Quantum Discord of 2<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Superscript>-Dimensional Bell-Diagonal States

In this study, using the concept of relative entropy as a distance measure of correlations we investigate the important issue of evaluating quantum correlations such as entanglement, dissonance and classical correlations for 2 ⁿ -dimensional Bell-diagonal states. We provide an analytical technique, which describes how we find the closest classical states(CCS) and the closest separable states(CSS) for these states. Then analytical results are obtained for quantum discord of 2 ⁿ -dimensional Bell-diagonal states. As illustration, some special cases are examined. Finally, we investigate the additivity relation between the different correlations for the separable generalized Bloch sphere states.     

Involvement of the γ Isoform of cPLA2 in the Biosynthesis of Bioactive N-Acylethanolamines

Arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide) acts as an endogenous ligand of cannabinoid receptors, while other N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), such as palmitylethanolamide and oleylethanolamide, show analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and appetite-suppressing effects through other receptors. In mammalian tissues, NAEs, including anandamide, are produced from glycerophospholipid via N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE). The ɛ isoform of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) functions as an N-acyltransferase to form NAPE. Since the cPLA₂ family consists of six isoforms (α, β, γ, δ, ɛ, and ζ), the present study investigated a possible involvement of isoforms other than ɛ in the NAE biosynthesis. Firstly, when the cells overexpressing one of the cPLA₂ isoforms were labeled with [¹⁴C]ethanolamine, the increase in the production of [¹⁴C]NAPE was observed only with the ɛ-expressing cells. Secondly, when the cells co-expressing ɛ and one of the other isoforms were analyzed, the increase in [¹⁴C]N-acyl-lysophosphatidylethanolamine (lysoNAPE) and [¹⁴C]NAE was seen with the combination of ɛ and γ isoforms. Furthermore, the purified cPLA₂γ hydrolyzed not only NAPE to lysoNAPE, but also lysoNAPE to glycerophospho-N-acylethanolamine (GP-NAE). Thus, the produced GP-NAE was further hydrolyzed to NAE by glycerophosphodiesterase 1. These results suggested that cPLA₂γ is involved in the biosynthesis of NAE by its phospholipase A₁/A₂ and lysophospholipase activities.     

A monotropic liquid crystal polyester with a biphasic nematic-smectic phase

The polyesters made from the condensation of isophthalic acid (IA) or terephthalic acid (TA) with the mesogenic diol 4,4′-bis (6-hydroxy hexoxy)biphenyl (BHHBP) are both reported to show a smectic mesophase. However, in our previous work, we found evidence for a mesophase in the polyester containing BHHBP and IA, but not in the one with BHHBP and TA. For the BHHBP-IA polyester, we thought the phase sequence on cooling was I → S_A → K, while on heating the situation was unresolved; there was some indication that on heating, a K → I transition occurs without any intervening mesophase. In other words, it was suspected that the mesophase in the IA polyester was monotropic. In this work, we have now obtained firm evidence that the mesophase behavior of the BHHBP-IA polyester is indeed monotropic. Further, an additional complexity has been found: on cooling, there is in fact a nematic phase, besides a smectic A, and a crystal phase. However, the mesophase appears to be complex. As the nematic and smectic textures occurred simultaneously, it seems that the mesophase is a nematic-smectic biphase. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Biocompatibility Study of Curcumin-Loaded Pluronic F127 Nanoformulation (NanoCUR) against the Embryonic Development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Curcumin (CUR) has been studied for its biomedical applications due to its active biological properties. However, CUR has limitations such as poor solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid degradation. Thus, CUR was nanoformulated with the application of polymeric micelle. Previous studies of CUR-loaded Pluronic F127 nanoformulation (NanoCUR) were generally prioritized toward cancer cells and its therapeutic values. There are reports that emphasize the toxicity of CUR, but reports on the toxicity of NanoCUR on embryonic developmental stages is still scarce. The present study aims to investigate the toxicity effects of NanoCUR on the embryonic development of zebrafish (Danio rerio). NanoCUR was synthesized via thin film hydration method and then characterized using DLS, UV-Vis, FTIR, FESEM, and XRD. The toxicity assessment of NanoCUR was conducted using zebrafish embryos, in comparison to native CUR, as well as Pluronic F127 (PF) as the controls, and ROS assay was further carried out. It was revealed that NanoCUR showed an improved toxicity profile compared to native CUR. NanoCUR displayed a delayed toxicity response and showed a concentration- and time-dependent toxicity response. NanoCUR was also observed to generate a significantly low reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to native CUR in ROS assay. Overall, the results obtained highlight the potential of NanoCUR to be developed in clinical settings due to its improved toxicity profile compared to CUR.     

