Enhanced Multi-attribute Combinative Double Auction (EMCDA) for Resource Allocation in Cloud Computing

Wireless Personal Communications - Cloud computing is a growing technology where lot of heterogeneous resources are available and large amount of requests are submitted by the customers...     

Applications of analytical electron microscopy to guide the design of boron carbide

Compositional analysis of boron carbide on nanometer length scales to examine or interpret atomic mechanisms, for example, solid-state amorphization or grain-boundary segregation, is challenging. This work reviews advancements in high-resolution microanalysis to characterize multiple generations of boron carbide. First, ζ-factor microanalysis will be introduced as a powerful (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) analytical framework to accurately characterize boron carbide. Three case studies involving the application of ζ-factor microanalysis will then be presented: (1) accurate stoichiometry determination of B-doped boron carbide using ζ-factor microanalysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy, (2) normalized quantification of silicon grain-boundary segregation in Si-doped boron carbide, and (3) calibration of a scanning electron microscope X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS) system to measure compositional homogeneity differences of B/Si-doped arc-melted boron carbides in the as-melted and annealed conditions. Overall, the improvement and application of advanced analytical tools have helped better understand processing–microstructure–property relationships and successfully manufacture high-performance ceramics.     

Aluminium-doped TiO2 nanotubes with enhanced light-harvesting properties

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) application in light-harvesting processes is hindered by its wide band gap. Strategies such as morphology shifts from nanoparticles to nanotubes and doping of fabricated nanostructures are widely used to address this issue. Combining both approaches, this work successfully synthesizes, for the first time, aluminium-doped TiO₂ nanotubes via a single-step anodization method at three distinct potentials (20, 40 and 60 V). SEM images revealed the successful formation of remarkably thin layers of TiO₂ nanotubes produced at 40 and 60 V. X-ray diffractograms and Raman spectra suggest the successful insertion of aluminium into the anatase lattice. Diffuse reflectance confirmed the doping process through a marked effect on the absorbance of visible light for the higher voltages, as well as through a reduction in the optical band gap. For utilization purposes, the photoelectrochemical performance of 40 V Al–TiO₂ was able to deliver a comparable response to that of a compact TiO₂ layer of the same thickness. The current density developed by the 60 V sample was increased by 120% in comparison to the undoped material, despite having an absorbance much lower than that of the latter. Overall, synthesizing an Al-doped TiO₂ nanotubular structure has proven to be a great strategy in the development of materials for application in advanced light-harvesting electrodes.     

Concerning the Data of Numerical and Physical Experiments in Studying the Adsorption of Gas and Vapors in Micropores of Active Carbons

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - The conditions for carrying out molecular dynamics calculations of adsorption isotherms of gases and vapors in micropores of active carbons...     

Evaluation of thermodynamic simulation (FactSage) for the interpretation of the presence of phases and the firing behavior of triaxial ceramics

The present work provides an evaluation of the thermodynamic calculation, using the FactSage software, which allows the study of the interaction of a system of various oxides. It started with the examination of the crystalline phases present in the raw materials indicated by the FactSage and compared with the analysis by XRD. Subsequently, the crystalline phases and the amount of liquid phase predicted by the software at different firing temperatures were analyzed. These results were compared with experimental data and records from the literature. The FactSage showed consistent results, managing to indicate the presence of the main phases in the raw materials; however, the actual and predicted secondary phases did not always coincide. The type of phase in the firing was correctly indicated, tridymite (stable phase above 867 °C), mullite and liquid phase, but their quantity in relation to the firing temperature was quite different from the experimental data.     

Carbon-based TiO2-x heterostructure nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dye molecules

Application of brown titanium dioxide (TiO_2-x) and its modified composite forms in the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants in the environment is a promising way to provide solutions for environmental redemption. Herein, we report the synthesis of effective and stable TiO_2-x nanoparticles with g-C₃N₄, RGO, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a simple hydrothermal method. Among all the as-synthesized samples, excellent photocatalytic degradation activity was observed for RGO-TiO_2-x nanocomposite with high rate constants of 0.075 min^?1_, 0.083 min^?1 and 0.093 min^?1 for methylene blue, rhodamine-B, and rosebengal dyes under UV–Visible light irradiation, respectively. The altered bandgap (1.8 eV) and the large surface area of RGO-TiO_2-x nanocomposite impacts on both absorption of visible light and efficiency of photogenerated charge electron (e^?)/hole (h⁺) pair separation. This resulted in enhanced photocatalytic property of carbon-based TiO_2-x nanocomposites. A systematic study on the influence of different carbon nanostructures on the photocatalytic activity of brown TiO_2-x is carried out.     

