Priprava i karakterizacija gliklazid-polietilen glikol 4000 čvrstih disperzija

The objective of the present investigation was to study the effect of polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) on in vitro dissolution of gliclazide from solid dispersions. Initial studies were carried out using physical mixtures of the drug and carrier. Solid dispersions were prepared by the melting or fusion method. Phase and saturation solubility study, in vitro dissolution of pure drug, physical mixtures and solid dispersions were carried out. PEG was found to be effective in increasing the dissolution of gliclazide in solid dispersions when compared to pure drug. FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry studies were carried out in order to characterize the drug in the physical mixtures and solid dispersions. Dissolution enhancement was attributed to decreased crystallinity of the drug and the wetting and solubilizing effect of the carrier from the solid dispersions of gliclazide. In conclusion, dissolution of gliclazide can be enhanced by the use of hydrophilic carrier.U radu je opisan učinak polietilen glikola 4000 (PEG 4000) na in vitro oslobađanje gliklazida iz čvrstih disperzija koje su pripravljene metodom taljenja ili fuzije. Čvrstim disperzijama i fizičkoj smjesi ljekovite tvari i nosača proučavana je topljivost faza i zasićenje te in vitro oslobađanje ljekovite tvari. Rezultati ukazuju da PEG povećava oslobađanje gliklazida u čvrstim disperzijama. Za karakterizaciju fizičkih smjesa i čvrstih disperzija upotrebljena je FT-IR spektroskopija, diferencijalna pretražna kalorimetrija i difraktometrija rendgenskog zračenja. Zaključeno je da je povećanje oslobađanja posljedica vlaženja, smanjene kristaliničnosti i solubilizirajućeg učinka nosača te da se oslobađanje gliklazida može povećati pomoću hidrofilnog nosača

Search and analysis of giant radio galaxies with associated nuclei (SAGAN) -- I : New sample and multi-wavelength studies

We present the first results of a project called SAGAN, which is dedicated solely to the studies of relatively rare megaparsec-scale radio galaxies in the Universe, called giant radio galaxies (GRGs). We have identified 162 new GRGs primarily from the NVSS with sizes ranging from ~0.71 Mpc to 2.82 Mpc in the redshift range of ~0.03 - 0.95, of which 23 are hosted by quasars (giant radio quasars, GRQs). As part of the project SAGAN, we have created a database of all known GRGs, the GRG catalogue, from the literature (including our new sample); it includes 820 sources. For the first time, we present the multi-wavelength properties of the largest sample of GRGs. Our results establish that the distributions of the radio spectral index and the black hole mass of GRGs do not differ from the corresponding distributions of normal-sized radio galaxies (RGs). However, GRGs have a lower Eddington ratio (ER) than RGs. Using the mid-infrared data, we classified GRGs in terms of their accretion mode: either a high-power radiatively efficient high-excitation state, or a radiatively inefficient low-excitation state. We find that GRGs in high-excitation state statistically have larger sizes, stronger radio power, jet kinetic power, and higher ER than those in low-excitation state. Our analysis reveals a strong correlation between the ER and the scaled jet kinetic power, which suggests a disc-jet coupling. Our environmental study reveals that ~10% of all GRGs may reside at the centres of galaxy clusters, in a denser galactic environment, while the majority appears to reside in a sparse environment. We find that the probability of BCG as a GRG is quite low. We present new results for GRGs that range from black hole mass to large-scale environment properties. We discuss their formation and growth scenarios, highlighting the key physical factors that cause them to reach their gigantic size. Abridged.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. 14 figures, 7 tables and 7 montages. Comments are welcome. "SAGAN Project website https://sites.google.com/site/anantasakyatta/sagan

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Keratin degrading microorganisms from Poultry soil and their Feather degradation Potential

