The structural, elastic and thermodynamic properties of intermetallic compound CeGa2

The structural, elastic and thermodynamic characteristics of CeGa₂ compound in the AlB₂ (space group: P6/mmm) and the omega trigonal (space group: P-3m1) type structures are investigated using the methods of density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The thermodynamic properties of the considered structures are obtained through the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The results on the basic physical parameters, such as the lattice constant, the bulk modulus, the pressure derivative of bulk modulus, the phase-transition pressure (P _t ) from P6/mmm to P-3m1 structure, the second-order elastic constants, Zener anisotropy factor, Poisson’s ratio, Young’s modulus, and the isotropic shear modulus are presented. In order to gain further information, the pressure and temperature-dependent behavior of the volume, the bulk modulus, the thermal expansion coefficient, the heat capacity, the entropy, Debye temperature and Grüneisen parameter are also evaluated over a pressure range of 0–6 GPa and a wide temperature range of 0–1800 K. The obtained results are in agreement with the available experimental and the other theoretical values.     

Development of a functional impedimetric immunosensor for accurate detection of thyroid-stimulating hormone

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which regulates the synthesis of thyroid gland hormones affecting the whole metabolism, is a pituitary hormone. Determination of TSH is crucial for monitoring thyroid gland-related disorders and some metabolic diseases.In this study, a nonlabeled immunosensor based on covalent immobilization of anti-TSH antibody by using the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of 4-mercaptophenylacetic acid (4-MPA) and functionalization of carboxyl ends with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimetilaminopropil) carbodiimide (EDC)/N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) was fabricated for detection of TSH. Immobilization steps including the concentration of 4-MPA, the concentration of anti-TSH antibody, and duration of anti-TSH antibody incubation were optimized by utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Under optimal conditions, a sensitive, rapid, and accurate determination of TSH at a concentration range between 0.7 and 3.5 mIU/L was accomplished with a notable linearity and LOD value of 0.034 mIU/L, as well as reproducibility and repeatability. Moreover, for comparison, linear range experiments were also carried out by using other electrochemical methods, including linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and capacitance spectroscopy. Finally, the constructed immunosensor was used for analyzing TSH levels spiked in the artificial serum samples.     

Study of the thermoluminescence dosimetric properties of window glass

This paper presents the main thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetric characteristics of commercial Turkish transparent window glass. The structure of the glow curves, including the number of peaks, was found to be dose-dependent. A low-temperature glow peak that at 160 °C shifts to higher temperatures was also observed with increasing storage time at room temperature. This result suggests that this TL glow peak is actually made up of two or more overlapping peaks. These we have attributed to the glow peaks at lower temperatures, which decay faster than the ones at higher temperatures with storage time. The thermal fading of the window glass sample at room temperature showed a relatively sharp decay of about 60% occurring over a period of 28 days, after which the decay rate is small for a measured period of 250 days. In order to the improve the post-irradiation stability of the glow curve, the glass samples were heated after irradiation. To remove the unstable TL peaks responsible for the initial rapid fading, post-irradiation heating at 160 °C for 10 min was found to be the most suitable procedure. The dosimetric characteristics of the post-irradiation heated window glass examined in this study include fading, gamma photon dose-response, reproducibility, batch sensitivity, humidity influence, a dose-rate effect and photon energy response. Dose-response was found to be appropriate for dosimetry in the range 5 Gy to 10 kGy. The post-irradiation heating procedure did not affect the main dosimetric characteristics of the window glass samples. The results in this work suggest that the materials could, by using the TL technique, be a suitable candidate for alternative dose measurements in radiation processing, provided that a judicious choice of the post-irradiation heat temperature is made to minimize fading.     

Endogenous contrast blood flow imaging in embryonic hearts using hemoglobin contrast subtraction angiography

The genetic basis of congenital heart disease is yet to be defined, and the interactions between the malformed heart and biomechanical cardiac performance remain poorly understood. Functional optical imaging enables detailed biomechanical phenotyping of cardiac dysfunction in small animal models, which in turn enables specific gene-phenotype relationship. We have developed a new microangiography technique based on flow imaging using endogenous hemoglobin contrast enabling in vivo assessment and biomechanical phenotyping of Xenopus tropicalis embryonic heart. We demonstrated that hemoglobin contrast angiography can be used to quantify physiological response to treatment with well-established cardioactive drugs.     

The use of ESR technique for assessment of heating temperatures of archaeological lentil samples

Heat-induced paramagnetic centers in modern and archaeological lentils (Lens culinaris, Medik.) were studied by X-band (9.3 GHz) electron spin resonance (ESR) technique. The modern red lentil samples were heated in an electrical furnace at increasing temperatures in the range 70–500 °C. The ESR spectral parameters (the intensity, g-value and peak-to-peak line width) of the heat-induced organic radicals were investigated for modern red lentil (Lens culinaris, Medik.) samples. The obtained ESR spectra indicate that the relative number of heat-induced paramagnetic species and peak-to-peak line widths depends on the temperature and heating time of the modern lentil. The g-values also depend on the heating temperature but not heating time. Heated modern red lentils produced a range of organic radicals with g-values from g = 2.0062 to 2.0035. ESR signals of carbonised archaeological lentil samples from two archaeological deposits of the Van province in Turkey were studied and g-values, peak-to-peak line widths, intensities and elemental compositions were compared with those obtained for modern samples in order to assess at which temperature these archaeological lentils were heated in prehistoric sites. The maximum temperatures of the previous heating of carbonised UA5 and Y11 lentil seeds are as follows about 500 °C and above 500 °C, respectively.     

Identification of irradiated sage tea (Salvia officinalis L.) by ESR spectroscopy

The use of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to accurately distinguish irradiated from unirradiated sage tea was examined. Before irradiation, sage tea samples exhibit one asymmetric singlet ESR signal centered at g=2.0037. Besides this central signal, two weak satellite signals situated about 3 mT left and right to it in radiation-induced spectra. Irradiation with increasing doses caused a significant increase in radiation-induced ESR signal intensity at g=2.0265 (the left satellite signal) and this increase was found to be explained by a polynomial varying function. The stability of that radiation-induced ESR signal at room temperature was studied over a storage period of 9 months. Also, the kinetic of signal at g=2.0265 was studied in detail over a temperature range 313–353 K by annealing samples at different temperatures for various times.