Response of an overhead wire near a NEMP simulator

The response of an overhead wire illuminated by a simulated nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) was experimentally investigated. The wire is 70 m long, 7 mm in diameter, and situated 5 m above the ground. It is located 20 m away from a hybrid-type EMP simulator. The simulator is a resistively loaded elliptical loop structure with its pulse generator located 20 m above the ground. The overhead wire is terminated with various combinations of short circuit, open circuit, and characteristic impedance at the two ends, and the current response is measured at one end and in the middle. The measured responses are compared with calculated values from available analytical models     

In vivo bioactivity of herbal‐drug‐incorporated nanofibrous matrixes

Aloe‐vera‐incorporated polycaprolactone nanofibrous matrixes were prepared by an electrospinning method. These developed matrixes were evaluated for their water absorption capacity, water vapor permeability, and contact angle, and, in an in vivo animal model, wound‐healing ability. The incorporation of the herbal drug made the matrixes hydrophilic with improved water retention and permeability properties. The in vivo studies were carried out in a rat model and showed improved results with respect to healing. Thus, this study confirmed that the developed matrixes could be used for wound‐healing applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42178.     

水泥颗粒生长与黏结的微观分析(英文)

水泥微观结果的变化是一个十分复杂的过程,其中包含了水泥颗粒的生长、黏联、絮凝以及其它反应。了解这些水泥颗粒的行为对于更好地掌握水泥基材料早期性能非常重要。采用扫描电子显微镜内安装的Quantomix密封舱系统,原位观察了3种不同的水泥浆体的微观结构。基于这个系统可连续观察水泥浆体微结构发展的优点,研究了水化过程中单个颗粒的生长与颗粒间的连接。通过显微照片的图像分析获得水泥颗粒的灰度变化,用于上述研究。对这些水泥浆体中水泥颗粒的生长与连接情况进行了定量研究。     

Role of molecular interactions and structural defects in the efficient fluorescence quenching by carbon nanotubes

Fluorescence quenching effect of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on three most common fluorophores fluorescein, rhodamine 6G and quinine sulphate has been studied and compared. Comparative studies of quenching efficiency shows that SWCNTs are more efficient fluorescence quencher than the MWCNTs. Nature of Stern–Volmer plot was found to be highly non-linear indicating combined effect of dynamic and static quenching. The contribution of dynamic quenching component was assessed through the fluorescence lifetime measurements. Studies on vacuum annealed SWCNTs with low defect contents suggest that structural defects primarily contribute to the large quenching. Fluorescence quenching was found to be dominant even in the cases where adsorption was low implying that surface adsorption play a minor role in the quenching, except for rhodamine 6G. Adsorption isotherms have been studied using Langmuir and Freundlich models. Freundlich model was found to be closer in behaviour implying a multilayer adsorption of molecules on the surface. The contributions of metal nanoparticles and carbon impurities present in different allotropic forms to the fluorescence quenching were also assessed. We speculate that defect mediated nonradiative energy transfer through dipole–dipole coupling may be the dominant mechanism of high efficiency quenching by SWCNTs.     

Stimulation of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels by Evans blue in cultured endothelial cells of human umbilical veins

The effect of Evans blue (EB) on large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels was investigated in cultured endothelial cells of human umbilical veins. In whole-cell configuration, EB (50 microM) reversibly increased the amplitude of K+ outward currents (IK). When the patch pipettes were filled with 10 mM EGTA, its stimulatory effect on IK was unaltered. Further application of EB in the presence of suramin, a blocker of P2-purinergic receptor, or AOPCP, an inhibitor of 5'-nucleotidase, still increased IK. However, charybdotoxin (100 nM) suppressed EB-induced increase in IK. In inside-out configuration, bath application of EB (50 microM) did not change single channel conductance but significantly increased the activity of BKCa channels. The EB-induced increase in the activity of BKCa channels was independent on internal Ca2+. EB (50 microM) shifted the activation curve of BKCa channels to less positive membrane potentials by approximately 20 mV. The change in the kinetic behavior of BKCa channels caused by EB in these cells is due to an increase in mean open time and a decrease in mean closed time. These results indicate that EB can stimulate the activity of BKCa channel in endothelial cells. This effect is unrelated to its blockade of P2-purinergic receptors or inhibition of 5'-nucleotidase. The direct stimulation of these ionic channels by EB may contribute to its effect on capillary permeability.     

Biodegradation of endosulfan isomers in broth culture and soil microcosm by Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from soil

Bacterial isolates from endosulfan-contaminated soil were grown in minimal medium and screened for endosulfan degradation. The isolate which used endosulfan and showed maximum growth was selected for detailed study. Maximum degradation in shake flask culture by Pseudomonas fluorescens was 92.80% of α and 79.35% of β endosulfan isomers in 15?days at 20?mg/L concentration, followed by 50 and 100?mg/L, while the corresponding values in static condition were 69.15 and 51.39%, respectively. Endosulfan concentration degradation declined significantly at 50 and 100?mg/L. Concomitant to degradation, release of chloride ion exhibited positive relation, while pH decreased from 7.0 to 4.53 in agitating and 7.0–5.18 in static condition. The soil microcosm study revealed maximum endosulfan degradation in sterilized soil amended with P. fluorescens. Endosulfan diol and endosulfan ether were among the products of endosulfan metabolism in broth culture, but only endosulfan ether was detected in the soil microcosm. Endosulfan sulphate, a persistent and toxic metabolite of endosulfan, was not detected in either case. The study showed that P. fluorescens could be used effectively for bioremediation of the pesticide contaminated sites.     

Assessment of Nutritional and Antioxidant Potential of Selected Vitality Strengthening Himalayan Medicinal Plants

Three Himalayan medicinal plants (Habenaria intermedia, H. edgeworthii, and Roscoea procera), widely used in vitality strengthening Ayurvedic formulations in India, were assessed for nutritional phytochemical constituents, and antioxidant activity. These target species emerged as a good source of minerals and possessed important micro elements. Individually, H. intermedia contained a high content of total phenols, thiamins, tannins, and calcium; R. procera was rich in potassium and iron content; and H. edgeworthii emerged as a good source of sodium. While various antioxidant assays provided evidences on the antioxidant potential of target species, greater antioxidant potential of H. intermedia as compared to the other two species was revealing. This study, therefore, highlighted the possibilities of harnessing nutritional and antioxidant potential of these species.