Influence of 340 mT static magnetic field on germination potential and mid-infrared spectrum of wheat.

In a number of studies, a static magnetic field was observed to positively influence the growing process of various plants; however, the effect has not yet been related to possible structural changes. We investigate if the static magnetic field that improves germination of wheat also alters wheat's near-infrared spectrum. Two groups of seeds were exposed to 340 mT for 16 h cumulatively. The first group was exposed 8 days for 2 h per day, while the second group was exposed 4 h per day for 4 consecutive days. One half of each of the exposed seed groups as well as of the unexposed control groups was sown, and the other half was used for mid-infrared spectra measurements. The sown seeds were monitored for 3 weeks after sowing. Germination of the groups exposed to the magnetic field was faster compared to corresponding non-exposed groups that were grown under the same conditions. The magnetic field exposure caused the enhancement of one OH peak at 3,369 cm-1 and two CO peaks at 1,662 cm-1 and 1,740 cm-1 in the mid-infrared spectrum. The effect was more pronounced for the 4 day, 4 h/day exposure. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:533-540, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Nanocrystalline CeO2-δ as effective adsorbent of azo dyes.

Ultrafine CeO2-δ nanopowder, prepared by a simple and cost-effective self-propagating room temperature synthesis method (SPRT), showed high adsorption capability for removal of different azo dyes. Batch type of adsorption experiments with fixed initial pH value were conducted for the removal of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16), Methyl Orange (MO), and Mordant Blue 9 (MB9). The equilibrium adsorption data were evaluated using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. The Langmuir model slightly better describes isotherm data for RO16 and MO, whereas the Freundlich model was found to best fit the isotherm data for MB9 over the whole concentration range. The maximum adsorption capacities, determined from isotherm data for MO, MB9, and RO16 were 113, 101, and 91 mg g(-1) respectively. The adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model indicating the coexistence of chemisorption and physisorption. The mechanism of azo dye adsorption is also discussed.

Suppression of inherent ferromagnetism in Pr-doped CeO2 nanocrystals.

Ce(1-x)Pr(x)O(2-δ) (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) nanocrystals were synthesized by self-propagating method and thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Undoped CeO2 nanocrystals exhibited intrinsic ferromagnetism at room temperature. Despite the increased concentration of oxygen vacancies in doped samples, our results showed that ferromagnetic ordering rapidly degrades with Pr doping. The suppression of ferromagnetism can be explained in terms of the different dopant valence state, the different nature of the vacancies formed in Pr-doped samples and their ability/disability to establish the ferromagnetic ordering.