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A new copper (II) coordination polymer [{Cu(TMDP)(2,3-pydc)}.2H2O]n(A) has been synthesized successfully by solvolysis method using ligands 4,4′-trimethylenedipyridine (TMDP) and 2,3-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,3-pydc). The structure of the synthesised coordination polymer is confirmed by the single crystal X-ray diffraction study and also supported by CHN analysis. FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and powder XRD study are used to characterize A. The polymer in aqueous solution is applied as effective catalyst for reductive degradation of methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) dyes with reducing agent sodium borohydride (NaBH4) under dark. The detail study of the catalytic reaction and its kinetic study reveals 97% and 76% degradation of MO and CR with rate constants of 0.061 min−1 and 0.005 min−1, respectively. This is the first example where a coordination polymer has been used for reductive degradation of dyes under dark condition. A newly synthesized copper (II) coordination polymer [{Cu(TMDP)(2,3-pydc)}.2H2O]n (A) has been developed and studied by different analytical methods. The polymer (A) is then used as catalyst for degradation of anionic (MO and CR) dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sagnac interference experiment is theoretically analyzed in the curved spacetime of the Rotating Acoustic Black hole metric. The Zero and the infinite Sagnac delay has been analyzed. The geodesic motion in the metric is discussed very briefly to derive the formula for the Sagnac delay. For the first time, the values of the two constant parameters related to the metric of the acoustic black hole have been found to be restricted within certain limit by the use of the formula for the Sagnac delay. The equation for finding the sonic horizon has also been deduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work includes the fabrication of pure BiFeO3 and Bi0.9Y0.1Fe1−xCuxO3 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) nanoparticles by the usual sol-gel route. The characterization of structural, morphological, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of the synthesized samples was achieved through x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, an impedance analyzer, and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The Fourier transform infrared study confirmed the presence of Bi–O and Fe–O bonds. The x-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the rhombohedral (R3c) structure as a major phase with the orthorhombic (Pnma) structure as a secondary phase in all samples, and few amount of impurity phase of Bi25FeO40 was also determined. The surface morphology analysis showed the variation of particle size from 63 to 174 nm. The Raman spectra of 13 optical phonon modes, including 4A1 and 9E symmetric phonons, are observed for all samples, and the positions of these modes are almost similar, except the intensities of A1 modes. The optical measurements show a reduction in bandgap from 2.17 to 2.03 eV with co-doping, revealing itself as a more promising applicant in photovoltaics. An enhanced value of the dielectric constant is observed for different doped samples at different frequency regions from 100 Hz to 10 MHz. Magnetic investigation demonstrates the improved ferromagnetism with co-doping of Y and Cu due to distortion in the FeO6 octahedron. A maximum saturation magnetization of 0.26 emu/gm and a coercivity of 2915 Oe were found for Y concentration of 10% and Cu concentration of 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-wildlife coexistence has increasingly been known for providing diverse ecological services to humans. However, the global repercussions of the Anthropocene epoch have changed the status and future of human-wildlife relationships. In this paper, we shed light on the significance of a positive attitude towards sharing space with animals in identifying and managing both conflict and ecological aspects of human-wildlife interactions in an agrarian landscape. We tried to understand how interactions between meso-carnivores like jungle cats (Felis chaus) and humans influence their survival in dense human populations. We evaluate the abundance and habitat use by jungle cats seasonally and diet, as well as their interactions with farmers in West Bengal, India. The mean encounter rate of jungle cats was assessed and used as a proxy for their abundance. Using a combination of direct sign surveys, we found that the habitat preference and seasonal distribution of jungle cats were influenced by the change in seasons with respect to different habitats. Our results indicate that jungle cats were more associated with human settlements during the monsoon. Scat analysis revealed the dominance of rodents in the diets of jungle cats. This activity helps to control the rodent population from destroying crops. However, our interactions with farmers showed their negative attitude towards the species due to the instances of livestock (poultry birds) depredation. We suggest that, more interdisciplinary researches are required to address how affectively socioeconomic structures shape up positive human-wildlife interaction. Planning and implementation of conservation education programmes are also necessary to help people for understanding the economic and ecological benefits provided by jungle cats and other wide-ranging carnivores. We chose an agrarian landscape to evaluate threats to jungle cats and their persistence with humans. The encounter rate of jungle cats indicated that the intensity of habitat use varies seasonally in different natural surroundings. People had a generally negative perception of jungle cats, despite the fact that they have been found to feed primarily on rodents in farmlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have investigated the structural, electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of ZnSbF 3 -I and ZnSbF 3 -II by altering the position of Zn and Sb through density functional theory (DFT) for the first time. The structural stability of both structures was confirmed by calculating formation enthalpy. A remarkable phenomenon has been observed from the electronic band structures analysis, whenever altering the atomic of Zn and Sb, which leads to a transition from semiconducting, ZnSbF 3 -I to metallic, ZnSbF 3 -II conductivity. The obtained bandgap value of ZnSbF 3 -I is of the order of 0.97 eV with indirect transition and the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effect reduced the band gap energy to 0.49 eV. Density of states (DOS) curves revealed that the Sb- 5p state is mainly responsible for this phase transition. The estimated elastic constants suggested that both phases are mechanically stable. By assessing the different elastic parameters, it can be concluded that both phases are mechanically ductile, machinable, isotropic, and soft in nature. A large value of bulk modulus for ZnSbF 3 -II indicates that it is harder and cannot be compressed as easily as ZnSbF 3 -I. The structures exhibit high efficiency in absorbing UV light. ZnSbF 3 -II's strong reflectivity in the infrared spectrum makes it an option to use for IR shielding. This study will guide further theoretical and experimental investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, photocatalysts have been considered as effective tool to combat water pollution caused by Cr(VI) contamination. However, absence of sunlight in night and poor transmittance in the waste water restrict their wide-spread practical applications. Herein, two dimensional