Spray pyrolysis-derived robust ferroelectric BiFeO3 thin films.

Scalable and low-cost synthesis of high-quality ferroic films is critical for the development of advanced electronic devices and sensors. Here, we employ solution-based spray pyrolysis to fabricate bismuth ferrite thin films on glass substrates and explore the impact of annealing conditions to attain functional thin films of superior quality and switchable polarization. Optimised thin films display polycrystalline nanostructured grains with the highest X-ray diffraction intensity along the (110) orientation and a mixed Fe2+/3+ valence suggesting the presence of oxygen vacancies. The optimized films show a complex ferroelectric domain microstructure and exhibit robust nanoscale polarization switching in the range of several volts. Domains are found to scale with the sizes of nanocrystalline grains, which points to the role of surface-energy-related mechanisms affecting the domain patterns. Our results demonstrate the potential of spray pyrolysis for the fabrication of high-quality ferroelectric thin films and provide new opportunities for the development of low-cost scalable advanced electronic devices.

Correction: Sizable magnetic entropy change in bismuth-substituted La0.75Bi0.1Na0.15MnO3 manganite.

Correction for 'Sizable magnetic entropy change in bismuth-substituted La0.75Bi0.1Na0.15MnO3 manganite' by Lozil Denzil Mendonca et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2022, 24, 13171-13188, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP00559J.

Toxicity and behavioural effects of ocfentanil and 2-furanylfentanyl in zebrafish larvae and mice.

The introduction of the so-called New Psychoactive Substances represents a problem of global concern due to several factors, including multiplicity of structures, poorly known activity, short half-life in the market, lack of pure standards etc. Among these problems, of the highest relevance is also the lack of information about metabolism and adverse effects, which must be faced using simple and low-cost animal models. On these grounds, the present work has been carried out on 5 days post fertilization zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae in comparison with adult mice (Mus musculus). Ocfentanil and 2-furanylfentanyl were administered at different concentrations to zebrafish larvae (1, 10 µM) and mice (0.1, 1, 6, 15 mg/kg). The behavioural assay showed a decrease in basal locomotor activity in zebrafish, whereas in mice this effect was evident only after the mechanical stimulus. Larva extracts and mice urine were analysed by using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry to identify the metabolic pathways of the fentanyl analogs. For 2-furanylfentanyl, the most common biotransformations observed were hydroxylation, hydration and oxidation in zebrafish larvae, whereas mice produced mainly the dihydrodiol metabolite. Hydroxylation was the major route of metabolism for ocfentanil in zebrafish larvae, while in mice the O-demethylated derivative was the main metabolite. In addition, a study was conducted to evaluate morphological effects of the two drugs on zebrafish larvae. Malformations were noticeable only at the highest concentration of 2-furanylfentanyl, whereas no significant damage was observed with ocfentanil. In conclusion, the two animal models show similarities in behavioral response and in metabolism, considering the different biological investigated.

Sizable magnetic entropy change in bismuth-substituted La0.75Bi0.1Na0.15MnO3 manganite.

The bismuth (Bi)-substituted La0.85-xBixNa0.15MnO3 (x = 0 and x = 0.1) manganites have been investigated for achieving room temperature magnetic entropy change at low magnetizing intensities. A 10% Bi ion substitution at the La site has led to the relatively higher symmetry R3̄c rhombohedral structure showing improvement in Mn-O-Mn bond angles. The chemical additive Bi2O3 has assisted in grain growth to form densified specimens even at low sintering temperatures. The sample has a soft ferromagnetic nature with a single magnetic transition occurring at 275 K. Phenomenal improvement in magnetic sensitivity at low magnetic fields was achieved with TC close to room temperature. Nearly 100-500 percent increases in magnetic entropy change was realised over existing parent compounds and the entropy changes are greater than the prototype, Gd of active magnetic refrigeration. The magnetic interactions are governed by the Tri-Critical Mean Field model with emphasis on the coexistence of long-range and short-range interactions. The characteristics, viz. soft ferromagnet of second-order phase transition, abrupt phase change at TC, the resultant large magnetic entropy change of 4.4 J kg-1 K-1 and temperature averaged entropy change of 3.914 J kg-1 K-1 (10 K) at the low magnetic field of 1.5 T are expected to facilitate application prospects as a magnetic refrigerants for room temperature working range.

Zebrafish larvae: A new model to study behavioural effects and metabolism of fentanyl, in comparison to a traditional mice model.

In an effort to find alternatives to study in vivo the so-called New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), the present work was undertaken to investigate the use of zebrafish larvae as animal model in pharmaco-toxicology, providing behavioural and metabolism information. For this purpose, fentanyl, the progenitor of an extremely dangerous group of NPS, was administered at different doses to zebrafish larvae (1, 10, 50, 100 µM) in comparison to mice (0.1, 1, 6, 15 mg/kg), as a well-established animal model. A behavioural assay was performed at the time of the peak effect of fentanyl, showing that the results in larvae are consistent with those observed in mice. On the other hand, several morphological abnormalities (namely yolk sac edema, abnormal pericardial edema, jaw defect and spinal curvature) were found in larvae mostly at high fentanyl doses (50, 100 µM). Larva extract and mice urine were analyzed by using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry to identify the metabolic pathways of fentanyl. The main metabolites detected were norfentanyl and hydroxyfentanyl in both the tested models. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that fentanyl effects on zebrafish larvae and metabolism are similar to rodents and consequently support the hypothesis of using zebrafish larvae as a suitable rapid screening tool to investigate new drugs, and particularly NPS.

Curcumin nanocrystals attenuate cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity in mice.

The cancer therapy using cyclophosphamide (CP) has been associated with adverse effects on the testicular function that raises concerns about the future fertility potential among cancer survivors. Curcumin, a polyphenol, has shown to possess a plethora of biological functions including tissue protective effects. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin nanocrystals (NC) in mitigation of CP-induced testicular toxicity. Healthy adult (8-10 week) and prepubertal (2 week) male Swiss albino mice were injected with a single dose of CP (200 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p). NC (4 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered every alternate day, for 35 days in adult mice while, a single dose of NC was injected intraperitoneally to prepubertal mice 1 h prior to CP. Administration of multiple doses of NC ameliorated CP-induced testicular toxicity in adult mice, which was evident from the improved sperm functional competence, sperm chromatin condensation, seminiferous tubule architecture and decreased apoptosis in testicular cells. Further, administration of NC 1 h prior to CP in prepubertal mice modulated the expression of genes pertaining to proliferation, pluripotency, DNA damage and DNA repair in spermatogonial cells at 24 h after the treatment. Overall, these results suggest that NC could be a promising chemoprotective agent, which can have potential application in male fertility preservation.

Mobile health technology to improve maternal health awareness in tribal populations: mobile for mothers.

Mobile health (mHealth) applications have the potential to improve health awareness. This study reports a quasi-controlled intervention to augment maternal health awareness among tribal pregnant mothers through the mHealth application. Households from 2 independent villages with similar socio-demographics in tribal regions of India were selected as intervention (Village A) and control group (Village B). The control group received government mandated programs through traditional means (orally), whereas the intervention group received the same education through mHealth utilization. Postintervention, awareness about tetanus injections and consumption of iron tablets was significantly (P < .001) improved in the intervention group by 55% and 58%, respectively. Awareness about hygiene significantly (P < .001) increased by 57.1%. In addition, mothers in the intervention group who recognized vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, severe blurring of vision, or convulsions as danger signs during pregnancy significantly (P < .001) increased by 18.30%, 23.2%, 20.0%, and 4.90%, respectively. Our study indicates that despite the low literacy of users, mHealth intervention can improve maternal health awareness among tribal communities.

The room temperature inflection of magnetism and anomalous thermoelectric power in lacunar compounds of La0.85-xBixK0.15MnO3.

This study focuses on the effects of the substitution of a nonmagnetic ion on the structure, magnetism, and thermoelectric power of binary La0.85-xBixK0.15MnO3 (x = 0, 0.15, 0.3) manganites synthesized via a ceramic route. Structural analysis reveals a dual crystallographic phase in the system, which results due to charge disproportionation. The consequent segregation of Mn3O4 grains is revealed via field-emission scanning electron microscopy images. Magnetically, the specimens have a second-order phase transition nature, and a Curie temperature (TC) is interestingly observed at room temperature (∼300 K) in the x = 0 compound. The variation of TC is discussed in light of a combined contribution from a lacuna and the 6s2 lone pair of bismuth. The presence of a Griffiths singularity in all specimens is realized due to ferromagnetic clusters appearing in the paramagnetic matrix. The generation of Mn2+ ions due to charge disproportionation and consequent changes observed in the magnetic and thermoelectric power behaviour are discussed considering multiple hopping and direct hopping between Mn3+, Mn2+, and Mn4+ ions. A phenomenological model is exploited to obtain the thermomagnetic parameters. The magnon drag and phonon drag largely decide the thermoelectric power in the low-temperature ferromagnetic region, whereas the small polaron hopping of carriers contributes to the TEP in the high-temperature paramagnetic region. A colossal TEP value of -800 µV K-1 is observed at around 14 K for the x = 0.3 sample.

