Studies on the ionic transport and structural investigations of La0.5Li0.5TiO3 perovskite synthesized by wet chemical methods and the effect of Ce, Zr substitution at Ti site

La0.5Li0.5TiO3 perovskite was synthesized by various wet chemical methods. By adopting low temperature methods of preparation lithium loss from the material is prevented. La0.5Li0.5TiO3 (LLTO) was formed with cubic symmetry at 1473 K. LLTO was formed at relatively lower temperature by using hydrothermal preparation method. PVA gel-decomposition route yield tetragonal LLTO on annealing the dried gel at 1473 K. By using gel-carbonate route LiTi2O4 minor phase was found to remain even after heat-treatment at 1473 K. The hydroxylation of LLTO was done in deionized water as well as in dilute acetic acid medium. By hydroxylation process incorporation of hydroxyls and leaching out of Li+ was observed from the material. The Li+ concentration of these compositions was examined by AAS. The electrical conductivities of these compositions were measured by dc and ac impedance techniques at elevated temperatures. The activation energies of electrical conduction for these compositions were estimated from the experimental results. The measured activation energy of Li+ conduction is 0.34 eV. Unhydroxylated samples exhibit only Li+ conduction, whereas, the hydroxylated LLTO show proton conductivity at 298-550 K in addition to Li+ conductivity. The effect of Zr or Ce substitution in place of Ti were attempted. La0.5Li0.5ZrO3 Perovskite was not formed; instead pyrochlore phase (La2Zr2O7) along with monoclinic ZrO2 phases was observed above 1173 K; below 1173 K cubic ZrO2 is stable. (La0.5Li0.5)(2)CeO4 solid solution was formed in the case of Ce substitution at Ti sublattice on heat-treatment up to 1673 K. (c) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Flow driven electronic transport in carbon nan otubes

The flow of a liquid on single-walled carbon nanotube bundles induces an electrical signal (voltage/current) in the sample along the direction of the flow. The electrical response is found to be logarithmic in the flow speed over a wide range. The magnitude of the flow induced electrical signal generated depends sensitively on the ionic conductivity and the polar nature of the liquid, and electrical biasing of the nanotubes can control its direction. Our measurements suggest that the dominant mechanism responsible for this highly sub-linear response should involve a direct forcing of the free charge carriers in the nanotubes by the fluctuating Coulombic field of the liquid flowing past it.

Ion Transport in a Polymer-Plastic Solid Soft Matter Electrolyte in the Light of Solvent Dynamics and Ion Association

Ion transport in a recently demonstrated promising soft matter solid plastic-polymer electrolyte is discussed here in the context of solvent dynamics and ion association. The plastic-polymer composite electrolytes display liquid-like ionic conductivity in the solid state,compliable mechanical strength (similar to 1 MPa), and wide electrochemical voltage stability (>= 5 V). Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) dispersed in lithium perchlorate (LiClO4)-succinonitrile (SN) was chosen as the model system for the study (abbreviated LiClO4-SN:PAN). Systematic observation of various mid-infrared isomer and ion association bands as a function of temperature and polyme concentration shows an effective increase in trans conformer concentration along with free Li+ ion concentration. This strongly supports the view that enhancement in LiClO4-SN:PAN ionic conductivity over the neat plastic electrolyte (LiClO4-SN) is due to both increase in charge mobility and concentration. The ionic conductivity and infrared spectroscopy studies are supported by Brillouin light scattering. For the LiClO4-SN:PAN composites, a peak at 17 GHz was observed in addition to the normal trans-gauche isomerism (as in neat SN) at 12 GHz. The fast process is attributed to increased dynamics of those SN molecules whose energy barrier of transition from gauche to trans has reduced under influences induced by the changes in temperature and polymer concentration. The observations from ionic conductivity, spectroscopy, and light scattering studies were further supplemented by temperature dependent nuclear magnetic resonance H-1 and Li-7 line width measurements.

