N ‐acetylcysteine–PLGA nano‐conjugate: effects on cellular toxicity and uptake of gadopentate dimeglumine

Gadolinium as a contrast agent in MRI technique combined with DTPA causes contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) which can reduce by usage of antioxidants such as N‐acetyl cysteine by increasing the membrane''s permeability leads to lower cytotoxicity. In this study, N ‐acetyl cysteine‐PLGA Nano‐conjugate was synthesized according to stoichiometric rules of molar ratios andafter assessment by FTIR, NMR spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging was combined with Magnevist® (gadopentetate dimeglumine) and its effects on the renal cells were evaluated. MTT [3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide] and cellular uptake assays have indicated relatively significant toxicity of magnevist (P  < 0.05) on three cell lines including HEK293, MCF7 and L929 compared to other synthesized ligands that shown no toxicity. Moreover, systemic evaluation has shown no notable changes of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in kidney of mice. In consequence, antioxidant effect was increased as well as the renal toxicity of the contrast agent reduced at the cell level. As a result, PLGA‐NAC nano‐conjugate can be a promising choice for decreasing the magnevist toxicity for treatment and prevention of CIN and will be able to open a new horizon to research on reduction of toxicity of contrast agents by using nanoparticles.Inspec keywords: blood, toxicology, nanofabrication, cellular biophysics, biomedical materials, nanoparticles, chromatography, cancer, biodegradable materials, biomedical MRI, kidney, pH, nanomedicine, patient treatment, diseases, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectraOther keywords: cellular toxicity, gadopentate dimeglumine, contrast agent, magnetic resonance imaging technique, diethylenetriamine pentaacetate, contrast‐induced nephropathy, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, stoichiometric rules, molar ratios, dimethyl sulphoxide solution, chromatography techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy imaging, Magnevist®, gadopentetate dimeglumine, renal cells, MTT cytotoxicity, human embryonic kidney‐293, L929 cell lines, in vitro conditions, cellular uptake assays, Magnevist uptake, antioxidant effect, renal toxicity, cell level, PLGA nanocarrier, acetylcysteine nanoconjugate, Magnevist toxicity, N‐acetylcysteine–PLGA nano‐conjugate, N‐acetyl cysteine‐poly‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid nanoconjugate     

Synthesis,characterization, thermal and optical properties of soluble polyimides derived from an unsymmetrical diamine

A new unsymmetrical diamine monomer, 2,4‐diaminophenyl [4′‐(2′′,6′′‐diphenyl‐4′′‐pyridyl)phenyl]ether, was successfully synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene with 4‐(2′,6′‐diphenyl‐4′‐pyridyl) phenol. The diamine monomer was characterized by FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and elemental analysis techniques and used for the preparation of novel polyimides (PIs) by reaction with commercially available tetracarboxylic dianhydrides such as pyromellitic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, and bicyclo[2.2.2]‐oct‐7‐ene‐2,3,5,6‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride. These PIs with inherent viscosities ranged from 0.43 to 0.48 dL/g were readily soluble in many organic solvents and afforded tough and flexible films by solution casting. These polymers exhibited T_gs between 237 and 294°C, and 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 500°C with up to 56% char yield at 600°C in air. Their maximum fluorescence emission in dilute (0.2 g/dL) NMP solution appeared at 450 nm. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Wind-tunnel investigation of icing of an inclined cylinder

The effects of varying the angle of wind velocity and axis of a cylindrical icing object around all of the three mutually perpendicular axes are studied experimentally. The mass, shape and profile of ice accretion obtained in a horizontal icing wind tunnel are investigated as functions of cylinder inclination. The icing object is exposed to two types of aerosol cloud, which are created by different procedures: (i) injecting small droplets horizontally into cold air flow, (ii) injecting vertically falling large droplets into cold air flow; so that the resulting conditions simulate in-cloud icing and freezing rain, respectively. Observations reveal the effects of varying each angle on the mass, shape and profile of ice accreted under both conditions.     

Dielectric spectroscopy techniques as quality control tool: a feasibility study - [feature article]

In this article, the feasibility of using time- and frequency-domain dielectric spectroscopy measurements to monitor the condition of oil-impregnated paper (OIP) condenser bushings is discussed.     

Synthesis,characterization and immobilization of iron (III) pyridoxinato complex within Al-MCM-41 as catalyst for cycloalkanes oxidation

Biomimetic [Fe(pyridoxinato)₂OH·(H₂O)₃] non-hem complex designated as [Fe(L)₂OH·(H₂O)₃] was synthesized with basic solution of pyridoxine (Vitamin B₆) and FeCl₃ in methanol under reflux condition. It was then immobilized within the Al-MCM-41. Characterizations were carried out by powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption desorption, FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. It was found that pore volume, surface area, and pore diameter of Al-MCM-41 decreases after immobilization of iron complex. Density functional theory studies confirmed the experimental results of [Fe(L)₂OH·(H₂O)₃] complex. Fe-complex/Al-MCM-41 was found to successfully catalyze the oxidation of cyclohexane, cyclooctane and adamantane using H₂O₂ as oxidant with 45–90 % conversion toward the corresponding alcohols and ketones is considerable.     

