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An appropriate exploitation of biosorbents for the adsorptive removal of toxic heavy metal ions has gained huge interest among the researchers due to concerns on adverse impact by chemical methods and its generation of harmful sludge as byproduct. In the present study, the efficacy of a grafted biosorbent prepared using Tamarindus indicaseed gum was ascertained for removing Cr(VI) from both synthetic solution and real tannery effluent. The adsorptive performance of Cr(VI) was optimized for microwave power, exposure time, methylmethacrylate concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Further, a sample of the adsorbent was subjected to characterization using TGA, FTIR, SEM, and XRD investigations. The acquired grafter polymeric material having the highest grafting ratio and grafting efficiency was employed to optimize Cr(VI) adsorption. The results showed that the highest adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) occurred at an initial pH of the solution, 1.0, which showed the pH dependent of the process. The findings explicated that the Cr(VI) sorption by grafted copolymer biosorbent followed both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms, suggesting that the absorbing active sites on the biosorbent’s surface were heterogeneous and that several mechanisms at work were adopted. Kinetic analysis indicated that the second-order mechanism was found to be the best fit. In addition, actual industrial effluent from tanneries was investigated for the removal of Cr(VI) using the acquired adsorbent. Furthermore, the adsorbed chromium was removed by desorption using NaOH and the reusability of the binding capacity was assessed with different cycles.

Heterostructures comprising two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials of dissimilar lattice constants govern the interfacial interactions, induce structural strain, and influence the mechanical properties, resulting in a low shear strength to minimize friction. The present work addresses a facile hydrothermal approach to synthesize an ammonium surfactant-stabilized 1T/2H-MoS2heterostructure comprising van der Waals interaction-driven interfacially stacked 1T metallic and 2H semiconducting phases of MoS2. The high mole ratios of the ammonium surfactant facilitated the formation of 1T-MoS2beside the 2H phase, yielding the 1T/2H-MoS2heterostructure. Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses explicitly confirmed both the 1T and 2H phases in the 1T/2H-MoS2heterostructures. The long alkyl chain of the ammonium surfactant grafted on the surface of the 1T/2H-MoS2heterostructure extended its dispersibility in fully formulated 10W40 engine lube oil. A minute quantity of 1T/2H-MoS2in engine lube oil (optimum dose: 0.3 mg·mL–1) improved the lubrication performance of the steel tribopair by minimizing friction (24%) and wear volume (76%). Raman analyses of the worn area after the lubrication test with the 1T/2H-MoS2heterostructure revealed the tribo-induced transformation of 1T into the 2H phase and formed a 2H-MoS2-based tribo thin film on contact surfaces of steel balls for enhancement of lubrication properties. The significantly low weak van der Waals interaction between interfacially stacked lamellae of 1T and 2H phases in the 1T/2H-MoS2heterostructure furnished a lower coefficient of friction than that of 2H-MoS2under identical tribological conditions. These findings promise the use of 2D heterostructures for tribological applications to enhance lubrication properties.

ABSTRACTBiomedical signal processing is crucial in many sectors that save lives. Artificial intelligence improvement in signal collection and conditioning boosted this application’s adaptability to varied bodily circumstances. In this study, a novel method is put forth for predicting the type of stroke in the human brain based on the observation of the Electroencephalography (EEG) signal. The signal is the first condition for removing undesirable frequencies by passing through a lowpass filter. To accurately extract the signal features, the signal is first transformed into a 1-second frame format and then normalised. Certain statistical and frequency domain aspects are highlighted to increase taxonomic accuracy. Under the wavelet packet transform, the empirical mode decomposition approach is utilised to recover the most information feasible from the signal. After training on extracted characteristics, the extreme learning machine is regarded to conduct classification. These work achieves 94.95 of Sensitivity, 84.95 of Specificity, 93.74 of Precision, 96.96 of Accuracy, 96.12 of F1 Score. Compared to the standard procedures, the proposed techniques have a greater accuracy rate of about 98%.

