Ni0.1Co0.9Fe2O4-based electrochemical sensor for the detection of paracetamol

A novel electrochemical sensor based on nickel-doped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (Ni_0.1Co_0.9Fe₂O₄)-modified glassy carbon electrode (NCF/GCE) was presented for the sensitive detection of paracetamol. Experimental conditions such as pH, applied potentials and concentration were investigated using cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric techniques. The modified electrode exhibited excellent catalytic response towards the oxidation of paracetamol with good reproducibility. The overpotential for oxidation of paracetamol is decreased, and the current response enhanced significantly on the modified electrode in comparison with that of bare electrode. Linear calibration curve is obtained over the range 2 μM to 8,000 μM having a detection limit of 11 nM. The modified electrode facilitated the simultaneous detection of paracetamol, ascorbic acid, and dopamine with good reproducibility.     

Effect of iron doping and oxygen stoichiometry on infrared absorption in Y1Ba2Cu3O7−δ

We report infrared absorption of Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ as a function of oxygen stoichiometry (0<δ<1) and copper substitution by iron in the spectral range of 450–700 cm⁻¹. The strong bands associated with Cu-O vibrations undergo significant changes in their frequencies and intensities asδ is varied across the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase. These changes coupled with those arising as a result of doping with iron has helped in identifying the nature of the vibrational modes.     

GeneralizedM-diffusion model of molecular rotations

The widely usedM-model of rotational diffusion of molecules in fluid phases is generalized. The ordinaryM-model assumes that intermolecular collisions causeinstantaneous changes in the orientation of an otherwise free rotor. The present scheme takes cognizance of the ubiquitous intermolecular torques which should make the molecular orientation a continuously variable random function of time. It is assumed here that the component of the angular velocity, which is conjugate to the angle specifying the orientation of the molecule, is a stationary Gaussian-Markov process. The ordinaryM-model emerges then as a special case of the more general treatment presented here. The results derived for the dipole correlation function of a linear rotor on the basis of the generalized scheme are applied to a series of infrared data. The observed agreement is highly satisfactory. The present analysis affords a justification for the Gordon scheme which generalizes theM-model by assigning to the mean rate of collision anad-hoc dependence on the angular speed of the rotor. It is argued also that the model treated here incorporates certain memory effects which are ignored in the ordinaryM-model, and may yield, in some cases, results which are similar to those based on certain memory function formalisms.     

Direct generation of a voltage and current by gas flow over carbon nanotubes and semiconductors

We report here a direct generation of measurable voltages and currents when a gas flows over a variety of solids even at the modest speed of a few meters per second. The underlying mechanism is an interesting interplay of Bernoulli's principle and the Seebeck effect: Pressure differences along streamlines give rise to temperature differences across the sample; these in turn produce the measured voltage. The electrical signal is quadratically dependent on the Mach number M and proportional to the Seebeck coefficient of the solids. Results are presented for doped Si and Ge, single wall and multiwall carbon nanotubes, and graphite. Our results show that gas flow sensors and energy conversion devices can be constructed based on direct generation of electrical signals.     

Low-lying intrinsic structures in <Superscript>254</Superscript>Es

Low-lying two-quasiparticle bandhead energies for the Z = 99 odd-odd nucleus ²⁵⁴Es are evaluated using a simple phenomenological model with the inclusion of the residual p-n interaction. Configurations of the intrinsic levels directly fed in ²⁵⁴Es from the parent ²⁵⁸Md are discussed in the light of this model. Our analysis predicts the occurrence of ten K≤5 bandheads in ²⁵⁴Es with excitation energies E _x≤300keV. Structures of these as yet unidentified low-lying intrinsic levels and their expected locations are discussed in the light of available experimental information.     

Pyrochlore “dynamic spin-ice” Pr2Sn2O7 and monoclinic Pr2Ti2O7: A comparative temperature-dependent Raman study

Here we report a temperature-dependent Raman study of the pyrochlore “dynamic spin-ice” compound Pr₂Sn₂O₇ and compare the results with its non-pyrochlore (monoclinic) counterpart Pr₂Ti₂O₇. In addition to phonon modes, we observe two bands associated with electronic Raman scattering involving crystal field transitions in Pr₂Sn₂O₇ at ∼135 and 460 cm⁻¹ which couple strongly to phonons. Anomalous temperature dependence of phonon frequencies that are observed in pyrochlore Pr₂Sn₂O₇ are absent in monoclinic Pr₂Ti₂O₇. This, therefore, confirms that the strong phonon-phonon anharmonic interactions, responsible for the temperature-dependent anomalous behavior of phonons, arise due to the inherent vacant sites in the pyrochlore structure.     

Systematic investigation of hexadecapole collectivity in even-even nuclei

Energies of the first 2⁺, 3⁻ and 4⁺ states of even-even nuclei are plotted against proton and neutron number. Using this systematics, shell effects and the corresponding quadrupole and hexadecapole collectivity and deformation effects are compared and contrasted. Also, the correspondingB(E2),B(E3) andB(E4) values are plotted against neutron number and their very different systematics compared. Among the new results are the presence of hexadecapole collectivity at the 82 proton and neutron closed shells and the presence of the maximum values ofB(E4) at neutron numbers 10, 90–92 and 140–146. Finally, the systematics of the hexadecapole (K=4⁺) vibrations is compared with that of the quadrupole (K=2⁺) gamma vibrations in the quadrupole deformed rare earth region. This research has been supported by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada at McMaster University and by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, at Banaras Hindu University.     

Total attenuation cross-sections of fluorescent X-rays of Zr,Sn, Ba,Au, Pb,Th and U in elements 6⩽Z⩽82

The total attenuation cross-sections in elements 6?Z?82 forK _α andK _β groups of lines of elements Zr, Sn and Ba andL _l ,L _α,L _β andL _γ groups of lines of the elements Au, Pb, Th and U have been measured. The experimentally measured attenuation cross-sections have been found in good agreement with the theoretical estimates.     

Regioselective addition reactions at C-2 of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones. Synthesis and evaluation of multifunctionalized tetrahydropyrimidines

Multifunctionalized tetrahydropyrimidines derivatives have been synthesized from Biginelli 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-thiones (DHPMs) efficiently. The transformation includes desulfurization of DHPMs with Raney-Ni and subsequent regioselective C-2 functionalization using a variety of C-nucleophiles with simultaneous activation with ethyl chloroformate. Functionalized pyrimidine derivatives containing bulky substituents at C-2 of the pyrimidine ring are cytostatic.