Polyphenolics with Strong Antioxidant Activity from Acacia nilotica Ameliorate Some Biochemical Signs of Arsenic-Induced Neurotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Mice

Neurotoxicity is a serious health problem of patients chronically exposed to arsenic. There is no specific treatment of this problem. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathological process of neurotoxicity. Polyphenolics have proven antioxidant activity, thereby offering protection against oxidative stress. In this study, we have isolated the polyphenolics from Acacia nilotica and investigated its effect against arsenic-induced neurotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice. Acacia nilotica polyphenolics prepared from column chromatography of the crude methanol extract using diaion resin contained a phenolic content of 452.185 ± 7.879 mg gallic acid equivalent/gm of sample and flavonoid content of 200.075 ± 0.755 mg catechin equivalent/gm of sample. The polyphenolics exhibited potent antioxidant activity with respect to free radical scavenging ability, total antioxidant activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Administration of arsenic in mice showed a reduction of acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain which was counteracted by Acacia nilotica polyphenolics. Similarly, elevation of lipid peroxidation and depletion of glutathione in the brain of mice was effectively restored to normal level by Acacia nilotica polyphenolics. Gallic acid methyl ester, catechin and catechin-7-gallate were identified in the polyphenolics as the major active compounds. These results suggest that Acacia nilotica polyphenolics due to its strong antioxidant potential might be effective in the management of arsenic induced neurotoxicity.     

Novel Osmium‐based Coordination Complexes as Photosensitizers for Panchromatic Photodynamic Therapy

Cancer remains a major global malaise requiring the advent of new, efficient and low‐cost treatments. Photodynamic therapy, which combines a photosensitizer and photons to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, has been established as an effective cancer treatment but has yet to become mainstream. One of the main limitations has been the paucity of photosensitizers that are effective over a wide range of wavelengths, can exert their cytotoxic effects in hypoxia, are easily synthesized and produce few if any side effects. To address these shortfalls, three new osmium‐based photosensitizers (TLD1822, TLD1824 and TLD1829) were synthesized and their photophysical and photobiological attributes determined. These photosensitizers are panchromatic (i.e. black absorbers), activatable from 200 to 900 nm and have strong resistance to photobleaching. In vitro studies show photodynamic therapy efficacy with both red and near‐infrared light in normoxic and hypoxic conditions, which translated to good in vivo efficacy of TLD1829 in a subcutaneous murine colon cancer model.     

Multidirectional,multipolarization antennas for scalar and tensor gravitational radiation

Summary Some gravitational radiation antenna designs are discussed which are capable of distinguishing between the spin zero scalar radiation predicted by the Brans-Dicke theory of gravitation and the spin two tensor radiation predicted by the Einstein theory of gravitation. The antennas will also give information concerning the direction to the source of radiation, and will measure the polarization of the tensor radiation. The designs consist of symmetric masses with approapriately spaced and oriented transducers. The transducers are combined to give orthogonal outputs. Linear combinations of these orthogonal outputs then are uniquely associated with the various possible combinations of radiation type, propagation, direction and polarization, orientation. Essay submitted to the 1969 Awards for Essays on Gravity, Gravity Research Foundation, New Boston, New Hampshire.     

Transfer measurements for the Ti+Ni systems at near barrier energies

Large enhancements have been observed in the sub-barrier fusion cross sections for Ti+Ni systems in our previous studies. Coupled channel calculations incorporating couplings to 2⁺ and 3⁻ states failed to explain these enhancements completely. A possibilty of transfer channels contributing to the residual enhancements had been suggested. In order to investigate the role of relevant transfer channels, measurements of one- and two-nucleon transfer were carried out for ^46,48Ti+⁶¹Ni systems. The present paper gives the results of these studies.     

A Gedanken Spacecraft that Operates Using the Quantum Vacuum (Dynamic Casimir Effect)

Conventional rockets are not a suitable technology for interstellar missions. Chemical rockets require a very large weight of propellant, travel very slowly compared to light speed, and require significant energy to maintain operation over periods of years. For example, the 722 kg Voyager spacecraft required 13,600 kg of propellant to launch and would take about 80,000 years to reach the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, about 4.3 light years away. There have been various attempts at developing ideas on which one might base a spacecraft that would permit interstellar travel, such as spacewarps. In this paper we consider another suggestion from science fiction and explore how the quantum vacuum might be utilized in the creation of a novel spacecraft. The spacecraft is based on the dynamic Casimir effect, in which electromagnetic radiation is emitted when an uncharged mirror is properly accelerated in vacuum. The radiative reaction produces a dissipative force on the mirror that tends to resist the acceleration of the mirror. This force can be used to accelerate a spacecraft attached to the mirror. We also show that, in principle, one could obtain the power to operate the accelerated mirror in such a spacecraft using energy extracted from the quantum vacuum using the standard Casimir effect with a parallel plate geometry. Unfortunately the method as currently conceived generates a miniscule thrust, and is no more practical than a spacewarp, yet it does provide an interesting demonstration of our current understanding of the physics of the quantized electromagnetic field in vacuum.     

