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In this work, new plasticized solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are developed using MC (methylcellulose) as a polymer host, and sodium iodide (NaI) as a dopant via the solution casting method. Ethyl carbonate (EC) is used as a plasticizing agent to improve the properties of the SPEs. Polarized optical microscopy analysis reveals that the surface morphology of the MC‐NaI‐EC films contained porous amorphous regions owing to the presence of EC. The complex formation between MC, NaI, and EC is confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectra. The addition of EC in the MC‐NaI polymer salt matrix enhances the electrochemical properties of the prepared films. The highest ionic conductivity of 5.06×10−3 S/cm is achieved for the composition: MC+50 wt. % NaI +10 wt. % EC. The linear sweep voltammetry test reveals that the optimal plasticized‐SPE can withstand up to 2.5 V. The ionic transference number analysis reveals that 99% of ions contribute to the total conductivity. The optimized SPE film and graphene oxide‐based electrodes are used to manufacture a solid‐state electrical double‐layer capacitor. The coulomb efficiency of the supercapacitor cell is 100%, and the specific capacitance of the supercapacitor is found to be 18.56 F/g utilizing impedance data at low frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well water quality has been characterized with constant and continuous changes via the interaction of rock, soil and natural nano-filters which terminates at the aquiferous layer for clean well-water collection. The continuous exploration and production of crude oil has resulted significant increase of unwanted elements such as naturally occurring radionuclides in the water-bed which necessitates this study. The study determines the radionuclides based health impact or hazards associated with drinking water from crude oil exploration/production release in Ughievwen and Udu communities of Delta State, Nigeria. Sixty well water samples (three samples from each community) were collected and analyzed using sodium iodide (Nal (Tl)) detector. The obtained mean values of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 6.91 ± 1.62BqL-1, 4.39 ± 1.47 BqL-1 and 24.54 ± 1.59 BqL-1 respectively. The 238U, 232Th and 40K results showed that the measured values are higher than the world standard (UNSCEAR; WHO) and the control values The mean values of total annual effective dose of different age groups are: 11.08 mSvy-1, 2.54 mSvy-1, 1.93 mSvy-1, 2.52 mSvy-1, 7.03 mSvy-1 and 1.12 mSvy-1 respectively. While the mean committed effective dose of adult is 55.94 mSvy-1. The total annual effective dose, committed effective dose, cancer risks and hereditary effects are all lower than recommended limit (WHO; ICRP; USEPA) and reported scientific values except 11.08 mSvy-1 and 7.03 mSvy-1 that are higher than limit. It is evident from obtained results that the drinking water may not be radiologically safe for use by the public, which necessitates routine monitoring and caution to circumvent increase in radiation and the radiological of the studied communities' drinking water. This is to avoid long term radiological risk arising from accumulation of such release in the studied communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature loss of root canal-treated primary teeth has long been a concern in dentistry. To address this, researchers developed a sodium iodide-based root canal-filling material as an alternative to traditional iodoform-based materials. The goal of this study was to improve the physicochemical properties of the sodium iodide-based material to meet clinical use standards. To resolve high solubility issues in the initial formulation, researchers adjusted component ratios and added new ingredients, resulting in a new paste called L5. This study compared L5 with L0 (identical composition minus lanolin) and Vitapex as controls, conducting physicochemical and antibacterial tests. Results showed that L5 met all ISO 6876 standards, demonstrated easier injection and irrigation properties than Vitapex, and exhibited comparable antibacterial efficacy to Vitapex, which is currently used clinically. The researchers conclude that if biological stability is further verified, L5 could potentially be presented as a new option for root canal-filling materials in primary teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radio nuclear quality radio activity (40K,232Th, and 238U) was measured. by (Iodide Sodium standard system activated with Thallium 3x3, NaI(Tl) Detector). Four samples of soils were collected at a depth (5cm-20cm) from the various locations in University of Karbala in the city of Karbala. to calibrate detector (137Cs,60Co and 22Na) were used. Through the comparing between The results in this search and the international standards for soil pollution showed that the activity concentrations values of 238U.232Th, and 40K are lower than international recommended limits. Radium equivalent activity as well as the annual dosage that works values are lower than the maximum permissible levels recommended by world health organization, In both stations, the values of the internal and external hazard indexes as well as gamma activity concentration were less than unity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to estimate the level of radioactivity and its risks as a result of eating some food additives collected from the Iraqi market due to their frequent use in Iraqis' food. The study of these materials together was the first locally. Sodium Iodide NaI (Tl) detector was used to measure the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. The average value of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in processed products were 5.230, 3.294 and 246.395 Bq.kg-1, while for additives products were 4.287, 2.541 and 118.307 Bq.kg-1, respectively. For all age groups (y < 3, 3 < y < 10, y ≥ 10), annual committed effective dose μSv with an average values 0.023, 0.012 and 0.014 respectively, equivalent dose for stomach with an average 119, 146 and 170 *10-5 ms.y-1 respectively, also equivalent dose ms.y-1 for large intestine with an average 8.312, 4.266 and 4.985*10-5 ms.y-1 respectively . Over life cancer risk, the International Commission on Radiation Protection's recommended detriment adjusted nominal risk coefficients and estimated committed effective dose were multiplied to calculate the estimated lifetime cancer risks of 8.312*10-5, 4.266*10-5, and 4.985*10-5 respectively .These estimated values are significantly lower than the 2.5 x 10-3 ICRP cancer risk based on an annual dose limit of 1mSv for the general public, which results in an annual death probability of 10-5, or 1 in 100,000. The estimated values are less than the global permissible value ICRP and NCRP reports, which means that the materials studied and consumed in abundance are safe for health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the activity and concentration of natural radionuclides were determined for 40K, 232Th, and 238U in from the ancient city Nippur (Nefer), located in Al-Qadisiyah Governorate. study the activity concentrations by using a scintillation detector (3" x 3") and measure radionuclides' qualitative effectiveness for these items. The sodium iodide activated by Thallium NaI (Tl) has been used to perform the activity measurements. 15 samples had their natural radioactivity levels assessed at three different depths: 5cm, 50cm, and 1m . 40K, Th232, and 238U had average specific activities of (143.446±1.024, 13.848±0.305, and 10.779±0.418) Bq/kg in depth (5)cm, (133.498±1.016, 13.48±0.331 and 10.701±0.416) Bq/kg in depth (50) cm, and( 100) m. 40K, 232Th, and 238U had average specific activities of (53.527±1.067, 15.305±0.348, and 10.849±0.417) Bq/kg. correspondingly for each of the three depths, the average radium equivalent activity was(41.545±0.965, 40.130±0.828,44.430±0.995) Bq/kg. For each of the three depths, the corresponding internal and external risk factors were (0.106±0.000258,0.142±0.00038),(0.105±0.000227,0.136±0.000347), (0.118±0.000256, 0.129±0.00038). For each of the three depths, the representative levels index's average values were (0.323±0.000727, 0.294±0.000581, 0.329±0.00129). The average internal and exterior absorbed dose levels for each of the three depths were expressed in (nGy/h) (17.681 ±0.436, 18.882±0.384, 20.586±0.449). Values of the internal and exterior annual effective dosage equivalents for the same three depths, respectively (0.09±0.0000175, 0.0194±0.0000949) mSv/y, (0.09±0.0000175, ±0.0000476) mSv/y, (0.098±0.000258, 0.024±0.0000554) mSv/y. average value of lifetime risk of cancer from the three consecutive depths were (0.300±000818 x10-3), (0.398±0.0720 x10-3), (0.364±0.000941 x10-3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to examine the