STUDY OF THE REACTION π－P→K°(890)Λ

The dual absorptive model has been used to fit the recently measured experimental data on the differential cross-section, density matrix elements and polarization in the reaction π^－p→k°(890)Λ.     

A novel natural source Vicia faba L. membranes as colourant: development and optimisation of the extraction process using response surface methodology (RSM)

In this research paper, an eco-friendly extraction process of dyes from Vicia faba L. membranes was developed. In this regard, the influence of independent process factors like the weight of material, the extraction time, the temperature and the sodium hydroxide concentration on the natural dye extraction from Vicia faba membranes was investigated. The optimisation of the extraction conditions and the effect evaluation of the different operating parameters were carried out using a Box–Behnken design under response surface methodology. The optimum conditions were found to be 66 °C, 90 min, 5 g and 0.1628 mol·L^?1 for extraction temperature, time, mass of the material and sodium hydroxide concentration, respectively. The efficiency of this extraction process under these optimum conditions was evaluated by measuring the total phenolic content (TPC), the total flavonoid content and the relative colour yield (K/S). In these operating conditions, good fastness ratios were observed for the dyed fabrics.     

Effect of fluence and ambient environment on the surface and structural modification of femtosecond laser irradiated Ti

Under certain conditions, ultrafast pulsed laser interaction with matter leads to the formation of self-organized conical as well as periodic surface structures(commonly reffered to as, laser induced periodic surface structures, LIPSS). The purpose of the present investigations is to explore the effect of fsec laser fluence and ambient environments(Vacuum O_2) on the formation of LIPSS and conical structures on the Ti surface. The surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscope(SEM). The ablation threshold with single and multiple(N = 100) shots and the existence of an incubation effect was demonstrated by SEM investigations for both the vacuum and the O_2 environment. The phase analysis and chemical composition of the exposed targets were performed by x-ray diffraction(XRD) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(EDS), respectively. SEM investigations reveal the formation of LIPSS(nano micro). FFT d-spacing calculations illustrate the dependence of periodicity on the fluence and ambient environment. The periodicity of nano-scale LIPSS is higher in the case of irradiation under vacuum conditions as compared to O_2. Furthermore, the O2 environment reduces the ablation threshold. XRD data reveal that for the O_2 environment, new phases(oxides of Ti) are formed. EDS analysis exhibits that after irradiation under vacuum conditions, the percentage of impurity element(Al) is reduced. The irradiation in the O_2 environment results in 15% atomic diffusion of oxygen.     

Femtosecond laser induced nanostructuring of zirconium in liquid confined environment

The surface, structural, and mechanical properties of zirconium after irradiation with Ti: sapphire laser(800 nm, 30 fs,1 k Hz) have been investigated. The zirconium targets were exposed for a varying number of laser pulses ranging from 500 to 2000 at a fixed fluence of 3.6 J/cm~2 corresponding to an intensity of 1.2×10~(14)W/cm~2 in ambient environments of deionized water and propanol. A scanning electron microscope(SEM) was employed to investigate the surface morphology of the irradiated zirconium. The SEM analysis shows the formation of various kinds of features including nanoscale laser induced periodic surface structures(LIPSS), sponge like surface structure, flakes, conical structures, droplets, pores, and cavities. The energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(EDS) analysis exhibits the variation in chemical composition along with an enhanced diffusion of oxygen under both ambient conditions. The crystal structure and phase analyses of the exposed targets were explored by x-ray diffraction(XRD) and Raman spectroscopy techniques, respectively. The XRD analysis confirms the presence of various phases of zirconium hydride and zirconia after ablation in both de-ionized water and propanol. However, excessive hydrides are formed in the case of propanol. The Raman analysis supports the EDS and XRD results. It also reveals the presence of oxides(zirconia) after irradiation in both de-ionized water and propanol environments.The chemical reactivity of zirconium was significantly improved in the presence of liquids which were accountable for the growth of novel phases and modification in the chemical composition of the irradiated Zr. A nanohardness tester was employed to measure the nanohardness of the laser treated targets. The initial increase and then decrease in nanohardness was observed with an increase in the number of laser pulses in the de-ionized water environment. In the case of propanol,a continuous decrease in hardness was observed.     

Sinapic Acid Ameliorates Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats by Suppressing Inflammation,Oxidative Stress,and Apoptosis

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term condition which results in inflammation and ulcers of the colon and rectum. The key indications of active disease are abdominal pain and diarrhea mixed with blood. Aims: We explore the underlying colon protective mechanism of sinapic acid (SA) against acetic acid (AA) induced ulcerative colitis in rats. The implications of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis are studied. Methodology: Twenty-four rats were distributed into four categories, normal control (NC), ulcerative colitis (UC), ulcerative Colitis with SA 40 mg/kg (SA 40 mg/kg + AA), and ulcerative colitis with prednisolone (PRDL 10 mg/kg + AA), and were pretreated orally with saline, saline and SA (40 mg/kg/day) or PRDL (10 mg/kg/day) respectively, for 7 days. UC was prompted by trans-rectal administration of 4% AA on the 5th day, colon tissues were surgically removed for gross morphology and histological inspection, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers and immunoblot analysis of Bax, caspase-3, and Bcl-2. Results: Macroscopic and histological inspection demonstrated that both SA 40 mg/kg and PRDL (10 mg/kg/day) significantly ameliorates colonic injuries. In addition, both pretreatments significantly ameliorates AA-induced UC, oxidative stress, as indicated by suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels and restoring antioxidant/oxidant balance as indicated by catalase and glutathione levels, suppressed inflammation via inhibiting cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, inflammatory markers MPO, PGE₂, COX-2 and NF-κB and inhibiting the protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 apoptotic protein and increasing the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 thereby inhibiting apoptosis. Conclusion: Sinapic acid significantly ameliorates AA induced UC in rats by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in colonic tissues which exhibits its potential for the management of UC.     