MoS 2 nanosheets have been employed as pyrocatalyst for round-o-clock utilization of natural temperature fluctuation and consequent reduction of Cr(VI). MoS 2 pyrocatalysts have been synthesized via facile hydrothermal technique and further characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM technique. The developed pyrocatalyst exhibits ∼95 % removal of 80 ppm Cr(VI) under thermal cycles between 20 ºC and 70 ºC. Moreover, the pyrocatalyst can effectively harness natural temperature variation for the catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in just 30 days. The excited electrons generated during the temperature variation are identified as active species responsible for Cr(VI) reduction. The results and concept presented here may bring new possibilities for the removal of heavy metal ions in waste water treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High thermoelectric performance is generally achieved through either electronic structure modulations or phonon scattering enhancements, which often counteract each other. A leap in performance requires innovative strategies that simultaneously optimize electronic and phonon transports. We demonstrate high thermoelectric performance with a near room-temperature figure of merit, ZT ~ 1.5, and a maximum ZT ~ 2.6 at 573 kelvin, by optimizing atomic disorder in cadmium-doped polycrystalline silver antimony telluride (AgSbTe2). Cadmium doping in AgSbTe2 enhances cationic ordering, which simultaneously improves electronic properties by tuning disorder-induced localization of electronic states and reduces lattice thermal conductivity through spontaneous formation of nanoscale (~2 to 4 nanometers) superstructures and coupling of soft vibrations localized within ~1 nanometer around cadmium sites with local strain modulation. The strategy is applicable to most other thermoelectric materials that exhibit inherent atomic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes high thermoelectric performance in cadmium-doped polycrystalline silver antimony telluride caused by enhanced cationic ordering. Temperature-dependent electronic transport, transmission electron microscopy and first-principles density functional theory were used to show evidence of increased atomic ordering and the formation of nanoscale superstructures.

Organic fluorescent semiconducting nanomaterials have gained widespread research interest owing to their potential applications in the arena of high-tech devices. We designed two pyrazaacene-based compounds, their stacked system, and the role of gluing interactions to fabricate nanomaterials, and determined the prospective band gaps utilizing the density functional theory calculation. The two pyrazaacene derivatives containing complementary amide linkages (–CONH and –NHCO) were efficiently synthesized. The synthesized compounds are highly soluble in common organic solvents as well as highly fluorescent and photostable. The heterocycles and their mixture displayed efficient solvent dependent fluorescence in the visible region of the solar spectrum. Notably, the compounds were associated through complementary NH•••O = C type hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, and hydrophobic interactions, and thereby afforded nanomaterials with a low band gap. Fascinatingly, the fabricated stacked nanomaterial system exhibited resistive switching behavior, leading to the fabrication of an efficient write-once-read-many-times memory device of crossbar structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Cu(II) complex [CuL] of an asymmetrically di-condensed N2O2 donor Schiff base ligand, N-α-methylsalicylidene-N′-salicylidene-1,3-propanediamine (H2L) has been employed towards the synthesis of four heterometallic complexes, [(CuL)2Zn(N(CN)2)2] (1) [(CuL)2Cd(N(CN)2)2] (2), [(CuL)2Zn(SCN)2]·CH3CN (3) and [(CuL)2Cd(SCN)(H2O)]·ClO4 (4). All four complexes are found to be discrete bent trinuclear where two [CuL] units are coordinated to the central metal ion (Zn/Cd) via phenoxido oxygen atoms. In addition to two double phenoxido bridges, two monodentate dicyanamide ions in 1 and 2, two N-bonded thiocyanate in 3 and one S-bonded thiocyanate and one water molecule in 4 complete the hexa-coordination around the central metal ions. Recurrent π(arene)⋯π(chelate ring) stacked motifs were detected in the solid state of all complexes that have been studied by means of DFT calculations, rationalized using molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface calculations and characterized using the noncovalent interaction plot (NCIplot). The data presented herein show that the π(arene)⋯π(chelate ring) stacking interactions in complexes 1–4 are strong and relevant for determining their crystal packing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Cd(II) complexes, [Cd4L2(NO3)2(μ1,1-N3)2(CH3OH)2] (1) and {[Cd2L(IPA)]2·(CH3OH)}n (2), have been synthesized by using a multidentate Schiff base ligand H2L (N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-diethylenetriamine) and two bridging co-ligands azide and isophthalic acid (IPA), respectively. Single crystal structure analysis shows that complex 1 has a tetranuclear structure whereas complex 2 forms a 1D polymer. The photoswitching behavior of both complexes has been measured under 1 Sun illumination. A significant enhancement of frequency ∼65 Hz was observed for complex 2, but for complex 1 no such enhancement was detected. To gain a detailed understanding about the charge transport mechanism of the complexes, the effective carrier mobility, transit time, carrier concentration and diffusion length have been estimated considering Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD) characteristics. The charge transport properties of complex 2 were found to be superior to complex 1. Complex 2 showed increased conductivity from 5.4 × 10−8 S cm−1 to 135 × 10−8 S cm−1 in the presence of light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two‐step optimization strategy is used to improve the thermoelectric performance of SnTe via modulating the electronic structure and phonon transport. The electrical transport of self‐compensated SnTe (that is, Sn1.03Te) was first optimized by Ag doping, which resulted in an optimized carrier concentration. Subsequently, Mn doping in Sn1.03−xAgxTe resulted in highly converged valence bands, which improved the Seebeck coefficient. The energy gap between the light and heavy hole bands, i.e. ΔEv decreases to 0.10 eV in Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te compared to the value of 0.35 eV in pristine SnTe. As a result, a high power factor of ca. 24.8 μW cm−1 K−2 at 816 K in Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te was attained. The lattice thermal conductivity of Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te reached to an ultralow value (ca. 0.3 W m−1 K−1) at 865 K, owing to the formation of Ag7Te4 nanoprecipitates in SnTe matrix. A high thermoelectric figure of merit (z T≈1.45 at 865 K) was obtained in Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two‐step optimization strategy is used to improve the thermoelectric performance of SnTe via modulating the electronic structure and phonon transport. The electrical transport of self‐compensated SnTe (that is, Sn1.03Te) was first optimized by Ag doping, which resulted in an optimized carrier concentration. Subsequently, Mn doping in Sn1.03−xAgxTe resulted in highly converged valence bands, which improved the Seebeck coefficient. The energy gap between the light and heavy hole bands, i.e. ΔEv decreases to 0.10 eV in Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te compared to the value of 0.35 eV in pristine SnTe. As a result, a high power factor of ca. 24.8 μW cm−1 K−2 at 816 K in Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te was attained. The lattice thermal conductivity of Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te reached to an ultralow value (ca. 0.3 W m−1 K−1) at 865 K, owing to the formation of Ag7Te4 nanoprecipitates in SnTe matrix. A high thermoelectric figure of merit (z T≈1.45 at 865 K) was obtained in Sn0.83Ag0.03Mn0.17Te. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare solubilization approaches, namely cosolvency, micelle solubilization, complexation, pH adjustment and hydrotrophy, on BCS class II drug modafinil solubility. Methods: Altered solubility study of modafinil was carried out in numerous water-cosolvent mixtures. Similar type of study was performed using different ionic and non-ionic surfactants using phase solubility analysis. Furthermore, solubility behavior with two cyclodextrins namely beta cyclodextrin and maltodextrin were examined. Solubility studies were conducted in buffers of different pH ranging from 1.2 to 8 at different temperatures (25°C and 37°C). The effect of hydrotrophy on the solubility of modafinil was also studied. Results: Outcomes showed that ethanol is depicted to enhance solubility by greater height. It is found that ionic surfactants were better solubilizers than non-ionic surfactants. The capacity of solubilization is depicted to enhance with rise in hydrocarbon chain length of surfactant, denoting that hydrocarbon core of micelles as the center of solubilization. Highest solubility and binding constants were achieved with use of beta cyclodextrins followed by maltodextrins. The buffers of pH 2 and pH 3 have shown highest solubility when compared to others. Sodium thiocyanate salt had shown highest solubility of the drug. Conclusion: As a consequence, the study provides dataset so as to contrast effects of numerous solubilizers on modafinil solubility and also gives an insight of the mode of solubilization by aforementioned techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two mononuclear uranyl complexes, [UO2L1] (1) and [UO2L2]⋅0.5 CH3CN⋅0.25 CH3OH (2), have been synthesized from two multidentate N3O4 donor ligands, N,N′‐bis(5‐methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H2L1) and N,N′‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H2L2), respectively, and have been structurally characterized. Both complexes 1 and 2 showed a reversible UVI/UV couple at −1.571 and −1.519 V, respectively, in cyclic voltammetry. The reduction potential of the UVI/UV couple shifted towards more positive potential on addition of Li+, Na+, K+, and Ag+ metal ions to acetonitrile solutions of complex 2, and the resulting potential was correlated with the Lewis acidity of the metal ions and was also justified by theoretical DFT calculations. No such shift in reduction potential was observed for complex 1. All four bimetallic products, [UO2L2Li0.5](ClO4)0.5 (3), [UO2L2Na(ClO4)]2 (4), [UO2L2Ag(NO3)(H2O)] (5), and [(UO2L2)2K(H2O)2]PF6 (6), formed on addition of the Li+, Na+, Ag+, and K+ metal ions, respectively, to acetonitrile solutions of complex 2, were isolated in the solid state and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In all the species, the inner N3O2 donor set of the ligand encompasses the equatorial plane of the uranyl ion and the outer open compartment with O2O′2 donor sites hosts the second metal ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new NiII complexes, [Ni(L1)](NO3)·1.5H2O (1), [Ni(L1)][Ni(HL2)](NO3)2·H2O (2), [Ni4(L2)2(μ3-OCH3)2(NO3)](NO3)·CH3OH (3), and [Ni6(L2)2(o-van)2(μ3-OH)4](NO3)2·H2O (4), where HL1 = 2-{[2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethylimino]methyl}-6-methoxyphenol and H2L2 = N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine, have been synthesized by changing the reaction conditions and stoichiometry of the reactants. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study reveals that complexes 1 and 2 are mononuclear with a square planar geometry around the NiII centre, whereas complexes 3 and 4 possess tetranuclear and hexanuclear structures, respectively, with octahedral NiII centres. The differences in nuclearity, coordination numbers and geometry of the NiII centres in the complexes have been explained considering the flexible coordination modes and denticity of the Schiff base ligands. Variable temperature molar magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the tetranuclear NiII4 complex (3) is ferromagnetically coupled with two exchange couplings, J1 = 0.64 cm−1 and J2 = 8.41 cm−1, whereas the hexanuclear NiII6 complex (4) is antiferromagnetically coupled with four exchange couplings, J1 = −5.60 cm−1, J2 = −9.39 cm−1, J3 = −5.18 cm−1 and J4 = 3.72 cm−1. The sign and magnitude of these exchange couplings in complexes 3 and 4 are correlated with similar types of reported cubane or defective cubane-like NiII complexes. Electrochemical measurements of these complexes reveal that the NiII centres are irreversibly reduced with one reduction potential for 1, 3 and 4, whereas for 2 the NiII centres are irreversibly reduced with two reduction potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this report, we have investigated the magnetic properties of the disordered interacting electron system FeAl 2- x Ga x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) through the measurements of dc magnetization, ac susceptibility and heat capacity, and constructed the magnetic phase diagram. This system shows an intriguing phenomenon in which an antiferromagnetic transition occurs concomitantly with a disorder-induced weak localization of electrons implying a cooperative nature of the disorder-induced effects and electron-electron interactions which is in contradiction to their established competitive nature. Our investigation reveals that, in addition to the antiferromagnetic transition at T N , a spin glass transition occurs at a lower temperature at T g (T g < T N). As the Ga concentration increases, T N increases while T g decreases. The investigation reveals that the Fe-Fe antiferromagnetic interactions predominantly lie in a plane and the antiferromagnetic phase is stabilized by a weak interplanar Fe-Fe interaction. With increasing Ga concentration, this interplanar Fe-Fe distance decreases and results in the increase of the Néel temperature T N. Fe moments in this system are found to be partially localized due to the interplay between disorder and electron-electron interactions. Competing interactions between the finite spin clusters give rise to a cluster spin glass state at low temperatures. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Interplay between disorder and electron-electron interaction creates local moment. • Magnetic Fe atoms form a nearly two-dimensional antiferromagnetic network. • Weak interplanar magnetic interaction stabilizes antiferromagnetic phase. • Spin glass transition temperature decreases with increasing disorder. • Antiferromagnetic transition temperature increases with increasing disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable route for the Henry reaction of isatins with nitromethane or nitroethane to afford 3‐hydroxy‐3‐(nitroalkyl)indolin‐2‐ones was developed by the catalysis of 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium hydroxide (BMIm[OH]) ionic liquid in water‐SDS system. Incorporation of SDS in the reaction medium enhances the reaction rate by suppressing the solubility issues for different substrates particularly for N‐alkylated isatins. This method provides high yield of the condensation product in a shorter reaction time under a very mild condition and in a multi‐gram scale reaction. Moreover, recyclability of the catalyst ionic liquid as well as reaction medium including surfactant makes the present protocol environmentally benign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocrystalline SnSe is one of the most promising thermoelectric materials with outstanding performance and a high abundance of constituting elements. However, polycrystalline SnSe, which is more robust for applications, only shows large figure‐of‐merit (zT) values in its high‐symmetry phase. Stabilizing the high‐symmetry phase at low temperatures can thus enhance the average zT value over a broad temperature range. In this work, the high‐symmetry rock‐salt SnSe phase is successfully obtained by alloying SnSe with AgVVI2 compounds (V = Sb, Bi; VI = Se, Te). These cubic SnSe phases show a unique portfolio of properties including a high optical dielectric constant, a large maximum of optical absorption, a large Born effective charge, and abnormal bond‐breaking behavior in laser‐assisted atom probe tomography. All of these characteristics are indicative of metavalent bonding. In contrast, the Pnma phase of SnSe employs covalent bonding. The enhanced symmetry at low temperatures is realized by tailoring chemical bonding. Concomitantly, zT near room temperature is increased by a factor of more than 10 from the pristine Pnma SnSe to Fm3¯${{\bar{3}}}$m SnSe alloys. This provides insights into the enhancement of the thermoelectric performance of SnSe and other chalcogenides over a broad temperature range by manipulating the chemical bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new hetero-metallic CuII-LnIII complexes [(CuL)Gd(NO3)3(CH3OH)]n (1), [(CuL)Tb(NO3)3(H2O)]· [CuL] (2) and [(CuL)Dy(NO3)3(H2O)]·[CuL] (3) have been synthesized using a mono-nuclear Cu(II) complex, [CuL], of an unsymmetrically di-condensed N2O3 donor Schiff base ligand, N-(3-methoxysalicylidene)-N-(salicylidene)-1,2-ethylenediamine (H2L). Single crystal X-ray crystallography revealed that complex 1 is a nitrate bridged 1D chain of dinuclear Cu(II)-Gd(III) units whereas in 2 and 3, the dinuclear Cu(II)-Ln(III) units are co-crystallized with a [CuL] unit. The Ln(III) centers are nine coordinated with the geometry of a spherical capped square antiprism for Gd and spherical tricapped trigonal prism for Tb and Dy. The geometry of the Cu(II) center is distorted octahedral for complex 1 and distorted square planar for complexes 2 and 3. Temperature-dependent molar magnetic susceptibility measurements in 1-3 revealed the presence of overall ferromagnetic coupling between the Cu(II) and Ln(III) centers. Notably, field induced single-molecule magnet behavior was witnessed in the Tb(III) derivative (2). The ab initio calculations indicated that upon application of an external magnetic field, the tunneling in the ground state of complex 2 gets reduced and thereby field-induced SMM behaviour is observed. Besides, in the case of complex 1, BS-DFT calculations were carried out to gain further insights into the magnetic exchange coupling interactions between the Cu(II) and Gd(III) centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realization of n‐type Ge chalcogenides is elusive owing to intrinsic Ge vacancies that make them p‐type semiconductors. GeSe crystallizes into a layered orthorhombic structure similar to SnSe at ambient conditions. The high‐symmetry cubic phase of GeSe is predicted to be stabilized by applying 7 GPa external pressure or by enhancing the entropy by increasing to temperature to 920 K. Stabilization of the n‐type cubic phase of GeSe at ambient conditions was achieved by alloying with AgBiSe2 (30–50 mol %), enhancing the entropy through solid solution mixing. The interplay of positive and negative chemical pressure anomalously changes the band gap of GeSe with increasing the AgBiSe2 concentration. The band gap of n‐type cubic (GeSe)1−x(AgBiSe2)x (0.30≤x≤0.50) has a value in the 0.3–0.4 eV range, which is significantly lower than orthorhombic GeSe (1.1 eV). Cubic (GeSe)1−x(AgBiSe2)x exhibits an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κL≈0.43 W m−1 K−1) in the 300–723 K range. The low κL is attributed to significant phonon scattering by entropy‐driven enhanced solid‐solution point defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realization of n‐type Ge chalcogenides is elusive owing to intrinsic Ge vacancies that make them p‐type semiconductors. GeSe crystallizes into a layered orthorhombic structure similar to SnSe at ambient conditions. The high‐symmetry cubic phase of GeSe is predicted to be stabilized by applying 7 GPa external pressure or by enhancing the entropy by increasing to temperature to 920 K. Stabilization of the n‐type cubic phase of GeSe at ambient conditions was achieved by alloying with AgBiSe2 (30–50 mol %), enhancing the entropy through solid solution mixing. The interplay of positive and negative chemical pressure anomalously changes the band gap of GeSe with increasing the AgBiSe2 concentration. The band gap of n‐type cubic (GeSe)1−x(AgBiSe2)x (0.30≤x≤0.50) has a value in the 0.3–0.4 eV range, which is significantly lower than orthorhombic GeSe (1.1 eV). Cubic (GeSe)1−x(AgBiSe2)x exhibits an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κL≈0.43 W m−1 K−1) in the 300–723 K range. The low κL is attributed to significant phonon scattering by entropy‐driven enhanced solid‐solution point defects. n‐Type cubic GeSe has been stabilized at ambient conditions by entropy‐driven formation of a solid solution with AgBiSe2. It demonstrated promising thermoelectric properties with ultralow thermal conductivity. Upon increasing the AgBiSe2 concentration in GeSe, the band gap of the system changes anomalously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new trinuclear hetero-metallic Ni II 2 M II complexes with M II  = Mn, Fe and Co have been synthesized using a [NiL R ] “metalloligand”, where H 2 L R  = N,N′-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,3-propanediamine. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic methods, single crystal XRD and magnetic and electrochemical studies. In the three complexes, in addition to the double phenoxido bridges, the two terminal Ni II atoms are linked to the central M II [M = Mn( 1 ), Fe( 2 ) and Co( 3 )] ion by means of a bridging carboxylato co-anion, giving rise to a linear Ni II -M II -Ni II structure. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show the presence of weak ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated through the double phenoxido bridges with J values of +8.5 and −3.0 cm −1 for complexes 1 and 2 , respectively. Compound 3 shows the presence of antiferromagnetic interactions. Cyclic voltammetry shows a common quasi-reversible one electron oxidation corresponding to the Ni(II)/Ni(III) process in 1 – 3 and an irreversible M(II)/M(III) oxidation for Mn( 1 ) and Fe( 2 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we report measurements and comparisons of the structural, magnetic and transport properties of a series of Mn 50 Fe 50− x Sn x alloys ( x =10, 15 and 20). We found that while the lower Sn composition sample stabilized in β-Mn-type crystallographic phase, the higher Sn composition alloys contained both β-Mn-type as well as Mn 3 Sn-type hexagonal DO 19 phases. Through d.c. and a.c. magnetic property measurements we have established the existence of a ferromagnetic transition near room temperature followed by a spin reorientation at lower temperature in the Mn 3 Sn-type crystallographic phase of the alloys. Our