Oxidase‐Like Activity of Polymer‐Coated Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles

Inorganic enzyme? Ceria nanoparticles exhibit unique oxidase‐like activity at acidic pH values. These redox catalysts can be used in immunoassays (ELISA) when modified with targeting ligands (see picture; light blue and yellow structures are nanoparticles with attached ligands). This modification allows both for binding and for detection by the catalytic oxidation of sensitive colorimetric dyes (e.g. TMB).

     

The Isaacs–Navarro conjecture for the alternating groups

A recent refinement of the McKay conjecture is verified for the case of the alternating groups. The argument builds upon the verification of the conjecture for the symmetric groups [P. Fong, The Isaacs–Navarro conjecture for symmetric groups, J. Algebra 250 (1) (2003) 154–161].     

xF3(x,Q2) Structure Function and Gross-Llewellyn Smith Sum Rule with Nuclear Effect and Higher Twist Correction

We present an analysis of the xF₃(x,Q²) structure function and Gross-Llewellyn Smith(GLS) sum rule taking into account the nuclear effects and higher twist correction. This analysis is based on the results presented in[N.M. Nath, et al., Indian J. Phys. 90 (2016) 117]. The corrections due to nuclear effects predicted in several earlier analysis are incorporated to our results of xF₃(x,Q²) structure function and GLS sum rule for free nucleon, corrected upto next-next-to-leading order (NNLO) perturbative order and calculate the nuclear structure function as well as sum rule for nuclei. In addition, by means of a simple model we have extracted the higher twist contributions to the non-singlet structure function xF₃(x,Q²) and GLS sum rule in NNLO perturbative orders and then incorporated them to our results. Our NNLO results along with nuclear effect and higher twist corrections are observed to be compatible with corresponding experimental data and other phenomenological analysis.     

Dirac oscillator in perpendicular magnetic and transverse electric fields

We study (2+1)$(2+1)$ dimensional massless Dirac oscillator in the presence of perpendicular magnetic and transverse electric fields. Exact solutions are obtained and it is shown that there exists a critical magnetic field B_c$B_c$ such that the spectrum is different in the two regions B>B_c$B>B_c$ and B<B_c$B<B_c$. The situation is also analyzed for the case B=B_c$B=B_c$.     

Multimodal approach for diagnosis of bacterial etiology in brain abscess

Background and purpose

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (PMRS) has high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of pyogenic brain abscess and the categorization of bacteria. But the metabolite patterns failed to evaluate the etiology of disease when the culture results are sterile. The aim of the present study is to compare the multimodality techniques viz., conventional culture, MR spectroscopy and 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing for rapid diagnosis of etiology in brain abscess and evaluate the PMRS in culture sterile samples and also demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of these techniques.

Methods

Thirty five patients underwent MRI on a 3 T MRI and in-vivo PMRS for the diagnosis and evaluation of various resonances of metabolites such as lipid (LIP), lactate (LAC), acetate (AC), amino acid (AC), succinate (SUC). Pus was collected for identification of etiologic agents by culture and molecular method.

Results

In 35 samples, metabolite patterns were as follows: LIP/LAC/AA, n = 17, LIP/LAC/AA/SUC with or without AC, n = 17 and LIP/LAC/AA/AC, n = 1. Culture showed bacterial growth in 22 samples (18 aerobic/facultative anaerobic, 9 anaerobic) whereas molecular method was detected 26 aerobic/facultative anaerobic, 13 anaerobic, 4 microaerophilic bacteria. Among the 13 sterile samples, molecular method detected 16 microorganisms along with 3 mixed infections and PMRS recognized metabolite patterns as LIP/LAC/AA, n = 5 and LIP/LAC/AA/SUC with or without AC, n = 8. The sensitivity of in-vivo PMRS in sterile samples was 100% and 75%, and specificity was 75% and 100% for aerobic and anaerobic organisms respectively.

Conclusion

Based on metabolite resonances, PMRS can detect slow growing and fastidious organisms and classify them into aerobic and anaerobic bacteria which are difficult to culture by conventional method. It can categorize microorganisms even in culture sterile samples with rational sensitivity and specificity which may allow early choice of targeted therapy.     

Enhancement in electrochemical properties of ionic liquid-based nanocomposite polymer electrolytes by 100 MeV Si9+ swift heavy ion irradiation

Swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation has been used as a tool to enhance the electrochemical properties of ionic liquid-based nanocomposite polymer electrolytes dispersed with dedoped polyaniline (PAni) nanorods; 100 MeV Si⁹⁺ ions with four different fluences of 5?×?10¹⁰, 1?×?10¹¹, 5?×?10¹¹, and 1?×?10¹² ions cm^?2 have been used as SHI. XRD results depict that with increasing ion fluence, crystallinity decreases due to chain scission up to fluence of 5?×?10¹¹ ions cm^?2, and at higher fluence, crystallinity increases due to cross-linking of polymer chains. Ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and dielectric properties are enhanced with increasing ion fluence attaining maximum value at the fluence of 5?×?10¹¹ ions cm^?2 and subsequently decrease. Optimum ionic conductivity of 1.5?×?10^?2 S cm^?1 and electrochemical stability up to 6.3 V have been obtained at the fluence of 5?×?10¹¹ ions cm^?2. Ac conductivity studies show that ion conduction takes place through hopping of ions from one coordination site to the other. On SHI irradiation, amorphicity of the polymer matrix increases resulting in increased segmental motion which facilitates ion hopping leading to an increase in ionic conductivity. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements show that SHI-irradiated nanocomposite polymer electrolytes are thermally stable up to 240–260 °C.     

Study of assorted interactions of an ionic liquid in significant solvent systems using compensated equation of Fuoss conductance and vibrational mode

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of molecular interaction prevailing in ionic liquid tetrabutylphosphonium methanesulfonate [Bu₄PMS] in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMA) probed by electrical conductances and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) measurements have been reported at 298.15 K. Corresponding conductance data have been analysed using the Fuoss conductance-concentration equation (1978) for ion pair formation. The limiting ionic conductances (λ _o ^± ) have been estimated from the appropriate division of the limiting molar conductivity value of tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate [Bu₄NBPh₄] as the ‘reference electrolyte’. The diffusion coefficient (D) has been obtained from Stokes-Einstein relation and the ionic mobility (i) for [Bu₄P]⁺ and MS^? using appropriate equation. The results have been discussed in terms of dipole-dipole interactions, hydrogen bond formation and structural aspect of the solvents and configurational theory. The FT-IR spectra have also been studied to predict the interactions occurring in the system.

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum Linn) extract rich in eugenol and eugenol derivatives shows bone-preserving efficacy

This study examined the efficacy of hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds, which is rich in phenolic compounds namely eugenol and eugenol derivatives (precursors of flavones, isoflavones and flavonoids), on different primary and secondary osteoporotic marker changes in an ovariectomised (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis. Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated control (A), OVX (B) and OVX plus 50% hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds for 4 weeks (C). Results indicated that, compared to control, serum alkaline phosphatase (AP; 48.25%, p?相似文献   

Spatial arrangement of carbon nanotubes in TiO2 photoelectrodes to enhance the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

Three electrode structures with different spatial arrangements of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the mesoporous TiO(2) layer were employed in dye-sensitized solar cells to study the effect of surface states at the interface formed by the incorporation of CNTs. It was found that the decay of open circuit voltage (V(oc)) was significantly minimized by avoiding the direct contact of nanotubes to the conducting substrate by introducing a thin buffer layer of TiO(2) while maintaining the superior electron collection efficiency from the incorporation of nanotubes.