Preparation of gelatin/poly(vinyl alcohol) film modified by methyl methacrylate and gamma irradiation

The properties of gelatin–polyvinyl alcohol (G–PVA) blend films were improved by methyl methacrylate (MMA) and γ irradiation for a practical viewpoint. The films were prepared by the casting method, modified by glycerol and MMA monomer, and their mechanical properties were also studied. The gelatin-based films were successfully prepared using γ irradiation (3.1 kGy) and gelatin: PVA = 97:3 (w/w) as optimized. Tensile properties of the films were studied and thermal properties of the films were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis pointed out that MMA treated both gelatin films, and G–PVA blend films showed less thermal degradation than untreated films. In addition, structural and morphological features of the gelatin-based films were examined by Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The ultimate results of the present study showed remarkable enhancement in tensile properties (> 40%) and a reduction in elongation at break of the films, thanks to the MMA addition and γ irradiation.     

Mesophilic Digestion Kinetics of Manure Slurry

Anaerobic digestion kinetics study of cow manure was performed at 35°C in bench-scale gas-lift digesters (3.78 l working volume) at eight different volatile solids (VS) loading rates in the range of 1.11–5.87 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹. The digesters produced methane at the rates of 0.44–1.18 l l⁻¹ day⁻¹, and the methane content of the biogas was found to increase with longer hydraulic retention time (HRT). Based on the experimental observations, the ultimate methane yield and the specific methane productivity were estimated to be 0.42 l CH₄ (g VS loaded)^–1 and 0.45 l CH₄ (g VS consumed)^–1, respectively. Total and dissolved chemical oxygen demand (COD) consumptions were calculated to be 59–17% and 78–43% at 24.4–4.6 days HRTs, respectively. Maximum concentration of volatile fatty acids in the effluent was observed as 0.7 g l^–1 at 4.6 days HRT, while it was below detection limit at HRTs longer than 11 days. The observed methane production rate did not compare well with the predictions of Chen and Hashimoto’s [1] and Hill’s [2] models using their recommended kinetic parameters. However, under the studied experimental conditions, the predictions of Chen and Hashimoto’s [1] model compared better to the observed data than that of Hill’s [2] model. The nonlinear regression analysis of the experimental data was performed using a derived methane production rate model, for a completely mixed anaerobic digester, involving Contois kinetics [3] with endogenous decay. The best fit values for the maximum specific growth rate (μ _m) and dimensionless kinetic parameter (K) were estimated as 0.43 day^–1 and 0.89, respectively. The experimental data were found to be within 95% confidence interval of the prediction of the derived methane production rate model with the sum of residual squared error as 0.02.     

A green synthetic approach toward the synthesis of structurally diverse spirooxindole derivative libraries under catalyst-free conditions

A catalyst-free green methodology for the synthesis of pharmacologically important spirooxindole derivatives has been developed by a three-component domino reaction between isatin, various amino compounds, and 1,3-dicarbonyl or 3-phenylisoxazolone compounds in ethyl l-lactate medium at room temperature. This new efficient synthetic method facilitated the formation of a wide range of biologically significant spirooxindole derivatives (including 17 new spirooxindoles) under very mild conditions. The cytotoxic activity of one of the isoxazole-fused spirooxindoles was evaluated in MDA-MB 468 breast cancer cell line. It was found that cell survivability decreases with increasing concentration of the selected compound in MDA-MB 468 breast cancer cells.     

Spherical indentation analysis of stress relaxation for thin film viscoelastic materials

The mechanical testing of thin layers of soft materials is an important but difficult task. Spherical indentation provides a convenient method to ascertain material properties whilst minimising damage to the material by allowing testing to take place in situ. However, measurement of the viscoelastic properties of these soft materials is hindered by the absence of a convenient yet accurate model which takes into account the thickness of the material and the effects of the underlying substrate. To this end, the spherical indentation of a thin layer of viscoelastic solid material is analysed. It is assumed that the transient mechanical properties of the material can be described by the generalised standard linear solid model. This model is incorporated into the theory and then solved for the special case of a stress relaxation experiment taking into account the finite ramp time experienced in real experiments. An expression for the force as a function of the viscoelastic properties, layer thickness and indentation depth is given. The theory is then fitted to experimental data for the spherical indentation of poly(dimethyl)siloxane mixed with its curing agent to the ratios of 5:1, 10:1 and 20:1 in order to ascertain its transient shear moduli and relaxation time constants. It is shown that the theory correctly accounts for the effect of the underlying substrate and allows for the accurate measurement of the viscoelastic properties of thin layers of soft materials.     

First principles investigation of protactinium-based oxide-perovskites for flexible opto electronic devices

The structural,elastic,mechanical,electronic,and optical properties of KPaO_3 and RbPaO_3 compounds are investigated from first-principles calculations by using the WIEN2 k code in the frame of local density approximation(LDA) and generalized gradient approximation(GGA).The calculated ground state quantities,such as lattice constant(α_0),ground state energy(E),bulk modulus(S),and their pressure derivative(B_p) are in reasonable agreement with the present analytical and previous theoretical results and available experimental data.Based on several elastic and mechanical parameters,the structural stability,hardness,stiffness and the brittle and ductile behaviors are discussed,which reveal that protactiniumbased oxide series of perovskites is mechanically stable and possesses weak resistance to shear deformation compared with resistance to unidirectional compression while flexible and covalent behaviors are dominated in them.The analysis of band profile through Trans-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson(TB-mBJ) potential highlights the underestimation of bandgap with traditional density functional theory(DFT) approximation.Specific contribution of electronic states is investigated by means of total and partial density of states and it can be evaluated that both compounds are(Γ-Γ) direct bandgap semiconductors.All fundamental optical properties are analyzed while attention is paid to absorption and reflection spectra to explore extensive absorptions and reflections of these compounds in high frequency regions.The present method represents an influential approach to calculating the whole set of elastic,mechanical,and opto-electronic parameters,which would conduce to the understanding of various physical phenomena and empower the device engineers to implement these materials in flexible opto-electronic applications.     

