Combinations of Piperine with Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin as a Multifunctional System

Piperine is an alkaloid that has extensive pharmacological activity and impacts other active substances bioavailability due to inhibition of CYP450 enzymes, stimulation of amino acid transporters and P-glycoprotein inhibition. Low solubility and the associated low bioavailability of piperine limit its potential. The combination of piperine with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) causes a significant increase in its solubility and, consequently, an increase in permeability through gastrointestinal tract membranes and the blood–brain barrier. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to characterize interactions between piperine and HP-β-CD. The observed physicochemical changes should be combined with the process of piperine and CD system formation. Importantly, with an increase in solubility and permeability of piperine as a result of interaction with CD, it was proven to maintain its biological activity concerning the antioxidant potential (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate assay), inhibition of enzymes essential for the inflammatory process and for neurodegenerative changes (hyaluronidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase).     

Structural Aspects of P2-Type Na0.67Mn0.6Ni0.2Li0.2O2 (MNL) Stabilization by Lithium Defects as a Cathode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries

A known strategy for improving the properties of layered oxide electrodes in sodium-ion batteries is the partial substitution of transition metals by Li. Herein, the role of Li as a defect and its impact on sodium storage in P2-Na_0.67Mn_0.6Ni_0.2Li_0.2O₂ is discussed. In tandem with electrochemical studies, the electronic and atomic structure are studied using solid-state NMR, operando XRD, and density functional theory (DFT). For the as-synthesized material, Li is located in comparable amounts within the sodium and the transition metal oxide (TMO) layers. Desodiation leads to a redistribution of Li ions within the crystal lattice. During charging, Li ions from the Na layer first migrate to the TMO layer before reversing their course at low Na contents. There is little change in the lattice parameters during charging/discharging, indicating stabilization of the P2 structure. This leads to a solid-solution type storage mechanism (sloping voltage profile) and hence excellent cycle life with a capacity of 110 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles. In contrast, the Li-free compositions Na_0.67Mn_0.6Ni_0.4O₂ and Na_0.67Mn_0.8Ni_0.2O₂ show phase transitions and a stair-case voltage profile. The capacity is found to originate from mainly Ni³⁺/Ni⁴⁺ and O^2-/O^2-δ redox processes by DFT, although a small contribution from Mn⁴⁺/Mn⁵⁺ to the capacity cannot be excluded.     

Electrospun fiber membranes from blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) with fouling‐resistant zwitterionic copolymers

Nonwoven super‐hydrophobic fiber membranes have potential applications in oil–water separation and membrane distillation, but fouling negatively impacts both applications. Membranes were prepared from blends comprising poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and random zwitterionic copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) or with sulfobetaine‐2‐vinylpyridine (SB2VP). PVDF imparts mechanical strength to the membrane, while the copolymers enhance fouling resistance. Blend composition was varied by controlling the PVDF‐to‐copolymer ratio. Nonwoven fiber membranes were obtained by electrospinning solutions of PVDF and the copolymers in a mixed solvent of N,N‐dimethylacetamide and acetone. The PVDF crystal phases and crystallinities of the blends were studied using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). PVDF crystallized preferentially into its polar β‐phase, though its degree of crystallinity was reduced with increased addition of the random copolymers. Thermogravimetry (TG) showed that the degradation temperatures varied systematically with blend composition. PVDF blends with either copolymer showed significant increase of fouling resistance. Membranes prepared from blends containing 10% P(MMA‐ran‐SB2VP) had the highest fouling resistance, with a fivefold decrease in protein adsorption on the surface, compared to homopolymer PVDF. They also exhibited higher pure water flux, and better oil removal in oil–water separation experiments. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Assessment of Mixture and Eulerian Multiphase Models in Predicting the Thermo-Fluidic Transport Characteristics for Fly Ash-Water Slurry Flow in Straight Horizontal Pipeline

The thermo-fluidic transport characteristics of the fly ash–water slurry flow in a straight horizontal pipe are predicted by deploying two different multiphase modeling strategies, viz. the mixture and the Eulerian multiphase models. Comparisons between the two model predictions in terms of the pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient are done along with the comparisons between the single (water) and the two phase system (slurry). Spherical fly ash particles, with diameter of 13 µm for an average inflow velocity ranging from 1 to 5 m/s and particle concentrations within 0–40% by volume for each velocity are considered as the dispersed phase carried by the carrier phase water. Significant differences between the two model predictions can be observed both from the qualitative and quantitative perspectives. This finally leads to the appropriate choice of the multiphase model for predicting the thermo-fluidic transport characteristics in slurry flow.     

Social Support and Social Strain Among Husbands and Wives: A Multilevel Analysis.

In response to recent calls in the literature for within-person examinations of social support processes over time, this study explores the relationships of spousal support, spousal strain, and well-being among husbands and wives, both within the same day and across days. Eighty-three couples were interviewed and completed a structured diary twice daily for 1 week. The results of multilevel hierarchical modeling suggest that both spousal support and spousal strain made significant, independent contributions to concurrent negative affect, although only spousal support was a significant predictor of next-day negative affect. Spousal strain interacted with spousal support to predict next-day negative affect. Direct and moderating effects of perceived marital adjustment on negative affect were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Graft copolymerization onto rubber. VII. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto rubber using potassium peroxydisulfate catalyzed by silver ion

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto natural rubber (NR) was carried out varying the concentration of monomer, initiator, thiourea, and silver nitrate over a wide range. The grafting reaction was temperature-dependent. From the Arrhenius plot, the overall energy of activation was computed. A suitable reaction scheme and rate expression for the rate of polymerization was suggested.     

Computerized conferencing for knowledge acquisition from multiple experts

The increasing complecity of many expert system application areas calls for the integration of the knowledge of multiple experts. The use of multiple experts introduces some interesting new problems during the process of knowledge acquisition. The problems are further complicated when the experts are geographically dispersed or unavailable for face-to-face interactions.

This article discusses the motivations for acquiring the knowledge of multiple experts, the problems related to knowledge acquisition, new issues that arise whens multiple experts interact, solutions that can be brought to bear in building multiple expert systems (particularly when experts are geographically dispersed), and new tools for knowledge engineers to use when dealing with multiple experts.     

Weak coin flipping with small bias

This paper presents a quantum protocol that demonstrates that weak coin flipping with bias ≈0.239, less than 1/4, is possible. A bias of 1/4 was the smallest known, and followed from the strong coin flipping protocol of Ambainis in [33rd STOC, 2001] (also proposed by Spekkens and Rudolph [Phys. Rev. A 65 (2002) 012310]). Protocols with yet smaller bias ≈0.207 have independently been discovered by Ambainis (2001) and Spekkens and Rudolph [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 (2002) 227901]. We also present an alternative strong coin flipping protocol with bias 1/4 with analysis simpler than that of Ambainis [33rd STOC, 2001].     

Influence of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and of Manufacturing Technique on in Vitro Performance of Selected Antacids

Factors affecting the performance of antacids F-MA 11, dihydroxy aluminum aminoacetate, magaldrate and magnesium hydroxide were studied in vitro using Schaub's acid neutralization test, a modified Reheis reaction velocity test and the USP test. From the results obtained it was evident that type and combination of antacid, the adjuvants and formulation techniques used in preparation of antacids affect their performance. The USP preliminary antacid test and acid neutralization test are not optimal in vitro tests to evaluate in vitro onset and duration of action of antacids.