Combined technique analysis of the composition of Punic make-up materials

Ten archaeological Punic make-up samples from Tunisia dating from the 4th to the 1st centuries BC were analysed by several techniques including Raman microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction in order to determine their compositions. Eight samples were red and found to contain either quartz and cinnabar or quartz and haematite. The remaining two samples were pink, the main diffracting phase in them being quartz. Examination of these two samples by optical microscopy and by illumination under a UV lamp suggest that the pink dye is madder. These findings reveal the identities of the materials used by Carthaginians for cosmetic and/or ritual make-up purposes. PACS 82.80.Gk; 61.10.Nz; 41.60Ap     

Synthesis,characterization and X-ray crystal structures of the bis–ligand zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of the methylpyruvate Schiff base of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-methyldithiocarbazate

New bis-chelated Zn^II and Cd^II complexes of empirical formula, [M(mpsme)₂] (mpsme=the anionic form of the tridentate ONS donor ligand formed from methylpyruvate and S-methyldithiocarbazate) have been prepared and characterized by conductance, i.r., electronic and n.m.r. spectroscopic techniques. Spectral evidence supports a six-coordinate distorted octahedral structure for these complexes. X-ray crystallographic structural analysis also confirms that, in both the [Zn(mpsme)₂] and [Cd(mpsme)₂] complexes, the methylpyruvate Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate is coordinated to the metal ions as a uninegatively charged tridentate ONS chelating agent via the carbonyl oxygen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulfur atom. Both complexes are assigned a distorted octahedral geometry in which the ligands are arranged meridionally around the metal ions. The distortion from regular octahedral geometry is attributable to the restricted bite angles of the ligand.     

Biosynthesis,Characterization and Antibacterial Application of Novel Silver Nanoparticles against Drug Resistant Pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella Enteritidis

The present study highlights the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using culture supernatant of Massilia sp. MAHUQ-52 as well as the antimicrobial application of synthesized AgNPs against multi-drug resistant pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella Enteritidis. Well-defined AgNPs formation occurred from the reaction mixture of cell-free supernatant and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) solution within 48 h of incubation. UV-visible spectroscopy analysis showed a strong peak at 435 nm, which corresponds to the surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by FE-TEM, EDX, XRD, DLS and FT-IR. From FE-TEM analysis, it was found that most of the particles were spherical shape, and the size of synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) was 15–55 nm. EDX spectrum revealed a strong silver signal at 3 keV. XRD analysis determined the crystalline, pure, face-centered cubic AgNPs. FT-IR analysis identified various functional molecules that may be involved with the synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs. The antimicrobial activity of Massilia sp. MAHUQ-52 mediated synthesized AgNPs was determined using the disk diffusion method against K. pneumoniae and S. Enteritidis. Biosynthesized AgNPs showed strong antimicrobial activity against both K. pneumoniae and S. Enteritidis. The MICs of synthesized AgNPs against K. pneumoniae and S. Enteritidis were 12.5 and 25.0 μg/mL, respectively. The MBC of biosynthesized AgNPs against both pathogens was 50.0 μg/mL. From FE-SEM analysis, it was found that the AgNPs-treated cells showed morphological changes with irregular and damaged cell walls that culminated in cell death.     

Lipid-Based Nanoparticle Formulation of Diallyl Trisulfide Chemosensitizes the Growth Inhibitory Activity of Doxorubicin in Colorectal Cancer Model: A Novel In Vitro,In Vivo and In Silico Analysis

Garlic’s main bioactive organosulfur component, diallyl trisulfide (DATS), has been widely investigated in cancer models. However, DATS is not suitable for clinical use due to its low solubility. The current study seeks to improve DATS bioavailability and assess its chemopreventive and chemosensitizing properties in an AOM-induced colorectal cancer model. The polyethylene glycol coated Distearoylphosphatidylcholine/Cholesterol (DSPC/Chol) comprising DATS-loaded DATSL and doxorubicin (DOXO)-encapsulated DOXL liposomes was prepared and characterized. The changes in the sensitivity of DATS and DOXO by DATSL and DOXL were evaluated in RKO and HT-29 colon cancer cells. The synergistic effect of DATSL and DOXL was studied by cell proliferation assay in the combinations of IC₁₀, IC₂₅, and IC₃₅ of DATSL with the IC₁₀ of DOXL. AOM, DATSL, and DOXL were administered to different groups of mice for a period of 21 weeks. The data exhibited ~93% and ~46% entrapment efficiency of DATSL and DOXL, respectively. The size of sham liposomes was 110.5 nm, whereas DATSL and DOXL were 135.5 nm and 169 nm, respectively. DATSL and DOXL exhibited significant sensitivity in the cell proliferation experiment, lowering their IC₅₀ doses by more than 8- and 14-fold, respectively. However, the DATSL IC₁₀, IC₂₅, and IC₃₅ showed escalating chemosensitivity, and treated the cells in combination with DOXL IC₁₀. Analysis of histopathological, cancer marker enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes revealed that the high dose of DATSL pretreatment and DOXL chemotherapy is highly effective in inhibiting AOM-induced colon cancer promotion. The combination of DATSL and DOXL indicated promise as a colorectal cancer treatment in this study. Intermolecular interactions of DATS and DOXO against numerous cancer targets by molecular docking indicated MMP-9 as the most favourable target for DATS exhibiting binding energy of −4.6 kcal/mol. So far, this is the first research to demonstrate the chemopreventive as well as chemosensitizing potential of DATSL in an animal model of colorectal cancer.     

