Czochralski crystal growth: Modeling study

The modeling study of Czochralski (Cz) crystal growth is reported. The approach was to relate in a quantitative manner, using models based on first priniciples, crystal quality to operating conditions and geometric variables. The finite element method is used for all calculations

Hydrogen Bonding Interaction between 1-Propanol and Acrylic Esters in Non-polar Solvents: An FTIR Study

The association between 1-propanol and acrylic esters (methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate) in non-polar solvents, viz. n-heptane, CCl4, and benzene has been investigated by means of FTIR spectroscopy. The formation constants of the 1:1 complexes have been calculated using Nash’s method. The values of the formation constant and the Gibbs energy vary with ester chain length, which suggests that the strengths of the intermolecularOH…O=Cbonds are dependent on the alkyl group of the acrylic ester and the results show that the proton accepting ability of acrylic esters is in the order methyl methacrylate < ethyl methacrylate < butyl methacrylate. The results also show a significant dependence of the association constant upon the solvent used. The solvent effect on the hydrogen bond equilibria is discussed in terms of specific interactions between the solute and the solvent.KEYWORDS: FTIR spectroscopy, acrylic esters, hydrogen bonding, solvent effects

Effect of N-bromosuccinimide-modification of tyrosine side chains of cardiotoxin II of the Indian cobra on biological activity

The essential role of tyrosine residue(s) of cardiotoxin II in the biological activity of the toxin was evaluated using N-bromosuccinimide. N-bromosuccinimide effected oxidation of the tyrosine residues in cardiotoxin II with enhancement in absorbance at 260 nm. The influence of various solvent media such as acetate-formate buffer (pH 4.0), 0.01 N H2SO4 (pH 2.0) and Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5) on oxidation of tyrosine residues was exa mined. In comparison with 0.01 N H2S O4, acetate-formate buffer could prevent secondary oxidations as revealed by lower consumption of oxidant, N-bromosuccinimide, to achieve oxidation. In Tris-HCl buffer oxidation of tyrosine did not take place effectively. N-iodo-succinimide caused only limited oxidation as evident from minor increase in absorbance at 260 nm. N-chlorosuccinimide was completely ineffective. Oxidation of cardiotoxin II with 3.75 equivalents of N-bromosuccinimide tyrosine residue led to complete loss of lethal activity. However, the derivative retained the ability to protect bacterial protoplasts from lysis in solutions of low tonicity. Unlike cardiotoxin II oxidized with N-chlorosuccinimide (50 equivalents/mol of toxin) which retained lethal activity as well as the ability to protect protoplasts from lysis, performic acid-oxidized toxin had lost both the activities

Experimental set-up for investigation of fault diagnosis of a centrifugal pump

Centrifugal pumps are complex machines which can experience different types of fault. Condition monitoring can be used in centrifugal pump fault detection through vibration analysis for mechanical and hydraulic forces. Vibration analysis methods have the potential to be combined with artificial intelligence systems where an automatic diagnostic method can be approached. An automatic fault diagnosis approach could be a good option to minimize human error and to provide a precise machine fault classification. This work aims to introduce an approach to centrifugal pump fault diagnosis based on artificial intelligence and genetic algorithm systems. An overview of the future works, research methodology and proposed experimental setup is presented and discussed. The expected results and outcomes based on the experimental work are illustrated

മത്സ്യപോഷണവും തീററയുല്പാദനവും (Fish nutrition and feed production)

Man began to think of fish culture when he realised that the oceans and other waterbodies could not provide sufficient fish to meet the demand of increasing population. This led to the beginning of studies on the reproduction and nutritional requirements of different species of fish. Fish that grow in natural waters get their food from their environment. They move in the sea, lake or river in search of food and favourable conditions for growth and reproduction. When fish are stocked in ponds and farms they have to get additional supply of nutrients fi*om external sources

Gibbs energies of formation of intermetallic phases in the systems Pt-Mg, Pt-Ca, and Pt-Ba and some applications

The standard Gibbs energies of formation of platinum-rich intermetallic compounds in the systems Pt-Mg, Pt-Ca, and Pt-Ba have been measured in the temperature range of 950 to 1200 K using solid-state galvanic cells based on MgF2, CaF2, and BaF2 as solid electrolytes. The results are summarized by the following equations: ΔG° (MgPt7) = -256,100 + 16.5T (±2000) J/mol ΔG° (MgPt3) = -217,400 + 10.7T (±2000) J/mol ΔG° (CaPt5) = -297,500 + 13.0T (±5000) J/mol ΔG° (Ca2Pt7) = -551,800 + 22.3T (±5000) J/mol ΔG° (CaPt2) = -245,400 + 9.3T (±5000) J/mol ΔG° (BaPt5) = -238,700 + 8.1T (±4000) J/mol ΔG° (BaPt2) = -197,300 + 4.0T (±4000) J/mol where solid platinum and liquid alkaline earth metals are selected as the standard states. The relatively large error estimates reflect the uncertainties in the auxiliary thermodynamic data used in the calculation. Because of the strong interaction between platinum and alkaline earth metals, it is possible to reduce oxides of Group ILA metals by hydrogen at high temperature in the presence of platinum. The alkaline earth metals can be recovered from the resulting intermetallic compounds by distillation, regenerating platinum for recycling. The platinum-slag-gas equilibration technique for the study of the activities of FeO, MnO, or Cr2O3 in slags containing MgO, CaO, or BaO is feasible provided oxygen partial pressure in the gas is maintained above that corresponding to the coexistence of Fe and "FeO.

Design of a composite filter realizable on practical spatial light modulators

Hybrid optical correlator systems use two spatial light modulators (SLM's), one at the input plane and the other at the filter plane. Currently available SLM's such as the deformable mirror device (DMD) and liquid crystal television (LCTV) SLM's exhibit arbitrarily constrained operating characteristics. The pattern recognition filters designed with the assumption that the SLM's have ideal operating characteristic may not behave as expected when implemented on the DMD or LCTV SLM's. Therefore it is necessary to incorporate the SLM constraints in the design of the filters. In this report, an iterative method is developed for the design of an unconstrained minimum average correlation energy (MACE) filter. Then using this algorithm a new approach for the design of a SLM constrained distortion invariant filter in the presence of input SLM is developed. Two different optimization algorithms are used to maximize the objective function during filter synthesis, one based on the simplex method and the other based on the Hooke and Jeeves method. Also, the simulated annealing based filter design algorithm proposed by Khan and Rajan is refined and improved. The performance of the filter is evaluated in terms of its recognition/discrimination capabilities using computer simulations and the results are compared with a simulated annealing optimization based MACE filter. The filters are designed for different LCTV SLM's operating characteristics and the correlation responses are compared. The distortion tolerance and the false class image discrimination qualities of the filter are comparable to those of the simulated annealing based filter but the new filter design takes about 1/6 of the computer time taken by the simulated annealing filter design

Growth characteristics of certain estuarine phytoplankters

The growth constants, mean generation time, chlorophyll in relation to . cell numbers and 4 uptake have been studied in a few unialgal cultures of selected phytoplankters isolated from Cochin backwaters. Highest growth constant and lowest mean generation time are obtained during the exponential growth phase. The changes taking place in the growth kinetics on varying. concentrations of essential nutrients have also been incorporated