Substrate-free pure-phase BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles doped with alkaline earth metals (Ba, Sr and Ca) have been synthesized by a sol–gel route and their thermal, optical, dielectric and magnetic properties are discussed. The characteristic structural phase transitions of BFO nanoparticles are found to occur at much lower temperatures. A reduction of the Néel temperature has been observed in the doped samples in comparison with the pristine one, whereas the band gap shows a reverse trend. Iron was found to be only in the Fe3+ valence state in all the doped samples. Magnetoelectric coupling is seen in our samples. Weak ferromagnetism is observed at room temperature in all of the doped and undoped BFO nanoparticles with the largest value of coercive field ∼1.78 kOe and saturation magnetization ∼2.38 emu g−1 for Ba and Ca doped BFO nanoparticles, respectively.

Background:Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is an age old disease described in Vedic Medicine as ‘Yakshma’. Later on, in Ayurveda it earned a prefix and found way into mythology as ‘Rajayakshma’. After the discovery of streptomycin, the therapeutic management of PTB received a major breakthrough. The treatment module changed remarkably with the formulation of newer anti-tubercular drugs (ATD) with appreciable success. Recent resurgence of PTB in developed countries like United States posed a threat to the medical community due to resistant strains. Consequently, WHO looked toward traditional medicine. Literature reveals that Ayurvedic treatment of PTB was in vogue in India before the introduction of ATD with limited success. Records show that 2766 patients of PTB were treated with Ayurvedic drugs in a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata in the year 1933-1947.Objectives:To evaluate the toxicity reduction and early restoration by adjunct therapy of Ayurvedic drugs by increasing the bio-availability of ATDs.Materials and Methods:In the present study, treatment response of 99 patients treated with ATD as an adjunct with Aswagandha (Withania somnifera) and a multi-herbal formulation described in Chikitsa-sthana of Charaka samhita i.e. Chyawanprash were investigated. Hematological profile, sputum bacterial load count, immunoglobulin IgA and IgM, blood sugar, liver function test, serum creatinine were the assessed parameters besides blood isoniazid and pyrazinamide, repeated after 28 days of treatment.Results:The symptoms abated, body weight showed improvement, ESR values were normal, there was appreciable change in IgA and IgM patterns and significantly increased bioavailability of isoniazid and pyrazinamide were recorded.Conclusion:This innovative clinical study coupled with empowered research may turn out to be promising in finding a solution for the treatment of PTB.

Nickel nanowires with a diameter of ∼200 nm were prepared using the electrodeposition technique. The length of the nanowires was varied from 0.7 to 5.6 μm, which corresponds to the change in the aspect ratio from 3.5 to 28. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction spectra confirm the formation of nickel nanowires. In-plane and out-of-plane coercivity and remanence of the samples determined from direct current magnetic hysteresis loops suggest the magnetic easy axis of the nanowires along their transverse direction. As a result, magnetic hardness along the axis of the nanowires is higher than that perpendicular to it. The temperature dependence (80 K≤T≤350 K) of coercivity and squareness ratio of the samples has also been studied in detail. The vortex configuration of magnetization in the individual nanowires along with magnetostatic interaction among them has been suggested as the possible explanation for the observed magnetic properties of these nanowires in the present study.

A low temperature route to the multiferroic FeAlO 3 is being reported. Four different synthesis routes namely, the solid-state route, the co-precipitation route, the sol-gel route and the high-energy ball-milling route have been carried out. The as-prepared samples of all the four routes have been subjected to sintering at 1,000 • C. The sintered samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-ray diffractograms revealed the coexistence of the orthorhombic multiferroic phase along with some unreacted impurities. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the desired multiferroic phase along with residual hematite. A discussion on the various aspects of the different synthesis procedures is presented.

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