Response of thermal source in a transversely isotropic thermoelastic half-space with mass diffusion by finite element method

The two-dimensional problem of generalized thermoelastic diffusion material with thermal and diffusion relaxation times is investigated in the context of Lord-Shulman theory. As an application of the problem, a particular type of thermal source is considered and the problem is solved numerically by using a finite element method. The components of displacement, stress, temperature distribution, chemical potential, and mass concentration are obtained. The resulting quantities are depicted graphically for a special model. Appreciable effect of relaxation times is observed on various resulting quantities.     

Unravelling the Role of Water in Ultrafast Excited-State Relaxation Dynamics within Nano-Architectures of Chlorophyll a

Water plays a pivotal role in structural stability of supramolecular pigment assemblies designed for natural light harvesting (for example, chlorosome antenna complex) as well as their artificial analogs. However, the dynamic role of water in the context of excite-state relaxation has not been explored till date, which we report here. Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we investigate the excited-state dynamics of two types of nano-scale assemblies of chlorophyll a with different structural motifs, rod-shaped and micellar assemblies, that depend on the water content. We show how water participates in excess energy dissipation by vibrational cooling of the non-thermally populated Q_y band at different rates in different types of clusters but exhibits no polar solvation dynamics. For the micelles, we observe a bifurcation of stimulated emission line shape, whereas a positive-to-negative switching of differential absorption is observed for the rods; both these observations are correlated with their specific structural aspects. Density functional theory calculations reveal two possible stable ground state geometries of dimers, accounting for the bifurcation of line shape in micelles. Thus, our study elucidates water-mediated structure–function relationship within these pigment assemblies.     

NHC-catalysed diastereoselective synthesis of multifunctionalised piperidines via cascade reaction of enals with azalactones

NHC-catalysed azalactone ring-opening and piperidine ring-closing cascade with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (enals) in a one-pot operation is reported. The present reaction cascade offers a convenient method for a highly diastereoselective synthesis of multifunctionalised piperidines in excellent yields under mild conditions.     

One Pot One Step Photoconversion of Pulvinic Acid Dilactone to p-Methoxyvulpinic Acid

The utility of singlet oxygen-methanol as a reagent for nuclear methoxylation of complex organic natural products is illustrated by a one pot one step photoconversion of pulvinic acid dilactone to p-methoxyvulpinic acid. The study is important from biogenetic considerations.     

Depression in the cloud point of Tween in the presence of glycol additives and triblock polymers

Cloud point (C_P) measurements of Tween 20 and Tween 80 were carried out in the presence of various glycol oligomers and triblock polymers (TBP). The cloud points of both Tween 20 and 80 decrease in the presence of both types of additives. Among the glycol oligomeric additives, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether was found to reduce the C_P maximum. An increase in the repeating units of polymeric glycol additives leads to a decrease in C_P. Reduction in the C_P in the presence of TBP depends upon the increase in hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio among the polypropylene to polyethylene units.     

Shelf-life extension of convenience meat products sold in Indian supermarkets by radiation processing

A variety of ready-to-cook meat products available in Indian supermarkets (mutton mince, chicken mince, chicken chunks, and chicken legs) were studied. The samples were irradiated (2.5 kGy), or left untreated as control, and stored at 0–3 °C for up to 21 days. The effect of irradiation on the microbiological, chemical, and sensory properties was evaluated at intervals during the storage period. Irradiated samples had a longer shelf-life at 0–3 °C compared with the corresponding non-irradiated samples. Fecal coliforms were eliminated by irradiation treatment. Radiation processed samples had lower counts of Staphylococcus spp. There were no significant organoleptic changes in irradiated samples stored at chilled temperatures.     

Competitive Self and Induced Aggregation of Calix[4]arene Ethers and Their Interaction with Pinacyanol Chloride and Methylene Blue in Nonaqueous Media

Long chain calix[4]arene ethers have been examined for aggregation in nonaqueous solvents by using UV-vis molecular absorbance spectroscopy. It has been observed that tetraalkylated (alkyl = hexadecyl and octadecyl, respectively) calix[4]arene ethers tend to aggregate in chloroform and tetrahydrofuran, possibly via π–π stacking interactions of the phenyl moieties, and the aggregation process appears to be facilitated by the alkyl chains. The analogous dialkylated compounds do not show any self-aggregation, plausibly due to strong hydrogen bonding between the –OH and the –O– of calix aryl ether which seems to disrupt the aggregation process. Addition of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) appears to hinder the aggregation process in nonpolar chloroform but the same surfactant facilitates aggregation in the polar tetrahydrofuran. The cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) and the nonionic surfactant (Brij-35) have no effect on this aggregation process. Unexpectedly, SDS induces aggregation of dialkylated calix[4]arene ethers in chloroform. It has been observed that the aggregated form of the tetraalkylated calix[4]arene ethers tend to increase the dimerization efficiency of cationic dyes (pinacyanol chloride and methylene blue) in chloroform.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a tri-armed molecular receptor for recognition of mercury and cyanide toxicants

A tri-armed-pyrene-linked molecular receptor, 5 has been designed, synthesised and evaluated for ionic recognition. It has been observed that the synthesised molecular receptor can recognise mercury and cyanide ions through a change in colour, UV–Vis and fluorescence intensity. The binding stoichiometry of the receptor and these ionic species has been found to be 1:1 through Job’s plots, Benesi–Hildebrand plots and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC).     

Studies on lactams—XX Stereochemistry of some penicillin sulfoxides and analogs from lanthanide induced shifts

Lanthanide induced shifts have been shown to provide reliable information on the steric disposition of protons in the vicinity of the sulfoxide group in penicillin derivatives and analogs. Because of its dipolar nature the sulfoxide bond serves as a favored site for complex formation with the lanthanide. The configuration of several penam sulfoxides and the conformation of the thiazolidine ring of one of them have been deduced.