Valence-induced effects on the electrical properties of NiMn2O4 ceramics with different Ni sources

Spinel-structured NiMn₂O₄ ceramics, with different valence Ni sources, were originally prepared using Ni₂O₃ and NiO as raw materials, and the effects of different valence Ni sources on their electrical properties were first investigated. XRD patterns show that both Ni₂O₃-based and NiO-based NiMn₂O₄ ceramics are single cubic spinel structures. SEM/EDS images indicate that the NiMn₂O₄ ceramics exhibited high density at the experiment-determined sintering temperatures. XPS results and Raman drifts prove that the Ni valence-induced changes in Mn ions at B sites played a significant role in the electrical properties and thermal stability of NiMn₂O₄ ceramics. Compared with NiO-based NiMn₂O₄, the resistivity at 25°C (ρ_25°C) of Ni₂O₃-based NiMn₂O₄ increased dramatically from 3109 to 106958 Ω cm, the thermal constant (B_25/50) increased from 3264 to 4473 K, and the resistance shifts after annealing for 1000 h at 150°C decreased from 0.80% to 0.74%. The investigation of the relationship between the material properties and valence of Ni sources has provided a new and effective way for designing the spinel-structured negative temperature coefficient (NTC) materials by modulating the valence of ions at A sites in the raw materials.     

Determination of Fexofenadine in Tablets by Capillary Electrophoresis in Free Solution and in Solution with Cyclodextrins as Analyte Carriers

ABSTRACT

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods for the determination of fexofenadine (FEX) in commercial pharmaceuticals were developed. It was demonstrated that FEX could be effectively analyzed in free solution cationic CE at low pH. Another analytical approach studied was based on cyclodextrin (CD) modified CE where highly charged CD derivatives served as analyte carriers. In this way, the separation range was spread to physiological pH region and a CE analysis of FEX, present actually in its zwitterionic form, could be accomplished. Several parameters affecting the separations were studied, including the type and concentration of carrier ion, counterion, analyte carrier, and pH of the buffer. The methods based on the free solution CE and CD-modified CE were compared each other, validated, and applied for the determination of FEX in tablets.     

A Quinacrine Analogue Selective Against Gastric Cancer Cells: Insight from Biochemical and Biophysical Studies

One of the earliest synthetic antimalarial drugs, quinacrine, was recently reported as interesting for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Inspired by this and similar findings, we evaluated a set of quinacrine analogues against gastric (MKN‐28), colon (Caco‐2), and breast (MFC‐7) cancer cell lines and one normal human fibroblast cell line (HFF‐1). All the compounds, previously developed by us as dual‐stage antimalarial leads, displayed antiproliferative activity, and one of the set stood out as selective toward the gastric cancer cell line, MKN‐28. Interestingly, this compound was transported across an in vitro MKN‐28 model cell line in low amounts, and approximately 80 % was trapped inside those cells. Nuclear targeting of the same compound and its interactions with calf thymus DNA were assessed through combined fluorescence microscopy, spectroscopy, and calorimetry studies, which provided evidence for the compound's ability to reach the nucleus and to interact with DNA.     

A review of “BOOK REVIEW - DRYING OF SOLIDS” Editor A.S. Mujumdar Published by Sarita Prakashan 175 Nauchandi Ground Meerut City,U.P., India

An industrial-scale prototype of spouted bed dryer with a capacity of around 3500 kg/h was constructed and tested. The prototype is shown to have a desirable feature of a spouted bed as well as the capability of continuous drying and offering consistent results throughout the testing period. Experimental results show that the prototype performs well in reducing the moisture content of the paddy and yields high product quality in terms of the milling quality. The high temperatures up to 130–160°C were applied to dry paddy from various initial moisture contents to the range of 14–25%, dry basis without significant change in quality. Thermal energy consumption, in the range of 3.1–3.8 MJ/kg water, is comparable with other commercial dryers.     

