Geological stratigraphy and spatial distribution of microfractures over the Costa Rica convergent margin, Central America – a wavelet-fractal analysis

Identification of spatial distribution of lithology as a function of position and scale is a very critical job for lithology modelling in industry. Wavelet transform (WT) is an efficacious and powerful mathematical tool for time (position) and frequency (scale) localization. It has numerous advantages over Fourier transform (FT) to obtain frequency and time information of a signal. Initially continuous wavelet transform (CWT) was applied on gamma ray logs for identification of lithofacies distribution, and later discrete wavelet transform (DWT) was applied on density logs to identify the fracture zones. In this study the data were taken from two different well sites (well 1039 and well 1043) of the Costa Rica convergent margin, Central America. The CWT analysis provides four major sedimentary layers terminated with a concordant igneous intrusion passing through both the wells. In addition, the wavelet-based fractal analysis (WBFA) technique was applied on identified sedimentary successions, and fractal-dimension (FD) values were calculated for every succession to know the presence and distribution of fractures. We found that the second and third successions have a high FD value, whereas the first and fourth successions have a low FD value. These high values may be due to the presence of abundant shale content and low-energy environments in the sedimentary successions

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE BUCCAL TABLETS OF CARVEDILOL

Objective: The aim of the study was to formulate and evaluate mucoadhesive buccal tablets of carvedilol to avoid the first-pass metabolism. Methods: Mucoadhesive Buccal tablets of carvedilol were prepared by direct compression techniques using a combination of bioadhesive polymers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and polyethlyelne oxide WSR-1105 (PEO WSR-1105). In order to improve solubility of carvedilol, solid dispersion was prepared using poloxamer 188. A 32 Full factorial design was applied to investigate the combined effect of the two independent variables i.e. concentration of HPC (X1) and concentration of PEO WSR-1105(X2) on the dependent variables, % in vitro drug release at 1 h (Y1), % in vitro drug release at 4 h (Y2), mucoadhesive strength (Y3) and mucoadhesion time (Y4). Results: Optimized mucoadhesive buccal tablets shows in vitro drug release of 96.23±2.45 in 8 h, mucoadhesive strength of 18.20±1.44 g, mucoadhesion time 420±2.6 min and surface pH 6.75±0.015. Drug excipients compatibility study by FTIR showed no interaction between drug and excipients. Conclusion: From all parameters and experimental design evaluation, it was concluded that the drug release rate decreased with an increase the concentration of HPC and PEO WSR-1105 and mucoadhesion property increased with increase the concentration of PEO WSR-1105. The in vitro release kinetics revealed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model is followed and drug release is by anomalous diffusion

Enhancement of Ethanol Production in Electrochemical Cell by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CDBT2) and Wickerhamomyces anomalus (CDBT7)

Bioethanol (a renewable resource), blended with gasoline, is used as liquid transportation fuel worldwide and produced from either starch or lignocellulose. Local production and use of bioethanol supports local economies, decreases country's carbon footprint and promotes self-sufficiency. The latter is especially important for bio-resource-rich land-locked countries like Nepal that are seeking alternative transportation fuels and technologies to produce them. In that regard, in the present study, we have used two highly efficient ethanol producing yeast strains, viz., Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CDBT2) and Wickerhamomyces anomalous (CDBT7), in an electrochemical cell to enhance ethanol production. Ethanol production by CDBT2 (anodic chamber) and CDBT7 (cathodic chamber) control cultures, using 5% glucose as substrate, were 12.6 ± 0.42 and 10.1 ± 0.17 mg·mL−1 respectively. These cultures in the electrochemical cell, when externally supplied with 4V, the ethanol production was enhanced by 19.8 ± 0.50% and 23.7 ± 0.51%, respectively, as compared to the control cultures. On the other hand, co-culturing of those two yeast strains in both electrode compartments resulted only 3.96 ± 0.83% enhancement in ethanol production. Immobilization of CDBT7 in the graphite cathode resulted in lower enhancement of ethanol production (5.30 ± 0.82%), less than free cell culture of CDBT7. CDBT2 and CDBT7 when cultured in platinum nano particle coated platinum anode and neutral red-coated graphite cathode, respectively, ethanol production was substantially enhanced (52.8 ± 0.44%). The above experiments when repeated using lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate (reducing sugar content was 3.3%) as substrate, resulted in even better enhancement in ethanol production (61.5 ± 0.12%) as compared to glucose. The results concluded that CDBT2 and CDBT7 yeast strains produced ethanol efficiently from both glucose and lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate. Ethanol production was enhanced in the presence of low levels of externally applied voltage. Ethanol production was further enhanced with the better electron transport provision i.e., when neutral red was deposited on cathode and fine platinum nanoparticles were coated on the platinum anode

