Unique Crystallization Characteristics of Pickering High Internal Phase Emulsion Templated Porous Constructs

To study the crystallization behavior of polymeric chains under the influence of porosity, the thermal properties of various nonporous and porous poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) based constructs were investigated. Porous cross-linked PCL nanocomposite constructs were fabricated utilizing in situ polymerization of CL-based surfactant-free Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), stabilized using modified fumed silica nanoparticles (mSiNP) at a minimal concentration of 0.6 wt %. The corresponding nanocomposite constructs exhibited polyhedral pore morphology with significant pore roughness due to the presence of mSiNP. DSC thermograms of nonporous constructs illustrated diminished crystallization temperature and kinetics upon cross-linking and inclusion of mSiNP which confirmed suppressed mobility of polymer chains. Further introduction of porosity led to substantial supercooling, resulting in crystallization temperatures as low as -24 °C. Changes in the crystal structure of various nonporous and porous constructs were also studied using XRD. The crystallization behavior of porous constructs was finally evaluated using Jeziorny, Ozawa, and Mo theories under nonisothermal conditions. Significant deviation from the theoretical model, as observed in the case of porous constructs, implied a complex crystallization mechanism that eventually was not only controlled by the chain immobility due to cross-linking but also heterogeneity present in the wall thickness of the constructs. The unique melting-crystallization phenomenon observed in such constructs may further be expanded to other systems of high heat capacity for utilization as energy storage materials.

Solid Polymer Electrolytes with Dual Anion Synergy and Twofold Reinforcement Effect for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have emerged as a viable alternative to traditional organic liquid-based electrolytes for high energy density and safer lithium batteries. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based SPEs are considered one of the mainstream SPE materials with excellent dissociation ability of lithium salts. However, the inferior ionic conductivity at room temperature and poor dimensional stability at high temperature limit their utilization. In this work, a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) forming a precursor based on an ionic liquid (IL) monomer and linear PEO chains were introduced into an electrospun poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) fibrous mat with subsequent thermal-initiated cross-linking. 1,4-Diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO) and 4-(chloromethyl) styrene were used to synthesize the styrenic-DABCO-based IL monomer with bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (TFSI-) or bis(fluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (FSI-) as the anion, named as SDTFSI and SDFSI, respectively. Together, the FSI- and TFSI- anions demonstrate a synergistic effect in providing ion-conductive LiF and Li3N-rich inorganic SEI layer with enhanced lithium dendrite suppression ability. The twofold reinforcement effect is achieved collectively from the semi-IPN structure and the three-dimensional (3D) PAN network that help to construct highly efficient and uniform ion transport channels with excellent flexibility, further suppressing the lithium dendrite growth. The SPEs were dimensionally stable even at elevated temperatures of 150 °C. Moreover, the SPEs show an ionic conductivity of 4.4 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 25 °C and 1.81 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 55 °C and a lithium-ion transference number of 0.56. The favorable electrochemical performance of the SPEs was verified by operating LiFePO4/Li and NMC/Li cells.

"Biomass to Membrane": Sulfonated Kraft Lignin/PCL Superhydrophilic Electrospun Membrane for Gravity-Driven Oil-in-Water Emulsion Separation

Biobased membranes made with green solvents have numerous advantages in the water purification industry; however, their long-term use is impeded by severe membrane fouling and low structural stability. Herein, we proposed a facile and green approach to fabricate an eco-friendly and biodegradable electrospun membrane by simply blending polycaprolactone (PCL) with sulfonated kraft lignin (SKL) in a green solvent (i.e., acetic acid) without needing any additional post-treatment. We investigated the influence of SKL content on the surface morphology, chemical composition, and mechanical properties of the electrospun membrane. The SKL-modified membranes (L-5 and L-10) showed superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity with a water contact angle (WCA) of 0° (<3 s) and an underwater-oil contact angle (UWOCA) over 150° due to the combined effect of surface roughness and hydrophilic chemical functionality. Furthermore, the as-prepared membranes demonstrated excellent pure water flux of 800-900 LMH and an emulsion flux of 170-480 LMH during the gravity-driven filtration of three surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions, namely, mineral oil/water, gasoline/water, and n-hexadecane/water emulsions. In addition, these membranes exhibited superior antioil-fouling performance with excellent separation efficiency (97-99%) and a high flux recovery ratio (>98%). The 10 wt % SKL-incorporated membrane (L-10) also showed consistent separation performance after 10 cyclic tests, indicating its excellent reusability and recyclability. Furthermore, the stability of the membrane under harsh pH conditions was also evaluated and proved to be robust enough to maintain its wettability in a wide pH range (pH 1-10).

