Pharmaceutical and Physico Chemical Analysis of Tuttha Bhasma

Rasa sastra is an ancient science dealing with various drugs of mineral and metallic origin Tuttha (copper sulphate) is a mineral useful in various clinical conditions externally as well as internally. According to Rasasastra, through the process of Shodhana (purification) and Marana (incineration) the harmful effects of Tuttha bhasma (incinerated copper sulphate) is nullified resulting in the formation of a newer compound that is therapeutically more potent. To prepare Tuttha Bhasma by adopting standard manufacturing procedure explained in Ayurvedic texts as well as to study it’s physical and chemical characters using traditional and modern analytical tools. The pharmaceutical processing of Tuttha bhasma was carried out in three Kukkuta puta (incineration) with a peak temperature of 6100C according to Rasa Tarangini reference. Physico chemical analysis, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Particle Size Analysis (PSA) were conducted. The final product shows presence of nano particles which was confirmed by particle analysis. XRD results of Tuttha bhasma revealed the presence of copper sulphide (covellite) with hexagonal lattice and sodium sulphate with orthorhombic structure. All of the preparation stages and changes in the properties were documented and validated, and they may now be used as a valuable tool for standardization and quality assurance of Tuttha bhasma.

Death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) contributes to intestinal epithelial wound healing and the resolution of experimental colitis in mice

ABSTRACTVarious signaling molecules affecting epithelial restitution and wound healing are dysregulated in ulcerative colitis. Recent evidence demonstrates the necessity of Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling, interceded by cytoskeletal remodeling, for intestinal regeneration. Death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) is a regulator of actin cytoskeleton reorganization that controls proliferation and apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of DAPK3 in Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) with the HS38 compound augmented cell proliferation and enhanced wound closure. This phenotype corresponded with the increased colocalization of Yes-associated protein (YAP) with F-actin, which is indicative of YAP activation. The administration of HS38 impeded the resolution of intestinal injury and attenuated epithelial-specific proliferation after acute colitis induced by dextran-sodium-sulphate (DSS) in mice. During recovery from DSS-induced colitis, IEC proliferation was repressed, and mice exhibited increased disease severity when HS38 was applied to inhibit DAPK3. Moreover, HS38 treatment increased YAP nuclear localization in IECs, an indicator of signal activation. In summary, this study established DAPK3 as a key factor in intestinal epithelial regeneration and colitis progression by way of YAP signaling. Nevertheless, the role that DAPK3 play in different cell types will need further investigation to decipher the full consequence of DAPK3 inhibition on epithelial homeostasis.

Anodic behaviour of manganese germanide Mn5Ge3 in a sodium sulphate aqueous solution

Germanides are an interesting class of two-component systems which consist of metal and germanium. They are similar in their structure with silicides but have the specific properties. The target of the investigation was finding the main anodic electrochemical behaviour mechanisms for magnesium germanide Mn5Ge3 in an Na2SO4 aqueous solution.Electrochemical behaviour of manganese germanide obtained by Czochralski method was investigated by polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods and accomplished by microscopy data. Individual manganese and germanium were investigated in the same way for comparison. It was established that in the anodic oxidation process germanium is the potential-determining component. The passivation process associated with the formation of surface oxide films was accomplished by the current density oscillations appearing due to the bad adhesion of oxide film to the surface of the sample, its imperfection and discontinuity. The nature of oxide film formed in the polarization process waspartially established. The dependence of the anodic behaviour of the sample on the sulphate concentration was established: in the diluted solutions the passivation occurs at more positive potentials than in the concentrated. This phenomenon can be explained by the different mechanisms of anodic oxidation in the solutions of different concentrations.