Corrosion, a gradual deterioration of metallic bodies, poses significant risks, along with massive monetary and material losses. Surface coatings enriched with corrosion inhibitors and nanostructural fillers play vital roles in protecting the metal substrate against the corrodents. In the present work, Ti3C2TxMXene, synthesized by selective chemical etching of an aluminum layer from the Ti3AlC2MAX phase, is used as a platform material to interfacially grow the polyaniline (emeraldine salt form; PANI-ES) via oxidative polymerization of aniline for preparing the Ti3C2Tx-PANI-ES nanocomposites. The reinforcement of the epoxy matrix via multiple interactions with ample nitrogen and oxygen functionalities of Ti3C2Tx-PANI-ES nanocomposites enhanced the structural compactness, elastic modulus, and hardness of the resultant epoxy coatings. The Ti3C2Tx-PANI-ES nanocomposites as a protective filler to the epoxy coating improved the corrosion inhibition properties in the accelerated corrosive environment (3.5% saline solution). The Ti3C2Tx-PANI-ES increased the total electrochemical impedance of epoxy coating by 11 orders of magnitude, which is further corroborated by the protection of the underlying steel substrate under continuous exposure to salty fog. The Ti3C2TxMXene as a structural barrier impedes the diffusion of corrodents, and the electroactive PANI-ES minimizes the galvanic events by trapping the electrons released during the anodic oxidation of iron and forms a passive layer to protect the underlying mild steel. Therefore, Ti3C2Tx-PANI-ES nanocomposites can be promising materials for corrosion inhibition applications.

Acetone-d6 has been transformed for the first time to 4,4-bis(methylthio)but-3-en-2-one- 1,1,1,3-d4. This tetradeutero-α-oxoketenedithioacetal is shown to be an excellent 1,3-dielectrophilic building block for the synthesis of 5- and 6-membered deuterated heterocycles and aromatics.

Acetone-d6has been transformed for the first time to 4,4-bis(methylthio)but-3-en-2-one- 1,1,1,3-d4. This tetradeutero-α-oxoketenedithioacetal is shown to be an excellent 1,3-dielectrophilic building block for the synthesis of 5- and 6-membered deuterated heterocycles and aromatics.

The article reports on the works of relief by the organization, Sewa International for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. It states that the organization was founded by Gitesh Desai who himself was a victim of Hurricane Harvey. It also mentions about Sewa Bharati with which Sewa International is associated.

Chemiresistive WO3-GO (WG) nanohybrid sensors were designed by a cost-effective hydrothermal process. The structure, morphology, composition and surface features of the prepared WG nanohybrids were explored by an array of analytical techniques, such as X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface profiling. The gas sensing performance of the WG nanohybrids reveals that the small amount of GO significantly impacts the sensor performance. The enhanced gas sensing performance of the WG nanohybrid sensor with a GO content of 3 weight% exhibits an excellent response to 100 ppm of NO2, attaining 239%, which is nearly fourfold higher than that of pristine WO3(61%) at 150 °C, and shows outstanding selectivity, reproducibility and stability (84.5%). Impedance spectroscopy was employed to understand the interaction between the NO2gas molecules and the WG nanohybrid.

The problem of normal impingement of a laminar axisymmetric jet with a flat exit velocity profile is studied by solving the NavierStokes equations numerically. The distributions of the shear stress and pressure on the target plane are obtained for several values of Reynolds number Re and tube height above the target plane. Boundary conditions at farfield are applied at a finite radial location to match an exact farfield solution. It is observed that the peak value of the nondimensional wall shear stress occurs at a radial location on the wall beyond one tube radius, and decreases with an increase in Re. The nondimensional wall shear stress is not very sensitive to the height of the tube exit above the target plane, except at lower values of Re. The distributions of the nondimensional pressure and the radial pressure gradient are not very sensitive to the height of the tube above the target plane.

