Negative dielectric anisotropic nematic multicomponent mixtures are particularly attractive in vertically aligned mode liquid crystal displays for achieving faster response time. In this work, we ...report the mesomorphic and physical properties (e.g. birefringence, dielectric anisotropy, bend elastic constant, relaxation time and rotational viscosity) of three nematic multicomponent mixtures based solely on laterally fluorinated aromatic rigid core structures. A nine component Base mixture was prepared and further modified into two different ten component mixtures using suitable laterlally fluorinated tolane dopants. These mixtures exhibit reasonably large values of dielectric anisotropy, low values of rotational viscosity as well as a high figure of merit which is desirable for reducing the device response time. The mixtures emerged to be promising candidate for their applicability in vertically aligned mode display devices.
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Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) with magnetic (M) and antibacterial properties were prepared for drug delivery purposes by a method involving co-precipitation synthesis. Partial ...and complete substitutions of ferrous ions (Fe2+) by copper ions (Cu2+) were carried out for the preparation of the magnetite NPs, which are designated as Cu0.5M and CuM, respectively, in this work. In addition, chitosan and ciprofloxacin were hybridized with the NPs from the previous step to achieve multifunctional properties. XRD, TEM, SEM/EDAX, VSM and FTIR were subsequently employed to characterize various properties of the prepared NPs, namely, crystallinity, nanostructure (size), particle morphology, elemental mapping, magnetic strength and chemical composition. Antibacterial properties of the NPs were tested against Bacillus cereus (Gram-positive bacteria), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria) and Candida albicans (yeast). Efficiency of the ciprofloxacin release was also studied for the drug-loaded NPs. It is demonstrated that the obtained NPs possess mixed phases with crystalline structures that are affected by the degree of Cu ion substitution (5–10 nm (M), 2.5–3.5 nm (Cu0.5M) and 11–16 nm (CuM)). Saturation magnetization values of the NPs were recorded as 38.7, 3.5 and 1.3 emu/g, respectively. It was also found that the introduction of Cu ions in the NP samples improved the significance of their antibacterial activity, especially against Escherichia coli. Chitosan and ciprofloxacin were found to have stronger effects against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli and lesser effects against Candida albicans. However, the samples containing chitosan, ciprofloxacin and the higher Cu ion concentration exhibited strong influence against Candida albicans. During a study period of 30-days, the amounts of released drug from the tested NPs were 85, 26 and 20% of the originally loaded amount, respectively. Owing to the findings in this paper, the developed NPs are considered to have good potential for drug delivery applications and to study them further such as in pre-clinical studies.
The separation of iron oxide from banded hematite jasper (BHJ) assaying 47.8% Fe, 25.6% SiO
2
and 2.30%Al
2
O
3
using selective magnetic coating was studied. Characterization studies of the low grade ...ore indicate that besides hematite and goethite, jasper, a microcrystalline form of quartzite, is the major impurity associated with this ore. Beneficiation by conventional magnetic separation technique could yield a magnetic concentrate containing 60.8% Fe with 51% Fe recovery. In order to enhance the recovery of the iron oxide minerals, fine magnetite, colloidal magnetite and oleate colloidal magnetite were used as the coating material. When subjected to magnetic separation, the coated ore produces an iron concentrate containing 60.2% Fe with an enhanced recovery of 56%. The AFM studies indicate that the coagulation of hematite particles with the oleate colloidal magnetite facilitates the higher recovery of iron particles from the low grade BHJ iron ore under appropriate conditions.
Relationships between microstructure, fracture mechanism and mechanical response of rocks under stressing have been intensively investigated in the last couple of decades. However, only limited work ...has been carried out that sheds light on the role of microstructure on particle breakage and crushing response of rocks. The paper analyzes these relationships for rock samples from four quarries that produce crushed aggregate in Brazil. The breakage and crushing characteristics are analyzed in light of the rock internal structure and fabric. It is found that the appearance of non-normalizable single-particle breakage functions and the effect of particle size on strength may be explained on the basis of a number of microstructures identified.
The present work was carried out to study the ability of avian “Extract Egg” (EE) for reprogramming caprine fetal cells. The isolated caprine fetal cells were cultured in stem cell media supplemented ...with different percentages of either EE or FBS. The results indicated that the supplementation of 2–4% EE formed lesser but larger size stem cell like cell colonies as compared to 6% or 10% EE. The expression of pluripotent genes were comparatively higher in colonies developed in 2% or 4% as compared to 6% or 10% EE. Further, immunocytochemistry revealed that the colonies developed in all percentage of EE expressed pluripotent markers like Oct4, Nanog, TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81. Our findings indicated that avian EE has the potentiality to reprogram caprine fetal cells into embryonic state which may help in generation of pluripotent stem cells without using viral vector.
The present study explores the potentiality of sugarcane charcoal for fluoride removal from synthetic fluoride solution. Column adsorption experiments with respect to variation of flow rate, pH, ...initial concentration, and column depths were carried out. Sugarcane charcoal exhibited almost consistent scavenging capacity at various bed depths with a flow rate 4.34 ml min(-1). Maximum adsorption capacity of sugarcane charcoal was recorded 7.33 mg g(-1). The adsorption studies were simulated using Thomas and Bed depth service time model. Both the models consistently predict its characteristic parameters and describe the breakthrough profiles in the whole range of sorption process.
