Analysis of hybrid nanofluid behavior within a porous cavity including Lorentz forces and radiation impacts

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - We investigate the hybrid nanofluid convection transportation within a permeable medium in appearance of an externally applied magnetic force by...     

Effects of nonlinear thermal radiation and activation energy on modified second-grade nanofluid with Cattaneo–Christov expressions

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The aim of the current contribution is to exploit the effects of nonlinear thermal radiation and activation energy on the flow of modified second-grade...     

Binding Sites,Vibrations and Spin-Lattice Relaxation Times in Europium(II)-Based Metallofullerene Spin Qubits

To design molecular spin qubits with enhanced quantum coherence, a control of the coupling between the local vibrations and the spin states is crucial, which could be realized in principle by engineering molecular structures via coordination chemistry. To this end, understanding the underlying structural factors that govern the spin relaxation is a central topic. Here, we report the investigation of the spin dynamics in a series of chemically designed europium(II)-based endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs). By introducing a unique structural difference, i. e. metal-cage binding site, while keeping other molecular parameters constant between different complexes, these manifest the key role of the three low-energy metal-displacing vibrations in mediating the spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁). The temperature dependence of T₁ can thus be normalized by the frequencies of these low energy vibrations to show an unprecedentedly universal behavior for EMFs in frozen CS₂ solution. Our theoretical analysis indicates that this structural difference determines not only the vibrational rigidity but also spin-vibration coupling in these EMF-based qubit candidates.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for Neutral Red Dye Spectrophotometric Determination

Deep eutectic solvents (DES), which have low toxicity and are low cost, biodegradable, and easily synthesized, were used for the extraction of neutral red (NR) dye before its spectrophotometric analysis. DES, containing choline chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor and phenol as a hydrogen bond donor with a molar ratio of 1:2, was used for the extraction of NR dye from aqueous media. The possible interaction of different DESs with NR was studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimentally, a UV-visible spectrophotometer was used for the quantitative analysis. The most important parameters affecting method performance, such as pH, extraction temperature, DES type, its volume, THF volume, sonication time, and centrifugation time, were optimized. The developed method provides exceptional sensitivity in terms of LOD and LOQ, which were 2.2 and 7.3 µg/L respectively. The relative standard deviation was 1.35–1.5% (n = 10), and the pre-concentration factor was 40. The method was found to be linear in the range of 2–300 µg/L (R2 = 0.9967). The method was successfully used for the determination of NR in wastewater samples. Finally, the DES-based method presents operational simplicity, high sensitivity, and rapid determination (<5 min) compared with other analytical procedures.     

Thiourea-Capped Nanoapatites Amplify Osmotic Stress Tolerance in Zea mays L. by Conserving Photosynthetic Pigments,Osmolytes Biosynthesis and Antioxidant Biosystems

Salinity is one of the most prevalent abiotic stresses which not only limits plant growth and yield, but also limits the quality of food products. This study was conducted on the surface functionalization of phosphorus-rich mineral apatite nanoparticles (ANPs), with thiourea as a source of nitrogen (TU–ANPs) and through a co-precipitation technique for inducing osmotic stress tolerance in Zea mays. The resulting thiourea-capped apatite nanostructure (TU–ANP) was characterized using complementary analytical techniques, such as EDX, SEM, XRD and IR spectroscopy. The pre-sowing of soaked seeds of Zea mays in 1.00 µg/mL, 5.00 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL of TU–ANPs yielded growth under 0 mM, 60 mM and 100 mM osmotic stress of NaCl. The results show that Ca and P salt acted as precursors for the synthesis of ANPs at an alkaline pH of 10–11. Thiourea as a source of nitrogen stabilized the ANPs’ suspension medium, leading to the synthesis of TU–ANPs. XRD diffraction analysis validated the crystalline nature of TU–ANPs with lattice dimensions of 29 nm, calculated from FWHM using the Sherrer equation. SEM revealed spherical morphology with polydispersion in size distribution. EDS confirmed the presence of Ca and P at a characteristic KeV, whereas IR spectroscopy showed certain stretches of binding functional groups associated with TU–ANPs. Seed priming with TU–ANPs standardized germination indices (T50, MGT, GI and GP) which were significantly declined by NaCl-based osmotic stress. Maximum values for biochemical parameters, such as sugar (39.8 mg/g at 10 µg/mL), protein (139.8 mg/g at 10 µg/mL) and proline (74.1 mg/g at 10 µg/mL) were recorded at different applied doses of TU–ANP. Antioxidant biosystems in the form of EC 1.11.1.6 catalase (11.34 IU/g FW at 10 µg/mL), EC 1.11.1.11 APX (0.95 IU/G FW at 10 µg/mL), EC 1.15.1.1 SOD (1.42 IU/g FW at 5 µg/mL), EC 1.11.1.7 POD (0.43 IU/g FW at 5 µg/mL) were significantly restored under osmotic stress. Moreover, photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll A (2.33 mg/g at 5 µg/mL), chlorophyll B (1.99 mg/g at 5 µg/mL) and carotenoids (2.52 mg/g at 10 µg/mL), were significantly amplified under osmotic stress via the application of TU–ANPs. Hence, the application of TU–ANPs restores the growth performance of plants subjected to induced osmotic stress.     

