Efficient processing of oil–water emulsions confined within 2D cylinders with various microwave irradiations: Role of metallic annulus

Extensive studies have been carried out to investigate the role of metallic annulus on efficient microwave processing of oil–water emulsions confined within 2D cylinders in the presence of lateral/radial irradiations. A preliminary study has been carried out via average power within a sample vs. sample diameter to estimate microwave power absorptions for various o/w and w/o emulsions with specific fractions of the dispersed phase (?) in the absence of metallic annulus. Based on those studies, various regimes (sample dimension) have been identified for each emulsion (o/w or w/o) based on appropriate length scales. Two types of metallic annular configurations have been considered such as circular and square annuli for further analysis via average power vs. aspect ratio (a) distribution for each regime. Based on that study, suitable aspect ratios have been chosen to carry out detailed analysis on spatial power and temperature distributions for each regime with metallic annuli. Finally, optimal heating strategies have been recommended based on two significant factors such as ‘large heating rate’ with ‘minimal thermal runaway’ for various regimes of o/w and w/o emulsions. It is observed that average power absorptions show greater intensification due to metallic annulus for most of the regimes of o/w emulsions than that for corresponding regimes of w/o emulsions due to lateral and/or radial irradiations. However, in general, for regimes with smaller diameters (for both o/w and w/o samples) radial irradiation is favored, whereas for large regimes, lateral irradiation is favored as the optimal heating strategies.     

Application of single and mixtures of red sandalwood and other natural dyes for dyeing of jute fabric: studies on colour parameters/colour fastness and compatibility

Single and binary mixtures of aqueous extracts of red sandalwood (RSW) with aqueous extract of other natural dyes like manjistha (MJ), jackfruit wood (JFW), marigold (MG), sappan wood (SW) and babool (BL) in different proportions are applied on bleached jute fabric for its dyeing after double pre-mordanted with myrobolan and aluminium sulphate applied in sequence under optimised conditions of mordanting with effects of use of different proportions of binary mixture of selective natural dyes on colour strength and other colour. Parameters and colour fastness properties have been investigated. Compatibility of selective binary mixture of dyes was also judged by a relatively newer colour index parameter established earlier from this laboratory. Binary of mixture of RSW and MJ is found to be most compatible with rating 4 (in 0–5 scale), and mixture of RSW:MG and RSW:JFW is found to have average compatibility having rating 3. Dyed fabric samples have also been further treated with cationic dye-fixing agents namely N-cetyl-N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetrimide and Sandofix-HCF to improve wash fastness. Treatment with 2% CTAB or Sandofix-HCF improves the wash fastness to nearly 1 unit. Treatment with 1% benztriazole improves the light fastness of natural dyed jute textiles nearly half to one unit. The possible chemistry and mechanisms for such improvement in wash fastness by CTAB and improvement of light fastness by benztriazole for jute have also been discussed to explain the observed effects.     

Management of Multipurpose Multireservoir Using Fuzzy Interactive Method

In this paper a fuzzy interactive method is proposed for efficient management of multipurpose multireservoir problems. The proposed method provides an option to decision maker (DM) to work in an interactive manner to achieve the conflicting objectives as close to their desired values as is practically feasible. In each iteration, fuzzy membership functions of various objectives are framed and combined into a single objective using the product operator. The single objective nonlinear optimization model thus framed in each iteration is numerically solved using genetic algorithm. The solution provides the values of the objectives which can be actually achieved keeping in view their aspired values as provided by DM. At the end of each iteration, DM has the option to modify the aspired values of one or more objectives keeping in view the results obtained by the algorithm thus far. The algorithm is stopped when DM feels satisfied with the results. The working of the proposed method has been demonstrated on the mathematical model of a realistic multipurpose multireservoir system taken from literature.     

Empirical Characterization of Session–Based Workload and Reliability for Web Servers

The growing availability of Internet access has led to significant increase in the use of World Wide Web. If we are to design dependable Web–based systems that deal effectively with the increasing number of clients and highly variable workload, it is important to be able to describe the Web workload and errors accurately. In this paper we focus on the detailed empirical analysis of the session–based workload and reliability based on the data extracted from actual Web logs of eleven Web servers. First, we introduce and rigourously analyze several intra–session and inter–session metrics that collectively describe Web workload in terms of user sessions. Then, we analyze Web error characteristics and estimate the request–based and session–based reliability of Web servers. Finally, we identify the invariants of the Web workload and reliability that apply through all data sets considered. The results presented in this paper show that session–based workload and reliability are better indicators of the users perception of the Web quality than the request–based metrics.     

Inventory model with two rates of production for deteriorating items with permissible delay in payments

Some decentralized smoothing problems are solved by applying a forward-pass fixed-interval smoother formula in discrete-time systems. It is assumed that a simple estimation structure consists of a global processor and of two local processors. Two cases are considered for the problems of decentralized smoothing and smoothing update: when the local backward-pass information filtered estimates are available, and when the local-smoothed estimates are available. Some features of present algorithms are discussed from the point of view of data transmissions and numerical computations, etc.     

Relationship between Growth, Structure and Superconductivity of Single Crystal YBa2Cu3O7-δ

We study the crystal growth of YBa ₂ Cu ₃ O _7- with additives, using ac susceptibility, X-ray diffraction and STM. One specific additive, BaF ₂ , dramatically improves both the crystal growth and the superconducting properties. A cluster growth model is proposed to describe the function of the additive. F _– reduces the Al contamination of Cu-O chains, and the orthorhombicity increases. On a nanometer scale, the roughness of the chains decreases markedly. Superconductivity is further enhanced using non-contaminating crucibles. Large single crystals with T _C = 93.7 K and T _C = 0.1K were grown in Y ₂ O ₃ or BaZrO ₃ crucibles using the BaF ₂ additive.     

Structural,Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Microwave-Assisted High-Energy Ball Milling Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite

Abstract

In the present work, the effect of high-energy ball milling (HEBM) of starting precursors of hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂)/HA system on the processing temperature, morphological, mechanical, and electrical properties are highlighted. Calcination and sintering of HA system were carried out in microwave furnace. XRD study confirmed the evolution of HA phase and EDX analysis confirmed Ca/P ratio ～1.65. Grain size of HA samples, synthesized by using microwave-assisted HEBM technique was found to be in the order of 54–75?nm. Enhanced dielectric and mechanical properties were obtained in HA samples.     

Contribution of Dysregulated DNA Methylation to Autoimmunity

Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs are known regulators of gene expression and genomic stability in cell growth, development, and differentiation. Because epigenetic mechanisms can regulate several immune system elements, epigenetic alterations have been found in several autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the epigenetic modifications, mainly DNA methylation, involved in autoimmune diseases in which T cells play a significant role. For example, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus display differential gene methylation, mostly hypomethylated 5′-C-phosphate-G-3′ (CpG) sites that may associate with disease activity. However, a clear association between DNA methylation, gene expression, and disease pathogenesis must be demonstrated. A better understanding of the impact of epigenetic modifications on the onset of autoimmunity will contribute to the design of novel therapeutic approaches for these diseases.     

Green fire retardant finishing and combined dyeing of proteinous wool fabric

Flame retardancy was imparted to a scoured and bleached, proteinous woollen textile by using banana pseudostem sap, an ecofriendly waste agricultural product, at different pH levels. The flame retardancy characteristics of both the control and the treated fabrics were analysed in terms of the limiting oxygen index and the vertical flammability measurement. Thermal degradation and fire retardancy mechanisms were studied using thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. Moreover, the charring mechanism of both the control and the banana‐pseudostem‐sap‐treated fabrics with varying pH was analysed and reported in detail. The wool fabric was also dyed with CI Acid Blue 25 using banana pseudostem sap as well as water as the medium. The fabric dyed with the banana pseudostem sap medium at pH 5.5 showed more colour exhaustion, colour strength, and thermal stability compared with the control wool fabric. The mechanism by which superior fire retardancy and colour strength are imparted to the woollen textile by the application of banana pseudostem sap is proposed.     

Mannopyranoside Glycolipids Inhibit Mycobacterial and Biofilm Growth and Potentiate Isoniazid Inhibition Activities in M. smegmatis

Lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan are integral components of the mycobacterial cell wall. Earlier studies demonstrated that synthetic arabinan and arabinomannan glycolipids acted as inhibitors of mycobacterial growth, in addition to exhibiting inhibitory activities of mycobacterial biofilm. Herein, it is demonstrated that synthetic mannan glycolipids are better inhibitors of mycobacterial growth, whereas lipoarabinomannan has a higher inhibition efficiency to biofilm. Syntheses of mannan glycolipids with a graded number of mannan moieties and an arabinomannan glycolipid are conducted by chemical methods and subsequent mycobacterial growth and biofilm inhibition studies are conducted on Mycobacterium smegmatis. Growth inhibition of (73±3) % is observed with a mannose trisaccharide containing a glycolipid, whereas this glycolipid did not promote biofilm inhibition activity better than that of arabinomannan glycolipid. The antibiotic supplementation activities of glycolipids on growth and biofilm inhibitions are evaluated. Increases in growth and biofilm inhibitions are observed if the antibiotic is supplemented with glycolipids, which leads to a significant reduction of inhibition concentrations of the antibiotic.