Development of a new soft ferrite core for power applications

Manganese-substituted nickel–zinc ferrites have been investigated as power core materials for applications in switched-mode-power supplies. High frequency operation of these power supplies requires high performance cores with low power losses. The main contributors to the power loss are eddy current loss, hysteresis loss and residual loss. The ferrites have been synthesized by the citrate precursor technique and their electromagnetic properties such as resistivity, permeability, saturation magnetization and Curie temperature studied. A power loss of 500 mW/cc could be obtained at a frequency of 500 kHz, flux density of 50 mT and temperature 100 °C.     

Folic Acid as a Bimodal Optical Probe for the Detection of TNT

Rapid and onsite detection of nitroaromatic explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is very crucial for the safety and security of human life as well as for the environment. In this present work, we demonstrate the feasibility for employing Folic Acid (FA) as a fluorescent as well as a colorimetric probe for the detection of TNT. This probe was synthesized by a simple one-step process. The developed probe shows an emission maximum at 490 nm upon excitation at 420 nm. On adding TNT, the fluorescence of the FA probe is quenched. Also, it shows a good selectivity towards TNT over other similar organic compounds such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) and picric acid (PA). The limit of detection (LoD) of TNT was found to be 1.9398 µM. Colorimetric detection was conducted and paper strip assay was developed for the practical applications.

Graphical Abstract

     

Layer-by-layer deposition of Ti-4,4′-oxydianiline hybrid thin films

Features of the two thin-film techniques, atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD), are combined to build up a stable novel inorganic-organic hybrid material of the (-Ti-N-C₆H₄-O-C₆H₄-N-)_n type, deposited from successive pulses of TiCl₄ and 4,4′-oxydianiline precursors. Depositions in the temperature range of 160-230 °C resulted in unstable films, while the films obtained in the temperature range of 250-490 °C were found stable in atmospheric air. The growth rate increased with increasing temperature, from 0.3 Å per cycle at 160 °C to 1.1 Å per cycle at 490 °C.     

Lattice sum calculations and a Mössbauer study on electric field gradient in phlogopite

Lattice sum contributions have been calculated at the two octahedral sites in a phlogopite mica assuming a systematic distribution of octahedral cationic charges. This, unlike the case of a random distribution of charges, is able to reproduce broad features of quadrupole doublet spectra in Mössbauer experiments suggesting that the doublet assignments in terms of the two structural sites,M ₁ (trans) andM ₂(cis), are quite valid. Angle dependence of Mössbauer spectra has also been studied for a ferric-rich phlogopite mica sheet to determine the orientation of the EFG principal axis component and the sign of the quadrupole coupling constant. Quadrupole splitting values and the positive sign of coupling constants match the theoretical predictions quite well but the model fails to predict the observed EFG orientation.     

Microsatellite instability and its correlation with clinicopathological features in a series of thyroid tumors prevalent in iodine deficient areas

Thyroid tumors display diverse spectrum of histopathological groups with geographic variation in its prevalence. Influence of iodine deficiency (a major causative factor) in its etiology, prevalence, or aggressiveness is debatable which reflects the existence of various genetic events in pathogenesis. The present study was undertaken to study the role of Microsatellite instability (MSI) or LOH (loss of heterozygosity), an indicator of defective mismatch repair system as a genetic change and to explore it as a prognostic marker in thyroid tumors. Tumor tissues from total thyroidectomy surgical specimens and blood (matched control) of 36 patients from iodine deficient areas (10 benign; 26 malignant) were obtained after their consent. Urinary iodine analysis was done by alkali ash method for which 10 ml of urine was collected from 18 patients before surgery. Genomic DNA, isolated from tumor tissue and blood was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using mono and dinucleotide markers - BAT-26, BAT-40, TGF(RII, IGFIIR, hMSH3, BAX, D2S123, D9S283, D9S851 and D18S58. PCR products were analysed on 8% denaturing polyacrylamide gel followed by autoradiography. Of total, 66.6% of tumors [70% (7/10) benign and 65.4% malignant cases (17/26)] showed MSI/LOH. Strong association of MSI/LOH with low iodine (P = 0.01) and with AMES risk groups i.e. age (P = 0.02), tumor size (P = 0.04) and metastases (P = 0.002) in thyroid tumors was observed. This may help in predicting the biological behaviour and strengthening the hypothesis that iodine deficiency has influence on MSI in thyroid tumors. Our results further substantiate the risk group classification and help in deciding the treatment modality in particular patient.     

Tin/Indium nanobundle formation from aggregation or growth of nanoparticles

Shape and size controlled gram level synthesis of tin/indium (SnIn) alloy nanoparticles and nanobundles is reported. Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was employed as a capping agent, which could control the growth and structure of the alloy particles under varying conditions. Transmission electron microscopy showed that unique SnIn alloy nanobundles could be synthesized from the bulk materials above a certain concentration of PVP and below this concentration, discrete spherical nanoparticles of variable size were evolved. The morphology and the composition of the as-synthesized SnIn alloy nanobundles were investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The possible mechanisms on the formation of these structures were discussed.     

