PYRENE ENCAPSULATED ALGINATE BEAD TYPE FOR SUSTAINED RELEASE IN BIODEGRADATION: PREPARATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

A novel method for preparation of pyrene encapsulated alginate beads for controlled release delivery of pyrene is reported in this study. Five different bead types that varied on the organic phase for pyrene delivery, presence or absence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and boric acid treatment were prepared. Based on the pyrene release profile, silicone oil encapsulated in PVA-alginate bead was selected where encapsulation efficiency was more than 99% without any solvent leakage. Silicone oil encapsulation was further confirmed in microscopy observations. Pyrene release behavior from the beads was explained by a diffusion controlled first order release (R² > 0.96). Reusability of this bead was demonstrated, where pyrene was loaded from an external medium in a non-destructive way. Application of the system was finally established in a biodegradation study using Mycobacterium frederiksbergense, where simultaneous release and removal of pyrene along with appearance of pyrene metabolites was observed.     

Purification, crystallisation and preliminary X-ray diffraction study of ribosome inactivating protein: saporin

OBJECTIVES: To compare transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography with dobutamine stress echocardiography for feasibility, safety, duration, patient acceptance and concordance in inducing wall motion abnormalities. BACKGROUND: Transesophageal atrial pacing is an effective method of increasing heart rate and has been used in the assessment of coronary artery disease. METHODS: Both tests were performed in sequence on the same patients in random order. Transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography began at a heart rate of 10 beats/min above the baseline value and was increased by 20 beats/min every two min until 85% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate or another end point was reached. Dobutamine echocardiography was performed using three-min stages and a maximum dose of 40 microg/kg per min. Atropine (total dose < or =2 mg) was administered at the start of the 40 microg/kg per min stage if needed to augment heart rate or during pacing if Wenckebach heart block occurred. RESULTS: Transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography was feasible in 100 of 104 patients (96%); the duration (8.6+/-3.6 min) was significantly shorter than that of dobutamine stress echocardiography (15.1+/-3.9 min) (p = 0.0001). With transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography, the recovery period was shorter, symptoms and dysrhythmias were fewer, hypertension and hypotension were less common and target heart rate was more frequently achieved. No complications occurred with either test. Patient acceptance was satisfactory. Agreement between results of both tests was good for segmental wall motion scoring with a 16-segment model, scores 1 to 5 (kappa: rest, 0.79; peak, 0.57) and test interpretation (normal, ischemia, infarction or resting wall motion abnormality with ischemia) (kappa: 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography is a feasible, well-tolerated alternative to dobutamine stress echocardiography. It can be performed rapidly and shows good agreement with dobutamine stress echocardiography in the induction of myocardial ischemia.     

A computational process for choosing the relaxation parameter in nonlinear SOR

We present here a computational process which establishes the convergence of nonlinear successive-overrelaxation in finding the minimum of a strictly convex functional. The algorithm is designed in such a manner that the SOR parameter is computed appropriately to guarantee convergence. Numerical examples are presented.     

Fracture strength of various lay-ups of carbon/epoxy laminates using the modified inherent flaw model

Modifications are made in the inherent flaw model of Waddoups, Eisenman and Kaminski (known as the WEK model) for accurate prediction of notched tensile strength of composite laminates containing a sharp notch. To examine the adequacy of the model, fracture data of center cracked carbon/epoxy composite laminates with various lay-ups are considered. The notched strength estimates are found to be close to the test results.     

A new algorithm for optimum tolerance allocation of complex assemblies with alternative processes selection

Allocating tolerance to sub-components of a complex assembly with alternative processes selection by using Lagrange’s multiplier method is tedious as well as difficult. The present work is aims to solve the problem with simple effort in three stages. In the first stage, the maximum of two processes are selected from the alternative processes of each component and these two processes correspond to the smaller sum of difference in manufacturing cost. A hybrid optimum tolerance allocation method is developed in a second and third stage by combining Tabu search (TS) and heuristic approach. Application of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated on complex tolerancing products like knuckle joint and wheel mounting assembly. For the same manufacturing conditions, compared with tolerance synthesis by Singh method, the proposed method saved nearly $74,880 and $479,520, respectively, per year in manufacturing costs of knuckle joint and wheel mounting assembly.     

Phase study in the Na-Sr-U-O system: Characterization of new phase

In continuation with the earlier work for phase studies of Rb-Sr-U-O and Cs-Sr-U-O systems, the subsolidus phase relations in Na-Sr-U-O quaternary system were determined at 850 °C in air atmosphere. A novel quaternary phase Na₈Sr₂U₆O₂₄ in the Na-Sr-U-O system was synthesized by heating the respective oxides at 850 °C in air. XRD data of Na₈Sr₂U₆O₂₄ was indexed on a cubic system with lattice parameter a = 0.8326 nm and was found isostructural with K₈Sr₂U₆O₂₄ and Rb₈Sr₂U₆O₂₄. A pseudo-ternary phase diagram of Na₂O-SrO-UO₃ was drawn using the new quaternary compound and various phase fields were established by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The structure of Na₈Sr₂U₆O₂₄ was derived from the powder data and structural parameters were refined by the Rietveld profile method.     

Control of nano-sized interlayer space of lamellar vanadyl benzylphosphate

Nano-sized interlayer space of lamellar vanadyl benzylphosphate was controlled by water content in starting solution. Depending on the water content, three types of lamellar vanadyl benzylphosphate having basal spacings of 1.4 nm, 1.9 nm and 2.3 nm were obtained. It was suggested that the difference in the concentrations of benzyl and hydroxyl groups in the interlayer leads to the variation of the interlayer space.     

Ascorbic Acid-Assisted Eco-friendly Synthesis of NiCo<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> Nanoparticles as an Anode Material for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

We have synthesized NiCo₂O₄ nanoparticles (NCO NPs) using an ascorbic acid-assisted co-precipitation method for the first time. When NCO NPs are used as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the cell exhibits superior lithium storage properties, such as high capacity (700 mA h g^?1 after 300 cycles at 200 mA g^?1), excellent rate capabilities (applied current density range 100–1200 mA g^?1), and impressive cycling stability (at 1200 mA g^?1 up to 650 cycles). The enhanced electrochemical properties of NCO NPs are due to the nanometer dimensions which not only offers a smooth charge-transport pathway and short diffusion paths of the lithium ions but also adequate spaces for volume expansion during Li storage. Hence, this eco-friendly synthesis approach will provide a new strategy for the synthesis of various nanostructured metal oxide compounds, for energy conversion and storage systems applications.     

Fast pyrolysis kinetics of expanded polystyrene foam

Fast pyrolysis of polymers, biomass and other substances is of great interest in various applications. For example, in the lost foam casting process, kinetic information about expandable polystyrene (EPS) decomposition under extremely high‐heating rate conditions is essential for further process development. A simple laboratory‐scale fast pyrolysis technique has been developed and demonstrated for elucidation of EPS decomposition kinetics. Pyrolysis experiments were performed at different reaction temperatures. The cumulative gaseous yields were determined using a flame ionization detector (FID) connected in series with the fast pyrolysis reactor. The governing equations for a semibatch reactor type were modified and applied to obtain kinetic parameters (activation energies and the pre‐exponential rate constants) for the EPS decomposition process. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010