Valorised polypropylene waste based reversible sensor for copper ion detection in blood and water

Heavy metals and plastic pollutants are the two most disastrous challenges to the environment requiring immediate actions. In this work, a techno-commercially feasible approach to address both challenges is presented, where a waste polypropylene (PP) based reversible sensor is produced to selectively detect copper ions (Cu2+) in blood and water from different sources. The waste PP-based sensor was fabricated in the form of an emulsion-templated porous scaffold decorated with benzothiazolinium spiropyran (BTS), which produced a reddish colour upon exposure to Cu2+. The presence of Cu2+ was checked by naked eye, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and DC (Direct Current) probe station by measuring the current where the sensor's performance remained unaffected while analysing blood, water from different sources, and acidic or basic environment. The sensor exhibited 1.3 ppm as the limit of detection value in agreement with the WHO recommendations. The reversible nature of the sensor was determined by cyclic exposure of the sensor towards visible light turning it from coloured to colourless within 5 min and regenerated the sensor for the subsequent analysis. The reversibility of the sensor through exchange between Cu2+- Cu+ was confirmed by XPS analysis. A resettable and multi-readout INHIBIT logic gate was proposed for the sensor using Cu2+ and visible light as the inputs and colour change, reflectance band and current as the output. The cost-effective sensor enabled rapid detection of the presence of Cu2+ in both water and complex biological samples such as blood. While the approach developed in this study provides a unique opportunity to address the environmental burden of plastic waste management, it also allows for the possible valorization of plastics for use in enormous value-added applications.

Block Copolymer-Templated Au@CdSe Core-Satellite Nanostructures with Solvent-Dependent Optical Properties

In the present work, we report the fabrication and characterization of well-defined core-satellite nanostructures. These nanostructures comprise block copolymer (BCP) micelles, containing a single gold nanoparticle (AuNP) in the core and multiple photoluminescent cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) attached to the micelle's coronal chains. The asymmetric polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) BCP was employed to develop these core-satellite nanostructures in a series of P4VP-selective alcoholic solvents. The BCP micelles were first prepared in 1-propanol and subsequently mixed with AuNPs, followed by gradual addition of CdSe QDs. This method resulted in the development of spherical micelles that contained a PS/Au core and a P4VP/CdSe shell. These core-satellite nanostructures, developed in different alcoholic solvents, were further employed for the time-resolved photoluminescence analysis. It was found that solvent-selective swelling of the core-satellite nanostructures tunes the distance between the QDs and AuNPs and modulates their Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) behavior. The average lifetime of the donor emission varied from 12.3 to 10.3 nanoseconds (ns) with the change in the P4VP-selective solvent within the core-satellite nanostructures. Furthermore, the distances between the donor and acceptor were also calculated using efficiency measurements and corresponding Förster distances. The resulting core-satellite nanostructures hold promising potential in various fields, such as photonics, optoelectronics, and sensors that utilize the FRET process.

Physics of moderately stretched electrified jets in electrohydrodynamic jet printing

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing involves the deposition of a liquid jet issuing from a needle stretched under the effect of a strong electric field between the needle and a collector plate. Unlike the geometrically independent classical cone-jet observed at low flow rates and high applied electric fields, at a relatively high flow rate and moderate electric field, EHD jets are moderately stretched. Jetting characteristics of such moderately stretched EHD jets differ from the typical cone-jet due to the nonlocalized cone-to-jet transition. Hence, we describe the physics of the moderately stretched EHD jet applicable to the EHD jet printing process through numerical solutions of a quasi-one-dimensional model of the EHD jet and experiments. Through comparison with experimental measurements, we show that our simulations correctly predict the jet shape for varying flow rates and applied potential difference. We present the physical mechanism of inertia-dominated slender EHD jets based on the dominant driving and resisting forces and relevant dimensionless numbers. We show that the slender EHD jet stretches and accelerates primarily due to the balance of driving tangential electric shear and resisting inertia forces in the developed jet region, whereas in the vicinity of the needle, driving charge repulsion and resisting surface tension forces govern the cone shape. The findings of this study can help in operational understanding and better control of the EHD jet printing process.

Dual-functionalized Pickering HIPE templated poly(ɛ-caprolactone) scaffold for maxillofacial implants

High internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templated poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds have gained widespread attention for large-sized bone defects due to its tuneable 3D architecture and ease of fabricating crosslinked PCL (cPCL) scaffolds. However, extremely high stabilizer (surfactant or nanoparticle) concentration and negligence of microenvironment for regeneration sites like alveolar bones have restrained industrial acceptance of these scaffolds. Herein, we demonstrated the fabrication of nanocomposite cPCL scaffolds within Pickering HIPE templates stabilized using modified silica nanoparticles (mSiNP) concentrations as low as 0.1 to 1.0 wt%. Using an unconventional approach, the mSiNP Pickering stabilizer was added in dispersed phase, contradicting Bancroft's rule. The colloidal stability was attained due to faster drifting of mSiNP towards the interface when it was dispersed in silicone oil. Scaffolds with tuneable properties were fabricated by controlling the mSiNP concentration and ϕ_d. Further, cPCL scaffolds were functionalized using clove oil (CO) to improve their efficiency in eradicating S. aureus and E. coli by disrupting their cellular integrity. Additionally, formation of biofilm on the surface of the scaffolds was successfully inhibited by the incorporation of CO. CO-functionalized scaffolds demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility towards MG-63 cells allowing their successful adhesion and proliferation on the surface of the scaffolds.

