Spectroscopic, thermal and structural studies on manganous malate crystals

Prismatic crystals of manganous malate have been prepared by controlled ionic diffusion in hydrosilica gel. The structure was elucidated using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystals are orthorhombic with space group Pbca. Vibrations of the functional groups were identified by the FTIR spectrum. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA) were carried out to explore the thermal decomposition pattern of the material. Structural information derived from FTIR and TG-DTA studies is in conformity with the single crystal XRD data.     

Pitfalls in the experimental recording of ultrasonic (backscatter) polar scans for material characterization

The ultrasonic polar scan (UPS), either in transmission, reflection or backscatter mode, is a promising non-destructive testing technique for the characterization of composites, providing information about the mechanical anisotropy, the viscoelastic damping, the surface roughness, and more. At present, the technique is merely being used for qualitative purposes. The limited quantitative exploration and use of the technique can be primarily ascribed to limitations of current theoretical models as well as the difficulty to perform accurate, and more importantly, reproducible UPS experiments. Over the last years, we have identified several potential pitfalls in the experimental implementation of the technique which severely deteriorate the accurateness and reproducibility of a UPS. In this paper, we make an inventory of the most important difficulties, illustrate each of them by a real experiment and present a feasible mediation, either numerical or experimental in nature. Once the experimental set-up is fine-tuned to overcome these pitfalls, it is expected that the recording of high-level UPS experiments, in combination with numerical computations, will facilitate the technique to become a fully quantitative non-destructive characterization method.     

A novel ultrasonic strain gauge for single-sided measurement of a local 3D strain field

A novel method is introduced for the measurement of a 3D strain field by exploiting the interaction between ultrasound waves and geometrical characteristics of the insonified specimen. First, the response of obliquely incident harmonic waves to a deterministic surface roughness is utilized. Analysis of backscattered amplitudes in Bragg diffraction geometry then yields a measure for the in-plane strain field by mapping any shift in angular dependency. Secondly, the analysis of the reflection characteristics of normal incident pulsed waves in frequency domain provides a measure of the out-of-plane normal strain field component, simply by tracking any change in the stimulation condition for a thickness resonance. As such, the developed ultrasonic strain gauge yields an absolute, contactless and single-sided mapping of a local 3D strain field, in which both sample preparation and alignment procedure are needless. Results are presented for cold-rolled DC06 steel samples onto which skin passing of the work rolls is applied. The samples have been mechanically loaded, introducing plastic strain levels ranging from 2 % up to 35 %. The ultrasonically measured strains have been validated with various other strain measurement techniques, including manual micrometer, longitudinal and transverse mechanical extensometer and optical mono- and stereovision digital image correlation. Good agreement has been obtained between the ultrasonically determined strain values and the results of the conventional methods. As the ultrasonic strain gauge provides all three normal strain field components, it has been employed for the extraction of Lankford ratios at different applied longitudinal plastic strain levels, revealing a strain dependent plastic anisotropy of the investigated DC06 steel sheet.     

Crystal growth and characterization of a new co-ordination complex—barium tetrakis(maleate) dihydrate

Crystals of barium tetrakis(maleate) dihydrate [Ba₄(C₄H₂O₄)₄]^?2H₂O are grown in gelated hydrosilica matrix. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that the crystal system is monoclinic with space group P2₁/c. The unit cell dimensions are a=9.3721(2)  Å, b=20.5880(7)  Å, c=14.0744(4) Å, α=γ=90°, β=90.289(2)°. Powder XRD studies confirmed the single phase nature of the grown crystals. The FTIR data is in conformity with the XRD results. The TG–DTA curves of the material indicate a three-step thermal decomposition. The response of the dielectric properties in the temperature range 30 °C to 500 °C is correlated with the TG–DTA results.     

Extraction of bulk wave characteristics from a pulsed ultrasonic polar scan

The pulsed ultrasonic polar scan (P-UPS) technique provides a map with characteristic contours reflecting the critical bulk wave angles, which directly relate to the in-plane elastic properties of the insonified material spot. Besides these contours, additional information is captured in a P-UPS experiment which has particular importance for the inspection of anisotropic materials. By extensive post-processing on a single P-UPS experiment, we successfully extracted the local directional (i) critical bulk wave angles, (ii) phase velocity profiles, (iii) slowness curves, (iv) walk-off angles and (v) energy velocity profiles, for the three different polarization states of bulk waves. The procedure is demonstrated and discussed for an isotropic aluminum sample as well as an autoclave manufactured orthotropic _[0]8${\left[0\right]}_8$ carbon/epoxy laminate. In addition, a numerical and experimental investigation of the role of the immersion liquid as a lens for the P-UPS result is performed. This lensing effect permits to zoom in/out on the P-UPS fingerprint, hence broadening the class of materials which can be inspected by the P-UPS technique.     

Root Bark Extract of Oroxylum indicum Vent. Inhibits Solid and Ascites Tumors and Prevents the Development of DMBA-Induced Skin Papilloma Formation

Oroxylum indicum is a traditionally used plant in Ayurvedic and folk medicines. The plant is useful for the management of gastrointestinal diseases as well as skin diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the antitumor potential of O. indicum in Dalton’s lymphoma ascites tumor cells (DLA) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC)-induced solid and ascites tumors. Further, the potential of O. indicum extract (OIM) on skin papilloma induction by dimethyl benz(a) anthracene (DMBA) and croton oil was evaluated. The chemical composition of the extract was analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The predominant compounds present in the extract were demethoxycentaureidin 7-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, baicalein-7-O-glucuronide, 5,6,7-trihydroxyflavone, 3-Hydroxy-3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) chromen-4-one, and 4′-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone. Treatment with high-dose OIM enhanced the percentage of survival in ascites tumor-bearing mice by 34.97%. Likewise, high and low doses of OIM reduced the tumor volume in mice by 61.84% and 54.21%, respectively. Further, the skin papilloma formation was brought down by the administration of low- and high-dose groups of OIM (by 67.51% and 75.63%). Overall, the study concludes that the Oroxylum indicum root bark extract is a potentially active antitumor and anticancer agent.     

Synthesis of heteroannulated cyclopent[b]indoles: Exploration of in vitro cytotoxicity and molecular docking studies

A series of novel cyclopent[b]indole analogues that hold isoxazolo-, pyrido-templates were designed and synthesized in good yields. The in vitro cytotoxicity was concerned for all the newly synthesized compounds by MTT assay against HeLa (cervix adeno carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast cancer). These synthesized compounds were further compared with the standard drug ellipticine, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and methotrexate. The synthesized heteroannulated cyclopent[b]indole compounds were found to show better cytotoxic activity against HeLa and MCF-7 with primary structure activity relationship studies. To identify with the nature of interactions of these molecules, we performed molecular docking studies using the protein kinase CK2 inhibitors. The docking results afforded some valuable information for the future design of more potent inhibitors.