Structure and magnetic properties of the Al1−xGaxFeO3 family of oxides: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Magnetic properties of the Al_1−xGa_xFeO₃ family of oxides crystallizing in a non-centrosymmetric space group have been investigated in detail along with structural aspects by employing X-ray and neutron diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy and other techniques. The study has revealed the occurrence of several interesting features related to unit cell parameters, site disorder and ionic size. Using first-principles density functional theory based calculations, we have attempted to understand how magnetic ordering and related properties in these oxides depend sensitively on disorder at the cation site. The origin and tendency of cations to disorder and the associated properties are traced to the local structure and ionic sizes.     

Tunable infrared laser instruments for airborne atmospheric studies

Tunable infrared laser-based instruments on airborne platforms have provided invaluable contributions to atmospheric studies over the past several decades. This paper presents an overview of some recent studies and developments using this approach that were presented at the 2007 Field Laser Applications in Industry and Research (FLAIR, http://www.inoa.it/flair/) conference in Florence, Italy. The present overview only covers select in situ absorption-based instruments that were presented in the airborne session at this conference. In no case are comprehensive details presented. These details can be found in the numerous references given. Additional approaches based upon cavity-enhanced and photoacoustic measurements, which are also making invaluable contributions in airborne atmospheric studies, are not discussed in this brief overview. PACS  07.88.+y; 07.57.Ty; 42.60.-v; 42.60.By; 42.62.Fi     

Double yield in tensile deformation of high-density polyethylene fiber

Fiber-grade high-density polyethylene (HOPE) was melt spun into a multifilament yam that, after quenching in air, was wound at speeds in the range 450 m/min to 1000 m/min. Tensile tests on these anisotropic yarns showed two yield points of varying intensity, similar to those reported in the literature for compression molded, isotropic HOPE sheets and films. However, unlike the sheets, the second yield in the case of fibers always occurred at a stress higher than that for the first yield. More detailed studies on the yam spun at 450 m/ min showed that these characteristics persisted at different strain rates and test temperatures and were also present in the heat-set as-spun samples. The applicability of the existing models to explain the double-yield phenomenon has been critically examined in the light of the results obtained. For this, the necessary structural and morphological characterization of the samples was also done.     

Synthesis of poly(butyl acrylate)/sodium silicate nanocomposite fire retardant

Poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA)/sodium silicate (SS) nanocomposites were prepared via emulsifier-free emulsion technique in presence of Cu(II)/glycine chelate complex and ammonium persulfate (APS) initiator. The strongly hydrophobic PBA was intercalated into the hydrophilic SS layer. Since the interlayers of silicate were filled with sodium cations, the hydrophilic properties were enhanced and lead to high degree of swelling. The formation of the PBA/SS nanocomposite was confirmed by infrared spectra (IR). Furthermore, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the composite so obtained was found to have nanoscale structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the nanoscale dispersion of the layer silicate and useful for measurement of d-spacing in interlayer system. It was found from thermogravimetric analysis that PBA/SS nanocomposites had more thermal stability as compared to raw PBA due to intercalation. Burning test of the nanocomposites performance exhibited a flame retardant property, which was also verified from cone calorimeter analysis. For its commercialization, the ecological friendly nature was studied via biodegradation and was found to have better biodegradability than the raw PBA.     

Design of donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) type small molecule donor materials with efficient photovoltaic parameters

Four Donor–Acceptor–Donor (D–A–D) type of donor molecules (M1‐M4) with triphenylamine (TPA) as donor moiety, thiophene as bridge, and thiazolothiazole as acceptor unit were designed and its photovoltaic parameters were equated with reference molecule “R.” DFT functional CAM‐B3LYP/6‐31G (d,p) was found best for geometry optimization and TD‐CAM‐B3LYP/6‐31G (d,p) was found suitable for excited state calculations. Among designed donor molecules, M4 manifests suitable lowest band gap of 4.73 eV, frontier molecular orbital energy levels as well as distinctive broad absorption of 455.3 nm due to the stronger electron withdrawing group. The electron‐withdrawing substituents contribute to red shifts of absorption spectra and better stabilities for designed molecules. The theoretically determined reorganization energies of designed donor molecules suggested excellent charge mobility property. The lower λ_e values in comparison with λ_h illustrated that these four donor materials would be ideal for electron transfer and M4 would be best amongst the investigated molecules with lowest λ_e of 0.0177. Furthermore, the calculated Voc of M4 is 2.04 V with respect to PC₆₀BM (phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester). This study revealed that the designed donor materials are suitable and recommended for high performance organic solar cell devices.     

