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Metal soaps or metal alkanoates are metal–organic complexes held together with metal cations and the functional groups of hydrocarbon chains. They can be synthesized at a high yield by simply mixing the metal and organic sources, forming crystalline frameworks with diverse topology, and have been studied in the past because of their rich polymorphism-like liquid crystals. Their ability to melt while retaining the crystalline properties upon cooling is unique among nanoporous materials and is especially attractive for membrane fabrication. Herein, metal soaps as a new class of material for molecular separation are reported. Three metal soaps, Ca(SO4C12H25)2, Zn(COOC6H13)2, and Cu(COOC9H19)2, hosting lamellar structure with molecular-sized channels are synthesized. They are processed in thin, intergrown, polycrystalline films on porous substrates by two scalable methods, interfacial crystallization and melting with an extremely small processing time (a minute to an hour). The resulting crystalline films are oriented with the alkyl chains perpendicular to the porous substrate which favors molecular transport. The prepared membranes demonstrate attractive gas separation behavior, e.g., 300-nm-thick Ca(SO4C12H25)2 membrane prepared in a minute using interfacial crystallization yields H2 permeance of 6.1 × 10−7 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 with H2/CO2 selectivity of 10.5.

In this study, the glass-forming ability (GFA), structure and microstructure of (Fe1−xNix)88Zr7B4Cu1 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 1.0) alloys, in both the as-melt spun and heat-treated conditions, have been investigated. Almost complete amorphization was observed only for x = 0, 0.4 and 0.5 alloys at the highest melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s. At lower wheel speeds all alloys are partially crystalline. The crystalline phases are bcc solid solution (bcc-SS) up to a composition of x = 0.2 and fcc solid solution (fcc-SS) for x = 0.6 and above. At a melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s, the alloy with the composition of x = 0.3 is almost amorphous, along with traces of both bcc and fcc phases. Ribbons annealed at 450 °C/500 °C (after the first exothermic peak observed in DSC result) exhibit bcc-SS at low Ni concentration (up to x = 0.4) and fcc-SS at higher Ni concentration (x = 0.6 and beyond), whereas x = 0.5 ribbon shows the formation of both bcc-SS and fcc-SS. Ribbons annealed at 620 °C/750 °C (after the second exothermic peak observed in DSC results) exhibit Fe3Zr at low Ni concentration up to x = 0.3 and Ni5Zr from x = 0.4. The crystalline phases form during melt spinning are in the form of dendrites of submicron size, whereas the precipitated phases formed during annealing are nanocrystalline in nature. Thermodynamic modeling was carried out to understand the GFA and phase formation, which are in conformity with the experimental observations. © 2021, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International.

In this study, the glass-forming ability (GFA), structure and microstructure of (Fe1−xNix)88Zr7B4Cu1 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 1.0) alloys, in both the as-melt spun and heat-treated conditions, have been investigated. Almost complete amorphization was observed only for x = 0, 0.4 and 0.5 alloys at the highest melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s. At lower wheel speeds all alloys are partially crystalline. The crystalline phases are bcc solid solution (bcc-SS) up to a composition of x = 0.2 and fcc solid solution (fcc-SS) for x = 0.6 and above. At a melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s, the alloy with the composition of x = 0.3 is almost amorphous, along with traces of both bcc and fcc phases. Ribbons annealed at 450 °C/500 °C (after the first exothermic peak observed in DSC result) exhibit bcc-SS at low Ni concentration (up to x = 0.4) and fcc-SS at higher Ni concentration (x = 0.6 and beyond), whereas x = 0.5 ribbon shows the formation of both bcc-SS and fcc-SS. Ribbons annealed at 620 °C/750 °C (after the second exothermic peak observed in DSC results) exhibit Fe3Zr at low Ni concentration up to x = 0.3 and Ni5Zr from x = 0.4. The crystalline phases form during melt spinning are in the form of dendrites of submicron size, whereas the precipitated phases formed during annealing are nanocrystalline in nature. Thermodynamic modeling was carried out to understand the GFA and phase formation, which are in conformity with the experimental observations. © 2021, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International.

