Blockchain for Collaborative Businesses

Mobile Networks and Applications - Blockchain applications have continuously improved ever since its first debut on cryptocurrency. From then on, its uses have branched out from the financial...     

Stabilization of 6H-Hexagonal SrMnO3 Polymorph by Al2O3 insertion

We demonstrate the structural evolution of polymorphic phases in Al₂O₃-inserted SrMnO₃ ceramics synthesized by solid state reaction. While the 4H-hexagonal phase is predominant in pure SrMnO₃ ceramics, a small amount of 6H-hexagonal polymorph is identified in addition to the primary 4H-hexagonal SrMnO₃ and the secondary hexagonal SrAl₂O₄ phases in the as-sintered ceramics, evidenced by x-ray diffraction and subsequent Rietveld refinement analyses. The existence of the 6H-hexagonal SrMnO₃ phase is corroborated using Raman spectroscopy. The chemical compositions and electronic structures of the Al₂O₃-inserted SrMnO₃ compounds are also examined using energy dispersive spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The first-principles calculations reveal that there is no clear difference between the total energies of 4H- and 6H-hexagonal polymorphs regardless of the presence/absence of Sr and oxygen vacancies. Possible origins are discussed with the estimation of actual strain based on the refined lattice parameter of 6H SrMnO₃.     

Recent advances in isotropic conductive adhesives for electronics packaging applications

Isotropic conductive adhesives (ICAs) have recently received a lot of focus and attention from the researchers in electronics industry as a potential substitute to lead-bearing solders. Numerous studies have shown that ICAs possess many advantages over conventional soldering such as environmental friendliness, finer pitch printing, lower temperature processing and more flexible and simpler processing. However, complete replacement of soldering by ICAs is yet not possible owing to several limitations of ICAs which are mainly related to reliability aspects like limited impact resistance, unstable contact resistance, low adhesion and conductivity etc. Continued efforts for last 15 years have resulted in development of ICAs with improved properties. This review article is aimed at providing a better understanding of ICAs, their principles, performance and significant research and development work addressing the technological utility of ICAs.     

A 1 GHz CMOS analog front-end for a generalized PRML read channel

A 1 GHz CMOS analog front-end for general partial response maximum likelihood (GPRML) read channel in hard disk drive application has been implemented in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS. A continuous time analog filter fulfills the relaxed equalization for GPRML detection and can save up to 35% power consumption for the whole read channel. An analog DFE-based timing recovery loop is implemented to avoid the extremely long latency in the digital signal processing path (Viterbi decoder). The measured performances is 1.1 dB off simulations at 800 MHz and 1.6 dB off at 1GHz. The chip draws 240 mW from a 3.3 V supply at 800MHz clock and 380 mW from a 3.6 V supply at 1 GHz clock.     

An integrated methodology to control the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension and type 1 diabetes

Today, air pollution, smoking, use of fatty acids and ready‐made foods, and so on, have exacerbated heart disease. Therefore, controlling the risk of such diseases can prevent or reduce their incidence. The present study aimed at developing an integrated methodology including Markov decision processes (MDP) and genetic algorithm (GA) to control the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypertension and type 1 diabetes. First, the efficiency of GA is evaluated against Grey Wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm, and then, the superiority of GA is revealed. Next, the MDP is employed to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease. For this purpose, model inputs are first determined using a validated micro‐simulation model for screening cardiovascular disease developed at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran by GA. The model input factors are then defined accordingly and using these inputs, three risk estimation models are identified. The results of these models support WHO guidelines that provide medicine with a high discount to patients with high expected LYs. To develop the MDP methodology, policies should be adopted that work well despite the difference between the risk model and the actual risk. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to study the behavior of the total medication cost against the changes of parameters.     

Preparation,Properties and Applications of the Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Nanocomposite Based on Nanoporous Carbon Matrix

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - Nanoporous carbon matrix was prepared by the sol–gel process from pyrogallol-formaldehyde (PF) mixtures in water using picric...     

