An epoch based methodology to denoise magnetocardiogram (MCG) signals and its application to measurements on subjects with implanted devices.

Magnetocardiograms (MCG) provide clinically useful diagnostic information in a variety of cardiac dysfunctions. Low frequency baseline drifts and high frequency noise are inevitably present in routine MCG even for those measured inside magnetically shielded rooms. These interferences sometimes exceed subtle cardiac features in MCG recorded on subjects with implanted devices like cardiac pacemakers; this makes interpretation of cardiac magnetic fields difficult.

High-Pressure Structural Phase Transformation of Ferroelectric Bis-benzylammonium Lead Tetrachloride Studied by Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction.

Hybrid organic-inorganic 2-D perovskite bis-benzylammonium lead tetrachloride (BALC) is a room-temperature ferroelectric semiconductor. A structural phase transformation from the ambient 2 structure is evident at 1.8 GPa from the Raman spectra, and this is confirmed by our high-pressure X-ray diffraction studies that point to a centrosymmetric structure at 1.

SrBPO: Ce, Dy - A cold white-light emitting phosphor.

A single-component white-light emitting phosphor SrBPO: Ce, Dy with high color purity, good quantum efficiency and high thermal stability was prepared through the conventional high temperature solid state reaction. PXRD studies confirmed its phase purity. The suitability of Strontium borophosphate as a host for phosphor was confirmed through DFT calculations.

Binary blended fly ash concrete with improved chemical resistance in natural and industrial environments.

This study reports the enhanced chemical resistance of a blended concrete mix (CFNI) made with 40 wt.% fly ash, 2 wt.% nanoparticles, and 2 wt.

CS/Au/MWCNT nanohybrid as an efficient carrier for the sustained release of 5-FU and a study of its cytotoxicity on MCF-7.

The chemical reduction method has been used to adeptly synthesize a CS/Au/MWCNT nanocomposite, to be used as a carrier for the effectual delivery of the anticancer drug 5-Fluorouracil. The work aims at utilizing the less investigated ternary nanocomposite system containing chitosan (CS), gold (Au) and MWCNT's to attain higher encapsulation efficiency and to enable a more sustained and prolonged release of 5-FU. This system has improved cytotoxicity when compared to the CS/Au binary system.

Uranium sequestration abilities of Bacillus bacterium isolated from an alkaline mining region.

The present study elaborates uranium sequestration by bacteria from alkaline wastewaters. In the investigation, a few bacterial strains were isolated from alkaline uranium mine water and were tested for uranium sequestration properties 16S rRNA analysis assigned the 10 bacterial isolates to 4 genera of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. Among all the isolates tested, the strain Bacillus aryabhattai (TP03) has shown superior sequestration capacity at 5 and 10 mg/L U in 1 mM carbonate-bicarbonate buffer at pH 9.

Infrared thermal imaging based study of localized cold stress induced thermoregulation in lower limbs: The role of age on the inversion time.

Thermoregulatory control of human body temperature is of paramount importance for normal bodily functions. Exposure of the upper and lower limbs to localized cold stress can cause cold-induced injuries and often lower limbs are more susceptible to damages from cold-induced injuries. In this study, we use infrared thermal imaging to probe localized cold stress induced cutaneous vasoconstriction of lower limbs in 33 healthy subjects.

Intense bloom of the diatom Hemidiscus hardmanianus (Greville) in relation to water quality and plankton communities in Tuticorin coast, Gulf of Mannar, India.

The present study reports a dense bloom of the marine-diatom Hemidiscus hardmanianus observed off the Tuticorin coast in the Gulf of Mannar (GoM), India. The surface water discoloration (pale green) was observed during a coastal survey conducted in the initial period of the northeast monsoon (October 2018). The bloom extended over an area of approximately 5 km around the Tuticorin harbor.

Electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of Mo-based dichalcogenide monolayers locally and randomly modified by substitutional atoms.

Density functional theory and Boltzmann transport equations are used to investigate electronic band structure and thermoelectric (TE) properties of different two-dimensional (2D) materials containing Mo, S, Nb, Se, and Te. In MoS-based monolayers (MLs) the substitution of S atoms by Te atoms up to the concentration of 12.5 at% leads to a more significant change of the band structure than in the corresponding case with Se atoms.

