Influence of fermentation time on the development of compounds responsible for quality in black tea

The compounds responsible for tea quality, such as theaflavins (TFs) and thearubigins were found to increase with fermentation time. However, TF reached a maximum, declining subsequently. The water extract of black tea decreased with fermentation time. Caffeine concentration remained unchanged. The digallate equivalent of theaflavin, colour index and briskness index were found to peak at the optimum fermentation time. Polyphenols declined more quickly during the initial stages, followed by a steadily declining trend. Fermentation time had little impact on the gallic acid concentration. Among the catechins, epigallocatechin oxidized fastest, followed by epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin gallate.     

CdO nanoparticles,c‐MWCNT nanoparticles and CdO nanoparticles/c‐MWCNT nanocomposite fibres: in vitro assessment of anti‐proliferative and apoptotic studies in HeLa cancer cell line

A simple ultrasonic assisted chemical technique was used to synthesise cadmium oxide (CdO) nanoparticles (NPs) and CdO NPs/c‐Multiwalled carbon nanotube (c‐MWCNT) nanocomposite fibres.To confirm the physio‐chemico properties and to analyse surface morphology of the obtained nanomaterials X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were performed. To evaluate the anti‐cancer property of CdO NPs, c‐MWCNT NPs and CdO NPs/c‐MWCNT nanocomposite fibres, an anti‐proliferative assay test (Methylthiazolyl diphenyl‐ tetrazolium bromide ‐ MTT assay) were performed on HeLa cells which further estimated IC50 value (Least concentration of sample in which nearly 50% of cells remain alive) under in‐vitro conditions. On comparison, CdONPs/c‐MWCNT based system was found to be superior by achieving 52.3% cell viability with its minimal IC50 value of 31.2 μg/ml. Lastly, the CdO NPs based system was taken up for an apoptotic study using DNA fragmentation assay for estimating its ability to cleave the DNA of the HeLa cells into internucleosomal fragments using the agarose gel electrophoresis method. In conclusion, based on our observations, CdO NPs/c‐MWCNT hybrid based system can be further used for the development of efficient drug delivery and therapeutic systems.Inspec keywords: drug delivery systems, electrophoresis, oxidation, toxicology, DNA, nanoparticles, drugs, field emission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, nanofabrication, surface morphology, cancer, X‐ray diffraction, nanomedicine, cellular biophysics, filled polymers, biomedical materials, molecular biophysics, biochemistry, Fourier transform infrared spectra, multi‐wall carbon nanotubesOther keywords: c‐MWCNT nanoparticles, apoptotic study, HeLa cancer cell line, cadmium oxide nanoparticles, c‐MWCNT NPs, anti‐proliferative assay test [methyl thiazolyl diphenyl‐tetrazolium bromide assay], human epithelioid cervix carcinoma cells, live cells, CdO NP‐based system, IC50 concentration, HeLa cell line, cell deaths, CdO‐C     

Application of ANN, Fuzzy Logic and Decision Tree Algorithms for the Development of Reservoir Operating Rules

Optimal use of scarce water resources is the prime objective for water resources development projects in the developing country like India. Optimal releases have been generally expressed as a function of reservoir state variables and hydrologic inputs by a relationship which ultimately allows the policy/water managers to determine the water to be released as a function of available information. Optimal releases were obtained by using optimal control theory with inflow series and revised reservoir characteristics such as elevation area capacity table, zero elevation level as input in this study. Operating rules for reservoir were developed as a function of demand, water level and inflow. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with back propagation algorithm, Fuzzy Logic and decision tree algorithms such as M5 and REPTree were used for deriving the operating rules using the optimal releases for an irrigation and power supply reservoir, located in northern India. It was found that fuzzy logic model performed well compared to other soft computing techniques such as ANN, M5P and REPTree investigated in this study.     

Organic light emitting devices performance improvement by inserting thin parylene layer

An organic light emitting device (OLED) structure with a thin parylene layer deposited by low-temperature chemical vapour deposition (CVD) at the anode–organic interface was fabricated. Such a structure gives off higher efficiency, a smaller number and smaller size dark non-emissive areas, slower growth rate of the dark areas and a longer device lifetime compared to one without the parylene layer. The parylene modified indium tin oxide (ITO) surface shows an increased work-function and a reduced surface roughness compared to that of the bare ITO surface. The interface optimisation contributes to the device performance improvement.     

