QbD Enabled Development of Press Coated Tablet of Nifedipine: Optimization, In-vitro Release and Stability Studies

The study aimed to develop a time-controlled release drug delivery system using the press coating method for chronotherapeutic treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris. The formulation intended to administer the drug at night, with the intention of relieving symptoms in the morning. The research concluded that, the drug's identification test verified it as Nifedipine, demonstrating good flowability. Different polymers, including various viscosity grades of HPC, influenced properties positively. Combining polymers in different ratios yielded distinct release kinetics at specific intervals. Hydrophilic and gellable polymers combined in the outer shell led to productive time release, whereas hydrophilic with erodible polymers extended the release over 6 to 11 hours. Rupturable and gellable polymer combinations achieved release from 6 to 10 hours, while erodible with rupturable polymers ranged from 6 to 8 hours due to composition differences. Excipient concentration impacted release kinetics, with hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature also influencing core tablet release kinetics. pH-independent release demonstrated practicality, especially with non-ionic HPC and EC polymers. The study revealed diverse release kinetics based on polymer and excipient integration in core and outer compositions. Understanding polymeric behaviours improved drug targeting accuracy. Data analysis indicated a mixed release kinetic involving erosion, diffusion, and swelling mechanisms. Overall, the study contributes insights into dosage form behaviour and polymeric influences on drug release

Evaluation the Quality of Software Design by Call Graph based Metrics

The prediction of software defects was introduced to support development and maintenance activities to improve the software quality by finding errors early in the software development. It facilitates maintenance in terms of effort, time and more importantly the cost prediction for software evolution and maintenance activities. In this paper, we evaluate the quality related attributes in developed software products. The software call graph model is also used for several applications in order to represent and reflect the degree of their complexity in terms of understandability, testability and maintainability efforts. The extracted metrics are investigated for the evaluated applications in correlation with bugs collected from customers bug reports. Those software related bugs are compiled into datasets files to use as an input to a data miner for classification, prediction and association analysis. Finally, the analysis results is evaluated in terms of finding the correlation between software products bugs and call graph based metrics. We find that call graph based metrics are appropriate to detect and predict software defects so that the activities of testing and maintenance stages become easier to estimate or assess after the product delivery

Analysis of small nucleolar RNAs reveals unique genetic features in malaria parasites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ribosome biogenesis is an energy consuming and stringently controlled process that involves hundreds of trans-acting factors. Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), important components of ribosome biogenesis are non-coding guide RNAs involved in rRNA processing, nucleotide modifications like 2'-O-ribose methylation, pseudouridylation and possibly gene regulation. snoRNAs are ubiquitous and are diverse in their genomic organization, mechanism of transcription and process of maturation. In vertebrates, most snoRNAs are present in introns of protein coding genes and are processed by exonucleolytic cleavage, while in plants they are transcribed as polycistronic transcripts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This is a comprehensive analysis of malaria parasite snoRNA genes and proteins that have a role in ribosomal biogenesis. Computational and experimental approaches have been used to identify several box C/D snoRNAs from different species of <it>Plasmodium </it>and confirm their expression. Our analyses reveal that the gene for endoribonuclease Rnt1 is absent from <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>genome, which indicates the existence of alternative pre-rRNA processing pathways. The structural features of box C/D snoRNAs are highly conserved in <it>Plasmodium </it>genus; however, unlike other organisms most parasite snoRNAs are present in single copy. The genomic localization of parasite snoRNAs shows mixed patterns of those observed in plants, yeast and vertebrates. We have localized parasite snoRNAs in untranslated regions (UTR) of mRNAs, and this is an unprecedented and novel genetic feature. Akin to mammalian snoRNAs, those in <it>Plasmodium </it>may also behave as mobile genetic elements.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study provides a comprehensive overview on trans-acting genes involved in ribosome biogenesis and also a genetic insight into malaria parasite snoRNA genes.</p

