Non‐Volatile ReRAM Devices Based on Self‐Assembled Multilayers of Modified Graphene Oxide 2D Nanosheets

2D nanomaterials have been actively utilized in non‐volatile resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) devices due to their high flexibility, 3D‐stacking capability, simple structure, transparency, easy fabrication, and low cost. Herein, it demonstrates re‐writable, bistable, transparent, and flexible solution‐processed crossbar ReRAM devices utilizing graphene oxide (GO) based multilayers as active dielectric layers. The devices employ single‐ or multi‐component‐based multilayers composed of positively charged GO (N‐GO(+) or NS‐GO(+)) with/without negatively charged GO(‐) using layer‐by‐layer assembly method, sandwiched between Al bottom and Au top electrodes. The device based on the multi‐component active layer Au/[N‐GO(+)/GO(‐)]_n/Al/PES shows higher ON/OFF ratio of ≈10⁵ with switching voltage of ?1.9 V and higher retention stability (≈10⁴ s), whereas the device based on single component (Au/[N‐GO(+)]_n/Al/PES) shows ≈10³ ON/OFF ratio at ±3.5 V switching voltage. The superior ReRAM properties of the multi‐component‐based device are attributed to a higher coating surface roughness. The Au/[N‐GO(+)/GO(–)]_n/Al/PES device prepared from lower GO concentration (0.01%) exhibits higher ON/OFF ratio (≈10⁹) at switching voltage of ±2.0 V. However, better stability is achieved by increasing the concentration from 0.01% to 0.05% of all GO‐based solutions. It is found that the devices containing MnO₂ in the dielectric layer do not improve the ReRAM performance.     

Integration of IRS-1A L2 data by fuzzy logic approaches for landuse classification

A methodology has been formulated to integrate images from IRS-1A LISS II of two dates for landuse/landcover classification. The methodology developed includes image classification by fuzzy k-means clustering and fusion of memberships by fuzzy set theoretic operators. The two date images have been geometrically coregistered and classified for the identification of land classes individually. The fuzzy memberships of the classified output images have been integrated by using fuzzy logic operators like algebraic sum and gamma (gamma) operator. The classification accuracy of the resultant land classes in the integrated images was verified with the ground data collected in situ. The resultant images have been evaluated by kappa (kappa) statistic and it was found that output from the image of fuzzy algebraic sum operator scored high in generating the land classes, with an overall accuracy of 95%.     

Variations of surface boundary layer parameters associated with Cyclone Gonu over the Arabian Sea using QuikSCAT data

This study attempted to quantify the variations of the surface marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) parameters associated with the tropical Cyclone Gonu formed over the Arabian Sea during 30 May–7 June 2007 (just after the monsoon onset). These characteristics were evaluated in terms of surface wind, drag coefficient, wind stress, horizontal divergence, and frictional velocity using 0.5° × 0.5° resolution Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) wind products. The variation of these different surface boundary layer parameters was studied for three defined cyclone life stages: prior to the formation, during, and after the cyclone passage. Drastic variations of the MABL parameters during the passage of the cyclone were observed. The wind strength increased from 12 to 22 m s^?1 in association with different stages of Gonu. Frictional velocity increased from a value of 0.1–0.6 m s^?1 during the formative stage of the system to a high value of 0.3–1.4 m s^?1 during the mature stage. Drag coefficient varied from 1.5 × 10^?3 to 2.5 × 10^?3 during the occurrence of Gonu. Wind stress values varied from 0.4 to 1.1 N m^?2. Wind stress curl values varied from 10 × 10^?7 to 45 × 10^?7 N m^?3. Generally, convergent winds prevailed with the numerical value of divergence varying from 0 to –4 × 10^?5 s^?1. Maximum variations of the wind parameters were found in the wall cloud region of the cyclone. The parameters returned to normally observed values in 1–3 days after the cyclone passage.     

Virtual Human versus Human Administration of Photographic Lineups

One solution to mistaken identification by a crime's victims and eyewitnesses is to use a virtual officer to conduct identification procedures. Results from a study comparing a virtual officer with a live human investigator indicate that the virtual officer performs comparably to the human in terms of identification accuracy, emotional affect, and ease of use.     

