RECENT ADVANCEMENT, TECHNOLOGY & APPLICATIONS OF MULTIPLE EMULSIONS

Multiple emulsions are complex polydispersed systems where both oil in water and water in oil emulsion exists simultaneously which are stabilized by lipophilic and hydrophilic surfactants respectively. The ratio of these surfactants is important in achieving stable multiple emulsions. Among water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) and oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) type multiple emulsions, the former has wider areas of application and hence are studied in great detail. Formulation, preparation techniques and in vitro characterization methods for multiple emulsions are reviewed. Various factors affecting the stability of multiple emulsions and the stabilization approaches with specific reference to w/o/w type multiple emulsions are discussed in detail. Favorable drug release mechanisms and/or rate along with in vivo fate of multiple emulsions make them a versatile carrier. It finds wide range of applications in controlled or sustained drug delivery, targeted delivery, taste masking, bioavailability enhancement, enzyme immobilization, etc. Multiple emulsions have also been employed as intermediate step in the microencapsulation process and are the systems of increasing interest for the oral delivery of hydrophilic drugs, which are unstable in gastrointestinal tract like proteins and peptides. With the advancement in techniques for preparation, stabilization and rheological characterization of multiple emulsions, it will be able to provide a novel carrier system for drugs, cosmetics and pharmaceutical agents. In this review, emphasis is laid down on formulation, stabilization techniques and potential applications of multiple emulsion system

Tubercular dactylitis in a 65 year old female: a rare case report

Tubercular dactylitis is defined as tubercular infection of the metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges. It is a rare form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis. Bones of the hand are more commonly affected than the bones of the feet. Tubercular dactylitis is common in children and children below 6 year of age accounts for 85% of cases. The diagnosis is usually by a combination of clinical suspicion coupled with radiological investigation and confirmation by biopsy. We hereby present a case report of tubercular dactylitis in a 65 year old female which was treated by antitubercular therapy

Designing multi-layer provider networks for circular disc failures

We examine the issue of disaster recovery after zonal outages in core networks, especially IP-over-WDM multi-layer networks. In particular, we consider the network design problem for a regional failure of circular area of radius R. Our goal is to design a network that can withstand a randomly located single failure of radius R. To this end, we formulate the problem as a constrained optimization problem whose solution for both IP-over-optical networks and pure ROADM-based networks is proposed. Subsequently, we develop an efficient heuristic based on a divide and conquer strategy that gives acceptable results. We also discuss the role of SDN in design and restoration of such networks. Simulation results are showcased over a core network topology thereby realizing the plausibility of such network design

Exposing Surveillance Detection Routes via Reinforcement Learning, Attack Graphs, and Cyber Terrain

Reinforcement learning (RL) operating on attack graphs leveraging cyber terrain principles are used to develop reward and state associated with determination of surveillance detection routes (SDR). This work extends previous efforts on developing RL methods for path analysis within enterprise networks. This work focuses on building SDR where the routes focus on exploring the network services while trying to evade risk. RL is utilized to support the development of these routes by building a reward mechanism that would help in realization of these paths. The RL algorithm is modified to have a novel warm-up phase which decides in the initial exploration which areas of the network are safe to explore based on the rewards and penalty scale factor

Intrinsic Vertebral Markers for Spinal Level Localization in Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Preliminary Report

