ZnO anchored graphene hydrophobic nanocomposite-based bulk heterojunction solar cells showing enhanced short-circuit current

Hydrophobic and surfactant-free ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO decorated graphene nanocomposite (Z@G) with narrow and uniform size distribution were synthesized by a time-efficient microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction that can be used specifically for application in hybrid photovoltaics. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles and Z@G nanocomposite showed stable and clear dispersion in chloroform and methanol (with volume ratio of 9 : 1) and chloroform and ethanol (volume ratio 9 : 1). Being hydrophobic, these inorganic samples blend very well with organic polymer solution in chlorobenzene, which is a prerequisite to cast smooth and undisrupted film for hybrid solar cell application. The introduction of these hydrophobic nanoparticles into PCPDTBT: PCBM-based bulk-heterojunction polymer solar cells resulted in significant improvement in solar cell J-V characteristics with enhancement in open circuit voltage (VOC), short circuit current density (JSC) and thereby overall improvement in cell efficiency. With the optimization of the weight ratio of polymer, fullerene and synthesized ZnO nanoparticles/Z@G nanocomposite, the power conversion efficiencies 1.76% and 3.65% were achieved

Physiological Changes and Blood Flow in Murrah Buffaloes during Summer and Winter Season

Present study was designed to investigate the changes in physiological reactions and blood flow during different seasons in Murrah buffaloes. Six Murrah buffalo heifers of 18-24 months were selected as experimental animals. The respiration rate (RR), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure was measured through BPL-Excello multi parameter monitor. Rectal temperatures were recorded with electronic thermometer. Skin surface temperatures at the different body sites were recorded using infrared thermometer (Metravi MT-2). The blood flow was measured on Perimed Multichannel Laser Doppler system using skin perfusion probe 408 at dorsal region, abdomen region and middle ear. Results showed a significant difference for respiration rate (P<0.001); rectal temperature (P<0.05) and heart rate (P<0.001) during summer and winter season. The mean blood pressure was 93.74/186.36 mmHg in summer and 97.40/198.08 mmHg in winter, respectively. In the present experiment, both diastolic and systolic pressure differed significantly (P<0.001) during different seasons. The mean skin surface temperature in summer was 37.03±0.39, 36.12±0.27 and 33.15±0.98°C at dorsal, abdomen and middle ear, respectively; whereas, during winter it was 29.87±0.69, 29.92±0.40 and 23.82±1.12°C at dorsal, abdomen and middle ear, respectively. The skin surface temperature among the different parts of the body differed significantly (P<0.001). During summer, the mean blood flow was 4.71±0.49, 14.85±1.63 and 16.72±1.47 PU; whereas, during winter, it was low, 1.10±0.16, 8.96±0.58 and 12.16±0.95 PU at dorsal, abdomen and middle ear, respectively. The difference in the blood flow among the different parts of the body differed significantly (P<0.001) in summer and winter. The results indicated that blood flow was positively correlated with temperature of the body parts and it varied in different seasons. This study concluded that, summer stress evokes a series of physiological changes in the Murrah buffalo's, which affects production during summer season

2,4,8,10,13-Penta­methyl-6-phenyl-13,14-dihydro-12H-6λ5-dibenzo[d,i][1,3,7,2]dioxaza­phosphecin-6-thione

In the title compound, C25H28NO2PS, the cyclo­decene ring exhibits a crown conformation. The two dimethyl­benzene rings which are fused symmetrically on either side of the ten-membered ring, make dihedral angles of 20.2 (1) and 18.0 (1)°. The phenyl ring substituted at P is perpendicular to the heterocyclic ring, making a dihedral angle of 88.4 (1)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by very weak intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonding

Improved propionic acid production from glycerol: combining cyclic batch-and sequential batch fermentations with optimal nutrient composition

Propionic acid was produced from glycerol using Propionibacterium acidipropionici. In this study, the impact of the concentrations of carbon and nitrogen sources, and of different modes of high cell density fermentations on process kinetics and -efficiency was investigated. Three-way ANOVA analysis and batch cultivations at varying C/N ratios at pH 6.5 revealed that propionic acid production rate is significantly influenced by yeast extract concentration. Glycerol to yeast extract ratio (w w−1) of 3:1 was required for complete glycerol consumption, while maintaining the volumetric productivity. Using this optimum C/N ratio for propionic acid production in cyclic batch fermentation gave propionate yield up to 93 mol% and productivity of 0.53 g L−1 h−1. Moreover, sequential batch fermentation with cell recycling resulted in production rates exceeding 1 g L−1 h−1 at initial glycerol up to 120 g L−1, and a maximum of 1.63 g L−1 h−1 from 90 g L−1 glycerol

Rat Strain Ontology: structured controlled vocabulary designed to facilitate access to strain data at RGD

BACKGROUND: The Rat Genome Database (RGD) ( http://rgd.mcw.edu/) is the premier site for comprehensive data on the different strains of the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus). The strain data are collected from various publications, direct submissions from individual researchers, and rat providers worldwide. Rat strain, substrain designation and nomenclature follow the Guidelines for Nomenclature of Mouse and Rat Strains, instituted by the International Committee on Standardized Genetic Nomenclature for Mice. While symbols and names aid in identifying strains correctly, the flat nature of this information prohibits easy search and retrieval, as well as other data mining functions. In order to improve these functionalities, particularly in ontology-based tools, the Rat Strain Ontology (RS) was developed. RESULTS: The Rat Strain Ontology (RS) reflects the breeding history, parental background, and genetic manipulation of rat strains. This controlled vocabulary organizes strains by type: inbred, outbred, chromosome altered, congenic, mutant and so on. In addition, under the chromosome altered category, strains are organized by chromosome, and further by type of manipulations, such as mutant or congenic. This allows users to easily retrieve strains of interest with modifications in specific genomic regions. The ontology was developed using the Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology (OBO) file format, and is organized on the Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure. Rat Strain Ontology IDs are included as part of the strain report (RS: ######). CONCLUSIONS: As rat researchers are often unaware of the number of substrains or altered strains within a breeding line, this vocabulary now provides an easy way to retrieve all substrains and accompanying information. Its usefulness is particularly evident in tools such as the PhenoMiner at RGD, where users can now easily retrieve phenotype measurement data for related strains, strains with similar backgrounds or those with similar introgressed regions. This controlled vocabulary also allows better retrieval and filtering for QTLs and in genomic tools such as the GViewer. The Rat Strain Ontology has been incorporated into the RGD Ontology Browser ( http://rgd.mcw.edu/rgdweb/ontology/view.html?acc_id=RS:0000457#s) and is available through the National Center for Biomedical Ontology ( http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/1150) or the RGD ftp site ( ftp://rgd.mcw.edu/pub/ontology/rat_strain/)

4-Meth­oxy-N-(4-nitro­benz­yl)aniline

In the title compound, C14H14N2O3, the nitro group is nearly coplanar with the benzene ring to which it is bonded [dihedral angle = 1.70 (2)°], and this ring is para-substituted by the amino­methyl­ene group. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 57.8 (1)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak C—H⋯π inter­actions are also observed

Unraveling Binding Effects of Cobalt(II) Sepulchrate with the Monooxygenase P450 BM-3 Heme Domain Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

One of the major limitations to exploit enzymes in industrial processes is their dependence on expensive reduction equivalents like NADPH to drive their catalytic cycle. Soluble electron transfer (ET) mediators like Cobalt(II)Sepulchrate have been proposed as a cost-effective alternative to shuttle electrons between an inexpensive electron source and enzyme redox center. The interactions of these molecules with enzymes are not elucidated at molecular level yet. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations are performed to understand the binding and ET mechanism of the Cobalt(II)Sepulchrate with the heme domain of cytochrome P450BM-3. The study provides a detailed map of ET mediator binding sites on protein surface that resulted prevalently composed by Asp and Glu amino acids. The Cobalt(II)Sepulchrate do not show a preferential binding to these sites. However, among the observed binding sites, only few of them provide efficient ET pathways to heme iron. The results of this study can be used to improve the ET mediator efficiency of the enzyme for possible biotechnological applications

AN OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESS VALIDATION OF TABLETS

Product quality is the mainstay of pharmaceutical industries and is derived from careful attention to a number of factors including selection of quality parts and materials, adequate product and manufacturing process design, control of the process variables, in-process and end-product testing. Process validation is an integral part of quality assurance program in industries. By validating each step of production process we can assure that the final product is of best quality. This review provides information on objectives and benefits of process validation, types of process validation, major phases in validation and regulatory aspects. Guidelines and strategy for process validation of solid dosage form are also discussed. Keywords: Quality, process variables, process validation, guidelines