Cytotoxicity versus antibacterial activity of some antiseptics in vitro

The relationship between endometriosis and infertility is observed frequently. Patients with both conditions require a conservative approach to their management. Since hormonal therapy is one of those approaches, we sought to compare the efficacy of Danazol and Gestrinone in 80 infertile patients (48 and 32, respectively). Therapy lasted 6 months in both treatment groups, and all patients studied had laboratory tests performed and were clinically evaluated and classified through laparoscopy before and after therapy. The improvement of symptoms and favorable follow-up were similar with both treatments. The reestablishment of menstrual patterns and fertility were also nearly alike in both groups. However, Gestrinone was associated with fewer secondary effects and is easier to administer than Danazol. We conclude that Gestrinone is a useful medication in the management of the infertile patient with endometriosis.     

Dielectric behaviour of glasses and glass ceramics in the system BaO-PbO-TiO2-B2O3-SiO2

Glasses with varying molar ratios of PbO/BaO in the system BaO-PbO-TiO₂-B₂O₃-SiO₂ were prepared keeping (BaO + PbO)/TiO₂ ratio equal to one. The glasses were ceramized by two-stage heat treatment. X-ray diffraction indicates that PbTiO₃ crystallizes in lead-rich glasses while BaTiO₃ precipitates in barium-rich compositions. Solid solution (Ba, Pb)TiO₃ does not seem to crystallize over the entire range of compositions. Simultaneous presence of PbO and BaO in the initial glass composition reduces the yield of ferroelectric phase. Dielectric properties have been interpreted in terms of microstructural features.     

Studies on chemical resistance of polyesters

Chlorendic anhydride based polyester ( I ,) tetrachlorophthalic anhydride based polyester ( II ), dibromoneopentyl glycol based polyester ( III ,) general purpose polyester ( IV ,) blend of dibromoneopentyl glycol based polyester with general purpose polyester ( V ,) chlorendic anhydride and dibromoneopentyl glycol based polyester ( VI ), and a blend of chlorendic anhydride based polyester and dibromoneopentyl glycol based polyester ( VII ) were prepared and their chemical resistance and moisture absorption studied in various reagents, acid, alkali, and water, at 25 and 65°C. It is found that the polyester ( III ) is the least affected in the presence of the acids. In 20% NaOH, there was a decrease in weight for all polyesters at both the temperatures compared to the control except the polyester ( VII ). Increase in weight of all the polyesters was observed during the absorption of moisture both at 25 and 65°C. The increase was higher at higher temperature. Polyester ( III ) thus shows the least absorption of moisture.     

An analytic algorithm for the space–time fractional advection–dispersion equation

Fractional advection–dispersion equation (FADE) is a generalization of the classical ADE in which the first order time derivative and first and second order space derivatives are replaced by Caputo derivatives of orders 0<α?1, 0<β?1 and 1<γ?2, respectively. We use Caputo definition to avoid (i) mass balance error, (ii) hyper-singular improper integral, (iii) non-zero derivative of constant, and (iv) fractional derivative involved in the initial condition which is often ill-defined. We present an analytic algorithm to solve FADE based on homotopy analysis method (HAM) which has the advantage of controlling the region and rate of convergence of the solution series via the auxiliary parameter ? over the variational iteration method (VIM) and homotopy perturbation method (HPM). We find that the proposed method converges to the numerical/exact solution of the ADE as the fractional orders α, β, γ tend to their integral values. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the proposed algorithm. Example 5 describes the intermediate process between advection and dispersion via Caputo fractional derivative.     

A novel bacterial foraging technique for edge detection

A new approach for edge detection using a combination of bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA) and probabilistic derivative technique derived from Ant Colony Systems, is presented in this paper. The foraging behavior of some species of bacteria like Escherichia coli can be hypothetically modeled as an optimization process. A group of bacteria search for nutrients in a way that maximizes the energy obtained per unit time spent during the foraging. The proposed approach aims at driving the bacteria through the edge pixels. The direction of movement of the bacteria is found using a direction probability matrix, computed using derivatives along the possible directions. Rules defining the derivatives are devised to ensure that the variation of intensity due to noise is discarded. Quantitative analysis of the feasibility of the proposed approach and its comparison with other standard edge detection operators in terms of kappa and entropy are given. The effect of initial values of parameters of BFA on the edge detection is discussed.     

