Ultrasonic absorption frequency dependence of two widely used anti-cancer drugs: doxorubicin and daunorubicin

Low intensity ultrasound (approximately 10⁻⁶ W cm⁻²) in the frequency range 0.5–6.0 MHz was employed to investigate the ultrasound absorption properties of doxorubicin (DOX) at several temperatures. At physiological temperatures, we found enhanced ultrasound absorption from DOX, and its closely related analogue daunorubicin (DNR), in the upper kilohertz frequency range. The findings do not conform to classical theory of ultrasound absorption, thus suggesting an ultrasound coupling with the drug molecules via structural and/or chemical relaxation processes. The absorption spectra are analysed from the point of view of the non-classical theory of sound absorption due to physical and/or chemical relaxations. Only one spectral difference between the two anti-cancer agents is observed, around 2 MHz, and may be attributed to the sole difference in the chemical make-up of the side chain of the two antibiotics.     

Neural networks and organizational systems: Modeling non-linear relationships

For decades, organizational researchers have employed standard statistical methods to uncover relationships among variables and constructs. However, in complex organization systems, the prevalence of non-linearity and outliers is to be expected. Under such circumstances, the use of standard statistical methods becomes unreliable and, correspondingly, results in degraded predictions of the relationships within the organizational systems. We describe the use of neural network analyses to model team effectiveness so as to provide more accurate predictions for managers.     

Preparation, characterization, surface modification and redox reactions of silver nanoparticles in the presence of tryptophan

The synthesis and characterization of water-soluble dispersions of Ag nanoparticles by the reduction of AgNO(3) using tryptophan under alkaline synthesis conditions are reported. The Ag nanoparticle formation was very slow at low concentration and rapid at extremes. For surface modification and redox reactions, manipulating the interparticles interaction controlled the size of Ag nanoparticles aggregates. Our results suggest that the replacement of the BH(4)(-) ions adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface by tryptophan destabilizes the particles and further caused aggregation. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of silver nanoparticles by tryptophan. The experimental results are supported by theoretical calculations. The Ag nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis absorption, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques.     

Rapid analysis of dissolved methane, ethylene, acetylene and ethane using partition coefficients and headspace-gas chromatography

Analysis of dissolved methane, ethylene, acetylene, and ethane in water is crucial in evaluating anaerobic activity and investigating the sources of hydrocarbon contamination in aquatic environments. A rapid chromatographic method based on phase equilibrium between water and its headspace is developed for these analytes. The new method requires minimal sample preparation and no special apparatus except those associated with gas chromatography. Instead of Henry's Law used in similar previous studies, partition coefficients are used for the first time to calculate concentrations of dissolved hydrocarbon gases, which considerably simplifies the calculation involved. Partition coefficients are determined to be 128, 27.9, 1.28, and 96.3 at 30°C for methane, ethylene, acetylene, and ethane, respectively. It was discovered that the volume ratio of gas-to-liquid phase is critical to the accuracy of the measurements. The method performance can be readily improved by reducing the volume ratio of the two phases. Method validation shows less than 6% variation in accuracy and precision except at low levels of methane where interferences occur in ambient air. Method detection limits are determined to be in the low ng/L range for all analytes. The performance of the method is further tested using environmental samples collected from various sites in Nova Scotia.     

SOME EXACT SOLUTIONS OF 3-DIMENSIONAL ZERO-PRESSURE GAS DYNAMICS SYSTEM

The 3-dimensional zero-pressure gas dynamics system appears in the modeling for the large scale structure formation in the universe. The aim of this paper is to construct spherically symmetric solutions to the system. The radial component of the velocity and density satisfy a simpler one dimensional problem. First we construct explicit solutions of this one dimensional case with initial and boundary conditions. Then we get special radial solutions with different behaviours at the origin.     

Supersymmetric field theories at finite temperature

We show by explicit calculations to second and third order in perturbation theory, that finite temperature effects do not break the supersymmetry Ward-Takahashi identities for graded thermal Green functions of the Wess-Zumino model. Moreover, it is argued that this result is true to all orders in perturbation theory, and further, true for a wide class of supersymmetric theories. We point out, however, that these identities can be broken in the course of a phase transition that restores an originally broken internal symmetry.     

IR thermography characterization of residual stress in plastically deformed metallic components

A remote and non-destructive method for the characterization of residual stress in metallic components is here proposed. Such a method is based on the application of infrared thermography for the evaluation of thermal diffusivity, which is expected to be dependent on the local dislocation density in the material lattice induced by plastic deformations. Preliminary experimental results obtained on a yielded ASTM 516 grade 65 steel specimen are presented and discussed on the basis of microhardness and optical metallographic investigations carried out on the same sample.     

On the Convergence Rate of the Euler-α, an Inviscid Second-Grade Complex Fluid, Model to the Euler Equations

We study the convergence rate of the solutions of the incompressible Euler-α, an inviscid second-grade complex fluid, equations to the corresponding solutions of the Euler equations, as the regularization parameter α approaches zero. First we show the convergence in H ^s , s>n/2+1, in the whole space, and that the smooth Euler-α solutions exist at least as long as the corresponding solution of the Euler equations. Next we estimate the convergence rate for two-dimensional vortex patch with smooth boundaries.     

Propionic Anhydride Modification of Cellulosic Kenaf Fibre Enhancement with Bionanocarbon in Nanobiocomposites

The use of chemical modification of cellulosic fibre is applied in order to increase the hydrophobicity, hence improving the compatibility between the fibre and matrix bonding. In this study, the effect of propionic anhydride modification of kenaf fibre was investigated to determine the role of bionanocarbon from oil palm shell agricultural wastes in the improvement of the functional properties of bionanocomposites. The vinyl esters reinforced with unmodified and propionic anhydride modified kenaf fibres bio nanocomposites were prepared using 0, 1, 3, 5 wt% of bio-nanocarbon. Characterisation of the fabricated bionanocomposite was carried out using FESEM, TEM, FT-IR and TGA to investigate the morphological analysis, surface properties, functional and thermal analyses, respectively. Mechanical performance of bionanocomposites was evaluated according to standard methods. The chemical modification of cellulosic fibre with the incorporation of bionanocarbon in the matrix exhibited high enhancement of the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths, for approximately 63.91%, 49.61% and 54.82%, respectively. The morphological, structural and functional analyses revealed that better compatibility of the modified fibre–matrix interaction was achieved at 3% bionanocarbon loading, which indicated improved properties of the bionanocomposite. The nanocomposites exhibited high degradation temperature which signified good thermal stability properties. The improved properties of the bionanocomposite were attributed to the effect of the surface modification and bionanocarbon enhancement of the fibre–matrix networks.