DEVELOPMENT AND COMPARISON OF ORALLY INHALABLE SUSTAINED RELEASE FORMULATIONS FOR THREE RESPIRATORY DRUGS FOR ASTHMA

The present work was designed to develop and compare orally inhalable sustained release formulation for salbutamol sulphate (SS), ambroxol hydrochloride (AH) and montelukast sodium (MS).The emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to prepare microparticles with the polymers. The prepared polymer encapsulated microparticles were blended with carrier inhalable lactose and filled in size 3 hard empty gelatin capsule. Formulations T1-T9 were prepared with 1:1 ratio of PLGA (50:50), PLGA (75:25) and Eudragit RS100. The formulation T1 prepared with SS:PLGA (50:50) produces best result when compared with other formulations T2-T9. Formulation T1 gives in vitro release 91.23% at 12 h and having particle size of microparticles (D0.5 µm) 1.94±0.6 and respiratory fraction 34.9± 2.59 %

Performance Evaluation of Tergitol NP-7 and Triton X-114 for the Removal of Crystal Violet Using Cloud-point Extraction

In the present study, a cloud-point extraction process has been developed to remove crystal violet dye using two different non-ionic surfactants, Tergitol NP-7 and Triton X-114. For different concentrations of dye and surfactant, cloud-point temperatures were determined for Tergitol NP-7 and Triton X-114. The effectiveness of two different surfactants, Triton X-114 and Tergitol NP-7, for the removal of dye from synthetic solution was investigated. The effects of surfactant and dye concentrations, as well as operating temperature on phase volume ratio, preconcentration factor, distribution coefficient, and extraction efficiency were studied. The optimum dosage of surfactant can be 0.05 M for both surfactants for removing crystal violet. The results showed that 97 % of crystal violet can quantitatively be removed by cloud-point extraction at 0.05 M surfactant concentration in a single extraction. The performance of Tergitol NP-7 was found to be more effective than Triton X-114 for the removal of crystal violet using CPE

The DOE E3SM Coupled Model Version 1: Overview and Evaluation at Standard Resolution

This work documents the first version of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) new Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SMv1). We focus on the standard resolution of the fully coupled physical model designed to address DOE mission-relevant water cycle questions. Its components include atmosphere and land (110-km grid spacing), ocean and sea ice (60 km in the midlatitudes and 30 km at the equator and poles), and river transport (55 km) models. This base configuration will also serve as a foundation for additional configurations exploring higher horizontal resolution as well as augmented capabilities in the form of biogeochemistry and cryosphere configurations. The performance of E3SMv1 is evaluated by means of a standard set of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Characterization of Klima simulations consisting of a long preindustrial control, historical simulations (ensembles of fully coupled and prescribed SSTs) as well as idealized CO2 forcing simulations. The model performs well overall with biases typical of other CMIP-class models, although the simulated Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is weaker than many CMIP-class models. While the E3SMv1 historical ensemble captures the bulk of the observed warming between preindustrial (1850) and present day, the trajectory of the warming diverges from observations in the second half of the twentieth century with a period of delayed warming followed by an excessive warming trend. Using a two-layer energy balance model, we attribute this divergence to the model’s strong aerosol-related effective radiative forcing (ERFari+aci = -1.65 W/m2) and high equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS = 5.3 K).Plain Language SummaryThe U.S. Department of Energy funded the development of a new state-of-the-art Earth system model for research and applications relevant to its mission. The Energy Exascale Earth System Model version 1 (E3SMv1) consists of five interacting components for the global atmosphere, land surface, ocean, sea ice, and rivers. Three of these components (ocean, sea ice, and river) are new and have not been coupled into an Earth system model previously. The atmosphere and land surface components were created by extending existing components part of the Community Earth System Model, Version 1. E3SMv1’s capabilities are demonstrated by performing a set of standardized simulation experiments described by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Characterization of Klima protocol at standard horizontal spatial resolution of approximately 1° latitude and longitude. The model reproduces global and regional climate features well compared to observations. Simulated warming between 1850 and 2015 matches observations, but the model is too cold by about 0.5 °C between 1960 and 1990 and later warms at a rate greater than observed. A thermodynamic analysis of the model’s response to greenhouse gas and aerosol radiative affects may explain the reasons for the discrepancy.Key PointsThis work documents E3SMv1, the first version of the U.S. DOE Energy Exascale Earth System ModelThe performance of E3SMv1 is documented with a set of standard CMIP6 DECK and historical simulations comprising nearly 3,000 yearsE3SMv1 has a high equilibrium climate sensitivity (5.3 K) and strong aerosol-related effective radiative forcing (-1.65 W/m2)Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151288/1/jame20860_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151288/2/jame20860.pd

Enhanced catalytic and supercapacitor activities of DNA encapsulated b-MnO2 nanomaterials