Challenges in implementing digital health services in rural India

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, with mandatory social distancing and lockdown, has shown the success of telemedicine in reducing geographical and time obstacles. This has stimulated its ingress into mainstream healthcare services as the safest means of interaction between doctor and patient during the pandemic. There are several barriers that need to be addressed in order to spread these digital services. Aim: This study explores the challenges to adopting telemedicine and its status in remote districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. Methods: A mixed-method approach was used to identify challenges found in remote healthcare facilities. A survey was conducted using a 20-item checklist to capture information regarding infrastructure, telemedicine equipment, manpower and demography of the area. During telephone interviews, questionnaires were used to evaluate the status of acceptance of telemedicine and challenges to its implementation in the remote State of Himachal Pradesh, India. Results: The study identifies the challenges as lack of awareness (75.9%), level of education of patient (44.8%) having primary education, age of the patient (17.2%), technically challenged staff (30%), followed by resistance to change (80%) and high workload with manpower shortage (60%). Conclusion: While there are other barriers, this study provides policymakers with insights into the current perceived challenges to telemedicine implementation, which they can address to increase the penetration of telehealth services, particularly in rural areas. &nbsp; &nbsp

Bulk Superconductivity in Bismuth-oxy-sulfide Bi4O4S3

Very recent report [1] on observation of superconductivity in Bi4O4S3 could potentially reignite the search for superconductivity in a broad range of layered sulphides. We report here synthesis of Bi4O4S3 at 5000C by vacuum encapsulation technique and basic characterizations. Detailed structural, magnetization, and electrical transport results are reported. Bi4O4S3 is contaminated by small amounts of Bi2S3 and Bi impurities. The majority phase is tetragonal I4/mmm space group with lattice parameters a = 3.9697(2){\AA}, c = 41.3520(1){\AA}. Both AC and DC magnetization measurements confirmed that Bi4O4S3 is a bulk superconductor with superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 4.4K. Isothermal magnetization (MH) measurements indicated closed loops with clear signatures of flux pinning and irreversible behavior. The lower critical field (Hc1) at 2K, of the new superconductor is found to be ~39 Oe. The magneto-transport R(T, H) measurements showed a resistive broadening and decrease in Tc (R=0) to lower temperatures with increasing magnetic field. The extrapolated upper critical field Hc2(0) is ~ 310kOe with a corresponding Ginzburg-Landau coherence length of ~100{\AA} . In the normal state the {\rho} ~ T2 is not indicated. Our magnetization and electrical transport measurements substantiate the appearance of bulk superconductivity in as synthesized Bi4O4S3. On the other hand same temperature heat treated Bi is not superconducting, thus excluding possibility of impurity driven superconductivity in the newly discovered Bi4O4S3 superconductor.Comment: 12 pages Text + Fig

Characterization and Behavior Study of Nitinol Shape Memory Alloy Wire for Effective and Efficient Use in Soft Robotics as an Actuator

216-222Soft Robotics is an emerging field due to high degree of freedom, their soft and delicate interaction, almost no vibration during operations etc. are some among many reasons, why scientists and researchers got attracted towards this field. Nitinol is commonly used in soft robotics and easily available Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator. In present investigation, the authors attempted to understand the characteristics and behaviour of Nitinol SMA Actuator wire with change in various parameters such as length, diameter, current, and temperature. Moreover, it is investigated, how resistance, power consumption, force developed, hysteresis, and displacement changing takes place with current passing through the wire and corresponding temperature developed. Various experiments are performed and based on the results and findings related to the selection of wires for specific requirement have been discussed and suggestions were made for the use of the SMA actuator efficiently and effectively

Characterization and Behavior Study of Nitinol Shape Memory Alloy Wire for Effective and Efficient Use in Soft Robotics as an Actuator

Soft Robotics is an emerging field due to high degree of freedom, their soft and delicate interaction, almost no vibration during operations etc. are some among many reasons, why scientists and researchers got attracted towards this field. Nitinol is commonly used in soft robotics and easily available Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator. In present investigation, the authors attempted to understand the characteristics and behaviour of Nitinol SMA Actuator wire with change in various parameters such as length, diameter, current, and temperature. Moreover, it is investigated, how resistance, power consumption, force developed, hysteresis, and displacement changing takes place with current passing through the wire and corresponding temperature developed. Various experiments are performed and based on the results and findings related to the selection of wires for specific requirement have been discussed and suggestions were made for the use of the SMA actuator efficiently and effectively