Performance comparison among some nonlinear filters for a low cost SINS/GPS integrated solution

The Kalman filter is a familiar minimum mean square estimator for linear systems. In practice, the filter is frequently employed for nonlinear problems. This paper investigates into the application of the Kalman filter’s nonlinear variants, namely the extended Kalman filter (EKF), the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and the second order central difference filter (CDF2). A low cost strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) integrated with the global position system (GPS) is the performance evaluation platform for the three nonlinear data synthesis techniques. Here, the discrete-time nonlinear error equations for the SINS are implemented. Test results of a field experiment are presented and performance comparison is made for the aforesaid nonlinear estimation techniques.     

Oscillator strength measurements of the 3p ↦ nd Rydberg transitions of sodium

We report new measurements of the oscillator strengths of the 3p ²P_3/2 ↦nd ²D_{5/2, 3/2} and 3p ²P_1/2 ↦ nd ²D_3/2 Rydberg transitions of sodium using a thermionic diode ion detector in conjunction with the Nd:YAG pumped dye lasers. The ns ²S_1/2 and nd ²D_5/2,3/2 Rydberg series have been recorded via two-step excitation, from the 3p ²P_3/2 and 3p ²P_1/2 intermediate states. Employing the saturation technique, the photoionization cross sections from the 3p ²P_3/2 and 3p ²P_1/2 intermediate states at the first ionization threshold are determined as 7.9(1.3) Mb and 6.7(1.1) Mb respectively. The f-values of the Rydberg transitions are calibrated with the photoionization cross section measured at the first ionization threshold and compared with the earlier data.     

f-pole corrections to the critical parameters of the pomeron

A reggeon field theory with two vacuum quantum numbers Regge poles, the pomeron and the f-reggeon is presented. In such a theory only one stable fixed point appears which is sensibly different from that governing a RFT with the pomeron alone. This fact is responsible for the modifications of the critical parameters of the pomeron. In particular, the intercept of the bare pomeron increases and approaches the phenomenological value.     

Profiling of Antifungal Activities and In Silico Studies of Natural Polyphenols from Some Plants

A worldwide increase in the incidence of fungal infections, emergence of new fungal strains, and antifungal resistance to commercially available antibiotics indicate the need to investigate new treatment options for fungal diseases. Therefore, the interest in exploring the antifungal activity of medicinal plants has now been increased to discover phyto-therapeutics in replacement to conventional antifungal drugs. The study was conducted to explore and identify the mechanism of action of antifungal agents of edible plants, including Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Amomum subulatum, Trigonella foenumgraecum, Mentha piperita, Coriandrum sativum, Lactuca sativa, and Brassica oleraceae var. italica. The antifungal potential was assessed via the disc diffusion method and, subsequently, the extracts were assessed for phytochemicals and total antioxidant activity. Potent polyphenols were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antifungal mechanism of action was evaluated in silico. Cinnamomum zeylanicum exhibited antifungal activity against all the tested strains while all plant extracts showed antifungal activity against Fusarium solani. Rutin, kaempferol, and quercetin were identified as common polyphenols. In silico studies showed that rutin displayed the greatest affinity with binding pocket of fungal 14-alpha demethylase and nucleoside diphosphokinase with the binding affinity (K_d, −9.4 and −8.9, respectively), as compared to terbinafine. Results indicated that Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamomum tamala exert their antifungal effect possibly due to kaempferol and rutin, respectively, or possibly by inhibition of nucleoside diphosphokinase (NDK) and 14-alpha demethylase (CYP51), while Amomum subulatum and Trigonella foenum graecum might exhibit antifungal potential due to quercetin. Overall, the study demonstrates that plant-derived products have a high potential to control fungal infections.     

Caralluma tuberculata N.E.Br Manifests Extraction Medium Reliant Disparity in Phytochemical and Pharmacological Analysis

