Showing papers by "Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad published in 2011"

Chitosan–silver oxide nanocomposite film: Preparation and antimicrobial activity

Abstract: The chitosan–silver oxide encapsulated nanocomposite film was prepared by solution casting method. The prepared film was characterized by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal studies, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The elemental composition of the film was studied by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). The antibacterial activity of the composite film against pathogenic bacteria viz. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was measured by agar diffusion method. Our observations suggest that chitosan as biomaterial based nanocomposite film containing silver oxide has an excellent antibacterial ability for food packaging applications.

Multilayer perceptrons and radial basis function neural network methods for the solution of differential equations: A survey

Abstract: Since neural networks have universal approximation capabilities, therefore it is possible to postulate them as solutions for given differential equations that define unsupervised errors. In this paper, we present a wide survey and classification of different Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network techniques, which are used for solving differential equations of various kinds. Our main purpose is to provide a synthesis of the published research works in this area and stimulate further research interest and effort in the identified topics. Here, we describe the crux of various research articles published by numerous researchers, mostly within the last 10 years to get a better knowledge about the present scenario.

Integration of Kano’s Model into quality function deployment (QFD)

Abstract: Viability of a product or service in the market depends upon the satisfaction that it can extend to its customers through quality. Quality function deployment (QFD) is a tool that gathers voice of customer (VoC) and inducting the expected features in the final product. It is also desirable that the practitioners of QFD must extend due importance to latent expectations of the customers, which in turn may fulfill overall customer satisfaction for a product or service. Kano et al. (J Jpn Soc Qual Control, 14:39–48, 1984; 1996) and Kano (2001) have suggested a method to identify the different categories of requirements through customer responses. Based on the QFD and Kano model analysis, a function has been proposed to adjust the traditional improvement ratio (Tan and Shen, Total Qual Manag 11:1141–1151, 2000) for each product or service attribute to recognize the importance of a attribute, which can be helpful in developing a product or service in such a manner that maximum customer satisfaction can be achieved. The proposed methodology has been illustrated using customer survey data.

Alcohol-sensing characteristics of spray deposited ZnO nano-particle thin films

Abstract: ZnO nano-particle thin films were deposited on cleaned glass substrates by spray pyrolysis technique using the precursor solution of zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH 3 COO) 2 ·2H 2 O] Structural analyses and surface morphology of the resulting films were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) XRD analyses confirm that the films are polycrystalline zinc oxide, possessing hexagonal wurtzite structure with crystallite size ∼25 nm The SEM micrograph of the film shows a good uniformity and a dense surface having spherical-shaped grains Alcohol sensing characteristics of the deposited films have been investigated for various concentrations of methanol, ethanol and propan-2-ol in air at different operating temperatures At 150 ppm concentration, the film shows maximum response (852%) to propan-2-ol at the operating temperature of 250 °C; whereas at the same concentration 150 ppm, the maximum responses to methanol and ethanol at 300 °C are observed to be 758% and 524%, respectively Also, the film exhibits selective high response to propan-2-ol, followed by ethanol and methanol, respectively at each operating temperature up to 275 °C This selectivity is more pronounced in the region of lower operating temperatures and concentrations A possible reaction mechanism of alcohol sensing has been proposed

Grid Interface of Wind Power With Large Split-Winding Alternator Using Cascaded Multilevel Inverter

Abstract: In this paper, a wind energy conversion system based on a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter (CHBMLI) topology has been proposed to be used for the grid interface of large split-winding alternators (SWAs). A new method has been suggested for the generation of reference currents for the voltage source inverter (VSI) depending upon the available wind power. The CHBMLI has been used as a VSI and operated in a current control mode in order to achieve the objectives of real power injection and load compensation (power factor correction, load balancing, and harmonic compensation) based on the proposed reference-generation scheme. The field excitation control of SWA provides a single means to vary the dc-link voltages of all the CHBs simultaneously and proportionately. The equal distribution of switching stress and power losses among H-bridge cells, reduction in their power ratings, and high quality of inverter output makes the proposed arrangement more efficient. The closed-loop performance of the VSI has been shown to be adequate and fully achieves the control objectives, i.e., grid interface of distributed energy resource (wind) in addition to load compensation. The simulation studies on the proposed scheme have been obtained through the PSCAD/EMTDC software.

