Observation of an enhanced gettering effect in silicon under germanium molecular ion implantation

Germanium atomic (Ge₁ ⁺) and molecular ions (Ge₂ ⁺) of equal energy per atom are implanted in silicon at an elevated temperature. The ion induced damage has been monitored by following the intensity variation of the LO Raman peak of Si. The germanium implanted samples have been labeled with 10 keV Au ions. The gettering of gold has been observed by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in the post-annealed samples. This paper reports a first time observation of an enhanced gettering of gold in silicon implanted with molecular ions. PACS 61.72.Ji; 61.80.Lj; 61.80.Jh; 61.72.Yx     

Numerical modelling of combined conductive and radiative heat transfer within square enclosure using discrete ordinate method

The current study addresses the mathematical modeling aspects of coupled conductive and radiative heat transfer in presence of absorbing, emitting and isotropic scattering gray medium within two-dimensional enclosure. The walls of the enclosure are considered to be opaque, diffuse and gray. The enclosure comprises isothermal vertical walls and insulated horizontal walls. The discrete ordinate method has been employed for modeling the radiative transport equation and the finite volume method has been adopted as the numerical technique. The effect of various parameters, i.e., radiation-conduction parameter, surface emissivity single scattering albedo and optical thickness has been illustrated.     

Morin-VitaminE-β-CyclodextrinInclusionComplexLoadedChitosanNanoparticles (M-Vit.E-CD-CSNPs) Ameliorate Arsenic-Induced Hepatotoxicityina Murine Model

The special features of cyclodextrins (CDs), hydrophilic outer surfaces and hydrophobic inner surfaces, allow for development of inclusion complexes. The two bioactive strong antioxidant hepatoprotective compounds, Morin and vitamin E, are water insoluble. The present study aimed to prepare Morin-vitamin E-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex loaded chitosan nanoparticles (M-Vit.E-CD-CS NPs) and to examine their hepatoprotective efficacy against arsenic-induced toxicity in a murine model. The NPs were characterized by FTIR, DLS, NMR, DSC, XRD, AFM, and a TEM study. The NPs were spherical in shape, 178 ± 1.5 nm in size with a polydispersity index (PDI) value of 0.18 and a zeta potential value of −22.4 ± 0.31 mV, with >50% encapsulation and drug loading efficacy. Mice were exposed to arsenic via drinking water, followed by treatment without or with the NPs on every alternate day up to 30 days by oral gavaging. Administration of NPs inhibited the arsenic-induced elevation of liver function markers, inflammatory and proapoptotic factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, alteration in the level of blood parameters and antioxidant factors, and liver damage, which was measured by different biochemical assays, ELISA, Western blot, and histological study. Organ distribution of nanoparticles was measured by HPLC. M-Vit.E-CD-CS NPs showing potent hepatoprotective activity may be therapeutically beneficial.     

Quantum wave-packet dynamics of H+HLi scattering: reaction cross section and thermal rate constant

The channel specific and initial state-selected reaction cross section and temperature-dependent rate constant for the title system is calculated with the aid of a time-dependent wave-packet approach and using the ab initio potential energy surface of Dunne et al. [Chem. Phys. Lett. 336, 1 (2001)]. All partial-wave contributions up to the total angular momentum J=74 are explicitly calculated within the coupled states (CS) approximation. Companion calculations are also carried out employing the standard as well as the uniform J-shifting (JS) approximation. The overall variation of reaction cross sections corresponds well to the behavior of a barrierless reaction. The hydrogen exchange channel yielding HLi+H products is seen to be more favored over the HLi depletion channel yielding Li+H(2) products at low and moderate collision energies. Sharp resonance features are observed in the cross-section results for the HLi depletion channel at low energies. Resonance features in the reaction cross sections average out with various partial-wave contributions, when compared to the same observed in the individual reaction probability curve. Except near the onset of the reaction, the vibrational and rotational excitation of the reagent HLi, in general, does not dramatically influence the reactivity of either channel. The thermal rate constants calculated up to 4000 K show nearly Arrhenius type behavior. The rate constant decreases with vibrational excitation of the reagent HLi, indicating that the cold HLi molecules are efficiently depleted in the reactive encounter with H at relatively low temperatures. The results obtained from the JS approximation are found to agree well qualitatively with the CS results.     

