A Fast Tunable 3D-Transmon Architecture for Superconducting Qubit-Based Hybrid Devices

Nano-graphene oxide, nano-(GO), was prepared via a modified Hummer’s method. Hence, superconducting composites of type (GO)_x/(Cu_0.25Tl_0.75)Ba₂Ca₃Cu₄O_12?δ, x?=?0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00 wt%, were prepared via the solid-state reaction technique at 850 °C under ambient pressure. The prepared nano-(GO) was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and the selected-area electron diffraction pattern. The composites samples of type (GO)_x/(Cu_0.25Tl_0.75)Ba₂Ca₃Cu₄O_12?δ were characterized using XRD and scanning electron microscopy. The electrical properties of the prepared samples were investigated using the electrical resistivity measurements. The results showed that the samples retained their superconductivity for all x values with a maximum enhancement in the phase formation, the superconducting transition temperature and the activation energy at x?=?0.75 wt%.

     

Food purchase patterns indicative of household food access insecurity,children’s dietary diversity and intake,and nutritional status using a newly developed and validated tool in the Peruvian Amazon

Food security, defined as the capacity to acquire preferred food at all times, can manifest in many dimensions. Following a mixed methods approach used in India and Burkina Faso, we developed a 58-item experience-based measure in the Peruvian Amazon, based on investigator observations, relevant literature, and pre-testing with community field workers. The tool encompasses seven dimensions of food security and included measures of (1) food purchases, frequency of purchase, and location of acquisition, (2) food expenses, (3) coping mechanisms, (4) preparation of leftover food, (5) food safety (refrigerator access), (6) fishing intensity and (7) selling food. The survey was piloted among 35 randomly selected families from the Malnutrition Enteric Disease (MAL-ED) birth cohort in Santa Clara, Peru and the surrounding communities. Subsequently, based on a focus group discussion, a pile-sorting exercise, and pilot results, we reduced the survey to 36 items to be collected monthly among 203 MAL-ED households from November 2013 to January 2015. Validity and reliability were then assessed using principal component analysis and exploratory factor analysis, revealing four groups of purchase and coping strategy behaviors: (1) Sweets and sugary items, (2) Less preferred, (3) More preferred, and (4) Minimum meal. Internal consistency of the final 22-item scale had an acceptable cutoff of Cronbach’s α of 0.73. Criterion and construct validity of the factor groups revealed there were: (1) food purchase patterns that were distinctive to quality and quantity aspects of the Household Food Insecurity Access scale, (2) unique correlations of child’s intake of fats, animal source protein, fiber and other micronutrients, (3) household purchase patterns from the “more preferred” group (fish, red meat) associated with child’s weight-for-age. Food purchase and frequency, and context-specific behaviors at the household level can be used as surrogates for dietary intake patterns and nutritional status among children. Food purchase and frequency measurement is a quick, objective, non-intrusive survey method that could be used as an indicator for acute changes in household food security status with appropriate pilot testing and validation.     

Effect of B-site doping on electrical conductivity of YAlO3 based electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells

Journal of Electroceramics - Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have emerged as high temperature fuel cell technology operating at temperatures around 1000 °C. Lowering the operating...     

Investigations on the parameters limiting the performance of CdS/SnS solar cell

Debutant analysis of the parameters impeding the efficiency of the CdS/SnS‐based photovoltaic device is the chief novelty of the present report. We have developed thin‐film heterojunction solar cells with the stacking sequence: glass/Al‐doped ZnO/CdS/SnS/In. The two crucial issues, band offsets and cell studies, are discussed in detail. The band offsets at the CdS/SnS interface have been systematically evaluated by semidirect X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The calculated valance band offset (ΔE_v) and conduction band offsets (ΔE_c) are found to be 1.46 and ?0.36 eV, respectively. The negative value of conduction band offset indicates that the junction formed is of type‐II (staggered‐type heterojunction). Electrical studies revealed power conversion efficiency of 0.32% with V_OC, J_SC, and fill factor as 170.61 mV, 7.26 mA/cm², and 0.26, respectively. The impact of the offset values on the cell studies is clearly elucidated. The reasons for the low efficiency are spotlighted. Collectively, this article gives the overview of the systematic approach undertaken to get obvious picture about the barriers that limit the conversion efficiency of the CdS/SnS‐based solar cell and the measurements required for enhancing the efficiency of the SnS‐based solar device.     

Influence of water chestnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trapa natans</Emphasis>) on chemical,rheological, sensory and nutritional characteristics of muffins

Water chestnut flour (WCF) was utilized in the formulation of muffins. Blends were prepared by replacing 25, 35, 45 and 55 % of wheat flour with WCF. Farinograph characteristics of the blends showed that with increase in the level of WCF there was a decrease in the dough stability and increase in mixing tolerance index, indicating weakening of the dough in comparison to control. Pasting characteristics indicated increase in gelatinization temperature and peak viscosity of the blends. Micrographs of muffin crumb prepared by incorporating WCF showed gelatinized starch granules embedded in the disrupted protein matrix. The lightness value of muffin crumb and sensory scores for crust color, shape, crumb color, grain and texture decreased with increase in the level of WCF in muffins when compared to control. However the 55 % WCF incorporated muffins received significantly lower scores for overall quality. Incorporation of WCF at 45 % level produced muffins of acceptable quality.     

Narrow and wide band monopole antenna design using heterogeneous bidirectional recurrent neural network for LTE and UWB applications

The proposed antenna is a small wideband monopole with wideband circular polarization using heterogeneous bidirectional recurrent neural network for both narrow and wide band applications (NWB-MAD-HBRNN). The electromagnetic structure is designed, fabricated, and simulated with 1 mm thickness on FR4 substrate material along dielectric constant 4.3. The proposed antenna includes 4.3–8.85 GHz for ultrawideband applications; it contains reconfigurable narrow band for L-band 1.27 GHz, LTE, and ultrawideband applications. To enhance the antenna impedance bandwidth (BW) along axial ratio bandwidth (ARBW), a slit is etched at the antenna patch, a rectangular stub is inserted into the ground plane, and semicircular stub is added to the top of antenna feed line. The better agreement is observed in the measured and simulated gain performance of 4.8 dB for LTE band applications. The proposed NWB-MAD-HBRNN design provides 13.50%, 18.91%, and 22.58% higher bandwidth and 18.36%, 20.38%, and 27.58% lower return loss than the existing designs, such as bio-inspired wideband antenna for wireless applications based on perturbation technique (BWA-WA-PA), a compact circularly polarized modified printed monopole antenna for wireless applications (CCP-MPMA-WA), and new multiband monopole antenna for certain broadband wireless applications along wireless personal communications (PA-MMA-BWA), respectively.