Unoriented two-stage DEA: The case of the oscillating intermediate products

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) allows us to evaluate the relative efficiency of each of a set of decision-making units (DMUs). However, the methodology does not permit us to identify specific sources of inefficiency because DEA views the DMU as a “black box” that consumes a mix of inputs and produces a mix of outputs. Thus, DEA does not provide a DMU manager with insight regarding the internal source of the organization’s inefficiency.     

Supramolecular synthon polymorphism in 2 : 1 co-crystal of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine

Co-crystals of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (2 : 1) exhibit the first supramolecular synthon polymorphism in a co-crystal; metastable anti-hierarchic polymorph I converts to stable hierarchic form II.     

Silibinin is a potent sensitizer of UVA radiation-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells

UVA radiation (315-400 nm), which constitutes ca 95% of the UV irradiation in natural sunlight reaching earth surface, is a major environmental risk factor associated with human skin cancer pathogenesis. UVA is an oxidizing agent that causes significant damage to cellular components through the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Here we investigate the effect of silibinin, the flavonolignan from Silybum marianum, on UVA-induced ROS and cell death in human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. In addition, the effect of silibinin on UVA-induced intracellular ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was also analyzed. UVA irradiation resulted in ROS production and apoptosis in HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the ROS levels and apoptotic index were found to be elevated significantly when the cells were treated with 75 μmsilibinin for 2 h before UVA exposure. When the cells were pretreated with 10 mmN-acetyl cysteine, the enhancement of UVA-induced apoptosis by silibinin was compromised. Furthermore, we found that silibinin enhances ER stress-mediated apoptosis in HaCaT cells by increasing the expression of CHOP protein. These results suggest that silibinin may be beneficial in the removal of UVA-damaged cells and the prevention of skin cancer.     

Volumetric and Viscometric Properties of Propanoic Acid in Equimolar Mixtures of N,N-dimethyl Formamide + Alkanols at T/K = 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15

The densities, ρ, and viscosites, η, of mixtures of propanoic acid with equimolar mixtures of N,N-dimethyl formamide + methanol/ethanol/1-propanol, over the entire composition range of propanoic acid and including the pure liquids, have been measured at the temperatures T/K = 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15. From this experimental data, the excess molar volume, $ V_{\text{m}}^{\text{E}} $ , deviation in viscosity, Δη, and excess Gibbs energy of activation of viscous flow, ΔG ^*E, have been determined at all three temperatures. The influence of temperature on these mixtures has been studied in terms of molecular interactions. The calculated deviation and excess parameters have been fitted to a Redlich–Kister type polynomial and the corresponding standard deviations were also evaluated. Negative values of $ V_{\text{m}}^{\text{E}} $ and positive values of Δη and ΔG ^*E are observed at all temperatures over the entire composition range in the mixtures studied. The observed negative and positive values of various excess and deviation parameters are attributed to the existence of strong interactions, like dipole–dipole interactions, H-bonding between the carbonyl group of acid molecules and hydroxyl group of alcohol groups, geometrical fitting of smaller molecules into the voids created by larger molecules in the liquid mixtures. The strength of these interactions in the mixtures was found to decrease with the rise in temperature and increase with an increase of chain length of the alcohols. The derived partial molar volumes and excess partial molar volumes also support the $ V_{\text{m}}^{\text{E}} $ results. The experimental viscosity data of all of these liquid mixtures have been correlated with four viscosity models, those of Grunberg and Nissan, Hind et al., Katti and Chaudhri, and Heric and Brewer. The Katti and Chaudhri model was found to be in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Bis[1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)­ethano­ne‐κN 4‐phenyl­thio­semicarbazonato‐κ2N4,S]­manganese(II)

One half of the mol­ecule of the title complex, [Mn(C₁₄H₁₃N₄S)₂], is related to the other half by a twofold axis passing through the Mn atom. This high‐spin Mn atom is six‐coordinated, in an octahedral geometry, by the azomethine N, the pyridyl N and the thiol­ate S atom of two planar 1‐­(pyridin‐2‐yl)­ethanone N(4)‐phenyl­thio­semicarbazone lig­ands. In the crystal, the mol­ecules are interconnected by N—­H?S and C—H?N interactions, forming a three‐dimensional network.     

Design,synthesis,characterization,cytotoxic and structure activity relationships of novel Ru(Ⅱ) complexes

Platinum containing compounds have shown antineoplastic potential, but their clinical applications have been limited by high toxicity. Ruthenium containing complexes have long been known to be well suited for biological applications, and have long been utilized as replacements to popular platinum based-drugs. Here, we report a novel series of ruthenium(II) arene compounds bearing thiosemicarbazone and isonicotinylhydrazone ligands with potent anticancer activity their structure activity relationships and apoptosis was studied. The cytotoxic activity of the new ruthenium(II) arene compounds has been evaluated in several cell lines (Molt 4/C8, L1210, CEM, HL60 and BEL7402). Among them, ten complexes were found to be excellent in vitro growth inhibitory activity against various cell lines with IC50 in the sub-micromolar range.     

Typical superparamagnetism with improved electrical properties of nano modified bismuth ferrite multiferroic composites

Multiferroic composites with the chemical formula, (0.5) BiFeO₃ + (0.5) Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄, in bulk and nano forms were synthesized by preparing bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃ or BFO) in bulk (B) and nano (N) forms and nickel zinc ferrite (Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄or NZFO) in nano form. Single phase BFO was synthesized using conventional solid-state reaction as well as sol-gel autocombustion methods and NZFO powders were prepared by using sol-gel autocombustion method, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies reveal the existence of rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure for BFO and cubic spinel phase for NZFO in single phase as well as composite samples. Microstructural studies and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) data reveal the formation of grains, intergranular porosities and chemical purity of the synthesized samples. Dielectric and AC conductivity measurements confirm the existence of space charge polarization along with the small polaron model in these composites. Ferroelectric and magnetic studies show that there was a considerable enhancement in the ferroelectric and magnetic orders for the nano form of the BFO (N) + NZFO composite. The observed remnant polarization values 2.80388 & 7.75901 μC/cm², saturation magnetization values 37.96072 & 40.47491emu/gm for bulk BFO (B) + NZFO and nano BFO (N) + NZFO composites, respectively. Interestingly, both the samples exhibit superparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature with coercivities close to zero. This typical behaviour is attributed to the corresponding anisotropic contributions originated from the individual constituents. The observed variations in BFO (N) + NZFO sample attributed to the corresponding structural modifications brought about by the variations due to its size effect in the present work.