Photoelectric and magnetic properties of chemically synthesized Cd-Ni Ferrite nanomagnetic particles

Cadmium nickel (Cd-Ni) ferrite samples have been successfully synthesized via chemical co-precipitation technique. The structural analysis revealed the formation of FCC framework and Fe-phase in a trivalent state. The crystallite size is decreased with increasing Cd2+ ion composition whereas the lattice constant is increased. SEM was used to obtain the surface morphology and average grain size of the microstructure. The FTIR shows the formation of metal oxide, hydroxyl and carboxylic groups. EDX revealed the formation of Ni2+, Cd2+, Fe3+, and O2- ions in proper stoichiometric composition. Large optical losses were revealed by Cd2+ poor-NiFe2O4 samples whereas Cd2+ rich-CdxNi1-xFe2O4 samples revealed low optical losses and showed enhanced photoconductivity and photoelectric effect. Result from optical analysis showed that Cd2+ rich-CdxNi1-xFe2O4 nanoparticles can be used as infrared (IR) detector, ultraviolet (UV) filter and in optoelectronics device applications. VSM measurement showed an increase in saturation magnetization and decrease in coercivity as Cd2+ ion content is increased. The remanance magnetization and magnetic anisotropy were also examined. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy examined the nature of the light emission of the samples at the excitation wavelength 380 nm and emission of series of colours such as red, green, yellow, orange and violet light at different wavelengths were found.

Qarounispora grandiappendiculata gen. et sp. nov. (Halosphaeriaceae, Microascales) from Qaroun Lake, Egypt

An ascomycete collected from wood submerged in Qaroun Lake, El-Faiyum governorate, Egypt, is described as a new genus in the family Halosphaeriaceae. Multigene analyses based on LSU, SSU and ITS rDNA placed the new fungus as a distinct branch within the family. The new genus is characterized by its yellow to orange-brown ascomata, thin-walled, semi-persistent asci, hyaline to yellow-orange, thick-walled, distoseptate ascospores with one polar appendage that is amorphous in structure, large in size and irregular in shape.

Kalanchoë Breeding: Past, Present and Future

Kalanchoë cultivars rank as one of the most sold potted ornamental plants in the world. Among its key features that sustain high market interest are the long flowering period, abundance of flowers, thick and glossy leaves, easy maintenance and less water requirement compared to other potted plants. In breeding studies of Kalanchoë, plants with different flower colors such as white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple were developed. Moreover, double-flowered cultivars (comprising a large number of petals), more compact and cultivars with larger flowers were also obtained. Novel morphological characteristics are always in high demand in the market of ornamental plants. Increasing the variation in the gene pool with different species played a major role in the development of these characteristics. Nowadays, not only potted cultivars are launched but also cut flower cultivars have been developed and presented to consumers. Besides conventional breeding and interspecific hybridization, biotechnological methods, which have a promising future, are used to develop morphological characteristics of Kalanchoë.

Spectral (direct) solar irradiance at Pune

Direct Solar Irradiation (DSI) measurements are made with pyrheliometers. When used with selected filters, the spectral distribution can be worked out. Measurements at Pune indicate that large scale attenuation takes place in blue-green region of solar spectrum likely due to aerosol particles injected by industrial advancement over the region. consequent rapid urbanisation and resultant changed land-use patterns. Values show evidences on the role played by moisture field on the transmission characteristics of the Pune skies. The afternoon irradiances are seen to be generally higher than the forenoon values. However, IR and yellow-orange wavelengths have higher irradiances in the forenoons during the pre-monsoon months and occasionally even in March. Over a year 774 Wm-2 of irradiance can be expected on any cloudless occasion around noon time, the individual spectral values vary depending on the actual sky and atmospheric conditions. From the comparative study of the irradiances in the different spectral regions, inferences could be drawn on the changes that take place in the size distribution of aerosol particles during a day.

