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The liquid structures of short straight chain aliphatic carboxylic acids (C1-C6) and halogenated acetic acids (trifluoro and trichloro) are analyzed with molecular dynamics simulations, three-dimensional reference interaction site model, and density functional theory calculations. The neat acids are found to exist in multimeric ordered form consisting of both open chain and cyclic oligomers. Introduction of water breaks the hydrogen bonding networks between adjacent acetic acid molecules by inserting water as a bridging molecule. The electronic structure calculations confirm the formation of chain and ring type structures in the liquid state.

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a life-threatening metabolic syndrome, but patient compliance is poor due to the pain and inconvenience caused by the subcutaneous injection of insulin and other macromolecular diabetic therapies. Current challenges in DM management are to optimize the use of available therapies and reduce complications. For clinical improvements, future therapies need to be easier to use, achieving tighter glycemic control, better safety profiles, and reduced manufacturing costs. The medical applications of nanotechnology are enormous and have been proven to be the best approach to improve compliance and clinical efficacy by overturning biopharmaceutical obstacles. Nanoformulations enhance the properties of conventional drugs and are specific to the targeted delivery site. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the application of nano-formulations in diabetes management. We analyze the current state of most of the available approaches which are in various stages of research and development. Herein, we review the developing role of nanotechnology in diabetes management and focus on the technologies that we feel are most likely to have an impact.

Background: Controlled drug release and site-specific delivery of drugs make nanocapsules the most approbative drug delivery system for various kinds of drugs, bioactive, protein, and peptide compounds. Nanocapsules (NCs) are spherical shape microscopic shells consisting of a core (solid or liquid) in which the drug is positioned in a cavity enclosed by a distinctive polymeric membrane. Objectives: The main objective of the present study is to elaborate on various formulation techniques and methods of nanocapsules (NCs). The review also spotlights various biomedical applications as well as on the patents of NCs till date. Methods: The review was extracted from the searches performed using various search engines such as PubMed, Google Patents, Medline, and Google Scholars, etc. In order to emphasize the importance of NCs, some published patents of NCs have been also reported in the review. Results: NCs are tiny magical shells having incredible reproducibility. Various techniques can be used to formulate NCs. The pharmaceutical performance of the formulated NCs can be judged by evaluating their shape, size, entrapment efficiency, loading capacity, etc. using different analytical techniques. Their main applications are found in the field of agrochemicals, genetic manipulation, cosmetics, hygiene items, strategic distribution of drugs to tumors, nanocapsule bandages to combat infection, and radiotherapy. Conclusion: In the present review, our team made a deliberate effort to summarize the recent advances in the field of NCs and focus on new patents related to the implementation of NCs delivery systems in the area of some life-threatening disorders like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Herpes zoster is a viral infection triggered due to the reactivation of the varicella- zoster virus in the posterior dorsal root ganglion. Herpes zoster infections occur mostly in the facial, cervical and thoracic regions of the body, beginning with pain and resulting in the vesicular eruption. Recently, this infection was observed during the Covid-19 pandemic and also after the induction of mRNA-based vaccine for coronavirus at an extended level. Nanocochleates are cylindrical (cigarshape) microstructure lipid-based versatile carriers for drug delivery systems. Famciclovir is an antiviral agent employed for the treatment of Herpes zoster infections. Objective: The current research aims to develop a novel nanocochleate gel of Famciclovir for the treatment of herpes zoster infections with higher efficacy. Methods: The interaction studies using FTIR were carried out and indicated no such interactions between the drug and lipids. The nanocochleates were developed using hydrogel, trapping, liposome before cochleate dialysis, direct calcium dialysis and binary aqueous-aqueous emulsion methods, respectively. The 32 Box-Behnken design was applied by considering the concentration of lipids (phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol) and speed of rotation as independent factors, whereas particle size and entrapment efficiency as dependable factors. Results: The developed nanocochleates were estimated for the particle size (276.3 nm), zeta potential (-16.7 mV), polydispersity index (0.241), entrapment efficiency (73.87±0.19 %) and in-vitro diffusion release (>98.8 % in 10 h). The optimized batch was further converted into the topical gel using carbopol 940 as a gelling agent. The prepared gel was smooth, rapidly spreadable with a viscosity (5998.72 cp), drug content (95.3 %) and remained stable during stability studies. Conclusion: A novel nanocochleate gel of Famciclovir was successfully developed for the treatment of infections associated with Herpes Zoster with sustained release action.

