Reliable and reproducible colorimetric detection of mercury ions (Hg2+) using green synthesized optically active silver nanoparticles containing thin film on flexible plastic substrate

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Green synthesis of optically active silver nanoparticles (Ag) containing thin film on flexible plastic strip substrate has been carried using guava leaf...     

Analysis of Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Response to the Enhancement of 5-aminolevulinic Acid-mediated Protoporphyrin IX Fluorescence by Iron Chelator Deferoxamine†

As a tumor photodiagnostic agent, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is metabolized in the heme biosynthesis pathway to produce protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) with fluorescence. ALA-PpIX fluorescence was evaluated in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines and non-tumor HK-2 cell lines. We found that extracellular PpIX level was correlated with ABCG2 activity, illustrating its importance as a PpIX efflux transporter. Extracellular PpIX was also related to the K_m of ferrochelatase (FECH) that chelates PpIX with ferrous iron to form heme. The V_max of FECH was higher in all RCC cell lines tested than in the HK-2 cell line. TCGA dataset analysis indicates a positive correlation between FECH expression and RCC patient survival. These findings suggest FECH as an important biomarker in RCC. Effects of iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) on the enhancement of PpIX fluorescence were assessed. DFO increased intracellular PpIX in both tumor and non-tumor cells, resulting in no gain in tumor/non-tumor fluorescence ratios. DFO appeared to increase ALA-PpIX more at 1-h than at 4-h treatment. There was an inverse correlation between ALA-PpIX fluorescence and the enhancement effect of DFO. These results suggest that enhancement of ALA-PpIX by DFO may be limited by the availability of ferrous iron in mitochondria following ALA administration.     

Dy3+ emission in M5(PO4)3F (M = Ca, Ba) phosphor

Ultrafine M₅(PO₄)₃F:Dy³⁺ (M = Ca, Ba) phosphors were prepared via combustion process using metal nitrates as precursors. The formation of crystalline phosphate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern. The PL excitation spectra show the excitation peaks observed at 250 to 400 nm due to f → f transition of Dy³⁺ ion, which are useful for solid-state lighting purpose (mercury free excitation). The PL emission of Dy³⁺ ion by 348 nm excitation gave an emission at 489 nm (blue), 582 nm (yellow) and 675 nm (red). All the characteristics of BYR emissions like BGR indicate that Dy doped Ca₅(PO₄)₃F and Ba₅(PO₄)₃F phosphors are good candidates that can be applied in solid-state lighting phosphor (mercury free excited lamp phosphor) and white light LED.      

Nanocrystalline gadolinium iron garnet for circulator applications

Due to high resistivity and low microwave losses, gadolinium iron garnets (GdIG) are useful materials for non-reciprocal devices such as circulators or isolators. Keeping the miniaturization and cost reduction in mind, the trend is to modify the conventional methods of preparation of samples. In this connection we have synthesized nanocystalline GdIG by using the Microwave Hydrothermal method at 160 °C/45 min. As synthesized powders were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. XRD patterns show the formation of a garnet phase with crystallite size varying between 19 nm and 40 nm. Differential Thermal Analysis studies were also carried out on the nanopowders. The powders were densified at a lower sintering temperature of 1100 °C/45 min using a microwave sintering method. The sintered samples were characterized by XRD and atomic force microscopy. The frequency dependence of complex permittivity and ferromagnetic resonance were measured in the K_a band frequency (27–40 GHz). Magnetic properties were also measured at room temperature.     

Particle Sizing Using Frequency Domain Photon Migration

The transport properties of particulate process streams and their final product quality, are directly affected by critical parameters of particle size distribution, f(x), and volume, mass, or number density of particles or dispersed phase droplets. A method is proposed for the potential on-line monitoring of particle size distribution and volume fraction in real time, using frequency-domain photon migration measurements (FDPM). Theory, experimental measurements, and results for the determination of particle size distributions for both a polystyrene latex and a titanium dioxide suspension determined using the photon migration technique are presented. The critical issues associated with the application of photon migration to particulate and dispersed phase processes are discussed, including the effects of interparticle interactions on the transport of light.     

Electric field effect in diluted magnetic insulator anatase Co: TiO2

An external electric field induced reversible modulation of a room temperature magnetic moment and coercive field is achieved in an epitaxial and insulating thin film of dilutely cobalt-doped anatase TiO2. This first demonstration of an electric field effect in any oxide-based diluted ferromagnet is realized in a high quality epitaxial heterostructure of PbZr(0.2)Ti(0.8)O(3)/Co: TiO(2)/SrRuO(3) grown on (001) LaAlO3. The observed effect, which is about 15% in strength in a given heterostructure, can be modulated over several cycles. Possible mechanisms for electric field induced modulation of insulating ferromagnetism are discussed.     

Liquid-liquid extraction of tungsten(VI) with mesityl oxide application to an alloy steel

A new and simple method has been developed for the rapid extraction of tungsten(VI) with mesityl oxide. Quantitative extraction occurs from solutions 1M in hydrochloric acid and 12M in lithium chloride (as the salting-out agent) with 75% mesityl oxide in isobutyl methyl ketone. Tungsten is finally determined photometrically as the thiocyanate complex in the aqueous phase. Tungsten-(VI) can be extracted and determined satisfactorily in the presence of several elements. The method is shown to be applicable to an alloy steel.     

Determination of trace concentrations of thorium in uranium oxide matrix by epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis

An epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis (EINAA) method using cadmium filter was standardized to determine trace concentrations of thorium in four samples of uranium oxide (U₃O₈) samples. Samples and thorium standards, wrapped with cadmium foil, were irradiated at a reactor neutron flux of about 10¹² cm^?2 s^?1. Radioactive assay was carried out using a Compton suppressed anticoincidence gamma ray spectrometer consisting of HPGe-BGO detectors coupled to MCA. Concentrations of thorium in these samples were found to be in the range of 15–72 mg kg^?1. EINAA results were validated by determining thorium concentrations in uranium matrix by standard addition method. EINAA results were compared with those obtained by two wet chemical methods namely ion chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results obtained by the three methods were found to be in good agreement, indicating further validity of the proposed EINAA method.     

Catalytic Sc(OTf)3 mediated direct asymmetric aldol reaction of (−)-menthyl isothiocyanatoacetate with aldehydes by using (−)-menthol as chiral auxiliary

This method involves the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of (−)-menthyl isothiocyanatoacetate 5 with a variety of substituted aromatic aldehydes, which offers a convenient method for the synthesis of intermediate containing biologically relevant α-amino β-hydroxyl groups in oxazolidine ring. In this methodology, the products show remarkable diastereoselectivity using Sc(OTf)₃ as a catalyst and easily accessible (−)-menthol as a chiral auxiliary. This approach includes some important aspects such as mild reaction conditions, high yields, and excellent diastereoselectivity with a number of substituted aromatic aldehydes. The optimization and effect of different catalysts were studied at different reaction conditions and it is found that Sc(OTf)₃ shows excellent diastereoselectivity at −45°C.