Large-signal characterization of DDR silicon IMPATTs operating in millimeter-wave and terahertz regime

The authors have carried out the large-signal characterization of silicon-based double-drift region(DDR) impact avalanche transit time(IMPATT) devices designed to operate up to 0.5 THz using a large-signal simulation method developed by the authors based on non-sinusoidal voltage excitation.The effect of band-to-band tunneling as well as parasitic series resistance on the large-signal properties of DDR Si IMPATTs have also been studied at different mm-wave and THz frequencies.Large-signal simulation results show that DDR Si IMPATT is capable of delivering peak RF power of 633.69mW with 7.95% conversion efficiency at 94GHz for 50% voltage modulation,whereas peak RF power output and efficiency fall to 81.08 mW and 2.01% respectively at 0.5 THz for same voltage modulation.The simulation results are compared with the experimental results and are found to be in close agreement.     

Lithium insertion into manganese dioxide electrode in MnO2/Zn aqueous battery: Part I. A preliminary study

The discharge characteristics of manganese dioxide (γ-MnO₂ of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) type) as a cathode material in a Zn–MnO₂ battery containing saturated aqueous LiOH electrolyte have been investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data on the discharged material indicate that lithium is intercalated into the host structure of EMD without the destruction of its core structure. The XPS data show that a layer of insoluble material, possibly Li₂CO₃, is deposited on the cathode, creating a barrier to H₂O, thus preventing the formation of Mn hydroxides, but allowing the migration of Li ions into the MnO₂ structure. The cell could be reversibly charged with 83% of voltaic efficiency at 0.5 mA/cm² current density to a 1.9 V cutoff voltage. The percentage utilization of the cathode material during discharge was 56%.     

A comparison of seed phosphatides and synthetic compounds as antioxidants for cow and buffalo ghee (butter fat)

The antioxidant capacity of seed phosphatides and synthetic antioxidants when compared in cow ghee was found to be in the order: phosphatidyl ethanolamine < propyl gallate <palmitoyl ascorbate <butylated hydroxy anisole < phosphatidyl choline. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine was found to be the most effective antioxidant. Cow ghee had less peroxide development than buffalo ghee. The ghee prepared at 100°C was more stable against peroxide development compared with that prepared at 50°C. These observations were supported by the analysis of ghee samples for peroxide values and for fatty acids. The phosphatides imparted more antilipolytic activity to ghee then to synthetic antioxidants.     

Doping Nanoscale Graphene Domains Improves Magnetism in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Carbon doping can induce unique and interesting physical properties in hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN). Typically, isolated carbon atoms are doped into h‐BN. Herein, however, the insertion of nanometer‐scale graphene quantum dots (GQDs) is demonstrated as whole units into h‐BN sheets to form h‐CBN. The h‐CBN is prepared by using GQDs as seed nucleations for the epitaxial growth of h‐BN along the edges of GQDs without the assistance of metal catalysts. The resulting h‐CBN sheets possess a uniform distrubution of GQDs in plane and a high porosity macroscopically. The h‐CBN tends to form in small triangular sheets which suggests an enhanced crystallinity compared to the h‐BN synthesized under the same conditions without GQDs. An enhanced ferromagnetism in the h‐CBN emerges due to the spin polarization and charge asymmetry resulting from the high density of C? N and C? B bonds at the boundary between the GQDs and the h‐BN domains. The saturation magnetic moment of h‐CBN reaches 0.033 emu g^?1 at 300 K, which is three times that of as‐prepared single carbon‐doped h‐BN.     

Modified shuffled frog leaping algorithm with genetic algorithm crossover for solving economic load dispatch problem with valve-point effect

This paper addresses a hybrid solution methodology involving modified shuffled frog leaping algorithm (MSFLA) with genetic algorithm (GA) crossover for the economic load dispatch problem of generating units considering the valve-point effects. The MSFLA uses a more dynamic and less stochastic approach to problem solving than classical non-traditional algorithms, such as genetic algorithm, and evolutionary programming. The potentiality of MSFLA includes its simple structure, ease of use, convergence property, quality of solution, and robustness. In order to overcome the defects of shuffled frog leaping algorithm (SFLA), such as slow searching speed in the late evolution and getting trapped easily into local iteration, MSFLA with GA cross-over is put forward in this paper. MSFLA with GA cross-over produces better possibilities of getting the best result in much less global as well as local iteration as one has strong local search capability while the other is good at global search. This paper proposes a new approach for solving economic load dispatch problems with valve-point effect where the cost function of the generating units exhibits non-convex characteristics, as the valve-point effects are modeled and imposed as rectified sinusoid components. The combined methodology and its variants are validated for the following four test systems: IEEE standard 30 bus test system, a practical Eastern Indian power grid system of 203 buses, 264 lines, and 23 generators, and 13 and 40 thermal units systems whose incremental fuel cost function take into account the valve-point loading effects. The results are quite promising and effective compared with several benchmark methods.     

