Quinine Sulfate Solution Research Articles

Spatial and temporal dosimetry of individual electron FLASH beam pulses using radioluminescence imaging

Purpose. In this study, spatio-temporal beam profiling for electron ultra-high dose rate (UHDR; >40 Gy s−1) radiation via Cherenkov emission and radioluminescence imaging was investigated using intensified complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor cameras. Methods. The cameras, gated to FLASH optimized linear accelerator pulses, imaged radioluminescence and Cherenkov emission incited by single pulses of a UHDR (>40 Gy s−1) 10 MeV electron beam delivered to the isocenter. Surface dosimetry was investigated via imaging Cherenkov emission or scintillation from a solid water phantom or Gd2O2S:Tb screen positioned on top of the phantom, respectively. Projected depth–dose profiles were imaged from a tank filled with water (Cherenkov emission) and a 1 g l−1 quinine sulfate solution (scintillation). These optical results were compared with projected lateral dose profiles measured by Gafchromic film at different depths, including the surface. Results. The per-pulse beam output from Cherenkov imaging agreed with the photomultiplier tube Cherenkov output to within 3% after about the first five to seven ramp-up pulses. Cherenkov emission and scintillation were linear with dose (R 2 = 0.987 and 0.995, respectively) and independent of dose rate from ∼50 to 300 Gy s−1 (0.18–0.91 Gy/pulse). The surface dose distribution from film agreed better with scintillation than with Cherenkov emission imaging (3%/3 mm gamma pass rates of 98.9% and 88.8%, respectively). Using a 450 nm bandpass filter, the quinine sulfate-based water imaging of the projected depth optical profiles agreed with the projected film dose to within 5%. Conclusion. The agreement of surface dosimetry using scintillation screen imaging and Gafchromic film suggests it can verify the consistency of daily beam quality assurance parameters with an accuracy of around 2% or 2 mm. Cherenkov-based surface dosimetry was affected by the target’s optical properties, prompting additional calibration. In projected depth–dose profiling, scintillation imaging via spectral suppression of Cherenkov emission provided the best match to film. Both camera-based imaging modalities resolved dose from single UHDR beam pulses of up to 60 Hz repetition rate and 1 mm spatial resolution.

The ratiometric fluorescent probe with high quantum yield for quantitative imaging of intracellular pH

Intracellular pH, especially cytoplasmic pH (~7.2) plays a crucial role in cell functions and metabolism. A ratiometric fluorescent probe namely, 6-(2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)vinyl)naphthalen-2-ol (BTNO) was facilely synthesized by the condensation of 6-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde and 2-methylbenzothiazole. BTNO exhibited a remarkable ratiometric emission (F456/F526) enhancement in response to a pH change with a linear range of pH = 9.50–7.00 and a pKa value of 7.91 ± 0.03, which is desirable for measuring and monitoring the cytoplasmic pH fluctuations. In addition, because of the high fluorescence quantum yield of BTNO (Φ = 0.88 in DMSO and 0.61 in water relative to quinine sulfate solution in 0.1 M H2SO4), the interferences of the probe on the physiological functions could be greatly reduced. This could also provide enhanced measurement sensitivity. The successful demonstration of BTNO in detecting and monitoring the intracellular pH changes in live HeLa cells via a ratiometric approach confirmed that BTNO held a practical potential in biomedical research.

