Effects of Thermal Annealing Duration on the Film Morphology of Methylamine Lead Triiodide (MAPbI3) Perovskite Thin Films in Ambient Air.

In the present communication we have studied the effect of thermal annealing duration on morphology of methylamine lead triiodide (MAPbI3) perovskite (prepared using single step method) semiconductor that changes into lead iodide (PbI2). Furthermore, the effect of annealing duration on thin films is investigated and correlated with its potential photovoltaic application. Thin films characteristics study by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results indicate MAPbI3 degraded strongly by annealing duration. However, thin films (about 1.25 micron-thick) annealed at 80 °C for 10 min in ambient conditions cause minimum degradation with smooth and uniform surface morphology. It also shows a higher absorption coefficient with the band gap of °1.5 eV rendering this perovskite suitable for practical applications.

Effect on Morphology and Optical Properties of Inorganic and Hybrid Perovskite Semiconductor Thin Films Fabricated Layer by Layer.

In recent time, organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells govern photovoltaic field, due to its remarkable development on the power conversion process. Still, large variations in device efficiency and basic physical properties are reported. This is due to variations during film fabrications and consecutive treatments employed. Here, we report a layer by layer deposition of inorganic perovskite (CsBi3I10) and lead halide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) thin films. We find that the absorbance for corresponding thin film goes on increasing dramatically. UV-vis spectrum of film recorded to find the band gap of films, ˜1.55 eV optical band gap have been obtained for the film fabricated layer by layer. We further study the fabrication of different perovskite layers impact on microstructure, surface morphology and optical properties. The optical and structural characterization outcomes all suggests the perovskite films processed by using the layer by layer fabrication are well controlled, making this processes an auspicious technique to fabricate thin-films for numerous prospective device applications and scientific studies.

Antiviral profile of Nyctanthes arbortristis L. against encephalitis causing viruses.

The ethanolic extracts, various fractions and two pure compounds isolated from the plant N. arbortris were tested against Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV) and Semliki Forest Virus (SFV). Pronounced in vitro virus inhibitory activity was observed with the ethanolic and n-butanol fractions as well as with the pure compounds arbortristoside A and arbortristoside C. In addition, ethanolic extracts and n-butanol fraction protected EMCV infected mice to the extent of 40 and 60% respectively against SFV at a daily dose of 125 mg/kg body weight.

Effect of pregnancy on plasma lipid concentration in Trinidadian women. Result of a pilot study.

In Trinidad and Tobago, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus are important causes of morbidity and mortality, and birth weight is significantly less than reference standards. Lower birth weight is associated with increased risk of these diseases. Variation in birth weight is due, in part, to deposition of adipose tissue in the foetus during the last trimester at the same time that maternal plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) increases. We conducted a pilot cross-sectional analysis of maternal plasma lipid status and birth weight in healthy, non-pregnant, primigravida Trinidadian women. Non-pregnant and pregnant women, in their second and third trimesters, and at term, were recruited at random from an antenatal clinic. Adult and umbilical cord plasma TAG, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) concentrations were determined from gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acids. Maternal height, weight, skinfold thickness and infant birth weight were measured. The infants born to Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian women were of low to normal birth weight (medians 3.07 and 3.22 kg, respectively). At term, plasma TAG concentration was approximately two fold (p < 0.05) greater than for non-pregnant women. The increment between 30-34 weeks was 1.5 to 1.9 fold lower than reported in other populations. There was a strong relationship (r = 0.8771, p = 0.019) between maternal and cord plasma TAG and NEFA, but not PC concentrations. There was no significant relationship between maternal TAG concentration at term and birth weight. The result suggests an impaired ability to increase plasma TAG concentrations during late gestation.

Immunostimulant activity of dry fruits and plant materials used in indian traditional medical system for mothers after child birth and invalids.

Products of certain plants given to mothers after child birth or to invalids were studied for immunostimulant activity using the macrophage migration index (MMI) as a parameter of macrophage activation and cell-mediated immunity and haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titres and plaque-forming cell (PFC) counts as parameters of humoral immunity. Feeding of Prunus amygdalus (Almond(1)) and Buchanania lanzan (Chirronji(1)) significantly stimulated both CMI and humoral immunity in BALB/c mice as evidenced by the enhancement of MMI, HA titres, and PFC counts. Euryale ferox (Tel makhana(1)), Phoenix dactylifera (Chhohara(1)) and Zingiber officinale (Sonth(1)), however, stimulated humoral immunity to a greater extent than CMI. The observation provides scientific basis for feeding the products of above plants to mothers after child birth and to invalids with a relatively poor immune status.

Leprosy with HIV infection in Manipur.

A 27 -year -old unmarried male presented with typical clinical features of lepromatous leprosy which was confirmed by slit-skin smear and histopathological examinations. He also had history of intra-venous use of heroin and tested positive for HIV-I antibody by ELISA and Western blot. This is the first case report of co-infection of leprosy and HIV from Manipur.

Epidemic of herpes zoster following HIV epidemic in Manipur, India.

Since 1989, injecting drug use (IDU) related HIV infection has affected thousands of young adults in Manipur, a north eastern state of India bordering Myanmar following a similar kind of epidemic in adjoining countries like Thailand and Myanmar. During a clinical surveillance of a group of HIV positive IDUs for a natural history study at Manipur, herpes zoster (HZ) emerged as the most specific early HIV related illness (positive predictive value of 100%) in patients belonging to the age group of 12-45 years. Data collected from the dermatology departments of the two main hospitals of the state revealed that there had been an epidemic of HZ since 1990 (rate of 1990 being 11.3/1000 compared to 6.5/1000 in 1989, P value < 0.0001) among males of 12-45 years. The epidemic of HZ has been attributed to the preceding epidemic of IDU related HIV in the same age and gender group occurring 1 year earlier. HZ should be recognised as a marker condition similar to tuberculosis indicating the necessity of screening for HIV in regions where the dual problem of IDU and HIV exist in young adults.

A Spectrophtometic Study of Faecal in Patients of Atopic Dermatitis.

A quantitative assay of porphyrins in stool of thirty-patients with atopic dermatitis was done. Rimingtlon's technique -for the estimation of Porophyrins was employed. Porphyrin levels in the thirty cases were compared with ten normals which constituted the control group. No statistically significant difference in porphytm levels was, Observed between the study and control group. Porphyrin levels were also compared between patients with and without history photosensitivity.