Controlled Synthesis and Stability of Co@SiO2 Aqueous Colloids

Magnetic nanoparticles have emerged as an important class of functional nanostructures with potential applications of magnetic resonance imaging, drug targeting, and bio-conjugation. We have developed a modified sol–gel approach to synthesize stable and well-dispersed magnetic Co@SiO₂ nanoparticles with improved control over shell thickness and larger core diameters. These well-defined Co@SiO₂ core–shell nanoparticles exhibit useful magnetic properties, and the protective silica shell allows them to be surface modified for bioconjugation for various biomedical applications. The core–shell nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, elemental mapping, and the line compositional analyses to demonstrate that uniform individually isolated core–shell nanoparticles are obtained through the improved synthetic route.     

Prediction of cumulative fatigue damage

The life of a component subjected to a constant stress can be determined using the S-N diagram. Prediction of cumulative fatigue damage or fatigue life of a component subjected to a given stress sequence of varying amplitude is difficult, if not impossible. Miner's rule and Kramer's equation can predict cumulative fatigue damage with a reasonable degree of accuracy for limited cases. The development of Kramer's equation was studied and a modification suggested. Cumulative fatigue data generated using aluminium alloys 2011-T3 and 2024-T4, were analysed using Miner's, Kramer's and the modified equations. While Miner's rules and Kramer's equation predict cumulative fatigue damage with tolerable error for a few cases, the modified equation has shown close agreement between the experimental and theoretical values of fatigue life or cumulative fatigue damage for the materials studied in this investigation.     

Computation of entropy generation in dissipative transient natural convective viscoelastic flow

Entropy generation is an important aspect of modern thermal polymer processing optimization. Many polymers exhibit strongly non‐Newtonian effects and dissipation effects in thermal processing. Motivated by these aspects in this study, a numerical analysis of the entropy generation with viscous dissipation effect in an unsteady flow of viscoelastic fluid from a vertical cylinder is presented. The Reiner‐Rivlin physical model of grade 2 (second‐grade fluid) is used, which can envisage normal stress variations in polymeric flow‐fields. Viscosity variation is included. The obtained governing equations are resolved using implicit finite difference method of Crank‐Nicolson type with well imposed initial and boundary conditions. Key control parameters are the second‐grade viscoelastic fluid parameter (), viscosity variation parameter (), and viscous dissipation parameter (). Also, group parameter (), Grashof number (Gr), and Prandtl number (Pr) are examined. Numerical solutions are presented for steady‐state flow variables, temperature, time histories of friction, wall heat transfer rate, entropy, and Bejan curves for distinct values of control parameters. The results specify that entropy generation decreases with augmenting values of , , and Gr. The converse trend is noticed with increasing Pr and . Furthermore, the computations reveal that entropy and Bejan lines only occur close to the hot cylinder wall.     

基于K个最近邻点的遗传程序的数字调制样式自动分类

在许多不同的民用和军用领域,调制样式自动分类都是一个非常有趣的问题。本文提出了一种基于K个最近邻点(K-Nearest Neighbor,KNN)的遗传程序(Genetic Programming,GP)算法。该算法采用了基于K个最近邻点的遗传程序,用来识别BPSK、QPSK、16QAM和64QAM调制信号。该算法用高阶累积量作为输入特征,并使用一种分两个阶段的分类方法来改善分类精度。计算机仿真将所提出算法与已有的算法进行了比较,从而证明了该算法的优异性能。     

A simulation model to study the impact of early information on design duration and redesign

In the design process, it is common to utilize early information from precedent activities to shorten the project duration instead of having to wait for the confirmed parameter values to arrive after full analysis. However, the estimated preliminary parameter might be different from that obtained after the full analysis. Consequently, redesign may be needed in downstream activities to correct this discrepancy. Total amount of induced redesign may adversely impact loss of productivity and overall design completion. Furthermore, redesign requires additional resources which may exaggerate the project completion for a project with limited resources. This study presents a simulation model to describe the effect of utilizing early information on redesign and total design duration. The paper characterizes the reduction in project duration while accounting for the impact of redesign through sensitivity studies of the parameters of the simulation model. The sensitivity studies would provide valuable insight that project managers can take into account when utilizing early information in design.     

In vitro enhancement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity by phosphorylated glia maturation factor

We previously demonstrated that glia maturation factor (GMF), a 17-kDa brain protein, can be phosphorylated in test tube by several protein kinases, and that endogenous GMF is rapidly phosphorylated upon stimulation of astrocytes by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. We further observed that protein kinase A (PKA)-phosphorylated GMF is a potent inhibitor (IC50 = 3 nM) of the ERK1/ERK2 (p44/p42) subfamily of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. We now report that, by contrast, PKA-phosphorylated GMF strongly enhances the activity of a related but distinct subfamily of MAP kinase, the p38 MAP kinase, showing an increase of 60-fold over baseline and an EC50 of 7 nM. Non-phosphorylated GMF or GMF phosphorylated by other kinases exhibits only minimal effect. The intracellular interaction of PKA, GMF, and p38 is supported by the phosphorylation of GMF upon cellular stimulation by forskolin (blocked by PKA inhibitor) and by the co-immunoprecipitation of p38 with GMF from cell lysates. Withdrawal of nerve growth factor from PC12 leads to increased GMF phosphorylation with a time course similar to that reported for p38 activation. The results correlate well with a previous report that ERK and p38 carry out opposing functions and implicate GMF as a regulator of major cellular events.     

Composition-dependence of photoconduction band gap in cadmium zinc phosphate glasses

Photoconduction in cadmium zinc phosphate glasses of various compositions has been measured in the spectral energy range 1.5 to 6.2 eV. With the P₂O₅ percentage remaining fixed at 60 mol %, CdO and ZnO contents have been varied between 0 and 40 mol %. Photocurrents start at about 3.85 eV and rise sharply above 4.5 eV. The optical band gap obtained by the extrapolation of the linear region of the photoresponse curve shows a slow decrease with an increase in the applied field. The optical band gap at a particular applied field decreases with increasing ZnO content. The field-dependence of the optical band gap may be explained in terms of an energy band scheme for non-crystalline solids. The composition-dependence may be due some structural changes in the glasses.     

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative assessment of anorectal anomalies

Venous ulcers are common in clinical practice. They are due to end stage skin and subcutaneous damage from sustained venous hypertension. The common cause may be post thrombotic syndrome or primary superficial venous insufficiency. This case illustrates the need to think of inherited thrombophilia as a primary cause.