Naproxen Inhibits UVB‐induced Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development in Ptch1+/−/SKH‐1 Hairless Mice

Naproxen possesses anti‐proliferative and pro‐apoptotic effects besides its known anti‐inflammatory functions. Here, we demonstrate the anticancer effects of naproxen against UVB‐induced basal cell carcinoma (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCCs) in a highly susceptible murine model of UVB carcinogenesis. Naproxen significantly inhibited UVB‐induced BCCs and SCCs in this model. Tumor number and volume were significantly decreased (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively). Inhibition in UVB‐induced SCCs and BCCs was 77% and 86%, respectively, which was associated with reduced PCNA and cyclin D1 and increased apoptosis. As expected, inflammation‐related iNOS, COX‐2 and nuclear NFκBp65 were also diminished by naproxen treatment. Residual tumors excised from naproxen‐treated animal were less invasive and showed reduced expression of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers N‐cadherin, Vimentin, Snail and Twist with increased expression of E‐cadherin. In BCC and SCC cells, naproxen‐induced apoptosis and activated unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling with increased expression of ATF4, p‐eIF2α and CHOP. Employing iRNA‐based approaches, we found that naproxen‐induced apoptosis was regulated by CHOP as sensitivity of these cutaneous neoplastic cells for apoptosis was significantly diminished by ablating CHOP. In summary, these data show that naproxen is a potent inhibitor of UVB‐induced skin carcinogenesis. ER stress pathway protein CHOP may play an important role in inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.     

Electrochemical approach for synthesis of 3-substituted indole derivatives

An efficient and economical method was developed for synthesis of 3-substituted indole by using electrochemically induced condensation of various aldehyde, indole and malononitrile.     

Assessment of natural uranium and 226Ra concentration in ground water around the uranium mine at Narwapahar, Jharkhand, India and its radiological significance

A brief study on dissolved radionuclides in aquatic environment, especially in ground water, constitutes the key aspect for assessment and control of natural exposure. In the present study the distribution of natural uranium and ²²⁶Ra concentration were measured in ground water samples collected within a 10 km radius around the Narwapahar uranium mine in the Singhbhum thrust belt of Jharkhand, India in 2007–2008. The natural uranium content in the ground water samples in this region was found to vary from 0.1 to 3.75 μg L^?1 with an average of 0.87 ± 0.73 μg L^?1 and ²²⁶Ra concentration was found to vary from 5.2 to 38.1 mBq L^?1 with an average of 13.73 ± 7.34 mBq L^?1. The mean annual ingestion dose due to intake of natural uranium and ²²⁶Ra through drinking water pathway to male and female adults population was estimated to be 6.55 and 4.78 μSv y^?1, respectively, which constitutes merely a small fraction of the reference dose level of 100 μSv y^?1 as recommended by WHO.     

Synthesis and Single-crystal Structure of a Silver(Ⅰ) Carboxyarylphosphonate: [Ag(H_2BCP)(4,4'-bipy)]·2H_2O

The title compound, a novel Ag(Ⅰ) carboxyarylphosphonate [Ag(H2BCP)(4,4'- bipy)]·2H2O (H3BCP = p-H2O3PCH2C6H4COOH, 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine), was synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It belongs to monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 5.7038(11), b = 22.397(4), c = 5.602(4) ?, β = 106.26(3)°, V = 1913.4(7) 3, Z = 4, C18H20N2O7PAg, Mr = 515.20, Dc = 1.788 g/cm3, μ = 1.182 mm-1, F(000) = 1040, the final R = 0.0404 and wR = 0.1216 for 4178 observed reflections with I 2σ(Ⅰ). In the structure, the Ag(Ⅰ) cations are bridged by 4,4'-bipy to give rise to 1D chains running along the b axis. These chains are linked further by the interactions of O (from BCP ligands) and Ag atoms to yield 2D layers. Hydrogen bonding interactions and weak π-π stacking interactions between 4,4'-bipy rings assemble such adjacent layers to generate a 3D supramolecular architecture.     

The role of soft versus hard bistable systems on stochastic resonance using average cycle energy as a quantifier

Using the input energy per cycle as a quantifier of stochastic resonance (SR), we show that SR is observed in superharmonic (hard) potentials. However, it is not observed in subharmonic (soft) potentials, even though the potential is bistable. These results are consistent with recent observations based on amplitude of average position as a quantifier. In both soft and hard potentials, we observe resonance phenomenon as a function of the driving frequency. The nature of probability distributions of average work are qualitatively different for soft and hard potentials.