Polarization resolved reflection from ordered vertical silicon nanowire arrays

We measure polarization resolved reflections from ordered vertical silicon nanowire arrays of two different diameters and compare the results to rigorous coupled wave analysis simulations. Ellipsometric analysis based on anisotropic effective-medium approximation is used to fit the experimental data and estimate the diameter and length of the nanowires. In addition, depolarization of light is observed for wavelengths below 400 nm.     

Comparative studies of volatile oil composition of Rhododendron anthopogon by hydrodistillation, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and head space analysis

Volatile oil composition of the leaves of Rhododendron anthopogon (Ericaceae) growing wild in alpine Western Himalaya was studied using different extraction techniques including SC-CO(2) extraction and hydrodistillation (HD). Results from different extraction methodologies were compared with headspace analysis (HS) and evaluated for the effectiveness of techniques in characterisation of various terpene categories and to assess their influence on the yield and composition of volatiles. Variability in constituents and in quantitative yields was observed. The results varied with different extraction methods. A total of 27 constituents in SC-CO(2) extraction, 31 in HD and 17 in HS analysis were identified. Constituents in SC-CO(2) and HD oils were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. SC-CO(2) extraction was carried out at 40°C and 140 bar pressure and the oil represented by major constituents as β-caryophyllene (5.96%), α-humulene (4.06%) and p-menthadiene-2,9-diol (7.28%); in HD, oil limonene (11.26%), β-caryophyllene (11.62%), α-humulene (7.22%), and E-nerolidol (5.83%) dominated the oil and in HS analysis, limonene (24.14%), γ-terpinene (40.73%), α-terpinene (4.92%), β-phellandrene (3.44%) and β-ocimene (7.15%) were present as major constituents.     

Pathways for the thermally induced dehydrogenation of C60H2

The thermolysis of C₆₀H₂ to yield C₆₀ and H₂ was studied by hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311G**//B3LYP/3-21G). The concerted loss of dihydrogen requires an activation energy of 92 kcalmol⁻¹ atT=452 K. An alternative radical mechanism, which is first order in the C₆₀H₂ concentration, has an activation energy at 452 K of only 61 kcalmol⁻¹. Monitoring of the C₆₀H₂ decomposition in 1,2-dichloro-[D₄]-benzene solution by NMR spectroscopy indicates a pseudo first-order reaction with an activation energy of 61.38±2.35 kcalmol⁻¹.     

Electrochemical sensor for predicting transformer overload by phenol measurement

Transformer overload is a significant problem to the power transmission industry, with severe safety and cost implications. Overload may be predicted by measuring phenol levels in the transformer-insulating oil, arising from the thermolytic degradation of phenol-formaldehyde resins. The development of two polyphenol oxidase (PPO) sensors, based on monitoring the enzymatic consumption of oxygen using an oxygen electrode, or reduction of enzymatically generated o-quinone at a screen-printed electrode (SPE), for the measurement of phenol in transformer oil is reported. Ex-service oils were prepared either by extraction into aqueous electrolyte-buffer, or by direct dilution in propan-2-ol, the latter method being more amenable to simple at-line operation. The oxygen electrode, with a sensitivity of 2.87 nA μg⁻¹ ml⁻¹, RSD of 7.0-19.9% and accuracy of ±8.3% versus the industry standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) method, proved superior to the SPE (sensitivity: 3.02 nA μg⁻¹ ml⁻¹; RSD: 8.9-18.3%; accuracy: ±7.9%) and was considerably more accurate at low phenol concentrations. However, the SPE approach is more amenable to field-based usage for reasons of device simplicity. The method has potential as a rapid and simple screening tool for the at-site monitoring of phenol in transformer oils, thereby reducing incidences of transformer failure.     

Profiling Differential Expression of Cellulases and Metabolite Footprints in Aspergillus terreus

This study reports differential expression of endoglucanase (EG) and β-glucosidase (βG) isoforms of Aspergillus terreus. Expression of multiple isoforms was observed, in presence of different carbon sources and culture conditions, by activity staining of poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis gels. Maximal expression of four EG isoforms was observed in presence of rice straw (28 U/g DW substrate) and corn cobs (1.147 U/ml) under solid substrate and shake flask culture, respectively. Furthermore, the sequential induction of EG isoforms was found to be associated with the presence of distinct metabolites (monosaccharides/oligosaccharides) i.e., xylose (X), G₁, G₃ and G₄ as well as putative positional isomers (G₁/G₂, G₂/G₃) in the culture extracts sampled at different time intervals, indicating specific role of these metabolites in the sequential expression of multiple EGs. Addition of fructose and cellobiose to corn cobs containing medium during shake flask culture resulted in up-regulation of EG activity, whereas addition of mannitol, ethanol and glycerol selectively repressed the expression of three EG isoforms (Ia, Ic and Id). The observed regulation profile of βG isoforms was distinct when compared to EG isoforms, and addition of glucose, fructose, sucrose, cellobiose, mannitol and glycerol resulted in down-regulation of one or more of the four βG isoforms.     

