Utility of catalytic models in the estimation of incidence and prevalence of malaria in a hyperendemic situation

Simple catalytic models were used for estimating the true incidence of malaria in hyperendemic villages of Koraput District in Orissa State where Plasmodium falciparum is predominant. The hill top villages recorded a slide positive rate of 45.68. The daily rate of inoculation among infants was estimated to be 0.00781. The inoculation rate was so high that the recovery from one infection was compensated by the subsequent infection and hence the prevalence continued to increase with age. The model adequately represents the observed data for infants but could not be used for estimating the true prevalence in the adult population without incorporating other factors like immunity and superinfection.     

Information transport and computation in nanometre-scale structures

We discuss two examples of novel information-transport and processing mechanisms in nanometre-scale structures. The local modulation and detection of a quantum state can be used for information transport at the nanometre length-scale, an effect we call a 'quantum mirage'. We demonstrate that, unlike conventional electronic information transport using wires, the quantum mirage can be used to pass multiple channels of information through the same volume of a solid. We discuss a new class of nanometre-scale structures called 'molecule cascades', and show how they may be used to implement a general-purpose binary-logic computer in which all of the circuitry is at the nanometre length-scale.     

Quick and reliable estimation of BOD load of beverage industrial wastewater by developing BOD biosensor

An amperometric biosensor for determination of biochemical oxygen demand in wastewater has been developed to overcome the time consuming monitoring procedures. The performance and stability of the immobilized membrane have been investigated at 37 °C and pH 6.8. Immobilized microbial membranes maintain their stability and activity after intermittent use for 400 cycles when stored at 4 °C in sodium phosphate buffer pH 6.8. The response time of the BOD sensor was only 90 min, being independent of the concentration, and the lower detection limit was 1 mg/l. The obtained BOD values showed correlation with that of the conventional method for BOD determination (BOD5) with a deviation of ±10%. Moreover, the sensor exhibits good repeatability (3.39–4.45%) and reproducibility (1.85–2.25%). Software was added to upgrade this sensor and to make it a promising candidate for online monitoring.     

Impact of Key Circuit Parameters on Signal-to-Noise Ratio Characteristics for the Radio Frequency Single-Electron Transistors

Hybrid simulation was performed to analyze the response of the real-time reflection-type radio frequency single-electron transistor (RF-SET) measurement system. A compact and physically-based analytical SET model, which was validated with a Monte Carlo simulator, was used to simulate the SET characteristics, while SPICE equivalent circuits were implemented to simulate all other components of the RF-SET measurement system. The impact of various key parameters on the RF-SET response was demonstrated for a carrier frequency much less than I/e ( is the typical current through the SET). It was revealed that an inevitable feed-through loss between the tank circuit and the cryogenic amplifier, and high-frequency parasitics of the inductor degrade the RF-SET performance significantly. As such, they have to be optimized to experimentally realize the shot-noise-limited charge sensitivity.     

Atrial defibrillation using low tilt pulses delivered bytranscutaneous RF coupling

A new form of atrial defibrillator is described, employing a transdermal transformer to couple a 7.2 MHz RF pulse to an implanted, passive receiver; this, in turn, delivers a low-tilt unipolar DC shock to the heart. In animal studies, cardioversion was 100% successful with pulses of 100 V amplitude and 10 ms width     

A survey on future research about electron beam welding for aerospace applications

Electron beam welding plays an important role in the aerospace industry where components like sensors,gears,actuators and air frames used in aircraft and rocket engines were welded using this technique.Welding is normally performed in a vacuum to avoid the scatter of electron due to the presence of gas molecules in the atmosphere and hence electron beam welding process provides the greater results.But still joining of dissimilar metals is challenging.This paper represents review of process,generation and distribution of heat source various input parameters,materials,microstructure,mechanical strength and the possibilities of joining dissimilar metals using electron beam welding.     

Superoxide produced in the heme pocket of the beta-chain of hemoglobin reacts with the beta-93 cysteine to produce a thiyl radical

The role of the beta-93 cysteine residue in the hemoglobin autoxidation process has been delineated by electron paramagnetic resonance. At low temperatures (8 K) after incubation at 235 K, free radical signals were detected. An analysis of the free radical spectrum produced implies that, besides the superoxide radical expected to be formed during autoxidation, an isotropic free radical is produced with a giso of 2.0133. This g value is consistent with that expected for a sulfur radical. Blocking the beta-93 sulfhydryl group with N-ethylmaleimide was found to eliminate the formation of the isotropic radical, but not the superoxide. This finding confirms the assignment of the isotropic radical as a thiyl radical originating from the oxidation of the cysteine SH group. A kinetic analysis of the time course for the formation of both the superoxide and thiyl radicals is consistent with a reversible electron transfer process between superoxide in the heme pocket of the beta-chains and the cysteine residue. This reaction is expected to produce both a thiyl radical and a peroxide. Direct evidence for peroxide production comes from the detection of a transient Fe(III) heme peroxide complex. The significance of the electron transfer process producing a thiyl radical is discussed. It is shown that the formation of the thiyl radical decreases the rate of autoxidation for the beta-chain and reduces heme degradation attributed to the reaction of superoxide with the heme. The insights gained from these low-temperature studies are believed to be relevant to room-temperature autoxidation.