Stand-off nuclear reactor monitoring with neutron detectors for safeguards and non-proliferation applications.

Safeguards measures are employed at nuclear reactor facilities worldwide, to ensure that nuclear material is not diverted from peaceful uses. Typical safeguards measures involve periodic inspections, off-line verification and video surveillance of fuel cycle activities. Real-time verification of the fissile contents via stand-off monitoring can enhance continuity of knowledge for non-traditional reactor types, including research reactors and small modular reactors. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using large-area neutron detectors for monitoring nuclear reactors at stand-off distances up to 100 m outside reactor shielding, as a potential reactor safeguards tool. Since the neutron yield per unit reactor power depends upon the isotopic composition of the reactor core, declared changes in fissile composition can be verified without accessing the core. The supporting results of experiments conducted at the National Research Universal reactor in Canada, are presented.

Oral administration of Lactobacillus casei variety rhamnosus partially alleviates TMA-induced atopic dermatitis in mice through improving intestinal microbiota.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus casei variety rhamnosus (LCR35) on Atopic dermatitis (AD)-like symptoms in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: AD-like skin lesions in BALB/C mice were induced by sensitization and subsequent repeated challenges with trimellitic anhydride (TMA) for 10 days. LCR35 was orally administered to the mice once daily throughout the study. In the TMA-induced AD model, orally administered LCR35 suppressed significantly irritant-related scratching behaviour and skin dehydration as well as apparent severity of AD. LCR35 also significantly decreased serum levels of IgE and IL-4, but not IFN-γ, implying the restoration of TMA-induced disruption of Th1/Th2 balance. Quantitative real-time PCR targeting hypervariable regions of 16S rDNA gene of faecal microbiota indicated that the LCR35 treatment increased the population of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacilli, Enterococcus and Bacteroides fragilis group, but decreased those of Clostridium coccoides group. CONCLUSIONS: LCR35 has the ability to suppress the development of AD in mice, possibly through the modulation of Th1/Th2 balance and gut microbiota. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: LCR35 has a strong potential as a probiotic for preventing AD.

Emergence and re-emergence of glanders in India: a description of outbreaks from 2006 to 2011.

Glanders, a bacterial disease of equines caused by Burkholderia mallei, is a fatal infectious disease of equines and has zoonotic significance. The disease has been eradicated from many countries by statutory testing, elimination of infected animals and import restrictions. However, it is still endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Central and South America. In India, major glanders outbreaks were reported from different parts of the country between 1976 and 1982. Later, sporadic cases of the disease were reported in 1988, 1990 and 1998. The country remained free of glanders for about eight years until the recent outbreaks occurred in eight States from 2006 to 2007. Recurrent episodes have occurred in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, whereas fresh outbreaks occurred in Chhattisgarh from 2009 to 2010. A total of 164 equines were declared positive; a majority of the positive cases (n=77) were from Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra (n=23), Uttarakhand (n=21) and Andhra Pradesh (n=16). Under the provision of Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009, all the infected animals were euthanised and bio-security measures were implemented to curb the further spread of the disease.

Observation of Kossel and Kikuchi lines in thermal neutron incoherent scattering.

In this Letter we report the observation of K lines (representing collectively, Kossel and Kikuchi lines) produced by monochromatic thermal neutrons interacting with a KDP (potassium dihydrogen phosphate) single crystal. Since K lines contain phase information, these observations establish the experimental basis for direct crystallographic phasing of atomic structures containing incoherent scatterers, such as hydrogen, via thermal neutron "inside source" holography.

Atomic structure holography using thermal neutrons.

The idea of atomic-resolution holography has its roots in the X-ray work of Bragg and in Gabor's electron interference microscope. Gabor's lensless microscope was not realized in his time, but over the past twelve years there has been a steady increase in the number of reports on atomic-resolution holography. All of this work involves the use of electrons or hard X-rays to produce the hologram. Neutrons are often unique among scattering probes in their interaction with materials: for example, the relative visibility of hydrogen and its isotopes is a great advantage in the study of polymers and biologically relevant materials. Recent work proposed that atomic-resolution holography could be achieved with thermal neutrons. Here we use monochromatic thermal neutrons, adopting the inside-source concept of Szöke, to image planes of oxygen atoms located above and below a single hydrogen atom in the oxide mineral simpsonite.

On the inhibitory activities of a new boron compound and ultrasound against the mouse ascites tumour.

The inhibitory effects of a new boron compound, dihydroxy (oxybiguanido) boron (III) hydrochloride monohydrate (HB), and ultrasound (US) of a frequency 25 kHz on the growth of ascites tumour in female Swiss mice were studied by monitoring the survival, weight of tumour-associated material, tumour cell count, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and the haematological parameters of the treated animals. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a well-known anticancer agent, was used as positive control. While HB exhibited a very significant antitumour action, US alone produced a small but significant inhibitory effect. The combination of US with HB or 5-FU produced an extra antitumour action as compared to the actions of these chemicals used singly. The mechanisms of action of the new boron compound (HB) and US are discussed.

