IPMC Based Flexible Platform: A Boon to the Alternative Energy Solution

The ameliorating urge for energy in consonance with the descending environment and attenuation of natural resources leads to the development of alternate energy storage. Realistically, flexible, portable, and lightweight energy storage devices have immense popularity for accessible transportation. In this context, this chapter analyses a possible solution to the problems described aforesaid on IPMC (Ionic Polymer Metal Composite) membranes. Also, this chapter includes porosity induced electrolyte polymer membrane by MCP of Nafion enhances electrical harvesting attribution. The novel and transportable ocean kinetic energy converting platform by IPMC membrane was fabricated and applied for energy conversion. The etching and surface sanding advances the surface area of IPMC to escalate the gas generation rate as an electrolyser. The functionalised infiltrated Nafion nanocomposite membranes are fabricated and analysed for DMFC performance and methanol permeability. Perfluorosulfonic acid polymer electrolyte membranes gained more attention in the former epoch for vast applications in energy, chloro-alkali electrolytes, OER, and polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The direct methanol fuel cell is an excellent alternative to PEFC for managing liquid fuel and higher energy density at low operational temperatures. Nevertheless, polymer electrolyte membranes and direct methanol fuel cells are potential contenders for circulated power and transferable power applications; the substantial technical, scientific, and economic difficulties must be elucidated beforehand commercialisation

A wastewater bacterium 'Bacillus' sp. KUJM2 acts as an agent for remediation of potentially toxic elements and promoter of plant ('Lens culinaris') growth

This study investigated the role of an allochthonous Gram-positive wastewater bacterium (Bacillus sp. KUJM2) selected through rigorous screening, for the removal of potentially toxic elements (PTEs; As, Cd, Cu, Ni) and promotion of plant growth under PTE-stress conditions. The dried biomass of the bacterial strain removed PTEs (5 mg L−1) from water by 90.17–94.75 and 60.4–81.41%, whereas live cells removed 87.15–91.69 and 57.5–78.8%, respectively, under single-PTE and co-contaminated conditions. When subjected to a single PTE, the bacterial production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) reached the maxima with Cu (67.66%) and Ni (64.33%), but Cd showed an inhibitory effect beyond 5 mg L−1 level. The multiple-PTE treatment induced IAA production only up to 5 mg L−1 beyond which inhibition ensued. Enhanced germination rate, germination index and seed production of lentil plant (Lens culinaris) under the bacterial inoculation indicated the plant growth promotion potential of the microbial strain. Lentil plants, as a result of bacterial inoculation, responded with higher shoot length (7.1–27.61%), shoot dry weight (18.22–36.3%) and seed production (19.23–29.17%) under PTE-stress conditions. The PTE uptake in lentil shoots decreased by 67.02–79.85% and 65.94–78.08%, respectively, under single- and multiple-PTE contaminated conditions. Similarly, PTE uptake was reduced in seeds up to 72.82–86.62% and 68.68–85.94%, respectively. The bacteria-mediated inhibition of PTE translocation in lentil plant was confirmed from the translocation factor of the respective PTEs. Thus, the selected bacterium (Bacillus sp. KUJM2) offered considerable potential as a PTE remediating agent, plant growth promoter and regulator of PTE translocation curtailing environmental and human health risks

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of some nickel, cadmium and mercury complexes of 5-methyl-3yl-N-(2′-methylthiophenyl)-methyleneimine, (MPzOATA) ligand

S.M. is thankful to the U.G.C., Govt. of India for providing financial support in the form of fellowship (videUGC Award No.: File No. 17-81/2008 (SA-I) dated: 04.1.2011). The financial support received from the University of Kalyani in the form of Personal Research Grant is thankfully acknowledged.Abstract Herein, we report the syntheses and structures of Ni(II) complexes, [Ni(MPzOATA)2] (Cl) (PF6) ( I ), [Ni(MPzOATA)2](ClO4)2.CH3CN (II) & [Ni(MPzOATA)2](BF4)2.H2O ( III ); Cd(II) complex, [Cd(MPzOATA)Cl2]2 ( IV ) and a Hg(II) complex, [Hg(MPzOATA)Cl2] ( V ), of a pyrazole based ‘NNS’ donor ligand, 5-methylpyrazole-3yl-N-(2′-methylthiophenyl)methyleneimine, (MPzOATA). The complexes are characterized byelemental analyses,electronic, IR, 1H NMR (only for IV & V ) spectral parameters, conductivity and fluorescence measurements. X-ray crystallographic data of the complexes reveal that the Ni(II) complexes have NiN4S2 octahedral coordination, one of them is a mixed-anion complex having Cl− and PF6− as counter anions; the Cd(II) complex is a chloro bridged binuclear complex with octahedral coordinationenvironment aroundeach metal centre, while the Hg(II) complex is a square pyramidal one. Among the reported complex species, the Ni(II) complexes are non-fluorescent, while the Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes can be used as potential photoactive materials as indicated from their characteristicemission properties. The reported complexes are screened for their antimicrobial activities against some Gram positive and Gram negative microbial strains, and they are found to be potential antimicrobial agents in broad spectrum against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.PostprintPeer reviewe

