Impact of Different Anode Materials on Performance of Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are one of the most explored organic electronic devices. OLEDs are flexible, light-weight, have deep blacks and better contrast ratio when compared to other display technologies, therefore, they are considered to be the “bleeding edge” in display technology, wherein every flagship display device OLEDs are being used in place of LCDs. This paper essentially portrays how the anode material affects the overall device performance in OLEDs. Recent historical surveys have depicted that altering the work-function of the anode will have a huge impact on various performance parameters of the device. In this paper, we take six experimental device architectures, all similar but with different anode materials. The goal here is to enhance device performance. Different anode materials like graphene, PEDOT: PSS, PEDOT: PSS/GO composite are mainly compared with traditionally used ITO based anodes. An overall increment in luminance power, current density, electron-hole concentration, and exciton density is seen. PEDOT: PSS/GO composite anode also shows an enhanced performance of about 45% over ITO based OLED devices. It can also be used in various optoelectronic devices, owing to its transparency and smooth working operation. Further analysis has been done to examine the plots and graphs to see the viability of other experimental devices too

EVALUATION OF OCULAR FILMS OF OFLOXACIN FOR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

Objective: The current study emphasizes on the treatment of ocular infection with objectives of reducing the frequency of administration, obtaining controlled release and greater therapeutic efficacy of the drug (ofloxacin) using ocular films.Methods: Ocular films were designed by solvent evaporation method containing a different combination of polymers. The folding endurance (mechanical strength) was determined by the number of folds at a specific single place required to break the film into two parts. Thickness was measured using screw gauze. The surface pH was done by pH paper. The percentage moisture absorption was carried out by placing the ocular films in a desiccator containing ammonium chloride. Percentage moisture loss was carried out by placing the ocular films in the desiccator containing anhydrous calcium chloride. in vitro drug release study were carried by using a modified version of franz diffusion cell. Stability study were carried using stability chambers as per ICH guidelines. The antibacterial activity was performed by using male albino rabbits.Results: The thickness and folding endurance of the films were in the range of 44±1.1 to 92±1.8 and 4.5±0.6 to 6.8±0.3, respectively for different formulations. Surface pH was evaluated in the range of 6.6 to 7.2. Percentage moisture absorption and percentage moisture loss were evaluated in the range of 1.17±1.1 to 6.72±1.5 and 0.58±0.9 to 1.23±0.9 respectively. Microbial growth was not observed in any formulation during sterility testing. The drug release for different batch codes PAH, PBE, PCP, PDC, PEEH, and PFEC was found to be 96.2, 56.9, 93.4, 94.5, 98.4 and 95.9 % respectively up to 12 h. Ocular films of batch code PEEH was optimized for maximum drug release (98.4%). The antibacterial effect was noted periodically (01 to 05 d) after administration of sterile formulation in the treated eyes vs. control eyes of each rabbit. The optimized batch PEEH of ocular films reduced the infection and redness completely within 3 d in a single dose.Conclusion: The optimized formulation would be able to offer benefits such as increased residence time, prolonged drug release, reduced frequency of administration and improved patient compliance with complete removal of inflammation and redness from the cul-de-sac

Supratentorial Duraplasty with an Absorbable Synthetic Material: An Exprimental study in a Rabbit Model

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE : To study the efficacy of an absorbable synthetic material as a dural substitute. The parameters studied: - Incidence of post-operative CSF leaks, wound infections, cerebro meningeal and graft bone adhesion, inflammatory changes in the brain and the graft, neodura formation and graft resorption. MATERIAL AND METHODS : Experiment was conducted on tweleve healthy rabbits, biparietal craniotomy was done in each rabbit and artificial dural was grafted on one side and the other side was used as control. The animals were sacrificed at one month and three months interval. Macroscopic and histopathological examinations were performed on the brain, graft site and the overlying bone. RESULTS : There was no post-operative CSF leaks, wound infections, and the microscopic examination of the graft dura and the brain showed no cerebro-graft adhesion, or graft bone adhesion but there was foreign body type granulomatous inflammation seen at the place of the graft in all the rabbits in both groups (one month and three months). There was mild acute inflammatory reaction in the brain in two rabbits (16.67%) on the side of the graft (no. 6 and no. 7). There was no graft seen either in the one month or the three month group rabbits and there was no neodura seen. CONCLUSION : The results are not promising for polycaprolactone to be used as an ideal dural graft in view of significant foriegn body type granulomatous reation at the site of dural graft. There was no neodura formation

