Liquid-Phase Cyclization of (Phenylthio)acetaldehyde Diethylacetal to Benzo[b]thiophene over Zn2+ Ion-Exchanged Zeolite BEA

Cyclization of (phenylthio)acetaldehyde diethylacetal was examined in 1,2-dichloroethane and chlorobenzene solvents in the presence of H-beta zeolite and Zn²⁺ ion-exchanged beta zeolite under reflux conditions. Zn²⁺ ion-exchanged beta zeolite showed better activity than its H-form counterpart owing to its higher Lewis acidity. The cyclization proceeds via two different pathways. At lower temperature the reaction proceeds predominantly via a pathway in which deacetalization of the reactant occurs first and then the resulting aldehyde cyclizes to benzo[b]thiophene.     

Phase pure rhombohedral R3¯m$R\bar{3}m$ AgCoO2 delafossite: Rietveld,selected area electron diffraction,X-ray photoemission spectroscopy,and magnetic studies

A p-type rhombohedral AgCoO₂ (S.G. $R\overline{3}m$) reported to form only at pressures greater than 300 MPa at 773 K, is stabilized in pure phase at 0.2 MPa oxygen pressure. Analysis of powder X-ray diffraction pattern by Rietveld and selected area electron diffraction patterns confirms the purity of rhombohedral phase. Core-shell X-ray photoemission spectroscopy studies show that Ag ions are in +1 oxidation state with Co ions largely in +3 state. AgCoO₂ is paramagnetic undergoing super-paramagnetic transition at 44 K. The magnetic moment of Co is 0.001 μB which corresponds to low spin (LS) Co³⁺ along with a small fraction of LS Co⁴⁺ ions.     

Enhancement of electrical properties of (Gd,V) co-doped BiFeO3 thin films prepared by chemical solution deposition

Pure BiFeO₃ (BFO) and (Bi_0.9Gd_0.1)(Fe_0.975V_0.025)O_3+δ(BGFVO) thin films were prepared on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si(100) substrates by using a chemical solution deposition method. The improved electrical properties were observed in the BGFVO thin film. The leakage current density of the co-doped BGFVO thin film showed two orders lower than that of the pure BFO, 8.1×10^?5 A/cm² at 100 kV/cm. The remnant polarization (2P_r) and the coercive electric field (2E_c) of the BGFVO thin film were 54 μC/cm² and 1148 kV/cm with applied electric field of 1100 kV/cm at a frequency of 1 kHz, respectively. The 2P_r values of the BGFVO thin film show the dependence of measurement frequency, and it has been fairly saturated at about 30 kHz.     

Effects of alternating and direct current in electrocoagulation process on the removal of fluoride from water

BACKGROUND: When direct current (DC) is used in electrocoagulation processes, an impermeable oxide layer may form on the cathode and corrosion of the anode may occur due to oxidation. This prevents effective current transfer between the anode and cathode, so the efficiency of the electrocoagulation process declines. These disadvantages of DC have been reduced by adopting alternating current (AC). The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of AC and DC on the removal of fluoride from water using an aluminum alloy as anode and cathode. RESULTS: Results showed that removal efficiencies of 93 and 91.5% with energy consumption of 1.883 and 2.541 kWh kL^?1 was achieved at a current density of 1.0 A dm^?2 and pH 7.0 using an aluminum alloy as electrodes using AC and DC, respectively. For both AC and DC, the adsorption of fluoride fitted the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption process follows second‐order kinetics and temperature studies showed that adsorption was exothermic and spontaneous in nature. CONCLUSIONS: The aluminum hydroxide generated in the cell removed the fluoride present in the water and reduced it to a permissible level thus making it drinkable. It is concluded that an alternating current prevents passivation of the aluminum anode during electrocoagulation and avoids the additional energy wasted due to the resistance of the aluminum oxide film formed on the anode surface. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nano‐hydroxyapatite (HAp) and hydroxyapatite/platinum (HAp/Pt) core shell nanorods: Development,structural study,and their catalytic activity

