Solution of the 2-dimensional Bratu problem using neural network,swarm intelligence and sequential quadratic programming

In this paper, stochastic techniques have been developed to solve the 2-dimensional Bratu equations with the help of feed-forward artificial neural networks, optimized with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithms. A hybrid of the above two algorithms, referred to as the PSO-SQP method is also studied. The original 2-dimensional equations are solved by first transforming them into equivalent one-dimensional boundary value problems (BVPs). These are then modeled using neural networks. The optimization problem for training the weights of the network has been addressed using particle swarm techniques for global search, integrated with an SQP method for rapid local convergence. The methodology is evaluated by applying on three different test cases of BVPs for the Bratu equations. Monte Carlo simulations and extensive analyses are carried out to validate the accuracy, convergence and effectiveness of the schemes. A comparative study of proposed results is made with available exact solution, as well as, reported numerical results.     

Perspective of Surface Active Agents in Baking Industry: An Overview

Different researchers have previously used surfactants for improving bread qualities and revealed that these compounds result in improving the quality of dough and bread by influencing dough strength, tolerance, uniform crumb cell size, and improve slicing characteristics and gas retention. The objective of this review is to highlight the areas where surfactants are most widely used particularly in the bread industries, their role and mechanism of interaction and their contribution to the quality characteristics of the dough and bread. This review reveals some aspects of surface-active agents regarding its role physiochemical properties of dough that in turn affect the bread characteristics by improving its sensory quality and storage stability.     

A review on automated diagnosis of malaria parasite in microscopic blood smears images

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasite of genus plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles. A rapid and accurate...     

V2O3-Polymer Composite Thermistors

V₂O₃ was incorporated into polymer matrices to produce composite materials with low room-temperature resistivities and sizable positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistance effects. In addition, a negative temperature coefficient effect, associated with the semiconductor-to-metal phase transition in V₂O₃, was also observed. The resistivity vs temperature curve for these composites resembles a square well with three temperature regimes in which the composite behaves like a semiconductor, a metal, and an insulator. The intensity of the PTC effect for these composites was found to be as large as 10 orders of magnitude.     

Nutritional assessment of cookies supplemented with defatted wheat germ

Replacement of wheat flour with defatted wheat germ (DFWG) at levels of 0–25% was investigated for its effect on functional and nutritional properties of cookies. The crude protein content of DFWG was as high as 27.8% with a highly valuable amino acid profile, rich in essential amino acids, especially lysine (2.32 g/100 g). The physicochemical and sensory evaluation of cookies, revealed that up to 15% substitution of wheat flour with DFWG produced acceptable cookies similar to the control (100% wheat flour) cookies. The protein quality of the cookies was assessed through weanling albino rats by feeding a diet of cookies for 10 days, which was formulated to supply 10% protein, with a casein diet as a control. The cookies containing 15% DFWG, were best regarding protein bioavailability in rats. The protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein utilization (NPU), biological value (BV) and true digestibility (TD) differed significantly among diets containing cookies with 0–10% DFWG, and casein diet when fed to rats. Diets containing 15% DFWG have values, of these parameters, similar to the casein diet.     

Migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms: a systematic mapping study

Mobile computing has fast emerged as a pervasive technology to replace the old computing paradigms with portable computation and context-aware communication. Existing software systems can be migrated (while preserving their data and logic) to mobile computing platforms that support portability, context-sensitivity, and enhanced usability. In recent years, some research and development efforts have focused on a systematic migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms.To investigate the research state-of-the-art on the migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms. We aim to analyze the progression and impacts of existing research, highlight challenges and solutions that reflect dimensions of emerging and futuristic research.We followed evidence-based software engineering (EBSE) method to conduct a systematic mapping study (SMS) of the existing research that has progressed over more than a decade (25 studies published from 1996–2017).We have derived a taxonomical classification and a holistic mapping of the existing research to investigate its progress, impacts, and potential areas of futuristic research and development.The SMS has identified three types of migration namely Static, Dynamic, and State-based Migration of existing software systems to mobile computing platforms.Migration to mobile computing platforms enables existing software systems to achieve portability, context-sensitivity, and high connectivity. However, mobile systems may face some challenges such as resource poverty, data security, and privacy. The emerging and futuristic research aims to support patterns and tool support to automate the migration process. The results of this SMS can benefit researchers and practitioners–by highlighting challenges, solutions, and tools, etc., –to conceptualize the state-ofthe- art and futuristic trends that support migration of existing software to mobile computing.     

