Synthesis of nanoplate bismuth oxychloride—a visible light active material

We have synthesized bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) by wet chemical route. Characterization of the synthesized samples has been carried out using XRD, SEM with EDAX, HRTEM, FT-IR, Raman Spectroscopy, PL and UV. XRD and SEM analysis confirms crystallite size varying from 20–40 nm. FTIR spectrum indicates that the prepared material is highly pure and there is no water molecule present. Raman and photoluminescence spectrum of the bismuth oxychloridenanoplate demonstrated strong blue light emission which brings them in a special class of materials which work under visible light exposure. UV-Vis spectroscopy shows very less charge carriers transit time under visible light thus confirming excellent photocatalytic properties of material.     

RuCl3 · xH2O: A New Efficient Catalyst for Facile Preparation of 1,1‐Diacetates from Aldehydes

An efficient, facile preparation of aldehyde 1,1‐diacetates (acylals) in excellent yields catalyzed by RuCl₃ · xH₂O is described. Ketones do not react under these conditions.     

Crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene based nanocomposites

The effect of clay dispersion on the crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)-based nanocomposites is reported. The T _m⁰ of the materials was calculated by the method proposed by Marand, the kinetics of crystallization was evaluated by the Avrami analysis and also the Hoffman-Lauritzen theory of crystallization regimes was applied. Montmorillonite was found to depress T _m⁰, to enhance the rate of crystallization and to ease the chain folding of macromolecules. These effects were magnified if clay was exfoliated, rather than intercalated.     

Reflection and refraction of attenuated waves at boundary of elastic solid and porous solid saturated with two immiscible viscous fluids

The propagation of elastic waves is studied in a porous solid saturated with two immiscible viscous fluids.The propagation of three longitudinal waves is represented through three scalar potential functions.The lone transverse wave is presented by a vector potential function.The displacements of particles in different phases of the aggregate are defined in terms of these potential functions.It is shown that there exist three longitudinal waves and one transverse wave.The phenomena of reflection and refraction due to longitudinal and transverse waves at a plane interface between an elastic solid half-space and a porous solid half-space saturated with two immiscible viscous fluids are investigated.For the presence of viscosity in pore-fluids,the waves refracted to the porous medium attenuate in the direction normal to the interface.The ratios of the amplitudes of the reflected and refracted waves to that of the incident wave are calculated as a nonsingular system of linear algebraic equations.These amplitude ratios are used to further calculate the shares of different scattered waves in the energy of the incident wave.The modulus of the amplitude and the energy ratios with the angle of incidence are computed for a particular numerical model.The conservation of the energy across the interface is verified.The effects of variations in non-wet saturation of pores and frequencies on the energy partition are depicted graphically and discussed.     

MRI of hepatic lymphoma

Thirteen patients with biopsy proven hepatic lymphoma (2 Hodgkin, 11 Non-Hodgkin) and a control group of 15 patients with hepatic metastases were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by MRI. Focal hepatic lymphoma was most reliably detected (eight of eight patients) and appeared hypointense relative to liver on T₁ weighted (CNR − 7.4 ± 2.3) and hyperintense on T₂ weighted (CNR + 8.4 ± 2.9) images. The mean T₁ and T₂ relaxation times of focal hepatic lymphoma (T₁ = 832 ± 234 msec, T₂ = 84 ± 16 ms) differed significantly from adjacent non-tumorous liver (T₁ = 420 ± 121 ms, T₂ = 51 ± 9 ms; p < 0.05), however CNR values and relaxation times were similar to those of hepatic metastases. Diffuse hepatic lymphoma (microscopic periportal infiltration) was undetectable by MRI in three patients by either morphologic features or quantitative criteria. A mixed pattern of hepatic lymphoma (focal lesions and diffuse infiltration) showed focal areas of slightly decreased signal intensity on T₁ weighted images (CNR = −1.7 ± 0.4) while T₂ weighted images revealed multiple regions of focal hyperintensity (CNR = +13.3 ± 8.4) superimposed on a diffusely hyperintense liver. Our experience demonstrates that either T₁ or T₂ weighted techniques are useful in detecting focal and that T₂ weighted techniques are useful in detecting mixed hepatic lymphoma. Conventional image derived relaxation time measurements and quantitative parameters were of no additional diagnostic value.     

Ag NPs decked GO composite as a competent and reusable catalyst for ‘ON WATER’ chemoselective synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c:6,5-c′]dipyrazol]-2-ones

We have synthesized and characterized Ag NPs decked GO composite and studied its role as reusable catalyst for the ‘ON WATER’ chemoselective synthesis of pyranodipyrazolones via the reaction of different carbonyl compounds with 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one. This method illustrates significant selectivity for pyranodipyrazolones over arylmethylene bispyrazolols and arylmethylenepyrazolones. Synergistic effect of heterogenic nature of water with reactants and Ag NPs/GO had profuse outcome on reaction as indicated by high TOF (18.03 × 10^?5 mol g^?1 min^?1). Furthermore, catalyst was recycled for 7-times without significant loss of activity.     

High-sensitivity chromatographic detector incorporating three-dimensional charge coupled device fluorimetry

Food authentication has been evolving continually to situations that were basically governed by a global market trend. Analytical techniques have been developed or modified to give plausible solutions to the devious adulterations at each moment. Classical tests have largely been replaced with newer technical procedures, most of which are based on gas chromatography, with some being based on high-performance liquid chromatography. Determination of trans-fatty acid and sterolic composition, together with sterol-dehydration products, have been used most frequently used to detect contamination and adulteration. Sophisticated new adulterations, e.g., olive oil with hazelnut oil, represent a new challenge for the next millennium, although suggestive proposals for detecting these kinds of adulterations are emerging with the contribution of databases and mathematical algorithms.     

Reconstructing the cosmic equation of state from supernova distances

Observations of high-redshift supernovae indicate that the Universe is accelerating. Here we present a model-independent method for estimating the form of the potential V(phi) of the scalar field driving this acceleration, and the associated equation of state w(phi). Our method is based on a versatile analytical form for the luminosity distance D(L), optimized to fit observed distances to distant supernovae and differentiated to yield V(straight phi) and w(straight phi). Our results favor w(phi) approximately -1 at the present epoch, steadily increasing with redshift. A cosmological constant is consistent with our results.     

Asymmetric local displacements in the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+β superconductor

Instantaneous in-plane Cu-O bond distribution in the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+β (Bi2212) superconductor has been investigated by high k-resolution Cu K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measured with polarized vector parallel to the two orthogonal Cu-O-Cu bonds of the CuO₂ square plane. The results show an anisotropic Cu-O distribution in the two directions and provide further information on the local atomic displacements in the lattice-charge stripes. Received 5 June 2000