Power-domain non orthogonal multiple access (PD-NOMA) in cooperative networks: an overview

Wireless Networks - Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) scheme is emerging as a favourable multiple access scheme for future 5G networks. Compared to orthogonal multiple access techniques, NOMA...     

Sulfate-vanadate hot corrosion of neodymium cerate/yttria stabilized zirconia composite coating

Neodymium cerate (Nd₂Ce₂O₇) was laboratory synthesized by solid-state reactions of neodymia and ceria and spray dried to get the feedstock for plasma spraying. Hot corrosion behavior of air plasma sprayed 10% Nd₂Ce₂O₇/yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) topcoat was studied in the presence of V₂O₅ and Na₂SO₄ salts at 950°C for 10-60 hours. It was observed that due to the presence of relatively higher basic compounds Nd₂O₃ and CeO₂ (form Nd₂Ce₂O₇) than Y₂O₃ in YSZ changed the reaction dynamics during hot corrosion and the major part of corrosive (NaVO₃) was consumed by Nd of Nd₂Ce₂O₇, making NdVO₄. The Y₂O₃ of YSZ contributed in the corrosive reaction partially, relieving majority tetragonal zirconia (t-ZrO₂) in topcoat (YSZ). No remarkable cracking was developed in the topcoat even after 60 hours of accelerated hot corrosion, which was attributed to the retention of in-relief t-ZrO₂ in YSZ.     

Controlled release of highly water-soluble antidepressant from hybrid copolymer poly vinyl alcohol hydrogels

This paper reports the development of hybrid copolymer poly vinyl alcohol hydrogel (H-PVA) based on acrylic acid (AA), 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPSA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The H-PVA hydrogels were used for controlled release study of highly water-soluble antidepressant drug (venlafaxine). The formation of new structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of dry hydrogel slabs was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Thermal gravimetric analysis of hydrogels showed that there was an increase in thermal stability of H-PVA hydrogels. Swelling experiments performed in acidic and basic media provided important information on drug release properties of hydrogels. The release of venlafaxine was significantly retarded in pH 1.2, while rapid release was observed in pH 7.4. The release rate of venlafaxine increased with increasing ratio of AA and AMPSA. However, extent of drug release was significantly reduced on increasing ratio of EGDMA. Mechanism of release has been analyzed using various mathematical models. H-PVA hydrogel slabs were able to sustain the release of venlafaxine more than 20 h. The results of the study suggest that optimized H-PVA hydrogels could serve as suitable controlled release matrices.     

Predicting Dementia Risk Factors Based on Feature Selection and Neural Networks

Dementia is a disorder with high societal impact and severe consequences for its patients who suffer from a progressive cognitive decline that leads to increased morbidity, mortality, and disabilities. Since there is a consensus that dementia is a multifactorial disorder, which portrays changes in the brain of the affected individual as early as 15 years before its onset, prediction models that aim at its early detection and risk identification should consider these characteristics. This study aims at presenting a novel method for ten years prediction of dementia using on multifactorial data, which comprised 75 variables. There are two automated diagnostic systems developed that use genetic algorithms for feature selection, while artificial neural network and deep neural network are used for dementia classification. The proposed model based on genetic algorithm and deep neural network had achieved the best accuracy of 93.36%, sensitivity of 93.15%, specificity of 91.59%, MCC of 0.4788, and performed superior to other 11 machine learning techniques which were presented in the past for dementia prediction. The identified best predictors were: age, past smoking habit, history of infarct, depression, hip fracture, single leg standing test with right leg, score in the physical component summary and history of TIA/RIND. The identification of risk factors is imperative in the dementia research as an effort to prevent or delay its onset.     

Magnetohydrodynamics thin film fluid flow under the effect of thermophoresis and variable fluid properties

The thin film flow of fluid over a stretching sheet with variable fluid properties under the effect of thermophoresis has been investigated. A transverse magnetic field is also applied to the fluid flow in the presence of thermal radiation. The governing equations have been transformed through suitable similarity variables into nonlinear coupled differential equations with physical conditions. The solution of the coupled problem has been obtained by using the second alternative of OHAM (OHAM‐2). The solution of the coupled problem through this new method and its fast convergence is mainly focused in this work. The effect of physical parameters appears in the problem are shown graphically and discussed. Finally, the obtained results are compared with a numerical (ND‐Solve) method to authenticate the code of the OHAM‐2. The physical and numerical agreement of these two methods has been shown. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017     

Image retrieval based on fuzzy ontology

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Rapid increase in digital images demands effective and efficient image retrieval systems. In text based image retrieval, images are annotated with keywords based...     

Synthesis and Investigation of Electrical Properties of Strontium Metal-Doped Hexaferrite Nanoparticles

Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism - In the current work cobalt, magnesium and lithium dopant substitution is performed in series of SrFe(12-2x)(Co,Mg,Li)xO19 (for...     

Biopolymer blended films of poly(butylene succinate)/cyclic olefin copolymer with enhanced mechanical strength for packaging applications

The demand for biodegradable materials is on the rise because humanity is now more concerned about a sustainable lifestyle than ever before. In this regard, we present solution casting synthesized novel biopolymer blended films of poly(butylene succinate)/cyclic olefin copolymer (PBS/COC) for packaging applications. These films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), universal tensile testing (ASTM D882 standard), and antibacterial Disc diffusion tests using gram-negative Escherichia coli (E.coli) and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) bacteria. The XRD and FTIR revealed the type of bonding to be physical in-between the constituent polymers; ensuring the biodegradable nature of their blends, while the thickness of films was found to be <100 μm. The SEM, tensile, and antibacterial testing concluded that 30%PBS with 70%COC by weight blending is the best composition; showing a compact/pin-holes free morphology, the highest strength of 91 MPa, and contact inhibition with E.coli and S.aureus bacteria.