In this study, the glass-forming ability (GFA), structure and microstructure of (Fe1−xNix)88Zr7B4Cu1 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 1.0) alloys, in both the as-melt spun and heat-treated conditions, have been investigated. Almost complete amorphization was observed only for x = 0, 0.4 and 0.5 alloys at the highest melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s. At lower wheel speeds all alloys are partially crystalline. The crystalline phases are bcc solid solution (bcc-SS) up to a composition of x = 0.2 and fcc solid solution (fcc-SS) for x = 0.6 and above. At a melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s, the alloy with the composition of x = 0.3 is almost amorphous, along with traces of both bcc and fcc phases. Ribbons annealed at 450 °C/500 °C (after the first exothermic peak observed in DSC result) exhibit bcc-SS at low Ni concentration (up to x = 0.4) and fcc-SS at higher Ni concentration (x = 0.6 and beyond), whereas x = 0.5 ribbon shows the formation of both bcc-SS and fcc-SS. Ribbons annealed at 620 °C/750 °C (after the second exothermic peak observed in DSC results) exhibit Fe3Zr at low Ni concentration up to x = 0.3 and Ni5Zr from x = 0.4. The crystalline phases form during melt spinning are in the form of dendrites of submicron size, whereas the precipitated phases formed during annealing are nanocrystalline in nature. Thermodynamic modeling was carried out to understand the GFA and phase formation, which are in conformity with the experimental observations. © 2021, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International.

In this study, the glass-forming ability (GFA), structure and microstructure of (Fe1−xNix)88Zr7B4Cu1 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 1.0) alloys, in both the as-melt spun and heat-treated conditions, have been investigated. Almost complete amorphization was observed only for x = 0, 0.4 and 0.5 alloys at the highest melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s. At lower wheel speeds all alloys are partially crystalline. The crystalline phases are bcc solid solution (bcc-SS) up to a composition of x = 0.2 and fcc solid solution (fcc-SS) for x = 0.6 and above. At a melt spun wheel speed of 47 m/s, the alloy with the composition of x = 0.3 is almost amorphous, along with traces of both bcc and fcc phases. Ribbons annealed at 450 °C/500 °C (after the first exothermic peak observed in DSC result) exhibit bcc-SS at low Ni concentration (up to x = 0.4) and fcc-SS at higher Ni concentration (x = 0.6 and beyond), whereas x = 0.5 ribbon shows the formation of both bcc-SS and fcc-SS. Ribbons annealed at 620 °C/750 °C (after the second exothermic peak observed in DSC results) exhibit Fe3Zr at low Ni concentration up to x = 0.3 and Ni5Zr from x = 0.4. The crystalline phases form during melt spinning are in the form of dendrites of submicron size, whereas the precipitated phases formed during annealing are nanocrystalline in nature. Thermodynamic modeling was carried out to understand the GFA and phase formation, which are in conformity with the experimental observations. © 2021, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International.

Introduction: Cardiomyopathy is the disease of the heart muscle, which causes deterioration of myocardial functioning. A study was conducted to find electrocardiographic findings in dilated cardiomyopathy. Materials and methods: This was a hospital-based study, conducted in the department of General Medicine, GSL Medical College. Informed written consent was taken from each patient or his/her attendant prior to including in the study. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, both gender, all ages. Heart failure based on Framingham criteria, ECHO criteria – LV ejection fraction less than 45%, with left ventricular or biventricular dilatation, with global hypo-contractility were included in the study. ECG and 2 D Echo have been performed on the patients. Framingham criteria were used for the diagnosis of heart failure. Descriptive statistics were presented in the form of mean ± standard deviation and percentages. Results: Total 102 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 56.3 ±12.5 years, the male-female ratio was 1.9. Tachycardia was 61%, left axis deviation was present 34.3% and right axis deviation in 8.8%. Left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic diameters were elevated in most of the patients. Conclusion: With these findings, it can be concluded severe LV systolic dysfunction is very common among dilated cardiomyopathy patients.

