Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad&nbsp;(IIT Palakkad or IIT PKD) is a public autonomous&nbsp;engineering&nbsp;and&nbsp;research&nbsp;institute located in&nbsp;Palakkad,&nbsp;Kerala. It was&nbsp;one of the five new&nbsp;IITs&nbsp;proposed in the&nbsp;2014 Union budget of India. The campus was inaugurated on 3 August 2015. The institute has 94 faculty, 978 students, and 63 non-teaching staffs.

IT Palakkad currently offers four-year Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and two years MS programmes in 8 different engineering disciplines including&nbsp;Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil among others.

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IIT Palakkad

The current work aims to study the influence of discharge energy and debris accumulation on wire break failure and surface integrity aspects like surface roughness, subsurface hardness, and geometrical errors during the wire EDM of Inconel 718. The responses considered for analysing the geometrical accuracies are flatness error, roundness error and cylindricity error. Four different wire electrodes were considered for the study based on the wire strength and coatings, namely hard zinc coated brass, half-hard zinc coated brass, hard uncoated brass, and half-hard uncoated brass wire electrodes. The geometric accuracy of the machined parts is closely related to the choice of wire electrode. High-tensile strength hard wires were observed to machine the surfaces with maximum accuracy. Also, the zinc coated wires were observed to cut faster compared to the uncoated wire electrodes. The study revealed that there exists a strong influence of discharge energy on the surface integrity of wire electric discharge machined surface. The zinc and copper elemental contamination was minimal for uncoated wire electrodes at lowest discharge energy mode. Wire wear phenomena was analysed for both coated and uncoated wires. Discharge energy had a significant impact on the electrode wear of coated and uncoated wire electrode. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

World University root node

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies

Effect of wire material and discharge energy on productivity and surface integrity of WEDM-processed Inconel 718

Machining is a metal removal process in which a large quantity of heat is generated due to interaction of the tool with the workpiece. Suitable cutting fluids are used to remove heat, prevent tool wear, enhancing tool life and reducing workpiece distortion, along with several other merits. However, these are not eco-friendly, and preventive measures should be taken while discarding. Sustainable machining, which includes modifying the existing processes or development of new processes, both aiming to maintain eco-friendly nature, is the way forward. The current chapter aims to comprehensively review dry machining, minimum quality lubrication, and cryogenic machining with their advantages and disadvantages. The status of sustainability in turning, grinding, milling, broaching, and boring has been presented. Importance of surface textured tools has been highlighted. Sustainability in nonconventional machining processes such as electric discharge machining, electrochemical machining, abrasive water jet machining, laser beam machining, and ultrasonic machining is also presented with novel developments. Finally, a summary of future prospects with recent advances is included. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sustainable Manufacturing Processes

Sustainable manufacturing strategies in machining

In plant breeding research, naturally existing genetic variability has been successfully utilized to some extent for sustainable production of desirable crops and the diversity in plant genetic resources is most useful part to the breeders. The present experiment was conducted to estimate the genetic variation as well as divergence also of 29 sesame genotypes based on morphological traits. The high genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic co-efficient variation (PCV) observed for number of branches / plant and also for no. of capsules / plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was estimated against seed yield / plant, number of branches / plant and capsules/ plant and HI indicating predominant role of additive genetic components for their expression and also indicating better scope for utilization of direct selection for those traits. The genotypes are grouped into 5 clusters based on 16 morphological traits i.e. Plant height, root length, vegetative dry weight, leaf-area index, days to 50\% flowering, no. of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, capsule length, number seeds per capsule, 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant. The maximum inter-cluster distance noticed between cluster II and IV indicating their most diverse relationship. Genotypes of two clusters with wider genetic diversity and with desirable agronomic traits were selected as promising genotypes for hybridization programmes. Crosses can be made between genotypes of cluster II with genotypes of cluster IV to achieve promising recombinants.

