Highly efficient and selective adsorption of In³⁺ on pristine Zn/Al layered double hydroxide (Zn/Al-LDH) from aqueous solutions

Barnabas, M.J.,Parambadath, S.,Mathew, A.,Park, S.S.,Vinu, A.,Ha, C.S. Academic Press 2016 Journal of solid state chemistry Vol.233 No.-

<P>A pristine Zn/Al-layered double hydroxide (Zn/Al-LDH) showed excellent adsorption ability and selectivity towards In3+ ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption behaviour as a function of the contact time, solution pH, ionic strength, and amount of adsorbent under ambient conditions revealed a strong dependency on the pH and ionic strength over In3+ intake. The structure and properties of Zn/Al-LDH and In3+ adsorbed Zn/Al-LDH (In-Zn/Al-LDH) were examined carefully by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N-2-sorption/desorption, UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The adsorbent had a sufficient number of active sites that were responsible for the In3+ adsorption and quite stable even after the adsorption process. The selective adsorption of In3+ on Zn/Al-LDH was also observed even from a mixture containing competing ions, such as Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+. The adsorption experiments showed that Zn/Al-LDH is a promising material for the pre-concentration and selective removal of In3+ from large volumes of aqueous solutions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</P>

Cryptotanshinone and wogonin up-regulate eNOS in vascular endothelial cells via ERa and down-regulate iNOS in LPS stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells via ERb

Barnabas Oche,Lu Chen,Ya-ke Ma,Yue Yang,Chun-xiao Li,Xiao Geng,Li-zhen Qiu,Xiu-mei Gao,Hong Wang 대한약학회 2016 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.39 No.2

Phytoestrogens were widely used as natural alternatives to estrogen for treating cardiovascular diseases. They have been reported to have cardioprotective and antiinflammatory response, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found cryptotanshinone and wogonin exhibited phytoestrogenic property in an estrogen- responsive reporter assay. In EA.hy926 cells, treatment of cryptotanshinone and wogonin led to significant increase in NO production levels, which were inhibited by co-incubation of estrogen receptor (ER)a antagonist methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP). The expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and ERa were up-regulated with the same treatment, indicating they stimulate NO and eNOS expression via ERa-dependent pathway in endothelial cells. While in lipopolysaccharide activated vascular smooth muscle cell line A7r5, cryptotanshinone and wogonin exerted anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NO and inducible NO synthase expression via ERbdependent pathway. The reduction of NO synthesis was not affected by MPP, and was abrogated by ERb antagonist R,R-tetrahydrochrysene. Our findings provide the potential molecular mechanism of cryptotanshinone and wogonin as phytoestrogens for their cardioprotective effects, which exerted regulatory effects on NO synthesis through differential regulation of estrogen receptors. It can be employed as a basis for evaluating the beneficial effects of phytoestrogens in the treatment of patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Biotechnology of Reproductive Processes in Cereals

Barnabas, Beata The Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology 1999 JOURNAL OF PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY Vol.1 No.1

Sexual reproduction is an essential process in the propagation of flowering plants. Recent advances in plant cell biology and biotechnology have brought new and powerful methodologies to investigate and manipulate the reproductive processes of angiosperms including agronomically important crop plants. Successful cryopreservation of maize, rye and triticale pollen and young embryos of microspore-and zygote-origine contributes to long term preservation of important plant germ-lines in gene banks. Discovering morphogenetic characteristics of the different developmental pathways taking place in wheat and maize androgenesis in vitro helps to influence the procedure to produce genetically and phenotipically stable homozygous doubled haploid plants for breeding purposes. Detailed ultrastructural and cell-biological studies on the developmental sequences of male and female gametophyte development in wheat, experimental protocols developed to isolate and micromanipulate egg cell protoplasts, make it possible to use plant gametes and the sexual route itself to produce genetically improved organisms. Plant gametes can become useful tools for crop improvement in the near future. Recent achievements by our laboratory in this field are reviewed in the present paper

Silver (I)- Schiff-base complex intercalated layered double hydroxide with antimicrobial activity

