Ecofriendly ultrasonic natural dyeing of cotton fabric with enzyme pretreatments

Ecofriendly ultrasonic textile dyeing with natural dyes such as Acacia catechu and Tectona grandis show better and faster dye uptake after enzyme pretreatment on cotton fabric, and results of dyeing are better than metal mordanted fabric. It is observed that there is marked improvement in wash-fastness and light-fastness. The role of enzyme pretreatment is primarily for better absorbency, adherence and dyeability of these dyes on cotton fabric, thereby completely replacing metal mordants with enzyme for adherence of natural dyes on cotton. Scanning electron microscopy show surface characteristics at different stages of dyeing. The effect of sonication on the dyeing is compared with conventional heating. The study also shows enhancement in CIELab values.     

Preparation and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of gliclazide loaded Eudragit nanoparticles as a sustained release carriers

The aim of this study was to formulate and optimize gliclazide-loaded Eudragit nanoparticles (Eudragit L100 and Eudragit RS) as a sustained release carrier with enhanced efficacy. Eudragit L 100 nanoparticles (ELNP) were prepared by controlled precipitation method whereas Eudragit RSPO nanoparticles (ERSNP) were prepared by solvent evaporation method. The influence of various formulation factors (stirring speed, drug:polymer ratio, homogenization, and addition of surfactants) on particle size, drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency were investigated. The developed Eudragit nanoparticles (L100 and RS) showed high drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies with nanosize. Mean particle size altered by changing the drug:polymer ratio and stirring speed. Addition of surfactants showed a promise to increase drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and decreased particle size of ELNP as well as ERSNP. Dissolution study revealed sustained release of gliclazide from Eudragit L100 as well as Eudragit RSPO NP. SEM study revealed spherical morphology of the developed Eudragit (L100 and RS) NP. FT-IR and DSC studies showed no interaction of gliclazide with polymers. Stability studies revealed that the gliclazide-loaded nanoparticles were stable at the end of 6 months. Developed Eudragit NPs revealed a decreased t_min (ELNP), and enhanced bioavailability and sustained activity (ELNP and ERSNP) and hence superior activity as compared to plain gliclazide in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat model and glucose-loaded diabetic rat model. The developed Eudragit (L100 and RSPO) NP could reduce dose frequency, decrease side effects, and improve patient compliance.     

Development of alginate-gum acacia-Ag0 nanocomposites via green process for inactivation of foodborne bacteria and impact on shelf life of black grapes (Vitis vinifera)

The main objective of this investigation is to develop sodium alginate-gum acacia-silver nanocomposite films (AGA-Ag⁰ NC) to inhibit the growth of foodborne and to extend the shelf life of food. The Ag nanoparticles were generated in sodium alginate-gum acacia (AGA) blend matrix through reduction by basil leaves (Tulasi). The formation of Ag⁰ was monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The absorption band at 420 nm in UV–vis spectrum and change in the band positions in FTIR spectrum of AGA-Ag⁰ NC compared to that of AGA corresponds to the formation of Ag nanoparticles. The XRD profile of AGA-Ag⁰ NC exhibits characteristic d-lines of Ag nanoparticles. The spherical shape of Ag nanoparticles uniformly formed throughout the films was recognized in SEM image with a size of ~ 4 ± 1 nm as observed by TEM. The water uptake and mechanical properties of the films were also studied. The AGA-Ag⁰NC films offered excellent antimicrobial activity against various foodborne bacteria and shelf life of food enhanced efficiency of the AGA-Ag⁰NC films is also tested on grape fruit (Vitus vinifera). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47331.     

Biodegradable nanocomposites from maleated polycaprolactone/soy protein isolate blend with organoclay: Preparation,characterization, and properties

New biobased, eco-friendly nanocomposites were prepared from maleated polycaprolactone/soy protein isolate blend (50/50 wt/wt) with organo-modified clay by melt compounding. The XRD, TEM, tensile, DMTA, and rheological properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the intercalated nanocomposite is formed and the silicate layers of the clay are uniformly dispersed at a nanometer scale in the polymer matrix. There is a great enhancement in tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Rheological study revealed that the nanocomposite exhibits strong shear thinning behavior and clay particles form network in the melted state of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Family studies and human leukocyte antigen class II typing in Indian probands with seizures in association with single small enhancing computed tomography lesions

