Certain transformations and special values of hypergeometric functions over finite fields

The Ramanujan Journal - In this article we find finite field analogues of certain transformations satisfied by the classical hypergeometric series. Using properties of Gauss and Jacobi sums we...     

Identification and quantification of polyethylene glycol types in polyethylene glycol methyl ether and polyethylene glycol vinyl ether

Quantitative determination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) impurities in two monofunctional polyglycol types, PEG methyl ether (M-PEG) and PEG vinyl ether (V-PEG), has been carried out by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). In addition to optimizing the resolution between PEG and monofunctional PEG peaks, the major focus has been to determine the molecular weights of PEG impurities in M-PEG and V-PEG of diverse molecular weights. The latter is achieved by examining liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) mass spectra of both monofunctional PEG and PEG in several cases, and matching peak retention times with those of available PEG standards for all M-PEG and V-PEG sample types. This information is helpful in selecting the appropriate PEG standard to determine PEG content in each sample type. ELSD response factors for various PEG standards have also been compared. It has been found that PEG standards with molecular weights from 1000 Da to 8000 Da show responses that are within 10% of each other. However, a low molecular weight PEG such as PEG 400, provides approximately 30% less response compared to its higher molecular weight counterparts.     

High School Students' Views about the Nature of Science: Results from Three Countries

During the last two decades, massive efforts have been directed at uncovering different science concepts held by school age students. This particular study focused on identifying high school students' views regarding the nature of science. Thirty-two students were chosen from each of the following three countries: Canada, the United States, and Australia. Interviews were conducted with each student. The interview protocol contained the same core questions with an opportunity built in to allow both the student and the interviewer to seek clarification and extension as necessary. All of the interviews were audiotape recorded and transcribed. Some major differences and many commonalities were observed among the three groups of students. These results should be potentially useful to a wide range of science educators and curriculum developers in that one's ability to become scientifically literate is greatly impair ed when the nature of science is not completely understood.     

Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts as Beneficial Prospect for Cancer Theranostics

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely explored and are well-known for their medical applications. Chemical and physical synthesis methods are a way to make AuNPs. In any case, the hunt for other more ecologically friendly and cost-effective large-scale technologies, such as environmentally friendly biological processes known as green synthesis, has been gaining interest by worldwide researchers. The international focus on green nanotechnology research has resulted in various nanomaterials being used in environmentally and physiologically acceptable applications. Several advantages over conventional physical and chemical synthesis (simple, one-step approach to synthesize, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, and biocompatibility) have drawn scientists’ attention to exploring the green synthesis of AuNPs by exploiting plants’ secondary metabolites. Biogenic approaches, mainly the plant-based synthesis of metal nanoparticles, have been chosen as the ideal strategy due to their environmental and in vivo safety, as well as their ease of synthesis. In this review, we reviewed the use of green synthesized AuNPs in the treatment of cancer by utilizing phytochemicals found in plant extracts. This article reviews plant-based methods for producing AuNPs, characterization methods of synthesized AuNPs, and discusses their physiochemical properties. This study also discusses recent breakthroughs and achievements in using green synthesized AuNPs in cancer treatment and different mechanisms of action, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation, leading to apoptosis, etc., for their anticancer and cytotoxic effects. Understanding the mechanisms underlying AuNPs therapeutic efficacy will aid in developing personalized medicines and treatments for cancer as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy.     

Structural, thermal and spectroscopic properties of supramolecular coordination solids

Molecules in metal isonicotinate tetrahydrates, M(NC₅H₄-p-CO₂)₂.4H₂O with M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, consisting of the hexacoordinate complexestrans-[M(NC₅H₄-p-CO₂)(OH₂)₄], participate in exhaustive hydrogen-bond formation among themselves to lead to a robust 3D supramolecular network in the solid state. Solid-state diffuse reflectance UV-Vis-NIR spectra of the complexes have been assigned to ligand field and charge transfer transitions. Sharp weight loss due to dehydration, as shown by TGA of Cu(NC₅H₄-p-CO₂)₂.4H₂O, suggests the suitability of this complex for the gravimetric estimation of copper.     

Benzyltrimethylammoniumfluoride Hydrate: An Efficient Catalyst for One‐Pot Synthesis of Hantzsch 1,4‐Dihydropyridines and Their Aromatization

An efficient, cost‐effective and simple protocol has been developed for the synthesis of Hantzsch 1,4‐dihydropyridines and their oxidation into pyridines using benzyltrimethylammonium fluoride hydrate as an excellent catalyst under solvent‐free condition. All of the products synthesized by this method are characterized by various spectroscopic methods (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and DEPT).     

Synthesis,characterization, and applications with the manifestation of antifungal activity and seed germination properties of nickel doped zinc oxide nano platform by biochemical contrivance

In the recent era, nanotechnology, a rapidly emerging field, has been explored as the most studied field worldwide. The goal of this study is to use neem leaves extract as an effective ‘reducing agent’ and ‘stabilizing agent’ in the green synthesis of bio-medically important Zn_1-XNi_XO (X = 0.00, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12) nanoparticles. The molar concentrations of nickel nitrate and zinc nitrate are varied to produce nickel-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Color change is the first indicator of nanoparticle formation during this biosynthesis. The hexagonal wurtzite structure with good crystallinity is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. FTIR analysis reveals the fact that the Zn–O stretching vibration shifts with the introduction of impurities into the ZnO matrix. UV–Vis spectra show the typical surface plasma resonance around 370 nm and the hydrodynamic diameter is larger than the size calculated from the XRD value, according to DLS. The main finding of this study is that Ni_0.12Zn_0.88O has a strong antifungal activity against and a significant growth rate after treating wheat seeds with biologically synthesized Ni_0.12Zn_0.88O nanoparticles.     

Multiplexed detection of serological cancer markers with plasmon-enhanced Raman spectro-immunoassay

Circulating biomarkers have emerged as promising non-invasive, real-time surrogates for cancer diagnosis, prognostication and monitoring of therapeutic response. Emerging data, however, suggest that single markers are inadequate in describing complex pathologic transformations. Architecting assays capable of parallel measurements of multiple biomarkers can help achieve the desired clinical sensitivity and specificity while conserving patient specimen and reducing turn-around time. Here we describe a plasmon-enhanced Raman spectroscopic assay featuring nanostructured biomolecular probes and spectroscopic imaging for multiplexed detection of disseminated breast cancer markers cancer antigen (CA) 15-3, CA 27-29 and cancer embryonic antigen (CEA). In the developed SERS assay, both the assay chip and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) tags are functionalized with monoclonal antibodies against CA15-3, CA27-29 and CEA, respectively. Sequential addition of biomarkers and functionalized SERS tags onto the functionalized assay chip enable the specific recognition of these biomarkers through the antibody-antigen interactions, leading to a sandwich spectro-immunoassay. In addition to offering extensive multiplexing capability, our method provides higher sensitivity than conventional immunoassays and demonstrates exquisite specificity owing to selective formation of conjugated complexes and fingerprint spectra of the Raman reporter. We envision that clinical translation of this assay may further enable asymptomatic surveillance of cancer survivors and speedy assessment of treatment benefit through a simple blood test.