Synthesis of tapioca cellulose-based poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand for heavy metals removal from water

A graft copolymerization was performed using free radical initiating process to prepare the poly(methyl acrylate) grafted copolymer from the tapioca cellulose. The desired material is poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand, which is synthesized from poly(methyl acrylate) grafted cellulose using hydroximation reaction. The tapioca cellulose, grafted cellulose and poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. The adsorption capacity with copper was found to be good, 210 mg g^?1 with a faster adsorption rate (t_1/2 = 10.5 min). The adsorption capacities for other heavy metal ions were also found to be strong such as Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Co³⁺ and Ni²⁺ were 191, 182, 202 and 173 mg g^?1, respectively at pH 6. To predict the adsorption behavior, the heavy metal ions sorption onto ligand were well-fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model (R² > 0.99), which suggest that the cellulose-based adsorbent i.e., poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand surface is homogenous and monolayer. The reusability was checked by the sorption/desorption process for six cycles and the sorption and extraction efficiency in each cycle was determined. This new adsorbent can be reused in many cycles without any significant loss in its original removal performances.     

Intelligent reversible watermarking technique in medical images using GA and PSO

The advances in recording, editing, and broadcasting multimedia contents in digital form motivate to protect these digital contents from illegal use, such as duplication, manipulation, and redistribution. However, watermarking algorithms are designed to satisfy requirements of applications, as different applications have different concerns. We intend to design a watermarking algorithm for applications which require high embedding capacity and imperceptibility, to maintain the integrity of the host signal as well as embedded information. Reversible watermarking is a promising technique which satisfies our requirements. In this paper, we concentrate on improving the watermark capacity and reducing the perceptual degradation of an image. We investigated the Luo's [1] additive interpolation-error expansion algorithm and enhanced it by incorporating with two intelligent techniques: genetic algorithm (GA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Genetic algorithm is applied to exploit the correlation of image pixel values to obtain better estimation of neighboring pixel values, which results in optimal balance between information storage capacity and imperceptibility. Particle swarm optimization (intelligent technique) is also applied for the same purpose. Experimental results show that PSO and GA nearly give the same results, but GA outperforms the PSO. Experimental results also reveal that the proposed strategy outperforms the state of art works in terms of perceptual quality and watermarking payload.     

Formation of solitons and shocks in toroidal ion temperature gradient mode in the presence of non-Maxwellian electrons

Linear and nonlinear phenomena are investigated in toroidal ion temperature gradient (TITG)-driven pure drift mode. The model includes inhomogeneity in background magnetic field, ion temperature, and density. Finite Larmor radius effect is incorporated to understand the effect of low-frequency wave on ion dynamics. Electrons are assumed to follow nonthermal distribution, that is, kappa and Cairns distributions. Dispersion relation is obtained to analyse the linear behaviour of the TITG mode in the presence of non-Maxwellian electron distribution. In the nonlinear regime, exact solutions (soliton and shocks) are obtained (in dispersive and dissipative medium respectively) by using functional variable method to solve the nonlinear partial differential equation obtained for the system under consideration. Graphical illustrations are used to exhibit the characteristics of linear and nonlinear structures and their dependence on different physical parameters. It is observed that for TITG-driven pure drift mode, rarefactive solitons are formed for both thermal and nonthermal electron distributions. It is also observed that variation of electrons from standard thermal distribution affects the propagation characteristics of linear and nonlinear structures in TITG-driven modes. Results of our investigations will be helpful to understand the low-frequency waves in inhomogeneous plasmas in the presence of nonthermal electron distributions which are frequently observed by satellite missions and are also observed in laboratory plasmas.     

Tailoring the optical and magnetic properties of La-BaM hexaferrites by Ni substitution

We investigate the impact of Ni insertion on the structural,optical,and magnetic properties of Ba_0.8La_0.2Fe_12-xNi_xO₁₉hexaferrites(Ni substituted La-BaM hexaferrites).Samples were prepared using the conventional co-precipitation method and sintered at 1000℃for 4 hours to assist the crystallization process.An analysis of the structure of the samples was carried out using an x-ray diffraction(XRD)spectrometer.The M-type hexagonal structure of all the samples was confirmed using XRD spectra.The lattice parameters a and c were found to be in the ranges of 5.8925±0.001 nm–5.8952±0.001 nm and 23.2123±0.001 nm–23.2219±0.001 nm,respectively.The M-type hexagonal nature of the prepared samples was also indicated by the presence of corresponding FT-IR bands and Raman modes in the FT-IR and Raman spectra,respectively.EDX results confirmed the successful synthesis of the samples according to the required stoichiometric ratio.A UV-vis spectrometer was used to record the absorption spectra of the prepared samples in the wavelength range of 200 nm–1100 nm.The optical energy bandgap of the samples was found to be in the range of 1.21 eV–3.39 eV.The M–H loops of the samples were measured at room temperature at an applied magnetic field range of 0 kOe–60 kOe.A high saturation magnetization of 99.92 emu/g was recorded in the sample with x=0 at a microwave operating frequency of 22.2 GHz.This high value of saturation magnetization is due to the substitution of La3+ions at the spin-up(12k,2a,and 2b)sites.The Ni substitution is proven to be a potential candidate for the tuning of the optical and magnetic parameters of M-type hexaferrites.Therefore,we suggest that the prepared samples are suitable for use in magneto-optic applications.     

