Biobased hyperbranched shape‐memory polyurethanes: Effect of different vegetable oils

Hyperbranched polyurethanes were synthesized from poly(ε‐caprolactone) diol as a macroglycol, butanediol as a chain extender, a monoglyceride of a vegetable oil (Mesua ferrea, castor, and sunflower oils separately) as a biobased chain extender, triethanolamine as a multifunctional moiety, and toluene diisocyanate by a prepolymerization technique with the A₂ + B₃ approach. The structure of the synthesized hyperbranched polyurethanes was characterized by ¹H‐NMR and X‐ray diffraction studies. M. ferrea L. seed‐oil‐based polyurethane showed the highest thermal stability, whereas the castor‐oil‐based one showed the lowest. However, the castor‐oil‐based polyurethane exhibited the highest tensile strength compared to the other vegetable‐oil‐based polyurethanes. All of the vegetable‐oil‐based polyurethanes showed good shape fixity, although the castor‐oil‐based polyurethane showed the highest shape recovery. Thus, the characteristics of the vegetable oil had a prominent role in the control of the ultimate properties, including the shape‐memory behaviors, of the hyperbranched polyurethanes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39579.     

Impact of zonal wind on latitudinal variation of total columnar ozone over the Indian Peninsula

Latitudinal and seasonal variability of total columnar ozone from September 2007 to August 2008 across the Indian longitude sector within 10.5° N to 34.5° N and 70.5° E to 94.5° E using satellite data obtained from Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS) is presented. The total column ozone (TCO) over the area of study shows a gradually varying pattern throughout the year. In the post-monsoon (autumn) and winter months, maximum TCO is observed in the north-western part of the subcontinent while the minimum is often observed towards the east at about the same latitudes. A west–east spatial gradient is clearly observed in autumn months. As winter approaches, a north–south spatial gradient becomes more prominent than the east–west gradient. It has been further observed that TCO does not vary significantly over the entire subcontinent in monsoon.     

Analysis of mineral composition of some Assam and Darjeeling black teas

Black teas manufactured in Darjeeling and Assam were analysed for various macrominerals such as P, K, Ca, Mg and microminerals such as Mn, Fe and Cu. A considerable amount of minerals, eg K (40-46 mg), Mg (2.7-3.0 mg), Ca (0.48-0.66 mg) and traces of Mn (0.28-0.40 mg), Fe (0.16-0.20 mg), P (29-41 μg) and Cu (12-22 μg) were found in a cup of black tea brew. Black teas manufactured from the leaf coming from a pruned section and fine portion usually showed higher mineral content than tea manufactured from unpruned sections and coarse grade teas of Darjeeling. Assam CTC tea was found to be richer in mineral content compared to Darjeeling orthodox tea.     

An adaptive color image steganography method using adjacent pixel value differencing and LSB substitution technique

Abstract

Steganography is a data-concealing technique that provides a covert communication. This paper proposes a spatial domain color steganography method that uses a neighboring pixel-pair differencing concept to enhance the embedding capacity. The proposed method considers the distortion tolerance capacity of each color plane and the difference value between two neighboring pixels while deciding the number of bits that can be concealed in that pixel-pair. Each plane is divided into some disjoint blocks of size 3?×?3 pixels. The method forms eight pairs of pixels in one block using the eight-neighboring pixel concept, which enables the method to utilize all the edge pixels in all probable directions. It also uses the XOR encoding technique before the embedding process. This step provides an additional layer of security to the secret information. The simulation results show that the proposed method is able to achieve a high embedding capacity with good visual quality as per the calculation of imperceptibility metrics. The robustness of the method is tested by RS steganalysis and pixel difference histogram analysis. Further, a comparison between the proposed method and the existing methods on the basis of embedding capacity and stego image quality is shown.     

