Electrospun CdS-TiO2 doped carbon nanofibers for visible-light-induced photocatalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane

Pant, Bishweshwar,Pant, Hem Raj,Park, Mira,Liu, Yanan,Choi, Ja-Wun,Barakat, Nasser A.M.,Kim, Hak-Yong Elsevier 2014 CATALYSIS COMMUNICATIONS - Vol.50 No.-

CdS/TiO2 NPs-decorated carbon nanofibers were introduced as a novel photocatalyst working under visible light radiation for the effective hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane. Calcination of electrospun nanofiber mats composed of titanium tetraisopropoxide, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and cadmium acetate dihydrate with a few drops of ammonium sulfide in argon atmosphere at 850 degrees C led to the production of CdS-TiO2 decorated carbon nanofibers. As-synthesized nanocomposite exhibited a strong photocatalytic activity for catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia-borane. The favorable electrons-transfer properties, better dispersion, high surface area, and adsorption property are the main features of nanocomposites that exhibit high catalytic efficiency. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plastic bottle feeding produces changes in biochemical parameters in human infants – A pilot study

Pant Mahendra K.,Ahmad Abul. H.,Naithani Manisha,Pant Jayanti 대한소아청소년과학회 2022 Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics (CEP) Vol.65 No.9

Background: Plastic bottles are widely used by people to feed their infants when breastfeeding is not possible. Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor is widely used in the manufacturing of plastic wares and is leached out from these plastic wares on exposure to high temperature, changed pH, or cleaning the plastic wares by harsh detergents.Purpose: Feeding through plastic bottles over prolong duration is expected to expose the infants to leached BPA. Hence the present study was taken up to compare the effects of breastfeeding and plastic bottle feeding on biochemical parameters in infants and also detect for the presence of free BPA or its metabolite in the infants.Methods: Biochemical tests like lipid profile, liver function tests, creatine-kinase–MB (CK-MB), serum urea, serum electrolytes were performed on blood samples obtained from infants who were breastfed and plastic bottle fed. Further, plasma and urine samples of the infants were subjected to Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis for detecting free BPA and BPA glucuronide.Results: Biochemical changes in form of raised triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins and increase in CK-MB, serum urea were observed in plastic bottle fed infants. BPA glucuronide was also detected in the urine of these infants. Free BPA was not detected in plasma or urine samples of the infants except in one plasma sample from bottle-fed group.Conclusion: Plastic bottle feeding may lead to toxic changes in the functioning of organs which manifest as altered biochemical parameters.

RGO/Nylon-6 composite mat with unique structural features and electrical properties obtained from electrospinning and hydrothermal process

Pant, H. R.,Pant, B.,Park, C. H.,Kim, H. J.,Lee, D. S.,Tijing, L. D.,Hwang, B. S.,Kim, H. Y.,Kim, C. S. THE KOREAN FIBER SOCIETY 2013 FIBERS AND POLYMERS Vol.14 No.6

One-step fabrication of multifunctional composite polyurethane spider-web-like nanofibrous membrane for water purification

Pant, H.R.,Kim, H.J.,Joshi, M.K.,Pant, B.,Park, C.H.,Kim, J.I.,Hui, K.S.,Kim, C.S. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2014 Journal of hazardous materials Vol.264 No.-

A stable silver-doped fly ash/polyurathene (Ag-FA/PU) nanocomposite multifunctional membrane is prepared by a facile one-step electrospinning process using fly ash particles (FAPs). Colloidal solution of PU with FAPs and Ag metal precursor was subjected to fabricate nanocomposite spider-web-like membrane using electrospinning process. Presence of N,N-dimethylformamide (solvent of PU) led to reduce silver nitrate into Ag NPs. Incorporation of Ag NPs and FAPs through electrospun PU fibers is proven through electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. Presence of these NPs on PU nanofibers introduces several potential physicochemical properties such as spider-web-like nano-neeting for NPs separation, enhanced absorption capacity to remove carcinogenic arsenic (As) and toxic organic dyes, and antibacterial properties with reduce bio-fouling for membrane filter application. Preliminary observations used for above-mentioned applications for water treatment showed that it will be an economically and environmentally friendly nonwoven matrix for water purification. This simple approach highlights new avenues about the utilization of one pollutant material to control other pollutants in scalable and inexpensive ways.

