This cross-sectional study assessed distribution and pattern of echocardiography confirmed congenital heart disease, among 593 pediatric patients in outpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital in eastern India. Commonest defects were ventricular septal defect (43, 40.7%), atrial septal defect (241, 31.7%), and tetralogy of Fallot (125, 21%).

Turbulent flow over open cavity has been investigated experimentally in water channel using Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV) and numerically using FLUENT. The mean velocity and turbulent kinetic energy distribution of the flow over cavity having an aspect ratio, l/d = 2 (where l and d is the length and depth of the cavity) obtained from FLUENT are validated by experimental results. Effects of different Reynolds numbers and aspect ratios of the cavity (i.e. l/d = 1, 2 and 4) on the flow are reported. The results show that there exists a critical Reynolds number at which the trend of variation of physical variables breaks in response to the change in Reynolds numbers. Recirculating zone inside the cavity for l/d = 1, interacts with downstream cavity flow whereas, for l/d = 2 and 4, the mass exchange between the cavity and upstream flow is noticed. As the aspect ratio is increased, the upstream flow becomes more attached and the instability near the trailing edge increases.

A theoretical comparison is made of the "well to waves" (WTW) greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria pollutant emissions from the SF-BREEZE high-speed hydrogen PEM fuel cell ferry and the VALLEJO ferry powered by traditional diesel engine technology but constrained to Tier 4 emissions standards. The emissions were calculated for a common maritime mission, the current ferry route between Vallejo CA and San Francisco CA. Calculations are made of the energy required for the SF-BREEZE and VALLEJO to perform the mission route profile. The SF-BREEZE requires 10.1% more fuel energy than the VALLEJO, primarily due to the SF-BREEZE being heavier. Estimates are made for the SF-BREEZE GHG emissions associated with five LH2 fuel production pathways including renewable and non-renewable (fossil-fuel based) methods. Estimates are also made for GHG emissions associated with fossil-diesel production and delivery as well as those for biodiesel, which can be considered a renewable "drop-in" fuel replacement for conventional diesel fuel. We find that the GHG emissions for the SF-BREEZE using non-renewable LH2 are significantly higher than for the Tier 4 diesel-fueled VALLEJO on a per passenger basis. However, using renewable LH2, the GHG emissions for the SF-BREEZE ferry are reduced 75.8% compared to the diesel-fueled VALLEJO operating at Tier 4 emissions standards. We also compare the criteria pollutant emissions (NOx, HC, PM10) for the SF-BREEZE to that of the VALLEJO held to Tier 4 emissions standards fueled by diesel fuel or biodiesel. Hydrogen PEM fuel cell technology dramatically reduces NOx and HC emissions below the most advanced Tier 4 criteria pollutant emissions requirements regardless of whether the LH2 is made by NG reforming or via water electrolysis using 70% renewable energy. Renewable LH2 made with greater than 84% renewable process energy is needed to also drop the SF-BREEZE PM10 emissions below that of Tier 4 for high-speed fuel cell ferry transportation. Overall, the results show that operating a hydrogen fuel cell ferry on nearly 100% renewable hydrogen provides the dramatic reduction in GHG and criteria pollutant emissions commensurate with the problems of global climate change and maritime air pollution worldwide. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aldol condensation is an important synthetic method widely used in organic synthesis. Development of catalytic methods that avoids the production of stoichiometric by-products while maintaining high levels of control available from stoichiometric processes provides an atom-economical alternative for these important transformations. Indeed, numerous catalysts for the aldol reaction have been reported in recent years, including enzymes, catalytic antibodies, organometals, organocatalysts, and small molecules. The direct aldol reaction is the most important reaction employed by synthetic chemists and is common in nature. Recently, various Lewis acids have been examined as catalysts for aldol reactions, but aldol condensation in a micellar medium has not been studied in detail so far. Because of stronger environmental concerns, organic reactions in green media, especially in water, have attracted more attention. It is believed that micelles act as nano reactors to enhance the reaction rates and give very good to excellent yields of end products.

Ethers have been synthesized by the different protocols such as Williamson ether synthesis, the Mitsunobu reaction, bimolecular dehydration, the Ullmann method, a transition metal-free coupling reaction between aliphatic alcohols and unsymmetric diaryliodonium salts, room temperature ionic liquid promoted synthesis, Cu(II) catalyzed synthesis, microwave assisted synthesis, and synthesis under solvent free micellar conditions. A good number of homogeneous Bronsted acids and Lewis acid based transition metals have also been reported as catalysts in the etherification of alcohols. The above mentioned pathway has exhibited some drawbacks including their deactivation through decomposition caused by the water formed during the course of the reaction. In many cases these methods also reveal the accumulation of a significant amount of acid at the end of the reaction due to the hydrolysis of Lewis acid catalysts such as metal oxides, which upon neutralization give a considerable amount of salts. A literature survey shows some reports on the use of phase transfer and polymer and clay supported catalysts for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers. To a synthetic chemist, an aqueous micellar solution is a good choice as a reaction medium for synthesizing several organic compounds. Micellar conditions are a new direction of study for ether synthesis as they are simple, efficient, economical and environmentally friendly.

