Implementation of OpenFlow based cognitive radio network architecture: SDN&R

Wireless Networks - The static conventional network architecture is ill-suited to the growing management complexity and highly dynamic wireless network topologies. Software Defined Radio systems...     

Effect of Slag Composition on the Crystallization Kinetics of Synthetic CaO-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-MgO Slags

The crystallization kinetics of CaO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MgO (CSAM) slags was studied with the aid of single hot thermocouple technique (SHTT). Kinetic parameters such as the Avrami exponent (n), rate coefficient (K), and effective activation energy of crystallization (E _A ) were obtained by kinetic analysis of data obtained from in situ observation of glassy to crystalline transformation and image analysis. Also, the dependence of nucleation and growth rates of crystalline phases were quantified as a function of time, temperature, and slag basicity. Together with the observations of crystallization front, they facilitated establishing the dominant mechanisms of crystallization. In an attempt to predict crystallization rate under non-isothermal conditions, a mathematical model was developed that employs the rate data of isothermal transformation. The model was validated by reproducing an experimental continuous cooling transformation diagram purely from isothermal data.     

Real time monitoring of bioreactor mAb IgG3 cell culture process dynamics via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: Implications for enabling cell culture process analytical technologyŽ 

Compared to small molecule process analytical technology (PAT) applications, biotechnology product PAT applications have certain unique challenges and opportunities. Understanding process dynamics of bioreactor cell culture process is essential to establish an appropriate process control strategy for biotechnology product PAT applications. Inline spectroscopic techniques for real time monitoring of bioreactor cell culture process have the distinct potential to develop PAT approaches in manufacturing biotechnology drug products. However, the use of inline Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques for bioreactor cell culture process monitoring has not been reported. In this work, real time inline FTIR Spectroscopy was applied to a lab scale bioreactor mAb IgG3 cell culture fluid biomolecular dynamic model. The technical feasibility of using FTIR Spectroscopy for real time tracking and monitoring four key cell culture metabolites (including glucose, glutamine, lactate, and ammonia) and protein yield at increasing levels of complexity (simple binary system, fully formulated media, actual bioreactor cell culture process) was evaluated via a stepwise approach. The FTIR fingerprints of the key metabolites were identified. The multivariate partial least squares (PLS) calibration models were established to correlate the process FTIR spectra with the concentrations of key metabolites and protein yield of in-process samples, either individually for each metabolite and protein or globally for all four metabolites simultaneously. Applying the 2^nd derivative pre-processing algorithm to the FTIR spectra helps to reduce the number of PLS latent variables needed significantly and thus simplify the interpretation of the PLS models. The validated PLS models show promise in predicting the concentration profiles of glucose, glutamine, lactate, and ammonia and protein yield over the course of the bioreactor cell culture process. Therefore, this work demonstrated the technical feasibility of real time monitoring of the bioreactor cell culture process via FTIR spectroscopy. Its implications for enabling cell culture PAT were discussed.     

Energy intensity and greenhouse gases footprint of metallurgical processes: A continuous steelmaking case study

The demand on primary energy resources of three steelmaking technologies has been evaluated using an integrated energy analysis approach that takes into account the energy equivalent of major materials and supplies used in the process, as well as the inefficiency of electricity generation. Two new parameters, Material CO₂ Footprint (MCF) and Process CO₂ Footprint (PCF), are defined to provide unified measures for carbon footprint of the treated materials, and the process respectively. Using these measures, a comparative study of the three processes has been performed. It is demonstrated that a novel steelmaking technology that operates continuously leads to substantial reduction in the overall energy demand, when compared with the conventional batch processes. CO₂ reduction associated with the improvement of the energy efficiency is presented for several scenarios of power generation.     

Wrinkle free plaited knitted fabrics without pre-heat setting

Wrinkle free fabric at low cost is always a desirable aesthetic property. Different type of resins/finishes and pre-heat setting prior to processing are applied to avoid wrinkles in woven and hosiery, respectively. Current study is proposed to produce wrinkle free circular plaited knitted fabric by the elimination of a pre-boarding step. In this achievement, yarn covering parameters and compatibility of yarns with knitting machines are examined. Sock samples were analyzed for improved physical appearance (wrinkles) after various processes (pre-tumbling, dyeing, bleaching, and washing). Yarn specifications (sheath yarn fineness, sheath yarn texture i.e. shrink/un-shrink, covering air-knots) impact on socks physical appearance were also analyzed. The results clearly showed that by decreasing number of yarn covering air knots and sheath yarn fineness leads to prevention of wrinkle formation. The results also prove to be supportive for cost effectiveness by eliminating the pre-setting stage.     

