Analysis of surface wave behavior in corrugated piezomagnetic layer resting on inhomogeneous half-space

This paper deals with propagation of Love type waves in a Piezomagnetic layer with corrugated boundaries overlying an inhomogeneous half-space. Inhomogeneity of elastic half-space is caused due to exponential variations in elastic parameters. Dispersion relations are obtained for magnetically open and short cases. Prominent effects of inhomogeneity, layer's width and corrugation on the phase velocity of considered wave are illustrated through graphs. Some particular cases are derived and exhibited through graphs. Also the influence of undulation parameter, elastic parameter, and piezomagnetic coefficient on phase velocity of considered wave has been marked separately. The present study finds its applications in designing and optimization of Love wave sensors and Seismic Acoustic Wave (SAW) devices. Findings may also be used for analytical study of wave propagation in piezomagnetic coupled structures.     

Preparation,characterization, and in vivo evaluation of nano formulations of ferulic acid in diabetic wound healing

Diabetes mellitus is most common disorder characterize by hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia may lead to over production of free radicals thereby results in oxidative stress which impaired healing of wounds. Ferulic acid (FA) has been shown to have antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to develop Ferulic acid nanoparticles and to study its hypoglycemic and wound healing activities. Ferulic acid-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (FA-PLGA) nanoparticles were prepared by nano precipitation method. The prepared FA-PLGA nanoparticles had an average size of 240?nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed the prepared FA-PLGA nanoparticles were spherical in shape. Drug encapsulation assay showed that 88.49% FA was encapsulated in PLGA. Carbopol 980 was used to formulate FA-PLGA nanoparticles loaded hydrogel. FA-loaded polymeric nanoparticles dispersion (oral administration) and FA-loaded polymeric nanoparticles based hydrogel (topical administration) treated wounds were found to epithelize faster as compared with diabetic wound control group. The hydroxyproline content increased significantly when compared with diabetic wound control. Therefore, the results indicate that FA significantly promotes wound healing in diabetic rats.     

Bio‐fabrication of silver nanoparticles by Pseudomonas aeruginosa : optimisation and antibacterial activity against selected waterborne human pathogens

Multiple drug resistance and treatment of contaminated water has become a serious issue in past years. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), being bactericidal, non‐toxic, cheap and environment friendly behaviour, have drawn attention to overcome these problems. This study has been designed to synthesise AgNPs from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. AgNPs formation was confirmed by colour change and UV–vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy peaks demonstrated the presence of capped proteins as reducing and stabilising agent. Transmission electron microscopy micrograph revealed spherical shape AgNPs with the size ranging between 10 and 20 nm. Antibacterial activity of AgNPs was evaluated against the most prevalent waterborne pathogens enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Salmonellae typhimurium. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of AgNPs was tested for the treatment of contaminated water which showed attenuation in bacterial load within 8 h as demonstrated by growth kinetics data. Furthermore, AgNPs did not exhibit haemolytic effects on human red blood cells (RBCs) even at 100 mg L⁻¹ concentration of AgNPs. The results herein suggest that AgNPs synthesised by P. aeruginosa under optimised conditions exhibit microbicidal property against waterborne pathogens and having no toxic effect on human RBCs. These AgNPs could be employed for treatment of contaminated water after process optimisation.Inspec keywords: silver, nanoparticles, nanobiotechnology, nanofabrication, microorganisms, antibacterial activity, water treatment, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, transmission electron microscopy, blood, cellular biophysicsOther keywords: biofabrication, silver nanoparticles, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, optimisation, antibacterial activity, waterborne human pathogens, multiple drug resistance, contaminated water treatment, colour change, UV‐vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, capped proteins, reducing agent, stabilising agent, transmission electron microscopy micrograph, enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Salmonellae typhimurium, growth kinetics, human red blood cells, microbicidal property, process optimisation, Ag     

Tribological characterization of microarc oxidized alumina coatings for biological applications

Coatings with high wear and corrosion resistance are desirable in tribological and biological applications. In an attempt to develop such coatings, we used microarc oxidation (MAO) method to generate noble coatings of alumina on aluminum alloys. This paper reports our tribological investigations on these coatings with a pin-on-disk tribometer in synthetic biofluid. The frictional behavior and wear mechanisms were studied through surface characterization using a scanning electron microscope and a surface profilometer. It was found that the MAO coatings were highly wear resistant in the biofluid environment. The frictional behavior depends on the relative hardness of the ball-on-disk materials. The increased α-Al₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃ phases with an increase in the current intensity were found to reduce the friction.     

An investigation of heavy metal adsorption by hexa-dentate ligand-modified magnetic nanocomposites

Advancement of an efficient and cost-effective method for heavy metal removal from contaminated water utilising Fe₃O₄–APTES–EDTA (FAE) nanocomposite, a productive reusable adsorbent, is explained in this study. The novel FAE nanocomposite was prepared and characterised using different techniques such as FTIR, XRD, TEM, EDS, BET, TGA, EDX and Zeta potential techniques. FAE is found to be a good adsorbent for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺ removal with a higher adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺ are found to be 11.31, 13.88, 7.64, 4.86 and 78.67 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption and desorption cycle was studied for five cycles with minimal loss of efficiency.     

System Ho-Rh-O: Phase Equilibria, Chemical Potentials and Gibbs Energy of Formation of HoRhO3

The thermodynamic properties of the HoRhO₃ were determined in the temperature range from 900 to 1300?K by using a solid-state electrochemical cell incorporating calcia-stabilized zirconia as the electrolyte. The standard Gibbs free energy of formation of orthorhombic perovskite HoRhO₃, from Ho₂O₃ with C-rare earth structure and Rh₂O₃ with orthorhombic structure, can be expressed by the equation; $$ \Updelta G_{{{\text{f}}({\text{ox}})}}^{ \circ } \left( { \pm 78} \right)/({\text{J}}/{\text{mol}}) = - 50535 + 3.85\left( {T/{\text{K}}} \right) $$ Using the thermodynamic data of HoRhO₃ and auxiliary data for binary oxides from the literature, the phase relations in the Ho-Rh-O system were computed at 1273?K. Thermodynamic data for intermetallic phases in the binary Ho-Rh were estimated from experimental enthalpy of formation for three compositions from the literature and Miedema??s model, consistent with the phase diagram. The oxygen potential-composition diagram and three-dimensional chemical potential diagram at 1273?K, and temperature-composition diagrams at constant oxygen partial pressures were computed for the system Ho-Rh-O. The decomposition temperature of HoRhO₃ is 1717(±2)?K in pure O₂ and 1610(±2)?K in air at a total pressure p ^o?=?0.1?MPa.