3D Printed Hierarchical Porous Poly(ε-caprolactone) Scaffolds from Pickering High Internal Phase Emulsion Templating

In the realm of biomaterials, particularly bone tissue engineering, there has been a great increase in interest in scaffolds with hierarchical porosity and customizable multifunctionality. Recently, the three-dimensional (3D) printing of biopolymer-based inks (solutions or emulsions) has gained high popularity for fabricating tissue engineering scaffolds, which optimally satisfies the desired properties and performances. Herein, therefore, we explore the fabrication of 3D printed hierarchical porous scaffolds of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) using the water-in-oil (w/o) Pickering PCL high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) as the ink in 3D printer. The Pickering PCL HIPEs stabilized using hydrophobically modified nanoclay comprised of aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as the dispersed phase. Rheological measurements suggested the shear thinning behavior of Pickering HIPEs having a dispersed droplet diameter of 3-25 μm. The pore morphology resembling the natural extracellular matrix and the mechanical properties of scaffolds were customized by tuning the emulsion composition and 3D printing parameters. In vitro biomineralization and drug release studies proved the scaffolds' potential in developing the apatite-rich bioactive interphase and controlled drug delivery, respectively. During in vitro osteoblast (MG63) growth experiments for up to 7 days, good adhesion and proliferation on PCL scaffolds confirmed their cytocompatibility, assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis. This study suggests that the assembly of HIPE templates and 3D printing is a promising approach to creating hierarchical porous scaffolds potentially suitable for bone tissue engineering and can be stretched to other biopolymers as well.

Pickering Emulsion-Templated Nanocomposite Membranes for Excellent Demulsification and Oil-Water Separation

A worldwide steady increase in oily wastewater, due to oil spillage and various industrial discharges, requires immediate efforts toward development of an effective strategy and materials to preserve the natural water bodies. Designing a superwettable fibrous membrane of robust structure and anti-fouling property for efficient separation of oil-water mixtures and emulsions is therefore highly demanding. The electrospun fibrous membrane, which possesses porosity and flexibility and properties including superwettability and tunable functionality, can be considered as apposite materials for this cause. In this approach, we combined two strategies, viz., Pickering emulsion and near gel resin (nGR) emulsion electrospinning together to produce a fibrous nanocomposite membrane for efficient oil-water separation and demulsification. nGR Pickering emulsions were stabilized using hydrophilic SiO₂ nanoparticles and successfully optimized for fabricating the crosslinked core sheath-structured fibrous membrane. The prepared membrane provided twofold functionality due to the core sheath structure of the fibers. The crosslinked polystyrene core offered high oil adsorption capacity, whereas SiO₂-functionalized crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol sheath provided a rough, superhydrophilic surface with underwater oleophobic behavior to the membrane. The optimized SiO₂-Pickering emulsion-templated nanocomposite membrane demonstrated excellent underwater anti-oil adhesion behavior (UWOCA ∼148°) with efficient oil-water separation capacity of more than 99% and separation flux up to 3346 ± 91 L m^-2 h^-1. The membrane was evaluated against various oil-water emulsions and found to have a superior separation efficiency. Moreover, excellent anti-oil adhesion property provided the intact membrane, where consistent separation performance was achieved up to 10 separation cycles without any loss. The membrane was used for separation of hot oil-water emulsions and showed no structural disintegration or loss in separation performance when exposed to elevated temperatures. The developed nanocomposite membranes could efficiently be used for separation and demulsification, and their applications can be explored in various other fields including selective sorption, catalysis, and storage in future.

Emulsion templated scaffolds of poly(ε-caprolactone) - a review

The role of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and its 3D scaffolds in tissue engineering has already been established due to its ease of processing into long-term degradable implants and approval from the FDA. This review presents the role of high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templating in the fabrication of PCL scaffolds, and the versatility of the technique along with challenges associated with it. Considering the huge potential of HIPE templating, which so far has mainly been focused on free radical polymerization of aqueous HIPEs, we provide a summary of how the technique has been expanded to non-aqueous HIPEs and other modes of polymerization such as ring-opening. The scope of coupling of HIPE templating with some of the advanced fabrication methods such as 3D printing or electrospinning is also explored.

The initial experience of COVID-19 vaccination from a tertiary care centre of India

To the Editor Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the Bharat biotech vaccine against COVID-19, which is a locally manufactured inactivated vaccine named ''COVAXIN'' in collaboration with the Indian council of medical research (ICMR) on 3rd  January 2021 for emergency use along with the "Covishield" Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India... *The Safdarjung COVID-19 Vaccination group: KR Meena (Professor, Paediatrics), U Venkatesh (Assistant Professor, Community Medicine), Pushpa Kumari (Associate Professor, Medicine), Sonal Burman (Specialist, Medicine), Neeraj Kumar Gupta (Professor and Head, Pulmonary Medicine), Nitesh Gupta (Assistant Professor, Pulmonary Medicine), Rohit Kumar (Assistant Professor, Pulmonary Medicine), Swetabh Purohit (Senior resident, Pulmonary Medicine), Arjun Ramaswamy (Senior resident, Pulmonary Medicine).

