Sonochemical synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of Bi2−x Sb x WO6 nanorods

We report an efficient route for the sonochemical synthesis of Bi_2?x Sb _x WO₆ (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 2) nanorods using bismuth nitrate/antimony chloride and sodium tungstate as precursors. The products obtained have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photoactivities of all the samples for the Rhodamine-B (RhB) photodegradation were investigated systematically under UV and visible light irradiation. The results of the photocatalytic degradation of RhB in aqueous solution showed that 2–5 % antimony ion doping greatly improved the photocatalytic efficiency of sonochemically synthesized Bi₂WO₆ nanorods under both UV and visible radiation compared to its undoped counterpart. Among all the samples, the Sb₂WO₆ nanorods exhibited the highest photodegradation efficiency since 86 % of RhB could be photodegraded in 90 min under UV radiation. The stability of the photocatalysts was ascertained using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy.     

Idiopathic gingival enlargement--report of two cases

Idiopathic gingival enlargement is a rare condition of undetermined etiology, although some cases have definite hereditary basis. It affects entire gingivae in the form of small to large masses. It causes diastema, displacement and malocclusion of teeth. In severe cases it leads to poor esthetics, restricted movements of tongue, interference with speech, and difficulty in mastication.     

Sound Speeds and Excess Isentropic Compressibilities of Ternary Mixtures of Tetrahydropyran and Aromatic Hydrocarbons at 308.15 K

Speeds of sound, u _ijk , of tetrahydropyran (THP) (i) + benzene (j) + toluene or o- or p-xylene (k), and tetrahydropyran (i)+toluene (j) + o- or p-xylene (k) ternary mixtures have been measured over the entire mole fraction range at 308.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The speed-of-sound data have been used to calculate isentropic compressibilities, (k_S)_ijk{(\kappa_S)_{ijk}} , and excess isentropic compressibilities, (k_S^E)_ijk{(\kappa_S^{\rm E})_{ijk}} . The (k_S^E)_ijk{(\kappa_S^{\rm E})_{ijk}} values for the investigated mixtures are correlated with the Redlich–Kister equation to estimate ternary adjustable parameters and standard deviations. The Moelwyn–Huggins concept (Huggins, Polymer 12:357, 1971) of interaction between the surfaces of components of binary mixtures has been extended to predict excess isentropic compressibilities of ternary mixtures by employing the concept of connectivity parameters of the third degree of a molecule (which in turn depends on its topology). It has been observed that (k_S)_ijk{(\kappa_S)_{ijk}} values predicted by the Moelwyn–Huggins concept compare well with corresponding experimental values.     

Kinetics,equilibrium and thermodynamic studies on biosorption of hexavalent chromium by dead fungal biomass of marine Aspergillus niger

Quite a number of reports are available on metal binding capacity of different groups of microorganisms. However, reports on the equilibrium studies on biosorption by marine fungi are quite inadequate. The present study was carried out in a batch system using dead biomass of marine Aspergillus niger for the sorption of Cr(VI). The removal rate of Cr(VI) was increased with a decrease in pH and an increase in Cr(VI) and biomass concentration. A. niger exhibited the highest Cr(VI) uptake of 117.33 mg g^?1 of biomass at pH 1.0 in the presence of 400 mg l^?1 Cr at 50 °C. Kinetics studies based on fractional power, zero order, first order, pseudo-first order, Elovich, second order and pseudo-second order rate expressions have also been carried out. The experimental data were analyzed using five, two-parameter isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Temkin and Halsey). It was observed that Langmuir model exhibited the best fit to experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters of the biosorption (ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°) were also determined.     

