Controllability of Fractional Order Stochastic Differential Inclusions with Fractional Brownian Motion in Finite Dimensional Space

In this paper, sufficient conditions are formulated for controllability of fractional order stochastic differential inclusions with fractional Brownian motion (fBm) via fixed point theorems, namely the Bohnenblust-Karlin fixed point theorem for the convex case and the Covitz-Nadler fixed point theorem for the nonconvex case. The controllability Grammian matrix is defined by using Mittag-Leffler matrix function. Finally, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the efficiency of the obtained theoretical results.      

In-vitro digestibility,textural and quality characteristics of ditalini pasta fortified with green banana flour and its type -IV modified starch

Resistant starch in unripe banana offers a possibility to alter the glycemic properties in convenience foods, such as pasta. In this study, pasta formulations were tried by replacing 30% semolina with varying proportions of green banana flour (GBF) and banana-modified starch (MS). The effect of substitution on physicochemical and functional properties, including in-vitro starch digestibility, antioxidant property and consumer acceptability, was evaluated. Among the composite flours, MS recorded higher swelling power and water holding capacity. The replacement of semolina with GBF resulted in higher resistant starch, 4–5 times enhanced indigestible fraction, phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in pasta. Pronounced increment was also observed in potassium, calcium and magnesium content in blended pasta. Optimal cooking time was reduced with the addition of GBF, whereas it was enhanced with MS. GBF and MS in the blends, decreased the hydrolysis rate (up to 24%) and glycemic index (up to 17%) of pasta. However, the addition of MS beyond 10% negatively influenced springiness and chewiness. Microstructural studies explained the positive structural changes with the addition of GBF and MS. Sensory attributes disclosed that the addition of 25% GBF and 5% MS is a desirable proportion for pasta with a functional characteristics.     

Synthesis,spectral, structural,Hirshfeld surface and DFT studies on bis(N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(2-phenylethyl)dithiocarbamato-S,S′)zinc(II) and its use for the preparation of ZnS and ZnO nanoparticles

Two new complexes, bis(N-(2-phenylethyl)-N-(4-fluorobenzyl)dithiocarbamato-S,S′)zinc(II) (1) and bis(N-(2-phenylethyl)-N-(4-chlorobenzyl)dithiocarbamato-S,S′)zinc(II) (2), have been synthesized and characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Structure of 1 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a dimer. Zinc atom is four coordinated with a distorted tetrahedral environment. Geometry optimization, geometrical parameters, molecular electrostatic potential (MEPs) and frontier molecular orbital analysis of dimeric and monomeric structures of 1 have been carried out by DFT methods and compared with the experimental X-ray diffraction data. The noncovalent interactions in the complex 1 have been analyzed using Hirshfeld surface analysis. 1 and 2 have been used as single source precursors for the preparation of zinc sulfide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. As-prepared zinc sulfides and zinc oxides have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV–vis absorption, photoluminence and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). X-ray diffraction study reveals that zinc sulfides and zinc oxides are composed of rhombohedral and hexagonal phases, respectively. Photocatalytic activities of zinc sulfides and zinc oxides were evaluated by degradation of rhodamine B in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. The results demonstrated the capability of zinc sulfides and zinc oxides as photocatalyst under UV irradiation to degrade the dye.     

Performance of a divided flow exchanger

An analysis is presented of a 1-2 divided flow exchanger where the temperature of shell and tube streams depend on tube arrangement. Effect of having unbalanced tube passes is assessed for two possible cases. Graphs are plotted that show the variation of thermal effectiveness and logarithmic mean temperature difference correction factor with ratio of heat capacity rates and number of transfer units. Combination of such exchangers is also studied.     

Star poly(4-vinylpyridine)s using dendritic ATRP initiators: Synthesis,electrolyte property and performance in dye sensitized solar cell

The G0 and G1 polyurethane dendrimers terminated with 3–12 atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators were prepared using single and dual functional ATRP reagents and their structures were confirmed using FT-IR, ¹H–NMR, HR-MS and SEC-MALLS techniques. 4-Vinylpyridine was polymerized using the G1 dendritic initiators to obtain six- and twelve-arm star poly(4-vinylpyridine)s (STAR-P1 and STAR-P2). The absolute molecular weight and PDI of star polymers were in the order of 10⁵ and 1.23–1.24 respectively. Hydrolysis leading to degradation of inner polyurethane core of the star polymers yielded more narrow dispersed poly(4-vinylpyridine) chains and the SEC-MALLS data of these chains confirm the accurate control on number of arms. Both of the polymers were doped with KI/I₂ along with N3-dye to work as efficient polymer electrolytes for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The increment in the conductivity of doped STAR-P1 was very significant and reached 2.415 mS/m from 0.0066 mS/m of dopant salt. The current-voltage characteristics of these doped polymer electrolytes measured under simulated sun light with AM 1.5 at 40 mW/cm² yielded energy conversion efficiency (η) of 5.13% and 1.90% for STAR-P1 and STAR-P2 respectively and these values also significantly high compared to 1.09% corresponds to current-voltage curve of the device fabricated without the polymers.

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Graphical abstract Star poly(4-vinylpyridine)s were prepared using novel dendritic ATRP initiators and used as electrolytes for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC); one of the cells showed 5.13% energy conversion efficiency.

     

Synthesis and characterization of proton conducting polymer electrolyte based on poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone)

This work aims at developing and characterizing a proton conducting polymer electrolyte based on Poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) doped with ammonium bromide (NH₄Br). Proton conducting polymer electrolytes based on PVP doped NH₄Br in different molar ratios have been prepared by solution casting technique using distilled water as solvent. The XRD pattern confirms the dissociation of salt. The FTIR analysis confirms the complex formation between the polymer and the salt. The conductivity analysis shows that the polymer electrolyte with 25 mol % NH₄Br has the highest conductivity equal to 1.06 × 10^?3 S cm^?1 at room temperature. Also it has been observed that the activation energy evaluated from the Arrhenius plot is low (0.50 eV) for 25 mol % NH₄Br doped polymer electrolyte. The influence of salt concentration on dc conductivity and activation energy of the polymer electrolyte has been discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Charge Photogeneration for a Series of Thiazolo‐Thiazole Donor Polymers Blended with the Fullerene Electron Acceptors PCBM and ICBA

Photoinduced charge separation in bulk heterojunction solar cells is studied using a series of thiazolo‐thiazole donor polymers that differ in their side groups (and bridging atoms) blended with two acceptor fullerenes, phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) and a fullerene indene‐C60 bisadduct (ICBA). Transient absorption spectroscopy is used to determine the yields and lifetimes of photogenerated charge carriers, complimented by cyclic voltammetry studies of materials energetics, wide angle X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies of neat and blend film crystallinity and photoluminescence quenching studies of polymer/fullerene phase segregation, and the correlation of these measurements with device photocurrents. Good correlation between the initial polaron yield and the energetic driving force driving charge separation, ΔE_CS is observed. All blend films exhibit a power law transient absorption decay phase assigned to non‐geminate recombination of dissociated charges; the amplitude of this power law decay phase shows excellent correlation with photocurrent density in the devices. Furthermore, for films of one (relatively amorphous) donor polymer blended with ICBA, we observe an additional 100 ns geminate recombination phase. The implications of the observations reported are discussed in terms of the role of materials' crystallinity in influencing charge dissociation in such devices, and thus materials design requirements for efficient solar cell function.