Although many methods have been documented for carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis, still, we notice many arguments, criticisms, and appeals for its optimization and process control. Industrial grade CNT production is urgent such that invention of novel methods and engineering principles for large-scale synthesis are needed. Here, we comprehensively review arc discharge (AD) and laser ablation (LA) methods with highlighted features for CNT production. We also display the growth mechanisms of CNT with reasonable grassroots knowledge to make the synthesis more efficient. We postulate the latest developments in engineering carbon feedstock, catalysts, and temperature cum other minor reaction parameters to optimize the CNT yield with desired diameter and chirality. The rate limiting steps of AD and LA are highlighted because of their direct role in tuning the growth process. Future roadmap towards the exploration of CNT synthesis methods is also outlined.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s11671-016-1730-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Commercial interests have been escalating worldwide on cellulase enzymes, since it has enormous potentiality to process most abundant and ecofriendly celluloses and convert them into the renewable and sustainable energy, chemicals, fuels and materials. However, overcoming the cellulose recalcitrance and understanding accurate cellulase catalytic activities have been remaining as major technological challenges. Here we reviewed cellulose hierarchy as a primary focus for cellulase actions and highlighted open questions related to endo-and exo-type cellulases. Special importance has been paid to critically evaluate research efforts on enzyme-substrate interactions, processivity, synergism and mechanistic paradigm for cellulose depolymerizations. These understandings pave the way for enzyme based cellulose bioprocessing and further gains of fundamental science and improved methods for cellulase engineering. We hope the article is potentially important for the biologists, polymer specialists, industrialists and most of the scientists active in cellulose science and technology.

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The hypocholesterolemic effect of the ethanol extract of Ananas comosas (Pineapple) was investigated in 5 groups of albino rats, 7 in each group. Group I rat received only distilled water and served as normal control. Groups II, III, IV and  V were made hypercholesterolemic by feeding cholesterol orally suspended in 2% cholic acid mixed soybean oil (1 ml/kg bw) at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw daily up to 60 days. Group II rat received 1 ml distilled water while animals of Group III , IV and V received ethanol extract of Ananas comosas at the dose of 1000 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight respectively daily up to 60 days in addition to cholesterol as above. At the end of 60th day animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for measurement of lipid profiles using enzymatic kit. Administration of cholesterol caused a significant rise (p<0.001) in the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Simultaneous administration of three different doses of Ananas comosas extract namely 1000 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 60 days decreased serum cholesterol level by 62%, 47%, and 42% respectively (p<0.001); serum triglycerides level by 62.7%, 58.7%, and 49.09% respectively (p<0.001); serum LDL level by 70.5%, 53.9% and 51.15%, respectively (p<0.01). However, serum HDL level was not affected significantly. The cumulative results clearly indicate ethanol extract of Ananas comosas leaves possesses potent hypocholesterolaemic effect.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v5i1.3739 International Journal of Life Sciences Vol.5(1) 2011