Optical properties of a mesogen by image analysis

An image analysis technique in conjunction with polarising optical microscopy (POM) is proposed for assessment of the thermo-optical properties of homogeneously aligned chiral ester liquid crystals of the type ((S)-(-)-2-methylbutyl 4′-(4″-n-alkanoyloxybenzoyloxy) biphenyl-4-carboxylates, where n?=?16 or 18. Chiral ester textures are recorded as a function of temperature using POM provided with a hot-stage and a high-resolution colour camera. Temperature-dependent optical parameters, or thermo-optical properties such as optical transmission, degree of polarisation, absorption coefficient and birefringence are computed for chiral esters by analysing the texture of samples using MATLAB software. This is a simple experimental technique for observing how the optical parameters of liquid crystals change with temperature.     

Development of Polar Organic Mode Chromatographic Method by Polysaccharide-Based Immobilized Chiral Selector and Validation for the Determination of the Enantiopurity of Novel Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Atropisomer–Esaxerenone

Esaxerenone is a new nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist utilized to treat high blood pressure. Chemically, esaxerenone is a pyrrole derivative consisting of hindered rotation, which results in stereoisomers named atropisomers. Currently, no methods exist for the separation and quantification of these atropisomers. A new and accurate chiral liquid chromatographic technique was developed and validated to estimate the enantiomeric purity of esaxerenone. Polar organic chiral separation was carried out on an immobilized amylose-based chiral stationary phase (Chiralpak IG) with methanol:acetonitrile:diethylamine (9:1:0.1, v/v/v) mixture as a mobile phase. The total runtime was 15 min, and the resolution (R_s) between the atropisomers was more than 3.0. The detection and quantification thresholds for the R-atropisomer were found to be 0.03 and 0.1 µg mL^?1, respectively, for a test concentration of esaxerenone (1000 µg mL^?1). Over the range from the limit of quantification to 0.3 percent, the method's linearity for the R-atropisomer was excellent (R²?>?0.999). The R-atropisomer recovery varied from 95 to 102%, confirming the method’s good accuracy. For a 48-h research period, the chemical was shown to be stable.

     

Effect of polyaniline (PANI) on efficiency enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated with poly(ethylene oxide)-based gel polymer electrolytes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Ionically conducting gel polymer electrolytes can be used effectively to improve the problems associated with liquid electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar...     

Effect of Botanical Extracts on the Growth and Nutritional Quality of Field-Grown White Head Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Nutraceuticals and functional foods are gaining more attention amongst consumers interested in nutritious food. The consumption of foodstuffs with a high content of phytochemicals has been proven to provide various health benefits. The application of biostimulants is a potential strategy to fortify cultivated plants with beneficial bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, it has not yet been established whether the proposed higher plants (St. John’s wort, giant goldenrod, common dandelion, red clover, nettle, and valerian) are appropriate for the production of potential bio-products enhancing the nutritional value of white cabbage. Therefore, this research examines the impact of botanical extracts on the growth and nutritional quality of cabbage grown under field conditions. Two extraction methods were used for the production of water-based bio-products, namely: ultrasound-assisted extraction and mechanical homogenisation. Bio-products were applied as foliar sprays to evaluate their impact on total yield, dry weight, photosynthetic pigments, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, nitrates, micro- and macroelements, volatile compounds, fatty acids, sterols, and sugars. Botanical extracts showed different effects on the examined parameters. The best results in terms of physiological and biochemical properties of cabbage were obtained for extracts from common dandelion, valerian, nettle, and giant goldenrod. When enriched with nutrients, vegetables can constitute a valuable component of functional food.     

Piper betle (L): Recent Review of Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties,Safety Profiles,and Commercial Applications

Piper betle (L) is a popular medicinal plant in Asia. Plant leaves have been used as a traditional medicine to treat various health conditions. It is highly abundant and inexpensive, therefore promoting further research and industrialization development, including in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Articles published from 2010 to 2020 were reviewed in detail to show recent updates on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of betel leaves. This current review showed that betel leaves extract, essential oil, preparations, and isolates could inhibit microbial growth and kill various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as fungal species, including those that are multidrug-resistant and cause serious infectious diseases. P. betle leaves displayed high efficiency on Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The ratio of MBC/MIC indicated bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects of P. betle leaves, while MFC/MIC values showed fungicidal and fungistatic effects. This review also provides a list of phytochemical compounds in betel leaves extracts and essential oils, safety profiles, and value-added products of betel leaves. Some studies also showed that the combination of betel leaves extract and essential oil with antibiotics (streptomycin, chloramphenicol and gentamicin) could provide potentiating antibacterial properties. Moreover, this review delivers a scientific resume for researchers in respected areas and manufacturers who want to develop betel leaves-based products.     

Nickel and Tungsten Bimetallic Nanoparticles Modified Pencil Graphite Electrode: A High-performance Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A

In this work, an economically viable, very low cost, indigenous, ubiquitously available electrochemical sensor based on bimetallic nickel and tungsten nanoparticles modified pencil graphite electrode (NiNP-WNP@PGE) was fabricated for the sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The NiNP-WNP@PGE sensor was prepared by a facile electrochemical one step co-deposition method. The prepared nanocomposite was morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The proposed sensor displayed high electrocatalytic activity towards electro-oxidation of BPA with one irreversible peak. The fabricated sensor displayed a wide detection window between 0.025 μM and 250 μM with a limit of detection of 0.012 μM. PGE sensor was successfully engaged for the detection of BPA in bottled water, biological, and baby glass samples.     

Development of Pen-type Portable Electrochemical Sensor Based on Au-W Bimetallic Nanoparticles Decorated Graphene-chitosan Nanocomposite Film for the Detection of Nitrite in Water,Milk and Fruit Juices

The development and fabrication of a simple, portable, and sensitive detection tool to precisely monitor nitrite level is of growing importance in electrochemistry research, given the strong interest in the protection of drinking water quality, treatment of wastewater, food production, and control of remediation processes. This work describes the fabrication of a simple, cost-effective, pen-type electrochemical sensor based on bimetallic gold and tungsten nanoparticles electrochemically decorated on graphene-chitosan modified pencil graphite electrode (PGE) for the trace detection of nitrite in real samples. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized using XRD, SEM, and EDS. The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS). Results revealed that the proposed sensor displayed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards electro-oxidation of nitrite with an irreversible redox reaction. The AuNPs-WNPs@Gr-Chi/PGE sensor exhibited excellent analytical performance with a wide linear range from 10 to 250 μM towards nitrite. The LOD and LOQ were calculated to be 0.12 μM and 0.44 μM, respectively. The designed electrochemical sensor was successfully applied for the detection of nitrite in water, milk, and natural fruit juice samples.     

Green Synthesis of Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles Using Andean Capuli (Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. Capuli) Cherry

Journal of Cluster Science - Copper oxide nanoparticles have gained considerable attention in the past two decades due to their simplicity and exhibit a range of potentially useful physical...     

Approximation of functions of Lipschitz class and solution of Fokker-Planck equation by two-dimensional Legendre wavelet operational matrix

In this paper, Lipschitz class of two-variables is considered. This is the genralization of well-known Lipschitz class of functions. A new estimator of functions belonging to generalized Lipschitz class has been obtained. Also, the solutions for the Fokker-Planck equations have been obtained for two different cases by two-dimensional Legendre wavelet operational matrix method. The approximated solutions of the time-and space-Fokker Planck equation have been compared with the exact solutions and the solutions obtained by homotopy perturbation method. The proposed scheme is simple, effective and suitable for the solution of Fokker-Planck equation.

     

Photophysics of Azobenzene Constrained in a UiO Metal–Organic Framework: Effects of Pressure,Solvation and Dynamic Disorder

Photophysical studies of chromophoric linkers in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are undertaken commonly in the context of sensing applications, in search of readily observable changes of optical properties in response to external stimuli. The advantages of the MOF construct as a platform for investigating fundamental photophysical behaviour have been somewhat overlooked. The linker framework offers a unique environment in which the chromophore is geometrically constrained and its structure can be determined crystallographically, but it exists in spatial isolation, unperturbed by inter-chromophore interactions. Furthermore, high-pressure studies enable the photophysical consequences of controlled, incremental changes in local environment or conformation to be observed and correlated with structural data. This approach is demonstrated in the present study of the trans-azobenzene chromophore, constrained in the form of the 4,4’-azobenzenedicarboxylate (abdc) linker, in a UiO topology framework. Previously unobserved effects of pressure-induced solvation and conformational distortion on the lowest energy, nπ* transition are reported, and interpreted the light of crystallographic data. It was found that trans-azobenzene remains non-fluorescent (with a quantum yield less than 10⁻⁴) despite the prevention of trans-cis isomerization by the constraining MOF structure. We propose that efficient non-radiative decay is mediated by the local, pedal-like twisting of the azo group that is evident as dynamic disorder in the crystal structure.