Characterization of Planococcus dechangensis isolated from a water sample of Çamaltı Saltern

In the present study, strain MHDS3 was isolated from a water sample of Çamaltı Saltern and identified using conventional and molecular methods. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the strain MHDS3 belonged to Planococcus dechangensis species. It gave a positive result in the Gram staining test. The cells were coccus, non-motile, aerobic, catalase positive, oxidase negative and the colony pigmentation was yellow-orange. It showed negative results for citrate utilization, indole production from tryptophane, Voges-Proskauer and methyl red. This isolate was able to grow at 10-45°C (optimally 35°C), pH 6-8 (optimally pH 7) and 3-20% NaCl (optimally 10% NaCl). It was not able to grow at 4°C, 10°C, 50°C, salt-free, 0.5%, 25%, %30 total salt, pH 4-5, and pH 9-12. Glucose, ribose, fructose, sucrose, maltose were used by the test isolate as carbon sources. Different amino acids found in the structure of animal hide such as L-lysine, L-arginine, L-cysteine, L-alanine, L-tyrosine, L-histidine were also utilized by the bacterium. During the salt production process, this bacterium may contaminate the salt which is used in the food and leather industries. The activities of harmful moderately halophilic bacteria should be prevented by effective antimicrobial applications.

Opuntia ficus-indica the key plant in climate change: characteristics, cultivation and uses

The Opuntia genus, belonging to the Cactaceae family, has about 300 species, of which Opuntia ficus indica, or Prickly Pear, is considered the best known and most significant. Opuntia ficus indica have been used in Mexico and Latin America since pre-hispanic times as a food and medicinal resource. In recent years, prickly pear cultivation has increased mainly because this plant used for food, medicinal and livestock purposes is able to withstand extreme drought conditions in relatively poor soils. The fruits of the prickly pear are of various colours such as yellow, orange, purple and white, and when ripe their sweet pulp is characterised by a low acidity. It possesses numerous nutritional and therapeutic virtues such as richness in carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and considerable antioxidant, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer fruit activity. Opuntia also has laxative properties due to its soluble fibres and mucilage. The infusion of the harvested and dried flowers has a depurative effect; it has a mild, gentle diuretic and relaxing action on the renal excretory system. Opuntias are also exploited as an alternative and cheap source of source of food for animals and as an ornamental plant. Opuntia ficus indica is grown in subtropical, tropical and warm-temperature areas; it is mainly cultivated in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. The Prickly Pear finds a particularly favourable habitat in Sardinia, Calabria, Apulia and Sicily, where it is also cultivated, as well as in Spain and North Africa, for the exploitation of its edible fruit, with its delicately sweet pulp, rich in minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus, and vitamin C. In this review, the characteristics, cultivation methods, main uses of the plant and fruits, market and adversities of Opuntia ficus indica are described.

Microplastic Pollution in The Topsoil of Hot And Dried Areas, Human Exposure and Source Assessment, Aghili Plain, Iran

Although the distribution of microplastic (MPs) has been studied in different environmental compartments during the last decade, there is still a knowledge gap in their distribution and abundances in soil. This study aimed to investigate the abundance, distribution, and type of MPs in the soil of Aghili plain as a hot and dry area in southwest of Iran. In this study, composite soil samples (n=102) were collected from the residential and agricultural areas in Aghili plain, Iran. A combination of visual observations, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) – Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman micro -spectroscopy was conducted to quantify and characterize MPs in soil samples. The intakes of MPs in adults and children were estimated through two exposure EPA scenarios. The total MPs loading in the studies soil was 11.93 ± 0.9 items in Kg-1 of surface soil in Aghili plain. The MPs had various morphology (fiber, pellet, fragment, and spherule shapes), colors (white-transparent, yellow-orange, red-pink, blue-green and black-grey colors), and sizes (<100 µm up to 1000 ≤ µm). Black-grey fibers in size less than 100 μm were dominant MPs in soil samples using a binocular microscope. Trace amounts of C, N, O, Na, P, Si revealed by EDS suggested the organic and inorganic contaminations on the surface of identified MPs. Intake of MPs per day/year through ingestion of polluted soil was calculated. Mean normal and acute exposure was estimated at 0.435 and 0.871 MPs per year through ingestion by children and adults, respectively.