d-mannitol is a sweet-tasting hexitol widely distributed in nature, and is found in olive trees, plane trees, fruits, and vegetables. However, production of mannitol and mannose by extraction of plant raw materials is no longer economical. Selective oxidation of d-mannitol gives d-mannose. Oxidation kinetics of d-mannitol by Ce(IV) in an aqueous medium in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) has been carried out to observe the micellar effect on rate. The oxidation kinetics was studied by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Five different metal ions Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Cu(II), and Ag(I) are used. Both Cr(III) and Mn(II) are active catalysts for the d-mannitol oxidation in the presence and absence of anionic surfactants. The substrate undergoes effective collision with the expected positive reactive species Ce(SO4)2+ resulting enhancement of rate. The presence of SDS surfactant was found to accelerate the reaction rate and this effect has been explained by the partitioning of the reactants in micelle. The effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on rate also indicate that Ce(SO4)2+ was the main reactive form of cerium(IV). The main product d-mannose was identified by the FTIR spectroscopy and spot test. The combination of Mn(II) and SDS is the most suitable combination for the conversion of d-mannitol to d -mannose.

Allergic airway inflammation is driven by the recognition of inhaled allergen by T helper type 2 (Th2) cells in the airway and lung. Allergen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can strongly reduce airway inflammation, however, the mechanism of their inhibitory activity is not fully defined. We used mouse models to show that allergen-specific CTLs reduced early cytokine production by Th2 cells in lung, and their subsequent accumulation and production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. In addition, treatment with specific CTLs also increased the proportion of caspase+ dendritic cells (DCs) in mediastinal lymph node (MLN), and decreased the numbers of CD103+ and CD11b+ DCs in the lung. This decrease required expression of the cytotoxic mediator perforin in CTLs and of the appropriate MHC-antigen ligand on DCs, suggesting that direct CTL-DC contact was necessary. Lastly, lung imaging experiments revealed that in airway-challenged mice XCR1-GFP+ DCs, corresponding to the CD103+ DC subset, and XCR1-GFP− CD11c+ cells, which include CD11b+ DCs and alveolar macrophages, both clustered in the areas surrounding the small airways and were closely associated with allergen-specific CTLs. Thus, allergen-specific CTLs reduce allergic airway inflammation by depleting CD103+ and CD11b+ DC populations in the lung, and may constitute a mechanism through which allergic immune responses are regulated.

The micellar catalyzed 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy)-promoted oxidation of glycerol to glyceraldehyde by chromic acid is investigated under the criteria [glycerol]T ≫ [Cr(VI)]T at 30 °C. The critical micellar concentrations values of the three representative surfactants, N-cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), and TX-100, are determined by conductometric and spectrophotometric methods. The oxidized product glyceraldehyde is identified by 2,4-DNP test and FTIR spectral measurement. The pseudo-first-order rate constants (k obs, s−1) are calculated from the slope of plots of ln(A 450) versus time (t) which are linear. From these plots, the kinetic parameter k eff values are calculated and the k eff value of SDS-catalyzed bipy-promoted reaction path was found to be highest among all the combinations. In the bipy-promoted oxidation path, Cr(VI)–bipy complex is the main active oxidant which undergoes attack by the substrate to form the product. The active oxidant Cr(VI)–bipy complex reacts with glycerol to form a ternary complex which undergoes redox decomposition in a rate-limiting step. Here, the anionic surfactant SDS and the neutral surfactant TX-100 both catalyze the reaction in the presence of bipy, whereas the cationic surfactant CPC and neutral surfactant TX-100 inhibit the reaction in the absence of bipy. SDS is found to be the most suitable micellar catalyst for the bipy-promoted chromic acid oxidation of glycerol.

Vanadium causes a variety of toxic effects such as hematological and biochemical changes, e.g., hemolysis and decrease in erythrocyte count/hemoglobin level/hematocrit index, neurobehavioral injury, i.e. general activity and learning, and abnormalities in development and reproduction, e.g., ,embryotoxicity, teratogenicity, or morphological and functional lesions in liver, kidneys, bones, spleen and leukocytes. Inhalation of vanadium may cause rhinitis, pharyngitis, chronic productive cough, tracheobronchitis, and bronchopneumonia. Moreover, the most often observed side effects include loss of appetite and significant reduction of body weight, often leading to anorexia, weakness, and nose bleeding, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, pulmonary hemorrhage, or death.

The chromic acid oxidation of formaldehyde in micellar solution of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)/TX-100 at room temperature has been investigated under pseudo first-order condition. Heterocyclic bases such as picolinic acid (PA), 2,2 '-bipyridine (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) have been employed which acts as a promoter. The rate of this oxidation reaction increased 50 times by combination of bipy and SDS micelle compared to rate in pure aqueous media. Here, we can avoid hazardous organic solvents, high pressure and temperature which are required for conventional preparation of formic acid. The catalytic effect of SDS/TX-100 micelle has been explained.

