Synthesis,Characterization, Solution Behavior,and Density Functional Theory Analysis of Some Pyridinium‐Based Ionic Liquids

Some picolinium ionic liquids (IL) [α/γ‐PicC _n][Br/NO₃] (n = 3, 5, 7) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR data. The surface tension and density of all the IL were determined. The aggregation behavior of these IL in aqueous medium and in dichloromethane was assessed from the variation of electrical conductivity in these media. The critical aggregation concentrations of these IL in aqueous medium were found to decrease significantly by the addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The structural features and the conformation of these IL were further investigated by using density functional theory calculations. The bromide ion was found to be inclined asymmetrically to one side of the pyridinium nucleus, while the nitrogen of the nitrate group lies close to the nitronium ion of the pyridinium nucleus.     

Influences of nanoparticle content on electrical and thermal performances of micro-nano hybrid composites for packaging materials

This paper presents electrical and thermal properties of a novel type of micro-nano hybrid composites to be potential for packaging. The micro-nano hybrid composites contain 20 wt% of micro-aluminium nitride (AlN) with 1, 3, and 5 wt% of nano-AlN, respectively. Electrical measurement and thermal analysis are used to analyze the performances. The results show that the nano-AlN in the hybrid composites can suppress the space charge accumulation near the cathode and facilitate the conversion of hetero charge into the homo-charge accumulations near the anode. No apparent electric field distortion can be observed in the M20N3 sample, whereas it exhibits a minimum electrical conductivity and highest thermal conductivity amongst all samples. Furthermore, the nano-filler addition can enhance the DC breakdown strength and the thermal stability of the hybrid composites. The thermal and electrical conduction mechanism of the micro and nano fillers in the hybrid composites is also elucidated.     

Purification of recombinant human interferon gamma from fermentation broth using reverse micellar extraction: A process optimization study

In the present investigation, we have shown a single step purification of IFN-γ from the fermentation broth of recombinant Kluyveromyces lactis (K. lactis) strain, using cationic surfactant based reverse micellar extraction (RME) system. The forward and back extraction processes were optimized in order to improve the overall extraction process. 78%, 93% and 98% forward extraction efficiencies (FEE) were obtained after the process by using aqueous phase pH 12, 150 mM CTAB and 0.2 M NaCl respectively. Afterwards, back extraction efficiency (BEE) was maximized by the optimization of stripping phase pH, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and potassium chloride (KCl) concentration by employing Taguchi’s method of orthogonal array. Stripping phase pH 7, 15% IPA & 0.8 M KCl were found to be the best possible parameters producing 83% BEE. The usage of IPA has proven to reduce the effect of micellar-micellar based interaction, which was reflected as an improvement in BEE. This study demonstrates that the reverse micellar system is a highly promising and efficient tool for the direct extraction of recombinant proteins from fermentation broth. Moreover, this system holds a high potential to be an integral part of the downstream process used in biopharmaceutical industry.     

Giant negative electrocaloric effect and energy storage response in 0.94(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3-0.06SrMnO3 nanocrystalline ceramics

We report the electrocaloric (EC) effect investigation on lead-free 0.94(K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃-0.06SrMnO₃ nanocrystalline ceramics by an indirect thermodynamic method using Maxwell's relations. The maximum value of the negative EC effect ($\mathrm{\Delta }{\mathrm{T}}_{\mathit{max}}=?1.66\mathrm{K}$) was observed at 459?K near the transition temperature at the field of 50?kV/cm. The corresponding EC responsivity was calculated to be $?3.32\times {10}^{?7}\mathrm{K}\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{V}$ under 50?kV/cm at 459?K whereas the coefficient of performance (COP) and recoverable energy density (${\mathrm{W}}_{\mathit{rec}}$) were found to be 1.03 and $0.17\mathrm{J}/{\mathrm{cm}}^3$, respectively under 50?kV/cm at 443?K. The observed values of negative EC effect, and EC responsivity are larger than any other lead-free ferroelectric ceramics with good COP and ${\mathrm{W}}_{\mathit{rec}}$ value. The results are interesting to improve the cooling efficiency and energy storage for device application.     