Entropy generation on magneto-convective flow of copper–water nanofluid in a cavity with chamfers

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The irreversibility in convective nanofluid flow in the occurrence of a magnetic field (MHD) in a cavity with chamfers is calculated by numerical...     

Analysis of hybrid nanofluid behavior within a porous cavity including Lorentz forces and radiation impacts

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - We investigate the hybrid nanofluid convection transportation within a permeable medium in appearance of an externally applied magnetic force by...     

Fluorescein Hydrazide-Appended Metal–Organic Framework as a Chromogenic and Fluorogenic Chemosensor for Mercury Ions

In this work, we prepared a fluorescein hydrazide-appended Ni(MOF) (Metal–Organic Framework) [Ni₃(BTC)₂(H₂O)₃]·(DMF)₃(H₂O)₃ composite, FH@Ni(MOF). This composite was well-characterized by PXRD (powder X-ray diffraction), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), N₂ adsorption isotherm, TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), and FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy). This composite was then tested with different heavy metals and was found to act as a highly selective and sensitive optical sensor for the Hg²⁺ ion. It was found that the aqueous emulsion of this composite produces a new peak in absorption at 583 nm, with a chromogenic change to a pink color visible to the naked eye upon binding with Hg²⁺ ions. In emission, it enhances fluorescence with a fluorogenic change to green fluorescence upon complexation with the Hg²⁺ ion. The binding constant was found to be 9.4 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, with a detection limit of 0.02 μM or 5 ppb. This sensor was also found to be reversible and could be used for seven consecutive cycles. It was also tested for Hg²⁺ ion detection in practical water samples from ground water, tap water, and drinking water.     

Entropy generation in electrical magnetohydrodynamic flow of Al2O3–Cu/H2O hybrid nanofluid with non-uniform heat flux

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - This paper explores the influence of entropy production on MHD hybrid nanofluid (Al2O3–Cu/H2O) flow due to permeable stretching sheet with...     

Thermodynamic studies of iron chelation with doxycycline in acidic medium

Doxycycline (DOX) is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic synthetically derived from oxytetracycline. The complex formation of this drug with iron(III) was studied using spectrophotometry. The thermodynamic parameters of the systems were calculated using the changes in the absorption spectra which occur due to hydrogen bond or complex formation. Thermodynamic parameters of the formation of iron(III) complex with doxycycline (ΔH, ΔG, ΔS, and stability constants) were determined spectrophotometrically at a wavelength corresponding to absorption maximum (374.5 nm) at three different temperatures (22, 35, and 45°C). The obtained data show that the complex has metal to ligand molar ratio of 1: 2 at pH 2–3. The stability constants were calculated to be 13.99 × 10⁶, 7.06 × 10⁵, and 1.29 × 10⁶ by mole ratio method at 22, 35, and 45°C, respectively.     

Effect of exposure parameters on cavitation induced by low-level dual-frequency ultrasound

In order to quantify the effects of exposure parameters under therapeutic conditions such as sonodynamic therapy, it is necessary initially to evaluate the inertial cavitation activity in vitro. In this study, the dependence of cavitation activity induced by the low-level dual-frequency ultrasound irradiation on exposure parameters has been studied. Experiments were performed in the near 150 kHz and 1 MHz fields in the progressive wave mode. It has been shown that at constant ultrasound energy the fluorescence intensity for continuous sonication is higher than for pulsed mode. With increasing the duty cycle of pulsed field, the inertial cavitation activity is increased. The activity of cavitation produced by simultaneous combined sonication by two ultrasound fields is remarkably higher than the algebraic sum of effects produced by fields separately (p-value < 0.05). This study shows that simultaneous combined dual-frequency ultrasound sonication in continuous mode is more effective in producing inertial cavitation activity at low-level intensity. Therefore, it is concluded that investigations in this combined ultrasound sonication can be useful in sonodynamic therapy for superficial tumors.