Statistical Modelling of 1-min Rain Rate Derived from 1-h Integration Time in Malaysia

Statistical analysis of 1 min rain rate used in estimation of rain attenuation is presented. In rainy condition, the electromagnetic signal tend to experience serious degradation in satellite communication system that operate above 10 GHz. Prediction of 1-min rain rate requires conversion method from longer integration time is important due to its limited 1 min availability in most places. A linear model was proposed in this paper and compared with few existing model in Malaysia. The proposed model achieved good result for Malaysia data which is at par with established models such as Segal, Burgu?no, and Chebil and Rahman.     

Effects of annealing on the optical bandgap of amorphous Ga5Se95-xSbx during crystallization

Abstract

The optical bandgap of as-deposited and annealed films of amorphous Ga₅Se_95-xSb_x (a-Ga₅Se_95-xSb_x) (where x = 0, 5, 10 and 15) have been studied as a function of photon energy in the wavelength range 400–900 nm. Thin films were induced by thermal annealing for 1 h at a temperature below their crystallization temperatures. It has been found that the optical bandgap increases with increasing annealing temperature. For as-deposited films, it has been found that the optical bandgap and refractive index decrease while the extinction coefficient k increases on incorporation of antimony into the Ga-Se system. The temperature dependence (312–392 K) of dc conductivity of bulk samples of a-Ga₅Se_95-xSb_x has also been reported. It has been found that the decrease in activation energy may be due to the decrease in optical bandgap on adding antimony to the present system.     

Significant depth of ground water table for thermal performance of salt gradient solar pond

In case of noninsulated salt gradient solar pond, heat losses through bottom and sides are significant. The magnitude of losses depends upon the location (depth) of water table, which act as a heat sink. Simulation analysis indicates that deeper the water table, lesser are the heat losses and higher is the temperature achieved by the pond. The present analysis, however, reveals two more significant conclusions – firstly; increase in depth of water table increases the maturation temperature and highest temperature of the pond, but does not affect the time of acquiring these temperatures. Secondly, there is a significant depth of water table, below which, further depression does not have significant impact on thermal performance of pond. This conclusion is of practical significance where efforts are done to depress the water table.     

Ultrafast trace-level detection of methyl nicotinate biomarker using TiO2/SiNWs nanocomposite-based sensing platform

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The reported work presents an ultrafast and ultrasensitive sensing platform for the precise and reliable trace-level detection of Methyl...     

Manufacturing personalized food for people uniqueness. An overview from traditional to emerging technologies

Abstract

Personalized nutrition means that we are unique in the way to absorb and to metabolize nutrients as a consequence of our genetic profile and the microbiome that we host in the gut. With the terminology of Personalized Food Manufacturing we want not only to stress the idea of the capability to manufacture food meeting our unique nutritional needs but – based on the idea that eating is a global experience – also to broad this to meet additional personal requirements and expectations, i.e. taste, texture, color, aspect, etc. To address this aim, traditional and advances technologies will have to be employed in new ways and new technological solutions will have to be implemented. All these considerations motivated our paper by which we want to explore and to discuss the technological options having the potential to produce personalized food. After pointing out the main diet styles, firstly we have analyzed the modern approaches of agricultural and animal nutrition in use to manufacture food for narrow group of consumers. Secondly, we have explored emerging technologies at disposal employable to manufacture customized food that meet our uniqueness. Finally the most important market products belonging in the sector of personalized food production have been considered.     

Study of structural correlations with temperature dependent dielectric response and ferroelectric behavior for (Sr,Mn) co-doped BaTiO3

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The present study reveals the effect of (Sr, Mn) co-doping on structural, dielectric, ferroelectric and electronic transport properties of...     

Adhesion potential of relining materials to polyamide and PMMA-based denture base materials: effect of surface conditioning methods

This study evaluated the bond strength of relining materials to different denture base materials polyamide and polymethylmethacrylate denture base materials after various surface conditioning methods. Denture base resin specimens (N?=?128; n?=?8 per group) (10?×?10?×?2.5?mm³) were fabricated out of injection-moulded thermoplastic polyamide resin (POL) (Deflex) and heat-polymerized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA, Dura Dent) (HC). The specimens were randomly divided into 4 main groups according to different surface conditioning methods: (a) No conditioning, control (C), (b) grinding with green stone (G), (c) application of primer (V), (d) silica coating with Al₂O₃ particles coated with SiO₂ (Rocatec) (R). Half of the specimens in each group received auto-polymerized hard relining resin (GC, GC Reline Hard) and the other half PMMA based relining resin (SC, Dura Dent). After thermocycling (×5000), the bonded specimens were tested under tensile forces (0.5?mm/min). Data (MPa) were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests (alpha = 0.05). Bond strength of relining resins were significantly higher to PMMA than to POL, regardless of the conditioning method (p?<?0.05). While R positively affected the bond strength results (p?<?0.05) (4.99?±?1.65–3.27?±?1.31), application V or G did not show significant effect to POL-relining resin adhesion. After R conditioning, bond strength values were significantly higher in HC-GC group (7.48?±?2.32) than POL-GC group (3.27?±?1.31) (p?<?0.05). Adhesion of auto-polymerized relining materials to thermoplastic polyamide or polymethylmethacrylate denture resins could be improved after surface conditioning with silica-coating.     

The temperature dependence of some third-order reactions of atomic lead—Pb(63P0)

The temperature dependence of the rates of the third-order reactions, Pb + NO + M and Pb + O₂ + M, have been investigated by monitoring atomic lead using time-resolved atomic absorption spectroscopy following pulsed irradiation. These reactions show negative temperature rate coefficients and are found to be too slow to contribute significantly to oxidation in the internal combustion engine and removal in exhaust gases.     

Optical investigation of a—Ga x Se100–x thin films

Abstract

The optical band gap and optical constants have been studied as a function of photon energy for a-Ga _x Se_100–x thin films (where x × 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0) in the wavelength region 450–1000 nm. The optical band gap decreases with the increase of Ga concentration in the a-Ga _x Se_100–x system. The refractive index (n) decreases while the extinction coefficient (k) increases with increasing photon energy. The results are interpreted in terms of concentration of localized states.     

Batch kinetics and modelling of ethanolic fermentation of whey

The fermentation of whey by Kluyveromyces marxianus strain MTCC 1288 was studied using varying lactose concentrations at constant temperature and pH. The increase in substrate concentration up to a certain limit was accompanied by an increase in ethanol formation, for example, at a substrate concentration of 10 g L^?1, the production of ethanol was 0.618 g L^?1 whereas at 50 g L^?1 it was 3.98 g L^?1. However, an increase in lactose concentration to 100 g L^?1 led to a drastic decrease in product formation and substrate utilization. The maximum ethanol yield was obtained with an initial lactose concentration of 50 g L^?1. A method of batch kinetics was utilized to formulate a mathematical model using substrate and product inhibition constants. The model successfully simulated the batch kinetics observed at S₀ = 10 and 50 g L^?1 but failed in case of S₀ = 100 g L^?1 because of strong substrate inhibition.