Showing papers by "Annamalai University published in 2013"

Highly efficient, solar active, and reusable photocatalyst: Zr-loaded Ag-ZnO for Reactive Red 120 dye degradation with synergistic effect and dye-sensitized mechanism.

Abstract: The different wt % of Zr-codoped Ag–ZnO catalysts were prepared by the simple precipitation–thermal decomposition method and used for degradation of anionic azo dye Reactive Red 120 (RR 120) under natural sunlight. Highly efficient 4 wt % of Zr-codoped Ag–ZnO was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) images, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images, energy-dispersive spectra (EDS), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL), cyclic voltammetry (CV), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and BET surface area measurements. Metal codopants increase the absorbance of ZnO to the entire visible region. XRD and XPS reveal that Ag is in the form of Ag0 and Zr in the form of Zr4+. The photocatalytic activity of 4 wt % Zr-codoped Ag–ZnO was compared with other single-metal-doped, undoped, and commercial catalysts. The quantum yields of all processes were determined and analyzed. Zr–Ag–ZnO was found to be more e...

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using marine macroalga Chaetomorpha linum

Abstract: The present investigation demonstrates the formation of silver nanoparticles by the reduction of the aqueous silver metal ions during exposure to the seaweed (Chaetomorpha linum) extract. The silver nanoparticles obtained were characterized by UV–visible spectrum, FTIR and scanning electron microscopy. The characteristic absorption peak at 422 nm in UV–vis spectrum confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles. The colour intensity at 422 nm increased with duration of incubation. The size of nanoparticles synthesized varied from 3 to 44 nm with average of ~30 nm. The FTIR spectrum of C. linum extract showed peaks at 1,020, 1,112, 1,325, 1,512, 1,535, 1,610, 1,725, 1,862, 2,924, 3,330 cm−1. The vibrational bands corresponding to the bonds such as –C=C (ring), –C–O, –C–O–C and C=C (chain) are derived from water-soluble compounds such as amines, peptides, flavonoids and terpenoids present in C. linum extract. Hence, it may be inferred that these biomolecules are responsible for capping and efficient stabilization. Since no synthetic reagents were used in this investigation, it is environmentally safe and have potential for application in biomedicine and agriculture.

Day-Ahead Deregulated Electricity Market Price Forecasting Using Recurrent Neural Network

Abstract: This paper proposes a recurrent neural network model for the day ahead deregulated electricity market price forecasting that could be realized using the Elman network. In a deregulated market, electricity price is influenced by many factors and exhibits a very complicated and irregular fluctuation. Both power producers and consumers need a single compact and robust price forecasting tool for maximizing their profits and utilities. In order to validate the chaotic characteristic of electricity price, an Elman network is modeled. The proposed Elman network is a single compact and robust architecture (without hybridizing the various hard and soft computing models). It has been observed that a nearly state of the art Elman network forecasting accuracy can be achieved with less computation time. The proposed Elman network approach is compared with autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), mixed model, neural network, wavelet ARIMA, weighted nearest neighbors, fuzzy neural network, hybrid intelligent system, adaptive wavelet neural network, neural networks with wavelet transform, wavelet transform and a hybrid of neural networks and fuzzy logic, wavelet-ARIMA radial basis function neural networks, cascaded neuro-evolutionary algorithm, and wavelet transform, particle swarm optimization, and adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference system approaches to forecast the electricity market of mainland Spain. Finally, the accuracy of the price forecasting is also applied to the electricity market of New York in 2010, which shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Influence of Temperature, Relative Humidity and Seasonal Variability on Ambient Air Quality in a Coastal Urban Area

Abstract: The concentration of air pollutants in ambient air is governed by the meteorological parameters such as atmospheric wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, and temperature. This study analyses the influence of temperature and relative humidity on ambient SO2, NOx, RSPM, and SPM concentrations at North Chennai, a coastal city in India, during monsoon, post-monsoon, summer, and pre-monsoon seasons for 2010-11 using regression analysis. The results of the study show that both SO2 and NOx were negatively correlated in summer ( for SO2 and for NOx) and moderately and positively correlated ( for SO2 and for NOx) during post-monsoon season with temperature. RSPM and SPM had positive correlation with temperature in all the seasons except post-monsoon one. These findings indicate that the influence of temperature on gaseous pollutant (SO2 & NOx) is much more effective in summer than other seasons, due to higher temperature range, but in case of particulate, the correlation was found contradictory. The very weak to moderate correlations existing between the temperature and ambient pollutant concentration during all seasons indicate the influence of inconstant thermal variation in the coastal region. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between humidity and particulates (RSPM and SPM) in all the four seasons, but level of correlation was found moderate only during monsoon ( and ) in comparison with other three seasons and no significant correlation was found between humidity and SO2, NOx in all the seasons. It is suggested from this study that the influence of humidity is effective on subsiding particulates in the coastal region.

Naringenin (citrus flavonone) induces growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Abstract: Search for new substances with antiproliferative activity and apoptosis inducing potential towards HepG2 cells is important since HCC is notoriously resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Dietary phytochemicals with significant anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing potential are considered as agents promising for cancer therapy. Naringenin, a common dietary flavonoid abundantly present in fruits and vegetables, is believed to possess strong cytotoxic activity in numerous types of cancer cells. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of its antiproliferative effects and apoptosis induction are still unclear. In this study, we investigated antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effect of naringenin in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Naringenin was shown to inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells resulted partly from an accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 and G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Naringenin induced a rapid accumulation of p53, which might account for the naringenin-induced G0/G1 and G2/M phase arrests in Hep G2 cells. In addition, naringenin have been shown to induce apoptosis as evidenced by nuclei damage and increased proportion of apoptotic cells detected by flow cytometry analysis. Naringenin triggered the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway as shown by an increased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, subsequent release of cytochrome C, and sequential activation of caspase-3. Our results showed that naringenin had inhibitory effect on the growth of HepG2 cell line through inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis induction. The elucidation of the drug targets of naringenin on inhibition of tumor cells growth should enable further development of naringenin for liver cancer therapy.

The simple, template free synthesis of a Bi2S3–ZnO heterostructure and its superior photocatalytic activity under UV-A light

Abstract: The development of a heterostructured semiconductor photocatalyst makes a significant advancement in catalytic technologies. Highly crystalline Bi2S3–ZnO nanosheets with a hierarchical structure have been successfully synthesized by a facile sonochemical process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the as synthesized product has an orthorhombic phase of Bi2S3 and a hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO. XPS analysis shows the presence of the elements Zn, O, Bi and S and their oxidation states. Bi2S3–ZnO has increased absorption in the UV region as well as in the visible region. This heterostructured nano catalyst has a higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Acid Black 1 (AB 1) under UV-A light than pure ZnO, Bi2S3 and commercial Degussa P25. The heterojunction in the Bi2S3–ZnO photocatalyst has led to low recombination rates of photoinduced electron–hole pairs and an enhanced photocatalytic activity. Bi2S3–ZnO is advantageous in AB 1 degradation because of its reusability and higher efficiency at neutral pH 7.

Solvothermal Synthesis of CeO2–TiO2 Nanocomposite for Visible Light Photocatalytic Detoxification of Cyanide

Abstract: A CeO2–TiO2 nanocomposite was synthesized solvothermally using ascorbic acid (A), urea (U), or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Powder X-ray and selected area electron diffractometries and Raman spectroscopy confirm the anatase phase of TiO2 and face-centered cubic lattice of CeO2. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirms the purity of the synthesized composites and provides their compositions. Scanning electron, field emission scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopies give the sizes and shapes of the synthesized nanoparticles. UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy shows the optical absorption edges of CeO2–TiO2 (A), CeO2–TiO2 (U), and CeO2–TiO2 (PVP) as 510, 441, and 410 nm, respectively. The blue, blue-green, and green emissions shown by the three nanocomposites indicate the existence of defects such as oxygen vacancies in the crystal lattices. All three composites differ in their electrical properties, obtained by solid-state impedance spectroscopy. Furthermore, solid-state impeda...

Protective Effects of d‐Limonene on Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Enzymes in Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of D-limonene on the levels of lipid peroxidation by-products and antioxidant defence systems in the plasma and tissues of normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes rats. The experimental diabetes was induced in rats by a single dose of STZ (40 mg/kg i.p.) injection, and treatment with D-limonene was continued for 45 days. After the treatment period, oxidative stress parameters such as lipid peroxidation by-products; enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase; non-enzymic antioxidants including reduced glutathione, Vitamins C and E were measured in the plasma and tissues of experimental rats. An increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation by-products and significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes were observed in untreated diabetic rats. Administration of D-limonene to diabetic rats for 45 days caused a significant reduction in the levels of lipid peroxidation by-products and an increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, when compared with the untreated diabetic group. There was no significant difference in normal treated groups, when compared with normal rats. Biochemical observations were substantiated with the help of histopathological examinations through its antioxidant properties and thereby conferred protection against STZ-induced diabetic rats. The result of this study indicates that D-limonene has antioxidant potential in addition to its antidiabetic effect in experimental diabetes.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Sida acuta (Malvaceae) leaf extract against Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles stephensi, and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Abstract: Mosquitoes act as a vector for most of the life-threatening diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya fever, filariasis, encephalitis, West Nile Virus infection, etc. Under the Integrated Mosquito Management, emphasis was given on the application of alternative strategies in mosquito control. The continuous application of synthetic insecticides causes development of resistance in vector species, biological magnification of toxic substances through the food chain, and adverse effects on environmental quality and nontarget organisms including human health. Application of active toxic agents from plant extracts as an alternative mosquito control strategy was available from ancient times. These are nontoxic, easily available at affordable prices, biodegradable, and show broad-spectrum target-specific activities against different species of vector mosquitoes. In the present study, the larvicidal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Sida acuta plant leaf extract against late third instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles stephensi, and Aedes aegypti was determined. Range of concentrations of synthesized AgNPs (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 μg/mL) and aqueous leaf extract (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μg/mL) were tested against the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, A. stephensi and A. aegypti. The synthesized AgNPs from S. acuta leaf were highly toxic than crude leaf aqueous extract in three important vector mosquito species. The results were recorded from UV–Vis spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Larvae were exposed to varying concentrations of aqueous crude extract and synthesized AgNPs for 24 h. Considerable mortality was evident after the treatment of S. acuta for all three important vector mosquitoes. The LC50 and LC90 values of S. acuta aqueous leaf extract appeared to be most effective against A. stephensi (LC50, 109.94 μg/mL and LC90, 202.42 μg/mL) followed by A. aegypti LC50 (119.32 μg/mL and LC90, 213.84 μg/mL) and C. quinquefasciatus (LC50, 130.30 μg/mL and LC90, 228.20 μg/mL). Synthesized AgNPs against the vector mosquitoes of A. stephensi, A. aegypti, and C. quinquefasciatus had the following LC50 and LC90 values: A. stephensi had LC50 and LC90 values of 21.92, and 41.07 μg/mL; A. aegypti had LC50 and LC90 values of 23.96, and 44.05 μg/mL; C. quinquefasciatus had LC50 and LC90 values of 26.13 and 47.52 μg/mL. These results suggest that the use of S. acuta synthesized silver nanoparticles can be a rapid, environmentally safer biopesticide which can form a novel approach to develop effective biocides for controlling the target vector mosquitoes. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of the plant aqueous extract and synthesized nanoparticles.