14CO2 labeling : a reliable technique for rapid measurement of total root exudation capacity and vascular sap flow in crop plants

Root release of organic compounds and rate of the vascular sap flow are important for understanding the nutrient and the source-sink dynamics in plants, however, their determination is procedurally cumbersome and time consuming. We report here a simple method involving ¹⁴C labeling for rapid and reliable measurement of root exudates and vascular sap flow rate in a variable groundnut population developed through seed gamma irradiation using a cobalt source (⁶⁰Co). An experimental hypothesis that a higher ¹⁴C level in the vascular sap would indicate a higher root release of carbon by the roots into the rhizosphere was verified.     

Novel BODIPY-bridged cyclotriphosphazenes

Three new 2-component unsubstituted ( 4P ), diiodo- ( 5P ), and dibromo- ( 6P ) distyryl-BODIPY-bridged cyclotriphosphazene dimers were designed and synthesized. The newly synthesized BODIPY-cyclotriphosphazene systems were characterized by ¹ H, ¹³ C, and ³¹ P NMR spectroscopy. The photophysical properties of the distryl-BODIPYs (4–6) and BODIPY-cyclotriphosphazene dyads ( 4P – 6P ) were studied by UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. In these derivatives, the bino-type cyclotriphosphazene derivative bearing unsubstituted BODIPY unit 4P exhibited high fluorescence and no singlet oxygen generation due to the lack of spin converter. The attachment of heavy atoms (iodine and bromine) enabled the production of singlet oxygen. The bino-type BODIPY-cyclotriphosphazenes ( 5P and 6P ) were also used as triplet photosensitizers in the photooxidation of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran to endoperoxide via generation of the singlet oxygen in dichloromethane. The singlet oxygen production of these compounds was also investigated via a direct method and produced a singlet oxygen phosphorescence peak at 1270 nm.     

Experimental investigation of microdischarges in adielectric-barrier discharge

We studied the dielectric barrier discharge in helium and air at atmospheric pressure. Time resolved charge-coupled device camera images along with current waveforms show that a dielectric-barrier discharge can be operated in the diffused mode in a gas like helium. However, in air, the discharge consists of numerous microdischarges     

Atomistic insights into aqueous corrosion of copper

Corrosion is a fundamental problem in electrochemistry and represents a mode of failure of technologically important materials. Understanding the basic mechanism of aqueous corrosion of metals such as Cu in presence of halide ions is hence essential. Using molecular dynamics simulations incorporating reactive force-field (ReaxFF), the interaction of copper substrates and chlorine under aqueous conditions has been investigated. These simulations incorporate effects of proton transfer in the aqueous media and are suitable for modeling the bond formation and bond breakage phenomenon that is associated with complex aqueous corrosion phenomena. Systematic investigation of the corrosion process has been carried out by simulating different chlorine concentration and solution states. The structural and morphological differences associated with metal dissolution in the presence of chloride ions are evaluated using dynamical correlation functions. The simulated atomic trajectories are used to analyze the charged states, molecular structure and ion density distribution which are utilized to understand the atomic scale mechanism of corrosion of copper substrates under aqueous conditions. Increased concentration of chlorine and higher ambient temperature were found to expedite the corrosion of copper. In order to study the effect of solution states on the corrosion resistance of Cu, partial fractions of proton or hydroxide in water were configured, and higher corrosion rate at partial fraction hydroxide environment was observed. When the Cl(-) concentration is low, oxygen or hydroxide ion adsorption onto Cu surface has been confirmed in partial fraction hydroxide environment. Our study provides new atomic scale insights into the early stages of aqueous corrosion of metals such as copper.     

Effective electro-chemo-therapy for proliferation control of adult human mesenchymal stem cells

Clinically chemo-resistant types of cancers do not respond well to conventional therapies. To treat and enhance the efficacy of drug delivery for these cancers, we have developed an in vitro model of a combination therapy using adult human mesenchymal stem cells, electrical pulses and chemo drug. Adult Mesenchymal stem cells were used because they are similar to cancer stem cells which cause the tumor to be chemo- and radiation resistant. These cells, derived from human adult bone marrow were subjected to low voltage, long duration (200 V/cm, 40 ms and 450 V/cm, 25 ms) and high voltage, short duration (1200 V/cm, 100 μs) pulses. The effect of these voltages on the viability and proliferation ability of these cells in the presence and absence of Bleomycin (chemodrug used for treating various cancers, FDA approved in US and other respective medical agencies in other countries,) indicate the potential of transfer of this technique to clinical practice for effective electro-targeted stem cell therapy.     

Influence of surface orientation and defects on early-stage oxidation and ultrathin oxide growth on pure copper

We investigate oxidation and oxide growth on single-crystal copper surfaces using reactive molecular dynamics simulation. The kinetics of surface oxide growth are strongly correlated with the microstructure of the metal substrates. Simulating oxide layer growth along the (100), (110), and (111) orientations of crystalline copper, oxidation characteristics are investigated at temperatures of 300?K and 600?K. The oxidation kinetics are found to strongly depend on the surface orientation, ambient temperature, and surface defects. The effect of surface morphology on oxidation characteristics is analyzed by comparing oxygen adsorption on various sites and the structure factor. The surface oxide formed on (100) retains the initial crystal structure in the 300–600?K range. The (100) surface shows the highest oxidation rate at both temperature conditions but saturates, facilitating oxygen adsorption on hollow sites. The oxidation kinetics of the (100) orientation are found to be not significantly affected by surface defects. (110) shows modest oxidation at 300?K but the highest oxidation is observed at 600?K. By surface disorder and reconstruction, the oxide layer is produced continuously. The (111) surface is sensitive to ambient temperature and surface defects, showing that surface reconstruction is a key element for further oxidation. The charge distribution of oxidized Cu atoms indicates multiple groups of stoichiometric oxides, while the fraction of CuO-like characteristics increases significantly on the (110) and (111) orientations at higher temperature (600?K). The energetics and mechanisms of oxidation on Cu metal substrates at the nanoscale are discussed in detail, and comparisons with available experimental and other theoretical studies are presented wherever possible.