A boolean spider monkey optimization based energy efficient clustering approach for WSNs

Wireless sensor network (WSN) consists of densely distributed nodes that are deployed to observe and react to events within the sensor field. In WSNs, energy management and network lifetime optimization are major issues in the designing of cluster-based routing protocols. Clustering is an efficient data gathering technique that effectively reduces the energy consumption by organizing nodes into groups. However, in clustering protocols, cluster heads (CHs) bear additional load for coordinating various activities within the cluster. Improper selection of CHs causes increased energy consumption and also degrades the performance of WSN. Therefore, proper CH selection and their load balancing using efficient routing protocol is a critical aspect for long run operation of WSN. Clustering a network with proper load balancing is an NP-hard problem. To solve such problems having vast search area, optimization algorithm is the preeminent possible solution. Spider monkey optimization (SMO) is a relatively new nature inspired evolutionary algorithm based on the foraging behaviour of spider monkeys. It has proved its worth for benchmark functions optimization and antenna design problems. In this paper, SMO based threshold-sensitive energy-efficient clustering protocol is proposed to prolong network lifetime with an intend to extend the stability period of the network. Dual-hop communication between CHs and BS is utilized to achieve load balancing of distant CHs and energy minimization. The results demonstrate that the proposed protocol significantly outperforms existing protocols in terms of energy consumption, system lifetime and stability period.     

Modeling and simulation of carbon nanotube field effect transistor and its circuit application

The carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNTFET) is modelled for circuit application. The model is based on the transport mechanism and it directly relates the transport mechanism with the chirality. Also, it does not consider self consistent equations and thus is used to develop the HSPICE compatible circuit model. For validation of the model, it is applied to the top gate CNTFET structure and the MATLAB simulation results are compared with the simulations of a similar structure created in NanoTCAD ViDES. For demonstrating the circuit compatibility of the model, two circuits viz. inverter and SRAM are designed and simulated in HSPICE. Finally, SRAM performance metrics are compared with those of device simulations from NanoTCAD ViDES.     

Compact model for ballistic single wall CNTFET under quantum capacitance limit

This paper proposes a compact model for carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNTFET) based on surface potential and conduction band minima. The proposed model relates the I–V characteristics to chirality under quantum capacitance limit. C–V characteristics have been efficiently modelled for different capacitance models which are used to find the relationship between CNT surface potential and gate voltage. The role of different capacitances is discussed and it has been found that the proposed circuit compact model strictly follows quantum capacitance limit. The proposed model is efficiently designed for circuit simulations as it denies self-consistent numerical simulation. Furthermore, this compact model is compared with experimental results. The model has been used to simulate an inverter using HSPICE.     

Polyphenols in fig: a review on their characterisation,biochemistry during ripening,antioxidant activity and health benefits

Fig fruit (consumed either fresh or dried) is a rich source of polyphenols distributed throughout its peel and pulp. However, the peel part is superior in diversity of these compounds in comparison to the pulp. Fig polyphenols have been extracted both by conventional solid–liquid extraction and novel assisted methods (mainly ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted procedures). These can be characterised primarily into flavonoids (anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols and various flavonol glycosides) and phenolic acids. Figs contain good levels of anthocyanins (such as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside) which impart different colouring hues to these fruits during the ripening process. Moreover, fig polyphenols have associated antioxidant activities and impart many health benefits such as antihyperglycaemic, hepatoprotective and antispasmodic activities. This review provides a thorough information on the fig polyphenols, stressing on their extraction, characterisation as well as quantification, the biochemical changes during the ripening process, associated antioxidant activity and health benefits.     

