Cesium-selective membrane electrode based on a recently synthesized 16-membered macrocyclic diamide

A PVC membrane sensor for the Cs+ ion based on 1,5-diaza-2,3,4-naphthyl-8,11,14-trioxacyclohexadecane-6,16-dione (L) has been prepared. The sensor has a linear dynamic range of 5.0 x 10(-1) - 6.9 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), a Nernstian slope of 59.5 +/- 0.8 mV decade(-1), and a detection limit of 4.7 x 10(-6) mol L(-1). It has a fast response time of <15 s and can be used for at least 8 weeks without any considerable divergence in potentials. The selectivity of the proposed electrode relative to alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions was comparatively good. The electrode could be used in the pH range 4.5-11.0.     

Nanogold Particles Suppresses 5-Flurouracil-Induced Renal Injury: An Insight into the Modulation of Nrf-2 and Its Downstream Targets,HO-1 and γ-GCS

The development of the field of nanotechnology has revolutionized various aspects in the fields of modern sciences. Nano-medicine is one of the primary fields for the application of nanotechnology techniques. The current study sheds light on the reno-protective impacts of gold nano-particles; nanogold (AuNPs) against 5-flurouracil (5-FU)-induced renal toxicity. Indeed, the use of 5-FU has been associated with kidney injury which greatly curbs its therapeutic application. In the current study, 5-FU injection was associated with a significant escalation in the indices of renal injury, i.e., creatinine and urea. Alongside this, histopathological and ultra-histopathological changes confirmed the onset of renal injury. Both gene and/or protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and downstream antioxidant enzymes revealed consistent paralleled anomalies. AuNPs administration induced a significant renal protection on functional, biochemical, and structural levels. Renal expression of the major sensor of the cellular oxidative status Nrf-2 escalated with a paralleled reduction in the renal expression of the other contributor to this axis, known as Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1). On the level of the effector downstream targets, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) AuNPs significantly restored their gene and protein expression. Additionally, combination of AuNPs with 5-FU showed better cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells compared to monotreatments. Thus, it can be inferred that AuNPs conferred reno-protective impact against 5-FU with an evident modulatory impact on Nrf-2/Keap-1 and its downstream effectors, HO-1 and γ-GCS, suggesting its potential use in 5-FU regimens to improve its therapeutic outcomes and minimize its underlying nephrotoxicity.     

Heat transfer improvement of antifreeze by changing it to hybrid nanofluid: effects of hybrid magnesium oxide–graphene oxide nanopowders

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Hybrid nanofluids consisting of two or multiple nanoparticles have received much attention in recent decades. In this study, the rheological behavior...     

Effect of CH3NH3I/CH3NH3Br precursors on the structural and surface morphology properties of the electrodeposited methylammonium lead–mixed halide perovskite films

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Organometallic halide perovskites have been arisen as a class of multi-purpose materials with exciting applications in optoelectronic devices such as solar...     

Reconciling structure prediction of alloyed,ultrathin nanowires with spectroscopy

A number of complementary, synergistic advances are reported herein. First, we describe the ‘first-time’ synthesis of ultrathin Ru₂Co₁ nanowires (NWs) possessing average diameters of 2.3 ± 0.5 nm using a modified surfactant-mediated protocol. Second, we utilize a combination of quantitative EDS, EDS mapping (along with accompanying line-scan profiles), and EXAFS spectroscopy results to probe the local atomic structure of not only novel Ru₂Co₁ NWs but also ‘control’ samples of analogous ultrathin Ru₁Pt₁, Au₁Ag₁, Pd₁Pt₁, and Pd₁Pt₉ NWs. We demonstrate that ultrathin NWs possess an atomic-level geometry that is fundamentally dependent upon their intrinsic chemical composition. In the case of the PdPt NW series, EDS mapping data are consistent with the formation of a homogeneous alloy, a finding further corroborated by EXAFS analysis. By contrast, EXAFS analysis results for both Ru₁Pt₁ and Ru₂Co₁ imply the generation of homophilic structures in which there is a strong tendency for the clustering of ‘like’ atoms; associated EDS results for Ru₁Pt₁ convey the same conclusion, namely the production of a heterogeneous structure. Conversely, EDS mapping data for Ru₂Co₁ suggests a uniform distribution of both elements. In the singular case of Au₁Ag₁, EDS mapping results are suggestive of a homogeneous alloy, whereas EXAFS analysis pointed to Ag segregation at the surface and an Au-rich core, within the context of a core–shell structure. These cumulative outcomes indicate that only a combined consideration of both EDS and EXAFS results can provide for an accurate representation of the local atomic structure of ultrathin NW motifs.

EDS and EXAFS spectroscopy are used as complementary techniques to investigate the local structure of bimetallic ultrathin nanowires. Results highlight the importance of using a combined approach to achieve an accurate understanding of these systems.