Dehydration kinetics of an Indian clay

Decomposition of clay from Garo Hills of Meghalaya (India) was studied by dynamic thermogravimetry. A fourteen kinetic equation procedure was applied for analysis of non-isothermal weight change upto a temperature of 1223 K. Two stages of decomposition were clearly distinguised i.e. the initial dehydration period at temperature 373 K to 673 K and the dehydroxylation period in the temperature range 723 K to 1073 K. First order decomposition mechanism was found to be applicable to both dehydration and dehydroxylation steps. Activation energies of 67 kJ/mol and 278 kJ/mol are estimated for the first and second steps with frequency factors of 16.3 s^–1 and 5.16×10⁶s^–1 respectively. The weight loss relating to the steps in TG curves allows determination of the contents of the basic mineral in the clay. Percentages of Al₂O₃.SiO₂ and total volatiles as calculated from weight loss data are in accordance with the results of classical chemical analysis.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels DTG wurde die thermische Zersetung von Ton aus der Garo-Hills-Gegend bei Meghalaya (Indien) untersucht. Zur Analyse der nicht-isothermen Gewichtsveränderungen bis zu einer Temperatur von 1223 K wurde ein Verfahren mit vierzehn kinetischen Gleichungen angewendet. Zwei Teilschritte der Zersetzung können eindeutig unterschieden werden, nämlich die anfängliche Dehydratationsperiode bei Temperaturen von 373 bis 673 K und die Dehydroxylierungsperiode bei Temperaturen zwischen 723 K un 1073 K. Für beide Vorgänge konnte als Reaktionsmechanismus eine Zersetzung erster Ordnung angewendet werden. Für den ersten un zweiten Teilschritt konnten Aktivierungsenergien von 67 kJ/mol bzw. 278 kJ/mol un Frequenzfaktoren von 16.3s^–1 bzw. 5.16×10⁶s^–1 ermittelt werden. Der aus den TG-Kurven hervorgehende Gewichtsverlust läßt auf den Gehalt des Tones an Basismineral schließen. Der prozentuelle Gehalt an Al₂O₃, SiO₂ und der gesamten flüchtigen Bestandteile, berechnet aus den Gewichtsverlusdaten, stimmt mit den Ergebnissen aus herkömmlichen chemischen Analysen überein.

     

Banana pulp extract mediated synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles: An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the ipso-hydroxylation of arylboronic acids

A green and facile novel procedure has been developed for the synthesis of Cu₂O nanoparticles within a very short reaction time using banana pulp extract as a reducing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles are well characterized by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) and powder XRD (X-ray Diffraction) methods. An environmental benign and highly efficient protocol for the ipso-hydroxylation of aryl and hetero arylboronic acids using bio-fabricated Cu₂O nanoparticles as a catalyst and aqueous H₂O₂ as an oxidant has also been developed. The main advantages of this protocol are the base free reaction condition, reusable and heterogeneous catalytic system, and short reaction time with excellent yields.     

Quantum mechanics: cleaning up metaphysical baggage

The dynamic electronic structure of atoms and molecules can be directly observed by means of the (e, 2e) reaction, which measures the distribution of energies and momenta of two electrons in coincidence after a knockout reaction initiated by an electron beam of known momentum incident on a molecular gas target. The molecular state for each event is identified by the electron separation energy. The recoil momentum for each event is known from the difference of measured initial and final momenta. It has been verified that values of this momentum are equal under suitable conditions to the momentum of the electron in the target immediately before knockout. Thus the spherically-averaged electron momentum distribution for each molecular orbital is measured. This is directly related to molecular orbitals calculated by the methods of quantum chemistry. Properties obtained by this method for different types of molecules are discussed.     

Holographic Dark Energy in Higher Derivative Gravity with Varying Gravitational Constant

In this paper we investigate the holographic dark energy scenario in higher derivative gravity with a varying gravitational constant. We introduce a kind of energy density from higher derivative gravity which has role of the same as holographic dark energy. We obtain the exact differential equation , which determine the evolution of the dark energy density based on varying gravitational constant G. We also find out a cosmological application of our work by evaluating a relation for the equation of state of dark energy for low redshifts containing varying G correction.     

