Investigations of Gold-Graphene Nanocomposite for ORR in Aqueous Electrolytes

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an essential reaction step in fuel cell and metal-air batteries. The kinetics of ORR is very sluggish; it requires very high potential to occur. Many interesting articles have been published to enhance the kinetics. In this direction, we are working on metal nanoparticles modified graphene sheet. Gold nanoparticles are attached on two dimensional graphene sheets by in-situ reduction of metal ion in an aqueous reaction mixture. The synthesized nanocomposite is characterized by powder XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. Microscopy image shows gold nanoparticles are attached to graphene sheets. ORR is studied in 0.1 M KOH and 0.1 M K2SO4 electrolytes. O2 reduction in aqueous electrolytes produces water molecules on gold-graphene nanocomposite

Atrial septal aneurysm in adult patients: spectrum of clinical, echocardiographic presentation and to propose a new classification on the basis of trans-thoracic-two-dimensional echocardiography

An atrial septal aneurysm is a rare but well recognized cardiac abnormality of uncertain clinical relevance. ASA is definitively associated with congenital and acquired heart diseases but also can be presented as an isolated and totally asymptomatic entity. On the basis of our TTE finding we are proposing a new classification of ASA. We have classified ASA in to two major types: (A) Localized, and (B) Generalized. Both major types are further Sub-classified into 5 possible types on the basis of movements of ASA. New classification of ASA is as follows (1) A/B Type 1R: if the bulging is in the RA only (2) A/B  Type 2L: if the bulging is in the LA only (3) A / B  Type 3RL : if the major excursion bulges to the RA and lesser excursion bulges toward LA (4) A/B Type 4LR: if the maximal excursion of the atrial septal aneurysm is toward the LA with a lesser excursion toward the RA (5) A / B Type 5: if the atrial septal aneurysm movement is bidirectional and equidistant to both atria during the cardiorespiratory cycle. We found higher prevalence (2.24%) of ASA. A/B Type 2L and A/B Type 4LR were most common types. All type of ASA had particular clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. Mobile ASA and ASA with >10 mm excursion are associated with a higher risk of stroke

Four Zero Texture Fermion Mass Matrices in SO(10) GUT

We attempt the integration of the phenomenologically successful four zero texture of fermion mass matrices with the renormalizable SO(10) GUT. The resulting scenario is found to be highly predictive. Firstly, we examine the phenomenological implications of a class of the lepton mass matrices with parallel texture structures and obtain interesting constraints on the parameters of the charged lepton and the neutrino mass matrices. We combine these phenomenological constraints with the constraints obtained from SO(10) GUT to reduce the number of the free parameters and to further constrain the allowed ranges of the free parameters. The solar/atmospheric mixing angles obtained in this analysis are in fairly good agreement with the data.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Substitute or complement? Assessing renewable and nonrenewable energy in OECD countries

The elasticity of interfuel substitution between renewable and nonrenewable energy is key to establishing effective climate change policy. This is the first study to estimate the elasticity of substitution between different fossil fuels and renewable resources. We used 12 manufacturing industry-level datasets for the OECD countries from 1995 to 2009. We found a complementary relationship from nonrenewable energy to renewable energy in eight industries, whereas a substitute relationship was maintained for four industries. In particular, the food and pulp industries had a strong complementary relationship

Prior mucosal exposure to heterologous cells alters the pathogenesis of cell-associated mucosal feline immunodeficiency virus challenge

