Programmable logic circuits for functional integrated smart plastic systems

In this paper, we present a functional integrated plastic system. We have fabricated arrays of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) and printed electronic components driving an electrophoretic ink display up to 70 mm by 70 mm on a single flexible transparent plastic foil. Transistor arrays were quickly and reliably configured for different logic functions by an additional process step of inkjet printing conductive silver wires and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) resistors between transistors or between logic blocks. Among the circuit functions and features demonstrated on the arrays are a 7-stage ring oscillator, a D-type flip-flop memory element, a 2:4 demultiplexer, a programmable array logic device (PAL), and printed wires and resistors. Touch input sensors were also printed, thus only external batteries were required for a complete electronic subsystem. The PAL featured 8 inputs, 8 outputs, 32 product terms, and had 1260 p-type polymer transistors in a 3-metal process using diode-load logic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a PAL concept with organic transistors has been demonstrated, and also the first time that organic transistors have been used as the control logic for a flexible display which have both been integrated on to a single plastic substrate. The versatility afforded by the additive inkjet printing process is well suited to organic programmable logic on plastic substrates, in effect, making flexible organic electronics more flexible.     

Wavelet based iterative methods for a class of 2D-partial integro differential equations

In this paper, an iterative method based on quasilinearization is presented to solve a class of two dimensional partial integro differential equations that arise in nuclear reactor models and population models. Two different approaches based on Haar and Legendre wavelets are studied to develop numerical methods. In the first approach, time domain is approximated with the help of forward finite difference approach. In the second approach, both time as well as space domains are approximated by wavelets. Appropriate examples are solved using these methods and the obtained results are compared with the methods available in the recent literature.     

Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation by Pt modified TiO2 nanotubes fabricated by rapid breakdown anodization

Photo-assisted hydrogen generation studies of platinum loaded titanium (IV) oxide nanotubes suspended in ethanol–water mixture were carried out at room temperature. The TiO₂ nanotubes synthesized by rapid breakdown anodization technique were loaded with Pt nanoparticles by chemical reduction of aqueous chloroplatinic acid solution using sodium borohydride. The chemisorption (active) surface area of the synthesized nanocomposites for hydrogen was measured by pulse chemisorption method using temperature programmed desorption reduction oxidation equipment and found to decrease with increase in platinum loading in the range 1–10 wt%. The platinum supported nanotube composites were characterized for phase and morphology by XRD, TEM and SEM. The hydrogen generated by the photocatalytic reduction of water from water–ethanol mixture at different wavelengths of incident light, using the Pt-TiO₂ nanocomposite photocatalyst, was determined by using a proton exchange membrane based hydrogen meter. The highest hydrogen generation efficiency was observed at 1–2.5 wt% of Pt loading. The maximum photocatalytic hydrogen generation of 0.03 mol/h/g of Pt-TiO₂ was observed with a 64 W UV light source (λ = 254 nm). The photoluminescence property of the Pt loaded TiO₂ has been correlated with the hydrogen generation efficiency and the reaction mechanism briefly discussed.     

Equivalence of elemental carbon by thermal/optical reflectance and transmittance with different temperature protocols

Charring of organic carbon (OC) during thermal/optical analysis is monitored by the change in a laser signal either reflected from or transmitted through a filter punch. Elemental carbon (EC) in suspended particulate matter collected on quartz-fiber filters is defined as the carbon that evolves after the detected optical signal attains the value it had prior to commencement of heating, with the rest of the carbon classified as organic carbon (OC). Heretofore, operational definitions of EC were believed to be caused by different temperature protocols rather than by the method of monitoring charring. This work demonstrates that thermal/ optical reflectance (TOR) corrections yield equivalent OC/ EC splits for widely divergent temperature protocols. EC results determined by simultaneous thermal/optical transmittance (TOT) corrections are 30% lower than TOR for the same temperature protocol and 70-80% lower than TOR for a protocol with higher heating temperatures and shorter residence times. This is true for 58 urban samples from Fresno, CA, as well as for 30 samples from the nonurban IMPROVE network that are individually dominated by wildfire, vehicle exhaust, secondary organic aerosol, and calcium carbonate contributions. Visual examination of filter darkening at different temperature stages shows that substantial charring takes place within the filter, possibly due to adsorbed organic gases or diffusion of vaporized particles. The filter transmittance is more influenced by the within-filter char, whereas the filter reflectance is dominated by charring of the near-surface deposit that appears to evolve first when oxygen is added to helium in the analysis atmosphere for these samples. The amounts of charred OC (POC) and EC are also estimated from incremental absorbance. Small amounts of POC are found to dominate the incremental absorbance. EC estimated from absorbance are found to agree better with EC from the reflectance charring correction than with EC from the transmittance charring correction.     

