Development of single frame X-ray framing camera for pulsed plasma experiments

A single-frame X-ray framing camera has been set up for fast imaging of X-ray emissions from pulsed plasma sources. It consists of two parts, viz. an X-ray pin-hole camera using an open-ended microchannel plate (MCP) detector coupled to a CCD camera, and a high voltage short duration gate pulse for the MCP. The camera uses a 10-Μm pin-hole aperture for imaging on the MCP detector with a magnification of 6 X. The high voltage pulser circuit generates a pulse of variable duration from 5 to 30 ns (at 70% of peak amplitude) with variable amplitude from 800 V to 1.25 kV, and is triggered through a laser pulse synchronized with the event to be recorded. The performance of the system has been checked by recording X-ray emission from a laser-produced copper plasma. A reduction factor of ∼ 6.5 is seen in the dark current contribution as the MCP gate pulse is decreased from 250Μs to 5 ns duration.     

Magnetic study of Ti-substituted NiFe2O4 ferrite

The Ni_1+xTi_xFe_2−2xO₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) ferrite systems prepared by a semi-chemical route, have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at X-band, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetization measurements at various temperatures. EPR spectra of these samples comprise generally a broad and asymmetric EPR signal. The variation of g_eff and peak-to-peak line width ΔH_pp, with Ti concentration and temperature are attributed to the variation of dipole–dipole interaction and the superexchange interaction. Mössbauer spectra comprise two sets of sextet attributed to Fe³⁺ at two distinct sites-A and -B. Ti⁴⁺ ions are concluded to occupy the octahedral B-sites. Magnetic moment is found to decrease with the increase of Ti⁴⁺ concentration. The effective magnetic field H_eff at the A-sites also follows a similar trend. The reason is attributed to the canted structure of spins in the Ti-doped samples. An anomalous behavior at x = 0.015 is observed in the properties studied here and some sort of phase change is believed to occur at 473 K in these ferrites.     

Synthesis of KNaSO4:Tb and MgSO4:Dy phosphors for lyoluminescence dosimetry

KNaSO₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors were synthesized by melt technique with different concentration of Tb³⁺ ions and MgSO₄:Dy³⁺ phosphor is prepared by solid state diffusion method. Lyoluminescence and photoluminescence characterization of KNaSO₄:Tb and MgSO₄:Dy³⁺ phosphors are reported in this paper. Only one sharp peak is observed in the lyoluminescence (LL) glow curve and KNaSO₄:Tb(0.05 mol%) phosphor shows maximum efficiency. The LL intensity increases linearly with gamma ray dose. LL emission occurs in the blue and yellow region of the spectrum. Photoluminescence (PL) characterization of KNaSO₄:Tb(0.05 mol%) phosphor shows PL emission at 486 and 546 nm. These PL emissions from KNaSO₄:Tb³⁺ are due to ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₆ and ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₅ transitions of Tb³⁺ ion respectively. Lyoluminescence of MgSO₄:Dy³⁺ phosphor shows the high sensitivity to γ-ray exposure and LL emission observed at 486 and 572 nm in the blue and yellow emission of the spectrum is due to Dy³⁺ ion. Experimental results obtained in the present investigation show that KNaSO₄:Tb³⁺ and MgSO₄:Dy³⁺ phosphors are suitable as a lyoluminescence dosimetry phosphor for ionizing radiations.     

Hydrogel Encapsulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Derived Exosomes for Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering has been an inveterate area in the field of regenerative medicine for several decades. However, there remains limitations to engineer and regenerate tissues. Targeted therapies using cell-encapsulated hydrogels, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are capable of reducing inflammation and increasing the regenerative potential in several tissues. In addition, the use of MSC-derived nano-scale secretions (i.e., exosomes) has been promising. Exosomes originate from the multivesicular division of cells and have high therapeutic potential, yet neither self-replicate nor cause auto-immune reactions to the host. To maintain their biological activity and allow a controlled release, these paracrine factors can be encapsulated in biomaterials. Among the different types of biomaterials in which exosome infusion is exploited, hydrogels have proven to be the most user-friendly, economical, and accessible material. In this paper, we highlight the importance of MSCs and MSC-derived exosomes in tissue engineering and the different biomaterial strategies used in fabricating exosome-based biomaterials, to facilitate hard and soft tissue engineering.     