In Vitro Study of the Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant,Immunostimulant, and Hemolytic Activities of Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) and Lepidium sativum Seeds

The Moroccan flora abounds and is an important reserve of medicinal plants. Nigella sativa and Lepidium sativum are plants that are widely used in traditional medicine for their multiple therapeutic properties. The current study aims to highlight the biological activities that can justify and valorize the use of these plants. Flavonoids, total phenols, condensed tannins, and sugars were determined. The biological activities tested were antioxidant by determining the IC₅₀ (defined as the concentration of an antioxidant required to decrease the initial concentration by 50%; inversely related to the antioxidant capacity), hemagglutination, and hemolytic activities. Phytochemical quantification of the seed extracts indicated that the total phenol content was largely similar for both plants and in the order of 10 mg GAE (Gallic acid equivalent)/g. On the other hand, L. sativum seeds registered a higher content of flavonoids (3.09 ± 0.04 mg QE (quercetin equivalent)/g) as compared to Nigella saliva (0.258 ± 0.058). Concerning condensed tannins, N. saliva seeds present a higher amount with a value of 7.2 ± 0.025 mg/g as compared to L. sativum (1.4 ± 0.22 mg/g). Concerning the total sugar content, L. sativum shows a higher content (67.86 ± 0.87 mg/g) as compared to N. sativa (58.17 ± 0.42 mg/g); it is also richer in mucilage with a content of 240 mg as compared to 8.2 mg for N. saliva. Examination of the antioxidant activity using a DPPH (2.2-diphenyl 1-pycrilhydrazyl) test revealed that the EButOH (n-butanol extract) and EAE (ethyl acetate extract) extracts were the most active, with IC₅₀ values of 48.7 and 50.65 μg/mL for the N. sativa extracts and 15.7 and 52.64 μg/mL for the L. sativum extracts, respectively. The results of the hemagglutination activity of the different extracts of the two plants prepared in the PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) medium showed significant agglutination for the L. sativum extract (1/50) compared to the N. sativa extract (1/20). An evaluation of the hemolytic effect of the crude extract of the studied seeds on erythrocytes isolated from rat blood incubated in PBS buffer compared to the total hemolysis induced by distilled water showed a hemolysis rate of 54% for Nigella sativa and 34% for L. sativum. In conclusion, the two plants studied in the current work exhibited high antioxidant potential, which could explain their beneficial properties.     

Assessment of Binary Agarose–Carbopol Buccal Gels for Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery: Ex Vivo and In Vivo Characterization

Agarose (AG) is a naturally occurring biocompatible marine seaweed extract that is converted to hydrocolloid gel in hot water with notable gel strength. Currently, its mucoadhesion properties have not been fully explored. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the mucoadhesive potential of AG binary dispersions in combination with Carbopol 934P (CP) as mucoadhesive gel preparations. The gels fabricated via homogenization were evaluated for ex vivo mucoadhesion, swelling index (SI), dissolution and stability studies. The mucoadhesive properties of AG were concentration dependent and it was improved by the addition of CP. Maximum mucoadhesive strength (MS) (27.03 g), mucoadhesive flow time (FT) (192.2 min), mucoadhesive time in volunteers (MT) (203.2 min) and SI (23.6% at 4 h) were observed with formulation F9. The mucoadhesive time investigated in volunteers (MT) was influenced by AG concentration and was greater than corresponding FT values. Formulations containing 0.3%, w/v AG (F3 and F9) were able to sustain the release (~99%) for both drugs till 3 h. The optimized formulation (F9) did not evoke any inflammation, irritation or pain in the buccal cavity of healthy volunteers and was also stable up to 6 months. Therefore, AG could be considered a natural and potential polymer with profound mucoadhesive properties to deliver drugs through the mucosal route.     

Synthesis of 7,8-benzo-9-aza-4-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-ones by sequential ‘condensation–iodolactonization’ reactions of 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)ketene acetals with isoquinolines

Functionalized 7,8-benzo-9-aza-4-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-ones were prepared by regio- and diastereoselective condensation of 1,1-bis(silyloxy)ketene acetals with isoquinolinium salts and subsequent regioselective and stereospecific iodolactonization.     

The Potential of Microencapsulated Self-healing Materials for Microcracks Recovery in Self-healing Composite Systems: A Review

The autonomic self-healing materials based on microcapsules have made major advancements for the repairing of microcracks in polymers and polymer composite systems. Self-healing encapsulated materials have the inborn ability to heal polymeric composites after being damaged by chemical and mechanical progressions. These intelligent micro-encapsulated self-healing materials possess great capabilities for recovering the mechanical as well aesthetic properties and barrier properties of the polymeric structures. Based on real world observations and experimental data, it is believed that microcracks and microcracking in polymeric materials can result because of many chemical and physical routes and is one of the foremost critical issues for polymeric materials. Especially in polymeric coatings, these microcracks can lead towards disastrous failure, and conventional healing systems like patching and welding cannot be used to repair microcracks at such a micro-level. Self-healing materials, especially, capsule based self-healing materials is a new field sought as an alternative to the conventional repairing techniques, requiring no manual intrusion and uncovering. This review covers the basic and major aspects of the microencapsulated self-healing approach like the effect of synthesis parameters on the size of microcapsules, healing efficiency determination, and the potential of the existing developed microencapsulated agents.     

Restricted access-activated carbon clothes-based lead extraction from human serum: skipping the sample preparation step for biological media

In this study, a new microextraction technique has been proposed which has the capability to extract lead (Pb) from human blood serum. Pb was directly extracted without any pretreatment step, whereas all the serum proteins were excluded. Initially, the surface of activated carbon cloths was decorated with bovine serum albumin using glutaraldehyde as cross-linker to prepare restricted-access-activated carbon cloths (RACCs). RACCs were then fixed in a filter holder to form a sorbent cartridge fixed at the tip of a syringe system coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Experimental parameters that could possibly influence the extraction procedure were optimised. The limits of detection and quantification obtained were 1.9 and 6.3 μg L^?1, respectively. Pb recoveries in fortified human serum samples were found in the range of 92.2–103.9%. The procedure was effectively used for Pb extraction in real samples devoid of any pretreatment step.