Comparison of dye degradation potential of biosynthesized copper oxide,manganese dioxide,and silver nanoparticles using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kalopanax pictus</Emphasis> plant extract

Copper(II) oxide (CuO), manganese dioxide (MnO₂), and silver (Ag) nanoparticles were synthesized using Kalopanax pictus plant extract. The nanoparticle synthesis was monitored using UV-visible spectra. The occurrence of each peak at 368, 404, and 438 nm wavelength indicated the synthesis of CuO, MnO₂, and Ag nanoparticles, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Catalytic potentials of the synthesized nanoparticles were compared to degrade two typical acidic and basic dyes (Congo red and Safranin O). The degradation ability of MnO₂ nanoparticles against Congo red was higher than that of Ag and CuO nanoparticles. All three types of nanoparticles showed a similar degradation ability against Safranin O over 80%. This study demonstrates that biologically synthesized nanoparticles using Kalopanax pictus are good agents for degradation of dyes.     

Effects of flavonoid-rich extract from seeds of Eugenia jambolana (L.) on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in diabetic mice

Eugenia jambolana (EJ) is long known for its antidiabetic activities in traditional medicines. The aim of this study was to determine the probable mechanism of action of a flavonoid-rich extract from seeds of EJ on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Various biochemical parameters, e.g. glucose tolerance, lipid profile, glycogen biosynthesis, glucose uptake and insulin release in vivo and in vitro, were significantly improved in the extract-treated diabetic mice. Similarly, differential regulation and expression of glucose homeostatic enzymes, e.g. glucose-6-phosphatase and hexokinase, were also changed significantly in response to the flavonoid-rich extract, which clearly demonstrated the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in treated animals. Further, analysis of the extract using HPLC, demonstrated the presence of different flavonoids and their derivatives which are known for their antidiabetic and antioxidant potential. The data showed that this flavonoid-rich seed extract has a remarkable dual hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect.     

FEADS: A Framework for Exploring the Application Design Space on Network Processors

Network processors are designed to handle the inherently parallel nature of network processing applications. However, partitioning and scheduling of application tasks and data allocation to reduce memory contention remain as major challenges in realizing the full performance potential of a given network processor. The large variety of processor architectures in use and the increasing complexity of network applications further aggravate the problem. This work proposes a novel framework, called FEADS, for automating the task of application partitioning and scheduling for network processors. FEADS uses the simulated annealing approach to perform design space exploration of application mapping onto processor resources. Further, it uses cyclic and r-periodic scheduling to achieve higher throughput schedules. To evaluate dynamic performance metrics such as throughput and resource utilization under realistic workloads, FEADS automatically generates a Petri net (PN) which models the application, architectural resources, mapping and the constructed schedule and their interaction. The throughput obtained by schedules constructed by FEADS is comparable to that obtained by manual scheduling for linear task flow graphs; for more complicated task graphs, FEADS’ schedules have a throughput which is upto 2.5 times higher compared to the manual schedules. Further, static scheduling of tasks results in an increase in throughput by upto 30% compared to an implementation of the same mapping without task scheduling.     

Thermomechanical Deformation in an Orthotropic Micropolar Thermoelastic Solid

The thermomechanical deformation in an orthotropic micropolar generalized thermoelastic half-space is investigated. Descarte’s method, along with the irreducible case of Cardon’s method, is used to obtain the roots of an eight-degree equation. Laplace and Fourier transform techniques are used to obtain the general solution for the set of boundary value problems. Particular types of boundary conditions have been taken to illustrate the utility of the approach. The transformed components of the stresses and temperature distribution have been obtained. A numerical inversion technique is employed to invert the integral transform, and the resulting quantities are presented graphically.     

SrTiO3-Filled PTFE Composite Laminates for Microwave Substrate Applications

Strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) filled polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) substrates were fabricated through sigma mixing (SM), extrusion (E), calendering (C) followed by hotpressing (H) (SMECH) process. The filler dispersion in the polymer matrix and the surface morphology were studied using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) technique. The permittivity (ɛ'_r) and loss tangent (tan δ) of the composites were measured using precision impedance and vector network analyzers. The experimental permittivity of filled composites was compared with theoretically predicted values. Dimensionally stable substrate having a permittivity of 13.1 and a loss tangent of 0.0055 at X-band was prepared in the PTFE/SrTiO₃ composite system.     

The reality of medical work: The case for a new perspective on telemedicine

This paper considers the nature of medical work and how new telemedicine technologies can be developed to support that work. Telemedicine developers attempt to increase communication and collaboration between medical practitioners and between patients and medics, with the goal being to make medical care and information more easily accessible. However, the focus of telemedicine systems appears to have so far been technology centred, and the work they are trying to support is often ignored. We argue that to develop appropriate telemedicine technologies, it is important to understand the nature of medical work, and to examine the manner in which medical practiceactually occurs. Only then will we be in a position to design appropriate telemedicine technologies to support these activities. Unless designers have an insight into the work itself, new technologies will continue to fail to support what telemedicine effectively aims to promote — collaboration and access to distributed knowledge.     

Preparation and microwave characterization of PTFE/PEEK blends

Present paper describes the preparation and characterization of the PTFE / PEEK blends. The surface morphology of different volume percentage of PTFE/PEEK blends is investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The permittivity and loss tangent of the blends up to 40 MHz are studied using a Precision Impedance Analyzer. The variation of permittivity with respect to temperature (τ_εr) of the composite blends are also measured in the 0–100°C temperature region using a microprocessor controlled hot and cold chamber. The microwave dielectric properties of the polymer blends are studied in the X‐band (8.2–12.4 GHz) region by waveguide cavity perturbation technique using a Vector Network Analyzer. Rectangular cavity resonator is used to measure the complex permittivity of the PTFE/PEEK blends. Different modeling approaches are used to predict the theoretical permittivity of the blends and the results are compared with the experimental values. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The Role of Impact Energy in Failure of Explosive Cladding of Inconel 625 and Steel

Though explosive cladding is a viable potential solid state method for cladding different materials together, complicated behavior of materials under ballistic impacts raises the probability of interfacial shear failure. This study aims to relate the failure of explosive cladding of Inconel 625 and plain carbon steel to utilized impact energy, and consequently finding appropriate cladding parameters to prevent interfacial shear failure. The shear strength representing the adhesion strength is used as a failure criterion. According to the obtained results, by increasing the impact energy to an optimum value, the adhesion strength starts to increase. However, after an optimum value, any further increment of impact energy drops the shear strength significantly, which makes the cladding process fail. The outcomes reveal the decisive role of plastic strain localization caused by high impact energies in this failure, where local development of microcracks through adiabatic shear bands in the steel raises the chance of failure. Consequently, an attempt is made to find the optimum cladding parameters to prevent strain localization and failure of cladding.