On a Non-linear Electronic Circuit Filtering

The stochastic versions of non-linear dynamic circuits are formalized using non-linear stochastic differential equations. Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are exploited to analyse dynamical systems in noisy environments. A potential application of the SDEs can be regarded as ‘stochastic processes in electronic circuits’. The noisy sampling mixer, a component of digital wireless communications, is an appealing and standard case from the dynamical systems’ viewpoint. It assumes the structure of a non-linear SDE, and its linearized version becomes time-varying bilinear SDE. This paper derives the filtering equations for the noisy non-linear sampling mixer circuit utilizing the filtering density evolution equation. The filtering model for the stochastic problem of concern here comprises the following: (1) a non-linear SDE describing the noisy sampling mixer and (2) a non-linear noisy observation equation. It is interesting to note that the filtered estimate accounts for observations. On the other hand, the predicted estimate does not account for the observation terms in evolution equations. As a result of this, the filtered estimate confirms the greater accuracy of estimated state trajectory in contrast to the predicted trajectory. The filtering equation of this paper can be further utilized for control of the noisy sampling mixer, where the observations are available.     

Adaptive epileptic seizure prediction system

Current epileptic seizure "prediction" algorithms are generally based on the knowledge of seizure occurring time and analyze the electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings retrospectively. It is then obvious that, although these analyses provide evidence of brain activity changes prior to epileptic seizures, they cannot be applied to develop implantable devices for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this paper, we describe an adaptive procedure to prospectively analyze continuous, long-term EEG recordings when only the occurring time of the first seizure is known. The algorithm is based on the convergence and divergence of short-term maximum Lyapunov exponents (STLmax) among critical electrode sites selected adaptively. A warning of an impending seizure is then issued. Global optimization techniques are applied for selecting the critical groups of electrode sites. The adaptive seizure prediction algorithm (ASPA) was tested in continuous 0.76 to 5.84 days intracranial EEG recordings from a group of five patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. A fixed parameter setting applied to all cases predicted 82% of seizures with a false prediction rate of 0.16/h. Seizure warnings occurred an average of 71.7 min before ictal onset. Similar results were produced by dividing the available EEG recordings into half training and testing portions. Optimizing the parameters for individual patients improved sensitivity (84% overall) and reduced false prediction rate (0.12/h overall). These results indicate that ASPA can be applied to implantable devices for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.     

Characterization and Formation Mechanism of Six Pointed Star-Type Stacking Faults in 4H-SiC

Synchrotron white-beam x-ray topography (SWBXT) studies of defects in 100-mm-diameter 4H-SiC wafers grown using physical vapor transport are presented. SWBXT enables nondestructive examination of thick and large-diameter SiC wafers, and defects can be imaged directly. Analysis of the contrast from these defects enables determination of their configuration, which, in turn, provides insight into their possible formation mechanisms. Apart from the usual defects present in the wafers, including micropipes, threading edge dislocations, threading screw dislocations, and basal plane dislocations, a new stacking fault with a peculiar configuration attracts our interest. This fault has the shape of a six-pointed star, comprising faults with three different fault vectors of Shockley type. Transmission and grazing topography of the fault area are carried out, and detailed contrast analysis reveals that the outline of the star is confined by 30° Shockley partial dislocations. A micropipe, which became the source of dislocations on both the basal plane slip system and the prismatic slip system, is found to be associated with the formation of the star fault. The postulated mechanism involves the reaction of 60° dislocations of a/3 〈 $ \bar{2}110 $ 〉 Burgers vector on basal plane and pure screw dislocations of a/3 〈 $ 11\bar{2}0 $ 〉 Burgers vector on prismatic plane and cross slip of the partial dislocation from prismatic plane to basal plane leading to expansion of the faults.     

Comparative study on physicochemical and functional properties of egg powders from Japanese quail and white Leghorn chicken

Physicochemical and functional properties of freeze-dried egg powders (egg white, egg yolk, and whole egg) from Japanese quail and white Leghorn chicken were studied comparatively. All egg powders had protein content in the range of 91.13–97.03 g/100 g powder. The quail egg powder had higher mineral and essential amino acid contents, but lower fat content as compared to chicken egg powders (P < 0.05). Moreover, egg white powder from both quail and chicken presented higher total amino acids content than corresponding whole egg and egg yolk powders, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study revealed that β-sheet is the major secondary structure of all egg powders. Based on differential scanning calorimetry analysis, quail egg powders showed slightly lower denaturation temperatures than corresponding chicken egg powders (P < 0.05). Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis study showed the slight difference in protein patterns of corresponding quail and chicken egg powders. The quail egg powders presented higher protein solubility than corresponding chicken egg powders at all pH tested. Furthermore, quail egg powders exhibited higher emulsion activity index and emulsion stability index with higher foam expansion and stability than the corresponding chicken egg powders. Therefore, Japanese quail egg powders could be used as an alternative to white Leghorn chicken egg in the preparation of foods and diets that require high protein content with positive health benefits.     