Productivity and quality are crucial factors to the welfare of the industrial firm as well as for the economic progress of the country. Highly productivity refers to doing the work in a shortest possible time with least expenditure on inputs without sacrificing quality and with minimum wastage of resources. Even though the modem technology is introduced in the garment industry till it is found that the garment industry is mainly depends on manpower efficiency. This study deals with productivity and quality by proper utilization of men. By increasing efficiency and lowering the cost of production with decreasing the waste. This will influence the efficiency of the processes with better quality product. This can be achieved by control over sewing line flow and reducing defect which are affecting the productivity and quality. In this context, a sewing line has capacity and is line balanced considering the bottleneck process after balancing, proper alignment of man to machine by skill matrix has been proposed and final capacity of each worker has been re-allocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity and quality are crucial factors to the welfare of the industrial firm as well as for the economic progress of the country. Highly productivity refers to doing the work in a shortest possible time with least expenditure on inputs without sacrificing quality and with minimum wastage of resources. Even though the modern technology is introduced in the garment industry till it is found that the garment industry is mainly depends on manpower efficiency. This study deals with productivity and quality by proper utilization of man. By increasing efficiency and lowering the cost of production with decreasing the waste This will Influence the efficiency of the processes with harder quality product This can be achieved by control over sewing line flow and reducing defect which are affecting the productivity and quality. In this contest, a sewing line has capacity and is line balanced considering the bottleneck process after balancing, proper alignment of man to machine by skill matrix has been proposed and final capacity of each worker has been re-allocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Electro Discharge Sawing (EDS) process is a modified Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) process to obtain high material removal rates in sawing of large bar stocks and billets of high strength materials. In such a complex system as Electro Discharge Sawing (EDS) with multitude of factors affecting its performance. Taguchi approach of orthogonal arrays (OA) is best suited for the design of experiments . In the present investigation the relative influence of five factors was analyzed on typical four response parameters. An orthogonal array L8 (25) was selected for the five factors set at two levels and designated as low and high. The results show the Electrode polarity to be the most important factor with electrode positive leading to best results. The process variable parameter with highest effect is pulse current followed by pulse on time, pulse off time and voltage. Effect of work material is random depending on which thermal property is more effective out of thermal conductivity and enthalpy of melting.

Calcineurin is an important signal transduction mediator in T cells, neurons, the heart, and kidneys. Recent evidence points to unique actions of the two main isoforms of the catalytic subunit. Although the β isoform is required for T-cell development, α is important in the brain and kidney. In addition, mice lacking α but not β suffer from failure to thrive and early mortality. The purpose of this study was to identify the cause of postnatal death of calcineurin α null (CnAα−/−) mice and to determine the mechanism of α activity that contributes to the phenotype. CnAα−/−mice and wild-type littermate controls were fed a modified diet and then salivary gland function and histology were examined. In vitrostudies were performed to identify the mechanism of α action. Data show that calcineurin is required for normal submandibular gland function and secretion of digestive enzymes. Loss of α does not impair nuclear factor of activated T-cell activity or expression but results in impaired protein trafficking downstream of the inositol trisphosphate receptor. These findings show a novel function of calcineurin in digestion and protein trafficking. Significantly, these data also provide a mechanism to rescue to adulthood a valuable animal model of calcineurin inhibitor-mediated neuronal and renal toxicities.

Calcineurin is an important intracellular signaling molecule which can be inhibited by cyclosporin resulting in immune suppression and nephrotoxicity. Previously, we reported that homozygous loss of the α isoform of calcineurin impairs kidney development and function and mimics many features of cyclosporin nephrotoxicity. However, early lethality of null mice prevented further study of renal changes. Alternatively, we examined aged heterozygous (CnAα+/−) mice. In addition to renal dysfunction and inflammation, we find that CnAα+/−mice spontaneously develop tertiary lymphoid aggregates in the kidney, small intestine, liver, and lung. Lymphoid aggregates contain both T cells and B cells and exhibited organization suggestive of tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs). Kidney function and TLO formation were highly correlated suggesting that this process may contribute to nephrotoxicity. Consistent with previous findings, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is significantly increased in CnAα+/−mice. Neutralization of TGF-β attenuated TLO formation and improved kidney function. In conclusion, we report that haploinsufficiency of CnAα causes uregulation of TGF-β which contributes to chronic inflammation and formation of TLOs. While the process that leads to TLOs formation in transplant allografts is unknown, TLOs are associated with poor clinical prognosis. This study suggests that calcineurin inhibition itself may lead to TLO formation and that TGF-β may be a novel therapeutic target.

