Natural indoor gamma background in Coonoor environment of South India

Indoor natural radiation dose existing in dwellings of Coonoor have been estimated using thermoluminescent dosimeters. TLDs are displayed in indoors and are replaced after three-month period. The seasonal averages of the dose rate and the annual effective dose equivalent are calculated from the measured results. Geographical and seasonal variations as well as the differences between indoor to outdoor dose rates have also been studied. Very good correlation exists between the indoor dose rates measured by TLD and environmental radiation dosimeter with correlation coefficient of 0.91. The annual effective dose equivalent to the Coonoor population due to indoor gamma radiation was estimated to be 970 mSv/y for the period of 1997–1998.     

Three-component coupling reactions in ionic liquids: One-pot synthesis of isoxazolidines

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium based ionic liquids are found to accelerate significantly the intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones derived in situ from aldehydes and phenyl hydroxylamine, with electron deficient olefins to afford enhanced rates and improved yields of isoxazolidines with high regio- and diastereoselectivity.     

New methods of resolution and purification of racemic and diastereomeric amino alcohol derivatives using boric acid and chiral 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol

Resolution of the racemic amino alcohol derivatives 1-6 is readily achieved to obtain enantiomerically enriched compounds using chiral 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and boric acid in solvents such as CH(3)CN, THF, and MeOH. Purification of the diastereomeric mixture 7 has also been carried out following this method. The corresponding intermediate ammonium borate complexes were also characterized by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Mechanical,thermal and morphological behavior of bismaleimide modified polyurethane‐epoxy IPN matrices

An intercrosslinked network of bismaleimide modified polyurethane‐epoxy systems were prepared from the bismaleimide having ester linkages, polyurethane modified epoxy and cured in the presence of 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane. Infrared spectral analysis was used to confirm the grafting of polyurethane into the epoxy skeleton. The prepared matrices were characterized by mechanical, thermal and morphological studies. The results obtained from the mechanical and thermal studies reveal that the incorporation of polyurethane into the epoxy skeleton increases the mechanical strength and decreases the glass transition temperature, thermal stability and heat distortion temperature. Whereas, the incorporation of bismaleimide having ester linkages into polyurethane modified epoxy systems increases the thermal stability, tensile and flexural properties and decreases the impact strength, glass transition temperature and heat distortion temperature. Surface morphology of polyurethane modified epoxy and bismaleimide modified polyurethane‐epoxy systems were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bubble-induced acoustic micromixing

A mixing technique based on the principle of bubble-induced acoustic microstreaming was developed. The mixer consists of a piezoelectric disk that is attached to a reaction chamber, which is designed in such a way that a set of air bubbles with desirable size is trapped in the solution. Fluidic experiments showed that air bubbles resting on a solid surface and set into vibration by the sound field generated steady circulatory flows, resulting in global convection flows and thus rapid mixing. The time to fully mix a 22 microL chamber is significantly reduced from hours (for a pure diffusion-based mixing) to tens of seconds. Numerical simulations showed that the induced flowfield and thus degree of mixing strongly depend on bubble positions. Optimal simulated mixing results were obtained for staggered bubble distribution that minimizes the number of internal flow stagnation regions. Immunomagnetic cell capture experiments showed that acoustic microstreaming provided efficient mixing of bacterial cell (Esherichia coli K12) matrix suspended in blood with magnetic capture beads, resulting in highly effective immunomagnetic cell capture. Bacterial viability assay experiments showed that acoustic microstreaming has a relatively low shear strain field since the blood cells and bacteria remained intact after mixing. Acoustic microstreaming has many advantages over most existing chamber micromixing techniques, including simple apparatus, ease of implementation, low power consumption (2 mW), and low cost.     

The 2500–4000 cm−1 Raman and infrared spectra of low density amorphous solid water and of polycrystalline ice I

New measurements of the 2500–4000 cm^?1 region of the vibrational spectra of amorphous solid water, H₂O (as), and of polycrystalline ice I are reported. These data force the withdrawal of the interpretation of the Raman spectrum of H₂O (as) put forward by Venkatesh et al. A new interpretation, based on similarities between the spectra of the amorphous and polycrystalline solids, is proposed.     

A new entry to pyrazolo[4,3‐e][1,4]diazepines. Facile synthesis of pyrazolo [4,3‐e][1,4]diazepin‐5,8‐diones, 5,6,8‐triones and pyrazolo[4,3‐e]pyrrolo‐[1,2‐a][1,4]diazepin‐5,10‐diones

A facile approach to pyrazolo[4,3‐e][1,4]diazepin‐5,8‐diones and pyrazolo[4,3‐e]pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,4]‐diazepin‐5,10‐diones is reported. Strategy involved the utility of α‐amino acid as a three‐atom segment in the construction of diazepine skeleton on the preformed pyrazole ring.     

Pharmacological evaluation of some new 6-amino/methyl pyridine derivatives

In the present study, a series of 2-substituted-pyridines were synthesized and characterized by IR, (1)H-NMR and Elemental Analysis. The compounds were assayed against seizures induced by maximal electro shock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (scMet). Neurologic deficit was evaluated by the rotarod test. The decrease in the elevated motor activity by introceptive chemical stimuli (amphetamine antagonistic activity) was studied at the dose level of 25 and 50 mg/kg, antihistaminic and cardiac activity were also studied. All the compounds exhibited significant anticonvulsant activity. Compounds 2-(2-hydroxy-3-piperazinopropylamino)-6-aminopyridine, 2-[2-hydroxy-3-(1-imidazolyl)propylamino]-6-aminopyridine, 2-[2-(1-imidazolyl)ethylamino]-6-methylpyridine and 2-[2-(methylamino)ethylamino]-6-methylpyridine were most active of the series against MES-induced seizures. Compounds 2-[2-(phenylamino)ethylamino]-6-aminopyridine, 2-[2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]ethylamino]-6-aminopyridine, 2-[2-(diethylamino)ethylamino]-6-methylpyridine and 2-[2-hydroxy-3-(1-imidazolyl)propylamino]-6-methylpyridine exhibited significant decrease in the elevated motor activity at the dose of 50 mg/kg. Remarkable sympathetic blocking activity was observed with 2-(2-hydroxy-3-piperazinopropylamino)-6-aminopyridine, 2-(2-hydroxy-3-morpholinopropylamino)-6-methylpyridine and 2-(2-hydroxy-3-piperazinopropylamino)-6-methylpyridine only. Compounds 2-[2-(diethylamino)ethylamino]-6-aminopyridine, 2-[2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]ethylamino]-6-aminopyridine, and 2-[2-(diethylamino)ethylamino]-6-methylpyridine exhibited significant blocking of histamine induced contraction on guinea pig ileum.