Hydrogels Based on Alginates and Carboxymethyl Cellulose with Modulated Drug Release—An Experimental and Theoretical Study

New hydrogels films crosslinked with epichlorohydrin were prepared based on alginates and carboxymethyl cellulose with properties that recommend them as potential drug delivery systems (e.g., biocompatibility, low toxicity, non-immunogenicity, hemostatic activity and the ability to absorb large amounts of water). The characterization of their structural, morphological, swelling capacity, loading/release and drug efficiency traits proved that these new hydrogels are promising materials for controlled drug delivery systems. Further, a new theoretical model, in the framework of Scale Relativity Theory, was built with to offer insights on the release process at the microscopic level and to simplify the analysis of the release process.

Enhancing Methane Conversion by Modification of Zn States in Co-Reaction of MTA

Limited by harsh reaction conditions, the activation and utilization of methane were regarded as holy grail reaction. Co-reaction with methanol, successfully realizing mild conversion below 450 °C, provides practical strategies for methane conversion on metal-loaded ZSM-5 zeolites, especially for highly efficient Zn loaded ones. However, Zn species, regarded as active acid sites on the zeolite, have not been sufficiently studied. In this paper, Zn-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite was prepared, and Zn was modified by capacity, loading strategy, and treating atmosphere. Apparent methane conversion achieves 15.3% for 1.0Zn/Z-H2 (16.8% as calculated net conversion) with a significantly reduced loading of 1.0 wt.% against deactivation, which is among the best within related zeolite materials. Besides, compared to the MTA reaction, the addition of methane promotes the high-valued aromatic production from 49.4% to 54.8%, and inhibits the C10+ production from 7.8% to 3.6%. Notably, Zn2+ is found to be another active site different from the reported ZnOH+. Medium strong acid sites are proved to be beneficial for methane activation. This work provides suggestions for the modification of the Zn active site, in order to prepare highly efficient catalysts for methane activation and BTX production in co-reaction with methanol.

A Review on SLN and NLC for Management of Fungal Infections

Fungal disease is an invasive, serious, and systemic topical infection that affects the mucous membranes, tissues, and skin of humans. Oral medicines, on the other hand, have significant side effects, making topical treatments a viable alternative. Many antifungal medications applied through the skin in various conventional forms (gels or creams) may cause skin redness, erythema, stinging, and burning sensations. A promising approach to overcome the limitation of conventional form is the use of Nanocarriers for the treatment of skin infections since it allows targeted drug delivery, enhanced skin permeability, and controlled release and hence offers a lower risk of side effects. During the last few decades, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have gained a lot of attention. SLNs were designed to overcome the drawbacks of conventional colloidal carriers, such as emulsions, liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles, by offering benefits such as a good release rate and drug targeting with high physical stability. NLCs are SLNs that have been modified (Second generation SLN) to improve stability and capacity loading. This review discusses the pathophysiology of the fungal diseases, the application of SLN and NLC, its method of preparation, Characterization, and an overview of clinical trials on SLN and NLC for the treatment of fungal infection.

The triad “electrode – solid electrolyte interphase – electrolyte” as a ground for the use of conversion type reactions in lithium-ion batteries

The solution to the problem of negative impact on the ecology of fossil fuel consumption is the use of electrochemical energy sources. The special attractiveness has shown of lithium power sources is highlighted and the need to develop new cheap electrode materials and electrolytes with unique properties. The peculiarities of the behavior of lithium and the formation of a layer of reaction products on its surface upon contact with a liquid organic electrolyte have considered. The analysis of the main problems and ways of their solution at use of conversion electrodes of the II type for lithium-ion batteries has carried out. Emphasis is placed on the need to use in the development of new electrode materials of such parameters as capacity loading and accumulated irreversible capacity of the electrodes. The triad “electrode – solid electrolyte interphase – electrolyte” is considered as a basis of a systematic approach to the creation of new generations of lithium power sources. The optimal scenarios have proposed for the formation of an effective solid electrolyte interphase on the surface of the electrodes. The advantages of electrolytes based on fluoroethylene carbonate with synergistic acting additives of vinylene carbonate and ethylene sulfite are described. A new strategy for the use of “secondary” silicon nanomaterials to prevent direct contact of its surface with the electrolyte has considered. It has shown that the solid electrolyte interphase is a dynamic system that self-organizes from the unstable state into a stable one. The electrochemical behavior of electrodes with silicon nanocomposites with high capacity loading and low accumulated irreversible capacity has described.