Improvement in the Water Retention Characteristics of Sandy Loam Soil Using a Newly Synthesized Poly(acrylamide-<em>co</em>-acrylic Acid)/AlZnFe₂O₄ Superabsorbent Hydrogel Nanocomposite Material

The use of some novel and efficient crop nutrient-based superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposites (SHNCs), is currently becoming increasingly important to improve the crop yield and productivity, due to their water retention properties. In the present study a poly(Acrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/AlZnFe₂O₄ superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposite was synthesized and its physical properties characterized using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), FE-SEM and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The effects of different levels of SHNC were studied to evaluate the moisture retention properties of sandy loam soil (sand 59%, silt 21%, clay 19%, pH 7.4, EC 1.92 dS/m). The soil amendment with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 w/w% of SHNC enhanced the moisture retention significantly at field capacity compared to the untreated soil. Besides, in a separate experiment, seed germination and seedling growth of wheat was found to be notably improved with the application of SHNC. A delay in wilting of seedlings by 5-8 days was observed for SHNC-amended soil, thereby improving wheat plant growth and establishment.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and comparative DNA binding studies of Schiff base complexes derived from L-leucine and glyoxal

The mononuclear Schiff base complexes of the type, [ML(CH₃OH)₂] [M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)] have been synthesized by template condensation of l-leucine and glyoxal. The complexes have been characterized on the basis of the results of the elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements and spectroscopic studies viz, FT-IR, Mass, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra. The UV–vis and magnetic moment data revealed an octahedral geometry around Co(II), Ni(II) ion with distortion around Cu(II) ion complex confirmed by EPR data. The conductivity data show a non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies support that all the complexes exhibit a significant binding to calf thymus DNA.     

Synthesis and anti‐HIV activity of new chiral 1,2,4‐triazoles and 1,3,4‐thiadiazoles

5‐substituted 4‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐thiones 3 and 2‐substituted 5‐(4‐chlorophenylamino)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles 4 were prepared from the intermediate thiosemicarbazides 2 under basic and acidic conditions, respectively. The thiosemicarbazides, in turn, were prepared by the reaction of hydrazides 1 with 4‐chlorophenylisothiocyanate in MeOH. Some of the new synthesized compounds were assayed against HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 in MT‐4 cells. All the compounds were inactive except 3f , which showed an EC₅₀ value of 23.9 μg/mL and 9.9 μg/mL against HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 with a therapeutic index of 3 and 7, respectively. It means that compound 3f was cytotoxic to MT‐4 cells at CC₅₀ of 72.7 μg/mL in both strains. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:316–322, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20282     

Online antioxidant activity and ultra-performance LC-electrospray ionisation-quadrupole time-of-fight mass spectrometry for chemical fingerprinting of Indian polyherbal formulations

A HPLC–DAD–DPPH method was developed for evaluating the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical scavenging activity of ethylacetate extracts of different polyherbal formulations (draksarista, draksava, lohasava and arvindasava) by using RP-18e column. The ethylacetate extract from polyherbal, ‘draksarista’ exhibited maximum free radical scavenging activity (99.9 ± 0.38%) followed by draksava (99.8 ± 0.34%), lohasava (98.5 ± 0.30%) and arvindasava (42.3 ± 0.34%) at 100 μg mL^? 1. Simultaneously, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS) was used to study chemical composition of the ethylacetate extracts of formulations. The characteristic electrospray mass ionisation reveals the dominance of polyphenols and their glycosides in the four polyherbal formulations.     

Zn(II) Complexes with Quinoline Supported Amidate Ligands: Synthesis,Fluorescence, and Catalytic Activity

Zn(II) complexes of N-(quinolin-8-yl)picolinamide (HL¹) (1) and N²,N⁶-di(quinolin-8-yl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (H₂L²) (2) have been synthesized by deprotonation of the ligands and characterized by IR, NMR, and Single crystal X-ray crystallography. The mononuclear [Zn(L¹)₂] (3) and homodinuclear [Zn₂(L²)₂] (4) complexes are characterized by distorted octahedral geometries stabilized by hydrogen bonding and weak π···π interaction. The complexes demonstrate intense fluorescence bands in comparison with their corresponding ligands with well-distinguished intensity. The complexes act as efficient catalysts in various transesterification reactions. Among those, the best results have been achieved with complex 3 in conversion of 4-nitrophenylacetate into methyl acetate within 3 h.