Luminescence of Ce in hydrated rare earth bromides

Intense photoluminescence is reported for hydrated bromides of Gd, La and Y (LaBr₃·7H₂O, CeBr₃·7H₂O, YBr₃·8H₂O and GdBr₃·n H₂O) prepared by the wet chemical method and activated with Ce³⁺. Intensities are comparable to that for a commercial phosphor (SrB₄O₇:Eu²⁺—Sylvania 2052). Luminescence in hydrated salt is usually quenched. The observation of intense luminescence in hydrated bromides is remarkable.     

Combustion synthesis of YAG:Ce and related phosphors

YAG:Ce is an important phosphor having applications in various fields ranging from solid state lighting to scintillation detectors. YAG phosphors doped with activators are mainly synthesized by solid state reaction techniques that require high sintering temperatures (above 1500°C) to eliminate YAM and YAP phases. Though several soft chemical routes have been explored for synthesis of YAG, most of these methods are complex and phase pure materials are not obtained in one step, but prolonged annealing at temperatures around 1000°C or above become necessary. One step combustion synthesis of YAG:Ce³⁺ and related phosphors carried out at 500°C furnace temperature is reported here. Activation with Ce³⁺ could be achieved during the synthesis without taking recourse to any post-combustion thermal treatment. LEDs prepared from the combustion synthesized YAG:Ce³⁺, exhibited properties comparable to those produced from the commercial phosphor.     

Luminescence of Ce3+ ion in aluminate based phosphors for scintillator

Ce³⁺ activated aluminate based phosphors prepared by combustion synthesis are reported here. The emission of Ce³⁺ ion is observed around 321–354 nm in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. The intensity of strong photoluminescence emission peak of Ce³⁺ ion increases when Mg is added to CaAl₁₂O₁₉ phosphor. The Ce³⁺ emission in CaAl₁₂O₁₉:Ce,Mg phosphor may be useful for scintillation application.     

A new colour centre in NaCl

A new absorption band at 640 nm is reported in NaCl powder coloured by γ-rays under F-light. The band was not observed in single crystals and the powders coloured in dark. It is tentatively attributed to electrons trapped in dislocation debris — the so-called E centre.     

Chilling sensitivity in zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) oocytes is related to lipid phase transition

Oocytes of zebrafish were used to study chilling sensitivity and membrane lipid phase transitions in tropical fish. The oocytes were divided into two groups: small (without yolk, <0.1mm) and large (with yolk, >0.1mm). After exposure of the oocytes to different temperatures (25, 22, 19, 16, 12, 8, 0, -8+0.5 degree C) for 15 minutes, the integrity of their membranes was determined by carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) staining. At 16 and 12 degree C, damage was maximum (membrane integrity decreased by 50%) for small and large sizes, respectively. Lipid phase transition (LPT), which was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy, indicated phase transitions at the same temperatures at which damage was maximal (between 22 and 12 degree C).In another series of experiments, the chilling sensitivity of oocytes taken from zebrafish which had been held at 16 degree C for different periods of time (0, 15, 30, 60 minutes) was determined as described above. In small oocytes membrane integrity decreased after 15 minutes, and in large oocytes integrity decreased after 30 minutes. Chilling sensitivity was also measured in oocytes from zebrafish that had been held at 16 degree C for 30 minutes and then rewarmed to 28 degree C for 2 hours. Despite this recovery period, the integrity of the oocytes remained low. We suggest that chilling sensitivity in zebrafish oocytes is related to lipid phase transition of their membranes and starts at 10 degree C below the physiological temperature     

Polymeric Micelles in Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapies have generated some miracles in the clinic by orchestrating our immune system to combat cancer cells. However, the safety and efficacy concerns of the systemic delivery of these immunostimulatory agents has limited their application. Nanomedicine-based delivery strategies (e.g., liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, silico, etc.) play an essential role in improving cancer immunotherapies, either by enhancing the anti-tumor immune response, or reducing their systemic adverse effects. The versatility of working with biocompatible polymers helps these polymeric nanoparticles stand out as a key carrier to improve bioavailability and achieve specific delivery at the site of action. This review provides a summary of the latest advancements in the use of polymeric micelles for cancer immunotherapy, including their application in delivering immunological checkpoint inhibitors, immunostimulatory molecules, engineered T cells, and cancer vaccines.     

Phonation Threshold Pressure Across the Pitch Range: Preliminary Test of a Model

This study sought to examine the specific relationship between phonation threshold pressure (PTP) and voice fundamental frequency (F(0)) across the pitch range. A published theoretical model of this relationship described a quadratic equation, with PTP increasing exponentially with F(0). Prospective data from eight adults with normal, untrained voices were collected. Subjects produced their quietest phonation at 10 randomly ordered pitches from 5% to 95% of their semitone pitch range at 10% intervals. Analysis included curve fitting for individual and group data, as well as comparisons to the previous model. The group data fit a quadratic function similar to that proposed previously, but the specific quadratic coefficient and constant values differed. Four of the individual subjects' data were best fit by quartic functions, two by quadratic functions, and one by a linear function. This preliminary study indicates that PTP may be minimal at a "comfortable" pitch rather than the lowest pitch tested, and that, for some individuals, PTP may be slightly elevated during the passaggio between modal and falsetto vocal registers. These data support the general form of the theoretical PTP-F(0) function for these speakers, and indicate the possibility of potential refinements to the model. Future studies with larger groups of male and female subjects across a wider age range may eventually reveal the specific nature of the function.     

Respiratory and laryngeal contributions to maximum phonation duration

Maximum phonation duration (MPD) is a common assessment procedure in speech-language pathology. However, the specific contributions of the respiratory and phonatory components of the speech-production mechanism to this task are not typically assessed. Six women and 6 men with normal speech and voice were monitored for lung volume during a standard MPD task, and for laryngeal airway resistance (Rlaw) during a modified MPD (slow syllable-repetition) task. On average, subjects used 90% of their vital capacity (VC) for their best MPD trial. There was no systematic relation between MPD and VC for these subjects. Rlaw was strongly correlated with MPD for the men (r(s) = 0.886 for /a/; r(s) = 0.829 for /i/), but not for the women. Rlaw increased linearly as lung volume decreased (slope > 0.15) for a subset of trials (32%). This was a common pattern for four of the subjects. The clinical utility of MPD to assess breathing for speech is questioned because of the lack of association between MPD and VC, and some atypical laryngeal-valving strategies.     

Colour centres in microcrystalline powders of alkali halides

Abstract

Powders of twelve alkali halides have been coloured in an electrodeless discharge. Due to the simultaneous production and bleaching of F centres, F aggregate centres could be produced in an adequate concentration. From their study it has been concluded that powders behave as deformed single crystals. It could also be shown from this study that the interaction between colour centres and dislocations is lattice dependent and varies regularly as cation changes from Li⁺ to Rb⁺, and anion changes from F ^?to I^?.     

Solid state metathesis of CaSO4:Eu2+ phosphor

CaSO₄:Dy, is a well known phosphor for radiation dosimetry using thermoluminescence. CaSO₄:Eu³⁺ and CaSO₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors also find applications in radio-photoluminescence dosimetry and photoluminescent liquid crystal displays (PLLCD), respectively. Various syntheses of these phosphors are known. In this paper solid state metathesis of CaSO₄:Eu using domestic microwave oven is described for the first time. The synthesis is fast, the entire process being completed within few minutes. The phosphor is characterized using XRD and PL techniques.