Structural and optical properties of TiO₂ thin films derived by sol-gel dip coating process

Saini, K.K.,Sharma, S.D.,Chanderkant,Kar, M.,Singh, D.,Sharma, C.P. North-Holland 2007 Journal of non-crystalline solids Vol.353 No.24

Nanocrystalline thin films of titanium dioxide have been fabricated on glass and silica substrates from partially hydrolyzed precursor solution. These films were subjected to heat treatment for 1h at temperatures 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900<SUP>o</SUP>C and characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS and optical techniques. As deposited films are found to be amorphous and also contain hydroxyl and organic functional groups. Films heat treated above 100<SUP>o</SUP>C do not contain hydroxyl and organic functional groups. Microcrystalline behavior is observed in the films heat treated above 300<SUP>o</SUP>C. Crystallite size increases from ∼5 to 50nm as sintering temperature is increased from 300 to 700<SUP>o</SUP>C. Formation of anatase phase with c-axis length 7.03A is observed in the films annealed up to 700<SUP>o</SUP>C. These films peel off from the substrate beyond 700<SUP>o</SUP>C annealing temperature. Density as well as refractive index of the films increases with increase in annealing temperature up to 700<SUP>o</SUP>C. Refractive index is found to show Cauchys behavior. Transmission better than 70% is observed in the visible range. There is a strong absorption around 370nm, which is attributed to band gap absorption of the material.

Significance of Genetic, Environmental, and Pre- and Postharvest Factors Affecting Carotenoid Contents in Crops: A Review

Saini, Ramesh Kumar,Keum, Young-Soo American Chemical Society 2018 Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol.66 No.21

<P>Carotenoids are a diverse group of tetraterpenoid pigments that play indispensable roles in plants and animals. The biosynthesis of carotenoids in plants is strictly regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in accordance with inherited genetic signals and developmental requirements and in response to external environmental stimulants. The alteration in the biosynthesis of carotenoids under the influence of external environmental stimulants, such as high light, drought, salinity, and chilling stresses, has been shown to significantly influence the nutritional value of crop plants. In addition to these stimulants, several pre- and postharvesting cultivation practices significantly influence carotenoid compositions and contents. Thus, this review discusses how various environmental stimulants and pre- and postharvesting factors can be positively modulated for the enhanced biosynthesis and accumulation of carotenoids in the edible parts of crop plants, such as the leaves, roots, tubers, flowers, fruit, and seeds. In addition, future research directions in this context are identified.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Temporary love: A love-hate transition among luxury fashion consumers in a mediation of brand jealousy and moderation of value-expressiveness

Saini Aarti,Kashif Muhammad,Platania Silvia 한국마케팅과학회 2023 마케팅과학연구 Vol.33 No.4

There is a limited amount of research to investigate emotional transition (i.e. love to hate) among consumers. Moreover, can valueexpressiveness motivate consumers to not to share negative word of mouth (NWOM) despite hating a brand? This study aims at addressing these important research questions. Survey-based data is collected from 413 Indian luxury fashion consumers and analyzed via structural equation modelling technique, using AMOS 27.0. Findings reveal that brand jealousy mediates the relationship between brand love and brand hate. Furthermore, when value expressiveness is low, the relationship between brand hate and negative word of mouth is stronger. Brand marketers should strengthen symbolic brand identity to sustain positive consumerbrand emotions. Moreover, some relationship dyads can be used to establish the brand image in a family-oriented, collectivist culture. The mediation of brand jealousy and the moderation of NWOM are unique contributions of this study in an Indian context.

Characterization of Submicron Sized Josephson Junction Fabricated in a Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ (Bi-2223) Single Crystal Whisker

Saini, S.,Kim, G. S.,Kim, S.-J. Springer-Verlag 2010 Journal of superconductivity and novel magnetism Vol.23 No.5

Characterization of nutritionally important phytoconstituents in bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) fruits by HPLC–DAD and GC–MS

Saini, R. K.,Keum, Y. S. Springer Science + Business Media 2017 Journal of food measurement & characterization Vol.11 No.1

<P>Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is the traditional vegetable used as medicinal food, in different parts of the world, including Korea and China. Little is known about its bioactive composition aside from its health-promoting properties. Therefore, the present work aimed to determine the content of carotenoids, tocopherols, folates and fatty acids in bitter melon fruits. Using HPLC-DAD, six major carotenoids were quantified in fruits; all-E-lutein was recorded in highest quantity, followed by all-E-beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, with 79.5, 17.6 and 1.5 % of total carotenoids, respectively. A high content of alpha-tocopherol (42.93 mu g/g FW) and total folate (0.724 mu g/g FW) was also recorded in fruits using HPLC-DAD and microbiological assay, respectively. The total lipid content of 1.79 % was recorded in fresh fruits (FW). Using GC-MS, sixteen fatty acids were identified in lipid fraction; alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; C18:3) was found in highest quantity (44.33 %) followed by palmitic acid (C16:0) (29.64 %), and linoleic acid (C18:2) (10.32 %). Melon fruits contain a low amount of saturated fatty acid and high-mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, in the form of ALA. Knowledge of bioactive composition in bitter melon fruit will be useful for proper diet recommendations and also for nutrient database updating.</P>

Incidence of Renal Tract Abnormalities on Ultrasonography in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective Pilot Study of a Military Cohort Undergoing Long-Term Institutional Rehabilitation

Saini Mandeep,Kataruka Mohit,Gogoi Biraj,Sharma Vyom,Madan Gurdarshdeep Singh,Sood Chetan 대한척추외과학회 2022 Asian Spine Journal Vol.16 No.2

Study Design: Retrospective pilot study. Purpose: To assess the incidence of renal tract abnormalities using ultrasonography (US) in a military cohort with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) at a tertiary level spinal cord injury center. Overview of Literature: Neurogenic bladder in TSCI patients results in significant urological morbidity. There is lack of data for these patients during the first 18 months of long-term rehabilitation in an institutional setting. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patient records to collect data on demographic characteristics, injury level, injury severity, time since injury, bladder management methods (such as an indwelling catheter [IC], clean intermittent catheterization [CIC], or self-voiding [S]); we correlated these data with the findings of the renal tract US. Results: The study included 73 out of 81 male participants. The mean patient age was 29.99 years; the study group included 34.2% tetraplegics and 65.8% people with paraplegia. The time since injury was 6–12 months for 42.5% of the subjects and 12–18 months for 57.5% of the subjects. A normal US scan was recorded in 65.7% patients, and bladder trabeculation was the commonest finding in 15.1% of the subjects, followed by hydronephrosis (HDN) in 12.3%, and renal calculus and atrophy in 1.3% participants each. We found 22.22% of the IC group participants had higher US abnormalities than those in the reflex voiding group (statistically non-significant difference, p=0.7). Trabeculations (21.4%) and HDN (19%) were more common in those who had sustained the injury 12–18 months previously as compared to that in those who had injured themselves 6–12 months previously (p=0.04). The proportion of patients who had a normal US scan was higher in the group who sustained the injury 6–12 months previously versus those who had sustained the injury 12–18 months previously; the difference was statistically significant (p=0.02). There was no significant (p=0.72) correlation in the bladder management method, injury level, and renal tract abnormalities between the groups. Conclusions: This retrospective study shows that 65% of TSCI participants had no renal tract abnormality on US scan and bladder trabeculation ruled out as the most common finding. Long-term supervised rehabilitation may help achieve good renal quality of life; however, further prospective trials are required on this subject.

Growth of <tex> ${\rm Bi}_{2}{\rm Sr}_{2}{\rm Ca}_{2}{\rm Cu}_{3}{\rm O}_{10+\delta}$</tex> (Bi-2223) Single Crystal Whiskers

Saini, S.,Kim, S.-J. IEEE 2009 IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Vol.19 No.3

<P>We prepared Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Sr<SUB>2</SUB>Ca<SUB>2</SUB>Cu<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>10+delta</SUB>(Bi-2223) single crystal whiskers from a precursor of Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Sr<SUB>2</SUB>Ca<SUB>2</SUB>Cu<SUB>2middot5</SUB>Te<SUB>0middot5</SUB>O<SUB>x</SUB> using the solid state reaction method. Te was used to enhance the growth of the whiskers. High-purity commercial powder of Bi<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>, SrCO<SUB>3</SUB>, CaCO<SUB>3</SUB>, CuO and TeO<SUB>2</SUB> were mixed and calcinated in air at 760degC to 820degC for three times. The calcinated powder was pressed into a pellet and heat treated at 880degC for 100 hours. Prior to that, the pellet was heat treated at 890degC for 15 minutes and cooled down to 880degC in 30 minutes. During the process, we used an oxygen atmosphere with a constant flow of 150 ml/min and found whiskers on the surface of the pellet. We determined that the important processing factors to grow whiskers are temperature, Te doping and the ratio of Ca and Cu. To study electrical transport characteristics, we fabricated a stack with an area of 2 mum times 2 mum and height of approximately 300 nm using focused ion beam (FIB) etching method. The stack has about two hundred of elementary junctions along the <I>c</I>-axis. A sharp and single phase transition in <I>ab</I>-plane (T<SUB>c</SUB> ap 108 K) shows high crystallinity of single crystal whiskers. Critical current density of 1 times 10<SUP>3</SUP> A/cm<SUP>2</SUP> has estimated from current (I)-voltage (V) characteristics in <I>c</I>-axis at 30 K. A well-defined superconducting gap (Vg ap 2 V) also exists in I-V characteristics, which corresponds to number of elementary Josephson junctions.</P>

An updated review on use of tomato pomace and crustacean processing waste to recover commercially vital carotenoids

Saini, Ramesh Kumar,Moon, So Hyun,Keum, Young-Soo Elsevier 2018 Food Research International Vol.108 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Globally, the amount of food processing waste has become a major concern for environmental sustainability. The valorization of these waste materials can solve the problems of its disposal. Notably, the tomato pomace and crustacean processing waste presents enormous opportunities for the extraction of commercially vital carotenoids, lycopene, and astaxanthin, which have diverse applications in the food, feed, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic industries. Moreover, such waste can generate surplus revenue which can significantly improve the economics of food production and processing. Considering these aspects, many reports have been published on the efficient use of tomato and crustacean processing waste to recover lycopene and astaxanthin. The current review provides up-to-date information available on the chemistry of lycopene and astaxanthin, their extraction methods that use environmentally friendly green solvents to minimize the impact of toxic chemical solvents on health and environment. Future research challenges in this context are also identified.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Valorization of tomato pomace and crustacean processing waste is proposed. </LI> <LI> Processing waste present unlimited opportunities for the extraction of carotenoids. </LI> <LI> SC-CO<SUB>2</SUB> extraction is the most suitable to recover carotenoids from processing waste. </LI> <LI> Animal feed is the most prominent sector of the applications of astaxanthin. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

An efficient one-step scheme for the purification of major xanthophyll carotenoids from lettuce, and assessment of their comparative anticancer potential

Saini, Ramesh Kumar,Moon, So Hyun,Gansukh, Enkhtaivan,Keum, Young-Soo Elsevier 2018 Food chemistry Vol.266 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The foremost problem in carotenoid research is the excessive cost and difficulty of maintaining pure carotenoid compounds. This work presents an economical, efficient, and simplified one-step scheme for the purification of four major xanthophyll carotenoids from lettuce by utilizing preparative thin layer chromatography on Hyflo-Super-Cel: MgO (Heavy): calcium sulfate hemihydrate (9:9:2 w/w) based adsorbent. The mobile phase of acetone: hexane (1:1) provided the perfect separation of major xanthophylls, resulting in 95–96% purity after just single-step separation, with no interference from chlorophylls or other minor carotenoids. The identity of carotenoids was confirmed by absorption spectroscopy, chemical tests and APCI<SUP>+</SUP>–MS/MS. The proposed scheme can be used to isolate the carotenoids at the analytical and preparative scale. In anticancer studies, among four xanthophylls, 9-<I>Z</I>-neoxanthin was found most potent for reduction of cell viability of cervical (HeLa) and lung cancer (A549) cells, with IC<SUB>50</SUB> values of 3.8 and 7.5 μM, respectively.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Hyflo-Super-Cel: MgO: calcium sulfate hemihydrate based adsorbent was used. </LI> <LI> The mobile phase of acetone: hexane (1:1) provided the perfect separation. </LI> <LI> Utilizing proposed scheme carotenoids can be isolated with 95–96% purity. </LI> <LI> 9-<I>Z</I>-neoxanthin is the most potent inhibitor of HeLa and A549 cells proliferation. </LI> </UL> </P>

Emerging Roles of Carotenoids in the Survival and Adaptations of Microbes

Saini, Ramesh Kumar,Sivanesan, Iyyakkannu,Keum, Young-Soo Springer-Verlag 2019 Indian journal of microbiology Vol.59 No.1