Novel geodesic splitting on paraboloid of revolution with applications to ray-theoretic analysis

Computer simulations have shown a novel geodesic splitting on the paraboloid of revolution leading to a multiplicity of surface ray paths. Such a phenomenon would have wide ramifications for wave propagation problems in general, besides applications in target-detection problems and the computational requirements of ray-theoretic formulations such as the UTD, in computing the antenna characteristics in the high-frequency domain.<>     

Grain orientation studies in YBCO superconductors by molten salt synthesis

The molten salt or the flux method is utilized in this study to fabricate a grainoriented YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x superconductor. The formation of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x in the presence of molten salts of Na, K, Li belonging to chloride and iodide systems does not appear feasible due to the instability of the superconducting phase in these salt systems. Studies using the “green phase,” Y₂BaCuO₅, as seed crystals suggest a two-stage approach in the formation of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x . The process uses Y₂BaCuO₅ formed by molten salt synthesis which has been observed to be stable in water and against most of the salts. The 211 crystals can be mixed with oxides and converted to 123. Analysis of X-ray data and SEM micrographs indicates a certain degree of grain orientation, which can be further enhanced by tape-casting or not-forging.     

Transient dynamic analysis of higher order sandwich and composite arches

A higher order refined model with isoparametric elements is proposed to study the transient dynamic response of laminated arches/curved beams. The strain field is modeled through cubic axial, cubic transverse shear and linear transverse normal strain components. As the cross-sectional warping is accurately modeled by this theory, the shear correction factor is rendered redundant. The stress–strain relationship is derived from an orthotropic lamina in a three-dimensional state of stress, so that angle-ply laminates can be studied through one-dimensional elements. Consistent mass matrix is constituted for the equation of motion, which is solved by Newmark integration scheme. The higher order formulation is validated with available results and subsequently applied to arches with various curvatures, aspect ratios, boundary conditions, loadings and lamination schemes to evaluate its transient dynamic performance and suitable conclusions are drawn.     

Analysis and simulation of a solar water pump for lift irrigation

A solar water pump for lift irrigation, which was shown to be economically viable, was proposed by Rao and Rao [5]. A “modified pump” is suggested, which is suitable for village water supply. The thermodynamic analysis of the pumps is presented. Though the solar water pump is intended to be operated with flat-plate collectors, it is analysed whether the pump could be run more efficiently when coupled with concentrating collectors. The analysis is also applicable for bellow actuated solar water pumps.Preliminary experimental studies showed that the heat losses are 2–3 times the theoretical energy requirement and the losses to the water tank shell accounted for a major part of the total heat losses. To reduce these losses, it is proposed that the inner surface of the water tank shell be lined with a resin bonded cork insulation. A method to evaluate the heat losses to the shell with insulation by solving the unsteady state heat conduction equation for a composite cylindrical body with time varying convective boundary conditions is presented. The heat losses are reduced to 5–15 per cent of the theoretical energy requirement with the use of the internal insulation. The major problem encountered in operating the pump was the inadequate condensation of the working fluid, which resulted in failure of the suction of water into the water tank. To ensure proper suction of water, the conditions to be maintained are analysed. The presence of water vapor and air in the spent vapor has to be taken into consideration while designing the condenser.An algorithm to evaluate the year round performance of the water-cooled pump for any location, given the lift and collector area, is presented. The cost of the water-cooled pump is compared with the costs of other types of solar water pumps and it is shown that the pump under consideration costs several times less than the other ones. The conditions at which the pump will be economical vis-a-vis diesel and electrical pumps are presented.     

A review on current trends in potential use of metal-organic framework for hydrogen storage

Hydrogen can be a promising clean energy carrier for the replenishment of non-renewable fossil fuels. The set back of hydrogen as an alternative fuel is due to its difficulties in feasible storage and safety concerns. Current hydrogen adsorption technologies, such as cryo-compressed and liquefied storage, are costly for practical applications. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials that have structural versatility, high porosity and surface area, which can adsorb hydrogen efficiently. Hydrogen is adsorbed by physisorption on the MOFs through weak van der Waals force of attraction which can be easily desorbed by applying suitable heat or pressure. The strategies to improve the MOFs surface area, hydrogen uptake capacities and parameters affecting them are studied. Hydrogen spill over mechanism is found to provide high-density storage when compared to other mechanisms. MOFs can be used as proton exchange membranes to convert the stored hydrogen into electricity and can be used as electrodes for the fuel cells. In this review, we addressed the key strategies that could improve hydrogen storage properties for utilizing hydrogen as fuel and opportunities for further growth to meet energy demands.     

Joint segmentation and reconstruction of hyperspectral data with compressed measurements

This work describes numerical methods for the joint reconstruction and segmentation of spectral images taken by compressive sensing coded aperture snapshot spectral imagers (CASSI). In a snapshot, a CASSI captures a two-dimensional (2D) array of measurements that is an encoded representation of both spectral information and 2D spatial information of a scene, resulting in significant savings in acquisition time and data storage. The reconstruction process decodes the 2D measurements to render a three-dimensional spatio-spectral estimate of the scene and is therefore an indispensable component of the spectral imager. In this study, we seek a particular form of the compressed sensing solution that assumes spectrally homogeneous segments in the two spatial dimensions, and greatly reduces the number of unknowns, often turning the underdetermined reconstruction problem into one that is overdetermined. Numerical tests are reported on both simulated and real data representing compressed measurements.     

Fracture toughness correlation with microstructure and other mechanical properties in near-eutectoid steel

The variation of yield strength and fracture toughness was investigated for four different heat treatments attempted on specimens of a near-eutectoid steel. The aim of this study was to optimize the microstructure for simultaneous improvements in strength and toughness. Further, the fracture toughness deduced through empirical relations from tensile and charpy impact tests was compared with those measured directly according to ASTM Designation: E 399. Among the four different heat treatments attempted in this study, the plane strain condition was valid in the fracture toughness tests for (i) normalized and (ii) hardened and tempered (500°C for 1 h) treatments only. The latter of the two heat treatments resulted in simultaneous improvement of strength and plane strain fracture toughness. The finely-dispersed carbides seem to arrest the crack propagation and also increase the strength. The pearlitic microstructure of the former leads to easy crack propagation along cementite platelets and/or cementite/ferrite interfaces. The nature of variation of empirically determined toughness values from tensile tests for different heat treatments is similar to that measured directly through fracture toughness tests, although the two sets of values do not match quantitatively. On the other hand, the toughness data deduced from charpy impact test is in close agreement with that evaluated directly from fracture toughness tests.     

Effects of copper on the structure and function of factor VIII subunits: evidence for an auxiliary role for copper ions in cofactor activity

Factor VIII, a divalent metal ion-dependent heterodimer, contains a single copper atom, but the role of this metal in the structure and function of the cofactor is unclear. Earlier results showed that the dissociated heavy and light chains of factor VIII could be recombined in the presence of Ca(II) or Mn(II) but not Cu(II) to yield functional protein [Fay, P. J. (1988) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 262, 525-531]. Inclusion of Cu(I) or Cu(II) inhibited the Mn(II)- or Ca(II)-dependent reconstitution of factor VIII with an IC50 approximately 10 micro M. The heavy chain was the susceptible subunit with inhibition by copper ion resulting from its reduced affinity for light chain. On the other hand, Mn(II)-dependent factor VIII reconstitutions performed with Cu(II) light chain and native heavy chain occurred at an accelerated rate (approximately 10-fold) and yielded an enhanced activity ( approximately 50%), likely reflecting an increased specific activity of the heterodimer. Cu ions enhanced the activity of EDTA-treated factor VIII in the presence of Ca(II) but not in its absence, suggesting that EDTA-treated factor VIII is not equivalent to separated subunits and that copper ions are auxiliary to ions that mediate reconstitution. Conformational analyses showed that the ellipticities and extrinsic fluorescence of both subunits were differentially affected by Cu(II) and Mn(II). These structural effects were fully reversed by EDTA. The metal ions had little if any effect on the conformation of intact factor VIII or the A1/A3-C1-C2 dimer. Mn(II) and Cu(II) stabilized the factor VIII light chain, and the latter stabilized the A1 subunit derived from the heavy chain, yielding similar thermal denaturation profiles that were distinct from that observed for the Ca(II)-stabilized subunits. Thus both subunits of factor VIII bind copper ions, and the effects of this binding differ from the interactions observed with Ca(II) or Mn(II). These data support a model where copper in factor VIII likely functions to increase specific activity of the heterodimer rather than directly mediating the intersubunit interaction.     

Natural plant enzyme inhibitors. Isolation and characterisation of a trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor from indian red wood (Adenanthera pavonia) seeds

A trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor was isolated from Indian red wood seeds by extraction with 0.01m HCl, chromatography on diethyl amino ethyl-cellulose, ammonium sulphate fractionation and gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The homogeneity of the final product was ascertained by affinity chromatography on trypsin sepharose and chromatography on phenyl sepharose CL-4B columns. During all stages of purification and characterisation the ratio of activities against trypsin and chymotrypsin remained constant at about 1.1:1 indicating that the same factor is responsible for both activities. The size of the inhibitor was found to be 24 000 daltons based on gel chromatographic studies on Sephadex G-100 and by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molar ratio of interaction between the inhibitor and bovine trypsin for complete inactivation of the enzyme was found to be 1.04:1. Electrophoretic and gel chromatographic studies indicated that the purified inhibitor is capable of undergoing aggregation to form dimers and trimers. Even in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium dodecyl sulphateurea, this phenomenon was discernible. The binding sites on the inhibitor for trypsin and chymotrypsin were not mutually exclusive, based on the data from mixed enzyme studies and on analysis of the inhibitor-enzyme complexes by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100. Modification of the arginyl residues of the inhibitor resulted in the loss of more of the antitryptic activity than of antichymotryptic activity. Conversely, modification of amino groups resulted in the loss of more of the antichymotryptic activity. The inhibitor was stable to exposure to a wide range of pH (1.0–12.0), but it was completely inactivated on heat-treatment at 100°C for 15 min. The mode of inhibition of trypsin as well as chymotrypsin was non-competitive and K_i values for the inhibitor were 2.92 × 10-¹⁰M and 4.46 × 10-¹⁰M , respectively, for the two enzymes.