Electrospun microporous gelatin–polycaprolactone blend tubular scaffold as a potential vascular biomaterial

The work reported involved the fabrication of an electrospun tubular conduit of a gelatin and polycaprolactone (PCL) blend as an adventitia‐equivalent construct. Gelatin was included as the matrix for increased biocompatibility with the addition of PCL for durability. This is contrary to most of the literature available for biomaterials based on blends of gelatin and PCL where PCL is the major matrix. The work includes the assiduous selection of key electrospinning parameters to obtain smooth bead‐free fibres with a narrow distribution of pore size and fibre diameter. Few reports elucidate the optimization of all electrospinning parameters to fabricate tubular conduits with a focus on obtaining homogeneous pores and fibres. This stepwise investigation would be unique for the fabrication of gelatin–PCL electrospun tubular constructs. The fabricated microfibrous gelatin–PCL constructs had pores of size ca 50–100 μm reportedly conducive for cell infiltration. The measured value of surface roughness of 57.99 ± 17.4 nm is reported to be favourable for protein adhesion and cell adhesion. The elastic modulus was observed to be similar to that of the tunica adventitia of the native artery. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility tests suggest safe applicability as a biomaterial. Minimal cytotoxicity was observed using MTT assay. Subcutaneous implantation of the scaffold demonstrated acute inflammation which decreased by day 15. The findings of this study could enable the fabrication of smooth bead‐free microfibrous gelatin–PCL tubular construct as viable biomaterial which can be included in a bilayer or a trilayer scaffold for vascular tissue engineering. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of silica doping on the densification and grain growth in zinc oxide

The ability of silica (SiO₂) in controlling the densification and grain growth behavior of nano crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) has been systematically studied. It has been observed that SiO₂ acts as a sintering inhibitor in the ZnO–SiO₂ system up to 4 wt.% limiting value beyond which densification behavior of the system remains almost unchanged, especially above 1100 °C. The addition of SiO₂ to ZnO retards grain growth which in turn results a finer ultimate grain size as compared to the undoped ZnO. However, stabilization in grain size occurs at ≥4 wt.% SiO₂ addition. It has been observed that SiO₂ incorporation changes the grain growth mechanism up to 4 wt.% addition, beyond which no remarkable changes was noticed. The grain growth (n) shows distinctly different slopes as a function of sintering time for the SiO₂ doped ZnO systems than undoped ZnO. The different slopes tend to indicate that different diffusion mechanisms and probably the formation of a secondary phase (Zn–Si–O) at the grain boundary control the densification and grain growth. The thermal expansion coefficient of the system has been found to decrease substantially beyond 4 wt.% SiO₂ addition to ZnO.     

Preparation of poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐lactide) (PCL/PLCL) blend filament by melt spinning

Poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐lactide) (PCL/PLCL) blend filaments with various ratios of PCL and PLCL were prepared by melt spinning. The effect of PLCL content on the physical properties of the blended filament was investigated. The melt spinning of the blend was carried out and the as spun filament was subsequently subjected to drawing and heat setting process. The addition of PLCL caused significant changes in the mechanical properties of the filaments. Crystallinity of blend decreased with the addition of PLCL as observed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the fracture surface becomes rougher at higher PLCL content. It may be proposed that PCL and PLCL show limited interaction within the blend matrix. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Effect of iron alloying in evolution of nanostructure and microstructural stability in nickel

Nanocrystalline materials show many interesting properties such as high strength and hardness due to nanosized grains and high density of interfaces. In this context, the present work reports the effect of Fe (iron) addition in Ni (nickel) on nanostructure retention during the annealing of Ni-Fe alloy (with 0, 18.5, 28.5 and 43 wt% Fe) at 450 °C for 16 h. Furthermore, effect of annealing on the deformation mechanism was investigated. The integral breadth method revealed the decrease in grain size with increase in wt% Fe in Ni. The strain rate sensitivity exponent which is a signature of operating deformation mechanism showed a higher value (0.10803) in case of Ni-18.5 wt% Fe during nanoindentation. However, Ni-0 wt% Fe, Ni-28.5 wt% Fe and Ni-43 wt% Fe were characterized by a relatively low strain rate sensitivity exponent (between 0.02069 and 0.10803). Results indicated the presence of Hall-Petch relationship up to 18.5 wt% Fe and inverse Hall-Petch relationship above 18.5 wt% Fe.     

Annealing temperature-dependent structural and electrical properties of (Ta2O5)1-x - (TiO2)x thin films,x ≤ 0.11

(Ta₂O₅)_1-x- (TiO₂)_x (TTO_x) thin films, with x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.11, were deposited using magnetron direct current (DC) sputtering method onto the P/boron-silicon (1 0 0) substrates by varying areas of Tantalum and Titanium metallic targets, in oxygen environment at ambient temperature. The as-deposited thin films were annealed at temperatures ranging from 500 to 800 °C. Generally, the formation of the Ta₂O₅ structure was observed from the X-ray diffraction measurements of the annealed films. The capacitance of prepared metal– oxide– semiconductor (MOS) structures of Ag/TTO_x/p-Si was measured at 1 MHz. The dielectric constant of the deposited films was observed altering with varying composition and annealing temperature, showing the highest value 71, at 1 MHz, for the TTO_x films, x = 0.06, annealed at 700 °C. With increasing annealing temperature, from 700 to 800 °C, the leakage current density was observed, generally decreasing, from 10^?5 to 10^?8 A cm^?2, for the prepared compositions. Among the prepared compositions, films with x = 0.06, annealed at 800 °C, having the observed value of dielectric constant 48, at 1 MHz; and the leakage current density 2.7 × 10^?8 A cm^?2, at the electric field of 3.5 × 10⁵ V cm^?1, show preferred potential as a dielectric for high-density silicon memory devices.     

