Multifunctional mussel-inspired Gelatin and Tannic acid-based hydrogel with pH-controllable release of vitamin B12

Hydrogels have emerged to be an impeccable material for a large variety of applications over the past few decades. In the field of biomedical applications, remarkable progress has been observed in the effort of fabricating numerous hydrogel systems. In this work, gelatin and tannic acid-based stretchable and adhesive hydrogel has been synthesized to study the release behavior of vitamin B₁₂. Successful formation of the synthesized hydrogels was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analysis. The morphology of the surfaces and the cross section of such hydrogels were studied with Scanning electron microscopy analysis. Swelling behavior of our hydrogel was studied with Design Expert software. The maximum swelling of the hydrogel was found to be around 137 g/g. Adhesive property was demonstrated on various surfaces to observe the adhesiveness of the fabricated hydrogel. Blood compatibility study was also performed. The release behavior of vitamin B₁₂ was performed in two different pH media and it was found to have enhanced value in the fluid mimicking the intestine. This work provides a new prospect for designing hydrogels with stretchable and adhesive properties with pH-controllable drug delivery applications along with other promising applications in various fields of research.     

Factors governing the electrochemical synthesis of α-nickel (ii) hydroxide

The electrodeposition of -nickel hydroxide is promoted by the simultaneous chemical corrosion of the electrode by an acidic nitrate bath. Chemical corrosion results in the formation of a poorly ordered layered phase which is structurally similar to -nickel hydroxide and provides nucleation sites for the deposition of the latter. Therefore under conditions which enhance corrosion rates such as low current density (<1.3 mA cm–2), high temperature (60 C), high nickel nitrate concentration ( 1M) and the resultant low pH (1.7), -nickel hydroxide electrodeposition is observed, while -nickel hydroxide forms under other conditions. Further, -nickel hydroxide deposition is more facile on an iron electrode compared to nickel or platinum.     

Confidence modeling for handwriting recognition: algorithms and applications

Confidence scoring can assist in determining how to use imperfect handwriting-recognition output. We explore a confidence-scoring framework for post-processing recognition for two purposes: deciding when to reject the recognizer's output, and detecting when to change recognition parameters e.g., to relax a word-set constraint. Varied confidence scores, including likelihood ratios and posterior probabilities, are applied to an Hidden-Markov-Model (HMM) based on-line recognizer. Receiver-operating characteristic curves reveal that we successfully reject 90% of word recognition errors while rejecting only 33% of correctly-recognized words. For isolated digit recognition, we achieve 90% correct rejection while limiting false rejection to 13%.     

Circular Polarization in Defected Hexagonal Shaped Microstrip Antenna

A novel circular polarization (CP) design of a single-feed Hexagonal shaped microstrip antenna for enhanced antenna parameters is presented. The CP design is obtained by placing three isosceles triangular defects at proper locations in the hexagonal radiating patch as well as in the square ground plane. By adjusting one of the side lengths of the triangular defect, slightly longer or shorter than that of the others, two orthogonal near degenerate resonant modes for CP radiation are excited. Moreover, the 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth is surrounded by the 10 dB impedance bandwidth, to ensure that the antenna radiates CP waves in its impedance band. The antenna gain of the proposed antenna has increased by 5.34 dB (7.93 vs. 2.59 dB), as compared to the hexagonal microstrip antenna with triangular truncations in patch but without triangular defects in the ground plane having same substrate material, height and same radiating patch size and shape. Prototype antenna is fabricated for experimental evaluation. Simulated and measured results are in good agreement with each other.     

Hypokalaemia following nebulized salbutamol in children with acute attack of bronchial asthma

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether use of nebulized salbutamol therapy for treatment of an acute attack of asthma in children is associated with hypokalaemia and if so what is its frequency, severity and effect on recovery. METHODOLOGY: Forty-six children, aged 10 months to 12 years (mean 7.9 +/- 1.5 years) with acute attack of bronchial asthma, treated initially with three doses of nebulized salbutamol 0.15-0.3 mg/kg, every 30 min participated in the study. Blood for serum potassium was obtained at the beginning and after three doses of nebulized salbutamol therapy, before administering other drugs. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD serum potassium level decreased marginally from 3.9 +/- 0.5 mEq/L to 3.7 +/- 0.5 mEq/L (P < 0.05). A decrease in serum potassium concentration was noted in 26 (56.5%) and hypokalaemia (serum potassium < 3.5 mg/L) in 17 (39%) patients. It was more frequent in patients who had received oral salbutamol for the preceding 7 days. The average time taken for recovery was longer in patients who had hypokalaemia than those who had normal serum potassium concentration (8.6 +/- 2.7 h vs 6.5 +/- 2.7 h; P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Hypokalaemia may occur in about one-third of patients treated with three doses of nebulized salbutamol therapy, especially those on prior oral salbutamol therapy. The monitoring of serum potassium concentration may be warranted in such patients.     

Electrolytic Reduction of Titania Slag in Molten Calcium Chloride Bath

Ferro-titanium is prepared by direct electrolytic reduction of titania-rich slag obtained from plasma smelting of ilmenite in molten CaCl₂. The product after electro-reduction is characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis. The electrolysis is carried out at a cell voltage of 3.0?V, taking graphite as the electrolysis cell as well as the anode, and a titania-rich slag piece wrapped by a nichrome wire is used as the cathode.     

Preparation of titanium metal by electrochemical reduction of titanium dioxide

Preparation of titanium metal by direct electrolytic reduction of TiO₂ in molten CaCl₂ bath was studied using sintered TiO₂ pellets as cathode. The process was carried out at 950°C under normal atmosphere without using any inert gas. Titanium was obtained in the form of powder/compact product depending on the method of preparation of the pellets and the reaction conditions. The product was characterized by XRD, SEM and EPMA. The purity of the product was >99% as evidenced from EPMA analysis.     

Synthesis of itaconimide/nadimide-functionalized benzoxazine monomers: Structural and thermal characterization

A novel series of itaconimide/nadimide-functionalized benzoxazine monomers (I-Bz/N-Bz) from imide-terminated amines, paraformaldehyde and phenol/m-cresol/cardanol/4-(hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and HRMS analyses. The I-Bzs exhibited lower curing temperatures compared to the N-Bzs, which may be attributable to the presence of the 1,1-disubstituted double bond in itaconimide. The poly(I-Bz)s exhibited higher glass-transition temperatures (210–216 °C) compared to the poly(N-Bz)s (151–178 °C). The itaconimide- and nadimide-functionalized benzoxazines showed comparable thermal stability, but differences in their phenolic structures affected their thermal behavior (char yield and T_max). The poly(I-Bz)s (19–47%) showed higher char yields compared to the poly(N-Bz)s (18–41%), depending on the backbone structure. The highest lap-shear strength at 200 °C was observed in I-Bz/N-Bz derived from m-cresol.     

Neurochemical correlates of alloxan diabetes: protein and ribonucleic acid levels in the different regions of the rat brain

The levels of protein and ribonucleic acid in the cerebrum, cerebellum, optic lobes and medulla oblongata of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats were measured. In general, the protein content and levels of ribonucleic acid in the broad compartments of the brain of rat decreased during diabetes.