Gelatin‐carbohydrate phase‐separated hydrogels as bioactive carriers in vaginal delivery: Preparation and physical characterizations

The current study focuses on the alteration of properties of the gelatin hydrogels using polysaccharides (e.g., maltodextrin, dextran, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) for probable use in vaginal delivery of antimicrobials. The hydrogels were prepared by varying the proportions of gelatin and polysaccharides and were characterized by microscopy, mechanical testing, and impedance spectroscopy. Metronidazole (MZ), drug of choice for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, was incorporated within the hydrogels. In vitro release studies of MZ from the hydrogels was studied in‐depth using modified Franz's diffusion cell. Antimicrobial efficiency of the MZ‐loaded hydrogels was tested against E. coli and B. subtilis. The results suggested that the incorporation of polysaccharides resulted in the phase‐separated hydrogels. The properties of the hydrogels was found be suitable for vaginal delivery. The drug release and antimicrobial efficiency from the hydrogels suggested that the developed hydrogels may be used for the delivery of antimicrobials in the vaginal lumen. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40445.     

Purification and concentration of gluconic acid from an integrated fermentation and membrane process using response surface optimized conditions

A response surface method was used to optimize the purification and concentration of gluconic acid from fermentation broth using an integrated membrane system. Gluconobacter oxydans was used for the bioconversion of the glucose in sugarcane juice to gluconic acid (concentration 45 g·L^-1) with a yield of 0.9 g·g^-1. The optimum operating conditions, such as trans-membrane pressure (TMP), pH, cross-flow rate (CFR) and initial gluconic acid concentration, were determined using response surface methodology. Five different types of polyamide nanofiltration membranes were screened and the best performing one was then used for downstream purification of gluconic acid in a flat sheet cross-flow membrane module. Under the optimum conditions (TMP=12 bar and CFR=400 L·h^-1), this membrane retained more than 85% of the unconverted glucose from the fermentation broth and had a gluconic acid permeation rate of 88% with a flux of 161 L·m^-2·h^-1. Using response surface methods to optimize this green nanofiltration process is an effective way of controlling the production of gluconic acid so that an efficient separation with high flux is obtained.     

Hydrogen generation and separation using Gd0.2Ce0.8O1.9−δ–Gd0.08Sr0.88Ti0.95Al0.05O3±δ mixed ionic and electronic conducting membranes

Decomposition of steam under a chemical driving force at moderate temperatures offers a simple and economical way to generate hydrogen. A significant amount of hydrogen can be generated and separated by splitting steam and removing the oxygen using Gd_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9−δ (GDC)–Gd_0.08Sr_0.88Ti_0.95Al_0.05O_3±δ (GSTA) mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conducting membranes. Hydrogen generation experiments for the self-supported thick membranes and porous supported thin membranes were conducted at different oxygen partial pressure gradients across the membrane established using H₂–H₂O mixture gas. Experimental results indicate that the hydrogen generation from steam using GDC–GSTA MIEC membranes at elevated temperatures is mainly controlled by the bulk diffusion of oxygen for the self-supported thick membranes, while the permeation process for the porous supported thin membranes is mixed controlled, i.e. the hydrogen generation/oxygen permeation process is controlled by the surface exchange reactions and bulk diffusion of oxygen through the MIEC membrane. A mathematical model for the calculation of the area specific hydrogen generation rate is proposed in this paper based on the measured oxygen partial pressures, gas compositions, and gas flow rates of the inlet and outlet gases on feed side of the membrane, as well as the permeation area of the membrane.     

Development of halogen‐free flame‐retardant thermoplastic elastomer polymer blend

Ethylene‐propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP) blends have widest industrial applications that require a degree of flame retardancy. Halogen‐free intumescent technology based on phosphorous salt is a significantly advanced approach to make the polymer flame‐retardant. Both ammonium polyphosphate and ethylenediamine phosphate are important intumescent compounds. Their combination with carbonific and spumific agents were studied in binary blends of EPDM/PP. The polymer system was vulcanized online during melt mixing. Intumescent flame‐retardant polymer systems exhibit good flame‐retardancy with optimum comparable physiomechanical, electrical, and fluid resistance properties, including lower smoke emission, which is essential to protect people because the visibility remains unaffected in the event of fire. Pronounced charring and intumescent effect appear to enhance the flame‐retardancy of the polymers. Possible expected intumescent mechanism is proposed based on the nonpyrolysis mechanism for the flame‐retarded polymer and the intumescent components. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 407–415, 2004     

Optimal Weld Parameters, Weld Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Hydrogen Absorption: An Effective Analysis

