Radiation synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) based hydrogels containing silver nanoparticles

A series of PVA/PVP based hydrogels at different compositions were prepared by gamma irradiation. The gel fraction degree of swelling were investigated. Highly stable and uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles have been obtained onto hydrogel networks. The morphology and structure of (PVA/PVP) hydrogel and dispersion of the silver nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), respectively. The formation of silver nanoparticles has been confirmed by ultraviolet visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. A strong characteristic absorption peak was found to be around 420 nm for the silver nanoparticles in the hydrogel nanocomposite. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles with average particle size of 12 nm. The diameter distribution of silver nanoparticles was determined by dynamic light scattering DLS. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed almost spherical and uniform distribution of silver nanoparticles through the hydrogel network and the mean size of silver nanoparticles ranging is 23 nm. The good swelling properties and antibacterial of PVA/PVP-Ag hydrogel suggest that it can be a good candidate as wound dressing.     

Chemically induced graft copolymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine onto carboxymethyl chitosan

A novel super absorbent polymer was prepared by graft copolymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine (4VP) onto the chains of carboxymethyl chitosan in aqueous solution using potassium persulphate (KPS) as initiator. The effect of monomer and initiator concentration, reaction temperature, and time on the grafting yield has been investigated. The maximum grafting yield was achieved at [KPS] = 4 × 10⁻² mol/L, [M] = 2.5 mol/L at reaction temperature = 60 °C within reaction time = 3 h. The molecular structure of the graft copolymer was confirmed by FTIR, surface morphology before and after the polymerization was examined by SEM. Different analyses were done for the graft copolymer such as X-ray diffraction, solubility tests, and thermal analysis. Different applications were done on the graft copolymer such as swell ability in different pH solutions, dye, and metal uptake.     

The biochemical and cellular basis for nutraceutical strategies to attenuate neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease

Future therapeutic intervention that could effectively decelerate the rate of degeneration within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) could add years of mobility and reduce morbidity associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Neurodegenerative decline associated with PD is distinguished by extensive damage to SNc dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons and decay of the striatal tract. While genetic mutations or environmental toxins can precipitate pathology, progressive degenerative succession involves a gradual decline in DA neurotransmission/synaptic uptake, impaired oxidative glucose consumption, a rise in striatal lactate and chronic inflammation. Nutraceuticals play a fundamental role in energy metabolism and signaling transduction pathways that control neurotransmission and inflammation. However, the use of nutritional supplements to slow the progression of PD has met with considerable challenge and has thus far proven unsuccessful. This review re-examines precipitating factors and insults involved in PD and how nutraceuticals can affect each of these biological targets. Discussed are disease dynamics (Sections 1 and 2) and natural substances, vitamins and minerals that could impact disease processes (Section 3). Topics include nutritional influences on α-synuclein aggregation, ubiquitin proteasome function, mTOR signaling/lysosomal-autophagy, energy failure, faulty catecholamine trafficking, DA oxidation, synthesis of toxic DA-quinones, o-semiquinones, benzothiazolines, hyperhomocyseinemia, methylation, inflammation and irreversible oxidation of neuromelanin. In summary, it is clear that future research will be required to consider the multi-faceted nature of this disease and re-examine how and why the use of nutritional multi-vitamin-mineral and plant-based combinations could be used to slow the progression of PD, if possible.     

Polyacrylamide‐grafted carboxymethyl cellulose: Smart pH‐sensitive hydrogel for protein concentration

A novel application, utilizing polyacrylamide‐g‐carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC‐g‐PAM) in concentrating dilute solutions of Bovine serum albumin (BSA), was investigated. The grafting reaction parameters were investigated and the hydrogel smartness was verified. FT‐IR proved that the grafting reaction occurred between the hydroxyl group located in anhydroglucose C₂ position of CMC and the π‐bond of PAM and SEM confirmed a changed morphology to a fibrillar structure. The pH sensitivity was proved; as the grafted polymer attained its maximum swelling at pH 7.2 while the minimum swelling was observed under acidic conditions (pH 1‐3). The rate of water uptake in the grafted polymer hydrogel was higher than that of the homopolymer hydrogel and the swelling behaviors of both hydrogels obeyed second‐order kinetics. The tested hydrogel showed a high potency towards concentrating BSA solutions with a concentration factor of 1 to 4.5 times and recovery of 60–90%. The concentration factor increased linearly with increasing both the polymer concentration and the process time and decreased with the increase in the protein concentration. The grafted polymer had stable efficiency in the concentration process for 20 cycles. The obtained results have recommended the employment of the prepared CMC‐g‐PAM hydrogel in the down stream protein concentration process in the industrial scale. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.     

Digitally programmable second generation current conveyor‐based FPAA

A novel fully differential digitally programmable current conveyor (DPCCII) is presented in this paper. The programmability of the proposed DPCCII is achieved using three‐bit MOS R‐2R ladder current division network. The DPCCII is used to realize a field programmable analog array (FPAA). The FPAA consists of seven configurable analog blocks arranged in a hexagonal form. The FPAA power consumption is 72.3 mW from 1 V voltage supply. A second‐order programmable universal filter is realized using the proposed FPAA as an application. All the circuits are realized and simulated using 90 nm IBM CMOS technology model under balanced supply voltage of ±0.5 V. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic Tracking of The Steady State Power System Magnitude and Frequency Using Linear Kalman Filter a Variable Frequency Model

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the application of Kalman Filtering algorithm for tracking the power system voltage magnitude, the rate of change of the frequency, the frequency deviation as well as the voltage phase angle, when the the frequency of the voltage signal varies linearly with the time during the data window size. The proposed algorithm uses the digitized samples of the voltage signal at the relay location. Effects of sampling rate, data window size and the harmonics contaminating the voltage signal on the performance of the algorithm are studied. Furthermore, effects of the noise level are also investigated. A sample of the results obtained is reported in this paper.     

Influence of Se on the electron mobility in thermal evaporated Bi2(Te1−xSex)3 thin films

Thermoelectric solid solutions of Bi₂ (Te_1−xSe_x)₃ with x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 were grown using the Bridgman technique. Thin films of these materials of different compositions were prepared by conventional thermal evaporation of the prepared bulk materials. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity σ, free carriers concentration n, mobility μ_H, and seebeck coefficient S, of the as-deposited and films annealed at different temperatures, have been studied at temperature ranging from 300 to 500 K. The temperature dependence of σ revealed an intrinsic conduction mechanism above 400 K, while for temperatures less than 400 K an extrinsic conduction is dominant.The activation energy, ΔE, and the energy gap, E_g, were found to increase with increasing Se content. The variation of S with temperature revealed that the samples with different compositions x are degenerate semiconductors with n-type conduction. Both, the annealing and composition effects on Hall constant, R_H, density of electron carriers, n, Hall mobility, μ_H, and the effective mass, m^∗/m₀ are studied in the above temperature range.     

Preparation and characterizations of tungsten oxide electrochromic nanomaterials

Nanoscaled tungsten oxide thin films were fabricated by galvanostatic electrodeposition. The effect of preparation parameters such as tungsten ions concentration, pH, current density and annealing on the properties and performance of WO₃ thin films electrochromic materials was investigated. XRD, SEM–EDS, TEM, FTIR, UV–VIS spectrophotometry, and electrochemical measurements were utilized to characterize the structural and compositional properties as well as the electrochromic behaviour of the prepared thin films. Triclinic WO₃ structure was prepared at 0.1 M W⁺ and current density of 0.5 mA cm⁻², while at 0.2 M W⁺ and 1 mA cm⁻², orthorhombic structure was revealed. High energy gap of 3.5 eV with diffusion coefficient of 6.81 × 10⁻¹¹ cm² S⁻¹ and coloration efficiency of 62.68 cm² C⁻¹ were obtained for the films prepared at pH 2, 1 mA cm⁻², and 0.1 M W⁺.     

Preparation and characterization of thin films of electrodeposited CdTe semiconductors

Thin films of CdTe semiconductors were prepared by electrodeposition technique in aqueous solutions. The deposition mechanism was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The potential regions for the formation of the n-CdTe and p-CdTe films were determined. The structure, composition and morphology characteristics of as-deposited thin films of CdTe grown on SnO₂/glass and CdS/SnO₂/glass were investigated by XRD, EDAX and SEM techniques. The optical properties were measured to determine the absorption coefficient and band gap values. The as-deposited CdTe films grown on SnO₂/glass contained free Te while those grown on CdS/SnO₂/Glass did not contain this phase. The CdTe has the cubic structure with strong (111) orientation. The EDAX analysis showed a nearly stiochiometric Cd:Te ratio. The band gap has a value of 1.48 eV, which is in a good accordance with those reported in the literature. The effect of annealing at 350 and 400°C after CdCl₂ treatment on the structure and morphology was also examined.     

Reactions with Thiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazol-3(2H)-ones

5-Aryl-3-carboxymethylthio-1,2,4-triazoles 2 are cyclised to 6-arylthiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazol-3(2H)-ones 3 . This structural assignment has been based on IR and NMR spectra. 2-Arylmethylene-6-arylthiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazol-3(2H)-ones 7 were prepared by several methods. Compounds 3 coupled with diazotised anilines to give 2,3-dihydro-6-arylthiazolo[3,2-b]-s-triazole-2,3-dione 2-arylhydrazones 8 . The action of amines on 3a opens the thiazolone ring with the formation of substituted (5-phenyltriazol-3-ylthio)-acetamides 9 .