Keratinolytic microorganisms have a great importance in poultry waste degradation and its bioconversion to compost or animal feed. The aim of this study was to isolate keratin degrading bacteria and fungi from poultry farm soil, and to study their ability to degrade chicken feathers. The poultry farm soil samples were added in basal medium with feathers as a source of carbon and nitrogen. Five bacterial cultures were isolated. Bacteria were grown in basal media with feathers meal and showed feather degrading capacity. Bacterial strains were identified as Aeromicrobium spp., Exiguobacter spp., Marinococcus spp. and Bacillus spp. 1 Bacillus spp 2.These bacteria showed keratinolytic enzyme activity in the cell free culture supernatants. The highest biodegradation of feathers was obtained using Aeromicrobium (KD1-72.55%), among the isolated cultures. Two fungal cultures (F1 and F2) were also isolated by Hair Bait Technique, out of which F1 showed good keratinolytic activity. The good ability of selected microorganisms to degrade feathers can be utilized for their potential biotechnological application in processing of feather waste from poultry industry

Diagnostic yield of video capsule endoscopy in obscure occult gastrointestinal bleed

Background: Gastrointestinal blood loss is the leading cause of iron deficiency anemia in developing world. Many patients had normal findings on initial upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. When such patients present with stool occult blood positivity, it’s an indication to evaluate small bowel by video capsule endoscopy for detecting possible source of bleeding. Aim was to know the diagnostic yield of video capsule endoscopy in anaemic patients with occult gastrointestinal bleed.Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated all the data of video capsule endoscopy which were done in patients with obscure occult gastrointestinal bleed.Results: Total sample size was 21 patients. M:F ratio was 1.6:1 Average age of patients was 51.52±6.3 years. Youngest patient was of 16 years and Oldest patient was of 78 years. Video capsule endoscopy was normal in 8/21(38.09%), and had positive findings in 13/21(61.90%). Most common finding was aphthous ulcer in jejunum and ileum in 19.04%. Followed by Telangiectasia in 14.28%, NSAID enteropathy in 4.76%, Jejunal diverticulosis in 9.52%, celiac disease, xanthelasma, enteroliths in ileum, ileal nodularity in 4.76% each. Complication occurred in one patient (4.76%) in the form of retention of the capsule, which was retrieved by double balloon Enteroscopy.Conclusions: Video capsule endoscopy has a good diagnostic yield of around 61.90% in patients with obscure occult gastrointestinal bleed. It is best performed during ongoing bleed or immediately thereafter. Careful patient selection and repeating the upper and lower GI Scopy before video capsule endoscopy can be a reliable option before video capsule endoscopy to prevent complication

Inhibition Planktonic and Bio film Growth of Candida Albicans by Plant Extract Alone and in combination with Fluconazole

This study was to evaluate the efficacy of Methanolic extract of G. superba L in combination with Fluconazole against biofilm development and mature biofilms of C. albicans. Synergism between MEGS and Fluconazole combination against biofilm formation was evident with FICI of 0.187. Combination of MEGS and Fluconazole did not have synergistic potential against mature biofilm growth, evidenced in FICI of 0.916. MIC of standard Fluconazole was found to be 0.5 and >0.5 in biofilm development and mature biofilm respectively

Evolution of interdisciplinarity in biodiversity science

The study of biodiversity has grown exponentially in the last thirty years in response to demands for greater understanding of the function and importance of Earth's biodiversity and finding solutions to conserve it. Here, we test the hypothesis that biodiversity science has become more interdisciplinary over time. To do so, we analyze 97,945 peer‐reviewed articles over a twenty‐two‐year time period (1990–2012) with a continuous time dynamic model, which classifies articles into concepts (i.e., topics and ideas) based on word co‐occurrences. Using the model output, we then quantify different aspects of interdisciplinarity: concept diversity, that is, the diversity of topics and ideas across subdisciplines in biodiversity science, subdiscipline diversity, that is, the diversity of subdisciplines across concepts, and network structure, which captures interactions between concepts and subdisciplines. We found that, on average, concept and subdiscipline diversity in biodiversity science were either stable or declining, patterns which were driven by the persistence of rare concepts and subdisciplines and a decline in the diversity of common concepts and subdisciplines, respectively. Moreover, our results provide evidence that conceptual homogenization, that is, decreases in temporal β concept diversity, underlies the observed trends in interdisciplinarity. Together, our results reveal that biodiversity science is undergoing a dynamic phase as a scientific discipline that is consolidating around a core set of concepts. Our results suggest that progress toward addressing the biodiversity crisis via greater interdisciplinarity during the study period may have been slowed by extrinsic factors, such as the failure to invest in research spanning across concepts and disciplines. However, recent initiatives such as the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) may attract broader support for biodiversity‐related issues and hence interdisciplinary approaches to address scientific, political, and societal challenges in the coming years

