[en] Liver and spleen may be imaged with F-19 MR imaging of injected perfluorocarbons that have been absorbed by the reticuloendothelial system. Unfortunately, F-19 MR signals from perfluorocarbons exhibit short T2s and long T1s, leading to rapid signal loss during echo tim (TE) and slow recovery during repetition time. The authors have circumvented these difficulties by using a driven-equilibrium spin-warp imaging approach with a short TE. Magnetization remaining at the end of the sequence is not allowed to decay but instead is refocused. This technique has been used to enhance the F-19 image quality at 4.7 T for rat livers containing metastases induced by injection of the poorly differentiated colon cell line WB-1756

[en] Pancreatic cancer is a highly invasive disease with low survival rates. The high death rates associated with pancreatic cancer are due to multiple factors including late stage diagnosis, multi-drug resistance, invasive nature and restricted access of the therapeutic moiety to the cancer cells due to the stroma. Smart multifunctional nanocarriers that deliver the therapeutic agent in to the cancer tissue as well as enable imaging of the tissue represent an emerging paradigm in cancer therapy. Accurate and reliable detection of cancerous lesions in pancreas is essential for designing appropriate therapeutic strategy to annihilate the highly aggressive pancreatic cancer. A combination of imaging modalities can enhance the reliability of cancer detection. In this context, we report here a hybrid iron oxide-gold nanoparticle with dual contrast enhancing ability for both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) that is co-encapsulated with the nucleotide analogue gemcitabine in a chitosan matrix. The theranostic system displayed enhanced cytotoxicity against PanC-1 pancreatic cancer cells when compared to normal cells over 48 h due to differences in cell internalization. The iron oxide-gold hybrid enabled visualization of the theranostic nanoparticle by MRI as well as micro-CT. Further, the magnetocaloric effect of the iron oxide enabled faster release of the chemotherapeutic agent as well as augmented the cytotoxicity by inducing hyperthermia. This system holds promise for further exploration as an integrated diagnostic and therapeutic platform for pancreatic cancer. (paper)

[en] Nuclear species belonging to the isotopic sequence of Einsteinium (Z=99) have several unique characteristics. The analysis reveals that, contrary to the usual trend, the odd-odd species close to β stability are appreciably longer-lived than their odd-mass neighbours

[en] The work carried out deals with effect of variation in compression ratio (VCR) on engine performance and emission by applying thermal barrier coating on to engine parts for improving engine performance when biodiesel (mixed milk scum and safflower) is used as alternative fuel and the layer of thermal coating was made of Alumina-Titanium oxide (Al₂O₃/TiO₂) plasma coated on to the base of NiCrAl. The work also deal with experimental analysis of performance and exhaust emission characteristics of diesel-biodiesel blends use in single cylinder 4-stroke with varying compression ratio (VCR) i.e. 14:1, 16:1- 18:1 using biodiesel blends i.e. B20, B40,B60,B80 and B100 with load variation from a load to full load and compare with base. The result showed a reduction in specific fuel consumption.CO and HC emissions are slightly more than the conventional coated diesel engine at low and medium loads but lesser at higher load where NO_x is reduced. (paper)