Study DesignProspective clinical study.PurposeTo observe the usefulness of anterior cervical osteophytes as intrinsic markers for spinal level localization (SLL) during sub-axial cervical spinal surgery via the anterior approach.Overview of LiteratureVarious landmarks, such as the mandibular angle, hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage, first cricoid ring, and C6 carotid tubercle, are used for gross cervical SLL; however, none are used during cervical spinal surgery via the anterior approach. We present our preliminary assessment of SLL over anterior vertebral surfaces (i.e., intrinsic markers) in 48 consecutive cases of anterior cervical spinal surgeries for the disc-osteophyte complex (DOC) in degenerative diseases and granulation or tumor tissue associated with infectious or neoplastic diseases, respectively, at an ill-equipped center.MethodsThis prospective study on patients undergoing anterior cervical surgery for various sub-axial cervical spinal pathologies aimed to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of SLL via intraoperative palpation of disease-related morphological changes on anterior vertebral surfaces visible on preoperative midline sagittal T1/2-weighted magnetic resonance images.ResultsDuring a 3-year period, 48 patients (38 males,10 females; average age, 43.58 years) who underwent surgery via the anterior approach for various sub-axial cervical spinal pathologies, including degenerative disease (n= 42), tubercular infection (Pott's disease; n=3), traumatic prolapsed disc (n=2), and a metastatic lesion from thyroid carcinoma (n=1), comprised the study group. Intrinsic marker palpation yielded accurate SLL in 79% of patients (n=38). Among those with degenerative diseases (n=42), intrinsic marker palpation yielded accurate SLL in 76% of patients (n=32).ConclusionsIntrinsic marker palpation is an attractive potential adjunct for SLL during cervical spinal surgeries via the anterior approach in well-selected patients at ill-equipped centers (e.g., those found in developing countries). This technique may prove helpful when radiographic visualization is occasionally inadequate

Does age and start of Ponseti treatment affect the functional outcome in club foot: A comparative study

Background: Idiopathic clubfoot is one of the most common and complex congenital deformities which are difficult to correct. Aims and Objectives: The present study was designed to assess the effectiveness and results of the Ponseti method’s early use in the treatment of idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV). Materials and Methods: Seventy-six feet in 50 patients of CTEV during the period of May 2019–May 2020 were studied. All the cases were treated by Ponseti technique. Children with idiopathic CTEV and age <1 year were included in our study. The severity of deformity was graded according to Pirani scoring system both at the beginning and at the end of treatment. Results: The mean age at presentation was 2.77 months. The mean initial Pirani score at time of presentation was 4.07, and at last follow-up was 0.13. We observed that 63 feet (82.89%) out of 76 feet required a percutaneous TA tenotomy along with plaster casting to correct the equines deformity. The mean total number of casts required to correct the deformity was 6.4. The mean duration of treatment from 1st plaster cast to cast for equinus correction was 8.4 weeks. About 94% of cases had a good outcome at last follow-up which was evaluated on the basis of Pirani score. The association of duration of treatment (weeks) with age and total number of cast with age has P=0.002 which was found to be significant. Conclusion: The Ponseti technique is a very safe, efficient, and acceptable economical treatment for the correction of CTEV that gives excellent results on conservative treatment and in most of the cases avoid surgical intervention if protocol followed as prescribed. If the age of the patient is higher at time of presentation, it requires a longer casting period and more number of casts to correct the deformity compared to younger children with the early presentation

Bacteria assisted green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles and their potential applications as antimicrobial agents and plant growth stimulants

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have piqued the interest of agricultural researchers due to their potential application as fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers. The Serratia sp. ZTB29 strain, which has the NCBI accession number MK773873, was a novel isolate used in this investigation that produced CuO-NPs. This strain can survive concentrations of copper as high as 22.5 mM and can also remove copper by synthesizing pure CuO-NPs. UV-VIS spectroscopy, DLS, Zeta potential, FTIR, TEM, and XRD techniques were used to investigate the pure form of CuO-NPs. The synthesized CuO-NPs were crystalline in nature (average size of 22 nm) with a monoclinic phase according to the XRD pattern. CuO-NPs were found to be polydisperse, spherical, and agglomeration-free. According to TEM and DLS inspection, they ranged in size from 20 to 40 nm, with a typical particle size of 28 nm. CuO-NPs were extremely stable, as demonstrated by their zeta potential of −15.4 mV. The ester (C=O), carboxyl (C=O), amine (NH), thiol (S-H), hydroxyl (OH), alkyne (C-H), and aromatic amine (C-N) groups from bacterial secretion were primarily responsible for reduction and stabilization of CuO-NPs revealed in an FTIR analysis. CuO-NPs at concentrations of 50 μg mL−1 and 200 μg mL−1 displayed antibacterial and antifungal activity against the plant pathogenic bacteria Xanthomonas sp. and pathogenic fungus Alternaria sp., respectively. The results of this investigation support the claims that CuO-NPs can be used as an efficient antimicrobial agent and nano-fertilizer, since, compared to the control and higher concentrations of CuO-NPs (100 mg L−1) considerably improved the growth characteristics of maize plants

