New Insight into Biodegradation of Polylactide (PLA)/Clay Nanocomposites Using Molecular Ecological Techniques

Novel molecular ecological techniques were used to study changes in microbial community structure and population during degradation of polylactide (PLA)/organically modified layered silicates (OMLS) nanocomposites. Cloned gene sequences belonging to members of the phyla Actinobacteria and Ascomycota comprized the most dominant groups of microorganisms during biodegradation of PLA/OMLS nanocomposites. Due to their numerical abundance, members of these microbial groups are likely to play an important role during biodegradation process. This paper presents new insights into the biodegradability of PLA/OMLS nanocomposites and highlights the importance of using novel molecular ecological techniques for in situ identification of new microorganisms involved in biodegradation of polymeric materials.

     

Electrical properties and EMI shielding behavior of highly thermally stable polyaniline/colloidal graphite composites

A hybrid approach has been adopted by using a combination of colloidal graphite (CG) as a conducting filler, 5‐lithium sulfoisophthalic (LiSIPA) acid as a dopant, and polyaniline (PANI) as a matrix to prepare LiSIPA doped PANI–CG composites. The thermal stability (～300°C) and electrical conductivity (67.4 S/cm at 17.4% CG content) have been improved significantly as compared to PANI doped with conventional inorganic dopants like HCl or H₂SO₄ (130–150°C). The maximum shielding effectiveness value was found to be ?39.7 dB. X‐ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy showed a systematic shifting of the characteristic peaks and bands with increase in the amount of CG, which indicates significant interaction exists between CG and PANI. The UV–Vis spectra showed the characteristic bands of PANI, with a shift to shorter wavelength with increase in the CG content. The interaction mechanism between doped PANI and CG in the resultant composites has been proposed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phytochemical analysis and Enzyme Inhibition Assay of Aerva javanica for Ulcer

Background

Nickel ferrite, a kind of soft magnetic materials is one of the most attracting class of materials due to its interesting and important properties and has many technical applications, such as in catalysis, sensors and so on. In this paper the synthesis of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles by the hydrothermal method is reported and the inhibition of surfactant (Glycerol or Sodium dodecyl sulfate) on the particles growth is investigated.

Methods

For investigation of the inhibition effect of surfactant on NiFe₂O₄ particles growth, the samples were prepared in presence of Glycerol and Sodium dodecyl sulfate. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) techniques were used to characterize the samples.

Results

The results of XRD and ICP-AES show that the products were pure NiFe₂O₄ and also nanoparticles grow with increasing the temperature, while surfactant prevents the particle growth under the same condition. The average particle size was determined from the Scherrer's equation and TEM micrographs and found to be in the range of 50-60 nm that decreased up to 10-15 nm in presence of surfactant. The FT-IR results show two absorption bands near to 603 and 490 cm^-1 for the tetrahedral and octahedral sites respectively. Furthermore, the saturated magnetization and coercivity of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were in the range of 39.60 emu/g and 15.67 Q_e that decreased for samples prepared in presence of surfactant. As well as, the nanoparticles exhibited a superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature.

Conclusions

Nanosized nickel ferrite particles were synthesized with and without surfactant assisted hydrothermal methods. The results show that with increasing of temperature, the crystallinity of nanoparticles is increased. In the presence of surfactants, the crystallinity of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles decreased in comparison with surfactant- free prepared samples. All of the nickel ferrite nanoparticles were superparamagnetic at room temperature.

Graphical abstract

     

Poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) γ‐Fe2O3 polymer composite–super paramagnetic behavior and variable range hopping 1D conduction mechanism–synthesis and characterization

The present paper reports the preparation of poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) ferrimagnetic conducting polymer composite by incorporation of ferrite particles in the polymer matrix by emulsion polymerization. Synthesis of PEDOT–γ‐Fe₂O₃ composite was carried out by chemical oxidative polymerization of EDOT with ferrite particles in the presence of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) that works as dopant as well as surfactant in aqueous medium. The resulting conducting composite possesses saturation magnetization (Ms) value of 20.56 emu/g with a conductivity of 0.4 Scm^?1, which was determined by VSM and four probe technique, respectively. B‐H curve reveals that ferrimagnetic particles of γ‐Fe₂O₃ show super‐paramagnetic behavior at room temperature which was also observed in PEDOT–γ‐Fe₂O₃ composite. The resulting conducting ferrimagnetic composite shows microwave absorption loss of 18.7–22.8 dB in the frequency range of 12.4–18 GHz. Thermogravimetric analysis of the composite revealed that the composite is thermally stable up to 230°C. The characterization of the PEDOT–γ‐Fe₂O₃ composite was carried out using XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impacting the Remedial Potential of Nano Delivery-Based Flavonoids for Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer persists as a diffuse source of cancer despite persistent detection and treatment. Flavonoids, a type of polyphenol, appear to be a productive option in the treatment of breast cancer, because of their capacity to regulate the tumor related functions of class of compounds. Plant polyphenols are flavonoids that appear to exhibit properties which are beneficial for breast cancer therapy. Numerous epidemiologic studies have been performed on the dynamic effect of plant polyphenols in the prevention of breast cancer. There are also subclasses of flavonoids that have antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activity. These can regulate the scavenging activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which help in cell cycle arrest and suppress the uncontrolled division of cancer cells. Numerous studies have also been performed at the population level, one of which reported a connection between cancer risk and intake of dietary flavonoids. Breast cancer appears to show intertumoral heterogeneity with estrogen receptor positive and negative cells. This review describes breast cancer, its various factors, and the function of flavonoids in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, namely, how flavonoids and their subtypes are used in treatment. This review proposes that cancer risk can be reduced, and that cancer can be even cured by improving dietary intake. A large number of studies also suggested that the intake of fruit and vegetables is associated with reduced breast cancer and paper also includes the role and the use of nanodelivery of flavonoids in the healing of breast cancer. In addition, the therapeutic potential of orally administered phyto-bioactive compounds (PBCs) is narrowed because of poor stability and oral bioavailability of compounds in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and solubility also affects bioavailability. In recent years, creative nanotechnology-based approaches have been advised to enhance the activity of PBCs. Nanotechnology also offers the potential to become aware of disease at earlier stages, such as the detection of hidden or unconcealed metastasis colonies in patients diagnosed with lung, colon, prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer. However, nanoformulation-related effects and safety must not be overlooked. This review gives a brief discussion of nanoformulations and the effect of nanotechnology on herbal drugs.     