Solubility of phytoconstituents depends on the polarity of the extraction medium used, which might result in the different pharmacological responses of extracts. In line with this, ethnomedicinally important food plant (i.e., Caralluma tuberculata extracts) have been made in fourteen distinct solvent systems that were then analyzed phytochemically via total phenolic amount estimation, total flavonoid amount estimation, and HPLC detection and quantification of the selected polyphenols. Test extracts were then subjected to a battery of in vitro assays i.e., antioxidants (DDPH scavenging, antioxidant capacity, and reducing power estimation), antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antileishmanial), cytotoxic (brine shrimps, THP-1 human leukemia cell lines and normal lymphocytes), and protein kinase inhibition assays. Maximum phenolic and flavonoid contents were computed in distilled water–acetone and acetone extracts (i.e., 16 ± 1 μg/mg extract and 8 ± 0.4/mg extract, respectively). HPLC-DAD quantified rutin (0.58 µg/mg extract) and gallic acid (0.4 µg/mg extract) in methanol–ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, respectively. Water–acetone extract exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging of 36 ± 1%. Total reducing potential of 76.0 ± 1 μg/mg extract was shown by ethanol chloroform while maximum total antioxidant capacity was depicted by the acetone extract (92.21 ± 0.70 μg/mg extract). Maximal antifungal effect against Mucor sp., antileishmanial, brine shrimp cytotoxicity, THP-1 cell line cytotoxicity, and protein kinase inhibitory activities were shown by ethyl acetate-methanol (MIC: 50 µg/disc), n-hexane (IC₅₀: 120.8 ± 3.7 µg/mL), ethyl acetate (LD₅₀: 29.94 ± 1.6 µg/mL), distilled water–acetone (IC₅₀: 118 ± 3.4 µg/mL) and methanol–chloroform (ZOI: 19 ± 1 mm) extracts, respectively. Our findings show the dependency of phytochemicals and bioactivities on the polarity of the extraction solvent and our preliminary screening suggests the C. tuberculata extract formulations to be tested and used in different ailments, however, detailed studies remain necessary for corroboration with our results.     

Stress Corrosion Cracking Behavior of Fine-Grained Al5083 Alloys Processed by Equal-Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP)

In the present study, the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of ECAP Al5083 alloy was investigated in air as well as in 3.5 % NaCl solution using the slow strain rate tensile test (SSRT). The characteristics of grain boundary precipitates (GBPs), specifically the microchemistry of the SCC behavior of Al5083 alloys, both in “as-received” condition and when deformed by the ECAP process, were examined. The correlations between the SCC resistance and GBP microchemistry were examined. A microstructural evaluation was performed using an optical microscope. SCC tests were carried out using a universal tensile testing machine and the fracture surfaces were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A strain rate of 1×10⁻⁶ s⁻¹ was applied for the SSRT. As the passes increased, the SCC susceptibility of the fine-grained ECAP Al5083 alloy also increased. Moreover, higher ultimate tensile strength and greater elongation were observed. This was due to grain refinement, high-density separations, and the expanded extent of high-density dislocations instigated by severe plastic deformation. Due to the high strength and elongation, the failure analysis showed a ductile mode of fracture. Electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis was performed to determine more clearly the nature of cracking. EBSD analysis showed that the crack propagation occurred in both transgranular and intergranular modes.     

Laser treatment of A286 superalloy: corrosion resistance of the treated surface

Laser controlled melting of metal surface provides a local treatment with improved surface properties such as corrosion resistance. In the present study, laser surface treatment of iron base superalloy (A286) is carried out. The corrosion resistance of the laser‐treated surface is examined through potentiodynamic tests using 0.5 N NaCl solution. The microstructural and morphological changes in the laser‐treated layer are investigated incorporating scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The residual stress formed at the laser‐treated surface is measured using the XRD technique. It is found that laser treatment enhances corrosion resistance of A286 superalloy surface, which is attributed to the formation of fine grains and dense layer at the treated surface. Although locally scattered few corrosion induced microcracks are observed at the treated surface, they are not extended to form large cracks or crack network at the surface. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thick-film technology for ultra high vacuum interfaces of micro-structured traps

We adopt thick-film technology to produce ultra high vacuum compatible interfaces for electrical signals. These interfaces permit voltages of hundreds of volts and currents of several amperes and allow for very compact vacuum setups, useful in quantum optics in general, and in particular for quantum information science using miniaturized traps for ions (Kielpinski et al. in Nature 417:709, 2002) or neutral atoms (Folman et al. in Phys. Rev. Lett. 84:4749, 2000; Treutlein et?al. in Fortschr. Phys. 54:702, 2006; Hofferberth et al. in Nat. Phys. 2:710, 2006). Such printed circuits can also be useful as pure in-vacuum devices. We demonstrate a specific interface which provides 11 current feedthroughs, more than 70?dc feedthroughs and a feedthrough for radio frequencies. We achieve a pressure in the low 10^-11?mbar range and demonstrate the full functionality of the interface by trapping chains of cold ytterbium ions, which requires the presence of all of the above mentioned signals. In order to supply precise time-dependent voltages to the ion trap, a versatile multi-channel device has been developed.     

A modular synthesis of dithiocarbamate pendant unnatural α-amino acids

Unnatural α-amino acids containing dithiocarbamate side chains were synthesized by a one-pot reaction of in situ generated dithiocarbamate anions with sulfamidates. A wide range of these anions participated in the highly regio- and stereo-selective ring opening of sulfamidates to produce the corresponding dithiocarbamate pendant α-amino acids in high yields.