Functionalized core-shell nanostructures with inherent magnetic character: Outperforming candidates for the activation of PMS

With a view to engender an advanced oxidation protocol, in the present investigation a very efficient and outperforming catalytic system has been developed which employs peroxymonosulphate (PMS) as oxidant and surface metal functionalized core-shell nanostructures (with ferrite as core coated with shell of dopamine and surface functionalized with transition metal nanoparticles) as catalysts. The present protocol bids fast and facile degradation of organic pollutants without the aid of any promoting radiations. Every component of the developed core-shell nanostructures (M@Dop@CoFe; M?=?Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) has been found to contribute synergistically in the overall oxidative-degradation process. Co@Dop@CoFe presented the best results for the oxidative-degradation of nitrophenols (NP) taken as model pollutants with rate constant values of 8.13?×?10^?1?min^?1, 3.56?×?10^?1?min^?1 and 17.15?×?10^?1?min^?1 for 2-NP, 3-NP and 4-NP respectively. The synthesized core-shell nanocatalysts have been established to be leach-proof and recyclable to a very good extent.     

Managing production of high-tech products with high production quality variability

We consider production systems in technology industries where output quality of a single production run has a large variance. Firms operating such systems classify products into different quality bins and sell units in one bin at the same tagged quality level and the same price. Consumers have heterogeneous quality preferences and choose that quality that maximises their net utility. We examine firms’ assortment, production and pricing problem. We present a three-stage solution procedure that optimises the production quantity, quality specification and number of bins. In that regard, we show that for a manufacturing technology with known quality distribution and known distribution of customers’ quality preference, the optimal assortment and production quantity are set such that on average, the demand of each bin is exactly fulfilled. We examine the impact of an improved manufacturing technology, variation in consumer preferences and changing price premium on the optimal assortment, lot size, market share, yield loss and the overall profitability. We further show that when the quality distribution of the manufacturing process is unknown, downward substitution leads to product offering of higher quality and higher prices. Finally, we discuss practical considerations for pricing, technology and optimal product offerings, and explain the proliferation of bins witnessed in the last decade in the processor industry.     

A novel approach for electrical circuit modeling of Li-ion battery for predicting the steady-state and dynamic I–V characteristics

A novel approach for electrical circuit modeling of Li-ion battery is proposed in this paper. The model proposed in this paper is simple, fast, not memory intensive and does not involve any look-up table. The model mimics the steady-state and dynamic behavior of battery. Internal charge distribution of the battery is modeled using two RC circuits. Self-discharge characteristic of the battery is modeled using a leakage resistance. Experimental procedure to determine the internal resistance, leakage resistance and the value of RC elements is explained in detail. The variation of parameters with state of charge (SOC) and magnitude of current is presented. The internal voltage source of the battery model varies dynamically with SOC to replicate the experimental terminal voltage characteristics of battery. The accuracy of model is validated with experimental results.     

Chemical, mechanical and microstructural characterization of low-oxygen containing silicon carbide fibers with ceramic coatings

Room temperature tensile strengths of as-received Hi-Nicalon fibers and those having BN/SiC, p-BN/SiC, and p-B(Si)N/SiC surface coatings, deposited by chemical vapor deposition, were measured using an average fiber diameter of 13.5m. The Weibull statistical parameters were determined for each fiber. The average tensile strength of uncoated Hi-Nicalon was 3.19 ± 0.73 GPa with a Weibull modulus of 5.41. Strength of fibers coated with BN/SiC did not change. However, fibers coated with p-BN/SiC and p-B(Si)N/SiC surface layers showed strength loss of ~10% and 35%, respectively, compared with the as-received fibers.The elemental compositions of the fibers and the coatings were analyzed using scanning Auger microprobe and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The BN coating was contaminated with a large concentration of carbon and some oxygen. In contrast, p-BN, p-B(Si)N,and SiC coatings did not show any contamination. Microstructural analyses of the fibers and the coatings were done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction. Hi-Nicalon fiber consists of fine -SiC nanocrystals ranging in size from 1 to 30 nm embedded in an amorphous matrix. TEM analysis of the BN coating revealed four distinct layers with turbostratic structure. The p-BN layer was turbostratic and showed considerable preferred orientation. The p-B(Si)N was glassy and the silicon and boron were uniformly distributed. The silicon carbide coating was polycrystalline with a columnar structure along the growth direction. The p-B(Si)N/SiC coatings were more uniform, less defective and of better quality than the BN/SiC or the p-BN/SiC coatings.     

Touchy feely vectors: A compensatory design approach to support model-based reasoning in developing country classrooms

Educational technology designs in developing countries mostly focus on making knowledge resources widely available, through MOOCs, repositories and computer-based tutoring. The use of digital media for cognitive augmentation, particularly interactive designs that help learners understand modelling topics in STEM, is underexplored. We report a 3-year design study examining this potential in the Indian context, testing two iterations of an interactive system, Touchy-Feely Vectors (TFV). The design supports learning vectors, a modelling topic pre-university students struggle with. Virtual lesson-plans were co-designed with teachers to augment — but not replace — their existing practices, and to address classroom and resource constraints. Pre-post testing of TFV-1 (a computer-based prototype) showed that it helped students develop a more integrated vector concept, and improved their reasoning. Field-implementation of TFV-2 (a textbook-linked touch-screen based design) in 6-classrooms (3-Control, N=135; 3-Experimental, N=131) showed that it fostered cognitive engagement in average-students and geometry-algebra integration (model-based reasoning) in good-students. These results, along with a requirements analysis based on textbooks, indicate that the interaction possibilities supported by different representational media critically shape student reasoning. The study also illustrates a systematic approach to design and test digital media systems that support cognitive augmentation in developing countries.     

Blockchain-based multimedia content distribution with the assured system update mechanism

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Advancement in Internet technology is providing the exponential growth to the multimedia industry, which handles digital content broadcast and distribution over...     

Phase transformations in xerogels of mullite composition

Monophasic and diphasic xerogels have been prepared as precursors for mullite (3Al₂O₃-2SiO₂). Monophasic xerogel was synthesized from tetraethyl orthosilicate and aluminium nitrate nanohydrate and the diphasic xerogel from colloidal suspension of silica and boehmite. The chemical and structural evolutions, as a function of thermal treatment in these two types of sol-gel-derived mullite precursor powders, have been characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (IRS). Monophasic xerogel transforms to an aluminium-silicon spinel from an amorphous structure at 980 ° C. The spinel then changes into mullite on further heating. Diphasic xerogel forms mullite at 1360 ° C. The components of the diphasic powder react independently up to the point of mullite formation. The transformation in the monophasic powder occurs rapidly and yields strongly crystalline mullite with no other phases present. The diphasic powder, however, transforms rather slowly and contains remnants of the starting materials (-Al₂O₃, cristobalite) even after heating at high temperatures for long periods (1600 ° C, 6 h). The diphasic powder could be sintered to high density but not the monophasic powder, in spite of its molecular-level homogeneity.     

Improvement of adhesion of conductive polypyrrole coating on wool and polyester fabrics using atmospheric plasma treatment

In this paper wool and polyester fabrics were pretreated with atmospheric plasma glow discharge (APGD) to improve the ability of the substrate to bond with anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid doped conducting polypyrrole coating. A range of APGD gas mixtures and treatment times were investigated. APGD treated fabrics were tested for surface contact angle, wettability and surface energy change. Effect of the plasma treatment on the binding strength was analyzed by studying abrasion resistance, surface resistivity and reflectance. Investigations showed that treated fabrics exhibited better hydrophilicity and increased surface energy. Surface treatment by an APGD gas mixture of 95% helium/5% nitrogen yielded the best results with respect to coating uniformity, abrasion resistance and conductivity.     

Critical review of flow boiling heat transfer of CO2–lubricant mixtures

This paper presents a comprehensive review on the flow boiling heat transfer of CO₂–lubricant mixtures. Some of the immiscible lubricants in CO₂ include alkyl naphthalene/alkylbenzne (AN/AB) and polyalphaolefin (PAO), while polyalkylene glycol (PAG) is partially miscible, and polyol ester (POE) is completely miscible. The effect of oil concentration, vapour quality, heat and mass fluxes and saturation temperature is addressed. One database has been created by collecting the experimental data from the open literature on the flow boiling heat transfer of CO₂–lubricant mixtures, along with empirical correlations. A simple simulation model has been developed in EES software package to compare the empirical correlations with the CO₂–lubricant mixtures experimental database. Most empirical correlations fail to predict the flow boiling heat transfer coefficient in good agreement with the experimental data. Hence, further research is needed to develop appropriate correlations for the flow boiling heat transfer of CO₂–lubricant mixtures.     

Asymmetric halo CMOSFET to reduce static power dissipation with improved performance

In this paper, we show the benefits of using asymmetric halo (AH, different source, and drainside halo doping concentrations) MOSFETs over conventional symmetric halo (SH) MOSFETs to reduce static leakage in sub-50-nm CMOS circuits. Device doping profiles have been optimized to achieve minimum leakage at iso on-current. Results show a 61% reduction in static leakage in AH nMOS transistor and a 90% reduction in static leakage in AH pMOS transistor because of reduced band-to-band tunneling current in the reverse biased drain-substrate junctions. In an AH CMOS inverter, static power dissipation is 19% less than in an SH CMOS inverter. Propagation delay in a three-stage ring oscillator reduces by 11% because of reduced drainside halo doping and hence reduced drain junction capacitance. Further comparisons have been made on two-input NAND and NOR CMOS logic gates.