PURPOSE: To define the clinical features of the syndrome of seizures associated with single, small, enhancing computed tomography (CT) lesions (SSELs) in 235 Indian probands and seizure types among their family members. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genomic typing in randomly selected 41 probands was done to identify the role of hereditary factors in this syndrome. METHODS: The seizure types among 235 probands, their clinical outcome, and seizures in their family members were studied. Family data were collected on relatives of 212 additional probands with neurologic diseases other than epilepsy. HLA class II antigens were studied by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) hybridization. RESULTS: The seizures in 86% were partial with or without generalization; 77% had fewer than five seizures before the first CT scan. Evanescent focal neurologic deficits after seizures were noted in 40%. Most patients (97%) were treated with a single antiepileptic drug (AED). Significant resolution of the CT scan lesion was noted within 6 months in 125 (53%) of 235 cases. Two thirds of patients had no seizures while taking a single AED, and an additional 18% had no seizures even after their AEDs were discontinued. Epilepsy among relatives of Indian probands having seizures in association with SSELs was more common as compared with relatives of probands with other neurologic diseases. A family history of seizures was noted in 21% probands, the ratio of affected first- to second-degree relatives was 4.3:1, and 60% of affected sibs had syndromic concordance with probands. There was a positive association of HLA-DRB1*13 (Pc = 0.036) with this syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The syndrome of seizures in association with SSELs seems to be a benign localization-related epileptic syndrome. Our results of HLA studies point to an inherited susceptibility to an infective agent, which in most cases is of cysticercal etiology.     

Adsorptive behaviour of indian chokla wool towards metallic ions

Indian Chokla wool was treated with five different kinds of metallic ions (Fe³⁺, Mn³⁺, Ce⁴⁺, V⁵⁺, Cr⁶⁺), and the adsorptive behaviour was studied to elucidate the manner in which wool and the metallic ions were combined. The effect of time of treatment, concentration and temperature upon the amount of the metallic ions adsorbed were examined. Considering the various factors it is suggested that chelate bonds are formed between the metallic ions and the groups present in wool.     

Electrical conductivity of thermally grown titanium oxide films

TheV-I characteristics of thermally grown titanium oxide films on titanium are described and are explained using a model for current transport in the films.     

Composite cation exchangers

Sulfonated phenol formaldehyde resins containing different amounts of sulfonated sawdust were prepared. The thermal and chemical stabilities, scientific weight capacity, and apparent capacities for the exchange of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ at different concentrations were detemined for both H⁺ and Na⁺ forms of resins. Composites containing up to 30%–50% of sawdust, while being very much cheaper, are comparable in their properties to the pure polymeric resin. Thus, cheaper exchangers can be prepared by substituting part of the polymer by sawdust.     

Crop residue management to sustain soil fertility and irrigated rice yields

Field experiments were conducted on a sandy clay loam soil (deep aquic ustorthent) for five consecutive seasons from wet season (WS) 1998 to WS 2000 with a permanent layout at the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) farm, ICRISAT campus, India, to study the influence of incorporation of rice straw residues alone or in combination with in situ grown green manure (GM) and straw burning on soil fertility, irrigated rice productivity and pest incidence in comparison with only fertiliser application (control). The residue treatments received uniform doses of N, K, Zn at the same level as that in control plots. The crop residue treatments favourably influenced some of the soil parameters over control. Recycling of crop residues by incorporation or burning increased soil available K and organic carbon significantly over control, while total N content increased by residue incorporation. Bulk density decreased with residue incorporation as compared to control and burning treatments. Yellow stem borer was the only pest observed, with higher white ear damage recorded during wet seasons ranging from 14.2–31.3% in 1999 and 16.8–29.7% in 2000. The damage was higher with straw + green manure, apparently reflecting the quantum of N applied through crop residues and fertilisers. The influence of crop residue treatments on yield parameters like panicle and spikelet number was more apparent after two cycles of residue incorporation, recording significant effects on rice productivity in the dry and wet seasons of 2000. Rice yield increased by 1.0 to 1.2 t/ha in DS and 0.4 to 0.8 t/ha in WS.     

An evaluation of limited‐memory sparse linear solvers for thermo‐mechanical applications

We consider the performance of sparse linear solvers for problems that arise from thermo‐mechanical applications. Such problems have been solved using sparse direct schemes that enable robust solution at the expense of memory requirements that grow non‐linearly with the dimension of the coefficient matrix. In this paper, we consider a class of preconditioned iterative solvers as a limited‐memory alternative to direct solution schemes. However, such preconditioned iterative solvers typically exhibit complex trade‐offs between reliability and performance. We therefore characterize such trade‐offs for systems from thermo‐mechanical problems by considering several preconditioning schemes including multilevel methods and those based on sparse approximate inversion and incomplete matrix factorization. We provide an analysis of computational costs and memory requirements for model thermo‐mechanical problems, indicating that certain incomplete factorization schemes can achieve good performance. We also provide empirical evaluations that corroborate our analysis and indicate the relative effectiveness of different solution schemes. Our results indicate that our drop‐threshold incomplete Cholesky preconditioning is more robust, efficient and flexible than other popular preconditioning schemes. In addition, we propose preconditioner reuse to amortize preconditioner construction cost over a sequence of linear systems that arise from non‐linear solutions in a plastic regime. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.