Combined experimental and analytical method for a realistic seismic qualification of equipment

The seismic qualification of equipment/structures are, in general, carried out either exclusively by analysis or exclusively by testing using a shake table. The analytical methods have the risk of the model not being a true reflection of the structure unless very elaborate modelling techniques are used. Even with an elaborate model there are many idealisations made which may not actually be realised in practice. The shake-table testing, avoids the modelling deviations to a large extent, but is also not without drawbacks. The important ones are the cost and the availability of a shake table of the required size and capacity. The shake-table testing is also carried out on the isolated equipment without the piping/structural connections from other components. The present paper suggests a combined experimental and analytical method on the ‘as installed’ equipment as an attractive alternative which overcomes the above drawbacks. In contrast to the existing practice of using the experimental results just to validate the analytical model, the suggested method uses the experimentally obtained dynamic characteristics of the ‘as installed’ equipment to obtain the response to the design seismic load. The paper brings out through an example of a simple storage tank which is too heavy for a shake table, the large deviations in its actual behaviour vis-à-vis an idealised analytical model.     

Linkages among energy, agriculture and environment in rural India

The interconnections between energy, agriculture and environment in rural India are analyzed in this paper using a systems perspective. Rural areas of developing countries use biomass for fuel, fodder, fertilizer and other purposes, and it is necessary to understand the fuel-fodder–fertilizer relationships for optimal biomass allocation. The allocation is explored using a linear programming model. First, the model is validated by simulating it using data for the year 1990–1991. The model is then applied for the year 2000, and several scenarios are generated to obtain answers to various policy questions. The results show that it is necessary to increase fertilizer consumption, to increase efficiencies of cooking stoves, to improve livestock feed, and/or to decrease population growth for maximizing the revenue generated in the rural system of India. It shows that when the prices of fertilizers increase, a large increase in kerosene requirements can be expected. It also points to the necessity to increase kerosene consumption to reduce emissions (due to non-commercial fuels) and soil fertility loss. For example, the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the scenarios range from 137.50 to 62.50 million tons (in carbon equivalent terms) for the high and low cases, respectively. Correspondingly, kerosene consumption ranges from 0.18 to 15.49 kilotons (kT).     

Estimation of skin impedance models with experimental data and a proposed model for human skin impedance

The skin is a complex biological tissue whose impedance varies with frequency. The properties and structure of skin changes with the location on the body, age, geographical location and other factors. Considering these factors, skin impedance analysis is a sophisticated data analysis. However, despite all these variations, various researchers have always worked to develop an equivalent electrical model of the skin. The two most important categories of electrical models are RC‐based model and CPE‐based model which focus on the physiological stratification and biological properties of skin, respectively. In this work, experimental skin impedance data is acquired from ten sites on the body to find the fitting model. It is observed that a hybrid of fractional‐order CPE‐based model and higher‐order RC layered‐based model can provide the best fitting electrical model of skin. A new model is developed with this hybrid orders. Genetic algorithm is used for the extraction of parameter components. Least error of fitting has been observed for the proposed model as compared with the other models. This model can be used in correlating many skin problems and in the development of diagnostic tools. It will offer an additional supportive tool in‐vitro to the medical specialist.Inspec keywords: genetic algorithms, skin, data analysis, bioelectric phenomena, medical computing, electric impedance, patient diagnosisOther keywords: skin impedance models, human skin impedance, skin impedance analysis, data analysis, electrical models, RC‐based model, biological properties, experimental skin impedance data, fractional‐order CPE‐based model, skin problems, complex biological tissue, higher‐order RC layered‐based model, genetic algorithm, diagnostic tools     

Application of novel polar representation method for monitoring minor engine condition variations

In an earlier study, a Noval Polar Presentation (NPP) method has been suggested to detect the engine combustion-related faults for medium-speed diesel engines. The earlier proposed NPP method basically used the signature of the crankshaft torsional vibration to identify the faulty cylinder accurately. However, the detection of only a large fault like the cylinder misfiring for the 2 typical engines (16-cylinder and 20-cylinder engines) has been demonstrated in the earlier study. Now the usefulness of the NPP method in detection of even a very small level of the engine combustion fault like an earlier or later opening of the fuel injection valve by just a few degrees has been presented here.     

Formulation and Comparative Study of Rheological Properties of Loaded and Unloaded Ethanol-Based Gel Propellants

The current trend in the area of highly energetic storable liquid rocket propellant research is to develop environmentally friendly gelled/metallized systems and to explore the feasibility of their application in rocket engines. The idea stems from the fact that the conversion of a conventional liquid propellant to a gelled state and its subsequent metallization has the potential to significantly enhance the performance and density-specific impulse. The gelation of liquid fuels could be induced at a critical gellant concentration of as low as 8 wt% for the pure ethanol case and as low as 4 and 6 wt% for metallized ethanol depending on the metal type. Furthermore, the gel formed should be thixotropic. Metallized gels using 20 wt% Al and B metal powders could also be formulated. These metallized (Al and B) ethanol gel systems showed a reduction in the critical gellant concentration depending on the degree of metallization. The rheological properties of metallized and nonmetallized ethanol gels using methyl cellulose (MC) as a gelling agent at different ambient temperatures (283.15, 293.15, 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15 K) were experimentally investigated in this study. The gel fuels were rheologically characterized using a rheometer at shear rates ranging from 1 to 12 s^?1 and 1 to 1,000 s^?1. Metallized and nonmetallized ethanol gels were found to be thixotropic in nature. The apparent viscosity and yield stress (for shear rate range 1 to 12 s^?1) of gels were observed to significantly decrease at higher ambient temperatures and as the gellant and metal particle concentrations decreased. The thixotropic behavior was found to be a strong function of the Al and B metal particle concentration for all test temperatures at shear rate ranges from 1 to 12 s^?1 and 1 to 1,000 s^?1. It was also a function of the MC concentration at a shear rate range of 1 to 1,000 s^?1.     

