Open-circuit potential-time transient of the magnesium anode

On interrupting polarisation, the magnesium anode exhibits a negative overshoot in potential followed by a slow recovery to a steady state value. A model has been proposed to explain the opencircuit potential-time transient in terms of a spontaneous passivation of the metal and the consequent changes in the corrosion potential. Theoretical expressions have been derived for the timedependence of the open-circuit electrode potential. Calculated, potential-time curves thus obtained are in qualitative agreement with experimental data. A possible application of this phenomenon to develop non-destructive quality control tests of Mg, Li and Al-based dry cells has been pointed out.

Crystal structure of the amino acid-vitamin complex lysine pantothenatestar, open

L-Lysine d-pantothenate, a 1:1 amino acid-vitamin complex, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with Image Full-size image (1K) .The structure has been solved by direct methods and refined to an R value of 0.053 for 1868 observed reflections. The zwitterionic positively charged lysine molecules in the structure assume the sterically most favourable conformation with an all-trans side chain trans to the α-carboxylate group. The pantothenate anion has a somewhat folded conformation stabilised by an intramolecular bifurcated hydrogen bond. The unlike molecules aggregate into separate alternating layers. The molecules in the lysine layers form a head-to-tail sequence parallel to the a-axis. The interactions which hold the adjacent layers together include those between the side chain amino group of lysine and the carboxylate group in the pantothenate anion. The geometry of these interactions is such that each carboxylate group is sandwiched between two amino groups in a periodic arrangement of alternating carboxylate and amino groups.

Ratio of Diffusion Coefficient to Mobility for Electrons in SF6-Air and Freon-Nitrogen Mixtures

The ratio of diffusion coefficient to mobility (D/¿) for electrons has been measured in SF6-air and freon-nitrogen mixtures for various concentrations of SF6 and freon in the mixtures over the range 140¿ E/p¿ 220 V.cm-1 - torr-1. In SF6-air mixtures, the values of D/¿ were always observed to lie intermediate between the values for the pure gases. However, in freon-nitrogen mixtures, with a small concentration (10 percent) of freon in the mixture, the values of D/¿ are found to lie above the boundaries determined by the pure gases. In this mixture, over the lower E/p range (140 to 190) the electrons appear to lose a large fraction of their energy by the excitation of the complex freon molecules, while at higher E/p values (200 to 240), the excitation and consequent deexcitation of nitrogen molecules and its metastables seem to cause an increased rate of ionization of freon molecules.

Catalyzed air oxidation for treatment of thiosalt effulents

Continuous slurry reactor runs of two to four weeks duration were carried out for catalyzed air oxidation of thiosalts under a variety of conditions using poly (4-vinylpyridine) - Cu (II) and quaternized poly (4-vinylpyridine) - Cu (II) catalysts. Results obtained indicate that these catalysts have high activity and relatively long-term catalyst stability for thiosalt waste streams of < 1000 ppm thiosalt level. Using 2% (w/w) slurries of the poly (4-vinylpyridine) Cu (II) catalyst, effective oxidation of 700 ppm S2O32− influent to an effluent of < 100 ppm total thio-salts can be carried out continuously for at least one month when operating at 20 to 30°C with solution flow rates of$˜1l/h and aeration of 1300 XXX/h using a two-stage reactor system comprised of 12 l reactors. At higher thiosalt influent levels (i.e. > 1600 ppm) increased reaction temperatures enable depletion to < 100 ppm thiosalt effluent levels for up to one week of continuous operation. The catalysts deactivate much more readily at these higher influent levels as a result of greater copper losses and appreciable adsorption of S2O32− and S4O62−. The behaviour of continuous slurry reactors employed in the experimental studies, by use of batch reaction data for the poly (4-vinylpyridine) Cu (II) catalyzed oxidation of thiosalts, can be modelled successfully. Quaternized poly (4-vinylpyridine) Cu (II) catalyst has good long-term stability and copper losses are very low. The poly (4-vinylpyridine) Cu (II) catalyst, however, is susceptible to appreciable oxidation of the polymer matrix on long-term usage. This oxidation of the polymer matrix results in a substantial loss in the activity of the regenerated catalyst.

