Determination of lanthanides in uranium solutions by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

An XRF-method for the determination of Sm, Gd, Dy, Er and Eu in uranium solution by use of simple polyethylene bottles has been established. Spectral interferences and matrix effects like absorption enhancement have been rectified using standards of similar composition in the absence of internal standard. Analytical application of the method used has been established on the basis of statistical evaluation.     

Forced convection over a semi-infinite flat plate

The problem of forced convection heat transfer over a semi-infinite flat plate is treated by the method of series truncation, so as to yield results valid from leading edge to far downstream (0 < -R ₀< ∞). Results are presented for Prandtl number Pr = 0.1, 0.7, and 10. It is found that the effect of leading edge on heat transfer is smaller than on skin friction.     

Total Cross Sections at High Energies—An Update

Current and future measurements for the total cross sections at E-811,PP2PP,CSM,FELIX,and TOTEM have been analyzed using various models.In the light of this study an attempt has been made to focus on the behavior of total cross section at very high energies.     

Maximum temperature analysis in a Li-ion battery pack cooled by different fluids

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The use of Li-ion battery in electric vehicles is becoming extensive in the modern-day world owing to their high energy density and longer life. But...     

Synthesis and biological applications of selenoureas

In this review article we have discussed synthesis, free radical scavenging, enzyme inhibition, anticancer activity, DNA binding of selenoureas and detection of selenium species. We have given the structure and activity relationships of different selenoureas with each other and with their sulfur homologues (thioureas). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Capacity expansion and forward contracting in a duopolistic power sector

The surge in demand for electricity in recent years requires that power companies expand generation capacity sufficiently. Yet, at the same time, energy demand is subject to seasonal variations and peak-hour factors that cause it to be extremely volatile and unpredictable, thereby complicating the decision-making process. We investigate how power companies can optimise their capacity-expansion decisions while facing uncertainty and examine how expansion and forward contracts can be used as suitable tools for hedging against risk under market power. The problem is solved through a mixed-complementarity approach. Scenario-specific numerical results are analysed, and conclusions are drawn on how risk aversion, competition, and uncertainty interact in hedging, generation, and expansion decisions of a power company. We find that forward markets not only provide an effective means of risk hedging but also improve market efficiency with higher power output and lower prices. Power producers with higher levels of risk aversion tend to engage less in capacity expansion with the result that together with the option to sell in forward markets, very risk-averse producers generate at a level that hardly varies with scenarios.     

Development and validation of SPMMTE HPLC method for analysis of profens from human plasma

A fast, selective and reproducible solid‐phase membrane microtip extraction (SPMMTE) HPLC method has been developed and validated for the analyses of ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and flurbiprofen from human plasma. The analysis was carried out on a C₁₈ (150 × 4.6 mm; 5 μm) column. The mobile phase used was water–acetonitrile (55:45, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.0 using trifluoroacetic acid, at a flow rate 0.5 mL/min with a detection wavelength of 225 nm. The values for the capacity factors for the profen samples ranged from 0.47 to 1.50. The values for the selectivity factor (α) for ketoprofen–flurbiprofen, flurbiprofen–ibuprofen and ibuprofen–ketoprofen combinations from human plasma samples were 1.99, 1.00 and 2.10, respectively. The resolution factors (Rs) for ketoprofen–flurbiprofen, flurbiprofen–ibuprofen and ibuprofen–ketoprofen from plasma samples were 3.00, 1.50 and 4.10, respectively. The percentage recoveries of ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and flurbiprofen from human plasma were 75–85%. All of the profens were separated within 7.0 min, indicating a relatively fast method. During the development of the SPMMTE procedure the parameters of pH, contact time, desorption and types of solvents were optimized. The final method was also found to be efficient, effective and inexpensive. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analgesic and Anticancer Activity of Benzoxazole Clubbed 2-Pyrrolidinones as Novel Inhibitors of Monoacylglycerol Lipase

Ten benzoxazole clubbed 2-pyrrolidinones (11–20) as human monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors were designed on the criteria fulfilling the structural requirements and on the basis of previously reported inhibitors. The designed, synthesized, and characterized compounds (11–20) were screened against monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) in order to find potential inhibitors. Compounds 19 (4-NO₂ derivative) and 20 (4-SO₂NH₂ derivative), with an IC₅₀ value of 8.4 and 7.6 nM, were found most active, respectively. Both of them showed micromolar potency (IC₅₀ value above 50 µM) against a close analogue, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), therefore considered as selective inhibitors of MAGL. Molecular docking studies of compounds 19 and 20 revealed that carbonyl of 2-pyrrolidinone moiety sited at the oxyanion hole of catalytic site of the enzyme stabilized with three hydrogen bonds (~2 Å) with Ala51, Met123, and Ser122, the amino acid residues responsible for the catalytic function of the enzyme. Remarkably, the physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of compounds 19 and 20, computed by QikProp, were found to be in the qualifying range as per the proposed guideline for good orally bioactive CNS drugs. In formalin-induced nociception test, compound 20 reduced the pain response in acute and late stages in a dose-dependent manner. They significantly demonstrated the reduction in pain response, having better potency than the positive control gabapentin (GBP), at 30 mg/kg dose. Compounds 19 and 20 were submitted to NCI, USA, for anticancer activity screening. Compounds 19 (NSC: 778839) and 20 (NSC: 778842) were found to have good anticancer activity on SNB-75 cell line of CNS cancer, exhibiting 35.49 and 31.88% growth inhibition (% GI), respectively.     

A feasible high spatiotemporal resolution breast DCE-MRI protocol for clinical settings

Three dimensional bilateral imaging is the standard for most clinical breast dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI protocols. Because of high spatial resolution (sRes) requirement, the typical 1–2 min temporal resolution (tRes) afforded by a conventional full-k-space-sampling gradient echo (GRE) sequence precludes meaningful and accurate pharmacokinetic analysis of DCE time-course data. The commercially available, GRE-based, k-space undersampling and data sharing TWIST (time-resolved angiography with stochastic trajectories) sequence was used in this study to perform DCE-MRI exams on thirty one patients (with 36 suspicious breast lesions) before their biopsies. The TWIST DCE-MRI was immediately followed by a single-frame conventional GRE acquisition. Blinded from each other, three radiologist readers assessed agreements in multiple lesion morphology categories between the last set of TWIST DCE images and the conventional GRE images. Fleiss’ κ test was used to evaluate inter-reader agreement. The TWIST DCE time-course data were subjected to quantitative pharmacokinetic analyses. With a four-channel phased-array breast coil, the TWIST sequence produced DCE images with 20 s or less tRes and ~ 1.0×1.0×1.4 mm³ sRes. There were no significant differences in signal-to-noise (P=.45) and contrast-to-noise (P=.51) ratios between the TWIST and conventional GRE images. The agreements in morphology evaluations between the two image sets were excellent with the intra-reader agreement ranging from 79% for mass margin to 100% for mammographic density and the inter-reader κ value ranging from 0.54 (P<.0001) for lesion size to 1.00 (P<.0001) for background parenchymal enhancement. Quantitative analyses of the DCE time-course data provided higher breast cancer diagnostic accuracy (91% specificity at 100% sensitivity) than the current clinical practice of morphology and qualitative kinetics assessments. The TWIST sequence may be used in clinical settings to acquire high spatiotemporal resolution breast DCE-MRI images for both precise lesion morphology characterization and accurate pharmacokinetic analysis.