In vitro release dynamics of an anticancer drug from swellable gelatin nanoparticles

Gelatin (Type A) nanoparticles were prepared by a single W/O emulsion technique and characterized by infrared (IR) spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size analysis. The IR spectra clearly confirmed the presence of gelatin and cytarabine in the loaded nanoparticles while the scanning electron micrograph (SEM) image depicts smooth surface, spherical shape and uneven size of nanoparticles (100–300 nm). The prepared nanoparticles were loaded with cytarabine, a well‐known anticancer drug, and the release dynamics of entrapped drug was investigated as a function of various experimental factors, such as percent loading of the drug, chemical architecture of the nanocarriers, and pH, temperature, ionic strength, and nature of the release medium. The nanoparticles were also studied for their water sorption capacity by optical microscopic method taking advantage of the aggregation of nanoparticles. The drug release process was analyzed kinetically using Ficks power law, and a correlation was established between the quantity of released drug and swelling of the nanoparticles. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2320–2332, 2006     

Electricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment of Oil Refinery in Microbial Fuel Cells Using Pseudomonas putida

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a novel platform for treating wastewater and at the same time generating electricity. Using Pseudomonas putida (BCRC 1059), a wild-type bacterium, we demonstrated that the refinery wastewater could be treated and also generate electric current in an air-cathode chamber over four-batch cycles for 63 cumulative days. Our study indicated that the oil refinery wastewater containing 2213 mg/L (ppm) chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be used as a substrate for electricity generation in the reactor of the MFC. A maximum voltage of 355 mV was obtained with the highest power density of 0.005 mW/cm² in the third cycle with a maximum current density of 0.015 mA/cm² in regard to the external resistor of 1000 Ω. A maximum coulombic efficiency of 6 × 10⁻²% was obtained in the fourth cycle. The removal efficiency of the COD reached 30% as a function of time. Electron transfer mechanism was studied using cyclic voltammetry, which indicated the presence of a soluble electron shuttle in the reactor. Our study demonstrated that oil refinery wastewater could be used as a substrate for electricity generation.     

Detoxification of a carcinogenic paint preservative by Blumea malcolmii Hook cell cultures

Phytoremediation is considered as an effective viable alternative to remediate the contaminated sites, industrially hazardous chemicals and other toxic pollutants. This bioremediation option offers a safe, cheap and eco friendly alternative to existing physical and chemical remediation technologies as well as other biological sources. The wall paint preservatives consist of several harmful and carcinogenic compounds causing serious environmental concerns. In the present study, an actively growing Blumea malcolmii Hook cell suspensions were established successfully on MS+CM (20%) +2,4-D (5 mg l(-1))+Gln (100 mg l(-1))+sucrose (3%) and were used to detoxify a paint preservative Troysan S 89 (a mixture of carbendazim, diuron and ochthilinone). FTIR and UV spectral analytical studies revealed the phytotransformation of Troysan S 89 by Blumea cell suspension cultures. The non-toxic nature of the products formed after phytotransformation was confirmed by phytotoxicity, cytogenotoxicity while non-carcinogenic nature by Ames tests. The novelty of the present study is effective communal degradation of a mixture of three toxicants in Troysan S 89 by cell suspension cultures of Blumea. This work suggested that Blumea cell suspensions might be able to contribute to the wider and safer application of phytoremediation.     

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from ethnic preserved meat products of the Western Himalayas

We used culture- and molecular-biology-based methods to investigate the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the ethnic chevon (goat) meat products chartayshya, jamma and arjia of the Western Himalayas. In six chartayshya, six jamma and four arjia samples, LAB were the predominant microbial component involved in the fermentation of these samples, and the total LAB population in arjia (7.8 ± 0.1 log cfu g⁻¹; mean ± SD) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in chartayshya (6.9 ± 0.1 log cfu g⁻¹) and jamma (7.5 ± 0.1 log cfu g⁻¹). We identified 53 LAB samples by 16S rRNA and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase (pheS) genes sequencing. The LAB isolates were identified as Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae, Leuconostoc citreum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Weissella cibaria. These results revealed that there is a high level of diversity of LAB in the Himalayan ethnic preserved meat products.     

Chemical-induced pH-mediated molecular switch

The transmembrane protein α-hemolysin pore has been used to develop ultrasensitive biosensors, study biomolecular folding and unfolding, investigate covalent and noncovalent bonding interactions, and probe enzyme kinetics. Here, we report that, by addition of ionic liquid tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride solution to the α-hemolysin pore, the α-hemolysin channel can be controlled open or closed by adjusting the pH of the solution. This approach can be employed to develop a novel molecular switch to regulate molecular transport and should find potential applications as a "smart" drug delivery method.