Fabrication of ZnO-functionalized polypyrrole microcomposite as a protective coating to enhance anticorrosion performance of low carbon mild steel

In the present work, PPy, ZnO, and polypyrrole/zinc oxide (PPy/ZnO) microcomposites (1, 2, and 5 wt%) were prepared and their properties have been tuned for anticorrosion applications on low carbon mild steel. The synthesized products: ZnO, PPy, and composites were characterized by various sophisticated analytical techniques such as XRD, FTIR, Raman, FESEM, EDX, UV–VIS, TGA, and BET. The band frequencies observed at 480 and 588 cm⁻¹ in FTIR spectrum correspond to stretching vibrations of Zn-O and N-H bonds, respectively, broadening of the bands in the composites indicate strong interactions between ZnO and PPy matrix. The potentiodynamic polarization study of PPy and PPy/ZnO composite was carried out in 3.5% NaCl solution to investigate the corrosion resistance efficiency. PPy/1 wt% ZnO (I_corr = 190 nA) composite coating on low carbon mild steel was observed to exhibit best corrosion protection property compared to PPy (121 μA), 2 and 5 wt% ZnO (242, 295 nA) composites. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48319.     

Local gradient of gradient pattern: a robust image descriptor for the classification of brain strokes from computed tomography images

Pattern Analysis and Applications - This paper presents a new feature extraction method for the classification of brain computed tomography (CT) scan images into hemorrhagic strokes, ischemic...     

Fabrication of silicon nanohorns via soft lithography technique for photoelectrochemical application

Water splitting for H₂ production by absorbing sunlight is broadly used as a common technique to counter existing energy crisis and environmental problems, caused by extreme use of fossil fuels. We report a versatile and facile method to fabricate ordered Silicon nanohorns (SiNHs) by employing prefabricated metal nano-gap template on Si. The close-packed monolayer is used to develop the nanohole template, which enables the generation of SiNHs via metal-assisted controlled chemical etching. By varying monolayer parameters and etching sequences, SiNHs with desired dimensions were obtained. Growth along the crystalline plane of the base substrate ?100?, with a consistent bent at the tip of the SiNH, has been observed. The resulting SiNHs exhibited enhanced photoelectrochemical properties, with short-circuit photocurrent density more than four times higher than that of the planer Si along with enhanced trapping of photogenerated carriers. A photocurrent density of ~4.8 mA/cm² was observed at a potential of -1 V vs. RHE. Further, the electrochemical impedance study (EIS) was carried out to understand the photoelectrochemical activity and charge transfer kinetics of the SiNHs system. These nanostructures enhance light absorption and may be one of the low-cost alternatives for optical devices, sensors, and hydrogen evolution.     

Machine learning-based classification of cardiac diseases from PCG recorded heart sounds

Neural Computing and Applications - Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most fatal diseases across the globe. Clinically, conventional stethoscope is used to check the medical condition of a...     

Impact of the growing multicultural movement on the portrayal of developing countries in contemporary children's books in Britain: Africa, a case study

This article considers recent changes in the perspective adopted by contemporary British children's publications concerning the portrayal of Africa. First, it reveals an increased awareness among contemporary children's texts about economic, scientific and technological developments and rich wildlife, progress in the spheres of education and growing urbanisation. Secondly, it examines how far contemporary texts have been successful in promoting a sympathetic understanding of racial discrimination, the plight of native tribes and colonial struggle. Finally, it explores the possibility of how the popular western conception of Africa can be countered by incorporating a more dynamic and encyclopaedic approach in current texts by compiling most recent and comprehensive information on recent technological advances and socio-economic reforms; and also by divulging concealed information on vital social, economic and historical issues such as displacement of native tribes, role played by less publicised, black leaders in struggle against racial discrimination and contribution of prolonged colonial rule and present economic dependency on western powers in aborting significant social and economic developments.     

