Synthesis,characterization, and in vitro biological evaluation of highly stable diversely functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

In this article, we report the design and synthesis of a series of well-dispersed superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) using chitosan as a surface modifying agent to develop a potential T ₂ contrast probe for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The amine, carboxyl, hydroxyl, and thiol functionalities were introduced on chitosan-coated magnetic probe via simple reactions with small reactive organic molecules to afford a series of biofunctionalized nanoparticles. Physico-chemical characterizations of these functionalized nanoparticles were performed by TEM, XRD, DLS, FTIR, and VSM. The colloidal stability of these functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles was investigated in presence of phosphate buffer saline, high salt concentrations and different cell media for 1 week. MRI analysis of human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines treated with nanoparticles elucidated that the amine-functionalized nanoparticles exhibited higher amount of signal darkening and lower T ₂ relaxation in comparison to the others. The cellular internalization efficacy of these functionalized SPIONs was also investigated with HeLa cancer cell line by magnetically activated cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence microscopy and results established selectively higher internalization efficacy of amine-functionalized nanoparticles to cancer cells. These positive attributes demonstrated that these nanoconjugates can be used as a promising platform for further in vitro and in vivo biological evaluations.     

Broadly tunable single-frequency cw mid-infrared source with milliwatt-level output based on difference-frequency generation in orientation-patterned GaAs

A narrow-linewidth mid-IR source based on difference-frequency generation of an amplified 1.5 microm diode laser and a cw Tm-doped fiber laser in orientation-patterned (OP) GaAs has been developed and evaluated for spectroscopic applications. The source can be tuned to any frequency in the 7.6-8.2 microm range with an output power of 0.5 mW. The measured characteristics of the OP-GaAs sample demonstrate a high quality of the material.     

Q-switched neodymium-doped Y3Al5O12-based silica fiber laser

We present pulsed laser operation in a Nd-doped, Y3Al5O12-based silica fiber. The fiber was fabricated using the rod-in-tube technique with a Nd:YAG crystal rod as the core material and a silica tube for the cladding material. A spectroscopy study revealed that the core region had become amorphous in the process of fiber drawing. Q-switched pulsed laser operation was realized at a wavelength of 1058 nm when the fiber was cladding pumped at a wavelength of 808 nm. The laser delivered 38 μJ of energy in 65 ns pulses. The extracted energy was limited due to the multimodal operation of the fiber. Laser slope efficiency in continuous wave operation reached 52%. The spectroscopic properties of the fabricated fiber are discussed and compared to a Nd:YAG crystal and a Nd:Al-doped silica fiber.     

Detecting hidden spatial and spatio-temporal structures in glasses and complex physical systems by multiresolution network clustering

We elaborate on a general method that we recently introduced for characterizing the “natural” structures in complex physical systems via multi-scale network analysis. The method is based on “community detection” wherein interacting particles are partitioned into an “ideal gas” of optimally decoupled groups of particles. Specifically, we construct a set of network representations (“replicas”) of the physical system based on interatomic potentials and apply a multiscale clustering (“multiresolution community detection”) analysis using information-based correlations among the replicas. Replicas may i) be different representations of an identical static system, ii) embody dynamics by considering replicas to be time separated snapshots of the system (with a tunable time separation), or iii) encode general correlations when different replicas correspond to different representations of the entire history of the system as it evolves in space-time. Inputs for our method are the inter-particle potentials or experimentally measured two (or higher order) particle correlations. We apply our method to computer simulations of a binary Kob-Andersen Lennard-Jones system in a mixture ratio of A₈₀B₂₀ , a ternary model system with components “A”, “B”, and “C” in ratios of A₈₈B₇C₅ (as in Al₈₈Y₇Fe₅ , and to atomic coordinates in a Zr₈₀Pt₂₀ system as gleaned by reverse Monte Carlo analysis of experimentally determined structure factors. We identify the dominant structures (disjoint or overlapping) and general length scales by analyzing extrema of the information theory measures. We speculate on possible links between i) physical transitions or crossovers and ii) changes in structures found by this method as well as phase transitions associated with the computational complexity of the community detection problem. We also briefly consider continuum approaches and discuss rigidity and the shear penetration depth in amorphous systems; this latter length scale increases as the system becomes progressively rigid.     

