High Resolution Gravity, Helicopter Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Study, Haile Gold Mine, South Carolina

The goal of this research was to calibrate and test geophysical methods for the detection of disseminated sulfides in the area of the Haile Gold Mine, South Carolina. The work focused on the calibration of high resolution gravity, and helicopter electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic data provided by OceanaGold. While high resolution potential field data (gravity and magnetics) has not been proven to be effective at small scales in exploration for disseminated sulfides, there is a strong regional correlation between high amplitude gravity and magnetic anomalies and the most productive gold mines in the Carolina terrane. Helicopter EM methods have been shown to be effective in distinguishing sedimentary from volcanic-dominated sediments in the metamorphic rocks of the Carolina terrane. The interpretation of the gravity and magnetic data utilized tilt derivatives, reduced to pole anomalies (RTP), shaded relief, Power spectrum, Analytical signal, Source parameter imaging (SPI), 3-D Euler deconvolution, upward continuation, and 2-D forward density modeling. The most surprising result was that over the Haile Mine, the residual gravity anomalies, tilt derivatives, and analytic signal show positive anomalies correlated with the location of a disseminated ore body. The gravity field over the ore body can be interpreted as produced by 4% pyrite and molybdenite. Electromagnetic (EM) anomalies are also spatially associated with the Haile ore bodies. Cultural signals in the EM data can be minimized with high pass filtering. The edges of a granite pluton are clearly illuminated by the shaded relief, tilt derivative, Euler deconvolution, and analytic signal of the high resolution magnetic field. The RTP magnetic field shows NW-trending Jurassic dikes as well as ENE-trending Alleghanian dikes. An oval pattern in the magnetic SPI outlines the Brewer gold mine area

Oxidative stress contributes to cobalt oxide nanoparticles-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human hepatocarcinoma cells.

BackgroundCobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co(3)O(4)NPs) are increasingly recognized for their utility in biological applications, magnetic resonance imaging, and drug delivery. However, little is known about the toxicity of Co(3)O(4)NPs in human cells.MethodsWe investigated the possible mechanisms of genotoxicity induced by Co(3)O(4)NPs in human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, apoptosis, and DNA damage were assessed in HepG2 cells after Co(3)O(4)NPs and Co(2+) exposure.ResultsCo(3)O(4)NPs elicited a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in glutathione with a concomitant increase in lipid hydroperoxide, ROS generation, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity after 24- and 48-hour exposure. Co(3)O(4)NPs had a mild cytotoxic effect in HepG2 cells; however, it induced ROS and oxidative stress, leading to DNA damage, a probable mechanism of genotoxicity. The comet assay showed a statistically significant (P < 0.01) dose- and time-related increase in DNA damage for Co(3)O(4)NPs, whereas Co(2+) induced less change than Co(3)O(4)NPs but significantly more than control.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that Co(3)O(4)NPs induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in HepG2 cells through ROS and oxidative stress

Geophysical Study of Gold Mineralized Zones in the Carolina Terrane of South Carolina

T he goal of this study was to calibrate and test geophysical methods for the detection of geological structural and disseminated sulfides in the area of the four largest gold deposits in the Southern Appalachian of South Carolina. The Coastal plain sediments, vegetation and saprolite covering the mining areas remain the most challenging in this region. The work focused on the calibration of high-resolution gravity, and helicopter electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic data provided by OceanaGold over the Haile and Brewer Mines; then calibrating the regional gravity and aeromagnetic data over the four gold mines in South Carolina. Observed geophysical fields are correlated with rock properties: resistivities, susceptibilities and mineral concentrations are measured for 40 samples from 16 drill holes, as well as densities and mineral concentrations for 49,183 samples from 448 drill holes in the Haile ore zone. While high resolution potential field data (gravity and magnetics) has not been proven to be effective at small scales in exploration for disseminated sulfides, there is a strong regional correlation between high amplitude gravity and magnetic anomalies and the most productive gold mines in the Carolina terrane. Helicopter EM methods have been shown to be effective in distinguishing sedimentary from volcanic-dominated sediments in the metamorphic rocks of the Carolina terrane. The interpretation of the gravity and magnetic data utilized tilt derivatives, vertical derivative, reduced to pole anomalies (RTP), shaded relief, frequency spectrum, 3-D Euler deconvolution, core drilling and 2-D forward modeling. The most surprising result was that over the Haile Mine, the residual gravity vi anomalies, tilt derivatives, and vertical derivative show positive anomalies correlated with the location of a disseminated ore body. The gravity field over the ore body can be interpreted as produced by 4% pyrite and molybdenite. Electromagnetic (EM) anomalies are spatially associated with the Haile ore bodies. The edges of a granite pluton are clearly illuminated by the shaded relief, tilt derivative, and Euler deconvolution of the potential fields. The magnetic fields do not show correlations with the mineralized zones but are instead dominated by granitic and gabbro plutons and northwest trending diabase dikes. The integration and interpretation of the results indicate that metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration destroy magnetite and cause demagnetisation anomalies for the Carolina terrane. East-northeast trending linear anomalies have been sampled and dated as Alleghanian lamprophyre dikes providing the first magnetic map of these intrusions at Haile. Finally, we calculated the probability of detecting a geophysical anomaly of the required minimum dimensions with a given survey spacing over the Haile mine area to reduce the risk of missing the target anomaly