Background: Green syntheses of silver nanoparticles using plant extracts have potential anti- cancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, among other aspects. The aim of the present study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Vernonia cinerea plant extract. Methods: The AgNPs were successfully prepared and characterized using UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, particle size, Zeta potential, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. The in vitro cytotoxicity study was performed using neuroblastoma SHSY-5Y cell lines. Moreover, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity studies were also performed for AgNPs. Results: The size of AgNPs determined through the dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique was 49.5 nm and the zeta potential was -36.8 mV. The synthesized AgNPs were checked using UV-Visible spectroscopy at ƛmax 439 nm. The color was changed from green to dark brown, indicating the formation of AgNPs. The TEM study revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape. The XRD pattern of AgNPs produced in this experiment was apparently crystalline. The results of FTIR study revealed that the majority of the obtained peaks correspond to the polyphenols, triterpenoids, and alkaloids which were abundant in the corresponding to the V. cinerea leaf extract and support to the formation of AgNPs. The cytotoxicity effect of the V. cinerea plant extract and biosynthesized AgNPs was found to be dosedependent. From the results of antimicrobial studies, it was reported that the gram negative bacteria were found to be more susceptible compared to the gram positive bacteria. Moreover, the results of antioxidant study revealed that the AgNPs showed good antioxidant activity (77.21%) in comparison to the V. cinerea plant extract (56.13%). Conclusion: Based on the results, it could be concluded that the green synthesized silver nanoparticles showed promising anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial activities as compared to the plain V. cineria plant extract.

Background: To achieve a target-based drug delivery with minimal side effects, novel drug delivery systems are being continuously explored. Vesicular systems are one such system that can ameliorate the bioavailability of the encapsulated drug by delivering the drug at the targeted site and can minimize the side effect. Objective: The objective of this review is to provide a vivid description of glycerosomes and their applications. Glycerosomes are sphere-shaped versatile vesicles consisting of one or more phospholipid bilayers similar to liposomes but contain a high concentration of glycerol, which modifies the liposome bilayer fluidity. Glycerosomes can encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs, which makes them the promising vehicle in the field of drug delivery. Conclusion: Most of the glycerosome formulations prepared were targeted for topical delivery and in particular, a cutaneous route where they have shown promising results. These vesicles are biocompatible and due to the high glycerol concentration, they have improved spreadability and penetrability. It is therefore imperative to explore the other topical routes such as ocular, vaginal, nasal, and rectal for delivery of drugs.

One of the severe challenges in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry is associated with reducing the costs of corrosion damages by removing the oil fluids’ moisture, and humidity in the facilities. As an essential component of moisture absorption towers in the dehumidification section is the bubble cap, which loses its efficiency in a short time due to continuous contact with steam. In the present work, the causes of the destruction of a piece of bubble cap are investigated thoroughly employing visual and microstructural observation, chemical composition study through quantometer, X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and XRD assessments, and also the corrosion behavior study by polarization and electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS) analysis. The mechanism and type of corrosion occurred to the bubble cap and its capability against the corrosion were assessed. The results showed that the corrosion products after service were Fe3O4, Fe2O3, Fe(OH)3, and FeCO3, which declined the microhardness from 121.3 to 99.3 Hv. The corrosion rate was found to be 0.03116 mm/y in the saline solution. The poor performance of the material against corrosion were attributed to the casting defects, and the ineffective microstructural phases, formed due to the deficient alloying elements. According to the results, some recommendations and solutions, as effective preventive ways, have been proposed to hinder corrosion, and lead to the higher durability and the lower replacement costs.

