Green synthesis and characterizations of Nickel oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Rhamnus virgata and their potential biological applications

In the present report, Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) were synthesized using Rhamnus virgata (Roxb.) (Family: Rhamnaceae) as a potential stabilizing, reducing and chelating agent. The formation, morphology, structure and other physicochemical properties of resulting NiONPs were characterized by Ultra violet spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy‐dispersive‐spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Detailed in vitro biological activities revealed significant therapeutic potential for NiONPs. The antimicrobial efficacy of biogenic NiONPs was demonstrated against five different gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 125 μg/mL) were found to be the least susceptible and Bacillus subtilis (MIC: 31.25 μg/mL) was found to be the most susceptible strain to NiONPs. Biogenic NiONPs were reported to be highly potent against HepG2 cells (IC₅₀: 29.68 μg/ml). Moderate antileishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica (KMH₂₃) promastigotes (IC₅₀: 10.62 μg/ml) and amastigotes (IC₅₀: 27.58 μg/ml) cultures are reported. The cytotoxic activity was studied using brine shrimps and their IC₅₀ value was recorded as 43.73 μg/ml. For toxicological assessment, NiONPs were found compatible towards human RBCs (IC₅₀: > 200 μg/ml) and macrophages (IC₅₀: > 200 μg/ml), deeming particles safe for various applications in nanomedicines. Moderate antioxidant activities: total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (51.43%), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity (70.36%) and total reducing power (TRP) (45%) are reported for NiONPs. In addition, protein kinase and alpha amylase inhibition assays were also performed. Our results concluded that Rhamnus virgata synthesized NiONPs could find important biomedical applications with low cytotoxicity to normal cells.     

Effect of niobium doping on physical, thermal, and spectral parameters of infrared transmitting BGO70 glasses

Heavy metal oxide glasses doped with 2d transition metal niobium were casted through normal melt-quench technique in the formula composition (100?x) [3Bi₂O₃–7GeO₂ (BGO70)]?xNb₂O₅ where 5 ≤ x ≤ 25. Experimentally measured values of density d _exp were 6.737–7.149 g/cc ± 0.06 %. Corresponding molar volume V _m exp had values 29.677–31.550 cc ± 0.04 %, V _pyc varied 32.28–34.71 cc ± 0.03 % and oxygen molar volume $ V_{{{\text{mO}}^{2-} }} $ increased linearly from 17.761 to 20.467 cc ± 0.06 %. Thermal coefficient of linear expansion was between 5.316 ± 0.001 × 10^?6 and 8.033 ± 0.001 × 10^?6 K^?1. Glass transition temperature T _g, onset of crystallization temperature T _x, and the stability factor ΔT were noted from DTA curves. Direct allowed energy gap E _g was between 1.809–2.988 eV and Urbach energy had value 0.32–1.49 eV. Maximum transmission efficiency was 74 % for glass BGO70-Nb10. FTIR spectra revealed that lattice vibration modes were active in 400–1,300 cm^?1 range. A modifying behavior was assigned to Nb⁵⁺ ion in the system.     

Impact of Various Parameters Over the Stability of Water-in-Vegetable Oil Emulsion

Theory regarding emulsification, its coalescence and impact of emulsifier over its stability has been updated. For the verification of the proposed theory, water-in-oil emulsion was prepared by mixing water and soybean oil in the presence and absence of emulsifier, monoglyceride. The effect of different parameters like emulsification time, contents of water, and concentration of emulsifier has been investigated on the emulsification and coalescence process of the emulsion. It was noted that the emulsion quality was highest if the mixture was homogenized for about 15 minutes and the water contents were 40% v/v. The addition of monoglyceride up to 0.5% w/v gave the most stable emulsion having higher quality than other composition. The results obtained were compared with the proposed theory and found to have good compositions.      

Evaluation of natural gamma radiation and absorbed gamma dose in soil and rocks of Perambalur district (Tamil Nadu,India)

The activity concentrations and absorbed gamma dose of primordial radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were determined employing γ-ray spectrometry in 31 soil samples from the land area earmarked for house construction in Perambalur district and 14 rock samples from quarries that supply stones for the entire district. The soil samples registered relatively a higher mean value of 13.2 Bq kg^?1 for ²³⁸U, 66 Bq kg^?1 for ²³²Th and 340.3 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K as compared to mean values for rock samples (²³⁸U—8.0 Bq kg^?1; ²³²Th—65.1 Bq kg^?1; ⁴⁰K—199.1 Bq kg^?1). The mean absorbed gamma dose rate for soil (61.4 nGy h^?1) marginally exceeded the prescribed limit of 55 nGy h^?1 while, rocks registered the mean absorbed gamma dose rate of 10.4 nGy h^?1. The mean radium equivalent activity was distinctly higher in soil (130.6 Bq kg^?1) than in rock (20.0 Bq kg^?1). However, these values were lower than the limit (370 Bq kg^?1) set by OECD for building materials. It is evident from the data that the soil and rocks do not pose any radiological risk for house constructions in Perambalur district.     