Solid Circulation Rate in Recirculating Fluidized Bed

Recirculating fluidized bed (RCFB) is a spouted bed with a draft tube at the center. This is used for a variety of operations such as incineration, coal and heavy crude oil gasification, grain drying, blending and mixing, etc. Solid circulation rate is an important parameter for any circulation system, and it describes the efficiency of operation. Mathematical models do not always predict the circulation rates accurately. Hence, there is a need to measure the circulation rates directly. Most of the methods (for direct measurement) reported are either costly, involving high expertise and sophisticated equipment, or time consuming. A butterfly valve arrangement can measure the solid circulation rate accurately and quickly. It is sturdy, and the cost/expertise involvement is the bare minimum. Solid circulation rates measured directly using the butterfly valve arrangement are compared with the solid circulation rates computed based on the particle velocity and the operating voidage in the downcomer bed. Solid circulation rates measured directly are in close comparison (mostly within a deviation of 10%) with the computed circulation rates.     

Stress oscillations in plane stress modelling of flexure—a field-consistency interpretation

Exactly integrated isoparametric plane stress elements behave poorly in flexure. The 4-noded element ‘locks’, with errors that progress indefinitely as element aspect ratio increases. Reduced integration of the shear strain energy eliminates this locking entirely. The 8-noded element does not lock, but improves in performance with reduced integration of shear strain energy. Both elements, with their original shape functions, show severe shear stress oscillations in flexure. In this paper we attribute these oscillations to the lack of ‘consistency’ of shear strain fields derived directly from independent field-variable interpolations. We derive error models for specific tractable examples which can confirm the accuracy of this conceptual scheme through digital computation using the finite element models. A field-consistent redistribution strategy for the shear strain field is offered as an elegant procedure to free the elements of spurious oscillations and give a ‘lock’-free performance.     

Peak Load Management in Electrolytic Process Industries

Electrolytic process, employed for manufacturing basic chemicals like caustic soda and chlorine, is highly energy intensive. Due to escalating costs of fossil fuels and capacity addition, the electricity cost has been increasing for the last few decades. Electricity intensive industries find it very difficult to cope up with higher electricity charges particularly with time-of-use (TOU) tariffs implemented by the utilities with the objective of flattening the load curve. Load management programs focusing on reduced electricity use at the time of utility's peak demand, by strategic load shifting, is a viable option for industries to reduce their electricity cost. This paper presents an optimization model and formulation for load management for electrolytic process industries. The formulation utilizes mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) technique for minimizing the electricity cost and reducing the peak demand, by rescheduling the loads, satisfying the industry constraints. The case study of a typical caustic-chlorine plant shows that a reduction of about 19% in the peak demand with a corresponding saving of about 3.9% in the electricity cost is possible with the optimal load scheduling under TOU tariff.     

Controllable optimized designs of an ideal reactive distillation system using genetic algorithm

The steady state economic optimization to obtain the most economical controllable design of a double feed ideal reactive distillation (RD) column is demonstrated using real coded genetic algorithm. The novelty of the work is in the development of a simple procedure based on steady state criteria for controllability. The optimization is performed for four scenarios corresponding to a sequential increase in the number of design variables. Results show that limiting the optimization search space to only those designs that satisfy the controllability criteria leads to optimized designs that are only slightly (<2%) more expensive than the most economical design without controllability considerations. The former designs however exhibit much better controllability in terms of effectively handling a large through-put change using two-point temperature inferential control and avoiding a steady state transition under open loop operation. Results also show that the location of the fresh feeds is a dominant design variable with designs that do not constrain the feed tray location to be immediately above and below the reactive zone being substantially more economical.     

Solidification Behavior of Intensively Sheared Hypoeutectic Al-Si Alloy Liquid

The effect of the processing temperature on the microstructural and mechanical properties of Al-Si (hypoeutectic) alloy solidified from intensively sheared liquid metal has been investigated systematically. Intensive shearing gives a significant refinement in grain size and intermetallic particle size. It also is observed that the morphology of intermetallics, defect bands, and microscopic defects in high-pressure die cast components are affected by intensive shearing the liquid metal. We attempt to discuss the possible mechanism for these effects.