Influence of the particle size on the antibacterial activity of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Dysphania ambrosioides extract,supported by molecular docking analysis

Bacteria-associated infections have increased in recent years due to treatment resistance developed by these microorganisms. Due to the high antibacterial capacity associated with their nanometric size, nanoparticles, such as zinc oxide (ZnO), have proven to be an alternative for general medical procedures. One of the methodologies to synthesize them is green synthesis, where the most commonly used resources are plant species. Using Dysphania ambrosioides extract at various synthesis temperatures (200, 400, 600, and 800 °C), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) with average sizes ranging from 7 to 130 nm, quasi-spherical shapes, and hexagonal prism shapes were synthesized. Larger sizes were obtained by increasing the synthesis temperature. The ZnO crystalline phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The sizes and shapes were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The Zn-O bond vibration was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetry showed the stability of ZnO-NPs. The antibacterial evaluations, disk diffusion test, and minimum bactericidal concentration, demonstrated the influence of particle size. The smaller the nanoparticle size, the higher the inhibition for all pathogenic strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and dental pathogens: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia. The molecular docking study showed a favorable interaction between ZnO-NPs and some proteins in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as TagF in Staphylococcus epidermidis and AcrAB-TolC in Escherichia coli, which led to proposing them as possible targets of nanoparticles.     

Reprint of : Three-terminal heat engine and refrigerator based on superlattices

We propose a three-terminal heat engine based on semiconductor superlattices for energy harvesting. The periodicity of the superlattice structure creates an energy miniband, giving an energy window for allowed electron transport. We find that this device delivers a large power, nearly twice than the heat engine based on quantum wells, with a small reduction of efficiency. This engine also works as a refrigerator in a different regime of the system's parameters. The thermoelectric performance of the refrigerator is analyzed, including the cooling power and coefficient of performance in the optimized condition. We also calculate phonon heat current through the system and explore the reduction of phonon heat current compared to the bulk material. The direct phonon heat current is negligible at low temperatures, but dominates over the electronic at room temperature and we discuss ways to reduce it.     

MHD squeezed flow of water functionalized metallic nanoparticles over a sensor surface

Present study is devoted to analyze the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) squeezed flow of nanofluid over a sensor surface. Modeling of the problem is based on the geometry and the interaction of three different kinds of metallic nanoparticles namely: copper (Cu), alumina (Al₂O₃) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) with the homogeneous mixture of base fluid (water). The self-similar numerical solutions are presented for the reduced form of the system of coupled ordinary differential equations. The effects of nanoparticles volume friction, permeable velocity and squeezing parameter for the flow and heat transfer within the boundary layer are presented through graphs. Comparison among the solvent are constructed for both skin friction and Nusselt number. Flow behavior of the working nanofluid according to the present geometry has analyzed through Stream lines. Conclusion is drawn on the basis of entire investigation and it is found that in squeezing flow phenomena Cu–water gives the better heat transfer performance as compare with the rest of mixtures.     

Flexible,fatigue resistant,and heat-insulated nanofiber-assembled polyimide aerogels with multifunctionality

Ultralight flexible polymers enable promising application in many fields but are often hindered by low reusability with fatigue failure, weak mechanical stability and low temperature resistance. Here, superelastic polyimide nanofiber aerogels (PNFAs) with high hydrophobicity have been prepared by utilizing the polyamic acid (PAA) nanofibers to construct a continuous and isotropic fibrous architecture. “Fiber-bonding” effect is designed to endow the PNFAs with the structure-derived superelasticity. The results demonstrate that the PNFAs possess ultralight densities (9.7–19.1 mg cm⁻³), excellent absorption capacity (58 times for n-hexane), broad working-temperature range, high resilience after 1000 fatigue cycles at 60% strain, and outstanding thermal insulation performance. Analysis of 50 absorption-harvesting cycle tests reveals that these highly hydrophobic PNFAs possess an ultrahigh reusability. The compressed PNFAs return to their original shape after they are distilled to recover the absorbed pollutants. These PNFAs with high absorption capacity and robust mechanical stability are promising to be applied in a variety of industrial and environmental applications.     

