Studies on the interactions of metal oxides and Na2 SO4 at 1100 and 1200 K in oxygen

The interaction of different metal oxides such as Co₃O₄, NiO, Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ with Na₂SO₄ at a temperature of 1100 and 1200 K in flowing oxygen has been studied. The thermogravimetric studies for each system were carried out as a function of Na₂SO₄ in the mixture. The presence of different constituents in the reaction products were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis and the morphologies of the reaction products were characterized using metallography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation of products was also investigated by thermodynamic computation of free energies of the reactions and the study of relevant equilibrium phase diagrams. The soluble species in the aqueous solutions of the reaction products were determined quantitatively using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The high temperature interaction products usually contain a 3-phase structure namely, Na₂O·M₂O _x , M₂O _x and metal sulphide and/or metal sulphate. The formation of Na₂O·M₂O _x depends upon the solid state solubility of metal oxide in the molten salt at high temperatures. Under limited solubility conditions Na₂O·M₂O _x is invariably formed, but as soon as this condition is relaxed the oxide. M₂O _x , precipitates and forms a separate phase.     

Applicability of feed-forward and recurrent neural networks to Boolean function complexity modeling

In this paper, we present the feed-forward neural network (FFNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) models for predicting Boolean function complexity (BFC). In order to acquire the training data for the neural networks (NNs), we conducted experiments for a large number of randomly generated single output Boolean functions (BFs) and derived the simulated graphs for number of min-terms against the BFC for different number of variables. For NN model (NNM) development, we looked at three data transformation techniques for pre-processing the NN-training and validation data. The trained NNMs are used for complexity estimation for the Boolean logic expressions with a given number of variables and sum of products (SOP) terms. Both FFNNs and RNNs were evaluated against the ISCAS benchmark results. Our FFNNs and RNNs were able to predict the BFC with correlations of 0.811 and 0.629 with the benchmark results, respectively.     

Silver Nanoflower Decorated Graphene Oxide Sponges for Highly Sensitive Variable Stiffness Stress Sensors

Soft conductive materials should enable large deformation while keeping high electrical conductivity and elasticity. The graphene oxide (GO)‐based sponge is a potential candidate to endow large deformation. However, it typically exhibits low conductivity and elasticity. Here, the highly conductive and elastic sponge composed of GO, flower‐shaped silver nanoparticles (AgNFs), and polyimide (GO‐AgNF‐PI sponge) are demonstrated. The average pore size and porosity are 114 µm and 94.7%, respectively. Ag NFs have thin petals (8–20 nm) protruding out of the surface of a spherical bud (300–350 nm) significantly enhancing the specific surface area (2.83 m² g^?1). The electrical conductivity (0.306 S m^?1 at 0% strain) of the GO‐AgNF‐PI sponge is increased by more than an order of magnitude with the addition of Ag NFs. A nearly perfect elasticity is obtained over a wide compressive strain range (0–90%). The strain‐dependent, nonlinear variation of Young's modulus of the sponge provides a unique opportunity as a variable stiffness stress sensor that operates over a wide stress range (0–10 kPa) with a high maximum sensitivity (0.572 kPa^?1). It allows grasping of a soft rose and a hard bottle, with the minimal object deformation, when attached on the finger of a robot gripper.     

Energy metabolism and fuel mobilization: from the perioperative period to recovery

PURPOSE: Previous studies of monochromatic visual evoked potentials confirm the strong suppression of (the cortical representation of) paracentral retinal areas of functionally amblyopic eyes, by a flat response to a blue stimulus. A clinical trial stimulating these areas with blue light was encouraging, and justified a prospective comparison of this treatment with conventional classic treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 50 strabismic children with amblyopia, the blue filter treatment protocol (flash stimulation with, and the wearing of, a blue filter during occlusion of the better eye for one hour daily) was compared with the classical treatment (full time total occlusion by patch) in a prospective matched and randomized study. Patients 3 to 7 years old without previous treatment and a visual acuity up to 0.3 were admitted to the study. Visual acuity and fixation behavior were used as the parameters of comparison. Visual Evoked Potentials by monochromatic flashes were also studied. Results of treatment were compared after 6 months. RESULTS: The visual acuity outcome for the blue filter treatment was "statistically significantly" better (p=0.005). The greatest improvement was seen in the subgroup of children with eccentric fixation (p=0.01). Fixation behavior also showed a better outcome from the blue filter treatment (p=0.05) favoring especially children between 3 and 5 years. In children of this age with a visual acuity better than 0.1 we found a very "statistically significant" difference between the two treatments (p=0.004). In children 3 to 5 years old with poorer visual acuity we also found a "statistically significant" difference in the two treatments (p=0.04). The interocular difference of amplitude on the Visual Evoked Potentials also demonstrated more improvement in children treated with the blue filter. This treatment improved especially the cortical response to blue flash stimulation, correlating to paracentral retinal areas. CONCLUSIONS: The blue filter treatment protocol provided better results for treating amblyopia than the conventional classic occlusion treatment method. We propose that stimulation of these paracentral retinal areas triggers a better disinhibition of a functionally amblyopic eye.     