Dumbbell shaped nickel nanocrystals synthesized by a laser induced fragmentation method

Abstract: Dumbbell shaped nickel nanoparticles have been synthesized for the first time by laser induced fragmentation of bulk nickel powder in aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate. The focused output of the third harmonic from a nanosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at 35 mJ/pulse energy was used for the photo-fragmentation of micron size particles suspended in 50 mM aqueous medium. Nickel anisotropic nanocrystals have been grown by recrystallisation of nickel particles due to laser plasma generated in sodium dodecyl sulfate solution. The Vibrating Sample Magnetometer measurements of dumbbell shaped nickel nanostructure show their good ferromagnetic nature. The mechanism of the synthesis of nanostructure through melting and fragmentation has been also discussed.

E-Governance challenges and cloud benefits

Abstract: The worldwide revolution in Internet is changing our lives in terms of the way we work, learn and interact. These changes naturally should reflect the way government functions in terms of the organization of the government, its relationship with its citizens, institutions and businesses and cooperation with other governments. E-Governance, especially in developing countries, is looked upon as a means to change the very concept of governance resulting in empowerment of the citizens and increased transparency in public dealings by the governments; increased efficiencies in delivery of public goods is an inherent underlying assumption. Government aims to deliver more interactive services to citizens and businesses through E-Governance. For this, cloud computing may lead to significant cost savings. Cloud computing permits to uniformly cover the whole country with e-government solutions, independently of divergence of local administrative units that may be better or worse prepared to provide e-services. Service-oriented architecture facilitates provision of compound services covering whole customer processes, where a customer may be a citizen or an enterprise. And also a analysis of cloud computing and its application in the context of e-government.

Dual use of PZT patches as sensors in global dynamic and local electromechanical impedance techniques for structural health monitoring

Abstract: In this article, a new approach is proposed to effectively detect the initiation and progression of structural damage by combining the global dynamic and the local electromechanical impedance (EMI) techniques, using the same set of surface-bonded piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) patches as sensors. The PZT patches are used to determine the natural frequencies and the strain mode shapes of the structure (for use in the global dynamic technique) as well as to acquire the electromechanical admittance signature (for use in the EMI technique) to facilitate an improved damage assessment. Occurrence and location of the incipient damage are determined using the EMI technique, whereas for moderate to severe damages, the location and the severity are arrived at through the global dynamic technique. Finally, damage severity is determined in terms of the original stiffness of structure using the strain mode shapes directly determined using the PZT patches. The proposed technique is illustrated using two specimens—a 4-m lo...

Chitosan Aerogels Exhibiting High Surface Area for Biomedical Application: Preparation, Characterization, and Antibacterial Study

Abstract: The objective of the present work is to improve the surface area of aerogel via supercritical carbon dioxide (sc · CO2) treatment and thus to obtain the chitosan derivative. The resulting mesoporous material exhibits the typical characteristics of aerogels such as high porosity and high surface area. The aerogels were characterized using FTIR, SEM, TEM, and thermal analysis. The specific surface areas and porosities of aerogels were determined using N2 adsorption. The antibacterial assays were done using E. coli. The prepared chitosan aerogels show important properties such as biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and antibacterial activity, making them suitable for biomedical applications.

Ag/PVA nanocomposites: optical and thermal dimensions

Abstract: A single-step synthesis of homogenous Ag/PVA nanocomposites is carried out and characterized by X-ray diffraction. A validation of the crystal information is established by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a homogenous mixing morphology is confirmed by SEM micrographs. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical absorption shows a red shift compared to bare Ag NPs. The degradation mechanisms are explained for both pristine PVA and Ag/PVA nanocomposites, aided by the increase in thermal stability of the PVA support with an enthalpy change for each decomposition reaction.

Optimization of Cut Quality Characteristics during Nd:YAG Laser Straight Cutting of Ni-Based Superalloy Thin Sheet Using Grey Relational Analysis with Entropy Measurement

Abstract: This article presents application of a hybrid approach for the optimization of Nd:YAG laser straight cutting of Ni-based superalloy thin sheet with multiple performance characteristics. The approach first finds the experimental results using Taguchi-based experimental design. The designed experimental results are used in the grey relational analysis (GRA) for optimization of multiperformance characteristics simultaneously. The quality characteristics considered are average kerf taper (T a ) and average surface roughness (R a ) measured through Optical Measuring Microscope and Surface Roughness Tester, respectively. The essential process input parameters were identified as oxygen pressure, pulse width, pulse frequency, and cutting speed. The entropy measurement method is specially employed to evaluate the values of weights corresponding to each performance characteristics so that their relative significance can be properly described. The results of confirmation experiments verify that the proposed grey-bas...

