Evaluation of performance and emission behaviour of DI diesel engine powered by biofuel

In this experiment, the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine were tested using bio-fuel (Anise oil) at different loads. The main focus of this study was to compare the existing biodiesel blends with the proposed mixture (anise?+?cerium oxide) of biodiesel blends in terms of engine parameters, cost, efficiency, and pollution control. The blends used in this experiment are B10 (Biodiesel-10%), B20 (Biodiesel-20%), and B30 (Biodiesel-30%). The emission and performance parameters considered for the test are SFC (specific fuel consumption), CO (carbon monoxide), NO_X (nitrogen oxide), and HC (hydrocarbon). These parameters were tested for different load conditions such as 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. From the results, it shows that SFC is lower for B20 blend compared to that of pure diesel fuel, while B10, B30, B40, and B50 blends have slightly higher values. From the experiment, it is found that emissions of the HC and NO_x were reduced and CO emission is slightly higher than the pure diesel.     

Studies on structural and optical behavior of nanoporous potassium-substituted magnesium ferrite nanomaterials,and their application as a hydroelectric cell

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - In recent years, alkali metal substituted spinel magnesium ferrites have been considered as potential materials for the fabrication of...     

Detecting anomalous crowd scenes by oriented Tracklets’ approach in active contour region

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Video imagery based crowd analysis has become a topic of great interest for public safety at the venues of mass gathering events. This paper presents a novel...     

Dielectric behaviour and relaxation processes of montmorillonite clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)–ethylene glycol oligomer blends

BACKGROUND: Intercalated and exfoliated montmorillonite (MMT) clay structures in polymer matrices improve the thermal, mechanical, electrical and pharmaceutical properties of organic–inorganic materials. Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)–ethylene glycol oligomer (EGO) blends are biocompatible and non‐toxic materials. The dielectric characterization of MMT clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in PVP–EGO blends is important in understanding the ionic conduction behaviour in many complex phenomena occurring in biological systems, and in selective membranes and their use in controlled drug release systems and in liquid electrolytes. RESULTS: An investigation using dielectric spectroscopy in the 20 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range of MMT clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in PVP–EGO blends confirmed that the PVP segmental motion, ionic conduction relaxation time, electric double layer relaxation time and direct current electrical conductivity are significantly influenced by the clay concentration and EGO chain length. In these materials, ionic motion and PVP segmental dynamics are strongly coupled. Intercalation of EGO structures in clay galleries and exfoliation of clay platelets by adsorption of PVP–EGO structures on clay surfaces are governed by hydrogen bonding interactions between the carbonyl groups of PVP monomer units, the hydroxyl groups of EGOs and the hydroxylated aluminate surfaces of the MMT clay. CONCLUSION: The dielectric behaviour of intercalated and exfoliated structures of MMT clay nano‐platelet colloidal suspensions in PVP–EGO blends provides a convenient way to obtain liquid organic‐inorganic polymeric nanocomposite electrolytes with tailored ionic conduction properties. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enhanced electrocaloric response and energy storage performance of Li-substituted BaTiO3 ceramics

Recently, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric ceramic materials have gained a lot of interest for the development of environment-friendly highly-efficient electrocaloric refrigeration and energy-storage devices. In this work, lead-free Ba_1−xLi_xTiO₃ ceramics with x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05 were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method, and the effect of Li doping on dielectric, leakage current, ferroelectric, electrocaloric, and energy storage properties of BaTiO₃ ceramics was systematically investigated. The XRD and Raman studies confirmed that the structure of Ba_1−xLi_xTiO₃ remains tetragonal as for BaTiO₃. The Li substitution shifted the phase transition (T_C) of BaTiO₃ slightly towards the lower temperature side. Significant drop in leakage current was observed with an addition of Li content. The maximum values of the electrocaloric effect (ΔT), electrocaloric responsivity, and coefficient of performance were found to be 1.44 K, 0.24 × 10⁻⁶ K m/V, and 5.75, respectively, for x = 0.04 at an applied field of 60 kV/cm near the Curie temperature. The maximal value of energy storage density was found to be 0.42 J/cm³ with an energy storage efficiency of 60% for x = 0.05. Our results suggested that lead-free Ba_1−xLi_xTiO₃ ceramic material is a promising candidate for potential applications in solid-state refrigeration technology and high-efficiency energy storage devices.     

Effect of Silane-Treated Rice Husk Derived Biosilica on Visco-Elastic,Thermal Conductivity and Hydrophobicity Behavior of Epoxy Biocomposite Coating for Air-Duct Application

Silicon - High performance epoxy biocomposite coating material was prepared using agricultural waste (rice husk) derived biosilica and characterized for visco-elastic, thermal conductivity and...     

Multifunctional Nanocarriers for diagnostics, drug delivery and targeted treatment across blood-brain barrier: perspectives on tracking and neuroimaging

Nanotechnology has brought a variety of new possibilities into biological discovery and clinical practice. In particular, nano-scaled carriers have revolutionalized drug delivery, allowing for therapeutic agents to be selectively targeted on an organ, tissue and cell specific level, also minimizing exposure of healthy tissue to drugs. In this review we discuss and analyze three issues, which are considered to be at the core of nano-scaled drug delivery systems, namely functionalization of nanocarriers, delivery to target organs and in vivo imaging. The latest developments on highly specific conjugation strategies that are used to attach biomolecules to the surface of nanoparticles (NP) are first reviewed. Besides drug carrying capabilities, the functionalization of nanocarriers also facilitate their transport to primary target organs. We highlight the leading advantage of nanocarriers, i.e. their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a tightly packed layer of endothelial cells surrounding the brain that prevents high-molecular weight molecules from entering the brain. The BBB has several transport molecules such as growth factors, insulin and transferrin that can potentially increase the efficiency and kinetics of brain-targeting nanocarriers. Potential treatments for common neurological disorders, such as stroke, tumours and Alzheimer's, are therefore a much sought-after application of nanomedicine. Likewise any other drug delivery system, a number of parameters need to be registered once functionalized NPs are administered, for instance their efficiency in organ-selective targeting, bioaccumulation and excretion. Finally, direct in vivo imaging of nanomaterials is an exciting recent field that can provide real-time tracking of those nanocarriers. We review a range of systems suitable for in vivo imaging and monitoring of drug delivery, with an emphasis on most recently introduced molecular imaging modalities based on optical and hybrid contrast, such as fluorescent protein tomography and multispectral optoacoustic tomography. Overall, great potential is foreseen for nanocarriers in medical diagnostics, therapeutics and molecular targeting. A proposed roadmap for ongoing and future research directions is therefore discussed in detail with emphasis on the development of novel approaches for functionalization, targeting and imaging of nano-based drug delivery systems, a cutting-edge technology poised to change the ways medicine is administered.     

Hyperbranched organoboron polymer electrolytes derived from glycerol

Solid polymer electrolytes are still collecting attention today for development of safer Li-ion batteries. Introduction of boron moieties to electrolytes generally improves ion conductive properties of resultant electrolytes. Herein, we have undertaken dehydrocoupling reaction between glycerol (Gly)/triethylene glycol (TEG) and hydroborane to synthesize highly branched organoboron polymer electrolytes. Increase in amorphous nature of polymer due to branched structure improved the ionic conduction. This was supported from decreased Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann parameters corresponding to activation energy of ion transport in matrices. When Gly content was increased beyond [Gly]/[TEG] = 15%, ionic conductivity decreased due to decrease in solubility of the salt in organoboron polymer matrix.