Comparative study of crystallization processes in Sb2Te3 films using laser and thermal annealing techniques

Adherent and pin-hole free amorphous Sb₂Te₃ thin films have been obtained by vacuum evaporation at substrate temperatures ≤25 °C. The films have been crystallized by thermal and laser annealing, and the crystallization processes monitored as a function of annealing temperature and laser scan speed. A comparative study of topography reveals disk-shaped crystallized areas in thermal crystallization and dendrite growth in the laser induced process. The crystallized films in both cases contain a single Sb₂Te₃ phase. Activation energy of 2 eV for crystallization, determined using differential scanning calorimetery indicates good room temperature stability of the amorphous states.     

Blockchain Based Consensus Algorithm and Trustworthy Evaluation of Authenticated Subgraph Queries

Over the past era, subgraph mining from a large collection of graph database is a crucial problem. In addition, scalability is another big problem due to insufficient storage. There are several security challenges associated with subgraph mining in today’s on-demand system. To address this downside, our proposed work introduces a Blockchain-based Consensus algorithm for Authenticated query search in the Large-Scale Dynamic Graphs (BCCA-LSDG). The two-fold process is handled in the proposed BCCA-LSDG: graph indexing and authenticated query search (query processing). A blockchain-based reputation system is meant to maintain the trust blockchain and cloud server of the proposed architecture. To resolve the issues and provide safe big data transmission, the proposed technique also combines blockchain with a consensus algorithm architecture. Security of the big data is ensured by dividing the BC network into distinct networks, each with a restricted number of allowed entities, data kept in the cloud gate server, and data analysis in the blockchain. The consensus algorithm is crucial for maintaining the speed, performance and security of the blockchain. Then Dual Similarity based MapReduce helps in mapping and reducing the relevant subgraphs with the use of optimal feature sets. Finally, the graph index refinement process is undertaken to improve the query results. Concerning query error, fuzzy logic is used to refine the index of the graph dynamically. The proposed technique outperforms advanced methodologies in both blockchain and non-blockchain systems, and the combination of blockchain and subgraph provides a secure communication platform, according to the findings.     

Multi-Objective Modified Particle Swarm Optimization for Test Suite Reduction (MOMPSO)

Software testing plays a pivotal role in entire software development lifecycle. It provides researchers with extensive opportunities to develop novel methods for the optimized and cost-effective test suite Although implementation of such a cost-effective test suite with regression testing is being under exploration still it contains lot of challenges and flaws while incorporating with any of the new regression testing algorithm due to irrelevant test cases in the test suite which are not required. These kinds of irrelevant test cases might create certain challenges such as code-coverage in the test suite, fault-tolerance, defects due to uncovered-statements and overall-performance at the time of execution. With this objective, the proposed a new Modified Particle Swarm optimization used for multi-objective test suite optimization. The experiment results involving six subject programs show that MOMPSO method can outer perform with respect to both reduction rate (90.78% to 100%) and failure detection rate (44.56% to 55.01%). Results proved MOMPSO outperformed the other stated algorithms.     

Sources of New Ideas for Charity Fundraising: An Empirical Study

Intense competition in the UK charity fundraising market and the near continuous need for charities to acquire new supporters, reactivate lapsed donors and encourage first time donors to make further gifts has resulted in charities needing repeatedly to initiate novel fundraising campaigns. The starting point for an innovative campaign is an idea or set of ideas that will attract public attention, differentiate a charity from other fundraising organizations and distinguish the charity's current marketing activities from those undertaken in the past. An important but neglected issue in the charity idea creation field is the question of where and how fundraising organizations source their ideas for new campaigns. This empirical study identified (i) the main sources of fresh ideas for fundraising employed by a sample of 417 British charities, and (ii) certain antecedents of a charity's use of various categories of sources. Potential connections between particular types of idea source and managerial satisfaction with both the creative quality of the ideas obtained and the financial revenues derived from these ideas were also examined.     

Impact of applying pre-processing techniques for improving classification accuracy

Image denoising is a procedure aimed at removing noise from images while retaining as many important signal features as possible. Many images suffer from poor contrast due to inadequate illumination or finite sensitivity of the imaging device, electronic sensor noise or atmospheric disturbances. This paper proposes a hybrid directional lifting technique for image denoising to retain the original information present in the images. The primary objective of this paper is to show the impact of applying preprocessing techniques for improving classification accuracy. In order to classify the image accurately, effective preservation of edges and contour details of an image is essential. The discrete wavelet transform-based interpolation technique is developed for resolution enhancement. The image is then classified using support vector machine classifier, which is well suitable for image classification. The efficiency of the classifier is analyzed based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The quantitative performance measures peak signal to noise ratio and ROC analysis show the significance of the proposed techniques.     