Quantum chemical studies on molecular conformations,energetic and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in ground and electronic excited state of (thioxosilyl) ethyleneselenol

In this work, a conformational analysis of (thioxosilyl) ethyleneselenol was performed using several computational methods, including density-functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP), MP2 and G2MP2. Harmonic vibrational frequencies were estimated at the same levels to confirm the nature of the stationary points found and also to account for the zero point vibrational energy correction. MES-1 and TES-1 conformers exhibit hydrogen bonding. This feature, although is not the dominant factor in the stability of conformers, appears to be of foremost importance to define the geometry of the molecule. Two intramolecular hydrogen bonds established between the polar groups were identified by the structural geometric parameters. These involved the thiol and selenol functional groups and were identified and characterized by the frequency shift in their stretching vibration modes. Furthermore, the excited-state properties of intramolecular hydrogen bonding have been investigated theoretically using the time-dependent DFT method. The influence of the solvent on the stability order of conformers and the strength of intramolecular hydrogen bonding was considered using the PCM (polarizable continuum model), SCI-PCM (self consistent isodensity-polarizable continuum model) and IEF-PCM (integral equation formalism-polarizable continuum model) methods. The “atoms in molecules” theory of Bader was used to analyze critical points and to study the nature of hydrogen bond in these systems. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was also performed for better understanding the nature of intramolecular interactions. The calculated highest occupiedmolecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies show that charge transfer occur within the molecule. Further verification of the obtained transition state structures was implemented via intrinsic reaction coordinate analysis. Calculations of the ¹H NMR chemical shift at the GIAO/B3LYP/6–311++G** level of theory are also presented.     

Toward an understanding of the impact of production pressure on safety performance in construction operations

It is not unusual to observe that actual schedule and quality performances are different from planned performances (e.g., schedule delay and rework) during a construction project. Such differences often result in production pressure (e.g., being pressed to work faster). Previous studies demonstrated that such production pressure negatively affects safety performance. However, the process by which production pressure influences safety performance, and to what extent, has not been fully investigated. As a result, the impact of production pressure has not been incorporated much into safety management in practice. In an effort to address this issue, this paper examines how production pressure relates to safety performance over time by identifying their feedback processes. A conceptual causal loop diagram is created to identify the relationship between schedule and quality performances (e.g., schedule delays and rework) and the components related to a safety program (e.g., workers’ perceptions of safety, safety training, safety supervision, and crew size). A case study is then experimentally undertaken to investigate this relationship with accident occurrence with the use of data collected from a construction site; the case study is used to build a System Dynamics (SD) model. The SD model, then, is validated through inequality statistics analysis. Sensitivity analysis and statistical screening techniques further permit an evaluation of the impact of the managerial components on accident occurrence. The results of the case study indicate that schedule delays and rework are the critical factors affecting accident occurrence for the monitored project.     

A Comprehensive Experimental Study on Finishing Aluminum Tube by Proposed UAMAF Process

In this paper, a new noncontact ultrasonic magnetic abrasive finishing mechanism is presented. An ultrasonic vibration producer is used to vibrate the permanent magnets. The ferromagnetic steel grits in the created magnetic field form a flexible finishing tool. To take advantage of cavitation collapse pressure, the finishing zone components are immersed in water. The present work also studies the effect of parameters, i.e., time duration for finishing and working gap between magnetic poles and the workpiece on the surface roughness (Ra). The microscopic pictures and the roughness profile diagrams demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method.     

Improving the quality of surface in polishing process with the magnetic abrasive powder polishing (MAPP) by use of ultrasonic oscillation of work-piece on a CNC table

In this research work, polishing inside, outside and over the cylindrical parts has been done by using a completely new and innovative method. The work-pieces have been placed on a two-axis Cartesian CNC Table for polishing operations. The Magnetic Rotary Head continuously changes its rotation direction from CW to CCW and CCW to CW and meanwhile the part begin to oscillate up-and-down under a High Frequency (20 kHz) conditions. The Frequency of changing direction From CW to CCW and CCW to CW is one of the important parameters in this method. This method is a kind of Ultrasonic Assisted Polishing (UAP) and novelty of this research work is combining this method with motion of work piece under CNC trajectory with continuously changing direction of Magnetic Rotary Head. Gap between Rotary Magnetic Polishing Head and the Work piece Surface can be controlled by a power transmission screw which operates in the direction of the vertical axis. Several experiments have proved high performance of this new proposed method in the process of polishing in short times.