Development of nanosilica-based catalyst for syngas production via CO2 reforming of CH4: A review

The alarming global warming issue has sparked interest in researchers to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions via CO₂ reforming of CH₄ (CRM). Regrettably, the main drawback of CRM is catalyst deactivation because of coking and metal sintering. Therefore, exceptional resistance towards coking and sintering is crucial to formulate viable CRM catalysts. This article reviewed the latest development of nanosilica-based catalysts (mesoporous nanosilica, dendritic fibrous nanosilica, green nanosilica, and core@shell nanosilica) for CRM application. The physicochemical properties of nanosilica supports could be modulated by synthesis methods to improve their resistance towards coking and sintering. Furthermore, this review compiled the influence of catalytic properties of nanosilica supported catalysts, such as active metal dispersion, crystallite size, acid-basic properties, oxygen mobility, reducibility, porosity, and morphology on CRM. To conclude, nanosilica supports with strong metal-support interaction, homogeneous metal dispersion, appropriate crystallite size, and moderate acidity/basicity, exhibited satisfactory catalytic activity, thermal stability, and resistance towards coking and sintering. The fundamental study and depth understanding on this catalysis field is of worth in configuring robust catalysts for future industrial applications success of CRM reaction with superb activity and carbon resistance for CRM.     

High-order harmonic generation by carbon nanotubes in bichromatic laser field

The generation of high-order harmonics from a single walled carbon nanotube interacting with a bichromatic laser field is investigated. We study the nonlinear motion of π electrons in metallic carbon nanotubes ((9,0) zigzag and (10,10) armchair) driven by intense laser fields and the induced current spectrum has been analyzed. The effect of variation intensity of the applied laser fields on electron current density and high-order harmonic generation is investigated. Numerical calculations show that with application of the bichromatic laser field both odd and even harmonics are generated.     

Simultaneous determination of diclofenac and indomethacin using a sensitive electrochemical sensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotube and ionic liquid nanocomposite

Multiwalled carbon nanotube and ionic liquid-modified carbon ceramic electrode (MWCNT–IL|CCE) was employed for the simultaneous determination of diclofenac and indomethacin (IND). The measurements were carried out by differential pulse voltammetry method in optimal conditions. The prepared electrode showed appropriate voltammetric responses to DCF and IND with 0.225 V difference in the oxidation peak potentials, making fabricated electrode suitable for simultaneous determination of these compounds. The calibration curves were linear over a wide range of concentrations of each species including 0.05–50 μmol L^?1 for DCF and 1–50 μmol L^?1 for IND. Detection limits were found to be 18 and 260 nM for DCF and IND, respectively. The developed method having good stability and sensitivity was successfully applied for DCF and IND in commercial tablet as well as human blood plasma samples.     

Preparation and elastic moduli of germanate glass containing lead and bismuth

This paper reports the rapid melt quenching technique preparation for the new family of bismuth-lead germanate glass (BPG) systems in the form of (GeO₂)₆₀–(PbO)_40−x–(½Bi₂O₃)_x where x = 0 to 40 mol%. Their densities with respect of Bi₂O₃ concentration were determined using Archimedes’ method with acetone as a floatation medium. The current experimental data are compared with those of bismuth lead borate (B₂O₃)₂₀–(PbO)_80−x–(Bi₂O₃)_x. The elastic properties of BPG were studied using the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique where both longitudinal and transverse sound wave velocities have been measured in each glass samples at a frequency of 15 MHz and at room temperature. Experimental data shows that all the physical parameters of BPG including density and molar volume, both longitudinal and transverse velocities increase linearly with increasing of Bi₂O₃ content in the germanate glass network. Their elastic moduli such as longitudinal, shear and Young’s also increase linearly with addition of Bi₂O₃ but the bulk modulus did not. The Poisson’s ratio and fractal dimensionality are also found to vary linearly with the Bi₂O₃ concentration.     

NLFXLMS and THF‐NLFXLMS Algorithms for Wiener‐Hammerstein Nonlinear Active Noise Control

Nonlinear Filtered‐X LMS (NLFXLMS) is an indirect adaptive control algorithm for nonlinear active noise control (NANC) system. The algorithm has been developed for both Hammerstein and Wiener secondary paths where the nonlinearity is represented by scaled error function (SEF) and tangential hyperbolic function (THF). NLFXLMS algorithm is limited in practical application because the degree of nonlinearity has to be known in advance. This limitation leads to the development of the THF‐NLFXLMS algorithm where the degree of nonlinearity is estimated by modelling the secondary path. In this work, the NLFXLMS and THF‐NLFXLMS are extended to Wiener‐Hammerstein system. The performance of the proposed Wiener‐Hammerstein THF‐NLFXLMS is compared with NLFXLMS algorithm which is considered as the benchmark and second order Volterra algorithm of comparable computational complexity. Simulation results show that the THF‐NLFXLMS has a similar performance to NLFXLMS and outperforms the second order Volterra algorithm as the system becomes more nonlinear.     

