Search

Gamma ray shielding ability of WO3 borate glasses is analyzed by using the Phy-X/PSD software. Mass attenuation coefficient of glasses gets enhanced with addition of tungsten oxide resulting in lowering of the values of MFP, HVL, TVL and EBF at 10 mol % of tungsten as compared to many commercial and radiation shielding glasses/concretes. The higher value of FNRCS (∑R) in studied glasses than concretes shows their neutron shielding ability. The sample with highest value of tungsten is most suitable for making radiation shielding materials. The OPD, OMV, n ¯ c , nb and dbb values indicate the rigid and stable glass structure due to the formations of stable BO4 groups. Poisson ratio confirms high cross density and stability of prepared glasses as its value decreases from 0.233 to 0.226. The increased values of elastic constants and VHN are also in the favour of higher stability and rigidity of the glasses due to addition of WO3. All of these parameters are in good relation with each other and support the shielding power of the studied glasses.

In this study, batch experiments were carried out to study the adsorption of Malachite green dye from aqueous solution by Mangifera indica (mango) seed kernel powder. The mango seed kernel powder was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Effect of various parameters including pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and temperature on adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was observed and the optimized condition for maximum dye removal was identified. Maximum percentage removal of 96% was achieved with an adsorption capacity of 22.8 mg/g at pH 6 with an initial concentration of 100 mg/l. The equilibrium data were examined to fit the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption process were also calculated.

Introduction: Worldwide, inguinal hernia repair is probably the most commonly performed general surgical procedure. Hence, a slight refinement of surgical repair of inguinal hernia would mean a substantial benefit to the patient. Aim: The study aimed to study profile of the patients who underwent Prolene Hernia System Extended (PHSE) for Inguinal Hernia in a teaching institute in Sub-Himalayan region. Materials and Methods: This was a controlled study conducted over 30 adult patients of both genders admitted at Dr RPGMC Tanda at Kangra from September 2016 to September 2017. Patients clinically diagnosed with inguinal hernias both direct and indirect on examination were enrolled in the trial after their informed consent. Results: Mean age of the patients was 54.9±13.66 years (range 30 to 80 years). 33% of the patients were elderly. All the patients were males. 43% of the patients were smokers and 53% were consuming alcohol. 20% of the patients had associated co-morbidities. 7% patients had previous history of surgery. Fifty percent of the patients had direct hernia while 33% had indirect hernia. Among 10% patients, it was bubonocele type. Seven patients had complications. Scrotal swelling was the most common welling (n=3) followed by inguinodynia (n=2), and seroma formation and urinary retention in one patient each. Conclusion: PHSE for management of inguinal hernia is associated with better outcomes.

Sm doped WO3 (hereafter referred as WO3:Sm) compounds were synthesized via conventional solid-state reaction method and characterized for their structural, optical, and magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the Rietveld refinement studies along with the Raman spectroscopy confirm that these compounds are of monoclinic phase [space group- P21/n] with absence of impurities. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) reveals that particles are densely packed with irregular morphologies. The UV–vis spectra show the band gap broadening with Sm doping due to the Burstein-Moss shift. The Photoluminescence studies (PL) under 320 nm excitation exhibit a broad-band of violet-blue emissions originating from oxygen vacancy defects of WO3. At 450 nm excitation, WO3:Sm samples show diffused Sm3+ emissions that could be due to the strong electron-phonon coupling between Sm ions and host lattice. The values of Commission Internationale de l'Elcairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates and correlated color temperature (CCT) endorse cool white-light emission under 400 nm excitation making them a promising candidate for white LEDs. Magnetic measurements in these samples show the presence of room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM). The origin of the FM behavior is understood based on the bound magnetic polaron (BMP) mechanism and the magnetic data fit well with the BMP model.

this paper represents a reversible data hiding scheme for encrypted images. Block permutation is used to encrypt the cover image through encryption key. Then, the data to be hidden is embedded into the cover image by converting the pixels of it into binary. Data recovery and direct decryption and cover image recovery are conducted by the recipient using the same encryption key and data-hiding key used earlier which uses the property of spatial correlation of the image pixels. Improved algorithm is used in this paper which embedded ‘n’ secret bits per block. Test results and correlation are done to outline the viability of the proposed scheme.

Glasses with composition xCdO-(40-x) Na2CO3-60H3BO3; x = 10, 20, 30 and 40 mol% were prepared by conventional melt-quenching technique and checked by XRD technique for their amorphous nature. An increase in density and refractive index of the samples with an increase in content of CdO has been observed and discussed. The optical absorption spectra of the glasses were recorded in the range 200–1100 nm and was used to find optical mobility gap, Urbach energy, and cut-off wavelength for each sample. The decrease in optical mobility gap with increase in CdO points towards the compactness of the structure with the addition of CdO. FTIR spectroscopy reveals the presence of trigonal and tetrahedral borate units, and the results indicate the conversion of BO3 to BO4 units with the increase in CdO content.

