Band head spin assignment of Tl isotopes of superdeformed rotational bands

The Variable Moment of Inertia (VMI) model is proposed for the assignment of band head spin of super deformed (SD) rotational bands, which in turn is helpful in the spin prediction of SD bands. The moment of inertia and stiffness parameter (C), were calculated by fitting the proposed transition energies. The calculated transition energies are highly dependent on the prescribed spins. The calculated and observed transition energies agree well when an accurate band head spin (I ₀) is assigned. The results are in good agreement with other theoretical results reported in literature. In this paper, we have reported the band head spin value 16 rotational band of super deformed Tl isotopes.     

Efficient Synthesis of Structurally Novel Diaryl Ethers by Regioselective Functionalization

Synthesis of structurally novel and biologically useful 3′-substituted diaryl ethers employing Cu(0) as a catalyst, followed by regioselective either sulfonylation or carbonylation, is described.     

The synthesis of liquid crystalline lanthanide complexes of Schiff's base ligands: N -(4- n -alkoxysalicylidene)-4′- n -alkylanilines

The reaction of N-(4-n-alkoxysalicylidene)-4′-n-alkylanilines with freshly prepared lanthanide salts leads to mesomorphic terbium and dysprosium complexes exhibiting the smectic A phase.     

Kinetics of Aqueous Polymerization of Acrylamide Initiated by Ceric Ammonium Sulfate/2-Mercaptoethanol Redox System

Polymerization of acrylamide monomer, initiated by the redox system involving acidified ceric ammonium sulfate and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) was carried out in an aqueous medium at 25° C. White, rigid polyacrylamide, isolated under controlled experimental conditions, showed a molecular weight of 1.5 × 10⁴ from viscosity measurements. The rate of monomer (M) conversion to polymer was found to be proportional to [M]^1.5, [2-ME]^0.5, and [Ce(IV)]^0.4. Further, the rate of disappearance of ceric ion was observed to be directly proportional to [2-ME] and independent of [M] in the range of 0.16–0.48 mole/liter. The explanation of the above proportionalities is given in terms of a proposed reaction mechanism. Values of the usual rate constants, k_r, k₀/k_t and k_t./k_p ^½ have been computed.     

Effect of Polyvinylpyrrolidone on Separation Performance of Cellulose Acetate-Polysulfone Blend Membranes

Blend membranes comprising cellulose acetate and polysulfone (CA/PSf) were prepared through a solution casting method using a different concentration of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the pore former. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to investigate structural properties of membranes. Membranes morphology and its thermal properties were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The strength of membranes was studied by mechanical stability. The effect of PVP concentration on separation performance of the prepared membranes was studied. The separation performance of prepared membranes was tested by using an aqueous solution of cadmium metal complexed with humic acid. The results showed that an increase in the PVP concentration in the cast film from 0 to 3 wt% increased the thermal stability, water content (%), pure water flux, and solute rejection. SEM results showed that the pore size decreased but the number of pores increased on an increase in the PVP concentration.     

Dielectric study of hot-pressed nanocomposite polymer electrolytes

Ion-conducting nanocomposite polymer electrolyte films based on poly(ethylene oxide)-NaPO₃ 3: 1 with up to 15 wt % of SiO₂ have been prepared using recently developed hot-press technique instead of conventional solution cast method. With 7 wt % of SiO₂, the film conductivity has been enhanced by an order of magnitude. The materials have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis. For the composition with the highest conductivity, the temperature dependences of ionic mobility, mobile ions concentration, ionic transference number, and ionic drift velocity have been determined. Dielectric constant and dielectric loss have been measured. The conductivity enhancement has been discussed on the basis of existing theories of dielectrics.     

Effect of surface treatment on the photovoltaic properties of titania nanorods and MEHPPV nanocomposites

In this work, anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanorods (NRs) were synthesized by low-temperature hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and using oleic acid (OA) as capping agent. The OA-capped titania NRs were then processed using surface ligand exchange by pyridine (Py). The two types of NRs, with different capping agents hence obtained, were blended with poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-l,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEHPPV) to prepare hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposites. In order to elucidate the changes caused by the surface modifications, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction were used to study the morphology. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirms that the ligands coordinated with the Ti center of TiO₂ NRs. The optical properties of the modified TiO₂ NRs are characterized by UV–Vis absorption spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Photoluminescence lifetime studies were conducted to predict the capping agent more suitable for photovoltaic applications.     