Cohesion (c) and friction (φ) angle are the two key parameters required in numerical simulations and designs of underground openings, excavations, and foundations in rocks. The paper discusses a ...simple method, based on a theoretical framework, to determine the two parameters from uniaxial compression test and indirect tensile strength test. Laboratory tests were carried out on 35 rock specimens and the values of c and φ were computed. The predicted values of c appear to be more realistic than those of φ, and the scatter is attributed to the anisotropy and heterogeneity generally observed in the rock cores. The computed value of c is 1·82 times the indirect tensile strength (σ
t
).
Abstract Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate whether pretransplant serum hyaluronic acid (HA) levels can predict outcomes after adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). ...Methods In study I, 21 patients who underwent LDLT (March 2002-February 2004) were divided into 2 groups: the H-I group (HA ≥500 ng/mL; n = 12) and the L-I group (HA <500 ng/mL; n = 9). The influence of pretransplantation HA levels on short-term surgical outcome was investigated. In study II, 77 LDLT patients (May 2004-December 2014) were also divided into 2 groups: the H-II group (HA ≥500 ng/mL; n = 40) and the L-II group (HA <500 ng/mL; n = 37). We compared long-term survival and investigated prognostic factors. Results In study I, HA levels significantly decreased after LDLT, and those in the H-I group were significantly higher compared with the L-I group at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after LDLT. There were significant differences in postoperative peak total bilirubin levels (H-I vs L-I, 17.2 vs 6.2 mg/dL; P = .013), peak ascitic fluid volume (1327 vs 697 mL/d; P = .005), and the hepatocyte growth factor levels at 3 days after LDLT (1879 vs 1092 pg/mL; P = .03). In study II, the 1- and 5-year survival rates were significantly lower in the H-II group than in the L-II group (H-II vs L-II, 65.0% and 48.5% vs 86.5% and 80.8%; P = .004). In multivariate analysis, significant prognostic factors were preoperative HA ≥500 ng/mL ( P = .004) and graft to recipient body weight ratio <0.8 ( P = .042). Conclusions Preoperative HA level can be a prognostic risk factor. Patients with high HA levels are vulnerable and should be carefully managed after LDLT.
The objective was to provide population-based data on depression, anxiety, and stress in parents of young children with epilepsy and to compare findings with those of parents of developmental-, age-, ...and gender-matched children with nonepilepsy-related neurodisability (neurological and/or neurodevelopmental concerns). The parents (mothers and fathers) of 47 (89% ascertainment) young children (1–7years) with epilepsy in a defined geographical area of the UK completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – Short Form (DASS-21), a screening measure for depression, anxiety, and stress. The responses of parents of children with epilepsy were compared with parents of developmental-, age-, and gender-matched children with nonepilepsy-related neurodisability (n=48). Factors associated with parental symptoms were analyzed using regression. In the group with epilepsy, 47 mothers and 39 fathers completed the DASS-21. Seventy-two percent of mothers scored in the at-risk range on at least one DASS-21 subscale (Fathers 49%). Mothers of children with epilepsy were significantly more likely to score in the at risk range than fathers on depression (55% vs. 33%), anxiety (47% vs. 26%), and stress (55% vs. 31%) subscales (all p<0.05). Mothers of children with epilepsy were also significantly more likely to score in the at-risk range than mothers of children with neurodisability on measures of depression (p=0.005) and stress (p=0.03). There was not a significant difference between fathers in both groups on any measures. In the group with epilepsy, increased child emotional–behavioral difficulties were associated with increased DASS-21 scores on multivariable analysis (p=0.04). Mothers of young children with epilepsy are at high risk for mental health difficulties, and all should be screened for such difficulties. There is a need to explore what parent and/or child focused interventions might be useful to reduce the mental health difficulties reported by mothers of young children with epilepsy.
•There is limited population-based data on parental mental health in epilepsy.•Mothers were significantly more likely to score in the at-risk range than fathers.•Mothers in group with epilepsy were more depressed than mothers in comparison group.•Parental mental health difficulties were related to child behavioral difficulties.•Interventions are needed to improve parental mental health in childhood epilepsy.
Water-driven fracture propagation beneath supraglacial lakes rapidly transports large volumes of surface meltwater to the base of the Greenland Ice Sheet. These drainage events drive transient ...ice-sheet acceleration and establish conduits for additional surface-to-bed meltwater transport for the remainder of the melt season. Although it is well established that cracks must remain water-filled to propagate to the bed, the precise mechanisms that initiate hydro-fracture events beneath lakes are unknown. Here we show that, for a lake on the western Greenland Ice Sheet, drainage events are preceded by a 6-12 hour period of ice-sheet uplift and/or enhanced basal slip. Our observations from a dense Global Positioning System (GPS) network allow us to determine the distribution of meltwater at the ice-sheet bed before, during, and after three rapid drainages in 2011-2013, each of which generates tensile stresses that promote hydro-fracture beneath the lake. We hypothesize that these precursors are associated with the introduction of meltwater to the bed through neighbouring moulin systems (vertical conduits connecting the surface and base of the ice sheet). Our results imply that as lakes form in less crevassed, interior regions of the ice sheet, where water at the bed is currently less pervasive, the creation of new surface-to-bed conduits caused by lake-draining hydro-fractures may be limited.
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