Grafting vinyl monomers into nylon-6. II. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto nylon-6 by hexavalent chromium ion

The feasibility of chromium(VI) to induce graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto nylon-6 was investigated in the presence of nitrogen. The rate of grafting was determined by varying monomer concentration, chromium(VI) concentration, temperature, acidity of the medium, solvents, inorganic salts, and redox system. The graft yield increases significantly by increasing the monomer concentration. The graft yield increases with increase of [Cr(VI)] up to 0.025 mole/liter. With further increase of [Cr(VI)], the graft yield decreases. The increase of acid concentration up to 0.395 mole/liter results the increase in graft yield. Beyond this concentration the graft yield decreases. The graft yield increases with increase in temperature up to 55°C and thereafter it decreases. The graft yield is medium dependent. The graft yield increases with increasing thiourea concentration upto 0.0025 mole/liter but beyond this concentration, the percentage graft yield decreases. A suitable kinetic scheme has been proposed and the rate equation has been evaluated.     

Effect of flow rate and temperature on crystallization kinetics,crystallinity index,and elastic modulus of PEEK

Dynamic, in situ wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) studies of the melt crystallization of injection-molded poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) have been carried out using an X-ray diffractometer and a position-sensitive detector. A test cell has been fabricated to fit inside the diffractometer and yet work as a complete injection molding apparatus. The rate of crystallization has been shown to increase with decreasing crystallization temperature and/or increasing flow rate in the mold. The crystallization rate decreases dramatically with increase in melt soak time at 400°C. The crystallinity index, which affects the stiffness, toughness, and fracture behavior of PEEK, has been measured under various processing conditions, by wide angle X-ray scattering, so as to optimize the process parameters: molding time, mold temperature, melt temperature, soak time at melt temperature, and flow rate. It has been shown that the crystallinity and hence the elastic modulus increase with increase in crystallization temperature and/or flow rate. Chain orientation has been shown to be absent in the bulk of the injection-molded specimens under normal molding conditions.     

Production of agrochemical from waste polyesters

In this study, agrochemical was produced from waste polyesters. Reactions of waste polyesters [poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT)] powder with ethylene glycol (EG) in the presence of tetrahydrofurane (THF) using 0.003 mol lead acetate as a catalyst were carried out in a batch reactor at 470 K and at atmospheric pressure conditions. Reactions were undertaken with various particle size ranges from 50 to 512.5 μm, and reaction time from 30 to 70 min for reactions of polyesters. Low molecular weight product of polyester was obtained during this process. In the next stage, hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HAHC), cyclohexylamine (CHA), and potasium hydroxide (KOH) solution were introduced to convert low molecular weight product of polyester into terephthalohydroxamic acid (TPHA) by introduction of HCl (Hydrochloric Acid) as per stoichiometric requirement. TPHA can be used as an agrochemical (insecticide) with appreciable efficiency. To increase the polyester conversion rate, external catalyst (0.003 mol lead acetate) was introduced during the reaction. The product was deposited on the surface of unreacted polyester, which was removed from the surface by introducing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). To accelerate the reaction rate, DMSO, CHA, and THF were introduced during the reaction, which has an industrial significance. Depolymerization of polyester was proportional to the reaction time. Depolymerization of polyester was inversely proportional to the particle size of polyester. Analyses of value‐added product (TPHA) and byproducts [EG and BD (1,4‐butanediol)] as well as polyesters were undertaken. A kinetic model is developed, and experimental data simulated with it, which was consistent with the model. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2504–2510, 2006     

Design of a password-based authenticated key exchange protocol for SIP

The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling communications protocol, which has been chosen for controlling multimedia communication in 3G mobile networks. In recent years, password-based authenticated key exchange protocols are designed to provide strong authentication for SIP. In this paper, we address this problem in two-party setting where the user and server try to authenticate each other, and establish a session key using a shared password. We aim to propose a secure and anonymous authenticated key exchange protocol, which can achieve security and privacy goal without increasing computation and communication overhead. Through the analysis, we show that the proposed protocol is secure, and has computational and computational overheads comparable to related authentication protocols for SIP using elliptic curve cryptography. The proposed protocol is also provably secure in the random oracle model.     

Design and performance of a punch mechanism based pellet injector for alternative injection in the large helical device

A low speed single barrel pellet injector, using a mechanical punch device has been developed for alternative injection in the large helical device. A pellet is injected by the combined operation of a mechanical punch and a pneumatic propellant system. The pellet shape is cylindrical, 3 mm in diameter and 3 mm in length. Using this technique the speed of the pellet can be controlled flexibly in the range of 100-450 m/s, and a higher speed can be feasible for a higher gas pressure. The injector is equipped with a guide tube selector to direct the pellet to different injection locations. Pellets are exposed to several curved parts with the curvature radii R(c) = 0.8 and 0.3 m when they are transferred in guided tubes to the respective injection locations. Pellet speed variation with pressure at different pellet formation temperatures has been observed. Pellet intactness tests through these guide tubes show a variation in the intact speed limit over a range of pellet formation temperatures from 6.5 to 9.8 K. Pellet speed reduction of less than 6% has been observed after the pellet moves through the curved guide tubes.     

