Sample Treatment Approaches for Trace Level Determination of Cesium in Hepatitis B Vaccine by Suppressed Ion Chromatography

The hepatitis B surface antigen manufactured by recombinant DNA technology is extracted from the culture media by density gradient centrifugation using cesium salts. Cesium is considered to be toxic, because it affects active ion transport by blocking potassium channels. The residual trace levels of cesium in hepatitis B vaccine samples are determined by suppressed ion chromatography. Hepatitis B vaccines contain various buffer salts, aluminum-containing adjuvants, proteins and traces of iron. The polyvalent cations (Al³⁺, Fe³⁺) and proteins degrade the chromatographic performance in terms of decreased retention time and poor reproducibility. Different sample preparation approaches were evaluated with the aim of eliminating these foulants: (1) filtration, (2) digestion and (3) digestion-protein precipitation. Quantitative elimination of these foulants was achieved in the digestion-protein precipitation sample clean-up approach. Cesium was separated on the IonPac CS17 column with suppressed conductivity detection. The results of the ion chromatography (IC) method were compared with ICP-MS analysis. The precision of determination was better than 6.5% (relative standard deviation) with a method detection limit of 45 ng mL⁻¹. The expanded uncertainty in the measurement at 95% confidence level (coverage factor 2) is better than 16.3%.

     

Effect of a cocatalyst modifier in the synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having reduced number of entanglements

The use of a hindered phenol to trap free trimethylaluminum (TMA) in methylaluminoxane (MAO) solutions has been reported to improve the performance of single‐site, homogeneous catalysts for olefin polymerization. In the present study, with the help of rheological analyses, we have investigated and compared the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and entanglement density of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene synthesized with a single‐site catalyst activated by MAO and phenol‐modified MAO. While the number average molecular weight (M_n) of the obtained polymers remains the same for both activations, a higher yield and a higher entanglement density are found in the initial stages of polymerization on using phenol‐modified MAO as the cocatalyst. These results suggest that on using the phenol‐modified MAO as activator, a higher number of active sites are obtained. Surprisingly in the presence of untreated MAO, a tail in the higher molecular mass region is produced. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013     

Attenuation Characteristics and Sensitivity Analysis for Coplanar Waveguide

The behaviour of attenuation losses in Coplanar waveguides (CPW) is studied for quasi-planar transmission lines with constant characteristic impedance (Z₀) and resistivity, having different geometry's. This behavior helps in making a suitable choice of the type of structure and its dimensional parameters depending upon the application. Minimization of loss for a chosen substrate thickness, conductivity and impedance is analyzed. Dispersion characteristics of CPW have been plotted for various metallization thicknesses. A sensitivity analysis for effective dielectric constant with respect to various dimensional parameters of CPW is presented.     

New cerium(III) and neodymium(III) complexes as cytotoxic agents

The cerium(III) and neodymium(III) complexes of 5‐aminoorotic acid were synthesized and characterized by means of spectral data (IR, Raman, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR) and elemental analysis. Significant differences in the IR spectra of the complexes were observed as compared with the spectrum of the ligand. A comparative analysis of the Raman spectra of the complexes with that of the free 5‐aminoorotic acid allowed a straightforward assignment of the vibrations of the ligand groups involved in coordination. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra confirmed the formation of the complexes. The ligand and the complexes were tested for the cytotoxic activities on the chronic myeloid leukemia‐derived K‐562, overexpressing the BCR‐ABL fusion protein, and the non‐Hodgkin lymphoma‐derived DOHH‐2, characterized by a rexpression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl‐2 cell lines. The results obtained indicate that the tested compounds exerted a considerable cytotoxic activity upon the evaluated cell lines in a concentration‐dependent manner, which enabled the construction of dose–response curves and the calculation of the corresponding IC₅₀ values. Cytotoxicity towards tumor cells was determined for a broad concentration range. The inorganic salts exerted a very weak cytotoxic effect on these cells that is in contrast to the lanthanide complexes, which exhibited potent cytotoxic activity towards K‐562 and DOHH‐2 cell lines. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Directional couplers in trapped image guide configuration

Dispersion characteristics and wave impedance of trapped coupled image guides are computed by using mode matching techniques. Dispersion curves for trapped coupled image guide are plotted for various dielectric materials and dimensional parameters. The hybrid directional couplers in the above configuration have been theoretically designed by computing the normalization propagation constant.     

