Water quality management of a stretch of river Yamuna: An interactive fuzzy multi-objective approach

This paper presents an Interactive Fuzzy Multi-Objective Linear Programming (IFMOLP) model for water quality management in a river basin. The IFMOLP model formulated will first evaluate dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations or DO deficits at a point in different reaches depending on the overall Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) concentration present in the respective drain. Subsequently, the model incorporates the aspirations and conflicting objectives of the decision maker (DM) by taking into consideration the aspects relevant for pollution control boards as well as dischargers responsible for generating wastewater. The uncertainty associated with specifying the water quality criteria (based on DO concentration or DO deficit) and treatment cost to remove pollution level is incorporated by interacting the decision maker. In this process DM is asked to specify the reference aspiration levels of achievement for the values of all membership functions generated with respect to each objective. This provides flexibility for the pollution control authorities and dischargers to specify their aspirations. IFMOLP model developed herein is then used in a case study for the evaluation of optimal BOD removal in different drains located across the river Yamuna at New Delhi, India. The presented model will simulate the allocation of waste load efficiencies with satisfactory results which will indicate usefulness of the model in managing more complex river basins along with better flexible policies of water management.     

Computational scheme for the step growth polymerization of multifunctional monomers in presence of intramolecular reactions

The transport of gaseous ethylene oxide (EtO) in several polymer films is studied using the carrier gas method of measurement. Permeability, solubility, and diffusion coefficients describing ethylene oxide (EtO) transport in polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, Teflon-FEP copolymer, and polyethylene films have been obtained over a 30 Celsius degree range at a low concentration of EtO using the carrier gas method of measurement. The results indicate that the diffusion of EtO in polyethylene is independent of penetrant concentration over the range of concentrations used. However, concentration-independent diffusion could not be verified directly for the other films studied. Two different techniques of determining diffusion coefficients were used, and within the precision of the data both yield the same result. An excess enthalpy of solution for the solubility of EtO in Teflon-FEP copolymer was calculated, an observation that suggests that dual-mode sorption may be taking place.     

Optimization of Production Planning by the Generalized Newton-Raphson Method

The generalized Newton-Raphson method is combined with the classical techniques, such as the calculus of variations and the maximum principle, to obtain the optimum of production and advertising scheduling problem. It is shown that this combined approach is fairly effective. A highly nonlinear twelve-dimensional example is solved. Using roughly estimated functions, only six iterations are needed to obtain results with four-digit accuracy.     

A steady rotational plane gas flow problem by hodograph method

The geometry and the solutions are investigated for steady rotational plane gas flows with arbitrary equation of statt when the velocity magnitude is constant along each individual streamline by using the hodographic technique.     

Breast abscess: coagulase-negative staphylococcus as a sole pathogen

Breast abscesses in nonlactating women are very uncommon. Rarely have cases been reported in which coagulase-negative staphylococci have been isolated in pure culture. We describe a 67-year-old patient who had such an abscess. Specimens obtained by fine needle aspiration, incision and drainage, and biopsy of the breast mass all showed acute inflammation and many gram-positive cocci on gram stain and histologic examination; cultures of all specimens yielded many coagulase-negative staphylococci. The patient responded well to incision and drainage and therapy with antibiotics.     

New Structural Variants of Homoserine Lactones in Bacteria

N‐Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are used by a wide variety of bacteria for cell–cell communication in “quorum‐sensing”. These compounds are derived from L ‐homoserine lactone and a fatty acid, which varies in chain‐length, degree of saturation, and the presence or absence of an oxygen atom at C‐3. In this study we describe for the first time the occurrence of acyl chains carrying a methyl branch, and present a GC‐MS‐based method that can be used to distinguish these compounds from unbranched isomers. The bacterium Aeromonas culicicola produces several methyl branched AHLs. In Jannaschia helgolandensis—a marine bacterium of the Roseobacter clade—a doubly unsaturated AHL, (2E,9Z)‐N‐(2,9‐hexadecadienoyl)‐L ‐homoserine lactone, occurs. The location and configuration of the double bonds was proven by spectrometric investigation and synthesis. Finally, a method was developed to establish the absolute configuration of 3‐hydroxyalkanoyl‐HSLs by mild cleavage and chiral gas chromatography. The AHLs synthesized during this study were tested in sensor systems specific for certain AHL types. The results show that these compounds display varying responses to the respective sensors; this underlines the importance of determining the whole bouquet of AHLs and its function to fully understand their importance for regulatory functions in bacteria.     

A multiobjective thermodynamic optimization of a nanoscale Stirling engine operated with Maxwell‐Boltzmann gas

Recent developments in nanotechnology provided an opportunity to solve many complex problems in the field of energy. Performance investigation of the nanoscale thermal cycles can prove crucial in the development of efficient and less polluting energy system. Due to the influence of boundary phenomenon and quantum degeneracy effects, a nanoscale engine performs according to statistical quantum thermodynamics instead of classical thermodynamics. In this study, a nanoscale Stirling engine operating on an ideal Maxwell‐Boltzmann gas is investigated for multiobjective optimization. Optimization problem of Stirling cycle is formed considering the thermal efficiency, ecological coefficient of performance and entropy generation. An application example of a nanoscale Stirling engine is presented and solved using Heat Transfer Search algorithm. Maxwell‐Boltzmann gas restricted in a finite domain is studied and the effect of different parameters, such as surface area ratio, volume ratio, and temperature ratio of the domain, is investigated. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to identify the effect of design variables on the performance parameters. Further, influence of the source temperature and the number of particles of working fluid on the objective functions is studied and presented.     

Prospects of inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants for tribological characteristics – a review

ABSTRACT

Fossil fuel resource is on the draining stage which leads to an increment in the cost of the petroleum products. Nowadays, research is focused on the development of environmental friendly lubricants which are derivatives of renewable sources. Inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants are environmentally friendly because they are non-hazardous, biodegradable, as well as there is no emission of toxic gases. This study involves the characterisations, advantages, as well as utilisation of inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants as an alternative for tribological applications. This report presents the status about the global lubricant market as well as potential outlook. Inedible plant oil-driven bio-lubricants bear high viscosity, high lubricity, and high viscosity index which can enhance the equipment service life and has the ability to carry high load and results in minimum amount of metal traces during combustion.