An assessment of the reliability of race, Hispanic ethnicity, birthplace, and tobacco history data in the Massachusetts cancer registry, 2005-2009

The Massachusetts Cancer Registry (MCR) reviewed the medical charts of 5,438 randomly selected breast and colorectal cancer cases diagnosed from 2005-2009 in part to assess the reliability of the race, Hispanic ethnicity, birth country, and tobacco history variables. The kappa statistic was used to assess the reliability between the originally reported variable and the reabstracted variable. There was strong agreement of kappa score for race among whites, blacks, and other (Asian, Native American), indicating a good quality of race data. The agreement for birth country was strongest among those not born in the United States with a statistically significantly higher kappa score compared to the other categories. Agreement for Hispanic ethnicity was strongest for non-Hispanics, Puerto Ricans, Central Americans, and Dominicans, groups that represent the majority of Hispanics in Massachusetts. The agreement for tobacco history was strongest among current tobacco users. This study provided useful information on the reliability of the race, Hispanic ethnicity, and birthplace variables, which are frequently used in MCR reports. It also provided heretofore unknown data on the reliability of the tobacco history variable. All categories of the race variable were very reliable as were the categories of Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Central American. Hispanic, NOS was not as reliable due to the large Portuguese population with Hispanic sounding surnames. Birth country was not as reliable due to the paucity of the data in many of the larger facilities in the state.

A candidate anti-HIV reservoir compound, auranofin, exerts a selective 'anti-memory' effect by exploiting the baseline oxidative status of lymphocytes

Central memory (T_CM) and transitional memory (T_TM) CD4⁺ T cells are known to be the major cellular reservoirs for HIV, as these cells can harbor a transcriptionally silent form of viral DNA that is not targeted by either the immune system or current antiretroviral drug regimens. In the present study, we explored the molecular bases of the anti-HIV reservoir effects of auranofin (AF), a pro-oxidant gold-based drug and a candidate compound for a cure of AIDS. We here show that T_CM and T_TM lymphocytes have lower baseline antioxidant defenses as compared with their naive counterpart. These differences are mirrored by the effects exerted by AF on T-lymphocytes: AF was able to exert a pro-differentiating and pro-apoptotic effect, which was more pronounced in the memory subsets. AF induced an early activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) followed by mitochondrial depolarization and a final burst in intracellular peroxides. The pro-differentiating effect was characterized by a downregulation of the CD27 marker expression. Interestingly, AF-induced apoptosis was inhibited by pyruvate, a well-known peroxide scavenger, but pyruvate did not inhibit the pro-differentiating effect of AF, indicating that the pro-apoptotic and pro-differentiating effects involve different pathways. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that AF selectively targets the T_CM/T_TM lymphocyte subsets, which encompass the HIV reservoir, by affecting redox-sensitive cell death pathways.

Investigation on fixed bed column performance of fluoride adsorption by sugarcane charcoal

The present study explores the potentiality of sugarcane charcoal for fluoride removal from synthetic fluoride solution. Column adsorption experiments with respect to variation of flow rate, pH, initial concentration, and column depths were carried out. Sugarcane charcoal exhibited almost consistent scavenging capacity at various bed depths with a flow rate 4.34 ml min(-1). Maximum adsorption capacity of sugarcane charcoal was recorded 7.33 mg g(-1). The adsorption studies were simulated using Thomas and Bed depth service time model. Both the models consistently predict its characteristic parameters and describe the breakthrough profiles in the whole range of sorption process.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy and energy storage of Ni-doped cobalt nitride, (Ni(0.33)Co(0.67))N, prepared by a simple synthesis route

Metal nitride (Ni(0.33)Co(0.67))N nanoparticles are prepared by nitridation using NiCo(2)O(4) as a precursor material by heating at 335 °C for 2 h in flowing NH(3) + N(2) gas and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), along with selective area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. The X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) at the Co K-edge showed that the oxidation state of cobalt is close to 3+. The (Ni(0.33)Co(0.67))N showed a shift in edge energy towards lower values due to Ni-doping to cobalt site. The Li-storage behaviour of (Ni(0.33)Co(0.67))N nanoparticles was evaluated by galvanostatic cycling and cyclic voltammetry in the cells with Li-metal as counter electrode in the voltage range of 0.005-3.0 V at ambient temperature. When cycled at 250 mA g(-1), the first-cycle reversible capacity of 700 (±5) mA h g(-1) (~1.9 moles of Li) is obtained. It showed an initial decrease in capacity until the 10(th) cycle and a stable capacity of 400 (±5) mA h g(-1) (~1.09 moles of Li) is observed at the end of the 50(th) cycle. Excellent rate capability is also shown when cycling at 500 mA g(-1) (up to 50 cycles). The materials showed excellent Li-ion insertion/extraction, with the coulombic efficiency reaching almost 99% in the range of 10-50 cycles. The average charge and discharge potentials are ~2.03 and ~1.0 V, respectively for the decomposition/formation of Li(3)N as determined by electroanalytical techniques.

