Controlled and modified atmospheres influence chilling injury,fruit quality and antioxidative system of Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindell)

Our objective was to compare the effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on fruit quality, chilling injury (CI) and pro‐ and antioxidative systems in ‘Blackamber’ Japanese plums. Matured fruit were stored for 5 and 8 weeks at 0–1 °C in normal air, CA‐1 (1% O₂ + 3% CO₂), CA‐2 (2.5% O₂ + 3% CO₂) and MAP (~10% O₂ and 3.8% CO₂). CA was more effective than MAP in retention of flesh firmness and titratable acidity during cold storage. Fruit stored in CA‐1 showed reduced CI and membrane lipid peroxidation after 5 and 8 weeks of cold storage. Low O₂ atmospheres appeared to limit the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their efficient scavenging through the concerted action of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. The role of ascorbate–glutathione (AsA–GSH) cycle in the regulation of oxidative stress was also studied during and after storage in different atmospheres. In conclusion, optimum CA conditions delayed fruit ripening and CI through augmentation of antioxidative metabolism and suppression of oxidative processes.     

Structural and thermal characterization of macro-branched functional terpolymer containing 8-hydroxyquinoline moieties with enhancing biocidal properties

Novel polyfunctional acetyl and hydroxyl bearing functional terpolymer (HQFCA) derived from 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ), 4-chloroacetophenone (CA) and formaldehyde (F) has been synthesized by complex condensation polymerization in the presence of an acid catalyst. The structure and morphology of terpolymer were elucidated by FTIR-ATR, one-dimensional NMR (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and DEPT-135 experiment), two-dimensional NMR (HSQC and TOCSY), pyrolysis GC–MS, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nitrogen absorption, and optical microscopy (OM). Principal pyrolysis products generated from HQFCA units were 8-hydroxy-5,6-dimethylquinoline, 8-hydroxy-2-methylquinoline and 4-chloroacetophenone. This reactive terpolymer can be used as synthons for exchange membrane preparation and biomedical coating applications.     

Effect of Thermal Cycling on Creep Behavior of Powder-Metallurgy-Processed and Hot-Rolled Al and Al-SiC Particulate Composites

The tensile creep behavior of powder metallurgy (P/M)–processed and hot-rolled commercially pure Al and Al-5 or Al-10 vol pct SiC particulate composites has been evaluated after subjecting to 0, 2, and 8 thermal cycles between 500 °C and 0 °C with rapid quenching. The images of microstructures obtained using scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as changes in the electrical resistivity, Young’s modulus, and microhardness have been examined in the samples subjected to thermal cycling, in order to compare the effects of structural damage and strengthening by dislocation generation. The damage is caused by voids formed by vacancy coalescence, and is more severe in pure Al than in Al-SiC_p composites, because the particle-matrix interfaces in the composites act as effective sinks for vacancies. Creep tests have shown that the application of 2 thermal cycles lowers the creep strain rates in both pure Al and Al-SiC_p composites. However, the creep resistance of pure Al gets significantly deteriorated, unlike the mild deterioration in the Al-5 SiC_p composite, while the time to rupture for the Al-10 SiC_p composite is increased. The dislocation structure and subgrain sizes in the Al and in the matrices of the Al-SiC_p composites in the as-rolled condition, after thermal cycling, and after creep tests, have been compared and related to the creep behavior. The dimple sizes of the crept fracture surfaces appear to be dependent on the void density, tertiary component of strain, and time to rupture.     

Biodiesel production through hydrodynamic cavitation and performance testing

This paper presents the details of development of a biodiesel production test rig based on hydrodynamic cavitation followed by results of experimental investigation carried out on a four cylinder, direct injection water cooled diesel engine operating on diesel and biodiesel blend of Citrullus colocyntis (Thumba) oil. The experiment covers a wide range of engine rpm. Results show that biodiesel of Thumba oil produced through hydrodynamic cavitation technique can be used as an alternative fuel with better performance and lower emissions compared to diesel. The most significant conclusions are that (i) Biodiesel production through hydrodynamic cavitation technique seems to be a simple, efficient, time saving, eco-friendly and industrially viable process. (ii) 30% biodiesel blend of Thumba oil shows relatively higher brake power, brake thermal efficiency, reduced bsfc and smoke opacity with favourable p–θ diagram as compared to diesel.     

UEs Power Reduction Evolution with Adaptive Mechanism over LTE Wireless Networks

At present, the major drawback for mobile phones is the issue of power consumption. As one of the alternatives to decrease the power consumption of standard, power-hungry location-based services usually require the knowledge of how individual phone features consume power. A typical phone feature is that the applications related to multimedia streaming utilize more power while receiving, processing, and displaying the multimedia contents, thus contributing to the increased power consumption. There is a growing concern that current battery modules have limited capability in fulfilling the long-term energy need for the progress on the mobile phone because of increasing power consumption during multimedia streaming processes. Considering this, in this paper, we provide an offline meaning sleep-mode method to compute the minimum power consumption comparing with the power-on solution to save power by implementing energy rate adaptation (RA) mechanism based on mobile excess energy level purpose to save battery power use. Our simulation results show that our RA method preserves efficient power while achieving better throughput compared with the mechanism without rate adaptation (WRA).     

