Highly enhanced energy storage properties of H2O2-hydroxylated rare earth ferrites (LaFeO3 and GdFeO3) nanofillers in poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based nanocomposite films

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Pure PVDF has higher breakdown strength but low dielectric and ferroelectric properties. Thus, we synthesized the LaFeO3 and GdFeO3...     

Band gap tuning of ferroelectric PbTiO3 by Mo doping

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Tuning the band gap of ferroelectric materials to visible region without reducing the polarization can provide an ideal photovoltaic...     

Deep transfer modeling for classification of Maize Plant Leaf Disease

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Currently, Deep Learning is playing an influential role for Image analysis and object classification. Maize’s diseases reduce production that subsequently...     

Distributed adaptive state estimation and tracking by using active-passive sensor networks

Heterogeneous sensor networks (HSN) find a wide range of applications in the field of military and civilian environments, where sensor nodes are utilized to estimate the position of a target with both dynamics and control input being unknown for the purposes of tracking. In the HSN, nodes are considered active depending upon their ability to sense the target output while the others are taken passive. Accurate estimation requires local information exchange among the spatially located sensor nodes, so that the active nodes as well as the passive nodes converge simultaneously to the same value. The local information exchange among the nodes is dictated by a connected graph. By using the criterion of collective observability, a novel distributed adaptive estimation scheme is introduced via adaptive observer where the nodes are allowed to have different sensor modalities. Using the estimated information, a subset of active and passive nodes, referred to as mobile nodes, can track the moving target. By using a constant state feedback controller at each mobile node, the state and parameter estimation as well as the tracking errors are shown to be uniformly ultimately bounded. Simulation results verify theoretical claims.     

A meta-heuristic cuckoo search and eigen permutation approach for model order reduction

In this paper, a new model order reduction technique is presented by combining the benefits of the meta-heuristic cuckoo search optimization and Eigen permutation methods for order reduction of higher order continuous-time systems. In the proposed approach, the numerator and the denominator polynomials of reduced order model are determined by Cuckoo search and Eigen permutation approaches, respectively. The proposed approach preserves the stability of the original system into the lower order model as the Eigen permutation retains the dominant pole with simultaneous cluster formation of the remaining real and complex poles. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by single-input single-output and multiple-inputs multiple-outputs numerical examples.     

Two‐Dimensional Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Emerging Trends and Future Prospects

Two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are ultrathin nanomaterials with a high degree of anisotropy and chemical functionality. Research on 2D nanomaterials is still in its infancy, with the majority of research focusing on elucidating unique material characteristics and few reports focusing on biomedical applications of 2D nanomaterials. Nevertheless, recent rapid advances in 2D nanomaterials have raised important and exciting questions about their interactions with biological moieties. 2D nanoparticles such as carbon‐based 2D materials, silicate clays, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and transition metal oxides (TMOs) provide enhanced physical, chemical, and biological functionality owing to their uniform shapes, high surface‐to‐volume ratios, and surface charge. Here, we focus on state‐of‐the‐art biomedical applications of 2D nanomaterials as well as recent developments that are shaping this emerging field. Specifically, we describe the unique characteristics that make 2D nanoparticles so valuable, as well as the biocompatibility framework that has been investigated so far. Finally, to both capture the growing trend of 2D nanomaterials for biomedical applications and to identify promising new research directions, we provide a critical evaluation of potential applications of recently developed 2D nanomaterials.     

Adjuvant properties of a biocompatible thermo-responsive polymer of N-isopropylacrylamide in autoimmunity and arthritis

To evaluate the thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) polymer as an adjuvant, we synthesized PNiPAAm through free radical polymerization and characterized it both in vitro and in vivo. The polymer when mixed with collagen type II (CII) induced antigen-specific autoimmunity and arthritis. Mice immunized with PNiPAAm–CII developed significant levels of CII-specific IgG response comprising major IgG subclasses. Antigen-specific cellular recall response was also enhanced in these mice, while negligible level of IFN-γ was detected in splenocyte cultures, in vitro. PNiPAAm–CII-immunized arthritic mouse paws showed massive infiltration of immune cells and extensive damage to cartilage and bone. As determined by immunostaining, most of the CII protein retained its native configuration after injecting it with PNiPAAm in naive mice. Physical adsorption of CII and the high-molecular-weight form of moderately hydrophobic PNiPAAm induced a significant anti-CII antibody response. Similar to CII, mice immunized with PNiPAAm and ovalbumin (PNiPAAm–Ova) induced significant anti-ovalbumin antibody response. Comparable levels of serum IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-17 were observed in ovalbumin-immunized mice with complete Freund, incomplete Freund (CFA and IFA) or PNiPAAm adjuvants. However, serum IL-4 levels were significantly higher in PNiPAAm–Ova and CFA–Ova groups compared with the IFA–Ova group. Thus, we show for the first time, biocompatible and biodegradable thermo-responsive PNiPAAm can be used as an adjuvant in several immunological applications as well as in better understanding of the autoimmune responses against self-proteins.     

Momentum and heat transfer from a square cylinder in power-law fluids

Numerical solutions are sought, using FLUENT, to the mass, momentum and thermal energy equations for the 2-D flow of power-law fluids over a cylinder of square cross-section. The major thrust of this work is to delineate the values of the Reynolds number denoting the onset of flow separation and the limits of the steady flow regime for both shear-thinning and shear-thickening type fluids. Extensive results are reported on streamline and vorticity contours over wide ranges of power-law index (0.2–1.4) corroborating the occurrence of these two transitions. Having established the limits of the steady flow regime, drag and Nusselt number results are obtained in this regime as functions of the Reynolds number (0.1–40), of Prandtl number (0.7–100) for highly shear-thinning fluids (power-law index < 0.5) thereby extending the range of currently available results to that encountered in practical applications. The Nusselt number shows positive dependence on both the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers. Also, shear-thinning characteristics can augment the rate of heat transfer by up to 100% under appropriate conditions.