Liquid‐Phase Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol Catalyzed by Pt/ZrO2

The oxidation of benzyl alcohol by molecular oxygen in the liquid phase and catalyzed by Pt/ZrO2 using n‐heptane as the solvent was studied. Pt/ZrO₂ was very active and 100 % selective for benzyl alcohol conversion to benzaldehyde. The catalyst can be separated by filtration and reused. No leaching of Pt or Zr into the solution was observed. Typical batch reactor kinetic data were obtained and fitted to the Langmuir‐Hinshelwood, Eley‐Rideal and Mars‐van Krevelen models of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. The Langmuir‐Hinshelwood model was found to give a better fit. The rate‐determining step was proposed to involve direct interaction of an adsorbed oxidizing species with the adsorbed reactant or an intermediate product of the reactant. H₂O₂ was also proposed to be an intermediate product. n‐Heptane was found to be an appropriate solvent in this reaction system.     

Fatigue fracture analysis of rotating disks under torque

Ultimate strength and endurance limits of a rotating circular disk of uniform thickness under torque are analytically determined. Let N be the number of cycles the disk is made to rotate at a certain angular velocity V, and under a given torque T. An analytical expression is found that relates V and T to the number N that can cause the disk to fracture due to fatigue.     

Modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance based on semi-empirical equations

Using semi-empirical equations for modeling a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is proposed for providing a tool for the design and analysis of fuel cell total systems. The focus of this study is to derive an empirical model including process variations to estimate the performance of fuel cell without extensive calculations. The model take into account not only the current density but also the process variations, such as the gas pressure, temperature, humidity, and utilization to cover operating processes, which are important factors in determining the real performance of fuel cell. The modelling results are compared well with known experimental results. The comparison shows good agreements between the modeling results and the experimental data. The model can be used to investigate the influence of process variables for design optimization of fuel cells, stacks, and complete fuel cell power system.     

Modeling the rate of corrosion of carbon steel using activated diethanolamine solutions for CO2 absorption

A mechanistic model is developed to investigate the influence of an activator on the corrosion rate of carbon steel in the absorption processes of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Piperazine (PZ) is used as the activator in diethanolamine (DEA) aqueous solutions. The developed model for corrosion takes into consideration the effect of fluid flow, transfer of charge and diffusion of oxidizing agents and operating parameters like temperature, activator concentration, CO₂ loading and pH. The study consists of two major models: Vapor-liquid Equilibrium (VLE) model and electrochemical corrosion model. The electrolyte-NRTL equilibrium model was used for determination of concentration of chemical species in the bulk solution. The results of speciation were subsequently used for producing polarization curves and predicting the rate of corrosion occurring at the surface of metal. An increase in concentration of activator, increases the rate of corrosion of carbon steel in mixtures of activated DEA.     

Bioavailability,rheology, and sensory evaluation of mayonnaise fortified with vitamin D encapsulated in protein-based carriers

Vitamin D lost its functionality during processing and storage, thus, encapsulation with proteins is desirable to preserve bioactivity. The aim of the current study was to develop encapsulated vitamin D fortified mayonnaise (VDFM) using whey protein isolates (WPI) and soy protein isolates (SPI) as encapsulating materials in three different formulations, that is, 10% WPI, 10% SPI, and 5/5% WPI/SPI. Increased shear stress decreased the apparent viscosity along with significant effects on the loss modulus of VDFM. WPI encapsulates showed better results as compared to SPI. WPI based VDFM (M₁) depicted the best results in terms of size and dispersion uniformity of oil droplets. Hue angle and total change differed significantly among treatments. The highest value for overall acceptability was acquired by M₃ (5:5%WPI:SPI-encapsulates) thus proceed for in vivo trials. Serum vitamin D level was significantly higher in the encapsulated VDFM rat group (58.14 ± 6.29 nmol/L) than the control (37.80 ± 4.98 nmol/L). Conclusively, WPI and SPI encapsulates have the potential to improve the stability and bioavailability of vitamin D.     

Protein–Energy Malnutrition: A Risk Factor for Various Ailments

The wheel of industrialization that spun throughout the last century resulted in urbanization coupled with modifications in lifestyles and dietary habits. However, the communities living in developing economies are facing many problems related to their diet and health. Amongst, the prevalence of nutritional problems especially protein–energy malnutrition (PEM) and micronutrients deficiencies are the rising issues. Moreover, the immunity or susceptibility to infect-parasitic diseases is also directly linked with the nutritional status of the host. Likewise, disease-related malnutrition that includes an inflammatory component is commonly observed in clinical practice thus affecting the quality of life. The PEM is treatable but early detection is a key for its appropriate management. However, controlling the menace of PEM requires an aggressive partnership between the physician and the dietitian. This review mainly attempts to describe the pathophysiology, prevalence and consequences of PEM and aims to highlight the importance of this clinical syndrome and the recent growth in our understanding of the processes behind its development. Some management strategies/remedies to overcome PEM are also the limelight of the article. In the nutshell, early recognition, prompt management, and robust follow up are critical for best outcomes in preventing and treating PEM.     

Live video streaming service with pay-as-you-use model on Ethereum Blockchain and InterPlanetary file system

Wireless Networks - In centralized video streaming platforms, the platform owner, rather than the content producer, controls most of the content uploaded on the centralized video...     

A Machine Learning Based Algorithm to Process Partial Shading Effects in PV Arrays

Solar energy is a widely used type of renewable energy. Photovoltaic arrays are used to harvest solar energy. The major goal, in harvesting the maximum possible power, is to operate the system at its maximum power point (MPP). If the irradiation conditions are uniform, the P-V curve of the PV array has only one peak that is called its MPP. But when the irradiation conditions are non-uniform, the P-V curve has multiple peaks. Each peak represents an MPP for a specific irradiation condition. The highest of all the peaks is called Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP). Under uniform irradiation conditions, there is zero or no partial shading. But the changing irradiance causes a shading effect which is called Partial Shading. Many conventional and soft computing techniques have been in use to harvest solar energy. These techniques perform well under uniform and weak shading conditions but fail when shading conditions are strong. In this paper, a new method is proposed which uses Machine Learning based algorithm called Opposition-Based-Learning (OBL) to deal with partial shading conditions. Simulation studies on different cases of partial shading have proven this technique effective in attaining MPP.