Weld bead-in-grooves were deposited on low alloy, high strength steel plates (ASTM A 517 Grade “F”) with a commercial flux-cored filler wire, Auto-MIG 420, at different welding conditions. Microstructure and mechanical properties of welds were characterized by means of optical microscopy, SEM, TEM, EPMA, microhardness measurements, tensile tests, and Charpy impact tests. Hydrogen content of weld metals in as-weld condition and after exposing in simulated service condition was measured by LECO Gas Analyzer. Microstructure of weld metals consisted primarily of lath martensite with small amount of M-A constituents (Martensite-Austenite alternating layers). For some particular welding conditions, such as higher heat input and lower preheat temperatures etc., acicular ferrite is observed with lath martensite. Welds consisting of acicular ferrite in the microstructure showed improved mechanical properties as well as lower hydrogen absorption. The study provides guidelines for selecting proper welding conditions, which results in lower propensity to absorb hydrogen during service, as well as better mechanical properties. Necessity of post-weld heat treatment processes, which is mainly performed to achieve toughness, may be reduced; consequently saving cost and time of the welding process.     

Electronic states of organic semiconductors vis-à-vis interactions between molecules in a submonolayer through time-restricted electrostatic assembly

We have made in-depth studies to revisit time-restricted layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly process of a couple of organic molecules. The studies have been made in relation to electronic states of metal phthalocyanines. We show that by shortening dipping time for adsorption of the active molecules, mass adsorbed in each monolayer can be decreased and hence intermolecular spacing between the molecules can be increased. We have characterized the (sub)monolayers deposited on an electrode with scanning tunneling microscope tip to record tunneling current through the molecules. Results show that the highest occupied molecular orbitals and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, and also the difference between the orbitals, that is, the transport gap of the molecules in a (sub)monolayer depends on the dipping time of LbL assembly or molecule-to-molecule separation. We show that interactions between molecules in a monolayer decrease the transport gap of the metal phthalocyanines.     

Relationship between normal load and dynamic co-efficient of friction on rock-rubber wear mechanism

In this study, rubber compounds were produced in varying proportions of carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) and natural rubber (NR) and the parameters such as cure characteristics, wear behavior against various surfaces at different normal loads, and frictional works were tested. The tensile strength and dynamic co-efficient of friction of sample containing 80 wt.% of XNBR was high compared to other samples by 2% and 10% respectively. The results of XNBR and NR vulcanizates under normal pressure ranging from 43 to 118 kPa were reported. Based on these results the relationship between normal load and dynamic co-efficient of friction has been proposed. It was also observed that sample containing 80 wt.% of XNBR exhibits lesser volume loss than compared to other samples.     

Immobilization and the conformational study of phospholipid and phospholipid-protein vesicles

The present work demonstrates the immobilization of phospholipids and phospholipids-protein vesicles on solid substrate by simple drop-cast technique. We have also studied the structural and conformational transition of protein (OVA) molecules when they are loaded in immobilized vesicles of DPPC. High-resolution FE-SEM imaging is used to study the structural aspects of the immobilized vesicles of DPPC and OVA loaded DPPC. FTIR analyses of amide bands are being used to inspect the extent of the conformational transitions of β-sheet to α-helix of OVA in immobilized DPPC vesicles. Immobilized OVA-DPPC vesicles provide the structure of individual OVA molecule attached with DPPC, without aggregation amongst them.     

Revisiting Stress Corrosion Cracking of Steel in Caustic Solutions for Developing Cracking Susceptibility Diagrams for Improved Applicability

Stress corrosion cracking tests were conducted using Bayer solutions of different chemistry at different temperatures for extraction of alumina from bauxite ores. The validity of the commonly used caustic cracking susceptibility (CS) diagram for steels exposed to plain caustic solutions was assessed by testing the notched and precracked specimens. This study presents first results toward the development of a model susceptibility diagram for actual Bayer solutions, and for improved applicability of the traditional plain caustic diagram. For mechanistic understanding of caustic cracking, tests were also carried out under imposed electrochemical conditions.     

Comparison of performances of five prospective approaches for the multi-response optimization

The Taguchi method of experimental design is widely used for optimization of process performance. However, this method has been developed to optimize single-response processes. But, in many situations, the engineers are required to determine the process settings that can simultaneously optimize multiple responses. In the recent past, researchers have proposed several systematic procedures for multi-response optimization. Most of these methods use complicated statistical/mathematical models and are, therefore, not easily comprehendible to the engineers who do not have a strong background in mathematics. Only a few methods, e.g. weighted signal-to-noise (WSN) ratio, Grey relational analysis, multiple-response signal-to-noise ratio, VIKOR (VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje in Serbian), and weighted principal component methods, use relatively simpler procedures. In this paper, the computational procedures for these five methods are standardized. Three sets of experimental data are analyzed using these standardized procedures and the predicted optimization performances of the five methods are compared. The results show that no method can give better optimization than the WSN method.