Semi-wet growth and characterization of multi-functional nano-engineered mixed metal oxides for industrial application

This review paper covers the low temperature wet growth of nano-engineered particles of ZnO-based mixed metal oxides, their growth mechanism, and characterization using X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM and IR, UV–visible, and XPS spectral techniques. Main focus of this article is centered on low temperature semi-wet methods of synthesis that are suitable for large scale production of zinc oxide-based systems mixed with iron oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide and cobalt oxide. These mixed metal oxides have broad industrial applications as catalyst, semiconductors, adsorbents, superconductors, electro-ceramics, and antifungal agents in addition to extensive applications in medicines. This paper discusses the low-cost and environment friendly synthesis of these mixed metal oxides, measurement of properties and applicability of these materials systems.     

Calix[4]arene-based ditopic receptors for simultaneous recognition of fluoride and cobalt(II) ions

A series of calix[4]arene based ditopic receptors possessing bipyridyl and hydrazone units have been synthesized and evaluated for ionic recognition. It has been observed that the synthesized derivatives function as allosteric receptors for simultaneous recognition of Co²⁺and F^? ions through non-covalent interactions. Significant bathochromic shifts in the UV–visible spectrum with a profound colour change promise their use to engineer novel applications.     

Relation Between CPT Violation in Neutrino Masses and Mixings

The neutrino parameters determined from the solar neutrino data and the anti-neutrino parameters determined from KamLAND reactor experiment are in good agreement with each other. However, the best fit points of the two sets differ from each other by about 10⁻⁵ eV² in mass-square difference and by about 2° in the mixing angle. Future solar neutrino and reactor anti-neutrino experiments are likely to reduce the uncertainties in these measurements. This, in turn, can lead to a signal for CPT violation in terms a non-zero difference between neutrino and anti-neutrino parameters. In this paper, we propose a CPT violating mass matrix which can give rise to the above differences in both mass-squared difference and mixing angle and study the constraints imposed by the data on the parameters of the mass matrix.     

Iodoacetoxylation of glycals using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate, sodium iodide, and acetic acid: stereoselective synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-iodo-alpha-mannopyranosyl acetates

[formula: see text] The reactions of glycals with ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate and sodium iodide in the presence of acetic acid provides 2-deoxy-2-iodo-alpha-mannopyranosyl acetates with good stereoselectivity. In the majority of the cases examined, the selectivity was considerably better than that from reactions using N-iodosuccinimide and HOAc.     

A note on the use of the new variable n for elastic scattering and inclusive reactions

The usefulness of the kinematical variable n² which has been proposed in connection with elastic scattering and inclusive reactions is examined in the context of a certain historical background which already exists, and a modification to the proposed formulae is presented.     

Acceleration of the universe with a simple trigonometric potential

In this paper, we investigate the quintessence model with a minimally coupled scalar field in the context of recent supernovae observations. By choosing a particular form of the deceleration parameter q, which gives an early deceleration and late time acceleration for the dust dominated model, we show that this sign flip in q can be obtained by a simple trigonometric potential. The early matter dominated model expands with q = 1/2 as desired and enters a negative q phase quite late during the evolution.     

Polycaprolactone biopolymer thin films obtained by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation

We report the successful deposition of polycaprolactone polymer by MAPLE using a KrF* excimer laser (λ = 248 nm, τ = 7 ns). According to FTIR spectra the deposited films have similar chemical structure to the dropcast material. The fluence plays a key role in optimizing the performances of MAPLE-synthesized polycaprolactone structures. We demonstrated that MAPLE allows for controlling the morphology of films to the level required in targeted drug delivery of pharmacologic agents.     

Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation of poly(d,l-lactide) thin films for controlled-release drug systems

We report the successful deposition of the porous polymer poly(d,l-lactide) by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) using a KrF* excimer laser (248 nm, τ = 7 ns) operated at 2 Hz repetition rate. The chemical structure of the starting materials was preserved in the resulting thin films. Fluence played a key role in optimizing our depositions of the polymer. We demonstrated MAPLE was able to improve current approaches to grow high quality thin films of poly(d,l-lactide), including a porosity control highly required in targeted drug delivery.     

Adaptive optics interferometer using superspeckles for high resolution deformation measurement

Digital speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI) is a well-known technique for measuring deformations, but it is limited in range by speckle decorrelation. We developed an adaptive interferometer with increased measurement range by combining the DSPI set-up with a pupil filter that generates optical superresolution. As a result, a decrease in the transverse speckle size is observed accompanied with a substantial increase in the longitudinal speckle size. The increase in the speckle correlation length along the optical axis allows for obtaining an out-of-plane deformation measurement over a significantly extended depth. An experimental verification of this concept of superspeckles is presented with an intensity-only LCD spatial light modulator (SLM) acting as a pupil filter. Comparison of speckle correlation fringes with and without the superresolution filter confirms the proposed concept. The present work demonstrates a doubling of the measurement range when using the superresolution interferometer. A standard set-up in which the speckle length is comparably elongated by stopping down the lens has a similar loss of intensity, but its lateral resolution is only half as good.