Synthesis of Lactic Acid-Based Thermosetting Resins and Their Ageing and Biodegradability

The present work is focused on the synthesis of bio-based thermoset polymers and their thermo–oxidative ageing and biodegradability. Toward this aim, bio-based thermoset resins with different chemical architectures were synthesized from lactic acid by direct condensation with ethylene glycol, glycerol and pentaerythritol. The resulting branched molecules with chain lengths (n) of three were then end-functionalized with methacrylic anhydride. The chemical structures of the synthesized lactic acid derivatives were confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) before curing. To evaluate the effects of structure on their properties, the samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the tensile testing. The samples went through thermo-oxidative ageing and biodegradation; and their effects were investigated. FT-IR and ¹H-NMR results showed that three different bio-based resins were synthesized using polycondensation and end-functionalization. Lactic acid derivatives showed great potential to be used as matrixes in polymer composites. The glass transition temperature of the cured resins ranged between 44 and 52 °C. Pentaerythritol/lactic acid cured resin had the highest tensile modulus and it was the most thermally stable among all three resins. Degradative processes during ageing of the samples lead to the changes in chemical structures and the variations in Young’s modulus. Microscopic images showed the macro-scale surface degradation on a soil burial test.

Quantification of nitrogen transformation and leaching response to agronomic management for maize crop under rainfed and irrigated condition

Nitrogen (N) plays an important role in agriculture crop production but the increasing application of nitrogen increases the possibilities of groundwater contamination through nitrate leaching. Nitrate leaching is the inevitable part of agriculture production which occurs during nitrogen fertilization. Hence, the quantification of nitrogen fertilizer is required to reduce nitrate leaching. In this study, nitrogen transformation and transport such as ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃^-) at different soil depths and maize crop growth stages were measured during field experiments for two sowing dates (timely and delay) and four N fertilization levels under irrigated (year 2013 and 2014) and rainfed (year 2012 and 2014) conditions for maize crop. NH₄⁺, NO₃^- and total nitrogen concentrations were measured using spectrophotometer at 410 nm and Kjeldahl method at varying soil depths and maize crop growth stages. Thereafter, nitrogen balance approach was used to estimate the NO₃^- leaching. Results indicated that NO₃^- leaching in irrigated condition was higher 109% in N₇₅, 179% in N₁₀₀, and 292% in N₁₂₅ level respectively in comparison to the N₀ level in timely sowing date, while in delayed sowing date, leaching was higher 54% in N₇₅, 123% in N₁₀₀, and 184% in N₁₂₅ level respectively in comparison to N₀ level. In rainfed, the NO₃^- leaching was higher 30% in N₆₀, 59% in N₈₀, and 99% in N₁₀₀ level respectively in comparison to N₀ level for the timely sowing date, while in delayed sowing, leaching was higher 23% in N₆₀, 44% in N₈₀, and 78% in N₁₀₀ level respectively in comparison to N₀ level. The results indicate that leaching losses were less in timely sowing dates for both rainfed and irrigated maize. The study further reveals that sowing dates combination with N levels could be an effective management strategy to reduce NO₃^- leaching by minimizing the N fertilization.

Electrospinning of a Near Gel Resin To Produce Cross-Linked Fibrous Matrices

Electrospun fibers and matrices have been researched for their utility in various fields; however, because of poor mechanical strength and loss of structural integrity, their commercial viability is limited. A near gel resin (nGR) of polystyrene (PS) was used in the present approach to fabricate cross-linked fibrous matrices of better mechanical strength and oil adsorption while retaining the structural integrity. Electrospinnability of nGR was assessed in bulk (i.e., in styrene monomer) and solution (i.e., in dimethyl formamide) forms with variations in formulation and electrospinning conditions. Ultimately, a uniform cross-linked fibrous matrix of PS was prepared using an oil-in-water emulsion, where the oil phase composed of a monomer (styrene), an initiator (benzoyl peroxide), and a cross-linker (divinylbenzene) was dispersed in a continuous phase of aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The monomer conversion in the oil phase was carried out below the gel point, and the nGR of PS formed in dispersed droplets was electrospun to fabricate uniform fibrous matrices with the help of a template polymer, that is, PVA. The effect of various material and process parameters on the gelation behavior, electrospinnability, and fiber uniformity was studied and optimized to produce uniform core-sheath fibrous matrices of cross-linked PS. Postelectrospinning heat treatment of matrices was carried out to achieve complete monomer conversion and cross-linking. Fiber formation behavior of the emulsion was assessed using ionic and nonionic surfactants. The cross-link density of the matrices was optimized to achieve the desired structural morphology and dimensional stability. The process of fabrication of emulsion electrospun cross-linked fibers can be further extended to a variety of other monomers in order to enhance the suitability of fibrous matrices for many applications.

