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Effect of particle stiffness on contact dynamics and rheology in a dense granular flow
No full textDense granular flows have been well described by the Bagnold rheology, even when the particles are in the multibody contact regime and the coordination number is greater than 1. This is surprising, because the Bagnold law should be applicable only in the instantaneous collision regime, where the time between collisions is much larger than the period of a collision. Here, the effect of particle stiffness on rheology is examined. It is found that there is a rheological threshold between a particle stiffness of 10(4)-10(5) for the linear contact model and 10(5)-10(6) for the Hertzian contact model above which Bagnold rheology ( stress proportional to square of the strain rate) is valid and below which there is a power-law rheology, where all components of the stress and the granular temperature are proportional to a power of the strain rate that is less then 2. The system is in the multibody contact regime at the rheological threshold. However, the contact energy per particle is less than the kinetic energy per particle above the rheological threshold, and it becomes larger than the kinetic energy per particle below the rheological threshold. The distribution functions for the interparticle forces and contact energies are also analyzed. The distribution functions are invariant with height, but they do depend on the contact model. The contact energy distribution functions are well fitted by Gamma distributions. There is a transition in the shape of the distribution function as the particle stiffness is decreased from 10(7) to 10(6) for the linear model and 10(8) to 10(7) for the Hertzian model, when the contact number exceeds 1. Thus, the transition in the distribution function correlates to the contact regime threshold from the binary to multibody contact regime, and is clearly different from the rheological threshold. An order-disorder transition has recently been reported in dense granular flows. The Bagnold rheology applies for both the ordered and disordered states, even though the rheological constants differ by orders of magnitude. The effect of particle stiffness on the order-disorder transition is examined here. It is found that when the particle stiffness is above the rheological threshold, there is an order-disorder transition as the base roughness is increased. The order-disorder transition disappears after the crossover to the soft-particle regime when the particle stiffness is decreased below the rheological threshold, indicating that the transition is a hard-particle phenomenon
Arabidopsis serine/threonine/tyrosine protein kinase phosphorylates oil body proteins that regulate oil content in the seeds
No full textProtein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification that can regulate the protein function. The current knowledge on the phosphorylation status of plant oil body (OB) proteins is inadequate. This present study identifies the distinct physiological substrates of Arabidopsis serine/threonine/tyrosine protein kinase (STYK) and its role in seed oil accumulation; the role of Arabidopsis OLE1, a major seed OB protein has also been elucidated. In vitro kinase assay followed by mass spectrometry identifies residue that are phosphorylated by STYK. Further, co-expression of OLE1 and STYK in yeast cells increases the cellular lipid levels and reduces the total lipid when OLE1 was replaced with OLE1(T166A). Moreover, in vivo experiments with OB isolated from wild-type and styk knock-out lines show the ability of STYK to phosphorylate distinct OB proteins. OLE1(T166A) mutant and Arabidopsis styk mutant demonstrate the significant reduction of its substrate phosphorylation. styk mutant line significantly reduces the amount of total seed oil as compared to wild-type seeds. Together, our results provide the evidences that Arabidopsis At2G24360 (STYK) is phosphorylating oil body proteins and the phosphorylation regulates the oil content in Arabidopsis seeds
Graphene Oxide Epoxy (GO-xy): GO as Epoxy Adhesive by Interfacial Reaction of Functionalities
No full textThe unique combination of layered structure and chemical moieties grants very interesting physiochemical properties to graphene oxide (GO). Functional groups such as epoxide, hydroxyl, and carboxyl are abundantly distributed along the hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms. The superior properties of GO and increased interfacial interaction with other compounds make them excellent filler materials in polymers such as epoxies for creating multifunctional composites. Alternatively, the presence of epoxide group on GO opens up the possibility of using it as the major epoxy matrix constituent rather than just as a filler material. In this work, the formation of GO-xy (cross-linked GO via the epoxide functionality) resin is reported by reaction of GO with polymercaptan-based hardener by completely eliminating the need for conventional epoxy component. Substituting epoxy with GO marks notable advance in preparing adhesive materials with high temperature stability