A new boron compound (guanidine biboric acid adduct) as an antitumour agent against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice.

The inhibitory effects of a new boron compound of guanidine biboric acid adduct (GB) and guanidium chloride (L1) on the growth of ascites tumour in female Swiss mice were studied by monitoring the survival, tumour weight, tumour cell count, transplantability of Ehrlich ascites cells, precursor incorporation and the haematological parameters of the treated mice. 5-Fluorouracil, a known anticancer drug, was used as a positive control. The most important parameter was the survival time, which increased significantly when tumour-bearing mice were treated with the boron compound. Haematological parameters of the treated animals showed minimum toxic effects when boron was coupled with guanidine.

Antitumor properties of boron complexes with hydroxy biguanide and salicyl hydroxamic acid against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

A new derivative of hydroxamic acid, hydroxy biguanido hydrochloride monohydrate and its boron derivative, dihydroxy-oxybiguanido boron (III) hydrochloride monohydrate were synthesized. Another boron compound, hydroxo-salicyl-hydroxamato boron (III) was synthesized from known salicyl hydroxamic acid. Antitumor properties of all the compounds evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice show enhanced survival time when boron is incorporated in the compounds. Hematological parameters, alkaline phosphatase in serum of the treated animals show minimum toxic effects after boron is coupled with their respective hydroxamic acids.

Survey of termite-inhabited soil and mosquito breeding sites in Lucknow, India for potential mycopathogens of Anopheles stephensi.

During a short survey of soil and mosquito breeding sites in Lucknow, India for potential mycopathogen from a period of August-October 1996, 11 species of fungi in 5 genera were isolated using live mosquito larvae as host, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus and Fusarium semitectum were the most frequently isolated species. Other fungi recorded were A. niger, A. ochraceus, A. terreus, A. versicolor, Geotrichum candidum, Penicillium verrucosum, Paecilomyces sp. and Fusarium sp. (Liseola/Elegans complex). Insect cell walls are known to contain chitin, so fungal isolates were tested for their chitinase activity on semi synthetic medium containing colloidal chitin. High chitinolytic activities were observed with A. flavus and A. ochraceus. Chitinase producers can be considered as potential pathogens. However, the higher incidence of F. semitectum could not be explained by inability to utilize chitin.

On the possible use of a new boron compound, hydroxysalicylhydroxamato boron(III), and ultrasound in the treatment of female mice bearing the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells.

The inhibitory effects of a new boron compound, hydroxy salicylhydroxamato boron (III) (SHB) and ultrasound of frequency 25 KHz (US) on the growth of ascites tumor in female Swiss mice were studied by monitoring the survival and the tumor growth in the treated tumor bearing mice and also the transplantability and the DNA synthesis in the treated tumor (Ehrlich ascites carcinoma) cells. While SHB alone produced a highly significant antitumor activity, US alone produced a small but significant effect. The combination of SHB and US produced significantly greater antitumor activity than SHB alone. The mechanisms of SHB and US actionary are discussed.

Chloroaceto hydroxamic acid as antitumor agent against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice.

In vivo cell growth inhibition of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) has been evaluated with chloroacetohydroxamic acid, (CHA), having -CH2 Cl, for the -NH2 group of hydroxyurea (HU). The inhibitory character of CHA against EAC in mice model has been found to be comparable with that of HU. Cell growth inhibition by CHA is accompanied by inhibitions of DNA and protein synthesis of the treated cells. The transplantability of EAC cells treated with a single dose of (100 mg/kg) CHA is found to be reduced. Enhanced intraperitoneal macrophage is observed in normal mice following CHA (100 mg/kg) treatment. Deviations of hematological parameters and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) activity consequent to tumor growth are found to be recovered in tumor bearing mice treated with CHA. All these studies suggest the importance of CHA for further trial as a potent antitumor agent.

5-Nitrofuran derivatives of fatty acid hydrazides induce differentiation in human myeloid leukaemic cell lines.

Compounds formed by 5-nitrofuran with hydrazides of formic, acetic and propionic acids, hereafter respectively known as SBF, SBA and SBP have been used to evaluate the differentiation-inducing properties on two established myeloid leukaemic cell lines ML-2 and EOL-1. SBP is found to be the most effective as an antineoplastic agent amongst the three. Induction of differentiation observed are in the order SBP > SBA > SBF, as assessed by morphology, NBT-reducing activity and surface marker antigens of the treated cells. Induction of differentiation of ML-2 and EOL-1 cells by the most effective compound, SBP (3 microM), is accompanied by perturbation of the cell cycle, with most of the cells accumulating in the G0-G1, phase. Inhibition of DNA synthesis occurs while protein and RNA synthesis remain practically unchanged.