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Indian nuclear industries emphasize on metal fuel which shows significant advantages over ceramic fuels in fast reactor fuel cycles, where sodium is used as bonding material. The sodium discharged from rejected sodium bonded metal fuel pins is blended with uranium and plutonium metals labelled as contaminated sodium. This contaminated sodium is converted to borosilicate glass with the addition of suitable glass formers and modifiers. Pristine borosilicate glass of known composition and doped glasses were prepared with fixed Na/Si ratio by addition of (i) U 3 O 8 (5 wt %) and (ii) oxides of U, Ce, Nd, and Gd (together 5 wt %) labelled as BSGU and BSGURE respectively. Thermo-physical properties of these glasses are favourable towards safe disposal however, it is essential to evaluate aqueous alteration named as chemical durability (at 363 K) before using contaminated sodium. Surface morphology and chemical durability of pristine BSG were evaluated and compared with doped BSGs. The normalized leach rate for seven days was found to be 1.8 × 10 –4 , 5.5 × 10 –5 , and 4.2 × 10 –5 g cm –2 day –1 for pristine BSG, BSGU, and BSGURE respectively. The enhancement of chemical durability on doped glasses is due to addition of dopants.

Primary components of sodium cooled fast reactors get contaminated due to activity transport that occurs from core to out-of-core through coolant which causes activity burden to the personnel during operation and maintenance. To minimize the MAN-REM issues it is necessary to scavenge 54 Mn, 60 Co and 65 Zn which are of major radiological concern from primary sodium using a compact device. Experimental studies were performed at various durations and temperatures with nickel as single trap material to trap the radionuclides simultaneously and its uptake was estimated. Trapping efficiency of porous and non-porous Ni at 773 K was estimated using radiotracer technique.

A role for interferon-γ (IFN-γ) has been implied in the atherogenic process. To determine whether exogenously administered IFN-γ exerts an effect on the development of atherosclerosis, we intraperitoneally administered either recombinant IFN-γ (100 U/g body weight) or phosphate buffered saline daily for 30 days to atherosclerosis-susceptible apolipoprotein E−/− mice (16-week-old male mice, n = 11 per group) fed a normal diet. Atherosclerotic lesion size was quantified in the ascending aorta. The number of T lymphocytes and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive cells within lesions were also quantified in this region. IFN-γ administration reduced serum cholesterol concentrations by 15% ( P = 0.02). For both groups, the majority of cholesterol was present in very low density lipoproteins, which were modestly reduced in mice receiving IFN-γ. Despite the decrease in serum cholesterol concentrations, IFN-γ injections significantly increased lesion size twofold compared to controls (119,980 ± 18,536 vs. 59,396 ± 20,017 μm 2; P = 0.038). IFN-γ also significantly increased the mean number of T lymphocytes (19 ± 4 vs. 7 ± 1 cells; P = 0.03) and MHC class II-positive cells (10 ± 3 vs. 3 ± 1 cells; P = 0.04) within lesions. These data lend further support to a pro-atherogenic role of IFN-γ.

We have shown recently that administration of exogenous interferon-γ (IFN-γ) to apolipoprotein E (apoE)-/- mice augmented atherogenesis. In the present study, we examined whether deficiency of endogenous IFN-γ would reduce atherosclerosis in apoE-/- mice. Compound-deficient mice were generated by crossing strain-matched IFN-γ -/- and apoE-/- mice and comparing them to apoE-/- mice. Groups of both genders were fed either a normal or a high-fat diet. IFN-γ deficiency did not affect serum cholesterol concentrations or lipoprotein-cholesterol distributions in any groups. IFN-γ deficiency had no effect on serum triglyceride concentrations, except for an increase noted in males fed a normal diet. The extent of atherosclerosis was determined in tissue sections of the ascending aorta and on the surface of the aortic arch. During feeding of normal diets, IFN-γ deficiency had no effect on the extent of atherosclerosis in female mice in either vascular bed. In contrast, in male mice fed normal diet, IFN-γ deficiency markedly decreased lesion size in both vascular beds. During feeding of high-fat diets, IFN-γ deficiency also had no effect on lesion size in females but profoundly decreased lesion size in the aortic root of male mice. IFN-γ deficiency had no effect on the abundance of T lymphocytes or MHC class II-positive cells in aortic root lesions of females. By comparison, both these parameters were reduced in lesions of male mice. Therefore, IFN-γ deficiency decreased atherogenesis, potentially by decreasing T lymphocyte presence and cell activation, without influencing serum cholesterol concentrations. However, this effect is strikingly restricted to male mice.

A convenient, simple, specific, accurate, precise, rapid, inexpensive isocratic Reversed Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of Efavirenz in pharmaceutical tablet dosage forms. RP-HPLC method was developed by using Welchrom C18 Column (4.6 X 250 mm, 5µm), Shimadzu LC-20AT Prominence Liquid Chromatograph. The mobile phase composed of 10 mM Phosphate buffer (pH-3.0, adjusted with triethylamine): acetonitrile (50:50 v/v). The flow rate was set to 1.2 mL.min-1 with the responses measured at 246 nm using Shimadzu SPD-20A Prominence UV-Vis detector. The retention time of Efavirenz was found to be 9.563 minutes. Linearity was established for Efavirenz in the range of 2-10 µg.mL-1 with correlation coefficient 0.9999. The LOD and the LOQ were found to be 0.0183 μg.mL-1 and 0.0555 μg.mL-1 respectively. The amount of Efavirenz present in the formulation was found to be 99.82%. The validation of the developed method was carried out for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, limit of detection, limit of quantitation. The developed method can be used for routine quality control analysis of Efavirenz in pharmaceutical tablet dosage form.

