Pd–NPs@MMT–K10 Catalysis of Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-coupling Reaction: In Situ Generation and Ex Situ Use

Catalysis Letters - Due to high surface area and low swelling property, Montmorillonite–K10 (MMT–K10) has been gaining widespread applications in heterogeneous catalysis as a material...     

Gold Drugs with {Au(PPh3)}+ Moiety: Advantages and Medicinal Applications

Following the success of Auranofin as an anti-arthritic drug, search for novel gold drugs has afforded a large number of [L−Au(PPh₃)] complexes that exhibit notable salutary effects. Unlike Au(III)-containing species, these gold complexes with {Au(PPh₃)}⁺ moiety are stable in biological media and readily exchange L with S- and Se-containing enzymes or proteins. Such exchange leads to rapid reduction of microbial loads or induction of apoptotic cell death at malignant sites. In many cases the lipophilic {Au(PPh₃)}⁺ moiety delivers a desirable toxic L to the specific cellular target in addition to exhibiting its own beneficial activity. Further research and utilization of this synthon in drug design could lead to novel chemotherapeutics for treatment of drug-resistant pathogens and cancers.     

Experimental study of paddy drying in a vortex chamber

The intensification of interfacial mass, heat, and momentum transfer makes vortex chambers potentially interesting for the efficient drying of paddy, allowing shorter drying times and/or more compact equipment. The presence of a shell introduces particular challenges. Intraparticle diffusion limitations are strong and may reduce the advantage from intensified interfacial mass and heat transfer and the efficiency of air usage. Furthermore, high shear and normal stresses in the fast rotating particle bed may cause damage to the paddy shell, posing problems for transport and storage. With these specific aspects in mind, the use of vortex chambers for paddy drying is experimentally evaluated.     

ISGP: Iterative sequential geometric programming for precise and robust CMOS analog circuit sizing

In this paper, a fast yet accurate CMOS analog circuit sizing method, referred to as Iterative Sequential Geometric Programming (ISGP), has been proposed. In this methodology, a correction factor has been introduced for each parameter of the geometric programming (GP) compatible device and performance model. These correction factors are updated using a SPICE simulation after every iteration of a sequential geometric programming (SGP) optimization. The proposed methodology takes advantage of SGP based optimization, namely, fast convergence and effectively optimum design and at the same time it uses SPICE simulation to fine tune the design point by rectifying inaccuracy that may exists in the GP compatible device and performance models. In addition, the ISGP considers the requirement of common centroid layout and yield aware design centering for robust final design point specifying the number of fingers and finger widths for each transistor which makes the design point ready for layout.     

Time delays and angles of arrival estimation using known signals

Channel estimation in a multipath mobile communication system is addressed in this paper, and a novel approach based on the linear prediction in frequency domain and the singular value decomposition technique is presented for joint estimation of the angles of arrival and the time delays of multiple reflections of a known signal. Simulation results illustrating the performance of the proposed algorithm are included, and the results show that the proposed method is close in accuracy when compared to the iterative maximum-likelihood method. However, when the two methods are compared in computational complexity, it is demonstrated that the proposed method reduces the complexity to nearly half of that of the maximum-likelihood method. The Cramer–Rao bounds are computed for comparison.     

Enhancement of properties of recycled coarse aggregate concrete using bacteria

Due to rapid construction, necessity for raw materials of concrete, especially coarse aggregate, tends to increase the danger of early exhaustion of the natural resources. An alternative source of raw materials would perhaps delay the advent of this early exhaustion. Recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) plays a great role as an alternative raw material that can replace the natural coarse aggregate (NCA) for concrete. Previous studies show that the properties of RCA concrete are inferior in quality compared to NCA concrete. This article attempts to study the improvement of properties of RCA concrete with the addition of bacteria named as Bacillus subtilis. The experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the improvement of the compressive strength, capillary water absorption, and drying shrinkage of RCA concrete incorporating bacteria. The compressive strength of RCA concrete is found to be increased by about 20% when the cell concentration of B. subtilis is 10⁶ cells/ml. The capillary water absorption as well as drying shrinkage of RCA are reduced when bacteria is incorporated. The improvement of RCA concrete is confirmed to be due to the calcium carbonate precipitation as observed from the microstructure studies carried out on it such as EDX, SEM, and XRD.     

An experimental investigation on the application potential of heterogeneous catalyzed Nahar biodiesel and its diesel blends as diesel engine fuels

From the inception of commercialization of biodiesel, feedstock scarcity is a major issue to be pondered upon in developing countries. In this study, an attempt has been made to use an abundantly available underutilized high oil content (67% of Nahar seed kernel) feedstock derived biodiesel in a compression ignition engine. The experimental investigation on diesel engine reveals slightly reduced brake thermal efficiency and excellent exhaust emissions up to 40% blending of Nahar biodiesel with conventional diesel fuel. At full load, compared to diesel fuel, the BTE dropped by 1.64% and 1.83%, whereas the BSFC increased by 5.07% and 6.76% for B30 and B40 blends, respectively. The tested emission parameters such as CO, HC, NOx, and smoke were decreased by 12.66%, 17.99%, 8.31%, and 10.61% for B30 and 4.87%, 12.76%, 7.98%, and 11.78% for B40, respectively, compared to diesel fuel.

Abbreviation: BD: Biodiesel; DF: Diesel fuel     

Mechanical properties of non-cohesive polygonal particle aggregates

We numerically investigate the effective material properties of aggregates consisting of soft convex polygonal particles, using the discrete element method. First, we construct two types of “sand piles” by two different procedures. Then we measure the averaged stress and strain, the latter via imposing a 10% reduction of gravity, as well as the fabric tensor. Furthermore, we compare the vertical normal strain tensor between sand piles qualitatively and show how the construction history of the piles affects their strain distribution as well as the stress distribution. In the next step, elastic constants are determined, assuming Hooke’s law to be locally valid throughout the sand piles. We determine the relationship between invariants of the stress and strain tensor, observing that the behaviour is nonlinear. While linear elastic behaviour near the centre of the pile is compatible with our data, nonlinearity signals the transition to plastic behaviour near its surface. A similar behaviour was assumed by Cantelaube et al. (Static multiplicity of stress states in granular heaps. Proc R Soc Lond A 456:2569–2588, 2000). We find that the macroscopic stress and fabric tensors are not collinear in the sand pile and that the elastic behaviour is anisotropic in an essential way.