A single-shot line-scanning spatially dispersed short coherence interferometer using Fourier transform profilometry

Single-shot inspection at nanoscale resolution is a problematic challenge for providing on-line inspection of manufacturing techniques such as roll-to-roll processes where the measurand is constantly moving. An example of such a measurement challenge is defect detection on vapor barrier films formed by depositing an aluminum oxide layer several tens of nanometres thick on a flexible polymer substrate. Effective detection and characterisation of defects in this layer requires a single-shot approach with nanometre scale vertical resolution. This paper describes a line-scanning interferometer where a short coherence light source having a 25 nm linewidth source is spatially dispersed across the measurand thus encoding spatial position along a profile by wavelength. Phase shift interferometry (PSI) can be used to decode phase and thus height information, but requires multiple image captures. In order to realise single-shot measurement which is more suitable for online applications, a Fourier transform profilometry (FTP) approach is necessary. This paper explores the implementation of the FTP approach and presents a comparison of the measurement capability of FTP with the previously reported PSI method

Effects of oral dosage form and storage period on the antioxidant properties of four species used in traditional herbal medicine

Herbal infusions and decoctions in water are some of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. Although water is not a good solvent for many of the active components in herbs, liquid preparations are rich in several bioactive compounds. Most of them have powerful antioxidant activity and have been related to medicinal herbs’ properties. Herein, decoctions and infusions in water of lemon-verbena (Aloysia citrodora) aerial parts and leaves, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) aerial parts with different periods of storage (0, 30, 60 and 120 days), were prepared. The effects of the method of preparation and storage period in their antioxidant properties were analysed. For all the analysed species, infusions gave better results than the corresponding decoctions. Spearmint infusions showed the highest antioxidant properties, at all the storage periods, probably due to the highest levels and synergy between phenolics, flavonoids and ascorbic acid found in this sample. Linear discriminant analysis confirmed that the length of storage period has a significant influence in antioxidant activity and antioxidants content. Flavonoids and reducing sugars proved to be the parameters that most highly contribute to cluster individual groups according to different periods of storage

Elucidating the Function of an Evolutionarily Conserved Embryonic Splice Variant of Type II Collagen During Vertebrate Development

The goal of our study is to observe early development of our vertebrate model organism while manipulating the levels of the embryonic splice variant of col2a1a. Understanding the relationship between col2a1a and embryonic development will help elucidate the function of the col2a1 splice variant during embryogenesis

NATURAL GAS MARKET DEVELOPMENT - IMPLICATIONS FOR DIVERSIFICATION OPTIONS OF EU: CASE STUDY OF SLOVAKIA

European Union has been exposed to major changes on global natural gas markets since beginning of 21.century. Shale gas, development, liberalization on Russian market accompanied by lower consumption due to economic crises and interconnecting of natural gas network created a matrix of interacting elements which can clearly influence energy security of EU. The aim of this article was to analyze how the global trends on natural gas market from recent years so far affected the EU natural gas market in terms of diversification with special focus being dedicated to Slovakia. We came to conclusion that shale gas has so far only indirect implications, LNG impact is limited and EU will be in the closest future affected mainly by Russian natural gas export politics. As case of Slovakia documents EU diversification efforts have not been successful so far and EU internal energy market suffers from policies distorting market environment

A Study of Faculty Members’ Perceptions of the Effect of the Globalization on Higher Education: The Case of Jordan

The purpose of study was to investigate Jordanian higher education faculty members’ perceptions of the phenomenon of globalization and its effect on higher education. The participants in this study were 6 faculty members from a Jordanian university. Four of the participants have leadership positions at the university. Two of them were deans, one of them was vice dean, and the fourth one was a head of department.  Semi-structured interviews were used as research method. The researchers formulated the interview questions based on the purpose of the research. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to analyze participants’ responses.  Participants’ responses to the interview questions were organized, coded, interpreted, and represented. The findings showed that the Jordanian faculty members are aware of the effects of globalization on the fields of higher education. All the participants believed that globalization have positive effect on higher education. Most of the participants believed that the institutions of higher education should work on facing the negative impact of globalization on the national identity, culture, and heritage. Mixed results were found regarding the challenge of applying the principle of free market on the fields of higher education due to the globalization. Based on the findings, some of recommendations were presented. Keywords: Globalization, Faculty Perceptions, Jordanian Higher educatio

Polymethoxyflavones from Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (Solanaceae) exert antinociceptive and neuropharmacological effects in mice.