Manipulation of cells with electric fields via addition of carbon nanoparticles

Event Abstract Back to Event Manipulation of cells with electric fields via addition of carbon nanoparticles Fan-Yi Li1 and Yi-Chang Chung1 1 National University of Kaohsiung, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Taiwan In this study, we used polydopamine nanoparticles to prepare fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs). Using zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecules, we could control the sizes of polydopamine nanoparticles and increase their dispersion in water. We also developed a fast and safe hydrothermal microwave heating process to dehydrate the polydopamine nanoparticles into carbon nanoparticles. We investigated the effect of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles for dying cells in vitro, as well as the effect of PC on the carbon nanoparticles. Due to the polydopamine-derived CNPs having good electrical conductivity, we manipulated some cell uptake with conductive CNPs to observe the influence on cell attachment and growth under an electric field. In the characterization of physical properties of our CNPs, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed the graphite structure of the polydopamine-prepared CNPs, and their Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-vis spectroscopic figures showed that the carbonized polydopamine nanoparticles retained polypeptide structures. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to confirm the excitation of CNPs under UV irradiation. Pure CNPs and 1%-PC CNPs emitted a blue band light; while 10%-PC CNPs showed two bands, located in blue and green bands. Quinine sulfate solution was used as a calculation standard of fluorescent quantum efficiency and we could find that pure CNPs, 1%-PC CNPs, and 10%-PC CNPs displayed high fluorescence quantum efficiency of 21.4%, 20.3%, and 6.2%, respectively. According to observation of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, the sizes of pure CNPs, 1%-PC CNPs, and 10%-PC CNPs were 27±19 nm, 2±1 nm, and 7±2 nm, respectively, showing excellent dispersion in aqueous solution via addition of PC. In cell culture tests, L929 mouse fibroblasts were incubated with the three different kinds of CNPs to explore cell fluorescence images of the CNPs, showing that each kind could dye cells without fading even after a week of incubation. After cell co-culture for a period of 1 or 7 days, MTT assay tests revealed no cytotoxicity among those CNPs. Cell attachment measurements after electrical stimulation for one hour showed that the cell attachment numbers for cell uptake with CNPs were significantly different from those of the L929 cell control. Due to the good electrical conductivity of CNPs, the nanoparticles swallowed by cells seemed more easily attracted to the electric field. Therefore, CNP uptake can increase the attachment of cells onto a conductive plate electrode in a short time. When the source of the electric field was changed to rod electrodes in the medium, cells that had been pre-adsorbed onto a non-conductive plate were desorbed from the plate and destroyed. Therefore, addition of CNPs during cell incubation can allow control of cell growth and death via manipulation of electric fields. Ministry of Science and Technology, R.O.C.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Photophysical Properties of Dinuclear Eu(III) and Tb (III) Complexes Based on β-diketonate with Triphenylamine and Pyridine Moieties

A novel β-diketonate ligand with triphenylamine and pyridyl moieties and its corresponding dinuclear Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes using 1,10-phenanthroline as the second ligand were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, UV-Vis spectra, 1H NMR, and ESI-MS. The thermogravimetric analysis show the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes have good thermal stabilities with decomposition temperatures 361 and 358 °C respectively. The photoluminescence spectra indicate that the ligand has excellent antenna effect to sensitize the lanthanide ions while using quinine sulfate solution as reference sample, the quantum efficiency of the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes are 0.267 and 0.281 in the CHCl3 solution at room temperature, respectively. The phosphorescence spectrum was determined using the ligand's gadolinium complex Gd2L3·4H2O and the results show that the triplet state energy levels of the ligand in the complexes is higher than that of the lowest excited level of Eu3+ (5D0), Tb3+ (5D4) respectively, which indicates a ligand-sensitized luminescence photoluminescence mechanism of the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes. They may be provided with potential applications in organic electroluminescent materials.

