The coating of nickel compounds with copper compounds

Uniform fine particles of nickel basic carbonate were synthesized by heating, aqueous solution containing 0.08 mol dm⁻³ nickel sulfate and 0.8 mol dm⁻³ urea, at 85°C for various periods of time. These particles were then coated with copper compound by heating them in aqueous dispersion, containing urea and copper nitrate, at 85°C. The coating material was found to be amorphous and was composed of Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃. The coating mixture, when heated under similar conditions in the absence of the dispersed cores, produced greenish dispersion of the precipitated particles [coating precursor solids]. The later were also amorphous in nature and had the same chemical composition [Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃] as that of the coating material of the coated particles. Air-dried core, coated, and coating precursor materials were calcined at 700°C for 1 h at the heating rate of 5°C min⁻¹ in the air atmosphere, which converted them into NiO, NiO_[core]/CuO_[coating], and CuO, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic examination showed no sintering occurred in all these solids during the calcinations process and the particles retained their identities to a significant extent.     

An experimental investigation into uncatalyzed oxidation of toluene and pseudocumene by sulfur dioxide

The uncatalyzed oxidation of toluene and pseudocumene by sulfur dioxide has been studied at pressures ranging from 200 to 300 atm; and at tempratures from 250 to 350°C. It was found that under these conditions, toluene is readily oxidized and that the main oxidation product is benzoic acid. Pseudocumene, however, oxidizes to mono- and di-carboxylic acids rather than to trimellitic acid. Power law rate equations are proposed for the two oxidations. Activation energy for toluene oxidation is estimated to be 47.6 Kcal/gm. mole while for pseudocumene oxidation the value is 71.2 Kcal/gm. mole.     

Modification and abolition of re-entry within the His-Purkinje system in man by diphenylhydantoin

The phenomenon of macrore-entry (Re) within the His-Purkinje system (HPS) was consistently observed in 10 of 19 patients during retrograde refractory period studies. Effects of intravenous infusion of diphenylhydantoin (DPH) on Re were studied in these 10 patients 10 minutes after completion of infusion (mean plasma level equal to 17.0 microgram/ml). Diphenylhydantoin modified determinants of Re in seven patients (group I) and abolished Re in the remaining three patients (group II). In group I, DPH shortened the critical V1 V2 from 310.0 +/- 30.5 to 292.9 +/- 25.6 msec (P less than 0.025) and critical V2 H2 intervals for Re from 201.4 +/- 18.4 to 185.0 +/- 13.8 msec (P greater than 0.05). In group II, DPH abolished Re in two of three patients by precluding attainment of critical V2 H2 intervals whereas Re was abolished in the remaining one patient despite attainment of critical V2 H2 intervals (vs control). For both groups, DPH significantly shortened functional and effective refractory periods of the HPS (P less than 0.001 and less than 0.01, respectively) without significantly affecting the effective refractory period of the ventricular muscle. Diphenylhydantoin either completely abolished or significantly shortened the retrograde gap zones in the HPS. It is concluded that diphenylhydantoin significantly shortens His-Purkinje system refractoriness, abolishing Re in the patients with higher degree of improvement in refractoriness.     

Uroporphyria induced by 5-aminolaevulinic acid alone in Ahrd SWR mice

In mice, depression of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) leading to porphyrin accumulation (uroporphyria) occurs with chlorinated ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor especially after iron overload. However, in the absence of chlorinated ligands, iron itself will eventually cause uroporphyria, but this response is not associated with the Ahr genotype. These effects are potentiated by administration of the haem precursor 5-aminolaevulinate (ALA). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ALA alone. Prolonged administration of 2 mg ALA/mL in the drinking water to SWR mice also led to decarboxylase insufficiency (11% of control) and uroporphyria by 8 weeks, whereas DBA/2 mice did not show reduced enzyme activity. Both strains are considered AH nonresponsive and analysis of the Ahr gene using restriction fragment length polymorphism was consistent with SWR, like DBA/2, possessing the Ahrd allele. Exposure of isolated hepatocytes to ALA (150-500 microM) for up to 48 hr showed a significant accumulation of both uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin in the medium, which for uroporphyrin particularly was significantly greater with SWR than with DBA/2 cells. Basal in vivo CYP1A2 activity, measured as microsomal methoxyresorufin dealkylation, was significantly greater in SWR than in DBA/2 mice (1.3-fold), but it was unclear whether this was sufficient to explain the marked difference in sensitivities of the two strains. Despite SWR mice being AH nonresponsive, uroporphyria and decarboxylase depression after an initial iron overload and ALA for 3 weeks were greatly potentiated by a single dose (100 mg/kg) of hexachlorobenzene (a weak AH ligand). The results demonstrate that there is a genetic difference in mice independent of the Ahr genotype and response to iron, which influences the susceptibility to ALA-induced uroporphyria. Thus chemicals, iron and ALA can act independently, but also together, to cause porphyria in susceptible individuals.     

A finite element study of the effect of the angle between two intersecting cylindrical shells subjected to internal pressure

The results of a study of the critical region of two intersecting cylindrical shells due to internal pressure loading are presented as a function of the angle between the two axes. The investigation was performed using the thin shell element of a three-dimensional finite element program. Three models with the angle between the axes of the two cylindrical shells equal to 30, 60, and 90°, were analyzed. In all of the three models, the diameter ratio of the two shells was 0.5283; the diameter to thickness ratio of the larger or main shell was 44.76, while the same ratio for the smaller or attached shell was 15.487. The results of these analyses show that the stresses in the critical intersection region are least when the two axes are perpendicular to each other; for other angular configurations, the stresses increase as the acute angle between the two axes decrease. This effect of inclination for pressure loading is just opposite of the effect found by authors [1] for external moments. In that case, for in-plane as well as out-ofplane moments, the stresses are larger for normally intersecting shells as compared to other angular configurations.     

Effect of fortification on physico-chemical and microbiological stability of whole wheat flour

Stability of fortified whole wheat flour (WWF) was evaluated using NaFeEDTA, elemental iron, ZnSO₄ and ZnO as fortificants. Fortified WWF was stored in tin boxes and polypropylene bags for 60 days under ambient storage condition (ASC) and controlled storage condition (CSC). Fortification significantly (p ? 0.05) decreased moisture and protein content and increased ash content to 5.44%, 6% and 23%, as compared to control. Fortified WWF, assayed periodically for mould contamination manifested a significant inhibition (∼1 log reduction) in flours containing elemental iron. Low storage temperature and relative humidity (RH) indicated lower level of mould count during extended storage time. Tin boxes, as storage material, exhibited a better protection against mould attack, acting as an effective barrier for moisture. Fortificants exerted a slight deteriorative effect on texture characteristics of the chapattis made of these flours but chapattis were still accepted by the judges. Zinc fortificants seemed like having little or no effect on the quality of the flours and chapattis, made of such flours. Shelf life of fortified flour may be extended by using elemental iron as fortificant and storing the product in tin boxes under relatively low temperature and RH.     

Plasmodium species aware based quantification of malaria parasitemia in light microscopy thin blood smear

Malaria is a serious worldwide disease, caused by a bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. The parasite transferred into complex life round in which it is grown and reproduces into the human body. The detection and recognition of Plasmodium species are possible and efficient through a process called staining (Giemsa). The staining process slightly colorizes the red blood cells (RBCs) but highlights Plasmodium parasites, white blood cells and artifacts. Giemsa stains nuclei, chromatin in blue tone and RBCs in pink color. It has been reported in numerous studies that manual microscopy is not a trustworthy screening technique when performed by nonexperts. Malaria parasites host in RBCs when it enters the bloodstream. This paper presents segmentation of Plasmodium parasite from the thin blood smear points on region growing and dynamic convolution based filtering algorithm. After segmentation, malaria parasite classified into four Plasmodium species: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax, and Plasmodium malaria. The random forest and K‐nearest neighbor are used for classification base on local binary pattern and hue saturation value features. The sensitivity for malaria parasitemia (MP) is 96.75% on training and testing of the proposed approach while specificity is 94.59%. Beside these, the comparisons of the two features are added to the proposed work for classification having sensitivity is 83.60% while having specificity is 94.90% through random forest classifier based on local binary pattern feature.     

Laser beam machining of zirconia ceramic: An investigation of micro-machining geometry and surface roughness

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - Micro-machining of dental ceramics namely as zirconium oxide is carried out through laser beam machining. Micro-channels of different sizes are...     

以猪小肠黏膜提取物作为α-葡萄糖苷酶和二肽基肽酶IV的酶活力分析体系的建立

α-葡萄糖苷酶和二肽基肽酶IV（dipeptidyl peptidase 4,DPP-4）是II型糖尿病治疗中2 种重要的靶向酶。这两种商品化酶价格昂贵且主要来源于微生物,难以有效用于两种酶抑制剂的筛选,而这两种酶均普遍存在哺乳动物的小肠中。为了获得经济有效、来源于哺乳动物体内的α-葡萄糖苷酶和DPP-4,本研究收集新鲜的猪小肠黏膜分泌物及上皮细胞,对比分析了猪小肠不同部位黏膜提取物的α-葡萄糖苷酶和DPP-4的活力。以猪小肠黏膜提取物作为α-葡萄糖苷酶和DPP-4的酶反应体系,并且利用这两种酶的阳性药（阿卡波糖和抑二肽素A（diprotin A,IPI））分别进行了抑制率验证和评价。阿卡波糖对商品和猪回肠源α-葡萄糖苷酶的半数有效抑制质量浓度（median inhibition concentration,IC50）分别是1.102 4、0.244 7 mg/mL;IPI对商品和猪回肠源DPP-4的IC50分别为19.119 7、41.268 4 μg/mL。通过比较发现,猪回肠黏膜提取物的α-葡萄糖苷酶和DPP-4比活力分别为0.084 1、0.053 4 U/mg,在3 种黏膜提取物中均为最高,因此选择猪回肠黏膜提取物作为商品化α-葡萄糖苷酶和DPP-4的替代物进行抑制剂的筛选。     

Comparison of Bougainvillea spectabilis and Bougainvillea glabra species inhibited in Pakistan based on microscopic studies: Light microscope and scanning electron microscope

The anatomical variations of two plants from the Nyctaginaceae family, Bougainvillea spectabilis and Bougainvillea glabra, were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy methods in this work. Bougainvillea is a dicotyledonous with defensive traits that can withstand extreme (hot and dry) settings; according to the findings, crystal inclusions in cells, woody spines, and an abnormal development pattern are all features that help them survive against predators and are unique to this species. The Bougainvillea plant's leaves are arranged in simple pattern, alternate to each other along stem having an undulate leaves edge and an oval form. The xylem and phloem, palisade, parenchyma midrib, spongy mesophyll, raphide crystal bundles, and trichomes were all visible when bracts and leaves were transversally sectioned and dyed with toluidine blue O (TBO). The presence of crystals was confirmed by a detailed examination of the transverse leaves by using bright-field and cross-polarizing microscopy. Dissecting microscopic examination showed that all the leaves revealed leaves venation pattern that had midvein, lateral veins areoles, and trichomes. Although trichomes have been identified on both sides, a closer look at a cleaned leaf dyed with TBO showed multicellular abundant trichomes on adaxial surface. Stomata complexes were typically found on the abaxial surface of the leaf according to epidermal peels. Present studies also showed that on adaxial side, stomata were lesser in number or were absent and also showed that the morphologies of the pavement cells on the adaxial and abaxial sides of the leaf differed.