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the effect of hydrotropes such as sodium salicylate, sodium benzoate, and nicotinamide on the separation of a near boiling mixture, o‐/p‐xylene. The influence of a wide range of hydrotrope concentrations (0 to 3.0 mol/L) and different system temperatures (303 to 333 K) on the separation of o‐/p‐xylene were studied. All hydrotropes used in this work showed an enhancement in the percentage extraction of p‐xylene to different degrees. The percentage extraction of p‐xylene from the o‐/p‐xylene mixture increases with an increase in hydrotrope concentration and also with system temperature. A minimum hydrotrope concentration (MHC) was found essential to initiate significant extraction of p‐xylene from the o‐/p‐xylene mixture. The maximum enhancement factor, which is the ratio of the value in the presence and absence of a hydrotrope, was determined for both cases. The Setschenow constant, ks, a measure of the effectiveness of a hydrotrope, was determined for each case.

Chirality is a key factor in the safety and efficacy of many drug products and, thus, the production of single enantiomers of drug intermediates has become increasingly important in the pharmaceutical industry. There has been an increasing awareness of the enormous potential of microorganisms and enzymes derived therefrom for the transformation of synthetic chemicals with high chemo-, regio- and enantioselectivities. In this article, some selected enzymatic processes are described for the synthesis of chiral intermediates for pharmaceuticals.

The production of single enantiomers of drug intermediates has become increasingly important in the pharmaceutical industry. Chiral intermediates and fine chemicals are in high demand by both the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries for the preparation of bulk drug substances and agricultural products. The enormous potential of microorganisms and enzymes for the transformation of synthetic chemicals with high chemo-, regio- and enatioselectivities has been demonstrated. In this article, biocatalytic processes are described for the synthesis of chiral intermediates for anti-hypertensive drugs, lipid lowering drugs, anti-cancer agents, antiviral agents, β-3- and β-2-receptor receptor agonists, melatonin receptor agonists, a tryptase inhibitor, retinoic acid γ-specific antagonist, and anti-

Poultry transport containers (PTC), when not adequately cleaned and disinfected each time after hauling live birds, carry the risk of introducing foodborne pathogens into the poultry processing plant as well as infecting subsequent batches of transported birds. In the apparent absence of a satisfactory system, we have evaluated a two-step decontamination process for cleaning and disinfecting PTCs using a recently developed, novel prototype decontamination unit. The PTCs were first manually cleaned with a high-pressure jet spray (6 MPa) of disinfectant solution and subsequently immersed in either hot water (24° C, 50° C, 60° C, and 70° C) or a sodium hypochlorite solution (0, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm at an ambient temperature of 24° C). Both conditions (heat and chemical) were tested at 0.5, 1, and 2 min contact times. Salmonella and/or coliform counts were determined before and after pressure-washing and after immersion treatment. In the absence of large numbers of Salmonella, coliform counts were used to determine cleaning and decontamination efficiency. Pre-cleaning PTCs with a high-pressure jet spray of the disinfectant solution did not produce significant reduction (α = 0.05) in coliform populations. However, immersing pre-cleaned PTCs in hot water at either 60° C or 70° C reduced coliform concentrations an average of 1.6 logs (P ≤ 0.05) within 0.5 min. Similarly, immersing the PTCs in a sodium hypochlorite solution at 1000 ppm for 2 min at a mean tank temperature of 28° C significantly reduced coliforms by an average of 4.2 logs (P < 0.05). It was concluded that either heat or chemical treatments reduced coliform counts enough to reduce the risk of cross-contamination significantly. This prototype decontamination system can be further modified and is adaptable for use in poultry processing plants for cleaning and decontamination of PTCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry transport containers (PTC) require thorough cleaning and disinfection to eliminate the risk of introducing foodborne pathogens into the poultry processing line. The design, materials, and construction of a prototype decontamination tank developed for cleaning and disinfecting PTCs are described in this study The decontamination tank (3.4 x 2.2 x 2.2 m) was made of steel-reinforced fiberglass. It consisted of a rectangular holding section with a capacity of 16,000 L of water in which the PTCs could be immersed. A flat fiberglass mesh was provided at the lower end of the rectangular tank along with a sloped section to drain the solids washed from the PTCs. Three levels of CPVC pipelines were established on the inside tank walls, each containing several nozzles through which recirculated water could be sprayed to create agitation inside the tank. One level of stainless steel steam pipeline with nozzles inserted periodically was provided on the inside tank wall to deliver steam to increase the tank solution temperature. A thermostatic valve provided on the steam line controlled the supply of steam and regulated the tank solution temperature with an accuracy of ± 3° C. The tank was made portable (with a forklift) by providing two hollow steel tubes beneath the tank for the forklift arms. The entire decontamination tank was supported on horizontal steel members so that the weight distribution was even on the ground and to ensure that the tank could be installed on an unpaved surface. After construction, the tank was transported and installed at a poultry processing facility. All the essential functions planned for the tank by the project investigators were accomplished, including supply of water and steam, homing of tank solution, maintenance of water temperature up to 70° C, recirculation and agitation of the tank solution, immersion and retraction of PTCs, and resistance to 70° C and 1000 ppm of... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new enzymatic process for the enantioselective cleavage of N-benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) groups from protected amino acids and related compounds has been developed. The Cbz-deprotecting enzyme was isolated from cell extracts of Sphingomonas paucimobilis SC 16113 and purified to homogeneity. The purified protein has a molecular weight of 155,000 daltons and a subunit size of 44,000 daltons.

