Silver-doped sol-gel borate glasses: Dose-dependent effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms and keratinocyte function

Borate-based glasses have generated great interest for wound healing applications due to their ability to incorporate biologically therapeutic ions which can then be released at the site of repair attributable to their high dissolution rates. In this study, the anti-bacterial activity and cytocompatibility of sol-gel–derived silver-doped borate glasses (AgBGs) of the compositional range (60)B₂O₃–(36)CaO–(4–x)P₂O₅–(x)Ag₂O, where x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 (mol.%) were investigated, in vitro. The dose-dependent anti-bacterial activity of AgBGs was demonstrated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa under both planktonic conditions and pre-formed biofilms, with up to 99.7% reduction in bacterial cell counts. Lower concentrations of ionic dissolution products from AgBGs were non-toxic to keratinocytes, stimulating their growth and metabolic activity. Furthermore, compositions containing 0.3 and 0.5 mol.% Ag significantly accelerated the migration of keratinocytes at two different concentrations in an in vitro 2D wound healing model. In summary, these therapeutic AgBGs have demonstrated potential for accelerated wound healing.     

Evidences for diabetes and insulin mimetic activity of medicinal plants: Present status and future prospects

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a considerable systemic metabolic disorder to exhibit various metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, mainly hyperglycemia. The global projected estimate of diabetes in 2030 will be about 439 million adults, out of which 300 million expected are of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present knowledge revealed responsible factors, occurrence and mechanism of these factors involved in the DM diseases. Hence, the aim of this review is to address and summarize the causes, plant resources, importance, present status and future programmes for diabetes control. The present review answers the contemporary present questions raised in the scientific field on DM. Two major problems are explained in detail about the autoimmune attack or dysfunction of β-cell and insulin resistance involved for Type 1 and Type 2 DM, respectively. Though there are various approaches to reduce the ill effects of diabetes and its secondary complications, many preferred herbal formulations due to lesser side effects and low cost. For this reason still it is getting increased attention in searching antidiabetic medicinal plants for hot research and to develop targeted medicine. Recurrence of islet autoimmunity lesson from pancreatic islet cell transplantation to cure T1D was outlined. With these highlights, the review summarizes the current knowledge on diabetes occurrence, factors (environmental and genetics), and types (I, II, gestation, and secondary DM), antidiabetic plants, sources for insulin mimetic plant principle compounds and their target mechanism with current and future trusted research areas for controlling of DM.     

Sonoloading of nano-TiO2 on sono-alkali hydrolyzed polyester fabric

This study presents alkali hydrolysis of polyester fabric surfaces in an ultrasound bath allowing the loading of nano-TiO₂ by wet chemical technique. The loaded fabrics showed a significant photo-activity under day light irradiation in normal conditions which discolored persistent stains of methylene blue as a cationic dye. The discoloration of stain on the fabric loaded with TiO₂ was monitored quantitatively to define the effect of hydrolysis as a surface pre-treatment on the photo-activity of finished fabrics. The SEM images confirmed more TiO₂ nanoparticles entrapped in the voids created by the alkali hydrolysis of the fabrics. All nano-treated samples showed acceptable antibacterial properties against pathogenic micro-organisms including E. coli (Gram-negative) and S. aureus (Gram-positive) as the rate of bacteria growth inhabitation was higher for sono-alkali hydrolyzed samples rather than the others.     

Even-weighted codes for error detection

For a binary symmetric channel, a code V with only evenweighted words performs better than a corresponding code V? with both odd- and even-weighted words, from the point of the probability of undetected errors. We derive an estimate of the improvement in the performance.     

One-Step Atmospheric Pressure Synthesis of the Ground State of Fe Based LaFeAsO<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis></Subscript>

We report an easy and versatile one-step synthesis route for a newly discovered Fe based LaFeAsO_1−δ compound with 0.0≤δ≤0.15. Instead of widely used high-pressure-high-temperature (HPHT) synthesis, we applied the normal atmosphere solid-state reaction route. The stoichiometric mixtures of Fe, La₂O_3, La, and As in ratio LaFeAsO_1−δ with 0.0≤δ≤0.15 are sealed in an evacuated quartz tube and further heated at 500, 850, and 1,100 °C in Ar for 12, 12, and 33 hours, respectively, in a single step. The resulting compounds are single phase LaFeAsO crystallized in tetragonal P4/nmm structure. These samples showed the ground state spin density wave (SDW) like metallic behavior below around 150 K. In conclusion, the ground state (non-superconducting) of newly discovered Fe based superconductor is synthesized via an easy one-step solid-state reaction route.     

Assessing wind energy potential for electricity generation using WECS in eight selected stations of Ethiopia

Wind utilisation for effective electricity generation has dated since last two decades by means of the modern wind turbines and has proved as a mature, reliable and efficient technology. This paper integrates the wind characteristics and performance of selected wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) from eight selected stations within Tigray region in Ethiopia. The wind speed data were collected over a period between 2002 and 2014. Based on the Paci?c Northwest Laboratory (PNL) classification, all the selected stations fall into Class 1. Therefore, these stations may be advised for small-scale power applications. Furthermore, the highest annual energy output achieved was 3902.31?MWh using VESTAS V110 – 2.0 at Mekele.     

Exploring interfacial interactions,dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/graphene oxide nanocomposites

Graphene oxide (GO) incorporated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites were prepared by encapsulating GO by UHMWPE in an aqueous media via high-shear mixing, which were subsequently dried and compression molded. Morphological characterizations via scanning electron microscopy revealed the intercalation of UHMWPE chains in the graphitic stacks corresponding to GO. Further, dielectric permittivity of UHMWPE/GO nanocomposite of 1 wt% GO showed a drastic increase (~61) as compared to pure UHMWPE (~2) due to an enhanced interfacial polarization. A significantly higher value of remnant polarization (~10 nC/cm²) and coercive field (~3 kV/cm) was observed in UHMWPE/GO nanocomposite of 1 wt% GO, which showed a strong hysteresis loop of polarization versus electric field plot as compared to pure UHMWPE, which displayed a very weak hysteresis loop. The piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) of ~9.5 pm/V was estimated in UHMWPE/GO nanocomposite of 1 wt% GO via piezoresponse force microscopy. Nanocomposite sensor devices were also fabricated and piezoelectric output voltage of ~6 V was recorded in UHMWPE/GO nanocomposite of 1 wt% of GO. We report here for the first time the unique ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties displayed by UHMWPE/GO nanocomposites.     

Subjective social status, objective socioeconomic status, and cardiovascular risk in women.

Objective: Subjective perceptions of personal social status may relate to health beyond the effects of objective socioeconomic status (SES). The authors examined the relationship between subjective social status (SSS) and psychosocial, behavioral, and physical cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged women. Design: Ninety-two women (90.2% White) completed ladder-based, pictorial self-report measures of SSS relative to others in their community and in the United States. Psychosocial measures of depression, anxiety, pessimism, stress, and social support and behavioral risk factors of fruit and vegetable consumption, leisure physical activity, and body-mass index were obtained. In addition, women underwent measurement of clinic blood pressure and assessment of daytime ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP; DBP) over 2 consecutive days. Results: Community SSS was significantly inversely related to anxiety, pessimism, stress, and daytime ambulatory DBP after controlling for objective SES and U.S. SSS. Women with lower U.S. SSS showed less healthy dietary and exercise behaviors and, contrary to predictions, lower clinic and ambulatory DBP. Conclusion: This study provides additional evidence that perceptions of one's position in the social hierarchy could have important health implications beyond the impact of objective SES. Further, the cardiovascular risk implications of perceived community versus U.S. social status appear to be distinct. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)