environmental reality by calculating the concentrations of lead and Bismuth Pb^214,Pb^212& Bi^212,Bi^214 from Al- Nasiriyah and Al-Hartha thermoelectrically power plants and the extent of pollution resulting from the use of oil from oil wells or stations in southern Iraq. In this research, fifteen samples were collected from Al-Nasiriya and Al-Hartha thermoelectrically power plants from different locations within the mentioned plants, seven from the Nasiriyah thermoelectrically power plant and eight from the Al-Hartha thermoelectrically power plant The presence of the elements lead and bismuth, which are not good in all respects, They were found through a curve energy by using a sodium iodide detector system doped with thallium NaI(Tl) with dimensions of 3 x 3 and a measurement time of three hour. The focus on these two components in this piece of writing exactly concentrations it is higher than the world wide limit by UNSCEAR (30 Bq /kg) for Lead & (2.5 Bq/kg) for Bismuth in fly ash, Note that there is a sample within the permissible limit or less than it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To characterize the influence of female-specific hormones on women's thyroid function, the study investigated the influence of extra progestin from oral contraceptives on inducing thyroid dysfunction. Methods: Sixty female Wistar rats were divided into six groups based on levonorgestrel or desogestrel administration as the main active agents: control, low (0.0039 mg*20-fold), medium (0.0039 mg*100-fold), high (0.0318 mg*100-fold) levonorgestrel (pure product); and low (0.0083 mg*20-fold) and high (0.0083 mg*100-fold) desogestrel (pure product). Progestin was administered by gavage every 4 days for 1 month. Statistical analysis was performed using oneway analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Following levonorgestrel gavage, serum free T4 and thyroidstimulating hormone levels were significantly lower in the experimental group than that in the control group (p=0.013 and 0.043). After desogestrel gavage, the serum free T4 and free T3 levels were lower in the experimental group than that in the control group (p=0.019 and 0.030). Thyroid hormone antibody concentrations were lower in rats administered levonorgestrel and desogestrel than that in control rats. Moreover, exposure to progestin upregulated the expression of the thyroidstimulating hormone receptor and sodium iodide symporter in thyroid. Discussion: Progestin stimulation enhanced the proliferation of follicular epithelial cells in rat thyroid tissues. Progestin exposure could cause thyroid dysfunction by upregulating the transcription of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and sodium iodide symporter in thyroid, thus inducing pathomorphological changes in rats' thyroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a conceptually novel polynomial encoding algorithm for simulating potential energy operators encoded in diagonal unitary forms in a quantum computing machine. The current trend in quantum computational chemistry is effective experimentation to achieve high-precision quantum computational advantage. However, high computational gate complexity and fidelity loss are some of the impediments to the realization of this advantage in a real quantum hardware. In this study, we address the challenges of building a diagonal Hamiltonian operator having exponential functional form, and its implementation in the context of the time evolution problem (Hamiltonian simulation and encoding). Potential energy operators when represented in the first quantization form is an example of such types of operators. Through systematic decomposition and construction, we demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed polynomial encoding method in reducing gate complexity from O (2 n) to O ∑ i = 1 r n C r (for some r ≪ n ). This offers a solution with lower complexity in comparison to the conventional Hadamard basis encoding approach. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was validated with its implementation in the IBM quantum simulator and IBM quantum hardware. This study demonstrates the proposed approach by taking the example of the potential energy operator of the sodium iodide molecule (NaI) in the first quantization form. The numerical results demonstrate the potential applicability of the proposed method in quantum chemistry problems, while the analytical bound for error analysis and computational gate complexity discussed, throw light on issues regarding its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying iodine fertilizers to cultivate iodine-rich crops for daily intake is an effective approach for iodine supplementation, especially for aromatic rice. Field experiments were conducted during the early growing seasons of 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the impacts of foliar application of iodine fertilizer on aromatic rice and to explore the optimal iodine fertilizer concentration. At the full heading stage, six different concentrations of sodium iodide solutions of 0% (CK), 0.010% (T1), 0.025% (T2), 0.050% (T3), 0.075% (T4), and 0.100% (T5) were applied to indica aromatic rice cultivars Meixiangzhan 2 and Xiangyaxiangzhan. The results showed that sodium iodide treatments significantly increased the iodine and sodium contents in both leaves and grains. Compared with the CK, the T1 and T2 treatments increased the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) content in mature grains by 8.41%‒101.66% and 13.58%‒ 74.60%, respectively. Improvements in the contents of 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid, proline, 1-pyrroline, and methylglyoxal, as well as the activity of proline dehydrogenase were also detected. Additionally, sodium iodide treatments remarkably decreased the chalky grain rate, chalkiness area, and chalkiness degree of aromatic rice, with the T2 treatment exhibiting a 17.79%‒47.42% decrease in chalkiness degree compared with the CK. Meanwhile, T1 and T2 treatments showed beneficial impacts on chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics, and yield components, while T3, T4, and T5 treatments exhibited adverse effects on leaf and grain yields. The linear discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between treatments. The correlation analysis and piecewise structural equation modeling showed that the iodine and sodium influenced the photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll content of the leaves, thereby regulating the 2-AP biosynthesis and yield components, ultimately affecting the 2-AP content and yield. Overall, this study suggests that foliar application of 0.025% sodium iodide is an effective method to enrich the iodine content in rice grains, improve the grain aroma and appearance quality of aromatic rice, without detrimental effects on grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascularized composite allografts (VCA) face ischemic challenges due to their limited availability. Reperfusion following ischemia triggers oxidative stress and immune reactions, and scavenger molecules could mitigate ischemia–reperfusion injuries and, therefore, immune rejection. We compared two scavengers in a myocutaneous flap VCA model. In total, 18 myocutaneous flap transplants were performed in Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-defined miniature swine. In the MATCH group (n = 9), donors and recipients had minor antigen mismatch, while the animals were fully mismatched in the MISMATCH group (n = 9). Grafts were pretreated with saline, sodium iodide (NaI), or hydrogen sulfide (H2S), stored at 4 °C for 3 h, and then transplanted. Flaps were monitored until clinical rejection without immunosuppression. In the MATCH group, flap survival did not significantly differ between the saline and hydrogen sulfide treatments (p = 0.483) but was reduced with the sodium iodide treatment (p = 0.007). In the MISMATCH group, survival was similar between the saline and hydrogen sulfide treatments (p = 0.483) but decreased with the sodium iodide treatment (p = 0.007). Rhabdomyolysis markers showed lower but non-significant levels in the experimental subgroups for both the MATCH and MISMATCH animals. This study provides insightful data for the field of antioxidant-based approaches in VCA and transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to apply the principles of analytical quality by design (AQbD) to the analytical method for determining the radiochemical purity (PQR) of the radiopharmaceutical sodium iodide 131I oral solution, utilizing thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with a radio–TLC scanner, which also enables the evaluation of product quality. For AQbD, the analytical target profile (ATP), critical quality attributes (CQA), risk management, and the method operable design region (MODR) were defined through response surface methodology to