Mg–Al layered double hydroxide–methotrexate nanohybrid drug delivery system: Evaluation of efficacy

Mg–Al layered double hydroxide nanoparticles were synthesized by one-pot co-precipitation method and anticancerous drug methotrexate was incorporated into it by in-situ ion exchange. The LDH–MTX nanohybrid produced moderately stable suspension in water, as predicted by zeta potential measurement. X-ray diffraction revealed that the basal spacing increased to nearly twice the same for pristine LDH on MTX intercalation. Thermogravimetric analyses confirmed an increase in thermal stability of the intercalated drug in the LDH framework. A striking enhancement in efficacy/sensitivity of MTX on the HCT-116 cells was obtained when intercalated within the LDH layers, as revealed by the attainment of half maximal inhibitory concentration of LDH–MTX nanohybrid by 48 h, whereas, bare MTX required 72 h for the same. The MTX release from MgAl-LDH–MTX hybrids in phosphate buffer saline at pH 7.4 followed a relatively slow, first order kinetics and was complete within 8 days following diffusion and crystal dissolution mechanism.     

Peptide-functionalized colloidal graphene via interdigited bilayer coating and fluorescence turn-on detection of enzyme

Synthesis of colloidal functional graphene is challenging because graphene is water-insoluble and its relatively inert surface made the functionalization a difficult task. Here we report interdigited bilayer type coating that provide both colloidal stability and functionalization option for graphene. Colloidal graphene oxide is first converted into interdigited bilayer coated graphene oxide and next they are transformed into colloidal graphene by hydrazine reduction. These coated graphenes can be further transformed into colloidal functional graphene using covalent conjugation chemistry. Functional graphene has been synthesized for optical detection of enzyme where a fluorescent dye is covalently linked through a peptide so that the dye fluorescence is quenched by graphene but switches on once enzymes cleave the peptide bond. The interdigited bilayer coating reported here is unique as it provides coating thickness <3 nm, offering optically responsive graphene-fluorophore substrate with high colloidal stability.     

Modeling product-mix planning for batches of melt under multiple objectives in a small scale iron foundry

Product-mix of castings of different types/sizes can be produced in a heat (batch of melt) if all these castings require similar raw material composition. However, inappropriate product-mix may lead to under utilization of furnace capacity or failure in timely delivery or overproduction of castings or may call for deployment of excess resources for packing of molds to enable starting of the pouring operation in time. Some objectives, again, can be conflicting in nature. This paper presents a weighted integer goal programming model for the product-mix planning, developed in the context of a small scale iron foundry. Implementation of the model is illustrated using real life data from an Indian foundry.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Properties of Vanadium Substituted Hexagonal Mesoporous Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves

Vanadium substituted hexagonal mesoporous aluminophosphate (VHMA) molecular sieves were synthesized hydrothermally. Various physicochemical studies, viz., XRD, TEM, DRUV–VIS, EPR, N₂ sorption were used to find the location of vanadium ions in the VHMA matrix and to check the mesoporosity of the sample. The catalytic activity of VHMA was evaluated, under mild reaction conditions, for the oxidation of cyclohexane reaction, which mainly gave cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone along with a very small amount of a secondary product, viz., cyclohexyl acetate. A comparative study, with other vanadium containing molecular sieves, viz., VMCM-41, VAPO-5 and VS-1, on the application of VHMA catalyst reveal that the latter exhibits excellent activity, selectivity and stability to leaching for the oxidation reaction of cycloalkanes, including bulkier molecules such as cyclododecane.     

Postharvest technology for developing countries: challenges and opportunities in research, outreach and advocacy

This article discusses the needs and challenges of developing good, science-based, simple methods for postharvest handling that can be made available in developing countries. Some of the traditional challenges have been successfully met (i.e. identifying causes and sources of losses for key crops, identifying many potential postharvest technologies of practical use for reducing losses), but many challenges remain. These include the characterization of indigenous crops in terms of their unique postharvest physiology (e.g. respiration rate, susceptibility to water loss, chilling sensitivity, ethylene sensitivity), ascertaining the differences between handling recommendations made for well-known varieties and the needs of local varieties of crops, and determining cost effectiveness of scale-appropriate postharvest technologies in each locale and for each crop. Key issues include building capacity at the local level in postharvest science, university teaching and extension, and continued adaptive research efforts to match emerging postharvest technologies to local needs as these continue to change over time. Development of appropriate postharvest technology relies upon many disciplines that are relevant to the overall success of horticulture, i.e. plant biology, engineering, agricultural economics, food processing, nutrition, food safety, and environmental conservation. The expanding pool of new information derived from postharvest research and outreach efforts in these areas can lead in many directions which are likely to have an impact on relieving poverty in developing countries.     

An adaptive localization of pupil degraded by eyelash occlusion and poor contrast

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The inner boundary of iris represents the pupil’s edge. Hence, to work an Iris Recognition System (IRS) and the gaze tracking system expeditiously it is...     

Logical redundancies in irredundant combinational circuits

Some new types of logical redundancies that can occur in a combinational network are investigated. Three kinds of redundancy, namely a-redundancy, b-redundancy and c-redundancy are already well-known. This article presents two new types of redundancy called p-redundancy and n-redundancy in combinational networks which are otherwise known to be irredundant. A combinational circuit is calledp-redundant (n-redundant), if it is possible to realize the same function by permuting (inverting) some input terminals, in the presence of certain stuck-at faults in the circuit.     

Improved feature-based test statistic for assessing suitability of the preliminary samples for constructing control limits of \bar{X} chart

In spite of using a large number of subgroups (m) of small samples (n), the estimated control limits of $ \bar{X} $ chart in phase I can be erroneous unless the preliminary samples are drawn from a stable process. As a result, the performance of the chart in phase II can be significantly affected. The pattern in the $ \bar{X} $ chart, exhibited by the plots of the subgroup averages of the preliminary samples, will be different depending on stability and instability of the process while the preliminary samples were collected. Based on this concept, a new feature-based test statistic (FTS) is proposed for evaluating suitability of the preliminary samples for the designing of the $ \bar{X} $ chart. The FTS, for given m, approximately follows $ N[1,{\text{ SD(}}m{)]} $ , where SD(m) is a function of m. The goodness of the approximation and effectiveness of the test are evaluated using simulated data. The results show that both are satisfactory for m?>?=48. The proposed statistic is also quite effective in detecting unstable process condition resulting in a cyclic pattern. The computation of FTS involves some complexities. However, now-a-days computers are widely available and so computation difficulty may not be a problem.