Comparative analysis of modular multilevel converter with different modulation technique for control of induction motor drive

Microsystem Technologies - Modular multilevel converter (MMC) is an enhanced multilevel converter topology. It is widely used in research nowadays for its superior performance in high-voltage...     

Assessment of lectin activity in a toxic and a non-toxic variety of Jatropha curcas using latex agglutination and haemagglutination methods and inactivation of lectin by heat treatments

Lectin activity in a toxic (Cape Verde) and non-toxic (Mexico) variety of Jatropha curcas seed meal was investigated using latex agglutination and haemagglutination assays. Lectin activity expressed as reciprocal of the minimum quantity (in mg) of Jatropha meal per ml of the assay mixture which produced agglutination with the latex beads was 2·88 ± 0·57 and 1·71 ± 0·00 (mean ± SD, n = 3) for the toxic and the non-toxic varieties, respectively, which did not differ significantly (P > 0·05), while with the haemagglutination assay these values were 102 and 51, respectively, and differed significantly (P < 0·05). The lectins were inactivated by heating and moist heat was more effective than dry heat. The results suggest that lectins may not be responsible for short term toxicity caused by consumption of raw Jatropha meal. © 1998 SCI.     

Investigation on structural,optical, thermal,mechanical and dielectric properties of l-proline cadmium chloride monohydrate single crystals: An efficient NLO material

In the present work, we have grown single crystals of l-proline cadmium chloride monohydrate (LPCCM) by slow evaporation solution technique (SEST) at room temperature and recorded their live growth kinetics with the help of inverted microscope. Crystal size at various stages of growth and its corresponding morphology was also recorded. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis of LPCCM single crystals confirmed the orthorhombic structure. Respective values of crystallite size, strain and dislocation density have been calculated using PXRD data. Metal complex coordination of the single crystal is studied by FTIR spectroscopic. The optical properties of the grown crystals were investigated through UV–VIS spectroscopic studies and shows that the crystals have very low absorption in entire characterized wavelength range 200–800 nm. The optical band gap was calculated and found to be ∼5.6 eV. Optical constants of the material is determined by theoretical calculations. The chemical etching study was also carried out to study the density of defects in the grown crystals. The photoluminous excitation and emission spectra and thermal property by TGA/DTA curve were recorded. Further, the mechanical properties have been studied using Vicker's microhardness tester as well as many parameters such as fracture toughness (K_c), Brittleness index (B_i) and yield strength (σ_ν) are presented. Dielectric studies have been carried out with varying frequency and temperatures.     

Evaluation of the economic and environmental impact of combining dry reforming with steam reforming of methane

Lately, there has been considerable interest in the development of more efficient processes to generate syngas, an intermediate in the production of fuels and chemicals, including methanol, dimethyl ether, ethylene, propylene and Fischer–Tropsch fuels. Steam methane reforming (SMR) is the most widely applied method of producing syngas from natural gas. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a process that uses waste carbon dioxide to produce syngas from natural gas. Dry reforming alone has not yet been implemented commercially; however, a combination of steam methane reforming and dry reforming of methane (SMR + DRM) has been used in industry for several years.     

Effect of drying conditions on tannin,fibre and lignin levels in mature oak (Quercus incana) leaves

Oak (Quercus incana Roxb) leaves are rich in tannins and produce adverse effects when fed to livestock. The effects of shade and sun drying and oven drying at 60°C and 90°C for different lengths of time (24 to 72 h) on total phenolics, condensed tannins, protein precipitation capacity, degree of polymerisation, specific activity (protein bound per unit tannins), fibre-linked proanthocyanidins, acid and neutral detergent fibres and lignin levels in mature oak leaves were studied. Removal/inactivation of tannins was not observed on wilting or drying under several conditions. Similarly the drying conditions had no effect on fibre composition. The adverse effects on feeding fresh or dried oak leaves are expected to be of similar magnitude.     

Synthesis of enhanced biosurfactant by Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2423 at 45°C by foam fractionation

Production of a lipopeptide surfactant in a 6.5-L batch fermentor was carried out using Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2423 at 45°C. A good yield was obtained from sucrose (2%) substrate fermentation by continuous removal of the product by foam fractionation. The biosurfactant was recovered from collapsed foam by acid precipitation. The biosurfactant yield (4.5 g/L) was about 4.5 times higher than the yield (ca. 1 g/L) obtained by shake-flask fermentation. Surface activity of the collapsed foam was very high, and total surface activity was observed in the collapsed foam. The structural characterization of this biosurfactant produced at 45°C by the strain used in this study was recently reported. The biosurfactant was analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, infrared, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy and was found to be identical to surfactin, a lipopeptide surfactant.     

Recent Advances in MAC Protocols for the Energy Harvesting Based WSN: A Comprehensive Review

Wireless Personal Communications - Wireless sensor networks are catching the attention of the researchers in various fields like structural, healthcare monitoring, but the real world adoption is...     

Phosphorus‐containing epoxy resins: Thermal characterization

Three novel aromatic phosphorylated diamines, i.e., bis N,N′‐{3‐[(3‐aminophenyl)methyl phosphinoyl] phenyl} pyromellitamic acid (AP), 4,4′‐oxo bis N,N′‐{3‐[(3‐aminophenyl)methyl phosphinoyl] phenyl}phthalamic acid (AB) and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidene‐bis N,N′‐{3‐[(3‐aminophenyl)methyl phosphinoyl] phenyl}phthalamic acid (AF) were synthesized and characterized. These amines were prepared by solution condensation reaction of bis(3‐aminophenyl)methyl phosphine oxide (BAP) with 1,2,4,5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid anhydride (P)/3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (B)/4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic acid anhydride (F), respectively. The structural characterization of amines was done by elemental analysis, DSC, TGA, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR and FTIR. Amine equivalent weight was determined by the acetylation method. Curing of DGEBA in the presence of phosphorylated amines was studied by DSC and curing exotherm was in the temperature range of 195–267°C, whereas with conventional amine 4,4′‐diamino diphenyl sulphone (D) a broad exotherm in temperature range of 180–310°C was observed. Curing of DGEBA with a mixture of phosphorylated amines and D, resulted in a decrease in characteristic curing temperatures. The effect of phosphorus content on the char residue and thermal stability of epoxy resin cured isothermally in the presence of these amines was evaluated in nitrogen atmosphere. Char residue increased significantly with an increase in the phosphorus content of epoxy network. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2235–2242, 2002     

Vanillin-HCl method for condensed tannins: Effect of organic solvents used for extraction of tannins

Tannins are generally extracted using aqueous organic solvents, mainly methanol and acetone. The presence of various concentrations of methanol in the sample containing catechin or tannins did not alter the kinetics of their reaction, but the absorbance depended on the amount of methanol in the sample; the higher the methanol, the higher was the absorbance. Acetone reacted with acidified vanillin to produce a chromogen with _max at 548 nm, which produce a substantial error in the determination of condensed tannins. In the presence of acetone, the time courses of the reaction for catechin and tannins were different, which depended on the acetone concentration and the reaction temperature. Reaction conditions for catechin and tannins that enable their measurement in the presence of acetone are presented.