Chemometric and trend analysis of water quality of the South Chennai lakes: an integrated environmental study

In order to bring out the nature of the factors influencing lake water composition, multivariate statistical analysis and trend analysis were performed based on the hydrochemical data of the study area, namely, South Chennai. Change in land use pattern and settlements along the banks of the lakes alters the quality and quantity of the surface water. In the present study, the R‐mode factor analysis and cluster analysis were applied to the geochemical parameters of the water to identify the factors affecting the chemical composition of the lake water. Dendograms of both the seasons give three major clusters, reflecting the groups of unpolluted to moderately polluted, polluted, and heavily polluted stations. The movement of stations from one cluster to another clearly brings out the seasonal variation in the chemical composition of the lake water. The complex hydrochemical data of the surface water were interpreted by condensing them into three major factors. Factor score analysis was used successfully to delineate the stations under study and the role of the contributing factors, and the nature of factors responsible for the variation in chemical composition of the water has been clearly brought out. Results of trend analysis using ArcGIS clearly indicate that the trend in water quality is deteriorating at a faster rate in the eastern part of the study area. It is understood that although natural shifts probably can account for some of the variation, it is most likely that human activities play a major role in affecting the water quality on a regional scale. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of 6‐Aryl‐4H‐imidazo[1,2‐b][1,2,4]triazoles and 6‐Aryl‐thiazolo[3,2‐b][1,2,4]triazoles

The cyclization of the derivatives of 3‐aminotriazole, 2‐(5‐substituted 4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ylamino)‐1‐arylethanones and 2‐(4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ylthio)‐1‐arylethanones to yield 6‐aryl‐4H‐imidazo[1,2‐b][1,2,4]triazoles and 6‐aryl‐thiazolo[3,2‐b][1,2,4]triazoles has been described.     

Synthesis of Biologically Important N‐Heteroaryl‐2‐(heteroarylthio)acetamides

The synthesis of compounds having triazole and selena/thiadiazole rings connected by a chain having sulfur and nitrogen in the link has been described. The resultant N‐heteroaryl‐2‐(heteroarylthio)acetamide may be biologically important as related compounds found application in the inhibition of HIV 1 replications.     

A New Route for the Synthesis of 6‐Substituted [1,2,4]Triazolo[4,3‐a]pyrimidines

A new method of generating the fused heterocyclic system with bridgehead nitrogen, triazolo[4,3‐a]pyrimidine, from 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole and unsaturated halo acids has been described.     

Hexamerin a Novel Protein Associated with Bacillus sphaericus Resistance in Culex quinquefasciatus

Bacterial insecticides like, Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis, have been used for the control of nuisance and vector mosquitoes for more than two decades. For many years, it was assumed that the use of microbial larvicides based on B. sphaericus would not lead to resistance in mosquitoes. However, recent reports have shown that B. sphaericus toxins are not free from this problem. Therefore, the resistance of mosquito populations to be will seriously threaten the sustainability of current mosquito control programme using these microbial insecticides. In the present study, we have characterised a novel protein responsible for resistance development in the filariasis vector of Culex quinquefasciatus. Laboratory selection experiments with B. sphaericus against the larvae were carried out up to 17 generations, and the occurrence of resistance was reported (resistance ratio (RR) at lethal concentration (LC)₅₀ and LC₉₀?=?1,987 and 2,051 folds, respectively). The protein profiles of B. sphaericus-resistant and susceptible population have confirmed with the expression of a new polypeptide (80 kDa) in the resistant strain only. Sequence result revealed that the newly expressed protein was ‘hexamerin’, and this factor might conceivably be responsible for the inheritance of resistance. This study is therefore valuable for comprehending the underlining factor and management of B. sphaericus resistance problem in mosquito population.     

The reaction of 2‐aroyl‐3,3‐bis(alkylsulfanyl)acrylaldehydes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride: Facile synthesis of differently substituted isoxazoles

2‐Aroyl‐3,3‐bis(alkylsulfanyl)acrylaldehyde was utilized for the synthesis of three different isoxazoles by reacting with hydroxylaminehydrochloride. We synthesized differently substituted isoxazoles like (aryl)[5‐(methylsulfanyl)‐4‐isoxazolyl]methanones, 3‐(methylsulfanyl)‐5‐phenyl‐4‐isoxazolecarbonitriles and 5‐aryl‐3‐(methylsulfanyl)‐4‐isoxazolecarbaldehyde oximes in good yields by varying the substratereagent stoichiometry and temperature of the reaction medium.     

Effect of size and shape controlled biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their mode of interactions against food borne bacterial pathogens

In this study, size and shape controlled biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity against food borne bacterial pathogens were investigated. Synthesis of gold nanoparticles was carried out using two medicinally important plants Cucurbita pepo and Malva crispa and the size and shape of the nanoparticles were controlled by altering various parameters in the reaction medium. Results obtained from UV–Vis, FE-SEM, EDS and HR-TEM analyses supported the nanoparticles formation. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of biomolecules in the plant leaves extracts responsible for reducing and capping agents. Interestingly, the plant extract synthesized gold nanoparticles showed effective inhibition zone against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of synthesized gold nanoparticles at 400 μg/ml concentration showed effective inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. Conductivity of the medium continuously increased during the nanoparticles treatment with food borne bacterial pathogens resulting in indirect indication of the disruption of bacterial cell membranes. In addition, mode of interactions of gold nanoparticles against food borne bacterial pathogens was demonstrated using Bio-TEM analysis which is clear evident for the disruption of bacterial cell membranes.     

Investigation on growth,optical, thermal,mechanical and dielectric studies of Benzimidazolium L-aspartate NLO crystal

The organic salt of Benzimidazolium L-aspartate (BLA) has been synthesised and single crystals were grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique at room temperature using water as the solvent. The grown crystal was subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and confirmed it belongs to monoclinic crystal system with space group P2₁/c. The crystalline perfection was studied using High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD). The functional groups were analysed by FT-IR analysis. The optical transmittance and the lower cut-off wavelength of the BLA crystal have been identified by UV-Vis study. The thermal stability of the title crystal was investigated by TGA/DTA analyses. The Vickers microhardness analysis was carried out to study the mechanical strength of the crystal. The dielectric response of the crystal was studied in the frequency range 100 to 5 MHz at different temperatures. The surface morphology of the grown BLA crystal was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The second harmonic generation efficiency was measured in comparison with KDP by employing Kurtz Perry Powder method.     

Rigid Nanoporous Urea-Based Covalent Triazine Frameworks for C2/C1 and CO2/CH4 Gas Separation

C2/C1 hydrocarbon separation is an important industrial process that relies on energy-intensive cryogenic distillation methods. The use of porous adsorbents to selectively separate these gases is a viable alternative. Highly stable covalent triazine frameworks (urea-CTFs) have been synthesized using 1,3-bis(4-cyanophenyl)urea. Urea-CTFs exhibited gas uptakes of C₂H₂ (3.86 mmol/g) and C₂H₄ (2.92 mmol/g) at 273 K and 1 bar and is selective over CH₄. Breakthrough simulations show the potential of urea-CTFs for C2/C1 separation.