Development of a gelatin-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)–montmorillonite superabsorbent hydrogels for in vitro controlled release of vitamin B12

Gelatin (Ge)-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) and montmorillonite (MMT)-clay-based nanocomposite hydrogels were fabricated to study the controlled release of vitamin B₁₂. Polymeric hydrogels were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the grafting of partially neutralized acrylic acid on a Ge backbone. The incorporation of MMT fillers inside the nanocomposite hydrogels and their increased crystallinity were established by XRD analysis. The rough surface morphologies of the composite hydrogels shown by SEM resulted from the assimilation of MMT inside the same. TEM confirmed the formation of nanosized composites. The average length and width of the MMT platelets were found to be 184.37 and 20.48 nm, respectively. The maximum swelling of the hydrogel was 375 g/g, and the results were established with Design-Expert software. The biodegradability of the nanocomposite increased in comparison to that of the copolymer hydrogel. Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity studies were also performed. During different time intervals, the controlled release of vitamin B₁₂ in artificial gastric fluid (AGF) and artificial intestinal fluid (AIF) was evaluated with a UV–visible spectrophotometer; this resulted in different controlled release curves. The release in AGF was 42%, and in AIF, the cumulative release was 80% over 6 h. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47596.     

Folate contents of some selected Fijian foods using tri-enzyme extraction method

Folic acid and total folate contents of 18 common foods in the Fijian diet were assayed. Foods were purchased from the central and eastern parts of Viti Levu in Fiji. Tri-enzyme treatment was performed to release bound folates using protease and α-amylase, with chicken pancreas as the conjugase. The highest total folate content was recorded for egg yolk (Gallus domesticus) at 256 μg/100 g, followed by long beans (Vigna sesquipedalis) which contained 130 μg/100 g of total folate (fresh weight basis). The local leafy vegetable called Bele (Abelmoschus manihot) and the Drumstick leaves (Moringa oleifera) available in Fiji also had high total folate contents, above 100 μg/100 g (fresh weight basis). For the 18 foods studied, the content of folic acid ranged from 3 to 189 μg/100 g and the total folate content was in the range of 3–256 μg/100 g, indicating a very wide range of folate content in the foods studied.     

Studies on black gram (Vigna mungo) trypsin inhibitor

The trypsin inhibitor fraction from black gram was isolated by ammonium sulphate fractionation (0-75%). It exerted maximum inhibition on trypsin and to a less extent on the endopeptidases, chymotrypsin, papain, pronase and pepsin in vitro, In-vitro digestibility of the raw black gram was found to be lower than autoclaved black gram and autoclaved black gram supplemented with native black gram trypsin inhibitor. Haemagglutinating activity was absent in the black gram extract as well as in the black gram trypsin inhibitor fractions. During the last 48 h of germination there was a steep decline in trypsin inhibitory activity and an increase was observed later. Trypsin inhibitory activity was greater in the leaves than the cotyledons during the fourth, fifth and sixth days of germination.     

Jack Minker — A profile

This introduction provides a brief synopsis of Jack Minker's career. It discusses his contributions as a teacher, a researcher, as one who has served the computer science and logic programming communities, as an individual deeply committed to human rights, and as a person.     

A knowledge environment for the biodiversity and ecological sciences

The Science Environment for Ecological Knowledge (SEEK) is a knowledge environment that is being developed to address many of the current challenges associated with data accessibility and integration in the biodiversity and ecological sciences. The SEEK information technology infrastructure encompasses three integrated systems: (1) EcoGrid—an open architecture for data access; (2) a Semantic Mediation System based on domain-specific ontologies; and (3) an Analysis and Modeling System that supports semantically integrated analytical workflows. Multidisciplinary scientists and programmers from multiple institutions comprise the core development team. SEEK design and development are informed by three multidisciplinary teams of scientists organized in Working Groups. The Biodiversity and Ecological Analysis and Modeling Working Group informs development through evaluation of SEEK efficacy in addressing biodiversity and ecological questions. The Knowledge Representation Working Group provides knowledge representation requirements from the domain sciences and develops the corresponding knowledge representations (ontologies) to support the assembly of analytical workflows in the Analysis and Modeling System, and the intelligent data and service discovery in the EcoGrid. A Biological Classification and Nomenclature Working Group investigates solutions to mediating among multiple taxonomies for naming organisms. A multifaceted education, outreach and training program ensures that the SEEK research products, software, and information technology infrastructure optimally benefit the target communities. This work is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. ITR 0225676, 0225674 and DBI-0129792, as well as DARPA (N00014-03-1-0900). Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF) or DARPA.     

Layer-by-layer deposition of zirconia thin films from aqueous solutions

Thin films of ZrO₂ and Y₂O₃-doped ZrO₂ were deposited using a novel yet simple layer-by-layer technique by means of electrostatic assembling and surface precipitation via dipping substrates alternately in cationic and anionic precursor solutions. Uniform films have been made. A constant growth rate of 5.4 ± 0.3 nm per deposition cycle for the dehydrated nanocrystalline films was achieved. This generic technique can be adapted to make other oxide films and novel multilayers or functionally-graded coatings.     

Edible coating materials—their properties and use in the fortification of rice with folic acid

This study investigated the technical feasibility of adding folic acid on to rice and coating with edible polymers. The coating solutions were cast into film and their properties were investigated. A concentrated premix of rice was prepared in a rotating coating pan by spraying first with folic acid solution, and then with polymer solutions and drying. The fortified rice premixes were evaluated for washing and cooking losses. The loss of folic acid in washing was lowest in rice premixes coated with ethyl cellulose followed by pectin, composite mixtures of locust bean and other coating materials with highest loss in gum arabic coated rice. No edible polymer could satisfactorily retain folic acid during boiling in excess water. Edible polymers failed to mask the yellow color of folic acid and additional masking agent was needed. The premixes had a higher water uptake ratio than raw milled rice had. Triangle tests did not show any significant difference (=0.05) between the sensory qualities of cooked fortified rice and raw milled rice.     

Home-based Detection and Prediction of Diabetic Foot Ulcers at EarlyStage Using Sensor Technology and Supervised Learning

For years, foot ulcers linked with diabetes mellitus and neuropathy have significantly impacted diabetic patients health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Diabetes foot ulcers impact 15% of all diabetic patients at some point in their lives. The facilities and resources used for DFU detection and treatment are only available at hospitals and clinics, which results in the unavailability of feasible and timely detection at an early stage. This necessitates the development of an at-home DFU detection system that enables timely predictions and seamless communication with users, thereby preventing amputations due to neglect and severity. This paper proposes a feasible system consisting of three major modules: an IoT device that works to sense foot nodes to send vibrations onto a foot sole, a machine learning model based on supervised learning which predicts the level of severity of the DFU using four different classification techniques including XGBoost, K-SVM, Random Forest, and Decision tree, and a mobile application that acts as an interface between the sensors and the patient. Based on the severity levels, necessary steps for prevention, treatment, and medications are recommended via the application.