Copolymer-Templated Nickel Oxide for High-Efficiency Mesoscopic Perovskite Solar Cells in Inverted Architecture

Despite the outstanding role of mesoscopic structures on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) in the regular (n–i–p) architecture, mesoscopic PSCs in inverted (p–i–n) architecture have rarely been reported. Herein, an efficient and stable mesoscopic NiO_x (mp-NiO_x) scaffold formed via a simple and low-cost triblock copolymer template-assisted strategy is employed, and this mp-NiO_x film is utilized as a hole transport layer (HTL) in PSCs, for the first time. Promisingly, this approach allows the fabrication of homogenous, crack-free, and robust 150 nm thick mp-NiO_x HTLs through a facile chemical approach. Such a high-quality templated mp-NiO_x structure promotes the growth of the perovskite film yielding better surface coverage and enlarged grains. These desired structural and morphological features effectively translate into improved charge extraction, accelerated charge transportation, and suppressed trap-assisted recombination. Ultimately, a considerable efficiency of 20.2% is achieved with negligible hysteresis which is among the highest efficiencies for mp-NiO_x based inverted PSCs so far. Moreover, mesoscopic devices indicate higher long-term stability under ambient conditions compared to planar devices. Overall, these results may set new benchmarks in terms of performance for mesoscopic inverted PSCs employing templated mp-NiO_x films as highly efficient, stable, and easy fabricated HTLs.     

Correction to: Probabilistic elderly person’s mood analysis based on its activities of daily living using smart facilities

Pattern Analysis and Applications -     

Decreased lecithin: Cholesterol acyltransferase activity in the plasma of hypercholesterolemic pigs

Lecithincholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity levels were determined, as function of plasma total cholesterol (TC) in 13 normocholesterolemic (TC<85 mg/dL) and in 28 hypercholesterolemic (TC>98 mg/dL) pigs. The normocholesterolemic group consisted of pigs that carried apo-B allelic genes other thanLpb ⁵ and orLpb ⁸. The hypercholesterolemic group consisted ofLpb ^5/x andLpb ^5/8 heterozygous andLpb ^5/5 homozygous animals. The data reported in this study show that the LCAT activity in the plasma of hypercholesterolemic (HC) pigs (79±43 units) was significantly lower (p<0.0005) compared to the normocholesterolemic controls (175±45 units). Furthermore, LCAT activity was positively correlated with TC in the normocholesterolemic group (r=+0.54; p<0.05), whereas it was negatively correlated with TC in the hypercholesterolemic group (r=−0.73; p<0.001). Additional data obtained from incubation experiments suggest that the lower LCAT activity in hypercholesterolemic pigs may be due, at least in part, to inhibition of LCAT activity by components found in the lipoprotein-deficient fractions of the plasma of hypercholesterolemic pigs.     

ATM Network Design: Traffic Models and Optimization-Based Heuristics

We consider the design and capacity expansion of ATM networks as an optimization problem in which flows representing end-to-end variable bit-rate services of different classes are to be multiplexed and routed over ATM trunks and switches so as to minimize the costs of additional switches and transport pipes while meeting service quality and survivability constraints. After an overview of the underlying fractional Brownian motion model for aggregate flows, a nonlinear multicommodity optimization problem is formulated and LP-based heuristics for its approximate solutions are described. Finally, computational results are produced that demonstrate realistic size problems can be solved with the proposed method to shed light on key economic characteristics of ATM traffic, such as safe levels of statistical multiplexing, as well as robust and efficient design alternatives.     

The Relationship of the Maximum Amplitude and the Maximum and Minimum Slope of the Intrauterine Pressure Waveform in Late Pregnancy and Labor

An attempt to quantitate the organization of the human uterus was made by measuring the maximum amplitude and the maximum and minimum slopes of the intrauterine pressure waveform prior to induced labor and during spontaneous and induced labors. No apparent differences in the ratio of the maximum amplitude to the maximum and minimum slopes were found in these three physiological states. All the correlation coefficients for the maximum amplitude and maximum (r1) and minimum (r2) slopes were high, r1, ranging from 0.79-0.84, and r2 from 0.72-0.80. Possible use of these measures in the further analysis of the organization of uterine contractility is discussed.     

Designing a new model of distributed quality control for sub-assemble products based on the intelligent web information system

The quality control of sub-assemble products (SAP) in a distributed manufacturing shop (DMS) becomes crucial and complicated when the production of SAPs involves a variety of production technology. In this case, traditional statistical process control methods are not sufficient to control such manufacturing system. Here, we design an intelligent web information system, where quality data are collected from DMS and stored in the central database. The processes of manufacturing SAPs in DMS are then controlled by clustering homogenous SAPs using the quality control of SAP in DMS (QCSD) and process smoothness factor based SAP predefined clustering (PSFSPC) algorithms, respectively. A prototype system called an intelligent web information system quality control (IWIS-QC) has been developed to trace the quality profiles of SAPs. Finally, a case study has been presented to illustrate and validate the proposed approach.     