The effects of transformational leadership on followers’ creativity and innovation

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonToday, the revolution of knowledge, innovation, and information is considered as important factors for psychological, technological, economical, and social world. Organisations are facing big challenges such as globalisation, emergence of knowledge based economies, intense competition, and rapid technological developments. The literature reveals controlling these challenges through innovative and creative abilities of organisation with the support of their leadership. This study examines the relationship between transformational leadership and innovation at the organisational level and creativity at the individual level in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is facing the problems because of being a young, wealthy and a developing country. The current state of innovation in its public sector and human resources creativity provides insights to policy makers with reference to the leadership approaches in this country. With the support of the relevant literature gap, a theoretical framework has been developed that explains how transformational leaders of the public sector organisations influence followers’ creativity and organisational innovation. To investigate this relationship, the researcher adapted a survey instrument to obtain the date from Public Security organisation. A Self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to employees who were randomly selected from the organisation. After screening, final sample of 503 was selected for the study data analysis. The results show that transformational leadership is positively and significantly correlated to the follower’s creativity and organisational innovation. Furthermore, positive and significant relationships were found between follower’s creativity and organisational innovation. In addition, the relationship between the transformational leadership and follower’s creativity through the mediating role of employee psychological empowerment, support for innovation, workplace relationship, and employee learning were found positive and significant. However, intrinsic motivation does not significantly mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and creativity. The findings of this research contribute to the behavioural and psychological literature in general and for transformational leadership literature in particular. They provide supportive insights into the state of transformational leadership for field experts, policy makers, and administration of the public security organisations especially from the Gulf countries.Public security sector of Kingdom of Saudi Arabi

ROS-Mediated Apoptosis and Genotoxicity Induced by Palladium Nanoparticles in Human Skin Malignant Melanoma Cells

The present work was designed to investigate the effect of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) on human skin malignant melanoma (A375) cells, for example, induction of apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and DNA damage. Diseases resulting from dermal exposure may have a significant impact on human health. There is a little study that has been reported on the toxic potential of PdNPs on A375. Cytotoxic potential of PdNPs (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 μg/ml) was measured by tetrazolium bromide (MTT assay) and NRU assay in A375 cells. PdNPs elicited concentration and time-dependent cytotoxicity, and longer exposure period induced more cytotoxicity as measured by MTT and NRU assay. The molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were investigated by AO (acridine orange)/EtBr (ethidium bromide) stain and flow cytometry. PdNPs not only inhibit proliferation of A375 cells in a dose- and time-dependent model but also induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase (before 12 h) and S phase (after 24 h). The induction of oxidative stress in A375 cells treated with above concentration PdNPs for 24 and 48 h increased ROS level; on the other hand, glutathione level was declined. Apoptosis and DNA damage was significantly increased after treatment of PdNPs. Considering all results, PdNPs showed cytotoxicity and genotoxic effect in A375 cells.</jats:p

Oxidative Stress-Induced DNA Damage by Manganese Dioxide Nanoparticles in Human Neuronal Cells

Metal nanoparticles have been extensively used in industry as well as in biomedical application. In this work, we have evaluated the toxic potential of manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles (MNPs) on human neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells. Cellular toxicity due to MNPs (0, 10, 30, and 60 μg/ml) on the SH-SY5Y cell was observed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and neutral red uptake (NRU) tests. MNPs produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and declined in mitochondrial membrane potential in the SH-SY5Y cell in dose and duration dependent manner. Moreover, lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were increased and glutathione was reduced in dose and time dependent manner. A significant upgrade in Hoechst 33342 fluorescence intensity (chromosome condensation) and phosphatidylserine translocation (apoptotic cell) was visualized in cells treated with MNPs for 48 h. On the other hand, caspase-3 activity was increased due to MNPs in SH-SY5Y cells. DNA strand breaks were determined by alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet Assay) and maximum fragmentation of DNA produced due to MNPs (60 μg/ml) for 48 hours. This result provides a basic mechanism of induction of apoptosis and toxicity by MNPs in SH-SY5Y cells.</jats:p

