pH Responsive 5-Fluorouracil Loaded Biocompatible Nanogels For Topical Chemotherapy of Aggressive Melanoma

Combating melanoma via topical route is a highly challenging task due to low selectivity, poor efficacy and impeding biological environment of the skin. In the present study, we engineered a chitosan based pH responsive biodegradable nanogel (FCNGL), encapsulated with 5-FU that was effective even at very low drug doses (0.2% w/v) against melanoma. The FCNGL was synthesized by ion gelation technique exhibited nano-size particle distribution and sustained drug release kinetics. Hemolysis and coagulation analysis revealed high safety whereas MTT and apoptosis assays exhibited the efficacy of FCNGL. DMBA-Croton oil Swiss albino mice model was employed for in vivo assessment followed by gamma scintigraphic screening. Tumor burden and pharmacokinetic antioxidant stress levels along with whole-body gamma scintigraphy imaging using 99 mTc labelled nanogel exhibited selective accumulation in melanoma tumor nodules. The pH responsive behaviour of the nanogels resulted in triggered release of 5-FU in slightly acidic microenvironment, resulting in selective drug accumulation at the melanoma site. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of tumor showed improvement of subcutaneous layer alignment and regeneration of the epithelial skin layer when compared with standard 5% 5-FU and control mice group. Overall our preclinical data using the FCNGL portends to be a promising platform for efficient and sustained delivery of 5-FU for topical chemotherapy that can result in high efficacy, patient compliance and safety in the clinical set up.

Motion of an air bubble under the action of thermocapillary and buoyancy forces

A novel way to handle surface tension gradient driven flows is developed in the volume-of-fluid (VoF) framework. Using an open source Navier-Stokes solver, {\it Basilisk}, and the present formulation, we investigate thermocapillary migration of drops/bubbles in a surrounding medium. Several validation exercises have been performed, which demonstrate that the present solver is a robust one to investigate interfacial flows with variable surface tension. It is well known that it is a challenging task to numerically model the tangential and normal surface forces arising due to interfacial tension. We have shown that the present method does not require the artificial smearing of surface tension about the interface, and thus predicts the theoretical value of the terminal velocity of bubble/drop migrating due to an imposed temperature gradient very well. It is also demonstrated that the present solver provides accurate results for problems exhibiting the gravity and thermocapillary forces simultaneously, and useful for systems with high viscosity and density ratios.

Data on primary hydration characteristics of aqueous electrolytes

The data presented in this article support the research article entitled "Development of a rationale for decoupling osmotic coefficient of electrolytes into electrostatic and nonelectrostatic contributions" (Sahu and Juvekar, 2018) [1]. In this article, we have presented the plots of osmotic coefficients against molality for more than hundred aqueous single electrolytes at 25 °C. The linear regions in these plots are marked to show that they are present in all these electrolytes and that these regions extend over a wide range of concentrations. Slopes of the linear regions are used to estimate the primary molar hydration volume as well as the primary hydration number of these electrolytes. These values are also listed and the method of estimation is presented with sample calculation. These data, not only reinforce the observations made in the main article but also provide useful measures for estimation of the nonelectrostatic contribution to the osmotic coefficient.

Bacterial diversity in rhizosphere of Paspalum scrobiculatum L. (kodo millet) is revealed with shotgun metagenome sequencing and data analysis

Rhizosphere bacterial communities of kodo millet plant was analyzed from a large metagenome sequence dataset. Plant rhizosphere samples of kodo millet was collected in replicates and the metagenomic sequence data were obtained through shotgun sequencing. Overall sequences in the dataset were 476,649 comprising total read length of 179,349,372 base pairs. Taxonomic data analysis led to characterize α-diversity of 107 species. Dominance of actinobacteria followed by unclassified sequences (derived from Bacteria) was recorded. Raw data along with the analysis result is publicly available from the MG-RAST server with ID mgm4761530.3.

Blocking sets of tangent and external lines to a hyperbolic quadric in PG(3,q)

Let H be a hyperbolic quadric in P G ( 3 , q ) , where q is a prime power. Let E (respectively, T ) denote the set of all lines of P G ( 3 , q ) which are external (respectively, tangent) to H . We characterize the minimum size blocking sets in P G ( 3 , q ) , q ≠ 2 , with respect to the line set E ∪ T . We also give an alternate proof characterizing the minimum size blocking sets in P G ( 3 , q ) with respect to the line set E for all odd q .