Analysis of tomato and jalapeño and Serrano pepper imports into the United States from Mexico before and during a National Outbreak of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul infections in 2008

Case-control studies conducted during a multistate outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Saintpaul infections in 2008 revealed associations between illness and the consumption of jalape?o peppers, Serrano peppers, and tomatoes. Traceback investigations of implicated jalape?o and Serrano peppers led to farms in Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, Mexico. We conducted a novel analysis of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration database of tomatoes and jalape?o and Serrano peppers imported from Mexico during the first half of 2008 to describe the temporal and spatial flow of these items into the United States. Shipments of all three produce items followed a south-to-northwest corridor; 87% of peppers and 97% of tomatoes produced in Mexican states located west of the Sierra Madre Occidental were transported to ports in California and Arizona, and 90% of peppers and 100% of tomatoes produced in states east of the Sierra Madre Occidental were transported to ports east of Arizona. We found a significant correlation between state-specific infection rates and quantity of imported Mexican jalape?o and Serrano peppers to U.S. states by the first-level consignee but not for imported Mexican tomatoes. We localized production regions of interest by finding that quantities of both peppers and tomatoes imported from the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas were correlated with infection rates. In outbreaks possibly caused by agricultural commodities, analysis of import databases may foster a better understanding of growing seasons, harvest sites, shipment itineraries, and consignee destinations, thereby adding valuable insight into findings derived from epidemiologic studies.     

Phototherapy of cancer and atheromatous plaque with texaphyrins

The incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer, including both squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, is a significant health problem in the United States. Actinic keratosis (AK), the precursor of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, is a major risk factor for nonmelanoma skin cancer. In addition, AKs are tissue targets for the identification of biomarkers for use in chemopreventive studies. The biomarker addressed in this study is epidermal cell proliferation, as quantitated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Shave biopsies were obtained from AKs, tissue immediately adjacent to AKs, normal-appearing, upper-medial arm skin, and non-sun-exposed skin from 19 subjects. When any degree of PCNA staining was considered positive (semiquantitative 1-4 scale), there was a significant difference and a progressively increasing mean PCNA labeling index (LI) in the total epidermis (basal and suprabasal layers), beginning with non-sun-exposed buttock skin, with the lowest LI (2.5 + or - 1.6%), followed by upper-medial arm skin (12.3 + or - 7.4%; P = 0.0015), skin adjacent to AKs (19.2 + or - 12.2%; P = 0.0218), and finally, AKs with the highest LI (34.6 + or - 20.1%; P = 0.0017). This same pattern was observed when the epidermis was separated into basal and suprabasal layers, with the exception of a nonsignificant result for upper-medial arm skin compared with adjacent skin in the basal layer (P = 0.3981). PCNA LIs were also analyzed separately by staining intensity (i.e., scores of 1-4). The PCNA LI in skin with varying degrees of sun damage and/or histological atypia is a candidate surrogate end point biomarker for skin cancer chemoprevention studies.     

Calbindin-D28k fails to protect hippocampal neurons against ischemia in spite of its cytoplasmic calcium buffering properties: evidence from calbindin-D28k knockout mice

We report the sequences of seven new cytoplasmic intermediate filament (IF) proteins of the cephalochordate Branchiostoma. The eight sequences currently known describe four subfamilies (A, B, C and D). All eight IF proteins show the short-length version of the coil 1b subdomain found in vertebrates and lack the additional 42 residues present in all nuclear lamins and the protostomic IF proteins. Although the lancelet is considered to be the closest relative of the vertebrates, it is difficult to relate its IF subfamilies unambiguously to a particular type I-IV subfamily of vertebrates. C1 and C2 have tail domains with two 64 residue repeats of coiled coil-forming ability, a structural feature unknown for IF proteins from vertebrates or protostomia. The epidermal protein D1 shows only a slightly better identity score with vertebrate type II keratins than with type III proteins, but the D1 gene organization is that of type III proteins. The same holds for A1, A2, B1, B2 and C2 genes, although the latter has an additional and uniquely positioned intron. Antibodies (Ab) raised against recombinant C2 and D1 proteins reveal these proteins in epidermis, some internal epithelia and parts of the spinal cord. The results on exonic sequences, gene organization and expression suggest that Branchiostoma IF proteins may retain a largely archetypal condition, whereas the vertebrates have established the well-known type I-IV IF system.