Depth wise analysis of recently excavated Vellar river sediments through FTIR and XRD studies

The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis has been carried out for sediments of Vellar river, Tamilnadu collected at various depths from twenty seven different locations. The minerals such as quartz, feldspar (microcline and orthoclase), kaolinite, palygorskite, calcite, aragonite, montmorillonite, cerussite, hematite, sepiolite, magnesium oxalate and organic carbon are identified. Among these, quartz, feldspar and kaolinite are the major minerals and palygorskite, calcite, aragonite, montmorillonite, cerussite, hematite, sepiolite, magnesium oxalate and organic carbon are minor and traces. The relative distribution of these three major minerals was determined by computing the extinction co-efficient. The crystalline nature of quartz is judged by calculating crystallinity index which shows that the crystalline nature decreases with increase of depth. The observation made through relative distribution, shows that the amount of quartz and feldspar are relatively reduced and that of kaolinite is increased from upper to inner depth. As the depth increases the bands of kaolinite progressively broaden and shift to higher wave number side which suggests that the content of kaolinite increases with disorderedness. From XRD analysis, the minerals such as monazite, zircon and kyanite are additionally identified. The crystalline nature of quartz is also confirmed.     

Boat form contributions in crowded piperidines: Theoretical and experimental study

The preferred conformations of N-nitroso-t(3)-alkyl-r(2),c(6)-bis(2′-furyl)-piperidin-4-ones 1–3 [alkyl = CH₃, C₂H₅ and CH(CH₃)₂] and N-nitroso-t(3),t(5)-dimethyl-r(2),c(6)-bis(2′-furyl)piperidin-4-one 4 in solutions were assigned by means of ¹H and ¹³C NMR studies. The results derived from NMR spectra indicate the presence of an equilibrium mixture of boat conformation B ₁ and alternate chair conformation CA for the E isomers of 1–3 and Z isomers of 2–3. For the Z isomer of 1 boat form B ₂ is predicted to be the major conformer. The N-nitroso-3,5-dimethyl derivative 4 exists in the boat form B ₁ only. Conformational analysis performed through semiempirical molecular orbital calculations also supports the conformations for 3–4. The presence of one conformer in the equilibrium can be predicted to a reasonable accuracy by theoretical studies in 1–2. The effects due to N-nitrosation on ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts are also interpreted in terms of these conformations. The conformation of isopropyl group at C(3) was also predicted by spectral and theoretical studies.     

Swift heavy ion induced effects at Mo/Si interface and silicide formation

Swift heavy ion (SHI) induced modification at metal/Si interfaces has emerged as an interesting field of research due to its large applications. In this study, we investigate SHI‐induced mixed molybdenum silicide film with ion fluences. The molybdenum thin films were deposited on silicon substrates using e‐beam evaporation at 10^?8 torr vacuum. Thin films were irradiated with Au ions of energy 120 MeV to form molybdenum silicide. The samples were characterized by grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction (GIXRD) technique for the identification of phase formation at the interface. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was used to investigate the elemental distribution in the films. The mixing rate calculations were made and the diffusivity values obtained lead to a transient melt phase formation at the interface according to thermal spike model. Irradiation‐induced effects at surface have been observed and roughness variations at the surface were calculated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorescence Quenching of 1,4-Dihydroxy-2,3-Dimethyl-9,10-Anthraquinone by Silver Nanoparticles: Size Effect

Size effect of silver nano particles on the photophysical properties of 1,4-dihydroxy-2,3-dimethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (DHDMAQ) have been investigated using optical absorption and fluorescence emission techniques. Silver nanoparticles of different sizes have been prepared by Creighton method using magnetic stirrer and ultrasonic field. Quenching of fluorescence of DHDMAQ has been found to increase with decrease in the size of the silver nanoparticles. Stern–Volmer quenching constants have also been calculated.     

