Application of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for the Detection of Metanil Yellow in Turmeric Powder

Turmeric (Curcumina Longa) is a globally traded commodity which is subjected to economically motivated chemically unsafe adulteration, namely metanil yellow. In this work, we report a simplistic and convenient approach to find the adulteration of turmeric with metanil yellow by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics. Pure turmeric sample was prepared in the laboratory and spiked with different concentrations of metanil yellow. The reflectance spectra of 248 pure turmeric, metanil yellow, and adulterated samples (1–25%) (w/w) were collected using NIR spectroscopy. The calibration models based on NIR spectra of 144 samples were built for two different regression models, principal component analysis (PCR), and partial least square (PLSR) methods. Another 72 samples were used for external validation. The coefficient of determination (R ²) and root mean square error of calibration for validation and prediction were found to be 0.96–0.99, 0.44–0.91, respectively, for most of the results depending upon different pre-processing techniques and mathematical models used. The original reflectance spectra, the 1st derivative plot, the plot of PLSR regression coefficient (β), and the first three principal component loadings revealed metanil-related absorption regions. To verify the robustness of the models, the figures of merit (FOM) of the models were calculated with the help of net analyte signal (NAS) theory. Overall, it was found that PLSR yielded superior results as compared to the PCR technique. These methods can be applied to other spices also to detect the adulteration rapidly and without any prior sample preparations and with low cost.     

Effect of processing techniques on the performance of Epoxy/MWCNT nanocomposites

The aim of this study is to investigate the optimum technique to disperse Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) in SC‐1 epoxy uniformly and to evaluate the effect of processing technique on the performance of SC‐1 epoxy. To achieve better dispersion, MWCNT was mixed with SC‐1 resin directly or premixed with a solvent and then mixed with SC‐1 resin after evaporating the solvent using sonication, thinky mixing and three‐roll mill methods either in isolation or combination. Flexural tests were performed to evaluate mechanical performances and results exhibit up to 27.13, 13.51, and 21.99% improvement on flexural strength, flexural modulus, and maximum strain, respectively, over neat epoxy with only 0.2 wt % loading. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated improvement in storage modulus, T_g, inflection temperature, and residue content, respectively over neat SC‐1 epoxy. Thermal and mechanical properties at higher loading conditions were seen to either reduce or not significantly improve. This was attributed to high viscosity of nanocomposites as determined by rheological analysis which prevents good dispersion of MWNCTs into epoxy system at 0.4 wt % loading. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Logo extraction using dynamic stochastic resonance

This paper presents a novel technique for watermark (logo) extraction from the distorted watermarked images. The proposed technique is based on the combined discrete wavelet transform (DWT), discrete cosine transform (DCT), and dynamic stochastic resonance (DSR). In this technique, DCT transform is applied to the DWT coefficients of the watermarked image. Later on, variance is calculated from the DCT coefficients, and it is used to tune the DCT coefficient with the help of dynamic double-well system parameters that causes resonance to DCT coefficients. The experimental results have been compared with the existing techniques and were found superior in terms of peak-value-of-signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR) and correlation coefficient.     

Direct Imaging of Dopant and Impurity Distributions in 2D MoS2

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheet is a two-dimensional (2D) material with high electron mobility and with high potential for applications in catalysis and electronics. MoS₂ nanosheets are synthesized using a one-pot wet-chemical synthesis route with and without Re doping. Atom probe tomography reveals that 3.8 at% Re is homogeneously distributed within the Re-doped sheets. Other impurities are also found integrated within the material: light elements including C, N, O, and Na, locally enriched up to 0.1 at%, as well as heavy elements such as V and W. Analysis of the nondoped sample reveals that the W and V likely originate from the Mo precursor. It is shown how wet-chemical synthesis results in an uncontrolled integration of species from the solution that can affect the material's activity. The results of this work are expected to contribute to an improved understanding of the relationships linking composition to properties of 2D transition-metal dichalcogenide materials.     

Assessment of Extreme Precipitation in Future through Time-Invariant and Time-Varying Downscaling Approaches

Skill of a time-varying downscaling approach, namely Time-Varying Downscaling Model (TVDM), against time-invariant Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) approach for the assessment of precipitation extremes in the future is explored. The downscaled precipitation is also compared with a Regional Climate Model (RCM) product obtained from Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX). The potential of downscaling the extreme events is assessed considering Bhadra basin in India as the study area through different models (SDSM, TVDM and RCM) during historical period (calibration: 1951–2005, testing: 2006–2012). Next, the changes in precipitation extremes during future period (2006–2035) have been assessed with respect to the observed baseline period (1971–2000), for different Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios. All the models indicate an increasing trend in the precipitation, for the monsoon months and maximum increase is noticed using RCP8.5. The annual precipitation during the future period (RCP8.5) is likely to increase by 7.6% (TVDM) and 4.2% (SDSM) in the study basin. An increase in magnitude and number of extreme events during the future period is also noticed. Such events are expected to be doubled in number in the first quarter of the year (January–March). Moreover, the time-invariant relationship (in SDSM) between causal-target variables is needed to be switched with time-varying (TVDM). This study proves that the time-varying property in TVDM is more beneficial since its performance is better than SDSM and RCM outputs in identifying the extreme events during model calibration and testing periods. Thus, the TVDM is a better tool for assessing the extreme events.

     

Dielectric and impedance spectroscopy of Bi(Ca0.5Ti0.5)O3 ceramic

Bismuth calcium titanate (BiCa_0.5Ti_0.5O₃) ceramic, fabricated by a ceramic processing technique, has been characterized using a variety of experimental techniques. Analysis of basic crystal structure using X-ray diffraction data exhibits the orthorhombic system. Measurements and detailed analysis of some electrical parameters (i.e.,dielectric constant, loss tangent (energy loss), electrical impedance and modulus, conductivity, etc.) of Bi(Ca_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃ in a wide range of frequency (10³–10⁶ Hz) and temperature (30–500 °C) have provided some interesting and useful data and results on structure–properties relationship, conduction mechanism, etc.The role of interface, space charge polarization and Maxwell–Wagner dielectric relaxation in getting high dielectric constant of the material at low frequencies and high temperatures has been discussed. Study of temperature dependence of Nyquist plots clearly shows the contributions of grains in resistive and capacitive properties of the material. The frequency of the applied electric field and temperature strongly affect the dielectric (permittivity and dissipation of energy) and electrical (impedance, electrical modulus and conductivity) characteristics of the material.     

Energy efficient algorithms for enhancing lifetime in wireless sensor networks

Microsystem Technologies - A crucial research problem in the field of wireless sensor network is to maximize its lifetime. One approach to solve this problem is to group the nodes in clusters or...     

Optimal design of air-conditioning systems using deep seawater

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - This paper presents a multi-objective mixed integer linear programming problem for the optimization of seawater air-conditioning systems using deep...     

An FPGA-based design for a real-time image denoising using approximated fractional integrator

Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing - Digital images are affected by various types of noises, which may be incorporated into the image during its acquisition, transmission etc. Removal...