The capillary-column inverse gas chromatography method was used to measure the diffusion and partition coefficients of ethylbenzene, styrene, and acrylonitrile in polybutadiene (PBD) at infinite dilution of the solvents. Experiments were performed over a temperature range of 50–125 °C. At temperatures well above the glass-transition temperature of PBD, the diffusivities were correlated using an Arrhenius expression. The Arrhenius parameters in turn were intercorrelated and shown to be a function of the occupied volume, thus providing a method for predicting the diffusion of other solvents in the same polymer. Further, the activation energy was predicted using the Duda-Vrentas free-volume approach. The activation energy thus obtained was compared with the activation energy of the Arrhenius approach. The weight-fraction activity coefficient data were compared to the predictions of the group contribution, lattice-fluid equation-of-state, and the UNIquac Functional-group Activity Coefficient (UNIFAC) free-volume models. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1046–1055, 2002

CETP activity, measured as transfer of cholesteryl ester from exogenous HDL to exogenous VLDL and LDL, reflecting CETP mass as determined by ELISA, was documented in three groups of St. Kitts vervet monkeys fed diets enriched in saturated (Sat), monounsaturated (Mono), or n-6 polyunsaturated (Poly) fatty acids. CETP activity was not different when comparing the three dietary fats. However, CETP activity was significantly higher when cholesterol was added to each of the diets. Significant positive associations between CETP activity and VLDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations were found whereas significant negative associations were seen between CETP activity and HDL cholesterol in each of the diet groups. The strength of these associations was highest in the Sat group. Cholesteryl ester (CE) fatty acid composition of lipoproteins varied widely among diet groups, with the more polyunsaturated CE of the Poly group being associated with a higher rate of CE transfer to endogenous acceptor apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. Finally, only the Sat diet group showed significant positive correlations of CETP activity with LDL particle diameter (r= 0.76), cholesteryl ester percentage (r= 0.67), and a strong negative correlation (r= −0.86) with LDL receptor function, estimated as the difference between native and methylated LDL turnover rates. We speculate that strong associations between CETP and LDL metabolism may explain, at least in part, the increased atherogenicity of dietary saturated fat.

Abstract. Seeds of Canavalia virosa (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (Fabaceae), known locally as Kaattuthambattan in the Tamil language, consumed as a staple food by Malayali tribals in the Kolli hills of Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu in Eastern Ghats of Peninsular India, were analyzed for proximate composition, total (true) seed proteins, amino acids, minerals, and some antinutritional factors. Crude protein, crude fat, ash, and nitrogen free extractives constitute 31.3%, 4.9%, 3.8%, and 48.2% respectively. The calorific value of seed material was 1512.4 kJ/100 g Dm. The essential amino acids, isoleucine, histidine, cystine+methionine, and threonine, were present in relatively large quantities. The seeds are rich in calcium, zinc, manganese, and iron. Antinutritional factors such as tannins (5.8%), L-DOPA (4.3%), hydrogen cyanide (0.013%), and phytic acid (1.1%) are present in variable quantities. The trypsin inhibitor activity (29.8 units) and hemagglutinating activity of the seed meal were also assayed.

