Modulational instability of dust-ion-acoustic waves in pair-ion plasma having non-thermal non-extensive electrons

The modulational instability (MI) criteria of dust-ion-acoustic (DIA) waves (DIAWs) have been investigated in a four-component pair-ion plasma having inertial pair ions, inertialess non-thermal non-extensive electrons, and immobile negatively charged massive dust grains. A nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) is derived by using reductive perturbation method. The nonlinear and dispersive coefficients of the NLSE can predict the modulationally stable and unstable parametric regimes of DIAWs and associated first and second-order DIA rogue waves (DIARWs). The MI growth rate and the configuration of the DIARWs are examined, and it is found that the MI growth rate increases (decreases) with increasing the number density of the negatively charged dust grains in the presence (absence) of the negative ions. It is also observed that the amplitude and width of the DIARWs increase (decrease) with the negative (positive) ion mass. The implications of the results to laboratory and space plasmas are briefly discussed.     

A Highly Efficient and Stable Photocatalyst; N-Doped ZnO/CNT Composite Thin Film Synthesized via Simple Sol-Gel Drop Coating Method

The thin film of N-doped ZnO/CNT nanocomposite was successfully fabricated on soda lime glass substrate by a simple sol-gel drop-coating method. The structural, morphological, chemical, and optical properties of as prepared samples were characterized by a variety of tools such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-visible spectroscopy. The hexagonal crystalline structure was confirmed from XRD measurement without any other impurity phase detection in samples. The N-doped ZnO/CNT composite showed excellent photo-catalytic activity towards cationic methylene blue (MB) dye degradation with 100% removal rate under UV light irradiation as compared to N-doped ZnO (65%) and pure ZnO (47.36%). The convincing performance has also been observed for the case of visible light irradiation. The enhancement of that photocatalytic activity might be due to narrowing the band gap as well as the reduction of electron–hole pair recombination in ZnO matrix with the incorporation of dopant nitrogen and CNT. It is assumed from the obtained results that N-doped ZnO/CNT nanocomposite thin film can be employed as an economically achievable and ecofriendly method to degrade dye with UV and visible light irradiation. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were applied to explore the effect of N-doping on electronic structure of ZnO. The computational study has supported the experimental results of significant band gap contraction, which leads to the maximum absorption towards higher wavelength and no appreciable change of lattice parameters after doping. A conceivable photocatalytic mechanism of N-doped ZnO/CNT nanocomposite has been proposed as well.     

Transforming business using digital innovations: the application of AI,blockchain, cloud and data analytics

This study explores digital business transformation through the lens of four emerging technology fields: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud and data analytics (i.e., ABCD). Specifically, the study investigates the operations and value propositions of these distinct but increasingly converging technologies. Due to the dynamic nature of innovation, the potential of this ABCD hybridization, integration, recombination and convergence has yet to be considered. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the findings of the study show wide-reaching and diverse applications among a variety of vertical sectors, presenting exploratory research avenues for future investigation. The study also highlights the practical implications of these new technologies.

     

Conductometric Study of Influence of Urea on Interactions of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate with Cefradine

Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A - Interaction of anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with antibiotic drug cefradine monohydrate (CFD) were carried out in H2O/low concentration...     

Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation of Natural Compounds from Betel Leaves (Piper betle L.) for Investigating the Potential Inhibition of Alpha-Amylase and Alpha-Glucosidase of Type 2 Diabetes

Piper betle L. is widely distributed and commonly used medicinally important herb. It can also be used as a medication for type 2 diabetes patients. In this study, compounds of P. betle were screened to investigate the inhibitory action of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase against type 2 diabetes through molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analysis. The molecule apigenin-7-O-glucoside showed the highest binding affinity among 123 (one hundred twenty-three) tested compounds. This compound simultaneously bound with the two-target proteins alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, with high molecular mechanics-generalized born surface area (MM/GBSA) values (ΔG Bind = −45.02 kcal mol⁻¹ for alpha-amylase and −38.288 for alpha-glucosidase) compared with control inhibitor acarbose, which had binding affinities of −36.796 kcal mol⁻¹ for alpha-amylase and −29.622 kcal mol⁻¹ for alpha-glucosidase. The apigenin-7-O-glucoside was revealed to be the most stable molecule with the highest binding free energy through molecular dynamics simulation, indicating that it could compete with the inhibitors’ native ligand. Based on ADMET analysis, this phytochemical exhibited a wide range of physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and drug-like qualities and had no significant side effects, making them prospective drug candidates for type 2 diabetes. Additional in vitro, in vivo, and clinical investigations are needed to determine the precise efficacy of drugs.     