Acute stress impairs sensorimotor gating via the neurosteroid allopregnanolone in the prefrontal cortex

Ample evidence indicates that environmental stress impairs information processing, yet the underlying mechanisms remain partially elusive. We showed that, in several rodent models of psychopathology, the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (AP) reduces the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle, a well-validated index of sensorimotor gating. Since this GABAA receptor activator is synthesized in response to acute stress, we hypothesized its participation in stress-induced PPI deficits. Systemic AP administration reduced PPI in C57BL/6J mice and Long-Evans, but not Sprague-Dawley rats. These effects were reversed by isoallopregnanolone (isoAP), an endogenous AP antagonist, and the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline and mimicked by AP infusions in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Building on these findings, we tested AP's implication in the PPI deficits produced by several complementary regimens of acute and short-term stress (footshock, restraint, predator exposure, and sleep deprivation). PPI was reduced by acute footshock, sleep deprivation as well as the combination of restraint and predator exposure in a time- and intensity-dependent fashion. Acute stress increased AP concentrations in the mPFC, and its detrimental effects on PPI were countered by systemic and intra-mPFC administration of isoAP. These results collectively indicate that acute stress impairs PPI by increasing AP content in the mPFC. The confirmation of these mechanisms across distinct animal models and several acute stressors strongly supports the translational value of these findings and warrants future research on the role of AP in information processing

Monitoring and flaw detection during wire-based directed energy deposition using in-situ acoustic sensing and wavelet graph signal analysis

UID/00667/2020 (UNIDEMI). J. P. Oliveira acknowledges funding by national funds from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the projects LA/P/0037/2020 Prahalada Rao acknowledges funding from the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, under Grant number DE-SC0021136, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) [Grant numbers CMMI-1719388, CMMI-1920245, CMMI-1739696, CMMI-1752069, PFI-TT 2044710, ECCS 2020246] for funding his research program. This work espousing the concept of online process monitoring in WAAM was funded through the foregoing DOE Grant (Program Officer: Timothy Fitzsimmons), which partially supported the doctoral graduate work of Mr. Benjamin Bevans at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Benjamin, Aniruddha, and Ziyad Smoqi were further supported by the NSF grants CMMI 1752069 (CAREER) and ECCS 2020246. Detecting flaw formation in metal AM using in-situ sensing and graph theory-based algorithms was a major component of CMMI 1752069 (program office: Kevin Chou). Developing machine learning alogirthms for advanced manufacturing applications was the goal of ECCS 2020246 (Program officer: Donald Wunsch). The XCT work was performed at the Nebraska Nanoscale Facility: National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure under award no. ECCS: 2025298, and with support from the Nebraska Research Initiative through the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience and the Nanoengineering Research Core Facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The acquisition of the XCT scanner at University of Nebraska was funded through CMMI 1920245 (Program officer: Wendy Crone). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsThe goal of this work is to detect flaw formation in the wire-based directed energy deposition (W-DED) process using in-situ sensor data. The W-DED studied in this work is analogous to metal inert gas electric arc welding. The adoption of W-DED in industry is limited because the process is susceptible to stochastic and environmental disturbances that cause instabilities in the electric arc, eventually leading to flaw formation, such as porosity and suboptimal geometric integrity. Moreover, due to the large size of W-DED parts, it is difficult to detect flaws post-process using non-destructive techniques, such as X-ray computed tomography. Accordingly, the objective of this work is to detect flaw formation in W-DED parts using data acquired from an acoustic (sound) sensor installed near the electric arc. To realize this objective, we develop and apply a novel wavelet integrated graph theory approach. The approach extracts a single feature called graph Laplacian Fiedler number from the noise-contaminated acoustic sensor data, which is subsequently tracked in a statistical control chart. Using this approach, the onset of various types of flaws are detected with a false alarm rate less-than 2%. This work demonstrates the potential of using advanced data analytics for in-situ monitoring of W-DED.publishersversionpublishe