Effect of Filler Content of Chemically Treated Short Bagasse Fiber-Reinforced Cardanol Polymer Composites

In this work, the sugarcane bagasse fiber was used as a filler to make a new type of biodegradable composite, using the cardanol resin, as a fully biodegradable thermosetting polymer matrix. Biocomposite performance was improved by chemically modified bagasse fiber using alkaline treatment. Two sets of composites were prepared with a fiber length of 10 and 20 mm with various weight percentages viz., 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 of cardanol resin using a compression molding machine. The mechanical properties were studied using some tests and the morphological study in flexural fractured specimens was carried out using SEM. The thermal properties of biodegradable polymer composites were evaluated using TGA. The chemical formation of the new biocomposites was also examined by the FT-IR spectroscopy technique. The result proved that the morphology of the composites has improved the bonding between the fiber and resin, thus leading to enhancement of the mechanical properties. The result had shown the tensile and flexural strength with an increase in the range of bagasse fiber up to 15 wt% in both the sets. The TGA results showed that biocomposites of 15 wt% in both sets had the highest thermal stability. This investigation recommended the possibility of introducing bio-fiber obtained from waste agricultural residues in polymer matrix composites.     

Experimental investigation of lift enhancement by suction-assisted delayed separation of the boundary layer on NACA 0012 airfoil

In the aerodynamic industry, one of the major problems of interest is the lift enhancement without any increase in the drag. In this paper, an attempt is made to increase the lift coefficient by delayed boundary layer separation using suction at various points, also the study is carried out to identify the optimum location for suction which provides maximum lift augmentation. The experiment is conducted with selected suction pressures of 60, 70, 80, 90?kN/m² at different locations in the range of 40–75% of the chord length of the airfoil. Among the selected pressures, the lowest one at the 70% length provides maximum performance. The critical Reynolds number occurs at around 95% of the length instead of 45% of the length when the same experiment is conducted without suction. The suction also assists in the heat transfer enhancement over the airfoil surface.     

Electrochemical cell current requirements for toxic organic waste destruction in Ce(IV)-mediated electrochemical oxidation process

The electrochemical cell for cerium oxidation and reactor for organic destruction are the most important operation units for the successful working mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process. In this study, electrochemical cells with DSA electrodes of two types, single stack and double stack connected in series, were used. The performances towards the electrochemical generation of Ce(IV) in nitric acid media at 80 °C were studied. The current-voltage curves and cerium electrolysis kinetics showed the dependence on number of cell stacks needed to be connected in series for the destruction of a given quantity of organic pollutant. The presence of an optimum region for Ce(III) oxidation with a contribution of oxygen evolution, especially at low Ce(III) concentration (high conversion ratios), was found. The cells were applied for the Ce(IV) regeneration during the organic destruction. The cell and reactor processes were fitted in a simple model proposed and used to calculate the current needed in terms of Ce(III) oxidation rate and the number of cell stacks required for maintaining Ce(IV)/Ce(III) ratio at the same level during the organic destruction. This consideration was based on the kinetic model previously developed by us for the organic destruction in the MEO process.     

Interleukin-2 mutants with enhanced {alpha}-receptor subunit binding affinity

Stimulation of T-cells by IL-2 has been exploited for treatmentof metastatic renal carcinoma and melanoma. However, a narrowtherapeutic window delimited by negligible stimulation of T-cellsat low picomolar concentrations and undesirable stimulationof NK cells at nanomolar concentrations hampers IL-2-based therapies.We hypothesized that increasing the affinity of IL-2 for IL-2R     

Investigating the role of key ingredients on cathodic delamination resistance of high-build pigmented epoxy coatings

Organic coatings applied on cathodically protected metallic structures must have good resistance to cathodic delamination or disbonding (CD). Both environmental conditions and coating composition influence the CD resistance. In the present study, the effect of types of epoxy resin, curing agents and their mixing ratio on cathodic delamination rate was studied in a high-build pigmented coating. Furthermore, the influence of platey fillers on CD resistance was also studied. In order to bring out correlations, if any, between adhesion and CD resistance, pull-off adhesion strengths (both dry and wet) of these coatings were also measured. Fairly good correlation was found between residual (wet) pull-off adhesion strength and CD resistance. When tested at 60 and 90°C, all the coatings under investigation showed chalking. Among the coatings under investigation, the one based on Bisphenol F epoxy and modified cycloaliphatic amine adduct exhibited excellent CD resistance.     

Experimental Investigations on Microstructure,Properties and Workability Behavior of Zinc Oxide Reinforced Al–Si–Mg Matrix Composites

Silicon - Al-Si based alloy matrix composites are now broadly utilized by the industrial sectors like automobile, structural, aerospace and more practical industrial applications due to its...