resistivity study also revealed an interesting behavior with negative temperature coefficient (TCR) in these alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adherent cells ensure membrane homeostasis during de-adhesion by various mechanisms, including endocytosis. Although mechano-chemical feedbacks involved in this process have been studied, the step-by-step build-up and resolution of the mechanical changes by endocytosis are poorly understood. To investigate this, we studied the de-adhesion of HeLa cells using a combination of interference reflection microscopy, optical trapping and fluorescence experiments. We found that de-adhesion enhanced membrane height fluctuations of the basal membrane in the presence of an intact cortex. A reduction in the tether force was also noted at the apical side. However, membrane fluctuations reveal phases of an initial drop in effective tension followed by saturation. The area fractions of early (Rab5-labelled) and recycling (Rab4-labelled) endosomes, as well as transferrin-labelled pits close to the basal plasma membrane, also transiently increased. On blocking dynamin-dependent scission of endocytic pits, the regulation of fluctuations was not blocked, but knocking down AP2-dependent pit formation stopped the tension recovery. Interestingly, the regulation could not be suppressed by ATP or cholesterol depletion individually but was arrested by depleting both. The data strongly supports Clathrin and AP2-dependent pit-formation to be central to the reduction in fluctuations confirmed by super-resolution microscopy. Furthermore, we propose that cholesterol-dependent pits spontaneously regulate tension under ATP-depleted conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that FeAl alloys are promising candidate for magnetically patterned media owing to their disorder induced magnetism property at room temperature. In this paper, we have studied the effect of chemical ordering on the magnetic properties of FeAl alloys. At first we have calculated the magnetic exchange interactions in disordered Fe x Al 1 - x ( 50 ⩽ x ⩽ 65 ) alloys from first-principles theories. With these exchange interaction parameters, we carried out Monte-Carlo simulations with the resulting Ising Hamiltonian, onto which the alloy system was mapped and obtained the x-T phase diagram of the system. We have studied the effect of chemical ordering from a body-centered cubic (A2 phase) to an ordered cubic B2 phase in FeAl on the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition as a function of alloy composition and ordering fraction. We have also studied the behavior of hysteresis loop and coercive field as a function of alloy composition, temperature and ordering fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic behavior of equiatomic FeAl alloy is still not satisfactorily understood. In this work, we studied the magnetic properties of disordered FeAl alloy both experimentally and using first-principles theories and revisited the alloy system in perspective of the inhomogeneity present in the system. After obtaining magnetic exchange interactions from first-principles theories, we carried out Monte-Carlo simulations on special quasi-random structures (SQS) and compared the results with experimental measurements. We tried to understand the plethora of often differing results and explain them in terms of possible inhomogeneities in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this communication we have studied the electronic structure and magnetism in the disordered alloy AuCr, for compositions in which the Cr concentration is less than 30at%. The study is an application of a first principles density functional based augmented space recursion technique generalized to study non-collinear magnetic structures. We showed that, at low temperatures but compositions with at% Cr there is a spin-glass phase and the 1Q anti-ferromagnetic ordering stable above compositions of 15at% Cr. We used the Lichtenstein procedure to map the problem onto a random Ising model and studied the phase diagram using a formalism suggested by one of us earlier. Our results are in excellent agreement with existing experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The low temperature magnetic properties of FeAl alloys, near equiatomic composition, are a matter of contention from both theoretical perspectives and experimental measurements. There does not seem to be any consensus regarding these. In an attempt to find the source of contradictory behavior, we made a detailed study by both bulk magnetization and local probe by Mössbauer effect on a well characterized sample. It was interesting to find that while the former showed distinct magnetic phases, the local probe failed to resolve any magnetization on Fe atom down to very low temperature. This contradictory behavior suggested non-local moment formation in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ferromagnetic shape memory alloy is a very interesting system that has various structural transformation, microstructural phases and magnetic properties, and interplays among them. The system studied here is Co39Ni34Al27 that comprises a mixture of β (body‐centered cubic) and γ (face‐centered cubic) structural phases. Here the β phase is responsible for the FSMA behavior and the γ phase improves the mechanical properties necessary for practical applications. Herein, it is showed through resistivity and magnetization measurements that post‐annealing to a higher temperature significantly alters the ratio of β and γ phases in the system, resulting in increasing the austenite to martensite transition temperature and significantly modifying the magnetic properties. Additionally, it is also shown that the low‐temperature magnetic phase of this FSMA system is a disordered magnetic system. Extensive electrical resistivity measurements in a CoNiAl system show for the first time that low‐temperature ground state is magnetically disordered. However, the higher temperature behavior is dominated by altering the ratio of β and γ phases by varying the annealing conditions, resulting in significant changes in structural transformation and magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Ni(II) complex [NiL] (complex 1) of an asymmetrically di-condensed N2O3 donor Schiff base ligand, N-salicylidene-N′-3-methoxysalicylidene-1,3-propanediamine (H2L), has been synthesized and utilized for the synthesis of three heterometallic complexes, [(NiL)2Mn(NCS)2(CH3OH)2]·CH3OH (2) [(NiL)2Mn(N(CN)2)2(CH3OH)2]·CH3OH (3) and [(NiL)2Mn2(N3)2(μ1,1-N3)2(CH3OH)2] (4). Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses show that complexes 2 and 3 have linear trinuclear structures where two tridentate O3 donor (NiL) units are coordinated to the central octahedral Mn(II) centre, whereas complex 4 has a centrosymmetric tetranuclear structure where two binuclear (NiL)Mn units are linked via two phenoxido and two μ1,1-N3 bridges. Among the heterometallic complexes (2–4), only 4 is active towards the catalytic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to the corresponding quinone. The turnover number for the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-DTBC is 935 h−1. ESI-mass spectra have been recorded to scrutinize the mechanistic pathway of this catalytic reaction. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest that complexes 2–4 are antiferromagnetically coupled with coupling constants (J) of −4.84 and −5.23 cm−1 for complexes 2 and 3, respectively and J1 = −2.20 cm−1, J2 = 1.13 cm−1 and J3 = −1.12 cm−1 for complex 4. DFT calculations have been used to rationalize the magnetic super-exchange in complexes 2–4, by computing the theoretical coupling constants and analyzing the spin density plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present lattice dynamics associated with the local chemical bonding hierarchy in Zintl compound TlInTe2, which cause intriguing phonon excitations and strongly suppress the lattice thermal conductivity to an ultralow value (0.46–0.31 W m−1 K−1) in the 300–673 K. We established an intrinsic rattling nature in TlInTe2 by studying the local structure and phonon vibrations using synchrotron X‐ray pair distribution function (PDF) (100–503 K) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) (5–450 K), respectively. We showed that while 1D chain of covalently bonded InTe2n-n transport heat with Debye type phonon excitation, ionically bonded Tl rattles with a frequency ca. 30 cm−1 inside distorted Thompson cage formed by InTe2n-n. This highly anharmonic Tl rattling causes strong phonon scattering and consequently phonon lifetime reduces to ultralow value of ca. 0.66(6) ps, resulting in ultralow thermal conductivity in TlInTe2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present lattice dynamics associated with the local chemical bonding hierarchy in Zintl compound TlInTe2, which cause intriguing phonon excitations and strongly suppress the lattice thermal conductivity to an ultralow value (0.46–0.31 W m−1 K−1) in the 300–673 K. We established an intrinsic rattling nature in TlInTe2 by studying the local structure and phonon vibrations using synchrotron X‐ray pair distribution function (PDF) (100–503 K) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) (5–450 K), respectively. We showed that while 1D chain of covalently bonded InTe2n-n transport heat with Debye type phonon excitation, ionically bonded Tl rattles with a frequency ca. 30 cm−1 inside distorted Thompson cage formed by InTe2n-n. This highly anharmonic Tl rattling causes strong phonon scattering and consequently phonon lifetime reduces to ultralow value of ca. 0.66(6) ps, resulting in ultralow thermal conductivity in TlInTe2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Rapid Communication we report a phenomenon in a disordered interacting electron system. The measurements of structural, magnetic, and transport properties of FeAl2-xGax (0≤x≤0.5) show that antiferromagnetic transition in these intermetallic compounds occurs concomitantly with a disorder-induced weak localization of electrons; the temperatures TN and Tm, at which antiferromagnetic transition and the weak localization respectively occur, closely track each other as the Ga concentration is varied. The antiferromagnetic transition is confirmed from the magnetic and specific heat measurements, and the occurrence of weak localization is confirmed from the temperature variation of resistivity and magnetoresistance measurements. With increasing Ga concentration, substitutional disorder in the system increases, and the consequent disorder-enhanced magnetic exchange interaction and disorder-induced fluctuations simultaneously drive antiferromagnetic transition and weak localization, respectively, to higher temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A sustainable route for the N -1 alkylation of imidazole and benzimidazole derivatives has been developed under volatile organic solvent free condition in alkaline water-SDS system. Incorporation of SDS in the reaction medium enhances the reaction rate by suppressing the solubility issue that arises for different substrates. This method provides high yield of the alkylated product in a shorter reaction time. For reactive alkyl halides reaction proceeds at ambient temperature whereas in the cases of less reactive alkyl halides require 55–60 °C to complete alkylation process. N -alkylation induced ring opening of the heterocyclic ring in benzimidazole derivatives to multifunctional aromatic compounds were noticed at 60 °C when more than two equivalents of alkyl halide was used. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) dosimetric comparison between Halcyon ring gantry and TrueBeam c-arm linear accelerators for craniospinal irradiation (CSI) of the neuro-axis. 25 patients, who received treatment for medulloblastoma and primitive neuro-ectodermal tumors between 2018 and 2021, were planned for VMAT in True Beam (TB), and Halcyon (HAL) linear accelerators using 6 MV unflattened (FFF) photon beams (HALFFF and TBFFF). Dose-volume statistics for the target and organs at risk (OARs) and the total number of monitoring units (MUs) in the treatment plans were compared which included dose received by 95% PTV volume (V95%), volume receiving ≥ 107% dose, homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (PI), MU and dose spillage (D10%, D30%, D50%, D70%, D90%). In all 26 OARs were considered of which five were serial and the remaining were parallel structures. For the former, the dose received by 0.2 cm3, volume = D0.2 cm3) were evaluated and for the latter mean dose were evaluated. Both arms were statistically compared with paired sample t-test with a significant value of ≤ 0.05. 11 patients received treatment with the Halcyon and the rest 14 in the TrueBeam C-arm linear accelerator. Patients in the low- and intermediate-risk category (n = 13) received 23.4 Gy in 13 fractions. The remaining patients were in the high-risk category and received 35 Gy in 21 fractions or 36 Gy in 20 fractions. For HALFFF and TBFFF, PTVV95% were 97.5 ± 0.8% and 97.4 ± 0.9% respectively (p = 0.371) while the V107% were 0.6 ± 0.4% and 0.5 ± 0.5 respectively (p = 0.504). However, the number of monitoring units showed statistical significance (p < 0.001) with values of 1331.9 ± 243.4 MU and 1089 ± 206.7 MU respectively for the HAL and TB plans. The differences in spillage dose were also statistically significant, favouring HAL plans at D30% (p = 0.002), D50% (p < 0.001), D70% (p = 0.039), and D90% (p = 0.01) level except for D10% (p = 0.090). Conformity index also showed statistical significance with PI_HAL = 0.9 ± 0.02 and PI_TB = 0.89 ± 0.03 (p = 0.029). For 10 of the 21 parallel structures, the mean dose differences were statistically significant in favouring of HAL plans. Halcyon based VMAT CSI plans are dosimetrically superior in terms of organ dose, especially for the large organs, and offer lower spillage doses than the TrueBeam plans. Plans generated by both linear accelerators are suitable for the patients' treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombination of commercially available hybrids could produce desirable segregants that act as sources of new alleles for tomato breeding. Seven commercial single cross (SC) hybrids of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were crossed in a half diallel fashion to obtain 21 double cross hybrids (DC) to estimate combining ability, mode of gene action and extent of heterobeltiosis for fruit yield, processing qualities and tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) disease severity traits. Predominance of non-additive gene action occurred in the control for all characters except for total soluble solids (TSS) content in fruit that was conditioned by both additive and non-additive gene action. Improvement of most traits in DC hybrids over SC hybrids occurred. Maximum heterotic effect in DC hybrids was for vitamin C content followed by lycopene content, fruit yield per plant, titratable acidity content, number of fruit per plant and percent disease index of ToLCV. Two good combiners, 'PAN-1286' and 'Devi' among SC hybrids were identified based on general combining ability effects and average performance. Commercial exploitation of DC