Novel use of similarity factors f2 and Sd for the development of diltiazem HCl modified-release tablets using a 3(2) factorial design

The objective of this study was to develop modified-release tablets of diltiazem HCl using a direct compression technique. A 3² factorial design was employed using the amount of alkali-treated guar gum and cetyl alcohol as independent variables. This article proposes the use of a novel approach—f₂and S_d values as dependent variables—to evaluate the effect of selected independent variables along with other dependent variables (i.e., percentage drug released in x min, Y_x; time required for z% drug release, t_z; and mean dissolution time (MDT)). It is concluded that when a decision is to be made for the selection of a best batch, it is perhaps more realistic to use the f₂ or S_d value which takes into account the dissolution profile as a whole, as opposed to Y_x and t_z values which use just one point from the dissolution plot. The batch showing the f₂ value nearest to 100 or the S_d value nearest to zero is ranked as the best batch (diltiazem HCl 90 mg, alkali-treated guar gum 80 mg and cetyl alcohol 15 mg). The gel strength and matrix erosion of the formulated tablets were dependent on the type and amount of the adjuvants. The drug release rate is well correlated with matrix erosion. The kinetics of drug release fitted best to the Korsmeyer and Peppas model. It is concluded that by using a proper combination of the hydrophilic polymer and cetyl alcohol one can achieve a desirable drug release pattern.     

UHT milk: Production,quality, and economics

The review attempts to deal with the state of the art of UHT milk processing, economics, packaging, and quality maintenance. Various methods of processing are covered in detail. A sample system was considered for material and energy balances. A major factor in UHT milk technology is the economics of the process adopted. This is considered for the major processes currently in operation. Packaging and handling of UHT milk is of vital importance for the maintenance of the quality and flavor of the milk. A review of the different packaging systems describes the advantages and disadvantages of each one. The review is divided into the following sections: (1) major direct and indirect processes, (2) energy requirements and economics, (3) material and energy balances for fluid milk processing, storage, and distribution systems, (4) aseptic packaging, and (5) quality effects.     

Poly(ε-caprolactone)-based additives: Plasticization efficacy and migration resistance

A family of poly(caprolactone) (PCL)-based oligomeric additives was evaluated as plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). We found that the entire family of additives, which consist of a PCL core, diester linker, and alkyl chain cap, were effective plasticizers that improve migration resistance. The elongation at break and tensile strength of the blends made with the PCL-based additives were comparable to blends prepared with diisononyl phthalate (DINP), a plasticizer typically used industrially, and diheptyl succinate (DHPS), an alternative biodegradable plasticizer. Increasing concentration was found to decrease glass transition temperature (T_g) and increase elongation at break, confirming their role as functional plasticizers. We found that all of the PCL-based plasticizers exhibited significantly reduced leaching into hexanes compared to DINP and DHPS. The PCL-based plasticizers with shorter carbon chain lengths reduced leaching more than those with longer carbon chain lengths.     

Video tampering dataset development in temporal domain for video forgery authentication

Videos are tampered by the forgers to modify or remove their content for malicious purpose. Many video authentication algorithms are developed to detect this tampering. At present, very few standard and diversified tampered video dataset is publicly available for reliable verification and authentication of forensic algorithms. In this paper, we propose the development of total 210 videos for Temporal Domain Tampered Video Dataset (TDTVD) using Frame Deletion, Frame Duplication and Frame Insertion. Out of total 210 videos, 120 videos are developed based on Event/Object/Person (EOP) removal or modification and remaining 90 videos are created based on Smart Tampering (ST) or Multiple Tampering. 16 original videos from SULFA and 24 original videos from YouTube (VTD Dataset) are used to develop different tampered videos. EOP based videos include 40 videos for each tampering type of frame deletion, frame insertion and frame duplication. ST based tampered video contains multiple tampering in a single video. Multiple tampering is developed in three categories (1) 10-frames tampered (frame deletion, frame duplication or frame insertion) at 3-different locations (2) 20-frames tampered at 3- different locations and (3) 30-frames tampered at 3-different locations in the video. Proposed TDTVD dataset includes all temporal domain tampering and also includes multiple tampering videos. The resultant tampered videos have video length ranging from 6 s to 18 s with resolution 320X240 or 640X360 pixels. The database is comprised of static and dynamic videos with various activities, like traffic, sports, news, a ball rolling, airport, garden, highways, zoom in zoom out etc. This entire dataset is publicly accessible for researchers, and this will be especially valuable to test their algorithms on this vast dataset. The detailed ground truth information like tampering type, frames tampered, location of tampering is also given for each developed tampered video to support verifying tampering detection algorithms. The dataset is compared with state of the art and validated with two video tampering detection methods.