Facile synthesis of templated macrocellular nanocomposite scaffold via emulsifier-free HIPE-ROP

High internal phase emulsion (HIPE)-templated macrocellular nanocomposite scaffolds of crosslinked poly(ε-caprolactone) were produced using an emulsifier-free, single-step synthesis and showed superior resiliency and sorption capacity.

Adsorptive removal of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and mercury (Hg) ions from water using chitosan silica gel composite

Silica gel chitosan composite was prepared to perform adsorptive experiment of different heavy metal ion solutions. The characterization of chitosan + silica gel (Ch + Sg) composite was done by FTIR and SEM-EDS to understand the presence of active sites and to have an insight on the surface morphology. The adsorption study of heavy metal ions by Ch + Sg composite gives maximum removal percent for Cu, Pb and Ni which were obtained at pH 5 and for Hg at pH 6.The trend of removal by Ch + Sg signifies that maximum removal percent was attained at 120 min. The surface of Ch + Sg is heterogeneous for the adsorption of Hg, Ni and Cu and homogeneous for Pb adsorption. The values obtained for Pb signify that its adsorption best fitted to pseudo first order with the R² value of 0.986, whereas pseudo second order best fitted to the experimental data of Cu, Ni and Hg as R² values which are 0.983, 0.819 and 0.957 respectively. The values of change in entropy (⊿S) obtained for Pb, Cu, Ni and Hg are - 69.33, - 118, - 63.33 and - 98.52 J/mol K respectively. Negative values of change in enthalpy, ⊿H in (kJ/mol) are in the range of - 18.2 to - 37.66 which indicates both physical and chemical adsorption involves in the process of adsorption.

Experience with various reconstructive techniques for meningomyelocele defect closure in India

Background

The estimated incidence of spina bifida is 1–2 cases per 1000 population. In earlier literature, the global prevalence of meningomyelocele (MMC) is reported as 0.8–1.0 per 1000 live births. This retrospective study analyses the outcome of various surgical procedures performed for the closure of MMC defects.

Method

A total of 22 patients with MMC defects who underwent repair at our institute from July 2016 to August 2018 were included in the study. A retrospective review of all the cases operated was completed to analyse patient demography including defect size, defect location, surgical procedures, complications and the final outcome.

Results

Out of 22 cases, wherein the neurosurgery department sought help from the plastic surgery department, 11 defects were closed using the Limberg flap technique, 4 defects were closed with either primary closure or the double flap rotation flaps, one defect was closed using the triple rotation flap and 2 defects were closed using the local transposition flap cover technique. Complications were noted in only three cases. One patient had a local wound infection, while in two other cases, wound dehiscence was observed. All 3 cases were managed conservatively. On average, it takes approximately 70 days in India to close such defects.

Conclusion

MMC defects can be effectively managed with local flap options such as Limberg flap, local transposition flap or rotation flaps. Various reasons for the delay in closure were reported in patients late to our centre, when the first point of contact was with other departments.

Abstract P5-05-10: Estrogen receptor β suppresses metastasis of inflammatory breast cancer by regulating cell cytoskeleton and cytokine signaling

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most lethal form of breast cancer that accounts for about 10% of breast cancer mortality annually in US. Poor prognosis is largely due to the high propensity of IBC tumors to develop distant metastasis that occurs directly from the gland epithelium and through lymphatic invasion in which dermal lymphatics are filled with tumor emboli. Owing to the complex metastatic process, the molecular basis of IBC aggressiveness is poorly understood, and no specific therapeutic target has been identified. Despite the lack of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in the majority of IBC tumors, estrogen may still play a role in these cancers through pathways that involve ERβ. Our tissue staining reveals expression of ERβ in more than 50% of IBCs that is reproduced in IBC cell lines. Furthermore, analysis of IBC datasets indicates correlation of receptor expression with good prognosis. We studied this association in preclinical models of IBC by knocking out ERβ in IBC cells. This promotes migration and invasion through cytoskeleton remodeling whereas re-expression of the receptor in knockout cells restores the cytoskeletal structure and migration to the levels of control cells. Consistent with increased migration, deletion of ERβ activates large gene networks of cell de-differentiation and cytokine synthesis that trigger tumor microenvironment responses to promote the motile phenotype of IBC cells. In contrast, ligands that activate the receptor inhibit signaling that contributes to metastasis in IBC. Analysis of an orthotopic xenograft model shows that IBC tumors lacking ERβ have higher propensity for metastasis compared with the ERβ-proficient tumors supporting the anti-metastatic activity of the receptor. Our findings point towards a role of ERβ in preventing distant metastases by inhibiting dissemination of IBC cells and maintaining the integrity of emboli. This function combined with distinct expression indicates the potential of ERβ to represent a unique prognostic marker and therapeutic target that can be utilized to repress IBC metastasis and eliminate its associated mortality.

Citation Format: Thomas C, Karagounis I, Srivastava RK, Kumar S, Karar J, Chao H-H, Kazimierczak A, Bado I, Nikolos F, Leli N, Koumenis C, Krishnamurthy S, Ueno NT, Chakrabarti R, Maity A. Estrogen receptor β suppresses metastasis of inflammatory breast cancer by regulating cell cytoskeleton and cytokine signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-05-10.

