Investigation on sulphonated zinc oxide nanorod incorporated sulphonated poly (1,4-phenylene ether ether sulfone) nanocomposite membranes for improved performance of microbial fuel cell

Hydrothermally prepared zinc oxide nanorods are sulphonated (S–ZnO NR) and incorporated into 15% Sulphonated Poly (1,4-Phenylene Ether Ether Sulfone) (SPEES) to improve the hydrophilicity, water uptake and ion transfer capacity. Water uptake and ion transfer capacity increased to 34.6 ± 0.6% and 2.0 ± 0.05 meq g^?1 from 29.8 ± 0.3% and 1.4 ± 0.04 meq g^?1 by adding 7.5 wt% S–ZnO NR to SPEES. Morphological studies show the prepared S–ZnO NR is well dispersed in the polymer matrix. SPEES +7.5 wt% S–ZnO NR membrane exhibits optimum performance after three-weeks of continual operation in a fabricated microbial fuel cell (MFC) to produce a maximum power density of 142 ± 1.2 mW m^?2 with a reduced biofilm compared to plain SPEES (59 ± 0.8 mW m^?2), unsulphonated filler incorporated SPEES (SPEES + 7.5 wt% ZnO, 68 ± 1.1 mW m^?2) and Nafion (130 ± 1.5 mW m^?2) thereby suggesting its suitability as a sustainable and improved cation exchange membrane (CEM) for MFCs.     

Fluorescence Enhancement Through Incorporation of Chromophores in Polymeric Nanoparticles

Incorporation of a pyrene chromophore on the surface of polymeric nanoparticles results in its fluorescence enhancement. Quantum yield and lifetime measurements suggest that the enrichment in fluorescent signal is due to the increase in the rigidity of the environment surrounding the fluorophores and that it is dependent on the particle size.     

Nitrites Derived From Foneiculum Vulgare (Fennel) Seeds Promotes Vascular Functions

Abstract: Recent evidence has demonstrated that nitrites play an important role in the cardiovascular system. Fennel (Foneiculum vulgare) seeds are often used as mouth fresheners after a meal in both the Indian sub‐continent and around the world. The present study aims to quantify the nitrite and nitrates in fennel seeds as well as elucidating the effect of fennel derived‐nitrites on vascular functions. Results from our study show that fennel seeds contain significantly higher amount of nitrites when compared to other commonly used post‐meal seeds. Furthermore our study confirmed the functional effects of fennel derived‐nitrites using in vitro and ex vivo models that describe the promotion of angiogenesis, cell migration, and vasorelaxation. We also showed that chewing fennel seeds enhanced nitrite content of saliva. Thus our study indicates the potential role of fennel derived‐nitrites on the vascular system. Practical Application: This study is focused on determining the effect of fennel‐derived nitrites on angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from pre‐existing ones), cell migration, and vasorelaxation (dilation of blood vessels) thereby preserving cardiovascular health.     

Diffusion of innovation model of consumer behaviour - Ideas to accelerate adoption of renewable energy sources by consumer communities in India

Renewable Energy (RE) sources form a minuscule portion of India’s overall Energy consumption today. India continues to rely on fast depleting fossil fuel and expensive Oil imports to satisfy the energy demands of the economy. But this is hardly sustainable and India has to quickly get RE sources to play a major role in servicing the energy needs of its population. Despite the best efforts the adoption of RE sources by consumer communities in India is patchy. This article will focus on what needs to be done to create a pull from the market for RE sources, by looking at Consumer Behaviour literature available in the area of Diffusion of Innovation[1]. Demand for RE sources from consumer communities must reach a tipping point[4] quickly; for the sector to take-off on its own and become a self-sustaining business.     

Layered reasoning for randomized distributed algorithms

This paper adopts the communication closed layer (CCL) concept of Elrad and Francez to the formal reasoning of randomized distributed algorithms. We do so by enriching probabilistic automata (PA) with a layered composition operator, an intermediate between parallel and sequential composition. Layered composition is used to establish probabilistic counterparts of the CCL laws that exploit independence and/or precedence conditions between the constituent PA. The probabilistic CCL laws enable partial order (po-) equivalence when layered composition is replaced by sequential composition. Such po-equivalence induces a purely syntactic partial-order state space reduction via layered separation in compositions of PA while preserving probabilistic next-free linear-time properties. The feasibility of such layered separation is demonstrated on a randomized mutual exclusion algorithm by Kushilevitz and Rabin, complementing an algebraic approach (for analyzing this algorithm) by McIver, Gonzalia, Cohen, and Morgan.     

Nanoscale Investigation of Grain Growth in RF-Sputtered Indium Tin Oxide Thin Films by Scanning Probe Microscopy

This work studied the electronic characteristics of the grains and grain boundaries of indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films using electrostatic and Kelvin probe force microscopy. Two types of ITO films were compared, deposited using radiofrequency magnetron sputtering in pure argon or 99% argon + 1% oxygen, respectively. The average grain size and surface roughness increased with substrate temperature for the films deposited in pure argon. With the addition of 1% oxygen, the increase in the grain size was inhibited above 150°C, which was suggested to be due to passivation of the grains by the excess oxygen. Electrostatic force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) images confirmed that the grain growth was defect mediated and occurred at defective interfaces at high temperatures. Films deposited at room temperature with 1% oxygen showed crystalline nature, while films deposited with pure argon at room temperature were amorphous as observed from KPFM images. The potential drop across the grain and grain boundary was determined by taking surface potential line profiles to evaluate the electronic properties.     

Comparison of biological reactors (biofilter,biotrickling filter and modified RBC) for treating dichloromethane vapors

BACKGROUND: Bioreactors used for waste gas and odor treatment have gained acceptance in recent years to treat volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Different types of bioreactors (biofilter, biotrickling filter and rotating biological reactor) have been used for waste gas treatment. Most studies reported in the literature have used one of these systems to treat several types of inorganic and organic gases either individually or in mixtures. Each of these reactors has some advantages and some limitations. Though biodegradation is the main process for the removal of pollutants, the mechanisms of removal and the microbial communities may differ among these bioreactors. Consequently their performance or removal efficiency may also be different. RESULTS: At low loading rate (<35 g m^?3 h^?1), all three bioreactors showed comparable removal efficiencies and elimination capacity, but at higher loading rates, rotating biological contactors (RBC) showed a better performance with higher removal efficiency (40–50%) than both the biofilter and biotrickling filter (20–40%). The biofilter showed a sharp drop in removal efficiency and elimination capacity at high loading rates. CONCLUSIONS: The modified RBC had no clogging problems and no increase in pressure drop when compared with the other bioreactors. It can thus handle pollutant load for a longer period of time. This is the first study attempting to compare the performance of three different bioreactors for removal of the same VOC under different conditions. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry