Single image super resolution for texture images through neighbor embedding

This article proposes an improved learning based super resolution scheme using manifold learning for texture images. Pseudo Zernike moment (PZM) has been employed to extract features from the texture images. In order to efficiently retrieve similar patches from the training patches, feature similarity index matrix (FSIM) has been used. Subsequently, for reconstruction of the high resolution (HR) patch, a collaborative optimal weight is generated from the least square (LS) and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) methods. The proposed method is tested on some color texture, gray texture, and some standard images. Results of the proposed method on texture images advocate its superior performance over established state-of-the-art methods.

     

A standard deviation based firefly algorithm for multi-objective optimization of WEDM process during machining of Indian RAFM steel

Non-conventional machining processes always suffer due to their low productivity and high cost. However, a suitable machining process should improve its productivity without compromising product quality. This implies the necessity to use efficient multi-objective optimization algorithm in non-conventional machining processes. In this present paper, an effective standard deviation based multi-objective fire-fly algorithm is proposed to predict various process parameters for maximum productivity (without affecting product quality) during WEDM of Indian RAFM steel. The process parameters of WEDM considered for this study are: pulse current (I), pulse-on time (T _on), pulse-off time (T _off) and wire tension (WT).While, cutting speed (CS) and surface roughness (SR) were considered as machining performance parameters. Mathematical models relating the process and response parameters had been developed by linear regression analysis and standard deviation method was used to convert this multi objective into single objective by unifying the responses. The model was then implemented in firefly algorithm in order to optimize the process parameters. The computational results depict that the proposed method is well capable of giving optimal results in WEDM process and is fairly superior to the two most popular evolutionary algorithms (particle swarm optimization algorithm and differential evolution algorithm) available in the literature.

     

Electrospinning of linear homopolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate): exploring relationships between fiber formation, viscosity, molecular weight and concentration in a good solvent

A series of seven linear homopolymers of poly(methylmethacrylate) ranging from 12,470 to 365,700 g/mol M_w, were utilized to further explore scaling relationships between viscosity and concentration in a good solvent at 25 °C and to investigate the impact of these relationships on fiber formation during electrospinning. For each of the polymers investigated, chain dimensions (hydrodynamic radius and radius of gyration) were measured by dynamic light scattering to determine the critical chain overlap concentration, c^*. The experimentally determined c^*, was found to be in good agreement with the theoretically determined value that was calculated by the criteria c^*∼1/[η], where the intrinsic viscosity was estimated from the Mark-Houwink parameters, K and a (at 25 °C in dimethyl formamide) obtained from the literature. The plot of the zero shear viscosity vs. c/c^* distinctly separated into different solution regimes, viz. dilute (c/c^*<1), semidilute unentangled (1<c/c^*<3) and semidilute entangled (c/c^*>3). The crossover between semidilute unentangled and semidilute entangled regimes in the present investigation occurred at c/c^*∼3, which, therefore, marked the onset of the critical chain entanglement concentration, c_e, according to the procedure utilized by Colby and co-workers [Colby RH, Rubinstein M, Daoud M. J de Phys II 1994;4(8):1299-310. [52]]. Electrospinning of all solutions was carried out at identical conditions to ascertain the effects of solution concentration, molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and viscosity on fiber formation and morphological features of the electrospun material. Only polymer droplets were observed to form from electrospinning of solutions in the dilute concentration regime due to insufficient chain overlap. As the concentration was increased, droplets and beaded fibers were observed in the semidilute unentangled regime; and beaded as well as uniform fibers were observed in the semidilute entangled regime. Uniform fiber formation was observed at c/c^*∼6 for all the narrow MWD polymers (M_w of 12,470-205,800 g/mol) but for the relatively broad MWD polymers (M_w of 34,070 and 95,800 g/mol), uniform fibers were not formed until higher concentrations, c/c^*∼10, were utilized. Dependence of fiber diameter on concentration and viscosity was also determined, viz. fiber dia∼(c/c^*)^3.1 and respectively. These scaling relationships were in general agreement with that observed by Mckee et al. [McKee MG, Wilkes GL, Colby RH, Long TE. Macromolecules 2004;37(5):1760-67. [33]].     

Radical polymerization approach for ring opened oxanorbornene anhydride based macromonomers

In this work, we synthesized end group functionalization of the cis-Norbornene-5-6-endo-dicarboxylic anhydride species via the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of oxanorbornene derivatives generated a chiseled poly(cis-Norbornene-5-6-endo-Dicarboxylic anhydride) acrylate macromonomer. Further, acrylate oxanorbornene based macromonomer further polymerized via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique. Chain transfer is exhibited in the structure during the radical polymerizations so that free radical polymerization could also be used to comb structure copolymers with a PDI value below 1.2 with the help of acrylate oxanorbornene. Atomic force microscopy reveals the comb shape of branched polymer brushes structure. This method involves polymerizable end-group attachment to a macromonomer, and the backbone of the comb polymer is created in a second step of the polymerization. We believe that this kind of comb structured polymers can be considered for different biological applications.     

Tent-Shaped Surface Morphologies of Silicon: Texturization by Metal Induced Etching

Silicon - Nano-metal/semiconductor junction dependent porosification of silicon has been studied here. The silicon nanostructures (SiNSs) have been textured on n- and p- type silicon wafers using...     

Mechanical and thermal properties of wood fibers reinforced poly(lactic acid)/thermoplasticized starch composites

Thermoplasticized starch (TPS) filled poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends are usually found to have low mechanical properties due to poor properties of TPS and inadequate adhesion between the TPS and PLA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reinforcing effect of wood fibers (WF) on the mechanical properties of TPS/PLA blends. In order to improve the compatibility of wood with TPS/PLA blends, maleic anhydride grafted PLA (MA‐g‐PLA) copolymer was synthesized and used. TPS, TPS/PLA blends, and WF reinforced TPS/PLA composites were prepared by twin‐screw extrusion and injection molded. Scanning electron microscope and crystallinity studies indicated thermoplasticity in starch. WF at two different weight proportions, that is, 20% and 40% with respect to TPS content were taken and MA‐g‐PLA at 10% to the total weight was chosen to study the effect on mechanical properties. At 20% WF and 10% MA‐g‐PLA, the tensile strength exhibited 86% improvement and flexural strength exhibited about 106% improvement over TPS/PLA blends. Increasing WF content to 40% further enhanced tensile strength by 128% and flexural strength by 180% with respect to TPS/PLA blends. Thermal behavior of blends and composites was analyzed using dynamic mechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46118.     

Effect of iron oxide (Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>) on the structural,optical, electrical,and dielectric properties of SrO–V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glasses

The oxide glass system of the composition (10 – x)SrO–xFe₂O₃–90V₂O₅, (x = 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mol %) were prepared by a standard melt quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the prepared glass was confirmed using X-ray diffraction technique. The infrared spectra of these glasses were recorded over a continuous spectral range (850–1500 cm^–1). The density of prepared sample was obtained by the Archimedes principle. The physical parameters of the glasses were also determined with respect to the composition. Density increases from 3.10 to 3.20 g/cm³, whereas the molar volume decreases with the increase in Fe₂O₃ concentration. In order to study optical properties, absorption spectra were measured at room temperature. Indirect optical energy band gap, optical dielectric constant, refractive index were calculated from optical energy band gap. The refractive index decreases gradually with the increase in Fe₂O₃ content due to increase of bridging oxygen’s. For temperatures from 300 to 500 K, the dc conductivity increased with the increasing Fe₂O₃ content. The dielectric properties like dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and dielectric loss tangent investigated at the room temperature in the frequency range of 10 kHz to 1 MHz decreases with frequency. The dielectric behavior shows strong frequency as well as composition dependence.     

Some aspects of pulsed laser deposited nanocrystalline LaB(6) film: atomic force microscopy, constant force current imaging and field emission investigations

Nanocrystalline lanthanum hexaboride (LaB(6)) films have been deposited on molybdenum foil by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The as-deposited films were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The XRD pattern shows the cubic crystallinity of the LaB(6) film. The AFM studies reveal that the conical shaped LaB(6) nanostructures have height 60?nm, base 800?nm, and a typical radius of curvature ～20?nm. A comparison of force and in situ current imaging AFM studies reveals that current contrast does not originate from the surface topography of the LaB(6) film. Field emission studies have been performed in the planar diode configuration. A current density of 4.4 × 10(-2)?A?cm(-2) is drawn from the actual emitting area. The Fowler-Nordheim plot is found to be linear, in accordance with the quantum mechanical tunneling phenomenon. The field enhancement factor is estimated to be 3585, indicating that the field emission is from LaB(6) nanocrystallites present on the emitter surface, as confirmed by the AFM. The emission current-time plots show current stability to the extent of 5% fluctuation about the average current over a period of 3?h.     

Effect of Fe – substitution on phase transformation,optical, electrical and dielectrical properties of BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoceramics synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method

The structural, microstructural, optical, electrical and dielectrical properties of nanocrystalline Fe substituted BaTiO₃ synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion have been investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the existence of the tetragonal phase for lower Fe content (x = 0.0–0.3) whereas, coexistence of the tetragonal and hexagonal structure of higher Fe content (x = 0.4 and 0.5). The lattice constant (a and c) and unit cell volume (V) increases with increase in Fe content; and an average crystallite size (t) was recorded in the range of ~14–20 nm. The surface morphology as examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the compositional stoichiometry was confirmed by energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) analysis. The UV-Vis spectra showed that the band gap energy sensitively depends on the Fe concentration x. DC-electrical conductivity (σ) was recorded in the temperature range of 333–714 K which was found to be increases with increasing temperature and Fe concentration; indicating that an electrical conduction was a thermally activated process. The type of temperature dependent DC conductivity indicates that the electrical conduction in the material is a thermally activated process. The dependencies of the conductivity contributions were predicted from the simple defect model presented, in which oxygen vacancies charge compensate Fe substitution of Ti. Dielectrical property was measured as a function of frequency in the range 50 Hz - 5 MHz at room temperature which was found to be higher at lower frequencies. Dielectric constant (ε’) and loss tangent (tan δ) shows strong compositional as well as frequency dependences.