Preparation,surface state and band structure studies of SrTi(1 − x)Fe(x)O(3 − δ) (x = 0–1) perovskite-type nano structure by X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy

In this report, SrTi_(1 ? x)Fe_(x)O_(3 ? δ) photocatalyst powder was synthesized by a high temperature solid state reaction method. The morphology, crystalline structures of obtained samples, was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The electronic properties and local structure of the perovskite STF_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) systems have been probed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The effects of iron doping level x (x = 0–1) on the crystal structure and chemical state of the STF_x have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the valence band edges for electronic band gaps were obtained for STF_x by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). A single cubic perovskite phase of STF_x oxide was successfully obtained at 1200 °C for 24 h by the solid state reaction method. The XPS results showed that the iron present in the STF_x perovskite structure is composed of a mixture of Fe³⁺ and Fe⁴⁺ (SrTi_(1 ? x)[Fe³⁺, Fe⁴⁺]_(x)O_(3 ? δ)). When the content x of iron doping was increased, the amount of Fe³⁺ and Fe⁴⁺ increased significantly and the oxygen lattice decreased on the surface of STF_x oxide. The UPS data has confirmed that with more substitution of iron, the position of the valence band decreased.     

Adsorption of Cu2+ from aqueous solution onto iron oxide coated eggshell powder: Evaluation of equilibrium,isotherms, kinetics,and regeneration capacity

This study explored the adsorption behavior of Cu²⁺ onto iron oxide coated eggshell powder (IOESP) from aqueous solution. The effect of various operational parameters such as pH, contact time, initial adsorbate concentration, surfactant, and temperature on adsorption of Cu²⁺ ions was investigated using batch adsorption experiments. The optimum pH for Cu²⁺ adsorption was found to be 6.0. Kinetics of adsorption was found to follow the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The suitability of Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models to the equilibrium data was investigated. The adsorption was well described by the Freundlich isotherm model indicating the presence of heterogeneous sites for Cu²⁺ adsorption. The adsorption of Cu²⁺ was increased in the presence of anionic surfactant (SDS) while cationic surfactant (CTAB) shows no significant change in adsorption capacity. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of Cu²⁺ onto IOESP was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic. Regeneration studies were performed using HCl, HCOOH, EDTA, and NaOH as eluting agent for Cu²⁺ desorption from saturated IOESP and the maximum regeneration was observed with HCl.     

Thermal properties of polyimide system containing silicone segments

The influence of the structure properties relationships of silicone incorporated polyimide (PI) on thermal stability was investigated by using single scan thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in nitrogen. Four systems have been synthesized based on monomer 4-(4-(1-(4-(4-aminophenoxy) phenyl)-1-methylethyl) phenoxy) aniline (BAPP)/3,3??,4,4??-Biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride including parent PI (S-1), PI siloxane copolymer (S-2 and S-3), and PI siloxane hybrid (S-4). The derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) and DSC curves indicate a double and single stage decomposition process and glass transition temperature (T _g), respectively. While the PI, PIS, and PSH showed distinctive features towards thermal analysis, it was found that the rate of degradation (???/??t) was influenced by the flexibility of Si?CO?CSi in the backbone and in Si?CO?CSi itself. These results revealed that the presence of Si?CO?CSi in either the backbone or matrix indicates its stability with regard to high thermal service applications.     

Phorbol Esters from Jatropha Meal Triggered Apoptosis, Activated PKC-δ, Caspase-3 Proteins and Down-Regulated the Proto-Oncogenes in MCF-7 and HeLa Cancer Cell Lines

Jatropha meal produced from the kernel of Jatropha curcas Linn. grown in Malaysia contains phorbol esters (PEs). The potential benefits of PEs present in the meal as anticancer agent are still not well understood. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic effects and mode of actions of PEs isolated from Jatropha meal against breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. Isolated PEs inhibited cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner of both MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines with the IC₅₀ of 128.6 ± 2.51 and 133.0 ± 1.96 μg PMA equivalents/mL respectively, while the values for the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) as positive control were 114.7 ± 1.73 and 119.6 ± 3.73 μg/mL, respectively. Microscopic examination showed significant morphological changes that resemble apoptosis in both cell lines when treated with PEs and PMA at IC₅₀ concentration after 24 h. Flow cytometry analysis and DNA fragmentation results confirmed the apoptosis induction of PEs and PMA in both cell lines. The PEs isolated from Jatropha meal activated the PKC-δ and down-regulated the proto-oncogenes (c-Myc, c-Fos and c-Jun). These changes probably led to the activation of Caspase-3 protein and apoptosis cell death occurred in MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines upon 24 h treatment with PEs and PMA. Phorbol esters of Jatropha meal were found to be promising as an alternative to replace the chemotherapeutic drugs for cancer therapy.     

Compositional Study and Antioxidant Potential of <em>Ipomoea hederacea</em> Jacq. and <em>Lepidium sativum</em> L. Seeds

The present investigation has been carried out to determine the proximate composition, amino acids, metal contents, oil composition as well as the antioxidant capacity of the seeds of Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. and Lepidium sativum L. Proximate composition indicated a great difference in oil (14.09 ± 0.66, 28.03 ± 1.05) and fibre (16.55 ± 0.31, 6.75 ± 1.20) contents for I. hederacea and L. sativum, respectively. Fatty acid profile indicated that oleic acid (19.50 ± 0.37, 30.50 ± 0.16) and linoleic acid (52.09 ± 0.48, 8.60 ± 0.38) are the major fatty acids. γ-Tocopherol and d-tocopherol (28.70 ± 0.14, 111.56 ± 0.37) were the most abundant in the seed oil of I. hederacea and L. sativum, respectively. Results of TEAC, FRAP and TRAP antioxidant assays indicated that L. sativum has much greater antioxidant potential than I. hederacea.     

