Biosorption of aqueous chromium(VI) by Tamarindus indica seeds

The effectiveness of low cost agro-based materials namely, Tamarindus indica seed (TS), crushed coconut shell (CS), almond shell (AS), ground nut shell (GS) and walnut shell (WS) were evaluated for Cr(VI) removal. Batch test indicated that hexavalent chromium sorption capacity (q(e)) followed the sequence q(e)(TS) > q(e)(WS) > q(e)(AS) > q(e)(GS) > q(e)(CS). Due to high sorptive capacity, tamarind seed was selected for detailed sorption studies. Sorption kinetic data followed first order reversible kinetic fit model for all the sorbents. The equilibrium conditions were achieved within 150 min under the mixing conditions employed. Sorption equilibria exhibited better fit to Freundlich isotherms (R>0.92) than Langmuir isotherm (R approximately = 0.87). Hexavalent chromium sorption by TS decreased with increase in pH, and slightly reduced with increase in ionic strength. Cr(VI) removal by TS seems to be mainly by chemisorption. Desorption of Cr(VI) from Cr(VI) laden TS was quite less by distilled water and HCl. Whereas with NaOH, maximum desorption achieved was about 15.3%. When TS was used in downflow column mode, Cr(VI) removal was quite good but head loss increased as the run progressed and was stopped after 200 h.

Magnon-Photon-Phonon Entanglement in Cavity Magnomechanics

We show how to generate tripartite entanglement in a cavity magnomechanical system which consists of magnons, cavity microwave photons, and phonons. The magnons are embodied by a collective motion of a large number of spins in a macroscopic ferrimagnet, and are driven directly by an electromagnetic field. The cavity photons and magnons are coupled via magnetic dipole interaction, and the magnons and phonons are coupled via magnetostrictive (radiation pressurelike) interaction. We show optimal parameter regimes for achieving the tripartite entanglement where magnons, cavity photons, and phonons are entangled with each other, and we further prove that the steady state of the system is a genuinely tripartite entangled state. The entanglement is robust against temperature. Our results indicate that cavity magnomechanical systems could provide a promising platform for the study of macroscopic quantum phenomena.

Anisotropic vacuum-induced interference in decay channels

We demonstrate how the anisotropy of the vacuum of the electromagnetic field can lead to quantum interferences among the decay channels of close lying states. Our key result is that interferences are given by the scalar formed from the antinormally ordered electric field correlation tensor for the anisotropic vacuum and the dipole matrix elements for the two transitions. We present results for emission between two conducting plates as well as for a two photon process involving fluorescence produced under coherent cw excitation.

Gas chromatographic studies of the carbamylation of haemoglobin by methyl isocyanate in rats and rabbits

Carbamylation of the N-terminal valine of haemoglobin with methyl isocyanate in rats and rabbits has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo by gas chromatography. N-Methylcarbamylated haemoglobin, converted by cyclization into 3-methyl-5-isopropylhydantoin, has been quantified by gas chromatography. Standard hydantoin was synthesized, chemically characterized and used for calibration. The method is simple and reliable in the concentration range 0.06-2 nmol. Carbamylation of haemoglobin by methyl isocyanate in vivo in rats can be identified only above a dose of 1.05 mg/l in inhalation exposures. It is inferred that methyl isocyanate in the "active" form crosses the alveolar and erythrocyte membranes and carbamylates the haemoglobin.

Class of solitary wave solutions of the one-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation

We present a large family of exact solitary wave solutions of the one-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation, with time-varying scattering length and gain or loss, in both expulsive and regular parabolic confinement regimes. The consistency condition governing the soliton profiles is shown to map onto a linear Schrödinger eigenvalue problem, thereby enabling one to find analytically the effect of a wide variety of temporal variations in the control parameters, which are experimentally realizable. Corresponding to each solvable quantum mechanical system, one can identify a soliton configuration. These include soliton trains in close analogy to experimental observations of Streckeret al. [Nature (London) 417, 150 (2002)], spatiotemporal dynamics, solitons undergoing rapid amplification, collapse and revival of condensates, and analytical expression of two-soliton bound states, to name a few.