Kinetics and mechanism of nucleophilic substitution of dichloro{1-methyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole}palladium(II) by pyridine bases

The reaction of dichloro{1-methyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole}palladium(II), Pd(RaaiMe)Cl₂ where RaaiMe = p-R–C₆H₄N=N–C₃H₂N₂-1-Me; R = H(1), Me(2), Cl(3), with pyridine bases [RPY: R = H (a), 4-Me (b), 4-Cl (c), 2-Me (d), 2,6-Me₂ (e), 2,4,6-Me₃ (f)] has been studied spectrophotometrically in MeCN at 451 nm. The products (4) have been isolated and characterised as trans-Pd(RPy)₂Cl₂. The kinetics of the nucleophilic substitution has been examined under pseudo-first-order conditions at 298 K. A single phase reaction step has been observed for bases such as Hpy (a), 4-MePy (b) and 4-ClPy (c) and follows the rate law: rate = (a + k[RPy]²[Pd(RaaiMe)Cl₂]). The bases 2-MePy (d), 2,6-Me₂Py (e) and 2,4,6-Me₃Py (f) exhibits a bi-phasic reaction and follows the rate laws: rate–1 = (a + k[RPy][Pd(RaaiMe)Cl₂]) and rate–2 = (a + k[RPy][Pd(RaaiMe)-Cl₂]), where k is the third-order rate constant; k is the second-order first phase rate constant, k is the second-order second phase rate constant and a/a/a correspond to the solvent dependent constant of the respective reaction path. The rate data supports a nucleophilic association path. External addition of Cl^– (LiCl) suppresses the rate, which follows the order: k/k/k (3) > k/k,k (1) > k/k,k (2). The k values are linearly related to the Hammett constants. The 2-substituted pyridines (d–f) remarkably reduce the rate and show a bi-phasic reaction behaviour as compared with 4-Rpy (a–c). This is attributed to the steric effect that destabilises the transition state. The rate decreases with increasing steric crowding at the ortho-position and follows the order: (d) > (f) > (e). The 4-substituted pyridines control the rate via an inductive effect and follow the order: (b) > (a) > (c).     

Effect of alkaline ultrasonic pretreatment on crystalline morphology and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

In this study, ultrasound-assisted alkaline pretreatment is developed to evaluate the morphological and structural changes that occur during pretreatment of cellulose, and its effect on glucose production via enzymatic hydrolysis. The pretreated samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to understand the change in surface morphology, crystallinity and the fraction of cellulose Iβ and cellulose II. The combined pretreatment led to a great disruption of cellulose particles along with the formation of large pores and partial fibrillation. The effects of ultrasound irradiation time (2, 4 h), NaOH concentration (1–10 wt%), initial particle size (20–180 μm) and initial degree of polymerization (DP) of cellulose on structural changes and glucose yields were evaluated. The alkaline ultrasonic pretreatment resulted in a significant decrease in particle size of cellulose, besides significantly reducing the treatment time and NaOH concentration required to achieve a low crystallinity of cellulose. More than 2.5 times improvement in glucose yield was observed with 10 wt% NaOH and 4 h of sonication, compared to untreated samples. The glucose yields increased with increase in initial particle size of cellulose, while DP had no effect on glucose yields. The glucose yields exhibited an increasing tendency with increase in cellulose II fraction as a result of combined pretreatment.     

A multiobjective model of wholesaler-retailers' problem via genetic algorithm

In the existing literature, most of the purchasing models were developed only for retailers problem ignoring the constraint of storage capacity of retailers shop/showroom. In this paper, we have developed a deterministic model of wholesaler-retailers' problem of single product. The storage capacity of wholesaler's warehouse/showroom and retailers' showroom/shop are assumed to be finite. The items are transported from wholesaler's warehouse to retailers' Own Warehouse (OW) in a lot. The customer's demand is assumed to be displayed inventory level dependent. Demands are met from OW and that spaces of OW will immediately be filled by shifting the same amount from the Rented Warehouse (RW) till the RW is empty. The time duration between selling from OW and filling up its space by new ones from RW is negligible. According to relative size of the retailers' existing (own) warehouse capacity and the demand factors, different scenarios are identified. Our objectives are to optimize the cost functions of wholesaler and two retailers separately. To solve this problem, a real coded Genetic Algorithm (GA) with roulette wheel selection/reproduction, whole arithmetic crossover and non-uniform mutation is developed. Finally a numerical example is presented to illustrate the results for different scenarios. To compare the results of GA, Generalised Reduced Gradient Method has been used for the problem. Also, a sensitivity analysis has been performed to study the variations of the optimal average cost with respect to the different parameters.     

Prunus armeniaca hydroxynitrile lyase (ParsHNL)-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins from sterically demanding aromatic aldehydes

Herein we report the biocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrins by using a new (R)-HNL from Prunus armeniaca. Several sterically demanding aromatic aldehydes which have never been used as substrates for any known HNLs are employed for the new (R)-HNL from P. armeniaca. The cyanohydrins synthesized are obtained in good chemical yield with excellent enantioselectivities.