Performance investigation of an advanced tracked prime mover on the low bearing soil

This study has presented a performance investigation of an advanced tracked prime mover for the operation of agricultural goods and other operations on peat terrain. The maximum and continuous traction torque of the prime mover has been developed by designing an advanced controller for controlling the intelligent system. The prime mover’s mobility is studied with ultrasonic displacement sensor, torque transducer, National Instrument cRIO-9004 Compact-RIO Real-time Controller Unit (RCU), a National Instrument TPC 2106T Touch Panel Control (TPC), a Trimble AG132 GPS antenna and receiver unit, and a Dlink DIR-655 router. The fuzzy logic controller (FLC) has been equipped with the prime mover hydraulic system to increase the traction torque of the hydraulic motor when the prime mover’s sinkage is more than or equal to 70 mm. The prime mover’s design demonstrates good potential in traversing peat terrain as the measured tractive effort was found to be 48% of the vehicle’s gross weight while the recommended tractive effort is in the range of 30–36% of the vehicle’s gross weight.     

Amphitropic liquid crystals. Two lamellar phases in a surfactant containing thermotropic and lyotropic mesogenic groups

Abstract

We have studied the lyotropic liquid-crystalline behaviour of cationic surfactants containing a potentially thermotropic moiety, a terminal cyanobiphenyloxy group. Both mono-alkyl and mid-chain substituted dialkyl surfactants have been examined using optical microscopy and NMR spectroscopy. Incorporation of the cyanobiphenyloxy group destabilizes the hexagonal and bicontinuous cubic phases, with only an extensive lamellar region being observed. For the dialkyl surfactant there is a range of compositions where two lamellar phases co-exist, one water-rich and the second surfactant-rich.     

Efficient and Alternative Approach for Preparation of O-Benzoyloximes Using Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide has been used as a mild and efficient reagent for the preparation of benzoyl ester of oxime in moderate to good yields.     

An Unusual S-and N-Alkylation of Mercapto Substituted Heterocycles With O,O-Dialkyl Chlorophosphate/Thiophosphate

The reaction of different mercapto substituted heterocycles with o,o-dialkyl chlorphosphate or thiophosphates, gave the corresponding S- and N- alkylated derivatives instead of the expected phosphorylated products.     

Effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the steel-glass/epoxy composite joint bonded by a two-component structural acrylic adhesive

This paper reports a study on the effect of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on the adhesion strength of steel-glass/epoxy composite joints bonded by a two-component structural acrylic adhesive. The addition of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles to the two-component acrylic adhesive led to a remarkable enhancement in the shear and tensile strength of the composite joints. The shear and tensile strength of the adhesive joints increased by addition of Al₂O₃ up to 1.5 wt%, which decreased by further addition of the nanofiller. Introduction of the nanoparticles caused a reduction in the peel strength of the joints. DSC analysis revealed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the adhesives rose by increasing the nanofiller content. The advancing water contact angle was decreased for adhesives containing nanoparticles. SEM micrographs indicated good dispersions of the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles within the acrylic matrix in the specimens with up to 1.5 wt% Al₂O₃ and revealed that addition of nanoparticles altered the fracture morphology from smooth to rough fracture surfaces.     

MYMIV-AC2, a Geminiviral RNAi Suppressor Protein, Has Potential to Increase the Transgene Expression

Gene silencing is one of the limiting factors for transgene expression in plants. But the plant viruses have learnt to suppress gene silencing by encoding the protein(s), called RNA silencing suppressor(s) (RSS). Hence, these proteins could be used to overcome the limitation for transgene expression. The RNAi suppressors, namely HC-Pro and P19, have been shown to enhance the transgene expression but other RSS proteins have not been screened for similar role. Moreover, none of RSSs from the DNA viruses are known for enhancing the expression of transgenes. The Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus (MYMIV) belonging to the genus Begomovirus within the family of Geminiviridae encodes an RSS called the AC2 protein. Here, we used AC2 to elevate the expression of the transgenes. Upon introduction of MYMIV-AC2 in the silenced GFP transgenic tobacco lines, by either genetic hybridisation or transgenesis, the GFP expression was enhanced several fold in F1 and T0 lines. The GFP-siRNA levels were much reduced in F1 and T0 lines compared with those of the initial parental silenced lines. The enhanced GFP expression was also observed at the cellular level. This approach was also successful in enhancing the expression of another transgene, namely topoisomeraseII.     

Experimental and numerical study of residual stresses caused by cold expansion of adjacent holes

Cold expansion is a useful process for imposing compressive residual stresses around the holes in riveted and bolted connections. These stresses increase the fatigue life of holed parts. Distribution and amount of exerted residual stress dependent on various parameters as material, distance of adjacent holes, hole diameter, cold expansion ratio and plate thickness. In this study, experimental and numerical results for two different aluminum alloys and various holes distances are investigated and compared. Effects of mentioned parameters on the residual stress are studied.     

Polymer electrolyte for photoelectrochemical cell and dye-sensitized solar cell: a brief review

This paper reviews the use of solid polymeric electrolyte (SPE) and gel polymeric electrolyte (GPE) in photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) and dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The structure of PEC and its working principle are presented. The various types of polymer electrolytes utilized in PEC and DSSC have been highlighted in this review. It also highlights the comparison of performance of PEC and DSSC utilizing those polymer electrolytes. This review is completed with the list of other SPEs that potentially be tested in DSSC.