industry

Background: Nimodipine (NM), is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker with poor oral bioavailability (BA) of about 13% due to first-pass metabolism and P-gp efflux. Objective: The present work aimed to study the influence of the charge inducer and its combination with P-gp inhibitor to improve the oral bioavailability of NM by developing a suitable delivery system of Submicron Lipid Emulsion (SME). Methods: Five SME formulations of NM were prepared by homogenization followed by ultrasonication. Prepared SMEs were characterized for particle size, PDI, Zeta Potential (ZP), Entrapment Efficiency (EE), and drug content. In vitro, release studies were performed in 0.1N HCl and pH 6.8 phosphate buffer by open tube method. The physical stability of all NM–SMEs was tested by the individual effects of centrifugation, dilution (desorption stress), and storage. Bioavailability studies were conducted on male Wistar rats after oral administration of NM suspension and F1 to F5 SME formulations. Results and conclusion: Five NM- SMEs were developed with a mean size ranging from 93 - 137 nm, Zeta potential of – 26 ± 1 mV (negatively charged), +45.8 to +46.3 mV (positively charged), and PDI of 0.15 - 0.25. The in vitro release studies showed that relatively more cumulative percentage release of NM – SMEs in 0.1N HCl than in pH phosphate buffer during 24 hours. The physical stability of NM–SMEs indicated that they were stable to the effects of centrifugation, dilution, and storage. Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies showed that the oral bioavailability of NM in F4 SME was significantly higher than that of all other formulations. Taken together, the results indicated the development of a stable lipid-based carrier, F4 SME to improve the oral bioavailability of this drug by minimizing first-pass metabolism due to lymphatic transport, reducing the efflux by P-gp inhibition, and further, by increased uptake of the positively charged F4 SME globules by enterocytes. Future: The research study findings increase the possibility of developing NM F4 SME by the pharmaceutical industry for the patient’s benefit.

The city of Santo Amaro (Bahia, Brazil) gained visibility among the scientific community due to the contamination of the Subaé River by lead and cadmium from the PLUMBUM Mineração e Metalurgia Ltda industry, on the banks of the river in 1956, which produced lead ingots The present work aimed to investigate the adsorption capacity of heavy metals (Pb and Cd) of EPS produced by bacterial species from the Subaé River, for possible future application of these biopolymers in bioremediation processes in areas impacted by the aforementioned heavy metals. Subaé river water was collected for physical-chemical analysis and bacterial isolation. It was verified that all isolated bacteria produced an expressive amount of Exopolysaccharide (EPS). Thus, the optimization of this production in different sugars (sucrose, glucose, and mannitol) and in three different pHs: 5.5; 6.5, and 7.5. All bacteria produced EPS in large quantities and the best sugar was sucrose at pH 7.5. In order to use the EPS for the bioremediation area, the adsorption test of lead and cadmium was carried out by the isolated EPS. 0.5 g of the EPS was dissolved in 50 ml of deionized water, then the solutions of metals, lead acetate, and cadmium sulfate (procedure performed separately) were incubated at 28 °C for 16 h after that period, and were centrifuged. Samples were filtered to separate the insoluble EPS and the filtrates obtained were used in the quantification of the metals by atomic absorption (FAAS- Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry). Bacillus spp., Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus spp., and Serratiamarcescens, all showed tolerance to the tested metals, due to the efficiency in the adsorption capacity of the EPS, and it was possible to distinguish seven genera, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lysinibacillus spp. to be used in the bioremediation of environments contaminated with heavy metals.

German universities of applied sciences have provided a large number of technical talents to society, and have made significant contributions to the enhancement of German education and industry. Drawing on the professional construction experience of German universities of applied sciences, this paper summarizes the path of civil engineering materials courses in China's high-level applied universities. The proposals for curriculum reform were discussed. Colleges and universities can cultivate professionals with strong hands-on abilities, strong exploration abilities, and a scientific research spirit. In addition, this paper puts forward that China needs to make changes from three levels: the country, universities, and teachers. Based on learning from the experience of collaborative education between teaching and scientific research in German universities, we have embarked on a road of education with China characteristics.

Phyllanthus amarus Schum. and Thonn., a plant of substantial medicinal significance, is known for its usage in the ‘Ayurvedic’ system of medicine for over 2000 years. This herb grows throughout the world including India. P. amarus along with other species of its genus has been a vital part of several herbal formulations available in the Indian market under the trade name Bhuiamlaki. Several pharmacognostic evaluations over the years established the genus Phyllanthus of great commercial value. Ethnopharmacological studies conducted with P. amarus to date have shown its diverse therapeutic usage globally. This owes to the vast array of secondary metabolites present in the herb, substantially in the leaf tissue. Different analytical and phytochemistry studies performed across the globe revealed that P. amarus is a hub of various classes of secondary metabolites viz. lignans like phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenes, sterols, volatile oil, ellagitannins including simple and complex tannins, etc. Different analytical techniques have been employed over the past years for isolating and studying these varied secondary metabolites. Further, bioactivities and pharmacological properties of P. amarus that were mainly due to the presence of these wide arrays of secondary metabolites have also been explored extensively across the globe by several research groups. This plant has also been explored at molecular and transcriptome level, although relatively lesser but its extensive molecular and transcriptome analysis have only been performed from our lab. Thus, P. amarus has considerable potential to be explored in the future as a significant therapeutic source not only in the traditional medicinal system but also in the modern pharmaceutical industry.

