Agriculture’s role in the Indian enigma: help or hindrance to the crisis of undernutrition?

In recent decades India has achieved one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world, yet its progress against both child and adult undernutrition has been sluggish at best. While this Indian variant of the so-called Asian enigma presents many puzzles, one of the puzzles pertains to agriculture’s role. Many researchers and policymakers have high expectations of agriculture’s potential to reduce undernutrition, despite a lack of substantive evidence. In this paper we assess this tenuous evidence base by exploring two key channels by which agricultural production conditions can influence nutritional outomes: a food consumption pathway and a maternal employment–time use pathway. We conclude with an appraisal of some possible entry points for pro-nutrition agricultural policies.     

Assessment of Wilson and NRTL equations in vapor‐liquid equilibria prediction

Abstract

This work considers the application of Wilson and NRTL equations in the multicomponent VLE prediction. We emphasize the critical comparison of partially miscible solution treatment by these two equations. Results revealed NRTL equation performed slightly better than the Wilson equation in data credibility so far as the systems examined are concerned. Estimation of optimum NRTL parameters requires further exploration. Optimization methods of pattern search, gradient search and golden section were employed in this study. All of the computations were performed on an IBM 1130 digital computer.     

Effects of high-order surface stress on buckling and resonance behavior of nanowires

A theoretical framework, accounting for high-order surface stress, is implemented in a continuum mechanics model based on the Euler-Bernoulli theory of beams and columns to simulate the buckling and resonance behavior of nanowires (NWs). Closed-form expressions for the critical buckling load of uniaxial compression of NWs are derived for different types of end conditions. Size-dependent overall Young’s modulus is characterized versus the diameter of the NWs and is compared with the experimental data. The resonance frequency of NWs is also studied and compared with the simulation results based on nonlinear, finite deformation kinematics. We demonstrate that the present prediction considering both surface moment and surface stress agrees well with the experimental data, while the pure surface stress model may not be able to capture the general trend when the NW’s diameter is less than a certain size. We conclude that the present continuum mechanics approach, considering both high-order surface effects, could be served as one of the feasible tools to analyze the mechanical behavior of nanostructures.     

Preparation and characterization of methoxy‐poly(ethylene glycol) side chain grafted onto chitosan as a wound dressing film

Chitosan has received extensive attention as a biomedical material; however, the poor solubility of chitosan is the major limiting factor in its utilization. In this study, chitosan‐based biomaterials with improved aqueous solubility were synthesized. Two molecular weights (750 Da and 2000 Da) of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) were grafted onto chitosan (mPEG‐g‐chitosan) to form a ～100‐μm‐thick plastic film as a wound dressing. The chemical structures of the mPEG‐g‐chitosan copolymers were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the thermal properties were characterized using thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). Their microstructures were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The other properties were analyzed via the swelling ratio, tensile strength, elongation, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). Biocompatibility evaluations through biodegradability, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial effect studies were also performed. The obtained mPEG‐g‐chitosan copolymers were soluble in slightly acidic aqueous solutions (pH～6.5) at a concentration of 10 wt %. The optimal mPEG‐g‐chitosan hydrogels had swelling ratios greater than 100% and WVTRs greater than 2000 g/m²/day. Their performance against Staphylococcus aureus will be subjected to further improvements with respect to medical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42340.     

In vivo absorption comparison of nanotechnology-based silybin tablets with its water-soluble derivative

In this study, the in vivo oral absorption of a nanocrystal tablet formulation of a BCS II poorly water-soluble drug was compared with that of its water-soluble salt form. Silybin is used as the model drug, and its nanosuspension was prepared by high-pressure homogenization. Effect of process and formulation parameters on properties of the nansuspensions was investigated. Dried powder of the nanosuspension was prepared by spray drying and used for preparing tablets. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in Beagle dogs to compare the absorption for tablets of silybin nanocrystals and silybin meglumine. In vivo absorption of nanocrystal silybin tablet in Beagle dogs was determined. X-ray powder diffraction results indicated that silybin existed in a crystalline state after homogenization. In vivo absorption study in rats showed that the peroral absorption of silybin was enhanced remarkably by decreasing particle size. In vivo absorption of nanocrystal silybin tablet in Beagle dogs was comparable with that of the commercially available tablet of the water-soluble salt form of silybin. In conclusion, it is possible to increase the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs by preparing its water-soluble derivative.