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•Simplistic path to modify the TNTs with plasmon enhanced Au nanoparticles.•Trouble-free deposition method is attributed to synthesis Au loaded nanotubes.•Au deposition, prolonged ...visible light absorption, improved e−/h+ separation of TNTs.•Explored LSPR of Au-TNTs towards visible light with enhanced photoactivity.•Au-TNTs dominates CH4 production enhancement through photocatalytic CO2 conversion.
To boost up the plasmonic metal-nanotube junction effect under visible light irradiation, a simplistic electrochemical deposition synthesis method has been employed to decorate the Au nanoparticles in the nanotubes (TNTs). A photocatalytic experiment for the conversion of CO2 has been conducted to justify the visible light effectivity of the Au-TNTs. The decoration of Au nanoparticles into the TNTs was explored by the morphological analysis which revealed well-arranged, well-ordered and stable Au modified nanotubes. The prepared Au-TNTs light harvesting properties investigated through UV–vis absorption spectra which reveals its visible light absorption capability owing to its LSPR behaviour. Improved charge carrier separation of plasmonic Au loaded TNTs was explored through PL analysis. Hence, the photocatalytic activity of TNTs and Au-TNTs obtained through CO2 conversion to CH4 and the total amount of CH4 production are 8.26% and 14.67%, respectively. Therefore, this study provides a simple path to modify the TNTs with Au with a trouble-free and controllable deposition method in order to increase visible light active catalytic properties. Moreover, the one-dimensional nanotube arrays semiconductor with the integration of plasmonic metal was attained a further visible light enhanced activity towards photocatalytic CO2 conversion.
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a life threatening flavivirus that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. No preventive therapeutics including vaccines against WNV are available for human ...use. In this study, immunoinformatics approach was performed to design a multi epitope-based subunit vaccine against this deadly pathogen. Human (HLA) and Mice (H-2) allele specific potential T-cell and B-cell epitopes were shortlisted through a stringent procedure. Molecular docking showed selected epitopes that have stronger binding affinity with human TLR-4. Molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the stable nature of the docked complex. Furthermore, in silico cloning analysis ensures efficient expression of desired gene in the microbial system. Interestingly, previous studies showed that two of our selected epitopes have strong immune response against WNV. Therefore, selected epitopes could be strong vaccine candidates to prevent WNV infections in human. However, further in vitro and in vivo investigations could be strengthening the validation of the vaccine candidate against WNV.
Chimeras in multivariable coupled Rössler oscillators Khatun, Anjuman Ara; Jafri, Haider Hasan
Communications in nonlinear science & numerical simulation,
April 2021, 2021-04-00, 20210401, Volume:
95
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
•Chimera states can be created in an ensemble of multivariable coupled chaotic oscillators.•By tuning the coupling parameter in one variable, the region of multistability can be shifted. This ...provides an additional means to create chimera states.•The coexistence of stable synchronised dynamics with desynchronised motion is indicated by the Master Stability Function.
We study the coexistence of synchronous as well as asynchronous dynamical behaviours namely chimera states in an ensemble of nonlinear oscillators coupled through different variables. In this system, such states are a result of multistability induced by the coupling in one variable. By tuning the coupling parameter in a different variable, the region of multistability can be shifted. This provides an additional means to create chimera states. We employ this technique in an ensemble of coupled Rössler systems where we observe that there are multiple attractors and the associated basins are intertwined. For such systems, the strength of incoherence (SI) is a useful order parameter through which chimera states can be effectively characterized. The coexistence of stable synchronized dynamics with desynchronized motion is indicated by the master stability function, which we compute for different attractors.
A phenomenological study in CeCoSi system Chandra, Sumal; Khatun, Arifa; Jannat, Romana
Solid state communications,
August 2020, 2020-08-00, Volume:
316-317
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
We present phenomenological models calculations for the magnetic susceptibility, valence of Ce ions and the effective Bhor magneton number of Ce ion in CeCoSi system. We found that the susceptibility ...of this compound explained by the interconfiguration fluctuation (ICF) model. We obtain the valence of Ce ions 3.42 at the room temperature. This result suggests that CeCoSi system is a valence fluctuation system. We found the effective Bhor magneton number per atom 2.35 μB by the 2-state model which is close to the expected for a free Ce+3 ion.
•The valence of Ce ion is about 3.42 in CeCoSi at the room temperature.•Effective Bhor magneton number is 2.35 μB per Ce atom in the 2-state model.•Interconfiguration excitation energy is 462±22 K.
Abstract
Objectives
Sarcopenia is a clinically relevant syndrome with health, social, and economic implications. Alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors for sarcopenia, but it has not been ...fully investigated in Chinese populations. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between alcohol consumption patterns (including the volume and frequency of alcohol consumption) and sarcopenia or its elements among Chinese women and men from Henan Province.