Physico‐chemical,organoleptic, antioxidative and release characteristics of flavoured yoghurt enriched with microencapsulated Melissa officinalis essential oil

In this research, Melissa officinalis essential oil was encapsulated through ultrasonication by using different ratios of whey protein isolate/sodium caseinate as coating material. Flavoured yoghurt was generated by adding microcapsules; the release behaviour of the essential oil was characterised over a 21‐day storage period. The released essential oil was quantified by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography. The results showed that the antioxidative activity of yoghurt samples was increased by the incorporation of encapsulated essential oil. Therefore, the use of microcapsules containing M. officinalis essential oil could be a suitable method for producing nutraceutical foods with antioxidant properties.     

A computational study of a three-dimensional proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with conventional and deflected membrane electrode assembly

This article presents the results of a numerical investigation, using a comprehensive three-dimensional, single phase, non-isothermal and parallel flow model of a PEM fuel cell with deflected membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This numerical research has concentrated on the deflection parameter (??) that affects this type of fuel cell performance. The model accounts simultaneously for electrochemical kinetics, current distribution, hydrodynamics, and multicomponent transport. A set of conservation equations valid for flow channels, gas-diffusion electrodes, catalyst layers, and the membrane region are developed and numerically solved using a finite-volumebased computational fluid dynamics technique. Because of importance of base model fuel cell (?? = 0), initially the CFD result of polarization curve has been validated with the available experimental data which shown good agreement. Introducing of deflection parameter as a criterion for creating of a new geometry, shown that fuel cell performance increases rather than base model, since the face width increases and more reactants diffuse through the gas diffusion layer (GDL) to the reacting area. Also, when this parameter reaches to its maximum value equal to channel height, the fuel cell performance has been maximized in high current densities region. The further numerical results including of temperature distribution, oxygen, and water mass fraction in deflected membrane full cell are derived and discussed in the more details with respect to various values of deflection parameter. Finally, the obtained numerical results shown reasonable features in describing of deflected fuel cell behavior.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Electro-Crystallized Alumina Nanoparticles and Investigation of Their Application in Removal of Cobalt and Cadmium from Seimareh and Karoon Rivers in Iran

Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized in an electrolytic cell containing two Al sheets as electrodes and an aqueous solution in the presence of an amine. To measure the effect of growth parameters on the properties of alumina nanoparticles, different samples were synthesized under different voltages (5–25 V), electrolyte concentration (0.02–0.1 M) and growth temperatures (10–60°C). X-ray diffraction patterns clearly approved the formation of the Al₂O₃ phase with cubic structure after annealing at 600°C for 2 h, and no sign of impurities was observed. SEM images showed that the particles are quasi-spherical and their mean size ranged from 7 to 270 nm depending on the growth conditions. The ultraviolet–visible results showed that the alumina nanoparticles mainly disperse rather than absorb light. The photoluminescence emission spectrum of nanoparticles showed an original peak at 395 nm, which is related to the electron transition between the levels and the photon emission. The removal of cobalt and cadmium from experimentally polluted water and the Seimareh and Karoon Rivers in Iran has been investigated. The water treatments were studied in an electrochemical cell with polluted water as the electrolyte, and by mixing the alumina nanoparticles with polluted water in a shaker. The results of atomic absorption spectroscopy showed that it is possible to remove about 100% of cadmium from the Seimareh and Karoon rivers. Also, by mixing the alumina nanoparticles with polluted water in a shaker, about 37.77% and 91.06% of cobalt were removed from the Seimareh and Karoon rivers, respectively.     

Three‐layered electrospun PVA/PCL/PVA nanofibrous mats containing tetracycline hydrochloride and phenytoin sodium: A case study on sustained control release,antibacterial, and cell culture properties

The main objective of this work was to prepare a tailor‐made electrospun nanofibrous samples based on poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) containing tetracycline hydrochloride (TC‐HCl) as a middle layer and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) including phenytoin sodium (PHT‐Na) as lateral layers. The characterizations of the three‐layered electrospun samples were carried out by using SEM, ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy along with swelling/weight loss, UV–vis spectrophotometry as well as HPLC, antibacterial and MTT tests. The SEM micrograph images showed that the average diameter of PCL nanofibers was decreased from 243 ± 7 nm to 181 ± 5 nm by adding TC‐HCl. The hydrolytic degradation of PVA nanofibers in the exposure of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) was confirmed by ATR‐FTIR results in which a change at the intensity of the characteristic peak located at 3333 cm^?1 corresponding to hydroxyl groups (? OH) was observed. The UV–vis outcomes revealed a sustained control release of TC‐HCl from the three‐layered nanofibrous samples (PVA/PCL/PVA) with an amount of about 43% compared to the PCL nanofibers which had an ultimate release of the drug about 79%. Furthermore, the HPLC chromatograms showed the released PHT‐Na from PVA nanofibers about 87%. Finally, the MTT assay along with the antibacterial evaluation exhibited that the surfaces of these electrospun three‐layered nanofibrous samples have no cytotoxicity as well as the controlled release of TC‐HCl from them enabled their prolonged use for preventing the bacterium growth such as S. aureus during 24‐h treatment time. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43309.