128 research outputs found
Universal velocity distributions in an experimental granular fluid
We present experimental results on the velocity statistics of a uniformly
heated granular fluid, in a quasi-2D configuration. We find the base state, as
measured by the single particle velocity distribution , to be universal
over a wide range of filling fractions and only weakly dependent on all other
system parameters. There is a consistent overpopulation in the distribution's
tails, which scale as . More
importantly, the high probability central region of , at low velocities,
deviates from a Maxwell-Boltzmann by a second order Sonine polynomial with a
single adjustable parameter, in agreement with recent theoretical analysis of
inelastic hard spheres driven by a stochastic thermostat. To our knowledge,
this is the first time that Sonine deviations have been measured in an
experimental system.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, with minor corrections, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Caging dynamics in a granular fluid
We report an experimental investigation of the caging motion in a uniformly
heated granular fluid, for a wide range of filling fractions, . At low
the classic diffusive behavior of a fluid is observed. However, as
is increased, temporary cages develop and particles become increasingly
trapped by their neighbors. We statistically analyze particle trajectories and
observe a number of robust features typically associated with dense molecular
liquids and colloids. Even though our monodisperse and quasi-2D system is known
to not exhibit a glass transition, we still observe many of the precursors
usually associated with glassy dynamics. We speculate that this is due to a
process of structural arrest provided, in our case, by the presence of
crystallization.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
SOLID DISPERSION: STRATEGY TO ENHANCE SOLUBILITY
The solubility behavior of drugs remains one of the most exigent aspects in formulation development.With the advent of combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening, the number of poorly water soluble compounds has dramatically increased. Among all the newly discovered chemical entities, about 40-45% drugs fail to reach market due to their poor water solubility. Because of solubility problem, bioavailability of drugs gets affected and hence solubility enhancement becomes necessary. Solid dispersions have attracted considerable interest as an efficient means of improving the dissolution rate and hence the bioavailability of drugs. This article reviews the various preparation techniques, carriers used, advantages and limitations of solid dispersions and compiles some of the recent advances. There are various methods available to improve the solubility of the new drug in which solid dispersion emerged promising. A Solid dispersion generally composed of two components- the drug and the polymer matrix. Numerous methods are existing to prepare the solid dispersions such as melting method, solvent evaporation method, fusion method, kneading method, melting method, spray drying method, co-grinding method, lyophilization technique, hot melt extrusion, melt agglomeration, supercritical fluid (SCF) technology etc. Solid dispersion technologies are particularly promising for improving the oral absorption and bioavailability of BCS Class II drugs. The experience with solid dispersions over the last 10-15 years indicates that this is a very fruitful approach in improving the release rate and oral bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs. Hence, this approach is expected to form a basis for the commercialization of many poorly water-soluble and water-insoluble drugs in their solid-dispersion formulations in the near future. Key words: Dissolution, Solid Dispersion, Solubility, Cellulose Derivatives, Polyethylene glycol
Nanocrystalline Pentaerythritoltetranitrate using Sol-Gel Process
The secondary explosives developed with reduced particle size tend to be more insensitive for mechanical stimuli and may release energy with faster rate and gaining more importance nowadays. Therefore, aiming to reduce the particle size of one of the popular explosives, viz., pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN) to the nanometer range, a method for preparation of nanocrystalline PETN in the silica (SiO2) gel matrix using sol-gel process has been demonstrated. The PETN-SiO2 xerogels were prepared containing PETN content ranging from 50 per cent to 90 per cent (w/w) and the xerogels were characterised using different techniques. An exothermic peak at around 185 oC preceded by an endotherm in thermal analysis accompanied with weight loss in the temperature range from 150 oC to 200 oC for the xerogel confirmed the presence of PETN in xerogel. Infrared spectra of xerogels showed peaks at around 1285 cm-1 and 1700 cm-1 assigned to O-NO2 and C-O bond representing PETN. Small angle x-ray scattering measurements on xerogels indicated that PETN entered in the pores of silica matrix. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that cystalline PETN with particle size of around 15 nm dispersed in silica xerogel. The specific surface area for the PETN-SiO2 (90:10) xerogels was found to be 75 m2/g.Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(6), pp.534-539, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.59
Detonating Cord for Flux Compression Generation using Electrical Detonator No. 33
The paper highlights the use of electrical detonators for magnetic flux compression generator applications which requires synchronisation of two events with precise time delay of tens of ms and jitter within a few ms. These requirements are generally achieved by exploding bridge wire type detonators which are difficult to develop and are not commercially available. A technique has been developed using commercially available electrical detonator no. 33 to synchronise between peak of seed current in stator coil and detonation of explosive charge in armature. In present experiments, electrical signal generated by self-shorting pin due to bursting of electrical detonator has been used to trigger the capacitor discharge and the detonating cord of known length has been used to incorporate predetermined delay to synchronise the events. It has been demonstrated that using electrical detonator and known length of detonating cord, the two events can be synchronised with predetermined delay between 31 and 251 ms with variation of ± 0.5ms. The technique developed is suitable for defence applications like generation of high power microwaves using explosive driven magnetic flux compression generators.Defence Science Journal, 2011, 61(1), pp.19-24, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.61.3
Ultrafast optical generation of coherent phonons in CdTe1-xSex quantum dots
We report on the impulsive generation of coherent optical phonons in
CdTe0.68Se0.32 nanocrystallites embedded in a glass matrix. Pump probe
experiments using femtosecond laser pulses were performed by tuning the laser
central energy to resonate with the absorption edge of the nanocrystals. We
identify two longitudinal optical phonons, one longitudinal acoustic phonon and
a fourth mode of a mixed longitudinal-transverse nature. The amplitude of the
optical phonons as a function of the laser central energy exhibits a resonance
that is well described by a model based on impulsive stimulated Raman
scattering. The phases of the coherent phonons reveal coupling between
different modes. At low power density excitations, the frequency of the optical
coherent phonons deviates from values obtained from spontaneous Raman
scattering. This behavior is ascribed to the presence of electronic impurity
states which modify the nanocrystal dielectric function and, thereby, the
frequency of the infrared-active phonons
Swift Heavy Ion Induced Modification Studies of C60 Thin Films
Modification induced by 110 MeV Ni ion irradiated thin film samples of C60 on
Si and quartz substrates were studied at various fluences. The pristine and
irradiated samples were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, electrical
conductivity and optical absorption spectroscopy. The Raman data and band gap
measurements indicate that swift ions at low fluences result in formations that
involve multiple molecular units like dimer or polymer. High fluence
irradiation resulted in sub-molecular formations and amorphous semiconducting
carbon, indicating overall damage of the fullerene molecules. These
sub-molecular units have been identified with nanocrystalline diamond and
nanocrystalline graphite like formations.Comment: 7 pages, 29 references and 9 figures submitted to J. Appl. Phy
Bio-nanotechnology application in wastewater treatment
The nanoparticles have received high interest in the field of medicine and water purification, however, the nanomaterials produced by chemical and physical methods are considered hazardous, expensive, and leave behind harmful substances to the environment. This chapter aimed to focus on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their medical applications. Moreover, the chapter highlighted the applicability of the metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the inactivation of microbial cells due to their high surface and small particle size. Modifying nanomaterials produced by green-methods is safe, inexpensive, and easy. Therefore, the control and modification of nanoparticles and their properties were also discussed
Nanostructured Silver Substrates With Stable and Universal SERS Properties: Application to Organic Molecules and Semiconductor Nanoparticles
Nanostructured silver films have been prepared by thermal deposition on silicon, and their properties as SERS substrates investigated. The optimal conditions of the post-growth annealing of the substrates were established. Atomic force microscopy study revealed that the silver films with relatively dense and homogeneous arrays of 60–80-nm high pyramidal nanoislands are the most efficient for SERS of both organic dye and inorganic nanoparticles analytes. The noticeable enhancement of the Raman signal from colloidal nanoparticles with the help of silver island films is reported for the first time
Linear and Branched Glyco-Lipopeptide Vaccines Follow Distinct Cross-Presentation Pathways and Generate Different Magnitudes of Antitumor Immunity
Glyco-lipopeptides, a form of lipid-tailed glyco-peptide, are currently under intense investigation as B- and T-cell based vaccine immunotherapy for many cancers. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of glyco-lipopeptides (GLPs) immunogenicity and the position of the lipid moiety on immunogenicity and protective efficacy of GLPs remain to be determined.We have constructed two structural analogues of HER-2 glyco-lipopeptide (HER-GLP) by synthesizing a chimeric peptide made of one universal CD4(+) epitope (PADRE) and one HER-2 CD8(+) T-cell epitope (HER(420-429)). The C-terminal end of the resulting CD4-CD8 chimeric peptide was coupled to a tumor carbohydrate B-cell epitope, based on a regioselectively addressable functionalized templates (RAFT), made of four alpha-GalNAc molecules. The resulting HER glyco-peptide (HER-GP) was then linked to a palmitic acid moiety, attached either at the N-terminal end (linear HER-GLP-1) or in the middle between the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes (branched HER-GLP-2). We have investigated the uptake, processing and cross-presentation pathways of the two HER-GLP vaccine constructs, and assessed whether the position of linkage of the lipid moiety would affect the B- and T-cell immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Immunization of mice revealed that the linear HER-GLP-1 induced a stronger and longer lasting HER(420-429)-specific IFN-gamma producing CD8(+) T cell response, while the branched HER-GLP-2 induced a stronger tumor-specific IgG response. The linear HER-GLP-1 was taken up easily by dendritic cells (DCs), induced stronger DCs maturation and produced a potent TLR- 2-dependent T-cell activation. The linear and branched HER-GLP molecules appeared to follow two different cross-presentation pathways. While regression of established tumors was induced by both linear HER-GLP-1 and branched HER-GLP-2, the inhibition of tumor growth was significantly higher in HER-GLP-1 immunized mice (p<0.005).These findings have important implications for the development of effective GLP based immunotherapeutic strategies against cancers
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