optimize the method using MINITAB® 19 software. This study encompassed the establishment of a control strategy and the validation of the method, including the assessment of selectivity, linearity, precision, robustness, detection limit, quantification limit, range, and the stability of the sample solution. Under the experimental conditions, the method parameters of the TLC scanner were experimentally demonstrated and optimized with an injection volume of 3 µL, a radioactive concentration of 10 mCi/mL, and a carrier volume of 40 µL. Statistical analysis confirmed the method's selectivity for the 131I iodide band Rf of 0.8, a radiochemical impurity IO3− Rf of 0.6, a linearity from 6.0 to 22.0 mCi/mL, and an intermediate precision with a global relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.624%. The method also exhibited robustness, with a global RSD of 0.101%, a detection limit of 0.09 mCi/mL, and a quantification limit of 0.53 Ci/mL, meeting the prescribed range and displaying stability over time (at 0, 2, and 20 h) with a global RSD of 0.362%, resulting in consistent outcomes. The development of a method based on AQbD facilitated the creation of a design space and an operational space, with comprehensive knowledge of the method's characteristics and limitations. Additionally, throughout all operations, compliance with the acceptance criteria was verified. The method's validity was confirmed under the established conditions, making it suitable for use in the manufacturing process of sodium iodide 131I and application in nuclear medicine services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adjuvant systemic therapies effectively reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and metastasis, but therapy resistance can develop in some patients due to breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Oncolytic adenovirus (OAd) represents a promising therapeutic approach as it can specifically target cancer cells. However, its potential to target BCSCs remains unclear. Here, we evaluated a Cox-2 promoter-controlled, Ad5/3 fiber-modified OAd designed to encode the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS) in breast cancer models. To confirm the potential of OAds to target BCSCs, we employed BCSC-enriched estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) paclitaxel-resistant (TaxR) cells and tumorsphere assays. OAd-hNIS demonstrated significantly enhanced binding and superior oncolysis in breast cancer cells, including ER+ cells, while exhibiting no activity in normal mammary epithelial cells. We observed improved NIS expression as the result of adenovirus death protein deletion. OAd-hNIS demonstrated efficacy in targeting TaxR BCSCs, exhibiting superior killing and hNIS expression compared to the parental cells. Our vector was capable of inhibiting tumorsphere formation upon early infection and reversing paclitaxel resistance in TaxR cells. Importantly, OAd-hNIS also destroyed already formed tumorspheres seven days after their initiation. Overall, our findings highlight the promise of OAd-hNIS as a potential tool for studying and targeting ER+ breast cancer recurrence and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of natural radionuclides in soil samples from artisanal gold mine sites in Iperindo, Nigeria was conducted using different analysis methods. Soil samples collected across three locations and within a control area were analyzed using well-calibrated gamma spectroscopy fitted with a sodium iodide detector. The average activity concentrations (ranges) of 238U, 232Th, and 40 K were found to be 61.55 ± 13.97 (33.40–87.00) Bqkg−1, 72.65 ± 16.83 (41.90–105.10) Bqkg−1, and 1134.99 ± 142.24 (720.50–1722.10) Bqkg−1, respectively for the mining areas and 15.26 ± 6.96 (10.90–20.10) Bqkg−1, 21.46 ± 9.35 (17.40–25.30) Bqkg−1, and 381.04 ± 51.27 (280.30–511.70) Bqkg−1, respectively for the control locations. The average activity concentrations of the radionuclides assessed were above the worldwide permissible limits for the Iperindo mining areas and below the worldwide average for the control areas. The investigation also assessed various radiological parameters, encompassing the radium equivalent, dose rate, annual effective dose rate, internal and external hazard indices, alpha and gamma indices, annual gonadal equivalent, and excess lifetime cancer risk. The recorded values for mine locations were 252.83 Bqkg−1, 119.98 nGyh−1, 0.15 mSvy−1, 0.85 Bqkg−1, 0.68 Bqkg−1, 0.31 Bqkg−1, 1.89 Bqkg−1, 850.23 μSvy−1, and 0.52 × 10−3, respectively. Except for the radium equivalent, external and internal hazard risks, and the alpha index, which were notably below the recommended threshold, all the other radiological parameters exceeded the globally advised limits. All the radiological parameters from the control areas were below the worldwide average values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of sodium metal batteries (SMBs) is known for their low cost and high energy density. However, a major concern in SMBs is the formation of dendrites on the Na metal anode, which can potentially cause short circuits and compromise safety. Herein, to address this issue, we propose a novel approach to create a protective layer by decorating Na surface with NaI particles. This protective layer exhibits a high Young's modulus and excellent sodium ion transference ability. As a result, the lifespan of the Na/NaI||Na/NaI cell is significantly extended to 850 h at 0.5 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2. Furthermore, when the Na/NaI anode is combined with a Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) cathode, the full cell retains 83 mAh g−1 (approximately 94% of its initial capacity) even after 1500 cycles at 5 C. Overall, this work presents a simple and effective method for establishing a protective layer on the Na surface, thereby enabling the realization of long lifespan and stable SMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[18F]tetrafluoroborate (TFB) has been introduced as the 18F-labeled PET imaging probe for the human sodium iodide symporter (NIS). Noninvasive NIS imaging using [18F]TFB has received much interest in recent years for evaluating various NIS-expressing tumors. Cancers are a global concern with enormous implications; therefore, improving diagnostic methods for accurate detection of cancer is extremely important. Our aim was to investigate the PET imaging capabilities of [18F]TFB in NIS-transfected lung cell line A549 and endogenous NIS-expressing tumor cells, such as thyroid cancer K1 and gastric cancer MKN45, and broaden its application in the medical field. Western blot and flow cytometry were used to assess the NIS expression level. Radioactivity counts of [18F]TFB, in vitro, in the three tumor cells were substantially higher than those in the KI inhibition group in the uptake experiment. In vivo PET imaging clearly delineated the three tumors based on the specific accumulation of [18F]TFB in a mouse model. Ex vivo biodistribution investigation showed high [18F]TFB absorption in the tumor location, which was consistent with the PET imaging results. These results support the use of NIS-transfected lung cell line A549 and NIS-expressing tumor cells MKN45 and K1, to investigate probing capabilities of [18F]TFB. We also demonstrate, for the first time, the feasibility of [18F]TFB in diagnosing stomach cancer. In conclusion, this study illustrates the promising future of [18F]TFB for tumor diagnosis and NIS reporter imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioactive iodine therapy and posttreatment scanning are essential components of differentiated thyroid carcinoma treatment and detection of metastatic disease. False-positive results can be seen on an I-131 scan and are important for clinicians to be aware of. Here, we present a case of a 33-year-old female with follicular thyroid carcinoma who was noted to have an area of moderate uptake in the chest on a whole-body scan following remnant ablation with 30 mCi of I-131 (1.11GBq) concerning for a metastatic hilar lymph node. This was determined to be a mediastinal bronchogenic cyst on surgical pathology. It has been previously proposed that the expression of sodium iodide symporters in some bronchogenic cysts could be the mechanism by which iodine uptake is seen within them. We were able to demonstrate positive immunohistochemical staining for both sodium iodide symporter and the associated paired box gene 8 transcription factor in the cyst sample, which supports the proposed theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid oxidation in food products is a crucial problem that causes undesirable changes in the food's flavor, texture, and nutritional value. It should be carefully monitored as it can lead to the formation of potentially toxic compounds and in that way reduce the shelf life of the product. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry is a powerful tool to monitor the formation of oxidized lipids. However, the presence of lipid species in both their non-oxidized and oxidized forms at distinctly different concentrations can hinder the detection and identification of the less abundant oxidized species, due to coelution. In this study, a flow injection mass spectrometry approach was used to selectively ionize oxidized triacylglycerols versus their non-oxidized precursors. Three mobile phase additives were investigated (ammonium formate, sodium acetate, and sodium iodide) at three different concentrations, and ion source settings (i.e., sheath gas temperature, capillary voltage, and nozzle voltage) were optimized. A fractional factorial design was conducted to examine not only the direct effect of the operating parameters on the selectivity of ionization for the oxidized lipid species, but also to assess their combined effect. Overall, selective ionization of oxidized versus non-oxidized lipid species was favored by the use of sodium-containing solvent additives. The application of specific ion source settings resulted in an increased ionization selectivity, with sheath gas temperature and capillary voltage having the most significant influence. A selectivity factor as high as 120 could be reached by combining 0.1 mg/mL sodium-containing additives, with 250 °C sheath gas temperature and 5000 V capillary voltage. These findings will contribute to future studies on fast detection and relative quantification of low abundant oxidized triacylglycerols and their possible impact on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented beetroot juice is a beverage obtained from the fermentation of beetroot, most commonly red beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. conditiva). Nowadays, this product is increasingly recognised as a functional food with potentially beneficial health properties. It has been suggested to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, and probiotic effects, among others. Moreover, with the increasing popularity of the drink, newer variants are appearing in the food market, obtained by modifying the traditional recipe, adding other raw materials, herbs, and spices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of the selected fermented beetroot juices in different flavour variants available in the Polish food market. The study material consisted of six fermented beetroot juices: traditional, with garlic, with horseradish, with acerola, without salt, and iodized. The obtained results showed that the addition of acerola, horseradish, garlic, salt, and iodine in the form of sodium iodide and potassium iodide influenced the composition and properties of fermented beetroot juice. The most promising product in terms of potentially beneficial health properties related to the prevention of free radical diseases was fermented beetroot juice without salt (FRAP—5663.40 µM Fe (II)/L, ABTS—96.613%, TPC—760.020 mg GAE/L, TFC—221.280 mg RE/L). Iodized fermented beetroot juice had the highest vitamin C content—51.859 mg/100 mL. However, all the products tested were characterised by a significant content of biologically active substances with antioxidant properties and showed a high antioxidant potential. Moreover, all the fermented beetroot juices were rated positively in terms of flavour intensity, sweetness, acidity, colour, and overall acceptability. They can, therefore, be a good source of antioxidants in the daily diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the use of sodium iodide (NaI), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethyl alcohol, and ethyl acetate as cone-beam CT (CBCT) contrast agents for diagnosing cracked teeth. The optimal delay time for detecting the number of crack lines beyond the dentino-enamel junction (Nd), the number of cracks extending from the occlusal surface to the pulp cavity (Np), and the depth of the crack lines was explored. Methods: 14 human extracted cracked teeth were collected, 12 were used for enhanced scanning, and 2 were used for exploring the characteristic of crack lines. The teeth were scanned in 3 CBCT enhanced scanning (ES) modes: ES1 using meglumine diatrizoate (MD); ES2 using NaI and DMSO, ES3 using NaI, DMSO, ethyl alcohol and ethyl acetate. Three delay times (15mins, 30mins, and 60mins) were set for scanning. Nd, Np, and depth of crack lines were evaluated. Results: There were totally 24 crack lines on 12 cracked teeth. Nd was 10 in ES1 at 60mins, 24 in ES2 at 60mins and 24 in ES3 at 15mins. Np was 1 in ES1 at 60mins, 10 in ES2 at 60mins and 21 in ES3 at 60mins, and there were significantly different among them (p

Premature loss of root canal-treated primary teeth has long been a concern in dentistry. To address this, researchers developed a sodium iodide-based root canal-filling material as an alternative to traditional iodoform-based materials. The goal of this study was to improve the physicochemical properties of the sodium iodide-based material to meet clinical use standards. To resolve high solubility issues in the initial formulation, researchers adjusted component ratios and added new ingredients, resulting in a new paste called L5. This study compared L5 with L0 (identical composition minus lanolin) and Vitapex as controls, conducting physicochemical and antibacterial tests. Results showed that L5 met all ISO 6876 standards, demonstrated easier injection and irrigation properties than Vitapex, and exhibited comparable antibacterial efficacy to Vitapex, which is currently used clinically. The researchers conclude that if biological stability is further verified, L5 could potentially be presented as a new option for root canal-filling materials in primary teeth.

NaI as electrolyte additive is used to inhibit Zn dendrite growth, which achieves excellent electrochemical performance of Zn-ion batteries. [Display omitted] • The NaI additive can promote uniform deposition of Zn in charge/discharge process. • NaI can adsorb on specific crystal faces Zn (0 0 2) and inducing negative charge to achieve uniform zinc deposition. • The Zn||Zn can operate over 1,100 h at10 mA cm−2/10 mAh cm−2, and DOD can reach 51.3 %. • The VO 2 ||Zn full-cell maintains of the capacity retention of 75.7 % over 300 cycles at 1 A g−1. Aqueous rechargeable Zn-ion batteries (ARZIBs) are promising for energy storage. However, the Zn dendrite and corrosive reactions on the surface of Zn anode limit the practical uses of ARZIBs. Herein, we present a valid electrolyte additive of NaI, in which I- can modulate the morphology of Zn crystal growth by adsorbing on specific crystal surfaces (0 0 2), and guide Zn deposition by inducing a negative charge on the Zn anode. Simultaneously, it enhances the reduction stability of water molecules by participating in the solvation structure of Zn(H 2 O) 6 2+ by forming ZnI(H 2 O) 5 +. At 10 mA cm−2, the assembled Zn symmetrical batteries can run stably over 1,100 h, and the depth of discharge (DOD) can reach 51.3 %. At 1 A g−1, the VO 2 ||Zn full-cell in 2 M ZnCl 2 electrolyte with 0.4 M NaI (2 M ZnCl 2 -0.4 M NaI) maintains of the capacity retention of 75.7 % over 300 cycles. This work offers an insight into inorganic anions as electrolyte additives for achieving stable zinc anodes of ARZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complex microenvironment and healing process of diabetic wounds, developing wound dressing with good biocompatibility, mechanical stability, breathability, exudate management, antibacterial ability, and immunomodulatory property is highly desired but remains a huge challenge. Herein, a multifunctional cryogel is designed and prepared with bio‐friendly bacterial cellulose, gelatin, and dopamine under the condition of sodium periodate oxidation. Bacterial cellulose can enhance the mechanical stability of the cryogel by improving the skeleton supporting effect and crosslinking degree. The cryogel shows outstanding breathability and exudate management capability thanks to the interpenetrated porous structures. I2 and sodium iodides produced in situ by reduction of sodium periodate provide efficient antibacterial properties for the cryogel. The cryogel facilitates macrophage polarization from M1 to M2, thus regulating the immune microenvironment of infected diabetic wounds. With these advantages, the multifunctional cryogel effectively promotes collagen deposition and neovascularization, thus accelerating the healing of infected diabetic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-destructive and reliable radiation-based gauges have been routinely used in industry to determine the thickness of metal layers. When the material's composition is understood in advance, only then can the standard radiation thickness meter be relied upon. Errors in thickness measurements are to be expected in settings where the actual