MatLab program for precision calibration of optical tweezers

Optical tweezers are used as force transducers in many types of experiments. The force they exert in a given experiment is known only after a calibration. Computer codes that calibrate optical tweezers with high precision and reliability in the (x,y)-plane orthogonal to the laser beam axis were written in MatLab (MathWorks Inc.) and are presented here. The calibration is based on the power spectrum of the Brownian motion of a dielectric bead trapped in the tweezers. Precision is achieved by accounting for a number of factors that affect this power spectrum. First, cross-talk between channels in 2D position measurements is tested for, and eliminated if detected. Then, the Lorentzian power spectrum that results from the Einstein-Ornstein-Uhlenbeck theory, is fitted to the low-frequency part of the experimental spectrum in order to obtain an initial guess for parameters to be fitted. Finally, a more complete theory is fitted, a theory that optionally accounts for the frequency dependence of the hydrodynamic drag force and hydrodynamic interaction with a nearby cover slip, for effects of finite sampling frequency (aliasing), for effects of anti-aliasing filters in the data acquisition electronics, and for unintended “virtual” filtering caused by the position detection system. Each of these effects can be left out or included as the user prefers, with user-defined parameters. Several tests are applied to the experimental data during calibration to ensure that the data comply with the theory used for their interpretation: Independence of x- and y-coordinates, Hooke's law, exponential distribution of power spectral values, uncorrelated Gaussian scatter of residual values. Results are given with statistical errors and covariance matrix.

Program summary

Title of program: tweezercalibCatalogue identifier: ADTVProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland.Program Summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADTVComputer for which the program is designed and others on which it has been tested: General computer running MatLab (MathWorks Inc.).Programming language used: MatLab (MathWorks Inc.). Uses “Optimization Toolbox” and “Statistics Toolbox”.Memory required to execute with typical data: Of order 4 times the size of the data file.High speed storage required: NoneNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 133 183No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1 043 674Distribution format: tar gzip fileNature of physical problem: Calibrate optical tweezers with precision by fitting theory to experimental power spectrum of position of bead doing Brownian motion in incompressible fluid, possibly near microscope cover slip, while trapped in optical tweezers. Thereby determine spring constant of optical trap and conversion factor for arbitrary-units-to-nanometers for detection system.Method of solution: Elimination of cross-talk between quadrant photo-diode's output channels for positions (optional). Check that distribution of recorded positions agrees with Boltzmann distribution of bead in harmonic trap. Data compression and noise reduction by blocking method applied to power spectrum. Full accounting for hydrodynamic effects: Frequency-dependent drag force and interaction with nearby cover slip (optional). Full accounting for electronic filters (optional), for “virtual filtering” caused by detection system (optional). Full accounting for aliasing caused by finite sampling rate (optional). Standard non-linear least-squares fitting. Statistical support for fit is given, with several plots suitable for inspection of consistency and quality of data and fit.Restrictions on the complexity of the problem: Data should be positions of bead doing Brownian motion while held by optical tweezers. For high precision in final results, data should be time series measured over a long time, with sufficiently high experimental sampling rate: The sampling rate should be well above the characteristic frequency of the trap, the so-called corner frequency. Thus, the sampling frequency should typically be larger than 10 kHz. The Fast Fourier Transform applied requires the time series to contain 2ⁿ data points, and long measurement time is obtained with n>12-15. Finally, the optics should be set to ensure a harmonic trapping potential in the range of positions visited by the bead. The fitting procedure checks for harmonic potential.Typical running time: (Tens of) minutesUnusual features of the program: NoneReferences: The theoretical underpinnings for the procedure are found in [K. Berg-Sørensen, H. Flyvbjerg, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75 (3) (2004) 594].     