A study of the Regge recurrence of the Δ(1236) produced in 10 GeV/c K+p interactions

Data are presented on a high mass $\text{I}\text{3}\text{2}\text{Δ}$ resonance produced in 10 GeV/c K⁺p interactions. The mass and width of the resonance, determined by a maximum likelihood fit to the pπ⁺ spectrum in the final state K⁺pπ⁺π^?, are 1895±15 MeV/c²230±50 MeV/c² respectively. The differential cross sections, dσ/dt, for the quasi two-body final states K¹(890)Δ(1236) and K¹(890)Δ(1900) are well described by the one pion exchange model. In addition the moments of the Gottfried-Jackson angular distribution of the pπ⁺ system agree with those computed from on-shell π⁺p elastic scattering data. We conclude that the two final states are produced mainly by π exchange and associate the structure observed in the moments up to NH(6,0) in the 1900 MeV region with the $\text{7}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ Regge recurrence of the Δ(1236). The dominant decay mode of the resonance is Δ⁺⁺(1900)→pπ⁺ but decays to pπ⁺π⁰ and nπ⁺π⁺ are also observed. Cross sections are determined for the production of the quasi two-body final states K¹(890)Δ(1236), K¹(890) Δ(1900), K¹(1420)Δ(1236) and K¹(1420)Δ(1900).     

Refinement of the crystal structure of acetylacetonatodicarbonylrhodium(I)

The structure of acetylacetonatodicarbonylrhodium(I), Rh(acac)(CO)₂, has been refined from three-dimensional X-ray diffractometer data. The complex crystallises in the triclinic space groupP¯1 with two molecules in a unit cell of dimensionsa = 6.5189(5),b = 7.7614(8),c = 9.2049(12)Å, = 106.04(1), = 91.15(1), = 100.21(1) °. Full-matrix least-squares refinement, using 1456 independent reflections, has reachedR = 0.038.The rhodium atom has a square-planar coordination with two Rh-O(acac) distances of 2.040 and 2.044Å, and two Rh-C(carbonyl) distances both equal to 1.831Å, the O-Rh-O angle is 90.8 ° and the C-Rh-C angle is 88.9 °. All twelve non-hydrogen atoms are closely planar, with an average deviation of 0.003Å, and a maximum deviation of 0.006Å, from the least-squares plane through the molecule. A second non-crystallographic plane of symmetry bisects the molecule, which therefore has essentiallymm2 (C _2v ) point symmetry. The molecules stack in such a way that the rhodium atoms of neighbouring molecules occupy the two remaining pseudo-octahedral positions, with Rh...Rh distances of 3.253 and 3.271Å.     

Mechanism responsible for initiating carbon nanotube vacuum breakdown

We report a physical mechanism responsible for initiating a vacuum breakdown process of a single carbon nanotube (CNT) during field emission. A quasidynamic method has been developed to simulate the breakdown process and calculate the critical field, critical emission current density and critical temperature beyond which thermal runaway occurs before the CNT temperature reaches its melting point. This model is in good agreement with experiments carried out with a single CNT on a silicon microtip.     

Magnetic,spectroscopic and biological properties of copper(II) complexes of the tridentate ligand, α-N-methyl-S-methyl-β-N-(2-pyridyl)methylenedithiocarbazate(NNS) and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Cu(NNS)I2] complex

Copper(II) complexes of general formula, Cu(NNS)X ₂ · nH₂O (NNS = the 2-formylpyridine Schiff base of N-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate; X = Cl^–, Br^–, I^–, NCS^–; n = 0, 2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and by magnetic and spectroscopic techniques. Based on magnetic and spectroscopic data, a monomeric five-coordinate square-pyramidal structure is assigned to these complexes. The crystal and molecular structure of [Cu(NNS)I₂] has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a monomeric square-pyramidal structure with the ligand coordinated to the copper(II) ion via the pyridine nitrogen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thione sulfur atom. The fourth and fifth coordination sites are occupied by the iodide ligands. Antimicrobial tests indicate that Schiff base is inactive against the bacteria, Bacillus subtilis (mutant defective DNA repair), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis (wild type) and weakly active against the fungi, Candida albicans, Candida lypolytica, Saccharomyces cereviseae and Aspergillus ochraceous but its copper(II) complexes, Cu(NNS)X ₂ are strongly active against these organisms. A cytotoxicity study of the compounds against leukemic and cervical cancer cells showed that the Schiff base is inactive, but the complexes, [Cu(NNS)I₂] and [Cu(NNS)(NCS)₂] · 2H₂O exhibit significant activity against cervical cancer cells with CD₅₀ values of 4.8 and 4.2 g, respectively.     

Three-dimensional structure determination of N-(p-Tolyl)-dodecylsulfonamide from powder diffraction data and validation of structure using solid-state NMR spectroscopy

The three-dimensional structure, conformation, and packing of molecules in the solid state are crucial components used in the optimization of many technologically useful materials properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction is the traditional and most effective method of determining 3-D structures in the solid state. Obtaining single crystals that are sufficiently large and free of imperfections is often laborious, time-consuming, and, occasionally, impossible. The feasibility of an integrated approach to the determination and verification of a complete three-dimensional structure for a medium-sized organic molecule without using single crystals is demonstrated for the case of an organic stabilizer compound N-(p-tolyl)-dodecylsulfonamide. The approach uses a combination of powder XRD data, several computational packages involving Monte Carlo simulations and ab initio quantum mechanical calculations, and experimental solid-state NMR chemical shifts. Structure elucidation of N-(p-tolyl)-dodecylsulfonamide revealed that the Bravais lattice is monoclinic, with cell dimensions of a = 38.773 A, b = 5.507 A, c = 9.509 A, and beta = 86.35 degrees, and a space group of P21/c.