Electrophoretic deposited MWCNT composite graphite pencils and its uses to determine hyperin

A simple, fast, and effective method of fabricating electrochemical sensors using composite pencil graphite (CPG) lead modified with carboxylic multiwalled carbon nanotube (c-MWCNT) via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has been developed. The EPD of c-MWCNT film on the CPG electrode (CPGE) was carried out at a constant applied potential of 25?V and deposition time of 1?min. The electrochemical performances of the modified CPGE, i.e., c-MWCNT/CPGE, in Fe(CN) ₆ ^4?/3? has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The c-MWCNT/CPGE has better current density, onset potentials, and charge transfer resistances than the CPGE. The c-MWCNT/CPGE has been successfully used to analyze hyperin in dry fruits of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus.     

Surface modification and wear test of carbon steel by plasma electrolytic nitrocarburizing

Plasma electrolytic nitrocarburizing (PEN/C) was applied to the surface of carbon steel under the boiling condition of saturated urea electrolyte. In addition to the general effect of the bath temperature, different applied voltages and processing times were also considered in this new process. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, microhardness and pin‐on‐disc wear tests were used to characterize the PEN/C‐treated surfaces. A mixture of θ‐(Fe₃C) and ε‐(Fe_2–3N) was found in the compound layers. At certain conditions, dense surface layers with minimum porosity were observed at the top of the samples. The boiling condition resulted in special character of the compound layers on the surface. The layers consisted of some irregularities grown inward the samples andaffected the characteristics of the surface layers. The microhardness of the PEN/C‐treated layers increased up to 1280 HV0.1, which was 3 to 4 times higher than that for untreated material and higher than that obtained by other investigators (750 HV0.1). PEN/C decreased the wear loss of carbon steel significantly due to the change of the adhesive wear of untreated material to the abrasive mode of treated surfaces. The major advantage of this technique was a higher growth rate of the nitrocarburized layers and a more significant improvement in the tribological performance of the treated samples if compared to similarly oriented surface treatments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrooxidation of chloro, nitro, and amino substituted phenols in aqueous medium and their heterogeneous kinetics

The present study deals with the electrochemical investigation of seven different phenols through cyclic voltammetry (CV). Phenols can be partly eliminated from aqueous solutions by electrochemically initiated polymerization. Thus, the basic CV behavior was studied under the optimized conditions such as; pH of the medium, concentration of the analyte, the supporting electrolyte, potential window, and scan rate. The CV curves of all of the phenols showed that the electro-polymerization phenomenon on the electrode surface causes surface fouling for further electrooxidation of these compounds. The influence of substituents in the ring was especially noted in terms of their tendency to foul the electrode surface. The formation of new intermediates during the electrooxidation was observed whose nature was found to be highly dependent on the type and position of the substituent. As far as the influence of pH is concerned, phenols in basic medium were electrooxidized earlier but with low current. Difference in CV response because of the substituent attached under varied pH was also noted. From the diffusion coefficient (D) and heterogeneous rate constant (k _sh) mixed nature of electron transfer process was proposed.     

ZnO nanoparticles and poly(acrylic) acid-based polymer gel electrolyte for photo electrochemical cell

This work presents a photo electrochemical cell based on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) doped with sodium iodide (NaI) and iodine (I₂) polymer gel electrolyte. The ZnO powders were synthesized by sol–gel storage and sol–gel centrifugation. The ZnO powder synthesized via sol–gel centrifugation showed the optimal structural properties, with largest crystallite sizes of 58 nm, average particles size between 20 and 80 nm and indirect band gap energy of 3.20 eV. The highest conductivity [(8.0 ± 0.1) × 10^?2 S cm^?1] was obtained for PAA + 0.8 M NaI + 0.02 M I₂. This sample achieved the lowest activation energy (0.029 eV) and electrochemical stability at 1.6 V. The ZnO powder synthesized via sol–gel centrifugation and PAA + 0.8 M NaI + 0.02 M I₂ was fabricated as a Cu–ZnO/PAA + 0.8 M NaI + 0.02 M I₂/C-ITO photo electrochemical cell.     

High-resolution MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of bacterial proteins using a Tris-EDTA buffer approach

The performance of matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) of bacterial proteins strongly depends on sample preparation. It is found that the mass spectral profiles obtained from direct MALDI-TOF MS of the protein extracts are much weaker for individual bacterial cells than compared to those prepared by the Tris-EDTA buffer approach (TEBA). Characteristic mass spectral peaks were observed in the mass range from 3,000 to 15,000?Da. The mass peaks reported earlier and claimed to serve as species-specific biomarkers are consistently found here as well. Mass peaks at m/z of 3636, 5466, 5750, 6315, 6547, 7274, 9192, and 9742 are found for Escherichia coli studied and assigned as specific biomarkers. Similarly, specific mass peaks have been identified at m/z 5443, 7270, 7724, and 9888 for Bacillus subtilis, and at 3603, 5496, 6800, 8858 and 9531 for Serratia marcescens. The detection limits for the three target bacteria range from 2.4?×?10⁵ to 3.3?×?10⁵?cfu·mL^-1. We conclude that the TE buffer approach can produce reliable data for rapid classification, high-resolution and highly sensitive detection of bacteria.