Keypoint Detection and Local Feature Matching for Textured 3D Face Recognition

In this study we concentrate on qualitative topological analysis of the local behavior of the space of natural images. To this end, we use a space of 3 by 3 high-contrast patches ℳ. We develop a theoretical model for the high-density 2-dimensional submanifold of ℳ showing that it has the topology of the Klein bottle. Using our topological software package PLEX we experimentally verify our theoretical conclusions. We use polynomial representation to give coordinatization to various subspaces of ℳ. We find the best-fitting embedding of the Klein bottle into the ambient space of ℳ. Our results are currently being used in developing a compression algorithm based on a Klein bottle dictionary.     

Intelligent knowledge based expert inventory control system for computer integrated manufacturing

The paper discusses the framework and development of an expert inventory management system for integrative manufacturing planning. The system developed with an artificial intelligent language provides a linkage between management and computer-integrated manufacturing(CIM), has the following major elements: data base to represent a hierarchical tree using recursive objects on different levels; knowledge base containing heuristic rules; goal oriented interaction; and backtracking interface procedures. Potential benefits of the system includes: better manufacturing planning, reduced inventory levels and production lead times, and consistent inventory control records.     

Adsorption of copper from aqueous solution on Brassica cumpestris (mustard oil cake)

The adsorption behavior of various heavy metals on mustard oil cake (MOC) was studied. The maximum adsorption of Cu(II) was observed followed by Zn(II), Cr(VI), Mn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II). The adsorption of Cu(II) was found to be dependent on initial concentration of solution, pH, adsorbent dose, temperature and contact time. The adsorption followed pseudo-first-order and second-order kinetics but pseudo-second-order kinetic model was better obeyed since experimental data agreed well with theoretical data. Thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Attempts were also made to desorb Cu(II) from the adsorbent and regeneration of the spent adsorbent. The breakthrough and exhaustive capacities were found to be 5 and 10 mg g(-1), respectively.     

Formulation,optimization, hemocompatibility and pharmacokinetic evaluation of PLGA nanoparticles containing paclitaxel

Objective: Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded polymer (Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), PLGA)-based nanoformulation was developed with the objective of formulating cremophor EL-free nanoformulation intended for intravenous use.

Significance: The polymeric PTX nanoparticles free from the cremophor EL will help in eliminating the shortcomings of the existing delivery system as cremophor EL causes serious allergic reactions to the subjects after intravenous use.

Methods and results: Paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles were formulated by nanoprecipitation method. The diminutive nanoparticles (143.2?nm) with uniform size throughout (polydispersity index, 0.115) and high entrapment efficiency (95.34%) were obtained by employing the Box–Behnken design for the optimization of the formulation with the aid of desirability approach-based numerical optimization technique. Optimized levels for each factor viz. polymer concentration (X1), amount of organic solvent (X2), and surfactant concentration (X3) were 0.23%, 5?ml %, and 1.13%, respectively. The results of the hemocompatibility studies confirmed the safety of PLGA-based nanoparticles for intravenous administration. Pharmacokinetic evaluations confirmed the longer retention of PTX in systemic circulation.

Conclusion: In a nutshell, the developed polymeric nanoparticle formulation of PTX precludes the inadequacy of existing PTX formulation and can be considered as superior alternative carrier system of the same.     

Interference and Resource management strategy for handover in femtocells

Interference in femtocells due to neighboring femtocells and macrocells is a major issue of two-tier networks. Handover should be made to reduce interference, if and only if, when resources are available. Otherwise, it will further degrade network performance. Resource management should be made in an efficient manner that will not cause interference between macrocells and neighboring femtocells. Since distance between macro base station (MBS) and femto access point (FAP) is short, therefore, it is very hard to sustain low handover probability when macro user moves from MBS to FAP. We proposed handover algorithm for uplink co-channel interference mitigation that will make handover decision on the basis of time-to-stay and signal to interference plus noise ratio thresholds along with efficient resource management mechanism to reduce number of handovers and also resolve interference problem.