Abstract: Recently, passive solar-driven interfacial evaporation has become one of the fastest-growing technologies for solar energy utilization and desalination. Herein, we provide an overview of other emerging and potential applications of evaporation nanosystems beyond desalination, i.e., electricity generation, organics rejection, and sterilization. These extended functions can be a benefit for energy and environmental issues.

Background: Pain is a very important factor in patient recovery and satisfaction. Following incision and drainage of perianal abscess, wound packing has been found to be very painful. The aim of this study is to compare packing the wound and not packing the wound after incision and drainage (I&D) of perianal abscess, taking into account recurrence rate, rate of occurrence of perianal fistula as well as post-operative pain. Materials and Method: Standard medical electronic databases were searched with the help of a local librarian and relevant published randomised controlled trials (RCT) were shortlisted according to the inclusion criteria. The summated outcome of post-operative pain score, recurrence rate, and rate of occurrence of perianal fistula was evaluated using the principles of meta-analysis on RevMan 5 statistical software. Result: Three RCTs on 490 patients undergoing I&D of perianal abscess were found suitable for this meta-analysis. In the random effects model analysis, the post operative pain score was statistically lower in NPG [risk ratio 0.66, 95%, CI (0.36, 0.97), Z=4.25, P=0.0001]. There was no heterogeneity [Tau2=0.15; chi2=9.32; df=6; I2=36 %; p=0.16] between the studies, however, statistically it was not significant. In addition, there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in terms of recurrence of perianal abscess or the occurrence of perianal fistula [risk ratio 0.64, 95%, CI (0.31, 1.31), Z=1.23, P=0.22], [risk ratio 1.41, 95%, CI (0.89, 2.23), Z=1.47, P=0.14] respectively. Conclusion: Not packing the wound post I&D of perianal abscess is associated with significantly reduced VAS pain scores, which may result in improved recovery and patient satisfaction and has no effect on recurrence rate or the occurrence of perianal fistula. However, more RCTs recruiting a greater number of patients are required to endorse these findings.

Magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs) are cryogenic, energy-dispersive single-particle detectors providing excellent energy resolution, intrinsically fast signal rise time, quantum efficiency close to 100\%, large dynamic range as well as almost ideal linear response. One of the remaining challenges to be overcome to ultimately allow for the utilization of large-scale MMC based detector arrays with thousands to millions of individual pixels is the realization of a SQUID based multiplexing technique particularly tailored for MMC readout. Within this context, we report on the first truly multiplexed readout of an MMC based detector array using a frequency-division multiplexing approach realized by a custom microwave SQUID multiplexer based readout system., Comment: Conference: ASC2022 (accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity)

We report on the 1,000-element transition-edge sensor (TES) x-ray spectrometer implementation of the TOMographic Circuit Analysis Tool (TOMCAT). TOMCAT combines a high spatial resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) with a highly efficient and pixelated TES spectrometer to reconstruct three-dimensional maps of nanoscale integrated circuits (ICs). A 240-pixel prototype spectrometer was recently used to reconstruct ICs at the 130 nm technology node, but to increase imaging speed to more practical levels, the detector efficiency needs to be improved. For this reason, we are building a spectrometer that will eventually contain 3,000 TES microcalorimeters read out with microwave superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexing, and we currently have commissioned a 1,000 TES subarray. This still represents a significant improvement from the 240-pixel system and allows us to begin characterizing the full spectrometer performance. Of the 992 maximimum available readout channels, we have yielded 818 devices, representing the largest number of TES x-ray microcalorimeters simultaneously read out to date. These microcalorimeters have been optimized for pulse speed rather than purely energy resolution, and we measure a FWHM energy resolution of 14 eV at the 8.0 keV Cu K$\alpha$ line., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity