AHW-BGOA-DNN: a novel deep learning model for epileptic seizure detection

Neural Computing and Applications - “Brain–Computer Interface” (BCI)—a real-life support system provides a way for epileptic patients to improve their quality of life. In...     

Interaction of TLR4 and TLR8 in the Innate Immune Response against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

The interaction and crosstalk of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is an established pathway in which the innate immune system recognises and fights pathogens. In a single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) analysis of an Indian cohort, we found evidence for both TLR4-399T and TRL8-1A conveying increased susceptibility towards tuberculosis (TB) in an interdependent manner, even though there is no established TLR4 ligand present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which is the causative pathogen of TB. Docking studies revealed that TLR4 and TLR8 can build a heterodimer, allowing interaction with TLR8 ligands. The conformational change of TLR4-399T might impair this interaction. With immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we precipitated TLR4 with TLR8-targeted antibodies, indicating heterodimerisation. Confocal microscopy confirmed a high co-localisation frequency of TLR4 and TLR8 that further increased upon TLR8 stimulation. The heterodimerisation of TLR4 and TLR8 led to an induction of IL12p40, NF-κB, and IRF3. TLR4-399T in interaction with TLR8 induced an increased NF-κB response as compared to TLR4-399C, which was potentially caused by an alteration of subsequent immunological pathways involving type I IFNs. In summary, we present evidence that the heterodimerisation of TLR4 and TLR8 at the endosome is involved in Mtb recognition via TLR8 ligands, such as microbial RNA, which induces a Th1 response. These findings may lead to novel targets for therapeutic interventions and vaccine development regarding TB.     

Effect of different solvents on volatile and non-volatile constituents of red bell pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) and their in vitro antioxidant activity

The fresh fruit of Capsicum annuum L. (red bell pepper) was successively extracted using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and their percentage yield was calculated. The effectiveness of each extract on chemical composition and antioxidant activity was studied. The qualitative phytochemical evaluation of each extract of bell pepper was done by HPTLC and Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. The total content of phenols, flavonoids and carotenoids were estimated by standard chemical methods. Further, the antioxidant potential of each extract was measured via DPPH and reducing power assays. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analysis showed that the majority of compounds were related to phenols and flavonoids. Further analysis of the extract by HPTLC verified the presence of different types of phenolic compounds in addition to flavonoids and carotenoids. Among the different solvent extracts analyzed, total phenolic content was higher in ethanol extract (7.136?±?0.03%, w/w) whereas ethyl acetate extract showed the presence of higher flavonoid content (4.0521?±?0.03%, w/w). The ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the fruit of C. annuum exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity with inhibition percentage of 53.66 and 49.55% at a concentration of 254 µg/ml. Based on the biochemical analysis and phytochemical screening, we conclude that C. annuum possess potent antioxidant potential and this ability of the extract is attributed to the presence of rich polyphenolic compounds.     

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of self-emulsifying formulations of Cinnarizine

The main objectives of this study were to improve the aqueous solubility and to modify in vitro dissolution profile of hydrophobic drug using self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). SEDDS were formulated using Capmul PG-12, Cremophor RH 40 and Tween 20 at different weight ratios and incorporated with Cinnarizine. The drug incorporation into pre-concentrate and drug solubility in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) were investigated. In addition, the mean droplet size and drug release profile of the SEDDS were also determined. The drug incorporation was over 120?mg per 0.5?g pre-concentrate regardless of the composition of the formulations. The solubility of Cinnarizine in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) was at least 1500 μM in the SEDDS. Formulations with only 10% w/w Capmul PG-12 were less than 20?nm in mean diameter while those produced with at least 20% w/w Capmul PG-12 were more than 100?nm regardless of the ratios of Cremophor RH 40 to Tween 20. SEDDS showed a significant increase of the mean percentage drug release than pure drug (p?相似文献   

Synthesis and Characterization of Reduced Graphene Oxide- Polyaniline Composite for Supercapacitor Applications

Graphene oxide (GO) is synthesized from commercially available graphite powder. The prepared GO is converted to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by chemical reduction using sodium borohydride and sodium hydroxide. The rGO is characterized via X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Conducting polymer–polyaniline, was prepared by oxidative polymerization in an electrolyte- hydrochloric acid and using ammonium persulphate as oxidant. The structure and doping of polyaniline were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ultra-violet visible spectroscopy. To enhance the conductivity of the rGO, the conducting polymer mixed with rGO and rGO/Conducting polymer composites were prepared. The composite was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, AC impedance spectroscopy. A symmetrical supercapacitor (SC) has been fabricated based on rGO/PANI composites. The prepared composites were shown specific capacitance of 72 F g^–1 at 2 mV s^–1.     

