stable diffusion gradients can be generated by application of two parallel fluid flows with different composition against opposite sides of a gel plug with embedded cells. Culture for up to two weeks was performed showing cells still viable and proliferating. The cell tracer dye calcein was used to verify gradient formation as the fluorescence intensity in exposed cells was proportional to the position in the chamber. Cellular response to an applied stimulus was demonstrated by use of an adenosine triphosphate gradient where the onset of a stimulated intracellular calcium release also depended on cell position.     

Sex as a Risk Factor for Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure?–Dosimetry in Danish Outdoor Workers

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a known risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Heterogeneity in solar UVR exposure may explain the diversity in skin cancer incidence between men and women. This, however, has not previously been investigated in Danish outdoor workers using UVR dosimetry. The aim of this study was to evaluate sex differences in solar UVR dosimetry in Danish outdoor workers on working and leisure days. A cross-sectional design was used to collect dosimetry data during the Danish summer season (May to September). Analysis was based on an electronic questionnaire and dosimetry data from 450 outdoor workers (88 women, 362 men). Dosimetry data were reported as standard erythema dose (SED). The daily median SED (Interquartile range) on working days was 1.6 (2.5) in men and 1.5 (2.1) in women while on leisure days it was 0.5 (1.4) in men and 0.6 (1.3) in women. Analysis by multiple linear regression did not show any association between daily median SED and sex on either working or leisure days. In conclusion, solar UVR exposure in Danish outdoor workers did not vary according to sex.