Syntheses and Structural Characterization of Tetrahedral Four-Coordinate Gold(I) Complexes of 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane. An Example of a Hydrogen-Bond-Directed Supramolecular Assembly

The synthesis and structural characterization of water-soluble four-coordinate gold(I) complexes containing monodentate phosphine ligands are described. The ligands used are 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (TPA) and its protonated and methylated derivatives, [HTPA]Cl and [MeTPA]I. Formation of the four-coordinate gold(I) species is favored by the small cone angle of the phosphine (102 degrees ) and its ability to form a hydrogen-bonded network between the nitrogen atoms of the ligand and solvent water molecules. The gold center in all four complexes has a nearly regular tetrahedral geometry with an average P-Au-P angle of 109.5 degrees. [(HTPA)(3)(TPA)Au](PF(6))(4).4H(2)O.CH(3)CN(1) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (No. 14) with cell constants a = 20.719(3) ?, b = 15.606(2) ?, c = 17.854(2) ?, beta = 114.03(1) degrees, and Z = 4. Refinement of 4977 reflections and 650 parameters yields R = 0.0396 and R(w) = 0.0500. [(TPA)(4)Au]PF(6).1.5HCl.H(2)O (2), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15) with cell constants a = 33.036(7) ?, b = 11.212(2) ?, c = 31.503(5) ?, b = 137.58(1) degrees, and Z = 8. Refinement of 3835 reflections and 470 parameters yields R = 0.0351 and R(w) = 0.0403. [(TPA)(4)Au]Cl(4).6H(2)O (3) was characterized structurally in the cubic space group Fd&thremacr;m (No. 227) with cell constants a = b = c = 20.020(2) ? and Z = 8. Refinement of 290 reflections and 28 parameters yields R = 0.0624 and R(w) = 0.1291. [(MeTPA)(4)Au](PF(6))(5).2CH(3)CN (4) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15) with cell constants a = 23.337(3) ?, b = 14.855(3) ?, c = 35.317(5) ?, b = 97.95(1) degrees, and Z = 8. Refinement of 7840 reflections and 621 parameters yields R = 0.0493 and R(w) = 0.0698.     

A host-guest optical sensor for aliphatic amines based on lipophilic cyclodextrin

A host-guest optical sensor for the determination of aliphatic amines as exemplified by octylamine is proposed. It is based on the reversible fluorescence enhancement of heptakis(2,6-di-O-isobutyl)-β-cyclodextrin(DOB-β-CD) hosting tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) immobilized in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane by aliphatic amine extracted from aqueous phase into membrane phase. The optimum membrane contained 1.15 wt % TPP, 6.15 wt % DOB-β-CD as sensing reagent and other membrane materials. The fluorescence enhancement of the membrane resulted from the formation of a stable three-component complex among DOB-β-CD, TPP, and aliphatic amines. With the optimum conditions described, the fluorescence response of the sensor to octylamine shows a good correlation with the theoretically derived equation in the range 1.0 × 10^–6 to 8.0 × 10^–4 mol/L. The response characteristics including reversibility, response time, reproducibility and lifetime and selectivity of this optical device are also discussed in detail. This sensor has also been applied for the determination of octylamine in water samples containing interferents with satisfactory recovery.     

Investigation of the quantitative properties of the quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer with electrospray ionisation using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

This paper describes the investigation of the potential of a quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF) equipped with an atmospheric pressure ionisation interface for quantitative measurements of small molecules separated by reversed phase liquid chromatography. To this end, the detection limits and linear dynamic range in particular were studied in an LC/MS/MS experiment using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine standards and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine for internal standardisation. In a second phase, the experiment was repeated with real biological extracts (whole blood, serum, and vitreous humour). A calibration for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine was prepared in each of these matrices again using 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine as internal standard. The resulting quantitative data were compared with those obtained by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for the same extracts. The Q-TOF results revealed excellent sensitivity and a linear dynamic range of nearly four decades (2-10 000 pg on-column, r(2) = 0.9998, 1/x weighting). Furthermore, all the calibration curves prepared in biological material were superimposable, LC/MS/MS and LC-fluorescence, and the quantitative results for actual samples compared very favourably. It was concluded that the Q-TOF achieves a linear dynamic range for quantitative LC/MS/MS work exceeding that of fluorescence detection and at much better absolute sensitivity. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.