Luminescence tuning and enhanced nonlinear optical properties of nanocomposites of ZnO-TiO2

In this article we present the spectral and nonlinear optical properties of ZnO-TiO(2) nanocomposites prepared by colloidal chemical synthesis. Emission peaks of ZnO-TiO(2) nanocomposites change from 340 nm to 385 nm almost in proportion to changes in E(g). The nanocomposites show self-defocusing nonlinearity and good nonlinear absorption behaviour. The nonlinear refractive index and the nonlinear absorption increase with increasing TiO(2) volume fraction at 532 nm and can be attributed to the enhancement of exciton oscillator strength. ZnO-TiO(2) is a potential nanocomposite material for the tunable light emission and for the development of nonlinear optical devices with a relatively small limiting threshold.     

Multicomponent synthesis of 3-indolepropionic acids

A three-component one-pot procedure (3-MC) was developed to assemble 3-indolepropionic acids from commercially available materials. This new methodology affords the title compounds in high yields and without the use of chromatography. [reaction: see text].     

Synthesis and evaluation of novel tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene enones and cinnamates for protection from ultraviolet radiation

A series of novel calix[4]arene enones (5-7) and cinnamates (12-14) have been synthesized and evaluated for ensuring protection from ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Spectroscopic analyses has revealed that compound 6 absorbs ultraviolet radiations between 280 and 350 nm with an absorption maximum at 312 nm. Its molar absorption coefficient (ε) (>5 × 10(4)M(-1)cm(-1)) and bandwidth are larger than those for the commercially used sun protectants (oxybenzone (OB), 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (OMC) and avobenzone). The in vitro Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measurement revealed an SPF of 5.2 at 2% concentration of 6 in home made emulsion formulations while combination of 2% each of 6 and OMC gave an SPF of 8.8. Lower sun protection seems to be compensated by significant protection from more harmful UVA radiations (UVA/UVB absorbance ratio of 0.62).     

Development and validation of stability indicating method for the determination of exemestane by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography

Exemestane is an aromatase inhibitor used in the treatment of breast cancer. A selective stability-indicating reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method has been developed which can separate and accurately quantitate low levels of exemestane. The stability-indicating capability of the method was demonstrated by adequate separation of exemestane and all the degradation product peaks from exemestane peak and also from each other in stability samples of exemestane. Chromatographic separation of exemestane and its degraded products were achieved by using isocratic elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min on a C18 reverse phase column (Phenomenex, size: 250 × 4.60 mm, particle size 5 μm) at ambient temperature. The mobile phase used for the analysis was acetonitrile-water (60:40, %v/v) with UV visible detection at 242 nm. The proposed method was used to study the degradation behavior of drug under various stress conditions as per ICH recommended guidelines.     

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-laponite-F68 nanocomposite vesicles through a single-step double-emulsion method for the controlled release of doxorubicin

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-laponite-F68 nanocomposite (PNC) vesicles were prepared through a technically facile, single-step water/oil/water double-emulsion method using ethyl acetate/water mixture. Vesicles of diameter 100 nm to 1.2 μm and average membrane thickness 30 nm were produced. Encapsulation with chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin revealed unilamellar nature of the vesicle wall. PNC exhibited exfoliated morphology, enhanced thermal stability over neat PLGA, and a glass transition temperature of 54.29 °C. The zeta potential of -14.1 ± 0.231 for the vesicles revealed that the negatively charged PLGA surface is covered with neutral F68 in the vesicle wall. F68-Assisted formation of water/oil/water double emulsion of PNC in ethyl acetate/water mixture is proposed for the formation of the vesicles. Release characteristics of doxorubicin in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4), cytotoxicity of bare and drug-loaded PNC vesicles with L929 cells, and uptake of doxorubicin with C6 fibroblast glioma cell line were also investigated.     

A broad pore size distribution mesoporous SnO2 as anode for lithium-ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - We demonstrate here that mesoporous tin dioxide (abbreviated M-SnO2) with a broad pore size distribution can be a prospective anode in lithium-ion...     

Optimization of high pressure processing parameters of Indian white prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus)

The effect of pressure (150, 250 and 350?MPa), ramp rate (200, 400 and 600?MPa/min) and holding time (3, 6 and 9?min) on the quality indices (dependent variable) of Indian white prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus) was optimized using response surface methodology. Box–Behnken response surface design was used with 15 runs. Second-order response surface model was fitted to the experimental data and the model adequacy was measured by R² value. The linear and quadratic effect of pressure, ramp rate and holding time was significant for tri-methylamine, total volatile base nitrogen and total plate count. Based on the ridge analysis and response surface plots, the optimum combination obtained was 250?MPa pressure, 400?MPa/min ramp rate and 6?min holding time for high pressure (HP) processing of Indian white prawn. Validation of the experiment indicated that the developed model was appropriate to predict quality indices in Indian white prawn processed by HP processing.     

Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy of an alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer using scanning tunneling microscopy

We report inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) of a C8 alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). High-resolution STM IETS spectra show clear features of the C-H bending and C-C stretching modes in addition to the C-H stretching mode, which enables a precise comparison with previously reported vibrational spectroscopy, especially electron energy loss spectroscopy data. Intensity variation of vibrational peaks with tip position is discussed with the STM IETS detection mechanism.     

Performance characteristics of positive and negative delayed feedback on chaotic dynamics of directly modulated InGaAsP semiconductor lasers

The chaotic dynamics of directly modulated semiconductor lasers with delayed optoelectronic feedback is studied numerically. The effects of positive and negative delayed optoelectronic feedback in producing chaotic outputs from such lasers with nonlinear gain reduction in its optimum value range is investigated using bifurcation diagrams. The results are confirmed by calculating the Lyapunov exponents. A negative delayed optoelectronic feedback configuration is found to be more effective in inducing chaotic dynamics to such systems with nonlinear gain reduction factor in the practical value range.