Structure and phase transitions in niobium and tantalum derived nanoscale transition metal perovskites, Ba(Ti,MV)O3, M=Nb,Ta.

The prospect of creating ferroelectric or high permittivity nanomaterials provides motivation for investigating complex transition metal oxides of the form Ba(Ti, MV)O3, where M = Nb or Ta. Solid state processing typically produces mixtures of crystalline phases, rarely beyond minimally doped Nb/Ta. Using a modified sol-gel method, we prepared single phase nanocrystals of Ba(Ti, M)O3. Compositional and elemental analysis puts the empirical formulas close to BaTi0.5Nb0.5O3-δ and BaTi0.5Ta0.5O3-δ. For both materials, a reversible temperature dependent phase transition (non-centrosymmetric to symmetric) is observed in the Raman spectrum in the region 533-583 K (260-310 °C); for Ba(Ti, Nb)O3, the onset is at 543 K (270 °C); and for Ba(Ti, Ta)O3, the onset is at 533 K (260 °C), which are comparable with 390-393 K (117-120 °C) for bulk BaTiO3. The crystal structure was resolved by examination of the powder x-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of synchrotron total scattering data. It was postulated whether the structure adopted at the nanoscale was single or double perovskite. Double perovskites (A2B'B″O6) are characterized by the type and extent of cation ordering, which gives rise to higher symmetry crystal structures. PDF analysis was used to examine all likely candidate structures and to look for evidence of higher symmetry. The feasible phase space that evolves includes the ordered double perovskite structure Ba2(Ti, MV)O6 (M = Nb, Ta) Fm-3m, a disordered cubic structure, as a suitable high temperature analog, Ba(Ti, MV)O3Pm-3m, and an orthorhombic Ba(Ti, MV)O3Amm2, a room temperature structure that presents an unusually high level of lattice displacement, possibly due to octahedral tilting, and indication of a highly polarized crystal.

Investigation of Chelating Agents for the Removal of Thorium from Human Teeth upon Nuclear Contamination.

Thorium-232 (232Th) is a radioactive heavy metal that is of increasing interest as a source of nuclear energy. However, upon nuclear incidents, the ingestion or inhalation of Th in major quantities can contribute to chemical and radiological health problems, including accumulation in the bone tissue and an increased risk of developing pancreatic, lung, and hematopoietic cancers. The major mineral component of the bone is hydroxyapatite (HAP)─also the major mineral component of the teeth. As such, the teeth are the first site of exposure upon oral ingestion of Th-contaminated materials, and Th can pose a potential risk to teeth development. In essence, in the case of human contamination, it is critical to identify effective chelating agents capable of removing Th. Using a batch study methodology, this present work investigates the uptake and the removal of Th from synthetic HAP and from teeth samples by diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and other promising chelating agents. Th uptake over synthetic HAP exceeds 98% at physiological pH with <1 min of contact time and uptake exceeds 90% across the entire pH range. Regarding teeth, over 1 mg Th uptaken per gram of tooth is observed after 24 h. The overall effectiveness of chelating agents for the removal of Th from is as follows: DTPA > EDTA > NaF/mouthwash/3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO); this trend was observed both in synthetic HAP and Th-impregnated teeth samples.

Sc-HOPO: A Potential Construct for Use in Radioscandium-Based Radiopharmaceuticals.

Three isotopes of scandium─43Sc, 44Sc, and 47Sc─have attracted increasing attention as potential candidates for use in imaging and therapy, respectively, as well as for possible theranostic use as an elementally matched pair. Here, we present the octadentate chelator 3,4,3-(LI-1,2-HOPO) (or HOPO), an effective chelator for hard cations, as a potential ligand for use in radioscandium constructs with simple radiolabeling under mild conditions. HOPO forms a 1:1 Sc-HOPO complex that was fully characterized, both experimentally and theoretically. [47Sc]Sc-HOPO exhibited good stability in chemical and biological challenges over 7 days. In healthy mice, [43,47Sc]Sc-HOPO cleared the body rapidly with no signs of demetalation. HOPO is a strong candidate for use in radioscandium-based radiopharmaceuticals.