Spiders of the Loxosceles species can cause dermonecrosis and acute kidney injury (AKI). Hemolysis, rhabdomyolysis and direct toxin-mediated renal damage have been postulated. There are very few reports of Loxoscelism from India. We report a case of AKI, hemolysis and a "gravitational" pattern of ulceration following the bite of the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles spp).

The kinetics of oxidation of benzaldehyde by chromic acid in aqueous and aqueous surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, alkyl phenyl polyethylene glycol, Triton X-100 and N-cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC) media have been investigated in the presence of promoter at 303 K. The pseudo-first-order rate constants (kobs) were determined from a logarithmic plot of absorbance as a function time. The rate constants were found to increase with introduction of heteroaromatic nitrogen base promoters such as Picolinic acid (PA), 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). The product benzoic acid has been characterized by conventional melting point experiment, NMR, HRMS and FTIR spectral analysis. The mechanism of both unpromoted and promoted reaction path has been proposed for the reaction. In presence of the anionic surfactant SDS, cationic surfactant CPC and neutral surfactant TX-100 the reaction can undergo simultaneously in both aqueous and micellar phase with an enhanced rate of oxidation in the micellar phase. Both SDS and TX-100 produce normal micellar effect whereas CPC produce reverse micellar effect in the presence of benzaldehyde. The observed net enhancement of rate effects has been explained by considering the hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction between the surfactants and reactants. SDS and bipy combination is the suitable one for benzaldehyde oxidation.

Chromic acid oxidation of tartaric acid in aqueous acid media produces glycolaldehyde very sluggishly at room temperature. Suitable combination of promoter (2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline) and micellar catalyst (sodium dodecyl sulphate, cetylpyridinium chloride, triton X-100) enhances the rate of reaction to almost 14-fold. Observation showed that anionic surfactant (SDS) and nonionic surfactant (TX-100) accelerates the process but cationic surfactant (CPC) retards the reaction. The efficient combination for the production of glycolaldehyde from tartaric acid is found to be 1,10-phenanthroline and SDS.

Chromic acid oxidation of dl-mandelic acid in the presence and absence of different promoters has been studied in aqueous media under the kinetic conditions [mandelic acid]T ≫ [Cr(VI)]T and [promoter]T ≫ [Cr(VI)]T at 30 °C. The promoters used in this oxidation reaction, picolinic acid (PA), 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), are strong chelating ligands which form complexes with most transition metal ions. The reaction is first-order with regard to [H+], [mandelic acid]T, and [Cr(VI)]T and also has first-order dependence on [promoter]T. HCrO4 − was found to be kinetically active in the absence of promoters; in the presence of promoters the Cr(VI)–promoter complexes were believed to be the active oxidants. In this path the Cr(VI)-promoter complex in each case undergoes nucleophilic attack by the mandelic acid to form a ternary complex which subsequently undergoes redox decomposition involving 3e transfer as the rate-determining step. Among the three promoters oxidation is much faster with 1,10-phenanthroline.

Picolinic acid, 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline promoted Cr(VI) oxidation of o-galactose to D-galactonic acid in three representative aqueous micellar media has been studied. The anionic surfactant (SDS) accelerated the rate of reaction while the cationic surfactant (CPC) and neutral surfactant (TX-100) retarded the reaction rate. Combination of bipy and SDS is the best choice for chromic acid oxidation of D-galactose to D-galactonic acid in aqueous media although 1,10-phenanthroline is best promoter in absence of micellar catalyst. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Agricultural products and by-products are now widely used for removal of hexavalent chromium from waste water. This option is more efficient and less expensive than conventional physicochemical treatments. The purpose of this study was reduction of carcinogenic hexavalent chromium to non-toxic trivalent chromium by use of aqueous extracts of sugar cane bagasse, which contains a variety of reducing components, for example sugar. The rate of this process is accelerated by use of surfactant as catalyst.

In the present investigation, kinetic studies of oxidation of formic acid with and without catalyst and promoter in aqueous acid media were studied under the pseudo-first order conditions [formicacid]T >>[Cr(VI)] T at room temperature. In the 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) promoted path, the cationic Cr(VI) phen complex is the main active oxidant species undergoes a nucleophilic attack by the substrate to form a ternary complex which subsequently experiences a redox decomposition through several steps leading to the products CO2 and H-2 along with the Cr(III) phen complex. The anionic surfactant (i.e., sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and neutral surfactant (i.e., Triton X-100, TX-100) act as catalyst and the reaction undergo simultaneously in both aqueous and micellar phase with an enhanced rate of oxidation in the micellar phase. Whereas the cationic surfactant (i.e., N-cetyl pyridinium chloride, CPC) acts as an inhibitor restricts the reaction to aqueous phase. The observed net enhancement of rate effects has been explained by considering the hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction between the surfactants and reactants. The neutral surfactant TX-100 has been observed as the suitable micellar catalyst for the phen promoted chromic acid oxidation of formic acid.