Screening of nanoemulsion components for asenapine maleate using validated RP-HPLC method.

A novel, simple reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) analytical method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of asenapine from various nanoemulsion components during pre-formulation screening. The developed method was validated according to ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. The developed and validated method was precisely and accurately quantified asenapine in various oils, surfactants and co-surfactants. The separation of asenapine was carried out on Hypersil BDS C18, 250×4.6mm, 5µm particle size column using methanol: acetonitrile (90:10) as mobile phase with a flow rate of 1mL.min-1. Measurement at 270nm for the concentration range of 5 to 50µg.mL-1 of the analyte was found to be linear with the determination coefficient (r2) of 0.999 as calculated by the least square regression method. The validated method was sensitive with LOD of 10.0ng.mL-1 and LOQ of 30.0ng.mL-1. Further, the method was precise and accurate, where the intraday and interday precision values were ranged from 0.70-0.95 and 0.36-0.95, respectively with the corresponding accuracy were ranged from 98.80-100.63 and 98.36-100.63. This developed and validated RP-HPLC method for asenapine was applied in the quantitative determination and screening of various oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants during the development of the asenapine maleate nanoemulsion.

Antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci and streptococci isolated from dogs.

A study was conducted for the examination of bacterial species isolated in dogs from Animal Clinics of Nanjing Agricultural University, China. Forty nasal swabs were taken from dogs having respiratory signs. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was the most frequently isolated pathogen (37.50 %) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (18.75%), Streptococcus pluranimalium (10.93%), Streptococcus canis (9.37%), Staphylococcus schleiferi (9.37%), Staphylococcus intermedius (6.25%), Staphylococcus cohnii (4.71%) and Staphylococcus hominis (3.12%). S. pseudintermedius and S. pluranimalium were subjected to commonly used antibiotics for determination of resistant drugs. Antimicrobial resistance in S. pseudintermedius was common in gentamicin (70.83%) and tetracycline (50%) while in S. pluranimalium was common in enrofloxacin (71.42%) and gentamicin (57.14%).

Antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci and streptococci isolated from dogs

@#A study was conducted for the examination of bacterial species isolated in dogs from Animal Clinics of Nanjing Agricultural University, China. Forty nasal swabs were taken from dogs having respiratory signs. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was the most frequently isolated pathogen (37.50 %) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (18.75%), Streptococcus pluranimalium (10.93%), Streptococcus canis (9.37%), Staphylococcus schleiferi (9.37%), Staphylococcus intermedius (6.25%), Staphylococcus cohnii (4.71%) and Staphylococcus hominis (3.12%). S. pseudintermedius and S. pluranimalium were subjected to commonly used antibiotics for determination of resistant drugs. Antimicrobial resistance in S. pseudintermedius was common in gentamicin (70.83%) and tetracycline (50%) while in S. pluranimalium was common in enrofloxacin (71.42%) and gentamicin (57.14%).

TiO2 based nanostructured memristor for RRAM and neuromorphic applications: a simulation approach.

We report simulation of nanostructured memristor device using piecewise linear and nonlinear window functions for RRAM and neuromorphic applications. The linear drift model of memristor has been exploited for the simulation purpose with the linear and non-linear window function as the mathematical and scripting basis. The results evidences that the piecewise linear window function can aptly simulate the memristor characteristics pertaining to RRAM application. However, the nonlinear window function could exhibit the nonlinear phenomenon in simulation only at the lower magnitude of control parameter. This has motivated us to propose a new nonlinear window function for emulating the simulation model of the memristor. Interestingly, the proposed window function is scalable up to f(x) = 1 and exhibits the nonlinear behavior at higher magnitude of control parameter. Moreover, the simulation results of proposed nonlinear window function are encouraging and reveals the smooth nonlinear change from LRS to HRS and vice versa and therefore useful for the neuromorphic applications.

Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of benzoic acid using Au doped TiO2 thin films.

Highly transparent pure and Au doped TiO2 thin films are successfully deposited by using simple chemical spray pyrolysis technique. The effect of Au doping onto the structural and physicochemical properties has been investigated. The PEC study shows that, both short circuit current (Isc) and open circuit voltage (Voc) are (Isc=1.81mA and Voc=890mV) relatively higher at 3at.% Au doping percentage. XRD study shows that the films are nanocrystalline in nature with tetragonal crystal structure. FESEM images show that the film surface covered with a smooth, uniform, compact and rice shaped nanoparticles. The Au doped thin films exhibit indirect band gap, decreases from 3.23 to 3.09eV with increase in Au doping. The chemical composition and valence states of pure and Au doped TiO2 films are studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation effect is 49% higher in case 3at.% Au doped TiO2 than the pure TiO2 thin film photoelectrodes in the degradation of benzoic acid. It is revealed that Au doped TiO2 can be reused for five cycles of experiments without a requirement of post-treatment while the degradation efficiency was retained.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of sprayed Au doped ferric oxide thin films for salicylic acid degradation in aqueous medium.