Supramolecular Route for Enhancing Polymer Electrospinnability

Electrospinning of polymers typically requires high solution concentrations necessitated by the requirement of sufficient chain overlaps to achieve the required viscoelastic properties. Here, we report on a novel supramolecular approach, involving polymer/surfactant complexes, which allows for a significant reduction in the solution concentration of polymer for electrospinning. The approach involved supramolecular complexation of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) with a surfactant, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), via ionic interactions. The supramolecular complexation of P4VP with DBSA led to a significant increase in the solution viscosity even at a DBSA/4VP molar ratio as low as 0.05. Furthermore, the solution viscosity of the P4VP/DBSA complex increased significantly with the DBSA/4VP molar ratio. The increase in the viscosity for the P4VP/DBSA complexes was plausibly due to the formation of physical cross-links between P4VP chains driven by hydrophobic interactions between the surfactant tails. The formation of such physical cross-links led to a significant decrease in the solution concentration needed for the onset of semidilute entangled regime. Thus, the P4VP/DBSA complexes could be electrospun at a much lower concentration. The critical solution concentration to obtain bead-free uniform nanofibers of P4VP/DBSA complexes in dimethylformamide was reduced to 12% (w/v), which was not possible for neat P4VP solution even up to approximately 35% (w/v). Furthermore, small-angle X-ray scattering and polarized optical microscopy results revealed that the electrospun nanofibers of P4VP/DBSA complexes self-assembled in lamellar mesomorphic structures similar to that observed in bulk. However, the electrospun nanofibers exhibited significantly improved lamellar order, which was plausibly facilitated by the preferred orientation of P4VP chains along the fiber axis.

A review on sustainable yeast biotechnological processes and applications

Yeast is very well known eukaryotic organism for its remarkable biodiversity and extensive industrial applications. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the most widely used microorganisms in biotechnology with successful applications in the biochemical production. Biological conversion with the focus on the different utilization of renewable feedstocks into fuels and chemicals has been intensively investigated due to increasing concerns on sustainability issues worldwide. Compared with its counterparts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the baker's yeast, is more industrially relevant due to known genetic and physiological background, the availability of a large collection of genetic tools, the compatibility of high-density and large-scale fermentation, and optimize the pathway for variety of products. Therefore, S. cerevisiae is one of the most popular cell factories and has been successfully used in the modern biotech industry to produce a wide variety of products such as ethanol, organic acids, amino acids, enzymes, and therapeutic proteins. This study explores how different sustainable solutions used to overcome various environmental effects on yeast. This work targets a broad matrix of current advances and future prospect in yeast biotechnology and discusses their application and potential in general.

Analysis of barriers to implement additive manufacturing technology in the Indian automotive sector

Purpose

A spurt in the usage of additive manufacturing (AM) is observed in industrial applications to produce final parts along with rapid prototyping and rapid tooling. Despite the potential benefits of on-demand and on-location production of customised or complex shape parts, widespread implementation of this disruptive production technology is not yet visible. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector and analyse interrelations among them.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the extant literature and discussions with industry experts, ten major barriers are identified. The authors use a modified Fuzzy interpretive structural modelling (Fuzzy-ISM) method to derive strengths of relationships among these barriers, develop hierarchical levels, and thereafter group and rank these barriers.

Findings

ISM diagraph is developed to demonstrate how the barriers drive one another. Production technology capabilities and government support emerge as the most critical factors, with high driving power and medium dependence.

Research limitations/implications

While identified barriers may be similar across the automotive industry, generalisation of results for interrelationships and ranks in other industries may be limited.

Practical implications

The findings may be useful to managers to develop suitable mitigation strategies, and take more informed decisions, with individual focus, level focus or cluster focus.

Social implications

Findings clearly establish that the role of management and government is crucial in mitigating workers’ resistance to AM implementation.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to AM literature by the structured presentation of the barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector. It also extends the Fuzzy-ISM method by presenting calculation of indirect relations using the appropriate max-product composition and in ranking the barriers.

Facile Fabrication of Composite Electrospun Nanofibrous Matrices of Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Silica Based Pickering Emulsion

Functionalized matrices have been sought for their application in sensors, filtration, energy storage, catalysis, and tissue engineering. We report formation of an inorganic-organic composite matrix based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) functionalized with hydrophobically modified silica (m-silica) fabricated with reduced organic solvent usage. The matrix was obtained via electrospinning of a water-in-oil emulsion of PCL that was stabilized by judicious choice of m-silica as a Pickering agent resulting into an emulsifier free matrix. Inclusion of m-silica in PCL matrix resulted in enhancing tensile properties and cell proliferation efficiency. The electrospun composite matrix was free from any emulsifier or template polymer; thus any abrupt loss in mechanical properties was prevented when the matrix was subjected to aqueous conditions. The inorganic-organic biodegradable composite matrices thus produced using an emulsifier free emulsion find applications in tissue engineering and may further be evaluated for other areas including selective sorption and separation.