Theoretical approaches to superionic conductivity

Recent theoretical approaches to the understanding of superionic conductivity in polycrystalline, glassy and polymeric materials are briefly reviewed. Phase transitions to the superionic conducting state in the AgI family are apparently triggered by cluster formation and strong mobile ion interaction within the clusters. Anomalous conductivity and related physical properties are explained in the cluster induced distortion model. Ionic composites such as AgX : Al₂O₃ (X = Cl, Br and I) involve conducting and non-conducting phases and the all-important interface between the two whose space charge enhances the conductivity and also trigger phase transitions to exotic polymorphic phases, for which the mechanisms are yet to be explored. Ion hopping dynamics controls the conductivity of superionic glasses. Mode coupling and jump relaxation theories account for the non-Debye relaxation observed in a.c. conductivity of these glasses. The theory of conductivity in polymer electrolytes—still in its infancy—involves their complex structure and glass transition behaviour. Preparative and thermal history, composition and crystallinity control ionic conductivity. New approaches to the synthesis of optimal polymer electrolytes such as rubbery electrolytes, crystalline polymers and nanocomposites must be considered before achieving a comprehensive theoretical understanding. Based on an invited talk given by the first author at the National Workshop on Solid State Ionics and its Applications, Bharatiar University, Coimbatore, 18–23 January 2002.     

Improvement of form accuracy in hybrid machining of microstructures

Micromachining is gaining popularity due to recent advancements in Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. Using conventional micromachining, it is relatively difficult to produce moving components in the order of microns. In this study, an attempt is made to fabricate microstructures using a combination of turning and electrodischarge machining (EDM). Several sets of experiments have been performed to study the characteristics of the hybrid machining process. From the experiments, it has been observed that a higher form of accuracy could be obtained by integrating the on-machine fabrication of the tool and by subsequently using the same tool for EDM. The main cause of the form error is due to the deflection of the shaft during turning. Hence, an attempt is made to observe the deflection of the shaft using a deflection sensor. The influence of micro-EDM parameters such as feed rate, discharge circuits, and gap control parameters on material removal rate and tool wear is also discussed in this study.     

Low Temperature Water–Gas Shift Reaction Over Alkali Metal Promoted Cobalt Carbide Catalysts

Low temperature water–gas shift (LT-WGS) was performed over various group I alkali metal (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) promoted cobalt carbide (Co₂C) catalysts at temperatures ranging from 453 to 573 K and atmospheric pressure. Cobalt carbide (Co₂C) was found to be active for the WGS reaction. The stability of the catalyst is related to the stability of the cobalt carbide phases under reaction conditions. Potassium promoted cobalt carbide catalysts exhibited higher activity and stability compared to the other alkali promoted catalysts for LT-WGS. X-ray diffraction analyses of fresh and used catalysts suggest that the origin of deactivation of the catalysts is primarily due to the chemical transition of cobalt from carbide to metal during WGS.     

Sulfonated polyethersulfone-based membranes for metal ion removal via a hybrid process

Membranes are being increasingly used as an economic alternative for wastewater treatment compared to conventional methods. Ultrafiltration membranes are widely used in metal ions’ rejection. Sulfonated Polyethersulfone (SPES)/polysulfone (PSf) blend flat sheet membranes are prepared using polar solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) by the dry–wet phase inversion technique. Polyethylene glycol (PEG-200) is used as a non-solvent additive in the casting solution. The effect of PSf/SPES blend ratio on the morphology, hydrophilicity, water content, porosity, hydraulic resistance, pure water flux, compaction, and molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the prepared membranes was studied and found to be improved significantly by the incorporation of SPES in the dope solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that the membranes formed had an asymmetric structure with a thin skin layer and porous sublayer. The prepared membranes were used for rejection of Cu(II) and Zn(II) which are complexed with water-soluble chelating polymer polyethyleneimine. The results show that the order of rejection is Cu(II) ion > Zn(II) ion. Thus, it is worth mentioning that the PSf/SPES blend ultrafiltration membranes prepared in this study would offer immense potential in removal of toxic metal ion from industrial effluents.     

Quantum dot sensitized aluminium doped and copper doped ZnO nanostructure based solar cells

Aluminium doped and copper doped ZnO nanostructured thin films have been prepared using simple solgel dip coating method. The X-ray diffraction pattern results revealed that the prepared Al and Cu doped ZnO sample exhibits hexagonal structure. The average crystallite size of pure ZnO, Al doped ZnO and Cu doped ZnO samples were found to be 29, 26 and 15 nm, respectively. The optical band gap of ZnO, Al doped ZnO and Cu doped ZnO thin films was found to be 3.27, 3.29, and 3.20 eV respectively. Solar cells have been fabricated using CdS quantum dots sensitized ZnO nanostructured thin films and the efficiency of the fabricated Al doped and Cu doped ZnO solar cells were 1.37 and 1.29 % respectively.     

Electrochemical sensing using quantum-sized gold nanoparticles

This paper describes the electrocatalytic activity of quantum-sized thiolate protected Au(25) nanoparticles and their use in electrochemical sensing. The Au(25) film modified electrode exhibited excellent mediated electrocatalytic activity that was utilized for amperometric sensing of biologically relevant analytes, namely, ascorbic acid and uric acid. The electron transfer dynamics in the Au(25) film was examined as a function of Au(25) concentration, which manifested the dual role of Au(25) as an electronic conductor as well as a redox mediator. The electron transfer study has further revealed the correlation between the electronic conductivity of the Au(25) film and the sensing sensitivity.