     

Effect of vacuum packaging on bandwidth of push–pull type capacitive accelerometer structure

Microsystem Technologies - This paper presents the effect of vacuum packaging on the band-width of push–pull type capacitive accelerometer structure. The accelerometer structure...     

Investigation and performance analysis of Scheffler reflector solar cooking system integrated with sensible and latent heat storage materials

ABSTRACT

In this present research work, Scheffler reflector is taken to supply heat to specially designed cooker having sensible and latent heat storage materials. Here, three different types of sensible heat storage materials like sand, pebbles and iron balls and acetamide as latent heat storage materials. Experiments have conducted with sensible and latent heat storage materials during the month of March and April 2018. For cooking purpose, rice and water have been used. After series of experiments, it has been found that the solar cooking with the sand–acetamide and pebbles–acetamide pair of sensible and latent heat storage found productive as compared with iron balls–acetamide pair for evening cooking and rice found adequately in it. Also, sand–acetamide and pebbles–acetamide pair found 3 to 3.5 times more heat compared with Iron balls–acetamide pair.     

Mixed micelles of some metal dodecyl sulfates and triton X-100 in aqueous media

Tensiometric studies on several binary surfactant mixtures containing anionic surfactants, viz., metal (lithium, sodium, potassium, copper, cobalt, and magnesium) dodecyl sulfates and a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100) in water at different mole fractions (0–1) provide critical micelle concentration (CMC) values. The composition of mixed micelles and the interaction parameter, β, evaluated from the CMC data for different systems using Rubingh's theory, are discussed. Marked interaction is observed with monovalent dodecyl sulfates. The influence of counter-ion valence on the formation of mixed micelles was investigated for anionic-nonionic systems, and results indicated that mixed systems with bivalent counter-ions in metal dodecyl sulfate resembled nonionic-nonionic systems where weak/negligible interaction has been reported. Salt addition revealed the weakening of interaction in the mixed systems, which is attributed to the head group charge neutralization and the dehydration of the ethylene oxide units of the nonionic surfactants. A few cloud point and viscosity data are also reported.     

Experimental analysis of single-basin solar still with porous fins

ABSTRACT

The present research paper explains the experimental analysis of the single-basin solar still with attachment of porous fins on the absorber plate. Here, experiments have been conducted on the single-basin sola still with and without attachment of porous fins. Generally, fins are used in the solar still to reduce the preheating time of water and attain positive water and inner glass cover temperature during morning hours for increment in distillate output. Series of experiments were performed in the Government Engineering College Patan during May 2017 during sunshine hours. Various temperatures such as that of water, inner glass cover and solar insolations have been measured by standard instruments. From the experiment, it was found that the distillate output after attachment of fins was 3.8?L and that of the conventional solar still was 2.67?L. Hence, a percentage increment of 42.3% was found by use of porous fins in a solar still.     

Maltulose Formation During Saccharification of Starch

Maltulose precursors are produced due to chemical isomerization of the reducing end glucose units during enzyme liquefaction and autoclaving of starch in the enzyme-enzyme process of glucose manufacture. The precursors are hydrolyzed during subsequent saccharification with amyloglucosidase to form maltulose as one of the products. Temperature, pH and DE of the liquefied starch during autoclaving and α-amylase treatment are important factors in controlling precursor formation, low temperature, low pH and low DE resulting in less maltulose formation. Acid liquefaction prior to saccharification does not result in maltulose precursor formation. Blocking of the reducing end glucose unit by hydrogenation to sorbitol prevents the formation of maltulose; maltitol is produced instead.