Nano-composite soda lime silicate glass prepared using silver ion exchange

Commercial soda lime silicate glasses have been subjected to ion exchange at different temperatures ranging from 320 to 500 °C in a molten mixture of AgNO₃ and NaNO₃ with molar ratio of 10:90, 02:98 and 50:50 for different time periods ranging from 40 to 180 min. Optical and structural properties of the ion exchanged glass are measured using UV–Vis–NIR absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Signature of silver nanoparticle formation is obtained from the UV–Vis–NIR spectra, which shows a peak at 425 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Replacement of Na⁺ ions by Ag⁺ ions is inferred from FTIR spectra. Fluorescence spectra reveal the formation of Ag⁰ atoms from Ag⁺ ions at higher temperatures. TEM image shows the silver nanoparticles of average size 3.75 nm. At exchange temperature of 500 °C Ag nanoparticles are formed without post-exchange annealing treatment.     

Synthesis,spectral studies and quantum-chemical investigations on S-benzyl β-N-(4-NN biscynodiethylaminophenylmethylene)dithiocarbazate

A new Schiff base of S-benzyldithiocarbazate has been synthesized by the 1:1 condensation of 4-NN biscynodiethylaminobenzaldehyde and S-benzyldithiocarbazate. The structure of Schiff base was determined by FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic data. The synthesized Schiff base molecule has been subjected to theoretical studies by using semi-empirical AM1 and PM3 quantum-chemical methods. The molecular geometry, vibration frequencies, HOMO–LUMO energy gap, molecular hardness (η), ionization energy (IE), electron affinity (EA), total energy and dipole moment were analyzed. The experimental results of the compound have been compared with theoretical results and it is found that the experimental data show good agreement with calculated values.     

Dielectric and impedance properties of Bi(Zn2/3V1/3)O3 electronic material

A polycrystalline vanadium doped lead free dielectric material of Bi(Zn_2/3V_1/3)O₃ (BZV) has been prepared using a standard high-temperature solid state reaction technique. Its temperature and frequency dependent capacitive, conductive and resistive characteristics are outlined though experimental investigation. The formation of single phase compound of BZV material with orthorhombic crystal symmetry is identified through X-ray diffraction data analysis, and the homogeneous distribution of grains are realized through scanning electron micrograph. The acquaintance of frequency–temperature dependent electrical parameters with the obtained micrograph provides the experimental evidence of contributions of grain as well as grain boundary in its capacitive and resistive characteristics. The negative temperature coefficient of resistance behaviour of the material is revealed from impedance characteristic, and non-Debye type relaxation has been realized from the Nyquist plot. The charge carriers of this electronic compound have both long & short range order that has been validated from the complex modulus and impedance analysis. The prepared electronic material substantiate some important dielectric features which props up the material as promising component for electronic devices.     

Probable Decay Modes at Limits of Nuclear Stability of the Superheavy Nuclei

The modes of decay for the even–even isotopes of superheavy nuclei of Z = 118 and 120 with neutron number 160 ≤ N ≤ 204 are investigated in the framework of the axially deformed relativistic mean field model. The asymmetry parameter η and the relative neutron–proton asymmetry of the surface to the center (R _η ) are estimated from the ground state density distributions of the nucleus. We analyze the resulting asymmetry parameter η and the relative neutron–proton asymmetry R _η of the density play a crucial role in the mode(s) of decay and its half-life. Moreover, the excess neutron richness on the surface, facets a superheavy nucleus for β^? decays.     