Distribution and Prediction of Boundary Shear in Diverging Compound Channels

Measurement of bed shear stress is always a challenging task for engineers. In river engineering, bed shear is a fundamental variable and is important in estimating flow resistance and sediment transport. In this study, experiments are carried out in diverging compound channel with smooth bed (perspex sheet) and rough bed (Gravel) conditions to determine the effect of roughness. The shear velocity is estimated from universal logarithmic law. The effect of geometry and roughness on Von-Karman constant, eddy viscosity coefficient, friction factor is studied. The mass conservation and momentum conservation equations are used to derive apparent shear forces at interface of main channel and floodplain. A genetic algorithm model is developed to predict percentage of shear force (%Sfp) carried by sub-sections. To perform better with less and unseen data K-Fold cross-validation technique is used. The model is compared with available models in literature and it is observed that developed model gave better predictions with low MAPE.

     

Mouse Models of Sjögren’s Syndrome with Ocular Surface Disease

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic rheumatic disease that predominantly affects salivary and lacrimal glands resulting in oral and ocular dryness, respectively, referred to as sicca symptoms. The clinical presentation of ocular dryness includes keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), resulting from the inflammatory damage to the ocular surface tissues of cornea and conjunctiva. The diagnostic evaluation of KCS is a critical component of the classification criteria used by clinicians worldwide to confirm SS diagnosis. Therapeutic management of SS requires both topical and systemic treatments. Several mouse models of SS have contributed to our current understanding of immunopathologic mechanisms underlying the disease. This information also helps develop novel therapeutic interventions. Although these models address glandular aspects of SS pathology, their impact on ocular surface tissues is addressed only in a few models such as thrombospondin (TSP)-1 deficient, C57BL/6.NOD.Aec1Aec2, NOD.H2^b, NOD.Aire KO, and IL-2Rα (CD25) KO mice. While corneal and/or conjunctival damage is reported in most of these models, the characteristic SS specific autoantibodies are only reported in the TSP-1 deficient mouse model, which is also validated as a preclinical model. This review summarizes valuable insights provided by investigations on the ocular spectrum of the SS pathology in these models.     

Tensile Response of Hoop Reinforced Multiaxially Braided Thin Wall Composite Tubes

This paper presents the tensile response of thin-walled composite tubes with multi-axial fibre architecture. A hybrid braid-wound layup has the potential to optimise the composite tube properties, however, stacking sequence plays a role in the failure mechanism. A braid-winding method has been used to produce stacked overwound braid layup [(±45°/0°)₅/90°₄]_T. Influence of stacking sequence on premature failure of hoop layers has been reported. Under tensile loading, a cross-ply composite tube with the alternate stacking of hoop and axial fibre show hoop plies splitting similar to the overwound braided composite tube. However, splitting has been restricted by the surrounding axial plies and contained between the adjacent axial fibre tows. This observation suggests hoop layers sandwiched between braid layers will improve structural integrity. A near net shape architecture with three fibre orientation in a triaxial braid will provide additional support to prevent extensive damage for plies loaded in off-axis. Several notable observations for relatively open braid structures such as tow scissoring, high Poisson’s ratio and influence of axial tow crimp on the strain to failure have been reported. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in conjunction with surface strain gauging has been employed to capture the strain pattern.     

Nitrites Derived From Foneiculum Vulgare (Fennel) Seeds Promotes Vascular Functions

Abstract: Recent evidence has demonstrated that nitrites play an important role in the cardiovascular system. Fennel (Foneiculum vulgare) seeds are often used as mouth fresheners after a meal in both the Indian sub‐continent and around the world. The present study aims to quantify the nitrite and nitrates in fennel seeds as well as elucidating the effect of fennel derived‐nitrites on vascular functions. Results from our study show that fennel seeds contain significantly higher amount of nitrites when compared to other commonly used post‐meal seeds. Furthermore our study confirmed the functional effects of fennel derived‐nitrites using in vitro and ex vivo models that describe the promotion of angiogenesis, cell migration, and vasorelaxation. We also showed that chewing fennel seeds enhanced nitrite content of saliva. Thus our study indicates the potential role of fennel derived‐nitrites on the vascular system. Practical Application: This study is focused on determining the effect of fennel‐derived nitrites on angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from pre‐existing ones), cell migration, and vasorelaxation (dilation of blood vessels) thereby preserving cardiovascular health.     

Green Nanocomposites of Natural Rubber/ Olivine Nanosilica: Viscoelastic,Mechanical, Transport and Thermal Characterizations

Silicon - Nanosilica was synthesized from a low cost raw material, olivine by a more sustainable and cost effective method. The pure nanosilica obtained was amorphous in nature with a surface area...