The development of a new kind of material that is a nanostructured catalytic material with an environmentally benign nature that can be used for alternative energy has acquired significance in recent years. In this context, the use of heterogeneous catalysts for the transesterification of vegetable oils has gained prominence due to their eco‐friendly and reusable nature. Hence in the present study, pure hydroxyapatite (HAp) and hydroxyapatite/platinum (HAp/Pt) nanostructured particles have been prepared successfully through a facile chemical method without templates and surfactants and their catalytic activity investigated for transesterification of natural vegetable oil to bioenergy (biodiesel). The textural and structural features of pure HAp and HAp/Pt were investigated using various characterization techniques such as x‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The elements present in the prepared nanostructures were confirmed through energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The XPS analysis also confirms the metallic nature of the platinum in HAp/Pt. The specific surface area and porous nature of the prepared nanostructured catalysts were studied using the N₂ physisorption Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller‐Barrett‐Joyner‐Halenda (BET‐BJH) method. The catalytic activity of the pure HAp nanoparticles and HAp/Pt core shell nanorods with the Simarouba glauca plant seed oil was investigated. The obtained results indicate that the pristine HAp nanoparticles and HAp/Pt core shell nanorods (NRs) show 91.4% and 87.1% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) conversion, respectively, potentially offering environmental benign biocatalysts for biofuel production from natural feed stock.     

Identifying the miRNA Signature Association with Aging-Related Senescence in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor and its malignant phenotypic characteristics are classified as grade IV tumors. Molecular interactions, such as protein–protein, protein–ncRNA, and protein–peptide interactions are crucial to transfer the signaling communications in cellular signaling pathways. Evidences suggest that signaling pathways of stem cells are also activated, which helps the propagation of GBM. Hence, it is important to identify a common signaling pathway that could be visible from multiple GBM gene expression data. microRNA signaling is considered important in GBM signaling, which needs further validation. We performed a high-throughput analysis using micro array expression profiles from 574 samples to explore the role of non-coding RNAs in the disease progression and unique signaling communication in GBM. A series of computational methods involving miRNA expression, gene ontology (GO) based gene enrichment, pathway mapping, and annotation from metabolic pathways databases, and network analysis were used for the analysis. Our study revealed the physiological roles of many known and novel miRNAs in cancer signaling, especially concerning signaling in cancer progression and proliferation. Overall, the results revealed a strong connection with stress induced senescence, significant miRNA targets for cell cycle arrest, and many common signaling pathways to GBM in the network.     

Spray Drying for the Production of Nutraceutical Ingredients—A Review

Contributions of spray drying to food processing applications are increasing as compared to other conventional drying methods. Spray drying has not only contributed in drying of fluids but also has played a vital role in encapsulation and microencapsulation of valuable foods and functional–nutraceutical ingredients. Microencapsulation by spray drying is a cost-effective one-step process as compared to other encapsulation methods. Encapsulation using spray drying is mainly used in the food sector to protect bioactive compounds or functional foods from light, temperature, oxidation, etc. This paper reviews the work done in past years in the functional food and nutraceutical sector using spray drying. The paper focuses on the role of spray drying in vitamins, minerals, flavouring substances, antioxidant compounds and fatty acids encapsulation.     

Review of NOx reduction technologies in CI engines fuelled with oxygenated biomass fuels

Oxygenated fuels like biodiesel and alcohols have the potential to provide a reliable and a cost effective alternative to India's increasing future energy demands. They have a prospective future since they are renewable and can be produced easily in India's rural areas. Due to rapid industrialization and the increased number of vehicles on the road, the energy needs of the country are increasing rapidly. Oxygenated fuels can substantially replace the large demand for diesel to generate power for the industries and to fuel diesel engines of the vehicles. In spite of the many advantages of using them, most of the researchers have reported higher NO_x emissions, which is a deterrent to the market expansion of these fuels. The present program aims to review the NO_x emissions from the CI engines fuelled with oxygenated fuels. To meet the stringent emission norms, the various NO_x reduction technologies like use of additives, retarded fuel injection timing, biodiesel emulsion with water, and exhaust gas recirculation are reviewed. The results of the most effective and low cost technique of EGR in DI diesel engine fuelled with biodiesel–diesel blends and tri-compound oxygenated diesel fuel blends (ethanol–biodiesel–diesel fuel blends and methanol–biodiesel–diesel fuel blends) are presented.     

Optimization of biodiesel production from Azolla pinnata: investigation of CI engine characteristics using nano dosed biodiesel

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - In this study, Al2O3 nanoparticles were included in the Azolla pinnata methyl ester blend (AME30) in different concentrations (25 ppm, 50 ppm and 75...