Texas A&M University

About: Texas A&M University is a education organization based out in College Station, Texas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 72169 authors who have published 164372 publications receiving 5764236 citations.

Stage of the Product Life Cycle, Business Strategy, and Business Performance

Abstract: This study empirically examines differences in strategic variables between stages of the product life cycle (PLC), as well as differences among the determinants of high performance across stages of the PLC. The results support the use of the PLC as a contingency variable during strategy formulation. Implications for increasing market share and ROI are discussed.

Condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of electrical machines-a review

Abstract: Research has picked up a fervent pace in the area of fault diagnosis of electrical machines. Like adjustable speed drives, fault prognosis has become almost indispensable. The manufacturers of these drives are now keen to include diagnostic features in the software to decrease machine down time and improve salability. Prodigious improvement in signal processing hardware and software has made this possible. Primarily, these techniques depend upon locating specific harmonic components in the line current, also known as motor current signature analysis (MCSA). These harmonic components are usually different for different types of faults. However with multiple faults or different varieties of drive schemes, MCSA can become an onerous task as different types of faults and time harmonics may end up generating similar signatures. Thus other signals such as speed, torque, noise, vibration etc., are also explored for their frequency contents. Sometimes, altogether different techniques such as thermal measurements, chemical analysis, etc., are also employed to find out the nature and the degree of the fault. Human involvement in the actual fault detection decision making is slowly being replaced by automated tools such as expert systems, neural networks, fuzzy logic based systems to name a few. Keeping in mind the need for future research, this review paper describes different types of faults and the signatures they generate and their diagnostics' schemes.

The bacterial signal indole increases epithelial-cell tight-junction resistance and attenuates indicators of inflammation

Abstract: Interkingdom signaling is established in the gastrointestinal tract in that human hormones trigger responses in bacteria; here, we show that the corollary is true, that a specific bacterial signal, indole, is recognized as a beneficial signal in intestinal epithelial cells. Our prior work has shown that indole, secreted by commensal Escherichia coli and detected in human feces, reduces pathogenic E. coli chemotaxis, motility, and attachment to epithelial cells. However, the effect of indole on intestinal epithelial cells is not known. Because intestinal epithelial cells are likely to be exposed continuously to indole, we hypothesized that indole may be beneficial for these cells, and investigated changes in gene expression with the human enterocyte cell line HCT-8 upon exposure to indole. Exposure to physiologically relevant amounts of indole increased expression of genes involved in strengthening the mucosal barrier and mucin production, which were consistent with an increase in the transepithelial resistance of HCT-8 cells. Indole also decreased TNF-α-mediated activation of NF-κB, expression of the proinflammatory chemokine IL-8, and the attachment of pathogenic E. coli to HCT-8 cells, as well as increased expression of the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10. The changes in transepithelial resistance and NF-κB activation were specific to indole: other indole-like molecules did not elicit a similar response. Our results are similar to those observed with probiotic strains and suggest that indole could be important in the intestinal epithelial cells response to gastrointestinal tract pathogens.

Catalysts for combustion of methane and lower alkanes

Abstract: The important greenhouse effect of methane (more than an order of magnitude greater than CO2) makes it essential to eliminate/control the methane emission from natural gas engines/power plants and petroleum industries. Catalytic combustion of methane is favored over homogeneous combustion, because the former greatly facilitates the oxidative destruction of methane. Moreover, use of catalysts for methane combustion in gas-turbines affords lower working temperatures (as compared to gas-fired turbines) and thermodynamically limits NOx (which is an extremely harmful environmental pollutant) emission. A large amount of work has been undertaken to develop catalysts both for controlling methane emission as well as for generating power in high temperature natural gas-turbines. This review will address the different issues related to the variety of catalysts which have been employed for methane/lower alkane combustion. Although all the related important aspects of the combustion catalysts will be addressed, greater emphasis will be placed on recent work in this field.