Polymethoxylavones (PMFs)are known to exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, an annual Bangladeshi herb, is rich in polymethoxyflavones that possess significant analgesic and anxiolytic activities. The present study aimed to determine the antinociceptive and neuropharmacological activities of polyoxygenated flavonoids namely- 3,3',5,6,7,8-hexamethoxy-4',5'-methylenedioxyflavone (1), 3,3',4',5',5,6,7,8-octamethoxyflavone (exoticin) (2), 6,7,4',5'-dimethylenedioxy-3,5,3'-trimethoxyflavone (3) and 3,3’,4’,5,5’,8-hexamethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone(4), isolated and identified from N. plumbaginifolia. Antinociceptive activity was assessed using the acetic-acid induced writhing, hot plate, tail immersion, formalin and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests, whereas neuropharmacological effects were evaluated in the hole cross, open field and elevated plus maze test. Oral treatment of compounds 1, 3 and 4 (12.5-25 mg/kg b.w.) exhibited dose-dependent and significant (p< 0.01) antinociceptive activity in the acetic-acid, formalin, carrageenan and thermal (hot plate)-induced pain models. The association of ATP-sensitive K+ channel and opioid systems in their antinociceptive effect was obvious from the antagonist effect of glibenclamide and naloxone respectively. These findings suggested central and peripheral antinociceptive activities of the compounds. Compound 1, 3 and 4 (12.5 mg/kg b.w.) demonstrated significant (p< 0.05) anxiolytic-like activity in the elevated plus-maze test, while the involvement of GABAA receptor in the action of compound 3 and 4 was evident from the reversal effects of flumazenil. In addition, compounds 1 and 4 (12.5-25 mg/kg b.w) exhibited anxiolytic activity without altering the locomotor responses. The present study suggested that the polymethoxyflavones (1-4) from N. Plumbaginifoliacould be considered as suitable candidates for the development of analgesic and anxiolytic agents

Quantitative determination of alliin in dried garlic cloves and products by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Purpose: To standardize the garlic samples and its products for alliin contents.Methods: A direct high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method was developed to determine alliin in Chinese (CG) and Indian garlic (IG) and two other marketed products from USA and UK, respectively. Scanning and quantification were performed at 205 nm. Furthermore, chromatography was performed on pre-coated HPTLC plates with the solvent mixture, n – hexane:ethyl acetate (29:1 v/v), as the mobile phase. In addition, the parameters suggested by International Conference on Harmonization for analytical procedures were considered to validate the proposed method.Results: The system gave a compact spot of alliin at RF = 0.19 ± 0.01 The linear regression data for the calibration plots showed a good linearity (r2 = 0.996) in the concentration range of 200 - 1600 ng. Linear regression equation was represented by Y = 1.792x + 182.855, while LOD and LOQ values were 40.42 ngband-1 and 111.72 ng.band-1, respectively. The method showed excellent accuracy with recovery of 98.20 – 99.10 % and good precision with RSD of 1 - 2.65 %.Conclusion: The proposed method is selective, sensitive and accurate for the determination of alliin in garlic and its products. It is also evident from the results obtained that raw Indian garlic has higher alliin content than Chinese garlic.Keywords: Garlic, HPTLC, Alliin, Hypercholesteremia, Quantificatio

Improving the corrosion behaviour of Zn-Ni alloy coatings on 316 SS from chloride-sulfate bath by addition of triethanolamine or sucrose

Corrosion of Zn-Ni alloy coatings on stainless steel 316 SS in a chloride-sulfate bath with the addition of either triethanolamine or sucrose was examined. A constant cathode potential was used to deposit zinc-nickel alloys, while cyclic voltammetry and potentio-dynamic polarization were used to measure corrosion. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was utilized to analyse Zn-Ni alloy coating surface layers formed with¬out and with additives. The outcomes discovered that the corrosion resistance of Zn-Ni alloy coat¬ings in 3.5 % NaCl solution was highly influenced by adding triethanolamine or sucrose. Decreasing the Zn:Ni molar ratio led to an increase in corrosion resistance. All Zn-Ni alloy coatings were superior to pure Zn coating in their corrosion behaviour. The best result was found for potentiostatic electrodeposition of Zn-Ni alloy at the cathodic potential of -1.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl for 20 minutes in the presence of 0.335 M triethanolamine from a solution containing 0.02 M ZnCl2, 0.1 M NiSO4, 0.4 M H3BO4 and 1 M Na2SO4. For this Zn-Ni coating, a low corrosion rate of 0.00795 mm year-1 was observed at Ecorr = -0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl and icorr= 0.535 µA cm-2. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that this alloy has a granular structure with no cracks and a less porous structure. The new Zn-Ni alloy is superior in its properties in terms of corrosion resistance compared with those obtained in previous studies