Modeling of the mode dynamics generated by Madison Symmetric Torus machine utilizing a modified sine-Gordon equation

In this paper, a new dynamic model is presented for the experimental data generated by the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) machine. The model is based on a modified sine-Gordon (SG) dynamic equation. The modified sine-Gordon equation model effectively captures the behavior of the slinky mode in reversed-field pinch experiments. In addition, this paper demonstrates how the derived model accurately describes the behavior of the localized magnetohydrodynamic mode (slinky mode) that appears in reversed-field pinch toroidal magnetic confinement systems. The modified SG equation model is solved analytically by using the perturbation method. The resulting model is fit to match a variety of experimental results in the MST reversed-field pinch experiment. The efficacy of the newly developed model in effectively representing the slinky mode is verified by comparing obtained analytical solution to experimentally measured data.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Halogensilan-Addukte. XVII. Darstellung,Kristall- und Molekülstruktur von (2, 2′ -Bipyridin)- trichloro (trichlorosiloxy)- silicium,Cl3SiOSiCl3. bipy

Contributions to the Chemistry of Halosilane Adducts. XVII. Preparation, Crystal and Molecular Structure of (2, 2′ -Bipyridine) - trichloro - (trichlorosiloxy) -silicon, Cl₃SiOSiCl₃. bipy 1 is obtained by the reaction of Cl₃SiOSiCl₃ and bipy. It crystallizes orthorhombic in the space group Pca2₁ (Z = 4). 1 contains a tetracoordinated and a hexacoordinated Si atom. The plain defined by coordinated bipy also contains the SiOSi group. The SiOSi bonding angle (152.8°) is larger than that of Cl₃SiOSiCl₃ (146°). The SiCl bonds are about 8% longer than the tetrahedral SiCl bonds. The two SiO bond lengths are different (1.684; 1.554 Å). The SiN distances (average 1.967 Å) as well as the other bond distances correspond to values found for related compounds. Configuration, SiOSi bond angle and other structural features are due to steric requirements. 1 represents the structure of least steric hindrance. The same structure is found in solution (¹H-NMR). The results confirm that sterically more demanding ligands preferentially occupy the positions vertical to the plain of bipy (phen) in octahedral bip(phen) complexes of Si, hereby minimizing steric repulsions among each other(trans positions) and by CH groups of bipy(phen) exerted on ligands in he plain of bipy(phen).     

Accurate radial basis function based neural network approach for analysis of photonic crystal fibers

In this paper, a new and an accurate artificial neural network approach (ANN) is presented for the analysis and design of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). The new ANN approach is based on the radial basis functions which offer a very quick convergence and high efficiency during the ANN learning. The accuracy of the suggested approach is demonstrated via the excellent agreement between the results obtained using the presented approach and the results of the full vectorial finite difference method (FVFDM). In addition, a new design of highly birefringence PCF with low losses for the two polarized modes is presented using the proposed approach.     

Self‐assembled complexes of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(4‐vinyl pyridine)

Polymer complexes were prepared from high molecular weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) in dimethyl formamide (DMF). The hydrogen bonding interactions, phase behavior, and morphology of the complexes were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this A‐b‐B/C type block copolymer/homopolymer system, P4VP block of the block copolymer has strong intermolecular interaction with PAA which led to the formation of nanostructured micelles at various PAA concentrations. The pure PS‐b‐P4VP block copolymer showed a cylindrical rodlike morphology. Spherical micelles were observed in the complexes and the size of the micelles increased with increasing PAA concentration. The micelles are composed of hydrogen‐bonded PAA/P4VP core and non‐bonded PS corona. Finally, a model was proposed to explain the microphase morphology of complex based on the experimental results obtained. The selective swelling of the PS‐b‐P4VP block copolymer by PAA resulted in the formation of different micelles. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1192–1202, 2009     

Numerical analysis for bulk-arrival queueing systems: Root-finding and steady-state probabilities inGI r /M/1 queues

Queueing theorists have presented, as solutions to many queueing models, probability generating functions in which state probabilities are expressed as functions of the roots of characteristic equations, evaluation of the roots in particular cases being left to the reader. Many users have complained that such solutions are inadequate. Some queueing theorists, in particular Neuts [6], rather than use Rouché's theorem to count roots and an equation-solver to find them, have developed new algorithms to solve queueing problems numerically, without explicit calculation of roots. Powell [7] has shown that in many bulk service queues arising in transportation models, characteristic equations can be solved and state probabilities can be found without serious difficulty, even when the number of roots to be found is large. We have slightly modified Powell's method, and have extended his work to cover a number of bulk-service queues discussed by Chaudhry et al. [1] and a number of bulk-arrival queues discussed in the present paper.