Single‐phase TiO2 formation by plasma oxidation of titanium thin films

Synthesis of titanium oxide film by plasma oxidization of the metallic films is investigated. Argon/oxygen gas mixture in the pressure range 30 × 10^?2 mbar is used for plasma processing at a frequency of 250 kHz. The plasma‐oxidized films are annealed in a tube furnace in argon atmosphere to establish crystalline‐phase formation. X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic results manifest peaks corresponding to rutile TiO₂. Ultraviolet‐Visible (UV‐Vis) spectroscopic analysis confirms the bandgap of rutile TiO₂, and photoluminescence spectra exhibit peaks due to oxygen defects. Homogeneity across the film's thickness and the nature of the film substrate interface is studied by depth profiling acquired using secondary ion mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solving evolution equations using a new iterative method

In this article, we apply the new iterative method proposed by Daftardar‐Gejji and Jafari (J Math Anal Appl 316, (2006), 753–763) for solving various linear and nonlinear evolution equations. The results obtained are compared with the results by existing methods. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2010     

Hamming weight distributions of multi-twisted codes over finite fields

Designs, Codes and Cryptography - Let $${\mathbb {F}}_q$$ denote the finite field of order q,  and let $$n = m_1+m_2+\cdots +m_\ell ,$$ where $$m_1,m_2,\ldots ,m_\ell $$ are arbitrary...     

Anosov automorphisms on compact nilmanifolds associated with graphs

We associate with each graph a -step simply connected nilpotent Lie group and a lattice in . We determine the group of Lie automorphisms of and apply the result to describe a necessary and sufficient condition, in terms of the graph, for the compact nilmanifold to admit an Anosov automorphism. Using the criterion we obtain new examples of compact nilmanifolds admitting Anosov automorphisms, and conclude that for every there exist a -dimensional -step simply connected nilpotent Lie group which is indecomposable (not a direct product of lower dimensional nilpotent Lie groups), and a lattice in such that admits an Anosov automorphism; we give also a lower bound on the number of mutually nonisomorphic Lie groups of a given dimension, satisfying the condition. Necessary and sufficient conditions are also described for a compact nilmanifold as above to admit ergodic automorphisms.

     

Rapid,Traceless, AgI‐Promoted Macrocyclization of Peptides Possessing an N‐Terminal Thioamide

Peptide macrocyclization is often a slow process, plagued by epimerization and cyclodimerization. Herein, we describe a new method for peptide macrocyclization employing the Ag^I‐promoted transformation of peptide thioamides. The Ag^I has a dual function: chemoselectively activating the thioamide and tethering the N‐terminal thioamide to the C‐terminal carboxylate. Extrusion of Ag₂S generates an isoimide intermediate, which undergoes acyl transfer to generate the native cyclic peptide, resulting in a rapid, traceless macrocylization process. Cyclic peptides are furnished in high yields within 1 hour, free of epimerization and cyclodimerization.     

Analysis of a system of nonautonomous fractional differential equations involving Caputo derivatives

We discuss existence, uniqueness and stability of solutions of the system of nonlinear fractional differential equations

     

Quality profile of litchi (Litchi chinensis) cultivars from India and effect of radiation processing

Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a non-climacteric tropical fruit. The fruit has a short shelf-life making its marketing difficult. Physical, biochemical, microbiological, and organoleptic properties of two major commercially grown Indian cultivars of litchi, ‘Shahi’ and ‘China’ were studied. The effect of gamma radiation processing and low temperature storage on the above parameters was evaluated to standardize the optimal process parameters for shelf-life extension of litchi. Physical and biochemical parameters analyzed included weight, moisture, pH, titratable acidity, texture, color, total and reducing sugar, total soluble solids, vitamin C, and flavonoid content. Weight, moisture content, and pH in the fresh fruit ranged between 21–26 g, 74–77%, and 3.7–4.4, respectively, whereas, total and reducing sugar ranged 10–15, and 10–13 g%, respectively. In ‘Shahi’ vitamin C content was found to be around 17–19 mg%, whereas, in ‘China’ it was 22–28 mg%. Flavonoid content was in the range of 26–34 μg catechin equivalents/g of fresh fruit. Total surface and internal bacterial load was around 4 and 3 log cfu/g, respectively. Surface yeast-mold count (YMC) was ～3 log cfu/g whereas internal YMC was ～2 log cfu/g. Radiation treatment reduced microbial load in a dose dependent manner. Treatment at 0.5 kGy did not significantly affect the quality parameters of the fruit. Treated fruits retained the “good” organoleptic rating during storage. Thus, radiation treatment (0.5 kGy) in combination with low temperature (4 °C) storage achieved a shelf-life of 28 days for litchi fruit.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Antimicrobial Studies of New Rigid Linker‐Based Bispyrazolines

The bispyrazolines 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e were synthesized from the cyclization reaction of bischalcones 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e with phenyl hydrazine by refluxing under alcoholic medium in the presence of glacial acetic acid. The bischalcones were obtained from the Claisen–Schmidt reaction of acetophenone with dibenzaldehydes 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e and later were obtained in good yield from the O‐alkylation of 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde with suitable alkylating agents. The structures of the prepared compounds were determined from the rigorous analysis of their spectral data (UV–vis, IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and ESI‐MS). The elemental analysis also confirmed the purity of these compounds. All the bischalcones 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e and bispyrazolines 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e were screened for their antimicrobial activity using the serial dilution method. Seven bacterial and five fungal species were used as the antimicrobial test strains, namely Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 3384), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424), Escherichia coli (MTCC 443), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 443), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441), Pseudomonas fluorescens (MTCC 103), and Staphylococcus pyrogens (MTCC 442), and Aspergillus janus (MTCC 2751), Penicillium glabrum (MTCC 4951), Fusarium oxysporum (MTCC 2480), Aspergillus sclerotiorum (MTCC 1008), and Aspergillus niger (MTCC 281), respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC in µg/mL) were determined by using different dilutions.