Risk propagation and its impact on performance in food processing supply chain

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify various risk drivers which affect a food processing supply chain and to create a map of how those risk drivers propagate risks through the supply chain and impact important performance measures.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involves experts from food processing companies to elucidate the contextual relationships among the risk drivers and between risk drivers and performance measures. This is used to quantify the relationships and to determine the indirect and overall relationships applying Fuzzy Interpretive Structural Modeling.

Findings

Three categories of risk drivers which Indian food processing companies need to pay maximum attention to minimize risks are identified. These are supplier dependency and contracting, supplier variability, visibility and traceability and manufacturing disruptions. Analysis shows that collaborating with suppliers and logistics service providers, developing mutually beneficial contracts with them while ensuring that adequate technology investments are made can significantly mitigate risks and consequently improve margins and lead to revenue growth.

Research limitations/implications

This study has been carried out with experts from large food processing companies in India, and hence, the results cannot be generalized across other types of food processing companies.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology can help understand the interrelationships between supply chain risks and between those risks and performance measures. Thus, it can help a food processing company to create business cases for specific supply chain risk mitigation projects.

Originality/value

This study is one of the earliest to create a comprehensive risk propagation map for food processing companies which helps in quantifying the impact the risk drivers have on each other and on performance measures.

Propagation of risks and their impact on performance in fresh food retail

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to carry out structural analysis of potential supply chain risks and performance measures in fresh food retail by applying interpretive structural modeling (ISM).

Design/methodology/approach

– Inputs were taken from industry experts in identifying and understanding interdependencies among food retail supply chain risks on different levels (sourcing and logistics outside the retail stores; storage and customer interface at the stores). Interdependencies among risks and their impact on performance measures are structured into a hierarchy in order to derive subsystems of interdependent elements to derive useful insights for theory and practice.

Findings

– Using the ISM approach the risks and performance measures were clustered according to their driving power and dependence power. Change in/inadequate government regulations’ are at the bottom level of the hierarchy implying highest driving power and require higher attention and focussed mitigation strategies. Risks like lack of traceability, transport delays/breakdowns and temperature abuse, cross-contamination in transport and storage have medium driver and dependence powers.

Research limitations/implications

– The approach is focussed on food retail supply chains in the Indian context and thereby limits the ability to generalize the findings. The academics and experts were selected on convenience and availability.

Practical implications

– It gives managers a better understanding of the risks and performance measures that have most influence on others (driving performance measures) and those measures which are most influenced by others (dependent performance measures) in fresh food retail and also a tool to prioritize them. This kind of information is strategic for managers who can use it to identify which performance measures they should concentrate on managing the trade-offs between measures. The findings and the applicability for practical use have been validated by both experts and practicing managers in food retail supply chains.

Originality/value

– The work is perhaps the first to link supply chain risks with performance and explains the propagation of risks in food retail supply chains. It contributes to theory by addressing a few research gaps and provides relevant managerial insights for practitioners.

Characterization and pollutant removal efficiency of biochar derived from baggase, bamboo and tyre

Conversion of broad-spectrum organic waste into carbonaceous biochar has gained enormous interest in past few years. The present study aims to characterize feedstock (FS), i.e. bagasse (Bg), bamboo (Bm) and biochar (BC), i.e. baggase biochar (BBg), bamboo biochar (BBm) and tyre biochar (Ty). Significant changes in elemental composition, atomic ratio, proximate analyses, mineral content and heavy metal content were observed which was well supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Impregnation with ferric hydroxide was done, and resultant modified biochars (MBC), i.e. iron-impregnated baggase biochar (FeBBg), iron-impregnated bamboo biochar (FeBBm) and iron-impregnated tyre biochar (FeTy), along feedstock and biochar were used for PO4 (3-), Pb, Hg and Cu adsorption. In general, BBg, FeBBg, BBm, FeBBm, Ty and FeTy were found to adsorb PO4 (3-), Pb, Hg and Cu better than Bg and Bm, except in few cases. Results from adsorption experiments were fitted into Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models of isotherms and pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich models of kinetics. Result of batch study adsorption revealed that maximum adsorption of PO4 (3-), Pb, Hg and Cu was done by FeBBg (adsorption mechanism explained by Freundlich model), FeTy (Temkin model), Ty (Langmuir model) and BBm (Langmuir model) respectively. According to R (2) values, pseudo-first-order reaction was well suited to PO4 (3-), Pb, Hg and Cu adsorption. The optimum pH for maximum adsorption was observed to be 7.4 for PO4 (3-), 5 for Cu and 6 for Pb and Hg respectively.

