TQM implementation factors for software development: an empirical study

Software Quality Journal - There is a need for methodologies which can enhance the quality of software and improve software developmental efficiencies. One such approach commonly used by software...     

Lyapunov‐based backward‐horizon adaptive stabilization

In this paper we develop a discrete‐time adaptive stabilization algorithm based on a one‐step backward‐horizon cost criterion. By optimizing the cost with respect to the update step size, we obtain a gain update law that guarantees convergence of the plant states. The convergence proof is based on a modified Lyapunov technique. We extend the algorithm to include integral control for rejecting constant disturbances and we present an experimental application to DC motor positioning system. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electricity generation by splitting of water from hydroelectric cell: An alternative to solar cell and fuel cell

Harnessing green electricity by hydroelectric cell from water molecule splitting based on uniquely processed ferrites, multiferroic, composites and metal oxides has astonished the world. The specially processed oxygen deficient Nano porous ferrite/metal oxide attached with two dissimilar electrodes known as hydroelectric cell to generate electricity using a few drops of water for the first time it was invented in 2016. It is a primary source of energy that operates on the principle of spontaneous water molecule dissociation (OH⁻ and H₃O⁺) by oxygen deficient and Nano porous materials such as Mg_0.8Li_0.2Fe₂O₄, SiO₂, SnO₂, MgO, Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, and TiO₂. The electrodes attached on oxide pellets are the Zn sheet anode and inert cathode Ag paste fabricated as hydroelectric cell. Chemi-dissociation of water molecule on the pellet surface followed by physi-dissociation results into H₃O⁺ ion hopping and that ultimately leads to hopping of H⁺ ions into nanopores. This phenomenon generates enough electric potential that spontaneously dissociates physisorbed water molecules on the pellet surface, thus sustaining current in the cell. Redox reactions of OH⁻ and H₃O⁺ at Zn and Ag electrodes, respectively, generate cell potential, which allows the flow of electric current in the external circuit of the cell. A pellet of size 1 in. square of Mg_0.8Li_0.2Fe₂O₄, SnO₂, and Fe₃O₄ etc. is able to deliver current of 8, 22, and 50 mA with a voltage of 0.98, 0.78, and 0.83 V, respectively. Hydroelectric cell working in different functional mode is able to produce high purity hydrogen gas and zinc hydroxide nanoparticles also. This review compiled the detailed working mechanism of recently invented hydroelectric cell, with studies done on different oxide materials in order to understand their water splitting properties, its advantages and limitation along with future prospect for complementing other sources for power generation. Hydroelectric cell has brought a big revolution recently in green energy sector by opening a new field in energy materials based on water splitting by non-photocatalytic process and is progressing rapidly its development, therefore there is a need of concise and comprehensive article to introduce its working to advance this new green energy device knowledge to young researchers globally. Conduciveeconomics, ubiquitous resources, user friendly technology with no disposal issue make hydroelectric cell a future potential green energy source as a better low cost alternative to solar and fuel cell.     

Soy Bioactive Components in Functional Perspective: A Review

Functional foods are the focus of attraction for well-being. The healthy living of Asians may be attributed to a diet enriched with soy isoflavones viz. genistein and daidzein which fills the gap of proteinaceous diet in vegetarians. Several factors, such as administration, dosage, metabolism, ingestion of other pharmacological substances, type of estrogen receptors, and presence or absence of endogenous estrogen, affect the activities and bioavailability of isoflavones. The mode of therapeutic action could be either through the stimulation of estrogen receptors or by the non-involvement of estrogen receptors. Soy, due to its isoflavones content, serves as a balanced and remedial substitute in combating various lifestyle disorders, like cancer prevention, by interruption of the breakdown of extracellular matrix that surrounds growing vessels and tumors, lowering of lipid and blood insulin levels by regulating lipid and glucose metabolism, alleviation of menopausal symptoms, and osteoprotective effects by modulating estrogen receptors, thus acting as a safer switch to hormone replacement therapy, anti-hypertensive effect which may also contribute to cardioprotective, anti-oxidative effect, regulation of cognitive functions, and many others. Therefore, it could be regarded as a valuable therapeutics. However, since soy isoflavones also act as endocrine disruptors, they also possess some negative effects. Concerns have been raised in relation to thyroid function abnormality. In view of the previously mentioned facts an attempt has been made to review the literature available on both beneficial as well as deleterious role of isoflavones, soy derived bioactive compounds.     

Factors affecting the occurrence and transport of atmospheric organochlorines in the china sea and the northern Indian and South East atlantic oceans

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are reported in 97 air samples collected on board the RV Polarstern in November 2007 from the equator to Cape Town, South Africa and the MV Oceanic II (The Scholar Ship) in January-March 2008 from Shanghai, China to Cape Verde in the Central Atlantic Ocean. The atmospheric concentrations were higher close to the coast and lower in remote regions of the Indian and South Atlantic Ocean. Groups of samples were selected in the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean where the relative wind direction matched the trajectory of the ship, thus all the samples had the same input of sources upwind. In these three regions the concentrations of OCPs and PCBs declined during atmospheric transport following first order kinetics. These sets of measurements provided estimates of field derived residence times (FDRTs) for individual compounds. These values were compared with predicted atmospheric residence times (PARTs) computed using a model of long-range atmospheric transport potential of POPs. The FDRTs are 5-10 times longer for the more volatile PCB congeners and TC, CC, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE than the respective PARTs, while they are similar to PARTs for the less volatile compounds. Possible causes of discrepancies between PARTs and FDRTs are discussed, and revolatilization from the ocean surface seems to be the main cause for the higher values of FDRTs of the more volatile compounds in comparison with the respective PARTs.     

Bioavailability of iron and zinc from multiple micronutrient fortified beverage premixes in Caco-2 cell model

Abstract: Iron and zinc deficiencies are the most prevalent nutrient deficiencies worldwide. They often coexist as the dietary factors, especially phytate, which impairs iron absorption also affects zinc absorption. Therefore, suitable strategies are required to control multiple micronutrient deficiencies in populations that subsist on high‐phytate foods such as the whole wheat flour based Indian bread (chapatti). The objective of the study, therefore, was to test the bioavailability of iron and zinc in 2 multiple micronutrient beverage premixes in the absence and presence of chapatti. The premix‐1 contained iron, zinc, and vitamin A while premix‐2 contained all micronutrients in premix‐1, plus folic acid and ascorbic acid. Ferritin induction and ⁶⁵Zn uptake were assessed using coupled in vitro digestion/Caco‐2 cell line model as the surrogate markers of iron and zinc bioavailability, respectively. The results show that iron bioavailability from premixes‐1 and 2 was similar in the absence of chapatti. However, premix‐2 showed significantly higher iron bioavailability compared to premix‐1 in the presence of chapatti. In contrast, the zinc uptake was similar from both premixes‐1 and 2 in the absence or presence of chapatti. These results suggest that both the premixes provide bioavailable minerals, but premix‐2 appears to be promising in the presence of foods that have high phytate.