Analysis of large and non-standard geometry samples of ancient potteries by internal monostandard neutron activation analysis using in situ detection efficiency

The k ₀-based internal monostandard neutron activation analysis (IM-NAA) method was used for the analysis of 30 large and non-standard geometry ancient pottery samples obtained from Buddhist sites of Andhra Pradesh, India. One freshly finished pottery and a sun-drenched pottery were also analyzed for comparison. Samples were irradiated in thermal column facility of Apsara reactor and also in graphite reflector position of critical facility of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Radioactive assay was carried out using a 40% relative efficiency HPGe detector coupled to MCA. Concentration ratios of 15 elements with respect to Sc were determined. The La/Ce values as well as statistical cluster analysis utilizing concentration ratios of elements were used for grouping/provenance of the potteries.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to (R)-1-(1-phenylethyl)-3,5-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones: synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of novel enantiomerically pure di- and trispiroheterocycles

Enantiomerically pure (R)-(1-phenylethyl)-3,5-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones were synthesized for the first time, and their 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with nitrile oxides affording di- and trispiroheterocycles regio- and stereoselectively in moderate yields was investigated. These compounds were evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) and multi-drug-resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Among the compounds screened, the dispiroheterocycle, namely, (5R,6R,10S)-3,9-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-10-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-14-[(E)-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)methylidene]-12-[(R)-1-phenylethyl]-1,4,7-trioxa-2,8,12-tri-azadispiro[4.0.4.4]tetradeca-2,8-diene 5m was found to possess the maximum activity with MIC of 0.49 μM against MTB, being 9.6 and 15.6 times more potent than ciprofloxacin and ethambutol, respectively. Against MDR-TB, 5m displayed maximum activity with an MIC of 0.49 μM, with it thus being more active than rifampicin, isoniazid, ciprofloxacin and ethambutol by 7.8, 23, 77 and 124 times, respectively.     

BLEND MEMBRANES FOR DIRECT METHANOL AND PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS

Sulphonated polystyrene ethylene butylene polystyrene(SPSEBS)prepared with 35%sulphonation was found to be highly elastic and enlarged up to 300%-400%of its initial length.It absorbed over 110%of water by weight.A major drawback of this membrane is its poor mechanical properties which are not adequate for use as polymer electrolytes in fuel cells.To overcome this,SPSEBS was blended with poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF),a hydrophobic polymer.The blend membranes showed better mechanical properties than the base polymer.The effect of PVDF content on water uptake,ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity of the blend membranes was investigated.This paper presents the results of recent studies applied to develop an optimized in-house membrane electrode assembly(MEA)preparation technique combining catalyst ink spraying and assembly hot pressing.Easy steps were chosen in this preparation technique in order to simplify the method,aiming at cost reduction.The open circuit voltage for the cell with SPSEBS is 0.980 V which is higher compared to that of the cell with Nafion 117(0.790 V).From this study,it is concluded that a polymer electrolyte membrane suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC)and direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC)application can be obtained by blending SPSEBS and PVDF in appropriate proportions.The methanol permeability and selectivity showed a strong influence on DMFC performance.     

Metal‐Free Triplet Phosphors with High Emission Efficiency and High Tunability

Design of highly efficient phosphorescent emitters based on metal‐ and heavy atom‐free boron compounds has been demonstrated by taking advantage of the singlet fission process. The combination of a suitable molecular scaffold and appropriate electronic nature of the substituents has been utilized to tailor the phosphorescence emission properties in solution, neat solid, and in doped PMMA thin films.     

PEG-400 mediated an efficient eco-friendly synthesis of new isoxazolyl pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines and their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity

Abstract

Polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400) has been developed as an efficient and eco-friendly reaction medium for the synthesis of new isoxazolyl pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives 11 from isoxazolyl cyanoacetamide synthon 7. Compound 7 was employed with various aromatic aldehydes 8 and malononitrile 9 in the presence of triethylamine (Et₃N) to afford the corresponding (E)-6-amino-1-(3-methyl-5-styrylisoxazol-4-yl)-2-oxo-4-phenyl-1,2-dihydro- pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile 10 at room temperature by using PEG-400 as a solvent medium as well as catalyst. The intermediate 10 on treatment with thiourea in the presence of PEG-400 at 90?°C to give the target compounds isoxazolyl pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 11 in good to excellent yields. The newly synthesized compounds 10 and 11 were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS analysis. The target compounds 11a-x was screened for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Among the tested compounds, the compounds 11s, 11t, 11u, 11v, 11w, and 11x showed significant anti-inflammatory and potent analgesic activities as that of reference drugs. The advantages of this protocol are operational simplicity, catalyst free, environmental safety, wide substrate scope, good yields, and PEG-400 can be recovered and reused. Most significant of all, this protocol is green.     

