One-pot multicomponent synthesis of N-sulfonyl amidines using magnetic separable nanoparticles-decorated N-heterocyclic carbene complex with copper

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Magnetic separable nanoparticles-decorated N-heterocyclic carbene complex with copper (MNP[1-Methyl benzimidazole]NHC@Cu) has been prepared by covalent grafting...     

On the Control of Magnetic Anisotropy through an External Electric Field

The effect of an external electric field on the magnetic anisotropy of a single‐molecule magnet has been investigated, for the first time, with the help of DFT. The application of an electric field can alter the magnetic anisotropy from “easy‐plane” to “easy‐axis” type. Excitation analysis performed through time‐dependent DFT predicts that the external electric field facilitates metal to π‐acceptor ligand charge transfer, leading to uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and concomitant spin Hall effect in a single molecule.     

Bergenia Genus: Traditional Uses,Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Bergenia (Saxifragaceae) genus is native to central Asia and encompasses 32 known species. Among these, nine are of pharmacological relevance. In the Indian system of traditional medicine (Ayurveda), “Pashanabheda” (stone breaker) is an elite drug formulation obtained from the rhizomes of B. ligulata. Bergenia species also possess several other biological activities like diuretic, antidiabetic, antitussive, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-bradykinin, antiviral, antibacterial, antimalarial, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, anticancer, antioxidant, antiobesity, and adaptogenic. This review provides explicit information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological significance of the genus Bergenia. The extant literature concerned was systematically collected from various databases, weblinks, blogs, books, and theses to select 174 references for detailed analysis. To date, 152 chemical constituents have been identified and characterized from the genus Bergenia that belong to the chemical classes of polyphenols, phenolic-glycosides, lactones, quinones, sterols, tannins, terpenes, and others. B. crassifolia alone possesses 104 bioactive compounds. Meticulous pharmacological and phytochemical studies on Bergenia species and its conservation could yield more reliable compounds and products of pharmacological significance for better healthcare.     

Biofortification—A Frontier Novel Approach to Enrich Micronutrients in Field Crops to Encounter the Nutritional Security

Globally, many developing countries are facing silent epidemics of nutritional deficiencies in human beings and animals. The lack of diversity in diet, i.e., cereal-based crops deficient in mineral nutrients is an additional threat to nutritional quality. The present review accounts for the significance of biofortification as a process to enhance the productivity of crops and also an agricultural solution to address the issues of nutritional security. In this endeavor, different innovative and specific biofortification approaches have been discussed for nutrient enrichment of field crops including cereals, pulses, oilseeds and fodder crops. The agronomic approach increases the micronutrient density in crops with soil and foliar application of fertilizers including amendments. The biofortification through conventional breeding approach includes the selection of efficient genotypes, practicing crossing of plants with desirable nutritional traits without sacrificing agricultural and economic productivity. However, the transgenic/biotechnological approach involves the synthesis of transgenes for micronutrient re-translocation between tissues to enhance their bioavailability. Soil microorganisms enhance nutrient content in the rhizosphere through diverse mechanisms such as synthesis, mobilization, transformations and siderophore production which accumulate more minerals in plants. Different sources of micronutrients viz. mineral solutions, chelates and nanoparticles play a pivotal role in the process of biofortification as it regulates the absorption rates and mechanisms in plants. Apart from the quality parameters, biofortification also improved the crop yield to alleviate hidden hunger thus proving to be a sustainable and cost-effective approach. Thus, this review article conveys a message for researchers about the adequate potential of biofortification to increase crop productivity and nourish the crop with additional nutrient content to provide food security and nutritional quality to humans and livestock.     

Critical behaviour of the order parameters at the SmC* to SmA phase transition in a ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture

Critical behaviour of the order parameters has been investigated in the ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture ZLI‐3654 in a 7.5 µm thick planar cell. The temperature dependence of the primary (tilt angle) and secondary (spontaneous polarisation) order parameters is considered. The critical exponent (β) has been evaluated from the fitting of the temperature dependence of the experimental data for both tilt angle and spontaneous polarisation. Experimental results are compared with the predictions of the de Gennes and Landau models.     

Analyses of Lattice Traffic Flow Model on a Gradient Highway

The optimal current difference lattice hydrodynamic model is extended to investigate the traffic flow dynamics on a unidirectional single lane gradient highway. The effect of slope on uphill/downhill highway is examined through linear stability analysis and shown that the slope significantly affects the stability region on the phase diagram.Using nonlinear stability analysis, the Burgers, Korteweg-deVries(KdV) and modified Korteweg-deVries(mKdV) equations are derived in stable, metastable and unstable region, respectively. The effect of reaction coefficient is examined and concluded that it plays an important role in suppressing the traffic jams on a gradient highway. The theoretical findings have been verified through numerical simulation which confirm that the slope on a gradient highway significantly influence the traffic dynamics and traffic jam can be suppressed efficiently by considering the optimal current difference effect in the new lattice model.     

Synthesis,characterization and role of zero-valent iron nanoparticle in removal of hexavalent chromium from chromium-spiked soil

Chromium is an important industrial metal used in various products/processes. Remediation of Cr contaminated sites present both technological and economic challenges, as conventional methods are often too expensive and difficult to operate. In the present investigation, Zero-valent iron (Fe⁰) nanoparticles were synthesized, characterized, and were tested for removal of Cr(VI) from the soil spiked with Cr(VI). Fe⁰ nanoparticles were synthesized by the reduction of ferric chloride with sodium borohydride and were characterized by UV–Vis (Ultra violet–Visible) and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy. The UV–Vis spectrum of Fe⁰ nanoparticles suspended in 0.8% Carboxymethyl cellulose showed its absorption maxima at 235 nm. The presence of one band at 3,421 cm⁻¹ ascribed to OH stretching vibration and the second at 1,641 cm⁻¹ to OH bending vibration of surface-adsorbed water indicates the formation of ferrioxyhydroxide (FeOOH) layer on Fe⁰ nanoparticles. The mean crystalline dimension of Fe⁰ nanoparticles calculated by XRD (X-ray diffraction) using Scherer equation was 15.9 nm. Average size of Fe⁰ nanoparticles calculated from TEM (Transmission electron microscopy) images was found around 26 nm. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) also showed approximately the same size. Batch experiments were performed using various concentration of Fe⁰ nanoparticles for reduction of soil spiked with 100 mg kg⁻¹ Cr(VI). The reduction potential of Fe⁰ nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.27 g L⁻¹ was found to be 100% in 3 h. Reaction kinetics revealed a pseudo-first order kinetics. Factors like pH, contact time, stabilizer, and humic acid facilitates the reduction of Cr(VI).