Electrodialysis of a sodium sulphate solution with experimental bentonite-modified bipolar membranes

The aim of this work is to study the characteristics of the electrodialysis of a sodium sulphate solution with experimental bipolar membranes based on the MA-41 anion exchange membrane and a liquid sulphonated cation-exchanger modified with bentonite clays. The conversion of sodium sulphate was conducted by electrodialysis with bipolar membranes obtained by applying a liquid sulphonated cation-exchanger containing particles of bentonite clay to the MA-41 anion-exchange membrane.To increase the performance of membranes in terms of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, we carried out organomodifications of bentonite with alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and stearic acid at various concentrations. The bipolar membrane with the addition of bentonite modified with alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (2 wt%) showed a higher performance in terms of H+-ions. The bipolar membrane with bentonite modified with stearic acid (3 wt%) added to its cation-exchangelayer is the most effective in terms of obtaining a flux of OH--ions. It was shown that a combination ofalkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (2 wt%) and stearic acid (3 wt%) used to modify bentonite can increase the performance of the bipolar membrane during the conversion of sodium sulphate, both in terms of the acid and alkali.

Salts and Their Distribution in the McMurdo Region, Antarctica

<p>Salts are widespread in the cold, arid McMurdo region of Antarctica. They exist in a variety of deposit types from massive subglacial and sub-lake deposits containing up to 1010 kilograms of salt, down to traces in soil, snow and ice. However, deposits on rock and soil typically amount to a few grams of salt. At least 30 salt phases are known but only 10 of these are widespread. These 10 are thenardite, gypsum, halite, calcite, darapskite, soda nitre, mirabilite, bloedite, epsomite and hexahydrite. The distribution of salts has been examined on two scales, local and regional. The local scale extends from individual deposits to areas of a few square kilometres. The regional scale covers McMurdo oasis, McMurdo Sound and Ross Island, though areas in McMurdo oasis, and particularly Taylor Valley receive most attention. Local distribution is controlled by salt migration and separation. Migration is induced by water and wind, with soil brines moving as thin liquid films, by capillarity and under the influence of gravity. Deflation and asymmetric salt accumulation provide evidence that wind is important. Separation of phases is a consequence of different physico-chemical properties of salts, and environmental conditions, including site aspect, ambient temperature and humidity. Eutectic temperature is a fundamental salt property but solubility is also important. Several salt deposits containing separated (fractionated) phases have been found in the region. Separation is achieved mainly by fractional dissolution and crystallization and the most evolved product of the general separation sequence is calcium chloride. The separation processes, together with salt migration, obscure the sources of the salts. Regional distribution of salts has been characterized by determining the relative frequency at which specific phases are encountered at increasing distance from the coast and above sea level. Chloride and sodium phases decrease, whereas magnesium phases increase in frequency away from the coast. Sulphates-to-chloride and nitrates-to-chloride ratios increase with increasing distance. Calcium and carbonate show little change except in Taylor Valley where a marked decrease is apparent. This regional distribution is mainly dependent on the sources of the salts. The marine source is most important, contributing almost all of the chloride, sodium, sulphate and probably nitrate ions that are present. Chemical weathering is the predominant source of magnesium, calcium and carbonate ions probably via reactions of mafic, ferromagnesian minerals in local rocks and regolith. Biological and volcanic activity are locally significant at eastern Taylor Valley and in the summit area of Erebus Volcano, respectively. The salts have accumulated over the lifetime of the region, that is over less than the last 20-25 Ma or so. There is no evidence that they are relics from earlier, preglacial times, except for very minor amounts of gypsum and calcium carbonate. There has been a recent influx of sea water into Taylor Valley perhaps between 50,000 and 20,000 years ago, and evaporation of this water has preceded advance of Taylor Glacier over part of the resulting salt deposit. The continuing interaction between glacier and salt is causing basal ice to melt and producing aperiodic discharges of up to a few thousand cubic metres of salty water from the terminus of the glacier.</p>