Molecular characterization of the Indian poultry nodular tapeworm, Raillietina echinobothrida (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) based on rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 region

The nodular tapeworm, Raillietina echinobothrida is a well studied avian gastrointestinal parasite of family Davaineidae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea). It is reported to be the largest in size and second most prevalent species infecting chicken in north-east India. In the present study, morphometrical methods coupled with the molecular analysis of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of ribosomal DNA were employed for precise identification of the parasite. The annotated ITS2 region was found to be 446 bp long and further utilized to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships and its species-interrelationships at the molecular level. In phylogenetic analysis similar topology was observed among the trees obtained by distance-based neighbor-joining as well as character-based maximum parsimony tree building methods. The query sequence R. echinobothrida is well aligned and placed within the Davaineidae group, with all Raillietina species well separated from the other cyclophyllidean (taeniid and hymenolepid) cestodes, while Diphyllobothrium latum (Pseudophyllidea: Diphyllobothriidae) was rooted as an out-group. Sequence similarities indeed confirmed our hypothesis that Raillietina spp. are neighboring the position with other studied species of order Cyclophyllidea against the out-group order Pseudophyllidea. The present study strengthens the potential of ITS2 as a reliable marker for phylogenetic reconstructions.

Phytostabilisation potential of lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Stend) Wats) on iron ore tailings

The present pot culture study was carried out for the potential phytostabilisation of iron ore tailings using lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) a drought tolerant, perennial, aromatic grass. Experiments have been conducted by varying the composition of garden soil (control) with iron ore tailings. The various parameters, viz. growth of plants, number of tillers, biomass and oil content of lemon grass are evaluated. The studies have indicated that growth parameters of lemon grass in 1:1 composition of garden soil and iron ore tailings are significantly more (-5% increase) compared to plants grown in control soil. However, the oil content of lemon grass in both the cases more or less remained same. The results also infer that at higher proportion of tailings the yield of biomass decreases. The studies indicate that lemongrass with its fibrous root system is proved to be an efficient soil binder by preventing soil erosion.

Application of dolochar in the removal of cadmium and hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous solutions

Dolochar, a waste material generated in sponge iron industry, is processed and put to test as an adsorbent for removal of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions. The dolochar samples were characterised to determine the different phases and their distribution by reflection microscopy. The analysis indicated that the sample consists of metallic iron, fused carbon, and Ca-Mg bearing phases (Ca-Mg-silicate-oxide) along with lots of voids and pores. The fixed carbon (FC) content of the material is 13.8% with a Langmuir surface area of 81.6m(2)/g and micropore area of 34.1m(2)/g. Batch adsorption experiments have been conducted to study the sorption behaviour of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) ions on dolochar as a function of particle size, contact time, adsorbent dosages, pH and temperature. It is observed that higher pH and temperature enhances sorption of Cd(II) ions. In contrast, the adsorption for Cr(VI) is found to be better in acidic pH in comparison to alkaline media. The equilibrium adsorption isotherm data are tested by applying both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. It is observed that Langmuir isotherm model fitted better compared to the Freundlich model indicating monolayer adsorption. The thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° indicate the effectiveness of dolochar to remove Cd(II) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution. The kinetics of adsorption is found to better fit to pseudo second order reaction.

The Fabrication of Semiconductor Nanostructure Arrays on a Silicon Substrate Using an Anodized Aluminum Template

We have developed a nanogrowth technology for the fabrication of periodic arrays of semiconductor nanostructures on silicon that is currently being investigated for silicon based x-ray detectors. The semiconductor nanostructures are formed by chemical synthesis in pores of a template created by the anodization of aluminum on a silicon substrate. The use of the silicon substrate allows greater control over the aluminum thin film properties, better in situ monitoring of the pore formation process, and the direct integration of nanostructure arrays with conventional silicon technology.