Standardization of packaging technique(s) for the distant marketing of Rhynchostylis retusa

A postharvest experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, AAU, Jorhat, to study the effect of different packaging technique(s) for the distant marketing of Foxtail orchid spikes. The seven treatments were as follows: T1: CFB box (control); T2: wrapping with 200 gauge polyethylene sheet + KMnO₄ sachet + CFB box; T3: wrapping with butter paper + KMnO₄ sachet + CFB box; T4: wrapping with Brown Paper + KMnO₄ sachet + CFB box; T₅: plastic vial containing 8-HQS (25 ppm) + wrapping with 200 gauge polyethylene sheet + CFB box; T6: plastic vial containing 8-HQS (25 ppm) + wrapping with butter paper + CFB box; and T7: plastic vial containing 8-HQS (25 ppm) + wrapping with Brown Paper + CFB box. Among these packaging treatments, T5 resulted in a significantly longer vase life (7.33 days after 3 days of storage under ambient conditions). Postharvest parameters such as the PLW (6.58%), TSS (10.08%), MSI (78.28%), and wilting of the first floret (3.41 days) were found to be greatest in T5. However, in terms of biochemical parameters, T5 was similar to T6 in terms of carbohydrate content (63.49 and 62.08 mg/100 ml, respectively), protein content (15.23 and 15.18%, respectively) and anthocyanin content (6.37 and 6.30 mg/L, respectively)

Interactive Water Surfaces using GPU based eWave algorithm in a game production environment

In the past decade, we have seen a myriad of games set in the ocean and around deep water. Fluids are becoming a more substantial part of video games with larger production budgets. We have seen a shift in real-time fluids from being a static element to an interactive entity. Even though game computation budgets are increasing, the amount given to fluid interaction and other forms of visual effects is still relatively minuscule. This budget creates a need for methods that are two to three times faster than real-time to be useful in production pipelines. Modern GPU pipelines allow for this kind of fast computation at a fraction of the cost. This thesis implements an algorithm that is highly parallelizable and relatively more physically plausible as it takes into consideration the dispersion term of the wave equation. We compare the results with the other current research techniques of the last few years. The method implemented is a height-field based approach which involves running the wave equations in the Fourier Domain (Wave frequency domain by running a Fourier transform on the height field), solving the linearized wave equation as well as the simplified dispersion term in this domain and then transforming the result back into the real space height data. We implement this algorithm in the Unreal Engine 4, which is a popular commercial game engine used to develop big-budget games. We test our algorithm using the GPU profiler, provided by the engine, to prove the algorithm’s viability in a production environment

Synthesis, characterization and corrosion performance evaluation of DDR membrane for H-2 separation from HI decomposition reaction

An all silica DDR (deca dodecasil rhombohedral) zeolite membrane with dense, interlocked structure has been developed for separation of H-2 from HI/I-2 mixture of HI decomposition reaction. In this work, the DDR zeolite membrane was synthesized on the seeded clay-alumina substrate within 5 days. The seeds were synthesized by sonication mediated hydrothermal process within short crystallization time which enhanced the nucleation for the membrane growth. The synthesized membranes along with seed crystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The selectivity of hydrogen with respect to CO2 and Ar was evaluated by single gas permeation studies at room temperature. The tests for corrosion resistance were carried out upto 120 h with both support and DDR membrane at 130 degrees C which confirmed the stability of membrane under the harsh HI/I-2 environment. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

DDR zeolite membrane reactor for enhanced HI decomposition in IS thermochemical process

The third section of closed loop Iodine Sulphur (IS) thermochemical cycle, dealing with HI. processing, suffers from low equilibrium decomposition of HI to hydrogen with a conversion value of only similar to 22% at 700 K. Here, we report a significant enhancement in conversion of HI into hydrogen (up to similar to 95%) using a zeolite membrane reactor for the first time. The all silica DDR (deca dodecasil rhombohedral) zeolite membrane with dense, interlocked structure was synthesized on the seeded clay alumina substrate by sonication mediated hydrothermal process. The synthesized membranes along with seed crystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Corrosion studies were carried out by exposing the membrane samples to simulated HI decomposition reaction environment (at 450 degrees C) for different durations of time upto 200 h. The FESEM, EDX and XRD analyses indicated that no significant changes occurred in the morphology, composition and structure of the membranes. Iodine adsorption on to the membrane surface was observed which got increased with the exposure duration as confirmed by secondary ion mass spectrometry studies. A packed bed membrane reactor (PBMR) assembly was fabricated with integration of in-house synthesized zeolite membrane and Pt-alumina catalyst for carrying out HI decomposition studies. The tube side was chosen as reaction zone and the shell side as the permeation zone. The HI decomposition experiments were carried out for different values of temperature and feed flow rates. DDR zeolite based PBMR was found to enhance the single-pass conversion of HI up to similar to 95%. The results indicate that for achieving optimal performance of PBMR, it should be operated with space velocities of 0.2 -0.3 s(-1) and temperature in the range of 650 K-700 K with permeate side vacuum of 0.12 kg/cm(2). It is believed that the in-house developed zeolite PBMR shall be a potential technology augmentation in making the IS thermochemical cycle energy efficient. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Polyethylene terephthalate track etched membrane for recovery of helium from helium-nitrogen system

In this work, for the first time, the authors report polyethylene terephthalate (PET) track-etched membrane fabrication and detailed quantitative parametric studies for its application in He–N2 separation. The study also covers theoretical studies to understand the irradiation of PET film with ions as well as the contribution of gas flow domains, which is attempted for the first time. Monte Carlo simulations were carried out using the FLUKA code to evaluate the dose deposited by the ions in the PET film and the displacement per atom (DPA). The distribution of absorbed dose in the film as a function of thickness, the mean absorbed dose as a function of ion energy, and DPA at various depths in the film was determined using these simulations. The range of various ion beams was also calculated using the SRIM code. The effect of incident energy of irradiation beam (Si: 70 and 90 MeV and Cl: 84, 100 and 115 MeV) and etching parameters like concentration of NaOH, temperature, UV radiation, and ultrasonication on the control and irradiated polymer films (~25 μm thickness) were studied. Gas permeation studies of in-house synthesized track etched membrane (optimum) were carried out and a promising He/N2 selectivity of ~2.4 was achieved. The results confirmed that the membranes can have a potential application in the separation of He from natural gas

Influence of Crop Geometry, Fruit Thinning and Nutrient Management on Yield and Yield -related Attributes of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb.)

The present experiment was carried out during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in Jorhat, Assam with the objective to optimize the planting density for maximum yield and yield related attributes. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block Design with 3 factors viz. spacing, fruit thinning and INM (Integrated nutrient management) with three replications and the data of individual years were subjected to pooled analysis. The spacing levels were D1 (2.5m x 2m), D2 (1.5m x 1m) and D3 (1mx 1m) where F1 (no thinning), F2 (Thinning up-to 1 fruits /primary vine) and F3 (Thinning up-to2 fruits/primary vine) were the fruit thinning levels. A total of 4 INM treatments were given i.e. N1 (100% RDF), N2 (50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM), N3 (50% RDF + 50% RDN through vermicompost) and N4 (50% RDF + 25% RDN through vermicompost + 25% RDN through FYM). The treatments significantly influenced the various parameters except a few. The experiment's findings showed that thinning the fruit and increasing the spacing between them had a favorable effect on the watermelon's growth and yield-related characteristics. Additionally, integrated nutrient management and fruit thinning at level F2 enhanced the watermelon's growth, yield, and quality metrics. Among the levels, N3 (50% RDF + 50% RDN through vemicompost was found to be the best