Studies on protein and its high‐molecular‐weight subunit composition in relation to chapati‐making quality of Indian wheat cultivars

In order to predict the suitability of wheat for chapati making, 15 Indian wheat cultivars were studied for various protein characteristics in relation to chapati‐making quality. The cultivars varied considerably in their protein characteristics and chapati‐making potential. Results clearly indicated that both quantitative and qualitative characteristics of proteins influenced the chapati‐making potential of cultivars. Puffed height, the important qualitative parameter of chapati, was positively correlated with protein content (r = 0.62, p < 0.05), gluten content (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) sedimentation value (r = 0.57, p < 0.05) and Glu‐1 quality scores of high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) subunits (r = 0.66, p < 0.01). Overall quality score of chapati was positively correlated with gluten content (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), SDS sedimentation value (r = 0.60, p < 0.05) and Glu‐1 score (r = 0.58, p < 0.05). HMW subunit composition varied considerably among cultivars. Cultivars having 5 + 10 subunits at the Glu‐1D chromosome, a protein content of about 130 g kg^?1 and SDS sedimentation value around 75 ml yielded excellent chapatis, while those having 2 + 12 subunits, a protein content of about 115 g kg^?1 and SDS sedimentation value around 55 ml resulted in poor chapatis. Interestingly, the presence of the 1BL/1RS chromosome in cultivars had no adverse effect on chapati quality. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Anthelmintic treatment improves the hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations of Tanzanian schoolchildren

To investigate the relationships between helminth infections and iron status among school-aged children, 1,115 Tanzanian children in grades 2 through 5 were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. The children in the treatment group were screened for infection with Schistosoma haematobium and hookworm at baseline, 3 months, and 15 months; infected children were given albendazole against hookworm and praziquantel against schistosomiasis. The control group received a placebo and did not undergo parasitological screening until 15 months after the baseline. Hematological variables were compared between the treatment and control groups. The main results were, first, that the hemoglobin concentration significantly improved after treatment for hookworm (p < .001) by 9.3 g/L in children treated for hookworm only and by 8.8 g/L in children treated for hookworm and schistosomiasis. The ferritin concentration also improved in children treated for schistosomiasis (p = .001) or hookworm (p = .019). Second, a longitudinal analysis of the data from the children in the control group showed that hookworm and schistosomiasis loads were negatively associated with hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations. Moreover, ferritin concentrations increased as C-reactive protein levels increased. Overall, the results showed that anthelmintic treatment is a useful tool for reducing anemia in areas with high hookworm and schistosomiasis endemicity. The empirical relationship between ferritin and C-reactive protein indicated that simple procedures for adjusting cutoff points for the use of ferritin as an indicator of low iron stores were unlikely to be useful in this population.     

Effect of Controlled Atmosphere Storage and Chitosan Coating on Quality of Fresh-Cut Jackfruit Bulbs

Fresh-cut jackfruit bulbs were evaluated for quality changes as effect of an additive pretreatment with CaCl₂, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and sodium benzoate followed by chitosan coating. Different types of samples such as pretreated and coated, only pretreated, only coated, and untreated were subjected to controlled atmosphere (CA) storage (3 kPa O₂?+?6 or 3 kPa CO₂; N2 balance) or normal air at 6 °C. CA conditions, pretreatment, as well as chitosan coating in synergy with each other, could significantly minimize the loss in total phenolics and ascorbic acid content of the samples to the levels of around 5% and 17%, respectively, during extended storage up to 50 days. Chitosan coating could also restrict the changes in microbial load. The CA condition of 3 kPa O₂?+?6 kPa CO₂ was found to render higher efficacy in retaining quality attributes of the samples.     

Effect of organic additives on the mitigation of volatility of 1-nitro-3,3'-dinitroazetidine (TNAZ): next generation powerful melt cast able high energy material

1-Nitro-3,3'-dinitroazetidine (TNAZ) was synthesized based on the lines of reported method. Thermolysis studies on synthesized and characterized TNAZ using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and hyphenated TG-FT-IR techniques were undertaken to generate data on decomposition pattern. FT-IR of decomposition products of TNAZ revealed the evolution of oxides of nitrogen and HCN containing species suggesting the cleavage of C/N-NO(2) bond accompanied with the collapse of ring structure. The effect of incorporation of 15% additives namely, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole (DAT), carbohydrazide (CHZ), 5,7-dinitrobenzofuroxan (DNBF), bis (2,2-dinitropropyl) succinate (BNPS), triaminoguanidinium nitrate (TAGN), 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid (TNBA) and nitroguanidine (NQ) on the volatility of TNAZ was investigated by undertaking thermogravimetric analysis. The TG pattern brings out the potential of BNPS and TAGN as additives to mitigate the volatility of TNAZ. The influence of additives on thermal decomposition of pattern of TNAZ was also investigated by DSC. The DSC results indicated that the additives did not have appreciable effect on the melting point of TNAZ. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies were carried out to investigate the effect of additives on morphology of TNAZ. This paper also discusses the possible mechanism involved in between the TNAZ and TAGN and BNPS. It appears that the formation of charge transfer complex formation between the TNAZ and TAGN/BNPS. The effect of addition of high explosives such as CL-20, HMX and RDX on thermo-physical characteristics of TNAZ is also reported in this paper.