Hydrated proton self-diffusion study in ion-exchange membranes by MRI and impedance spectroscopy

Average self-diffusion coefficients of hydrated protons in sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) (SPES), Interpolymer and Nafion 117 membranes are measured by impedance spectroscopy and pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG NMR). Self-diffusion coefficient measured by impedance spectroscopy shows two patterns, one is at the low hydration states, i.e. λ = 2–4 and another at the high hydration states (starting from λ = 4). At lower hydration states the diffusion values increases slowly while steep increment is found at higher hydration level. PFG NMR shows similar trend throughout the measurements. The diffusion coefficients at higher temperatures are higher than at lower temperatures as a function of λ for SPES membrane. At the same value of λ, hydrated proton self-diffusion coefficient is found to be increased by 18% from 295.5 to 303 K. The thermo-mechanical properties of the membranes characterised by the means of DSC, TGA and DMA analysis show SPES, stable up to 450 °C and can be used for the high-temperature applications.     

Adsorptive studies of hazardous dye Tropaeoline 000 from an aqueous phase on to coconut-husk

This contribution presents result pertaining to the adsorptive removal of water-soluble hazardous dye Tropaeoline 000, on to a low cost adsorbent-coconut-husk and its efficiency in the dye colour sorption was compared with activated carbon (AC). The results obtained from the batch experiments revealed the ability of the coconut-husk to remove the Tropaeoline 000 dye. The adsorption of dye was carried out at different pH, temperatures, amount of adsorbent, contact time, concentration of adsorbate (initial dye concentration) and particle size. The adsorption studies revealed that the ongoing adsorption validates both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm at temperatures 30, 40 and 50 degrees C. The adsorption isotherm data was also employed to calculate thermodynamic parameters like DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees and DeltaS degrees . The negative values of DeltaG degrees indicate that the dye adsorption process is a spontaneous in nature. The positive value of DeltaH degrees shows the endothermic nature of AC/coconut-husk system whereas negative value of DeltaH degrees indicates that the exothermic nature of AC/coconut-husk. The adsorption was found to undergo via a pseudo-second order adsorption kinetics and the results revealed that coconut-husk, an agricultural waste, proved to be an excellent low cost adsorbent.     

Surface ultrastructure of gills in relation to the feeding ecology of an angler catfish Chaca chaca (Siluriformes,Chacidae)

Surface ultrastructure of the gills of the angler catfish Chaca chaca was investigated to unravel the adaptive modifications associated with the feeding ecology of the fish. The fish is often found in mud or in soft substrates where they remain buried both for protection and to feed. Gill rakers present on the gill arch in most fish species are absent in this fish. The absence of gill rakers are associated with the feeding habit of the fish and is considered to facilitate the swallowing of captured prey smoothly without any hindrance. Highly corrugated surface of the gill arch and gill filaments could be associated to retain water/mucus to prevent dessicassion of the fish. Papillae like epithelial protuberances each bearing a taste bud at its summit toward the pharyngeal side of the gill arch is associated with the sorting of the food. Large number of mucous goblet cells on the gill arch epithelium are considered to secret copious mucus to lubricate the prey for easy swallowing. In C. chaca the gill septa between gill filaments are reduced. This could enhance the flexibility and permit the free movement of the gill filaments. Extensive secondary lamellae and infrequent mucous goblet cells on secondary lamellae are associated to increase the surface area to enhance efficiency of gaseous exchange.     

