Studies on chemically modified hen egg white and gelatin composites

Hen egg white (A) and gelatin (G) composites at different proportions were prepared and optimized by their stress–strain behavior. The optimized composite (AG) was graft copolymerised with methyl methacrylate (MMA). The AG and its graft copolymer AGMMA were characterized for their mechanical strength, water absorption capacity, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. It was evident from the results that AGMMA possesses higher mechanical strength and lower water absorption capacity than does AG. The FTIR spectra of AG and AGMMA confirm the grafting phenomena of MMA onto AG, and the CD spectrum of AG shows two negative bands at around 207 and 222 nm and a positive band at around 191.76 nm, which confirms the α‐helix in the composite. The α‐helical structure in AG was broken and converted into unordered random coil in AGMMA because of the reaction conditions while grafting MMA onto AG, which was confirmed by the increase in mechanical strength of AGMMA. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 318–322, 2006     

Sol–gel synthesis and characterization of Li2O–As2O5–SiO2 glassy system

The ternary 10% Li₂O + 90% (xAs₂O₅ + (1 − x) SiO₂) (x = 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1) (LAS) glassy system with different compositions were prepared using sol–gel technique. All the prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. The observed peak-free XRD patterns confirm the amorphous phase of the prepared LAS compounds. Structural coordination of LAS glassy samples was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermal behavior of the glassy samples was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. Bulk conductivity of all the LAS glassy samples was calculated by analyzing the impedance data measured at different temperatures. Activation energy (E_a) is evaluated from the log σT vs. 1000/T plot and it is found to be 0.837 eV.     

Development of Nitrendipine Controlled Release Formulations Based on SLN and NLC for Topical Delivery: In Vitro and Ex Vivo Characterization

The aim of the investigation is to develop solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nano-structured lipid carrier (NLC) as carriers for topical delivery of nitrendipine (NDP). NDP-loaded SLN and NLC were prepared by hot homogenization technique followed by sonication, and they were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, stability, and in vitro release profiles. Also the percutaneous permeation of NDPSLN A, NDPSLN B, and NDPNLC were investigated in abdominal rat skin using modified Franz diffusion cells. The steady state flux, permeation coefficient, and lag time of NDP were estimated over 24 h and compared with that of control (NDP solution). The particle size was analyzed by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) using Malvern zeta sizer, which shows that the NDPSLN A, NDPSLN B, and NDPNLC were in the range of 124–300 nm during 90 days of storage at room temperature. For all the tested formulations (NDPSLN A, NDPSLN B, and NDPNLC), the entrapment efficiency was higher than 75% after 90 days of storage. The cumulative percentage of drug release at 24 h was found to be 26.21, 30.81, and 37.52 for NDPSLN A, NDPSLN B, and NDPNLC, respectively. The results obtained from in vitro release profiles also indicated the use of these lipid nanoparticles as modified release formulations for lipophilic drug over a period of 24 h. The data obtained from in vitro release from NDPSLN A, NDPSLN B, and NDPNLC were fitted to various kinetic models. High correlation was obtained in Higuchi and Weibull model. The release pattern of drug is analyzed and found to follow Weibull and Higuchi equations. The permeation profiles were obtained for all formulations: NDPSLN A, NDPSLN B, and NDPNLC. Of all the three formulations, NDPNLC provided the greatest enhancement for NDP flux (21.485 ± 2.82 μg/h/cm²), which was fourfold over control (4.881 ± 0.96 μg/h/cm²). The flux obtained with NDPSLN B (16.983 ± 2.91 μg/h/cm²) and NDPNLC (21.485 ± 2.82 μg/h/cm²) meets the required flux (16.85 μg/h/cm²).     

Yield prediction and waterlogging assessment for tea plantation land using satellite image‐based techniques

Motivated by the operational use of remote sensing in various agricultural crop studies, this study evaluates the application and utility of remote sensing‐based techniques in yield prediction and waterlogging assessment of tea plantation land in the Assam State of India. The potential of widely used vegetation indices like NDVI and SR (simple ratio) and the recently proposed TVI has been evaluated for the prediction of green leaf tea yield and made tea yield based on image‐derived leaf area index (LAI), along with weather parameters. It was observed that the yield model based on the TVI showed the highest correlation (R² = 0.83) with green leaf tea yield. The NDVI‐ and SR‐based models suffered non‐responsiveness when the yield approached maximum. The NDVI and SR showed saturation when the LAI exceeded a magnitude of 4. However, the TVI responded well, even when the LAI exceeded 5, and thus has potential use in the estimation of the LAI of dense vegetation such as some crops and forest where it generally exceeds the threshold value of 4.

