Lower bound on minimum lee distance of algebraic?geometric codes over finite fields

Algebraic-geometric (AG) codes over finite fields with respect to the Lee metric have been studied. A lower bound on the minimum Lee distance is derived, which is a Lee-metric version of the well-known Goppa bound on the minimum Hamming distance of AG codes. The bound generalises a lower bound on the minimum Lee distance of Lee-metric BCH and Reed-Solomon codes, which have been successfully used for protecting against bitshift and synchronisation errors in constrained channels and for error control in partial-response channels.     

Optimal and Suboptimal Quadriphase Sequences Derived from Maximal Length Sequences over Z _{{\bf 4}}

The paper presents families of quadriphase sequences derived from maximal length sequences over having good correlation properties. These are: (i) families of quadriphase sequences of period from maximal length sequences over ; each family consisting of sequences, (ii) families of quadriphase sequences of period from interleaved maximal length sequences over ; each family consisting of sequences. Such sequences are of interest in quadriphase modulated code division multiple access communication systems, where it is desirable to have large sets of sequences that possess low value of , the maximum magnitude of the periodic crosscorrelation and out of phase auto-correlation values. The sequences over are viewed as trace functions of appropriately chosen unit elements of Galois extension rings of . Quadriphase sequences are then obtained from sequences, by a quadriphase mapping, , from to roots of unity, given by, ; where and . Periodic correlation properties (correlation values and their distribution) of the quadriphase sequences are obtained by using an Abelian association scheme on the elements of the corresponding Galois extension ring of . The majority of the families of sequences derived are optimal with respect to the Welch lower bound on ; the rest being suboptimal with bounded by , where is the period\newpage of the sequences. However nearly half of the sequences in these families are balanced. Received July 18, 1995; revised version November 29, 1996     

Differential scanning calorimetric studies on structured lipids from coconut oil triglycerides containing stearic acid

Triglycerides from coconut oil contain high levels of lauric acid. They were replaced by incremental amounts of stearic acid by interesterification reactions catalyzed by immobilized lipase (IM 60 from Rhizomucor miehei). The reactions were carried out in organic solvents such as hexane. Maximum incorporation of stearic acid was observed by 4 h at 37vv°C or by 2 h at 60vv°C when triglycerides to fatty acid (stearic acid) ratio was maintained at 1v:Ң. The stearic acid level in coconut oil triglycerides was increased from an initial value of 2% to 60% under these conditions. The stearic acid replaced lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids in unmodified triglycerides. A major portion of stearic acid incorporated was found in positions 1 and 3 of triglycerides. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that stearic acid enrichment increased the solid fat content and also the higher melting polymorphs in modified lipids. The studies also indicated that low melting polymorphic forms of coconut oil triglycerides are converted to higher melting forms by stearic acid enrichment. The modified lipids thus obtained can find use in various food applications.     

Process standardization for optimal virus recovery and removal of substrate DNA and bovine serum proteins in Vero cell-derived rabies vaccine

Purification of a rabies vaccine by a single zonal centrifugation run was replaced by two runs with optimal standardization of the sucrose density gradient. As a result, significant reductions in the levels of substrate DNA and bovine serum protein in the Vero cell-derived human rabies vaccine were achieved. Following many trials, for the first run, loading of the 3.2-l capacity K-3 rotor with 1800 ml of 60% sucrose solution and 1400 ml of vaccine PBS buffer solution gave a satisfactory linear gradient. However, after the first run, the substrate DNA and bovine serum contents exceeded the required levels. After protamine sulphate and Tween-80 treatment of the concentrated inactivated material, a second run using the same procedure as in the first run was tried. However, these purification procedures resulted in low virus recovery. To achieve optimal virus recovery, and removal of substrate DNA and bovine serum protein, the peak fractions from the first run as indicated by the haemagglutination, sucrose concentration, and optical density values were pooled and the sucrose concentration of the pooled fractions was increased to 60%. A second (flotation) run was then carried out. Using this method, the virus recovery rate was more than 95% that of the first run, and the levels of cellular DNA and bovine serum protein were well within the acceptable limits of less than 100 pg/dose and one part per million, respectively. The substrate DNA was quantified by both radioactive labeling and non-radioactive biotin labeling methods. For the quantification of calf serum protein, a counter-immunoelectrophoresis method was developed and effectively applied. A potency assay was performed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and well-standardized in vitro single radial immuno diffusion (SRD) methods. Finally, an immunogenicity study was conducted with human volunteers and the results were confirmed by a rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT).     

A new family of nonbinary sequences with three-level correlation property and large linear span

In this correspondence, we present a new family of nonbinary sequences with three-level nontrivial correlations and large linear complexity. The sequences may be considered as nonlinear analogues of the well-known sequences by Trachtenberg and Helleseth. It is shown that the family is optimal with respect to the Welch bound in terms of root mean square of all nontrivial correlations. We also determine the correlation distribution of the new family.     

Studies on the physicochemical characteristics of volatile oil from pepper (Piper nigrum) extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide

Pepper (Piper nigrum L) volatile oil was extracted with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at pressures of 8 and 10 MPa and at two different temperatures, 40°C and 60°C. The mass transfer rates are presented at different supercritical conditions of extraction, together with the fractionation effect that was observed. The volatile oil obtained was analysed for its physical constants: specific gravity, refractive index and optical rotation. The samples were fractionated by column chromatography, and both the samples and fractions were subjected to TLC, gas chromatography and sensory analysis. It was observed that pepper oil obtained with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at 10 MPa and 60°C was superior to steam-distilled oil.     

Modeling Freckle Segregation with Mesh Adaptation

Modeling the formation of macroscopic segregation channels during directional solidification processes has important applications in the casting industry. Computations that consider thermosolutal convection involve different length scales ranging from the small solute boundary layer at the dendrite tips to the characteristic size of the casting. In general, numerical models of solidification in the presence of a developing mushy zone are computationally inefficient because of nonlinear transport in an anisotropic porous medium. In the current work, mesh adaptation with triangular finite elements is used in conjunction with an efficient fractional-step solver of the momentum equations to predict the occurrence of channel-type segregation defects or freckles. The triangulations are created dynamically using an unstructured grid generator and a refinement criterion that tracks the position of the channel segregates. The efficiency of mesh adaptation is illustrated with simulations showing channel formation and macrosegregation in directional solidification of a Pb–Sn alloy.     

Rheological behaviour of emulsions of avocado and watermelon oils during storage

Rheological properties of emulsions made out of avocado pulp and watermelon seed oils with whey protein concentrate were determined during different storage periods. The oils, as well as the emulsions behaved like non-Newtonian liquids, having shear-thinning characteristics. Both oils showed moderate shear-thinning characteristics as the flow behaviour indices were between 0.86 and 0.88. The shear-rate/shear-stress data could be adequately fitted (r = 0.997–0.999) to a common rheological equation, e.g. the power-law model. Avocado pulp oil was markedly more viscous than was watermelon seed oil which was also evident from the higher apparent viscosity and consistency index values.