Schimmelpilze in Lebensmitteln der Tschechoslowakei

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Mykoflora von 13 527 g sensorisch unveränderten Lebensmitteln (Pulver) und von 22017 verschiedetien Proben sensorisch unveränderter, an der Oberfläche sterilisierter Körner und Nüsse untersucht.Aus den Proben wurden 147 027 Kolonien von 44 Schimmelpilzgattungen isoliert und identifiziert.Am häufigsten waren Kolonien vonPenicillium sp.,Aspergillus sp. undCladosporium sp. vertreten, weniger oft oder ganz seltenRhizopus sp.,Mucor sp.,Absidia sp.,Alternaria sp.,Circinella sp.,Trichoderma sp.,Botrytis sp.,Paecilomyces sp.,Geotrichum sp.,Syncephalastrum sp.,Scopulariopsis sp.,Phoma sp.,Aureobasidium sp.,Fusarium sp.,Thamnidium sp.,Cunninghamella sp.,Stemphylium sp.,Torula sp.,Trichothecium sp.,Verticillium sp.,Cephalosporium sp.,Mortierella sp.,Neurospora sp.,Ostracoderma sp.,Arthrinium sp.,Monodyctis sp.,Papularia sp.,Acremonium sp.,Chaetomium sp.,Chrysosporium sp.,Beauveria sp.,Cephaliophora sp.,Dactylosporium sp.,Drechslera sp.,Gliomastix sp.,Helminthosporium sp.,Humicola sp.,Monilia sp.,Sepedonium sp.,Ulocladium sp. andWallemia sp.

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Molds in foods of the Czechoslovak Socialistic Republik

Summary The mycoflora of 13.527 g of food powders which were normal upon sensory evaluation as well of 22.017 pieces of surface sterilized grains and nuts was examined in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. 147.027 colonies of 44 genera of molds were isolated and identified from samples.Colonies ofPenicillium sp.,Aspergillus sp., andCladosporium sp. occured most often, less often or quite infrequentlyRhizopus sp.,Mucor sp.,Absidia sp.,Alternaria sp.,Circinella sp.,Trichoderma sp.,Botrytis sp.,Paecilomyces sp.,Geotrichum sp.,Syncephalastrum sp.,Scopulariopsis sp.,Phoma sp.,Aureobasidium sp.,Fusarium sp.,Thamnidium sp.,Cunninghamella sp.,Stemphylium sp.,Torula sp.,Trichothecium sp.,Verticillium sp.,Cephalosporium sp.,Mortierella sp.,Neurospora sp.,Ostracoderma sp.,Arthrinium sp.,Monodyctis sp.,Papularia sp.,Acremonium sp.,Chaetomium sp.,Chrysosporium sp.,Beauveria sp.,Cephaliophora sp.,Dactylosporium sp.,Drechslera sp.,Gliomastix sp.,Helminthosporium sp.,Humicola sp.,Moniliasp.,Sepedonium sp.,Ulocladium sp., andWallemia sp.

     

A Novel Insight into the Cardiotoxicity of Antineoplastic Drug Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin is a commonly used antineoplastic agent in the treatment of many types of cancer. Little is known about the interactions of doxorubicin with cardiac biomolecules. Serious cardiotoxicity including dilated cardiomyopathy often resulting in a fatal congestive heart failure may occur as a consequence of chemotherapy with doxorubicin. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of exposure to doxorubicin on the changes in major amino acids in tissue of cardiac muscle (proline, taurine, glutamic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, leucine, glycine, valine, alanine, isoleucine, threonine, lysine and serine). An in vitro interaction study was performed as a comparison of amino acid profiles in heart tissue before and after application of doxorubicin. We found that doxorubicin directly influences myocardial amino acid representation even at low concentrations. In addition, we performed an interaction study that resulted in the determination of breaking points for each of analyzed amino acids. Lysine, arginine, β-alanine, valine and serine were determined as the most sensitive amino acids. Additionally we compared amino acid profiles of myocardium before and after exposure to doxorubicin. The amount of amino acids after interaction with doxorubicin was significantly reduced (p = 0.05). This fact points at an ability of doxorubicin to induce changes in quantitative composition of amino acids in myocardium. Moreover, this confirms that the interactions between doxorubicin and amino acids may act as another factor most likely responsible for adverse effects of doxorubicin on myocardium.     

Apoferritin Modified Magnetic Particles as Doxorubicin Carriers for Anticancer Drug Delivery

Magnetic particle mediated transport in combination with nanomaterial based drug carrier has a great potential for targeted cancer therapy. In this study, doxorubicin encapsulation into the apoferritin and its conjugation with magnetic particles was investigated by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF). The quantification of encapsulated doxorubicin was performed by fluorescence spectroscopy and compared to CE-LIF. Moreover, the significant enhancement of the doxorubicin signal was observed by addition of methanol into the sample solution.