An attempt was made for the innovative application of TCT and NDWI in the mapping of waterlogging in tea plantation land. The NDWI in conjunction with TCT offered fairly good accuracy (87%) in the delineation of tea areas prone to waterlogging. This observation indicates the potential of NDWI and TCT in mapping waterlogged areas where the soil has considerable vegetation cover.     

Synthesis and Characterisation of Polyamides and Polyimides from Amino/Methylene bis[Benzenamine] Styryl Pyridines

Polyamides and polyimides containing diamines, with potential non-linear optical characteristics, were prepared using (E)-4,4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]amino]bis[benzenamine] and (E)-4-4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]2-methyl phenyl]amino]bis[benzenamine] condensed with pyromellitic dianhydride to obtain poly(amic acid)s. The poly(amic acid)s were soluble in polar aprotic solvents, such as dimethylformamide, dimethylsulphoxide and dimethylacetamide, and could be cast into transparent, tough, flexible films. Amorphous thermally stable polyimides were formed by cyclodehydration. Similarly, (E)-4,4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]methylene]bis[benzenamine] and (E)-4,4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]methylene]bis[N-ethylbenzenamine] were condensed with 3-methyladipoyl chloride to obtain other new polyamides. Characterisation using infra-red and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis are reported. © 1997 SCI.     

Investigation of cytochrome P450 mediated benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation in Aspergillus fumigatus

Microsomal fractions of Aspergillus fumigatus exhibited a reduced carbon monoxide difference spectrum with a maximum at 448 nm and a substrate-induced Type I spectrum on addition of benzo(a)pyrene. Metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene, as measured using the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase assay, was found to be P450-dependent and activity was observed to have a K_m of 82 μM and V_max of 33·3 pmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein. P450 productivity was investigated during growth from spore inocula and observed to be constant until the stationary phase, where the specific content declined to undetectable levels. The specific content of P450 was found to increase in higher concentrations of glucose.     

Fall of drops in non-newtonian media

Terminal velocities of drops of organic liquids of diameter 0.0726 to 0.7256 cm in polymer solutions are determined. The Reynolds number range covered is 0.1 to 10³. Visual observations on the shapes and oscillations of drops are reported. A correlation for the terminal velocity data is presented.     

Role of differential shrinkage and creep in time dependent behaviour of composite members

The time dependent behaviour of composite prestressed concrete beams depends upon the presence of differential shrinkage and creep of the concretes of web and deck, in addition to other parameters, such as relaxation of steel, presence of untensioned steel, and compression steel etc. In view of the interrelationships among these various parameters, it is proposed to isolate the effects of differential shrinkage and creep from other parameters by studying the behaviour of composite prisms under sustained load. The stresses and strains in composite prisms made up of two different concretes under sustained load are analytically determined using varying stiffness method of analysis. Creep and shrinkage characteristics of the two concretes are obtained from preliminary experiments using C.E.B. and also A.C.I. recommendations. The analytical results are found to be in close agreement with the experimental values obtained on three concrete prisms under sustained load for 160 days and thus also confirm the method of analysis.     

ADAPTIVE FUZZY MODEL BASED PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF AN EXOTHERMIC BATCH CHEMICAL REACTOR*

An adaptive fuzzy model based predictive control (AFMBPC) approach is presented to track the desired temperature trajectories in an exothermic batch chemical reactor. The AFMBPC incorporates an adaptive fuzzy modeling framework into a model based predictive control scheme to derive analytical controller output. This approach has the flexibility to cope with different fuzzy model structures whose choice also lead to improve the controller performance. In this approach, adaptation of fuzzy models using dynamic process information is carried out to build a predictive controller, thus eliminating the determination of a predefined fixed fuzzy model based on various sets of known input-output relations. The performance of the AFMBPC is evaluated by comparing to a fixed fuzzy model based predictive controller (FFMBPC) and a conventional PID controller. The results show the better suitability of AFMBPC for the control of highly nonlinear and time varying batch chemical reactors.