Bioactive Peptides from Algae: Traditional and Novel Generation Strategies, Structure-Function Relationships, and Bioinformatics as Predictive Tools for Bioactivity

Over the last decade, algae have been explored as alternative and sustainable protein sources for a balanced diet and more recently, as a potential source of algal-derived bioactive peptides with potential health benefits. This review will focus on the emerging processes for the generation and isolation of bioactive peptides or cryptides from algae, including: (1) pre-treatments of algae for the extraction of protein by physical and biochemical methods; and (2) methods for the generation of bioactive including enzymatic hydrolysis and other emerging methods. To date, the main biological properties of the peptides identified from algae, including anti-hypertensive, antioxidant and antiproliferative/ cytotoxic effects (for this review, anti-proliferative/cytotoxic will be referred to by the term anti-cancer), assayed in vitro and/or in vivo, will also be summarized emphasizing the structure–function relationship and mechanism of action of these peptides. Moreover, the use of in silico methods, such as quantitative structural activity relationships (QSAR) and molecular docking for the identification of specific peptides of bioactive interest from hydrolysates will be described in detail together with the main challenges and opportunities to exploit algae as a source of bioactive peptides

A survival analysis of high-grade gliomas in sub-himalayan population including the times of lockdown during COVID 19 pandemic: A single institutional experience

Background and Objectives: High Grade Gliomas are categorised as Grade III and IV and have high mortality rate with poor prognosis. How we should adopt clinical practice in neuro-oncology during Covid 19 Pandemic is another area of scientific exploration . Hypofractionated radiotherapy protocols can be easily utilised in high grade gliomas during Covid 19 pandemic . Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 147 patients with diagnosis of high-grade gliomas between January 2009 till December 2020 including Covid-19 pandemic lockdown time was done. Age , gender , KPS , symptoms , extent of surgery and use of concurrent temozolamide , were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis .Overall Survival was determined using the Kaplan Meir method . Results: Glioblastoma multiforme being the most common brain tumor (82.3%) in all high-grade gliomas .Near total or total excision was done in 83.7% of cases The median dose of EBRT delivered was 60Gy .75.5% patients were treated with concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy . 29.2% patients were treated during Covid 19 pandemic lockdown time . The median overall survival was 15.9 months . The 1 year Overall survival was 67.8% , and 3 year OS was 6.4% . Out of 43 patients treated during covid pandemic time ,62.7% are alive and on follow up . Conclusion: The results of survival analysis demonstrated the benefit of adding radiation with concurrent and adjuvant temzolamide in high grade gliomas including covid 19 during lockdown time . Hypofractionated radiotherapy with concurrent temozolamide is safe during the Covid 19 pandemic

Advances in pre-treatment techniques and green extraction technologies for bioactives from seaweeds

peer-reviewedBackgroundA wide range of conventional and non-conventional technologies have been employed to extract a wide range of bioactive compounds from the complex matrices of seaweeds. Green extraction technologies are increasingly employed to improve extraction efficiencies. Scope and approachThe objective of this review was to outline various approaches employed for the extraction of bioactives from seaweeds. This review covers various pretreatment methods generally employed prior to extraction, and their combinations with conventional and green extraction technologies. Novel technologies which can be employed with or without pretreatments to improve existing processes are also discussed. Key findingsThe role of pretreatments is of utmost importance and have significant impacts on the quality and quantity of target compounds. Combinations of different cell disruption technologies and extraction methods can enhance the extractability of compounds with higher purity and contribute towards improved process efficiency

Recycling bread waste into chemical building blocks using a circular biorefining approach

Food waste is a global problem, causing significant environmental harm and resulting in substantial economic losses globally. Bread is the commonly wasted food item in the developed world and presents a severe problem for the majority of European nations. It is the second most wasted food item in the UK after potatoes, with an equivalent of 20 million slices of bread thrown away daily. Bread is a starchy material and a rich and clean source of easily extractable fermentable sugars-this is in direct contrast to lignocellulosic feedstocks where harsh physical, chemical and/or enzymatic pretreatment processes are required for release of fermentable sugars. Furthermore, these necessary lignocellulosic pretreatment methods often produce sugars contaminated with fermentation inhibitors. Therefore, bread waste presents a clear opportunity as a potential carbon source for novel commercial processes and, to this end, several alternative routes have been developed to utilize bread waste. Possibilities for direct recycling of bread waste within the food industry are limited due to the relatively short material lifetime, stringent process and hygiene requirements. Anaerobic digestion (AD) and incineration are commonly employed methods for the valorisation of bread waste, generating limited amounts of green energy but with little other environmental or economic benefits. Most food wastes and by-products in the UK including bakery waste are treated through AD processes that fail to harness the full potential of the these wastes. This short communication reviews the challenges of handling bread waste, with a focus on a specific UK scenario. The review will consider how bread waste is generated across the supply chain, current practices to deal with the waste and logistics challenges in waste collection. The presence of clean and high-quality fermentable sugars, proteins and other nutrients in bread make it an ideal substrate for generating chemicals, fuels, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals and other renewable products through microbial fermentations. We suggest potential applications for recycling bread waste into its chemical building blocks through a fermentative route where a circular biorefining approach could maximize resource recovery and environmental savings and eliminate waste to as close to zero as possible. This journal i

