Multi-electrode microbial fuel cell (MEMFC): A close analysis towards large scale system architecture

Microbial fuel cells are capable of producing electricity through the treatment of wastewater, however, the low power density poses main hurdles towards their wide application. In present work, microbial fuel cell based on multiple anodes, acting as baffle is constructed for achieving higher performance which can be scaled up for real life application. It is investigated for continuous sixty two days using distillery wastewater (WW) in three batches under ambient condition. During first batch, the WW is maintained under stagnant condition inside the anode chamber where as in the rest of the two batches WW is recirculated in the chamber. A maximum power density 427 mW m⁻², is achieved under stagnant condition which is further enhanced to 597 mW m⁻² under recirculation mode. Recirculation of WW reduces the internal resistance arising from the mass transfer by 50%. Maximum COD removal and Coulombic efficiency obtained is 43% and 23%. Biofouling on the surface of the membrane facing anode chamber is observed.     

Supporting inheritance hierarchy changes in model-based regression test selection

Software and Systems Modeling - Models can be used to ease and manage the development, evolution, and runtime adaptation of a software system. When models are adapted, the resulting models must be...     

Optimal design of autonomous desalination with storage energy system using SSO algorithm

Sustainable power sources, that is, the energy produced as of hydro control, biomass, wind, geothermal, sunlight, and sea resources deliberated as innovative choice intended to create clean energy and crisp water. The majority of the nations have challenged issues proceeding freshwater and power creation, which tends to the utilization of sustainable power source-controlled desalination frameworks. In this work expanding the clean water accessibility that satisfies the load need, Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) on the basis of Reverse Osmosis Desalination (ROD) is structured and then displayed. HRES is getting to be well known for power applications because of advances in sustainable power sources. Here, an innovative calculation based on Social Spider Optimization (SSO) is aimed at explaining the required optimization tasks. The technique referenced is turned out to be powerful, utilizing sustainable power source framework. The proposed system is contrasted with a genuine contextual analysis in the eastern part of Iran, Canary Islands and outcomes demonstrate that it has been successfully utilized thinking about both power quality and cost. Also, the outcomes acquired by the suggested technique are very encouraging to outline the capability and strength of the introduced methodology.     

Protective effect of the fruits of Terminalia arjuna against cadmium-induced oxidant stress and hepatic cell injury via MAPK activation and mitochondria dependent pathway

Cadmium (Cd), a highly toxic environmental pollutant, induces hepatic disorders. The present study has been undertaken to investigate the protective role of the fruit extract of Terminalia arjuna (AE) against Cd-induced oxidative liver impairment using a murine model. Cadmium reduced hepatocytes viability, activated MAPKs, disturbed Bcl-2 family protein balance, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induced apoptotic cell death by mitochondria dependent caspases-3 activation. AE treatment, however, suppressed all the apoptotic actions of cadmium. Similarly, mice treated with cadmium altered a number biomarkers related to hepatic oxidative stress and other apoptotic indices. Oral administration of AE both pre and post prevented all the Cd-induced hepatic damages.     

Direct Amide Synthesis from Alcohols and Amines by Phosphine‐Free Ruthenium Catalyst Systems

Amides are synthesized directly from alcohols and amines in high yields using an in situ generated catalyst from easily available ruthenium complexes such as the (p‐cymene)ruthenium dichloride dimer, [Ru(p‐cymeme)Cl₂]₂, or the (benzene)ruthenium dichloride dimer, [Ru(benzene)Cl₂]₂, an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, and a nitrogen containing L‐type ligand such as acetonitrile. The phosphine‐free catalyst systems showed improved or comparable activity compared to previous phosphine‐based catalytic systems. The in situ generated catalyst from [Ru(benzene)Cl₂]₂, an NHC ligand, and acetonitrile showed excellent activity toward reactions with cyclic secondary amines such as piperidine and morpholine.     

Occurrence of wax esters and 1-O-alkyl-2,3-diacylglycerols in goat epididymal sperm plasma membrane

Two unusual lipid classes were detected by thin-layer chromatography in the neutral lipids derived from goat cauda-epididymal sperm plasma membrane. The lipids were identified as wax esters and 1-O-alkyl-2,3-diacylglycerols based on chromatographic properties, identity of their hydrolysis products, and infrared/¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral evidence. The membrane containedca. 3 and 5 μg/mg protein of wax esters and alkyldiacylglycerols, respectively. The relative proportions of wax esters and alkyldiacylglycerols in the total neutral lipids were 1.5% and 2.4%, respectively. The lipids contained fatty acids with chain lengths of C₁₄ to C₂₂. The major fatty acids of the wax esters were 14∶0, 16∶0, 16∶1ω7, 18∶0 and 18∶1ω9. The fatty acids in alkyldiacylglycerol were 16∶0, 18∶0, 22∶5ω3 and 22∶6ω3. Alkyldiacylglycerol was particularly rich in docosahexaenoic acid 22∶6ω3) representing 30% of the total fatty acids. The alcohols of wax ester were all saturated with C₂₀–C₂₉ carbon chains. The deacylated products derived from alkyldiacylglycerols were identified as hexadecyl, octadecyl and octadec-9′-enyl glycerol ethers.     

Modification of non‐Newtonian flow behavior of aqueous solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) by conducting polypyrrole prepared by in situ polymerization of pyrrole

The rheological behavior of an aqueous solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and polypyrrole (PPY) dispersions prepared by ferric chloride (FeCl₃)‐catalyzed polymerization of pyrrole was investigated at 12°C using a coaxial rotational viscometer. The results show that the addition of a low dose of FeCl₃ to the PVA solution greatly influences its rheology. The prominent shear‐thickening (dilatant) nature of PVA turns significantly pseudoplastic (shear thinning) in the presence of FeCl₃. Polypyrrole‐loaded PVA was obtained in a stable, optically clear dispersion by in situ polymerization of pyrrole in an aqueous PVA solution (5%) using FeCl₃ as the oxidative catalyst at 12°C. The PPY dispersions in aqueous PVA systems having a low loading of PPY and low Fe⁺³ content retain the dilatant character of an aqueous PVA solution; however, for an aqueous PVA system having a relatively high PPY loading and also a high Fe⁺³ content, prominent pseudoplastic (shear thinning) behavior is exhibited. The odd novel rheological patterns exhibited by a PVA solution in the absence and presence of FeCl₃ and the PVA–PPY dispersions containing FeCl₃ under different sets of conditions are explained on the basis of the complexation of PVA by Fe⁺³ and related ions and also as a consequence of some degree of H‐bonding and chemical grafting between the support polymer PVA and the PPY formed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3737–3741, 2004     

Synthesis and densification of magnesium aluminate spinel: effect of MgO reactivity

Stoichiometric magnesium aluminate spinel was synthesized by reaction sintering of alumina with caustic and sintered magnesia. The volume expansion of 5–7% during MgAl₂O₄ formation was utilized to identify the starting temperature of spinel formation and densification by high temperature dilatometry. The magnesia reactivity was determined by measurement of crystallite size and specific surface area. Caustic magnesia and sintered magnesia behave differently vis-à-vis phase formation and densification of spinel. Densification of stoichiometric Mag-Al spinel was carried out between 1650 and 1750 °C. Attempts were made to correlate the MgO reactivity with microstructure and densification of spinel.     

Default Bayesian Priors for Regression Models with First-Order Autoregressive Residuals

Abstract. The objective of this paper is to develop default priors when the parameter of interest is the autocorrelation coefficient in normal regression models with first-order autoregressive residuals. Jeffreys' prior as well as reference priors are found. These priors are compared in the light of how accurately the coverage probabilities of Bayesian credible intervals match the corresponding frequentist coverage probabilities. It is found that the reference priors have a definite edge over Jeffreys' prior in this respect. Also, the credible intervals based on these reference priors seem superior to similar intervals based on certain divergence measures.     

Recycling of silicone rubber waste: Effect of ground silicone rubber vulcanizate powder on the properties of silicone rubber

The silicone rubber vulcanizate powder (SVP) obtained from silicone rubber by mechanical grinding exists in a highly aggregated state. The particle size distribution of SVP is broad, ranging from 2 µm to 110 µm with an average particle size of 33 µm. X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy studies show that there is no chemical change on the rubber surface following mechanical grinding of the heat‐aged (200°C/10 days) silicone rubber vulcanizate. Addition of SVP in silicone rubber increases the Mooney viscosity, Mooney scorch time, shear viscosity and activation energy for viscous flow. Measurement of curing characteristics reveals that incorporation of SVP into the virgin silicone rubber causes an increase in minimum torque, but marginal decrease in maximum torque and rate constant of curing. However, the activation energy of curing shows an increasing trend with increasing loading of SVP. Expectedly, incorporation of SVP does not alter the glass‐rubber transition and cold crystallization temperatures of silicone rubber, as observed in the dynamic mechanical spectra. It is further observed that on incorporation of even a high loading of SVP (i.e., 60 phr), the tensile and tear strength of the silicone rubber are decreased by only about 20%, and modulus dropped by 15%, while the hardness, tension set and hysteresis loss undergo marginal changes and compression stress‐relaxation is not significantly changed. Atomic Force Microscopy studies reveal that incorporation of SVP into silicone rubber does not cause significant changes in the surface morphology.