Photon and vibration synergism on planar defects induced 2D-graphitic carbon nitride for ultrafast remediation of dyes and antibiotic ampicillin

Journal of Materials Science - Hybrid oxidation methodologies (HOMs) and active site enrichment of 2D nanocatalyst through defects induction are ubiquitously used for generating adequate reactive...     

Binding free energy calculations of galectin-3-ligand interactions

Galectins show remarkable binding specificity towards ß-galactosides.A recently developed method for calculating binding free energiesbetween a protein and its substrates has been used to evaluatethe binding specificity of galectin-3. Five disaccharides anda tetrasaccharide were used as the substrates. The calculatedbinding free energies agree quite well with the experimentaldata and the ranking of binding affinities is well reproduced.For all the six protein–ligand complexes it was observedthat electrostatic interactions oppose binding whereas the non-polarcontributions drive complex formation. The observed bindingspecificity of galectin-3 for galactosides rather than glucosidesis discussed in light of our results.     

Applying the critical path method to manufacturing routing

Traditionally the critical path method (CPM) has been used primarily as an a'priori planning and scheduling device. Its applications have typically been limited to one-shot projects, usually with a long period of completion time. This paper proposes taking these ideas to continuous production systems, and to implement the CPM not just at the outset but throughout the process. The algorithm calls for repeatedly calculating the critical path through the production process and routing parts so as to remain off this path. Before the model is presented, some basic ideas are introduced from group technology (GT) and CPM. After the presentation of the model, two potential implementations with the usage of computer are proposed.     

Learning spreadsheets: human instruction vs. computer-based instruction

The increasing need to instruct students in the use of personal computer software, especially electronic spreadsheets, is placing greater demands on the already full university curriculum. A potential help in meeting these demands is the readily available computer-based software tutorials. In order to explore the feasibility of computer-based instruction as an alternative to human instruction, this research compares two modes of instruction, computer-based and human. An experiment was conducted with groups of business student subjects. The research results indicate no difference in students' attitude towards computer-based instruction and human instruction of spreadsheets. Students' short-term recall of the software syntax being taught is as strong with computer-based instruction as with human instruction. These results were not affected by the level of personal computer experience that students had prior to the experiment. However, the ability to comprehend and immediately apply the software to a task is greater with human instruction than with computer-aided instruction. This advantage holds true for students instructed by experienced and inexperienced instructors.     

Thermally stimulated discharge current studies in pure and fe-doped polystyrene films

Studies were made on the thermally stimulated discharge currents (TSDCs) in pure (undoped) and Fe-doped polystyrene films as a function of polarizing field, polarizing temperature and dopant concentration. While undoped films exhibited a single peak, doped films showed two peaks one at low temperatures and another at high temperatures. The low temperature peak, which exhibits a shift towards lower temperatures with increasing dopant concentration, is attributed to the relaxation of the main chain, while the high temperature peak, which shows a tendency to shift towards higher temperatures with dopant concentration, is due to space charge polarization. The TSDCs were higher for low dopant concentrations than their undoped counterparts, while for high concentrations of the dopant, the TSDCs decreased. Formation of charge transfer complexes at low dopant concentrations and molecular aggregates at higher dopant concentrations are suggested as the possible reasons for this behaviour.     

Anionic Clays as Potential Slow-Release Fertilizers: Nitrate Ion Exchange

Several nitrate containing anionic clays were synthesized at different temperatures and the kinetics of NO₃ ^– release were determined to test their suitability as slow-release N fertilizers. A sample (Mg:Al = 2:1) synthesized at 60°C with smaller particle size released 75, 86 and 100% of its NO₃ ^– in 1, 3 and 7 days, respectively when equilibrated with a simulated soil solution. On the other hand, the 175°C/2 hrs sample with larger particle size released 65, 77 and 84% of its nitrate in 1, 3 and 7 days, respectively. Another anionic clay (synthesized at 175°C/24 hrs) of higher charge density (Mg:Al = 2:1) containing NO₃ ^– was equilibrated with a 0.012 N NaCl or Na₂CO₃ to test the role of different anions in releasing the NO₃ ^– anion from the interlayers. The results showed that Cl^– released more NO₃ ^– than did CO₃ ^2– from this anionic clay after all the treatment times probably as a result of the CO₃ ^2– anion blocking the release of NO₃ ^– from the interior of the crystals. When a lower charge density (Mg:Al = 3:1) sample (synthesized at 175°C/48 hrs) was equilibrated with 0.02N solution of anions the release of nitrate was as follows: Cl^– < F^– < SO₄ ⁼ CO₃ ^2–. These results suggest that the divalent SO₄ ⁼ and CO₃ ^2– anions are more effective in the release of NO₃ ^– from this lower charge density anionic clay. Time-resolved structural analysis of NO₃ ^– exchange with CO₃ ^2– in the above anionic clay using synchrotron x-ray diffraction showed that ion exchange is rapid because of small crystal size and lower charge density. Thus the release of NO₃ ^– from anionic clays is an interplay among the type of anions present in soil solution, their concentration, pH of soil solution, the charge density and crystal size of anionic clay etc.     

Realization of a quantum gate using gravitational search algorithm by perturbing three-dimensional harmonic oscillator with an electromagnetic field

The aim of this paper is to design a current source obtained as a representation of p information symbols \(\{I_k\}\) so that the electromagnetic (EM) field generated interacts with a quantum atomic system producing after a fixed duration T a unitary gate U(T) that is as close as possible to a given unitary gate \(U_g\). The design procedure involves calculating the EM field produced by \(\{I_k\}\) and hence the perturbing Hamiltonian produced by \(\{I_k\}\) finally resulting in the evolution operator produced by \(\{I_k\}\) up to cubic order based on the Dyson series expansion. The gate error energy is thus obtained as a cubic polynomial in \(\{I_k\}\) which is minimized using gravitational search algorithm. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) in the designed gate is higher as compared to that using quadratic Dyson series expansion. The SNR is calculated as the ratio of the Frobenius norm square of the desired gate to that of the desired gate error.     

Emergence of Gold‐Mesoporous Silica Hybrid Nanotheranostics: Dox‐Encoded,Folate Targeted Chemotherapy with Modulation of SERS Fingerprinting for Apoptosis Toward Tumor Eradication

Strategically fabricated theranostic nanocarrier delivery system is an unmet need in personalized medicine. Herein, this study reports a versatile folate receptor (FR) targeted nanoenvelope delivery system (TNEDS) fabricated with gold core silica shell followed by chitosan–folic acid conjugate surface functionalization by for precise loading of doxorubicin (Dox), resembled as Au@SiO₂‐Dox‐CS‐FA. TNEDS possesses up to 90% Dox loading efficiency and internalized through endocytosis pathway leading to pH and redox‐sensitive release kinetics. The superior FR‐targeted cytotoxicity is evaluated by the nanocarrier in comparison with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved liposomal Dox conjugate, Lipodox. Moreover, TNEDS exhibits theranostic features through caspase‐mediated apoptosis and envisages high surface plasmon resonance enabling the nanoconstruct as a promising surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanotag. Minuscule changes in the biochemical components inside cells exerted by the TNEDS along with the Dox release are evaluated explicitly in a time‐dependent fashion using bimodal SERS/fluorescence nanoprobe. Finally, TNEDS displays superior antitumor response in FR‐positive ascites as well as solid tumor syngraft mouse models. Therefore, this futuristic TNEDS is expected to be a potential alternative as a clinically relevant theranostic nanomedicine to effectively combat neoplasia.