Microplate based optical biosensor for l-Dopa using tyrosinase from Amorphophallus campanulatus

Developing a biosensor which is capable of simultaneously monitoring l-Dopa levels in multiple samples besides requiring small reaction volume is of great value. The present study describes the detection of l-Dopa using tyrosinase enzyme extracted from Amorphophallus campanulatus and immobilized on the surface of the microplate wells. Among the different approaches used for immobilizing tyrosinase onto the microplate wells, glutaraldehyde treatment was found to be most effective. Besides enzyme activity, ESEM–EDS (environmental scanning electron microscope–energy dispersive system) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were also carried out to confirm the immobilization of tyrosinase enzyme onto the microplate well surface. This immobilized biocomponent was then integrated with an optical transducer for l-Dopa detection and it showed good reproducibility. The sensing property of the system was studied by measuring the initial rate of dopachrome formation at 475 nm. The calibration plot gave a linear range of detection from 10–1000 μM and the detection limit was calculated to be 3 μM. The immobilized biocomponent was stable for 41 days and was reused up to nine times. Spiked samples (blood plasma) were also analyzed using this biocomponent. This microplate based biosensor thus provides a convenient system for detection of multiple samples in a single run.     

Principal components analysis for the visualisation of multidimensional chemical data acquired by scanning Raman microspectroscopy

Raman microspectroscopy is ideally suited to surface analysis as it allows detailed chemical information to be acquired from surfaces at a relatively high spatial resolution (typically 1 microm). Using a motorised sample table or probe, it is possible to raster scan a surface to obtain spatially resolved chemical information. Visualisation of the acquired data is a problem, however, as the spectrum acquired at each point can contain several hundred individual intensity measurements. Existing visualisation methods are limited to plotting each scanned point with an intensity determined from the measured intensity at a single wavenumber, or the similarly between the point's spectrum and a reference spectrum. Such methods are wasteful as a lot of acquired information is discarded, and results are prone to misinterpretation due to background variance and instrumental noise. In this paper we introduce a new method that uses principal components analysis (PCA) to reduce the spectrum at each point to three factors that are then used to define the red, green and blue components of the corresponding point on a false colour map. To increase the effective resolution, interpolation is used to approximate the colours corresponding to points between those actually scanned. To demonstrate the technique, the internal surface of a beverage can, contaminated with a 40 microm diameter carbonised oven impurity, consisting mainly of sp2- and sp3-hybridised saturated carbon bonds, has been used as a case study.     

Bio-inspired Design of Bidirectional Oxygen Reduction and Oxygen Evolution Reaction Molecular Electrocatalysts

The proper utilization of renewable energy sources has emerged as a major challenge in our pursuit of a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy landscape. Small molecule activation is a key component for proper utilization of renewable energy resources, where O₂/H₂O redox couple is reckoned to be a potential game changer. In this regard, electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have become the prime interest of catalyst designers. Typically, these ORR and OER electrocatalysts are developed distinctly; however, very soon, the requirement of a bidirectional ORR/OER electrocatalyst becomes obvious for practical applicability and rapid energy transduction purposes. A bidirectional catalyst is defined as a catalyst capable of driving a redox reaction in opposing directions. This review has portrayed the development of enzyme structure-inspired design of molecular bidirectional ORR/OER catalysts. The strategic incorporation of secondary and outer coordination sphere features has significantly enhanced the performance of these catalysts, which can be monitored via the key catalytic parameters. These bifunctional OER/ORR catalysts are vital for metal-air battery and fuel cell applications and appropriately poised to lay the foundation for an efficient, economical, and eco-friendly pathway for sustainable energy usage with the rational assembly of energy converting and storage devices.     

A simple and controlled oxidative decontamination of sulfur mustard and its simulants using ozone gas

A simple and efficient oxidative decontamination method was developed for sulfur mustard (HD), a potential chemical warfare agent. The method involves treatment of chemical warfare agent HD and its simulants, i.e., dimethyl sulfide, diethyl sulfide, and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide with ozone gas at ambient conditions in acetonitrile solvent. Ozone gas readily oxidizes sulfur mustard in a controlled manner to give its corresponding nontoxic sulfoxide. This transformation is selective and takes place even at subzero temperatures. The oxidation products of HD and its simulants were monitored and quantified by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.     

Pharmacophore modelling,atom-based 3D-QSAR generation and virtual screening of molecules projected for mPGES-1 inhibitory activity

COX-2 inhibitors exhibit anticancer effects in various cancer models but due to the adverse side effects associated with these inhibitors, targeting molecules downstream of COX-2 (such as mPGES-1) has been suggested. Even after calls for mPGES-1 inhibitor design, to date there are only a few published inhibitors targeting the enzyme and displaying anticancer activity. In the present study, we have deployed both ligand and structure-based drug design approaches to hunt novel drug-like candidates as mPGES-1 inhibitors. Fifty-four compounds with tested mPGES-1 inhibitory value were used to develop a model with four pharmacophoric features. 3D-QSAR studies were undertaken to check the robustness of the model. Statistical parameters such as r² = 0.9924, q² = 0.5761 and F test = 1139.7 indicated significant predictive ability of the proposed model. Our QSAR model exhibits sites where a hydrogen bond donor, hydrophobic group and the aromatic ring can be substituted so as to enhance the efficacy of the inhibitor. Furthermore, we used our validated pharmacophore model as a three-dimensional query to screen the FDA-approved Lopac database. Finally, five compounds were selected as potent mPGES-1 inhibitors on the basis of their docking energy and pharmacokinetic properties such as ADME and Lipinski rule of five.