Burden of NCDs, Policies and Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs in India

Noncommunicable diseases and injuries account for 52% of deaths in India. Burden of noncommunicable diseases and resultant mortality is expected to increase unless massive efforts are made to prevent and control NCDs and their risk factors. Based on available evidence, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, mental disorders and trauma are the leading causes of morbidity, disability and mortality in India. Government of India had supported the States in prevention and control of NCDs through several vertical programs since 1980s. However, during the 11^th plan, there was considerable upsurge to prevent and control NCDs. New programs were started on a low scale in limited number of districts. However, there has not been any considerable change in the burden of NCDs. Based on experiences in the past, there is need to emphasize on health promotion and preventive measures to reduce exposure to risk factors. Facilities and capacity for screening, early diagnosis and effective management are required within the public health care system. Public awareness program, integrated management and strong monitoring system would be required for successful implementation of the program and making services universally accessible in the country.

Integration of tobacco cessation in general medical practice: need of the hour

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disability. Tobacco use causes almost one million deaths annually in India, which is much more than the combined mortality due to malaria/TB and HIV/AIDS. It is estimated to cause one billion deaths in the 21st century, eighty per cent of which will occur in the developing countries like India. Tobacco use is increasing in the country. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2010, estimated that more than one-third of adults (35%) in the country use tobacco, out of which 21% use smokeless tobacco, 9% smoke and 5% use both. The prevalence of overall tobacco use among men was 47.9% and among women was 20.2%. Global Youth Tobacco Survey, India, 2009, estimate 14.6% of 13-15 years school going children use tobacco. There is urgent need for addressing the tobacco epidemic in India. Though effective interventions for tobacco cessation such as brief counselling, nicotine replacement therapy, non-nicotine pharmacotherapy are available, their use by general practitioners is restricted due to lack of adequate dissemination of information in their use. Use of these simple assessment tools and practice of these effective interventions by general medical and healthcare practitioners will go a long way in addressing the rising tobacco epidemic in India and making general healthcare more comprehensive.

Application of air pollution dispersion modeling for source-contribution assessment and model performance evaluation at integrated industrial estate-Pantnagar

Source-contribution assessment of ambient NO₂ concentration was performed at Pantnagar, India through simulation of two urban mathematical dispersive models namely Gaussian Finite Line Source Model (GFLSM) and Industrial Source Complex Model (ISCST-3) and model performances were evaluated. Principal approaches were development of comprehensive emission inventory, monitoring of traffic density and regional air quality and conclusively simulation of urban dispersive models. Initially, 18 industries were found responsible for emission of 39.11 kg/h of NO₂ through 43 elevated stacks. Further, vehicular emission potential in terms of NO₂ was computed as 7.1 kg/h. Air quality monitoring delineates an annual average NO₂ concentration of 32.6 μg/m³. Finally, GFLSM and ISCST-3 were simulated in conjunction with developed emission inventories and existing meteorological conditions. Models simulation indicated that contribution of NO₂ from industrial and vehicular source was in a range of 45-70% and 9-39%, respectively. Further, statistical analysis revealed satisfactory model performance with an aggregate accuracy of 61.9%.

Treatment of rayon grade pulp drain effluent by upflow anaerobic fixed packed bed reactor (UAFPBR)

The Rayon grade pulp (RGP) drain effluent of pulp and paper mill was studied to find out pollutant loading and its control measures by low cost and efficient treatment method. Upflow anaerobic fixed packed bed reactor (UAFPBR) with brick ballasts as packing material was used for this purpose. This was compared with conventional anaerobic treatment method. The digested slurry was taken as inoculum from the active cow dung biogas plant. After stabilization of the reactors the reduction in pollutant loading was found to be higher in UAFPBR than conventional anaerobic reactor (CAR). Hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 hr was optimum for the treatment of effluent when 74.5% COD and 81% BOD reduction was obtained. 30% inoculum concentration was best for the anaerobic treatment of RGP colour drain effluent. The maximum biogas production (1.37 l l(-1) of effluent) was when the effluent was inoculated with 30% seeding material. Thus, UAFPBR system was very efficient in terms of BOD, COD, TSS and TDS removal from RGP drain of paper mills in ambient environmental conditions.

Assessment of utilization of RCH services and client satisfaction at different level of health facilities in Varanasi District

OBJECTIVE

To assess the various factors influencing utilization and non-utilization of RCH services and extent of client satisfaction.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted during October to December 2008 at two selected blocks of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh. Principal study subjects were 509 women having children less than 12 months old, selected through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussions conducted among the beneficiaries of the services.

RESULTS

The study revealed that utilisation of the RCH services in the government facilities was higher among the backward classes than the general category; higher the level of education the lower was the utilisation of government services. Over all, 16% of the respondents were not satisfied with government facilities. 25% of the SC category was not satisfied with the services in spite of being the main users. Among RCH services utilization was highest (89%) for antenatal care services (ANC). 41.6% respondents did not receive any Post Natal Care (PNC) after their most recent birth. About 30% deliveries were at home out of which only 10% received PNC whereas out of 70% institutional deliveries about 80% received PNC. Overall 16.3 % of the respondents were not satisfied with the services provided by government health facilities. Around 16% and 14% were not satisfied with the behavior of medical officer and the health workers respectively and non-satisfaction was highest among SC category.

CONCLUSION

All health facilities need to be made functional according to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) of NRHM.