Machine Learning Technique to Detect Radiations in the Brain

The brain of humans and other organisms is affected in various ways through the electromagnetic field (EMF) radiations generated by mobile phones and cell phone towers. Morphological variations in the brain are caused by the neurological changes due to the revelation of EMF. Cellular level analysis is used to measure and detect the effect of mobile radiations, but its utilization seems very expensive, and it is a tedious process, where its analysis requires the preparation of cell suspension. In this regard, this research article proposes optimal broadcasting learning to detect changes in brain morphology due to the revelation of EMF. Here, Drosophila melanogaster acts as a specimen under the revelation of EMF. Automatic segmentation is performed for the brain to attain the microscopic images from the prejudicial geometrical characteristics that are removed to detect the effect of revelation of EMF. The geometrical characteristics of the brain image of that is microscopic segmented are analyzed. Analysis results reveal the occurrence of several prejudicial characteristics that can be processed by machine learning techniques. The important prejudicial characteristics are given to four varieties of classifiers such as naïve Bayes, artificial neural network, support vector machine, and unsystematic forest for the classification of open or nonopen microscopic image of D. melanogaster brain. The results are attained through various experimental evaluations, and the said classifiers perform well by achieving 96.44% using the prejudicial characteristics chosen by the feature selection method. The proposed system is an optimal approach that automatically identifies the effect of revelation of EMF with minimal time complexity, where the machine learning techniques produce an effective framework for image processing.     

Polyketone nanofiber: an effective reinforcement for the development of novel UV‐curable,highly transparent and flexible polyurethane nanocomposite films

This study deals with the fabrication of a novel polyketone nanofiber‐reinforced UV‐curable polyurethane acrylate nanocomposite. An aliphatic polyketone nanofibrous mat was proficiently prepared by electrospinning using a solvent mixture of methylene chloride and trifluoroacetic acid. The outstanding characteristics of polymer nanofibers including a small pore size, a high aspect ratio and molecular orientation and an excellent mechanical performance offer the use of nanofibers as reinforcement in making nanocomposites. We fabricated a novel highly transparent and flexible nanocomposite film based on casting, electrospinning and UV‐curing processes. This method allowed significant enhancement of the mechanical properties using a very small amount (approximately 3.5 gsm) of polyketone nanofiber. The yield strength and Young's modulus of the nanocomposite were improved by up to 61% and 60%, respectively, compared to a UV‐cured polyurethane acrylate film. The reinforcing effect of nanofibers was accomplished without sacrificing the transparency and flexibility of polyurethane acrylate. The morphologies of the nanofibers and fiber–resin interface as well as the characteristics of the nanocomposite films were also studied. The effective use of nanofibers as a reinforcement and the preparation of a nanocomposite along with its characterization in comparison to a UV‐cured polyurethane acrylate film are also discussed. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cover Image,Volume 67, Issue 1

The cover image, by Jae‐Hoon Jeong et al., is based on the Research Article Preparation and properties of poly(lactic acid)/lipophilized graphene oxide nanohybrids, DOI: 10.1002/pi.5478 .

     

An experimental investigation of hydrogen-enriched air induction in a diesel engine system

Diesel engines are the most trusted power sources in the transportation industry. They intake air and emit, among others, the pollutants _NOX${\mathrm{NO}}_X$ and particulate matter. Continuous efforts and tests have tried to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions of internal combustion engines. Alternative fuels are key to meeting upcoming stringent emission norms. We study hydrogen as an air-enrichment medium with diesel as an ignition source in a stationary diesel engine system to improve engine performance and reduce emissions. Stationary engines can be operated with less fuel than neat diesel operations, resulting in lower smoke levels and particulate emissions. Hydrogen (_H2)$({\mathrm{H}}_2)$-enriched air systems in diesel engines enable the realization of higher brake thermal efficiency, resulting in lower specific energy consumption (SEC). _NOX${\mathrm{NO}}_X$ emissions are reduced from 2762 to 515 ppm with 90% hydrogen enrichment at 70% engine load. At full load, _NOX${\mathrm{NO}}_X$ emission marginally increases compared to diesel operation, while both smoke and particulate matter are reduced by about 50%. The brake thermal efficiency increases from 22.78% to 27.9% with 30% hydrogen enrichment. Thus, using hydrogen-enriched air in a diesel engine produces less pollution and better performance.     

Hypocholesterolemic effect of quercetin-rich onion peel extract in C57BL/6J mice fed with high cholesterol diet

Food Science and Biotechnology - Onion peel (OP) extract is known as a rich source of flavonoids, mainly quercetin. We hypothesized that OP has hypocholesterolemic effects. To investigate the...     

A solution to stochastic unit commitment problem for a wind-thermal system coordination

Unit commitment (UC) problem is one of the most important decision making problems in power system. In this paper the UC problem is solved by considering it as a real time problem by adding stochasticity in the generation side because of wind-thermal co-ordination system as well as stochasticity in the load side by incorporating the randomness of the load. The most important issue that needs to be addressed is the achievement of an economic unit commitment solution after solving UC as a real time problem. This paper proposes a hybrid approach to solve the stochastic UC problem considering the volatile nature of wind and formulating the UC problem as a chance constrained problem in which the load is met with high probability over the entire time period.     

