FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF NATEGLINIDE-LOADED ETHYL CELLULOSE NANOPARTICLES BY BOX-BEHNKEN DESIGN

Objective: Application of nanotechnology in drug delivery system has released leading new areas of research in sustained release of drugs. The objective of the present study is development and optimization of polymeric nanoparticles of Nateglinide (NTG).Methods: Nateglinide loaded ethyl cellulose (EC) nanoparticles were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique. Response surface methodology (RSM) using the Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the formulation of Nateglinide nanoparticles. The Box-Behnken design consisting of 14 runs, three-factor, three levels and two centre point was used in this study. The particle size, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency of Nateglinide nanoparticles were investigated with respect to three independent variables including stirring speed (X1), time (X2) and surfactant concentration (X3). The optimized nanoparticle is then subjected to characterization studies including morphology, particle size, zeta potential, % Drug Loading (DL) and % Entrapment Efficiency (EE).Results: Nateglinide nanoparticles under the optimized conditions gave rise to the DL of 14.30±0.27 %, EE of 72.19±0.24 %, mean diameter of 172 nm and zeta potential value of-15.6 mV.Conclusion: The optimized nanoparticles formulation with improved characteristic properties could be a promising delivery system for Nateglinide.Â

Workplace Air Quality at Explosive Material Manufacturing and Handling Units

Worldwide, large quantities of explosives are manufactured for use in various types ofammunitions, arms, and mines. Toxic pollutants in the workplaces of three major activities, viz.,explosive and solid propellant preparation facility, solid propellant shell assembling facility, andsolid propellant shell proof firing facility, were studied. The suspended particulate matter (SPM)concentration in grinding room (13.9 mg/m3) and sieving room (19.3 mg/m3) of solid propellantpreparation facility was observed to be two to threefold higher than the permissible limit. TheSPM in the dentex preparation section was found to be significantly high (10.8 mg/m3). Thepersonal exposure was fourfold higher (21 mg/m3) than the permissible limit. It was emerged thatconcentration of particulate is a major concern in all the processing sections. Since the chemicalnature of these particulates is expected to be more toxic in nature, it requires greater attention.At firing point, carbon monoxide appeared to be a major concern

Landmine Detection Technologies to TraceExplosive Vapour Detection Techniques

Large quantity of explosive is manufactured worldwide for use in various types of ammunition,arms, and mines, and used in armed conflicts. During manufacturing and usage of the explosiveequipment, some of the explosive residues are released into the environment in the form ofcontaminated effluents, unburnt explosives fumes and vapours. Limited but uncontrolledcontinuous release of trace vapours also takes place when explosive-laden landmines are deployedin the field. One of the major technological challenges in post-war scenario worldwide is thedetection of landmines using these trace vapour signatures and neutralising them safely.  Differenttypes of explosives are utilised as the main charge in antipersonnel and antitank landmines. Inthis paper, an effort has been made to review the techniques so far available based on explosivevapour detection especially to detect the landmines. A comprehensive compilation of relevantinformation on the techniques is presented, and their maturity levels, shortcomings, and difficultiesfaced are highlighted

Cu K-absorption edge study of cuprate superconductors

Cu K-absorption edges of YBa2Cu3O6.9, Tl2CaBa2Cu2O8 and Bi2CaSr2Cu2O8 show similar features. Copper is mainly in the 2+ state in these cuprates suggesting the likely presence of oxygen holes

First record of Parapercis clathrata (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from Indian waters

A single specimen of latticed sandperch, Parapercis clathrata measuring 163 mm total lenth was caught in a trawler off Tuticorin, south-east coast of India in February 2010. Morphometric and meristic characters of the recorded specimen are described. This record constitutes the first occurrence of the species in Indian waters and a substantial westward extension of its known geographical distribution

Embedded Controller in Farmers Pump by Solar Energy

The primary aim of this project is to develop and atomize the solar farmers pump (water pump) considering the power supply, direct current (DC), Alternating current (AC), inverter frequency, a well, water level in the well, submersible monoblock pump. Here we introduce an advanced technique with GSM module. The solar pumps which work by utilizing the energy from the SOLAR ARRAYS and the power from the PV are stored in a battery. The power from the battery is inverted and given to the pump for irrigation. This pump is also controlled by the GSM module. The use of GSM mode is to start and stop working of pumps using mobile phone; the water level monitoring is also done by the GSM mode which this also provides the message for each hour. This is done with the embedded C in PIC16F877A microcontroller. The main advantage of this project is optimizing the power and also saving government’s free subsidiary electricity (22% of total power production in India). This proves an efficient and economy way of irrigation and this will automate the agriculture sector

Behavioural Problems in Children of Mothers who had Depression.

INTRODUCTION: Parental psychiatric illness: The implications for children The risks for children with a mentally ill parent have been recognized And researched for over half a century (Janet, P. Et al., 1926 & Rutter, M. Et al., 1984). Since more patients are cared for in the community, more patients are Now parents (up to 60%) and many care for young children (Oates, M. Et al., 2001). Advances in our understanding of genetics mean that the heritability of Specific major illnesses has been calculated. Bipolar disorder is estimated to Have a heritability of 80%, depression 34 - 48% and schizophrenia 75% (Rutter, M. Et al., 1999). Unipolar depression is to be ranked fourth by 2020 in the measure of Disability adjusted life years. Given the high prevalence of depression, this puts a Large number of children at risk of developing future psychiatric problems. Psychological development of a child depends on the interaction of biological Self and behaviour with the environment. The child actively interacts with the Environment and the whole development is better understood by the social Learning model. Children of mothers with depression suffer from both a Vulnerable biology and the effects of faulty parenting. Not only that, these Children also have poor models to emulate. The dynamic interaction of these Factors predisposes them to emotional and behavioral disturbances. The impact of parental mental illness on children is important in Everyday clinical practice and the subject of a recent Royal College of Psychiatrists report. There has been considerable attention paid to the link Between fatal child abuse and parental mental illness. The services that may Support families and children have received rather less attention until recently (Gopfert, M. Et al., 1996; Weir, et al., 1999 & Reder, P. Et al., 2000). All preventive strategies have to be focussed on the developing brain and Psyche as psychological and social derangements in early life leave children with Working models that are faulty. These models then become deeply ingrained to The extent that they influence feelings, thoughts and behaviour unconsciously and Automatically later in adult life. Hence there is a great need for early intervention. The preventive interventions employed can be classified as universal Interventions and targeted interventions. Whereas in a universal intervention Strategy, all people in a geographical area are involved; in targeted interventions, Only people at high risk of developing the illness are targeted. The targeted Interventions can be either selective ( i.e) children of parents with mood disorders Or indicative ( i .e) children showing mild symptoms of conduct disorders. Sound knowledge regarding the emotional problems in children of Depressed mothers would form the primary requisite for the more ambitious “selective-targeted interventions to prevent future psychiatric disturbances” in this Group at risk

Wavelet Method for Solving Cahn-Allen Equation

Abstract In this paper, we develop an accurate and efficient Haar wavelet method for well-known Cahn-Allen equation. The proposed scheme can be used to a wide class of nonlinear equations. The power of this manageable method is confirmed. Moreover the use of Haar wavelets is found to be accurate, simple, fast, flexible, convenient, small computation costs and computationally attractive

Land use land cover change detection in the lower Bhavani basin, Tamil Nadu, using geospatial techniques

Land use land cover (LULC) change detection is essential for sustainable development, planning and management. This study was an attempt to evaluate the LULC change in the lower bhavani basin from 2014 to 2019, using Landsat 8 data integrating Google Earth Engine (GEE) as a web-based platform and Geographic Information System. The CART and Random Forest classifiers in GEE were used for performing supervised classification. The classified map accuracy was assessed using high resolution imagery and evaluated using a confusion matrix implemented in GEE. Five major LULC classes, viz., agriculture, built up, current fallow, forest and waterbody, were identified, and the dominant land use in the study area was agriculture and current fallow, followed by dominant land use of forest. During the study period (2014–2019) the change inbuilt-up area 7.37% in 2019 and 5.45% in 2014, was noted due to urban sprawl. GEE showed significant versatility and proved to be an effective platform for LULC detection