Diffusion Limitations and Translocation Barriers in Atomically Thin Biomimetic Pores

Ionic transport in nano- to sub-nano-scale pores is highly dependent on translocation barriers and potential wells. These features in the free-energy landscape are primarily the result of ion dehydration and electrostatic interactions. For pores in atomically thin membranes, such as graphene, other factors come into play. Ion dynamics both inside and outside the geometric volume of the pore can be critical in determining the transport properties of the channel due to several commensurate length scales, such as the effective membrane thickness, radii of the first and the second hydration layers, pore radius, and Debye length. In particular, for biomimetic pores, such as the graphene crown ether we examine here, there are regimes where transport is highly sensitive to the pore size due to the interplay of dehydration and interaction with pore charge. Picometer changes in the size, e.g., due to a minute strain, can lead to a large change in conductance. Outside of these regimes, the small pore size itself gives a large resistance, even when electrostatic factors and dehydration compensate each other to give a relatively flat—e.g., near barrierless—free energy landscape. The permeability, though, can still be large and ions will translocate rapidly after they arrive within the capture radius of the pore. This, in turn, leads to diffusion and drift effects dominating the conductance. The current thus plateaus and becomes effectively independent of pore-free energy characteristics. Measurement of this effect will give an estimate of the magnitude of kinetically limiting features, and experimentally constrain the local electromechanical conditions.     

Coexistence and harvesting control policy in a food chain model with mutual defense of prey

A model is proposed to understand the dynamics in a food chain (one predator‐two prey). Unlike many approaches, we consider mutualism (for defense against predators) between the two groups of prey. We investigate the conditions for coexistence and exclusion. Unlike Elettreby's (2009) results, we show that prey can coexist in the absence of predators (as expected since there is no competition between prey). We also show the existence of Hopf bifurcation and limit cycle in the model, and numerically present bifurcation diagrams in terms of mutualism and harvesting. When the harvest is practiced for profit making, we provide the threshold effort value that determines the profitability of the harvest. We show that there is zero profit when the constant effort is applied. Below (resp. above) , there will always be gain (resp. loss). In the case of gain, we provide the optimal effort and optimal steady states that produce maximum profit and ensure coexistence. Recommendations for resource managers As a result of our investigation, we bring the following to the attention of management:

• 1. In the absence of predators, different groups of prey can coexist if they mutually help each other (no competition among them).
• 2. There is a maximal effort to invest in order to gain profit from the harvest. Above , the investment will result in a loss.
• 3. In the case of profit from harvest, policy makers should recommend the optimal effort to be applied and the optimal stock to harvest. This will guarantee maximum profit while ensuring sustainability of all species.

     

Synthesis,electrical and thermal properties of Bi4V2−xMexO11 (Me=Nb,Zr, Y and Cu with x = 0.0 and 0.06) ceramics

Polycrystalline ceramic samples of Bi₄V_2?xMe_xO₁₁ (Me=Nb, Zr, Y and Cu and x = 0.0 and 0.06) have been synthesized by standard solid state reaction method using high purity oxides. The formation of the compounds have been analysed by X-ray diffraction method. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss and AC conductivity as a function of frequency and temperature have been measured. The dielectric studies indicate that the material is highly lossy, and hence, its AC conductivity increases with the increase of temperature. The DC conductivity of material has been measured as a function of temperature from room temperature to 723 K and its activation energy was calculated using the relation σ = σ ₀exp (?E _a/kT). The modulated differential scanning calorimetry has been used to investigate the effect of substitution on the phase transition (heat capacity and heat flow) of the compounds. The results are discussed in detail.     

Use of N-benzyl-2-naphthohydroxamic acid as a highly selective reagent for solvent extraction and spectrophotometric determination of vanadium(V)

N-Benzyl-2-naphthohydroxamic acid extracts vanadium(V) selectively and quantitatively into chloroform from 2-8.5M hydrochloric acid in the presence of Mo(VI), Zr(IV) and Ce(IV). The extraction takes place quickly and gives a stable reddish-violet extract which shows an absorption maximum at 505 nm with molar absorptivity of (5.34 +/- 0.05) x 10(3) 1.mole(-1).cm(-1). The optimum range for the determination is 2.2-7.4 ppm of vanadium(V) in the final solution. The method has been used for the determination of vanadium in steels.