A.c. conductivity studies on the silver molybdo-arsenate glassy system

A new quaternary fast-ion conducting silver molybdo-arsenate [Agl-Ag₂O-(MoO₃ + As₂O₅)] (SMA) glassy system has been prepared using the melt-quenching technique for various dopant salt (Agl) concentrations by fixing the formers (MoO₃ + As₂O₅) composition and the modifier (Ag₂O) to formers (M/F) ratio. The prepared compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The impedance measurements were made on different Agl compositions of the SMA glasses as a function of frequency (6.5 Hz–65 kHz) and temperature (303–343 K), using the Solatron frequency-response analyser (model 1250). The bulk conductivity and the appropriate physical model (equivalent circuit) of the SMA glass were obtained from the impedance analysis. The a.c. conductivity was calculated for different Agl compositions of SMA glasses at various temperatures and the obtained a.c. conductivity results were analysed using Jonscher's Universal Law. The conduction mechanism for the highest conducting SMA glassy compound has been explained using the diffusion path model.     

Energy-efficient stable multipath routing in MANET

In MANET, node’s battery energy and stability of the links are often affecting the communication activities in the network. These two factors are one of the main reasons which are responsible for the loss of data packets and occurrence of congestion issue that networks are facing today. In order to overcome these issues, we propose an approach known as efficient and stable multipath routing in MANETs with congestion awareness. This approach is an extension work to our previous work where bandwidth and delay are considered during the routing. Here, in this approach, network estimates the residual energy and stability of the links in the network. While estimating the residual energy, it also considers the receiving energy and transmitting energy of the node. Then, stability of the link LET is estimated; this LET is obtained by using motion parameters (i.e. velocity, direction of the nodes). Based on these parameters, the network selects the path to transmit the data packets between the nodes.     

Resistive interpolation biasing: a technique for compensatinglinear variation in an array of MOS current sources

A new technique called resistive interpolation biasing for accurately biasing a large number of analog cells on a VLSI chip is presented. Variations in oxide thickness, mobility, doping concentration, etc., cause inaccuracies in current ratios of two identically biased transistors if they are placed sufficiently far apart on a chip. The proposed technique compensates for these inaccuracies without using any sampling or switching. The technique has been verified using a 2 μm n-well CMOS process. Measurements show a factor of 3 improvement in terms of current ratio accuracy when the resistive interpolation technique is used. The circuit can be implemented with a small chip area and low power dissipation. This technique finds applications where extensive current duplication over a large area is required (e.g., analog memories, D/A converters, continuous-time filters, imaging arrays, neural networks, and fuzzy logic systems)     

A linear-time algorithm to compute the reliability of planarcube-free networks

A planar graph G=(V,E) is a cube-free graph (CF graph) if it has no subgraph homomorphic to the cube. The cube is the graph whose vertices and edges are the vertices and edges of the three dimensional geometric cube. The all-terminal reliability of a graph G whose edges can fail (with known probabilities) is the probability that G is connected. The problem of computing the all-terminal reliability of a general graph is NP-hard. An O(| V|) time algorithm for computing the all-terminal reliability of CF graphs is presented     

Comparative amino acid and fatty acid compositions of edible gums kondagogu (Cochlospermum gossypium) and karaya (Sterculia urens)

Gum karaya and gum kondagogu are the two important commercial tree gums of India. The amino acids and fatty acid profiles of gum kondagogu and gum karaya were investigated by preparing their corresponding N-O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) derivatives for amino acids and direct trans-esterification of methyl esters for fatty acids and their subsequent analysis by a GC–MS method. The amino acids, such as, alanine, valine, methionine, tyrosine and tryptophan, were not detected in gum karaya as they were in gum kondagogu. Interestingly, the aspartic acid content (72.8 ± 3.45 μg/g) of gum kondagogu was higher than that of gum karaya (64.2 ± 2.44 μg/g). The ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acid in gum kondagogu and gum karaya were found to be 5:1, and 6.6:1, respectively. Among the unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (1.8 ± 0.12 μg/g) and γ-linolenic acid (0.8 ± 0.05 μg/g) were detected only in gum kondagogu. Arachidic acid was not detected in gum karaya. Additionally, the presence of linoleic acid and γ-linolenic acid in gum kondagogu reinforces its nutritional value.     

Optimization of medium components and cultural variables for enhanced production of acidic high maltose-forming and Ca2+-independent α-amylase by Bacillus acidicola

The production of acidic α-amylase by a novel acidophilic bacterium Bacillus acidicola TSAS1 was optimized in submerged fermentation using statistical approaches. The process parameters that significantly affected α-amylase production (starch, K(2)HPO(4), inoculum size and temperature) were identified by Plackett and Burman design. The optimum levels of the significant variables as determined using central composite design of response surface methodology are starch (2.75%), K(2)HPO(4) (0.01%), inoculum size [2% (v/v) containing 1.9×10(8) CFU ml(-1)], and temperature (33°C). An overall 2.4 and 2.9-fold increase in enzyme production has been attained in batch and fed-batch fermentations in the laboratory fermentor, respectively.     

Characterisation of Seed Lipids from Bixa orellana and Trachyspermum copticum

Bixa orellana L. seeds possess a resinous lipid (6.3 %), which has a pungent and spicy odour. The seed is known for its medicinal properties such as anti‐inflammatory, antipyretic activity and as a cure for tonsilitis. Trachyspermum copticum L. seed is a well known digestive aid and relief from colic pain. T. copticum possesses essential oil rich in thymol (>50 %) and lipid (15.6 %). The present study was aimed to quantify lipid classes of these two species by silicic acid chromatography and analyze their fatty acid composition by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). It was observed that the seed lipids are rich in neutral lipids with 98.1 and 95.2 % and lower quantities of glycolipids of 1.5 and 3.8 % and phospholipids of 0.36 and 1.0 % in B. orellana and T. copticum, respectively. The fatty acid composition of B. orellana seed lipid showed major quantities of palmitic (26.9 %), linoleic (26.1 %), oleic (17.5 %), linolenic (15.1 %), stearic acid (10.8 %) and small quantities of eicosanoic acid (3.6 %). In T. copticum seed lipids, petroselinic acid (68.3 %) and linoleic acid (25.3 %) together constituted 93 % of the total lipid. The results revealed that the lipids after recovery of the essential components namely, bixin and volatile oil from B. orellana and T. copticum, respectively can be further explored for industrial applications.     

Alkylation of Benzene with Isopropyl Alcohol over SAPO-5 Catalyst in an Integral Pressure Reactor

The alkylation of benzene with isopropyl alcohol was studied in an integral pressure reactor over silicon substituted aluminophosphate molecular sieves, SAPO-5. The influence of various process parameters such as temperature, pressure, time on stream, weight hourly space velocity, and mole ratio of reactants on cumene yield and selectivity were investigated. The activity of SAPO-5 was compared with that of Hbeta for this reaction under similar conditions and in the same reactor. At pressures higher than atmospheric, almost the theoretical maximum yields of cumene were achieved on this SAPO-5. Among the diisopropyl benzenes formed by the alkylation of cumene, the meta-isomer was found to form in a significant amount followed by the para-isomer. The ortho-isomer with relatively high strain energy of 4.26 kcal/mol was almost negligible. The cumene yield goes through a maximum in the temperature range 498-543 K studied. Cumene selectivity was found to decrease at higher temperatures, higher pressures and lower benzene to isopropanol mole ratios.