Verbal and Cross-Modal Ratings of Music: Validation and Application of an Icon-Based Rating Scale.

Can music be rated consistently using nonverbal descriptors such as colours and temperatures? 144 participants rated 6 experimenter-selected and 2 self-selected pieces of music along 15 bipolar icon (graphic) scales intended to portray emotions, and sensory experiences consisting of colour, temperature, shape, speed, texture, and weight. Participants also rated the same pieces using bipolar verbal scales which aimed to encompass the concepts represented by the icons (e.g., the word "red" for the colour red). Furthermore, the icons themselves were subjected to open-ended verbal labelling to validate the icon scale. Colour icons spontaneously evoked a cross-modal association on 67% of occasions: blue being cool, and red/orange being warm or hot, and the icon scale had overall good face validity. Music regularly and consistently evoked multisensory associations (using the icon scale) including shapes, colours, weight, and temperatures, in addition to emotions. Cross-modal perception is indicative of music's character rather than the enjoyment of the music. The icon scale provides new insights into music perception and for applications where language skill may limit participant expression.

Apigenin loaded nanoparticle delayed development of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of cancer related death globally. Apigenin, a dietary flavonoid, possesses anti-tumor activity against HCC cells in-vitro. Development, physicochemical characterization of apigenin loaded nanoparticles (ApNp), biodistribution pattern and pharmacokinetic parameters of apigenin upon intravenous administration of ApNp, and effect of ApNp treatment in rats with HCC were investigated. Apigenin loaded nanoparticles had a sustained drug release pattern and successfully reached the hepatic cancer cells in-vitro as well as in liver of carcinogenic animals. ApNp predominantly delayed the progress of HCC in chemical induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Quantification of apigenin by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) showed that apigenin availability significantly increased in blood and liver upon ApNp treatment. Apigenin loaded nanoparticle delivery substantially controlled the severity of hepatocellular carcinoma and could be a future hope for lingering the survival in hepatic cancer patients.

Early occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia following adjuvant radiotherapy and higher cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide in carcinoma breast.

We report a case of cancer breast developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) within a relatively short interval of two and a half years of her primary treatment. This could be attributed to post operative radiotherapy and a higher cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide (14.4 gm) which had to be given as a part of her combination chemotherapy regimen, initially as adjuvant and then later as salvage chemotherapy. The successful salvage therapy for secondary AML instituted in this case is also discussed.

Midkine expression in Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease.

Midkine (MK) was originally cloned as a product of a retinoic acid-responsive gene. The rationale for studying MK expression is based on previous reports showing that it transforms 3T3 cells, and that it acts as an autocrine growth factor in Wilm's tumors, and that its overexpression has been associated with worse outcome in bladder carcinoma. Besides bladder carcinoma, its expression was reported in various solid tumors. We investigated the expression of MK protein and/or MK gene in biopsied specimens from 40 patients with primary malignant lymphoma, 21 with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 19 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Reed-Sternberg (R-S) cells were stained positive in 10 of 16 HD cases evaluated by immunohistochemical method, whereas 18 of 19 NHL cases did not stain, and one B-cell NHL stained weakly positive. Immunostaining analysis was extended to established cell lines and to normal lymphocytes with or without lectin stimulation or with EB virus transformation. Among hematopoietic cells examined, erythro- or megakaryoblastic leukemia cell lines (K562, MEG-01 and UT7) were positive, while normal lymphocytes (except the EB virus-transformed one) and most myeloid and lymphoid cell lines (except Raji cells) were negative. On the contrary, solid tumor cell lines showed high and strongly positive staining including cell lines derived from of lung gastric, colon, and a pancreatic cancer. Using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which is suitable for the detection of weakly expressed mRNA, the relative ratio of MK mRNA to beta-actin mRNA of samples was measured and compared in cases where RNA was available. The mean values of relative ratio (MK/beta-actin) of HD were almost twice as those of NHL samples, peripheral blood T cells, and spleen B cells. Our findings showed that MK is expressed in Reed-Sternberg cells of HD, and that MK might play a role in the pathogenesis of HD.

Visceral leishmaniasis in a renal transplant recipient: diagnostic and therapeutic problems.

Visceral leishmaniasis is infrequently reported in renal transplant recipients. A 40-year-old renal transplant recipient developed hepatosplenomegaly and pyrexia of unknown origin 5 months after transplantation. Visceral leishmaniasis was confirmed on bone marrow examination. The usual dose of antiparasitic therapy with stibogluconate sodium failed to eradicate Leishmania donovani. High-dose conventional therapy with stibogluconate sodium for an extended period of time was successful in the treatment of a relapse of leishmaniasis.

