Mikania Mikrantha Leaf Extract Mediated Biogenic Synthesis of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Characterization and Its Antimicrobial Activity Study

With an aim to introduce a new highly potent antimicrobial nanoparticles using an environment-friendly route, he present work reports the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4NPs) utilizing Mikania mikrantha leaf extract and its application as efficient antimicrobial agent. The green Fe3O4NPs have been described by X-beam diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) investigation. The TEM image shows the rhomboidal Fe3O4NPs with average mean sizes 20.27 nm. The FT-IR investigation proved Fe3O4NPs have been balanced out through the associations of steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenyl propanoids, phenolic acids and proteins present in the leaf extract. The synthesized Fe3O4NPs shows a very high antibacterial and antifungal property against 5 bacterial strains such as Bacillus cereus, Acinetobacter johnsonii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Achromobacter spanius and Chromobacterium pseudoviolaceum strain, and 4 fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citirinum, Fusarium oxysporium, and Candida albicans). The green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles can interfere metabolic activities of microorganisms which determine its antimicrobial properties and could bring a promising application in the fields of medicine. </p

Biosynthesis of Triangular-Shape ZnO Nanoparticles Using Tecoma Stans and Its Antimicrobial Activity

The present work reports the first green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Tecoma stans leaf extract. The ZnO-NPs have been investigated by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Ultra Violet-Visible (UV-Vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) analysis. XRD investigation confirms the crystalline structure of ZnO. The TEM images show triangular shape ZnO-NPs with sizes running from 15-20 nm. The XPS spectrum revealed the presence of Zn and O in the sample. Photoluminescence studies of ZnO-NPs displayed a sharp emission of blue band at 447 nm which is attributed to the defect structures in ZnO crystal. The presence of alcoholic, phenolic amide groups in the plant extracts is responsible for the formation of ZnO-NPs. The synthesized ZnO-NPs showed a very high antibacterial property against five bacterial strains such as Bacillus cereus,Acinetobacter johnsonii, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Achromobacter spanius and Chromobacterium pseudoviolaceum, with the highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 24 mm being shown against Achromobacter spanius strain. Further, the synthesized nanoparticles displayed excellent activities against four fungal strains, where a highest ZOI of 30 mm was observed against Penicillium citirinum, hence proving its high efficacy as antimicrobial agents.</div

Utilization of Biowaste-derived Catalyst for Biodiesel Production: Process Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology and Particle Swarm Optimization Method

In this experimental and optimization study, banana (Musa acuminata) flower petals ash has been considered as an effective catalyst in the room temperature (28 °C) assisted transesterification to produce biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO). The transformation of Musa acuminata flower petals to ash catalyst has been performed by simple conventional open-air burning process. Three important parameters (catalyst concentration, methanol/oil (M/O) molar ratio and time) that play significant role in conversion of WCO to waste cooking methyl ester (WCME) were investigated. In order to maximize the conversion rate these key transesterification parameters were optimized using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) of response surface methodology (RSM). A metaheuristic algorithm popularly known as Particle swarm algorithm (PSO) has been used to observe a clear picture of the global optimum points scattered around the search domain. PSO has also been used to validate the results obtained from CCRD. The chemical composition and morphology of ash catalyst has been investigated using several analytical techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Hammett Indicator method. It was observed that the catalyst remained active till 4th reaction cycle. The catalyst’s reusability, renewability and robust activity in the reaction makes it efficient, economic, green and industrially applicable

Essential tremor and essential tremor plus are essentially similar electrophysiologically

BACKGROUND: The merits of classifying the heterogeneous group of essential tremors into essential tremor (ET) and essential tremor plus (ETP) is debated. OBJECTIVES: We studied the electrophysiological and spiral characteristics of tremor in ET and ETP. METHODS: We reviewed standardized videos from a tremor database and clinically classified patients into ET, ETP or dystonic tremor (DT). The following variables were derived from combined tri‐axial accelerometry‐surface electromyography‐ peak frequency, total power, peak power, full width half maximum, tremor stability index and EMG‐coherence. We analysed hand‐drawn spirals to derive mean deviation, tremor variability, inter‐ and intra‐loop widths. We compared these variables among the groups. RESULTS: We recruited 72 participants (81.9% male) with mean age 47.7±16.1years and Fahn‐Tolosa‐Marin Tremor Rating Scale (FTM‐TRS) total score 31.1±14.1. Patients with ET were younger (p=0.014) and had less severe tremor (p=0.020) compared to ETP and DT. In ETP group, 48.6% had subtle dystonia. Peak frequency was greater in ETP (7.3±0.3 Hz) compared to DT (6.1±0.4 Hz; p=0.024). Peak power was greater in ETP and DT for postural tremor. Rest tremor was recordable on accelerometry in 26.7% of ET. Other variables were similar among the groups. CONCLUSION: Electrophysiological evaluation revealed postural tremor of frequency 6‐7 Hz in ET, ETP and DT with subtle differences‐ more severe tremor in ETP and DT, and higher frequency in ETP compared to DT. Our findings suggest a similar tremor oscillator in these conditions, supporting the view that these entities are part of a spectrum of tremor disorders, rather than distinct etiological entities