Influence of Mg concentration on structural,morphological and optical properties of nanoceria

Nano crystalline pure and Mg doped ceriaparticles were synthesized by simple chemical co-precipitation method using cerium nitrate hexahydrate as a source material and magnesium nitrate as doping precursor at room temperature. The effect of doping were investigated by X-ray diffraction pattern(XRD), FT-Raman,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), Ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV), photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL), field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (HRTEM &EDS). The X-ray diffraction pattern and FT-Raman studies showed that the prepared samples were nano particulates with cubic fluorite structure. The XRD pattern analysis showed that the size of the particles ranged from 13 to 20?nm, however 4?wt% Mg doping results in reduction of particle size compared with other doping concentrations. The effects of Mg concentration on various structural parameters of the prepared samples were also determined. The slight blue shift observed upon doping in UV–Vis absorption region around 330–360nmrecorded for reduction in particle size. The FTIR unveils the presence of Metal oxygen bonds below 700?cm^?1in the prepared samples. All samples showed a broad emission band at 430?nm with linearly increasing intensity with respect to dopant concentrations. The Spherical morphology with weak agglomeration was identified through FESEM and HRTEM analysis. The elemental analysis of Ce, O and Mg were confirmed through EDS analysis.     

Interdisciplinary research: roles for self-organization

No generally accepted principles and guidelines currently exist to help engineers design local interaction mechanisms that result in a desired global behavior. However, several communities have developed ways of approaching this problem in the context of niched application areas. Because the ideas underlying these approaches are often obscured or underemphasized in technical papers, the authors review the role of self-organization in their work. They provide a better picture of the status of the emerging field of self-organizing systems or autonomic computing.     

Secondary web-flange interaction in framed-tube buildings

In the conventional plane-frame model of framed-tube buildings, only the primary interaction between the web frame and the flange frame is considered, through vertical shear transfer at corner columns. In addition to this, a secondary interaction takes place due to horizontal shear transfer at each floor level, through the floor slab having high in-plane rigidity. This interaction causes a discrepancy in member forces of a few bottom and top storeys. A simple modification is suggested in the form of an additional cantilever column connected to the conventional plane-frame model by axial force transfer members at every floor level. The improved model yields member forces in all the storeys that are very close to those obtained using 3D analysis.     

An efficient neural-network model for real-time fault detection in industrial machine

Neural Computing and Applications - Induction machines have extensive demand in industries as they are used for large-scale production and, therefore, vulnerable to both electrical and mechanical...     

A Newly Developed Synbiotic Yogurt Prevents Diabetes by Improving the Microbiome–Intestine–Pancreas Axis

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing worldwide, and there are no long-term preventive strategies to stop this growth. Emerging research shows that perturbations in the gut microbiome significantly contribute to the development of T2D, while microbiome modulators may be beneficial for T2D prevention. However, microbiome modulators that are effective, safe, affordable, and able to be administered daily are not yet available. Based on our previous pro- and prebiotic studies, we developed a novel synbiotic yogurt comprised of human-origin probiotics and plant-based prebiotics and investigated its impact on diet- and streptozotocin-induced T2D in mice. We compared the effects of our synbiotic yogurt to those of a commercially available yogurt (control yogurt). Interestingly, we found that the feeding of the synbiotic yogurt significantly reduced the development of hyperglycemia (diabetes) in response to high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin compared to milk-fed controls. Surprisingly, the control yogurt exacerbated diabetes progression. Synbiotic yogurt beneficially modulated the gut microbiota composition compared to milk, while the control yogurt negatively modulated it by significantly increasing the abundance of detrimental bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, the synbiotic yogurt protected pancreatic islet morphology compared to the milk control, while the control yogurt demonstrated worse effects on islets. These results suggest that our newly developed synbiotic yogurt protects against diabetes in mice and can be used as a therapeutic to prevent diabetes progression.     