Salts and Their Distribution in the McMurdo Region, Antarctica

<p>Salts are widespread in the cold, arid McMurdo region of Antarctica. They exist in a variety of deposit types from massive subglacial and sub-lake deposits containing up to 1010 kilograms of salt, down to traces in soil, snow and ice. However, deposits on rock and soil typically amount to a few grams of salt. At least 30 salt phases are known but only 10 of these are widespread. These 10 are thenardite, gypsum, halite, calcite, darapskite, soda nitre, mirabilite, bloedite, epsomite and hexahydrite. The distribution of salts has been examined on two scales, local and regional. The local scale extends from individual deposits to areas of a few square kilometres. The regional scale covers McMurdo oasis, McMurdo Sound and Ross Island, though areas in McMurdo oasis, and particularly Taylor Valley receive most attention. Local distribution is controlled by salt migration and separation. Migration is induced by water and wind, with soil brines moving as thin liquid films, by capillarity and under the influence of gravity. Deflation and asymmetric salt accumulation provide evidence that wind is important. Separation of phases is a consequence of different physico-chemical properties of salts, and environmental conditions, including site aspect, ambient temperature and humidity. Eutectic temperature is a fundamental salt property but solubility is also important. Several salt deposits containing separated (fractionated) phases have been found in the region. Separation is achieved mainly by fractional dissolution and crystallization and the most evolved product of the general separation sequence is calcium chloride. The separation processes, together with salt migration, obscure the sources of the salts. Regional distribution of salts has been characterized by determining the relative frequency at which specific phases are encountered at increasing distance from the coast and above sea level. Chloride and sodium phases decrease, whereas magnesium phases increase in frequency away from the coast. Sulphates-to-chloride and nitrates-to-chloride ratios increase with increasing distance. Calcium and carbonate show little change except in Taylor Valley where a marked decrease is apparent. This regional distribution is mainly dependent on the sources of the salts. The marine source is most important, contributing almost all of the chloride, sodium, sulphate and probably nitrate ions that are present. Chemical weathering is the predominant source of magnesium, calcium and carbonate ions probably via reactions of mafic, ferromagnesian minerals in local rocks and regolith. Biological and volcanic activity are locally significant at eastern Taylor Valley and in the summit area of Erebus Volcano, respectively. The salts have accumulated over the lifetime of the region, that is over less than the last 20-25 Ma or so. There is no evidence that they are relics from earlier, preglacial times, except for very minor amounts of gypsum and calcium carbonate. There has been a recent influx of sea water into Taylor Valley perhaps between 50,000 and 20,000 years ago, and evaporation of this water has preceded advance of Taylor Glacier over part of the resulting salt deposit. The continuing interaction between glacier and salt is causing basal ice to melt and producing aperiodic discharges of up to a few thousand cubic metres of salty water from the terminus of the glacier.</p>

Thin Al2O3 Coatings Produced by Electrochemical Method, Subjected to Thermo-Chemical Treatment

The article presents the effect of the anodizing parameters, as well as the thermo-chemical treatment, of Al2O3 layers produced on an aluminum alloy on the characterization of structure, geometrical structure of the surface (SGS), the thickness of the oxide layers, the phase composition, and their microhardness. The oxide layers were produced by the method of direct current anodizing in a three-component electrolyte. Then, thermo-chemical treatment was carried out in distilled water and aqueous solutions of sodium dichromate and sodium sulphate. The anodizing parameters and compounds for the thermo-chemical treatment were selected on the basis of Hartley’s plans. The research showed the effect of anodizing parameters on the thickness of the Al2O3 layers and the increase in the thickness of the layers as a result of the thermo-chemical treatment. The research showed a significant increase in the microhardness of the layers as a result of thermo-chemical treatment and its influence on the phase composition of Al2O3 layers. A significant influence of the thermo-chemical treatment on the geometrical structure of the surface was also found.

Obtaining Caustic Soda and Burkeite by Caustification of Mixture of Corbonate and Sodium Sulphate

The optimal technological parameters for the production of caustic soda from sodium carbonate and sulfate and calcium hydroxide have been established. The influence of the concentration of lime milk on the rate of filtration by sediment and filtrate has been studied. Purpose of the Work: The purpose of this work is to determine the physicochemical basis for the production of sodium hydroxide and burkeite by causticization of sodium carbonate and sulfate. Scientific Novelty: In comparison with the known works, a theoretical profoanalytical analysis of the one-cation of four-component system and its constituents was carried out for the first time, and also determined the optimal technological parameters of causticization of solutions for local carbonates and sodium sulfates. Features of the Work: - the influence of the main technological parameters on the processes of causticization, filtration, evaporation; - research of intermediate and finished products by modern physicochemical methods; - study of the rheological properties of the solution depending on the temperature and concentration of the resulting solutions.