Stimuli sensitive copolymer poly(N-tert-butylacrylamide-ran-acrylamide): processing into thin films and their transitional behaviour

Temperature sensitive polymer hydrogels are being extensively studied because of their potential applications in biomedical, robotics, and chemical industry. However, major hurdles in their development have been their slow response, low efficiency, and poor mechanical properties. One of the main reasons for these shortcomings is the difficulty of processing them into mechanically fine structures in polymer gel form. In this work, a novel approach has been developed to process temperature sensitive copolymers based on acrylamide into mechanically stable thin films. A series of temperature sensitive random linear copolymers of N-tert-butylacrylamide (NTBA) and acrylamide (Am) were synthesized by solution polymerization method, using regulated dosing of comonomer Am having a higher reactivity ratio (r_Am=1.5) than NTBA (r_NTBA=0.5). Copolymers with varying feed ratios of NTBA and Am (80:20 to 20:80 mol%) were synthesized and characterized. The actual incorporation of less reactive comonomer NTBA was found to be lower than the feed and was found to vary between 75 mol% with feed of 80 and 11 mol% for a feed of 20%. Linear copolymer with 40:60 feed ratio of NTBA and Am monomers, with actual incorporation of NTBA to the extent of 27 mol%, was selected for processing. The copolymer films of thickness in the range of 10–200 microns could be obtained from aqueous solution in the presence of citric acid or 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid as crosslinkers and sodium hypophosphite as catalyst. Subsequently, the films were crosslinked at 150–160 °C to obtain mechanically strong insoluble films. The crosslinks were formed between reactive amide side groups of the acrylamide moiety of the polymer and the carboxylic acid group of the crosslinker. The transition temperatures of the crosslinked films were found to shift towards the lower temperature from 37 °C (in linear copolymer) to 22–25 °C. High surface to volume ratio of the prepared films lead to significant increase in swelling percentage from 490 to 2980% and faster response time from 1280 min (in the first cycle) to 5 min compared to polymerized-gel samples (2 mm disc) of the same composition.     

Shear Reversible Alumina Gels for Direct Writing

Phase diagram of alumina sol has been investigated, wherein a unique region of shear reversible gels has been discovered. In this region, rapid transformation from gel to sol was observed, where the viscosity shows a sudden drop by six orders of magnitude on application of shear stress. The sol to gel transformation was observed to depend on the composition of the sol and could be tuned in the range of few seconds to hours. These gels are suitable for fabricating complex three‐dimensional structures using advanced technology of direct write and ink‐jet printing.     

Quality controlled ECG compression using essentially non-oscillatory point-value decomposition (ENOPV) technique

This paper presents an essentially non-oscillatory point-value (ENOPV) scheme based ECG compression. ENOPV scheme is a combination of multiresolution scheme (analysis) and interpolation scheme (synthesis). Advantage of using ENOPV scheme is that it avoids the discontinuities and therefore large numbers of coefficient do not appear at edges. It also provides better compression capabilities. The results are presented in tabular and graphical form for the different ECG signals of varying characteristics. Results are also compared with the results reported in the literature. It has been observed that there is significant increase in compression ratio (CR) at a given quality. For example, at percentage of root mean square difference (PRD) 2.65, the CR in case of ENOPV based scheme is 28.22, which is higher than 10.84, the best reported result.     

