Temporal scale effect of loading data on instream nitrate-nitrogen load computation

The temporal scale effect of loading data on nitrate-nitrogen load computation was examined using outputs of watershed modeling tool Hydrologic Simulation Program-FORTRAN (HSPF) for the Amite River in Louisiana, USA. The daily nitrate-nitrogen concentrations simulated using the HSPF were employed first to obtain daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly average data and then to develop load duration curves for the data with four different temporal scales. The duration curves exhibited high variability in the load estimated using daily data as compared with those based on bi-weekly and monthly data. According to daily data, the nitrate-nitrogen load in the winter was found to be 2,780 kg. The nitrate-nitrogen load decreased with increasing temporal (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly) scale (commonly used in water quality monitoring) of the data. The coefficient of variation, used to quantify the effect of temporal scale on the load, was found to be linearly and inversely correlated with the logarithm of the time scale. Based on the finding, empirical equations were proposed to extrapolate near real-time data for flow and nitrate-nitrogen, greatly simplifying nutrient monitoring and reducing the cost involved in water quality monitoring.     

An Indo-Soviet experiment on anmhd generator test section at the Soviet U-02 facility

This paper summarizes the major results of the joint Indo-Soviet experiment for testing the Indianmhd generator channel section, designed and fabricated at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, which was carried out at the U-02 facility in Moscow, USSR, in May 1980. The total test duration was 65 hours and included electrophysical tests and life tests under applied electric fields. The main purpose of the tests was to substantiate the physical concepts, computer codes, design features and special processing techniques involved in the development ofmhd generators for the Indian pilot plant at Tiruchirapalli. The experimental observations on the phenomena of heat transfer to the walls, gas dynamics in the channel, electrical characteristics of the generator and near-electrode processes including the analysis of arc spots correlate with the theoretical estimates based on present understanding of the physical processes occuring in similarmhd generators. The post-operational inspection of the channel section and extensive investigation of materials through microscopic analysis, chemical analysis and x-ray analysis are also reported in this paper. The joint test programme has clearly demonstrated the definite operating capability of the test section and has given sufficient information and encouragement for building better and improved channels for the future.     

Synthesis and magnetic study of Co-Al substituted calcium hexaferrite

A series of calcium substituted polycrystalline ferrite ceramics with magnetoplumbite structures were synthesized using perfect stoichiometric mixtures of oxides with chemical composition, CaAl_xCo_xFe_12−2xO₁₉ (x = 2−5), by standard ceramic technique. The variation in the values ofH _candM _s,which depends on the additive content and the temperature, was studied by means of a vibration magnetometer. The strong variation observed in coercivity, saturation magnetization and Curie temperature with chemical composition give rise to the possibility of controlling these properties and hence applying these compounds in the millimeter— microwave range.     

Trust management for e-transactions

There has been enormous increase in transactions and cooperative-computing services on the internet. This is both a technical and a social phenomenon. Transactions and services over the internet have global reach and users, known or unknown to the service provider, might be interested in availing access or participating in the cooperative transaction in a distributed manner. Thus, it is very important for service providers to identify and establish trustworthiness of potential collaborators, which they do by writing contracts (e.g. access control, security policies; the words contract and policy are used interchangeably) without violating the privacy and confidentiality laws that prevail across geographical boundaries. But as the system becomes complex and dynamic, contractual incompleteness arises since it becomes cumbersome to mention potentially large set of outcomes of the user's choice of action. Trust plays a crucial role in the design of optimal contracts; not all the relevant, valuable information on the user's choice of action is incorporated in the equilibrium contract. It may also be noted in that traditional transactions, the notion ofseeing is believing plays a vital role. However, in e-transactions, this is not the case. The challenge is to see how in such a scenario trust can indeed be generated. Note that the presence of trust facilitates cooperative behaviour and allows for exchange to occur in situations where its absence would preclude trade. In this paper, we shall present a comparative analysis of various approaches of trust management in practice that integrates technology with other factors. We shall also bring out the relative deficiencies and how these issues are tackled in our ongoing work that facilitates execution of optimal contracts.     

A Novel Mouse Model of TGFβ2-Induced Ocular Hypertension Using Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease leading to irreversible blindness. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form and is associated with the elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). Reduced aqueous humor (AH) outflow due to trabecular meshwork (TM) dysfunction is responsible for IOP elevation in POAG. Extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, actin cytoskeletal reorganization, and stiffening of the TM are associated with increased outflow resistance. Transforming growth factor (TGF) β2, a profibrotic cytokine, is known to play an important role in the development of ocular hypertension (OHT) in POAG. An appropriate mouse model is critical in understanding the underlying molecular mechanism of TGFβ2-induced OHT. To achieve this, TM can be targeted with recombinant viral vectors to express a gene of interest. Lentiviruses (LV) are known for their tropism towards TM with stable transgene expression and low immunogenicity. We, therefore, developed a novel mouse model of IOP elevation using LV gene transfer of active human TGFβ2 in the TM. We developed an LV vector-encoding active hTGFβ2^C226,228S under the control of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Adult C57BL/6J mice were injected intravitreally with LV expressing null or hTGFβ2^C226,228S. We observed a significant increase in IOP 3 weeks post-injection compared to control eyes with an average delta change of 3.3 mmHg. IOP stayed elevated up to 7 weeks post-injection, which correlated with a significant drop in the AH outflow facility (40.36%). Increased expression of active TGFβ2 was observed in both AH and anterior segment samples of injected mice. The morphological assessment of the mouse TM region via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and direct ophthalmoscopy examination revealed no visible signs of inflammation or other ocular abnormalities in the injected eyes. Furthermore, transduction of primary human TM cells with LV_hTGFβ2^C226,228S exhibited alterations in actin cytoskeleton structures, including the formation of F-actin stress fibers and crossed-linked actin networks (CLANs), which are signature arrangements of actin cytoskeleton observed in the stiffer fibrotic-like TM. Our study demonstrated a mouse model of sustained IOP elevation via lentiviral gene delivery of active hTGFβ2^C226,228S that induces TM dysfunction and outflow resistance.     