Scheduling and Monitoring of Arch Bridge Projects using Primavera P6: Best Practices and Case Studies

The essential objective behind the examination is to recognize the work job of observing and controlling the task progress of development and get plan of action distribution utilizing the executives instruments, for example, primavera P6. This was achieved through reconsidering the writing and systems utilized in checking and control. The review filled in as a guide for dissecting development progress and recognizing explicit issues that emerged during the cycle. The discoveries of the review uncovered the deficiencies of the ongoing venture the executives framework in project execution. Another task the board plan is finished that is both productive and savvy. By assigning more assets to project exercises, the time cost exchange of the task term can be brought down. In any case, doing so raises the venture's expense. For booking a bunch of undertaking errands, the basic course technique is utilized. Primavera programming was additionally utilized for asset examination. This exploration presents the preparation and planning of a task arranged in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The designation of assets is finished utilizing Primavera P6 to screen the functioning method of the undertaking in each stage

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Not AvailableBottle gourd or Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl., of the family Cucurbitaceae, is a climbing perennial plant widely cultivated round the year as a vegetable crop across the country.This crop is often attacked by a number of insect pests throughout its growth period. Apart from its regular pests, recently serious incidence of a mirid bug,Nesidiocoris cruentatus (Ballard) was observed on tender leaves and young fruits in many parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. On tender leaves, a minute puncture spot with yellow hallow were observed. The damage was more prominent in young fruits. Brown puncture spots with on the rind with sap oozing out from the tender fruits was the characteristic symptoms of this sucking pests. The affected fruits often failed to fetch a good market price. During this period, the damage by this pest was so serious that chemical control was almost inevitable. Farmers of this region often used to apply around 4-5 rounds of synthetic insecticides to control this ligophagous pest. This practices have led to many fold problems like resistance to insecticides, resurgence of target insects and secondary pest outbreak, in addition to insecticide residues in food and beverages, contamination of groundwater, adverse effect on human health, and widespread killing of non-target organisms (Halder et al., 2012; 2014).Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTwo promising subtypes of tulsi, Ocimum tenuiflorum were field screened under natural infestation of lace wing bug, Cochlochila bullita to assess its reaction. Seven biophysical and ten biochemical attributes of leaves were studied in relation to the expression of their reaction towards lace wing bug. It was observed that highly susceptible O. tenuiflorum subtype Rama had relatively higher leaf length (4.04 cm), leaf width (2.36 cm), leaf area (5.99 cm2), petiole length (1.79 cm), plant height (90.67 cm), wider leaf angle (35°) and canopy diameter (78.33 cm) than the relatively tolerant subtype Krishna. Similarly, with respect to biochemical parameters, chlorophyll B (r value = 0.785, 0.567), total chlorophyll (0.848, 0.703) and carotenoids (0.702, 0.471) showed significant positive correlation with tinged bug incidence and its damage. Susceptible subtype Rama possessed lower reducing (0.189 g/100 g), non-reducing (2.651 g/100 g) and total sugars (2.840 g/100 g) as compared to tolerant subtype Krishna (0.280, 0.906 and 1.185 g/100 g, respectively). In contrast, higher amount of total phenol (6.79 mg/g) and anthocyanin (0.00058 mg/g) contents in leaves were recorded in subtype Krishna and the observed correlations were negative and significant with pest population and its damage. In terms of succulence, leaves of subtype Rama had higher moisture content (80.8%) than the subtype Krishna (78.1%) and showed significant positive correlation with tinged bug population (r value = 0.830) and leaf damage (0.968).Not Availabl