composition of the material may deviate significantly from the nominal composition, such as rolled metal manufacturers. In this research, an X-ray-based system is proposed to determine the thickness of an aluminum sheet regardless of its alloy type. In the presented detection system, an X-ray tube with a voltage of 150 kV and two sodium iodide detectors, a transmission detector and a backscattering detector, were used. Between the X-ray tube and the transmission detector, an aluminum plate with different thicknesses, ranging from 2 to 45 mm, and with four alloys named 1050, 3050, 5052, and 6061 were simulated. The MCNP code was used as a very powerful platform in the implementation of radiation-based systems in this research to simulate the detection structure and the spectra recorded using the detectors. From the spectra recorded using two detectors, three features of the total count of both detectors and the maximum value of the transmission detector were extracted. These characteristics were applied to the inputs of an RBF neural network to obtain the relationship between the inputs and the thickness of the aluminum plate. The trained neural network was able to determine the thickness of the aluminum with an MRE of 2.11%. Although the presented methodology is used to determine the thickness of the aluminum plate independent of the type of alloy, it can be used to determine the thickness of other metals as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali metal halides have long been used as scintillators for applications as sensors and detectors. Usually, a small amount of impurities are added to these inorganic materials to improve their luminescence efficiencies. We investigate the structures and luminescent properties of un-doped sodium iodide (NaI) and cesium-doped NaI (NaI:Cs) films deposited by thermal vacuum evaporation. Instead of using the toxic element thallium (Tl), we introduced cesium dopant into NaI. This is the first study for the NaI:Cs film excited by UV LED's ultraviolet C (273 nm, 4.54 eV). The luminescence spectra show two main peaks at 3.05 and 4.32/3.955 eV (for fused silica/B270 substrate), originating from the intrinsic defects and/or activator excited states and the intrinsic self-trapped excitons (STEs), respectively. In general, both Cs-doping and post-annealing processes enhance the luminescence performance of NaI films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are based on methylcellulose (MC) used as a polymer host and sodium iodide (NaI) as a dopant. The SPE films are developed using different contents of ethyl carbonate (EC) as a plasticizer to enhance their properties via a solution casting method. The surface morphology of SPE films is shown using polarized optical microscopy (POM), which indicates the existence of amorphous patches due to the plasticizing effect of EC. The creation of a complex between MC, NaI, and EC was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. A tiny amount of EC applied to the MC-NaI polymer salt matrix increases the number of charge carriers and improves ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivity of the generated polymer electrolytes is examined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The high-ion conducting PE of 5.06 × 10−3 S·cm−1 was found with the mixture MC + 50 wt% NaI + 10 wt% EC (room temperature). The linear speed voltammetry (LSV) test shows that the optimized polymer electrolyte can withstand decomposition up to 2.5 V. The optimized sample transmission numbers were calculated using a TNM (transference number measurement) approach, and the results show that 99% of the ions contribute to the conductivity, compared to only 1% of the electrons. A solid-state electrical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) was fabricated using the highest ion-conductive polymer electrolyte and graphene oxide (GO)-based electrodes. The galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) technique was performed, and the GCD graph shows the behavior of an ideal capacitor with a less Faradic process and a low ESR value. The GO-based cell's columbic efficiency is 100%, and the system delivers the charge for a long duration. The EDLC cell demonstrates outstanding cyclability. The specific capacitance of the EDLC cell incorporated with MC + 50 wt. % NaI + 10 wt. % EC was found to be 154.66 F/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured the terrestrial activity contents, radiation doses; hazard indices and excessive lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) from primordial radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in 50 soil samples collected from the five selected hospitals within Imo State, Nigeria. Radioactivity measurements were carried out by the method of gamma-ray spectrometry with thallium doped sodium iodide [NaI(Tl)] detector. The mean activity values obtained for the radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K (respectively) in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri (FMC); General Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri West, (GHW); Neuroscience Hospital, Ohaji Egbema (NHO); St. Joseph Hospital, Okigwe (SJH); Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu (IMSUTH) are: 20.56±4.73, 14.96±3.42 and 105.65±31.40 Bqkg-1; 11.77±3.03, 17.45±4.20 and 63.67±18.44 Bqkg-1; 17.97±4.65,10.02±2.18 and 190.43±42.83 Bqkg-1; 11.36±3.71, 17.39±4.46 and 76.29±25.08 Bqkg-1; and 11.84±3.64, 4.89±2.25 and 165.18±58.41 Bqkg-1 respectively. These values were below the worldwide average values: 32 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, 45 Bqkg-1 for 232Th, and 412 Bqkg-1 for 40K as documented by UNSCEAR (2000). 40K recorded the highest mean activity compared to 226Ra and 232Th in the studied soil samples. Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed gamma dose rate (Dr), annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), external hazard index (Hex), gamma representative index (Ιϒr) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), were calculated to quantify the radiation risk to the public from exposure to 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the studied samples. In addition, excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was also accessed. The mean computed values of the excess lifetime cancer risk for FMC, GHW, NHO, SJH and IMSUTH are 0.08±0.03, 0.09±0.15, 0.10±0.2, 0.10±0.03 and 0.07±0.02 respectively. The mean values of these hazard parameters were within the acceptable safety limits provided for human safety and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We use high-resolution, hydrodynamic, galaxy simulations from the Latte suite of FIRE-2 simulations to investigate the inherent variation of dark matter in sub-sampled regions around the Solar Circle of a Milky Way-type analogue galaxy and its impact on direct dark matter detection. These simulations show that the baryonic back reaction, as well as the assembly history of substructures, has lasting impacts on the dark matter's spatial and velocity distributions. These are experienced as 'gusts' of dark matter wind around the Solar Circle, potentially complicating interpretations of direct detection experiments on Earth. We find that the velocity distribution function in the galactocentric frame shows strong deviations from the Maxwell Boltzmann form typically assumed in the fiducial Standard Halo Model, indicating the presence of high-velocity substructures. By introducing a new numerical integration technique that removes any dependencies on the Standard Halo Model, we generate event-rate predictions for both single-element Germanium and compound Sodium Iodide detectors, and explore how the variability of dark matter around the Solar Circle influences annual modulation signal predictions. We find that these velocity substructures contribute additional astrophysical uncertainty to the interpretation of event rates, although their impact on summary statistics, such as the peak day of annual modulation, is generally low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tissue environment is critical in determining tumour metabolic vulnerability. However, in vivo drug testing is slow and waiting for tumour growth delay may not be the most appropriate endpoint for metabolic treatments. An in vivo method for measuring energy stress would rapidly determine tumour targeting in a physiologically relevant environment. The sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) is an imaging reporter gene whose protein product co-transports sodium and iodide, and positron emission tomography (PET) radiolabelled anions into the cell. Here, we show that PET imaging of NIS-mediated radiotracer uptake can rapidly visualise tumour energy stress within minutes following in vivo treatment. Methods: We modified HEK293T human embryonic kidney cells, and A549 and H358 lung cancer