In recent years, two-dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide (TMDC) materials such as MoS2 have drawn considerable interest due to their intriguing electrical, optical, sensing, and catalytic properties [Castellanos-Gomez et al. 2012]. While Graphene-based devices have shown high carrier mobility up to ~ 105 cm2/Vs [Bolotin et al. 2008] and cut-off frequency higher than ~ 100 GHz [Liao et al., 2010], the inherent zero – band gap electronic structure of graphene results in high OFF state current. On the other hand, monolayer MoS2 is a semiconductor with a direct band gap of ~1.9eV [Mak et al. 2010]. MoS2 transistors are a promising alternative for the semiconductor industry due to their large ON/OFF current ratio (> 10e10) [Yoon et al., 2011], immunity to short channel effects, and abrupt switching. However, realization of practical mono/few layer MoS2 devices is limited by the free charge density in intrinsic MoS2 (10e10/cm2) [Rastogi et al. 2014]. The objective of this work is to utilize He-ion beam patterning to write pattern of vacancies (< 10 nm) onto CVD synthesized 2D MoS2. The vacancies thus generated are then doped via molecular doping technique to improve upon the intrinsic free carrier concentration in 2D MoS2. Briefly, the method is as follows. (a) First, highly crystalline 2D MoS2 are synthesized on SiO2/Si substrate using MoO3 and S powder as the precursors in a CVD furnace. (b) Next, He-ion beam patterning is used to generate vacancies in only the very top S layer. The shorter de Broglie wavelength of He-ions allows for milling at higher resolution than other charged particle microscopes. (c) Next, solution-based molecular doping method is used to realize non-degenerate n-type doping in 2D MoS2. This is accomplished by soaking the patterned 2D layers in 1, 2-dichloroethane (DCE) solution at room temperature for about 12 hours. As a result, the patterned vacancies are occupied by Cl atoms which donate the extra electrons to the MoS2 system. The electronic properties are tuned by varying the MoS2 layer thickness and solution concentration. Post-doping, the electrostatic properties are measured by using PL measurements and different modes of AFM, including Kelvin force microscopy (KFM) and Scanning microwave microscopy (SMM). An important contribution of this work is the presentation of optimized He-ion beam conditions, including the accelerating voltage and the effects of defect generation on the sub-surface layers. He-ion beam based defect generation creates a shallow penetration depth, which makes them more suitable for single S vacancies. Finally, the changes in the surface potential and a quantitative analysis of the dopant density were measured suing KFM and SMM respectively, indicating that doping is in the non-degenerate regime.

Second derivative-spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of prednisolone in pharmaceutical formulations have been developed. Determination of prednisolone in tablets was conducted by using a second-order derivative UV spectrophotometric method at 250 nm (n = 5). Standards for the calibration graph ranging from 5.0 to 35.0 microg/ml were prepared from stock solution. The proposed method was accurate, with 98% recovery value, and precise, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.38. These results were compared with those obtained by an exclusively developed isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. An isocratic reversed-phase Bondapak C(18) column with acetonitrile-citrophosphate buffer (pH 5; 45:55 v/v) mobile phase was used and UV detector was set to 241 nm using 11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone as an internal standard. Calibration solutions used in HPLC were in the range from 2 to 300 microg/ml. Results obtained by derivative UV spectrophotometric method were comparable to those obtained by HPLC method, as far as analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, F(calculated), 0.762 and F(theoretical), 3.89, results were concerned.

Black thyroid discoloration following long-standing use of minocycline has been reported. Morphologic findings of aspiration cytology of these lesions was first reported from The Ohio State University. This abstract describes a second case of black thyroid that was preceded by aspiration cytology. In both cases, thyroidectomies were performed based on "indeterminate" fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Degenerative changes in follicular epithelial cells in black thyroid causes nuclear hyperchromasia and chromatin clumping, which may be mistaken for neoplasia. Pigment present in follicular epithelial cells and macrophages may be obscured by pigments with similar microscopic appearances, such as hemosiderin. A clinical history of the chronic use of a tetracycline derivative should alert the pathologist to the possibility of black thyroid. Diagnosis may be made by applying special stains on the cell block. The pigment stains with Melanin stain (Fontana) and bleaches with potassium permanganate. In the light of increasing use of FNAC of the thyroid gland and the large number of patients who received tetracycline therapy in the last two decades, it is likely that some practicing cytopathologists may experience this pitfall.

Proline and γ-amino-n-butyric acid were present in considerable amounts in the sap of resistant species of the Ulmaceae such as Ulmus pumila, Hemiptelea davidii, and Celtis occidentalis, but occurred only in trace amounts in the sap of susceptible U. americana, U. japonica, and U. carpinifolia. The xylem sap of U. japonica, C. occidentalis, and H. davidii contained large amounts of alanine. Total concentrations of amino acids and ammonia were higher in resistant species than in susceptible species. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose were present in the sap of all the six species. Sucrose was the main sugar in the sap of U. japonica, U. pumila, and C. occidentalis; in U. americana and U. carpinifolia sucrose and fructose were present in about equal amounts; in H. davidii fructose was the major sugar.

Thirty-two ninhydrin-positive nitrogenous compounds were present in the xylem sap of 6- to 9-year- old American elms. Twenty-six of these compounds were identified. Total concentration of nitrogenous materials was several times higher in diseased than in healthy sap after inoculation during the susceptible period in the spring, but was lower after inoculations during the late resistant period. Percentage compositions of γ-amino-n-butyric acid, proline, and alanine in diseased sap increased after both spring and mid-summer inoculations. Proline, which was present in trace amounts in healthy sap, constituted 14 to 38% of the total in diseased sap. Percentage concentrations of amide nitrogen in diseased sap were reduced 50% or more in all inoculated trees. Percentages of ammonia, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and several other amino acids did not change.