MCBC-SMOTE: A Majority Clustering Model for Classification ofImbalanced Data

Datasets with the imbalanced class distribution are difficult to handle with the standard classification algorithms. In supervised learning, dealing with the problem of class imbalance is still considered to be a challenging research problem. Various machine learning techniques are designed to operate on balanced datasets; therefore, the state of the art, different under-sampling, over-sampling and hybrid strategies have been proposed to deal with the problem of imbalanced datasets, but highly skewed datasets still pose the problem of generalization and noise generation during resampling. To over-come these problems, this paper proposes a majority clustering model for classification of imbalanced datasets known as MCBC-SMOTE (Majority Clustering for balanced Classification-SMOTE). The model provides a method to convert the problem of binary classification into a multi-class problem. In the proposed algorithm, the number of clusters for the majority class is calculated using the elbow method and the minority class is over-sampled as an average of clustered majority classes to generate a symmetrical class distribution. The proposed technique is cost-effective, reduces the problem of noise generation and successfully disables the imbalances present in between and within classes. The results of the evaluations on diverse real datasets proved to provide better classification results as compared to state of the art existing methodologies based on several performance metrics.     

Mechanochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Group II-VI Semiconductor Nanoparticles

Synthesis of metal sulfide semiconductor nanoparticles of group II-VI; namely ZnS, PbS, CdS, and CuS; by mechanochemical method was carried out in a high energy ball mill from corresponding metal acetates and sodium sulfide. The samples were continuously milled for 10 h with sample withdrawal at 2 h time interval. Structural properties of nanoparticles were studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and ultraviolet-visible spectra. Particle size distribution and stability of 10 h milled samples were examined using particle size analyzer and Turbiscan. It was found that nanoparticles synthesized by mechanochemical method had mean particle sizes as small as 2–25 nm, low agglomeration, narrow size distribution, and uniformity of particle structure and morphology.     

A Computational Study of Soot Formation in Methane Air Co-Flow Diffusion Flame Under Microgravity Conditions

An in-house developed code has been used to predict soot formation in a methane air co flow diffusion flame at normal gravity and at lower gravity levels of 0.5 G, and 0.0001 G (microgravity). There is an augmentation of soot formation at lower gravity levels because of lower buoyancy induced acceleration leading to an increased residence time. The peak temperature at microgravity is reduced by about 50 K than that at normal gravity level. The axial velocity under normal gravity and reduced gravity show negative values (relatively small in magnitude) near the wall at axial height beyond 15 cm; but axial velocity is never negative in microgravity condition. Peak value of soot volume fraction at 0.5 G and microgravity multiplies by a factor of ～3 and ～7, respectively of that at normal gravity. The zone of peak soot volume fraction shifts away from the axis towards the wings, as gravity level is lowered. In comparison to soot volume fraction, the factors of amplification of soot number density at reduced gravity and at microgravity are comparatively lower at 1.2 and 1.5 of that at normal gravity respectively. On the other hand, mean soot particle sizes at reduced gravity and microgravity increase to 1.5 and 2 times of that at normal gravity respectively.     

Polymeric Nanoparticles with Sequential and Multiple FRET Cascade Mechanisms for Multicolor and Multiplexed Imaging

The ability to map multiple biomarkers at the same time has far‐reaching biomedical and diagnostic applications. Here, a series of biocompatible poly(d,l ‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) and polyethylene glycol particles for multicolor and multiplexed imaging are reported. More than 30 particle formulations that exhibit distinct emission signatures (ranging from the visible to NIR wavelength region) are designed and synthesized. These particles are encapsulated with combinations of carbocyanine‐based fluorophores DiO, Dil, DiD, and DiR, and are characterized as <100 nm in size and brighter than commercial quantum dots. A particle formulation is identified that simultaneously emits fluorescence at three different wavelengths upon a single excitation at 485 nm via sequential and multiple FRET cascade events for multicolor imaging. Three other particles that display maximum fluorescence intensities at 570, 672, or 777 nm for multiplexed imaging are also identified. These particles are individually conjugated with specific (Herceptin or IgG2A11 antibody) or nonspecific (heptaarginine) ligands for targeting and, thus, could be applied to differentiate different cancer cells from a cell mixture according to the expressions of cell‐surface human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts. Using an animal model subcutaneously implanted with the particles, it is further demonstrated that the developed platform could be useful for in vivo multiplexed imaging.     

Effect of ionic liquid dispersion on performance of a conducting polymer based Schottky diode

The effect of ionic liquid (IL) dispersion on the performance of Schottky diode fabricated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been investigated. Two kinds of ILs including 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIPF6, hydrophobic IL) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMICL, hydrophilic IL) were dispersed to the PEDOT:PSS by mechanical stirring and sonication processes. Schottky diodes were fabricated with these mixtures. The forward current of Schottky diodes fabricated with PEDOT:PSS dispersed BMI PF6 (SD-BMIPF6)/BMICL (SD-BMICL) by mechanical stirring is slightly reduced compared with that of Schottky diodes fabricated with pristine PEDOT:PSS (SD-PEDOT). However, SD-BMIPF6 and SD-BMICL by sonication technique show higher forward current with respect to SD-PEDOT. Compared with SD-BMIPF6 and SD-BMICL, the forward current of SD-BMICL is much higher than that of SD-BMIPF6. Since the BMICL has hydrophilic nature, the enhancement of forward current might be due to the uniform dispersion of the BMICL on the PEDOT:PSS matrix.     