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several lines of research suggest that exposure to cellular material can alter the susceptibility to infection by HIV-1. Because sexual contact often includes exposure to cellular material, we hypothesized that repeated mucosal exposure to heterologous cells would induce an immune response that would alter the susceptibility to mucosal infection. Using the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) model of HIV-1 mucosal transmission, the cervicovaginal mucosa was exposed once weekly for 12 weeks to 5,000 heterologous cells or media (control) and then cats were vaginally challenged with cell-associated or cell-free FIV.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposure to heterologous cells decreased the percentage of lymphocytes in the mucosal and systemic lymph nodes (LN) expressing L-selectin as well as the percentage of CD4+ CD25+ T cells. These shifts were associated with enhanced ex-vivo proliferative responses to heterologous cells. Following mucosal challenge with cell-associated, but not cell-free, FIV, proviral burden was reduced by 64% in cats previously exposed to heterologous cells as compared to media exposed controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The pathogenesis and/or the threshold for mucosal infection by infected cells (but not cell-free virus) can be modulated by mucosal exposure to uninfected heterologous cells.</p

Emerging medical and engineering strategies for the prevention of long-term indwelling catheter blockage

Urinary catheters have been used on an intermittent or indwelling basis for centuries, in order to relieve urinary retention and incontinence. Nevertheless, the use of urinary catheters in the clinical setting is fraught with complication, the most common of which is the development of nosocomial urinary tract infections, known as catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Infections of this nature are not only significant owing to their high incidence rate and subsequent economic burden but also to the severe medical consecutions that result. A range of techniques have been employed in recent years, utilising various technologies in attempts to counteract the perilous medical cascade following catheter blockage. This review will focus on the current advancement (within the last 10 years) in prevention of encrustation and blockage of long-term indwelling catheters both from engineering and medical perspectives, with particular emphasis on the importance of stimuli-responsive systems.</p

Investigations of Gold-Graphene Nanocomposite for ORR in Aqueous Electrolytes

62-65Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an essential reaction step in fuel cell and metal-air batteries. The kinetics of ORR is very sluggish; it requires very high potential to occur. Many interesting articles have been published to enhance the kinetics. In this direction, we are working on metal nanoparticles modified graphene sheet. Gold nanoparticles are attached on two dimensional graphene sheets by in-situ reduction of metal ion in an aqueous reaction mixture. The synthesized nanocomposite is characterized by powder XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. Microscopy image shows gold nanoparticles are attached to graphene sheets. ORR is studied in 0.1 M KOH and 0.1 M K2SO4 electrolytes. O2 reduction in aqueous electrolytes produces water molecules on gold-graphene nanocomposite

Demonstration of household water filter device for Arsenic removal in the Gazipur district of U. P. state, India

112-114Millions of people in different states of India are suffering from the arsenicosis problem. There is an urgent need to solve this problem so far to the fullest extent to provide arsenic free water especially at household or domestic level. CSIR-AMPRI has developed a nano-adsorbent containing novel domestic water filter device that has been demonstrated to treat 3000-3500 L of <300 µg/L arsenic contaminated water. The device works with no need of any electrical energy at flow rate of 3-5 L/h. The present work is the case study of demonstration/installation of the develop device in the arsenic contaminated village, Karkatpur in the Gazipur district of the Uttar Pradesh, India. The developed filter device has been run for more than 3 months, where arsenic contamination level is <300 µg/L. The turbidity of water which mainly present due to the iron contamination along with arsenic in water is found to increase the choking of the filter after three months of installation

Demonstration of household water filter device for Arsenic removal in the Gazipur district of U. P. state, India

Millions of people in different states of India are suffering from the arsenicosis problem. There is an urgent need to solve this problem so far to the fullest extent to provide arsenic free water especially at household or domestic level. CSIR-AMPRI has developed a nano-adsorbent containing novel domestic water filter device that has been demonstrated to treat 3000-3500 L of &lt;300 µg/L arsenic contaminated water. The device works with no need of any electrical energy at flow rate of 3-5 L/h. The present work is the case study of demonstration/installation of the develop device in the arsenic contaminated village, Karkatpur in the Gazipur district of the Uttar Pradesh, India. The developed filter device has been run for more than 3 months, where arsenic contamination level is &lt;300 µg/L. The turbidity of water which mainly present due to the iron contamination along with arsenic in water is found to increase the choking of the filter after three months of installation