Barnabas, Mary Jenisha,Parambadath, Surendran,Nagappan, Saravanan,Chung, Ildoo,Ha, Chang-Sik Techno-Press 2021 Advances in nano research Vol.10 No.4

In this work, silver nitrate complexes of sulfanilamide-5-methyl-2-thiophene carboxaldehyde (SMTCA) ligand intercalated Zn/Al-layered double hydroxide [Ag-SMTCA-LDH] were synthesized for the potential application as an antimicrobial system. The SMTCA ligand was synthesized by reacting sulfanilamide and 5-methyl-2-thiophene carboxaldehyde in methanol and further complexation with silver nitrate metal ions [Ag-SMTCA]. The structural analyses of synthesized compounds confirmed an intercalation of Ag-SMTCA into Zn/Al-NO₃-LDH by flake/restacking method. SMTCA, Ag-SMTCA and Ag-SMTCA-LDH were characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that Ag-SMTCA-LDH exhibited good antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, [B. subtilis], Staphylococcus aures, [S. aureus]) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, [E. coli], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [P. aeroginosa]) bacteria as well as excellent antioxidant activity.

A Psychological Framework to Objectively Evaluate Socially Capable Robots for Interactive Tutoring Systems

Barnabas Takacs,Klara Csizinszky,Daniele Mazzei,Lajos Simon 제어로봇시스템학회 2015 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2015 No.10

We introduce a novel evaluation methodology to establish psychometrically validated measures to objectively evaluate socially capable robots. Our methodology involves first creating a digital computer generated face model designed to replicate the facial expression space of the robot with the highest accuracy, and second, using this model to render test sequences, which are in turn analyzed with independent facial metrics software. We compared three different facial modelings techniques to approximate our robot"s face and achieved 98.86% accuracy in replicating the facial appearance as measured by facial metric software. This digital face model can now be used to create arbitrary expressions for interaction purposes and for a more detailed analysis of low-amplitude micro-expressions, which are critical for proper social communication with children in a virtual tutoring context. We argue that our methodology is a first step towards objectively assessing the believability of commercially available robots.

Towards a Unified Control Framework for Humanoid Robots and their Virtual Avatars in Physical and Virtual Reality-based Interactions

Barnabas Takacs,Gergely Richter,Klara Csizinszky,Daniele Mazzei,Lajos Simon 제어로봇시스템학회 2015 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2015 No.10

We introduce a unified modular control architecture and virtual-reality evaluation framework to extend the use of socially capable humanoid robots. Our methodology is based on a unique gesture and facial expression representation module, called cascaded Temporal Disc Controllers (TDCs), that represents all emotional expressions, gestures and time-variant actions in a normalized mathematical space designed to accept high level control commands, while being independent of actual physical robot implementations. At the same time it also provides an underlying mechanism for avoiding repetitive behaviors and increases the “humanness” by minor random perturbations during the interaction process. Our implementation combines two available physical robots (Zeno, FACE) and their virtual representations with active perception in order to drive low- and high level reactive behaviors in support of interactive educational and pedagogical goals. Our photo-realistic representations were used in comparative evaluation studies and a low-cost Augmented-Reality interface was also developed to support seamless interaction in virtual space.

Amino modified core-shell mesoporous silica based layered double hydroxide (MS-LDH) for drug delivery

Jenisha Barnabas, M.,Parambadath, S.,Ha, C.S. Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemi 2017 Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry Vol.53 No.-

A layered double hydroxide-mesoporous silica core-shell nanostructure (LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB>) with perpendicularly-oriented mesochannels was synthesised using a surfactant-directing method and modified with amine functionality for drug delivery applications. Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al-LDH) materials with a disc-like morphology were synthesised and then coated with mesoporous silica (Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB>) via the functionalisation of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane using a post-synthesis route (NH<SUB>2</SUB>-Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB>). The materials were characterised using a range of techniques. The Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB> and NH<SUB>2</SUB>-Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB> materials possessed a spherical morphology and good porosity. Ibuprofen (IBU) and ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) were loaded into the pore channels of the NH<SUB>2</SUB>-Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB> and the release properties were examined at pH 4.0 and 7.4. The delayed release property exhibited by NH<SUB>2</SUB>-Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB> was attributed to the strong interactions of the drug molecules with the surface amino functionality and the charged LDH surface. The release profile from NH<SUB>2</SUB>-Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB> was also compared with that of the Mg/Al-LDHμSiO<SUB>2</SUB> system under identical conditions. The porosity and functionalisation of the mesoporous silica shell and the surface charge density of the layered structure of Mg/Al-LDH are the major reasons for the controlled release of the cargo molecules. Moreover, the favourable delay in drug release from both materials at pH 4 was attributed to the higher level of ionisation and dissolution than at pH 7.4.