Landslide damage to the board river water supply pipeline,Bromley Hill,Jamaica: Case study of a landslide caused by hurricane Gilbert (1988)

This case study highlights the importance of geotechnical investigations in the site selection, design and maintenance of life-line structures in multiple hazard prone areas. The Boar River Pipeline, carrying part of Kingston’s water supply, was damaged by a debris flow originating on the eastern slope of Bromley Hill, following the passage of hurricane Gilbert over Jamaica on September 12, 1988. Regional and site-specific geotechical investigations indicate that landslides are ubiquitous in the region, especially on east-facing slopes, and that the slide which damaged the pipelnine is a relatively shallow failure. The slide may stabilize itself in the due course of time provided there are no extreme weather events. Artificial measures of slope stabilization are recommended as a short-term solution. However, since the entire slope is involved in sliding and favourable conditions for future failures exist in the area, the better approach would be to avoid the failed slope altogether and relocate the pipeline.     

Separation of rare earth elements from sulfate leach liquor by heterocyclic nitrogen compound

Separation of rare earth dements by solvent extraction has actually been widely used in various fields from analytical chemistry to hydrometallurgy. A representative ore sample obtained from Kadabora Batholiths-Eastern Desert of Egypt, containing the multiple oxides rare earth minerals： Samarskite, Fergusonite, Betafite, and Pyrochlore, was subjected to sulfuric acid leaching. Different sets of equilibrium loading experiments were carded out on a bench scale for the extraction of rare earths （cerium and yttrium） from the sulfate leach liquor using 8,9-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-6（TH）-one {TQ} dissolved in methylene chloride. Stripping was carded out by 20% sodium hydroxide. A rare earth cake was produced by oxalic acid precipitation. Its purity reached 87.3%.     

Chemical Grafting of Crosslinked Polypyrrole and Poly(vinyl Chloride) onto Modified Graphite: Fabrication,Characterization, and Material Properties

ABSTRACT

Conjugated polymer/graphite nanocomposites have been known as high performance materials owing to improve the physicochemical properties relative to conventional once. Multilayered polymer nanocomposites based on polypyrrole (PPy), polyvinylchloride (PVC) as matrices and p-phenylene diamine (PDA) as linker were prepared via chemical in situ polymerization process and subsequently investigated the physical characteristics of fabricated nanocomposites at various loadings. The structural characterization and morphology of prepared nanocomposites were inspected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), respectively. The composite III showed higher thermal stability at 10 wt% loading of PPy. According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the glass transition temperature (T_g), melting temperature T_m, and crystallization temperature (T_c) of nanocomposites increases with PPy loading (2–10 wt%) owing to crosslinking and chain rigidity. Moreover, higher surface area was displayed by the multilayered PPy/PVC/PDA@FG nanocomposites. Remarkably, electrical conductivity of ultimate nanocomposites was also found to be a function of PPy loading.     

Growth and characterization of V2O5 thin film on conductive electrode

Vanadium pentoxide V₂O₅ thin films were grown at room temperature on ITO coated glass substrates by electrochemical deposition. The resulting films were annealed at 300, 400 and 500°C for 1 h in ambient environment. The effect of heat treatment on the films properties such as surface morphology, crystal structure, optical absorption and photoluminescence were investigated. The x‐ray diffraction study showed that the films are well crystallized with temperatures. Strong reflection from plane (400) indicated the film's preferred growth orientation. The V₂O₅ films are found to be highly transparent across the visible spectrum and the measured photoluminescence quenching suggested the film's potential application in OPV device fabrication.