An efficient and robust heterogeneous mesoporous montmorillonite clay catalyst for the Biginelli type reactions

Three component coupling reactions of aldehyde, β-ketoester (or β-diketone) and urea (or substituted urea) were carried out by using acid activated montmorillonite clay (AT-Mont.) catalyst having surface area about 400 m²/g for the facile synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones via the Biginelli reactions under mild reaction conditions. The activation of montmorillonite clay was carried out with HCl under controlled conditions for generating nanopores (size 2–7 nm) into the matrix. This porous catalyst has promising feature for Biginelli reaction such as easy removal of the catalyst, short reaction time, high yield with 100% selectivity and easy workup procedure. Powder XRD, SEM-EDX, N₂ adsorption, pyridine adsorbed FT-IR and TPD analysis were carried out to characterize the solid porous AT-Mont. The catalysts can be recycled and reused several times without significant loss of their catalytic activity.     

Non‐linear analysis of structures using high performance hybrid elements

In this work, we describe the formulation and implementation for stress‐based hybrid elements for conducting non‐linear analysis of elastic structures. The motivation behind developing these elements is that they should be as simple to use as standard displacement‐based isoparametric brick elements, but at the same time, be relatively immune to the shortcoming that these elements suffer from, namely, ‘locking’ problems which occur when they are used to model plate/shell geometries, almost incompressible materials or when the elements are distorted, and so on. The formulation is based on a two‐field mixed variational principle. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the excellent performance of the proposed elements on a variety of challenging problems involving very large deformations, buckling, mesh distortions, almost incompressible materials, etc. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The development of hybrid axisymmetric elements based on the Hellinger–Reissner variational principle

We present a general procedure for the development of hybrid axisymmetric elements based on the Hellinger–Reissner principle within the context of linear elasticity. Similar to planar elements, the stress interpolation is obtained by an identification of the zero‐energy modes. We illustrate our procedure by designing a lower‐order (four‐node) and a higher‐order (nine‐node) element. Both elements are of correct rank, and moreover use the minimum number of stress parameters, namely seven and 17. Several examples are presented to show the excellent performance of both elements under various demanding situations such as when the material is almost incompressible, when the thickness to radius ratio is very small, etc. When the variation of the field variables is along the radial direction alone, when the mesh is uniform, and the loading is of pressure type, the developed elements are superconvergent, i.e. they yield the exact nodal displacement values. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new hydrothermal route for synthesis of molybdenum disulphide nanorods and related nanostructures

A simple approach to prepare nanorods of Molybdenum Disulphide (MoS2) using hydrothermal method by reacting aqueous solutions of (NH4)6Mo7O24.4H20, C2H4NS and Na2S2O4 at 190 degrees C for 24 h is described. The hydrothermal product has been subsequently subjected to the thermal treatment in nitrogen atmosphere at 675 degrees C for 6 h and characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the hydrothermal product indicated the formation of MoS2 relatively with much lower crystallinity compared to when it thermally treated. Energy dispersive analysis (EDX) was done to know the chemical composition of the product. TEM showed onset growth of MoS2 nanorods within the hydrothermal products itself and in thermally treated products it was prominent with the diameter of the nanorods ranging between 10-20 nm. Photoluminescence spectra MoS2 nanorods shows an intense absorbance at around 429 nm. TGA of the MoS2 nanorods in air and nitrogen atmosphere has also been studied. The extent of formation of MoS2 from the precursors obtained at 190 degrees C for duration of 12, 18, and 24 h and annealed at 675 degrees C for 6 h under nitrogen atmosphere is also demonstrated based on XRD data.     

Batch and bulk removal of a triarylmethane dye, Fast Green FCF, from wastewater by adsorption over waste materials

De-Oiled Soya, an agricultural waste material and Bottom Ash a waste of power plants, have been used as adsorbents for the removal and recovery of a triarylmethane dye Fast Green FCF from wastewater. Batch studies have been carried by observing the effects of pH, temperature, concentration of the dye, amount of adsorbents, sieve size of adsorbent, contact time, etc. Graphical correlation of various adsorption isotherm models like, Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich have been carried out for both the adsorbents. The adsorption over both the materials has been found endothermic and feasible in nature. Various thermodynamic parameters, such as, Gibb's free energy, entropy and enthalpy of the on-going adsorption process have been calculated. The kinetic studies suggest the process following pseudo first order kinetics and involvement of particle diffusion mechanism. The bulk removal of the dye has been carried out by passing the dye solution through columns of Bottom Ash and De-Oiled Soya and saturation factor of each column has been calculated. Attempts have also been made to recover the dye by eluting dilute NaOH through the columns.