Evaluation of a multimode fiber optic low coherence interferometer for path length resolved Doppler measurements of diffuse light

The performance of a graded index multimode fiber optic low coherence Mach-Zehnder interferometer with phase modulation is analyzed. Investigated aspects were its ability to measure path length distributions and to perform path length resolved Doppler measurements of multiple scattered photons in a turbid suspension of particles undergoing Brownian and translational motion. The path length resolution of this instrument is compared with a system using single mode fibers for illumination and detection. The optical path lengths are determined from the zero order moment of the phase modulation peak in the power spectrum. The weighted first moment, which is equal to the average Doppler shift, shows a linear response for different mean flow velocities within the physiological range.     

Dual Toll Pricing for Hazardous Materials Transport with Linear Delay

In this paper, we propose a dual toll pricing method to mitigate risk of hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation. We aim to simultaneously control both regular and hazmat vehicles to reduce the risk. In our model, we incorporate a new risk measure to consider duration-population-frequency of hazmat exposure. We first formulate the model as a Mathematical Program with Equilibrium Constraints (MPEC). Then we decompose the MPEC formulation into first-stage and second-stage problems. Separate methods are developed to solve each stage. A numerical example is provided and possible extensions are discussed.     

Enrichment of ω‐3 fatty acids in flax seed oil by alkaline lipase of Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC 9657

Flax seed oil obtained from the seeds of flax plant (Linum usitatissimum, L.) is an unexploited source which contains ω‐3 and ω‐6 fatty acids. Flax seed oil is hydrolysed with a novel alkaline lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC 9657 for the removal of unwanted fatty acids and enrichment of ω‐3 fatty acids. An appropriate balance of ω‐3 and ω‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and enzymatic enrichment of polyunsaturated fatty acids in diet promote nutrition and health. Fatty acid composition shows that flax seed oil contains about 26.80%, 13.5% and 25.45% of ω‐3 and ω‐6 fatty acids in triglyceride (TG), diglyceride (DG) and monoglyceride (MG), respectively. After 8 h of hydrolysis, ω‐3 content was increased to 39% in TG, showing that unwanted saturated fatty acids are removed. ω‐6 content of triglycerides in flax seed oil also showed 54.76% increase after 8 h of hydrolysis. An enzymatic method of hydrolysis by fungal lipase was developed by this study and achieved to concentrate the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (LA) and α‐linoleic acids (ALA).     

A two-pronged approach for springback variability assessment using sparse polynomial chaos expansion and multi-level simulations

In this study, we show that stochastic analysis of metal forming process requires both a high precision and low cost numerical models in order to take into account very small perturbations on inputs (physical as well as process parameters) and to allow for numerous repeated analysis in a reasonable time. To this end, an original semi-analytical model dedicated to plain strain deep drawing based on a Bending-Under-Tension numerical model (B-U-T model) is used to accurately predict the influence of small random perturbations around a nominal solution estimated with a full scale Finite Element Model (FEM). We introduce a custom sparse variant of the Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE) to model the propagation of uncertainties through this model at low computational cost. Next, we apply this methodology to the deep drawing process of U-shaped metal sheet considering up to 8 random variables.     

[2.2]Paracyclophane-Based TCN-201 Analogs as GluN2A-Selective NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Recent studies have shown the involvement of GluN2A subunit-containing NMDA receptors in various neurological and pathological disorders. In the X-ray crystal structure, TCN-201 ( 1 ) and analogous pyrazine derivatives 2 and 3 adopt a U-shape (hairpin) conformation within the binding site formed by the ligand binding domains of the GluN1 and GluN2A subunits. In order to mimic the resulting π/π-interactions of two aromatic rings in the binding site, a [2.2]paracyclophane system was designed to lock these aromatic rings in a parallel orientation. Acylation of [2.2]paracyclophane ( 5 ) with oxalyl chloride and chloroacetyl chloride and subsequent transformations led to the oxalamide 7 , triazole 10 and benzamides 12 . The GluN2A inhibitory activities of the paracyclophane derivatives were tested with two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology using Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing selectively functional NMDA receptors with GluN2A subunit. The o-iodobenzamide 12 b with the highest similarity to TCN-201 showed the highest GuN2A inhibitory activity of this series of compounds. At a concentration of 10 μM, 12 b reached 36 % of the inhibitory activity of TCN-201 ( 1 ). This result indicates that the [2.2]paracyclophane system is well accepted by the TCN-201 binding site.     

Transport phenomena in the electrodeionization of cesium from AMP-PAN

Electrodeionization (EDI) of cesium from cesium-sorbed ammonium molybdophosphate-polyacrylonitrile (AMP-PAN) was investigated by passing eluant through the packed bed of ion-exchange resin in an electrodialysis cell. The deionized cesium from the packed bed was recovered in catholyte by migration and in the eluant by convection. Recovery percentage of Cs by migration increased while the recovery by convection decreased with increase in current density from 20 to 40 mA/cm². Increased eluant concentration resulted in low migration percentage of cesium. Increased catholyte concentration had a negligible effect on total recovery. Apparent diffusion coefficients evaluated using the Nernst–Plank relation increased with increase in current density and catholyte concentration while a decreasing trend was observed with increase in eluant concentration.     

Physical Effects of Variable Thermophysical Fluid Properties on Flow and Thermal Development in Micro-Channel

Micro-scale cooling is an efficient and effective cooling technique to achieve the goal of higher heat removal capabilities. The present research focuses to find the physical effects of fluid property variations on flow and thermal development in micro-channel. The effects of temperature-dependent density, viscosity, and thermal conductivity variations on single-phase laminar forced convection are numerically investigated. The problem is especially simulated for hydrodynamically and thermally developing water flow in micro-channel with no-slip, no-temperature jump, and constant wall heat flux boundary conditions. It is observed that the density variation induces radially inward flow due to continuity, which sharpens the axial velocity profile and decreases Nusselt number compared to constant property solution. The axial velocity profile significantly alters due to viscosity variation. This alteration varies along the micro-flow and it induces radially flow due to flow continuity. The reducing rate of Nusselt number for viscosity variation is substantially lower than constant property solution due to a significant flattening effect of the axial velocity profile, which augments the Nusselt number. Thermal-conductivity variation across the flow induces radial conduction, which enhances convection compared to constant property solution. Additionally, the effects of thermophysical fluid property variations on static gauge pressure drop are also investigated.     

Production of soya milk containing low flatulence‐causing oligosaccharides in a packed bed reactor using immobilised α‐galactosidase

Peanut α‐galactosidase was immobilised in calcium alginate beads and used to hydrolyse the flatulence‐causing oligosaccharides, raffinose and stachyose, in soya milk in batch and in packed bed reactor with recycle. The immobilised enzyme exhibited a slightly lower activity than the free enzyme. The activity yield of immobilised α‐galactosidase was 75.1% and the immobilisation yield was 82.6%. Batch hydrolysis using immobilised enzyme at 55 °C resulted in 96% reduction in the oligosaccharides after 12 h. For the continuous process, a packed bed reactor with recycle was used. More than 98% of the oligosaccharides were hydrolysed after 6 h of reaction at 55 °C. The immobilised enzyme also proved to be stable up to three repeated hydrolysis reactions.