Tuning of the Thermoelectric Properties of BiTe Nanorods Using Helium Ion Irradiation.

The present study reports an enhancement of the power factor of BiTe nanorods NRs) by helium (He) ion irradiation. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies revealed the formation of amorphous layers on the surface of the NRs at the high ion fluence. This amorphous nature is due to the accumulation of migrating point defect clusters at the surface of the NRs.

Gamma ray buildup factors for conventional shielding materials and buildup factors computed for tungsten with a thickness beyond 40 mean free paths.

In this study, gamma ray buildup factors were investigated for conventional shielding materials such as lead, iron, concrete, and tungsten based on standard formulations in order to understand the variations between different formulations. The exposure buildup factors for 1 MeV gamma rays in lead, iron, and concrete for thicknesses beyond 40 mean free paths were computed using the modified geometric progression fitting formula and compared with previously reported data. For the first time, the exposure buildup factors were computed for tungsten at gamma ray energies from 15 keV to 15 MeV and for a penetration depth beyond 40 mean free paths.

Wavelength-adaptable effective q-plates with passively tunable retardance.

Wave retarders having spatially varying optical axes orientations, called q-plates are extremely efficient devices for converting spin to orbital angular momentum of light and for the generation of optical vortices. Most often, these plates are designed for a specific wavelength and have a homogeneous constant retardance. The present work provides a polarimetric approach for overcoming both these limitations.

Study of Crystallographic Texture Evolution during High-Temperature Deformation of 18Cr-ODS Ferritic Steel based on Plasticity Assessment.

This paper aims at understanding the texture evolution in extruded oxide dispersion strengthened 18Cr ferritic steel during high-temperature uniaxial compression testing at 1,423 K at a strain rate of 0.01/s based on extensive electron back scatter diffraction characterization. The α-fiber texture is observed along the extrusion direction (ED) in the initial microstructure.

Probing the optical properties and luminescence mechanism of a UV-emitting SrBPO :Ce phosphor.

Ce-doped (1 × 10 to 3.0 mol%) SrBPO phosphors were synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction route at 1273 K in an air atmosphere. Phase and morphology of the samples were studied from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs, respectively.

DNA damage and gene expression changes in patients exposed to low-dose X-radiation during neuro-interventional radiology procedures.

Interventional radiology-based imaging is the preferred choice for diagnosis and therapy of many complex diseases, despite possible adverse effects of the radiation exposures. We have measured induced DNA damage and changes in gene expression in relation to entrance surface dose (ESD) in peripheral blood samples of patients (n = 51) who underwent neuro-interventional radiological procedures. The ESD values, measured by thermoluminescence dosimetry, were 4.

Monte Carlo simulation of an HPGe detector for detection of Pu in waste assay system.

This paper discusses the modeling of HPGe detector used in waste assay system using Monte Carlo code FLUKA to determine its detection limits. The modeled detector is validated using experimental point sources efficiencies in the energy range 60 keV-2000 keV. The numerical estimation of efficiency values for Pu present inside a 230 L cotton filled waste drum at various locations along the axis of the detector is discussed.

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and their Biomedical Applications - A Comprehensive Review.

Generally, silver is considered as a noble metal used for treating burn wound infections, open wounds and cuts. However, the emerging nanotechnology has made a remarkable impact by converting metallic silver into silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for better applications. The advancement in technology has improved the synthesis of NPs using biological method instead of physical and chemical methods.

Monitoring chlorine residual and trihalomethanes in the chlorinated seawater effluent of a nuclear power plant.

Periodic sampling of the discharged seawater effluent from Madras Atomic Power Station (Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India) was carried out during 2013-2017 to assess the residual chlorine and trihalomethanes content in the outfall discharge water. The variations in dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH were correlated with the residual chlorine and trihalomethanes content in the discharged effluent. The difference in temperature (ΔT) between influent and effluent seawater samples ranged from 1.

The Role of In-Plane Oxygen Vacancy Defects in SnO₂ Nanoparticles for CH₄ Sensing.

The utility of different types of surface defects in SnO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) for the detection of low concentration (50 ppm) of methane (CH₄) at relatively low temperature of 50 °C is established. Chemically synthesized SnO₂ quantum dots are annealed in air and Ar environments at 800 °C to make two different sets of SnO₂ NPs. Variation in dimension, morphology and optical properties due to the annealing conditions are elaborated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV Visible spectroscopy respectively.

Correlation between cytogenetic biomarkers obtained from DC and CBMN assays caused by low dose radon exposure in smokers.

Radon is of health concern because they can cause lung cancer when inhaled over many years. Cytogenetic biomarkers proved to be excellent methods to detect and estimate radiation induced DNA damage. Two well established cytogenetic assays are available to detect the DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation namely Dicentric (DC) assay and Cytokinesis-Blocked Micro Nucleus (CBMN) assay.

Elusive hypervalent phosphorusπ interactions: evidence for paradigm transformation from hydrogen to phosphorus bonding at low temperatures.

The π electron systems are the conventional electron donors to the hydrogen acceptors in hydrogen bonding. Apart from the hydrogen atom, halogens, chalcogens, pnicogens and triel/tetrel atoms can also be envisaged as electron acceptors involving π clouds. Markedly, in pnicogenπ interactions, the bonding of the hypervalent (predominantly pentavalent) state of the phosphorus atom with π electron donors is elusive and can be thought of as an intuitive extension to trivalent phosphorusπ interactions.