Taste alteration and impact on quality of life after head and neck radiotherapy

Dysgeusia is a relatively common complication of head and neck radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate taste condition after head and neck radiotherapy and its impact on quality of life. In this cohort study 22 patients with head and neck cancer in Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospital, were interviewed and examined before and 3 weeks after radiotherapy. Patients were given three consecutive concentrations of sugar, salt, citric acid and quinine sulfate solutions to evaluate their taste sensation by Whole Mouth Technique. EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire was used before and after radiotherapy to assess the quality of life. Statistical analysis was done using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, Spearman's Coefficient of Correlation, Paired t-test, Multiple Ordinary and Multiple Linear Regressions. Significant changes were observed in concentrations and intensities of different perceived tastes before and after radiotherapy. All patients had dysgeusia after radiotherapy and 72.2% had total taste loss. Impairment was observed mainly in salt and bitter tastes followed by sour and sweet. Subjective dysgeusia reported by 3/4 of the patients, which was correlated with objective taste disorder in terms of different tastes intensity. Age, sex, radiotherapy fractions, dosage and patients level of education had no significant effects on taste alteration. Quality of life was significantly deteriorated after the occurrence of dysgeusia in both total and partial taste losers. None of the aforementioned factors had significant effects on quality of life. Head and neck radiotherapy causes impairment in taste perception, and life quality is influenced by dysgeusia.

Preparation and Characterization of Substituted 3‐Benzothiazol‐2‐Ylcoumarins

AbstractA series of substituted 3‐benzothiazolylcoumarins was prepared from condensation of 2‐hydroxy‐benzaldehyde and 2‐cyanomethylbenzothiazole to investigate the effect of the nature and position of substituents on their absorption and fluorescent behavior. Compounds with a substituent containing a heteroatom which attached at the C6 position showed a split broad absorption band. Solutions of these compounds in various solvents exhibited brilliant blue fluorescence. The emission intensity for compounds with an alkoxy group at the C6 or C7 position in DMF was approximately 7‐ and 15‐fold higher than for the corresponding precursor and quinine sulfate solution, respectively. These compounds also exhibit high thermal stability in solid state.

Laying Hens Learn to Avoid Feathers

Previous work demonstrated an association between feather pecking and feather eating in laying hens. This raised the question if digestive feedback affects feather eating or feather pecking in laying hens. We hypothesized that feathers enriched with sugar form a positive feedback and feathers enriched with quinine sulfate form a negative feedback. Forty-eight laying hens were kept in individual cages and fed a pelleted diet ad libitum. Twenty-four birds were offered feathers on a daily basis; 12 of these birds were offered feathers soaked in 4% quinine sulfate solution (Q), and the other 12 were offered feathers soaked in 4% sucrose solution (S). The other 24 birds were kept as a control (C) without access to feathers. After a 10-d feather feeding period, 3 groups of 4 S and 4 C birds each and 3 groups of 4 Q and 4 C birds each were assembled. Feather-pecking behavior was recorded over a period of 8 d. The number of Q feathers eaten was significantly lower than the number of S feathers. Birds that were offered Q feathers in the feather feeding phase showed significantly less severe feather pecking than S and C birds. The results clearly show that Q as an unpalatable substance was the signal the animal used to avoid damaging the feather cover in laying hens.

The Quantitative Prediction of Bitterness-Suppressing Effect of Sweeteners on the Bitterness of Famotidine by Sweetness-Responsive Sensor

The purpose of the present study was the quantitative prediction of the bitterness-suppressing effect of sweeteners (sucrose or sugar alcohols) on the bitterness of famotidine (or quinine sulfate as control) solutions using an artificial taste sensor. Firstly, we examined the response characteristics of the sensor response to sweetness. The sensor membrane is charged negatively in the presence of sweeteners, which tend to receive protons from one of the components of the sensor membrane. The magnitude of the sensor response was shown to increase in direct proportion to the concentration of the sweetener. Secondly, we used direct or indirect methods to evaluate and predict the bitterness-suppressing effect of sweeteners on 1 mg/ml famotidine and 81.4 microM quinine sulfate solutions. In direct method, a regression between the sensor output of the sweetness-responsive sensor and the bitterness intensity obtained in human gustatory tests of famotidine solutions containing sweeteners at various concentrations, was performed. As a result, we were able to predict directly the bitterness intensity of the mixed solution. Finally, we also evaluated the bitterness intensity of the dissolution media of commercially available, orally disintegrating tablets containing famotidine by the combined usage of bitterness- and sweetness-responsive sensor. We found that the sugar alcohols in the tablet seem to be effective in the bitterness-suppression of famotidine from these tablets, especially in the initial phase (within 30 s) of the disintegration process.