Phase-Resolved Rydberg Atom Field Sensing using Quantum Interferometry

Although Rydberg atom-based electric field sensing provides key advantages over traditional antenna-based detection, it remains limited by the need for a local oscillator (LO) for low-field and phase resolved detection. In this work, we demonstrate that closed-loop quantum interferometric schemes can be used to generate a system-internal reference that can directly replace an external LO for Rydberg field sensing. We reveal that this quantum-interferometrically defined internal reference phase and frequency can be used analogously to a traditional LO for atom-based down-mixing to an intermediate frequency for lock-in phase detection. We demonstrate that this LO-equivalent functionality provides analogous benefits to an LO, including full 360$^\circ$ phase resolution as well as improved sensitivity. The general applicability of this approach is confirmed by demodulating a four phase-state signal broadcast on the atoms. Our approach opens up new sensing schemes and provides a clear path towards all-optical Rydberg atom sensing implementations

Razvoj i optimizacija sustava za isporuku metoprolol sukcinata sa zadržavanjem u želucu

Metoprolol succinate (MS) gastroretentive (GR) controlled release system was formulated to increase gastric residence time leading to improved drug bioavailability. Box-Behnken model was followed using novel combinations of sodium alginate (SA), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC), magnesium alumino metasilicate (MAS) as independent variables. Floating lag time (Flag), t25, t50, t75, diffusion exponent as dependent variables revealed that the amount of SA, NaCMC and MAS have a significant effect (p < 0.05) on t25, t50, t75 and Flag. MSGR tablets were prepared and evaluated for mass, thickness, hardness, friability, drug content and floating property. Tablets were studied for dissolution for 24 h and exhibited controlled release of MS with floating for 16 h. The release profile of the optimized batch MS01 fitted first-order kinetics (R2 = 0.9868, n = 0.543), indicating non-Fickian diffusion or anomalous transport by diffusion and swelling.U radu je opisan razvoj sustava za isporuku metoprolol sukcinata (MS) s kontroliranim oslobađanjem i produljenim vremenom zadržavanja u želucu (GR), u svrhu poboljšanja bioraspoloživosti. Primijenjen je Box-Behnkenov model, a kao zavisne varijable izabrane su nove kombinacije natrijevog alginata (SA), natrijeve soli karboksimetilceluloze (NaCMC) i magnezijevog aluminometasilikata (MAS). Vrijeme plutanja (Flag), t25, t50, t75 i difuzijski eksponent kao zavisne varijable otkrili su da količina SA, NaCMC i MAS ima značajan učinak (p < 0,05) na t25, t50, t75 i Flag. Pripravljenim tabletama određena je masa, debljina, tvrdoća, lomljivost, sadržaj ljekovite tvari i sposobnost plutanja. Oslobađanje MS praćeno je 24 h. Rezultati pokazuju da je oslobađanje kontrolirano, a vrijeme plutanja 16 h. Oslobađanje iz optimiranog pripravka MS01 slijedi kinetiku prvog reda (R2 = 0,9868, n = 0,543), što ukazuje na difuziju koja ne slijedi Fickov zakon već anomalni transport difuzijom i bubrenjem

Improving irrigation performance through the use of management information systems: The case of Mahi Kadana, Gujarat, India

Water management / Water distribution / Cropping systems / Rotation / Performance evaluation / Performance indexes / Data collection / Databases / Canal irrigation / Management Information Systems / India / Gujarat