Peristaltic radiative flow of Sisko nanomaterial with entropy generation and modified Darcy’s law

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Nanomaterials are quite significant in the physiological and engineering processes. Such materials have motivated the recent scientists in view of...     

Multinuclear (Sn/Pd) complexes with disodium 2,2′-(dithiocarboxyazanediyl)diacetate hydrate; Synthesis,characterization and biological activities

Bimetallic chlorodi-/triorganotin(IV) derivatives of general formulas R₂(H₂O)SnLCSSSn(Cl)R₂ (R=Me: 1; Ph: 2) and R₃Sn(Na)LCSSSnR₃·H₂O (R=Bu: 3; Ph: 4) were prepared by reaction of iminodiacetic acid disodium salt hydrate (Na₂LH) with CS₂ and R₂SnCl₂/R₃SnCl in methanol. The reaction between Na₂LH, CS₂, and PdCl₂ produced [Na₂LCSS]₂Pd·2H₂O (5) which was treated with R₃SnCl to synthesize the heterobimetallic derivatives [R₃Sn(Na)LCSS]₂Pd·2H₂O (R=Me: 6; Ph: 7). The complexes were characterized by microanalysis, spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric analyses. Elemental analysis data, mass fragmentation, and thermal degradation patterns supported the molecular composition of the complexes. FT-IR data indicated monodentate binding of carboxylate while a chelating coordination mode of the dithiocarboxylate was verified in the solid state. A five-coordinate tin(IV) was demonstrated in the solid state. In solution, a tetrahedral/trigonal bipyramidal configuration around Sn(IV) and a square planar geometry of Pd(II) was indicated by multinuclear NMR (¹H and ¹³C) and UV-visible studies. The Pd(II) derivatives showed interaction with salmon sperm-DNA and caused an inhibition of alkaline phosphatase (ALPs). The antibacterial/antifungal potential of the coordination products varied with the nature of incorporated metal and a substitution pattern at tin(IV); the palladium metallation decreased the antimicrobial activities. The triorganotin(IV) products exhibited more powerful action against bacteria/fungi as compared to their diorganotin(IV) counterparts. The complexes displayed sufficiently lower hemolytic effects in vitro as compared to triton X-100 and slightly higher than PBS.     

Complexation of radionuclide <Superscript>152+154</Superscript>Eu(III) with alumina-bound fulvic acid studied by batch and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy

To contribute to the understanding of Eu(III) interaction preperties on hydrous alumina particles in the absence and presence of fulvic acid (FA), the complexation properties of Eu(III) with hydrous alumina, FA and FA-alumina hybrids are studied by batch and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) techniques. The continuous increase in the fluorescence lifetime of Eu-alumina and Eu-FA with increasing pH indicates that the complexation is accompanied by decreasing number of hydration water in the first coordination sphere of Eu(III). Eu(III) is adsorbed onto alumina particles as outer-sphere surface complexes of ≡(Al?O)?Eu· (OH)· 7H₂O and ≡(Al?O)?Eu· 6H₂O at low pH values, and as inner-sphere surface complexes as ≡(Al?O)₂?Eu⁺· 4H₂O at high pH. In FA solution, Eu(III) forms complexes with FA as (COO)₂Eu⁺(H₂O) _x and the hydration water number in the first coordination sphere decreases with pH increasing. The formation of ≡COO?Eu?(O?Al≡)· 4H₂O is observed on FA-alumina hybrids, suggesting the formation of strong inner-sphere surface complexes in the presence of FA. The surface complexes are also characterized by their emission spectra [the ratio of emission intensities of ⁵ D ₀→⁷ F ₁ (λ=594 nm) and ⁵ D ₀→⁷ F ₂ (λ=619 nm) transitions] and their fluorescence lifetime. The findings is important to understand the contribution of FA in the complexation properties of Eu(III) on FA-alumina hybrids that the clarification of the environmental behavior of humic substances is necessary to understand fully the behavior of Eu(III), or its analogue trivalent lanthanide and actinide ions in natural environment.     

Interaction of radionuclides with natural and manmade materials using XAFS technique

The X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) technology has exhibited a very unique application in the study of sorption mechanism, chemical species and microstructures of radionuclides at the natural solid-water interfaces. In this review, the interaction mechanism of radionuclides with clay minerals and nanomaterials under different environmental conditions are summarized from the XAFS spectroscopy analysis. The coordination number and the bond distances of radionuclides, the oxidation-reduction reactions, the influence of humic substances and microorganisms on the species and structures of radionuclides at molecule level are reviewed and compared. This review is helpful to understand the interactions of radionuclides with oxides, natural clay minerals and nanomaterials, which is also crucial to evaluate the physicochemical behaviors of radionuclides in the natural environment.     

Exogenous Sodium Nitroprusside Mitigates Salt Stress in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) by Affecting the Growth,Yield, and Biochemical Properties

Soil salinity disrupts the physiological and biochemical processes of crop plants and ultimately leads to compromising future food security. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a contributor to nitric oxide (NO), holds the potential to alleviate abiotic stress effects and boost tolerance in plants, whereas less information is available on its role in salt-stressed lentils. We examined the effect of exogenously applied SNP on salt-stressed lentil plants by monitoring plant growth and yield-related attributes, biochemistry of enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD)) amassing of leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Salinity stress was induced by NaCl application at concentrations of 50 mM (moderate salinity) and 100 mM (severe salinity), while it was alleviated by SNP application at concentrations of 50 µM and 100 µM. Salinity stress severely inhibited the length of roots and shoots, the relative water content, and the chlorophyll content of the leaves, the number of branches, pods, seeds, seed yield, and biomass per plant. In addition, MDA, H₂O₂ as well as SOD, CAT, and POD activities were increased with increasing salinity levels. Plants supplemented with SNP (100 µM) showed a significant improvement in the growth- and yield-contributing parameters, especially in plants grown under moderate salinity (50 mM NaCl). Essentially, the application of 100 µM SNP remained effective to rescue lentil plants under moderate salinity by regulating plant growth and biochemical pathways. Thus, the exogenous application of SNP could be developed as a useful strategy for improving the performance of lentil plants in salinity-prone environments.     

