Corrosion of Borosilicate Glasses Subjected to Aggressive Test Conditions: Structural Investigations

Sodium borosilicate (NBS) and barium sodium borosilicate (BBS) glasses, used for immobilization of high‐level nuclear waste with compositions (SiO₂)_0.477(B₂O₃)_0.239(Na₂O)_0.170(TiO₂)_0.023(CaO)_0.068(Al₂O₃)_0.023 and (SiO₂)_0.482(B₂O₃)_0.244(Na₂O)_0.220(BaO)_0.054 were subjected leaching experiments under hydrothermal conditions in an autoclave at 200°C for different time durations. Morphological and structural transformations associated with leaching, have been monitored with techniques like XRD, SEM, solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance. XRD and SEM along with NMR studies have confirmed that, upon leaching, formation of an aluminosilicate phase, Zeolite‐P (Na₆Al₆Si₁₀O₃₂·12H₂O), occurs with NBS glass. BBS glass upon subjecting to the same conditions leads to formation of multiple amorphous phases having Q⁴ (silica rich phase) and Q³ structural units of Silicon along with structurally modified residual glass. Upon leaching BO₃ structural units preferentially get released from BBS glass. Comparison of results with international simple glass confirmed that, for the latter, mass loss rates are one order of magnitude lower.     

Removal of metsulfuron methyl by Fenton reagent

The removal of metsulfuron methyl (MeS)—a sulfonyl urea herbicide from contaminated water was investigated by advanced oxidation process (AOP) using Fenton method. The optimum dose of Fenton reagent (Fe²⁺/H₂O₂) was 10 mg/L Fe²⁺ and 60 mg/L H₂O₂ for an initial MeS concentration ([MeS]₀) range of 0–80 mg/L. The Fenton process was effective under pH 3. The degradation efficiency of MeS decreased by more than 70% at pH > 3 (pH 4.5 and 7). The initial Fe²⁺ concentration ([Fe²⁺]₀) in the Fenton reagent affected the degradation efficiency, rate and kinetics. The degradation of MeS at optimum dose of Fenton reagent was more than 95% for [MeS] ₀ of 0–40 mg/L and the degradation time was less than 30 min. The determination of residual MeS concentration after Fenton oxidation by UV spectrophotometry was affected by the interferences from Fenton reagent. The estimation of residual MeS concentration after Fenton oxidation by high pressure/performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) was interference free and represented the actual concentration of MeS and does not include the by-products of Fenton oxidation. The degradation kinetics of MeS was modelled by second order reactions involving 8 rate constants. The two reaction constants directly involving MeS were fitted using the experimental data and the remaining constants were selected from previously reported values. The model fit for MeS and the subsequent prediction of H₂O₂ were found to be within experimental error tolerances.     

Investigation of the effect of chemistry models on the numerical predictions of the supersonic combustion of hydrogen

In this numerical study, the influence of chemistry models on the predictions of supersonic combustion in a model combustor is investigated. To this end, 3D, compressible, turbulent, reacting flow calculations with a detailed chemistry model (with 37 reactions and 9 species) and the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model have been carried out. These results are compared with earlier results obtained using single step chemistry. Hydrogen is used as the fuel and three fuel injection schemes, namely, strut, staged (i.e., strut and wall) and wall injection, are considered to evaluate the impact of the chemistry models on the flow field predictions. Predictions of the mass fractions of major species, minor species, dimensionless stagnation temperature, dimensionless static pressure rise and thrust percentage along the combustor length are presented and discussed. Overall performance metrics such as mixing efficiency and combustion efficiency are used to draw inferences on the nature (whether mixing- or kinetic-controlled) and the completeness of the combustion process. The predicted values of the dimensionless wall static pressure are compared with experimental data reported in the literature. The calculations show that multi step chemistry predicts higher and more wide spread heat release than what is predicted by single step chemistry. In addition, it is also shown that multi step chemistry predicts intricate details of the combustion process such as the ignition distance and induction distance.     

Fuzzy based rendezvous points selection for mobile data gathering in wireless sensor network

In this article, fuzzy based rendezvous points selection (FRPS) technique for mobile data gathering in wireless sensor networks is proposed. At beginning, the importance of detected data is categorized into perilous and non-perilous based on the perseverance and time limit of data. Then two Sencars are set up: one for gathering perilous data by visiting straight to the corresponding sensors, the other one for gathering non-perilous data from other sensors. The rendezvous points (RPs) for visiting the Sencars are determined by using fuzzy decision model based on the input parameters energy level, buffer occupancy level, and current load. Based on the output of this model, each sensor is assigned a combined utility value. Then the sensors with high utility values are selected as RPs and the details are broadcast to the respective Sencars.     