Various doping percentage of Au were successfully introduced into the Fe2O3 photocatalysts via a spray pyrolysis method different. The effect of Au doping on photoelectrochemical, structural, optical and morphological properties of these deposited thin films is studied. The PEC characterization shows that, the photocurrent increases gradually with increasing Au content initially up to 2at.% indicating the maximum values of short circuit current (Isc) and open circuit voltage (Voc) are (Isc=90µA and Voc=220.5mV) and then decreases after exceeding the optimal Au doping content. Therefore, the photocurrent of Au doped Fe2O3 photocatalysts can be adjusted by the Au content. Deposited films are polycrystalline with a rhombohedral crystal structure having (104) preferred orientation. SEM and AFM images show deposited thin films are compact and uniform. The photocatalytic activities of the Fe2O3 and Au:Fe2O3 photocatalyst were evaluated by photoelectrocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid under sunlight irradiation. The results show that the Au:Fe2O3 thin film photocatalyst exhibited about 45% more degradation of pollutants than the pure Fe2O3. Thus, in Au doped Fe2O3 photocatalysts, the interaction between Au and Fe2O3 reduces the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and improve the photocatalytic activity.

Fabrication of ZnFe2O4 films and its application in photoelectrocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid.

ZnFe2O4 thin films are successfully deposited onto bare and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated quartz substrate using the spray pyrolysis method. The structure and morphology of ZnFe2O4 photoelectrodes were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The X-ray diffraction pattern confirms the polycrystalline nature of films with a spinel cubic crystal structure. The AFM micrographs shows the granular nature of the films. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss shows dispersion behavior as a function of frequency measured in the range from 20Hz to 1MHz. Photoelectrocatalysis degradation of salicylic acid using ZnFe2O4 photoelectrode under sunlight illumination has been investigated. The result shows that the degradation percentage of salicylic acid on ZnFe2O4 photoelectrodes is reached 49% under neutral conditions after 320min illumination. The decrease in values of COD from 19.4mg/L to 6.4mg/L indicates there is mineralization of salicylic acid with time.

Visible light catalysis of rhodamine B using nanostructured Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) thin films.

The Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) composite films are deposited using spray pyrolysis method onto glass and FTO coated substrates. The structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic properties of Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2) and TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) thin films are studied. XRD analysis confirms that films are polycrystalline with rhombohedral and tetragonal crystal structures for Fe2O3 and TiO(2) respectively. The photocatalytic activity was tested for the degradation of Rhrodamine B (Rh B) in aqueous medium. The rate constant (-k) was evaluated as a function of the initial concentration of species. Substantial reduction in concentrations of organic species was observed from COD and TOC analysis. Photocatalytic degradation effect is relatively higher in case of the TiO(2)/Fe(2)O(3) than TiO(2) and Fe(2)O(3) thin film photoelectrodes in the degradation of Rh B and 98% removal efficiency of Rh B is obtained after 20min. The photocatalytic experimental results indicate that TiO(2)/α-Fe(2)O(3) photoelectrode is promising material for removing of water pollutants.

Biology of Chiloloba orientalis.

This study, related to emergence of the cetoniid beetle, Chiloloba orientalis D and R (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), was conducted annually from August to the middle of October from 2007 to 2010 in maize (Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae)), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), and grass (Hetropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. and Schult., Apluda mutica L.) cultivated fields in a selected plot of grassland in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. Adults of C. orientalis feed on the inflorescence of S. bicolor, Z. mays, H. contortus and A. mutica. The occurrence of adults in this study indicates that the emergence of beetles coincides with the flowering period of its host plants. The immature stages of this beetle feed on the decaying organic matter of crop residues in composting heaps, indicating these immature stages play a key role in the recycling of organic waste of plant and animal origin and help in the enrichment of soil nutrients, especially in the red brown soil where primary decomposers are scarce. This study provides detailed information on the morphological peculiarities of immature stages with the duration required for the completion of the life cycle. The average incubation period of eggs was 15.2 days. The first, second, and third instar lasted for 22.7, 54.3, and 46.6 days respectively. The mean pupal period was 14.7 days. The average adult longevity was 9.4 days.

Consumer grievance reporting in G.M.C. Hospital, Miraj.

A cross-sectional study conducted among 400 'consumers' at G.M.C. Hospital, Miraj revealed 91% consumers had one/more grievance/s. Higher grievances reported in illiterates, lower social class, indoor patients, surgical patients. Lower grievances reported in age < 15 yrs and 31-45 yrs, rural dwellers. Sex and new / old status of patients not affected grievance- reporting. 10 grievances out of 38 were found to be of serious nature. Some grievances (e.g. post-operative complications, discharge without clinical relief, absence of counselling, cursory clinical examination etc.) might have potential as possible medical negligence.