cells to express transgenic NIS. Next, we subjected these cells and implanted tumours to drugs known to induce metabolic stress to observe the impact on NIS activity and energy charge. We used [18F]tetrafluoroborate positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to non-invasively image NIS activity in vivo. Results: NIS activity was ablated by treating HEK293T cells in vitro, with the Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor digoxin, confirming that radiotracer uptake was dependent on the sodium–potassium concentration gradient. NIS-mediated radiotracer uptake was significantly reduced (− 58.2%) following disruptions to ATP re-synthesis by combined glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation inhibition in HEK293T cells and by oxidative phosphorylation inhibition (− 16.6%) in A549 cells in vitro. PET signal was significantly decreased (− 56.5%) within 90 min from the onset of treatment with IACS-010759, an oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor, in subcutaneous transgenic A549 tumours in vivo, showing that NIS could rapidly and sensitively detect energy stress non-invasively, before more widespread changes to phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase, phosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase, and GLUT1 were detectable. Conclusions: NIS acts as a rapid metabolic sensor for drugs that lead to ATP depletion. PET imaging of NIS could facilitate in vivo testing of treatments targeting energetic pathways, determine drug potency, and expedite metabolic drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SABRE (Sodium iodide with Active Background REjection) is a direct detection dark matter experiment based on arrays of radio-pure NaI(Tl) crystals. The experiment aims at achieving an ultra-low background rate and its primary goal is to confirm or refute the results from the DAMA/LIBRA experiment. The SABRE Proof-of-Principle phase was carried out in 2020–2021 at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), in Italy. The next phase consists of two full-scale experiments: SABRE South at the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory, in Australia, and SABRE North at LNGS. This paper focuses on SABRE South and presents a detailed simulation of the detector, which is used to characterise the background for dark matter searches including DAMA/LIBRA-like modulation. We estimate an overall background of 0.72 cpd/kg/ keV ee in the energy range 1–6 keV ee primarily due to radioactive contamination in the crystals. Given this level of background and considering that the SABRE South has a target mass of 50 kg, we expect to exclude (confirm) DAMA/LIBRA modulation at 4 (5) σ within 2.5 years of data taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination chemotherapy is still the standard clinical care for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, sodium iodide symporter (NIS) uptake by TNBC has opened the potential of NIS as a molecular target for radioiodine theranostic treatments. Radiolabeled poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanocarrier (NINP) was developed for NIS targeted delivery of I-131 to MDA-MB-231 cells to overcome I-131 low uptake in cancer cells and rapid clearance. The NINP diameter of 237 nm has good particle size uniformity and excellent particle stability. Radiochemical purity, radioactive stability, and radiolabeling yield of NINPs over 72 h were >95%. Cytotoxicity confirmed fractionated NINPs over 72 h to be more effective in cell death than single-dose NINP and both single and fractionated Na131I. Cellular uptake in a three-dimensional spheroid confirmed that NINP fractionated-dose achieved ~4.8-fold-higher mean fluorescent intensity than Na131I and ~2.7-fold greater reduction in cell viability compared to single-dose. The NINP fractionated-dose initiated greater cellular DNA damage to cells than single-dose NINP, resulting in inhibition of cell cycle progression, resulting in cell cycle progression being inhibited by cyclin-dependent kinases, which play a vital role in the control of MDA-MB-231 cell cycle. NINPs are biocompatible with blood, and were found to have no negative impact on red blood cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric and absolute total detection efficacies of a parallelepiped sodium iodide (with a cylindrical side-hole) detector were calculated and compared to the simulated Monte Carlo and experimental data described in the literature. This new-shaped detector is characteristically meant to be employed for low-level radioactive specimens in γ-ray-spectroscopy and nuclear reactions because of its extraordinarily high γ-ray-efficiency. An innovative systematic theoretical method is used herein to calculate the efficiency of a cylindrical side-hole (left empty for isotropic radiating sample access)-type parallelepiped (A × B × C) sodium iodide scintillation detector. The contrast of the geometric (εg) and absolute total detection (ε) efficacies for point-specimen-geometry at numerous specimen-to-detector distances (h) and in the energy range of 0.511–1.332 MeV showed that method reported by us is beneficial in the efficiency evaluation of side-hole-type parallelepiped scintillation detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bulk of bricks made worldwide are burnt clay bricks, and this volume of manufacture requires 230 - 242 million m³ of agricultural land. This corresponds to 25,500 hectares of rich farmland at a depth of 1 meter. This type of exploitation will have a substantial detrimental impact on national food security. According to the present need, efficient use of industrial waste, such as fly ash, is necessary. So it becomes very important to limit the removal of top soil to build bricks and to encourage the use of pulverized fly ash (PFA) instead. So it is essential to examine the levels of radioactivity from natural sources and the amount at which radon is exhaled from building materials to manage the exposure of occupants to natural radiation. The radioactivity concentration of nuclides is determined using a high-resolution sodium iodide with a thallium activator gamma spectrometer. Radon exhalation rates were examined in the exhalation chamber using a hermetically shaped container and observing the activity over time. The focus of this research is to examine the radioactive concentration levels of radium, thorium, and potassium, as well as radon exhalation rates of Clay-Pulverized Fly Ash bricks mixed in different proportions. All radiation hazard factors linked with the radioactive nuclide and radon exhalation rates of clay pulverized fly ash bricks are examined and compared to the recommended limits from the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This is the first study investigating the effects of mastitis and heat stress on plasma cfDNA levels in dairy cattle. We established a complete system for the extraction of cell-free DNA from the plasma of dairy cows with the high-yielding method of the TIANamp Micro DNA Kit. The concentration was determined by real-time quantitative PCR, and the results showed that cfDNA is related to mastitis and heat stress in dairy cattle. In this study, four methods (phenol-chloroform protocol, sodium iodide kit, QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit, and TIANamp Micro DNA Kit) were used to extract cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from cattle blood, and the yield and purity of cfDNA varied in four different methods from 0.36 to 0.84 ng/mL for yield and 0.67 to 1.80 (A260/A280) for purity. Compared with other methods, the TIANamp Micro DNA kit performed better in both cfDNA amount and purity (p < 0.05); furthermore, blood cfDNA levels were significantly increased in Holstein dairy cows under the influence of heat stress (p < 0.01) and mastitis (p < 0.0001), which showed a potential power to discriminate mastitis (AUC = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.97 to 1.00) or heat stress (AUC = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.73 to 0.98) in cows. In brief, we established a complete experimental system for the extraction of cfDNA from cattle blood based on the high-yielding method of the TIANamp Micro DNA Kit and showed the effect of mastitis and heat stress on cfDNA levels in cattle blood for the first time. Our findings suggested that cfDNA in cattle blood may be a useful marker to measure mastitis and heat stress in dairy cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of different viscosities of silicone oil on the physicochemical, pre-clinical usability, and biological properties of a sodium iodide paste. Six different paste groups were created by mixing therapeutic molecules, sodium iodide (D30) and iodoform (I30), with calcium hydroxide and one of the three different viscosities of silicone oil (high (H), medium (M), and low (L)). The study evaluated the performance of these groups, including I30H, I30M, I30L, D30H, D30M, and D30L, using multiple parameters such as flow, film thickness, pH, viscosity, and injectability, with statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Remarkably, the D30L group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the conventional iodoform counterpart, including a significant reduction in osteoclast formation, as examined through TRAP, c-FOS, NFATc1, and Cathepsin K (p < 0.05). Additionally, mRNA sequencing showed that the I30L group exhibited increased expression of inflammatory genes with upregulated cytokines compared to the D30L group. These findings suggest that the optimized viscosity of the sodium iodide paste (D30L) may lead to clinically favorable outcomes, such as slower root resorption, when used in primary teeth. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the D30L group shows the most satisfactory outcomes, which may be a promising root-filling material that could replace conventional iodoform-based pastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination of seed to seedling is a physiological process that triggers a cascade of biochemical reactions. The quality of irrigation water can directly affect the early growth stages of a plant. Seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) were exposed to three sodium halides, i.e., NaCl (50 & 100 ppm), NaI (50 & 100 ppm), and NaF (50 & 100 ppm) for two weeks. Seeds grown without the addition of sodium halides were taken as a control for comparison. Seedlings were harvested on the 15th day of sowing and the root and shoot length were recorded. Leaves, shoot, and root was separated, encapsulated in potassium bromide, and then loaded for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. A slight increase (16.66%↑) in shoot length was observed with 50 ppm NaCl but 100 ppm NaCl did not show any change in seedling length as compared to the control. 50ppm NaI did not show any change in root length but shoot length was slightly decreased (16.66%↓), and 100ppm NaI showed reduced root (12.5%↓) and shoot length (25%↓) as compared to control. The seeds treated with NaF 100 ppm had the lowest shoot (50%↓) and root length (37.5%↓) among all treated and untreated groups. Unique FT-IR spectral patterns in control and treated seedlings indicate some conformational changes in macromolecules with sodium halide treatment. The overall absorption peaks of treated roots and stems were slightly different from the leaves. The effect of treatment on seedlings was found in the following order; NaCl < NaI< NaF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility and thermodynamics of solvation due to solute–solvent interactions of glycine, DL-alanine, DL-serine, and DL-valine were determined in this study. Mainly, the transfer of Gibbs free energies from aqueous to aqueous sodium and potassium iodide salt solutions was considered, which were calculated by direct experimental solubility data and via theoretical calculations. The equilibrium solubilities were measured at 298.15 K using simple "formol titration". Various important physicochemical factors like enthalpy of solvation, molar volume, molar mass, molar density, etc., in aqueous electrolyte solutions were calculated at standard temperature. The thermodynamic parameters were explained to conclude about the virtual stability of the zwitterionic solutes in aqueous salt mixtures. The factors that are associated with solubility were also explained and correlated with physical and thermodynamic point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved therapeutic strategies are required to minimize side effects associated with radioiodine gene therapy to avoid unnecessary damage to normal cells and radiation-induced secondary malignancies. We previously reported that codon-optimized sodium iodide symporter (oNIS) enhances absorption of I-131 and that the brahma-associated gene 1 bromodomain (BRG1-BRD) causes inefficient DNA damage repair after high-energy X-ray therapy. To increase the therapeutic effect without applying excessive radiation, we considered the combination of oNIS and BRG1-BRD as gene therapy for the most effective radioiodine treatment. The antitumor effect of I-131 with oNIS or oNIS+BRD expression was examined by tumor xenograft models along with functional assays at the cellular level. The synergistic effect of both BRG1-BRD and oNIS gene overexpression resulted in more DNA double-strand breaks and led to reduced cell proliferation/survival rates after I-131 treatment, which was mediated by the p53/p21 pathway. We found increased p53, p21, and nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) in oNIS- and BRD-expressing cells following I-131 treatment, even though the remaining levels of citrulline and protein arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) were unchanged at the protein level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression and function remains a major challenge for radioiodine therapy in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). For more efficient delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) to manipulate protein expression, a lipid‐peptide‐mRNA (LPm) nanoparticle (NP) is developed. The LPm NP is prepared by using amphiphilic peptides to assemble a peptide core and which is then coated with cationic lipids. An amphiphilic chimeric peptide, consisting of nine arginine and hydrophobic segments (6 histidine, C18 or cholesterol), is synthesized for adsorption of mRNA encoding NIS in RNase‐free conditions. In vitro studies show that LP(R9H6) m NP is most efficient at delivering mRNA and can increase NIS expression in ATC cells by more than 10‐fold. After intratumoral injection of NIS mRNA formulated in optimized LPm NP, NIS expression in subcutaneous ATC tumor tissue increases significantly in nude mice, resulting in more iodine 131 (131I) accumulation in the tumor, thereby significantly inhibiting tumor growth. Overall, this work designs three arginine‐rich peptide nanoparticles, contributing to the choice of liposome cores for gene delivery. LPm NP can serve as a promising adjunctive therapy for patients with ATC by restoring iodine affinity and enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of radioactive iodine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): This study was undertaken to compare the correlation and agreement between Modified Simpson's method two-dimensional-echocardiography (2D-echo) and rest multigated acquisition scan (MUGA) using both planar sodium iodide (pNaI) and cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) cameras to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: One hundred and nine breast cancer patients monitored for cardiotoxicity underwent 2D-echo, followed by pNaI and CZT MUGA scans on the same day. LVEF for CZT camera was processed using both automatic and manual processing methods, thus yielding four methods for the LVEF analysis. Results: Significant correlation (p<0.01) was seen among all four methods, with varied correlation strengths. Moderate correlation was seen between 2D-echo and both pNaI (r=0.56) and CZT cameras (automatic r=0.54, manual r=0.56). Strong correlation was registered between pNaI and CZT camera (automatic r=0.72, manual r=0.71). Bland-Altman limits of agreement among the three scans were wide and suboptimal. The widest limits were -21.1 to +16.2 (37%) between 2Decho and CZT auto-processing. Conclusion: Any one of the modalities can be used to measure LVEF, however, their results should not be used interchangeably. The same method of measurement is advised for serial scans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium iodide symporter (NIS) imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) is gaining traction in nuclear medicine, with an increasing number of human studies being published using fluorine-18 radiolabelled tetrafluoroborate ([18F]TFB). Clinical success of any radiotracer relies heavily on its accessibility, which in turn depends on the availability of robust radiolabelling procedures providing a radiotracer in large quantities and of high radiopharmaceutical quality. Results: Here we publish an improved radiolabelling method and quality control procedures for high molar activity [18F]TFB. The use of ammonium hydroxide for [18F]fluoride elution, commercially available boron trifluoride-methanol complex dissolved in acetonitrile as precursor and removal of unreacted [18F]fluoride on Florisil solid-phase extraction cartridges resulted in the reliable production of [18F]TFB on SYNTHRA and TRACERLAB FXFN automated synthesizers with radiochemical yields in excess of 30%, radiochemical purities in excess of 98% and molar activities in the range of 34–217 GBq/µmol at the end of synthesis. PET scanning of a mouse lung tumour model carrying a NIS reporter gene