Pulsed ion beam-assisted carburizing of titanium in methane discharge

The carburizing of titanium (Ti) is accomplished by utilizing energetic ion pulses of a 1.5 kJ Mather type dense plasma focus (DPF) device operated in methane discharge. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the deposition of polycrystalline titanium carbide (TiC). The samples carburized at lower axial and angular positions show an improved texture for a typical (200)TiC plane. The Williamson-Hall method is employed to estimate average crystallite size and microstrains in the carburized Ti surface. Crystallite size is found to vary from ～ 50 to 100 nm, depending on the deposition parameters. Microstrains vary with the sample position and hence ion flux, and are converted from tensile to compressive by increasing the flux. The carburizing of Ti is confirmed by two major doublets extending from 300 to 390 cm-1 and from 560 to 620 cm-1 corresponding to acoustic and optical active modes in Raman spectra, respectively. Analyses by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) have provided qualitative and quantitative profiles of the carburized surface. The Vickers microhardness of Ti is significantly improved after carburizing.     

Double-stratified Marangoni boundary layer flow of Casson nanoliquid: probable error application

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The present research is manifested to observe the impact of double stratification in the Marangoni convective flow of the Casson nanoliquid model...     

Structure-Based Designing,Solvent Less Synthesis of 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate Derivatives: A Combined In Vitro and In Silico Screening Approach

Objective: In this study, small molecules possessing tetrahydropyrimidine derivatives have been synthesized having halogenated benzyl derivatives and carboxylate linkage. As previously reported, FDA approved halogenated pyrimidine derivatives prompted us to synthesize novel compounds in order to evaluate their biological potential. Methodology: Eight pyrimidine derivatives have been synthesized from ethyl acetoacetate, secondary amine, aromatic benzaldehyde by adding catalytic amount of CuCl₂·2H₂O via solvent less Grindstone multicomponent reagent method. Molecular structure reactivity and virtual screening were performed to check their biological efficacy as an anti-oxidant, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic agent. These studies were supported by in vitro analysis and QSAR studies. Results: After combined experimental and virtual screening 5c, 5g and 5e could serve as lead compounds, having low IC₅₀ and high binding affinity.     

Isolation of quercetin and mandelic acid from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aesculus indica</Emphasis> fruit and their biological activities

Background

In this study Aesculus indica fruit was subjected to isolation of phytochemicals. Two antioxidants quercetin and Mandelic acid were isolated in pure state. The free radical scavenging and acetyl choline esterase inhibitory potential of the crude extract and sub fractions were also determined.

Results

The antioxidant capacity of crude extract, fractions and isolated compounds were determined by DPPH and ABTS methods. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method was used to estimate the total phenolic contents and were found to be 78.34?±?0.96, 44.16?±?1.05, 65.45?±?1.29, 37.85?±?1.44 and 50.23?±?2.431 (mg/g of gallic acid) in crude extract, ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane and aqueous fractions respectively. The flavonoid concentration in crude extract, ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane and aqueous fraction were; 85.30?±?1.20, 53.80?±?1.07, 77.50?±?1.12, 26.30?±?1.35 and 37.78?±?1.25 (mg/g of quercetin) respectively. The chloroform fraction was more potent against enzymes, acetyl choline esterase and butyryl choline esterase (IC₅₀?=?85 and 160 μg/ml respectively). The phenolic compounds in the crude extract and fractions were determined using HPLC standard method. Chlorogenic acid, quercetin, phloroglucinol, rutin, mandelic acid and hydroxy benzoic acid were detected at retention times 6.005, 10.062, 22.623, 30.597, 35.490 and 36.211 in crude extract and different fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction was rich in the targeted compounds and was therefore subjected to column isolation. The HPLC chromatogram of isolated compounds showed single peak at specified retention times which confirms their isolation in pure state. The isolated compounds were then characterized by FTIR and NMR spectrophotometric techniques.

Conclusion

The Aesculus indica fruit extracts showed antioxidant and anticholine esterase inhibitory potentials. Two bioactive compounds were isolated in the pure form ethyl acetate fraction. From results it was concluded that the fruit of this plant could be used to minimize oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species.

     

Labeling conditions of antibody IgG2a (Mouse) with90Y and99mTc and in-vitro stability studies

Mouse serum was fractionated and isolated to pure mose sub-class immunoglobulin (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b) on protein A-sepharose 4B Microprecipition method was used to ascertain the purity of mouse IgG-sub class, labeling and coupling efficiecy with⁹⁰Y and^99mTc were determined by paper chromatography as a simple and rapid tool for analysis. The parameters investigated included the ratios of DTPA: IgG2a and DTPA: Sn, pH and protein concentrations. The optimal coupling efficiency for⁹⁰Y was achieved at DTPA to IgG2a molar ratio of 11 pH 8,4 and specific activity of 2 Ci/g for IgG2a coupled with about 1 goup of DTPa per 1 molecule of IgG2a, while the optimal coupling efficiency for^99mTc was achieved at a DTPA to IgG2a molar rato of 50:1, pH4 and specific activity of 1 Ci/g for IgG2a. Affinity column chromatography with sephadex G50 and protein A sepharose 4B were used to determine the immunoreactive and non-immuoreactive mouse antibody IgG2a coupled with DTPA at different molar ratios and^99mTc⁹⁰Y atoms incorporated into each antibody. Anti-IgG2a affinity column and anti-human transferrin affinity column were used to determine in vitro stability of^99mTc DPTa-IgG2a. Freeze-dried kit of IgG2a-Sn-DTPA to be labeled with^99mTc was prepared under sterile condition Each vial contained 1.0 mg IgG2a-Sn-DTPA in about 100 l.     