Formation of solitons and shocks in toroidal ion temperature gradient mode in the presence of non-Maxwellian electrons

Linear and nonlinear phenomena are investigated in toroidal ion temperature gradient (TITG)-driven pure drift mode. The model includes inhomogeneity in background magnetic field, ion temperature, and density. Finite Larmor radius effect is incorporated to understand the effect of low-frequency wave on ion dynamics. Electrons are assumed to follow nonthermal distribution, that is, kappa and Cairns distributions. Dispersion relation is obtained to analyse the linear behaviour of the TITG mode in the presence of non-Maxwellian electron distribution. In the nonlinear regime, exact solutions (soliton and shocks) are obtained (in dispersive and dissipative medium respectively) by using functional variable method to solve the nonlinear partial differential equation obtained for the system under consideration. Graphical illustrations are used to exhibit the characteristics of linear and nonlinear structures and their dependence on different physical parameters. It is observed that for TITG-driven pure drift mode, rarefactive solitons are formed for both thermal and nonthermal electron distributions. It is also observed that variation of electrons from standard thermal distribution affects the propagation characteristics of linear and nonlinear structures in TITG-driven modes. Results of our investigations will be helpful to understand the low-frequency waves in inhomogeneous plasmas in the presence of nonthermal electron distributions which are frequently observed by satellite missions and are also observed in laboratory plasmas.     

An ab-initio study of structural,opto-electronic and thermoelectric aspects of zinc sulfide and zinc telluride

In this study, structural, electronic, optical and thermoelectric aspects of Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) and Zinc Telluride (ZnTe) have been explored in detail. These calculations have been done by utilizing FP-LAPW method via Density Functional Theory (DFT). In order to attain accurate band gaps, opto-electronic properties are evaluated with modified Becke Johnson potential (mBJ). From band structure plots, both ZnS and ZnTe reveals direct (Γ_v–Γ_C) band gap semiconductors in nature with bandgap value equal to 3.5 and 2.3 eV while in Density Of States (DOS) major influence is observed due to p states of S/Te and d state of Zn. Prominent variation of optical responses such as high values of imaginary dielectric constants 𝜀1 (ω) and n (ω) refractive index suggests that ZnS and ZnTe are applicant materials for future photonics and microelectronic devices. The thermoelectric aspects were explored by Boltz Trap code to determine electrical and thermal conductivities, Seebeck coefficients, power factors and figure of merit. The figure of merits is closer to 1 while compared with p-type ZnS and ZnTe, n-type ZnS and ZnTe has good thermoelectric properties, which are attributed to low thermal conductivity of the hole and larger effective mass. The goal of this research is to investigate not only the detailed physical aspects but also to provide an overview of its future applications in optoelectronics, displays, sensors and microelectronic industry.     

Modification of mechanical and thermal property of chitosan–starch blend films

Chitosan–starch blend films (thickness 0.2 mm) of different composition were prepared by casting and their mechanical properties were studied. To improve the properties of chitosan–starch films, glycerol and mustard oil of different composition were used. Chitosan–starch films, incorporated with glycerol and mustard oil, were further modified with monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) using gamma radiation. The modified films showed improvement in both tensile strength and elongation at break than the pure chitosan–starch films. Water uptake of the films reduced significantly than the pure chitosan–starch film. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that the modified films experience less thermal degradation than the pure films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FTIR were used to investigate the morphology and molecular interaction of the blend film, respectively.     

Exploring the Potential of Metallodrugs as Chemotherapeutics for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This review focuses on studies of coordination and organometallic compounds as potential chemotherapeutics against triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) which has one of the poorest prognoses and worst survival rates from all breast cancer types. At present, chemotherapy is still the standard of care for TNBC since only one type of targeted therapy has been recently developed. References for metal-based compounds studied in TNBC cell lines will be listed, and those of metal-specific reviews, but a detailed overview will also be provided on compounds studied in vivo (mostly in mice models) and those compounds for which some preliminary mechanistic data was obtained (in TNBC cell lines and tumors) and/or for which bioactive ligands have been used. The main goal of this review is to highlight the most promising metal-based compounds with potential as chemotherapeutic agents in TNBC.     

Thermal,magnetic and spectral studies of metal-quinone complexes. Part II. Media effect on Coligation of Aqua Ligands

Syntheses of phthiocol complexes with Cu(II) in inert media resulted in anhydrous monomer Cu-4: [Cu(NQ)₂] and dimer Cu-5: [Cu(NQ)(NSQ)]₂, however synthesis in air generates polymeric hydrated Cu-6: [Cu(NQ)₂(H₂O)₂]_n. Media and colligation give rise to charge transfers in coordination compounds and lead to different redox ligations of 3-methyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. These redox forms are determined from quantitization of activation energies (E _a) of different pyrolytic steps in TG using the rising temperature expression of Coats and Redfern. 'Tyrosinase'-type mechanism is discussed for the redox-type ligation. Characteristic six-line EPR signals of dimeric Cu-5 lead to zero field splitting parameters D=0.01608 cm^-1and E=0.01576 cm^-1. Cu-6 shows molecular association through hydrogen bonding. Variable temperature magnetic measurement data of Cu-6 from 6 to 300 K is fitted to the polymeric expression of Bonner and Fisher model. The best fit was obtained with antiferrromagnetic exchange coupling constantJ=-2 cm^-1, g=2.2 having R=4.2·10^-4. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.