Antioxidant properties,anti-inflammatory effects,and bioactive constituents of the Indian medicinal rice Njavara yellow compared with staple varieties

Polar and non-polar extracts of Njavara yellow rice (NYr) and bran (NYb) were investigated for antioxidant activity, chemical indices, anti-inflammatory effects, and bioactive compounds, of which the results were compared between the 2 staple varieties Uma and Jaya. Methanol extracts of NYb showed significantly (p<0.05) higher antioxidant activity than other varieties with the IC₅₀ values of 97 μg/mL (DPPH^·) and 48 μg/mL (ABTS^·+). NYb showed a higher anti-inflammatory effect and higher chemical indices (6.36 mg, phenolic content; 1.44 mg, flavonoid content; 3.06 mg, proanthocyanidin content; and 15.5 mg, phytate content per gram of dry weight of bran) than NYr and staple varieties. The content of bioactive compounds, oryzanols (659 μg/mL) and tricin (24.58 mg/100 g bran), were higher in NYb than in other varieties. Evaluation of biological activities and quantification of bioactive compounds of Njavara yellow are first pursued herein to corroborate Njavara Ayurveda medicinal use.     

Biological properties of an OSB eco-product manufactured from a mixture of durable and non durable species and natural resins

OSB panels were manufactured with a mixture of pine and cypress heartwood and lignin and tannin based resins in order to propose an eco-friendly wood composite. The resistance of OSB panels against Reticulitermes santonensis was tested according to EN 118 and EN 117 as well as in a field test. OSB made from cypress showed more resistance against the tested termite, the resistance decreased as the percentage of pine increased. The degree of attack differed according to the choice of standard procedure. The field test results revealed that in outdoor conditions and when the termites had a feeding choice, all mixtures showed the same behaviour. The decay resistance was assessed according to EN 12038, and the results revealed that the resistance increases when the percentage of cypress increases.     

Determination of Inorganic Elements in Teas Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry and Classification with Exploratory Analysis

Multivariate optimization was employed to obtain the best conditions of the inductively coupled optical emission spectrometer (ICP OES) (nebulization gas flow rate of 0.47 L min^?1 and applied power of 1.36 kW) for the determination of Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and Mn in 27 green tea samples. In the hierarchical cluster analysis, it was possible to observe the formation of five different groups (imported Japanese samples, samples without specifications, organically cultivated samples, samples in capsules, and ready-to-drink iced tea samples) besides the separation according to brand. In the principal component analysis we verified that the first four main components explained 99.98 % of the total variance. The ICP OES technique and the exploratory analysis were shown effective tools that can be used jointly in the quality control and classification of green tea samples.     

Emissions from laboratory combustion of wildland fuels: emission factors and source profiles

