Delamination of Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxide on Starch: Change in Structural and Thermal Properties

Mg-Al layered double hydroxide decorated starch bionanocomposites (starch/layered double hydroxide) are prepared by solution intercalation method. The bionanocomposites are systematically characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. The thermal stability of starch is enhanced due to dispersion of layered double hydroxide within the starch matrix. The chemical resistance property of starch is improved substantially with slight sacrifice in biodegradation behavior by the delamination of layered double hydroxide in starch matrix. Herein, layered double hydroxide acts as potential laminated filler for change in structural, thermal, and chemical resistance properties of starch with little sacrifice in biodegradable behavior.     

THz Induced Nonlinear Effects in Materials at Intensities above 26 GW/cm<Superscript>2</Superscript>

Nonlinear refractive index and absorption coefficient are measured for common semiconductor material such as silicon and organic molecule such as lactose in the terahertz (THz) spectral regime extending from 0.1 to 3 THz. Terahertz pulses with field strengths in excess of 4.4 MV/cm have been employed. Transmittance and the transmitted spectrum were measured with Z-scan and single shot noncollinear electro-optic pump-probe techniques. The THz-induced change in the refractive index (Δn) shows frequency-dependence and a maximum change of \(-~0.128\) at 1.37 THz in lactose and up to \(+~0.169\) at 0.15 THz in silicon was measured for a peak incident THz intensity of 26 GW/cm². Furthermore, the refractive index variation shows a quadratic dependence on the incident THz field, implying the dominance of third-order nonlinearity.     

A fully automated optimization algorithm for determining the 3-D patient contour from photo-peak projection data in SPECT

The class of noninverse problems versus inverse problems is discussed. A general optimization approach to solving certain constrained noninverse problems is presented. This approach is applied in the area of single photon emission computed tomography to estimate the patient outer contour directly from the photo-peak projection data. The resulting algorithm is fully automated, fast, and the determined 3-D patient contour satisfies smoothness constraints. The accuracy and reliability of the algorithm is evaluated through Monte Carlo simulations, patient studies, and an experimental validation study.     

A hybrid elephant herding optimization and cultural algorithm for energy‐balanced cluster head selection scheme to extend the lifetime in WSNs

Clustering‐based optimal cluster head selection in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is considered as the efficient technique essential for improving the network lifetime. But enforcing optimal cluster head selection based on energy stabilization, reduced delay, and minimized distance between sensor nodes always remain a crucial challenge for prolonging the network lifetime in WSNs. In this paper, a hybrid elephant herding optimization and cultural algorithm for optimal cluster head selection (HEHO‐CA‐OCHS) scheme is proposed to extend the lifetime. This proposed HEHO‐CA‐OCHS scheme utilizes the merits of belief space framed by the cultural algorithm for defining a separating operator that is potent in constructing new local optimal solutions in the search space. Further, the inclusion of belief space aids in maintaining the balance between an optimal exploitation and exploration process with enhanced search capabilities under optimal cluster head selection. This proposed HEHO‐CA‐OCHS scheme improves the characteristic properties of the algorithm by incorporating separating and clan updating operators for effective selection of cluster head with the view to increase the lifetime of the network. The simulation results of the proposed HEHO‐CA‐OCHS scheme were estimated to be superior in percentage of alive nodes by 11.21%, percentage of dead nodes by 13.84%, residual energy by 16.38%, throughput by 13.94%, and network lifetime by 19.42% compared to the benchmarked cluster head selection schemes.     

An integrated fuzzy DEMATEL,TOPSIS, and ELECTRE approach for evaluating knowledge transfer effectiveness with reference to GSD project outcome

Neural Computing and Applications - The offshore/onsite teams’ knowledge transfer (KT) effectiveness is one of the key determinants for achieving the outcome of global software development...     

Cauchy with whale optimizer based eagle strategy for multi-level color hematology image segmentation

Neural Computing and Applications - Pathological color image segmentation is an exigent procedure due to the existence of imperceptibly correlated, and indistinct multiple regions of concern....     

Removal of fluoride from drinking water by adsorption onto alum-impregnated activated alumina

The ability of the alum-impregnated activated alumina (AIAA) for removal of fluoride from water through adsorption has been investigated in the present study. All the experiments are carried out by batch mode. The effect of various parameters viz. contact time, pH effect (pH 2–8), adsorbent dose (0.5–16 g/l), initial fluoride concentration (1–35 mg/l) has been investigated to determine the adsorption capacity of AIAA. The adsorbent dose and isotherm data are correlated to the Bradley equation. The efficacy of AIAA to remove fluoride from water is found to be 99% at pH 6.5, contact time for 3 h, dose of 8 g/l, when 20 mg/l of fluoride is present in 50 ml of water. Energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray shows that the uptake of fluoride at the AIAA/water interface is due to only surface precipitation. The desorption study reveals that this adsorbent can be regenerated following a simple base–acid rinsing procedure, however, again impregnation of the regenerated adsorbent (rinsed residue) is needed for further defluoridation process.     

Cerium Containing Al- and Zr-Pillared Clays: Promoting Effect of Cerium (III) Ions on Structural and Catalytic Properties

Ce³⁺ containing Al- and Zr-pillared clays were prepared by co-hydrolysis and co-intercalation methods, respectively. The materials were characterized by XRD, IR and near IR techniques. The expansion in the clay lattice as a result of pillaring was confirmed from X-ray diffraction study. The basal spacing for the pillared clay materials was observed typically in the range of 18–23 Å. The IR and near IR studies were employed to show the presence of acidic and non-acidic hydroxyl groups in the pillared clays. The IR peak at 3630 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the structural hydroxyl groups was more intense in pillared clays than in the parent clay. This peak is retained even after calcination at 500^∘C. Various overtone and combination bands were observed in the NIR range of 1200–2500 nm for the pillared clay materials. Pillaring with Al- and Zr-inorganic polycations enhanced the catalytic activity of the parent clays for dehydration of cyclohexanol. The presence of Ce³⁺ ions in the pillared clays was found to influence catalytic activity and stability of the Brønsted acidic sites. The stabilizing effect of cerium ion in the pillared clays is attributed to the competitive site occupancy and prevention of octahedral migration of the catalytically active protons.     

Analytical modeling and simulation of a 2-DOF drive and 1-DOF sense gyro-accelerometer

In this paper, we present a new analytical model for frequency as well as transient analysis of a 3-DOF gyro-accelerometer system having 2-DOF in drive and 1-DOF in sense direction respectively. The model constructs lumped parameter differential equations by vector analysis associated with each degree of freedom that comprises Coriolis action, Euler’s action and action due to external acceleration along with biasing counterparts. These coupled differential equations are then solved explicitly in the frequency domain by taking their Laplace transforms. Based on these formulations, a thorough system analysis has been carried out keeping in view the various parameters and issues related to the device design. Furthermore, a discriminating scheme for time varying angular rate and linear acceleration by combining the structural model of a gyro-accelerometer with the demodulation and filtering processes to investigate frequency response of a micro gyro-accelerometer has also been presented by taking into account the presently derived settled transient solution of sense mode response. Finally we have verified the present model with MATLAB Simulink, showing their excellent agreement with each other.