Statistical Features in High-Frequency Bands of Interictal iEEG Work Efficiently in Identifying the Seizure Onset Zone in Patients with Focal Epilepsy

The design of a computer-aided system for identifying the seizure onset zone (SOZ) from interictal and ictal electroencephalograms (EEGs) is desired by epileptologists. This study aims to introduce the statistical features of high-frequency components (HFCs) in interictal intracranial electroencephalograms (iEEGs) to identify the possible seizure onset zone (SOZ) channels. It is known that the activity of HFCs in interictal iEEGs, including ripple and fast ripple bands, is associated with epileptic seizures. This paper proposes to decompose multi-channel interictal iEEG signals into a number of subbands. For every 20 s segment, twelve features are computed from each subband. A mutual information (MI)-based method with grid search was applied to select the most prominent bands and features. A gradient-boosting decision tree-based algorithm called LightGBM was used to score each segment of the channels and these were averaged together to achieve a final score for each channel. The possible SOZ channels were localized based on the higher value channels. The experimental results with eleven epilepsy patients were tested to observe the efficiency of the proposed design compared to the state-of-the-art methods.     

(Cyclopentadienone)iron Complexes: Synthesis,Mechanism and Applications in Organic Synthesis

(Cyclopentadienone)iron tricarbonyl complexes are catalytically active, inexpensive, easily accessible and air-stable that are extensively studied as an active pre-catalyst in homogeneous catalysis. Its versatile catalytic activity arises exclusively due to the presence of a non-innocent ligand, which can trigger its unique redox properties effectively. These complexes have been employed widely in (transfer)hydrogenation (e. g., reduction of polar multiple bonds, Oppenauer-type oxidation of alcohols), C−C and C−N bond formation (e. g., reductive aminations, α-alkylation of ketones) and other synthetic transformations. In this review, we discuss the remarkable advancement of its various synthetic applications along with synthesis and mechanistic studies, until February 2021.     

5,7‐syn‐Bis(trimethylsilyl)‐5‐norbornene‐2,3‐endo‐dicarboxylic acid: a rare co‐existence of dimeric and catemeric synthons

The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound, C₁₅H₂₆O₄Si₂, reveals a self‐assembly facilitated via the rare co‐existence of dimeric and catemeric patterns, which is attributed to the influence of the trimethylsilyl groups. The structure is dicussed in the context of a database search and subsequent analysis of structures of cis‐1,2‐dicarboxylic acids.     

Assessment of Bhatiari Lake water quality: Pollution indices,hydrochemical signatures and hydro-statistical analysis

This study aimed at evaluating the water quality of Bhatiari Lake (BL) for the first time based on water quality parameters, pollution indices, hydrochemical signatures and hydro-statistical analysis. Lake water samples were collected from the lake during April–May 2019 and wide ranges of parameters were considered for the investigation. Except for COD and Fe, all the parameters were within the permissible limit. COD crossed Bangladesh standards and testing institution (BSTI) and United States environmental protection agency (USEPA) standards. In contrast, Fe crossed World health organization (WHO), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and USEPA standards. Hydrochemical analysis indicated the water as soft-fresh where near neutral low-metal was noticed from the Ficklin-Caboi diagram. Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃^- type water was confirmed from Piper and Chadha diagram, whereas Durov and Schoeller's diagram were indicated the influence of Mg²⁺-HCO₃^-. The trend of cations and anions were Ca²⁺> Mg²⁺> Na⁺>K⁺ and HCO₃^? > Cl^? > NO₃^? > SO₄^2? > PO₄^3? as stated by pie chart. Most precipitation dominant water was confirmed from the Gibbs diagram. Principal component analysis (PCA), Cluster analysis (CA) and Correlation matrix (CM) indicated the co-existence of geogenic and anthropogenic sources for pollution. Good water quality was observed via an integrated approach namely degree of contamination (C_d), Single-Factor Pollution Index (SPI), Comprehensive pollution index (CPI), Heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), Heavy metal pollution index (HPI), Nemerow's pollution index (NPI) and Ecological risk index (ERI). In addition, water quality index (WQI) remarked the water is excellent. Taken collectively, the present study indicates the BL water can be considered pollution-free.     

Influence of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles on orientational order parameter of LC compounds – An optical study

In the present paper ZnO and TiO₂ nano particles are dispersed in Cyano-biphenyl liquid crystalline compounds (n?=?7, 12). The thermal polarizing microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry techniques are employed to measure the transition temperatures. The Nematic transition temperatures are decreased by 2.34?°C and 1.53?°C in Heptylbiphenyl, 1.07?°C and 1.12?°C in dodecylbiphenyl compounds due to the dispersion of nanoparticles. The refractive indices and Newton’s rings methods are exploited to measure birefringence at different temperature in nematic phase. The orientational order parameters are estimated by finding the birefringence in perfect order. The orientational order parameter is increased in nanoparticles dispersed liquid crystals when compare to pure liquid crystalline compounds.