Velocity Distribution in Smooth Rectangular Open Channels-Closure

Abstract is not available.

Ionization and breakdown in sf6-air and freon-nitrogen mixtures

The sparking potentials and swarm coefficients (ionization and attachment coefficients) have been measured in sulphurhexafluoride- air and freon-nitrogen mixtures over the range of 110 ¿ E/p ¿ 240 V cm-1 torr-l and gas pressures varying between 1 and 20 torr, at 20°C. Addition of strongly attaching salphur-hexafluoride and freon gases increased the sparking potentials and the rate of increase of the attachment coefficient with increasing percentage of the strongly attaching gases in the mixtures was much larger than the rate of change of the first ionization coefficient.

Nonlinear Control Design for an Air-breathing Engine with State Estimation

A nonlinear control design approach is presented in this paper for a challenging application problem of ensuring robust performance of an air-breathing engine operating at supersonic speed. The primary objective of control design is to ensure that the engine produces the required thrust that tracks the commanded thrust as closely as possible by appropriate regulation of the fuel flow rate. However, since the engine operates in the supersonic range, an important secondary objective is to ensure an optimal location of the shock in the intake for maximum pressure recovery with a sufficient margin. This is manipulated by varying the throat area of the nozzle. The nonlinear dynamic inversion technique has been successfully used to achieve both of the above objectives. In this problem, since the process is faster than the actuators, independent control designs have also been carried out for the actuators as well to assure the satisfactory performance of the system. Moreover, an extended Kalman Filter based state estimation design has been carried out both to filter out the process and sensor noises as well as to make the control design operate based on output feedback. Promising simulation results indicate that the proposed control design approach is quite successful in obtaining robust performance of the air-breathing system.

A Modified Dubins Method for Optimal Path Planning of a Miniature Air Vehicle Converging to a Straight Line Path

This paper presents a Dubins model based strategy to determine the optimal path of a Miniature Air Vehicle (MAV), constrained by a bounded turning rate, that would enable it to fly along a given straight line, starting from an arbitrary initial position and orientation. The method is then extended to meet the same objective in the presence of wind which has a magnitude comparable to the speed of the MAV. We use a modification of the Dubins' path method to obtain the complete optimal solution to this problem in all its generality.

Partial Integrated Guidance and Control of Surface-to-Air Interceptors for High Speed Targets

An important limitation of the existing IGC algorithms, is that they do not explicitly exploit the inherent time scale separation that exist in aerospace vehicles between rotational and translational motions and hence can be ineffective. To address this issue, a two-loop partial integrated guidance and control (PIGC) scheme has been proposed in this paper. In this design, the outer loop uses a recently developed, computationally efficient, optimal control formulation named as model predictive static programming. It gives the commanded pitch and yaw rates whereas necessary roll-rate command is generated from a roll-stabilization loop. The inner loop tracks the outer loop commands using the Dynamic inversion philosophy. Uncommonly, Six-Degree of freedom (Six-DOF) model is used directly in both the loops. This intelligent manipulation preserves the inherent time scale separation property between the translational and rotational dynamics, and hence overcomes the deficiency of current IGC designs, while preserving its benefits. Comparative studies of PIGC with one loop IGC and conventional three loop design were carried out for engaging incoming high speed target. Simulation studies demonstrate the usefulness of this method.

Modified ILMI algorithm for practical PID/PD implementation on a Micro Air Vehicle

This paper extends the iterative linear matrix inequality algorithm (ILMI) for systems having non-ideal PI, PD and PID implementations. The new algorithm uses the practical implementation of the feedback blocksto form the equivalent static output feedback plant. The LMI based synthesis techniques are used in the algorithm to design a multi-loop, multi-objective fixed structure control. The benefits of such a control design technique are brought out by applying it to the lateral stabilizing and tracking feedback control problem of a 30cm wingspan micro air vehicle.