Combustion of wildland fuels represents a major source of particulate matter (PM) and light-absorbing elemental carbon (EC) on a national and global scale, but the emission factors and source profiles have not been well characterized with respect to different fuels and combustion phases. These uncertainties limit the accuracy of current emission inventories, smoke forecasts, and source apportionments. This study investigates the evolution of gaseous and particulate emission and combustion efficiency by burning wildland fuels in a laboratory combustion facility. Emission factors for carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), total hydrocarbon (THC), nitrogen oxides (NO(x)), PM, light extinction and absorption cross sections, and spectral scattering cross sections specific to flaming and smoldering phases are reported. Emission factors are generally reproducible within +/- 20% during the flaming phase, which, despite its short duration, dominates the carbon emission (mostly in the form of CO2) and the production of light absorption and EC. Higher and more variable emission factors for CO, THC, and PM are found during the smoldering phase, especially for fuels containing substantial moisture. Organic carbon (OC) and EC mass account for a majority (i.e., > 60%) of PM mass; other important elements include potassium, chlorine, and sulfur. Thermal analysis separates the EC into subfractions based on analysis temperature demonstrating that high-temperature EC (EC2; at 700 degrees C) varies from 1% to 70% of PM among biomass burns, compared to 75% in kerosene soot. Despite this, the conversion factor between EC and light absorption emissions is rather consistent across fuels and burns, ranging from 7.8 to 9.6 m2/g EC. Findings from this study should be considered in the development of PM and EC emission inventories for visibility and radiative forcing assessments.     

Particulate-phase and gaseous elemental mercury emissions during biomass combustion: controlling factors and correlation with particulate matter emissions

Mercury emissions from wildfires are significant natural sources of atmospheric mercury, but little is known about what controls speciation of emissions important to mercury deposition processes. The goal of this study was to quantify gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and particulate-phase mercury (PHg) emissions from biomass combustion to identify key factors controlling the speciation. Emissions were characterized in an exhaust stack 17 m above fires using a gaseous mercury analyzer and quartz-fiber filters. Fuels included fresh and air-dried leaves, needles, and branches with different fuel moistures (9-95% of dry weight) and combustion properties (e.g., from < 10 to 90% of fire durations characterized by flaming phases). Fuel moisture was the overall driving factor defining emissions, with GEM being the dominant fraction (> or = 95%) in low moisture fuels and substantial PHg contributions--up to 50% of total mercury emissions--in fresh fuels. High PHg emissions were observed during smoldering combustion whereas flaming-dominated fires showed insignificant PHg emissions. PHg mass emissions were correlated with particulate matter (PM; r2 = 0.67), organic carbon (OC; r2 = 0.63) and sulfur (S; r2 = 0.46) mass emissions, but not with elemental carbon (EC) nor with the total mercury emissions. These data suggest that the formation of PHg involves similar processes as the formation of particulate OC, for example condensation of volatile species onto preexisting smoke particles during cooling and dilution. Based on the observed relationship between PM and OC mass concentrations and published emission inventories, we estimate global PHg emissions by wildfires of 4-5 Mg yr(-1).     

Habitat suitability of golden mahseer young ones (Tor putitora,Hamilton 1822) in Himalayan waters,India

Habitat suitability refers to the mechanism that enables organisms to choose suitable habitats to survive. In the present study, we studied the habitat suitability of young golden mahseer (fingerlings and juveniles) in the streams of the Ramganga River, one of the prominent rivers of the western Himalaya. Different habitat types and microhabitat features were documented. Habitat suitability was evaluated by generating habitat suitability criteria curves in response to varying habitat availability and use by young golden mahseer during different seasons. Generalised linear modelling (GLM) was used to analyse environmental characteristics responsible for selecting golden mahseer habitats. We studied mahseer based on body size into two main classes, that is, fingerlings (1.5–10 cm) and juveniles (10–30 cm). Golden mahseer fingerlings preferred mean depth (0.1–0.6 m) and mean stream velocity (0–0.2 m/s) at stream reach dominated by diverse substrate compositions such as sand, gravel, and small cobbles. Similarly, juveniles preferred mean depth (0.1–1.5 m) and mean water velocity (0.1–0.5 m/s), with cobbles, bedrock, and sand dominating their habitats. The GLM results indicated that dissolved oxygen, temperature, and water velocity were the significant factors influencing habitat suitability. High dissolved oxygen positively influenced fingerlings, whereas moderate to high water velocity affected juveniles the most. Therefore, to understand the flow requirement for threatened species like golden mahseer, it is essential to characterise critical habitats and develop criteria based on habitat suitability curves.