Extraction and coordination studies of carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide (CMSO) with uranyl bis(β-diketonates). Synthesis and molecular structure of [{UO2(DBM)2}2C6H5CH2SOCH2CONHC6H5]

The carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide compounds of uranyl bis(β-diketonate) of the types [UO₂(DBM)₂CMSO] and [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂CMSO] (where HDBM = C₆H₅COCH₂COC₆H₅; CMSO = C₆H₅CH₂SOCH₂CONHC₆H₅ or C₆H₅SOCH₂CONⁱPr₂) have been synthesized and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. Spectral studies show that CMSO acts as a monodentate ligand in [UO₂(DBM)₂CMSO] compounds and bonds through the sulfoxo oxygen atom to the uranyl group. It acts as a bridging bidentate ligand in [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂CMSO] compounds and bonds through both the sulfoxo and carbamoyl oxygen atoms to two different uranyl groups. The structure of the compound [{UO₂(DBM)₂}₂C₆H₅CH₂SOCH₂CONHC₆H₅] confirms the bridging bidentate mode of coordination for the CMSO ligand. Extraction studies show an enhancement in solvent extraction for the uranyl ion from nitric acid medium when a mixture of thenoyl trifluoroacetone (HTTA) and CMSO was employed.     

Biochemical,Kinetic and Biological Properties of Group V Phospholipase A2 from Dromedary

Secretory group V phospholipase A2 (PLA₂-V) is known to be involved in inflammatory processes in cellular studies, nevertheless, the biochemical and the enzymatic characteristics of this important enzyme have been unclear yet. We reported, as a first step towards understanding the biochemical properties, catalytic characteristics, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of this PLA₂, the production of PLA₂-V from dromedary. The obtained DrPLA₂-V has an absolute requirement for Ca²⁺ and NaTDC for enzymatic activity with an optimum pH of 9 and temperature of 45 °C with phosphatidylethanolamine as a substrate. Kinetic parameters showed that K_cat/Km_app is 2.6 ± 0.02 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹. The enzyme was found to display potent Gram-positive bactericidal activity (with IC50 values of about 5 µg/mL) and antifungal activity (with IC50 values of about 25 µg/mL)in vitro. However, the purified enzyme did not display a cytotoxic effect against cancer cells.     

Evaluation of Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties of Alnus nitida

In the current study, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Alnus nitida (leaves and fruits) was evaluated in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Traditionally, A. nitida was used for the treatment of inflammatory ailments. However, A. nitida leaves and fruits have not been yet reported regarding any potential medicinal effects. Leaves/fruits of A. nitida were extracted with methanol and fractionated to attain n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. These extracts were then evaluated for in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. For in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced paw edema assay, Freunds’ complete adjuvant-induced edema, xylene-induced ear edema and histamine-induced paw edema models were used in rats, which showed significant (p < 0.01) reduction (70–80%) in edema in comparison of inflammatory controls. On other hand, for the analgesic assessment, hot plate assay and acetic acid-induced writhing tests were used, which showed a significant (p < 0.01) rise in latency time (40–60%) as compared with pain-induced controls. These results were comparable with standard drugs in a concentration-dependent manner and no mortality or toxicity was observed during all experiments. Then, for the identification of chemical constituents gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed, which indicated the presence of neophytadiene, 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, phytol and vitamin E, justifying the use of A. nitida to treat inflammatory disorders.     

Oblique interaction of electrostatic nonlinear structures in relativistically degenerate dense magnetoplasmas

We have investigated the interaction of obliquely propagating ion acoustic solitary waves in a magnetoplasma with relativistically degenerate electrons. Using the quantum hydrodynamics model and by employing the extended Poincaré–Lighthill–Kuo technique, we have derived a set of Korteweg de Vries equations for two solitons. We have observed that the system under consideration allows the formation of only compressive solitons and their velocities remain in the sub-acoustic limit. Furthermore, phase shifts of solitons as a result of their interaction have been calculated. The phase shifts have been observed to be dependent on the obliqueness and the physical parameters of plasma. It has also been noticed that phase shifts remain negative for the whole range of parameters generally found in white dwarf stars. We have observed that the phase shifts enhance with the enhancement in number density, however, the converse happens when the magnetic field is enhanced. It has also been observed that the phase shift is slightly greater for the solitons that are less oblique as compared to their more oblique counterparts. Furthermore, we have estimated the spatial scales of interaction of solitons using the parameters found in white dwarf stars.     

Efficient two-dimensional atom localization in a five-level conductive chiral atomic medium via birefringence beam absorption spectrum

We have theoretically investigated two-dimensional atom localization using the absorption spectra of birefringence beams of light in a single wavelength domain.The atom localization is controlled and modified through tunneling effect in a conductive chiral atomic medium with absorption spectra of birefringent beams.The significant localization peaks are investigated in the left and right circularly polarized beam.Single and double localized peaks are observed in different quadrants with minimum uncertainty and significant probability.The localized probability is modified by controlling birefringence and tunneling conditions.These results may be useful for the capability of optical microscopy and atom imaging.     

Spatial-dependent probe transmission based high-precision two-dimensional atomic localization

Herein, we propose a scheme for the realization of two-dimensional atomic localization in aλ-type three-level atomic medium such that the atom interacts with the two orthogonal standing-wave fields and a probe field. Because of the spatially dependent atom-field interaction, the information about the position of the atom can be obtained by monitoring the probe transmission spectra of the weak probe field for the first time. A single and double sharp localized peaks are observed in the one-wavelength domain. We have theoretically archived high-resolution and high-precision atomic localization within a region smaller thanλ/25×λ/25. The results may have potential applications in the field of nano-lithography and advance laser cooling technology.     

Fine structure of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance in Ca due to Landau damping?

The fragmentation of the Isoscalar Giant Quadrupole Resonance (ISGQR) in ⁴⁰Ca has been investigated in high energy-resolution experiments using proton inelastic scattering at Ep=200 MeV$E_{\mathrm{p}}=200\text{MeV}$. Fine structure is observed in the region of the ISGQR and its characteristic energy scales are extracted from the experimental data by means of a wavelet analysis. The experimental scales are well described by Random Phase Approximation (RPA) and second-RPA calculations with an effective interaction derived from a realistic nucleon–nucleon interaction by the Unitary Correlation Operator Method (UCOM). In these results characteristic scales are already present at the mean-field level pointing to their origination in Landau damping, in contrast to the findings in heavier nuclei and also to SRPA calculations for ⁴⁰Ca based on phenomenological effective interactions, where fine structure is explained by the coupling to two-particle–two-hole (2p–2h) states.     

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.     

Influence of tungsten doping concentration on the electronic and optical properties of anatase TiO2

The structural, electronic and optical properties of tungsten-doped TiO₂ have been investigated using density functional theory with plane wave basis sets and ultrasoft pseuodopotential. Substitutional W doping at Ti sites create W 5d states just below the conduction band minimum while interstitial W doping gives isolated W 5d states in the middle of forbidden region. Averaged bond lengths show that W doping at Ti sites produce minimum structural distortion as compared to the interstitial W-doped TiO₂. Substitutional W-doped TiO₂ has better visible light absorption compared to interstitial W-doped TiO₂ and has stable configuration which provide reasonable explanation for the experimental findings. Tungsten doping in TiO₂ with different doping concentrations is investigated as an enabling concept for enhancing the visible light absorption. Optical properties show that optimal W doping concentration would improve the visible light absorption. 2.08% W doping concentration gives strong visible and ultraviolet light absorption among all doped models found consistent with experiments.