Electrospun polyurethane and soy protein nanofibres for wound dressing applications

In this report, a novel wound dressing material has been woven by electrospinning technique and tested for its various properties. For the nanofibre mat, a mixture of polyurethane (PU) and soy protein isolate (SPI) was electrospun in conjugation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO Nps) and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CipHCl) to produce fibrous mats viz. PU/SPI/ZnO and PU/SPI/CipHCl. An optimum ratio (1 : 1) of PU/SPI was used as suitable polymeric ratio in order to produce homogenous nanofibres without beads having an average diameter in the range of 300–350 nm. The electrospun nanofibre‐based mats were characterised using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscope. The mechanical properties of the nanofibrous mats were tested using universal testing machine. The wettability analysis was done using the contact angle measurement based on the sessile drop test. This study revealed that the electrospun PU/SPI‐based nanofibres are non‐sensitizing, non‐allergic and non‐toxic and that it can be used as a peculiar wound healing material.Inspec keywords: polymer fibres, nanofibres, nanomedicine, biomedical materials, wounds, electrospinning, zinc compounds, II‐VI semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform spectra, infrared spectra, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, wetting, contact angle, toxicologyOther keywords: electrospun polyurethane nanofibres, soy protein nanofibres, wound dressing applications, electrospinning, nanofibre mat, soy protein isolate, zinc oxide nanoparticles, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, mechanical properties, universal testing machine, wettability, contact angle measurement, sessile drop test, nonsensitizing nanofibres, nonallergic nanofibres, nontoxic nanofibres, wound healing material, wavelength 300 nm to 350 nm, ZnO     

Dual band frequency tunable planar inverted‐F antenna for mobile handheld devices

A single feed, dual‐band frequency tunable planar inverted‐F antenna (PIFA) is presented for mobile handheld device applications. The proposed antenna is designed using the transmission line model. The dual‐band frequency tunability is achieved by varying the capacitance of the varactor diode between 4.15 pF (0 V) and 0.72 pF (15 V). The measured impedance bandwidth of ?6 dB is realized from 0.8 to 0.98 GHz for the lower band and 1.65 to 2.2 GHz for the higher band. The designed antenna provides the independent frequency tunability for both the bands without disturbing each other. The maximum antenna gain is estimated 2.64 dBi for the proposed PIFA. Also, it has a maximum efficiency of ~85% for the mobile handheld device. In addition, the proposed PIFA is investigated with SAM phantom model for head and hand, found to be within the acceptable SAR limit of 1.6 W/Kg.     

Reducing electrical resistance in single-walled carbon nanotube networks: effect of the location of metal contacts and low-temperature annealing

The ability to control the density of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) during the formation of 2D networks allows one to tune the electrical properties of these thin-films from semiconductive to metallic conduction, allowing their use in numerous new materials applications. However, the resistances of such thin-films are generally non-optimal, dominated by the effects of inter-SWNT tunneling junctions, metal/SWNT contacts, sidewall defects, and the presence of residual dopants. These studies provide insight into the relative contributions of these various items to the overall resistance of an SWNT network contacted by Ti electrodes, and ways to reduce these effects via changing the structure of the metal/SWNT contact, and annealing at low temperature. Further, the addition of a mild-acid treatment was found to cause a 13-fold reduction in resistance and much greater reproducibility in inter-network conductivity.     

Synthesis and characterization of activated carbon/conducting polymer composite electrode for supercapacitor applications

Activated carbon is prepared from coconut shell by heating it around 500?°C for 2 h in a muffle furnace. This method is one of the easiest and most economical methods for the synthesis of Activated carbon. The dried coconut shell is carbonized and it is treated with KOH in the ratio of 1:3 carbon-activating agent (KOH) and the resulting slurry is dried in an oven at 60?°C for overnight. The dried mass is further activated at 450?°C then it is washed with an acid solution to remove KOH. The surface area of the synthesized activated carbon can be obtained by using nitrogen absorption–desorption experiment. Conducting polymer such as polyaniline prepared by oxidative polymerization of the respective monomer in tetrafluoroboric acid solution using potassium persulphate as an oxidant. The structure and doping of polyaniline were studied by FTIR, UV and Cyclic voltammetry studies. The conducting polymer is mixed with AC and prepared composites were characterized by UV, FTIR, and CV. The specific capacitance of composites calculated from charge–discharge at 0.5 mA g^??1 was found to be 99.6 Fg^??1 and for cyclic voltammetry, at the scan rate of 2 mV s^??1, it is 77 Fg^??1.