Metallo-organic compound-based plasma enhanced CVD of ZrO2 films for microelectronic applications

ZrO ₂ films on silicon wafer were deposited by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition technique using zirconium tetratert butoxide (ZTB). The structure and composition of the deposited layers were studied by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The deposition rates were also studied. MOS capacitors fabricated using deposited oxides were used to characterize the electrical properties of ZrO ₂ films. The films showed their suitability for microelectronic applications.     

Mixing and Residence Time Distribution in an Inert Gas-Shrouded Tundish

Tracer dispersion experiments were carried out in a multi-strand tundish by injecting 1 (N) NaCl solution into water. The variation of dimensionless concentration–time curves known as C-curves and mixing times with different gas flow rates were studied. The proportions of dead, mixed, and dispersed plug volumes were calculated using the ‘modified mixed model.’ The observations were explained by analyzing the behavior of the bubble plume, incoming jet velocity, and turbulent kinetic energy within the tundish.     

Measuring mechanical properties of plasma-sprayed alumina coatings by nanoindentation technique

AISI 1020 steel substrate is coated with alumina as feedstock material using plasma spraying process in order to correlate the microstructural features with mechanical properties of coating. The present work focuses on the effects of microstructural inhomogeneity on mechanical properties of alumina coating through nanoindentation technique. Young’s modulus and hardness of the alumina coating are analytically evaluated. Indentation stress–strain curves are generated from the experimentally obtained load–displacement curves to characterise the mechanical properties of the coating. The results have shown large variation in hardness and Young’s modulus of alumina due to microstructural inhomogeneity of the coating.     

Determination of lead and other metals in a residential area of greater Calcutta

The aim of the study was to determine the major source and extent of metal pollution in a residential area of Greater Calcutta. In this area approximately 50,000 people reside in the vicinity of a lead factory that produces lead ingots and lead alloys. Many people, especially children, are affected by lead toxicity. Soils, waters, road dust, leaf dust, leaves and pond sediments were sampled in and around the factory area. Aliquots of the samples were mineralized with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a microwave system. Lead and 19 other elements were quantified in the digests by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The performance of the procedure was confirmed by analyzing NBS-BCR standard reference soil, leaves, sediment samples. The soils are highly contaminated not only with lead (4.7%), but also with Cd (0.08%), Ag (0.001%), Cu (0.02%), Zn (1.0%), As (1.0%), Mo (0.003%), Sn (0.003%) and Hg (0.03%) (metal concentrations given in parentheses are maximum). Moving away from the smelter, most of metal concentrations, especially Pb, As, Mo, Cu, Hg, Zn, Cd, Sn and Ag, decreased exponentially over increasing distance. In the residential areas near the smelter, notably to the west side of the factory, metal concentrations significantly breached the threshold trigger values set in India by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Particulate materials from the smelter stack appear to contaminate soils up to at least 0.5 km. However, abnormally high metal levels in the immediate smelter area may be due to primarily fugitive emissions. The surface waters are only contaminated by arsenic ranges from 0.05 to 13.5 mg/l, but the ground water is currently not polluted by lead and arsenic. An appropriate treatment plant with some intervention measures should be taken to save the locality.     

Studies on ethanol production from water hyacinth—A review

With industrial development growing rapidly, there is a need for environmentally sustainable energy sources. Ethanol from biomass, bioethanol, is an attractive, sustainable energy fuel source for transportation. Based on the premise that fuel bioethanol can contribute to a cleaner environment and with the implementation of environmental protection laws in many countries, demand for this fuel is increasing. Efficient ethanol production is based on optimized processes where utilization of cheap substrates is highly demanding. Utilization of different types of lignocellulosic materials can be considered for production of ethanol. Among various types of lignocellulosic substances water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a potential resource available in many tropical regions of the world. It is a noxious aquatic weed which grows fast. A considerable amount of research work is in progress for its bioconversion into ethanol using two-sequential steps of hydrolysis and fermentation. This paper reviews the bioconversion of water hyacinth to ethanol.     

Numerical Investigation of Transient Magnetohydrodynamic Mixed Convection in a Ventilated Cavity Containing Two Heated Circular Cylinders

A two-dimensional finite volume computation is performed to analyze the transient magnetoconvective transport in a ventilated cavity containing two inner heated circular cylinders with identical shape. An electrically conducting fluid (Prandtl number 0.01) enters the cavity through an opening at the middle of the left wall and is taken away by a similar opening at the middle of the right wall. A uniform magnetic field is applied along the horizontal direction normal to the vertical wall. Simulations are performed for the parameters, Richardson number (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1), Reynolds number (380–550), Hartmann number (0, 10, 20, and 50) and dimensionless gap between the cylinders 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3. The analysis indicates that the transport process is a complex function of the magnetic field strength, mixed convective strength and the cylinder distance. Some typical combinations of these controlling parameters may produce three different transport characteristics such as the steady state, periodic oscillatory, and chaotic. With a lower cylinder distance and higher mixed convective strength, the flow instability increases causing periodic and even chaotic oscillations, whereas the magnetic field due to its damping nature imparts stability to the flow resulting in a steady state flow condition.     