Repeated silica gel chromatography of the dichloromethane extract of air-dried stems of Indigofera longeracemosa followed by reverse-phase HPLC separation yielded a new decahydro-pyridoquinoline, rel-(3S, 5R. 6S, 8R, 8aR, 12aR)-8-acetoxy-6-butyl-3-isothiocyanatodecahydropyrido (2,1) quinoline.

Chirality is a key factor in the efficacy of many drug products and thus the production of single enantiomers of drug intermediates has become increasingly important in the pharmaceutical industry. Biocatalysis is now accepted as a one of key methodologies for the preparation of chiral drug intermediates and fine chemicals. The biocatalytic production of several key intermediates in the synthesis of antihypertensive, anticholesterol, anti‐Alzheimer’s, β3‐receptor agonist, HIV‐protease inhibitor, and other pharmaceuticals is described. These includes (1) the synthesis of L‐6‐hydroxynorleucine from racemic 6‐hydroxynorleucine, (2) the enzymatic synthesis of (S)‐allysine ethylene acetal by reductive deamination using phenylalanine dehydrogenase, (3) the synthesis of [4S‐(4a,7a,10ab)]‐1‐octahydro‐5‐oxo‐4‐{[(phenylmethoxy)carbonyl]‐amino}‐7H‐pyrido‐[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazepine‐7‐carboxylic acid (BMS‐199541–01) by enzymatic oxidation process using L‐lysine‐ϵ‐aminotransferase, (4) the enzymatic synthesis of the lactol [3aS‐(3aα,4α,7α,7aα)]‐hexahydro‐4,7‐epoxyisobenzofuran‐1(3H)‐ol and corresponding lactone, (5) the microbial synthesis of (3R‐cis)‐1,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐3‐hydroxy‐4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2H‐1‐benzazepin‐2‐one, (6) the microbial oxygenation of 6‐cyano‐2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐1‐benzopyran to the corresponding chiral epoxide and (+)‐transdiol, (7) the enantioselective microbial reductions of N‐[4‐(2‐chloroacetyl)phenyl]methanesulfonamide and (4‐benzyloxy‐3‐methanesulfonylamino)‐2'‐bromoacetophenone to the corresponding (R)‐alcohols, (8) the enzymatic resolution of racemic α‐methyl phenylalanine amides by amidase, (9) the enantioselective hydrolysis of diethyl methyl‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐propanedioate by lipase PS‐30, (10) the enantioselective microbial reduction of methyl 4‐chloro‐3‐oxobutanoate, (11) the enzymatic synthesis of ethyl (3S,5R)‐dihydroxy‐6‐(benzyloxy)hexanoate, (12) the enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic epoxide 1‐{2',3'‐dihydrobenzo[b]furan‐4'‐yl}‐1,2‐oxirane by epoxide hydrolase, (13) the biocatalytic dynamic kinetic resolution of R,S‐1‐{2',3'‐dihydrobenzo[b]furan‐4'‐yl}‐ethane‐1,2‐diol, and (13) the diastereoselective microbial reduction of (1S)‐[3‐chloro‐2‐oxo‐1‐(phenylmethyl)propyl]carbamic acid 1,1‐dimethylethyl ester. 1 Introduction 2 Antihypertensive Drugs 3 Thromboxane A2Antagonists 4 Calcium Channel Blocking Drugs 5 Potassium Channel Openers 6 Antiarrhythmic Agents 7 β3‐Receptor Agonists 8 Anticholesterol Drugs 9 Microbial Resolution10 Anti‐Alzheimer Drugs11 HIV Protease Inhibitors12 Conclusion

