A Green Chemical Approach for the Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles: Characterization and Mechanistic Aspect

This IRCSET-EMPOWER (Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology Postdoctoral Research Grant) project aims to improve current methodology for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs). The development of efficient methodology for metal nanomaterials synthesis is an economical and environmental challenge. While the current methods for NPs synthesis are often energy-intensive and involve toxic chemicals, NPs biosynthesis can be carried on at circumneutral pH and mild temperature, resulting in low cost and environmental impact. Nanomaterial biosynthesis has been already observed in magnetotactic bacteria, diatoms, and S-layer bacteria, however, controlled NPs biosynthesis is a relatively new area of research with considerable potential for development. A thorough understanding of the biochemical mechanism involved in NPs biosynthesis is needed, before biosynthetic methods can be economically competitive. The analysis and identification of active species in the nucleation and growth of metal NPs is a daunting task, due to the complexity of the microbial system. This project work focuses on the controlled biosynthesis of gold NPs by fungal microorganisms and aims to determine the biochemical mechanism involved in nucleation and growth of the particles

The Two Dimensional Nanomaterials Functionalized with Antimicrobial Peptides as a Novel Strategy to Combat Biofilms and its Associated Infections

The resilient and adaptive nature of biofilms and its associated infections pose a serious threat in the current state of play aiming the need for a promising strategy. The two-dimensional nanomaterials functionalized with antimicrobial peptides serve as a novel approach to combat biofilms and their related infections. This review article explains the current landscape of research in this field focusing on classification and physiochemical properties of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials and their exploitation as antimicrobial peptide delivery system. The review also offers insights into their potential application in various settings such as medical devices wound healing and water treatment. Additionally we discuss the challenges and future directions in the development and implementation of this innovative strategy, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary approach that bridges the gap between fundamental research and practical applications. Through a comprehensive synthesis of current literature, this review aims to provide researchers, clinicians and industry professionals with a thorough understanding of promises and challenges, which aim in the development of advanced materials and strategies for combating microbial biofilms and improving industrial control measures

Top squark and neutralino decays in a R-parity violating model constrained by neutrino oscillation data

In a R-parity violating (RPV) model of neutrino mass with three bilinear couplings $\mu_i$ and three trilinear couplings $\lambda'_{i33}$, where $i$ is the lepton index, we find six generic scenarios each with a distinctive pattern of the trilinear couplings consistent with the oscillation data. These patterns may be reflected in direct RPV decays of the lighter top squark or in the RPV decays of the lightest superparticle, assumed to be the lightest neutralino. Typical signal sizes at the Tevatron RUN II and the LHC have been estimated and the results turn out to be encouraging.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, LaTex,typos corrected and reference added for section 2, a paragraph has been added in the conclusion par

Quantum Tunneling, Blackbody Spectrum and Non-Logarithmic Entropy Correction for Lovelock Black Holes

We show, using the tunneling method, that Lovelock black holes Hawking radiate with a perfect blackbody spectrum. This is a new result. Within the semiclassical (WKB) approximation the temperature of the spectrum is given by the semiclassical Hawking temperature. Beyond the semiclassical approximation the thermal nature of the spectrum does not change but the temperature undergoes some higher order corrections. This is true for both black hole (event) and cosmological horizons. Using the first law of thermodynamics the black hole entropy is calculated. Specifically the $D$-dimensional static, chargeless black hole solutions which are spherically symmetric and asymptotically flat, AdS or dS are considered. The interesting property of these black holes is that their semiclassical entropy does not obey the Bekenstein-Hawking area law. It is found that the leading correction to the semiclassical entropy for these black holes is not logarithmic and next to leading correction is also not inverse of horizon area. This is in contrast to the black holes in Einstein gravity. The modified result is due to the presence of Gauss-Bonnet term in the Lovelock Lagrangian. For the limit where the coupling constant of the Gauss-Bonnet term vanishes one recovers the known correctional terms as expected in Einstein gravity. Finally we relate the coefficient of the leading (non-logarithmic) correction with the trace anomaly of the stress tensor.Comment: minor modifications, two new references added, LaTeX, JHEP style, 34 pages, no figures, to appear in JHE

Exact Differential and Corrected Area Law for Stationary Black Holes in Tunneling Method

We give a new and conceptually simple approach to obtain the first law of black hole thermodynamics from a basic thermodynamical property that entropy (S) for any stationary black hole is a state function implying that dS must be an exact differential. Using this property we obtain some conditions which are analogous to Maxwell's relations in ordinary thermodynamics. From these conditions we are able to explicitly calculate the semiclassical Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, considering the most general metric represented by the Kerr-Newman spacetime. We extend our method to find the corrected entropy of stationary black holes in (3+1) dimensions. For that we first calculate the corrected Hawking temperature considering both scalar particle and fermion tunneling beyond the semiclassical approximation. Using this corrected Hawking temperature we compute the corrected entropy, based on properties of exact differentials. The connection of the coefficient of the leading (logarithmic) correction with the trace anomaly of the stress tensor is established . We explicitly calculate this coefficient for stationary black holes with various metrics, emphasising the role of Komar integrals.Comment: references added, typos corrected, LaTeX, 28 pages, no figures, to appear in JHE

Gallbladder reporting and data system (GB-RADS) for risk stratification of gallbladder wall thickening on ultrasonography:an international expert consensus

The Gallbladder Reporting and Data System (GB-RADS) ultrasound (US) risk stratification is proposed to improve consistency in US interpretations, reporting, and assessment of risk of malignancy in gallbladder wall thickening in non-acute setting. It was developed based on a systematic review of the literature and the consensus of an international multidisciplinary committee comprising expert radiologists, gastroenterologists, gastrointestinal surgeons, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, and pathologists using modified Delphi method. For risk stratification, the GB-RADS system recommends six categories (GB-RADS 0–5) of gallbladder wall thickening with gradually increasing risk of malignancy. GB-RADS is based on gallbladder wall features on US including symmetry and extent (focal vs. circumferential) of involvement, layered appearance, intramural features (including intramural cysts and echogenic foci), and interface with the liver. GB-RADS represents the first collaborative effort at risk stratifying the gallbladder wall thickening. This concept is in line with the other US-based risk stratification systems which have been shown to increase the accuracy of detection of malignant lesions and improve management. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]