The fusion dynamics of [Formula: see text] reaction has been studied using different theoretical approaches like energy-dependent Woods–Saxon potential (EDWSP) model, coupled channel formulation and Wong approach. At sub-barrier energies, the anomalously large enhancement of the fusion cross-section signifies the importance of barrier modification effects for the adequate addressal of experimental data. The EDWSP model, wherein barrier modification effects are introduced via the energy-dependent diffuseness parameter, is used to examine the sub-barrier fusion anomalies. In the framework of coupled channel model, the impacts of collective excitations and/or static deformations of colliding partners are incorporated in the fusion dynamics. In Wong formula, the role of different Skyrme forces such as SIII, KDE0v1, SkT1, SSk, GSkI is analyzed to address the observed fusion enhancement around the Coulomb barrier. Among these, GSkI and SSk forces seem more appropriate for the addressal of fusion dynamics at sub-barrier energies while SIII, SkT1 and KDE0v1 forces give relatively better results at the above barrier region. The SSk (GSkI) force at higher energies overestimate the experimental data and hence treated with the [Formula: see text]-summed Wong approach. The effect of deformations and optimum orientations is duly incorporated in the calculation and hence gives better description to the observed data. In addition, the fusion cross-sections are predicted over extreme energies using EDWSP and [Formula: see text]-summed Wong approach. It is worth mentioning here that the different theoretical approaches (EDWSP, coupled channel and Wong) induce similar kinds of barrier lowering effects, henceforth, they reasonably describe the sub-barrier fusion data of [Formula: see text] reaction.

BackgroundPsoriasis, a recurrent, chronic inflammatory disorder of skin, is a common problem in middle age and elderly people. Thymoquinone (TQ), a lipid soluble benzoquinone is the major active ingredient of volatile oil of Nigella sativa (NS), possesses good anti-psoriatic activity. However, its hydrophobicity, poor aqueous solubility, and photosensitive nature obstructs its development. Therefore, in the present research work, ethosomal vesicles (EVs) loaded with TQ were assessed for its anti-psoriatic potential employing mouse-tail model.MethodsTQ-loaded EVs were prepared by cold method, and characterized for various essential attributes, viz. particle size, morphology, percent drug entrapment, flexibility, rheological and textural analysis, and skin absorption. The optimized formulation was finally evaluated for anti-psoriatic activity on Swiss albino mice employing mouse-tail model for psoriasis.ResultsThe spherical shaped vesicles were in the nanosize range, and had high flexibility. The EVs incorporated hydrogel was rheologically acceptable and resulted in substantial TQ retention in the skin layers. The % anti-psoriatic drug activity was observed to be substantially better in the case of TQ-loaded ethosomal gel vis-à-vis plain TQ, NS extract, and marketed formulation.ConclusionsThe promising outcomes of the current studies ratify the superiority of TQ-loaded phospholipid-based vesicular systems for the management of psoriasis over other studied test formulations. This study, thus open promising avenues for topical application of TQ in the form of EV hydrogel.

The effect of mass, energy, and orientation of the nuclei of projectile beams is analyzed in reference to the dynamics of heavy-ion induced reactions spread across the Coulomb barrier. A set of reactions comprising of different projectiles such as 12 C, 16 O, 28 Si, and 48 Ca interacting with 154 Sm target nucleus are considered in the present analysis. The calculations are performed using the extended Wong model by taking quadrupole deformations of the interacting nuclei into account. The nuclear interaction part is determined using the Skyrme energy density formalism. The fusion cross section of the considered reactions is estimated using the conventional SIII Skyrme force, which depicts that fusion hindrance persists in the subbarrier region and it increases with an increase in the mass of projectile. The deviation of theoretical cross sections with respect to experimental data is addressed via (i) the cold orientation approach and (ii) different forms of nuclear potentials, such as GSkI Skyrme force and the proximity potential mod Prox 88. Further, the impact of different projectile beams has also been analyzed on the corresponding barrier profile of interaction potentials, which suggests that GSkI force is suitable for the heavier symmetric reactions. Also, the relative effect of spin-orbit independent (V P) and spin-orbit dependent (V J) on total nuclear potential (V N) is examined for SIII and GSkI Skyrme forces.

No abstract

About one third petroleum production of every oil field is in the form of water in oil emulsions which are normally stabilized by the nickel and vanadium porphyrins from asphaltene portion of crude. The petroleum emulsions of Assam oil fields which have been taken for the present work, are stabilized by the organometallic compounds of iron and high molecular weight compounds from asphaltenes. There is least possibility of any change on these natural petroleum emulsions. The Assam oil field emulsions have been tried to be broken by polyoxyethylene alkyl phenols, their sulphonates and sodium sulphonates in different combinations. The nonyl and octyl phenols with 30 and 40 molecules of ethylene oxide are found most suitable demulsifiers for Lakwa, Rudrasagar and Galeki (Assam) oil fields emulsions. The effect of polyoxyethylene alkyl phenols followed by the treatment of polyvalent cations had been studied for the first time in the field of demulsification of natural petroleum emulsions. This new combination has shown the best results as this broke even the most stable petroleum emulsions which could not be broken by polyoxyethylene alkyl phenols alone. In the present paper a simple method for calculating the chemical demulsification efficiency and a factor H/S paralleled to HLB & H/L for evaluating the emulsification property of surface active agents, have been introduced.