ANALISA KAPASITAS OPTIMAL LAPANGAN PENUMPUKAN DI PANGKALAN LONTANGNGE PELABUHAN PAREPARE

Abstrak Perencanaan pelabuhan yang tidak tepat dapat mengakibatkan pelayanan pelabuhan yang kurang efisien. Optimasi digunakan untuk menemukan sebuah kondisi yang diperlukan untuk mencapai hasil terbaik dari situasi yang ada. Hal ini dicapai dengan menyeimbangkan antara biaya pelayanan yang ada dengan biaya tunggu yang diakibatkan oleh pelayanan yang ada. Biaya pelayanan tergabung dalam pengoperasian fasilitas sedang biaya tunggu menyatakan biaya menunggu bagi pelanggan. Menambah ataupun meningkatkan pelayanan berarti dapat mengurangi waktu tunggu pelanggan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kapasitas optimal Lapangan Penumpukan Petikemas Lontangnge Pelabuhan Parepare untuk jangka pendek, jangka menengah dan jangka panjang, serta menentukan dimensi ukuran dari Lapangan Penumpukan Petikemas Lontangnge Pelabuhan Parepare. Analisa dilakukan dengan menggunakan teori antrian, dimana teori ini membantu dalam menghitung biaya-biaya akibat pelayanan yang menunggu. Perhitungan ini dilakukan dengan menganalisa data muatan bongkar-muat (B/M) petikemas dan data barang pada petikemas untuk memperoleh biaya yang ada. Selain itu, dilakukan pula perhitungan daya dukung tanah untuk menentukan tinggi tumpukan petikemas dan kapasitas lapangan. Pada hasil penelitian ini, diperoleh untuk Jangka Pendek biaya optimum untuk Lapangan Penumpukan Petikemas Lontangnge Pelabuhan Parepare adalah Rp. 27,479,774,886.03 dengan luas dimensi lapangan adalah 4700 m2. Sedangkan untuk Jangka Menengah dan Jangka Panjang adalah Rp. 36,690,983,344.01 dengan luas dimensi lapangan adalah 25000 m2. Kata Kunci: Optimasi, Kapasitas Lapangan, Muatan B/M. Abstract Improper port planning results in less efficient port services. Optimization is used to find the one condition to find the best outcome of the situation. This is achieved by balancing the cost of existing services with the waiting costs caused by existing services. Service charges are incorporated in the operation of the facility while the waiting costs state the waiting costs for customers. Adding or improving services means reducing customer waiting times. The aim of this research is to analyze the optimal capacity of Lontangnge Container Yard Port of Parepare, medium and long term, and to determine the dimension of container yard’s size. The analysis is done by using queuing theory, where the costs of waiting service can be calculated. This calculation is done by analyzing data of loading-discharging payload and goods data on container to obtain cost. In addition, the calculation of soil bearing capacity is also determined the height of container pile and Container Yard (CY) capacity. In the results of this study, obtained for the short-term optimum cost for the Lontangnge Parcel Container Parepare Field is Rp. 27,479,774,886.03 with the width of field dimension is 4700 m2. While for the Medium Term and Long Term is Rp. 36,690,983,344,01 with the field dimension is 25000 m2. Keywords : Optimation, CY Capacity, Loading-Discharging Goods.

Nickel-hydrogen batteries for large-scale energy storage

Large-scale energy storage is of significance to the integration of renewable energy into electric grid. Despite the dominance of pumped hydroelectricity in the market of grid energy storage, it is limited by the suitable site selection and footprint impact. Rechargeable batteries show increasing interests in the large-scale energy storage; however, the challenging requirement of low-cost materials with long cycle and calendar life restricts most battery chemistries for use in the grid storage. Recently we introduced a concept of manganese-hydrogen battery with Mn2+/MnO2 redox cathode paired with H+/H2 gas anode, which has a long life of 10,000 cycles and with potential for grid energy storage. Here we expand this concept by replacing Mn2+/MnO2 redox with a nickel-based cathode, which enables ∼10× higher areal capacity loading, reaching ∼35 mAh cm−2. We also replace high-cost Pt catalyst on the anode with a low-cost, bifunctional nickel-molybdenum-cobalt alloy, which could effectively catalyze hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions in alkaline electrolyte. Such a nickel-hydrogen battery exhibits an energy density of ∼140 Wh kg−1 (based on active materials) in aqueous electrolyte and excellent rechargeability with negligible capacity decay over 1,500 cycles. The estimated cost of the nickel-hydrogen battery based on active materials reaches as low as ∼$83 per kilowatt-hour, demonstrating attractive characteristics for large-scale energy storage.