A method of computing numerically integrated stiffness matrices

A method of formulating and computing numerically integrated stiffness matrices is presented. Through a better organization of the formulation which is easily achieved by the use of index notation, the computations for integrating and evaluating the element stiffness matrix are substantially reduced. For cases in which the terms of the material property tensor are not functions of position co-ordinates (elastic isotropic and anisotropic materials), a further reduction in computation is achieved by multiplying the material property-tensor after the numerical integration has been carried out.     

Chemical Examination of the Seed Fat of Solanum Ferox L.

From the seeds of Solanum ferox L., a yellow coloured oil has been obtained in 2.7% yield. The fatty acid composition of this oil has been determined and found to be palmitic 12.15%, stearic 9.96%, oleic 39.83% and linoleic acid 38.06%.     

Realization of very long wavelength infrared photovoltaic detector arrays on mercury cadmium telluride epitaxial layers grown on Si substrates

This paper proposes a development of n-on-p structures for realizing very long wavelength infrared (VLWIR) detector arrays on mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) epitaxial layers grown on Si substrates. It is shown from a comparative study of zero-bias resistance-area product (R₀A) of diodes in n-on-p and p-on-n configurations that the n-on-p structure has promising potential to control contribution of dislocations, without actually reducing dislocation density below the current level (mid-10⁶ cm⁻²) of HgCdTe/Si material technology. The resulting gain will be in terms of both higher numerical magnitudes of R₀A and its reduced scatter.     

Lead-free solder reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

In this study, varying weight percentages of multiwalled carbon nanotubes were successfully incorporated into 95.8Sn-3.5Ag-0.7Cu solder to synthesize novel lead-free composite solders. The composite solders were synthesized using a powder metallurgy route consisting of blending, compaction, sintering, and extrusion. The extruded materials were then characterized for their physical, thermal, and mechanical properties. With the addition of increasing weight percentage of carbon nanotubes, the composite solders experienced a corresponding decrease in density values and an improvement in wetting properties. The melting temperatures of the composite solders were found to be unchanged with additions of carbon nanotubes. However, improvements in the mechanical properties, in terms of microhardness and tensile properties, were observed with increasing weight percentages of carbon nanotubes.     

Studies on the stability of an edible film and its use for the preservation of carrot (Daucus carota)

An edible coating was formed by blending turmeric (Curcuma longa) and casein in equal proportions at 95 °C for 12 h. Small quantities of polyvinyl alcohol and propylene glycol were added to encourage film formation and plasticizing respectively. The blend was removed from the reaction vessel and homogenized using Tween‐80 as emulsifier. The homogenized blend was sampled at 2‐h intervals for stability by means of the ‘keeping property’ and ‘accelerated stability’ tests. Stability was also determined by differential scanning calorimetry in which a singlet endotherm indicated molecular mixing (miscibility window) of the components. All three tests indicated that the emulsion was stable after 12 h of blending. Colour, carotenoid content, texture retention and antimicrobial properties remained satisfactory for 10 days in the stable emulsion‐coated carrot whereas the control spoiled after 3 days. Thus turmeric and casein based‐emulsion coating could extend the shelf‐life of carrots by 7 days.     

Identification of the antibiotic phomalactone from the entomopathogenic fungusHirsutella thompsonii var.synnematosa

Dichloromethane extracts of culture broth from three strains of the entomopathogenic fungusHirsutella thompsonii var.synnematosa were toxic to two species of tephritid fruit fly and inhibited conidial germination in vitro in several other entomopathogenic fungi includingBeauveria bassiana, Tolypocladium spp., andMetarhizium anisopliae. A major metabolite, toxic to apple maggot,Rhagoletis pomonella, and inhibitory to conidial germination inB. bassiana, was isolated and identified as the antibiotic (+)-phomalactone, 6-(1-propenyl)-5,-6-dihydro-5-hydroxypyran-2-one. This is the first biologically active compound of low molecular weight isolated from the genusHirsutella.Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement by the USDA.     

Adjuvants--a balance between toxicity and adjuvanticity

Adjuvants have been used to augment the immune response in experimental immunology as well as in practical vaccination for more than 60 years. The chemical nature of adjuvants, their mode of action and the profile of their side effects are highly variable. Some of the side effects can be ascribed to an unintentional stimulation of different mechanisms of the immune system whereas others may reflect general adverse pharmacological reactions. The most common adjuvants for human use today are still aluminium hydroxide, aluminium phosphate and calcium phosphate although oil emulsions, products from bacteria and their synthetic derivatives as well as liposomes have also been tested or used in humans. In recent years monophosphoryl lipid A, ISCOMs with Quil-A and Syntex adjuvant formulation (SAF) containing the threonyl derivative of muramyl dipeptide have been under consideration for use as adjuvants in humans. At present the choice of adjuvants for human vaccination reflects a compromise between a requirement for adjuvanticity and an acceptable low level of side effects.     

DEHYDRATION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES

Advances in dehydration techniques and development of novel drying methods have in recentyears enabled the preparation of a wide range of dehydrated products and convenience foods from fruits and vegetables meeting the quality, stability and functional requirements coupled with economy. This has been made possible by the sustained experimental studies over the years to understand the theoretical and fundamental aspects of the process and optimisation of the techniques to achieve a favourable combination of cost and quality. This paper reviews and highlights the developments in the dehydration of fruits and vegetables and their products during the last decade covering the oretical aspects and practical applications with major emphasis on techniques that have received the maximum attention.     

Multiobjective optimization of an industrial nylon‐6 semi batch reactor using the a‐jumping gene adaptations of genetic algorithm and simulated annealing

The elitist nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA‐II) and multiobjective simulated annealing (MOSA) with the robust fixed‐length jumping gene adaptation (aJG) are used to solve three computationally intensive multiobjective optimization problems for an industrial semi batch nylon‐6 reactor. In Problems 1 and 2, the batch time and the final concentration of the undesirable side‐product (cyclic dimer) are minimized while maintaining desired values of the degree of polymerization of the product and the monomer conversion (monomer conversion is maximized as a third objective in Problem 3). The histories of two decision variables, pressure [or vapor release rate] and jacket fluid temperature, are used to obtain the Pareto optimal fronts. The study predicts considerable improvement over earlier results when (i) a single‐stage steam jet ejector is used to create subatmospheric pressures in the reactor, (ii) when the jacket fluid temperature is taken as a function of time, and (iii) when some amino caproic acid (from the depolymerization of scrap nylon‐6) is added to the feed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers