3D Virtual Pome Fruit Tissue Generation Based on Cell Growth Modeling

A 3D virtual fruit tissue generator is presented that can distinctly define the microstructural components of a fruit tissue and that can be used to model important physical processes such as gas transport during controlled atmosphere storage. The model is based on the biomechanics of plant cells in tissues. The main merit of this algorithm is that it can account for typical differences in intercellular air space networks and in cell size and shape found between different fruit species and tissues. The cell is considered as a closed thin walled structure, maintained in tension by turgor pressure. The cell walls of adjacent cells are modeled as parallel, linear elastic elements which obey Hooke's law. A 3D Voronoi tessellation is used to generate the initial topology of the cells. Intercellular air spaces of schizogenous origin are generated by separating the Voronoi cells along the edges where three Voronoi cells are in contact; while intercellular air spaces of lysigenous origin are generated by deleting (killing) some of the Voronoi cells randomly. Cell expansion then results from turgor pressure acting on the yielding cell wall material. To find the sequence of positions of each vertex and thus the shape of the tissue with time, a system of differential equations for the positions and velocities of each vertex is established and solved using a Matlab ordinary differential equation solver. Statistical comparison with synchrotron tomography images of fruit tissue is excellent. The virtual tissues can be used to study tissue mechanics and exchange processes of important metabolites.     

R&D Goal Setting in a Rapidly Changing Environment

ABSTRACT

In today's fast paced environment where technologies arc born or die in an instant, attention to quality research and development (R&D) can spell the difference between success and failure. This article addresses the critical need for setting mission oriented goals that will ensure success. It also describes a framework for goal setting and cites the explosive growth of photonics technology as a case history of goal setting in the rapidly changing world of information movement and management.     

Molecular Heterojunctions of Oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s with Linear to Cruciform Framework

Electrical transport properties of molecular junctions are fundamentally affected by the energy alignment between molecular frontier orbitals (highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) or lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)) and Fermi level (or work function) of electrode metals. Dithiafulvene (DTF) is used as substituent group to the oligo(phenylene ethynylene) (OPE) molecular wires and different molecular structures based on OPE3 backbone (with linear to cruciform framework) are achieved, with viable molecular orbitals and HOMO–LUMO energy gaps. OPE3, OPE3–DTF, and OPE3–tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) can form good self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au substrates. Molecular heterojunctions based on these SAMs are investigated using conducting probe–atomic force microscopy with different tips (Ag, Au, and Pt) and Fermi levels. The calibrated conductance values follow the sequence OPE3–TTF > OPE3–DTF > OPE3 irrespective of the tip metal. Rectification properties (or diode behavior) are observed in case of the Ag tip for which the work function is furthest from the HOMO levels of the OPE3s. Quantum chemical calculations of the transmission qualitatively agree with the experimental data and reproduce the substituent effect of DTF. Zero‐bias conductance, and symmetric or asymmetric couplings to the electrodes are investigated. The results indicate that improved fidelity of molecular transport measurements may be achieved by systematic studies of homologues series of molecular wires applying several different metal electrodes.     

Comparative study on the heat transfer performance of micro-grooved anodized thermosyphon with R134a,R600a and R717 for low-temperature applications

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - A comparative heat transfer performance of an internally grooved anodized thermosyphon with eco-friendly refrigerants is presented in this study....     

Effect of two different rubbers as secondary binders on the friction and wear characteristics of non-asbestos organic (NAO) brake friction materials

Binder provides structural integrity by holding all ingredients in the composition of a brake friction material. The modified binders have played a major role in improving the frictional performance and thermal resistance of the friction material. The present research work evaluates the influence of secondary binders (Nitrile Butadiene rubber (NBR) and Styrene Butadiene rubber (SBR)) on the tribological performance of the friction material using a full-scale inertia brake dynamometer as per JASO C406 standard. Three brake pads were developed by varying the type and composition of secondary rubber binder (5%NBR, 5%SBR and 2.5%NBR + 2.5%SBR) with rest of the ingredients kept unaltered. It was found that the quantity of SBR rubber powder present as secondary binder improved dry and wet recovery. Friction coefficient (μ) exhibited better stability during the fade with the inclusion of both the rubber powders. The friction material with the inclusion of both the NBR and SBR rubber powders exhibited overall better performance than compared to the inclusion of only one secondary binder rubber in the composition. The worn-out surface of the developed friction materials and the counter discs were characterised using FESEM.     

Molecular Dynamics and Evolution of Centromeres in the Genus Equus

The centromere is the chromosomal locus essential for proper chromosome segregation. While the centromeric function is well conserved and epigenetically specified, centromeric DNA sequences are typically composed of satellite DNA and represent the most rapidly evolving sequences in eukaryotic genomes. The presence of satellite sequences at centromeres hampered the comprehensive molecular analysis of these enigmatic loci. The discovery of functional centromeres completely devoid of satellite repetitions and fixed in some animal and plant species represented a turning point in centromere biology, definitively proving the epigenetic nature of the centromere. The first satellite-free centromere, fixed in a vertebrate species, was discovered in the horse. Later, an extraordinary number of satellite-free neocentromeres had been discovered in other species of the genus Equus, which remains the only mammalian genus with numerous satellite-free centromeres described thus far. These neocentromeres arose recently during evolution and are caught in a stage of incomplete maturation. Their presence made the equids a unique model for investigating, at molecular level, the minimal requirements for centromere seeding and evolution. This model system provided new insights on how centromeres are established and transmitted to the progeny and on the role of satellite DNA in different aspects of centromere biology.