A validated HPLC‐PDA method for identification and quantification of two bioactive alkaloids,ephedrine and cryptolepine,in different Sida species

A simple, rapid, accurate and reproducible reverse‐phase HPLC method has been developed for the identification and quantification of two alkaloids ephedrine and cryptolepine in different extracts of Sida species using photodiode array detection. Baseline separation of the two alkaloids was achieved on a Waters RP‐18 X‐terra column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using a solvent system consisting of a mixture of water containing 0.1% Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and acetonitrile in a gradient elution mode with detection at 210 and 280 nm for ephedrine and cryptolepine, respectively. The calibration curves were linear in a concentration range of 10–250 µg/mL for both the alkaloids with correlation coefficient values >0.99. The limits of detection and quantification for ephedrine and cryptolepine were 5 and 10 µg/mL and 2.5 and 5 µg/mL, respectively. Relative standard deviation values for intra‐day and inter‐day precision were 1.22 and 1.04% for ephedrine and 1.71 and 2.06% for cryptolepine, respectively. Analytical recovery ranged from 92.46 to 103.95%. The developed HPLC method was applied to identify and quantify ephedrine and cryptolepine in different extracts of Sida species. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Parallel 3D Unsteady Flow Analysis in an Asymmetrically Constricted Vessel

In this study, parallel computation of unsteady incompressible flow in an asymmetrically constricted 3D vessel has been presented. A time accurate cell centered finite volume method (FVM) in conjunction with pseudo-compressibility technique and Roe's flux difference splitting of nonlinear terms has been employed for solving the Navier-Stokes (NS) equations on the multiple instruction multiple data (MIMD) machine VPP700. The influence of Reynolds' number ( Re ) and the Strouhal number ( St ) on flow dynamic factors like wall pressure (WP), wall shear stress (WSS), central axis velocity (CAV), etc., have been analyzed. Three-dimensional (3D) features in the formation and detachment of separation zones, which are sensitive to both Re and St have been noticed on the diverging wall of the constriction.     

Synthesis of mixed cyclotriveratrylenes

Cyclotriveratrylenes containing one benzene ring and two indole rings linked through N1 and C2 can be prepared by acid-catalysed reactions of formaldehyde and aryl aldehydes with 1,2-di-(1-indolylmethyl)benzene compounds.     

Optimization of experimental conditions for composite biodiesel production from transesterification of mixed oils of Jatropha and Pongamia

India is looking at the renewable alternative sources of energy to reduce its dependence on import of crude oil. As India imports 70?% of the crude oil, the country has been greatly affected by increasing cost and uncertainty. Biodiesel fuel derived by the two step acid transesterification of mixed non-edible oils from Jatropha curcas and Pongamia (karanja) can meet the requirements of diesel fuel in the coming years. In the present study, different proportions of Methanol, Sodium hydroxide, variation of Reaction time, Sulfuric acid and Reaction Temperature were adopted in order to optimize the experimental conditions for maximum biodiesel yield. The preliminary studies revealed that biodiesel yield varied widely in the range of 75–95?% using the laboratory scale reactor. The average yield of 95?% was obtained. The fuel and chemical properties of biodiesel, namely kinematic viscosity, specific gravity, density, flash point, fire point, calorific value, pH, acid value, iodine value, sulfur content, water content, glycerin content and sulfated ash values were found to be within the limits suggested by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS 15607: 2005). The optimum combination of Methanol, Sodium hydroxide, Sulfuric acid, Reaction Time and Reaction Temperature are established.     

Easy-to-fabricate high efficiency silicon nanowires solar cell modified by CdTe and zinc tetraphenyl porphyrin nanostructures

Liquid junction solar cell (LJSC) with vertically silicon nanowires (SiNWs) as the primary photosensitizer,co-sensitized with luminescent and narrow gap CdTe na...     

Multiple scattering of gamma rays in water,concrete and sand

The transmitted photon spectra of¹³³Ba,²²Na,¹³⁷Cs,⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁰Co point sources are measured through different thicknesses of water, concrete and sand. The multiple-scatter peaks observed in these materials at 60, 90 and 100 keV energies respectively are found to be independent of incident photon energy and thickness of the medium.     

Bounds on the effective thermal conductivity of two-phase systems

The weighted geometric mean of resistors considered for determining the effective thermal conductivityK _E of two-phase systems has been optimised. Solutions of the equations lead to a useful set of bounds. When compared with other bounds the present bounds give the better results in estimating the upper and lower values of the effective thermal conductivity of a two-phase system.     

Laser induced air breakdown using 0.355, 0.532, and 1.06 µm radiation

Studies of breakdown threshold intensity for air at various pressures in the range of 24–760 torr using 0.355, 0.532 and 1.06 μm radiation are reported. We observep ^−0.8 scaling ofI _th at 1.06 μm and a weak scaling ofp ^−0.4 at 0.532 and 0.355 μm radiation. Strong dependence of breakdown spot size on laser power but weak dependence on air pressure is observed.