Synthesis and studies of antibacterial activity of pongaglabol

Pongaglabol [8-hydroxy-5-phenyl-furo[2,3-h]benzo(b)pyran-7-one] was synthesized and tested for antibacterial effects againstShigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus β-haemolyticus andStaphylococcus aureus. The synthesized compounds were characterized using UV, IR and¹H NMR spectral data     

Oxide semiconductors for solar to chemical energy conversion: nanotechnology approach

The present work considers the application of oxide semiconductors in the conversion of solar energy into the chemical energy required for water purification (removal of microbial cells and toxic organic compounds from water) and the generation of solar hydrogen fuel by photoelectrochemical water splitting. The first part of this work considers the concept of solar energy conversion by oxide semiconductors and the key performance-related properties, including electronic structure, charge transport, flat band potential and surface properties, which are responsible to the reactivity and photoreactivity of oxides with water. The performance of oxide systems for solar energy conversion is briefly considered in terms of an electronic factor. The progress of research in the formation of systems with high performance is considered in terms of specific aspects of nanotechnology, leading to the formation of systems with high performance. The nanotechnology approach in the development of high-performance photocatalysts is considered in terms of the effect of surface energy associated with the formation of nanostructured system on the formation of surface structures that exhibit outstanding properties. The unresolved problems that should be tackled in better understanding of the effect of nanostructures on properties and performance of oxide semiconductors in solar energy conversion are discussed. This part is summarised by a list of unresolved problems of crucial importance in the formation of systems with enhanced performance. This work also formulates the questions that must be addressed in order to overcome the hurdles in the formation of oxide semiconductors with high performance in water purification and the generation of solar fuel. The research strategy in the development of oxide systems with high performance, including photocatalysts for solar water purification and photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting, is considered. The considerations are focused on the systems based on titanium dioxide of different defect disorder as well as its solid solutions and composites.     

Analytical $$boldsymbol{alpha}boldsymbol{+}boldsymbol{alpha}$$ Potential for Energy Range between 6 and 280 MeV

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - In this work we derive analytically a real $$alpha+alpha$$ potential using the JLM effective nucleon–nucleon (NN) interaction. The aim is to obtain analytically...     

The influence of strain rate on the visibility of dislocations in transmission electron microscopy images of deformed Ti–6 wt% Al–4 wt% V and in Timet 550

Samples of Ti–6?wt%?Al–4?wt%?V and Timet 550 (Ti–4?wt%?Al–4?wt%?Mo–2?wt%?Sn–0.5?wt%?Si) have been subjected to strain rates between 10^?1 and 10³?s^?1and detailed examination of the dislocation structure in the α grains has been carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For samples deformed to a strain of 0.1 at 10^?1?s^?1, detailed analysis of the defects can be carried out using all diffracting vectors and the presence of (c +?a) dislocations and a dislocations thus confirmed. In contrast, for samples strained to the same strain of 0.1 but at 5?s^?1, it is not possible to obtain images of dislocations when using any diffracting vectors other than 0002. Thus the presence of dislocations which have a Burgers vector containing a c component can be confirmed in the samples strained at 5?s^?1 but the presence of a-component dislocations can only be inferred from TEM of these samples because of the difficulty of obtaining images with diffracting vectors other than 0002. Limited observations on samples strained at 10³?s^?1 show that similar difficulties are found in imaging dislocations as are found in samples deformed at 5?s^?1 but at this strain rate, the highest used, the difficulties are reduced since images can be obtained in some grains using diffracting vectors other than 0002. These results are discussed in terms of the nature of damage as a function of strain rate and the factors that influence contrast from dislocations in crystals.     