Nanothermite colloids: A new prospective for enhanced performance

Stochastic response of reinforced concrete buildings using high dimensional model representation

Dynamic responses of structures are random in nature due to the uncertainties in geometry, material properties, and loading. The random dynamic responses can be represented fairly well by stochastic analysis. The methods used for stochastic analysis can be grouped into statistical and non-statistical approaches. Although statistical approaches like Monte Carlo simulation is considered as an accurate method for the stochastic analysis, computationally less intensive yet efficient, simplified non-statistical methods are necessary as an alternative. The present study is an evaluation of a relatively new non-statistical metamodel-based approach known as, High Dimensional Model Representation, with reference to existing response surface methods such as Central Composite Design, Box Behnken Design, and Full Factorial Design, in a dynamic response analysis. The geometry of a reinforced concrete frame is chosen to conduct free vibration and nonlinear dynamic analysis to study the stochastic responses using High Dimensional Model Representation method. This method was found to provide results as good as other methods with less computational effort with regard to the selected case studies.

Isolated nasopharyngeal tuberculosis in a 12 year old boy

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease of the human being caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a major health problem in developing country in the world. Majority of the tubercular lesions confined to the lungs of the human body whereas isolated nasopharyngeal tuberculosis affect nasopharynx without involving lungs or any other organs of the body. Isolated nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is an extremely rare clinical entity in children. Most clinician do not consider tuberculosis in their differential diagnosis when patient present with nasopharyngeal symptoms, so often lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis is declining in result of anti-tuberculosis treatment. However, the incidence of tuberculosis in developing country is increasing. Isolated nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare even in the endemic areas. There are varied clinical presentations of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. Biopsy and histopathological examination should be done in every case for avoiding misdiagnosis. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis has an excellent prognosis and it has complete resolution if treated properly. Unexplained and prolonged upper respiratory manifestations with mass or ulcerative lesions at the nasopharynx give suspicion of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. So clinician should keep in mind for the possibility of tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of nasopharyngeal mass as the incidence of tuberculosis is steadily increasing in developing and developed countries. Here we are reporting a proved case of isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis at the nasopharynx. We recommend endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx for any chronic nasopharyngeal complaints of the patients including children to rule out tuberculosis and its early treatment

Gelucire: A versatile polymer for modified release drug delivery system

Poly ethylene glycol (PEG) ester surfactants are synthesized by reacting polyethylene glycol with fatty acid. The polyethylene glycol comprises the hydrophilic part of the surfactant and the fatty acid is the lipophilic part. By varying the molecular weight of the PEG and the fatty acid, surfactants covering wide range of hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) values can be produced. Gelucire is the family of vehicle derived from mixtures of mono, di and triglycerides with PEG esters of fatty acids. These are available with range of properties depending on their HLB and melting point range (33–65 °C). They have a wide variety of application in oral and topical formulations. The applications of oral formulation include solubility and bioavailability enhancement, sustain drug release, taste masking and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) protection from oxygen, light and humidity. The applications of topical formulations include stabilization of creams, lotions and gels, thickener, superior penetration of drug through skin. Gelucire containing only PEG esters are generally used in the preparation of fast release formulations. Gelucire containing only glycerides or a mixture of glycerides and PEG esters are used in the preparation of sustained release formulations. Owing to their extreme hydrophobicity and low density, are considered as appropriate carriers for designing sustained release drug delivery systems. In this review manuscript, applications of various grades of gelucire are compiled in the form of tables and discussed critically. A current literature on patents on gelucire based formulations was also discussed.

Laminar burning velocity of 2-methylfuran-air mixtures at elevated pressures and temperatures: Experimental and modeling studies

2-Methylfuran (MF), a promising biofuel candidate catalytically produced from biomass-based fructose, has attracted the attention of fuel researchers. However, there is limited data available for the laminar burning velocity, especially at high initial pressure conditions. In this work, the laminar burning velocity of MF-air mixtures at elevated initial pressures ( T 0  = 363 K; p 0  = 0.1–0.4 MPa) was experimentally determined in a spherical outwardly expanding flame. Numerical simulation was also conducted in Chemkin using two detailed chemical kinetic mechanisms at elevated pressures (similar to the experiment condition: T 0  = 363 K; p 0  = 0.1–0.4 MPa) and elevated temperatures ( T 0  = 363–563 K; p 0  = 0.1 MPa). Data from experimental and modelling studies were compared and discussed. The experimental results showed that at a given T 0 and p 0 the laminar burning velocity of MF-air mixtures reached peak values at equivalence ratios ϕ  = 1.1–1.2, and it slowed down dramatically when the MF-air mixture was too rich or lean. Laminar burning velocity decreased with the increase in p 0 . The laminar flame speed of MF-air mixture from two chemical kinetic mechanisms exhibited a similar trend with experimental data; however, both the two mechanisms led to overestimation at the most initial conditions. Compared to the Galway mechanism, the Tianjin mechanism better predicted the laminar burning velocity of MF-air mixtures, especially at initial pressures of 0.1 and 0.2 MPa. The current MF mechanism needs further improvement to better predict the combustion of MF at high-pressure conditions.