Comparative efficacy of Eucalyptus globulus (Labill) hydrodistilled essential oil and temephos as mosquito larvicide

Abstract

In this study Eucalyptus globulus essential oil was tested on major mosquito species and toxicity was compared with temephos. Mortality was calculated after 24?h and 48?h post treatment. In 24?h treatment essential oil show strong larvicidal activity with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were 30.198ppm, 103.389ppm for Anopheles stephensi, 13.578ppm, 106.755ppm for Aedes aegypti; and, 7.469ppm, 32.454ppm for Culex quinquefasciatus and 48?h post treatment LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were, 12.576, 49.380ppm for Anopheles stephensi, 7.926, 34.470ppm for Aedes aegypti and 4.408, 21.048ppm for Culex quinquefasciatus. Chemical composition of essential oil using GC-MS and FT-IR analysis shows the presence of 1,8-cineol, (71.7%); α-pinene, (9.14%) as a major compounds. Our findings suggest that essential oil from Eucalyptus globulus leaves can be used for control of mosquito larvae.     

Spectroelectrochemical Studies on Silicate Sol‐Gel Matrix‐supported Sub‐10 nm Prussian Blue Nanostructures‐based Electrochromic Device

In this study, spectroelectrochemical (SPE) studies to monitor the electrochromic properties of electrochemically synthesized sub‐10 nm sized Prussian blue (PB) nanostructures (NSs) are employed. At the beginning the dark blue coloured device, shifts reversibly between translucent and dark‐blue while applying an applied bias between +1 to ?1 V with an opposite polarization. Amine functionalized silicate sol‐gel matrix (SSG) is used as a solid support and stabilizer for electrodepositing highly uniform sub‐10 nm PB NSs. The SSG's film thickness is suitably optimized through suitable controlled experiments. It is found that the SPE behaviour of sub‐10 nm sized PB NSs, suitably followed a colour modulation of PB into Prussian white (PW) and vice‐versa. SPE studies are used to investigate the redox switching between the PB and PW and which are responsible for an electrochromic function of a fabricated electrochromic device (ECD). Fabricated ECD has demonstrated an optical modulation at 680 nm with the moderate coloration efficiency of 115.8 cm²/C. Present study validates the SPE feature of sub‐10 nm PB NSs as an active electrochromic nanomaterial and demonstrating the applicability of SPE technique to investigate the variety of electrochromic nanomaterials, with consequences in both spectral and electrochemically active nanomaterials for electrochromic device applications.     

Galactose-Grafted 2D Nanosheets from the Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers for the Capture and Agglutination of Escherichia coli

High aspect ratio, sugar-decorated 2D nanosheets are ideal candidates for the capture and agglutination of bacteria. Herein, the design and synthesis of two carbohydrate-based Janus amphiphiles that spontaneously self-assemble into high aspect ratio 2D sheets are reported. The unique structural features of the sheets include the extremely high aspect ratio and dense display of galactose on the surface. These structural characteristics allow the sheet to act as a supramolecular 2D platform for the capture and agglutination of E. coli through specific multivalent noncovalent interactions, which significantly reduces the mobility of the bacteria and leads to the inhibition of their proliferation. Our results suggest that the design strategy demonstrated here can be applied as a general approach for the crafting of biomolecule-decorated 2D nanosheets, which can perform as 2D platforms for their interaction with specific targets.     

Synthesis and complexation studies of intra annularly linked bicyclic cyclophanes

The cyclophanes derived from 2,6-bis(chloromethyl)benzoquinone and suitable dithiols were reduced with sodium dithionate and then further coupled with various dibromides to give intra annularly linked bicyclic cyclophanes, which forms charge transfer complexes with TCNQ and TCNE.