Department of Physics

PLANT SCIENCE TODAY

The estimation of genetic variability and genetic divergence of some advance lines of sesame based on morphological traits

In the present investigation, gold NPs (Au-NPs) were synthesized via seed decoction of Nigella sativa, in which, the aqueous seed extract of Nigella sativa acted as a reducing agent as well as coated on Au-NPs surface. Herein, an attempt was made to develop a rapid and biocompatible method to synthesize gold NPs by phytofabrication for anti-diabetic applications. The Nigella sativa seed extract and the Au-NPs synthesized using Nigella sativa exhibited a good antioxidant property, which was determined by the 2, 2-Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity assay. These Au-NPs exhibited 78 \% of anti-diabetic property, which was confirmed by alpha-amylase method. The synthesized nanoparticle Au-NPs size was confirmed by using SEM and TEM. The functional groups (thymoqninone) present in the seed extract as well as Au-NPs were analysed by FTIR. The major functional group i.e. thymoquinone was confirmed by the anthraquinone test and it is responsible for the antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anticancer properties of the Au-NPs. The phytochemical based nanoparticle prepared in this work showed efficient anti-diabetic activities and it can be considered for the medical applications. In addition, phytochemical based nanoparticle synthesis is safe, eco-friendly, biocompatible, and cost effective.

Department of Chemistry

PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY

Nigella sativa flavonoids surface coated gold NPs (Au-NPs) enhancing antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity

B0-VPG graphs are intersection graphs of axis-parallel line segments in the plane. We show that all AT-free outerplanar graphs are B0-VPG. In the course of the argument, we show that any AT-free outerplanar graph can be identified as an induced subgraph of a 2-connected outerplanar graph whose weak dual is a path. Our B0-VPG drawing procedure works for such graphs and has the potential to be extended to larger classes of outerplanar graphs.

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Conference on Algorithms and Discrete Applied Mathematics

B0-VPG Representation of AT-free Outerplanar Graphs

Although levodopa remains the most efficacious symptomatic therapy for Parkinson disease (PD), management of levodopa treatment during the advanced stages of the disease is extremely challenging. This difficulty is a result of levodopa’s short half-life, a progressive narrowing of the therapeutic window, and major inter-patient and intra-patient variations in the dose–response relationship. Therefore, a suitable alternative to repeated oral administration of levodopa is being sought. Recent research efforts have focused on the development of novel levodopa delivery strategies and wearable physical sensors that track symptoms and disease progression. However, the need for methods to monitor the levels of levodopa present in the body in real time has been overlooked. Advances in chemical sensor technology mean that the development of wearable and mobile biosensors for continuous or frequent levodopa measurements is now possible. Such levodopa monitoring could help to deliver personalized and timely medication dosing to alleviate treatment-related fluctuations in the symptoms of PD. Therefore, with the aim of optimizing therapeutic management of PD and improving the quality of life of patients, we share our vision of a future closed-loop autonomous wearable ‘sense-and-act’ system. This system consists of a network of physical and chemical sensors coupled with a levodopa delivery device and is guided by effective big data fusion algorithms and machine learning methods. © 2022, Springer Nature Limited.

Nature Reviews Neurology

Closing the loop for patients with Parkinson disease: where are we?

Deformation of a droplet from an initial spherical shape to a disk-like structure is common during its secondary breakup. Characterizing this initial deformation is important to develop accurate secondary breakup models. In the present study, the initial droplet deformation until initiation time (where the droplet attains a disk-like structure) was investigated by experiments with a variety of test liquids offering wide ranges of surface tension (0.022–0.71 N/m), viscosity (0.86–3.63 mPa⋅s) and density (788–6900 kg/m3). The test liquids included molten metals along with classical water-like liquids. To characterize the initial droplet deformation until the initiation time, the droplet's displacement, relative velocity, deformation and drag coefficient (CD) were measured. A non-dimensional parameter named the displacement–relative velocity–deformation (DVD) parameter was introduced and a mathematical expression for its temporal evolution, which could be useful for validating simulation results, was obtained. The temporal evolution of the DVD parameter and the droplet's displacement, relative velocity and deformation (in non-dimensional forms) for molten metals were observed to be significantly different from those for the other liquids at similar Weber numbers. A correlation for the non-dimensional droplet deformation at the initiation time is also presented by studying the relationship between an instantaneous Weber number defined at the initiation time (Weini) and the corresponding conventional Weber number (We). It is observed that the temporal evolution of CD until the initiation time for ∼30<We<∼70 (where dual-bag and sheet-thinning breakup modes are observed) is significantly different in comparison to that for ∼10<We<∼30 (where bag and bag-stamen breakup modes are observed). © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