Proximate,mineral, amino acid composition,phenolic profile,antioxidant and functional properties of oilseed cakes

Proximate, minerals, amino acids (AAs), phenolic composition, antioxidant and functional properties of flaxseed (FSC), sesame (SSC), mustard (MSC), nigella (NSC) and groundnut (GSC) seedcakes were studied. SSC exhibited higher ash and fat contents while GSC and FSC had more protein and mineral contents (P, Mg, Mn and Cu), respectively. The total flavonoids, phenolics and antioxidant activity were higher in NSC (18.60 mg QE g⁻¹), MSC (5.12 mg GAE g⁻¹) and FSC (12.28 µmol TE g⁻¹), respectively. NSC exhibited the highest oil absorption capacity (2.10 g g⁻¹) and emulsifying activity index (89.52 m² g⁻¹). Twenty-one AAs including citrulline and ɣ-aminobutyric acid were detected in oilseed cakes (OSC). MSC had more essential AAs (methionine, isoleucine, tryptophan, threonine and lysine) while GSC had more total hydrophobic, acidic and basic AAs. Syringic acid and rutin were identified as major phenolic compounds in GSC and MSC, respectively. The total free phenolic acids were more in GSC while FSC had high total bound phenolic acids and flavonoids. OSC can be utilised in food products as a supplement to improve nutritional properties.     

Near-infrared reflective properties of perylene derivatives

Dyes and pigments with high reflectance in the near-infrared (NIR) region can extensively control the heat buildup. Perylene-based pigments exhibit considerable reflectance in the NIR region. The reflectance of a material depends upon a number of factors, such as particle size, concentration of the reflective material, the distribution of particles within the material and the material’s refractive index. The refractive index, in turn, depends on the electronic structure of the material. Therefore,differently substituted perylene compounds are expected to exhibit different reflectance in the NIR region. To elaborate this point, different perylene bisimide derivatives have been synthesized, and their ability to reflect in the NIR region has been determined and compared to the results for commercially available pigments. Significant variation in the relative reflectance is observed in the NIR region for differently substituted perylene bisimide compounds. The NIR reflectance of different perylene tetracarboxy diimide derivatives (PCIs) was also compared to the reflectance of 3,4:9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCA), the precursor from which the PCIs are commonly synthesized. PTCA exhibits significantly higher relative reflectance in the given region than any of the diimide derivatives synthesized from it in this study.     

Distribution and biochemical composition of large and small seeds of soybean (Glycine max L.)

BACKGROUND: The position of soybean seeds on the stem axis brings about differences in seed filling during seed development, which contributes to different seed size and results in determining the quality of seeds for food usage. The quality differences between the large and small seeds are reported. RESULTS: The proportion of large seeds was higher at the apical portion while small seeds predominated at the basal portion of the soybean stem axis. The contents of lipids, starch, soluble sugars and soluble proteins were higher in large seeds as compared to those in small ones. The proportion of membrane lipid components, on a 10‐kernel basis, was higher in large seeds. The proportion of palmitate and oleate was also higher in large seeds. SDS‐PAGE analysis showed that glycinin (11S) proteins of 46 and 32 kDa were at higher concentrations, while 158 and 20 kDa were at lower concentration in large seeds in comparison to small seeds. Likewise, β‐conglycinins (7S) of 75, 62 and 46 kDa were higher in large seeds compared to small ones. CONCLUSION: Segregating the seeds of apical from the basal portion of soybean plant at harvest is expected to improve the germination, growth, yield and food‐processing aspects. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antimicrobial potential of pomegranate peel: a review

Pomegranate peel (PoP) is a byproduct of the fruit juice processing industry, comprising nearly 30–40% of fruit portion. PoP is rich in polyphenols (phenolic acids, tannins and flavonoids particularly anthocyanins) which are known to have diverse biological functions including effectiveness against pathogenic microorganisms. PoP has shown a broad spectrum antimicrobial activity (AMA) of PoP against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It also presented promising AMA against antibiotic resistant microbial strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The high levels of polyphenols, particularly punicalagin and ellagic acid, present in PoP have been responsible for its antifungal properties. PoP is effective against many fungi including both pathogenic (Aspergillus flavus) and opportunistic pathogens. These activities of PoP may be exploited as a phytomedicine for humans, in order to eliminate the use of antibiotics and reducing their cost. This review provides collective up-to-date information on the efficacy of plant-derived AMA of PoP.     

Processing Instruments Affect the Mechanical Properties and Interface Interaction of Bentone/PU Coatings

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - Polyurethane bentone coatings were prepared using high shear homogenizer (HSH@4000rpm, a high shear instrument), mixer (M@40rpm) along with...