Carbon nanofibers decorated with binary semiconductor (TiO₂/ZnO) nanocomposites for the effective removal of organic pollutants and the enhancement of antibacterial activities

Pant, Bishweshwar,Pant, Hem Raj,Barakat, Nasser A.M.,Park, Mira,Jeon, Kyungsoo,Choi, Yuri,Kim, Hak-Yong Elsevier 2013 CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL Vol.39 No.6

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>A novel photocatalytic and antibacterial carbon nanofiber decorated with TiO<SUB>2/</SUB>ZnO composite NPs was prepared by a simple electrospinning method followed by calcination and hydrothermal treatment. The loading of a small amount of ZnO NPs throughout the fibers prior to electrospinning could provide nucleation sites for the crystal growth of ZnO from its precursor during hydrothermal synthesis and could effectively hold TiO<SUB>2</SUB>/ZnO particles on the surface of the fibers for better stability. The morphology and structure of the as-synthesized particles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy, which revealed that TiO<SUB>2</SUB>/ZnO NPs were attached on the surface of the carbon nanofibers. The as-synthesized nanocomposite exhibited a strong photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) under UV irradiation and showed good antibacterial properties as well. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the developed nanocomposite can be attributed to the adsorption characteristic of carbon nanofiber and the matched band potentials of TiO<SUB>2</SUB> and ZnO. The perfect recovery of the catalyst after the reaction and its unchanged efficiency for cyclic use showed that it will be an economical and environmentally friendly photocatalyst.</P>

Carbon nanofibers wrapped with zinc oxide nano-flakes as promising electrode material for supercapacitors

Pant, Bishweshwar,Park, Mira,Ojha, Gunendra Prasad,Park, Juhyeong,Kuk, Yun-Su,Lee, Eun-Jung,Kim, Hak-Yong,Park, Soo-Jin Elsevier 2018 JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE - Vol.522 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>A combination of electrospinning technique and hydrothermal process was carried out to fabricate zinc oxide nano-flakes wrapped carbon nanofibers (ZnO/CNFs) composite as an effective electrode material for supercapacitor. The morphology of the as-synthesized composite clearly revealed that the carbon nanofibers were successfully wrapped with ZnO nano-flakes. The electrochemical performance of the as-synthesized nanocomposite electrode was evaluated by the cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GDC), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and compared with the pristine ZnO nanofibers. It was found that the composite exhibited a higher specific capacitance (260 F/g) as compared to pristine ZnO NFs (118 F/g) at the scan rate of 5 mV/s. Furthermore, the ZnO/CNFs composite also exhibited good capacity retention (73.33%). The obtained results indicated great potential applications of ZnO/CNFs composite in developing energy storage devices with high energy and power densities. The present work might provide a new route for utilizing ZnO based composites for energy storage applications.</P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

FIXED POINTS OF OCCASIONALLY WEAKLY COMPATIBLE MAPPINGS USING IMPLICIT RELATION

Pant, Badri Datt,Chauhan, Sunny Korean Mathematical Society 2012 대한수학회논문집 Vol.27 No.3

In this paper, we prove common fixed point theorems for families of occasionally weakly compatible mappings in Menger spaces using implicit relation. Our results extend and generalize the results of Altun and Turkoglu [9] in the sense that the concept of occasionally weakly compatible maps is the most general among all the commutativity concepts. Also the completeness of the whole space, continuity of the involved maps and containment of ranges amongst involved maps are completely relaxed.

Production, Assessment and Marketing of Lichens for Economic Upliftment and Livelihood Generation of Rural Communities in Kumaun Himalaya

Pant, Girish Chandra Institute of Forest Science 2014 Journal of Forest Science Vol.30 No.3

Collection of lichen together with tree twigs of oak and other trees bearing abundant growth of lichens is a common practice among the villagers and the rivals residing near Oak forests in Kumaun Himalaya. Nainital forest division represents about Twenty nine percent vegetation of the Oak forest in Kumaun Himalaya. In Kumaun, the lichen trade share is decreasing at an alarming rate of 21.93% which requires immediate actions by the Government. Lichen contributed significantly to household earnings with off-farm activities and this sector was found second highest income creator after Agriculture. It is a source of cash income during the season of extraction, which increases economic access to food. It has been observed in the present study that the secondary collector and transporters together get maximum share (>50%) of income generated from lichen, thus economic exploitation of the poorly educated people by the traders was still prevalent in the area. To improve the socio-economic standard of the people of Kumaun, it may is necessary to increase and improve the lichens resources of the area. There is a strong need for scientific management, best harvesting practices and strict monitoring of resources. The present study was conducted to assess the present and future resource potential for the conservation and sustainable management of lichens, existing market mechanism, role of Lichens in economic upliftment and livelihood generation of rural communities in Kumaun Himalaya.

라이브 스트리밍 커머스 앵커 속성이 지각된 가치와 구매 의도에 미치는 영향: 중국의 농산물 시장을 중심으로

( Panting Song ),( Jingyan Ma ),강태원 ( Taewon Kang ) 한국유통경영학회 2021 유통경영학회지 Vol.24 No.6

Purpose: Due to the impact of the COVID-19, the sales of agricultural specialties have been hampered, and live streaming commerce has developed in tandem to provide a channel for the sales of agricultural s pecialties. With the impetus of government policy and market, live streaming + e-commerce has become a new model for the sales of agricultural specialties. This study explores the influence of anchor attributes on the perceived value and purchase intention of agricultural specialties in the live-streaming commerce environment and tries to propose the development of live-streaming commerce of agricultural specialties under the epidemic. Research design, data, and methodology: This study conducted a questionnaire survey of consumers who had purchased agricultural products through live streaming e-commerce. Finally, the survey results of 719 consumers were analyzed using SPSS23.0 and AMOS23.0 on reliability and validity analysis, correlation analysis, path analysis, and mediating analysis. Results: The results of this study show that - first, the professionalism of the anchor has a positive effect on purchase intention and an insignificant effect on the emotional value and perceived risk. Second, the interactivity, entertainment, and trustworthiness of anchors have insignificant positive effects on purchase intention. Third, the mediating effect of perceived emotional value and perceived risk between anchor attributes and purchase intention is significant. Perceived value partially mediates between anchor’s professionalism and purchase intention, while it fully mediates between anchor’s interactivity, entertainment, trustworthiness, and purchase intention. Implications: To better attract consumers to buy agricultural products through live streaming commerce, e-commerce companies should commit to building professional live streaming teams, training anchors, improving their professionalism, and optimizing live streaming content in a consumer-oriented manner. Platforms and relevant departments should also raise the market access threshold, strengthen market supervision, and investigate and deal with behaviors that harm consumers’ legitimate rights and interests.

Biomimetic synthesis of hollow calcium phosphate nanospheres on core-shell structured electrospun calcium lactate/nylon-6 nanofibers

Pant, H.R.,Kim, C.S. North-Holland 2013 Materials letters Vol.92 No.-

The aim of this study was to investigate into calcium phosphate (CaP) nucleation and growth on the electrospun nylon-6 nanofibers having its own and added functionalities of lactic acid (LA) and calcium lactate (CL) obtained by novel coating technique. LA was simply incorporated into the nylon-6 fibers by means of simple blending prior to electrospinning where as CL was deposited on the surface of as-formed core-shell structured fibers via simple acid-base neutralization. The bone formation ability of different functional groups on the fiber was evaluated by incubating in simulated body fluid. This study demonstrated a functionalities depended nucleation and growth mechanism of hollow CaP nanosphere on the surface of polymeric nanofibers.