Cover Feature: Superior Proton-Transfer Catalytic Promiscuity of Cytochrome c in Self-Organized Media (7/2021)

Evolutionarily elderly proteins commonly feature greater catalytic promiscuity. Cytochrome c is among the first set of proteins in evolution to have known prospects in electron transport and peroxidative properties. Here, we report that cyt c is also a proficient proton-transfer catalyst and enhances the Kemp elimination (KE; model reaction to show proton transfer catalytic property) by ∼750-fold on self-organized systems like micelles and vesicles. The self-organized systems mimic the mitochondrial environment in vitro for cyt c. Using an array of biophysical and biochemical mutational assays, both acid–base and redox mechanistic pathways have been explored. The histidine moiety close to hemin group (His18) is mainly responsible for proton abstraction to promote the concerted E2 pathway for KE catalysis when cyt c is in its oxidized form; this has also been confirmed by a H18A mutant of cyt c. However, the redox pathway is predominant under reducing conditions in the presence of dithiothreitol over the pH range 6–7.4. Interestingly, we found almost 750-fold enhanced KE catalysis by cyt c compared to aqueous buffer. Overall, in addition to providing mechanistic insights, the data reveal an unprecedented catalytic property of cyt c that could be of high importance in an evolutionary perspective considering its role in delineating the phylogenic tree and also towards generating programmable designer biocatalysts.     

BUBBLE TEMPERATURES OF THE BINARY MIXTURES OF 1,2-DIMETHYLBENZENE WITH 2-PROPANOL, 1-BUTANOL, 2-BUTANOL, 2-METHYLPROPAN-1-OL AND 2-METHYLPROPAN-2-OL AT 95 kPa

Bubble temperatures at 95 kPa over the entire composition range are measured for the five binary systems formed by 1,2-dimethylbenzene with 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2- methylpropan-1-ol, and 2-methylpropan- 2-ol. A Swietoslawski - type ebulliometer was used for the measurements. The composition versus temperature measurements are well represented by the Wilson model.     

Effect of organic modifiers on dynamic and static nanomechanical properties and crystallinity of intercalated clay–polycaprolactam nanocomposites

Polymer clay nanocomposites (PCN) of Polyamide6 and sodium montmorillonite are prepared using different organic modifiers (12‐aminolauric acid, n‐dodecylamine, and 1,12‐diaminododecane) to study effect of organic modifiers on structure and nanomechanical properties of PCN. Using X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, crystalline nature of PCNs are evaluated. Nanoscale viscoelastic properties of PCNs are evaluated using nanodynamic mechanical analyzer (NanoDMA). Nanoscale elastic modulus and hardness of PCNs are evaluated using nanoindenter. PCNs show enhancement in elastic modulus, storage modulus, loss modulus, and loss factor by maximum amount of 62.88%, 56.38%, 145.74%, and 71.43%, respectively, and decrease in percentage crystallinity by 16.52% compared to pure polymer. This result indicates that organic modifiers have effect on crystallinity and nanomechanical properties of PCN. To evaluate effect of clay loading on nanomechanical properties of PCN, PCN containing 12‐aminolauric acid is synthesized with different weight percent (3, 6, and 9% of weight of polymer) of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT), which shows that nanomechanical properties of PCN improves with increase in clay loading. Our study reveals that change in crystallinity of polymer in PCN may have role in the enhancement of nanomechanical properties of PCNs in comparison to pristine polymer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Antiandrogen and Antimicrobial Aspects of Coordination Compounds of Palladium(II), Platinum(II) and Lead(II)

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activities of an interesting class of biologically potent macrocyclic complexes have been carried out. All the complexes have been evaluated for their antimicrobial effects on different species of pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The testicular sperm density, testicular sperm morphology, sperm motility, density of cauda epididymal spermatozoa and fertility in mating trails and biochemical parameters of reproductive organs have been examined and discussed. The resulting biologically active [M(MaL(n))(R(2))]Cl(2) and [Pb(MaL(n))(R(2))X(2)] (where, M = Pd(II) or Pt(II) and X = Cl or NO(3)) type of complexes have been synthesized by the reactions of macrocyclic ligands (MaL(n)) with metal salts and different diamines in 1:1:1 molar ratio in methanol. Initially the complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations and conductivity measurements. The mode of bonding was established on the basis of IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, (195)Pt NMR, (207)Pb NMR, XRD and electronic spectral studies. The macrocyclic ligand coordinates through the four azomethine nitrogen atoms which are bridged by benzil moieties. IR spectra suggest that the pyridine nitrogen is not coordinating. The palladium and platinum complexes exhibit tetracoordinated square-planar geometry, whereas a hexacoordinated octahedral geometry is suggested for lead complexes.