A Hybrid Analytic Model for the Effective Prediction of Different Stages in Chronic Kidney Ailments

Wireless Personal Communications - Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a gradual loss of kidney function over the period of time and it is irrevocable once functionality reaches the critical state....     

Evolution of collaboration and optimization of impact: self-organization in multinational research

Scientometrics - The expanding presence of multinational research teams highlights the importance of characterizing the outcomes of international collaboration. Herein, we characterize the...     

Fodor and Pylyshyn on connectionism

Fodor and Pylyshyn (1988) have argued that the cognitive architecture is not Connectionist. Their argument takes the following form: (1) the cognitive architecture is Classical; (2) Classicalism and Connectionism are incompatible; (3) therefore the cognitive architecture is not Connectionist. In this essay I argue that Fodor and Pylyshyn's defenses of (1) and (2) are inadequate. Their argument for (1), based on their claim that Classicalism best explains the systematicity of cognitive capacities, is an invalid instance of inference to the best explanation. And their argument for (2) turns out to be question-begging. The upshot is that, while Fodor and Pylyshyn have presented Connectionists with the important empirical challenge of explaining systematicity, they have failed to provide sufficient reason for inferring that the cognitive architecture is Classical and not Connectionist.     

Overview of microneedle system: a third generation transdermal drug delivery approach

Transdermal drug delivery has given cardinal contribution to medical practices. First-generation transdermal delivery of small, lipophilic, low-dose drugs and second-generation delivery systems using chemical enhancers, non-cavitational ultrasound and iontophoresis have also resulted in various clinical products provides added functionality. Third-generation delivery systems using microneedles, thermal ablation, microdermabrasion, electroporation and cavitational ultrasound targeting skin’s barrier layer of stratum corneum. Microneedles acquire pronounced intrigue in recent days. Currently, microneedles are advancing through clinical trials for delivery of macromolecules and vaccines, such as insulin, parathyroid hormone and influenza vaccine. The review explains about the concept of transdermal drug microneedle system comprising of microreservoir, micropumps, flow sensors, types of microneedles. Various researches carried out on these components of microneedle system is elaborately discussed in this review.     

Corrosion of 2205 duplex stainless steel in chloride medium containing sulfate-reducing bacteria

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) play significant role in the corrosion of stainless steels exposed to marine and soil environment. Sulfate reduction by bacterial species results in the production of H₂S, which can significantly influence the anodic and cathodic processes and ultimately enhances the corrosion of materials. In the present study, 2205 type duplex stainless steel (DSS) coupons in solution-annealed condition were exposed to chloride medium containing SRB species, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, for 40 days and examined by microscopy. Etching of the duplex structure, pitting as well as crevice attack were noticed. Similar results were obtained by microscopic studies with coupons exposed for 14 days in medium containing SRB followed by anodic polarization. SEM studies, of crevices observed after anodic polarization, indicated that the attack was initiated at the grain boundaries and slowly encroached into austenite grains. The initiation of attack was also evident from AFM studies of coupon exposed under freely corroding conditions for 7 days. ESCA studies reveal that under anaerobic conditions of SRB growth sulfidation of passive film occurs. The modified passive film found to depolarize the cathodic reactions. The nature and mechanism of SRB attack on DSS and possibility of detection at early stages were discussed.     

Cellulose-binding domains: potential for purification of complex proteins

The endoglucanase CenA and the exoglucanase Cex from Cellulomonasfimi each contain a discrete cellulose-binding domain (CBD),at the amino-terminus or carboxyl-terminus respectively. Thegene fragment encoding the CBD can be fused to the gene of aprotein of interest. Using this approach hybrid proteins canbe engineered which bind reversibly to cellulose and exhibitthe biological activity of the protein partner. Alkaline phosphatase(PhoA) from Escherichia coli, and a ß-glucosidase(Abg) from an Agrobacterium sp. are dimeric proteins. The fusionpolypeptides CenA-PhoA and Abg-CBC_cex are sensitive to proteolysisat the junctions between the fusion partners. Proteolysis resultsin a mixture of homo- and heterodimers; these bind to celluloseif one or both of the monomers carry a CBD, e.g. CenA-PhoA/CenA-PhoAand CenA-PhoA/PhoA. CBD fusion polypeptides could be used inthis way to purify polypeptides which associate with the fusionpartner.     

Oxidation behavior of copper at high temperatures under two different modes of direct-current applications

Oxidation kinetics of copper in the temperature range of 973–1173 K atP _{O 2}=21.27 kPa exhibit enhancement and deceleration in the rates with changing polarity compared to normal oxidation under interrupted mode of directcurrent application. These conditions are achieved by connecting the oxidizing copper covered with an initially formed thin oxide film to the positive and negative terminal of a dc source, respectively. However, the influence of direction of the current is found to be opposite under uninterrupted mode of impressed current flow in the same temperature range. The effect of short-circuiting the metal to the outer oxide/air interface on the reaction kinetics is also reported. The rate of oxide-scale growth under normal condition, and two different modes of current applications as well as with shorting circuitry attachment conform to the parabolic growth law. The results pertaining to the two different modes of impressed current have been discussed considering both the phenomena of electrolysis of the oxide electrolyte and the polarization at the two phase boundaries. The enhancement and the reduction in rates under uninterrupted impressed current conditions are explained on the basis of increased and decreased average defect concentrations, respectively, within the oxide layer. The acceleration and deceleration in the rates under interrupted mode of current flow have been explained in the light of sustenance of a steeper and flatter electrochemical-potential gradient of defects, respectively, across the growing-oxide layer. The possible different responses of the metal/oxide and oxide/air interfaces to the impressed current brought into play by two different modes of current application, have enabled to display a better insight on the mechanistic aspects of scale growth under the influence of an externally applied current.