Diversity in Gold‐Catalyzed Formal Cycloadditions of Ynamides with Azidoalkenes or 2H‐Azirines: [3+2] versus [4+3] Cycloadditions

Gold‐catalyzed cycloadditions of ynamides with azidoalkenes or 2H‐azirines give [3+2] or [4+3] formal cycloadducts of three classes. Cycloadditions of ynamides with 2H‐azirine species afford pyrrole products with two regioselectivities when the C_β‐substituted 2H‐azirine is replaced from an alkyl (or hydrogen) with an ester group. For ynamides substituted with an electron‐rich phenyl group, their reactions with azidoalkenes proceed through novel [4+3] cycloadditions to deliver 1H‐benzo[d]azepine products instead.     

Foldamers to Nanotubes: Influence of Amino Acid Side Chains in the Hierarchical Assembly of α,γ4‐Hybrid Peptide Helices

Supramolecular assembly of various artificially folded 12‐helical architectures composed of γ⁴‐Val, γ⁴‐Leu and γ⁴‐Phe residues is investigated. In contrast to the 12‐helices composed of γ⁴‐Val and γ⁴‐Leu residues, the helices with γ⁴‐Phe residues displayed unique elongated nanotubular architectures. The elongated nanotube assembly was further explored as a template for biomineralization of silver ions to silver nanowires. A comparative study using an analogous α‐peptide helix reveals the importance of the spatial arrangement of aromatic side chains along the helical cylinder in a 12‐helix. These results suggested that the proteolytically and structurally stable α,γ⁴‐hybrid peptide 12‐helices may serve as a new generation of potential templates in the design of functional biomaterials.     

Identification and Functional Characterization of an α-Amylase with Broad Temperature and pH Stability from Paenibacillus sp.

Amylases are important industrial enzymes that have been applied widely in the food, detergent, and pulp industries and fermentation processes. In the present study, a gene encoding an alpha-amylase from the genomic DNA library of Paenibacillus sp. was identified and characterized. The amylase gene designated amy1 was shown to consist of 1,980 bp and shared sequence identity towards α-amylase genes from other Bacillus sp. The deduced amino acid sequence for Amy1 indicated 80 % sequence identity with other Bacillus strains. Heterologous expression of recombinant Amy1 in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) facilitated the recovery of this protein in soluble form. Enzyme kinetic data revealed Amy1 to have a K _m of 23.83 mg/mL and K _cat of 48.74 min^?1 and K _cat /K _m of 2 min^?1 mg^?1 mL^?1 for starch. The activity of this protein was found to be enhanced by Mn²⁺, and furthermore, Amy1 remained active at a broad pH range (4–10) and temperature (30–90 °C). The ability of Amy1 to act on food waste under broad temperature and pH conditions, together with its ability to produce simple sugars, shows many advantages for further application in the food industry.     

Fabrication of Nickel Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Activated Glassy Carbon Electrode for the Detection of Dopamine

The nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (NiTsPc) functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposite was prepared by a simple sonochemical method. Here, NiTsPc served as a dispersing agent for MWCNT via π? π interaction between MWCNT and NiTsPc. The activated glassy carbon electrode (AGCE) modified with MWCNT‐NiTsPc composite exhibited a good electrocatalytic ability toward dopamine and displayed a good linear dependence in the concentration range of 20 nM–1.384 mM with a sensitivity of 0.17 µA µM^?1 cm^?2. The detection limit is 1 nM based on the signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3.     

Electrochemical Activation of Graphite Nanosheets Decorated with Palladium Nanoparticles for High Performance Amperometric Hydrazine Sensor

Herein, we have demonstrated a preparation of palladium nanoparticles on electroactivated graphite nanosheets modified screen printed carbon electrode (PdNPs‐EGNS/SPCE) by a simple electrochemical method. The well‐prepared electrocatalyst was potentially applied to the high performance electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine in neutral medium. The PdNPs‐EGNS novel composite was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the average diameter and thickness of PdNPs and EGNS were found to be ～38 nm and 85 nm, respectively. The high performance electrocatalytic determination of hydrazine was performed by the amperometric i‐t method. The fabricated sensor displayed irreversible electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine with diffusion‐controlled electrode process. The oxidation of hydrazine at PdNPs‐EGNS/SPCE showed wider linear range 0.05–1415 µM and high sensitivity 4.382 µA µM^?1 cm^?2. The as‐prepared electrocatalyst achieved quick response towards hydrazine with a lower detection limit 4 nM.