Structural,dielectric and magnetic manifestation in BaM/PEEK nanocomposite for X band shielding blocks

The microwave absorber nanocomposites consisting of substituted M-type hexaferrite Ba_0.8Gd_0.2Fe_11.5Co_0.5O₁₉ and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) have been investigated for X-band applications. Composites with hexaferrite to PEEK ratios 5:0, 4:1, 3:2, 2:3, 1:4, 0:5 have been synthesized by a micro-emulsion method. XRD results confirm the hexagonal structure of the hexaferrite with average crystallite size up to 37.2 nm. Magnetic properties reveal that saturation magnetization M_s increases whereas coercivity H_c decreases by increasing the ferrite content in the composites. Complex permittivity and permeability have been tailored with ferrite content in the X-band. The dielectric constant reduces from 5.3 to 3.25 while permeability increases up to 1.37 with increasing ferrite concentrations. The microwave results show the minimum reflection loss of ?10.79 dB for composite with 80% ferrite.     

Simulation,modeling and analysis of master node election algorithm based on signal strength for VANETs through Colored Petri nets

The broadcast storm problem causes redundancy, contention and collision of messages in a network, particularly in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) where number of participants can grow arbitrarily. This paper presents a solution to this problem in which a node is designated as a master through an election process. Moreover, an algorithm is proposed for asynchronous VANETs to select a master node, where the participants (i.e., vehicles) can communicate with each other directly (single-hop). The proposed algorithm is extrema-finding in a way that a node having maximum signal strength is elected as a master node and each vehicle continues communication with the master until the master node keeps its signal strength at the highest level and remains operational too. This paper further presents the Petri net-based modeling of the proposed algorithm for evaluation which is going to be presented for the first time in leader election algorithm in VANETs. Verification of the proposed algorithm is carried out through state space analysis technique.

     

Radio resource management with QoS guarantees for LTE-A systems: a review focused on employing the multi-objective optimization techniques

The increasing number of subscribers’ demand has led to the evolution of future wireless networks that support multimedia applications and require ensuring the quality of services it provides. As the radio resource is becoming scarce, it is turning out to be a vital issue that how should the demands for higher data rates with limited resources is met for the evolving long term evolution-advanced (LTE-A) systems. Moreover, the efficiency and performance of resource management can be further improved by autonomously assigning and managing resources among various users and applications. We have surveyed various radio resource management (RRM) techniques being used for resource sharing in LTE-A networks that focus on the potential of multi-objective optimization algorithms for achieving desired QoS in LTE-A system. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of RRM techniques, scheduling, and QoS along with a focus on implementing the multi-objective optimization techniques for efficient resource allocation.     

Survival of micro‐organisms and organic acid profile of probiotic Cheddar cheese from buffalo milk during accelerated ripening

The study aimed to assess the impact of ripening at elevated temperatures on the survival of probiotic micro‐organisms and production of organic acids in Cheddar cheese. Cheese was manufactured from buffalo milk using lactococci starters along with different probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5, Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb‐11 and Bifidobacterium longum BB536) as adjunct cultures. The cheeses were ripened at 4–6 °C or 12–14 °C for 180 days and examined for composition, organic acids and microbial survival. The production of organic acids was accelerated at 12–14 °C when compared to normal ripening temperatures. The probiotic bacteria increased production of lactic and acetic acids, compared to cheese made with lactococci alone. The survival of the mesophilic starters was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in all the cheese samples ripened at the higher temperature. However, the probiotic bacteria remained viable (>7.0 log₁₀ cfu/g) throughout the 180 days of ripening, irrespective of temperature. It was concluded that Cheddar containing additional probiotic cultures can effectively be ripened at elevated temperatures without any adverse effects.     

New generation of thermally stable and conducting poly(azomethine‐ester)s: nano‐blend formation with polyaniline

A new dihydroxy monomer, (E)‐1‐(4‐(4‐(4‐hydroxybenzylidene)thiocarbamoylaminobenzyl)phenyl)‐3‐(4‐hydroxybenzylidene)thiourea, was synthesized and polymerized with thiophene‐2,5‐dicarbonyl/terephthaloyl chloride. The structural characterization of the resulting polymers was carried out using spectral techniques (Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR) along with a physical property investigation. Novel polyesters are readily soluble in various amide solvents and possess high molar mass of 112 × 10³–133 × 10³ g mol^?1. The thermal stability was determined via 10% weight loss to be in the range 519–523 °C and the glass transition temperature was 286–289 °C. Electrically conducting poly(azomethine‐ester)‐blend‐polyaniline blends were prepared using mash‐blending and melt‐blending techniques. Materials obtained using the conventional melt‐blending approach generated an efficient conductive network compared with those produced by mash blending. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed a nano‐blend morphology for the melt‐blended system owing to increased physical interactions (hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking) between the two constituent polymers. Miscible blends of thiophene‐based poly(azomethine‐ester)‐blend‐polyaniline had superior conductivity (1.6–2.5 S cm^?1) and thermal stability (T₁₀ = 507 °C) even at low polyaniline concentration relative to reported thiophene/azomethine/polyaniline‐based structures. The new thermally stable and conducting nano‐blends could be candidates for various applications including optoelectronic devices. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polyurethane Composite Foams in High-Performance Applications: A Review

Polyurethane foam is a polymeric material having cellular structure. Multifunctional polyurethane foams reinforced with nanofiller have combined enhanced specific properties with density reduction. This article primarily considers important aspects of various foam processing techniques. Numerous nanofillers such as graphite, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon black, carbon nanotube, nanoclay, and inorganic nanoparticle have been reinforced in polyurethane foam. Particular attention is given to various categories of polymer/carbon nanofiller and polymer/inorganic nanofiller composite foams. Applications of polyurethane composite foams have been focused with relevance to aerospace and automotive industry, radar absorbing and electromagnetic interference shielding, oil absorbants, sensors, fire proof, shape memory, and biomedical materials.