hybrids, 'TO-1458 × L-37' and 'NS-501 × TO-1458' following multilocational testing in the tropics and subtropics might be useful. High yielding, ToLCV disease tolerant DC hybrids could be exploited in segregating generations to identify elite multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the inheritance pattern of bacterial wilt (BW) disease tolerance is important to maximize genetic potential in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). The study was conducted employing populations P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1, and BC2 of the crosses 'Utkal Anushree × Bidhan Suphala,' 'Utkal Anushree × Garia,' and 'Utkal Madhuri × Bidhan Super' to understand genetic control of BW disease tolerance. The inheritance study indicated that tolerance to BW disease was conditioned by a single dominant gene in 3 Tolerant × Susceptible crosses. The nature, and magnitude, of gene action controlling inheritance of bacterial wilt-related traits (days to 1st appearance of BW disease and disease incidence of BW) differed between crosses and traits, mostly conditioned by nonadditive gene action and duplicate epistasis. The disparity between results from the chi-square goodness of fit test and other quantitative methods indicated that the chi-square goodness of fit test alone could be misleading in the study of genetic control of bacterial wilt related traits due to its subjectivity. Complementary epitasis in 2 crosses for days to 1st appearance of BW disease would be helpful in improvement of this trait through backcrossing. Duplicate epistasis controlling BW disease incidence suggested selection of desirable recombinants from the segregating population developed from bi-parental mating. The BW-tolerant plants, with an acceptable fruit weight, can be isolated from segregating generations with involvement of susceptible plants having a higher fruit weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardization is the need of the hour in Ayurvedic system of medicine. The traditional systems of medicine are really effective but the problem with them is they lack in quality assurance. This enables us to recognise the quality of the formulation. The Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha has prescribed the preliminary guidelines for testing the quality of these formulations. It is essential to derive a protocol or develop methods for evaluation of herbal formulation to maintain uniformity between batches during production. The present work aims to review to standardize a poly-herbal churnas available in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims​ to report preclinical validation, and the first clinical treatment of total bone marrow irradiation (TMI) and total bone marrow and lymph nodal irradiation (TMLI) using Volumetric modulated arc therapy in Halcyon-E ring gantry linear accelerator. Preclinical validation includes simulation, planning, patient-specific QA, and dry run.Material and Method: Four patients, two female and two male, with body weights of 116 kg, 52 kg, 64 kg, and 62 kg; with two with chronic myeloid leukemia, one each with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were simulated and planned for TMI/TMLI. Patients were immobilized with a full-body vacuum bag. Head first supine (HFS) and Feet first supine (FFS) CT scans were acquired from head to knee and knee to toe. Planning target volume (PTV) was created with a uniform margin of 6 mm over the total bone marrow/bone marrow + lymph nodes. HFS and FFS PTVs were optimized independently using 6MV unflatten energy for 12 Gy in 6 fractions. Plans were merged to create the resultant dose distribution using a junction bias dose matching technique. The total number of isocenters was ≤ 10 per CT set, and two to four full arcs were used for each isocenter. A junction dose gradient technique was used for dose feathering between arcs between adjacent isocenters.Result: Only one female patient diagnosed as AML received the TMLI treatment, while the other three patients dropped out due to clinical complications and comorbidities that developed in the time between simulation and treatment. The result presented has been averaged over all four patients. For PTV, 95% dose was normalised to 95% volume, PTV_V107% receiving 3.3 ± 3.1%. Total lung mean and V12Gy were 1048.6 ± 107.1 cGy and 19.5 ± 12.1%. Maximum lens doses were 489.5 ± 35.5 cGy (left: L) and 497 ± 69.2 cGy (right: R). The mean cardiac and bilateral kidney doses were 921.75 ± 89.2 cGy, 917.9 ± 63.2 cGy (L), and 805.9 ± 9.7 cGy (R). Average Monitor Unit was 7738.25 ± 1056.6. The median number of isocenters was 17(HFS+FFS), average MU/Dose (cGy) ratio per isocenter was 2.28 ± 0.3.Conclusion: Halcyon-E ring gantry linear accelerator capable of planning and delivering TMI/TMLI.​​. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthorhombic GeSe is a promising thermoelectric material. However, large band gap and strong covalent bonding result in a low thermoelectric figure of merit, zT≈0.2. Here, we demonstrate a maximum zT≈1.35 at 627 K in p‐type polycrystalline rhombohedral (GeSe)0.9(AgBiTe2)0.1 , which is the highest value reported among GeSe based materials. The rhombohedral phase is stable in ambient conditions for x=0.8–0.29 in (GeSe)1−x(AgBiTe2)x. The structural transformation accompanies change from covalent bonding in orthorhombic GeSe to metavalent bonding in rhombohedral (GeSe)1−x(AgBiTe2)x. (GeSe)0.9(AgBiTe2)0.1 has closely lying primary and secondary valence bands (within 0.25–0.30 eV), which results in high power factor 12.8 μW cm−1 K−2 at 627 K. It also exhibits intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity (0.38 Wm−1 K−1 at 578 K). Theoretical phonon dispersion calculations reveal vicinity of a ferroelectric instability, with large anomalous Born effective charges and high optical dielectric constant, which, in concurrence with high effective coordination number, low band gap and moderate electrical conductivity, corroborate metavalent bonding in (GeSe)0.9(AgBiTe2)0.1. We confirmed the presence of low energy phonon modes and local ferroelectric domains using heat capacity measurement (3–30 K) and switching spectroscopy in piezoresponse force microscopy, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthorhombic GeSe is a promising thermoelectric material. However, large band gap and strong covalent bonding result in a low thermoelectric figure of merit, zT≈0.2. Here, we demonstrate a maximum zT≈1.35 at 627 K in p‐type polycrystalline rhombohedral (GeSe)0.9(AgBiTe2)0.1 , which is the highest value reported among GeSe based materials. The rhombohedral phase is stable in ambient conditions for x=0.8–0.29 in (GeSe)1−x(AgBiTe2)x. The structural transformation accompanies change from covalent bonding in orthorhombic GeSe to metavalent bonding in rhombohedral (GeSe)1−x(AgBiTe2)x. (GeSe)0.9(AgBiTe2)0.1 has closely lying primary and secondary valence bands (within 0.25–0.30 eV), which results in high power factor 12.8 μW cm−1 K−2 at 627 K. It also exhibits intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity (0.38 Wm−1 K−1 at 578 K). Theoretical phonon dispersion calculations reveal vicinity of a ferroelectric instability, with large anomalous Born effective charges and high optical dielectric constant, which, in concurrence with high effective coordination number, low band gap and moderate electrical conductivity, corroborate metavalent bonding in (GeSe)0.9(AgBiTe2)0.1. We confirmed the presence of low energy phonon modes and local ferroelectric domains using heat capacity measurement (3–30 K) and switching spectroscopy in piezoresponse force