Lyso platelet activating factor (LysoPAF) and its enantiomer. Total synthesis and carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy.

Described is a reaction sequence for the total synthesis of lyso platelet activating factor (lysoPAF; 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and its enantiomer. The procedure is versatile and yields optically pure isomers of defined chain length. The synthesis is equally suited for the preparation of lysoPAF analogues and its enantiomers with unsaturation in the long aliphatic chain. First, rac-1(3)-O-alkylglycerol is prepared by alkylation of rac-isopropylideneglycerol with alkyl methanesulfonate followed by acid-catalyzed removal of the ketal group. The primary hydroxy group of alkylglycerol is then protected by tritylation, the secondary hydroxy group is acylated, and the protective trityl group is removed under mild acidic conditions with boric acid on silicic acid, essentially without acyl migration. Condensation of the diradylglycerol with bromoethyl dichlorophosphate in diethyl ether, hydrolysis of the resulting chloride, and nucleophilic displacement of the bromine with trimethylamine gives rac-1-O-alkyl-2-acylglycero-3-phosphocholine in good overall yield. The racemic alkylacylglycerophosphocholine is finally treated with snake venom phospholipase A2 (Ophiophagus hannah) which affords 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (lysoPAF) of natural configuration in optically pure form. The "unnatural" 3-O-alkyl-2-O-acyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphocholine enantiomer, which is not susceptible to phospholipase A2 cleavage, gives 3-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphocholine upon deacylation with methanolic sodium hydroxide. Homogeneity and structure of the intermediates and final products were ascertained by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy on monomeric solutions.

Effect of acute administration of metoclopramide on insulin secretion in man.

The effect of acute i.v. administration of 2.5 mg metoclopramide (MCP), an antidopaminergic agent with low serotoninergic activity, on blood insulin and glucose concentrations was studied in 9 healthy men. MCP was able to significantly decrease basal serum insulin levels (from 6.8 +/- 1.1 to 4.3 +/- 0.7 microU/ml in 120 min; p less than 0.025) with a parallel elevation in blood glucose (from 72.5 +/- 1.1 to 82.6 +/- 2.5 mg/dl in 120 min; p less than 0.01). These findings, which were not observed after placebo, and appeared not to be explained by the spontaneous occurrence of physiological oscillations of insulin and glucose plasma levels, are consistent with similar effects observed after administration of other antidopaminergic agents and with the stimulatory activity on insulin and glucagon release described during dopamine infusion in man.

Sterol orientations in phosphatidylcholine liposomes as determined by deuterium NMR.

Deuterium magnetic resonance spectra (55.26 MHz) of cholesterol-3 alpha-d1 and epicholesterol-3 beta-d1 in dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine (DPPC) liposomes were measured as a function of sterol-to-phospholipid ratio below (24 degrees C) and above (60 degrees C) the phase transition temperature of DPPC. From the quadrupolar splittings delta vq, the molecular order parameters S describing the motions of the sterols in the bilayer were calculated, and the most probable angle of tilt alpha 0 of the molecular axis of the sterols relative to the bilayer normal was determined. We observed that the molecular axis of cholesterol in DPPC liposomes at both 24 and 60 degrees C is tilted at an angle of 16-19 degrees with the 3 beta-hydroxyl group projecting parallel to the bilayer normal into the aqueous interface. In contrast, at 24 degrees C, epicholesterol is aligned parallel (0 degrees) to the bilayer normal, placing the 3 alpha-hydroxyl group essentially perpendicular to the bilayer normal along the aqueous interface. At 60 degrees C, the average angle of epicholesterol (16-18 degrees) is similar to that of cholesterol, which can project the 3 alpha-hydroxyl group into the hydrophobic bilayer region. On the basis of the observed tilt angles of the two isomeric sterols in DPPC liposomes, a model is proposed that can rationalize the differential effects of cholesterol and epicholesterol on membrane properties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synthesis and biological activity of 3 beta-hydroxy-9,10-secopregna-5,7,10[19]-triene-20-one: a side chain analogue of vitamin D3.

The synthesis, biological and antagonistic activity of 3 beta-hydroxy-9,10-secopregna-5,7,10[19]-triene-20-one (20-oxopregnacalciferol, 7) a shortened side chain analogue of vitamin D3, are described. At the highest dose tested the analogue was found to have small though significant bone and soft tissue mobilization activity; no significant increase in intestinal calcium transport was noted. The compound was found to possess no antagonistic activity against vitamin D3.