Role of v-SNARE transmembrane domain and of SNARE regulators in Ca2+-triggered exocytosis

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Symbiotically Augmented removal of Congo red by polyaniline/cobalt sulfide/graphite composites

The presence of Congo red dye (CR) in industrial sewage causes a serious threat to the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to develop high-performance, low-cost functional materials to mitigate such issues. During past decades, polyaniline and its composites have been recognized as an emerging candidate to remove hazardous organic effluents from water. The present work demonstrates the successful elimination of CR from water in presence of newly synthesized graphite/cobalt sulfide/PANI-based ternary composites. Several morphological or physicochemical characterization tools were adopted to confirm the formation of the ternary composite and subsequent synergistic interaction between individual elements of the composites. The experimental results delineate that a maximum of similar to 95.55% CR removal (%) was achieved after 120 min. Fast removal (similar to 5-10 min) of CR dye is observed for APS/Ternary composite system. From the fitted experimental data utilizing 1st or 2nd order rate kinetic models, it was observed that the adsorption induced degradation of CR dye and the process was chemisorptions in nature. Further, an intra-molecular diffusion model was also introduced that signifies both boundary layer diffusion or intraparticle diffusion phenomenon was responsible for CR removal. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity profile of the composite treated Congo red aqueous solution was evaluated when exposed to L929 fibroblast cells after 24 h or 72 h of exposure and the result deciphers the non-toxic nature of composite treated CR water

Surfactant and catalyst free facile synthesis of Al-doped ZnO nanorods - An approach towards fabrication of single nanorod electrical devices

Classical models illustrate the genesis of bottom-up techniques for synthesis of pristine ZnO or Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles via surfactant aided or hydrothermal chemistry, to constitute the fundamental modules of nanotechnology and nanodevices. The present study demonstrates a facile as well as surfactant and catalyst free route for synthesis of morphology controlled Al-doped ZnO nanorods. Morphological evaluation (via FESEM and TEM characterization) clearly verifies the successful synthesis of ZnO and Al-doped ZnO nanorods. Moreover, crystallographic and FTIR studies ratified presence of multiple different planes as well as phases of ZnO and Al-doped ZnO nanostructures, eventually confirming the doping process. Further, the alteration in mode of electronic transition and surface charge of ZnO nanorods post doping with Al was witnessed from its UV-visible or photoluminescence spectra and zeta potential measurements, respectively. Electrical measurements were performed on prepared Al-doped ZnO nanorods which were fabricated as single nanorod devices. Owing to substitutional and interstitial doping, the electrical conductivity of the devices was drastically enhanced after doping. Excellent electrical attribute of the nanorods when fabricated into single nanorod device was indicative of its potential to be deployed as next generation nano-biosensors or piezo-electric devices