Thermal management of modern electric vehicle battery systems (MEVBS)

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The operating temperature of Li-ion batteries used in modern electric vehicles should be maintained within an allowable range to avoid thermal runaway...     

Determination of Phenolic Compounds in Various Propolis Samples Collected from an African and an Asian Region and Their Impact on Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities

The biological activities of propolis samples are the result of many bioactive compounds present in the propolis. The aim of the present study was to determine the various chemical compounds of some selected propolis samples collected from Palestine and Morocco by the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Photodiode Array Detection (HPLC-PDA) method, as well as the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of this bee product. The chemical analysis of propolis samples by HPLC-PDA shows the cinnamic acid content in the Palestinian sample is higher compared to that in Moroccan propolis. The results of antioxidant activity demonstrated an important free radical scavenging activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH); 2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and reducing power assays) with EC₅₀ values ranging between 0.02 ± 0.001 and 0.14 ± 0.01 mg/mL. Additionally, all tested propolis samples possessed a moderate antibacterial activity against bacterial strains. Notably, Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) values ranged from 0.31 to 2.50 mg/mL for Gram-negative bacterial strains and from 0.09 to 0.125 mg/mL for Gram-positive bacterial strains. The S2 sample from Morocco and the S4 sample from Palestine had the highest content of polyphenol level. Thus, the strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties were apparently due to the high total phenolic and flavone/flavonol contents in the samples. As a conclusion, the activities of propolis samples collected from both countries are similar, while the cinnamic acid in the Palestinian samples was more than that of the Moroccan samples.     

Polyphenol Rich Ajuga bracteosa Transgenic Regenerants Display Better Pharmacological Potential

Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. is an endangered medicinal herb traditionally used against different ailments. The present study aimed to create new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of genetic transformation and the biological activities of this plant. We transformed the A. bracteosa plant with rol genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and raised the regenerants from the hairy roots. These transgenic regenerants were screened for in vitro antioxidant activities, a range of in vivo assays, elemental analysis, polyphenol content, and different phytochemicals found through HPLC. Among 18 polyphenolic standards, kaempferol was most abundant in all transgenic lines. Furthermore, transgenic line 3 (ABRL3) showed maximum phenolics and flavonoids content among all tested plant extracts. ABRL3 also demonstrated the highest total antioxidant capacity (8.16 ± 1 μg AAE/mg), total reducing power, (6.60 ± 1.17 μg AAE/mg), DPPH activity (IC50 = 59.5 ± 0.8 μg/mL), hydroxyl ion scavenging (IC50 = 122.5 ± 0.90 μg/mL), and iron-chelating power (IC50 = 154.8 ± 2 μg/mL). Moreover, transformed plant extracts produced significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antidepressant activities in BALB/c mice models. In conclusion, transgenic regenerants of A. bracteosa pose better antioxidant and pharmacological properties under the effect of rol genes as compared to wild-type plants.     

Interaction mechanisms of U(VI) and graphene oxide from the perspective of particle size distribution

Graphene oxide (GO) is an ideal adsorbent due to excellent physicochemical properties. Humic acid (HA) is ubiquitous in aquatic and soil environment, which can affect the migration of metal ions. In this study, we investigated the sorption mechanisms of U(VI) onto GO surfaces in the presence of HA. pH dependent and ionic strength independent sorption process were observed and the concentration of HA is positively proportional to U(VI) sorption capacities. Results also suggest that a pre-mixing HA + U(VI) gave better results than a pre-mixing of GO + HA, which can be explained by the size distribution of different GO systems.

     

Modulating opto-electronic and magnetic responses of Mo- and Zn-adsorbed LiNbO3 (1 1 1) surface for advanced energy harvesting applications: A comprehensive study

This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the optoelectronic and magnetic properties of Mo, Zn/LiNbO₃ (1 1 1) material. The primary objectives were to understand the potential for manipulating the material's magnetism and to elucidate the origin of spin-polarized states and magnetic moments, particularly with respect to the unpaired d orbitals of Nb, Mo, and Zn atoms. To achieve these objectives, we employed the Pardew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) method within the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA + U) framework. This computational approach allowed us to examine the optoelectronic and magnetic characteristics of the material in detail. Our research yielded several key findings that enhance our understanding of Mo, Zn/LiNbO₃ (1 1 1) material. We observed a modest improvement in the material's absorption capacity within the visible spectrum, accompanied by a discernible red-shift. Notably, our study involved the calculation of the dielectric function and refractive constant of the material, revealing a strong correlation between absorption trends and the dielectric constant. Furthermore, our investigation uncovered that Mo, Zn/LiNbO₃ (1 1 1) exhibits distinct conduction and valence bands, with p and d orbitals predominantly contributing to each, respectively. The energy gap of the material falls within a range of 0.30–1.04 eV. A particularly significant finding was the narrower band gap of Mo, Zn/LiNbO₃ (1 1 1) material, which can be attributed to the superposition of Mo-d and Zn-p orbit energy levels with O-p orbit energy levels, ultimately forming a covalent bond. Importantly, our research demonstrated the material's heightened optical absorption within the visible spectrum, suggesting its suitability for various photonic and optoelectronic applications. Additionally, we calculated a wide range of optical characteristics, including the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, energy loss, reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical conductivity, providing a comprehensive assessment of the material's optical properties.