Liquid-liquid extraction of Nd+3 and Eu+3 from aqueous medium using oxytetracycline in dichloromethane

Liquid-liquid extraction system consisting of oxytetracycline (HOTC) in dichloromethane was developed for extraction of Nd+3 and Eu+3 from acidic solutions using radiometric technique. Various extraction parameters such as pH, equilibration time and metals concentration were optimized. Slope analysis method was used to study the composition of product and was found to be M(OTC)3 [here M=Nd+3 or Eu+3 and OTC = conjugate base of HOTC]. Among cations Al+3 and Fe+3 while among anions F− effected the extraction of these metals. Higher separation factor of these metals was found with many others. The method was successfully applied on spiked sea water.

A Radiometric Technique for Monitoring the Desulfurization Process of Blister Copper

In this paper, a novel optical technique for following the progress of the blister copper desulfurization process is presented. The technique is based on the changes observed in the continuous spectrum of the visible–near-infrared (VIS–NIR) radiation that the blister melt emits while the chemical reactions of the sulfur elimination process are taking place. Specifically, the proposed technique uses an optical probe composed of an optical fiber, a collimating lens, and a quartz tube, which is immersed in the melt. This optical probe provides a field of view of the blowing zone where the desulfurization reaction occurs. The experimental results show that the melt VIS–NIR total irradiance evolves inversely to the SO2 concentration reported by a gas analyzer based on differential optical absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, the blister copper spectral emissivity as well as the total emissivity observed throughout the process show strong correlation with the sulfur content during desulfurization reaction.

The 2017 May 20th stellar occultation by the elongated centaur (95626) 2002 GZ32

We predicted a stellar occultation of the bright star Gaia DR1 4332852996360346368 (UCAC4 385-75921) (mV= 14.0 mag) by the centaur 2002 GZ32 for 2017 May 20th. Our latest shadow path prediction was favourable to a large region in Europe. Observations were arranged in a broad region inside the nominal shadow path. Series of images were obtained with 29 telescopes throughout Europe and from six of them (five in Spain and one in Greece) we detected the occultation. This is the fourth centaur, besides Chariklo, Chiron and Bienor, for which a multi-chord stellar occultation is reported. By means of an elliptical fit to the occultation chords we obtained the limb of 2002 GZ32 during the occultation, resulting in an ellipse with axes of 305 ± 17 km × 146 ± 8 km. From this limb, thanks to a rotational light curve obtained shortly after the occultation, we derived the geometric albedo of 2002 GZ32 (pV = 0.043 ± 0.007) and a 3-D ellipsoidal shape with axes 366 km × 306 km × 120 km. This shape is not fully consistent with a homogeneous body in hydrostatic equilibrium for the known rotation period of 2002 GZ32. The size (albedo) obtained from the occultation is respectively smaller (greater) than that derived from the radiometric technique but compatible within error bars. No rings or debris around 2002 GZ32 were detected from the occultation, but narrow and thin rings cannot be discarded.

Increased adhesion to endothelial cells of erythrocytes from patients with polycythemia vera is mediated by laminin α5 chain and Lu/BCAM

Patients with polycythemia vera (PV) have a JAK2 (a cytosolic tyrosine kinase) mutation and an increased risk of vascular thrombosis related to red blood cell (RBC) mass and platelet activation. We investigated functional RBC abnormalities that could be involved in thrombosis. RBC adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured by a radiometric technique and in a flow system by video microscopy, and adhesion molecule expression was determined using specific antibodies (against CD36, CD49d, ICAM-4, Lu/BCAM, CD147, and CD47) and flow cytometry in a group of 38 patients with PV and a group of 36 healthy volunteers. Adhesion of PV RBCs was 3.7-fold higher than that of normal RBCs (P < .001). Adhesion was inhibited when PV RBCs were incubated with anti-Lutheran blood group/basal cell adhesion molecule (Lu/BCAM) or when HUVECs were treated with anti-laminin α5 and to a lesser extent with anti-α3 integrin. Lu/BCAM was constitutively phosphorylated in PV RBCs. Transfection of K562 cells with JAK2 617V>F resulted in increased expression and phosphorylation of Lu/BCAM. Phosphorylation of Lu/BCAM increases RBC adhesion. Our results indicate that JAK2 mutation might be linked to Lu/BCAM modification and increased RBC adhesiveness, which may be a factor favoring thrombosis in PV.