Laser flash photolysis and magnetic-field-effect studies on interaction of thymine and thymidine with menadione: role of sugar in controlling reaction pattern

The magnetic field effect (MFE) in conjunction with laser flash photolysis has been used for the study of the interaction of one of the small drug like quinone molecules, 2-methyl, 1,4-naphthoquinone, commonly known as menadione (MQ), with one of the DNA bases, thymine (THN), and its corresponding nucleoside, thymidine (THDN), in acetonitrile (ACN) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) micelles. It has been observed that THN undergoes electron transfer (ET) and hydrogen (H) abstraction with MQ, while THDN undergoes only H abstraction in both the media. However, our earlier studies showed that a purine base, adenine (ADN), and its nucleoside, 2′-deoxyadenosine (ADS), undergo ET in ACN and H abstraction in SDS. Here we have attempted to explain the differences in the reactions of these DNA bases with MQ. We also reveal the crucial role of a sugar unit in altering the behavior of purine and pyrimidine bases with respect to ET and H abstraction.     

SIP-based vertical handoff between WWANs and WLANs

Future-generation wireless networks have been envisioned as the integration of various wireless access networks, including both wireless wide area networks and wireless local area networks. In such a heterogeneous network environment, seamless mobility support is the basis of providing uninterrupted wireless services to mobile users roaming between various wireless access networks. Because of transparency to lower-layer characteristics, ease of deployment, and greater scalability, the application-layer-based session initiation protocol has been considered the right candidate for handling mobility in heterogeneous wireless networks. However, SIP entails application-layer transport and processing of messages, which may introduce considerable delay. As a case study of the performance of mobility management protocols in the heterogeneous wireless networks, we analyze the delay associated with vertical handoff using SIP in the WLAN-UMTS internetwork. Analytical results show that WLAN-to-UMTS handoff incurs unacceptable delay for supporting real-time multimedia services, and is mainly due to transmission of SIP signaling messages over erroneous and bandwidth-limited wireless links. On the other hand, UMTS-to-WLAN handoff experiences much less delay, mainly contributed by the processing delay of signaling messages at the WLAN gateways and servers. While the former case requires the deployment of soft handoff techniques to reduce the delay, faster servers and more efficient host configuration mechanisms can do the job in the latter case.     

Incoherent in-band crosstalk induced power penalty in amplified WDM networks: a comparative study using Gaussian and chi-squared probability density functions

An analytical expression for power penalty (PP) from the formula for bit-error rate is derived by employing saddle point approximation in the chi-squared probability distribution function. This theory differs from the earlier ones in that it takes into account the dominant signal-amplified spontaneous emission beat noise applicable for optically pre-amplified systems. Imperfect extinction ratio accounting for higher power penalties is also considered in the analysis. Results have been compared with the available experimental results for a low number of crosstalk sources and an excellent agreement has been found. Although Gaussian probability density function (pdf) is simple to analyse, PP calculated from this pdf for a low number of crosstalk sources fails to match with the experimental results.     

Analysis for preliminary design of a class of torsionally coupled buildings with horizontal setbacks

Simplified method of analysis of a special class of torsionally coupled buildings with horizontal setbacks is developed that can be executed with a plane frame analysis by means of a personal computer. Since most buildings may not exactly satisfy all the classification criteria, it is shown that an averaging technique may be used in such cases up to a certain limit. Perturbation analysis is carried out in determining such a limit, and numerical examples are presented to validate this. As a whole, the proposed simplified analysis may be used as a convenient and offhand tool at the preliminary stage of design.     

A new energy efficient, environment friendly and high productive texturization process of industrial multicrystalline silicon solar cells

A new texturization process based on a uniform, isotropic and slow removal of silicon, using a composition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution at an elevated temperature is developed recently for multicrystalline silicon solar cells. This process is applied in optimized condition in regular industrial production line and it immediately replaces the old popular industrial process of texturization using a combination of NaOH solution, alcoholic NaOH solution and hydrochloric acid solution in different steps at a higher temperature. Also the gain in solar cell efficiency at global AM1.5 spectrum, 1 SUN intensity condition is nearly 10% in final value. In addition, it has become finally an energy efficient and environment friendly texturization process for large area multicrystalline silicon solar cells for commercial use. In this paper the cost effectiveness and environment friendly aspects of the proposed process have been studied in detail along with the surface texture analysis of wafers with SEM and AFM micrographs to substantiate the reasons behind the above facts.     

