Comparison Of Fe(II) And Fe(III)-Hydralazine Complexes, A Potentiometric And Spectrophotometric Studa

Iron in oxidation states (+2 and +3) is very essential element for human body, and its concentration significantly altered in cardio vascular disease. So the aim of the present work is to study the interaction of Fe(II) and Fe(III) with very commonly used antihypertensive drug hydralazine through potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods. The objectives of the work is to study the stoichiometry, behavior of the complexes in aqueous solution, effect of pH and behavior of this drugs towards both oxidation states of Iron. Both methods show that hydralazine forms a stable complex with both oxidation states of the metal, but the nature of complex changes with change in pH, ligand concentration and with time span. Both methods confirms 1:2 stoichiometry for Fe(II)-Hydralazine while 1:3 for Fe(III)-Hydralazine. Stabilities of both complexes were also calculated. For Fe(II)-Hydralazine complex values of log β1 and log β2 were found to be 4.99 and  7.58 respectively. For Fe(III)-Hydralazine complex log β1, log β2 and log β3 values were found to be 2.74, 7.39 and 11.32 respectively. At high ligand concentration hydralazine also show reducing properties. The study suggests a strong interaction of hydralazine with iron; however the nature of interaction is different with both oxidation states of iron

Jatropha curcas L. and Pongamia pinnata L. exhibited differential growth and bioaccumulation pattern irrigated with wastewater

Pakistan currently faces an acute shortage of water, which has increasingly been devastating for the past few decades. In order to mitigate water scarcity, agriculture sector of the country started using wastewater discharged from various industries. The present study aims to assess the impact of fertilizer industry effluent on Jatropha curcas L. and Pongamia pinnata L., which are popular biofuel tree species. Initially, one-year-old saplings were acclimatized in pots, then wastewater was applied in diluted concentrations of effluent using 20 and 40 mL L-1 to the treatment group while control plants were irrigated with tap water. The physico-chemical properties of the effluent showed high values 179 mg L-1 for biological oxygen demand (BOD), 257 mg L-1 for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 1200 mg L-1 for total dissolved solid (TDS), respectively. Surprisingly, high concentrations of arsenic (15 µg L-1) and cadmium (0.78 mg L-1) were present but chromium (Cr) concentration was found within permissible limit to WHO. The levels applied caused a significant (p≤0.05) increase in plant growth and biomass. The extent of membrane damage assessed via malondialdehyde (MDA) production was also greater in the roots of P. pinnata while reverse was true for shoots of J. curcas. A more profound (p≤0.05) reduction in photosynthetic pigments and carotenoids was observed in P. pinnata at concentrated level of effluent. Overall, the study signifies a 2-folds potential of biofuel tree species for efficient reuse of wastewater, as well as for remediation of metals from wastewater and soil

Location of fungi in groundnut seed

Abstract Using ISTA techniques, component plating of groundnut seed showed that seed coat (testa) was greatly infected by fungi viz., Alternaria citri Ellis & Pierce apud Pierce, Aspergillus flavus Link ex Gray, A. niger van Tieghem, Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht, F. semitectum Berk & Rav., F. solani (Mart) Sacc., Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid., and Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn., followed by cotyledon and axis (radicle and plumule). Reduced number of fungal species in surface sterilized seed indicates that most of the fungi were located on seed coat (testa). Blotter method showed greater incidence of fungi on seed parts followed by agar plate and deep freezing methods. In seedling symptom test, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani Aspergillus flavus and A. niger showed pre-emergence and post emergence rot resulting in root rot and damping off of seedling caused by root infecting fungi

Severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) in postpartum period requiring tertiary Hospital care

Background: Postpartum period is the critically important part of obstetric care but most neglected period for majority of Pakistani women. Only life threatening complications compel them to seek for tertiary hospital care. We describe the nature of these obstetric morbidities in order to help policymakers in improving prevailing situation. Objective: To find out the frequency and causes of severe post-partum maternal morbidity requiring tertiary hospital care and to identify the demographic and obstetrical risk factors and adverse fetal outcome in women suffering from obstetric morbidities. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad, between April 2008-July 2009. The subjects comprised of all those women who required admission and treatment for various obstetrical reasons during their postpartum period. Women admitted for non-obstetrical reasons were excluded. A structured proforma was used to collect data including demographics, clinical diagnosis, obstetrical history and feto-maternal outcome of index pregnancy, which was then entered and analyzed with SPSS version 11. Results: The frequency of severe postpartum maternal morbidity requiring tertiary hospital care was 4% (125/3292 obstetrical admissions). The majority of them were young, illiterate, multiparous and half of them were referred from rural areas. Nearly two third of the study population had antenatal visits from health care providers and delivered vaginally at hospital facility by skilled birth attendants. The most common conditions responsible for life threatening complications were postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) (50%), preeclampsia and eclampsia (30%) and puerperal pyrexia 14%. Anemia was associated problem in 100% of cases. Perinatal death rate was 27.2% (34) and maternal mortality rate was 4.8%. Conclusion: PPH, Preeclampsia, sepsis and anemia were important causes of maternal ill health in our population. Perinatal mortality was high

Tannery effluent induced morpho-biochemical expressions and chromium accumulation in Jatropha curcas L. and Pongamia pinnata L.

The use of effluent from various industries by agriculture sector in developing countries may help to mitigate water scarcity and cost of fertilizers but pose considerable threats to entire ecosystem when heavy metals enter the food chain. The aim of the present study was to compare the growth and development of two biofuel tree species Jatropha curcas L. and Pongamia pinnata L. when exposed to 20 and 40 mL L−1 of effluent discharged from a local tannery along with tap water as a control. The physico-chemical attributes assessed for quality of effluent showed higher values and significantly higher chromium (Cr) concentration than other metals. Application of effluent induced profound formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in P. pinnata. With regard to growth and pigments of plant species, a significant reduction (p≤0.05) in root length, dry shoot biomass, leaf area, chlorophylls and carotenoids occurred in P. pinnata but shoot length, collar diameter and root dry biomass remained unaffected. Similarly, J. curcas sustained root and shoot growth, dry biomass production, collar diameter and leaf area. Increased pigment contents were found at both effluent levels. The roots of P. pinnata accumulated 6 and 11 times more Cr at 20 and 40 mL L−1, respectively, than control. While in J. curcas Cr accumulation was up to 9 folds in shoots at 40 mL L−1. Thus, the two species exhibited differential potential for Cr accumulation in their above and below ground tissues. The study signified the use of contaminated water for irrigation and potential of the species to act as phytoremediator to alleviate both water scarcity and metal contamination

Study of Impact Erosion of Oil and Gas Flowlines with Micro-sized Sand Particles

The oil and gas produced from the reservoirs of relatively low formation strength inevitably carry micro-sized sand particles, which adversely influence the flow-lines and other installations. The financial deliberations favor the choice of low-cost metals, in general, carbon steel as a flow-line material. Yet, there are many cases where carbon steel been substituted with a low-cost stainless steel. The corrosion resistance of the stainless-steel is well accepted. However, there is another type of deformation that is not well studied and understood is its erosion resistance. The objective of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the erosion of stainless steel placed in a dry sand stream of micro-size particles. The manipulated variables were sand size, impingement angle, gas flow velocity, and nozzle distance. The obtained results showed that the large particle size, high fluid-flow velocity and short nozzle distance would result in more severe erosion of the stainless-steel coupons

Study of Impact Erosion of Oil and Gas Flowlines with Micro-sized Sand Particles

The oil and gas produced from the reservoirs of relatively low formation strength inevitably carry micro-sized sand particles, which adversely influence the flow-lines and other installations. The financial deliberations favor the choice of low-cost metals, in general, carbon steel as a flow-line material. Yet, there are many cases where carbon steel been substituted with a low-cost stainless steel. The corrosion resistance of the stainless-steel is well accepted. However, there is another type of deformation that is not well studied and understood is its erosion resistance. The objective of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the erosion of stainless steel placed in a dry sand stream of micro-size particles. The manipulated variables were sand size, impingement angle, gas flow velocity, and nozzle distance. The obtained results showed that the large particle size, high fluid-flow velocity and short nozzle distance would result in more severe erosion of the stainless-steel coupons

Synthesis of MWCNT Forests with Alumina-Supported Fe2O3 Catalyst by Using a Floating Catalyst Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique

In this study, multiwalled CNT bundles were synthesized with an alumina-supported Fe2O3 catalyst by using a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) technique. The metal catalyst was synthesized by dispersing Fe2O3 on alumina support. Ethylene molecules were decomposed over different amounts of metal nanoparticles in a FCCVD reactor. The CVD temperature was elevated from 600°C to 1000°C. The large active surface area of the metal nanobuds promoted the decomposition of a carbon precursor and the fast growth of CNT bundles. Least dense bundles of varying heights were observed at lower CVD temperatures of 600°C and 700°C. At 800°C, CVD process conditions were found suitable for the fast decomposition of hydrocarbon. The relatively better yield of well-structured CNTs was obtained with a catalyst weight of 0.3 g at 800°C. Above 800°C, CNT forests start losing alignment and height. The forest density was also decreased at temperatures above the optimum. The elemental composition of CNT bundles revealed the presence of carbon, aluminium, oxygen, and iron in percentages of 91%, 0.76%, 8.2%, and 0.04%, respectively. A very small ID to IG ratio of 0.22 was calculated for CNTs grown under optimized conditions

Concurrent Synthesis and Immobilization of Ag Nanoparticles over TiO2 via Plasma Reduction for Photocatalytic Treatment of Methyl Blue in Water

Pure TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) were produced via the sol–gel method and then coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to reduce their optical band gap. The concurrent synthesis and immobilization of AgNPs over TiO2NPs was achieved through the interaction of an open-air argon plasma jet with a solution of silver nitrate/stabilizer/TiO2NPs. The one-pot plasma synthesis and coating of AgNPs over TiO2NPs is a more straightforward and environmentally friendly method than others. The plasma-produced Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized and tested for their photocatalytic potential by degrading different concentrations of methyl blue (MB) in water. The dye concentration, oxidant dose, catalyst dose, and reaction time were also optimized for MB degradation. XRD results revealed the formation of pure AgNPs, pure TiO2NPs, and Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites with an average grain size of 12.36 nm, 18.09 nm, and 15.66 nm, respectively. The immobilization of AgNPs over TiO2NPs was also checked by producing SEM and TEM images. The band gap of AgNPs, TiO2NPs, and Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles was measured about 2.58 eV, 3.36 eV, and 2.86 eV, respectively. The ultraviolet (UV) results of the nanocomposites were supportive of the degradation of synthetic dyes in the visible light spectrum. The AgNPs in the composite not only lowered the band gap but also obstructed the electron–hole recombinations. The Ag/TiO2 composite catalyst showed 90.9% degradation efficiency with a 5 ppm dye concentration after 120 min of light exposure

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