Sphincter saving anorectoplasty (SSARP) for the reconstruction of Anorectal malformations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This report describes a new technique of sphincter saving anorectoplasty (SSARP) for the repair of anorectal malformations (ARM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty six males with high ARM were treated with SSARP. Preoperative localization of the center of the muscle complex is facilitated using real time sonography and computed tomography. A soft guide wire is inserted under image control which serves as the route for final pull through of bowel. The operative technique consists of a subcoccygeal approach to dissect the blind rectal pouch. The separation of the rectum from the fistulous communication followed by pull through of the bowel is performed through the same incision. The skin or the levators in the midline posteriorly are not divided. Postoperative anorectal function as assessed by clinical Wingspread scoring was judged as excellent, good, fair and poor. Older patients were examined for sensations of touch, pain, heat and cold in the circumanal skin and the perineum. Electromyography (EMG) was done to assess preoperative and postoperative integrity of external anal sphincter (EAS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The patients were separated in 2 groups. The first group, Group I (n = 10), were newborns in whom SSARP was performed as a primary procedure. The second group, Group II (n = 16), were children who underwent an initial colostomy followed by delayed SSARP. There were no operative complications. The follow up ranged from 4 months to 18 months. Group I patients have symmetric anal contraction to stimulation and strong squeeze on digital rectal examination with an average number of bowel movements per day was 3–5. In group II the rate of excellent and good scores was 81% (13/16). All patients have an appropriate size anus and regular bowel actions. There has been no rectal prolapse, or anal stricture. EAS activity and perineal proprioception were preserved postoperatively. Follow up computed tomogram showed central placement the pull through bowel in between the muscle complex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The technique of SSARP allows safe and anatomical reconstruction in a significant proportion of patients with ARM's without the need to divide the levator plate and muscle complex. It preserves all the components contributing to superior faecal continence, and avoids the potential complications associated with the open posterior sagittal approach.</p

Natural Terpenes Prevent Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Release of Apoptotic Proteins during Nimesulide-Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Nimesulide, an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug, is reported to cause severe hepatotoxicity. In this study, molecular mechanisms involved in deranged oxidant-antioxidant homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction during nimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity and its attenuation by plant derived terpenes, camphene and geraniol has been explored in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hepatotoxicity due to nimesulide (80 mg/kg BW) was evident from elevated SGPT, SGOT, bilirubin and histo-pathological changes. Antioxidants and key redox enzymes (iNOS, mtNOS, Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, GPx and GR) were altered significantly as assessed by their mRNA expression, Immunoblot analysis and enzyme activities. Redox imbalance along with oxidative stress was evident from decreased NAD(P)H and GSH (56% and 74% respectively; P<0.001), increased superoxide and secondary ROS/RNS generation along with oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules. Nimesulide reduced mitochondrial activity, depolarized mitochondria and caused membrane permeability transition (MPT) followed by release of apoptotic proteins (AIF; apoptosis inducing factor, EndoG; endonuclease G, and Cyto c; cytochrome c). It also significantly activated caspase-9 and caspase-3 and increased oxidative DNA damage (level of 8-Oxoguanine glycosylase; P<0.05). A combination of camphene and geraniol (CG; 1∶1), when pre-administered in rats (10 mg/kg BW), accorded protection against nimesulide hepatotoxicity in vivo, as evident from normalized serum biomarkers and histopathology. mRNA expression and activity of key antioxidant and redox enzymes along with oxidative stress were also normalized due to CG pre-treatment. Downstream effects like decreased mitochondrial swelling, inhibition in release of apoptotic proteins, prevention of mitochondrial depolarization along with reduction in oxidized NAD(P)H and increased mitochondrial electron flow further supported protective action of selected terpenes against nimesulide toxicity. Therefore CG, a combination of natural terpenes prevented nimesulide induced cellular damage and ensuing hepatotoxicity