A numerical and analytical approach for exploration of entropy generation in Sisko nanofluid flow having swimming microorganisms

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - A new system of equations is developed using Galerkin finite element scheme for the investigation of the generation of entropy in viscoelastic Sisko...     

Supercritical CO2 drying of pure silica aerogels: effect of drying time on textural properties of nanoporous silica aerogels

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Aerogel technologies provide high-performance lightweight materials with unique textural characteristics such as high specific surface area and open...     

Random mutagenesis and media optimisation for hyperproduction of cellulase from Bacillus species using proximally analysed Saccharum spontaneum in submerged fermentation

This study deals with the isolation of novel mutant of Bacillus and optimisation of media for the hyperproduction of cellulase. Cellulase-producing Bacillus PC-BC6 was subjected to physical and chemical mutagenesis to enhance the cellulolytic potential. Later, mutagenesis isolates were screened both qualitatively and quantitatively. Among all the tested isolates, Bacillus N3 yielded maximum (CMCase 1250 IU/mL/min and FPase 629 IU/mL/min) activity. The Bacillus N3 strain exhibited 1.7-fold more enzyme production as compared with the parental strain. Proximate analysis of untreated and pretreated Saccharum spontaneum was carried out to improve cellulase production. Three different media were tested for the production of cellulase, among which M2 medium containing MgSO₄, pretreated S. spontaneum, K₂HPO₄, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and peptone was found to be the best for maximum enzyme production by mutant Bacillus N3.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Melamine Formaldehyde Resins for Decorative Paper Applications

Melamine‐formaldehyde (MF) resins of improved environmental compatibility were synthesized at different molar ratios, temperature and pH. Five molar ratios of melamine and formaldehyde: 35:65, 36.5:63.5, 38.3:61.7, 41.1:58.9 and 42.4:58.6 were used to synthesize the corresponding resins. The prepared samples were characterized by using molecular weight determination viscometery, field emission scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. It was noticed that the solid content in the resin increases with an increase in pH. The maximum percentage of the solid content (51 %) was obtained for pH of 8.5 and temperature range of 95–98 ^oC. The refractive index of the final product was found increasing with an increase of melamine concentration in the resin. A similar trend was noticed in molecular weight of the resins with an increase in monomer yield. The maximum molecular weight of 114218 was obtained from the sample synthesized with MF molar ratio of 42.4:58.6.     

Ratiometric electrochemical detection of Pd•••π interactions: application towards electrochemical molecular logic gates

Abstract

The widespread and large scale use of platinum group metals, especially palladium, in a wide variety of industrial applications has seen their levels in wastewater streams, roadside dust and even pharmaceuticals significantly rise over recent years. Due to the possible environmental damage and potential health risk this may cause, there is now substantial demand for inexpensive, efficient and robust methods for the detection of palladium. Based upon self-immolative linker technologies, we have designed and synthesised a number of allyl ether-functionalised electrochemical probes to determine the optimum probe structure required to deliver a ratiometric electrochemical detection method capable of achieving a limit of detection of <1 mg/mL within 20 min through the use of disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. Combined with an enzymatic assay, this method was then used to achieve a proof-of-principle ratiometric electrochemical molecular logic gate.     

Antimicrobial activity and agricultural properties of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) grown in northern parts of Turkey: a case study for adaptation

This study was designed to determine the adaptation capability of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.), which is widely grown in tropical and subtropical climates, in northern parts of Turkey. In this study, plant height, number of fruits, fruit length, fruit width, number of seeds and fruit weight of bitter melon grown in field conditions were determined. The antimicrobial effect of the ethanol extract of fruit and seeds against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans microorganisms was tested in vitro by the disc diffusion method. In conclusion, plant height (260 cm), number of fruits (16 per plant), number of seeds (30.2 per fruit), fruit width (3.8 cm), fruit length (10.6 cm) and fruit weight (117.28 g fruit^? 1) were determined; fruits were found to have antimicrobial activity against A. niger; oil and seeds were found to have antimicrobial activity against A. niger and E. coli.     

Quasi-isochoric ion beam heating using dynamic confinement in spherical geometry for X-ray scattering experiments in WDM regime

Extreme states of matter such as Warm Dense Matter “WDM” and Dense Strongly Coupled Plasmas “DSCP” play a key role in many high energy density experiments, however, creating WDM and DSCP in a manner that can be quantified is not readily feasible. In this paper, isochoric heating of matter by intense heavy ion beams in spherical symmetry is investigated for WDM and DSCP research: the heating times are long (100 ns), the samples are macroscopically large (millimeter-size) and the symmetry is advantageous for diagnostic purposes. A dynamic confinement scheme in spherical symmetry is proposed which allows even ion beam heating times that are long on the hydrodynamic time scale of the target response. A particular selection of low-Z target tamper and X-ray probe radiation parameters allows to identify the X-ray scattering from the target material and use it for independent charge state measurements Z* of the material under study.     

Isolation and characterisation of three new anthraquinone secondary metabolites from Symplocos racemosa

Three new anthraquinone secondary metabolites were isolated from Symplocos racemosa, a small tree of family symplocaceae. The structures of compounds (1–3) were elucidated to be 1,4-dihydroxy-6-(ethoxymethyl)-8-propylanthracene-9,10-dione (1), 1,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-8-butylanthracene-9,10-dione (2) and 1,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-8-propyl anthracene-9,10-dione (3) using their spectral data, i.e. through IR, UV, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques including heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation and correlation spectroscopy.