Bile Salt-Derived Eu3+ Organogel and Hydrogel: Water-Enhanced Luminescence of Eu3+ in a Gel Matrix
No full textEu3+ was found to form gel with cholate in methanol and comparative study was done with the hydrogel. Water is a well known quencher of Eu3+ luminescence, and its quenching rate constant is higher than that of MeOH. In a Eu3+ derived luminescent material, therefore, the replacement of water by methanol should lead to enhanced Eu3+ luminescence. However, significant pyrene-mediated sensitizatized luminescence of Eu3+ was observed in a Eu3+ cholate hydrogel, but not in the methanolic gel. We provide experimental data that rationalize this apparent paradox
Search for resonant and nonresonant Higgs boson pair production in the b(b)over-barl nu l nu final state in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV
No full textSearches for resonant and nonresonant pair-produced Higgs bosons (HH) decaying respectively into l nu l nu, through either W or Z bosons, and b (b) over bar are presented. The analyses are based on a sample of proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1). Data and predictions from the standard model are in agreement within uncertainties. For the standard model HH hypothesis, the data exclude at 95% confidence level a product of the production cross section and branching fraction larger than 72 fb, corresponding to 79 times the standard model prediction. Constraints are placed on different scenarios considering anomalous couplings, which could affect the rate and kinematics of HH production. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the production cross section of narrow-width spin-0 and spin-2 particles decaying to Higgs boson pairs, the latter produced with minimal gravity-like coupling
Suppressing Electromagnetic Radiation by Trapping Ferrite Nanoparticles and Carbon Nanotubes in Hierarchical Nanoporous Structures Designed by Crystallization-Induced Phase Separation
No full textPolymer blends are at the forefront of research especially in the field of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) shielding because of their versatile properties such as ease of processability, economic viability and high strength to weight ratio. Herein, we have attempted to design lightweight blend composites consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles. A unique approach was adopted here to prepare ultra-thin (500 mu m), flexible, lightweight composite membranes wherein hierarchical nanoporous structures were initially developed by crystallization induced phase separation in a classical upper critical solution temperature (UCST) pair Polyvinylidene fluoride/poly methyl methacrylate (PVDF/PMMA) and subsequently etching out the PMMA phase. In the next step, functional nanoparticles were trapped in the pores by facile vacuum filtration approach. This unique approach led to the fabrication of nanoporous composite membranes which otherwise is difficult to process using conventional techniques. The composite membranes show high magnetic permeability and high electrical conductivity; the two key requirements for effective shielding of electromagnetic (EM) radiation. A significant improvement in shielding effectiveness (SE) was achieved using these token composite membranes. For instance, porous PVDF composite membranes containing 3 wt % MWNTs (with a thickness of 500 mu m) showed an SE of 8 dB which enhanced significantly to 27 dB for composite membranes wherein NiFe2O4 is trapped in the pores. More interestingly, the mechanism of shielding was driven by absorption (nearly 80%) through synergistic properties of interconnected MWNTs and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles
Spatial patterns of heavy metal accumulation in sediments and macrophytes of Bellandur wetland, Bangalore
No full textHeavy metals are one among the toxic chemicals and accumulation in sediments and plants has been posing serious health impacts. Wetlands aid as kidneys of the landscape and help in remediation through uptake of nutrients, heavy metals and other contaminants. The analyses of macrophytes and sediment samples help in evaluating pollution status in aquatic environment. In this study concentration of six heavy metals (Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn)) were assessed in sediment and dominant macrophyte samples collected from Bellandur Lake, largest Lake of Bangalore, India. Sediment samples reveal of heavy metals in the inlet regions and shore samples. The accumulation of metals in sediments were in the order of Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. All metals exceeded the critical limits of metals in the sediment. Concentration of different metals in the macrophyte samples ranked as: Cr > Cu > Zn > Pb > Ni > Cd. Chromium and Copper were found to be more than critical range. Typha angustata had the higher accumulation of all metals except chromium. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Modelling landscape dynamics with LST in protected areas of Western Ghats, Karnataka