Quantum Medicine: A Role of Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields in the Management of Chronic Pain.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-MF) therapy is a promising treatment for chronic pain, given its ability to interact with body homeostasis using water-mediated transmission mechanisms typical of quantum medicine. The present study aims to assess the effects of ELF-MF therapy on chronic pain in 49 patients suffering from various musculoskeletal disorders. The therapy was applied through a Quec Phisis setup generating the electromagnetic field as the ion cyclotronic resonance. Patients underwent eight therapy sessions of 45 min each performed every other day. The bioimpedance assessment was based on the comparison of the height-adjusted body resistance (R/h) and reactance (Xc/h) measured during the first and last sessions of eight-session treatment. Pain perception was quantified using the standard visual-analog scale. We found significant increases in both R/h and Xc/h parameters of body bioimpedance after electromagnetic therapy corresponding with reductions in pain perception. We conclude that the ELF-MF therapy can restore the body's state of health and thus seems a valid therapeutic approach for the treatment of musculoskeletal-derived pain.

Capacitive and Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy: A Comparison of Operating Methods in Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain.

Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (TECAR) modes of therapy use radiant energy to generate endogenous heat and are used for musculoskeletal disorders for their analgesic, decontracting, and elasticizing properties. While the capacitive mode is supposed to interact with soft tissues, the resistive mode interacts more with hard tissues. This study aims to investigate whether the successive order of the two modes during their application could make a difference concerning the outcome. The study included 40 patients affected by chronic non-specific low back pain. Patients were assessed using algometry, before and immediately after the therapeutic intervention, and thermal imaging, before, immediately after, and then 30 and 60 min after the intervention. Each patient had two TECAR interventions on different days of a total of 20 min each, with a resistive followed by capacitive mode and conversely, capacitive followed by resistive mode. The capacitive mode alternated with the resistive mode by 10 min during either intervention. Results showed that the effects consisting of temporary increases in the superficial temperature of the lower back and pressure pain threshold were alike for both interventions. We conclude that TECAR therapy reduces low back pain regardless of the operative mode adopted, with only an insignificant advantage when starting the sequence from the resistive application.

Uptake and Removal of Uranium by and from Human Teeth.

Uranium-238 (238U), a long-lived radiometal, is widespread in the environment because of both naturally occurring processes and anthropogenic processes. The ingestion or inhalation of large amounts of U is a major threat to humans, and its toxicity is considered mostly chemical rather than radiological. Therefore, a way to remove uranium ingested by humans from uranium-contaminated water or from the air is critically needed. This study investigated the uranium uptake by hydroxyapatite (HAP), a compound found in human bone and teeth. The uptake of U by teeth is a result of U transport as dissolved uranyl (UO22+) in contaminated water, and U adsorption has been linked to delays in both tooth eruption and development. In this present work, the influence of pH, contact time, initial U concentration, and buffer solution on the uptake and removal of U in synthetic HAP was investigated and modeled. The influence of pH (pH of human saliva, 6.7-7.4) on the uptake of uranyl was negligible. Furthermore, the kinetics were extremely fast; in one second of exposure, 98% of uranyl was uptaken by HAP. The uptake followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and a Freundlich isotherm model. A 0.2 M sodium carbonate solution removed all the uranyl from HAP after 1 h. Another series of in vitro tests were performed with real teeth as targets. We found that, for a 50 mg/L U in PBS solution adjusted to physiological pH, ∼35% of the uranyl was uptaken by the tooth after 1 h, following pseudo-first-order kinetics. Among several washing solutions tested, a commercially available carbonate, as well as a commercially available fluoride solution, enabled removal of all the uranyl taken up by the teeth.

Manual Pressure Release and Low-Grade Electrical Peripheral Receptor Stimulation in Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is a frequent clinical condition affecting the general population and influencing disability level and quality of life. We performed a single-blinded, randomized, and controlled study to compare the effectiveness of manual pressure release (MPR) and electrical neuromodulation (ENM) treatments in the management of chronic low back pain. There were 20 patients with chronic low back pain randomly assigned to 6 treatment sessions with either technique. Both groups were treated for 2 days a week for 3 weeks. Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) were identified and skin conductance, pressure-pain threshold, postural changes, and the Oswestry Disability Index were assessed before and after each treatment session, along with the protocol-end data compared against the baseline data in each group. We found an outstanding and about equal deactivation of MTrPs from pre- to post-treatment in both groups, reducing disability in patients with chronic low back pain. The study highlights the ENM as a reliable tool for the evaluation of MTrPs, given a high agreement with the MPR. The effect on the neuromuscular condition of treating the "key trigger points" found in this study advances the knowledge of medical rehabilitation.

