Optimized mean based second derivative-free families of Chebyshev–Halley type methods

In this paper, we present new interesting fourth-order optimal families of Chebyshev–Halley type methods free from second-order derivative. In terms of computational cost, eachmember of the families requires two functions and one first-order derivative evaluation per iteration, so that their efficiency indices are 1.587. It is found by way of illustration that the proposed methods are useful in high-precision computing environment. Moreover, it is also observed that larger basins of attraction belong to ourmethods although the othersmethods are slow and have darker basins while some of the methods are too sensitive upon the choice of the initial guess.     

Analysis of equation of state for nanomaterials

An equation of state (EOS) recently proposed for nanomaterials is discussed critically. Different possible forms of the EOS are discussed with their correlations. We have considered 20 nanomaterials for this purpose, viz. CdSe, Rb₃C₆₀, carbon nanotube, γ-Fe₂O₃, ε-Fe (hexagonal iron), MgO, γ-Al₂O₃ (67 nm), α-Fe₂O₃, α-Fe (filled nanotube), TiO₂ (anatase ), 3C-SiC (30 nm), TiO₂ (rutile phase), Zr_0.1Ti_0.9O₂, γ-Si₃N₄, Ni-filled MWCNT, Fe-filled MWCNT, CeO₂ (cubic fluorite phase and orthorhombic phase), germanium (49 nm), GaN (wurtzite phase) and SnO₂ (rutile phase) (14 nm). It is found that the change in the form of EOS does not improve the results. This demonstrates the validity of the EOS proposed for nanomaterials. The EOS is also used to study the effect of temperature on compression of Ni (20 nm). It is found that there is small shift in isotherm due to increase in the temperature. The results have been found to present a good agreement with the available experimental data.     

Development and characterization of poly ethyl metha acrylate–iron oxide(III) based hydrophobic liquid nanocomposite films

Select applications of hydrophobic nanocomposites include preparation of robust self-cleaning surfaces, water-repellent glass surfaces, and waterproofing textiles. Various nanocomposites have been reported in the literature; however, the relationship between the nanocomposite surface morphology and its hydrophobicity needs to be understood better. In the present work Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and poly ethyl metha acrylate (PEMA) were used in varying proportions to obtain a series of model hydrophobic surfaces (spin-coated on glass substrate). The hydrophobicity of these surfaces was measured by static contact angle; a maximum of 103° was obtained at highest loading of iron oxide nanoparticles. These surfaces were also characterized using AFM. The contact angle and characterization data were used to test some of the models which have been proposed in the recent literature on prediction of contact angle for composite surfaces. It is proposed that the hydrophobicity of the iron oxide–PEMA surface is due to the physical roughness causing air entrapment as well as the chemical heterogeneity. Based on the experimental studies and the simulations using the recent models on contact angle, some general features of relationship between a composite surface morphology and its hydrophobicity is proposed.     

Thermal stability and crystallization kinetics of ternary Se–Te–Sb semiconducting glassy alloys

This paper presents the results of kinematical studies of glass transition and crystallization in glassy Se_85?x Te₁₅Sb _x (x = 2, 4, 6 and 8) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). From the dependence on heating rates of, the glass transition temperatures (T _g), and temperature of crystallization (T _p) the activation energy for glass transition (E _g) and the activation energy for crystallization (E _c) are calculated and their composition dependence can be discussed in term of the average coordination number and cohesive energy. The thermal stability of Se_85?x Te₁₅Sb _x was evaluated in terms of criterion ΔT = T _c ? T _g and kinetic criteria K(T _g) and K(T _p). By analyzing the crystallization results, the crystallization mechanism is characterized. Two (two- and three-dimensional growth) mechanisms are working simultaneously during the amorphous–crystalline transformation of the Se₈₃Te₁₅Sb₃ alloy while only one (three-dimensional growth) mechanism is responsible for the crystallization process of the chalcogenides Se_85?x Te₁₅Sb _x (x = 4, 6 and 8) glass. The phases at which the alloy crystallizes after the thermal process have been identified by X-ray diffraction.     

Theoretical analysis of planar and non‐planar electron ‐ acoustic shock waves in electron‐positron‐ion plasma

The propagation properties of planar and non‐planar electron acoustic shock waves composed of stationary ions, cold electrons, and q‐non‐extensive hot electrons and positrons are studied in unmagnetized electron‐positron‐ion plasma. In this model, the Korteweg‐de Vries Burgers equation is obtained in the planar and non‐planar coordinates. We have investigated the combined action of the dissipation, non‐extensivity, density ratio of hot to cold electrons, concentration of positrons, and temperature difference of cold electrons, hot electrons, and positrons. It was found that the amplitude of shock wave in e‐p‐i plasma increases when the positron concentration and temperature increase. The same effect is observed in the case of kinematic viscosity η. Furthermore, it is noticed that spherical wave moves faster in comparison to the shock waves in cylindrical geometry. This difference arises due to the presence of the geometry term m/2τ. It should be noted that the contribution of the geometry factor comes through the continuity equation. Results of our work may be helpful to illustrate the different properties of shock wave features in different astrophysical and space environments like supernova, polar regions, and in the vicinity of black holes.     

