Vibrational and gravimetric analysis of polyaniline/polysaccharide composite materials

In this paper, we present a comparative study of polyaniline/polysaccharide composites (starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, and chitosan) by FTIR, UV-visible, SEM and electrochemical analysis. We propose that simultaneously three different phenomena happen while formation of composite system that may be listed as degradation of polysaccharide, polymerization of aniline, formation of polyaniline- polysaccharide composite. Effects of hydrochloric acid and oxidizing agent (ammonium peroxydisulphate) on the structure of polysaccharides were also investigated. We obtained dissimilar product yield and variable polyaniline and polysaccharide ratio in the composite system even though experimental conditions were same. The possible reasons responsible for the observed differences as well as characteristics and morphology of protonated and deprotonated composite materials are discussed.     

Non-fouling microfluidic chip produced by radio frequency tetraglyme plasma deposition

This Technical Note presents the direct surface modification of a glass/PTFE hybrid microfluidic chip, via radio frequency glow discharge plasma polymerisation of tetraethlylene glycol dimethylether (tetraglyme), to produce hydrophilic, non-fouling, PEO-like surfaces. We use several techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and immunofluorescent imaging to investigate the channel coatings. Our results indicate the successful deposition of a PEO-like coating onto microchannel surfaces that has both solution and shelf stability (>3 months) and is capable of preventing fibrinogen adsorption to the microchannel surfaces.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of transition metal complexes of a 12-membered tetraaza [N<Subscript>4</Subscript>] macrocyclic ligand and their biological activity

Cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes are synthesized with 1,3,7,9-tetraaza- 4,6,10,12-tetraphenyl-2,8-dithiacyclododecane, a tetradentate ligand (L) and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, magnetic susceptibitity measurements, mass, i.r., electronic and e.p.r. spectral studies. All the complexes are non-electrolytes so they may be formulated as [M(L)X₂] [where, M = Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) and X = Cl⁻ and NO ₃ ⁻ ]. All the complexes are of high spin type. On the basis of i.r., electronic and e.p.r. spectral studies an octahedral geometry has been assigned for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes and tetragonal geometry for Cu(II) complexes. The antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complexes, as growth inhibiting agents, have been screened in vitro against two different species of bacteria and plant pathogenic fungi.     

Si nanowire semisphere-like ensembles as field emitters

Silicon nanowires assembled in micro-sized semispheres were synthesized through simple thermal evaporation without using any templates and metal particle catalysts; electron microscopy revealed that the nanowires within semisphere ensembles are well-aligned and evenly distributed; a typical nanowire array density was of approximately 4 x 10(9) cm(-2); field-emitting characteristics of the arrays were analyzed.     

Diversity-oriented synthetic approach to naturally abundant S-amino acid based benzannulated enantiomerically pure medium ring heterocyclic scaffolds employing inter- and intramolecular mitsunobu reactions

The diversity-oriented organic synthesis of enantiomerically pure benzannulated oxazepine, diazepine, thiazepine, oxazocine, and diazocine scaffolds is described from easily accessible naturally occurring S-amino acids as chiral synthons. Inter- and intramolecular Mitsunobu reactions for the formation of carbon-nitrogen, carbon-oxygen, and carbon-sulfur bonds have been used as key transformations to construct these biologically important privileged heterocycles. This is the first example where the Mitsunobu approach has been utilized for the construction of S-amino acid based seven- and eight-membered ring systems.     

Delayed bifurcations and negative hysteresis in semiconductor lasers: the role of initial conditions

The dynamical intensity response of a semiconductor laser under the influence of injection current modulation, and the resulting hysteresis behavior, is investigated experimentally and theoretically. We report the first experimental observation, in a semiconductor laser, of the transition from a negative to a positive hysteresis as the modulation frequency of the injection current is varied. The theoretical work isolates the initial conditions on the intrinsic laser parameters as the sole determinant in influencing the kind of hysteresis one observes.     

Beyond the standard model: Working group report

This report summarises the work done in the ‘Beyond the Standard Model’ working group of the Sixth Workshop on High Energy Physics Phenomenology (WHEPP-6) held at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, Jan 3–15, 2000. The participants in this working group were: R Adhikari, B Ananthanarayan, K P S Balaji, Gour Bhattacharya, Gautam Bhattacharyya, Chao-Hsi Chang (Zhang). D Choudhury, Amitava Datta, Anindya Datta, Asesh K Datta, A Dighe, N Gaur, D Ghosh, A Goyal, K Kar, S F King, Anirban Kundu, U Mahanta, R N Mohapatra, B Mukhopadhyaya, S Pakvasa, P N Pandita, M K Parida, P Poulose, G Raffelt, G Rajasekaran, S Rakshit, Asim K Ray, A Raychaudhuri, S Raychaudhuri, D P Roy, P Roy, S Roy, K Sridhar and S Vempati.     

Entrance Channel Mass Asymmetry Effects in Sub-Barrier Fusion Dynamics by Using Energy Dependent Woods-Saxon Potential

The present article highlights the inconsistency of static Woods-Saxon potential and the applicability of energy dependentWoods-Saxon potential to explore the fusion dynamics of ₂₂⁴⁸Ti+₂₈^58,60,64Ni, ₂₂⁴⁶Ti+₂₈⁶⁴Ni, ₂₂⁵⁰Ti+₂₈⁶⁰Ni, and ₉¹⁹F+₄₁⁹³Nb reactions leading to formation of different Sn-isotopes via different entrance channels. Theoretical calculations based upon one-dimensional Wong formula obtained by using static Woods-Saxon potential unable to provide proper explanation for sub-barrier fusion enhancement of these projectile-target combinations. However, the predictions of one- dimensional Wong formula based upon energy dependent Woods-Saxon potential model (EDWSP model) accurately describe the observed fusion dynamics of these systems wherein the significantly larger value of diffuseness parameter ranging from a = 0.85 fm to a = 0.97 fm is required to address the experimental data in whole range of energy. Therefore, the energy dependence in nucleus-nucleus potential simulates the influence of the nuclear structure degrees of freedom of the colliding pairs.     

Electroweak symmetry breaking and beyond the Standard Model physics — A review

In this talk, I shall first discuss the Standard Model Higgs mechanism and then highlight some of its deficiencies making a case for the need to go beyond the Standard Model (BSM). The BSM tour will be guided by symmetry arguments. I shall pick up four specific BSM scenarios, namely, supersymmetry, little Higgs, gauge-Higgs unification, and the Higgsless approach. The discussion will be confined mainly on their electroweak symmetry breaking aspects.