An atomic scale study of defects in CoFeAl.

Changes in the local structure and magnetic properties at Fe sites due to defects were addressed in a detailed manner in Co2FeAl by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Based on the systematic correlation of these results a comprehensive understanding of the defects and hence of the different types of disordering that occur in Co2FeAl subjected to different non-equilibrium treatments have been obtained in this study. As high as 35% of the Fe atoms were deduced to be associated with the A2 type of disordering in Co2FeAl, which provides a basic understanding of the observed much lower value of spin polarization as observed in this system against the high value predicted theoretically.

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of mixed calcium magnesium oxide (CaMgO) nanoflakes for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

In the present study, mixed calcium magnesium oxide (CaMgO) nanoflakes were synthesized using an ultrasound-assisted co-precipitation method. The physicochemical, structural and functional properties and elemental composition of the nanoflakes had been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-VIS spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the photocatalytic actions of the nanoflakes were evaluated by the removal rates of methylene blue (MB) and p-nitrophenol (4-NP) under UV irradiation at room temperature.

Unusual blue to red shifting of C-H stretching frequency of CHCl in co-operatively P⋯Cl phosphorus bonded POCl-CHCl heterodimers at low temperature inert matrixes.

Heterodimers of POCl-CHCl were generated in Ne, Ar, and Kr matrixes at low temperatures and were studied using infrared spectroscopy. The remarkable role of co-operative pentavalent phosphorus bonding in the stabilization of the structure dictated by hydrogen bonding is deciphered. The complete potential energy surface of the heterodimer was scanned by ab initio and density functional theory computational methodologies.

Unveiling the interplay between induced native defects and room temperature magnetic ordering in titanium deficient disordered-TiO nanoparticles.

Understanding the origin of magnetic ordering in an undoped semiconductor with native defects is an open question, which is being explored actively in research. In this investigation, the interplay between magnetic ordering and excess induced native defects in undoped anatase TiO nanoparticles is explained using an experimental and theoretical approach. It is demonstrated that structurally disordered TiO nanoparticles with a high concentration of native defects such as titanium interstitials and oxygen vacancies are synthesized using controlled atmospheric rapid cooling (i.

Conformational topography of tris(2-methylbutyl) phosphate and the influence of methyl branching at the non-hyperconjugative carbon on the conformational landscape: insights from matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and DFT computations.

The branching of a methyl group in a linear chain has a profound influence on the conformational morphology as it wields a strong control in reducing a large number of conformations. To unravel the effect of branching on the second non-hyperconjugative carbon atom on the conformational landscape, the conformations of tris(2-methylbutyl)phosphate (T2MBP) were studied using Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations and matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. Experimentally, T2MBP along with N/Ar/Kr/Xe gases was effusively expanded and deposited at a low temperature of 12 K, which was subsequently probed using infrared spectroscopy.

Revealing Interplay of Defects in SnO Quantum Dots for Blue Luminescence and Selective Trace Ammonia Detection at Room Temperature.

Defect chemistry in SnO is well established for resistive sensors but remains to be elusive for photoluminescence (PL) sensors. It demands a comprehensive understanding of the role of cationic and oxygen defects as well as the creation of abundant such defects to provide a selective PL signal. To accomplish it, SnO quantum dots (QDs ∼ 2.

Distribution and ecological- and health-risk assessment of heavy metals in the seawater of the southeast coast of India.

The objective of the present study was to conduct an ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in the seawater of the southeast coast of India. The distribution profile of heavy metals in the surface seawater was Fe (79.60 ± 21.

Polydimethylsiloxane-graphene oxide nanocomposite coatings with improved anti-corrosion and anti-biofouling properties.

We demonstrate enhanced anti-corrosion and anti-biofouling properties of graphene oxide-silica-polydimethylsiloxane (GSP) coating on carbon steel (CS). Electrochemical analyses of GSP-coated carbon steel exposed to Gram-positive Bacillus sp., Gram-negative Pseudomonas sp.