Nanoencapsulated Lippia origanoides essential oil: physiochemical characterisation and assessment of its bio-efficacy against fungal and aflatoxin contamination as novel green preservative

The study explores in vitro antifungal and aflatoxin B₁ inhibitory potency of chemically characterised Lippia origanoides EO (LOEO) encompassed in chitosan nanoparticle (CS-LOEO-Np). CS-LOEO-Np was physico-chemically characterised through XRD, SEM and FTIR analyses. CS-LOEO-Np exhibited improved antifungal and AFB₁ inhibitory efficacy (0.05 and 0.045 µl mL⁻¹, respectively) in contrast to LOEO (0.30 and 0.25 µl mL⁻¹, respectively). Bioactivity of LOEO loaded nanoparticle was enhanced as reflected by depletion in ergosterol content, rapid cellular ion release and reduced methylglyoxal content. IC₅₀ value equivalent to 4.17 µl mL⁻¹ displayed better antioxidant potency of CS-LOEO-Np as compared to LOEO (IC₅₀ = 6.20 µl mL⁻¹). CS-LOEO-Np preserved sensorial attributes of stored Nigella sativa (model food matrix) samples and have higher lethal toxicity dose, that is LD₅₀ = 8832 mg kg⁻¹. Hence, CS-LOEO-Np could serve as novel green candidate to ensure food security with better nutritional and sensorial features.     

Micromechanics based ply level material degradation model for unidirectional composites

The damaged response of a composite lamina depends on various mechanisms that take place at the microlevel, i.e., at the level of the fiber and matrix. The present work focuses on developing a ply level continuum damage model for point-wise stiffness degradation through simplified representation of the microlevel damage. A three dimensional micromechanical analysis of a single cell representative volume element is carried out for various volume fraction, and levels of damage. The model brings out the coupled effect of damage on the effective point-wise ply level stiffness. Further, the numerical results are employed to develop a functional continuum representation of stiffness degradation as a function of the damage parameters and fiber volume fraction perturbations. The micromechanics model is consistent with experimentally observed stiffness degradation, i.e., a strong influence of fiber breakage and fiber matrix debond, and a weak influence of normal cracking of matrix. The proposed model can be considered as an improved version of the widely accepted diffused (meso) damage models, i.e., DML. The study also gives a generalized and consistent definition for the free energy, which can be used for modeling growth of damage.     

Rhamnolipid–Metal Ions (CrVI and PbII) Complexes: Spectrophotometric,Conductometric, and Surface Tension Measurement Studies

The formation of rhamnolipid complexes with metal ions of chromium (VI) and lead (II) has been studied spectrophotometrically, conductometrically, and by surface tension measurement. The values of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of rhamnolipid, obtained by spectroscopic, conductometric, and surface tension measurements, were 5.2 × 10⁵ , 5.0 × 10⁵ , and 5.3 × 10⁵ mol.dm⁻³, respectively, which are in close agreement. An increase in CMC on increasing metal ion content in the rhamnolipid solution and a shift in λ_max in the spectra of rhamnolipid indicated the formation of a complex between rhamnolipid and both the metal ions, namely, chromium (VI) and lead (II). The values of stability constants for the {rhamnolipid–chromium (VI)} and {rhamnolipid–lead (II)} complexes have been determined by spectroscopic data and were as 0.58 × 10⁴ and 0.50 × 10⁴ at 308 K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters for micellization, namely, free energy change (∆G_mic) , entropy change (∆S_mic) , and heat enthalpy change (∆H_mic) , have been determined by conductivity measurements. An increase in the negative value of ∆G_mic and a decrease in the value of ∆S_mic on increasing metal ion content in the surfactant solution indicated lower micellization of rhamnolipid in the presence of metal ions. The electrostatic attractions and entrapment of chromium (VI) in the micelles of the biosurfactants were found to be responsible for {rhamnolipid–lead (II)} and {rhamnolipid–chromium (VI)} complexes, respectively.