Applications of anisotropic slipline theory with non-uniform lattice rotation

Anisotropic slipline theory, with non-uniform lattice rotation field, is used to discuss new slipline solutions for the plane strain problems of punch indentation and mode 1 stationary crack in a ductile single crystal with piecewise linear yield locus. The proposed solution allows for both linear dislocation arrays and sectors with bulk dislocation density. Such features provide considerable latitude in the number of allowable stress discontinuities, and their orientation, when compared to the solutions which assume uniform lattice rotation.     

Nematic Behavior of 5OCB in a Dielectric Medium at Phase Transition Temperature ‐A Statistical Analysis

A statistical analysis has been carried out to determine the configurationally preference of a pair of 5OCB (4′‐n‐pentyloxy‐4‐biphenylcarbonitrile) molecules with respect to translatory and orientational motions. The CNDO/2 method has been employed to evaluate the net atomic charge and atomic dipole components at each atomic centre of the molecule. Modified Rayleigh‐Schrodinger perturbation theory along with multicentered‐multipole expansion method has been employed to evaluate long‐range intermolecular interactions, while a ‘6‐exp’ potential function has been assumed for short‐range interactions. The total interaction energy values obtained through these computations were used to calculate the probability of each configuration in vacuum and in a dielectric medium at phase transition temperature using Maxwell‐Boltzmann formula. It has been observed that the probabilities are redistributed in dielectric medium and there is considerable rise in the probabilities of interactions, although the order of preference remains the same. On the basis of stacking, in‐plane and terminal interaction energy calculations, all possible geometrical arrangements of the molecular pairs have been considered. The results are discussed in the light of experimental as well as other theoretical observations.     

Statistical Study of Molecular Ordering in a Nematogenic Compound – A Computational Analysis

A computational Analysis has been carried out to determine the configurational preference of a pair of a nematogen, 4,4′‐azodiphenetole (C₂H₅‐O‐C₆H₄‐N=N‐C₆H₄‐O‐C₂H₅) [AZO] molecules with respect to translatory and orientational motions. The CNDO/2 method has been employed to compute the atomic charge and atomic dipole at each atomic centre. Configurational energy has been computed using modified Rayleigh‐Schrodinger perturbation method. The interaction energy values obtained through these computations were used to calculate the probability of each configuration at phase transition temperature using Maxwell‐Boltzmann formula. Further, the flexibility of various configurations has been studied in terms of variation of probability due to small departures from the most probable configuration. Molecular parameters like total energy, binding energy and total dipole moment have been given. Results have been discussed in the light of experimental as well as other theoretical observations.     

LC–MS Simultaneous Determination of Itopride Hydrochloride and Domperidone in Human Plasma

A rapid, simple, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of itopride hydrochloride and domperidone in human plasma. Both drugs were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and saturated borax solution. The chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed-phase C18 column with a mobile phase of water–methanol (2:98, v/v) containing 0.5% formic acid. The protonated analyte was quantitated in positive ionization by multiple reaction monitoring with a mass spectrometer. The assay exhibited linearity over the concentration range of 3.33–500 ng mL^?1 for itopride hydrochloride and 3.33–100 ng mL^?1 for domperidone in human plasma. The precursor to product ion transitions of m/z 359.1–72.3 and 426.0–147.2 were used to measure itopride hydrochloride and domperidone respectively. The method was found suitable for the analysis of plasma samples collected during phase 1 pharmacokinetics study of itopride HCl 50 mg and domperidone 20 mg in 12 healthy volunteers after single oral doses of the combination drug.     

Nonlinear transmission and reflection characteristics of plasma/polystyrene one dimensional photonic crystal

Reflection and transmission properties of one-dimensional plasma/polystyrene nonlinear photonic crystal have been investigated theoretically. Reflectance and transmitted amplitude of electromagnetic waves through these periodic multilayered structures are calculated for different intensities of controlling wave. It is found that the reflectance of the proposed structures depends on the intensity of the controlling wave and this property can be exploited in the design of WDM coupler, filter, optical logic gates, etc.     

Multimodal approach for diagnosis of bacterial etiology in brain abscess

Background and purpose

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (PMRS) has high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of pyogenic brain abscess and the categorization of bacteria. But the metabolite patterns failed to evaluate the etiology of disease when the culture results are sterile. The aim of the present study is to compare the multimodality techniques viz., conventional culture, MR spectroscopy and 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing for rapid diagnosis of etiology in brain abscess and evaluate the PMRS in culture sterile samples and also demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of these techniques.

Methods

Thirty five patients underwent MRI on a 3 T MRI and in-vivo PMRS for the diagnosis and evaluation of various resonances of metabolites such as lipid (LIP), lactate (LAC), acetate (AC), amino acid (AC), succinate (SUC). Pus was collected for identification of etiologic agents by culture and molecular method.

Results

In 35 samples, metabolite patterns were as follows: LIP/LAC/AA, n = 17, LIP/LAC/AA/SUC with or without AC, n = 17 and LIP/LAC/AA/AC, n = 1. Culture showed bacterial growth in 22 samples (18 aerobic/facultative anaerobic, 9 anaerobic) whereas molecular method was detected 26 aerobic/facultative anaerobic, 13 anaerobic, 4 microaerophilic bacteria. Among the 13 sterile samples, molecular method detected 16 microorganisms along with 3 mixed infections and PMRS recognized metabolite patterns as LIP/LAC/AA, n = 5 and LIP/LAC/AA/SUC with or without AC, n = 8. The sensitivity of in-vivo PMRS in sterile samples was 100% and 75%, and specificity was 75% and 100% for aerobic and anaerobic organisms respectively.