Bake stability of CdTe and ZnS on HgCdTe: An x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study

Mercury cadmium telluride (Hg_1?xCd_xTe or MCT) has been commonly used in devices for infrared (IR) detection. For the optimum performance of the device, a compatible surface-passivation technology that provides long-term stability is required. Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the present study examines the effects on Hg_0.8Cd_0.2Te passivated with CdTe and ZnS undergoing baking in vacuum at temperatures typically used for dewar bakeout. Spectra recorded as a function of depth in both cases clearly show out-diffusion of Hg from the substrate toward the surface, even before the bakeout. On baking in vacuum, dramatic changes are observed in the ZnS/MCT case with complete loss of Hg from the sample up to the tested depth of more than 1,000 Å. Compositions of the HgCdTe matrix, formed after Hg out-diffusion, before and after the bakeout are also calculated at selected depths (from 250 Å to 700 Å), which is vital information from a device point of view, as it affects the bandgap of this narrow-band semiconductor.     

Decoder driven side information generation using ensemble of MLP networks for distributed video coding

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper proposes an ensemble of multi-layer perceptron (MLP) networks for side information (SI) generation in distributed video coding (DVC). In the proposed...     

Vertical motion of a sphere in an electrically conducting,stratified, diffusive medium

Summary The vertical (upwards) flow of an incompressible, Newtonian, viscous, stratified, diffusive, electrically conducting fluid embedded with a uniform magnetic field that is applied in the vertical direction, past a non-conducting sphere is considered. Quasisteady approximation is made allowing for a time dependent buoyancy force. Method of matched asymptotic expansions is employed to obtain the drag exerted on the sphere, for small values of a stratification parameter such that 1,R _e ^1/3, ^–1/3,P _e ^2/3 andR _m =O(^2/3). The drag is computed for certain typical values of the magnetic interaction parameter and diffusivity parameter. The results reveal the fact that while the stratification and magnetic field have the enhancing effect over the drag, the effect of diffusivity is to decrease it.With 3 Figures     

Structural characterization of chitosan and oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose based freeze-dried films

The conversion of dihydroxyl groups to dialdehyde by periodate oxidation is a useful method widely used in derivatization of cellulose. Periodate oxidation is a highly specific reaction to convert 1,2-dihydroxyl groups to paired aldehyde groups without significant side reactions. This reaction cleaves the C2?CC3 bond; the resulting compound is the dialdehyde cellulose (DAC). These aldehyde groups of carboxymethyl cellulose interact with amino group of chitosan and their interaction results in the formation Schiff??s base with enhanced properties of both the polymers, i.e., of chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose. Interaction of chitosan and oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose (OCMC) has been carried out with three combinations, i.e., 5, 10, and 15?wt% OCMC with rest of chitosan in 2% lactic acid solution. This new compound is covalently crosslinked which has been analyzed by various techniques like FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM.     

Investigation of Neuropathology after Nerve Release in Chronic Constriction Injury of Rat Sciatic Nerve

Peripheral compressive neuropathy causes significant neuropathic pain, muscle weakness and prolong neuroinflammation. Surgical decompression remains the gold standard of treatment but the outcome is suboptimal with a high recurrence rate. From mechanical compression to chemical propagation of the local inflammatory signals, little is known about the distinct neuropathologic patterns and the genetic signatures after nerve decompression. In this study, controllable mechanical constriction forces over rat sciatic nerve induces irreversible sensorimotor dysfunction with sustained local neuroinflammation, even 4 weeks after nerve release. Significant gene upregulations are found in the dorsal root ganglia, regarding inflammatory, proapoptotic and neuropathic pain signals. Genetic profiling of neuroinflammation at the local injured nerve reveals persistent upregulation of multiple genes involving oxysterol metabolism, neuronal apoptosis, and proliferation after nerve release. Further validation of the independent roles of each signal pathway will contribute to molecular therapies for compressive neuropathy in the future.