Noise analysis of DC-AC random PWM schemes

Random pulsewidth modulation (RPWM) techniques for DC-AC power converters usually work well with high-sampling frequency. When RPWM schemes are implemented in digital signal processors (DSPs), the sampling frequency is limited by the speed of the processors. This paper analyzes the noise spectrum of various DSP-implemented RPWM techniques using a statistical approach. The relationship of the noise components and the sampling frequency for both the standard RPWM and the weighted RPWM methods is generalized. The dependency of the noise characteristics on various factors is calculated theoretically and verified experimentally. The generalized noise theory for randomized PWM switching provides useful practical guidelines to the choice of sampling frequency     

Aedes aegypti Piwi4 Structural Features Are Necessary for RNA Binding and Nuclear Localization

The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway provides an RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism known from Drosophila studies to maintain the integrity of the germline genome by silencing transposable elements (TE). Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are the key vectors of several arthropod-borne viruses, exhibit an expanded repertoire of Piwi proteins involved in the piRNA pathway, suggesting functional divergence. Here, we investigate RNA-binding dynamics and subcellular localization of A. aegypti Piwi4 (AePiwi4), a Piwi protein involved in antiviral immunity and embryonic development, to better understand its function. We found that AePiwi4 PAZ (Piwi/Argonaute/Zwille), the domain that binds the 3′ ends of piRNAs, bound to mature (3′ 2′ O-methylated) and unmethylated RNAs with similar micromolar affinities (K_D = 1.7 ± 0.8 μM and K_D of 5.0 ± 2.2 μM, respectively; p = 0.05) in a sequence independent manner. Through site-directed mutagenesis studies, we identified highly conserved residues involved in RNA binding and found that subtle changes in the amino acids flanking the binding pocket across PAZ proteins have significant impacts on binding behaviors, likely by impacting the protein secondary structure. We also analyzed AePiwi4 subcellular localization in mosquito tissues. We found that the protein is both cytoplasmic and nuclear, and we identified an AePiwi4 nuclear localization signal (NLS) in the N-terminal region of the protein. Taken together, these studies provide insights on the dynamic role of AePiwi4 in RNAi and pave the way for future studies aimed at understanding Piwi interactions with diverse RNA populations.     

Assessment of a fuzzy logic based MRAS observer used in a photovoltaic array supplied AC drive

In this paper a fuzzy logic (FL) based model reference adaptive system (MRAS) speed observer for high performance AC drives is proposed. The error vector computation is made based on the rotor-flux derived from the reference and the adaptive model of the induction motor. The error signal is processed in the proposed fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for speed adaptation. The drive employs an indirect vector control scheme for achieving a good closed loop speed control. For powering the drive system, a standalone photovoltaic (PV) energy source is used. To extract the maximum power from the PV source, a constant voltage controller (CVC) is also proposed. The complete drive system is modeled in MATLAB/Simulink and the performance is analyzed for different operating conditions.     

Position-specific chemical modification and quantitative proteomics disclose protein orientation adsorbed on silica nanoparticles

We describe a method for determining the orientation of cytochrome c, RNase A, and lysozyme on silica nanoparticles (SNPs) using chemical modification combined with proteolysis-mass spectrometry. The proteins interacted with SNPs through preferential adsorption sites, which are dependent on SNP diameter; 4 nm SNPs induce greater structural stabilization than 15 nm particles, presumably due to greater surface curvature of the former. These results suggest that nanoparticle size and protein structure influence protein orientation on SNPs.     

Crystallographic evaluation of sodium zirconium phosphate as a host structure for immobilization of cesium

Sodium zirconium phosphate (NZP) is a potential material for immobilization of nuclear effluents. The existence of cesium containing NZP structure was determined on the basis of crystal data of solid solution. It was found that up to ~9.0 wt% of cesium could be loaded into NZP formulations without significant changes of the three-dimensional framework structure. The crystal chemistry of Na_1−x Cs _x Zr₂P₃O₁₂ (x = 0.1–0.4) has been investigated using General Structure Analysis System programming. The CsNZP phases crystallize in the space group R-3c and Z = 6. Powder diffraction data have been subjected to Rietveld refinement to arrive at a satisfactory structural convergence of R-factors. The unit cell volume and polyhedral (ZrO₆ and PO₄) distortion increase with rise in the mole% of Cs⁺ in the NZP matrix. The PO₄ stretching and bending vibrations in the infrared region have been assigned. SEM, TEM, and EDAX analysis provide analytical evidence of cesium in the matrix.