Use of successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method for amorphous titanium dioxide thin films growth

Use of successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method was preferred for the growth of amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films at ambient temperature. Further, these films were annealed at 673 K for 2 h in air for structural improvement and characterized for structural, surface morphological, optical and electrical properties. An amorphous structure of TiO₂ was retained even after annealing as confirmed from XRD studies. The spherical grains of relatively large size were compressed after annealing. A red shift in band gap energy and decrease in electrical resistivity were observed due to annealing treatment.     

Radiation induced lipid peroxidation: Role for Ca

Effect of Ca²⁺ on radiation induced lipid peroxidation of ghost membranes prepared from mice erythrocytes was studied at a dose rate 1.01 Gy/s. Ca²⁺ provided significant protection against lipid peroxidation in concentration dependent manner. Ca²⁺ is known to modify membrane dynamics and might be the reason for inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Post-irradiation treatment with Ca²⁺ also resulted in significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The diminition of protective effect in presence of A23187 suggests that the extracellular pool of Ca²⁺ may provide protection against the effect of radiation on plasma membrane.     

Anisotropic Bulk Viscous Cosmological Models with?Variable G and Λ

This paper deals with Bianchi-I, Kantowski Sachs and Bianchi-III anisotropic cosmological models of the universe, filled with a bulk viscous cosmic fluid, in the presence of variable gravitational and cosmological constants. A new set of exact solutions of Einstein’s field equation have been obtained in both truncated and full causal theories. Physical behaviour of the models has also been discussed.     

High temperature ferromagnetism with a giant magnetic moment in transparent co-doped SnO(2-delta)

The occurrence of room temperature ferromagnetism is demonstrated in pulsed laser deposited thin films of Sn(1-x)Co(x)O(2-delta) (x<0.3). Interestingly, films of Sn(0.95)Co(0.05)O(2-delta) grown on R-plane sapphire not only exhibit ferromagnetism with a Curie temperature close to 650 K, but also a giant magnetic moment of 7.5+/-0.5 micro(B)/Co, not yet reported in any diluted magnetic semiconductor system. The films are semiconducting and optically highly transparent.     

An experimental investigation of gas-particle flows through diffusers in the freeboard region of fluidized beds

The phenomenon of particulate loss (elutriation) from fluidized beds is important in many industrial processes. Results reported in Kale & Eaton (1984a) showed that very-wide-angle diffusers located in the freeboard above a fluidized bed substantially reduce elutriation—a result that was contrary to intuition. The present experiment was designed to explain these results. The same fluidized bed apparatus (Kale & Eaton 1984a) was used—150 mm square in cross section with a variable-angle diffuser in the freeboard region. Glass beads (nominally 50–100 μm in diameter) were fluidized by air at atmospheric pressure in the bubbling regime. Gas-phase velocity measurements were made using a single-component laser-Doppler anemometer. Four diffuser configurations (0, 20, 40 and 60° full opening angle) were studied. One set of measurements was made with the bed in place and a second set with the bed material removed. The flow structure was drastically altered by the presence of the fluidized bed below the diffuser. The single-phase flow was separated in the diffuser for the 20, 40 and 60° cases. However, the flow did not separate in the presence of the bed, and the peak fluid velocities were lower than those in the separated flow. This behavior is responsible for the decrease in the elutriation rate with increasing diffuser opening angle. A simple analysis suggests that suspended particles in the diffuser flow are responsible for the change in the flow structure. Momentum loss from the gas to the suspended particles reduces the pressure gradient, thereby eliminating the tendency to separate.     

Surfactant ion electrode measurements of sodium alkylsulfate and alkyltrimethylammonium bromide micellar solutions

EMF measurements in water at 25°C have been made using surfactant ion and counterion electrodes on two homologous series of long chain surfactants, the sodium alkylsulfates (R=n-C₈H₁₇ to n-C₁₄H₂₉) and the alkyltrimethylammonium bromides (R=C₁₀H₂₁ to C₁₆H₃₃). The data show evidence of association below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) but not of micelle ordering due to coulombic repulsion above this concentration.     

Formulation and molecular docking simulation study of luliconazole nanosuspension–based nanogel for transdermal drug delivery using modified polymer

The purpose of study was to formulate nanosuspension-based nanogel of luliconazole (LLZ) for transdermal delivery to enhance its skin retention and effectiveness using modified starch ester. Nanosuspensions show promising results with size of 369.1–745.4 nm having PDI 0.193–0.344 and zeta potential 22–45 mV. These nanosuspensions form micelles and hydrophobic core of it provides the reservoir for LLZ with better drug loading and binding interaction. Drug loading was confirmed by percent drug entrapment efficiency (PDEE) and PDI. Molecular docking simulation (MDS) provides detail insight of LLZ polymer complexation at hydrophobic cavity of micelles and revealed that there was binding between drug and polymer in aqueous milieu having interaction energy ranges from ?7.1 to ?6.0 kcal/mol. Nanosuspensions so made were incorporated into gel by using Carbopol 934 ® and tested for % drug content, spreadability, pH, and viscosity with ranges of 101.62–97.71, 28.94–34.38 (gcm/s), 6.91–7.21, and 4802.62–9461.83 (cp), respectively. Nanogel also evaluated for stability and skin permeation study using human cadaver skin (HCS). In vitro skin permeation study indicated that the amount of LLZ permeated through skin from nanogel (71.042–83.818 μgcm ?2) was higher than standard cream (70.085 μgcm ?2). Nanogel increased the accumulation of LLZ in HCS ~3 times than standard cream. The transdermal flux was greater for standard cream (123.79 μgcm ?2), whereas smaller for nanogel (50.394–82.743 μgcm ?2) due to skin retention. Nanosuspension-based gel are able to especially favor LLZ accumulation into skin, provide better drug loading, improve stability, and efficacy. Thus, targeting older antibiotics such as LLZ and formulating into nanosystem utilized to expand its usefulness to physicians to treat illnesses caused by resistant fungal strains.     

Facile synthesis of layered reduced graphene oxide–copper sulfide (rGO-CuS) hybrid electrode for all solid-state symmetric supercapacitor

A straightforward process for synthesis of hybrid porous electrode material composed of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and copper sulfide (CuS) with layered structure on the stainless steel substrate is developed. As-synthesized hybrid electrode shows hexagonal crystal structure of CuS with 77 m² gm⁻¹ specific surface area and 22 nm average pore size. The specific capacitance obtained with rGO-CuS5 hybrid electrode is 1201 F g⁻¹ at the sweep rate of 5 mV s⁻¹ in 1 M LiClO₄ aqueous electrolyte. The majority of charge stored by diffusion-controlled process indicates benefits of layered structures for solid-state energy storage. The rGO-CuS5-based hybrid symmetric supercapacitor delivers a specific capacitance (C_s) as high as 109 F g⁻¹ at a sweep rate of 5 mV s⁻¹ with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-LiClO₄ gel electrolyte. Also, the specific energy of 44 Wh kg⁻¹ and specific power of 1.4 kW kg⁻¹ with 87% stability after 6000 cycles at an applied current of 5 mA are obtained. The simple process of synthesis of layered hybrid electrode material for flexible supercapacitor promises its use in smart textile and wearable electronic devices.

Graphical abstract