No full textForest ecosystems sustain biota on the earth as they are habitat to diverse biotic species, arrests soil erosion, play a crucial role in water cycle, sequester carbon, and helps in mitigating the impacts of global warming. Large scale land use land cover (LULC) change leading to deforestation is one of the drivers of global climate changes and alteration of biogeochemical cycles with significant consequences in ecosystem services and biodiversity. This has necessitated the investigation of LULC by mapping, monitoring and modelling spatio-temporal patterns and evaluating these in the context of human environment interactions. The current work investigates LULC changes with temperature dynamics of select protected areas in Western Ghats. The land use analyses reveal changes in the forest cover across Kudremukh National Park (KNP), Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve (RTR), Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR). KNP region has lost evergreen forest cover during 1973-2016 from 33.46 to 27.22%, while BTR lost deciduous cover from 61.69 to 47.3% due to mining, horticulture plantations, human habitations, etc. The LST increase has impacted regeneration of species with the induced water stress, etc. CA-Marlcov modelling was used for forecasting the likely land uses in 2026 and validation was done through Kappa indices. Results highlight decline of evergreen cover in KNP (9%) and deciduous cover in RTR (2%) followed by BTR (3%) with further expansion of plantations, which will impact biodiversity, hydrology and ecology. Insights of LULC dynamics help natural resource managers in evolving appropriate strategies to ensure conservation of threatened biota in Western Ghats. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Orange Fluorescent Ru(III) Complexes Based on 4'-Aryl Substituted 2,2':6',2aEuro(3)-Terpyridine for OLEDs Application
No full textA series of ruthenium (III) complexes of the formulae Ru(4-Mephtpy)(2)]Cl-3(1) Ru(L (1) )], Ru(3,4,5-tmphtpy)(2)]Cl-3(2) Ru(L (2) )], and Ru(4-thptpy)(2)]Cl-3(3) Ru(L (3) )], (where L = terpy = 2.2':6'2aEuro(3) terpyridine ligands) are synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic and electrochemical data. The density functional theory (DFT) outlines the geometric optimisation and electronic charge transition of these complexes. Photophysical studies describe that the luminescence of Ru(III) complexes is due to electronic transition between the energy levels of singly unoccupied molecular orbitals (SUMO) and singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMO). It also exhibits the potential charge transfer to pi-pi* and n-pi* states due to MLCT and ILCT processes of the complexes. The observed bands centered at 591 and 620 nm demonstrate that these emissions originated from the transition of SUMO to SOMO energy levels, that is, from the radiative decay from the doublet exciton. Due to the heavy metal effect of Ru(III) ions the photophysical behaviour depends on the MLCT process. In conclusion, that the all three Ru(L (1) -L (3) ) complexes are fallen orange emission
Experimental study on the influence of junction temperature on the relationship between IGBT switching energy loss and device current
No full textAccurate determination of power losses in semiconductor devices is important for optimal design and reliable operation of a power converter. The switching loss is an important component of the total device loss in an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) in a voltage source inverter. The objective here is to study experimentally the influence of junction temperature on the turn-on switching energy loss E-on and turn-off switching energy loss E-off. More specifically E-on and E-off are both related to device current I-c; the influence of junction temperature on the relationship between E-on and I-c and that between E-off and I-c is studied. As the operating environmental conditions and load conditions of power converter vary widely, a wide range of junction temperatures between -35 degrees C and + 125 degrees C is considered here. The experimental data enable precise determination of the switching loss in each device in a high-power converter at any practical operating condition. This leads to precise estimation of total device loss and optimal thermal design of the converter. This further helps off-line and/or on-line estimation of device junction temperatures required for study of thermal cycles and reliability