Conclusion

Based on metabolite resonances, PMRS can detect slow growing and fastidious organisms and classify them into aerobic and anaerobic bacteria which are difficult to culture by conventional method. It can categorize microorganisms even in culture sterile samples with rational sensitivity and specificity which may allow early choice of targeted therapy.     

Cd(ii)-triggered excimer-monomer conversion of a pyrene derivative: time dependent red-shift of monomer emission with cell staining application

An efficient fluorescent probe (E)-N1-((E)-2-((pyren-7-yl)methyleneamino)ethyl)-N2-((pyren-7-yl)methylene)ethane-1,2-diamine (L) has been synthesized by a facile one-step condensation reaction. L can selectively detect Cd(2+) in presence of other common metal ions in 0.1 M HEPES buffered DMSO-water (4?:?1, v/v) medium. The detection limit of Cd(2+) is 1.8 × 10(-8) M. Cd(2+) can effectively convert the excimer emission of L into its monomer emission which in turn exhibits a time-dependent red-shift.     

Complex concentration dependence of SERS and UV–Vis absorption of glycine/Ag‐substrates because of glycine‐mediated Ag‐nanostructure modifications

Complex concentration‐dependence of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and UV–Vis absorption of Ag‐nanoparticles (AgNPs) mixed with Gly has been observed. Surprisingly, with decreasing Gly concentration, a new band in UV–Vis absorption of AgNPs/Gly mixtures is found to red‐shift with increasing intensity, until a turning point at a critical concentration. Further diluting Gly, the new band blue‐shifts with decreasing intensity. Similarly, the SERS intensities of Gly bands at 615 and 905 cm^–1 consistently increase with decreasing Gly concentrations, reaching maxima at the critical concentration. This agrees consistently with the variation in position and intensity of the new developing plasmon absorption band. Interestingly, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed Gly‐induced modifications of AgNPs, including a reassembling and increasing aspect ratio with deceasing Gly concentration. The concentration‐dependent behavior of UV–Vis absorption, SERS, and TEM of AgNPs/Gly mixtures could be due to the complex nature of Gly‐AgNPs interaction depending on the molecular density, as supported by TEM images. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Broadening of omni-directional reflection range in 1-d photonic crystal by using photonic quantum well structures

In the present communication, it is shown that it is possible to enlarge of omni-directional reflection (ODR) range in one-dimensional photonic crystals by using photonic quantum well structures. This photonic quantum well structure consists of different one dimensional photonic crystals. We propose air/(AB)₆/(AC)_n/(AB)₆/substrate(SiO₂) structure, where A, B and C are different materials. By choosing appropriate values of controlling parameters and the value of n, we can enhance the ODR range. Also, we can tune the ODR range to a desired wavelength region.     

Reversible Solvatomagnetic Effect in Novel Tetranuclear Cubane-Type Ni(4) Complexes and Magnetostructural Correlations for the [Ni(4)(μ(3)-O)(4)] Core

A new family of tetranuclear nickel cube complexes [Ni(4)L(4)(solv)(4)] (1, solv = MeOH; 2, solv = H(2)O; H(2)L = pyrazole-based tridentate {ONO} ligand) has been studied in detail, in particular by X-ray diffraction and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. Different solvates 1·H(2)O, 2·4C(3)H(6)O, 2·CH(2)Cl(2), and 2·H(2)O were obtained in crystalline form. Only small structural variations were found for the Ni-O-Ni angles of the [Ni(4)O(4)] cores of those compounds, but these slight variations have dramatic consequences for the magnetic properties. [Ni(4)L(4)(MeOH)(4)]·H(2)O (1·H(2)O) and [Ni(4)L(4)(H(2)O)(4)]·H(2)O (2·H(2)O) can be reversibly interconverted in the solid state by exposure to the respective solvent, MeOH or H(2)O, and this goes along with a switching of the spin ground state from magnetic (S(T) = 4) to diamagnetic (S(T) = 0). Likewise the (irreversible) loss of lattice solvent in [Ni(4)L(4)(H(2)O)(4)]·4C(3)H(6)O (2·4C(3)H(6)O) to give 2·2C(3)H(6)O changes the ground state from S(T) = 4 to S(T) = 0. In view of these dramatic solvatomagnetic effects for the present [Ni(4)L(4)(solv)(4)] complexes, which occur upon extrusion of lattice solvent or facile exchange of coordinated solvent molecules while keeping the robust [Ni(4)O(4)] core intact, a note of care is issued: whenever magnetic data are obtained for powdered material or for crystals that easily loose lattice solvent molecules, the magnetic properties may not necessarily reflect the situation observed in the corresponding single crystal diffraction study. Finally, a thorough analysis of the present series of complexes as well as other {Ni(4)(μ(3)-OR)(4)} cubes reported in the literature confirms that a correlation between the (Ni-O-Ni)(av) bond angle and J in [Ni(4)O(4)] cubane complexes does indeed exist.