Influence of active packaging on quality attributes of dried wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) arils during storage

Wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is the only wild fruit of foothills of Himalaya which has got commercial importance in North India because of the high acidic nature of its arils. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate best packaging material for storage of mechanical cabinet dried wild pomegranate arils. The freshlyextracted arils were pre-treated to check the browning and dried in mechanical cabinet drier at 60 + 2 oC. Dried arils packed in different packaging material with or without moisture absorbers (salt or sugar sachet) were stored under ambient conditions (18 to 28 oC) for 6 months. Although the slight changes in quality attributes of dried arils during storage were observed but the arils packed in Aluminium Laminated Pouch (ALP) containing salt (humectant) showed minimum increase in moisture (8.82 %), non enzymatic browning (0.05 OD), hydroxy methyl furfural (2.85 ppm), furfurals (20.11 ppb) and retained highest amount of titratable acidity (10.92 %), total sugars (24.20 %), ascorbic acid (11.75 mg/100g), anthocyanins (30.81 mg/100g) and phenols (112.38 mg/100g) among all packaging material. So, ALP can be used as a packaging material for the packaging of dried arils (anardana, Indian spice) on commercial scale. Putting of moisture absorber along with the arils inside the pouch as an active packaging system will be an additional advantage to retain the quality of anardana during storage

A Constitutive Modeling and Experimental Effect of Shock Wave on the Microstructural Sub-strengthening of Granular Copper

Micro-sized copper powder (99.95%; O≤0.3) has been shock-processed with explosives of high detonation velocities of the order of 7.5km/s to observe the structural and microstructural sub-strengthening. Axisymmetric shock-consolidation technique has been used to obtain conglomerates of granular Cu. The technique involves the cylindrical compaction system wherein the explosive-charge is in direct proximity with the powder whereas the other uses indirect shock pressure with die-plunger geometry. Numeric simulations have been performed on with Eulerian code dynamics. The simulated results show a good agreement with the experimental observation of detonation parameters like detonation velocity, pressure, particle velocity and shock pressure in the reactive media. A pin contactor method has been utilized to calculate the detonation pressure experimentally. Wide angled x-ray diffraction studies reveal that the crystalline structure (FCC) of the shocked specimen matches with the un-shocked specimen. Field emissive scanning electron microscopic examination of the compacted specimens show a good sub-structural strengthening and complement the theoretical considerations. Laser diffraction based particle size analyzer also points towards the reduced particle size of the shock-processed specimen under high detonation velocities. Micro-hardness tests conducted under variable loads of 0.1kg, 0.05kg and 0.025kg force with diamond indenter optical micrographs indicate a high order of micro-hardness of the order of 159Hv. Nitrogen pycnometry used for the density measurement of the compacts shows that a compacted density of the order of 99.3% theoretical mean density has been achieved

Systematic study of proton-neutron pairing correlations in the nuclear shell model

A shell-model study of proton-neutron pairing in $2p1f$ shell nuclei using a parametrized hamiltonian that includes deformation and spin-orbit effects as well as isoscalar and isovector pairing is reported. By working in a shell-model framework we are able to assess the role of the various modes of proton-neutron pairing in the presence of nuclear deformation without violating symmetries. Results are presented for $^{44}$Ti, $^{45}$Ti, $^{46}$Ti, $^{46}$V and $^{48}$Cr to assess how proton-neutron pair correlations emerge under different scenarios. We also study how the presence of a one-body spin-obit interaction affects the contribution of the various pairing modes.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure

Role of Diatoms in Diagnosis of Death Due to Drowning: Case Studies

Background: The most frequent use of diatoms in forensic science is the diagnosis of death due to drowning. The basic principle of diatom test in drowning is based on the inference that diatoms are present in medium where drowning took place and the inhaled water enters the alveolar spaces of lungs and penetrates from the alveoli into the blood circulation, thus microscopic unicellular algae called diatoms get transported to different organs of body. The diatoms found inside the body of drowned victim may serve as corroborative or even conclusive evidence to support the diagnosis of death. It can be ascertained whether the drowning is ante-mortem or post-mortem.Case Report: The present study was conducted in Biology and Serology Division of State Forensic Science Laboratory, Shimla Hills Junga, Himachal Pradesh, India. Water sample from putative site of drowning as well as hard bones (sternum, clavicle, femur), soft tissue (spleen, liver, kidney) and peritoneal/pleural cavity fluid after post-mortem examination of dead body was sent to the Laboratory for the detection of diatoms. Cases were opened and processed following standard methodology. In the present study, 17 cases of drowning were examined for detection of diatoms. Out of seventeen cases, there were 15 males and 2 females aged between 11-63 years. 12 cases revealed the presence of diatoms (death due to drowning) while 5 were found to be negative (death other than drowning).Conclusion: The present study revealed the importance of diatom test in forensic investigation and diagnosis of death due to drowning. Diatom test proved very significant application in forensic science in solving the drowning cases

Economic Efficiency Measure of Induction Motors for Industrial Applications

This paper, introduced an expression of Economic Efficiency Measure (EEM) to permit quick evaluation for replacement of faulty induction motor with alternative (new or refurbished motor) for lowest life-cycle cost based on efficiency and rated-load conditions. This approach, simplifies the process for evaluating the energy efficiency to mere proportionate factor called as EEM. During the operating phase, the motor losses correspond to extra energy consumption, based on various parameters like motor operating conditions, operating hours, operating costs, fault factor, depreciation factor and fixed costs.  The approach is effective in addressing the global issue on replacement of the faulty motor that needs a comprehensive analysis and mathematical expression. Compared to other alternatives the EEM provides a simple but effective and reliable means to asses, the feasibility of replacing or refurbishing the faulty motor. A detail analysis here would establish how much the present approach is effective in determining the replacement for a faulty induction motor either by a new one or refurbished one of corresponding rating

In-situ integrated processing and characterization of thin films of high temperature superconductors, dielectrics and semiconductors by MOCVD

In this strategy of depositing the basic building blocks of superconductors, semiconductors, and dielectric having common elements, researchers deposited superconducting films of Y-Ba-Cu-O, semiconductor films of Cu2O, and dielectric films of BaF2 and Y2O3 by metal oxide chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). By switching source materials entering the chamber, and by using direct writting capability, complex device structures like three-terminal hybrid semiconductors/superconductors transistors can be fabricated. The Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting thin films on BaF2/YSZ substrates show a T(sub c) of 80 K and are textured with most of the grains having their c-axis or a-axis perpendicular to the substrate. Electrical characteristics as well as structural characteristics of superconductors and related materials obtained by x-ray defraction, electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis are discussed

In-situ integrated processing and characterization of thin films of high temperature superconductors, dielectrics and semiconductors by MOCVD

In this strategy of depositing the basic building blocks of superconductors, semiconductors, and dielectrics having common elements, researchers deposited superconducting films of Y-Ba-Cu-O, semiconductor films of Cu2O, and dielectric films of BaF2 and Y2O3 by metal oxide chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). By switching source materials entering the chamber, and by using direct writing capability, complex device structures like three terminal hybrid semiconductor/superconductor transistors can be fabricated. The Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting thin films on BaF2/YSZ substrates show a T(sub c) of 80 K and are textured with most of the grains having their c-axis or a-axis perpendicular to the substrate. Electrical characteristics as well as structural characteristics of superconductors and related materials obtained by x-ray deffraction, electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis are discussed

Exchange bias in GeMn nanocolumns: the role of surface oxidation

We report on the exchange biasing of self-assembled ferromagnetic GeMn nanocolumns by GeMn-oxide caps. The x-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of this surface oxide shows a multiplet fine structure that is typical of the Mn2+ valence state in MnO. A magnetization hysteresis shift |HE|~100 Oe and a coercivity enhancement of about 70 Oe have been obtained upon cooling (300-5 K) in a magnetic field as low as 0.25 T. This exchange bias is attributed to the interface coupling between the ferromagnetic nanocolumns and the antiferromagnetic MnO-like caps. The effect enhancement is achieved by depositing a MnO layer on the GeMn nanocolumns.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure