Electronic Structure of Ordered Double Perovskite Ba2CoWO6

Ba2CoWO6 (BCoW) has been synthesized in polycrystalline form by solid state reaction at 1200C. Structural characterization of the compound was done through X-ray diffraction (XRD) followed by Rietveld analysis of the XRD pattern. The crystal structure is cubic, space group Fm-3m (No 225) with the lattice parameter, a=8.210A. Optical band-gap of the present system has been calculated using the UV-Vis Spectroscopy and Kubelka-Munk function, its value being 2.45 eV. A detailed study of the electronic properties has also been carried out using the density functional theory (DFT) techniques implemented on WIEN2k. Importance of electron-electron interaction between the Co ions leading to half-metallic behavior, crystal and exchange splitting together with the hybridization between O and Co, W has been investigated using the total and partial density of states.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, submitted to 58th DAE-SSPS 201

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Reversed phase extraction chromatographic studies of thorium(IV) with high molecular weight carboxylic acid

477-480Thorium(IV) has been separated by reversed phase extraction chromatographic technique with n-capric acid (a high molecular weight carboxylic acid) as stationary phase on a column of silica gel with acetate buffer (pH 4.0-5.0) as the mobile phase. The exchangecapacity ofthe exchanger has been reported. Thorium(lV) has been separated from binary and multicomponent mixtures of severalions, e.g., Mg(ll), Cr(lll), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(ll), Cd(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), Bi(III), La(III), Ce(lV), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Zr(IV) and U(VI). The proposed method is simple, rapid and selective

Extractive chromatographic separation of mercury(ll) from acetic acid using capric acid on silica gel

102-104n-Capric acid (a liquid cation exchanger) coated on silica gel, quantitatively extracts mercury (II) from 0.01 M acetic acid solution in the pH range 4.4-6.0. The extracted mercury can be stripped with aqueous solutions of various acids and salts, and then analysed by flameless atomic absorbtion mercury analyser. The optimum conditions for extraction have been investigated. Mercury has been separated from chromium(III), manganese(II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), zinc (II), arsenic (III), antimony (III) and thallium (I) by exploiting the differences in the extractabilities of these metal ions, while the separation from aluminium (III), iron (III), copper (II), cadmium (II), lead (II), bismuth (III) and zirconium (IV) has been done by selective stripping

Extraction chromatographic studies of cerium(IV) using high molecular weight carboxylic acid

1125-1127Cerium(IV) has been separated by reversed phase extraction chromatographic technique using SRS-l00 (a high molecular weight carboxylic acid) as stationary phase on a column of silica gel with acetate buffer (pH 4.8-5.5) as the mobile phase. Exchange capacity of the exchanger has been determined. Several separations of cerium(IV) from binary and multicomponent mixtures have been achieved. Most of the rare earth elements do not interfere in the extraction of cerium(IV). Cerium(IV) has been separated from Cr(III), Mn(II),. Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Mg(II), Ca(II), Zn(II), Hg(II), Pd(II), La(III), Pr(IIl), Nd(III), Sm(IIl), Cd(III), Dy(IIl), Zr(IV), Th(IV) and U(VI)

Solvent Extraction of Mercury(II) from Hydrochloric Acid Solution by High Molecular Weight Amine, Amberlite LA-1

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Reversed phase extraction chromatrographic study of copper(II) with a high molecular weight carboxylic acid and its analytical applications

814-816A selective method for the extraction of copper(II) by reverse phase extraction chromatographic technique on silica gel impregnated with a high molecular weight carboxylic acid (SRS-100)has been developed. Quantitative extraction has been achieved in the pH range 4.6-6.8. Effects of variables like pH, eluting agents and flow rate on extraction and elution have been studied. Several metal ions like Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Pd(II), La(III) and U(VI) do not interfere in the extraction. Some metal ions like Pb(II), Hg(II), AI(III), Ce(IV) and Th(IV) interfere in the extraction, but these can be separated by selective elution. In order to assess the possible analytical applications, copper(II) has been separated from multicomponent mixtures containing metal ions generally associated with it as well as from standard ore and alloy samples

Overcoming barriers to social inclusion in agricultural intensification: reflections on a transdisciplinary community development project from India and Bangladesh

We describe a research-for-development (R4D) strategy developed to address how investments and interventions in agricultural intensification as a means to achieve community development can be designed to be more socially inclusive and equitable. We draw on results from a 5-year project – Promoting socially inclusive and sustainable agricultural intensification in West Bengal (India) and southern Bangladesh (SIAGI). We reflect on a major pivot in the project’s strategy, from being primarily research-driven to placing community concerns and priorities at the centre with a shift towards Ethical Community Engagement (ECE). This became the foundational framework which guided the definition and undertaking of all subsequent activities – including a rethink of methods and concepts to develop tools and frameworks fit for purpose and local context, and inculcating a culture of reflexivity and mutual learning in the project. We show that creating the conditions for true participation, where project beneficiaries and non-government organizations are equal partners alongside researchers and government actors, and for co-learning using the ECE framework, sets the foundations for increased and potentially enduring social inclusion in agricultural intensification