A healthcare monitoring system using random forest and internet of things (IoT)

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The Internet of Things (IoT) enabled various types of applications in the field of information technology, smart and connected health care is notably a crucial...     

Nakagami-m Fading Affected Multiuser Cognitive Radio System Design Using Moth Flame Optimization

Wireless Personal Communications - Moth flame optimization (MFO), a novel natural surrounding based optimization technique, whose main character is the moth, from the family of butterflies. A...     

Optimisation of novel method for the extraction of steviosides from Stevia rebaudiana leaves

Stevioside, a diterpene glycoside, is well known for its intense sweetness and is used as a non-caloric sweetener. Its potential widespread use requires an easy and effective extraction method. Enzymatic extraction of stevioside from Stevia rebaudiana leaves with cellulase, pectinase and hemicellulase, using various parameters, such as concentration of enzyme, incubation time and temperature, was optimised. Hemicellulase was observed to give the highest stevioside yield (369.23 ± 0.11 μg) in 1 h in comparison to cellulase (359 ± 0.30 μg) and pectinases (333 ± 0.55 μg). Extraction from leaves under optimised conditions showed a remarkable increase in the yield (35 times) compared with a control experiment. The extraction conditions were further optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was used for experimental design and analysis of the results to obtain optimal extraction conditions. Based on RSM analysis, temperature of 51-54 °C, time of 36-45 min and the cocktail of pectinase, cellulase and hemicellulase, set at 2% each, gave the best results. Under the optimised conditions, the experimental values were in close agreement with the prediction model and resulted in a three times yield enhancement of stevioside. The isolated stevioside was characterised through ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, by comparison with a stevioside standard.     

LiMgPO4:Tb,B OSL phosphor - CW and LM OSL studies

In the adjoining paper, the authors have proposed LiMgPO₄:Tb,B (LMP) OSL phosphor as a potential alternative to α-Al₂O₃:C for dosimetry applications. This calls for developing an understanding on TL and OSL aspects of this highly sensitive LMP phosphor. CW and LM OSL processes were therefore studied experimentally and kinetic analysis was carried out using theoretical models. Continuous wave (CW) OSL curve for LMP phosphor was found not to follow single decaying exponential implying that the CWOSL curve does not follow first order kinetics. Under pre-readout annealing at 125, 200 and 300 °C for 10 s, the nature of decay profile was unaffected and same holds true for optically bleached CWOSL curves. From linearly modulated (LM) OSL studies, it was found that the shape/geometrical factor μ_g was ∼0.72 ± 0.03 for wide range of doses (up to 12 Gy studied) and peak position “t_m” was also independent of dose. The μ_g was found to be unaffected with pre-readout annealing at 125, 200 and 300 °C for 10 s and optical bleaching, however it was found that peak position “t_m” shifted towards higher side in time with increase of optical bleaching. Dose dependence tests were also carried out for LMOSL curves and it was found that peak position “t_m” was independent of dose, which is typical characteristic of curves following first order kinetics. Hence LM-OSL curve might be mixture of more than one component.Further from CW and LM OSL studies, it was also found that the individual contribution from first, second and third TL peak toward OSL is ∼33%, ∼45% and ∼22%, respectively. Traps beyond 350 °C were found not to contribute towards OSL when stimulated using blue LEDs. In the present paper, the CW and LM OSL processes for LMP phosphor were studied experimentally and their kinetic analysis was carried out.     

200‐MW chemical looping combustion based thermal power plant for clean power generation

The present study demonstrates a possible configuration of a 200 MW chemical looping combustion (CLC) system with methane (CH₄) as fuel. Iron oxide‐based oxygen carriers were used because of its non‐toxic nature, low‐cost, and wide availability. We analyzed the effects of different variables on the design of the system. For the air reactor (oxidizer), bed mass is independent, and for the fuel reactor (reducer), it decreases with increase in the conversion difference between the air and fuel reactors. On the other hand, the pressure drop in the air reactor is unchanged, whereas for the fuel reactor, it decreases with the same increase of conversion difference between air and fuel reactors. Also, entrained solid mass flow rate from the air to fuel reactor shows a decreasing trend. Bed mass, bed height, pressure drop, and residence time of the bed materials decrease with increase in the conversion rates in the air and fuel reactors. Residence time of bed material in the air and fuel reactor reduces with increase in the temperature of the air reactor. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amorphous carbon encapsulation of metal aerosol nanoparticles for improved collection and prevention of oxidation

A technique to encapsulate silver nanoparticles in an amorphous carbon matrix to facilitate nanoparticle collection and limit nanoparticle oxidation is presented. A carbon source added to the metal salt precursor solution decomposes to generate amorphous carbon, which forms large aggregates that are efficiently collected by filtration. The carbon matrix can be removed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide without damaging the silver nanoparticles within it. X‐ray diffraction showed no evidence of oxidation of encapsulated particles over a two‐week period, whereas bare particles showed oxidation after 1 day. Slight oxidation was observed following carbon removal, but no further oxidation was detected over a subsequent two‐week period. Carbon encapsulation improves nanoparticle collection efficiency, relative to direct collection of unagglomerated silver nanoparticles with membrane filters. The yield of metal nanoparticles is increased by a factor 1.5 to 3 using this approach. The encapsulating carbon itself forms dendritic nanostructures that may also be of interest. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 4116–4123, 2013     

Process Performance Models in Software Engineering: A Mathematical Solution Approach to Problem Using Industry Data

Wireless Personal Communications - An IT Project Manager is responsible for project planning, estimating and scheduling, developing and monitoring the progress throughout its development life...     

Hydrolysis of citrus peel naringin by recombinant α‐L‐rhamnosidase from Clostridium stercorarium

The citrus fruit processing industry generates substantial quantities of waste rich in glycosylated phenolic substances such as naringin, which are a valuable natural source of polyphenols as well as L‐rhamnopyranose. Naringin is the major polyphenol in bitter orange peel and its hydrolysis by α‐L ‐rhamnosidase (EC 3.2.1.40) catalyzes the cleavage of the terminal rhamnosyl groups to form prunin and rhamnose. In this work, a recombinant α‐L ‐rhamnosidase from C. stercorarium was shown to be suitable for narigin hydrolysis. The recombinant rhamnosidase was found to be relatively stable at 60 °C, and a residual activity close to 50% after 180 min of incubation was demonstrated. The purified enzyme established hydrolysis of naringin extracted from citrus peel waste (CPW). The result indicated that recombinant α‐L ‐rhamnosidase has industrial applicability and is an interesting candidate for producing rhamnose from citrus peel. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry