Insights into the synthesis and mechanism of green synthesized antimicrobial nanoparticles,answer to the multidrug resistance

Emergence of the multidrug resistant human pathogenic strains is posing a serious health challenge. Resistant strains carry mutations which help them to resist conventional drugs. Therefore, it is required to produce more effective agents that are able to degrade the resistant pathogenic bacterial strains. The antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles (NPs) by eco-friendly green synthetic methods have pulled attention everywhere owing to their exceptional properties and small particle size of 100 nm. NPs are considered to belong to a group of antimicrobial agents which have ability to go inside microbial cells and kill them. In this comprehensive review, we are discussing the green synthetic methods used for the synthesis of NPs targeting the microbes. Additionally, several characterization techniques of antimicrobial NPs are also discussed. Subsequently, various methods used for the analysis of antimicrobial activities and their mechanisms are also examined.     

Vibrational sum-frequency-generation (SFG) spectroscopy study of the structural assembly of cellulose microfibrils in reaction woods

The cellulose microfibril assemblies in secondary cell walls of tension wood and compression wood were studied with vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. The tension wood contains the gelatinous layer with highly-crystalline and highly-aligned cellulose microfibrils. The SFG spectral features of tension wood changed depending on the azimuth angle between the polarization of the incident IR beam and the preferential alignment axis of the cellulose microfibrils. The SFG spectra of the compression wood did not show any dependence on the azimuth angle, implying that the overall orientation of cellulose microfibrils in compression wood is not highly aligned. Instead, the decrease of cellulose content in compression wood brought about larger separation between cellulose microfibrils, which was manifested as changes in CH₂/OH intensity ratio in SFG spectra. These results implied that SFG spectral features are sensitive to cellulose microfibril alignments and inter-fibrillar separations.     

Laminar unsteady magnetohydrodynamic flow in an annular channel under a radial magnetic field

Summary The paper discusses the unsteady flow of an electrically conducting viscous fluid in the region between two coaxial cylinders in the presence of a radial magnetic field emanating from the common axis in planes perpendicular to it. In the special case when the magnetic Reynolds number of the flow is the same as its Reynolds number, an exact solution in terms of Bessel functions has been obtained which after infinite time tends to the steady flow discussed by Globe.     

3,5-Difluorobenzonitrile: ab initio calculations,FTIR and Raman spectra

Geometry, vibrational wavenumbers and several thermodynamic parameters were calculated using ab initio quantum chemical methods for the 3,5-difluorobenzonitrile molecule. The results were compared with the experimental values. With the help of three specific scaling procedures, the observed vibrational wavenumbers in FTIR and Raman spectra were analysed and assigned to different normal modes of the molecule. Most of the modes have wavenumbers in the expected range and the error obtained was in general very low. Using PEDs the contributions were determined for the different modes to each wavenumber. From the PED, it is apparent that the frequency corresponding to C[triple bond]N stretching contains 87% contribution from the C[triple bond]N stretching force constant and it mixes with the C-CN stretching mode 13 to the extent of 12%. Other general conclusions were also deduced.     

High CEC generation and surface modification in mica and vermiculite minerals

Montmorillonite layered silicate has been commonly used to reinforce polymer matrices. Due to its swelling in water, organic modification of the mineral surface is easily achieved which makes the surface compatible with polymers. Other minerals like mica and vermiculite though can also lead to high aspect ratio platelets in nanocomposites, but they do not swell in water owing to much stronger electrostatic forces of attraction holding their platelets together (layer charge density >0.5?eq?·?mol^?1 in comparison with 0.25–0.5?eq?·?mol^?1 for montmorillonite). In current study, milling, delamination and cation exchange processing of mica and vermiculite minerals has been reported to explore their potential as reinforcement materials. Wet grinding and subsequent sieving of the coarse minerals led to fine-sized particles suitable to perform chemical delamination in water. The delamination process resulted in Li-mica and Na-vermiculite with enhanced access to the interlayer cations, thus, higher CEC. Successful surface modification of the delaminated minerals with alkyl ammonium ions could be achieved which resulted in significant enhancements in their basal plane spacing. Peak degradation temperatures of 260°C were measured for C18 and 2C18 modified vermiculite, whereas 300°C and 275°C were observed respectively for C18 and 2C18 modified mica minerals which make them suitable for compounding with polymers at high temperature.     

A Sufficient Condition for (F1)-Effectiveness of theCT-Method

The study of (F)-effectiveness of theN_p-method was initiated by Hille and Tamarkin. In this direction, Dikshit investigated (F₁)-effectiveness of the product methodC¹N_p-method. Recently Kumar and Prasad established the necessary condition for (F₁)-effectiveness of the product method. In this note, we extend the corresponding sufficient part of Kumar and Prasad to theC¹T-method.     

Effect of leading edge cut on the aerodynamics of ram‐air parachutes

The effect of the configuration of leading edge cut on the aerodynamic performance of ram‐air parachutes is studied via two‐dimensional flow simulations. The incompressible Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations, in primitive variables, are solved using a stabilized finite‐element formulation. The Baldwin–Lomax model is employed for turbulence closure. Flow past an LS(1) 0417 airfoil is investigated for various configurations of the leading edge cut and results are compared with those from a Clark‐Y airfoil section. It is found that the configuration of the leading edge cut affects the lift‐to‐drag ratio (L/D) of the parachute very significantly. The L/D value has strong implications on the flight performance of the parachute. One particular configuration results in a L/D value that is in excess of 25 at 7.5° angle of attack. Results are presented for other angles of attack for this configuration. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inelastic neutron scattering in Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>NiH<Subscript>1.9</Subscript> and Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>NiH<Subscript>4.6</Subscript>

In this paper we report the results obtained from inelastic neutron scattering measurements on Zr₂NiH_1.9 and Zr₂NiH_4.6 using triple-axis spectrometer at Dhruva reactor, Trombay. The spectrum up to 35 meV represents largely the lattice modes of Zr and Ni atoms. The vibrational frequencies of hydrogen atoms are expected predominantly at higher energies. The phonon spectra from 35–180 meV were recorded using a Be filter as analyser. In order to analyse the observed neutron spectra, we assume a set of Ein-stein modes due to the hydrogen atoms which are delta functions in energy. These delta functions are broadened by the resolution of the instrument. The vibrational frequencies obtained from the fitting of the observed phonon spectra have been assigned to various tetrahedral sites in both the compounds.     

Inelastic neutron scattering and lattice dynamics studies in complex solids

At Trombay, lattice dynamics studies employing coherent inelastic neutron scattering (INS) experiments have been carried out at the two research reactors, CIRUS and Dhruva. While the early work at CIRUS involved many elemental solids and ionic molecular solids, recent experiments at Dhruva have focussed on certain superconductors (cuprates and intermetallics), geophysically important minerals (Al₂SiO₅, ZrSiO₄, MnCO₃) and layered halides (BaFCl, ZnCl₂). In most of the studies, theoretical modelling of lattice dynamics has played a significant role in the interpretation and analysis of the results from experiments. This talk summarises the developments and current activities in the field of inelastic neutron scattering and lattice dynamics at Trombay.