Electrochemical behavior of anatase TiO2 in aqueous lithium hydroxide electrolyte

The electrochemical behavior of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in aqueous lithium hydroxide (LiOH) electrolyte has been investigated. Cyclic voltammetry shows that electroreduction results in the formation of a number of products. X-ray diffraction of the electroreduced TiO₂ shows that Li _x TiO₂, Ti₂O₃, Ti₂O and TiO are formed. The formation of Li _x TiO₂ is confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies of the electroreduced TiO₂. The formation of Li _x TiO₂ is electro reversible. In this respect, the electrochemical behavior of TiO₂ in concentrated aqueous lithium hydroxide electrolyte is similar to that for lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) non-aqueous media.     

Phytoremediation potential of rhizobacterial isolates from Kans grass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharum spontaneum</Emphasis>) of fly ash ponds

Kans grass (Saccharum spontaneum) is a weed species that is frequently found in many heavy metal-enriched waste dumps including fly ash pond sites. In this study, among a collection of phosphate-solubilizing bacterial strains isolated from the rhizosphere of Saccharum spontaneum present in the abandoned ash pond site of Mejia Thermal Power Station (MTPS-DVC), three strains were characterized for their plant growth-promoting abilities. The isolates identified as Bacillus anthracis strain MHR2, Staphylococcus sp. strain MHR3 and Bacillus sp. strain MHR4 had phosphate solubilization indices of 2.86, 2.31 and 2.40 and they produced soluble phosphates of 700, 600 and 640 mg l^?1, respectively, in 4 days. In all the PSBs, pH significantly decreased, indicating the production of various organic acids. They showed other plant growth-promoting features like production of ammonia, siderophore, hydrocyanide and IAA. All of them were resistant to multiple heavy metals and antibiotics. Dry and fresh weight and shoot and root lengths of Brassica juncea L. increased in the presence of these isolates in pot cultures. The strains also increased phytoextraction ability of plants by enhancing the metal accumulation in plant tissues. Thus, the isolated indigenous and stress-adapted rhizobacteria may serve as potential biotechnological tool for the successful ecorestoration of various metal-contaminated sites.     

SimCheck: a contract type system for Simulink

Matlab Simulink™ is a member of a class of visual languages that are used for modeling and simulating physical and cyber-physical system. A Simulink model consists of blocks with input and output ports connected using links that carry signals. We provide a contract-based type system of Simulink with annotations and dimensions/units associated with ports and links. These contract types can capture invariants on signals as well as relations between signals. We define a contract-based verifier that checks the well formedness of Simulink blocks with respect to these contracts. This verifier generates proof obligations that are solved by SRI’s Yices solver for satisfiability modulo theories (SMT). This translation can be used to detect basic type errors and violation of contracts, demonstrate counterexamples, generate test cases, or prove the absence of contract-based type errors. Our work is an initial step toward the symbolic analysis of Matlab Simulink models.     

Effect of irrigation on lipid biosynthesis in maturing sunflower seeds

The effect of irrigation on lipid biosynthesis in maturing sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds has been studied. Restricted irrigation adversely affected the biosynthesis of polar lipids during initial stages and triglycerides at the later stages of seed development. The fatty acid composition remained unaffected by irrigation. A de novo synthesis of triglycerides and fatty acids has also been observed.     

Adverse Effects of Fluoride on Hydrometallurgical Operations

This review addresses the detrimental effects of fluoride on the various steps which constitute any hydrometallurgical operation. It focuses on the specific examples of apatite flotation, copper bioleaching, zinc electrowinning, and the manufacture of phosphoric acid. The presence of fluoride modifies the surface characteristics of minerals altering their effective flotation. Toxicity of fluoride to bacteria directly affects the mechanisms of bioleaching. Fluoride can interfere with the adhesion of metals to cathodes and affect deposit morphology during electrodeposition. In phosphoric acid synthesis from phosphate ores, fluoride affects production efficiency by altering the crystal morphology of the gypsum by-product.