The dynamic volatility nexus of geo-political risks, stocks, bond, bitcoin, gold and oil during COVID-19 and Russian-Ukraine war.

We investigate the dynamic volatility connectedness of geopolitical risk, stocks, bonds, bitcoin, gold, and oil from January 2018 to April 2022 in this study. We look at connectivity during the Pre-COVID, COVID, and Russian-Ukraine war subsamples. During the COVID-19 and Russian-Ukraine war periods, we find that conventional, Islamic, and sustainable stock indices are net volatility transmitters, whereas gold, US bonds, GPR, oil, and bitcoin are net volatility receivers. During the Russian-Ukraine war, the commodity index (DJCI) shifted from being a net recipient of volatility to a net transmitter of volatility. Furthermore, we discover that bilateral intercorrelations are strong within stock indices (DJWI, DJIM, and DJSI) but weak across all other financial assets. Our study has important implications for policymakers, regulators, investors, and financial market participants who want to improve their existing strategies for avoiding financial losses.

Zinc Amido-Oxazolinate Catalyzed Ring Opening Copolymerization and Terpolymerization of Maleic Anhydride and Epoxides.

Ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides has become an attractive approach for the synthesis of biodegradable polyesters with various compositions. Encouraged by the efficiency and versatility of a series of amido-oxazolinate zinc complexes, in this study they were shown to be active catalysts for the synthesis of unsaturated polyesters via ROCOP of maleic anhydride and various epoxides. The relative activity of epoxides in these reactions was observed to be styrene oxide > cyclohexene oxide > phenyl glycidyl ether, which could be correlated with the electronic and steric features of the substrate. To provide more structural possibilities for the polyesters, the difference in epoxide reactivity was exploited in an attempt to prepare block terpolymers from one anhydride and two epoxides. Terpolymerization was carried out in one or two steps in a single pot. The thermal characterization by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques suggested that the resulting materials were mostly random terpolymers.

Designing and characterizing of tramadol hydrochloride transdermal patches prepared with Ficus carica fruit mucilage and povidone.

The purpose of this investigation was to prepare matrix type transdermal patches of Tramadol HCl using various ratios of Ficus carica fruit mucilage and Povidone. The matrix type transdermal patches were prepared using Tramadol HCl with Ficus carica fruit mucilage and Povidone. The interactions between Tramadol HCl with F. carica fruit mucilage and Povidone were performed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The prepared patches were examined for physicochemical characterization and in vitro drug permeation studies (using a Keshary-Chien diffusion cell across hairless Albino rat skin), skin irritation studies and accelerated stability studies. The drug was found to be free from negligible interactions with the polymers used. The formulated patches possessed satisfactory physicochemical properties, in vitro drug permeation and devoid of serious skin irritation. The selected formulation (F-5) was retains the characteristics even after the accelerated environmental conditions. The study concludes that F. carica fruit mucilage with Povidone is a good combination for preparing transdermal patches.

Radiographic reference limits for cardiac width in peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus).

OBJECTIVE: To determine radiographic reference limits for cardiac width (CW) in peregrine falcons. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Animals-100 peregrine falcons. PROCEDURES: CW, thoracic width (TW), and sternal width (SW) were measured at the level of maximum CW on ventrodorsal radiographs of 64 falcons. Ratios of CW:TW and CW:SW were compared between positive pressure insufflation (PPI) radiographs and standard radiographs in 6 falcons. A hypothesis for the most accurate predictor of CW was formulated and validated in a new set of 36 falcons. RESULTS: PPI radiographs had a significantly lower CW:TW ratio than did standard radiographs. The CW:SW ratio was unaffected. The 95% confidence interval for a regression-based predicted CW was 19% larger for any given TW, compared with SW. The difference between predicted and measured CW was significantly smaller with SW, compared with TW. Validation of these findings in a new data set of 36 falcons confirmed that prediction of CW when SW was used as the independent variable in a regression equation was superior to use of the CW:SW ratio or the CW:TW ratio and was superior to prediction of CW when TW was used as the independent variable in a regression equation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Of the variables examined, SW seemed to be the most precise and most accurate predictor for CW in peregrine falcons. Thoracic width seemed inferior as a predictor for CW because TW was influenced by respiratory movements. The following formula can be used to predict the 95% confidence interval for CW in peregrine falcons: CW = 0.83SW + 0.37 ± 0.16.