A fourth-order accurate compact scheme for the solution of steady Navier-Stokes equations on non-uniform grids

This paper deals with the formulation of a higher-order compact (HOC) scheme on non-uniform grids in complex geometries to simulate two-dimensional (2D) steady incompressible viscous flows governed by the Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations. The proposed scheme which is spatially fourth-order accurate is then tested on three nonlinear problems, namely (i) a problem governed by N-S equations with a constructed analytical solution, (ii) lid-driven cavity flow problem, and (iii) constricted channel flow problem. In the process, we have also expanded the scope of fourth-order 9-point compact schemes to geometries beyond rectangular. It is seen to efficiently capture steady-state solutions of the N-S equations with Dirichlet as well as Neumann boundary conditions. In addition to this, it captures viscous flows involving free and wall bounded shear layers which invariably contain spatial scale variations. Our results are in excellent agreement with analytical and numerical results whenever available and they clearly demonstrate the superior scale resolution of the proposed scheme.     

Development of controlled strength-loss resorbable beta-tricalcium phosphate bioceramic structures

Controlling the strength-loss rate during biodegradation is a bottleneck in developing viable resorbable ceramic implants. Resorbable beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) bioceramic is known for its excellent biocompatibility. However, it exhibits poor sinterability and poor flexural strength. Here, we improved sintering behavior and biaxial flexural strength of β-TCP bioceramic without altering its biocompatibility by introducing multi-oxide sintering additives, in small quantities. These additives could also tailor the rate of resorption and hardness deterioration of β-TCP. A range of additives were prepared and introduced into β-TCP powder. Resultant powders were uniaxially pressed and sintered at 1250 °C, in air. Considerable improvement in densification (up to 33%) and biaxial flexural strength (up to 43%) were achieved. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the additives didn't alter the phase purity. In vitro cytotoxicity and biocompatibility analyses were performed using a prostate cancer cell-line. Results showed that the doped and pure β-TCP structures were non-toxic and biocompatible.     

Evaluation of the nutritional quality of four unexplored aquatic weeds from northeast India for the formulation of cost-effective fish feeds

A study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional potential of four commonly available, unexplored aquatic weeds namely, Salvinia cuculata, Trapa natans, Lemna minor and Ipomoea reptans from northeast India for ascertaining their suitability for utilization as supplementary fish feed with the aim to reduce the cost of commercial feeds. Results of proximate analysis showed that the crude protein content of the aquatic weeds ranged between 11.0% and 32.2% (w/w), whereas crude fibre and ash contents varied between 4.2% and 20% (w/w), and 13.3% and 31.2% (w/w), respectively. Protein to energy ratio (P/E) of these weeds ranged between 30.7 mg/kcal and 95.3 mg/kcal and the highest value was displayed by I. reptans. All these aquatic weeds contained high amounts of vitamins E and C and mineral elements required for the normal growth and development of fish.     

Synthesis of SiC ceramics from processed cellulosic bio-precursor

Synthesis of SiC ceramic from processed cellulosic bio-precursor was investigated. Bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) plants abundantly available in the Jorhat district of Assam, India, were selected for extraction of fibers following Kraft pulping method and bleached bamboo pulp fibers were suitably cast in the form of rectangular boards. Coir fibers available in the Alleppy district of Kerala, India, were initially digested with dilute alkali, mixed with cellulose acetate solution, air dried and then hot-pressed at 140 ± 5 °C under 2.0–2.5 MPa pressure to make rectangular boards. Well-characterized processed bio-precursors were pyrolysed at ～800 °C under flowing N₂ atmosphere to prepare the bio-carbonaceous preforms (carbon templates) which showed nearly uniform shrinkages in all directions. Coir fiber composite board carbon showed lower pyrolytic weight loss (～66%), higher density (0.49 g cm^?3), lower porosity (～58%) and narrower pore diameter (10 μm) compared to the cast bamboo pulp fiber board carbon. The carbon samples showed perfect retention of fibrous morphological features of hierarchically grown bio-structures. Ceramization of carbon templates could be done by reactive melt silicon infiltration into porous channels at ～1600 °C under vacuum. The final ceramics were adequately dense (%theoretical density > 99%), showed negligible linear dimensional changes (indicating net-dimension formation capability), presence of crystalline Si and SiC phases and duplex microstructure with complete preservation of fibrous architecture of plant bio-structure. The Si/SiC ceramic composite synthesized from coir fiber board gave room temperature 3-point flexural strength and Young's modulus values of 121 MPa and 276 GPa, respectively. Both the ceramic composites showed adequate oxidation resistance during heating at 1300 °C for 7 h in air.