Method
A cross-sectional study was designed to collect information about nutrition and health in Henan Province, China, and a total of 680 individuals were studied. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria updated in 2019. Alcohol consumption was calculated in grams per day and divided into three groups. Drinking frequency was divided into four groups. We assessed the likelihood that sarcopenia was associated with drinking patterns using multiple logistic regression analysis by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) after multiple adjustments.
Results
We found that men who consumed > 25 g of ethanol per day were approximately three times more likely to have low muscle mass (OR, 3.99; 95% CI, 1.10–17.05) or low grip strength (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.33–9.92) than nondrinkers after multiple adjustments. In addition, males who consumed alcohol more than 4 times per week were approximately threefold to fivefold more likely to have low muscle mass (OR, 4.99; 95% CI, 1.24–25.55) or low grip strength (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.40–8.74) than nondrinkers. Unfortunately, we did not find a relationship between alcohol consumption patterns and sarcopenia or gait speed among males, and there was no association between alcohol consumption patterns and sarcopenia or any elements.
Conclusion
Heavy alcohol consumption and frequent drinking are important risk factors for low muscle mass and muscle strength in Chinese men from Henan province.
Blood compatible graphene/heparin conjugate is simply formulated through noncovalent interaction between chemically reduced graphene and heparin. Charge repulsion of negatively charged heparin on ...graphene plates renders hydrophobic graphene to be solublized in aqueous media without any precipitation or aggregation even after 6 months. Unfractioned heparin (UFH) with higher molecular weight was effective for graphene solubilization while low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was not. Noncovalently interacting heparin chains on graphene plates preserve their anticoagulant activity after conjugation with graphene. Graphene/UFH conjugate shows much enhanced anti factor Xa (FXa) activity of 29.6 IU/mL compared with pristine graphene oxide (GO; 1.03 IU/mL).
A
bstract
The signatures for the existence of dark matter are revealed only through its gravitational interaction. Theoretical arguments support that the Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) ...can be a class of dark matter and it can annihilate and/or decay to Standard Model particles, among which neutrino is a favorable candidate. We show that the proposed 50 kt Magnetized Iron CALorimeter (MagICAL) detector under the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project can play an important role in the indirect searches of Galactic diffuse dark matter in the neutrino and antineutrino mode separately. We present the sensitivity of 500 kt·yr MagICAL detector to set limits on the velocity-averaged self-annihilation cross-section (〈
σv
〉) and decay lifetime (
τ
) of dark matter having mass in the range of 2 GeV ≤
m
χ
≤ 90 GeV and 4 GeV ≤
m
χ
≤ 180 GeV respectively, assuming no excess over the conventional atmospheric neutrino and antineutrino fluxes at the INO site. Our limits for low mass dark matter constrain the parameter space which has not been explored before. We show that MagICAL will be able to set competitive constraints, 〈
σv
〉 ≤ 1
.
87 × 10
−24
cm
3
s
−1
for
χ
χ
→
ν
ν
¯
and
τ
≥ 4
.
8 × 10
24
s for
χ
→
ν
ν
¯
at 90% C.L. (1 d.o.f.) for
m
χ
= 10 GeV assuming the NFW as dark matter density profile.
Objectives:
This study aimed to assess the relationship between women’s sexual empowerment and contraceptive use among married Bangladeshi women from a nationally representative sample.
Methods:
...Secondary data analysis was conducted using the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2017–18. The investigation covered a total of 14,515 married, non-pregnant women who were residing with their spouses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was fitted to assess the relationship between the variables of interest.
Results:
A unit increase in the sexual empowerment scale increases the odds of contraceptive use by 13%. While increasing age, being Muslim, having a spouse who is older by more than 10 years, and living in rural areas are associated with lower odds of using contraceptives than their respective counterparts, secondary or higher levels of education, having more living children, exposure to TV or radio, and employment are associated with higher odds of using contraceptives.
Conclusion:
The study’s findings point to the need for addressing women’s perceptions of their right to sexual and reproductive health and equity in order to further efforts to achieve universal access to reproductive health services.
The variation of structural, mechanical, anisotropy, and electronic properties of
MgTi
2
O
4
with pressure up to 40 GPa have been studied by employing DFT based ab-initio technique for the first ...time. The slight variation between the optimized and experimental lattice constant ensures the accuracy of the present work, and slightly decreased with pressure. The investigated zero pressure elastic constants and their linear response to pressure up to 40 GPa confirms the stability of cubic phase as the Born stability criteria are satisfied. A transition from cubic to tetragonal phase of
MgTi
2
O
4
is observed at 50 GPa pressure. The ductile nature of
MgTi
2
O
4
is exhibited in this study, which is enhanced with increasing pressure effect. The anisotropy factors are increased sharply with pressure indicating the changes of physical properties of
MgTi
2
O
4
in different directions under pressure. The band structure and density of states reveal the metallic nature of
MgTi
2
O
4
, which can be slightly tuned under pressure. Therefore, our simulation results clearly elucidate the significance of taking into account the pressure effects on the physical properties of
MgTi
2
O
4
.
Graphical abstract
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