We have shown recently that administration of exogenous interferon- gamma (IFN- gamma ) to apolipoprotein E (apoE) super(-/-) mice augmented atherogenesis. In the present study, we examined whether deficiency of endogenous IFN- gamma would reduce atherosclerosis in apoE super(-/-) mice. Compound-deficient mice were generated by crossing strain-matched IFN- gamma super(-/-) and apoE super(-/-) mice and comparing them to apoE super(-/-) mice. Groups of both genders were fed either a normal or a high-fat diet. IFN- gamma deficiency did not affect serum cholesterol concentrations or lipoprotein-cholesterol distributions in any groups. IFN- gamma deficiency had no effect on serum triglyceride concentrations, except for an increase noted in males fed a normal diet. The extent of atherosclerosis was determined in tissue sections of the ascending aorta and on the surface of the aortic arch. During feeding of normal diets, IFN- gamma deficiency had no effect on the extent of atherosclerosis in female mice in either vascular bed. In contrast, in male mice fed normal diet, IFN- gamma deficiency markedly decreased lesion size in both vascular beds. During feeding of high-fat diets, IFN- gamma deficiency also had no effect on lesion size in females but profoundly decreased lesion size in the aortic root of male mice. IFN- gamma deficiency had no effect on the abundance of T lymphocytes or MHC class II-positive cells in aortic root lesions of females. By comparison, both these parameters were reduced in lesions of male mice. Therefore, IFN- gamma deficiency decreased atherogenesis, potentially by decreasing T lymphocyte presence and cell activation, without influencing serum cholesterol concentrations. However, this effect is strikingly restricted to male mice.

An l -glutamic acid lithium chloride (LGLC) semi-organic nonlinear optical crystal has been grown using a slow evaporation process. Single-crystal XRD investigations confirmed the orthorhombic crystal system of the LGLC crystal. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to find and confirm the presence of important functional groups in the synthesized crystal. A UV–Vis–NIR transmission spectrum in the 200–1100 nm band was used to characterize the crystal. Compared to the standard reference crystal KDP, the LGLC crystal’s SHG efficiency was 1.21 times greater. According to the TG–DTA results, the thermal stability of LGLC is 215 °C. A photoluminescence spectroscopy analysis documented the electron excitation in the grown crystal. The grown crystal surface characteristics were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ (3)  = 2.154 × 10 –8 of LGLC grown crystal was utilized to estimate the values for third-order NLO characteristics and its suitability in NLO applications.

A semi-organic, nonlinear optical single crystal of l -Glutamic acid Cadmium Chloride (LGCC) was grown at room temperature from an aqueous solution by using the slow evaporation method. SXRD studies indicate that it belongs to the orthorhombic system. Powder XRD method is used to study the crystalline nature of the grown LGCC crystal. FTIR spectral analysis was employed to ascertain the functional group existing in the grown crystal. An optical transmission study found that the LGCC crystal had wider transmittance across the complete UV–Vis-NIR spectrum, with a lower cut-off wavelength of 252 nm. Vicker’s microhardness test findings were used to calculate the mechanical strength of the grown crystal. Employing Kurtz’s powder technique, it was estimated that the SHG of crystal was 1.06 times that of KDP. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analytical studies help us to measure title crystal’s melting point and thermal stability. The photoluminescence characteristics of the LGCC crystal were revealed with PL analysis. To examine the microstructure of the grown crystal, a scanning electron microscope investigation was performed.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of fish collagen peptides (FCP) from the skin of great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) to avert the occurrence of gastric ulcer in experimental rats. FCP treatment prevented the formation of ulcerative lesions on gastric tissues with 86% of inhibition. The histopathology analysis of gastric tissue revealed that the FCP intake prevented the occurrence of hemorrhage and erosion in gastric tissue with formation of mild edema and necrosis, as well as normalized the pH and volume of gastric juice. It also downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory marker interferon-ɤ (IFN-ɤ) and upregulated the anti-inflammatory marker interleukin-4 (IL-4) in gastric tissue. FCP is capable to modulate the oxidative stress by enhancing the activity of antioxidant defense enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase and by lowering the levels of membrane lipid peroxidation.

Glycine sodium fluoride (GSF) single crystals were grown in aqueous solution at room temperature through the slow evaporation method. The grown crystal is confirmed to be hexagonal by X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. By analyzing the FTIR spectrum, the functional groups present in the grown crystal were determined. The optical band gap energy Eg is calculated to be 5.81 eV and the crystal is transparent in the visible range with a lower cut-off wavelength of 243 nm. Using a Nd:YAG laser with a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm, the second harmonic generation was established by the Kurtz–Perry technique. The measurements of nonlinear absorption coefficient, nonlinear refractive index and third-order nonlinear susceptibility were carried out in a Z-scan experiment to determine the third-order NLO behaviour of GSF crystal. The crystal dielectric properties were measured from 50 Hz to 5 MHz at different temperatures. The research into the crystal photo conductivity shows that it is really a positive photo conductor. SEM analysis was used to investigate the surface morphology. Sodium metal has been incorporated into GSF crystal, as shown by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. There was a red emission peak at 648 nm in the photoluminescence spectrum. In order to determine the thermal parameters of a GSF crystal, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were used.