Optical Versus Electrical: Performance Evaluation of Network On-Chip Topologies for UWASN Manycore Processors

Wireless Personal Communications - Optical network on chip (ONoC) has evolved as an innovative technology for on-chip interconnects that can fulfill the upcoming requirements of manycore processors...     

Strategic analysis of single-use plastic ban policy for environmental sustainability: the case of Pakistan

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - One of the challenging tasks for governments is to curtail the production and consumption of single-use plastic bags. Despite multiple advantages of...     

An intelligent fault detection approach based on reinforcement learning system in wireless sensor network

The Journal of Supercomputing - The Internet of Things (IoT) has developed a well-defined infrastructure due to commercializing novel technologies. IoT networks enable smart devices to compile...     

Microstructural analysis of highly active cathode material La0.7Sr0.3Ti0.15Fe0.65Ni0.2O3-δ (LSTFN) by optimizing different processing parameters

The modified Pechini method was applied to prepare a highly active and novel cathode material La_0.7Sr_0.3Ti_0.15Fe_0.65Ni_0.2O_3-δ (LSTFN). This material was coated on the LGSM electrolyte through a screen-printing technique with variable thicknesses of 28 ± 8, 41 ± 8, and 62 ± 8 μm, respectively. Different fabrication parameters, including sintering temperature, time, coating thickness, and variations in ball-milling, which affect the electrochemical performance of the cathode material, were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis of the cathode material suggested that it exhibits a cubic crystal structure with a LSTFN single phase. The morphological studies were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which confirmed that the electrode material had a highly porous structure. Meanwhile, the electrochemical properties of the material were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which revealed that by varying different parameters, the electrochemical performance of the electrode material was enhanced. The coated cathode materials with variable thicknesses were analyzed at different sintering temperatures and times. Experimental results suggest that the optimum sintering temperature and time were 950 °C and 3 h, respectively, at which LSTFN exhibits the minimum polarization resistance (R_P) of 0.046 Ωcm² when sintered at 800 °C for 3 h.     

Transition from energy dissipation to crack openings during continuum–discontinuum fracture of concrete

Fracture in quasi-brittle materials like concrete is mainly governed by two processes: energy dissipation and discontinuous displacement fields or discrete cracks. In this study we discuss the simultaneous development of both types of fracture. Energy dissipation and crack openings are analyzed during the fracture development by acoustic emission and digital image correlation (DIC) respectively. DIC results are processed using nonlinear damage modelling and lattice element modelling to reveal the microcracking zone. It is observed that overall failure mechanism is governed by three processes (1) high energy dissipation phase during which energy release rate increases (2) continuum–discontinuum transitional phase where energy dissipation rate attains its maximum value, and (3) discontinuum phase where energy dissipation rate drops and crack openings start increasing.     

Chemical shrinkage characterization techniques for thermoset resins and associated composites

Control and optimization of curing process is very important for the production of high quality composite parts. Crosslinking of molecules of thermoset resin occurs in this phase, which involves exothermy of reaction, chemical shrinkage (Sh) and development of thermo-physical and thermo-mechanical properties. Exact knowledge of the evolution of all these parameters is required for the better understanding and improvement of the fabrication process. Sh is one such property of thermoset matrix, which is difficult to characterize due to its coupling with thermal expansion/contraction. A number of techniques have been used to determine volume Sh of thermoset matrix, which later on has been used to find tensor of Sh for the simulation of residual stresses and shape distortion of composite part, etc. Direct characterization of volume Sh of composites has also been made by some authors. Though not much, but some work has also been reported to determine the Sh of composite part in a specific direction. In this article, all the techniques used in the literature for the characterization of Sh of resin and composite are reported briefly with their respective advantages, disadvantage and important results.     

Numerical study of magnetic electrospinning processes

In this paper, a discrete mathematical model of a magnetic electrospinning process is established and used to analyze numerically the effect of excitation current on electrospinning instability. The charged jet is assumed to be discrete electrified particles, which are joined by viscous flexible materials. The simulation results agree well with the experimental data and show that the magnetic approach provides an effective way to control instability.     

Combating Mineral Malnutrition through Iron and Zinc Biofortification of Cereals

Iron and zinc are 2 important nutrients in the human diet. Their deficiencies in humans lead to a variety of health‐related problems. Iron and zinc biofortification of cereals is considered a cost‐effective solution to overcome the malnutrition of these minerals. Biofortification aims at either increasing accumulation of these minerals in edible parts, endosperm, or to increase their bioavailability. Iron and zinc fertilization management positively influence their accumulation in cereal grains. Regarding genetic strategies, quantitative genetic studies show the existence of ample variation for iron and zinc accumulation as well as inhibitors or promoters of their bioavailability in cereal grains. However, the genes underlying this variation have rarely been identified and never used in breeding programs. Genetically modified cereals developed by modulation of genes involved in iron and zinc homeostasis, or genes influencing bioavailability, have shown promising results. However, iron and zinc concentration were quantified in the whole grains during most of the studies, whereas a significant proportion of them is lost during milling. This makes it difficult to realistically assess the effectiveness of the different strategies. Moreover, modifications in the accumulation of toxic elements, like cadmium and arsenic, that are of concern for food safety are rarely determined. Trials in living organisms with iron‐ and zinc‐biofortified cereals also remain to be undertaken. This review focuses on the common challenges and their possible solutions related to agronomic as well as genetic iron and zinc biofortification of cereals.