Advances in Mast Cell Activation by IL-1 and IL-33 in Sjögren's Syndrome: Promising Inhibitory Effect of IL-37.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects primarily older women and is characterized by irreversible damage of the exocrine glands, including tear (xerophthalmia) and salivary glands (xerostomia). Secretory glands lose their functionality due to the infiltration of immune cells, which produce cytokines and cause inflammation. Primary SS is characterized by dry syndrome with or without systemic commitment in the absence of other pathologies. Secondary SS is accompanied by other autoimmune diseases with high activation of B lymphocytes and the production of autoantibodies, including the rheumatoid factor. Other cells, such as CD4+ T cells and mast cells (MCs), participate in SS inflammation. MCs are ubiquitous, but are primarily located close to blood vessels and nerves and can be activated early in autoimmune diseases to express a wide variety of cytokines and chemokines. In the SS acute phase, MCs react by generating chemical mediators of inflammation, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-33. IL-33 is the specific ligand for ST2 capable of inducing some adaptive immunity TH2 cytokines but also has pro-inflammatory properties. IL-33 causes impressive pathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration. IL-1 family members can have paracrine and autocrine effects by exacerbating autoimmune inflammation. IL-37 is an IL-1 family cytokine that binds IL-18Rα receptor and/or Toll-like Receptor (TLR)4, exerting an anti-inflammatory action. IL-37 is a natural inhibitor of innate and acquired immunity, and the level is abnormal in patients with autoimmune disorders. After TLR ligand activation, IL-37 mRNA is generated in the cytoplasm, with the production of pro-IL-37 and later mature IL-37 caspase-1 mediated; both precursor and mature IL-37 are biologically active. Here, we discuss, for the first time, the current knowledge of IL-37 in autoimmune disease SS and propose a new therapeutic role.

Improved synthesis of the bifunctional chelator p-SCN-Bn-HOPO.

The bifunctional ligand p-SCN-Bn-HOPO, which has four 1,2-hydroxypyridinone groups on a spermine backbone with an isothiocyanate linker, has been shown to be an efficient and stable chelator for Zr(iv) and, more importantly, the radioisotope 89Zr for use in radiolabeling antibodies for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Previous studies of 89Zr-HOPO-trastuzumab in mice showed low background, good tumor to organ contrast, and very low bone uptake which show p-SCN-Bn-HOPO to be an important next-generation bifunctional chelator for radioimmunoPET imaging with 89Zr. However, the reported synthesis of p-SCN-Bn-HOPO involves nine steps and multiple HPLC purifications with an overall yield of about 1.4%. Herein we report an improved and efficient synthesis of p-SCN-Bn-HOPO in four steps with 14.3% overall yield which will improve its availability for further biological studies and wider application in PET imaging. The new synthetic route also allows variation in linker length and chemistries which may be helpful in modifying in vivo clearance behaviors of future agents.

Excitation-Dependent Multiple Fluorescence of a Substituted 2-(2'-Hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole.

Excitation-dependent multiple fluorescence of a 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO) derivative (1) is described. Compound 1 contains the structure of a charge-transfer (CT) 4-hydroxyphenylvinylenebipy fluorophore and an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer capable (ESIPT-capable) HBO component that intersect at the hydroxyphenyl moiety. Therefore, both CT and ESIPT pathways, while spatially mostly separated, are available to the excited state of 1. The ESIPT process offers two emissive isomeric structures (enol and keto) of 1 in the excited state, while the susceptibility of 1 to a base adds another option to tune the composite emission color. In addition to the ground-state acid-base equilibrium that can be harnessed for the control of emission color by excitation energy, compound 1 exhibits excitation-dependent emission that is attributed to solvent-affected ground-state structural changes. Therefore, depending on the medium and excitation wavelength, the emission from the enol, keto, and anion forms could occur simultaneously, which are in the color ranges of blue, green, and orange/red, respectively. A composite color of white with CIE coordinates of (0.33, 0.33) can be materialized through judicious choices of medium and excitation wavelength.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluations, molecular docking, and in vivo studies of novel phthalimide analogs.