Bipartite coherent-state quantum key distribution with strong reference pulse

We propose an optical scheme for quantum key distribution in which bits are encoded in relative phases of four bipartite weak coherent states ${|\alpha, \alpha\rangle, |-\alpha, -\alpha\rangle, |-\alpha, \alpha\rangle}$ and ${|\alpha, -\alpha \rangle}$ , with respect to a strong reference pulse. We discuss security of the scheme against eavesdropping strategies like, photon number splitting, photon beam splitting and intercept-resend attacks. It is found that present scheme is more sensitive against these eavesdropping strategies than the two-dimensional non-orthogonal state based protocol and BB84 protocol. Our scheme is very simple, requires only passive optical elements like beam splitters, phase shifters and photon detectors, hence is at the reach of presently available technology.     

Highly Efficient Quasi 2D Blue Perovskite Electroluminescence Leveraging a Dual Ligand Composition

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are advancing because of their superior external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) and color purity. Still, additional work is needed for blue PeLEDs to achieve the same benchmarks as the other visible colors. This study demonstrates an extremely efficient blue PeLED with a 488 nm peak emission, a maximum luminance of 8600 cd m⁻², and a maximum EQE of 12.2% by incorporating the double-sided ethane-1,2-diammonium bromide (EDBr₂) ligand salt along with the long-chain ligand methylphenylammonium chloride (MeCl). The EDBr₂ successfully improves the interaction between 2D perovskite layers by reducing the weak van der Waals interaction and creating a Dion–Jacobson (DJ) structure. Whereas the pristine sample (without EDBr₂) is inhibited by small stacking number (n) 2D phases with nonradiative recombination regions that diminish the PeLED performance, adding EDBr₂ successfully enables better energy transfer from small n phases to larger n phases. As evidenced by photoluminescence (PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization, EDBr₂ improves the morphology by reduction of pinholes and passivation of defects, subsequently improving the efficiencies and operational lifetimes of quasi-2D blue PeLEDs.     

Event-triggered control for discrete-time multi-agent average consensus

We consider the average consensus problem for the multi-agent system in the discrete-time domain. Three triggering based control protocols are developed, which dictate the broadcast and control update instants of individual agents to alleviate communication and computational burden. Lyapunov-based design methods prescribe when agents should communicate and update their control so that the network converges to the average of agents' initial states. We start with a static version of the distributed event-triggering law and then generalize it so that it involves an internal auxiliary variable to regulate the threshold dynamically for each agent. The third protocol uses a self-triggering algorithm to avoid continuous listening wherein each agent estimates its next triggering time and broadcasts it to its neighbors at the current triggering time. Numerical simulations are shown to validate the efficacy of the proposed algorithms.     

An extended hesitant fuzzy set using SWARA-MULTIMOORA approach to adapt online education for the control of the pandemic spread of COVID-19 in higher education institutions

The world has been challenged since late 2019 by COVID-19. Higher education institutions have faced various challenges in adapting online education to control the pandemic spread of COVID-19. The present study aims to conduct a survey study through the interview and scrutinizing the literature to find the key challenges. Subsequently, an integrated MCDM framework, including Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and Multiple Objective Optimization based on Ratio Analysis plus Full Multiplicative Form (MULTIMOORA), is developed. The SWARA procedure is applied to the analysis and assesses the challenges to adapt the online education during the COVID-19 outbreak, and the MULTIMOORA approach is utilized to rank the higher education institutions on hesitant fuzzy sets. Further, an illustrative case study is considered to express the proposed idea's feasibility and efficacy in real-world decision-making. Finally, the obtained result is compared with other existing approaches, confirming the proposed framework's strength and steadiness. The identified challenges were systemic, pedagogical, and psychological challenges, while the analysis results found that the pedagogical challenges, including the lack of experience and student engagement, were the main essential challenges to adapting online education in higher education institutions during the COVID-19 outbreak.

     

Development,optimization, and characterization of a novel tea tree oil nanogel using response surface methodology

Purpose: To develop and optimize nanoemulsion (NE)-based emulgel (EG) formulation as a potential vehicle for topical delivery of tea tree oil (TTO).

Methodology: Central composite design was adopted for optimizing the processing conditions for NE preparation by high energy emulsification method viz. surfactant concentration, co-surfactant concentration, and stirring speed. The optimized NE was developed into emulgel (EG) using pH sensitive polymer Carbopol 940 and triethanolamine as alkalizer. The prepared EG was evaluated for its pH, viscosity, and texture parameters, ex vivo permeation at 37?°C and stability. Antimicrobial evaluation of EG in comparison to conventional gel and pure TTO was also carried out against selected microbial strains.

Results and discussion: Optimized NE had particle size and zeta potential of 16.23?±?0.411?nm and 36.11?±?1.234?mV, respectively. TEM analysis revealed the spherical shape of droplets. The pH of EG (5.57?±?0.05?) was found to be in accordance with the range of human skin pH. EG also illustrated efficient permeation (79.58?μL/cm²) and flux value (J_SS) of 7.96?μL cm²/h through skin in 10?h. Viscosity and texture parameters, firmness (9.3?±?0.08?g), spreadability (2.26?±?0.06?mJ), extrudability (61.6?±?0.05?mJ), and adhesiveness (8.66?±?0.08?g) depict its suitability for topical application. Antimicrobial evaluation of EG with same amount of TTO as conventional gel revealed broader zones of growth inhibitions against all the selected microbial strains. Moreover, EG was also found to be nonirritant (PII 0.0833). These parameters were consistent over 90 d.

Conclusion: TTO EG turned out to be a promising vehicle for the topical delivery of TTO with enhanced therapeutic efficacy.