Hyperresponsiveness to Palatable and Aversive Taste Stimuli in Genetically Obese (Bombesin Receptor Subtype-3–Deficient) Mice

Taste preference in obese mice was examined using genetically obese (bombesin receptor subtype-3: BRS-3–deficient) animals. Preference for either sodium saccharin (0.2%), sodium chloride (0.9%), citric acid (0.1%), or quinine sulfate (0.002%) solution was examined using a two-bottle test situation, and BRS-3–deficient mice not only showed a stronger preference for saccharin solution, but also a stronger aversive response to quinine solution, relative to wild-type littermates. Furthermore, a conditioned taste-aversion test measured the consumption of sodium saccharin (0.2%) and sodium chloride (0.9%) solutions after intraperitoneal injection of LiCl (0.3 M, 1 mg/kg), and BRS-3–deficient mice exhibited stronger aversion to both solutions than did control animals. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the BRS-3 gene is expressed in the parabrachial nucleus, the medial and central nuclei of the amygdala, and the hypothalamic nuclei such as paraventricular nucleus, all of which are known to be involved in taste perception. These results suggest that expression of the BRS-3 gene in these nuclei is important for the modulation of taste preference, as well as the development of obesity.

A comparison of tip of the tongue and sip and spit screening procedures

Sip and spit stimulus delivery is a common technique in taste research for both screening subjects and for primary data collection, but when stimulation of limited regions of the mouth is required, other stimulus delivery methods are necessary. The appropriate screening method for limited tongue area gustatory studies is unclear. For data collection the authors routinely use a closed stimulus delivery system to flow liquids over ~40 mm 2 of the anterodorsal tongue. Therefore, a tip of the tongue screening method was developed and compared to sip and spit screening. It was found that subject performance on the tip of the tongue screening task did not predict performance on the sip and spit screening task, and vice versa. Furthermore, many subjects reliably described and distinguished between low concentration sucrose, HCl, NaCl and quinine sulfate solutions restricted to the tip of the tongue.

Characterization of dissolved organic carbon and Humic substances in the well water of the Blackfoot disease area in Taiwan

Since the early 1960s, many investigators have reported that blackfoot disease, a peripheral vascular disease, observed in southwestern Taiwan is due to drinking the higher arsenic concentration in well water. However, recent studies indicated that the relationship with blackfoot disease is not only with arsenic but also humic substances. This paper presents some results concerning the characterization (such as fluorescence, elemental composition, molecular weight and carbon distribution) of humic substances isolated from the Fuhsing well water of the blackfoot disease area. For comparison, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and humic substances in the normal well water from Chiuying and the Nanwan coastal water were also analyzed. In general, in the well water of the blackfoot disease area, extremely high concentrations of DOC (18.5mg/L) and fulvic acid (7.54mg/L) with high fluorescence intensity (59.1, equivalent to 0.0282uM quinine sulfate solution) and high percentages (over 50%) of low molecular weig...

Taste intensity performance in patients irradiated to the head and neck

Decrements in taste-detection thresholds during radiotherapy and subsequent recovery in the months after therapy are well documented. However, few studies have explored suprathreshold taste intensity perception in radiation patients. This cross-sectional study compared taste function in 15 men postradiation with a group of 23 healthy, nonirradiated male volunteers. A direct-scaling procedure was used to assess taste intensity perception of the four basic taste qualities. Patients performed nearly as well as control subject on objective measures of suprathreshold functioning. Postradiation intensity judgments of salty (sodium chloride), sweet (sucrose), and bitter (quinine sulfate) solutions were not significantly reduced. Subtle, age-related taste impairments were identified for sour perception (citric acid) postradiotherapy. Younger patients judged citric acid to be more intense than did age-appropriate control subjects, whereas older patients judged it to be less intense. Moreover, younger patients were likely to be mildly dysgeusic, whereas older patients appeared to be hypogeusic for citric acid. This study provides evidence for near normal suprathreshold taste intensity perception in patients who have received head and neck irradiation.