Plasma Amyloid-Beta Levels in a Pre-Symptomatic Dutch-Type Hereditary Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Pedigree: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Investigation

Plasma amyloid-beta (Aβ) has long been investigated as a blood biomarker candidate for Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA), however previous findings have been inconsistent which could be attributed to the use of less sensitive assays. This study investigates plasma Aβ alterations between pre-symptomatic Dutch-type hereditary CAA (D-CAA) mutation-carriers (MC) and non-carriers (NC) using two Aβ measurement platforms. Seventeen pre-symptomatic members of a D-CAA pedigree were assembled and followed up 3–4 years later (NC = 8; MC = 9). Plasma Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 were cross-sectionally and longitudinally analysed at baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2) and were found to be lower in MCs compared to NCs, cross-sectionally after adjusting for covariates, at both T1(Aβ1-40: p = 0.001; Aβ1-42: p = 0.0004) and T2 (Aβ1-40: p = 0.001; Aβ1-42: p = 0.016) employing the Single Molecule Array (Simoa) platform, however no significant differences were observed using the xMAP platform. Further, pairwise longitudinal analyses of plasma Aβ1-40 revealed decreased levels in MCs using data from the Simoa platform (p = 0.041) and pairwise longitudinal analyses of plasma Aβ1-42 revealed decreased levels in MCs using data from the xMAP platform (p = 0.041). Findings from the Simoa platform suggest that plasma Aβ may add value to a panel of biomarkers for the diagnosis of pre-symptomatic CAA, however, further validation studies in larger sample sets are required.     

A Small Molecule with Bridged Carbonyl and Tri-fluoro-aceto-phenone Groups Impedes Microtubule Dynamics and Subsequently Triggers Cancer Cell Apoptosis

We identified a new microtubule targeted small molecule, which showed significant anticancer activity and induced apoptotic death of cancer cells. Precisely the central bridged carbonyl group and trifluoro-acetophenone group of a bis-benzothiazole molecule (BBT) interacts with tubulin close to the curcumin site and perturbs microtubule dynamics as well as causes microtubule depolymerization. We observed a significant enhancement of fluorescence while BBT interacts with the tubulin through bridged carbonyl moiety, a similar phenomenon to colchicine. Further, BBT activates tumor-suppressing bim and p53-puma axes to inhibit cancer survival. It also shows promising results against a tumor spheroid model. BBT is also capable of tumor regression, which shows that this molecule can serve as a potential template for the design of next-generation microtubule targeted anticancer drugs.     

Assessing thermomechanical properties of a reactive maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene/thermoplastic polyurethane blend with temperature scanning stress relaxation method

The phenomenon of stress relaxation in thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) is common and influences the end-use properties of polymers. Temperature scanning stress relaxation (TSSR) method extends an advanced method to study the stress relaxation of TPEs at elevated temperatures. A reactive blend system based on maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene and thermoplastic polyurethane is explored for its relaxation behavior at temperature up to 200°C with TSSR meter. The relaxation spectrum revealed the transitions occurring in the blends as well as the extent of interfacial interaction present. Direct measurement of elasticity of the blends was obtained from the TSSR index (RI). Glass transition temperature of the samples was measured from dynamic mechanical analysis. The elastic nature of the blends was also pursued from the storage modulus values and results were in line with TSSR results. The density of crosslinks in the system was assessed with both TSSR and the conventional Flory-Rehner equation and a similar trend was obtained. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed the dispersed morphology of the blends.     

Gustatory ultrastructures of an amphihaline migratory fish hilsa Tenualosa ilisha

This study was conducted with the tongue samples of different life stages of hilsa, that is, adult Marine hilsa, adult Riverine hilsa, and Riverine juvenile hilsa, respectively. Three types of taste buds (Types I, II, and III based on their elevation from the epithelium at different levels) of the tongue, which may be to ensure full utilization of the gustatory ability of the fish were rocorded. Presence of specific taste buds indicate that the fish hilsa dwells in turbid waters with a possible preference toward diatom like planktonic food source. Enhanced expression of taste receptors (T1R1 and T1R3) and associated stimulatory G‐proteins subunits on tongue also indicate occurrence of amino acid like substances that guided sensory cues for feeding by this fish. A firm regularity or stringency of the free surface of the epithelial cells may be attributed to compactly arranged microridges. These structures protect against physical abrasions potentially caused during food manoeuvring and swallowing. In our present observations, the surface architectures of the tongue of hilsa are discussed within the background of migratory adaptation of the species in the context of feeding and habitat preferences.