A series of novel phthalimide analogs containing an indole or brominated indole moiety were synthesized and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated. Compound 8 showed a broad spectrum activity, revealing 53-67% of erythromycin activity on the tested bacteria and 60-70% of miconazole activity on the tested fungi. Anticancer activity was evaluated on the cell lines HepG2, MCF-7, A549, H1299, and Caco2. The results revealed that the new phthalimide analog 8 has broad-spectrum anticancer activity toward all the tested cancer cell lines, followed by compound 11, which showed good activity toward all the tested cell lines except for MCF-7. The ability of the promising analogs 5, 8, and 11 to bind to topoisomerase II DNA gyrase was investigated. Caspase-3 activation and Bcl-2 assay of the best active derivatives 8, 11 in addition to compound 5 were evaluated. The antifibrotic activity was studied in an in vivo model and the histopathological studies revealed that treatment with the new compound 8 improved the fibrotic liver tissues to normality.

Enhancing the Photostability of Arylvinylenebipyridyl Compounds as Fluorescent Indicators for Intracellular Zinc(II) Ions.

Arylvinylenebipyridyl (AVB) ligands are bright, zinc(II)-sensitive fluoroionophores. The applicability of AVBs as fluorescent indicators for imaging cellular zinc(II), however, is limited by low photostability, partially attributable to the photoisomerization of the vinylene functionality. Two configurationally immobilized (i.e., "locked") AVB analogues are prepared in this work. The zinc(II)-sensitive photophysical properties and zinc(II) affinities of both AVBs and their locked analogues are characterized in organic and aqueous media. The zinc(II) sensitivity of the emission is attributed to the zinc(II)-dependent energies of the charge transfer excited states of these compounds. The configurationally locked ligands have improved photostability, while maintaining the brightness and zinc(II) sensibility of their AVB progenitors. The feasibility of the "locked" AVB analogues with improved photostability for imaging intracellular Zn(II) of eukaryotic cells using laser confocal fluorescence microscopy is demonstrated.

5-Arylvinyl-2,2'-bipyridyls: Bright "push-pull" dyes as components in fluorescent indicators for zinc ions.

This article reviews the zinc(II)-dependent photophysical properties of arylvinylbipyridines (AVBs), a class of fluoroionophores in which 2,2'-bipyridyl and an aryl moiety are electronically conjugated. Zinc(II) binding of an AVB may lead to an emission bathochromic shift of the fluoroionophore without diminishing its fluorescence quantum yield. This observation can be explained using the excited state model of electron donor-π bridge-electron acceptor "push-pull" fluorophores, in which the bipy moiety acts as an electron acceptor, and zinc(II)-coordination strengthens its electron affinity. The spectral sensitivity of bipy-containing fluoroionophores, such as AVBs, to zinc(II) can be exploited to prepare fluorescent indicators for this ion. In several cases, AVB moieties are incorporated in fluorescent heteroditopic ligands, so that the variation of zinc(II) concentration over a relatively large range can be correlated to fluorescence changes in either intensity or color. AVB fluoroionophores are also used to introduce an intramolecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy for creating zinc(II) indicators with high photostability and a narrow emission band, two desired characteristics of dyes used in fluorescence microscopy.

Incidence and risk factors for non-cardiac syncope in a cohort of patients addressing an accredited Arterial Hypertension Center: the Innocent Study.

BACKGROUND: Hypotensive susceptibility in hypertensive patients could facilitate orthostatic hypotension, syncope and fall. The aim of this study was to identify incidence, clinical form, complications and risk factors for non-cardiac syncope in a cohort of hypertensive patients. METHODS: This is an observational, case-controlled, retrospective study carried out on 168 patients, evaluated at the Hypertension Center of the University Hospital of Parma (Italy). Based on the presence of episodes of syncope during the six months prior to enrolment, we identified cases and controls and then we compared them to personal data, comorbidities, current drug regimens, presence of orthostatic hypotension, office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) blood pressure (BP) values. RESULTS: In patients with previous syncopal episodes (29.8% of total), we more frequently found female gender, comorbidities associated with autonomic dysfunction, diuretics and non-CV drugs potentially associated with hypotension in their current drug regimen, orthostatic hypotension and lower office and ABPM BP values. CONCLUSIONS: To identify hypertensive patients at higher risk for syncope and falls, physicians should focus on comorbidities and current drug regimens, systematically perform an active standing test to identify orthostatic hypotension, employ ABPM to compare BP values with the pre-established target and highlight systolic BP drops and abnormalities suggesting concomitant autonomic dysfunction. The modulation of antihypertensive therapy is an effective tool to counteract the risk of non-cardiac syncope, with possible trauma or other negative influences.