Kinetics of colour and texture changes in Gulabjamun balls during deep-fat frying

Gulabjamun, a popular Indian milk sweet, is prepared by deep-fat frying of balls of dough made of khoa, wheat flour and baking powder, and subsequent dipping in sugar syrup. Kinetics of colour and texture changes in gulabjamun balls were investigated with regard to frying temperature (120, 130, 140 °C). Crust colour was evaluated in terms of CIELAB parameters L*, a*, b*, and ΔE, and rheological properties in terms of hardness, stiffness and firmness. Frying-induced surface browning was reflected in a decreasing lightness value L* as well as the ratio of yellow hue index b* and red hue index a* and total colour expressed in terms of ΔE, L* following a zero-order change whereas the other parameters, a first-order change. Increase in the texture parameters hardness and firmness followed zero-order reaction kinetics whereas stiffness rise followed a first-order reaction. The temperature dependence of reaction constants could be explained by the Arrhenius equation. Activation energy was also obtained for both the colour and texture changes, which were in the range of 24.5-77.6 kJ/mol. High correlations between colour and texture parameters were observed and it was concluded that L* alone could be used to predict the firmness of deep-fat fried gulabjamun balls.     

Polyaniline–CdS nanocomposites: effect of camphor sulfonic acid doping on structural, microstructural, optical and electrical properties

Nanocomposites of CdS nanocrystals with conducting polyaniline doped with camphor sulfonic acid (CSA) have been prepared by spin coating technique and investigated by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy and electrical transport method. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed broad peaks due to formation of nanoparticles of CdS in polyaniline matrix. FESEM showed that the transformation of morphology from agglomeration to nanopetals. The FTIR spectra confirmed the interaction between CSA and polyaniline (PANi)–CdS nanocomposite. The UV–visible spectrums revealed the enhancement of doping level for the PANi–CdS nanocomposites which is assigned to the existence of greater number of charges on the polymer backbone. DC electrical conductivity studies showed an increase in conductivity of PANi–CdS nanocomposites from 6.9?×?10^?6 to 3.14?×?10^?4 due to addition of CSA (10–50?%).     

Development of an Automated Method for Folin‐Ciocalteu Total Phenolic Assay in Artichoke Extracts

Abstract: We developed a system to run the Folin‐Ciocalteu (F‐C) total phenolic assay, in artichoke extract samples, which is fully automatic, consistent, and fast. The system uses 2 high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pumps, an autosampler, a column heater, a UV/Vis detector, and a data collection system. To test the system, a pump delivered 10‐fold diluted F‐C reagent solution at a rate of 0.7 mL/min, and 0.4 g/mL sodium carbonate at a rate of 2.1 mL/min. The autosampler injected 10 μL per 1.2 min, which was mixed with the F‐C reagent and heated to 65 °C while it passed through the column heater. The heated reactant was mixed with sodium carbonate and color intensity was measured by the detector at 600 nm. The data collection system recorded the color intensity, and peak area of each sample was calculated as the concentration of the total phenolic content, expressed in μg/mL as either chlorogenic acid or gallic acid. This new method had superb repeatability (0.7% CV) and a high correlation with both the manual method (r²= 0.93) and the HPLC method (r²= 0.78). Ascorbic acid and quercetin showed variable antioxidant activity, but sugars did not. This method can be efficiently applied to research that needs to test many numbers of antioxidant capacity samples with speed and accuracy.     

Structural, electrical and magnetic properties of copper substituted Zn–Mn ferrites

Optimum composition (x = 0.0–0.75) of copper substituted Zn_0.25Mn_0.75?xCu_xFe₂O₄ ferrites system have been synthesized by simple chemical co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction pattern of all samples shows characteristic features of nanocrystalline cubic spinel structure of ferrites. The average grain size of the samples was measured using scanning electron micrographs. The saturation magnetization, coercivity and remanance were studied as a function of copper content in the host ferrite materials. Electrical resistivity of the samples was measured by two probe method. The semiconducting nature of the samples was noted from variation of electrical resistivity with temperature. The effect of copper substitution in ferrites was studied through the measurements of structural, electrical and magnetic properties.     

Spectral analysis of infant cries and adult speech

In this paper, spectrographic analysis of the infant cries is reported. For the spectrographic analysis of the infant cries ten different cry modes are used to analyze differences in different pathological cries. A comparison of spectrograms of the adult speech signal and infant cry signals is given. Based on differences in the distribution of energy in the spectrograms, energy-based features are calculated from the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) of the adult speech and infant cry signals. The classification performance of these features is obtained using support vector machine (SVM) classifier and it is observed that the energy distribution in 0–1 kHz range is promising feature in the classification of adult speech and infant cries and the classification accuracy achieved with this feature is 98.22 %. On the contrary, it was observed that it is very difficult to classify adult speech and infant cries using the energy distribution in 1–3 kHz.