Effect of 100 KeV Ar+ ion beam irradiation on ZnO thin films – Influence of morphology vis-a-vis electrode/electrolyte interface and its impact on photoelectrochemical water splitting

The present study attempts quantitative determination of changes in the morphological surface features viz. fractal dimension, lower and upper cut off length scale through Power Spectral Density analysis prior to and after irradiation of 100 KeV Ar⁺ ion beam at incidence angles of 0°, 40° and 60° on ZnO thin films. All the unirradiated and irradiated samples are subjected to photoelectrochemical characterization and a correlation between photoelectrochemical performance and morphological parameters is established. Sample irradiated at 40° angle at the fluence of 5 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm² is found to possess maximum fractal dimension of 2.72, lower and upper cut off length scale of 3.16 nm and 63.00 nm respectively. This sample exhibits maximum photocurrent density of 3.19 mA/cm² and applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 1.12% at 1.23 V/RHE. Hydrogen gas collected for duration of 1 h for the same sample was ~4.83 mLcm^?2.     

Identification and molecular mechanisms of novel antioxidative peptides from fermented camel milk (Kachchi breed,India) with anti-inflammatory activity in raw macrophages cell lines

The investigation was aimed at assessing anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities along with the release of peptides with antioxidative properties during the fermentation of camel milk by Lacticaseibacillus casei (NK9). Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to separate the bioactive peptides of 3 and 10 kDa (permeates and retentates). Reverse-phase liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (RPLC/MS) was used to identify and characterise the pure bioactive peptides, and the effect of fermented camel milk on inflammation produced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/endotoxin in RAW 264.7 (Ralph and William's cell line) was also examined. Furthermore, docking revealed that peptides (LLNEK and IYTFPQPQSL) were predicted to inhibit myeloperoxidase (nMPO) activity by engaging with different residues in and around the human myeloperoxidase (hMPO) active site.     

Dyeing studies with hydroxyanthraquinones extracted from Indian madder. Part 1: Dyeing of nylon with purpurin†

Purpurin (1,2,4‐trihydroxyanthraquinone) is the major colorant present in the roots of Indian madder (Rubia cordifolia). Its structure is similar to that of disperse dyes. To gain an understanding of the dyefibre interactions involved, kinetic and thermodynamic studies have been conducted with purpurin on nylon fibre. Dyeing corresponds to the Nernst isotherm as linear isotherms were obtained. The dye is found to be sensitive to pH and high temperature. The rate of dye uptake, diffusion coefficient, standard affinity, heat of dyeing and entropy have been calculated and discussed.     

Dyeing studies with hydroxyanthraquinones extracted from Indian madder. Part 2: Dyeing of nylon and polyester with nordamncanthal†

Nordamncanthal is an important constituent of the colouring matter extracted from Indian madder roots. Its dyeing properties have never been studied even though the structural characteristics closely resemble those of disperse dyes. In this study, nylon and polyester have been dyed with this colorant. Linear isotherms have been obtained, confirming that the mechanism is similar to that of disperse dyes. The dye has good affinity for both the fibres. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters have been calculated.     

Simulation study of Insulated Shallow Extension Silicon On Nothing (ISESON) MOSFET for high temperature applications

This paper analyzes the effect of temperature variation on various device architectures i.e. Insulated Shallow Extension Silicon On Nothing (ISESON), ISE and SON MOSFET using ATLAS 3D device simulator for 45 nm gate length. The simulation results obtained with the ATLAS has been validated by comparing it with reported experimental data of SON MOSFET. The simulation results demonstrate that out of three device designs, the ISESON MOSFET is the most suitable device for high speed, low voltage and high temperature applications. The integration of ISE and SON onto the conventional bulk MOSFET leads to the enhancement in analog device performance in terms of device efficiency (g_m/I_ds), device gain (g_m/g_d), output resistance (R_out) and early voltage (V_ea).     

Oxygen-enrichment of YBa2Cu3 YBa2Cu3O7-δ using the fluidization techniqueusing the fluidization technique

The oxygen-deficient phase of the highT _c superconductor, YBa₂Cu₃O₇, was oxygen-enriched using the fluidization technique to give good superconducting properties. The normal method of oxygen treatment at 900°C for 24 h and at 600°C for 24 h has been reduced to just one treatment at 600°C for 12 h by the fluidization technique to achieve almost the same strength of superconducting signal for the YBa₂Cu₃O₇ powder, which establishes the attractiveness of the latter route for the large-scale preparation of superconducting material. The particle sizes were in the range 0–90, 90–180 and 180–420 μm. The fluidized particles were crystalline with orthorhombic distortion.T _c ^onset , estimated using the a.c. magnetic susceptibility method, was 91·3 K. The volume fraction of superconducting material in the product was 83·7–85·3%, one of the highest values reported so far for YBa₂Cu₃O₇.     

Micro-stress distribution within polycrystalline aggregate

Summary The three-dimensional Poisson-Voronoi model, which is topologically equivalent to the microstructure of real ceramics and metals, has been used to study the stress distribution within a simulated polycrystalline aggregate having 200 grains. Micro-stresses such as the maximum principal stress, maximum shear stress, first invariant of stress, and Von-Mises stress are found to vary systematically with the anisotropy of single crystal.     

Macro-to-micro porous special bioactive glass and ceftriaxone-sulbactam composite drug delivery system for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis: an investigation through in vitro and in vivo animal trial

A systematic and extensive approach incorporating in vitro and in vivo experimentation to treat chronic osteomyelitis in animal model were made using antibiotic loaded special bioactive glass porous scaffolds. After thorough characterization for porosity, distribution, surface charge, a novel drug composite were infiltrated by using vacuum infiltration and freeze-drying method which was subsequently analyzed by SEM-EDAX and studied for in vitro drug elution in PBS and SBF. Osteomyelitis in rabbit was induced by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus and optimum drug-scaffold were checked for its efficacy over control and parenteral treated animals in terms of histopathology, radiology, in vivo drug concentration in bone and serum and implant-bone interface by SEM. It was optimized that 60P samples with 60-65% porosity (bimodal distribution of macro- to micropore) with average pore size ~60 μm and higher interconnectivity, moderately high antibiotic adsorption efficiency (~49%) was ideal. Results after 42 days showed antibiotic released higher than MIC against S. aureus compared to parenteral treatment (2 injections a day for 6 weeks). In vivo drug pharmacokinetics and SEM on bone-defect interface proved superiority of CFS loaded porous bioactive glass implants over parenteral group based on infection eradication and new bone formation.     

Solubility of Mn stabilized cubic zirconia nanostructures

Mn-stabilized cubic zirconia nanostructures (Zr_1?xMn_xO₂, x = 0.10, x = 0.15 and x = 0.20) have been prepared using chemical precipitation method for different doping concentrations. The prepared powders have been characterized by X-ray diffractometer for structural analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer for analyzing magnetic properties, scanning electron microcopy–elemental compositional analysis using X-ray for morphological and elemental compositional analysis. Room temperature ferromagnetism has been found at around x = 0.15. For high doping effect of Mn impurity at host lattice, secondary phase has been detected at around x = 0.20 when exceeding the solubility limit of cubic zirconia. Due to ferromagnetic behavior, Mn doped ZrO₂ nanostructures can be considered as good candidates for spintronics applications within their solubility limit.