Photopyroelectric spectroscopy of Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> - ZnO ceramics

Photopyroelectric spectroscopy is used to study the band-gap energy of the ceramic (ZnO + xSb₂O₃), x = 0.1 - 1.5 mol% and the ceramic (ZnO + 0.4 mol%  Bi₂O₃ + xSb₂O₃), x = 0 - 1.5 mol% sintered at isothermal temperature, 1280 °C, for 1 and 2 hours. The wavelength of incident light, modulated at 9 Hz, is kept in the visible range and the photopyroelectric spectrum with reference to doping level is discussed. The band-gap energy is reduced from 3.2 eV, for pure ZnO, to 2.86, 2.83 eV for the samples without Bi₂O₃at 0.1 mol% of Sb₂O₃ for 1 and 2 hours of sintering time, respectively. It is reduced to 2.83, 2.80 eV for the samples with Bi₂O₃ at 0 mol% of Sb₂O₃ for 1 and 2 hours of sintering time, respectively. The steepness factor σ_A which characterizes the slop of exponential optical absorption is discussed with reference to the doping level. The phase constitution is determined by XRD analysis; microstructure and compositional analysis of the selected areas are analyzed using SEM and EDX.     

On the effects of using CO2 and F2 lasers to modify the wettability of a polymeric biomaterial

Enhancement of the surface properties of a material by means of laser radiation has been amply demonstrated previously. In this work a comparative study for the surface modification of nylon 6,6 has been conducted in order to vary the wettability characteristics using CO₂ and excimer lasers. This was done by producing 50 μm spaced (with depths between 1 and 10 μm) trench-like patterns using various laser parameters such as varying the laser power for the CO₂ laser and number of pulses for the excimer laser. Topographical changes were analysed using optical microscopy and white light interferometry which indicated that both laser systems can be implemented for modifying the topography of nylon 6,6. Variations in the surface chemistry were evaluated using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis which showed that the O₂ increased by up to 1.5 at% and decreased by up to 1.6 at% for the CO₂ and F₂ laser patterned samples, respectively. Modification of the wettability characteristics was quantified by measuring the advancing contact angle, which was found to increase in all instances for both laser systems. Emery paper roughened samples were also analysed in the same manner to determine that the topographical pattern played a major role in the wettability characteristics of nylon 6,6. From this, it is proposed that the increase in contact angle for the laser processed samples is due to a mixed intermediate state wetting regime owed to the periodic surface roughness brought about by the laser-induced trench-like topographical patterns.     

Antibacterial Effects of Flavonoids and Their Structure-Activity Relationship Study: A Comparative Interpretation

According to the latest report released by the World Health Organization, bacterial resistance to well-known and widely available antibacterial drugs has become a significant and severe global health concern and a grim challenge to tackle in order to cure infections associated with multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms efficiently. Consequently, various strategies have been orchestrated to cure the severe complications related to multidrug-resistant bacteria effectively. Some approaches involved the retardation of biofilm formation and multidrug-resistance pumps in bacteria as well as the discovery of new antimicrobial agents demonstrating different mechanisms of action. In this regard, natural products namely alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, anthraquinone, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, etc., have been suggested to tackle the multidrug-resistant bacterial strains owing to their versatile pharmacological effects. Amongst these, flavonoids, also known as polyphenolic compounds, have been widely evaluated for their antibacterial property due to their tendency to retard the growth of a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. The hydroxylation of C5, C7, C3′, and C4′; and geranylation or prenylation at C6 have been extensively studied to increase bacterial inhibition of flavonoids. On the other hand, methoxylation at C3′ and C5 has been reported to decrease flavonoids’ antibacterial action. Hence, the latest information on the antibacterial activity of flavonoids is summarized in this review, with particular attention to the structure–activity relationship of this broad class of natural compounds to discover safe and potent antibacterial agents as natural products.     

Effect of the End Groups and the Solvent on the Gelation of the Hybrid Materials from Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Oligo Phenylene Vinylene (OPV)

Abstract

The role of the end-groups of three oligophenylene vinylene (OPV) and the solvents on the hybrid materials from poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) and the OPV are examined. The gelation of the three organogel OPVs and of the hybrid materials in bromobenzene and benzyl alcohol was characterized. The morphology, as well as the thermodynamic properties, of these OPV and hybrid materials showed that they depended mostly on the solvent and very little on the different end-groups located on the OPV backbones.