Shell Cross‐linking of Cyclodextrin‐Based Micelles via Supramolecular Chemistry for the Delivery of Drugs

A block copolymer based on poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and a block with a statistical distribution of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) and repeating unit with carrying β‐cyclodextrin was prepared via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and click reaction. Addition of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate‐s‐adamantylmethyl acrylate) P(HEA₁₇‐s‐AdMA₇) above the LCST of the block copolymer led to capture of the micelle structure of 36 nm against disassembly. The drug‐ (albendazole) loaded supramolecular assembly, which was fixed via host–guest complexation between β‐cyclodextrin and adamantane, was then tested as a drug carrier. Cell viability studies using human ovarian carcinoma cell line (OVCAR‐3) cell lines show a higher toxicity of the shell cross‐linked micelle compared with the free block copolymer.     

Bacteria, colonic fermentation, and gastrointestinal health

The colonic microbiota plays an important role in human digestive physiology and makes a significant contribution to homeostasis in the large bowel. The microbiome probably comprises thousands of different bacterial species. The principal metabolic activities of colonic microorganisms are associated with carbohydrate and protein digestion. Nutrients of dietary and host origin support the growth of intestinal organisms. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), predominantly acetate, propionate, and butyrate, are the principal metabolites generated during the catabolism of carbohydrates and proteins. In contrast, protein digestion yields a greater diversity of end products, including SCFAs, amines, phenols, indoles, thiols, CO2, H2, and H2S, many of which have toxic properties. The majority of SCFAs are absorbed from the gut and metabolized in various body tissues, making a relatively small but significant contribution to the body's daily energy requirements. Carbohydrate fermentation is, for the most part, a beneficial process in the large gut, because the growth of saccharolytic bacteria stimulates their requirements for toxic products associated with putrefaction, for incorporation into cellular proteins, thereby protecting the host. However, as digestive materials move along the gut, carbohydrates become depleted, which may be linked to the increased prevalence of colonic disease in the distal bowel.     

A combined method of neutron activation analysis and radiometric measurements for <Superscript>234</Superscript>U and <Superscript>238</Superscript>U determination in soil samples of low uranium concentration

A method that combines the use of non-destructive neutron activation analysis and high-resolution α spectrometry has been developed for determination of the activities of ²³⁴U and ²³⁸U in geological samples of low uranium content. The ²³⁸U content is determined by k₀-based neutron activation analysis, whereas the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U relationship is measured by α spectrometry after isolation and electrodeposition of the uranium extracted from a lixiviation with 6 M HCl. The main advantage of the method is the simplicity of the chemical operations, including the fact that the steps destined to assure similar chemical state for the tracer and the uranium species present in the sample are not necessary. The method was applied to soil samples from sites of the North Peru Coast. Uranium concentration range 3–40 mg/kg and the isotopic composition correspond to natural uranium, with about 10% uncertainty.     

Some problems of parametric neutron activation analysis based on the use of radioactive daughters of longer-lived mothers with low mother/daughter half-life ratios

The theoretical and practical aspects of the use of radioactive daughters originated from the decay of longer-lived radioactive mothers in parametric activation analysis, when the ratio: mother half-life to daughter half-life is less than 10, are discussed. The mother-daughter relationships: ⁴⁷Ca/⁴⁷Sc; ⁹⁵Zr/⁹⁵Nb; ¹⁴⁰Ba/¹⁴⁰La; ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc and ¹¹⁵Cd/^115mIn are selected as models for the study. The cases when the radionuclide of interest is formed through both direct and indirect routes are also analyzed. As illustrative example, the direct reaction and the reaction chain: ⁴⁷Ti(n,p)⁴⁷Sc/⁴⁶Ca(n,γ)⁴⁷Ca(β⁻)⁴⁷Sc are evaluated with respect to the determination of the elements involved and their reciprocal interferences.     

Schauder estimates for elliptic equations in Banach spaces associated with stochastic reaction–diffusion equations

We consider some reaction–diffusion equations perturbed by white noise and prove Schauder estimates for the elliptic problem associated with the generator of the corresponding transition semigroup, defined in the Banach space of continuous functions. This requires the proof of some new interpolation result.     

A geometric interpretation of the transition density of a symmetric Lévy process

We study for a class of symmetric Lévy processes with state space R n the transition density pt（x） in terms of two one-parameter families of metrics, （dt）t>0 and （δt）t>0. The first family of metrics describes the diagonal term pt（0）; it is induced by the characteristic exponent ψ of the Lévy process by dt（x, y） = ^1/2tψ（x-y）. The second and new family of metrics δt relates to ^1/2tψ through the formulawhere F denotes the Fourier transform. Thus we obtain the following "Gaussian" representation of the transition density: pt（x） = pt（0）e- δ2t （x,0） where pt（0） corresponds to a volume term related to tψ and where an "exponential" decay is governed by δ2t . This gives a complete and new geometric, intrinsic interpretation of pt（x）.     

Analysis of circular hole expansion with generalized yield criteria

Expansion of a circular hole, embedded in an infinite elastoplastic sheet, is studied within the framework of large strain plane-stress plasticity. Material response is modeled by deformation type theories with two families of generalized isotropic yield criteria. Two distinct problems are examined in detail: hole enlargement under internal pressure and hole expansion under remote tension. Strain hardening and elastic compressibility are fully accounted for.Numerical illustrations reveal constitutive sensitivity of stress and deformation profiles. For the internally pressurized hole the specific power needed to create a new volume unit reaches an asymptotic level practically independent of yield criteria. The specific cavitation power is used to derive a simple relation for the ballistic limit in quasi-static plate perforation, showing good agreement with experimental results. Under remote tension the hole expands spontaneously when external stress approaches a limit which is found to be highly sensitive to the yield criteria.