Hierarchical modelling of acclimatory processesstar, open

The term acclimation has been used with several connotations in the field of acclimatory physiology. An attempt has been made, in this paper, to define precisely the term “acclimation” for effective modelling of acclimatory processes. Acclimation is defined with respect to a specific variable, as cumulative experience gained by the organism when subjected to a step change in the environment. Experimental observations on a large number of variables in animals exposed to sustained stress, show that after initial deviation from the basal value (defined as “growth”), the variables tend to return to basal levels (defined as “decay”). This forms the basis for modelling biological responses in terms of their growth and decay. Hierarchical systems theory as presented by Mesarovic, Macko & Takahara (1970) facilitates modelling of complex and partially characterized systems. This theory, in conjunction with “growth-decay” analysis of biological variables, is used to model temperature regulating system in animals exposed to cold. This approach appears to be applicable at all levels of biological organization. Regulation of hormonal activity which forms a part of the temperature regulating system, and the relationship of the latter with the “energy” system of the animal of which it forms a part, are also effectively modelled by this approach. It is believed that this systematic approach would eliminate much of the current circular thinking in the area of acclimatory physiology.

Combustion of polystyrene spheres in air

Mass histories of polystyrene spheres (initial diameter 2–5 mm) burning in simulated air have been obtained by quenching combustion after variable times and weighing the residues. The flame positions and temperature histories of the spheres have also been recorded. A simple analytical model — an extension of quasi-steady combustion theory of liquid droplets — is shown to describe the combustion process reasonably well. Though the combustion process is broadly similar to that of liquid spheres, flame diameter is relatively smaller, particle temperature higher, and decomposition reactions occur in the condensed phase.

Expansion of high pressure gas into air - A more realistic blast wave model

In this paper, we consider a more realistic model of a spherical blast wave of moderate strength. An arbitrary number of terms for the series solution in each of the regions behind the main shock - the expansion region, the nearly uniform region outside the main expansion and the region between the contact surface and the main shock, have been generated and matched across the boundaries. We then study the convergence of the solution by using Pade approximation. It constitutes a genuine analytic solution for a moderately strong explosion, which, however, does not involve a secondary shock. The pressure distribution behind the shock however shows some significant changes in the location of the tail of the rarefaction and the interface, in comparison to the planar problem. The theory developed for the spherical blasts is also extended to cylindrical blasts. The results are compared with the numerical solution.

A new open-framework zinc arsenate [C4N3H16](2)[Zn-5(AsO4)(4)(HAsO4)(2)]

A three-dimensional zinc arsenate with an interrupted zeolitic framework (-IIO), [C4N3H16](2)[Zn-5(AsO4)(4)(HAsO4)(2)], I has been synthesized solvothermally. The structure is built up from ZnO4, AsO4 and HAsO4 tetrahedral units connected alternatively through their vertices forming the 3-D structure possessing one-dimensional channels bound by 10 T-atoms (T = Zn, As), The framework density of the structure is 10.4 T-atoms which indicates considerable openness in its structure. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Highly biocompatible and water-dispersible, amine functionalized magnetite nanoparticles, prepared by a low temperature, air-assisted polyol process: a new platform for bio-separation and diagnostics

A low temperature polyol process, based on glycolaldehyde mediated partial reduction of FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O at 120 degrees C in the presence of sodium acetate as an alkali source and 2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)-bis-(ethylamine) as an electrostatic stabilizer has been used for the gram-scale preparation of biocompatible, water-dispersible, amine functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) with an average diameter of 6 +/- 0.75 nm. With a reasonably high magnetization (37.8 e.m.u.) and amine groups on the outer surface of the nanoparticles, we demonstrated the magnetic separation and concentration implications of these ultrasmall particles in immunoassay. MRI studies indicated that these nanoparticles had the desired relaxivity for T-2 contrast enhancement in vivo. In vitro biocompatibility, cell uptake and MR imaging studies established that these nanoparticles were safe in clinical dosages and by virtue of their ultrasmall sizes and positively charged surfaces could be easily internalized by cancer cells. All these positive attributes make these functional nanoparticles a promising platform for further in vitro and in vivo evaluations.