Introduction: Cardiomyopathy is the disease of the heart muscle, which causes deterioration of myocardial functioning. A study was conducted to find electrocardiographic findings in dilated cardiomyopathy. Materials and methods: This was a hospital-based study, conducted in the department of General Medicine, GSL Medical College. Informed written consent was taken from each patient or his/her attendant prior to including in the study. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, both gender, all ages. Heart failure based on Framingham criteria, ECHO criteria – LV ejection fraction less than 45%, with left ventricular or biventricular dilatation, with global hypo-contractility were included in the study. ECG and 2 D Echo have been performed on the patients. Framingham criteria were used for the diagnosis of heart failure. Descriptive statistics were presented in the form of mean ± standard deviation and percentages. Results: Total 102 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 56.3 ±12.5 years, the male-female ratio was 1.9. Tachycardia was 61%, left axis deviation was present 34.3% and right axis deviation in 8.8%. Left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic diameters were elevated in most of the patients. Conclusion: With these findings, it can be concluded severe LV systolic dysfunction is very common among dilated cardiomyopathy patients.

Obesity is a complex disease caused by the interaction of a myriad of genetic, dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors, which favors a chronic positive energy balance, and leads to increased body fat mass. The incidence of obesity is rising at an alarming rate and is becoming a major public health concern with incalculable social costs. Indeed, obesity facilitates the development of metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases in addition to chronic diseases such as stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, some cancers, and inflammation based pathologies. Standard reference Sibutramine produced a significant anti obesity activity in HFD induced obesity in rats. Alogliptin with medium and high doses exhibited a significant anti obesity activity by reducing the body weight, food intake, organ and fat pads weight and serum GLU, CHO, TRG, LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels with an increased HDL levels in HFD induced obesity models in rats. Keywords: Alogliptin, Anti-obesity, Anti-diabetics, DPP-4

Obesity is a complex disease caused by the interaction of a myriad of genetic, dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors, which favors a chronic positive energy balance, and leads to increased body fat mass. The incidence of obesity is rising at an alarming rate and is becoming a major public health concern with incalculable social costs. Indeed, obesity facilitates the development of metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases in addition to chronic diseases such as stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, some cancers, and inflammation based pathologies. Standard reference Sibutramine produced a significant anti obesity activity in HFD induced obesity in rats. Alogliptin with medium and high doses exhibited a significant anti obesity activity by reducing the body weight, food intake, organ and fat pads weight and serum GLU, CHO, TRG, LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels with an increased HDL levels in HFD induced obesity models in rats. Keywords: Alogliptin, Anti-obesity, Anti-diabetics, DPP-4

© 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide strategic recommendations for Indian hotel administrators for improving sustainability practices: environment, economic and social with respect to the supply chain members by analyzing performance dimensions and the importance attached to them. Design/methodology/approach: Importance performance analysis is a tool to analyze the perception of top-level, middle-level and first-level managers in hotels. Questionnaire is developed to collect the hotel manager’s perceptions. The snowball sampling method is used for data collection. Findings: The paper introduces specific sustainability practices, namely, environment, economic and social factors, at the interface of the tourism supply chain (TSC). This will allow the hotels to identify the importance and performance of various sustainability practices to achieve a long-term competitive advantage. The present work finds that the responding hotel managers have given highest importance to the sustainability practices within the organization and the hotel manager’s perception of sustainability practices in the TSC will vary with respect to the supply chain members. Research limitations/implications: The effort has been made to capture specific sustainability practices across the supply chain. The paper reinstates the fact that sustainability practices are not firm specific and should be practiced at the supply chain interface. The data for the study were taken from focal organizations perspective which is the hotels. Practical implications: Results provide the hotel administrators to develop appropriate strategies to improve their practices and functions by analyzing their strengths and weakness regarding their tangible and intangible assets. The identified sustainability practice attributes can act as a benchmark and drive the hotel industry toward possible cost-saving conditions by prioritizing the allocation of the resources while taking

Background The discovery of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) has fundamentally changed our understanding of post transcriptional regulation of transposons and other genes. Unlike miRNA and siRNA, the piRNAs are the most abundant but least studied RNA species in mammals. Although the expression of PIWI proteins and piRNAs has long been regarded as germline specific, increasing evidences suggest the expression of piRNAs in somatic cells. Methods In this study, the small RNA sequencing executed during induction of cardiac hypertrophy in both in vivo and in vitro conditions were annotated for the expression of piRNAs. The expression of piRNAs was validated by qPCR and RNA immunoprecipitation. In addition, the presence of piRNAs in circulation of myocardial infarction patients was studied by qPCR. Results We identified an abundant and altered expression of piRNAs during cardiac hypertrophy. The differentially expressed piRNAs was validated by qPCR and RNA immunoprecipitation. The significantly and differentially expressed piRNAs were predicted to target different retrotransposons and mRNAs in the rat genome. The detection of specific piRNA in serum of myocardial infarction patients suggests the potential of piRNA for diagnosis. Conclusion Overall this study is the first to provide a whole-genome analysis of the large repertoire of piRNAs in the cardiac system and this would pave a new path to understanding the molecular aetiology of piRNA and retrotransposons in the physiology and pathology of the cardiac system., Funding Agencies|DBT [BT/PR 15077/GBD/27/300/2011]; SERB Govt. of India [SR/FT/LS-48/2011, SR/FT/LS-37/2011]; DBT-IPLS; UGC-NRCBS; UGC-CEGS; UGC-CAS; UGC-UPE; DST-PURSE

The present study is designed to investigate the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in selected tissues such as liver, kidney, testis and small intestine of male albino rats treated for Cd and after combined supplementation with Zinc (Zn) + Iron (Fe) and Selenium (Se) + Copper (Cu). The wistar albino rats were treated with cadmium chloride(CdCl2)at a dose of 1/10th LD50 i.e. 22.5 mg / kg body weight for 7, 15 and 30 days(d) time intervals. After 15 d to Cd treatment, the rats were then supplemented with the above combination of two trace elements and thenobserved for accumulation of Cd at specific time intervals. These trace elements at a dosage of 1 mg/ kg body weight of Se, 16mg/kg body weight of Cu, 12 mg / kg body weight of Zn and 40 mg / kg body weight of Fe were given as supplements. There was significant Cd accumulation in liver and kidney among the selected tissues before to supplementation and there was significant decrease in the Cd accumulation levels in all the tissues after trace element supplementation. Moreover the 30d Zn + Fe supplemented rat kidney showed maximum decrease in Cd accumulation (8.327?g/g wet wt. of the tissue).

We study the current algebra of FQHE systems in the hydrodynamical limit of small amplitude, long-wavelength fluctuations. We show that the algebra simplifies considerably in this limit. The hamiltonian is expressed in a current-current form and the operators creating inter-Landau level and lowest Landau level collective excitations are identified., Comment: Revtex, 16 pages

The histological structure of cephalothoracic and abdominal integuments has been studied in the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus. In the branchial region of the carapace, there are a thin epicuticle, an exocuticle, and a relatively thick endocuticle, followed by a layer of columnar epithelium and underlying connective tissue. This pattern is repeated on the inner surface of the carapace fold but with generally thinner cuticular layers. Within the connective tissue there are tegumental glands, haemocytes, and some reserve inclusions. The abdominal integument shows a modified cuticle structure which is probably related to its specific function as an adhesive organ attaching the hermit crab to the inner surface of the gastropod shell. The cuticle is uncalcified and it shows deep wrinkles and grooves.

The histological structure of cephalothoracic and abdominal integuments has been studied in the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus. In the branchial region of the carapace, there are a thin epicuticle, an exocuticle, and a relatively thick endocuticle, followed by a layer of columnar epithelium and underlying connective tissue. This pattern is repeated on the inner surface of the carapace fold but with generally thinner cuticular layers. Within the connective tissue there are tegumental glands, haemocytes, and some reserve inclusions. The abdominal integument shows a modified cuticle structure which is probably related to its specific function as an adhesive organ attaching the hermit crab to the inner surface of the gastropod shell. The cuticle is uncalcified and it shows deep wrinkles and grooves.