An improved analytical model for static pull-in voltage of a flexured MEMS switch

Microsystem Technologies - This paper presents the design of low-k meander based MEMS shunt capacitive switch with beam perforations. A closed form model to accurately calculate the pull-in voltage...     

Design and sensitivity analysis of capacitive MEMS pressure sensor for blood pressure measurement

Microsystem Technologies - This paper presents the design and simulation of a MEMS based clamped capacitive pressure sensor for blood pressure measurement. Normally, Blood pressure for human beings...     

Auto-association measures for stationary time series of categorical data

For stationary time series of nominal categorical data or ordinal categorical data (with arbitrary ordered numberings of the categories), autocorrelation does not make much sense. Biswas and Guha (J Stat Plan Infer 139:3076–3087, 2009a) used mutual information as a measure of association and introduced the concept of auto-mutual information in this context. In this present paper, we introduce general auto-association measures for this purpose and study several special cases. Theoretical properties and simulation results are given along with two illustrative real data examples.     

Comparative aroma profiles using supercritical carbon dioxide and Likens–Nickerson extraction from a commercial brand of Basmati rice

A comparative evaluation of the extraction of the aroma constituents of a popular commercial brand of Basmati rice using Likens–Nickerson extraction and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide was carried out. SFE at 50 °C and 120 bar for 2 h provided appreciable extraction of the volatile constituents of the rice as compared with Likens–Nickerson extraction. The advantages of smaller sample size, shorter time of extraction and negligible possibility of artefacts with the SFE technique merit its use for recovery of aroma volatiles from Basmati rice. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mechanical,Rheological, and Electrical Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Nanocomposites of 50/50 Acrylonitrile–Styrene–Acrylate/Zn+2 poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) Ionomer Blend

The effect of variable amount of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on mechanical, rheological, and electrical properties of acrylonitrile–styrene–acrylate/Zn⁺²-poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) ionomer blend system has been evaluated. Optical micrographs as well as alternating current conductivity data shows the formation of nanotube percolation network at 1 wt% nanotube content. The polymer/nanotube interaction increased the rate of tensile modulus to 55 GPa at low nanotube content. The polymer chain relaxation time was increased upto 1 wt% of nanotube content, but higher nanotube loading reduced the time. The zero-shear viscosity was function of nanotube content whereas the infinite-shear viscosity was independent of nanotube content.     

Adsorption behavior of lindane on Rhizopus oryzae biomass: Physico-chemical studies

Rhizopus oryzae biomass (ROB), depending on the age of the culture has been found to adsorb lindane, an organochloro pesticide from its aqueous solution to the extent of 63–90%. The adsorption process does not depend on the pH of the solution or incubation temperature and is very rapid during the first 15 min and reaches equilibrium within 60 min following pseudo-second-order rate model. The adsorption capacity of 1 g ROB towards lindane is 107.5 μg as calculated from pseudo-second-order curve. The equilibrium isotherm data better fit to Freundlich (R = 0.98) than Langmuir model (R = 0.54). Removal of lipids from ROB with organic solvents reduces its adsorption capacity by 55–68% indicating the importance of hydrophobic interaction in the present adsorption process. SEM–EDX analysis reveals that lindane is adsorbed on the biomass. This study shows that ROB may be a good biosorbent for the removal of lindane from water.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of lutein from yellow maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis>) kernels: process optimization based on lutein content,antioxidant activity,and ω-6/ω-3 fatty acid ratio

Yellow maize kernels were subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction to obtain a lutein-rich extract with potential nutraceutical properties. SC-CO₂ extraction parameters (pressure and temperature) were optimized by employing a full-factorial (3²) design of experiments and response surface methodology, based on yield of lutein, antioxidant activity, and ω-6/ω-3 fatty acid ratio of the extracts. A Chrastil equation was also developed for predicting the solubility of lutein in SC-CO₂ under different extraction conditions. The optimized extraction condition was obtained at 500 bar, 70 °C for 90 min, at which the extract was found to possess a unique combination of the highest lutein yield (275.00 ± 3.50 μg/g of dry weight), along with a well-balanced ω-6/ω-3 fatty acid ratio (3:1). Moreover, the total phenol content and antioxidant activity were also found to be the highest at this condition. This lutein-rich extract is a promising nutraceutical or dietary supplement in the food industry.     

Removal of Rancid-Acid Odor of Expeller-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil by Gamma Irradiation: Evaluation by Sensory and Electronic Nose Technology

Expeller-pressed virgin coconut oil, known to have disagreeable rancid-acid odor due to the presence of octanoic acid, was subjected to gamma (γ) irradiation for removal of the same. Sensory evaluation in tandem with electronic nose (Heracles and ENOVISION) analyses established that the oil irradiated at 4.2 kGy had no rancid-acid odor (absence of octanoic acid) at the end of 28 days of storage at 23 ± 2 °C. Therefore, 4.2 kGy was established as the “appropriate irradiation dose” for removal of rancid-acid odor of virgin coconut oil. A “deodorization index” with respect to rancid-acid odor was also developed using electronic nose for confirmation of this “appropriate dose” and thereby provided possible means of preventing detrimental effects of high dose of γ-irradiation in oils. GC–MS analysis of hydrocarbons extracted from oil irradiated at 4.2 kGy by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction revealed radiolysis of octanoic acid resulting in elimination of rancid-acid odor. Further, γ-irradiation at 4.2 kGy did not affect the antioxidant potency of coconut oil rendering it a safe and healthy alternative to conventional deodorization techniques for oils. Development of methodology for assessment of rancid-acid odor of coconut oil using electronic nose has been reported for the first time in this work.