Control of charcoal rot fungus Macrophomina phaseolina by extracts of Datura metel

Methanolic leaf and fruit extracts of Datura metel were found highly effective in suppressing against Macrophomina phaseolina, the cause of charcoal rot disease. These extracts were further subjected to successive fractionation with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. All the concentrations (3.125-200?mg?mL?1) of chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of leaf extract, and n-hexane fraction of fruit extract completely inhibited the target fungal growth. Two compounds A and B from the n-hexane fraction of fruit extract and compound C from n-butanol fraction of leaf extract were obtained by TLC. Compound B exhibited the best antifungal activity with an MIC value of 7.81?μg?mL?1 that was at par with that of commercial fungicide mancozeb (80% w/w). This study concludes that M. phaseolina can be effectively controlled by natural antifungal compounds in n-hexane fraction of methanolic fruit extract of D. metel.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and antioxidant properties of hydrazinyl thiazolyl coumarin derivatives

ABSTRACT: Coumarin derivatives exhibit a wide range of biological properties including promising antioxidant activity. Furthermore, microwave-assisted organic synthesis has delivered rapid routes to N- and O-containing heterocycles, including coumarins and thiazoles. Combining these features, the use of microwave-assisted processes will provide rapid access to a targeted coumarin library bearing a hydrazino pharmacophore for evaluation of antioxidant properties. RESULTS: Microwave irradiation promoted 3 of the 4 steps in a rapid, convergent synthesis of a small library of hydrazinyl thiazolyl coumarin derivatives, all of which exhibited significant antioxidant activity comparable to that of the natural antioxidant quercetin, as established by DPPH and ABTS radical assays. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave dielectric heating provides a rapid and expedient route to a series of hydrazinyl thiazolyl coumarins to investigate their radical scavenging properties. Given their favourable properties, in comparison with known antioxidants, these coumarin derivatives are promising leads for further development and optimization.     

Effect of Cr implantation on structural and optical properties of AlN thin films

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) grown AlN thin layer on sapphire substrates have been implanted with Cr⁺ ions for various dose from 10¹³ to 10¹⁵ cm⁻². The analyses were carried out by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, a spectrophotometer and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) for structural and optical analyses. E₂(high) and A₁(LO) Raman modes of AlN layer have been observed and analyzed. The behavior of Raman shift and the variation in intensity and in peak width of Raman modes as a function of ions flux are explained on the basis of chromium substituting aluminum atom and implantation-induced lattice damage. Both Raman and X-ray analyses reveal that the incorporation of chromium atoms increases in the host lattice with the increasing of Cr ions fluence. The band gap energy was determined by using transmission spectra. It was found that the band gap energy decreases as the ion dose increases. The band gap of the unimplanted AlN is 6.02 eV and it decreases down to 5.92 eV for the Cr⁺-implanted AlN with a ion dose of 1×10¹⁵ cm⁻². Optical properties such as optical constants of the samples were examined by using a spectroscopic ellipsometer. It was observed that the refractive index (n) decreases with the increasing of ion dose.     

Natural flavonoids interact with dinitrobenzene system in aprotic media: an electrochemical probing

Three structurally related natural flavonoids (FlOH), quercetin (Q), rutin (R) and morin (M), were investigated by cyclic voltammetry to probe their interactions with hazardous 1,4-dinitrobenzene (1,4-DNB) using a glassy carbon electrode. Scavenging of 1,4-DNB by FlOH was inferred from a positive shift in reduction potential, decrease in anodic peak current, and irreversible electrochemical behavior of 1,4-DNB on increasing the flavonoid concentration. The homogeneous bi-molecular rate constant (k2) was determined using the Nicholson-Shain equation and found to be higher for the dianion. Morin posed a comparatively higher k2 value for its interaction with the 1,4-DNB electrochemical system owing to its more acidic nature and least intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The cyclic voltammetric (CV) results were further supported by HyperchemPM3 quantum mechanical semi-empirical calculations, which point towards E(r)C(i) interactions between flavonoids and 1,4-DNB. The present investigation is biologically significant in terms of natural flavonoidal scavenging activity toward toxins such as dinitroaromatics.     

Vibration characteristics of FGM circular cylindrical shells filled with fluid using wave propagation approach

The vibration characteristics of a functionally graded material circular cylindrical shell filled with fluid are examined with a wave propagation approach. The shell is filled with an incompressible non-viscous fluid. Axial modal dependence is approximated by exponential functions. A theoretical study of shell vibration frequencies is analyzed for simply supported-simply supported, clamped-simply supported, and clamped-clamped boundary conditions with the fluid effect. The validity and the accuracy of the present method are confirmed by comparing the present results with those available in the literature. Good agreement is observed between the two sets of results.     

Synthesis and Spectroscopy of Novel‐α‐Pyrazolylglycine Derivatives

The synthesis of α‐pyrazolylglycine derivatives(7a‐d) with different substituents, starting from glycine have been pre pared. The spectroscopy of intermediate compounds and the final amino acids have been discussed.