First-order antiferro-ferromagnetic transition in Fe(49)(Rh(0.93)Pd(0.07))(51) under simultaneous application of magnetic field and external pressure

A magnetic field-pressure-temperature (H-P-T) phase diagram for first-order antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transitions in Fe(49)(Rh(0.93)Pd(0.07))(51) has been constructed using resistivity measurements under simultaneous application of magnetic field (up to 8 T) and pressure (up to 20 kbar). The temperature dependence of resistivity (ρ-T) shows that the width of the transition and the extent of hysteresis decreases with pressure and increases with magnetic field. By exploiting opposing trends of dT(N)/dP and dT(N)/dH (where T(N) is the first-order transition temperature), the relative effects of temperature, magnetic field and pressure on disorder-broadened first-order transitions has been studied. For this, a set of H and P values are chosen for which T(N)(H(1),P(1)) = T(N)(H(2),P(2)). Measurements for such combinations of H and P show that the temperature dependence of resistivity is similar, i.e. the broadening (in temperature) of transition as well as the extent of hysteresis remains independent of H and P. Isothermal magnetoresistance measurements under various constant pressures show that even though the critical field required for AFM-FM transition depends on applied pressure, the extent of hysteresis as well as transition width (in magnetic field) remains constant with varying pressure.     

Bioligninolysis: Recent Updates for Biotechnological Solution

Bioligninolysis involves living organisms and/or their products in degradation of lignin, which is highly resistant, plant-originated polymer having three-dimensional network of dimethoxylated (syringyl), monomethoxylated (guaiacyl), and non-methoxylated (p-hydroxyphenyl) phenylpropanoid and acetylated units. As a major repository of aromatic chemical structures on earth, lignin bears paramount significance for its removal owing to potential application of bioligninolytic systems in industrial production. Early reports illustrating the discovery and cloning of ligninolytic biocatalysts in fungi was truly a landmark in the field of enzymatic delignification. However, the enzymology for bacterial delignification is hitherto poorly understood. Moreover, the lignin-degrading bacterial genes are still unknown and need further exploration. This review deals with the current knowledge about ligninolytic enzyme families produced by fungi and bacteria, their mechanisms of action, and genetic regulation and reservations, which render them attractive candidates in biotechnological applications.     

Production of Microbial Cellulose by a Bacterium Isolated from Fruit

This study presents the production of bacterial cellulose (BC) by a bacterium isolated from a rotten fruit and its process optimization. Here, isolation and screening of potent cellulose producers were carried out from different natural sources, viz., soil, rotten fruits, and vegetables and vinegar. A total of 200 bacterial isolates were obtained, which were screened for cellulose production using Hestrin?CSchramm medium. A novel and potent cellulose-producing bacterium was newly isolated from a rotten fruit and identified as Gluconacetobacter sp. F6 through 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and morphological, cultural, and biochemical characteristics. After optimization of culture conditions, including pH, temperature, agitation, carbon/nitrogen sources, and inducers, the BC production was greatly increased from 0.52 to 4.5?g/l (8.65-fold increase). The optimal culture medium contained 1% (w/v) glucose, 1.5% (w/v) yeast extract, 0.5% (w/v) peptone, 0.27% (w/v) disodium hydrogen phosphate, 0.115% (w/v) citric acid, and 0.4% (w/v) ethanol. BC produced was analyzed for the presence of cellulose fibrils by epiflourescent microscopy using Calcofluor white stain and scanning electron microscopy and confirmed by NMR. There are very scanty reports about the optimization of BC production by bacteria isolated from rotten fruits.     

Production, Purification, and Characterization of a β-Glucosidase of Penicillium funiculosum NCL1

Penicillium funiculosum NCL1, a filamentous fungus, produced significantly higher levels of ??-glucosidase. The effect of initial pH, incubation temperature, and different carbon sources on extracellular ??-glucosidase production was studied in submerged fermentation. At 30?°C with initial pH 5.0, enzyme production was increased by 48-fold upon induction with paper mill waste, as compared to commercial cellulose powder. In zymogram analysis, four isoforms of ??-glucosidases were observed with wheat bran whereas a minimum of one isoform was observed with other carbon sources. A major ??-glucosidase (Bgl3A) with the apparent molecular weight of ~120?kDa, induced by paper mill waste, was purified 19-fold to homogeneity, with a specific activity of 1,796 U/mg. Bgl3A was a monomeric glycoprotein with 29% of neutral carbohydrate content. It showed optimum activity at pH 4.0 and 5.0, optimum temperature at 60?°C, and exhibited a half-life of 1?h at 60?°C. K _m of Bgl3A was found to be 0.057?mM with p-nitrophenyl ??-d-glucoside and V _max was 1,920 U/mg. The purified enzyme exhibited glucose tolerance with a K _i of 1.5?mM. Bgl3A readily hydrolyzed glucosides with ??-linkage. Bgl3A activity was enhanced (156%) by Zn²⁺ and was not affected by other metal cations and reagents. The supplementation of Bgl3A (5 U/mg) with Trichoderma reesei cellulase complex (5 FPU/mg) resulted in about 70% of enhanced glucose production, which emphasizes the industrial importance of Bgl3A.     