Fast ion beams from intense,femtosecond laser irradiated nanostructured surfaces

We present results on hot electron and energetic ion (keV–MeV) generation from polished and nanostructured metallic surfaces excited by p-polarized, femtosecond laser pulses in the intensity range of 1×10¹⁵–1.5×10¹⁷ W cm^-2. A clear enhancement in the hard X-ray spectrum from nanoparticle-coated surfaces is observed, indicating ‘hotter’ electron production in nanoparticle-produced plasma until the intensity of 2×10¹⁶ W cm^-2 is reached. Contrary to the existing perception, we find that the hotter electrons do not lead to hotter ion emission. The total ion flux and the ion energy integrated over the 4–1400 keV energy range are found to be enhanced by 50% and 16%, respectively, for nanostructured targets in comparison to those from polished targets. 55% enhancement in yield is observed for ions at the lower end of the energy range, while hotter ions are actually found to be suppressed by ∼40%. The surface modulations present on the nanoparticle-coated targets are observed to reduce the maximum energy of the ions and showed an intensity-dependent increase in the divergence of the ion beam. PACS 79.20.Ds; 68.47.De; 61.80.Ba; 61.82.Bg; 42.65.Re     

Visible-light mediated regioselective approach towards synthesis of 7-aroyl-6-methyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines

The first visible-light mediated, simple, efficient and ecofriendly protocol for the regioselective synthesis of novel [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines has been developed by the reaction of α-bromodiketones, generated in situ by the bromination of a diverse array of β-diketones with N-bromosuccinimide, with 4-amino-[1,2,4]triazole-3-thiols. The methodology does not require the presence of any additives and this reaction proceeded in the presence of EDG (OMe), EWG (Cl) and heteroarenes (thiophenyl) giving the expected products in good to excellent yields. A solvent free protocol was also established to accomplish the synthesis of target compounds but it required PTSA as a catalyst and yields are comparatively poor. The structure of the regioisomer has been confirmed unambiguously by heteronuclear 2D-NMR [(¹H-¹³C) HMBC, (¹H-¹⁵N) HMBC, (¹H-¹³C) HMQC] spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies.     

Measurements of plasma parameters in capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma from discharge characteristics: Correlation with optical emission spectroscopy

Plasma parameters from the discharge characteristics of a 13.56 MHz capacitively coupled radio frequency Ar plasma are evaluated on the basis of homogeneous discharge model for wide range of operating pressure. The homogeneous discharge model of capacitively coupled radio frequency discharge is modified to take into account the nonlinear plasma series resonance effect. The effect of drift velocity of the electron due to change in radio frequency electric field and operating pressure is also considered. Considerable dependent of plasma parameters on the drift velocity of the electron as well as on the plasma series resonance effect are observed in low pressure. An irregular variation of calculated plasma density with operating pressure is observed, which is reconfirmed with optical emission spectroscopy.     

Antioxidant activity of peptide-based angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are important for the treatment of hypertension as they can decrease the formation of vasopressor hormone angiotensin II (Ang II) and elevate the levels of vasodilating hormone bradykinin. It is observed that bradykinin contains a Ser-Pro-Phe motif near the site of hydrolysis. The selenium analogues of captopril represent a novel class of ACE inhibitors as they also exhibit significant antioxidant activity. In this study, several di- and tripeptides containing selenocysteine and cysteine residues at the N-terminal were synthesized. Hydrolysis of angiotensin I (Ang I) to Ang II by ACE was studied in the presence of these peptides. It is observed that the introduction of L-Phe to Sec-Pro and Cys-Pro peptides significantly increases the ACE inhibitory activity. On the other hand, the introduction of L-Val or L-Ala decreases the inhibitory potency of the parent compounds. The presence of an L-Pro moiety in captopril analogues appears to be important for ACE inhibition as the replacement of L-Pro by L-piperidine 2-carboxylic acid decreases the ACE inhibition. The synthetic peptides were also tested for their ability to scavenge peroxynitrite (PN) and to exhibit glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like activity. All the selenium-containing peptides exhibited good PN-scavenging and GPx activities.     

Search for CP violation in D± meson decays to ϕπ±

We search for CP violation in Cabibbo-suppressed charged D meson decays by measuring the difference between the CP-violating asymmetries for the Cabibbo-suppressed decays D(±)→K(+)K(-)π(±) and the Cabibbo-favored decays D(s)(±)→K(+)K(-)π(±) in the K(+)K(-) mass region of the ? resonance. Using 955 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector, we obtain A(CP)(D+→?π+)=(+0.51±0.28±0.05)%. The measurement improves the sensitivity of previous searches by more than a factor of 5. We find no evidence for direct CP violation.