A Quantitative Determination for Stain Uptake in Hematology

A rapid instrumental method and protocol is described for the photometric assay of the appearance of cytologic objects in hematology. The study of the effect of stain dilution on the appearance of cells is used to illustrate the efficacy of the method.     

Location-Aided Handover in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

The concept of being always online, regardless of the time and place, has been one of the hot topics in the commercial and scientific forums during the last years. The term itself is not solidly defined, however it is often used to refer to user's ability to get the same services via changing variety of underlying networks. In order to really work, this kind of multiaccess in heterogeneous networks still requires research, technological achievements and even compromises. The key to successfully implement the multiaccess is vertical handover that allows the application services to be seamlessly transferred between different networks.     

Peripheral mRNA Expression and Prognostic Significance of Emotional Stress Biomarkers in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Emotional stress is believed to be associated with increased tumor progression. Stress-induced epigenetic modifications can contribute to the severity of disease and poor prognosis in cancer patients. The current study aimed to investigate the expression profiles along with the prognostic significance of psychological stress-related genes in metastatic breast cancer patients, to rationalize the molecular link between emotional stress and cancer progression. We profiled the expression of selected stress-associated genes (5-HTT, NR3C1, OXTR, and FKBP5) in breast cancer including the stress evaluation of all participants using the Questionnaire on Distress in Cancer Patients–short form (QSC-R10). A survival database, the Kaplan–Meier Plotter, was used to explore the prognostic significance of these genes in breast cancer. Our results showed relatively low expressions of 5-HTT (p = 0.02) and OXTR (p = 0.0387) in metastatic breast cancer patients as compared to the non-metastatic group of patients. The expression of NR3C1 was low in tumor grade III as compared to grade II (p = 0.04). Additionally, the expression of NR3C1 was significantly higher in patients with positive estrogen receptor status. However, no significant difference was found regarding FKBP5 expression in breast cancer. The results suggest a potential implication of these genes in breast cancer pathology and prognosis.     

Pharmacophore Synergism in Diverse Scaffold Clinches in Aurora Kinase B

Aurora kinase B (AKB) is a crucial signaling kinase with an important role in cell division. Therefore, inhibition of AKB is an attractive approach to the treatment of cancer. In the present work, extensive quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) analysis has been performed using a set of 561 structurally diverse aurora kinase B inhibitors. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines were used to develop a QSAR model that has high statistical performance (R²_tr = 0.815, Q²_LMO = 0.808, R²_ex = 0.814, CCC_ex = 0.899). The seven-variable-based newly developed QSAR model has an excellent balance of external predictive ability (Predictive QSAR) and mechanistic interpretation (Mechanistic QSAR). The QSAR analysis successfully identifies not only the visible pharmacophoric features but also the hidden features. The analysis indicates that the lipophilic and polar groups—especially the H-bond capable groups—must be present at a specific distance from each other. Moreover, the ring nitrogen and ring carbon atoms play important roles in determining the inhibitory activity for AKB. The analysis effectively captures reported as well as unreported pharmacophoric features. The results of the present analysis are also supported by the reported crystal structures of inhibitors bound to AKB.     

Potassium nitrution and nitrogen fixation by nodulated legumes

Seeds ofPisum arvense L.w. Weitor were grown in nitrogen-free nutrient solution for one week and then in the same medium but at a different potassium concentrations (0.0, 0.1 and 10mM) for one month. At the end of the experiment the plants were dried and analysed for total nitrogen, organic carbon, and nutrients (Ca, Mg, Na, K, and P). The number of nodules were counted, and their spatial distribution was studied. The nutrient solution was changed twice a week and analysed for total exuded nitrogen.No positive correlation was found between the total number of nodules and the total nitrogen fixed although nitrogen fixed per one hundred nodules was higher in potassiumrich than in potassium-limited conditions.Plants accumulated higher magnesium concentrations in potassium-limited than in potassium-rich conditions. Roots were relatively more rich in nitrogen (dry weight basis) in potassium-rich conditions. At low supply of potassium a significant amount of the nitrogen fixed was exuded.Increasing the potassium supply increased the total dry weight and total nitrogen fixed by plants but decreased the efficiency of energy (nitrogen fixed per dry weight of green leaves) and potassium utilization for both dry weight production and nitrogen fixation (potassium accumulated per dry weight produced or nitrogen fixed).     

A comparative performance study of CFC502, HCFC22 and HFC125

In the paper, the performance of HFC125 as an alternative to CFC502 and R22 is assessed under different operating conditions. Cycle characteristics, such as the thermal capacity, coefficient of performance, pressure ratio, system pressures, temperatures, and compressor power are also discussed. Results obtained after extensive detailed experimental work indicate that the performance is degraded on using HFC125, relative to that obtained with HCFC22.     

Measurements of the suitability of large rock salt formations for radio detection of high-energy neutrinos

We have investigated the possibility that large rock salt formations might be suitable as target masses for detection of neutrinos of energies about 10 PeV and above. In neutrino interactions at these energies, the secondary electromagnetic cascade produces a coherent radio pulse well above ambient thermal noise via the Askaryan effect. We describe measurements of radio-frequency attenuation lengths and ambient thermal noise in two salt formations. Measurements in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, located in an evaporite salt bed in Carlsbad, NM yielded short attenuation lengths, 3–7 m over 150–300 MHz. However, measurements at United Salt's Hockley mine, located in a salt dome near Houston, Texas yielded attenuation lengths in excess of 250 m at similar frequencies. We have also analyzed early ground-penetrating radar data at Hockley mine and have found additional evidence for attenuation lengths in excess of several hundred meters at 440 MHz. We conclude that salt domes, which may individually contain several hundred cubic kilometer water-equivalent mass, provide attractive sites for next-generation high-energy neutrino detectors.     

Inherent ductility in amorphous Ta2O5 films

Thin films (30 to 80 nm) of refractory tantalum metal were successfully sputter-deposited on uniformly deformable fluoropolymer and polyimide substrates in stress free form. These films were later anodized into amorphous Ta₂O₅ which is a non-porous (barriertype) oxide with excellent corrosion resistant properties. X-ray photo-emission spectroscopy studies were carried out on tantalum and Ta₂O₅ to determine the chemical composition and oxidation states of elements. Thin tantalum and Ta₂O₅ films on fluoropolymer substrates contained fluorine as an impurity while similar films on polyimide substrate contained no fluorine and, in general, fewer impurities. Both thin tantalum films and the corresponding anodic oxides, when deformed in tension to 10% strain, exhibited the expected ductile behaviour of metals where slip bands were observed in the electron microscope. In some cases, minor cracks were observed in the deformed anodic films due to suspected local detachment of the film from the substrate.     

Preparation and Evaluation of Directly-Compressed Indomethacin, Indomethacin Sodium and Indomethacin Meglumine Tablets

A formula containing Compactrol, Ac-Di-Sol, Aerosil 200 and talc was used to prepare directly-compressed tablets of indomethacin and its sodium and meglumine salts. The prepared tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight and thickness, hardness, friability and content uniformity. Each batch was then divided into two, one was coated with an opaque non-enteric film coat and evaluated for coat thickness uniformity. The dissolution rates of the uncoated and coated tablets and the effect of shelf-storage, at room temperature for 11 months, on drug contents were also studied. Indomethacin meglumine tablets showed the least relative standard deviation of weight and thickness. They exhibited acceptable uniformity of content and coat thickness, and the highest hardness-friability ratio. Also exhibited, uncoated and coated, the best in-vitro release of its drug contents and the maximal stability.