Morphogenesis of Mammalian Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus throughout the Cell Cycle

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus are organelles that produce, modify and transport proteins and lipids and regulate Ca2+ environment within cells. Structurally they are composed of sheets and tubules. Sheets may take various forms: intact, fenestrated, single or stacked. The ER, including the nuclear envelope, is a single continuous network, while the Golgi shows only some level of connectivity. It is often unclear, how different morphologies correspond to particular functions. Previous studies indicate that the structures of the ER and Golgi are dynamic and regulated by fusion and fission events, cytoskeleton, rate of protein synthesis and secretion, and specific structural proteins. For example, many structural proteins shaping tubular ER have been identified, but sheet formation is much more unclear. In this study, we used light and electron microscopy to study morphological changes of the ER and Golgi in mammalian cells. The proportion, type, location and dynamics of ER sheets and tubules were found to vary in a cell type or cell cycle stage dependent manner. During interphase, ER and Golgi structures were demonstrated to be regulated by p37, a cofactor of the fusion factor p97, and microtubules, which also affected the localization of the organelles. Like previously shown for the Golgi, the ER displayed a tendency for fenestration and tubulation during mitosis. However, this shape change did not result in ER fragmentation as happens to Golgi, but a continuous network was retained. The activity of p97/p37 was found to be important for the reassembly of both organelles after mitosis. In EM images, ER sheet membranes appear rough, since they contain attached ribosomes, whereas tubular membranes appear smooth. Our studies revealed that structural changes of the ER towards fenestrated and tubular direction correlate with loss of ER-bound ribosomes and vice versa. High and low curvature ER membranes have a low and high density of ribosomes, respectively. To conclude, both ER and Golgi architecture depend on fusion activity of p97/p37. ER morphogenesis, particularly of the sheet shape, is intimately linked to the density of membrane bound ribosomes.

Intestinal transport in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L., of amino acids from mixtures

The rate of absorption of amino acids from mixtures has been studied in the silkworm midgut by using an in vitro perfusion technique. The rates differ for individual amino acids. A characteristic absorption pattern is observed which is independent of the amino acid composition of the mixture used. The metabolic inhibitors dinitrophenol and cyanide have no effect on the amino acid transport from mixtures. Based on these results an energy-independent, carrier-mediated transport is postulated.

A Study of Practical Biological Phantoms with Simple Instrumentation for Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)

16-electrode phantoms are developed and studied with a simple instrumentation developed for Electrical Impedance Tomography. An analog instrumentation is developed with a sinusoidal current generator and signal conditioner circuit. Current generator is developed withmodified Howland constant current source fed by a voltage controlled oscillator and the signal conditioner circuit consisting of an instrumentation amplifier and a narrow band pass filter. Electronic hardware is connected to the electrodes through a DIP switch based multiplexer module. Phantoms with different electrode size and position are developed and the EIT forward problem is studied using the forward solver. A low frequency low magnitude sinusoidal current is injected to the surface electrodes surrounding the phantom boundary and the differential potential is measured by a digital multimeter. Comparing measured potential with the simulated data it is intended to reduce the measurement error and an optimum phantom geometry is suggested. Result shows that the common mode electrode reduces the common mode error of the EIT electronics and reduces the error potential in the measured data. Differential potential is reduced up to 67 mV at the voltage electrode pair opposite to the current electrodes. Offset potential is measured and subtracted from the measured data for further correction. It is noticed that the potential data pattern depends on the electrode width and the optimum electrode width is suggested. It is also observed that measured potential becomes acceptable with a 20 mm solution column above and below the electrode array level.

Effect of fuel on the formation structure, transport and magnetic properties of LaMnO3+nanopowders

Single-step low-temperature solution combustion (LCS) synthesis was adopted for the preparation of LaMnO3+ (LM) nanopowders. The powders were well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS),surface area and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The PXRD of as-formed LM showed a cubic phase but, upon calcination (900degrees C, 6 h), it transformed into a rhombohedral phase. The effect of fuel on the formation of LM was examined, and its structure and magnetoresistance properties were investigated. Magnetoresistance (MR) measurements on LM were carried out at 0, 1, 4 and 7 T between 300 and 10 K. LM (fuel-to-oxidizer ratio; = 1) showed an MR of 17% at 1 T, whereas, for 4 and 7 T, it exhibited an MR of 45 and 55%, respectively, near the TM-I. Metallic resistivity data below TM-I showed that the double exchange interaction played a major role in this compound. It was interesting to observe that the sample calcined at 1200 degrees C for 3 h exhibited insulator behavior.

AC transport at holographic quantum hall transitions

We compute AC electrical transport at quantum Hall critical points, as modeled by intersecting branes and gauge/gravity duality. We compare our results with a previous field theory computation by Sachdev, and find unexpectedly good agreement. We also give general results for DC Hall and longitudinal conductivities valid for a wide class of quantum Hall transitions, as well as (semi)analytical results for AC quantities in special limits. Our results exhibit a surprising degree of universality; for example, we find that the high frequency behavior, including subleading behavior, is identical for our entire class of theories.