Transportation of drug–gold nanocomposites by actinomyosin motor system

Nanotechnology is playing an important role in drug delivery to overcome limitations of conventional drug delivery systems in terms of solubility, in vivo stability, pharmacokinetics, and bio-distribution. The controlled transportation of drug into the cell and within the cell is a major challenge to be addressed. Cellular molecular motors have been exploited for their cargo carrying capacity for various applications including engineering and health care. Combination of nanotechnology and biomolecular motors can address some of the challenges in drug delivery. In the present study, transportation of drug nanocomposites has been demonstrated. Nanocomposites of 6-mercaptopurine and levodopa drugs (cancer and Parkinson’s disease, respectively) were prepared with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by covalent attachment and these nanocomposites were attached to actin filaments. These nanocomposites were in-turn transported by actin filaments on myosin tracks. Characterization of drug nanocomposites formation was done by UV–Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy. GNP composites of 6-mercaptopurine and levodopa were formed by sulfide and amide bond formation, respectively. Average velocity of actin filament attached to nanocomposites was found to be 3.17 and 3.89 μm/s for levodopa and 6-mercaptopurine, respectively, as compared to actin filaments with velocity of 4.0–6.0 μm/s. Three concepts have been proposed for the study of drug transportation into the cell based on polycationic complex formation, interaction of actin with cellular myosin and Biomolecular Adaptor for Retrograde Transport (BART) technology. The aspects of this study heads toward the development of an approach to utilize molecular motors for nanoscale transportation endogenously.     

Conversion to isothiocyanates via dithiocarbamates for the determination of aromatic primary amines by headspace-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography

A novel and highly selective method has been developed for the determination of aromatic primary amines by their conversion to dithiocarbamates by reaction with carbon disulphide, and then to isothiocyanates, which are volatile, by heating in the presence of a heavy metal ion. Zinc(II) was selected owing to its low toxicity and optimum yield of isothiocyanates. The latter were sampled by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) on divinylbenzene-carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane fibre, 50/30 μm. The HS-SPME procedure was optimized to provide adequate limits of detection in the analysis of aromatic amines in their real samples by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) or flame ionization detection (GC–FID). The method gave rectilinear calibration graph, correlation coefficient and limit of detection, respectively, over the range 0.08–100 μg L⁻¹, 0.9950–0.9990 and 25–240 ng L⁻¹ in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and 0.01–10 mg L⁻¹, 0.9910–0.9991 and 0.8–3.0 μg L⁻¹ in gas chromatography–flame ionization detection. At two different levels, 10 and 40 μg L⁻¹, the range of intra-day RSD was 3.7–8.5% (GC–MS) and 3.3–9.2% (GC–FID), respectively. The proposed method is simple and rapid, and has been applied to determine aromatic primary amines in the environmental waters, food samples of ice cream powder and soft drinks concentrate, and food colours. The intra-day RSD in the analysis of real samples by GC–MS was in the range 3.6–6.2%. The food/colour samples were found to contain elevated levels of aniline and 2-toluidine.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of some platinum(II) and oxovanadium(IV) complexes

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a homologous series of N-(2-hydroxy-4-n-alkoxybenzylidene)-4'-n-decylphenylanilines and their platinum(II) and oxovanadium(IV) complexes are reported. All the ligands and their metal chelates exhibit enantiotropic mesophases, predominantly smectic A and smectic C phases. The transition temperatures and enthalpies have been determined for most of the compounds. The platinum(II) complexes have higher melting points and mesophase thermal stabilities. However, the oxovanadium(IV) complexes have a wider thermal range for the mesophase. Both platinum(II) and oxovanadium(IV) complexes containing only a chain on the biphenyl moiety exhibit a nematic phase.