A REVIEW ON 210Po AND 210Pb IN INDIAN SEAFOOD AND DOSE TO CONSUMERS.

India is the second largest seafood producer in the world marketing more than 7000 edible species. In this regard, commendable studies have been conducted since the 1970s by different research groups and more data are reported. In this work, all the studies on 210Po and 210Pb measurements in abiotic and biotic components of India have been combined and reviewed.

A Novel Approach to Enhance High Temperature Thermal Stability of Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles.

We report a novel approach to enhance thermal stability of magnetite nanoparticles by entrapping them in silver matrix. The oleic acid capped nanoparticles of average crystallite size ˜10 nm were synthesized through co-precipitation, followed by hydrothermal microwave assisted capping of magnetite nanoparticles with Ag matrix in ethylene glycol solvent. At ˜160 °C the oleic acid is desorbed from the magnetite nanoparticles, and silver is deposited on negatively charged magnetite seeds through electrostatic attraction.

Trace metal distribution in crab organs and human health risk assessment on consumption of crabs collected from coastal water of South East coast of India.

The concentrations of nine heavy metals accumulated in different organs of two crab species collected from the South East coast of India were estimated. The order of trace metal concentration in different organs of Portunus pelagicus was Cu > Mn > Cd > Ni > Pb > Co > Hg = Cr = U in gills, Cu > Mn > Cd > Ni > Pb = Co > Hg > Cr = U in hepatopancreas, and Cu > Cr > Ni > Mn > Cd > Pb > Co > Hg > U in muscles, whereas that for Portunus sanguinolentus was Cu > Mn > Cd > Ni > Pb > Co > Hg > Cr = U in gills, Cu > Mn > Cd > Ni > Pb = Co > U > Cr = Hg in hepatopancreas, and Cr > Cu > Ni > Mn > Cd > Co > Pb > Hg = U in muscles. The order of trace metal uptake for different organs was gills > hepatopancreas > muscles.

Evidence for spinodal decomposition in Ti-15Mo quenched alloy using transmission electron microscopy.

Electron diffraction effect associated with nano-scale periodic modulations observed in a quenched Ti-15 wt%Mo alloy within ω phase forming regime has been investigated in this study by analyzing selected area diffraction patterns and high-resolution phase contrast images. Crystallographic direction of the side bands in electron diffraction associated with the periodic modulation of wavelength 1.3 nm is established as [001] which is an elastically soft direction for the body-centered cubic lattice.

Enhancement in thermoelectric properties due to Ag nanoparticles incorporated in BiTe matrix.

The present study aims to see the enhancement in thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride (BiTe) annealed at different temperatures (573 and 773 K) through silver (Ag) nano-inclusions (0, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt %). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of Ag incorporated in BiTe annealed at 573 K shows tubular, pentagonal, trigonal, circular and hexagonal nanoparticles with sizes of 6-25 nm (for 5 wt % Ag ) and 7-30 nm (for 20 wt % Ag). Ag incorporated in BiTe annealed at 773 K shows mainly hexagonally shaped structures with particle sizes of 2-20 nm and 40-80 nm (for 5 wt % Ag) and 10-60 nm (for 20 wt % Ag).

Poly-ε-Caprolactone/Gelatin Hybrid Electrospun Composite Nanofibrous Mats Containing Ultrasound Assisted Herbal Extract: Antimicrobial and Cell Proliferation Study.

Electrospun fibers have emerged as promising materials in the field of biomedicine, due to their superior physical and cell supportive properties. In particular, electrospun mats are being developed for advanced wound dressing applications. Such applications require the firers to possess excellent antimicrobial properties in order to inhibit potential microbial colonization from resident and non-resident bacteria.

Phase-pure VO nanoporous structure for binder-free supercapacitor performances.

Vanadium oxides are anticipated as a high-performance energy storage electrode due to their coupled double layer and pseudo-capacitative charge storage mechanism. In the present work, we investigated the influence of different structural phases of as-grown VO nanoporous structure and corresponding oxidation states on the supercapacitor performance. This nanoporous structure facilitates fast ion diffusion and transport.

Uncovering Heavy Actinide Covalency: Implications for Minor Actinide Partitioning.

Across the actinide period, the stability of the trivalent oxidation state predominates in the heavy actinides, making their chemical nature close to that of rare earth elements. The resemblance in their chemistry poses difficulties in separating heavy actinides from lanthanides, which is a vital separation in the minor actinide partitioning process. Actinide contraction has conventionally implied electrostatic actinide-ligand interactions among the heavy actinides.

Utilization of induction furnace steel slag in concrete as coarse aggregate for gamma radiation shielding.

The present investigation highlights the utilization of Induction Furnace (IF) steel slag as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete. The concrete blocks of size 150 × 150 × 50 mm were casted and the effect of density, compressive strength, linear attenuation coefficient, Gamma Attenuation Factor (GAF) and Half Value Layer (HVL) has been explored. Gamma attenuation measurements were carried out using NaI (Tl) based gamma detector.

Antimicrobial properties and biocompatibility of electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone fibrous mats containing Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract.

Wound care management presents one of the substantial and tenacious challenges to the healthcare systems worldwide. Microbial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation after injury have garnered much attention, as there is an appreciable correlation between biofilms formation and delayed healing in chronic wounds. Nanotechnology has emerged as a potential platform for the management of treating acute and chronic wounds.