Clinical practice guidelines: prevention of cytomegalovirus disease after renal transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To develop a set of comprehensive, standardized, evidence-based guidelines for the use of antiviral therapy to prevent cytomegalovirus disease in adult patients having undergone renal transplantation. OPTIONS: The use of medication, at the time of induction therapy or at the earliest sign of viremia. Treatments were evaluated by patient and donor serologic groups and the induction regimen used. OUTCOMES: The control of symptoms and features of cytomegalovirus disease over the first 6 mo to 1 yr after transplantation. EVIDENCE: Articles, compiled using a MEDLINE search from 1976 to July 1997, were reviewed by representatives of nephrology, microbiology, pharmacy, and epidemiology. Additional information was obtained from recent review articles and conference abstracts, and from experts in the field. VALUES: The evidence-based methods and values of the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examinations were used. High value was placed on studies with a randomized controlled design and blinded outcome observers. Study quality was classified as poor when cointervention was present (especially with regard to immunosuppressive regimens), when more than 20% of patients were lost to follow-up, and when intention to treat analysis was not performed. Recommendations were made with a graded system (grades A and B: Use of the intervention advised, based on high or fair quality evidence, respectively; grades D and E: Use of the intervention not advised, based on high or fair quality evidence, respectively: grade C: No recommendation made because of insufficient or conflicting evidence). RECOMMENDATIONS: (1) Seropositive recipient; donor seropositive or seronegative; immunosuppression with antilymphocyte products. Prophylaxis with antiviral therapy recommended (grade A recommendation). (2) Seronegative recipient; seropositive donor; immunosuppression with antilymphocyte products. Prophylaxis with antiviral therapy recommended (grade A recommendation) (3) Seronegative recipient; seropositive donor; conventional immunosuppression. Prophylaxis with antiviral therapy recommended (grade B recommendation). (4) Seronegative recipient; seronegative donor; any immunosuppressive regimen. No prophylaxis with antiviral therapy required (grade D/E recommendation). (5) Seropositive recipient: donor seropositive or seronegative; conventional immunosuppression. Prophylaxis left to the discrimination of the physician in charge (grade C recommendation).     

In-situ extraction and purification of ethanol using commercial oleic acid

The flash process for the removal of ethanol from commercial oleic acid has been experimentally studied and modelled using a modified Redlich-Kwong-Soave equation of state (RKAES) and the ASPEN process simulator. Using feed ethanol and water concentrations spanning the range of expected liquid-liquid extraction concentrations, it was found that 93.6% by weight of ethanol in the distillate was obtained consuming only 2 MJoules of energy per kilogram of ethanol recovered. The RKAES model was found to reasonably predict the ethanol recovery and purity with errors under 5%. Commercial oleic acid was found to be completely non-inhibitory towards the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells when used for in-situ extraction at a concentration of 50% of the total fermenter volume.     

Prevalence of central autonomic neuropathy in elderly dialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Autonomic neuropathy is frequently present in dialysis patients. In addition, deterioration of autonomic function occurs with ageing. This study examines the true prevalence of autonomic neuropathy in elderly dialysis patients and questions whether the combination of age and uraemia further increases the chance of dysautonomia being present. METHODS: We compared the results of five different tests (30:15 ratio; Valsalva ratio; heart rate response to deep breathing and the blood pressure responses to sustained hand grip and standing) of parasympathetic and combined parasympathetic and sympathetic dysfunction in older haemodialysis patients (mean age 70.2 years), younger haemodialysis patients (mean age 48.1 years) and two groups of subjects with normal renal function (mean age 73.0 years and 42.5 years respectively). RESULTS: Parasympathetic dysfunction was most prevalent in older patients on dialysis (65.9% (95% confidence intervals 51.4-80.4%), compared with 33.3% (95% confidence intervals 19.0-47.5% in younger dialysis patients), and 11.8 and 0% in the old and young control groups respectively). Combined parasympathetic and sympathetic dysfunction was seen in 41.5% (95% confidence intervals 26.5-56.5%) and 11.9% (95% confidence intervals 2.1-56.5%) of the old and young dialysis patients respectively but not in any of the control subjects. No interaction was seen between age and subject type. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that although older dialysis patients have severe impairment of cardiovascular autonomic innervation, the prevalence of dysfunction is not higher than would be expected in an ageing population with uraemia.     