Seeds of Galactia longifolia Benth. (Fabaceae), locally known as Kaattukollu in Tamil language, used as food by Malayali tribals in the Kolli hills of Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu in South India were analysed for proximate composition, total (true) seed proteins, amino acid composition, fatty acid composition, minerals and antinutritional factors. Crude protein, crude fat, ash and nitrogen free extractives constitute 25.56%, 6.18%, 5.12% and 56.15%, respectively. The caloric value of 100 g dry matter of seed material is 1 601 KJ. The essential amino acids, tryptophan, leucine + isoleucine, arginine and threonine are present relatively in large quantities. The unsaturated fatty acids constitute more than 60%. The seeds are very rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. Antinutritional factors such as total free phenols, tannins, L-DOPA, hydrogen cyanide and phytic acid is present in minute quantities. The seed meal is consumed after eliminating all the antinutritional factors using the conventional method of soaking seeds in water, boiling with water and decanting for four times by Malayali tribals.

The combination of water-soluble radical initiator 2,2‘-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] (VA-061), water-soluble chain carrier 1-ethylpiperidine hypophosphite (EPHP), and surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was found to be the most suitable condition for effective radical cyclization in water for a variety of hydrophobic substrates.

Retroviral vectors encoding glucose-responsive promoters driving furin expression may provide an amplified, glucose-regulated secretion of insulin. We constructed LhI*TFSN virus to encode a glucose-regulatable transforming growth factor α promoter controlling furin expression with a viral LTR promoter driving constitutive expression of furin-cleavable human proinsulin. Autologous BB rat vascular smooth muscle cells transduced with LhI*TFSN virus and cultured in 1.7 and 16.7 mM glucose secreted 50.7 ± 3.2 and 136.0 ± 11.0 μU (mean ± SD) of insulin per 106 cells per day, respectively. After the onset of diabetes spontaneously diabetic congenic DR lyp/lyp BB rats received stomach implants containing 2 × 106 LhI*TFSN-transduced primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells. In eight treated rats there was a major reduction in insulin requirement to as low as 25% of pretreatment level for up to 3 months and one rat became insulin free without hypoglycemia. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTTs) in diabetic rats receiving control implants did not show the characteristic decline in blood glucose of normal rats after glucose administration. In contrast, diabetic rats receiving LhI*TFSN-transduced cells showed significant clearances of blood glucose. These data suggest clinically significant levels of glucose-regulated insulin delivery from implanted vascular smooth muscle cells transduced with LhI*TFSN vector.

Chiral intermediates S-(+)-2-pentanol and S-(+)-2-heptanol were prepared by a lipase-catalyzed enzymatic resolution proces. Among various lipases evaluated for the stereoselective acylation of racemic alcohols, lipase B from Candida antarcticacatalyzed the acylation of the undesired enantiomer of racemic alcohols leaving the desired S-(+)-alcohols unreacted. A reaction yield of 43–45% and an enantiomeric excess (e.e.) of >99% were obtained for S-(+)-2-pentanol or S-(+)-2-heptanol when the reaction was carried out using vinyl acetate or succnic anhydride as acylating agent. In an alternative process, an enantioselective hydrolysis of 2-pentyl acetate was demonstrated using lipase B giving S-(+)-2-pentyl acetate and R-(-)-2-pentanol. A reaction yield of 45% and an e.e. of 98.6% were obtained for S-(+)-2-pentyl acetate.

This fundamental study investigates the blowing agent (isopentane) on the extensional viscosity of LDPE at appropriate strain rates and then correlates to the foaming process. The main purpose was to calculate extensional viscosity growth function as a function of extrusion rate and time with and without the presence of isopentane in LDPE. A simple theological technique using the Haake capillary rheometer with pulling attachments was used in the study. The experimental technique is simple and cost effective, but a powerful tool to screen new resins for foam processing applications.

Abstract: An experimental investigation of the interaction of surface radiation and natural convection in an L shaped corner is presented. Parametric studies to explore the influence of surface emissivity and aspect ratio on the total heat transfer rate from the isothermal vertical wall of the L corner, have been carried out. For an L corner with highly polished walls, the present experimental results are compared with results available in literature, and are found to be in good agreement. A new semi-experimental method for solving this class of problems is discussed, and a correlation for estimating the total Nusselt number is proposed. It is found that surface radiation has a significant effect on the total heat transferred from the vertical wall of the L-shaped corner.