Nanoparticle Based Drug Delivery System: Advantages and Applications

Abstract: There has been a considerable research interest in the area of drug delivery systems using nanoparticles. Nanostructured biomaterials have unique physicochemical properties such as ultra small and controllable size, large surface area to mass ratio, high reactivity and functionalizable structure. It alter and improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of various types of drug molecules that are capable of targeted delivery of both imaging agents and anticancer drugs and early detection of cancer lesions, determination of molecular signatures of the tumor by noninvasive imaging and, most importantly, molecular targeted cancer therapy. These properties can be applied on drug to overcoming some of the limitations in traditional therapeutics. They have been used in vivo to protect the drug entity in the systemic circulation, restrict access of the drug to the chosen sites and to deliver the drug at a controlled and sustained rate to the site of action, minimizes undesirable side effects of the drugs and allow for more efficient use of the drug. It should be present at appropriate concentrations at the target site, and it should not lose its activity or therapeutic efficacy while in circulation. Here, we review various aspects of nanoparticle formulation, characterization, effect of their characteristics and their applications in delivery of drug molecules, improving the targated delivery of therapeutic agents, the potential of nanomedicine, development of novel and more effective diagnostic and screening techniques to extend the limits of molecular diagnostics and challenges in synthesizing nanoparticle platforms for delivering various drugs.

Chitosan: A Promising Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Abstract: The contribution of chitosan as a scaffold material is quite significant in the field of tissue engineering, which is a multidisciplinary field of research and technology development requiring the involvement of chemists, physicists, chemi- cal engineers, biologists, cell-biologists etc to regenerate injured or damaged tissue The advantages of using chitosan as a three-dimensional scaffold for tissue engineering applications are due to its versatile physicochemical and biological properties Further, owing to its easy processability, it can be molded into the desired shape and size Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that chitosan is a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering scaffolds There is an enormous body of work already published in various journals on chitosan as a tissue engineering scaffold but, to our knowledge, this work has not yet been brought together in one chapter We have used our best efforts to accumulate the research work already done on chitosan in a single place so that chitosan researchers can easily find information and can therefore escalate their research activities This chapter high- lights different methods for the fabrication of scaffolds, the suitability of chitosan as a good scaffolding material, and its application as a scaffold for tissue engi- neering of bone, cartilage, skin, liver, corneal, vascular, nerve, and cardiac tissue

Evaluating effectiveness of a training programme with trainee reaction

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to deal with evaluation of different parameters of an induction programme conducted by a transmission and distribution major in India. The study aims to indicate which aspects of the training programme need to be emphasised when devising induction programmes for managers and non‐managers, and to ascertain whether there is any significant difference in their reactions.Design/methodology/approach – Evaluation has been done with the help of trainee reaction measured by a questionnaire. The statistical tools used include factor analysis to generate factors that influence trainee satisfaction and a t‐test to test the hypothesis that there will be a significant difference between managerial and non‐managerial levels in their satisfaction with different aspects of the programme.Findings – Factor analysis generated six factors, namely clarity of trainer, other facilities, venue of the programme, food served, practical application, and communication of trainer. The t‐test run on these fac...

A Publish/Subscribe Communication Infrastructure for VANET Applications

Abstract: Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) can be envisaged as the network of moving vehicles communicating in asynchronous and autonomous fashion. Efficient and scalable information dissemination is a major challenge due to the movement of vehicles which causes unpredictable changes in network topology. Publish/Subscribe communication paradigm provides decoupling in time, space and synchronization between communicating entities, making it most suitable for VANET like environments. In this paper, we propose our publish/subscribe framework for information dissemination in VANET. In our approach, we assumed a hybrid VANET consisting of stationary info-stations and moving vehicles where each vehicle can take the role of publisher, subscriber or broker. Every major crossing of city is equipped with stationary info-stations that act as ultimate place holders for publications and subscriptions. These info-stations are assumed to be connected to internet and form Distributed Hash Table (DHT) based broker overlay among themselves. They act as rendezvous point for publications and subscriptions and send matching publications to interested subscribers. Further, these info-stations also provide services for locating any vehicle in the network. Simulation results indicate that our approach performs well with increasing number of vehicles which suggests the applicability of our approach.