Production of Primary Metabolites by Rhizopus stolonifer,Causal Agent of Almond Hull Rot Disease

Species in the fungal genus Rhizopus are able to convert simple sugars into primary metabolites such as fumaric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and, to a lesser extent, malic acid in the presence of specific carbon and nitrogen sources. This ability has been linked to plant pathogenicity. Rhizopus stolonifer causes hull rot disease in almonds, symptoms of which have been previously associated with the fungus’s production of fumaric acid. Six isolates of R. stolonifer taken from infected almond hulls were grown in artificial media amended with one of four carbon sources (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and xylose) and two nitrogen sources (asparagine and ammonium sulphate) chosen based on almond hull composition and used in industry. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR)–based metabolomics identified that R. stolonifer could metabolise glucose, fructose, sucrose, and to a lesser extent xylose, and both nitrogen sources, to produce three metabolites, i.e., fumaric acid, lactic acid, and ethanol, under in vitro conditions. Sugar metabolisation and acid production were significantly influenced by sugar source and isolates, with five isolates depleting glucose most rapidly, followed by fructose, sucrose, and then xylose. The maximum amounts of metabolites were produced when glucose was the carbon source, with fumaric acid produced in higher amounts than lactic acid. Isolate 19A–0069, however, preferred sucrose as the carbon source, and Isolate 19A–0030 produced higher amounts of lactic acid than fumaric acid. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of R. stolonifer producing lactic acid in preference to fumaric acid. Additionally, R. stolonifer isolate 19–0030 was inoculated into Nonpareil almond fruit on trees grown under high– and low–nitrogen and water treatments, and hull compositions of infected and uninfected fruit were analysed using ¹H NMR–based metabolomics. Glucose and asparagine content of uninfected hulls was influenced by the nitrogen and water treatments provided to the trees, being higher in the high–nitrogen and water treatments. In infected hulls, glucose and fructose were significantly reduced but not sucrose or xylose. Large amounts of both fumaric and lactic acid were produced, particularly under high–nitrogen treatments. Moreover, almond shoots placed in dilute solutions of fumaric acid or lactic acid developed leaf symptoms very similar to the ‘strike’ symptoms seen in hull rot disease in the field, suggesting both acids are involved in causing disease.     

Effect of remote trigonal carbons on the kinetics of Bergman cyclization: synthesis and chemical reactivity of pyridazinedione-based enediynes

The synthesis and chemical reactivity of pyridazinedione-based enediynes (1, 2) are described. Both of these enediynes, namely the dihydro compound 1 and its corresponding tetrahydro analogue 2, were prepared by double N,O-alkylation of the corresponding heterocyclic system with the acyclic enediynyl dibromide 8 in good yields. Their single-crystal X-ray structures revealed similar c, d distances (distance between the acetylenic carbons undergoing covalent connection in Bergman cyclization). Interestingly, these molecules undergo Bergman cyclization at different rates, and the reactivity is shown to be dependent upon the state of hybridization of C-4 and C-5 atoms of the parent heterocyclic ring.     

Emission behavior of 1-methylaminopyrene in aqueous solution of anionic surfactants

A new fluorescent probe, methylamino derivative of pyrene, has been considered to characterize the concentration dependent emission behavior of an aqueous solution of anionic surfactants, viz., SDS, DSS, and SDBS. It was found that the emission of the probe is uniquely sensitive to the changes in surfactant (anionic) concentration due to the functional group effect of the probe over the parent moiety, pyrene. Here, 1-methylaminopyrene (MAP) showed significant quenching of emission well below the critical micellar concentration (cmc) of the surfactant. Excimer emission of the probe due to the formation of premicellar aggregates of the surfactant solutions at a concentration close to but below the cmc and again an enhanced emission of the probe above the cmc were observed as a consequence of definite MAP-surfactant interactions. These observations assisted the possible quantification ofsurfactant concentrations and their chain length dependent premicellar aggregate formations. Significant monomer emission in relation to probe distribution in micelle was analytically authenticated. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies revealed the incorporation of the probe molecules in the micellar core. The fluorophore emission showed nonlinear behavior when the surfactant concentration was far above the cmc. Abrupt changes in the emission characteristics in relation to the micellar concentration led to the determination of the cmc of the surfactants.     

Determination of reactivity ratios and kinetics of free radical copolymerization of linalool with styrene

Copolymerization of acyclic monoterpenoid, namely linalool (LIN), with styrene (STY) initiated by benzoyl peroxide (BPO) p‐acetyl benzylidene triphenyl arsonium ylide (p‐ABTAY) in xylene separately at 80°C for 180 min under inert atmosphere of nitrogen was performed. The results give a nearly alternating copolymer as evidenced from reactivity ratios (r₁ = 0.016, r₂ = 0.057) w.r.t. BPO; (r₁ = 0.017, r₂ = 0.052) w.r.t. p‐ABTAY (i.e. r₁ = 0.0165 ± 0.0005 and r₂ = 0.0545 ± 0.0025 per initiator set) using Kelen–Tudos method. The FT‐IR spectrum shows a band at 3026 cm^?1 due to the aromatic ring of polystyrene and an alcoholic band of linalool at 3408 cm^?1. ¹H‐NMR spectrum shows peaks at δ 7.0–7.7 ppm of ? OH protons and peaks at δ 7.5–8.0 ppm due to phenyl protons of styrene. The system follows ideal kinetics i.e. Rp ∝ [LIN]^1.0[STY]^1.0[BPO]^0.5/[p‐ABTAY]^0.5. The overall energy of activation in the temperature range 75–85°C is 77.0 kJ mol^?1 and 90.0 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The values for Mark–Houwink constants for the functional copolymer has been evaluated as a = 0.40 and K = 1.60 × 10^?4 with the help of gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Alfrey–Price, Q and e parameters for linalool have been evaluated as Q₂ = 0.80; e₂ = 1.25 w.r.t. BPO and Q₂ = 0.90; e₂ = 1.54 w.r.t. p‐ABTAY. Thermal properties of copolymers were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.