Efficient transduction of primary human T cells is an important goal toward treating a number of genetic defects. Patient T cells could be harvested by leukapheresis, transduced, and returned to the donor. A wide range of secreted or cell surface therapeutic proteins may be delivered in this way. The ability to produce antibodies is the consequence of interactions between T cells and B cells and lack of expression of CD40 ligand (CD40L) on T cells causes X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (XHIM). We are investigating delivery of a normal CD40 ligand to treat this disorder. We tested promoters driving the expression of either reporter genes such as enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) or human CDC40L. Using murine retroviruses, the best able to drive gene expression in T cells was the cytomegalovirus (CM V) promoter enhancer element; however, transduction efficiency was low. To achieve efficient, high-level gene expression we tested lentiviral gene delivery vectors. At a low multiplicity of infection (M OI) (0.5-2) a large fraction of target cells was transduced by lentiviral vectors (40-93%), and the strength of gene expression was high, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. We monitored the expression of eGFP or human CD40L on T cell lines and untransformed primary human T cells from normal and CD40L-deficient patients. We achieved efficient gene expression without an extended exposure to virus, and without the need for selection. These results are encouraging for efficient lentivirus-mediated transduction of refractory human cells to achieve therapeutic gene delivery.

This fundamental study focuses on the influence of blowing agent on bubble growth during thermoplastic foam extrusion. The extruded molten mixture expands and cools simultaneously when exposed to ambient conditions. The bubble growth is influenced by the concentration-dependent blowing agent diffusion coefficient, transient cooling of the expanding foam, influence of blowing agent on polymer viscosity, and the escape of blowing agent from the surface of the foam. Previous models in the literature do not consider these significant influences. A model is presented accounting for those more subtle effects. In addition, a new experimental technique is described to collect experimental bubble growth data. Predictions of the new model reasonably agree with the experimental data.

Chiral intermediates were prepared by biocatalytic processes for the chemical synthesis of β-3-receptor agonists. These include: (i) the microbial reduction of 4-benzyloxy-3-methanesulfonylamino-2′-bromoacetophenone 1to the corresponding (R)-alcohol 2by Spingomonas paucimobilisSC 16113. In the biotransformation process, a reaction yield of >85% and an optical purity of 99.5% were obtained for the desired (R)-alcohol 2; (ii) the enzymatic resolution of racemic α-methyl phenylalanine amide, 3, and α-methyl-4-hydroxy-phenylalanine amide, 5, by amidase from Mycobacterium neoaurumATCC 25795 to prepare the corresponding (S)-amino acids 4and 6. Reaction yields of 49.9 and 49 M% (theoretical maximum yield 50 M%) and optical purities of 99 and 94% were obtained for the desired (S)-amino acids 4and 6, respectively; (iii) the asymmetric hydrolysis of methyl-(4-methoxyphenyl)-propanedioic acid, ethyl diester, 7, to the corresponding (S)-monoester 8by pig liver esterase. A reaction yield of 96 M% and an optical purity of 96% were obtained for (S)-monoester 8when reactions were carried out in a biphasic system containing 10% ethanol at 10°C.

Seeds of Teramnus labialis(L.) Spreng.(Fabaceae), used as food by Malayali tribals in theKollihills of Salem District, Tamil Nadu in SouthIndia, were investigated for their nutritional value. These seeds were analyzed for proximate composition,total (true) seed proteins, seed proteinfractions, amino acid composition, fatty acidcomposition, minerals and antinutritional factors. Crude protein, crude fat, ash, and nitrogen freeextracts constituted 22.86%, 6.10%, 4.62%, and,58.15%, respectively, of the seed weight. The caloricvalue of 100 g dry matter of seed material was 378.94kcal. The essential amino acids lysine, leucine +isoleucine, arginine, valine and histidine werepresent in relatively large quantities. Theunsaturated fatty acids constituted more than 60% ofthe crude fat. Concentrations of minerals such aspotassium, magnesium, calcium, and, phosphorus werehigh. Antinutritional factors such as total freephenols, tannins, L-DOPA, hydrogen cyanide andphytic acid were present in minute quantities. Theseantinutritional factors are potentially eliminated using the conventional method of soaking the seeds in water,boiling with water and decanting prior to consumption.