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The development of glassy nanocomposites, xFe-(1−x) (0.5 V 2 O 5 –0.4 CdO–0.1 ZnO) is particularly important not only for exploring their microstructures using x-ray diffraction, FT-IR, and UV–Vis techniques but also for exploring their electrical conduction mechanism in terms of hopping of small polarons. The presence of various nanophases, such as ZnO, CdO, Cd9.5Zn0.5, ZnV, and Zn3V2O8, have been identified and the size of estimated nanocrystallites is found to decrease with more incorporation of the Fe content in the compositions. As the value of lattice strain increases with the increase of the Fe content in the compositions, the present system becomes more and more unstable, which may be favorable for better electrical transport phenomena via the polaron hopping process. Electrical conductivity of the system has been analyzed using modified correlated barrier hopping model, Almond–West formalism, and the alternating-current conductivity scaling. Experimental data reveal that both optical photon and acoustical phonon transitions are responsible for the entire electrical conduction process. Polaron hopping is expected to be of percolation type, which has been validated from an estimated range of frequency exponents. All experimental data have been used to frame a schematic model to explore the conduction mechanism inside the present glassy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) exhibit limited commercialization due to toxicity and stability issues. These problems may have a workable solution in Ti‐based all‐inorganic perovskite solar cells. A novel lead‐free compound Cs2TiBr6 based photovoltaic device is the present proposal in this study with a structure as FTO (fluorine‐doped tin oxide)/TiO2 (titanium oxide)/ Cs2TiBr6 (cesium titanium bromide)/ P3HT (poly3‐hexylthiophene)/Au (Gold) in an adjustment and construction of each layer using SCAPS‐1D (solar cell capacitance simulator) software for maximum power‐conversion efficiency. For the proposed solar cell, thorough adjustments of the thickness of the absorber layer, the defect density of the absorber layer, different hole transporting materials (HTMs), and the thickness of the hole transporting layer (HTL) are of the prime objectives. Experimentally development of fine MoO3 layer may explore the nature of theoretically HTL. Present work explores the formation of bound states of electron/polaron of as‐developed fine MoO3. For this reason, higher conductivity of MoO3 may interpret the conduction of holes. The results of the final optimized device module show a maximum power‐conversion efficiency of up to 17.68%. We consequently think that our findings may pave the way for the development of lead‐free, extremely efficient perovskite solar devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotavirus (RV) is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and watery diarrhea in children under 5 years accounting for high morbidity and mortality in countries with poor socioeconomic status. Although vaccination against RV has been implemented in more than 100 countries, the efficacy of vaccine has been challenged in low-income settings. The lack of any FDA-approved drug against RV is an additional concern regarding the treatment associated with rotavirus-induced infantile death. With the purpose for the discovery of anti-RV therapeutics, we assessed anti-rotaviral potential of quercetin, a well-characterized antioxidant flavonoid. In vitro study revealed that quercetin treatment resulted in diminished production of RV-SA11 (simian strain) viral particles in a concentration-dependent manner as estimated by the plaque assay. Consistent with this result, Western blot analysis also revealed reduced synthesis of viral protein in quercetin-treated RV-SA11-infected MA104 cells compared to vehicle (DMSO) treated controls. Not surprisingly, infection of other RV strains A5-13 (bovine strain) and Wa (Human strain) was also found to be abridged in the presence of quercetin compared to DMSO. The IC50 of quercetin against three RV strains ranges between 2.79 and 4.36 Mm, and S.I. index is greater than 45. Concurrent to the in vitro results, in vivo study in mice model also demonstrated reduced expression of viral proteins and viral titer in the small intestine of quercetin-treated infected mice compared to vehicle-treated infected mice. Furthermore, the result suggested anti-rotaviral activity of quercetin to be interferon-independent. Mechanistic study revealed that the antiviral action of quercetin is co-related with the inhibition of RV-induced early activation of NF-kB pathway. Overall, this study delineates the strong anti-RV potential of quercetin and also proposes it as future therapeutics against rotaviral diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]