Antioxidant and Starch-Hydrolyzing Enzymes Inhibitory Properties of Striga-Resistant Yellow-Orange Maize Hybrids

Most of the health benefits derived from cereals are attributed to their bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the levels of the bioactive compounds, and the antioxidant and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibitory properties of six pipeline Striga-resistant yellow-orange maize hybrids (coded AS1828-1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11) in vitro. The maize hybrids were grown at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria. The bioactive compounds (total phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, and phytate) levels, antioxidant (DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging capacity and reducing power) and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitory activities of the maize hybrids were determined by spectrophotometry. At the same time, carotenoids were quantified using a reverse-phase HPLC system. The ranges of the bioactive compounds were: 11.25–14.14 mg GAE/g (total phenolics), 3.62–4.67 mg QE/g (total flavonoids), 3.63–6.29 mg/g (tannins), 3.66–4.31% (phytate), 8.92–12.11 µg/g (total xanthophylls), 2.42–2.89 µg/g (total β-carotene), and 3.17–3.77 µg/g (total provitamin A carotenoids). Extracts of the maize hybrids scavenged DPPH• (SC50: 9.07–26.35 mg/mL) and ABTS•+ (2.65–7.68 TEAC mmol/g), reduced Fe3+ to Fe2+ (0.25 ± 0.64–0.43 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g), and inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC50 ranges of 26.28–52.55 mg/mL and 47.72–63.98 mg/mL, respectively. Among the six clones of the maize hybrids, AS1828-9 had the highest (p < 0.05) levels of tannins and phytate and the strongest antioxidant and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibitory activities. Significant correlations were observed between total phenolics and the following: ABTS•+ (p < 0.01, r = 0.757), DPPH• SC50 (p < 0.01, r = −0.867), reducing power (p < 0.05, r = 0.633), α-amylase IC50 (p < 0.01, r = −0.836) and α-glucosidase IC50 (p < 0.05, r = −0.582). Hence, the Striga-resistant yellow-orange maize hybrids (especially AS1828-9) may be beneficial for alleviating oxidative stress and postprandial hyperglycemia.

A Colorimetric Membrane-Based Sensor with Improved Selectivity towards Amphetamine

Due to their simplicity, speed and low cost, chemical spot tests are increasingly demanded for the presumptive identification of illicit drugs in a variety of contexts such as point-of-care assistance or prosecution of drug trafficking. However, most of the colorimetric reactions used in these tests are, at best, drug class selective. Therefore, the development of tests based on chemical reactions with improved discrimination power is of great interest. In this work, we propose a new colorimetric assay for amphetamine (AMP) based on its reaction with solutions of alkaline gold bromide to form an insoluble yellow–orange derivative. The resulting suspensions are then filtered onto nylon membranes and the precipitate collected is used for the visual identification of AMP. The measurement of the absorbance of the membranes by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy also allows the quantification of AMP in a simple and rapid way, as demonstrated for different synthetic and drug street samples. On the basis of the results obtained, it was concluded that the proposed procedure is highly selective towards AMP, as this compound could be easily differentiated from other common drugs such as methamphetamine (MET), ephedrine (EPH), scopolamine (SCP) and cocaine (COC).

Sustainable Functionalization of PAN to Improve Tinctorial Capacity

This study may open a new way to obtain the coloration of a polymer during functionalization. Two polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymers in the form of textile fibers (Melana and Dralon L) were subjected to functionalization treatments in order to improve the dyeing capacity. The functionalizations determined by an organo-hypervalent iodine reagent developed in situ led to fiber coloration without using dyes. KIO3 was formed in situ from the interaction of aqueous solutions of 3–9% KOH with 3–9% I2, at 120 °C. The yellow-orange coloration appeared as a result of the transformations in the chemical structure of each functionalized polymer, with the formation of iodinehydrin groups. The degree of functionalization directly influenced the obtained color. The results of the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Map and Temogravimetric Analysis (TG) plus Differential Thermal (DTA) analyses indicated the presence of new functional groups, such as iodine-oxime. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the change of the crystalline/amorphous ratio in favor of the former. The new groups introduced by functionalization make it possible to dye with classes of dyes specific to these groups, but not specific to PAN fibers, thus improving their dyeing capacity.