Starter protein content and supplemental soybean oil or hydrogenated palm fatty acids in Holstein dairy calves: growth performance, protozoa population, and nitrogen utilization efficiency.

The study hypothesized that a 24% protein starter diet supplemented with inert fat (palm fatty acids; PLFs) instead of triglyceride-rich soybean oil (SBO) would promote the growth of dairy calves. The effects of different protein contents (20 vs 24% CP) and fat sources (SBO vs PLF at 2.5% DM) on growth, digestibility, blood metabolites, rumen protozoa and urinary nitrogen in dairy calves were investigated. A total of 52 female dairy calves (mean age 3 days and BW 40.7 kg) were allocated to the following treatments in a completely randomized design: (1) 20% CP starter diet supplemented with SBO (20CP-SBO), (2) 20% CP starter diet supplemented with PLF (20CP-PLF), (3) 24% CP starter diet supplemented with SBO (24CP-SBO), and (4) 24% CP starter diet supplemented with PLF (24CP-PLF). Calves were weaned on day 53, and the study ended on day 73. The 24CP diets enhanced starter feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), withers height, hip width, organic matter (OM) digestibility, and preweaning blood glucose compared to the 20CP diets. In contrast, SBO supplementation reduced feed intake, ADG, withers height, OM and CP digestibility, and pre- and postweaning blood glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels, while increasing preweaning aspartate aminotransferase, compared to PLF. SBO supplementation led to lower urinary excretion of purine derivatives and microbial protein synthesis postweaning, and a reduction in protozoa population both pre- and postweaning. Calves fed PLF had higher starter intake than those fed SBO, regardless of the diet being 20CP or 24CP. Calves fed the 24CP-PLF diet had the highest ADG, while calves fed the 20CP-SBO diet had the lowest ADG. Calves fed the 20CP-SBO diet had lower feed efficiency than calves fed the other diets during the preweaning period and throughout the experimental period. Calves fed the 24CP-PLF diet had higher hip heights at weaning and on day 73 than calves fed the other diets. Calves fed the 20CP-SBO diet had lower neutral detergent fiber digestibility than calves fed the other diets. Calves fed the 24CP-SBO diet had higher postweaning blood urea nitrogen concentration than calves fed the other diets. Feeding the 20CP-SBO diet to dairy calves decreased urinary allantoin excretion and rumen microbial protein synthesis but increased urinary nitrogen excretion during the preweaning period. Our results suggest that PLF is more suitable than SBO in calf diets, especially when calves fed 24% CP, possibly due to improved nutrient digestibility.

Neck and Musculoskeletal Pain Among Dentists: A Review of the Literature.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), notably neck pain, are important occupational health issues in the field of dentistry. Many studies were done worldwide to gather data about neck and back pain. They used different characteristics and risk factors. Other studies aimed to determine only the prevalence of neck and back problems among dentists. We aim to review the literature for research about the optimal factors to be assessed and the proper measures to be installed by dentists to prevent cervical pain and to be taught and shared with dental students. Such an aim requires a thorough review of the current condition. This is a brief review of the literature to shed light on the latest news on this topic. Research using keywords such as dentistry, neck pain, neck pain index, occupational pain, and dental specialties were used to skim the literature for related topics. Publications are considered based on their relevance to the topic. Topics related to other professions and pain induced by illnesses other than occupational factors are not included. The final conclusion shows that no final results were conducted regarding the optimal characteristics that the dentists should be using. Therefore, we recommend a study with an aim to determine the optimal factors to be used by dentists to prevent cervical pain and to be taught to dental students.

A Survey of Neck Pain among Dentists of the Lebanese Community.

