Micropencils and microhexagonal cones of ZnO

Shape selective synthesis of ZnO micropencils and microhexagonal cones has been demonstrated using a controlled method of modified vapor deposition. A plausible growth mechanism based on the results of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis is proposed. Our results suggest that growth of micropencil takes place as per the vapor-liquid-solid progression while the microhexagonal cones grow in two steps following a vapor-solid/vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. Moreover, the geometry, the location of substrate and temperature are found to have key roles in governing the morphology. XPS studies clearly demonstrate the presence of Si species as SiO and SiO2, which act as catalysts enabling nucleating sites for ZnO microstructural growth.     

Synthesis and characterization of organomodified Na-MMT using cation and anion surfactants

The Sodium Montmorillonite (Na-MMT) is not susceptible to polymer due to its organophilic character and low basal spacing. The primary objective of this study was to improve Na-MMT platelets separation by organically modifying it with cation and anion exchanges using Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) respectively. Basal spacing, presence of functional groups, Zetapotential with particle size analysis and thermal stability of the Organomodified Na-MMT (OMMT) were characterized using XRD, FTIR, zeta-potential analyzer and TGA respectively. The basal spacing of CTAB modified OMMTincreased to 19.5 ? from 11.0 ? which corresponds to the basal spacing of Na-MMT. The SDS modified OMMT did not show any increase in the basal spacing. FTIR spectra of CTAB modified Na-MMT illustrated the attachment of CTAB functional groups to Na-MMT, while the same was absent in the case of SDS modified Na-MMT. The zeta-potential of Na-MMT shifted from −24.88 mV to 15.66 mV in the case of CTAB modified Na-MMT and 12.49 mV for SDS modified Na-MMT, indicating a greater surface potential of the modified nanoclay. The TGA showed greater weight loss for CTAB modified Na-MMT than that for Na-MMT, indicating the effective Na⁺ ion exchange with alkyl amines.     

Ferroelectric and optical properties of ‘Ba-doped’ new double perovskites

Solid solution of Pb_1.5Ba_0.5BiNbO₆ ceramic is explored here to obtain its ferroelectric and optical properties. The polycrystalline sample was prepared by a standard solid state reaction route. Room temperature XRD and FTIR spectra of the compound exhibit an appreciable change in its crystal structure of Pb₂BiNbO₆ on addition of ‘Ba’ in A site. The surface morphology of the gold-plated sintered pellet sample recorded by SEM exhibits a uniform distribution of small grains with well-defined grain boundaries. Detailed studies on the nature of polarization and variation of dielectric constant, tangent loss with temperature as well as frequency indicate the existence of Ferro-electricity in the sample. Using UV-Vis spectroscopy, the optical band gap of the studied sample has been estimated as 2.1 eV, which is useful for photo catalytic devices. Photoluminescence analysis of the powder sample shows a strong red photoluminescence with blue excitation, which is basically useful for LED.     

Studies on radon concentration in drinking water around Hemavathi river basin,Karnataka State,India

Concentrations of radon in drinking water collected from 32 locations of Hemavathi river basin, Karnataka, India have been measured by emanometry method. The radon concentration in water ranged from 2.7 ± 0.1 to 138.5 ± 1.5 Bq l⁻¹ with a geometrical mean of 25.3 ± 1.1 Bq l⁻¹. The study revealed that about 82.35% of drinking water samples contained radon concentration more than 11.1 Bq l⁻¹, the limit is fixed by Environmental Protection Agency. Among the different parameters measured, concentration of radon showed weak correlation with chloride and no correlation with alkalinity, pH, nitrate, sulphate, fluoride and total dissolved substance.

     

In silico analysis of glutathione S-transferase supergene family revealed hitherto unreported insect specific δ- and ε-GSTs and mammalian specific μ-GSTs in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

The availability of whole genome sequence information of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), an important disease vector of veterinary and public health importance, has opened up new opportunities to explore the vector species at genomic level. Use of acaricides is the mainstay in controlling the disease vector, as effective vaccines are not available for most of the diseases that are transmitted by ticks. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes are one of the important supergene families that are involved in protecting the organism from oxidative stress and xenobiotics including the acaricides. The analysis of GST supergene family from Ixodes identified all the three broad GST classes, viz. canonical, mitochondrial, and microsomal forms. In total, 35 GST genes belong to five different canonical GST classes, namely Delta (7 genes), Epsilon (5), Mu (14), Omega (3), and Zeta (3 genes) GST classes, and two mitochondrial Kappa class GST genes, and a single microsomal GST gene were found. Interestingly, Delta- and Epsilon-class members, which are thought to be specific to the class Insecta, were also identified in Ixodes. Further, vertebrate/mammalian specific Mu-GSTs (14 genes) were also identified in Ixodes. Analyses of the intron-exon organization revealed higher frequency of phase '0' and phase '2' introns. The comprehensive listing of the GST supergene family members from Ixodes may help in understanding molecular mechanisms of the acaricide resistance in mites and ticks. Cumulatively, these findings may provide an in-depth understanding of the complex evolution of GST supergene family, one of the oldest supergene families that exist in all the domains of life.     

Free Radical Scavenging Magnetic Iron-Based Nanoparticles in Hyperbranched and Linear Polymer Matrices

Magnetic iron nanoparticles are attracting a great deal of research and application interest in diversified fields. In this present investigation, iron nanoparticles were prepared by a in-situ chemical reduction technique in a combination of polyaniline (PANI)-polyacrylamide (PA) and PANI-hyperbranched polyurethane (HBPU) matrices to judge the suitability of hyperbranched system. The formation of the nanoparticles in polymer matrices has been investigated by FTIR, UV, XRD, SEM and TEM studies. Narrower size with better dispersion and more stable nanoparticles were found in a hyperbranched matrix system compared to a linear one. The particle size was found to be in the range of 10–20 nm and 12–35 nm in HBPU-PANI and PA-PANI matrices, respectively. Both the nanocomposites exhibit synergistic free radical scavenging capability towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The magnetic hysteresis loop of the nanocomposites indicates the super-paramagnetic behavior. The hyperbranched system is more thermostable than the linear system by 70°C.     

Microbial metabolism. Part 8. The pyranocoumarin, decursin

Microbial transformation of the cancer chemopreventive agent, decursin (1) with Sepedonium chrysospermem (ATCC 13378) yielded two metabolites, (+)-decursinol (2) and (-)-cis-decursidinol (3). The structures were established by spectroscopic data.     

Dynamic force balances for short-duration hypersonic testing facilities

Two force balance techniques for use in hypersonic impulse facilities are compared by measuring the drag force on a 30° semi-apex-angle blunt cone model in a hypersonic shock tunnel at a free stream Mach number of 5.75. An accelerometer-based balance and a stress-wave force balance were tested simultaneously on the same model to measure the drag force. It was found that drag force measurements could be made using both techniques in a flow with a 450-s test period. The measured drag forces compared well with the theoretical values estimated using Newtonian theory.     

Dynamic viscoelastic response of bone

The dynamic stress-strain characteristics of beef-femur bone as a function of elapsed post-mortem time have been determined directly using the split-Hopkinson-bar technique. Specimens were fabricated from dense cortical material of the posterior part of the femoral midshaft and and subjected to dynamic compressive loading (1～6) × 10⁸ psi/sec covering a wide range of strain rates (10～450 sec^?1). Eighty-two test runs were conducted using 43 bone specimens for a range of post-mortem ages (1～240 days). A linear-viscoelastic model describing the mechanical behavior of bone was obtained, including an estimate of the parameters immediately after death.