rendered images of high quality and improved sensitivity. Conclusions: A novel automated radiosynthesis procedure for [18F]tetrafluoroborate has been developed that provides the radiotracer with high molar activity, suitable for preclinical imaging of NIS reporter gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sketched the basic principles of ceramic materials radioactivity measurement and mathematical calculation formula of testing time. When the sample measurement conditions and the way of data analysis are constant, using sodium iodide gamma spectrometer for getting the radioactive spectra data of 5 groups of samples. In condition of the background count time tb or sample measurement time ts increasing gradually, study the radioactivity specific activity measurement error range of all samples. It is derived when the background count rate of nb and sample counting rate ns is constant, the measurement error ν2 and the sum of reciprocal of the background count time tb and reciprocal of the sample measuring time ts for approximately linear positive correlation. The measurement error of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K radioactive specific activity of different ceramic samples presents the corresponding fluctuations as their initial energy spectrum count rate differences. This study for coordination of the contradiction between ceramic materials radioactive measurement time and the uncertainty has certainly theoretical and practical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-fast switches are essential devices for basic research and technological development. Here, we demonstrate that aqueous solutions of sodium iodide can be used for this purpose. When pumped with an intense optical pulse at 400 nm, these water-based liquids display large and fast responses in the terahertz range, around 1 THz. In a 9M NaI solution at a temperature comprised between 10 and 50 °C, the relative variation of the terahertz peak transmission drops by 20% at the pump–probe overlap and recovers with a fast time constant of ∼70 fs. As the optical properties of the liquid vary on a timescale shorter than the terahertz cycle, it is possible to tailor the shape of the transmitted terahertz fields. In this way, we demonstrate the frequency upshifting of terahertz radiation from about 1 to 3 THz and beyond with an efficiency of 4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali metal halides have long been used as scintillators for applications as sensors and detectors. Usually, a small amount of impurities are added to these inorganic materials to improve their luminescence efficiencies. We investigate the structures and luminescent properties of un-doped sodium iodide (NaI) and cesium-doped NaI (NaI:Cs) films deposited by thermal vacuum evaporation. Instead of using the toxic element thallium (Tl), we introduced cesium dopant into NaI. This is the first study for the NaI:Cs film excited by UV LED’s ultraviolet C (273 nm, 4.54 eV). The luminescence spectra show two main peaks at 3.05 and 4.32/3.955 eV (for fused silica/B270 substrate), originating from the intrinsic defects and/or activator excited states and the intrinsic self-trapped excitons (STEs), respectively. In general, both Cs-doping and post-annealing processes enhance the luminescence performance of NaI films.

BackgroundThe prevention of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRD) in beef cattle is important to maintaining health and productivity of calves in feeding operations.ObjectiveDetermine whether BRD bacterial and viral pathogens are susceptible to the lactoperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/iodide (LPO/H2 O2 /I- ) system in vitro and to determine whether the oral administration of sodium iodide (NaI) could achieve sufficient concentrations of iodine (I) in the respiratory secretions of weaned beef calves to inactivate these pathogens in vivo.AnimalsSixteen weaned, apparently healthy, commercial beef calves from the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine teaching herd.MethodsIn vitro viral and bacterial assays were performed to determine susceptibility to the LPO/H2 O2 /I- system at varying concentrations of NaI. Sixteen randomly selected, healthy crossbred beef weanlings were administered 70 mg/kg NaI, or water, orally in a blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Blood and nasal secretions were collected for 72 hours and analyzed for I- concentration.ResultsBovine herpesvirus-1, parainfluenza-3, Mannheimia haemolytica and Bibersteinia trehalosi were all inactivated or inhibited in vitro by the LPO/H2 O2 /I- reaction. Oral administration of NaI caused a marked increase in nasal fluid I concentration with a Cmax  = 181 (1,420 μM I), T12 , a sufficient concentration to inactivate these pathogens in vitro.Conclusions and clinical importanceIn vitro, the LPO/H2 O2 /I- system inactivates and inhibits common pathogens associated with BRD. The administration of oral NaI significantly increases the I concentration of nasal fluid indicating that this system might be useful in preventing bovine respiratory infections.

Scintillators play an important role in radiation detection and imaging. Thallium-doped cesium iodide (CsI:Tl) and sodium iodide (NaI:Tl) are two of the major scintillators that have been used for many applications for many decades. In this paper, we will present an improved scintillation performance of Bridgman method-grown CsI(Tl) and NaI(Tl) crystals developed by Xtallized Intelligence, Inc. (XI, Inc.), and we will compare the performance with commercially available CsI:Tl and NaI:Tl. In a preliminary testing using MicroFJ−60035−TSV silicon photomultipliers (ON Semiconductor), the newly developed and improved 12.5 × 12.5 × 6 mm3 CsI:Tl crystal has shown an energy resolution of 4.8% (FWHM) at 662 keV, compared to 7.2% obtained by a commercially available CsI:Tl with a size of 12.5 × 12.5 × 25 mm3. The energy resolution of 5.4% (FWHM) at 662 keV is obtained for the newly improved NaI:Tl crystal, compared to 7% obtained by a commercially available ∅1″ × 1″ NaI(Tl). The comparison of the photo peak channel locations shows that the improvements in both CsI:Tl and NaI:Tl, developed by XI, Inc., have produced much larger signal amplitudes (roughly double), when compared to the commercially available CsI(Tl) and NaI:Tl. Improved decay time constants are presented as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we propose a novel nonlinear delta-function photonic crystal for detecting sodium iodide (NaI) solution of different concentrations. The suggested structure comprises 50 delta stacks of GaP in an aqueous solution of NaI. These stacks are considered to have weak defocusing nonlinearity in the order of 10−6 (V/m)−2. Due to nonlinearity of the design, a defect-like resonance is formed within the photonic band gap. Thus, the detection of NaI with different concentrations can be easily investigated without the inclusion of a defect through the photonic crystal structure. The effects of both the linear part of the refractive index of GaP layers and nonlinear coefficient on the transmittance value are thoroughly discussed. The numerical findings investigate that the resonant peak begins to split at some critical nonlinearity. In our proposed structure, splitting occurs at about − 12 × 10−6 (V/m)−2. In this regard, the suggested sensor provides a high sensitivity of 409.7 nm/RIU and a wonderful detection limit of 0.0008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) usually have good prognosis, while those with advanced disease have poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of combination therapy with lenvatinib and 131I (CTLI) using three different types of DTC cell lines with different profiling of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) status. The radioiodine accumulation study revealed a significantly increased radioiodine uptake in K1-NIS cells after lenvatinib treatment, while there was almost no uptake in K1 and FTC-133 cells. However, lenvatinib administration before radioiodine treatment decreased radioiodine uptake of K1-NIS xenograft tumor in the in vivo imaging study. CTLI synergistically inhibited colony formation and DTC cell migration, especially in K1-NIS cells. Finally, 131I treatment followed by lenvatinib administration significantly inhibited tumor growth of the NIS-expressing thyroid cancer xenograft model. These results provide important clinical implications for the combined therapy that lenvatinib should be administered after 131I treatment to maximize the treatment efficacy. Our synergistic treatment effects by CTLI suggested its effectiveness for RAI-avid thyroid cancer, which retains NIS function. This potential combination therapy suggests a powerful and tolerable new therapeutic strategy for advanced thyroid cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]