Testing the antimicrobial efficiency of plastics with good precision and repeatability remains a challenge in the plastic industry, as commonly used standards can provide unreliable data. In this paper, we show that the “Bacterial Liquid Suspension Test” is a reliable method that allows for the measurement of antimicrobial activity of poor to very potent biocides. We used this technique to discriminate the performance of two Cu-based biocides, either in nanoparticle (NP) or macroparticle (MP) size, at three different loadings (0.02, 0.2 and 2 wt.%) in PP. With this technique, we also tested the antibacterial performance of PP as powders, pellets, and injection molded disks. As anticipated, the technique shows that both the increased loading and the smaller particle size showed higher antimicrobial activity than the larger particle size due to their increased surface area. Also, PP powders showed greater bacterial reduction than pellets and disks. While the PP with 2 wt.% Cu NPs showed the best antimicrobial performance, the detection of Cu at the surface (using SEM-EDX) and in the water leachate (using ICP-MS) were below the LODs, indicating their ability to kill bacteria.

Probiotic gummy candy is an innovative food that can be used as a carrier to deliver probiotics. This study aimed to manufacture healthy gummy candy (HGC) as a carrier for probiotic capsules. The ingredients' effect on the viability of probiotic capsules and free cells was evaluated for 48 days under refrigerated conditions. Also, the textural properties, overall acceptability of products, and physicochemical properties were tested. The encapsulation probiotics in sodium alginate and chitosan provided a high efficiency of 88.16%. At the same time, the encapsulated cells-based HGC (HGC-C) had higher counts of probiotics than free cells-based HGC, and it remained above the 3 log CFU/g at the end of the 48-day storage period in HGC-C, while the free cells reached zero at 30 days. The HGC product showed a low hardness value and high antioxidant capacity as well as, and the colour coordinates for the product showed more yellow, with an intense red colour. Using mango pulp and probiotics in gummy candies is an innovative and viable alternative to the confectionery industry; therefore, combining fruits as a source of prebiotics and probiotic bacteria could be a promising formula for probiotics gummy supplement preparation.

Neurotoxicity is increasingly recognized as a critical factor impacting long-term health, with growing evidence linking it to both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Pesticides, widely used in agriculture and industry, have emerged as significant contributors to neurotoxic risk, given their capacity to disrupt key neurodevelopmental processes at low exposure levels. As conventional animal models present limitations in interspecies translation, human-derived neuron-based in vitro screening strategies are urgently needed to assess potential toxicants accurately. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer an innovative and scalable source for human-specific neuronal models that complement traditional animal-based approaches and support the development of predictive assays for neurotoxicity. Recent various stem cell models, including 2D cultures, 3D organoids, and microfluidic systems, are now available, advancing predictive neurotoxicology by simulating key aspects of human neural development and function. With the integration of High-Throughput (HT) and High-Content (HC) screening methodologies, these hiPSC-based systems enable efficient, large-scale evaluation of chemical effects on neural cells, enhancing our ability to detect early biomarkers of neurotoxic effects. Identifying early biomarkers of neurotoxic is essential to developing therapeutic interventions before irreversible damage occurs. This is particularly crucial in the context of developmental neurotoxicity, where early exposure to toxicants can have lifelong consequences. This review specifically presents an in-depth overview of the current progress in hiPSC-derived neural models and their applications in neurotoxicity testing, with a specific focus on their utility in assessing pesticide-induced neurotoxicity. Emphasizing future research priorities, we highlight the potential of these models to transform predictive toxicology, offering more human-relevant assessments and advancing the field toward a more precise evaluation of environmental neurotoxicants.

Floriculture is the branch of horticulture that deals with the cultivation and management of flowers and ornamental plants and has blossomed into commercial activity with considerable growth and a useful crop diversification option, particularly for small farmers over the past three decades. It is a global industry with significant economic, social, and aesthetic values. Globally 171 countries practice floriculture. India occupies 51st position in terms of exports and contributes Rs. 455 crores which is 0.06% of global trade.The present study was carried out during the College on Wheels project organized by the Higher Education Council, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and was aimed to explore the floral and ornamental plant diversity of major metropolitan cities like Delhi, Goa, Bengaluru, Mumbai, etc. of India for evaluating their suitability for introduction in floriculture of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.The floral and ornamental plant species were explored, photographed, evaluated, identified, and inventorised. A total of 51 species belonging to 23 different families of floral and ornamental plants were explored and evaluated in terms of parameters like climate, soil type, photoperiod requirements, watering needs, and maintenance requirements for their cultivation. It was found that some of the explored species of ornamental plants were already introduced into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir because the parameters for the successful growth and thriving of these species match with the existing climatic and other conditions in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, the climatic and other requirements of some of the explored species were found in conformity with the climatic and other parameters available in the Union Territory of J&K for the successful establishment and growth of plants. Thus, there is an urgent need to introduce these explored species into the region to enhance the floral diversity of ornamental plants, beautify the landscape, and promote tourism and the generation of better livelihood. The Department of Floriculture should take a lead role in this direction to import these floral and ornamental plant specimens from pan India.

This review underscores the transformative impact of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) on modern engineering, emphasizing its role in advancing sustainable and efficient technological solutions. The CAE industry is further analyzed, focusing on market trends and future directions. The CAE market is projected to grow significantly in the next five years in industries like automotive, aerospace, and energy, especially with the rapid advancements in High-Performance Computing (HPC), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Digital Twin technologies that enhance real-time optimization and predictive capabilities, thus fostering innovation in sustainable product design and performance. Lastly, this review presents KYAMOS Software and its state-of-the-art CAE solutions for tackling high-demand engineering problems, mainly concerning green technologies.