Fluorometric determination of gallium with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde-semicarbazone; Application to aluminium metal.

A fluorometric method for the determination of trace amounts of Ga with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde-semicarbazone (2-HNS) was applied to the analysis of aluminium metal and its alloy. To a sample solution containing less than 5.0 μg of gallium, were added 0.1% sodium fluoride solution (Ga 05.0 μg : 50 μl, Ga 01.0μg: 20 μl. Ga 00.2μg: 5 μg μl), 2 ml of 2-HNS solution in DMF (Ga 05.0 μg : 0.05%, Ga 01.0 μg : 0.025%, Ga 00.2μg: 0.01%) and 1 ml of 2 w/v% ammonium acetate solution. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 3.0+0.1 with hydrochloric acid or ammonia water, and the solution was diluted to 25 ml with water. The fluorescence intensity was measured at 450 nm (λex: 395 nm) against the standard quinine sulfate solution (10, 2 or 0.5 μg/ml). Gallium was separated from interfering elements by extracting with isopropylether, and the method was then found to be applicable to the determination of gallium above 0.1 ppm in practical samples.

Taste perception of children with chronic renal failure

Taste sensitivity and preference in the suprathreshold ranges were compared for 20 pediatric patients with renal disease and 15 children with normal renal function. Nine patients had chronic renal insufficiency, and 11 had endstage renal disease. Subjects were also evaluated for various dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters. All subjects were asked to pull out a tape measure to rate the strength of five varying concentrations of aqueous solutions of sucrose, sodium chloride, and quinine sulfate. The subjects' abilities to judge increasing concentrations with greater perceived intensity were measured by calculating individual and group slopes. No significant differences in the values were found between the groups. Similarly, no significant differences in mean peak preference concentrations were found between the groups. The patients with renal disease were found to be considerably growth retarded (height and weight less than 5th percentile), with a mean caloric intake less than 65% of the RDA even after an adjustment had been made for height. Serum zinc levels were all normal.

Preference for Immediate Events: Choices between Immediate and Delayed Drinks of Quinine Sulfate Solution or Tap Water

When faced with inevitable mild electric shock to the wrist, most people prefer to “get it over with” immediately. The present experiment tested the generality of this preference by asking 60 college students to choose between immediate and delayed drinks of a bitter tasting quinine sulfate solution. The immediate bitter drink was chosen over an equally bitter, delayed drink on 88% of the trials. A control condition using tap water was also tested. Immediate tap water was chosen over delayed tap water on 84% of the trials. This is the first known study in which a nonaversive control has been used and suggests that the preference people have for immediate aversive events may be part of a larger preference for immediate events (positive, neutral, or aversive in hedonic tone).

Gustatory processing differences in PTC tasters and non-tasters: A reaction time analysis

The present study examined differences in gustatory processing for tasters and non-tasters of phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) by assessing intensity judgment reaction times in these two groups. After prescreening for sensitivity to PTC, subjects were asked to judge whether solutions of sucrose, sodium chloride, quinine sulfate, hydrochloric acid and PTC were weak, medium or strong as quickly as they were able. Based on the reaction time and PTC sensitivity data, three groups of subjects were identified; tasters, sensitive non-tasters and less sensitive non-tasters. The taster population was characterized by their high sensitivity to PTC and a typical, negatively skewed distribution of reaction times. Sensitive non-tasters demonstrated a distribution of reaction times that was similar to that observed with tasters. However, these subjects were insensitive to PTC. The less sensitive non-tasters were insensitive to PTC and produced reaction times that were significantly slower than those produced for the other two groups across all of the substances tested. It is hypothesized that two groups of PTC non-tasters exist. One group has a specific deficit involving PTC and related compounds. The other group demonstrates sensitivity deficits for a wide range of gustatory stimuli.