New benzidine procedure for determination of manganese in biological samples

A simple and accurate method for the determination of 0.25 to 1.0 μg. of manganese (in samples containing 1 to 4 μg. of manganese) has been developed by modifying the conditions for the reaction between permanganate and benzidine. Manganese is oxidized with potassium periodate in orthophosphoric acid and selectively estimated in the presence of excess oxidant with benzidine in formic acid. The procedure is applicable for estimation of manganese in biological samples, with recoveries in the range 97.5 to 106.1%.

Influence of Oxide Particle Network Morphology on Ion Solvation and Transport in ``Soggy Sand''Electrolytes

The role of oxide surface chemical composition and solvent on ion solvation and ion transport of ``soggy sand'' electrolytes are discussed here. A ``soggy sand'' electrolyte system comprising dispersions of hydrophilic/hydrophobic functionalized aerosil silica in lithium perchlorate methoxy polyethylene glycol solution was employed for the study. Static and dynamic rheology measurements show formation of an attractive particle network in the case of the composite with unmodified aerosil silica (i.e., with surface silanol groups) as well as composites with hydrophobic alkane groups. While particle network in the composite with hydrophilic aerosil silica (unmodified) were due to hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic aerosil silica particles were held together via van der Waals forces. The network strength in the latter case (i.e., for hydrophobic composites) were weaker compared with the composite with unmodified aerosil silica. Both unmodified silica as well as hydrophobic silica composites displayed solid-like mechanical strength. No enhancement in ionic conductivity compared to the liquid electrolyte was observed in the case of the unmodified silica. This was attributed to the existence of a very strong particle network, which led to the ``expulsion'' of all conducting entities from the interfacial region between adjacent particles. The ionic conductivity for composites with hydrophobic aerosil particles displayed ionic conductivity dependent on the size of the hydrophobic chemical moiety. No spanning attractive particle network was observed for aerosil particles with surfaces modified with stronger hydrophilic groups (than silanol). The composite resembled a sol, and no percolation in ionic conductivity was observed.

Charge transport properties of water dispersible multiwall carbon nanotube-polyaniline composites

The transmission electron microscopy images of in situ prepared multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)and polyaniline (PANI) composites show that nanotubes are well dispersed in aqueous medium, and the nanofibers of PANI facilitate intertube transport. Although low temperature transport indicates variable range hopping (VRH) mechanism, the dc and ac conductivity become temperature independent as the MWNT content increases. The onset frequency for the increase in conductivity is observed to be strongly dependent on the MWNT weight percent, and the ac conductivity can be scaled onto a master curve. The negative magnetoresistance is attributed to the forward interference scattering mechanism in VRH transport. (C) 2010 American.

Interaction of heterocyclic thiols/thiones eliminated from cephalosporins with iodine and its biological implications

Hydrolysis of beta-lactam antibiotics by beta-lactamases (e. g., metallo-beta-lactamase, m beta l) is one of the major bacterial defense systems. These enzymes can catalyze the hydrolysis of a variety of antibiotics including the latest generation of cephalosporins, cephamycins and imipenem. It is shown in this paper that the thiol/thione moieties eliminated from certain cephalosporins by m beta l-mediated hydrolysis readily react with molecular iodine to produce ionic compounds having S-I bonds. While the reaction of MTT with iodine produced the corresponding disulfide, MDT and DMETT produced the charge-transfer complexes MDT-I-2 and DMETT-I-2, respectively. Addition of two equivalents of I-2 to MDT produced a novel cationic complex having an almost linear S-I+-S moiety and I-5(-) counter anion.However, this reaction appears to be highly solvent dependent. When the reaction of MDT with I2 was carried out in water, the reaction produced a monocation having I-5(-), indicating the reactivity of MDT toward I2 is very similar to that of the most commonly used antithyroid drug methimazole (MMI). In contrast to MMI, MDT and DMETT, the triazine-based compound MTDT acts as a weak donor toward iodine. (C)2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of soil tillage on erosion and nutrient transport in plough layer runoff

Yhteenveto: Viljelymenetelmien vaikutus eroosioon ja ravinteiden huuhtoutumiseen