Results: The majority of participants were between the ages of 25 and 35, and the gender distribution of the demographic distribution was comparable. The prevalence of pain was 86.8% (97/342 dentists). NDI analysis showed that 65.7% had mild disability, 12.8% have a moderate disability, and 1% had severe disability. Bivariate analysis showed that pain was affected by age (p=0.013), orthodontist practices (p=0.031), regular exercise (p < 0.001), using vibrating instruments (p < 0.001), cervical flexion for better vision while working (p < 0.001), knowledge, and experience about ergonomic posture (p < 0.005). Multivariate analysis showed four predictors for pain: age (p=0.017), performing stretching exercises after finishing clinical practice (p=0.022), orthodontist specialty (p=0.029), and performing cervical flexion for better vision while working (p=0.004). Conclusion: This study showed that through the application of some strategies such as stretching, exercising, and being careful in using vibrating instruments, the dentist may be able to relieve the pain.

Learning to reason over scene graphs: a case study of finetuning GPT-2 into a robot language model for grounded task planning.

Long-horizon task planning is essential for the development of intelligent assistive and service robots. In this work, we investigate the applicability of a smaller class of large language models (LLMs), specifically GPT-2, in robotic task planning by learning to decompose tasks into subgoal specifications for a planner to execute sequentially. Our method grounds the input of the LLM on the domain that is represented as a scene graph, enabling it to translate human requests into executable robot plans, thereby learning to reason over long-horizon tasks, as encountered in the ALFRED benchmark. We compare our approach with classical planning and baseline methods to examine the applicability and generalizability of LLM-based planners. Our findings suggest that the knowledge stored in an LLM can be effectively grounded to perform long-horizon task planning, demonstrating the promising potential for the future application of neuro-symbolic planning methods in robotics.

Effects of arginine and guanidinoacetic acid with or without phenylalanine on ascites susceptibility in cold-stressed broilers fed canola meal-based diet.

In order to evaluate the effects of ARG sources (arginine [ARG] and Guanidinoacetic acid [GAA]) and phenylalanine (PHE) supplementation on performance, susceptibility to ascites, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility in the cold-stressed broilers fed a canola meal (CM)-based diet, a 2×2 factorial experiment with four treatments was conducted. The dietary treatments included CM-based diet + 2.57 g/kg ARG, CM-based diet + 2.57 g/kg ARG + 1.5 g/kg PHE, CM-based diet + 1.8 g/kg GAA and CM-based diet + 1.8 g/kg GAA + 1.5 g/kg PHE. The corn-CM diet without supplementation was used as a negative control (NC) group in the fifth treatment that excluded the factorial arrangement. The results showed that adding ARG to diets without PHE supplement increased (p < 0.05) feed intake. Also, birds fed diets containing ARG had higher (p < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) compared to those fed GAA added diets. Supplementation of PHE improved (p < 0.05) the FCR compared to groups fed diets without added PHE. Further, ARG addition increased (p < 0.05) plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentration, carcass, breast and leg yields, duodenal, jejunal, and ileal villus height (VH) to crypt depth (CD, and dry matter digestibility, while decreasing (p < 0.05) ascites mortality and right ventricle (RV) to total ventricle (TV) ratio compared to GAA added groups. Supplementation of PHE also declined susceptibility to ascites by reducing (p < 0.01) RV to TV ratio while increasing (p < 0.05) plasma NO level. The digestibility of ether extract also increased (p < 0.05) in broilers fed GAA supplemented diets versus those fed ARG added diets. The findings suggested that ARG may improve BWG and lower ascites incidence in broilers fed a diet based on CM under cold stress because of its antihypertensive effects. Moreover, the findings of this study demonstrated the importance of including PHE formulation in ARG-deficient diets to attenuate the adverse effects of cold stress on broilers. It was also concluded that GAA could be efficaciously used in cold-stressed broilers fed an ARG-deficient diet.

Development of 225Ac Production from Low Isotopic Dilution 229Th.

The promise of 225Ac targeted alpha therapies has been on the horizon for the last two decades. TerraPower Isotopes are uniquely suited to produce clinically relevant quantities of 225Ac through the decay of 229Th. Herein, a rapid processing scheme to isolate radionuclidic and radioisotopically pure 225Ac in good yield (98%) produced from 229Th that contains significant quantities of 228Th activity is described. The characterization of each step of the process is presented along with the detailed characterization of the resulting 225Ac isotopic starting material that will support the cancer research and development efforts.