Fast algorithms for designing variable FIR notch filters

The paper presents fast algorithms for designing finite impulse response (FIR) notch filters. The aim is to design a digital FIR notch filter so that the magnitude of the filter has a deep notch at a specified frequency, and as the notch frequency changes, the filter coefficients should be able to track the notch fast in real time. The filter design problem is first converted into a convex optimization problem in the autocorrelation domain. The frequency response of the autocorrelation of the filter impulse response is compared with the desired filter response and the integral square error is minimized with respect to the unknown autocorrelation coefficients. Spectral factorization is used to calculate the coefficients of the filter. In the optimization process, the computational advantage is obtained by exploiting the structure of the Hessian matrix which consists of a Toeplitz plus a Hankel matrix. Two methods have been used for solving the Toeplitz‐plus‐Hankel system of equations. In the first method, the computational time is reduced by using Block–Levinson's recursion for solving the Toeplitz‐plus‐Hankel system of matrices. In the second method, the conjugate gradient method with different preconditioners is used to solve the system. Comparative studies demonstrate the computational advantages of the latter. Both these algorithms have been used to obtain the autocorrelation coefficients of notch filters with different orders. The original filter coefficients are found by spectral factorization and each of these filters have been tested for filtering synthetic as well as real‐life signals. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dielectric response of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) in apolar solvents: solute-solvent interactions

Dielectric constants of binary mixtures of MIBK, an extractant used in nuclear energy industry, with six apolar solvents i.e. benzene, dioxane, cyclohexane, carbon tetrachloride, p-xylene and n-heptane have been measured at 455 kHz. The data are used to evaluate the Eyring’s structural parameter, G*, in these systems to assess the nature of non-specific solute-solvent interaction. The value of G* is found to be influenced by the nature of the solvent.     

The nature of the structure difference between light and heavy water and the origin of the solvent isotope effect—I

The observed differences in heat content, entropy and free energy of light and heavy liquid water can be calculated within experimental error from measured infrared frequencies, using a model for water with tetrahedral hydrogen bonding and treating the hindered rotations (librations) of the water molecules as three-dimensional isotropic harmonic oscillators. The origin of the solvent isotope effect for monatomic ions in light and heavy water is their effect on the structure difference between light and heavy water. The quantity Δθ = h Δν/k provides a measure of this structure difference, where Δν is ν−ν′, the difference in average values of the librational frequencies of H₂O and D₂O, and ν′=ν/1·3815. Differences in heat content, entropy and free energy for solution of monatomic ions in light and heavy water and individual ionic activity coefficients can be calculated from Δθ. Hydronium and hydroxide ions are also discussed.     

Monte carlo estimation of the sampling distribution of nonlinear model parameter estimators

The sampling distribution of parameter estimators can be summarized by moments, fractiles or quantiles. For nonlinear models, these quantities are often approximated by power series, approximated by transformed systems, or estimated by Monte Carlo sampling. A control variate approach based on a linear approximation of the nonlinear model is introduced here to reduce the Monte Carlo sampling necessary to achieve a given accuracy. The particular linear approximation chosen has several advantages: its moments and other properties are known, it is easy to implement, and there is a correspondence to asymptotic results that permits assessment of control variate effectiveness prior to sampling via measures of nonlinearity. Empirical results for several nonlinear problems are presented.This research was supported in part by the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-79-C-0832.     

Study of some dipolar complexes involving long chain aliphatic alcohols

The mechanism of 1:1 dipolar complexation of some long-chain aliphatic alcohols with chlorobenzene and acetic acids in a non-polar medium is studied. The interaction dipole moment △^→μ, the excess molar polarization ΔP and apparent complex formation constantK _app are evaluated following two independent methods. It is observed from the value of △^→μ that the complex formation is mostly due to polarization interaction and is of the same type as involving lower alcohols. ΔP andK _app are, however, of different nature compared to those in lower alcohols suggesting that the unlike molecules form relatively stable linear linkage resulting in antiparallel orientation prior to forming complexes.     

Highly Deformed o-Carborane Functionalised Non-linear Polycyclic Aromatics with Exceptionally Long C−C Bonds

The effect of substituting o-carborane into the most sterically hindered positions of phenanthrene and benzo(k)tetraphene is reported. Synthesised via a Bull–Hutchings–Quayle benzannulation, the crystal structures of these non-linear acenes exhibited the highest aromatic deformation parameters observed for any reported carborane compound to date, and among the largest carboranyl C−C bond length of all organo-substituted o-carboranes. Photoluminescence studies of these compounds demonstrated efficient intramolecular charge-transfer, leading to aggregation induced emission properties. Additionally, an unusual low-energy excimer was observed for the phenanthryl compound. These are two new members of the family of carborane-functionalised non-linear acenes, notable for their peculiar structures and multi-luminescent properties.     

Utilization of pneumatic carrier facility of Dhruva reactor for trace element determination by neutron activation analysis

The pneumatic carrier facility (PCF) of Dhruva reactor is being extensively used for neutron activation analysis (NAA) studies pertaining to research work as well as routine sample analysis. It is useful for the determination of trace elements using short and medium half-lives radioisotopes produced in neutron activation with available higher neutron flux (~5 × 10¹³ cm^?1 s^?1). Solid samples placed in high density polypropylene capsule, are irradiated for 1 min duration and radioactive assay is carried out by high resolution gamma ray spectrometry. Design aspects of PCF and various applications to samples of diverse matrices using NAA are presented.     

Diamond microelectrodes for in vitro electroanalytical measurements: current status and remaining challenges

An emerging research field in electrochemistry today is the preparation, characterization and application of diamond microelectrodes for electroanalytical measurements in biological media. Interest in this new electrode material stems from its outstanding properties: (i) hardness, (ii) low, stable and pH-independent background current, (iii) morphological and microstructural stability over a wide range of potentials, (iv) good electrochemical responsiveness for multiple redox analytes without any conventional pre-treatment and (v) weak molecular adsorption of polar molecules that leads to a high level of resistance to response deactivation and electrode fouling. Diamond electrodes have advanced in recent years from being simply a scientific curiosity into a viable material for electroanalysis. In this article, we highlight the current state of progress by our laboratory and others on the preparation, study of the basic electrochemical properties, and application of this new type of microelectrode for in vitro electroanalytical measurements, and discuss some of the remaining challenges.