SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HPMC/HAp/Fe3O4 COMPOSITE FOR HYPERTHERMIA APPLICATION

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HPMC/HAp/Fe3O4 COMPOSITE FOR HYPERTHERMIA APPLICATION. Magnetic material become subject of intense research for hyperthermia application, and injectable magnetic hyperthermia for bone cancer is one of this research interest. In this study, composite of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and Fe3O4 in Hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose (HPMC) matrix (HPMC/HAp/Fe3O4) has been synthesized in gel form that are expected can be applied for injectable bone substitute (IBS) in hyperthermia therapy. Composites were made using conventional methods by mixing HAp powder with ferrofluid Fe3O4 in HPMC solution. The composition of the composites were varied with the mass comparison of HPMC: HAp: Fe3O4 was 1: 0: 0; 1: 3: 0; 1: 2: 0.5; 1: 1: 0.25; and 1: 0: 3. The physical, chemical, and magnetic properties of the composites were characterized using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The XRD characterization results of the HPMC/HAp/Fe3O4 composite showed the crystalline phase of the constituent components. Saturation magnetization of the HPMC/HAp/Fe3O4 composite was 2.72 emu/g and 1.79 emu/g for the composition of 1: 2: 0.5 and 1:1:0.25 respectively. HPMC/HAp/Fe3O4 composite has superparamagnetic and biocompatible properties, so that can be applied as IBS in hyperthermia therapy for bone cancer.

Quantifying childhood fat mass: comparison of a novel height-and-weight-based prediction approach with DXA and bioelectrical impedance

Accurate assessment of childhood adiposity is important both for individuals and populations. We compared fat mass (FM) predictions from a novel prediction model based on height, weight and demographic factors (height–weight equation) with FM from bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), using the deuterium dilution method as a reference standard. FM data from all four methods were available for 174 ALSPAC Study participants, seen 2002–2003, aged 11–12-years. FM predictions from the three approaches were compared to the reference standard using; R2, calibration (slope and intercept) and root mean square error (RMSE). R2 values were high from ‘height–weight equation’ (90%) but lower than from DXA (95%) and BIA (91%). Whilst calibration intercepts from all three approaches were close to the ideal of 0, the calibration slope from the ‘height–weight equation’ (slope = 1.02) was closer to the ideal of 1 than DXA (slope = 0.88) and BIA (slope = 0.87) assessments. The ‘height–weight equation’ provided more accurate individual predictions with a smaller RMSE value (2.6 kg) than BIA (3.1 kg) or DXA (3.4 kg). Predictions from the ‘height–weight equation’ were at least as accurate as DXA and BIA and were based on simpler measurements and open-source equation, emphasising its potential for both individual and population-level FM assessments.

Hydroglycerolic Solvent and Ultrasonication Pretreatment: A Green Blend for High-Efficiency Extraction of Salvia fruticosa Polyphenols

Salvia fruticosa Miller, also known as Cretan or Greek sage, is a medicinal plant with significant biological properties, which are largely ascribed to its polyphenolic composition, but there is to-date a scarcity of green and sustainable processes for efficient polyphenol extraction from this plant. The objective of this study was the implementation of an extraction process that would combine a green solvent based on glycerol, a biodiesel industry by-product, and ultrasonication pretreatment. Ultrasonication for 40 min followed by stirred-tank extraction was shown to provide significantly higher total polyphenol yield than mere stirred-tank extraction, while kinetics indicated 50 °C as the most favorable temperature, with the yield being 92 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per g dry mass. Comparison of this method with a previously developed one that used methyl β-cyclodextrin revealed that the extracts obtained had similar antioxidant activity, and yield in major polyphenols including luteolin 7-O-glucuronide and rosmarinic acid was virtually equal. The current process is proposed as a sustainable and effective methodology for the generation of polyphenol-enriched extracts from S. fruticosa, which could be used as effective food antioxidants/antimicrobials and/or cosmetic constituents.

How research on language evolution contributes to linguistics

Since its inception in the second part of the 20th century, the science of language evolution has been exerting a growing and formative pressure on linguistics. More obviously, given its interdisciplinary character, the science of language evolution provides a platform on which linguists can meet and discuss a variety of problems pertaining to the nature of language and ways of investigating it with representatives of other disciplines and research traditions. It was largely in this way that the attention of linguists was attracted to the study of emerging sign languages and gestures, as well as to the resultant reflection on the way different modalities impact communicative systems that use them. But linguistics also benefits from the findings made by language evolution researchers in the context of their own research questions and methodologies. The most important of these findings come out of the experimental research on bootstrapping communication systems and the evolution of communicative structure, and from mass comparison studies that correlate linguists data with a wide range of environmental variables.

Sex and Genetic Factors Involved in Alterations of Behavior and Trace Element Neurobiology Due to Diet-Induced Obesity (P14-029-19)

Objectives Obesity has been linked to cognitive deficits, behavior issues, and neurodegenerative processes with trace element dysregulation as a potential trigger for their development. Sex and genetics are important factors to consider when evaluating the effects of diet-induced obesity (DIO) on neurophysiology and behavior changes. The objective of this study was to investigate sex and genetic differences on the disturbance of trace element brain biology and behavior due to DIO in male and female C57BL/6J (C57) and DBA/2J (DBA) mice. We hypothesize that alterations due to DIO will be more evident in males than females, and the DBA strain will show more resistance to DIO effects compared to the C57 strain. Methods Male and female C57 (n = 36) and DBA (n = 36) mice at 21 days old were randomly assigned a control fat diet (CFD) with 10% kcal fat/g or mineral-matched high fat diet (HFD) with 60% kcal fat/g for 16 weeks. Behavior tests for anxiety, cognition, and memory included open field (OF), novel object recognition (NOR), and nestlet shredding (NS). Trace elements iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy in five brain regions. Statistical analysis was conducted using factorial ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA. Results After 16 weeks, both strains fed the HFD were confirmed obese by body mass comparison (P < 0.001). A statistically significant interaction between diet and sex was observed for C57 mice in the OF evaluation of center time (P = 0.019), with obese females exhibiting more anxiety. Differences in NS due to DIO were found in male C57 mice only (P = 0.008). NOR performance was similar for all mice. There was a statistically significant diet by sex interaction for Fe in the striatum (P = 0.032) with opposite trends by sex. Diet by strain interactions were observed for Cu in the cortex and hippocampus, and for Mn in the thalamus. Conclusions Male and female mice exhibit different behavior patterns and trace element distribution in the brain due to DIO, with more pronounced effects in the C57 strain compared to the DBA strain. Based on these findings, sex and genetics are important influences to consider when studying the consequences of obesity. Funding Sources UNCG Health and Human Sciences Research Grant and Faculty First Award.

Mammographic Evaluation of Breast Mass & Comparison with Histopathological Findings

Background: Mammography is used for the detection of breast cancer.Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Mammography in the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast mass.Methodology: This cross-sectional type of study was carried out in the Radiology & Imaging department of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, during July 2013 to June 2015. Patients clinically suspected as having breast mass, referred in the above mentioned hospitals and enrolled for surgical management were included in this study. Mammography were done in all these patients and they were followed up from the admission up to the post-operative tissue diagnosis of breast mass in respective pathology departments for histopathological correlation.Results: A total of 41 patients had mass among them, 3(7.3%) cases were malignant and 38(92.7%) cases were benign patients. Histopathological diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma and medullary carcinoma were 8(14. %), 4(7.00%) and 1(1.8%) respectively. Mammography malignant was found 14 cases out of which 10(76.9%) malignant and 4(9.1%) benign evaluated by histopathology. Mammography benign was found 43 cases out of which 3(23.1%) malignant and 40(90.9%) benign evaluated by histopathology. The sensitivity was 76.9%, specificity 90.9%, accuracy 87.7%, positive predictive values 71.4% and negative predictive values 93.0% in mammography.Conclusion: Mammography is highly sensitive, specific, reliable and useful method in the differentiation of malignant and benign breast masses.Journal of Current and Advance Medical Research 2017;4(2):53-57

Usage history of three mass comparators in the past 20 years

<p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-US">S</span><span lang="EN-US">ince March 1996</span><span lang="EN-US">, t</span><span lang="EN-US">hree mass comparators have been used for mass calibrations of class E₁ and E₂ weights ranging from 10 g to 10 kg at National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ). These mass comparators are </span><span lang="EN-US">each </span><span lang="EN-US">equipped with </span><span lang="EN-US">four</span><span lang="EN-US">-position weight exchangers and carry out fully-automated mass comparison with relative sensitivit</span><span lang="EN-US">ies</span><span lang="EN-US"> from 10^-9 to 10^-7. The mass comparisons among </span><span lang="EN-US">four</span><span lang="EN-US"> weights, including repeated measurements</span><span lang="EN-US">,</span><span lang="EN-US"> take </span><span lang="EN-US">a</span><span lang="EN-US"> measuring time of 8 h or longer, so a series of mass comparisons </span><span lang="EN-US">can</span><span lang="EN-US"> be made only once a day. </span><span lang="EN-US">Over about 20 years</span><span lang="EN-US">, at least 1</span><span lang="EN-US">7</span><span lang="EN-US">00 </span><span lang="EN-US">mass comparison </span><span lang="EN-US">series for each of the three mass comparators and more than 5</span><span lang="EN-US">7</span><span lang="EN-US">00 series in total</span><span lang="EN-US"> have</span><span lang="EN-US">been</span><span lang="EN-US"> performed. This paper describes the usage history of the mass comparators during the period from 1996 to 201</span><span lang="EN-US">6, along with some measures taken to maintain and improve</span><span lang="EN-US">their </span><span lang="EN-US">reliabilit</span><span lang="EN-US">y</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span></p>