Methodology to resolve the transport equation with the discrete ordinates code TORT into the IPEN/MB-01 reactor

Resolution of the steady-state Neutron Transport Equation in a nuclear pool reactor is usually achieved by means of two different numerical methods: Monte Carlo (stochastic) and Discrete Ordinates (deterministic). The Discrete Ordinates method solves the Neutron Transport Equation for a set of selected directions, obtaining a set of directional equations and solutions for each equation which are the angular flux. In order to deal with the energy dependence, an energy multi-group approximation is commonly performed, obtaining a set of equations depending on the number of energy groups. In addition, spatial discretization is also required and the problem is solved by sweeping the geometry mesh. However, special cross-sections are required due to the energy and directional discretization, thus a methodology based on NJOY99 code capabilities has been used. Finally, in order to demonstrate the capability of this method, the 3D discrete ordinates code TORT has been applied to resolve the IPEN/MB-01 reactor.     

Positional distribution of CLA in TAG of lamb tissues

The content and positional distribution of CLA in TAG fractions of lamb tissues was examined with either preformed CLA or the linoleic acid precursor of CLA in the diet as experimental treatments. The CLA content of phospholipid (PL) from these tissues was also examined. Thirteen lambs were randomized to the following dietary treatments: (i) control diet (no supplement); (ii) CLA supplementation (0.33 g d⁻¹ for 21 d prior to weaning) to milk-replacer of pre-ruminating lambs, or (iii) feeding linoleic acid-rich oil (6% safflower oil on a dry matter basis) to weaned ruminating lambs. At slaughter, tissue samples were procured from diaphragm, rib muscle, and subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue. Safflower oil supplementation in the diet resulted in an increase in CLA content of the TAG from diaphragm, rib muscle, and SC adipose tissue by about threefold (P<0.05) on a mol% basis. CLA was localized to the sn-1/3 positions of TAG. Animals that received pre-formed CLA, however, had increased proportions of CLA at the sn-2 position of TAG from SC adipose tissue, suggesting that there were tissue-specific dietary effects and possible age-related effects on the mode of FA incorporation into TAG. Safflower oil supplementation in the diet had no effect on the CLA content of PL from diaphragm, rib muscle, and SC adipose tissue, suggesting that CLA was preferentially incorporated into the TAG of these tissues.     

3D Simulation Research on Urea-SCR DeNO<em>x Catalyst for Diesel Engine

In order to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emanated from a diesel eng ine, a comprehensive urea selective catalyst reduction (SCR) DeNOx catalys t was modeled in which numerical simulations were used as a complementary tool f or the experimental investigations to make the design decisions, and hence short en the development process. In this approach, relevant conversion reactions were studied in 1D model, and the parameters obtained in this way were transferred t o 3D simulations. According to the results ...     

Sex pheromone of tomato fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis

Five candidate pheromone components were identified by analyzing pheromone gland extracts by gas chromatography (GC), coupled GC-electroantennographic detection (EAD), and coupled GC-mass spectrometry (MS): (E)-11-hexadecenol(E11–16 : OH), (Z)-11-hexadecenol (Z11–16 : OH),(E)-11-hexadecenal, (E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, and (Z)-3,(Z)-6,(Z)-9-tricosatriene (Z3,Z6,Z9–23 : Hy). In electroantennogram (EAG) recordings, synthetic E11–16 : OH elicited stronger antennal responses at low doses than other candidate pheromone components. Field tests demonstrated that synthetic E11–16 : OH as a trap bait was effective in attracting males, whereas addition of Z11–16 : OH inhibited the males' response. Z3,Z6,Z9–23 : Hy strongly enhanced attractiveness of E11–16 : OH, but was not attractive by itself. A pheromone blend with synergistic behavioral activity of an alcohol (E11–16 : OH) and hydrocarbon (Z3,Z6,Z9–23 : Hy) component is most unusual in the Lepidoptera. The synthetic two-component pheromone is approximately 60 times more attractive than the female-produced blend and might facilitate the control of this pest.