Visible Light Promoted Iron-Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Arylimino-2H-Chromenes from 2-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohols and β- Ketothioamides at Room Temperature

An efficient, environmentally benign and one-pot approach for the synthesis of 2-arylimino-2H-chromenes from 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohols and β-ketothioamides at room temperature under visible light has been developed. The reported reaction conditions were favorable for a wide range of β-ketothioamides afforded good to excellent yields of the respective products. The low cost and air stable Knölker iron catalyst has been employed for the dehydrogenation of 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohols under photolysis that would usually require a higher temperature.     

Ultrasonic velocity, density, viscosity and their excess parameters of the binary mixtures of tetrahydrofuran with methanol and o-cresol at varying temperatures

The ultrasonic velocity, density and viscosity of binary mixtures of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with methanol and o-cresol were measured at 293, 303 and 313 K over the entire range of composition. Using these experimental data, various thermo-acoustic parameters such as deviation in isentropic compressibility Δκ_s, excess molar volume , viscosity deviation Δη and excess Gibb’s free energy of activation for viscous flow ΔG^∗E have been calculated and fitted to Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. The deviation/excess parameter were plotted against the mole fraction of THF over the whole composition range. The observed negative and positive values of deviation/excess thermo-acoustic parameters were explained on the basis of the intermolecular interactions present in these mixtures. Since methanol is less acidic than o-cresol, the removal of proton from methanol is less likely than the removal of proton from o-cresol which is more acidic than methanol. Hence the intermolecular interaction in the mixture of THF with o-cresol is found to be stronger than mixture of THF with methanol, which is reflected from the observed positive and negative values of excess thermo-acoustic parameters. Thus it may be concluded that THF + o-cresol mixture exhibits strong intermolecular interaction. However, dispersive forces are responsible for THF + methanol mixture due to weak interaction. Further, Nomoto, Junjie, CFT and Flory’s theory were applied for evaluating the ultrasonic velocity theoretically. The theoretical evaluation of ultrasonic velocity based on molecular models in liquid mixtures has been used to correlate with the experimental findings and to know the thermodynamics of the mixtures. The comparison of theoretical and experimental results provides better understanding about the validity of the various thermodynamic, empirical, semi empirical and statistical theories.     

Wild Olive Oil as a Novel and Sustainable Feedstock for Biodiesel Production: Overviewed Various Feedstock,Methodologies and Reaction Mechanisms of Different Catalysts

Catalysis Surveys from Asia - The over-consumption of petroleum fuel due to the progressive increase in population, transportation, industrialization, modernization as well as improvement in the...     

Projective synchronization of time‒delayed chaotic systems with unknown parameters using adaptive control method

The present article aims to study the projective synchronization between two identical and non?identical time?delayed chaotic systems with fully unknown parameters. Here the asymptotical and global synchronization are achieved by means of adaptive control approach based on Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional theory. The proposed technique is successfully applied to investigate the projective synchronization for the pairs of time?delayed chaotic systems amongst advanced Lorenz system as drive system with multiple delay Rössler system and time?delayed Chua's oscillator as response system. An adaptive controller and parameter update laws for unknown parameters are designed so that the drive system is controlled to be the response system. Numerical simulation results, depicted graphically, are carried out using Runge–Kutta Method for delay?differential equations, showing that the design of controller and the adaptive parameter laws are very effective and reliable and can be applied for synchronization of time?delayed chaotic systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isolation,characterization and X-ray analysis of Peltophorin from the leaves of Peltophorum vogelianum (Benth.)

The phenanthren skeleton, named as Peltophorin was isolated from methanolic extraction of the leaves of Peltophorum vogelianum. The structure was elucidated on the basis of chemical and physical evidence (IR, UV, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR) and further confirmed X-ray analysis.