Characterization of Sunn hemp begomovirus and its geographical origin based on in silico structural and functional analysis of recombinant coat protein

Sequence alignment of the 897 bp amplicon obtained from a diseased sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) plant DNA revealed a complete 771 bp coat protein (CP) gene flanked by 3’ regions of the AV2 and AC3 genes. Southern hybridization using (α-32P) dCTP labeled (CP) gene probe of Indian tomato leaf curl virus (IToLCV) demonstrated the association of begomovirus with the leaf curl disease of sunn hemp. Phylogenetic data suggested that, the AV2, CP and AC3 genes have closest genetic relationship with begomovirus isolates from India, China and Bangladesh, respectively. In silico recombination analysis elucidated a 297 nucleotides hot spot (346 to 643 nucleotides) within AV2 overlapping region of CP gene, amenable to genetic rearrangements, with lineage from tomato leaf curl virus Bangalore (ToLCuVB) and Indian cassava mosaic virus-Ind (ICMV) as major and minor parents, respectively. Thus, it is concluded that the recombinant CP genes related to begomoviruses are evolved from the Indian isolates, causing broad host specificity and molecular diversity among the related begomoviruses across the geographical limits of Southeast Asia.Keywords: Begomovirus, sunn hemp, coat protein, recombination, phylogenetic analysis, in silico analysi

STIM1, ORAI1, and KDM2B in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) isolated from prostate cancer patients

Introduction: Previous publications have shown that STIM1, ORAI1, and KDM2B, are implicated in Ca2+ signaling and are highly expressed in various cancer subtypes including prostate cancer. They play multiple roles in cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. In the current study we investigated the expression of the above biomarkers in circulating tumor cells from patients with metastatic prostate cancer.Methods: Thirty-two patients were enrolled in this study and CTCs’ isolation was performed with Ficoll density gradient. Two different triple immunofluorescence stainings were conducted with the following combination of antibodies: CK/KDM2B/CD45 and CK/STIM1/ORAI1. Slides were analyzed using VyCAP microscopy technology.Results: CTC-positive patients were detected in 41% for (CK/KDM2B/CD45) staining and in 56% for (CK/STIM1/ORAI1) staining. The (CK+/KDM2B+/CD45–) and the (CK+/STIM1+/ORAI1+) were the most frequent phenotypes as they were detected in 85% and 94% of the CTC-positive patients, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of ORAI1 and STIM1 in patients’ PBMCs was very low exhibiting them as interesting specific biomarkers for CTC detection. The (CK+/STIM1+/ORAI1+) phenotype was correlated to bone metastasis (p = 0.034), while the (CK+/STIM1+/ORAI1–) to disease relapse (p = 0.049).Discussion: STIM1, ORAI1, and KDM2B were overexpressed in CTCs from patients with metastatic prostate cancer. STIM1 and ORAI1 expression was related to disease recurrence and bone metastasis. Further investigation of these biomarkers in a larger cohort of patients will clarify their clinical significance for prostate cancer patients

Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) mediated green synthesis of copper nanoparticles and their application in anticancer activity

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has drawn huge attention in the last decade due to their eco-friendly, biocompatible nature. Phyto-assisted synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is widespread in the field of nanomedicine, especially for antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Here in the present research work, investigators have used the stem extract of the Himalayan plant Hippophae rhamnoides L, for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). The synthesized of CuNPs were analyzed by using sophisticated instruments, i.e., Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The size of the synthesized CuNPs was varying from 38 nm to 94 nm which were mainly spherical in shape. Further, the potential of the synthesized CuNPs was evaluated as an anticancer agent on the Hela cell lines, by performing an MTT assay. In the MTT assay, a concentration-dependent activity of CuNPs demonstrated the lower cell viability at 100 μg/mL and IC50 value at 48 μg/mL of HeLa cancer cell lines. In addition to this, apoptosis activity was evaluated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining, Annexin V, and Propidium iodide (PI) staining, wherein the maximum ROS production was at a dose of 100 µg per mL of CuNPs with a higher intensity of green fluorescence. In both DAPI and PI staining, maximum nuclear condensation was observed with 100 μg/mL of CuNPs against HeLa cell lines