Amino modified core–shell mesoporous silica based layered double hydroxide (MS-LDH) for drug delivery

Mary Jenisha Barnabas,Surendran Parambadath,하창식 한국공업화학회 2017 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.53 No.-

layered double hydroxide-mesoporous silica core–shell nanostructure (LDH@mSiO2) with perpendicularly- oriented mesochannels was synthesised using a surfactant-directing method and modified with amine functionality for drug delivery applications. Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al-LDH) materials with a disc-like morphology were synthesised and then coated with mesoporous silica (Mg/Al- LDH@mSiO2) via the functionalisation of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane using a post-synthesis route (NH2-Mg/Al-LDH@mSiO2). The materials were characterised using a range of techniques. The Mg/Al- LDH@mSiO2 and NH2-Mg/Al-LDH@mSiO2 materials possessed a spherical morphology and good porosity. Ibuprofen (IBU) and ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) were loaded into the pore channels of the NH2-Mg/ Al-LDH@mSiO2 and the release properties were examined at pH 4.0 and 7.4. The delayed release property exhibited by NH2-Mg/Al-LDH@mSiO2 was attributed to the strong interactions of the drug molecules with the surface amino functionality and the charged LDH surface. The release profile from NH2-Mg/Al- LDH@mSiO2 was also compared with that of the Mg/Al-LDH@mSiO2 system under identical conditions. The porosity and functionalisation of the mesoporous silica shell and the surface charge density of the layered structure of Mg/Al-LDH are the major reasons for the controlled release of the cargo molecules. Moreover, the favourable delay in drug release from both materials at pH 4 was attributed to the higher level of ionisation and dissolution than at pH 7.4.

Approximation by fuzzy B-spline series

Petru Blaga,Barnabas Bede 한국전산응용수학회 2006 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.20 No.1-2

Impact of Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum Exploitation on Fern Richness and Biomass Potential in the Semi-Deciduous Rain Forest of Cameroon

Cedric, Chimi Djomo,Nfornkah, Barnabas Neba,Louis-Paul-Roger, Kabelong Banoho,Kevine, Tsoupoh Kemnang Mikelle,Awazi, Nyong Princely,Forje, Gadinga Walter,Louis, Zapfack Institute of Forest Science 2022 Journal of Forest Science Vol.38 No.3

Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum is the plant species most affected by logging activities in the East Region of Cameroon due to its market value. This logging has impacted the ecological niche of the fern plant for which limited research has been done. The aim of this study is to contribute towards improving knowledge of fern richness and biomass on T. scleroxylon within the Central African sub-region. Fern data collection was done on 20 felled/harvested T. scleroxylon where, in addition to fern inventory, fern biomass was collected by the destructive method. The diameter and height of T. scleroxylon measured were used as explanatory variables in allometric equations for fern biomass estimation. Fern inventory was characterized using diversity index. Eight fern species were recorded on T. scleroxylon (≈5 species/T. scleroxylon). The minimum diameter where fern could be found is 59.4 cm. The average fern biomass found was 23.62 kg/T. scleroxylon. Pearson correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation (r>0.55) between fern biomass and T. scleroxylon diameter. For allometric equation, the logarithmic model improved better the adjustment than the non-logarithmic model. However, the quality of the adjustment is improved more when only the diameter is considered as an explanatory variable. Fern biomass is estimated to 90.08 kg/ha^-1 with 76.02 kg/ha^-1 being lost due to T. scleroxylon exploitation in the study area. This study is a contribution towards increasing knowledge of fern diversity specific to T. scleroxylon, and also fern biomass contribution to climate change mitigation and the potential carbon loss due to T. scleroxylon exploitation.