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activities of Co(III) and Ni(II) complexes with 5-methyl-3-formylpyrazole-N(4)-dihexylthiosemicarbazone (HMPzNHex2) : X-ray crystallography and DFT calculations of [Co(MPzNHex2)2]ClO4·1.5H2O (I) and [Ni(HMPzNHex2)2]Cl2·2H2O (II)

Manan Saha is thankful to the U.G.C., Govt. of India for providing financial support in the form of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (Number and date of award letter: F1-17.1/2013-14/RGNF-2013-14-SC-WES- 51398/(SA-III/Website); 06/02/2014). N.C. Saha is thankful to the University of Kalyani for financial assistance received in the form of Personal Research Grant.A new pyrazole containing ligand, 5-methyl-3-formylpyrazole-N(4)-dihexylthiosemicarbazone (HMPzNHex2), and a host of its cobalt(III) and nickel(II) complexes, [Co(MPzNHex2)2]X·mH2O and [Ni(HMPzNHex2)2]X2·nH2O (X= Cl, Br, ClO4, BF4 and NO3; m = 0 for Cl, Br, BF4 & NO3 and 1.5 for ClO4; n = 0 for Br, ClO4, BF4 & NO3 and 2 for Cl), respectively, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic measurements (polycrystalline state), 1H NMR (for the ligand and its Co(III) complexes), electronic and IR spectral parameters. All the reported Co(III) and Ni(II) complexes are cationic in nature and behaving as 1:1 and 1:2 electrolytes, respectively, in MeOH. Electronic spectral data of the complexes categorize them as havingdistorted octahedral coordination geometry. IR spectral features (4000-/450 cm-1) specify a monodeprotonated / neutral tridentate (NNS) function of the ligand, HMPzNHex2 coordinating to the Co(III) / Ni(II) via the pyrazolyl (tertiary) ring nitrogen, azomethine nitrogen and thiolato / thioketo sulfur atom. 1H NMR spectral data (in CDCl3 at 400 MHz) for the primary ligand and those of its Co(III) complexes are in agreement with the proposition of bonding sites evidenced from IR data. The single crystal x-ray data of I (C2/c (#15); monoclinic) and II (P-1 (#2); triclinic) have confirmed a CoN4S2 and a NiN4S2 octahedral coordination, respectively. The pair of monoprotic / neutral coordinating ligands is more or less orthogonal to each other in the complex species. The data obtained from DFT calculations are reasonably in agreement with the UV-Vis spectral assignment and the structures of the complex species. Although the ligand and the tested metal ion complexes are capable of inhibiting microbial growth, the cobalt complexes can be promoted as better antimicrobial agents.PostprintPeer reviewe

Physics Potential of the ICAL detector at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)

The upcoming 50 kt magnetized iron calorimeter (ICAL) detector at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is designed to study the atmospheric neutrinos and antineutrinos separately over a wide range of energies and path lengths. The primary focus of this experiment is to explore the Earth matter effects by observing the energy and zenith angle dependence of the atmospheric neutrinos in the multi-GeV range. This study will be crucial to address some of the outstanding issues in neutrino oscillation physics, including the fundamental issue of neutrino mass hierarchy. In this document, we present the physics potential of the detector as obtained from realistic detector simulations. We describe the simulation framework, the neutrino interactions in the detector, and the expected response of the detector to particles traversing it. The ICAL detector can determine the energy and direction of the muons to a high precision, and in addition, its sensitivity to multi-GeV hadrons increases its physics reach substantially. Its charge identification capability, and hence its ability to distinguish neutrinos from antineutrinos, makes it an efficient detector for determining the neutrino mass hierarchy. In this report, we outline the analyses carried out for the determination of neutrino mass hierarchy and precision measurements of atmospheric neutrino mixing parameters at ICAL, and give the expected physics reach of the detector with 10 years of runtime. We also explore the potential of ICAL for probing new physics scenarios like CPT violation and the presence of magnetic monopoles.Comment: 139 pages, Physics White Paper of the ICAL (INO) Collaboration, Contents identical with the version published in Pramana - J. Physic

Childhood hepatitis A virus infection associated with immune thrombocytopenic purpura: Report of two cases

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a benign, self-limited gastrointestinal infection of the children belonging to the developing countries. Extra-intestinal, especially autoimmune hematological manifestations rarely develop during the course of infection in children. We describe two children, aged 8 months and 5 years who developed immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) during the course of otherwise uncomplicated HAV infection. In both children, bleeding secondary to thrombocytopenia was the initial presentation. An 8-month-old infant was anicteric at presentation and HAV infection was discovered during the course of investigations. Both were treated with platelet concentrates and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy successfully. HAV should be included in the differentials in any child (including infants) who presents with ITP, even in the absence of well-recognized features of the disease

Craniofrontonasal dysplasia syndrome: A rare case

Craniofrontonasal dysplasia syndrome (CFND) (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database Number 304110), first described as a distinct entity by Professor Michael Cohen from Canada in 1979, is a very rare X-linked inherited disorder characterized by abnormalities of the head and face (cranio-facial area), hands and feet, and certain skeletal bones. Phenotypic expression varies greatly amongst affected individuals, where females are more commonly and generally more severely affected than males. We are presenting a newborn with this rare and peculiar syndrome, probably the first case from India to make physicians aware of this condition, so that more number of cases are being reported to help establishing an uniform clinical diagnostic criteria for CFND in the near future