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molecule having a ketone group between two thiophene groups was synthesized. Presence of alternating electron donating and accepting moieties gives this material a donor-acceptor-donor (DAD) architecture. PolyDAD was synthesized from DAD monomer by oxidative polymerization. Device quality films of polyDAD were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition technique. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) data of both as synthesized and film indicate the material does not degrade during ablation. Optical band gap was determined to be about 1.45 eV. Four orders of magnitude increase in conductivity was observed from as synthesized to pulsed laser deposition (PLD) fabricated film of polyDAD. Annealing of polyDAD films increase conductivity, indicating better ordering of the molecules upon heating. Rectifying devices were fabricated from polyDAD, and preliminary results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ho-Co-In alloy was thoroughly studied for its magnetic and magnetocaloric properties, revealing a dual-phase structure comprising cubic HoCo2 and an unidentifiable phase, with stoichiometry HoCo1.5In0.33. At distinct temperatures, T1 = 123 K and T2 = 34 K, the alloy showcased ferromagnetic behavior, while transitioning to antiferromagnetic ordering at T3 = 7 K. The ferromagnetic shifts were determined to be of second-order nature, displaying minimal magnetic hysteresis. The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) was computed using Maxwell’s equations based on isothermal magnetization data. Because of multi-phase nature, the alloy’s multiple magnetic transitions gave rise to twin peaks in the MCE graph, reaching relative cooling power (RCP) value of 595 J/kg for an applied magnetic field change of 0–9 T. Furthermore, the alloy showcased a notable maximum magnetoresistance, registering at -15% around 123 K. These findings shows the alloy’s intricate magnetic behavior and its potential for diverse applications owing to its distinct magnetocaloric and magnetoresistive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic, magnetocaloric, and magnetoresistance properties of polycrystalline Tb2Ni0.94Si3.2 alloy have been investigated. Magnetic susceptibilities (AC and DC), remanent magnetization and the heat capacity studies of Tb2Ni0.94Si3.2 provide evidence for the spin glass behavior below the temperature, Tf = 5.2 K. At the Néel temperature, TN = 12.7 K, Tb2Ni0.94Si3.2 alloy orders antiferromagnetically. The presence of metamagnetic transition is observed in isothermal magnetization and magnetoresistance studies. Also, a magnetoresistance of 22% is exhibited by the alloy at temperature T = 4 K in an applied magnetic field of 9 T. A magnetic entropy change of 12 J/kg K with the relative cooling power of 504 J/kg for a magnetic field change of 9 T is observed in the studied alloy. Influence of spin fluctuations and short-range ferromagnetic correlations is reflected in magnetoresistance and relative cooling power. The magnetic and magnetoresistance properties make this alloy as a good magnetocaloric material with moderate magnetoresistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erianthus arundinaceus [Retzius] Jeswiet, a wild relative of sugarcane has a high biomass production potential and a reservoir of many genes for superior agronomic traits and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A comparative physiological, anatomical and root transcriptome analysis were carried out to identify the salt-responsive genes and metabolic pathways associated with salt-tolerant E. arundinaceus genotype IND99-907 and salinity-sensitive sugarcane genotype Co 97010. IND99-907 recorded growth of young leaves, higher proline content, higher relative water content, intact root anatomical structures and lower Na+/K+, Ca2+/K+ and Mg2+/K+ ratio as compared to the sugarcane genotype Co 97010. We have generated four de novo transcriptome assemblies between stressed and control root samples of IND99-907 and Co 97010. A total of 649 and 501 differentially expressed genes (FDR<0.01) were identified from the stressed and control libraries of IND99-907 and Co 97010 respectively. Genes and pathways related to early stress-responsive signal transduction, hormone signalling, cytoskeleton organization, cellular membrane stabilization, plasma membrane-bound calcium and proton transport, sodium extrusion, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, cellular transporters related to plasma membrane-bound trafficking, nucleobase transporter, clathrin-mediated endocytosis were highly enriched in IND99-907. Whereas in Co 97010, genes related to late stress-responsive signal transduction, electron transport system, senescence, protein degradation and programmed cell death, transport-related genes associated with cellular respiration and mitochondrial respiratory chain, vesicular trafficking, nitrate transporter and fewer secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes were highly enriched. A total of 27 pathways, 24 biological processes, three molecular functions and one cellular component were significantly enriched (FDR≤ 0.05) in IND99-907 as compared to 20 pathways, two biological processes without any significant molecular function and cellular components in Co 97010, indicates the unique and distinct expression pattern of genes and metabolic pathways in both genotypes. The genomic resources developed from this study is useful for sugarcane crop improvement through development of genic SSR markers and genetic engineering approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extracellular lipase with 23,666.66 U/ml/min activity was produced by Aspergillus tamarii JGIF06 under submerged fermentation in mineral salt medium containing coconut oil (2.5 % v/v), tryptone (2 % w/v) and ammonium chloride (2 % w/v), with initial pH of 5 ± 0.2, incubated at 25 °C for 7 days on a rotary shaker at 120 rpm. A 7.9-fold increase in lipase-specific activity was recorded after purification by DEAE Sepharose ion exchange and Sephadex G200 column chromatography. The apparent molecular mass of this enzyme was revealed as 50 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimal lipase activity was recorded at pH 4 and 37 °C. The enzyme revealed broad specificity towards different vegetable oils. The K and V of the lipase on olive oil was found to be 330.4 mg and 53,690 U/ml/min, respectively. The lipase activity was stable in the presence of surfactants such as cetrimonium bromide, sodium dodecyl sulphate and Tween 80, and metal ions and reagents such as Ca, Ba and 2-mercaptoethanol. However, the activity was greatly reduced in the presence of organic solvents such as chloroform. The stain removal potential of the crude lipase was determined on polycotton fabric pieces stained with peanut oil. Lipase added to cold water alone significantly enhanced the removal of stain by 152 %. The addition of lipase also improved the stain removal efficiency of a commercially available detergent in the presence of either cold (25 ± 2 °C) or hot (65 ± 2 °C) water. The current findings suggest the potentiality of this enzyme for energy-efficient biocatalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]