The space–time CESE scheme for shallow water equations incorporating variable bottom topography and horizontal temperature gradients

The effects of bottom topography and horizontal temperature gradients on the shallow water flows are theoretically investigated. The considered systems of partial differential equations (PDEs) are non-strictly hyperbolic and non-conservative due to the presence of non-conservative differential terms on the right hand side. The solutions of these model equations are very challenging for a numerical scheme. Thus, our primary goal is to introduce an improved numerical scheme which can handle the non-conservative differential terms efficiently and accurately. In this paper, the space–time conservation element and solution element (CESE) method is extended to approximate these model equations. The proposed scheme has capability to overcome all difficulties posed by this nonlinear system of PDEs. The performance of the scheme is analyzed by considering several case studies of practical interest and the results of suggested scheme are compared with those of central NT scheme. The accuracy of the scheme is verified qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Design and deployment challenges in immersive and wearable technologies

The current century has brought an unimaginable growth in information and communications technology (ICT) and needs of enormous computing. The advancements in computer hardware and software particularly helped fuel the requirements of human beings, and revolutionized the smart products as an outcome. The advent of wearable devices from their development till successful materialisation has only taken less than a quarter of a century. The huge benefits of these smart wearable technologies cannot be fully enjoyed until and unless the reliability of a complete system is ensured. The reliability can be increased by the consistent advancements in hardware and software in parallel. User expectations actually are the challenges that keep the advancements alive while improving at an unmatchable pace. The future of wearable and other smart devices depends on whether they can provide a timely solution that is reliable, richer in resources, smaller in size, and cheaper in price. This paper addresses the threats and opportunities in the development and the acceptance of immersive and wearable technologies. The hardware and software challenges for the purpose of development are discussed to demonstrate the bottlenecks of the current technologies and the limitations that impose those bottlenecks. For the purpose of adoption, social and commercial challenges related to innovation and acceptability are discussed. The paper proposes guidelines that are expected to be applicable in several considerable applications of wearable technologies, for example, social networks, healthcare, and banking.     

Enhanced adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) in aqueous solution by polyethyleneimine modified palygorskite

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified palygorskite (Pal) was used for the adsorption of Cr(VI) in aqueous solution. The absorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Characterized results confirmed that the Pal has been successfully modified by PEI. The modification of PEI increased the Cr(VI) adsorption performance of the Pal by the adsorption combined reduction mechanism, and amino groups of the adsorbent play the main role in the enhanced Cr(VI) adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity was 51.10 mg·g^-1 at pH 4.0 and 25 ℃. The adsorption kinetics of Cr(VI) on the adsorbent conforms to the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption occurs at pH 3, and then the adsorption capacity of PEI-Pal was decreased with the increase of pH values. The adsorption kinetics of Cr(VI) on PEI-Pal was modeled with pseudo-second-order model. The addition of Cl^-, SO₄^2- and PO₄^3- reduced the Cr(VI) adsorption by competition with Cr(VI) for the active sites of PEI-Pal. The Cr(VI) saturated PEI-Pal can be regenerated in alkaline solution, and the adsorption capacity can still be maintained at 30.44 mg·g^-1 after 4 cycles. The results demonstrate that PEI-Pal can be used as a potential adsorbent of Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions.     

Evolution of ferroelectric and piezoelectric response by heat treatment in pseudocubic BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics

Heat treatment of ceramics is an important process to tailor the fine electromechanical properties. To explore the criteria for optimized heat treatment in a perovskite structure of (1–x)Bi_1.05FeO₃–xBaTiO₃ (BF–BT100x) system, the structural phase relation, ferroelectric and piezoelectric response of BF–BT36 and BF–BT40 ceramics prepared by furnace cooling (FC) and quenching process were investigated. The X-ray diffraction examination showed single pseudocubic perovskite structure for all the ceramics. The homogenous microstructure was obtained for all ceramics with relatively large grain size in the furnace cooled samples. Well saturated ferroelectric hysteresis loops and enhanced piezoelectric constant (d₃₃?=?97 pC/N) were achieved by quenching process. Dielectric curve of BF–BT36 showed large dielectric constant at its Curie temperature, however, BF–BT40 showed diffused relaxor-like dielectric anomalies. Quenched BF–BT36 samples showed typical butterfly like field induced strain curves, however negative strain decreased in BF–BT40 ceramics. From these investigated study, it is observed that BF–BT ceramics are very sensitive to the heat treatment process (furnace cooling and quenching) on the dielectric, electromechanical properties.     

Preparation and characterization of PPRC/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates: A comparative study

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) of polypropylene random copolymer (PPRC) with ethylene–propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) were prepared through in situ and ex situ compatibilization techniques. Silanized silica as nanofiller was incorporated in the ex situ compatibilized TPVs. Mechanical properties were measured for different formulated TPVs with increasing loading of EPDM from 10 to 30 phr. A comparative data is generated to discuss the effect of two compatibilization techniques and addition of silica filler in the TPVs. The degradation studies were also carried out to check the stability of the blends under harsh ultraviolet environment. The in situ compatibilized TPVs provided better overall mechanical properties. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that the properties of ex situ compatiblized TPVs were enhanced by incorporation of silanized silica filler. Silanized silica filler helped in reducing the die swell significantly. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46726.     

Synthesis and characterization of Ag nanoparticles embedded in PVA via UV-photoreduction technique for synthesis of Prussian blue pigment

Silver nanoparticles doped in polyvinyl alcohol (AgNps/PVA) were synthesized via polymer-promoted reductive reaction of AgNO₃ and PVA under time-dependent exposure to UV radiation. The AgNps/PVA composites were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to describe the structure, nuclearity, and distribution of Ag Nps within the PVA matrix. The UV–Vis spectrum of AgNps/PVA exhibited a broad surface plasmon absorption around 425–443 nm which originated from the formation of Ag NPs. Surface analysis by XPS indicated that the Ag NPs were grown solely on the PVA surface at UV exposure time of 2 h (2.0AgNPs/PVA). Increasing the UV exposure time to 4 h will cause the transformation of metallic nanosilver to oxidized nanosilver. UV–Vis absorption spectra were in situ recorded to follow the synthesis of Prussian blue (PB) on 2.0AgNPs/PVA (PB@2.0AgNPs/PVA). The colloidal dispersion of 2.0AgNPs/PVA in an acidic medium containing free Fe(III) ions and potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) revealed an additional band centered at 720 nm due to the intermetal charge-transfer absorbance of the polymeric Fe(II)-C-N-Fe(III) of the PB@2.0AgNPs/PVA nanocomposite. Control experiments were shown to involve a spontaneous electron transfer reaction between 2.0AgNPs/PVA and Fe(III) ions, with a concomitant decomposition of hexacyanoferrate(III) and formation of PB was observed. Moreover, IR gave clear cut evidence for the synthesis of PB@2.0AgNPs/PVA from the appearance of a band for the cyano group at 2090 cm^?1.     

Optimal Automatic Generation Control with Hydro,Thermal, Gas,and Wind Power Plants in 2-Area Interconnected Power System

Abstract

This paper explores automatic generation control (AGC) of a more realistic 2-area multi-source power system comprising hydro, thermal, gas, and wind energy sources-based power plants in each control area. The wind power plants (WPPs) have been growing continuously worldwide due to their inherent feature of providing eco-friendly sustainable energy. But, operations of WPPs are associated with system stability problems due to lack of inertia. However, WPPs do not participate in the elimination of mismatch between generation and demand by AGC but disturbance can be injected by the WPPs due to the stochastic nature of wind energy. An optimal controller based on full state feedback control theory is designed to conduct the study. The system dynamic performance analysis is carried out for 1% step load disturbance in corresponding control areas. It is observed that the system dynamic graphs of deviation in area frequency and tie-line power are significantly improved with the implementation of optimal AGC controller compared to GA tuned classical controller. It has also been shown that the WPPs aid the increase in load disturbance when the input wind power reduces but it negates the effect of increase in load disturbance for increase in wind energy to the WPPs.     

Bipolar disorder and family communication: Effects of a psychoeducational treatment program.

Family psychoeducational programs are efficacious adjuncts to pharmacotherapy for patients with schizophrenic and bipolar disorders, but little is known about what these programs change about families. The authors assessed changes in face-to-face interactional behavior over 1 year among families of bipolar patients who received a 9-month family-focused psychoeducational therapy (FFT; n?=?22) or crisis management with naturalistic follow-up (CMNF, n?=?22), both administered with maintenance pharmacotherapy. Members of families who received FFT showed more positive nonverbal interactional behavior during a 1-year posttreatment problem-solving assessment than families who received CMNF, although no corresponding decreases were seen in negative interactional behaviors. The positive effect of family treatment on patients' symptom trajectories over 1 year was partially mediated by increases in patients' positive nonverbal interactional behaviors during this same interval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)