Dielectric properties for the ordered-perovskite cuprate Sr2Cu(Re0.69Ca0.31)O6

Dielectric properties are reported on polycrystalline cubic ordered-perovskite cuprate Sr₂Cu(Re_0.69Ca_0.31)O₆ in the frequency range 10 Hz-100 kHz at temperature from 300 to 500 K. Both the dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss factor are found to be frequency and temperature dependent. The enhanced value of the low frequency dielectric permittivity is associated to ionic polarization and interfacial phenomena. The material is found to possess significantly high dielectric permittivity. The calculated ac conductivity suggests semiconducting behaviour for the Sr₂Cu(Re_0.69Ca_0.31)O₆.     

On topological properties of hierarchical interconnection networks

There is really a lot of mathematics involved in electrical and electronic engineering. It depends on what area of electrical and electronic engineering, for example there is a lot more abstract mathematics in communication theory and signal processing and networking etc. Networks involve nodes communicating with each other. A lot of computers linked together form a network. Cell phone users form a network. Networking involves the study of the best way of implementing a network. Graph theory has found a considerable use in this area of research. In this paper, we extend this study to interconnection networks and derive analytical closed results of general Randi? index \(R_{\alpha }(G)\) for different values of “\(\alpha \)” for block shift network (BSN-1) and (BSN-2), Hierarchical hypercube (HHC-1) and (HHC-2). We also compute first Zagreb, \(\textit{ABC}\), \(\textit{GA}\), \(\textit{ABC}_{4}\) and \(\textit{GA}_{5}\) indices and give closed formulae of these indices for Hierarchical interconnection networks.     

A Novel Technique for the Determination of Surface Biaxial Stress under External Confinement Using Raman Spectroscopy

Bi-axial compressive stress induced as a result of mechanical confinement within a zirconium diboride-silicon carbide (ZrB₂-SiC) ceramic composite has been quantified using micro Raman spectroscopy and then validated using two independent experimental methods. First a relationship relating the Raman peak-shift on a confined silicon carbide (SiC) particle to magnitude of imposed confinement stress was developed by utilizing phonon deformation potentials for 3C-SiC diamond and zinc-blende crystal structures. ZrB₂-5wt%SiC samples, prepared using spark plasma sintering were subjected to different confinement pressure on the lateral surface by thermal shrink fitting metallic sleeves. The relationship between Raman peak-shift and confinement stress was then verified by comparing the measured stress in this method with that calculated from analytical expressions readily available for thick walled cylinders. The relationship was further validated independently using digital image correlation (DIC) by measuring the displacements for unknown levels of progressively increasing confinement stress induced by a shaft-collar ring on similar specimens. The Raman peak-shift relation derived for SiC phase also correctly predicted process-induced residual stresses due to a mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion between the matrix phase and SiC particles. The derived Raman peak-shift relationship can also be generalized and can be a valuable tool to experimentally determine unknown bi-axial stress in a Raman active structure.     

Tailoring the donor moieties in TPA-based organic dyes for efficient photovoltaic,optical and nonlinear optical response properties

The current study reports tailoring the electronic donor structures of organic dyes to modify their optical and nonlinear optical (NLO) response properties. Five (5) tri-phenyl amine (TPA) based Donor-π-Acceptor (D-π-A) organic dyes with the codes ICAA1 , ICAA2 , ICAA3 , ICAA4 , and ICAA5 were designed and investigated for their optical and NLO properties using quantum chemical methods. Optical and NLO properties of these dyes were studied by CAM-B3LYP method and 6-311G* basis set. The focus has been on the impact of adding secondary donors and shifting their substitutions at ortho (o), meta (m) and para (p) positions. Among all designed compounds, ICAA4 showed the highest amplitude of average third-order NLO polarizability <γ>, which is calculated to be 1316 × 10⁻³⁶ esu. Time-dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) method was used to determine how a change in the position of the donor affected the excitation energy (E_g) and NLO response properties. The findings showed that changing the position of the secondary donor results in a red shift among absorption spectra as well as the increase in their NLO responses. Complete process of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) has been investigated in terms of different optical parameters such as frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs), transition density matrix (TDMs), density of states (DOS), electron density difference (EDD), and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Our calculations for study of ICT process indicate that p-position of methoxy group performs better among all other positions and even it has better NLO response properties than the compound with three collective methoxy groups. The calculated V_oc values of all designed molecules range from 1.09 to 1.30, all of them are positive while their ΔG_inject is found to be in the range of −0.87 to −1.79 eV indicating their decent potential for photovoltaic applications. The studied optical, NLO and photovoltaic parameters illustrated that ICAA1 to ICAA5 are appropriate molecules not only for NLO applications but also for efficient photovoltaic purposes.     

Nitriding molybdenum: Effects of duration and fill gas pressure when using 100-Hz pulse DC discharge technique

Molybdenum is nitrided by a 100-Hz pulsed DC glow discharge technique for various time durations and fill gas pressures to study the effects on the surface properties of molybdenum. X-ray diffractometry(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and atomic force microscopy(AFM) are used for the structural and morphological analysis of the nitrided layers. Vickers’ microhardness tester is utilized to investigate surface microhardness. Phase analysis shows the formation of more molybdenum nitride molecules for longer nitriding durations at fill gas pressures of 2 mbar and 3 mbar(1 bar = 105Pa). A considerable increase in surface microhardness(approximately by a factor of 2) is observed for longer duration(10 h) and 2-mbar pressure. Longer duration(10 h) and 2-mbar fill gas pressure favors the formation of homogeneous, smooth, hard layers by the incorporation of more nitrogen.