Achieving highly crystalline rate and crystallinity in Poly(l-lactide) via in-situ melting reaction with diisocyanate and benzohydrazine to form nucleating agents

The drawback of the application for poly(_l-lactide) (PLLA) is the low crystalline rate and crystallinity obtaining via normal processing methods. Modifying crystallization of PLLA has been found to be an efficient way to improve its mechanical and heat resistance properties. In this wok, 4, 4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (M) and benzohydrazine (P) were employed into PLLA melt to in-situ form nucleating agents. The in-situ melting reaction was confirmed by a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The crystallization behavior and crystalline morphology were investigated by a differential scanning calorimetry, a polarized optical microscopy and a field emission scanning electron microscope. The crystalline rate of PLLA was abruptly enhanced by adding (M+P) and melting reaction with PLLA. The crystallization half-time of PLLA dramatically decreased from 42.0 to 1.1 min at 130 °C by the in-situ formation of nucleating agents. The crystallinity of PLLA increased from 10.3 to 42.1 by adding 0.25% (M+P) and melting reaction for 8 min. Furthermore, the size of PLLA crystals was dramatically reduced because of the nucleating effect. Accompanied with improvement on crystallinity, the Vicat softening temperature of PLLA shifted from 57.4 °C to 93.7 °C by the in-situ reaction with 6.00% (M+P), and indicating heat resistance enhancement.     

Design,synthesis, characterization,computational study and in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of few novel 6-aryl substituted pyrimidine azo dyes

A series of 6-aryl substituted pyrimidine azodyes were synthesized by coupling of phenyl pyrimidine 2-amine with different aromatic amines. The synthetic compounds were screened for their in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The characterization of the synthesized compounds was carried out by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and Mass spectrophotometry. Computational study of designed compounds was done by OCHEM, Molinspiration cheminformatics, Datawarrior, and Swiss ADME. DPPH assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity and heat hemolysis method for anti-inflammatory activity.     

Low-temperature Heat Capacities and Thermodynamic Properties of Hydrated Sodium Cupric Arsenate [ NaCuAsO4·1.5H2O(s)]

Low-temperature heat capacities of the solid compound NaCuAsO4 · 1.5H2O(s) were measured using a precision automated adiabatic calorimeter over a temperature range of T = 78 K to T = 390 K. A dehydration process occurred in the temperature range of T = 368-374 K. The peak temperature of the dehydration was observed to be TD = (371.828±0.146) K by means of the heat-capacity measurement. The molar enthalpy and entropy of the dehyperimental values of heat capacities for the solid(Ⅰ) and the solid-liquid mixture(Ⅱ) were respectively fitted to two polynomial equations by the least square method. The smoothed values of the molar heat capacities and the fundamental thermodynamic functions of the sample relative to the standard reference temperature 298.15 K were tabulated at an interval of 5 K.     

稀土化合物在高分子科学中的应用研究进展

综述了稀土化合物在高分子科学中的广泛应用:烯烃聚合/共聚合催化剂、聚氯乙烯的热稳定剂、填充改性聚合物和制备功能材料等,并涉及了笔者在稀土催化接枝改性领域的最新研究成果.     

电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱法测定CPU导热硅脂中的铅和镉

采用几种消解方法对样品进行前处理,建立了电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)同时测定导热硅脂中铅、镉等有害金属元素的方法.结果表明:高温灰化法Pb、Cd有损失;(1 1)王水湿法消解法Pb有损失;硝酸-高氯酸湿法消解法Pb和Cd几乎无损失;该方法精密度范围为0.22%-2.40%,Pb和Cd检出限分别为0.030μg·mL-1和0.006μg·mL-1.与石墨炉原子吸收光谱法(GFAAS)相比,ICP-AES具有简单、快速、准确等特点.