Multi-switching adaptive synchronization of two fractional-order chaotic systems with different structure and different order

In this work, we combine the active and adaptive control theories, and propose a novel synchronization scheme for a class of fractional-order chaotic systems with different structure and different order. Based on the new version of fractional-order Lyapunov stability theory, we design the adaptive controllers and updating laws of different switching. We use the fractional-order Lorenz chaotic system and the fractional-order Chen chaotic system as examples to analyze the multi-switching synchronization process for fractional-order chaotic systems with different structures and different orders. Finally, numerical simulations are also given to illustrate the effectiveness and validation of the proposed method, and the model uncertainties and external disturbances are added to the considered systems to verify the robustness of the proposed controllers.     

Ruthenium-containing MCM-22 and ITQ-2 as potential redox catalysts for benzhydrol oxidation

Journal of Porous Materials - About 5 wt% of ruthenium (Ru) was incorporated on layered zeolite frameworks, such as MCM-22 and ITQ-2, using the incipient wetness method. The well-dispersed...     

Analysis of non-Newtonian liquids using a microfluidic capillary viscometer

We have used a self-calibrating microfabricated capillary viscometer to analyze non-Newtonian power law fluids. The capillary viscometer can generate a wide range of shear rates during a single experimental run enabling quick and accurate analysis of non-Newtonian liquids. The measurement of viscosity is based on monitoring the capillary pressure-driven movement of fluid sample whose mean velocity and, therefore, shear rate varies with time. The device has been successfully tested for accuracy and robustness with dilute as well as semidilute solutions of flexible elastic polymers including poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrolyzed polyacrylamide to an aqueous solution of a stiff rodlike polymer molecule of xanthan gum, a popular emulsifier and food thickener, as well as with ink-jet printing inks. Viscosities in the range of 1-600 cP were measured, and shear rates varying from 5 to 1000 s(-1) have been obtained on the microfabricated viscometer with the current geometry and channel dimensions. The total measurement time varied between 2 and 8 min and less than 1 microL of sample volume was required. Such a microfabricated capillary viscometer would have possible applications in quality control and manufacturing where rapid and repeated measurements need to be made using limited sample volume.     

Knoop hardness studies on anthracene single crystals

Knoop microhardness studies were carried out on anthracene single crystals. The hardness vs load plot shows two peaks, one at 5g and another at 17·5 g having hardness values 13·0 kg/mm² and 11·4 kg/mm² respectively. The present observation shows that the dislocations split into partials.     

Methacrylate/acrylate terminated derivatives of diglycidyl hexahydrophthalate: Synthesis,structural, and thermal characterization

Mono‐ or di(meth)acrylate‐terminated derivatives of diglycidyl hexahydrophthalate (ER) were prepared by reacting 1 : 1 or 1 : 2M ratio of ER and methacrylic acid or acrylic acid. These vinyl ester (VE) resins were characterized by determining epoxy equivalent weight, acid number, and molecular weight by gel permeation chromatography. Structural characterization was done by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. In the ¹H NMR spectra of acrylate‐terminated VE resins, three proton resonance signals were observed in the region 5.8–6.4 ppm due to vinyl group while in methacrylate‐terminated VE resins only two proton resonance signals due to vinylidene protons were observed at 5.6–6.1 ppm. The Brookfield viscosity (room temperature (25 ± 2)°C) of these resins diluted with varying amounts of MMA was determined at 20 rpm. Curing behavior was monitored by determination of gel time and differential scanning calorimetry. An exothermic transition was observed in the DSC scans in the temperature range of (81–150)°C. Isothermal curing of MMA‐diluted VE resins containing AIBN as an initiator was done at 60°C for 2 h in N₂ atmosphere, and then heating for another 2 h in static air atmosphere. Thermal stability of isothermally cured resins in N₂ atmosphere was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. All cured resins decomposed above 310°C in single step. Thermal stability of the cured resins having acrylate end caps was marginally higher than the resins having methacrylate end groups. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

Rapid and miniaturized method for detection of hygiene indicators,Escherichia coli and coliforms,in dairy products

Current investigation was aimed to develop colorimetric tests for rapid detection of Escherichia coli/coliforms. These test (s) for E. coli and coliforms were developed using the modified E. coli selective medium (M-ECSM) and coliform selective medium, respectively. The selective media contain a combination of group specific marker enzymes and selective agents. The marker enzymes were screened using chromogenic substrates wherein β-D-glucuronidase and glutamate decarboxylase were found specific for E. coli while β-D-galactosidase for coliforms. The selectivity of the media was achieved using different concentrations of ampicillin and gentamicin. The optimized test procedures enabled sensitive detection of 0.35 ± 0.10 log cfu/ml of E. coli and 0.57 ± 0.15 log cfu/ml of coliforms at 37°C within 14.30 ± 0.45 and 12.15 ± 0.30 hr, respectively. M-ECSM selectively inhibited major Enterobacteriaceae contaminants (Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia) up to 6 log cfu/ml. Moreover, better selectivity of M-ECSM was reported against tested commercial chromogenic media. Field evaluation of developed test (s) reported prevalence of E. coli/coliforms as 57.29/88.54% in 96 raw milk and 16.28/51.16% in 43 pasteurized milk samples. Further, test components were vacuum dried in the form of miniaturized point-of-need test for field application in dairy farms and industries with minimal infrastructural requirements.     

Cultivation impacts nitrogen transformation in Indian forest ecosystems

Two forests and two croplands, converted from the forest ecosystem were studied for 2 years to quantify inorganic N, nitrification, N-mineralization and microbial-N. The available N-pool ranged from 15.23 μg g⁻¹ to 19.84 μg g⁻¹, microbial-N from 20.6 μg g⁻¹ to 80.02 μg g⁻¹ with maximum values in summer season and minimum values in the rainy season. The trend for nitrification and N-mineralization was opposite to that of the size of available N-pool. Mean annual net nitrification rates ranged from 7.07 μg g⁻¹ month⁻¹ to 44.84 μg g⁻¹ month⁻¹ (0.17–1.39 μg g⁻¹ day⁻¹) and net N-mineralization from 6.56 μg g⁻¹ month⁻¹ to 48.53 μg g⁻¹ month⁻¹ (0.21–1.56 μg g⁻¹ day⁻¹). On an average, the pool of available N was slightly higher by 4.81%, while the microbial-N was declined substantially by 41.78% after the conversion of forest into cropland. Cultivation reduced the mean annual net nitrification and net N-mineralization, respectively by 50.71% and 47.67%. Interestingly, seasonal moisture content is negatively correlated to microbial-N and inorganic N and positively related to nitrification and N-mineralization.     

On-demand fuzzy clustering and ant-colony optimisation based mobile data collection in wireless sensor network

Wireless Networks - In a wireless sensor network (WSN), sensor nodes collect data from the environment and transfer this data to an end user through multi-hop communication. This results in high...