Synthesis of the anti-influenza agent (-)-oseltamivir free base and (-)-methyl 3-epi-shikimate

A new enantioselective synthesis of the anti-influenza agent (-)-oseltamivir free base (7.1% overall yield; 98% ee) and (-)-methyl 3-epi-shikimate (16% overall yield; 98% ee) has been described from readily available raw materials. Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and diastereoselective Barbier allylation of an aldehyde are the key reactions employed in the incorporation of chirality, while the cyclohexene carboxylic ester core was constructed through a ring closing metathesis reaction.     

Regioselective N‐alkylation for the synthesis of novel aminotriazolophanes

Regioselective synthesis of macrocycles, incorporating 3‐oxo‐4‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole derivatives, has been achieved by reactions involving N‐alkylation, utilizing appropriate 1, ω ‐dihaloalkanes in the presence of metal hydroxide. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:329–336, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20211     

Enhancement of photosensitivity in bismuth doped Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films

In this paper, the effect of bismuth doping on the structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) films has been investigated. The undoped and bismuth doped CZTS films (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mol%) were deposited on glass substrates by solution based method. The XRD result shows a significant improvement in the crystallinity of the films with increase in bismuth concentration. The Raman spectra of the films show the dominant peak at 334 cm^–1 corresponding to A₁ vibrational mode of CZTS kesterite phase. The FESEM micrographs of the films show an enhancement in the grain size and densification with the addition of bismuth ion concentration. The optical bandgap of the films was found to vary (1.59–1.40 eV) with the doping of bismuth ions. The I –V characteristics indicate twofold increment in the photoconductivity for the bismuth doped CZTS films under 100 mW/cm² illumination suggesting their potential application in photovoltaic devices. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nitrogen doping in pulsed laser deposited ZnO thin films using dense plasma focus

Pulsed laser deposition synthesized ZnO thin films, grown at 400 °C substrate temperature in different oxygen gas pressures, were irradiated with 6 shots of pulsed nitrogen ions obtained from 2.94 kJ dense plasma focus to achieve the nitrogen doping in ZnO. Structural, compositional and optical properties of as-deposited and nitrogen ion irradiated ZnO thin films were investigated to confirm the successful doping of nitrogen in irradiated samples. Spectral changes have been seen in the nitrogen irradiated ZnO thin film samples from the low temperature PL measurements. Free electron to acceptor emissions can be observed from the irradiated samples, which hints towards the successful nitrogen doping in films. Compositional analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and corresponding shifts in binding energy core peaks of oxygen and nitrogen confirmed the successful use of plasma focus device as a novel source for nitrogen ion doping in ZnO thin films.     

B(C6F5)3-Enabled Synthesis of a Cyclic cis-Arsaphosphene

The synthesis and characterization of an (arsino)phosphaketene, As(PCO){[N(Dipp)](CH₂)}₂ (Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl) is reported along with its subsequent reactivity with B(C₆F₅)₃. When reacted in a stoichiometric ratio, B(C₆F₅)₃ drove the insertion of the P=C bond of the phosphaketene into one of the As−N bonds of the arsino functionality, affording an acid-stabilized, seven-membered, cyclic arsaphosphene. In contrast, when catalytic amounts of B(C₆F₅)₃ were employed, dimeric species, which formed through a formal [2+2] cycloaddition of the cyclic arsaphosphene, were generated. The cyclic arsaphosphene product represents the first example of such a compound in which the two substituents are arranged in a cis-configuration.     

Performance studies of compact GGAG:Ce,B thermal neutron detector coupled to Si-based photosensors

Pramana - This work concerns the modelling of the dynamics of polarisation of a centrosymmetric material subjected to an amplitude-modulated excitation (AME). The dynamic equation obtained for the...