An improved two-step regioselective synthesis of naphth[1,2,-b]- and naphtha(2, 1-b]oxepin-5-ones

1027-102

Phytoremediation: green to clean environmental heavy metal pollution

Many natural processes and anthropogenic activities lead to the persistent accumulation of non-biodegradable heavy metals in the environment. This contamination further has the potential to enter the food chain by a process called bioaccumulation and further, the concentration of heavy metal raises exponentially from lower to higher trophic levels as it is consumed called biomagnification. With the perspective of the consequences associated with heavy metal toxicity including risks to ecosystem and human health (mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic), the reclamation of toxic accumulates in soil and water is of paramount importance. Presently, clean-up technologies for heavy metals primarily concentrate on mitigating toxicity using physicochemical and mechanical methods such as soil incineration, excavation, landfilling, soil washing, solidification, and the application of electric fields. However, these are expensive, time-consuming, and also result in destructive changes to soil's physicochemical and biological properties, causing secondary pollution to the soil ecosystem. Therefore, the use of the inherent plant’s ability to absorb ionic compounds even at low concentrations near the soil-root interface can be effectively employed as a strategy to extract and remove or lower the bioavailable toxic metals and this phenomenon is called phytoremediation

Growth of CuCl thin films by magnetron sputtering for ultraviolet optoelectronic applications

Copper (I) chloride (CuCl) is a potential candidate for ultraviolet (UV) optoelectronics due to its close lattice match with Si (mismatch less than 0.4%) and a high UV excitonic emission at room temperature. CuCl thin films were deposited using radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique. The influence of target to substrate distance (dts) and sputtering pressure on the composition, microstructure, and UV emission properties of the films were analyzed. The films deposited with shorter target to substrate spacing (dts=3 cm) were found to be nonstoichiometric, and the film stoichiometry improves when the substrate is moved away from the target (dts=4.5 and 6 cm). A further increase in the spacing results in poor crystalline quality. The grain interface area increases when the sputtering pressure is increased from 1.1×10–³ to 1×10–² mbar at dts=6 cm. Room temperature cathodoluminescence spectrum shows an intense and sharp UV exciton (Z₃) emission at ~385 nm with a full width at half maximum of 16 nm for the films deposited at the optimum dts of 6 cm and a pressure of 1.1×10–³ mbar. A broad deep level emission in the green region (~515 nm) is also observed. The relative intensity of the UV to green emission peaks decreased when the sputtering pressure was increased, consistent with an increase in grain boundary area. The variation in the stoichiometry and the crystallinity are attributed to the change in the intensity and energy of the flux of materials from the target due to the interaction with the background gas molecules

Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (Snodgross procedure) for distal penile hypospadias - a regional centre experience

Tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty has rapidly become the procedure of choice for repair of distal penile hypospadias (DPH) at most of the centres throughout the world. Multiple series from major institutions have reported excellent cosmetic and functional results in conjunction with low complication rates. A retrospective review of 52 new cases of DPH where TIP urethroplasty was performed in Medical College Jammu has been analysed. Age range of the patients included in the study varied between 2 and 18 years with majority 47 (97.3%) below 5 years. Ten (19.9%) patients had chordee, which got corrected by degloving of the penis except 3 (5.7%) who required tunica albuginea plication. Neourethra was covered with vascularized pedicled dartos flap from the inner prepuce. Major complications occurred in 7 (13.4%) patients [urethrocutaneous fistula-5 (11.5%) patients, meatal stenosis-1 (1.9%) patient and complete breakdown-1 (1.9%) patient]. There were also minor complications like superficial skin necrosis in 10 (19.2%) patients and haematoma formation in 1 (1.9%) patient. Functional results as judged by the urinary stream, were good in 46 (88.8%) patients. Excellent cosmetic result was seen in 44 (84.6%) patients except 2 (3.8%) who had mild torsion of the shaft. Conclusion: Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty with dartos flap cover is a simple, single stage procedure for DPH with excellent cosmetic and functional results and is associated with minimal complications

Laboratory and field culture of marine red alga gracilaria verrucosa (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta)

157-161Germination and survival of plants raised from tetraspores of Gracilaria verrucosa (Huds.) Papenf were more than carpospore raised plants. Maximum germination was found to be 85% of tetraspores in November-December and 80% of carpospores in September. While maximum survival (85%) of tetraspore germlings and 80% of carpospore germlings was observed in November-December. Laboratory raised germlings from spores when transferred to the field at Beyt island, Port Okha during April, showed peak growth in length after four months of culture period. While growth was stunted, when germlings were transferred to the field in the months of January and December. Growth of alga correlates well with the changes in seawater temperature and exposure period. The development of fruiting bodies was observed after four months of transplantation to the field. Approximately 1:1 male to female ratio of gametophytes was observed