Unital Design Based Location Service for Subterranean Network Using Long Range Topology

Wireless Personal Communications - Wireless Underground Networks comprise the ability to constantly monitor several physical parameters such as ground temperature, water level and soil condition,...     

Use of non-adiabatic geometric phase for quantum computing by NMR

Geometric phases have stimulated researchers for its potential applications in many areas of science. One of them is fault-tolerant quantum computation. A preliminary requisite of quantum computation is the implementation of controlled dynamics of qubits. In controlled dynamics, one qubit undergoes coherent evolution and acquires appropriate phase, depending on the state of other qubits. If the evolution is geometric, then the phase acquired depend only on the geometry of the path executed, and is robust against certain types of error. This phenomenon leads to an inherently fault-tolerant quantum computation. Here we suggest a technique of using non-adiabatic geometric phase for quantum computation, using selective excitation. In a two-qubit system, we selectively evolve a suitable subsystem where the control qubit is in state |1, through a closed circuit. By this evolution, the target qubit gains a phase controlled by the state of the control qubit. Using the non-adiabatic geometric phase we demonstrate implementation of Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm and Grover's search algorithm in a two-qubit system.     

Sonoassisted Microbial Reduction of Chromium

This study presents sonoassisted microbial reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) using Bacillus sp. isolated from tannery effluent contaminated site. The experiments were carried out with free cells in the presence and absence of ultrasound. The optimum pH and temperature for the reduction of Cr(VI) by Bacillus sp. were found to be 7.0 and 37 °C, respectively. The Cr(VI) reduction was significantly influenced by the electron donors and among the various electron donors studied, glucose offered maximum reduction. The ultrasound-irradiated reduction of Cr(VI) with Bacillus sp. showed efficient Cr(VI) reduction. The percent reduction was found to increase with an increase in biomass concentration and decrease with an increase in initial concentration. The changes in the functional groups of Bacillus sp., before and after chromium reduction were observed with FTIR spectra. Microbial growth was described with Monod and Andrews model and best fit was observed with Andrews model.     

Facile green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using leaf extract of antidiabetic potent Cassia auriculata

A simple biological method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Cassia auriculata aqueous leaf extract has been carried out in the present study. The reduction of auric chloride led to the formation of AuNPs within 10 min at room temperature (28°C), suggesting a higher reaction rate than chemical methods involved in the synthesis. The size, shape and elemental analysis were carried out using X-ray diffraction, TEM, SEM-EDAX, FT-IR and visible absorption spectroscopy. Stable, triangular and spherical crystalline AuNPs with well-defined dimensions of average size of 15-25 nm were synthesized using C. auriculata. Effect of pH was also studied to check the stability of AuNPs. The main aim of the investigation is to synthesize AuNPs using antidiabetic potent medicinal plant. The stabilizing and reducing molecules of nanoparticles may promote anti-hyperglycemic if tested further.     

Effect of nanoscale CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on PVDF-HFP-based nanocomposite porous polymer electrolytes for Li-ion batteries

New poly (vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP)/CeO₂-based microcomposite porous polymer membranes (MCPPM) and nanocomposite porous polymer membranes (NCPPM) were prepared by phase inversion technique using N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent and deionized water as a nonsolvent. Phase inversion occurred on the MCPPM/NCPPM when it is treated by deionized water (nonsolvent). Microcomposite porous polymer electrolytes (MCPPE) and nanocomposite porous polymer electrolytes (NCPPE) were obtained from their composite porous polymer membranes when immersed in 1.0 M LiClO₄ in a mixture of ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate (EC/DMC) (v/v = 1:1) electrolyte solution. The structure and porous morphology of both composite porous polymer membranes was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Thermal behavior of both MCPPM/NCPPM was investigated from DSC analysis. Optimized filler (8 wt% CeO₂) added to the NCPPM increases the porosity (72%) than MCPPM (59%). The results showed that the NCPPE has high electrolyte solution uptake (150%) and maximum ionic conductivity value of 2.47 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature. The NCPPE (8 wt% CeO₂) between the lithium metal electrodes were found to have low interfacial resistance (760 Ω cm²) and wide electrochemical stability up to 4.7 V (vs Li/Li⁺) investigated by impedance spectra and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), respectively. A prototype battery, which consists of NCPPE between the graphite anode and LiCoO₂ cathode, proves good cycling performance at a discharge rate of C/2 for Li-ion polymer batteries.     

Control of laser induced molecular fragmentation of n-propyl benzene using chirped femtosecond laser pulses

We present the effect of chirping a femtosecond laser pulse on the fragmentation of n-propyl benzene. An enhancement of an order of magnitude for the relative yields of and in the case of negatively chirped pulses and in the case of positively chirped pulses with respect to the transform-limited pulse indicates that in some fragmentation channel, coherence of the laser field plays an important role. For the relative yield of all other heavier fragment ions, resulting from the interaction of the intense laser field with the molecule, there is no such enhancement effect with the sign of chirp, within experimental errors. The importance of the laser phase is further reinforced through a direct comparison of the fragmentation results with the second harmonic of the chirped laser pulse with identical bandwidth.     

Impact of Thermal Interface Materials for Thermoelectric Generator Systems

A primary challenge still exists in the field of thermoelectric generators (TEG) for practical applications in which a thermal system of the TEG is a crucial factor in TEG power generation. The material development for TEG has contributed significantly towards advancement in TEG applications over a decade, the need for a thermal system configuration is inevitable considering the applications. The thermal efficiency of TEG depends upon the temperature difference across its modules (between the hot and cold surfaces). Thermal design of the thermoelectric system is important to ensure that there exists a maximum temperature difference across the hot and cold surfaces of the TEG. Thermal Interface Material (TIM) in thermoelectric systems plays a main role in improving the efficiency of thermoelectric systems by reducing the temperature difference between the heat source and the hot surface of the TEG and similarly, the temperature difference between the cold surface of TEG and the heat sink. This review paper predominantly focuses on the thermal interfaces between the TEG modules which reduces the performance of a thermoelectric system. The characteristics of TIM in a TEG system (contact pressure, surface roughness and thermal conductivity) were analyzed with a mathematical model to emphasize the importance of TIM in a TEG system. This paper also highlights the existing challenges for Thermal Interface Materials in TEG applications and concludes with a brief discussion on future directions of TIM in TEG thermal systems.     

Mobility Aware Quality Enhanced Cluster Based Routing Protocol for Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks Using Hybrid Optimization Algorithm

Wireless Personal Communications - Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) utilizes more nodes to forward messages and information from source node to destination node and these nodes are battery-powered...     

Reduction of Complexity of On-Board Embedded Robotic System Processors Using Code Offloading

Appearance of highly intelligent and advanced robots that react and recognize to their environment has lead to the increment in the complexity of the embedded systems that govern their reaction. This developing multifaceted nature, over a timeframe, has influenced the general responsiveness and battery life of the robot. From controlling a drone to an internet controlled coffee maker, an on-board processor for the calculation of all control signs is required for setting off a reaction to the stimuli. At the point when the unpredictability of the embedded system rises, more convoluted computation is required to react to those inputs. This has not only reduced the general responsiveness and battery life of the robot but also has additionally prompted the need of overhauling the equipment to suit the upsurge in the calculation required. The solution to this problem is by offloading the critical tasks like control signal computation or image processing to a centralized server which would eliminate the requirement of complex on-board processors. A comprehensive analysis is presented on the feasibility of such code offloading in embedded robotic systems and its applicability to other domains is discussed. The obtained results will be compared to the results obtained in other domains involving code offloading and analysed to strike out any patterns in their results.