Revisiting Regulated Cell Death Responses in Viral Infections

The fate of a viral infection in the host begins with various types of cellular responses, such as abortive, productive, latent, and destructive infections. Apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis are the three major types of regulated cell death mechanisms that play critical roles in viral infection response. Cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, bleb formation, and retained membrane integrity are all signs of osmotic imbalance-driven cytoplasmic swelling and early membrane damage in necroptosis and pyroptosis. Caspase-driven apoptotic cell demise is considered in many circumstances as an anti-inflammatory, and some pathogens hijack the cell death signaling routes to initiate a targeted attack against the host. In this review, the selected mechanisms by which viruses interfere with cell death were discussed in-depth and were illustrated by compiling the general principles and cellular signaling mechanisms of virus–host-specific molecule interactions.     

Multi-virtual wireless mesh networks through multiple channels and interfaces

Wireless Networks - The high flexibility of the wireless mesh networks (WMNs) physical infrastructure can be exploited to provide communication with different technologies and support for a variety...     

In Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation of MgO Nanoparticles and Their Effect on the Expression of ROS Genes

Water-dispersible MgO nanoparticles were tested to investigate their cytotoxic effects on oxidative stress gene expression. In this in vitro study, genes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase, were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reactions (molecular level) and molecular beacon technologies (cellular level). The monodispersed MgO nanoparticles, 20 nm in size, were used to treat human cancer cell lines (liver cancer epithelial cells) at different concentrations (25, 75 and 150 µg/mL) and incubation times (24, 48 and 72 h). Both the genetic and cellular cytotoxic screening methods produced consistent results, showing that GST and catalase ROS gene expression was maximized at 150 µg/mL nanoparticle treatment with 48 h incubation. However, the genotoxic effect of MgO nanoparticles was not significant compared with control experiments, which indicates its significant potential applications in nanomedicine as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.     

Bandwidth and frequency agile MIMO antenna for cognitive vehicular communications

A reconfigurable MIMO antenna for heterogeneous vehicular networks is reported in this paper. The frequency and bandwidth characteristics of the MIMO antenna can be reconfigured to meet multi-standard and multi-frequency requirements in automobiles. The antenna element evolved from an edge-chamfered ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna operating from 2.1 to >15 GHz. The bandwidth reconfiguration is achieved through the selection of excitation paths connecting the feed and radiator. The feedline selection is performed using PIN diodes, making the antenna operate in three distinct modes, namely, UWB mode (Mode 1: 2.1–>15 GHz), industrial, scientific and medical/Internet of Things (ISM/IoT) mode (Mode 2: 2.45 GHz), and wireless local area network (WLAN) mode (Mode 3: 5–6 GHz). The feed path corresponding to Mode 2 and Mode 3 is incorporated with a suitable filtering network to shape the frequency response of the antenna based on the user's requirements. Owing to the requirement of cognitive selection of frequency bands, the frequency tunability in Mode 2 is realized using varactor diodes. The varactor-incorporated feed path reconfigures the center frequency between 2.45 and 3.5 GHz. The proposed MIMO antenna offers gain and total efficiency greater than 2.94 dBi and 76%, respectively. The prototype of the 4-port MIMO antenna is being fabricated to test its functionality in real time.     

Low complexity ordered successive interference cancelation detection algorithm for uplink MIMO SC-FDMA system

In mobile communication, the most exploratory technology of fifth generation is massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO). The minimum mean square error and zero forcing based linear detectors are used in multiuser detection for MIMO single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA). When the received signal is detected and regularization sequence is joined in the equalization of spectral null amplification, these schemes experience an error performance and the signal detection assesses an inversion of a matrix computation that grows into complexity. Ordered successive interference cancelation (OSIC) detection is considered for MIMO SC-FDMA, which uses a posteriori information to eradicate these problems in a realistic environment. To cancel the interference, sorting is preferred based on signal-to-noise ratio and log-likelihood ratio. The distinctiveness of the methodology is to predict the symbol with the lowest error probability. The proposed work is compared with the existing methods, and simulation results prove that the defined algorithm outperforms conventional detection methods and accomplishes better performance with lower complication.