Study of solar features causing GMSs with 250γ<<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><400γ

The effect of solar features on geospheric conditions leading to geomagnetic storms (GMSs) with planetary index,A ^P ≥ 20 and the range of horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic fieldH such that 250γ <H < 400γ has been investigated using interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), solar wind plasma (SWP) and solar geophysical data (SGD) during the period 1978–99. Statistically, it is observed that maximum number of GMSs have occurred during the maximum solar activity years of 21st and 22nd solar cycles. A peculiar result has been observed during the years 1982, 1994 when sunspot numbers (SSNs) decrease very rapidly while numbers of GMSs increase. No distinct association between yearly occurrence of disturbed days and SSNs is observed. Maximum number of disturbed days have occurred during spring and rainy seasons showing a seasonal variation of disturbed days. No significant correlation between magnitude (intensity) of GMSs and importance ofH _α , X-ray solar flares has been observed. Maximum number of GMSs is associated with solar flares of lower importance, i.e., SF during the period 1978-93.H _α , X-ray solar flares occurred within lower helio-latitudes, i.e., (0–30)°N to (0–30)°S are associated with GMSs. NoH _α , X-ray solar flares have occurred beyond 40°N or 40°S in association with GMSs. In helio-latitude range (10–40)°N to (10–40)°S, the 89.5% concentration of active prominences and disappearing filaments (APDFs) are associated with GMSs. Maximum number of GMSs are associated with solar flares. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are related with eruptive prominences, solar flares, type IV radio burst and they occur at low helio-latitude. It is observed that CMEs related GMS events are not always associated with high speed solar wind streams (HSSWSs). In many individual events, the travel time between the explosion on the Sun and maximum activity lies between 58 and 118 h causing GMSs at the Earth.     

Effect of Pressure on Fluid Damping in MEMS Torsional Resonators with Flow Ranging from Continuum to Molecular Regime

High quality factor of dynamic structures at micro and nano scale is exploited in various applications of micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nano electro-mechanical system. The quality factor of such devices can be very high in vacuum. However, when vacuum is not desirable or not possible, the tiny structures must vibrate in air or some other gas at pressure levels that may vary from atmospheric to low vacuum. The interaction of the surrounding fluid with the vibrating structure leads to dissipation, thus bringing down the quality factor. Depending on the ambient fluid pressure or the gap between the vibrating and the fixed structure, the fluid motion can range from continuum flow to molecular flow giving a wide range of dissipation. The relevant fluid flow characteristics are determined by the Knudsen number which is the ratio of the mean free path of the gas molecule to the characteristic flow length of the device. This number is very small for continuum flow and reasonably big for molecular flow. In this paper, we study the effect of fluid pressure on the quality factor by carrying out experiments on a MEMS device that consists of a double gimbaled torsional resonator. Such devices are commonly used in optical cross-connects and switches. We only vary fluid pressure to make the Knudsen number go through the entire range of continuum flow, slip flow, transition flow, and molecular flow. We experimentally determine the quality factor of the torsional resonator at different air pressures ranging from 760 Torr to 0.001 Torr. The variation of this pressure over six orders of magnitude ensures required rarefaction to range over all flow conditions. Finally, we get the variation of quality factor with pressure. The result indicates that the quality factor, Q, follows a power law, Q ∝P ^–r , with different values of the exponent r in different flow regimes. In the second part of the paper, we propose the use of effective viscosity for considering velocity slip conditions in solving Navier–Stokes equation numerically. This concept is validated with analytical results for a simple case and then compared with the experimental results presented in this paper. The study shows that the effective viscosity concept can be used effectively even for the molecular regime if the air-gap to length ratio is sufficiently small (h ₀/L<0.01). As this ratio increases, the range of validity decreases.     

A non-catalytic approach to the synthesis of 5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]quinolines

A concise synthesis of highly functionalized 5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carbonitriles is delineated through base induced ring transformation of 4-sec-amino-2-oxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitriles with S-methylisothiourea sulfate and 1-carboxamidinepyrazole hydrochloride, separately, in DMF. Under analogous reaction conditions the ring transformation of 4-sec-amino-2-oxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitriles by formamidine acetate provided 4-sec-amino-benzo[h]quinoline-3-carbonitriles in moderate yields, while with benzamidine hydrochloride, the reaction followed the same mechanism to yield 2-phenyl-4-sec-amino-5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carbonitriles.     

An unusual synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[f]isoquinolines

A facile and short synthesis of 2-oxo-4-sec-amino-2,3,5,6-tetrahydrobenzo[f]isoquinoline-1-carbonitriles has been delineated through base catalyzed ring transformation of 5,6-dihydro-2-oxo-4-sec-amino-2H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile by cyanoacetamide in excellent yields.     

Itinerant electron ferromagnetism in Sr2+-, Ca2+-, and Ba2+-doped rare-earth orthocobaltites (Ln3+1−xM2+xCoO3)

Electronic and magnetic properties of Ln_1?xSr_xCoO₃ (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd) systems show that above a critical value of x, the d electrons become itinerant while the materials become ferromagnetic at low temperatures. The ferromagnetic component increases with increase in x and decrease in temperature. The Curie temperature increases with x and decreases with decrease in the size of the rare-earth ion. Incorporation of Ba²⁺ in LaCoO₃ favors itinerant electron ferromagnetism relative to Sr²⁺ while Ca²⁺ is less favorable than Sr²⁺.     

Expedient, stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-compactin lactone via intramolecular Reformatsky reaction

A concise, stereodefined synthesis of compactin lactone is described. Samarium(II) iodide mediated intramolecular Reformatsky reaction is the key step in the synthesis.     

Conductance studies in amide-water mixtures. II. Sodium salts inN,N-dimethylformamide-water mixtures at 35°C

Conductance data for sodium nitrite, chloride, and acetate in water andN,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-water mixtures (74.82D42.48) for the concentration range 0.001–0.04N, as well as the densities, viscosities, and dielectric constants of the solvent mixtures at 35°C, are reported. The data have been analyzed by the Fuoss (1975) equation. The existence of a maximum in the viscosity at a 13 mole ratio of DMF and water is indicated. The Walden products for all the three salts pass through a maximum while the equivalent conductances show a minimum with increasing DMF content. The maxima in the Walden product are attributed to the dehydration of ions by the cosolvent (DMF).Part I:Indian J. Chem. 14A, 1015 (1976).Deceased.     

In vitro and in silico study of Aloe vera leaf extract against human breast cancer

Abstract

Aloe vera leaf contains some bioactive compounds that have a strong binding affinity toward estrogen receptor as compared to standard drug tamoxifen. In this study, we have found that the IC₅₀ of Aloe vera leaf extract against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) is 23?µg/mL which is much lower than the IC₅₀ (332?µg/mL) of Aloe vera leaf extract against non-cancerous cell line (NIH-3T3). We have also calculated the total concentration of phenolic acid (385.662?µg/mL), flavonoids (160.402?µg/mL) and alkaloids (276.754?µg/mL) in Aloe vera leaf extract. The free radical scavenging activity of Aloe vera leaf extract is 67% to 89% (at 50 to 300?µg/ml). Our virtual molecular docking study suggests that bioactive compounds like Aloe-emodin (?8.8?Kcal/mol), 7-hydroxy-2,5 dimethylchromone (?7.5?Kcal/mol), Beta-sitosterol (?7.3?Kcal/mol) etc. have a greater binding affinity toward estrogen alpha receptor as compared to standard drug Tamoxifen (?6.4?Kcal/mol).