Electrochemical properties of vertically aligned graphenes: tailoring heterogeneous electron transfer through manipulation of the carbon microstructure.

The electrochemical response of different morphologies (microstructures) of vertically aligned graphene (VG) configurations is reported. Electrochemical properties are analysed using the outer-sphere redox probes Ru(NH) (RuHex) and ,,','-tetramethyl--phenylenediamine (TMPD), with performances de-convoluted accompanying physicochemical characterisation (Raman, TEM, SEM, AFM and XPS). The VG electrodes are fabricated using an electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapour deposition (ECR-CVD) methodology, creating vertical graphene with a range of differing heights, spacing and edge plane like-sites/defects (supported upon underlying SiO/Si).

Design and performance of an improved thermo-optometric equipment for the measurement of the solidus and liquidus at high temperatures.

Experimental determination of solidus and liquidus in reactive systems at very high-temperatures requires special equipment and is rather complex. In the present study, we describe setting up an experimental facility based on the "spot-technique." It was demonstrated that this setup could be used to measure phase transformation temperatures involving liquids in refractory systems that comprise reactive and radioactive components, in the range of 1273 K-2273 K, by using a thermo-optometric technique, namely, the "spot-technique.

Exposure of patients to low doses of X-radiation during neuro-interventional imaging and procedures: Dose estimation and analysis of γ-H2AX foci and gene expression in blood lymphocytes.

Radiation has widespread applications in medicine. However, despite the benefits of medical radiation exposures, adverse long-term health effects are cause for concern. Protein and gene biomarkers are early indicators of cellular response after low-dose exposure.

On the Nature of the Carbonyl versus Phosphoryl Binding in Uranyl Nitrate Complexes†.

The electronic structure of ligands with phosphoryl and carbonyl binding sites and their complexation behavior with uranyl nitrate were investigated using density functional theory (DFT). The quantum chemical calculations indicate that the electronic charges on both phosphoryl and carbonyl groups are more polarized toward oxygen atoms in isolated ligands. This effect is predominant in the case of complexes of the former.

Correlation with surface defects and maiden observation of disorder activated phonon in cubic ZnS QDs.

Defects and deformation potential in quantum dots (QDs) were found to control the Raman modes however the disorder activated phonon (DAP) mode could not be seen in the cubic phase ZnS. With a maiden observation of a DAP mode the crucial role of surface defects, in particular, elemental 'S' is reported. The DAP mode was seen with significant intensity at 153 cm along with the LO mode at 347 cm for the cubic ZnS.

Efficacy of imidazolium and piperidinium based ionic liquids on inhibiting biofilm formation on titanium and carbon steel surfaces.

In the present study, the efficacies of three different cationic and anionic ionic liquids (ILs) on biofilm formation on materials used in cooling water systems were evaluated. Two imidazolium based ILs; 1-Ethyl 3-Methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate - (IL-E) and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride - (IL-I) with anionic fluoride and chloride groups and one piperidinium based IL, N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide - (IL-M) with fluoromethyl group as anion were used. The efficacy of these ILs were evaluated on planktonic and sessile cells of major biofilm formers in cooling water systems using Gram negative bacterium Pseudomonas sp.

Structural phase transition, equation of state and phase diagram of functional rare earth sesquioxide ceramics (EuLa)O.

The intriguing functional nature of ceramics containing rare earth sesquioxide (RES) is associated with the type of polymorphic structure they crystallize into. They prefer to be in the cubic, monoclinic or hexagonal structure in the increasing order of cation size, R. Since the functional properties of these ceramics varies with R, temperature and pressure, a systematic investigation delineating the cation size effect is indispensable.

Observation of soft glassy behavior in a magnetic colloid exposed to an external magnetic field.

We provide the first experimental evidence for soft glassy behavior in a sterically stabilized magnetic colloid (ferrofluid) of relatively low volume fraction (φ = 0.037) when a uniform magnetic field is applied at a sufficiently high rate (fast quench). Fast magnetic-field quenches favor structural arrest of field-induced aggregates, owing to insufficient time to settle into lower energy states, thereby pushing the system to a frustrated metastable configuration like a repulsive glass.