microscopy, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to develop floating microballoons loaded with Maerua oblongifolia (Forsk.) A. Rich. root aqueous extract (FMMO) and to evaluate its anti-ulcerogenic activity in Wistar Albino rats. Methods: FMMO was prepared by solvent evaporation method and its size, floating time, buoyancy percentage were determined. Oral acute toxicity of FMMO was assessed following OECD (423) guidelines. Invivo anti-ulcer efficacy was evaluated in indomethacin, pylorus ligation, and cysteamine induced ulcer model. Results: The yield to solvent of M. oblongifolia root was 20% w/w with carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, and glycosides as its major bioactives. Optimized FMMO displayed spherical shape as expected with average size of around 300µ diameter and in-vitro buoyancy of 75% at 10 h. Oral acute toxicity study exhibited neither toxic symptoms nor mortality at 2000 mg/Kg of FMMO, hence further anti-ulcer evaluation was progressed using 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight. FMMO presented gastric ulcer healing, gastric anti-secretory effect in pylorus ligation model; gastric cytoprotective effect in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer and significant reduction in duodenal ulcers. Conclusion: An enhancement of gastric ulcer healing was observed with FMMO in indomethacin induced ulcers. Concurrently, FMMO also demonstrated a preventive action on development of gastric and duodenal ulcers in experimental animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For circumventing the cumbersome and expensive multifunctional and multipolymer adsorbents for high-performance removals of hazardous water-contaminant(s), chitosan- g -[2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanoic acid (AMPS)- co -2-(3-acrylamidopropanamido)-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid (APAMPS)- co -2-(N -(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)acrylamido)-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid (NAOPAMPS)- co -acrylamide (AM)] (i.e., chitosan- g- tetrapolymer), a multifunctional scalable and reusable hydrogel, was synthesized by grafting of chitosan and in situ attachments of N– H functionalized NAOPAMPS and APAMPS hydrophilic acrylamido-monomers during free-radical solution-polymerization of the two ex situ added AMPS and AM monomers in water. The response surface methodology was employed to synthesize one hydrogel envisaging the optimum balance between swelling and stability for the superadsorption of Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Cr 2 O 7 2−, and HPO 4 2−. The in situ attachments of NAOPAMPS and APAMPS, grafting of chitosan into tetrapolymer, structures and properties, pH-responsive abilities, superadsorption mechanism, and reusability were understood via in depth microstructural analyses of adsorbed and/or unadsorbed chitosan- g- tetrapolymer(s) through 1H/13C NMR, FTIR, XPS, TGA, XRD, DLS, and pH PZC. The maximum adsorption capacities of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Cr 2 O 7 2−, and HPO 4 2− were 1374.41, 1521.08, 1554.08, 47.76, and 32.76 mg g−1, respectively. • Chitosan- g -tetrapolymer using two ex situ monomers. • N– H functionalized in situ allocations of monomers. • Synthesis-performance optimization by FCCCD model. • In depth characterization of hydrogels using NMR, XPS, FTIR, UV-vis, TGA, and DLS. • Isotherm-kinetics-thermodynamics studies using reusable hydrogel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2Te is a superionic conductor that belongs to the Phonon Liquid Electron Crystal class of thermoelectric (TE) materials. Despite the simple chemical formula, the crystal structures and phases in the Cu2Te system have not been understood properly. In this work, we study the structural and TE properties of Cu2Te (CT2), Cu1.6Te (CT1.6) and Cu1.25Te (CT1.25). The samples were synthesized via a solid-state reaction method. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the samples have different crystal structures depending upon the Cu : Te stoichiometry. The elemental compositional analysis showed that all the samples are copper deficient. This is due to the precipitation of metallic copper on the surface of the ingot arising from the thermal dissociation of Cu2Te. The transport properties were measured in the temperature range 300 K–600 K. The electrical conductivity (σ) decreases with an increase in temperature indicating a metal-like behaviour for all the samples. The positive Seebeck coefficients (S) for all the samples indicates that majority charge carriers are holes. The sample CT2 has a higher S (29.5 μV K−1 at 573 K) and a lower σ (2513 S cm−1 at 573 K) due to a lower carrier (hole) concentration compared to the other two samples. With the increase in Cu deficiency, the hole concentration increases, and this leads to higher electronic thermal conductivity in the samples CT1.6 and CT1.25. The maximum thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.03 at 524 K is achieved for the sample CT2 owing to its higher power factor (0.24 mW m−1 K−2) and lower thermal conductivity (3.8 W m−1 K−1). The present study bridges the gap between the theoretical predictions and experimental observations involving the various possible structures in this system. Furthermore, we have shown that the Cu vacancies are detrimental to the thermoelectric performance of Cu2Te. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A measurement of cosmic muon flux, in the newly established underground laboratory at the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Jharkhand, India, has been carried out. Several future low background experiments are planned in this laboratory. The experimental set up for muon flux measurements consists of four plastic scintillators, with three of these coupled to photomultiplier tubes (PMT) to generate a coincidence trigger for acquiring data. The fourth scintillator has been coupled to a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) whose signals were processed with respect to the coincidence trigger. In this scintillator, a mean light yield of 22 photoelectrons per muon event was observed and the measured time resolution was 1.3 ns. The muon flux measurement at the underground laboratory at 555 m (1554 ± 45 m w.e.) depth level was (2. 79 ± 0. 13 (s t a t) ±. 20 (s y s t)) × 1 0 − 7 c m − 2 s e c − 1 s r − 1 . This agrees well with model predictions. This paper describes the detector system, analysis techniques, and results of measurement at the surface and the underground laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption of organic pollutants, toxic metal ions, and removal of harmful bacteria can give us clean and pure drinkable water from wastewater resources. Respective magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized using a cheaper and greener way in an open-air environment with the use of crude latex of Jatropha curcas (JC) and leaf extract of Cinnamomum tamala (CT). Characterization of MNPs had been performed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powdered X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The size ranges of the synthesized MNPs were observed in between 20–42 nm for JC-Fe3O4 and within 26–35 nm for CT-Fe3O4 by FE-SEM images. The effect of synthesized magnetic nanoparticles in wastewater treatment (bacterial portion), dye adsorption, toxic metal removal as well as antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities were studied. This purification will lead to an increase in the resources of pure drinking water in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]