Development of a New,Rapid, and Sensitive Validated High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Method for the Estimation of Berberine in Tinospora cordifolia

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A straightforward, delicate, and fast elite thin-layer chromatographic system (high-performance thin-layer chromatography [HPTLC])...     

Zirconium (IV), Thorium (IV) and Dioxouranium (VI) Complexes of Dibasic Tridentate Schiff Bases

Dibasic tridentate Schiff bases obtained by the condensation of O -aminobenzoic acid with salicyldehyde and its 5-chloro and 5-bromo derivatives were synthesised and used to pracipitate Zr(IV), Th(IV) and UO₂(VI) metals as complexes. The 1: 1 (metal-ligand) stoichiometry of these complexes is shown by elemental analysis, gravimetric estimations and conductometric titrations while the structures of the complexes are proved by i.r. spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. The magnetic susceptibility measurements by Gouy method show, these complexes to be monormeic and diamagnetic. The molar conductance values in nitrobenzene indicate the nonelectrolytic behaviour of the complexes. The results show that the complexes of the type Zr(OH)₃L.H₂O₂ Th(OH)₂ L.H₂O and UO₂L.H₂O are formed having solvent molecule in co-ordination with metal ion.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Adipic Acid by Ce(IV) Ion in Acidic Medium

Kinetic study of oxidation of adipic acid by Ce(IV) ion in aqueous solution of sulphuric acid shows that the reaction follows first order kinetics in both Ce(IV) and adipic acid and the over all reaction order ascertained is two. The specific rate constant increases with an increase in the concentration of adipic acid. Effects of hydrogen ion concentration, bisulphate ion and temperature have been studied in detail. Various kinetic parameters have been computed. The experimental findings are consistent with the mechanism involving rapid resersible formation of an activated complex between Ce(IV) and adipic acid followed by a rate determining step involving C-C bond fission.     

Mobile trap algorithm for zinc detection using protein sensors

We present a mobile trap algorithm to sense zinc ions using protein-based sensors such as carbonic anhydrase (CA). Zinc is an essential biometal required for mammalian cellular functions although its intracellular concentration is reported to be very low. Protein-based sensors like CA molecules are employed to sense rare species like zinc ions. In this study, the zinc ions are mobile targets, which are sought by the mobile traps in the form of sensors. Particle motions are modeled using random walk along with the first passage technique for efficient simulations. The association reaction between sensors and ions is incorporated using a probability (p1) upon an ion-sensor collision. The dissociation reaction of an ion-bound CA molecule is modeled using a second, independent probability (p2). The results of the algorithm are verified against the traditional simulation techniques (e.g., Gillespie's algorithm). This study demonstrates that individual sensor molecules can be characterized using the probability pair (p1,p2), which, in turn, is linked to the system level chemical kinetic constants, kon and koff. Further investigations of CA-Zn reaction using the mobile trap algorithm show that when the diffusivity of zinc ions approaches that of sensor molecules, the reaction data obtained using the static trap assumption differ from the reaction data obtained using the mobile trap formulation. This study also reveals similar behavior when the sensor molecule has higher dissociation constant. In both the cases, the reaction data obtained using the static trap formulation reach equilibrium at a higher number of complex molecules (ion-bound sensor molecules) compared to the reaction data from the mobile trap formulation. With practical limitations on the number sensors that can be inserted/expressed in a cell and stochastic nature of the intracellular ionic concentrations, fluorescence from the number of complex sensor molecules at equilibrium will be the measure of the intracellular ion concentration. For reliable detection of zinc ions, it is desirable that the sensors must not bind all the zinc ions tightly, but should rather bind and unbind. Thus for a given fluorescence and with association-dissociation reactions between ions and sensors, the static trap approach will underestimate the number of zinc ions present in the system.     

Effect of positron density and temperature on the electron acoustic waves in a magnetized dissipative plasma

Zakharov–Kuznetsov–Burgers (ZKB) equation is derived for electron acoustic shock waves in magnetized e–p–i plasma. In the present model, magnetized plasma containing two electron population with kappa distributed positrons has been considered. The propagation characteristics of three dimensional electron acoustic (EA) shock waves have been studied under the influence of magnetic field. Our present plasma model supports the negative potential shocks. Combined action of dissipation (η), superthermality (κ), concentration of positrons (β), temperature ratio of cold electrons to positrons (σ), and magnetic field (ω_c) significantly modify the properties of EA shock waves. The width and amplitude of the shock structures are modified by various physical parameters. It is found that shock wave width decreases with increase in β, η₀, and ω_c whereas it becomes wider for κ and σ. Further, potential of the shock wave decreases as one departs away from superthermal distribution.