A new approach is developed for the aqueous phase formation of flake-like and wire-like b-MnO2 nanomaterials on a DNA scaffold at room temperature (RT) within a shorter time scale. The b-MnO2 nanomaterials having a band gap energy B3.54 eV are synthesized by the reaction of Mn(II) salt with NaOH in the presence of DNA under continuous stirring. The eventual diameter of the MnO2 particles in the wire-like and flake-like morphology and their nominal length can be tuned by changing the DNA to Mn(II) salt molar ratio and by controlling other reaction parameters. The synthesized b-MnO2 nanomaterials exhibit pronounced catalytic activity in organic catalysis reaction for the spontaneous polymerization of aniline hydrochloride to emeraldine salt (polyaniline) at RT and act as a suitable electrode material in electrochemical supercapacitor applications. From the electrochemical experiment, it was observed that the b-MnO2 nanomaterials showed different specific capacitance (Cs) values for the flake-like and wire-like structures. The Cs value of 112 F g�1 at 5 mV s�1 was observed for the flake-like structure, which is higher compared to that of the wire-like structure. The flake-like MnO2 nanostructure exhibited an excellent long-term stability, retaining 81% of initial capacitance even after 4000 cycles, whereas for the wire-like MnO2 nanostructure, capacitance decreased and the retention value was only 70% over 4000 cycles. In the future, the present approach can be extended for the formation of other oxide-based materials using DNA as a promising scaffold for different applications such as homogeneous and heterogeneous organic catalysis reactions, Li-ion battery materials or for the fabrication of other high performance energy storage device

Assessment of the effect of probiotic curd consumption on salivary pH and streptococcus mutans counts

Background: Antimicrobial methods of controlling dental caries that include probiotic agents can play a valuable role in establishing caries control in children at moderate to high risk for developing dental caries. Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of use of various Probiotic products including curd. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of short‑term consumption of probiotic curd containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and normal curd on salivary Streptococcus Mutans counts, as well as salivary pH. Materials and Methods: Forty, caries‑free, 10‑12 years old children were selected and randomly allocated to two groups. Test Group consisted of 20 children who consumed 200ml of probiotic curd daily for 30 days. Control Group consisted of 20 children who were given 200ml of regular curd for 30 days. Salivary pH and salivary Streptococcus Mutans counts were recorded at baseline and after 30 days and statistically compared using the Student’s t‑test. Results: Consumption of probiotic curd resulted in a statistically significant reduction in S. Mutans colony counts (P0.05) in both the groups. Conclusion: Short‑term consumption of probiotic curds can reduce oral S. Mutans counts. However, this caused a slight reduction in salivary pH.Keywords: Dental caries, probiotic, curd, salivary pH, streptococcus mutansNigerian Medical Journal | Vol. 53 | Issue 3 | July-September | 201

The effect of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine mouth rinses on plaque <i> Streptococcus mutans</i> count in 6- to 12-year-old school children: An <i> in vivo</i> study

Objectives: Treating a carious tooth in children with high caries experience by providing a restoration does not cure the disease. If the unfavorable oral environment that caused the cavity persists so will the disease and more restorations will be required in future. Treating the oral infection by reducing the number of cariogenic microorganisms and establishing a favorable oral environment to promote predominantly remineralization of tooth structure over time will stop the caries process. The present study was conducted: (1) To evaluate the efficacy of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine mouth rinses on plaque Streptococcus mutans when used as an adjunct to restoration. (2) To compare the anti-microbial effect of 1&#x0025; povidone-iodine and 0.2&#x0025; chlorhexidine mouth rinses on plaque S. mutans count. Study Design: Forty-five study participants in the age group of 6-12 years with dmft (decay component) of three or four were selected from one government school in Bangalore city. They were divided into three groups after the restorative treatment. Group-A, Group-B, and Group-C received 1&#x0025; povidone-iodine mouth rinse, 0.2&#x0025; chlorhexidine mouth rinse and placebo mouth rinse, respectively, twice daily for 14 days. The plaque sample was collected and S. mutans count was estimated at six phases: (1) Baseline, (2) 3 weeks after restoration, (3) First day after mouth rinse therapy, (4) 15 days after mouth rinse therapy, (5) 1 month and (6) 3 months after mouth rinse therapy Results: After the restoration the percentage change in S. mutans count was 28.4&#x0025;. Immediately after mouth rinse therapy there was significant reduction in S. mutans count in all the three groups. After which the count started to increase gradually and after 3 months the bacterial counts in the povidone-iodine group and placebo group were almost near the postrestorative count. Conclusion: Mouth rinses can be used as adjunct to restoration for short duration as temporary measure in reduction of S. mutans count and restorations provide longer effect. In case a mouth rinse has to be used, chlorhexidine can be recommended as it has shown to have better effect than Povidone-iodine and placebo

Land surface modeling using optimally merged Precipitation data from multiple sources

Precipitation plays a primary role in driving the terrestrial branch of water and energy cycles and is arguably the most significant forcing to affect land surface conditions. However our observational knowledge of precipitation is limited. Ground and satellite based observations have limited spatial and temporal coverage, and numerical model simulations are limited by various physical and dynamic simplifications such as inadequate cloud and convection processes. Given the availability of multiple precipitation products with various shortcomings, an attractive prospect to improve land surface model skill is to merge these precipitation data to benefit from the strengths of each product with avoiding their limitations. We merge precipitation data based on improving terrestrial water and energy cycle simulation skill unlike most common methods where the merging skills are determined by comparing the results with gauge data or a selected reference data. The optimal merging method developed in this study minimizes the simulated soil moisture errors using the Noah land surface model with the Nelder-Mead (Downhill Simplex) method. Improving the simulation skills, this method also prevents from the adverse impact of limitation in precipitation data from a certain source. Further analysis has indicated that, the results from optimally merged precipitation product have less errors in other land surface states and fluxes such as evapotranspiration, discharge and skin temperature than simulation results from each precipitation product alone