ADVANCED CHEMICAL OXIDATION OF 2,4,6 TRICHLOROPHENOL IN AQUEOUS PHASE BY FENTON'S REAGENT-PART II: EFFECTS OF VARIOUS REACTION PARAMETERS ON THE TREATMENT REACTION

Part I of this paper examined the effects of the amounts of oxidant and catalyst on the rates and extents of oxidation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (TCP), in aqueous phase, by Fenton's Reagent. In this part the effects of various reaction parameters, e.g. temperature, pH, oxidation state of catalyst (ferrous versus ferric), mode of addition of oxidant to the reactor (single batch versus multiple increments), and the presence of dissolved oxygen (D.O.) have been examined. The progress of each reaction has been monitored by the rate and extent of release of free chloride ions in the aqueous solution. All the experiments were conducted using optimum molar ratios of the oxidant (hydrogen peroxide) to the substrate (TCP), and the catalyst (ferrous ions) to the oxidant of 5.5:1 and 0.10:1 respectively, as defined in Part I.     

Influence of sorption kinetics for zirconia sensitization in solid oxide fuel cell functional anode prepared by electroless technique

For preparation of solid oxide fuel cell functional anode (Ni-YSZ) by electroless deposition technique, surface adsorption of metallic palladium (Pd⁰) on zirconia is the most important step during the sensitization process. For the sensitization process, the initial reaction kinetics are based on external mass transfer followed by intra-particle mass transfer phenomena. A kinetic model for the reversible sorption of Pd⁰ on zirconia is developed that incorporates an effectiveness factor (η) which estimates the extent of intra-particle mass transfer. Based on the proposed model, an expression for Pd⁰ uptake at equilibrium (p), an important property of YSZ, is developed. The theoretical kinetic model proposed is verified with experimental parameters like electrical properties of these functional anodes prepared under various sensitization conditions, e.g., agitation frequencies, equilibration time etc. Due to intra-particle mass transfer, the concentration gradient of Pd⁰ from the surface of YSZ to bulk is minimized which favours uniform deposition of Ni on YSZ. Consequently, during subsequent electroless deposition of metallic Ni, the concentration gradient of the same is reduced from the bulk to the YSZ surface and results in enhanced functionality in the cermet anode. The validation is correlated with the electrical properties and surface morphologies of these functional cermets.     

Modeling and experimental validation of overpotentials of a direct ethanol fuel cell

Direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) is a promising power source for future use in portable electronic equipments. In general, the power density obtained in DEFC is lower than that of direct methanol fuel cell. In the present study, various losses in DEFC are estimated by performing experiments with the prepared membrane electrode (MEA) to obtain current–voltage characteristics and comparing it with the prediction of mathematical model. MEA for the DEFC is prepared using Pt–Ru (40:20 by wt.%)/C as anode catalyst, Pt–black as cathode catalyst with 1 mg/cm² of loadings and cast Nafion^® (SE5112, DuPont) ionomer as proton exchange membrane. The mathematical model for DEFC is developed considering different overpotentials. The activation overpotential term is formulated considering ethanol electrooxidation mechanism proposed in literature and Butler–Volmer equation. The ohmic overpotential is modeled based on proton conductivity of Nafion^® membrane and ohmic losses at the electrodes, current collectors and electrode–current collector interfaces. The concentration overpotential is formulated using Fick's law, modified Butler–Volmer equation and transport process through electrodes and electrocatalyst layers. The experiment data on current–voltage characteristics is predicted by the model with reasonable agreement and the influence of ethanol concentration and temperature on the performance of DEFC is captured by the model.     

A study on direct glucose and fructose alkaline fuel cell

Direct glucose fuel cell (DGFC) has huge potential as a power source in low power long term portable devices. Electro-oxidation of glucose and fructose on PtRu/C catalyst are studied using cyclic voltammetry in alkaline medium to study the reason for deactivation of glucose fuel cell. A simple direct glucose fuel cell with PtRu/C as anode and activated charcoal as cathode was constructed and operated to study the effect of different temperature and concentration of glucose and KOH. An open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.91 V is obtained using 0.3 M glucose in 1 M KOH solution. OCV increased with the increase in glucose concentration. The maximum peak power density of 1.38 mW cm⁻² is obtained using 0.2 M glucose in 1 M KOH at 30 °C and it decreases with further increase in glucose concentration and temperature. In order to determine the reason for decrease in performance of glucose fuel cell due to conversion of glucose to fructose, the fuel cell was operated using 0.2 M fructose in 1 M KOH. The peak power density delivered is 0.57 mW cm⁻². The DGFC is continuously operated for 260 h at constant load of 500 Ω produces final constant voltage of 0.21 V.     

A kinetic approach to the esterification of maleic anhydride with methanol on H-Y zeolite

The purpose of this work is to study the kinetics of the esterification of maleic anhydride with methanol to form dimethyl maleate in a batch reactor in the presence of H-Y zeolite as a catalyst. This is a series-parallel type multiple reaction where, the first reaction involves the formation of monomethyl maleate that further reacts with alcohol to form dimethyl maleate. Dimethyl maleate was found to be the only product in the reaction mixture. Temperature, speed of agitation, catalyst size, reactant mole ratio and catalyst loading have pronounced effect on the rate of the reaction. A homogeneous rate model and heterogeneous rate models have been derived and fitted with the experimental data. The activation energy was found to be 44.65 kJ/mol.