Ortho‐ and meta‐substituted polystyrene polyperoxides: synthesis,characterization and thermal decomposition studies

The alternating copolymers of vinyl monomers with molecular oxygen (polyperoxides) show numerous novel physicochemical properties such as high exothermic degradation. In the work presented, polyperoxides were prepared by oxidative polymerization of ortho‐ and meta‐substituted styrene monomers in toluene in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile free radical initiator at 50 °C and 0.69 MPa oxygen pressure. The polymeric peroxides of styrene monomers with substituents in the ortho‐ and meta‐positions thus obtained were characterized using NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, elemental analysis and electron impact mass spectrometry to confirm the alternating copolymer structure with peroxy bonds in the backbone. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to study the exothermic thermal degradation of these polyperoxides. For these polyperoxides, the measured heats of degradation ( ) were found to lie between ?169 and ?180 kJ mol^?1, which are comparable with the values of other vinyl polyperoxides. The exothermic degradation mechanism is supported by thermochemical calculations. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

A maximum likelihood approach to parallel imaging with coil sensitivity noise

Parallel imaging is a powerful technique to speed up magnetic resonance (MR) image acquisition via multiple coils. Both the received signal of each coil and its sensitivity map, which describes its spatial response, are needed during reconstruction. Widely used schemes such as SENSE assume that sensitivity maps of the coils are noiseless while the only errors are in coil outputs. In practice, however, sensitivity maps are subject to a wide variety of errors. At first glance, sensitivity noise appears to result in an errors-in-variables problem of the kind that is typically solved using total least squares (TLSs). However, existing TLS algorithms are in general inappropriate for the specific type of block structure that arises in parallel imaging. In this paper, we take a maximum likelihood approach to the problem of parallel imaging in the presence of independent Gaussian sensitivity noise. This results in a quasi-quadratic objective function, which can be efficiently minimized. Experimental evidence suggests substantial gains over conventional SENSE, especially in nonideal imaging conditions like low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), high g-factors and large acceleration, using sensitivity maps suffering from misalignment, ringing, and random noise.     

Thermal performance analysis of evacuated tubes solar air collector in Indian climate conditions

The thermal performance of one-ended evacuated tubes solar air collector is experimentally investigated during the winter season at NIT Kurukshetra, India [29 ° 58^′(latitude) North and 76 ° 53 ^′ (longitude) East]. The collector consists of 15 one-ended evacuated tubes with different lengths of directional inner aluminium tubes (inserted tubes) and a manifold channel, with air used as a working fluid. The inlet air flows through the directional inner aluminium tubes as a result of forced convection. In this experiment, evacuated tubes are used for producing hot air corresponding to different lengths of directional aluminium tubes without using any intermediate fluid. The temperature of the outlet air depends on the air flow rate, length of the directional aluminium tube and solar intensity. The maximum temperature difference between outlet air and inlet air at solar intensity 904 W/m² was found to be 72.7 °C with a flow rate of 5.06 kg/h and length of 0.83 m.     

Darcy–Forchheimer MHD radiative flow through a porous space incorporating viscous dissipation,heat source,and chemical reaction effect across an exponentially stretched surface

The impacts of viscous dissipation, Brownian motion, and the thermophoresis caused by temperature gradient on the steady two-dimensional incompressible chemically reactive and radiative flow of traditional fluid through an exponentially stretched sheet embedded in a Darcy porous media are explored by approaching boundary layer analysis. A magnetic field effect is also addressed along the transverse direction of the horizontal stretched sheet. With the implementation of some suitable nondimensional quantities, the regulating nonlinear partial differential equations, which represent the flow geometry, are transformed into coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. To acquire the numerical findings from this set of equations, a three-stage Lobatto IIIa, in-built MATLAB scheme named, Bvp4c is used. The effects of the dimensionless physical factors on the flow, heat, and concentration profile, as well as on the coefficient of drag force and the rate of thermal and mass transit at the surface, are graphically and numerically depicted. The thermal profile, as well as the magnitude of the coefficient of the drag force and the Sherwood number, is found to be escalated with the Darcy–Forchheimer factor, but the depreciation in the value of temperature gradient at the wall is noticed for the same.     

Enhancement of field emission characteristics of carbon nanotubes on oxidation

Vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown on p-type silicon wafer using thermal chemical vapor deposition process and subsequently treated with oxygen plasma for oxidation. It was observed that the electron field emission (EFE) characteristics are enhanced. It showed that the turn-on electric field (E(TOE)) of CNTs decreased from 0.67 (untreated) to 0.26 V/microm (oxygen treated). Raman spectra showed that the numbers of defects are increased, which are generated by oxygen-treatment, and absorbed molecules on the CNTs are responsible for the enhancement of EFE. Scanning electron microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy images were used to identify the quality and physical changes of the nanotube morphology and surfaces; revealing the evidence of enhancement in the field emission properties after oxygen-plasma treatment.