Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized by greener method using chloroauric acid as precursor and extract of Acorus calamus rhizome as reducing agent. Formation of AuNP was confirmed by the ...presence of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) peak in UV–Visible spectral analysis. XRD and FT-IR spectral analyses were performed for characterization. SEM images show spherical morphology and HR-TEM images reveal nanosize of AuNPs. The AuNPs were then coated on cotton fabric by pad-dry-cure method and characterized by SEM with EDAX technique. The results reveal the deposition of AuNPs on the surface of cotton fabric. Uncoated cotton, neat extract coated cotton and extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabrics were then tested for antibacterial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial strains by AATCC 100 test method. It showed that the extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabric had higher antibacterial activity than other test samples against E. coli. UV-DRS analysis performed on extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabric showed improved UV-blocking property than uncoated cotton fabric and neat extract coated cotton fabric.
Abstract The present work demonstrates the impact of thermal annealing on the structural, linear, and non-linear optical characteristics of thermally evaporated Bi x In 35-x Se 65 (x = 0, 5, 10, ...15 at%) thin films. The prominent crystalline phases have been developed for all annealed films at 450 °C whereas the films remain amorphous at 350 °C annealing. The XRD and Raman analysis showed the phase transformation of Bi-doped films and new Bi 2 Se 3 phases developed upon annealing at 450 °C. The phase transformation induced change increased the linear and nonlinear properties with great extent as seen from the UV–visible optical studies. The direct and indirect optical bandgaps decreased with annealing temperature and also with Bi % content due to the formation of surface dangling bonds near the crystallite sites. The static linear refractive index and high-frequency dielectric constants were increased with annealing. The third-order non-linear susceptibility and non-linear refractive index were found to be greatly influenced by annealing temperature and increased with bismuth content. The FESEM micrographs also showed the phase transformation and EDX analysis showed the composition. The results obtained from the materials showed the potentiality to be useful for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications.
A novel, quick and precise RP‐UHPLC analytical method for the simultaneous determination of moxifloxacin (MFX), voriconazole (VCZ) and pirfenidone (PIR) was developed and validated according to the ...International Conference on Harmonization guidelines using a QbD‐driven response surface Box–Behnken design. The developed method was validated considering the selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy‐precision, robustness, stability, limit of detection and limit of quantification, respectively. Resolution between MFX, VCZ and PIR was achieved using a gradient elution protocol against a Waters Symmetry Shield C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm2, 5 μm) using an Agilent 1290, Infinity II series LC system. The method was applied to quantitatively estimate proprietary and in‐house prepared pharmaceutical topical ophthalmic formulations containing MFX, VCZ and PIR at wavelength (λmax) of 296, 260 and 316 nm. The method is sensitive enough to detect up to 0.1 ppm of analytes in the formulation. The method was further exploited to study and identify the possible degradation products of the analytes. The proposed chromatographic method is simple, economical, reliable and reproducible. In conclusion, the developed method could be applicable for routine quality control analysis of single or combined MFX, VCZ and PIR‐containing units or bulk dosage forms in pharmaceutical industries and research organizations working on drug discovery and development.
The post-natal dental pulp tissue contains a population of multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells known as dental pulp stromal/stem cells (DPSCs), with high proliferative potential for ...self-renewal. In this investigation, we explored the potential of DPSCs to differentiate into pancreatic cell lineage resembling islet-like cell aggregates (ICAs). We isolated, propagated, and characterized DPSCs and demonstrated that these could be differentiated into adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic lineage upon exposure to an appropriate cocktail of differentiating agents. Using a three-step protocol reported previously by our group, we succeeded in obtaining ICAs from DPSCs. The identity of ICAs was confirmed as islets by dithiozone-positive staining, as well as by expression of C-peptide, Pdx-1, Pax4, Pax6, Ngn3, and Isl-1. There were several-fold up-regulations of these transcription factors proportional to days of differentiation as compared with undifferentiated DPSCs. Day 10 ICAs released insulin and C-peptide in a glucose-dependent manner, exhibiting in vitro functionality. Our results demonstrated for the first time that DPSCs could be differentiated into pancreatic cell lineage and offer an unconventional and non-controversial source of human tissue that could be used for autologous stem cell therapy in diabetes.
