Solar energy system reduces time taken to inhibit microbial growth in soil

This research studied how to reduce the time consumption and to increase and improve the efficiency of the solarization process. The asymmetry compound parabolic concentrator (ACPC) was developed to produce boiling water to be utilized while the solarization process was in operation. This could decrease the time consumed in the solarization process from 4 to 6 weeks to 4 h, with a temperature of approximately 41.25 °C at the various depth levels, not exceeding 50 cm. The test to inhibit the growth of Ralstonia solanacearum, the causative agent of wilt in crops leaves, indicated that R. solanacearum was reduced from the total bacterial population of 10.9 × 10⁸ colony forming unit/g soil (cfu g^?1) at soil surface to 9.0 × 10⁷, 7.5 × 10⁴ and 4.1 × 10³ cfu g^?1 within 1, 2 and 4 h, respectively.     

Sequential approximate multi-objective optimization using radial basis function network

In industrial design optimization, objectives and constraints are generally given as implicit form of the design variables, and are evaluated through computationally intensive numerical simulation. Under this situation, response surface methodology is one of helpful approaches to design optimization. One of these approaches, known as sequential approximate optimization (SAO), has gained its popularity in recent years. In SAO, the sampling strategy for obtaining a highly accurate global minimum remains a critical issue. In this paper, we propose a new sampling strategy using sequential approximate multi-objective optimization (SAMOO) in radial basis function (RBF) network. To identify a part of the pareto-optimal solutions with a small number of function evaluations, our proposed sampling strategy consists of three phases: (1) a pareto-optimal solution of the response surfaces is taken as a new sampling point; (2) new points are added in and around the unexplored region; and (3) other parts of the pareto-optimal solutions are identified using a new function called the pareto-fitness function. The optimal solution of this pareto-fitness function is then taken as a new sampling point. The upshot of this approach is that phases (2) and (3) add sampling points without solving the multi-objective optimization problem. The detailed procedure to construct the pareto-fitness function with the RBF network is described. Through numerical examples, the validity of the proposed sampling strategy is discussed.     

Optical and electrical performance comparisons between high power LED and HMI studio lighting including the engineering economics analysis

Abstract

A superior alternative to the conventional hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide (HMI) luminaires, high power light emitting diode (HP-LED) luminaires are increasingly being utilized in numerous modern lighting designs and applications. Specifically, this research is concerned with the comparative optical and electrical performance and engineering economic analysis of Fresnel-type HMI and HP-LED luminaires for studio lighting applications in the experiments conducted in a real studio environment. The findings revealed that, optically, the Correlated color temperature, luminous flux, luminous intensity and illuminance of the experimental HP-LED and HMI luminaires were comparable. The Color rendering index of the HP-LED was higher and its beam/spread output was more controllable. In the electrical aspect, the results showed that the HP-LED luminaire required significantly less power while producing lower %THD_v and %THD_i vis-à-vis the HMI counterpart. The payback period for the replacement of HP-LED luminaires was around 7 years and 7 months, which was shorter than the project life of 15 years. The commercial prospect of HP-LED luminaires is thus brighter as an excellent substitute for the conventional HMI luminaires in myriad applications, particularly in studio lighting for photography, cinematography, and broadcasting.     

Electronically tunable multiphase sinusoidal oscillator using translinear current conveyors

A new electronically tunable current-mode multiphase sinusoidal oscillator based on translinear current conveyors is presented. The proposed oscillator circuit, which employs only one translinear current conveyor and one grounded capacitor for each phase, can generate arbitrary N output current equal-amplitude signals that are equally spaced in phase (N being even or odd), all at high output impedance terminals. The frequency of oscillation and the condition of oscillation can be controlled electronically and independently through the bias current of the translinear current conveyor. The proposed structure also has simple circuitry, low-component count, and is highly suitable for integrated circuit implementation. The theoretical results were verified by PSPICE simulation. In addition, the modification of the N sinusoidal oscillators to construct a programmable multiphase oscillator is also discussed.     

Effects of static magnetic field on growth of leptospire, Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola: immunoreactivity and cell division

The effects of the exposure of the bacterium, Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola to a constant magnetic field with magnetic flux density from a permanent ferrite magnet=140+/-5 mT were studied. Changes in Leptospira cells after their exposure to the field were determined on the basis of changes in their growth behavior and agglutination immunoreactivity with a homologous antiserum using dark-field microscopy together with visual imaging. The data showed that the exposed Leptospira cells have lower densities and lower agglutination immunoreactivity than the unexposed control group. Interestingly, some of the exposed Leptospira cells showed abnormal morphologies such as large lengths. We discussed some of the possible reasons for these observations.     

Computer simulation study of fullerene translocation through lipid membranes

Recent toxicology studies suggest that nanosized aggregates of fullerene molecules can enter cells and alter their functions, and also cross the blood-brain barrier. However, the mechanisms by which fullerenes penetrate and disrupt cell membranes are still poorly understood. Here we use computer simulations to explore the translocation of fullerene clusters through a model lipid membrane and the effect of high fullerene concentrations on membrane properties. The fullerene molecules rapidly aggregate in water but disaggregate after entering the membrane interior. The permeation of a solid-like fullerene aggregate into the lipid bilayer is thermodynamically favoured and occurs on the microsecond timescale. High concentrations of fullerene induce changes in the structural and elastic properties of the lipid bilayer, but these are not large enough to mechanically damage the membrane. Our results suggest that mechanical damage is an unlikely mechanism for membrane disruption and fullerene toxicity.     

Synthesis of functionalizable derivatives of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene and their solid‐state polymerizations

Four polythiophenes based on poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) framework have been successfully prepared by the facile thermal activated solid‐state polymerization (SSP) process from their corresponding dibromothiophene derivatives, which were efficiently obtained using our improved methodology. Rates of polymerizations of these precursors were varied and most of the processes were incomplete under the reaction condition chosen for the synthesis. Raising the reaction temperature of the SSP further advanced the polymerization progress and improved the conductive properties of the polymer. The polymer of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene‐methanol (EDTM) and its two related derivatives with functionalizable groups were prepared for the first time by the SSP method. The process and these new SSP‐derived polymers could help solving the fabrication difficulty and expand the scope of their applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42233.