Cocaine Induces Cytoskeletal Changes in Cardiac Myocytes: Implications for Cardiac Morphology

Cocaine is one of the most widely abused illicit drugs worldwide and has long been recognised as an agent of cardiac dysfunction in numerous cases of drug overdose. Cocaine has previously been shown to up-regulate cytoskeletal rearrangements and morphological changes in numerous tissues; however, previous literature observes such changes primarily in clinical case reports and addiction studies. An investigation into the fundamental cytoskeletal parameters of migration, adhesion and proliferation were studied to determine the cytoskeletal and cytotoxic basis of cocaine in cardiac cells. Treatment of cardiac myocytes with cocaine increased cell migration and adhesion (p < 0.05), with no effect on cell proliferation, except with higher doses eliciting (1–10 μg/mL) its diminution and increase in cell death. Cocaine downregulated phosphorylation of cofilin, decreased expression of adhesion modulators (integrin-β3) and increased expression of ezirin within three hours of 1 μg/mL treatments. These functional responses were associated with changes in cellular morphology, including alterations in membrane stability and a stellate-like phenotype with less compaction between cells. Higher dose treatments of cocaine (5–10 μg/mL) were associated with significant cardiomyocyte cell death (p < 0.05) and loss of cellular architecture. These results highlight the importance of cocaine in mediating cardiomyocyte function and cytotoxicity associated with the possible loss of intercellular contacts required to maintain normal cell viability, with implications for cardiotoxicity relating to hypertrophy and fibrogenesis.     

In Between the $$LQG/H_{2}$$ - and $$H_{\infty } $$ -Control Theories

Automation and Remote Control - In this survey, we discuss various approaches to control theory that have arisen in the recent decades and reflect the desire to reach a trade-off between the $$LQG...     

Adsorption of anionic dye on eco-friendly synthesised reduced graphene oxide anchored with lanthanum aluminate: Isotherms,kinetics and statistical error analysis

In the present study we made an effort to deploy eco-friendly synthesized reduced graphene oxide/Lanthanum Alluminate nanocomposites (RGO-LaAlO₃) and Lanthanum Alluminate (LaAlO₃) as adsorbents to remove dye from the synthetic media. XRD, SEM, BET surface area and EDX have been used to characterize the above-mentioned adsorbents. The impacts of different factors like adsorbent dosage, the concentration of adsorbate and PH on adsorption were studied. The best fit linear and nonlinear equations for the adsorption isotherms and kinetic models had been examined. The sum of the normalized errors and the coefficient of determination were used to determine the best fit model. The experimental data were more aptly fitted for nonlinear forms of isotherms and kinetic equations. Pseudo-second-order and Freundlich isotherm model fits the equilibrium data satisfactorily. Methyl orange (MO) has been used as model dye pollutant and maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 469.7 and 702.2 mg g^?1 for LaAlO₃ and RGO-LaAlO₃, respectively.     

The structure and electrical properties of lithium doped pyrochlore Gd2Zr2O7

The lithium-doped phases Gd_1.7Li_0.3Zr₂O_6.7 and Gd₂Zr_1.7Li_0.3O_6.55 with a pyrochlore structure were prepared by the modified Pechini method using citric acid and glycerol. Monitoring of the lithium content by using a nuclear microanalysis showed that a significant loss of lithium occurred after heat treatment above 1200 °C. Dense ceramics with a stoichiometric lithium content can be prepared by a low temperature microwave sintering (1100 °C). The introduction of lithium in the Gd-sublattice was accompanied by a decrease in the unit cell parameter (a = 10.5208 (1) Å vs 10.5346 (2) Å for Gd₂Zr₂O₇) and during doping at the Zr-sites with lithium, the cell parameter increased (10.5720 (1) Å). The doping in both cases led to an increase in the free cell volume. The impedance spectroscopy results showed that the bulk conductivity can be enhanced by the Li⁺-doping at the Gd³⁺-site by almost an order of magnitude. The sample Gd₂Zr_1.7Li_0.3O_6.55 had a conductivity lower than that of Gd_1.7Li_0.3Zr₂O_6.7 due to the possible trapping of oxygen vacancies by a high-charged acceptor defect LiZr???. The conductivity?pO₂ measurements showed that the Li-containing phase was a pure oxide-ion conductor at T < 800 °C.