Nanocomposites containing impermeable two-dimensional materials are attracting considerable attention for their ability to shield metals from corrosion. Incorporating m-aminophenyltrimethoxysilane ...functionalized niobium nitride (NbN) into a coating matrix can bolster the barrier effect owing to its remarkable chemical and thermal stability. When integrated into graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) within polyurethane (PU), functionalized NbN enhances corrosion protection and imparts fire-retardant properties. Utilizing electrochemical techniques in chloride-rich environments, the protective efficacy of aluminum coated with polyurethane containing varying proportions of functionalized NbN/GCN was investigated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements demonstrated improved coating resistance (
R
coat
: 5.65 × 10
11
Ω cm
2
) for PU/functionalized NbN/GCN, even after 600 h of electrolyte exposure. Furthermore, the resulting PU composite exhibited superior flame-retardant capabilities, manifesting significant reductions in peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke production compared to pure PU. Featuring a water contact angle of 165°, the newly developed PU/functionalized NbN/GCN coating showcased exceptional water repellency. In terms of mechanical properties such as adhesion strength and hardness, PU/functionalized NbN/GCN demonstrated favorable characteristics within the PU substrate, maintaining structural integrity even after prolonged immersion. Consequently, the PU/functionalized NbN/GCN nanocomposite presents itself as a promising coating component for aerospace applications.
Abstract
Many healthcare centres generally have a centralized unit-dose drug distribution system (CUDD). The in-patient’s drugs are warehoused in a centralized location such as hospital pharmacy. The ...required or prescribed drugs available in the pharmacy will be distributed to the patient by either the nurse or attendant. The attendant often collects the medicine from the pharmacy. This process is quite time-consuming and in this COVID‘19 pandemic should maintain social distancing by the attendant in the pharmacy. In a field where time is of great importance and can save lives and also, a human intervention which in turn need to maintain social distancing, we can use MeDrones that will dispense medicines to the designated patient(s) location which will avoid human intervention and social distancing to defeat COVID-19 pandemic which is the need of the hour. The drone will be designed to deliver payload (tablets/saline) within/across the hospital premises. Apart from delivering medicines to the respective patients, the drone will be equipped to decide the optimal path to reach patients and prioritize attending to critical patients based on the hospital’s central database. The drones can be customized to return the unused medicines from the patient’s location to the pharmacy. Lightweight secured drugs container kit with authentication enabled will be designed for carrying the medicines to distribute to the respective destination inside the healthcare centre. The drone regulations result from increasing demand in UAV that must be devised to permit adaptation extensively as a logistics solution, to escalate efficacy in the healthcare domain.
The manuscript reports on the influence of 40 keV Ag –ve ion bombardment with different fluences on the microstructural and optical properties of thermally evaporated Bi/GeSe
2
bilayer thin films. ...Two different fluences (5 × 10
14
ions cm
−2
and 1 × 10
15
ions cm
−2
) of Ag –ve ions were used to irradiate the thin films that changed the microstructure and optical properties as studied by different spectroscopic methods like X-ray diffraction method (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The evolution of topological Bi
2
Se
3
phase occurs after ion irradiated diffusion of Bi into GeSe
2
matrix. The optical parameters as calculated from the transmission spectra infers the indirect allowed transition with reduction of
E
g
on ion irradiation. The various optical parameters like absorption coefficient (
α
), optical energy gap (
E
g
), Tauc parameter (
B
1/2
), Urbach energy (
E
e
), extinction coefficient (
k
), refractive index (
n
) were modified with ion irradiation. The surface morphology is being changed after irradiation as probed by AFM and FESEM. The Raman spectra support the formation of Bi
2
Se
3
phase with irradiation. The obtained results have been explained on the basis of increase in band tailing of valence band due to defect states caused by the irradiation.
The wireless body area network (WBAN) can effectively modify the health and lifestyle monitoring specifically where multiple body parameters are measured using biomedical sensor devices. However, ...power consumption and reliability are crucial issues in WBAN. Cooperative Communication usually prolongs the network lifetime of WBAN and allows reliable delivery of bio-medical packets. Hence, the main aim of this investigation is to propose a novel protocol Cooperative Energy efficient and Priority based Reliable routing protocol with Network coding (CEPRAN) to enhance the reliability and energy efficiency of WBAN using cooperative communication method. Firstly, to identify a relay node from the group of sensor nodes for data forwarding, an enhanced Cuckoo search optimization algorithm is proposed. Secondly, Cooperative Random Linear Network Coding approach is incorporated into the relay node to improve the packet transfer rate. CEPRAN is implemented in Ns-3 simulator and the experimental results prove that the proposed protocol outperforms the existing SIMPLE Protocol.
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