Applying genetic algorithm to a new location and routing model of hazardous materials

Nowadays – particularly in systems dealing with hazardous materials (HAZMAT) – in addition to minimising the cost of operations in facility location and routing problems, the risk of these operations is considered an important objective. In this paper, a new mathematical model for the location and routing in facilities and disposal sites is proposed. Also, the risk and cost of transporting goods from facilities to customers is considered. The model minimises weighted sum of the cost and risk by answering these questions: (1) where to open the facilities which produce HAZMAT; (2) where to open disposal sites; (3) to which facilities every customer should be assigned; (4) to which disposal site each facility should be assigned; (5) which route a facility should choose to serve the customers; and (6) which route a facility should choose to reach a disposal site. A novel GA is applied to solve the mathematical model. The results show the robustness of GA in terms of finding high-quality non-dominated solutions and running time.     

Biogeography-based optimisation of Cognitive Radio system

Biogeography-based optimisation (BBO) is a novel population-based global optimisation algorithm that is stimulated by the science of biogeography. The mathematical models of biogeography describe how a species arises, migrates from one habitat (Island) to another or gets extinct. BBO searches for the global optimum mainly through two steps: migration and mutation. These steps are controlled by immigration and emigration rates of the species in the habitat which are also used to share information between the habitats. In this paper, BBO has been applied to Cognitive Radio (CR) system for optimising its various transmission parameters to meet the quality of service (QoS) that is defined by the user in terms of minimum transmit power, minimum bit error rate (BER), maximum throughput, minimum interference and maximum spectral efficiency. To confirm the capability of biogeography-based optimisation algorithm, the results obtained by BBO are compared with that obtained by using genetic algorithm (GA) for the various QoS parameters, and it has been observed that BBO outperforms GA in system optimisation.     

Microwave-assisted green synthesis of hybrid nanocomposite: removal of Malachite green from waste water

Gum xanthan/psyllium-based nanocomposite was prepared by microwave-assisted synthetic method for the removal of toxic Malachite green (MG) dye from aqueous solutions. The nanocomposite was prepared by in situ incorporation of the K₂Zn₃[Fe(CN)₆]·9H₂O nanoparticles into the semi-IPN matrix in the presence of ammonium persulphate and glutaraldehyde as initiator-crosslinker system. Liquid uptake efficacy of the hybrid superabsorbent was enhanced through the optimization of different reaction conditions, including APS = 0.027 mol L^?1; glutaraldehyde = 0.053 × 10^?3 mol L^?1; solvent = 8.0 mL; acrylic acid = 10.928 mol L^?1; pH 7.0; reaction time = 60 s and microwave power = 100 % and its thermal behavior was evaluated using TGA-DTG-DTA technique. Candidate nanocomposite was characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD and UV–visible spectroscopic methods. Various optimized parameters for the efficient removal (83 %) of the Malachite green were adsorbent dose of 800 mg, 14 mg L^?1 initial dye concentration and contact time of 28 h. Further, Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms showed good applicability in adsorption process of MG onto the nanocomposite with maximum adsorption efficiency of 3.21 mg g^?1. However, for Freundlich isotherm, R ² was around 0.9947 and value of 1/n was less than 1 for the synthesized nanocomposite which indicated that the Freundlich isotherm was more favorable than Langmuir isotherm model along with its usability for wide range of dye concentrations. The nanocomposite was found to be a potential product for dye removal from waste water and could prove to be a boon for textile sector.     

Reflection of plane seismic waves at the surface of double-porosity dual-permeability materials

The present work deals with the reflection of plane seismic waves at the stress-free plane surface of double-porosity dual-permeability material. The incidence of two main waves (i.e., P₁ and SV) is considered. As a result of the incident waves, four reflected (three longitudinal and one shear) waves are found in the medium. The expressions of reflection coefficients for a given incident wave are obtained as a non-singular system of linear equations. The energy shares of reflected waves are obtained in the form of an energy matrix. A numerical example is considered to calculate the partition of incident energy for fully closed as well as perfectly open pores. Effect of incident direction on the partition of the incident energy is analyzed with the change in wave frequency, wave-induced fluid-flow, pore-fluid viscosity and double-porosity structure. It has been confirmed from the numerical interpretation that during the reflection process, conservation of incident energy is obtained at each angle of incidence.