Anthocyanin-rich black currant extract suppresses the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Dietary antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, are helpful in the prevention and control of various diseases by counteracting the imbalance of oxidative and antioxidative factors in the living systems. Black currant (Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae) is known to contain high amounts of anthocyanins (250 mg/100 g fresh fruit). Black currant fruits have been used in Asian and European traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Black currant extract has recently been found to be the second most effective amongst nine different berry extracts studied for their free radical scavenging activity. Constituents present in black currant juice have been found to exert a number of health-promoting effects, including immunomodulatory, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory actions, inhibition of low-density lipoprotein, and reduction of cardiovascular diseases. Although antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects of black currant juice could be of value in preventing and treating oxidative stress- and inflammation-driven cancers, no experimental evidence is available to now. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential antiproliferative effects of black currant fruit skin extract against HepG2 human liver cancer cells. The aqueous extract yielded an anthocyanin-rich fraction with cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside as one of the major anthocyanins. This fraction exhibited a potent cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells and this effect was more pronounced than that of delphinidin and cyanidin, two major aglycones of anthocyanins present in black currant. Our results indicate, for the first time, that black currant skin containing an anthocyanin-rich fraction inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer cells, possibly due to additive as well as synergistic effects. This product could be useful in the prevention and treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma.     

A study of reaction rates of (n, f ) , (n, \gamma) and (n, 2n) reactions in natU and 232Th by the neutron fluence produced in the graphite set-up (GAMMA-3) irradiated by 2.33 GeV deuteron beam

Spallation neutrons produced in the collision of a 2.33GeV deuteron beam with a large lead target are moderated by a thick graphite block surrounding the target and used to activate the radioactive samples of ^natU and Th put at three different positions, identified as holes “a”, “b” and “c” in the graphite block. Rates of the (n, f), (n, $ \gamma$ and (n, 2n) reactions in the two samples are determined using the gamma spectrometry. The ratios of the experimental reaction rates, R (n, 2n)/R (n, f), for ²³²Th and ^natU are estimated in order to understand the role of the (n, x n) kind of reactions in Accelerator-Driven Sub-critical Systems. For the Th-sample, the ratio is ～ 54 (10)% in the case of hole “a” and ～ 95 (57)% in the case of hole “b” compared to 1.73(20)% for hole “a” and 0.710(9)% for hole “b” in the case of the ^natU sample. Also the ratio of fission rates in uranium to thorium, ^natU (n, f)/ ²³²Th (n, f), is ～ 11.2 (17) in the case of hole “a” and 26.8(85) in hole “b”. Similarly, the ratio ²³⁸U (n, 2n)/ ²³²Th (n, 2n) is 0.36(4) for hole “a” and 0.20(10) for hole “b” showing that ²³²Th is more prone to the (n, x n) reaction than ²³⁸U . All the experimental reaction rates are compared with the simulated ones by generating neutron fluxes at the three holes from MCNPX 2.6c and making use of the LA150 library of cross-sections. The experimental and calculated reaction rates of all the three reactions are in reasonably good agreement. The transmutation power, P _norm as well as P _norm/P _beam of the set-up is estimated using the reaction rates of the (n, $ \gamma$ and (n, 2n) reactions for both the samples in the three holes and compared with some of the results of the “Energy plus Transmutation” set-up and TARC experiment.     

Densities, speeds of sound and viscosities of binary liquid mixtures of octan-2-ol with benzene and halobenzenes at 298.15 and 303.15 K

Densities ρ, speeds of sound u, viscosities η and refractive indices n_D of binary mixtures of octan-2-ol with benzene, chlorobenzene and bromobenzene have been measured over the entire range of composition at 298.15 and 303.15 K and atmospheric pressure. From the experimental data, excess molar volumes V^E, isentropic compressibilities κ_S, excess isentropic compressibilities κ_S^E, and deviations of speeds of sound u^D, have been calculated at 298.15 and 303.15 K. These excess functions have been fitted to the Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. The viscosity data have been correlated using Kendall-Monroe, Grunberg-Nissan, Tamura-Kurata, Hind-Mclaughlin Ubbelohde and Katti-Chaudhary viscosity models, and McAllister's three-body interaction model at different temperatures.     

Search for universal extra dimensions in pp collisions

We present a search for Kaluza-Klein (KK) particles predicted by models with universal extra dimensions (UED) using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.3 fb(-1), collected by the D0 detector at a pp center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The decay chain of KK particles can lead to a final state with two muons of the same charge. This signature is used to set a lower limit on the compactification scale of R(-1)>260 GeV in a minimal UED model.     

A three body approach to study the structural properties of 2-n halo nuclei and the search for Efimov states

The discovery of neutron rich isotopes of the lightest elements on the neutron drip line exhibiting a halo structure has opened up new vistas in research activities. The novel structural features associated with the halo phenomena have been the subject for extensive theoretical and experimental investigations in recent times. In this talk, I propose to present a broad overview of the recent developments in this field, bringing out the striking features which show that a large number oflight nuclei near the neutron drip line are characterized by a clear separation between a ‘normal’ core nucleus and a loosely bound low density veil of neutrons. Specifically, the two neutron halos offer a natural premises, from a theoretical standpoint, to employ three body techniques for studying their detailed structural properties. A considerable part of the talk will be devoted to report and highlight the results on a number of light halo nuclei such as ¹¹Li, ¹¹Be, ¹⁹B and ²²C on which we have been carrying out investigations employing a simple but realistic three body model. These three body systems which have been termed as ‘Borromean’ (i.e while three body systems are bound, the corresponding binary subsystems on the other hand are unbound) are characterized by large spacial extension and very low separation energy of the neutron. They are, therefore, ideally suited for exploring the possibility of the existence of Efimov states in two neutron halo nuclei. We have recently carried out the three body analyses to predict the possibility of the occurrence of such states on which experimental work at various laboratories is underway.     

Far infrared transmission and structure of PbGeS semiconducting glasses

Lead sulfide has been found to form stable glasses with GeS₂ in the presence of GeS. Far-infrared transmission spectra of the glassy compositions x = 0.46, 0.23 and 0.115 in the pseudoternary (PbS)_x (GeS₂)_0.70?x (GeS)_0.30 and of the stoichiometric crystalline composition Pb₂GeS₄ have been observed for the first time. The results indicate a two optical mode behaviour of the compounds. The presence of the heavy lead atom in the GeS network seems to appreciably affect the bond bending modes of the GeS₄ molecular unit without significantly disturbing its bond stretching vibrations. The presence of S₃GeGeS₃ molecular units in the amorphous compositions and their absence in Pb₂GeS₄ are indicated.     

Cobalt(II) Complex Catalysed Epoxidation with Molecular Oxygen

Cobalt(II) complexes 1 or 2, catalyses the epoxidation of alkenes in the presence of molecular oxygen and 2-methylpropanal in high yields.