Labeled flow-based dataset of ICMPv6-based DDoS attacks

Neural Computing and Applications - DDoS attacks that depend on Internet Control Message Protocol version 6 (ICMPv6) are one of the most commonly performed IPv6 attacks against today’s IPv6...     

Association of miR-499 Polymorphism and Its Regulatory Networks with Hashimoto Thyroiditis Susceptibility: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is a common autoimmune disorder with a strong genetic background. Several genetic factors have been suggested, yet numerous genetic contributors remain to be fully understood in HT pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRs) are gene expression regulators critically involved in biological processes, of which polymorphisms can alter their function, leading to pathologic conditions, including autoimmune diseases. We examined whether miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to HT in an Iranian subpopulation. Furthermore, we investigated the potential interacting regulatory network of the miR-499. This case-control study included 150 HT patients and 152 healthy subjects. Genotyping of rs3746444 was performed by the PCR-RFLP method. Also, target genomic sites of the polymorphism were predicted using bioinformatics. Our results showed that miR-499 rs3746444 was positively associated with HT risk in heterozygous (OR = 3.32, 95%CI = 2.00–5.53, p < 0.001, CT vs. TT), homozygous (OR = 2.81, 95%CI = 1.30–6.10, p = 0.014, CC vs. TT), dominant (OR = 3.22, 95%CI = 1.97–5.25, p < 0.001, CT + CC vs. TT), overdominant (OR = 2.57, 95%CI = 1.62–4.09, p < 0.001, CC + TT vs. CT), and allelic (OR = 1.92, 95%CI = 1.37–2.69, p < 0.001, C vs. T) models. Mapping predicted target genes of miR-499 on tissue-specific-, co-expression-, and miR-TF networks indicated that main hub-driver nodes are implicated in regulating immune system functions, including immunorecognition and complement activity. We demonstrated that miR-499 rs3746444 is linked to HT susceptibility in our population. However, predicted regulatory networks revealed that this polymorphism is contributing to the regulation of immune system pathways.     

Synthesis of a Cocoa Butter Equivalent by Enzymatic Interesterification of Illipe Butter and Palm Midfraction

This study aims to synthesize a cocoa butter equivalent (CBE)‐structured lipid from a blend of illipe butter (IB) and palm midfraction (PMF) by means of enzymatic interesterification using Rhizomucor miehei sn‐1,3 specific lipase, Lipozyme^® RM IM (Novozymes North America, Inc., Franklinton, NC, USA) as the biocatalyst. Physical and chemical attributes of the CBE and cocoa butter (CB) were analyzed. The synthesized CBE matched the triacylglycerol (TAG) profile range of a commercial CB and is therefore hypothesized to show similar physical and chemical characteristics to CB. The TAG profile, fatty‐acid constituents, melting and cooling behavior, polymorphism, and crystal morphology were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and polarized light microscopy, respectively. Four enzymatically interesterified blends of IB:PMF at different weight ratios were analyzed for their TAG profiles, and a ratio of IB:PMF 10:3 (%, w/w) at 5% enzyme load and a reaction time of 30 min gave similar TAG results to CB. The TAG values of the IB:PMF 10:3 interesterified product (IP) were 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoylglycerol at 19.1 ± 1.0%, 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐3‐stearoylglycerol at 42.7 ± 1.0%, and 1,3‐distearoyl‐2‐oleoylglycerol at 29.9 ± 0.3%. The melting and the cooling profile of IP and CB showed no significant difference. XRD of IP and CB displayed similar dominant peaks at 4.6 Å, representing a β polymorph. Both CB and IP have similar granular spherulitic crystals.     

基于滑模控制的四旋翼飞行器鲁棒三维轨迹跟踪

近年来,无人自主飞行器在军事和民用的众多领域引起了人们的关注,而其轨迹跟踪任务一直是一个热门研究课题。本文提出了一种鲁棒滑模控制,用于控制四旋翼无人机在存在扰动和参数不确定的情况下进行三维轨迹跟踪。首先,建立了一个具有6个方位的四旋翼飞行器的非线性动力学模型。然后,设计了针对质量、惯性和刚度不确定因素的滑模控制器。通过在Matlab Simulink和Universal Mechanism软件系统中进行建模模拟,验证了控制器的三维跟踪效果。最后,使用Pelican四旋翼平台进行了进一步的实验验证,在水平和垂直轴上施加扰动以验证其鲁棒性。仿真和实物验证结果都表明,四旋翼飞行器对特定轨迹的跟踪效果和鲁棒性是令人满意的,证实了所提出的滑模控制算法的正确性和有效性。