Characterizing the Rheology of Powders by studying dynamic avalanching of the powder

Avalanching of solids is an important multivariable dependent phenomenon that can be a valuable tool for characterization of solids flowability. Although avalanching by itself is primarily chaotic it appears that the fractal analysis of its avalanching mass data can yield very interesting and significant information that is of importance in determining suitability of a material in solids handling and pneumatic transport.     

Integrated Downstream Processing of Lactoperoxidase from Milk Whey Involving Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction and Ultrasound-Assisted Ultrafiltration

The present work involves the adoption of an integrated approach for the purification of lactoperoxidase from milk whey by coupling aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) with ultrasound-assisted ultrafiltration. The effect of system parameters of ATPE such as type of phase system, polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecular mass, system pH, tie line length and phase volume ratio was evaluated so as to obtain differential partitioning of contaminant proteins and lactoperoxidase in top and bottom phases, respectively. PEG 6000-potassium phosphate system was found to be suitable for the maximum activity recovery of lactoperoxidase 150.70% leading to 2.31-fold purity. Further, concentration and purification of enzyme was attempted using ultrafiltration. The activity recovery and purification factor achieved after ultrafiltration were 149.85% and 3.53-fold, respectively. To optimise productivity and cost-effectiveness of integrated process, influence of ultrasound for the enhancement of permeate flux during ultrafiltration was also investigated. Intermittent use of ultrasound along with stirring (2 min acoustic and 2 min stirring) resulted in increased permeate flux from 0.94 to 2.18 l/m² h in comparison to the ultrafiltration without ultrasound. The use of ultrasound during ultrafiltration resulted in increase in flux, but there was no significant change in activity recovery and purification factor. The integrated approach involving ATPE and ultrafiltration may prove to be a feasible method for the downstream processing of lactoperoxidase from milk whey.     

Density functional theory calculations and vibrational spectral analysis of 3,5-(dinitrobenzoic acid)

The FT-IR and Raman spectra of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (DNBA) have been recorded and analyzed. The equilibrium geometry, various bonding and harmonic vibrational wavenumbers have been calculated with the help of density functional theory (DFT) method. Most of the vibrational modes are observed in the expected range. Mulliken population analysis shows the interactions C-N-O?H-C and C-O?H-C. The most possible interaction is explained using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The strengthening and polarization of the CO bond increases due to the degree of conjugation. HOMO-LUMO energy and the thermodynamic properties are also evaluated.     

Ring-shaped neuronal networks: a platform to study persistent activity

Persistent activity in the brain is involved in working memory and motor planning. The ability of the brain to hold information 'online' long after an initiating stimulus is a hallmark of brain areas such as the prefrontal cortex. Recurrent network loops such as the thalamocortical loop and reciprocal loops in the cortex are potential substrates that can support such activity. However, native brain circuitry makes it difficult to study mechanisms underlying such persistent activity. Here we propose a platform to study synaptic mechanisms of such persistent activity by constraining neuronal networks to a recurrent loop like geometry. Using a polymer stamping technique, adhesive proteins are transferred onto glass substrates in a precise ring shape. Primary rat hippocampal cultures were capable of forming ring-shaped networks containing 40-60 neurons. Calcium imaging of these networks show evoked persistent activity in an all-or-none manner. Blocking inhibition with bicuculline methaiodide (BMI) leads to an increase in the duration of persistent activity. These persistent phases were abolished by blockade of asynchronous neurotransmitter release by ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA-AM).