Study of Non-lubricated Wear of the Al–Si Alloy Composite Reinforced with Different Ratios of Coarse and Fine Size Zircon Sand Particles at Different Ambient Temperatures

In the present work, a detailed study of ceramic reinforcement of different size ranges in the matrix of LM13 alloy on the friction and wear behavior has been carried out. For this purpose, LM13/Zr composite containing 10 wt% zircon sand particles of different size ranges using stir casting process has been developed. Zircon sand particles were incorporated in two ways: firstly as single size reinforcement and secondly dual size reinforcement. Durability of the composites was tested by finding the wear rate of the composite against the steel disk by pin-on-disk method. Addition of zircon sand particles in the LM13 alloy improves the hardness of the composite as well as wear resistance. Wear rate of the developed composites was tested under different test conditions by varying the applied load and ambient temperatures. Wear rate of the composite changes significantly at different ambient temperatures. SEM analysis of the worn surfaces was done to know the operative wear mechanism.     

Low Cost Porous Alumina with Tailored Microstructure and Thermal Conductivity Prepared using Rice Husk and Sucrose

This study demonstrates a cost‐effective way to fabricate porous ceramics with tailored porosity and pore microstructure using 5–40 wt% rice husk (RH) in <75 μm, 75–180 μm, 180–355 μm, 355–420 μm, and 420–600 μm size, as pore former. Sucrose, used as binder, also acted as a pore former. Porous alumina compacts with 20%–66% volume fraction porosity and 50–516 μm pore size (length) were successfully fabricated. Microstructure of samples reveal randomly oriented elongated coarse pores and fine pores (avg. size 4 μm), created during burnout of RH and sucrose, respectively. Samples with isolated and/or interconnected pores were fabricated using this process. Thermal conductivity of the samples prepared was measured using Transient Plane Source (TPS) technique. Thermal conductivity ranges from 1.2 to 24 W/mK. Experimental results agree closely with predictions made based on Effective Medium Theory (EMT) for a two‐phase system.     

Use of tergitol-7 in photogalvanic cell for solar energy conversion and storage: Toluidine blue-glucose system

Photogalvanic effects were studied in a photogalvanic cell containing toluidine blue, glucose and tergitol-7 as a photosensitizer, reductant and surfactant, respectively. The photocurrent and photopotential generated by this system were 70 μA and 315 mV, respectively. The effects of different parameters on the electrical output of the cell were observed. Current/voltage characteristics of the cell have also been studied, and a mechanism has been proposed for the generation of photocurrent in photogalvanic cell.     

Exceptionally High Dielectric Constant in Ceramic Pr2CuO4

The pristine layered cuprate Pr₂CuO₄ samples of >95% density were fabricated as thin disks. The samples, analyzed by X‐ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy, showed clean T′‐type phase with Rietveld refined lattice parameters a = b = 3.95805(±5) Å and c = 12.2262(±5) Å. The measured dielectric properties of the Pr₂CuO₄ ceramics, in the temperature range ?100°C–150°C and frequencies (ν) 0.1 Hz–1 MHz, showed extremely high ε_r′ > 10⁴ (above ?30°C), and dissipation (tan δ = ε_r′′/ε_r′) between 0.1 and 5 (for 500 Hz ≤ ν ≤ 1 MHz, and ?100 ≤ T ≤ 150°C). The ac conductivity of Pr₂CuO₄ ceramics ranged between 10^?6 and 10^?3 Scm^?1 for the measured frequencies and temperatures, and showed frequency‐dependent double power law behavior akin to a modified Jonscher's power law.