Optimization of cellulase production using Trichoderma reesei by RSM and comparison with genetic algorithm

The potential of Trichoderma reesei for cellulase production using pineapple waste as substrate has been investigated. A maximum cellulase activity of 9.23 U/mL is obtained under the optimum experimental conditions: pH (5.5), temperature (37.5°C), initial substrate concentration (3%), inoculum concentration (6.6 × 10⁸?CFU/mL), and culture time (6 days). Box-Behnken design (BBD) statistical tool and genetic algorithm (GA) are used to optimize the process parameters. The BBD study of linear and quadratic interactive effects of experimental variables on the desired response of cellulase activity showed that the second order polynomial is significant (R² = 0.9414). The experimental cellulase activity under the optimal conditions identified by the BBD is 9.23 U/mL and that by GA is 6.98 U/mL. This result indicates that the BBD model gives better result than GA in the present case.     

Effect of sizing on friction and wear properties of copper-iron based sintered composites

Sizing, also known as coining, is a post sintering near net shape metal forming operation performed on automobile brake and clutch liners to achieve improved physical and mechanical properties and close dimensional tolerances. Cu-15% Fe based composite pins were processed in the present investigation by powder metallurgy route with and without addition of mullite and graphite and both. Sizing of sintered pins was performed and tribological properties, such as; coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate were studies under dry sliding conditions. Physical properties were also evaluated, which were found improved after sizing for all the compositions studied. Tribological properties, in particular specific wear rate, were found significantly deteriorated for the sized materials containing either mullite or graphite alone. However, composites that contained both mullite and graphite, showed slightly reduced, but more stabilized COF upon sizing. Specific wear rate of these sized pins was found minimal and exceptionally low compared to materials containing either mullite or graphite alone. There was little increase in the wear rate of sized pins compared to the as sintered pins containing both mullite and graphite, which was due to the development of microcracks after sizing. The tendency of microcracking could be minimized by optimization of the sizing pressure, so as to achieve both improved physical properties as well as tribological performance.     

Performance and emission studies on port injection of hydrogen with varied flow rates with Diesel as an ignition source

Automobiles are one of the major sources of air pollution in the environment. In addition CO₂ emission, a product of complete combustion also has become a serious issue due to global warming effect. Hence the search for cleaner alternative fuels has become mandatory. Hydrogen is expected to be one of the most important fuels in the near future for solving the problems of air pollution and greenhouse gas problems (carbon dioxide), thereby protecting the environment. Hence in the present work, an experimental investigation has been carried out using hydrogen in the dual fuel mode in a Diesel engine system. In the study, a Diesel engine was converted into a dual fuel engine and hydrogen fuel was injected into the intake port while Diesel was injected directly inside the combustion chamber during the compression stroke. Diesel injected inside the combustion chamber will undergo combustion first which in-turn would ignite the hydrogen that will also assist the Diesel combustion. Using electronic control unit (ECU), the injection timings and injection durations were varied for hydrogen injection while for Diesel the injection timing was 23° crank angle (CA) before injection top dead centre (BITDC). Based on the performance, combustion and emission characteristics, the optimized injection timing was found to be 5° CA before gas exchange top dead centre (BGTDC) with injection duration of 30° CA for hydrogen Diesel dual fuel operation. The optimum hydrogen flow rate was found to be 7.5 lpm. Results indicate that the brake thermal efficiency in hydrogen Diesel dual fuel operation increases by 15% compared to Diesel fuel at 75% load. The NO_X emissions were higher by 1–2% in dual fuel operation at full load compared to Diesel. Smoke emissions are lower in the entire load spectra due to the absence of carbon in hydrogen fuel. The carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions were lesser in hydrogen Diesel dual fuel operation compared to Diesel. The use of hydrogen in the dual fuel mode in a Diesel engine improves the performance and reduces the exhaust emissions from the engine except for HC and NO_X emissions.     

Formation and characterization of bi-layer oxide coating on carbon-steel for improving corrosion resistance

Attempts were made to improve the corrosion resistance of carbon steel by developing an additional barrier layer of magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄) on magnetite (Fe₃O₄) film formed at high temperature in aqueous medium. The magnetite film was developed by exposing the carbon steel specimen in LiOH solution at 265°C for 10days. Subsequently, the magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄) film was deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. X-ray diffraction analysis of the film revealed the formation of spinel phase of MgFe₂O₄. Relative atomic ratio of Mg and Fe estimated from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further confirmed the spinel phase of MgFe₂O₄. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy techniques were used to analyze the film surface morphology. The corrosion behavior of the coated specimens was studied electrochemically. Impedance measurements showed an increase in impedance by more than two times in PLD coated samples compared to the Fe₃O₄ coated carbon-steel.