Design analysis of XOR (4T) based low voltage CMOS full adder circuit

Abstract: This paper presents a comparative study of highspeed, low-power and low voltage full adder circuits. Our approach is based on XOR-XNOR (4T) design full adder circuits combined in a single unit. This technique helps in reducing the power consumption and the propagation delay while maintaining low complexity of logic design. Simulation results illustrate the superiority of the designed adder circuits against the conventional CMOS, TG and Hybrid adder circuits in terms of power, delay and power delay product (PDP) at low voltage. Noise analysis shows designed full adder circuit's work at high frequency and high temperature satisfactorily. Simulation results reveal that the designed circuits exhibit lower PDP, more power efficiency and faster when compared to the available full adder circuits at low voltage. The design is implemented on UMC 0.18µm process models in Cadence Virtuoso Schematic Composer at 1.8 V single ended supply voltage and simulations are carried out on Spectre S.

Sensing of LPG with nanostructured zinc oxide thin films grown by spray pyrolysis technique

Abstract: Nanostructured zinc oxide thin films were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique using Zn(NO3)2·6H2O as the precursor solution. The resulting films were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to know crystal structure, size of crystallites and surface morphology. The films have been found to be polycrystalline zinc oxide, possessing hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure and nanocrystallite with grain size of approximately 30–35 nm. The LPG sensing performance of the films has been investigated at various concentrations of LPG in air at operating temperatures varying from 225 to 400 °C. At 325 °C the maximum responses of 46.3% and 48.9% have been observed, respectively, for concentrations of 0.8 and 1 vol% of LPG in air (1 vol% of LPG in air corresponds to 50% LEL of LPG in air). The recovery time has been found to be less than the response time for all concentrations of LPG. A possible reaction mechanism of LPG sensing has been proposed.

Model reduction of discrete interval system using dominant poles retention and direct series expansion method

Abstract: This paper presents a method for reduction of discrete interval system using Pade approximation. For a given high-order system, denominator of the reduced model is obtained by retaining dominant poles of the original system and the numerator is obtained by matching first r time moments of the system and its model. The time moments are calculated using novel method i.e. direct series expansion method. Numerical example is given to illustrate the procedure.

Levels of select organophosphates in human colostrum and mature milk samples in rural region of Faizabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Abstract: Introduction: Human colostrum and mature milk samples from rural mothers were separately screened for organophosphate pesticides (OPPs). The samples were assessed for the pollution load they are transmitting to the nursing infant to determine potential toxicity. The role of colostrum for toxicity monitoring was assessed in comparison to mature milk as it is the very first infant food. Materials and methods: The pesticides were quantified using a Gas Chromatograph equipped with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) and the results were further validated on GC linked with Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Results: A total of 33 samples were analyzed out of 40 samples collected. These samples were from 33 mothers. Out of these, 25 were colostrum samples and 8 were mature milk samples. Frequency percentage (N%) of organophosphates analyzed was highest for ethion (23.1% or 6/26) in colostrum and chlorpyrifos (50% or 4/8) in mature milk samples. Frequency percentage in colostrum...

An approach for agent modeling in manufacturing on JADE™ reactive architecture

Abstract: Java Agent DEvelopment framework (JADE™) is a leading platform for the development of agent-based systems that are complaint with Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents specifications. Due to the complexity, concurrency, and dynamic nature of manufacturing, it has been an important application of agent-based systems. Application of multi-agent concept in simulation leads to the agent-based simulation. Modeling the elements of manufacturing system (such as part, machine, and AGV) in reactive agent architecture is a better way of modeling for achieving discrete-event agent-based simulation. This paper focuses on modeling of different agents in manufacturing domain on JADE reactive architecture. Modeling of different agents on a shop floor in JADE reactive architecture led to the development of a simulator known as an agent-based shop floor simulator (ABSFSim). In the modeling process, different agents in the manufacturing domain have been identified by physical and functional decomposition. Internal architecture of individual agents is finalized based on their behavioral requirements. Modeling of the agents is an important development step of ABSFSim. A randomly generated sample manufacturing system has been used for testing and demonstration of ABSFSim. The modeling details provided in this paper are useful for development of agent-based systems in manufacturing domain as well as other discrete systems.