Effect of Constituent Core-sizes on Microstructure and Dielectric Properties of BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>@(0.6Ba-TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-0.4BiAlO<Subscript>3</Subscript>) Core-Shell Material

The fundamental characteristics of varied initial core-sizes of BaTiO₃(BT) and its influential role on the morphology and dielectric properties of BaTiO₃@0.6BaTiO₃-0.4BiAlO₃(BT@0.6BT-0.4BA) ceramic samples were studied. Alkoxide sol-precipitation method was adopted as revised chemical route to synthesize the constituent “core” BT powders in a dispersed phase, whereas the distinctive initial nano-sized particles were affected by the pre-calcination temperatures (600-900 °C).The microstructure of the uncoated BT ceramics revealed an exaggerated grain growth with an optimized dielectric constant (ε_max >9 000) whilst the coated ceramics behaved otherwise (grain growth inhibited) when sintered at an elevated temperature. Regardless of the previously studied solubility limit (about 0.1%) of BT-BA samples, BT@0.6BT-0.4BA maintained a maximum dielectric constant (ε_max) ranging from 1 592 to 1 708 and tan δ less than 2% under a unit mole ratio at room temperature. In view of all these analyses, the initial nanometer sizes of the as-prepared BT-core powders combined with the increase effect of cation substitutions of Bi³⁺ and Al³⁺ in the shell content, induced the diffuse transition phase of BT@0.6BT-0.4BA composition.     

A comparative review of dynamic neural networks and hidden Markov model methods for mobile on-device speech recognition

The adoption of high-accuracy speech recognition algorithms without an effective evaluation of their impact on the target computational resource is impractical for mobile and embedded systems. In this paper, techniques are adopted to minimise the required computational resource for an effective mobile-based speech recognition system. A Dynamic Multi-Layer Perceptron speech recognition technique, capable of running in real time on a state-of-the-art mobile device, has been introduced. Even though a conventional hidden Markov model when applied to the same dataset slightly outperformed our approach, its processing time is much higher. The Dynamic Multi-layer Perceptron presented here has an accuracy level of 96.94% and runs significantly faster than similar techniques.

     

Quantification of Protein‐Induced Membrane Remodeling Kinetics In Vitro with Lipid Multilayer Gratings

The dynamic self‐organization of lipids in biological systems is a highly regulated process that enables the compartmentalization of living systems at micro‐ and nanoscopic scales. Consequently, quantitative methods for assaying the kinetics of supramolecular remodeling such as vesicle formation from planar lipid bilayers or multilayers are needed to understand cellular self‐organization. Here, a new nanotechnology‐based method for quantitative measurements of lipid–protein interactions is presented and its suitability for quantifying the membrane binding, inflation, and budding activity of the membrane‐remodeling protein Sar1 is demonstrated. Lipid multilayer gratings are printed onto surfaces using nanointaglio and exposed to Sar1, resulting in the inflation of lipid multilayers into unilamellar structures, which can be observed in a label‐free manner by monitoring the diffracted light. Local variations in lipid multilayer volume on the surface is used to vary substrate availability in a microarray format. A quantitative model is developed that allows quantification of binding affinity (K _D) and kinetics (k_on and k_off). Importantly, this assay is uniquely capable of quantifying membrane remodeling. Upon Sar1‐induced inflation of single bilayers from surface supported multilayers, the semicylindrical grating lines are observed to remodel into semispherical buds when a critical radius of curvature is reached.     

Cassava varietal screening for cooking quality: Relationship between dry matter,starch content,mealiness and certain microscopic observations of the raw and cooked tuber

Thirteen cassava (Manihot esculenta L Crantz) varieties from three successive annual harvests were screened for the mealiness of the cooked tuber, and the elasticity and smoothness of the pounded paste. Six were selected for further studies based on their mealiness and the starch and dry matter contents were determined. The diameter of the starch granules of the selected varieties and those of an irradiated M₁ V₂ population were measured. Microscopic examinations of the raw and cooked cells of the irradiated M₁ V₂ population were made. Correlations among all the parameters were studied. Varietal and seasonal differences in cooking quality were observed. There was no consistent relationship between mealiness of the boiled tuber and the elasticity and smoothness of the pounded paste. Varieties that were mealy were high in dry matter and starch content. The starch granules of mealy varieties were larger than those of nonmealy ones. There were no differences between mealy and non-mealy varieties in the arrangement of the cells or ‘cell condition’, of the raw tubers. However, the cells of the cooked tubers were held less cohesively, ie there was more ‘cell disorganisation’, in mealy varieties than in non-mealy ones.     

Inhibitory effects of Hoe 140 on vasodilator responses to bradykinin in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat

The effect of Hoe 140, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, on vasodilator responses to bradykinin was investigated in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat under constant flow conditions. Injections of bradykinin into the mesenteric vascular bed induced dose-related decreases in perfusion pressure which were reduced significantly following administration of Hoe 140 (D-Arg-[Hyp3,Thi5,D-Tic7,Oic8]bradykinin) (100 micrograms/kg i.v.). The inhibitory effects of Hoe 140 were longer than 3 h in duration and vasodilator response to acetylcholine and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and the thromboxane mimic, U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2 alpha) were unchanged by the B2 receptor antagonist. Hoe 140 had little effect on baseline systemic arterial and mesenteric arterial perfusion pressures. These results suggest that Hoe 140 is a potent, highly selective, long-acting bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist with little agonistic activity in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat.     

Bivariate Dispersion Control Charts for Monitoring Non‐Normal Processes

Multivariate control charts are well known to be more sensitive to the occurrence of variation in processes with two or more correlated quality variables than univariate charts. The use of separate univariate control charts to monitor multivariate process can be misleading as it ignores the correlation between the quality characteristics. The application of multivariate control charts allows for the simultaneous monitoring of the quality characteristics by forming a single chart. The charts operate on the assumption that process observations are normally distributed, but in practice this is not always the case. In this study, we examine and present multivariate dispersion control charts for detecting shifts in the covariance matrix of normal and non‐normal bivariate processes. These control charts, referred to as SMAX, QMAX, MDMAX and MADMAX, rely on dispersion estimates, such as the sample standard deviation (S), interquartile range (Q), average absolute deviation from median (MD) and median absolute deviation (MAD), respectively. We compare the performances of these charts to the existing multivariate generalized variance |S| and RMAX charts for bivariate processes using normal and non‐normal parent distributions. The average run length (ARL) measure is used for the evaluation and comparison of the charts. A real life and simulated datasets are used to demonstrate the application of the charts. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile synthesis of porous Pd nanoflowers with excellent catalytic activity towards CO oxidation☆

Microorganism-mediated, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC)-directed (MCD) method was employed in this work to synthesize Pd nanoflowers (PdNFs). Proper Pichia pastoris cel s (PPCs) dosage, ascorbic acid (AA), Pd(NO3)2 and CTAC concentrations were essential for the growth of the PdNFs. The size of the as-synthesized PdNFs could be tuned by adjusting the amount of Pd(NO3)2 solution and dosage of PPCs used. Char-acterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to verify the nature of the PdNFs. Finally the PdNF/PPC nanocomposites were immobilized onto TiO2 supports to obtain bio-PdNF/TiO2 catalysts which showed excellent catalytic activity for CO oxidation, obtaining 100%conversion at 100 °C and remaining stable over a period of 52 h of reaction time.     

Living Materials Herald a New Era in Soft Robotics

Living beings have an unsurpassed range of ways to manipulate objects and interact with them. They can make autonomous decisions and can heal themselves. So far, a conventional robot cannot mimic this complexity even remotely. Classical robots are often used to help with lifting and gripping and thus to alleviate the effects of menial tasks. Sensors can render robots responsive, and artificial intelligence aims at enabling autonomous responses. Inanimate soft robots are a step in this direction, but it will only be in combination with living systems that full complexity will be achievable. The field of biohybrid soft robotics provides entirely new concepts to address current challenges, for example the ability to self‐heal, enable a soft touch, or to show situational versatility. Therefore, “living materials” are at the heart of this review. Similarly to biological taxonomy, there is a recent effort for taxonomy of biohybrid soft robotics. Here, an expansion is proposed to take into account not only function and origin of biohybrid soft robotic components, but also the materials. This materials taxonomy key demonstrates visually that materials science will drive the development of the field of soft biohybrid robotics.     

The influence of processing methods on the dielectric properties of BaTi1-xGdxO3-x/2 - Based materials

In this study, the intermediate rare-earth oxide Gd₂O₃ (Gd) was substituted in different amounts (x = 0.2–2 mol%) for the formulation of BaTi_1-xGd_xO_3-x/2 (BTG_x) dielectric materials. The effect of B-site substitution was confirmed by the additional Raman active A_1g octahedral peak at ~835cm^-1 strengthened at x ≥ 0.4 mol%. Additionally, properties of 0.9BTG_0.007-0.1BA dielectric ceramics were analysed based on the influence of various processing methods as a function of sintering temperature. The focal samples were labelled Method-A (direct-mix) and Method-B (indirect-mix). As the sintering temperature (1075–1200 °C) increased, the 1 kHz response of the ε–T curves of Method-A samples transformed from a single peak to broad-narrow double peaks of high dielectric loss tangent (tan δ). Nonetheless, samples of Method-B possessed a clearly defined transmission electron microscopy (TEM) core-shell structure, flattened double-peak ε-T curves, optimised dielectric properties (ε = ~1563–1851 and tan δ < 1.5% at room temperature), and a wide-ranging temperature behaviour that meets the X8R dielectric standards (ΔC/C_25°C < ±15%). The maximum dielectric breakdown strength of Method-B samples reached ~131 kVcm, while the energy storage density was ~0.726 J/cm³ at a maximum efficiency of ~80% at 1100 °C. Thus, exhibiting good potentials for balancing temperature stability with energy storage applications.