Deviations from tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing using type II seesaw

We study the possibility of generating deviations from tri-bimaximal (TBM) neutrino mixing to explain the non-zero reactor mixing angle within the framework of both type I and type II seesaw mechanisms. The type I seesaw term gives rise to the μ–τ   symmetric TBM pattern of neutrino mass matrix as predicted by generic flavor symmetry models like _A4$A_4$ whereas the type II seesaw term gives rise to the required deviations from TBM pattern to explain the non-zero _θ13${\theta }_{13}$. Considering extremal values of Majorana CP phases such that the neutrino mass eigenvalues have the structure (_m1,−_m2,_m3)$(m_1,-m_2,m_3)$ and (_m1,_m2,_m3)$(m_1,m_2,m_3)$, we numerically fit the type I seesaw term by taking oscillation as well as cosmology data and then compute the predictions for neutrino parameters after the type II seesaw term is introduced. We consider a minimal structure of the type II seesaw term and check whether the predictions for neutrino parameters lie in the 3σ range. We also outline two possible flavor symmetry models to justify the minimal structure of the type II seesaw term considered in the analysis.     

Neutron powder diffraction studies in CaMn1‐xCuxO3 (x = 0, 0.2)

Neutron powder diffraction patterns were recorded on CaMn_1‐xCu_xO₃ (x = 0 and 0.20) compounds at different temperatures down to 11K. All the patterns were analyzed by employing Rietveld refinement technique and using the Fullprof program. The observed crystallographic peaks could be refined by using Pbnm space group and no structural transition has been observed down to 11K. An additional peak at 2θ = 16.7° has been observed with decrease in temperature below T_N and its intensity was found to increase with decrease in temperature. It could be indexed to magnetic (101) plane. The magnetic ordering is found to be G‐type antiferromagnetic behaviour. The magnetic moment at 11K for the samples x = 0.0 and 0.20 are found to be 2.69 and 2.42μ_B. The doped Cu ions are found to be in Cu²⁺ state and take part antiferromagnetic interactions with Mn ions. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Identification of a set of genes showing regionally enriched expression in the mouse brain

Background

We have recorded responses from single neurons in murine visual cortex to determine the effectiveness of the input from the two murine cone photoreceptor mechanisms and whether there is any unique selectivity for cone inputs at this higher region of the visual system that would support the possibility of colour vision in mice. Each eye was stimulated by diffuse light, either 370 (strong stimulus for the ultra-violet (UV) cone opsin) or 505 nm (exclusively stimulating the middle wavelength sensitive (M) cone opsin), obtained from light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the presence of a strong adapting light that suppressed the responses of rods.

Results

Single cells responded to these diffuse stimuli in all areas of striate cortex. Two types of responsive cells were encountered. One type (135/323 – 42%) had little to no spontaneous activity and responded at either the on and/or the off phase of the light stimulus with a few impulses often of relatively large amplitude. A second type (166/323 – 51%) had spontaneous activity and responded tonically to light stimuli with impulses often of small amplitude. Most of the cells responded similarly to both spectral stimuli. A few (18/323 – 6%) responded strongly or exclusively to one or the other spectral stimulus and rarely in a spectrally opponent manner.

Conclusion

Most cells in murine striate cortex receive excitatory inputs from both UV- and M-cones. A small fraction shows either strong selectivity for one or the other cone mechanism and occasionally cone opponent responses. Cells that could underlie chromatic contrast detection are present but extremely rare in murine striate cortex.     

Cu‐Based Nanoparticles as Emerging Environmental Catalysts

This account provides an overview of current research activities on nanoparticles containing the earth‐abundant and inexpensive element copper (Cu) and Cu‐based nanoparticles, especially in the field of environmental catalysis. The different synthetic strategies with possible modification of the chemical/ physical properties of these nanoparticles using such strategies and/or conditions to improve catalytic activity are presented. The design and development of support and/or bimetallic systems (e. g., alloys, intermetallic, etc.) are also included. Herein, we report synthetic approaches of Cu and Cu‐based nanoparticles (monometallic copper, bimetallic copper and copper (II) oxide nanoparticles/nanostructures) and impregnation of such nanoparticles onto support material (e. g., Co₃O₄ nanostructure), along with their applications as environmental catalyst for various oxidation and reduction reactions. Finally, this account provides necessary advances and perspectives of Cu‐based nanoparticles in the environmental catalysis.     

Direct Hydrogenation of Nitroaromatics at Room Temperature Catalyzed by Magnetically Recoverable Cu@Fe2O3 Nanoparticles

Metal embedded in metal oxide nanoparticles are active as catalyst in plethora of industrially important reactions. Herein, embedded Cu@Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles was synthesized via a one step hydrothermal strategy which selectively catalyzes the hydrogenation of diverse nitroaromatics in H₂O at room temperature. The remarkable catalytic performance is due to the successful hybridization of metallic Cu and Fe₂O₃ which in turn allows easy electroflipping between various oxidation states of Cu and Fe. Azo- and azoxy-compounds are not formed during the catalyzed process. This evidently establish that the hydrogenation of nitroaromatics proceeds via direct route with >99% selectivity to the corresponding anilines.