Molecular inflammation hypothesis of aging based on the anti-aging mechanism of calorie restriction

Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that oxidative stress underlies aging processes. Research provides consistent evidence that calorie restriction (CR) reduces age-related oxidative stress and has anti-inflammatory properties. However, information is lacking on the molecular mechanism that would better define the interrelation of reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species and the pro-inflammatory states of the aging process. In this review, the biochemical and molecular bases of the inflammatory process in the aging process are analyzed to delineate the molecular inflammation hypothesis of aging. The key players involved in the proposed hypothesis are the age-related upregulation of NF-kappa B, IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNFalpha, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible NO synthase, all of which are attenuated by CR. Furthermore, age-related NF kappa B activation is associated with phosphorylation by I kappa B kinase/NIK and MAPKs, while CR blocked these activation processes. The modulation of these factors provides molecular insights of the anti-inflammatory action of CR in relation to the aging process. Based on available finding and our recent supporting evidence, we prefer to use "molecular inflammation" to emphasize the importance of the molecular reaction mechanisms and their aberrance, predisposing to fully expressed chronic inflammatory phenomena. It was further proposed that CR's major force of the regulation of redox-sensitive inflammation may well be its life-prolonging action.     

Spiral-CT-based assessment of tracheal stenoses using 3-D-skeletonization

PURPOSE: Demonstration of a technique for three-dimensional (3-D) assessment of tracheal-stenoses, regarding site, length and degree, based on spiral computed tomography (S-CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: S-CT scanning and automated segmentation of the laryngo-tracheal tract (LTT) was followed by the extraction of the LTT medial axis using a skeletonization algorithm. Orthogonal to the medial axis the LTT 3-D cross-sectional profile was computed and presented as line charts, where degree and length was obtained. Values for both parameters were compared between 36 patients and 18 normal controls separately. Accuracy and precision was derived from 17 phantom studies. RESULTS: Average degree and length of tracheal stenoses was found to be 60.5% and 4.32 cm in patients compared with minor caliber changes of 8.8% and 2.31 cm in normal controls (p < 0.0001). For the phantoms an excellent correlation between the true and computed 3-D cross-sectional profile was found (p < 0.005) and an accuracy for length and degree measurements of 2.14 mm and 2.53% respectively could be determined. The corresponding figures for the precision were found to be 0.92 mm and 2.56%. CONCLUSION: LTT 3-D cross-sectional profiles permit objective, accurate and precise assessment of LTT caliber changes. Minor LTT caliber changes can be observed even in normals and, in case of an otherwise normal S-CT study, can be regarded as artifacts.     

Penetration enhancers and ocular bioadhesives: two new avenues for ophthalmic drug delivery

This review is focused on the two avenues of development that promise a major impact on future ocular drug therapeutics: bioadhesives, including hydrogels and other agents like carbopols, polyacrylic acids, chitosan, etc., and penetration enhancers, including different surfactants, calcium chelators, etc. The capacity of some polymers to adhere to the mucin coat covering the conjunctiva and the corneal surface of the eye forms the basis for ocular mucoadhesion. These systems markedly prolong the residence time of a drug in the conjunctival sac, since clearence is now controlled by the much slower rate of mucus turnover rather than the tear turnover rate. But improving the corneal drug retention alone is inadequate in bringing about a significant improvement of drug bioavailability. Another approach consists of transiently increasing the pentration characteristics of the cornea with appropriate substances, known as penetration enhancers or absorption promoters. The main aim of this article is to give an insight into the potential application of mucoadhesives and corneal penetration enhancers for the conception of innovative opthalmic delivery appraoches, to decrease the systemic side effects, and create a more focused effect, which may be achieved with lower doses of the drug. Ophthalmic formulations based on these mucoadhesives and penetration enhancers are simple to manufacture and exhibit an excellent tolerance when administered into the cornea. The use of the former considerably prolongs the corneal contact time and the use of the latter increases the rate and amount of drug transport. The various corneal epithelial barriers along with the major routes of transport of drugs are discussed. The article includes a list of the various substances in use or under investigation for the aforementioned properties, along with their mechanisms of action. A fair appraisal of the subject with regard to these two therapeutic approaches and any expected ill effects has been made.     

Spectral characteristics of a binary dye-mixture laser

We have investigated laser action in a binary mixture of dyes, Rh-6G and DCM, resulting in tunable laser emission over an extended frequency region. The two dyes absorb the same pump radiation but fluoresce over frequency ranges that are shifted with respect to each other, thereby resulting in extended tunability. Following a time-dependent analysis of a rate-equation model that describe the operation of such a laser, theoretical estimates for optimum dye concentrations and the corresponding extension of the laser tuning range have been obtained.     

Genetic programming for simultaneous feature selection and classifier design.

This paper presents an online feature selection algorithm using genetic programming (GP). The proposed GP methodology simultaneously selects a good subset of features and constructs a classifier using the selected features. For a c-class problem, it provides a classifier having c trees. In this context, we introduce two new crossover operations to suit the feature selection process. As a byproduct, our algorithm produces a feature ranking scheme. We tested our method on several data sets having dimensions varying from 4 to 7129. We compared the performance of our method with results available in the literature and found that the proposed method produces consistently good results. To demonstrate the robustness of the scheme, we studied its effectiveness on data sets with known (synthetically added) redundant/bad features.