On the Josephson Coupling between a disk of one superconductor and a surrounding superconducting film of a different symmetry

A cylindrical Josephson junction with a spatially dependent Josephson coupling which averages to zero is studied in order to model the physics of a disk of d-wave superconductor embedded in a superconducting film of a different symmetry. It is found that the system always introduces Josepshon vortices in order to gain energy at the junction. The critical current is calculated. It is argued that a recent experiment claimed to provide evidence for s-wave superconductivity in $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$ may also be consistent with d-wave superconductivity. Figures available from the author on request.Comment: 10 pages, revtex3.0, TM-11111-940321-1

Enhanced oral bioavailability and hepatoprotective activity of thymoquinone in the form of phospholipidic nano-constructs

Background: The poor biopharmaceutical properties of thymoquinone (TQ) obstruct its development as a hepatoprotective agent. To surmount the delivery challenges of TQ, phospholipid nanoconstructs (PNCs) were constructed. Method: PNCs were constructed employing microemulsification technique and systematic optimization by three-factor three level Box-Behnken design. Result: Optimized PNC composition exhibited nano size (90%), controlled drug release pattern, and neutral surface charge (zeta potential of −0.65 mV). After oral administration of a single dose of PNC, it showed a relative bioavailability of 386.03% vis-à-vis plain TQ suspension. Further, TQ-loaded PNC demonstrated significant enhanced hepato-protective effect vis-à-vis pure TQ suspension and silymarin, as evidenced by reduction in the ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, and albumin level and ratified by histopathological analysis. Conclusion: TQ-loaded PNCs can be efficient nano-platforms for the management of hepatic disorders and promising drug delivery systems to enhance oral bioavailability of this hydrophobic molecule

Effect of pH on rate and selectivity behavior in biphasic hydroformylation of 1-octene

The effect of pH on activity and selectivity of (RhCl(COD)2/TPPTS catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene in a biphasic medium has been studied. The pH of the aqueous catalyst phase shows a strong influence on the rate of reaction and n/iso ratio of the aldehyde products. The effect of P/Rh ratio, catalyst and 1-octene concentration, partial pressure of hydrogen and carbon monoxide was studied at 7 and 10 pH, which showed significantly different trends. The rates increased by two- to five fold when the pH was changed from 7 to 10. While the dependence of the rate was found to be linear on the olefin and hydrogen concentration at both 7 and 10 pH, the rate of hydroformylation was found to be inhibited with increase in catalyst concentration beyond 1 × 10−3 kmol m−3. The effect of partial pressure of carbon monoxide was linear at pH 7 whereas at pH 10 a substrate inhibited kinetics was observed

Interpretation of CIs in clinical trials with non-significant results: systematic review and recommendations

Objectives: Interpretation of CIs in randomised clinical trials (RCTs) with treatment effects that are not statistically significant can distinguish between results that are ‘negative’ (the data are not consistent with a clinically meaningful treatment effect) or ‘inconclusive’ (the data remain consistent with the possibility of a clinically meaningful treatment effect). This interpretation is important to ensure that potentially beneficial treatments are not prematurely abandoned in future research or clinical practice based on invalid conclusions. Design: Systematic review of RCT reports published in 2014 in Annals of Internal Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, JAMA Internal Medicine and The Lancet (n=247). Results: 85 of 99 articles with statistically non-significant results reported CIs for the treatment effect. Only 17 of those 99 articles interpreted the CI. Of the 22 articles in which CIs indicated an inconclusive result, only four acknowledged that the study could not rule out a clinically meaningful treatment effect. Conclusions: Interpretation of CIs is important but occurs infrequently in study reports of trials with treatment effects that are not statistically significant. Increased author interpretation of CIs could improve application of RCT results. Reporting recommendations are provided