Fluorometric determination of gallium with 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde-semicarbazone; Application to aluminium metal.

A fluorometric method for the determination of trace amounts of Ga with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde-semicarbazone (2-HNS) was applied to the analysis of aluminium metal and its alloy. To a sample solution containing less than 5.0 μg of gallium, were added 0.1% sodium fluoride solution (Ga 05.0 μg : 50 μl, Ga 01.0μg: 20 μl. Ga 00.2μg: 5 μg μl), 2 ml of 2-HNS solution in DMF (Ga 05.0 μg : 0.05%, Ga 01.0 μg : 0.025%, Ga 00.2μg: 0.01%) and 1 ml of 2 w/v% ammonium acetate solution. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 3.0+0.1 with hydrochloric acid or ammonia water, and the solution was diluted to 25 ml with water. The fluorescence intensity was measured at 450 nm (λex: 395 nm) against the standard quinine sulfate solution (10, 2 or 0.5 μg/ml). Gallium was separated from interfering elements by extracting with isopropylether, and the method was then found to be applicable to the determination of gallium above 0.1 ppm in practical samples.

Feeding low iron diets affects fluid preference in growing rats

The effect of dietary iron (ferrous sulfate) concentration on the intake of solutions of sodium saccharin, hydrochloric acid, quinine sulfate, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride was studied. Male Charles River CD weanling rats were divided into four groups and fed semi-synthetic iron-free diets supplemented with either 0, 10, 20 or 40 ppm ferrous sulfate. Using a 48 hour, two-bottle preference test, the rats fed the diet with 0 ppm (added) iron showed significantly higher preferences for sodium chloride and potassium chloride solutions compared with the other three groups. Total fluid intake also increased in rats given the unsupplemented diet. Water intake was not increased in this 0 ppm group when sodium was offered. Blood hemoglobin and hematocrit, serum iron and body weight were lowest in the group with 0 ppm added iron, yet neither adrenal weights nor serum zinc was affected by the dietary iron levels.

Determination of quinine sulfate with pyrogallol red-molybdenum(VI) complex

A rapid and simple method for the spectrophotometric determination of micro amounts of quinine sulfate with pyrogallol red(PR) and molybdenum(VI) in the presence of polyoxyethylenesorbitanmonolaurate (LT-221) at pH 4.5 was established. The calibration curve for the spectrophotometric determination was linear in the range of 01.12 mg quinine sulfate/10 ml. The sensitivity was 0.082μg quinine sulfate/ml for absorbance of 0.001. The recommended analytical procedure is as follows. A sample solution containing less than 1.12 mg of quinine sulfate is taken in a 10 ml measuring flask, and 1.0 ml of 5.0×10-4 M molybdenum(VI), 0.5 ml of 2.0 % LT-221 solution and 0.5 ml of 1.0×10-3 M PR solution are added, and then the resulting solution is adjusted to pH 4.5 with Walpole acetate buffer solution. The content is diluted to the mark with water, kept at (2025)°C for 50 min, and the absorbance of the PR-molyb-denum(VI)-quinine sulfate solution(A solution) is measured at 610 nm against PR-molybdenum(VI) solution (B solution). The effect of foreign substances on the absorbance were examined. Aluminum(III), iron(III) and chromium(VI) interfered, but could be masked by the addition of sodium fluoride or EDTA solution.

Radio- and photothermoluminescence of frozen solutions of sulfuric acid, containing UO2SO4, FeSO4, and quinine sulfate

Radio- and photothermoluminescence of frozen solutions of sulfuric acid, containing UO2SO4, FeSO4, and quinine sulfate