Synthesize and characterization of clay based low-cost membrane for solid-liquid separation

In this work, locally available clay material was mixed with inorganic materials to synthesize the low-cost ceramic membrane in microfiltration range. Membrane was sintered at different temperatures (800-950oC) and the effect of sintered temperature on membrane preparation was studied in detail. The membrane porosity was found to decrease (44-30%) with membrane sintering temperatures (800-950oC). The corrosion resistance of the prepared ceramic membranes at different sintering temperatures was analyzed using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), NaOH and HCl. It was observed that the elemental composition by EDX analysis and porosity measurement of the synthesized membrane was found almost invariant. Finally, the synthesized membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra analysis to study their morphological properties and porosity measurement, and functional group analysis, respectively. The abrupt morphological changes on the membrane surface and micro porosity formation at 800oC sintering temperature suggest that the synthesized clay based ceramic membrane could be used for various solid-liquid separations.&nbsp

Stress transfer modeling in viscoelastic polymer matrix composites

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76784/1/AIAA-1999-1344-540.pd

Synthetic studies towards the nor-triterpene pfaffic acid: synthesis of DEF ring fragment via tandem radical cyclization rearrangement reactions

A tandem 5-exo-trig-vinyl-3-exo-radical cyclization-rearrangement reaction and its allylic radical version was developed (8 and 15 to 9 and 16 respectively) for the synthesis of DEF ring system of the nor-tritepene Pfaffic acid 1

Single-molecule photochemical reactions of Auger-ionized quantum dots

Photoinduced electron transfer in donor-acceptor systems composed of quantum dots (QDs) and electron donors or acceptors is a subject of considerable recent research interest due to the potential applications of such systems in both solar energy harvesting and degradation of organic pollutants. Herein, we employed single-molecule imaging and spectroscopy techniques for the detection of photochemical reactions between 1,4-diaminobutane (DAB) and CdSe/ZnS single QDs. We investigated the reactions by analyzing photoluminescence (PL) intensity and lifetime of QDs at ensemble and single-molecule levels. While DAB was applied to single QDs tethered on a cover slip or QDs dispersed in a solution, PL intensity of QD continuously decreased with a concomitant increase in the PL lifetime. Interestingly, these changes in the PL properties of QD were predominant under high-intensity photoactivation. We hypothesize that the above changes in the PL properties surface due to the transfer of an electron from DAB to Auger-ionized QD followed by elimination of a proton from DAB and the formation of a QD-DAB adduct. Thus, a continuous decrease in the PL intensity of QDs under high-intensity photoactivation is attributed to continuous photochemical reactions of DAB with single QDs and the formation of QD-(DAB)n adducts. We believe that detection and analysis of such photochemical reactions of single QDs with amines will be of considerable broad interest due to the significant impact of photoinduced electron transfer reactions in energy management and environmental remediation

Coleus monostachyus (P. Beauv.) A. J. Paton (Lamiaceae): A new addition to the flora of India

Coleus monostachyus (P. Beauv.) A. J. Paton is reported here as a new addition to the flora of India. It seems the seeds of this plant might have come along with the timbers imported from the SE Asian countries. A detailed morphological description based on the Indian plants and photographs are provided to facilitate easy and correct identification

Aeroelasticity of a Generic Hypersonic Vehicle

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76282/1/AIAA-2002-1209-307.pd

Occurrence of teleomorphic phase of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato, the incitant of black pepper anthracnose

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato, the ascomycetous pathogen is a major constraint in black pepper cultivation. In the present study, surveys carried out in black pepper cultivating regions of Karnataka, India revealed the prevalence of anthracnose disease manifested as diverse array of foliar symptoms. An atypical foliar symptom was also noticed in the black pepper nurseries, characterized by grayish necrotic lesions with brown-blackish margins and randomly distributed blackish structures of pin-head size in the lesion area manifested particularly on the older leaves. The pin-head structures produced orangish exudation embedded with asci, ascospores and perithecia, when incubated under high humid conditions. Typical anthracnose symptoms were developed on susceptible host in pathogenicity studies and subsequent isolation yielded two distinct colonies designated as black and orange. The perithecia were induced artificially under in vitro conditions, which retained fertility and infectivity more than three months. Alternation of generation was observed when the perithecia were cultured on potato dextrose medium which resulted in the formation of acervuli with abundant conidiation. The results of present investigation shed light into the occurrence and potential role of perithecial (teleomorphic) phase in the survival of C. gloeosporioides s. l. infecting black pepper

Aeroelastic and Aerothermoelastic Vehicle Behavior in Hypersonic Flow

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76797/1/AIAA-2005-3305-890.pd

Impact of Upper-Tropospheric Temperature Anomalies and Vertical Wind Shear on Tropical Cyclone Evolution Using an Idealized Version of the Operational GFDL Hurricane Model

The GFDL hurricane modeling system, initiated in the 1970s, has progressed from a research tool to an operational system over four decades. This system is still in use today in research and operations, and its evolution will be briefly described. This study used an idealized version of the 2014 GFDL model to test its sensitivity across a wide range of three environmental factors that are often identified as key factors in tropical cyclone (TC) evolution: SST, atmospheric stability (upper-air thermal anomalies), and vertical wind shear (westerly through easterly). A wide range of minimum central pressure intensities resulted (905–980 hPa). The results confirm that a scenario (e.g., global warming) in which the upper troposphere warms relative to the surface will have less TC intensification than one with a uniform warming with height. The TC rainfall is also investigated for the SST–stability parameter space. Rainfall increases for combinations of SST increase and increasing stability similar to global warming scenarios, consistent with climate change TC downscaling studies with the GFDL model. The forecast system’s sensitivity to vertical shear was also investigated. The idealized model simulations showed weak disturbances dissipating under strong easterly and westerly shear of 10 m s−1. A small bias for greater intensity under easterly sheared versus westerly sheared environments was found at lower values of SST. The impact of vertical shear on intensity was different when a strong vortex was used in the simulations. In this case, none of the initial disturbances weakened, and most intensified to some extent