Influence of solvent composition and degree of reaction on the formation of surface microtopography in a thermoset siloxane-urethane system

The effects of solvent composition and degree of reaction prior to film formation leading to the formation of a biphasic microtopographical surface in a crosslinked siloxane-urethane coating system were explored. For the solvent composition study, a D-optimal mixture design study was carried out using methyl n-amyl ketone (MAK), toluene, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate (EEP), butyl acetate (BA) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as solvents. The study revealed that the presence of slow evaporating solvents MAK, EEP and the absence of fast evaporating solvent IPA in the solvent composition with a minimal amount of BA favored formation of a structured surface. Control over the domain size could be obtained by varying the MAK:EEP ratio in solvent compositions having a fixed amount of BA. The effect of mixing time on the formation of surface domains was studied. At short mixing times (<2 h) and long mixing times (>7 h), no surface phase separation is observed, while at intermediate times a ‘window’ was found where surface microdomains of similar size are generated. Doubling the level of catalyst halves the mixing time required to generate surfaces with microdomains. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies with energy dispersive X-ray mapping and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were done in order to understand the development of the phases in the PDMS-polyurethane system.     

Effect of thermal storage on the performance of greenhouse

In this communication, thermal model of a greenhouse has been developed by incorporating the effect of water wall in the north side. Various temperatures, namely plant, water wall and room temperatures as a function of climatic and design parameters have been obtained by solving coupled single-order differential equation using Runge–Kutta method. Numerical methods have been carried out for a typical day of winter for Delhi condition. It has been observed that there is significant effect in the plant, room air and water temperatures due to change in fraction of solar radiation incident on north wall (F_n) and heat capacity of water wall. Experimental validation of the proposed model for a greenhouse with brick north wall has also been carried out. It has been observed that there is a fair agreement between experimental and theoretical values. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Nanocrystalline FeS2 with Increased Band Gap for Solar Energy Harvesting

In this paper,we have reported the synthesis of FeS2 of higher band gap energy（2.75 eV） by using capping reagent and its successive application in organic-inorganic based hybrid solar cells.Hydrothermal route was adopted for preparing iron pyrite（FeS2） nanoparticles with capping reagent PEG-400.The quality of synthesized FeS2 material was confirmed by X-ray diffraction,field emission scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,Fourier transform infrared,thermogravimetric analyzer,and Raman study.The optical band gap energy and electro-chemical band gap energy of the synthesized FeS2 were investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry.Finally band gap engineered FeS2 has been successfully used in conjunction with conjugated polymer MEHPPV for harvesting solar energy.The energy conversion efficiency was obtained as 0.064%with a fill-factor of 0.52.     

Preparation of water-dispersible graphene by facile surface modification of graphite oxide

Water-dispersible graphene was prepared by reacting graphite oxide and 6-amino-4-hydroxy-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS). X-ray diffraction study showed that the basal reflection (002) peak of graphite oxide was absent in the ANS-functionalized graphene (ANS-G), indicating crystal layer delamination. Ultraviolet-visible spectral data were recorded to assess the solubility of the ANS-G in water. Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis suggested the attachment of ANS molecules to the surface of graphene. Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that oxygen functionality in the graphite oxide had been removed during reduction. Atomic force microscopy found that the thickness of ANS-G in water was about 1.8 nm, much higher than that of single layer graphene. Thermal stability measurements also indicated successful removal of oxygen functionality from the graphite oxide and the attachment of thermally unstable ANS to the graphene surfaces. The electrical conductivity of ANS-G, determined by a four-point probe, was 145 S m(-1) at room temperature.     

Macro-to-micro porous special bioactive glass and ceftriaxone-sulbactam composite drug delivery system for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis: an investigation through in vitro and in vivo animal trial

A systematic and extensive approach incorporating in vitro and in vivo experimentation to treat chronic osteomyelitis in animal model were made using antibiotic loaded special bioactive glass porous scaffolds. After thorough characterization for porosity, distribution, surface charge, a novel drug composite were infiltrated by using vacuum infiltration and freeze-drying method which was subsequently analyzed by SEM-EDAX and studied for in vitro drug elution in PBS and SBF. Osteomyelitis in rabbit was induced by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus and optimum drug-scaffold were checked for its efficacy over control and parenteral treated animals in terms of histopathology, radiology, in vivo drug concentration in bone and serum and implant-bone interface by SEM. It was optimized that 60P samples with 60-65% porosity (bimodal distribution of macro- to micropore) with average pore size ~60 μm and higher interconnectivity, moderately high antibiotic adsorption efficiency (~49%) was ideal. Results after 42 days showed antibiotic released higher than MIC against S. aureus compared to parenteral treatment (2 injections a day for 6 weeks). In vivo drug pharmacokinetics and SEM on bone-defect interface proved superiority of CFS loaded porous bioactive glass implants over parenteral group based on infection eradication and new bone formation.     

Digital holography and 3-D imaging

This feature issue on Digital Holography and 3-D Imaging comprises 15 papers on digital holographic techniques and applications, computer-generated holography and encryption techniques, and 3-D display. It is hoped that future work in the area leads to innovative applications of digital holography and 3-D imaging to biology and sensing, and to the development of novel nonlinear dynamic digital holographic techniques.     

Software-defined optical networks (SDONs): a survey

This paper gives an overview of software-defined optical networks (SDONs). It explains the general concepts on software-defined networks (SDNs), their relationship with network function virtualization, and also about OpenFlow, which is a pioneer protocol for SDNs. It then explains the benefits and challenges of extending SDNs to multilayer optical networks, including flexible grid and elastic optical networks, and how it compares to generalized multi-protocol label switching for implementing a unified control plane. An overview on the industry and research efforts on SDON standardization and implementation is given next, to bring the reader up to speed with the current state of the art in this field. Finally, the paper outlines the benefits achieved by SDONs for network operators, and also some of the important and relevant research problems that need to be addressed.     

基础设施投资

近几年来,印度建设市场一直快速增长,在可预见的时期里,基础设施投资也将持续增长。同时,私人财富的增长也促进了住宅和非住宅建设市场的发展。Partha Pratim Basistha报道。