International Journal of Multiphase Flow

Droplet deformation in secondary breakup: Transformation from a sphere to a disk-like structure

In this paper, we study the dynamic behavior of the cylindrical shells subjected to static and time-varying (periodic) radial loading. Flügge-Luré-Byrne shell theory has been used to derive dynamic equations in the form of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). Linearization of PDEs about the steady-state periodic solutions, followed by Galerkin projection, yields a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with time-varying periodic coefficients. Those are similar to the higher-order Mathieu-Hill equations and their stability analyses have been ascertained using Floquet theory. Dynamic instabilities of the cylindrical shells have been presented through stability charts in the plane of forcing parameters, namely, the static component of the pressure, the amplitude and frequency of the fluctuating component of the pressure. Also, possible sub and super harmonic resonances have been explored through the stability charts. Four different boundary conditions, viz., simply supported, clamped–free, pinned–free (axial constraint at the pinned end) and pinned–free (axial constraint at the free end) have been considered in the present analysis. Presented charts can be very useful during the design of the shell structures subjected to static/dynamic loading. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Journal of Sound and Vibration

On the stability of thin-walled circular cylindrical shells under static and periodic radial loading

In the presented paper, an attempt has been made to first find the permeability of the Euphorbia tortilis cactus (ETC) concrete by the water permeability method and infiltration method. After that, the flexural strength of the ETC RC beam wrapped with AFRP kelvar 149 is carried out by a 2-point load test. This research aimed to develop a more durable, flexural, and sustainable beam under static load. Based on the state-of-the-art information available in the literature, 3-layer Kelvar 149 AFRP is considered as a laminate to solve the deflections of the ETC beam. In this project, RCC beams were strengthened by ETC and aramid FRP sheets. Novel results are obtained by different layers and patterns of Aramid FRP sheets. Based on the investigation 3-layers Kelvar 149 perform well than a normal concrete beam. As no result based on hydraulic conductivity and drying shrinkage of a beam with AFRP laminates are available in the literature, the obtained results are validated with the finite element method (ABAQUS) under static load conditions.

REVISTA DE LA CONSTRUCCION

Mechanical performance of ETC RC beam with U-framed AFRP laminates under a static load condition

A new 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide hydrazine fluorophore (Nap-NH2) has been synthesized in quantitative yield via a one-pot imidation reaction between 4-amino-1,8-naphthalic anhydride and hydrazine hydrate (N2H4·H2O) and successfully employed as a fluorescent “turn-on” chemosensor for metal cations. The sensor Nap-NH2 displayed a positive solvatochromism in different solvents with varying polarities. The fluorescence titration studies of Nap-NH2 with various metal cations disclosed the high selectivity and reversible binding affinity of Nap-NH2 towards Zn(II) ions with nanomolar (10 nm) sensitivity. The fluorescence emission intensity of Nap-NH2 was drastically enhanced upon binding with Zn(II) ion and the Stern-Volmer binding constant is KSV = 1.13 × 104 M−1. Interestingly, the presence of commonly coexisting different metal cations {Fe(II), Cu(II), Mg(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Ba(II), Al(III), Ce(III), Sn(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Ca(II)} showed negligible changes in the emission intensity and thus weak binding interactions with Nap-NH2. These studies demonstrate that Nap-NH2 is a potential fluorescence “turn-on” chemosensor for selective, sensitive detection and quantification of biologically relevant metal cations. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.