Liaison of phenolic acids and biological activity of escalating cultivars of Daucus carota

The objective of the present study was to analyze and compare the phenolic compounds and their antioxidant capacities of new lines of Dacus carota. The selected cultivars showed high variation in the contents of total phenolics (30.26–65.39 mg/100 g FW) and total ascorbic acid (41.12–58.36 mg/100 g FW). Analysis on RP-HPLC revealed that hydroxycinnamic acids and its derivatives were major phenolic compounds present in D. carota extracts, whereas 5-caffeolquinic acid was a major hydroxycinnamic acid (ranged from 30.26 to 65.39 mg/100 g FW). DCP cultivar showed high total antioxidant capacity (77.69 mg/100 g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity (52.36 mg/100 g), superoxide radical scavenging capacity (53.69 mg/100 g), and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity (51.91 mg/100 g). A linear relationship was found between total phenolic acid contents and antioxidant capacity. Both phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities varied significantly (ρ < 0.05) among cultivars. DCP cultivar was found to be a rich source of phenolics and ascorbic acid with high antioxidant activity.     

Role of Heat Transfer in Early Stage Decarburization of DRI in Slag

The gas generation from reactions between direct reduced iron (DRI) pellets and steelmaking slags is known to take place in two stages; (1) the reaction of FeO and carbon within DRI, i.e., pellet internal reaction, followed by (2) the reduction of slag FeO with DRI carbon at the pellet?Cslag interface, if any carbon remains from the first step. To understand the controlling mechanism of the reaction between FeO and C inside DRI, the rate of the gas release and the temperature of pellets suspended in a slag-free atmosphere were quantified. The results were used to determine the apparent thermal conductivity of DRI that showed values of approximately 0.5 to 2 W.m^?1.K^?1 for a temperature range of 573?K to 1273?K (300?°C to 1000?°C). Furthermore, it was found that the experimental gas evolution rates are consistent with the values predicted by a heat?Ctransfer based model, confirming that the FeO-C reaction within pellet is controlled by the rate of heat transfer from the slag to the DRI pellet.     

Annealing effect on structural, optical and electrical properties of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films

This study describes the effect of annealing at different temperatures (400–600 °C) on structural, optical and electrical behaviors of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films grown on the glass substrate by electron beam evaporation technique. The transformation of tetragonal to orthorhombic form due to annealing, introduced a change in the optical and electrical properties of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films. X-ray diffraction studies or analysis revealed the phase transformation and change in the crystalline size with increase in the annealing temperature. The morphology and roughness of the thin films were studied by Atomic force microscopy. Optical band gap increased with annealing temperature confirms the improvements of crystallinity. The quality of thin films transparency was investigated by UV/Vis-spectroscopy. Photoluminescence of pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films shows two extra peaks one at 486 nm and other at 538 nm is due to the crystal defect created as a result of annealing temperature. These peaks became stronger and shifted to longer wavelength with increasing the annealing temperature. The complex plot (Nyquist plot) showed the data point laying on two semicircles and the resistance of grains and grain boundaries increases with the increase in annealing temperature for both pure and Mg doped tin oxide thin films.     

The effect of granule microstructure on dissolution rate

The relationship between the microstructure of granules and their dissolution rate has been investigated. Granules consisting of mannitol primary particles and PVP aqueous binder have been prepared by top-spray fluid-bed granulation, and granules consisting of sucrose primary particles and PEG binder by in-situ melt fluid-bed granulation. Granule microstructure has been systematically varied by manipulating the primary particle size distribution and the binder content in each case. In both cases granule porosity was found to be a decreasing function of binder content and a minimum of porosity as function of the fine/coarse primary particle mixing ratio has been observed, in line with theoretical expectations. Granule microstructures have been analysed using X-ray computed micro-tomography and compared with three-dimensional “virtual granules” generated by a computer simulation of the agglomeration process. The dissolution rate of granules has then been measured. While porosity was found to have a strong effect on the dissolution rate of mannitol granules, the dissolution rate was found to be practically independent of porosity in the case of sucrose granules. The formulation-microstructure and microstructure-dissolution correlations established in course of this work are in line with previous computer simulation results and form part of a computer-aided granule design methodology.     

Synthesis of polyelectrolyte-modified ordered nanoporous carbon for removal of aromatic organic acids from purified terephthalic acid wastewater

In this work polyelectrolyte (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride) modified ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-1/PDDA) has been synthesized and has been employed in removal of major aromatic compounds present in purified terephthalic acid wastewater, such as p-toluic acid, benzoic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, phthalic acid and terephthalic. The adsorption behavior of these acidic impurities has been studied through batch experiments and using UV-spectrophotometric technique. The results show that CMK-1/PDDA is very effective in selective removal of acidic compounds from PTA-waste aqueous solutions. The electrostatic interaction was considered to be the main mechanism for the adsorption of acidic compounds. The effects of chemical modification, contact time, initial concentrations, adsorbent dose, agitation speed, solution pH and reaction temperature have been optimized. The sorption equilibrium was reached within 5 min. The sorption of acidic compounds on the CMK-1/PDDA slightly decreases with increasing pH, and temperature, indicating an exothermic process. The experimental isotherm data were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm.